The Flying Hammerlock Video Review #35: Andre and Atlas vs. The Heenan Family

 

This review is dedicated to the memories of Andre Rene "Andre The Giant" Rousimoff, John William "Big John Studd" Minton, Raymond Louis "Bobby" Heenan, "Mean" Gene Okerlund, Christopher Alan "King Kong Bundy" Pallies and Terry "Hulk Hogan" Bollea. R.I.P.
 

"The 8th Wonder of the World" Andre The Giant and "Mr. USA" Tony Atlas vs. The Heenan Family (Big John Studd and King Kong Bundy) (w/Bobby "The Brain" Heenan), WWF Saturday Night's Main Event #2, Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ, October 5, 1985 (taped October 3rd.)
 

Historical background: Just another match in Andre's feuds with Studd and Bundy.
 

We see footage of Bundy splashing Andre from the August 31, 1985 (taped August 18th) WWF Championship Wrestling.
 

Andre and Bundy start.  Bundy goes to tie up and Andre grabs Bundy's throat and forces him into the ropes.  Andre chokes Bundy with the strap from Bundy's singlet.  Andre hits Bundy with a forearm.  Bundy is in the corner and Andre gives him a butt attack and chokes Bundy again and chops him.  More choking with the strap.  Andre brings Bundy over to the face corner and uses Atlas' head for a double noggin knocker.  Bundy is staggering and Andre tags in Atlas.  Atlas and Bundy tie up and Bundy forces Atlas into the ropes and hits him with a forearm to the chest.  Bundy whips Atlas across and hits him with an elbow on the way back.  Bundy runs off the ropes but Atlas gets out of the way of the elbow drop.  Back to his feet, Atlas hits Bundy with a jumping headbutt, sending Bundy into the corner.   Bundy tags in Studd.  Studd enters and he and Atlas tie up and Atlas whips Studd across and Studd hits Atlas with a shoulderblock.   Studd runs off the ropes and Atlas leapfrogs him and catches Studd with a jumping headbutt when Studd comes off the other set of ropes.   Atlas punches Studd in the midsection and hits another jumping headbutt and lifts Studd for a slam but Studd stops him.  Studd takes control and tries to whip Atlas across but Atlas reverses it.  Atlas goes for a dropkick but Studd hangs onto the ropes.   Studd drops an elbow on Atla, grabs Atlas' arm and begins kicking him.   Studd goes after Andre but Andre stops him and headbutts him, with Jesse Ventura pointing out that it was a dumb move by Studd.  Meanwhile Bundy is in the ring illegally and splashes Atlas, with Vince saying that it was grounds for disqualification. Studd stomps Atlas but Atlas Hulks up and makes the tag to Andre.  Andre enters the ring and Studd backs away from him.  Andre grabs Studd and forces him into the ropes.   Andre gives Studd some shots to the kidney area.   Andre headbutts Studd and chops him.  Andre chokes Studd and backs him into the ropes.   Andre whips Studd across and meets him with a huge boot, sending Studd to the floor.   Bundy, still not the legal man, attacks Andre and hammers away on him.  While this is going on, Studd grabs Atlas for a slam and rams him into the ring post.  Bundy has forced Andre into the corner.  Studd gets back in the ring and Bundy hits the Avalanche on Andre.   Then Studd does one himself.  They double team Andre until the referee calls for the bell for the disqualification.   Andre fights back and gives Studd and Bundy a double noggin knocker.   They double team Andre again and Andre continues to fight back.   Hulk Hogan, still dressed-up from Uncle Elmer's (legit) wedding earlier on the show, comes in for the save.   Hogan sends Bundy to the floor and Andre does the same for Studd.   Andre is challenging Studd to come back to the ring but Bundy convinces Studd to go to the back. Hulk and Andre shake hands. ***

We come back and Mean Gene Okerlund is in the ring with Hulk, Andre and Atlas and handshakes are exchanged all around.  Gene asks Hulk why he got involved.  Hulk talks about how Studd and Bundy were taking shortcuts on Andre and Atlas and that's why he came out and that he's going to wait before telling everybody what's going down.   Vince says that a Hulk/Andre vs. Studd/Bundy match would be spectacular.
 

Recommended and you can watch it here.