WWF Superstars (October 24, 1992)

Original Airdate: October 24, 1992 (taped September 21)

 

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

 

Gene Okerlund brings the Ultimate Maniacs out to talk Survivor Series, and once again, would it have killed them to use a different color scheme than red and yellow? But it's kind of fitting, because this promo feels stuck in the past, doing all the over the top babbling that worked in the 80s, even though audiences had moved on, and were connecting with more grounded stuff by 1992

 

Crush v Ken Johnson: Vince comparing Crush to a gazelle is a weird choice. Perfect is STILL listing off excuses for Ric Flair losing the title to Bret Hart, because he's awesome. Crush split screens in to hype up Survivor Series, but he hasn't actually got a match, so he just talks about Flair/Razor v Mega Maniacs. That's sad. And then he never made it onto the card anyway, getting stuck with Repo Man in the dark match. Head vice finishes at 2:10. DUD

 

The Natural Disasters v Bill Jordan and Tom Stone: The WWF Tag Team title is not on the line here. Vince notes that next week the Disasters will defend the belts against the top contenders. We still don't KNOW who those top contenders are, however, since apparently Jimmy Hart hasn't finishing making his Sophie's Choice yet. Tidal Wave/Earthquake Splash combo finishes at 3:14. No wonder they took the belts off these two balloons, they're just unbelievably dull as babyfaces. They were a much better fit as heels. DUD

 

Jim Duggan wants you to express one of America's greatest freedoms. Oh, he's talking about voting. I thought it would be something about hitting people with 2x4s. That's disappointing

 

Nailz v Scott Zappa: Nailz looks like a real Homer. Once again, Nailz dumps the jobber to the outside so he can play Scooby-Doo with Big Boss Man, and once again Boss Man doesn't show up. But Nailz hangs around for so long that Undertaker shows up for his match. Meanwhile, Zappa just hangs around at ringside like a dork, as if this match is still going to happen. No wonder you're a jobber, Scott. So Undertaker gets in Nailz's face, but new troubleshooter Sgt. Slaughter comes in to prevent them from going at it, and Nailz leaves. Nailz better watch his step. Last time Undertaker randomly crossed paths with a guy on his way to the ring it was Kamala, and now he's literally trying to bury him alive. This segment was nothing special, but it's probably the most exciting thing that's happened on these squash-fest episodes in weeks

 

Undertaker v Jason Helton: Helton tries a sneak attack, but Undertaker is all riled up from the Nailz confrontation, and finishes him with the Tombstone at 0:43 - Undertaker never even removing his coat. DUD

 

The Beverly Brothers are still making ultra-polite invitations to High Energy

 

The Bushwhackers make less polite work of nursery rhymes

 

Vince announces that the Nasty Boys have been named the top contenders, and will challenge the Natural Disasters next week. And they're really fucking excited about it

 

Rick Martel v Butch Banks: Perfect able to tie literally anything into a conversation about Flair is also awesome. Rick is working a really weird match this week, doing all kinds of leg submissions, and finishing with the Boston Crab at 2:20. Nothing special, but I appreciate when guys switch it up a bit instead of just sleepwalking through their squashes. Also, love how all the kids used to run to the guardrail as soon as the matches would end (to try and slap hands with the wrestler), never really understood why that went away around the Attitude Era. ¼*

 

Gene is in the studio with the Survivor Series Report. He announces Davey Boy Smith defending the Intercontinental title against Mountie this time out. They've announced four matches so far, and literally only one of them actually happened. Ah, but then he announces Bret defending the WWF Title against Shawn Michaels, so I guess 2/5. Also, of five matches announced, only one traditional Survivor Series Elimination match thus far

 

Papa Shango v Victor Reed: Perfect is predicting that Shawn picks up the title at Survivor Series, which apparently is Flair's Plan C. That would be quite a plan. Oddly, even with Bret now the champion, they're still pushing the issue with Shango. I thought they dropped that immediately, but I guess not. They did face off on Saturday Night's Main Event before Survivor Series, but luckily that was the end of it, and they didn't really play up the voodoo stuff. Inverted shoulderbreaker finishes at 1:34. Referee Bill Alfonso has the weirdest count I've ever seen. DUD

 

Skinner is on the hunt. On the hunt for c... championships

 

Tatanka stands for all Native American Indians, and he wants to earn their respect. Maybe earn it BEFORE you go around saying you speak for them?

 

WWF Tag Team Champions the Natural Disasters are ready for the Nasty Boys next week

 

Jimmy Hart pops in to announce that it will not be the Nasty Boys, but in fact will be Money Inc challenging right here next week

 

BUExperience: Good episode this week. It felt like there was lots going on, and it flew by.