WWF SuperStars – Saturday, January 16, 1993
Brown Coliseum – Green Bay, WI
Announcers: Vince McMahon, Jerry “The King” Lawler & “Macho Man” Randy Savage
SuperStars comes on the air with WWF Champion Bret “Hitman” Hart making pointed comments toward his Royal Rumble challenger Razor Ramon. Bret calls Razor one of those bottom of the barrel people he knew he’d have to fend off once he became the WWF Champion. Hart promises to “execute” Ramon at the Rumble as payback for what he did to his little brother Owen.
Razor Ramon vs. Buck Zumhofe
Result/Analysis: Ramon via pinfall (1:12) following the Razor’s Edge. Zumhofe was cannon fodder here for the #1 contender. The match is all of three moves before the 1-2-3 count. Jerry Lawler predicts Razor will be wearing more gold after the Royal Rumble than just his gold necklace.
Rating: DUD
“Mean” Gene Okerlund has a WWF Update and this week, the update is sponsored by the Royal Rumble program which has everything within it that you always wanted to know about the Royal Rumble but were afraid to ask. C’mon now Gene! Anyway, the update highlights Kamala and his recent face turn, as “The Ugandan Giant” finally rid himself of Doctor Harvey Wippleman, and his handler, Kimchee. Kamala aligned himself with Reverend Slick as he “saw the light,” finally. We hear from Reverend Slick who implores the people to embrace Kamala and to help show him down the righteous path. In response, Wippleman says Kamala has never been the same since the Survivor Series (losing a coffin match to The Undertaker) and he certainly won’t be the same once Kimchee finishes with him. Wippleman then promises he’ll drop “the big bomb.”
Vince, Macho and King talk about “seeing the light” with Lawler concluding it all means the WWF will be “seeing the light” in just one week when he wins the Royal Rumble. King draws the ire of Savage by saying he hopes the Rumble comes down to them as the final two men.
The Nasty Boys [Brian Knobbs & Jerry Sags] vs. Mickey Jay & Rock Werner
Result/Analysis: The Nasty Boys via pinfall (3:31) when Sags pins Werner following a flying elbow drop which came after a running powerslam by Knobbs. That combo finisher was unofficially dubbed “Trip To Nastyville.” The Nasties were in hot pursuit of Money Inc. [“Million-Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase and I.RS.] and the WWF Tag-Team Titles at this point so they were receiving a push. If you’re wondering, the Mickey Jay that wrestles here as an enhancement talent, is the same Mickey Jay that would later become a WCW referee. Who knew? Jay, for his efforts here, is a recipient of “Pity City.”
Rating: *
Raymond Rougeau is at the interview podium and he calls out the WWF Intercontinental Champion “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels. Rougeau asks Michaels to speak about his upcoming Royal Rumble match versus Marty Jannetty, and whose corner Sensational Sherri will be in. Michaels exudes confidence that Sherri will be in his corner asking us why she’d be in Jannetty’s corner after he hit her over the head with a mirror? Rougeau interjects to Shawn that he pulled Sherri over for when the mirror hit her. Michaels scoffs and he continues on that Sherri will be in his corner for the fact that she is deeply, madly and passionately in love with him. Shawn adds that he’s the sexiest man alive to further cement his belief Sherri will second him for the match. As for Jannetty, Michaels says that everyone knows he carried the team and Jannetty throughout his whole career and at the Royal Rumble he’ll carry Jannetty for the last time with Jannetty carried out of the building. Shawn concludes the interview with telling us that he’s now leaving the building. The ladies that were panned to in the crowd during the interview just drool over Michaels. He was the “Boy Toy” of their affections, clearly. This was very good mic work from Michaels. Jannetty never had that skill.
W.T. Jones vs. Crush
Result/Analysis: Crush via submission (2:02) with the Cranium Crunch. The match was nothing. What came afterward, however, is what’s remembered. Doink The Clown had made an appearance at ringside with his left arm in a sling. Doink had recent run-ins with Crush regarding his pranks at ringside and Crush warning him to stop making the kids cry. Doink presents Crush with a flower as a peace offering. Crush is first hesitant to accept but he does believing Doink to be sincere. Crush turns his back to leave and Doink rips off his prosthetic/casted arm and attacks Crush with it knocking him unconscious. Macho and Vince are in immediate hysterics over this heinous assault which goes on for a solid minute before various WWF officials are able to rush to Crush’s aid. An EMT shows up next as Crush plays dead, not moving. The EMT’s backboard Crush to stabilize his neck and then stretcher him away. McMahon and Savage put this over as Crush having suffered a serious injury. There were little boys in the crowd caught in tears by the cameras panning. Personally, I loved this. Evil Doink was so very entertaining. Lawler somewhat sides with Macho and Vince but you sensed as the heel commentator he loved the attack by Doink, too.
Rating: 1/4* (match) and ** (angle)
Sean Mooney has a Royal Rumble spot to take up time. We hear from these Rumble partipants: Typhoon of The Natural Disasters, Papa Shango and Mr. Perfect. Bam Bam Bigelow gives a promo, too, as he discusses his powerful attributes and his match at the PPV versus The Big Boss Man.
Meanwhile, back at the arena, Crush has regained consciousness but Savage points out on commentary that the EMT’s are still concerned about his neck. Yeah, whatever. Shaka Bruh!
Yokozuna (w/ Mr. Fuji) vs. Carl Almont
Result/Analysis: Yokozuna via pinfall (1:41) following the banzai drop. Almont, as an opponent, wasn’t even named here. I had to look that up. Yokozuna was squashing everyone he was put in the ring with him be it an enhancement talent or a lower-level mid card wrestler that was on the roster such as Virgil, Koko B. Ware, Jim Powers, etc. The WWF wasn’t messing around establishing Yokozuna as a dominant and unstoppable force. It was great.
Rating: 1/2*
Meanwhile, EMT’s continue to work on Crush as he’s hooked up with oxygen. Vince says Crush needs real help and that’s really unfortunate. Doink was only “clowning” around, too.
Okerlund is back on camera with a Royal Rumble report. First though, Gene expresses concern for Crush and tells the fans that updates will be forthcoming once they’re available. Moving on, the names of the Royal Rumble participants are ran through once more. We hear from “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair, last year’s winner, and former WWF Champion (in 1983), Bob Backlund.
Back at the arena, EMT’s wheel Crush to the ambulance as fans in attendance applaud in a show of support. Lawler is concerned about possible paralysis. Vince rages at Doink for doing something that’s so unforgivable and then to laugh about it on top. Savage tells us he’s worried about Crush, the human being.
Okerlund rejoins the television audience to complete his Rumble report. The new Rumble participants just announced are Skinner. Repo Man, Damian Demento and the tag-team of High Energy [Koko B. Ware and “The Rocket” Owen Hart]. Of course, Bret Hart defends the WWF Championship against Razor Ramon. Bam Bam Bigelow tangles with The Big Boss Man, who promises hard time. Shawn Michaels defends the Intercontinental Title against his former tag-team partner Marty Jannetty with Sensational Sherri at ringside. Gene adds that we’ll also see the anxiously awaited for unveiling of “Narcissus” by Bobby “The Brain” Heenan. As a kid, as I’ve said before, this weekly PPV updates were awesome. You’d have goosebumps for what lay ahead.
Tom Bennett vs. Tatanka
Result/Analysis: Tatanka via pinfall (1:18) following the Papoose To Go (a fallaway slam). In an insert promo during this very short match, Tatanka promises his fellow Native American people and the little braves he’ll compete at WrestleMania for the gold. Well, he doesn’t break that promise. Tatanka was indeed on the warpath and still undefeated in the WWF, an unblemished record nearly going on for a full year.
Rating: 1/2*
Mooney joins us again for another “Headlock on Hunger” live event promo. Following that, we hear from Paul Bearer and The Undertaker, followed by Repo Man, regarding the Royal Rumble. The Steiner Brothers then speak on their tag-team match at the PPV versus The Beverly Brothers.
Next week on WWF SuperStars Vince informs us there’ll be an update on the medical condition of Crush. We then see a replay of Doink’s blindside attack with his fake prosthetic arm as the broadcast team all agree it’s not a funny situation at all. I beg to differ. Ha!
The Verdict: The attack on Crush by Doink dominated this edition of SuperStars. Back in 1993, you could still do this type of angle and at least have kids suckered into thinking Crush’s career and overall health were each in peril. It’s ridiculous to think how this could get over today. Anyway, Doink’s attack cemented the feud. Elsewhere, Yokozuna was a force. Tatanka remained undefeated and was talked about as a Royal Rumble favorite. Shawn Michaels’ mic work was becoming excellent. Bret Hart and Razor Ramon were about to clash over the WWF Championship but they had little juice going for anyone to be pining over their match.
The Sharpshooter’s Verdict 