The SmarK Rant for WWF Prime Time Wrestling – 11.16.92

The SmarK Rant for WWF Prime Time Wrestling – 11.16.92

Originally written 12.05.25

This was a reader request after it was added to the Fish & Chips Premium requests list for December. Not sure why, so I guess we’ll find out together what exciting thing might have happened on a random episode of Prime Time Wrestling in November of 1992 just before Survivor Series.

This is the roundtable format, with Vince McMahon joined by Bobby Heenan, Mr. Perfect, Hillbilly Jim and Hacksaw Duggan.

BREAKING NEWS: Something has happened to Ultimate Warrior and he’s unable to be at the Survivor Series, although we can’t figure out what that might be. So Randy Savage has to pick a new tag team partner within 24 hours! Randy joins us via satellite, and he’s got a name in mind already, even though he doesn’t trust him. Because not everything in life is right down that four lane highway, YEAH. He’s never even wrestled or teamed with the guy before! Bobby mocks Savage and his buildup, but Savage promises big bucks for his partner if he accepts. So he’s picking MR. PERFECT, and Bobby Heenan has a good laugh about that stupid idea, even though Bobby admits Perfect knows everything about Ric Flair and he’s an amazing wrestler. Perfect kind of laughs off the idea and the babyfaces use reverse psychology to say that he probably can’t handle such a high profile return match anyway. Or can he?

High Energy v. The Beverly Brothers

Owen accuses the Bevs of being CHICKEN to start, although I think he’s confusing them with another blond wrestler who wasn’t around anymore. He trades wristlocks with Beau and it’s over to Blake, who of course would rather wrestle Koko B. Ware. Owen doesn’t give in and wins a test of strength before doing the bouncing flip counter on the top rope and hitting a monkey flip out of the corner. Over to Koko finally and he hikes his pants up extra high to celebrate, sending Blake running to the apron in terror. Koko slingshots him back in the ring, but Beau gets a knee from the apron to “slow down the hijinks” according to Alfred, as we take a break. Seems like that was MORE hijinks and maybe even some shenanigans and tomfoolery on top of it. Back with Blake working on a bearhug, trying to squeeze the extra air right out of Koko’s pants, and Beau switches in for his own. Koko and Beau clothesline each other for a double down and it’s hot tag Owen, who uses the double noggin knocker to run wild. Bulldog gets two. It’s BONZO GONZO and Owen rolls up Blake, but Beau uses the scroll for the DQ at 8:37.

SPECIAL REPORT! WITH LORD ALFRED HAYES!

Undertaker is busy building a coffin for Kamala, as he seems to do for every heel, so call your cable company right now!

Max Moon v. Dale Wolfe

Wolfe works the arm but gets taken down with a space age armdrag. Wolfe gets his own wristlock but Max takes him over while a strange fellow dressed like some kind of clown watches from ringside. Is this show taped from Derry? Wolfe works the ribs on the ropes, but Max comes back with a dropkick like some kind of shooting star in the sky, using his cybernetically enhanced legs. Max tries a crucifix but overshoots, then decides for a monkey flip instead and goes to the Big Dipper Hammerlock on the mat. Wolfe comes back while Gorilla talks about the upcoming World title match at Survivor Series, noting that Shawn would readily give up the Intercontinental title in exchange for the WWF title. Come on, when has Shawn Michaels EVER willingly given up a title? Be serious. Max wins with the Microsoft Presents ChatGPT Flying Bodypress at 4:13.

Back at the studio, Bobby Heenan keeps poking at the bear with Mr. Perfect, mocking the very idea of him wrestling again, but a phone call interrupts, presuambly from Flair, and Perfect sounds very flattered by the offer on the other side. Bobby tries to jump in but Perfect is intrigued.

We take a break for the Event Center and Perfect is still thinking the offer over, and now Hillbilly and Hacksaw are on board with this crazy idea after considering it. Vince stirs things up by noting that Bobby Heenan has been keeping Perfect on the sidelines because Flair and Razor are jealous of his perfection and Bobby doesn’t want to cause trouble with them. Perfect is like “Yeah what’s up with that, Bobby?” And Bobby is like “Well he’s just a manager now” and Vince jumps all over that and really puts the screws to Bobby. Vince asks why Bobby always takes all the credit while Perfect does all the hard work in the background.

Meanwhile, on Saturday Night’s Main Event, Shawn Michaels upsets British Bulldog to win the IC title after a pretty good match.

Back at the studio, Bobby keeps making questionable defenses for Perfect declining the offer from Savage, and then we hear from Razor and Flair via satellite. Razor is like “I know you used to be someone years ago but now you work for us, so just relax and do what we say.” Flair: “I do the wrestling and he does the consulting”. I don’t think this is helping. Bobby: “Thanks for the phone call earlier.” Flair: “I didn’t call anyone.” Vince wants to know if Flair is a better wrestler than Perfect, and Perfect disgustedly says NO. Bobby still doesn’t understand why Perfect is concerned with his self-esteem and other nonsense that doesn’t make him money.

Lance Cassidy v. Terrific Terry Taylor

Damn, I always forget about Taylor jumping back from WCW after the Taylor Made Man run. They trade hammerlocks and Cassidy gets some armdrags to take control. Gorilla, meanwhile, relates the lore of Nailz (via Bobby Heenan), as we learn that Nailz in fact was buying flowers for his mother and got a parking ticket while he was in the store, resulting in the police tracking him down and throwing him in prison for hard time after he missed the payment date. Lance slugs away in the corner while I ponder how broken the justice system was even back in 1992, but Taylor takes him down with an armbar takedown and goes to work on it. Taylor works on that while people are literally leaving for the bathrooms in the background, and Taylor tosses him to the floor. Back in, Cassidy gets a sunset flip for two, but Taylor works the arm again. Cassidy with a Thesz Press for two, but Terry goes back to the arm while Gorilla talks about they’re both high flyers while they lay on the mat selling their arms. Also, Taylor would certainly be the expert on flying, since…NO, sorry, I’m not gonna make those jokes. That was a different time and place. They slug it out while Gorilla hints that Cassidy might possibly have a famous father in the sport. Huge if true. Cassidy with a shoulderblock for two and he goes up with a flying bodypress, and they roll over a couple of times before Lance gets two. Taylor with a gut wrench, but the bell rings at 9:32 for a draw. Will they get any EGGstra time? Sadly no. *

Back at the studio, Vince keeps putting over the huge opportunity for whoever chooses to be Macho’s partner. Vince notes that clearly Perfect is the greatest wrestler in the world, and Bobby agrees with that. Vince: “So why did you also say that about Ric Flair?” Bobby doesn’t like this line of questioning and deflects to “loyalty” instead. Perfect: “I walk in no man’s shadow!” Bobby: “We all have to take orders from Flair! Do you think I want him to get in the ring and get killed? He hasn’t been in the ring in years!” Vince: “Are you afraid of Ric Flair and Razor Ramon?” Of course not! He’s PERFECT!

Big Bossman v. Rick Martel

Joined with Bossman working the arm while we continue to ponder Perfect’s upcoming choice. Bossman misses a blind charge and Martel puts the boots to him to take over and works on the ribs. Bossman makes the comeback, but Martel grabs his perfume and Bossman grabs his club and they have a Mexican standoff for the double DQ at 3:45. Yeah OK.

Razor Ramon v. Dale Hutchinson

Razor slugs away in the corner and tosses Dale with the sack of shit slam before going to the abdominal stretch and then hitting the backdrop suplex off the middle rope. And the Razor’s Edge finishes at 2:50.

Back at the studio, Vince throws it back to Macho Man via satellite. Macho thinks maybe Razor and Flair might scare Mr. Perfect, so he’s unsure of his decision to ask him to be his partner. Maybe he doesn’t have the guts? So Perfect has had enough and tells Macho to SHUT UP, because he’s not afraid of anyone! But Macho still doesn’t think Perfect has what it takes, so he tells Perfect to consider it maybe. Perfect agrees to that and Bobby FREAKS OUT as we take a break.

Back with them still squabbling, as now Ric and Razor join us again and the heels keep telling Perfect to calm down like he’s a hysterical woman, arrogantly trying to gaslight him. Razor talks some logic: He’s been sitting on his soft behind for over a year! How could he even hang with the Bad Guy and the Man? Plus Flair notes that there’s nothing shameful about walking in the shadow of Ric Flair, because it’s like walking in the shadow of John Wayne! He’s like a baby being nurtured by the Nature Boy. Who wouldn’t want that? Macho: “ARE YOU A MAN OR ARE YOU A BABY?” Macho gives him 30 minutes to decide or he’ll find someone else.

Hacksaw Jim Duggan v. The Repo Man

This is from the European Rampage tour as Hayes notes that in England, a 2×4 is apparently called a “4×2”. Those crazy backwards British blokes! Makes sense I guess since they’re all the way down there in upside-down world where summer is winter. Duggan puts him down with clotheslines and Repo heads to the floor for a breather, and that goes on for a while. I guess you need lots of breaths up there in the high altitudes of Britain. Back in for a chinlock from Repo and Duggan fights out of that before missing a charge and hitting the corner. Duggan sends him into an exposed buckle and makes a comeback with a devastating bodyslam before sending Repo to the floor with a clubbing forearm. So Repo grabs his tow rope and hits Duggan for the DQ at 7:15. Are ANY of these goddamn matches going to have a finish this week? DUD. Repo chokes him out for a while, but luckily Duggan fetches his trusty 4×2 and fights him off.

El Matador v. Damian Demento

Well there’s a 1992 match if there ever was one. Demento works a top wristlock while the mysterious clown wanders the crowd being wacky. Tito with a crossbody for two and he goes to work on the arm, while Gorilla finally notices the clown. Yeah, he blends in so well that I’m not surprised. Demento with a legdrop for two and he goes to a chinlock, but Tito fights out and slugs away to set up a dropkick and flying forearm. But Demento bails to the floor to escape the pin. Back in, Damian takes Tito down and grabs the tights, so the ref calls for the DQ at 5:00. This episode seriously features some of the dumbest finishes I’ve ever seen.

Back at the studio, it’s time for Perfect to put up or shut up! So Bobby tells Perfect that he needs to shut his mouth and take orders from Flair, but Perfect is sick of people making decisions for him. So he ACCEPTS the offer from the Macho Man, and Bobby immediately pops up and slaps Perfect. That goes very badly for him and he immediately apologizes like a coward and begs for forgiveness. So Perfect dumps a jug of water on his head and he’s BACK at the Survivor Series!

You know who’s also back? BAM BAM BIGELOW.

Marty Jannetty v. Iron Mike Sharpe

From WWF Superstars, so we’ve got Mr. Perfect on commentary as a heel with no mention of the giant angle that just went down in the previous segment. Marty is also back after the angle where he showed up in Shawn’s mirror in a cool visual and accidentally broke the mirror on Sherri’s head. Marty with a monkey flip out of the corner, sending Sharpe running to the floor. Back in the ring, Marty finishes him off with the flying fist at 1:58.

And we wrap it up with Vince and everyone else all happy, as Macho Man joins us again and he’s very happy with Perfect’s decision to join him. He gives a THUMBS UP! But then Flair and Razor also butt in, and Razor notes that one person betrayed him in the past and he’s not around to talk about it anymore. I bet it was his partner in the AWA! We never see that guy around anymore! And then Flair is SHOOTING, as he calls him “Curt Hennig” and declares that it’s Perfect’s real name! But Perfect laughs off the threats and declares that the Perfect Team will be victorious and then he’s gonna go WOO in celebration.

OK the wrestling was complete trash here but what a fun episode otherwise! Here in Canadaland we had to depend on Superstars to fill in why Perfect turned face and it really didn’t do a great job of fleshing out the reasoning, but this one was a pretty incredible show-long angle with Macho smartly using reverse psychology to win Perfect over while the heels stupidly gaslighted him and tried to threaten him into declining the offer. Unfortunately the match wasn’t great but at least it was way more interesting than the match with the other guy involved would have been. And it changed the narrative from his departure to something more positive, so this was a home run episode all around. And then the show got cancelled two months later but that’s another story.