WWF Superstars (October 10, 1992)

Original Airdate: October 10, 1992 (taped September 21)

 

From Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon and Mr. Perfect

 

Gene Okerlund opens in the control room with a Survivor Series Report, announcing the main event as WWF Champion Ric Flair teaming with Razor Ramon against the newly formed Ultimate Maniacs. Hearing him talk about the deep friendship between Randy Savage and Ultimate Warrior is pretty funny, considering they were literally just at each other's throats a few weeks ago

 

Razor Ramon v Steve May: Razor pops up on the video wall before the entrances to talk shit about the Macho Man. He did 'quiet menace' very well. Vince getting indignant at Ramon threatening the ring attendant is pretty funny. He did not do 'moral righteousness' very well. Razor's Edge finishes at 2:29. And then he probably stole May's red/white/blue wristbands in anticipation of the Lex Luger push for next summer. Now THAT'S foresight. ¼*

 

Max Moon v Jerry Fox: Fox looks like an scrawny Orlando Bloom. So, after just a couple of appearances as 'Comet Kid,' he's Max Moon now. Not sure why they felt the need to make the change - not like 'Max Moon' us a particularly great name that would have been a shame to waste. Perfect gets in a funny line about how Moon must be from 'some other country, or something,' drawing silence from Vince. Rolling fireman's carry slam finishes at 2:35. Moon was actually doing some really flashy stuff, but he wasn't connecting with the crowd at all. The gimmick is just too goofy. It's also interesting that Paul Diamond (playing Moon) hasn't really adjusted to working babyface yet, so he's still doing hair pulling, and stuff. ½*

 

The Beverly Brothers are throwing out challenges. Very polite challenges. "High Energy, anytime you want to step in the ring with us... just let us know." Polite, sure, but a 'please' would have been nice

 

Crush is still impressed that he's from Hawaii

 

High Energy v Brian Jewel and Ken Johnson: Well, jewels and johnsons do generally go together, yes. I do hope High Energy RSVPs to the Beverly Brothers' challenge in a timely manner. Koko B. Ware pretty much does all the stuff Max Moon was doing earlier, with Perfect even giving the same compliment for his dropkick. Meanwhile, Vince announces that Sgt. Slaughter has been appointed as a 'trouble shooter' to make sure the rules are properly enforced. What was with enforcing rules in 1992? Did Vince turn on WCW one day and think, 'you know, that Bill Watts is onto something'? Bearhug/missile dropkick combo finishes at 2:55. The squash wasn't bad, but the team has no direction, so this didn't really go anywhere. ¼*

 

Ultimate Warrior is on the cover of the new Superstars Magazine, and inside, Big Boss Man is very excited to learn his own name

 

Nailz v Eric Freedom: Parading around with a name like 'Freedom' must be like waving a red flag in front of an ex-con. And then Vince makes that same point, which makes me feel, at least, 65% less cool. Nailz dumps the jobber over the top, and grabs the microphone so he can call out Big Boss Man. Boss Man doesn't show, but Nailz was super creepy here, and at least it felt like they were finally moving the angle along a little. And then we just throw it to Sean Mooney, so I assume it's a countout win for Nailz at around 2:00. DUD

 

The Bushwhackers sing nursery rhymes, and apparently want to do some day drinking

 

Repo Man impresses me with his vocal range. Seriously, it's like the polar opposite of Demolition Smash's gravel

 

Lance Cassidy v Tom Stone: This is Cassidy's debut, as Steve Armstrong came in doing a cowboy gimmick. And he's still got the Young Pistols gear, though thankfully without the Confederate flags. Sadly, the crowd ignores him, as there's something going on near the entrances (off-camera and unacknowledged) that distracts them. Cassidy with a flying bodypress at 3:30. Cassidy didn't look bad (dull, but not bad), but he'd be out of the promotion entirely within a few months. Interestingly, even with the thin roster, they didn't stick him in the Royal Rumble. Even Max Moon got one PPV payday. DUD

 

Sgt. Slaughter is waiting at the podium as the bell sounds, promising to enforce the rules, and restore law and order. I'm guessing his entrance off-camera is what distracted the crowd during the Cassidy match

 

Vince narrates a video package on the career of Bob Backlund. McMahon goes out of his way to put him over, though only succeeds in making him sound like a real old timer. It doesn't help that Backlund himself sounds like he's plotting a murder. And the dullest murder in history, no less

 

Kamala v Kevin Krueger: And speaking of outdated wrestlers, here's Kamala, who's basically the same age as Backlund, though they don't market him as an extraordinary 'comeback case.' Undertaker appears on the video wall to taunt Kamala before the bell, allowing the jobber to attack from behind. Sadly for Kevin, he gets quickly pounded down, and a splash finishes him at 1:19. Afterwards, Paul Bearer wheels the casket down, sending Kamala running into the crowd in fear again. DUD

 

Survivor Series ad

 

Bret Hart v Bill Jordan: Bret is on the cover of the latest WWF Magazine, though the feature article is about the stupid Papa Shango curse deal. Thankfully they went in a different direction with him soon after. Bret with the Sharpshooter at 3:09. I always liked how Bret would work more aggressively after losing a title (most notably in early 1995), in a nice touch of realism. ¼*

 

Rick Martel is looking for a job on Broadway

 

WWF Intercontinental Champion Davey Boy Smith seems to get blown up just cutting a promo. What Bret got out of him at SummerSlam is looking more and more miraculous by the minute

 

Backstage, Kamala is still running around in a state of terror

BUExperience: Still nothing going on this week, but at least we have a little direction for Survivor Series.

I have a feeling next week’s show will be much more exciting, though.