WWF Superstars (March 30, 1996)

 

Original Airdate: March 30, 1996 (taped March 10)

From Corpus Christi, Texas; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon, Jim Ross, and Mr. Perfect

Tatanka v Savio Vega: Tatanka attacks, but Savio wins a slugfest, and chops him in the corner. Vega with a cross corner whip and a monkey flip, and a cross corner clothesline connects. Backdrop, but Tatanka counters with a facebuster, and corner whips Vega. Tatanka with a bootchoke, and a bodyslam sets up a 2nd rope elbowdrop for two. Tatanka goes to a chinlock, as Vince talks about what an ‘upset’ it would be in Tatanka could win this. My, how the mighty have fallen. Tatanka tries a Samoan drop, but Vega counters to a cradle for two, and uses a Samoan drop of his own for two. Vega with a spinheel kick at 2:46. This was fine, but really short, and barely above the level of a squash. ½*

Ultimate Warrior hype ad

Mankind vignette

Justin Hawk Bradshaw v Barry Horowitz: Vince notes that Mankind will be making his ‘wrasslin’’ debut this Monday night. Feels really weird to hear the guy who allegedly flips out if people deviate from his list of pre-approved words say ‘wrasslin’.’ Bradshaw with a lariat at 3:41. This felt really long. ¼*

Dok Hendrix is in the studio for the WrestleMania XII Slam Jam

Steve Austin v Ben Greer: Perfect notes that he likes Austin because he eschews all the ‘fancy stuff,’ like robes and such. Vince is quick to point out that the guy walks around with a literal solid gold, diamond covered belt. Austin with the cobra clutch at 2:03. Afterwards, Savio runs out to brawl, but Steve puts him to sleep with the cobra as well, ahead of their meeting at WrestleMania. DUD

Ross narrates a video on the training efforts of Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels ahead of the Iron Man match. They’re really giving this a great final hard sell, complete with a great ad for WrestleMania booking the segment

Goldust and Marlena recently crashed the Academy Awards. That was the year Braveheart won, I can only imagine Mel Gibson’s reaction to Goldust

The Bushwhackers v Johnny Blade and Joseph White: Joined in progress here, which is all the proof of divinity I’ll ever need. The Battering Ram finishes White at 1:56 shown, as Perfect openly notes that the match isn’t ‘good.’ He ain’t wrong. DUD

Dok is back with another Slam Jam, and he’s so excited for WrestleMania that he needs to do a little dance

WWF Tag Team Title Tournament Semifinal Match: The Godwinns v Davey Boy Smith and Owen Hart: The New Rockers split screen in to cut a promo on the Godwinns here. The heels attack before the bell, but the Godwinns fight them off, and clean house. Probably the only ‘clean house’ those two have ever seen. Sorry, channeling Jerry Lawler there. The dust settles on Henry Godwinn and Bulldog, and Henry wins a criss cross with a hiptoss, then adds a bodyslam. Tag to Phineas Godwinn, and he tries a wristlock, but Davey rakes the eyes. Tag to Owen for a wristlock of his own, as they announcers hype the six-man for WrestleMania, which might as well blatantly give away the finish for this. Phineas makes the ropes and bails to the outside to regroup on the break, and he comes back in throwing right hands at anything that moves. ‘Anything’ being Owen and Bulldog. Jim Cornette takes a cheap shot to slow him down, and the heels turn the tide, as Hillbilly Jim chases Cornette off. They work Phineas over, but a missed charge in the corner from Owen allow the hot tag to Henry, and Roseanne Barr the door! The New Rockers show up, and they try to assist Bulldog in putting Henry away, but the referee sees it, and disqualifies the heels at 6:34. This was solid enough, but the finish was really poorly booked. ¾*

Backstage, Hillbilly Jim is still chasing Cornette, so Jim climbs a production truck to get away

BUExperience: This was the go home edition for WrestleMania XII, as well as the 500th episode of Superstars. It also wasn’t very good.