WWF Superstars (April 13, 1996)

 

Original Airdate: April 13, 1996 (taped April 2)

From San Diego, California; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon, Jim Ross, and Mr. Perfect

The Godwinns v Mike Starr and Larry Sampson: Starr looks like the biggest jobber to ever job. The Godwinns split screen in, and Hillbilly Jim promises to keep Sunny from distracting his boys when they get their rematch with the Bodydonnas at In Your House. Henry Godwinn with an inverted DDT at 2:00. DUD

Dok Hendrix is in the studio for the In Your House Slam Jam. I do appreciate that they’ve moved the title toy title belt onto the Shawn Michaels cardboard standup. Now that’s the attention to detail that keeps ‘em coming back

In Your House: Good Friends, Better Enemies ad

Mankind v Jason Castro: Mankind was a very different type of presentation for the WWF in the New Generation era. If you told me this guy would become a loveable, comical babyface within a couple of years of this, I’d think you were insane. He was in good shape at this point though, looking practically svelte. Mankind with the mandible claw at 2:56. Great character, great details (such as using soothing piano music for the outro to calm him), but this was a pretty dull squash. DUD

Backstage, the Samoan Gangsta Party try to bring Fatu into the fold, telling him to leave his goody goody bullshit behind, and come with them to make some money

Marc Mero v Adam Grove: I know people like to shit on him, but I was into Mero at the time, and I’m surprised he didn’t click better as this character. I’m not saying he should have been headlining, but I thought he would be more successful at the Intercontinental level than he was. Mero with a slingshot legdrop at 1:59. I’m surprised he didn’t bust out one of his flashier finishers here, while trying to make an impact as a new character. ¼*

Justin Hawk Bradshaw v Dave Starr: Another Starr? This idiot actually tries jumping Bradshaw to kick start the match. It goes badly. Bradshaw with a lariat at 2:15. DUD

Steve Austin v Caribbean Kid: So many ‘kids’ in wrestling, so few men. The idea here is that Austin has refused a rematch with Savio Vega, but instead faces Savio’s ‘good friend,’ the masked Kid. And he even comes out to Vega’s music, and at least Perfect is wise to it right away, but everyone else - including Austin - play dumb. Feeling out process to start, dominated by Kid. Austin bails to regroup, and the crowd is just dead for this. Much like with Mankind, if you came along and told me that this guy would become one of the biggest stars in the history of the sport, and would spark a new boom period all within a couple of years, I’d laugh in your face. Steve manages a takedown into a leglock, but Kid escapes, and wins a criss cross to send Steve back to the outside. Austin hustles back in and pounds Kid down, but fails to pull the mask off, now suspicious. Kid fights him off with a clothesline, and a bodyslam gets him two. Steve throws a knee and tosses Kid to the outside, and he drags Kid back in for a pointed elbowdrop for two. Austin with an STF, but Kid makes the ropes, so Steve puts the boots to him. Austin tries a cross corner whip, but Kid rebounds with a 2nd rope bodypress, only for Austin to duck. Austin goes for the cobra clutch, but Kid is ready with an inside cradle at 7:46. This was fine, but the crowd was stone cold. And afterwards, Kid unmasks as Vega, of course. *

Dok is back with another Slam Jam

BUExperience: A decent episode, but nothing of real note. Mostly it just felt lively due to all the new characters in the post-WrestleMania mix.