What the World Was Watching: WWF Prime Time Wrestling – December 23, 1991

Vince McMahon moderates tonight’s panel, which features Gorilla Monsoon, Slick, Bobby Heenan, and Mr. Perfect. Heenan and Perfect swipe some of the production crew’s Christmas gifts.

Opening Contest: The Big Bossman (41-0-1) beats Kato (1-4) after the Bossman Slam at 4:17:

This bout was filmed at the This Tuesday in Texas show in San Antonio, Texas on December 3. Sean Mooney admits that Kato has fared poorly in singles competition. The absence of Mr. Fuji just makes him look like a bigger loser. As expected, this is a long squash for the Bossman. The only offense Kato manages to work in are some stereotypical chops.

Gene Okerlund’s Update segment replays Rumble promos from the syndicated shows.

The Rockers squash from Superstars is shown.

More Rumble promos with Mooney! Irwin R. Schyster lets all of the Rumble participants know that he is going to turn his name into “I Reign Supreme.” The Texas Tornado screams about the rules of the match. And the Warlord and Harvey Wippleman tell the competition to be afraid.

After Monsoon chides Heenan for being a “Scrooge,” he decides to call the Hulk Hogan Hotline when McMahon tells him to take a gift for himself. After calling, Monsoon says that Hogan will become a five-time WWF champion at The Royal Rumble.

The Virgil & El Matador-Ted DiBiase & Irwin R. Schyster tag team match from This Tuesday in Texas is shown.

Jimmy Snuka’s squash from Wrestling Challenge airs.

The Royal Rumble Report repeats syndicated show promos.

Monsoon burns Perfect by saying that he is a “has been” since losing the Intercontinental Championship to Bret Hart.

The Mountie (w/Jimmy Hart) (28-1-2) pins Phil Apollo after the carotid control technique at 2:12:

Mooney raises a good point about why the Mountie is allowed to carry around the shock stick after he electrocuted Bret Hart a month ago. The Mountie manhandles Apollo for a few minutes, handcuffs him to the middle rope, reads him his rights, and shocks him.

The New Foundation (4-0) defeat the Nasty Boys (w/Jimmy Hart) (25-5) via disqualification when Jerry Sags attacks the referee at 7:28:

This match took place at a Superstars taping in Austin, Texas on December 4. Lord Alfred Hayes acts like the Foundation have never appeared on television before, shocked that hold their own against the Nasties “in their debut.” Owen takes out both of the Nasties with an assisted suicide dive but then later slides into the ring too close to the Nasties corner and is placed in peril. The Nasties work the back with elbows and rest holds until Owen goes under a double clothesline and gives Jim Neidhart the hot tag. Neidhart knocks Brian Knobbs down with a shoulder block and Sags decides to throw the referee across the ring rather than break up the fall. That turns a fine tag team match into a mess. Rating: *¾

Ric Flair’s squash from Superstars is shown.

A replay of Okerlund’s interview with the Bushwhackers on Superstars airs.

Heenan questions whether Jamison is going to make it to The Royal Rumble because he has heard the health department is going to condemn him. McMahon pipes in that Elizabeth thinks Jamison is cute, causing a laugh from Perfect who says he knows what Jamison is after.

Hacksaw Jim Duggan (24-0-2) beats the Barbarian (10-9-1) after a clothesline at 7:50:

This is an ugly brawl from Madison Square Garden on November 30 where both men work slowly and deliberately. The Barbarian spams bearhugs to wear Duggan down. Duggan bites to escape the last one and when the Barbarian whips him into the corner, Duggan flies out with a clothesline to remain unbeaten in singles competition in 1991. Rating: ½*

After the match, the Barbarian clotheslines Duggan out of the ring but that lets Duggan grab his 2×4. He charges back into the ring with it and clubs the Barbarian, standing tall for the fans when the Barbarian flees.

The Undertaker’s squash from Superstars is shown.

Heenan argues that Hulk Hogan will not win the Royal Rumble because he hates Ric Flair too much to stay focused. McMahon says that someone random like the Repo Man could win. Heenan counters that if that is the criteria then the Berzerker could win it because throwing people over the top rope is his finisher. Monsoon seizes on that comment to allege that Heenan does not believe Flair is going to win.

Skinner’s squash from Wrestling Challenge airs.

Greg Valentine (19-9-3) defeats the Brooklyn Brawler (1-18) after an elbow drop at 4:58:

This is a second time that Valentine has fought the Brawler this year, defeating him on the March 17 edition of Wrestling Challenge. The Brawler gets some offensive momentum after taking a powder and there is some fun when the two exchange elbows at various points of the match. However, Valentine’s elbows are more powerful and the Hammer wins. Rating: *

Tune in next week to see Randy Savage face the Barbarian and the Texas Tornado face Hercules!

The Last Word: The New Foundation tag team getting a win over the Nasty Boys was a big deal, showing that the WWF was not treating the team as a lower card joke and might give them a stronger push later. The other matches fell flat, though, and the studio segments are getting stale because most of them are getting diverted to Bobby Heenan and Mr. Perfect loving Ric Flair.

Up Next: WWF Superstars for December 28!