What the World Was Watching: WWF Superstars – August 14, 1993

Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler, and Randy Savage are commentating, starting a new taping in Utica, New York. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the taping took place on July 26.

Opening Contest: Razor Ramon (17-3-2) pins Duane Gill after the Razor’s Edge at 2:04:

In the split screen, Ted DiBiase tells Ramon that he will pay the price at SummerSlam and lose his machismo. Ramon tosses Gill around before finishing him off for his second win of the week.

Gorilla Monsoon’s Update segment shows highlights of Lex Express stops in Niagara Falls, Detroit, and Chicago.

Ludvig Borga (2-0) defeats Mike Khoury after a flying clothesline off the ropes at 2:05:

Khoury was a Maryland-based independent worker who had started his in-ring career a year earlier.

McMahon announces that Borga will face Marty Jannetty at SummerSlam. Borga shoves aside ring announcer Bill Dunn to get at his opponent. He shrugs off a Khoury dropkick and after he wins, he gives the enhancement talent a leg drop and elbow drop.

Non-Title Match: The Steiner Brothers (WWF Tag Team Champions) (29-0) defeat Glen Ruth & Mike Bell when Scott pins Ruth after the Steinerizer at 3:00:

The Steiners have accepted the Heavenly Bodies challenge for SummerSlam as McMahon confirms that the match has been made. In the split screen, the Bodies and Jim Cornette talk about how they are in the WWF to make an impact. Ruth is a glutton for punishment as this marks the third time he has lost to the Steiners this year, all with different partners. He takes the Steiner Screwdriver and the Steinerizer, which should take him out of action for the rest of the taping. Like Razor Ramon earlier, the Steiners are wearing patriotic wrist bands because they are showing support for Lex Luger. Before moving to the next segment, Lawler uses the Royal Magistrator to draw angel wings on the Steiners. That is supposed to mean that the Bodies are going to beat the Steiners but it is a poor way to get that message across.

Get the newest issue of WWF Magazine, which has Lex Luger on the cover! Also, photographs of Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels dating television personality Rhonda Shear are in it too!

Non-Title Match: Shawn Michaels (Intercontinental Champion w/Diesel) (21-5-1) pins Darren Trujillo after the superkick at 2:04:

Mr. Perfect does an insert about how he will beat Michaels in a good wrestling match at SummerSlam. The champion uses his agility to keep Trujillo off balance and it paves the way for an easy win. After the match, Michaels pulls Trujillo off the canvas so Diesel can lay in a body shot.

Tatanka (28-0-2) pins Fred Williams after the Papoose to Go at 1:57:

Williams was Lloyd Anoa’i, a son of Headshrinkers manager Afa. He was trained by his father and uncle Sika and began working in 1987. At this stage of his career he was working televised enhancement matches while wrestling in Puerto Rico as the Tahitian Savage.

Lawler raises a good point about how Tatanka is supposed to get along with the Smoking Gunns at SummerSlam even though there have been historical tensions between cowboys and native peoples in the United States. Bam Bam Bigelow and Luna Vachon pop up in the split screen and laugh about how they are going to beat up on Tatanka and the Gunns again. Savage has his own rebuttal, saying that he would never trust a woman with a lower voice than his own. Tatanka also has the patriotic wrist bands on, finishing his larger opponent without difficulty.

Gene Okerlund does the SummerSlam Report. Bret Hart says that Lawler has never earned the title of king and he is going to put him in his place.

The Heavenly Bodies (w/Jim Cornette) (1-0) beat Bert Centeno & Rich Myers when Jimmy Del Ray pins Myers after a moonsault at 2:09:

The Bodies have a creative way of cheating where Tom Prichard hooks Centeno’s arm and argues with the referee, allowing Jimmy Del Ray to get in a lot of punches. WWF Tag Team Champions the Steiner Brothers do an insert promo about how they look forward to suplexing the Bodies at SummerSlam. The Bodies have some unique double teams as Del Ray hoists Myers for Prichard to do a super powerslam off the second rope. That sets up a Del Ray moonsault where Myers takes a hard knee to the face.

Tune in next week to see Adam Bomb, the Quebecers, and Men on a Mission in action! There will also be a special interview with Bret Hart! Jerry Lawler also promises a surprise!

The Last Word: This episode went back to its roots as there were insert promos throughout for scheduled SummerSlam matches. That can work in small doses but if the WWF starts doing it every week it will drive some feuds into the ground, which was the case with Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels in 1992. Ludvig Borga’s anti-American gimmick is setting the foundation for a feud with Lex Luger after the pay-per-view but, like the Bodies, it is too soon to put Borga in that role because he has not been given enough time to get over. And Diesel’s involvement in Shawn Michaels’ matches after they are over is setting the stage for him getting into the ring.

Up Next: Wrestling Challenge for August 15!