WWF Wrestling Challenge – May 21st, 1995

May 21, 1995

From the Springfield Civic Center in Springfield, MA

Your hosts are Jim Ross and Gorilla Monsoon

This week in action are The Undertaker, Jacob & Eli Blu, The Bushwhackers, Hunter Hearst Helmsley, and King Kong Bundy

The show starts off with a still video package of the Sid vs. Diesel match from “in Your House.”

King Kong Bundy w/ Ted DiBiase vs. Tim McNeany

The announcers talk about Bundy’s King of the Ring qualifying match against Shawn Michaels on RAW. They also say the qualifying matches all have fifteen minute time limits. Bundy beats on McNeany in the corner to start. Bundy now yells at the crowd as the announcers talk about the challenge DiBiase issued to Diesel & Bam Bam Bigelow. Bundy continues to slowly beat on McNeany in between yelling at the fans then hits the Avalanche and drops the elbow for the win (1:56).

Thoughts: Just a quick win for Bundy to give him some momentum heading into his match against Shawn on RAW. Just a few months prior, Bundy has hyped as a threat to win the Royal Rumble match and now he does not even appear like a threat to beat Shawn on RAW. There isn’t anything really left to do with him at this point.

We see the clip from RAW where DiBiase actually issues the challenge to Diesel & Bigelow to face his team of Sid & Tatanka. Afterwards we see a clip of Bigelow beating IRS and the staredown.

The Shawn Michaels music video is shown.

Jacob & Eli Blu w/ Uncle Zebekiah vs. Ross Greenberg & Brian Walsh

Jacob beats on Walsh to start. Walsh fights back and even dropkicks Eli off of the apron but Jacob beats him down. Walsh gets hit with a double press slam as Ross talks about Jacob & Eli signing a match with the Smoking Gunns. Gorilla talks about Jacob facing Razor Ramon on “Superstars” in a King of the Ring qualifying match as Walsh continues to get destroyed. Greenberg tags in and he gets caught in a front falling slam. Jacob & Eli beat on Greenberg then put him away with a double big boot (3:04).

Thoughts: A win for Jacob & Eli as it appears they will be having matches against The Gunns around the house show circuit.

WWF Live Event News with Stephanie Wiand. More talk about the New York swing of the WWF World Tour De Force. We learn that Undertaker vs. Sid will take place at the Meadowlands. And I actually do have a fan-cam of that show too, along with MSG. Both will be reviewed.

Aldo Montoya vs. Nick Barberry

The announcers shill the Superstar Line as Montoya runs over Barberry. Montoya works the arm as Gorilla puts over Montoya as part of the New Generation. Barberry bails after getting dropkicked then after avoiding a plancha ends up getting wiped out with a plancha from the middle rope. Back inside, Montoya works the arm as the announcers talk about Razor defeating The Roadie & Jeff Jarrett at In Your House. Montoya stays in control then hits the flying bulldog for the win (2:33).

Thoughts: Not much going on here with Montoya picking up a win as the announcers talked about other happenings in the company.

Now we get a still photo package of Razor vs. Roadie & Jarrett which includes Savio Vega’s promo from RAW.

The WWF “Saving the World” ad airs.

Hunter Hearst Helmsley vs. Bert Centeno

Gorilla wants Helmsley to face talent like Montoya, Razor, and Bret Hart. Centeno now sports a mohawk. Helmsley backs Centeno into the corner but is disgusted over having to put his hands on Centeno. Helmsley then uses an arm drag as the announcers talk about Bret confronting Jerry Lawler on RAW. Centeno works the arm but Helmsley reverses and takes him over with a hip toss. Helmsley dumps Centeno then opens the ropes for him to get back into the ring only to beat him down. Helmsley then eats an elbow smash but shoves Centeno to block a monkey flip and after that hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Helmsley bows to the crowd then hits his new finisher which Gorilla says is called the Pedigree for the win (3:48).

Thoughts: Longer than your usual squash match as Helmsley looked good and Gorilla really expressed a lot of hatred for Helmsley’s character here.

We see Backlund’s announcement from RAW where he decided to run for President of the United States.

The Bushwhackers vs. Brooklyn Brawler & Barry Horowitz

The Bushwhackers give Howard Finkel a sardine before the match. The Bushwhackers thwart off a sneak attack then clean house. The announcers hype up the King of the Ring PPV as the number to purchase tickets flashes onto the screen. Brawler attacks Butch but gets kneed in the gut then taken down with a knee lift. The match breaks down then The Bushwhackers use the battering ram on Brawler for the win (1:38).

Thoughts: The Bushwhackers can barely even move at this point and even as an opening act are starting to really wear thin.

Another Bodydonnas vignette is shown. Sunny yells at us “slobs” for eating donuts and popcorn then calls over Skip to also berate us for being fat and unmotivated. At least its an exclusive segment for Challenge although the material sucks. Sunny shows worlds of charisma here though.

We now see The Bushwhackers celebrating up the aisle with the fans.

We see shadows of Undertaker & Paul Bearer as they tell us about their match coming up next.

The Undertaker w/ Paul Bearer vs. Mike Bell

The announcers put over the awesomeness of Undertaker. We also learn that a match between Undertaker and Kama has been signed per Ross. Undertaker tosses Bell into the corner then uses his ropewalk attack. Undertaker then brushes off a punch and hits a chokeslam then uses a second one before the tombstone gets the win (2:09). After the match, Undertaker stuffs Bell into a bodybag.

Thoughts: More hype for the Undertaker/Kama feud as The Undertaker continues to feud with The Corporation midcarders.

Another Live Event News segment with Wiand about the World Tour De Force.

Next week in action are Kama and the Allied Powers.

Final Thoughts: Your typical dull and really at this point unnecessary edition of Challenge. Nothing of note really ever happens on this show and its not tough to see why it only lasted a few more months. I guess you got to see what midcard matches they were pushing at the house shows but lor knows those feuds and matchups would not have enticed me to get a ticket.