August 28, 1994
From the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati, OH
Your hosts are Jim Ross and Ted DiBiase
This week, we will see the Heartbreak Hotel segment from “Superstars.” In action this week are Diesel and Tatanka.
Tatanka vs. Reno Riggins
Ross and DiBiase are still at ringside introducing the show as Tatanka makes his entrance. Tatanka yells at DiBiase and tells him “this Monday night” as DiBiase tells him the same then laughs about everyone having a price, including All-Americans. Riggins attacks Tatanka from behind but Tatanka comes back with a pair of arm drags. Riggins retreats to the corner then knees Tatanka in the gut before firing away. Ross plugs the SummerSlam Hotline and whether or not Luger has sold out. Ross also puts over Luger’s win over Crush on “Sunday Night Slam” as Tatanka hits a suplex. DiBiase calls out Tatanka for being jealous as Riggins comes back with a mat slam. Tatanka then fights back and runs wild before putting Riggins away with a flying chop (2:58).
Thoughts: More hype for the Luger/Tatanka match at SummerSlam. We even saw Tatanka yell “this Monday night”at DiBiase to get more heat on the story of whether or not Luger signed with DiBiase.
A video package on The Undertaker storyline airs.
Diesel w/ Shawn Michaels vs. Todd Becker
The announcers talk about Walter Payton being in Razor Ramon’s corner at SummerSlam then Ross tells us some people consider Diesel the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all-time due to his size and athleticism. Diesel works the arm of Becker before punching him down. Diesel beats on Becker in the corner then quickly cuts off a comeback. Becker gets dumped outside and taunted by Shawn then rolled inside where Diesel hits a side slam. Diesel then hits a big boot and does it again before using the Jackknife for the win (3:30).
Thoughts: Another instance here of the announcers putting over Diesel like he is the star of the company. And we would see why this was the case soon enough. Shawn’s antics are getting him face reactions at this point and his charisma is shining as bright as anyone else on the roster.
We now get a video package on the Bret/Owen Hart feud. Then we hear from both as Owen, with Neidhart, tells Bret his worst nightmare has come true. Owen then calls himself the “best there is, best there was, and best there ever will be.” Bret then talks about the steel cage match at “The SummerSlam” and how they will settle this feud once and for all.
Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart w/ Owen Hart vs. Major Yates
Neidhart attacks Yates before the bell then tosses him around the ring. Yates gets tossed outside then taunted by Owen before being rolled inside. The crowd chants for Bret as Ross believes Bret will win at SummerSlam while DiBiase disagrees. Neidhart continues to beat down Yates then puts him away with the Camel’s Clutch (1:42). After the match, Neidhart puts Yates back in the Camel’s Clutch then Owen snaps his glasses off of Yates’ face and laughs like a maniac.
Thoughts: The Owen & Neidhart heel act has been awesome and one of the more underrated acts in company history. Owen was amazing at this point and paired well with Neidhart.
The Leslie Nielsen vignettes are shown.
SummerSlam Report with Todd Pettengill.
Adam Bomb vs. Tom Smith
Ross tells us how to order SummerSlam on PPV as Bomb shoves Smith down to the mat. Smith fights back but Bomb takes him down with a hip toss after an Irish whip sequence. Bomb stays in control then uses a pumphandle slam for the win (1:10). DiBiase doesn’t want the Heartbreak Hotel segment shown and leaves to accompany his team to the ring.
Thoughts: They’re keeping Bomb on TV since it appears they are giving him a new push as a babyface. His feud against Whippleman is just about over as Bomb is just about done beating Kwang around the house show circuit.
Heartbreak Hotel from this past week’s “Superstars” is shown.
IRS & Bam Bam Bigelow w/ Ted DiBiase vs. John Paul & Kevin Kruger
Before the match, IRS tells the tax cheats next year’s rates will rise. IRS takes Paul down with a hip toss then both men miss elbow drops. IRS misses a charge in the corner and Paul rolls him up for a two count. Bigelow tags in but Paul fights back and tags out. Bigelow drops Kruger with a shoulder block and Bigelow & IRS continue to rough up Kruger until Bigelow uses an avalanche and an enziguiri then IRS hits a Write Off clothesline for the win (2:48). Ross says we could be looking at the next Tag Team champions and how SummerSlam could be a great night for DiBiase.
Thoughts: Just a quick win to hype up the IRS & Bigelow team as a threat heading into their title match at the PPV. Or what was orignially scheduled as a title match as we will see on the PPV.
We close out with the announcers hyping SummerSlam and DiBiase assuring us that he has the actual Undertaker.
Final Thoughts: A generic hype show here, which is all you can expect from Challenge at this point. And the PPV taking place the following day means the TV hype has ended. So next week we will see the fallout then go on to see what is in store for the next PPV, the Survivor Series.