WWF Mania (August 28, 1993)

Original Airdate: August 28, 1993

Your Hosts are Todd Pettengill and Randy Savage from the studio

Razor Ramon v Barry Hardy: From the August 22 1993 (taped July 27) episode of Wrestling Challenge in Plattsburgh New York. Commentator Gorilla Monsoon makes fun of Razor for still taking time to threaten the ring attendant. “He knows, Razor, he knows!” That’s pretty funny. This is a pretty small building, giving us a 1993-1995 staple: the regular sized overhead banners that look comically oversized. Razor’s Edge finishes this paint-by-numbers squash at 2:00. Ramon was really just going through the motions with this one. DUD

Back in the studio, Savage has disappeared, so Todd goes looking for him, but ends up in Jim Ross’ office, where Jim is negotiating an appearance from Jim Cornette for Radio WWF’s debut episode 

Todd promotes some interactive game… that you play via your phone on the hotline. And you thought mobile games were a money pit

WWF Intercontinental Title Match: Shawn Michaels v Bob Backlund: From SummerSlam Spectacular on August 22 1993 (taped August 16) in Poughkeepsie New York. Shawn with a bodyslam right off the bat, and he struts around off of it. Another one, and he keeps gloating, as his poor tights struggle to keep his chub covered up. Bob returns fire with a pair of hiptosses and his own bodyslam, followed by a backslide for two, and Shawn wisely bails. He goads Backlund into chasing him so he can get the high ground, and the champ takes over on the way back inside. Bob does some great selling here, as Shawn pounds on him. Michaels with a flying axehandle ahead of a front-facelock, but Backlund powers him onto the top turnbuckle to escape, and uses a backdrop as an enraged champ charges. Bob with a dropkick and a neckbreaker for two, followed by a hanging atomic drop - complete with nice oversell from Michaels. Diesel distracts the referee to prevent a count, however, allowing Shawn to hook a really awkward looking cradle at 6:27. Not a lot to this one. ½*

Gene Okerlund is in the studio with the SummerSlam Report

This week’s Trivia question: who were Andre the Giant’s two tag partners at SummerSlam ‘89. Savage is so perplexed that he has to wander off again

The Quebecers v Dan Dubiel and Scott Despres: From the August 21 1993 (taped July 26) episode of Superstars in Utica New York. Vince is shocked at how many of the wrestlers want to sing these days. Well, considering how low the payoffs were apparently getting, can you blame them for looking for outside gigs? The Quebecers with their usual array of interesting combos, ending in the assisted flying somersault senton splash at 2:14. ½*

From the August 21 Superstars, Boni Blackstone brings Bret Hart out, and he’s going to beat some respect into Jerry Lawler at SummerSlam

Ludvig Borga v Bert Centeno: Also from the August 22 episode of Wrestling Challenge. I don’t know why everyone hates on Borga. He’s not particularly good in the ring, but he wasn’t any worse than a lot of the other guys from this era, and he was fine as a midcard heel threat. Borga with a jumping clothesline at 2:26. DUD

Ad for Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, where WWF Champion Yokozuna will appear live this Monday. They made him do that in New York on Monday morning, then get to Detroit in time for SummerSlam? He’s 500 pounds! Give him a break!

Six-Man Tag Team Match: Tatanka and The Smoking Gunns v Brooklyn Brawler, Barry Horowitz, and Reno Riggins: Also from SummerSlam Spectacular. Billy Gunn starts with Barry, and they trade hammerlocks. Barry takes a cheap shot, but loses a reversal sequence, and eats a boot to the skull. Tag to Reno, but he runs right in for an overhead armdrag from Billy, and it's over to Bart for a hiptoss. Tag to Brawler, but Bart is ready with a drop-toehold, and it's over to Tatanka for a flying tomahawk chop. Powerslam follows, and it's back to Billy to work a wristlock, but Brawler whips him into the heel corner to escape. That allows Barry to come in with a bridging northern lights suplex for two, and Brawler adds a neckbreaker for two. They cut the ring in half on Billy with quick tags, until Reno loses a criss cross, and there's the hot tag to Tatanka - Roseanne Barr the door! It's chops galore, and the Gunns get rid of Barry and Brawler with stereo dropkicks, leaving Reno for Tatanka to finish with a flying bodypress at 6:44. This was a really weird match for the WWF, with the team of enhancement guys actually getting to work an extended heat segment, and not just getting destroyed like these things usually go. Not that the winners were ever in doubt, but still. I'm honestly surprised they didn't throw at least one name guy out there to lead the team, because as noted, this was not at all standard operating procedure for the WWF. **

Back in the studio, Jim Ross is back to hype Radio WWF again. Doesn’t he mean podcast?

Todd grills Savage for the Trivia answer, but Macho stalls for time. Well, he did cut his teeth in Memphis. Anyway, the answer is Big Boss Man and Akeem

Men on a Mission and Randy Savage present a special Lex Luger tribute rap to wrap up the show

BUExperience: For a show only two days out from SummerSlam, this felt surprisingly light on hype for the top matches. Both Yokozuna/Lex Luger and Bret Hart/Jerry Lawler got some coverage, but very little, all considered.