Sage Cortez
With the televised Madison Square Garden shows over, it becomes a little more difficult to find WWF material to review until Monday Night Raw starts. Regardless, I must push on. I did find a lot of things to review from April and May, which is good news. I have no idea how good any of it is, because I’ve never seen any of it. So, we’ll see what happens as far as that goes. Unfortunately for the WWF, there was yet another scandal. This one was regarding female referee Rita Chatterton. As pretty much everyone knows by now, she alleged that Vince McMahon raped her. It was never proven, but that was a stain on the company. The bad news just would not stop. The WWF did have an idea to air Piper’s Pit every week on TV, but they didn’t work out and the WWF had no weekly show within the show.
– April 8th, 1992, from Wings Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan
Irwin R. Schyster (WWF Tag Champion, w/Jimmy Hart) vs. Randy Savage for the WWF Championship
Pre-Match Thoughts: I do know way better than to watch this, but I can’t help myself. First of many matches showcased here. This was Savage’s second match after WrestleMania, and it was taped for Coliseum Video. The new champion got a great pop, and maybe he’ll look to carry the show as a champion is supposed to do. That’s my hope in watching this, anyway.
Match Review: IRS stalls for quite a long time, which I find quite unnecessary. They finally lock up, and Savage goes to a headlock. Savage hip tosses IRS after that, and follows that with a clothesline to send him to the outside. IRS gets back in there, and tries to kick Savage on the break, only for Savage to atomic drop him over the top and out to the floor. Savage knees IRS from behind to knock him into Jimmy Hart, then throws him into the ring. Savage heads up top, and down he comes with a double axehandle for 2. Savage then grabs Jimmy Hart, but IRS attacks from behind and leg drops the groin area. IRS tosses Savage over the top, and Hart gets in a kick. IRS rams Savage into the steps, then drags him into the ring for a Savage sunset flip that gets 2. IRS comes back with elbows for 2, and puts Savage in an abdominal stretch. Savage gets out with a hip toss after the referee catches IRS cheating, then Savage rolls IRS up for 2. IRS and Savage botch another abdominal stretch, with Savage instead rolling to the outside and selling a knee to the gut. Back in he goes, and IRS goes to the chinlock. Why, of course! IRS cheats with the ropes again, and when the referee catches him, IRS gets up for a leg drop. Now IRS heads up top, but eats a boot on the way down. Savage starts his comeback with a back elbow, then he throws IRS hard into the corner. After standing on his tie, Savage goes for a leapfrog body guillotine and wipes out. IRS hits him with his big flying clothesline, but Savage kicks out at 2. IRS wants his briefcase, but Savage throws IRS into it first. Savage knocks Hart off the apron, then heads up top and hits IRS with the FLYING ELBOW! Obviously, that gets the victory at 11:15.
My Thoughts: I’d never doubt Savage’s connection with the fans after watching this match. Look at who he faced, and the pop he got for winning. That’s a real star, right there. The WWF should never have stopped using him as a wrestler in 1993 and 1994. What a big mistake that was. Savage was a great babyface champion to have, it’s not like they could find better with Hogan gone. **1/4, it was basically a standard IRS match that wasn’t bad. Not that there are many of those.
– April 19th, 1992, from UK Rampage ’92 in Sheffield, England
Sid Justice (w/Harvey Wippleman) vs. The Undertaker (w/Paul Bearer)
Pre-Match Thoughts: I’m glad they did one of these matches before Sid wound up having to leave the WWF. This tour for the WWF actually did enormous business, and set the stage for their future overseas tours. Without these tours, the WWF could have had much more severe financial problems during their lean years. They really needed the money from these. It was also good that when Davey Boy Smith left, Bret Hart was able to fill his spot as a drawing card there. This is a match that’s obviously going to be terrible, but I couldn’t care less. It’s different and that makes it worth seeing. Sid’s promo before the match was as great as ever. Maybe his best one that doesn’t resort to screaming. I love Harvey Wippleman’s introduction of Sid. I’m very sad that there were only a few of them.
Match Review: Sid attacks Taker from behind, so here we go. Sid beats Taker up in the corner, eventually choking him with the top rope. Taker starts no-selling, and comes back with his own right hands on Sid. Taker picks Sid up and slams him, but misses an elbow drop. Sid kicks Taker out to the apron, and knocks him down with a forearm. Taker drops Sid on the top rope with a jawbreaker type thing, then climbs up the buckles for OLD SCHOOL. Taker hits Sid with a flying clothesline after that, and goes for the TOMBSTONE! Sid makes the ropes and gets down from Taker’s shoulders, then gets a distraction from Wippleman so he can hit Taker from behind. Taker ducks under a clothesline, so Sid CHOKESLAMS him instead. Sid follows with a side slam, then tells the crowd to shut up. Sid rams Taker’s face into the mat, but Taker comes back with some punches and hits Sid with a clothesline. They go out to the floor, and Sid takes Taker into the post. Sid gets back in the ring, and Taker gets counted out at 5:15 before he could get back in there. They keep fighting after the match, and Sid gets a CHAIR. he wallops Taker with it, then picks him up for a NECKBREAKER. TAKER SITS UP as Sid plays to the crowd, then he stands up and drops him with the TOMBSTONE. AFter that, he leaves.
My Thoughts: This was WAY better than I thought it would be, but perhaps it’s my appreciation of nuanced work that is causing that. Both guys bumped well for each other, and they got in all their stuff in just five minutes. Can’t bitch about that. All in all, the fans did get their money’s worth given the quality of the work. I’m not going to make it sound like this was Flair/Steamboat, but both guys worked hard despite their limitations. **.
Shawn Michaels (w/Sensational Sherri) vs. Randy Savage (w/Elizabeth) for the WWF Championship
Pre-Match Thoughts: I’ve seen this before and thought it was excellent. That was some time ago, though. Let’s see if it holds up or not. On the heel side, other than Ric Flair, Michaels would have to be considered the best worker at this particular time. Savage would be #1 or #2 on the face side as well. When things like that happen, it’s bound that a good match comes as a result of it.
Match Review: The guys finally lock up, with nothing coming of it. Michaels then goes to a hammerlock, which gets reverses. Michaels gets out of that, and throws Savage into the corner where he misses a charge. Savage takes Michaels from buckle to buckle, and Michaels leaves the ring. Savage throws a chair into the ring just to kill some time, then climbs back in there. Savage throws Michaels over the top, but he skins the cat back in only to be clotheslined back over the top. Savage flies out with BOMBS AWAY, then brings Michaels back in for a try at a PILEDRIVER. In the middle of that, Sherri walks over to Elizabeth and tries to attack her. Savage grabs Sherri’s hair, and Michaels attacks him as Elizabeth walks to the back. Good touch, there. Michaels sends Savage into the rail, then the stairs, then back inside. Michaels drops Savage with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, and it gets 2. Michaels works on the eyes for a while, then drops Savage with a neckbreaker for 2. Michaels goes for a boot, but Savage trips him and catapults him into the post! The cover gets 2, then Savage leaps over the top and clotheslines Michaels with the rope. A knee to the back sends Michaels over the top, then Savage goes for BOMBS AWAY again. He throws Michaels into the post, then back in for a double axehandle from the top for 2. Savage goes up top again, but this time Michaels hits him on the way down. Michaels follows that up with a hip toss reversal and clothesline, which gets 2. Michaels hits Savage with a superkick for 2, then slams him. Now he heads up top, and he comes down with a fist drop. Savage winds up on the floor and eats the post himself, and sells it in amazing fashion. Sherri gets some punches in on Savage, then he goes back in only for Michaels to throw him back over the top. Sherri kicks Savage in the gut this time, then Michaels gives Savage his own clothesline with the rope. Michaels levels Savage with some punches that get 2, but Savage blocks a backdrop and runs over the referee on accident. Savage grabs Michaels and drops him throat-first on the top, then picks him up for a bodyslam. Savage heads up top again, and this time he comes down with the FLYING ELBOW. There’s nobody there to count, so Sherri runs in and starts kicking Savage. He tires of that, so he chases her out of the ring. Now the referee wakes up and counts the fall, but Savage only gets 2. Savage then spits at Sherri, so she gets on the apron. Elizabeth comes back to the ring and tips Sherri into it, hurting her. Savage goes up top AGAIN, and this time comes down with a cross body that gets 2. I really thought that was the finish. Sherri’s on the apron again, and this time Elizabeth pulls her to the floor. Savage misses a charge to the corner, so Michaels flies off the top with a sunset flip for 2. Savage hits him with a back elbow and climbs the buckles, then jumps over a running Michaels to run to the other side. Up top he goes, cross body, and Savage wins the match at 16:58!
Sherri gets in the ring with her boot, but she jumps off the top and accidentally hits Michaels with it. Savage gives them a noggin-knocker, and it’s time for celebrations!
My Thoughts: I thought this was great, with both guys flying around like crazy come the end of the match. The stuff outside the ring with Sherri and Elizabeth was excellent window dressing. There was a bit of repetition in this one, but it didn’t take away from the match at all. This was a great match for showing the potential of Michaels and no doubt it put him high up on the WWF’s plans. It also shows that Savage was by no means past his prime. I think it’s equal to the Pillman/Zenk match that I just watched, so I’m going with ***3/4. Savage did have more great matches, but not many more. Elizabeth never appeared in WWE again. That’s too bad, even though she showed up later in WCW, it was never the same.
– Taped to air April 25th, 1992, on Superstars, from Wings Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan
The Berzerker (w/Mr. Fuji) vs. The Undertaker (w/Paul Bearer)
Maybe this was their way of rewarding the Berzerker for his match at WrestleMania not going down. If you’ve never seen this…you have to. They had all this talk about a match taking place, yet that’s not what happened. Fuji decides to take the urn from Bearer, then Berzerker takes his shield and hits both Bearer and Taker with it. Eventually Taker goes down, so Berzerker grabs his sword and…TRIES TO KILL THE UNDERTAKER WITH IT. I guess you could say he went berserk. Taker rolls out of the way, but Berzerker clotheslines him over the top. Taker grabs onto Fuji, but Berzerker is still going nuts on him and throws Taker into the post. Now he lifts up the padding at ringside, and PILEDRIVES HIM. Taker sits up after some time, and they’re full into the zombie shit now. He stalks Berzerker all the way to the back. Can’t say they didn’t try to get the Berzerker some heat. Good segment.
– April 28th, 1992, from the Convention Center in Niagara Falls, New York
Money Inc. (WWF Tag Team Champions) and the Nasty Boys (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. The Natural Disasters and Legion of Doom (w/Paul Ellering)
Pre-Match Thoughts: This is quite literally a big match. Lots of weight in there. It doesn’t seem right that the Disasters and LOD would team up for any reason at all. I can’t buy it. They did long introductions for every team, which seems completely ridiculous given the length of the match. Ellering being there to confront Jimmy Hart could be great, but I’m not counting on it.
Match Review: Hawk locks up with DiBiase, and shoves him back into the corner a few times. DiBiase tries a wristlock, but down he goes again. Hawk clotheslines DiBiase, then IRS gets one. Animal gets in there and double clotheslines the Nasty Boys, then the Disasters shoulder all four opponents to the outside. IRS tries arm wringers on Hawk, but Hawk takes him down with one. He hits IRS with a back elbow, then boots him in the face. Hawk gets grabbed while running the ropes, so IRS knees him in the back and tags out. Knobbs comes in with forearms, then chokes Hawk in the corner. All three opponents do it too, then Sags hits Hawk with a back elbow. Sags puts a chinlock on Hawk, then DiBiase tags in for a swinging neckbreaker that gets 2. DiBiase applies the chinlock as well, eventually kneeing Hawk in the gut. IRS tags in, and eventually everyone takes a turn choking Hawk again. Hawk hits IRS with a running clothesline, and it’s finally time for a tag. Except one doesn’t come. Hawk and DiBiase clothesline each other, and there’s the tag. Animal comes in with dropkicks and clotheslines for everyone, then tags in Earthquake. Typhoon bodyslams Knobbs, then Quake goes for the BUTT SPLASH only to get attacked. Everyone’s in there, and Typhoon crushes Knobbs in the corner for a while. Sags goes for a sunset flip on Quake, so Quake falls on top with the BUTT SPLASH for the win at 7:58. Of course, Ellering gets in a shot on Jimmy Hart. Should have done more.
My Thoughts: This match stunk and I completely regretted watching it. Not going to make that mistake again with a multi-man tag involving these guys. DUD, with Hawk doing way too much work and being in the ring for too long.
Now it’s time to talk about Sid’s drug test. Here’s what I read in the Wrestling Observer. It says here that he failed his urine test and got caught using steroids. It also said that he had a problem with his match with the Ultimate Warrior and left the building right after the match was over. I don’t know if any of this was disproven, but the story about how one of the wrestlers found a way to purchase the exact type of bottle that the urine tests were done in sounds quite smart. As a result, the WWF dropped their Sid/Warrior matches and decided to do Papa Shango/Warrior instead. They also signed Kamala. It was initially expected that Sid would come back, but obviously he did not.
– April 29th, 1992, from War Memorial Arena in Syracuse, New York
Shawn Michaels (w/Sensational Sherri) vs. Bret Hart for the WWF Intercontinental Championship
Pre-Match Thoughts: This was the first of many singles matches between these two with them having split from their teams. Not just in the terms of their careers, but just in this year. This was also their longest feud. The 1997 one was a bit on and off, but these guys worked house shows together for ages, leading up to a PPV main event. They also worked all sorts of different matches. I don’t know why they wound up hating each other, they had such great chemistry in the ring. I like how this video release was shelved until Jim Ross could do commentary with Gorilla Monsoon on it.
Match Review: Michaels arm drags Bret to start this, and dances around the ring like he just won the title. Michaels pulls the hair on a wristlock, but Bret kips back up. It happens again and Michaels uses an armbar, but Bret rolls through and reverses to a hammerlock, which also gets reversed. Bret then runs Michaels through the ropes and to the outside, that’s one of his old tricks. Bret pulls Michaels back into the ring and works on the left arm, eventually dropping a leg on it. Bret then misses a charge to the corner, but he clotheslines Michaels anyway for 2. Michaels gets up and knees him down low, but eats a buckle shortly after. Bret then takes one of his big turnbuckle bumps off a whip, and Sherri gets in a sucker punch. Michaels knees Bret in the back this time, and that’s followed with one to the face for 2. Michaels uses the chinlock, but Bret fights out of that…only to eat a superkick. Michaels goes for the TEARDROP SUPLEX, but Bret blocks it. Michaels eats a boot on a charge, and Bret lands a clothesline from the second rope. Bret follows that with an inverted atomic drop, then clotheslines him for 2. Bret dishes out a backbreaker, then hits the elbow smash from the second rope for 2. Bret slaps a SLEEPER on him, but Michaels runs them both to the outside. They trade bombs for a bit, and Sherri grabs Bret’s leg as he’s on the apron, which allows Michaels to toss Bret into the rail. The referee counts, and I guess Michaels wins via count-out at 8:50. Sherri grabs the belt and Michaels celebrates with it, but he doesn’t know the rules. Michaels slugs the referee after being told about it, so Bret fires up to his feet, clocks Michaels with his title belt and of course he sends Michaels to the outside after Michaels did his crotch bump on the top rope.
My Thoughts: This was a standard match, which given the participants would be a good match in any case. You put guys like these in a nearly 9 minute match, you’ll get something good. I thought both guys performed well, and it’s obvious they would work well together on house show matches. They didn’t even come close to going through all their spots. **3/4, that was a fun watch.
– Taped to air May 3rd, 1992, on Wrestling Challenge, from the Sports Arena in Toledo, Ohio
Repo Man vs. The British Bulldog
Pre-Match Thoughts: I like watching TV matches that aren’t squashes. I’m nearly to the point where those happened all the time, but usually when they happened on Superstars and Wrestling Challenge, it was because of something important. Who knows, maybe something important happens here.
Match Review: These guys lock up, and the building has been darkened like a lot of people had left. Bulldog hits Repo Man with a clothesline, and follows that with a kick to send him to the outside. He gets back in there and Davey grabs his foot, then trips and drops an elbow on his leg. Repo stops that by grabbing hair, but Davey clotheslines him again. Bulldog follows that with a back elbow, then goes for his powerslam only to knock over the referee. Repo Man has his STEEL HOOK, so he clobbers Bulldog with it. After a few shots, he chokes Bulldog with it for some time. Repo ties a noose around his neck, then hangs him over the ropes with it. This…might be too far. Eventually the match gets stopped at 4:00, as officials run down there to stop Repo from doing more. I NOTICE JJ DILLON! Bulldog also does a stretcher job.
My Thoughts: My immediate thoughts were that Davey had been back in the WWF for a year and a half and had really done absolutely nothing of consequence. We can still say that, but we can also say he had been hanged. Better than he deserved. This was an absolute nothing match, so *. It actually turned out that Bulldog was suspended for steroid use, but they had him in matches on TV after this. So, no link between the two.
– Taped to air May 9th, 1992, on Superstars, from War Memorial Arena in Syracuse, New York
Ric Flair (w/Mr. Perfect) vs. Sgt. Slaughter
Pre-Match Thoughts: This is a real rough and tumble old school match. I ain’t complaining about that and think that’s quite alright. Also on this episode of Superstars, Crush made his return and so did a guy named Kamala. I’m not reviewing either of those things. This seems far more important anyway. I can’t count many matches between two former WWF champions on TV prior to this.
Match Review: Sarge shoves Flair down, then starts mocking him. That’s mean. The Mountie saunters down to ringside, right as Flair shoulders Sarge to the canvas. Sarge comes back with a press slam, so Flair begs off in the corner. Jimmy Hart is at ringside too with some sort of case, and walks straight back to the dressing room. Sarge press slams Flair again, but Flair comes back with chops and Sarge takes his big turnbuckle bump out to the floor. Flair drags Sarge back into the ring, but Sarge starts fighting back with right hands. Sarge backdrops Flair, then clotheslines him for 2. Perfect gets on the apron, right as the Mountie pulls something out of the case. Sarge clotheslines Flair over the top and follows, then rams him into the steps. Sarge suplexes Flair back into the ring, then signals for the COBRA CLUTCH. Flair goes upside down in the corner and out to the floor, with Sarge following once again. Mountie has a SUPER POWERED SHOCK STICK this time! They get back in the ring and Flair blocks a charge to the corner, then heads up top for Sarge to slam him down for 2. Flair goes to the eyes, then goes for a catapult only to have to use a half crab on Sarge. That seemed like a mistake. Sarge clotheslines Flair for 2, but misses an elbow drop. Flair causes Sarge to take the turnbuckle bump again, then distracts the referee so the Mountie SHOCKS SARGE WITH THE SUPER POWER. Flair covers, and that’s going to be it at 6:17. Flair and Mountie shake hands and hug, and now Mountie asks Jimmy Hart to come out and celebrate with him too. Mountie then berates Sarge as the referees wheel him out on a stretcher, which seems worse than Sarge deserves.
My Thoughts: The WWF pushing the boundaries was oftentimes more silly than anything else, and this is one of those cases. The idea that Mountie would use a super powered camel prod…I don’t know, man. The match itself was fine, and this was a good enough finish. **. The angle was absurd, but it’s not like this was the only one. There would be WAY more.
– Taped to air May 16th, 1992, on Superstars, from War Memorial Arena in Syracuse, New York
Brian Knobbs (w/Jimmy Hart & Jerry Sags) vs. The Ultimate Warrior
Pre-Match Thoughts: This is the first time I’ve had a real chance to watch a Warrior match after his comeback. Not like he had all that many either. Before and after this, there were some extremely ridiculous promos done by Papa Shango in which he said he had placed a CURSE on the Ultimate Warrior.
Match Review: Warrior runs in and clotheslines both Nasty Boys, which seems like a great way to start this. Eventually, one of those double clotheslines sends them out of the ring. Now that’s a crowd reaction. Knobbs takes a header into the rail, then Sags into the ring apron. Knobbs eventually catches Warrior and they double team him, choking him with their coats. Knobbs brings Warrior into the ring and drops an elbow on him, so I guess the match starts. Knobbs ripped Warrior’s wristband off and stomped on it, then dropped some elbows on him. Papa Shango walks out to the ring and grabs the wristband, who knows what for. Warrior sends Knobbs into the armpit of Sags, then starts no-selling everything. Warrior hits Knobbs with a huge shoulderblock, then Sags hits Warrior with a chair as he runs the ropes. Sags leaves the scene, and Warrior kicks out at 2. Why, of course. Now Warrior charges up to the ropes, dodges a splash in the corner, and hits Knobbs with a series of clotheslines. Time for the FLYING SHOULDERBLOCK, the BIG SPLASH, and that’s it at 3:54. Papa Shango walks back to the ring again, and it looks like he has…CURSED THE WARRIOR. HIS SIDE HURTS. PAPA SHANGO HAS KILLED HIS STOMACH. The way Mr. Perfect sells this…man. At least he tried. Eventually Warrior threw up all over some guy.
My Thoughts: This was a great way to use Warrior, in terms of the match that is. I don’t know what to say about the angle. What can you say? It’s absolutely terrible, and that’s why it’s kind of cool. They also did this thing where Rick Martel stole Tatanka’s eagle feathers. You know, I don’t know. Again, the match was good because Warrior could work at a full throttle pace and not have to worry about conserving energy. ** as well.
– May 19th, 1992, from Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky
Papa Shango vs. The Ultimate Warrior
Pre-Match Thoughts: If you wanted to see the conclusion of this feud, I guess you had to buy Warrior’s Coliseum Video. That’s an interesting way to do things. I couldn’t care less about this match, but it’s my obligation to watch it. I’ve actually never watched a Papa Shango match. At least, I don’t remember watching one.
Match Review: Warrior runs down to the ring, and immediately clotheslines Shango over the top! Shango pulls him out there, but Warrior gets the better of that fight and takes Shango into the steps. Warrior and Shango get back in the ring, and Warrior clotheslines him in the corner a few times. Warrior picks Shango up and slams him, but his big splash misses. Shango follows up with a clothesline, and works Warrior over with shitty punches for a time. Warrior misses a charge to the corner, so Shango continues with shitty punches. Shango puts a nerve hold on Warrior, who eventually breaks it as Warrior always does. Shango slams Warrior, then heads up to the second rope for an elbow drop that misses. Warrior gets up with clotheslines, then signals for his finish. Flying shoulderblock, big splash, and that’s good for the win at 5:29.
My Thoughts: This was just about what you’d expect. Warrior’s act was tired even though he had taken time off. Not only that, but they put him in with the worst possible opponent for him. I can’t be the only one who thinks it was a problem for the WWF’s only prominent black wrestlers to be voodoo masters and African savages. 1/2*.
– Taped to air May 30th, 1992, on Superstars, from War Memorial Arena in Syracuse, New York
NAILZ DEBUTS
Boss Man was abusing a jobber after the match, so it’s a fitting time for a PRISONER to show up to deal with him. He grabs Boss Man’s nightstick, and starts beating him with it. This is retaliation for all the jobbers Boss Man had beaten up over the years. Nailz eventually grabbed some handcuffs, and continued the punishment. Then he put Boss Man’s hands behind his back and started choking him with the nightstick. This went on for way too long.
So, that’s it. Lots of weird and wacky things went on during these two months, and the weird and wacky was not going to stop anytime soon. This is the way the WWF would be for years to come. There was the announcement that SummerSlam would be moved from Washington D.C. to London, which was more out of necessity than anything else. Not only that, but they were going to tour in Europe far more often. Also out of necessity. The Ric Flair/Randy Savage matches were drawing terribly around the country, and so was everything else. The WWF’s house show business in the United States was getting destroyed, and there would be big changes as a result. Next up, it’s WCW matches leading to Beach Blast. Given their new format…there are some long ones.
Best: Randy Savage vs. Shawn Michaels. Great match.
Worst: That eight man tag I watched was way worse than those terrible angles.
