What the World Was Watching: WWF Superstars – March 13, 1993

WWF Mania had an exclusive feature match earlier in the day.

Crush (7-0) beats Damien Demento (3-2) via submission to the head vice at 7:39:

This match was filmed in Fayetteville, North Carolina on March 7. Demento screams nonsense to Crush at the beginning. It is too bad that Crush does not reply with “Whatever, brah!” What is also bad is the match as Demento’s heat segment in the middle is boring. Crush eventually tires of taking a beating and does a backbreaker to set up the head vice. Rating: *

Superstars leads off with a taped promo by the Mega-Maniacs and Jimmy Hart. Hulk Hogan orders that Hart find a place in the desert to bury the carcasses of WWF Tag Team Champions Money Incorporated. Brutus Beefcake shows off a new, indestructible mask that Hogan runs into with a steel briefcase several times. Hogan claims that the mask can withstand the power of a steam roller. They make references to how WWF President Jack Tunney has ruled the mask legal. This is the surprise that fans were promised and it is disappointing. And if the mask is legal all Beefcake should have to do is headbutt Ted DiBiase or Irwin R. Schyster and the match should be over.

Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler, and Randy Savage commentate, still taped from Long Beach, California.

Opening Contest: Papa Shango (3-1) pins Mark Ming after the reverse shoulderbreaker at 1:56:

McMahon almost has a stroke when Savage says that Lawler’s discussions of the Romans are references to his sex life. Shango has recovered from his shoulder injury so he is getting more television time. The announcers talk about how Shango wants to go to WrestleMania.

The Nasty Boys (6-0) beat the White Shadow & Ed Arce when Jerry Sags pins Arce after the Trip to Nastyville at 2:40:

McMahon and Savage explain that the Nasties decided to step aside as number one contenders so that the Mega-Maniacs got a title shot against Money Incorporated at WrestleMania. That makes the Nasties look stupid as one would think they would have an easier time taking the belts from the champions. It also goes against the company narrative that everyone wants to compete at WrestleMania. When McMahon argues that the Sags flying elbow drop is not graceful, Savage makes a good point that it does not matter when most of Sags’ weight crashes down onto Arce.

Yokozuna (w/Mr. Fuji) (11-1) pins Casey Cleric after the sit-down splash off the second rope at 2:36:

Savage says that he would gladly fight Yokozuna to avenge Hacksaw Jim Duggan. Yokozuna delivers the most devastating sit-down splash to this point, bouncing off Cleric’s chest when doing the move.

Ray Rougeau comes into the ring to do a post-match interview with Yokozuna and Fuji. Fuji promises that they are going to destroy WWF Champion Bret Hart to the point that his new nickname will be “The Squashman” instead of “The Hitman” after WrestleMania. When Rougeau brings up respect, Yokozuna gives Cleric another brutal sit-down splash. Fuji talks about people needing to give Yokozuna more respect for what he can do in the ring. The respect angle is a weak way to frame the feud but the WWF is doing a good job making Yokozuna a monster heel.

Gene Okerlund does the WrestleMania IX Report. WWF Champion Bret Hart tells Yokozuna and Fuji that he is not afraid of them because he is a great technical wrestler who will tire the big man out. WWF Tag Team Champions Money Incorporated promise that they are going to bring a briefcase to the show that is “armor piercing.” Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels addresses fans that they would be wise not to underestimate him. Crush, in Hawaii, rides waves to show Doink the Clown what he is going to do to him. Bob Backlund vs. Razor Ramon is a new match added to the card.

Tatanka (6-0) beats Al Burke after the Papoose to Go at 2:01:

As Tatanka chops Burke down to size, McMahon says it is likely that Sensational Sherri will be at WrestleMania to see Shawn Michaels lose the Intercontinental title.

After the match, Giant Gonzalez and Harvey Wippleman walk to the ring. No interaction occurs as Gonzalez and Wippleman get into the ring after Tatanka leaves. Gonzalez tells fans that Gonzalez was supposed to face 30 different opponents tonight, even 10 at a time, but people ran from the arena rather than face him. Wippleman argues that the Undertaker is not in the arena because he is also afraid of Gonzalez. They plan to hunt down the Undertaker before WrestleMania.

Lex Luger (6-0) pins Joey Maggs after the running forearm at 2:11:

The announcers argue over whether Mr. Perfect or Luger are more capable wrestlers. Luger knocks out another wrestler with the running forearm and pins them with a finger. After the match, Luger critiques Maggs’ look in his mirror before giving the jobber a headbutt.

Tune in next week to see Doink the Clown, Bob Backlund, WWF Tag Team Champions Money Incorporated, and Kamala in action!! Giant Gonzalez renews his hunt for the Undertaker! And there will also be a special interview with Lex Luger!

The Last Word: There were longer promos on today’s show by the Mega-Maniacs, Yokozuna, and Giant Gonzalez to build WrestleMania but none of them hit the mark. The company is trying to get heat on Gonzalez by having a smaller manager like Wippleman annoy people but it is hard to take Wippleman seriously as his previous charges Sid Justice and Kamala failed in big matches. A better way to build Gonzalez would be for Wippleman to pick fights with wrestlers and have Gonzalez step in and do the fighting for him.

Up Next: Wrestling Challenge for March 14!

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