WWF SuperStars – February 13, 1993
Event Center – San Jose, CA

Announcers: Vince McMahon, Jerry “The King” Lawler & “Macho Man” Randy Savage

SuperStars begins with Vince telling the TV audience that Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels will go one-on-one with “Native American” Tatanka. Woah! A big feature match on SuperStars for a change. Vince asks the obvious question if this is the week the undefeated streak of Tatanka comes to an end? Lawler answers in the affirmative saying Tatanka will lose in payback for Custer’s last stand. “The King” says, “ There’s going to be a massacre today but this time, the Indians are going to be on the short end of the stick. Hahaha.” Macho tells Lawler to stick to his opinion then hypes Giant Gonzales versus three men in a handicap match. Vince mentions the return of Crush, calling him a great Hawaiian. Lawler says he’s waiting to see the footage again of “another lazy American,” as Mr. Fuji calls it, getting squashed by Yokozuna – – – “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan. Vince promises an update on Duggan’s condition. Savage, meanwhile, wants to re-watch the Brutus “The Barber” interview from Monday Night Raw wherein Beefcake announced his WWF comeback. Vince, with the last word, confirms “The Narcissist” Lex Luger will be in action.

Non-Title Match:
“The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels [Intercontinental Champion] vs. “Native American” Tatanka

Result/Analysis: Tatanka via pinfall (6:37 – shown) following The End of the Trail (Samoan Drop). With the victory, Tatanka remains undefeated on television (also, pay-per-view events) and by pinning Michaels in a non-title match, he becomes the de facto number one contender for the Intercontinental Title. This out-of-nowhere match was necessitated by the firing of Marty Jannetty and the planned continuation of his feud with Michaels leading into WrestleMania IX. Michaels was in need of a new challenger so Tatanka was the natural fit given his undefeated prowess for nearly a year into his WWF tenure. Given the non-title stakes, it was easy booking to have Tatanka defeat Michaels clean and thrust himself into a championship match next. I’m sure that Shawn disliked doing the job but even he understood with Jannetty pink slipped, of which he had a role in happening by all accounts, to garner a relevant new challenger he’d have to do his part in making that a reality. Sadly, payback for Custer’s last stand will have to wait as Tatanka is still on the warpath.

Rating: **

“Mean” Gene Okerlund has a WWF Update. The update is a look back at Yokozuna versus “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan from SuperStars last week on SuperStars. Okerlund discusses the ramifications of Yokozuna’s desecration of the red, white and blue as Duggan is pulverized from taking FOUR successive banzai drops following his successful attempt (on his third try) to take Yokozuna off of his feet. After the video replay, Mr. Fuji gloats over his Yokozuna squashing Duggan (and the American flag) as Yoko says “Yosh” repeatedly. Back at the arena, Vince updates the TV audience on Duggan’s condition. He says Duggan suffered broken/cracked ribs, internal bleeding and other internal injuries. Furthermore, Vince says it’s doubtful when we’ll see Duggan return to the ring. Lawler, meanwhile, adds in his two cents by saying that Duggan needed to have syrup poured over him last week because he was left as flat as a pancake. Lawler asks Duggan how it feels to know he disgraced his family, he disgraced the American flag, and he disgraced the United States? Ouch. Savage defends Duggan for doing what he said he would do (by taking Yokozuna off of his feet) and calls Duggan a great competitor. Savage still compares what happened to Duggan, however, to what happened to the U.S.A. by Japan at Pearl Harbor (in 1941). I can see the thought process behind using that comparison but I’m surprised the WWF didn’t get any pushback at the time for doing that. Vince tells us that SuperStars will return (after a commercial break) with The Steiner Brothers in tag-team action.

The Steiner Brothers [Rick & Scott] vs. Alan Burke & Larry Sampson

Result/Analysis: The Steiner Brothers via pinfall (2:22) when Scott pins Burke following a double team top rope bulldog that Rick delivers. This was yet another showcase match in a series of them for The Steiner’s with another pair of jobbers eating the ring canvas. There was no better tag-team in all of professional wrestling in February 1993. The tag-team division was evolving in the WWF, too, so there were plenty of tag teams for The Steiner’s to square off against. The Beverly Brothers were one tag-team that wanted another match versus Rick and Scott.

Rating: *1/4

Vince touts the Coliseum Home Video release of January’s Royal Rumble that’s packaged with the Survivor Series from November 1992. It’s a special two for the price of one offer. Yours truly owns both VHS cassette tapes to this day.

Sean Mooney comes to us next from the WWF Events Center and he, too, wants everyone to pick up a copy of the Royal Rumble so that we can all remember the memories from the event forever such as Bret “Hitman” Hart locking in the sharpshooter to defeat Razor Ramon. Next, we hear from a man that appeared in the 30-man Royal Rumble match – – – The Berzerker. In his promo The Berzerker admits that he’s never cared much about winning titles or championships but now he wants everyone to know that he is going after titles and championships, calling out the names of Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels in addition to Mr. Perfect and The Undertaker. “Huss. Huss.” Mooney says “wild” Berzerker continues to terrorize the singles ranks (ha!) yet there’s one SuperStar he’d be best to stay away from: “The Ugandan Giant” Kamala. Kamala is standing by with his spiritual advisor (Reverend) Slick. Kamala makes odd noises throughout as Slick carries on and on about fulfilling his mission in the WWF of spreading the light of righteousness and his success in doing so with the most difficult of cases. Slick refers to Kamala as “The Gentle Giant” and he calls out Harvey Wippleman and Kim Chee as in trouble for being in Kamala’s path. Mooney agrees with Slick that Kamala has seen the light since he’s no longer under the control of Wippleman and the devious Kim Chee. He says that if given the chance, Kamala would like to turn the lights out on Kim Chee. These interview segments at least reminded us that SuperStars such as The Berzerker and Kamala were around and had their own agendas/storylines.

“The Narcissist” Lex Luger vs. Larry Ludden

Result/Analysis: Luger via pinfall (1:28) following a running forearm. The ladies in the crowd were all horned up watching Lex pose in front of his mirror. That’s entertaining here given that few of them could ever fetch a guy in their entire lives with Luger’s physique. Ludden, as Lex’s opponent, isn’t named here. I had to look that up. This is a showcase match for Luger in his first appearance on SuperStars and he’s on point. Prior to the match beginning with his posing routine done and his mirror being removed from the ring, Luger looks into the camera of the cameraman on the ring apron and says, “Now this is what a wrestler is supposed to look like.” Lex had the gimmick of “The Narcissist” nailed. He and his adversary Mr. Perfect were each trying to one-up the other with their matches or vignettes. It was pretty good stuff.

Rating: 3/4*

Okerlund is back and he has the first WrestleMania IX Report! Gene announces two new matches to add with Yokozuna challenging Bret “Hitman” Hart for the WWF Championship, a title opportunity he earned by winning the Royal Rumble. The new matches confirmed are The Undertaker taking on the eight-foot tall Giant Gonzales and Crush seeking his revenge against Doink The Clown. The can’t miss event, says Okerlund, will come from the entertainment capital of the world – – – Las Vegas, Nevada – – – on Sunday afternoon April 4 from Caesars Palace.

The White Shadow vs. Crush

Result/Analysis: Crush via submission (1:31) with a head vice. Yawn. The announce team discusses the Doink versus Crush match that’s been signed for WrestleMania. Only Lawler is taking Doink seriously. In his return match, Crush doesn’t clown around as he makes quick work of the masked White Shadow (Billy Anderson). The fans liked Crush.

Rating: 1/2*

Vince has a sit-down interview with Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake which airs next but that was pre-recorded. In it, Vince recaps Brutus’ sob story as he had told on Monday Night Raw on February 1 during his WWF comeback announcement. Prior to Beefcake’s near fatal parasailing accident in the Summer of 1990, as Vince reiterates, Brutus had suffered a serious of personal setbacks, including losing both of his parents, first his mother to cancer, and then six weeks later, his father passing away due to a heart attack. Brutus then got served divorce papers by his then-wife. Following the parasailing accident, which led to a total facial reconstuction, Brutus remembers overhearing the bleak outlook on his life by the medical team in charge of his care and says he pondered giving up altogether on his life. He says he didn’t give up because of two reasons, though, pointing to God and The Hulkster (Hulk Hogan). Brutus calls those influences his sword and shield during the fight for his life. Vince cautions Brutus even still on if he knows what he’s getting into come Monday Night (on Raw) when he steps back into the ring to face Ted DiBiase. Vince reminds Brutus that Money Inc. had flipped a coin to see which one of them (DiBiase or I.R.S.) would have the “recreation” of facing him in his comeback match. That fact, and notwithstanding Jimmy Hart’s view the match should not take place has Vince telli v Brutus again what DiBiase said, that they (Money Inc.) know where and how to hurt him. Given that, Vince adds, he asks Brutus if it’s on his mind that DiBiase (Money Inc.) could take away the two things he still has: his health and well-being? Particularly so, as Vince tells Brutus, since he’s as-of-yet untested in making his return to the ring. Brutus responds by saying the overconfidence of Money Inc. is their downfall as with both God and The Hulkster behind him, that’s a team they can’t beat. Vince glowingly agrees with the smirking Beefcake and echoes Hogan’s inspirational words of “Go for it” as he wishes Brutus good luck in the match on Monday night. This sit-down interview was necessary after the rambling Beefcake sob story from Raw. Vince highlighted the important aspects of Brutus’ story and tightened it all up. Hogan’s name dropping was a central piece here, too, and that’s because when Brutus falters, his shield will come to the rescue.

3-on-1 Handicap Match:
Scott Bazo, Dan Farren & Louie Spicolli vs. Giant Gonzales (w/ Harvey Wippleman)

Result/Analysis: Gonzales via count-out (1:21). Spicolli is the sacrificial lamb here as Bazo and Farren cower in fear on the ring apron in the jobbers corner. Gonzales manhandles Spicolli and chokeslams him which prompts Bazo and Farren to hightail it back to the locker room. Spicolli rolls outside the ring and he’s counted out. That’s the match. Vince hypes Gonzales’ WrestleMania match versus The Undertaker as the crowd looks on in awe. Gonzales, to this day, remains the tallest professional wrestler in history at 8 ft. tall. Seeing him stand next to Wippleman was something.

Rating: DUD

Mooney is back again from the Live Events Center for more SuperStar comments. First, we hear from “El Matador” Tito Santana who says the WWF is a place of opportunity and he intends to “stay in the ballgame” until the next opportunity comes his way. “Olé!” Unfortunately for Santana, the WWF stalled out his “El Matador” gimmick and a potential WWF Championship reign by changing course on a planned South American and Mexican venture in 1992 and he was floundering by this point. Perhaps that was the “opportunity” Santana was referring to here? Meanwhile, Papa Shango talks of the great evil and voodoo while speaking to his skull, telling the WWF SuperStars to beware of the bad things that can happen to them. Ironically, “El Matador” and Papa Shango, both featured here, will wrestle in a dark match at WrestleMania IX prior to the pay-per-view broadcast. Lastly, “Ladies and Gentleman, Boys and Girls,” we hear from Bob Backlund who says while his return to the ring has taught him that he hurts a little more (following his matches) and it takes longer to recover, he still has the desire to win and represent the kids as a role model. Mooney concurs that Backlund is a great role model for the kids to follow. I was 12 years old in February 1993 and no WWF fan I personally knew cared or talked about Backlund.

Vince tells us that next week on SuperStars in action will be The Undertaker, Kamala, Razor Ramon, Mr. Perfect as well as a match between Bam Bam Bigelow and Earthquake. We see Bam Bam and Quake jawing at each other at the interview podium with Raymond Rougeau as SuperStars concludes.

The Verdict: Tatanka becomes the new #1 Contender to the Intercontinental Championship by defeating Shawn Michaels in a non-title match. Luger continues to show Mr. Perfect just how “beyond perfect” he is. Crush returns to action as his WrestleMania match versus Doink is confirmed. Giant Gonzales scares the bejesus out of three jobbers as we learn he’s facing The Undertaker at WrestleMania. Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake is confident going into his Monday Night Raw/WWF comeback match against “Million-Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase despite being untested in the ring for 2 1/2 years since his near fatal parasailing accident. The name dropping of Hulk Hogan continued during Vince’s interview with Beefcake, too.