As many of you are aware, WWE Network is pretty packed with all sorts of content. And as you may also know, we here at Place to Be Nation love long term, in depth projects. So, as part of this initiative, JT Rozzero, Chad Campbell, Jason Greenhouse, Scott Criscuolo & Dan McGinn are starting in 1975 and are planning to watch the entire offering of the WWE Network chronologically. They have plotted their course and after watching each program, they will share their thoughts, notes and recommendations with our readers. So, settle in and enjoy this epic ride through wrestling history!
Tuesday Night Titans 6/27/85
Run Time: 47:20
Best Segment
JT: I usually avoid doubling down but as you will see below I am running with Magnificent Muraco and Mr. Fuji on this episode. They were funny on set and then the sun lotion segment was absurd on many levels, especially with Fuji narrating the action. Muraco getting flustered and being unable to track his thoughts whole getting rubbed down was great. More below.
Brian: The Don Muraco & Mr. Fuji segment was by far and away the most entertaining thing on a bland episode of TNT. The rubdown segment became hysterical when Muraco lost his train of thought and when listening to Fuji bark out instructions for the girls.
Dan: Anytime you can combine girls in skimpy bathing suits, Fuji yelling “harda harda harda,” Muraco saying “silly white people” when poking fun at those of us who suffer from Vitamin D deficiencies, Fuji telling us what kinds of oils to use (and the proper quantities) that will turn your skin into gold and then Muraco almost losing character because he’s basically getting rubbed down on network television, you have all the makings of our best segment category.
Scott: I enjoyed the Gamma Singh segment with the snake. He was very smooth and in his delivery didn’t seem like a guy who was new or inexperienced.
Best Performance
JT: Choice here is easily Magnificent Muraco and Mr. Fuji on this episode. Muraco opening up by proudly plugging his Arizona Outlaws t-shirt got us off and running and then I loved him and Fuji explaining why their partnership works so well. The brief footage of their road trip was solid and then the suntan lotion stuff was… well, exactly what you would expect. They could have found him some better looking chicks, although I love him bragging about flying in his ladies from Hawaii and Las Vegas since they “belong” to him. Plus you get the added bonus of Fuji directing the action and Vince peppering absurd questions during the massage.
Brian: Muraco came off like the biggest star here and was incredibly entertaining throughout the show. He saved what had been a brutal episode of TNT. From being on the couch and saying all of the bums in the New York parks were all Hulk Hogan and Cyndi Lauper fans to talking about how great his own wrestling moves were then just laughing while being rubbed down, he saved the show.
Dan: It’s Fuji and Muraco again. These guys played off each other so well. They were so into their characters as aspiring movie stars by this point and I could have easily seen Muraco as a serious threat for the World Title after watching this. Well, at least until the rub down segment. I had to laugh while watching the Magnificent One’s match with Sal Bellomo. Didn’t those two look like a before and after photo. In just six weeks on IcoPro, Sal could go from building boats to building biceps. Well, I thought it was funny anyways. I also dug him going after Orndorff calling Mr. Wonderful’s piledriver “simple” and inferior to his own version of the move.
Scott: Don Muraco and Mr. Fuji were fantastic because they were utterly ridiculous. I think they knew they were ridiculous, and both of them hammed it up to the max. Muraco was even getting some of the usual TNT “double entendres” in that only those on the stage can figure out. The oil massage segment was killing me as even Muraco couldn’t keep a straight face.
Biggest Surprise
JT: I was surprised about the sudden focus on Gama Singh. We dove into his home country, religion and culture, native animals and in ring ability, including checking out one of his matches. He was dedicated quite a bit of time out of this hour. I did enjoy him talking about what the name Singh means in his religion after Vince asked him if Singh in India was like Jones in the US.
Brian: Biggest surprise was that Gama Singh got a segment. He was never even shown on TV despite being in the company since the Summer of 1984. I was shocked they even attempted to give him a character to be honest.
Dan: For as much time as they gave him on the show, I’m surprised Gama Singh wasn’t bigger than he was. He had a good grasp of the English language and seemed to have some personality unlike some characters from overseas we will come to know. Yes, his match was pretty tepid and fans were chanting, “boring” the whole time, but that’s besides the point. Seemed an odd choice for this show but if you look back, there have been a number of questionable bookings on TNT the last two years.
Scott: I was surprised that Gama Singh got as much camera time as he did, and so little for the other more experienced guys like Orton.
Biggest Disappointment
JT: Don’t really have one this week, I guess maybe that we spent more time on Gama Singh than we did on Bob Orton? Minor qualm.
Brian: Can someone explain why Gama Singh was 30 feet away while Brian Blair of all people had to hold the snake off the stage? Very odd and just a complete waste of a segment if you ask me.
Dan: I wish sometimes they would try to give us a competitive match or two on this show. I know it’s more about the talking and the goofiness, but at least one match where I can’t immediately pick the outcome wouldn’t hurt anyone. Who the hell is Bob Marcus? Did that Butler guy have a first name against Singh? I’m definitely in the wrong era aren’t I?
Scott: I was disappointed that once again we are not talking about big feuds and backlash from WrestleMania. Instead we have stand alone evergreen crap. Perhaps I’m being too picky because the weekend syndies were meant for that but still, TNT turned into the one hour inside joke.
Additional Observations
JT: Bob Orton is back and we immediately revisit the doctor’s office visit, tying things together nicely; Bob Marcus looks more like a WCCW wrestler than a WWF type of jobber; Jack Reynolds and Jesse Ventura do a nice job highlighting the cast angle on commentary as well; Alfred saying “Scots are noted to be stingy and miserly” made me laugh; Vince needling Orton about his pay from Piper was entertaining; Gama Singh’s appearance was a surprising one, quite random; Singh in the ring was a big meh but the missile dropkick finish was solid enough; Vince delving into Sikh religion and traditions was an odd direction for this chat to go; Why is fucking Brian Blair tasked with toting the snake around?; Vince basically no selling Singh talking about the snakes being known to swallow small children; Blair looked pretty good in his match with Steve Lombardi; Pretty cool to hear Blair talk about his community work; “All you white people want to just go lay in the sand”; “Two of my little twins from Hawaii”; Great capper with Alfred getting prepped to be oiled up
Brian: The show started off with Bob Orton telling us he continues to live in pain and found a real doctor, unlike the quack from TNT a few weeks ago that said his arm was healed. After showing us Orton beating Bob Marcus in a match from “All-Star Wrestling,” Vince kept needling Orton about how much money Roddy Piper was taking from him but Orton remained cool and assured is he was taken care of quite well. Lord Alfred even got in a dig at Scottish people by referring to them as “stingy.” After that, Gama Singh came out in a robe and turbin to tell us he is not a stereotype. We see him beat Doc Butler in a match from the 4/20/85 “Championship Wrestling” tapings in Poughkeepsie, NY. Singh was technically solid but this was his first TV appearance and besides this had one match shown on “Prime Time Wrestling” before leaving the company. The end showed him talking about his snake, who was on Brian Blair’s shoulders all the way to the side of the set. The guy cannot even be bothered to hold the snake himself? The snake did almost slither away as the handler had to put it back in the box. Lord Alfred and Vince were amused by this, which makes two of us anyway. Brian Blair was up next and talked about being afraid of the snake before we saw him defeat Steve Lombardi on “Championship Wrestling.” After that he talked about a youth wrestling tournament. While a solid technical wrestler, Blair was painfully dull. The show ended with Muraco & Fuji, looking like they toked up before heading out on the set, coming out and saving the show by entertaining us all. Muraco also defeated Sal Bellomo from “Championship Wrestling” then got his rub down after telling is common white people that we do not know how to tan. The show then ended with Muraco’s girls about to give Lord Alfred a rub down.
Dan: Bob Orton was the man still rocking his cast in the month of June. Jack Reynolds, though, maybe onto something though speculating that his arm protection may give him an edge. Also Jack, say it with me now… Superplex! Not super suplex. I can’t imagine why he couldn’t say this correctly. Vince keeps grilling Orton on Piper and kept calling him Ace’s manager. I never thought of it that way. I always figured Orton was Piper’s hired help who did the Hot Scot’s bidding. Why would Piper take a cut like a sports agent if he’s the one who hired Ace to protect him? My head hurts. I wish I got a rolex from Place to Be Nation. I deserve it after carrying Corino all those episodes. For what it’s worth, Wikipedia told me that Gama Singh is the uncle of Jinder Mahal (Whoever that guy is, because we’re in 1985). This may be offensive but I think Singh should have wrestled with his turban on. Fight Great Tiger style from the extremely tolerant video game Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out. Wow, I’m so fired. Why is B. Brian Blair the snake handler? I truly believe he feared that snake once it almost swallowed his arm whole. Finally, was there any more perfect way to end this show than to have the girls oil up Alfred. I say nay sir!
Scott: Bob Orton carried himself with just as much great swagger as Roddy Piper did back in that day; Wow another jobber I never remember, the iconic Bob Marcus; I’m telling you Vince was as just as much a heel as heels were, stirring the pot about Piper’s cut of Orton’s wages; India is a country Vince, in the continent of Asia. Moron; I liked Bruno Sammartino’s commentary, actually analyzing moves and saying when guys screwed something up either physically or philosophically; Since when was B. Brian Blair an expert in holding an Indian Rock Python? The Iron Sheik was hoping the python would choke him out; They gave this Gama Singh a decent amount of time, and he actually had some decent charisma. He was an ok wrestler, but knew how to talk; B. Brian Blair was very boring. The local tournament stuff was nice, but dreadfully dull; Muraco was still in pretty good shape at this point, as he hadn’t really got fat until 1986; I liked Muraco’s piledriver, it looked vicious; Didn’t we do this whole wrestler massage thing once with Greg Valentine? And his wife was hotter than these two bimbos; I don’t ever want to see Alfred oiled in anything ever
Consensus Best WWE Network Match to Date: Roddy Piper vs. Greg Valentine (NWA Starrcade 11/24/83)
Consensus Worst WWE Network Match to Date: Ivan Putski vs. Baron Von Raschke (Madison Square Garden, 6/27/77)
Final Grade
JT: There were certainly some laughs in this episode but the middle stretch with Singh and Blair was pretty bland overall. I wish we got more storyline type stuff like we did a week ago with JYD and Jimmy Hart but we really don’t see it on a consistent basis. The Orton and Muraco segments were very well done, especially the waning moments of the suntan segment. A fine enough watch but nothing to write home about this week. Final Grade: 4/10
Brian: This was shaping up as one of the worst TNTs of all-time until Muraco & Fuji showed up. The Singh and Blair segments were pointless and the Orton segment was brief and unmemorable. Without focus on the main angles these shows are really dragging. Final Grade: 3.5/10
Dan: This show just continues to be below average and I concur with my colleagues that Muraco and Fuji saved this episode immensely. You can pretty much cut out the first 30 minutes and be okay with your life decisions. I mean even Bob Orton’s bit seemed a bit stale without Piper tagging along to make it sizzle. You can’t go wrong with girls in bikinis though, that’s what I always say. Now in the immortal words of Mr. Fuji… Hardah! Hardah! Hardah! Final Grade: 3.5/10
Scott: This show was ok, there wasn’t anything really outstanding but the Muraco and Fuji stuff did make me laugh as the comedic boobs of the WWF at that time. Otherwise this was a pretty antiseptic episode with nothing worthwhile or memorable. Final Grade: 5/10
You can find every grade and category winner from the entire Excellent WWE Network Adventure by clicking this link!
