WWF Superstars (April 30, 1994)

Original Airdate: April 30, 1994 (taped April 13)

From Rochester, New York; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler

Mabel v Jim Massenger: This is the best building they’ve run for a Superstars taping in a while - it’s an actual arena as opposed to a tiny auditorium. Rochester was actually a hot town for them on the taping circuit forever, but I think this is the last time they shot TV there for a long time. Mabel looks pretty grumpy this week, on his way to the pin via DDT at 2:20. DUD

WWF Intercontinental Title Match: Razor Ramon v Diesel: Razor doesn't wait for the bell, charging Diesel, and taking the fight to him with right hands. Razor's Edge early on, but Diesel counters with a backdrop. He tries to follow-up with a big boot, but Ramon ducks it, and knocks the challenger out of the ring with a series of rights. Diesel manages to snap the champs throat across the top rope on the way back in, however, and a short-clothesline leads to a pair of elbows in the corner, followed by a pair of knees. Pair of corner whips setup a sidewalk slam for two, and the snake-eyes sets up the straddling ropechoke. Man, this is like Diesel's Greatest Hits here. Elbowdrop gets two, and Diesel tries a headvice, but Ramon escapes with an electric chair for two. That's something you'd never, ever see Nash allowing anyone but one of his Kliq buddies to pull off. Razor starts mounting his comeback, and a 2nd rope flying bulldog is worth two. Bodyslam gets two, but a distraction from Shawn Michaels allows Diesel to throw a knee, and he unloads in the corner as Michaels removes a turnbuckle pad. Ramon tries to reverse Diesel into it, but ends up hitting the exposed steel himself, and the Jackknife wins Diesel his first title at 7:43. Good little match too, with lots of energy. ** ½

Thurman Plugg v Tony DeVito: Vince predicts that Razor will win the title back on the WrestleMania Revenge Tour, because that guy knows how to sell shit. Sparky with a flying kneedrop at 0:44, as Nikolai Volkoff looks on from the crowd. I never noticed how much Plugg looks like Stan Lane. DUD

Todd Pettengill is in the studio for the King of the Ring Report. Nothing announced yet, just general discussion of how a tournament works

Duke Droese vignette. He lobs threats at Jeff Jarrett, Adam Bomb, and Mr Perfect, all of who feel way over his head

The Heavenly Bodies v PJ Walker and Mike Curry: Vince notes that the Quebecers have been forced to put the tag title on the line against the Headshrinkers this Monday on RAW. Feels like a cheap shot talking about other teams getting title shots while commentating on another team's match. I mean, it’s just cold. I mean, does the guy also discuss his affairs in front of his wife? Or just the jurors? He also echos the usual Gorilla Monsoon complaint that there should be two referees out there. Well, at least Gorilla was just an announcer, and had plausible deniability for why he never could get that change. You’re the owner. Do something! The Bodies with a combo at 3:25. ¼*

King of the Ring ad

Jerry Lawler brings Dink out for a podium interview (which he helpfully clarifies is not the King’s Court), and, of course, he immediately stops bullying him. Why would Dink even agree to coming on, all considered? So this abuse draws Doink the Clown out to defend his little buddy - only for Doink to turn on Dink, throwing a few pies in his face. The crowd is actually pretty shocked by that, as if anyone gave a shit about Doink. Ah, but then he unmasks, revealing that it’s actually Jeff Jarrett in the gear, as poor Dink sits there covered in pie and silly string. I remember feeling really badly for Dink when I saw this as a kid, mostly because I thought Dink was also a child. This wasn’t bad. Two notes: 1) bad edit as after Jarrett covers him in silly string, suddenly Dink is also covered in ketchup and mustard. 2) they’re so sensitive about ‘WWF’ that the closed captioning won’t even print ‘Double J F.’

Bam Bam Bigelow v Jason Headings: We get a fan doing the ring announcing for this one. Bigelow’s flames look oddly subdued this week. Meanwhile, Headings could easily double for Jarrett if Jeff ever takes the Doink role on full time. Lawler is losing his mind over the prank, before moving on to throwing insults at Roddy Piper, starting they’re unexpected feud. Bigelow blocks a sunset flip with a sitdown splash for the pin at 2:29. Really made him look like a killer there. DUD

Stan Lane brings us Live Event News, which is highlights of Diesel winning the title earlier. How forgetful did they think the fans were? It’s been, like, twenty minutes

In the garage, Diesel and Shawn Michaels leave the building in a limousine. I’m honestly surprised Diesel didn’t smack his head on a pipe while standing out of the sunroof like that

WWF Unbelievable ad

A crossing guard sends in a video of him talking about seeing Undertaker in a park near a school. Yeah, he should probably alert the authorities, not make home videos

BUExperience: Strong episode this week, with a major title change, and nothing dull.