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

Jim Ross and Bobby Heenan are commentating, starting a new taping from Salisbury, Maryland. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the taping took place on July 7 and was attended by 3,700 fans.

Opening Contest: Jerry Lawler (2-0) pins Owen Hart (7-4) after the piledriver and using the tights at 6:31:

Before the match, Lawler offers Owen a chance to kiss his feet to avoid the match. Unsurprisingly, Owen does not accept and slaps Lawler. Lawler does all the Memphis tricks in stalling, hiding behind the referee, and using a phantom object. Despite all of that, Owen dominates and eventually tags Lawler with a missile dropkick. However, he wastes time getting Lawler away from the ropes and only gets two. A blind charge sends Owen shoulder-first into the ring post and Lawler hits his finisher to remain undefeated in the WWF. Rating: *½

After the match, Lawler gets on the house microphone and tells fans that Bret will get the same treatment that his brother got at SummerSlam. He stomps Owen before posing for the crowd and leaving.

Men on a Mission (w/Oscar) (3-0) defeat Glen Ruth & John Rechner when Mabel pins Rechner after an assisted splash at 2:38:

Rechner was a trainee of Larry Sharpe’s Monster Factory, entering the business in 1987 when he was fifteenth years old. On the independent circuit he wrestled as Abbudah Singh. In 1992, he wrestled in his first set of WWF enhancement matches, appearing four times and losing to Papa Shango, the Nasty Boys, Marty Jannetty, and Virgil. He would achieve fame in the late 1990s as Balls Mahoney in ECW.

Commentary for MOM’s matches has continued to emphasize Mabel’s contributions so it is clear who the WWF sees as a future star from the team. Rechner gets destroyed as Mabel leg drops the back of his head, avalanches him, and pins him after an assisted splash.

Ludvig Borga (1-0) pins Jason Headings after a flying clothesline off the ropes at 2:01:

Borga shows off more moves than he did on Superstars, using a vertical suplex and taking Headings’ head off – no pun intended – with a clothesline. Another clothesline variation gives him a win as Ross adds to Borga’s backstory, saying he looks down on American athletes.

Papa Shango (7-5-1) beats Chaz Ware after the reverse shoulderbreaker at 2:20:

A teacher by trade, Ware was trained by Larry Sharpe and Glen Ruth and began his career in 1992. The following year he would start teaming with Ruth on the independent circuit and they would eventually break through the enhancement talent barrier as the Headbangers in Smoky Mountain Wrestling in 1995. As part of that team, Ware would take on the name Mosh.

Shango has not had a televised match in a month, relegated to working early matches at house shows since his mystique is gone. He puts the boots to Ware before doing his finish.

Mr. Perfect (23-2-2) pins Reno Riggins after the Perfectplex at 2:01:

Like Shango, Perfect has been AWOL for much of the past month. As a result, Perfect has ring rust that Riggins takes advantage of to do a hiptoss and dropkick. Perfect ends that run with some chops and goes on to win as Ross puts over how he could be the first three-time Intercontinental champion if he were to take the belt from Shawn Michaels.

Heenan calls Hillary Clinton about her healthcare program because the 1-2-3 Kid will need insurance before he gets into the ring with Ted DiBiase next week.

Well Dunn defeat Darren Trujillo & Bret Tyler when Steven Dunn pins Tyler after a double DDT at 3:06:

Tyler made one appearance on television in 1992, losing to the Beverly Brothers.

Well Dunn had made their debut in a six-man tag team match the week before on All American Wrestling and this is the first conventional tag team match they have together. Their debut is overshadowed by hype for next week’s feature match as the Kid does an insert promo about how he wants to make a good showing against DiBiase. Unlike some of the newer stars that have arrived, Well Dunn do nothing to stand out. Their ring work is clean and they have a few double team moves that are unique to them like a double bulldog and double DDT but they need a clearer gimmick and motivation to rise through the tag ranks.

DiBiase says it should be an honor for the Kid to face him and all of the money in the world will not prevent him from losing.

Tune in next week to see the 1-2-3 Kid face off with Ted DiBiase! Also, the Quebecers, Adam Bomb, and Tatanka will be in action! And the Undertaker will be a guest on the King’s Court!

The Last Word: The first half of the show was good but it ran into a wall with the Papa Shango squash. Next week’s match with the 1-2-3 Kid and Ted DiBiase should be an upgrade over this week’s action.

The WWF remained in its traditional territory for house shows during this week in its history. Here are the results of some of those shows, courtesy of thehistoryofwwe.com:

Syracuse, New York – MacArthur Stadium – July 23, 1993 (5,000): Jim Powers beat Papa Shango…Adam Bomb defeated Owen Hart…Bam Bam Bigelow wrestled Tatanka to a double count out…Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels pinned Mr. Perfect…The Bushwhackers & Tiger Jackson defeated Blake Beverly, the Brooklyn Brawler & Little Louie…Doink the Clown (Steve Keirn) beat El Matador…Randy Savage defeated Mr. Hughes.

Hershey, Pennsylvania – Hersheypark Arena – July 24, 1993 (2,000): The 1-2-3 Kid defeated Terry Taylor…Damien Demento beat the Tahitian Savage (Lloyd Anoia)…Virgil beat Mike Sharpe…Doink the Clown defeated Marty Jannetty…Bastion Booger beat Kamala…WWF Tag Team Champions the Steiner Brothers defeated Money Incorporated…Bret Hart beat WWF Champion Yokozuna via disqualification.

Backstage News*: Lex Luger’s media appearances have generated a lukewarm response so far but the WWF is getting some good footage from them that it can use on its own telecasts.

-The WWF has brokered another promotional exchange, this time with Jim Cornette’s Smoky Mountain Wrestling. Cornette and the Heavenly Bodies will be coming into the company as part of the deal. The Bodies will be slotted in as challengers for the Steiner Brothers’ Tag Team titles at SummerSlam after Fatu developed a serious leg infection. Cornette will be paired with Yokozuna because the company has not been happy with the quality of Mr. Fuji’s promos. In return for using Cornette and the Bodies, the WWF will provide some hype for SMW’s house shows on its syndicated television in Knoxville and some WWF talent will be loaned to SMW for its bigger events like the WWF’s deal with the USWA. The WWF could even give some talent to SMW long-term because it is reducing its house show bookings.

-In talent relations news, the WWF will be giving tryouts to TNT from Puerto Rico and Van Hammer at its upcoming television tapings in Utica, New York on July 26.

*Backstage news is provided courtesy of Dave Meltzer’s Wrestling Observer for August 2.

Up Next: Monday Night RAW for July 26!