What the World Was Watching: WWF Superstars – June 19, 1993

WWF Mania had an exclusive tag team match, filmed in Sydney, Nova Scotia on May 25.

El Matador & Bob Backlund beat the Headshrinkers (w/Afa) (15-1-1) via reverse decision at 6:03 shown:

WWF Mania gets a small feud as this match was set up after Samu interfered in the El Matador-Fatu match a couple of weeks ago and the Headshrinkers briefly beat El Matador up after the bout. Gorilla Monsoon tells fans that Money Incorporated and the Steiner Brothers traded the WWF Tag Team Championship within 48 hours at house shows on Monday and Wednesday. Those shows took place in Columbus, Ohio and Rockford, Illinois, respectively. The titles would change hands again the evening that this show aired when the Steiners beat Money Incorporated in St. Louis, Missouri, marking four title changes at house shows within the last two weeks as the WWF desperately tries to boost attendance. The action of the match is rushed as the babyfaces get limited shine, Backlund takes some token blows in peril, and El Matador gets the hot tag and flattens Samu with the flying forearm. Fatu breaks up the fall and then rolls Samu out of the ring, blasting El Matador with a thrust kick and getting the pin. After the bell, the Steiners rush out and tell the official about the illegal switch and another referee corroborates the complaint, reversing the decision. As is the case for most reverse decisions, this did not help any of the participants. And since the Headshrinkers are a permanent team they should have gone over strong. Rating: *

WWF Superstars had Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler, and Randy Savage on commentary. They are taped from Halifax, Nova Scotia.

In a taped segment, WWF Champion Yokozuna and Mr. Fuji talk about doing their July 4 celebration at the USS Intrepid that is anchored in New York Harbor. Fuji issues his body slam challenge, intending to embarrass the United States. McMahon reminds viewers that Yokozuna and Fuji do not represent the Japanese American population. Lawler laughs about what he did to Bret Hart at the end of The King of the Ring.

Opening Contest: The Smoking Gunns (5-1) defeat Reno Riggins & Scott Taylor when Bart pins Taylor after the backdrop-piledriver combination at 3:13:

Billy Gunn does not look good, getting outclassed by Riggins. Riggins tags out, though, and Taylor cannot keep the team’s momentum going. The announcers spend the squash talking about the Bret-Lawler feud. Savage is confident that Las Vegas will not take odds on when the match between the two happens because Bret will be a sure thing.

Virgil (6-6) pins Bastion Booger after a crucifix at 2:31:

Booger was Mike Shaw’s new gimmick after Friar Ferguson died after one television taping. It is not a good change since he no longer has theme music and the only characterization he gets on commentary is that he is grotesque like a troll. According to a Shaw shoot interview, it was either this character, a plumber, or a pizza delivery driver. It is a great example of fighting in negotiations and saying no to stupid ideas. The commentary team barely talks about the newcomer so Booger is failing to launch. That becomes obvious when Virgil survives a Booger leg drop and traps the big man in a crucifix for his biggest win of the year. After the match, Lawler uses the Royal Magistrator to draw Savage’s face on Booger’s body, alleging that Savage is Booger’s brother. Savage goes after Lawler off-camera as McMahon attempts to maintain order. That bit was more entertaining than the match fans just watched.

Tatanka (22-0-2) defeats Mike Bell after the Papoose to Go at 2:08:

McMahon hypes the Tatanka-Bam Bam Bigelow feud as the Native American cuts through another jobber to build up his unbeaten streak.

Lex Luger (19-0-1) pins Phil Apollo after the running forearm at 2:42:

Apollo gets a surprising amount of offense, arm dragging Luger several times and tagging the Narcissist with a dropkick. However, a blind charge scuttles his chances of winning and Luger knocks him out with his uncovered forearm. That does not match up with King of the Ring where Luger had to cover his forearm lest he be disqualified from the competition.

Gorilla Monsoon’s Update segment dubs Mr. Hughes’ attack on the Undertaker as “Harvey’s Revenge.” Hughes and Wippleman do a promo with the urn, gloating about taking the Undertaker’s power.

Crush (17-3-2) defeats Joey Tempest via submission to the head vice at 1:40:

McMahon is now calling the USS Intrepid event “The Stars & Stripes Challenge.” When Crush comes to the ring, he takes time to talk to an elderly fan, leading to a joke from Lawler that the old woman is Sensational Sherri after she took ICOPRO. What makes it funnier is McMahon taking big offense to the indictment of the WWF’s big fitness product. McMahon tells fans that Bastion Booger will get a rematch with Virgil next week as Crush powers through Tempest to recover from his loss to Shawn Michaels at King of the Ring. Fans are also told that Crush will try to slam Yokozuna. But considering his run in 1993, who really thinks he is going to do that?

A new Men on a Mission vignette shows Black people dancing, playing basketball, and swinging on a playground. The rap highlights that the team members names are Mabel and Mo.

Adam Bomb (w/Johnny Polo) (5-0) pins Jerry Seavey after the Atom Smasher at 2:20:

Polo has presence and charisma as a manager but he does not fit Bomb’s aesthetic. Like, why would a rich guy hang out with the survivor of a nuclear meltdown? Seavey wrestles in a shirt, making him look extra jobberific. There is a sloppy clothesline sequence when Seavey comes out of the corner after getting a boot up on a Bomb blind charge. Fans forget about that when Bomb dumps Seavey chest-first across the ropes. Savage puts over Bomb’s agility, praising him after a flying spinning elbow. McMahon renames Bomb’s powerbomb finisher “The Atom Smasher.”

Bastion Booger tells Virgil that he may not survive next week.

Tune in next week to see Virgil face Bastion Booger! Also, El Matador wrestles Mr. Hughes! And Mr. Perfect and Doink the Clown will be in action!

The Last Word: Jerry Lawler had some good jokes and his banter with Vince McMahon and Randy Savage kept an unmemorable broadcast moving along. One wonders how many big men the WWF needs as Bastion Booger joins a crowded group that includes Yokozuna, Bam Bam Bigelow, Crush, Adam Bomb, Mr. Hughes, Kamala, and Giant Gonzalez. And Booger has the worst gimmick of them all, which will not help him during his run.

Up Next: Wrestling Challenge for June 20!