WWF Superstars (July 13, 1996)

 

Original Airdate: July 13, 1996 (taped June 25)

From LaCrosse, Wisconsin; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon, Jim Ross, and Mr. Perfect

Sycho Sid laughs maniacally 

The Bodydonnas v Rock Wagner and Todd Becker: The Bodydonnas split screen in to try and be babyfaces, but it’s just such an awkward fit. Meanwhile, Sunny leads WWF Tag Team Champions The Smoking Gunns out to observe from the aisle, ahead of their meeting at In Your House. Skip with a rana off the top, setting up a flying seated senton splash from Zip at 2:16. This felt much longer. DUD

Jim Cornette is sick of suffering indignities, with the latest being Sid’s return to replace Ultimate Warrior for the six-man tag main event for In Your House. Leave it to Cornette to get whatever they threw at the wall over. No one ever went broke doing that

Backstage, TL Hopper fills some cracks in the plumbing. Butt

Duke Droese v TL Hopper: Kind of a 1989 Dusty Rhodes version of the SummerSlam '94 main event. Duke goes to a wristlock right away, so Hopper tries to criss cross, but takes a shoulderblock. Duke with a second one, and a snap suplex follows. Duke uses a bodyslam, as Perfect makes a ‘dump stir’ pun that probably had Vince giddy. Hopper manages to reverse a cross corner whip, and a turnbuckle smash allows him a few axehandles to the lower back. Hopper with a backbreaker and a backdrop, but Duke fires back with a powerslam. Duke with a tilt-a-whirl, but Hopper slips out of it, delivers a brainbuster at 4:09. This was fine for what it was, but it was gimmick hell. ¾*

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

Mankind v Jerry Fox: They’re not really hammering home that Mankind beat Undertaker at King of the Ring. You’d think that would be a bigger talking point, considering it was a huge deal at the time. He also beats Jerry Fox, with the mandible claw at 2:47. DUD

Ross brings Jake Roberts out for an in-ring interview, and he was watching Mankind closely. And, you know, that kid needs Jesus. He’s the best thing happening. That draws Mankind out, but Jake pulls the snake out of the bag, and Mankind backs off. I used to laugh at Jake during this period, and I’m not saying this whole push wasn’t flawed, but I do appreciate Jake’s work a lot more now than I did then

In Your House ad

Barry Horowitz v Alex Porteau: Porteau split screen in, and does a generic babyface introduction promo. That felt like something out of a simulator. Sophie would be on your ass about it. They trade off on the mat, with Barry in control. A criss cross sees Barry side suplex him, and an Oklahoma roll gets him two. Barry with a snapmare cradle for two, but Porteau hooks an abdominal cradle at 2:50. This was too short to be of value, but I enjoyed the old school mat wrestling here. ½*

Backstage, Ross catches up with Freddie Joe Floyd, who is ready for his rematch with Bradhaw, shucks

Backstage, Justin Hawk Bradshaw promises that lightning will not strike twice

Justin Hawk Bradshaw v Freddie Joe Floyd: Bradshaw attacks, blitzing Floyd, and unloading with shots. Bradshaw with a bodyslam, but Floyd throws a dropkick, knocking Hawk out of the ring. Bradshaw hustles back in to slug Floyd into the corner, and a cross corner whip rattle the ring, but Hawk misses the charge in. That allows Floyd a schoolboy for two, but Bradshaw grabs him for a pumphandle-slam. Bradshaw dumps him front-first across the top rope before booting him out of the ring, with Floyd taking a bump into the guardrail on the way. Floyd manages a small package for two on the way back in, but Bradshaw cuts him off, and stomps him down. Bradshaw puts him in an abdominal stretch, but Floyd catches him with a shot during a criss cross. Bradshaw cuts him off again, and delivers a cross corner whip, then a second one for good measure. Big boot, but Floyd bails to avoid it, and forces Bradshaw into a chase. That allows Floyd to get the high ground, and he hammers on Hawk. Bradshaw quickly fights him off, however, and a cross corner whip rebounds into a lariat. Cover, count, and Bradshaw pulls him up at two. He hits another lariat, and that’s enough for him at 7:07. This was right on par with their first outing. Afterwards, Bradshaw continues the beating, until Savio Vega makes the save. *

Dok is back with another Slam Jam

Brian Pillman shows up at the commentary desk with a faux tearful display of affection for the WWF for taking him in when he was out on the streets. I’m not sure I got the point of his bit

BUExperience: The episode flew by, though there was really nothing interesting to note here.