WWF Wrestling Challenge – July 10th, 1994

July 10, 1998

From the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, NY

Your hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Ted DiBiase

The show starts off with the SummerSlam Report announcing The Undertaker vs. Undertaker as the main event.

Jeff Jarrett vs. Rich Myers

DiBiase says that he has The Undertaker and no idea what Paul Bearer has as Gorilla says he is confused. Jarrett cheap shots Myers after a break against the ropes and follows with a dropkick as DiBiase says we can plainly see that he has The Undertaker. Jarrett then drops Myers throat-first across of the top rope as DiBiase talks about his corporation growing by the day. Gorilla then flat out asks if he signed Luna as DiBiase said “not exactly” as Myers uses a sunset flip for a two count. Myers surprises Jarrett with another rollup but Jarrett goes back on the attack as DiBiase says he is still not sure what Bearer has as Gorilla wants to know if he has been sold a “bill of goods.” Jarrett hits a slingshot suplex but Myers fights back after Jarrett tried to work the leg. However, Jarrett counters a side headlock with a shin breaker then uses the figure four and gets the win (3:35).

Thoughts: All of the focus here was on the main event announcement with DiBiase saying he has The Undertaker as Gorilla dropped hints that Bearer might in fact have the real Undertaker. Also, DiBiase made it a point to say we can see he has the real Undertaker later on in the show. And, DiBiase talked about possibly signing Jarrett.

WWF Live Event News putting over the Marathon Tour before hyping up the Summer Sizzler tour at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night August 25th. Matches include: Bret Hart & Razor Ramon vs. Owen Hart & Jim Neidhart and IRS vs. Tatanka in an Indian Strap match.

Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart w/ “King of Harts” Owen Hart vs. Thurman “Sparky” Plugg

Gorilla is really pissed that Owen is King of the Ring. Neidhart shoves Plugg down then runs him over. Plugg comes back with a drop toe hold and tries to work the leg but Neidhart reaches the ropes. The camera shows an unimpressed Owen as Plugg works the arm. Gorilla talks about Owen beating Bret at WrestleMania X then Gorilla says we need to remember the conditions as DiBiase said it was a straight match then Gorilla comes back by saying Bret had a “bad wheel” in what was a counterproductive exchange. Neidhart dumps Plugg outside then hammers away as the crowd chants for Bret. Neidhart blocks a sunset flip attempt as the announcers talk about Diesel & Shawn being pissed at Owen & Neidhart. The announcers now the Bret vs. 1-2-3 Kid World Title match this coming Monday night on RAW as Plugg gets tossed outside. Owen mocks Plugg and screams about how Neidhart is destroying him as Neidhart lands clubbing forearms. Plugg avoids a charge in the corner then fires away. He follows with a pair of dropkicks then heads up top for a crossbody but Neidhart turn that into a powerslam and gets the win (6:11) *1/2.

Thoughts: Basic stuff here with Neidhart in control for the match. The real focus was on the Bret vs. Owen feud. Plugg has been firmly established as a lower midcarder for the past several weeks. Also, Gorilla’s whining about Owen winning and trying to make it seem like he cheated to beat Bret at WrestleMania was moronic. It was terrible listening to him at this point.

We get a video package hyping up next week’s Headshrinkers vs. Well Dunn Tag Team Title match. I assume that Well Dunn was taking the place of the Heavenly Bodies due to Del Ray’s injury.

Smoking Gunns vs. Iron Mike Sharpe & Derec Domino

Gorilla says that Whippleman is better than DiBiase because at least Whippleman knows his opponent unlike DiBiase at SummerSlam. DiBiase once again says the Gunns lack the killer instinct and too worried about the fans. Gorilla puts over the Memory Lane feature on “All-American Wrestling” as it will feature Jake Roberts vs. Rick Martel in a blindfold match from WrestleMania VII. The Gunns clear the ring as DiBiase once again puts over his Corporation and how he is still looking to acquire Lex Luger as Gorilla says there is no way Luger accepts his offer. The Gunns stay in control as they work over Domino then put him away with the Sidewinder (4:11).

Thoughts: Most of the focus was on DiBiase talking up how he wants to buy Luger while also saying The Gunns have potential and he can give them the killer instinct.

Bam Bam Bigelow w/ Ted DiBiase vs. Matt Baily

Gorilla said that Luna Vachon is very happy with the deal DiBiase made with her to acquire Bigelow. He also puts over her having a title match against Alundra Blayze on “Superstars.” Bigelow extends his hand and Baily refuses before getting kicked in the gut. Bigelow stomps away in the corner then hits a dropkick after the camera shows us a laughing DiBiase. Bigelow pulls up Baily after a pair of falling headbutts as DiBiase wants Baily to suffer some more. Bigelow stays in control as Gorilla tells us not to underestimate DiBiase as he was able to bring back Undertaker. Bigelow now works the leg then uses the Million Dollar Dream into a bulldog, which Gorilla dubs the “Million Dollar Nightmare” and gets the win (2:37).

Thoughts: We heard Gorilla on commentary put over how Bigelow is more dangerous than ever due to being motivated by DiBiase’s money. And they once again established how and why Luna is no longer accompanying Bigelow to the ring.

An ad for SummerSlam airs.

Raymond Rougeau welcomes Bret Hart into the ring. DiBiase is back on commentary. Rougeau asks him about his match against Kid, the man who Bret said was the best pound-for-pound wrestler in the WWF at the Hall of Fame dinner. Bret once again talks about giving everyone an opportunity then says he has learned to never underestimate anyone but warns Kid not to underestimate the “excellence of execution.” Rougeau now asks Bret about Neidhart’s return and relationship with Owen. Bret says its more apparent than ever that Neidhart was the one who planted the seeds for Owen to turn against the rest of the family. Bret tells Owen there is one thing to do with him and was upset to see Owen stoop so low to win the King of the Ring. Bret also calls Owen a disgrace to the family and said that he has family that will back him up. Bret then says Owen has stolen his moves and since he wants to call himself the King of Harts, the next time they face off that Owen should prepared to get crowned as he holds up his fist. Its clear that the Bret vs. Owen feud is far from over. The promo was fine, if not basic, but the line at the end was on the corny side.

Yokozuna w/ Jim Cornette & Mr. Fuji vs. David Thornberg

DiBiase even teases that he has been talking with Fuji to acquire Yokozuna. Cornette is rocking the French Mustard yellow suit. Gorilla says that Yokozuna once again has his sites set on becoming the World Heavyweight Championship as Yokozuna takes control early. The announcers also talk up next week’s Yokozuna vs. Typhoon match as Yokozuna clotheslines Thornberg. The crowd starts up a USA chant as Yokozuna roughs up Thornberg in the corner. The announcers bicker for a bit then Yokozuna uses the Bonzai Drop for the win (3:23).

Thoughts: I do like how DiBiase is teasing that he is going to acquire pretty much anyone for his Corporation. Yokozuna’s conditioning remains awful.

1-2-3 Kid vs. Mike Bell

Gorilla reminds DiBiase how Kid has beaten Volkoff, IRS, and Razor Ramon in the WWF after DiBiase was making jokes. Bell flexes to the crowd after overpowering Kid but soon after that runs into a clothesline. Bell catches Kid with a powerslam for a nearfall then stomps away. Bell continues to hammer away and gets a two count with an elbow drop. Bell ducks his head and gets kicked then Kid flies out with a somersault plancha that we see again on the double feature. Kid rolls Bell back inside where he hits a spinning heel kick for the win (3:08).

Thoughts: I get that Kid’s gimmick is that he is an underdog but even still there is no reason for him to sell this much in an enhancement match against Bell shown the day before his title shot.

WWF Live Event News is once again about the Summer Sizzler Tour. We also learn that The Headshrinkers vs. Shawn Michaels & Diesel will take place for the Tag Team Titles at the MSG show.

Next week in action are Mabel, IRS, Duke Droese, and Crush. Plus, The Headshrinkers vs. Well Dunn for the titles. We hear from Whippleman with Well Dunn as he cuts a generic promo about Headshrinkers falling for their plan and that they will get the belts.

Final Thoughts: The featured match was forgettable but most of the show focused on main feuds and DiBiase’s Corporation. They also spent a lot of time hyping up Bret vs. Kid and next week we get to see the Tag Team Titles being defended against a team that has zero key wins in the WWF in Well Dunn. It goes to show how bad the depth was in that division.