WWF Wrestling Challenge – February 2nd , 1992

February 2, 1992

From the Lee Civic Center in Ft. Myers, FL

Your hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan

The WrestleMania VIII Press Conference is shown. This was first shown on “Superstars of Wrestling.”

Brad Avery vs. “The Model” Rick Martel

Heenan says he picked Flair to win the Rumble and picks him to beat Hogan at WrestleMania. Martel works over Avery to start. Martel hits a clothesline as Heenan says they will rename the Hoosier Dome the “Flair Dome.” Martel is shown in an insert promo spraying his arrogance and putting over how great it is to wrestle then hits Avery with a backbreaker and finishes him off with a Boston Crab (2:34).

Thoughts: The focus on commentary was the Flair vs. Hogan match at WrestleMania. Martel is back but struggling to get much heat.

New Foundation vs. John Allen & Barry Horowitz

Owen works over Horowitz to start. Gorilla says that the New Foundation have both spent time at the dungeon in Calgary thus are on the same page. Neidhart tags and knocks down Horowitz as we hear from the Beverly Brothers with Genius in an insert promo as Genius recites a poem about wanting to take Neidhart out again. Allen tags in and the New Foundation work him over until they hit the Rocket Launcher for the win (3:12).

Thoughts: More hype for the New Foundation vs. Beverly Brothers feud.

The announcers plug “WBF Magazine.”

Marty Jannetty vs. Bob Mason

Jamison is in the crowd cheering on Marty. The match starts with Mason landing a few shots until he is decked with a super kick. Heenan talks about Shawn Michaels and says he’d come out of retirement to manage him as Marty flies out with a fist drop. We then hear from Marty in an insert promo as he tells Shawn he’s coming to “kick his butt.” Marty stays in control of the match then uses the Rocker Dropper for the win (2:55).

Thoughts: Its clear that Shawn is going to get pushed strong now that he is a heel and that Marty will likely struggle on his own. However, Marty was arrested a week before this aired for possession of cocaine and resisting arrest and was placed on house arrest for six months. He would get re-hired before the end of the year, however.

Tatanka vs. Brooklyn Brawler

Heenan does not want fans to do the tomahawk chop as Tatanka scoops up Brawler for a slam. Tatanka stays in control then stops a comeback and puts Brawler away with a Samoan drop (2:40).

Thoughts: I caught some of the Tatanka shoot interview and he did confirm the Steve Keirn story of getting hired due to Keirn walking him through a tryout match. Tatanka also said he was told to pick an Indian name and selected the Tatanka name himself. He was wearing the long white tights in his debut.

More WrestleMania moments are shown.

Dale Wolfe vs. Jake “The Snake” Roberts

Jake smiles after Wolfe ducks a cheap shot after a break. Wolfe ducks another cheap shot then Jake sends Wolfe over the top rope with a hip toss. Jake heads out and beats on Wolfe then takes the action back inside and hammers away in the corner. Jake ducks his head and gets kicked and Wolfe lands a few punches but whiffs on a dropkick then Jake hits the DDT for the win (1:57).

Thoughts: Less mention about the Jake/Savage feud but that would change as that was still continuing.

Bret “The Hitman” Hart vs. Kato

Heenan jokingly refers to Bret as “sniffles” due to the fact he lost the Intercontinental Title while wrestling with a fever. Bret works the arm then we hear from him in an insert promo tellig Piper he wants a shot at the Intercontinental Title then warns The Mountie he’s not through with him, either. Kato hammers away in the corner but Bret breaks that up with an inverted atomic drop then soon after that Bret puts on the Sharpshooter for the win (3:36).

Thoughts: They now have Bret not only continuing his feud with The Mountie but also wanting to reclaim the Intercontinental Title.

The Papa Shango vignette we saw on Superstars airs.

“Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase w/ Sensational Sherri vs. Mike Casey

DiBiase beats on Casey then we hear from El Matador in an insert promo pissed over DiBiase mocking his heritage and vows revenge. Sherri whispers into DiBiase’s ear then DiBiase laughs and beats on Casey some more until using the Million Dollar Dream for the win (2:22).

Thoughts: This was the final TV appearance for the DiBiase & Sherri duo unless you count Event Center segments. I love both performers but together they did not really impress.

Next week, the Big Bossman will be in action. Also, the debut of Papa Shango and the news of more WrestleMania VIII matches.

Final Thoughts: Like Superstars, the big news here was about the WrestleMania VIII main event announcement and the fact Sid Justice was pissed off. Plus, they hinted at a future Bret Hart vs. Roddy Piper Intercontinental Title match too. The focus will remain on WrestleMania until the PPV airs.