What the World Was Watching: WWF Wrestling Challenge – November 18, 1990

Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan call today’s action, originating from Fort Wayne, Indiana. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, these tapings took place on October 30. Starting with this episode, Wrestling Challenge reveals a new aesthetic for pre-match graphics and shows recent footage in its intro of various finishing moves.

Opening Contest: Ted DiBiase (w/Virgil, Rhythm & Blues & Jimmy Hart) (21-2-1) defeats Koko B. Ware (w/Dusty Rhodes & the Hart Foundation) (12-4-1) after Ware misses an avalanche at 3:32:

Sapphire has disappeared by DiBiase’s side, never to be seen again. It was later revealed in WWF Magazine that DiBiase took back all the presents that he gave her, leaving her in a worse situation than she was before her heel turn. DiBiase swallows up Ware for much of the contest and all of the seconds start fighting when Virgil trips Ware when he runs the ropes. As all the chaos unfolds outside the ring, Ware misses an avalanche spot and DiBiase beats him cleanly. Rating: *

After the bell, the fighting on the outside spills into the ring and the Dream Team stands tall.

Tugboat (24-0) pins Doug Vines after a splash at 2:18:

Heenan is so enamored by this squash he fills out the Survivor Series scorecard that is in the new WWF Magazine. Tugboat works a suplex into his arsenal and wins about thirty seconds later with a splash.

Lord Alfred Hayes’ Special Report recaps the Legion of Doom’s beatdown at the hands of Demolition and the Orient Express on last week’s Superstars.

The Battle Kat-Paul Diamond match from Prime Time Wrestling is shown.

Gene Okerlund interviews the Natural Disasters, who promise to kill Hulkamania and do a clean sweep of the Hulkamaniacs at Survivor Series. Everyone gets a live mic in this segment, including Haku and the Barbarian, who typically had Bobby Heenan do live promos for them.

In a taped promo, the Warriors put over their undefeated qualities in 1990. In a funny bit, Animal prompts the Tornado to head to the ring because his theme music is playing mid-promo.

Non-Title Match: The Texas Tornado (Intercontinental Champion) (13-0) pins Black Bart after the discus punch at 2:07:

Most of the match is composed of each man leaning on the other in corners. Bart is able to resist the claw hold at first, but the Tornado locks in on a second attempt when Bart runs the ropes. Then the discus punch follows to give the Tornado his second win over Bart this year.

Okerlund does the Survivor Series Report.

Power & Glory (w/Slick) (15-0) defeat Jim Evans & George Anderson when Paul Roma pins Evans after the Powerplex at 4:08:

As Power & Glory take their time working over the jobbers, the Vipers scoff at the idea that the Visionaries are going to hurt them in the split screen. After the bell, Roma beats up Anderson because he can.

Tune in next week to see the Bushwhackers face the Orient Express! Also, Haku, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Earthquake, and Jake Roberts will be in action!

The Last Word: Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan loaded this show with Survivor Series hype, but there was not much excitement over the course of the hour. The Texas Tornado continues to have bad matches, squashes or otherwise, as champion and new gimmicks like Battle Kat are not working out. If anything, the show illustrated that Koko B. Ware was the weak link in Dusty Rhodes’ Dream Team since Ware lost his third straight singles bout.

Up Next: Prime Time Wrestling: “Survivor Series Showdown” Special!