Between the Sheets #73 (December 7-13, 1986)

[KrisZ]

 

Kris & David are guestless this week discussing the week that was December 7-13, 1986. We talk about Andre the Giant coming back to the WWF and his status as a heel as well as the early plans for WrestleMania III. We also talk about Honky Tonk Man's big surprise and WWF's plans for a Japan tour. All-Japan & New Japan ended their tag league tours and we go over the results and how great the shows were. We also go over all the territories from this period with some great names being thrown around. We close talking about the rigid schedule of JCP and John Nord possibly coming in so you can't not love this show!!!!

Timestamps:
0:00:00 WWF
0:54:29 Int’l: AJPW, NJPW, Montreal, Stampede, EMLL, & WWC
1:17:49 Classic Commercial break
1:20:00 Housekeeping & The Amazon Game
1:58:22 USA Southeast: Memphis, Continental, & Florida
2:24:43 Metroplex: UWF & WCCW
2:52:01 USA West: Central States, AWA, WWA, & Portland
3:12:01 Jim Crockett Promotions

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[The Chief]

I believe Kurt Kaufman was one of DeNucci's crew so he would have been brought in as a TV extra with Foley. Probably just a last-minute replacement and info not getting to the right people in time. I know years later they would do the same thing mixing up some of Stallion's guys.

[PeteF3]

Kaufman was Foley's first professional opponent, in fact.

[Bix]

Kaufman was Foley's first professional opponent, in fact.

 

How long before the taping would that have been? Foley/Thornton vs. Bulldogs was Mick's 2nd match. Or at least he says it was.

[Blazer]

Really enjoying this episode, but I'm a huge mid-80s guy anyway. I was 14 during this period in late 1986 and completely immersed in WWF and all things wrestling. I find the discussion about the location selection for WMIII really fascinating. I had never heard the rumor that they might consider doing MLG along with NY and LA again. Pontiac was such a perfect locale considering proximity to Toronto after the big Main Event crowd the previous August, it just made perfect sense - also an indoor facility which was really required for a late March show.

 

Watching the interview with Andre on the Thames when it originally aired, there was no hint whatsoever that a heel turn was coming, however I recall pondering why the Machines angle ended so abruptly without much of a reason. Contextually, that may have been the clue in and of itself. Once the Piper's Pit segments started, even with the first one with the trophy presentation, it was obvious what was going to happen even though it was surreal.