The War to Settle the Score

The War to Settle the Score
Roddy Piper mocking the crowd by wearing a Hulkamania t-shirt as he is introduced by guest ring announcer Bob Costas
PromotionWorld Wrestling Federation
DateFebruary 18, 1985[1]
CityNew York, New York[1]
VenueMadison Square Garden[1]
Attendance22,000[1]

The War to Settle the Score is a professional wrestling event 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 World Heavyweight Championship against "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. Hogan retained the title after Piper got disqualified in the only match of the event that was shown on MTV.

On September 5, 2019 the entire show was added to the WWE Network in their "Hidden Gems" section,[2] however the next day it was removed.[citation needed]

Background

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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.[3] 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.[4][5] Moolah, however, remained upset and challenged Richter to a match on behalf of Leilani Kai, another women's wrestler.[6]

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,[7] attacked Lauper and Albano; Hogan's defense of Lauper led to a match for Hogan's WWF World Heavyweight Championship.[8]

Event

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Other on-screen personnel
Role: Name:
Commentator Gorilla Monsoon
Gene Okerlund
Interviewer Gene Okerlund
Ring announcer Howard Finkel
Bob Costas (Main 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.[9] 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 World Heavyweight Championship.[1] Paul Orndorff and Bob Orton, Jr. interfered in the match on Piper's behalf.[10] 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.[11]

Aftermath

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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.[12][13] 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.[14]

Richter and Kai also faced each other at the first WrestleMania. Richter defeated Kai to regain the WWF Women's Championship.[15] Richter would lose the title back to The Fabulous Moolah in November of 1985 in the "Original Screwjob" where Richter's shoulders were counted for a pin though she lifted them up at the one count (the "screwjob" was due to Richter and the WWF failing to reach a contract agreement). She left the WWF immediately after that and did not return for over two decades.

Rick McGraw was shown on TV being attacked violently by Roddy Piper on an episode of WWF Championship Wrestling in October of 1985 (aired in November 1985), McGraw died tragically on November 1, 1985 from a heart attack and some fans erroneously thought Piper had caused his death because the segment aired after his death. David Sammartino left the WWF after a match where he controversially submitted to jobber Ron Shaw in November 1985.

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.[16][17]

Results

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No.Results[1]StipulationsTimes
1DMoondog Spot vs. Rick McGraw ended in a drawSingles match15:00
2DJohnny Rodz defeated Jose Louis RiveraSingles match11:14
3DHillbilly Jim defeated Rene GouletSingles match7:29
4DLeilani Kai defeated Wendi Richter (c)Singles match for the WWF Women's Championship[18]11:49
5DDavid Sammartino defeated Moondog RexSingles match12:27
6DNikolai Volkoff defeated Swede HansonSingles match5:48
7DJimmy Snuka defeated Bob OrtonSingles match[18]9:59
8DPaul Orndorff defeated Tony AtlasSingles match[18]6:08
9DThe U.S. Express (Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda) (c) defeated The Spoiler and The AssassinTag Team match for the WWF Tag Team Championship[18]0:36
10DDon Muraco defeated Salvatore BellomoSingles match2:41
11Hulk Hogan (c) defeated Roddy Piper by disqualificationSingles match for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship[18][19]8:40
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match
D – this was a dark match

References

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  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. ^ Coulson, Steve (2019-09-05). "EXCLUSIVE: Over Two Hour Version Of The War To Settle The Score Coming To WWE Network As A WWE Hidden Gems Addition". WWE Network News. Retrieved 2019-09-05.
  3. ^ Beekman, Scott (2006). Ringside: A History of Professional Wrestling in America. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 125. ISBN 0-275-98401-X.
  4. ^ "Captain Lou Albano". WWE. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
  5. ^ "History of the Women's Championship: Wendi Richter's first reign". WWE. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
  6. ^ "Fabulous Moolah". WWE. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
  7. ^ "Rowdy Roddy Piper". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved 2009-01-15.
  8. ^ "Miscellaneous Profiles: Cyndi Lauper". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
  9. ^ "History of the Women's Championship: Leilani Kai's first reign". WWE. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
  10. ^ Blassie, Fred; Keith Elliot Greenberg (2003). The Legends of Wrestling: 'Classy' Freddie Blassie. World Wrestling Entertainment. p. 252. ISBN 0-7434-6316-1.
  11. ^ Oliver, Greg; Steven Johnson (2007). The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Heels. ECW Press. p. 100. ISBN 978-1-55022-759-8.
  12. ^ Cawthon, Graham (2013). the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 1: WWF 1963 - 1989. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 978-1492825975.
  13. ^ ""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.
  14. ^ "WrestleMania 2 Results". WWE. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
  15. ^ "History of the Women's Championship". WWE. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
  16. ^ Colin Rinehart (27 February 2011). "X's Wrestling Review". xfearbefore.blogspot.com.
  17. ^ "Picture of interview with Andy Warhol" (PNG). Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  18. ^ a b c d e Hoops, Brian (February 18, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history (February 18): WWF War to settle the score". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
  19. ^ "The War to Settle the Score". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
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