What the World Was Watching: WWF Wrestling Challenge – March 22, 1992

Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan are in the booth for the last show of the West Palm Beach, Florida taping cycle.

Opening Contest: The British Bulldog (7-0) pins Bill Badd after the running powerslam at 1:51:

In the split screen, the Berzerker and Mr. Fuji appear and tell the Bulldog that “pumping iron and a pretty tan” will do the Bulldog no favors at WrestleMania. Badd is yet another large opponent for the Bulldog to squash to put over his power credentials.

Lord Alfred Hayes’ Special Report replays Sid Justice’s breaking of Virgil’s nose on last week’s Superstars. Hayes says that Virgil’s nose sustained multiple fractures. He relays the rumors that Hulk Hogan’s last match might take place at WrestleMania. Sid then does a taped promo with Harvey Wippleman where he says he no compassion for anybody and says that it is convenient that Hogan is spreading rumors that he might leave the WWF after the pay-per-view.

Papa Shango (5-0) beats Danny Kamo after the reverse shoulderbreaker at 1:48:

Shango tears into Kamo as Monsoon and Heenan debate Hogan’s legacy. In the split screen, a clip of Shango’s first vignette airs, which Monsoon hilariously claims is from Shango’s living room. This time Shango’s skull does not combust in the corner so there is not much to say except that he easily wins another match.

A replay of the prison vignette from Superstars two weeks ago airs.

The Big Bossman’s squash from Prime Time Wrestling is shown.

A replay of Gene Okerlund’s interview with Ric Flair on Superstars airs.

Bret Hart (8-0-1) defeats Dale Wolfe via submission to the Sharpshooter at 1:34:

Intercontinental Roddy Piper does an insert promo about how he could be a nice guy or a jerk and that depends on Bret. Bret deconstructs Wolfe without having to resort to the moves of doom as his quest to regain the Intercontinental Championship continues.

Repo Man (6-0) beats Terry Davis via submission to a leg grapevine in 40 seconds:

After winning his last bout with a side suplex, Repo Man goes back to using his leg grapevine submission to make quick work of Davis, who he grounds after some punches.

Okerlund does the WrestleMania VIII Report. Hulk Hogan says Sid is going to be out to injure him but he picked the wrong man to mess with. He denies speculation that WrestleMania is going to be his last match as he will keep fighting until his young fans do not want him to anymore. Randy Savage argues that Ric Flair will play for sullying Elizabeth’s reputation and he will face the truth. Jake Roberts warns the Undertaker that he made a big mistake telling him that he was not with him. The Undertaker and Paul Bearer rebut that they have not been in the WWF long but they have collected a lot of souls and Roberts will be next.

Sid Justice (w/Harvey Wippleman) (6-0) pins Dennis Bunt after the powerbomb at 1:26:

Bunt was a Larry Sharpe trainee that made his debut in 1988 and wrestled as Dennis Condrey, Jr. and Dynamite Dennis Allen for Sharpe’s WWA promotion. He started working as a WWF enhancement talent in 1989 and at the time of this squash he was working the Florida independents.

In the split screen, young fans talk about how Hulk Hogan is going to run through Sid at WrestleMania. Sid kicks Bunt a lot and finishes with the powerbomb. After the bell, Sid removes the ring steps, puts the usual trinkets on Bunt, and runs the stretcher he is on into the ring, causing Bunt to fly off and onto the arena floor. That was a fun way to diversify the post-match beatdowns and keep Sid over as a maniac.

Tune in next week to see Shawn Michaels, Jake Roberts, Intercontinental Champion Roddy Piper, and Sid Justice in action! Also, there will be a special interview with WWF Tag Team Champions Money Incorporated!

The Last Word: The biggest thing on the show was the stretcher spot at the end of Sid Justice’s squash match. Sid is putting in good work for the WrestleMania main event and outclassing Hulk Hogan in the build but he will not get a long run with the former WWF champion because of Hogan’s upcoming departure from the company.

Here is a recap of the WWF’s house show results for the middle of March, courtesy of thehistoryofwwe.com:

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Philadelphia Spectrum – March 20, 1992 (11,500): Rick Martel beat J.W. Storm…Jim Brunzell pinned Skinner…Tatanka defeated Colonel Mustafa…Shawn Michaels pinned Virgil…The Natural Disasters beat Hacksaw Jim Duggan & Sergeant Slaughter via disqualification…El Matador wrestled Irwin R. Schyster to a draw…Hulk Hogan & Roddy Piper beat Ric Flair & Sid Justice when Hogan pinned Flair.

Denver, Colorado – Denver Coliseum – March 22, 1992 (6,000): Chris Walker pinned Kato…Crush wrestled the Warlord to a double count out…Bret Hart & the Bushwhackers defeated the Mountie & the Nasty Boys…Repo Man pinned Del Wilkes…The British Bulldog pinned Ted DiBiase…Owen Hart & Jim Powers beat the Beverly Brothers…Randy Savage beat Jake Roberts in a steel cage match.

Backstage News*: Vince McMahon appeared on The Phil Donahue Show on March 16 to rebut recent allegations made against the company and was joined by Bruno Sammartino, Superstar Billy Graham, Dave Meltzer, and Murray Hodgson. Before the show, the WWF agreed to a $50,000 settlement with former ring boy Tom Cole who had accused Pat Patterson, Terry Garvin, and Mel Phillips of sexual harassment and abuse. As a condition of the settlement, Cole was given a multi-year contract and a return to his old job. McMahon tried to appear contrite on the show but did not look good, especially when he accused Hodgson of seeking money from the company and Hodgson fired back that McMahon has been trying to buy his silence.

-Reports suggest that WrestleMania ticket sales have hit 27,000-32,000 with about 6,000 free tickets handed out thus far. Local sources say that free tickets have been given in such large quantities that local buys for the show will be non-existent going forward. The Hoosier Dome can seat 72,000 but the WWF could remove some seating and is headed toward filling the building with 45,000-55,000 fans.

-The WWF does not expect Hulk Hogan to be gone for long after WrestleMania and this week’s syndicated programs were an attempt to fire back at public relations critics of Hogan and the company over the last few weeks. Right now, Hogan’s tag team matches with Roddy Piper against Ric Flair and Sid Justice are drawing well, attracting a record gate in Memphis of $90,000. In Philadelphia, Hogan was booed during his entrance but fans cheered him once the tag team match progressed.

-Ted DiBiase returned from a back injury for a house show in Denver.

*Backstage news is provided courtesy of Dave Meltzer’s Wrestling Observer for March 23 and 30.

Up Next: WWF Prime Time Wrestling for March 23!