WWF Superstars (December 25, 1993)

Original Airdate: December 25, 1993 (taped December 1)

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

Vince and Stan interview Bret Hart and Owen Hart over the video wall, and they’ve apparently put their differences aside, and decided to join forces to go after the Quebecers for the WWF Tag Team gold. Owen’s subtle jabs at Bret throughout the interview are marvelous 

Shawn Michaels v Phil Apollo: Shawn is still carting around that bogus Intercontinental title here. We’re at the end of 1993, and Michaels still hasn’t switched to the hearts from the cow splotches yet. He definitely had them by WrestleMania, so the switch must be coming soon. Shawn with a flying twisting fistdrop at 2:58. I think that may be the only time Michaels used a flying fistdrop in his post-Rockers run. ¼*

Jim Ross is in the studio for Face to Face with guests WWF Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon and his Royal Rumble challenger Irwin R Schyster. Odd that they’ve mostly abandoned the dueling promos by this point, and just do two separate promos with no interaction instead

Men on a Mission v Iron Mike Sharpe and Mike Bell: Seeing MOM gets Vince hyped about Christmas, I’m assuming because both guys are dressed like wrapping paper. Men on a Mission with a combo at 2:48. DUD

Ludvig Borga v Tatanka: From Monday Night RAW on December 20 (taped November 29) in White Plains New York. This is the rematch, from when Borga ended Tatanka's undefeated streak, and put him out of action before Survivor Series. Tatanka with a series of chops to knock Borga into the corner for a ten-punch count right away, and another tomahawk knocks him out of the ring. Tatanka is right on top of him with a whip into the post, and back inside for a bodyslam. Flying bodypress gets two, but a criss cross backfires, as Borga clobbers him. Ludvig unloads on him with body shots, and hits a cool looking bodypress against the turnbuckles. Powerslam gets two, and a bodyslam sets up an elbowdrop - only for Tatanka to roll out of the way! Series of clotheslines draw Yokozuna and Mr. Fuji down, but Tatanka keeps it together with a powerslam. To the top, but Fuji whacks him with the flagpole, and we have a disqualification at 4:44. Afterwards, Yokozuna goes for the kill, but Lex Luger runs in to save - slamming the big guy. Nothing match, but Tatanka looked super motivated. ½*

Adam Bomb v Brian Walsh: Lane ‘hopes and prays’ that Bomb will be in the Royal Rumble match. That seems almost blasphemous on such a major holiday. Bomb with a powerbomb at 3:37. Walsh was never going to be a star in any major promotion, but boy, he was a great enhancement guy, selling and bumping like a maniac. ½*

Kwang vignette, continuing the long, great tradition of non-Asians playing Asians in pro-wrestling. Which is really odd considering there’s no shortage of actual Asian professional wrestlers out there

Doink the Clown v Reno Riggins: We get the fan guest ring announcer deal here, as Doink and Dink come out with gifts for kids in the crowd. Doink with the Whoopie Cushion at 2:28. I’m assuming Doink ended up with messed up ankles later in life, the landing on that move always looked brutal. DUD

Todd Pettengill is in the studio for the Royal Rumble Report. Todd seems extremely excited about Greg Valentine ‘making his return’ to the WWF, so now you know when you see that ‘1’ pop up on the board on Family Feud, it’s Todd

Irwin R Schyster v Ralph Mosca: Mosca manages to knock IRS out on the post, allowing him to steal Schyster’s briefcase, and he hears something rattling around inside. Assuming it must be Razor Ramon’s chains, Mosca tries opening it up, but Irwin recovers, and knocks him silly. Schyster with a butterfly suplex at 2:16. What’s up with all the random finishers this week? ¼*

Ross is back for another Face to Face with guests Crush and Randy Savage. Why does Ross keeping referring to the Rumble as a ‘battle royal like’ environment? The Crush/Savage program remains strong, though not having any direct interaction with these promos is a minus

WWF Tag Team Champion Jacques is out for revenge on Lex Luger for knocking Pierre out of Survivor Series. Meanwhile, Luger just threatens to do the same thing to him. Which is apparently what America is ‘all about.’ Yeah, pretty sure that’s in the Bill of Rights

BUExperience: A very breezy episode. These are just so easy to watch.