WWF Action Zone (November 20, 1994)

 

Original Airdate: November 20, 1994 (taped October 19)

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

Charlie Minn is in the crowd, getting everyone hyped up for Survivor Series

Fatu v Jeff Jarrett: Minn catches up with Jarrett during the entrances, and Jeff promises that this match is going to be a preview of what you’ll get if you order Survivor Series. With marketing like that, no wonder business was down. If you ever wonder why Todd got hired, witness how easily Vince cracks up at literally everything that comes out of his mouth. Fatu wins a criss cross with a clothesline for two, and another criss cross ends in a backbreaker. A charge misses, however, which allows Jarrett a bulldog. And Fatu actually sells it! I thought for sure that was going to see him pop up. Jeff with a corner whip and a dropkick for two, as Owen Hart and Jim Neidhart wander down to ringside. Jarrett holds an armbar, but Fatu escapes. Fatu tries a backdrop, but Jeff counters with a facebuster, and there’s that no-sell. Jeff recovers with a dropkick for one, and he grounds Fatu in another armbar. Fatu escapes, so Jeff DDTs him, but that gets no-sold, and this time Fatu goes on the comeback trail. He hits a powerslam, but Owen is distracting the referee, so no count. That allows Neidhart to come in, but he accidentally hits Jarrett as they try a double team, and Fatu scores the pin off of it at 5:32. Afterwards, Jarrett blows up at his future tag partners, but Diesel is able to come out and cool things down. ½*

Survivor Series Hotline ad

Bob Backlund v Tony DeVito: Backlund has Owen Hart out with him, with Hart showing off the towel that Davey Boy Smith will throw in for Bret at Survivor Series. Bob with the crossface chickenwing at 3:07, cutting off an OJ Simpson joke that Pettengill is trying to make, that we never get the punchline of. DUD

Survivor Series ad

Davey Boy Smith and 1-2-3 Kid v Executioner and Roy Raymond: Okay, I get it, because they’re partners at Survivor Series. I like little build up stuff like this. It’s simple, but gets over that they don’t have experience as partners, and that they’re trying to get some before the pay per view. Nothing wrong with that! Bulldog press-drops Kid onto Executioner for the pin at 2:04. ¼*

Survivor Series ad. I like how they describe it as ‘from the director of WrestleMania X and SummerSlam.’ That should tell you exactly how they viewed King of the Ring internally 

Diesel v Aaron Ferguson: Diesel with the powerbomb, and an arrogant pin at 2:43. Who could have guessed what a rocket they’d strap to this guy just a few days after this. DUD

Irwin R. Schyster provides an update on his investigation into a recently deceased man’s taxes. I get how this tied into a feud with Undertaker, but also I don’t get it. Like, why would Undertaker give a shit if IRS is messing with dead guys? Undertaker’s job is to bury them, I think that’s where it ends

Doink the Clown v Richie Rich: Doink has his whole clown army out with him, and they’re into tomfoolery. And also shenanigans. Meanwhile, Todd notes that Snoop Dogg is offering $1,000,000 to anyone who can out rap him, freestyle, and Vince throws Oscar’s name into the competition. I’m more impressed that Vince would know who Snoop Dogg is in 1994. Doink with the whoopie cushion at 1:28. DUD

BUExperience: I enjoyed the Survivor Series push this week, as simple as it was.