WWF UK Rampage ’93

April 11, 1993

From the Sheffield Arena in Sheffield, England. This was televised on SKY Sports.

Your hosts as Jim Ross, Bobby Heenan, and Lord Alfred Hayes

Fatu w/ Afa vs. Brian Knobbs

Heenan tells Knobbs to get all the help he can and might as well get the “Limeys” behind him. We get a lot of stalling until Fatu attacks Knobbs from behind. Knobbs fights back with a corner clothesline then Fatu bails after getting backdropped. Fatu returns and Knobbs takes him down with a shoulder block. Knobbs yanks Fatu down but gets distracted by Afa and turns around to eat a thrust kick. Fatu gouges Knobbs but Knobbs counters a piledriver with a back drop. Fatu cuts off a comeback and tosses Knobbs outside where Afa punches Knobbs in the face. Fatu heads out and slams Knobbs on the floor then heads back inside to work a reverse chinlock. The crowd is still behind Knobbs who catches Fatu with a kick to the face. Knobbs then runs wild with Fatu doing a 360 sell off of a clothesline but he runs into a thrust kick then Fatu puts his foot on the ropes for leverage and Afa holds it down as that gets the win (9:43) *1/2.

Thoughts: Nothing special but Knobbs had the fans behind him and the crowd made the match fun as the work was really basic. It was reported that the Nasty Boys were suspended for a month on this tour then subsequently fired, although the Nasty Boys disputed this in their shoot interview with RF Video. The Nasty Boys claimed they asked Vince to talk with WCW because they felt there was nothing left to do in the company and Vince let them and they left on amicable terms. The Nasty Boys also wanted the guaranteed contracts WCW was handing out at the time.

Lord Alfred is backstage with Doink the Clown. Doink talks about life being about humor and says that Kamala is not too bright then makes fun of Crush for being stupid. Lord Alfred does not know which Doink we just saw. I believe this was Borne and not Keirn as they were using both at different shows at the time.

Doink vs. Kamala

Referee Danny Davis pulls a piece of wood out of Doink’s jacket. Kamala gets cheered after knocking Doink down a few times. Doink takes Kamala down and works the arm then stomps away. Doink goes back to the armbar as Heenan calls Kamala a “wild animal” who is unable to wrestle. Kamala hits some chops but Doink takes him back down and goes back to the armbar. Kamala fights out and hits an avalanche then Doink rolls outside. Doink crawls underneath the ring as Kamala is confused then runs out the other side and attacks from behind as Ross is unsure as to whether or not this is now the second Doink. Back inside, Doink hits a double axe handle but gets caught coming off a second time then Kamala runs wild and hits a splash. Kamala is unable to roll Doink over despite help from the fans then Kamala gets up but Doink pulls him down and holds the tights for the win (5:54) 3/4*.

Thoughts: Not much of a match here as most of it was Doink working an armbar. And Kamala still unable to figure out you need to pin someone on their back is getting old.

Lord Alfred is backstage with Mr. Perfect, who says he’s still feeling the effects of Lex Luger’s forearm smash from WrestleMania before talking about his opponent tonight, Samu. Perfect says he’s never been more ready in his life.

Samu w/ Afa vs. Mr. Perfect

Perfect grabs a side headlock then ducks a crossbody after an Irish whip sequence and comes back with an offensive flurry as Samu bails. Nice sequence there. Samu comes back in and teases a test-of-strength but Perfect does not bite and they do another Irish whip sequence but this time it ends after Samu hits a clothesline. Samu beats on Perfect in the corner and tosses him outside where Afa kicks him in the stomach. Samu comes out with a clubbing forearm t to the neck from the apron as Ross brings up how that neck was injured by Luger at WrestleMania. Samu continues to target the neck until he misses a high knee in the corner. Perfect works the leg but Samu breaks that up and knocks Perfect through the ropes. Back inside, Samu hammers away then gets two with a thrust kick then chokes Perfect out on the mat. Perfect tries to fight back but Samu thumbs him in the eyes. Samu tosses Perfect outside again then sends him into the post from inside of the ring although it looked really weak. Samu headbutts Perfect as Heenan claims he had to teach Perfect how to write. Samu then uses a falling headbutt for two then chokes Perfect out on the mat once again. Perfect fights back again until Samu hits him low then Perfect nearly wins the match with a small package. Samu thumbs Perfect in the eye again and tosses him outside. Samu slams Perfect then heads up top but misses a flying headbutt then Perfect hits the Perfect Plex for the win as the crowd goes nuts (13:55) **1/2.

Thoughts: This really started off hot but became repetitive with Samu tossing Perfect outside throughout the match. Still, it was solid and the fans went nuts for Perfect winning and Perfect is kept strong for the tour since he is still facing Luger. Perfect had a good performance here.

Damien Demento vs. Bob Backlund

We start off slow with Demento landing some strikes. Backlund uses a backslide for two before sending Demento over the top rope with one of the lightest forearm smashes you’ll ever see. Demento self-dialogues outside as Ross tells us that Shawn Michaels vs. Crush for the IC Title will take place later on in the show. Back inside, Demento hammers away and hits a slam. He stays on the attack then applies a chinlock. Backlund escapes and hits a pair of hip tosses then a slam. Demento rolls outside after Backlund took him down with a sunset flip and rakes his eyes. Demento returns and drops Backlund with an elbow strike. Leg drop gets two then Demento uses a rear chinlock. Demento Irish whips Backlund but whiffs on a clothesline then Backlund uses a bridging cradle for the win (7:56) DUD.

Thoughts: This was terrible and the worst performance I’ve seen from Demento. His character sucks and Backlund is such a bore that this calmed down the previously excited crowd.

Lord Alfred is now with Mr. Perfect as Perfect hypes up future matches against Luger on this tour.

Brooklyn Brawler vs. Typhoon

This is not going to get the crowd excited. Ross thinks Typhoon’s size makes him the favorite in the match. Great insight, Jim. Its not like Brawler has won a match on TV in the past three years or anything. Brawler gets dumped outside then returns and gets overpowered. Brawler bails after getting dropkicked and heads up the aisle. Brawler finally returns and takes Typhoon down and uses basic heel offense to keep him grounded. Brawler now uses a chinlock then tries a few pin attempts before going back to the chinlock. After for what seems like an eternity, Brawler tries a slam but that gets blocked and Typhoon hits a slam then an avalanche before the powerslam gets the win (9:49) DUD.

Thoughts: Another awful match. Brawler’s offense was weak and Typhoon was always a lousy babyface in the ring. Typhoon was also floundering since Earthquake quit but he did the same during his run as Tugboat.

Lord Alfred is with Lex Luger and asks him about his ability to knock people out with his forearm smash. Luger hints that everyone is jealous of him. He will be facing Jim Duggan tonight.

WWF Intercontinental Title Match: Shawn Michaels (c) vs. Crush

Shawn backs off as Heenan rags on Sheffield. Crush places Shawn on the top turnbuckle and acts like he is going to hit him. Crush then catches Shawn in a bearhug but Shawn rakes the eyes and uses a few turnbuckle smashes. Crush then catches Shawn with a backbreaker and has Crush chase him around the ring. Crush no-sells a clothesline then hits a press slam and almost tosses him outside but the ref prevents that from happening. Shawn gets clotheslined outside then stays in control until missing a charge in the corner. Shawn sends Crush outside with a knee smash then heads out to send Crush into the guardrail. Shawn then sends Crush into the post then runs back inside and takes a breather in the corner. Back inside, Shawn targets the back and follows with a DDT that gets two. Shawn now works a chinlock but Crush catches a super kick attempt in a messed up spot then hammers away. Crush runs wild and hits a vertical suplex then a leg drop before signaling for the head vice but took too much time as Shawn rolls out and takes his belt for the count out (8:51) **1/2. Crush drags Shawn back into the ring and hits a backbreaker before using the head vice.

Thoughts: Crush was useless but this was one hell of a performance by Shawn. He was fantastic. The crowd dug seeing the arrogant Shawn get his comeuppance.

Heenan is in the ring and welcomes Mr. Fuji & Yokozuna. He mentions how Yokozuna defeated Bret Hart for the World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania. Heenan asks Fuji about Hogan stealing the belt from Yokozuna as Fuji says as far as he is concerned, Yokozuna is still champion. You can barely hear what Fuji is saying. Heenan says his sources tell him that Jim Duggan is coming for Yokozuna as Fuji warns Duggan about what happened the last time they faced off. They both will sit ringside for the next match. Fuji is just death on the mic.

Lord Alfred is now with Duggan, who is sporting a singlet. Duggan tells Luger its not a bodybuilding contest and is coming with his board and flag to do what he does best and that is beating people up.

“The Narcissist” Lex Luger vs. Hacksaw Jim Duggan

Duggan leads the crowd into a USA chant, something Heenan didn’t think would happen here in England. Duggan clotheslines Luger a few times then Luger bails. Luger returns as Duggan fires away but ducks his head and gets kicked in the face. Luger lands some punches and a clothesline as these two have some lousy timing. Luger chokes out Duggan with the middle rope then uses a chinlock. Duggan fights back but eats boot on a charge then Luger hits an elbow drop for two. Luger uses another chinlock then cuts Duggan off with a knee smash before reapplying the hold. Duggan is able to run Luger into the corner then pumps up and fires away. Both men collide as Duggan spills outside where Yokozuna gets up and hits a sitdown splash as Luger distracted the ref. Yokozuna then rolls Duggan inside where Luger hits a forearm smash and covers but Mr. Perfect runs in to make the save and tosses Luger outside as the fans go mental. Yokozuna now comes in and helps Luger beat on Perfect but Perfect rolls away from the Bonzai Drop then Duggan clears the heels from the ring with his 2×4 as Luger won by DQ (6:42) *.

Thoughts: The actual wrestling in this sucked and Duggan moved around really slow but the fans were into this and went absolutely mental at the end. The dark match was Duggan vs. Yokozuna that took place afterwards and Duggan won when Fuji accidentally threw salt in Yokozuna’s eyes.

Final Thoughts: The fans were hot and god bless them as there was a lot of garbage on this show. Mr. Perfect and Shawn Michaels had two strong performances to prevent this show from being completely terrible but still not enough for me to recommend this to watch. It is available on the WWE Network if you’re curious. I’ll review the 4/26 Milan show next week.

And stay tuned for more WWF recaps this weekend.