WWF July-September 1993 Television Compilation
- You know the deal by now. A Bunch of random matches pulled from Monday Night Raw, SuperStars, Wrestling Challenge, and the SummerSlam Spectacular a week before SummerSlam. The summer always seemed to be a down period for the WWF back in the day, so there wasn't much in terms of angles built up, so everything is pretty much thrown together.
- Crush vs. Doink The Clown:
Joined in Progress, and from the July 3rd, 1993 episode of SuperStars. We join with Crush catching Doink off the ropes with a tilt-o-whirl back breaker. SHOW HIM NOT TO MESS WIT DA KIDS BR'A! Doink with some begging, but a sucker kick doesn't work... Crush out smarting someone?! Crush with an atomic drop, followed by a clothesline. Crush with a jumping leg drop, and he goes for the Head Vice. Doink rakes the eyes to escape and applies a sleeper hold. Crush manages to escape by ramming Doink back into the corner, but Doink comes back with a clothesline from the second turnbuckle. Doink with a scoop slam, and he heads up to the top rope... and the Whoopie Cushion meets the knees of Crush (where's the DQ?!). Crush with a series of rights and some choking. Irish whip, and Crush nails Doink with a clothesline. Crush continues the pounding and takes him over with a suplex. Doink pulls off a cross body press, but the momentum takes both men over the top rope. Crush press slams Doink onto the floor, but Doink prevents him from getting back in the ring. Doink sends Crush into the ring post, but a charge back fires, and Crush back drops him on the floor, then rolls into the ring to win by Count-Out at 5:27. Damn, can't even beat a CLOWN clean. After the match, they brawl a bit before the referee's break it up... and Doink #2 runs in from the crowd and breaks a stick over the back of Crush's head. The 2 Clowns lay an ass-kicking on Crush for good measure. * Much like at WrestleMania IX, this was just "there", but with another lame finish. I don't think this feud even had a proper blowjob, since Crush was "injured" by Yokozuna and turned heel when he came back, and Doink turned face sometime after SummerSlam.
- The "1-2-3" Kid vs. Blake Beverly:
From the July 5th, 1993 episode of Monday Night Raw. The Kid had recently (well, in 1993 terms) upset Razor Ramon as the unknown "Kid" on the 5/17/93 Raw, then out-smarted him again and stole $10,000 from him. Blake Beverly is just riding out his contract until it expires, since his partner was released/quit in the Spring. Beverly starts the match bitch slapping the Kid, so the Kid dropkicks him from behind, and follows up with a baseball slide. Back in the ring, and the Kid dropkicks Blake during a press attempt for a two count. The Kid with another dropkick for a two count. Irish whip, and Blake catches the Kid with a powerslam. Beverly with a neck breaker, then after some stalling, suplexes the Kid onto the turnbuckle, causing him to spill out of the ring. Beverly with some more bitch slapping and trash talk. Back into the ring, and Beverly comes off the ropes with a headbutt to the back of the Kid's head. Beverly press slams the Kid over the top rope and to the floor, Warrior™ style! Back into the ring again, and Beverly with a combination of a back breaker, ramming the Kid into the buckle, and a powerslam for a two count. Irish whip to the corner, and the Kid misses a blind cross body attempt. Beverly continues teasing the Kid and floors him with a clothesline, followed by a diving shoulder tackle. Beverly goes up to the second turnbuckle, but misses a splash to the floor. The Kid heads up to the top now and comes off with his signature senton tope whatever-you-wanna-call-it. Back into the ring Part III, and Beverly catches the Kid in a leap frog attempt with a back suplex. Beverly heads up stairs again, but misses again. The Kid goes up again, and a gullotine leg drop connects, and the Kid wins at 8:01. THE KID WINS! THE KID WINS! THE KID WINS! ** Pretty fun match for the most part. The Kid's offense added some flavor to the roster at the time, and Beverly playing up the Kid as a chump added to it.
- The Undertaker vs. Headshrinker Samu (w/ Afa):
Also from the July 5th, 1993 episode of Raw. For those who blocked most Undertaker angles out of their mind, back in June, the Giant Gonzalez and Mr. Hughes did a beatdown on the Undertaker and Paul Bearer, then stole his urn, so he's here all by himself, and urnless. The big story was how would that effect his performance of no-selling and moving at the speed of a retarded Zombie. They go face-to-face, as if we're supposed to believe Samu has a snowballs chance in hell of winning. Samu with a series of rights, all no-sold, and the Undertaker does some of his own. Criss-cross sequence, and the Undertaker fucks up a leap frog, landing crotch-first on Samu. Irish whip, and Undertaker takes Samu down with a drop toe hold, and some face pulling. Irish whip is reversed, and the Undertaker with a dropkick, sending Samu out of the ring. Back in the ring, and Undertaker goes old sc----I mean new school on Samu. Undertaker misses the flying lariat that always misses, but goes after Afa out of the ring. Samu with a sledge off the apron, followed by a reverse crescent kick. COMMERCIAL BREAK! Back in the ring, and Samu catches Undertaker off the ropes with a powerslam for a two count. Samu with a scoop slam, and the Undertaker sits up. Samu clotheslines Undertaker out of the ring, but he lands on his feet. Undertaker with a choke from the apron, and he comes back in to throw Samu's face into the ring post. Undertaker with an elbow drop, but he misses the jumping elbow drop that always misses. Samu with a side suplex and headbutt. Samu heads UP TOP, and comes off with a diving headbutt. Samu goes up again, and this time Undertaker sits up before he comes off. Undertaker with a chokeslam, and the Tombstone Piledriver puts Samu away at 9:24 (including a commercial break). * Eh, I've seen worse, especially from the Undertaker, who might have the record for most boring and sucky matches ever for a guy who can actually have a good match.
- The Smoking Gunns & Tatanka vs. The Head Shrinkers & Bam Bam Bigelow (w/ Afa & Luna Vachon):
From the July 11th, 1993 episode of Wrestling Challenge, and we're Joined in Progress because the match was broken up over the course of two episodes for whatever fucking reason. We join in on Bart Gunn driving elbows into the midsection of Samu and puts him down with a shoulder block. Samu misses a cross body press, but catches Bart with a powerslam. Bigelow tags in and headbutts Bart in the ribs. Irish whip, and Bart connects with a really ugly dropkick. He connects with a second to drop Bigelow, but at least it was better than the first. Billy Gunn gets the Smoking Tag, and hammers away with rights. Ugly dropkick to Bigelow and a back drop to Samu. Fatu runs in to get back dropped as well. Billy with a clothesline to Samu and mounted punches to Fatu. He puts down Samu with a big punch, and the Gunns toss him into the ring post. Billy Gunn with more rights and another dropkick. Fatu sneaks in with a reverse thrust kick, and that wins it at a (JIP) 2:47. 1/2* Not much substance, and the fact this same combination put on a ***+ match at SummerSlam the next month is really a baffling thought, considering the entire face side kinda sucked.
- WWF World Championship Match:
Yokozuna © (w/ Mr. Fuji) vs. Crush:
From the July 12th, 1993 episode of Monday Night Raw, and Yokozuna is still pissed off because of Lex Luger "slamming" him on July 4th. I could really make a tasteless Lex Luger/Unintentional death joke right now, but it would be too easy. The crowd seems to be singing the National Anthem during Yokozuna's LOOOOOOOOOOONG warm-up before the match. Lockup to start, and Yokozuna shoves Crush off. Lockup #2, and Crush returns the favor. "Let's Go Crush" chant, and now Crush hammers away on Yokozuna with rights. Yokozuna with a scoop slam, but the elbow drop that always misses misses. Crush with a series of rights, followed by a running boot that sends Yokozuna out of the ring. Back in the ring, and Crush applies a side headlock. Crush with a series of shoulder blocks, but none budge the fat man. Irish whip across the ring, and Crush nails the Kona Splash. Irish whip again, but Crush misses a second attempt. Yokozuna with a double chop to the chest. Crush hammers away on Yokozuna with more rights and a dropkick. Crush floors Yokozuna with a clothesline, then heads up to the top rope for a diving shoulder tackle for a two count. Crush goes up to the top again, but in the corner Fuji is in... and Fuji nails him in the back with his flag pole. Yokozuna with a scoop slam on the outside. Back in the ring, and Yoko with the belly-to-belly suplex, followed by the fat leg drop. The Banzai Drop isn't too far behind, and Yokozuna retains the title at 7:03. Afterwards, Yokozuna drops ass on Crush two more times before Tatanka runs out, and gets nailed once and sells it like death. Yokozuna with a FOURTH banzai drop, and now Joey Maggs, Reno Riggins, and some other chump get taken out for trying to save. Finally Randy Savage makes the save, violating some sort of ban from being involved in a match (but it's AFTER the match). This all lead to the idiotic Crush/Savage feud. *1/2 About as good of a match as you could expect out of Crush and Yokozuna. I don't think that was much of a compliment either.
- Special Report with Lord Alfred Hayes: Brought to us by WWF Ice Cream Bars, available in stores everywhere. Recap of Lex Luger giving Yokozuna one of the most pathetically fake body slams in the history of wrestling. Luger will be doing an extended tour of America, dubbing the call to action campaigne "The Lex Express." Lord Alfred selling out by saying "America is the greatest country in the World" makes me sick. Apparently, Mr. Fuji refuses to grant Luger a World Title shot, but people are flooding Jack Tunney with hate mail and letter bombs. We get clips of the Lex Express... traveling~! Wow, what exciting television. Yes, this just ate up 6 minutes of television.
- Marty Jannetty vs. Mr. Hughes (w/ Harvey Wippleman):
From the July 18th, 1993 episode of Wrestling Challenge, and quite honestly, I'm concerned. Curt Hennig was incapable of getting a good match out of Mr. Hughes at the King of the Ring, so I don't expect Jannetty to be much more successful in this one. Hughes and Wippleman are still lugging around the Undertaker's urn, which they, along with the Giant Gonzalez, stole the weekend of the King of the Ring "last" month (OK, 12 years and 3 months ago by todays standard). In a slightly cool bit of continuity, Jannetty is wearing the same vest he had on during the face-to-face interview. Jannetty dances and tries sweeping the leg from under Hughes, but instead sends Hughes into the posts. Jannetty scoops up a leg, but gets kicked away. Jannetty tries again, but Hughes yanks him down by the hair. Jannetty works in his inside-out sell off the bat on a shoulder block sell. Irish whip, and Jannetty connects with a dropkick, followed by several arm drags, sending Hughes out of the ring. Back into the ring, and Hughes wants a greco-roman knucklelock. STAAAAAAAAALL. Jannetty proves to be smarter than the average bear, by turning it into a wristlock. Hughes no sells off course, and tries throwing Jannetty off, without success. He breaks it with a slam, but Hughes misses an elbow drop and Jannetty goes back to the wristlock. Irish whip, and Jannetty gets yanked by the hair and kicked in the back. Hughes with a series of sledges across the back as we go to a Commercial Break. We come back to Jannetty selling outside the ring, but he sends Hughes crashing into the ringpost. Jannetty boots him a few times, but gets dropped across the security rail in a hurricanrana attempt. Back into the ring, and Hughes is going in slow motion. Hughes with the delayed suplex then wastes about 50 years before covering for a two count. Jannetty tries a comeback, but gets rakes in the face. Irish whip to the corner, and Jannetty goes into selling mode. Jannetty gets sent to the corner again, but avoids a charge. Jannetty with several rights to the bread basket, followed by a boot to the face and a second rope diving bulldog. Jannetty hammers away on Hughes, and escapes a back drop to connect with a superkick. Jannetty goes up top with a missile dropkick. He heads up once more, and nails a second dropkick for a two count. Shoulder tackle by Jannetty sends Hughes outside, and he comes off the top rope with a fist drop. Back into the ring, and Jannetty once again goes to the top, and even Hughes the Dumbass is capable of figuring out what's coming, and he's able to catch him off a cross body attempt with a powerslam for the victory at 11:29. *1/4 The last two minutes were pretty good, but the rest of the match was just brutal, thanks to the horrible work from Mr. Hughes, and the 5 year stall on the test-of-strength.
- WWF Intercontinental Championship Match:
Shawn Michaels © (w/ Diesel) vs. Marty Jannetty:
From the July 19th, 1993 episode of Monday Night Raw, and voted the PWI 1993 Match of the Year. I'll do full blow-by-blow reviewing of this, to see if it beats my personal pick for 1993, Mr. Perfect vs. Bret Hart from King of the Ring '93. History Lesson: Jannetty returned to the WWF (again) on May 17th, 1993 to win the IC Title from Michaels. Michaels then won it back in Albany three weeks later with the help of his new bodyguard, Diesel. Here's the rubber match. Michaels jumps Jannetty from behind to start, and pounds away with elbows across the back. Irish whip, and Jannetty flips out of a bak body drop, and counters a back slide with a clothesline for a two count. Jannetty with a roll up gets another two count. Irish whip, and Michaels escapes a slam attempt, but flies out through the ropes on his own momentum while attempting a roll up. Back into the ring, and Michaels applies a standing side headlock. An Irish whip escape leads to a crisscross, some blocking of hip tosses, and Michaels missing the Super-Kick. Lockup into the corner, and Michaels gets in a cheap shot, followed by choking across the top rope. Irish whip to the corner, and Michaels misses a diving charge. Jannetty with a series of hip tosses and a scoop slam for a two count. Wristlock applied by Jannetty, and then he bars the arm. Jannetty turns the hold into an overhead wristlock. Irish whip to escape, and Michaels puts Jannetty down with a back elbow. Jannetty is introduced to the buckle, but Michaels charges into the boot. Jannetty with a second rope clothesline, and then he heads to the top rope, but Michaels rolls away. Jannetty saw that coming though, landing on his feet mid-move, and lays out Michaels with a DDT... for the three count at 5:08?! Marty Jannetty is the NEW Intercontinental Champion!
Until we return from the commercial break, and Bobby Heenan convinced referee Earl Hebner to watch the instant replay, which shows Michaels getting his foot on the bottom rope, so the match is restarted. Outside the ring, Jannetty hammers away on Michaels. Back into the ring, and Jannetty takes over Michaels with a snap suplex for a two count. Jannetty hammers away on Michaels with rights, and connects with a back breaker for another two count. Jannetty continues beating on Michaels with rights. Irish whip to the corner, and Jannetty catches Michaels from behind with a Sleeper Hold. Michaels manages to escape with a well-timed back suplex. Irish whip to the corner is reversed, and Jannetty runs into a back elbow. Michaels follows with a running high knee to the back, causing Jannetty to go out through the ropes to the outside. Back into the ring, and a crisscross leads to a double shoulder tackle and a double head collision, which causes Michaels to stagger out of the ring. [Commercial Break] We come back with Michaels elbowing Jannetty in the corner and coming off the top rope with a double axehandle for a two count. Reverse chinlock applied by Michaels, and now the match suffers. Jannetty manages to escape with elbows to the midsection, but Michaels lays him out again and applies a front facelock. Jannetty teases escaping, so Michaels moves to the ropes to use them for leverage to keep Jannetty down. Both men are sweating bullets, and I should remember they are about 18 minutes into the match including the commercial breaks (which are cut out, of course). Jannetty powers Michaels up into the corner, crotching him across the top rope in the process. Jannetty hammers away on Michaels and connects with a diving back elbow for a two count. Irish whip, and Michaels catches Marty in the piledriver position, but Jannetty counters with a hurricanrana for a two count! Irish whip to the corner, and Jannetty eats buckle on a charge. Michaels heads to the top rope, and a cross body press is countered by Jannetty for another two count! Rocker Dropper connects, and Michaels is down, then gets tied up in the ropes a la Andre the Giant. Jannetty hammers away, but he goes for a cross body, and goes SPLAT on the arena floor. Diesel tosses Jannetty back into the ring, and Michaels crawls on top of Jannetty for the three count at 14:13 (minus several commercial breaks). If there was ever an example of anti-climatic finish, THAT was it. ****1/2 Easily the best match Michaels and Jannetty had (on television). The action was too fast to call, the execution of everything was crisp, the resting wasn't nearly as bad as I remember it being, and they had a perfect ring-presence when wrestling each other. However, If not for the lack of psychology other than Michaels is desperate to not lose and Jannetty wants to win, this could've been a 5-star match and easy MOTYC, so I stand by my original decision for Perfect/Hart as my personal choice.
- "The Rocket" Owen Hart vs. Jerry "The King" Lawler:
From the July 25th, 1993 episode of Wrestling Challenge, and a direct result of an episode of the King's Court from the week earlier, all part of the Lawler vs. Hart Family feud that began at the King of the Ring. Lawler talks smack before the match, but Owenm is a pissed off Jobber, and slaps him a few times. Owen starts a "Burger King" chant, and I'm sure Burger King loved the publicity WWF gave them during Lawler matches and segments. Lockup into the corner, and Lawler with a cheap shot. Irish whip to the corner is reversed, and Owen takes Lawler over with a back drop. Lawler with some stalling outside of the ring... and if you're surprised, you've obviously never seen a Lawler match before. Back in the ring, and another lockup goes into the corner. Owen with a series of roundhouse rights, then more stalling. They trade blows, with Owen coming out on top. Owen with a dropkick, sending Lawler hiding in the corner again. Lawler digs into his tights for one of his infamous fake foreign objects. Owen rams Lawler into the buckle a few times before getting nailed by a "weapon." Lawler pounds away on Owen at a snails pace and chokes him across the top rope. Owen comes back with a spinning heel kick, followed by a back body drop. Owen heads to the top rope, and comes off with a missile dropkick for a two count. Irish whip to the corner, and Owen posts himself on a charge. Lawler connects with a piledriver, and that (and a handful of tights) is enough for the three count at 6:32. 1/2* Bad match, but Lawler getting kicked in the face is worth half of a star. This match is one of many examples of why I can't stand Lawler and Memphis Style matches. Loooooong stalling, lots of "cheating", and a shitty finish.
- Special Report with Lord Alfred Hayes: Regarding the Luger/Yokozuna challenge, President Jack Tunney informs us via phone that he has made the match official for SummerSlam '93, with the stipulation that Luger must wear a pad over his forearm... yes, a 1/16th of an inch of padding is going to protect someone from steel. Luger with a promo from his Lex Express following the decision. Well he sure doesn't look happy.
- Ludvig Borga vs. George South:
Also from the July 25th, 1993 episode of Wrestling Challenge, and this is Borga's debut. The on-screen graphic lists him as "Ludwig Borge", but that's too much of a pain in the ass to type (and no doubt to pronounce for Vince), so I'll stick with the later changed version we all know and love. Borga quickly choke lifts and slams South down from a grapple position. Irish whip, and Borga plants South with a side suplex. Delay vertial suplex by Borga, and even longer than when Davey Boy Smith would do it. Too bad Borga really sucked and Davey Boy had talent for most of his career. Borga with a scoop slam, followed by the jumping elbow drop that should've missed. Irish whip, and South boots him in the face and follows with a clothesline. Borga no-sells both, and drills South with a clothesline. Irish whip, and Borga bounces off the ropes with a flying clothesline for the three count at 2:03. DUD Just a squash match.
- The "1-2-3" Kid vs. "Million $ Man" Ted Dibiase:
From the August 1st, 1993 episode of Wrestling Challenge. The week before on Monday Night Raw, Ted Dibiase offered a match to the Kid to teach Razor Ramon a lesson. Dibiase offers a handshake, then knees the Kid in the midsection and pounds him to the canvas. Irish whip, and Dibiase with a clothesline. Irish whip to the corner, and the Kid does his patent over-sell. Irish whip, and the Kid comes off the ropes with a spinning heel kick for a two count. The Kid with a back slide for another two count. Irish whip to the corner, and Dibiase misses a charge. The Kid with a moonsault off the top rope for another two count. Dibiase catches the Kid doing... something, and drops him throat first across the top rope. Dibiase with a piledriver, but he pulls the Kid up at a two count. Dibiase with a suplex for another false two count. Irish whip, and Dibiase takes the Kid over with a powerslam. Dibiase applies the Million $ Dream, and out comes Razor Ramon, which distracts Dibiase enough to release the hold. Dibiase mocks Razor, then casually covers the Kid... and the Kid casually reverses with a crucifix for the three count at 3:38. Dibiase only has himself to blame for that act of arrogance. After the match, Ramon rubs the loss in Dibiase's face. * Nothing much more than a squash for Dibiase, but it was entertaining enough for such a short match.
- The Smoking Gunns vs. Damian Demento & Barry Horowitz:
Also from the August 1st, 1993 episode of Wrestling Challenge. Despite the demotion down to pretty much Jobber status for Demento, I still have a strong feeling it'll be Barry Horowitz taking the fall in this match. Demento boots Bart in the midsection to start, and applies a wristlock. They counter a few times into the corner, and Demento pounds away. Irish whip to the corner is reversed, and Billy tags in for a double-team russian leg sweep for a one count. Billy G. with a wristlock into the corner. Demento with a poke of the eyes to escape, and a back elbow to the side of the head. Horowitz tags in to lose. Horowitz with a back breaker for a two count, but he misses a splash. Bart Gunn tags in and cleans house of everyone. A dropkick sends Demento out of the ring, and Billy comes off the top on Horowitz, while across the shoulders of Bart, and that goofy move gets the easy three at 2:17. DUD Just another squash match.
- From the August 9th, 1993 episode of Monday Night Raw, it's the special contract signing between Lex Luger and Yokozuna. The only notable thing about this is that Jim Cornette debuts as Yokozuna's "American Spokesman", and after Luger signs the contract, Cornette informs Luger about the "no Rematch" part... you'd think Luger could afford lawyers to look over the contract, or the fact you can't add a stipulation to the contract in 5 seconds and without informing someone about the sudden change. I know, Logic in Wrestling. To the surprise of millions, no fight breaks out for once.
- "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan vs. Yokozuna (w/ Mr. Fuji):
From the 1993 SummerSlam Spectacular, televised on August 22nd. Non-Title match to give everyone the illusion that Duggan might win, but the guy was pretty much gone from television at this point, so it shouldn't come as a surprise who's doing the job in about 8-minutes. This match was probably thrown together at random, then everyone remembered Yokozuna squashed Jim Duggan under the American flag on the 2/6/93 episode of SuperStars. Duggan attacks Yokozuna from behind and pounds away in the corner with rights. Duggan tries using the 2x4, but the referee stops him, allowing Yoko to nail him with a thrust to the throat. Duggan sells it terribly, by the way. Yokozuna chokes him across the middle rope, and Fuji gets in a cheap shot for the hell of it. Yokozuna stomps on Duggan and chokes some more. Yokozuna dumps Duggan out of the ring, to give him a breather I guess. Duggan comes back in the ring, connecting with a bunch of rights and lefts. Yokozuna no-sells them all then drops a fat-ass leg across his face. I'd fear for my health having to take that move from the guy. Irish whip, and Yokozuna catches Duggan in a bearhug. This goes on for a while, so I hit fast forward. Duggan escapes with some biting, but Yokozuna chokes him in the corner, since both guys suck. Duggan comes back with rights, "stunning" Yokozuna (or Yoko gasping for air). Yokozuna sends Duggan into the corner, but misses the avalanche. Duggan with more rights and several clotheslines, and it takes three to take Yokozuna off his feet. Duggan sets up for his big clothesline in the corner with Mr. Fuji... and if you don't know what happens, you have no right calling yourself a wrestling fan. Short and sweet, Yokozuna squashes Duggan in the corner, and the Banzai Drop finishes Duggan's WWF career at a long and painful 8:16. Yokozuna tries for another, but this time officials rush out to Duggan's aid. Backstage, Vince McMahon interviews the Yokozuna Fun Club, and with his hair out of the ponytail, Yokozuna's samoan heritage is obvious. Oh yeah, the match. -** Awful, awful, awful, awful. I must've been high on something when I first reviewed this. Other than the 2-minute bearhug, I don't think there was another wrestling hold done all match (or move, if you don't count clotheslines and butt drops).
- Razor Ramon vs. Blake Beverly:
Also from the SummerSlam Spectacular, and Beverly continues his run on the Summer Job Tour '93. Before the match, we get a helpful recap of the Ramon/Dibiase feud, with them scheduled to meet at the PPV the next week. Beverly smack talks, so Ramon tosses a toothpick in his face. Lockup into the corner, and Beverly slaps him like a bitch. Beverly with stomps in the cortner, and Ramon returns the favoe with chops. Irish whip, and Beverly takes a hike. Back in the ring, and Beverly applies a side headlock. Ramon escapes into an overhead wristlock, but Beverly reverses back with a helpful hair pull. This goes on for a while until Ramon escapes with a hair pull. Beverly wants a test-of-strength, but kicks Ramon in the midsection instead. Ramon takes offense to it, but gets back dropped out of the ring. While Ramon takes his time getting in, Beverly removes a turnbuckle pad. Beverly with a neck breaker, followed by a whip into the exposed steel. Beverly with a back breaker, followed by a powerslam for a two count. Ramon counters an arrogant pin into a sunset flip for a two count of his own. Beverly with more slaps, but a whip to the corner is reversed, and now Blake meets the steel. Razor with the Razor's Edge, and Beverly goes night-night at 6:10. * Decent match, but Ramon should've dominated more, considering Beverly was an exclusive tag wrestler.
- The Smoking Gunns & Tatanka vs. Barry Horowitz, The Brooklyn Brawler, Reno Riggins:
More from the SummerSlam Spectacular, and that Heel Team has to be the Jobber All-Stars or something if you get rid of Riggins. I guess Iron Mike had better things to do, like washing his cast or something. I didn't really think of it, but why are cowboys teaming up with an Indian? That makes as much sense as the United States aligning themselves with Japan in World War II. Billy Gunn and Horowitz start the squash. Lockup, and Billy applies a side headlock. They exchange wristlocks, with Horowitz coming out on top. Billy escapes a slam attempt, but fails a roll up. Billy can't do anything for a while until he kicks him in the head. Riggins tags in and gets taken over with an arm drag. Bart tags ub abd a cruss-cross sequence leads to a Bart arm drag. Brawler tags in and gets taken down with a drop toe hold. Side headlock applied by Bart, followed by a wristlock. Tatanka (Buffalo) tags in and comes off the top with a chop to the arm, then works the arm some more. Irish whip is reversed, and Tatanka takes him over with a powerslam. Tatanka works the arm again, and Billy G. does more of the same until the Brawler sends him into the corner. Horowitz tags in and a northern lights suplex gets a two count. Brawler tags in and connects with a neck breaker for another two count. Riggins tags in and plants Billy with a side suplex for another two count. Billy G. with a small package for a two count. Horowitz tags back in with a jaw breaker, and drops a knee across the chest for a two count. Brawler tags in and bites... literally. Irish whip, and the Brawler floors Billy with a clothesline. Riggins tags in and rakes the eyes of Billy. Irish whip, and Billy comes off the ropes with a sunset flip for a two count. Horowitz tags back in and stomps a mahza ball in his ass and eats it dry. Billy Gunn continues to be made the bitch by the Job Squad. Horowitz with a series of forearm uppercuts in the corner. Brawler in again to rake the eyes of Billy Gunn across the top rope. Riggins in, and Billy comes off the ropes with a diving forearm. Tatanka gets the Hot Dance Tag and cleans house of every Jobber moving with chops. The Gunns come in and take out Horo-Brawler with stereo dropkicks. Tatanka takes Riggins over with a back drop, then does his signature dance and chops. Tatanka to the top with a cross body for a three count at 7:06. Took them long enough. ** Surprisingly long match considering who the opponents for the good guys were, and it wasn't half bad either.
- WWF Intercontinental Championship Match:
Shawn Michaels © (w/ Diesel) vs. Bob Backlund:
Still from the SummerSlam Spectacular. This has to be a big contrast in styles. Michaels is a "great" entertainer with minimal grasp on actual wrestling ability, while Bob Backlund is a great wrestler with minimal grasp on being an entertainer. Lockup to start, and Michaels casually slams Backlund. Lockup #2, and Michaels does the same. Backlund comes back with a series of arm drags and a scoop slam, followed by a back slide for a two count. Commercial break time, and we come back with Michaels pounding away on Backlund, and covers for a two count. Michaels to the second turnbuckle, and he comes off with a sledge. Front facelock applied by Michaels as I start falling asleep. Backlund escapes in the corner and slaps Michaels like the bitch he is. Backlund with a back drop, dropkick and swinging neck breaker for a two count. Backlund with a delayed atomic drop, but Diesel distracts the referee before he can start making the cover. Michaels grabs a handful of balls and cradles Backlund (with a handful of tights) for the three count at 6:15. Jesus, you have to cheat to beat 1993 Bob Backlund? 3/4* Match was rather pathetic, and the "heat machine" is obvious with loud roars of boos despite everyone sitting on their hands.
- SummerSlam '93 Report! Live from the Motor City on August 30th, 1993 (1 day after my 8th birthday), sponsored by... some truck that is no longer a new model! For the convenience of everyone, the complete card for the PPV extravavaganza.... (Update: It's Chevy Trucks)
1. Yokozuna (World Champ) vs. Lex Luger
2. Bret "Hitman" Hart vs. Jerry "The King" Lawler (with the Hart Family at ringside!)
3. Shawn Michaels (IC Champ) vs. Mr. Perfect (Greatest IC Title Match Ever~!)
4. The Undertaker vs. The Giant Gonzalez in a Rest In Peace Match
5. The Steiner Brothers (Tag Champs) vs. The Heavenly Bodies
6. Tatanka & Smoking Gunns vs. Bam Bam Bigelow & The Head Shrinkers
7. Razor Ramon vs. "Million $ Man" Ted Dibiase
8. The "1-2-3" Kid vs. Irwin R. Schyster
9. Marty Jannetty vs. Ludvig Borga (apparently replacing Rick Martel)
- WWF Tag Team Championship Match; Steel Cage Match:
The Steiner Brothers © vs. Money Inc.:
(Rick & Scott Steiner vs. Ted Dibiase & I.R.S.)
The last stop from the SummerSlam Spectacular. It always bugged me that the Steiners and Money Inc. traded the title for 3 title changes inside of a week, and none of the changes were televised.And on top of that, Shawn Michaels regained the IC Title from Marty Jannetty at an untelevised event as well. Anyway, the rules of the match are that to win, both members of a team must escape by going over the top, and the door will be chained shut. Also this is held under texas tornado rules, meaning all four men are allowed in the ring at the same time. It's really sad to think Scott Steiner used to be one of the best wrestlers in the WWF (or WCW) compared to the piece of shit stinking up rings today. Money Inc's early match plan... both try to scale the cage at the same time while, but of course, that plan doesn't quite work. I.R.S./Rick and Dibiase/Scott pair off in opposite corners. Rick pounds on the Tax-Man while Scott rams Dibiase into the cage. Both Steiners try escaping, but neither make it. IRS with a snapmare on Rick and some stomping, and Dibiase takes Scott down with a back suplex. Money Inc. with another unsuccessful escape attempt (and a moon from Dibiase courtesy of Rick Steiner). Scott with mounted punches on IRS in the corner, but he can't climb over yet and gets crotched in the process. More attempts from everyone to escape. Rick pounds away on Dibiase in the corner, and whips him across the ring. Dibiase prevents Scott from escaping, and taks him off the cage with a suplex. Double teaming on Rick for a moment, but Scott breaks it up for a moment. Rick tries escaping when Money Inc. works over Scott, but that doesn't work. IRS and Scott fight on the top of the cage, and IRS takes him over with a Super-plex. In other action, Dibiase applies a front facelock to Rick as we go to a Commercial.
We come back, and the Steiners prevent another double escape routine. Rick takes IRS down with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex, and Scott and Dibiase brawl on the top rope until Dibiase eats steel. Scott's almost out of the cage, but Dibiase chokes him out across one of the blue bars of doom and pulls him back into the ring. Rick with a Steinerline to IRS, then goes to hammer away on Dibiase. IRS chokes Scott with his tie while Dibiase takes Rick off the cage in a rather unusual position. Scott gives IRS a taste of his own medicine, choking him with his tie. IRS tries another escape, but Scott interrupts that attempt. Scott eats turnbuckle courtesy of IRS, and Dibiase follows with some chops. Irish whip reversals see Rick and Dibiase collide. Scott and I.R.S. both climb up opposite sides of the cage, and both escape at 11:02, leaving Rick Steiner vs. Ted Dibiase... but Rick wakes up first, so IRS climbs back INTO the cage to prevent Rick's escape! Scott is forced to climb back into the match, and comes off the top of the cage with a flying axehandle to IRS!! Oh yeah, and snce both men climbed back in, both have to climb back out. The Steiners try climbing out again, but the bad guys cut them off. Dibiase chokes Rick with... something. Probably Irwin's tie, but I can't see... AND IT'S ANOTHER COMMERCIAL! We come back again, this time with Scott Steiner out of the ring, meaning it's Rick Steiner vs. Money Inc. Scott climbs back in for a second time, just as Money Inc. nail Rick with a double clothesline. IRS climbs up and out for the second time at 13:41, leaving Dibiase vs. the Steiners. Rick pulls Dibiase back down from the top of the cage by his tights, and now the fun begins. The Steiners trap his feet in the bars and stomp away at him, so now Irwin climbs in again as well, and cuts off the escape of the Steiners, who just happend to be climbing the same spot of the cage. Morons. Dibiase with an inverted atomic drop to Scott, but Rick escapes at 15:21, leaving Scott vs. Money Inc. Rick teases climbing back in, but Scott nails both Money Inc. members with clotheslines, and all three of them are down. Dibiase brawls with Scott on top of the cage while IRS climbs out... but Rick catches him off the wall and holds him up off the ground on his shoulders! Dibiase escapes at 17:39, but IRS needs to touch the floor. Dibiase pounds away on Rick while Scott climbs up and out, and Scott escapes at 17:52 for the 3rd and final time to retain the Championships. ****1/4 Detailed PBP doesn't do the match justice. The action was non-stop, there was the occasional big spot with the cage (by 1993 standards), and the psychology of partners escaping and climbing back in to save the match was a fresh concept back then. This marked the final appearance of Money Inc. as a team, and would've been a great swan song for Dibiase's WWF run if not for a mediocre match with Ramon the next week at SummerSlam.
- Marty Jannetty & Virgil vs. The Head Shrinkers (w/ Afa):
Now replacing Tito Santana in the Miracle Jobber Connection, Marty Jannetty, and this is from the September 11th, 1993 episode of SuperStars. Without looking it up (and since I don't remember), I've got my money on Virgil taking the fall here. Jannetty and Samu start with a lockup, won easily by Shamu. Jannetty with an arm drag takeover, followed by a dropkick and another armbar. Fatu headbutts Samu for whatever reason. Samu with a foot to the midsection and a scoop slam on Jannetty. Fatu tags in and stomps dangerously near the crotch. Irish whip, and Jannetty comes off the ropes with a cross body for a two count. Jannetty with an arm drag and armbar applied. Virgil tags in an comes off the top with a sledge across the arm, then applies a wristlock. Fatu escapes with some clubberin' blows and a back breaker. Irish whip, and Fatu runs over Virgil with a shoulder block as we go to a commercial break. MORTAL KOMBAT COMMERCIAL! We come back, and Virgil fails a roll-up attempt. Virgil takes Fatu down with a drop toe hold, though, and works the arm. Jannetty tags back in with a sledge and continues working over the arm. Fatu escapes with a knee to the midsection, and Samu tags in to lay a butt-kicking on him. Irish whip to the corner, and Samu runs into a boot from Jannetty. Jannetty with a series of rights and another wristlock applied. Samu with a rake of the eyes to escape. Jannetty with a reverse crescent kick, and Fatu nails him from the apron. Samu with a clothesline, with the patent Jannetty over-sell, and it's time for the Head Shrinkers to mop the floor with him. Jannetty gets worked over in the corner with double teaming and choking. Irish whip to the corner, and Samu posts himself on a charge. Virgil gets the Jobber Tag and hammers away on Fatu. Irish whip, and Virgil with a back drop. Virgil with a dropkick to Samu and a clothesline to Fatu. Samu gets dumped out of the ring, and M&V nail a double dropkick on Fatu. Virgil with a Russian leg sweep on Fatu (his finishing move at the time, I think), but Samu comes off the top with a headbutt behind the referee's back, and Fatu rolls on top for the three count at 9:29. I guess I won that bet. *1/2 This had it's moments here and there, but for the most part was just boring crap, which was the norm' from the Head Shrinkers... have I mentioned how much I think they sucked yet? Well, they do.
- The "1-2-3" Kid vs. Bastion Booger:
From the September 12th, 1993 episode of Wrestling Challenge. Lockup to start, and Booger flicks the Kid. Kid bounces off the ropes and Booger presses him up in the air, then drops a leg across the back of his head. Booger rams the Kid into a turnbuckle and puts him down with a headbutt. Booger with a double underhook suplex and some... well, I'd call it dancing, just to give it a name. Booger with a (somewhat) delay vertical suplex and some trash talking. Irish whip to the corner, and Booger misses a charge. The Kid with a roll up, but it only gets a two count. Irish whip, and the Kid nails a front enziguri. Booger rolls out of the ring, and the Kid follows with a senton off the top rope and a plancha. 1-2-3! 1-2-3! 1-2-3! Booger whips the Kid into the ring post, and follows with an avalanch against it. Booger tries again, but misses, the Kid throws a drink in his face, and the Kid rolls back into the ring to beat the longest Count-Out ever at 3:55. 3/4* The finish had a couple of nice spots, but the rest was junk, controled in super slow-motion by the Booger-Man. They had a rematch on Challenge 2 months later where Booger got his "heat" back, for those that care. Remember the days when a rematch DIDN'T happen the next week all the time?
- WWF Tag Team Championship Match; Quebec Province Rules:
The Steiner Brothers © vs. The Quebecers:
(Rick & Scott Steiner vs. Jacques & Pierre)
From the September 13th, 1993 episode of Monday Night Raw. For those unaware of the Quebec Province Rules... 1. Title can be lost by Disqualification and Count-Out. 2. Piledrivers are illegal. 3. Jumping off the top rope is illegal (sounds like a dumbass idea from WCW in 1992 that Bill Watts made up). 5. Throwing an opponent over the top rope is illegal (another WCW rule back then). These rules alone should make someone smell a fishy finish. Rick and Jacques lockup into the corner, and Jacques with a series of knees to the midsection. Irish whip, and Rick catches Jacques in a leap frog attempt with a powerslam. Rick with a Steinerline, sending Jacques out of the ring. Pierre tags in, and Rick plants him with a powerslam for a two count. Rick with an armbar, and Scott tags in. Irish whip is reversed, and Scott catches Pierre in place with the double underhook slam for a two count. Irish whip, and Scott with a dropkick for another two count, then back to the front facelock. Irish whip to the corner, and he runs into a boot. Pierre with a flying clothesline from the second turnbuckle for a two count. Pierre with a snapmare out of the corner, and a jumping forearm connects for another two count. Irish whip is reversed, and Scott takes Pierre over with a back drop. Jacques runs in for some of the same. Rick tags in and goes for a piledriver on Jacques, but Scott reminds him that will be a DQ as we take a commercial break. We come back with Rick and Jacques grappling until Jacques spills out of the ring. Pierre tags back in to square off with Scott. Lockup, and Scott applies a side headlock, then takes Pierre over to the canvas. Irish whip to escape, and Scott with a shoulder block. He tries for a hip toss, but Pierre blocks and takes Scott's head off with a clothesline. Irish whip is reversed, and Scott takes Pierre over with a belly-to-belly suplex for a two count. Single-leg Boston crab applied by Scott. Jacques comes in to nail Scott from behind, but Scott still has the hold applied. Rick tags in and quickly covers Pierre for a two count, then continues working the leg. Jacques breaks it up again, this time with success... well, for a few seconds, because Rick still has the crab applied. Scott tags in and drops an elbow across the back of the head of Pierre for a two count. For some reason, Johnny Polo comes to ringside. Rick heads to the top rope, but then realizes that's a DQ, and comes off the middle rope... he misses anyway. a helpful camera shot reads the back of Johnny Polos' hockey jersey: "We're the Quebecers Jacques & Pierre and I am Johnny." Pierre pounds away on Rick and sends him into the corner for more punishment. Pierre sets Rick up on the middle turnbuckle, but Rick fights him off and drops him with a reverse suplex for a two count. The Quebecers and Polo have a discussion outside of the ring as we take another break.
We return with Scott and Jacques in the ring. Irish whip, and Pierre nails Scott from the apron with a clothesline. Irish whip, and the Quebecers with a double hair snap, and Jacques slams Pierre onto Scott, then Pierre press slams Jacques on top for a two count. Irish whip, and the Quebecers press Scott across the top rope throat first. Pierre with some choking in the corner while Jacques keeps the referee distracted. The Quebecers with a double team leg sweep/clothesline for a two count, then Pierre applies a reverse chinlock. Pierre with a scoop slam, followed by a second rope splash for a two count. Jacques tags back in and nails Scott with a diving back elbow for another two count. Irish whip, and Scott boots Jacques in the face going for a back drop. Pierre cuts off a tag to Rick and continues pounding away on Scott. Pierre with a scoop slam, and Jacques tags in and back drops Pierre across Scott for no count, since Jacques is the legal man. SMARTEST REFEREE EVER! Irish whip to the corner, and Scott fights back on Jacques and plants him with a DDT. Pierre cuts of the tag again, but Rick runs in to beat him down. Scott gets dumped outside in front of Polo, but nothing happens other than Polo begging the crowd to shut up. Back in the ring, and Jacques with a slam and Boston crab while Pierre comes off the second rope with a leg drop. They try it for a second time, but Rick comes in and slams Pierre off the second turnbuckle and nails Jacques to break up the hold. Irish whip, and Scott nails both Quebecers with clotheslines. Rick FINALLY gets the hot tag and cleans house of everyone. Slams to both men, and Scott comes in with dropkicks. Irish whip, and Scott with the Frankensteiner on Pierre... for a two count?! HE'S NOT LEGAL! Johnny Polo comes onto the apron and gets nailed by Rick for his troubles. The Hockey stick comes into play now, and Scott whacks Jacques with it several times, drawing a Disqualification at 17:23, and giving the Quebecers their first of three Tag Team Titles. ***3/4 The Steiners were on a real hot streak for about a 4 week period, with 3 matches in the 4-star zone with Money Inc, the Heavenly Bodies (at SummerSlam), and The Quebecers here. as usual with the Steiners in their primes, this was non-stop action and had some great old school tag formula wrestling, with Scott taking an ass kicking like a champion, and the Quebecers busting out their awesome double team moves during the heat segment. The only downer is the lame Disqualification finish, and everyone should've seen that one coming, so I knocked off 1/4* for it.
- From the same show, post-Squash Match of Doink's. Doink teases dumping a bucket of water on the crowd, but Bobby Heenan tries talking him into throwing it at Randy Savage and Vince McMahon... and hey look, it's Vladimir! Anyway... Doink teases dumping the water on everyone until he decides on his target... Bobby Heenan. Oh no, it's Doink the Clown turning FACE! Put the women and children to bed, bah gawd! Heenan, of course, sells it like crazy slipping everywhere while Vince teases him with a towel and dumping a bottle of water on him.
- Irwin R. Schyster vs. P.J. Walker:
From the September 20th, 1993 episode of Monday Night Raw, and the final match of the tape. Crowd with a nice "Irwin"chant. Walker tries a sneak attack, so IRS boots him in the midsection and throws him over the top rope. IRS hammers away on the outside, and dumps him back into the ring. IRS stomps an audit in his ass and applies his patent abdominal stretch for about 5 seconds. IRS with a back breaker, and here comes Razor Ramon to taunt IRS. Walker manages to crawl up off the canvas long enough to roll up IRS, and gets the three count at 1:22. P.J WINS! P.J. WINS! P.J.---eh, who cares. Walker was no Kid, but he did get a push late in 1994 as the Man-o-War, Aldo Montoya, most famous for wearing a jock strap on the wrong head. DUD Just a squash match.
Final Thoughts: There's the usual stuff here that goes under the "fun to watch but the workrate sucks" file, but the Steiners pulled off a couple of great matches and there's the Michaels/Jannetty match everyone seems to go ga-ga over, so that makes the tape more enjoyable. I won't bother with a recommendation, other than a thumbs up for fans of the 1993 stuff that wasn't exactly the greatest time frame for wrestling in the big companies.