What the World Was Watching: WWF Superstars – 09.17.94

Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler commentate, concluding the taping in Portland, Maine.

Opening Contest: The Bushwhackers (9-2) defeat Well Dunn (w/Harvey Wippleman) (3-2) when Luke pins Timothy Well after a Butch headbutt to the gut at 5:06:

The Bushwhackers lick Lawler on the way to the ring and he screams. Meanwhile, Well Dunn get no entrance. The Bushwhackers move as if they are fragile. Well Dunn have to carry the match but their offense is not interesting enough to do so. Luke saves Butch from a pin after a Well flying elbow smash but then gets his leg caught between the ropes when Steven Dunn attacks him. That appeared unintentional as referee Earl Hebner takes a while to get him untangled. Butch makes another save when Well Dunn hit a double bulldog. The Bushwhackers are not disqualified for too many saves and as Dunn is being escorted to his corner, Butch headbutts Well in the gut when he lifts Luke for a slam, causing Well to fall and be pinned. This was a bad match as the teams had no chemistry and the Bushwhackers have nothing left in the tank for feature matches. Rating: ¼*

After the match, Well Dunn attacks the Bushwhackers but are driven from the ring. Wippleman ends up in the ring with the Bushwhackers and there is a tug of war between the two teams over him. That leads to Wippleman getting his pants ripped off. McMahon argues that the Bushwhackers win has thrust them into Tag Team title contention.

There is a recap of the showdown between Adam Bomb and Bam Bam Bigelow last week. Afterward, Bomb dubs his fanbase “The Bomb Squad” and threatens Bigelow with “total destruction.”

Jeff Jarrett (27-6-1) defeats Phil Apollo via submission to the figure-four leglock at 1:52:

Corrine Carrier is the guest fan ring announcer, botching Jarrett’s entrance by referring to him as “Double J Jarrett.” In response, Jarrett takes the mic and makes sure fans know his name and how to spell it. Apollo makes Jarrett’s job easy by ramming his knee into the turnbuckles on a blind charge. The jobber submits quickly when Jarrett locks in the figure-four. After winning, Jarrett calls out Razor Ramon, Lex Luger, and Garth Brooks as he admires himself on the video wall.

The Undertaker (w/Paul Bearer) (5-1) pins Tony DeVito after the Tombstone at 2:15:

The Undertaker gets territorial when referee Mike Chioda takes possession of the urn. The urn is still small. The short squash sees the Undertaker stalk DeVito, throw him over the top rope by his neck, and finish him with the Tombstone.

There is another Catholic confessional New Generation ad. This time a woman confesses that she finds herself attracted to Razor Ramon, Shawn Michaels, and Bret Hart. The priest, as he watches the WWF, says that something can be worked out.

Kwang (w/Harvey Wippleman) (19-5-1) pins Scott Taylor after the spinning heel kick at 2:19:

These two last wrestled on the February 19 edition of Superstars. Wippleman’s pants have been recovered so he can manage another act that fans have no interest in. Taylor puts in more work than Kwang but everything he tries is countered and a spinning heel kick costs him the bout.

Tatanka and Ted DiBiase are guests on this week’s Heartbreak Hotel. So as not to spoil SummerSlam, this was filmed in Green Bay, Wisconsin on August 31. Before they come out, Diesel dares the other tag teams in the WWF to stop he and Shawn Michaels. Tatanka comes out in a suit to signify that he is a new man. To do that better the WWF should have had him change his name and lean into the Native American casino business. That was too risqué for this period, though. DiBiase argues that Lex Luger had his chance to join the Million Dollar Corporation and blew it. Tatanka talks blandly about how he sees value in money. It is not a good promo for launching his new heel persona.

Thurman Plugg (19-3-1) pins Mike Sharpe after rolling through a flying body press at 2:02:

Referee Tim White forgets to call for the bell and Sharpe has to remind him to do so. Abe Schwartz is shown picketing as fans wonder if he will ever get in the ring. Sharpe gives Plugg a challenge but he runs into a boot on a blind charge. Plugg does his flying body press that Sharpe rolls through but Plugg rolls through THAT counter to earn his second win over Sharpe this year. For a moment, fans may have thought Sharpe was about to win his first televised match of the decade.

Bob Backlund (5-1) defeats Tony Roy via submission to the crossface chicken wing at 2:51:

Backlund offers his hand to Roy at the beginning of the match but Roy takes the crowd’s advice like he is on The Price is Right and refuses. The crowd chants “Opey!” at Backlund but that does not stop the former WWF champion from outwrestling Roy on the mat. Roy hits a hiptoss but Backlund kicks out, slams him, blocks Roy’s kickout effort, and wins with the chicken wing.

Tune in next week to see the British Bulldog, WWF Tag Team Champions Shawn Michaels & Diesel, Adam Bomb, Tatanka, and Yokozuna in action!

The Last Word: Hopefully next week’s show is better once the WWF clears these pre-SummerSlam television tapings. The WWF needs to sign new talent as the tag team division is stale and many singles feuds lack heat.

Up Next: Wrestling Challenge for September 18!

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!