WWF Action Zone (November 6, 1994)

 

Original Airdate: November 6, 1994 (taped October 19)

From Albany, New York; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon and Todd Pettengill

Yokozuna v Mabel: Charlie Minn catches up with Mabel in the aisle, mostly to show off his dancing skill. They measure each other to start, with Mabel knocking him off of his feet right away, and Yokozuna bailing. Todd notes that Jurassic Park is being released on home video, which is insane, considering it came out way back in the summer of 1993. That must have had an incredible theater run. Back in, Mabel wins another exchange, again taking Yokozuna off of his feet, and to the outside. Mabel follows, but Yokozuna reverses him into the steps, and Mabel is left looking up at the lights on the floor. Mabel makes it in, so Yokozuna nails him with a shoulderblock, and throws a series of shots from there, then down for a nervehold. Mabel escapes, and throws a clothesline for two, then a 2nd rope bodypress for two. Mabel decides to go the top, but Yokozuna slams him off. That was something. Yokozuna keeps coming with an avalanche, and the Banzai drop finishes at 6:37. This wasn’t a lost classic, or anything, but it was better than I expected. ½*

Chuck Norris is ready to prevent trouble in the Casket match at Survivor Series. So, he’ll be preventing the match from taking place?

Undertaker is ready to bury Yokozuna. And maybe Jim Cornette and Mr. Fuji, if there’s time

Irwin R. Schyster is at the cemetery, lecturing headstones about the tax code

1-2-3 Kid v Todd Mata: This also aired on the same day’s episode of Wrestling Challenge. I’m wondering how long it will take Todd to make a ‘doesn’t mata’ joke. The stopwatch is running. Kid with a missile dropkick at 2:21. Sadly, Todd never goes there. ¼*

Charlie Minn introduces clips of Bob Backlund attacking guys with the crossface chickenwing 

Raymond Rougeau brings WWF Champion Bret Hart out, and we get a nice bit of production here, as they play the ‘go get ‘em champ’ spot right before it, making it look like it happened backstage right before Bret comes through the curtain. That was a perfect shift. Bret is ready for Backlund at Survivor Series, where it will be the ‘old generation’ against the ‘new generation.’ And, speaking of old, Bob has gone senile, and he’s dangerous, but he’s not going to get the title. This was mostly to establish the stipulations and rules for the Towel match, and it was effective 

Jeff Jarrett v Steve King: This also aired on Wrestling Challenge from this same day. Todd takes the time to run down all the NFL games airing today, and making sure to note how much each of them are going to suck. Well, that’s certainly one strategy. Jarrett with the figure four at 1:58. I can’t hate on Jarrett, man taught me how to spell. DUD

Backstage, Charlie Minn promises an interview with Jerry Lawler later

The New Headshrinkers v Iron Mike Sharpe and HD Ryder: Sharpe attacks during the entrances to kickstart things, which is very ballsy behavior for a jobber. Even a tenured jobber. The gimmick here is that Fatu can’t work in boots, which Captain Lou Albano has been trying to make him wear. It doesn’t stop him from finishing with a flying splash on Ryder at 2:39. Well, at least the right jobber jobbed. DUD

Backstage, Minn catches up with Lawler, and he’s got the entire Royal Family with him. Jerry promises to win his ‘tune up’ match against Bob Holly next week. Too bad Lawler wasn’t out there during the Mata match

Tatanka v Tim McNeany: Tatanka’s cold as a heel here, despite the best efforts of the post-production sound. Tatanka with a Samoan drop at 4:29. This felt endless. DUD

BUExperience: The fall of ‘94 wasn’t the best period for the promotion in general, but I enjoyed jumping into this episode, and other than the Tatanka squash, nothing dragged.