December 18, 1993
From the Utica War Memorial in Utica, NY
Your hosts are Vince McMahon and Stan Lane but the show starts off with the end of last week’s Owen Hart interview where he challenged his brother Bret to a match. The announcers talk about this potential match and how we will hear from Bret later on in the show. Vince then adds how both Bret & Owen are two of the first nine entrants announced for the Royal Rumble before saying Lex Luger was not one of those nine announced.
In action this week are Crush, Jeff Jarrett in his debut, 1-2-3 Kid, and Steiner Brothers. Plus, the Undertaker in his workshop and more!
Bam Bam Bigelow w/ Luna Vachon vs. PJ Walker
Bigelow punches Walker over the top rope then yells at the referee. However, Walker climbs up top and hits a missile dropkick for a nearfall then hits a pair of dropkicks after that before bouncing off of Bigelow. Vince is amazed over Walker’s skills but Bigelow now beats on Walker. We hear from Bigelow & Luna in an insert promo saying he wants a to sit around his fireplace with “peace and quiet” for Christmas as we hear a crowd chant for Doink. Vince says that Luger is not allowed in the Rumble after Cornette & Fuji filed a protest stating the SummerSlam contract that forbid Luger a rematch was still in effect. Bigelow stays in control then uses a powerslam for the win (2:28).
Thoughts: This week’s syndicated shows had a bunch of wrestlers shown in insert promos talk about what they wanted for Christmas. Walker did look good here when getting in his offense but the real story was about Luger and how Yokozuna’s camp does not want him in the Rumble match.
We now see Vince’s sit-down interview with Bret. Vince asks how it felt to hear Owen challenge him to a match. Bret says that Owen is a “messed up kid” right now and that a match would tear the family apart worse than before. Bret also wonders where Owen gets the impression that he was always favored and never remembers this happening. Bret puts over Owen’s athletic accomplishments and never felt the need to be compared as the feeling was the Hart name rose to the top. Bret said that Owen never lived in his shadow and started here in the WWF before his brother. Vince then asks about Owen not being asked to celebrate with the family after the Survivor Series but Bret said it was false and that his father wanted everyone to be out in the ring at the end to celebrate. Vince puts over Bret’s accolades in the WWF and how that could make Owen jealous then asks if he is as selfish as Owen is saying. Bret says the question is “hurting” and would rather talk to his brother about these feelings rather than wrestle. Vince then asks Bret about Owen’s challenge and if he accepts but Bret says this is as far as it will go and says he will not fight his brother. Another strong interview as Bret does not want to fight his brother as he wants to prevent any further trouble with his family.
1-2-3 Kid vs. Duane Gill
The announcers talk about Shawn Michaels & Diesel trying to eliminate Razor Ramon and what does Razor have left after those two Razor’s Edges on the floor. Kid works over Gill but gets caught with a dropkick. Kid comes back with a spinning heel kick for a two count then hits a running leg drop for another nearfall then Kid uses a flying crossbody for the win (2:00).
Thoughts: They discussed the Shawn/Razor feud as Kid still has a bit part in that but not much else going for him at this moment.
Face-to-Face with Jim Ross. This plugs the 1/17/94 MSG show that has a 30-man Royal Rumble match. I will be recapping this show by the way. Its a fancam copy.
An ad hyping the Tatanka vs. Ludvig Borga match for RAW airs.
Chris Duffy vs. Jeff Jarrett
Barely any reaction here for Jarrett. We hear Jarrett in an insert promo saying he takes what he wants when discussing what he wants for Christmas. Jarrett knocks down Duffy after some stalling as Lane talks about Duffy playing high school football at Braintree High School in Massachusetts as Jarrett struts around. Jarrett stays in control then hits a DDT for the win (1:51). After the match, Jarrett tells the crowd when he gets done with the WWF he’ll rename it to the “Double J F.” He then is shown looking at himself on the video wall and after that spells out his name.
Thoughts: I’ve enjoyed the Jarrett vignettes but man was this audience dead for his debut. Anyway, expect him to get pushed on TV a lot as they did not spend all this time on hyping his debut to languish in the midcard.
WWF Update with Gorilla Monsoon. We see a clip of Shawn Michaels hitting Razor Ramon with two Razor’s Edges on the floor. Gorilla then said Razor’s gold was stolen and mentions we saw the chain inside of IRS’s briefcase on RAW. We then learn that IRS vs. Razor Ramon for the Intercontinental Title will take place at the Royal Rumble.
Crush w/ Mr. Fuji vs. Ross Greenberg
Vince tells us that Savage was reinstated then says President Tunney does listen to the fans after all. Crush misses a charge in the corner then Greenberg fires away. Greenberg dropkicks Crush into the corner and uses a few turnbuckle smashes but gets caught with a backbreaker trying a crossbody. Crush now lands a few kicks then uses a press slam and follows that with a leg drop for the win (2:40).
Thoughts: More talk about the Crush/Savage feud here.
We now see a vignette for Thurman “Sparky” Plugg, a NASCAR driver headed to the WWF. Plugg talks about going all out in NASCAR and will do the same in the WWF, pedal to the medal. For anyone that might be unaware, Plugg is Bob Holly. According to Holly, he got a job in the WWF after sending in a tape to Paul Bearer, who gave it to JJ Dillon. Holly then flew up to Connecticut to meet with Dillon and Vince McMahon and got hired on the spot. He also said that they had the race car driver gimmick already created and even though he thought it was corny and never felt comfortable in the role he still did not mind doing this character.
Royal Rumble Report with Todd Pettengill. We see the Undertaker’s workshop as Paul Bearer talks about a special, double-wide and double-deep casket made especially for Yokozuna then the Undertaker lifts up his head as he was working on the casket to say “Rest in Peace.” And also hear about Luger being denied entry into the Rumble. Other entrants announced for the Rumble match are: Crush, Kamala (who never ended up in the match), Doink the Clown, Mabel, Scott Steiner, Shawn Michaels, and Diesel. So we now know some of the names in the Rumble match.
Razor Ramon tells us not to pollute our lawns with tobacco smoke then says smokers are losers.
Guest ring announcer, Brian George, introduces the next match. He did a pretty good job. He was an adult but still, better than some of the other goofs the company employed that we will be seeing in the coming months.
Tony DeVito & Brooklyn Brawler vs. Steiner Brothers
We hear from the Steiner Brothers as what they want most of Christmas is the Tag Team Titles. The Steiners work over Brawler as Vince says that Tunney might consider a vote to decide whether or not Luger will be allowed into the Royal Rumble match. Rick clotheslines DeVito then Scott tags in and hits a powerbomb before the Doomsday Bulldog gets the win (2:56).
Thoughts: Besides talking about the Royal Rumble storyline with Luger, they are back to pushing the Steiners as chasing for the titles.
Vince once again plugs Borga vs. Tatanka on RAW.
In action next week are IRS, Shawn Michaels, and Doink the Clown. Plus, highlights from Borga vs. Tatanka.
Final Thoughts: The big news was Bret saying he would not accept Owen’s challenge of a match. We also heard some of the names announced for the Royal Rumble along with the announcement of Razor vs. IRS for the Intercontinental Title. Jeff Jarrett made his debut to a tepid response and with how heavily they are pushing Borga vs. Tatanka we should expect something big to happen there as we continue to see the build towards Royal Rumble.