WWF Superstars (January 8, 1994)

Original Airdate: January 8, 1994 (taped December 14, 1993)

From Lowell, Massachusetts; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon and Stan Lane

Earlier this week, WWF President Jack Tunney announced that Lex Luger will be allowed entry into the Royal Rumble match, but in order to make this accommodation, Tunney is also giving Mr. Fuji two additional entrants from Japan to balance things out

Handicap Match: Yokozuna v Scott Taylor and Bert Centeno: Yoko’s WWF Title is not on the line here. Fuji splits screens to gloat about his two designated hitters for the Rumble, as Lane fantasizes about a Yokozuna/Andre the Giant match. Okay, but only if it’s 1995 Yoko v 1989 Andre, just so we can get a textbook definition of a negative five-star match. Yokozuna stacks them up for a double banzai drop at 2:51. Yoko looked to be having fun out there, if nothing else. Afterwards, Undertaker appears on the video wall to show off his casket, and give him his due, Yokozuna is incredible at selling his terror here. ¼*

Jeff Jarrett v Rich Meyers: I’ll never cease to be amazed at how the WWF would dress up these tiny venues to make them come across okay on TV. Jeff split screens in to hype his participation in the Rumble, though he doesn’t have much to say. Rich misses a dropkick, allowing Jarrett to hook the leg at 2:15. His star victory was a jobber missing a dropkick? ¼*

Jim Ross is in the studio for Face to Face with WWF Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon and Irwin R Schyster, and while Ross is way better than Joe Fowler, he’s not in the league of Gene Okerlund or Sean Mooney. Just shows how unique a skillset each role is, and how little they actually cross over. Okerlund and Mooney are terrible commentators, but Ross can’t lace their boots at hype/interview segments

Bret Hart v Mike Bell: We get the guest ring announcer pulled from the crowd deal here, and Owen is in Bret’s corner to once again remind us that everything is just fine between them. Bret also gets the biggest pop of the day, and it’s not even close. Probably the biggest pop in months on this show, if we’re being real. Luger had to know his days were numbered. The Brothers split screen in to hype up their tag title shot against the Quebecers, completely ignoring the actual Rumble match, in a nice bit of misdirection. No wonder people were thinking freaking Ludvig Borga had a shot of main eventing WrestleMania. Hart with the Sharpshooter at 2:04. Just paint-by-numbers stuff here. DUD

Raymond Rougeau brings WWF Tag Team Champions The Quebecers out to talk about being fighting champions, and to prove it, they’ll give Marty Jannetty and 1-2-3 Kid a shot this Monday on RAW. Some funny inside jokes as Jacques notes that he and Pierre are ‘like brothers’ right in front of his actual brother Raymond. Odd that they didn’t even acknowledge their relationship or past as a team considering Jacques still had the same name and only a tweaked gimmick. Jacques entire run was really weird about that sort of thing

Tatanka does a PSA against drunk driving

Razor Ramon v Chris Duffy: Razor's WWF Intercontinental title is not on the line. Duffy is dressed like he raided Doink’s locker before the match. Razor is all fired up this week, and works Chris over, as IRS split screens in, promising to take the gold around Ramon’s waist to go with the ones he took from around his neck. Razor’s Edge finishes at 2:37. ¼*

Kwang vignette

Todd Pettengill is in the studio with the Royal Rumble Report! And speaking of people who were born hype guys, Todd is one of the best ever, which I say that with complete sincerity. His jokes are lame, but he’s enthusiastic, and gets things over

Bam Bam Bigelow v Brian Walsh: Bam Bam feuding with Doink definitely feels like a huge step down for him already, and now Vince is hyping issues between him and Bastion Booger to make matters worse. I don’t get it, he was a big dude with flames on his skull who could do moonsaults and they just never seemed to have much for him. Was it really any surprise that they bungled Vader later on? Bam Bam with a flying headbutt drop at 2:17. Walsh made Bigelow look great here. Afterwards, Doink and Dink come out, and cause Bam Bam and Luna Vachon to slip and fall on some marbles. ¼*

Ross is back in the studio with another Face to Face, and he’s got Tatanka and Ludvig Borga this time.

BUExperience: I enjoyed this week’s episode. There weren’t any big developments, but all the performances felt energetic, and the promotion has direction. Not everything is good, but the batting average is over .500