What the World Was Watching: WWF Wrestling Challenge – 12.25.94

Gorilla Monsoon and Ted DiBiase are announcing the last Wrestling Challenge episode of the year, taped in Lowell, Massachusetts. Monsoon is dressed as Santa and called “Gorilla Claus” today.

Opening Contest: Owen Hart (42-5) beats Buck Quartermaine via submission to the Sharpshooter at 2:36:

Monsoon argues that 1994 was a down year for Owen. That assessment is wrong because while Owen failed to win the WWF Championship, he beat his brother at the biggest show of the year and won the King of the Ring Tournament. Quartermaine gets a spirited comeback at the end but runs into a belly-to-belly suplex, leading to his submission to the Sharpshooter. After winning, Owen throws Bret’s Survivor Series towel on Quartermaine.

The 1-2-3 Kid (26-5-1) pins Bert Centeno after the flying leg drop at 2:14:

Centeno gets to show off a bit against the Kid, doing a nice forward roll into a headscissors spot in the corner. Taking that move just gets the Kid fired up, though, unleashing a lot of kicks in the corner. Centeno sells the Kid’s finish well, reacting to the impact and rolling over.

Tamara Lynn Sytch makes her WWF debut as Tamara Murphy for Live Event News. Sytch, a girlfriend of then-NWA World Champion Chris Candido, was working in Smoky Mountain Wrestling at the time as Tammy Fytch, a heel that was patterned after First Lady Hillary Clinton. She has screen presence and charisma and, like Stephanie Wiand, was an upgrade over the fired Charlie Minn. Although it was reported that she was going to be a heel, she played this segment straight.

Irwin R. Schyster (w/Ted DiBiase & Druid) (35-3) pins Nick Barberri after the Write Off at 1:18:

IRS tells fans that he hopes they did not buy too many Christmas presents because they will need money to pay their taxes. Monsoon, who does commentary, says that many of IRS’ moves will not work on the Undertaker. At least he calls IRS’ finisher correctly, unlike Vince McMahon.

Jeff Jarrett is at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, saying that it needs a neon sign with his name. He wonders aloud if it should be his new home. He goes inside and says they will need to pay him a lot of money to play there.

Adam Bomb (22-7) defeats Barry Hardy after a slingshot clothesline at 2:06:

There is some token discussion of Bomb’s Rumble chances. He dropkicks Hardy out of the ring, rolls him inside, and earns an easy win with a slingshot clothesline.

The Last Word: This was just a filler episode to fill contractual obligations. Throughout 1994 Wrestling Challenge saw fewer stations around the country carry it in syndication and the debut of The Action Zone reinforced that the WWF’s television future was on cable. But hey, fans did see Gorilla Monsoon dressed as Santa today.

Backstage News*: Even though local media has been sympathetic to Jacques Rougeau in its coverage of his spat with the WWF, there is a lot of heat on Rougeau from other media outlets because his retirement show was in October and he was thinking of a comeback just two months later. People feel that they have been played for fools. There has also been a piece circulating from Raymond Rougeau about how Vince McMahon was always good to the Rougeaus. Another story is that Jacques’ father has come out against his son. All of this has led to Vince McMahon naming Raymond as his new promoter for the Montreal area.

-Monday Night RAW earned a 2.7 rating.

-In talent relations news, Jim Ross has been rehired to work in creative and produce television. Ross has been announcing for Smoky Mountain Wrestling after his two-month deal with the WWF expired in August. There are not plans to make him an announcer again. Ross will do some of the tasks Pat Patterson usually did as Patterson wants to cut back on his workload. Gene Okerlund was creating speculation on the WCW Hotline that Bret Hart reached out to WCW, forcing Bret’s agent Carl Demarco to release a statement on December 21 that Bret had not been involved in negotiations with WCW and was happy to be part of the WWF. Chris Candido has agreed to come in, cancelling commitments for an All Japan tour in January. Mike Hallick, brother of former WCW wrestler P.N. News, has been signed too and will be given a Minotaur gimmick.

*Backstage news is provided courtesy of Dave Meltzer’s Wrestling Observer for January 2.

Up Next: Monday Night RAW for December 26!

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