WWF Superstars (September 22, 1996)

 

Original Airdate: September 22, 1996

Your Host is Todd Pettengill from inside the CoreStates Center in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, site of tonight’s In Your House

Sapphire tribute, as she had just passed away

Vader v Savio Vega: From Columbus Ohio on August 20. Vader takes him into the corner for some hammering, and an avalanche drops Savio. Savio fights him off, and throws a dropkick, then corner whips Vader to set up a spinheel kick in the corner for two. Vader with a clothesline, and he sets up for the pump-splash, but Savio is up. He side suplexes Vader, but Vader blocks a sunset flip. Vader misses a sitdown splash, allowing Vega a cover for two, and Vega adds a bodypress for two. Vader manages a bodyblock during a criss cross, however, and the powerbomb finishes at 5:50. I’ve always loved Vader’s powerbomb. This match heated up in the final moments, but it was pretty dull beforehand. ½*

Undertaker/Goldust feud review video

Stalker v Goon: From Columbus Ohio on August 20. Slugfest to start, won by Stalker, as Jim Ross hypes up the return of Diesel and Razor Ramon tomorrow on RAW. That brings Gorilla Monsoon in via split screen, and he has no idea what Ross is talking about, and finds the news highly unlikely. They’re still acknowledging that Stalker is Barry Windham at this point, which I still find very weird. Stalker with a vertical superplex at 4:27. ½*

Todd catches up with Mark Henry in the dressing room, who will be making his pay per view debut tonight. That brings Jerry Lawler in to throw a drink at him, and then run away

In Your House ad

Crush v David Haskins: From Columbus Ohio on August 20. The announcers work to put over how ‘hot’ the coffee Lawler threw at Henry was, despite Mark not even selling the temperature at all. Honestly, watching the segment, it came off more like Lawler played a prank on him by pretending it was hot, and then throwing cold water on him. Crush with the heart punch at 2:16. DUD

Todd catches up with WWF Champion Shawn Michaels, but Paul Bearer crashes the party, and Mankind attacks to brawl with the champion before it’s quickly broken up

Davey Boy Smith and Owen Hart v Bob Holly and Alex Porteau: From Columbus Ohio on August 20. Hart and Holly start, and a criss cross sees Holly land a pair of dropkicks. That brings Bulldog in, but Bob is ready for the sneak attack, and uses a drop-toehold. Tag to Porteau for a hiptoss, and an armdrag follows. That brings Hart in, but Porteau uses a drop-toehold as well, and tags to Bob. Holly works Davey’s arm, as we see the Smoking Gunns watching on a monitor backstage. A criss cross sees Owen hit Bob with a spinheel kick, and the heels gets control. They work Holly over, but a collision with Smith allows the tag to Porteau, and he runs wild. A criss cross allows the heels a cheap shot, and Bulldog plants him with a running powerslam for Owen to finish with the Sharpshooter at 3:27. This was okay, but too short to really get into gear. Afterwards, the Gunns run in to brawl with Bulldog and Owen, ahead of their meeting at In Your House tonight. ¾*

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Marc Mero v Lou Marcolli: From Columbus Ohio on August 20. Faarooq and Sunny split screen in, hyping Faarooq’s match with Mero on RAW for the vacant Intercontinental title. Mero with the flying shooting star press at 1:43. DUD

Bob Backlund and Iron Sheik are ready to lead Sultan to the WWF Title. Yeah, well good luck with that

Todd catches up with Brian Pillman, who is still promising Bret Hart at In Your House tonight

In Your House ad

Shawn Michaels storms out, shooing Pillman (still around, still ranting) away, so he can cut a go-home promo on Mankind

BUExperience: This was the show’s debut on the USA Network, but it was kind of a soft start.