WWF Superstars (October 13, 1996)

 

Original Airdate: October 13, 1996 (taped September 24)

From State College, Pennsylvania; Your Hosts are Jim Ross and Mr. Perfect

Savio Vega v Salvatore Sincere: Steve Austin is out to do commentary, ostensibly because he’s facing Savio at In Your House, though he’s really more focused on Bret Hart than Vega. Vega dumps him over the top early on, but Sincere snaps his throat across the rope on the way back in. A criss cross allows Vega a bodypress for two, and a bodyslam sets up an elbowdrop, but Sincere dodges. Sincere capitalizes with a clothesline, as Austin continues to carry this entire show with his commentary appearance. Why they ever thought this guy needed a mouthpiece is beyond me. Sincere with a 2nd rope elbowdrop, so Vega tries a dropkick, but Sincere dodges. Sincere with a cross corner whip, but the charge in gets blocked, and Vega lands a spinkick. Vega with a ten-punch count, as Perfect and Steve nearly come to blows at the desk. Ross ejects him, but that just sends Steve down to ringside, and he trips Savio up. That allows Sincere a full nelson slam at 5:37. ¾*

Undertaker has taken up residence at a cemetery. And the real estate market hadn’t even really exploded yet back in 1996

In Your House ad

Crush v Freddie Joe Floyd: Floyd tries a wristlock at the bell, but Crush easily powers out, and unloads in the corner. Crush with a cross corner whip, followed by a clothesline, and a backbreaker. Crush press-drops Freddie across the top rope, but gets distracted by some young guy in the crowd showing off a ‘jailbird’ sign. Crush rips it away from him, but Clarence Mason cuts him off before it gets worse. All this allows Floyd to recover, and he slugs at Crush, but gets nailed with a big boot. That allows Crush the heart punch at 2:34. Great sell from Floyd on the finish. Afterwards, Crush goes out to confront the fan again, and the idiot decides to slap Crush, and gets his ass beat. Gosh, could they have made it more obvious that he was a plant? Not only did he put his hands on Crush, but his seat changed between now and earlier in the match! ¼*

Kevin Kelly brings Sycho Sid out to talk about facing Vader in a top contender’s match at In Your House

Survivor Series weekend ad

Stalker v Goon: Didn’t we just see these two face off a couple of weeks ago? And it’s one thing if it’s a rematch, but they don’t even acknowledge the previous meeting. Goldust is out for commentary here, and he really admires Stalker. Well, no surprise there. Goon beats him into the corner, and uses a cross corner whip, but misses an avalanche. That allows Stalker a backdrop, but an elbowdrop misses, and Goon hammers on him. Goon with an inverted corner splash, and a snapmare leads to a bicycle kick. Goon lands a second one, but Stalker fights him off with a bodyslam, and uses a vertical suplex, as the commentary just dies. Much like this match. Goon with a gutwrench suplex for one, but Stalker wins a criss cross with a forearm, and a floatover vertical superplex finishes at 3:15. This was horrible. DUD

Jesse James is the real Double J, though he’s not sure if he’s talented. But he thinks he might be. Well, keep us in the loop

Davey Boy Smith and Owen Hart v The Godwinns: The WWF Tag Team title is not on the line here. The Smoking Gunns split screen in here, ready to tag the title back at In Your House. Owen and Henry Godwinn start, and some posturing ends in Henry press-slamming him. The Godwinns pinball Owen in their corner, so Bulldog comes in without a tag, but Phineas Godwinn is in to help Henry clean house. The dust settles on Davey and Phineas, and Phineas hiptosses him. Phineas grabs a wristlock, so Davey forces him into the heel corner, but Phineas fights off the double team, and the heels bail. The dust settles on Owen and Henry, as Jim Cornette shows up to do commentary. Henry with a wheelbarrow facebuster for two, and both guys tag. The heels immediately sucker Phineas into a double team, and they take control. They work Phineas over, but Hart misses a flying splash, and Henry catches the hot tag - Roseanne Barr the door! Henry hits Bulldog with the inverted DDT for the pin at 7:20, drawing a big pop. Yeah, this crowd was crazy into the Godwinns, to the point where even Ross had to note that it was unusual. * ½ 

Faarooq v Jason Ahrndt: Faarooq is still in gladiator mode. I may not like the gimmick, but the entrance theme isn’t bad. Faarooq with the dominator at 2:31. DUD

Mankind is hanging out in an open grave. As one does

BUExperience: A solid enough episode, but the general direction of this show has been really bad in recent weeks.