What the World Was Watching: WWF Wrestling Challenge – November 28, 1993

Jim Ross and Bobby Heenan commentate a new episode, starting the tapings in Carbondale, Pennsylvania. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the taping took place at Carbondale Area High School on November 9. The taping location shows a continued fall from grace for the WWF from its Hulkamania days. After the taping the school district lodged complaints that the high school was left in poor condition, trashed with human feces and food, a door was broken, and whiskey bottles were left in a cafeteria.

Opening Contest: The Undertaker (w/Paul Bearer) (13-0-1) pins Gus Kantarakis after the Tombstone at 1:55:

It is jarring to see the WWF holding a taping in such a small venue. The aisle looks no more than 20 feet long. There is more talk of the Undertaker going after Yokozuna as he manhandles Kantarakis with his usual moves.

Bob Backlund (13-4-2) pins the Brooklyn Brawler with a bridging cradle at 2:45:

Backlund outmaneuvers the Brawler throughout the squash and eventually traps him in a bridging cradle.

Bret Hart does a taped segment that urges fans to not drink and drive during the holidays.

Ludvig Borga (18-0-1) beats Mike Moraldo after a super electric chair drop at 2:20:

Even though Borga would continue to be booked against Lex Luger on house shows that program is seemingly over following Luger’s win at Survivor Series. Borga does a super electric chair drop finish, which Moraldo had to be nuts to want to take.

The 1-2-3 Kid (16-6-2) pins Mike Sharpe after a moonsault at 2:09:

Sharpe lost to the Kid two months ago on Wrestling Challenge. Even though he avoids some Kid dives he never mounts significant offense. The Kid wins with a moonsault after stopping a Sharpe blind charge with a spinning heel kick.

Irwin R. Schyster (11-3) beats Dan Dubiel after the Write Off at 1:46:

IRS alleges that there are more tax cheats per square mile in Carbondale than any other city in the United States. He is becoming a third wheel in the Intercontinental title hunt as his feud with Razor Ramon is not over even though Shawn Michaels is also in pursuit of Ramon’s Intercontinental title.

Ray Rougeau does an in-ring interview with Doink the Clown. Doink laughs off the challenge posed by Bam Bam Bigelow before Santa Claus interrupts. Santa says he has a present for Doink for becoming a better person and gets a smaller Doink out of the bag. Since there can only be one Doink, Doink names the little person Dink and takes him away in a little red wagon. Aside from seeing Santa engaged in human trafficking, this segment should have also aired on Superstars because it was Dink’s origin story.

Bastion Booger (15-8) beats Rick Martel (4-3-1) via disqualification when Martel uses Arrogance at 3:38:

Booger wrestles as a babyface, dancing around and seizing control when Martel is overcome with his opponent’s stench. Booger hits his finisher but is too close to the ropes and Martel grabs the bottom rope to break the count. Continuing to deal with Booger’s smell, Martel grabs Arrogance, which makes a comeback as part of his gimmick, and sprays Booger. The referee thinks that is a step too far and disqualifies Martel. Ross is outraged over the decision, breaking from his hatred of heels to criticize a wrestler getting disqualified for spraying a substance over their opponent’s body. Rating: ½*

The Smoking Gunns (22-3) defeat Reno Riggins & Todd Mata when Billy pins Riggins after an powerbomb-flying elbow drop combination at 2:06:

The squash has a small story as Riggins slaps Billy early, tags out, and then the Gunns force Riggins to later tag in so they can punish him for the offence. The Gunns opt for a different finish where Bart holds Riggins up for an elevated powerbomb and Billy flies off the top rope with an elbow drop.

Tune in next week to see Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon, WWF Tag Team Champions the Quebecers, and Diesel in action! Also, there will be an interview with Crush!

The Last Word: Aside from adding to Dink’s origin story, the show was generic. If the WWF decides to turn Bastion Booger babyface there is not a lot of material to work with. The WWF appears to have dropped the ball in letting Boni Blackstone go as Ray Rougeau is not well suited to interview segments because he does not sound convincing when selling storylines.

The WWF did some house shows in Canada after Survivor Series and a new show at Madison Square Garden. Here were the results of those events, courtesy of thehistoryofwwe.com:

Montreal, Quebec, Canada – The Montreal Forum – November 26, 1993 (13,800): Tiger Jackson beat Little Louie…Owen Hart defeated Bastion Booger…The Headshrinkers beat the Smoking Gunns…Doink the Clown pinned Shawn Michaels after Razor Ramon distracted Michaels at ringside…The Steiner Brothers beat WWF Tag Team Champions the Quebecers via disqualification. The Quebecers were initially cheered but got the crowd to boo them by the end…Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon pinned Diesel with a small package…The Undertaker defeated WWF Champion Yokozuna via disqualification.

New York City, New York – Madison Square Garden – November 27, 1993 (12,600): The Headshrinkers beat the Smoking Gunns when Samu pinned Billy Gunn after a double stun gun at 11:54…Tiger Jackson pinned Little Louie after a leap off the top rope at 5:51. This was the first little person match in Madison Square Garden in four years…Shawn Michaels pinned Doink the Clown after a superkick after Bam Bam Bigelow provided a distraction at ringside after Doink kissed Luna Vachon, who had come out previously. After the match, Bigelow and Vachon double teamed Doink until Doink tripped Vachon to avoid taking the flying headbutt so Vachon took the move instead. Doink then threw a pale of water on Vachon to revive her and Bigelow tripped trying to get to Doink before he left the ring…The Steiner Brothers defeated WWF Tag Team Champions the Quebecers via disqualification when Pierre jumped on referee Danny Davis to prevent him from counting a pinfall on Jacques after the Frankensteiner at 12:37…Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon pinned Diesel with an inside cradle after Diesel and Shawn Michaels tried to revive referee Earl Hebner at 12:05. After the bell, Michaels and Diesel double teamed Ramon until WWF officials intervened. It was announced that Michaels would be fined $5,000 for his actions…Owen Hart defeated Marty Jannetty via submission to the Sharpshooter at 8:14…The Undertaker beat WWF Champion Yokozuna in a non-title casket match at 9:05 after hitting Yokozuna with Mr. Fuji’s salt bucket.

Backstage News*: Vince McMahon pleaded not guilty to federal charges on November 23. He was released on a $250,000 bond and a trial date was set for May 2, 1994. The New York Daily News revealed on November 24 that Hulk Hogan is allegedly the “unidentified performer” that a federal grand jury was told was the recipient of steroids supplied by McMahon between March 1988-October 1989. This sets Hogan up to be a government witness against McMahon, creating an interesting situation where Hogan could testify against the man who made him the focal point of the wrestling world ten years ago. Even though it has not been confirmed that Hogan is the performer in question, it would explain why there was hostility directed against Hogan several weeks ago by Randy Savage on Jim Ross’ Radio WWF program. Even though Gene Okerlund is now working for WCW, he is telling WCW Hotline listeners that the federal charges are baseless and that he would love to be a character witness for McMahon. Former WWF wrestler Tully Blanchard told NBC affiliates that the WWF only tested for cocaine while he was there and he prays every night to God “to take the business down” because of its brainwashing of children.

-Charges were not dropped against Jerry Lawler at his arraignment in Louisville, Kentucky on November 22. Lawler pleaded not guilty and was released by a $1,000 bond. The WWF is open to using Lawler again if he is found not guilty of the charges or the charges are dropped. For the time being, it has decided to cease its working relationship with the USWA.

-French commentator Edouard Carpentier filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the WWF on November 26. Carpentier is seeking a $127,000 judgment. He commentated the WWF’s syndicated shows in France from December 7, 1984 to October 27, 1992 until the WWF fired him for negligence, incompetence, and disinterest in the product.

-In the dark match at Survivor Series Billy Gunn beat the Brooklyn Brawler with a flying sunset flip at 7:46. The show drew an estimated gate of $180,000.

-Part of the reason for the restlessness during Ray Combs’ segment at Survivor Series is that the sound system did not work well so most people could not hear his jokes.

-Survivor Series Showdown drew a 2.9 rating, the lowest rating for a WWF special on USA Network.

-First day ticket sales for The Royal Rumble in Providence, Rhode Island fell short of expectations. Only about half of the tickets have sold so far. Ticket prices for WrestleMania X are being taken through mail order and range from $20 to $300.

-In talent relations news, it is believed that there is less than a 50% chance that Bobby Heenan will remain with the WWF beyond December. McMahon wants the announcing talent to relocate to Connecticut to save on travel costs and Heenan flies from Florida several times a week. Heenan is not wanting to make the move because his daughter attends the University of Alabama. Other announcing talent like Okerlund left the WWF for similar reasons. The WWF fired St. Louis promoter Larry Matysik, who had been working for the company going back to 1983, due to budget cuts.

*Backstage news was provided courtesy of Dave Meltzer’s Wrestling Observer for November 29 and December 6.

Up Next: Monday Night RAW for November 29!

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