WWF Mania (March 6, 1993)

Original Airdate: March 6, 1993

 

Your Host is Todd Pettengill. Via security camera, since he’s locked out of the building. But somehow mic’d up

 

Typhoon v Papa Shango: From San Diego California on February 16. They measure each other to start, and Papa tries to fly around with a bodypress, but gets caught in a slam for his efforts. Papa regroups on the outside for a bit, before taking a cheap shot during a test-of-strength, but a corner charge misses. That allows Typhoon to pound on him for a bit, so Papa drops him into the turnbuckles to buy time, and manages a corner splash this time around. Dropkick gets Shango two, so he tries a sleeper, but Typhoon holds on. Papa lets off, but that triggers a comeback effort from Typhoon, so Shango blasts him in the face with his voodoo stick for the DQ at 5:03. Boring AND a bad finish! And they say life isn’t fair! DUD

 

Todd, still unable to get into the building, has been reduced to hosting the show from his car. He’s like a less annoying Doug DeMuro!

 

Back on Monday Night RAW, Vince McMahon brought WWF Tag Team Champions Money Inc out for an in-ring interview, so that they can announce that they're defending the titles against Hulk Hogan and Brutus Beefcake at WrestleMania. DiBiase does have a great line in here about feeling sorry for his 'friend,' the former CEO of American Express, as his golden parachute was only for a few million dollars, and this is a guy who 'knows how to live the high life'

 

Todd arrives at WWF Headquarters (in his Porsche!) to complain about the issue at the studio, though he’d rather be at the liquor store across the street. I know 1993 WWF wasn’t exactly the glory days, but it’s Saturday at 10am!

 

Big Boss Man v Doink the Clown: This one was taped on January 26 in Fresno California, and aired on the February 27 episode of Superstars. They actually taped a match during the San Jose taping on January 25, but then it was scrapped for some reason, and re-shot the next day. And, oddly enough, they actually acknowledge that this is from a different taping, with different announcers (Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan). Doink attacks before the bell, and drops him with a neckbreaker, then chokes him down with a chinlock. Drop-toehold sets up a half-crab, and Doink shifts it into an STF. Side suplex gets two, as Heenan continues doing the 'I know him from somewhere, but can't put my finger on it' bit about Doink. Was that ever going anywhere, or was it some weird inside joke that's going over my head? Because, as far as I know, Heenan and Matt Borne didn't have any pre-WWF interactions that they're trying to reference. Doink works the arm, but a trip to the top ends badly when Boss Man slams him off, and he makes a comeback! Boss Man delivers an avalanche, so Doink finds something in his pocket, and squirts green liquid in Boss Man's eyes to blind him with it for the pin at 4:15. But then the referee sees as the green juice covering the Boss Man, and decides to reverse the decision. That's odd, considering this would be Boss Man's last TV match in the WWF until 1998. ¼*

 

Gene Okerlund is in the studio with the WrestleMania IX Report. I like how their whole selling point for this thing was ‘togas’ and ‘Yoko’s really fat.’ No wonder ‘tickets are still available’

 

Todd has found his way into a viewing room inside of HQ, where he’s watching the WrestleMania Report on, like, six TVs at once. Hey, whatever ya gotta do to boost that rating. I wonder if they tried that same trick when they were up against Nitro in '97

 

Kimchee v Jim Gorman: From the February 16 taping in San Diego. Kind of a weird choice to an exclusive match, but points to them for not just recycling squashes from Superstars or Challenge.  Kind of weird seeing Kimchee getting TV time in a wrestling capacity. I’m guessing this was supposed to be giving him some edge ahead of his house show program with Kamala. Reverse chinlock finishes at 2:50. Yes, he was too lazy to even bust out a proper camel clutch. DUD

 

Todd finds a giant WrestleMania VII poster (complete with Jay Leno jokes about Sgt. Slaughter), and it’s hard to believe that was only two years ago at this point, that show/era already feels ancient by this point

 

WrestleMania IX ad

 

WWF Title Match: Bret Hart v Fatu: From Monday Night RAW, March 1 1993 in New York City. Hart is cautious tying up, and tries a standing side-headlock, but gets whipped into the ropes, and slammed. He manages to catch Fatu with an armdrag into an armbar as he tries to follow-up, and holds onto it through another bodyslam attempt. Facebuster, but Fatu's Samoan, and pops up with a savate kick for two. Come on, Bret! You should know better. Short-clothesline for two, and Fatu slaps on a nervehold. Criss cross ends in Hart hitting a bodypress for two, but the kickout leaves him on the floor, where Samu slams him. He adds a falling headbutt and a shot into the steps for good measure, and Fatu drags him back in for a headbutt of his own. Cross corner whip and a backbreaker get two, and a pair of falling headbutts is worth two. Piledriver for two, and another cross corner whip gets two. Sidewalk slam and a 2^nd rope headbutt for two, so Fatu goes to the top for a flying splash, but Hart crotches him on the top turnbuckle, and superplexes him down for two. Bret with a bulldog for two, and a backbreaker sets up the 2nd rope pointed elbowdrop for two. Sharpshooter, but Afa pops up onto the apron to distract the referee, and Samu breaks it up with a lariat. He switches places with Fatu and covers Hart for two, then switches back to let the legal man finish. Fatu goes for the kill, but a heel miscommunication leaves Samu tied in the ropes, and Bret finishes Fatu with the Sharpshooter at 15:06. Better than I expected. Bret guided him through a nice match for Fatu (and sold well for him), and it was given enough time to properly develop. **

 

Todd happens upon Freddie Blassie’s office (Blassie has an office?), and Pettengill is blown away by all the famous people Freddie has photos on his wall with. Poor Todd just wants an autograph, but Freddie’s too busy to socialize, and boots him

 

BUExperience: Pretty fun episode this week, as Todd continues to bring a certain fun and lightness to this role that’s missing from many other wrestling productions