The Wrestling Memory Grenade

It's a special Grenade #212 tackling week two of August 1989 WWF TV with our longest episode in ages.. THREE HOURS of Grenade discussion! On syndicated TV, Hogan/Beefcake and Savage/Sherri/Zeus deliver enough promo insanity to make you wonder what was flowing backstage! Jack Tunney reinstates Ron Garvin as a wrestler at Greg Valentine’s request, a decision the Hammer may live to regret! The issues between Roddy Piper and Bobby Heenan escalate, northeast indy talent appear in the form of The Billion Dollar Babies, Pitbull #2, Rockin' Rebel, and Jungle Jim McPherson! We even get a rare Duke of Dorchester sighting! From there, Guest Matt Crowder returns for a special watchalong of the three-hour SummerSlam hype edition of Prime Time Wrestling! The lineup includes the Powers of Pain vs. the Hart Foundation, Superfly Snuka vs. Dino Bravo, the Ultimate Warrior vs. Haku, and a SING-A-SONG Showdown between The Honky Tonk Man vs. Dusty Rhodes! Piper also exposes Heenan’s doctored footage of the Brain Busters defeating Demolition for the WWF Tag Team Titles, and plenty of fun discussion throughout! It’s three hours of memories and fun on the road to SummerSlam ’89 - FEEL THE HEAT!

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It’s a loaded hybrid edition of the Wrestling Memory Grenade this week as we kick off August 1989 WWF TV on the road to SummerSlam! Newly crowned Tag Team Champions the Brain Busters join Brother Love, while we bid farewell to The Bobby Heenan Show with a wild finale featuring (then) 19-year-old adult film star Heather Hunter dancing her way into our hearts. The Ultimate Warrior sends Barry Horowitz out on a stretcher, while Randy Savage, Zeus, and the Sensational Sherri revel in the fear in Hogan and Beefcake’s eyes.. and weigh in on Elizabeth’s impending return. Dusty Rhodes taunts the Honky Tonk Man, Rick Martel battles Koko B. Ware, and Jack Tunney suspends Ron Garvin from officiating as the SummerSlam buildup heats up!

Then, John “Poz” Pozarowski joins us to discuss his upcoming book with Jonathan Snowden, The Era of the Hitman: How Bret Hart Conquered Pro Wrestling. Drawing on more than 25 hours of interviews with Bret himself, the book explores the artistry, psychology, and storytelling behind his legendary WWF singles run of the 1990s. We talk about the project and what makes the Hitman’s body of work worth revisiting all these years later. From Bobby Heenan’s late-night madness to the Excellence of Execution, there’s plenty to sink your teeth into on this edition of the Grenade!

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The latest Wrestling Memory Grenade rolls into August 1989 with WWF news and house show action as the road to SummerSlam heats up! We discuss Jake Roberts’ planned return to his rivalry with Ted DiBiase, Hulk Hogan’s injury troubles, and Jimmy Powers being sidelined. Roddy Piper boosts Prime Time Wrestling while the short-lived Bobby Heenan Show rides a ratings roller coaster toward its final episode. Plus, the Brain Busters’ controversial championship victory, prospective WWF newcomers, competing bids for WrestleMania VI, and plans for a December pay-per-view(?). André the Giant makes headlines with his arrest in Iowa, while his lightning-fast losses to the Ultimate Warrior raise eyebrows around the house show circuit. We break down the WWF’s three touring crews, featuring Hulk Hogan vs. Randy Savage, Rick Rude vs. Brutus Beefcake, and the Brain Busters vs. Demolition. All that, plus the Rockers and Rougeau Brothers’ marathon matches, Dusty Rhodes battling the Big Bossman, Jimmy Snuka vs. Honky Tonk (in a Cage?!?), and more feuds from the August house shows!

Help keep WrestleCopia growing by joining us on Patreon:
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Welcome to this special edition of the Wrestling Memory Grenade, as guest John Poz (of the Two Man Power Trip Empire) joins Ray Russell to break down and discuss all thing Saturday Night's Main Event from July 29, 1989. Recorded for "THE BIG ONES" collection over at the Ultimate Tier of the WrestleCopia Patreon, we've decided to bring the discussion to the public! It's a special bonus summertime edition of Saturday Night's Main Event. Things continue to heat up on the road to SummerSlam '89 as Brutus Beefcake looks for revenge on The Macho Man, but Zeus has something to say about that. Plus, the Brain Busters challenge Demolition for the Tag Belts in a 2 out of 3 Fall encounter, WWF Champ Hulk Hogan defends against The Honky Tonk Man, Referee Ron Garvin has more than words for Greg Valentine when he officates a bout between the Hammer and the Superfly, plus an epic showdown between Macho/Sherri/Brutus/Zeus/Hogan building to the PPV main event just a few weeks away!

If you like what you hear here today, please consider joining the WrestleCopia Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/WrestleCopia
Members receive premium VideoCast series, early podcast releases, extensively researched show notes, digital downloads, access to our large wrestling archive at select tiers, and much more.

And be sure to pre-order today John Poz and Jonathan Snowden's new book! The Era of the Hitman: How Bret Hart Conquered Pro Wrestling. It's the story of Bret Hart’s rise through one of the most important and turbulent periods in wrestling history, drawing on dozens of exclusive interviews with Bret himself, as well as the rivals, friends, and fellow performers who shared the ring with him. Available at https://ecwpress.com/collections/sports/products/era-of-the-hitman

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This week it's a special DOUBLE EDITION of the Grenade as Ray Russell covers TWO WEEKS of WWF TV as we close out the month of July 1989! It's a jam packed episode as The Ultimate Warrior calls out Andre the Giant on The Brother Love Show, Dusty Rhodes takes the "toys" of The Big Boss Man, even crazier promos from both sides of the SummerSlam main event from Macho Man/Zeus/Sherri and Hulk Hogan/Brutus Beefcake, Referee Ron Garvin's patience is tested multiple times by Barry Windham, Dino Bravo, and Mr. Perfect... Plus, the full SummerSlam card is announced, the Bobby Heenan Show continues to air, Roddy Piper references... Bob Armstrong(?), the Red Rooster is "Poultry in Motion", Powers of Pain are back together, the Brain Busters prepare for a Tag Title shot vs. Demolition, & much more!

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We continue the journey through the summer of 1989 in the WWF by discussing the weekend of July 15th - 17th TV programming! The road to SummerSlam has begun as Hulk Hogan and Brutus Beefcake accept the challenge issued by The Macho Man & Zeus! Plus, Bobby Heenan QUITS Wrestling Challenge before he debuts his own Talk Show, Roddy Piper debuts as the new co-host of Prime Time Wrestling, The Genius gifts Brother Love an honorary PhD, the Rick Rude/Ultimate Warrior feud intensifies as Rude finds himself a new bodyguard in Andre the Giant, President Jack Tunney warns Referee Ron Garvin, both the Brain Busters & Twin Towers coming for the gold worn by Demolition, Ted Dibiase offers Jake Roberts a "gift", Dusty Rhodes is still on his way in, the Powers of Pain together again, & much more!

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Grenade #206 looking at the weekend of July 8 - 10, 1989. Guest Matt Crowder returns to discuss all the goings on as we begin the road to SummerSlam! Randy Savage aligns himself with Zeus to issue a challenge to Hulk Hogan and "Beef-cake Bar-ber". Plus, Bobby Heenan officially QUITS Prime Time Wrestling as he prepares to launch his own brand new TV show, Ron Garvin continues to stick it to Greg Valentine & Dino Bravo, Rick Martel & Tito Santana exchange words, The Hart Foundation reunite, Tag Champs Demolition, Brain Busters, Twin Towers, Ultimate Warrior, IC Champ Rick Rude, and more!

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We kick of JULY 1989 WWF TV this week on the Greande as it's Independence Day week in the States as the Bobby Heenan/Gorilla Monsoon bickering escalates to a new level, a wild brawl takes place on the Brother Love set as Rick Martel & Tito Santana throw down, Dusty Rhodes performs the first ever "Triple Potty Bypass", The Hart Foundation reform, The Genius makes his syndicated TV debut, Rick Rude and Warrior have words, Ted Dibiase makes another example of his opponent, Red Rooster is POULTRY in Motion, Rockers vs. Bravo & Valentine, King Duggan & Hillbilly Jim celebrate America, the Brain ribs his real-life wife on Prime Time, & much more!

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The Grenade is back discussing JULY 1989 WWF News & Results. As SummerSlam '89 is announced, the WWF is finalizing its biggest story, featuring Hulk Hogan/Brutus Beefcake vs. Randy Savage/Zeus headlining the event. We'll also cover roster and television changes, including Roddy Piper's return, commentary shakeups, incoming talent like the future Tugboat, and several notable departures. We'll look at the latest on No Holds Barred, Hulk Hogan's Hollywood prospects, and a spoiler-filled preview of the major feuds the WWF is already lining up for the fall. From there, Ray Russell debuts the new structure of looking at the house show business by following the booking patterns and matches of the summer 1989 house show schedule. Hulk/Savage, Warrior/Rude, Dusty/Dibiase, Demos/Towers, Rockers/Rougeaus, & so much more!

If you're enjoying WrestleCopia and interested in helping us continue to grow, please consider Subscribing to our Patreon to help us cover some of our costs! https://www.patreon.com/wrestlecopia
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This week on the Grenade we close out the month of JUNE TV for 1989 in the WWF! The Ultimate Warrior has a RUDE AWAKENING for IC Champ Rick Rude, we see the debut of "The Widowmaker" gimmick as Barry Windham returns, Ted Dibiase confirms Jake Roberts is out with a neck injury, The Macho Man supports ZEUS in his quest to end Hulk Hogan, Bobby Heenan is no fan of Tony Schiavone (or Mean Gene), Honky Tonk Man has words for the Superfly, Dusty Rhodes is still on his way in, we get our first signs of SUMMERSLAM season, No Holds Barred THE MUSIC VIDEO(?), Rick Martel wants Tito, Koko's new look, Tag Champs Demolition demolish and destroy, Rougeaus still rule, & much more!

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