History of the British Bulldogs (1985-1988, WWF Tenure)

History of the British Bulldogs:
 Davey Boy Smith & Dynamite Kid in WWF, 1985-1988 

 

 

I do not think there is a tag team more suited for the hyper-compressed, spot-oriented style of WWF wrestling moreso than the British Bulldogs. Even the fast-paced Rockers weren't so reliant on spots and moreso on traditional babyface shine and heel heat segments. The Bulldogs, on the other hand, were designed to be crowd-popping machines. Every move seems like a highlight reel moment to amaze the crowd. Selling and bumping get in the way of the next crowd pop and are only to be done if necessary to advance the story that is being foisted on them. Heel heat segments in Bulldog matches are like dance breakdowns functionally necessary, but they stand between you and the hook. As opposed to a Rock N Roll Express, where heel heat segments are the hook that bridge to the climax. Both matches get you to the same place, but they take different paths. Those paths are not always equal.

Dynamite and Davey, especially Davey, don't strike me as a couple MENSA members. Dynamite was in there because he is a violent muthafucka and seemed like when he was in the ring he was addicted to speed. Davey seemed like he was physically capable to do absolutely anything in the ring, but had no fucking clue how to structure a match. He is like a way more athletic Sting. Quite frankly, you could at least excuse Davey on grounds of ignorance, (though you think someone would have taught him). Is Bret the one that claims Flair never taught Sting and Luger psychology or is that Steiner? Clearly, Bret didn't teach Davey Boy psychology. Dynamite didn't give a fuck. He just wanted to do another snap suplex or headbutt.

I feel like I maybe oversimplfying, but that is how I feel Bulldog matches would go unless some like Valentine or Bret reigns them in. They are the WWF equivalent of the Steiner Brothers (so their time periods dont overlap), but I think the comparison is valid. I don't think the Bulldogs should win any greatest of all time awards, but just like blockbuster action movies they have their place in wrestling. You don't have to overthink Bulldogs matches. They are just fun.

Best Matches from The British Bulldogs WWF Tenure

1. WWF World Tag Champs British Bulldogs vs Dream Team - 2 Out of 3 Falls SNME 10/86
2. WWF Tag Champs Demolition w/Mr. Fuji vs The British Bulldogs - MSG 7/88
3. WWF World Tag Champions Hart Foundation vs British Bulldogs - MSG 7/87
4. Team Powers of Pain (Powers of Pain, British Bulldogs, Rockers, Hart Foundation& Young Stallions) vs Team Demolition (Demolition, Brainbusters, Rougeaus, Bolsheviks & Conquistadors) - Survivor Series '88
5. Team Hart Foundation (Hart Foundation, Islanders, Demolition, New Dream Team & Bolsheviks) vs Team Strike Force (Strike Force, British Bulldogs, Rougeaus, Killer Bees & Young Stallions) - Survivor Series 1987
6. WWF World Tag Champs Dream Team vs British Bulldogs - Wrestlemania II
7. British Bulldogs vs The Islanders 1/88 MSG

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British Bulldogs vs Hart Foundation – Philly 4/27/85

The very first Bulldogs/Hart Foundation featured a similar structure to the rest of the Bulldogs/Harts match, but it lacks of a lot of the usual spots (blind knee, Demolition Decapitation, Bret getting tangled in the ropes). It is structure that is not seen very often in WWF. It is a short shine with a double face in peril and I would hypothesize it is the influence of the AWA on Stampede Wrestling. I would also assert this is not a style that suits the offensive dynamos that are the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs excel where they can just kick ass and hit a ton of their crazy spots. When you have someone like a Hammer in there, to hit them in the mouth, you can get a really fun give and take. I really did not care much for 5/85 MSG match between these two and I would say this is a bit better than that,  but was just an average match. As I said above, it was a short shine with the stock Bret Hart bump off the hammerlock and the Dynamite enziguiri. I really liked the organic feel of the knee lift collision between Bret and Dynamite that leads to a pretty boring Dynamite Kid heat segment. They do the Bret/Dynamite I can’t hit a backbreaker and Dynamite hits one. I forgot how fucking awesome Davey Boy dropkick is. Neidhart cuts him off from behind with a groin shot. Fuck man and an even more boring heat segment ensues. This is mechanical, cold Bret Hart at his worst as we a lot of shoulder rubs. Dick Graham mentions “SUPLEX CITY!” Davey Boy just stops selling and cuts Bret off on top and hits a monster missile dropkick! Dynamite whips Bret into Neidhart and now the Bret Bump! He is a house afire and we get an ab stretch??? Tombstone Piledriver! That’s better. Now Davey Boy powerslam! Dynamite starts wasting time going into  the draw. Awfully cold finish. Better structure than the 5/85 tag, but Bret Hart is just working how you are supposed to rather than with your gut. Bret is a great ring general and brings a lot to the match, but when he was not feeling it then it would just leave you feeling cold.   ***

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The British Bulldogs vs The Hart Foundation - 7/85 MSG

One of my favorite Bret spots is his leverage spot which results in someone taking a dive out to the floor. What I like about it most is that either Bret or his opponent could take it, which makes it one of the versatile spots in wrestling. Bret is definitely a big fan of the kneelift to set up his heat segments during this time period. Everything does even back in 1985 just looks so crisp. I know Bret prides himself on this, but I still cant help but compliment him on his ability to execute moves without being stiff. I like stiff wrestling as much as the next wrestling fan, but I think it is pretty nifty that Bret can make everything he do look so good without being stiff. Bret gives Davey a backbreaker so Anvil can deliver Demolition Decapitation. Wait, I thought this was the Bulldogs thread. Just on cue, here come Dynamite to bring the offense to this match with his nasty hooking clothesline and Davey Boy comes back in with a running powerslam. Now he takes the leverage move to the outside. After trading a couple Boston Crabs, they are just killing time to the curfew finish.

This was an ok first match from these two "vaunted" teams of the golden era of the tag division. It was definitely action-packed, but it felt oddly directionless and unheated for a match involving Bret Hart. I always feel like Bret is more likely to have a boring match than a directionless match. At the same time, the Bulldogs seemed to keep things moving, but didn't bust out their big guns for the match. Recommended only if you are a completist, but arent all we smile.gif .
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Dynamite Kid vs Bret "The Hitman" Hart - 9/85

Great opening sequence sees a quick criss cross sequence end with Bret Hart taking a catapult into the turnbuckle and bumping to the floor. Hart takes an atomic drop hard and then a snap suplex. Dynamite, oddly, goes for a chinlock, but Bret reverses into a hammerlock and Bret takes his own leverage bump to the floor. I see the chinlock was needed to get Bret to do his bump, I hate those sequences. They do the Stampede reverse of the wristlock, but Bret goes to do it: he just kips up and punches Dynamite. I liked that a lot. Bret hits the knee lift to start his heat segment.

Everything Bret hits just looks so crisp. He was a big fan of the bodyslam on the concrete during his heat segments. Bret is actually pretty decent at working the crowd at this point, it just seems like no one cares because they just see him a newbie. Dynamite and Davey Boy are perfectly capable of selling they just seem unwilling to do it like it is nuisance. Whereas, Bret actually takes the time to sell one of his own headbutts. The sunset flip by Dynamite gets a decent pop so maybe I spoke too soon. No one bites on the backslide. Bret does the attempted backbreaker/opponent flips/opponent hits backbreaker or bodyslam spot, which looks good. One of the reasons, Bret and Flair set themselves apart is because they already have whole matches developed unto themselves. They have multiple spots for their opponents to do to them, which takes the onus off less talented wrestlers.

Bret is up first and ties Dynamite up only to take his throw himself in the ropes bump. Dynamite up with his hooking clothesline, hair pull/throwdown (Bret did it earlier) and Bret takes his patented bump chest first into buckle bump. Wicked sweet back suplex by Dynamite only get two follows that up with a second-rope kneedrop and only gets two. On a criss cross sequence, Dynamite trips over Bret and takes a header into the ropes. I have seen plenty of Bret matches and I dont recognize that as one of his spots. Is it a Dynamite spot? If so, it is a really good one. Dynamite takes the Bret leverage bump and while we are on replay we almost miss Dynamite winning with a reverse cradle.

This was a helluva sprint for 11 minutes. You could already tell Bret was main event material in the way that this was the total Bret show. Almost every spot was a Bret concoction that he would learn to craft into fantastic 30 minute affairs. Dynamite is a great offensive dynamo and holds up his end on selling. It isn't anywhere near the best Bret match, but it is an important match to show how many tools Bret already had in his arsenal in 1985.

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The British Bulldogs vs The Hart Foundation - 9/85

Good match! This one had the better shine than the July affair. The Hart Foundation really milks it and the Bulldogs are bringing their A game offense with Dynamite's catapult, Davey Boy's powerslam and victory roll. Bret does his knee lift to seemingly set up Davey Boy for a heat segment, but it is a pysch out as Dynamite comes in. Only this time, for Dynamite to run the ropes and take a blind knee to the back (a Hart Foundation staple). Dyanmite really throws himself into the bumps thats the good thing, but apparently thinks selling just consists of laying motionless. Bret hits his bodyslam on the outside. Bret and Davey Boy do a good chase sequence, which breaks up the heat segment nicely. The transition is the same as the previous match with Bret tying up Dynamite in the ropes and Bret eating ropes. I would be remiss to mention that they botch the Bret backbreaker->DK flip out->DK backbreaker spot, but thankfully they don't redo the spot. Davey Boy comes in and cant stop Irish Whipping people. The Hart Foundation love having their opponents Irish Whip Bret into Anvil or vice versa. That's the first time I have brought up the Anvil that just seems wrong because he has been entertaining, but I guess nothing noteworthy so far. Davey Boy hits his gorilla press slam, but the Hart Foundation counters into Demolition Decapitation and then a top rope version of the Hart Attack. However, while the ref was distracted Dynamite comes flying off with a diving headbutt and rolls Davey Boy on top.

So, I actually watched this match a couple days ago (I am behind on my writing of reviews), but watched the Hart/DK match just now, which is why that one is so much more comprehensive. I am going based off some notes I took at like 2 am, but I do remember thinking that this match was great. I wouldn't say as good as the Dream Team/Bulldogs 2 out of Three Falls, but still very entertaining. I feel like the Hart Foundation are eating up the Bulldogs a bit too much and this match definitely felt more like the Bret show. I think Valentine was able to play to the Bulldogs strengths better.
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WWF World Tag Team Champs Dream Team vs British Bulldogs

Championship Wrestling 10/5/85

The first meeting of this iconic rivalry happened on TV shortly after the Dream Team won the championships from the US Express. This was to signal that Bullodgs and Dream Team would dominate the title scene for about the next six months. Basic match. Valentine and Beefcake shined up the Bulldogs. Davey Boy had a nice dropkick on Beefacke. Dynamite mowed people down. Johnny V saved his men when pushed Dynamite off the top triggering the DQ. Nothing special just established that Bulldogs mean business and in a fair and square match they should be able to wrest the titles from the Dream Team.


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WWF World Tag Team Champions Dream Team vs British Bulldogs – MLG 12/15/85

For the first time in Tag Teams Back Again (Whoomp! There it is) history, the heel in peril is featured strongly as the Bulldogs not only dominate the opening, but are working holds targeting Beefcake’s and Valentine’s arms. Valentine throws in a TIMMMMBBBAAAAHHHHH! For good measure just to put over how much the challengers are overwhelming the champions. The turning point is Valentine and Bulldog get tied up and Valentine is able to make the tag and hold Smith at bay for Beefer to cheapshot him. They work over Davey Boy’s leg as a means to set him up for the vaunted figure-4. I love Valentine picking a fight with Dynamite on the apron and the scuffle that ensues. Valentine obliterates Davey Boy with a wicked forearm and then some wicked slaps to the fallen Bulldog. He goes for the figure-4, but Davey Boy fights it off and Dynamite gets the tag. BOOM! Dynamite kicks some ass and hits a snap suplex, but Beefer saves. Dynamite grabs a sleeper, but unbeknownst to him Valentine gets a tag and Beefcake stomps around. Dynamite takes the patented Dream Team double whip back into their corner. Valentine gets knocked down, but comes out swinging, God Love The Hammer! Davey Boy was the best hot tag of this era and just had a mean dropkick. He hits his running powerslam and Beefcake kicks out?!?!? Valentine tripped on the ropes before he could save. Smith hits a delayed vertical and a couple nearfalls before tagging in Dynamite and pandemonium breaks loose. The Bulldogs hit the wicked badass rocket launcher diving headbutt that should be three, but Valentine drops an elbow on the back of Dynamite’s head for the Dream Team to retain. It was a solid first match in the series that showcased that the Bulldogs were the better overall wrestlers, but the Dream Team was going to level the playing field with cheating. The transitions were pretty weak and the Dynamite heat segment did not go anywhere. The Bulldogs got a better showcase for their offense and their pops were strong. Valentine is so great at bringing the fight to his opponent and this allowed Bulldogs to shine brighter.
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WWF World Tag Team Champions Dream Team vs British Bulldogs - Philly 1/11/86

Not essential viewing by any means, but it is a good match. Dream Team bumrush the Bulldogs to start. Dynamite clotheslines The Hammer and Davey Boy comes in slams him. Valentine breaks out of a leg lace. After watching all this 80s stuff, Beefcake is not that bad. He is just pretty pedestrian, but he is not actively bad. They work over Davey Boy's legs. Valentine is by far the best wrestler in this match with his stooging, bumping, literally showing ass and hard hits. Dynamite is a good hot tag (thought I prefer Davey Boy's take on it honestly). Beefcake repeatedly chumps out of taking Dynamite's hooking clothesline, but I don't blame him it looks stiff as fuck. The finish is terrible. Valentine breaks up a pin and Bulldog acts like he has been knocked out cold. Then Dynamite delivers a flying headbutt to Beefcake. So Johnny V just waltzes in and blatantly gets DQ'd. If you are going to be that blatant then put some heat on it. Terrible finish aside this was perfectly fine pro wrestling. ***
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British Bulldogs vs Hart Foundation – Cap Center 1/18/86

The best part of this match was the fantastic build to the hot tag. Everything about this match was geared towards the hot tag and it really made you feel like this was the most important thing in the world to these four men. That level of investment creates great drama. The Hart Foundation matches for the Bulldogs are unlike anything else that the Bulldogs do. The Bulldogs are offense-oriented team and they do not excel at selling. The Hart Foundation guzzled them in each of their early matches in ’85-’86. Yes, we still get the babyface shine with Davey Boy making Anvil look foolish and overwhelming Bret with speed. Relatively quickly compared to other WWF tag team matches, Bret Hart cheapshots Davey Boy on a tag exchange. Bret hits his staples like the backbreaker and middle rope elbow and the heat segments contains plenty of cheating behind the ref’s back. Davey is able to crawl underneath Anvil and tag out to Dynamite. Dynamite’s hot tag was very short-lived and only featured Bret’s trademark bump off the railing to the apron. Of course, what cut off the Dynamite momentum was of course the blind knee in the back. Then we get the rest of the Hart Foundation staples: bodyslam on floor, Demolition Decapitation and Bret suplex. Dynamite gets a little chippy and Neidhary clamps on a facelock and they really milk the hot tag with Bret goading a chase, false tag, and hope spots. This leads to high drama in the match, but Bret falls prey to the temptation to finally crossbody Dynamite in the ropes. Davey Boy was such a great hot tag with a superb dropkick. Press slamming Bret to Neidhart and a running powerslam to Neidhart, but he is not the legal man. Now, Dynamite is in and a huge missile dropkick from Dynamite Kid, but a fracas breaks out leading to superplex that knocks out both men. Neidhart comes in and puts Bret on top for a shocking 3. They were billing this early on as a number one contender’s match and since the Bulldogs were the ace faces set to face the Tag Team Champions Dream Team I thought they were a lock to win. I have not watched the 9/85 MSG in a while, but I would say this was on par with that match and featured a lot of similar spots.

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WWF World Tag Team Champions Dream Team vs British Bulldogs -

Championship Wrestling 2/1/86

I FINALLY FOUND IT! The coolest finish ever! Bulldog powerslams Beefcake. Valentine comes to interfere he hoists the Hammer into a Fireman's Carry and then Dynamite jumps off Valentine onto Beefcake with a headbutt for three! Thus earning them a tag title shot at WrestleMania! WATCH THIS FINISH!
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WWF World Tag Team Champions Dream Team vs British Bulldogs - Philly 2/8/86

Greg Valentine is really good at wrestling like really good. So great in the opening shine, letting Dynamite win the amateur battle, the atomic drop into Davey Boy, the bumping. Coming back in with Brutus and getting slammed into it. The work on the apron all great. Heel in peril on Brutus is solid because the Bulldogs are very proficient at working the arm. The difference between heel in peril & a shine in my estimation is that heel in peril is more methodical, requires selling and works more holds whereas a shine is uptempo, focuses more on bumping and uses highspots. Couple good fake outs on the transition to heat with Beefacke's high knee and Valentine hotshotting Dynamite. The actual one is kinda lame as Valentine just breaks up a pin with an elbow. Valentine is total money in the heat segment busting shoulderbreakers and elbow. The ferocity of how he drives his knees into the hamstrings before a figure-4 attempt is great.  love how he gets into a slugfest and just as he is going to lose he goes for a double takedown and tries for the figure-4 that's smarts. The finish again sucks. Dynamite going flying because Beefer ducked and Johnny V slamming his head into the post is fine. It was kinda lame that Beefcake suplexed so hard he hurt himself that resulted in a nearfall. Then Dynamite just small packaged him and Valentine just turned him over. Lame finish aside this is very good tag team wrestling. ***1/4  

 

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WWF World Tag Champs Dream Team vs British Bulldogs - SNME 3/1/86

They show a clip of the Bulldogs beating the Dream Team non-title and the finish was sweet for any time period. Davey Boy did his running power slam on Beefcake and then hoisted up Valentine fireman's carry style and then Dynamite jumped on Valentine while he was on Davey Boy and hit his diving headbutt to win. I marked out.

This was an offensive showcase for all the Bulldogs' high tech offense, plain and simple. Matches like these will never be rated among the greatest, but at the same time I never complain about them especially when a team like the Bulldogs is being showcased because they are so good at offense. It never feels like heel in peril because there are literally no holds. It just slam bang spots from the Bulldogs. The only problem is that it is Valentine and Beefcake taking them. I like Valentine a good bit, but this match isn't exactly his forte. He is much better in even, long-ish brutal or scientific matches. These matches pretty show he has his one "TIMBAHHHH" bump and other than that he doesn't do a great job putting over the Bulldogs. It is serviceable, but not great. Beefcake sucks. I forgot how truly shitty he is.

The best parts of the matches were the Hammer's forearm exchanges with each of the Bulldogs. On the first one, Bulldog answered with a dropkick, but in a nice touch he really sold Valentine's offense (maybe he didnt have to wink.gif ). Then second exchange with Dynamite led to the very brief face in peril segment where the Hammer actually hit his second rope elbow. Dynamite pushes him off on the figure-4 attempt; Valentine takes the Flair gorilla press slam bump off the top. Just as the Bulldogs seem like they are closing in on the titles, Dynamite and Valentine collide on a criss-cross and Valentine falls on top. 

If I ever wanted to show somebody the Best Hits of the Bulldogs, so to speak this would be the match. I actually think that was a good finish because the story of the match was how much the Bulldogs dominated, but fell short due to unfortunate circumstances. It makes you want to see the Wrestlemania II match. It is an effective and fun match.

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WWF World Tag Champs Dream Team vs British Bulldogs - Wrestlemania II

Beefcake's total amount of time in this match is literally one minute. Thank God. At one point, Gorilla says Valentine has been in there a while and whilst the Hammer conferring with Luscious Johnny V remarks he can't believe Johnny V wouldn't advise a tag out. All I have to say is Gorilla have you seen Beefcake wrestle? Of course, Beefcake's one big move is actually a nice hammerlock slam that was perfectly fed to him by Davey Boy and perfectly setup by Valentine's arm work, but it doesn't stop Gene and Gorilla from going gaga over the Beefer's one move. Give me Dino Bravo every day over that chump. 

This begins as less of an offensive showcase for the Bulldogs. They still get in their assortment of suplexes (Davey Boy- delayed vertical and Dynamite's snap) and Davey Boy does a gorilla press slam, but Valentine is able to get in a few forearms edgewise throughout. I wouldn't go so far to call spot monkeys like the Steiners (who I love, even though I know most people around these parts arent too fond of), but you do get the feeling that don't really give much of a fuck about structure. Case in point, Dynamite forces Valentine to do the TIMBAHHH bump twice, when he could have done a better job to maximize its effectiveness. 

Valentine irks me as he randomly just picks up Dynamite at one point and gives him what can be best described as a reverse tombstone piledriver. It just annoys because it felt so much like "Ok now it is my turn" rather him even doing an eye rake to set that up. That does setup Valentine doing his best Flair impersonation, crotching himself and then taking the gorilla press slam. The Bulldogs go for the rocket launcher diving headbutt, but Valentine does some cat and mouse is able to the knee the fuck out of Dynamite (those were pretty vicious). Davey Boy comes in only for his shoulder to eat steel setting up the face in peril segment. Valentine shoulder-breaker and usual hammerlock related offense including Beefcake's sole contribution to the match, I mentioned above. Valentine makes the cardinal mistake of overconfident heels and picks up Davey Boy after the shoulderbreaker.

Davey Boy throws Valentine off who collides with Dynamite head first standing on the turnbuckle. Dynamite takes a wicked bump off-camera and the Bulldogs win the titles. I actually like that finish as a callback to the SNME finish. This match was an outstanding one man effort by Valentine as he was bumping and selling for the Bulldogs better because he made this into more his style match as a brutal strike based match. However, he still let the Bulldogs get their spots in. As evidenced by Beefcake's inability to take Dynamite's hooking clothesline in the last match, he clearly was not the man to do that. I have watched the Funks vs Tito/JYD recently, while that is good. This match is still my pick for the best match at the woeful Wrestlemania II card.
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WWF World Tag Champs The British Bulldogs vs Heenan's Family (Studd/Bundy) - 5/7/86

Smart big man vs small man match that only lasts 5 or so minutes. The Bulldogs can only gain the advantage momentarily with quickness or with a double dropkick (I prefer their double dropkick to the RnRs or the Rockers). Bundy is more agile than Studd and is more entertaining to watch. I actually got King Kong Bundy's autograph when I was a kid when he did a local New England Indy (NWA New England, I believe). He is one big dude. Studd looks massive compared to the Bulldogs. Dynamite comes in illegally to put Studd in a sleeper and Studd tosses a ref for a DQ. Bundy tries to Irish Whip Studd into Smith, but he eats turnbuckles causing dissension in the Heenan Family. Was Studd supposed to turn babyface? If so, why, there is nothing, about Studd that makes him seem like a decent babyface.

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WWF World Tag Champs British Bulldogs vs Sheik/Volkoff - SNME 5/86 2 Out Of 3 Falls

What a weird match. We find out in the 3rd fall that Dynamite was injured as up until the final minute Davey Boy wrestled the whole match. First fall sees Volkoff wrangling Smith and dropping him throat first across the ropes. Sheiky Baby comes in with a wicked back suplex and makes him humble old country way.

McMahon goes overboard with how gallant Davey Boy is while wondering why Smith hasn't tagged out. The whole fall is Smith taking heat from the Iranian and Soviet. Sheik hits his sweet gutwrench suplex and Volkoff busts out a nice rolling armbar into a pin, seriously that was the coolest thing I have ever seen Volkoff do. However, "that idiot thinks he won the match" and Bulldog rolls him up from behind to win the second fall.

The third fall sees Davey Boy continue to make his comeback by hitting a running powerslam, but can't negotiate a pinfall. He tags in Dynamite who is immediately bearhugged to death while McMahon says they will go after the legs (someone didn't get a memo). Gutwrench suplex and Sheik is ready to break his back and make him humble, but Davey Boy thwarts him and rolls him up for the victory no tag.

I would say the past couple matches have defied my hypothesis that the Bulldogs are offensive dynamos and dont take heat often, but I think those matches are anomalies of TV wrestling having a different purpose than house show wrestling. In Studd/Bundy, the goal was to put over the size of the Heenan Family versus the quickness of the Bulldogs. This match was to put over how the Bulldogs were fighting champs and gallant. Though that match suffered from the hypercompression of SNME. I may try another Sheik/Volkoff match (I am really digging the Iron Sheik lately) or skip ahead to the late '86 feud against the Hart Foundation.
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WWF World Tag Team Champions British Bulldogs vs Dream Team - MSG 5/19/86

The Dream Team is coming off losing their tag team titles to British Bulldogs at Wrestlemania II and this is the MSG rematch. From the prematch it seems that perhaps the reason for Beefcake’s lack of participation in the Wrestlemania II match was supposed to foreshadow a babyface turn, but they did not pull the trigger until next year. The new Dream Team strategy seems to be get Beefcake involved more and cheat all the same. The Bulldogs focus on arm work and overwhelming the Dream Team with quickness and crispness. The Bulldogs just are not good at drawning the imaginary diagonal line as they are susceptible to be tied up the wrong corner and the Hammer crashing down. It does not last long as Dynamite rocks and rolls and sends Valentine down hard on TIMBAH! The Hammer responds with a rabbit punch to Dynamite on a suplex attempt and the Dream Team double team Dynamite liberally. The Dream Team are excellent at suffocating their opponent in the corner. Beefcake hits his one good move a match a big backbreaker. But he should have stopped while he was ahead when he hurts himself on a suplex. What a loser! Davey Boy gets a short burst of a hot tag that is punctuated with a running powerslam, but Valentine is there to break it up.  Valentine misses his elbows and now here comes Dynamite and he has Valentine reeling. Shoves him down and now a standing headbutt for only two. Valentine is on the ropes, but using the trunks he sends Dynamite into Beefcake’s boot. Valentine takes advantage with the figure-4, but Davey Boy saves. Valentine follows up with an elbow to the escaping Dynamite and Johnny V hooks the leg. 1-2-3! NEW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS! WAIT! The ref saw it and waives it off and Dynamite rolls Valentine up to win. ***1/2

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WWF World Tag Team Champions British Bulldogs vs Moondogs - Championship Wrestling 9/7/86

I realized that my only major gap in the Bulldogs WWF career was the summer of 86 so basically their title reign. The majority of their title reign was facing three teams: Dream Team (great SNME match in the fall and unfortunately the cage matches didn't make tape), Hart Foundation (I have watched enough of their matches to last me a lifetime) and Sheik & Volkoff (I read my reviews and it didn't sound like that was worth revisiting). I saw they defended against the Moondogs at MSG on July 12, 1986, but couldn't find the match so I settled for this. I don't know if these are the original Moondogs; Rex I think was different. They looked great here. I have always dug their look. They adapted to the cartoony, less violent 80s WWF with a well executed moveset (suplexes, kneedrops), good cheating (tripping opponent) and giving plenty of hope spots. It was not the awesome Moondogs of Memphis, but I thought they were solid and I would have pushed them harder. The Bulldogs were fine. Mostly Dynamite in a heat segment. He is just useless at selling so I don't get the point. Davey Boy's hot tag (he is a great hot tag) was not as good as usual but good high vertical suplex from him as always on the big Moondog. Fracas breaks out and Davey Boy leaps over everyone with a crossbody to pick up the win. I liked the finish. Perfectly acceptable wrestling.
 

 

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Greg Valentine vs Davey Boy Smith - 10/20/86 MSG

I was pretty pumped when I found out this match exists, but it never reaches unheralded classic status I hoped it would. If Davey Boy bothered selling, maybe things could have been different, but as the match is it is just a plain 'ol good match between two very good wrestlers. What sets Valentine apart from the rest of WWF at this point is just how stiff he lays in his shots. It really gives his matches a special feel. They trade bearhugs, which is actually a unique way for Davey Boy to show off his power. Valentine really starts to lay into Davey Boy with forearms and then his shoulderbreaker. I am not against the shoulderbreaker, I think it is a move that should be utilized more frequently, but I don't really get why "Master of the Figure 4" Greg Valentine would be using it. Valentine begins working on the leg, but that ends up being no sold as Davey Boy slaps on the Sharpshooter of all things. Had Bret even debuted the Sharpshooter at this point?

So much for that leg work as Davey Boy does a delayed vertical suplex and his powerslam. Valentine does his cat and mouse game trick. Does anyone really believe Valentine could outrun Davey Boy? Davey Boy was struggling to go slow enough to not overtake Valentine, maybe if he sold the leg it wouldn't look so phony. Valentine with some stomps and here comes the figure-4, but Davey Boy gets to the ropes. Davey Boy immediately hits a dropkick. What is selling?

Weird finish as Valentine pretty much out of nowhere double legs Davey Boy and hold onto the ropes to pick up the victory. This match suffered from the 80s WWF hyper-compression issues. Did any WWF match from '84-86 ever go over 25 minutes? The finish didn't make sense because the Bulldogs were about to be programmed with the Harts and the Dream Team shunted down the card. Plus it felt like they just cut the match off prematurely. There is good stuff here and there is no reason to believe that these two could not have delivered an all-time classic, but I just dont think Hulkamania era WWF was the right setting for these two to deliver that.
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WWF World Tag Champs British Bulldogs vs Dream Team - 2 Out of Three Falls SNME 10/86

One impressive thing about this series so far has been that these teams have really gone out and had different matches each time. This match saw the Dream Team in control of majority of the match. Hell, Brutus Beefcake looked shockingly competent. Valentine gets a hold of Dynamite's knee early, but Davey Boy comes in and the Dream Team overwhelm him bringing the injured Dynamite back in. I got to give the man some credit, but the Beefer worked Dynamite's knee pretty well, before Valentine was able to wrangle him into a figure 4 and garner the first fall.

They continue to work over Dynamite's leg at the beginning of the second fall. But Valentine goes for the always tempting second-rope elbow and misses allowing for Davey Boy to come in like the proverbial house afire. Bulldog hits his dropkick, delayed vertical suplex and running powerslam on Valentine before re-doing that wicked bitchin finish from the non-title match with Dynamite leaping off Beefcake and doing a headbutt on Valentine for the second fall.

Towards the beginning of the 3rd fall, there is a strike exchange, which makes me wish there was a Dynamite vs Greg Valentine match. Snap suplex by Dynamite, but he misses the standing headbutt. Valentine is back on the leg, but Dynamite pushes him off on the figure-4 attempt and tags out to Davey Boy. Beefcake gets the tag simultaneously and cuts off Davey Boy (I always want to write Bulldog, but have to stop myself). Valentine hits a suplex and Brutus connects with a high knee, but Dynamite saves. Brutus goes in for a high knee in the corner, but Davey Boy side-steps and picks up the win with a fisherman's suplex.

I would say it is close with the Wrestlemania II, but this is the my favorite match that I have seen between these teams. The match runs through the heels more, which is something I prefer. Hell, Beefcake came through in the clutch and proved me wrong in this match. Valentine was his usually violently awesome self. It is not like the Dream Team ate up the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs got in all of their offense and looked both resilient and impressive in their match. I actually think the other matches were too lop-sided in the favor of the Bulldogs that it actually made the Dream Team look like chumps. This match actually made the Bulldogs look more badass for overcoming the Dream Team in a way that just being on offensive never would. Dynamite sold really well throughout the match and Davey Boy is a really good hot tag. I would say this is my pick for best WWF 80s tag match I have seen so far.
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WWF World Tag Champs British Bulldogs vs The Hart Foundation 11/1/86

Last time we saw these teams face off was about a year ago. The Bulldogs have wrested the titles off the Dream Team in a fantastic and defended the title against the teams ye likes of Sheik & Volkoff. While the Hart Foundation matured as a team against the Killer Bees in some fun matches. The Hart Foundation trap Dynamite in the corner, but the fights out, which is one of my favorite early shine spots. Now we do Davey Boy vs Anvil, but Bulldog can't budge the Anvil and ends up taking a powerslam. This begins the heat segment a little bit earlier than I was prepared for. 

The heat segment is a Best Of Hart Foundation spots collection. They are all there for your enjoyment: Anvil slingshotting Bret over the ropes, Demolition Decapitation, the blind knee to the back, Bret's bodyslam on the concrete, Bret irish whipping Anvil into his opponent. I like the Hart Foundation offense just fine, but have three major qualms. First, it made the match totally about the Hart Foundation. It felt like the Bulldogs were just any opponents taking the Hart Foundation's offense. It could have been the Killer Bees, Islanders or Rockers. I like when matches utilize the differences to make a unique match that only these two teams could have. Bret just seemed like he wanted to do "plug and play" in this match. Second, Davey Boy is no Ricky Morton. This could have been Bret eating him up, but some of the onus has to be on him to perform hope spots and make people notice him and not just be a rag doll out there. The first two points culminate in my last point, I hate how this match had no sense of struggle. When wrestling matches become exhibitions, they lose their gravitas. Exhibitions are useful in wrestling for getting over offense or gimmicks, but in title matches against established opponents I expect a sense of struggle towards victory, not neatly defined "my segment, your segment". That is what the Dream Team matches so much better is that there was a sense of struggle in the Wrestlemania and 2 Out of 3 Falls match with both teams working hard to overcome the other.

Bulldog is able to pick up Bret and crotch him on the ropes. Dynamite comes in and supplies the Bulldog offense for the match: hooking clothesline, snap suplex and diving headbutt. I loved the Bulldogs' arsenal against the Dream Team and think it was criminal that they didn't get to show it off here. Anvil wipes out the ref and tries to cheat to get Bret to win with lots of dramatic two counts. Before Davey Boy rolls up Anvil for the pinfall after an exaggerated count.

I actually dug the finish and I thought it added a lot of drama to a match that lacked heat because it was the Hart Foundation show in the middle. Bret had all the MOVEZ~! in 1986, but he had not quite figured out how to put them altogether yet. 

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WWF World Tag Champions British Bulldogs vs Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff - 12/86 Primetime Wrestling

This was set up by a pretty decent short spotfest between Smith/Sheik when Sheik &Volkoff beat up Smith and Dynamite made the save.

Volkoff busts out a cartwheel, which is both impressive and heelish, so double points. I may have been selling Volkoff short. Boring babyface shine consisted of arm work on Volkoff. Dynamite takes a knee to the back while he is running the ropes. Which is usually a Hart Foundation spot, but maybe the Bulldogs liked it. Volkoff has a pretty impressive bearhug when he does the squat and lay the opponent's shoulder's down, but the ref catches him using the Sheik for leverage. Sheik gets in his favorite spots in pretty smart fashion. He begins with the ab stretch and Dynamite hiptosses out, but Dynamite whiffs on an elbow. It was a simple sequence but delivered a hope spot and smartly led to the gutwrench suplex (a favorite of mine) and the Camel Clutch, which Smith breaks up because he is fed up. Sheik goes for his suplex and Dynamite hits his snap suplex. That sequence was really smartly done.

Davey Boy is a house afire, but on each cover Volkoff comes in, a grand total of 5 times. Volkoff actually is able to hit an atomic drop and a monster backbreaker, but now Dynamite breaks it up. Volkoff goes for another backbreaker, but Dynamite dropkicks Bulldog on top of Volkoff.

Overall, it was a smartly booked big man vs little man match and much better than their SNME affair, but still nothing to write home about. The Bulldogs just didn't match up well with this team because their offense seemed restricted. The finish with the Bulldogs double-teaming after the constant Volkoff saving was ok. The match was simply ok.
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In December of 1286, Dynamite's back was pretty seriously injured in a match against Muraco/Orton. These injuries would compound over the next years relegating Dynamite to a wheelchair. Needless to say the Bulldog's work post-injury deteriorated overnight.

You mean we are only halfway done?!??!?!?!

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WWF World Tag Team Champions British Bulldogs vs Hart Foundation - Superstars 1/26/87

 

I watched the title change, which was a short match because of Dynamite's injury. In the run-up, Davey Boy was teaming with every face known to man from JYD to Tito to even Piper. Referee Danny Davis was busy with checking on Dynamite's well-being after being knocked out with Hart's megaphone while Davey Boy was kicking ass and taking names, Davis missed a Bulldog pinfall. Hart Foundation double DDT -> Hart Attack -> Fast count -> New World Tag Champs and a newly minted molten heel in the form of Danny Davis.

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WWF World Tag Champs Hart Foundation/Danny Davis vs The British Bulldogs/Tito Santana

This match is wicked fun until the finish. Tito has been such a joy to watch even if he was dragged down by Adrian Adonis and Don Muraco on occasions. The babyface shine segment gets you amped. The heat segment is pretty decent on Dynamite, nothing particularly inspiring until Danny Davis comes in. He is a fuckin awful wrestler. Worst ever? He couldn't even post properly for Bulldog's delayed vertical suplex, unless this was him taking gimmick so far that he couldn't wrestle. wink.gif Like I understand playing it up you suck at offense, but there is no reason to suck at bumping. What is impressive is the amount of heat he got. If they gave this gimmick to anyone worth a damn, it could have easily been a big upper midcard heel act for a couple years and probably would have gotten a Hogan program. People were going nuts for Tito and Davey Boy's offense (TOMBSTONE~!). I am a sucker for weasel heel takes a bunch of big moves. The finish pretty much sucks because Davis goes over due to nefarious tactics. It makes sense because they were probably planning to push Davis based on the heat he was getting until they realized he was fuckin atrocious. Still a fun Wrestlemania type match that I had actually never seen before.

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WWF World Tag Champs Hart Foundation vs British Bulldogs - SNME 2 Out of 3 Falls 5/87

I got to put over Jimmy Hart huge early as Matlida fuckin shoots on him and actually bites him in the leg. Then there is an awesome shot of Matilda with the megaphone in her mouth. Matilda is my fuckin bitch, now. (Get it? I totally slay me) Seriously, Matilda seems ridiculously lame (to me at least), but her entire tenure was validated in that one minute.

It is an SNME match, so you know what that means: SPRINT! Davey Boy starts off per usual. Wows us with the Stampede reversal out of the wristlock, then does his standard show of strength by picking up Bret while in a knucklelock, some quick armwork before a Bret knee lift as usual sends right into FIP. No meandering here as Anvil and Bret are following up everything quickly and crisply. But in their haste, Smith gets his knees up in the corner. Hot tag, Dynamite is ready to go to town: Bret takes his turnbuckle bump, hair pick up, hooking clothesline, snap suplex, diving headbutt. Anvil looks to make a save and throws Davey Boy out to the floor, where Davis takes advantage of him. Tito chases Davis while the Hart Foundation double teams Dynamite and they do not heed the ref's admonishments leading to the DQ.

Second fall, they continue to work on Dynamite and do Demolition Decapitation. While some choking goes on, we do a chase sequence and when we comeback, we get Bret's favorite transition: hang Dynamite in ropes only to cross body block the ropes. Hot tag! HOLY SHIT! Davey Boy hits two MASSIVE dropkicks on the Hart Foundation. Brunzell's are prettier, but these dropkicks actually look like they got some mustard on them. A delayed vertical suplex gets two, but Anvil gets in some forearms before clobbering Bret on the apron. Tito hits the Flying Burrito on Davis to a huge pop. Bulldog gorilla press slams Dynamite onto Anvil and the place erupts. Alas, the title can't change hands on a DQ. That is some grade-A bullshit right there. 

After a drought of fun Bulldogs' matches, this one comes on like a monsoon of non-stop action. Everyone is hitting their stuff crisply and the transitions are really well-done. Transitions are important to me and I think Bret setup each one nicely and the match felt like a contest between a couple offensive juggernauts. Nowhere near the best with stuff with the Dream Team, but I would put around the 9/85 match with the Hart Foundation in terms of quality.

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WWF World Tag Champions Hart Foundation vs British Bulldogs - MSG 7/87

If I am not mistaken, this is the last major match these two teams would have together. They went out with a bang. Definitely my choice for the best match these two teams have ever had with each other. Three Hart Foundation/Bulldogs matches have made WWE DVDs I cant believe this one has not. To me this is finally the match that rivals the stuff with the Bulldogs were having with the Dream Team.

The Hart Foundation finally learns and attacks the Bulldogs during the Matilda routine. They isolate Davey Boy, while Dynamite gets Matilda out of harm's way. It is all for naught as Bret runs into Anvil on a criss-cross. It actually comes off as a really well done spot. Someone pissed in Dynamite's corn flakes that day because he is ripshit the whole match. Just tearing into people and snapping at the ref to get into position better and this makes for a way better match. After a hooking clotheslines, Bret rolls away and Dynamite follows him and just starts rifling elbows at him. Bret in desperation eyerakes, but Dynamite still controls to get Davey Boy in there and do a double headbutt. This has been what is missing in this series. That feeling of a real contest and urgency. The Bulldogs are hungry and the Hart Foundation are cheating like muthafuckas. None of this, let me you ragdoll for 5 minutes, now you be my ragdoll. Everyone is trying to cut each other off and there is a real sense of struggle. 

When I started online, I always heard Dynamite get these rave reviews, but Davey Boy Smith is way more fun to watch in my opinion. He is both the better FIP and hot tag. Davey Boy's hot tag dropkick can't fuckin be beat. That thing is disgusting. But I digress, fisherman's suplex by Davey Boy gets two. Here is a bit of weak transition as Bret punches Dynamite and is able to tag Anvil. I say it is weak because I do not think a heel should gain the upper hand in that fashion especially in the WWF where closed fists are commonplace. In Japan, a closed fist is one of the ultimate dick moves. In WWF, it just feels like another move. I would have rather seen something more heelish end the shine. 

Anvil is feeling into tonight with manical laugh and sledges before sending Dynamite out to be slammed into the rial by Bret. Back in now Anvil is biting him, this is the point when I was like "Ok, finally these two teams are really bringing it". Demolition Decapitation, which always looks nasty, gets two. Dynamite dazes Bret with a headbutt and falls on top on a slam attempt. Now Anvil tries to headbutt Dynamite. Bad idea and Anvil knocks himself out. I love it. Smith gets in prematurely, but Anvil ends up forcing Bret to take his trunbuckle bump and Anvil is back body dropped to the outside. HOT TAG! No dropkick, booooo. Makes up for it by busting out the monkey flip, which he has not done yet. Then falls that up with 2nd rope kneedrop, another move Smith has not done. Davey Boy rules. Now his more conventional offense: delayed vertical and running powerslam both get two. Bret grabs a sleeper only for Dynamite to headbutt him. In one of my favorite spots, Davey Boy goes to gorilla press slam Bret, but "loses control" and drops Bret crotch first on the ring ropes. That one is a always a Sleeze Pleezer. 

They do a common finish, where Anvil from the outside trips Smith on a suplex attempt and Bret falls on top for the win. Excellent, excellent match. Zero down-time, felt like a struggle with a real sense of urgency from both teams. If someone had to pick the representative match for this series, I would pick this one because it is just that much better than the rest. The title change, unfortunately due to the mitigating circumstances of Dynamite's injury, is just a 3 minute match. Then all the other matches feel of equal historical importance, so I would just pick the best one and that is this one in my opinion.
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Team Hart Foundation (Hart Foundation, Islanders, Demolition, New Dream Team & Bolsheviks) vs Team Strike Force (Strike Force, British Bulldogs, Rougeaus, Killer Bees & Young Stallions) - Survivor Series 1987

I knew this match was well-regarded, but I had no idea what outcome was. I can not believe the two bottom feeding babyface tag teams were the winners. More so, I cant believe the match was booked around the Young Stallions being booked as the stars. There was no reason before or after to understand this book decision as Strike Force and British Bulldogs continued to be the preeminent babyface tag teams for the near future with the Rockers, Hart Foundation and Demolition ending the next year as the top three babyface tag teams. Odd booking aside, this was a really fun match. They did not really try to weave a story, but it was action-packed and they busted out some pretty cool moves. The only story, I really noticed was the resiliency of the Young Stallions. Just because the Young Stallions were booked as the stars, does not mean they wrestled well, mind you. They were the worst wrestlers out there. Notably, Jim Powers was being a huge pussy for not taking the hotshot on 2 occasions.

The match started off with Martel/Volkoff tearing it up shades of how good their SNME match would turn out. Volkoff looked like a monster Tito hit the Flying Burrito to get the pin on Boris. Ax came in and did his usual Demoition bit. They establish the nature of the gimmick with tons of quick tags that keep the action fresh. One notable exchange was the chop exchange between Haku/Dynamite, where the hell was that in their matches. Everyone is hitting all their stuff with a lot of intensity. The Stallions get worked over a little bit. Jacques gets the tag, but crashes and burns on a reverse cross body and Ax gets the pin. The Stallions get crushed by a Neidhart backbreaker/Haku flying chop. The Valentine adds a sweet shoulderbreaker and a vertical suplex (he throws him more than slams him back). Dino Bravo hits like the best gutwrench suplex ever and they still cant pin the Stallions. Demolition becomes fustrated and gets themselves DQ'd by pushing the ref. Bret crushes Dynamite with a piledriver and cant get the pin. The heels just cant buy a win. Tama/Martel have a great exchange as usual, but Martel applies his Boston Crab too close to the heel corner and Neidhart clobbers him. Santana makes a similar mistake on a pinfall attempt and gets whacked in the big of the head by a Bret elbow and gets pinned!?!?!??!?!? That was the first sign something fishy was up.

Now there is a long Stallions heat segment with Valentine that is pretty decent because Valentine stiffing shitty wrestlers is always fun. Powers refuses to get dropped across the ropes properly because he is a mega-pussy. The match gets clipped here and we miss the Bulldogs getting eliminated. According to one review, I missed a Bret backbreaker into a Tama knee and other general awesomeness. Disappointing. When we come back, the Stallions are still getting beat on, so it appears as if you missed nothing even though you missed the number 2 face tag team being eliminated. Valentien goes for the figure-4, but Roma gets a sunset flip (blind tag) for the win. For shame, as the New Dream Team were the best workers. Though Hart Foundation and Islanders have been working pretty friggin well also. The Killer Bees have been non-existent and Young Stallions have sucked but been the crux of this match.

The Bees begin and Brunzell hits a pretty sweet high knee. Roma is back in to be the face in peril. Islanders start busting out their offense and look great. Brunzell is working offense for the faces, Stallions on FIP duty and Blair on the apron, just where he should be. smile.gif This is the best Brunzell has looked in the WWF. Roma gets the first bit of offense for the Stallions with a fist drop on Bret Hart, but that is short-lived with Bret hitting a suplex on him. Islanders again rocking it in the ring. Brunzell is in with the Hitman. He has the Hitman to be slammed. Tama dropkicks Hitman to get him on top of Brunzell, but Brunzell rolls through for the pin. At this point, I was in shock because I expected the top 2 heel teams to easily vanquish the two babyface jobber tag teams.

Islanders jump right on Brunzell to press while they still can. Islanders do a little too much vulcan nerve pinch, but Haku works in a shoulderbreaker and they are doing their best to keep Brunzell in their corner. Stallions get a quick powerslam, but Islanders are able to overwhelm them again. Blair gets tagged and swarmed (pun intended). Islanders always press their advantage. Wicked reverse elbow by Tama. Tama misses a big elbow, the key weakness of all 80s WWF heels. Brunzell, hot tag, double noggin knocker, DROPKICK~! Haku saves. Brunzell attempts sunset flip on Tama and Blair with mask jumps over and gets his own sunset flip to complete the upset. Brunzell puts on his mask too outside as they celebrate. MASKED CONFUSION~!

On one hand, the Stallions looked awesome by surviving and resilient because they got beat on mercilessly. But they only got in like two offensive moves and they sucked in the ring. Bees showed up half through the match and it was the best Brunzell looked in the WWF, but none babyfaces aside from Martel looked all that great. This was a great showcase for the heel teams as they had a ton of offense and really worked crisp and efficient. It is crazy to think in one years time there would be an utter dearth of heel tag teams and an overabundance of babyface tag teams. I went in with high expectations and it was a bit of a let down. It was action packed and 30+ minutes flew by which is a credit to the teams, but it lacked a great story to really make it classic. It was a great fun, action blockbuster.
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The British Bulldogs vs The Bolsheviks - 11/87 Primetime Wrestling

The Bulldogs did not give one single fuck during this match. Outside of the Dynamite snap suplex on Boris, I do not think worked any sort of story or spots in their shine sequence. It does not help that Boris is a candidate for one of the worst wrestlers I have ever seen. I can't tell if Volkoff is good or if he is just good in comparison to Boris. But believe it or not, 'Ol Nik was the best worker in this match as he worked a great heat segment. He did his bearhug into a pin, he tussled with Dynamite over a suplex attempt that turned into a Dynamite small package and his overhead backbreaker. His headbutts and strikes were great. Boris on the other hand is such an awkward wrestler and put on one of the worst abdominal stretches ever. Gorilla had a field day with that one. Davey Boy came in and no spark. He did his delayed vertical suplex and running powerslam, but not the usual Davey Boy. The finish was Davey Boy hooking of the Bolsheviks' legs on a suplex attempt and Dynamite falling on top for the win. Why the hell are they protecting the Bolsheviks?

Borefest and one of the worst matches I have seen. I abhor lazy wrestling. The only good thing to come out of this was it confirmed that Nikolai Volkoff maybe someone worth watching from his prime or at least with Sheiky Baby.
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British Bulldogs vs The Islanders 12/87 Superstars

Islanders have no floral wallpaper tights and they already look more menacing. Bulldogs in and Matilda goes right after Heenan and Islanders. They are hot because Matilda wont let them back in the ring. Heenan insults the dog and leads a walk out in protest of that mangy mutt being out there. Then he hatches a plan to get back at the dog for embarrassing him. He distracts the Bulldogs allowing the Islanders to really do a number on the Bulldogs including a sweet shoulderbreaker by Haku. Islanders and Heenan make a fast getaway with Matilda. Those dastardly villains surely the Bulldogs will make them pay for this transgression!
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If only Davey Boy threw Beefcake out of the WWF for good.

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British Bulldogs vs The Islanders 1/88 MSG

I built up the expectations a little too high in my head for this match. I would have this top handful of WWF tags, but it does not touch the first Islanders/Strike Force. Still it is a very good match as the Bulldogs are red hot and the Islanders are showing a much more sadistic, arrogant side. I thought this was the first match, Haku really broke out of his shell and was delivering on the same level as Tama. I have grown to like Davey Boy a bit more than Dynamite and would have liked him to be the face in peril instead of Dynamite. However, Smith's segments at the beginning of the match felt really aimless and were not as tight and meaningful as Dynamite's.

Dynamite started this match off hot by attacking at the bell. Tama did his awesome bump back into the ring that someone needs to steal. Dynamite hit a wicked piledriver and then catapulted Tama into Haku. The Smith/Haku segment was decent in establishing two as equal, but I would have liked to see Smith mirror Dynamite's intensity. THEY STOLE MATILDA!!! Heenan has brought a dog collar and leash to remind them in true dick heel fashion. Smith worked a short heat segment off a quick attack by Haku during a tag exchange, which was pretty lame. Dynamite came in and re-energized everyone with his hooking clothesline and kneefrop. In his overzealousness, he ate a double chop from Haku in the corner. 

I liked this heat segment from the Islanders. I wish there was a better face in peril in there though. They were constantly mocking Dynamite with the dog collar and leash during the restholds. Plus Haku was on fire this segment with his cool back suplex out of the side headlock spot and his sell of a Dynamite headbutt. It was Kawada-esque as he wobbled on jelly legs and fell on his add, but still prevented the tag. Haku was taunting as much as Tama and together they were garnering tons of heel heat. Dynamite hits a double clothesline on the Islanders.

Now here is the Davey Boy Smith I have come to love. Double-noggin knocker. Back body drop and then a big vertical suplex. Wicked piledriver, but broken up. Smith hits his big running powerslam and sees the other Islander and gives him a powerslam for good measure. The Garden is rocking. He grabs the leash and collar and starts beating teh Islanders with it drawing the DQ.

This had a good heat segment with a great finish. The first the third of the match could have been upgraded and I think with a better face in peril this match would have been a real hidden classic. As it stands, it is a match where the Bulldogs had vengeance on their mind, but got overzealous allowing the Islanders to capitalize. Then Islanders got cocky and handed the match over to the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs could not keep their composure to seal the deal. I think we need a rematch and what better place than Wrestlemania. Lets get that weasel, Bobby the Brain in there so he can take some lumps too!

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British Bulldogs & Koko B. Ware vs The Islanders & Bobby The Brain Heenan - Wrestlemania IV

I didn't like this nearly as much as the six-man from last year. The Brain never really got his comeuppance maybe it is to come in the MSG match, but that was a major downer because I was expecting the Brain to make more of an ass of himself. The Brain did ham it up by wearing an attack dog protection suit neutralizing Matilda.

Dynamite and Tama started the match off hot with Tama doing his signature bump and then bumping huge onto the ring post. Smith/Haku did their MSG exchange, but Smith added a crucifix pin. Ware came in with a dropkick and a beauty shades of "Jumpin" Jim Brunzell. There was a nice Ware side-headlock and headscissors combo take over by Ware. Koko is on par with Tama so far as MVP on this match as he has really added some energy. Dynamite eats a Haku foot in the corner. Jesse says that Heenan looks like a Chinaman. Its 1988, Baby!

Heenan gets some stomps in and Dynamite sells, but he runs for the hills as soon as Dynamite stirs. Ok, they are building for when Heenan gets his ass kicked. Tama had control, but got caught showboating and ate knees on a Vaderbomb attempt. Koko gets the tag and Irish whips Tama into Haku, but he sets too early and Haku makes him pay with a kick. Heenan comes in with a kneelift. It just feels like Heenan is just another heel wrestler instead of the special attraction heel to get his ass whipped. Heenan barley sells Koko's punches, but he does take the wicked Bret bump into the ring corner and then dropkicked into the post. He still feels like he is selling like a wrestler than a manager. It all breaks down and The Islander slam on top of Koko for the win?!?!?!?! Matilda attacks (read: Davey Boy foists and rubs Matilda all over) Heenan in his dog suit.

I loved the dog suit and the first five minutes were fun, but those last five minutes dragged. I really wanted to see the Bulldogs take it to Heenan, but nothing doing. I know Heenan would often wrestle as a sub for Bock or Stevens in the AWA. He was actually expected to wrestle not just be a over the top bumping stooge. In the WWF, he was in a different capacity and I think this match would have benefited him doing a lot more stooging. This was a very disappointing match.

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WWF World Tag Champs Demolition w/Mr. Fuji vs The British Bulldogs - SNME 4/88

Demolition is going to encrust Matilda in chrome and mount on their Winnebago when they drive to the Grand Canyon. Seriously, what the fuck? The Wyatts need to listen to some Barry Darsow to really get crazy down.

This is a nothing match to re-establish the Bulldogs as the number one babyfaces as Martel was going to take a vacation and their go around the horn to establish the Demos is the Heel Ace of the tag division. The interesting part may be the foreshadowing that Bulldogs may break Demos from their mold Dynamite was going to force his will on the match. This felt like a real struggle with each team looking to give very little to their opponents. Dynamite was the face in peril and took a backbreaker before Davey Boy came in and showed he could match power with Demos. The story seemed like Dynamite would get in a bit over his head, but Davey Boy was the Demos equal in power. 

Endgame was Matilda chased Fuji to the back. They broke Fuji's cane leaving Jesse to lament the welfare of Fuji and they attacked the Demos with cane. The Bulldogs sure did have a temper. This is the second match where they have grabbed a manager's weapon and attacked their opponents. If they are going to win the titles back they are going to need to keep their composure under stress. I think they need Capt. Lou back to guide them to their second championship run. They never were the same without him. Thats what happens with two British hotheads cant keeps their act together. Heard the Demos/Bulldogs MSG is bitchin as all hell and really looking forward to a great Bulldogs match. Outside their work with the Dream Team, I dont feel like they have gotten there.
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The Islanders (Haku & Sivi Afi) & Bobby "The Brain" Heenan vs British Bulldogs & Koko B Ware - Philly 5/88

Wow, did this feud disappoint as this match was as much of a bore as the Bolsheviks match. The Heenan stuff with Koko at the beginning is what I wanted to see out of Heenan last match. Heenan cowering in the corner -> Koko lays down -> Heenan still apprehensive turns his back -> Koko catches him unawares and sends him into the opposite corner to take the Ray Stevens flip back-first bump. It was all down hill after that. Sivi Afi is a Superfly & High Chief Peter Maivia hybrid ripoff as he has Maivia's tats and Snuka's look. Afi is awkward and lumbering. It is no wonder he lasted for only a cup of coffee. The commentators believe that Sivi Afi is Haku and that Haku is Tama (Toma as it is pronounced). Then the commentators talk how the Bulldogs look like a like. O to be a wrestling commentator in the 80s or any era, actually. You never have to be proficient at your job.

Sivi Afi sucked it up in the ring. Haku/Dynamite do their little forearm exchange into a Dynamite headlock into a Haku side suplex, which always looks good. Dynamite hits a hooking clothesline to regain advantage, which in my opinion wastes one of the best spots of the match. It gets very heel in peril at this point with chinlocks. Koko, who is the best worker in this match again, does the best move of the match: a sweet reverse cross body that would make Ricky Martel jealous. Haku for his part jumped into it making it look even better. 

Dynamite runs into a Haku clothesline and that is your weak, lazy transition to the heat segment where Sivi Afi is super awkward getting into position for anything. Dynamite took a dive to the outside got his head rammed into the railing by Haku and apron by Heenan. Haku hit a couple nice backbreakers while they worked over Dynamite's back and head. Heenan could be doing a lot more to get heat and to really the crowd excited to see him get his ass kicked...oh wait he does not.

Dynamite does an excellent block of Haku's suplex attempt with a leg scissors. He hit his suplex. Davey Boy came in hit a back body drop and vertical suplex. He just does not give a fuck anymore. Koko came in and hit two stellar dropkicks that would make Jim Brunzell jealous. His second one was really one of the best I have ever seen. A clusterfuck erupts; Heenan blind tagged himself in and with knucks knocked out Koko for the win. What the fuck?

I accidentally watched the Philly match instead of the MSG match, but the finish was the same according to History of the WWE site so I am not watching this borefest again. Bulldogs could not care less. Heenan was not really trying either. Haku was decent. Sivi was actively bad and Koko was pretty sweet. Bring on the Bulldogs/Demolition maybe a tag title shot will wake up the Bulldogs.
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WWF Tag Champs Demolition vs The British Bulldogs - Wrestlefest 1988

There was one key difference in this match and the other Demos matches I have seen. Bulldogs did not need to double up on their moves in order to gain the advantage on Demolition. Now Davey Boy is pretty much as big as Demolition and you just cant stop Dynamite from coming so this feels more like a Bulldogs match. However, I liked the Bulldogs better when they were spot machines. It seems like ever since Dynamite's injury in late 86/early 87 they were never the same. This match starts with Smith trading power with Smash and doing the Stampede roll to get wrist control. Dynamite gets dragged to Demos corner and Ax pounds away, but Dynamite fires back ultimately Ax over powers Dynamite. I like more definitive heel transition spots as I think they should be the hook of the match. The Demos are at their best when they are focused and with no limb they just stomp aimlessly. I did like Smash coming out of Dynamite small package attempt by popping Davey Boy. It was just reaffirming that Demolition was still in control and you cant do anything about it. Dynamite hits a reverse elbow out of the corner and tags Davey Boy. No dropkicks, no suplexes, where's the Davey Boy I used to know?

In very uncharacteristic fashion for Demolition, Davey Boy is able to beat up both members at once by himself including an awful back body drop on Ax. He tags in Dynamite and hits one of my favorite double team moves: Davey Boy press slams Dynamite so he can headbutt his opponent. This one looked awesome and the dead crowd finally woke up. Thats the Bulldogs I used to know. Ax saves, Fuji on the apron and it is the cane shot we all know that is coming.

Demolition let their guard down and let the Bulldogs work their match, but a 1988 Bulldogs match sucks for the most part. It is usually a tame shine segment, a lame Dynamite FIP and a not so game Davey Boy comeback. I do not like Demolition's offense especially when it is unfocused and that is the only part of this match that resembled the normal Demos match. I know the MSG match is well-liked so I will give that a shot.
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WWF Tag Champs Demolition w/Mr. Fuji vs The British Bulldogs - MSG 7/88

If you told me, "Sleeze, there are going to be 3 extended heat segments in this match and you will like it" I would have said "Dont apply to work for Miss Cleo." But shockingly enough I liked this match a good deal. I would say it is one of the better Demolition matches, just falling short of Summerslam '88 match and about even with the Islanders match. This match really encapsulates what is said about Demolition forcing their opponents to work for their offense. There is a real sense of struggle and urgency in this match that you do not find in the Hart Foundation and Bulldogs matches. The beginning of the match really felt like four titans just blasting each other to get the victory. The Bulldogs controlled the more powerful Demolition by using wristlocks but were not afraid to throw some bows at the Demos. The Demos never just lay down and took the offense they made sure to get their shots in to let the Bulldogs know they were still there. Davey Boy ends up going to the outside and then getting run into the steel post. Ax gets a little lazy here with vulcan nerve pinch. Davey Boy was prone to an attack and would have liked to see Demolition press their advantage. When Davey Boy elbows out of a chinlock, Ax gives him some shots for good measure and then Davey Boy punts him on a telegraphed back body drop. It is little things like that convey a sense of struggle.

Dynamite in and he and Ax miscommunicate on a clothesline and he hits his snap suplex, but he gets hit in the back of the head by Smash while running the ropes. His back gets ran into the apron and he becomes the Face In Peril. Smash suplexes Dynamite back into the ring. Dynamite with a wicked clothesline and here comes Davey Boy. Davey Boy hits one of his impactful dropkicks, but gets the back body dropped and again becomes the face in peril. The Bulldogs just can not sustain any offense against the powerful machine known as Demolition. Demolition is eating them up, but the Bulldogs are putting up more of a fight and are not just mailing this one in like the rest of 1988. At one point, Davey Boy just starts throwing shivers and actually gets a nearfall on Ax. It feels like a fight. Smash's backbreaker gets two. Smith gets his feet up in the corner. Dynamite in and he gets a wicked clothesline and a wicked flying headbutt. He takes the Bret Bump in the corner. It feels like the Bulldogs are wrestling like individuals and Demolition wrestles like a team and thats why the Bulldogs can not sustain offense. Davey Boy mows down Demolition by himself. He gets his running powerslam and the ref just stops counting at 2 and the crowd goes bonkers thinking the Bulldogs have won the title. The ref goes to break up an Ax/Dynamite fight only to get clobbered off camera. Smith has Fuji by the collar (better than the time Fuji just no sold all of Neidhart's punches) and Rougeaus come in and hit him with the cane allowing Demolition to pick up the victory.

The Rougeaus interference set up the Summerslam match, but was there an rhyme or reason to it? This match more so than any other WWF tag matches felt like a fight, but again I wish Demolition would press the advantage in their heat segments. If they did that, I think I would rate them among the best of all time. I loved the sense of struggle the constant little shots each team gave each other. Another interesting thread that was woven through the match was that Demolition really wrestled as a team and the Bulldogs wrestled as individuals. You would often see one Bulldog attempt to overwhelm both members of Demolition because they got the dug into early hole by the heat segment. They could not escape from this vicious cycle. Since most tag matches have maximum 2 heat segments by drawing out to three it really demonstrated how the first heat segment can cause a perpetual cycle of the babyface team having to fight underneath.

I may just start coming around to heel Demolition that being said I still have not seen a good babyface Demolition match.
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The Fabulous Rougeaus vs The British Bulldogs - Summerslam 88

This match was not as good as I remember, but it is a perfectly good wrestling match. This would be on the bubble if I were to make a Top 100 or 150 or what have you of 80s WWF matches. Things like Dynamite's offense, Davey Boy's selling and the Rougeau's heel work are tempered by long stretches of inactivity. At the beginning, the Rougeaus seem game to bump all around, but the Bulldogs seem content to armbar them. One funny moment was Raymond not wanting to take Dynamite's hooking clothesline full-on so he side-stepped it a bit, but still sold it. I like Jacques' attempt at an USA chant. One thing I hate about WWF tag wrestling is segments where they do prolonged leg work, which just amounts to twisting the guy's leg. You cant at least do a spinning toehold. The Rougeaus mix it up a bit more than that, but still that they spend most of the time doing that. Dynamite comes in and unleashes a volley of suplexes. Davey Boy back in with his running powerslam but Jacques makes the save. Dynamite back in but takes a back suplex off the turnbuckle from Jacques. This heat segment is my other pet peeve of WWF tag wrestling non-focused, non-descript work. Jacques & Raymond just alternate between the abdominal stretch and reverse chinlock. That amused me greatly. Also, what didnt amuse me is Gorilla and Superstar Graham, holy shit was a sucky announce team. They really couldnt come up with a better tagline than "Its a happening" for the first Summeslam. 

Dynamite gets a small package on Jacques while the ref's back is turned and MSG is standing. I notice while the crowd has really been into this match. There is one good sequence when Jacques has Dynamite in the ab stretch and he yells "Hey, ref" broadly gestures for the tag and Raymond comes in does a weird strut and kicks Dynamite in the abs. Dynamite recovers by headbutting Jacques in the gut and gives him a knife-edge. Davey Boy comes in and misses a dropkick, but is able to dump Jacques crotch first on the top rope. There is a big brouhaha and Davey Boy gorilla press slams Dynamite on Jacques, but the time limit expires.

I feel like I sounded too harsh on this match because there was a lot of good work and the pace was quite good. The heat segments just weren't as good as they could have been. I actually thought Bulldogs looked really good for a team that I figured wasn't going to give a fuck since they were on their way out. The Rougeaus are definitely better suited as heels. Jacques had great energy for a hot tag, but didnt have the offense. Raymond is a sound wrestler, but isn't good at getting face heat. As heels, Raymond can wrestle and it much is easier for him to get heat just by doing things like a weird strut or hugging his brother. Jacques is clearly a great antagonist and his ability to show ass and bump make him much better heel.

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I am tired too after all that...reading.

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Team Powers of Pain (Powers of Pain, British Bulldogs, Rockers, Hart Foundation& Young Stallions) vs Team Demolition (Demolition, Brainbusters, Rougeaus, Bolsheviks & Conquistadors) - Survivor Series '88

I am glad there were only two matches done in this style because I have to say I am not a huge fan. I think they are both ery good matches given the circumstances, but there is just too much action and not enough story. In the '87 match, I was trying to separate my issues with the style and give a positive review in spite there was a lot of sizzle, but little steak. I will say this match improves on that match as the storylines are much more interesting highlighting Demos/POP & Busters/Rockers as the next big feuds and the Impossible Dream Team of the Conquisatdors.

This was the Rockers & Busters first real big chance on a WWF stage and they really shine by differentiating themselves immediately from the WWF wrestlers. Right from the outset, the Rockers are pushing their speed element as how they will over come the stereotypical bigger guys with the Bolsheviks. Then Tully comes in and immediately starts pinballing off the babyfaces. Then when Tully has to face the prospect of Barbarian, he just struts 'n' strolls over to tag Volkoff. Fuckin Demolition aint gonna stooge for you. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Who gets the first real face in peril segment: Shawn where he delivered his typically great performance and Marty got to play the hot tag on a Conquistador. You could get a taste as a WWF fan what you were in store for with this new explosive team. After Zuhkov eliminates last year's Cinderella the Stallions, Shawn is able to prove he is the better wrestler pretty much overcoming him with ease, before tagging Marty in for a slingshot sunset flip to eliminate the Bolsheviks. Eventually the Rockers and Brainbusters erupts into a donnybrook that causes both teams to be eliminated as they fight to the back. This set up the hot feud that would take them through the first quarter of next year. The match was showcase for the Rocker's speed and selling and the Busters' bumping and stooging.

Before we get into the other two overarching storylines of the match, I just wanted to talk about everyone else. The long-standing rumor is that the Rougeaus (#3 heel team on the depth chart) were eliminated early to avoid Dynamite doing unspeakable things to Jacques. Based on Bret Hart's recent visit on the Steve Austin show, he admitted Dynamite was a prick willing to take liberties in the ring. In this match, he was able to get his hands on the Rougeaus and nothing seemed stiffer than usual. I would say a clothesline he gave Tully was even stiffer. The Bulldogs were one team that gave kind of an uninspired performance. It was just a lot of offense, but none of it had any meaning and it just became a blur. Of course, they were on their way out having wrapped up putting Demolition over and with no future it explains their meandering performance in this match, but because of how long they were in there it just dragged for me. If you are a action-mark, Bulldogs were probably your favorite team in this match, but for me they did not give me any reason to care about them. The Hart Foundation were in a similar boat, but they not as showcased plus Bret is a way better seller thus was willing to give the heels a little bit. One of my favorite random moments from this match was Barbarian was coming out of an FIP and dissed Anvil by not tagging him and tagged Marty. It had me laughing. I liked the finish to Bret's elimination where he German suplexed Tully, but could not hold him and pinned himself. The Bullodgs finish was pretty good as well with Dynamite crashing and burning on a diving head butt attempt. These two teams provided great action, but without a storyline motivation were just kinda there.

On the heel side, the Rougeaus did not get to show much due to their early elimination. 'Ol Nik looked great in this match busting a nice spinkick twice. Volkoff is not some great lost worker because he was a really solid hand that had a couple high spots hit them well and knew how to lay in his strikes. I definitely like Volkoff after seeing him a couple times. I do not get the Bolsheviks elimination of the Stallions as that could have a great way to give the Busters a good victory instead of the Bolsheviks who were going nowhere. Though maybe it was to make the Rockers look better.

Much like the Stallions & Bees, the Conquistadors played the role of the jabroni team that no one thought would make it. Difference was I got sucked into rooting for the Conquistadors mostly due to Jesse's commentary. It is these two average looking goofs in all gold costumes with generic lucha masks constantly making mistakes but somehow always withstanding all this babyface offense. Jesse & Gorilla were amazed by their resilience. They always were the guys that kept slamming their babyface to close to the wrong corner causing them to take a hot tag, but they never did get pinned. Hell one of them attempted a somersault senton from the second rope, which was the high spot of the match. Now the reason the Conquisatdors stayed in were because after the Powers of Pain heel turn they wanted a team to put the POP over, but I would have lost my shit if they gave the Conquistadors a couple spots before biting dust due to some Fuji interference and a Barbie headbutt.

Now the major story arc of this match is Demolition vs Powers of Pain. Demolition was the only heel team early on that got any offense in as they cutting off people, but their partners would lose the advantage. That is a Demolition hallmark. Barb and Smash went toe-to-toe for a bit. Smash tags out to a Conquistador for takes Barbie's big boot. The Ax vs Warlord encounter has a much bigger feel the commentary puts it over, the crowd erupts and the wrestlers are excited. Demolition double teams, but here comes Barb with a huge flying shoulder tackle. Barbarian had this strange penchant to headbutt a heel back into the heel corner letting him tag out. Barb does a little FIP, which is better than Warlord, but still nothing special. Finally we are down to Demolition & Conquistadors vs the Powers of Pain. Warlord posts his shoulder early and Demolition targets it, but Fuji keeps jumping on the apron so as to give a cane shot, but it would be in the plain view of the ref. So Demolition ignores him and the commentators are like that kooky Fuji. Smash goes to run the ropes, but tumbles through the middle rope not because he is a klutz, but because he has been sabotaged by Fuji. Demolition gets counted out, but Ax is hot at Fuji. Fuji has the gall to push Ax away with cane and when Ax turns his back he gives him a wallop. However Smash is back up and tosses him to Ax who bodyslams him and the crowd erupts and babyface turn completed. POP ignores the Impossible Dream Team of the Conquistadors and helps Fuji up and brings him to their corner. Fuji trips a Conquistador and a Barbie falling headbutt gets the win for a big pop. Heel turn in progress. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Demolition returns to clear the ring and the crowd pops for them I don't think it will take much to complete POP's heel turn.

The angle seemed random mostly likely due to me having not watched the TV. It made sense that Demolition was clearly over ought to be turned face, but it seemed strange that Fuji was just all of sudden hopping up on the ring. If they wanted to do the Fuji/POP in cahoots, why not just have Fuji trip Ax or Smash. I do not think it was the best way to turn POP heel, but the bodyslam was definitely effective in turning Demolition babyface. I will probably never watch this match again as it is wicked fuckin' long, but there is plenty of action and story telling to recommend it to be watched once.
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The British Bulldogs are offensive dynamos that can provide great, shallow, action-packed matches. Against the right opponents they can deliver incredible matches, but their uneven body of work (even pre-injury) leaves a lot to be desired. They have their place in wrestling, just not in the pantheon of elite tag teams.

Next up, Here Comes The Ax and Here Comes The Smasher!