[5.0] "An okay episode, even if there are no notable matches. The work done over the last few years helps to identify the wrestlers, their place in the hierarchy and their rivalry. Each new presence is therefore felt as such, and the older ones can benefit from their notoriety during their matches, especially if they clash. Quite a few small non-match segments that weren't great, but which help build up the wrestlers a little more and identify their entourage or themselves. And always Jesse Ventura's excellent commentary. In-ring quality: 2.25/5. Angles and segments outside matches: 0.5/3. Bonus/Malus: none, as the use of the snake is included in the in-ring score. Total: 4.75/10. Show seen on WWE Network."
[6.0] "Solid episode with two notably good matches. In the opener, the Savage and Roberts feud brought a good IC Title match that went to a ten-minute double DQ. The Hart Foundation and the Killer Bees also faced off in one of many encounters they had around this time; this wasn't the best of them, but their matches were always good. Hogan had a title defense against Hercules, which was OK enough but Hercules wasn't really a viable main eventer at this point for any shows bigger than this. Piper, relatively newly-face turned, cuts a few memorably whacked-out promos before and after a decent but very short match against Bob Orton that definitely felt like it should've gotten more time. Nikolai Volkoff shows up with new manager Slick, but they can't get on the same page which allows Koko to beat Nikolai quickly. Muraco vs Slater was little more than a competent squash. Overall a solid, fast-paced and fun watch."
[7.0] "This is a very dogged and, for his time in the WWF, quite a hefty opener - strongly conveyed by both sides. Hogan makes it slightly exciting for a long time, but then just routine as always. The two ex-buddies Piper and Orton settle it in an unsightly mini-match, something was given away. The Bees and the Foundation have never had a bad match with each other and today with Mask-Magic is no exception. The Birdman's match isn't a classic, but the crowd goes wild somehow. The last match of the show is then rather insignificant in nature and somewhat at odds with what was a fast-paced and therefore pretty good show for 1986. Rounded off on seven. It's well worth watching."
[6.0] "Two solid episodes of Saturday Night's Main Event is always nice. Jake Roberts has my favourite performance of the night. Jake is also a part of my favourite match when he faces Randy Savage. My least favourite match here was Don Muraco vs Dick Slater. Piper vs Orton was a fun, but too short match here as well; two with such history should've had a bigger match. A solid final SNME to end off 1986 here."
[6.0] "Savage Vs. Roberts was th best match of the night, but The Bees and Harts was good, too. Piper and Orton's friendship explodes in a 3 minute match (should have lasted longer), and Hogan beats Hercules. This was one of the better DSaturday Night's Main Event cards of the time."
[5.0] "This show started with its best part macho vs jake the snake. This match was very much a great exmple of in match storytelling as both men started the match very heel like but by the end jake was allready a face in all but name. Unfortuntly the finish and the length stop it for being the true clssic the 2 man could have put on still good tho (7/10). And now ita time to slow down. Wayyyyy down. Hogan hercules is a hogan match with a very unitrsting foe for hogan but the actul work was not bad (4/10). Piper vs borton was a fine match that was just a samll stop in the piper face turn angal (5/10). This is the first time bret hart was one a snme so ofc he lost. Match was ok Koko vs volkoff was a match that hapend. Same with the main event. Over all this is by far the best snme up to this point as it has 1 good match and the rest are atleast ok also love to see bret. 5 outa 10. Mvp was jake cos he is just the best"
[8.0] "Well, 1986 certainly has a lot of great SNMEs and this was one of them. Strong start with a very good heel vs heel encounter between Savage and Jake. Followed up was a solid title defense for Hogan against a fresh name in Hercules. Piper/Orton match was super effective in crowd reaction. Harts/Bee wasn't their best effort but it was the usual goodness by them. Last two matches were complete throwaways, but a typical act of the program."
[5.0] "Eine Sache die ich schon mal vorweg sagen will: Es gab einiges an Promos, auch von Roberts und Savage, welche mir am besten gefielen. Die beiden hatten dann auch das erste Match, in welchem es um den Intercontinental Title ging. Savage war hier als Champion der technische Aggressor, gegen den sich Roberts wehrte. Das seltsame Finish zog das Match für mich etwas runter aber es war dennoch ein anständiges Match und in meinen Augen auch das MOTN. Auch Hogan lieferte keine schlechten Promos ab aber sein Match gegen Hernandez war schon schwächer als der Opener aber auch nicht schlecht. Hernandez dominiert erst aber dann kam der Hulkster in gewohnter Manier zurück. Für die Länge und dafür das es ein TV Match war fand ich es okay. Piper gegen Orton war dann ein reines Storymatch, wobei ich hier die Story auch um die Vergangenheit der beiden nicht uninteressant fand. Killer Bees gegen die Hart Foundation war dann typisches Tag Team Wrestling der 80er Jahre und stellte ein solides Tag Team Match dar. Dann folgten die beiden letzten Matches und sie waren beide kurz aber erreichten durchaus das was sie sollten. Während im Co ME der Eingriff des Managers nach hinten losging, was zum Underdogsieg führte ( zur Freude der Zuschauer) war er im ME erfolgreich. Insgesamt muss man generell sagen: Wrestlerisch war das insbesondere in Anbetracht der drei kürzeren Matches jetzt nicht ganz so viel aber zumindest verfolgten diese dann auch andere Zwecke. Insgesamt war es in meinen Augen eine solide Ausgabe, welche 5 Punkte verdient."
[5.0] "Das IC Title Match endet leider unklar. Schade. Auch eines der besseren Matches an diesen Abend. Hogan gegen Hercules war nichts Besonderes. Auch Herc scheitert an Hogan. Piper gegen Orton ist kurz gehalten. Trozdem kann man beide Matches gucken. TT Match war dann wieder besser. Beide Teams mit einer guten Chemie miteinander. Nur das Finish gefällt mir weniger. Koko gegen Volkoff endet auch schnell. ME war dann nicht gut. Erneut wieder das falsche Mtch mit dem Spot. Warum nicht den World Title oder das TT Match."
[7.0] "Another enjoyable SNME! I really liked Savage/Jake, a rare heel vs. heel match that went over really well, and had shades of their more famous feud 5 years later. The Piper stuff was also very compelling, and Koko/Volkoff was short but a very decent sprint. No blow away matches but lots of bright colors and big characters, as befits the era."
[8.0] "Randy Savage vs. Jake Roberts - 8/10 - Two of my all-time favorites squaring off. Entertaining match. Hulk Hogan vs. Hercules Hernandez - 7/10 Roddy Piper vs. Bob Orton - 8/10 - Piper as a face is pretty fun. Killer Bees vs. Bret Hart/Jim Neidhart) - Koko B. Ware vs. Nikolai Volkoff - 7/10 Don Muraco vs. Dick Slater - 6/10"
[5.0] "An awkward episode of SNME in which over half the show were taken-up by the future Mega Powers. Considering the breadth and overpowering dark aura of Jake 'The Snake' Roberts, Savage's heel charisma loses its vibrancy and 'cool' appeal; it's an awkward match-up in which both guys were portrayed by the broadcasters as heels though the crowd were much more into the challenger and heavily desired, to no satiation, to see the DDT. The Hogan match was pure Hulkamania, and although the always entertaining Ventura covered for Hercules's loss, one could only wonder if the Brain will request a refund from The Slickster. Speaking of Heenan, has anyone noticed how homoerotic the combination of sequences of 'the Brain' massaging H's shoulders -> an extreme close up of Hogan's flexing pecs was. In other action, it seems that the more slightly plump Piper's face gets, the more of a babyface he becomes; considering the warm interaction, covered by the appreciative montage, between him and Orton it was a shame the team had the break-up. For the first time in SNME, The Harts were given some air time; the match was ok but I fail to understand why the Bees went over considering how it was promoted as a title elimination match and the Harts would go on to win the titles less than two months from the air date. Koko was flying about and was thankfully put-over, Mr. Fuji karaoke'd wistfully about 'Cotton Fields, ' and I dig listening to the early promos of Mr. 'Jive Soul Bro. '"
[7.0] "This is how SNME should always have been. Good matches, with feuds moving on and building up more stories. The tag team match is okay, Savage vs Roberts works fine and the ending seems the best way to keep the feud heated. Piper vs Orton e Hogan vs Hercules are not enjoyable but at least watchable. The final two matches are short to push the wrestlers. Good edition of SNME."
[5.0] "This one started strong. The IC Title match was really well paced and overall an enjoyable bout. The Heavyweight championship was decent. I thought the Orton and Piper video was cheesy at first, but by the end I was moved when thinking about these two men having their brotherly bonds broken. The second half of the card was ok, making it less than satisfactory, but this was much better than Superstars of Wrestling."
[7.0] "Und noch eine stimmige SNME-Ausgabe mit guten Promos und ebenso guten Matches. Savage gegen Roberts war cool und es war interessant die beiden knapp fünf Jahre vor ihrer späteren Fehde gegeneinander zu sehen. Hulkster gegen Hercules Hernandez und das Tag Match war ebenfalls in Ordnung, die anderen drei kurzen Matches runden die Show gut."
[7.0] "Der Opener war ziemlich gut, ebenso wie das Tag Team Match, die beide eine akzeptable Länge hatten und wirklich zu gefallen wussten. Merkwürdig fand ich die beiden Upset-Siege von den Killer Bees und Koko B. Ware die beide ohne jeglichen Sinn waren. Aber alles in allem eine gute Sache. In der Auflistung fehlt noch Hulk Hogan vs. Hercules. "
