WWF Superstars (February 11, 1995)

 

Original Airdate: February 11, 1995 (taped January 10)

From Corpus Christi, Texas; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler

Tatanka v Gary Sabaugh: I like how Vince ‘assures’ us that Tatanka won’t be able to knock Lex Luger around like he’s doing to Sabaugh, as if Lex has a great track record against him. He couldn’t put him away at the King of the Ring in 1993, and straight up lost to him at SummerSlam in 1994. So maybe Vince should cool it with the assurances. Tatanka with a Samoan drop at 2:39. DUD

Bam Bam Bigelow responds to Lawrence Taylor’s agent’s response to his challenge last Monday on RAW (denied), and Bam Bam not only still refuses to apologize, but reiterates his challenge to a match

The Heavenly Bodies v Buck Quartermaine and Raven Clark: Vince continues digging the moron hole, noting that Quartermaine is an ‘up and coming star.’ More like up and gone. In discussing the whole Bigelow/Taylor deal, Lawler makes some good points, like that Bam Bam is challenging Taylor, and all Lawrence can do is talk to his agents and managers, instead of responding to Bigelow directly. Tom Prichard with a powerbomb to set up a (sloppy) flying moonsault from Jimmy Del Ray at 2:12. ¼*

Live Event News is a look a Kama, and how he’s a ‘supreme fighting machine.’ Stephanie Wiand is terrible in this role, sounding like she belongs on PBS, not a wrestling show. Say what you will about Pettengill, but he had genuine enthusiasm that came through in his work

Shawn Michaels v Adam Bomb: Bomb attacks before the bell, and a corner whip ends in Michaels taking a bump to the outside before he even gets his entrance gear off. Adam throws rights to keep Shawn on the outside every time he tries climbing back in, so Michaels spits in his eye, allowing him a flying axehandle. Hiptoss, but Bomb blocks, and throws a short-clothesline for two. Adam goes to a wristlock from there, but Shawn manages a corner whip, only to miss a corner splash. That allows Bomb to go back to the arm with an armbar, but Shawn slugs free, so Bomb uses a backdrop. Michaels dumps him to the outside to buy time, and HBK manages a plancha out there. Back in, Michaels with a snapmare to set up a 2nd rope elbowdrop for two, but he telegraphs a backdrop, and gets nailed. That allows Bomb a hiptoss, and a series of clotheslines send Michaels over the top. Adam drags him back in for a slingshot clothesline, but Michaels ducks it, and plants a superkick at 4:32. Shawn was on fire during this period, bumping and flying around like it was going out of style. * ¾ 

Ken Norton Jr is ready to celebrate his Super Bowl victory by going to WrestleMania. This year? Might want to rethink that one, Ken

Man Mountain Rock v Bill Payne: This is Rock’s in-arena debut, though a match taped after this aired first. And he’s another one with a really terrible look. Oddly, Vince actually acknowledges his real name, though he leaves out the part where he did a few TV jobs back in the late 80s. Or, you know, the WCW run. Though, the jobber might remember it. Rock with a gourdbuster at 2:34. DUD

From another taping (openly acknowledged) Stan Lane brings Hakushi and Shinja out, and I honestly forgot Lane was still around. Anyway, not much here, mostly just Shinja saying Hakushi is better than guys like Diesel or Bret Hart. No real angle, too bad they didn’t push in on whatever shit Lawler’s been stirring about Bret being a racist who hates Japanese people

#1 Contender's Match: The New Headshrinkers v Well Dunn: Winners get a title shot next week, and we get a fan doing the ring announcing. And the punk even does the Howard Finkel bit where he says Harvey Wippleman’s name in a mocking tone. That even earns a smirk from Harvey. The heels attack before the bell, and the dust settles on Sionne and Timothy Well. A double team allows them to control, and Steven Dunn stays in for more double teaming, but Fatu manages to make the save, and Sionne powerslams Dunn. Sionne with a backbreaker, and Fatu tags in for a flying splash at 1:22. Quite the barn burner to set up that title match. DUD

Bob Backlund v Lee Tobin: Luckily, Lawler harps on the ‘racist Bret’ stuff, since someone still gives a shit about getting stuff over. And speaking of the King, Tobin looks like a tribute act, or something. Backlund with the crossface chickenwing at 1:38. And the stupid jobber actually takes his time submitting, too. DUD

Live Event News is a look at the tag division 

Davey Boy Smith v Barry Horowitz: Vince just got his jobbers mixed up, this one is up and coming. Well, sort of. Bulldog with a running powerslam at 2:37. DUD

BUExperience: A pretty fun episode, with two feature matches (and one of them pretty decent).