What the World Was Watching: WWF Wrestling Challenge – 05.22.94

Stan Lane and Ted DiBiase commentate, starting a new taping in Springfield, Massachusetts. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the taping happened on April 28 and drew a crowd of 5,500 fans. Springfield has the Madison Square Garden-like setup of the entrance facing the hard camera.

Opening Contest: The 1-2-3 Kid & Thurman Plugg beat Kwang & Adam Bomb (w/Harvey Wippleman) when Plugg pins Kwang with a crucifix at 7:09 shown:

This is the final chapter of the Wrestling Challenge exclusive feud between the Kid and Kwang. It also provides a preview of the Kid-Bomb King of the Ring qualifier that will happen on WWF Superstars. The story of the match is that Kwang and Bomb have a hard time getting along, miscommunicating and getting frustrated with each other. The Kid takes a crazy bump, going over the top rope with Kwang when Kwang does a spinning heel kick in the corner. More miscommunication gets the Kid out of peril and there is a fun ending sequence where Kwang hoists Plugg on his shoulders but spins him to hit Bomb, who pushes Kwang and Plugg rolls Kwang up with a crucifix so the babyface duo prevail. A fun, action packed tag team match from all four parties. Rating: ***

Bomb gets in an argument with Kwang after the match. Wippleman appears to take Kwang’s side so Bomb walks out.

Tatanka (14-1-1) pins Barry Horowitz after the Papoose to Go at 2:38:

Irwin R. Schyster does an insert promo blaming the feud on Tatanka because he did not pay the gift tax. Tatanka wins another match, and beats Horowitz for the second time this year, after getting taken to the buckle and going on the warpath.

Ray Rougeau does an in-ring interview with Crush and Mr. Fuji. Crush says he hates everything that Luger represents. It is a weak premise for a feud but the WWF had no choice but to throw these two together after WrestleMania when Mr. Perfect bailed.

Mabel (w/Oscar) (3-0) pins Cory Student after a spinning heel kick at 1:35:

DiBiase says he is the only man who has the resources to find the Undertaker because even Paul Bearer admits the trail has gone cold. Student has terrible ring gear, wearing a white tank top over blue trunks and red tights. Lane even speaks to how gaudy it is. Irwin R. Schyster gets another split screen promo to talk about how Mabel will be next on his list at The King of the Ring. Mabel makes quick work of Student as the crowd chants “Whoomp there it is!”

Nikolai Volkoff (w/Ted DiBiase) (1-0) defeats Phil Apollo via submission to a Boston Crab at 2:06:

Volkoff is in his new ring gear. DiBiase sits in a chair at ringside and is not happy when Volkoff wrestles tentatively and is sent to the floor by Apollo. He later fines Volkoff $500 for giving a clean break in the corner. After Volkoff wins with a Boston Crab, Virgil does an insert promo that warns Volkoff not be fooled by DiBiase. That is a good way to use Virgil.

Todd Pettengill does The King of the Ring Report. Yokozuna, Crush, Jim Cornette, and Mr. Fuji talk about how the WWF Tag Team titles will belong to them. WWF Champion Bret Hart doubts that Intercontinental Champion Diesel has the experience to beat him. Jerry Lawler says that Roddy Piper will be facing a real man in Baltimore.

Owen Hart (19-0) beats Scott Taylor via submission to the Sharpshooter at 2:16:

DiBiase resumes commentary after the Volkoff match, confident he has enough money to buy the Undertaker’s soul. There is hype for Owen’s match tomorrow night against Earthquake on RAW, which will need a substitute because Earthquake quit. Owen takes Taylor’s legs out from under him to become the first WWF star to notch 20 wins in 1994. After the match, Owen drops a knee and puts Hitman shades on Taylor, snapping them back on his face and yelling at him as if he is Bret Hart.

Tune in next week to see Duke Droese, Lex Luger, Crush, Bam Bam Bigelowm and the Quebecers in action! Also, there will be an interview with Intercontinental Champion Diesel!

The Last Word: The opener alone made this a fun episode of Wrestling Challenge but there were also some seeds sown for other things such as an Adam Bomb turn and a feud between Nikolai Volkoff and Virgil. Unfortunately, the end of sweeps means that Challenge is heading back into squash-only territory.

The WWF’s “A” house show circuit made a loop through New York, Michigan, and Illinois while the “B” circuit went through Florida. Here are the results of some of those, courtesy of thehistoyofwwe.com:

Fort Myers, Florida – Lee Civic Center – May 19, 1994: The Bushwhackers defeated the Smoking Gunns via count out…The Genius pinned the Cuban Assassin…Koko B. Ware (substituting for Tatanka) beat Adam Bomb…Greg Valentine (substituting for the 1-2-3 Kid) pinned Bastion Booger after Booger was distracted by Koko B. Ware putting hot dogs in the ring…Duke Droese beat David Heath…Tatanka (substituting for Earthquake) defeated Yokozuna via disqualification.

New York City, New York – Madison Square Garden – May 20, 1994 (matinee): Annual Mayo’s Benefit show with free tickets. The show was held for handicapped children. Doink the Clown beat Johnny Polo…Samu defeated Jacques Rougeau…Jeff Jarrett beat Thurman Plugg…Fatu defeated Pierre…Mabel defeated Kwang.

New York City, New York – Madison Square Garden – May 20, 1994 (15,000): Kwang pinned Thurman Plugg…WWF Women’s Champion Alundra Blayze defeated Luna Vachon with a roll up after heel miscommunication between Vachon and Bam Bam Bigelow…The Headshrinkes & Afa defeated the Quebecers & Johnny Polo…Bam Bam Bigelow pinned Mabel after the flying headbutt…Jeff Jarrett defeated Doink the Clown…Howard Finkel beat Harvey Wippleman in a tuxedo match. Finkel came out to Hulk Hogan’s “Real American” theme…Razor Ramon wrestled Intercontinental Champion Diesel to a double count out…Lex Luger pinned Crush after the running forearm as Crush tried to hit Luger with a chair at 16:53…WWF Champion Bret Hart pinned Owen Hart with a roll up at 25:00.

Palmetto, Florida – Palmetto Civic Center – May 20, 1994: The Bushwhackers beat the Smoking Gunns…Koko B. Ware defeated the Genius…Bastion Booger beat the Cuban Assassin…Duke Droese defeated David Heath…Yokozuna beat Typhoon (substituting for Earthquake).

Backstage News*: U.S. District Court Judge Jacob Mishler dropped two counts of steroid distribution against Titan Sports in the last pre-trial hearing because Mishler saw McMahon and Titan Sports as the same entity so Titan Sports could not distribute illegal steroids to McMahon. McMahon’s attempt to get all five counts against him dismissed failed. He still stands charged with conspiracy to defraud the Food and Drug Administration and intentionally distributing steroids to talent twice in 1989. Mishler’s decision reduces a possible fine against McMahon by $1 million if he were found guilty of the remaining charges.

-The WrestleMania Revenge Tour continues to do well. Attendance in Auburn Hills, Michigan was double the usual amount and a show in Chicago at the Rosemont Horizon drew just slightly less than what WCW drew for Spring Stampede. Shows in Florida did not draw nearly as well, averaging 1,000 fans.

-Monday Night RAW’s rating rebounded this week, drawing a 3.5 share.

-In talent relations news, Jinsei Shinzaki of Michinoku Pro has been offered a deal because of his work on the WWF’s recent Japan tour.

*Backstage news is provided courtesy of Dave Meltzer’s Wrestling Observer for May 30.

Up Next: Monday Night RAW for May 23!

And if you would like to read a compiled breakdown of 1990-1993 WWF, 1993-1994 ECW, or of various promotions in 1995, check out my Amazon author page to purchase e-books or paperback copies!