WWF Superstars (February 12, 1994)

Original Airdate: February 12, 1994 (taped January 12)

From Fayetteville, North Carolina; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon and Stan Lane

Crush v Jay Stryker: Vince tries blaming Mr. Fuji for the Crush/Randy Savage break up, which feels like a real stretch. Like, Crush may have reacted badly to Savage’s behavior, but it was Savage’s behavior that was the clear catalyst for their issues. Crush with the headvice at 2.25. ¼*

Gorilla Monsoon is in the control center with Update, taking a look back at the Hart Brothers’ issues, which turns into something of a career retrospective on Bret Hart. Gorilla then caps it off by introducing a Bret music video, but William Zabka cuts it off mid-way through because he’s sick of the Hitman getting all the attention 

Bam Bam Bigelow v Brad Anderson: We get the guest ring announcer deal here, and I wish Bobby Heenan or Jerry Lawler were still around, because you just know they’d have a field day with these things. Bam Bam and Luna Vachon split screen in on their own match to wish each other a happy Valentine’s Day, and Bigelow puts it away with a flying moonsault at 1:19. DUD

Jim Ross is in the studio for Face to Face, with guest Bret Hart, who discusses strategy ahead of WrestleMania 

The Bushwhackers v Barry Horowitz and Reno Riggins: What a waste of some quality jobbers. The battering ram puts Barry away at 0:58. Hey, at least it was quick. DUD

WWF Women’s Champion Alundra Blayze music video. Kind of weird that she’s already the champion, but the sum of her appearances on this show have been video packages

Fan Festival ad

Ludvig Borga v Jason Voltaire: Vince hypes up Fan Fest by promising that you can call a match, which, yeah, looked incredible to me at the time. That, getting into the ring, and, of course, the massive action figure display. I know these things have gotten much bigger and much better since, but that initial one in 1994 will always have a special place in my heart, so much so that I still wish I could have gone, even if most of that stuff would be meaningless to me now. Borga with the torture rack at 2:08, picking up a win in what was his final TV appearance. DUD

Earlier today on Mania, Crush was doing a press conference, when Randy Savage attacked him. Quite the dive there from Macho!

Todd Pettengill is in the studio for the WrestleMania Report, which is ‘America’s most prestigious event.’ I never questioned it as a kid, but man, Men on a Mission getting a tag title shot really feels out of nowhere when following these shows week to week. I get that they wanted to pivot away from the Steiner Brothers, but even Marty Jannetty and 1-2-3 Kid getting a rematch would have made more sense. Todd also announces the Ladder match between Razor Ramon and Shawn Michaels for the Intercontinental title, and since this is basically the first one, he actually needs to explain what the hell it is. And, really, this was the best usage of it, as having the title in dispute gave a real reason for it, as opposed to just randomly deciding a ladder should be involved. And no wonder Shawn was disputing it, as Todd announces that Alundra Blayze will be making her ‘first title defense’ at WrestleMania, some three months after winning the belt! And here Michaels is getting stripped for not defending in thirty days?! I’d be pissed too!

Randy Savage v Rick Martel: Interesting outfit for Macho this week, as he’s got orange gear on, but has his green Mania jacket and hat over it. He was usually much better coordinated than that. Martel does some stalling to start, and manages to successfully sucker Randy into a cheap shot when Savage chases. Cross corner whip, but Randy reverses, and peppers him with jabs. Hiptoss and a clothesline send Martel to the outside, but he manages to stall things out again, and get control on the way back in. Turnbuckle smash, but Macho reverses, and grabs a standing side-headlock. Martel forces a criss cross, but Randy wins it with a backslide for two, and a clothesline puts Rick back on the outside. Macho drags him back in, but Martel pops him with a punch to block, and he tosses Randy over the top. Martel follows for a bodyslam on the floor, and a vertical suplex brings Randy back inside for two. Cross corner whip rattles the ring, and Rick continues hammering on the back, ahead of a reverse chinlock. Savage fights free, and uses a sunset flip for two, but Martel stomps the back to cut him off. A backbreaker gets Martel two, but Savage fights back with a small package for two. Martel tries a backdrop, but Savage blocks, and uses a high knee to knock Rick to the outside. Randy dives after him with a flying axehandle, and he rolls him in to hook the leg for two. Martel throws a right to the throat to buy time, and a high knee of his own connects. Cross corner whip works, but the charge in misses, and Macho bodyslams him to set up the flying elbowdrop at 8:02. Nothing over the top, but solid work, and both guys made a real effort. **

Ross is back for Face to Face with guests WWF Tag Team Champions The Quebecers and Johnny Polo, who aren’t sweating Men on a Mission’s challenge at WrestleMania

Paul Bearer is in the Funeral Parlor, which apparently will return as a segment next week, with guest WWF Champion Yokozuna

BUExperience: Another good episode this week, with more WrestleMania build, and a fun feature match.