What the World Was Watching: WWF Superstars – September 4, 1993

WWF Mania featured its last exclusive match of the year, taped in Plattburgh, New York on July 27 with Jim Ross and Gorilla Monsoon on commentary.

Well Dunn (1-3) beat Mike Khoury & Scott Amonte when Steven Dunn pins Khoury after a double DDT at 2:50:

Ross floats the idea that Well Dunn would do better with a manager. The team puts together one of its better matches, showing off new moves as Timothy Well whips Dunn into the corner to hit Amonte with an elbow and then Well follows up with a spinning heel kick. They also give the younger jobber a double clothesline to the back of the head. Khoury gets a small hot tag sequence where he gets to throw some fists but he is quickly neutralized with a double DDT, stopping Well Dunn’s three-match losing streak.

Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler, and Randy Savage commentate a new taping cycle for Superstars, originating from White Plains, New York. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the taping took place on August 17.

A Japanese voiceover recaps footage of the Lex Luger-Yokozuna. It is biased to Yokozuna, arguing that Luger hiptossed Yokozuna on the USS Intrepid and that he spent the months before SummerSlam begging for support. After that finishes, Yokozuna, Jim Cornette, and Mr. Fuji gloat about Luger blowing his one chance at the WWF title. They add that they are thankful there will not be a rematch because Luger was not a mortal man.

Opening Contest: The Quebecers (4-1) defeat Mike Khoury & Aaron Ferguson after pinning both of their opponents at 2:21:

McMahon tells fans that Luger is the “Greatest uncrowned champion in WWF history.” That sounds lame and Lawler pounces, saying that a moniker like that means nothing. The Quebecers decimate their foes, giving Khoury the Boston Crab-flying leg drop finish and Ferguson the La Bombe de Rougeau so that they can stack their foes and pin them.

McMahon does a taped interview with Luger, who thanks the fans he met on the Lex Express and those that attended SummerSlam. Luger says that he has not lost faith in himself and that he is confident that he will soon be the WWF champion.

Lawler, who has a crutch, complains about McMahon bumping into his left knee. He repeats the lie he told at SummerSlam of a car accident. He calls Doink the Clown an idiot for not getting the job done against Bret Hart.

Doink the Clown (24-7-3) pins Mike Moraldo after the flying butt splash at 2:37:

The squash is background noise for Lawler to complain about Doink’s SummerSlam performance and how Bret tried to put him out of wrestling. Lawler’s digs at Doink appear to be laying the groundwork for a Doink babyface turn that would kill the character’s edge.

A music video shows clips of the Madison Square Garden show on August 13 that was headlined by a Yokozuna-Bret Hart steel cage match for the WWF Championship. It is meant to put over WWF action as “Unbelievable!”

Men on a Mission (w/Oscar) (8-0) defeat Two Unnamed Opponents after Mabel does a spinning heel kick at 2:28:

The crowd enjoys MOM’s offense and gimmick, doing a few “Whoop there it is!” chants on their own. MOM’s inexperienced opponents are no match for them and get a beating. The team wins without its assisted splash.

There is another “Unbelievable!” bit of a computer-generated mini-Randy Savage doing a high pitched “Dig it!”

Bastion Booger (8-5) pins Ralph Mosca after the sit-down splash at 2:29:

Mosca began his career in 1990, working in Northeast independent promotions. This was his first appearance in a WWF squash match. He was of no relation to former WWF wrestler Angelo Mosca

Booger steals an ice cream bar from a kid on the way to the ring and eats it, the most entertaining thing he has done since his arrival. He proceeds to use it as a weapon in the squash, rubbing it across his opponent’s face. Savage makes a joke that the ice cream might be “Mosca’s last supper.” As Booger cruises to a slow-paced win, McMahon announces that the 1-2-3 Kid will face Booger on next week’s program. After the bout, Booger takes what is left of the ice cream bar to the locker room

If you want to host a WWF fundraiser, write to WWF Fundraisers, P.O. Box 3857, Stamford, Connecticut 06902! This is followed by a repeat of the “There is no hope with dope” segment that features the Undertaker. The WWF must have been getting desperate about federal investigations with all these community service-related segments.

Razor Ramon (22-3-2) defeats Reno Riggins after the Razor’s Edge at 2:09:

McMahon plugs Jim Ross’ Radio WWF project as Ramon goes through his squash formula. At the end of the match McMahon wonders if a future match looms between Ramon and Irwin R. Schyster.

A new Ludvig Borga segment shows him in another rundown neighborhood, arguing that America is crumbling and that he will destroy any American wrestler who faces him.

Non-Title Match: The Steiner Brothers (WWF Tag Team Champions) (32-0) beat Fred Williams & the Brooklyn Brawler when Scott pins Williams after a Doomsday DDT at 2:33:

McMahon announces that the Steiners will square off with the Quebecers on Monday Night RAW in two weeks. He makes a funny botch of a Steiner clothesline call, labeling it a “Steinerliner.” When the Steiners finish Williams with a Doomsday DDT, Savage announces that he is retired again.

Tune in next week to see the 1-2-3 Kid battle Bastion Booger! Also, Tatanka faces Damien Demento and the Headshrinkers square off with Marty Jannetty & Virgil! And Adam Bomb and Irwin R. Schyster will be in action!

The Last Word: This was a rough episode to get through. The WWF is trying to position Lex Luger as a babyface who will overcome adversity but the story neglects that a good amount of that adversity is Luger’s own fault. He signed a contract that would only give him one WWF title shot and he did not bother to go outside of the ring at SummerSlam to get Yokozuna back in during the bout’s closing stages. Luger did not even interrupt the referee’s count! The follow up to SummerSlam could not have been worse as Vince McMahon acted like it was an honor to be called a “great uncrowned champion” and Luger was begging for fan support in his interview. It was like someone who has made a mistake in their life and was pleading for a second chance. Luger’s casual nature did not help his interview either. One would have liked to see some fire about getting another title shot but Luger simply dismissed it, almost telegraphing that he had lost confidence in himself and was trying to use positive self-talk to get back on track. At least next week’s show has three feature matches, a consequence of Monday Night RAW being interrupted for U.S. Open tennis, but the post-SummerSlam period is not off to a good start.

Up Next: Wrestling Challenge for September 5!

And if you would like to read a compiled breakdown of 1990-1992 WWF, 1993 ECW, or of various promotions in 1995, check out my Amazon author page to purchase e-books or paperback copies!