WWF Superstars (December 18, 1993)

Original Airdate: December 18, 1993 (taped December 1)

From Utica, New York; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon and Stan Lane

Bam Bam Bigelow v PJ Walker: Vince announces that both Bret Hart and Owen Hart are confirmed for the Royal Rumble, but that Lex Luger has thus far been denied entry. I get that the angle they were going for was that Luger’s deal for SummerSlam ‘93 stated that he wouldn’t get a rematch (and thus shouldn’t qualify for entry into a top contender’s match, if we’re following that logic), but who's to say that Yokozuna will even be WWF Champion by then? I mean, he’s already signed to defend against Undertaker at the Rumble, not to mention that he’s a walking heart attack. Just saying, they’re kind of counting their chickens before they hatch there. And, at least Vince makes that same point (minus the heart attack part). Bigelow with a slam at 2:18. This was a pretty competitive squash. ¼*

Earlier this week, Vince sat down with Bret Hart to discuss Owen’s challenge last week, and the Hitman is pretty broken up about it. Great realism from Bret here, just responding like a human being, not a cartoon character. Bret notes that, while he’d never back down from a challenge under normal circumstances, there’s no way he’ll ever fight his own brother

1-2-3 Kid v Duane Gill: Weird setup in the building this week, as they left the protective glass for hockey up. Maybe they were just being extra Covid safe? At least it looks like a proper arena though. Kid with a flying twisting bodypress at 1:59. Kid continues to do a good job of working like an underdog within these squash matches. ¼*

Jim Ross is in the studio for Face to Face with guest Paul Bearer, who again sells us the Big Lie: Undertaker has never lost a casket match. He also fat shames Yokozuna a little by noting that Undertaker is building a double deep, double wide casket just for him. Meanwhile, Jim Cornette and Mr. Fuji aren’t worried about the casket, because Yoko is going to break Undertaker into so many pieces that Bearer can carry him out in that urn

Jeff Jarrett v Chris Duffy: This is Jarrett’s TV debut, though he’d already taped other matches for later airing episodes of RAW and Wrestling Challenge before this. Jarrett with a jumping DDT at 1:46. I like Jarrett, both as a gimmick and as a worker, but this definitely wasn’t the most exciting of debuts. DUD

Gorilla Monsoon is in the control center with Update, as apparently Irwin R Schyster has confiscated Razor Ramon’s gold chains for back taxes

Crush v Ross Greenberg: All the jobbers this week are getting a surprising amount of offense in. I’m guessing there was some directive from the top to make the matches more competitive, or something? Because it’s a noticeable difference. Crush with a legdrop at 2:39. DUD

Thurman Plugg vignette

Todd Pettengill is in the studio with the Royal Rumble Report, complete with Undertaker’s workshop, which is another of my earliest wrestling memories. Also, we learn the real motive behind the Luger angle, as there’s a pay hotline you can call to ‘convince’ President Jack Tunney to allow Lex into the Rumble match

Razor Ramon does an anti-smoking PSA

The Steiner Brothers v Brooklyn Brawler and Tony DeVito: The guy they pick to do the guest ring announcing actually has a tremendous voice, and could easily be an actual ring announcer. The Brothers with a combo at 2:55. The Steiners looked disinterested here, and watching this, it’s not shocking that they were ready to leave the promotion. DUD

Ross is in the studio for another Face to Face with WWF Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon. Ross with more blatant bullshit, as he notes that Razor has a sentimental attachment to the Royal Rumble show, since he debuted at one. That’s not even kinda true. Meanwhile, Shawn Michaels clarifies that, if it comes down to he and Diesel at the Rumble, he’ll do what he has to do

BUExperience: Not much this week, but getting more Rumble direction is welcome, and the Hart brothers angle continues to be a highlight, even if there isn’t a lot going on yet.