WWF Superstars – July 24th, 1993

July 24, 1993

From the Wilkes University Marts Center in Wilkes-Barre, PA

Your hosts are Vince McMahon, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, and Jerry “The King” Lawler

This week, we have the Tag Team Title rematch between The Steiners and Money Inc. Also in action are the 1-2-3 Kid, the debuting Ludvig Borga, and new tag team of The Quebecers as Lawler tells us they consist of “Jacques & Pierre.”

Hacksaw Jim Duggan vs. Duane Gill

Before the match, Duggan tells us that he is proud to be an America. Duggan tosses Gill outside then heads out and headbutts him down. The announcers talk about Luger slamming Yokozuna then Duggan gets the crowd to chant USA. Duggan skies Gill with a back drop and follows with a knee drop as Vince plugs the Lex Express and everywhere it’s been. Duggan hammers away with mounted punches in the corner and stays in control as Vince tells us that some of the WWF superstars are also aboard the Lex Express then Duggan uses the Three Point Stance for the win (2:57).

Thoughts: A segment to set up the Luger announcement. This was Duggan’s final match on Superstars as he would be out of the company in a few weeks.

WWF Update with Gorilla Monsoon. He talks about whether or not Luger will get a title shot against Yokozuna. He then cuts to Vince, who has WWF President Jack Tunney on the phone. Tunney talks about all of the support Luger received for getting a title match then talks about Fuji bringing up Luger’s advantage due to having a steel plate in his arm. Vince then flat out asks if the match will happen and Tunney says “very definitely” and Luger must wear a WWF office approved protective pad then Vince says it will happen at SummerSlam with Gorilla hyping this match up in the studio. Gorilla then talks about Crush’s “collapsed chest cavity” and how it could be a “terminating” injury and promises updates in the coming weeks before asking if Luger has awoken a sleeping giant in Yokozuna. Now, we hear Luger’s response to the news while aboard the Lex Express. Luger has no problem wearing the forearm pad as he just wants an opportunity and promises to seize this but the Call of Action campaign will not stop as he has fans to meet across the country before heading to SummerSlam. It was not a surprise to see Luger get the title shot and this segment was chock full of that odd verbiage only used by Vince McMahon.

Ludvig Borga vs. Tony DiMauro

Borga is Tony Halme, who was in Japan wrestling primarily for NJPW. He hits a back suplex then drops DiMauro with a back elbow smash before screaming in Finnish. We get USA chants as Borga hammers away in the corner. DiMauro avoids a charge and drops Borga with a clothesline but Borga attacks then hits a flying clothesline for the win (1:57).

Thoughts: Borga had a good look and looked like a bad ass but did not particularly impress in the ring here. Anyway, always good to see new performers on the roster especially on the heel side.

The Face to Face segment is next. And I don’t really comment on these anymore but I must point out how obviously high Shawn Michaels was in this segment. He could barely keep his eyes open.

Back to the announcers as Vince tells us that 1-2-3 Kid vs. Ted DiBiase will take place next week on “Wrestling Challenge.” This match was announced on RAW and now has a date for next week.

WWF Tag Team Championship Match: Money Inc. vs. Steiner Brothers (c)

Before the match, IRS calls the crowd a “sorry bunch of tax cheats.” IRS and Scott start off and go back-and-forth for a bit. IRS taunts the crowd then Scott fires away. DiBiase runs in and Scott slams both men then Rick runs in and they clear the ring. The announcers talk about the other tag teams to hype up the division as Vince now plugs a show at Asbury Park, NJ. Things briefly settle down before Money Inc. clear the ring. However, they turn their backs and the Steiners fight back and toss them out before the break. We return with IRS choking out Rick with a rope on the outside as DiBiase distracts the referee. Money Inc. maintains control and get a few nearfalls before neutralizing Rick with an abdominal stretch as they keep switching off. IRS applies a chinlock after breaking up a sunset flip attempt then Rick counters that with a jawbreaker as both men are down. DiBiase tags in and cuts off a tag attempt then both men clothesline each other. Both men tag out then Scott runs wild on IRS. Scott drops DiBiase with a clothesline then powerbombs IRS but DiBiase breaks up the pin. The match breaks down and the action heads outside then IRS tries to beat the ten count but Scott gets up on the apron. IRS then has Scott up for the suplex but Scott gets his hand on the rope and falls inside and gets the win via count out (9:34 shown) **1/4. The Steiners toss Money Inc. outside after the match.

Thoughts: What a dumb finish to a match that was faster-paced an easier to watch than last week. And it seems like we will get another match between these teams but Money Inc. is also feuding with Razor Ramon so it would not happen for a few more weeks.

SummerSlam Report with Gene Okerlund. Just a segment to once again hype the World Heavyweight Title match and the Call to Action campaign.

Barry Horowitz vs. 1-2-3 Kid

We end in a stalemate after a brief sequence as Lawler makes fun of Kid’s physique. Vince once again plugs the Kid vs. DiBiase match next week on Challenge as Horowitz drops Kid with a forearm smash. Kid comes back with a spinning heel kick for a two count and follows with a pair of running leg drops as Vince notes he is “lightning quick.” I saw what he did there. Kid misses an attack in the corner then Horowitz yells about taking him to school. Horowitz ducks his head and gets kicked in the face then Kid uses a slam and heads up top with a guillotine leg drop to the back of the neck for the win (2:43).

Thoughts: Solid action to give Kid a win heading into his match against DiBiase. He really was great in the ring and did stuff no one else in the company was doing at the time.

We get a video package hyping up next week’s Luna Vachon vs. Sensational Sherri match.

The Quebecers vs. Rich Myers & Tony Webb

Vince tells us the WrestleMania album will be released this coming week as we see Jacques Rougeau back in the WWF now with Pierre as they are both dressed in the Mountie attire. And come out to the theme song about how they are not the Mounties. Jacques uses a short piledriver on Webb then back drops Pierre onto Webb for a senton. Myers is now in and Pierre beats him down. The Quebecers stay in control with Lawler making fun of The Steiners and Michigan University then Jacques uses a wheelwater slam on Myers and puts him a Boston Crab as Pierre comes off the middle rope with a leg drop for the win (2:33).

Thoughts: The Quebecers did some cool stuff and they had themselves a fine debut. With teams added on the face side of the tag division it was time to get some new heel teams.

Next week in action are Mr. Perfect, Men on a Mission, Adam Bomb, Mr. Hughes, and The Headshrinkers. Plus, the featured match of Luna vs. Sherri as we hear comments from those two. The show then closes with a footage of the Lex Express but then a freeze frame as the cities Luger will be visiting start to scroll down the screen.

Final Thoughts: Big news here was Luger officially getting a shot at the title against Yokozuna for SummerSlam. The featured match wasn’t bad and we learned when the Kid vs. DiBiase match would take place. Plus, we saw new acts debut and get another featured match for next week as the Road to SummerSlam heats up.