UWF Fury Hour: Episode 46

UWF Fury Hour Episode 46, 12th July 1992

Tonight! We will see Ivan Koloff vs 'The Boogie Woogie Man' Jimmy Valiant. And more Colonel Red. Hoo-fucking-rah.

Wet N' Wild vs The Marauder & Viper II

Tolos says Wet N' Wild have some fantastic moves that he hasn't seen in a long time. Craig tries to insult Tolos' fans. Wet N' Wild are still wanting to be the tag-team champions - so why do they continue to wrestle in a company where there is no tag-team championship? Steve Ray does sort of reverse Boston Crab that just... looks stupid. But Viper II has a hole in his tights, so the commentators instead focus on that.

I mean, fair enough; you're in the UWF, son! The big leagues! You should take pride in your appearance when you're reaching a television audience of... Herb's family every week.

Winners = Wet N' Wild via Sunny Beach getting the pin via Splash.

Call The UWF Powerline! Before the phone service is cancelled...

'Mr. Wonderful' Paul Orndorff vs Stone Cold

Next week Orndorff will get a shot at 'Cowboy' Bob Orton and the coveted UWF Southern States Championship. So the commentators spend the majority of this match discussing that match instead.

Winner = 'Mr. Wonderful' Paul Orndorff via Piledriver

Orndorff looks all kinds of uninterested in this show.

Colonel Red's Corner

Red is just shouting at Herb that he won't interview Jimmy Valiant, so Valiant comes out and threatens to beat him up instead. Why would being interviewed by Colonel Red be so important to him?? Ivan Koloff comes out and he and Valiant need to be separated. Tolos is very excited! He says he likes "action in the ring, out of the ring, in the parking lot and in the toilet!"?

The Nightstalker vs Dick Steel

Someone please explain to Craig what a hatchet is. Actually, explain to him what a lot of things are. And keep him away from all microphones forever.

Winner = The Nightstalker via Chokeslam.

'Cowboy' Bob Orton thinks Paul Orndorff is only getting a title shot because he is Herb's boyfriend? I thought this dude was trying to be a good guy now?? Also, if Orndorff was getting preferential treatment, I don't think he would have been screwed over for 'Dr. Death' Steve Williams so many times.

'Cowboy' Bob Orton vs Helmet Hessler (w/Kevin Casey)

So if Orton were to lose this match, what would happen to next week's main event? Would it be changed to Paul Orndorff vs Helmet Hessler? Or would he just miss out on fighting for the title? Also, why does Orton have issues with Orndorff getting a title shot when he's willing to grant one Helmet Hessler, who's only been in the UWF a short while AND is coming off a loss last week?? And why would I actually think about these things?!?! 

Kevin Casey keeps teasing hitting Orton with his golf club, but Craig tells us "the couple of thousand fans in attendance" keep alerting the referee to his attempts.

Winner = 'Cowboy' Bob Orton via Belly-to-Back Suplex

So next week's main event will go ahead unchanged! What a relief!

Jimmy Valiant is excited to wrestle Ivan Koloff! After he wins, he is going to beat up Colonel Red as well. He sings some type of rock'n roll song and if it were anyone else I'd say it was awful and I have to kill myself, but it's the Boogie Man so I'll allow it.

Special Grudge Match

'The Boogie Woogie Man' Jimmy Valiant vs Ivan Koloff (w/Colonel Red)

John Tolos tries to start a "U.S.A." chant. And a "Golden Greek" chant. I'm pretty sure Valiant is going to spend more time partying with the crowd than he will actually wrestling in this match. 

Tolos says Valiant "has that style". Homeless-old-drunk-recovering-junkie style? Valiant hits Koloff with a cane and then chokes him - so this is no disqualification? Valiant chokes Koloff with a cable, but that somehow ends with Valiant being hurt and Koloff being totally ok. Now the referee is counting Valiant for choking Koloff in the ring - good to see there are some set rules here. And Colonel Red is allowed to hit Valiant with his cane?

Winner = Ivan Koloff via Colonel Red hitting Jimmy Valiant.

Herb runs out and says he is reversing the decision, so Colonel Red knocks him out of the ring and beats him with his cane. Valiant and Koloff continue to brawl in the ring, but eventually Valiant grabs a chair and slooooooowly comes to Herb's rescue. VERY slowly. So slowly that Craig is like 'Here comes Valiant to make the save - no he's not. Oh yes he is! Oh wait - no, yes here he comes!' Herb is a bloody mess and is taken out on a stretcher.

Thoughts:

• Main event was kinda fun? Mainly because Jimmy Valiant is always just ludicrously fun - even when he's a slow old man.

UWF Fury Hour: Episode 43

UWF Fury Hour Episode 43, 29th June 1992

Check out that date - this is not a typo!
Turns out my concern for promoting a "possible" signing of The Ultimate Warrior was unfounded, because that was the UWF's last week of television before being taken off the air for it would seem about 9 months. The remaining dates on their one-year deal saw the UWF replaced by some women's wrestling show, where Bruno Sammartino would also serve as a commentator.

So here we are again! Can Herb bring the company back to life in a successful direction?

Craig and 'The Golden Greek' John Tolos welcome us to the Universal Wrestling Federation. 'Cowboy' Bob Orton is now the UWF Southern States Champion. Mr. Red has been promoted to Colonel.

Orton gives a rambling promo about what the announcers have been saying about him. There has been no UWF for 9 months so I have no idea what they've been saying about him. He's being a nicer guy so people in his everyday life enjoy talking to him. Apparently he beat 'Rugged' Ronnie Garvin for this title. He wants to fight 'Mr. Wonderful' Paul Orndorff in a fair fight or something. Seems fishy.

'Cowboy' Bob Orton vs Midnight Star
The UWF Southern States Championship belt is bright green and looks weird. So it's perfect for the UWF! Just like this 'Midnight Star':

Is this match for the title? Tolos thinks Orton is Lex Luger? 'Dr. Death' Steve Williams couldn't fulfil his contract or something, so there will be another tournament to crown a new TV champion. Sure. Orton looks and moves like he's aged about 5 years in the last 9 months.

Winner = 'Cowboy' Bob Orton via Superplex

Tolos acts like he's never seen Orton perform a superplex before. Bro - you were his manager. You've seen him use that to win matches many times. Herb tells Orton it was a great match and I can barely hear Orton over the music played in the venue. Good job!

Herb talks about how The UWF is what pro-wrestling should be and then brings in Captain Lou Albano. You get a fuck you like you should do. Call the Powerline?

Ivan Koloff (w/Colonel Red) vs Jake Steel
Colonel Red is wearing white because he is a fucking moron. He shouts at the crowd about something.

Tolos assures Craig he is going to make him "a great sportsman". Huh?? Wait - Colonel Red was the former manager of Jimmy Valiant? And Jimmy Valiant is coming to The UWF??

Winner = Ivan Koloff via clothesline with a chain.

Koloff needed to cheat to beat a jobber?

Colonel Red's Corner

HOLY FUCK THEY ACTUALLY SPELLED IT "REDS"
Ivan Koloff is here with his nephew, Vladimir. Is this just Nikita with a different name? But then what do you do with all those Nikita Koloff t-shirts? He looks like he's been skipping the gym since we last saw him. They say absolutely nothing - and in Vladimir's case, literally.

'Mr. Wonderful' Paul Orndorff vs Tommy Angel
Orndorff doesn't seem too happy to be here today. Tolos says he doesn't want to give Orndorff too much praise, and then proceeds to spend the entire match saying how great Orndorff is in every way.

Winner = 'Mr. Wonderful' Paul Orndorff via Piledriver

Orndorff thinks Orton is one of the best wrestlers of all time, but wants to beat him for "the belt that the whole world wants". You guys are going to fight over my Transformers belt??

'Pistol' Pez Whatley vs The Marauder
Whatley. Koloff. Orndorff. Valiant. Orton. Is this 1992 or 1982??
Craig can't pronounce "Marauder" - keeps calling him "The Moroder". Tolos goes on a rant about wrestlers in the 1950's - which makes sense, because this match looks like it is from the 1950's. Craig and Tolos discuss the way Whatley shakes his ass and the great success it can help lead him to. Seriously.

Winner = 'Pistol' Pez Whatley via crossbody

Watch some boxing on "state of the art videotape".

Wet N' Wild vs Johnny Kidd & Stone Cold
First "The Rock from Hawaii" and now Stone Cold??
Tolos and Craig say these are the top contenders for the World's Heavyweight Championship. WHAT?!?! Tolos calls Wild Thing "unorthodox" and doesn't think he's quite "elite level", which Craig takes a great deal of offense at. Craig thinks the jobberdudes should just quit and give the match to Wet N' Wild, while on the other hand Tolos thinks Wet N' Wild are having a tough time trying to beat them.

Winners = Wet N' Wild via crossbody

Crossbody is the new official move of the UWF, it would seem.

Tolos says the jobbers are awesome. Wet N' Wild looks like they may have gotten worse.

'The Boogie-Woogie Man' Jimmy Valiant is here! And he's looking... not so Boogie-Woogie. He is not happy with Colonel Red.

And we out!

Thoughts:

• UWF 2.0. might be twice as bad.
• I'm not sure what happened, but it seems with nine months of no television tapings, Herb forgot how to book screwy finishes - there were none at all for once!
• Throwing an ugly green belt on 'Cowboy' Bob Orton with almost no context is pretty darn great.
• This show is sorely missing Bruno on commentary.

UWF Fury Hour: Episode 34

UWF Fury Hour Episode 34, 24th June 1991

I guess it is time for more matches from The Beach Brawl! Wooo hoooo! I'll go stab myself now.

UWF Ladies Championship
Rockin' Robin vs Candi Devine
My copy joins the match in progress, which is absolutely fine with me! Craig rhymes "mere" with "hair" and is mighty pleased with himself.

Winner = Rockin' Robin via rollup

Craig thinks this is the peak of her career. I don't know if she ever wrestled at a WrestleMania, but she did defeat the music at WrestleMania V and I'd imagine that moment was pretty up there for her! 

Craig and Brian in their empty office are interviewing Rockin' Robin.

These pictures really just reinforce that the whole thing looks like a job interview. Brian wants to know what's next: "Touring across the country with the UWF?" Oh yeah, those extensive UWF tours of... The Penta Hotel and... Florida. Robin isn't a "desk person". The irony of someone saying that when being interviewed in the most generic office ever... Craig asks her to sing and I get ready to fucking throw my TV at Craig.

Now they're talking with Candi Devine, who is wearing the same gear she wrestled in. She has no other clothes? Her and Robin have fought many times "in the mid-West and also the West".

This Jeep commercial makes me want to rock out!

Recap of the previous battles between Wet N' Wild and Cactus Jack & 'Cowboy' Bob Orton.

Wet N' Wild vs 'Cowboy' Bob Orton & Cactus Jack w/'The Golden Greek' John Tolos
This match has a 45 minute time-limit draw? That's like my living limit for this match. Everything is so dark it's hard to see what's happening - if I were in the crowd, I'd be having a hard time seeing Tolos getting thrown into a cage. And not just because I'd be trying to set myself on fire. This reminds me of when Dusty Rhodes had a "gorilla" in a cage to sort out the Four Horsemen. That was fucking hilarious. This is not. Wild Thing's dropkick to knock Orton out of ring was.

Winners = Wet N' Wild via Orton cheating fail

Jack and Orton have a rumble afterwards. Tolos blows his whistle. Foley really did bleed a lot for the several people in attendance.

Oh fuck it's an empty office interview with Wet N' Wild.

Dudes clearly look under the influence. John Tolos was suspended 20 feet in the air. No wait it was 30 feet. Now it's 35 feet. Wild Thing was inspired by a girl in his apartment or something? Herb's wife? He is giving the most rambling nonsense answers. John Tolos is gone?? Sunny Beach likes cornflakes. Bah fucking gawd this is all kinds of hilariously awful. They like sharing... and say WW (Wet N' Wild) apparently stands for "Party Time". I don't see a single W in there, you fucking dropkicks.

Next candidate Brian and Craig have to interview is 'Cowboy' Bob Orton.

He calls Jack a goof and a scatterbrain. He needs to be in a ring with someone just as good as him. Apparently Tolos didn't drop brass knuckles - it was just his wallet and Orton was going to look after it until after the match. Cactus Jack is everywhere - except he's not here. Orton will stick to singles wrestling now.

Lou still wants you to call him to talk about celebrities. What celebrities does he know in 1991?

That's... it?

Thoughts:

• I remind you again - this show is NOT live. Whoever looked at that interview with Wet N' Wild and thought "Hell yeah, that's great television!" needs a serious high-five.
• It's close this week, but I'll give the win to WCW; the Desperadoes hunting Stan Hansen was hilarious. Either way, a fun week for someone that enjoys awful pro-wrestling segments.

UWF Fury Hour: Episode 33

UWF Fury Hour Episode 33, 17th June 1991

Yay Beach Brawl replays! While I've already seen these matches, it might be interesting to see if they've been edited any better for TV.

We get the same opening video package from The Beach Brawl - this is the way pro-wrestling used to be. Great teachers of the sport... like Captain Lou Albano.

I really don't recall when the explosion sounds were added to the opening, but bah gawd they are the best.

Craig and Bruno welcome us to "the best matches from The Beach Brawl". Craig says 'let's take a look a the show' but instead we get an ad for The Naked Gun 2 1/2 - that would be a great show. Well done, Herb!

The Black Harts (w/Luna Vachon) vs Jim Cooper & The Fire Cat
Craig tries to call Luna ugly but Bruno isn't having any of it. Craziest thing I learned from the Dark Side episode was Luna married BOTH Black Harts. There's definitely some crowd noise added for extra excitement. Shame they can't CGI some crowd. 

Winners = The Black Harts via things

I don't want to say it was edited that much better, but the added crowd noise helped it seem less boring.

Voice over guy calls The Black Harts "creeps". Okay, Edgelord.

Brian and Craig are interviewing The Black Harts and Luna Vachon... in some weird, empty office.

So it's a job interview? The Black Harts want to work backstage for the UWF? Brian tries to explain that Jim Cooper and The Fire Cat are a great tag-team - Craig is trying hard not to laugh. Luna threatens Wet N' Wild for the tag-team championship like it actually exists. Casual conversation BAHAHAHA. Craig says Luna's snake looks unhealthy and she is highly offended. The Black Harts just sit there making bird calls or something. This is getting fucking mad. Now Craig asks if she's "been thinking about the tag-titles". MOTHERFUCKER she's only mentioned them like 5 times already. He says Wet N' Wild have seen The Black Harts' faces and that they're ugly - this dude is such a shit stirrer!
Craig: "Do you ever worry about that snake choking you?"
Luna: "Do you ever worry about me spitting on you?"
Brian: "Yeah, I do kinda worry about that."

HOLY FUCKBALLS THAT WAS HILARIOUS

I wish I could share audio on here, because this Jeep ad has the best music.

Remember, fans - you can still buy the replay of The Beach Brawl! Which is why they are showing you every match on free television...

Mask Confusion vs The Power Twins
The Power Twins come to the ring carrying fly-swatters - did I notice that previously? And why is Craig making fun of them for balding? They still have a fair bit of hair and there are wrestlers on this show with much less. Hell, Bruno's hair is thinning pretty badly. Craig is a dick. It's the same boring match, except somehow Blair taking on both twins is somehow even more hilarious this time around.

Winners = Mask Confusion/The Killer Bees via deception. Decepticons? Insecticons??

Honestly, how is that BS legal?

Oh, you can even buy The Beach Brawl on VHS? And it costs more than the PPV did? Sounds like a deal!

The UWF are coming back to Florida because they haven't quite killed the territory yet.

Craig and Brian are back in their office, this time for a performance review with The Power Twins.

The Twins point out Mask Confusion/The Killer Bees/Name Confusion are cheaters. Brian calls this sour grapes, but the Twins defiantly reply they had eggs for breakfast. Apparently there will be a tag-team tournament in a few months - good luck! This company will by lucky to stage a potluck dinner by then. The Power Twins say it was a camera trick - they didn't really lose. Craig says they're now out of contention for the tag-team titles - wait, so they were top contenders, lost one match, and now they're not even considered contenders? WTF? Craig for some reason starts giving them shit about not liking snakes. Neither do you, dipshit! I didn't see you running to hug Luna's snake 10 minutes ago. Craig insults them some more, so The Power Twins insult him back and Brian is all like "another personal attack". BAHAHAHA THE FUCKING GALL

You can still buy The Beach Brawl programme because no one else did.

Captain Lou Albano wants you to call him because he's done nothing else this show and is now lonely.

You can pay to get pre-recorded silly outgoing messages for your answering machine?

Oh, we're done?

Thoughts:

• This was the about the funniest damned episode you could imagine.
• The format actually worked really well; maybe if the matches were a bit quicker it would have been perfect, but I really liked having the dedicated backstage interviews instead of Captain Lou Albano just yelling over the top of what they're trying to say.
• This past week's WCW was just Clash of the Champions XV, and while there were a couple of good matches, there were a bunch of screwy finishes and NOTHING made me laugh the way this show did. UWF WINS

UWF Fury Hour: Episode 32

UWF Fury Hour Episode 32, 10th June 1991

This was taped before The Beach Brawl but aired after, so I have no idea what they are going to talk about. Hence I stuck with aired date order and am watching after The Beach Brawl. But really, I'm expecting the usual bunch of shitty matches that mean nothing so it probably doesn't matter anyways...

Herb's in the control room to say thanks for watching The Beach Brawl. I don't know who is now doing the voice over work for the show preview, but I really want Herb back doing it. Pro-wrestling shows need crazy people yelling at me!

Joshua Bengorian vs Hog Calhoun

Bengorian is attacked before the bell and Bruno blames it on being inexperienced in the UWF. I blame it on being a fucking hilariously useless numbnuts. 

Winner = Joshua Bengorian via Israeli Airforce Bomber

Bruno is almost in shock that this goof won the match.

The next few weeks will be highlights of The Beach Brawl. So if you think this week is pointless, just you wait!

Chris Michaels & Tom Brandi vs Captain Badd & The Beast

Wow a battle of the most irrelevant wrestlers on the show! The Beast goes for a dropkick but it ends up being more like a leg clothesline. Craig calls it a "knee kick". Even Bruno can't pretend that wasn't a stupid thing to call it.

Winners = Chris Michaels & Tom Brandi via top rope dropkick

Craig says Michaels & Brandi stole that one. Yeah man, you make sure those good guys get over huge!

Buy a Dan Spivey t-shirt so you can show your support for him at the next UWF show!

Captain Lou Albano compares pro-wrestlers to boxers and thinks a pro-wrestler has more ways to beat a boxer. Not in a boxing match!

Ask The Wrestlers

Colonel DeBeers says he's blind in one eye, which is why he wears the patch. Voice over guys says he's also blind in the brain. What?

Wet N' Wild vs The Messenger & Brian Donahue

Bruno thinks these guys are slowly improving - that's not hard, considering how bad they were. And compared to some of the shitburgers that often appear on The Fury Hour. 

Winners = Wet N' Wild via rocket launcher splash

Captain Lou's Corner

There's a new champion, but instead of talking to him we'll talk to the guy that DIDN'T win in the main event. Albano says Bam Bam is going to get the belt eventually. Voice over guy calls them both ugly. I mean, he's not wrong...

"Golden Oldies"

We get a replay of the lumberjack match from earlier in the year. I won't bother writing about it again.

Power Twins vs Soul Train Philips & Cash Jackson

Bruno moves off commentary so the leader of The Guardian Angels can take over. He talks about beating up criminals and they might hire some of the wrestlers to help out. He's a total New Yorker, so he also appreciates Bruno. But not as much as his wife, apparently.

Winners = The Power Twins via double team destruction

"Golden Oldies"
B. Brian Blair vs Mike Williams
Did I review this already? I would have to look back and that feels like more effort. So let's review it this time and see what I think. Or I could just watch and realise it lasts all of 2 minutes so nothing to review.

Winner = B. Brian Blair via shitshooter

'Dr. Death' Steve Williams wants you to call him. Now! The new champion's only appearance on the show was begging for calls to the hotline??

Thoughts:

• The most boring and pointless show yet.
• WCW at least had some intrigue and story progression this week, while UWF just sat around going 'duuuhh'