WWF Mania (May 1, 1993)

Original Airdate: May 1, 1993

Your Host is Todd Pettengill from the studio

Back on Superstars, Raymond Rougeau introduces Bam Bam Bigelow, but Sensational Sherri crashes it, wanting to rant about Luna Vachon. Bam Bam objects, but Sherri backtalks him, so Bigelow gets physical. That draws Tatanka out to make the save, and Bam Bam takes a nice bump off of the platform during the pull apart brawl

Tatanka v Steve Vega: From the April 24 Superstars (taped April 6) in Tucson Arizona. No match, as Tatanka gets jumped by Bam Bam Bigelow backstage, and Bigelow chops off some of Tatanka’s red streaked hair as payback for earlier. Savage seems to think some major line has been crossed, and anyone who remembers the similar Andre the Giant angle certainly knows how serious Vince would think this is

Lex Luger v Crush: From the April 26 RAW in New York City. Crush tries to overpower him in the early going, so Luger calls for a test-of-strength, and wrenches him down. Crush responds with a press slam, which is just weird to see someone do to Lex Luger. Lex doesn't know what to make of it either, and bails up the aisle for a while to regroup. Back in, Crush dropkicks him out of a criss cross, and hits a pair of armdrags ahead of a wristlock. Luger tries a hiptoss, but Crush counters into a belly-to-belly suplex for two - only to miss a cross corner charge, and get kicked out of the ring. Luger follows with an axehandle off of the apron, and then scoops him up for a ram into the post. Inside, Lex hugs him like a bear, and hits a powerslam for two. Vertical suplex, but Crush reverses, and then adds a side suplex. Bodyslam and a legdrop get two, so Crush slaps on the Kona Crush to finish, but ends up getting distracted by Doink out in the crowd. Crush takes his attention off of Luger to shout at Doink, and gets blasted with Luger's loaded forearm smash - Crush counted out at 13:00. Well, you knew that finish was coming, given how strongly both guys were getting pushed at this point. They'd do this again plenty of times when the heel/face roles were reversed later, but I think this is the only time I remember seeing them go at it in these gimmicks. Fun power match, too. * ¾

Everyone on set is terrified because Luna Vachon is scheduled to make an appearance, leaving Todd to have to go to her dressing room to find her. He claims to be unafraid, but then Luna pops out of the bathroom, and he nearly collapse

Razor Ramon v Allen Reid: From the April 25 Wrestling Challenge, taped April 5 in Phoenix Arizona. Reid looks and dresses like Virgil, but he’s an even bigger jobber, somehow. The announcers think Ramon will go far in the King of the Ring tournament, which is actually a good prediction, though he ended up jobbing in the first match. Razor’s Edge finishes at 2:08. Razor continues to look like a star, and it was inevitable that he’d get a babyface turn and Intercontinental title run soon. DUD

And now, one of the cheesiest segments in WWE history, as some little girl whose school Randy Savage adopted (oh lord...) wrote an essay on the dangers of drugs. So, we get the kid reading the essay, on a totally black stage with a solitary spotlight, since OH MY GOD. Oh, and then at the end, the light pans over to show that the Undertaker is standing next to the girl, and glaring at her, to illustrate that drugs will kill you.I mean, they had me at 'Randy Savage adopts a school,' really

The Steiner Brothers v Reno Riggins and Billy Jones: From Superstars. Despite Money Inc’s focus being on Hogan and Beefcake, the announcers are clearly building up the Steiner’s as the next challengers, and obviously that’s where all the booking was headed at this point. I’m kind of surprised they even aired that weird promo. Vince notes that Steiner squashes are really fun to watch. Yeah, to watch. Not for poor Reno and Billy. Frankensteiner finishes Riggins at 3:59. The usual Steiner brutality here. ¼*

Back in the studio, Luna arrives, fuming at Pettengill for coming into her dressing room earlier. She has a point. He didn’t even knock, and then started going through her purse while she was in the bathroom

King of the Ring ad

Mr. Hughes v Jason Knight: From RAW. Hughes just unloads on poor Knight with forearms, and slams him, as Bobby Heenan sets up another TV above his monitor to see what else is on, and ends up watching the 'Baby Got Back' music video. Where's Jerry Lawler when you really need him, right? Meanwhile, Hughes hits a backbreaker, follows with a big boot, and finishes with a scrapbuster at 2:07. DUD

Smoking Gunns vignette

This past Monday on RAW, Bobby Heenan finds a couple in the front row, where the gentlemen (who looks like a cross between Kevin Smith and Bill Cosby) surprises his gal with a proposal. Heenan laying into them (“how many men have you been with before him?”) is always hilarious, though

Todd wraps up, announcing that the King of the Ring tournament is officially underway, with Qualifying matches beginning on Superstars and Wrestling Challenge this weekend

BUExperience: This was generally fine, though I thought Todd seemed too sleepy this week, and Luna is one of my least favorite characters, so it wasn’t the best.