What the World Was Watching: WWF Superstars – August 28, 1993

Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler, and Randy Savage call the action on today’s show, concluding the taping in Utica, New York.

Opening Contest: The 1-2-3 Kid (9-2-1) pins the Brooklyn Brawler after the flying leg drop to the back of the head at 1:57:

The Brawler cuts off the Kid early with a clothesline and decides to take off his shirt to show he means business. Irwin R. Schyster does an insert promo about how the Kid’s luck is running out at SummerSlam. The squash has a poor finish as the Kid pops up after taking a swinging neckbreaker, throws the Brawler off the top rope, and a snapmare leads the Brawler to roll over on his belly so the Kid can do his finish.

The Heavenly Bodies (w/Jim Cornette) (4-0) beat Tony Roy & Jason Headings when Jimmy Del Ray pins Headings after the moonsault at 2:01:

The Bodies are a good team but fans have no reason to think they are going to beat the Steiner Brothers at SummerSlam since they have not beaten any credible teams. A lack of interaction with the Steiners has also prevented the feud from getting any heat. In the split screen the Steiners talk about how the Bodies will be fresh meat in Detroit. After Headings takes a double flapjack he is positioned for Del Ray’s moonsault. That move is the only thing that gets a reaction.

Gene Okerlund does the SummerSlam Report. Bret Hart argues that Jerry Lawler has underestimated him. Giant Gonzalez and Harvey Wippleman tell the Undertaker that he cannot beat them. Razor Ramon tells Ted DiBiase that money will not save him.

A music video set to “I’ll Be Your Hero” by Jim Johnston highlights the journeys of the Lex Express. It is a good tune to hype Lex Luger’s American hero gimmick.

Ludvig Borga (4-0) beats Virgil (8-8) after a flying clothesline off the ropes at 2:51:

This match took place in White Plains, New York on August 17 as part of the next Superstars taping. In some ways this is like Apollo Creed versus Ivan Drago from Rocky IV as each man exchanges fists of fury and Borga’s carry more effect. There are some sloppy bits as Virgil fails to get up enough for a dropkick and then Borga barely catches him to counter a flying body press. McMahon hypes Jim Ross’ Radio WWF program called WWF Live as Borga soundly wins his first feature bout.

After the match, Borga takes off Virgil’s red, white, and blue wristbands and shoves them down Virgil’s throat. McMahon is outraged at this behavior.

The Undertaker is back in the cemetery, warning Giant Gonzalez that he is about to enter the Valley of Death, from which he will not return. The Undertaker shoves dirt into a grave where a camera is placed to emphasize that he is out to bury his rival.

Mr. Perfect (27-2-2) pins Duane Gill after the Perfectplex 1:20:

Gill lost to Perfect on Superstars on April 3 and does the honors again today. In the split screen Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels and Diesel emphasize that the champion is the wrestler of the 1990s. McMahon promises that the two will have a great match. Gill bumps well for Perfect, who gets one of his better crowd reactions in months. After the match, Lawler uses the Royal Magistrator to draw a diesel truck that is about to mow Perfect down.

The Smoking Gunns (12-1) defeat Barry Hardy & Reno Riggins when Bart pins Riggins after the backdrop-piledriver combination at 2:18:

Tatanka does an insert promo about how the Gunns will help him beat Bam Bam Bigelow and the Headshrinkers at SummerSlam. Billy spams gun gestures, one of which signals a finish as the Gunns win an eight-straight match.

Okerlund does an in-ring interview with WWF Champion Yokozuna, Jim Cornette, and Mr. Fuji. Cornette notes Yokozuna’s destruction of Crush, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Bret Hart, Kamala, and Hulk Hogan and argues the same fate awaits Lex Luger at SummerSlam. Randy Savage interrupts and tells Yokozuna that Luger will have the power of the United States behind him. After Savage gets the crowd to chant “USA” lots of WWF wrestlers come to the ring through the crowd waving flags, including the Smoking Gunns, the Bushwhackers, the 1-2-3 Kid, Razor Ramon, Virgil, Men on a Mission, and WWF Tag Team Champions the Steiner Brothers. As Luger’s theme plays, Yokozuna becomes distraught and holds his ears as the show goes off the air.

The Last Word: Having the babyfaces come through the crowd in support of Lex Luger was a nice touch, putting Yokozuna in a position of facing a lot more than one man at SummerSlam. It almost seems as if Luger’s victory is preordained. Why else would the WWF go through the trouble of giving him a national media tour and a special music video? Plus, the stipulation that he will not get more than one title shot seems to telegraph the outcome. Not only that but it seems that Ludvig Borga is waiting in the wings for Luger as his display against Virgil was a shot across the bow toward Luger’s gimmick.

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