WWF Superstars (March 2, 1997)

 

Original Airdate: March 2, 1997 (taped February 24)

From New York, New York; Your Hosts are Jim Ross and Jim Cornette

Bart Gunn v TL Hopper: Yes, TL Hopper in the Manhattan Center, in front of the ECW faithful. Really booking to appeal to the live crowd here, clearly. Though, he would certainly be an aspirational character for a lot of them, probably. Bart with a bulldog at 4:15. DUD

Kevin Kelly is  in the crowd, with the Legion of Doom. Not much said here, but it worked for what it was, fitting perfectly with the Manhattan Center crowd’s vibe. Much more so than TL Hopper, that’s for sure

Henry Godwinn v Blackjack Bradshaw: Henry with a belly-to-belly suplex for two, so Bradshaw throws a big boot, and then a cross corner clothesline. Bradshaw takes too long celebrating, and Godwinn presses him over the top, then throws a clothesline when Bradshaw hustles back in. Backdrop, but Bradshaw blocks, and delivers a short-clothesline. Bradshaw adds an elbowdrop for two, but Henry reverses a vertical suplex, and a powerslam gets him two. Henry lands a backelbow for two, but Bradshaw blocks a whip into the ropes, and delivers a Russian legsweep for two. Lariat, but Godwinn ducks, and hits the inverted DDT, but Blackjack Windham gets Bradshaw into the ropes at two. Windham switches off with him, and he catches Godwinn with an inside cradle at 5:30. Oh, whoops, another referee shows up to alert the first to the switch, and the decision is reversed in Godwinn’s favor. They were throwing each other around here, and that’s always fun. ¾*

WWF tour ad. No snappy tour name, sadly. Cut for budget reasons, I assume 

A look at the new WWF European title, ahead of crowning the first champion this Monday on RAW

The Headbangers v Barry Horowitz and Freddie Joe Floyd: Well, it’s the Mega Powers of jobber tag teams, at least. I’d make a joke about how Floyd is another booking miss in front of this crowd, but he actually went on to be a pretty big star in the promotion later on, so I’ll shut up. The Headbangers with a combo at 3:33. ¼*

Kevin Kelly brings Undertaker out to discuss his WWF Title match with Sycho Sid at WrestleMania 13. And make Pulp Fiction references 

WrestleMania 13 ad

Goldust and Miguel Perez v Crush and Savio Vega: That’s a weird combination, it’s like a random JTTS team from an old Wrestling Challenge episode. A big brawl to start, dominated by the babyfaces. The dust settles on Perez holding Vega in a wristlock, and he passes to Goldust for a legdrop to the arm of Savio. Goldust grabs a wristlock, so Savio goes to the eyes, and passes to Crush. Crush tries a clothesline, but misses, and Goldust rebounds with an uppercut for two. Back to Perez for another wristlock, but Crush quickly powers out, and the heels double up on him in their corner. Vega tries a hiptoss, but Perez reverses, and dropkicks Savio out of the ring. Perez dives with a somersault plancha, and he corner whips Vega on the way back in, setting up a ten-punch - only for Savio to shake him off with a hotshot across the top turnbuckle. That allows the tag back to Crush, and the heels go to work on Perez. The cut the ring in half, until Goldust catches the hot tag, and runs wild - Roseanne Barr the door! Goldust catches Savio with a facebuster, but Crush nails him with a chair to prevent the pin, and Vega covers Goldust at 11:40. This had some energy early on, but was ultimately too long, and the heat segment dragged. ½*

Shawn Michaels ‘Tell Me a Lie’ music video. With new clips from throughout 1996. So it’s fresh. Except that, you know, no one missed Shawn at this point, versus when he got hurt in 1995

BUExperience: Just put a bullet in this show already, this is getting depressing.