4. Demolition vs. Brain Busters – 7/29/89
The first-ever title change on a SNME episode took place in my neck of the woods, as Demolition faced Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard in a two-out-of-three falls match at the Worcester Centrum.
Reminiscent of Arn and Tully’s battles with The Road Warriors, the first fall mostly consisted of Demolition dominating the heels with their size and power, and they won the fall pretty handily. In the second fall though, Ax and Smash got carried away and were disqualified for excessive double-teaming. The third fall was where this match kicked into high gear, with quick, abrasive back-and-forth action. During the melee Andre the Giant, who had shown up at ringside, slid a chair into the ring, which the Busters used to score the dastardly upset win. I was in attendance for this taping and while I was outraged at the time, this match still holds up for me as one of Demolition’s best.
3. Honky Tonk Man vs. Randy Savage – 10/3/87
This match is remembered mostly for its aftermath, as the in-ring action itself was fine but not groundbreaking. Savage was in the midst of a slow babyface turn after losing the Intercontinental Title to Ricky Steamboat, who then dropped the belt in controversial fashion to The Honky Tonk Man. HTM then took to calling himself the greatest I-C Champion of all-time (despite usually retaining the strap via countout or disqualification loss) which raised the ire of the Macho Man. Savage challenged HTM for the belt, and dominated the match, landing the flying elbowsmash before Bret Hart interfered to save HTM’s Title.
What followed was the stuff of WWF legend. HTM and the Hart Foundation triple-teamed Savage, prompting Elizabeth to run to the back for help. After Savage took a vicious guitar shot to the head, Elizabeth reappeared with none other than Hulk Hogan! Hogan and Savage cleared the ring only to bump into each other and tease fisticuffs of their own.
But Savage held out his hand in friendship, and the crowd exploded as Hogan shook it, thus forming the MegaPowers. Like I said, the match was just pretty good, but the angle that followed was mindblowing in 1987.
