Ricky Steamboat vs. Honky Tonk Man-IC title rematch

[MrFutureCougar]

Who is that with the crown on???

[Mrmojorising78]

That's back when wrestling was fun to watch

[DavidBCusumano]

It was a shame that steamboat was not allow to have a long IC rein or have savage/steamboat 2 at wrestlemania 4 for the ic belt or the wwf title

[brak4222]

I was there live for this. It was taped October 27, 1987 in Syracuse, NY.

[WoIfpac]

Good times. And back then there was no comments like... "it's a Bruce Lee vs. Elvis match" or "who's that? Bruce Lee IS the Dragon" or "ripoff Elvis".

Now, we get stupid comments like "Sting is a ripoff of the Joker" or "Black Sin Cara is a ripoff of Venom". Even though the Dark Knight's Joker is a ripoff of Beetlejuice and Clockwork Orange... O_o

[QuoteNoHoMo]

Ricky the steamboat dragon substitues my math class ^_^

[lildwayne21]

Is there a better wrestler than Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat? He is smooth as silk in that ring! I love watching him wrestle. Every single move he executes is quick, crisp, fast, effificent, and executed to perfection.

[1979audiman]

honky tonk man sucked ass

[zutarataangluva]

thumbs up if you want the wwe become wwf again gimme a hell yeah

[king50000ful]

Lol

[SovereignStatesman]

Steamboat could never last long... an Asian champion in a redneck-genre?

They don't want him.

[BLACKFONZIRELLI]

classic

[superhappyfunslide2]

@Belieberfeverrrrrrrr Wrestling is bad now but its still more entertaining its faster and more technical not just punch, kick, hold, suplex etc

[Dean1LA]

SabinBlitz81, Thank you

[Shippoyasha]

Makes me wish two of the best Intercontinental Champions (in my opinion) in Honky Tonk Man and Gold Dust fought in their primes. It'd be a total glam and wrestling clinic!

[CubaRican908]

I met the Honky Tonk Man in local wrestling match near my town last night he truly a great wrestler

[superhappyfunslide2]

Im sorry but wrestling was shit back then it was boring and looked embarrassingly fake.

[MrShowstopper1982]

if i wanted to get this match what will it be under like superstars of wrestling wrestling challenge

[SabinBlitz81]

@MrShowstopper1982 It's from WWF Superstars of Wrestling.

[tb049]

This is probably the best match of the late '80s early '90s. Everybody was into it. My grandma remembers this too. Instant classic.

[tb049]

lol i'd smoke to that

[wtf66611]

Honkytonk Man will be the special guest referee for the Lawler/Cole match.

[jayslay1000]

Honky should be happy about his career because i will never understand why Vince never did da screw job on him. All da talent WWF had n let honky keep it CMON MAN.

[frnksng]

I miss wrestling =(

[evansiggson]

never understand how after the brutal battles savage and steamboat can suddenly be friends

[SabinBlitz81]

@evansiggson And Steamboat/Roberts too. But that's how it usually is in wrestling, a face turn makes everything all forgiven.

[evansiggson]

@SabinBlitz81 yes! roberts too. Didn't jake break steamboat's neck with a ddt on the floor? Seem like that would be a grudge I wouldn't let go of. I remember at a survivor series jake and earthquake teaming up not too long after earthquake squashed damien. 

[josephD32]

@SabinBlitz81 seems as if Savage had some respect for the way Steamboat became Champion, wheras he had NO respect for The Honky Tonk Man, much less how Honky became Champ.

[SovereignStatesman]

@SabinBlitz81

Because "wrestling-fans are genetic mutants who will swallow anything." --Mad Magazine

[DragonAurora]

@evansiggson Gee....I don't know, maybe because it's FAKE?!?!?!?

[SovereignStatesman]

@evansiggson

FACE-TURN, HELLO?

Wrestling fans are so stupid that if they'll believe wrestling's real, they'll believe ANYTHING.

You left out how Savage supposedly crushed Steamboat's throat with a ring-bell, requiring a tracheotomy and major surgery to save his life.

[techstyle123]

2 can play at that game jessie ....classic

[catchfree84]

lmfao wtf is that the chicago bulls theme?

[SabinBlitz81]

@catchfree84 Yes, but I believe that he used it before the Bulls did. 

[weedfan]

@SabinBlitz81 lol. did not know that

[djs0419]

@catchfree84 You show your age dude. This was used by Ricky long before the Chicago Bulls. Maybe he could sue the Bulls for stealing his song.

[catchfree84]

@djs0419 lol i guess so man 

[Frontiers1908]

@djs0419 There's nothing to sue cause this song is called Sirius and it's by the Alan Parsons Project. It's not even created for Ricky, he just used it.

[djs0419]

@Frontiers1908 Typical you take everything word for word, what a moron. I am a Radio DJ I know who did the song. I was proving a point that the other poster said it belonged to Jordan. He is so young he did not know that Ricky used it way before him. The other poster said Jordan should sue so I reversed it to him after I stated the obvious!!

My god man lighten up!!

[Frontiers1908]

@djs0419 My mistake, I didn't read all the comments and therefore didn't realise you were trying to prove a point. But skip the 'moron' next time, okay?

[LSUcHamp606]

@catchfree84 it's not a theme... it's an actual song performed by the Alan Parsons project. A solo artist who writes some cool tunes. The song is called "Eye in the Sky"- by alan parson project You tube it.

[sportsoracle]

The storylines were better back then too. Think about it...3 of the classic heels from a year earlier (Roberts, Beefcake, and Savage), now all good guys who get over BIGTIME with the fans.

[superman070474]

I also like how they always had a preview like this before an upcoming PPV.

[superman070474]

When wrestling was exciting!

[beachgrad98]

With the huge build-up to the WrestleMania match, it's a shame they didn't keep the title on The Dragon longer.

[SabinBlitz81]

@beachgrad98 They were going to, but Vince went back on his agreement with Steamboat to let him have 2 weeks off for the birth of his son, so Vince took the belt off of him.

[beachgrad98]

@SabinBlitz81 Why doesn't this surprise me?

[joshuakendra]

@SabinBlitz81 I read that they were going to put the title on butch reed but he did not show for a tv taping and hogan said put it on the honky tonk man!!!!!!!!!

[miggy25]

great upload...I love seeing Ricky come out to the "Siruis" theme and hearing the Fink say "Ricky The Dragon Steammmboat"....classic!

[donathos]

What's in tense about watching this is the crowd reaction. Man, they were in to everything! For all of the great entertainment that came out of breaking kayfabe a little bit--worked shoots and the rest--I have to believe that something even greater has been lost. I mean, everyone over the age of six *knew* that wrestling was choreographed, etc., but we were all better off not discussing it.

[vampirehunterme]

@donathos agreed. but now wwe shoves the whole "not wrestling, sports entertainment" down our throat.

[77GetReady]

@donathos SO TRUE, MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY!!!!!

[Rodrigoooous]

Epic!

[billyray1220]

I think wrestling back in these days is way more better than now...For example now all it is the same people winning the titles

[toptenguy1]

@billyray1220 You mean like Hogan having the belt for 3 years straight, and Honky being champ for 14 months straight? :)

[billyray1220]

@toptenguy1 no i mean like John cena being like 10 time world champion and only being in wwe a couple years then you take someone like undertaker who has been in wwe alot longer and has been a champion less times then john cena

[vampirehunterme]

@toptenguy1 true but he was the heel. and he got legit heat with the fans. they loved to hate honky. these days its all anti-hero and walking the line of heel and face. at least back then they made it clear who was a bad guy and who was a good guy.

[PCBJohnnyMac]

LOL @ Jesse "This is when Honky Tonk is good, when the other man is hurt."

[twsstar]

i think honky was a great wrestler, he got over doing fuck all, he didnt have to kill himself or the other guy to get a reaction. No triple backflip huracano moonsaults just pure heel psychology and a solid basic ring style.

[SovereignStatesman]

@twsstar

Yep, it now has NO style, it's OUT of style.

The suicidal acrobatics came in after the death of Kayfabe, and they had to keep pushing the fucking envelope until finally the Owen Hart incident. Vince started it with his gay "attitude era" and bringing his no-talent girlfriend Shawn Michaels center-stage with a bigger push than Vince pushed in Shawn's stool at night.

Honky' says now that the problem with wrestling today is they don't have characters, just wrestlers-- and he's RIGHT.

[y2taner]

@twsstar thats memphis for ya

[natureboy84]

lol gotta love Ricky Steamboat's theme song here...the Chicago Bulls theme.

[cbaldwinjr]

It's actually called Sirius by the Alan Parsons Project...which the Bulls used

[rstyz]

One of the greatest matches I've ever seen was Steamboat vs Macho in WM2 for the IC title. The skills and popularity of steamboat, how was he not the world champ for years in the wwf?

[datacipher]

Vince Mcmahon and Hulk Hogan is how? haha!

Yes, I think Steamboat was the greatest all-around technical wrestler in the history of wrestling. He had every move, amateur, ground, submissions, high flying, high impact. And, he was immensely popular. He also knew how to pace a match, how to sell(better than anybody ever) and make anybody look good. Only Tom Billington might have been a greater wrestler overall, but he was not as well rounded or anywhere near as easy to work with as Steamboat.

[MantonioBanderas]

The only guy I ever saw really lead Steamboat was Harley Race, and there is no shame in that.

[robotontoilet]

Yes, that doesn't surprise me. I think Steamboat would let that happen even if simply out of respect!

[landinmycourt]

Just imagine if we could have seen Ricky Steamboat and Shawn Michaels face each other in there prime. They were just a decade apart.

[smidi1974]

I agree it was a fantastic match but I think that it was in WM 3...which was prob one of the best WM's ever put together

[petersavonich123]

back when the IC title meant something

[SabinBlitz81]

I think Butch got to the arena late because when HTM wins the IC title during the backstage celebration, you see him there with all the other heels congratulating HTM on his title win.

[anemaul]

HTM and Steamboat...two of the greatest in ring performers of alltime

[datacipher]

Honky was pretty lousy at the actual wrestling, but it's true, he did have a lot of charisma. You loved to hate him...partly because he wasn't a great wrestler!

[00RSZEX]

HTM could sell though. he really put a lot of faces over because he was hated so much

[bluethundershark]

Honky Tonk Man was one of the funniest heel wrestlers ever

[bipper1]

Dangerous Danny Davis

[TheWestCoastBias]

HTM beating Ricky Steamboat was one of the darkest days in pro wrestling.

[natureboy84]

I remember this match clear as day and been searching for it for awhile now. Thanks for posting. This was one of my favorite quick matches between two high-caliber technical wrestlers.

[Hawkee316]

I heard the reason why steamboat dropped the IC title was because he wanted to be home for the birth of his son and vince would not let him does anyone know the truth to this

[WarriorSmurf]

Yes, he wanted to take six weeks off. VInce didn't want the belt off tv for that long. Butch Reed was supposed to win the belt but he no showed and HTM was the one to win it instead.

[ucfgraduate05]

It has never been confirmed that Butch Reed was going to win the belt. Butch Reed himself denies no showing that event.

[landinmycourt]

I think him wanting six weeks off was something his wife wanted. I don't know that for sure but Jjudging by the stories Ric Flair, said about him being pussy whipped, it makes since.

[Edgehead10075]

Steamboat got a hair cut shortly after this match.

[GohModley]

wow

[geodeuce]

I noticed Roberts and Macho Man coming to Steamboat's defense. Was this before or after Steamboat's fued with these individuals?

[pjdbro]

after...by this time they were all good guys

[MrBiggSmoove]

@geodeuce : After. The feud with Jake was in 86, and the feud with Savage was in late 86-87, ending at WM3....this was in late 87

[10spurs]

does anybody think that it is odd that savage had feuds with his team members on the first survivor series. heel or face.

[riker388]

honky was a joke to beat steamboat he must of been paid off good

[BHoz77]

Did Honky ever actually win a title defense by pinning his opponent? I swear every single Honky IC title defense I've ever seen ends with him being DQed or intentionally counting himself out to save the title.

[crowbar2009]

he did pin steamboat in a lumberjack match in msg via a megaphone shot.

he did pin beefacke in boston garden via a megaphone shot.

[datacipher]

LOL. It just made people hate him all the more. Questionable ring skills, stupid schtick, but here he is, the champ!

[landinmycourt]

Dusty finish LOL!!!

[aj31313]

bring out the honk a meter

[crowbar2009]

the greatest ic champ wins another, i say win coz he walked out with the belt,and listen to how the crowd is into that match.

you think they would of made that much noise if butch reed was in there.

[breannaelliott1]

absolutely, but reed never got the chance(which is reed's own fault granted)but at least reed would have not pulled the backstage politicking that farris did either

[crowbar2009]

I never saw butch much ,when i did it was popcorn matchs with tito or koko and the crowd wasnt intrested,i think the fact butch faced koko at wm3 speaks volumes.

[breannaelliott1]

to me, it speaks that those two got to be a part of the biggest show in wrestling history, something paul orndorff, kamala, and demolition who were all three hot at the time, can't say.

[crowbar2009]

hillbilly was at wm3 dosnt mean much,orndorff i heard was a substitute should andres back prevent him facing hulk,dunno if that true.demolition wernt ready(in vinces mind),still had johnny v as there manager.

[bigdeeski]

A lot of interesting info there crowbar. i didn't know any of that

[landinmycourt]

Don't forget The Islanders (Haku and Tama). Oh and Sika.

[goldwatch2008]

The term is douchebag, prick, not dooshbag. If you want to attempt to be witty, learn how to spell first.

[QuentinDude]

How did that greaseball Honky Tonk hold the IC title for so long? no talent dooshbag probably was blowin Pat Patterson backstage or somethin

[breannaelliott1]

lol. actually my friend he was suppose to drop the title to savage in indianapolis the same night hogan dropped to andre on 2/5/88, but farris(honkey)threatened to take the title to nwa tv. that is why savage got the world title at mania 4, which was meant for dibiase. so a few people got hosed due to honkey's lack of professionalism

[east197979]

wow really?? i didnt know that... where did you get this info?? i liked how the whole honky title reign worked out.. it was kinda funny slash entertaining...

[breannaelliott1]

info came from both wayne farris shoot interview as well as ted dibiase. the honkeytonk reign was a disgrace to the ic title and to all of the past ic champions

[crowbar2009]

im going to get you an autographed photo of honky ,I know you think he is great!!!!!!!!!!!

[breannaelliott1]

you should then sell it on ebay. i say you'd get a quick 1.75 outta it(ok 2.45 including shipping)

[landinmycourt]

Maybe Vince should have pulled an Indianapolis Screw Job. Earl Hebner was there that night.

[steveN111333]

LOL , I dont understand either, steamboat was more exciting and way more talented, but I guess that doesnt count for much :(

[nwajoe]

How odd that Steamboat was pals with Macho Man by this point. Eight months before this they're bitter rivals, since Savage crushed his larnyx with the ring bell. Faces are always so forgiving.

[breannaelliott1]

yea i thought that was a bit too quick as well for them to join up, especially at the first survivor series

[Mfranklin8]

And Roberts had also DDT'ed Steamboat on the cemete floor the year before.  Also, Savage would later feud with his other teammates later on, Beefcake, Duggan, and Roberts.

[nwajoe]

Good point. I'd forgotten about that. Which I guess was what the WWF always relied on; the fans having short memories and being unable to recall feuds of a few months or years earlier.

[KillingJoke696]

you know you got talent in your promotion when a guy Like Harley Race is in a lumberjack match

[Drumshanbohustle]

You just knew it would end like that...always does.

[simonross1977]

I bet the fans thought that Rick Steamboat would regain the IC title in this match up. I dont bother watching WWf(e) any more, I just go on youtube for the REAL "entertainment"

[breannaelliott1]

amen simon!

[WWFederation78]

I Love Classics match