WWF Mania (October 23, 1993)

 

Original Airdate: October 23, 1993 

Your Host is Todd Pettengill from the studio

Doink the Clown v Chris Duffy: From the October 17 episode of Wrestling Challenge (taped September 29) in Portland Maine. Duffy kicks over his tricycle before the bell, so Doink busts out a fucking plancha to kickstart things. Doink with the whoopie cushion at 2:39. ¼*

1-2-3 Kid v Pat Tanaka: From the October 16 episode of Superstars (taped September 28) in Worcester Massachusetts. Do they have the same exact boots? They trade kicks to start, dominated by Kid, until Tanaka sweeps the leg. Criss cross ends in Kid delivering a dropkick, and an armdrag ends in Kid holding an armbar. They trade wristlocks, won by Tanaka with a savate kick, and he works a headlock. Kid escapes and uses a spinkick to send Tanaka to the outside, and Kid adds a slingshot sunset bomb on the floor! That was some wild stuff for 1993, and the crowd is surprisingly not losing their minds for it. Kid adds a tope to try and hook them that way, but Tanaka turns the tide on the way back in, and hammers him in the corner. Tanaka with a cross corner whip, but Kid rebounds out with a lariat, and makes a comeback. Flying moonsault press looks to finish, but Kid hurts himself on the landing, and can’t hold the cover. Tanaka capitalizes with a corner whip, but Kid is ready with a spinheel kick on the charge, and a victory roll finishes at 6:27. This was a pretty fun match, with Kid doing some wild stuff for this era/promotion. **

Ludvig Borga v Tony Roy: From the October 16 Superstars. They’re pushing Borga/Lex Luger pretty hard this week, which never really went anywhere on TV, but set up a house show program between them for the next few months. Borga with a torture rack at 2:53. DUD

The Heavenly Bodies v Ray Roy and Tom McNeany: From the October 17 Wrestling Challenge. The Bodies pick up the win here at 2:54, as the announcers talk about their rivalry with the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express. It’s so fucking weird hearing that on WWF TV. I can just never get used to it. DUD

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From the October 18 episode of Monday Night RAW in Poughkeepsie New York, Bobby Heenan brings Crush out to the ring to host the Randy Savage/Crush Summit! Crush brings Mr. Fuji with him, and starts tearing into Savage with accusations that Randy set him up to get injured by Yokozuna, and waited way too long to save him from further damage. Instead, he sat at the commentary table while Crush took Banzai Drop after Banzai Drop. Guy actually has a point, but the fans are behind Savage all the way with this. Putting Crush with Fuji right away was a smart move, because otherwise, people might have actually started cheering him. Anyway, Randy doesn't apologize or admit fault, but says he's willing to shake Crush's hand, and move on. After some consideration, Crush shakes his hand (to a huge pop), but of course, Crush blasts him with a clothesline as they walk out together, and delivers a beat down - even dropping Savage across the railing. Jim Cornette quickly leads Yokozuna down (well, as quickly as Yoko moves, anyway), and it's Banzai Drop time for Savage! This was a great, long segment, with both Savage and Crush playing their roles perfectly, and Heenan, Yoko, and Fuji providing great support - the crowd buying it all, big time

Owen Hart v Scott Taylor: From the October 16 Superstars. The Bret/Owen feud is one of my all time favorite feuds (if not the favorite), and man, it’s unbelievable how much they were able to elevate Owen with it. I mean, he was nothing prior, and made after. Hart with a missile dropkick and a bridging northern lights suplex at 3:52. ½*

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BUExperience: An enjoyable hour, and Todd did a good job of getting the severity of the Crush/Savage segment across.