WWF Wrestling Challenge – May 9th, 1993

May 9, 1993

From the America West Arena in Phoenix, AZ

Your announcers are Jim Ross and Bobby Heenan

This week we will see Papa Shango vs. Jim Duggan in a King of the Ring Qualifying match. Also in action are the Steiner Brothers, Bam Bam Bigelow, and Damien Demento.

King of the Ring Qualifying Match: Papa Shango vs. Hacksaw Jim Duggan

Heenan wants to know why everyone makes a big deal out of Lex Luger’s forearm when they let a “moron” like Duggan carry a 2×4 to the ring. Shango attacks Duggan before the bell to start. Duggan knocks Shango down after a few clotheslines then Shango takes a breather outside. Back inside, Duggan ducks his head for a back drop as Shango hits him with an elbow. Ross mentions how Duggan is a graduate of SMU as Heenan mocks that and continues to make fun of Duggan for being a moron. Shango stays in control and uses a chinlock to ground Duggan on the mat and that lasts for a while. Duggan eventually escapes and hammers away until Shango catches him with a knee smash. Shango misses a charge in the corner as Duggan fires away and hits a back drop before the Three Point Stance gets the win (4:31) 1/2*.

Thoughts: Dull match but it might as well be like this between two limited workers. Duggan’s strikes really look bad now and Shango is no longer positioned as a threat, which was the opposite just one year ago when he was pushed like crazy.

Virgil vs. Tim Patterson

Virgil uses an arm drag and a hip toss then follows with a dropkick. Virgil now uses a side headlock as the announcers plug the “You Are What You Eat” article inside of WWF Magazine. Virgil clotheslines Patterson over the top rope then flies out with a pescado before rolling Patterson back inside. Virgil then hits a missile dropkick and pumps up the crowd before the side Russian leg sweep gets the win (2:21).

Thoughts: Virgil looked really good here but is basically in the role Koko B. Ware had as a name enhancement talent before Koko left the company.

WWF Special Report with Lord Alfred Hayes. This is about last week’s interview on Superstars with The Undertaker as he called out Giant Gonzalez. We then see clips of the Undertaker/Gonzalez feud then The Undertaker interview. After that we hear from Harvey Whippleman & Gonzalez as they remind Undertaker what happened the last time they wrestled and promises he will not come back ever again. This feud continues to get a lot of TV time.

Damien Demento vs. Billy Jones

The announcers put over the Undertaker/Gonzalez feud as Heenan claims Todd Pettengill is president of Demento’s fan club. Demento beats on Jones in the corner then knock him down with a Polish Hammer. Demento gouges Jones’s eyes as the announcers talk about the King of the Ring Tournament. Demento stops before hitting a neckbreaker to speak with the voices inside of his head as Heenan jokes he’s talking with Pettengill then soon after that Demento adjusts his knee pad and hits three knee drops for the win (2:07).

Thoughts: The jokes Heenan made about Pettengill were good as the announcers mostly focused on the King of the Ring tournament.

Another vignette to hype up the debut of the Smoking Gunns.

Raymond Rougeau welcomes Luna Vachon to the interview platform. Heenan gushes all over her and notes that her father is Butcher Vachon and uncle Mad Dog Vachon, who Heenan calls the toughest person he has ever met in his life. Luna then says Sherri is little more than a witch and jealous of herself, like everyone else, of her “pure, natural beauty. Luna says she is the woman of the 90’s and that using words to describe her is like “using a screwdriver to cut roast beef” and that she turns into a rabid, mad dog inside of the squared circle and promises to tear Sherri to shreds as he screams then spits before leaving. Luna’s screaming was grating towards the end and the verbiage in this promo was quite bad I thought. Regardless, expect this feud to get some more TV time.

Steiner Brothers vs. Louie Spicolli & Bobby Young

We see two fans dressed as the Steiners in the crowd as Heenan makes fun of Michigan University, specifically the basketball team. Ross says that the Steiners are the #1 contenders as Scott overpowers Young and shoves him through the ropes. Spicolli tags into the match as Scott works over his arm before tagging out. Rick paces around the ring but Spicolli lands some punches as Heenan says that Spicolli will be good someday. Rick comes back with a clothesline and works a chinlock before Scott tags in and hits a full nelson suplex. Young is back in the match as Scott hits a release German suplex then a double underhook powerbomb before the Steiners use the Doomsday Bulldog for the win (3:26).

Thoughts: Another showcase for The Steiners as they are the #1 contenders to Money Inc. And despite Heenan constantly making fun of the Steiners, he always put over their ability in the ring to give then credibility.

King of the Ring Report.

Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Terry Zeller

Bigelow overpowers Zeller and swats away a dropkick from the apron then comes back in with a slingshot splash. The announcers talk about the Bigelow/Tatanka feud with Heenan making fun of Tatanka the entire time then Bigelow uses a flying headbutt for the win (2:54).

Thoughts: A win for Bigelow as the announcers talked about his feud with Tatanka.

Next week in action are Nasty Boys (I was wrong in thinking their last appearance was the six-man, it would be this match), Mr. Hughes, Razor Ramon, and Mr. Perfect vs. Doink in a rematch for another shot to enter the King of the Ring.

Final Thoughts: We saw another person qualify for the KotR Tournament and pushed a few other feuds for TV plus learn we are getting another rematch between Perfect and Doink in a KotR qualifying match as the PPV is just five weeks away.