WWF Superstars (March 11, 1995)

 

Original Airdate: March 11, 1995 (taped February 21)

From Augusta, Georgia; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler

Razor Ramon v Mantaur: Jim Cornette announces that Jeff Jarrett has agreed to defend the WWF Intercontinental title against Razor at WrestleMania XI, but that Ramon may not make it to WrestleMania, because undefeated Mantaur is going to dismantle him right here today. Mantaur powers him around early on, so Razor goes to a wristlock, and gets Mantaur on the mat with it. Short-clothesline, but Mantaur reverses, only to miss an elbowdrop. That allows Ramon a bodypress, but Mantaur catches him in a slam for two. Mantaur adds an avalanche, and a few corner whips rattle the ring, but Razor blocks another charge, and delivers a 2nd rope bulldog for two. Razor with a cross corner whip, and he delivers a bodyslam for two on the rebound, as Roadie comes out to observe. Razor stays on Mantaur with right hands, and he delivers a side superplex, but notices Roadie as he’s setting up for the Razor’s Edge. The distraction allows Mantaur to charge, but Ramon sidesteps, and Mantaur goes flying over the top - taking Roadie out on the way to a countout at 6:10. Really basic match, with Ramon pretty much treating Mantaur like a geek. Afterwards, Razor steals the Intercontinental title belt from the fallen Roadie, so Jarrett comes out, and he and Roadie work together to grab it back. ½*

Todd Pettengill is in the studio for the WrestleMania XI Report. Nothing much here

Jean-Pierre LaFitte vignette. I never realized that they were openly acknowledging that he was the same guy as Pierre from the Quebecers. I thought that he was just supposed to be a full repackaging. I honestly don’t remember them ever referencing it on commentary, or calling him a former tag champion, or anything 

Doink the Clown v Charlie Hunter: We get a fan doing the guest ring announcing here. I have no idea who is playing Doink here, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s someone new, because he looks a lot puffier than usual. Maybe a time traveling Chris Jericho? Doink with the Whoopie Cushion at 3:02. Vince getting all giddy at the fart sound effect has taken on a whole different context now. DUD

Undertaker is not doing so well without his urn, ya’ll

Nicholas Turturro investigates Bob Backlund’s claims that Diesel stole the WWF Title from him. They do know that he isn’t an actual cop, right? 

Bob Backlund v Ken Raper: Does Backlund hold the record for the longest time between title reigns? “This Raper will not quit,” declares McMahon. Commentary! And then this Raper does indeed quit, going down to the crossface chickenwing at 2:24. DUD

We get a weird flashback to one of Ted DiBiase’s introductory vignettes from 1987, the one where he kicks a newlywed couple out of a hotel suite. Still great, though I’m not sure why we’re seeing it here in 1995

Bob Holly v Bam Bam Bigelow: DiBiase introduces Kama as the newest member of the Million Dollar Corporation here. I kind of forgot Nikolai Volkoff was still around at this point, but I guess they were beefing up the numbers to coincide with Lawrence Taylor’s ‘all pro team.’ Bam Bam shoves him into the corner at the bell, but Bob throws rights to Bigelow tosses him over the top. Holly pulls him out for a plancha, and Bob lands a flying clothesline on the way back in, then uses an armdrag into an armbar. Bigelow escapes, but misses an elbowdrop, and Bob gets another armbar locked. Bigelow goes to the eyes, but a corner splash misses for him, and Bob hammers away. Bob with a rana, but Bigelow blocks with a powerbomb for two. Into the corner for a pounding, and Bam Bam biels him, as Vince revs himself up by listing off football players that will be at WrestleMania. Bigelow with a vertical suplex to set up a chinlock, but Bob escapes, so Bigelow throws a knee. Bigelow uses a bodyslam to set up a pair of headbutt drops, but Holly catches a second wind, and tries making a comeback, but Bigelow throws a headbutt to the gut to cut him off. Bigelow with an overhead backbreaker, but Holly slugs free, so Bam Bam dumps him to the outside for the Corporation to abuse. But they’re such a shit stable that they just stand around, and Holly uses a slingshot sunset flip to bring himself back in. Bam Bam blocks with a sitdown splash for two, but Holly blocks another suplex, and delivers a facebuster to trigger a comeback. Bob with a side suplex for two, but a second one gets countered with a bulldog on the way down, giving Bam Bam the pin at 8:13. This was solid action. **

WrestleMania XI ad

Todd is back with another WrestleMania Report. They announce Bret Hart/Bob Backlund in an I Quit match, though they don’t bother noting the difference between that and the Submission match from Survivor Series. Like, come on! The fact that no one can throw in a towel, that Bob will have to draw it from Bret’s own lips, that’s a huge selling point! Do they get into it later? Or did I just improve these 1995 angles in my mind as a kid?

BUExperience: Two feature matches?! It must be WrestleMania season!