What the World Was Watching: WWF Action Zone – 11.06.94

Note: This review is a hybrid of the Action Zone and Wrestling Challenge because a complete episode of either was difficult to obtain, so it was put together through various clips of matches.

Vince McMahon and Todd Pettengill do commentary, taped from Albany, New York. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the taping took place on October 19.

Charlie Minn wildly dances in the aisle to Mabel’s rap on the way to the ring, making himself look silly in the process.

Opening Contest: Yokozuna (w/Jim Cornette & Mr. Fuji) (19-5) beats Mabel (w/Oscar) (19-2) after the Banzai Drop at 5:53 shown:

This is a weaker Action Zone feature match than the last two shows but has the appeal of a “fat man standoff.” Mabel knocks Yokozuna out of the ring a couple of times, which gets a good reaction, but Yokozuna soon wins a battle on the arena floor and takes control. Mabel fights out of a nerve hold and drops a leg for a two count. He follows it up with a flying body press (?!?!) off the second rope for two but when he tries another top rope move he takes too long getting up there and Yokozuna throws him off. An avalanche follows and the Banzai Drop gives the former WWF champion a big win going into Survivor Series. The finishing sequence was a lot of fun, with Mabel doing some wild stuff for a big man. He was made to look good in defeat but has never beaten anyone of note as a singles wrestler so it is time for him to go back to the tag team ranks. Rating: *½

The New Headshrinkers (w/Afa & Captain Lou Albano) (2-0) defeat H.D. Ryder & Mike Sharpe when Fatu pins Ryder after the splash off the top rope at 1:55 shown:

Ryder was a wrestler in ECW, teaming with E.Z. Ryder to form a tag team called the Hell Riders. They were in the promotion from 1992-1993. They wrestled the first match on the promotion’s television broadcast that started in April 1993, losing to the ECW Tag Team Champions the Super Destroyers. In 1993 Ryder made one WWF appearance, losing to Marty Jannetty.

Pettengill talks about Luna Vachon’s marriage in an insane asylum since footage was shown on WWF Mania a day earlier. Albano’s latest great idea is for Fatu to wear ring boots to match Sione. Fatu finds that uncomfortable throughout the squash but Albano insists to Afa that it is for his own good. This has bad idea written all over it. Eventually, Afa takes Fatu’s boots off so he can climb the top rope and do the splash.

Minn is backstage with the Royal Family. Jerry Lawler says that next week he is going to put the “royal brakes” on Bob Holly.

Tatanka (w/Ted DiBiase) (33-4-2) pins Tim McNeany after the End of the Trail at 4:33:

Tatanka takes his time with McNeany, kicking him around the ring and jawing with the referee. McNeany does surprise Tatanka late with a body press off the ropes for a near-fall and follows it up with a schoolboy roll up. However, that cues a heel warpath comeback by Tatanka, who hits the flying chop, stalls, and wins with the End of the Trail.

Mabel & Adam Bomb (w/Oscar) beat Barry Horowitz & Reno Riggins when Bomb pins Horowitz after the pumphandle slam at 2:54:

This obviously aired on Wrestling Challenge where Gorilla Monsoon and Ted DiBiase commentated. Bomb and Mabel are teaming together because they are Survivor Series teammates. Bomb has some gaudy tights, a black singlet with orange and yellow mushroom clouds. His blue gear is a better alternative to his original red and yellow look. Mabel misses a leg drop and Horowitz covers for two, leading to a fun sequence where Riggins tries to run in and get the fall only to have Mabel kick out again. Then Mabel kicks out once more when the longtime enhancements dogpile him. After Mabel arm drags Horowitz and Riggins simultaneously, Bomb is tagged in and finishes Horowitz with the pumphandle slam. This was good fun.

Yokozuna, Jim Cornette, and Mr. Fuji give comments about Survivor Series, arguing that Yokozuna will make the Undertaker rest in anguish. The Undertaker and Paul Bearer rebut that San Antonio, Texas will be Yokozuna’s final resting place.

Jeff Jarrett (33-6-1) beats Steve King via submission to the figure-four leglock at 1:55:

King tries to get the jump on Jarrett but fails and Jarrett stomps him relentlessly in the corner. King bumps nicely, bouncing off the ropes during a slingshot suplex and taking a leg sweep bump on his head. Due to his efforts this was one of Jarrett’s better squashes since his debut.

Jerry Lawler (w/Queasy, Sleazy & Cheesy) (2-2) pins Gary Scott after the piledriver at 1:42:

Like Doink’s squash on Superstars, Lawler gets help from his little allies. They kick Scott in the shins and when he gets back in the ring, Lawler piledrives him.

Ray Rougeau does an in-ring interview with WWF Champion Bret Hart. Bret talks in circles about Bob Backlund losing his mind and how he will face all comers for the title. Bret is clearly struggling to come up with some good talking points for this feud.

The Heavenly Bodies (w/Jim Cornette) (16-0) beat Tony Roy & Ben Jordan when Jimmy Del Ray pins Roy after the moonsault at 2:00:

With two months to go in 1994, the Bodies have the tag team division’s best win-loss record. Unfortunately, they have not gotten a shot at the Tag Team titles. Jordan does okay against Tom Prichard but Roy succumbs to the Bodies creative double teams.

The 1-2-3 Kid (22-4-1) defeats Todd Mata after a missile dropkick at 2:21:

The Kid joins Adam Bomb in the peculiar wardrobe department, wearing tights that blend his blue and yellow 1-2-3 Kid look with the yellow and red look he had in Global as the Lightning Kid. Mata looks clueless with some of his offense. The Kid spams all kinds of dropkicks for a ninth-straight singles win.

The Last Word: Yokozuna and Mabel had a fun big man match but nothing else mattered. Next week’s Action Zone feature match is Bob Holly vs. Jerry Lawler so Vince McMahon has already lost interest in the show. The lack of interesting midcard feuds hurts the Survivor Series team matches this year. For example, what is there to be excited about with Razor Ramon’s team against whomever the Teamsters captain is? The Ramon-Jeff Jarrett program has not gotten much play, Shawn Michaels & Diesel versus the New Headshrinkers is a poor program, and the British Bulldog’s battle with Jim Neidhart and Owen Hart is subsumed into the Bret Hart-Bob Backlund program.

Here is a recap of the WWF’s house show action for the first week of November, courtesy of thehistoryofwwe.com:

Seattle, Washington – Seattle Center Coliseum – November 5, 1994 (4,700): Adam Bomb pinned Pierre (substituting for Bam Bam Bigelow)…Billy Gunn beat Tom Prichard…Lex Luger wrestled Tatanka to a double count out…WWF Champion Bret Hart defeated Jim Neidhart via submission to the Sharpshooter. Bob Backlund tried to get at Bret after the match…Irwin R. Schyster defeated Bob Holly by using the ropes for leverage…Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon pinned Jeff Jarrett after the Razor’s Edge…The Undertaker defeated Yokozuna in a casket match.

Elizabeth, New Jersey – Ritz Theatre – November 6, 1994: The 1-2-3 Kid beat Abe Schwartz…King Kong Bundy defeated Mabel…Doink the Clown defeated Kwang…The British Bulldog beat Owen Hart…The Bushwhackers defeated Well Dunn…WWF Women’s Champion Alundra Blayze defeated Bull Nakano…Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon beat Jeff Jarrett.

Backstage News*: Many are shocked that Randy Savage has left for WCW, ending a 10-year working relationship with the WWF. WCW reportedly wants to run a Hulk Hogan-Savage feud and have Elizabeth Heulette, Savage’s ex-wife, as part of the program. However, Elizabeth has a no-compete clause that does not expire until next year, a condition of her release from the WWF in 1992.

-Monday Night RAW broadcasts will start airing in Mexico this month.

-There are rumors that an Alundra Blazye-Bull Nakano match may be added at the last minute to the Survivor Series card.

*Backstage news is provided courtesy of Dave Meltzer’s Wrestling Observer for November 14.

Up Next: Monday Night RAW for November 7!

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