What the World Was Watching: WWF Superstars – July 10, 1993

Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler, and Randy Savage commentate today’s matches, taped from Huntington, West Virginia.

Opening Contest: The Smoking Gunns (7-1) defeat W.T. Jones & Rock Werner when Bart pins Werner after the backdrop-piledriver combination at 2:25:

The announcers do not have much to talk about for the Gunns, leaning on nutrition and “integrated conditioning” topics. The backdrop-piledriver combination does not work well today as Bart catches Werner too low to do a proper piledriver.

Crush (20-3-2) beats Doink the Clown (20-4-3) via count out at 10:44 shown:

Before the match, Doink appears on the video screen and says that Crush cannot tell the difference between two Doinks or up to 16 Doinks. The screen copies Doink’s image 16 times and the copies laugh as Doink sneaks behind Crush and attacks him before the bell. One would think that Crush would learn to counter some of this by now because all this feud is doing is showing that he is a big guy with the brain the size of a peanut. If Crush had a prayer of winning the WWF title on Monday, he would well, crush, Doink here but instead Doink dominates with leg work. And despite wrestling around the horn for much of the year the two do not have much chemistry, creating a plodding match that is like the one Crush had with Shawn Michaels at King of the Ring. Even Crush’s comeback after blocking a flying butt splash is uninspired for a long-time feud. A Doink flying body press off the ropes sends both men to the floor and Crush gorilla press drops and backdrops Doink on the ring mats, beating the count back into the ring. Even though this was billed as the final encounter, the ending is not definitive as Doink tries to get back in the ring and fight Crush afterwards. Rating: *½

After the match, another Doink enters the ring and breaks a stick across Crush’s back. That leads to a two-on-one Doink beatdown until officials break it up.

Non-Title Match: Shawn Michaels (Intercontinental Champion w/Diesel) (17-4-1) pins Kevin Kruger after a piledriver at 3:09:

Michaels does nothing flashy in winning today’s squash, remaining undefeated with Diesel at his side following a piledriver.

Gene Okerlund does the first SummerSlam Report. The only announced match so far is Bret Hart vs. Jerry Lawler. Bret tells Lawler that he ruined one of the greatest moments of his career at King of the Ring but he promises to execute him in Detroit.

Men on a Mission (w/Oscar) (1-0) defeat Chad Miller & Mitch Bishop when Mabel pins Bishop with a flying leg drop to the back of the head off the second rope at 2:45:

This time, Oscar waits until ring announcer Bill Dunn introduces his team before he starts rapping. Lawler raises a good point that is has never been clarified what Men on a Mission’s mission is supposed to be. Like Wrestling Challenge, Mabel’s spinning heel kick gets a reaction, as does the team’s finisher.

Tune in next week to see WWF Tag Team Champions the Steiner Brothers face Money Incorporated! Also, Lex Luger will speak out!

The Last Word: The Crush-Doink blowoff was disappointing and it does nothing to give fans the belief that Crush is going to win the WWF title in a couple of days. The crowd reacted poorly to Crush throughout the match, indicative of how the feud has damaged his stock. The rest of the show was dull but at least the SummerSlam card is starting to come together.

Up Next: Wrestling Challenge for July 11!