What the World Was Watching: WWF Superstars – June 5, 1993

WWF Mania’s exclusive match was taped in Halifax, Nova Scotia on May 24:

El Matador (7-2-1) beats Fatu (w/Afa) (0-1) via disqualification when Samu interferes at 5:15:

Since Fatu has gotten a few singles matches it is a sign that the WWF sees him as the big star of the Headshrinkers team. El Matador is becoming a Saturday morning warrior, appearing more on Mania than any other wrestler to this point. He dominates most of the action, only making a mistake when he drives Fatu’s head into the canvas and Fatu immediately bounces up and lays him out with a thrust kick. After El Matador hits El Paso del Muerte, Samu runs in and a disqualification results. Rating: *½

The Headshrinkers double team El Matador after the bell, paying no mind to WWF officials who try to put a stop to the slaughter. Left to his own devices, El Matador finds enough strength to avoid a double clothesline and clears the ring with a clothesline off the ropes.

Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler, and Randy Savage provide commentary, concluding the taping in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Papa Shango appears on the video board and burns a photograph of Bret Hart, laughing about how no one has left his dark circle.

Opening Contest: Bret Hart (2-1) beats Papa Shango (6-4-1) via submission to the Sharpshooter at 6:41 shown:

This is Bret’s first televised match since losing the WWF Championship to Yokozuna at WrestleMania. It sees him renew a battle with an old rival from last year. Shango, who has not been seen since losing his King of the Ring qualifier to Hacksaw Jim Duggan a month ago, prevents Bret from getting an early shine and dominates the first five minutes. That hurts the quality of the match as Bret survives a shoulderbreaker, avoids a leg drop, and applies the Sharpshooter for a submission win. Bret might be the number one seed in the King of the Ring Tournament but he did not look like it here. Rating: *½

The Steiner Brothers play WWF Royal Rumble backstage, enjoying the Royal Rumble match in the game.

The Headshrinkers (w/Afa) (14-1-1) beat Tim McNeany & Scott Taylor when Fatu pins McNeany after a splash off the top rope at 1:58:

Lawler makes a joke that the Headshrinkers can trace their family tree back to when humans lived in trees. In a refreshing change of pace from most WWF squashes over the past week, the Headshrinkers make quick work of their opponents. After the match, Samu smashes a pineapple over each of the jobbers heads.

Kamala (13-4-1) pins Phil Apollo after the splash to the back at 2:46:

Kamala has lost three matches in a row so the WWF needs to give him a few wins back to prepare him for more losses to name stars later. McMahon says that Slick has done all he could for Kamala and is back to preaching in Fort Worth, Texas. That comes across as a nice way of saying Slick got tired of teaching Kamala and gave up. Lawler postulates that what really happened is Kamala ate Slick but it was only a snack since Slick was “just skin and bones.” If the WWF cared to use Kamala for anything going forward they could have him slowly turn back to his savage ways without direction. Kamala needs the fans help to pin Apollo the right way after his finish and then shakes hands with a few of them on the way to the locker room.

In a new taped promo, the newly christened 1-2-3 Kid, wearing his “lucky” RAW t-shirt, turns down Razor Ramon’s $5,000 offer because it is not worth the risk of getting back into the ring.

Lex Luger (17-0) pins Jason Knight after the running forearm at 2:30:

Luger gets a smaller mirror in the ring for his entrance, a possible consequence of the WWF looking to cut corners after disappointing house show attendance. Knight lost to Luger in Luger’s debut on Monday Night RAW on February 1. He fares no better this time as Luger mauls him with the running forearm once again.

Savage’s visit to P.S. 384 in Brooklyn, New York is shown. He promotes school and preaches an anti-drug message.

Mr. Hughes (w/Harvey Wippleman) (10-0) defeats Russ Greenberg after the sidewalk slam at 2:17:

Wippleman, who has recovered from the flu, puts over Hughes’ no-nonsense style in the split screen. And once again, Wippleman puts himself over as the real star and his talents simply allowing him to do whatever he wants in the WWF. Hughes chalks up another easy win to prepare him for next week’s King of the Ring Tournament. After the bell, he tosses Greenberg to the floor.

Gene Okerlund does The King of the Ring Report. Yokozuna and Mr. Fuji calls Yokozuna’s finisher “The Kamikaze Splash” and promises that Yokozuna will do it to WWF Champion Hulk Hogan six times in Dayton. Hogan and Jimmy Hart say they have a bone to pick with fans but never reveal what that is. They do say that Hogan is a team player and will make Yokozuna bow at the champion’s feet. Hacksaw Jim Duggan argues that there is no way that Bam Bam Bigelow is going to stop him.

The Smoking Gunns (4-0) beat Dale Wolfe & Gus Kantarakis when Bart pins Wolfe after the backdrop-piledriver combination at 2:14:

The Gunns get another quick showcase win to build them for the eight-man tag team match at The King of the Ring. They do not have an on-screen program yet but by default they should feud with the Headshrinkers, the only other team in the division who lacks a feud.

The ending of the opening match plays out the show.

Tune in next week to see WWF Tag Team Champions Money Incorporated, the Undertaker, the Steiner Brothers, and Razor Ramon in action! There will also be a special interview with Yokozuna!

The Last Word: The King of the Ring happens next Sunday and the card is uninspiring. The WWF is not spending a lot of time hyping first round matches or speculating about their outcomes, which is the type of build that the tournament needs to draw eyeballs. Looking at the brackets it seems like a Bret Hart-Lex Luger final would be expected but no one has talked about that as a possible contest even though both men are feuding with each other. Absentee champion Hulk Hogan is losing his mind if one were to go by his promos, listening to sand, railing against Jack Tunney, and criticizing fans in cryptic terms.

Up Next: Wrestling Challenge for June 6!

And if you would like to read a compiled breakdown of 1990-1992 WWF, 1993 ECW, or of various promotions in 1995, check out my Amazon author page to purchase e-books or paperback copies!