WWF Superstars (March 27, 1993)

Original Airdate: March 27, 1993 (taped March 8)

From North Charleston, South Carolina; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon, Randy Savage, and Jerry Lawler

Crush v Lee Armstrong: Weird set up this week, with the video wall kind of sitting smack in the middle of the aisle, and mostly blocking the actual entrance. Doink the Clown pops in on the split screen, promising a big surprise for Crush at WrestleMania. Bigger than ripping his arm out and beating a guy with it? Because that was pretty unique. Crush with the headvice at 1:55. DUD

WrestleMania the Music Video. It’s the classic WrestleMania theme (second version), mixed in with various wrestlers cutting promos, and then a rap verse, because 1993. Kind of weird that it’s ‘WrestleMania’ the music video, and literally starts by saying that it’s time for Survivor Series. I love the classic WrestleMania theme on its own, but this mangled version is not the best. I would have loved it as a kid, though

Jim Duggan is in the lumberyard, and sick of sitting around feeling sorry for himself - he’s getting back into shape, and coming for revenge on Yokozuna. Too bad his character was already so tired by this point - he would have been a better fit for the big patriotic push than Lex Luger. Though, I don’t think that would have worked with anyone in 1993

The Headshrinkers v Unknown and Unknown: That’s not a gimmick, they just didn’t name the two jobbers in there tonight. The Steiner Brothers split screen in, noting that it’s obvious that the Headshrinkers aren’t concerned about hurting their opponents in the ring, but that’s right up the Steiner’s alley. I’ll say. Fatu with the flying splash at 1:49. ¼*

Bam Bam Bigelow is excited about his WrestleMania match, since he’s a beast, and Kamala’s a beast, so it’s ‘beast versus beast,’ and apparently that’s a big deal. Kamala responds by moaning a bunch. Good to know where his head’s at

WWF Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels is going to beat Tatanka with the power of abject racism

Yokozuna attacked WWF Champion Bret Hart during their contract signing for WrestleMania (which actually didn’t air until the March 28 episode of Wrestling Challenge), and destroyed him with a Banzai Drop. Bret does this wonderful sell job afterwards, where he fights to get up, only to fall at Yokozuna's feet. I know everyone’s kind of sick of how overused contract signings are in wrestling these days, but they are very effective when used sparingly

The Nasty Boys v Duane Gill and Barry Hardy: Vince grills Savage over how he’s going to tackle Yokozuna after seeing what kind of damage he can do at a simple contract signing. Well, maybe he’ll try to knock him over the top rope, and assume that wins him the title? No wonder Lex Luger was so confused at SummerSlam - Savage was in his corner! He probably put that crazy strategy in his head. Jerry Sags with the flying elbowdrop at 2:10. Short Nasty Boy matches are the best Nasty Boy matches. DUD

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

Gene Okerlund is in the studio with the WrestleMania IX Report. There are t-shirts and caps! 

Lex Luger v Kevin Neal: Vince can’t stop talking about Luger’s body, so Savage quickly tries changing the subject to the vestal virgins that will be at WrestleMania, but McMahon quickly changes it back. Good thing Luger left by 1996, I can’t even imagine what Vince would sound like calling a match between him and Shawn Michaels during that period. Mr. Perfect split screens in with a nothing promo on Lex, and Luger finishes Neal with a running forearm smash at 1:43. DUD

Bob Backlund is excited about his ‘great opportunity’ against Razor Ramon at WrestleMania. Apparently Razor has had a lot of things ‘handed to him all his life,’ while Bob has had to work hard. Wait… what? Razor’s whole gimmick is that he pulled himself out of the gutter, likely through some sort of illegal drug business. Hardly the path of least resistance

The Headshrinkers are hungry

Crush is auditioning for 50 First Dates

BUExperience: Things were strictly in cruise control this week, just cruising towards WrestleMania. I imagine next week’s show will have some real hard selling, though.