What the World Was Watching: WWF Wrestling Challenge – 06.26.94

All American Wrestling had its last feature match, which was filmed on June 26 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Stan Lane and Ted DiBiase commentated.

Kwang (w/Harvey Wippleman) (12-4-1) pins Jim Powers after a spinning heel kick at 3:27:

Powers is booked on an even plane with Kwang, clotheslining his opponent over the top rope and scoring near-falls from a knee lift, small package, and backslide. Powers does a leapfrog after that but turns around too slowly and when he does, Kwang blasts him with a spinning heel kick for the pin. If Kwang had enough moves to answer in kind this would have turned into a fun encounter. Rating: *½

Wrestling Challenge had Lane and DiBiase on commentary, concluding the taping in Canton, Ohio.

Opening Contest: Razor Ramon (20-2) defeats Matt Hardy after the Razor’s Edge at 4:18:

On his way to the ring Ramon flicks his toothpick at DiBiase since the announcers are standing near the entrance. The crowd likes seeing Ramon stretch Hardy, causing the squash to drag out. Hardy does get a few chops in, a concession that Ramon gave him because he acknowledged that he was too rough with Jeff earlier in the week at the Monday Night RAW taping.

Virgil (2-2) defeats Reno Riggins with a crucifix at 2:36:

Virgil keeps Riggins off guard with various pinning combinations. He gives an opening by ramming his shoulder into the ring post on a blind charge and Riggins works over the body part. However, he taunts the camera too much and Virgil pins him with a crucifix. During the squash it is revealed that Virgil will face Nikolai Volkoff on the Summer Sizzler Tour so that explains why he was getting this match. It is the first program that Virgil has been a part of since 1992.

Lane reveals during Live Event News that the WWF title matches between Bret Hart and Owen Hart will be 60-minute marathon matches where the wrestler who scores the most falls will be declared the winner.

Well Dunn (w/Harvey Wippleman) (1-0) beat Marty Garner & Kenny Hendrix when Timothy Well pins Hendrix after a double DDT at 3:47:

Since the Heavenly Bodies are not able to compete due to injury, Well Dunn are being vaulted into the discussion of Tag Team title challengers. That is as big of an indictment of the division as any. DiBiase talks about building a corporation in the WWF and that he is scouting talent to go with the Fake Undertaker and Nikolai Volkoff. Garner does not take his usual sick bump, not like Well Dunn’s offense would give him an opportunity. Hendrix gets a tag late but is put down by a Steven Dunn release German suplex and a double DDT. Well Dunn should use the double DDT as a finish because it looks better than relying on a Dunn flying forearm.

The latest New Generation ad draws a contrast between Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, Ivan Putski, and the Iron Sheik and the promotion’s current stars.

Doink the Clown (w/Dink) (19-1) defeats Tracy Caddell via submission with the stump puller at 3:08:

The squash is used to put over the New Generation and talk about the feud over the Women’s Championship between Alundra Blayze and Luna Vachon. Doink spends a lot of time working Caddell’s leg which has a payoff when he wins with the stump puller.

Ray Rougeau interviews Blayze. Her championship belt has a pink strap. She issues an open challenge for her title. No mention was made of the feud with Vachon so that appears to have ended in an off-screen victory for the champion.

Adam Bomb (5-5) pins Emilio Ulcia after a slingshot clothesline at 2:45:

The commentators make it clear that Bomb is now on his own. The crowd has not taken to him yet because there has not been much to change his presentation into a babyface. Bomb does some basic power offense, beating Ulcia with a slingshot clothesline and tossing him to the floor after getting the pin.

Mabel (w/Oscar) (6-1) defeats Curtis Harrison after the sidewalk slam at 2:15:

Mabel gets fireworks for his entrance to go with Oscar’s rap. Lane does his best to “cool dad” the whole routine by trying to “get down” with the act. Lane also acts like Mabel rotating over Harrison’s body after a takedown is the greatest thing he has ever seen. After an elbow drop and leg drop, the sidewalk slam seems like an unnecessary move to get Mabel back to winning matches following his loss to Irwin R. Schyster at The King of the Ring.

Bam Bam Bigelow (w/Luna Vachon) (19-3) pins Ryan Scott after the flying headbutt at 2:16:

Bigelow is facing Mabel on Monday Night RAW so he also gets a squash to build him for that bout. Scott manages no offense as Bigelow grounds him early by working the leg and finishes with the flying headbutt.

Tune in next week to see Lex Luger, Typhoon, Tatanka, Owen Hart, and the Fake Undertaker in action! Also, Intercontinental Champion Diesel will appear for an interview!

The Last Word: Like WWF Superstars there was not a lot of hype for new feuds or continued development of existing programs. In other words, typical broadcasting when the tapings went past a pay-per-view’s airdate. But there were nods to stories to come like Ted DiBiase seeking to grow his stable and Women’s Champion Alundra Blayze seeking new competition.

After doing television taping through early July, the WWF visited Canada and California. Here are some of the results of those cards, courtesy of thehistoryofwwe.com:

Hull, Quebec, Canada – Robert Guertin Arena – June 24, 1994 (1,100): The 1-2-3 Kid pinned Kwang after a spinning heel kick…WWF Women’s Champion Alundra Blayze pinned Luna Vachon with a German suplex…Lex Luger pinned Crush with a schoolboy roll up…The Quebecers defeated WWF Tag Team Champions the Headshrinkers in a non-title match. The Quebecers were babyfaces and the Headshrinkers were heels. After the match, the Quebecers told the crowd about their title match the next night in Montreal…Jeff Jarrett defeated Doink the Clown with a roll up…Yokozuna pinned Typhoon after a leg drop…WWF Champion Bret Hart pinned Owen Hart with a roll up.

Montreal, Quebec, Canada – The Montreal Forum – June 25, 1994 (12,248): The 1-2-3 Kid pinned Kwang…The Bushwhackers defeated the Executioners…Lex Luger pinned Crush after the running forearm…WWF Women’s Champion Alundra Blayze pinned Luna Vachon with a German suplex…Jeff Jarrett defeated Doink the Clown with a roll up and holding onto the ropes for leverage…WWF Tag Team Champions the Headshrinkers defeated the Quebecers when Jacques was rolled up. After the match, Pierre and Johnny Polo attacked Jacques…Yokozuna pinned Typhoon after a belly-to-belly suplex…WWF Champion Bret Hart pinned Owen Hart after reversing a small package.

Sacramento, California – The Arco Arena – June 25, 1994 (3,000): Nikolai Volkoff beat Virgil…Thurman Plugg defeated Louie Spicolli…The Smoking Gunns defeated Tom Prichard & the Barbarian (substituting for Jimmy Del Ray)…Duke Droese defeated Adam Bomb…Mabel defeated Bam Bam Bigelow…Irwin R. Schyster beat Tatanka via disqualification…Intercontinental Champion Diesel defeated Razor Ramon in a steel cage match.

Ukiah, California – Ukiah High School – June 26, 1994 (1,100): Nikolia Volkoff defeated Virgil…Thurman Plugg defeated Louie Spicolli…The Smoking Gunns beat Tom Prichard & the Barbarian (substituting for Jimmy Del Ray)…Duke Droese beat Adam Bomb…Mabel defeated Bam Bam Bigelow…Irwin R. Schyster beat Tatanka via disqualification…Razor Ramon wrestled Intercontinental Champion Diesel to a double disqualification after both men used the title belt as a weapon.

Backstage News*: Jury selection will begin for Vince McMahon and Titan Sports’ steroid distribution trial on July 5. The trial is expected to begin the next day.

-A new mandate has been issued to talent that there are to be no more low blows, choking with two hands, eye gouging, and use of the use of foreign objects like chairs, tables, or tennis racquets in televised matches. Wrestlers are also prohibited from making physical threats of breaking someone’s body parts. Razor Ramon has been told to stop flicking his toothpick. These new rules are part of the WWF’s anti-violence and anti-aggression standards agreed to with USA Network. They explain why there was an apology on Monday Night RAW for Jerry Lawler’s attack on Duke Droese with a garbage can.

-On the cards near Montreal this week WWF Tag Team Champions the Headshinkers stomped on the Quebec flag in Hull to put heat on them for the next night. In the title match in Montreal, Pierre pulled Jacques off Samu as he was going to score the winning fall and Jacques was pinned when they argued. Afterward, Pierre and Johnny Polo beat up Jacques, several enhancement talents, Pat Patterson, and Ray Rougeau. The match was Jacques last as a WWF contracted talent but it is believed he will return for a match with Pierre in October at the Montreal Forum. That card is expected to draw well.

-In a rare win for syndication, the WWF got its shows on cable near Minneapolis-Saint Paul via a station in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

-In injury news, Jimmy Del Ray’s cracked pelvis, which happened from his moonsault on Monday Night RAW, will keep him out for up to a month. Del Ray could not work through the injury because he could not walk.

-In talent relations news, Jim Ross has been rehired by the WWF and will replace McMahon on Monday Night RAW and WWF Superstars. Ross has only been given a two-month deal. The WWF only has reported interest in the British Bulldog for its September tour of Europe and not as a full-time act again in the U.S. The Bulldog currently has a three-month deal wrestling in England. Sid Vicious has no interest in returning right now, preferring to go to All Japan or return to WCW. There have also been some front office shakeups as WWF Vice President Basil DeVito and pay-per-view and international affairs liaison Ann Bojack have given notice.

*Backstage news is provided courtesy of Dave Meltzer’s Wrestling Observer for June 28 and July 4.

Up Next: Monday Night RAW for June 27!

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!