What the World Was Watching: WWF Superstars – October 2, 1993

Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler, and Randy Savage are in the booth, taped from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Savage calls Lawler “bucket head” because of what Doink the Clown did to him on Wrestling Challenge.

Opening Contest: The Steiner Brothers (34-1) beat Tom Bennett & Chad Miller when Scott pins Miller after the Steinerizer at 3:49:

Bennett kills time by jawing with a fan on the apron but that just delays the inevitable beating he receives from the former Tag Team champions. He fails to rotate enough on a Scott overhead belly-to-belly suplex so his head gets driven into the canvas. Before the Steiners finish Miller, McMahon says “It’s Miller time!” After the match, Lawler uses the Royal Magistrator to draw a clown face on Rick and call attention to the Steiners no longer having the WWF Tag Team titles.

Gorilla Monsoon’s Update segment recaps the latest happenings with the Intercontinental Championship. He does a far better job hyping the 20-man battle royal than Joe Fowler did, calling it a clash of “6,000 pounds of humanity.”

Ludvig Borga (10-0) beats Sonny Rogers via submission to the torture rack at 3:02:

A Borga squash finally gets something other than silence as the crowd gives him a generic “USA!” chant. Borga does an impressive delayed vertical suplex, somehow busting open his forehead. Rogers throws a poor dropkick and powerslams Rogers after catching his flying body press attempt off the second rope. Referee Jack Doan is less than enthused by the squash, failing to be in proper position to register Rogers submission to the torture rack. Lawler uses the Royal Magistrator again, drawing a clown face on Rogers so he can rant more about why he hates Doink.

Irwin R. Schyster (4-2) pins Gary Jackson after the Write Off at 2:40:

As IRS comes to the ring, he says that Michigan has a big problem with tax evasion and reminds fans that it is a crime. IRS is reportedly out of sorts over losing to P.J. Walker last week and Jackson gets a near-fall from a body press off the ropes. McMahon hypes the WWF’s international tour to Israel, Austria, Portugal, and Germany as IRS works Jackson’s leg and gets the pin with the Write Off.

The Undertaker is digging a grave in a cemetery at night, warning viewers that if they are doing drugs they are digging their own grave. Remember, there is no hope with dope!

Bam Bam Bigelow (w/Luna Vachon) (34-3-1) defeats Rod Bell after the flying headbutt at 1:43:

McMahon and Savage talk about what is going on with Crush as Bigelow achieves his tenth-straight singles win. It also extends his lead in singles wins to two over his former rival Tatanka.

As Bigelow and Vachon make their way backstage they run into Doink the Clown, who is coming out for the next match. Doink has two metal buckets and throws confetti on Bigelow. Bigelow threatens to rip Doink’s head off if he does that again. Vachon pushes Doink as he heads for the ring so Doink dumps the other bucket of water on her head. Vachon treats it like she is melting like the Wicked Witch of the West so Bigelow races into the ring to defend his main squeeze. Doink leaves the ring and trips Bigelow when Bigelow gets too close to the ropes, leading him on a chase around the ring. Doink goes underneath the ring and Bigelow tries to find him but fails. He takes exception to the enhancement talent trying to comfort Vachon in the ring, beating him up. As all of this occurs, Doink rigs up a wire between the guardrails. He hits Bigelow in the back with a broom and when the Beast from the East follows, he trips over the wire. Doink laughs as he makes his way backstage, kicking off a new feud in the midcard.

Marty Jannetty (20-4-1) pins Steve Moore after the Rocker Dropper at 3:19:

Moore holds his own in a battle against his future New Rockers tag team partner, scoring a brief near-fall from a back suplex. Jannetty fights back without going to the air, preferring to win the match with the Rocker Dropper.

The Heavenly Bodies (w/Jim Cornette) (6-1) beat Reno Riggins & John Paul when Jimmy Del Ray pins Riggins with the moonsault at 3:41:

Riggins recovers quickly from the flu that kept him from receiving a Tag Team title shot on RAW. He even traps Del Ray in a small package for a near-fall. Paul wrecks the momentum, though, by missing a dropkick. He manages to later give Riggins a hot tag but that stops quickly when Del Ray superkicks him and pins him with the moonsault. Most of this fun squash was overshadowed by Radio WWF hype.

Tune in next week to see the Undertaker, Adam Bomb, Men on a Mission, and Mr. Perfect in action! Also, there will be a special interview with Bam Bam Bigelow and Luna Vachon!

The Last Word: Doink the Clown is a busy man, plugged into two feuds against Jerry Lawler and Bam Bam Bigelow. His forte is now playing practical jokes but it is a question whether his new babyface ways will give him an advantage in the ring. The in-ring action was okay on this show, with the last two squashes breaking from the conventional formula of a star swallowing up their competition.

Up Next: Wrestling Challenge for October 3!

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!