What the World Was Watching: WWF Superstars – 04.09.94

Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler commentate today’s action, starting a new taping in Lowell, Massachusetts. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the taping took place on March 22 and drew a sellout crowd of 3,200 fans.

McMahon and Lawler open the show in front of the video board by the entrance, which shows highlights of Bret Hart winning the WWF Championship at WrestleMania. The entrance is now framed with steel rigging instead of a curtain with the WWF logo on top of it.

Opening Contest: Irwin R. Schyster (7-2) beats Koko B. Ware (0-1) via submission to the Penalty at 6:31:

IRS tells fans that when they do not file their tax returns on time they will pay a penalty. McMahon and Lawler debate whether Tatanka should have to pay taxes on the headdress as Ware and IRS wrestle a decent television match where each man notches some near-falls on the other. Ware knocks his head against the turnbuckles on a blind charge late, allowing IRS to win via submission to an STF that is referred to as the Penalty. Rating: **

Jeff Jarrett (10-2) defeats Thurman Plugg (8-0-1) with a Flair pin at 6:55 shown:

Jarrett is angry over last week’s loss so he ambushes Plugg and maintains the advantage for five minutes. Plugg scores a few fluke near-falls to try to keep the crowd’s interest with mixed success. Lawler has a good line about how Jarrett met Queen Elizabeth II on the European tour as a woman told him that if he was a singer she was the Queen of England. Plugg’s late comeback is devoid of interesting moves. He eats a knee on a blind charge and then Jarrett uses the ropes to win. Rating: *½

After the match, Plugg complains to the referee and Dink comes in to confirm Plugg’s argument. Referee Joey Marella seems like he is on the verge of overturning the decision so Jarrett knees Holly and chases after Dink. When Jarrett gets near the entrance, Doink splashes him with a bucket of water.

The Headshrinkers (w/Afa) (8-0) defeat Phil Apollo & Emilio Ulcia when Samu pins Ulcia after the Doomsday Device in 37 seconds:

Fatu looks over Nikolai Volkoff’s suit but neither man can communicate with the other so that leads to nothing. The Headshrinkers steal a page from the Legion of Doom’s book to win a fast match today. McMahon highlights how Captain Lou Albano once managed Afa, which might be why he is working to get the Headshrinkers a Tag Team title shot.

WWF Champion Bret Hart is a guest on the Heartbreak Hotel. Shawn Michaels says that Diesel is anxiously awaiting Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon’s reply to his challenge. Some fireworks go off for Bret’s entrance. Bret reminds Owen that he only beat him one time and when they face off again the outcome will be different. When Michaels said that he and Diesel would like title shots Bret responds that he is not going to duck any challenges, picking up where he left off as champion last year. The one small bit that would have made the segment better was if Bret directly addressed Michaels and Diesel instead of speaking into the camera when he was talking about how he was willing to fight anyone.

Backstage, Jim Cornette and Mr. Fuji get Yokozuna excited for his match today.

The 1-2-3 Kid (1-0) beats Chris Hamrick via submission to a stretch muffler at 2:47:

Jason Vezina is the guest fan ring announcer, a teenager who does a decent job. The Kid and Hamrick have a fun, light heavyweight squash match that sees the Kid diversify his arsenal with a T-Bone suplex and a win via submission to a stretch muffler. The crowd also pops big for Hamrick’s spot of flying through the ropes after the Kid side steps a charge and kicks him in the left hamstring.

Irwin R. Schyster gives more reasons to pay taxes. He talks about the less money people have the less trouble they will be. He adds that April 15 is not April Fool’s Day and if people cheat on their taxes he will put their photograph in newspapers as a tax cheat.

Yokozuna (w/Jim Cornette & Mr. Fuji) (6-2) pins Terry Stubbs after the Banzai Drop at 2:01:

Like Monday Night RAW, Yokozuna’s squash is background for hyping other WWF products or side bits. In this case the audience hears a Paul Bearer WWF Greetings Call Lawler ordered for Helen Hart. It is not a ringing endorsement for the product but hearing Bearer sing “Happy Birthday” twice was funny. McMahon warns Lawler that Bret Hart could be coming after him, a nod to their unfinished feud a year earlier.

Tune in next week to see Tatanka battle Kwang! Also, Earthquake and Lex Luger will be in action! And Owen Hart will be a guest on the Heartbreak Hotel!

The Last Word: After some poor shows recently this was finally a good one as Koko B. Ware had a solid opener with Irwin R. Schyster and the 1-2-3 Kid had a fun squash. Even Jeff Jarrett and Thurman Plugg’s match had a purpose as it pushes Jarrett into a feud with Doink the Clown.

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!