WWF Mania (July 10, 1993)

Original Airdate: July 10, 1993

Your Hosts are Todd Pettengill and Randy Savage from the studio

Men on a Mission v Barry Hardy and Duane Gill: From Wrestling Challenge on July 4 1993 (taped June 14) in Columbus Ohio. This is MOM's debut, and the crowd is into the singalong, at least. Bobby Heenan’s take on Mabel’s gear (“if you sew nine pairs of pants together, it’s a pair for Mabel”) is pretty funny. I never really thought about it before, but yeah, why did his gear look like a quilt? Mabel draws a huge pop for his spinheel kick here, and a gourdbuster from Mo sets up a 2nd rope splash from Mabel at 2:32. This was actually a good debut showing, with MOM looking strong and energetic, and the crowd buying the act. ½*

Back in the studio, Savage wants to play with all the electronics

Undertaker v Samu: From Monday Night RAW on July 5 1993 in New York City. The idea here is that Undertaker lost the urn to Mr. Hughes, and doesn't have Paul Bearer with him, so he may be vulnerable. Samu doesn't know quite what to make of the 'Taker, so he tries punching, but that goes nowhere. Shoulderblocks go nowhere, but then Samu finds his weak spot: poor wrestling skill, as 'Taker messes up a leapfrog, and goes down like a ton of undead bricks. 'Taker no-sells, and takes him down with a drop-toehold, so Samu bails to the floor to regroup with manager Afa. 'Taker stalks him out there, and inside, actually busts out a dropkick. WHAT?! Samu is confused as well, and rolls back to the floor to get himself together. I, unfortunately, have no such luxury, and must sit through this with a vertical smile on my face. Inside, 'Taker hits the ropewalk forearm, but a jumping clothesline misses, and Samu rams him into the post and steps on the floor. Inside, another criss cross goes off without a hitch, and Samu powerslams him for two. Bodyslam, but 'Taker sits up, so Samu clotheslines him over the top - 'Taker landing on his feet. Inside, Samu tries a sidewalk slam and a falling headbutt, but 'Taker sits up again. Flying headbutt seems to work, so he goes for a second, but 'Taker sits up to dodge it, and chokeslams him - finishing with the Tombstone at 9:20. Not a great match, but much better than I expected, and good effort. *

Last week on Superstars, Boni Blackstone brought Bret Hart out for an interview, and I’m honestly surprised she was still around. She really made no impact at all in her time in this promotion. Bret wants to move on to calling Lawler the ‘Dairy Queen,’ though that one never quite caught on

Back in the studio, Randy Savage wants to show off posters of ‘American hero’ Lex Luger. This has to be the most abrupt babyface turn I’ve ever seen in my life

Bam Bam Bigelow v Rudy Gonzales: From Superstars on July 3 1993 (taped June 15) in Huntington West Virginia. I’m surprised Vince would allow there to be two Gonzales’ like that. He could have at least brought in Koko B. Ware, or something. Even in, like, a backstage role. Like, ‘Vice President Koko,’ or whatever. Okay, I’m done. Bigelow is busy blowing kisses at Luna, and misses an avalanche, allowing Rudy some fire, but it doesn’t burn long. Bam Bam with the flying headbutt drop at 2:42. Dull squash. DUD

Back in the studio, Savage lets Todd wear his sunglasses. Randy was really the only one who could pull off his gear

Last Sunday, on the deck of the USS Intrepid, Lex Luger defended the honor of America by bodyslamming WWF Champion Yokozuna to win the Stars and Stripes Challenge. “Yokozuna faced the greatest American athletes in this country,” notes Todd

Mr. Perfect v Brian Costello: From the July 5 episode of RAW. Perfect with a side-headlock, but Brian wants to criss cross, so Perfect dropkicks him. Chopfest goes Perfect's way, and the Perfectplex finishes at a brisk 0:56. DUD

Back in the studio, Savage is teaching Todd to chop people

Mr. Hughes v Mike Collins: From the July 4 episode of Wrestling Challenge. The announcers are all worked up about how Undertaker threw a dropkick against Samu, so clearly Hughes is fucked now. Hughes with a scrapbuster at 1:34. ¼*

At the Stars and Stripes Challenge, both WWF Tag Team Champions The Steiner Brothers failed to slam Yokozuna

WWF Tag Team Title Match: The Steiner Brothers v Barry Horowitz and Brian Costello: From the July 3 episode of Superstars. The usual, ending with the Brothers delivering the flying bulldog combo at 2:22. ¼*

Last Monday on RAW, Vince McMahon brings Yokozuna and Mr. Fuji out for a ringside interview, where Fuji let's us know that Lex Luger achieved NOTHING yesterday, since it was a mere hiptoss. McMahon wonders if they will grant Luger a shot at Yoko's WWF Title, but Fuji says no, since he's a cheater with a loaded forearm. Hey, guy has a point. Before he suddenly decided he was an All-American patriot, Jack Tunney was on him for that exact thing. Anyway, Fuji says Lex is shit out of luck, but Yoko will defend the title against anyone else, anytime. Crush comes out to accept that challenge, for next week

BUExperience: This felt like kind of a letdown, with very little actual coverage of the Stars and Stripes Challenge that they’d been hyping forever, and even less on Lex Luger’s new babyface role. 

I also wasn’t a big fan of Savage as a co-host, but watching him crack Todd up enough to get him to break character was consistently fun.