WWF Mania (February 27, 1993)

Original Airdate: February 27, 1993

 

Your Host is Todd Pettengill, and he's so excited to be here this week that he nearly breaks his neck. Funny bit as he starts having an allergy attack, and uses a Hulk Hogan bandana as a tissue. That about says it all

 

Last Monday night on RAW, Vince McMahon brought Hulk Hogan out for an in-ring interview, and he wants Money Inc, brother! But he doesn't want them alone! He wants to share the load with his friend-to-the-end! Beefcake joins them (complete with makeup to sell the face injury), but that's not enough! How about Money Inc manager Jimmy Hart, brother?! Hart joins them as well, and they're the Mega Maniacs now, brother! Not a bad segment to get Hogan back into the mix - especially with Vince McMahon's exaggerated (almost orgasmic) facial expressions. The crowd was into him as well, but saddling him with the Beefcake/Hart stuff felt like a mistake right from the get-go. Keeping him away from the world title picture was fine, but bringing him back for a big singles feud (like, say, with Yokozuna) would have been a better use of him anyway

 

Sgt. Slaughter stops by the studio, though by the way he's looking and acting, he's more like one of those Da Bears guys from the old SNL days. Kind of funny that he's so excited about Hogan coming back, given their history

 

Repo Man v Mike Starr: From Long Beach California on February 15. Kind of weird that they're doing a Mania exclusive squash. This is the debut of Repo's new black and white gear, complete with full face mask. I've definitely never seen that before, so I'm guessing he didn't stick around much longer after this. And a quick check shows that he was out of the promotion by the end of March, so hopefully he didn't have to go into his own kick for the new gear. Repo with a half-crab at 2:30. This ended up being Repo's second to last TV appearance before leaving the promotion, and resurfacing in WCW a year later. DUD

 

Back in the studio, Todd has passed off his tissue bandana as a headband for some poor production assistant. Stop using your assistants like a toilet, they're not a bouillabaisse

 

WrestleMania IX ad

 

The Steiner Brothers v Larry Ludden and Gary Key: From the February 21 episode of Wrestling Challenge (taped January 26) in Fresno California. Gorilla Monsoon trying to make peace with Jimmy Hart's face turn is some pretty funny stuff. He just can't accept it. The Brothers already look bored with the WWF. Yeah, because God knows this sort of mainstream circus likely offended their delicate artistic sensibilities compared to the high level artistry that was early 90s WCW. They end their jobber abuse with the elevated flying bulldog combo at 2:00. ¼*

 

Sean Mooney is in the studio for a sit-down interview with Jimmy Hart, and is that literally the same set pieces as that pre-WrestleMania VIII bit with Vince and Hulk where they talked about his potential retirement? So he's a babyface now, but he's still just as annoying as he was as a heel, so don't worry

 

Lex Luger v Virgil: Also from the February 21 Wrestling Challenge. Luger's pre-match posing goes on for so long that we need to take a commercial break to accommodate it. Virgil comes out all fired up, but Lex casually shoves him around. Virgil dodges a corner charge, but Lex quickly shrugs that off, and nails him with the running forearm smash at 1:02. Anyone order the squash? Well, you can't say they weren't going in the right direction with getting Luger over in this role. Too bad they didn't have him come out and murder jobbers like that after the babyface turn too. DUD

 

Todd is so excited about baseball season that he's trying to get a game started right there in the studio. But that's nothing compared to Mr. Perfect, who has been hanging out with Wade Boggs in Tampa, and hitting homers

 

Gene Okerlund brings us the WrestleMania IX Report, and apparently Caesars Palace will be turning into ancient Rome, and there will be togas and everything, so you'd better call your local cable company right now. Also, there will be some matches

 

Six-Man Tag Team Match: Shawn Michaels and The Beverly Brothers v Tatanka and The Nasty Boys: From RAW, February 22 in New York City. Joined in progress with the heels cutting the ring in half on Brian Knobbs, until he manages to evade Michaels long enough to get to Tatanka, and he comes in hot - crotching Shawn on the ropes, and then powerslamming him for two. Series of tomahawk chops for two, and a brawl breaks out. Shawn tries the Teardrop Suplex in the chaos, but Tatanka counters into a sunset flip for the pin at 14:00. The full match was watchable, though really dull, so thankfully this was just the last few minutes. The rating represents the full match. ¾*

 

Todd notes that Shawn suffered a separated shoulder during that match, but he's not out of action, so if you're putting money down on the title match at WrestleMania, HBK is a safe bet since you know he'd be on the shelf if he had a title loss on the horizon

 

Debra Duggan (wife of Jim Duggan) is at home (which is apparently a life sized doll house, by the looks of things), and she's very concerned about Hacksaw getting injured by Yokozuna, especially since she's pregnant. I mean, if she wasn't, fuck him, let him get crushed. But with a baby on the way, she doesn't love the idea of him waging some sort of one-man war again Japan. Though, really, if your husband is walking around talking about wanting to wage a one-man war against anyone, it might be time to rethink some things

 

Todd is hungry, but all they've got is ICOPRO bars, and he clarifies that they're good if you're okay with eating anything that's not 'nailed down.' I'll take a case!

 

Yokozuna v Jesse Storm: From Fresno California on January 26. Oddly, another Mania exclusive squash. I mean I'm assuming. And I know we shouldn't do that (the whole ass/you/me rule stands), but I just don't feel like this Storm kid is going to bust a nut tonight. Apparently this taping had a dark match that saw Money Inc taking on the Hart Brothers, and how did THAT not make that Unreleased set from a few years back? Banzai Drop finishes at 1:58. DUD

 

Todd is getting all worked up about the lack of tassels on his assistants loafers, but he still invites him to dance around to Hulk's theme music to end the show

 

BUExperience: Remember a few weeks ago when Steve from Blue's Clues resurfaced, and all the 90s kids were losing their shit about it? That's kind of how a feel about Todd, and I'm enjoying his shtick much more than I really should. This is probably the most fun show for me to review, and I’m loving it.