What the World Was Watching: WWF Action Zone – 11.13.94

Vince McMahon and Todd Pettengill call today’s action, taped from Albany, New York.

Opening Contest: Jerry Lawler (w/Queasy, Sleazy & Cheesy) (3-2) beats Bob Holly (26-4-1) after a blind charge at 7:45 shown:

Every time that Holly gets a run of moves, Lawler stalls to break his momentum. McMahon fills the time wondering how Lawler came up with names for his little people. The Royal Family puts boots to Holly on the arena floor but Holly quickly recovers. Lawler accidentally runs into his allies, knocking them over like bowling pins. That triggers a late Holly rally but he crotches himself on the second rope when doing a blind charge, allowing Lawler to win. There was not a lot of action here because of Lawler’s stalling. The way Holly lost was supposed to protect him as McMahon tries to sell the idea that Lawler barely escaped defeat. However, Holly never had Lawler in a compromising position to get that over. Rating: *

Pettengill shows off a poster of the Undertaker that is in the Survivor Series program and McMahon looks irritated when Pettengill puts it over his face. Pettengill then goes through the Survivor Series card.

The Smoking Gunns (20-2-1) beat Jeremy Cutter & Nick Barberry when Billy pins Barberry after the Sidewinder at 2:43:

Cutter starts the match for his team but is on the verge of a wardrobe malfunction after taking a Billy leg drop. So he tags Barberry, who traps Billy in a sleeper hold. However, Billy escapes with a jawbreaker and fakes Barberry out on a leap frog to deliver an inverted atomic drop. The Gunns are using the side suplex-leg drop combination as a setup move now as Barberry takes that and then the powerbomb-flying leg drop Sidewinder at the end of the contest.

Irwin R. Schyster (w/Ted DiBiase) (29-3) pins Mike Bell after the Write Off at 1:24:

IRS continues to allude to a future program with the Undertaker, telling the crowd before the match that no one will rest in peace until their taxes are paid. Bell surprises IRS with an early arm drag but after complaining to the referee the tax man refocuses, back suplexes out of a lockup position, and coasts to a twelfth-straight singles win.

A video package recaps Bob Backlund’s storied career and his heel turn. WWF Champion Bret Hart botches saying “crossface chicken wing” and reminds fans that Backlund is a relic.

Jim Neidhart (w/Owen Hart) (16-1) defeated Scott Taylor via submission to the Camel Clutch at 1:26:

Neidhart and Owen are back together for this show. Taylor takes a great bump from a Neidhart shoulder block and then gets some nice hang time on a backdrop. Those bumps, combined with the short time the bout is given, make this one of Neidhart’s better squashes.

Ray Rougeau interviews Razor Ramon, the 1-2-3 Kid, the British Bulldog, the New Headshrinkers, Afa & Captain Lou Albano. Ramon speaks for his team, hyping the qualities of each teammate. The Bulldog chats a bit with Albano off to the side, a wink at Albano helping the Bulldogs win the WWF Tag Team Championship in 1986. Ramon repeats an often-used phrase that he is tired of talking and wants to start fighting. This elimination bout is flat because the heels do not have a clear captain. Ideally, that would be Jeff Jarrett because he is having a house show program with Ramon but many fans would argue it is Shawn Michaels. The problem there is Michaels and Diesel have apparently given up hunting the Intercontinental Championship and are content with the Tag titles. That means they are battling the New Headshrinkers but there is not a lot of excitement with that feud.

Lex Luger (30-3-1) beats H.D. Ryder via submission to the Rebel Rack at 2:20:

Luger has a young flag bearer with him today. Ryder takes a hiptoss and slam before raking Luger’s eyes. However, his advantage is short lived as Luger reverses a whip into the ropes, punches him in the gut, and finishes him off with a slam and the Rebel Rack. Afterward, Luger has the kid come in and wave the flag.

Backstage, Charlie Minn interviews Ted DiBiase, Bam Bam Bigelow & King Kong Bundy. DiBiase says that Bigelow and Bundy are going to show fans how matches are won today.

Bam Bam Bigelow & King Kong Bundy (w/Ted DiBiase) beat Phil Apollo & Todd Mata when Bundy pins Mata after the Avalanche at 2:45:

Bigelow continues to cycle through DiBiase’s stable as a tag team partner for whoever needs television time. Bigelow and Bundy wrestle their own matches inside of the squash, wrestling their opponents in turn. In comparison, Bundy is booked stronger than Bigelow, not selling for the enhancement team. Apollo has a poor wrestling IQ, tagging in Mata even though his partner could have been pinned earlier after a Bundy slam. The weakened Mata gets destroyed by Bigelow, Apollo is knocked off the apron, and Bundy gets the winning pin after the Avalanche. Afterward, Bigelow and Bundy beat up their opponents with no repercussions.

Tune in next week to see Jeff Jarrett battle Fatu!

The Last Word: There was more Survivor Series salesmanship on the program but nothing that stood out other than Scott Taylor’s bumping ability. A lack of angles makes the show as meaningless as the syndicated Wrestling Challenge. But at least this show has a feature match. Speaking of feature matches, the declining quality of what fans are getting from them is a reflection of Vince McMahon no longer believing that the show is worth his time.

Wrestling Challenge featured one additional match with Gorilla Monsoon and Ted DiBiase commentating:

Doink the Clown (w/Dink, Wink & Pink) (31-3) pins Richie Rich after the Whoopie Cushion at 1:32:

The most humorous thing during the match has nothing to do with it as Monsoon highlights the latest WWF Magazine that has Randy Savage on the cover even though he has left the promotion. After a quick comedy bit where Dink runs the ropes with Rich, Doink destroys his opponent with an atomic drop, tilt-a-whirl slam, and the Whoopie Cushion.

The WWF sent a crew over to Germany while another remained in the United States for some Midwest shows. Here were the results of a few cards, courtesy of thehistoryofwwe.com:

St. Louis, Missouri – Kiel Center – November 10, 1994 (4,500): The Bushwhackers beat Well Dunn…Adam Bomb defeated Bam Bam Bigelow after Bigelow hit an unprotected turnbuckle…Jerry Lawler beat Doink the Clown…Lex Luger wrestled Tatanka to a double count out…Alundra Blayze & Heidi Lee Morgan defeated Bull Nakano & Luna Vachon…Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon pinned Owen Hart with a small package…The Undertaker defeated Yokozuna in a casket match.

Boston, Massachusetts – The Boston Garden – November 12, 1994 (5,000): The Bushwhackers defeated Well Dunn…Bam Bam Bigelow beat Adam Bomb…Jerry Lawler defeated Doink the Clown…Lex Luger wrestled Tatanka to a double count out…Alundra Blayze & Heidi Lee Morgan beat Bull Nakano & Luna Vachon…Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon defeated Owen Hart…The Undertaker beat Irwin R. Schyster.

Cologne, Germany – Sporthalle – November 13, 1994 (6,500; sellout): The 1-2-3 Kid defeated Kwang…Bob Holly beat Pierre…Diesel defeated Fatu…Mabel beat Jeff Jarrett via count out…The Smoking Gunns beat the Heavenly Bodies…The British Bulldog defeated Jim Neidhart…WWF Champion Bret Hart defeated King Kong Bundy.

Backstage News*: WWF Champion Bret Hart might be eyeing a career in television. He recently filmed an episode of Lonesome Dove: The Series that will air in March.

-In talent relations news, there are rumors that Hercules has been contacted to return as a Cuban gang member from Razor Ramon’s past and that the two will feud next year. Others who have been contacted are Bruiser Bedlam, Dan Kroffat, and Doug Furnas. The Vampire Warrior, Luna Vachon’s new husband, worked television tapings as the Black Phantom and the Vampire.

*Backstage news is provided courtesy of Dave Meltzer’s Wrestling Observer for November 21.

Up Next: Monday Night RAW for November 14!

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