WWF Prime Time Wrestling (December 21, 1992)

Original Airdate: December 21, 1992

 

Your Host is Vince McMahon with a discussion panel of Sgt. Slaughter, Hillbilly Jim, Bobby Heenan, and Jerry Lawler. Bobby's immediately complaining that it's Christmas time, because everyone is 'looking for a handout'

 

Yokozuna v Kevin Krueger: From Springfield Illinois on October 26 1992. This is from the same taping as the Survivor Series Showdown, and Fuji is still in the tuxedo here, even though he'd already switched to the gi on Superstars by this point. Not surprising, considering how fat back they go with these taping cycles. By the way, that was supposed to be 'far back,' but I chuckled at the Freudian slip of 'fat back,' so it stays in. Especially while listening to Gorilla Monsoon trying to figure out how anyone could get as fat as Yokozuna is. Also, I love Gorilla, but Vince was actually much better on commentary by this point. Banzai Drop finishes at 2:05. ¼*

 

Reverend Slick testifies

 

Big Boss Man v Barry Hardy: From the December 19 episode of Superstars (taped November 24) in Dayton Ohio. Doink the Clown shows up during the bout, and ties a wire between the guardrails in the aisle, as Boss Man polishes Hardy off with the Boss Man Slam at 1:47. This idiot referee counted three despite Boss Man pretty clearly letting off the cover at two. And it's Earl Hebner, of course. Barry screwed Barry. Afterwards, Boss Man high tails it up the aisle, but gets tripped up by Doink's wire, in another prank from the clown. DUD

 

Kamala v Bill Koby: Also from the December 19 episode of Superstars. These taping cycles are so weird. I get that it was a very different time, but the idea of booking a month's worth of stuff for after Survivor Series the day before Survivor Series is mind blowing to a guy who came of age during the Monday Night Wars. And what's really odd is that this was supposedly the era when kayfabe still mattered. Kamala with the splash at 1:47. DUD

 

Rick Martel v Brian Costello: From Dayton Ohio on November 24 1992. Sitting through these tapings must have been quite a marathon for fans. I mean, it's three or four Superstars episodes of squash after squash, then a few more squashes taped for other shows, just to get a handful of star/star matches. For some reason, Lord Alfred Hayes is still putting over the 'real world champion' angle for Ric Flair here. It's been a year. He's already been WWF Champion twice. Let it go. Boston Crab finishes at 3:23. This felt endless. DUD

 

Gene Okerlund is in the control center with an update on last week’s confrontation/brawl between WWF Champion Bret Hart, Mr. Perfect, Ric Flair, and Razor Ramon on Superstars. We watch the segment over, and then get a promo from Flair and Ramon, and I don't think these two fully grasp that they can't both win the WWF Title. You'd think a Cuban would have no trouble understanding the perils of socialism. Also, interestingly, Flair refers to Perfect as 'Hennig,' which was probably a mistake, but comes off like a nice personal touch

 

Back in the studio, Jameson shows up to show off his Christmas outfit for everyone, but ends up dropping his pants. Wait, Jerry Lawler and Jameson crossed paths?! My mind is officially blown. 1992 was a weird year

 

The Nasty Boys v Chris Allen and Gus Kantarakis: From Wrestling Challenge on December 20 1992 (taped November 23) in Erie Pennsylvania. Doink the Clown is hanging out at ringside again for this one, and it's kind of shocking that after these many weeks they haven't even named him yet. Even from a kayfabe perspective, wouldn't any official inquire why there's a random clown following them from town to town, hanging around at ringside during the matches? Not even Faith No More Guy was that dedicated. Jerry Sags with the flying elbowdrop at 2:25. Afterwards, Doink offers the Nasties gifts, which turn out to be toy versions of the tag title. And the idiots actually celebrate with them. DUD

 

Damien Demento v Kerry Davis: From the December 19 episode of Superstars. Are they just going to air that entire episode here? Oddly, they tape new commentary with Monsoon and Hayes over the original with McMahon, Heenan, and Lawler for some reason. Sounds like they muted the crowd, too, but that might just be a natural reaction to Demento. Davis somehow looks even weirder than Demento, which is a high bar to clear. Demento with his stupid kneedrop finisher at 1:55. DUD

 

Bam Bam Bigelow v Mike Holland: From the December 20 episode of Challenge. Monsoon and Heenan have a funny conversation about what could possibly lead a guy to get his head tattooed. But then they stretch by trying to understand his outfit, and it's a bridge too far for them. Bigelow with a flying headbutt drop at 2:24. Bam Bam was having fun with his squashes, at least. ¼*

 

Back in the studio, the panel discussed Bigelow, and they're still all excited about the head tattoos

 

Undertaker is still cutting promos on Nailz. Why would they not edit this out? He'd already been fired, and it's not like he was still doing jobs on the house shows, or anything

 

In the studio, Mrs. Claus shows up to officially put Bobby on the naughty list, and apparently Sean Mooney is on the nice list, but his ass still ain't getting a yacht. A wise cracking, New Yorker Mrs. Claus is actually something I never knew I needed in my life

 

Tito Santana v Louie Spicolli: From Terre Haute Indiana on October 27 1992. One person in the crowd is absolutely losing their mind at seeing Santana, so clearly he earned his place on the fabled list of potential world champions. Even Gorilla thinks he has a shot at winning the Royal Rumble and going on to WrestleMania. It must be nice to believe in something. Tito with El Paso at 2:46. DUD

 

Gene is in the studio with the Royal Rumble Report. And, apparently, this time of year ICOPRO likes to bring out their balls. Well, that's festive

 

In the studio, Vince introduces us to the Steiner Brothers, making their first ever WWF appearance via satellite from Detroit. And it's already awkward as fuck, as they seem really quiet and understated here

 

Papa Shango v Marty Jannetty: From Dayton Ohio on November 24 1992. Kids are openly laughing at Shango now, so I think his chances of being a main eventer are officially over. Gorilla referring to him as the 'voodoo king' probably doesn't help matters much. Shango pounds him into the corner, but misses a charge, and Marty grabs a wristlock. Shango shakes him off with a corner whip that rebounds Marty into a backdrop, and Papa drops a pair of elbows, as the announcers talk about the Steiner's going for Money Inc's tag title. So much for the Nasty Boys. Speaking of titles, WWF Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels shows up at ringside as Marty starts making a comeback, and, of course, idiot Jannetty gets distracted. He's fifty feet away, focus on the voodoo king! Marty manages to fight Shango off with a pair of dropkicks and a clothesline to send him over the top, and Jannetty dives with a missile dropkick on the floor. But then he chases Shawn up the aisle, and gets counted out at 5:00. The match was shit, but at least it had a point. "But I'm sure Marty Jannetty is not worried about that," notes Gorilla. Well, maybe he should be! DUD

 

Razor Ramon v John Paul: From the December 20 episode of Challenge. Gorilla wonders why Ramon wears the gold out to the ring if he's so worried about something happening to it. Gorilla just ain't got no style. We're about six months into the character, and Ramon still pretty much only wears black tights with the gold vest for entrances at this point. The character got a lot more fun once he started switching it up with all the wild colors shortly after this. He definitely had that bad ass red outfit by the Royal Rumble. Razor's Edge finishes at 2:46. DUD

 

In the studio, Heenan is all but guarantees that Razor will win the WWF Title from Bret Hart at the Rumble, citing that Bret is overworking himself with the constant defenses and charity events. But then Mrs. Claus shows up to give him a Jameson coffee mug to ruin his day, which he responds to be trying to straight up sexually assault her. Well, no wonder he's on the naughty list

 

On Superstars, Joe Bevins brings out 'Santa's little helpers,' in the form of the Bushwhackers dressed as Santa Claus. This was pointless

 

Bob Backlund v Skinner: From Springfield Illinois on October 26 1992. Bob actually gets a good reaction here. They trade off on the mat to start, dominated by Backlund, so Skinner stalls. Bob gets control with an atomic drop, but Skinner counters with a rollup, though the idiot referee doesn't even count. Not that it would have been a pinfall, but at least give the man his due. Reversal sequence ends in Bob looking a bridging rollup, and this one the official does count at 3:42. This sucked. It was mostly stalling, and even when they were engaged, it was awkward as hell. DUD

 

Money Inc v Chris Hahn and Laverne McGill: From the December 19 Superstars. The WWF Tag Team title is not on the line here. Jerry Lawler also officially adds himself as an entrant to the Rumble match. Hahn looks like a dead ringer for Brian Christopher, so are we sure he's not an illegitimate son of the King's? Doink shows up in the crowd, messing with some fans, as they continue slow building the hell out of this character. The Nasty Boys split screen in to continue doing their jilted tag team thing, as I continue to not care. Million Dollar Dream finishes at 2:27. DUD

 

Crush v Dark Destiny: From the December 19 Superstars, only with Monsoon and Hayes doing new commentary. Destiny does a great job of selling for Crush, even taking a bump to the outside off of a punch at one point, and then taking another one off of just getting pressed back into the ring. This is some Mr. Perfect level shit. Headvice finishes at 2:50. This jobber really understood what it meant to be an enhancement talent. ½*

 

Back in the studio, Heenan is denying all accusations from Mrs. Claus

 

Undertaker v Duane Gill: From the December 20 episode of Challenge. They're still pushing Undertaker/Nailz for the Rumble, hucksters that they are. And not even just in passing, they're pushing it hard. The announcers debate what might be in the urn, with Gorilla noting that 'obviously' it's someone's ashes. Well, if it's so obvious, stop wondering. Tombstone finishes at 1:52. Gill could always be counted on to go out and bump around for a guy. ¼*

 

The Headshrinkers v Matt Williams and Dave Morgan: From the December 20 Challenge. Morgan looks like he's been going to the same barber as Damien Demento. And speaking of weird looking people, Doink is clowning around in the crowd again during this one. Samu with the flying headbutt drop at 1:55. I'm honestly surprised he was allowed to do that considering it was Bigelow's finisher. Which is probably why that didn't happen again much after this. DUD

 

Back in the studio, Heenan is still fuming about Mr. Perfect, as Vince announces that Prime Time is on the way out, as starting on January 11 it will be replaced by some new show called Monday Night RAW. Kind of funny that Slaughter and Hillbilly are all excited about it compared to Heenan and Lawler, though Bobby and Jerry definitely got the better end of that deal

 

WWF Champion Bret Hart is sharing a candy cane with Santa Claus

 

BUExperience: I don’t have a ton of experience with Prime Time, but man, were they all this boring? Even though it’s mostly the same matches as Superstars and Challenge, it doesn’t have the same mojo as those shows. Plus, it’s twice as long. But, well, it certainly does a good job of making you feel like you really were at one of those marathon tapings, I suppose.