What the World Was Watching: WWF Superstars – November 28, 1992

Vince McMahon and Bobby Heenan provide commentary for today’s show, taped from Terre Haute, Indiana. McMahon announces that Bret Hart, the Undertaker, and Randy Savage and Mr. Perfect won their matches at Survivor Series. Heenan tells Perfect that Ric Flair and Razor Ramon are coming for him.

Opening Contest: Bam Bam Bigelow pins Jerry Fox after a flying headbutt at 2:00:

Bigelow was trained by Larry Sharpe, entering the professional wrestling industry in 1985 after a short-lived career as a bouncer and bounty hunter. He quickly made an impression in Continental, where he feuded with Jerry Lawler, Austin Idol, and Tommy Rich, and wrestled in World Class and New Japan before signing with the WWF in 1987. Bigelow got a strong push upon his arrival in New York, becoming an ally of Hulk Hogan and becoming the last member of Hogan’s team to be beaten at the inaugural Survivor Series. However, complaints about his ego, as well as a knee injury, scuttled his push as he was eliminated in the first round of the WWF title tournament at WrestleMania IV by the One Man Gang and he left the company in July 1988. Bigelow had brief stays in WCW, Herb Abrams’ UWF, the USWA, and Mexico after that but made his biggest mark in New Japan, teaming with Big Van Vader to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship. After the team lost the belts to the Steiner Brothers, Bigelow signed a contract to return to the WWF.

Even though Bigelow was a babyface in his last WWF run, he is a vicious heel now. His prior run is not discussed, with McMahon and Heenan treating him like a new character. In the split screen, Bigelow yells about how games are over because the Beast from the East is in the WWF. McMahon and Heenan spend more time talking about Survivor Series than Bigelow. Fox appears scared to take some of Bigelow’s moves, ducking his head too early for one of Bigelow’s kicks. Still, Bigelow moves well for a big man and had a unique look, making him a welcome addition to the roster.

Gene Okerlund’s Update segment shows footage of Ric Flair and Razor Ramon leaving Survivor Series. Ramon promises to carve up Perfect, while Flair promises that Perfect is living on borrowed time.

The Headshrinkers (w/Afa) (7-0) beats George Anderson & Kevin Kruger when Fatu pins Anderson after a splash off the top rope at 4:08:

McMahon is still talking about Sergeant Slaughter enforcing WWF rules even though Slaughter has not been seen in weeks. In the split screen, the Natural Disasters warn the Headshrinkers that they do not know what they have started. The Headshrinkers attempt to do a backdrop-powerbomb combination on Anderson but it is hard to pull that off because of Anderson’s size so the move looks clunky. Anderson’s mouth gets busted open and he has enough foresight to stick his tongue out during a choke to make the Headshrinkers look vicious. After the match, the Headshrinkers stare at the video board that is spazzing out and start fighting each other until Afa grabs their heads and smashes them against each other.

Slick gives thanks for a nice greeting at Survivor Series and being back in the WWF.

Bob Backlund (1-0) pins Tom Stone after a bridging O’Connor roll at 2:12:

Backlund tells fans in the split screen that he wants to climb to the top of the WWF. Backlund frustrates Stone by countering everything he does and then traps him with a bridging O’Connor roll. After the match, Backlund shakes Stone’s hand.

Harvey Wippleman and Kim Chee say that Kamala lost because he did not listen to them. They promise that will not happen again.

Damien Demento (2-1) defeats Joey Maggs after a knee drop at 2:33:

As Demento pounds away, the clown is pulling cloths out of his jacket for a few fans in the front row. Demento does an insert where he talks about how fans will see “catastrophic annihilation” in his matches. This is another unspectacular match for Demento, who is getting exposure on Superstars while a more capable Terry Taylor is wasting away on Prime Time Wrestling.

A video package recaps the Marty Jannetty-Shawn Michaels feud.

Okerlund interviews Jannetty, who says that he spent time blaming himself for the Rockers blow up until he realized that he cannot respect Shawn Michaels because Michaels does not respect him. He discusses how he is in the WWF not for money, titles, or glory but to kick Michaels’ butt. When asked about what happened to Sensational Sherri, Jannetty says that Sherri has told him that Michaels has not called her since she was hit with the mirror. Jannetty has impressed on the microphone since his return, doing better promos than when he was in a tag team.

Razor Ramon (14-0) pins Gary Jackson after the Razor’s Edge at 3:14:

McMahon announces that Virgil is getting an Intercontinental title match against Shawn Michaels on the next episode of Prime Time Wrestling. What kind of dirt does Virgil have on WWF President Jack Tunney to keep getting these title matches despite losing pay-per-view bouts? As Ramon destroys Jackson he does an insert promo about how he is going to slap the smile off Mr. Perfect’s face. That appears to pivot Ramon into a new program rather than continue what he had going on with Randy Savage prior to Survivor Series.

Crush (20-0) defeats Red Tyler via submission to the head vice at 1:56:

Crush press slams Tyler and then uses a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker to set up his finishing move. The WWF is not sure what to do with Crush right now as he racks up wins but is not put into a program of any significance. He is like the 1991 version of the Berzerker.

Tune in next week to see Kamala, Yokozuna, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, and Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels in action!! Also, there will also be a special interview with Nailz!

The Last Word: There was not a lot of new ground for feuds on this first show after Survivor Series but there was work done for babyface turns as Harvey Wippleman and Kim Chee deflect the blame for Kamala’s loss at Survivor Series and Marty Jannetty reveals that Sensational Sherri is not getting attention from Shawn Michaels. There was also an announcement, not contained in the WWE Network edition, that WrestleMania IX would take place at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Up Next: Wrestling Challenge for November 29!

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!