WWF Mania (March 13, 1993)

Original Airdate: March 13, 1993

 

Your Host is Todd Pettengill. Todd’s excited because it’s his tenth anniversary as a broadcaster, and he’s in a celebratory mood. Kind of a weird thing to get excited about considering he’s only been in this particular promotion for a couple of months. Also, that would have made him, what, sixteen years old when he made that broadcast? And, even weirder, his Wiki bio says he started broadcasting at age thirteen, so even that doesn’t make sense

 

Speaking of not making sense, here’s a promo from Hulk Hogan and Brutus Beefcake! Hulk is coming off super tryhard here. The bloom was definitely off the rose at this point, and jumping to WCW was a fantastic career choice for him, especially with the deal he was able to get there

 

The Steiner Brothers v Dan Farren and White Shadow: From the March 7 episode of Wrestling Challenge, taped February 16 in San Diego California. The announcers put over the ‘big renovation’ going on at Caesars Palace in preparation for WrestleMania IX, which is a very diplomatic way of saying that they’re putting bleachers in the parking lot, apparently. To be fair, they did a great job, the venue looked great, and was probably the best part of the show. Speaking of WrestleMania, the Headshrinkers split screen in to hype up their match with the Steiner’s, as the Brothers put Farren away at 3:12. The actual Dan Farren this time, not Beau Beverly under a mask, for those keeping track. ¼*

 

And now, a message from Randy Savage and the Reverend Jesse Jackson. They’re putting a headlock on hunger! It’s the right thing to do! I wonder if Jackson ever got offended when Caucasian Randy kept throwing around the word ‘brother,’ as he tends to do

 

Jim Duggan is basically blaming the fans for getting wrecked by Yokozuna a few weeks ago. And kind of pointing the finger at his pregnant wife, too, while he’s at it. All kidding aside, it’s too bad we never got to explore a heel Duggan character in the WWF. He was looking more out of place by the day in 1993, and it might have been an interesting change for the character

 

Back in the studio, Todd thinks Duggan should be proud of what he did, and not making excuses. But he doesn’t want to offer any commentary, since that’s ‘not what he does on this show.’ What?! That’s literally ALL he does on this show!

 

Mr. Perfect v Rick Martel: From the March 1 episode of Monday Night RAW (taped March 1) in New York. Martel with a standing side-headlock out of a lockup, but a criss cross goes Perfect's way with a hiptoss, and he bodyslams him. Martel quickly returns fire in kind, and they end at a stalemate. Back to the collar-and-elbow, and Martel hides in the ropes as Perfect tries to take control. They work a nice sequence where Martel uses a cartwheel to annoy Perfect during a criss cross, and Perfect does the same in return - complete with kiss blowing. Rick rakes the eyes, and blasts Perfect with a knee in the corner, followed by a Northern lights suplex into an armbar. Perfect reverses, so Martel tries a go-behind, but ends up getting knocked over the top for his efforts. Rick hammers the back on the way back in, and hits a gutwrench suplex for two. Reverse chinlock, but Perfect powers out - only to walk into a kneelift as he comes out of the ropes. Martel with a backbreaker, but a slingshot splash hits the knees, and he hits both versions of the atomic drop. Cross corner whip sets up a backdrop, and we go to commercial... coming back with the match already over. We take a look back, and it was Perfect with the Perfect-Plex at about 10:00. Afterwards, Perfect brings out the two RAW Girls Martel disrespected earlier to set up a gang bang for later. Kinda weird they had to clip the ending (it's a taped show!), but solid back-and-forth stuff otherwise. * ¾

 

Back in the studio, Todd apologizes for the match getting cut off by commercial, which is pretty stupid considering they could just show the full match if they wanted to. Why take the time to apologize for something that you can easily control/do differently?

 

WrestleMania IX Report, with Gene Okerlund. Boy, they’re going all in on the theme as the selling point for this thing

 

Todd suggests that Razor Ramon should shave his pubes. No, really

 

Razor Ramon v Brian Boyer: From the March 6 Superstars (taped February 15) in Long Beach California. Lawler tries to play up the possibility that Brutus Beefcake will turn on Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania, which may be the only time in history that Hogan actually had a best friend who didn’t turn on him. Or, well, in the WWF at least. Also kind of funny hearing Jerry talk about how Hulk might be betrayed/taken out by a close friend just before the show, considering he had falling out with both the King’s co-hosts before the year was out. Razor’s Edge finishes at 1:54. “He has the gold around his neck, but not around his waist” notes Vince, before comparing him to Mr. T. DUD

 

Todd wonders if he can put the Mania logo on the ass of his toga for WrestleMania. Well, that would certainly be fitting. And speaking of the Mania logo, Todd shows off his brand new business card, which actually has ‘Host with the Most’ as his official title

 

Monday Night RAW ad

 

Todd catches up on the latest WWF Magazine, since “we don’t do subtle on this show.”

 

Doink the Clown is ready to take the smile off of ‘stupid pineapple head’ Crush’s face at WrestleMania. He was super sinister here, and I really wish this version of the character lasted longer, and/or existed in a different era where the more adult aspects could be properly explored

 

Crush v Damien Demento: From Fayetteville North Carolina on March 7. Demento is all about that bass at the bell, and tries pounding Crush into the ropes, but loses a criss cross when Crush throws a dropkick. Demento tries recovering with a wristlock, but Crush fights him off, and uses a series of takedowns ahead of a toehold. Demento bails, and tries a cheap shot on the way back in, but Crush puts him back down with a belly-to-belly suplex for two. Demento goes to the eyes to allow him a DDT, and that’s enough to get Crush’s attention. Elbowdrop connects for two, and a jumping shoulderblock is worth two. Demento works a chinlock, but Crush fights free, and delivers a backbreaker to kick off his comeback. Press-slam and the headvice finish at 7:40. Crush was sleepwalking through this one. ½*

 

Todd gets the poor hacks working in the studio to sing to him, and they get him a slice of pizza to celebrate his anniversary. A single slice of pizza is literally the most appropriate thing I can think of to celebrate Pettengill’s contributions to broadcasting

 

BUExperience: I continue to love this show, despite knowing better.