WTWWW WWE — page 12

Happy New Year to all of the readers of the Blog of Doom!

Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler, and Randy Savage are in the booth, taped from White Plains, New York.  Lawler drops the crutch he has and limps across the screen, screaming “I can walk!”

Opening Contest:  The Headshrinkers (w/Afa) (21-2-1) beat Marty Jannetty & Virgil when Samu pins Virgil after a flying headbutt to the back of the head at 9:17 shown:

Virgil looks awkward coming out to the Rockers theme music.  Jannetty and Virgil do not use much of their aerial ability, allowing the Headshrinkers to dominate much of the contest.  Jannetty is placed in peril and does a good job selling.  A Samu blind charge sends him shoulder-first into the ring post and that lets Virgil receive the hot tag.  The babyface duo give Fatu a double dropkick and Virgil hits his side Russian leg sweep.  However, referee Mike Chioda spends too much time getting Jannetty out of the ring, giving Samu the opportunity to fly off the top rope with a headbutt and finish.  The ending was good but the first five minutes were dull.  Rating:  **

All American Wrestling featured an exclusive match, which was taped in Lowell, Massachusetts on August 18.  In a match with no available footage, Razor Ramon (23-3-2) beat Damien Demento (9-7) for the second time this year with a Razor’s Edge at 4:20.

Jim Ross and Bobby Heenan provide commentary, starting a new set of tapings in Lowell, Massachusetts.  According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the taping took place on August 18 and drew a sellout crowd of 2,500 fans.

Opening Contest:  Irwin R. Schyster (1-1) beats Jerry Seavey after the Write Off at 2:27:

Heenan has a stinging burn on Lex Luger, arguing that he promised everything and did nothing at SummerSlam.  Again, the WWF is trying to position Luger as a wronged party and someone who is going to get back in the title picture but it is not good when the babyface is facing criticisms that cannot be refuted.  Before the match, IRS talks about how new tax laws are coming that will make the fans pay up.  Ross echoes what Vince McMahon said on Superstars about IRS having a bout on the horizon against Razor Ramon.  Seavey gets a fluke sunset flip for two, the lone highlight of a boring squash.

WWF Mania featured its last exclusive match of the year, taped in Plattburgh, New York on July 27 with Jim Ross and Gorilla Monsoon on commentary.

Well Dunn (1-3) beat Mike Khoury & Scott Amonte when Steven Dunn pins Khoury after a double DDT at 2:50:

Ross floats the idea that Well Dunn would do better with a manager.  The team puts together one of its better matches, showing off new moves as Timothy Well whips Dunn into the corner to hit Amonte with an elbow and then Well follows up with a spinning heel kick.  They also give the younger jobber a double clothesline to the back of the head.  Khoury gets a small hot tag sequence where he gets to throw some fists but he is quickly neutralized with a double DDT, stopping Well Dunn’s three-match losing streak.

Merry Christmas to all of the readers of the Blog of Doom!

The Lex Express is shown pulling up to the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Vince McMahon and Bobby Heenan are in the booth, live from Auburn Hills, Michigan.  According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the card drew a crowd of 14,100 but other reports like Dave Meltzer’s Wrestling Observer put the attendance far higher at 23,954.  The show drew a buyrate of 1.30 (250,000 buys), a decline from the previous year’s buyrate of 1.50 (280,000 buys).  This was the fourth straight year that fewer fans bought SummerSlam.

Opening Contest:  Razor Ramon (21-3-2) pins Ted DiBiase (1-3) after the Razor’s Edge at 7:30:

DiBiase tries to get a jump on Ramon but ends up on the floor a couple of times after taking a punch and clothesline.  The match goes through the motions and DiBiase appears checked out as he does some rest holds and only adds a swinging neckbreaker and suplex to his arsenal.  He never goes for the Million Dollar Dream, preferring to take the corner turnbuckle off to get an edge.  However, Ramon reverses going into the exposed steel and hits his finish, with Heenan making a great call of “Teddy no!” to overlap McMahon’s celebratory declaration that Ramon is using the Razor’s Edge.  This would turn out to be DiBiase’s last WWF match as he injured his neck in All Japan a few months later and would never return to in-ring competition.  Rating:  **

All American Wrestling had a feature tag team match, taped in Poughkeepsie, New York on August 16.  Jim Ross and Gorilla Monsoon provided commentary:

The Smoking Gunns (13-1) defeat Well Dunn (1-2) via count out at 6:31 shown:

Well Dunn lost their most recent match to the Gunns a few weeks ago on Superstars and this is their attempt to get their win back.  There is not much flow to the action as a commercial break skips over how Well Dunn gain the advantage.  Bart fights his way out of a few sleeper holds and Billy’s hot tag generates little crowd response.  To his credit, he brings them into it with the ten punches in the corner spot and goes over the top rope on a failed body press.  That leads to arguably the dumbest finish of the year as Well Dunn chase Bart around in a two-on-one situation but run into each other and then roll to the floor rather than stay in the ring.  After that happens Bart rolls Billy in, beating the ten count and giving the Gunns a weak win.  Rating:  *

Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler, and Randy Savage call the action on today’s show, concluding the taping in Utica, New York.

Opening Contest:  The 1-2-3 Kid (9-2-1) pins the Brooklyn Brawler after the flying leg drop to the back of the head at 1:57:

The Brawler cuts off the Kid early with a clothesline and decides to take off his shirt to show he means business.  Irwin R. Schyster does an insert promo about how the Kid’s luck is running out at SummerSlam.  The squash has a poor finish as the Kid pops up after taking a swinging neckbreaker, throws the Brawler off the top rope, and a snapmare leads the Brawler to roll over on his belly so the Kid can do his finish.

Jim Ross and Gorilla Monsoon provide commentary, taped from Poughkeepsie, New York, the same location as the recent Monday Night RAW.

Opening Non-Title Contest:  Yokozuna (WWF Champion w/Mr. Fuji) (24-2) beats Hacksaw Jim Duggan (15-2) after the Banzai Drop at 8:18 shown:

These two had a hot feud to start the year.  It had run its course by this point but the match provides a televised blowoff for fans who did not see the house show matches between them.  The crowd is invested throughout even though the only offense Duggan can muster are fists.  Yokozuna is not moving as easily as he did the previous year, showing some of the ill effects of his weight gain.  At the seven-minute mark Duggan knocks Yokozuna down with three clotheslines.  He sets up for the three-point stance version but Fuji trips him, a distraction that allows Yokozuna to avalanche Duggan and hit his finisher afterward.  After nearly a year on the roster, Ross finally gives Yokozuna’s finisher a name:  the Banzai Drop.  This was a decent big man match and was a great exhibit in how to work a crowd with few moves.  Just like Yokozuna ended Hulk Hogan’s WWF run, this ended Duggan’s six-year tenure with the company.  He was told to wait until they had something new for him to do but the call never came and Duggan ended up working for WCW the following year.  Rating:  **

After the bell, Yokozuna gets ready to do a second Banzai Drop but WWF officials race into the ring to prevent that.

All American Wrestling had an exclusive match, taped in Plattsburgh, New York on July 27.  Jim Ross and Gorilla Monsoon provided commentary:

The Bushwhackers (3-0) beat the Quebecers (4-0) when Butch pins Jacques with a schoolboy roll up at 6:53 shown:

Most of the match is stalling as the Bushwhackers play to the crowd and the Quebecers feign going to the locker room and nearly get counted out.  When the match settles in, Butch is placed in peril.  He never tags Luke but that makes no difference as he avoids the Quebecers spot where Jacques backdrops Pierre onto a fallen opponent and then rolls up Jacques when Jacques yells at the camera.  This can be considered a big upset because it was the Quebecers first feature match and one would have thought they would go over a team in semi-retirement to build them up for the Steiner Brothers.  The booking could also be read as a test of Jacques Rougeau since he left the company over creative differences in 1992.  Booking him to lose may have been a way to see if he was willing to play ball before the WWF got behind the new team.  Rating:  ½*

After the match, the Quebecers are sore losers and attack the Bushwhackers in the aisle until WWF officials intercede.

WWF Mania on Saturday morning had an exclusive squash match, taped in Utica, New York on July 26.  Jim Ross and Gorilla Monsoon provided commentary:

Virgil (7-8) beats Barry Hardy after the side Russian leg sweep at 3:26:

As the roster turns over, Virgil is becoming less relevant as his old allies and enemy depart.  He alternates between some high-flying spots and mat wrestling, ending a three-match losing streak.

Vince McMahon, Bobby Heenan, and Randy Savage are in the booth, live from Poughkeepsie, New York.  According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the show drew a sellout crowd of 3,000.

Opening Contest:  The 1-2-3 Kid (7-2-1) beats Ted DiBiase (1-2) via disqualification when Irwin R. Schyster interferes at 4:44:

This is the return match from the Kid’s upset of DiBiase on Wrestling Challenge and McMahon tells fans that Razor Ramon and IRS are barred from ringside.  Ramon calls into the show, saying that the Kid has unique moves and he met with the Kid before tonight’s match, making the Kid promise to leave some of DiBiase for him at SummerSlam.  DiBiase dominates the contest, with the Kid keeping the crowd invested with a couple of near-falls from dropkicks and a missile dropkick.  When the Kid goes back to the top, IRS rushes out and pushes him off in view of the referee and DiBiase gets disqualified.  This was not as good as their Wrestling Challenge match because the first few minutes dragged.  It is DiBiase’s fourth-straight defeat in singles and tag matches.  Rating:  *½

All American Wrestling had a series of new matches, with commentary coming from Jim Ross and Gorilla Monsoon.  Footage from two matches was not found:

-Marty Jannetty (12-3-1) pins Fred Williams after the flying fist drop at 4:25
-The Heavenly Bodies (2-0) defeat Virgil & Glen Ruth when Jimmy del Ray pinned Ruth after the moonsault at 5:33

Razor Ramon (18-3-2) pins Damien Demento (9-6) after the Razor’s Edge at 4:40:

This match was taped in Utica, New York on July 26.  It is not a good showcase for babyface Ramon as Demento controls most of the match and gets near-falls from a flying shoulder block and elbow drop.  Ramon finally fights out of a chinlock and then greets a Demento backdrop attempt with a knee, kicking his opponent and doing the Razor’s Edge to win a boring encounter.  Rating:  ¾*

Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler, and Randy Savage are commentating, starting a new taping in Utica, New York.  According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the taping took place on July 26.

Opening Contest:  Razor Ramon (17-3-2) pins Duane Gill after the Razor’s Edge at 2:04:

In the split screen, Ted DiBiase tells Ramon that he will pay the price at SummerSlam and lose his machismo.  Ramon tosses Gill around before finishing him off for his second win of the week.

Gorilla Monsoon’s Update segment shows highlights of Lex Express stops in Niagara Falls, Detroit, and Chicago.

Footage of the Lex Express in Chicago, Illinois is shown.  Luger goes to a Chicago White Sox baseball game, throws the opening pitch, and talks to White Sox player Tim Raines.

Vince McMahon, Bobby Heenan, and Randy Savage are commentating, taped again from Alexandria Bay, New York.

Opening Contest:  Tatanka (27-0-2) beats Mr. Hughes (w/Harvey Wippleman) (21-1-1) via count out at 4:56 shown:

Less than a minute into the match another black wreath is brought to ringside by a WWF official.  Hughes swallows up Tatanka until a blind charge causes him to collide with the ring post, breaking his sunglasses.  Tatanka makes a quick comeback with chops and they fight on the floor, with Tatanka backdropping Hughes and getting back into the ring before the referee finishes his ten count.  The loss is the first for Hughes in ten matches.  Rating:  ½*

All American Wrestling had an exclusive match, taped from the Monday Night RAW location in Alexandria Bay, New York on July 25.  Jim Ross and Gorilla Monsoon provided commentary:

Non-Title Match:  Owen Hart (7-5) beats Shawn Michaels (Intercontinental Champion w/Diesel) (20-4-1) via disqualification when Diesel interferes at 7:15:

Even though Owen has lost a good number of feature matches this year, the crowd still gets behind him for the match.  These two would have better bouts later as this one is hurt by Michaels’ style at the time that leaned toward doing long rest holds in the middle.  Owen scores near-falls from a facebuster and belly-to-belly suplex during his comeback.  When he runs the ropes shortly after, Diesel trips him in view of the referee and that gets Michaels disqualified, giving Owen a small upset win.  The loss breaks Michaels’ seven-match winning streak.  Rating:  **¼

After the match, Michaels gets his heat back by attacking Owen.  Diesel enters the ring and they do a brief two-on-one attack on the younger Hart brother.

Wrestling Spotlight had another exclusive match, taped in Salisbury, Maryland on July 7.  Jim Ross and Gorilla Monsoon commentated:

Mr. Perfect (26-2-2) beats Bastion Booger (6-3) with a roll up at 6:50:

One can read on Curt Hennig’s face that he is not sure what he can do with Booger.  Booger’s lack of offensive acumen is showcased again when his forearm blows to Perfect lack power.  Perfect survives several bearhugs and tries to do the Perfectplex.  He gets Booger over but cannot keep his hands locked through the hold.  Booger gets up no worse for wear and there is a nonsensical finish where Perfect takes Booger’s sit-down splash finish and immediately shrugs it off roll him up sunset flip style.  Rating:  ½*

Vince McMahon and Bobby Heenan are commentating, taped from Alexandria Bay, New York.  According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the taping took place on July 25 and was attended by 1,000 fans.  The venue is a recreation center but it looks like a vacated industrial facility.

Randy Savage is in the locker room, promising a surprise for Doink the Clown later.

Opening Non-Title Contest:  The Steiner Brothers (WWF Tag Team Champions) (27-0) beat Duane Gill & Barry Horowitz when Scott pins Gill after the Frankensteiner at 2:45:

McMahon says that the Steiners have signed an open contract for SummerSlam because they just want to wrestle in front of a hometown crowd in Michigan.  The action is muted compared to other Steiner squashes.  Scott uses a pumphandle slam on Gill to set up the Frankensteiner.

All American Wrestling had an exclusive match, filmed from the Superstars taping location in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania on July 6.  Jim Ross and Gorilla Monsoon commentated.

The 1-2-3 Kid (5-2-1) beats Damien Demento (9-5) after the flying leg drop to the back of the head at 3:56:

Even though Demento has been used a lot on house shows he has not made a televised appearance since the May 15 edition of WWF Mania.  Demento focuses his attack on the Kid’s back, which prevents the Kid from slamming him in the early going.  Some of Demento’s bumps are sloppy as he falls slowly after a spinning heel kick and treats a DDT like he is taking a suplex bump.  Either way, that DDT from the Kid sets up the flying leg drop and the Kid runs his winning streak to five matches.  Rating:  *½

Wrestling Spotlight had another exclusive match, which was taped in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada on May 25.  Jim Ross and Gorilla Monsoon commentated.

Blake Beverly (0-4) beats Virgil (7-7) after rolling through a body press off the ropes at 6:06:

The crowd is not invested since neither man has any wind at their sails.  Virgil does a sloppy crucifix, which still gets a near-fall, and most fans would expect him to win against a former tag team wrestler.  However, Blake recovers after missing a flying headbutt and kicks out of Virgil’s finishing side Russian leg sweep.  When Virgil does a body press off the ropes, Blake rolls through it for the upset.  A loss like this means that Virgil needs to get his resume in order.  Rating:  *½

Doink the Clown tells Randy Savage that he did not appreciate when he interfered in his match last month against Marty Jannetty.  He tells the “Macho Boy” to stay out of his business and that he might have a surprise in store for him later in the evening.

Vince McMahon, Bobby Heenan, and Savage are in the booth, taped from the Manhattan Center in New York City.  Savage tells Doink to bring it on.  Bret Hart’s parents are also shown sitting in the balcony before the opening match.

Jim Ross and Bobby Heenan are commentating, starting a new taping from Salisbury, Maryland.  According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the taping took place on July 7 and was attended by 3,700 fans.

Opening Contest:  Jerry Lawler (2-0) pins Owen Hart (7-4) after the piledriver and using the tights at 6:31:

Before the match, Lawler offers Owen a chance to kiss his feet to avoid the match.  Unsurprisingly, Owen does not accept and slaps Lawler.  Lawler does all the Memphis tricks in stalling, hiding behind the referee, and using a phantom object.  Despite all of that, Owen dominates and eventually tags Lawler with a missile dropkick.  However, he wastes time getting Lawler away from the ropes and only gets two.  A blind charge sends Owen shoulder-first into the ring post and Lawler hits his finisher to remain undefeated in the WWF.  Rating:  *½

After the match, Lawler gets on the house microphone and tells fans that Bret will get the same treatment that his brother got at SummerSlam.  He stomps Owen before posing for the crowd and leaving.