WWF Wrestling Challenge – September 15th, 1991

September 15, 1991

From the Erie Civic Center in Erie, PA

Your hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan

In action this week are Skinner, Beverly Brothers, and the British Bulldog

The Bushwhackers vs. Ray Garcia & Mike Durham

Heenan predicts that Savage will be back because Jack Tunney always does what the fans want and he can be bought off. Gorilla tells us that The Genius now manages the Beverly Brothers and gets in a dig at Genius by being aghast over Heenan saying Genius can give a “straight” answer. Heenan sure did set up Gorilla with that one. The Bushwhackers work over Durham as we hear from Genius & The Beverly Brothers as they promise to put away The Bushwhackers for good. Garcia tags in and gets beat down before he is put away with a double gutbuster (3:09).

Thoughts: They are at least giving the Beverly Brothers a feud. And Genius is a noticeable upgrade from Coach but then again so was just about any other manager employed by the WWF.

WWF Special Report with Lord Alfred Hayes. Same segment we saw from “Superstars of Wrestling” that heard comments from Jake Roberts and Sid Justice regarding what happened at the Savage/Elizabeth wedding reception.

Big Bully Busick w/ Harvey Whippleman vs. Sonny Blaze

During their way to ringside Busick takes a pair of balloons from a young girl (Bobby Heenan’s daughter decked out in all sorts of WWF merch that you can barely see her face) then lets one go up in the air while Whippleman pops the second with his cigar. Busick beats on Blaze as we hear from Whippleman in an insert promo saying he is a man who does what he wants. Busick chokes out Blaze with the ropes then hits a slingshot atomic drop before using a stump puller for the win (1:53).

Thoughts: Again, the company is trying to establish Whippleman more than Busick. And while looking the part he was terrible in the ring.

We hear from more military personnel calling out Sgt. Slaughter for being a traitor to the United States and that they were glad to see him get his ass kicked at SummerSlam.

Mike Fury vs. British Bulldog

We hear from Bulldog in an insert smiling as he is happy to return home for the WWF Rampage tour of Europe. Bulldog works over the arm then hits a delayed vertical suplex then the running powerslam for the win (2:39).

Thoughts: Pretty much a segment letting us know the WWF will once again tour Europe.

Ron Cumberledge & Kerry Davis vs. The Beverly Brothers w/ The Genius

The Genius introduces the Beverly Brothers with a promo. Blake catches a crossbody from Cumberledge then hammers away. The Beverly Brothers hit a double-team move as Heenan says the guests this week on “Prime Time Wrestling” are The Rockers, Ted DiBiase, and Sid Justice. Davis is in now and Beau takes him down with a high knee. The Bushwhackers are now in an insert promo saying it will take more than The Genius & Beverly Brothers to outsmart them then the Beverly Brothers hit the Shaker Heights Spike for the win (3:10).

Thoughts: Even more hype for this tag team feud. Speaking of The Genius, both Dave Meltzer of the “Wrestling Observer Newsletter” and the Beverly Brothers themselves (in their shoot interview with RF Video and you can read that recap here) said that Genius was hired for this role as a favor to his brother Randy Savage.

An ad for the Hulk Hogan Hot Ticket PPV.

Hulk Hogan interview with Gene Okerlund that aired on this week’s Superstars

Mark Thomas vs. Skinner

Skinner takes down Thomas as Heenan promises Flair will still be the real world’s champion after facing Hogan. The Dragon is shown in an insert promo talking about Skinner’s character and tells him he’ll feel the heat from his fire. Thomas misses a charge in the corner as Heenan tells us that next week he’ll have Flair on the “Barber Shop.” Skinner stays in control then hits an inverted DDT for the win (2:32).

Thoughts: We got some hype for the Skinner/Dragon feud and found out how Flair will be on the “Barber Shop” next week.

A plug for WWF Spotlight Magazine with Randy Savage.

Clips of Bret Hart defeating Mr. Perfect at SummerSlam for the Intercontinental Title at SummerSlam to hype the Coliseum Home Video release.

The Warlord w/ Slick vs. Scott Summers

Heenan says that Warlord is hungry for gold. Warlord catches Summers with a backbreaker then we hear from him with Slick in an insert promo telling Bret he will not be champion for long. Warlord continues to manhandle Summers then puts him away with a full nelson (2:19).

Thoughts: They are building up Warlord as a contender for the Intercontinental Title.

Next week in action are Jim Neidhart, Virgil, and The Undertaker. Plus, Ric Flair on the “Barber Shop” and more!

Final Thoughts: All of the key segments here already seen on Superstars. The big news was learning Flair would be on the show. They hyped the Beverly Brothers/Bushwhackers feud a lot but Challenge firmly remains the lesser of the syndicated shows.

Here is my schedule for the next several days:

Thursday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 9/21/91

Friday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 9/22/91

Saturday: Mid-South Wrestling 9/8/83

Sunday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 9/28/91

Monday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 9/29/91

Tuesday: WWF Prime Time Wrestling 9/30/91

Wednesday: WWF Battle Royal at Albert Hall 10/3/91