WWF Superstars (September 7, 1996)

Original Airdate: September 7, 1996 (taped August 20)

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

Mankind v Brian Scott: The idiot jobber actually tries attacking before the bell, and are you fucking crazy?!? Like, of all people to think that’s a good idea to try that with. Mankind with the mandible claw at 1:15. Afterwards, Mankind and Paul Bearer cut a promo on Shawn Michaels to build up In Your House. And a good one, too. DUD

Dok Hendrix is in the studio for the In Your House Slam Jam. How many times did Undertaker have specialty matches with no defined stipulations and/or rules? Feels like a lot

Greatest Intercontinental Championship Moment: Texas Tornado defeating Mr. Perfect for the title at SummerSlam 1990. We’ve seen this segment three times on Superstars thus far, and all three featured Perfect, which I imagine was a deliberate choice, but still feels like an odd one. At least Perfect acknowledges it, instead of just pretending it isn’t happening, like most of the other idiot announcers would

Update on Ahmed Johnson: he still has a kidney. Also, he now has a green bathrobe instead of a red one. It’s not any better at staying closed though, sadly

Faarooq Asad v Barry Horowitz: Savio Vega split screens in here, as he’ll be facing Faarooq in the Intercontinental title tournament. “What did he say?” wonders Perfect. Perfect was an underrated heel announcer. He’s not top tier, but he’s fun. Faarooq with a dominator at 2:07. DUD

Stalker vignette

Steve Austin v Freddie Joe Floyd: Brian Pillman is out to do guest commentary here, playing up his ‘close relationship’ with the Hart family, and specifically Bret Hart. And, in fact, he will produce Bret at In Your House for a special interview. Steve with a stunner at 2:10, as the crowd sits silently. Well, that certainly wouldn’t go on for much longer. ¼*

Bret Hart’s ‘You Start the Fire’ music video. They were determined to get mileage out of that one

Jim Ross brings Jim Cornette out to discuss Cornette’s match with Jose Lothario at In Your House. I love Cornette, and he can sell anything, but… I could not care less about that match. And I don’t think anyone else did, either

WWF New Fall Season ad

Hunter Hearst Helmsley v Savio Vega: Helmsley is busy warning his valet to stay in her seat, allowing Vega to schoolboy for a two. A clothesline gets another two, and Vega with a bodypress for two. Vega dropkicks him into the corner, so Helmsley charges, but Savio is ready with a hiptoss, and adds an inverted atomic drop. Savio unloads in the corner, but Helmsley blocks a cross corner whip with a knee, and HHH delivers a swinging neckbreaker. HHH unloads in the corner, and a high knee gets him two. HHH with a suplex and a kneedrop for two, and he works a chinlock from there. Savio fights free, so HHH corner whips him, but Vega fights him off with a catapult into the corner. A cross corner whip flips Helmsley over the buckles, but a spinheel kick misses, as Perfect goes after the valet. Vega tries a splash, but hits the knees, and Helmsley notices what’s going on with Perfect. He tries going after him, but the referee holds him back, and Vega sneaks up with a spinheel kick at 5:39. Solid work here, this was engaging. * ½ 

Dok is back with another Slam Jam

As Kelly and Perfect sign off, HHH storms back out to get in Perfect’s face, but we’re out of time as they shout at each other

BUExperience: This show is becoming more irrelevant with each passing week. It’s no surprise they sunset it less than six months later.