WWE Vault Grab Bag
Commentators: Sean Mooney, Lord Alfred Hayes

So since the WWE Vault has a tendency to throw out all kinds of random matches, it can be fun to see what comes out and mix them together. That’s what I’m doing here, with a collection of seven matches that have been posted recently(ish). There’s no connection to them other than that (at least that I’ll get into) so let’s get to it.

From Mexico City, July 13, 2024.

Stephanie Vaquer vs. Isla Dawn

Vaquer had been signed in a big surprise a few days before. Dawn jumps her before the match but Vaquer knocks her down and hits a legdrop. A springboard high crossbody gives Vaquer two, only for Dawn to get in a cheap shot to take over. Dawn’s hip attack in the corner gets two and we hit the chinlock. That’s broken up and Vaquer makes the comeback, including what would become known as the Devil’s Kiss for two. Dawn fights back to no avail as it’s the SVB to give Vaquer the pin at 4:23.

Rating: C. This wasn’t quite a squash, but Vaquer was never in anything resembling real trouble. That’s the point in having her debut like this, as she got to come in, make a good impression, and leave with the fans wanting to see more. Nice debut here, as Vaquer clearly had the skills right from the start.

From Savannah, Georgia, January 29, 1991.

Jake Roberts vs. Rick Martel

This is a Blindfold Match after a Wrestling Challenge taping and a test run for their infamous match at Wrestlemania VII. Martel misses a (blind) charge to start and Roberts immediately gets the idea of pointing, with the fans telling him if he’s going in the right direction while Martel stumbles around. This goes on for a bit until Roberts finally gets him down and hammers away. Martel is back with some choking but misses a backdrop attempt as Roberts steps to the side. How he would know to do that is anyone’s guess.

Martel winds up on the floor and stumbles around for a bit, ultimately finding the snake bag and panicking. The staggering continues as Martel finds a chair and I wonder how there hasn’t been a 94 count by now. Martel’s chair shot hits the post and he slowly gets back inside (after almost four minutes on the floor).

They back into each other and Martel hammers away but misses an elbow drop. Martel finally gets frustrated and takes the hood off to hammer away. Roberts gets tied in the ropes so Martel grabs the Arrogance. The fight with the referee is enough for Roberts to hear them and hit the DDT for the VERY delayed pin at 8:46.

Rating: D+. This didn’t work again, partially as I’m not sure how Martel wasn’t counted out or disqualified at either point. That being said, the idea of a blindfold match works, but this was very little action or even teases with the crowd helping. Then again, it’s just a tryout for the big match later, even if a lot of the sequences were the same.

From Springfield, Massachusetts, November 12, 1991.

WWF Title: Ric Flair vs. Hulk Hogan

Hogan is defending in a Wrestling Challenge dark match and Mr Perfect is here with Flair. We hit the stall button to start with no contact for more than the first two minutes. Flair gets in a shove and a WOO before ducking a lockup attempt. He ducks again and we’re now three and a half minutes in with that one shove being the only contact. Hogan draws a line on the mat and says bring it so we finally get a lockup, with Flair grabbing a headlock.

Flair grinds away but Hogan powers out and hits a running shoulder, allowing him to strut a bit as the fans are going nuts for all of this. A clothesline puts Flair on the floor and it’s time for a test of strength, but Flair is smart enough to pike him in the eye instead. Flair’s big chop just fires Hogan up and he hammers away in the corner. Hogan knocks him to the floor and Flair goes to leave, only to get dragged back for his efforts.

This time Flair manages to knock him down and drops the knee but the chops just wake Hogan up again. That’s one thing I love about Flair: whether it’s Sting or Hogan, he would keep doing the same things that never worked because he has the confidence to believe THIS TIME FOR SURE! Just like going to the top rope, even if it almost NEVER worked, Flair was delusional enough to believe that he could pull it off.

Anyway, Hogan fights back but stops to yell at Perfect, allowing Flair to start in on the leg. Flair crotches him against the post and starts in with his usual leg variety pack. The Figure Four attempt is blocked though and Flair goes up, only to be slammed down (there it is). Perfect puts the foot on the ropes at two and it’s time for the foreign object. The big right hand connects and yeah you know what’s coming. The Hulk Up is on and Flair bails to the floor for the chase, with Hogan beating the count back in for the win at 14:45.

Rating: C. Well it was fine and that’s about all I can give the thing. Flair just never felt like a threat to Hogan, as outside of a fluke rollup, was anyone buying that Hogan was losing to the Figure Four? It’s one of those matches that felt like it should have been massive but it just didn’t click for the most part, which was certainly the situation here.

Hogan poses to mix it up a bit.

From Cape Girardeau, Missouri, March 24, 1985.

Randy Savage vs. Jerry Lawler

This is officially from the ICW promotion, which officially done but Angelo Poffo (Randy’s father) might have been promoting a Memphis show and as a result, it was part of the ICW video library. Savage bails to the floor to start and says something I can’t understand before getting back inside for the lockup. They run the ropes with Lawler letting him jump over him about five times before grabbing a hiptoss.

Back up and Savage keeps moving around while Lawler waits on him, including another knockdown. The stalling continues as there is barely anything going on, but the fans keep screaming at just about everything. In other words, these two are crazy over and the fans want to see it happen. Lawler goes to the floor and grabs the mic to complain about…something (not the best audio as you can imagine).

They switch places and Savage’s manager and says if Lawler has any guts he’ll…something. Lawler drops to the floor again and seems to threaten said manager as we’re nearly ten minutes in with about a minute of contact. Lawler chases Savage outside again and Savage grabs the mic to yell some more. Back in and Lawler punches him into the ropes and, of course, Savage bails outside. This time he grabs the chair so Lawler runs for a change. Savage grabs the mic again and I have no idea what he’s saying. Granted this is for the live crowd and not us so it’s hard to get that annoyed.

Back in again and Savage knocks him into the corner before dropping to his knees for some mocking, followed by another yell into the mic. Lawler chases him back to the floor before dropping outside himself, where Lawler steals the bell for some reason. Savage chases him with a chair, so Lawler grabs the mic and seems to tell Savage to drop the chair. That brings Savage back in for roughly the 47th time, with Lawler punching him down again.

We stall again, as there are minutes long stretches between any kind of offense. Lawler catches a kick to the stomach and sweeps out the other leg, setting up the fist drop as we might be about to get going. That means Savage needs a breather in the corner, which allows him to catch Lawler’s kick to the ribs for a change. Lawler ENZIGURIS HIM into the corner, followed (eventually) by a right hand. Savage ducks a clothesline though and Lawler is sent to the apron, allowing the manager to slip in the cane for a shot to the ribs.

The slow beating knocks Lawler around ringside, followed by the top rope elbow….to the head. Well that’s just weird, and Lawler sending him outside on the kickout is even weirder. Back in and Savage sends him outside again, this time beating Lawler into the crowd, where we can’t see very much. Back in again and Lawler punches him out of the air, meaning it’s time to start the comeback. As is the case int his match, it doesn’t last long as Savage goes to the eyes and sends him into the buckle a few times. The strap comes down and Lawler hammers away, goes after the manager, and drops the middle rope fist for the pin at 31:57.

Rating: B-. Ok so here’s the thing: this is not going to be for everyone. If you like action packed matches, you will be bored out of your mind with this one. The vast majority of offense is punching, with Lawler’s enziguri and Savage’s stuff from the top being about the only variety. What you had here was a great lesson in milking a crowd, as these guys barely did anything for about twenty minutes and had the crowd going nuts. That’s how you do something like this and it worked, while also showing how brilliant both of them were with getting the most out of their actions.

Post match someone runs in after Lawler (likely Lanny Poffo) but Lawler clears him out, only to get jumped by two more guys….who he beats up as well.

From Toronto, Ontario, Canada, January 31, 1997.

WWF Title: Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Sid

Michaels is defending in a dark match after Raw. Canadian boxer George Chuvalo is guest ringside referee. Michaels does not seem to be quite with it and Hart isn’t looking pleased, though that’s often his default look. Hart and Michaels slug it out to start until Michaels is sent outside so Sid can beat on Hart instead.

Back in and Michaels tries the superkick on Sid, who reverses into a chokeslam. Hart drops Sid and goes after Michaels in the corner, with Michaels reversing and superkicking Sid to the floor. A dropkick and some right hands have Hart in trouble and Michaels isn’t sure why the (Canadian) crowd doesn’t like him. Another dropkick is countered into the Sharpshooter but Sid is back in for the save.

The powerbomb drops Hart again so Michaels makes a save. This time Sid is sent outside, leaving Hart to beat on Michaels some more. A backdrop sends Michaels to the floor in a nasty looking bump, leaving the other two to clothesline each other. The Sharpshooter has Sid in trouble but Steve Austin runs in…and gets knocked silly by Chuvalo. Well that didn’t work. Back up and Sid tries the powerbomb but Michaels comes back in with a high crossbody to pin Hart and retain at 12:13.

Rating: B-. Good enough match here, with the fans being completely behind Bret (of course) and Austin’s selling of the punch being rather impressive. Other than that, the match was rather basic with the two in, one out format that would wind up dominating the matches over the years. In other words, it’s been this way since the beginning (well, the modern beginning that is, as there were three person matches all the way back back to at least the 60s). Anyway, nice stuff here.

From Binghamton, New York, June 30, 1992.

Bret Hart vs. British Bulldog

From after a Wrestling Challenge taping, Hart’s Intercontinental Title isn’t on the line and I believe this was on one of the Unreleased DVDs from a few years ago. Bulldog runs him over with a shoulder to the floor to start and the fans are impressed. Back in and Hart’s headlock doesn’t last long so he gets two off a small package instead. A headlock takeover slows Bulldog back down, which he reverses into a hammerlock. That’s reversed but Bulldog rolls around and grabs an armbar.

Hart gets up again and hits a knee to the ribs, followed by the chinlock. Bulldog fights up and tries the crucifix but gets dropped down hard to cut that off. A piledriver (snappy one too) gets two and some elbows, including the middle rope version, get the same. Back up and Hart is sent chest first into the corner but he’s right back with a sleeper. That’s broken up and they crash out to the floor with Hart getting the worst of of it. Bulldog tries a suplex back in but Hart reverses into a sweet German suplex to retain at 13:55.

Rating: B. Well of course the match was good as you have two rather talented people in the ring for a decent amount of time. It was different enough from the Summerslam match and that made for a nice viewing. If nothing else, the German suplex looked rather good with Hart’s bridge making for a nice looking finish.

We get a post match hug.

From Mobile, Alabama, March 9, 1992.

Hulk Hogan/Roddy Piper vs. Sid Justice/Ric Flair

Dark match from a Superstars taping but it was released on the 1992 Battle Of The WWF Superstars so we actually have commentary. Harvey Wippleman handles Sid’s entrance and the fans do not seem pleased. Piper and Flair start things off with Piper getting the better of things and knocking him around, with Hogan getting a shot of his own. The running knee has Flair flying again and Piper is right there waiting with two fingers to the eyes (you know Flair is willing to bump all over the place for something like this).

The right hands in the corner set up the Flair Flip to the apron, where Hogan is waiting with the big boot. Sid comes in and chokes Hogan in the corner before beating Piper up in a similar manner. Piper manages to punch him out of the air but Sid takes it right back into the corner. Flair’s atomic drop gives us a fairly funny sell from Piper, who is sent outside. Hogan goes out for the save but gets held back, allowing Sid to get in a chair to the back.

They head back inside and Piper slams Flair off the top but crawls to the wrong corner (giving us a good “NOPE” face from Piper). Flair and Piper get in a weird rolling sequence on the mat until Piper makes it over to Hogan for the tag. Hogan boots Flair down (the camera cuts half a second too late and it’s clear that there’s no contact) for the legdrop but Sid comes in and gently taps Hogan with a chair. Flair gets two but it’s Hulk Up time as everything breaks down. With Sid and Piper on the floor, Hogan clotheslines Flair for the pin at 12:49.

Rating: C+. You know exactly what you’re getting with something like this and while the WWF Champion just got pinned by a clothesline, the fans were going nuts and Piper was clearly having a great time. Piper vs. Flair was a heck of a feud at this point and Hogan vs. Sid was about to headline Wrestlemania. Good way to wrap things up here and the fans approved so it could have been a lot worse.

Hogan and Piper pose together, which will always be sick and wrong.

Overall Rating: B-. An overall rating for this is kind of a weird thing to put together as it’s not meant to be anything more than a homemade playlist. That’s the kind of fun thing that you get from the Vault and I had a good time with the whole thing. It’s a lot of stuff that I’ve either never seen before or haven’t seen in a long time. I had fun with this and hopefully I can do something like it again sooner than later.

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Strangest Summerslam Matches
Commentators: Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, John Bradshaw Layfield, Vince McMahon, Bobby Heenan, Jim Ross, Gorilla Monsoon, Roddy Piper, Corey Graves

This could be interesting as I’m curious to know what WWE considers “strange”. There have been some unique matches throughout Summerslam’s history, though I’m not sure what I would classify as strange. Either way, we could be going through quite a few years here and that sounds fun so let’s get to it.

From 2013.

Kane vs. Bray Wyatt

Ring Of Fire match, meaning…well what do you think it means? The idea here is that there are walls of flames that will pop up if someone tries to leave or if someone (namely the Wyatt Family, here with Bray) tries to get in. You win by pinfall or submission and this is Wyatt’s in-ring main roster debut. Got all that?

The bell rings and the flames go up, albeit just a few inches. That’s not very impressive, though the flames jumping up feet as Kane clotheslines Wyatt down works WAY better. Kane knocks him near the flames, sending Wyatt into the corner instead. Wyatt fights back but gets suplexed so the flames go up again. The running body block drops Kane as Lawler describes Wyatt as “Duck Dynasty meets Charles Manson”.

Wyatt starts shouting while stomping so Kane kicks him in the face. The side slam has the flames flying again but Wyatt gets in his own knockdown and requests a kendo stick. Said stick catches on fire so the firemen spray it down. The chokeslam plants Wyatt for no cover as Kane is distracted by the Family trying to get in. Another chokeslam drops Wyatt again but the Family puts a blanket over the flames and get inside, meaning the double teaming can begin. Sister Abigail finishes Kane at 7:49.

Rating: C. When the whole point of the match is “they can’t get in because of the fire” and then they figure out how to get around the fire in about seven minutes, it’s only so interesting. As was the case with so many ideas involving Wyatt, this was a fun concept that didn’t exactly work, mainly because it got way too simple once the bell rang. Kane was a good first opponent for Wyatt, but this could have been done a lot better.

From 1999.

Steve Blackman vs. Ken Shamrock

Lion’s Den match, meaning in a small, round cage with weapons hanging from the sides. Blackman gets smart by using the nunchucks on Shamrock’s leg. Shamrock takes them away so Blackman sweeps the leg to take him down again. Back up and Shamrock pulls him into a cross armbreaker, which is broken up rather quickly.

Blackman rams him into the cage a few times and slowly hammers away before getting the kendo stick. Shamrock fights up with a belly to belly suplex and beats Blackman down with the stick for a change, including a nasty shot to the…well the shoulder but Shamrock was at least swinging for the head. Another shots to the head knocks Blackman silly for the win at 9:04.

Rating: C. I’ve never gotten much out of this, as it’s mainly just two guys hitting each other with weapons for about nine minutes. There’s only so much interest to be found in a match like this and the ending left something to be desired. It’s not a terrible match, but it’s another concept that really didn’t click.

From 2000.

Intercontinental Title: Eddie Guerrero/Chyna vs. Val Venis/Trish Stratus

Venis and Stratus are defending and whomever gets the fall is the champion. Venis shoulders Guerrero down to start but gets caught with a northern lights suplex for two. Chyna comes in for a double flapjack and goes after Trish (to a ROAR) but Venis makes the save. Guerrero comes back in to glare at Trish, followed by a hurricanrana for two on Venis.

Back up and Venis grabs a Blue Thunder Bomb before the two of them ram heads for a double down. NOW Trish is willing to come in and cover Guerrero for two, but it’s off to Chyna and the fans approve. Venis has to pull Chyna down out of the corner but Guerrero pulls Venis to the floor. That leaves Trish alone with Chyna and it’s a gorilla to make Chyna the Intercontinental Champion at 7:13.

Rating: C+. I’ve seen this match a bunch of times over the years and it really does kind of work. It’s a match where the ending is fairly obvious but you’re left wondering how we’ll get there. The good thing is they didn’t screw it up, as Chyna gets to wreck Trish and win the title, which is how this should have gone. Fun stuff.

From 1993.

Undertaker vs. Giant Gonzalez

Rest In Peace match, which basically means street fight. Harvey Wippleman is here with Gonzalez and has stolen the urn, shockingly enough, though there’s no Paul Bearer. Undertaker strikes away with the uppercuts to start but Gonzalez kicks him in the face. That means the situp, with Heenan wondering if that’s how Undertaker sits up in bed in the morning.

They go outside, where Gonzalez gets in a heck of a chair shot to put Undertaker down again. Undertaker slowly pulls himself up and they go back inside for more uppercuts, but Undertaker stops to go for the urn. That doesn’t work well…and here is Paul Bearer to one of the biggest reactions he’ll ever receive. Bearer actually takes out Wippleman and gets the urn back, with the fans rather approving. Undertaker fires off a bunch of clotheslines, with a top rope version finally putting Gonzalez away at 8:05.

Rating: D. I know I’m not exactly breaking any new ground with this, but Gonzalez was another kind of terrible. This was supposed to be some big special match and other than a chair shot, it might as well have been a regular match. It’s a good example of a star having nothing to work with and the results were definitely not pretty.

From 1992.

Rick Martel vs. Shawn Michaels

The deal here is neither can hit the other in the face as Sherri, who is at ringside, finds them both very attractive. The back of Sherri’s pants are missing and Vince loses his mind, as you might expect him to. Martel flips away from him to start and Michaels is frustrated early on. A dropkick puts Martel down but Michaels goes to say something to Sherri, allowing Martel to get in a cheap shot from behind.

Martel knocks him to the floor and stops to hug Sherri, who seems to approve. Back in and Martel backdrops him down but they’re done with this and start slapping each other…and Sherri faints. Vince thinks she had a heart attack and we pause for both of them to check on her, with Michaels hitting Martel in the face. They fight up the aisle (with Sherri looking up and then putting her head back down) for the double countout at 8:08.

Rating: B-. I’ve seen this match a few times now and the more I watch it, the more I find it kind of brilliant. It’s one of those matches that would only really work with these two or a very small select handful otherwise but dang if they didn’t knock it out of the part. Sherri made it even better and I had a great time with this again. The match isn’t even anything particularly outstanding, but the whole concept worked very well.

Michaels picks Sherri up and carries her to the back but Martel runs back down and decks Michaels, making him drop Sherri. Martel tries to take her back but gets knocked down as well, with Michaels taking her back. Then Martel comes out with a bucket of water and pours it over Sherri, causing Michaels to chase him to the back. Sherri storms after them and screams a lot. The post match stuff adds a lot to the whole story.

From 2008.

Intercontinental/Women’s Title: Kofi Kingston/Mickie James vs. Santino Marella/Beth Phoenix

Kingston and James are defending and this is winning team takes all. The women start things off with James kicking her down and hitting a basement dropkick as Marella is panicking. Phoenix backdrops her way out of trouble and it’s off to Marella, who gets monkey flipped.

Kingston comes in and sends Marella outside, where he jumps into Phoenix’s arms to avoid a dive. Back in and Marella goes to the eyes so Phoenix can come in to beat on Kingston. Marella’s snap suplex sets up a reverse chinlock but Kingston fights up in a hurry. It’s back to James to clean house but Phoenix gets in a shot from behind. The Glam Slam gives Phoenix the win and the titles at 5:42.

Rating: C. This is another one that I’ve seen a bunch of times over the years and it doesn’t quite work as well as the one from 2000. The problem here is it could have gone either way and that makes things a bit different. It’s also not as good of a match, as the Marella/Phoenix stuff is much more about comedy, which takes away some of its impact. Not bad at all though.

Marella does a huge over the top celebration and climbs onto Phoenix’s shoulders as they leave.

From 1991.

Big Boss Man vs. The Mountie

Jimmy Hart is with the Mountie and the loser spends the night in jail. After his always awesome entrance, Boss Man hits him in the face to start and gets two off a splash. Mountie goes to the eyes and heads up, only to be pulled out of the air for one heck of a spinebuster. The neck crank goes on so Hart offers a distraction, allowing Mountie to send Boss Man into the steps.

Back in and Mountie slowly hammers away as Heenan makes Andy Griffith references. An elbow puts Boss Man on the floor so Hart yells a lot, causing Monsoon to call him the best advertisement for birth control. Back in again and Mountie gets two off a piledriver, meaning it’s time for the shock stick. That’s kicked away though and Boss Man hits a Boss Man Slam for…two. Huh. One heck of an Alabama Slam finishes Mountie at 9:49.

Rating: C. The match itself isn’t the point here, though that Alabama Slam was awesome. What mattered here was the fun that you knew was coming, as again there was no reason to believe that the Boss Man would lose. At the end of the day, the Boss Man losing wouldn’t have led to anything entertaining, while Mountie going to jail writes itself. Not a great match, but the right story to tell.

Post match Mountie is immediately put in a police van….and somehow we don’t get the collection of stuff with Mountie going to jail later. Come on Vault. Be better than that.

From 2023.

Ronda Rousey vs. Shayna Baszler

This is MMA rules, which were never exactly specified coming in. The referee explains that you can only win by knockout or submission, which is quite the bit of information. Baszler won’t touch gloves and we’re ready to go. Baszler takes her down into a front facelock to start but gets wrestled down. Back up and Baszler starts kicking at the leg before a high kick to the head sends Rousey out to the floor.

Rousey staggers back in and Baszler starts in on the leg, allowing them to punch each other from the mat. Rousey gets up and manages a hard knee to the face to put Baszler down for a bit. Another shot sends Baszler into the corner and we pause for the medics to check on her, with Rousey wondering why the fight isn’t over. Rousey shoves the medics away and gets suplexed down by Baszler, who grabs the Kirifuda Clutch. That’s reversed into the cross armbreaker but Baszler escapes and gets the Kirifuda Clutch and Rousey is out at 7:26.

Rating: D+. Yeah this really didn’t work. Between not being clear on the rules and the execution being pretty bad on top of that, it just wasn’t a great idea. I definitely appreciate Rousey putting Baszler over on her way out, but whatever they were going for just did not work out that well. They would have been better off with a regular, hard hitting match as this came up short.

Overall Rating: C. I’m not sure what to make of a playlist like this, as there is no particular flow to it and nothing is connected, though that’s also not the point. This was about a bunch of random odd matches and that’s exactly what you got. They never said that the matches were good, and for the most part they really weren’t. Nothing on here really stands out as must see, but it has enough nostalgic value for a quick glance if you haven’t seen some of them in a minute.

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Summerslam 1989
Date: August 28, 1989
Location: Meadowlands Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Attendance: 20,000
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Jesse Ventura

It’s the second edition of the show and again the main event is a tag match featuring Hulk Hogan and his best friend of the moment. In this case it’s Brutus Beefcake, teaming with Hogan against Zeus and Randy Savage. Other than that, the big story is Ultimate Warrior challenging Rick Rude for the Intercontinental Title. Let’s get to it.

Commentary welcomes us to the show and hypes up the main event.

Opening video, which might as well be any weekly TV show, albeit with some people doing….I guess you could call them Summery things.

Brainbusters vs. Hart Foundation

The Busters’ (with Bobby Heenan) Tag Team Titles aren’t on the line because they won the titles after the contract was signed, which is kind of a stretch to put it mildly. Hart and Tully start things off and Ventura acknowledges how good these two are in the ring. Anderson comes in with a drop toehold but Hart is right back on the arm. A hammerlock slam has Anderson in more trouble and it’s off to Neidhart.

The Harts take turns working on the arm but Anderson gets over for the tag…which doesn’t count as Blanchard’s foot was on the bottom rope. That’s not something you see very often. Anderson kicks Hart away and brings Blanchard back in, only for Hart to catch his kick to the ribs. The Harts start in on Blanchard’s arm for a change and even change behind the referee’s back as the referee is arguing with Anderson.

Blanchard’s chops have no effect and it’s back to Hart to work on the arm as Ventura can’t believe how one sided this has been so far. Blanchard reverses into a top wristlock but Hart bridges up (that’s impressive) and then flips away when Anderson grabs a double top wristlock (that’s impressive too). The Busters are double armdragged to the floor and Heenan wants a conference.

That doesn’t work for Neidhart, who throws Blanchard back in for a slugout with Hart. Blanchard manages to make a blind tag to Anderson and Hart is knocked down, but a Vader Bomb misses. Everything breaks down and the Busters are knocked outside again. Back in and Blanchard is sent face first into Neidhart’s boot and everything breaks down again. Neidhart is sent chest first into the buckle and Anderson gets to talk some trash. Blanchard grabs a reverse chinlock until Neidhart powers up, only for Anderson to come back in off another blind tag.

Back up and Anderson and Neidhart collide for a double down. That’s enough for Neidhart to bring Hart back in to hammer on Blanchard in the corner. Everything breaks down and Hart collides with Blanchard. Neidhart powerslams Hart onto Blanchard but Heenan has the referee. Anderson hits a middle rope ax handle and covers (while covering his head so the referee can’t tell he’s the illegal man in a brilliant move) for the pin at 15:57.

Rating: B+. Awesome match to start the show here with two all time great teams having an excellent match. The idea here was that the Harts were the better team, at least on this night, but Heenan (and then Anderson) cheating at the end was enough to turn things around. This was about two teams who knew what they were doing getting the chance to showcase themselves and believe it or not, it worked great.

Dusty Rhodes, in a snazzy hat, is ready for his match against the Honky Tonk Man. He hasn’t been this excited since his first date with Sally Good. Honky Tonk Man has been saying that Rhodes can’t wrestle and it’s time to prove that wrong. Rhodes was clearly having a blast here.

Dusty Rhodes vs. Honky Tonk Man

Jimmy Hart is here with Honky Tonk Man. Believe it or not, there is some stalling to start with both of them dancing a bit. Rhodes backs him into the corner about a minute in and hits a backdrop but it’s way too early for the big elbow. Back in and Rhodes works on the arm before messing with Honky Tonk Man’s hair. The atomic drop sets up an elbow to the head as it’s all Rhodes thus far.

Rhodes cranks on the leg a bit but Honky Tonk Man gets out and fires off some right hands. That’s broken up so Hart tries a distraction, which fails miserably as Rhodes chases him off. The distraction does let Hart slip Honky Tonk Man the megaphone for a shot to the ribs and the villain takes over. Hart gets in a bit of choking (Ventura: “Don’t you just love him Tony?”) and we’re off to the chinlock.

This stays on for a LONG time, with Ventura getting in a rant about how Rhodes is one of those annoying wrestlers who gets inspiration from the fans. Rhodes finally fights up and slugs away, looking a good bit like Apollo Creed in the process. Honky Tonk Man sends him into the referee so he calls for the guitar. Hart hits Honky Tonk Man by mistake though and Rhodes drops the big elbow for the pin at 9:42.

Rating: C+. I remember not liking this match very much before but, aside from the LONG chinlock, it really is a lot of fun. Rhodes knows exactly how to play to the crowd and make something like this goofy fun. The dancing turned it into a funny enough comedy match and I liked it more than I did in previous viewings. Fun stuff.

Post match Honky Tonk Man talks about Priscilla and Lisa Marie. He has a concert to do so someone help him find the stage. Yeah he’s fine.

Demolition and Jim Duggan (who is the King, meaning he has an American flag, the crown, a Demolition mask and an American flag 2×4 with a crown of its own) are ready for the Twin Towers and Andre The Giant. They’ve been flipping cars over and now it’s King Demolition, because Duggan wants to break things. Duggan’s look was so insane that I had fun with this.

Red Rooster vs. Mr. Perfect

They shove each other to start until Rooster right hands him back. Rooster’s slam falls backwards though and Perfect hits a heck of a dropkick. Back up and Taylor sends him outside for the slugout. Back in and Perfect grabs a PerfectPlex for the win out of nowhere at 3:25. Rooster hurt his ankle/knee or something in there, hence the short match.

Rating: C. Yeah there’s only so much you can do here with so little time and Rooster getting hurt in the middle. They didn’t have a choice but to go home in a hurry and that’s the best option they had. At the same time, Perfect was on the ascension around this time and you would be seeing even more of him in the coming months.

Rick Rude promises to make Ultimate Warrior into the Ultimate Liar. Bobby Heenan promises to do whatever it takes to retain the title. This wasn’t the original version that aired, as the Summerslam sign originally fell down, causing Gene Okerlund to swear. The wrong tape was played live and Tony and Jesse were caught completely off guard. Instead, it’s just a generic heel promo.

Rockers/Tito Santana vs. Rick Martel/Rougeaus

Slick and Jimmy Hart are here with the villains and there is a lot of talent in this one. Santana wants to start with Martel but gets Jacques instead. Everything breaks down in a hurry, with Santana and the Rockers hitting dropkicks to send the other three outside. Back in and Jannetty punches Jacques out of the air but a superkick cuts him off. Jannetty fights back up and brings Santana in to face Martel, who bails outside (for some hair rubbing from Jacques).

They get back in and a shot to the knee takes Santana down. A double back elbow has Santana in more trouble, with Martel firing off some shoulders in the corner. Santana gets two off a quick sunset flip but Martel chokes him back down. It’s back to Raymond for the Boston crab before Jacques adds an abdominal stretch. The villains take turns switching without a tag and Ventura, of course, loves it. The chinlock goes on but Jacques eventually misses a running knee to Raymond.

Michaels comes in off the tag and the fans go NUTS as he cleans house. Jannetty gets backdropped onto Martel and Jacques elbows Martel by mistake. Everything breaks down and Santana forearms Martel out to the floor. The Rockers and Rougeaus brawl on the floor and Hart offers a distraction, allowing Jacques to knee Jannetty in the back. Jannetty reverses that as well but Martel gets in a cheap shot and steals the pin on Jannetty at 14:58.

Rating: B+. This was an absolute hidden gem, with everyone involved working hard with a hot finish. The fact that I’ve seen the match multiple times and was genuinely expecting Jannetty to get the pin before the last second save tells you a lot about how good this was. You had some outstanding talent in there and they had a killer match here.

Long recap of Ultimate Warrior vs. Rick Rude. Warrior lost the Intercontinental Title to Rude at Wrestlemania thanks to some cheating from Bobby Heenan so Warrior wants revenge. Rude attacked him early, with Andre the Giant playing security but not realizing that Warrior fought back. Later on, Warrior jumped Rude and beat him up for a change, only for Rude and Andre to beat Warrior up a few weeks later in quite the scary visual.

Warrior shouts a lot about the eighth wonder of the world and eating Rick Rude alive.

Intercontinental Title: Rick Rude vs. Ultimate Warrior

Rude, with Bobby Heenan, is defending. They circle each other to start with Rude realizing that he might be in trouble. Rude slugs away to no avail so Warrior clotheslines him out to the apron. Warrior knocks him to the floor, sending Ventura into a rant about how none of this is legal and how Schiavone is dumber than Gorilla Monsoon. Back in and Warrior hits a top rope ax handle for two.

The atomic drop gives us the required funny sell from Rude, with Warrior doing his own hip swivel. Rude gets in a cheap shot to the back and starts hammering away, setting up a suplex for two. We hit the reverse chinlock to stay on the bad ribs but Warrior is fine enough to block the Rude Awakening. Rude tries a sleeper instead, with Warrior countering but taking out the referee by mistake. Warrior hammers away and hits a powerslam but there is still no referee.

A piledriver gets a VERY delayed two thanks to the foot on the ropes. Warrior hits another running powerslam but the splash hits raised knees. Rude is back up with a piledriver of his own (though he knees forward like a Tombstone for a weird twist) for two of his own and he drops a top rope fist for the same.

Cue Roddy Piper (already having issues with Rude) as Rude hits another piledriver for two more (geez and I thought AEW killed that move)…and Piper distracts Rude by lifting up his kilt. Warrior German suplexes him off the middle rope and hits a flying shoulder into the gorilla press and Warrior Splash for the title at 16:03.

Rating: B-. While it’s not quite as good as the Wrestlemania version, this was another good match from two guys who certainly worked well together. That’s all it needed to be, with Warrior getting the title back on the way to his main event push. Rude didn’t feel like a flash in the pan and got a lout out of being champion, with what feels like an awesome feud against Piper coming up.

Sean Mooney is in the crowd and thinks this is awesome, even as Ventura rants about Piper.

Mr. Perfect calls the Red Rooster a stepping stone.

Roddy Piper laughs at Bobby Heenan’s loss and blows his nose before praising the Ultimate Warrior. OF COURSE he cost Rude the title. Why would you have expected anything else?

Ronnie Garvin, in a tuxedo, says he has a special assignment tonight but Bobby Heenan comes in to rant about how Piper had NO REASON to be at ringside. Rick Rude comes in and does NOT like being called the former champion. Rude rants about Piper and promises to be the champion again. Heenan wants the match started again and can’t even speak from being so upset.

We get a five minute intermission, thankfully cut out on Peacock.

We get a recap of Hulk Hogan vs. Zeus, which started back in May when Zeus beat him down before a cage match on Saturday Night’s Main Event. The idea was that Zeus was the villain in the movie No Holds Barred but wants a real life fight. Naturally he’s called Zeus (the character’s name) rather than anything else, because Hogan, real person, is fighting Zeus, the movie character. Maybe it’s better if you don’t think about it too much. Anyway Hogan hit Zeus with a chair to no effect but maybe he can make it work in a tag match.

Demolition/Jim Duggan vs. Twin Towers/Andre The Giant

Bobby Heenan and Slick are here with the heels (Big Boss Man and Akeem as the Towers if you’re not familiar). Duggan even has the American flag face paint in case the other four things weren’t enough. Demolition work on Akeem’s arm to start and pound him down as they are known to do. Ax elbows Akeem down but it’s quickly off to the Boss Man, who gets chopped in the head.

It’s back to Ax to hammer away but Boss Man manages a few shots of his own in the corner. Duggan comes in to start on the arm but Ax allows the tag to Andre, meaning it’s time for the real beating to begin. That’s broken up rather quickly and it’s off to Smash, who (rather easily) slams Akeem, only to get dropped by a single shot from Andre. The splash connects but Duggan blasts Akeem with the 2×4 to give Smash the pin at 7:29.

Rating: B-. I’ve long since been a Demolition fan and this was a good example of why. There was something so fun about watching them hammer people down, as they lived up to the idea of demolishing them. Good effort here, even if it was clear that Andre’s body was breaking down in a hurry.

Ted DiBiase, with Virgil, is ready to beat Jimmy Snuka.

Greg Valentine vs. Hercules

Ronnie Garvin is guest ring announcer, having been suspended as a wrestler and referee, and doesn’t think much of Valentine. Garvin introduces Valentine as “his so called opponent” with a pipsqueak of a manager named Jimmy Hart, who claims to be from Seattle, Washington and who Garvin thinks is overweight by about 30lbs. Oh and his robe is covered with cheap rhinestones and you can’t tell if he’s coming or going.

Hercules slugs away to start and knocks Valentine to the floor, including a beating in the timekeeper’s area. Back in and Valentine slugs him down but the figure four is broken up. A suplex goes to Hercules and he hammers away in the corner, only for Valentine to sweep the legs and get a cheating rollup for the pin at 3:04.

Rating: C. Despite my eternal dislike of Garvin, the feud with Valentine was funny and if he could have done a better series of insults to start, it would have been even better. The match itself was nothing, but dang it was funny watching Valentine getting angrier and angrier at Garvin. Fun stuff here, with the match being an afterthought.

And hang on as Garvin calls Hercules the winner, and after some consultation, Hercules is indeed named the winner by DQ. Valentine decks Garvin and slugs it out with Hercules but Garvin gets up and drops Valentine with the big right hand.

Randy Savage, Sherri and Zeus are around a cauldron and promise to destroy Hulk Hogan and Brutus Beefcake. Sherri sees Hogan and Beefcake defeated and Savage sees…uh, the same thing. Oh and Elizabeth will be destroyed too. This is still one of the weirdest promos I’ve ever seen.

Ted DiBiase vs. Jimmy Snuka

Virgil is here with DiBiase, who brags about ending Jake Roberts’ career. DiBiase jumps him to start but Snuka fights back for a knock out tot he floor. Virgil gets decked as well and an atomic drop sends DiBiase over the floor (with one of his always great bumps). Back in and DiBiase shrugs off a ram into the buckle and hammers Snuka into the corner.

Snuka fights back until he charges into a hot shot, followed by a backbreaker. The falling elbow misses though and Snuka hits a top rope headbutt. Instead of covering he goes up though, allowing Virgil to offer a distraction. DiBiase is back up with a posting for the countout at 6:26.

Rating: C. Not much to this one, as it was little more than a midcard match between two guys who weren’t as big as they used to be. It seemed like more of a filler match to get us to the main event, which isn’t a great sign for someone who headlined this show last year. Not bad, but you could cut this from the card and not lose a thing.

Post match Snuka jumps both villains and hits the Superfly Splash on Virgil.

Sean Mooney is still in the crowd and still doesn’t have much to say.

Hulk hogan and Brutus Beefcake talk about….Moses and the parting of the Red Sea? Brutus talks about the sharpness of his blades and Hogan talks about some sexy legs wrapped around his motorcycle. Somehow, less weird than the cauldron. Not much less, but less.

The Genius reads a poem about Hogan and Beefcake losing because they don’t have the cards.

Randy Savage/Zeus vs. Hulk Hogan/Brutus Beefcake

Sherri is here with Savage and Zeus so Hogan has Miss Elizabeth introduced, freaking Savage out all over again. With that out of the way, Zeus chokes Hogan down to start and grabs the bearhug, with Savage adding a top rope ax handle to the back. Savage grabs a sleeper before it’s back to Zeus for the bearhug.

That stays on for a good while until it’s back to Savage, who gets suplexed down. It’s finally off to Beefcake for the running knee and a sleeper but Savage sends him into the buckle. Zeus comes back in so beefcake rakes his eyes and grabs the sleeper again. Sherri slips in the loaded purse though and Savage gets in the big cheap shot. The slow beating ensues with both villains getting in some choking.

Beefcake finally gets in a shot of his own though and it’s back to Hogan, who boots Savage to the floor. Zeus drops Hogan again so Savage comes in for the elbow….and Hogan pops up. Hogan slugs away on Zeus and a clothesline finally puts him down on one knee. Sherri tries to come in but Elizabeth shoves her in. Beefcake shoves Savage, with the purse, off the top. The loaded purse to the face rocks Zeus and Hogan slam him down. The legdrop finishes for Hogan at 15:12.

Rating: C. Maybe it’s the lack of Jesse Ventura as the referee, or a monster who knew what he was doing in the ring (not Zeus’ fault) but this falls pretty far from last year’s similar main event. I kept losing interest in this one and that’s not a good sign for the main event. If nothing else, it didn’t feel like some big blowoff, even with Hogan getting the pin on Zeus. Not much of a main event here, but to be fair they only had three wrestlers doing the work of four.

Post match Hogan and Beefcake hold them off with the sheers and CUT SHERRI’S HAIR. Posing ends the show.

Overall Rating: B. This show starts off great and then kind of sputters out near the end, but I had a lot more fun this time around than I was expecting. That was a nice surprise and at just over two and a half hours, it certainly doesn’t overstay its welcome. That first six man is more than worth a look and the opener is a genuine dream match from this era. It’s not an all timer, but it would have been very close with a better main event.

Ratings Comparison

Original: B+
2013 Redo: B
2025 Redo: B+

Honky Tonk Man vs. Dusty Rhodes

Original: F
2013 Redo: D-
2025 Redo: C+

Mr. Perfect vs. Red Rooster

Original: C+
2013 Redo: D
2025 Redo: C

Rick Martel/Fabulous Rougeaus vs. Tito Santana/Rockers

Original: B+
2013 Redo: B
2025 Redo: B+

Ultimate Warrior vs. Rick Rude

Original: A-
2013 Redo: B
2025 Redo: B-

Jim Duggan/Demolition vs. Andre the Giant/Twin Towers

Original: C+
2013 Redo: C
2025 Redo: B-

Hercules vs. Greg Valentine

Original: F-
2013 Redo: D
2025 Redo: C

Ted DiBiase vs. Jimmy Snuka

Original: D
2013 Redo: D
2025 Redo: C

Hulk Hogan/Brutus Beefcake vs. Randy Savage/Zeus

Original: B-
2013 Redo: D+
2025 Redo: C

Overall Rating

Original: B-
2013 Redo: C+
2025 Redo B

Yeah it’s better than I said, especially Rhodes vs. Honky Tonk Man.

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Monday Night Raw
Date: October 11, 1993
Location: New Haven Coliseum, New Haven, Connecticut
Attendance: 5,500
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Bobby Heenan, Randy Savage

Last week saw Razor Ramon and Rick Martel as the final two entrants in a battle royal. This week, the two of them meet for the vacant Intercontinental Title, which is a pretty big deal to air on Raw. Other than that, the slow build towards the Survivor Series continues and there is work to be done. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

The opening video recaps the battle royal and previews the title match.

Opening sequence.

Intercontinental Title: Razor Ramon vs. Rick Martel

For the vacant title. Martel poses a lot and gets a toothpick in his face. They fight over a hammerlock until Martel takes him down for the slaps to the back of the head. Martel does some jumping jacks before charging into the fall away slam (even Heenan saw that one coming). Back in and Martel gets in a shot of his own, only to be powered out to the apron. Ever the uncertain one, Ramon brings him right back in as the fans certainly approve.

The big driving shoulders have Martel in more trouble and Ramon grabs an armbar to crank away. Martel breaks out but misses a charge into the corner as we take a break. We come back with Martel sending him outside before whipping him into the corner a few times in a row. A rollup with feet on the ropes gives Martel two so he knees Ramon into the corner.

The Boston crab goes on, with Ramon going straight to the ropes. Martel’s belly to back suplex sets up the Boston crab again but Ramon gets out again. A dropkick doesn’t do much to Ramon but Martel breaks up the belly to back superplex. Ramon rolls through a high crossbody for two and the Razor’s Edge gives him the pin and the title at 10:43.

Rating: B-. This was a good example of a match where there was no doubt about the result, but rather the question of how we would get to Ramon winning the title. Ramon is someone who has felt like one of the bigger stars in the promotion since his debut last year so this is a big step up for him. Good match, with the only possible outcome.

Headshrinkers vs. Tommy Morrison/Sid Curtis

Afa is here with the Headshrinkers, who take their sweet time getting ready. Samu backdrops Morrison to start as commentary talks about the Rock N Roll Express. Fatu comes in for the superkick and sends Curtis outside. Back in and a double clothesline drops Curtis and they drag him over for the tag to Morrison. Fatu’s top rope splash finishes Morrison at 3:49.

Rating: C. Not much to see here, but my goodness it was bizarre to hear Heenan talking about the Rock N Roll Express. Other than that, it was your run of the mill squash and that’s all it needed to be. The Headshrinkers were a team who could always work, and it was nice to see them showing that again here.

Owen Hart vs. Scott King

Hart works on the arm to start and pulls King into the chinlock. A monkey flip and dropkick have King down and Hart wrenches his guts with a suplex. Hart drops a middle rope elbow and we’re back to the chinlock. Back up and a missile dropkick into a northern lights fisherman’s suplex finishes King at 3:38.

Rating: C. As weird as it was to see Hart in what appeared to be something like the Blue Blazer gear, it was fun to see him doing his thing. At the same time, I’m not sure how well the bridging northern lights suplex is going to be as a finisher. Much like Shawn Michaels, drop the suplex and go with the (missile drop) kick.

Vince McMahon brings out Ludwig Borga for a chat. Borga doesn’t like America and insults the fans, suggesting that most of them work at McDonalds. He doesn’t like Lex Luger, who is a loser like everyone here. Cue Luger, and you know he’s serious because he’s wearing his American flag pants. Luger doesn’t like what Borga has to say about American when he’s happy to get paid right here in America. Luger goes with the classic “love it or leave it” and offers to help Borga leave right now. Borga calls him a typical hot blooded American and walks away. Savage: “You gotta be ribbing!”.

Adam Bomb vs. Russ Greenberg

Bomb has Harvey Wippleman as his new manager. Greenberg is powered into the corner to start and a jumping dropkick sends him to the floor. The slingshot clothesline into the Atom Smasher finishes for Bomb at 2:34.

Commentary previews next week’s Randy Savage/Crush summit.

Rock N Roll Express vs. Duane Gill/Barry Hardy

The Express’ Smoky Mountain Tag Team Titles aren’t on the line. Hardy hits a running shoulder on Gibson to start, earning himself an enziguri. Everything breaks down and something like a powerbomb/clothesline combination drops Gill. It’s back to Gibson to work on Hardy’s knee before the rolling double fists drop Gill. The double dropkick finishes Hardy at 2:20. Not much to see here, but the Express could do this match in their sleep. That being said, it’s still bizarre to see them in the WWF, as it never felt right.

We look back at Razor Ramon winning the title.

The preview for next week’s show takes us out.

Overall Rating: C+. This was the opener and then everything else, which made for kind of a strange show. What mattered here was getting the title picture reset with Michaels gone, but the rest of the show was only so much to see. The next few weeks should be getting us ready for the Survivor Series, and that should be enough to carry things until they get to Boston.

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Monday Night Raw
Date: October 4, 1993
Location: New Haven Coliseum, New Haven, Connecticut
Attendance: 5,500
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Bobby Heenan

We’re finally coming out of the long valley that is the post Summerslam period and getting ready to start setting up the long build to Survivor Series. While there are only going to be a few matches on the card, there are going to be some main stories and side stories to go with them, meaning we have some work to do. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Battle Royal

Tatanka, Adam Bomb, MVP, Razor Ramon, Mr. Perfect, 1-2-3 Kid, Diesel, Jacques, Pierre, Bam Bam Bigelow, IRS, Randy Savage, Giant Gonzalez, Rick Martel, Bastion Booger, Marty Jannetty, Owen Hart, Bob Backlund, Jimmy Snuka, Mabel

The final two will face each other one on one for the vacant Intercontinental Title (thanks to Shawn Michaels being suspended). Savage jumps Gonzalez from behind to start fast and a bunch of people toss Gonzalez out. We settle down to the usual brawling around the ropes and the other giants try to get rid of Savage. Diesel finally muscles Mabel out and Ramon tosses IRS as we start getting rid of some people.

The Kid is gone too and Diesel beats up Tatanka in the corner. Diesel switches over to Perfect and misses a charge, allowing Perfect to eliminate him. We take a break and come back with Backlund and Snuka being eliminated, with Perfect following them. Jannetty is out and Tatanka misses a charge to put himself out. Booger and Bigelow are both out and we take another break.

We come back again with Hart dropkicking MVP out but getting tossed as well. We’re down to Bomb, Jacques, Pierre, Martel, Savage and Ramon and a 4-2 match breaks out. The Quebecers double team Ramon and Bomb tries to get rid of Savage, only for Savage to switch places and knock him out.

The Quebecers toss Savage and we’re down to four. A triple dropkick misses though and Ramon gets to make the comeback. The numbers get the better of him again and Martel even gets in some jumping jacks. Ramon avoids a clothesline and Jacques is out, with Ramon dumping Pierre, leaving Martel and Ramon to win at 19:21.

Rating: C+. Ramon getting one of the spots was a smart way to go as he is the kind of star who could use a boost from being the Intercontinental Champion. At the same time you have Martel, who is an established veteran who might not be the biggest star anymore, but he can make Ramon look good next week. The rest of the match was ok enough, though getting down to two is always a weird way to go.

Post match Ramon and Martel have to be held back.

Heavenly Bodies vs. Mark Taylor/Scott Thomas

Jim Cornette is here with the Bodies. Pritchard goes after the rather muscular Taylor’s knee to start and it’s off to Del Ray. A gutwrench suplex connects as Heenan talks about a team coming on Superstars: the Rock N Roll Express. Apparently they really don’t like Cornette. Pritchard hits a middle rope spinebuster to Thomas (though Vince has no idea which is which) and a double suplex takes him down again. A DDT finishes for Del Ray at 3:38.

Rating: C. I never quite got the appeal of the Bodies but they were good enough as a fresh heel team. The tag division was in need of some new blood so bringing in a team from Smoky Mountain makes enough sense. Other than that, though, just a squash with the Bodies getting to look decent enough.

We recap Doink The Clown throwing confetti on Bam Bam Bigelow and water on Luna Vachon. A chase ensued but Bigelow tripped over a well placed wire.

Doink The Clown vs. Cory Student

Before the match, Doink teases throwing water on Heenan but it’s popcorn instead in the old Harlem Globetrotters bit. Doink starts with a dropkick and wrestles Student down. The Whoopee Cushion finishes Student at 1:53.

Post match Bam Bam Bigelow and Luna Vachon come out, with Bigelow destroying Doink’s wagon.

Heenan is annoyed at the popcorn as we preview next week’s show.

Overall Rating: C. This was all about the battle royal and that took up a good deal of the time and star power. That’s not the worst way to go as they had to take care of the title picture and it isn’t like there is a pay per view in just a few weeks. Survivor Series can come later, which is likely going to be taking place in the next few weeks. For now though, this was an acceptable show, even if it was rather top heavy.

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Summerslam 1992
Date: August 31, 1992
Location: Wembley Stadium, London, England
Attendance: 80,355
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Bobby Heenan

Most of the older editions are in need of an update so we’ll knock out this one. This is one of the biggest crowds in wrestling history and they’re in for a pretty major show. We have a double main event of Randy Savage defending the WWF Title against the Ultimate Warrior and the instant classic of Bret Hart vs. British Bulldog for the Intercontinental Title. Guess what’s headlining. Let’s get to it.

Nasty Boys/Mountie vs. Jim Duggan/Bushwhackers

This is a bonus dark match (at least on the American broadcast, though all three on the card aired on the European broadcasts). Jimmy Hart is in the villains’ corner. The fans get their chance to boo/cheer the various teams until the villains jump them from behind. This goes as well as you would expect and the ring is cleared in a hurry. Back in and the Nasty Boys are whipped into each other in the corner, followed by some double clotheslines for a bonus.

Sags beats on Butch for a bit before everything breaks down again. The villains finally get in a cheap shot to take over on Luke and a double boot to the ribs puts him down again. The chinlock goes on and it’s back to Mountie for more stomping. Sags grabs a reverse chinlock, which draws a USA chant as the British fans cheer for a New Zealander.

There’s a knee drop as Heenan goes over the specifics for the WWF rule book (I’d pay money to see that). Luke gets a boot up to knock Sags out of the air though and it’s the hot tag to Duggan to clean house. Everything breaks down and Sags elbows Mountie by mistake, allowing Duggan to get the pin at 12:34.

Rating: C. This is a good example of a case where you need to consider the spot. They weren’t going for anything important here and it wasn’t a match with any story. You had three popular wrestlers facing three villains in an easy match. The fans liked it though and that’s entirely what they were shooting for here. It would have made a fine house show opener and it worked perfectly well here.

Papa Shango vs. El Matador

Another bonus match. Shango jumps him from behind and we’re starting in a hurry. A running crossbody connects in the corner but another charge misses, allowing Matador to hit a clothesline. They head outside with Shango getting posted as Heenan thinks Matador should just give up now.

A top rope clothesline gives Matador two and there’s the flying forearm. Matador’s sleeper is broken up in a hurry and it’s time to choke in the corner. Shango drops an elbow and hits a side slam, only to miss a middle rope elbow. Another flying forearm gives Matador two but he misses a charge into the corner. The shoulder breaker finishes Matador at 6:12.

Rating: C-. Another perfectly watchable match and that’s fine for the spot they were in. Matador was always good for something like this and he could make an up and coming villain like Shango look good. It wasn’t a good match or anything, but they kept it quick and Shango didn’t quite squash him, so it worked out well enough.

Brought to you by ICO PRO. I hope they kept the receipt.

The British fans are VERY happy to have Summerslam here. This includes a kid who says that British Bulldog is going to win, whether he wants to or not. Kid sounds like he has mob connections.

Bobby Heenan has a crown. My day is complete.

Money Inc. vs. Legion of Doom

Money Inc. has Jimmy Hart in their corner but the LOD comes out on their motorcycles in a pretty famous entrance. Now granted that might be because Paul Ellering is with them and he has Rocco the Dummy on the front of his bike. In one of my favorite lines ever, Vince says that the Legion of Doom are known for their psychology in the ring. The jet lag must have gotten to him. DiBiase in white trunks still feels wrong but it isn’t as evil as I remember.

Hawk threatens him to the floor to start and then clotheslines him outside again, this time for another clothesline from Animal. It’s off to Animal for a powerslam and Hawk comes back in with a top rope shot to the arm. Now the fact that Hawk looks like he’s somewhere around Saturn makes that one a little more impressive than it sounds. IRS grabs a sleeper on Hawk but it’s broken up with a drive into the corner. The top rope clothesline misses though and Hawk falls all the way out to the floor. That’s quite the flying leap.

DiBiase comes in for a few shots and it’s already back to IRS for two off an elbow. The chinlock goes on and the villains make some changes without tags (they really should be setting a better example for the foreign fans). Back up and a double clothesline puts both of them down but IRS comes in to choke with the tag rope in the corner. Hawk powers over to the corner but the referee misses the tag (that nitwit).

As tends to be the case, the hot tag goes through a few seconds later and it’s Animal coming in to clean house. It’s a bunch of shoulders and clotheslines as everything breaks down. IRS breaks up the Doomsday Device so Animal goes with a powerslam to finish DiBiase (it wouldn’t surprise me if that was due to being scared of Hawk coming off the top) at 12:00.

Rating: C-. The crowd helped but you could tell that there was something off with the LOD. That being said, it isn’t exactly surprising that Hawk stayed in England and more or less ended the team for the time being. Hawk was a time bomb for a good while and as bad as things went, it could have been a heck of a lot worse.

Ric Flair isn’t happy that he isn’t getting his rematch for the WWF Title because he should be in the ring in the bright lights of London, England. Gene wants to know where Mr. Perfect, Flair’s crony, is, especially with the rumors of Perfect being in the corner of either Randy Savage or the Ultimate Warrior. Flair says Perfect is in the dressing room. Gene: “Whose dressing room???” Flair: “The dressing room of the winner. WOO!” I’ve always liked that one.

Virgil is ready to fight Nailz to avenge his buddy the Big Boss Man. If Virgil is your the best friend you have, getting beaten half to death with a nightstick doesn’t sound too bad.

Nailz vs. Virgil

Nailz gets a jobber entrance for some reason. Probably protecting Virgil’s star power. Nailz takes him into the corner to start and chokes a bit until Virgil hits a dropkick. That doesn’t even put Nailz down (Heenan: “He’s tough as nails!”) and it’s time for more choking. Virgil is sent outside and rammed into the apron. Back in and the standing choke finishes Virgil at 3:19.

Rating: D. This made Summerslam? It felt like something that would be a featured match on Wrestling Challenge at best and that’s hardly the kind of thing that you need to see on one of the biggest (if not the biggest) show of the year. Nothing to see here as Nailz didn’t exactly have the longest shelf life in the world.

Post match Nailz beats Virgil up even more.

Lord Alfred Hayes can’t get into Randy Savage’s dressing room but thinks Mr. Perfect is in there. He’ll keep being annoying until he finds something out.

Sherri doesn’t like the idea of Shawn Michaels and Rick Martel fighting, even though Shawn cost Martel an Intercontinental Title shot. Sherri has been with Shawn for a good while now but has been flirting with Martel. Tonight neither of them are allowed to hit each other in the face, because they’re both too handsome you see. She’ll be standing by her man, which seems to be Shawn as he calls her to go to the ring.

Rick Martel vs. Shawn Michaels

Martel is in tennis gear because it’s what models do. Sherri is with Michaels and brings out a full length mirror as Vince can’t get over the no hitting in the face thing. Vince: “This isn’t the sixth grade!” Indeed. Hitting in the face is a fourth grade thing. Vince also panics over Sherri’s outfit, which is uh, kind of incomplete in certain areas. Sherri takes some extra time disrobing Shawn because….I’m not sure really.

Feeling out process to start with Shawn trying a monkey flip, allowing Martel to cartwheel into some jumping jacks. A dropkick to the face has Sherri nervous but Martel jumps Shawn from behind. The fans seem to be behind Martel, which is rather strange to see. Martel misses a crossbody out of the corner though and the fans calm down a bit. Back up and Martel teases a right hand but stops himself and throws Shawn over the top instead. Martel takes him back inside for a backdrop and more jumping jacks but Shawn reverses an O’Connor roll for two.

After both guys pull their gear back up (with Vince and Bobby making the usual jokes), it’s Shawn getting a knee up to stop a charge in the corner. Now they trade rollups again and it’s time to get serious. They slap each other in the face, drawing Sherri to the apron for a lot of screaming….and some fainting. Shawn goes to check on her and Sherri falls out to the floor, where Martel knocks Shawn away. He gives her CPR but Shawn starts the fist fight for the double countout at 8:09, which draws Sherri back to life.

Rating: C. This was a lot different than most matches you’ll see and it worked out pretty well. It was certainly a unique way to go and given who was in there, it is hardly a surprise that they had a decent match. The Sherri stuff was interesting, though given that Shawn was supposed to headline the show, it is a bit of a downgrade.

Post match Sherri faints again so Shawn comes back to carry her away. Martel breaks that up as well, and Sherri falls down in a heap. Shawn jumps Martel again and Sherri crashes again, allowing Shawn to get her….most of the way back, until Martel finds a bucket of water and throws it on Sherri, who storms off on her own.

The Nasty Boys laugh at what happened to Sherri but are more interested in watching Savage and Warrior destroy each other. Now where is their title shot? Jimmy Hart sounds rather nervous about that question.

Tag Team Titles: Beverly Brothers vs. Natural Disasters

The Brothers are challenging and have the Genius in their corner. They jump the massive champs to start and are quickly sent into each other for a quick crash. We settle down to Typhoon missing a legdrop on Blake as everything breaks down again. Earthquake splashes typhoon in the corner by mistake, but Typhoon launches Beau to the floor on a kickout. After finding out that SHAWN MICHAELS HAS LEFT WEMBLEY STADIUM, the Beverly Blast keeps Typhoon in trouble.

A headbutt gets two as it’s strange to see someone this big taking a longer form beating. Typhoon drives over for the tag but of course the referee doesn’t see it. How do referees not get fired more often for being so inept? Typhoon gets in a double clothesline but Beau distracts Earthquake, allowing Blake to get in a shot with the metal scroll. Since Earthquake is about 28% smarter than anyone in the match, he decks Blake before the cover, allowing the hot tag to Typhoon. A belly to belly suplex plants Beau and a double shoulder puts the Brothers down. The powerslam sets up the Earthquake to retain at 10:25.

Rating: D. This was as good as the Natural Disasters vs. the Beverly Brothers for ten minutes was going to be. The Brothers were just such worthless goofs and no one bought them as a threat to the champs. The Disasters on the other hand actually felt like a team who could destroy almost anyone and it was going to take more than a couple of goofs like these two to beat them.

The Bushwhackers don’t know anything about a dentist selling them a London Bridge, but they are going to a meal at Buckingham Palace. Royal sardines are on the menu and they might get to sit on the throne. These two are just goofy fun, even though they outlived their usefulness.

Hayes thinks Perfect is in Ultimate Warrior’s dressing room but still can’t get in.

Crush vs. Repo Man

This was when Crush was on the verge of becoming the company’s breakout star but it never quite got there. Or anywhere close for that matter. Repo jumps him from behind to start but gets gorilla pressed without much effort. A backbreaker puts Repo on the floor and then Crush adds a one handed backbreaker just to show off.

As commentary talks about the WWF Title match coming up next (and nearly apologizing for making us wait so long), Crush misses a top rope knee. A faceplant gives Repo two but the kickout puts Repo on the floor. Back in and Repo dives into a powerslam, setting up the head vice for the win at 4:03.

Rating: D+. Another fast match that feels like a way to extend the show longer than it needs to be. That’s what happens when you have a two match card, but Crush was a popular guy at this point and it makes sense to feature him on a show like this. Repo Man was always good for a job and it was a quick enough squash that it wasn’t exactly worthless.

Gene throws us to a package on Savage vs. Warrior. The match was signed with Savage summing up the issue rather well: “I’M THE WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION CHAMPION AND YOU’RE NOT!” Then Ric Flair and Mr. Perfect made it clear that they weren’t happy with Flair not being in the title match and teased that they were working with both of them. The mind games were on hard and the question was who be joining forces with Perfect and Flair here. That’s quite the intriguing question, and a good way to go for something like this.

Heenan insists that he doesn’t know who sold out but Vince doesn’t believe him.

WWF Title: Ultimate Warrior vs. Randy Savage

Savage is defending and there is no sign of Flair and/or Perfect. Warrior always looked really weird in that singlet. They go nose to nose to start and shove each other away as the fans are WAY into this. Warrior shoves him down without much effort but Savage is back with a pair of clotheslines for one. Savage goes up top in a hurry but gets punched out of the air just as fast. A pair of delayed atomic drops have Savage in more trouble and a clothesline gets two.

Savage isn’t having that and punches him down, setting up a quickly broken sleeper. Warrior unloads with right hands in the corner and stomps Savage down, followed by another hard clothesline. A pull of the tights sends Warrior into the buckle though and a clothesline puts Warrior on the floor. The fans don’t like that one but Savage doesn’t seem to mind.

Back in and a pair of top rope ax handles to Warrior’s head gets two but the third is pulled out of the air for a backbreaker. The hard whips into the corner set up a bearhug for all of two seconds. Savage gets two off a small package and a swinging neckbreaker gives him a breather. Savage’s back gives out on a suplex attempt and even Warrior is smart enough to know what to do here.

A suplex makes the back worse and gets another two as they’re a little more spent than they should be after less than thirteen minutes. Warrior misses a clothesline and gets low bridged to the floor, allowing Savage to hit a top rope ax handle. There’s a ram into the steps and another into the post but Savage can’t hit a piledriver back inside.

Cue Perfect and Flair as NOW things are going to get interesting. Warrior hits a slam to damage the back again, but the splash hits knees. There’s the required double clothesline and they’re both down again. Savage is up first and glares down at Perfect and Flair, allowing Warrior to lift him up for some choking. The ref gets bumped (SHOCKING!) and it’s Warrior going up for his own ax handle.

That’s good for a very delayed two and Warrior is annoyed at the count. Warrior getting annoyed at things isn’t exactly surprising. Savage hits a piledriver but has to get the referee off the floor. During the delay, which takes quite a bit of time, Perfect comes in and holds Warrior for an illegal object shot from Flair. Somehow Savage doesn’t see that and hits the elbow, but the referee is STILL groggy so the two is delayed again. Sweet goodness get tougher referees.

Warrior starts shaking the ropes and Heenan knows what that means for Savage. There’s the flying shoulder but Perfect distracts the referee, allowing Flair to hit Warrior in the back with a chair. Savage gets that something is up and doesn’t want it that way so he kicks at Perfect. He goes up anyway and then dives at Flair, who uses the chair to blast Savage’s knee, which is enough for the countout at 26:16.

Rating: B+. This was like an amazing setup to a joke but then they forgot the punchline at the end. Allegedly the original plan called for Warrior to turn but he wouldn’t go for it, which I can understand in a way. What we got was really good, though the ending was lacking just enough to pull things down. Flair and Perfect offered some great drama though, and that’s most of what they needed to do.

Post match Flair and Perfect stay on Savage’s knee, including the Figure Four. Warrior makes the save with the chair. Warrior helps Savage up and everything is cool. The knee injury would wind up costing Savage the title, with Flair winning it a few days later.

Perfect and Flair have a plan B and they’ll get the title back.

Undertaker vs. Kamala

Dr. Harvey Wippleman introduces Kamala, who also has Kim Cheer with him. The double manager thing is completely outclassed by Paul Bearer, who leads a hearse with Undertaker standing in the back to the ring. Not quite as awesome as some he would hit later, but good for early Undertaker. We get a little change of pace here as Undertaker chokes him into the corner to start and hits Old School (assuming it’s old less than two years into his run).

Another attempt is broken up thanks to a Wippleman distraction and Kamala clotheslines him to the floor, with undertaker landing on his feet. A ram into the steps doesn’t do much damage so it’s back inside for more chopping. Undertaker is fine enough for a chokeslam, but Kim Chee comes in with the pith helmet (get a chair dude) for the DQ at 3:40.

Rating: D-. I’m thinking this got cut short on time or something because what in the world is the point of a big entrance like that for a three and a half minute match? Then again, was anyone buying Kamala as a major threat? Maybe back in 1986 but against Undertaker? It really was a weird time for Undertaker as he was one of the bigger stars around but there was no one for him to fight. That would wind up being the case for years until Mankind showed up in 1996 as a totally different kind of threat.

Post match Kamala hits a bunch of splashes, including one from the top. Undertaker sits up anyway. But yeah, Kamala was a total threat here.

British Bulldog is ready to fight for the title, even though he is worried about what the whole ordeal has done to his family. He hopes the families reunite after the match, but it’s a dream to be here with no pressure.

Bret Hart knows how to wrestle under pressure and wants Bulldog to look him in the face and say he doesn’t know him. Bulldog doesn’t seem to remember Bret introducing him to his sister. Maybe Bulldog’s dream will wind up being a nightmare.

A Scottish band called the Balboa Highlanders performs Scotland the Brave and here’s Roddy Piper to play with them in a surprise cameo. Heenan is disappointed with the lack of break dancing.

Tatanka vs. Berzerker

Final bonus match and Berzerker has Mr. Fuji with him. They go with the test of strength to start and Tatanka shoves him over the top in a surprise power display. Back in and they chop it out until Berzerker misses a dropkick. Tatanka charges into a boot in the corner though and Berzerker grabs a World’s Strongest Slam.

They head outside with Tatanka being slammed on the floor and it’s back inside. Make that outside again as Tatanka clotheslines him over the top and hits his own slam on the floor. Serves the Minnesota viking (….hey) right. Back in and some chops set up a top rope chop into the Papoose To Go to finish Berzerker at 5:03.

Rating: D+. This was the weakest of the three bonus matches and I can see why it was cut from the pay per view. Granted they probably needed something for some breathing room between the show’s three big matches. These two were as stereotypical as you could get, but they weren’t out there long and the ending was clean so it’s hard to complain that much.

Sean Mooney talks to Diana Smith at ringside and she sounds as emotional as….I’ve heard more intense grilled cheese orders. She wants everything to work out but she’s on the front line with both her brother and husband.

Intercontinental Title: Bret Hart vs. British Bulldog

Bret is defending and you might have heard of this one before. Bulldog has British boxing champion Lennox Lewis carrying the flag to the ring. Bret gets quite the reaction as well but I think you know who the face is here. The bell rings and after the handing out of the sunglasses, we’re ready to go. They go nose to nose to start and Bret shoves him away, so Bulldog shoves him a little bit harder. A hard shoulder puts Bret on the floor and it’s time to rethink things a bit.

Back in and Bret headlock takeovers him down before hitting an uppercut (Heenan: “Right in the old fish and chips.”). Bulldog reverses an armbar into one of his own and then catapults Bret face first into the corner. A lifting armbar doesn’t quite work so it’s a crucifix for two on Hart instead. We’re right back to the armbar as Heenan does his old “the crowd is so loud I can’t hear commentary” deal.

Back up and Bret knees him in the ribs, much to the fans’ disapproval. The chinlock doesn’t last long either so Bret hits a backbreaker and grabs it again. That’s broken up and Bulldog hits a monkey flip, only to charge into a boot in the corner. The bulldog hits the Bulldog and Bret goes up, earning himself a slam back down (How do you make that mistake on a show with Flair?). Bret sends him outside and hits a slingshot dive, landing on a completely unprepared Bulldog, nearly breaking his back in the process.

The Russian legsweep gives Bret two and he hammers away with right hands. We’re back to the chinlock (with Bret’s back to the camera, showing he doesn’t understand wrestling), followed by the snap suplex and another chinlock. Bulldog grabs a quick backslide for two in the hope spot but Bret is right back with the middle rope elbow. We’re back to the chinlock, which is switched into a sleeper to put Bulldog in even more trouble. Bulldog grabs the rope and Bret grabs the sleeper again as things go right back down.

That’s broken up and they slug it out, with Bulldog trying a gorilla press and dropping Bret HARD onto the ropes for a scary crash. Three clotheslines give Bulldog two and it’s a gorilla press into the delayed suplex for the same. Bret is back with a German suplex for the same, as Bobby insists that Ric Flair could kick out of all of this of course.

Bulldog crotches him on top and hits a top rope superplex (without much elevation, which isn’t a good thing) for the next near fall. There’s a double clothesline and they’re both down, but Bret ties the legs together into the Sharpshooter (always cool). The rope is grabbed so Bret tries a sunset flip, only to have Bulldog sit down on it for the pin, the title, and one of the all time loud roars at 25:14.

Rating: A+. Yeah what else is there to say here? It’s a masterpiece, and mainly because of Hart. Bulldog was infamously out of it throughout the match and had to be told what to do every step of the way. It is an amazing match and probably Bret’s all time performance, which is probably why he was WWF Champion before the end of the year. Great stuff here and I’m sure you know that already.

Post match Bret isn’t happy but eventually shakes his hand. Diana comes in to join them to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. There’s a lot of bad on the show but the bad matches are mostly short and the two great ones are both rather long. Those are more than enough to carry the show and the huge atmosphere are more than enough to carry to a high level. It’s an excellent show and easily the biggest Summerslam ever. Now go back to England again for another big pay per view already. It’s not like it’s hard to make it work these days.

Ratings Comparison

Jim Duggan/Bushwhackers vs. Mountie/Nasty Boys

Original: B

2013 Redo: C+

2020 Redo: C

Papa Shango vs. Tito Santana

Original: D+

2013 Redo: D

2020 Redo: C-

Tatanka vs. Berzerker

Original: C

2013 Redo: D

2020 Redo: D+

Legion of Doom vs. Money Inc.

Original: C+

2013 Redo: C-

2020 Redo: C-

Nailz vs. Virgil

Original: C

2013 Redo: F

2020 Redo: D

Shawn Michaels vs. Rick Martel

Original: B

2013 Redo: D+

2020 Redo: C

Beverly Brothers vs. Natural Disasters

Original: D+

2013 Redo: D

2020 Redo: D

Repo Man vs. Crush

Original: C+

2013 Redo: D

2020 Redo: D+

Ultimate Warrior vs. Randy Savage

Original: A

2013 Redo: B+

2020 Redo: B+

Kamala vs. Undertaker

Original: C

2013 Redo: D

2020 Redo: D-

British Bulldog vs. Bret Hart

Original: A+

2013 Redo: A+

2020 Redo: A+

Overall Rating

Original: A+

2013 Redo: B+

2020 Redo: B

Close enough.

Here is the original review if you are interested:

And the 2013 Redo:

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Summerslam 1989
Date: August 28, 1989
Location: Meadowlands Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Attendance: 20,000
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Jesse Ventura

We’re back with another edition of the show with another tag team main event. This time it’s the now heel Savage teaming with an actor named Zeus to face Hogan and Brutus Beefcake. This isn’t even the blowoff match between the teams which makes the match even more of an odd choice. The other major match tonight is Rick Rude defending the Intercontinental Title against Ultimate Warrior, the man he stole the title from back at Wrestlemania. Let’s get to it.

Jesse blames Tony for having Heenan run off the air. I have no idea what he’s talking about as Heenan is on the show later tonight.

We get an intro video similar to the opening of a regular TV show with various highlights and people enjoying the warm weather.

Hart Foundation vs. Brain Busters

The Brain Busters (Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard) won the tag titles a few weeks before this show, but since the match was already signed this is non-title. Why it wasn’t changed to a title match is beyond me but there’s no way this won’t be awesome. Heenan is with the Brain Busters here, making what Jesse said even more confusing. Bret and Tully get things going with Hart going straight for the arm. Arn comes in to take Bret to the mat with a headlock, only to have Bret crank on his arm as well.

A hammerlock slam puts Arn in a cute bit before it’s off to Neidhart for some powerful cranking on the arm. The Harts change two more times and both guys get to crank on the arm before Bret puts on an armbar. Arn slips out and brings in Tully who has his own arm pulled on by Anvil. Blanchard pulls on the beard to escape but can’t hiptoss the big man over. Back to Bret for more arm work before Anvil sneaks in without a tag. It’s only cheating if you get caught remember.

Anvil completely no sells some chops to the chest and sends Tully into the buckle before bringing Bret back in. The fans are all over Heenan with a Weasel chant while Bret works on a hammerlock. Tully grabs a top wristlock but Bret bridges off the mat to escape and the Busters are sent to the outside. Back in and Bret wins a slugout with Tully but gets suckered into a chase with Blanchard making a blind tag to Arn who blasts Bret from behind.

Everything breaks down again with the Brain Busters being knocked out to the floor once again. Back in and Bret sends Tully’s face into Anvil’s boot before bringing Neidhart again. Things break down again but Bret accidentally whips Jim into the buckle to give the Busters control. Arn drives a middle rope elbow into Neidhart’s back before it’s back to Tully for a reverse chinlock. Neidhart picks him up but Tully makes another blind tag off to Anderson to block a tag.

Arn punches him down but Anvil LAUNCHES Anderson off at two. Back up and both guys collide before Bret gets in a knee to Arn’s back to give Neidhart a breather. The hot tag brings in Hart vs. Blanchard with Bret dropping the middle rope elbow for no cover. Everything breaks down for the third or fourth time tonight with Bret being whipped into Tully to put both guys down.

Arn and Jim go to the floor but Bret slingshots Jim over the top into a shoulder block to Tully. Anvil powerslams Bret onto Blanchard but Anderson hits an ax handle to Bret’s head for the pin (while covering his head so the referee doesn’t see it’s Arn in the ring because Arn Anderson is more awesome than you).

Rating: B. I could watch Arn Anderson matches all day because of stuff like that at the end. I mean, who would think of such a little thing like that at the end of a match? This was a very solid opener but again I have no idea why the titles weren’t on the line here, especially if the Busters were going to go over by pin. The Harts wouldn’t even be a factor in the title scene for another year and even then they were big underdogs.

Dusty Rhodes talks about how the man in the blue suede shoes told him he can dance better than the Honky Tonk Man. This is a bit of a step down from Hard Times.

Honky Tonk Man vs. Dusty Rhodes

Dusty recently stole the Boss Man’s hat and nightstick after debuting early in the summer. We start with a dance off before Dusty takes him into the corner for a clean break. Honky bails to the floor to avoid the Bionic Elbow but comes back in for Dusty to grab his arm. Instead of driving an elbow into the shoulder though, Dusty messes with Honky’s hair to really get on his nerves. An atomic drop and the Bionic Elbow put Honky down with Dusty in full control.

Ten right hands in the corner drop Honky to the mat and it’s off to Dusty’s totally lame leg lock (meaning he stands there and turns Honky’s foot) fills in some time. Honky fires off some right hands but drops down to avoid a running Dusty. Jimmy Hart trips Dusty up and Honky just lays on the mat instead of going after Rhodes as Jimmy is stalked. Honky gets Jimmy’s megaphone for a shot to Dusty’s ribs and finally takes over with a chinlock.

It’s the long form version as we’re still in the hold about two minutes later. Dusty fights up and misses an elbow so it’s back to the chinlock. Rhodes fights up again and pounds away with right hands but Honky sends him into the referee to make this match go even further. Jimmy accidentally knocks Honky silly with the guitar and Dusty drops a big elbow for the pin.

Rating: D-. Who in the world thought this deserved ten minutes should be carried into the street and shot. Between the leg lock and the WAY too long chinlock, this could have been cut in half and nothing would have been lost. Honky was fine as a jobber to the stars at this point and he would maintain that position for months to come. This was way overbooked for what it was worth, but the fans loved Dusty which is the point of the match.

Honky asks someone to help him find the stage and wants to know where Priscilla is.

Demolition and King Hacksaw Jim Duggan are ready for their six man tag against the Twin Towers (Boss Man/Akeem) and Andre the Giant.

Mr. Perfect vs. Red Rooster

Perfect is still perfect at this point. They shove each other around to start until Hperfect shoves him down and hits a hiptoss. Things speed up a bit with both guys running the ropes and Perfect trying a slam. Rooster slips down the back and tries a slam of his own but can’t get Perfect up in a weird spot. Perfect sends him to the floor for a second and pounds away back inside, only to be shoved to the floor by Rooster. Perfect wins a quick slugout on the floor before going inside for the PerfectPlex and a very fast pin.

Rating: D. This was very odd with the match finishing out of nowhere after no build at all. The match had to be cut for time or maybe an injury because there’s no way this was the match they were planning. Or maybe they didn’t have time because we needed Dusty to have an even longer chinlock. These two are capable of having a far better match though and did many times.

Survivor Series is coming.

We go to Gene with Rude and Heenan in the back but the set falls down and the interview never stars. They try it again and the heels say they’ll do whatever it takes to keep the title.

The Rockers/Tito Santana vs. Fabulous Rougeau Brothers/Rick Martel

This should be awesome. Martel teases getting in there against Tito to start but sends Jacques in instead. As is his custom, Jacques requests a handshake but sneaks in some choking on Tito instead. The Rockers come in without tags and the good guys hit stereo dropkicks to send the French Canadians to the floor. Things settle down to Marty vs. Jacques with the latter going to the middle rope and head faking Marty, but Jannetty is faking the head fake and punches Jacques on the way down.

The advantage is short lived though as Ray Rougeau gets in a knee to the back from the apron and a kind of superkick to put Marty down. Off to Martel for right hands and some dancing followed by a cartwheel out of the corner. Marty is tired of the dancing and dropkicks Martel down but Rick runs away from the charging Tito. Instead it’s Santana putting a headlock on Ray before getting two off a clothesline.

Much like his brother did earlier, Jacques interferes for Ray and the Rougeaus take over on Santana with a double back elbow. Martel comes in to pound on the weakened Tito like a true weasel. Rick stomps away against the ropes as the fans are getting angrier and angrier at the Model. Jacques comes in again and hooks a front facelock to block the hot tag. Back to Martel but Tito fires off right hands to send the crowd into a frenzy. Jacques quickly pulls Tito’s hair to break it up but Tito gets a sunset flip for two.

Rick puts Tito down with a backbreaker and Ray hooks a Boston crab to stay on the weakened back. Back to Jacques for an abdominal stretch with a helping hand from Martel on the apron. Rick comes in again to break up another hot tag attempt and Ray stops Tito’s comeback just like Jacques did earlier. Tito hits a quick cross body for two and the Rockers finally come in to break up the interference. Ray comes in to keep Tito down but Jacques’ flying knee hits his brother, FINALLY allowing Tito to make the hot tag to Shawn.

Martel tries to hide in the corner but gets caught in a huge backdrop to send him running even further. A dropkick and a suplex put Martel down and the top rope right hand gets two as everything breaks down. Tito hits the flying forearm to send Martel to the floor and Marty rolls up Jacques, only to have Martel slide back in and blast Jannetty with a right hand, giving Jacques the pin.

Rating: B. Take six guys and two feuds, give them fifteen minutes in front of a hot crowd and witness the awesome. That’s exactly what happened here and the crowd got WAY into it, especially the Martel vs. Santana stuff. Those two just started feuding a few months before this and people were drooling to see Tito get his revenge. Really solid old school six man tag here which worked exceptionally well.

We recap Rude vs. Warrior. Rude attacked Warrior during a posedown at the Rumble before stealing the IC Title at Wrestlemania with help from Heenan. Tonight is the rematch with rude defending against a ticked off Warrior after Warrior spent months fighting through the Heenan Family. This was also used to set up Warrior vs. Andre the Giant over the winter.

Warrior rants about Andre before saying he’ll get his title back from Rude.

Intercontinental Title: Ultimate Warrior vs. Rick Rude

Rude isn’t sure what to do with Warrior to start so he tries punching him in the face to no avail. A clothesline puts Rude on the apron and a sunset flip is easily blocked with a right hand to the champion’s face. Warrior easily picks him up and gorilla presses him to the floor as this is one sided so far. Rude is sent into the barricade as Jesse is losing his mind over the referee not disqualifying Warrior.

Warrior gets two off a top rope ax handle before throwing him into the corner and pounding away. A shoulder block gets two on Rude and there’s an atomic drop to crush Rude’s spine a bit more. Warrior swivels his hips but gets crotched on the top rope to Jesse’s glee. Rude pounds on the back as he did in the Wrestlemania match and gets two off a suplex. Off to a reverse chinlock with Rude dropping down onto Warrior’s back for good measure. Back up and Warrior breaks up the Rude Awakening but gets caught in a sleeper.

Warrior finally fights out with a jawbreaker but after they run the ropes a bit, Rude sends Warrior into the referee to put everyone down. It’s Rude on his feet first but Warrior starts to Hulk Up to a HUGE reaction. A big backdrop and a clothesline put Rude down followed by a powerslam but there’s no referee. Warrior hits a piledriver but the referee crawls over for two. A powerslam sets up the splash but Rude gets his knees up to slow Warrior down again.

Rude hits a kind of powerbomb (basically driving Warrior’s head into the mat) for a close two as things slow down again. Rude hits a top rope right hand to the jaw as Roddy Piper strolls down. A piledriver puts Warrior down but Piper flashes Rude, allowing Warrior to suplex him out of the corner. Warrior hits a quick shoulder block followed by the gorilla press and splash for the title and an ERUPTION from the crowd.

Rating: B. If there has ever been better chemistry between a talented guy and a guy who could barely survive against anyone else, I’m not sure where it is. Warrior looked great out there and got the win back to conclude a very well done feud. Good stuff here as this show is cooking after a somewhat weak start. That pop for Warrior pretty much gave him the world title right then and there.

Mr. Perfect says he’s perfect.

Roddy Piper laughs about costing Rude the title, setting up his first feud after returning to the ring.

Ronnie Garvin is in a tuxedo and gets to be a guest announcer tonight. Heenan comes in to interrupt him and rants about Piper coming to the ring and costing Rude the title. Rude isn’t pleased either and yells as you would expect him to.

We go to an intermission, which is just a graphic with a countdown clock until the show continues.

We recap the main event tag match. Hogan was in a movie with Tiny Lister portraying the villain. The idea of the story is that Lister’s character Zeus felt that he could beat Hogan in Hogan’s real life job so he beat up Hogan before a cage match. This would be like Harrison Ford picking a fight with Mark Hamill because of what Hamill did on the Millennium Falcon. I don’t know if we were supposed to take it seriously or not, but the main problem here is obvious: Zeus is an actor instead of a wrestler, meaning there isn’t much he can do in the ring.

Savage and Beefcake got involved to make it a tag match so Zeus didn’t fight alone. Hogan couldn’t hurt Zeus with a chair to the back but raking the eyes had an effect, giving Hogan an opening tonight. Savage was still a big deal at this point so this really was a big heel team to face Hogan and Beefcake. We get full clips of these moments as the intermission continues.

Twin Towers/Andre the Giant vs. Demolition/Jim Duggan

Duggan is King of the WWF and has his face painted like Demolition but is rocking an American flag pattern of course. Akeem starts with the King with Duggan absorbing the trash talk and pounding away on the big man before it’s off to Ax for some pounding on the arm. Smash comes in and Demolition pounds Akeem down before bringing Duggan back in to crank on the arm as well.

Akeem finally gets in a shot to Ax’s ribs and it’s off to Boss Man who is immediately pounded down by the fresh Smash. Boss Man rakes the eyes to slow Smash down but Smash rakes the eyes right back in a good bit. Ax comes in again and cranks on the arm but gets sent into the wrong corner so Andre can come in and pound away with big right hands.

Akeem comes back in but misses a slow motion splash, allowing for the hot tag back to Smash who slams Akeem down in an impressive power display. Everything breaks down and Akeem hits a bottom rope splash on Smash, but Duggan hits Akeem in the back with the 2×4 to give Smash the pin.

Rating: C. It wasn’t much of a match but for above seven and a half minutes with these six guys, this was as good as you were going to get. Duggan was about as big as he was going to get in the WWF at this point as the fans were WAY into his Hogan-Lite character. Demolition was fresh off losing the tag titles but but they were still the most popular tag team in the company. Good, fun little match here which was much better than I was expecting.

Ted DiBiase says he’ll beat Jimmy Snuka because he’s cultured and Snuka is a savage.

Greg Valentine vs. Hercules

Ronnie Garvin is guest ring announcer after being fired from being a referee. He takes a ton of shots at Valentine (“Weighing in at 249lbs…..but he looks about 30lbs heavier and wears a robe with cheap rhinestones.”) since Valentine got him suspended in the first place. Hercules jumps Valentine to start and powerslams him down for two. A quick rollup gets two for Greg before they head to the floor for nothing of note. Back in and Valentine pounds him down with some elbows but the Figure Four is broken up. Hecules suplexes him down but gets rolled up with Valentine’s feet on the ropes for the fast pin.

Rating: D. This was all about furthering Garvin vs. Valentine with the stuff before the match and a bit we’ll get to in a second. I’m no Garvin fan at all but this was an amusing angle given where you could turn your brain off and laugh at some stupid jokes for a few minutes every show. There’s nothing wrong with comic relief and having a talented guy like Valentine out there made it a bit easier to sit through.

Post match Garvin announces Hercules as the winner, which apparently is good enough to get Valentine disqualified. Like I said, this is the time to turn your brain off.

Randy Savage, Zeus and Sister Sherri gather round a cauldron and predict bad futures for Hogan, Beefcake and Liz. The late 80s were weird in case you were wondering.

Ted DiBiase vs. Jimmy Snuka

No story here as they’re just out there to fill in a few minutes before the main event. Snuka headbutts DiBiase to the floor before the bell and avoids a charging Ted to send him into Virgil for a big crash. An atomic drop sends DiBiase to the floor and the match slows down a bit. Back in and Snuka can’t get high enough for his reverse leapfrog so he sends DiBiase into the corner to keep control. Ted goes to the eyes to get a moment’s breather but gets caught by a shoulder to put him back down.

A quick stun gun sends Snuka into the top rope and Ted can stomp away like a good 80s heel. DiBiase works on the back with knees to the spine and a backbreaker for no cover but a middle rope elbow misses. Jimmy slams Ted down and hits a middle rope headbutt but Virgil breaks up the Superfly Splash. Snuka chases him around on the floor but gets sent into the post by DiBiase for the countout.

Rating: D. Another lame match here and I’m not sure why DiBiase couldn’t get a pin. Either way, the match was there to give the fans a breather from that EPIC Hercules vs. Valentine heat before the main event. Snuka was still a fan favorite so having him out there wasn’t the worst idea in the world.

Post match Snuka hits the Superfly on Virgil.

Hogan and Beefcake talk about riding motorcycles across a river (just go with it) with Liz riding on the back of Hogan’s bike. Savage and Zeus weren’t mentioned at all.

Genius recites a poem about Summerslam, saying he thinks Zeus and Savage (his real brother) will win.

Zeus/Randy Savage vs. Brutus Beefcake/Hulk Hogan

Before we get going, Liz gets her own full entrance as the secret weapon. It’s a brawl to start but Hogan can’t hurt Zeus. He goes to the eyes but can’t slam Zeus down so the monster chokes Hulk down. Beefcake tries to dive on Zeus but gets caught in midair. Now it’s a bearhug on Hogan but here’s Savage off a tag. Why in the world would you change when you had Hogan in trouble like that? A top rope ax handle gets two for Randy and it’s off to the sleeper.

Hogan elbows out of it and hits some shoulder blocks but Zeus knees him in the back to slow him down. Back to Zeus for another bearhug which takes Hogan down to the mat for some two counts. It’s back to Savage to snap Hogan’s throat over the top rope and a suplex gets two. Savage misses some elbow drops and there’s the hot tag to Beefcake. A high knee gets two on Savage and Beefcake hooks his sleeper. Savage rams him into the middle buckle and it’s off to Zeus, but Brutus puts him in a sleeper as well.

Randy breaks up the hold with Sherri’s loaded purse but he suckers Hogan into the ring instead of covering. Hogan stops Savage from attacking Liz but Beefcake is still in big trouble. Back to Zeus for some choking on Beefcake until the referee makes the save. Savage comes back in but walks into a double clothesline to put both guys down. The hot tag brings in Hogan to clean house but Sherri trips Hulk up to give Savage control again.

The big elbow hits but Hogan is up before there’s any cover. Savage runs away and it’s time for the showdown with Zeus. Hogan pounds away and finally puts Zeus down to one knee. Liz takes out Sherri and Beefcake intercepts Savage, causing him to drop the loaded purse. Hogan blasts Zeus in the face with the purse, slams him down and drops the leg for the pin.

Rating: D+. Amazingly enough, a non-wrestler like Zeus wasn’t capable of having a good match on any size of a stage. Beefcake and Savage were just window dressing here, but in this case the window dressing carried the match for his team. Zeus was just horrible here and was basically the original promotional stunt for a wrestling movie, which never works.

Post match Liz cuts Sherri’s hair. Much posing ends the show.

Overall Rating: C+. There’s a lot of bad stuff here but the good matches are more than good enough to make up for the lame short ones. The crowd is VERY hot all night to lift the show even higher up which helped a lot. The main event was horrible and while the cage match that blew it off a few months later was better, this is the match that should have been the big deal. Still though, the show is worth checking out but you should fast forward a few of the matches.

Ratings Comparison

Hart Foundation vs. Brain Busters

Original: B+

Redo: B

Honky Tonk Man vs. Dusty Rhodes

Original: F

Redo: D-

Mr. Perfect vs. Red Rooster

Original: C+

Redo: D

Rick Martel/Fabulous Rougeaus vs. Tito Santana/Rockers

Original: B+

Redo: B

Ultimate Warrior vs. Rick Rude

Original: A-

Redo: B

Jim Duggan/Demolition vs. Andre the Giant/Twin Towers

Original: C+

Redo: C

Hercules vs. Greg Valentine

Original: F-

Redo: D

Ted DiBiase vs. Jimmy Snuka

Original: D

Redo: D

Hulk Hogan/Brutus Beefcake vs. Randy Savage/Zeus

Original: B-

Redo: D+

Overall Rating

Original: B-

Redo: C+

About the same this time.

Here’s the original review if you’re interested:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2011/07/23/history-of-summerslam-count-up-1989-gather-round-the-cauldron/

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

Wrestlefest 1992
Commentators: Sean Mooney, Lord Alfred Hayes,
Hosts: Gene Okerlund, Bobby Heenan

This is another Coliseum Video in a series that ran for a few years. That being said, it isn’t like there is much of a theme to the thing, which was hardly a surprise given how many recurring titles you would see on WWF home video. This is an interesting time for the company as Hulk Hogan is mostly gone and we’re off to people like Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels so let’s get to it.

Okerlund and Heenan are playing tennis, with Heenan thinking it’s table tennis. Heenan is off to find the rules so let’s go to our first match.

From New York City, New York, March 23, 1992.

Virgil vs. Shawn Michaels

Sherri is with Michaels as Mooney says Virgil is “one of the most popular figures the World Wrestling Federation has ever known.” I have to say this a lot about Mooney, but LIAR. Virgil has his nose guard on, which felt like it was around for a good while. We stall for a good bit before the bell until Sherri heads outside and…I don’t think we ever had a bell at all.

Michaels takes him into the corner and punches the nose guard, which goes as well as you would expect. Virgil chases him to the floor as Hayes wants Virgil to have to remove the mask. Back in and Virgil grabs a headlock as commentary explains Bobby Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon (who broadcast this on the MSG Network) as being there for an armed forces broadcast. Eh I’ve heard worse excuses. Michaels fights out but gets a bit too cocky, meaning the headlock can go on again.

Back up and Michaels avoids a charge to send Virgil crashing out to the floor so we can have a quick breather. Virgil gets back in so Sherri offers a distraction, allowing Michaels to raise the mask for a shot to the bad nose. The chinlock goes on for a big until Virgil fights up, only to be sent into the buckle. A backslide gives Virgil two but Michaels drops him with a clothesline for the same.

Michaels sends him face first into the buckle, knocking the mask off and leaving Virgil looking like he had been stabbed. The referee even puts the mask back on and Virgil hits a faceplant, setting up an atomic drop to send Michaels into the corner. Virgil makes the comeback with clotheslines and a dropkick before sending Michaels hard into the corner. A running knee misses for Virgil though and Michaels hits the teardrop suplex for the pin at 12:14.

Rating: C. Virgil was trying and he could have been worse, but he is one of the most “he exists” wrestlers I’ve ever seen. There is nothing to him that makes him stand out in any way and that was the problem here. It was the most generic offense and Michaels put him away without much trouble. Just as it should have been.

From Toledo, Ohio, April 7, 1992.

Tag Team Titles: Money Inc. vs. Bushwhackers

Money Inc., with Jimmy Hart, is defending (in case you were very confused). The champs jump them from behind to interrupt the pre-match whacking and the Bushwhackers collide for a double knockdown. Back up and they send Money Inc. together, setting up a double bite. Some clotheslines send Money Inc. outside and it’s time for a breather.

We settle down to DiBiase knocking Butch down and choking away as commentary talks about Money Inc. walking out on their title match at Wrestlemania. Butch manages a bulldog for a needed breather and the champions are rammed together. Back to back Battering Rams send DiBiase and IRS outside and it’s time to whack around the ring even more.

DiBiase comes back in to choke Luke on the ropes and we get some non-tag exchanges. IRS grabs his required abdominal stretch before it’s off to DiBiase for one of his own. It’s back to IRS for the chinlock but DiBiase comes back in and gets kicked in the face. Butch gets the tag to clean house but Hart offers a distraction, allowing IRS to knee Butch down and retain at 8:32.

Rating: C+. This was a fine way for the champions to get in a title defense as they get to beat a fun team in the Bushwhackers. As a bonus, it always helps to have challengers who aren’t going to be hurt by a loss like this. Money Inc. was a good choice for the titles as they worked well together and it was easy to boo them so things were looking decent enough for the titles’ future around this time.

Okerlund tries to explain the art of the serve to Heenan, with Heenan having drinks instead of practicing.

From Biloxi, Mississippi, March 10, 1992.

Rick Martel vs. British Bulldog

This could be interesting. Martel starts fast by sending him into the corner and then flipping into some jumping jacks. Bulldog grabs a headlock to grind away a bit before working on the arm as well. Martel misses a charge into the buckle and gets armbarred, followed by a more basic style of cranking.

Back up and Martel manages to send him outside for some ax handles to the back to take over. Some knees to the back and some choking oddly wake Bulldog up, only for him to charge into Martel’s raised knee. Bulldog hits some running clotheslines to send Martel outside and it’s a sunset flip to give Bulldog the pin back inside at 5:22.

Rating: C. Well “could be” was right because it certainly wasn’t. Martel was starting to get a bit of something going and then it just wrapped up. Bulldog was getting geared up for something bigger in the coming months (to put it mildly) but this wasn’t much of a first step there. Give them some time and have Bulldog more motivated and this could have worked, but they didn’t have much of a chance.

Bret Hart talks about some of his bigger matches and how he always gives it his all. This includes winning the Intercontinental Title for the first time by defeating Mr. Perfect at Summerslam 1991, retaining over Skinner at This Tuesday In Texas and…apparently that’s all!

From Springfield, Massachusetts, November 12, 1991.

Intercontinental Title: Bret Hart vs. Barbarian

Hart is defending but Barbarian steals the title and poses with it while Hart gives his glasses to a fan. We get going with Barbarian driving him into the corner and then hitting a shoulder out to the floor. Back in and Hart avoids an elbow and starts in on Barbarian’s arm. That’s broken up and Barbarian takes him outside for some rams into the post.

Back in and Hart is sent chest first into the buckle, followed by the bearhug that you get in every Barbarian match. With that broken up, Hart gets a boot up in the corner and it’s a running clothesline to drop Barbarian for two. The middle rope elbow and Russian legsweep get two, with the kickout sending Hart outside. Back in and a suplex gives Barbarian two so he tries it again, only to be reversed into a small package to retain Hart’s title at 12:24.

Rating: C+. The more I see from Barbarian, the more I appreciate someone like him. He’s a great example of someone who is going to do his thing and do it in a certain way, but he makes it work every single time. That’s the kind of thing that will always work in wrestling and it worked again here, albeit with an all time master like Hart.

Heenan can’t return serves from Monica Seles’ sister’s best friend’s partner (or something like that). He threatens to choke her.

From Biloxi, Mississippi, March 10, 1992.

Nasty Boys vs. Natural Disasters

Jimmy Hart is here with the Nastys. The Disasters chase them to the floor to start before Typhoon sends Sags into the corner for an early splash. Earthquake comes in to run Knobbs over without much effort and an elbow to the back makes it worse. Sags gets in a cheap shot from the apron though as commentary bickers about which team they like more. Earthquake easily slugs his way out of trouble but Sags is right there to prevent the tag. Earthquake grabs a bearhug on Sags and Typhoon comes in for a double standing splash. With Typhoon cutting Hart off, Earthquake drops an elbow for the pin at 6:31.

Rating: C. The Disasters are a good example of an idea that made sense but only worked so well in practice. The issue is really simple: only a handful of teams can do much with them, which made for some not so great matches. While the Nastys can do a heck of a brawl if given the case, this was more of a standard match and that’s not playing to either team’s strength.

From Kalamazoo, Michigan, April 8, 1992.

WWF Title: Randy Savage vs. IRS

IRS, with Jimmy Hart, is challenging and stalls on the floor for a good while to start. Once inside Savage grabs a headlock and we immediately stall some more, this time with Savage going after Hart. Back in and Savage hits some running clotheslines to send IRS outside. IRS gets back inside and is atomic dropped to the floor, so Savage goes outside to prevent more boredom.

The top rope ax handle gives Savage two back inside but Hart offers a distraction, allowing IRS to knee Savage in the back. Savage gets thrown outside this time as this is getting rather repetitive. Back in and IRS grabs the abdominal stretch, followed by a chinlock as this isn’t exactly shaking his reputation for being boring (or sweaty).

Savage fights up and grabs him by the tie so Hart comes up with the briefcase. IRS’ charge hits said briefcase and after decking Hart, Savage drops the big elbow for the pin at 11:16. Mooney: “And a clean victory here for the WWF Champion!” After IRS was RAMMED INTO A METAL BRIEFCASE, once again proving that Mooney is a LIAR!”

Rating: C-. Again, IRS is someone who could be put out there to give Savage an easy win, but dang it would be nice if he could do something even slightly interesting. IRS could wrestle a perfectly competent style, but his offense was straight out of the 70s and it showed badly. Also, even though IRS is a champion, Savage couldn’t just get a clean win here?

Mr. Fuji and the Berzerker explain how to throw a party. Berzerker recommends kidnapping to get guests, and a lot of “little gimmicks” like those streamers that you blow to make them roll out, and finger sandwiches, decorated with fingers. This was oddly funny as Berzerker has a weird charisma to him.

From Kalamazoo, Michigan, April 8, 1992.

Tito Santana vs. Repo Man

Santana knocks him into the corner to start but Repo takes him into another corner. Repo’s arm work doesn’t work so Santana pulls him down into an armbar. A crossbody gives Santana two and the armbar goes on again. Repo comes back with a clothesline for two and he pulls Santana into something like a cross armbreaker. That’s broken up and Repo hits another clothesline, only for Santana to hit one of his own. Repo gets knocked off the apron so he grabs the grappling hook. A shot to the ribs is enough to draw the DQ at 7:33.

Rating: C. Yes, we really are going with the guy who repossesses things over the bullf…ok maybe it isn’t as crazy as it sounds. This was not the strongest time when it came to midcard gimmicks and there is a reason it took so long to turn things around. Both guys are talented, but this was a bit too goofy to really work.

Post match Santana gets posted and choked with the hook, leaving him frothing at the mouth.

From Niagara Falls, New York, April 28, 1992.

Nasty Boys/Money Inc. vs. Natural Disasters/Legion Of Doom

Dang this tape loves Money Inc. and Jimmy Hart is here with the villains while Paul Ellering is with the good guys. DiBiase and Hawk start things off with DiBiase actually taking over in the corner. Everything breaks down in a hurry though and Hart’s guys need a meeting on the floor. Back in and it’s IRS coming in to face Hawk, who connects with a big boot.

DiBiase offers a distraction though and IRS gets in his trusty knee to the back. Hawk gets pulled into the wrong corner, with Animal’s attempt at a save causing Hawk to get choked even more. Hawk fights up and hits a clothesline to put IRS down, followed by a double version with DiBiase. That’s enough for the tag off to Animal, who fires off a dropkick as everything breaks down. Earthquake sits on Sags for the pin at 7:59.

Rating: C. As usual, there is only so much that can be done in this situation with so many people in there and so little time. The ending was kind of amusing with Earthquake just sitting on him for the win, but that was about it. The Legion Of Doom never got to do much either, which sums up a lot of their problems in the WWF in the first place.

Post match Ellering decks Hart for a funny moment.

Okerlund explains the appeal of being a gracious winner and then Heenan crotches himself trying to jump over the net. Some fans pop up to meet Okerlund, who wraps it up to end the tape.

Overall Rating: D+. Yeah this didn’t work, with nothing standing out in the slightest. It was a bunch of people just having matches, none of which were remotely memorable. On top of that, I was sick of seeing Money Inc. by the end and that shouldn’t be the case with someone as good as DiBiase. The Heenan/Okerlund stuff was really weak too and that took away one of the best parts of these things. Not their best effort here, with the Bushwhackers and Barbarian having the best match, plus that oddly funny Berzerker segment being the highlights.

 

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Superstars
Date: May 30, 1992
Location: War Memorial, Syracuse, New York
Attendance: 4,500
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Mr. Perfect

This was thrown up on the WWE Vault and I could go for something from a different era. We’re done with Wrestlemania VIII and since it’s 1992, there is no pay per view for about three months. That means we could be in for a nice variety of things on this show and that is what I’m wanting to see. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

Vince and Perfect talk about Papa Shango making black goo come down the Ultimate Warrior’s head last week. Since it’s National Dairy Month, Perfect turns this into some weird spoiled milk analogy and it really doesn’t work.

We run down this week’s card.

Legion Of Doom vs. Rich Mitchell/Kato

Animal backs Kato into the corner to start and leapfrogs over him, setting up a powerbomb. Vince talks about how the LOD gets their strength from ICO-PRO, promising to tell us about it more in the future. Kato gets dropped on the floor as we get an inset promo from the Beverly Brothers/The Genius, calling the LOD a bunch of sissies. The Doomsday Device finishes Mitchell at 1:48.

We go to UPDATE, presented by WBF Magazine. Gene Okerlund talks about the hold that Papa Shango has over the Ultimate Warrior and we get a look at Shango cursing him and causing him to have a bad stomach ache. Then Warrior vomited in the locker room. The next week, Warrior said the voodoo would be conquered…and black goo to come out of Warrior’s head. Ignore the jacket that Warrior has never worn before when this bad thing happens to him.

Papa Shango vs. Brian Brieger

Hold on though as Shango issues another curse, which causes the lights go to out…and lights Brieger’s boots on fire (with Brieger being knocked out as a result). Then goo comes out of his head. No match, due to goo and fire.

EVENT CENTER!

Tatanka is angry at Rick Martel for spraying Arrogance in his face and stealing his feather. Those were passed down to him and Martel is PUTTING THEM IN HIS HAT? That will not stand and Tatanka swears vengeance.

Repo Man talks about how hard it is to repossess cars because people don’t want him to take them. That’s why he takes them at night because it’s so much easier! He doesn’t like the British Bulldog either and threatens to choke him for barking too much. Well that’s violent.

Sgt. Slaughter vs. Bob Bradley

Commentary talks about the WBF as Bradley pokes him in the eyes to start. Slaughter shrugs that off and knocks him to the apron for an elbow. We get an insert promo from the Mountie, who promises to shock Slaughter. Some choking on the ropes sets up the cobra clutch to finish for Slaughter at 1:45.

We get an add for the WBF Championships, with Vince promising “prime beef.”

Rick Martel vs. Jim Powers

Martel cartwheels away from the threat of a monkey flip to start before we go to a Martel insert promo. As Martel promises to send “Buffalo Breath” onto the Trail Of Tears, Powers takes him down with some clotheslines. Powers armdrags him into an armbar for a bit before grabbing a sunset flip for two. Martel fights up without much trouble and puts on the Boston Crab for the win at 1:52.

Post match Martel sprays the feathers with Arrogance for good measure.

EVENT CENTER! AGAIN!

The Nasty Boys don’t like high fliers like High Energy.

Paul Bearer, with Undertaker, is ready to deal with the Berzerker. Undertaker: “Rest in H***.” Well that was intense.

Watch the Crunch Classic! If I remember right, that’s a bad idea.

Natural Disasters vs. Duane Gill/Mike Fury

The Disasters waste no time in clearing the ring as we get an insert promo from Money Inc., who don’t like the Disasters very much. Earthquake elbows Fury and the double splash in the corner makes it worse. Gill tries to make a save and Vince is amazed at the stupidity. Earthquake’s powerslam sets up the Earthquake, followed by Typhoon’s splash to finish Fury at 2:54.

Big Boss Man vs. Dave Roulette

Boss Man has been dealing with someone with a mysterious voice who has been rather threatening. An elbow to the face and the wind up uppercut have Roulette (great name) in trouble and the Boss Man Slam finishes at 1:05.

Post match Boss Man slaps him around a bit…and here is a man in a prison uniform through the crowd to hit Boss Man with the nightstick. Some knees to the head rock Boss Man and he gets handcuffed to the top rope. More nightstick shots and some kicks to the back have him in trouble as Vince is wondering where the referees are for the save. He is at least nice enough to uncuff Boss Man, only to cuff his hands behind his back and hit Boss Man in the face a few times.

This goes on for a long time until the prison guy walks out through the crowd. Boss Man is taken out on a stretcher and Mr. Perfect is VERY happy. To be fair, Boss Man does have a history of beating on people he’s handcuffed (it was his entire thing as a heel) so Vince screaming “OF COURSE HE DIDN’T DO THAT” is nonsense.

Berzerker vs. Glen Ruth

Mr. Fuji is here with Berzerker and Ruth is better known as Headbanger Thrasher (though you would never recognize him). Berzerker boots him in the face before the bell and hammers away before dropping a knee. That works so well that he drops a leg for a bonus and HUSSes a lot. Commentary completely ignores the match to talk about the Big Boss Man, even as Berzerker ties him in the ropes for some running boots. Berzerker tosses him over the top and gets the countout at 1:57 as Vince is wondering what has happened to scientific wrestling.

Crush is in a junkyard and is ready to crush various people.

EVENT CENTER! THE THIRD!

Sgt. Slaughter is NOT the Mountie because he doesn’t like the Mountie. The reality is Mountie should have been playing Taps for Slaughter, who promises to make Mountie snap, crackle and pop.

Bret Hart is ready to face anyone for the Intercontinental Title, including Shawn Michaels.

We preview next week’s show to wrap this one up.

Overall Rating: C+. While I had fun with the show just for the sake of the flashback, there was only so much to be seen here. This was quite the slow period for the company as they were trying to find the new generation but it wasn’t there yet. You could see that with a focus on people like the Big Boss Man and Sgt. Slaughter in a fairly prominent feud, plus the biggest name being a quick cameo from Hart at the end. It wasn’t exactly an eventful show, but it was nice to take a quick look back at a different era.

Results
Legion Of Doom b. Rich Mitchell/Kato – Doomsday Device to Mitchell
Sgt. Slaughter b. Bob Bradley – Cobra clutch
Rick Martel b. Jim Powers – Boston crab
Natural Disasters b. Duane Gil/Mike Fury – Splash to Fury
Big Boss Man b. Dave Roulette – Boss Man Slam
Berzerker b. Glen Ruth via countout

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Wrestlefest 1991
Commentators: Sean Mooney, Lord Alfred Hayes
Host: Randy Savage

I think you can tell the time frame here and that might not be the best thing. This isn’t the greatest time for the company but I can always go for some Coliseum Videos. It’s all going to depend on the lineup and that could go in a few different ways. The WWE Vault tends to have a reason for these picks so let’s get to it.

We go to Randy Savage’s estate to open things up and he’s having nightmares about losing his career at Wrestlemania VII. Savage insists that he was NOT sleeping but says he lost to the best of all time in the Ultimate Warrior. He’s excited to host this tape, which might be the apex of his career. Today though, Ultimate Warrior isn’t facing the Macho Man on tape but rather the Earthquake.

Earthquake, with Jimmy Hart, brings up attacking Ultimate Warrior in a pushup contest, which is how Earthquake made his debut.

From Fort Myers, Florida, February 19, 1991.

Ultimate Warrior vs. Earthquake

Jimmy Hart is here with Earthquake and offers a distraction so Earthquake can get in a cheap shot. Warrior is right back with a flying shoulder to put Earthquake on the floor so Warrior chases Hart around. That earns him a ram into the apron (from Earthquake if that isn’t clear) and Earthquake takes him inside again to start on the back.

Some rams into the corner set up a bearhug, with Warrior not being able to power out. Earthquake puts him down and drops an elbow, followed by the Earthquake for two, with the kickout being as Hulking Up as you can get. Some clotheslines set up the big slam and the Warrior Splash finishes at 5:38.

Rating: C-. They might as well have had Warrior in red and yellow out there as he was just doing a Hogan impression. It’s the exact same formula that Hogan would do in a quick house show match, to the point where I remember him doing about the same thing in a match against Typhoon. When you still have Hogan around, why would I want to see Warrior just copying him?

Savage tells us how to send in a request for a Fan Favorite match, just like the one we just saw. Uh, I’ll pass if that’s the option.

And now, a special look at Jimmy Hart, featuring the Manager Cam.

From Green Bay, Wisconsin, May 7, 1991.

The Mountie vs. Big Boss Man

So the deal here is that the camera stays (mostly) on Jimmy Hart, who is mic’d up. Mountie charges at him to start but gets kicked away for his early efforts. A slugout doesn’t go much better as Boss man picks him up for a spinebuster. Hold on though as Boss Man goes after Hart, who screams for the Mountie in a funny bit. Boss Man even grabs Hart’s jacket and puts it over Mountie’s face for a slap. Mountie gets knocked outside and thrown right back in, which isn’t exactly nice treatment.

Back in and Boss Man chokes some more, setting up the running crotch attack to the back of the neck. More choking has Hart losing her mind but Boss Man misses a charge to give Mountie a breather. Mountie ties the leg up in the ropes and kicks away, leaving Boss Man to fall down in a heap. Hart approves and, of course, can’t shut up, as tends to be his custom. We even get an I AM THE MOUNTIE announcement…and Boss Man punches him back, setting up the Boss Man Slam for the pin at 6:30.

Rating: C-. This was an idea that might have sounded fun but it would have been better served on a better match. Mountie and Boss Man didn’t get to do much here and putting a camera on Hart is only going to be so interesting when you can already hear just about everything he says thanks to the megaphone. It wasn’t a bad idea, but it wasn’t all that interesting.

Post match Mountie gets in a shot with the shock stick to drop Boss Man.

From Omaha, Nebraska, April 15, 1991.

The Rockers vs. Power And Glory

Slick is here with Power And Glory as Michaels and Roma trade hammerlocks to start. Roma gets over to the ropes to escape before stomping away on Michaels in the corner. Back up and the Rockers clear the ring without too much effort and it’s time for a meeting on the floor with Slick. Back in and Roman takes over on Jannetty, with Hercules getting in a right hand from the apron like a good villain. A nice dropkick puts Jannetty down but he’s back with a sunset flip for two.

Michaels gets drawn in though and more double teaming has Jannetty in trouble again. Hercules turns him inside out with a clothesline (Jannetty could always make that look good) and Roma grabs a chinlock. Back up and Jannetty can’t get a sunset flip so Roma clotheslines him down again. Roma comes in off the top with another shot but misses a charge in the corner. That’s enough for Michaels to come in and clean house as everything breaks down. Slick grabs Michaels’ leg though and the Rockers go after him, resulting in the countout at 12:05.

Rating: C+. I’ve seen worse, as this match got some time, even with the fairly weak house show style ending. It’s not a bad match at all, with the Rockers still being popular and Power And Glory being a perfectly fine heel team. I could have gone with more of a clear finish, but the Rockers doing just about anything work.

Post match the Rockers clear the ring and double clothesline Slick (who loses his snazzy hat). Michaels even steals the hat, which doesn’t do much for him.

Ted DiBiase is ready for the Texas Tornado, who apparently isn’t that smart.

From Orlando, Florida, February 18, 1991.

Ted DiBiase vs. Texas Tornado

Hold on though as before the match, Tornado asks about Virgil, who recently left DiBiase. Cue Virgil, sending DiBiase into a frenzy, including yelling a lot as the bell has already rung and we’re just stalling here, possibly because Tornado is in no condition to have an overly long match.

Tornado follows DiBiase to the floor and hammers away, followed by some rams into the buckle inside. Tornado throws him outside, where Virgil throws DiBiase back inside. The Tornado Punch connects but another hits the post to bang up Tornado’s hand. DiBiase knocks him to the floor again but this time Virgil sweeps the leg, allowing Tornado to fall on top for the pin at 6:28.

Rating: D+. This was absolutely nothing and it would not surprise me a bit of the match had to go short because of Tornado being out of it. That happened more than a few times and it was getting harder and harder to see him do much. That’s what you were seeing here, as Tornado wasn’t doing much more than punching until he fell on top for the pin. It was more about Virgil vs. DiBiase anyway, but still, nothing to see here.

From Fort Myers, Florida, February 19, 1991.

British Bulldog vs. Haku

They circle each other to start until Haku grabs a headlock as commentary discusses rugby. Bulldog powers out and hits a dropkick to send Haku outside, where he wants time out. Back in and Bulldog slams him down, with Haku wanting another breather. A sleeper goes on before Bulldog switches to a rather pathetic looking armbar. Haku fights out and hits a hard piledriver for two, setting up a rather painful looking hair pull. That’s switched into a more standard chinlock but Bulldog fights up and hits a crossbody. Haku is right back with another chinlock but Bulldog fights up again and runs him over. A crucifix finishes Haku at 7:48.

Rating: C. Pretty standard match here with Bulldog fighting from behind and winning. It wasn’t an interesting match for the most part and it was nothing that hasn’t been done far better. Bulldog was starting to get moved up the card as a singles star and it makes sense that he gets a win here.

Randy Savage plays some pool but he only went 2/3 when he played himself the last three times.

We go to the Barber Shop for some grooming tips, which is Brutus Beefcake cutting hair and putting mud (from the Dead Sea, as written on the container) on someone’s face. Then he adds in an egg. This just keeps going and isn’t funny.

From Biloxi, Mississippi, March 12, 1991.

Greg Valentine vs. Rick Martel

Ah yes face Greg Valentine. Actually make that ah no, face Greg Valentine. Feeling out process to start with both of them backing the other into the ropes. Valentine shoves him to the floor and Martel wants a breather on the floor. Back in and Valentine grinds away on a headlock before it’s time to go after the leg in various painful ways.

Martel kicks him in the face for the break and chokes away a bit but the bad leg means he can’t follow up. Some elbows to the back have Valentine down and we hit the abdominal stretch. Valentine fights out and makes the comeback with a clothesline to the floor, where they fight to the double countout at 8:34.

Rating: C. Valentine as a face is still one of the all time weirdest decisions from the WWF. I still have no idea who in the world (other than Vince McMahon) wanted to see this in 1991 and it just never worked. It doesn’t help that Valentine is wrestling the same style that had been dull (quality but dull) for years but now against different opponents.

Post match the brawl continues until Martel loads up the Arrogance. Instead Valentine knocks it away and grabs the Figure Four. Like a hero.

From Fort Myers, Florida, February 19, 1991.

Warlord vs. Koko B. Ware

Slick is here with Warlord, who commentary thinks could be in line for another WWF Title shot. Warlord powers him around to start, including a lifting choke to drop Ware again. Back up and Ware goes to the eyes before slugging away, with Ware bailing out to the floor before Warlord maims him.

Warlord slowly hammers him down so Ware strikes away, only to get backdropped out to the floor for a nice crash. Back in and we hit the bearhug for a good while until Ware fights out. The comeback is on with the middle rope dropkick getting two (with Ware landing on his feet). Warlord isn’t having that and hits a running powerslam for the pin at 6:38.

Rating: C-. This was exactly what you would have expected it to be, with Warlord doing his power stuff and Ware doing his speed stuff, which didn’t exactly thrill anyone. It wasn’t a terrible match, but you could tell how bad things were if they were trying to make Warlord into a thing. He’s as generic of a power monster as you could get and there was no hiding it.

Randy Savage watches his retirement match against the Ultimate Warrior from Wrestlemania VII and says you can’t change history.

From Biloxi, Mississippi, March 12, 1991.

Hart Foundation vs. Legion Of Doom

And here’s the reason to watch the tape. Non-title, as the Harts would still be Tag Team Champions at this point but as they would lose the titles before this was released, they don’t have the belts. Neidhart and Animal shove each other around to start until a double clothesline leaves both of them down. It’s off to Hawk vs. Bret, with Hawk knocking him to the floor for some rather hard headbutts.

Back in and Hart knocks Hawk to the floor for a stomp to the ribs so Neidhart can get two off a clothesline. A backbreaker gives Hart two and the front facelock goes on. That’s broken up so Hawk is sent into the corner for a running shoulder to the ribs. The chinlock with a knee in the back keeps Hawk down and it’s back up for a quick Hart Attack.

Animal makes the save so Hart hits an atomic drop to keep Hawk in trouble. Hart misses the running charge into the corner (chest first of course) and now it’s back to Animal to clean house. Everything breaks down but Neidhart breaks up the Doomsday Device, allowing Hart to get a rollup for two. The slingshot shoulder hits Animal and a rocket launch crossbody….is countered into a powerslam to give Animal the pin on Hart at 12:21.

Rating: B. You do not see the Harts doing a clean job very often but the LOD aren’t your usual opponents. This was two top level teams in what felt like a dream match and it worked well. You had the Harts using their mixture of brains and power to slow the monsters down but in the end, Animal caught Hart one time for a fast pin. Good stuff here and absolutely a dream match for this era.

From New York City, New York, March 15, 1991.

Marty Jannetty vs. Pat Tanaka

From MSG and Mr. Fuji is here with Tanaka. Jannetty circles him to start until a Fuji distraction lets Tanaka get in a kick to the back. A right hand sends Tanaka outside and he comes back in, only to get knocked outside again. Back in and Fuji offers a distraction and Tanaka…does nothing. Tanaka yells at him so Jannetty hits him in the face and adds the jumping back elbow.

Back up and Tanaka sends him into the corner for a crash into the post, putting Tanaka in control for a change. The headbutt between the legs has Jannetty in more trouble but Jannetty is back with a knockdown and rollup for two each. Tanaka hammers him down again but Jannetty reverses into an Owen Hart piledriver (and a scary one at that) for the pin at 10:54. Mooney: “What a tremendous win for Shawn Michaels’…..partner Marty Jannetty.”

Rating: C+. The ending was scary but the rest of the match was fine enough, as the Rockers and the Orient Express always had good chemistry together. That was on display again here, as you had two talented wrestlers getting to do their thing. The fans only cared so much, but how much were they supposed to get into a match like this one in MSG?

Elizabeth calls Savage so he wraps up the tape and seems to make dinner plans.

Overall Rating: C+. This was a VERY mixed bag with all kinds of stuff, but it could have been so much worse. They had a nice variety going here and it’s still interesting to see what was going on without Hogan around for a change. The tape isn’t great by any means and there are some weak spots, but that tag match is awesome and there was enough going on here to keep me more than interested for almost two hours.

 

 

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