WWF Wrestling Challenge – June 12th, 1994

June 13, 1994

From the Canton Memorial Civic Center in Canton, OH

Your hosts are Stan Lane and Ted DiBiase

The show starts off with clips of the Roddy Piper impersonator from the “King’s Court” this past Monday on RAW.

Jerry “The King” Lawler vs. John Paul

DiBiase jokes that Piper has anorexia. Imagine hearing that line today? Lawler backs Paul into the corner and throws a punch after saying this is what he will do to Piper but Paul ducks out of the way. The crowd starts a “Burger King” chant as DiBiase is still amused with the Piper impersonator as Lawler now fires away. Paul fights back and lands a dropkick but gets decked after ducking his head. Lawler then uses a flying fist drop before using a piledriver for the win (3:48). After the match, Lawler yells at the crowd then calls out Piper for being the pits and will prove it at King of the Ring.

Thoughts: DiBiase spent the whole match referencing the Piper impersonator bit from RAW and cracking “anorexic” jokes. This bad then and much worse today. And we get more of Lawler calling out Piper and no answer as this feud remains confrontation-free.

King of the Ring Report airs.

Tatanka vs. George South

Both men trade hammerlocks as the announcers talk about Luger getting revenge on Crush at RAW. Tatanka uses a hip toss then a slam before going back to the arm. DiBiase says Owen Hart will take out Tatanka in the 1st Round as Tatanka sends South to the floor with a dropkick. Tatanka stays in control as we hear from him in an insert promo saying he will take away Owen’s dream of winning the King of the ring Tournament. DiBiase then says we will see how he reacquired The Undertaker next week as Tatanka runs wild until using the Renegade Drop for the win (3:01).

Thoughts: Hype for the Tatanka vs. Owen match on the PPV. Plus, Challenge viewers get to see The Undertaker angle with DiBiase next week.

WWF Live Event News segment where they showed highlights of the 5/20 MSG show.

Nikolai Volkoff w/ Ted DiBiase vs. Tyrone Knox

Lane is alone on commentary now. He puts over Volkoff’s recent aggressiveness as Volkoff takes control early. Volkoff hits a butterfly suplex then dumps Knox outside as Lane talks about how dangerous The Undertaker would make DiBiase. Volkoff hammers away in the corner then soon after that uses the Boston Crab for the win (2:07). Volkoff then leaves with DiBiase, who looks much happier now that Volkoff has been more aggressive.

Thoughts: Apparently, Volkoff is no longer putting up a fuss and doing exactly what his boss wants. And the crowd sat in silence.

Raymond Rougeau welcomes The Headshrinkers, Afa, and Capt. Lou Albano to the interview platform. Albano talks about the impressive size of “Yokozuma” & Crush but that in the WWF anyone can be defeated at any time because the WWF features the best in the world. What was it with the WWF at this time having faces mispronounce “Yokozuna?” Albano said they are prepared and have the speed advantage. Then Albano rambles on and after Afa screams before Albano continues his tangent. This was apparently supposed to get you hyped for the Tag Team Title match at the PPV.

We get an ad hyping The Headshrinkers vs. The Quebecers Tag Team Title match on the “Countdown to the Crowning” show. Its on Monday and billed as a special edition of RAW.

“The Rocket” Owen Hart vs. Chris Hamrick

Owen beats down Hamrick as DiBiase tells us that Owen does not need any help at King of the Ring. We then hear from Owen in an insert promo telling Tatanka its his unlucky day because everyone is going down en route to winning King of the Ring. The crowd chants for Bret as Owen stomps Hamrick then Owen puts on a reverse chin lock. Owen now fires away then Hamrick takes his bump through the ropes. Owen yells into the camera about how he could beat Hamrick now but wants him to suffer some more. We see a replay of Hamrick’s bump as Owen hits a missile dropkick then uses the Sharpshooter for the win (3:36). After the match, Owen snaps the sunglasses off of Hamrick’s face.

Thoughts: Owen’s heel work remains awesome and I still loved how he snapped the glasses off of the guy’s face after winning the match. A complete dick move.

The announcers now talk about if Owen will ever be good enough to make the WWE Hall of Fame. Lane says Bret will be there one day.

Thurman “Sparky” Plugg vs. Lou Marconi

Plugg takes Marconi down with an arm drag as the announcers talk about the finalists to co-host “Mania” with Todd Pettengill. Plugg then boots Marconi in the face and follows with a dropkick before applying a chin lock. Lane lists off some house shows and TV tapings as Plugg catches Marconi with a powerslam. Plugg then slams Marconi then goes up top and hits the Pit Stop Plunge for the win (2:41).

Thoughts: This was used to mention the co-host contest for Mania and plug some other shows.

Pettengill runs down the King of the Ring tournament bracket.

Lex Luger vs. Dave Cryner

Luger works over Cryner as DiBiase says if someone can show Luger the right attitude then he’d go a long way. Luger hits a clothesline as the announcers talk about the Luger/Crush feud then Luger uses the running forearm smash for the win (2:18). DiBiase says that was blatant cheating by Luger and how WWF President Jack Tunney needs to ban this move. Luger flexes with the spotlight treatment.

Thoughts: Another Luger match where on commentary, DiBiase seemed to think of going after Luger as another of his clients. In the end, that would have probably been the best for Luger at this point.

WWF Live Event News plugs the WWF Marathon Tour.

The announcers hype the Countdown to the Crowning show.

Next week, we will see a replay of . In action are Jeff Jarrett, Yokozuna & Crush, Duke Droese, 1-2-3 Kid, and IRS.

Final Thoughts: The only thing exclusive here was a terrible interview from Albano. The rest was PPV hype but its mostly been cold as this product just is not interesting outside of a couple storylines.