WWF Classic: The Genius Upsets Hulk Hogan – November 1989 [Videos]

In one of the biggest upsets of his WWF career, The Genius (Lanny Poffo) scored a stunning count-out victory over Hulk Hogan in November 1989. The victory became a memorable highlight for Poffo and added another chapter to the increasingly intense rivalry between Hogan and Mr. Perfect, whom The Genius managed. With the feud between Hogan and Perfect continuing to escalate, The Genius's unlikely victory gave Mr. Perfect and his manager another reason to celebrate—and Hogan another reason to seek revenge.

WWF Saturday Night's Main Event

World Wrestling Federation on NBC

Taped October 31, 1989

Aired November 25, 1989

Topeka, Kansas, USA

Commentators: Vince McMahon & Jesse Ventura

WWF Classic: Bret Hart vs Mr. Perfect - June 1989 [Videos]

By 1989, the WWF roster was overflowing with larger-than-life superstars, but beneath the spotlight, a new generation of technical wrestlers was beginning to emerge. Among the brightest were Bret "Hitman" Hart and Mr. Perfect, two competitors whose precision, athleticism, and attention to detail set them apart from the powerhouses dominating the era.

Bret Hart has often said that one of his best matches of his career took place against Mr. Perfect during a non-televised bout at the Sullivan Arena in Anchorage, Alaska on August 12, 1989. While that legendary match has yet to surface, their June 3, 1989, encounter at the Boston Garden offers a fascinating glimpse of what it may have looked like. With Hart and Perfect already displaying remarkable chemistry, it's easy to understand why Bret considered Mr. Perfect one of his greatest in-ring opponents.

Bret Hart Interview

WWF on NESN

Saturday, June 3, 1989

Saturday, June 3, 1989

Boston, Massachusetts

Commentators: Tony Schiavone and Lord Alfred Hayes

"And here the air is absolutely pregnant with expectation of a great match." 

- Lord Alfred Hayes

⚔️ WWF Classic Feud Spotlight: Shawn Michaels vs. Marty Jannetty — The 1993 Four-Star Match Trilogy

Shawn Michaels vs Marty Jannetty in 1993

As the WWF’s Golden Era faded and the New Generation began to redefine professional wrestling, the breakup of The Rockers marked a decisive turning point for both Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty. For Michaels, it was the launchpad for a meteoric rise as a singles competitor; for Jannetty, it quietly marked the closing chapter of his prime in-ring run.

Yet in 1993, their rivalry produced something remarkable. Across three singles matches—each earning four-star acclaim—Michaels and Jannetty delivered a compact trilogy that showcased their unmatched chemistry. The first took place on January 24, 1993, at the Royal Rumble in Sacramento, California. The remaining two aired on the USA Network’s WWF Monday Night RAW, cementing this overlooked series as one of the best rivalries of its time.

Royal Rumble Report

WWF SUPERSTARS

Aired on January 9, 1993

WWF Intercontinental Championship Match

WWF ROYAL RUMBLE

January 24, 1993

WWF Intercontinental Championship Match

WWF Monday Night RAW

Aired on May 17, 1993

WWF Intercontinental Championship Match

WWF Monday Night RAW

Aired July 19. 1993

Marty Jannetty vs Shawn Michaels in July 1993

🥇 The First WWF Tag Team Appearance of the Hardy Boyz — 1996 [Videos]

On May 28, 1996, during a World Wrestling Federation television taping of WWF Superstars in Charleston, South Carolina, brothers Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy appeared together for the first time as tag team partners in the WWF.

During the taping, the Hardy brothers faced the reigning WWF Tag Team Champions, The Smoking Gunns—kayfabe brothers Billy and Bart Gunn—and also competed in a second match against the pairing of Marty Jannetty and Leif Cassidy as the New Rockers, with both bouts taking place the same night.

The WWF Tag Team Championship match later aired on the June 15 episode of WWF Superstars and was further anchored in WWF history by a commentary team featuring Mr. Perfect, Vince McMahon, Jim Ross, and Sunny. For the Hardys—hailing from nearby North Carolina—the match represents not only their first national exposure as a team, but the earliest documented step in what would become one of the most influential tag team careers of the modern era.

Listen as Vince McMahon refers to the brothers as The Hardy Boyz on commentary during both of their matches.

The New Rockers vs Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy

WWF Superstars

Aired June 1, 1996

The Smoking Gunns vs "The Hardy Boyz" Matt and Jeff

WWF Tag Team Championship Match

WWF Superstars

Aired on June 15, 1996

1989: The Year Professional Wrestling Found Its Creative Peak [Videos]

While professional wrestling in the 1980s had already experienced explosive growth through spectacle and mainstream exposure, 1989 stands apart as the year where craft finally caught up with charisma.

Hulk Hogan had dominated the professional wrestling landscape since 1985, fueled by the national expansion of Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Federation. By the late 1980s, wrestling had reached its commercial peak—but in 1989, something important changed. Simply put, characters and matches got better. Across promotions, storytelling, motivation, and in-ring performance aligned. 1989 is when professional wrestling became sharper, more emotional, and more complete.

While names like Hulk Hogan, "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Andre the Giant, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Ric Flair, and Ricky Steamboat were the standard bearers of the era, the upper card and next generation—Rick Rude, Ultimate Warrior, Lex Luger, Bret Hart, Owen Hart, Shawn Michaels, Sid Vicious, and Mr. Perfect—were rising into prominence. The year also marked the professional wrestling debuts of future icons including Steve Austin, Booker T, and Rey Mysterio, quietly signaling the direction wrestling would take in the decade ahead.

"Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase vs Bret "Hitman" Hart

March 8, 1989

Aired on March 20, 1989

Odessa, Texas

Randy Savage vs Hulk Hogan

Wrestemania V

April 2, 1989

Bret Hart Promo

May 1989

🥇 Squash Match Spotlight: Mr. Perfect vs. Dwayne Gill [Video]

 

Mr. Perfect vs Dwayne Gill

WWF SUPERSTARS

Aired April 3, 1993

Commentary: Bobby Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon

More Mr. Perfect Squash Matches at 🥇 Squash Match Spotlight: Mr. Perfect vs. Mark Thomas (Double Feature) Same victim. Same result. Twice the perfection. [Videos]

🥇 Squash Match Spotlight: Mr. Perfect vs. Mark Thomas (Double Feature) Same victim. Same result. Twice the perfection. [Videos]

🥇 Squash Match Spotlight (The "Perfect 17 Seconds" Match):

Mr. Perfect vs. Mark Thomas 

📺 WWF Wrestling Challenge – Filmed on July 30, 1991, Aired on September 1, 1991 (Taping #261)
🎙 Commentary by Gorilla Monsoon & Bobby Heenan
🏟  Portland Civic Center – Portland, Maine

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💥 “Doesn't have the gold around his waist anymore, that belongs to the Hitman” – Gorilla Monsoon

💥“Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute, notice something, Coach isn't at ringside with him.” – Bobby Heenan

💥“I've never seen him like this.” – Bobby Heenan

Perfect payday— this quick bout took seconds and shows Mr. Perfect as you may have never seen him before — angry at Bret Hart and showing off his amateur wrestling skills to finish the match in 17 seconds. This is an example of taping a professional wrestling angle before the angle finishes, as the taping of this match occurred on July 30, before Bret Hart beat Mr. Perfect for the Intercontinental Championship title at SummerSlam on August 26. To overcome this, Bret Hart "stole" the title in front of the Portland, Maine crowd during the live show, making Mr. Perfect's words and actions during the match make sense and be in context to him wanting his missing title back from Bret Hart.

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🎬 Match Breakdown:

• Duration: Approx. 17 seconds
• Setting: WWF Wrestling Challenge #261
• Result: Mr. Perfect wins
• Highlights:
• Mr. Perfect wins without using the Perfect Plex. 
• Mr. Perfect gets to show his amateur background with some basic moves.
• Mark Thomas perfect Jobber.
• Classic commentary from two of the best in the business.

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🧠 Hot Tag Notes:

• This was Mr. Perfect's last wrestling match on WWF television for over a year.

• Mark Thomas provided no offense here. From 1989 to 1995, Thomas had 34 matches in the World Wrestling Federation, with this match being his shortest in a year where he wrestled 10 matches for the promotion.

• The WWF cameras seem to have found a lot of anti-Mr. Perfect sentiment in the crowd.

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📼 Watch the Match:

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🥇 The "Perfect" Squash Match Spotlight: Mr. Perfect vs. Mark Thomas

📺 WWF Wrestling Challenge – Filmed on June 5, 1990, Aired on July 8, 1990 (Taping #201)
🎙 Special Commentary by Sean Mooney & Lord Alfred Hayes
🏟 Rochester Community War Memorial  – Rochester, New York

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💥 “When I saw the flawless Champion, earlier before this encounter, he told me that we should be set for an absolutely perfect encounter.” – Sean Mooney

💥“That definitely was a championship performance by a great champion, Mr. Perfect!” – Lord Alfred Hayes

Mr. Perfect showcased all his classic moves in this match — the slap to the face, the chops to the chest, the standing dropkick, the trash-talking, the kicking of the opponent's head on the mat, and of course, the Perfect Plex. In Classic WWF fashion, this match included a promotion for the WWF Magazine which this month featured The Heart Foundation on the cover.

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🎬 Match Breakdown:

• Duration: Approx. 3 minutes and 45 seconds
• Setting: WWF Wrestling Challenge Taping #201
• Result: Mr. Perfect wins via Perfect Plex to retain the WWF Intercontinental Championship
• Highlights:
  • Mr. Perfect really does have a perfect match, including his one defensive move.
  • Having Bobby Heenan at ringside is always a highlight in any WWF match.
  • Mark Thomas does what he is supposed to do, perfectly.

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🧠 Hot Tag Notes:

• Mr. Perfect was led to the ring by the Perfect Manager. Mr. Perfect was undefeated in the WWF at this time.

• Mark Thomas is in his third World Wrestling Federation match for the company at this time.

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📼 Watch the Match:

The Heat Built Up Between Bret "The Hitman" Hart and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin [Videos]

In the lead-up to their first pay-per-view clash at the 1996 Survivor Series, Bret “Hitman” Hart and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin ignited one of the most intense rivalries of the era.
Their war of words and mind games laid the foundation for a legendary feud that would shape the future of WWE. As seen in the videos featured in this post, the tension was palpable—highlighted by Austin boldly declaring:

“It’s Austin’s house now!”

A power shift was underway, and the battleground was set.

"Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig interviews Bret Hart

Monday Night Raw

Aired on August 12, 1996

Long Edit

"Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig interviews Bret Hart

while aboard the Wrestle Vessel

Filmed July 1996

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin

LIVEWIRE

Austin talks TRASH about Bret Hart, Mr. Perfect, fans, etc.

Aired Live on October 19, 1996

Bret Hart accepts Austin's Survivor Series challenge

WWF MONDAY NIGHT RAW

Aired on October 21, 1996

Brian Pillman interviews his friend "Stone Cold"

WWF SUPERSTARS

Aired on October 27, 1996

Commentary Mr. Perfect and Jim Ross

"Stone Cold" tells Bret Hart,

"I'm the best there is, I'm the best there was, I'm the best there ever will be."

WWF MONDAY NIGHT RAW

Aired on October 28, 1996

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin Vignette

WWF SUPERSTARS

November 1996

WWF Interview Archive: The Brother Love Show - October 1989 [Videos]

The Brother Love Show premiered on World Wrestling Federation television in 1988, with host Bruce Prichard in his famous Brother Love character. The "show" lasted until 1991.

Guests: "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiasse and Virgil

Commentators: Vince McMahon and Jesse "The Body" Ventura

Guests: Mr. Perfect with the Genius

Commentator: Vince McMahon

Guests: "Macho King" Randy Savage and Queen Sherri

Commentators: Vince McMahon and Jesse "The Body" Ventura

Guest: "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes

Commentators: Vince McMahon and Jesse "The Body" Ventura

WWF PRIME TIME WRESTLING

Aired on October 30, 1989

Guests: "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka,

and The Bushwackers (Cousin Butch, Cousin Luke)

Commentators: Vince McMahon and Jesse "The Body" Ventura

Hosts: Gorilla Monsoon and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper as Bobby Heenan

An Early WCW "Triple H" Promo Previews Possible Future Match Ups with Steve Austin, Lord Regal, and Hulk Hogan with FULL MATCHES INCLUDED [Videos]

WCW "Triple H"

Jean-Paul WCW's ARISTOCRATIC PROSPECT

WCW

WCW PRO

Gordon Solie interviews Jean Paul Levesque

Aired on July 30, 1994

In Your House 11: Buried Alive

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs Hunter Hearst Helmsley

with Mr. Perfect

Indianapolis, Indiana

October 20, 1996

Commentators: Vince McMahon, Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler

RAW

Triple H vs William Regal

First Blood Match

January 7, 2008

Commentators: Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler

SmackDown!

Hulk Hogan vs Triple H

June 6, 2002

Commentators: Michael Cole and Taz

TRIPLE H and "Triple H" Hollywood" Hulk Hogan

Classic WWF Television Matches: Bret "Hitman" Hart vs Dave Wagner [Video]

Event Date: Tuesday, April 25, 1989

Venue: Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Location: Des Moines, Iowa

WWF Prime Time Wrestling

Bret Hart vs Dave Wagner

Commentary: Bobby Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon

Aired on May 5, 1989

WWF PRIME TIME WRESTLING 09/09/91 [Videos]

On September 9, 1991, Ric Flair made his historic World Wrestling Federation (WWF) television debut with the World Heavyweight Championship on an episode of WWF Prime Time Wrestling, after a long successful career with rival promotion NWA/WCW.

Below is a good example of an episode of WWF Prime Time Wrestling which aired on the USA Network from the end of the so-called "Golden Age" of Professional Wrestling, showing the excellent production values of the WWF compared to other wrestling promotions at the time. WWF Prime Time Wrestling primarily served as a recap program, showcasing quality matches and interview segments from WWF syndicated programs and pay-per-views. WWF Prime Time Wrestling was replaced in January 1993 on the USA Network, with the premiere of  WWF Monday Night Raw.