What the World Was Watching: WWF Wrestling Challenge – August 1, 1993

All American Wrestling had an exclusive match, filmed from the Superstars taping location in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania on July 6. Jim Ross and Gorilla Monsoon commentated.

The 1-2-3 Kid (5-2-1) beats Damien Demento (9-5) after the flying leg drop to the back of the head at 3:56:

Even though Demento has been used a lot on house shows he has not made a televised appearance since the May 15 edition of WWF Mania. Demento focuses his attack on the Kid’s back, which prevents the Kid from slamming him in the early going. Some of Demento’s bumps are sloppy as he falls slowly after a spinning heel kick and treats a DDT like he is taking a suplex bump. Either way, that DDT from the Kid sets up the flying leg drop and the Kid runs his winning streak to five matches. Rating: *½

Wrestling Challenge had Jim Ross and Bobby Heenan on commentary, taped from Salisbury, Maryland.

Opening Contest: The 1-2-3 Kid (6-2-1) pins Ted DiBiase (1-1) with a crucifix at 3:33:

Before the match, DiBiase brings the crowd up to speed on his feud with Razor Ramon, which helps explain the finish later. There is good, fast action at the beginning as the Kid nearly beats DiBiase with a backslide and moonsault. DiBiase establishes control after a stun gun but refuses to pin the Kid after a piledriver, suplex, and powerslam. When DiBiase applies the Million Dollar Dream, Ramon makes his way to the ring, creating a distraction that makes DiBiase break the hold. After jawing with Ramon, DiBiase lazily lays across the Kid for a cover but the Kid traps him in a crucifix roll up and scores the upset. Rating: **

When the match ends, the Kid quickly gets out of town. DiBiase goes after Ramon and WWF officials pour out of the locker room to keep them apart. Ramon gets on the microphone and leads the crowd is a “1, 2, 3” chant.

Adam Bomb (w/Johnny Polo) (13-0) pins Tony Webb after the Atom Smasher at 1:37:

Bomb quickly mows through another opponent, using a back suplex, flying clothesline, and Atom Smasher.

The Smoking Gunns (9-1) beat Damien Demento & Barry Horowitz when Billy pins Horowitz after an overhead backbreaker-flying elbow combination at 2:01:

Like the 1-2-3 Kid, Demento is pulling double duty on Sunday television broadcasts. This is the second time this year that Demento is paired with an enhancement talent in a tag team match, with both bouts happening against the Gunns. Billy is briefly placed in peril but avoids a Horowitz dive off the second rope and Bart clears the ring so the Gunns can finish Horowitz with an overhead backbreaker-flying elbow combination. The Gunns are now on a five-match winning streak.

Bastion Booger (5-3) beats Scott Vito after a sit-down splash at 1:00:

It is good that this Booger squash is kept short because of his limited moveset. Heenan is disgusted by Booger’s finish and acts like he is vomiting off camera.

The song “SummerSlam Jam” from WrestleMania: The Album plays to a new music video. Despite the WWF’s best hopes, the album did not sell as well in the United States as it did in the United Kingdom, never cracking the Billboard 200.

Tatanka (26-0-2) defeats Mike Sharpe after the Papoose to Go at 2:25:

Tatanka has beaten Sharpe several times during his undefeated run, last pinning him on the January 24 edition of Wrestling Challenge. Sharpe tries to stop Tatanka’s momentum by taking a powder but that goes nowhere as Tatanka goes on the warpath after going into the buckle and wins.

The Undertaker is a guest on the King’s Court. There is a fun bit where the lights go out for the Undertaker’s entrance and Lawler calls it a fun trick, getting nervous when the lights only come back on at the Undertaker’s behest. Lawler plays with fire by relaying a message from Mr. Hughes that he is going to shove the Undertaker in the urn. The Undertaker grabs the microphone from Lawler, making the King retreat, and warns Hughes that if he has to come looking for him that a painful death awaits. Unfortunately, the Undertaker provides no clarification on what the “Rest in Peace” match is supposed to be.

The Quebecers (1-0) beat Tony DiMauro & Joey Maggs when Pierre pins Maggs after a Boston-Crab-flying leg drop off the second rope combination at 2:10:

DiMauro has a good build so Jacques does a spot where DiMauro crushes his hand in an opening handshake spot. The Quebecers show off the same double team moves they did in their debut, annihilating their competition.

Tune in next week to see WWF Tag Team Champions the Steiner Brothers, Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels, Mr. Hughes in action! Also, the 1-2-3 Kid will be a guest on the King’s Court!

The Last Word: After a long series of episodes with feature matches, Wrestling Challenge is about to devolve back into a C-level squash show. This episode was good as the opener kept the Razor Ramon-Ted DiBiase feud going and the Undertaker had a fun appearance on the King’s Court.

After doing some television tapings, the WWF split its roster to maintain a small loop of shows in the U.S. while another group went to Europe. The European tour would be the last show Hulk Hogan would do during his 1993 run. Here were the results of some of those shows, courtesy of thehistoryofwwe.com:

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – Pittsburgh Civic Arena – July 31, 1993 (7,000): Virgil pinned Damien Demento with a sunset flip at 10:14…The 1-2-3 Kid pinned Rick Martel with a crucifix when Martel did a lazy cover at 13:12…Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels beat Mr. Perfect with a superkick after Diesel interfered at 14:18…Jerry Lawler beat Randy Savage via disqualification after Bret Hart interfered when Lawler spat at him…The Bushwhackers & Tiger Jackson defeated Blake Beverly, the Brooklyn Brawler & Little Louie when Jackson pinned the Brawler after a Rocket Launcher at 12:15…Doink the Clown pinned Marty Jannetty after spraying him in the eyes with something from his ring jacket at 9:00…Bret Hart beat Mr. Hughes with a reverse roll up after heel miscommunication between Hughes and Lawler at 8:45. After the match, Bret chased Lawler to the locker room.

Munich, Germany – Olympiahalle – August 1, 1993 (12,000; sellout): El Matador defeated the Predator…Brutus Beefcake beat Terry Taylor…Papa Shango defeated Owen Hart (substituting for Crush)…Hacksaw Jim Duggan beat Bastion Booger…Tatanka defeated Bam Bam Bigelow via count out…WWF Tag Team Champions the Steiner Brothers beat the Headshrinkers…Hulk Hogan defeated WWF Champion Yokozuna via disqualification.

Backstage News*: The WWF is ending its practice of doing “A” and “B” house shows after August 15 and as a result, there will be some cuts to the roster. The cuts are expected to include Damien Demento, Terry Taylor, Bob Backlund, Tito Santana, Mr. Fuji, Kamala, Giant Gonzalez, Virgil, Blake Beverly, Steve Keirn, Papa Shango, Ted DiBiase, and Hacksaw Jim Duggan.

-After SummerSlam the WWF’s big house show matchups will feature the Undertaker vs. Yokozuna, Bret Hart vs. Doink the Clown, Razor Ramon vs. Mr. Hughes, the 1-2-3 Kid vs. Shawn Michaels, and the Steiner Brothers vs. Bam Bam Bigelow & Adam Bomb.

-The latest edition of WWF Magazine featured a negative two-page profile of former WWWF Champion Superstar Billy Graham entitled “Now It’s Our Turn,” reporting that Graham was a high school dropout, had tax problems, and was washed up by the time he came back to the WWF in the 1980s. It also argued that Graham defrauded Vince McMahon by claiming he could work for his final run.

-Although there were some fears that the European market is cooling, a return show to Vienna, Austria on October 9 has already sold out.

-Television ratings to this point in the year have been a mixed bag. Monday Night RAW recently drew a 3.0 rating, which is good for the summer, and the show has been a success versus what Prime Time Wrestling was drawing the last few years in the same time slot. All American Wrestling ratings are decent, averaging around a 2.0. But syndicated programs are drawing a 2.5 national rating, way down from year’s past and that is bleeding over into poor house show attendance.

*Backstage news is provided courtesy of Dave Meltzer’s Wrestling Observer for August 9.

Up Next: Monday Night RAW for August 2!