WWF SuperStars: February 4, 1995

The Memorial Coliseum – Corpus Christi, TX

Announcers: Vince McMahon & Jerry “The King” Lawler

In the intro, The King voices over that this week on “WWF SuperStars” the special guest on “The Heartbreak Hotel” with Shawn Michaels will be the WWF Champion Diesel.

Vince and The King are at the announcers position as the cameras are rolling now to promote the feature match-up of SuperStars for this week as “The Phenom,” “The Deadman,” The Undertaker will square off against the undefeated hog farmer from “Bitters,” Arkansas, Henry Godwinn. Lawler promises the TV viewers will see the upset of the century particularly because Paul Bearer and The Undertaker are now without the urn – – – its powers and psychological advantage – – – saying they’re lost without it. Vince and The King also discuss Michaels’ promise to have Diesel as his guest on “The Heartbreak Hotel” with McMahon having his doubts on if Diesel will indeed appear, along with a discussion over Bam Bam Bigelow not apologizing to Lawrence Taylor on Monday Night RAW as Lawler backs Bam Bam saying Bigelow did what any man would do by challenging LT. Vince mentions, too, that the half-man and half-beast Mantaur is scheduled for action along with the tag-team of Eli & Jacob Blu. Lawler reminds Vince of Uncle Zebekiah when it comes to The Blu Twins calling him the leader of the pack. With Godwinn already introduced as Vince and Lawler talk, the lights dim for the ring entrance of The Undertaker!

Henry O. Godwinn -VS- The Undertaker (w/ Paul Bearer)

Result/Analysis: The Undertaker via pinfall (7:02) following a chokeslam.

The storyline played up by Vince and The King on commentary is the missing urn ⚱️ and how The Undertaker and Paul Bearer will manage without its powers and psychological advantage? Godwinn mocks Bearer before the bell rings for not having the urn. Early on, The Undertaker dominates, even going old school with his ropewalking clothesline as the missing urn seems to have no effect on him. After Godwinn clotheslines The Undertaker outside the ring though and “The Deadman” doesn’t land on his feet as per usual, Vince returns to the missing urn for why ‘Taker appears a little disoriented. Godwinn continues his assault, first weakening The Undertaker with a bearhug and then dropping a series of hard elbow smashes. On a the last one, Godwinn covers The Undertaker for a pin but he only gets a long two-count. Without the urn, Bearer turns instead to the people to summon The Undertaker as the creatures of the night are called upon in this hour of need. Vince references King Kong Bundy and “The Million-Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase watching the match backstage and how they must be smiling. The fans start a “Rest in Peace” chant and that gives The Undertaker a much-needed second wind. The Undertaker lands a boot to Godwinn’s midsection and he then attempts the tombstone piledriver. Godwinn slips out the backside and with this happening, Vince speculates that something just isn’t right with The Undertaker. Like a fool, however, Godwinn waits too long to stay the aggressor and The Undertaker recovers to land a chokeslam to get the win. Lawler applauds the resiliency of The Undertaker finding a way without the urn while putting over Godwinn’s effort despite losing the match. Vince’s take is the victory is a “costly one” for The Undertaker. Just how exactly? We got a good TV match here and Godwinn’s first loss (on TV at least).

Rating: **1/2

Next, on the Live Event News segment with Stephanie Wiand, we hear from Mr. Bob Backlund on his recent proclamation that he will put any opponent of his in the cross-face chickenwing regardless of how he wins the match. Backlund is rather longwinded in the promo but it’s entertaining if you like big words from the dictionary. He says, “Ladies and Gentlemen, everyone in the world knows that I’ve been canonized at the summit by the Lord. He knows, that I have the ability to put morality back into your lives, and I’m definitely sick and tired of the vexatious balkanization that’s been going on in our society, and also the deleterious effect that the WWF wrestlers have had on you because of their lack of morality. That’s one of the main reasons that I procured the chickenwing from my repertoire of maneuvers. And starting next week on SuperStars, no matter how I win the match, I’m going to procure the chickenwing on my opponent and for him to get me to release it, he’s going to have to scream out, ‘I Quit, Mr. Backlund.’” Wiand caps the segment by reminding WWF fans of the devastating effects that the cross-face chickenwing can have as she circles back to the Survivor Series and Backlund putting “The Hitman” Bret Hart in the submission hold to win the WWF Championship.

Mantaur (w/ James E. Cornette) -VS- Gary Scott

Result/Analysis: Mantaur via pinfall (1:48) following the stampede (a spinebuster).

The announcers hype Mantaur as half-man and half-beast while saying that Cornette sees in him the same qualities he did with the mighty Yokozuna. Gary Scott is destroyed to earn his appearance check for the night. Oddly, Mantaur is introduced as “The Mantaur” for this match but Vince doesn’t add the “the” so I’m not sure why the ring announcer did? While not too bad in the ring, it’s the gimmick that wasn’t getting much traction. Mantaur, therefore, was just another guy in a roster filled with those types.

Rating: 3/4*

We’re brought back to the Royal Rumble now to see Bam Bam Bigelow’s confrontation with Lawrence Taylor, including Bam Bam’s shove, unprovoked in Vince’s opinion. The non-apology from Monday Night RAW of Bam Bam is then shown which ended with a match challenge made by Bigelow to Taylor. Vince says the management for LT has reached out to the WWF since and will address Mr. Bigelow’s challenge this Monday night on RAW.

The Bushwhackers [Luke & Butch] -VS- Reno Riggins & Adam Croom

Result/Analysis: The Bushwhackers via pinfall (2:13) when Butch pins Croom following a double-gutbuster.

Vince and Lawler further discuss Bam Bam and LT while speculating on what a potential match could look like. The match is but a mere backdrop to that. The Bushwhackers weren’t involved in any storylines but crowd pleasers they remained. Lawler thinks LT is in for a rude awakening should he choose to step foot inside the ring. Vince plays contrarian by name dropping Hall of Famer Ernie Ladd and how he successfully transitioned from the gridiron of the NFL to the WWF. Meanwhile, The Bushwhackers barely break a sweat in their win.

Rating: 1/4*

Man Mountain Rock 🎸 has like his eighth different promo in the month lead up to his in-ring debut which will come next week on SuperStars. At six-foot seven inches tall and weighing at 400 pounds, Rock says being a wrestler allows him to channel his aggressive energy. Rock adds he’s excited to be a part of the New Generation in the WWF.

Bill Weaver -VS- King Kong Bundy (w/ “The Million-Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase)

Result/Analysis: Bundy via pinfall (1:11) following the avalanche.

This is your typical squash match for Bundy as he’s built back up as a monster heel now that he’s being paired up in a feud with The Undertaker. Vince briefly mentions the Monday Night RAW six-man tag-team Main Event match as Bundy, Tatanka and I.R.S. square off against Men On A Mission and Lex Luger. Mostly though, what’s talked about here is jobber Bill Weaver and his signing for this match realizing it would be a big opportunity for him only to find out when he steps foot inside the ring opposite Bundy that his legs would immediately turn to Jell-O. Vince also credits Bundy for I.R.S. being able to repossess the urn from Paul Bearer and how we’ve already seen that as detrimental to The Undertaker.

Rating: 1/2*

The Slim Jim advertisement with Bam Bam Bigelow airs in between segments.

Courtesy of the WWF’s “In High Gear Tour” Shawn Michaels has “The Heartbreak Hotel.” Last week, Shawn promised he’d have WWF Champion “Big Daddy Cool” Diesel as his guest. Will that happen or was Michaels just ribbing everyone? Let’s find out … Shawn begins by gloating over his winning the Royal Rumble match as he predicted he’d do and ending the night with Pamela Anderson. Michaels adds that when he tells everyone something is going to happen it does happen. Shawn brings up the search he’s undertaken for a new bodyguard, hoping to find someone that can watch his back as his popularity continues to skyrocket all the while so he can continue to watch Pam’s front. Vince, in response, says, “How cute.” Getting down to business, Michaels introduces Diesel as his guest for this week, someone he promised he’d deliver on. Diesel’s music plays but all we get to see is a seven-foot tall life size cardboard cut-out of “Big Daddy Cool” that was underneath a black cloth which Shawn unveils in the ring. Michaels mocks Diesel’s fizzling pyrotechnics which resembles his tenure as WWF Champion saying it’s only par for the course. Shawn mocks Diesel as being stiff, calls him a paper champion and says “Big Daddy Cool” has no backbone. Michaels asks Diesel how it felt to see him win the Royal Rumble knowing that it meant they’d meet at WrestleMania? Getting no answer, Michaels, in response, says he expected nothing in reply as that’s been a typical Diesel response since the day they first met. Michaels jabs Diesel in the chest on the cut-out about having to face him at WrestleMania but once again without a response, Shawn labels Diesel scared stiff and speechless. Michaels ends the segment with a promise. He’ll walk into WrestleMania arm in arm with Pamela Anderson and he’ll walk out arm in arm with her but with something new: the World Wrestling Federation Championship. Shawn calls himself the Wrestler of the 90’s and he knocks the cardboard cut-out of Diesel over to show no resistance at all from “Big Daddy Cool.” In this era, only Michaels could successfully cut this type of promo effectively. WrestleMania is shaping up to be Diesel versus Michaels for the WWF Championship but Vince makes sure to point out that Owen Hart has a title shot first on the “Action Zone” this weekend.

Vince promotes the newest “WWF Magazine” with Bret Hart on the cover dressed in his attire from “The Lonesome Dove” TV series he recently had guest starred in.

Duke “The Dumpster” Droese -VS- The Brooklyn Brawler

Result/Analysis: Droese via pinfall (1:38) following the trash compactor.

Vince and King argue the entirety of the match on the accusations King continues to make about Bret Hart being prejudiced toward Japanese people and a genuine racist. That’s now a two-week discussion point had on SuperStars so it’s clear a future storyline, even if unsubstantiated by any facts, is being derived from this. Droese, meanwhile, took out the trash that is The Brooklyn Brawler, in a match you’d run to the restroom over.

Rating: 1/4*

A promo runs for Adam Bomb versus Shawn Michaels next week on SuperStars. Their match was set up by a backstage altercation at a “Wrestling Challenge” TV taping in late January. At least with SuperStars, unlike Challenge, there would be a feature match each week worth tuning in for.

Butch Long & Jason Ahrndt -VS- Jacob & Eli Blu (w/ Uncle Zebekiah)

Result/Analysis: Jacob & Eli Blu via pinfall (2:40) following a spinebuster and leg drop combo. Long takes the pin from either Jacob or Eli but as identical twins just who could tell them apart?

Since debuting at the Royal Rumble in January, and with just two appearances thus far on TV since the PPV, The Blu Twins have no heel heat whatsoever with fans unresponsive to their roughhouse style. It’s early for them so perhaps a promo or an interview might help? I’d suggest a match with say The Bushwhackers, too, as Jacob & Eli need to be in the ring with an “established” tag-team that elicits a fan reaction because they don’t.

Rating: 1/4*

In another Live Event News segment with Stephanie Wiand, she previews next week’s SuperStars feature match pitting Adam Bomb against Shawn Michaels resulting from a backstage altercation at a recent “Wrestling Challenge.” Michaels gives pre-recorded comments on stepping in the ring with Bomb. Shawn, acting as cocky as ever, admonishes Bomb for having the nerve of stepping into his personal space but says Bomb will at least have the honor of being laid out by the next WWF Champion. In response, Bomb asks Michaels to look into his eyes, the eyes of destruction, and to prepare to be taken to ground zero. Wiand concludes that Bomb is not intimidated by Michaels having won the Royal Rumble.

Vince and King preview the Adam Bomb versus Shawn Michaels matchup for next week to end the show. Vince thinks Shawn is walking around with a persecution complex since he won the Royal Rumble. Lawler sees Michaels differently and makes the point that he’s a marked man by the rest of the locker room.

The Verdict: The Undertaker is 1-0 without the urn, overcoming the hog farmer Henry Godwinn. Shawn Michaels is the focal point of the WWF, and rightfully so, but he’ll still have to share the limelight with Lawrence Taylor assuming he accepts the challenge of Bam Bam Bigelow. On the downside of things, no one cares about Mantaur, Duke “The Dumpster” Droese, The Blu Twins, and so many more guys. Bob Backlund is also sounding more demented by the week.