WWF Superstars (August 31, 1996)

 

Original Airdate: August 31, 1996 (taped August 20)

From Columbus, Ohio; Your Hosts are Kevin Kelly and Mr. Perfect

Vader v Kenny Hendrix: Perfect is still pushing Vader as the ‘uncrowned champion,’ so maybe the plan was still to get to the rematch with Shawn Michaels at Survivor Series at this point. Though I’ve always wished Vader got to win the title, it’s hard to want to trade the Sid match for anything. Vader with a brutal powerbomb for an arrogant pin at 1:58. ¼*

Dok Hendrix is in the studio for the In Your House Slam Jam

The Godwinns v Bob Bolby and Matt Duval: Bob Backlund is out to do commentary here, and hype up the new mystery guy he has coming in. I get wanting to build it up - and that’s a good thing - but couldn’t it be someone more interesting than Sultan?? Phineas puts this one away with the inverted DDT at 1:20. DUD

RAW Championship Friday ad

Brian Pillman brings Steve Austin out for an in-ring interview, and Steve picks up an interesting new direction: throwing out a challenge to Bret Hart! And the crowd is immediately into it, chanting for Bret, and booing Austin with fire. And then, that was it. Hmm, I thought this was the famous ‘Pillmanizing’ segment, but I guess that comes later. A good segment either way, as Austin cut a hell of a promo in his challenge

Greatest Intercontinental Championship Moments: Mr. Perfect defeating Tito Santana in 1990 to win his first title. Why did they have Jim Ross overdub the original commentary for this? Who was doing commentary on Superstars then? At first I thought maybe it was Tony Schiavone, which is why they needed to redo it, but he was already gone by the time this was taped/aired, and I’m guessing it was Vince. Maybe Jesse Ventura was on there, too, which is probably the correct answer

Crush v Frank Stilleto: Speaking of commentary that I wish could be redone, here’s Kevin Kelly saying shit like “what is that on Crush’s hand? It appears to be a glove of some kind.” It’s literally a glove. Crush and Clarence Mason split screen in to put over Crush’s new finisher (the heart punch), and Crush uses it to finish Frank off at 2:23. They did a good job at trying to get the finisher over, but they didn’t stick with it much after this, unfortunately. DUD

Ahmed Johnson continues to convalesce, and might - might - even be able to lift weights in a few weeks. Riveting news, wow

The Stridex Biggest Slam of the Week is Vader delivering the powerbomb earlier

Sycho Sid v Leon Downs: Downs is dressed identically to Sid, which is pretty funny. Hunter Hearst Helmsley split screens in to tell ‘Curt Hennig’ to stay out of his business. Who dat? Sid with a powerbomb at 2:23. DUD

Stalker vignette 

Justin Hawk Bradshaw v Chris Harris: Uncle Zeb sits in on commentary for this one. Bradshaw with a lariat at 2:42. Yawn. DUD

Superstars is moving to the USA Network

Jim Ross is backstage, where a confrontation between Sid and Vader was just broken up. Sid is gone now, but Vader is storming around, wrecking furniture, and apparently he’s pissed because Sid is using the powerbomb too

Aldo Montoya v Salvatore Sincere: More headscratching Kelly-isms: noting that Aldo has been on ‘quite a roll lately.’ In his car? Aldo gets some fire in, but eats a hangman clothesline, and Sincere adds a slam to set up a pump-elbowdrop. Thank goodness he shifted into the elbow, Vader might be watching. He gloats, allowing Aldo a flying bodypress for two, and a jumping clothesline gets him two. Another clothesline, but Sincere ducks, and grabs a full nelson slam at 2:13. ¼*

Dok is back for more Slam Jam

Goldust v Zip: Just to put Zip’s place on the card in perspective, they refer to this as a ‘tune up match’ for Goldust ahead of challenging Shawn Michaels for the WWF Title at RAW Championship Friday. Goldust slugs him early, but loses a criss cross, and Zip hammers. Backdrop, but Goldust blocks, and uses a hip attack, followed by a clothesline for two. Goldust with a turnbuckle smash, before dropping Zip across the top rope, and he puts the boots to him from there. Backdrop, but Zip counters with a small package for two, so Goldust decks him. Goldust with a jumping clothesline for two (which looks almost comical, due to the height difference), and he gets a chinlock locked. Zip escapes, so Goldust throws a knee for two, and he takes Zip into the corner for a ten-punch count. Goldust gloats, allowing Zip a schoolboy for two, but Goldust cuts him off with a corner whip, and the Curtain Call to win it at 5:04. ¾*

BUExperience: I appreciated that it wasn’t a total RAW clip show this week, but it also wasn’t very good on its own, either.