WWF Superstars (September 17, 1994)

Original Airdate: September 17, 1994 (taped August 17)

From Portland, Maine; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler

Well Dunn v The Bushwhackers: Timothy Well dominates Butch early on, but a corner splash misses, and Butch throws punches. That draws Steven Dunn in, but Luke cuts him off, and the Bushwhackers clean house. They play to the crowd, allowing the heels to sneak attack, and they double team Luke. Well Dunn go to work, but Butch sneaks in as Well attempts a bodyslam, allowing Luke to topple him for the pin at 4:49. Well Dunn were trying, but the Bushwhackers are beyond being carried. I’m pretty sure Bret Hart or Shawn Michaels couldn’t get one-star out of them. And then afterwards, they steal Harvey Wippleman’s pants, which is about the funniest thing McMahon has ever seen. ½*

Adam Bomb fumes at Bam Bam Bigelow following their brawl last week. Apparently Bigelow doesn’t stand a chance because of all of Adam’s fans (apparently called ‘the Bomb Squad’) behind him. Pretty sure he should turn around and take a gander, because ain’t no one there, Adam

Jeff Jarrett v Phil Apollo: We get a fan doing the ring announcing (who looks kinda like Demi Moore), who announces Jeff as ‘Double J Jarrett.’ Vince is not pleased. But then Jeff takes the time to do his own into anyway, so all good. Thank God, Vince might have dropped his headset and fired her. From fandom. Jarrett with the figure four at 1:52. And then the girl announces his name correctly, while rolling her eyes at someone off camera, so maybe Vince did drop the headset. DUD

Live Event News is highlights of WWF wrestlers playing softball against ‘Chicago celebrities’ on SummerSlam weekend. No mention on who any of those celebrities actually were, so I’m guessing it was local radio personalities, or something like that. Odd editing choice, as they zoom in on a fan holding a vanity license plate reading ‘WWF Nut 1,’ which makes zero sense. Is ‘nut’ supposed to be ‘number?’ Or is it ‘not,’ because someone else already had ‘WWF Not 1’ taken? Or… maybe it’s a really weird sexual thing…? I need to know!

Undertaker v Tony DeVito: This must have been crazy confusing for the live crowd, weeks before SummerSlam. Undertaker’s also still doing his usual routine, though he started getting a little looser with the zombie stuff during the ‘purple period.’ The tombstone finishes at 2:16. DUD

WWF New Generation ad

Kwang v Scott Taylor: I have very little to say about Kwang, but neither do the announcers, so I guess that’s fine. Kwang with a spinheel kick at 2:30. DUD

WWF Tag Team Champions Shawn Michaels and Diesel host the Heartbreak Hotel, and this one was taped another night, post-SummerSlam. I’m not even sure why they bothered to disclose that, considering you’d never notice otherwise. Anyway, their guests are Ted DiBiase and Tatanka, and Tatanka is wearing a business suit now. Hey, great! Why did they drop that aspect? It gives the character an easily recognized change from his babyface look, which was sorely lacking with this turn. Not much here, as Ted and Tatanka basically just gloat about their evil plan working

Thurman Sparky Plugg v Iron Mike Sharpe: Sharpe was still around? Also, Plugg is announced as such, though Vince notes that he’s known as ‘Bob Holly’ in ‘some circles,’ so I guess this is the official start of that change. And a welcome one! Meanwhile, Abe Knuckleball Schwartz protests in the crowd, as Plugg puts it away with a flying bodypress at 2:12. I liked the finish there, with Sharpe rolling through the dive, but Plugg then continuing the roll through as well. I haven’t seen much of that. ¼*

Merchandise Catalog ad

Bob Backlund v Tony Roy: Backlund has some good heel heat here, and it’s great that they ran with it, instead of pushing Bret Hart/Jim Neidhart as the big program, or whatever the original idea was. Bob with the crossface chickenwing at 3:07. The poor jobber submits before he even gets the bodyscissors on, but Backlund takes him to the mat in it anyway. Yeah! Fuck that guy! DUD

Live Event News is a look back at Undertaker beating Kwang last Monday on RAW. Definitely a big deal, I get why they showed it 

BUExperience: I’m a pretty big 1994 apologist, but boy, the fall was not the best part of that year.