Episode 58: 1987 IN THE WWF - SETTING THE STAGE!

The Wrestling Memory Grenade

We go back in time to 1986 in the WWF in order to analyze all the goings-on heading into the new year of 87. This episode is LOADED with news, background history, fun anecdotes, and yes plenty of SOUNDBITES for your listening pleasure! We take a deep dive into the ENTIRE roster heading into 1987 as we look at over 70 talents currently employed by the WWF! Plus, other topics include the hot feuds of the time between Hogan/Orndorff, Piper/Adonis, Steamboat/Savage, to name a few. The return of Andre the Giant, the injuries of both Paul Orndorff and the Dynamite Kid, the heel turn of the Honky Tonk Man, Evil Referee Danny Davis, Jim Neidhart's legal woes, WrestleMania 3, 1986 New Comers, Vince pillaging the Montreal territory, and SO MUCH MORE!! This 4.5 Hour Episode is LOADED!!!!

SPECIAL ALERT: THE WRESTLECOPIA PODCAST NETWORK & THE WRESTLING MEMORY GRENADE ARE IN THE SEARCH FOR NEW COHOSTS TO CREATE CONTENT! IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN JOINING WRESTLECOPIA AND BECOMING A FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME (OR EVEN A GUEST COHOST) PLEASE CONTACT RAY RUSSELL AT [e-mail] OR DM ME ON TWITTER @RasslinGrenade

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THE WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION... The Recognized Symbol of Excellence, in Sports Entertainment!

Host Ray Russell has a blast going back in time to 1986 in the World Wrestling Federation in order to analyze and dissect all the goings-on heading into the new year of 1987. This episode is LOADED with news, notes, background history, fun anecdotes, a deep dive into the ENTIRE WWF roster leading into 87, and yes plenty of SOUNDBITES for your listening pleasure!

Some of the topics discussed on this episode of the Grenade include...

VINCE MCMAHON'S PILLAGING OF THE MONTREAL TERRITORY - The WWF swoops in to take the remaining top stars of the Montreal territory including the Rougeau Brothers, Rick Martel, and Dino Bravo!

THE HOT FEUDS OF 1986 - We discuss at length the hottest feuds of 1986 that carry over into the new year, including PIPER VS. ADONIS, SAVAGE VS. STEAMBOAT, AND HULK HOGAN VS. "MR. WONDERFUL" PAUL ORNDORFF! Plus, Ray discusses the Orndorff heel turn, the financial success of the Hogan/Orndorff feud on the house shows, the underlying Macho Man vs. Bruno Sammartino feud that came out of the Steamboat injury, Adrian Adoni's "firing" and rehiring in the midst of his feud with the Hot Rod, and so much more!

HEEL REFEREE DANNY DAVIS - We document many of the concerning issues inside the ring with questionable referee Danny Davis throughout the fall and early winter of 1986. Jack Tunney would have to be blind not to see the shenanigans caused by Davis, and the worst is yet to come!

ANDRE THE GIANT MAKES HIS TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO THE WWF! - We look at Andre's acromegaly, his "suspension" from the WWF, his stint in New Japan following WrestleMania 2, his return to the WWF as THE GIANT MACHINE, his time away to film The Princess Bride, and Andre's return to the company following a questionable hearing in which Andre wasn't a part of... but Bobby Heenan was!!! Hmmmmm

THE HONKY TONK MAN TURNS HEEL - We discuss one of the shortest babyface runs in WWF history as the Honky Tonk Man arrives with support from the likes of WWF Champion Hulk Hogan, but the fans just aren't buying it. After losing a "Vote of Confidence" Poll with the fans, Honky finds a new attitude, as well as a new manager.

SATURDAY NIGHT'S MAIN EVENT RESULTS FOR NOVEMBER 1986 - The WWF Champion Hulk Hogan is put to the test by Booby Heenan's most recent acquisition, HERCULES. Plus, Roddy Piper moves on from former bodyguard and best friend "Cowboy" Bob Orton, and a rare "Battle of the Heels" when IC Champion Randy Savage defends against tweener Jake "The Snake" Roberts!

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN - A quick look at a couple of names who have recently departed from the company including Capt. Lou Albano and Big John Studd!

NEWCOMERS IN 1986 - We run down the list of many of the talents who arrived on the scene in 1986 and discuss what they've accomplished this far and where they're at, headed into 1987. Some of the names featured in this segment include "King" Harley Race, Dick Slater, Mike Rotunda, Koko B. Ware, the formation of the Islanders tag team, The Rougeau Brothers, Blackjack Mulligan, Tom Magee, "Outlaw" Ron Bass, Brad Rheingans, Sika the Wild Samoan, "Ugandan Headhunter" Kamala, Dr. of Style Slick along with his protege "The Natural" Butch Reed, Ken Patera released from prison, Outback Jack taking QANTAS to the States. "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan headed in, and a young lad by the name of OWEN HART!!!

QUESTIONS ANSWERED...
HOW DID SLICK BREAK HIS ARM?
WHO WAS NEXT IN LINE FOR "THE NATURAL" CHARACTER IF BUTCH REED HAD BACKED OUT??
WHAT PROMO GOT PRO WRESTLING BANNED FROM RAY RUSSELL'S BEDROOM TV???

JIM NEIDHART'S TROUBLED PAST - What started out as research for the January 1987 arrest of Jim Neidhart following an alleged assault of a flight attendant, turned into an exposé of sorts on the legal troubles of the Anvil. While uncovering the full story of what took place aboard the U.S. Air Flight in 1987, I also uncovered several stories dating back to the 1970s including one of Neidhart leaping off a 4th story balcony with a Fire Extinguisher strapped to his back and swinging from 4 bed sheets tied together like Tarzan into a lower level apartment's plate glass window. Unbelievable! From there we look at Vince McMahon fronting Neidhart the money (and the attorney) to sue the Airlines, a case that Neidhart won (over $300,000 in 1991 money) and then refused to pay McMahon back! Crack is a helluva drug!

WRESTLING INJURIES - PAUL ORNDORFF & THE DYNAMITE KID - We look at the knee injury of Dan Spivey and the broken toes of Jacques Rougeau before getting to the real meat of the Injury Stories leading into 1987. First, we take a look at the nerve damage to the neck and shoulder of "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff, his refusal to take time off, and all of this leading to atrophy in his right arm. From there, we move on to the case of the Dynamite Kid, another man who was working ...