Howard Finkel brings out our celebrities for the main event. I’ll let you know how Americans knew them in 1991. Alex Trebek was an announcer on CBS in the early 60’s before moving to game shows from 1973 onwards. Regis Philiban is a television and radio personality, also for the previous 30 years. Recently on talk shows.
In researching what I’ve already covered on this show, I see the celebrities got some interview time before the Dino Bravo vs Texas Tornado match (here).
We also got a recap of the evil Middle Eastern sympathiser Sgt. Slaughter burning Hulk Hogan merchandise, but I bet Hogan still got his royalties. Hulk Hogan also got a promo with “Mean” Gene Okerlund before this match, where he says he’s done a 360. So he’s back where he began? That sounds like Hogan, to be honest.
SGT. SLAUGHTER © VS. HULK HOGAN (WWF Championship)
WWF WrestleMania VII (24th March 1991)
SGT. SLAUGHTER © VS. HULK HOGAN(WWF Championship)
WWF WrestleMania VII (24th March 1991)
Hulk Hogan chases Slaughter and Adnan around ringside at the bell, Sgt. Slaughter talks some trash as he has the WWF Championship around his waist. Slaughter takes his time as the fans chant for Hogan. They lock up and jockey for position, the referee breaks them up in the corner but they go right back to it. Slaughter has the advantage in the corner, but Hulk Hogan shoves the champion across the ring.
Sergeant Slaughter complains about a hair pull, which isn’t impossible but is unlikely. Hogan works a headlock until he gets sent off the ropes. Neither man budges as they collide with shoulder tackles. Slaughter drops down as Hogan hits the ropes, Hulk Hogan knocks Slaughter over with a shoulder tackle. General Adnan brings Slaughter to the floor. Hulk Hogan follows and strikes at Slaughter. General Adnan hits Hogan from behind and gets caught in Hogan’s grasp. Sgt. Slaughter hits Hogan with a steel chair to the back. Hogan brings Slaughter back into the ring with a finger wag and a head shake. Sgt. Slaughter begs off in the corner and catches Hogan with an eye rake. Slaughter measures Hogan with right hands and he sends Hogan’s head into the turnbuckle. Slaughter sends Hogan off the ropes into a back elbow, a closed fist hits Hogan as he’s shielded from the ref’s view in a headlock. Sgt. Slaughter uses a knee drop to Hogan’s arm in an oldschool move that I miss. Hulk Hogan rolls out of the way of an elbow drop, he connects with three right hands and drops Slaughter with a clothesline. General Adnan is dropped from the apron, Hogan knocks Slaughter back into the corner.
Hulk Hogan follows Slaughter across the ring with a running attack and hits an atomic drop for 2. Sgt. Slaughter goes back to the outside, but Hogan rakes his back before bringing the match back into the ring. Hulk Hogan sends Slaughter off the ropes into a forearm for 2. Hulk Hogan sends Slaughter’s head into the turnbuckles, Slaughter is sent across the ring into the turnbuckles and staggers out into a backdrop. Hulk Hogan sends Sgt. Slaughter into the corner and he clears the turnbuckles for the ring post. A slingshot sends Sgt. Slaughter into the ring post again, busting him open. Hulk Hogan attacks the open wound with right hand. Hulk Hogan sends the champion into the corner and follows him with a clothesline. Hulk Hogan connects with the 10 punches in the corner and sends the champion into the turnbuckles again, covering for 2. General Adnan grabs Hogan’s ankle as he goes to the middle rope, and it’s enough for Slaughter to hit Hogan in the midsection. Hogan slams Sgt. Slaughter and hits two elbow drops. General Adnan grabs the leg again, this time Sgt. Slaughter slams Hulk Hogan down to the mat. Sgt. Slaughter clotheslines Hogan over to the floor and sends him into the ring post.
Sgt. Slaughter grabs another chair, hitting Hogan over the back with it. Sgt. Slaughter chokes Hogan out with a television cable on the floor and sends Hogan back into the ring. Sgt. Slaughter connects with shots on Hogan’s back and hits a backbreaker across his knee for 2. Sgt. Slaughter thought he had it won, he stomps at Hogan as he realises the match is still going and he drags Hogan away from the ropes. Sgt. Slaughter tries to turn Hogan over for the boston crab, Hulk Hogan is close to the ropes, but can he see it? It takes him some time but Hogan reaches to his side for the rope. Sgt. Slaughter thinks he has it won again, and Hulk Hogan is too injured to capitalise. Sgt. Slaughter targets Hogan’s back again with knee strikes, It’s Slaughter’s time to go to the top rope, and he lands on Hogan’s kidney. General Adnan distracts the referee as Slaughter chokes Hogan and goes for the cover. Hulk Hogan kicks out at 2. Sgt. Slaughter goes back to the chair out of desperation, hitting Hogan in the head. Slaughter covers for 2 as we see Hogan is bleeding from the forehead. Hulk Hogan tries to escape the onslaught, but Sgt. Slaughter knocks him down with a clothesline. Sgt. Slaughter stands over Hogan, putting on the Camel Clutch! Slaughter breaks the hold and stomps on Hogan’s back before going back to the hold. General Adnan cheers from ringside as the crowd tries to will Hulk Hogan to his feet.
Hulk Hogan makes it to his feet, Sgt. Slaughter sends Hogan into the corner and he grabs the Iraqi flag. Sgt. Slaughter drapes the flag over Hogan and he covers 1, 2, Hulk Hogan kicks out! He tears the Iraqi flag and Hulks up as Sgt. Slaughter tries to keep his momentum going. Hulk Hogan points the finger and connects with his combination of right hands. Sgt. Slaughter is sent off the ropes into the Big Boot and the Leg Drop gets Hulk Hogan the victory.
WINNER: HULK HOGAN (NEW WWF Champion)
For a match that is over 35 years old, this was really good. The ending was predictable but the journey there was better than it had any right to be. Sgt. Slaughter and Hulk Hogan were able to do a lot with not much, and it meant the match didn’t drag on as much as it could have. [***] 5.75 /10
No comments:
Post a Comment