–Todd Pettengill narrates a video package that recaps the Lex Luger-Tatanka feud that has been going on since the summer of 1994.
–Jim Ross and Todd Pettengill are in the booth and they are still taped from South Padre Island, Texas.
–Opening Contest: Lex Luger (3-0) wrestles Tatanka (w/Ted DiBiase) (3-0) to a double count out at 8:59 shown:
As noted in prior reviews, it is tough to buy the fact that Tatanka has betrayed his heritage when he is still wearing his Native American attire and enters to a Native American yell. The company has done a good job building this bout over the past week, with both men winning squashes and Tatanka causing Luger to get pinned on Monday Night RAW in a six man tag, but unfortunately it is a bore as much of the contest is built on strikes and rest holds. One funny commentary botch is that Ross calls a Luger side suplex a “Northern Lights suplex,” sending Dave Meltzer into a tizzy in The Wrestling Observer. And this feud is not over yet as DiBiase breaks up a Luger pin after a powerslam and Luger and Tatanka brawl on the outside until they are counted out. After the match, Chief Jay Strongbow waddles out to talk to the referee as Pettengill screams that Luger got back into the ring before the bell (although the bell rang well before he tried to roll back in), thereby making this even more of a mess, especially because the referee does nothing to change the official outcome. Rating: ½*
–After we return from commercial we see footage of Tatanka attacking Chief Jay Strongbow with a top rope chop as Luger tries to attack Ted DiBiase.
–Mantaur (w/Jim Cornette) (6-0) pins Ben Jordan after the Stampede at 2:03:
Ross draws a laugh by screaming “Look at the size of his thighs!” when hyping Mantaur. Maybe that is what justified this never-ending push of the half man/half beast that audiences have been loath to care about thus far in 1995. All kidding aside, this is Mantaur’s best squash to date as he tosses Jordan around like a rag doll and destroys him with a quick succession of power moves.
–Pettengill recaps the growing tensions between Bam Bam Bigelow and Lawrence Taylor.
–Men on a Mission (w/Oscar) (1-0) defeat Adam Croom & Butch Long after Mabel pins Croom following a Stacked Big Splash at 3:19:
All the zooming and awful camera shots during Men on a Mission’s entrance must have been Kevin Dunn working on the nauseating camera work we are treated to on a regular basis these days on RAW. Mabel is given the big shine in this match, using his cartwheel kick and completely destroying both of his opponents. According to Ross and Pettengill, Men on a Mission should be getting a tag team title shot soon because the Smoking Gunns offered a title shot to any team that was in the WWF tag team title tournament.
–Bob Backlund (1-0) beats Raven Clark via submission to the crossface chicken wing at 2:01:
This is a match that aired on Wrestling Challenge the previous week and is aired so that the audience gets interested in seeing Backlund face the British Bulldog on next week’s show. It is logical for Backlund to win after his opponent gets confused after a few amateur sequences but it does not make for a fun squash.
–Shawn Michaels segment from Superstars last week where he interviewed a cardboard cut out of Diesel is shown.
–Man Mountain Rock (2-0) beats Reno Riggins after the Wallapalooza at 2:23:
Rock makes short work of Riggins as he keeps playing his tunes to a small undefeated streak. Pettengill keeps yelling about how great Rock is, very impressed that he plays an instrument. At least Rock has Jeff Jarrett beaten in that regard.
–Ross and Pettengill recap Tatanka’s attack on Chief Jay Strongbow.
–The Blu Brothers (w/Uncle Zebekiah) (2-0) defeat Bill Weaver & Shawn Dakota after Eli pins Weaver after a spinebuster/leg drop combination at 3:28:
Pettengill justifies the Blu Brothers rough demeanor by telling the audience that they both grew up “wrestling grizzlies.” For his part, Ross just explains that the Blus will not be pulling out any scientific maneuvers since they rely on brute strength, almost apologizing for all the punching and kicking we see.
–Bob Backlund says that he will make the British Bulldog scream “I quit” next week!
–Tune in next week to see the British Bulldog square off against Bob Backlund!
Here were the results from the February 12 edition of Wrestling Challenge:
*Aldo Montoya (3-1) defeated Ray Hudson
*King Kong Bundy (7-0) pinned John Snakowski
Additionally, here were some results from the house show circuit during this particular week in WWF history, courtesy of historyofwwe.com:
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – Civic Arena – February 10, 1995 (5,075): Aldo Montoya defeated Kwang…WWF Women’s Champion Bull Nakano defeated Alundra Blayze…Shawn Michaels pinned The British Bulldog…Razor Ramon beat Intercontinental Champion Jeff Jarrett via disqualification…Bob Holly defeated Jimmy Del Ray…WWF Tag Team Champions The Smoking Gunns defeated Well Dunn…Lex Luger defeated Tatanka…Bret Hart defeated Owen Hart.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – The Spectrum – February 12, 1995 (5,500): Kama pinned Kwang…The Bushwhackers defeated Well Dunn…WWF Women’s Champion Bull Nakano pinned Alundra Blayze with her feet on the ropes…Duke Droese pinned Mantaur with a rollup…The 1-2-3 Kid & Bob Holly defeated The Heavenly Bodies when the Kid pinned Dr. Tom Pritchard with a victory roll…Razor Ramon defeated Bob Backlund (w/Dick Murdoch) via disqualification when Murdoch interfered. After the bout, Backlund put Ramon in the crossface chicken wing and had to be pulled off by several referees…Shawn Michaels pinned The British Bulldog after Sweet Chicken Music…WWF World Champion Diesel defeated Intercontinental Champion Jeff Jarrett (w/The Roadie & Shawn Michaels) with a Jackknife. After the bout, Michaels gave Diesel Sweet Chin Music, but Diesel recovered and Jackknifed the Roadie…Bret Hart defeated Owen Hart in a no holds barred match via submission to the Sharpshooter and refused to released the hold until several referees pulled him off.
And here were some news and notes concerning the company:
*Jesse Ventura is denying a report that he is headed back to the WWF to replace Shawn Michaels on commentary for Monday Night RAW. Apparently WCW leaked that information and were completely wrong on their hotline.
*Chris Candido should be making a television debut soon and will be managed by Tammy Fytch, who was using the name “Tamara Murphy” to hype WWF house shows. Reports suggest that Candido will be a babyface and Fytch will turn on him at some point.
*Rumors suggest that Roddy Piper will make an appearance at WrestleMania. He might be managing Diesel.
The Last Word: This week’s show was pretty lackluster. The main match was horrid, not living up to its billing at all, although heel Tatanka was known for having bad matches. Next week’s feature bout has potential, but Backlund-Bulldog sounds like a major styles clash and seems ripe for interference from Bret and/or Owen Hart, who are still trying to settle their feud on the house show circuit.
Up Next (on Tuesday): WWF Superstars for February 18, 1995!