WWF Wrestling Challenge – April 25th, 1993

April 25, 1993

From the America West Arena in Phoenix, AZ

Your hosts are Jim Ross and Bobby Heenan

This week’s featured match is Mr. Perfect vs. Blake Beverly. Also in action are Yokozuna, The Headshrinkers, Kamala, and Razor Ramon.

Yokozuna vs. Rudy Gonzalez

Gonzalez bounces off of Yokozuna as Fuji barks out orders. Yokozuna knocks Gonzalez down with a thrust kick as the announcers talk about the Yokozuna/Duggan feud. Yokozuna then hits a leg drop which prompts Heenan to say no more burritos for Rudy tonight. Yokozuna stays in control then hits the Bonzai drop for the win (2:16).

Thoughts: More hype for the Duggan/Yokozuna feud.

WWF Special Report with Lord Alfred Hayes. This was about the Sensational Sherri/Luna Vachon feud as we saw Luna attack Sherri at WrestleMania and Luna’s promo this past Monday on RAW.

Mr. Perfect vs. Blake Beverly

Ross talks about Perfect vs. Doink in the King of the Ring tournament qualifier that will air next week. Blake attacks Perfect before the bell and chokes him out with his own towel. Blake then mocks Perfect by tossing the towel behind his back to the referee before hammering away. Perfect fights back after it appears both men collided then he knocks Blake to the outside with a shoulder block. The announcers talk about the Perfect/Shawn feud as Perfect dropkicks Blake back outside. Beau now comes out and tries to attack Perfect but it fails as he also gets tossed outside. Perfect drags Blake inside and slams him to the mat as the ref kicks Beau out of the ringside area. Blake drops Perfect throat-first across the rope as the camera shows Beau holding his back as he walks backstage. Blake follows with a neckbreaker but whiggs on a clothesline as Perfect comes back with a crossbody for a two count. Blake fights back as Heenan makes fun of Ross for driving a pickup truck then Blake wastes too much time and it allows Perfect to reverse a suplex attempt. Blake drops Perfect with a forearm smash to the back then hits a slam as Heenan says his back is worst due to the knife Perfect stuck in it as Blake is still in control. Blake uses some chops but this just pisses off Perfect and soon after that Blake ducks his head for a back drop and Perfect uses the Perfect Plex for the win (5:31) **1/2.

Thoughts: I really liked this match. Blake was an underrated guy and looked good on offense. I also liked how he mocked Perfect with the towel. This was the last TV appearance for Beau has he left due to a back injury and oddly enough his last appearance was of him clutching his back while walking up the aisle. Beau finished up at the European tour the day this showed aired in Milan, Italy. I will be posting the recap of the Milan show tomorrow.

The Headshrinkers w/ Afa vs. Sean Dakota & Jim Armstrong

The Headshrinkers beat the crap out of Dakota to start. Armstrong tags in and does not fare any better as the camera shows Afa screaming into the camera. Fatu bites Armstrong on the mat as the announcers talk about the Headshrinkers/Nasty Boys feud then Fatu puts Armstrong away with a top rope splash (2:15).

Thoughts: They were pushing a Headshrinkers/Nasty Boys feud but that never happened as the Nasty Boys were reportedly suspended then left for WCW. The Nasty Boys themselves claim they were never suspended but rather left on their own for a guaranteed contract in WCW.

The announcers plug the “Smack’em, Whack’em” release for Coliseum Home Video.

Kamala w/ Slick vs. White Shadow

Ross says that Kamala is slowly becoming more civilized as Heenan said if he was his manager he’d have Kamala act like a savage. Shadow lands some strikes in the corner then avoids a charge as we hear from Slick with Kamala in an insert promo as Slick says he has improved Kamala’s communication as Kamala slowly says “amen.” Kamala fights back and once again needs help rolling Shadow over then finally gets the win (2:15). Ross then said he was handed important information from Tunney’s offense as Heenan was pissed it did not get into his hands first.

Thoughts: The only purpose this match served was to alert us about the announcement of Luger’s forearm. Kamala’s feud with Kimchee appears to be over.

Ross reads off of the note and tells us that Luger had a steel plate in his forearm as a result of a motorcycle accident and there is nothing that can be done since its considered part of his anatomy.

Raymond Rougeau now welcomes Luger to the interview platform, which features a full length mirror. Luger cuts off Rougeau to pose in the mirror as Rougeau brings up his unfair advantage with the steel plate and that he has knocked out more than Ali and Frazier combined. Luger said its unfair that he has to look at the “genetically short-changed” with rolls of fat and cellulite ridden women along with skinny geeks that will never look like him. We then see Luger knock out Bret Hart at the WrestleMania brunch as he promises to terminate his career. Luger’s mannerisms were great I thought as he is now involved in a feud with Bret Hart.

Typhoon vs. Barry Horowitz

Heenan tells us that he will be on RAW this Monday night when Crush faces Luger. Typhoon catches Horowitz with a backbreaker but misses an elbow drop. Horowitz stomps away then hammers away in the corner but Typhoon fights back and uses a splash for the win (2:05).

Thoughts: Typhoon was circling the drain at this time and this match was so the announcers could talk about Luger’s forearm and plug his match on RAW against Crush.

Razor Ramon vs. Allen Reid

The announcers say that Razor is a favorite to win the King of the Ring like he is already part of the tournament. Razor beats on Reid in the corner then tosses him across of the ring. Razor follows with a super back suplex then puts Reid away with the Razor’s Edge (2:30).

Thoughts: Razor destroyed his opponent as they made it seem like he is already part of the King of the Ring tournament and portrayed him as a favorite to win.

Next week in action are Jim Duggan, Shawn Michaels, and Money Inc. Plus, Bob Backlund vs. Lex Luger in a King of the Ring tournament qualifier. We then hear from Backlund and Luger to close out the show.

Final Thoughts: They pushed the top feuds here and the results of Luger’s x-ray (like they did first on “Superstars) and pushed the King of the Ring tournament as we get a qualifying match next week as the build to that PPV is underway.