WTWWW WWE — page 13

Wrestling Spotlight had an original match, which was taped in Huntington, West Virginia on June 15 and had Jim Ross and Gorilla Monsoon on commentary.  It was the last match of Kamala’s run:

The Headshrinkers (w/Afa) (18-2-1) defeat Hacksaw Jim Duggan & Kamala when Samu pins Duggan after a double thrust kick at 7:16:

When Ross wonders how Duggan and Kamala will communicate, Monsoon responds with a pointed “They’re not.”  Monsoon also criticizes Slick for abandoning Kamala.  The match goes through the required bits of the tag team checklist – babyface shine, putting a babyface in peril (in this case Kamala), and there is a brawl between everyone at the end – but everyone goes through the motions.  For example, Duggan mows down the Headshrinkers with clotheslines and it does not take long for the Headshrinkers to put Kamala in peril and nothing they do is interesting.  The only fun bit is Afa telling his team “ICOPRO!  ICOPRO!” and wildly dancing at ringside.  After receiving the hot tag, Duggan nails Samu with the three-point stance clothesline but Afa hops on the apron to prevent a pinfall.  Kamala gets too wound up in the brawl and accidentally chops Duggan, setting Duggan up for a Headshrinkers double thrust kick.  Monsoon summarizes the ending as Kamala being a “big dummy,” providing one last jab at a character who would not appear in the WWF again until WrestleMania X-7.  Rating:  *

Footage of fans rallying at WWF headquarters for Lex Luger is shown.  Luger addresses the fans, saying that he is proud to be American.

Vince McMahon, Bobby Heenan, and Randy Savage provide commentary, live from the Manhattan Center in New York City.  According to thehistoryofwwe.com, 1,200 fans attended the show.

Opening Contest for the Intercontinental Championship:  Shawn Michaels (Champion w/Diesel) (19-4-1) beats Marty Jannetty (11-2-1) after Jannetty misses a body press off the ropes and goes over the top rope at 14:01 shown:

This is the rubber match between these two.  Jannetty frustrates Michaels with several reversals and catches Michaels with a DDT after landing on his feet during a flying fist drop attempt.  Referee Earl Hebner counts three but Michaels gets his foot across the bottom rope to save his title.  Unfortunately, several commercial breaks interrupt the flow of the action.  After a long front facelock, Jannetty scores some close near-falls, with the crowd biting from a hurricanrana reversal of a piledriver attempt.  They bite on another when Jannetty rolls through a Michaels flying body press.  Michaels sells the Rocker Dropper poorly, popping up immediately afterward and remembering that it is supposed to be a devastating move.  Jannetty tries a dive at his former tag team partner but misses, going over the top rope.  Diesel rolls him back in and Michaels covers to retain.  Despite the flat finish, this was a hard-fought match that was the best of their series.  Rating:  ****

All American Wrestling had a feature match that debuted two new talents in a six-man tag team match.  It took place in Salisbury, Maryland on July 7:

The Steiner Brothers & Tatanka defeat Well Dunn & Blake Beverly when Tatanka pins Beverly after the Papoose to go at 9:08:

Well Dunn were a heel tag team composed of Memphis acts Timothy Well (Rex King) and Steven Dunn (Steve Doll).  Well was a Dean Malenko trainee who started his career in 1987, doing enhancement matches for the WWF and Jim Crockett Promotions.  Dunn was trained by Rick and John Davidson and made his debut in 1985 for Mid-South Wrestling.  Well Dunn first worked together in the Pacific Northwest in 1989, wrestling as the Southern Rockers and winning the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship four times.  They also had a stint in the USWA in 1990, winning the Tag Team titles four times, and won the WWC World Tag Team Championship in Puerto Rico in 1992.  The WWF signed them as part of the company’s working relationship with the USWA.

During entrances, Gorilla Monsoon talks about needing to research whether the length of Tatanka’s winning streak has set a record, which is humorous when one remembers that Andre the Giant was hyped on a 15-year unbeaten streak before WrestleMania III, a pay-per-view that Monsoon called.  This match is sink or swim for Well Dunn as they are tossed into a feature match without any squashes or vignettes.  Their white singlets and purple shorts are color coordinated with Blake.  The bout has poor pacing as the babyfaces do a few moves, the heels retreat, and each side walks around and stares at each other to kill time.  It takes six minutes for something substantial to happen.  Tatanka misses a reverse flying body press off the second rope to put himself in peril, which ends after a few minutes when he raises his boot when Dunn dives off the second rope.  The Steiners clear the ring and Tatanka hits his finish on Blake in what was really an extended babyface squash.  It was a poor showing for Well Dunn, who barely worked as a unit.  Rating:  *

Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler, and Randy Savage call the action, finishing the taping in Huntington, West Virginia.

Opening Contest:  Tatanka (25-0-2) pins Brian Costello after the Papoose to Go at 2:42:

McMahon reports that Crush suffered a collapsed chest cavity from the sit-down splashes suffered from Yokozuna on RAW.  He then educates the audience about Jim Thorpe as Tatanka keeps padding his unbeaten streak.

Vince McMahon, Bobby Heenan, and Randy Savage are doing commentary, taped from the Manhattan Center in New York City.

Opening Contest for the WWF Championship:  Yokozuna (Champion w/Mr. Fuji) (23-2) pins Crush (21-3-2) after the sit-down splash off the second rope at 11:07 shown:

The match is at its best when Crush is on offense as he gets a big pop for knocking Yokozuna out of the ring with a running boot.  Much of the champion’s offense is a nerve hold in the middle.  Crush almost wins the title with a flying shoulder block and when he tries another top rope maneuver, Fuji hits him with the Japanese flag.  Yokozuna capitalizes with a slam on the arena floor and takes his time to finish Crush in the ring with a belly-to-belly suplex, leg drop, and the sit-down splash off the second rope.  Rating:  **

Jim Ross and Bobby Heenan are handling commentary, taped from Columbus, Ohio.

Opening Contest:  Adam Bomb (w/Johnny Polo) (9-0) pins Bob Clancy after the Atom Smasher at 2:47:

Clancy was a Canadian wrestler who was trained by Doug Chevalier.  He makes his professional debut in 1990 and went by “Irish” Bob Clancy on the Canadian independent circuit.  At the time of this taping he was a Tag Team champion for Border City Wrestling with Otis Apollo.

Polo carries a hockey stick to the ring for today’s match.  Bomb throws around his opponent with ease, doing a slam with emphasis on the arena floor, and gets to double digit wins for the first time in his WWF career.

Lord Alfred Hayes’ Special Report highlights how Bret Hart-Jerry Lawler is the first match booked for SummerSlam.  Bret yells about how Lawler beat him up at the end of King of the Ring and he promises to get even.

Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler, and Randy Savage commentate today’s matches, taped from Huntington, West Virginia.

Opening Contest:  The Smoking Gunns (7-1) defeat W.T. Jones & Rock Werner when Bart pins Werner after the backdrop-piledriver combination at 2:25:

The announcers do not have much to talk about for the Gunns, leaning on nutrition and “integrated conditioning” topics.  The backdrop-piledriver combination does not work well today as Bart catches Werner too low to do a proper piledriver.

A video montage shows various U.S. athletes trying to slam WWF Champion Yokozuna at the Stars & Stripes Challenge, including Rick Steiner, and all of them failing.

Vince McMahon, Bobby Heenan, and Randy Savage provide commentary, live from the Manhattan Center in New York City.

A longer package recaps the events of the Stars & Stripes Challenge.  Lee Rouson of the New York Giants, Bob Backlund, Peter Tanglianetti of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Scott Burrell of the Charlotte Hornets, Scott Steiner, Tatanka, Bill Fralic of the Detroit Lions, Crush, and Randy Savage all failed.  Fralic and Crush came the closest.  The challenge did not have consistent rules either as wrestlers were allowed to hit Yokozuna with some moves before trying a slam.  When it seemed like Yokozuna won the challenge, a helicopter landed on the Intrepid.  Fans think it is Hulk Hogan but Lex Luger in a flag-adorned polo shirt emerges, walking through the crowd and shoving Bobby Heenan aside.  Luger was not going to be allowed to compete since he was not on the list but Luger cuts a small promo about how the champion and Mr. Fuji are leeches on America.  After throwing Fuji out of the ring, Luger avoided a Yokozuna charge, hit him with his forearm, and slammed him to win the competition.  Despite being a heel, the crowd loudly cheered the slam and it made a great visual.  Afterward, wrestlers hoisted Luger on their shoulder as he waved the U.S. flag.

McMahon tells fans that after the challenge, Luger issued a challenge to Yokozuna for a title match but Fuji has refused to sign a contract to make that bout happen.

Like Superstars, there is a new video package for Challenge, replacing the aesthetic that has been used for more than three years.  The new one has the outline of a wrestling ring with footage in the middle of it with electricity running through the ropes and turnbuckles.  There is also new theme music.

Jim Ross and Bobby Heenan are in the booth for a new television taping in Columbus, Ohio.  According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the taping took place on June 14.  Ross tells fans that the Stars & Stripes Challenge is happening at the time of the broadcast but no live updates are given to fans.

WWF Mania’s exclusive match was filmed in Huntington, West Virginia on June 15:

Marty Jannetty (8-1-1) beats Bastion Booger (3-2) after a flying body press at 3:35 shown:

Jannetty uses his speed to counter Booger’s size, sliding between his legs from the apron and landing on his feet during a backdrop.  Jannetty survives Booger’s offense, most of which takes place during a commercial break, and wins with a flying body press after a Booger blind charge.  Jannetty did what he could here but when Booger was on offense, things slowed to a crawl.  Rating:  *

After the bout, Booger powerslams Jannetty and does a butt splash.

Vince McMahon, Bobby Heenan, and Randy Savage are doing commentary, taped from Poughkeepsie, New York.

Opening Contest for the Intercontinental Championship:  Shawn Michaels (Champion w/Diesel) (16-4-1) beats Kamala (14-4-1) after a superkick to the back of the head at 8:49 shown:

Like his mini feud against Hacksaw Jim Duggan a month ago, Michaels struggles to mount offense against an aging veteran.  After Kamala’s blind charge leads to his knee colliding with the turnbuckles. Michaels targets the injured body part and Kamala lets out some loud wails.  Despite his reputation as a brawler, Kamala shows good defense when Michaels tries to apply submissions.  He pushes out of a figure-four leglock and splashes Michaels’ back but his lack of knowledge about a pin works against him again.  Diesel provides a distraction on the apron and Michaels superkicks his opponent in the back of the head to retain.  Overall, this was just a basic match but it was one of Kamala’s best during this run.  Rating:  **

All American Wrestling’s feature match took place in Columbus, Ohio on June 14:

Ted DiBiase (0-1) beats Bart Gunn after Irwin R. Schyster interferes at 7:12 shown:

Neither man has their tag team partner at ringside.  Jim Ross talks up Bill Fralic’s chances of slamming Yokozuna next Sunday.  As the more experienced singles competitor, DiBiase smothers Bart.  He intelligently releases a chinlock when Bart does not let his hand drop three times to lay in a blow but his double axe handle off the second rope is blocked.  When Bart begins a generic comeback, Irwin R. Schyster comes to the ring and a well-timed briefcase shot to the face allows his partner to prevail.  One wonders what Billy was doing to allow this to happen to his brother.  Rating:  *½

WWF Mania’s exclusive match was filmed in Columbus, Ohio on June 14:

Lex Luger (20-0-1) defeats Owen Hart (6-3) with a forearm at 4:38:

Bret Hart was originally booked to face Luger at this television taping, which took place the night after King of the Ring, but an ankle injury suffered against Bob Backlund two days earlier, along with the wear and tear of wrestling three matches in Dayton, led to him not wrestling.  Gorilla Monsoon clarifies that it is referee’s discretion whether to make Luger wear a forearm pad.  Today, referee Mike Chioda demands Luger wear it or forfeit the match.  It is a disappointing match as Owen spends most of the bout working an armbar.  Monsoon and Jim Ross cover for Owen by saying his knee is not fully healed.  Owen scores near-falls from a bulldog and flying body press.  Fans boo the count for the latter, so Owen still has some decent fan support despite the high-profile jobs he has done recently.  When the referee pulls Owen away from the corner, Luger removes his forearm pad and blasts Owen, showing how he can win matches with one blow.  Rating:  *

Footage is shown of the 1-2-3 Kid upsetting Razor Ramon a month ago on RAW.

Vince McMahon, Bobby Heenan, and Randy Savage are doing commentary, live from Poughkeepsie, New York.

All American Wrestling had an exclusive match, taped in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada on May 25:

Bastion Booger (0-1) beats Owen Hart (5-2) after a splash at 4:05:

These two had a feud in Stampede Wrestling in the late 1980s when Booger wrestled as Makhan Singh.  One feels bad for Mike Shaw watching the match as his movement is limited and he bumps gingerly.  Owen tries to make him look good by going up high for a flapjack and bouncing into the ropes during a kickout sequence.  Due to those efforts, this is a tolerable match as Owen’s takes one too many risks and misses a missile dropkick, allowing Booger to win his first match with a splash off the ropes.  One questions what WWF bookers were thinking when they let Virgil beat Booger a day before on Superstars but sacrificed Owen in this bout.  Those roles should have been reversed.  Rating:  *

WWF Mania had an exclusive tag team match, filmed in Sydney, Nova Scotia on May 25.

El Matador & Bob Backlund beat the Headshrinkers (w/Afa) (15-1-1) via reverse decision at 6:03 shown:

WWF Mania gets a small feud as this match was set up after Samu interfered in the El Matador-Fatu match a couple of weeks ago and the Headshrinkers briefly beat El Matador up after the bout.  Gorilla Monsoon tells fans that Money Incorporated and the Steiner Brothers traded the WWF Tag Team Championship within 48 hours at house shows on Monday and Wednesday.  Those shows took place in Columbus, Ohio and Rockford, Illinois, respectively.  The titles would change hands again the evening that this show aired when the Steiners beat Money Incorporated in St. Louis, Missouri, marking four title changes at house shows within the last two weeks as the WWF desperately tries to boost attendance.  The action of the match is rushed as the babyfaces get limited shine, Backlund takes some token blows in peril, and El Matador gets the hot tag and flattens Samu with the flying forearm.  Fatu breaks up the fall and then rolls Samu out of the ring, blasting El Matador with a thrust kick and getting the pin.  After the bell, the Steiners rush out and tell the official about the illegal switch and another referee corroborates the complaint, reversing the decision.  As is the case for most reverse decisions, this did not help any of the participants.  And since the Headshrinkers are a permanent team they should have gone over strong.  Rating:  *

Footage of Yokozuna being announced as the new WWF champion at The King of the Ring is shown and is followed by a Gene Okerlund interview.  Mr. Fuji says that he and Yokozuna are going to celebrate on July 4 at a historical American landmark.

Vince McMahon, Bobby Heenan, and Randy Savage are commentating, taped from the Manhattan Center in New York City.

Opening Contest:  Mr. Perfect (19-2-2) pins LA Gore after the Perfectplex at 2:45:

McMahon has christened the Manhattan Center as “The House of Upsets.”  Heenan spends the match burying Hulk Hogan, arguing that Hogan failed to slam Yokozuna and that Yokozuna kicked out of Hogan’s finisher, inaugurating a new era in the WWF.  Perfect reverts to his Perfectplex counter of a backdrop to win a squash, an underwhelming way to bounce back from a loss at last night’s King of the Ring.

Jim Ross, Bobby Heenan, and Randy Savage are in the booth, live from Dayton, Ohio.  According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the show drew a “sellout” crowd of 8,000 fans but only 7,000 of them paid to attend.  According to wrestletalk.com, this pay-per-view had a 1.1 buyrate (245,000 buys).  That was the lowest number of buys for a WWF pay-per-view since This Tuesday in Texas in December 1991.

All American Wrestling’s exclusive match was a best-of-three falls six-man tag team encounter, taped in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada on May 25:

Best-of-Three Falls Match:  The Steiner Brothers & Tatanka defeat Money Incorporated & Doink the Clown when Rick pins Ted DiBiase after a powerslam to win the third fall at 8:55 shown:

Others falls:  Rick Steiner pinned Ted DiBiase after Scott delivered a flying clothesline off the second rope to win the first fall in 31 seconds; DiBiase pins Rick after a piledriver to win the second fall at 6:34

The WWF has not had a best-of-three falls match since SummerSlam ’90 when the Hart Foundation won the Tag Team Championship from Demolition.  One wonders what Money Incorporated and Doink have in common backstage to form a team for this bout.  The babyfaces blitz the heels to start, with Scott blocking a DiBiase clothesline with a flying clothesline off the second rope and his brother pinning DiBiase for the first fall.  The heels slow the action down in the second fall, wearing down Rick in their half of the ring.  Rick tags his brother but the referee does not see it and a Doink flying elbow drop and DiBiase piledriver even the match at one fall each.  In the third fall, Rick backdrops out of a Doink piledriver and Scott gets the hot tag.  When everyone pairs off seconds later, Rick somehow ends up the legal man again and catches DiBiase off the ropes with a powerslam to win the match for his team.  This took the formula for a typical match with babyface shine, heel beatdown, and babyface comeback and stretched it to fit the stipulation.  And it worked!  Rating:  ***

WWF Mania featured a clash of King of the Ring tournament participants.  It was taped at the Manhattan Center in New York City on May 31.

Mr. Hughes (11-0) wrestles Tatanka (21-0) to a double disqualification at 6:12:

Hughes imposes a methodical pace on the match, scoring near-falls from basic strikes.  The action picks up when Tatanka makes his comeback, getting a two count from a flying chop.  He struggles to slam Hughes and after an elbow drop misses there is an exchange of strikes.  The referee tries to stop it and gets pushed aside by Hughes.  However, the referee decides to disqualify both men instead of Hughes so that both men can avoid taking a loss.  After the bell, Hughes wins the exchange and plants Tatanka with the sidewalk slam.  Rating:  *