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The Top 5 Lamest 1980s WWF Promos

Posted: Feb 28th 2011 By: CMBurnham

There?s been an awful lot of talk about how some longtime pro wrestling stars, such as the Dwayne ?The Rock? Johnson and Jerry ?The King? Lawler, have swooped into angles on WWE Monday Night Raw and delivered promos better than anyone else on the current roster.

Let?s face it: The on-the-job training for interviews was a lot better in yesteryear. In the 1980s, the WWF had a lot of wrestlers and managers who could talk well on the microphone. People like Roddy Piper, Randy ?Macho Man? Savage, Hulk Hogan, and Jake ?The Snake? Roberts understood how to push matches and angles.

However, more than a few promos in that decade were stinkers, which made me ponder the worst ones I had heard during the ?80s. One of my qualifications here is that it had to be an interview that anyone could have seen (so house show promos really can?t count). And a bad segment doesn?t mean you gave a bad promo, as plenty of gifted talkers have been saddled with lousy circumstances (think about some of those corny Saturday Night?s Main Event skits).

Instead, my choices are reserved for those who truly butchered the art of the pro wrestling promo. With that, below are my five lamest promos from the ?80s:
5. Jack Tunney strips ?Million Dollar Man? Ted DiBiase of the WWF Title (1988). I want to be fair to Tunney. He was a WWF promoter from Toronto who became figurehead president of the WWF, a role that transitioned into something more significant during Tunney?s ?time in office.? That said, if you?re going to cast someone for that part, he or she should know how to talk well. The WWF stripping DiBiase of the title (after Andre the Giant defeated Hulk Hogan for the belt and then bequeathed it to DiBiase) needed to be boosted by a strong segment, but Tunney didn?t exactly deliver. He would have fit right in with many of the WWE stars of today who can?t deliver a scripted promo without sounding wooden.

4. Uncle Elmer appears on Piper?s Pit (1985). Anyone who wants to talk about the shallow talent pool in pro wrestling these days should take a trip back to 1985 and wonder, like I did for years, how Uncle Elmer had a job in the WWF. The guy was a terrible wrestler and a bad promo, as his appearance in Piper?s Pit illustrates. Piper, who was consistently great in the Piper?s Pit segments, couldn?t save this one with Elmer. It?s like watching grade school kids argue.

3. Famous baseball announcer Bob Uecker interviews Andre the Giant at WrestleMania IV (1988). First off, for those who need an interpretation of what Andre is saying, he knocked Hogan out of contention in the WWF Title tournament that was the showcase at WrestleMania IV (Randy Savage won the tournament and became champ). But listening to Uecker?s terrible comedy and watching his even worse selling just wrecked this promo. To me, Uecker was the epitome of Vince McMahon?s dire need for mainstream acceptance in the 1980s. McMahon wanted so badly to get any kind of rub from celebrities during the early years of Mania that he picked people whom you couldn?t take seriously, which was unfortunate because this Andre interview should have been serious given how prominent the feud with Hogan was.

2. The debut of Brother Love (1988). After Piper?s Pit became a hit, the WWF threw many stars into the spotlight hoping they could repeat Piper?s success. Jesse Ventura, Adrian Adonis, and Blackjack Mulligan all had interview segments that were ? ummm ? forgettable. And then you had the Brother Love Show, which was certainly memorable, but in an embarrassing way. Piper had the talent to interview prelim jobber Frankie Williams and just about everyone who saw it remembers that segment to this day, but I?m not sure I can think of one classic Brother Love promo. I certainly recall this clip, the debut of the Brother Love Show, as terrible, and the guy who played the character, Bruce Prichard, never made it work. The character first appeared in 1988 and continued for three long, long years.

1. The creation of Strike Force (1987). Rick Martel and Tito Santana were beyond cheesy coming up with the name Strike Force, and I remember the whole thing vividly in a bad way. Santana stepped in to take the place of Tom Zenk (who had just quit the WWF and his team with Martel, the Cam-Am Connection). During an interview in the dressing room, Santana vowed to opponents that he had Martel?s back and that, ?We?re going to be striking with force, baby!? Ugh. But it got worse. ?I?ll tell you what, that doesn?t sound bad. What about the Strike Force?? Martel responded. To which Santana yelled with his fist in the air, ?Strike Force!? Santino Marella might have made this material work, but Martel and Santana were too straight-laced to make it convincing. Goofy acting aside, Strike Force went on to beat the Hart Foundation for the Tag Team Championship.

As a footnote, I?m sure some people will wonder why Ultimate Warrior didn?t make this list. I actually found Warrior?s promos bizarre but entertaining. Even if you dispute my notion, I think we can all agree that his strangest WWF interviews came in the 1990s, starting just before his WrestleMania VI match with Hulk Hogan. So from that perspective, he escapes my list of shame for the 1980s.

Supplemental Information

Spotlight in History

1964 Tony Borne def. Karl Kox for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
1978 Ernie Ladd became the TSW Arkansas Champion
1983 Junkyard Dog def. Butch Reed for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
1986 John Tatum & Jack Victory def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the UWF Tag Team Titles
2002 Beau Dalton def. Vinnie Valentino for the OCW Oklahoma Title
2002 Michael Faith & Smash Hansen def. Big Daddy Moore & Karl Davis for the OCW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
2006 D Money became the UWF06 Heavyweight Champion
2024 Tommy Dean def. Wesley Crane for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Super Star for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
2024 Riley Grinn def. Tommy Dean for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
2024 Sean Ryan def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Psycho Mike for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title

Week of Sun 10-25 to Sat: 10-31

10-25 1951 Joe Alderman became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
10-25 1972 Jose Lothario def. Stan Stasiak for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
10-25 1981 Kerry Von Erich & Terry Orndorff def. Tim Brooks & Arman Hussein for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
10-25 2008 3rd Rail def. Outlaw for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
10-25 2014 Montego Seeka became the IWR Revolutionary Champion
10-25 2020 Thrash became the ASP Mid-American Champion
10-25 2020 Brawler Morrison def. Gemini [2nd] for the ASP 5-Star Title
10-25 2025 Giganto def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Living Hope Title
10-25 2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Deacon Hendrix for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
10-25 2025 Vald def. Duncan Kincaid for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
10-25 2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Vald for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
10-25 2025 Psycho Mike def. Duncan Kincaid for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
10-26 1964 Tony Borne def. Karl Kox for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
10-26 1978 Ernie Ladd became the TSW Arkansas Champion
10-26 1983 Junkyard Dog def. Butch Reed for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
10-26 1986 John Tatum & Jack Victory def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the UWF Tag Team Titles
10-26 2002 Beau Dalton def. Vinnie Valentino for the OCW Oklahoma Title
10-26 2002 Michael Faith & Smash Hansen def. Big Daddy Moore & Karl Davis for the OCW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
10-26 2006 D Money became the UWF06 Heavyweight Champion
10-26 2024 Tommy Dean def. Wesley Crane for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
10-26 2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Super Star for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
10-26 2024 Riley Grinn def. Tommy Dean for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
10-26 2024 Sean Ryan def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
10-26 2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Psycho Mike for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
10-27 1984 Chris Adams & Gino Hernandez & Jake Roberts def. Kerry Von Erich, Mike Von Erich, & Bobby Fulton (substituting for Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Titles
10-27 1995 TNT def. Casey Cannon for the PZWA Heavyweight Title
10-27 2007 Shane Rawls def. Jerry Bostic for the UWF06 Heavyweight Title
10-27 2007 Les Mayne def. Dane Griffin for the UWF06 Texhoma Title
10-27 2007 Martin Justice became the GPCW Lightweight Champion
10-27 2007 Justin Lee def. Shane Morbid for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
10-27 2023 Johnny Kove def. Koko for the CPW Heavyweight Title
10-27 2023 Lunchador became the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Champion
10-27 2023 Handgun Dan def. Lunchador for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
10-27 2023 Brandon Warhawk def. Handgun Dan for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
10-27 2023 Lunchador def. Brandon Warhawk for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
10-27 2024 Billie the Kiid def. Malik Mayfield for the ASP Livestream Title
10-28 1975 Karl Kox def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Title
10-28 2006 Mass Destruction (Spoiler 2000 & Bash) became the NWA-U Universal Tag Team Champions
10-28 2006 John O'Malley def. Rocco Valentino for the NWA-U Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
10-28 2006 Christopher Fox became the NWA-U Universal Heavyweight Champion
10-28 2006 Rocco Valentino def. Christopher Fox for the NWA-U Universal Heavyweight Title
10-28 2007 The South Side Soul Assassins (Tyson Jaymes & 3rd Rail) def. Bad Boy & Outlaw for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
10-28 2012 Bobby Starr def. Cody Jones for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
10-28 2012 The Investment (Jason Noal & Jay Synn) became the ACW Tag Team Champions
10-28 2012 Johnny Z def. Double D for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
10-28 2017 Duke Swellington def. Kikutaro for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
10-29 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Wahoo McDaniel for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
10-29 1984 Kerry Von Erich def. Gino Hernandez for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
10-29 1995 The Bad Boyz (Brett Knight & Krull Danzig) became the WWEmp Tag Team Champions
10-29 1995 Shane Cortez def. Original Renegade for the WWEmp Television Title
10-29 1995 Red Eagle def. Annihilator for the WWEmp Heavyweight Title
10-29 2002 Ty Magnus def. Brandon Bishop for the ACW Heavyweight Title
10-29 2016 Nathan Estrada def. Gavin Dixon for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
10-29 2016 Urn Stokes def. Steven Cruze for the ComPro Showtime Title
10-29 2016 MX2 (Zak Mason & Dan Maestro) def. Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
10-29 2022 Ryan the Ripper def. Ronnie Morton for the RDW Brass Knucks Title
10-29 2022 The Psychotic Messengers (Malachi & Maniac Mike) def. Team Boner (Drake Gallows & MLP) for the AIWF Tag Team Titles
10-29 2022 X-Rated (Kevin James Sanchez & Shane Sanchez & Ozzy Hendrix) def. The Psychotic Messengers (Malachi & Maniac Mike) for the EPW Tag Team Titles
10-30 1978 Mark Lewin & The White Knight became the WCCW Texas Tag Team Champions
10-30 2009 Franco D'Angelo def. Jeremy Quinn III for the ACW Heavyweight Title
10-30 2010 Gene Valdez def. Ryan Reed for the NCW Heavyweight Title
10-30 2010 Mr. Big & Michael H became the NCW Tag Team Champions
10-31 1967 Fritz Von Erich def. Brute Bernard for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
10-31 1972 Johnny Valentine def. Stan Stasiak for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
10-31 1980 Ernie Ladd & Leroy Brown def. Junkyard Dog & Terry Orndorff for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
10-31 1983 Johnny Mantell def. Jimmy Garvin for the WCCW Television Title
10-31 1994 Beast 3rd became the WWEmp Heavyweight Champion
10-31 2009 Martin Justice became the OECW Heavyweight Champion
10-31 2025 Phoenix Down (Colton Kinnamon & Ricky Wingrave) def. Blazin' Saddles (Bang Bang Bennett & Scotty Rose) for the RDW Tag Team Titles

10-26

Halo Oct 26th Today!
Eddie Williams Oct 26th Today!
Anthony Wayne Oct 26th Today!
Troy Graham Oct 26th Today!
Doberman [2nd] Oct 27th
AWOL Oct 27th
Miss Linda Oct 27th
MVP Oct 28th
Mike Sharpe, Jr. Oct 28th
Chris Smith Oct 28th
Jake Boulder Oct 28th
Paul Orndorff Oct 29th
Mischief Oct 29th
D. J. Hall Oct 29th
Jesse Beeler Oct 30th
Debbie Combs Oct 30th
George Wells Oct 30th
Danny McShain Oct 30th
Brandon Bishop Oct 30th
Jayson Boss Oct 31st
Dutch Hagen Nov 1st
Big Daddy Moore Nov 1st
Bugsy McGraw Nov 1st
Mike Davis [2nd] Nov 2nd
Stephen Nitro Nov 3rd
Kenny Silva Nov 3rd
Rob Barnes Nov 3rd
Dylan Michaels Nov 3rd
Korstia Korchenko Nov 3rd
Michael La Noy Nov 3rd
Assassin 1 Nov 4th
Max Leon Nov 4th
Jimmie Deen Nov 4th
Bill Decker Nov 5th
Chris Chaos Nov 5th
Jules Strongbow [2nd] Nov 5th
David Jason Rose Nov 5th
Christopher Samuel Dean Nov 5th
Darin Matthews Nov 6th
Brian Faith Nov 6th
Frank Dunbar Nov 6th
Lu Kim Nov 6th
Ken Patera Nov 6th
Dominik Whiteheart Nov 7th
Joey Ryan Nov 7th
Keith Watkins Nov 7th
Nigel Rabid Nov 7th
Faded Ghoul Nov 7th
Silverado Nov 7th
King Kong Bundy Nov 7th
Dizzy Davis Nov 8th
Austin Mulitalo Nov 8th
Rika Wildlee Nov 8th
Treach Phillips, Jr. Nov 8th

1964 Tony Borne def. Karl Kox for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
1978 Ernie Ladd became the TSW Arkansas Champion
1983 Junkyard Dog def. Butch Reed for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
1986 John Tatum & Jack Victory def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the UWF Tag Team Titles
2002 Beau Dalton def. Vinnie Valentino for the OCW Oklahoma Title
2002 Michael Faith & Smash Hansen def. Big Daddy Moore & Karl Davis for the OCW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
2006 D Money became the UWF06 Heavyweight Champion
2024 Tommy Dean def. Wesley Crane for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
2024 Riley Grinn def. Tommy Dean for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Super Star for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
2024 Sean Ryan def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Psycho Mike for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title

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The Top 5 Lamest 1980s WWF Promos

Posted: Feb 28th 2011 By: CMBurnham

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