WWF Wrestling Challenge – November 17th, 1991

November 17, 1991

From the Hara Arena in Dayton, OH

Your hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan

This week’s featured match is Ted DiBiase & IRS vs. The Bushwhackers. Plus, a special interview with Randy Savage & Elizabeth. Also in action are El Matador and more!

Texas Tornado vs. Bob Smedley

Gorilla tells us that Survivor Series is sold out and the only way to watch is on PPV. Tornado takes control early and puts away Smedley with the Tornado Punch (1:41).

Thoughts: A quick win for Tornado as the announcers spent most of the time telling us to order the Survivor Series. on PPV.

WWF Special Report with Lord Alfred Hayes. Same as the Update segment from Superstars that let us know Jim Neidhart would be out of the Survivor Series due to being attacked by Flair then the Beverly Brothers.

Skinner vs. Eric Freedom

Skinner beats on Freedom then tosses him outside. Skinner slams Freedom on the floor then drops him with a forearm smash. The announcers plug Skinner’s personality profile in “WWF Magazine” as Skinner brings Freedom back inside for more punishment then hits an inverted DDT for the win (1:35).

Thoughts: With The Dragon quitting the company it left Skinner in limbo as they are now back to just putting over the gimmick.

The vignette Sgt. Slaughter in the classroom telling us he got his country back is shown.

El Matador vs. Brian Costello

Matador teases Costello with his cape. He follows with a hip toss and a dropkick then puts Costello away with the El Paso de la Muerte, which Heenan refers to as “El Peso de Picante” (0:51).

Thoughts: Having Matador tease his opponents with his cape is just goofy and dumb and not even in a way that would appeal to kids.

Big Bully Busick w/ Harvey Whippleman vs. Mike Samples

Busick attakcs Samples from behind. Heenan tells us his guests on Prime Time will be The Berzerker, British Bulldog, and The Undertaker with Paul Bearer. Well, these episodes were taped before the sudden switch of formats for Prime Time. Samples tries to fight back but is driven into the corner then Busick uses the stump puller for the win (1:11). After the match, Whippleman blows cigar smoke in Samples’ eyes.

Thoughts: One of Busick’s last TV appearances but the focus on commentary was on everything else in the promotion.

Ad for the Survivor Series airs.

Gene Okerlund welcomes Randy Savage & Elizabeth to the interview platform. Savage says he is running for reinstatement and wants to make one thing clear: He is not a Democrat or Republican but rather very, very Independent and wants to thank all the fans in the arena and around the world for their grass-roots support that is weakening President Jack Tunney’s stance and is confident he will be reinstated for Survivor Series, where he will lead his team to victory. Okerlund then asks Elizabeth for her thoughts as she said while her husband has not always been right, he is behind him 100% and pleads for Tunney to make it happen because he is the only one who can then adds the President serves the people. They were playing up the election season stuff here but it came off as corny more than anything else.

Survivor Series Report

“Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase w/ Sensational Sherri & Irwin R. Schyster vs. The Bushwhackers

Before the match, IRS runs down the crowd and says they will pay the full penalty when caught cheating on their taxes. DiBiase & IRS attack The Bushwhackers before the bell. The Bushwhackers take control and clear the ring then proceed to march around. The match settles down with DiBiase & IRS beating on Luke. They stay in control with Sherri screaming with excitement. The announcers talk about Survivor Series as Gorilla & Heenan to their shtick of having us call the cable companies to order on PPV now. Luke and IRS clothesline each other then hot tag to Butch as he beats on DiBiase. Butch cleans house until Sherri trips him up then with the ref distracted, IRS hits Butch with his briefcase and DiBiase covers for the win (3:50) *.

Thoughts: Before they were officially known as Money Inc. they teamed here on Challenge for a TV match. Seems like they were testing the waters with this duo.

Next week in action are The Rockers, Beverly Brothers, and the British Bulldog. Plus, Undertaker on the “Barber Shop ” and Jerry Sags vs. Jim Duggan for the featured match as we comments from both men.

Final Thoughts: The featured match wasn’t that impressive and the Savage promo was corny but the main focus remains on the Survivor Series, which is under two weeks away.

Here is my schedule for the next several days:

Thursday: WWF Prime Time Wrestling 11/18/91

Friday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 11/23/91

Saturday: Mid-South Wrestling 10/6/83

Sunday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 11/24/91

Monday: WWF 1991 Survivor Series Showdown

Tuesday: WWF 1991 Survivor Series

Wednesday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 11/30/91