WTWWW WWE — page 5

Gorilla Monsoon and Ted DiBiase call today’s action, taped from Lowell, Massachusetts.

Opening Contest: Adam Bomb (12-6) pins Todd Mata after a slingshot suplex at 2:26:

Vince McMahon must have loved the Bomb-Bam Bam Bigelow battle as the WWF has shown a recap of it on every show over the past week. Monsoon chides DiBiase for the open challenge that led to that conversation but DiBiase insists that Bomb fell into a trap. In the split screen, DiBiase asks Bigelow about his thoughts on fighting Bomb and Bigelow argues that Bomb has had a “meltdown” of the brain. These two men are heavy hitters, which could be a draw on its own, but the WWF’s weird rhetoric and emphasis on puns is killing the seriousness of the program. Bomb shows impressive agility by dropkicking Mata out of the ring. He uses a different finish today.

Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler commentate, concluding the taping in Portland, Maine.

Opening Contest: The Bushwhackers (9-2) defeat Well Dunn (w/Harvey Wippleman) (3-2) when Luke pins Timothy Well after a Butch headbutt to the gut at 5:06:

The Bushwhackers lick Lawler on the way to the ring and he screams. Meanwhile, Well Dunn get no entrance. The Bushwhackers move as if they are fragile. Well Dunn have to carry the match but their offense is not interesting enough to do so. Luke saves Butch from a pin after a Well flying elbow smash but then gets his leg caught between the ropes when Steven Dunn attacks him. That appeared unintentional as referee Earl Hebner takes a while to get him untangled. Butch makes another save when Well Dunn hit a double bulldog. The Bushwhackers are not disqualified for too many saves and as Dunn is being escorted to his corner, Butch headbutts Well in the gut when he lifts Luke for a slam, causing Well to fall and be pinned. This was a bad match as the teams had no chemistry and the Bushwhackers have nothing left in the tank for feature matches. Rating: ¼*

After the match, Well Dunn attacks the Bushwhackers but are driven from the ring. Wippleman ends up in the ring with the Bushwhackers and there is a tug of war between the two teams over him. That leads to Wippleman getting his pants ripped off. McMahon argues that the Bushwhackers win has thrust them into Tag Team title contention.

Vince McMahon and Randy Savage commentate, taped from Lowell, Massachusetts back on August 15 because the WWF is overseas.

Opening Contest: The Undertaker (w/Paul Bearer) (4-1) defeats Kwang (w/Harvey Wippleman) (19-4-1) after a chokeslam at 5:20 shown:

Due to the taping cycle, fans in Lowell got to see the Undertaker return before SummerSlam. However, Bearer has a much smaller urn than the pay-per-view. The Undertaker gets a big pop for his entrance and proceeds to have a slow, glorified squash match. Kwang manages a few superkicks but the Undertaker shrugs them off. Kwang’s last gasp is spitting green mist into the Undertaker’s face but the Undertaker spits it back, resulting in a chokeslam finish. This ends an eight-match winning streak for Kwang in singles competition. The end of the bout had a nice twist but there was nothing good about this other than seeing the Undertaker again. Rating: ¾*

Gorilla Monsoon and Ted DiBiase commentate, broadcasting again from Lowell, Massachusetts.

Opening Contest: Owen Hart (w/Jim Neidhart) (34-2) beats Phil Apollo via submission to the Sharpshooter at 3:38:

Monsoon and DiBiase suggest that WWF Champion Bret Hart is defending the title too much and is bound to lose it soon. Owen slowly beats on Apollo until Apollo reverses an Irish whip into the corner. He does not know how to follow up, though, and Owen elbows him on a blind charge. A missile dropkick lays Apollo out for the Sharpshooter. After the bell, Owen does the Hitman shades trick to Apollo.

WWF Mania had its last exclusive match of the year. It was taped in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 30. Gorilla Monsoon and Ted DiBiase were on commentary:

The 1-2-3 Kid & Thurman Plugg (1-1) beat Well Dunn (w/Harvey Wippleman) (3-1) when the Kid pins Timothy Well after a spinning heel kick at 9:08 shown:

Monsoon promotes the Kid and Plugg as high-flyers, something Plugg leans into when he pescados onto Well on the arena floor after sending him from the ring with a clothesline. Unfortunately, the crowd is cooked from a long taping and barely react to anything. Well Dunn slow the pace when they put the Kid in peril with some cheating. Plugg saves the Kid after he takes a Steven Dunn powerslam, giving the Kid room to make the hot tag after he avoids Timothy Well’s spinning heel kick in the corner. However, Plugg’s dive off the top rope eats a boot from Dunn. That drags the match out for a while longer until Plugg makes a blind tag to the Kid as he sunset flips Well. The Kid comes in and delivers a spinning heel kick, allowing the babyfaces to notch a win. Once again, Well Dunn did little to warrant fans caring about them. Rating: **

Todd Pettengill narrates pictures of the Undertaker-Undertaker clash at SummerSlam.

Wrestling Challenge gets a new introduction. It has a frenzied guitar rhythm, lots of camera cuts, and a few wrestling moves. It is not great but it is a slight upgrade over the previous introduction, which better fit the early 1990s than the middle of the decade.

Gorilla Monsoon returns to Wrestling Challenge in the wake of Jim Ross’ second termination this year to call the action with Ted DiBiase. They are taped from Lowell, Massachusetts. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the taping took place on August 16, the day after a Monday Night RAW taping in the same location and drew 2,000 fans.

DiBiase admits that he did not have the real Undertaker and he no longer wants anything to do with the Fake Undertaker because he cannot make him any money.

Todd Pettengill narrates photos of the Tatanka-Lex Luger match at SummerSlam and announces that Tatanka turned heel.

Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler commentate, kicking off a new taping in Portland, Maine. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the taping happened on August 17 and attracted a crowd of 3,596 fans.

Opening Contest: Lex Luger (22-3-1) defeats Tim McNeany via submission to the Rebel Rack in 51 seconds:

It is becoming a ritual now for Luger to get a squash on Superstars following a pay-per-view disappointment. There is a lot of crowd noise piped in for his entrance to the point that Howard Finkel’s introduction cannot be heard. McNeany attacks Luger before the bell but Luger fires back with a hiptoss, powerslam, and the Rebel Rack to win in less than a minute. To rub salt in Luger’s wounds, Lawler buries him by saying that he always comes up short in big situations.

Randy Savage, making his last WWF pay-per-view appearance, welcomes fans and then hands the broadcast off to Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler.

McMahon and Lawler are commentating, live from Chicago, Illinois. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the show drew a sellout crowd of 23,000, 19,500 of whom paid to attend. On pay-per-view, the card generated a buyrate of 1.30 (300,000 buys). That was slightly more than the previous year’s 250,000 buys, stopping a four-year decline in homes that purchased the show. This would be the last SummerSlam to air on a weekday.

Lawler announces that Shawn Michaels & Diesel won the WWF Tag Team Championship last night from the Headshrinkers. He also calls attention to the British Bulldog sitting at ringside.

Note:  I want to wish everyone a great Christmas tomorrow.  Thanks for reading, as always.

Jim Ross and Ted DiBiase are in the booth, wrapping up the taping in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Opening Contest: Tatanka (25-3-2) pins Reno Riggins after a flying chop at 2:57:

Tatanka confronts DiBiase, who is with Ross at ringside to open the show, and DiBiase tells Tatanka that he will find out that everyone has a price, “including All Americans,” tomorrow night at SummerSlam. Riggins opts for a black singlet instead of more colorful attire. Tatanka runs through his usual offense, capping off the warpath comeback with a flying chop.

Vince McMahon starts the program by doing an in-ring interview with WWF Champion Bret Hart. Bret says that his feud with Owen must be settled once for all in the cage match at SummerSlam and a true “King of Harts” will be declared. This was one of Bret’s better promos for a feud that is beginning to overstay its welcome.

McMahon and Lawler are broadcasting, concluding the episodes from Wheeling, West Virginia.

As Bret returns to the locker room he comes across Owen Hart and Jim Neidhart in the aisle. Before fighting can result, WWF officials and McMahon get between them.

Jim Ross and Randy Savage commentate, taped from Youngstown, Ohio, the location of recent Monday Night RAW episodes.

Opening Contest: Lex Luger (21-2-1) defeats Crush (17-2-1) after the running forearm at 12:23 shown:

This is a televised blowoff for the forgotten feud between these two that took place after WrestleMania X when Mr. Perfect bailed. Mr. Fuji is not with Crush and the announcers do not try to explain it away. The match is better than expected as Crush works the back after catching Luger with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and scores some near-falls. Ted DiBiase comes to ringside during that assault, showing off his money. A few double KOs get worked in before Luger mounts a comeback after leapfrogging Crush off the ropes only to have it cut off by a Crush thrust kick. DiBiase gets on the apron and offers Crush some cash. Crush knocks the money out of DiBiase’s hand and the distraction causes Crush to eat a running forearm. The finish is in keeping with Crush’s singles run as he was duped by everything. This was his last televised match of the year. He would not return to action until next year’s Royal Rumble, suffering an undisclosed injury and expressing displeasure with his bookings. Rating: **½

Jim Ross and Ted DiBiase commentate, taped from Cincinnati, Ohio.

Opening Contest: Lex Luger (20-2-1) defeats Frank Stalletto after the running forearm at 1:52:

Stalletto started his career in 1992 in the Midwest. On the independents he had a gimmick where he was deemed as handsome as country music star Billy Ray Cyrus.

DiBiase says he is not appearing with Luger today because Luger does not need his help. Tatanka does an insert promo where he reiterates the claim that Luger has sold out and he is going to prove it at SummerSlam. Luger works up a head of steam and takes Stalletto down with a clothesline. That is followed by the running forearm and Stalletto goes down for the count. Afterward, Luger poses for the crowd and fireworks go off.

Razor Ramon and Walter Payton let Intercontinental Champion Diesel know that time is ticking away on the rest of his reign. Payton promises that the Heartbreak Hotel will have a vacancy if Shawn Michaels tries to mess with him at SummerSlam.

Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler are in the booth, taped from Wheeling, West Virginia.

Opening Non-Title Contest: Diesel (Intercontinental Champion w/Shawn Michaels) (19-0-1) pins Kevin Krueger after the Jackknife at 1:43:

Diesel devastates Krueger with his usual power offense, finishing him with a big boot and Jackknife. Only one foot is needed for the cover.

There is a recap of last week’s events between Lex Luger and Tatanka.

Vince McMahon and Randy Savage commentate, live from Lowell, Massachusetts. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, 2,300 fans attended the show.

Jim Ross and Ted DiBiase call today’s action, taped from Cincinnati, Ohio. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the taping drew a small, papered crowd of 2,500 in a venue that could seat more than 17,000.

Opening Contest: Mabel (w/Oscar) (11-1) pins Ryan Scott after a flying leg drop off the second rope at 3:02:

Ross dances with Mabel and Oscar on their way to the ring. DiBiase refuses to partake. Jeff Jarrett does an insert promo about how he asked for Mabel as his SummerSlam opponent because he hates his music. Ross has a hard time believing Jarrett wants to face Mabel because of his size. Scott flops around like a fish after Mabel delivers a falling clothesline but that does not end the contest as Mabel drags it out until he can do an avalanche and flying leg drop off the second rope. Fireworks go off after Mabel wins.

Jeff Jarrett (23-5-1) defeats Ben Jordan via submission to the figure-four leglock at 2:23:

There is talk of Jarrett’s feud with the 1-2-3 Kid, unwise because Jarrett and the Kid are not wrestling at SummerSlam because of the Kid’s injuries. It confuses fans about why the WWF opted to book Jarrett against Mabel instead of his chief rival. Jarrett does nothing flashy, giving Jordan a few kneebreakers before earning a submission win with the figure-four leglock.

The Smoking Gunns (15-2) beat Tom Stone & Butler Stevens when Billy pins Stevens after the Sidewinder at 2:14:

Stone broke into the business near Milwaukee in 1978 and wrestled for the AWA, appearing later in its Team Challenge Series. After that he worked as a WWF enhancement talent. His highlight in that role was beating Jake Roberts via disqualification in 1990. By this time Stone was noted trainer and he and his students often appeared on WWF television tapings in the Midwest. In 1993 he made five appearances, losing to Marty Jannetty (twice), Crush, the Gunns, and the 1-2-3 Kid.

Stevens had been making sporadic WWF enhancement appearances going back to 1989. He was last used in 1992, losing a pair of television squashes to Money Incorporated.

The enhancement team attacks the Gunns before the bell but are floored by dropkicks. The Gunns work quickly after isolating Stevens, putting him away with a double side Russian leg sweep and the Sidewinder.

Owen Hart (w/Jim Neidhart) (32-0) beats Ron Cumberledge via submission to the Sharpshooter at 3:30:

Cumberledge started working in 1988 and started doing enhancement work for the WWF in 1990. He also spent time doing the same for WCW starting in 1991. Despite having a good frame and look he was never signed to a deal. In 1993 Cumberledge did not make any appearances in any major promotion.

In the split screen, Neidhart proclaims that Owen will become the new WWF champion at SummerSlam. Cumberledge gets a good reaction when he takes Owen to the buckle and whips him into the corner. However, he falls into a Jim Powers finish of missing a dropkick and getting trapped in the Sharpshooter immediately after.

An ad for Sunday Night Slam next week reveals that Intercontinental Champion Diesel will face Typhoon.

Ray Rougeau does an in-ring interview with Razor Ramon. Ramon says that he got Walter Payton to be in his corner because no one in the WWF can beat two top superstars at the same time. He promises to take back the Intercontinental Championship at SummerSlam.

Kwang (w/Harvey Wippleman) (17-4-1) pins Scott Avery after the spinning heel kick at 1:22:

Avery wears some Dynamite Kid-like tights. Kwang spams kicks, which is too much for Avery to overcome.

Todd Pettengill’s SummerSlam Report shows what the inside of Chicago’s new United Center looks like. WWF Champion Bret Hart hypes his cage match with Owen as the end of their feud. Lex Luger is angry that Tatanka was unappreciative of the help he gave him on Monday Night RAW. Tatanka insists that Luger has sold out. Bull Nakano and Luna Vachon say that they are coming to take Alundra Blayze’s Women’s Championship.

Duke Droese (11-0) pins George Anderson after the corkscrew elbow drop at 1:24:

Ross promotes a poll on the SummerSlam Hotline where fans can weigh in on whether they believe Luger has sold out. Droese quickly overpowers Anderson. Afterward, when Droese slaps hands with fans at ringside Anderson attacks him. Droese shrugs that off and puts his garbage can over Anderson’s body, knocking the jobber over. At least the post-match bit was unique.

Tune in next week to see Lex Luger, Bob Backlund, WWF Tag Team Champions the Headshrinkers, and the Fake Undertaker in action!

The Last Word: Getting Jim Ross back to call Wrestling Challenge was a plus. However, in contrast to Stan Lane, he did not have good chemistry with Ted DiBiase. Of course, it would help if Ross and DiBiase had more things to talk about but this show did not give them much to work with.

For house shows the company had a group active in Texas while another did shows in the Northeast. Here were the results of some of those events, courtesy of thehistoryofwwe.com:

Dallas, Texas – Reunion Arena – August 11, 1994 (1,850; 900 paid): Duke Droese pinned Pierre with the corkscrew elbow drop after Pierre missed the Cannonball…WWF Women’s Champion Alundra Blayze wrestled Bull Nakano to a double count out…Jeff Jarrett pinned Doink the Clown with a Flair pin…Tatanka defeated Shawn Michaels (substituting for Irwin R. Schyster) in a strap match. After the match, Razor Ramon made the save against Michaels and Diesel…Razor Ramon beat Intercontinental Champion Diesel via disqualification when Shawn Michaels interfered…Mabel pinned Bam Bam Bigelow when Bigelow failed to body slam Mabel and Mabel crashed on top of him…WWF Tag Team Champions the Headshrinkers beat Well Dunn…Lex Luger defeated Yokozuna (substituting for Crush) in a stretcher match after using the running forearm.

Wallingford, Connecticut – Oakdale Theatre – August 11, 1994 (1,000): The Smoking Gunns defeated the Executioners…Nikolai Volkoff defeated Virgil…Adam Bomb defeated Kwang…The Fake Undertaker beat Thurman Plugg…The 1-2-3 Kid beat Owen Hart…Bob Backlund (substituting for Yokozuna) defeated Typhoon.

San Antonio, Texas – Freeman Coliseum – August 13, 1994 (6,000; heavily papered): Duke Droese pinned Pierre…WWF Women’s Champion Alundra Blayze defeated Bull Nakano…Mabel pinned Bam Bam Bigelow…Tatanka beat Irwin R. Schyster in a strap match…WWF Tag Team Champions the Headshrinkers beat Well Dunn…Chris Winston beat Fred Zepplin. Both men were local DJs…Jeff Jarrett pinned Doink the Clown…Randy Savage (substituting for Razor Ramon) defeated Intercontinental Champion Diesel via disqualification…Lex Luger beat Yokozuna (substituting for Crush) in a stretcher match.

Hyannis, Massachusetts – August 14, 1994 (2,300; sellout): Adam Bomb beat Kwang…Nikolai Volkoff defeated Virgil. Virgil was injured in the match and taken to the hospital after the match…WWF Women’s Champion Alundra Blayze defeated Bull Nakano…Bam Bam Bigelow beat Typhoon…The Smoking Gunns defeated Well Dunn…Doink the Clown beat Jeff Jarrett.

Springfield, Massachusetts – Springfield Civic Center – August 14, 1994 (3,500): Thurman Plugg beat Pierre…Irwin R. Schyster defeated Duke Droese…The Fake Undertaker beat Tatanka…Lex Luger defeated Intercontinental Champion Diesel via disqualification…Owen Hart beat the 1-2-3 Kid…Yokozuna defeated Mabel…WWF Tag Team Champions the Headshrinkers beat the Heavenly Bodies.

Backstage News*: The WWF held a press conference in Montreal on August 9 to announce a Jacques Rougeau retirement show at the Montreal Forum on October 21. Rougeau will be booked against former tag team partner Pierre, who will be managed by Johnny Polo. The show is expected to draw well and might end up as the biggest North American house show of the year.

-The WWF flirted with the idea of Bob Backlund’s heel turn being the work of Papa Shango but has abandoned that idea. Charles Wright will return soon but it will not be with the Shango gimmick.

-Crush had to miss house shows at the end of the week with an undisclosed injury.

-In talent relations news, the Barbarian is expected to be used full-time and not just at house shows. When King Kong Bundy comes in he will get a main event push as WWF Magazine is already pushing a program with Bret Hart. Curt Block has already quit as the head of WWF public relations.

*Backstage news is provided courtesy of Dave Meltzer’s Wrestling Observer for August 22.

Up Next: Monday Night RAW for August 15!

And if you would like to read a compiled breakdown of 1990-1993 WWF, 1993-1995 ECW, or of various promotions in 1995, check out my Amazon author page to purchase e-books or paperback copies!

Vince McMahon returns to Superstars commentary with Jerry Lawler, starting a new taping in Wheeling, West Virginia. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the taping took place on August 2, attracting a heavily papered crowd of 3,600.

Opening Non-Title Contest: The Headshrinkers (WWF Tag Team Champions w/Afa & Captain Lou Albano) (21-0) defeat Barry Horowitz & Reno Riggins when Fatu pins Riggins after the top rope splash at 1:57:

In what must be an inside joke, Horowitz has the green tights Riggins usually wears. Riggins has a gaudy attire of blue trunks and a black singlet top. Horowitz and Riggins briefly argue when Horowitz does not want to get in the ring to face the champions. When he does, he quickly tags out and Riggins is finished off.

The opening of the show sees doctors doing surgery before abandoning their task to watch Monday Night RAW.

Vince McMahon and Randy Savage commentate, still broadcasting from Youngstown, Ohio.

Opening Contest: The Fake Undertaker (w/Ted DiBiase) (5-0) pins Butch Banks after a chokeslam off the ropes at 3:06:

Banks was trained by Jonnie Stewart and started his wrestling career in the early 1990s. He had done some WWF enhancement work since 1992, appearing once in 1993 in a loss to the Steiner Brothers.

McMahon announces that DiBiase and Paul Bearer will appear next week on the King’s Court. The most entertaining thing that happens in a squash that goes at one mile per hour is Savage arguing that the patient being operated on was “the producer of the Goodwill Games,” a reference to WCW owner Ted Turner. Boos have to be piped in after the win as DiBiase helps the Fake Undertaker stuff Banks into a body bag.

Stan Lane and Ted DiBiase commentate, concluding the taping in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Opening Non-Title Contest: The Headshrinkers (WWF Tag Team Champions w/Afa & Captain Lou Albano) defeat Corey Student & Mike Sharpe when Fatu pins Student after the splash off the top rope at 2:46:

DiBiase jokes that his stable is looking into “gold futures” since Bam Bam Bigelow and Irwin R. Schyster are teaming up to face the Headshrinkers for the titles at SummerSlam. Sharpe tags out early so Student can take the brunt of the punishment. Lane calls the Headshrinkers double forward leg sweep the Samoan Jam. That did not catch on.

Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler are commentating, concluding the taping in Ocean City, Maryland. On the WWE Network version of this show Stan Lane and Lord Alfred Hayes commentate due to “technical difficulties.”

Opening Contest: Owen Hart (w/Jim Neidhart) (31-0) defeats Mike Khoury via submission to the Sharpshooter at 2:36:

Owen continues to run up his long unbeaten streak since turning heel, meeting a Khoury blind charge with a boot and finishing with a missile dropkick and Sharpshooter. After the match, Owen does the Hitman shades trick to Khoury.

Vince McMahon narrates a video package with highlights from WrestleMania X to promote tonight’s Razor Ramon-Shawn Michaels match.

Ramon says that he is going to eliminate Michaels so he cannot make it to SummerSlam. Michaels says he is out to do the same to Ramon.

Vince McMahon and Randy Savage are calling the action, live from Youngstown, Ohio. Savage gloats about McMahon and the WWF “annihilating the Justice Department.” Throughout tonight’s show Savage will take digs at the federal government.