What the World Was Watching: WWF Superstars – August 15, 1992

Vince McMahon and Mr. Perfect provide commentary for a new episode, taped in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Opening Contest: The Big Bossman (14-1-1) defeats Skinner (8-8-1) after the Bossman Slam at 3:40:

The WWF is experimenting with a different format to open its syndicated shows as a match or segment happens before the show’s introduction. McMahon and Perfect hype this as the Bossman’s first match back even though that happened on Wrestling Challenge last week. Skinner attacks the Bossman before the bell an recycles his strategy from Prime Time Wrestling against the Undertaker of using his alligator claw as a weapon. That zaps the crowd’s energy but the Bossman gets it back when he blasts Skinner in the face with a big boot from a blind charge. After that, the Bossman ends things with the Bossman Slam. This was the Bossman’s version of Randy Savage’s “Take a lot of punishment until I hit my big move and win” formula. Rating: ¼*

Perfect claims that his phone has been ringing off the hook and he is going to be in the corner of the winner at SummerSlam.

Kamala (w/Harvey Wippleman & Kim Chee) (11-0) pins Joe Steel after the splash to the back at 2:29:

Kamala throws a lot of chops and chokes Steel with his foot before winning a less than exciting squash with a splash to the back. After winning, a confused Kamala exits through the crowd rather than walking through the aisle to the locker room.

After a commercial break, Wippleman and Kim Chee get Kamala back over the guardrail but on their way to the locker room they come across the Undertaker, who is walking out for the next match. Kamala slaps his belly as the Undertaker stares him down.

The Undertaker (w/Paul Bearer) (21-0) beats Chris Duffy after the Tombstone 1:20:

Duffy bumps well for the Undertaker’s big moves as McMahon and Perfect hype the Undertaker’s clash with Kamala as a big match. The problem is that Kamala has not been cast as a powerful enough to be considered in that light. After the match, Perfect heads out of the commentary booth to take care of something.

Gene Okerlund interviews WWF Champion Randy Savage. Okerlund asks about Perfect managing him at SummerSlam and Savage does not outright deny it because it has had the benefit of shaking the Ultimate Warrior. Perfect interrupts and claims that the Ultimate Warrior called him after last week and made an offer than he may not be able to refuse. As a result, the price for Perfect’s services has gone up. Savage closes the segment by noting that he is walking into SummerSlam as WWF champion and will leave that way.

Money Incorporated (w/Jimmy Hart) (18-1) beat Tim McNeavey & Jerry Seavey when Ted DiBiase submits Seavey with the Million Dollar Dream at 2:02:

McNeavey also went by Tim McNeany. He was a Killer Kowalski trainee that started his career in 1991. This was his first WWF enhancement appearance of many in the 1990s.

IRS tells fans that they need to pay up instead of relying on late extensions for their taxes. In the split screen, Paul Ellering and Rocco put over the Legion of Doom as a “smorgasbord of violence.” A phrase like that does not carry the same weight when it is said by a dummy. Money Incorporated opt to win with both of their finishers today. After the match, DiBiase shoves $100 down Seavey’s throat and IRS takes it back before dropping an elbow. Perfect adds that whomever wins between Money Incorporated and the Legion of Doom will become the number one contenders to the tag team titles.

Okerlund does the SummerSlam Report. Diana Hart Smith says that her brother is treating her like the enemy while her husband is consumed with winning the Intercontinental title. The British Bulldog tells Bret Hart that he has been waiting for their match his entire career and he is coming not to lose. Bret rebuts that he hopes the Bulldog is in the best shape of his life because he wants no excuses to exist when he beats him. The Beverly Brothers put themselves over as privileged and that it will be a privilege for people to see them win the WWF Tag Team Championship. The Natural Disasters fire back that the Beverlys only privilege will be that they get to occupy the same ring as them in Wembley Stadium and the privilege of going to the hospital. Kamala, Harvey Wippleman, and Kim Chee tell the Undertaker not to get in their way again like he did earlier in the show. Sensational Sherri says that she has come up with a special stipulation for Shawn Michaels’ match with Rick Martel: neither man will be allowed to hit the other in the face.

Razor Ramon (2-0) defeats Jim Powers (3-6) after a crucifix powerbomb at 2:30:

If this was Prime Time Wrestling Powers might have more of a chance. Powers tries to do some arm work so Ramon puts a stop to that by going to the eye. Ramon does not sell a take to the buckle or Powers’ chops. When Powers tries a backdrop, Ramon clubs him across the back and does his signature moves to notch his third win. McMahon puts it over as a big deal to beat Powers. The crowd was not into this because they had already seen Ramon earlier in the taping.

Tune in next week to see Hacksaw Jim Duggan & the Bushwhackers face Repo Man & the Beverly Brothers! Also, Crush, Nailz, and Intercontinental Champion Bret Hart will be in action!

The Last Word: The SummerSlam build continued nicely on this show with Randy Savage deciding to use Ric Flair and Mr. Perfect’s interference as mind games against the Ultimate Warrior. However, it is an open question of whether Savage is manipulating the Warrior, the Warrior is manipulating Savage, or if Flair and Perfect are manipulating both to achieve their end goal of getting the WWF title back. The added stipulation for Shawn Michaels and Rick Martel was unique as well and was a creative way to have the match reflect each man’s gimmick.

Up Next: Wrestling Challenge for August 16!