WWF Superstars (November 6, 1993)

Original Airdate: November 6, 1993 (taped October 20)

From Burlington, Vermont; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler

Jacques v Rick Steiner: Tatanka is now out of Survivor Series due to the beating he took from WWF Champion Yokozuna and Ludvig Borga last week. Jacques slaps him across the face, and then immediately bails, but then just runs back in and gets press-slammed. Not really the best with the ‘strategy,’ is he? Rick with an atomic drop and an overhead suplex, and he slaps Jacques around, so Johnny Polo distracts him. That allows Jacques to attack, but a criss cross ends in Steiner powerslamming him. Rick adds an elbowdrop for two, so Pierre shows up at ringside for another distraction. That allows Jacques a high knee to send Steiner to the outside, and Polo is waiting with a cane shot out there. Cue Scott Steiner to chase Polo and Pierre away, but the damage is done, and Jacques has control. He holds an abdominal stretch, and a clothesline gets him a two count. Chinlock, but Rick fights free, so Jacques delivers a hotshot for two. Piledriver, but Steiner counters with a whiplash, though he’s too battered to immediately capitalize. That allows Jacques a headlock, but Rick manages to whip him into the ropes, and they collide for a double knockout. Jacques gets up first, and goes upstairs, but Rick knocks him off before he can dive. That allows Steiner a proper comeback, and the flying bulldog puts it away at 7:21. This was a fine little match, though I’m surprised they jobbed Pierre so decisively. Like, not even a heel interference backfiring, Rick just made his comeback, and pinned half of the tag champions clean. **

Joe Fowler is in the studio with Face to Face, with guests WWF Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon and Irwin R Schyster to hype up Survivor Series

WWF Unbelievable ad

Adam Bomb v Rich Myers: Bomb has switched from Johnny Polo to Harvey Wippleman as his manager here, which they never really properly explain. Would it have killed them to come up with something, it’s not like Bomb had much going on, maybe it could have given him some intrigue. Adam with a powerbomb at 1:08. DUD

Marty Jannetty comes out for his segment, but Bomb is still hanging around in the aisle, and they get into a fight. Boy, they used that booking device a ridiculous amount during the fall of 1993. It’s a good way to quickly put two guys into a program, but you can’t do it literally every week. Control yourselves!

Todd Pettengill is in the studio with the Survivor Series Report, and I’ve never been happier to see him. Fowler just doesn’t have it like Todd does. Pettengill could be silly, but he always made shows sound important. And this card needs all the help it can get, let me tell you

Crush v Gary Jackson: Crush is looking pudgy here. And seeing him in the new gear, and accompanied by Mr. Fuji must have been really weird for the live crowd, considering the heel turn hadn’t actually aired yet when this was taped. Crush with a press-drop across the top turnbuckle for the pin at 2:31. Crush still needed to settle into his new role at this point, but I appreciated how much he differentiated himself from his babyface character. His gear, his moveset - it’s all new, which is much better than, like, when Tatanka turned heel the following year, and changed nothing about his act. DUD

1-2-3 Kid v Tony DeVito: Apparently we’re getting Jannetty/Bomb later on, which means we’re getting two star/star matches on the same episode? What is this, Christmas? Kid with a flying twisting bodypress at 1:52. ¼*

Jeff Jarrett vignette. It’s interesting that he throws out threats at Razor Ramon, 1-2-3 Kid, and Mabel, because that ended up being exactly who he’d face on pay per view for all of 1994 and into ‘95 

The Headshrinkers v Greg Hatfield and Cohito: Doink the Clown appears on the video wall to taunt the Headshrinkers here, and it looks like Matt Bourne is officially gone now. Fatu quickly recovers from the distraction, delivering a flying splash at 0:58. DUD

Fowler is in the studio with another Face to Face, with guest Jim Cornette, who mocks Tatanka’s injury

Marty Jannetty v Adam Bomb: Marty charges in to kickstart the match, but gets clobbered. Bomb tries an elbowdrop, but Jannetty dodges, and he hammers Adam ahead of a flying clothesline for two. Bomb fights him off, so Jannetty uses an atomic drop for two, and he keeps the big man grounded in a front-facelock. Bomb powers him onto the top rope to force a break, but Jannetty uses his speed to get away. Bomb responds by clobbereing him with a clothesline, and he dumps Jannetty to the outside for Wippleman to abuse. That draws Kid out to watch Jannetty’s back, so Bomb drags him into the ring, and decks him for the DQ at 2:48. Jannetty and Kid go to work on Adam after the bell, but Rick Martel makes the save. Diesel quickly joins him out there, so Razor comes down to even things out again.  ½*

BUExperience: Even though this featured a rare two star/star matches, I found this one pretty underwhelming.