What the World Was Watching: WWF Wrestling Challenge – 07.24.94

Stan Lane and Ted DiBiase are in the booth, starting a new taping cycle in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the taping took place on July 2 and drew a crowd of 3,000 fans.

Opening Contest: Razor Ramon (23-2) pins Curtis Hairston after the Razor’s Edge at 3:29:

Ramon gets fireworks for his introduction. Hairston is almost as tall as Ramon, which allows him to reverse a leverage move early in the contest. A few chops put Hairston on dream street, making him easy pickings later for the Razor’s Edge.

Nikolai Volkoff (w/Ted DiBiase) (6-2) defeats Virgil (3-2) after a piledriver at 4:48:

Even though Virgil has been over with some crowds in the Northeast that is not the case in Bethlehem. Virgil tries to wrestle a faster match and mixes in a few near-falls but Volkoff moves too slow. DiBiase throws a $100 bill into the ring after Virgil blasts Volkoff with a dropkick. Virgil throws it back, but the distraction lets Volkoff deliver a terrible back suplex and win after a piledriver. Credit to Virgil for trying but Volkoff was not cooperating. This would be Virgil’s last televised WWF match as he would suffer a serious injury wrestling Volkoff in Hyannis, Massachusetts on August 14. After recovering he would appear on some WWF house shows in 1995 and wrestle for the Las Vegas-based National Wrestling Conference (NWC). WCW would sign him in 1996. Rating: ½*

After the match, Volkoff stuffs the $100 bill into Virgil’s mouth. DiBiase takes it back before leaving the ring.

Doink the Clown (w/Dink) (20-2) beats J.S. Storm after the Whoopie Cushion at 3:18:

The clowns bring a small bicycle to the ring and Dink does a few laps before spanking Storm when Doink puts Storm in a front facelock. Some boring chain wrestling send Doink to a win as Lane talks about house show matches Doink has against Jeff Jarrett.

Todd Pettengill does the SummerSlam Report. WWF Champion Bret Hart says Owen Hart has crossed a line with him by disowning their parents. Intercontinental Champion Diesel and Shawn Michaels tell Razor Ramon he is going down.

Owen Hart (w/Jim Neidhart) (30-0) defeats Matt Hardy after a spinning heel kick at 3:41:

All Hardy can manage to do is flip over Owen when he is whipped into the ropes late in the match. Owen responds with a spinning heel kick and then puts Hardy in the Sharpshooter for a while after the bell. Then, Owen puts Hitman shades in Hardy’s mouth.

Yokozuna (w/Mr. Fuji) (11-4) pins Steve Smith after a belly-to-belly suplex at 1:51:

There is an announcement that Yokozuna will team with Crush to face Typhoon and Mabel on next week’s show. That is a continuation of the Typhoon-Yokozuna feud and how Yokozuna and Crush beat up Typhoon on last week’s Superstars. Lane tries to explain Yokozuna’s absence from the SummerSlam card as Yokozuna fearing the Undertaker. Yokozuna barely does anything, choking Smith against the ropes and hitting a belly-to-belly suplex for the win.

After the match, Yokozuna gives Smith two leg drops. Typhoon, Mabel, and Oscar come out and Yokozuna casually leaves the ring. Oscar raps and the fat babyfaces dance.

Gorilla Monsoon and DiBiase meet up with Typhoon, Mabel, and Oscar in the aisle. Monsoon does some awkward dancing before asking the big men about next week’s feature match. They say that they will destroy Crush and Yokozuna.

Tune in next week to see Typhoon & Mabel face Crush & Yokozuna!

The Last Word: Next week’s tag team match may not break the star ratings scale but it carries intrigue due to the size of the participants. The only notable thing on this week’s show is the end of Virgil’s run. He did well as Ted DiBiase’s bodyguard and their feud was entertaining in 1991 but he died a slow death without the Million Dollar Man as a singles star. It seems fitting that his last appearance involved DiBiase.

The WWF wrapped up a Southeast Asia tour and held some shows in Florida. Here were the results of those cards, courtesy of thehistoryofwwe.com:

Kullang, Singapore – Singapore Indoor Stadium – July 21, 1994 (15,000): Kwang pinned the 1-2-3 Kid after a spinning heel kick…Bushwhacker Luke & Koko B. Ware beat Reno Riggins & Barry Horowitz…Rick Martel pinned Jim Powers by blocking a sunset flip…The Undertaker defeated Yokozuna via disqualification when Yokozuna used his salt bucket as a weapon…Tatanka beat the Barbarian with a roll up…WWF Tag Team Champions the Headshrinkers beat Well Dunn…WWF Champion Bret Hart defeated Owen Hart via submission to the Sharpshooter.

Tampa, Florida – The SunDome – July 23, 1994 (3,000): Jeff Jarrett beat Doink the Clown…WWF Women’s Champion Alundra Blayze defeated Luna Vachon…Jerry Lawler beat Duke Droese…The Fake Undertaker defeated Thurman Plugg…Bam Bam Bigelow beat Mabel…Adam Bomb defeated Pierre…The Heavenly Bodies beat the Smoking Gunns…Intercontinental Champion Diesel beat Razor Ramon in a steel cage match.

Backstage News*: Vince McMahon and Titan Sports were acquitted of conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids on July 22. The jury spent more than a day deliberating. On July 18, two of the three charges against McMahon were dropped concerning possession and distribution of steroids to Hulk Hogan because the prosecution failed to provide evidence that it happened in the Eastern District of New York. Dave Meltzer argues that the government did not provide evidence that there was a formed conspiracy between the WWF, its talent, and Dr. George Zahorian to distribute steroids, a position helped by Zahorian not being a full-time employee and having no financial stake in the WWF. The federal government hoped the jury’s instructions would include a broad definition of conspiracy where not all defendants had to know about a conspiracy so long as they knew its general nature but this was struck down by Judge Jacob Mishler. It is estimated that McMahon’s legal defense cost him $3 million, a substantial sum when the WWF’s most profitable year in the late 1980s netted $6 million.

-Monday Night RAW drew a slightly improved 3.1 rating for the Diesel-Lex Luger Intercontinental title match.

-In talent relations news, the WWF is trying to get Konnan back because AAA has drawn well for a few shows in New York and Chicago. Konnan was going to do the Max Moon character in 1992 but quit before doing televised matches, causing the gimmick to be used by Paul Diamond. Konnan says he does not want to leave AAA as he has 18 months left on his deal.

*Backstage news is provided courtesy of Dave Meltzer’s Wrestling Observer for August 1.

Up Next: Monday Night RAW for July 25!

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