[1985-02-18-WWF-The War to Settle the Score] Hulk Hogan vs Roddy Piper

[TonyPulis'Cap]

Hulk Hogan defends the WWF World Heavyweight Title

This is just pure spectacle, and pro wrestling when it is at its best - when it can capture the 'big fight feel' or real sports but fuses it perfectly with entertainment and theatrics. Its got the setting, the venue, the crowd that enhances the two guys perfectly, and both Hogan and Piper come across as megastars. Both have the big special entrance - Piper with the marching band, Hogan with Cyndi Lauper. You get the extra celebrity tie in with Mr T at ringside (and Bob Costas as ring announcer). Is the match a 'technical classic'? No, but it doesn't need to be - its pure emotion and intensity and has a terrific pace throughout. Piper in particular is fantastic here, managing to balance right on the line of being underhand enough to preserve heel status and show that Hogan is superman, without straying into being a chickenshit that wouldn't be able to live with the champ. On the one hand, you would want it to go longer, but on the other, it didn't need rest holds and padding out time - it works for being an intense sprint that never lets up, with the brawling fitting the frantic nature of the occasion and the hatred going in. It doesn't have a finish, but ultimately it sets up the first Wrestlemania main event and it wants you leaving more. Just great stuff (*** 1/2). 

[Superstar Sleeze]

WWF World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan vs Rowdy Roddy Piper - WWF MSG 2/18/85

I could find all these obscure Flsir matches on YouTube but couldn’t find Flair vs Dusty from Starrcade 85. Decided to watch this match instead. I have seen it many times before as made at least not one but maybe two WWE DVD Sets. It was the precursor to WrestleMania on MTV to set up the biggest franchise in the history of pro wrestling. Hogan vs Piper.

It is better than I remembered and I am not a huge Piper guy. The opening brawl was red hot and exactly what you needed. These two looked like they wanted to kill each other. Hogan throwing those big haymakers looked great. Wished the transition to heat was a bit more impactful as usual Hogan oversold. He acted like Piper like shot him. I don’t know where the narrative Hogan doesn’t sell comes from dude sold way too much. Loved the Hogan finger wag on the Sleeper. Even though I knew it was coming. I popped for it But quietly my daughter is sleeping on my lap. Priorities people. Hogan bashing Orton cast into the post was fun. Ref bump. Wonderful/Piper double team. They see Cyndi Lauper they stalk her but Mr. T saves. Thus the main event of WrestleMania is set. ***** angle not much of a match But as a piece of business this was pretty choice. ***