What the World Was Watching: WWF Wrestling Challenge – November 8, 1992

Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan are in the booth, taped from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Opening Contest: Crush (19-0) defeats Mike Sharpe via submission to the head vice at 2:30:

Sharpe grunts a lot but that does not create an effective sell of Crush’s moves since Sharpe wants to get up quickly after a backbreaker. Despite that, Crush impresses fans by giving the large Sharpe an Argentine backbreaker and then finishing with the head vice.

The Headshrinkers (w/Afa) (3-0) defeat Brian Jewel & Bill Jordan when Samu submits Jewel with an STF at 2:57:

The Headshrinkers do some kind of ritual with their bamboo sticks and threaten to impale Jewel and Jordan with them after the opening bell. Samu superkicks both jobbers as the Headshrinkers and Afa do an insert promo about how the Natural Disasters need to be careful approaching them. Samu pulls Jewel up after a flying headbutt and the Headshrinkers plant him with a forward Russian leg sweep. Samu then applies an STF, which forces Jewel to submit, and the Headshrinkers continue to pull on the jobber’s face after the bell.

Marty Jannetty (2-0-1) pins Dale Wolfe after a flying fist drop at 2:07:

This marks Jannetty’s in-ring return. Jannetty does an insert promo that says he could face a fine for attacking Shawn Michaels, which he welcomes, because if Michaels is a blizzard he is a snow plow. The WWF is rewriting Jannetty’s absence as time off after going through Brutus Beefcake’s Barber Shop window earlier in the year. Jannetty gets a good reaction but the squash is average as he works a long chinlock to kill time before he wins with a flying fist drop.

Bob Backlund puts over his debut in the WWF in 1977 and how he was worried about how he would be received. He talks about he can climb the ladder again with support.

Rick Martel (27-6-3) beats Ken Johnson via submission to the Boston Crab at 1:29:

The unknown clown is shown in the crowd for this match. Martel does an insert promo about how Tatanka is going to lose more his feathers at Survivor Series. Johnson traps Martel in a small package but the Model kicks out at one, breaks Johnson’s back, and submits him with the Boston Crab.

Gene Okerlund does the Survivor Series Report. WWF Champion Bret Hart talks about how he put more work into his position than Shawn Michaels and Sensational Sherri will not be a factor in the match.

Tatanka (36-0) pins Blake Beverly (w/the Genius & Beau Beverly) (0-1) after the Papoose to Go at 4:46:

There is a funny bit for Tatanka’s entrance as he blasts Beau with a clothesline on his run to the ring. He and Blake do a quick exchange of offense until Tatanka fights out of a chinlock and chops away. Blake stops Tatanka’s momentum with a powerslam but misses a flying headbutt off the second rope. That sends Tatanka into his finishing sequence as Heenan wonders why the Genius or Beau do not intervene. Blake looked good in this back-and-forth match. Rating: **

Bam Bam Bigelow does another taped vignette where he warns WWF superstars not to play with him.

Shawn Michaels says he does not respect authority and the Big Bossman rebuts that he is going to teach Michaels lessons that his mother and father should have.

Tune in next week to see the Big Bossman square off with Shawn Michaels! Also, the Natural Disasters, Yokozuna, and Razor Ramon will be in action! And there will be a special interview with WWF Champion Bret Hart!

The Last Word: The feature match was nothing spectacular but it was decent enough for a syndicated program of this era. Marty Jannetty being back is a good upgrade for the roster even if his squash on this show was pedestrian.

Here is a summary of the WWF’s house show action for early November, with results courtesy of thehistoryofwwe.com:

Minneapolis, Minnesota – The Target Center – November 6, 1992 (2,600): Rick Martel beat Virgil…El Matador pinned Repo Man…Tatanka pinned Blake Beverly (substituting for the Mountie)…The Natural Disasters defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Money Incorporated via disqualification…The Ultimate Warrior beat Kamala…WWF Champion Bret Hart pinned Papa Shango.

Boston, Massachusetts – The Boston Garden – November 7, 1992 (5,500; matinee): Max Moon pinned Terry Taylor with a moonsault at 15:15…Lance Cassidy beat Skinner with a flying body press at 8:08…Crush pinned the Berzerker with a small package at 12:07…Razor Ramon beat Randy Savage via count out at 9:40…WWF Tag Team Champions Money Incorporated defeated the Natural Disasters when IRS pinned Typhoon after Ted DiBiase hit Typhoon in the back of the head off the top rope when Typhoon had IRS covered…Intercontinental Champion the British Bulldog pinned Papa Shango with a roll up at 6:57…Nailz pinned the Big Bossman in a steel cage match after hitting him with a nightstick at 8:45.

Orlando, Florida – Orlando Arena – November 8, 1992 (2,500): El Matador beat the Brooklyn Brawler…Tatanka beat Blake Beverly (substituting for the Mountie) via count out when the top rope snapped and Blake fell to the floor and could not get up… Shawn Michaels defeated Virgil…The Headshrinkers beat High Energy…The Ultimate Warrior defeated Kamala (substituting for Ric Flair)…WWF Champion Bret Hart beat Rick Martel via submission to the Sharpshooter.

Backstage News*: The WWF is planning to build a 45,000 square foot warehouse in Trumbull, Connecticut to house a mail order facility for its merchandise.

-The Oregon Boxing and Wrestling Commission is looking into sanctioning the WWF over cancelling a show last month in Portland because of poor advance sales, which it says is not a genuine excuse.

*Backstage news is provided courtesy of Dave Meltzer’s Wrestling Observer for November 16.

Up Next: Prime Time Wrestling for November 9!

And if you would like to read a compiled breakdown of 1990 WWF, 1991 WWF, or of various promotions in 1995, check out my Amazon author page to purchase e-books or paperback copies!