WWF Superstars (June 18, 1994)

Original Airdate: June 18, 1994 (taped May 25)

From Erie, Pennsylvania; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler

Tatanka v Dave Criner: Criner looks like he’s auditioning to be tag partners with Damien Demento. Owen Hart comes out to observe from the aisle, and Lawler is so excited that he goes over to get a live interview in the middle of Tatanka’s squash. What is Owen, nWo? Poor Tatanka, even the cruiserweights got more attention during the Nitro days. Tatanka with a flying tomahawk chop at 3:22. The match was nothing, but I appreciated the in-arena build for something at King of the Ring. DUD

Lord Alfred Hayes narrates a look at the first ever Hall of Fame ceremony in Baltimore last week. Regis was there! Regis! I wish we could have heard Gorilla Monsoon’s speech in full. I mean, I know it was probably strictly keeping kayfabe, but still

Owen Hart v Koko B Ware: Owen slaps him around at the bell, and plants a spinheel kick on him. Hart shouts out how he ‘never liked’ Koko in between stomps, but a criss cross goes Ware’s way with a hangman clothesline. Ware adds a standing dropkick as Tatanka comes out to observe. Ware with a bodyslam and an armdrag to trap Hart in an armbar, but Owen uses a bodyslam to escape. Elbowdrop, but Ware dodges, and armdrags him back into the armbar. Owen rakes the eyes to force a break, and they criss cross again, ending in Koko twisting his knee. Hart pounces on it, and the Sharpshooter finishes at 3:19. This was okay, just super short. *

Live Event News takes a look back at Countdown to the Crowning, where the Headshrinkers successful defended the WWF Tag Team title against former champions the Quebecers

The Headshrinkers v Curtis Harrison and Larry Marconi: The WWF Tag Team title is not on the line. I always like it when the jobbers try sneak attacking the stars. Show that fire, you losers. Fatu with the flying splash at 1:42. DUD

This week’s Heartbreak Hotel doesn’t bother with an outside guest, as Shawn Michaels opts to interview WWF Intercontinental Champion Diesel instead, ahead of King of the Ring. Diesel was not a particularly strong promo at this point, but he was suitably menacing, and this worked well enough

Bam Bam Bigelow v Emilio Ulicia: Luna Vachon is wearing a thong this week, which is pretty risque for TV in 1994. Meanwhile, Razor Ramon comes out to observe, as we continue to build towards King of the Ring. Bam Bam with a flying moonsault at 1:48. DUD

Todd Pettengill is in the studio for the King of the Ring Report. Just last minute hard sell stuff, though I enjoyed Todd’s goofy method of predicting how the tournament plays out

Razor Ramon v Tracy Padell: We get a fan doing the ring announcing for this one. Bam Bam returns to observe, of course, and Ramon finishes with the Razor’s Edge at 1:53. DUD

Last week, aboard the USS Intrepid, The Headshrinkers, Men on a Mission, and Bam Bam Bigelow won a tug of war against members of the US military as part of a D-Day commemoration event. Or, well, less ‘aboard’ then ‘beside,’ but that sounds less impressive

Mabel v Nikolai Volkoff: Volkoff attacks before the bell, and hammers away on the big man. Volkoff manages to put him down with a big boot to set up a kneedrop for two, and he puts the boots to Mabel. Mabel takes control and gets Volkoff in a toehold, but Irwin R Schyster runs in to attack, causing a DQ at 2:43. IRS and Volkoff gang up on Mabel after the bell, so Tatanka runs in to make the save! That draws Owen out to go after him, but here comes Razor! Bam Bam’s next out, and we have a big brawl to sell the pay per view as we go off the air. DUD

BUExperience: I really liked this episode, as it had a lot of strong last minute King of the Ring build. And not just in the usual pre-taped way, but with actual in-arena interactions and segments. Plus, two star/star matches? This is a winner.