WWF Superstars – September 18th, 1993

September 18, 1993

From the Westchester County Civic Center in White Plains, NY

Your hosts are Vince McMahon, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, and Jerry “The King” Lawler. Vince breaks the news that The Quebecers are the new Tag Team Champions. Lawler then leaves to yell at some kid holding up a Bret Hart poster.

This week’s featured match is Bret Hart vs. Blake Beverly. Also in action are Ludvig Borga, Mr. Perfect, Shawn Michaels, and the 1-2-3- Kid.

Bret “The Hitman” Hart vs. Blake Beverly

The announcers say that Lawler has not returned. Bret takes Blake over with a hip toss but soon afterwards Blake uses a backbreaker. We then see an article in “WWF Magazine” that saw Bret visiting a fan at his home as Blake counters a crucifix with a Samoan drop. Blake headbutts Bret’s back then taunts the crowd. Blake continues to target the back and gets another two count this time with a vertical suplex. Bret floats over on a slam but Blake runs him through the middle rope. Blake tries to slingshot Bret back inside but Bret reverses and sends Blake outside. Bret rolls Blake inside and takes control then uses the Sharpshooter for the win (4:20) **.

Thoughts: Good action while it lasted. And got heel heat on Lawler for making up an excuse as to not be seen by Bret. It also marked Blake’s final WWF appearance as several weeks later he did a tour of NJPW.

Russ Greenberg & Mark Thomas vs. Well Dunn

Well Dunn now has matching attire with some neon green coloring. Lawler is back and claims to have not known that Bret was out here and would have stood up to him. Thomas works over Dunn then Greenberg tags in uses a monkey flip. Dunn blocks a second attempt by using an inverted atomic drop then tags out. Well Dunn continues to work over Greenberg then ask if we would like to see “well done” then we them hold up Greenberg and drop him with an inverted DDT for the win (3:04).

Thoughts: Most of this was the announcers talking about the Bret/Lawler feud. Well Dunn remains at the bottom of the tag team ranks.

Razor Ramon vs. Ray McShane

Razor works over McShane as the announcers taunt Lawler about Bret. Razor hits a super fallaway slam then soon after that a super belly-to-back suplex before the Razor’s Edge gets the win (2:44).

Thoughts: Easy win for Razor but the focus remained on the Bret/Lawler feud.

Vince plugs the Lex Luger t-shirt that we see on the screen which is featured in the Merchandise Catalog.

PJ Walker vs. Ludvig Borga

Borga drops Walker after a lifting choke then hammers away in the corner. We are then shown an insert of a fan telling Borga this is “our” country and to love it or leave it as Borga continues to beat down Walker. Borga now hits a spinebuster then after that mocks the crowd before hitting a delayed vertical suplex. Borga stays in control then uses a flying clothesline for the win (2:08).

Thoughts: They’re going hard with Borga vs. Luger but again, Borga is not over.

Mr. Perfect vs. Barry Horowitz

Lawler continues to go off on Doink for losing to Bret at SummerSlam as Perfect takes control of the match. The announcers talk about Diesel punching Perfect at SummerSlam as Perfect dropkicks. Horowitz fights back and busts out a Northern Lights suplex for a nearfall but Perfect chops Horowitz in the corner then soon after that uses the Perfect Plex for the win (2:25).

Thoughts: It seems like they’re trying to set something up with Perfect and Diesel and they did around the house show circuit.

We now cut to Joe Fowler as he tells us about The Quebecers defeating The Steiners on “Monday Night RAW” for the Tag Team Titles.We then hear from The Quebecers & Johnny Polo as they talk about giving The Steiners a rematch so as long as Scott defeats Pierre on RAW. Jacques wants Rick to say home as he will also stay home because he does not cheat and in fact hates cheaters. Not much of an interview from Polo but Jacques insincerity is always great.

We see a woman in a dress sitting on a bench as some guy is shown dressed up as several different WWF superstars. We then see the real Randy Savage appear and walk off with the woman as she tells us not to fall for cheap imitations. This new “WWF Unbelievable” ad campaign is new at least but does not appear to be effective.

Shawn Michaels w/ Diesel vs. Dan Dubiel

Shawn toys with Dubiel to start. Shawn catches Dubiel with a powerslam then fires away in the corner. Shawn mocks Dubiel and taunts the crowd then uses another slam before going up top for a flying clothesline. Shawn then lands a super kick and after that finishes Dubiel off with a piledriver (2:45).

Thoughts: This would be Shawn’s final WWF appearance until November. According to Shawn in his shoot interview with RF Video, Vince called him up to say he failed a test for steroids due to a “trace” of elevated testosterone. Shawn said that he never took anything and even hinted that someone messed with his test (about this, Matt Borne said in his shoot interview that Razor Ramon blamed him for Shawn getting suspended) so Vince said gave him an ultimatum and Shawn took a six week suspension as a result. Shawn believes this was Vince trying to test him and that Vince never gave him an ultimatum ever again. At the time it was reported as a suspension. Here is what was listed in the “Wrestling Observer Newsletter” with regards to the suspension:

“While no confirmation is available from either side, a source close to Michaels said that he had been unhappy with the promotion which had caused him to gain weight (he was up to about 240 legit, and that’s an off-steroids 240, with a noticeable belly for the first time in his career) and get out of shape. There are many reports that contradict one another as to the reason for Michaels leaving, none of which we’ve been able to confirm. As of press time, negotiations were still going on between both parties, largely because apparently Titan had refused to give Michaels the contract release which would allow him to begin negotiating with other promotions.”

And I’ll have more on the Shawn news as these recaps progress.

Vince shills the latest edition of “WWF Spotlight” magazine with Hulk Hogan & Jimmy Hart on the cover. Vince plugs an article on Hart’s career. At this point, Hogan was still in the opening montages of the shows so he was still being presented as part of the company even though he was less than a week away from appearing in NJPW.

Shawn & Diesel yell at some fans not to touch Shawn. The 1-2-3 Kid then comes out for his match but Shawn & Diesel will not let him go by then Diesel punches him out. We get a 2-on-1 beatdown until Mr. Perfect runs out to save Kid.

After the break, we go backstage as Boni Blackstone is with Shawn & Diesel. Shawn says he was provoked when Kid touched him then anyone else who touches him will end up like Kid. Diesel then warns Perfect if he puts his hands on them again that examples will be made. First, Boni is still with the company. We haven’t seen her in a bit but the more important thing is that Diesel got some promo time.

Smoking Gunns vs. Mike Bell & Tony DeVito

Bell & DeVito jump the Gunns before the bell. The Gunns then fight back with stereo back drops then take their opponents outside with stereo dropkicks as Bell struggled to go outside. The Gunns stay in control as Vince alerts us that Kid will be “alright” as the Gunns put DeVito away with a back drop/piledriver combo (2:15).

Thoughts: Gunns looked good here but they are not part of the Tag Team Title picture nor are they pushed on commentary.

Last appearance of Gene Okerlund on Face-to-Face airs.

Next week in action are the 1-2-3 Kid, Tatanka, and Razor Ramon. Plus, an interview with Yokozuna and more!

Final Thoughts: The big angle was Shawn & Diesel attacking Kid but other than that its more newsworthy behind the scenes than on screen. And I’ll be covering that as this timeline continues.