WWF Superstars (December 4, 1993)

Original Airdate: December 4, 1993 (taped November 10)

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

Ludvig Borga v John Paul: Vince is all worked up about Christmas this week, which is kind of weird, considering it’s still, like, a month away. What is he, a department store? And speaking of department stores, Paul looks like he shopped at the same one as Ric Flair. Borga with a torture rack at 2:15. ¼*

Gorilla Monsoon is in the control center with Update, and his subject today is the Hart brothers squabble. We get clips from Survivor Series, with Owen’s elimination, and wow, the Coliseum Video came out only two weeks after the pay per view? Was that standard practice for the time? It feels like a really quick turnaround, I remember it always felt like a really long wait until those would come out. I remember in particular that I couldn’t wait to rewatch Survivor Series ‘94, and that the wait for that one felt like an eternity

Bob Backlund v Iron Mike Sharpe: Vince notes that Stu Hart is likely ‘very upset’ about what’s going on with Bret and Owen, though based on everything I’ve read about him over the years, I doubt he even noticed. Bob with a cradle at 1:39. DUD

The Headshrinkers v Greg Hatfield and Todd Mata: Lane isn’t a bad commentator, but he has no chemistry with Vince at all. I liked his work much better when he was just shooting the shit with Gorilla. I don’t remember if he ever worked with Jim Ross, but that combo probably would have been okay as well. Regardless though, Jerry Lawler is missed here. Fatu with a flying splash at 2:04. DUD

Jim Ross is in the studio for Face to Face with guests WWF Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon and Diesel, building up the storyline with Shawn Michaels’ claim to the title

1-2-3 Kid v Glen Ruth: The kid who gets the guest ring announcer gig is given an (adult sized) Lex Luger t-shirt, and Vince is really, really excited for him. I dunno, kid looks like he’d prefer a Bret Hart shirt. And not just because Bret is awesome, but that Luger shirt is bland as hell. Kid with a flying bodypress at 2:05. ¼*

Jeff Jarrett vignette

Diesel v Frank Kanyak: Diesel has gets no reaction at all here, making it all the more astounding that he reached the heights that he did by the end of the following year. Diesel with a sidewalk slam at 1:09. Not that it was the missing puzzle piece, or anything, but adding the powerbomb as his finisher was definitely a huge step in the right direction for this character. DUD

Undertaker offers kids a meet and greet if they drink and drive 

Men on a Mission v Steve Smith and Gus Kantarakis: Vince is, of course, very excited about the size of Mabel. Well, at least he’s consistent, you know? MOM with a splash combo at 2:10. Men on a Mission were never ‘good,’ but they were at least energetic enough at times. ¼*

Royal Rumble ad

Reo’s Roundup with Reo Rogers, and guest Shawn Michaels. Reo is such a dud of a gimmick, and so annoying, that the commentators talk over him just to spare us. Mighty kind of them. Shawn is carrying around his version of the Intercontinental title here (and doing his very best Ric Flair impression with his promo), so Razor Ramon comes out to stake his claim, and they do some verbal sparring. Not the best segment, but they’re doing a good job of getting the angle across

Marty Jannetty v Reno Riggins: They do a nice exchange on the mat early on, as Lane talks about looking forward to a ‘very scientific match,’ as if this is going to be anything more than a very quick squash. Marty with a flying fistdrop at a very scientific 1:33. DUD

Ross is back with another Face to Face with guests Jim Cornette and Mr. Fuji to discuss Tatanka’s return on next week’s shown. Fuji just standing there and grinning through it all is proof positive that bringing Cornette in as the mouthpiece was the absolute right now

BUExperience: Not a ton this week, but a watchable episode.