WWF Superstars (November 10, 1996)

 

Original Airdate: November 10, 1996 (taped October 22)

From Cincinnati, Ohio; Your Hosts are Jim Ross and Jim Cornette

Backstage, Billy Gunn shovels dirt on the grave of the Smoking Gunns, noting that he carried Bart to three tag titles, which Bart then lost. Cold

Billy Gunn and TL Hopper v Bart Gunn and Freddie Joe Floyd: Hopper and Bart start, and Bart uses an armdrag into an armbar, as even Ross can’t put over Hopper with a straight face. Tag to Floyd for an armbar, and a jumping backelbow gets him two. Tag to Billy, and Floyd uses a drop-toehold, before passing to Bart. Bart gets Billy in a side-headlock, but Billy escapes, and they do a reversal sequence to a stalemate to put over that they were a team. Tag to Hopper, and Bart goes to a wristlock, before passing to Floyd. Floyd tries an armbar, so Billy throws a cheap shot from the apron, and Hopper delivers a pointed elbowdrop. The heels go to work on Floyd, until Hopper misses a splash, and Bart gets the hot tag - Roseanne Barr the door! The babyfaces clear Billy out, and hit Hopper with stereo dropkicks at 7:35. Afterwards, Billy raises Bart’s hand, and tries to make peace, and even the crowd doesn’t give them a perfunctory cheer when they hug. No wonder they never went anywhere with this angle. And then Billy turns on him, of course, and beats up everyone in the ring - including Hopper! ½*

In Karate Fighters Holiday Tournament action, Sycho Sid easily defeats Marlena. Well, you knew he couldn’t job here. How would we possibly take him seriously as a world title contender otherwise

A look at more names for the 1996 Hall of Fame class: Killer Kowalski and the Valiant Brothers

Recently on the Big Bang Boom tour, Mankind was doing an in-ring interview with Dok Hendrix, when Undertaker came on over the PA system, and a shark cage lowered from the ceiling with Paul Bearer hung in effigy 

Hunter Hearst Helmsley v Alex Porteau: The WWF Intercontinental title is not on the line here. Meanwhile, Mr. Perfect has already left the promotion, but this was taped so long before, that he’s still out here with HHH. I’m expecting the announcers to start burying him, but they don’t, so maybe they were still hoping they could work something out. Marc Mero split screens in here, as he’ll be captaining the team opposing Hunter’s at Survivor Series. Helmsley with the Pedigree at 2:23. DUD

Rocky Maivia vignette

Sultan v David Haskins: Ross is stuttering all over the place here, between apologizing for the gun angle on RAW (and absolving USA Network), and trying to compare Hart/Austin to Holyfield/Tyson. Sultan with a camel clutch at 2:28. This felt forty minutes long. DUD

Survivor Series ad

Shawn Michaels v Salvatore Sincere: The WWF Title is not on the line here. Ross basically promises that the building is going to collapse due to the ovation that the ‘most popular WWF Champion of all time’ is going to get here. But even that’s nothing compared to what it’s going to be like at Madison Square Garden at Survivor Series. Yeah, well, that is certainly saying something. Posturing to start, and Shawn dumps him over the top with a headscissors, then smashes into him with a baseball slide. Michaels with a plancha, as Sid split screens in to clarify that Shawn is still his friend. Inside, Michaels works a side-headlock, and he manages a corner whip, but misses the charge in. Sincere capitalizes with a slam to set up a pump-elbowdrop, and a corner whip allows Sincere a hangman clothesline. Sincere with a fistdrop, and a bridging northern lights suplex gets him two. A criss cross allows Michaels a bodypress for two, but Sincere cuts him off with a clothesline. Sincere celebrates by doing the macarena, and a short-clothesline gets him two. Sincere with a Russian legsweep for two, and he grounds the champion in a chinlock from there. Shawn tries a crucifix, but gets blocked, and they do a reversal sequence that ends in Shawn landing a jumping forearm. He goes on the comeback trail, and the superkick finishes at 7:52. This was a perfectly solid, watchable TV match - even if the result was never in any doubt. * ¼ 

BUExperience: I enjoyed this week. There was nothing of any real note, but it was an easy watch.