The War to Settle the Score

      The War to Settle the Score
      Information
      Promotion World Wrestling Federation
      Date February 18, 1985[1]
      Attendance 22,000[1]
      Venue Madison Square Garden[1]
      City New York, New York[1]

      The War to Settle the Score was a professional wrestling event (with only the last match was shown on MTV) produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).[1] It took place at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York on February 18, 1985. The main event featured Hulk Hogan defending the WWF Championship against Roddy Piper. Hogan retained the title after Piper got disqualified in the only match of the event that was shown on MTV.

      Background

      One of the feuds at the event dated back to 1983, when Lou Albano, a wrestling manager, appeared in Cyndi Lauper's music video for "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" as Lauper's father. The WWF capitalized on his appearance by creating a storyline feud between the two, in which Albano was portrayed as a sexist.[2] As Lauper was too busy to make extensive appearances at WWF events, another storyline was developed between Albano and David Wolff, Lauper's manager. Albano, hyping his association with the band NRBQ, portrayed himself as an up and coming star in music management, with Wolff coming along to steal his thunder. This created the background for the first WWF special on MTV, The Brawl to End It All. Albano managed WWF Women's Champion The Fabulous Moolah, while Lauper managed challenger Wendi Richter. Richter won the match, and Albano and Lauper reconciled their differences.[3][4] Moolah, however, remained upset and challenged Richter to a match on behalf of Leilani Kai, another women's wrestler.[5]

      Lauper's involvement with the WWF also helped set up the other major feud at The War to Settle the Score. On December 28, 1984, she presented Albano with an award. Roddy Piper, who was angered by the Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection that saw the WWF and MTV use cross-promotion to attract viewers,[6] attacked Lauper and Albano; Hogan's defense of Lauper led to a match for Hogan's WWF Championship.[7]

      ↑Jump back a section

      Event

      As with The Brawl to End it All, only the final match on the card was televised on MTV.[1] The undercard featured two title matches, however. The first featured Richter, accompanied by Lauper, defending her title against Kai, who was managed by Moolah. Kai defeated Richter to win the title belt.[8] In the following match, Barry Windham and Mike Rotundo defeated The Spoiler and The Assassin to retain the WWF Tag Team Championship.[1]

      In the main event match, Hulk Hogan defeated Roddy Piper by disqualification to defend the WWF Championship.[1]Paul Orndorff and Bob Orton, Jr. interfered in the match on Piper's behalf.[9] Hogan's friend Mr. T was sitting at ringside; at the end of the match, he and Lauper entered the ring after the match but were attacked by Piper and his friends. During the brawl, Piper kicked Lauper in the head.[10]

      ↑Jump back a section

      Aftermath

      The fight at the end of the Hogan vs. Piper match set up the main event for the first WrestleMania event promoted by the WWF, which took place on March 31, 1985. Hogan and Mr. T faced the team of Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff. Orton attempted to interfere on his friends' behalf but hit Orndorff instead. As a result, Hogan pinned Orndorff to win the match for his team.[11][12] The feud between Mr. T and Piper remained unresolved, and they faced each other the following year at WrestleMania 2 in a boxing match, which Mr. T won by disqualification.[13]

      Richter and Kai also faced each other at the first WrestleMania. Richter defeated Kai to regain the WWF Women's Championship.[14]

      In an unexpected consequence, pop-artist Andy Warhol, a long-time wrestling fan who was in attendance, accidentally walked into a room at the end of the event that had been set up for an interview with Hogan, Cyndi Lauper, Mr T and Captain Lou Albano. As this was being broadcast live to end the show, Warhol had to improvise a short promo praising the rock n' wrestling connection.[15][16]

      ↑Jump back a section

      Results

      # Results[1] Stipulations Time
      Dark Johnny Rodz defeated Jose Luis Rivera Singles match N/A
      Dark Hillbilly Jim defeated Rene Goulet Singles match N/A
      Dark Don Muraco defeated Salvatore Bellomo Singles match N/A
      Dark Moondog Spot wrestled Rick McGraw to a draw Singles match N/a
      Dark David Sammartino defeated Moondog Rex Singles match N/A
      Dark Nikolai Volkoff defeated Swede Hanson Singles match N/A
      Dark Leilani Kai (with The Fabulous Moolah) defeated Wendi Richter (c) (with Cyndi Lauper) Singles match for the WWF Women's Championship N/A
      Dark U.S. Express (Barry Windham and Mike Rotundo) (c) defeated The Spoiler and The Assassin Tag team match for the WWF Tag Team Championship N/A
      Dark Paul Orndorff defeated Tony Atlas Singles match N/A
      Dark Jimmy Snuka defeated Bob Orton, Jr. Singles match N/A
      1 Hulk Hogan (c) (with Cyndi Lauper and Lou Albano) defeated Roddy Piper (with Bob Orton, Jr.) by disqualification[17] Singles match for the WWF Championship 8:40
      ↑Jump back a section

      References

      1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "The War to Settle the Score results". Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments. February 18, 1985. Retrieved 2010-09-05. 
      2. ^ Beekman, Scott (2006). Ringside: A History of Professional Wrestling in America. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 125. ISBN 0-275-98401-X. 
      3. ^ "Captain Lou Albano". WWE. Retrieved May 2, 2012. 
      4. ^ "History of the Women's Championship: Wendi Richter's first reign". WWE. Retrieved 2009-01-14. 
      5. ^ "Fabulous Moolah". WWE. Retrieved May 2, 2012. 
      6. ^ "Rowdy Roddy Piper". SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-01-15. 
      7. ^ "Miscellaneous Profiles: Cyndi Lauper". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-01-14. 
      8. ^ "History of the Women's Championship: Leilani Kai's first reign". WWE. Retrieved 2009-01-14. 
      9. ^ Blassie, Fred; Keith Elliot Greenberg (2003). The Legends of Wrestling: 'Classy' Freddie Blassie. World Wrestling Entertainment. p. 252. ISBN 0-7434-6316-1. 
      10. ^ Oliver, Greg; Steven Johnson (2007). The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Heels. ECW Press. p. 100. ISBN 1-55022-759-9. 
      11. ^ Eck, Kevin. "The main events: ladies and gentlemen, may we present the 25 most memorable matches in the last 25 years: Page 2". Wrestling Digest. Retrieved 2009-01-14. [dead link]
      12. ^ ""Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff & "Rowdy" Roddy Piper w/ Cowboy Bob Orton vs. Hulk Hogan & Mr. T w/ "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka". WWE. Retrieved 2009-01-14. 
      13. ^ "WrestleMania 2 Results". WWE. Retrieved 2009-01-14. 
      14. ^ "History of the Women's Championship". WWE. Retrieved 2009-01-14. 
      15. ^ http://xfearbefore.blogspot.com/2011/02/wwf-msg-21585-war-to-settle-score.html
      16. ^ http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y259/TroubleBruin/vlcsnap-2011-11-26-20h55m29s20.png
      17. ^ "The War to Settle the Score". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-01-14. 
      ↑Jump back a section

      External links

      ↑Jump back a section
      Last modified on 10 June 2013, at 22:49