WTWWW WWE — page 17

WWF Mania had one exclusive match that was taped on January 18 at the Manhattan Center.

Vince McMahon, Rob Barlett, and Randy Savage provide commentary, live from once again from the Manhattan Center in New York City.  Bartlett says “Fight the real enemy” as he tears up a picture of Bobby Heenan.  According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the show attracted another sellout crowd of 1,000 fans.

Repo Man attacks Savage from behind and steals his hat.

Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan provide commentary, wrapping up the tapings from Madison, Wisconsin.  Heenan is bundled up, complaining about the cold weather.

WWF Mania featured a pair of exclusive matches that have to be recapped before going to Superstars.

Sean Mooney is on the streets of New York City and accosts Bobby Heenan, who is trying to get in.

Vince McMahon, Randy Savage, and Rob Barlett are doing commentary, live from the Manhattan Center in New York City.  Barlett was a comedian who performed and wrote for the famous “Imus in the Morning” radio show that originated from New York City.  Like Todd Pettengill, the WWF hoped using him would enhance their audience.  One of the things that stands out about the new show is that it has a catchy instrumental theme and the announcers are not superimposed on a green screen, they are on the arena floor with fans.  According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the show drew a sellout crowd of 1,000 fans, 600 of whom paid to attend.

Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan are doing commentary, still taped from Madison, Wisconsin.

Earlier in the day was the debut of WWF Mania on USA Network.  A Saturday morning show hosted by radio disc jockey Todd Pettengill; it recapped a lot of action from the WWF’s other broadcasts but also featured exclusive matches in its early run to make up for some of those matches no longer appearing on Prime Time Wrestling.

Vince McMahon, Gorilla Monsoon, and Bobby Heenan host what is the final Prime Time Wrestling broadcast, concluding the show’s eight-year run on USA Network.  Monsoon argues that Heenan is responsible for the end of the show and that is why Heenan is not part of next week’s Monday Night RAW telecast.

A clip of the one episode Bobby Heenan Show that aired in 1989 is shown.  It has a belly dancer moving on top of a blindfolded Jamison.

Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan are doing commentary for the first Wrestling Challenge episode of the year, taped from Madison, Wisconsin.  According to thehistoryofwwe.com, this show took place on December 15.

Introduction

As it entered 1993, the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) was reeling.  The previous year brought heighted scrutiny to the company over steroid usage by talent and sexual harassment scandals by front office staff like Pat Patterson and Terry Garvin.  Feeling the heat, longtime WWF star Hulk Hogan “retired” after WrestleMania VIII and, just like 1990, the WWF had no one to replace him.  Owner Vince McMahon brought back the Ultimate Warrior, who he had sent home after SummerSlam ’91 but, like 1990, the Warrior proved an unsuccessful box office draw.  It did not help that the Warrior’s post-WrestleMania opponent, Sid Justice, quit shortly after their feud began.  Randy Savage and Ric Flair spent much of the year feuding over the WWF title but their program was also a flop.  By May, the WWF had to cancel house shows because of poor advance sales and the problem got worse.

The only two places that gave the company a boost were overseas and in the Northeast.  A successful spring tour of Europe led to London, England hosting SummerSlam at Wembley Stadium.  The show was a box office success as a crowd of at least 75,000 fans attended.  However, it was a disappointment on pay-per-view as 20,000 fewer households purchased the show versus the year prior.  This continued a trend that had frustrated the company for years.  And all the WWF’s pay-per-view events drew lesser audiences than 1991.

Vince McMahon is running the evening’s panel that features Hillbilly Jim, Randy Savage, Bobby Heenan, and Jerry Lawler.  This is the last two-hour edition of Prime Time.

Heenan is disappointed that he did not get Mr. Perfect in a body cast for Christmas.

Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan are in the booth for the final episode of 1992, wrapping up the tapings in Erie, Pennsylvania. Heenan says he got cash, jets, a Mercedes, and two condos for Christmas but anyone could get that. Monsoon’s reaction to that statement is priceless.

Vince McMahon, Bobby Heenan, and Jerry Lawler provide commentary for the last Superstars episode of the year, concluding the tapings from Dayton, Ohio.  Lawler says that kings do not make New Year’s resolutions, they make proclamations, and he says by the end of 1993 all WWF wrestlers will bow at his feet.

Vince McMahon hosts this evening’s panel, composed of Sergeant Slaughter, Hillbilly Jim, Bobby Heenan, and Jerry Lawler.

Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan provide commentary, still broadcasting from Erie, Pennsylvania.  Heenan shows off a massive stocking that he would like to have filled with the WWF Championship Belt and Mr. Perfect.

Lord Alfred Hayes’ Special Report segment replays WWF Champion Bret Hart’s interview with Gene Okerlund on Superstars last week.  Bret tells Razor Ramon and Ric Flair that he will face both of them and hopes that they are as tough in singles as they are together.

Vince McMahon, Bobby Heenan, and Jerry Lawler are in the booth, taped from Dayton, Ohio.  Heenan wants the end of Mr. Perfect’s career for Christmas.

Vince McMahon moderates this evening’s panel, composed of Hillbilly Jim, Sergeant Slaughter, Bobby Heenan, and Jerry Lawler.

Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan are hosting today’s show, beginning a new set of tapings in Erie, Pennsylvania.  According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the taping took place on November 23 and attracted a crowd of 4,000 fans.

Vince McMahon, Bobby Heenan, and Jerry Lawler provide commentary for today’s show.  Heenan introduces Lawler as his replacement.  Lawler says that WWF President Jack Tunney got on his knees to beg him to share his knowledge with the peons that watch WWF programming.  They are starting a new taping cycle in Dayton, Ohio.  According to thehistoryofwwe.com, it took place on November 24 and drew a sellout crowd of 7,000 fans.

Vince McMahon oversees tonight’s panel, which has new guests.  Sergeant Slaughter joins Hillbilly Jim for the opening and Bobby Heenan sits by a chair with a white sheet on it.  After Jim plays “Blue Christmas” Heenan welcomes out a man who is dignified:  former AWA Champion Jerry Lawler.  Heenan takes the white sheet off to reveal a throne for Lawler to sit on.  Longtime wrestling fans knew Lawler for his feud with Andy Kaufman in Memphis in 1982.  Getting Lawler to work for the WWF was a coup since Memphis had been one of the few territories that held out against the WWF expansion during the 1980s.