What the World Was Watching: WWF Wrestling Challenge – 03.06.94

Gorilla Monsoon and Stan Lane are handling commentary, wrapping up the taping in Springfield, Massachusetts. The WWF is looking to phase out the old Wrestling Challenge introduction because Jim Ross was released and his voice was on it. They lead-in the show with an “Unbelievable!” ad.

Opening Contest: Jeff Jarrett (6-1) beats Mike Moraldo after a DDT off the ropes at 2:01:

In the split screen, Jarrett says he looks forward to seeing his name in lights at WrestleMania. Monsoon floats a rumor that Jarrett is going to sing at the Fan Festival. Jarrett throws a nice dropkick and recovers from a missed elbow drop to hit his finisher off the ropes.

Lord Alfred Hayes talks up Owen Hart’s chances against Bret Hart at WrestleMania. He calls Paul Bearer a “despicable toad” before a re-airing of Owen’s appearance on the Funeral Parlor on Superstars.

Earthquake (4-0) pins Mike Sharpe after the Earthquake Splash at 2:29:

As Earthquake dominates Sharpe there is an insert promo from Adam Bomb and Harvey Wippleman, advising Earthquake to find the nearest bomb shelter for WrestleMania.

Ray Charles performing at WrestleMania 2 is today’s WrestleMania moment.

The Headshrinkers (w/Afa) (7-0) beat Tony Roy & Scott Taylor when Fatu pins Roy after the splash off the top rope at 2:30:

Fatu jaws with Nikolai Volkoff before getting in the ring. Monsoon comments that Volkoff is still in great shape so it seems inevitable he is going to be returning to action, an idea that seems insane since the WWF has embraced a youth movement over the last few years. The Headshrinkers have been put on ice since January because MOM leapfrogged them to get into the Tag Team title hunt. But there is a discussion in the match of the Headshrinkers as future Tag Team champions.

Todd Pettengill does the WrestleMania X Report. Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon says that he is ready for the ladder match.

The Smoking Gunns (4-0) defeat the Black Phantom & Mark Thomas when Billy pins the Phantom after the Revolver at 2:35:

Thomas first worked a WWF enhancement match in 1989. He did not appear in 1992 but the WWF used him for 8 matches in 1993. Thomas was known for having a more muscular physique than most WWF enhancement talents.

The Gunns have no problem knocking off their opponents as Monsoon and Lane talk about the WWF title matches at WrestleMania. Lane dubs the Gunns powerbomb-flying elbow drop combination finisher “The Revolver.”

There is a video package that recaps Yokozuna’s WWF title reign.

Thurman Plugg (5-0-1) pins Bert Centeno after the Pit Stop Plunge at 2:12:

Even though Plugg has a WrestleMania match he does not get a lot of attention as Monsoon and Lane do a complete rundown of the pay-per-view’s card. Through six matches the WWF has realized that the Overhead Cam is a stupid name for Plugg’s finish so they rename it the Pit Stop Plunge. After the match, Monsoon plugs an article on Plugg in the latest WWF Magazine.

Bucky & Vinny talk about Men on a Misson and get Mo’s name wrong. It is tongue and cheek but it is not a good endorsement of the product.

Tune in next week to see Owen Hart, WWF Tag Team Champions the Quebecers, Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon, and Randy Savage in action!

The Last Word: This squasherific show provided a hard sell for WrestleMania since it is two weeks away. It is hard to see what else the WWF can do to get fans hyped for the event.

The WWF returned overseas to the United Kingdom while another circuit went through California. Here are the results of some of those shows, courtesy of thehistoryofwwe.com:

Anaheim, California – Arrowhead Pond – March 3, 1994 (5,800): The Bushwhackers defeated the Heavenly Bodies when Luke pinned Tom Prichard with a sunset flip from a backdrop attempt at 10:16…Doink the Clown & Dink beat Bam Bam Bigelow & Luna Vachon in a mixed tag team match when Dink, who was injured and taken backstage earlier in the match, returned and gave Bigelow a low blow, allowing Doink to pin Bigelow with a roll up at 11:17. Before the match, Doink and Dink were escorted to the ring by Ronda Shear of USA Network’s Up All Night…WWF Tag Team Champions the Quebecers defeated the 1-2-3 Kid & Jim Powers (substituting for Marty Jannetty) when Pierre pinned Powers after the Boston Crab-flying leg drop off the second rope combination at 10:45…Yokozuna & Bastion Booger beat Men on a Mission when Yokozuna pinned Mo after a belly-to-belly suplex at 9:22…The Smoking Gunns defeated Samu & the Tonga Kid (substituting for Fatu) when Billy Gunn pinned the Kid after a flying sunset flip. Ronda Shear was the guest ring announcer for the match…Bret Hart & Lex Luger beat Owen Hart & Irwin R. Schyster when Luger pinned IRS with a roll up at 17:48.

Blackburn, England – Blackburn Arena – March 6, 1994 (3,900): Thurman Plugg defeated the Brooklyn Brawler…Diesel beat Virgil…Earthquake defeated Adam Bomb…Tatanka beat Kwang…Jeff Jarrett defeated Rick Martel…Randy Savage beat Crush…WWF Women’s Champion Alundra Blayze beat Leilani Kai…Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon defeated Shawn Michaels.

Backstage News*: The Yokozuna-Randy Savage WWF Championship match brought the Monday Night RAW rating back above 3.0, scoring a 3.4 share. Monday Night RAW’s average rating of a 3.3 in January was the highest for a wrestling program in the United States since WCW Main Event averaged a 3.8 in February 1990.

-David Heath (the Black Phantom) is wearing his old Blackhearts ring gear for enhancement matches to get back at former tag team partner Tom Nash, who wrestles as the Blackheart on the independent circuit. There is heat between the two because of negative comments Nash has made about Luna Vachon.

*Backstage news is provided courtesy of Dave Meltzer’s Wrestling Observer for March 21.

Up Next: Monday Night RAW for March 7!

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