What the World Was Watching: WWF Superstars – January 22, 1994

Vince McMahon and Stan Lane are commentating, concluding the taping in Lowell, Massachusetts. This is the go-home show for The Royal Rumble, which will take place later in the evening.

Opening Contest: Ludvig Borga (3-0) defeats Tim McNeany via submission to the torture rack at 2:18:

McNeany hits Borga from behind with a flying axe handle at the beginning of the match but Borga does not sell it and kills McNeany with a clothesline. Tatanka appears in the split screen as Borga does a long vertical suplex, promising to inflict a lot of pain at The Royal Rumble. Borga toys with McNeany some more before winning. Unfortunately, Borga severely injured his ankle in a post-match brawl with Rick Steiner on Monday night at Madison Square Garden and would not make the pay-per-view.

Gorilla Monsoon’s Update segment talks about the Quebecers regaining the Tag Team titles from Marty Jannetty & the 1-2-3 Kid on Monday night. The purpose is to remind fans that the Quebecers-Harts match at The Royal Rumble will be for the titles.

Doink the Clown (w/Dink) (2-0) pins Cory Student with an inside cradle in 33 seconds:

This is a quick comedy match as Dink blinds Student with the flash from his camera before the bell. Before Doink wins, Bam Bam Bigelow appears in the split screen and says that he will win the Royal Rumble tonight.

At the Undertaker’s workshop, Paul Bearer is on a buggy with Yokozuna’s casket loaded on the back. As he pulls away, the Undertaker says that Yokozuna will rest in peace.

Shawn Michaels (w/Diesel) (2-0) beats John Crystal after the piledriver at 2:35:

Mike Ferrala, a young man, is the guest fan ring announcer. He does a good job. Michaels does an insert promo that hypes his Royal Rumble chances. McMahon lets fans know that tickets go on sale for WrestleMania on Monday. In a callback to the past, Michaels uses a back suplex to escape a headlock. If he had hooked one of Crystal’s legs it would have been a Teardrop Suplex. Crystal gets in a few punches but it does not save him from a superkick and piledriver.

Todd Pettengill does The Royal Rumble Report. Irwin R. Schyster tells Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon that he is going to misplace the gold around his waist as that is coming with him. Ramon responds by saying that he is tired of talking and is ready to fight.

The Smoking Gunns (1-0) beat Adam Bomb & Rick Martel (w/Harvey Wippleman) via disqualification when Wippleman interferes at 4:19:

Bomb arrived in the WWF last spring after a short run in Smoky Mountain Wrestling as the Nightstalker, a gimmick he used in the AWA and WCW. Recast as a survivor of the Three Mile Island nuclear incident, Bomb was given Johnny Polo as a manager and mowed through WWF veterans like Virgil and Tito Santana. He did not lose a singles match in 1993 but was also given nothing important to do on television. In the fall, Polo was transitioned away from Bomb as the two were not a good fit and Wippleman became his advisor. Bomb continued to win under Wippleman’s tutelage on television but on house shows he was not as successful, losing matches to Bret Hart and the Undertaker.

Martel and Bomb had a few altercations before this match at the end of 1993 when Martel blamed Wippleman for costing him an Intercontinental title match to Razor Ramon on Superstars. Martel and Bomb also argued at Survivor Series after a heel miscommunication spot, which led to Martel slugging Wippleman. Lane has a weird observation that the Gunns should not turn their back on someone with radiation sickness. A quick, conventional tag match plays out until Billy gets the hot tag. The Gunns knock Bomb out of the ring with a double dropkick and double clothesline. They have Martel beaten after a side Russian leg sweep but Wippleman runs in before the pin can be registered. Rating: *½

After the match, Martel gets into a shoving match with Wippleman, causing Bomb to intercede on his manager’s behalf. That is as far as their altercation goes and one wonders if this is building to a program and if so, who is turning babyface.

Crush (w/Mr. Fuji) (1-0) beats Dan Dubiel via submission to the head vice at 2:33:

Dubiel lands a few clotheslines but cannot take Crush off his feet. A powerslam stops a Dubiel flying body press and after Crush hypes his Royal Rumble appearance in the split screen he submits Dubiel with the head vice.

Ray Rougeau interviews Bret Hart & Owen Hart. Bret is wearing a black singlet in a departure from his usual ring gear. Owen hypes tonight’s Royal Rumble as his big break. Bret concurs and says that the Quebecers will lose the Tag Team titles.

Men on a Mission and Oscar do a Royal Rumble rap to conclude the show. Lane tries to rap with them like he is PN News, which is cringe worthy.

The Last Word: This episode had some fun squash matches but did not do as good a job hyping The Royal Rumble as Monday Night RAW. Ludvig Borga’s injury will force a late adjustment to the card so it will be interesting to see who the WWF chooses to face Tatanka in his absence.

Up Next: Royal Rumble ’94!

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