What the World Was Watching: WWF Wrestling Challenge – December 27, 1992

Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan are in the booth for the final episode of 1992, wrapping up the tapings in Erie, Pennsylvania. Heenan says he got cash, jets, a Mercedes, and two condos for Christmas but anyone could get that. Monsoon’s reaction to that statement is priceless.

Opening Contest: Crush (25-0) beats Kerry Davis via submission to the head vice at 2:25:

After Heenan says that the Hawaiian alphabet only has six letters, Monsoon tells viewers not to listen to Heenan anymore because he is bitter over his Christmas gifts. In the split screen, happy Crush wishes everyone a great New Year. After a press slam, Crush puts Davis in the head vice to beat him for the second time this year. He ends 1992 with an undefeated record.

Damien Demento (5-1) pins Chris Hahn after a loaded knee drop at 2:34:

The clown comes out for the match and laughs as Demento slowly beats down his opponent and “hears voices.” For the finish, Demento puts a foreign object in his knee pad to make his knee drop more devastating. That is an upgrade over just twisting his knee pad around.

Max Moon (11-0) defeats Duane Gill after the reverse flying body press at 2:24:

Moon dropkicks Gill to the floor and then gets him back into the ring with a gourdbuster. The Star Trek Splash sets up the reverse flying body press, allowing Moon to beat Gill for the second time in three months. Monsoon promises that Moon will be tough to handle in the Royal Rumble.

Raymond Rougeau, making his first appearance on the WWF’s U.S. television broadcasts since the 1990 Royal Rumble, interviews Yokozuna and Mr. Fuji. Fuji says that no one in the Royal Rumble is capable of throwing Yokozuna over the top rope. Yokozuna is an imposing force by himself but he needs someone who can give better promos to get him to the next level.

Lance Cassidy (5-0-1) pins Barry Hardy after the flying clothesline at 2:23:

The clown takes Cassidy’s jacket from ring attendance Jack Doan and puts a “Kick me hard!” sign on the back of it. The squash does not flow well as Hardy stops Cassidy’s offense in places to throw punches. For some reason, Cassidy feels that he needs to creatively roll Hardy up after the flying clothesline rather than do a generic cover.

After celebrating in the ring, Cassidy comes across the clown, who helps him into his ring jacket. The clown then kicks Cassidy in the rear and Cassidy does not know why until a young fan pulls the sign off. Cassidy thinks of beating up the clown but decides not to as the clown laughs.

Slick talks about making a list of resolutions for the New Year and at the top of the list is forgiveness.

Non-Title Match: Money Incorporated (WWF Tag Team Champions w/Jimmy Hart) (31-3) beat Jim Brunzell & Mike Collins when Irwin R. Schyster pins Collins after the Write Off at 1:57:

Before the match, IRS tells fans that they need to turn a new leaf in 1993 and stop their tax cheating. Brunzell wrestles the match in athletic shorts versus his conventional short tights. He gets a near-fall on IRS from a body press off the ropes. Brunzell tags Collins, who blows the advantage and gets beaten. The Nasty Boys do a split screen promo where they talk about how 1993 is going to be their year. Brunzell tried four times to defeat Money Incorporated this year with four separate partners. Every attempt was a failure.

Gene Okerlund does The Royal Rumble Report. Tatanka says that winning the Royal Rumble would fulfill a lifetime dream for him. Bam Bam Bigelow tells the Big Bossman that he is not behind a cage. Razor Ramon says he takes whatever he wants and he wants a piece of WWF Champion Bret Hart.

Monsoon wishes everyone a Happy New Year and asks a young fan in Bret Hart attire in his arms named Aaron what he wants in 1993. Aaron responds that he wants Bret to have a great New Year. Heenan tells Aaron that he needs to get a robe with feathers like Ric Flair because Flair is going to beat Bret soon.

Tune in next week to see Tatanka and Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels will be in action! Also, the Steiner Brothers will make their debut! And there will be a special interview with Kamala!

The Last Word: The WWF is in a holding pattern until the The Royal Rumble card is solidified so this episode provided nothing other than generic hype about Yokozuna’s size for the Rumble match.

The WWF ran several house shows in the Northeast after Christmas. Here were the results of those shows, courtesy of thehistoryofwwe.com:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada – Maple Leaf Gardens – December 27, 1992 (3,500): Virgil beat Skinner…Tatanka defeated the Berzerker…Terry Taylor beat Jim Powers (substituting for Max Moon)…Razor Ramon defeated the Big Bossman…The Headshrinkers beat High Energy…Bob Backlund defeated Rick Martel…The Undertaker defeated Papa Shango (substituting for Nailz).

Long Island, New York – Nassau Coliseum – December 27, 1992 (9,200; matinee): Lance Cassidy pinned Repo Man after a crucifix at 6:44…Damien Demento pinned El Matador at 11:00… The Bushwhackers & Tiger Jackson defeated the Beverly Brothers & Little Mickey Moses when Jackson pinned Moses after a flying body press…Randy Savage wrestled Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels to a double count out when both men brawled on the floor after Marty Jannetty appeared and stopped Michaels from going to the locker room. After the bell, Savage delivered the flying elbow drop to Michaels as Jannetty counted an unofficial pinfall…Hacksaw Jim Duggan pinned the Brooklyn Brawler after the three-point stance clothesline at 8:09… WWF Tag Team Champions Money Incorporated beat the Nasty Boys when IRS pinned Jerry Sags after Ted DiBiase hits Sags with IRS’ briefcase at 11:20…WWF Champion Bret Hart pinned Ric Flair at 25:08.

White Plains, New York – Westchester County Center – December 28, 1992 (3,000): Bam Bam Bigelow beat Virgil…The Beverly Brothers defeated the Bushwhackers…El Matador beat Mike Sharpe…Tatanka defeated Damien Demento…Bob Backlund defeated Rick Martel…The Undertaker defeated Papa Shango (substituting for Nailz).

Backstage News*: The WWF’s Saturday morning show will be named WWF Mania.

-The WWF recently lost television syndication in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.

-Randy Savage is going to be phased into a commentator position on Superstars and the new Monday Night RAW program. While Savage may wrestle occasionally, in Vince McMahon’s view he is done as a full-time wrestler. Some house show reports say that Savage appears to have lost motivation in his matches.

-The WWF alleges that Nailz wanted $150,000 from Vince McMahon as an advance for putting the Undertaker over each night at house shows. Nailz’s SummerSlam payoff that he was allegedly unhappy about was $8,000.

-In talent relations news, there have been discussions between Ric Flair and Vince McMahon to allow Flair out of his contract early to return to WCW. Flair is under contract until September and has been booked through early March but his role will be de-emphasized as there are plans for him to feud with Mr. Perfect and/or Tatanka in a semi-main event position. Max Moon has been taken off the road for undisclosed reasons (Note: It was later revealed that Paul Diamond was caught having an affair with Tatanka’s wife, Dawn, and the WWF took him off the road to avoid backstage issues).

*Backstage news was provided courtesy of Dave Melzer’s Wrestling Observer for January 4, 1993.

Up Next: Prime Time Wrestling for December 28!

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!