WWF Coliseum Video Collection: WrestleFest (1993) (Version II)

WWF Coliseum Video Collection: WrestleFest (1993)

Coliseum Video compilation. The front cover of the tape features Big Boss Man, and promises do-it-yourself car repair tips from Bobby Heenan, as well as a Tito Santana/Repo Man match. Not exactly putting their best foot forward there

The theme for this one is that Gene Okerlund and Bobby Heenan are on a road trip together in Gene's Lincoln Town Car, when the car breaks down on the side of the road. Well, it is basically a glammed up Ford, what do you expect? Heenan notes that he isn't a mechanic, but he can probably fix it because he's 'seen mechanics work before' - though his expertise is such that he tries opening the hood by fiddling with the hood ornament. Okay, this has potential

WWF Tag Team Title Match: Money Inc v The Nasty Boys: A dark match from a TV taping on December 15 1992 in Madison Wisconsin. Big brawl to start, dominated by the challengers. Dust settles on Ted DiBiase and Jerry Sags in the ring, with Sags dominating, but missing a charge, and getting his arm snapped across the top rope. Money Inc take turns working the arm, but DiBiase misses and elbowdrop, and Brian Knobbs tags in. Now the Nasties take turns working Ted's arm, but they go too far by trying to rub his face into their armpits, and Irwin R. Schyster comes in to save. He tags in, but loses a battle over a hammerlock with Knobbs, so he moves on to using a cheap shot on Sags to turn things around. The champs dump Sags to the outside for some abuse, and they cut the ring in half on him. Sags fights off a double team in the corner to allow the tag back to Knobbs, and he comes in hot - Roseanne Barr the door! The Nasties clean house, so Money Inc decide to walk out on the match, but the referee pulls the old bit where he threatens to strip them of the title if they don't beat the count back in. I have such a love/hate relationship with that. So, of course, they come back, and the Nasties destroy them, but Sags gets caught in the Million Dollar Dream. He looks finished, but Knobbs saves, and Jerry manages to drop DiBiase with a facebuster. That allows another hot tag, and Sags goes up with a flying elbowdrop on IRS, but DiBiase saves at two. That gets him clotheslined over the top by Knobbs, so Ted comes back in with one of the title belts, and knocks Sags out behind the referee's back - allowing Irwin the pin at 13:23. Far too long, basically competent. ¾* (Original rating: ¼*)

Crush v Papa Shango: From Prime Time Wrestling on October 26 1992 (taped October 12) in Saskatoon Saskatchewan Canada (the same taping where Bret Hart won his first WWF Title). Shango attacks from behind, and sends Crush into the corner with a turnbuckle smash, followed by a headbutt. Crush fights back with a backbreaker, and a superkick sends Papa to the outside for some brief stalling to break the momentum. He comes back in calling for a test-of-strength, which Crush dominates, so Papa throws a cheap shot to turn the tide. Crush escapes with a monkeyflip, and adds a clothesline, but a stinger splash misses, and Shango chops him down. Papa works Crush over, but he misses a legdrop, and Crush capitalizes with a bodyslam and a legdrop of his own. Clearly, with Hogan on hiatus, it was open season on legdrops. Crush with a 2^nd rope flying clothesline for two, and a leg-feed enzuigiri follows. Big boot knocks Shango over the top, and when he marches back in, Crush simply clotheslines his ass over the top a second time! Ha! The referee gives him shit about it, but Shango doesn't need the official to fight his battles for him - shooting Crush in the face with his sparkler voodoo stick for the DQ at 6:44. That must be a very specific type of voodoo stick to shop for at the voodoo supply store. Not much, but not terrible. ½* (Original rating: DUD)

Big Boss Man v Rick Martel: From Prime Time on September 21 1992 (taped September 1) in Hershey Pennsylvania (same show where Ric Flair defeated Randy Savage to win his second WWF Title). Martel complains of hair pulling right from the get-go, so Boss Man decides to mess up his hair in response. Now that's the real crime! Martel flips out, and goes to town in the corner, but a cross corner whip gets reversed, and Boss Man hiptosses him. Rick bails, so Boss Man chases, and sends the Model into the apron while forcing him back inside, where Boss Man works the wrist. Boss Man controls, but misses an avalanche, and Rick puts the boots to the ribcage. Boss Man sure spits a lot while selling, doesn't he? Rick goes up, but Boss Man crotches him, and backelbows the Model to grab control of the contest. Boss Man takes him on a tour of the ring with turnbuckle smashes, so Martel grabs his canister of Arrogance, but Boss Man grabs his nightstick to counter, and we have a standoff! The referee warns them to drop their weapons, but neither man complies, so the officials disqualifies them both at 6:04. DUD (Original rating: DUD)

Back on the side of the road, Bobby is employing his mechanical skills by tapping on various parts of the engine with a tire iron. Amazingly, this does not get the car running

Earthquake v Repo Man: TV taping dark match on November 24 1992 in Dayton Ohio (one night before Survivor Series '92). There's no way my childhood self would ever believe Repo was the same guy as Smash. He really did a good job of dramatically changing his entire appearance. I mean, he even looks smaller! He also did a great job of changing it up again when he showed up in WCW, though less dramatically. Earthquake throws him around to start, and hits an avalanche, but telegraphs a backdrop, and gets pounded. Repo hits a 2nd rope flying clothesline, followed by a legdrop for two. He grabs a headvice to wear Earthquake down, but a flying clothesline fails to connect, and Earthquake hits a scoop powerslam. Elbowdrop follows, and the Earthquake Splash finishes at 4:21. This turd actually made the cut for not one but TWO Coliseum releases! DUD (Original rating: DUD)

WWF Intercontinental Title Match: Shawn Michaels v Virgil: From Prime Time Wrestling on November 30 1992 (taped October 28) in Louisville Kentucky. This is actually taped the day after Shawn won the title, but it hadn't aired yet. Shawn notes that he feels like a zookeeper with his opponents on this tape, so its nice to get to defend against an actual human. Feeling out process to start, with Virgil taking control after winning a criss cross, and using an inverted atomic drop and a dropkick for two. Shawn pokes him in the eyes and unloads in the corner, but misses a charge, and Virgil hits a 2nd rope flying bodypress for two. Rollup, but Michaels blocks, and drills him with the superkick! Virgil sells it like death, but it doesn't even warrant a cover, since this is still 1992. Standing dropkick connects, and he snapmares his challenger down for a chinlock. Virgil escapes and hooks a backslide for two, but Michaels quickly cuts him off with a clothesline, and adds a vertical suplex. Michaels with a series of jabs, but he telegraphs a backdrop, and gets matslammed. That allows Virgil to make a comeback, and his own series of jabs gets two. 2nd rope flying clothesline gets two, but a cross corner high knee misses, and the Teardrop Suplex finishes at 7:09. The editors must have loved this match, because it was featured on multiple Coliseum releases. This was different than the first couple of featured matches, with Michaels dominating the bulk of the match, as opposed to pinballing around the ring. ** (Original rating: ¼*)

Undertaker v Berzerker: Dark match from a TV taping on June 1 1992 in Hamilton Ontario Canada. I remember thinking Undertaker's entrances took forever back in the mid-90s, but he's practically the Ultimate Warrior compared to what his WrestleMania arrivals clock in at these days. Berzerker jumps him before the bell, but Undertaker shrugs him off, and corners him with a choke. Berzerker fires back with a dropkick to send 'Taker over the top, but Undertaker lands on his feet, and sweeps Berzerker to the floor as well. Undertaker rams him into the steps a couple of times before bringing things back inside, where he ends up missing a jumping clothesline. That allows Berzerker to knock him back to the outside with a jumping shoulderblock, and he repays 'Taker with a couple of trips into the steps out there. Not satisfied, Berzerker whacks him with a chair as well before heading back in, where he misses a big boot. That allows Undertaker to chokeslam him, but an elbowdrop misses, and Berzerker dumps him again. He follows to choke 'Taker with some cable on the floor, and adds a bodyslam in the aisle, but Undertaker barely acknowledges it. Back in, Berzerker dodges a charge in the corner, and drops 'Taker with a one-handed bulldog, but that doesn't get him anywhere either. Berzerker decides to tie 'Taker up in the ropes to hammer on, but ends up getting backdropped over the top on a charge, and Undertaker rams him into the steps a few more times out there. In, Undertaker tries a backdrop, so Berzerker counters with a piledriver, but 'Taker sits up. Berzerker responds with a second piledriver, but 'Taker just keeps coming. Third piledriver finally quells the sit-up, so Mr. Fuji decides to pass him a sword to plunge through 'Taker's heart, but Undertaker fights that off with a jumping clothesline, and the Tombstone finishes at 7:42. A lot better than you'd expect, and actually better than any of 'Taker's more high profile matches from the period. * ¾ (Original rating: *)

Back out on the road, Heenan (now covered in grease) still hasn't been able to get the Lincoln running, despite removing ‘unnecessary’ parts, like the fan belt

Irwin R. Schyster v Jim Duggan: From Prime Time Wrestling on July 29 1991 (taped July 9) in Edmonton Alberta Canada. It's like they're going out of their way to get stuff off of Canadian tapings for whatever reason. Kind of a weird pairing for a Canadian show too, considering both guys' gimmicks. IRS at least tries to make some Canadian specific tax threats before the match, but it's negated by having American flag waving Duggan coming out to shut him up. Would it have killed them to book a Canadian in the role? Duggan, completely lacking self awareness as usual, even starts a 'USA' chant. Lots of stalling from Irwin early on, as Duggan dominates their limited exchanges. IRS finally takes a cheap shot to gain control, and he puts the boots to Duggan ahead of a sleeper. Jim escapes, and starts pounding IRS in the corner, then uses the tie to whip him around ahead of a 3-point stance. That knocks Irwin to the outside, but he sweeps Jim out with him, and the resulting slugfest ends in a double countout at 8:01. As I noted in my original review, this match was in the can for a long while before this tape was released, and I have no idea why they felt the need to dig it up to showcase. DUD (Original rating: ¼*)

Six-Man Tag Team Match: Repo Man and The Nasty Boys v Tito Santana and High Energy: From Prime Time on August 17 1992 (taped July 21) in Portland Maine (same taping as the ladder match demo between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels). It's kind of weird that they're showcasing the Nasties in both heel and face roles on this tape. Brian Knobbs jumps Koko B. Ware before the bell, and pounds him. He misses a charge, however, and Ware drops him with a hip attack, before tags are made to Repo and Tito. Santana blocks a sunset flip, then passes over to Owen Hart for a flying axehandle. He works a wristlock, so Repo goes to the eyes to escape, and passes to Jerry Sags. Hart out moves Sags, so Knobbs pulls down the top rope during a criss cross, and Owen takes a spill over the top to the outside. Knobbs is quick to add a beating out there before rolling Owen in for Sags to hit with a sidewalk slam for two. The heels go to work on Owen, but Repo misses a charge in the corner, and Tito gets the tag! He blasts Sags with a jumping forearm right away, triggering a brawl, and Roseanne Barr the door! Sags eats another forearm, but Knobbs breaks up the pin, and Repo comes in with a weapon - causing a DQ at 7:35. Nothing crazy, but peppy, and short enough that it didn't overstay its welcome. * (Original rating: DUD)

Randy Savage v Terry Taylor: From Prime Time on December 14 1992 (taped November 23) in Erie Pennsylvania. This was taped just a couple of days before Survivor Series, though it aired well after. Savage is wrestling like Bret Hart or Ricky Steamboat here, dominating with armdrags and armbars to start, which is weird to see from him. Taylor decides to get aggressive, but mixing it up with the Macho Man proves a mistake, and Terry ends up getting clotheslined over the top. Randy dives after him with a flying axehandle, but Taylor swipes at him with a gutpunch, and he drops Savage on the floor with a bodyslam. Back in, Taylor hits a chincrusher, followed by a backbreaker for two. Terry with an atomic drop for two, and a dropkick is worth two. Taylor argues the count, allowing Macho to hook a schoolboy for two, and he adds a sunset flip for two before Terry cuts the comeback off with a punch to the throat. Sleeper is applied, but Macho drops into the corner to escape, so Terry uses a rotating spinebuster for two. Another dropkick, but this time Savage is able to dodge, and Randy hooks a small package for two. Taylor tries to cut him off with a hiptoss, but Randy counters with a backslide for two, so Terry clobbers him with a clothesline for two. Taylor pounds him down in the corner, and uses a bodyslam to set up a 2^nd rope pump-splash, but Macho lifts his knees to block, then dives at Terry with a hangman's clotheslines. Randy mounts a comeback, hitting a flying axehandle for two. Atomic drop into a side suplex gets two (nice combo), and a bodyslam sets up the Flying Elbowdrop for the pin at 9:44! Savage went out of his way to make Taylor look like a threat here, which no one else bothered to do during this stint in the promotion. Randy was also FEELING IT here, putting in tons of effort, and doing all sorts of stuff you didn't see from him very often. This was especially refreshing to watch after recently covering a lot of his 1995/1996 WCW run, where he was almost always on autopilot in the ring. *** ¼ (Original rating: ***)

Back out on the road, Bobby continues to tinker with the engine, finding a hamster in there, but the car still isn’t fixed

WWF Intercontinental Title Match: Bret Hart v Kamala: Dark match from a TV taping in Huntsville Alabama on August 10 1992. Bret tries a waistlock out of the initial lockup, but gets dropped into the corner. That allows Kamala to try an avalanche, but Bret dodges, and grabs a wristlock. Bret stays on the arm for a bit, so Kamala calls for a test-of-strength, but Bret anticipates the cheap shot, and stomps on his challenger's bare feet. Bret starts unloading shots to the belly, but runs into a chop while trying a series of shoulderblocks, and Kamala grabs a bearhug. Bret bites his way free, so Kamala spinkicks him down (and not a nice one, either), then latches on with the titty twister nervehold. That goes on for quite a while, until Hart escapes and hits a Russian legsweep for two. 2^nd rope flying clothesline gets two, and a monkeyflip sets up a 2^nd rope pointed elbowdrop. Sharpshooter, so Kim Chee runs in, and that's a DQ at 10:08. Beat for beat the same match they had on Smack 'Em, Whack 'Em (when Bret was WWF Champion), only a slightly different finish. ¼* (Original rating: ¼*)

Razor Ramon v Tito Santana: From Wrestling Challenge on November 1 1992 (taped October 13) in Regina Saskatchewan Canada (same episode/taping that Money Inc beat the Natural Disasters to win their second WWF Tag Team Title). Razor disrespects him with the toothpick at the bell, earning him a blitz from Santana. Ramon ends up on the outside as a result, then in an armbar when he rushes in at Tito. Razor powers out, so Santana dropkicks him, then armdrags him right back into another armbar. Razor escapes with a bodyslam, but can't hit any of the three elbowdrops he tries as a follow-up, and it's back to the armbar. Razor slugs free, so Santana tries a bodypress, but gets dropped across the ropes with a hotshot. That allows Ramon to take control of the contest, and he works an abdominal stretch. Tito reverses, so Razor hiptosses him, and slaps on a bearhug. Santana escapes with a sunset cradle for two, and he drives Razor into the turnbuckles with a series of smashes. Monkeyflip follows, but Ramon manages to block, and the Razor's Edge finishes at 4:42. Very basic, but totally competent. * (Original rating: DUD)

Loser Leaves Town Match: Ric Flair v Mr. Perfect: From Monday Night RAW on January 25 1993 (taped January 18) in New York. They size each other up a bit to start, each trying to get a psychological edge at the bell. Perfect manages a drop-toehold, and then gets in a cheap shot before Flair can do it do him first, and Ric bails to the outside to regroup. Back in, Ric tries a hammerlock, but Perfect reverses, so Ric tries a drop-toehold into a front-facelock, but Perfect counters right back to the hammerlock. Flair gets annoyed and throws an elbow to shake him off, then tries cracking him with chops in the corner, but Perfect turns the tables! Flair is very cautious from there, trying to avoid getting grounded by Perfect. He goes to the eyes to take control, and immediately capitalizes by tossing Perfect over the top, but the referee prevents him from using a chair out there. Back in, Ric cross corner whips Perfect, with Perfect taking a great bump over the top off of it. Wow, for a guy with a bad back, he wasn't shying away from that one. In, Ric unloads in the corner, and this time Perfect is battered enough that Flair is able to get some traction. Another cross corner whip triggers a somersault sell from Perfect, and it looks like he's busted open! Flair goes back to the well with another cross corner whip, but Perfect reverses this time, and somersault cradles him for two. Ric throws a right hand downstairs to try and cut Perfect off, but a hiptoss is countered with a backslide for two. Perfect with a corner whip to setup a backdrop, and Flair is actively begging off, but Perfect ignores him with a ten-punch count in the corner! Ric gets out of it with an inverted atomic drop (triggering an uncharacteristically subdued sell from Perfect), and a schoolboy gets him two. Perfect fires back with a vertical suplex for two, so Flair goes downstairs, and grabs a sleeper! Perfect manages to drop into the turnbuckles before he fades, so Flair whips him into the ropes for another sleeper, but Perfect reverses before Ric can apply it! He gets Flair down to a horizontal base right away, but Ric fights free with a side suplex. It's weird how few actual pin attempts have been made thus far. Figure Four is successfully applied, with Ric using the ropes for leverage, but he gets caught. A lot of damage has been done though, and Ric pounds the knee. Snapmare sets up a trip to the top, but Perfect slams him down, so Flair pulls out an foreign object, and knocks his former executive consultant out. Not exactly a golden parachute, is it? Ric adds an elbowdrop, but Perfect has a foot in the ropes at two. Flair responds by hooking the leg, but Perfect still kicks out at two, so Ric decides to punish him by hammering on his cut. Into the corner for chops, but Perfect responds in kind, and he backdrops the Nature Boy! Perfect with a corner whip to flip Flair onto the apron, so Ric hustles to the top rope - only to get nailed coming down for two. He begs off, and tries a leveraged pin as Perfect advances, but gets busted by the referee - allowing Perfect to counter into a cradle for two. Ric tries a backdrop from there, but Perfect counters with the Perfect-Plex, and we're done at 23:00. Still really great, but felt like it never quite got to that next level, and the finish was totally uninspired. *** ¾ (Original rating: *** ½)

Back out on the road, Heenan's automotive skills have resulted in duo resorting to hitchhiking, but when a car finally stops, Gene hops in and leaves Bobby stranded

BUExperience: The skits with Okerlund and Heenan could have carried this, but they were too few and far between, and the matches really weren’t holding up their end. Back in the day, this might have been worth hunting for at local video stores to see the Flair/Perfect match that you couldn’t anywhere else, but considering it’s now widely available on various DVD releases and on the WWE Network, it’s not really worth sitting through the rest of the tape for anymore. There’s also a lot of recycling of matches available on other, superior Coliseum releases here, so unless you really want to watch a good Savage/Taylor match, or see Undertaker put on his working boots during the zombie era, this isn’t a good addition to your Coliseum collection.