What the World Was Watching: WWF Wrestling Challenge – 10.16.94

Gorilla Monsoon and Ted DiBiase are in the booth for a new set of television tapings. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the show was taped in White Plains, New York on September 28.

Opening Contest: The British Bulldog (4-0) pins Barry Hardy after the running powerslam at 2:30:

Monsoon introduces Charlie Minn, who says that DiBiase cannot buy him. The Bulldog easily rolls to another win, reversing a Hardy whip into the corner to set up the running powerslam.

King Kong Bundy (w/Ted DiBiase) (3-0) defeats Miguel Rosato after the Avalanche at 2:18:

Bundy continues to receive a lot of hype as Monsoon bills him as DiBiase’s biggest asset “literally and figuratively.” Monsoon also talks about dissension existing between Bam Bam Bigelow and Tatanka. Like his previous squashes, Bundy does more jawing with the fans than punishing his opponent. The only big move is the Avalanche, giving Bundy a five-count victory.

The Smoking Gunns (17-2) defeat Barry Horowitz & Chris Canyon when Billy pins Canyon after the Sidewinder at 2:32:

The Heavenly Bodies and Jim Cornette do a split screen promo where they bill themselves as faster than the Gunns. They also promise to drive them out of the WWF. Surprisingly, Horowitz and Canyon keep the Gunns on the defensive for much of the contest. Canyon tries a moonsault but misses it and the Gunns finish him with the Sidewinder. DiBiase rightly notes that the Gunns need to do better if they want to become WWF Tag Team champions.

Monsoon and DiBiase briefly discuss Doink’s addition of Wink. DiBiase cannot keep up with all the new little people in the promotion, calling Wink “Blink.”

Mabel (17-2) pins Mike Malaccia after a leg drop at 2:25:

Much of Mabel’s pre-match rap cannot be heard as the announcer talk over it. Malaccia has some girth for an enhancement talent, leading to some big man spots like a shoulder block exchange and a test of strength, all of which are won by Mabel. Malaccia is not able to recover from those setbacks, leading to lots of “Whoomp there it is!” by Mabel after the contest.

WWF Champion Bret Hart is interviewed in the ring by Ray Rougeau. Asked about Bob Backlund’s challenge, Bret says he has already beaten Backlund and there are other contenders who are in line that he has to deal with first. He pivots to hyping The Action Zone match with Owen Hart, arguing that he does not want to see him in the ring again. To close the promo, Bret says he will be the best of any generation. This was just a cookie cutter promo from Bret as there is not much for him to work with right now.

Well Dunn (w/Harvey Wippleman) (3-3) defeat John Crystal & Mike Khoury when Timothy Well pins Crystal after a stun gun at 2:29:

Crystal and Khoury were teammates on the independent circuit as Models Incorporated. That accounts for them having similar striped tights. Crystal’s smaller stature lets him take a few crazy bumps. Well Dunn look to do a double slingshot back suplex but opt to remain in a standing position and throw Crystal backward to the canvas. Well Dunn finally get around to doing a devastating move when Steven Dunn whips Crystal toward Well, who stun guns him. The problem is that the crowd does not think the team is worth their time and does not react.

Duke Droese (17-1) pins Nick Barberri after the corkscrew elbow drop at 2:42:

Monsoon needles DiBiase about the end of All American Wrestling, which DiBiase was doing work for. DiBiase says that he is trying to get a spot on The Action Zone and that he and Tatanka will be on the premiere episode. Monsoon buries a Barberri blind charge, arguing that his mother could have gotten out of the way. DiBiase denies that Bam Bam Bigelow and Tatanka are still going at each other. This noise shows that Droese is just eating up television time, doing some token arm work before a powerslam and corkscrew elbow drop send Barberri to the showers.

Jeff Jarrett puts himself over as the greatest singer, entertainer, and wrestler in the world today.

Jeff Jarrett (30-6-1) defeats Russ Greenberg via submission to the figure-four leglock at 3:25:

Greenberg immediately takes the fight to Jarrett but the referee gets in his way and Jarrett hits Greenberg with a cheap shot. That leads to some leg work, setting up Jarrett’s figure-four.

Tune in next week to see the Undertaker, Tatanka, the 1-2-3 Kid, Jim Neidhart, the Heavenly Bodies, and Adam Bomb in action!

The Last Word: This would be the last major Wrestling Challenge broadcast because the rise of The Action Zone would replace it as the company’s C-show. The Action Zone would get feature matches where Challenge would not and many of Challenge’s squash matches would be aired on the new program. Challenge would continue to air in some markets until August the following year. While it was a staple of the WWF’s 1980s boom, Challenge’s death signaled the end of syndication as a tool for major wrestling promotions. Fewer markets were airing the show and the WWF forged a closer relationship with USA Network, pushing more of its product to cable television that more American families were gaining access to. Going forward, any Challenge matches or segments that did not air on The Action Zone will be discussed at the end of Action Zone broadcasts.

The WWF ran several house shows in Maryland and the Northeast area for this week in its history. Here are the results of those cards, courtesy of thehistoryofwwe.com:

Landover, Maryland – USAir Arena – October 15, 1994 (3,800; matinee): The Bushwhackers beat Well Dunn…Bob Holly defeated Kwang…Lex Luger wrestled Tatanka to a double count out…WWF Women’s Champion Alundra Blayze beat Bull Nakano…Diesel beat Fatu via disqualification…Jeff Jarrett defeated the 1-2-3 Kid…WWF Champion Bret Hart defeated Jim Neidhart…The Undertaker defeated Yokozuna in a casket match.

Bourne, Massachusetts – October 15, 1994 (1,300; sellout): Abe Schwartz defeated P.J. Walker…King Kong Bundy beat Doink the Clown…Adam Bomb defeated Nikolai Volkoff…Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon defeated Bob Backlund via count out…The Smoking Gunns beat the Heavenly Bodies…Irwin R. Schyster defeated Mabel…The British Bulldog beat Owen Hart.

Backstage News*: The recent Monday Night RAW drew a 2.5 rating.

-In injury news, Shawn Michaels broke his hand in Baltimore, Maryland on October 14. That led to Diesel facing Fatu in singles matches on house shows this week. It is unclear whether the injury will keep Michaels out long. The WWF has matches of Michaels and Diesel in the can until November 6.

-The British Bulldog will face a jury trial for an assault charge that stems from a bar fight in Calgary, Alberts, Canada last summer. A trial date has not been set.

-In talent relations news, Scott Norton wrestled on a November 9 show in Sunrise, Florida and jobbed to Bob Holly.

*Backstage news is provided courtesy of Dave Meltzer’s Wrestling Observer for October 24.

Up Next: Monday Night RAW for October 17!

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!