WWF Prime Time Wrestling – December 14th, 1992

December 14, 1992

Vince McMahon is your host. Panelists include: Hillbilly Jim, Sgt. Slaughter, Bobby Heenan, and Jerry “The King” Lawler.”

Brooklyn Brawler & Barry Horowitz vs. The Bushwhackers

This was from the 11/23 “Wrestling Challenge” tapings in Erie, PA. Gorilla Monsoon and Lord Alfred Hayes are the announcers and they tell us we will hear from Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty via satellite later on in the show and Papa Shango vs. Repo Man along with Randy Savage vs. Terry Taylor. The Buswhackers get attacked from behind to start but quickly regain control. They clear the ring in a mess of a sequence then march around. Horowitz outsmarts Butch but wastes time and gets clotheslined. The Bushwhackers now ping-pong Brawler but Brawler is able to take control. Horowitz & Brawler work over Butch in their corner for a while until Brawler misses a corner charge. Luke tags in and beats on Brawler then the Bushwhackers knock Horowitz outside before putting Brawler away with the battering ram (6:28) 1/4*.

Thoughts: This was terrible, especially at the beginning, but Horowitz was able to prevent him from being a complete disaster. The Bushwhackers are more mascots than anything else at this point.

We go to the panel with Lawler & Heenan make fun of The Bushwhackers.

The Berzerker w/ Mr. Fuji vs. Buck Zumhoffe

This match is from the 10/26 Prime Time tapings in Springfield, IL. Berzerker tosses Zumhoffe outside and rams him into the post. Berzerker takes the action back inside where Mr. Fuji wants more punishment. The crowd chants along with the “huss” chants as Berzerker kicks Zumhoffe in the chest before putting him away with a front falling slam (2:15). After the match, Berzerker kicks Zumhoffe outside then takes a flat back bump after running the ropes.

Thoughts: The focus on commentary was the Royal Rumble as Berzerker looked bad and moved around like he was hurt.

We are back with the panel as they discuss Yokozuna, who was just shown in an Event Center promo. Vince wants to know if anyone can stand up to this awesome human being. Lawler then says this country will be better if it can be ruled by a king instead of a silly president.

Tatanka defeats Laverne McGill from the 12/13 edition of “Wrestling Challenge.”

An ad hyping WrestleMania IX at Las Vegas.

Nailz defeats Mike Collins from the 12/12 edition of “Superstars.”

We see a replay from earlier in the year when Shawn Michaels put Marty Jannetty through the Barber Shop window. After that we see both Marty and Shawn via satellite in separate locations. Shawn says he feels warm inside after watching that replay then talks about Marty finally having the guts to face him after eight months. Marty also says the replay gave him a warm feeling over what his family will see when they face off as Marty promises to beat him. Shawn then rags on Marty for waiting eight months to get revenge by saying he’d have been in his face the next day then Shawn talks about being the star of The Rockers. Shawn came off well here and sort of clowned Marty on the mic if you asked me but Shawn is the clear star here and has been elevating his game as of late.

Beverly Brothers w/ The Genius vs. Jim Powers & Jim Brunzell

Okay, so this is the Genius’s last TV appearance for the WWF. This is another match from the 10/26 Prime Time tapings. Brunzell works over Beau to start. Powers comes in then takes Blake over with a hip toss after an Irish whip sequence. Powers works the arm as the announcers talk about the Tag Team division and mention The Headshrinkers but do not discuss the Beverly Brothers. Blake catches Powers with a powerslam then tags out as Beau covers for two. Beau beats down Powers as the Beverly Brothers are in control of the match. Blake and Powers clothesline each other then tag out as Brunzell fires away on Beau. Brunzell then uses a double noggin-knocker and dropkicks Beau but Blake makes the save on the cover. The match breaks down now then Beau hits Brunzell from behind with a high knee and rolls him up for the win (6:15) 1/2*.

Thoughts: Another crappy tag match on the show and it fell apart near the end. Brunzell really looked slow and old and had not been that bad on TV the past several weeks.

Another ad for WrestleMania IX at Caesars Palace.

Bob Backlund defeats Barry Hardy from the 12/13 edition of “Wrestling Challenge.”

Wrestlers at Planet Hollywood for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“Terrific” Terry Taylor vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage

This match is from the 11/23 Challenge tapings and also featured on the “WrestleFest ’93” Coliseum Home Video release. The crowd is pumped to see Savage, who starts off the match by working the arm. Taylor backs Savage against the ropes and cheap shots him after the break but Savage comes back with an arm drag. We get a shoving match then Savage slaps Taylor in the face before backing him into the corner. Taylor catches Savage with a jab but Savage fights back then clotheslines Taylor over the top rope. Savage heads out and decks Taylor then tries a flying double ax handle but gets caught with a punch in the gut. Taylor slams Savage on the floor then takes the action back inside the ring. He gets two with an atomic drop and again with a dropkick before yelling at the ref. Savage rolls up Taylor from behind for two then uses a sunset flip but Taylor kicks out and hits Savage with a throat thrust. Taylor catches Savage with a sleeper but gets rammed into the corner. Taylor then catches Savage with a spinebuster for a nearfall then whiffs on a dropkick. Savage gets two with a small package then again with a backslide but Taylor takes Savage back down. Taylor elbows Savage then hits a slam before heading up top but Savage got his knees up on a splash. Savage fights back and drags Taylor back inside and hammers away. Savage heads up top with a flying double ax handle for two then hits a back suplex for just a one count. Taylor eats boot on a charge in the corner then Savage hits a slam before heading up top with the flying elbow smash and the win (9:44) **1/4.

Thoughts: The match was fine but both guys appeared to run out of steam at the end. With Savage randomly wrestling a lower card talent like this on Prime Time its obvious that his run near the top is over. And Savage has lost a step and wrestling at his lightest weight since joining the company and still reeling over his divorce with Elizabeth.

The Undertaker w/ Paul Bearer vs. Duane Gill

This match would also air on the 12/20 edition of Challenge. Undertaker beats on Gill and hits a throat thrust as the announcers talk about the Royal Rumble match. Undertaker hits a chokeslam as Gorilla plugs the “WWF Magazine” article on the Undertaker/Nailz feud then Undertaker puts Gill away with a tombstone (1:52). After the match we see Gill stuffed inside of a bodybag as Undertaker hits a stomp.

Thoughts: This show aired the day Nailz was fired for attacking Vince McMahon so the Undertaker/Nailz feud would not be pushed much despite the fact the two were featured on the WWF Magazine cover.

Back to the panel as a copy of WWF Magazine gets passed around to hype the Nailz/Undertaker feud.

The Bret Hart interview from Superstars airs. This is when Flair & Razor attacked him with Mr. Perfect making the save.

Heenan is saying that the reason he interrupted Bret’s interview was due to Okerlund doing a shoddy job then blames Bret throwing the first punch as Vince accuses Heenan of planning this all along.

Repo Man vs. Papa Shango

Yet another match from the 11/23 Challenge tapings but this time its a rare heel vs. heel match. Shango backs Repo Man into the corner and hammers away as the announcers talk about Shango possibly being friends with Damien Demento. Shango now works the arm as the announcers talk about what happened during Bret Hart’s interview. Repo Man avoids a charge then punches away. He drops Shango with a clothesline then hits a clothesline before working Shango’s arm. Shango escapes and uses a reverse chinlock as the announcers talk about Repo Man’s identity. Both men clothesline each other then Shango shoots sparks out of his stick and after that Repo Man grabs his hook and the ref rules this a double DQ (4:15) DUD.

Thoughts: This was crap and the finish was dumb too. Basically, they did nothing until it was time for the finish, which did not get anyone over. Repo Man was falling down the card as was Shango, whose mystique is gone or whatever mystique he had to begin with is gone.

Another ad to get tickets for WrestleMania IX.

Skinner vs. Lance Cassidy

This took place at the 10/28 Challenge tapings in Louisville, KY. Cassidy gets two with a crossbody then hits an arm drag as Skinner rolls outside. The announcers talk about England as Cassidy misses a corner attack. Skinner laughs before sending Cassidy to the mat with a forearm shiver. The announcers talk about the World Title picture and Bret being a fighting champion. Skinner drops Cassidy with another forearm then covers for two. Cassidy beats on Skinner in the corner soon after that then uses a hip toss before putting Skinner away with a flying clothesline as Lord Alfred calls this an upset (5:29) 1/2*.

Thoughts: A plodding five minutes and the fact beating Skinner is called an upset by the announcers is a surefire sign you are not getting pushed.

Bam Bam Bigelow defeats John Paul from the 12/12 edition of “Superstars.”

Slick promo from Superstars airs.

We are back to the panel as they discuss the Shawn/Marty feud with the heel accusing Marty of intentionally hitting Sensational Sherri with a mirror while the faces and video evidence show Shawn shove Sherri in front of him as a shield.

Back to Shawn and Marty via satellite as Shawn says Sherri was doing her womanly duties and worried about what would happen while Marty calls out his bullshit and why hasn’t he called to check in. Marty then tells Shawn he will beat him until his fists hurt then for making his fist hurts as Shawn is not impressed.

Final Thoughts: The Savage/Taylor match was alright and the Shawn/Marty segments were solid but the rest of the show was awful and really this format with recycled matches and other matches featuring lower card talent is too dated. However, changes will be made as we will see at the end of next week’s show.

Here is my schedule for the next several days:

Friday: WWF Superstars 12/19/92, WWF Challenge 12/20/92

Saturday: Mid-South Wrestling 3/15/84

Monday: WWF Prime Time Wrestling 12/21/92

Tuesday: WWF Superstars 12/26/92, WWF Challenge 12/27/92

Wednesday: WWF Prime Time Wrestling 12/28/92

Thursday: WWF Superstars 1/2/93, WWF Challenge 1/3/93