What the World Was Watching: WWF Wrestling Challenge – 07.03.94

Stan Lane and Ted DiBiase call the action, kicking off a new taping cycle in Poughkeepsie, New York. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the taping took place on June 22.

Opening Contest: Lex Luger (18-2) defeats Duane Gill via submission to the Rebel Rack at 2:31:

DiBiase uses the squash to talk about how much he wants to sign Luger. Lane says that Luger is still after Crush for costing him a spot in the King of the Ring Tournament. Like the end of Superstars, Luger poses in the ring after the match.

The Fake Undertaker (w/Ted DiBiase) (1-0) pins Tony DeVito after a chokeslam off the ropes at 2:39:

There is so much crowd sweetening that it is tough to tell the audience’s genuine reaction to the Fake Undertaker but they do not seem excited about this methodical squash where there is a move every 30 seconds. Instead of doing the Tombstone he wins by catching DeVito with a chokeslam off the ropes. After winning, the Undertaker and DiBiase put DeVito in a body bag.

Tatanka (19-2-2) pins the Black Phantom after the Renegade Drop at 4:49:

DiBiase does a small Art Donovan bit of asking how tall Tatanka is. But at least that has a point as he wants to be able to know how big Tatanka’s body bag should be when he faces the Fake Undertaker. DiBiase also says that Tatanka is an enemy of his emerging corporation because Irwin R. Schyster is an ally of his. Tatanka still has some star power but he has not looked strong since The Royal Rumble, evidenced by how long it takes him to put away the Black Phantom.

Kwang (w/Harvey Wippleman) (14-4-1) pins Miguel Rosado after the spinning heel kick 3:09:

There is nothing exciting about this squash, just Kwang slowly working over Rosado with kicks until he decides to go home with a spinning heel kick.

Typhoon (2-0) beats Corey Student after the Tidal Wave at 2:57:

It is interesting that even though SummerSlam is sponsored by Domino’s that the WWF has not talked about that during matches yet. DiBiase doubts Typhoon can do much against Yokozuna since he was never WWF champion. Student does an exaggerated spinning sell after an avalanche, falling so Typhoon can do the Tidal Wave.

Non-Title Match: Diesel (Intercontinental Champion w/Shawn Michaels) (15-0) pins Nick Barbery after the Jackknife at 3:12:

Diesel’s entrance gets pyro out of the four corners of the ring, another sign that the company views him as a top talent going forward. Lane floats the idea of Razor Ramon trying to regain the Intercontinental Championship on the Summer Sizzler Tour. After punishing Barbery with a side suplex, Diesel does the Jackknife and Michaels comes into the ring and steps on Barbery’s chest so he can give the big man a high five.

Ray Rougeau does an in-ring interview with Duke Droese. He talks about getting Jerry Lawler in the ring. There was not a lot of substance to the promo but there is not much material that Droese can tap into with this gimmick.

Owen Hart (w/Jim Neidhart) (27-0) defeats Jim Powers via submission to the Sharpshooter at 3:39:

As the crowd chants “We want Bret!” Owen works over Powers’ leg. Thurman Plugg, who has a match with Jim Neidhart next week, does an insert promo about how Neidhart will be forced to test himself against “The King of Speed.” Powers has changed his look for this run by wearing a black singlet instead of red tights but his offense is the same. Lane takes note of his “muscled up” look, which is probably not what the WWF wishes to emphasize with Vince McMahon’s federal steroid trial starting in a few days. Powers does a nice job selling his leg during a token comeback, which prevents him from covering as quickly as he would like after a dropkick. Owen recovers to blast Powers with a spinning heel kick and finishes him with the Sharpshooter.

Neidhart, with Owen, warns Plugg that he is going to have a long pit stop next week.

Tune in next week to see Thurman Plugg wrestle Jim Neidhart! Also, Jeff Jarrett, the 1-2-3 Kid, and Bam Bam Bigelow will be in action! And WWF Champion Bret Hart will appear for an interview!

The Last Word: The only good thing about this episode was the last squash between Owen Hart and Jim Powers. At many points Stan Lane and Ted DiBiase seemed uncertain how to fill time as they have not been given much to talk about after The King of the Ring. Speaking of Lane, this would be his last television appearance as a commentator. He would stick with the company for another year before quitting. According to Lane, he was miserable as Vince McMahon did not like his style and there was a purge of people hired by Jerry Jarrett. Lane would go on to do powerboat racing commentary.

The WWF backloaded its television tapings after a run of house shows in Canada and California. Here were the results of some of those shows, courtesy of thehistoryofwwe.com:

Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada – Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre – June 29, 1994 (3,000): The 1-2-3 Kid beat Kwang…The Bushwhackers defeated the Executioners…Yokozuna beat Typhoon…Jeff Jarrett defeated Doink the Clown…WWF Women’s Champion Alundra Blayze defeated Luna Vachon…Lex Luger beat Crush…WWF Champion Bret Hart defeated Owen Hart.

Rancho Cucamonga, California – Epicenter Stadium – June 30, 1994: Thurman Plugg pinned Louie Spicolli with a flying body press in 12 minutes…Nikolai Volkoff defeated Virgil via submission to the Boston Crab at 8:31. After the bell, Volkoff kept the hold on for 30 seconds…The Smoking Gunns beat Tom Prichard & the Barbarian (substituting for Jimmy Del Ray) when Billy pinned the Barbarian with a roll up following a Bart clothesline at 10:21…Irwin R. Schyster defeated Tatanka via disqualification when Tatanka shoved the referee at 6:34…Duke Droese pinned Adam Bomb with an inside cradle at 8:06…Mabel pinned Bam Bam Bigelow with an inside cradle at 9:12…Razor Ramon defeated Intercontinental Champion Diesel via disqualification when Diesel hit Ramon with the Intercontinental title belt at 9:43.

Backstage News*: WWF Champion Bret Hart appeared on the FAN radio station in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. When asked about Hulk Hogan signing with WCW, Bret said that it was “a sad, pathetic situation for a guy who was a legend who had a legacy with the WWF. I don’t care what anybody says…WCW is a step down.” Bret also said that Hogan was unwilling to pass the torch to a new generation of talent and that his best days were behind him. He scoffed at the idea that Hogan and Ric Flair were going to be a good match at Bash at the Beach.

-House show business was weak this week. Most shows posted $11,000 to $25,000 gates except for Fresno, California and Rancho Cucamonga, California. The Rancho Cucamonga show had a $54,000 gate, owed to strong promotion in Los Angeles television markets.

-The WWF was hoping to get a special on Showtime on July 30 but negotiations broke down.

-In terms of ratings the last two editions of Monday Night RAW have been good. The June 20 edition did a 3.0 share and the June 27 edition did a 3.3.

-Sean Mooney is now doing television reporting and has omitted his past work in the WWF.

-In talent relations news, Bruce Hart will make appearances in Bret’s corner at house shows at the end of the month to counter Jim Neidhart. The British Bulldog has committed to the WWF’s European tour in September. He will be plugged into tag team matches with Bret against Owen Hart and Neidhart.

*Backstage news is provided courtesy of Dave Meltzer’s Wrestling Observer for July 11.

Up Next: Monday Night RAW for July 4!

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!