WWF Wrestling Challenge: January 29, 1995

The South Padre Island Convention Centre – South Padre Island, TX

Announcers: Gorilla Monsoon & “The Million-Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase

Gorilla roasts DiBiase at the top of the show for the Royal Rumble being a complete washout for The Million-Dollar Corporation with no victory in the finals of the tag-team championship tournament, in the Royal Rumble match either as it pertains to King Kong Bundy, and for I.R.S., who lost to The Undertaker. DiBiase acknowledges it wasn’t the best night for the corporation yet they did secure something far more valuable than gold by repossessing the urn of The Undertaker which is what harnesses his powers. Gorilla also mentions the 30-day suspension handed down to Bam Bam Bigelow and issues an apology to the WWF fans and specifically to Lawrence Taylor for Bigelow’s actions. DiBiase asserts Bam Bam did go a little too far but sometimes in the heat of the moment that can happen when provoked. He thinks the 30-day suspension is too much given Bam Bam tried to apologize (which didn’t happen due to technical issues).

The Bushwhackers [Butch & Luke] -VS- Bill Payne & The Brooklyn Brawler

Result/Analysis: The Bushwhackers via pinfall (2:27) when Luke pins Payne following a double-knee gut-buster. Gorilla hypes the unmatched (his claim) credentials of The Bushwhackers during their time in the WWF and says it wouldn’t shock him if the unorthodox duo were to become the tag-team champions in the near future. No one remotely EVER thought that nor did they consider The Bushwhackers as anything but roster filler by 1995. DiBiase, to his credit, doesn’t even entertain the suggestion. The discussion here centered around Bam Bam and his apology that’s upcoming on Monday Night RAW as well as DiBiase being focused on Bundy’s encounter with Mabel.

Rating: 1/2*

Todd Pettengill gives a post-Royal Rumble report entirely focused on the Bam Bam altercation with Lawrence Taylor following his embarrassing loss to The 1-2-3 Kid in the finals of the tag-team championship tournament. Pettengill reminds the TV audience that Bigelow will issue his public apology to LT this Monday night on RAW after technical difficulties on RAW this past Monday night delayed that. The WWF was milking the media attention they were receiving given LT’s past NFL celebrity.

Henry Godwinn -VS- Jason Ahrndt

Result/Analysis: Godwinn via pinfall (2:11) following the slop drop. The hog farmer from fictitious “Bitters,” Arkansas continues to bully the enhancement talent thrown at him. Gorilla coins a new nickname for Godwinn here as he calls him “Oinker.” That, thankfully, didn’t stick. There’s brief discussion of Godwinn facing The Undertaker next week on “WWF SuperStars” and how The Deadman will fare without the urn, but Monsoon and DiBiase also discuss Jeff Jarrett as the NEW Intercontinental Champion and Razor Ramon, whom Jarrett defeated for the title, getting a re-match.

Rating: 3/4*

Tamara Murphy has the Live Event News segment to promote the “In High Gear” tour.

A Kama vignette airs, after which, Gorilla voices his anticipation of seeing “The Supreme Wrecking Machine” in action next week on Challenge. DiBiase says he can’t wait to “meet” and talk with Kama. Hmm.

“The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith -VS- Reno Riggins

Result/Analysis: Bulldog via pinfall (3:35) following a running powerslam. A solid showing for Davey Boy Smith in the post-Royal Rumble week as he wrestled on and looked impressive in his three TV matches on Monday Night RAW, WWF SuperStars and Wrestling Challenge. Bulldog might have been at his most jacked at this point in his career but everyone knows that was steroids induced. Gorilla and DiBiase discuss Bulldog’s oh so close Rumble victory with DiBiase still making excuses as to why his man, King Kong Bundy, didn’t win with Mabel the primary reason why Bundy didn’t win. Given how much Bulldog was being used on television and the discussion he received as the almost winner of the Rumble I wonder if the creative plans for him weren’t bigger heading toward WrestleMania XI then simply tagging with Lex Luger as “The Allied Powers.” I mean that was fine but have Bulldog and Luger unseat The Smoking Gunns as the tag-team champions to not just half-ass them being a tag-team. That’s my retrospective take.

Rating: *1/2

The Slim Jim promo of Bam Bam Bigelow airs. He was “suspended” without pay for 30 days yet these continued.

Pettengill resumes his post-Royal Runble report to show still photos from the two championship matches on the undercard as he provides commentary on what went down in them. Diesel, of course, retained the WWF Championship in his title defense against Bret “The Hitman” Hart via a draw after a mass amount of outside interference. “Double J” Jeff Jarrett, meanwhile, he became the NEW WWF Intercontinental Champion by defeating “The Bad Guy” Razor Ramon. We also see the final images of the Royal Rumble match itself as “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels outlasted “The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith after they had entered at #1 and #2, respectively. Michaels’ victory has earned him a WWF Championship match at WrestleMania XI and the escort to the ring by Pamela Anderson.

“The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels -VS- Gary Sabaugh

Result/Analysis: Michaels via pinfall (2:35) following the superkick. Gorilla mentions there are already rumors afloat that Pamela Anderson would rather escort “Big Daddy Cool” Diesel to the ring at WrestleMania than escorting Michaels. DiBiase promises he’ll add Michaels to the Million-Dollar Corporation after WrestleMania once he becomes the NEW WWF Champion. Shawn lays waste to Sabaugh here without breaking a sweat while still wearing his hat, dangling earrings and his pants. After the superkick and pin, Michaels rolls Sabaugh out of the ring in a dick-like heel move. Shawn was head and shoulders the top heel the WWF had. He was definitely ready to be the WWF Champion.

Rating: *

Man Mountain Rock has like his 5th different promo in three weeks. He compares playing the guitar to professional wrestling and says they both require intense concentration. In a word association, Rock calls Diesel “awesome,” The Undertaker “unparalleled,” and Jeff Jarrett “jerk.” As for himself, Rock says he’s “dangerous.” His goal is to become a WWF Champion without specifying which title he’s seeking. These vignettes were fine but Rock’s in ring debut awaits.

Butch Long -VS- Adam Bomb

Result/Analysis: Bomb via pinfall (2:16) following a flying clothesline. This was a nothing match yet there was news to come from it. Shawn Michaels, after his match, caused a stir with Bomb backstage thinking that Bomb was eyeing him down. DiBiase, on commentary, backs Michaels saying other SuperStars are now jealous of him for winning the Royal Rumble. You’d have to think why go to the trouble of shooting this shoving match if there isn’t to be a match between Bomb and Michaels soon? On RAW would be the place for it. Poor Butch Long was nothing but a proton here.

Rating: 1/2*

Pettengill completes his post-Royal Rumble report with still photos and commentary on what transpired in the I.R.S. versus Undertaker match. The Taxman was defeated by The Deadman in what Pettengill calls a hard fought battle. After the match, I.R.S. repossessed the urn from Paul Bearer while The Undertaker was getting attacked by King Kong Bundy.

Jacob & Eli Blu (w/ Uncle Zebekiah) -VS- Gary Scott & Buck Quartermaine

Result/Analysis: Jacob & Eli Blu via pinfall (3:33) following a spinebuster and leg drop combo. It’s impossible to tell the Blu Twins apart so one of them pins Scott here. Impressive TV debut from the mountain men from Appalachia with Dutch Mantell as their manager in his Uncle Zebekiah role. With the tag-team division in flux and truly in need of some fresh duos, the Blu Twins became a nice addition. The top teams were all babyface with The Smoking Gunns, The 1-2-3 Kid & Bob “Spark Plugg” Holly and The Allied Powers (Lex Luger and The British Bulldog) so a few heel tag-teams were needed. The problem with creative was not having any plan as matches were just thrown together.

Rating: *

Challenge for this week wraps up with another Live Event News segment with Tamara Murphy to hype the “In High Gear” tour. That’s followed by a lengthy advertisement for merchandise out of the WWF Merchandise Catalog and a Diesel video as the WWF Champion is hyped.

The Verdict: Shawn Michaels and Adam Bomb have a backstage altercation. We’ll see if anything comes from that. The Blu Twins have their TV debut. The fallout from the Royal Rumble continues to be the focus. Challenge needed a feature match worthy of tuning in for which it used to have in the early years of the weekend show.