What the World Was Watching: WWF Superstars – October 10, 1992

Gene Okerlund announces that the main event for Survivor Series will feature the Ultimate Maniacs facing WWF Champion Ric Flair & Razor Ramon. Like the previous year, the WWF champion is not put in an elimination match.

Vince McMahon and Mr. Perfect provide commentary, starting a new taping cycle in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the taping took place on September 21 and drew a crowd of 6,000.

Opening Contest: Razor Ramon (10-0) pins Steve May after the Razor’s Edge at 2:44:

May was a trainee of the British Bulldog and Ross Hart. He started working in the summer of 1991 and also went by the name Steve Rivers on the independent circuit.

Before coming out, Ramon does a promo about how if Randy Savage wants a piece of him he does not have to wait for Survivor Series. Ramon uses a new move, an abdominal stretch where he pulls on his adversary’s right leg. McMahon puts over Ramon’s power moves, which get pops throughout the squash.

Max Moon (2-0) defeats Jerry Fox after the Star Trek Splash at 2:36:

Moon is the new name for the Komet Kid. He comes to the ring with less gear than the last television taping cycle, ditching the jet pack because Paul Diamond said refills required going to a place that serviced fire extinguishers and that was a burden to do each night. It also looked stupid to have Moon jump up the ring steps as if was “flying” so that probably played a role in ending that part of the gimmick. A series of dropkicks send Fox to the floor and a reverse flying bulldog greets Fox when he returns to the ring. Unfortunately, the momentum of the squash fades after that and the crowd starts to turn on Moon when he applies a long armbar. A spinning heel kick in the corner sets up the Star Trek Splash. McMahon notes that WWF President Jack Tunney has recently promised that rules will be enforced more in the coming weeks.

High Energy (15-1) defeat Brian Jewel & Ken Johnson when Owen Hart pins Jewel after a Koko B. Ware missile dropkick at 3:05:

Jewel began wrestling in the summer of 1983, working as an enhancement talent for the AWA. He also did enhancement work for Jim Crockett Promotions under the name Joe Lightfoot. Jewel started doing enhancement work for the WWF in 1989

Since Owen was suffering from a knee injury, High Energy has not been seen on television in close to a month. The team is no longer bringing Frankie to the ring, which is not a big deal because it was never central to the team’s identity. What does hurt the team’s identity is a lack of high spots, which Owen cannot do because of his injury. By the end of the squash Owen is limping and he is in pain for the finish as he has to roll over and plant to pin Jewel. McMahon announces that Sergeant Slaughter has been appointed by Tunney to appoint rules and regulations in the WWF.

Nailz is supposed to wrestle in a squash next but he just tosses his opponent, Eric Freedom, over the top rope so he can get on the mic and call out the Big Bossman. McMahon says that the Bossman is not in the building as Nailz talks about breaking the Bossman’s legs.

Lance Cassidy beats Tom Stone after a flying body press at 3:30:

Cassidy was Steve Armstrong, part of the famous Armstrong family of wrestling and son of famous Southern star Bob Armstrong. Steve began his career in 1983 after being trained by his father, working for Southeast Championship Wrestling in Alabama. He wrestled for the rest of the 1980s in Florida, Continental, and New Japan before rejoining old tag team partner Tracy Smothers in WCW. The duo were billed as the Wild-Eyed Southern Boys (later changed to the Young Pistols) and their biggest programs were with the Midnight Express, the Fabulous Freebirds, and the WCW Patriots. In December 1991 Armstrong and Smothers won the WCW United States Tag Team Championship, losing the titles two months later to Ron Simmons and Big Josh. In April, Steve departed WCW as part of the roster turnover that came with Bill Watts taking over the promotion.

Like Terry Taylor, Cassidy did not get any vignettes to preview his arrival, normally viewed as a poor sign for one’s prospects. Cassidy is supposed to be a friendly cowboy but his ring attire is a generic jacket and he does not look like a cowboy at all. In fact, he is wrestling this match in his Young Pistol gear. And the poor guy does not even get an insert promo to tell fans who he is or why he is in the WWF. There is nothing notable about this first match as Cassidy works more of a WCW style of squash that is extended and gives his opponent more offense. Stone takes a hard bump off the top rope, appearing to land on his head, and after several kicks and chops, Cassidy finishes with a flying body press.

Okerlund talks with Sergeant Slaughter in the aisle, who was watching the end of the Cassidy match intently. Again, Slaughter is no worse for wear after the brutal beating Nailz gave him two weeks ago so he must have better recuperative powers than the Big Bossman. Slaughter promises that there will be law and order in the WWF.

McMahon narrates a video package that talks about Bob Backlund’s amateur wrestling background and how he was WWF champion for six years. Backlund argues he will have more notoriety in the modern WWF because he will be his authentic self.

Kamala (w/Harvey Wippleman & Kim Chee) (16-2) pins Kevin Kruger after the splash to the back at 1:17:

Before the match, the Undertaker appears on the video wall and tells Kamala that he will rest in peace. Kruger tries to take advantage of the distraction but his blows to Kamala’s back have no effect. Kamala keeps looking back at the video screen throughout the squash, which is nothing out of the ordinary for him.

After the bell, Paul Bearer wheels a coffin to ringside. A scared Kamala flees the ring and runs through the crowd with Wippleman and Kim Chee following him.

Bret Hart (31-2-1) defeats Bill Jordan via submission to the Sharpshooter at 3:24:

Jordan was a veteran of Stampede Wrestling, where he worked as an enhancement talent throughout the 1980s. He also worked for Genichiro Tenryu’s SWS promotion in Japan in 1990 as Snake Williams.

McMahon puts over how Bret is on the cover on the recent WWF Magazine and the debate about whether Papa Shango has cursed him. McMahon adds that Kamala has not returned to the locker room after running through the crowd. Bret takes his time punishing Jordan, showing that Shango’s curse does not affect squash matches.

Cameras show a terrified Kamala slamming his locker room door in Harvey Wippleman and Kim Chee’s face.

Tune in next week to see Shawn Michaels, the Big Bossman, Money Incorporated, and Intercontinental Champion the British Bulldog! Also, WWF Champion Ric Flair & Razor Ramon will appear for a special interview!

The Last Word: The WWF did some creative things with promos this week, opting to use the video board by the entrance to relay messages rather than use the standard split screen format. The opening video package for the show has not been used in several weeks either, a possible reflection of talents being cut loose or suspended such as the Texas Tornado, Hawk, and the Berzerker. Almost all of the acts on today’s show were wrestlers that did not start working for the WWF until this year and while some of them seem flat out of the gate, it is clear that the WWF is gradually pushing a more athletic style.

Up Next: Wrestling Challenge for October 11!