What the World Was Watching: WWF Superstars – July 3, 1993

WWF Mania’s exclusive match was filmed in Huntington, West Virginia on June 15:

Marty Jannetty (8-1-1) beats Bastion Booger (3-2) after a flying body press at 3:35 shown:

Jannetty uses his speed to counter Booger’s size, sliding between his legs from the apron and landing on his feet during a backdrop. Jannetty survives Booger’s offense, most of which takes place during a commercial break, and wins with a flying body press after a Booger blind charge. Jannetty did what he could here but when Booger was on offense, things slowed to a crawl. Rating: *

After the bout, Booger powerslams Jannetty and does a butt splash.

WWF Superstars featured a new introduction package that gets rid of its longtime, basic electric guitar riff intro that has been in use since 1991. In its place is a graphical opening with lasers and ice crystals. Despite leaving the company, Hulk Hogan is still featured in the montage of wrestlers. Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler, and Randy Savage provide commentary, starting a new taping cycle in Huntington, West Virginia. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the taping took place on June 15 and drew a crowd of 4,400 fans.

Opening Contest: Marty Jannetty (9-1-1) pins Tom Stone after the flying fist drop at 2:56:

McMahon wonders if Jannetty will enter the Stars & Stripes Challenge, drawing a laugh from Lawler. After dropping the Intercontinental Championship, Jannetty is quickly becoming “The guy on the roster who has good matches.” He works a well-paced squash with the veteran Stone, winning after the Rocker Dropper and flying fist drop.

Gorilla Monsoon’s Update segment hypes the Stars & Stripes Challenge. WWF Champion Yokozuna and Mr. Fuji laugh off the chances of any American athlete winning. Monsoon announces that jockey Julio Pezua is entering. Karl Nelson, a former New York Giant, talks about how an NFL star will win the challenge. Joe Morris of the Giants promises to win.

SummerSlam will take place on August 30!

Lex Luger (22-0-1) pins Rich Myers after the running forearm at 1:47:

For the second straight week, Luger struggles against an enhancement talent as Myers rolls him up for near-falls three times. A clothesline turns Myers inside out and that sends Luger on the path to victory. Luger’s program with Bret Hart has not been talked about in a while and since Bret is now getting programmed against Lawler, he needs something new to do.

Non-Title Match: The Steiner Brothers (WWF Tag Team Champions) (23-0) defeat Barry Horowitz & Brian Costello when Rick pins Costello after the Steinerizer at 2:27:

In the split screen, the Steiners talk about how they are proud Americans and will slam Yokozuna tomorrow. They win a basic squash match as the announce team talks more about the Stars & Stripes Challenge.

The 1-2-3 Kid (1-2-1) pins Reno Riggins after a tornado DDT at 2:51:

This match was filmed at the recent Monday Night RAW and Jim Ross commentates. One of the Kid’s challenges was that WWF fans were conditioned to see people of his body type as enhancement talents. Dave Meltzer wrote in The Wrestling Observer that he heard comments at a California house show that if the WWF was signing and pushing talents like the Kid that it showed how much the professional wrestling industry had fallen. The Kid does not get much of a reaction in the match and Riggins gives him all he can handle, which makes sense considering the Kid’s smaller stature. Riggins goes for a superplex but the Kid knocks him off the top rope and wins with a tornado DDT. That finish, along with the use of heel kicks throughout, helped to distinguish the Kid’s moveset from others on the roster. Standing out is never a bad thing as a new act.

Bam Bam Bigelow (w/Luna Vachon) (25-3-1) pins Rudi Gonzalez after the flying headbutt at 2:43:

Vachon’s contribution to the match is screaming a lot. After the commentary team talks about the Bigelow-Tatanka feud, Lawler leaves to polish his crown.

Boni Blackstone interviews Bret Hart. Bret admits he cannot slam Yokozuna but says that he knows he can beat him because he had him in a compromising position at WrestleMania. When it comes to Lawler, Bret promises to wipe him out. Bret showed good fire in this promo and the crowd reacted well to it.

A new vignette for Men on a Mission reinforces their names. McMahon says that they have a match on next week’s show.

Adam Bomb (w/Johnny Polo) (8-0) defeats Jay Sledge after the Atom Smasher at 2:54:

Polo’s object of choice today is a putter. Lawler returns to the commentary table, feigning ignorance of anything that Bret Hart said today. He asks funny questions of McMahon about whether Bret had a crown, scepter, robe, or throne with him. Sledge folds up well for a backdrop suplex spot but the crowd does not react to anything Bomb does.

Tune in next week to see Crush face Doink the Clown to settle their feud! Also, Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels and Men on a Mission will be in action!

The Last Word: This show saw the WWF introduce some production changes as the broadcast’s makeover got an introduction and Lord Alfred Hayes was used to do a voiceover to hype the Crush-Doink match next week. Since next week’s feature match is hyped as the feud’s blowoff one wondered if Crush would destroy his rival on the heels of winning the Stars & Stripes Challenge.

Up Next: Wrestling Challenge for July 4!

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!