What the World Was Watching: WWF Superstars – December 21, 1991

Vince McMahon and Mr. Perfect are in the booth, wrapping up a long taping in New Haven, Connecticut. Perfect tells children at home that Santa Claus is Ric Flair. Bells are heard in the background along with Flair’s voice.

Opening Contest: Ric Flair (w/Mr. Perfect) (7-0) beats Dale Wolfe via submission to the figure-four leglock at 1:40:

One of the unfortunate effects of the digital blurring of Flair’s “title” is that it makes him look like he is flashing the audience when he removes his robe. In the split screen, Flair and Perfect tell WWF President Jack Tunney that he will not be able to digitally distort his championships when he captures the WWF Championship by winning the Royal Rumble. Some fans in the front row are big marks for Flair, cheering on his quick destruction of Wolfe.

Gene Okerlund’s Update segment provides some Rumble promos. Jake Roberts says that he is not scared that Randy Savage has entered the match because Savage will abstain from touching him like one does from sex. Hacksaw Jim Duggan repeats past Rumble promos about punching anything that moves, El Matador guarantees that the superstar with the best endurance will win and that is going to be him, and the Nasty Boys and Jimmy Hart promise a wild time when they work together.

The Rockers (20-2-1) defeat Bob Wisseman & Paul Perez when Shawn Michaels pins Perez after two superkicks at 2:31:

Marty Jannetty runs to the ring and shows his usual babyface fire while Shawn Michaels is more reserved. Michaels also insists on starting as McMahon reveals that there are rumors backstage that Michaels wants to break into the singles ranks. In another signal that a heel turn is coming, Michaels uses closed fists on Wisseman in the corner and talks down to the jobber. Perez fares no better when he tags in as Michaels chooses to wrestle the bout as a handicap affair, finishing Perez with two superkicks and never tagging Jannetty in.

A replay of Intercontinental Champion Bret Hart receiving his award for Wrestler of the Year on last week’s show airs.

Non-Title Match: Bret Hart (Intercontinental Champion) (28-0-3) defeats Bob Bradley via submission to the Sharpshooter at 2:07:

This is the second time Bret has faced Bradley this year, defeating him on the August 24 episode of Superstars. In the split screen, the Mountie and Jimmy Hart consider it a joke that Bret won last week’s Wrestler of the Year award. The Mountie yells that 1992 will be his year. After the promo, Bret plants Bradley with a side Russian leg sweep and applies the Sharpshooter for a twenty-first straight win in singles competition.

Irwin R. Schyster (22-1-3) pins Phil Apollo after the Write Off at 1:48:

IRS tells fans that they are going to pay “the tax.” He does an insert promo encouraging fans to save their Christmas money so they can pay taxes when he comes around. Without mention of the Big Bossman, one wonders if the program between the two has been scrapped. IRS throws a nice flying clothesline off the ropes, which would be a better finisher than the Write Off.

A recap of how the Bushwhackers saved Jamison from the Beverly Brothers last week is shown.

The Bushwhackers and Jamison, who has a ripped suit, come out for an interview with Okerlund. Luke warns the Beverlys are going to do some whacking at The Royal Rumble. Okerlund announces that Jamison will accompany the Bushwhackers into battle at the pay-per-view. Jamison says that the Bushwhackers are going to help him turn the Genius into a doofus. Butch closes the segment by saying that his team is going to turn the Beverly Brothers into the Beverly Sisters. The announcement of this new Rumble match is not going to solicit any new pay-per-view buys, but the WWF has to pad the show with something since all the big stars are going to be in the Rumble match.

The Undertaker (w/Paul Bearer) (33-1) pins Al Phillips after the Tombstone at 3:15:

The Undertaker and Bearer do an insert promo where they promise to possess the souls of the other twenty-nine men in the Royal Rumble. Phillips has the life choked out of him as Bearer distracts the referee and is then methodically finished with the Undertaker’s ropewalk and Tombstone. The Tombstone looks especially devastating this time, as Phillips bounces after taking the move. Despite the WWF’s attempts to pipe in boos, the crowd can be heard audibly cheering for the former WWF champion. After the bout, Phillips is zipped up into a body bag and the Undertaker stomps on it.

For this week’s Royal Rumble Report there are more Rumble promos. Roddy Piper rants about how he has lots of problems and people want no part of him, Repo Man insists that the Rumble is a match up his alley, Skinner says that the Rumble is a chance of a lifetime and laughs, and Ted DiBiase and Sensational Sherri serves warning that he is going to walk out of Albany with the WWF Championship.

Hacksaw Jim Duggan & Sergeant Slaughter (2-0) beat Peter Weeks & Chris Duffy when Duggan pins Duffy after the three-point stance clothesline at 3:19:

In the split screen, Slaughter sings “Santa Claus” is coming to town as Duggan wishes “Merry Christmas” to the fans. Duggan and Slaughter do their own mini-match against the jobber team until Duggan mows Duffy down with the three-point stance clothesline. After the match, Slaughter hugs some fans in the front row as Duggan waves the American flag in the ring.

Tune in next week to see the Legion of Doom defend the tag team titles against the Rockers! Also, Rick Martel returns to the ring! The Big Bossman and Repo Man will appear too, and Roddy Piper will be a guest on the Funeral Parlor!

The Last Word: Although this was another squasherific episode, fans were treated to some big name stars versus the usual run of the mill midcard acts that would clog television. The announcement of the Bushwhackers-Beverly Brothers match will not solicit any new pay-per-view buys, but the WWF has to pad the show with something since all the big stars are going to be in the Royal Rumble.

Up Next: Wrestling Challenge for December 22!