WWF Sunday Night Slam (March 26, 1995)

 

Original Airdate: March 26, 1995 (taped March 13)

From Stockton, California; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon and Jim Ross

Earlier today, Lex Luger and Tatanka hung out in the darkened arena, individually reflecting on the dangers of a cage match

WWF Intercontinental Title Match: Jeff Jarrett v Bob Backlund: Backlund with a few corner whips and a bodyslam right away, and he grabs Jeff in a butterfly suplex for two. Bob with an atomic drop for two, and Jarrett is finally able to bail. Backlund drags him back in, but Jeff reverses him into the ropes, and manages a hiptoss into a short-armscissors. Bob powers to a vertical base and gets into the ropes to force a break, so Roadie throws a cheap shot, and that allows Jeff to get an abdominal stretch on. Bob escapes, so Jeff bodyslams him, and hooks a small package for two. Jarrett uses a sunset flip for two, but a corner charge misses, and Bob starts wrenching at the shoulder. Backlund with a piledriver to stun the champion, and he looks for the crossface chickenwing, but Razor Ramon runs in to attack Backlund to draw the DQ at 5:49. These two actually had some solid chemistry, even if it was kind of perplexing of them to book a heel/heel match - with Backlund playing the babyface, to boot! Afterwards, Bob puts Razor in the chickenwing to get some (much earned) payback, but Bret Hart and 1-2-3 Kid run out to make the save! * ¼ 

WrestleMania XI countdown

WrestleMania XI ad

Bam Bam Bigelow v Sionne: In a very WCW-like gaffe, they misspell ‘Sionne’ on not one but two graphics! I realize it’s not a common name, and he’s not a big star, but still. Bigelow pounds him down early, and goes to work, but Sionne matches him with fists. Sionne hits a powerslam for two, but a flying headbutt drop misses. That allows Bam Bam an avalanche, and an enzuigiri follows. That allows Bigelow to go upstairs, and a flying twisting bodypress finishes at 3:58. Afterwards, the Million Dollar Corporation come out to show Lawrence Taylor what he’s up against at WrestleMania. ¼*

Vince brings WWF Champion Diesel out, and man, this guy is not selling any last minute buys for WrestleMania. The guy desperately needed to watch some old Hulk Hogan promos and find that energy. Luckily, just before everyone falls asleep, Shawn Michaels and Sycho Sid hit the ring to show him how it’s done

Todd Pettengill is in the studio with the WrestleMania XI Report. Todd promises ‘more media than the OJ trial,’ which is somehow a selling point?

Cage Match: Lex Luger v Tatanka: No idea why they didn’t just push this to WrestleMania. It’s not like either guy had anything better going on for that show. Tatanka attacks as Lex enters the cage, and hammers on him. They note that pinfalls count here (in addition to escapes), but there’s no official in the ring with them, so that’s going to be interesting. Maybe they count their own falls, on the honor system? Tatanka with a corner whip, but Lex rebounds with a clothesline, then adds another pair for good measure. Tatanka tries a turnbuckle smash, but Luger reverses, and gives him a few more there as well. Lex sends Tatanka into the cage a few times, and the referee runs in to count two. And then he leaves, since apparently he only comes in whenever a count is needed. Well, that’s stupid. Luger looks for an elbowdrop, but Tatanka dodges. That allows Tatanka to crawl for the door, but Lex manages to save. Tatanka responds with a vertical suplex, and now Lex tastes the steel. Tatanka keeps hammering, but Lex gets fed up with him, and makes a comeback. Lex hits a bulldog, followed by a vertical suplex of his own for two. Lex with a powerslam for two, as they make this poor referee get his cardio in the hard way. Tatanka with an inverted atomic drop to buy time, and he looks to climb out, but Luger slams him off the top rope. Lex goes to the middle for a dive with a forearm smash, and that’s enough to put it away at 9:37. This was every Luger/Tatanka match ever - serviceable, but nothing special. It was good to see the issue finally get a proper blowoff, though. *

WrestleMania XI countdown. It’s still seven days away

Salt ‘n’ Pepa are looking forward to coming to Hartford. Gosh, how much were they paying them?

Backstage, Bret Hart has ‘two words’ for Bob Backlund. What a degenerate 

BUExperience: A very enjoyable hour.