What the World Was Watching: WWF Wrestling Challenge – April 25, 1993

All American Wrestling had one feature match for its 500th episode.

Papa Shango (6-3) wrestles Kamala (w/Slick) (11-1) to a double count out at 3:32:

This match took place at the North Charleston, South Carolina Superstars taping on March 8. Gorilla Monsoon is commentating with the Wizard, a gimmick for Bruce Prichard. If Kamala was a heel like Shango they would make an interesting tag team. In some nice character work, Kamala is fascinated by Shango’s skull but freaks out when it shoots fire. That is the high point of the match as each man exchanges strikes and Kamala gets fired up when Shango puts his hands on Slick. Both men start fighting on the floor and that battle heads to the locker room, creating a double count out. Rating: ¼*

For Wrestling Challenge, Jim Ross and Bobby Heenan provided commentary. They kicked off a new taping cycle from Phoenix, Arizona. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the taping drew a crowd of 7,000, with 4,500 fans paying to attend.

Opening Contest: Yokozuna (w/Mr. Fuji) (16-2) pins Rudy Gonzalez after the sit-down splash off the second rope at 2:18:

Yokozuna squashes Gonzalez as the announce crew talk up future bouts with Hacksaw Jim Duggan and possibly Hulk Hogan. The big man’s finisher does not have a name yet but it is getting there as Heenan screams “Banzai!” when Yokozuna comes off the second rope.

Lord Alfred Hayes’ Special Report recaps the feud between Sensational Sherri and Luna Vachon.

Mr. Perfect (12-1) pins Blake Beverly (0-1) with the Perfectplex at 5:32:

Blake has a creative sneak attack, choking Perfect with the towel that Perfect carries to the ring. After Perfect sends Blake to the floor twice in the first 90 seconds, Beau runs in but Perfect takes care of him as well. For some reason that does not create a disqualification and Blake seems annoyed that his brother tried to interfere on his behalf. Beau is ordered back to the locker room, ending his WWF career by holding his back as he leaves ringside. After taking some punishment, Perfect takes down the straps of his singlet like he is Jerry Lawler but his comeback is brief, rebounding off the ropes to trap Blake in the Perfectplex because you cannot backdrop Perfect. Rating: *¾

The Headshrinkers (w/Afa) (10-1-1) beat Sean Dakota & Jim Armstrong when Fatu pins Armstrong after the splash off the top rope at 2:16:

Dakota was a Steve Gatorwolf trainee that began his career in Southwest independent promotions in 1989. He later went by the name the Navajo Warrior.

The Headshrinkers are clawing their way back after losing to the Steiner Brothers at WrestleMania. They make quick work for their opponents, annihilating Dakota with a double flapjack and wiping Armstrong out with a double front side Russian leg sweep. The announcers float the idea of a future feud between the Headshrinkers and the Nasty Boys, which would build off the crazy brawl they had last month on Monday Night RAW.

Kamala (w/Slick) (12-1-1) beats the White Shadow after a splash to the back at 1:39:

In the split screen, Kamala tells Slick “Amen” when Slick asks for a witness. That is proof that Kamala is learning to speak. The Shadow avoids a corner avalanche but that only puts off the inevitable. Instead of teaching Kamala to speak, Slick needs to teach him how to pin someone.

Ross announces that Lex Luger has a metal plate in his forearm. It is interesting that the WWF decided to have Ross make the announcement instead of replaying Gorilla Monsoon’s Update segment from Superstars.

Ray Rougeau interviews Luger. Luger channels Rick Rude to run down the physiques of the men and women in the audience. He gloats about knocking Bret Hart out before WrestleMania and promises that he will terminate Bret’s career. This was Luger’s best promo so far, channeling the arrogance the made him a great heel in WCW.

Typhoon (4-4) pins Barry Horowitz after the Tidal Wave at 2:05:

Typhoon must have decided to take a few weeks off after Yokozuna squashed him on WWF Mania. Horowitz avoids an elbow drop but tries to whip the big man into the corner. That gets reversed and a couple of avalanches put Horowitz on dream street.

Razor Ramon (11-1) defeats Allen Reid after the Razor’s Edge at 2:27:

Ramon wins his second match of the week, moving around better on his knee than he did at WrestleMania. Since his loss to Bret Hart at The Royal Rumble, Ramon has won his last ten matches.

Bob Backlund talks about how he knows Luger has a great body and looks forward to facing him next week. Luger fires back that he already knows he has a great body but he will make Backlund’s torture as painless as possible next week. Luger is also beside himself that he has to qualify for the King of the Ring Tournament.

Tune in next week to see Bob Backlund face Lex Luger in a King of the Ring qualifying match! Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels, and WWF Tag Team Champions Money Incorporated in action!

The Last Word: The feature match was okay today. It is just tough to take a Beverly Brother as a serious threat to someone like Mr. Perfect. Lex Luger got a strong push on today’s program and he should be one of the favorites in the King of the Ring Tournament.

The WWF was still on its tour of Europe, going from Great Britain to the continent. Here is the result of one of those shows, courtesy of thehistoryofwwe.com:

Milan, Italy – Forum Assago – April 25, 1993 (7,500): Scott Steiner pinned Irwin R. Schyster after reversing a fireman’s carry into a roll up at 10:03…Virgil beat Terry Taylor…Doink the Clown (Steve Keirn) (substituting for Razor Ramon) defeated El Matador after spraying El Matador in the eyes with something from his jacket at 8:43…The Steiner Brothers defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Money Incorporated via disqualification when IRS hit Scott with one of the Tag Team title belts after Scott covered Ted DiBiase following a Frankensteiner at 15:07…The Undertaker beat Yokozuna via disqualification when Yokozuna used a salt bucket at a weapon at 5:43. After the match, the Undertaker avoided the sit-down splash off the second rope and chokeslammed Yokozuna…Tatanka pinned Papa Shango with a roll up at 6:03…The Bushwhackers defeated the Beverly Brothers when Butch pinned Blake after heel miscommunication at 14:36…Bret Hart pinned Bam Bam Bigelow with a victory roll at 20:38.

Backstage News*: This week’s set of shows in Europe did not sell as well as other ones on the tour. Shows in Great Britain did not sellout, with buildings three-quarters full. Shows in Barcelona, Spain and Milan, Italy also failed to sellout. However, high ticket prices and lots of merchandise sales was a boon for the company.

-The decision to run The King of the Ring as a pay-per-view event is being credited to Jim Ross’ influence. Mr. Hughes being signed was also seen as a Ross-influenced decision.

-In talent relations news, the WWF has signed the Lightning Kid (Sean Waltman) to a contract. The WWF is still toying with the idea of bringing Captain Lou Albano back to manage the Nasty Boys.

*Backstage news is provided courtesy of Dave Meltzer’s Wrestling Observer for May 3.

Up Next: Monday Night RAW for April 26!

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