WWF Madison Square Garden – March 23, 1992

March 23, 1992

From Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY

Your hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan

Tonight’s main event is Hulk Hogan & Roddy Piper vs. Sid Justice & Ric Flair

Col. Mustafa vs. Tatanka

This is Tatanka’s MSG debut. Tatanka plays up to the crowd then Mustafa shoves him after a lockup. Heenan tells Gorilla that Arriba McIntyre is Tito Santana’s sister as Mustafa locks on a full nelson. Tatanka escapes and hits a couple of clotheslines and a dropkick. Tatanka now works over the leg but ends up running into a throat thrust in the corner. The announcers talk about other matches for tonight including El Matador vs. IRS as Mustafa taunts the crowd. Mustafa kicks Tatanka down then uses a chinlock. Tatanka tries to rally the crowd by banging his leg off of the mat then he gets up on his feet but Mustafa takes him back to the mat. Tatanka finally escapes but is cut off before he can get any momentum. Mustafa taunts the crowd and spits on Tatanka a few times before covering but only gets two. Mustafa then tries a suplex but Tatanka reverses as both men are down. Tatanka is up first and fires up with several chops before putting Mustafa away with a Samoan drop (8:42) 1/2*.

Thoughts: I was expecting the absolute worst for this match but it wasnt nearly as bad as you would think. Mustafa is still a slug and was nearing the end of his run with the company. Tatanka is in the beginning stages of his push.

Irwin R. Schyster vs. El Matador

IRS reminds the crowd that April 15th is the tax deadline and cheating on your returns is illegal. Matador works the arm to start as Heenan talks about being Indiana’s favorite Bobby. IRS bails after Matador hits him with a flurry of offense as Heenan says IRS shouldnt take a match like this because of the Tag Title match against the Natural Disasters at WrestleMania. IRS returns but Matador takes him down with a side headlock. IRS tries a cheap shot in the corner but Matador was ready and takes IRS over the top rope with an atomic drop. Matador heads out and rams IRS’s head off of the steps then hammers away. IRS rolls outside again and gets something from underneath the ring and hides it in his pants. IRS then heads back in and knocks Matador down with the foreign object then starts stomping away. IRS boots Matador outside then heads out and sends him into the steps. Matador slingshots in with a sunset flip for two then IRS goes back on offense. The announcers talk about WrestleMania VIII possibly being Hogan’s last match as IRS beats on Matador in the corner. IRS drops an elbow for two then uses the ropes for leverage while applying an abdominal stretch. IRS yells at the ref then Matador sneaks up from behind with a rollup that gets two. IRS uses a sleeper hold now then puts his feet on the ropes for leverage during a chinlock. Matador escapes and fights back until he runs into a knee smash. IRS goes back to a chinlock then drops Matador throat-first across the top rope. Heenan says he hears a rumor that after Flair leaves WrestleMania victorious that he will also leave with Elizabeth. IRS taunts the fans then heads up top but slips then gets up again as Matador gets his foot up to block the attack. Matador fires away but IRS rolls outside to avoid the El Paso de la Muerte. Matador yanks IRS back in by the tie and continues to hammer away. IRS gets his knees up to block a splash then hits a clothesline and covers but the bell rings at two to signal a time-limit draw (20:34) *3/4. After the match, Matador knocks IRS outside with a flying forearm.

Thoughts: The long periods of offense from IRS really dragged this down a lot. The finish was really lame too but they wanted to protect both men heading into WrestleMania as they both had matches.

“The Model” Rick Martel vs. JW Storm

Storm is jacked. He shoves Martel into the corner then grabs a side headlock. Storm runs over Martel then Martel ducks between the ropes after delivering a cheap shot. Martel now uses a front facelock then continues to mess around with Storm. Martel jams his thumb into Storm’s throat but gets too cocky as Storm hits a pair of slams. Storm then works the arm after Martel takes a breather as the announcers wonder if Brutus Beefcake will be at Hogan’s side for WrestleMania. Martel uses Storm’s momentum to take him outside then Martel heads up for a clothesline. Back inside, Martel targets the back and locks on a reverse chinlock. Storm powers up and rams Martel into the corner but Martel fights back and hits a backbreaker. Storm hits Martel as Martel was in midair then starts to fire up but misses a charge in the corner then Martel uses a rollup for the win (9:44) *.

Thoughts: A nothing match as Martel gets a win. Storm had a tryout with the company but nothing came of it as he had the look but was mechanical in the ring and lacked charisma.

Nasty Boys & The Mountie vs. The Bushwhackers & Bret Hart

Bret gives The Bushwhackers sunglasses. Bret then marches with The Bushwhackers as the crowd is into them. Mountie stalls as Bret mocks him for being a chicken. Bret then beats on Mountie and blocks a monkey flip attempt with an elbow drop. Sags is now in the match as Bret takes him down with an arm drag. Butch and Knobbs are now the legal men as Knobbs hammers away. The match breaks down now with Bret & The Bushwhackers clearing the ring then marching around. Finkel then grabs the mic and says if the Mountie & Nasty Boys do not return to the ring they will be fined $5,000 each. They return then Knobbs trips up Butch behind the ref’s back. Butch gets dumped outside where Mountie stomps away until he’s run off by Bret. Back inside, the Nasty Boys & Mountie cut off the ring. In a funny moment, Sags accidentally knocks Knobbs off of the apron as Gorilla tries not to laugh. Butch finally escapes and tags out as Bret runs wild on Mountie. Bret then beats on the Nasty Boys and the match breaks down. Nasty Boys & The Mountie get hit with a battering ram a few times as Bret was pushing from behind. The Bushwhackers then whip everyone into Bret and after that Bret puts Mountie away with a reverse rollup (12:45) *1/2.

Thoughts: The work in the match was generally terrible but it was fun and different than anything else on the card so it worked. Bret himself said that originally he was critical of working these types of matches but looking bad said the crowd loved it and the match itself was practically a night off.

“Jumping” Jim Brunzell vs. The Warlord

Warlord shoves Brunzell a few times before yelling at the crowd. The announcers talk about Hogan as Gorilla says that Hulkamania will never die and that he is taking time off to film a movie and spend time with his kids but Heenan says do that later and make money now. Brunzell works the arm as the announcers run down the WrestleMania card. Warlord takes Brunzell down with a big boot as the boring chants come out. Warlord takes Brunzell outside and rams him into the post. We head back inside where Warlord puts on a bearhug. Brunzell breaks that up with a bell clap but Warlord goes back on offense. Warlord misses a flying fist drop as the boring chants get louder. Brunzell bites Warlord then rakes the back before applying a sleeper. Warlord rams Brunzell into the corner then Brunzell rolls outside. Brunzell trips up Warlord and rams his leg into the post then heads back inside and kicks the leg. Brunzell now works the leg on the mat but Warlord breaks it up. Brunzell comes back with a high knee and a clothesline before hitting a pair of dropkicks but Warlord catches Brunzell and hits a running powerslam for the win (10:18) -*.

Thoughts: This was sad to watch. The match was wrestled in slow-motion as Warlord was clearly either blown up or injured while Brunzell decided to phone it in when the crowd gave them shit. Matches like this for the Warlord, and he had plenty of stinkers at MSG, are why he never got a big singles push.

Shawn Michaels w/ Sensational Sherri vs. Virgil

Virgil is wearing a face protector for his broken nose. Gorilla tells us that Shawn has already issued a challenge to the winner of the Intercontinental Title match at WrestleMania. Shawn cheap shots Virgil after a break then runs outside to taunt the fans. Virgil comes out and chases Shawn around the ring and back inside where he grabs a side headlock. Virgil gets a nearfall with a rollup then takes it to the mat with a side headlock. Shawn lands some punches in the corner as the announcers and camera focused on Sherri. Virgil comes back with a few clotheslines but Shawn tosses him outside. Sherri distracts the ref to allow Shawn to punch Virgil in the nose. Virgil is rolling around in pain as Heenan says he should not be in the ring. Shawn uses a chinlock on the mat then fights off a comeback attempt. Shawn uses his foot to choke out Virgil as the announcers say Virgil should go home. Virgil’s face protector is knocked off then the ref puts it on as Shawn poses. Shawn ducks his head for a back drop but Virgil uses a mat slam as both men are down. Virgil runs wild as the face protector is once again off. Virgil gets two with a Russian leg sweep and follows with a few chops but misses a high knee in the corner and Shawn puts him away with a teardrop suplex (12:13) **1/2. Shawn celebrates with Sherri while Virgil limps backstage.

Thoughts: Fun match and a great showing by Shawn as he gets a clean win heading into his first singles PPV match. Sherri worked her ass off too and Virgil carried his end of the match just fine.

Howard Finkel informs us that Shawn Michaels has left the building.

Harvey Whippleman is in the ring, telling us that Hogan & Piper will get the biggest beating of their “stinking lives.” He then introduces Sid.

Sid Justice w/ Harvey Whippleman & Ric Flair vs. Hulk Hogan & Roddy Piper

Hogan and Sid are being separated from each other but the crowd heat is not there as the crowd chants for Piper to start the match. Piper and Flair start off and finally lock up after playing to the crowd. Flair get hit with a piece of trash then is slapped down by Piper. Flair bails then returns and chops Piper in the corner. Piper fights back and punches Flair down then Whippleman jumps up onto the apron. Piper uses mounted punches in the corner then paintbrushes Flair. Piper stays in control as Gorilla wants to know where Mr. Perfect is tonight. Flair rakes the eyes but Piper comes back with a backslide that gets two. Flair yells at the ref and is decked by Piper before he is tossed outside. Hogan rolls Flair back inside then Piper holds up Flair before tagging out. Sid now tags in as Piper tries to cheerlead the crowd as Hogan and Sid stare eye-to-eye. Sid knees Hogan in the gut then hammers away. Sid slams Hogan before choking him out in the corner as Flair mocks Hogan’s poses on the apron. Hogan fights back but Sid cuts him off with a boot to the gut as the announcers talk about Hogan getting manhandled like never before. Piper makes a blind tag then Hogan slams Sid. Piper fires away on the mat and goes crazy but Sid takes him over with a side headlock. Sid kips up to escape a headscissors then clotheslines Piper before taunting the crowd. Sid & Flair now cut off the ring with Sid using some truly pathetic punches in the corner. Piper gets tossed outside then Flair distracts Hogan and the ref so Sid can hit Piper across the back with a chair. Piper returns and chops Flair then hits a clothesline as both men are down. Flair tags out first then Sid prevents Piper from tagging out. Sid hits a reverse neckbreaker for two after he took his time covering then Hogan tries to run in and stop a double-team but is ordered back onto the apron. Flair beats on Piper then heads up top but Piper slams him off. Piper finally tags out as Hogan runs wild on Flair. Whippleman distracts the ref after Hogan hits a leg drop then Sid sneaks in to hit Hogan with the doctor’s back. Hogan kicks out at two and starts to hulk up. The match breaks down as Hogan backs Whippleman off. Sid then beats on Piper on the outside but Hogan sneaks back in and hits a clothesline on Flair for the win (18:02) **1/2.

Thoughts: The formula was good but Sid looked awful when on offense and I don’t know about having your champion take the loss in this era. Today, that would mean Hogan would challenge Flair for the title.

Final Thoughts: Despite what at the time seemed like a stacked main event the show only drew 9,000 fans. That is due to a few reasons (decline in overall business, WWF scandals, fans sick of Hogan) and this ended up being the last show on the MSG Network until 1997. The undercard was nothing special at all either as the company lacked talent to fill out a house show card due to their depth issue. There is no real reason to watch this show.