What the World Was Watching: WWF Monday Night – 12.19.94

Vince McMahon and Shawn Michaels, who are wearing Santa hats, are in the booth, taped from Poughkeepsie, New York on November 28.

Opening Contest: Irwin R. Schyster (w/Ted DiBiase & a Druid) (34-3) defeats Lex Luger (34-3-1) via count out at 6:56 shown:

Michaels calls attention to the fact that Luger’s flag bearer does not look enthusiastic. This is a stellar match in terms of win-loss records for the year and has more heat than anything on the last episode. IRS’ druid gets involved for the first time in a match, distracting Luger and putting the boots to him when IRS knocks him to the floor. As the show goes to commercial it zooms in on the druid’s hand to show several rings, which McMahon says look familiar. IRS is not in much of a working mood, stalling and then killing time with rest holds. The crowd gets invested in Luger’s comeback after he blocks an IRS right hand. The Druid grabs Luger’s leg as he runs the ropes, providing a distraction that allows IRS to get a schoolboy for two. After kicking out, Luger goes after the druid and removes his hood to reveal Tatanka. He keeps fighting with Tatanka, getting counted out in the process and losing a twelve-match winning streak in singles competition. The result explains why Luger dominated much of the contest. Rating: *½

After the bell rings, IRS knees Luger in the back and the heels walk away victorious as Luger probably questions his life choices on the arena floor and wonders what Sting’s phone number is.

The Bushwhackers try to get Finkel pumped up backstage, encouraging him to eat as many sardines as he can. Finkel shoves a lot in his mouth and then the Bushwhackers smear more across his face.

Jeff Jarrett is at Bally’s Resort Casino in Las Vegas. He is greeted by comedian Rip Taylor, who hugs him and is a big fan. Taylor tries to give Jarrett some advice.

The Smoking Gunns (25-2-1) beat Roy Raymond & Chris Avery when Billy pins Avery after the Sidewinder at 4:06:

Avery was a trainee of Buddy Valentine and Randy Hogan, breaking into the business in 1991. In 1993, he worked as an enhancement worker for WCW as Chris Nelson.

Michaels jokes that if the Gunns win the Tag Team Championship that they could afford a double wide trailer they have their eyes set on. Bart has a lot of the fingers of his left hand taped up, bearing the scars of a hard road schedule. To fit with the vocational gimmicks that everyone is having to do to support their wrestling habit lately, McMahon says that the Gunns are looking to enter rodeo competitions. Avery takes most of the Gunns double teams and loses the match for his team.

It is announced that the British Bulldog will wrestle Tatanka next week.

Bob Backlund is a guest on the King’s Court. Backlund gloats about being better than Bret Hart and that when he put the crossface chicken wing on him at Survivor Series it was like he was giving it to the fans. He encourages Bret to come after him if he wants to taste the chicken wing again. When it comes to WWF Champion Diesel, he calls him by his real name and labels him a “neanderthal.” Michaels needles McMahon when Backlund says Kevin Nash, saying “Do you know who that is McMahon?” McMahon seems less than pleased. Backlund reiterates his desire to exterminate Diesel, finishing an entertaining promo that keeps the fires burning for feuds with the promotion’s top babyfaces.

Bob Holly (29-5-1) pins Chris Canyon after a flying elbow drop at 3:36:

The zingers from Michaels keep coming, wondering if Holly can make it to the ring “without running into the rail” in reference to Holly crashing during the Snowball Derby. Canyon throws a forearm and tosses Holly’s head into the canvas when Holly ducks his head too early on an Irish whip. He dances a bit and gets a near-fall from a backdrop suplex. Holly makes a comeback out of nowhere as Michaels says Holly seeks to qualify for the Royal Rumble, leading to speculation of whether Michaels will enter the match. When Canyon ducks his head too early on an Irish whip, Holly counters into a suplex and wins a long, harder fought squash with a flying elbow drop. In the closing stages of the match, McMahon says The Action Zone will be pre-empted the next few weeks, causing Michaels to make fun of Pettengill’s announcing talent.

Todd Pettengill does The Royal Rumble Report. It is emphasized that the winner of the Royal Rumble will earn a WWF title shot at WrestleMania.

The Bushwhackers (w/Howard Finkel) (15-3) beat Well Dunn (w/Harvey Wippleman) (6-3) when Butch pins Steven Dunn after blocking a sunset flip at 4:19:

Finkel is, wearing a cut off Monday Night RAW t-shirt with some Bushwhacker pants and a green Bushwhacker hat that he turns backward on his head. The WWF made people believe this was a six-man tag match but it just ends up as a conventional tag with Finkel and Wippleman on the floor. As Finkel looks like a goof Michaels has a funny line about how Finkel probably “does not get a lot of chicks.” The match is worse than the last time that these two teams wrestled. Butch moves so slowly running to do a clothesline that it is hard not to feel bad for Well Dunn to have to sell them. The end comes when Butch tries to block a Dunn sunset flip. Wippleman tries to pull Butch back into the move behind the referee’s back but Finkel rips Wippleman’s pants off, causing Wippleman to fall to the floor. Without the extra curriculars, Butch sits down and block the sunset flip and the Bushwhackers avenge their previous defeat to Well Dunn. Rating: ¼*

Afterward, Finkel does the Bushwhacker arm swing with the victors.

Mabel sits on Santa’s lap and nearly kills him. Santa ends up sitting in Mabel’s lap instead.

Jim Neidhart (19-2) beats Nick Barberri via submission to the Camel Clutch at 2:14 shown:

The squash, which is joined in progress, allows McMahon to hype Neidhart and Owen Hart’s chances in the Tag Team Title Tournament. A weak “We want Bret!” chant goes on in the background as Neidhart beats up Barberri like he owes him money, backdropping him over the top rope and slamming him on the arena floor. The hard camera zooms in on Neidhart’s face as he squeezes Barberri into submission.

Tune in next week to see the British Bulldog face Tatanka! Also, the Undertaker and Henry Godwinn will be in action! And WWF Champion Diesel will appear on the King’s Court!

The Last Word: The crowd were not being given much to cheer for at this taping. Elements of the crowd liked seeing Howard Finkel humiliate Harvey Wippleman but it seemed like a greater interaction between the two is what was promised than what fans got. Lex Luger’s count out loss was another dumb loss for him to take this year, right up there with pushing Mr. Perfect at WrestleMania and losing to Jeff Jarrett in a King of the Ring qualifier in the spring. Despite these defects, though, Shawn Michaels’ commentary was entertaining enough to get through it all.

Up Next: WWF Superstars for December 24!

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