What the World Was Watching: WWF Wrestling Challenge – June 30, 1991

Gorilla Monsoon, Bobby Heenan, and Jim Neidhart are in the booth, concluding the tapings in Tempe, Arizona.

Opening Non-Title Contest: The Nasty Boys (WWF Tag Team Champions w/Jimmy Hart) (13-1) beat Steve Gatorwolf & Bobby Jones when Jerry Sags pins Jones after the Trip to Nastyville at 3:15:

Gatorwolf worked for the WWF in 1984 and was going to get a push as a Native American wrestler. However, his push was quickly abandoned, and he was used as a preliminary act. After retiring from the ring in 1997 Gatorwolf had several ruin-ins with law enforcement and was arrested in 2014 for seven felony counts of sexual assault of a child. He passed away in 2017 while in federal custody.

Gaterwolf is incapacitated with the Pit Stop, allowing the Nasties to destroy Jones. As they do so, the Legion of Doom appear in the split screen and tell the champions that they do not run from anyone.

Lord Alfred Hayes’ Special Report talks about the Randy Savage-Elizabeth relationship. Savage gives new comments that he is going to announce his intentions to the world next week.

Greg Valentine (12-3-1) defeats the Intruder via submission to the figure-four leglock at 2:16:

Valentine pounds the Intruder into submission and wastes no time locking in the figure-four for a third straight win.

The Undertaker (w/Paul Bearer) (20-0) pins Terry Zeller after the Tombstone at 2:09:

The Undertaker has slowed his in-ring speed to a crawl by this point in his career. A back suplex is the lead-in for the Tombstone today. After the bell, the Undertaker and Bearer put Zeller in a body bag and carry the jobber to the locker room.

Jake Roberts (13-1) pins Bill Luger after the DDT at 2:26:

Luger nearly loses his balance after getting whipped into the corner. Monsoon has a good cover by arguing that Roberts had put Luger on dream street so that is why the jobber cannot maintain his balance. Roberts gets another win with the DDT and teases not dumping Lucifer until Luger until the crowd begs him to do so.

Irwin R. Schyster is this week’s guest on the Barber Shop. Schyster accuses Brutus Beefcake of cheating on his taxes by not declaring his tips. In response, Beefcake pulls out his trimmers and Schyster retreats so he does not get a haircut.

The Beverly Brothers (w/Coach) (1-0) beat Bill Gatlin & Stephen DeLeon when Beau pins Gatlin after an elevated mat slam at 3:23:

Monsoon speaks for the fanbase in immediately hating Coach’s whistle. It would be better if the whistle meant something, but Coach just blows it at random. Monsoon has a tough time figuring out who is Beau and who is Blake and Heenan does not correct him until late in the match. In the split screen, Coach says that the Beverlys have the skills to be the next tag team champions. Monsoon does like the Beverlys finisher, the only thing in the squash that gets a reaction. After the bell, the Coach does push ups and claps for his team.

Hacksaw Jim Duggan says he likes that Sid Justice is an American and a tough guy. The Natural Disasters and Jimmy Hart argue that Sid is one of them because he is big and mean. Earthquake also gets in an attack on Duggan, telling him to get over “the America stuff.”

The British Bulldog (21-0) pins the Black Knight after the running powerslam at 2:20:

The Knight manages to sneak in a slam but misses an elbow drop off the second rope. This time, the Bulldog just whips the Knight into the corner and pulls him out for the powerslam finish.

Colonel Mustafa (w/Sergeant Slaughter & General Adnan) (9-0) defeats Jerry Stevens via submission to the Camel Clutch at 2:08:

Colonel Mustafa and General Adnan appear in the split screen and run down July 4. That finally makes Neidhart, who has said less than ten words the whole show, to argue that it is time to send both of them on the country on a Patriot missile. Neidhart is also overcome with joy about winning the interactive game on the Hulk Hogan Hotline. A back suplex puts Stevens in position for the Camel Clutch, giving Mustafa double digit wins for the year. After the bell, Slaughter gets in the ring and whips Stevens with a riding crop until Mustafa throws Stevens to the floor.

Tune in next week to see Intercontinental Champion Mr. Perfect, the Dragon, Ted DiBiase, and the Natural Disasters in action!

The Last Word: The best thing to be said of the show was that it gave fans a lot of action in less than an hour. Other than that, nothing significant happened.

Springfield, Massachusetts – Springfield Civic Center – June 24, 1991 (1,800): The Berzerker pinned Jimmy Snuka at 8:15…Jake Roberts pinned Earthquake at 6:40…Animal pinned Paul Roma after a powerslam at 5:15…Colonel Mustafa beat Shane Douglas (substituting for Hacksaw Jim Duggan)…The Undertaker beat Roddy Piper via count out after hitting Piper with the Tombstone on the arena floor at 5:10. After the match, Piper was taken backstage on a stretcher…The Texas Tornado wrestled the Warlord to a double count out at 9:15…Ted DiBiase pinned Virgil after using a foreign object given to him by Sensational Sherri at 8:50.

Chicago, Illinois – The Rosemont Horizon – June 28, 1991 (6,500): Greg Valentine beat Haku…The Dragon defeated the Barbarian…The Bushwhackers defeated the Orient Express…Hacksaw Jim Duggan beat Colonel Mustafa…Animal beat Brian Knobbs…Roddy Piper defeated Ted DiBiase…WWF Champion Hulk Hogan defeated Sergeant Slaughter in a Desert Storm match.

Orlando, Florida – Orlando Arena – June 29, 1991 (6,300): The Berzerker pinned Koko B. Ware after Mr. Fuji interfered…The British Bulldog beat Typhoon (substituting for Mr. Perfect) via count out…The Ultimate Warrior beat the Undertaker via disqualification…Bret Hart beat the Warlord via count out…Irwin R. Schyster pinned Jimmy Snuka…The Rockers defeated Paul Roma & Dino Bravo (substituting for Hercules)…Jake Roberts (w/Andre the Giant) defeated Earthquake.

Providence, Rhode Island – Providence Civic Center – June 30, 1991 (4,100): Greg Valentine (substituting for the Texas Tornado) beat Haku with a small package…The British Bulldog defeated Typhoon (substituting for Mr. Perfect) via count out…The Dragon pinned the Barbarian with a sunset flip…Hulk Hogan & Hacksaw Jim Duggan defeated Sergeant Slaughter & Colonel Mustafa in a match where Randy Savage was the guest referee when Hogan pinned Slaughter after Savage came off the top rope and onto Slaughter…Shawn Michaels & Greg Valentine (substituting for Marty Jannetty) beat Paul Roma & Dino Bravo (substituting for Hercules) when Michaels pinned Roma…The Warlord defeated Virgil via disqualification when Virgil shoved referee Danny Davis…Animal pinned Jerry Sags.

Backstage News*: Dr. George Zahorian, a former WWF ringside physician, was found guilty on June 28 of eight counts of distributing anabolic steroids and four counts of illegally distributing prescription painkillers to professional wrestlers and bodybuilders. During the trial, Zahorian testified that he sold steroids to WWF owner Vince McMahon and WWF Champion Hulk Hogan.

*The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) hate the Mountie character, demanding the WWF take it off television. The WWF has started to run disclaimers that the Mountie is not associated with the RCMP in any way.

*Intercontinental Champion Mr. Perfect is missing lots of house shows because of a major back injury. However, he is still expected to make SummerSlam.

*Shane Douglas is working house show dates because he is on summer vacation from teaching.

*Dino Bravo substituted for Hercules on house shows because Hercules failed a drug test and is off the road for the next six weeks.

*Pat Tanaka’s father, Duke Keomuka, passed away after heart surgery on June 30 at the age of seventy.

*In talent relations news, WCW fired Ric Flair after negotiations for a new contract fell through so he will be available to come to the WWF.

*Backstage news provided courtesy of Dave Meltzer’s Wrestling Observer for July 8.

Up Next: Prime Time Wrestling for July 1!