Big John Studd vs Akeem International Challenge Feb 15th, 1989

[@leadfoot1879]

It was great to see Big John cheered at this late point of his career.

[@joeydemitro8976]

THAT IS VERY GOOD AND AWESOME TOO MY FRIEND

[@adambennett2737]

When he got rid of henan they loved him

[@johndrake3472]

Thinking the same thing

[@benjaminlucas1635]

Just to bad he never got to face Andre one on one again. He might have actually got a slam in this time.

[@Robert-nu4vc]

​@@benjaminlucas1635Andre and Studd wrestled in 1989 after Studd came back as a face. A few times I think, and there is a video of one of their 1989 matches on KZbin.

[@ronthompson95]

No one gives the credit due to slick for discovering this talent in the deepest, darkest Africa. And bring him to this country.

[@jamesbarlett246]

You do know that was made up right?

[@ronaldshank7589]

Even though the dude's about as white as paper! Hmm.....go figure. I can't believe that WWF Creative couldn't come up with something better than this!

[@64offsuiter]

Sigh....

[@user-hy7qb8oy8f]

He was from down south.😅😅😅😅😅

[@user-qb7xf4yh5c]

These replies are hilarious...you ppl really think the OC was being serious lol? Biden voters.

[@markdouglas9182]

Big John Studd as a babyface, Jive Soul Bro Slick with Akeem the African Dream, along with Lord and Sean commentating? Whats not to like. Gold!

[@gqloc6768]

All 4 men were true craftmen of their profession. Akeem and Slick and others like Hercules and even the enhancement need their own wing because I hate that trash like The Bella Twins are in and these greats aren't and The Trashy Hoes weren't even in the industry that long and didn't put 1/10 of the work a man like Lanny Poffo did.

[@brandonallen3808]

To me Sean Mooney was never great at commentary. Lord Alfred was okay. Otherwise very enjoyable match for me. Lots of nostalgia.

[@torribrown2656]

Akeem and Slick were absolutely hilarious 😂😂😂😂

[@themaestromegatron4488]

Lord Alfred Hayes was an idiot joke that always supported the heels and tried to act like a nice guy. Didn't make sense back then...

[@MrHeem94]

Pretty much everything.

[@Hollman36]

I loved One Man Gang as a kid, kinda scared me… he had the best finishing splash… HIGHLY UNDERRATED BIG MAN

[@tonypastor705]

He seems to be the only one still alive that’s shaped like that!😟

[@JosephJamesScott]

I liked him better as One Man Gang

[@UPBEATFOREVER]

I like this guy as Akeem as 1 half of the Twin Towers.singles competition too.as Akeem or 1 man gang.he is not underrated.that word is overused...gets boring and you are boring.

[@torribrown2656]

If Akeem and Slick don’t cause you to laugh hysterically I worry for you

[@brandonallen3808]

I love when they come down to Jive Soul Bro, Slick is in perfect sync and Akeem has no rhythm whatsoever.😂😂

[@michaelpatanella]

Amen to that

[@351clevelandmodifiedmotor4]

Pfffffff

[@adnannasir937]

Torrid z rite

[@adnannasir937]

Torrid bear wrestlinggg

[@chrislouden7329]

I always loved Studd!! Thanks for the memories! RIP to a real giant

[@bigkain76]

Andre was a bully and a real ahole behind the scene. Studd was a good guy

[@ItsHimLanceSoza]

I didn't appreciate him as a kid but watching these old videos now as an adult I realize now akeem was a national treasure lol

[@ItsHimLanceSoza]

​@EBC-ENT I know he was one man gang dork I didn't like either one of his gimmicks but with wrestling today it's better goin back and watching the old ones.

[@shawnwhite1972]

He owned it, turned chicken shit into chicken salad

[@scottmiller3930]

Check out Akeem BossMan and Slick on the Arsineo Hall show.

[@KirkLee1983]

Same I hated akeem as a kid as a 41 year old now I enjoy Akeem.

[@ItsHimLanceSoza]

​@@KirkLee1983 nostalgia is great

[@ownknow8161]

*"Akeem" was one of my favourite wrestling characters, simply because of his dancing.*

[@jaretwood9558]

I will never get tired of watching Akeem and Slick strut to the ring

[@ronaldshank7589]

Well...at least we can all get a good laugh, while watching this. It was so ridiculous...and yet, it kind of... worked!

[@davesampson158]

God, I remember it like yesterday when Big John Studd made his comeback in 1989. His new motto was, "I'm not scared of anything". It's hard to believe this was way back in the 80's when it seemed not that long ago.

[@freighttrainsahpassing9790]

@3:43 Akeem: "I don't have any ideas, you ?" John Studd: "Nope"

[@phillipmedina1]

Damn that’s Tony Chimmel as the ring announcer! Loved him on SD Back in the day!

[@matthewchavez8634]

I thought that was him but wasn’t sure.

[@walruswasrob]

I was wondering why he looked familiar!

[@vgf64-27]

I had no idea Tony Chimel was being the ring announcer for WWF this early on, mindblowing stuff.

[@jamalsampson9389]

I absolutely enjoy old-school wrestling! Good upload. 👍

[@meekrob]

For such a huge dude, Akeem could actually bump pretty well.

[@LooseCan88]

he carried the match 4sure

[@Thor-Orion]

Great bumper very agile. John is older here, he moved good in the 70’s and most of the 80’s.

[@Davepool-hs7vr]

RIP Big John Studd

[@joshuacooper7304]

The closed captioning just called him Big Jock Stunt and now I can't stop laughing.

[@scottbarclay8066]

8:40. Big Charge Slide,I got. Still,better than NO video at all of this. RIP Big John.

[@scottbarclay8066]

What the captions had him listed as,@8:42. Whatever timestamp means, I'll look into it.

[@ronaldshank7589]

Seriously?!? You even telling that, got me to laughing! Some of these "Captions" that they come up with, nowadays, make me about wanna bust out laughing! The captions end up saying some of the screwiest things! 😜🤪😜🤪😜🤪!!!!

[@See6H12O6]

God, I miss the classic WWF and the free Saturday Night Main Events. The crazy interviews, over-the-top managers, theme music, simplicity of wrestling and of course, the WWF characters/wrestlers, it was just a good wholesome family fun. We all knew it was fake BUT with the real potential for injury/accidents, but that was part of the fun, they weren't really getting hurt intentionally, so you could enjoy it as a guilty pleasure of sorts. It was a golden age that apparently that can never be repeated.

[@glenmorgan4597]

Totally agree, stopped watching it now, take themselves too seriously and matches drag on too long

[@phillipmennor2585]

Big John Studd was from my hometown of Butler PA. He and my father went to school together.

[@aye_its_karate6169]

Wow! Here’s 25 cents, call someone who actually gives a fuck!😂

[@dannysormaz2283]

Aye karate you think you could be nicer to somebody instead of a rude comment like that . He was just saying that his dad went to school with John Studd : that's all . No need to Mr grumpy .

[@gqloc6768]

@@aye_its_karate6169

[@StrivingTowardsWhatIsAhead]

So then what?

[@larslan1975]

@@aye_its_karate6169 you did,cause you typed words,clown!

[@qewr4231]

Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse Ventura were the best on commentary. Bobby Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon were pretty good too. It was fun because Gorilla Monsoon always rooted for the faces and Heenan and Ventura always rooted for the heels. It's fun when you have commentators rooting for different sides.

[@tonypastor705]

That is fun, but Monsoon was pretty bad on his own- one example is when he said‘Capacity crowd’- when there were lots of empty chairs! He did that many times!😮

[@qewr4231]

@@tonypastor705 Selling/Pushing WWF events.

[@tonypastor705]

@@qewr4231 Of course- but not overdone like he often does.One example is when Strickforce broke up. He used to say that Tito and Martel are both so good- then when they broke up- he said Tito was the much better wrestler who kept the team great. He was so obvious. Loved him as a wrestler though.

[@brandonallen3808]

@@tonypastor705 I noticed that. On his own Monsoon wasn't that great. Put him with Heenan or Ventura and it was gold.

[@brandonallen3808]

Heenan and Monsoon. The Abbott and Costello of wrestling. Miss those two and this time in wrestling

[@Decline-America_Is_In_Trouble]

Akeem. Studd. Shawn Mooney & Lord Alfred!! Gentlemen. It’ll NEVER be this good again. We were SO spoiled. When I die I hope I can go back.

[@Maniac_Matt]

Studd's entrance music would become Hacksaw's not long after this with the addition of a few hoooooo's here and there..

[@MystikWizard]

Hacksaw's was much faster. I actually liked BJS's better.

[@StrivingTowardsWhatIsAhead]

Hoes. Hahahahahaha yeahhhhhhhhhhhh

[@mike2462]

Picked up on that straight away and scrolled through the comments to see if anyone else had!

[@magilla2282]

I just said this but you said it better. With the addition of a few Hoooo's. That's hilarious.

[@ms16794]

The comment I was looking for! 👍👍💯💯🎉🎊🔥💥

[@staceymango6804]

I LOVE the Jive Soul bro theme!!!

[@briansetpente1019]

One man gang aka akeem very agile for a big man 👍

[@kidz4p509]

How come the heels get the better songs?

[@romeovega4301]

Two big men going at it. Legends

[@taekwondotime]

Lord Alfred Hayes: "Akeem up there around 6'3", 6'4"......" (Vince McMahon on the headset: HE'S 6'8" GUDDAAAAMMMIT!!!!) Lord Alfred Hayes: "Akeem is 6'8"......"

[@romeovega4301]

I'm 6ft3 akeem is at least 6ft 5 tbh

[@taekwondotime]

The funny part was how quickly the commentator gave out two completely different heights. The "before Vince" and the "after Vince". @@romeovega4301

[@83MBentley]

jive soul bro is the best entrance music ever created in WWE.

[@PaulDavies4]

It's up there, but all american boys, demolition, and too cool, kanes first music are really close as well.

[@nathj4818]

@@PaulDavies4 slam ya grandma

[@sinceremaverick7081]

Slick should be in the WWE Hall of fame. Slick could always elevate wrestlers careers 👊

[@adm712]

Maybe I'm getting old, but I have zero memory of Big John Studd ever being a babyface.

[@qewr4231]

Double count outs are just a way to continue the feud.

[@Beepbopboh]

I am drinking my face off …I heard the music hit, and I lost my mind . What an awesome time to be alive. So fortunate.

[@marcusrob02]

This was obviously a continuation of their battling in Royal Rumble match from weeks earlier.

[@joshualawler2171]

That was a classic match! I love Professional Wrestling. With the current landscape, I wonder what those 2 old road dogs would think about the "Tables/Ladders/Chairs", "Death Matches", & "Hell in a Cell" matches of today? I'm a huge Fan of both🤨

[@TheGreatestPlayerInTheWorld]

Classic match? Double count out 😂

[@user-gu5nv1xf7z]

Slicks music popped so hard, the wrestlers came out to their managers music.

[@dremias]

Watched the Gang back in Georgia Championship and Mid-Atlantic. Always liked the Gang but when he became Akeem it was gold! Love the African Dream AKEEM!

[@txfreethinker]

I have a different take. I thought One Man Gang was a great heel because he was not only huge, but he looked like he was a badass member of an outlaw motorcycle gang, where as the Akeem character seemed a little silly.

[@dremias]

@@txfreethinker I can agree with that. I remember seeing OMG the in early 80's probably 82 or 83. As Akeem he was just fun to watch him and the crowds interactions were funny. Reminds of of when Kamala turned from heel, very entertaining for the crowd. Slick was awesome as a manager.

[@txfreethinker]

@@dremias Fair points.

[@MafiaKingfishNOLA]

​@txfreethinker In the 80s the WWF was less about the actual wrestling and more about the entertainment. The gimmicks and characters were all meant to be over the top. I agree One Man Gang was great as a massive heel character but in the 80s Akeem, although a heel, got great reactions from the crowd. People, for some reason, kind of liked Akeem.

[@FredericBarclay-yg3vg]

@ceedub619cameraman3 Word. "BOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!"

[@Jd-zr8bs]

Saw this match on a house show .My first wwf live show.Whole card was decent

[@GD-eh3mj]

Do you remember who else was in action?

[@DavidSmith-rv2hw]

Ronnie Garvin defeated Boris Zhukov Akeem fought Big John Studd to a Double Count Out (6:05) Rick Rude defeated Brutus Beefcake Hercules fought Mr. Perfect to a Time Limit Draw (11:14) Randy Savage (w/ Miss Elizabeth) defeated Bad News Brown in a Street Fight (4:53) Bret Hart defeated The Honky Tonk Man (w/ Jimmy Hart) by DQ (10:27) The Bushwhackers (Butch and Luke) defeated The Fabulous Rougeaus (Jacques Rougeau and Raymond Rougeau) (12:48) Hulk Hogan defeated The Big Boss Man in a Steel Cage match

[@OpenDoorEnglish]

Akeem and Slick were great comedy. Superb worker also. I never really liked Studd that much but if I’d seen him live I’m sure it would have been impressive. The guy was as tall as a house!

[@brandonallen3808]

There is NO WAY, you could do that Akeem gimmick now.

[@8incheskok]

Nope, everyone is a snowflake now days.

[@johnhamilton5369]

Also loved that Slick who is supposed to be a pimp type figure was the manager of an abusive prison guard.

[@8incheskok]

@@johnhamilton5369 George Gray, became an actual prison guard, lol.

[@walruswasrob]

@@username-zj9id Ray Traylor was a real life prison guard before getting into wrestling.

[@username-zj9id]

@@walruswasrob I know

[@daveconleyportfolio5192]

Just when I was wishing these two would do some cruiserweight moves to change things up a little, Studd does an armdrag at 5:54. It ain't Steamboat, but I appreciate the effort.

[@qewr4231]

I have seen John Studd deadlift 500 lbs. over and over like it was nothing. Light weight.

[@shane24374]

Big John Studd was a mountain of a man.

[@unknownunknown9296]

Yep, he was...Until he ran into Andre!!!!!

[@davidcook4600]

Andre and big John, loved their feud and matches. This one wasn't bad though lol

[@battlestarmarc]

Akeem was funny. studd was a beast in the 80's.

[@frankcook4959]

I never realized until someone pointed it out that Big John Studd's theme music is Hacksaw Jim Duggan's music played slower.

[@toptenguy1]

LOL yep, I expected a "HHOOOOOOOOOO!!" at one point haha

[@ericwright2594]

Rip big John studd

[@garinsparks7041]

Slick & Akerm would be the rare heels that would still high five ya

[@crazyralph6386]

Slick was so awesome. He could pull off the best vignettes with absolutely no script. Everything was improvised with that cat.

[@davidmreyes77]

Akeem was the greatest African American wrestler.

[@donnyjepp]

LOL 🤣💪

[@milesboustead2826]

Big John Studd is underrated idc

[@crazyralph6386]

Hakeem’s gimmick would be considered “cultural appropriation” by todays standards. Heck, could you imagine the shyte storm with The Godfather coming out with his “Hoooooe Train”??? 😂

[@gqloc6768]

Akeem/One Man Gang belongs in the Hall of Fame! It's disgusting that trash like The Bella Twins are in and men like Akeem and Hercules aren't!

[@JohnDoe-uo5ny]

Entertaining, but not a Hall of Famer.

[@alhyde1269]

I liked the One Man Gang gimmick more.

[@RNCV-uf7wu]

I didn't know Tony Chimel was in WWF in 1989

[@MystikWizard]

He was around as early as Mania 2. Long time guy.

[@Nonsense1986]

I think January 1989 is the earliest example of him ring announcing but I think he was even there in 1987. He was the guy holding Matilda when the Islanders kidnapped him.

[@almightyone1181]

Amazing

[@jonstefanik9400]

We were robbed of the Big Boss Man vs. Big John Studd

[@danielpartida1439]

Probably would've happened if Big John Studd stuck around a little bit longer. Unfortunately, him and Andre never got along backstage and Andre pretty much chased him out of WWE shortly after this.

[@Gary1123]

This is fantastic, thanks for sharing.

[@jamescaspersamanthalintner4767]

Rest in peace Big John studd these two one man gang and him it's wonderful to watch these old matches and watch wrestlers that knew how to work they wasted 5 minutes of the match just with their entrances and a couple of color and elbow tie ups and two bumps and it was entertaining there wasn't 500 high spots and no selling these kids today I don't even like watching modern wrestling because there's no storytelling to it they don't know how to put together a match it's just punticon runners and moon salts and 450 splashes and chain wrestling for 10 or 15 minutes with no selling in between all the moves and I'm going to bet that a lot of them boys are not going to have very long careers from all the hard bumps they're taking on the outside of the Ring. This is too big men that no how to sell and how to put on a match how to tell a story understand ring psychology.

[@MrShonH]

As a black kid, I knew Akeem doing that gimmick was BS...but...with all going on in the world at the time...I didn't care. I just wanted to be entertained for a lil bit.

[@MafiaKingfishNOLA]

ALL wrestling gimmicks were BS. These guys were just acting. OMG actually did a great job of transforming himself into Akeem. He sold it very well. He did what he was supposed to do. He entertained people.

[@quebecerpepe2421]

@@MafiaKingfishNOLA By "BS" I think the guy meant Not Cool. What the thin skinned folks of 2022 would call "racially insensitive". I'm pretty sure this dude knows that wrestling gimmicks are generally not real, that George Steele doesn't really eat turnbuckles and Hillbilly Jim doesn't really have umpteen barefoot cousins... And he clearly agrees with you that Akeem was hella entertaining

[@cherenebryan9717]

@@quebecerpepe2421 I doubt if he meant it was 'Not Cool' like you said. As a black kid growing up I did not care about any of that because I knew it was BS (bogus) that he was from Africa, but he was with Slick so I accepted it and he got a pass and I just went with the flow.

[@StrivingTowardsWhatIsAhead]

Akeem was a great black wrestler.

[@pablosanchez6558]

This was before I know Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon

[@fjccommish]

It was something when One Man Gang found his African roots.

[@capacola262743]

it was hilarious.

[@fjccommish]

@@capacola262743 Hilarious? Why would you laugh at that? The man found his roots.

[@PJP-DJP]

Big John Studd has the same entrance music as Hacksaw Jim Duggan minus the "HOOOOOOOO!"

[@martinhadfield6781]

Big John Studd’s music sounds like Hacksaw Jim Duggan’s without the hooooo!

[@lukez2992]

Unfortunately for a big John Studd he was wrestling on borrowed time in this match he was already terminally ill from cancer and didn’t even know it

[@MrAce-lm8es]

Former WWF Announcer Tony Chimel on the call for "WWF International Wrestling Challenge".

[@darrylskylar8757]

Rest In Heavenly Peace🙏🤍🕊🙏💙

[@francissobotka8725]

I forgot John came back in 89. I remember him doing commercials for wild world here in marland.

[@staffordshiredashcamvideos889]

The Akeem gimmick must of been the biggest rib in wrestling

[@DemonKingFinnBalor1916]

John Studd & Jim Duggan got the same exact theme song. They just added the "Hoooooooooo" to Duggan's version

[@novisoprano1420]

Love Akeem’s intro music classic

[@stewartmcrae8007]

Is Akeem conrad Thompsons father

[@taekwondotime]

Lord Alfred Hayes: "Akeem up there around 6'3", 6'4"......" (Vince McMahon on the headset: HE'S 6'8" GUDDAAAAMMMIT!!!!) Lord Alfred Hayes: "Akeem is 6'8"......"

[@ctimm5019]

I’m feeling the spirit of Black history month. Thank you brother Akeem.

[@Phicheee]

All that for a double-countout? Man, they really went balls-to-the-wall for Studd's face push, huh?

[@clark82]

Akeam was still very much in the main event scene at this point as part of the Twin Towers v Mega Powers storyline… so it’s pretty much to protect him in the short run, but also get Studd ready for his (planned) match v Andre that was to take place at Summerslam 89.

[@waynedoyle5584]

@@clark82 why did this match happen and why was his retiurn in 89 so short after winning royal rumble 89 ? ...thanks

[@clark82]

@@waynedoyle5584 its basically a fall out match from the rumble, as Studd and Akeam went at it for quite a while in the Rumble, then they had a few house show matches, which ended the same in a double count out, then Studd would call Akeam back into the ring and slam him... basically like Super Star Billy Graham 2 years earlier, Studd's body was just not what it was once like, and he was diagnosed with cancer just 2 years later.

[@waynedoyle5584]

@@clark82 thank you for detailed reply ....grateful ....your a star

[@ferox965]

@@clark82 I read somewhere that there was a pay dispute as well.

[@Hollman36]

5:15 Big John breaks character with a grin at Akeem selling

[@DaRealWorlds]

5:54 the biggest ARM DRAG in wrestling history 💪💪

[@STEJTHEGREATEST]

0:05 I could imagine the first time Slick played that song to One Man Gang, he immediately felt the groove, forgot all about One Man Gang, and became Akeem!!!

[@warrenkemmer1307]

both guys entrance music is 🔥

[@KillerManzarek]

Big John Studd's music is Jim Duggan's theme whitout the "Ohoo"

[@user-ym9pt7gk7j]

both among the greatest big men in the business -

[@Dr.Thirteen]

would have loved to see akeem and bossman vs stud and bundy now THAT would be battle of the big men!

[@filthy0819]

I remember as soon as Big John start left they gave this theme song to hacksaw Jim duggan just added hoooooooo

[@JUSTICEshsyedZaC]

Akeem aka one man gang theam was funky miss the 80's

[@tenfourproductionsllc]

Studd wearing some serious elevator boots there. If studd was taller than Akeem, maybe got him by an inch in real life.

[@rscottrogers22]

Studd was around 6'7" or 6'8" Akeem was 6'6"

[@titansrule72]

jive soul bro is a top 10 wwf entrance theme of all time

[@donborracho3019]

Studd really came to the ring with Jim Duncan's muusic. 😅

[@stevenoliviero3652]

WWE entire roster of wrestlers not even one of them could stand up against these 2 giants both standing at 6 foot 9 tall...

[@indiasupportstrumpwwg1wga927]

nice and rare to see a couple of 6'6 range wrestlers collide!

[@robrubio7583]

Yes a great match up, I watched this in the day. I remember all those cool wwf matches. Best Era. Then the attitude Era second.

[@franklincourten8281]

A VERY young Tony Chimel!

[@PJP-DJP]

The Akeem Gimmick was a shot at Dusty Rhodes American Dream Gimmick.

[@krishelfferich3487]

Just realized Stuffs music is Hacksaw Jim Duggans slowed down

[@jasonrandall5148]

Never remember these 2 giants facing off against each other.

[@DaDitka]

Big John Studd - the REAL Giant!

[@MrSoccerball100]

“Deepest darkest Africa”. Lmao

[@andrewmoe7078]

Poor George. I'm glad you found work after Vince McMahon screwed you over. Fan4life! ❤️

[@PowerNGlory]

Please.....Stop being such a mark.

[@Jonwood74]

I thought that they were gearing up for a John Studd/Hulk Hogan showdown, perhaps at Mania, when Studd came back, but that obviously never happened...

[@marvinlassegue9353]

John Studd one of the prettiest giants.

[@michaelzoran]

Akeem should have remained "The One Man Gang." I thought "Akeem" was a stupid character, while "The One Man Gang" was actually a cool character.

[@IliasSotiropoulos-ve7dr]

He did some good work in Florida in the middle 80s

[@therealsethscarlet7084]

Nice Trivia: Both Wrestlers are the Same Month, February, (also, shared Month with Rin Tohsaka, Steven Irwin, Zero Two, Tommy Dreamee and George Harrison).

[@ethanedwards7557]

Akeem was either the greatest gimmick ever or the worst gimmick ever.

[@jameslonggood9707]

The days before the titan tron were great.

[@magilla2282]

Big John Studds song is a variation of Hacksaws music. I was waiting for the HOOOOOOOOO.

[@KirkLee1983]

I hated Akeem as a Kid but as a 41 year old now I enjoy Akeem!.

[@MRodriguez7467]

I didn't know Tony Chimel was ring announcing this match.

[@craigdavis5407]

At 6:37 The Body Slam Challenge Reference!!!!🤠🤠🤠🤠

[@anilsamaroo2038]

Big John Studd vs Undertaker

[@jiovanna4136]

One Man Gang aka Akeem was 6 foot 9 and 430lbs And look how small( Big John Studd) makes One Man Gang look...Yikes and One Man Gang is huge himself.

[@musicl0ver543]

Lmfao @ deepest, darkest Africa. That would never fly now!