WWF Superstars (July 1, 1995)

 

Original Airdate: July 1, 1995 (taped June 27)

From Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon and Dok Hendrix

Clips of WWF Champion Diesel participating at Hitting For The Homeland, a charity benefit game for kids who lost parents in the Oklahoma City bombing

1-2-3 Kid v Ken Raper: This is Kid’s first TV match since April, following an injury. I still can’t believe they let a guy go out on TV as ‘Raper.’ Even if it’s his real name, maybe change it up? Sentences like “Raper showing the Kid a thing or two” is not something one wants to hear on a Saturday morning. Or, like, ever. Kid with a spinheel kick and an Oklahoma roll at 1:53. DUD

Todd Pettengill is backstage at the King of the Ring with a final wrap up for the show. The sooner we can leave that one in the past, the better

Backstage, Henry Godwinn preps the slop bucket

Kama v Jason Arhndt: Undertaker’s ‘creatures of the night’ deliver Kama another wreath this week, which throws him off of his game, and allows Jason to actually dominate him for a bit. It doesn’t last long, however, and a pump-splash finishes at 1:01. DUD

Jerry Lawler is in such bad shape after the Kiss My Foot match at King of the Ring that he’s had to enlist the services of Isaac Yankem DDS. Give it to them, at least they had a good way of introducing the character, giving him a logical introduction into the story, as opposed to the random ‘wrestling garbage man’ or ‘wrestling race car driver’

With My Baby Tonight music video. After some two years of building up to it, it was nice to see them finally go somewhere with it. And the song isn’t bad! It’s just a shame that we never got to the blow off with Roadie. And that Lawler wasn’t on commentary here, because he would have dined out on this

The WWF is a proud participant in the 1995 Special Olympics. They keep recycling that same piano music for every puff piece they do. I think they even used it for the Joey Marella tribute video

The Allied Powers v Billy Mack and Lloyd Lanui: They announce that the Powers will challenge Yokozuna and Owen Hart for the WWF Tag Team title at In Your House. And speaking of the champions, they show up to observe from the aisle. And speaking of Yoko, Lanui looks and dresses like Yoko in his WWF tryout phase. Lex with a running forearm smash at 2:05. Lots of energy from the Powers here. ¼*

A look back at the 1995 Hall of Fame ceremony. Interesting to see both Vince and Undertaker there, considering both made something of a point of not being a part of the ceremonies for years in the 2000s. Also interesting to see some of the ‘superfan guys’ you see in the front rows of various shows in attendance, since this was a banquet, not the big arena version that these things became later

Waylon Mercy is ready to make his debut. Or serial kill

Waylon Mercy v Bill Weaver: This is Mercy's TV debut, and we get a fan doing the ring announcing. Why did they dress him like a nurse? It was a good gimmick, and he looks intimidating, but would look significantly more intimidating if he wasn’t covered head to toe in white. Waylon with a sleeper at 2:27. The referee took his sweet time with that one. This wasn’t a very impressive debut, which is a shame, the character had potential. DUD

Todd is still talking about King of the Ring. It’s interesting that the show is nearly over, and this is the first time anyone has even mentioned that Mabel won the tournament. Considering the importance of putting him over as a set up for a main event run, you’d think it would be more of a priority 

Adam Bomb v Henry Godwinn: Godwinn attacks before the bell, but loses a criss cross when Bomb throws a jumping clothesline. Henry bails, but Bomb is on his tail, and wins a slugfest out there. Whip into the steps, but Godwinn reverses, and both men are counted out at 0:37. What the fuck? Afterwards, Godwinn slops Bomb. DUD

BUExperience: The feature match was ridiculous, and the rest was junk. Surprisingly weak, actually, considering this was taped after King of the Ring.