WWF Mania (March 27, 1993)

Original Airdate: March 27, 1993

Your Host is Todd Pettengill from the studio

Mr. Perfect v Papa Shango: From Augusta Georgia on March 9 1993. The announcers have moved past being freaked out and scared of Papa, and are now openly mocking his outfit, and stuff. Shango attacks before the bell, and unloads on him in the corner, before tossing Perfect over the top. Inside, Shango tries a clothesline, but Perfect ducks him, and a dropkick sends Papa over the top. Perfect follows to hammer him out the outside, and Shango eats the steps out there. Inside for a cross corner whip, but Papa reverses, and he works a chinlock, as the announcers continue to openly make fun of him, now focusing on his face paint. I get that it was over for him as a potential star, but why turn him into a joke? He’s a big, scary looking guy - lean into that! Perfect fights out of the hold and comes back with a bodypress, followed by a somersault necksnap. Bodyslam sets up an elbowdrop for two, so Shango dumps him into the corner to buy time. That allows him a headbutt drop to the groin, but Perfect dodges, and the Perfectplex finishes at 5:52. * (Original rating: DUD)

Todd announces that the WWF is establishing a Hall of Fame, and that the first inductee will be the late Andre the Giant. This segues into a video package on Andre, which is basically just a few short clips set to piano music

Todd decides to show us his inner Robin Williams, suddenly diving into multiple voices and impressions for no reason at all

WWF Tag Team Title Match: Money Inc v Jeff Armstrong and Scott Rich: From Monday Night RAW, March 22 1993 in New York City. Ted DiBiase starts with Rich, and apparently takes offense to his name, as he slaps the shit out of him. Short-clothesline and a kneelift leave Rich staggering, and another clothesline knocks him over the top for IRS to abuse. Meanwhile, Bartlett sets up another TV on top of his monitor, and starts flipping through channels to see what else is on. Vince: “THERE IS NO COMPETITION!” Whoops! Back in the ring, the tag champs switch gears and hammer Armstrong, and IRS finishes him with the Write Off at 3:02. DUD

Gene Okerlund is in the studio with the WrestleMania IX Report. We’re in the home stretch now, and the big selling point is still the venue and togas. I like a good theme as much as anyone, and that actually did add a lot to the event, but they were really leaning into that way too hard in terms of the build up. Like, the theme and venue enhanced that show significantly, but were they really hoping people would buy a show because of togas?

Todd uses his garish 90s necktie as a crossword puzzle to make a bald joke about Okerlund

WWF Hasbro Figures ad

Todd reads a Victoria’s Secret catalog, since apparently that was appropriate office behavior in the early 90s

Owen Hart v Bobby Young: From Wrestling Challenge on March 21 1993 (taped February 16) in San Diego California. No wonder Owen’s character became so bitter, the announcers use his entire match just to talk about Bret! Or, well, 90% of the match - the other 10% is them trying to sell you WrestleMania based on the venue. Owen with a plancha and a flying bodypress at 2:42. I love Owen, but he was just completely directionless before 1994. Afterwards, Giant Gonzalez shows up to call out Undertaker again, but the Dead Man is nowhere to be seen. Kind of a weird transition there, with Giant just showing up while Owen was still celebrating, and just shoehorning his segment into this one. ¼*

Undertaker is ready to make a death march to Las Vegas to bury Giant Gonzalez. Too bad the show is in April, we missed out on some unbelievable puns

Todd hypes up the WrestleMania IX Hotline. And if that’s not enough of a ripoff, there’s also a special WrestleMania BONUS hotline. He then throws it to a Tatanka match by… doing a Nazi salute? What the heck?

Tatanka v Reno Riggins: From the March 22 RAW. Riggins jumps him from behind at the bell, but misses a backdrop, and gets chopped into the ropes. Tatanka with a backdrop of his own, so Riggins tries a sleeper, but gets dumped into the corner, and atomic dropped. Criss cross ends with Tatanka hitting a monkeyflip, and he armdrags Riggins into an armbar. Reno powers into the corner to break, but Tatanka no-sells a pair of chops, and returns fire - only to miss a bodypress off of the middle rope. Riggins goes for the kill, but Tatanka is making a comeback. Powerslam! End of the Trail! 3:30! ¼*

Last week, Todd and Randy Savage visited the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City in support of AIDS research. Randy wants to contribute to the charity, but he left his wallet in his other tights. Randy, as usual, could make literally anything entertaining. No wonder Vince thought he’d make a great commentator

Doink the Clown v Larry Sampson: From Superstars on March 20 1993 (taped February 15) in Long Beach California. Weird colors on Doink’s gear this week. Stump puller finishes Sampson at 1:37, and somehow nearly all of his makeup has melted off already, like he had just worked a thirty minute match, or something. What, was it IRS under the green wig this week? DUD

WrestleMania IX ad

Todd is doing a real hard sell for the PPV: just chanting ‘WrestleMania IX: April 4 1993’ over and over again like a mantra. Love that he straight up tells you it’s a hard sell, at least. Truth in advertising!

WWF video games ad

Bret Hart music video, set to Aretha Franklin’s Respect. Great song, but the Tom Petty one fit the character better

BUExperience: I unironically love this show.