What the World Was Watching: WWF Prime Time Wrestling – March 23, 1992

Vince McMahon moderates a one-hour episode of Prime Time Wrestling. Gorilla Monsoon, Bobby Heenan, and Mr. Perfect are on the panel with a new guest, Hillbilly Jim. McMahon says that he has heard Hulk Hogan is taking time off after WrestleMania to make a film and spend time with his family and that Hogan will probably return soon after.

Opening Contest: Sid Justice (w/Harvey Wippleman) (7-0) pins Hercules (1-4) after the powerbomb in 24 seconds:

This match took place at Madison Square Garden on February 23. It is a famous encounter because Hercules does not sell. After refusing Sid’s offer to leave the ring, he knocks him to the floor and chases him back into the ring. Hercules does not sell Sid’s right hands and when he goes up for the powerbomb he puts his hands behind his head on the way down and sits up after the three count no worse for wear. Not surprisingly, this would be Hercules’ last televised match for the WWF. He would pop up several months later in WCW as the Super Invader.

Gene Okerlund’s Update segment replays his interview with WWF Champion Ric Flair on Superstars.

Tom Emanuel, publisher of WWF Magazine, says that the magazine had to put in Flair’s photographs because of a press deadline and an inability to contact Randy Savage and Elizabeth because they were on vacation. Emanuel says that if Savage has any proof to refute Flair’s photographs that he should submit them.

Tatanka’s squash from Superstars is shown.

Okerlund’s interview with Hulk Hogan on Superstars airs.

The Mountie (w/Jimmy Hart) (5-4) beats Bret Hart (9-0-1) via count out at 6:49:

This match took place in Mobile, Alabama on March 9 and continues the feud between these two that has been filled with inconclusive matches going back to the previous year. Bret wrestles circles around the Mountie until a blind charge sends him chest-first into the corner. Halfway through Shawn Michaels and Sensational Sherri come to ringside and Bret starts a comeback out of nowhere. The Mountie breaks up the moves of doom by rolling to the floor and Bret continues to beat on him. However, he gets into an argument with Michaels and that distraction causes him to get counted out. The finish lays the foundation for a Bret-Shawn feud after WrestleMania. Rating: *

Okerlund does the WrestleMania VIII Report.

Perfect says that Jake Roberts will beat the Undertaker at WrestleMania. Heenan concurs because Roberts has shown that he will do anything to destroy his rivals since the previous summer. Monsoon switches the conversation to the tag team title match, arguing that the Natural Disasters will be tag team champions. Hillbilly Jim supports that argument because the Disasters are big men.

Repo Man (7-0) beats Virgil (6-0) with the Flair pin at 5:39:

Virgil is now wearing a face guard after having his nose broken by Sid Justice. The match is joined in progress from Biloxi, Mississippi on March 10 and a decent television match unfolds. Repo Man takes advantage when Virgil’s blind charge sends him over the top and to the floor and Virgil mounts a comeback after a double KO spot following a clothesline. Repo Man kicks out of a side Russian leg sweep and traps Virgil in a Flair pin near the corner, winning the televised encounter between the two with the same finish that has been going on at house shows. Rating: **

Tune in on Sunday for the WWF’s March to WrestleMania VIII special edition of Prime Time Wrestling. Hulk Hogan’s match against Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III will be shown and Elizabeth will give an interview!

The Last Word: The one-hour format of the show was good because there were fewer replays of what took place on the syndicated shows the previous week. This broadcast confirmed that Hulk Hogan would be taking time off after WrestleMania VIII which creates problems for the WWF in terms of who will be used to draw crowds at house shows. Bret Hart also fell from the ranks of the unbeaten but he dominated the Mountie in their match so there is no question about his trajectory in the company.

Up Next: WWF Superstars for March 28!