WTWWW WWE — page 18

All American Wrestling had one feature match for its 500th episode.

Papa Shango (6-3) wrestles Kamala (w/Slick) (11-1) to a double count out at 3:32:

This match took place at the North Charleston, South Carolina Superstars taping on March 8.  Gorilla Monsoon is commentating with the Wizard, a gimmick for Bruce Prichard.  If Kamala was a heel like Shango they would make an interesting tag team.  In some nice character work, Kamala is fascinated by Shango’s skull but freaks out when it shoots fire.  That is the high point of the match as each man exchanges strikes and Kamala gets fired up when Shango puts his hands on Slick.  Both men start fighting on the floor and that battle heads to the locker room, creating a double count out.  Rating:  ¼*

Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler, and Randy Savage dare doing commentary, starting a post-WrestleMania taping cycle from Tucson, Arizona.  According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the taping took place on April 6.

Opening Non-Title Contest:  Shawn Michaels (Intercontinental Champion) (9-2) pins Dale Wolfe after the superkick at 3:17:

Luna Vachon is not with Michaels so her appearance at his side at WrestleMania appears to be a one-off deal.  Michaels has had a rough year so far since his feud with Marty Jannetty was aborted for a second time and he looked weak throughout his program with Tatanka.  The feud with Mr. Perfect is very much make or break for him at this point as he needs something to get back on track.  As McMahon talks about Michaels not being the same without Sensational Sherri at his side Michaels catches Wolfe with a superkick off the ropes to win a slow, dull squash.

WWF Tag Team Champions Money Incorporated tell the Beverly Brothers that they will not beat them when the Mega-Maniacs could not do it.  Hard to disagree with that logic.  The Beverlys rebut that they are going to show Money Incorporated what they are worth.

Vince McMahon, Rob Bartlett, and Randy Savage are commentating, taped from Poughkeepsie, New York.

Jim Ross and Bobby Heenan are handling commentary, doing the last episode of the taping from Augusta, Georgia.

Opening Contest:  Doink the Clown (12-2) defeats Jim Powers via submission to the stump puller at 3:04:

The WWF continues to play up the illusion bit as Doink does an insert conversation with the announce team.  Like when he faces Rick Martel, Powers misses a dropkick and that leads to his opponent applying their finisher.

Bam Bam Bigelow promises that Owen Hart is going down in flames.  Owen rebuts that Bigelow will be the launch pad for his rocket to blast off.

Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler, and Randy Savage are in the booth, concluding the tapings in North Charleston, South Carolina.

Opening Contest:  Crush (11-1) beats Glen Ruth via submission to the head vice at 2:14:

Doink the Clown does an insert promo with two screens, saying what happened at WrestleMania IX was an illusion.  Crush gets back on the winning track, crushing Ruth’s head so Savage can scream “SHAKA!”

WWF Tag Team Champions Money Incorporated pay the Beverly Brothers for information on the Steiner Brothers.

Vince McMahon, Rob Barlett, and Randy Savage are commentating, live from Poughkeepsie, New York.  According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the show drew a crowd of 3,500, most of which did not have to pay for their tickets because a previous WWF event had a lot of no-shows, so fans were allowed to bring their tickets for that card to this one and have it redeemed.

All American Wrestling had an exclusive feature match.

Hacksaw Jim Duggan (3-0) pins Damien Demento (7-3) after the three-point stance clothesline at 3:45:

This match was filmed in Augusta, Georgia on March 9.  Duggan dominates the match and all Demento can do is stall a few times to delay the inevitable.  Rating:  ½*

WWF Mania had an exclusive match on Saturday morning.

Yokozuna (w/Mr. Fuji) (14-2) beats Typhoon (4-3) after the sit-down splash off the second rope at 1:51:

This match was filmed in North Charleston, South Carolina on March 8.  Yokozuna squashes the former Tag Team champion, pulverizing him with all his big moves.  Even though Typhoon does not mount much offense he gets some protection in defeat as he is only avalanched against the corner turnbuckles because of a Fuji distraction.  The results snaps Typhoon’s four-match winning streak.

Vince McMahon and Randy Savage are commentating, taped from the Manhattan Center in New York City.  The introduction gives away that the show was taped because McMahon says that Savage wore a “Macho toga” at WrestleMania when Savage did nothing of the sort.  Rob Bartlett is not on this episode because he “lost everything” in Las Vegas.

Jim Ross, Bobby Heenan, and Randy Savage are commentating, live from Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada.  This is Ross’ debut and he is introduced by Gorilla Monsoon, who is a master of ceremonies.  According to thehistoryofwwe.com, 15,045 fans attended the event, with 14,000 paying for tickets.  The show had a buyrate of 2.0 (430,000 buys).  The buyrate was lower than the previous year’s 2.8 but 30,000 more households bought this pay-per-view than WrestleMania VIII.

All the announcers, save Savage, wear togas.  Ring announcer Howard Finkel is referred to as “Finkus Maximus.”  The venue set a creative design, with black and gold ring ropes.  This is also the first outdoor venue for WrestleMania.  There is an opening procession where Julius Caesar and Cleopatra come in on an elephant.  Heenan does his usual bumbling fool routine of coming out backward on a camel.  When he gets off he is so dazed it is hard for him to stand up, leading to Savage pulling up Heenan’s toga to reveal blue underwear and do a thumbs up.  Heenan is angry that Savage is carried out on a sedan by “vestal virgins” because he said that is how he was supposed to ride into the show.

Before Wrestling Challenge hit the airwaves, there was an exclusive match on All American Wrestling between two WrestleMania participants.

WWF Spotlight had an exclusive enhancement match.

Damien Demento (5-3) pins Lee Armstrong after the knee drop at 2:09:

Armstrong made five appearances as an enhancement talent for the WWF in 1992, losing to babyface acts like the Bushwhackers, the British Bulldog, El Matador, the Big Bossman, and the Undertaker.

This is a different Lee Armstrong from the one that lost to Crush on Superstars last week.  Demento does his usual squash formula and the crowd does not like it.  Several fans shout “Boring!” within the first 30 seconds.  All Demento can do to counter that is a shoulder tackle off the ropes where he does not leave his feet.

Vince McMahon and Bobby Heenan are commentators for this USA Network special that aired at 8 p.m. on Sunday, March 28.  According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the show was recorded in Fayetteville, North Carolina on March 7.

Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan call another episode of Wrestling Challenge, starting a new taping from Augusta, Georgia.  According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the taping took place on March 9 and attracted a sellout crowd of 8,000.

WWF Mania had one exclusive match that was filmed in Augusta, Georgia on March 9.

Mr. Perfect (7-0) beats Papa Shango (4-2) with the Perfectplex at 4:54 shown:

Perfect has lost a step in his feud with Lex Luger.  Their match is no longer getting major billing for WrestleMania since Hulk Hogan returned.  The best parts of the match are when Perfect is on offense as Shango opts for a long chinlock when he is given control.  The ending is creative, though, as Perfect avoids a headbutt to the groin and traps the dazed Shango in a Perfectplex.  Rating:  *½

The show begins with a video of WWF superstars at the Michael Landon Awards.  It is missing on Peacock’s streaming service because this segment was set to the song “A Whole New World” from Aladdin.  Hulk Hogan gives a speech about the WWF’s involvement with children and then wrestlers do some anti-drug bits.  Parts of Vince McMahon’s acceptance of an award is shown, highlighting how he is happy that WWF superstars can make ailing children smile.

McMahon, Rob Bartlett, and Randy Savage are commentators, live from the Manhattan Center in New York City.  According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the show drew a crowd of 1,000 fans.

All American Wrestling had two exclusive feature matches.

Owen Hart (1-0) defeats Skinner (2-1-1) with a small package at 4:48:

This match took place in Fayetteville, North Carolina on March 7.  Owen has abandoned the parachute pants, wearing light blue tights that are reminiscent of when he was the Blue Blazer in the 1980s.  In this rematch from WrestleMania VIII Owen frustrates Skinner with his dexterity.  When Skinner finally knocks Owen down with an elbow he does a funny dance in the middle of the ring.  Skinner plants Owen with the Alligator Neckbreaker but he refuses to cover and then gets beat with a small package.  That type of win does not give Owen a “rocket” push as a single but he does win.  Rating:  **

WWF Mania had another exclusive match that aired before Superstars went on the air in many markets.

Lex Luger (7-0) beats El Matador (3-0-1) after the running forearm at 5:00 shown:

This is Luger’s biggest test to date.  The match took place in Augusta, Georgia on March 9.  It is also a dream match between two prominent stars of the 1980s.  After a slow start, the match picks up after a commercial break.  El Matador has a spirited rally and manages to blast Luger with the flying forearm but Luger kicks out.  That gets a lot of heat.  A blind charge goes awry for the former Intercontinental champion and Luger blasts him with the forearm to remain unbeaten.  It is too bad that Tito was not going to be receiving anymore pushes because more matches between these two would be welcomed.  Rating:  **

Gorilla Monsoon, Bobby Heenan, and Rob Bartlett are doing commentary, live from Poughkeepsie, New York.  This is the first Monday Night RAW to occur outside of the Manhattan Center, a decision made because of a blizzard.  In Brutus Beefcake fashion it was later called the Storm of the Century, the 93 Superstorm, and the No Name Storm, dumping snow across the U.S. to the Mississippi River and affecting 40% of the country.  Vince McMahon was not doing commentary because he was being honored by the Michael Landon Foundation for charitable work.

WWF All American Wrestling had an exclusive match on Sunday afternoon.

Giant Gonzalez (w/Harvey Wippleman) beats Jim Powers after a chokeslam at 1:42:

Gonzalez’s size makes Powers look like a child.  His height would make any normal move like a body slam or suplex look devastating because of the drop another wrestler would have to take.  That is the case for his finishing chokeslam.  Gonzalez looked fine in this squash but the big question is what he would look like in a competitive match.