What the World Was Watching: WWF Wrestling Challenge – 05.15.94

Todd Pettengill narrates a video package to hype today’s feature match between the 1-2-3 Kid and Kwang.

Stan Lane and Ted DiBiase commentate, finishing the taping in Syracuse, New York.

Opening Contest: Lex Luger (12-1) defeats Tony DeVito via submission to the Rebel Rack at 2:21:

DiBiase raises a good point in asking who Luger has beaten lately. Lane does a hard sell for Luger’s King of the Ring chances as he dominates DeVito.

Jeff Jarrett (13-3) beats John Paul via submission to the figure-four leglock at 3:51:

Doink the Clown and Dink do a serious split screen promo about how Jarrett will not be laughing when they are done with him. Lane does not call much of the action, choosing to hype the house show circuit. That means the squash gets extended until Jarrett submits Paul with a figure-four, beating him for the second time this year. After the match, Jarrett tells the arena that in celebration he is going to debut his new single. However, the crowd does not get on their feet so Jarett walks out before singing.

An upholstery worker talks about the Undertaker coming in to outfit his coffin in black leather. When the worker went to get some samples and returned, the Undertaker was gone, wasting the poor man’s time.

Kwang (w/Harvey Wippleman) (10-3-1) beats the 1-2-3 Kid (6-0) after a stun gun at 8:47 shown:

Unfortunately, the Kwang that wrestled Bret Hart and Razor Ramon is not the same one that shows up for this match. The Kid fights out of a lot of rest holds but Wippleman grabs his leg when he runs the ropes. Kwang stun guns the Kid after that and scores an upset win. Rating: *½

After the bell, Wippleman kicks the Kid so the Kid tackles him and gets in a few shots until Kwang intervenes. Kwang holds the Kid for Wippleman, who tries to get in more blows but the Kid kicks him away. Thurman Plugg runs in and makes the save.

Thuman Plugg (11-1-1) pins P.J. Walker after the Pit Stop Plunge at 2:09:

Plugg’s emerging ties to the 1-2-3 Kid are starting to give him a direction. Walker sells well for Plugg’s offense as the racer builds momentum for tomorrow night’s King of the Ring qualifying match against Bam Bam Bigelow.

Irwin R. Schyster (11-2) defeats Jason Headings via submission to the Penalty at 3:02:

IRS tells the crowd that Tatanka showed what happens when people do not pay their taxes. IRS does the Write Off but that is not his finisher anymore so the match keeps going. Tatanka does an insert promo about how IRS destroyed a sacred artifact and he is out for revenge. As IRS works toward the finish, Lane announces that next week the 1-2-3 Kid will team with Plugg to face Kwang and Adam Bomb.

Tune in next week to see the 1-2-3 Kid & Thurman Plugg battle Kwang & Adam Bomb! Also, Tatanka, Owen Hart, and Nikolai Volkoff will be in action!

The Last Word: The 1-2-3 Kid-Kwang match was disappointing but at least the post-match activities built to something next week. The rest of the action was pedestrian and since fans were told about big events on Monday Night RAW and WWF Superstars throughout the telecast they were probably wondering why they kept tuning in for this show.

The WWF wrapped up its tour of Japan and then came back across the Pacific to the United States shows in California. B-circuit shows in Dothan, Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, Biloxi, Mississippi, and Pensacola, Florida all had to be cancelled because of poor advance sales. Here were results of shows that did take place, courtesy of thehistoryofwwe.com:

Osaka, Japan – Castle Hall – May 9, 1994 (4,000; WWF announced as 7,120): The 1-2-3 Kid pinned Fatu at 10:12…Bret Hart & Randy Savage beat Owen Hart & Adam Bomb when Bret submitted Owen to the Sharpshooter at 13:35…The Undertaker pinned Jinsei Shinzaki at 7:22…WWF Women’s Champion Alundra Blayze pinned Bull Nakano with a German suplex at 15:10…Genichiro Tenryu wrestled Yokozuna to a double count out at 14:20…The Undertaker won an 18-man Royal Rumble, last eliminating Bam Bam Bigelow at 46:15.

Sapporo, Japan – Gekken Green Dome – May 11, 1994 (2,300): The Smoking Gunns beat the 1-2-3 Kid & Nobukazu Hirai when Billy pinned Hirai at 7:15…Jinsei Shinzaki pinned Doink the Clown at 7:58…Bob Backlund pinned Rick Martel (substituting for Shawn Michaels) at 12:45…Bam Bam Bigelow beat Masashi Aoyagi at 7:25…WWF Women’s Champion Alundra Blayze pinned Kyoko Inoue with the German suplex at 10:37…WWF Tag Team Champions the Headshrinkers beat Tatanka & Owen Hart when Samu pinned Tatanka at 15:54…The Undertaker pinned Adam Bomb after the Tombstone at 8:35…Genichiro Tenryu pinned Randy Savage at 12:29…WWF Champion Bret Hart defeated Yokozuna via disqualification at 9:34.

Anaheim, California – The Arrowhead Pond – May 14, 1994 (10,900): Rhonda Shear hosted the card. Adam Bomb pinned the 1-2-3 Kid after a side suplex…WWF Women’ s Champion Alundra Blayze defeated Leilani Kai…WWF Tag Team Champions the Headshrinkers beat the Smoking Gunns…Lex Luger pinned Crush with a roll up…Jeff Jarrett defeated Doink the Clown with a Flair pin…Irwin R. Schyster defeated Tatanka via disqualification…Yokozuna pinned Earthquake with a leg drop after Crush interfered…WWF Champion Bret Hart pinned Owen Hart with a small package.

Backstage News*: The WWF’s other shows in Japan were an attendance flop, not even filling half of the arenas that they were held in. Despite this, the WWF announced that they would return in the fall. Fans were not happy with the finishes, reportedly booked by Akio Sato. In one location they chanted “Refund!” However, the WWF did not lose money on these events because of high ticket prices. Ringside seats went for $200. Merchandise also sold out at every show.

-Conversely, the WrestleMania Revenge Tour in the United States has been a big success so the WWF is going to headline the “A” circuit house shows with a new name after each pay-per-view event. High ticket prices may remain as well.

-Locker room morale is poor because of the cancellation of “B” house shows this week and concerns about Vince McMahon’s steroid trial.

-Monday Night RAW posted its lowest rating of the year on Monday, with the show drawing a 2.5.

-If Mabel’s singles push takes off, the WWF will scrap the Men on a Mission tag team.

-Early plans are to hold WrestleMania XI in Atlantic City, New Jersey at Trump Plaza.

-In injury news, Diesel suffered a shoulder injury but it should not keep him out of action at The King of the Ring.

-In talent relations, Brian Lee has been signed.

*Backstage news is provided courtesy of Dave Meltzer’s Wrestling Observer for May 26.

Up Next: Monday Night RAW for May 16!

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!