What the World Was Watching: WWF Wrestling Challenge – November 7, 1993

Jim Ross and Bobby Heenan are commentating a new taping in Glens Falls, New York. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the taping took place on October 19.

Tony Chimel is the new ring announcer for the show, replacing Mike McGuirk.

Opening Contest: Crush (w/Mr. Fuji) (23-4-2) beats Scott Taylor via submission to the head vice at 1:22:

Taylor takes the fight to Crush, landing a dropkick and clothesline. But he runs into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and Crush uses a gorilla press drop across the ropes to set up the head vice submission.

Lord Alfred Hayes’ Special Report features a new promo from the Foreign Fanatics, who argue that it is impossible for the All Americans to beat them. They laugh about any replacement the All Americans could find for Tatanka and put over their quest to eliminate the All Americans before Survivor Series.

The Steiner Brothers (38-1) beat Barry Horowitz & Barry Hardy when Scott pins Hardy after the Steinerizer at 2:36:

There is no Steiner Screwdriver today but the Steiners still hit a lot of high impact moves to defeat Barry squared.

Bastion Booger (13-7) beats the 1-2-3 Kid (16-5-2) after a splash at 4:47 shown:

This is a rematch of the September 11 battle between these two on Superstars where the Kid won via count out. The story of the match is less about the size disadvantage as much as Booger’s bad body odor, which Ross does his best to put over. The Kid’s agility and bumping prowess make the match watchable but even though he gets better crowd reactions he jobs when he misses a somersault senton off the top rope and Booger splashes him. Rating: *½

Todd Pettengill does the Survivor Series Report. The All Americans liken Tatanka’s absence to losing Game 1 of the World Series. They say that maybe it is time for them to try to eliminate the Foreign Fanatics. Scott Steiner warns Ludvig Borga that pain awaits him tomorrow night on RAW.

Rick Martel (2-2-1) defeats Dan Dubiel via submission to the Boston Crab at 2:50:

Martel follows part of his normal squash formula, allowing Dubiel to get a shine with a sunset flip for a near-fall and hiptoss until Dubiel misses a dropkick. When Dubiel misses a blind charge, Martel delivers a backdrop suplex and wins with the Boston Crab, warming up for a match for the Intercontinental Championship on next week’s Superstars.

The Smoking Gunns play Royal Rumble on Sega Genesis as Razor Ramon and Shawn Michaels.

There is no guest on the King’s Court because, according to Jerry Lawler, Stu and Helen Hart refused to come on. He makes fun of Ray Combs for a bit and says he will bring a red, blue, and black knight to Survivor Series to help him take down the Hart Family. Lawler closes the segment by promising Survivor Series will be a “black night” for the Harts.

Mr. Perfect (36-3-2) pins Mike Sharpe after the Perfectplex at 1:50:

Perfect wrestles at a faster pace than RAW, outmaneuvering Sharpe with a schoolboy roll up, doing a sunset flip counter of a blind charge, and dropkicking him out of the ring. When Sharpe ducks his head too early on a whip, Perfect counters into the Perfectplex to win his last WWF match. Perfect left the company on October 30, opting to collect on a Lloyd’s of London insurance policy for a back injury. He was also unhappy with his fall down the card throughout 1993. The breaking point was getting passed over for the Intercontinental title.

Tune in next week to see Bret & Owen Hart face Well Dunn! Also, Bam Bam Bigelow, the Smoking Gunns, Irwin R. Schyster, and Crush will be in action!

The Last Word: This was a decent show but there were no significant developments for Survivor Series. One cannot blame Mr. Perfect for calling it quits for a while. He went from possible WWF title contender in January to Survivor Series filler by November.

Here is a summary of the WWF’s house show action as November began, courtesy of thehistoryofwwe.com:

Peterborough, Ontario, Canada – Peterborough Memorial Centre – November 1, 1993 (1,300): Owen Hart beat Bastion Booger…Johnny Polo defeated Virgil…The Smoking Gunns beat WWF Tag Team Champions the Quebecers via count out…Razor Ramon & Owen Hart (substituting for Mr. Perfect) beat Diesel & Rick Martel…Lex Luger defeated Ludvig Borga…Bret Hart beat Jerry Lawler in a steel cage match.

Richfield, Ohio – The Richfield Coliseum – November 6, 1993 (4,000): Rick Martel beat Marty Jannetty…Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon defeated Irwin R. Schyster via count out…The Headshrinkers beat the Smoking Gunns…Lex Luger defeated Ludvig Borga…Owen Hart beat Bastion Booger…The Steiner Brothers defeated WWF Tag Team Champions the Quebecers via disqualification…Bret Hart beat Jerry Lawler in a steel cage match.

Shamokin, Pennsylvania – Shamokin High School – November 6, 1993 (1,700): Doink the Clown (wrestled by unknown) defeated the Brooklyn Brawler (substituting for Bam Bam Bigelow) via submission to an STF at 12:52…Crush pinned Virgil at 12:58…Bob Backlund (substituting for Mr. Perfect) pinned Diesel with a small package at 18:37…The Undertaker defeated WWF Champion Yokozuna via disqualification when Yokozuna used Mr. Fuji’s salt bucket as a weapon at 4:53…Adam Bomb pinned the 1-2-3 Kid after an elbow drop at 11:15…Men on a Mission beat Pat Tanaka & Barry Horowitz (substituting for Well Dunn) at 12:12.

Providence, Rhode Island – Providence Civic Center – November 7, 1993 (5,400; matinee): Rick Martel pinned Marty Jannetty with a reverse roll up at 11:38…Owen Hart pinned Bastion Booger at 8:09…Doink the Clown (wrestled by unknown) beat the Brooklyn Brawler (substituting for Bam Bam Bigelow) at 10:30…Bob Backlund (substituting for Mr. Perfect) defeated Diesel via disqualification when Diesel attacked referee Earl Hebner at 5:02…The Undertaker beat WWF Champion Yokozuna in a non-title casket match after hitting the champion with Mr. Fuji’s salt bucket at 6:36…The Smoking Gunns beat WWF Tag Team Champions the Quebecers via count out at 12:29…Lex Luger pinned Ludvig Borga at 9:29.

Backstage News*: The strong crowd for the November 7 house show in Providence was because the WWF allowed attendees to buy advance tickets for The Royal Rumble. According to the WWF, 2,500 tickets were sold and some fans waited for most of the show in line to get those tickets instead of watching the matches. Tickets will go on sale for the general public on November 29.

-In other ticketing news, the WWF plans to sell ringside seats for WrestleMania X for $300. Those seats will have commemorative chairs that fans can take home with them.

-Diesel was getting cheered against Bob Backlund on house shows this week. Backlund was filling in for Mr. Perfect. Arena reports say that the Backlund-Diesel matches are horrendous.

-Bam Bam Bigelow was replaced on the road this week because his wife is about to give birth.

-In talent relations news, the WWF has let Matt Osborne (Matt Borne) go. It will continue to use the Doink the Clown, character, though, and will put someone else into the gimmick. There have been ongoing discussions with Greg Valentine, which points the door for Madusa coming in as well as the two are dating.

*Backstage news is provided courtesy of Dave Meltzer’s Wrestling Observer for November 15.

Up Next: WWF Monday Night RAW for November 8!

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!