What the World Was Watching: WWF Wrestling Challenge – October 18, 1992

Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan are broadcasting today’s action, which is still taking place in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. Like Mr. Perfect on Superstars, Heenan says that Ric Flair was sick before his match with Bret and warns the Hitman that Flair will beat him soon to regain the title.

Opening Contest: The Beverly Brothers (w/the Genius) (21-3) defeat Jerry Fox & Eric Freedom when Beau pins Fox after the Shaker Heights Spike at 2:35:

Heenan rants about how Flair will soon get the title back and how much he hates Canada as the Beverlys punish their opponents equally before finishing Fox with the Shaker Heights Spike.

Max Moon (3-0) defeats the Brooklyn Brawler (1-15) after a reverse flying body press at 2:43:

After Moon dropkicks the Brawler over the top rope, he does a pescado and dives off the apron with a running seated senton. Unfortunately, a long armbar takes the crowd out of it before Moon opts for a new finisher, a reverse flying body press off the top rope.

Repo Man (23-7-1) beats Steve May via submission to the single leg Boston Crab at 3:13:

Monsoon is back to making jokes that Heenan might be joining the unemployment line now that Flair is no longer WWF champion. Repo Man works over May’s left knee for a while and locks in the single leg Boston Crab for an easy win. After the bell, Repo Man is prevented from doing anything with the tow rope because of the referee. Monsoon needles Heenan that Repo Man’s finish is like the Sharpshooter.

Nailz (15-0) defeats Tom Stone via submission to the chokehold sleeper at 2:35:

Nailz adjusts some of his choking routine, using the strap of Stone’s tights to do some of the asphyxiation. Like many of the squashes on this show, the crowd treats this with silence. After the match, Nailz hits Stone in the back with a nightstick and knocks him to the floor. Monsoon argues that Nailz is not doing as many post-match beatings because he is worried about fines from Sergeant Slaughter.

Nailz gets on the microphone as Heenan hilariously claims Nailz is about to read a poem. Instead, Nailz tells the Big Bossman that “the system” can no longer protect him. He challenges the Bossman to come out but Monsoon says that the Bossman is not there to confront him.

Gene Okerlund does the Survivor Series Report. Kamala, Harvey Wippleman, and Kim Chee promise that the only person leaving the pay-per-view in a coffin will be the Undertaker. A clip of the Undertaker doing a promo from this Monday’s Prime Time Wrestling from a coffin is shown, with the Undertaker arguing that Kamala will soon rot.

Non-Title Match: The Natural Disasters (WWF Tag Team Champions) (24-1) beat Ken Johnson & Victor Reeves when Earthquake pins Johnson after the Earthquake Splash at 3:19:

Reeves tries to suplex Typhoon but the big man easily reverses and wipes him out with a clothesline against the turnbuckles. In the split screen, Jimmy Hart appears and promises that he has a plan to handle the controversy over whether Money Incorporated or the Nasty Boys are the top contenders to the Tag Team titles. The Disasters avalanche their opponents, getting one of the few reactions on today’s program, and Johnson eats both big man finishers. Afterward, the Disasters admire the finish on the video screen.

Tune in next week to see Kamala, Shawn Michaels, Tatanka, and Razor Ramon in action! There will also be a special interview with the Ultimate Maniacs!

The Last Word: The crowd was dead for a lot of this show, which is not a good sign because this was just halfway through the television taping. The WWF is not doing any favors to the Big Bossman in this feud with Nailz as he looks weak not confronting his rival despite getting called out so many times on the microphone. It makes sense that the Bossman would not be at every show but when it becomes commonplace a fan cannot help but wonder if the Bossman is afraid.

Here is a summary of the WWF’s house show action, which returned to the United States after doing additional television tapings in Canada, courtesy of thehistoryofwwe.com:

Long Island, New York – The Nassau Coliseum – October 16, 1992 (8,500): Terry Taylor pinned Jim Powers with a backbreaker at 13:00…Tatanka pinned Repo Man after the Papoose to Go at 14:00…Crush beat the Mountie via submission to the head vice at 10:00…Ric Flair defeated the Ultimate Warrior via disqualification when Warrior used a chair that Flair threw into the ring. After the match, Terry Taylor and Repo Man were taken out by the Warrior…Virgil pinned Skinner with a sunset flip…The Natural Disasters beat WWF Tag Team Champions Money Incorporated via count out…WWF Champion Bret Hart pinned Nailz with a roll up.

San Francisco, California – The Cow Palace – October 16, 1992 (3,300): Max Moon pinned Barry Horowitz with a flying body press…The Beverly Brothers beat the Bushwhackers…El Matador pinned the Brooklyn Brawler after El Paso del Muerte…Animal pinned Papa Shango with an inside cradle at 7:53…Razor Ramon defeated Randy Savage via count out when Ramon slide back into the ring after Savage missed a double flying axe handle and hurt his knee…Intercontinental Champion the British Bulldog beat Shawn Michaels via disqualification…The Big Bossman pinned Kamala with a roll up.

Anchorage, Alaska – Sullivan Arena – October 18, 1992 (2,000): Max Moon pinned Barry Horowitz…The Brooklyn Brawler beat Nick Sherry…El Matador pinned Papa Shango…Intercontinental Champion the British Bulldog defeated Shawn Michaels via disqualification…The Big Bossman pinned Kamala with a roll up after heel miscommunication. After the bout, Kamala chased Harvey Wippleman to the locker room…The Beverly Brothers defeated the Bushwhackers when Beau pinned Luke…Razor Ramon beat Randy Savage via count out. Afterward, Ramon kept beating Savage up until Sergeant Slaughter came out and fined Ramon $5,000.

Backstage News*: Money Incorporated regained the Tag Team titles from the Natural Disasters at a Wrestling Challenge television taping in Regina, Saskatchewan, on October 13. Money Incorporated were already announced as champions on the week’s house shows.

-Ric Flair worked against doctor’s orders at the Nassau Coliseum but due to his inner ear injury the match was said to be poor since Flair could not do his usual spots. He will be going to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota on Thursday for tests. The WWF is hoping to have Flair for a December run of house show matches with Bret Hart.

The WWF had to cancel A-loop house shows in Binghamton, New York and Rochester, New York because of poor advances and injuries to Ric Flair and the Undertaker.

-Merchandise sales are down by 50%, which is blamed on Hulk Hogan’s absence, a lack of new babyfaces being over enough to sell merchandise, and declining house show attendance.

-Plans to make Animal and Crush a new Legion of Doom have been scuttled and the new plan is to have Animal become a singles wrestler. Animal is said to be angry at Hawk’s departure from the company.

-The WWF is promoting its house shows as being sponsored by ICOPRO. Sports Supplement Buyers Guide recently reviewed ICOPRO and gave it a thumbs down.

-Typhoon missed house shows because his wife was in labor, forcing Earthquake to wrestle a Money Incorporated member in singles matches.

-The Berzerker returned for television tapings after serving his six-week suspension that came after SummerSlam. He will soon be sent to Japan to do a tour with Genichiro Tenryu’s WAR promotion.

-In talent relations news, the WWF has reached agreements with Marty Jannetty and Mondo Kleen. Sid Justice is expected to get a release from his contract this week. There is chatter that the Mountie will be departing soon.

*Backstage news is provided courtesy of Dave Meltzer’s Wrestling Observer for October 19 and 26.

Up Next: Prime Time Wrestling for October 19!