What the World Was Watching: WWF Superstars – July 18, 1992

Vince McMahon and Mr. Perfect commentate together again, this time from Glen Falls, New York. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, this new taping cycle was held on June 29. It is a good reflection of the WWF’s fortunes as of late as the venue seats less than 5,000 people.

Tony Chimel is the ring announcer, replacing Howard Finkel.

Opening Contest: The Natural Disasters (15-0) beat Dwayne Gill & the Brooklyn Brawler when Typhoon pins Gill after the Tidal Wave at 2:46:

WWF Tag Team Champions Money Incorporated and Jimmy Hart do an insert promo about how the Disasters have not figured out that they will be champions forever. McMahon and Perfect theorize on what the SummerSlam main event will be, with Perfect having confidence that it will feature Randy Savage against Ric Flair. The Disasters are finally playing to the crowd as babyfaces, with Earthquake getting fans excited for an avalanche spot where Gill and the Brawler are stacked against each other to take the move.

Gene Okerlund’s Update segment says that SummerSlam sold out in ten hours. After showing footage of the WWF’s promotional events in England, Okerlund announces that the main event will feature WWF Champion Randy Savage defending his title against the Ultimate Warrior. This was a big swerve because most fans expected Savage to face Flair since the WWF’s existing storylines pointed in that direction. The announcement foreshadows other creative shakeups that will happen going into the pay-per-view.

Ric Flair (w/Mr. Perfect) (6-1) beats Glen Ruth via submission to the figure-four leglock at 2:42:

McMahon says that Flair and Perfect threw a fit backstage when they found out that they were not part of the SummerSlam main event. Flair wastes no time disrobing, coming across the ring as his theme music plays to slap Ruth a few times and then throw him over the top rope. Perfect lays in some shots on the floor and then Flair lays in some chops. After winning, Flair refuses to break the figure-four and Perfect gets into the ring to stretch Ruth out his arms. Flair also comes off the second rope with a knee drop to put over his frustration with the SummerSlam booking.

Footage of Intercontinental Champion Bret Hart’s match with Rick Martel that will air this week on Prime Time Wrestling is shown. It includes Martel putting Bret in the Boston Crab and Shawn Michaels coming to the ring.

Virgil (16-4) pins Dave Millson after a side Russian leg sweep at 1:39:

Perfect rejoins commentary and complains about the SummerSlam booking. He promises that Flair is going to be doing aggressive wrestling from now on. McMahon says that Flair will have a different match, noting that maybe Flair will face Virgil instead. Virgil dumps Millson on his neck with a back suplex, planchas onto him, and finishes with the side Russian leg sweep.

Repo Man (18-3) defeats Greg Starr via submission to a single leg Boston Crab at 1:28:

As Repo Man quickly vanquishes Starr, he and Perfect talk about the WWF vs. WBF tug-of-war challenge that came about because of a discussion between Perfect and Hacksaw Jim Duggan on Prime Time Wrestling.

A video package hypes the tug-of-war “Body Star Wars” challenge as between WBF stars Eddie Robinson, Jim Quinn, Aaron Baker, Troy Zuccolotto, Tony Pearson, and Tom Platz and WWF stars Ric Flair, Money Incorporated, the Mountie, Rick Martel, and the Berzerker. This will take place on WBF Body Stars on August 1.

Okerlund interviews the Big Bossman, who says that he decided to return to the WWF after a six-year-old boy in his neighborhood came by, hugged him, and asked if he was alright. He warns Nailz that he is not a broken man and is going to kick his ass. The Bossman got a nice pop for his return and the closing line landed.

The Mountie (w/Jimmy Hart) (14-4) pins Jason Knight after the dropkick at 2:04:

The Mountie gets on the mic and sings the last bit of his theme to annoy the crowd. Knight takes a nice bump into the apron, flying into it when the Mountie pushes him. The WWF finally gets around to explaining why the Mountie is using a dropkick finish as Perfect says the Mountie’s riding boots give the maneuver greater power. After the Mountie wins he intimidates Knight with the Great American Scream Machine. He also sings his theme song a cappella, which gets heat from the kids in the front row.

Buy your copy of WrestleFest ’92! It is available on Thursday and provides matches of Bret Hart against Mr. Perfect, Skinner, and the Barbarian!

A new Razor Ramon vignette sees him walking on a beach in Miami. He reiterates his argument that people in the WWF talking him down are afraid of him. Ramon says that all he wants is fame, fortune, and the WWF title so no one in the WWF should fear him unless they try to stop him.

The British Bulldog (19-0) pins Vito Krus after the running powerslam at 1:59:

In the split screen, Repo Man says that the Bulldog is getting too wild so he needs to be choked. When asked who he wants to win at SummerSlam, Perfect says that he hopes Randy Savage and the Ultimate Warrior beat each other up. A vertical suplex dazes Krus, so the Bulldog follows up with a headbutt and the running powerslam.

Savage tells the Warrior that he has something to tell him next week and he wants him to listen. The Warrior rebuts that he agrees to listen and he will let his warriors speak through his eyes.

Tune in next week to see Nailz, Tatanka, and Shawn Michaels in action! Also, Randy Savage and the Ultimate Warrior will go face-to-face! And more matches will be announced for SummerSlam!

The Last Word: After going months without generating any buzz, the WWF got people talking with the announcement of the SummerSlam main event because this was an era when seeing two babyfaces fight for the promotion’s top title was rare. Randy Savage and the Ultimate Warrior also have some history as the Warrior “retired” Savage at WrestleMania VII so that gives the WWF some material to lean into for the program.

Up Next: Wrestling Challenge for July 19!