WWF Superstars (June 25, 1994)

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

From Erie, Pennsylvania; Your Hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Jerry Lawler. I don’t know that I’ve ever heard them call a show together before, this could be interesting 

Pierre v Typhoon: This is Typhoon's first TV appearance since jobbing to Bam Bam Bigelow in a King of the Ring qualifier in May of 1993. Typhoon knocks him around with ease, and Pierre takes a pretty solid bump to the outside off of a shoulderblock. Pierre tries a full nelson, but Typhoon shrugs it off, and uses one of his own. Pierre makes the ropes, so Typhoon drops him on his head. Johnny Polo wisely tries a distraction, allowing Pierre to turn it around, and he delivers a pair of straddling ropechokes. Pierre with a flying dropkick for two, as Gorilla hypes Typhoon/Yokozuna matches at a house show near you. Ah, so that’s why he’s back, to replace Earthquake. And, indeed, he was gone by the end of summer, so it really was just for one tour. Typhoon comes back, and they somehow manage to mess up an avalanche spot, before getting right on the second go. Typhoon with a splash at 5:43. Good finisher, he’s definitely well practiced in falling on his face. Oh man, this was pretty rough as a match, though. This also marked Pierre’s last TV appearance until he resurfaced in his pirate gimmick in the spring of 1995, though he kept working regularly on live events in between. ¼*

Todd Pettengill is in the studio for the King of the Ring Report, which is a recap session this time around, mostly covering the Hart family drama. That’s still one of my favorite shows

Well Dunn v John Paul and Gary Sabaugh: I never really noticed how much Timothy Well looks like Paul Dano. Meanwhile, Gorilla and Jerry get over the storyline from King of the Ring, talking about how Jim Neidhart has been in Owen Hart’s ear the whole time, and is probably the one responsible for the heel turn. Well Dunn with a double team at 2:51. Well Dunn aren’t offensive as a JTTS team, but that’s certainly their ceiling. DUD

Live Event News details the latest Coliseum Video releases. And we still don’t have the complete set on the Network yet, nearly ten years in. And, in fact, neither of the ones advertised here are on there

Thurman Sparky Plugg v George South: Gorilla appreciatively notes what a ‘name’ Plugg is making for himself in the WWF. Yeah, so good that he changed it a month later. Plugg with a sunset cradle at 2:41. Second squash in a row where they work back-and-forth. ¼*

Undertaker v PJ Walker: This is Ted DiBiase’s Underfaker, though the announcers sell it like it’s the original Undertaker, instead of acknowledging that he’s a phony. Brian Lee does a fairly strong job of cosplaying and working like Undertaker, but this angle was odd. But then, it was an era of pretty silly cartoonish stuff, maybe it was odd, but it wasn’t especially so compared to Papa Shango or some of the other stuff from the period. The tombstone finishes at 2:10. Funny moment at the end, as Lee (who had been working super hard to keep his hair over his face for the whole match) suddenly flipped his hair back to give us a clean look… and then immediately down in a panic. DUD

King of the Ring Encore ad

1-2-3 Kid v Jeff Hardy: This is Hardy’s second appearance as an enhancement guy for the WWF, and the first under his own name. Gorilla notes that Kid was so happy ‘just to be a part’ of the King of the Ring. That’s jobber talk. Kid gives Hardy a lot here, so I guess they saw something in him even from the beginning. Hardy misses a dive, allowing Kid a figure four guillotine at 2:57. ¼*

Kwang v Chris Hammerick: Kwang has an alternate red mask this week, so clearly he’s angling for the SummerSlam main event. Hammerick is dressed like he’s auditioning to replace Ricky Morton after the heel turn in 1991. Kwang with a superkick at 2:27. DUD

Todd is back with another King of the Ring Report, running down the rest of the results. I like how he puts over the Roddy Piper impersonator showing up in Roddy’s corner like it’s on the same level as Hulk Hogan joining the nWo

King of the Ring Encore ad

Lex Luger v Barry Horowitz: Lawler puts himself over a member of the New Generation, which is a real whopper. Luger with the torture rack at 1:34. Quick work for Lex this week. DUD

Live Event News looks back at the recent Hall of Fame induction ceremony 

BUExperience: Considering this was taped well before King of the Ring, I wasn’t expecting much in the way of real development, but we should get some SummerSlam direction next week. Definitely nothing of note this week, though.