Retro WWF Review Thread

[Attitudester]

As someone who didn't have cable TV until 1998 it was all I had (well Superstars and Wrestling Challenge when it aired). I loved those shows as a child.

I never got to watch Superstars until WWE brought it back in 2009 (I think?). This is legitimately the first time I’ve ever gone back to watch the original telecasts.

When I was a kid, all we watched were Nitro and Thunder, and I don’t remember anything pre-1998 because I was born in 1994. I had tapes of older stuff and we rented a lot from the local video store. I wasn’t allowed to watch WWF until around 2001 when we got directv. Lol

 

[R-Troop]

yeah you're a (relative) young. I was born in 85. don't remember a time where rasslin wasn't in my life. I was watching Superstars/Wrestling Challenge in the eaarly 90s. Pre-Raw that was it for wrestling TV.

Without cable the only wrestling I had was Supersrars and Wrestling Challenge. Once I got cable in early 1998 I was able to see Raw/Nitro. One of my friends had one of them illegal cable boxes and would invite me for some PPVs but never got to see wrestling PPVs live consistently until the WWE Network.

 

[Attitudester]

WWF RAW
10/09/1995
Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Center

​

This week is your special “Columbus Day edition” of Monday Night RAW, so Vince McMahon says. Tonight, The Two Dudes With Attitudes will team up with The Undertaker to take on The British Bulldog, Owen Hart, and Yokozuna.

​

MATCH 1: THE UNDERTAKER W/ PAUL BEARER, SHAWN MICHAELS, AND DIESEL VS THE BRITISH BULLDOG, OWEN HART, AND YOKOZUNA W/ JIM CORNETTE

Immediately after the RAW open, Camp Cornette are already in the ring as Jerry “The King” Lawler refers to them as role models on commentary. The bell tolls and the Grand Rapids crowd goes crazy as The Undertaker makes his way to the ring. Vince McMahon teases the match to come as we head into our first commercial break.

As we return, we see footage from the recent Survivor Series press conference. The footage is of Shawn Michaels hanging out with lots of kids at the event, and he’s talking on camera about how the kids affect him in an emotional way. If Shawn is putting on for the camera here, he did a good job. Shawn actually looks like he’s getting choked up while talking about how important children are to him and how special it makes him feel that they like him.

The Intercontinental Champion makes his entrance next. McMahon reminds us that Shawn will be going to school with Dean Douglas at In Your House 4 on October 22.

And now, for the first time since doing these reactions, with the exception of In Your House 3, the WWF Champion finally gets an entrance. Diesel makes his way to the ring carrying the WWF Title belt, and we get another commercial.

The match finally begins after the commercial, and we kick things off with Shawn Michaels and Owen Hart. Shawn and Owen have a good little exchange here, going at a high rate of speed, before Shawn clotheslines Owen out of the ring and skins the cat back inside. The teams both enter the ring and we’ve got a breakdown in the early goings.

Diesel and The British Bulldog are now the legal men and we get a preview of their title match coming up at IYH 4. Bulldog tags in the 600 lb Yokozuna, and Diesel starts working like a cruiserweight (vanilla midget). Diesel throws everything he’s got at Yoko before tagging in The Undertaker.

The Undertaker and Yokozuna renew their classic rivalry here and Taker gets the advantage, hitting the big man with Old School, before it was ever called Old School. Yoko takes the advantage back with a huge Samoan drop. Taker is shot off the ropes and Yoko looks for a back body drop, but Taker catches him with a big running DDT.

At this time, Waylon Mercy makes an appearance at the entrance set, scouting his opponent for this Saturday on Superstars, Diesel.

Back in the ring, Yokozuna is squaring off with Shawn Michaels. Another spot that I love here, as Yokozuna nails a uranage on Shawn Michaels and tags in Owen Hart just so Owen can try to pin Shawn. This is a frequent move from Owen and Yoko, as Owen is so scummy, that he always makes Yokozuna do all the damage just so he can get the win in the end. Yokozuna allows it, and it just makes for some good stuff.

The British Bulldog gets some of Shawn Michaels next, as we go to another commercial break after a gorilla press slam from the #1 contender for the WWF Title.

As we come back from commercial, we get the classic heel tag team abdominal stretch spot, where Owen Hart is pulling the arm of Bulldog behind the referee’s back to add more leverage. During this, Dean Douglas makes his way down the aisle, taking notes for his upcoming Intercontinental Championship match with Shawn Michaels at IYH 4. We stay with Dean Douglas for a good little bit here, and when we go back to the ring, Shawn Michaels is still in the abdominal stretch. But the referee finally notices what Owen Hart and The British Bulldog are doing, and kicks their hands apart to a good reaction from the crowd.

Shawn Michaels goes for a roll-up and we get a “IT’S ALL OVER no it’s not over” from Vince McMahon.

Yokozuna comes back into the ring and Shawn continues to take a long beating. Bulldog gets back in the ring to hit his delayed vertical suplex. They’re just taking turns on Shawn Michaels at this point. Frequent tags in and out of the ring for Camp Cornette. Owen Hart has the advantage after his famous calf kick, but as he flies off the top with an attempted diving headbutt, we’re cutting to commercial and just barely see Shawn Michaels move out of the way.

You can tell nothing was edited out as we come back from commercial, as both men are still laid out in the ring. Shawn Michaels finally makes a hot tag to Big Daddy Cool, who comes in cleaning house. Diesel gets cut off by The British Bulldog, who is able to hit Diesel with his running Powerslam, but the pin gets broken up by The Undertaker. During the mayhem, Yokozuna hits a 600 lb leg drop on Diesel and the Bulldog sneaks in to get a pinfall on the WWF Champion.

What follows next is pure chaos, as Mabel somehow sneaks into the ring and blindsides The Undertaker. Mabel and Yokozuna are double-teaming The Undertaker. The Undertaker then takes a beating that I don’t think we’ve ever seen anything else come close to:

Leg drop from Yokozuna. Leg drop from Mabel. Three more leg drops from Mabel. Another from Yoko. Another from Mabel. A splash from Mabel. Another leg drop. An elbow drop. Then several headbutts. This was a beating that could’ve taken out Kaboose the Moose.

Diesel and Shawn Michaels are being laid out by Owen Hart and The British Bulldog when Dean Douglas joins in on the fun by attacking Shawn Michaels. Dean Douglas finishes Michaels with a suplex onto the steel steps at ringside.

While all this was happening, I started wondering when Mabel breaks The Undertaker’s face. I’m curious of it’s something that happens on television or if it took place at a house show.

WINNERS: THE BRITISH BULLDOG, OWEN HART, AND YOKOZUNA



After a commercial break, everyone is still laid out in the ring. While things are being tended to at ringside, Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler talk about what transpired last week between he, Isaac Yankem DDS, and Bret Hart after Hart’s victory over Jean-Pierre LaFitte. Next week, Hart will face Yankem inside a Steel Cage.

We then get a complete history of the feud, while approximately half of their match at Summerslam is shown on screen. It wasn’t even highlights, it was literally probably half the match. Late in the match, McMahon is attacking Lawler for trying to end the career of Bret Hart last week. McMahon gets word from President Gorillia Monsoon that if Lawler interferes in the Steel Cage match next week on RAW, Lawler will be forced to be suspended above the ring inside a shark cage.



Coming up next on RAW, it will be Skip taking on Fatu!



After another break, we’re shown highlights from a recent Madison Square Garden benefit show for the handicapped and underprivelaged.



MATCH 2: FATU VS SKIP W/ SUNNY

Fatu makes his entrance in red, blue, teal, and yellow tights, with a jacket that says “IT’S TIME FOR A CHANGE.” We can officially credit Owen Hart’s famous catchphrase to the entrance attire of Fatu.

During the entrance, McMahon says he’s hearing that Mabel is attempting to break into the dressing room of The Undertaker, but we can’t check into it because it’s time for another commercial!

After the break, we don’t go backstage to see the drama between Mabel and The Undertaker. Instead, we get treated to jumping jacks from Skip.

Someone in the WWF should’ve reached out and attempted to get Sunny in the Mortal Kombat movie, which released back in August. Sunny looks like Sonya Blade here in her workout clothes. I doubt she would’ve been as good as THAT VERONICA VAUGHN Bridgette Wilson, but it still could’ve been cool.

There’s a couple funny spots here where Skip tries to attack Fatu’s head and pays for it, because you’re never supposed to hit a Samoan in the head. Fatu has a nice, firey comeback and finishes things off with a beautiful splash off the top rope for the win.

WINNER: FATU



Backstage, we’re told Dok Hendrix has an update on Shawn Michaels, Diesel, and The Undertaker, but he can’t hear McMahon when they’re asking him for the update, so we go to yet another commercial.

After the break, Dok says he briefly spoke to the babyfaces and they’re not doing good. He says Shawn took a pounding but he’ll be alright. Big Daddy Cool is not Big Daddy Cool, however, and has a tough road to recovery. The Undertaker, though, is the worst. He says it wouldn’t be right for him to conduct an ambush-style interview with them while they’re in such bad shape, but he’ll do it if Vince wants him to. Vince says not to bother them, but Lawler is begging for Dok to ambush them.

We cut to Jim Ross barging into the dressing room of Jim Cornette and The British Bulldog, demanding they explain their actions in the ring earlier in the night. Cornette demands that Ross explain himself for breaking into their dressing room waving a camera around. He says they could’ve been naked in there, for all Ross knew.

Cornette has a great promo here, talking about how Davey Boy Smith has been repeatedly denied opportunities in the WWF. But now, he’s beaten Diesel in the middle of the ring and no one can deny that he’ll be the next WWF Champion at IYH 4.

Bulldog basically repeats everything Cornette said, but then says at “the 50 below hell hole,” Winnipeg, he will beat Diesel.

Bulldog is still in full gear, but he’s wearing a plain brown baseball cap. Cornette acknowledges this, and says the hat was a gift from “Princess Di.”

As we get set to wrap things up, Mabel comes in wearing his King of the Ring crown, calls Bulldog his homie, and promises to bury The Undertaker in the snow at IYH 4.



We get more recap footage from throughout the night, and Lawler pleas that he’s not an animal and doesn’t belong in a shark cage next week on RAW. McMahon warns Lawler that if he interferes at all next week, that’s exactly where he’ll end up.



I don’t have too many other thoughts on this one, but I’d like to point out that once again, Diesel is getting buried. He’s barely been on any programming since I started doing these reviews. This is his first televised match. Not only did he get laid out, but he didn’t even take as much punishment as Shawn Michaels, and Dok Hendrix still made a point to say “Oh Shawn will be fine, but I’m not sure about Diesel.” What the hell is it with the WWF trying to do by portraying their champion so much weaker and less cool than Shawn Michaels? It’s super annoying and I feel more and more bad for Kevin Nash and the reputation he’s gotten over the years for being the “worst WWF Champion.” He was really just a victim of bad booking.



So that’s the “Columbus Day edition” of WWF RAW from October 9, 1995.

 

[R-Troop]

View attachment 93073
WWF RAW
10/09/1995
Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Center

​

This week is your special “Columbus Day edition” of Monday Night RAW, so Vince McMahon says. Tonight, The Two Dudes With Attitudes will team up with The Undertaker to take on The British Bulldog, Owen Hart, and Yokozuna.

​

MATCH 1: THE UNDERTAKER W/ PAUL BEARER, SHAWN MICHAELS, AND DIESEL VS THE BRITISH BULLDOG, OWEN HART, AND YOKOZUNA W/ JIM CORNETTE

Immediately after the RAW open, Camp Cornette are already in the ring as Jerry “The King” Lawler refers to them as role models on commentary. The bell tolls and the Grand Rapids crowd goes crazy as The Undertaker makes his way to the ring. Vince McMahon teases the match to come as we head into our first commercial break.

As we return, we see footage from the recent Survivor Series press conference. The footage is of Shawn Michaels hanging out with lots of kids at the event, and he’s talking on camera about how the kids affect him in an emotional way. If Shawn is putting on for the camera here, he did a good job. Shawn actually looks like he’s getting choked up while talking about how important children are to him and how special it makes him feel that they like him.

The Intercontinental Champion makes his entrance next. McMahon reminds us that Shawn will be going to school with Dean Douglas at In Your House 4 on October 22.

And now, for the first time since doing these reactions, with the exception of In Your House 3, the WWF Champion finally gets an entrance. Diesel makes his way to the ring carrying the WWF Title belt, and we get another commercial.

The match finally begins after the commercial, and we kick things off with Shawn Michaels and Owen Hart. Shawn and Owen have a good little exchange here, going at a high rate of speed, before Shawn clotheslines Owen out of the ring and skins the cat back inside. The teams both enter the ring and we’ve got a breakdown in the early goings.

Diesel and The British Bulldog are now the legal men and we get a preview of their title match coming up at IYH 4. Bulldog tags in the 600 lb Yokozuna, and Diesel starts working like a cruiserweight (vanilla midget). Diesel throws everything he’s got at Yoko before tagging in The Undertaker.

The Undertaker and Yokozuna renew their classic rivalry here and Taker gets the advantage, hitting the big man with Old School, before it was ever called Old School. Yoko takes the advantage back with a huge Samoan drop. Taker is shot off the ropes and Yoko looks for a back body drop, but Taker catches him with a big running DDT.

At this time, Waylon Mercy makes an appearance at the entrance set, scouting his opponent for this Saturday on Superstars, Diesel.

Back in the ring, Yokozuna is squaring off with Shawn Michaels. Another spot that I love here, as Yokozuna nails a uranage on Shawn Michaels and tags in Owen Hart just so Owen can try to pin Shawn. This is a frequent move from Owen and Yoko, as Owen is so scummy, that he always makes Yokozuna do all the damage just so he can get the win in the end. Yokozuna allows it, and it just makes for some good stuff.

The British Bulldog gets some of Shawn Michaels next, as we go to another commercial break after a gorilla press slam from the #1 contender for the WWF Title.

As we come back from commercial, we get the classic heel tag team abdominal stretch spot, where Owen Hart is pulling the arm of Bulldog behind the referee’s back to add more leverage. During this, Dean Douglas makes his way down the aisle, taking notes for his upcoming Intercontinental Championship match with Shawn Michaels at IYH 4. We stay with Dean Douglas for a good little bit here, and when we go back to the ring, Shawn Michaels is still in the abdominal stretch. But the referee finally notices what Owen Hart and The British Bulldog are doing, and kicks their hands apart to a good reaction from the crowd.

Shawn Michaels goes for a roll-up and we get a “IT’S ALL OVER no it’s not over” from Vince McMahon.

Yokozuna comes back into the ring and Shawn continues to take a long beating. Bulldog gets back in the ring to hit his delayed vertical suplex. They’re just taking turns on Shawn Michaels at this point. Frequent tags in and out of the ring for Camp Cornette. Owen Hart has the advantage after his famous calf kick, but as he flies off the top with an attempted diving headbutt, we’re cutting to commercial and just barely see Shawn Michaels move out of the way.

You can tell nothing was edited out as we come back from commercial, as both men are still laid out in the ring. Shawn Michaels finally makes a hot tag to Big Daddy Cool, who comes in cleaning house. Diesel gets cut off by The British Bulldog, who is able to hit Diesel with his running Powerslam, but the pin gets broken up by The Undertaker. During the mayhem, Yokozuna hits a 600 lb leg drop on Diesel and the Bulldog sneaks in to get a pinfall on the WWF Champion.

What follows next is pure chaos, as Mabel somehow sneaks into the ring and blindsides The Undertaker. Mabel and Yokozuna are double-teaming The Undertaker. The Undertaker then takes a beating that I don’t think we’ve ever seen anything else come close to:

Leg drop from Yokozuna. Leg drop from Mabel. Three more leg drops from Mabel. Another from Yoko. Another from Mabel. A splash from Mabel. Another leg drop. An elbow drop. Then several headbutts. This was a beating that could’ve taken out Kaboose the Moose.

Diesel and Shawn Michaels are being laid out by Owen Hart and The British Bulldog when Dean Douglas joins in on the fun by attacking Shawn Michaels. Dean Douglas finishes Michaels with a suplex onto the steel steps at ringside.

While all this was happening, I started wondering when Mabel breaks The Undertaker’s face. I’m curious of it’s something that happens on television or if it took place at a house show.

WINNERS: THE BRITISH BULLDOG, OWEN HART, AND YOKOZUNA



After a commercial break, everyone is still laid out in the ring. While things are being tended to at ringside, Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler talk about what transpired last week between he, Isaac Yankem DDS, and Bret Hart after Hart’s victory over Jean-Pierre LaFitte. Next week, Hart will face Yankem inside a Steel Cage.

We then get a complete history of the feud, while approximately half of their match at Summerslam is shown on screen. It wasn’t even highlights, it was literally probably half the match. Late in the match, McMahon is attacking Lawler for trying to end the career of Bret Hart last week. McMahon gets word from President Gorillia Monsoon that if Lawler interferes in the Steel Cage match next week on RAW, Lawler will be forced to be suspended above the ring inside a shark cage.



Coming up next on RAW, it will be Skip taking on Fatu!



After another break, we’re shown highlights from a recent Madison Square Garden benefit show for the handicapped and underprivelaged.



MATCH 2: FATU VS SKIP W/ SUNNY

Fatu makes his entrance in red, blue, teal, and yellow tights, with a jacket that says “IT’S TIME FOR A CHANGE.” We can officially credit Owen Hart’s famous catchphrase to the entrance attire of Fatu.

During the entrance, McMahon says he’s hearing that Mabel is attempting to break into the dressing room of The Undertaker, but we can’t check into it because it’s time for another commercial!

After the break, we don’t go backstage to see the drama between Mabel and The Undertaker. Instead, we get treated to jumping jacks from Skip.

Someone in the WWF should’ve reached out and attempted to get Sunny in the Mortal Kombat movie, which released back in August. Sunny looks like Sonya Blade here in her workout clothes. I doubt she would’ve been as good as THAT VERONICA VAUGHN Bridgette Wilson, but it still could’ve been cool.

There’s a couple funny spots here where Skip tries to attack Fatu’s head and pays for it, because you’re never supposed to hit a Samoan in the head. Fatu has a nice, firey comeback and finishes things off with a beautiful splash off the top rope for the win.

WINNER: FATU



Backstage, we’re told Dok Hendrix has an update on Shawn Michaels, Diesel, and The Undertaker, but he can’t hear McMahon when they’re asking him for the update, so we go to yet another commercial.

After the break, Dok says he briefly spoke to the babyfaces and they’re not doing good. He says Shawn took a pounding but he’ll be alright. Big Daddy Cool is not Big Daddy Cool, however, and has a tough road to recovery. The Undertaker, though, is the worst. He says it wouldn’t be right for him to conduct an ambush-style interview with them while they’re in such bad shape, but he’ll do it if Vince wants him to. Vince says not to bother them, but Lawler is begging for Dok to ambush them.

We cut to Jim Ross barging into the dressing room of Jim Cornette and The British Bulldog, demanding they explain their actions in the ring earlier in the night. Cornette demands that Ross explain himself for breaking into their dressing room waving a camera around. He says they could’ve been naked in there, for all Ross knew.

Cornette has a great promo here, talking about how Davey Boy Smith has been repeatedly denied opportunities in the WWF. But now, he’s beaten Diesel in the middle of the ring and no one can deny that he’ll be the next WWF Champion at IYH 4.

Bulldog basically repeats everything Cornette said, but then says at “the 50 below hell hole,” Winnipeg, he will beat Diesel.

Bulldog is still in full gear, but he’s wearing a plain brown baseball cap. Cornette acknowledges this, and says the hat was a gift from “Princess Di.”

As we get set to wrap things up, Mabel comes in wearing his King of the Ring crown, calls Bulldog his homie, and promises to bury The Undertaker in the snow at IYH 4.



We get more recap footage from throughout the night, and Lawler pleas that he’s not an animal and doesn’t belong in a shark cage next week on RAW. McMahon warns Lawler that if he interferes at all next week, that’s exactly where he’ll end up.



I don’t have too many other thoughts on this one, but I’d like to point out that once again, Diesel is getting buried. He’s barely been on any programming since I started doing these reviews. This is his first televised match. Not only did he get laid out, but he didn’t even take as much punishment as Shawn Michaels, and Dok Hendrix still made a point to say “Oh Shawn will be fine, but I’m not sure about Diesel.” What the hell is it with the WWF trying to do by portraying their champion so much weaker and less cool than Shawn Michaels? It’s super annoying and I feel more and more bad for Kevin Nash and the reputation he’s gotten over the years for being the “worst WWF Champion.” He was really just a victim of bad booking.



So that’s the “Columbus Day edition” of WWF RAW from October 9, 1995.

oh shit the Make a Difference Fatu. This was post-Headshrinkers, pre-Sultan and Pre-Rikishi days.

 

[Attitudester]

Kinda like Kama was post-Papa Shango, pre-Kama Mustafa, pre-Godfather, and pre-Goodfather.

 

[R-Troop]

Exactly. At least Kama had a run. Make a Difference Fatu was kinda short-lived and meaningless. One would say it......... didn't make a difference at all.

 

[Attitudester]

Exactly. At least Kama had a run. Make a Difference Fatu was kinda short-lived and meaningless. One would say it......... didn't make a difference at all.

That jacket made a difference. Might've killed those jackets for everyone in the 90s.

 

[Attitudester]

WWF Superstars
10/14/1995
Valparaiso, Indiana
Valparaiso University

​

Before we get started, a few WWF-related notes from the October 9, 1995 edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

• Anyway, Vince promised to be spending more time in his new role as corporate executive, leaving the day to day operations to Watts. Vince also promised that he’d work with Watts, but wouldn’t overrule him. Although Bill Watts wasn’t particularly well-liked during his WCW run in 1992, there hasn’t been any serious discontent with him. Yet.
• Bill’s mandate appears to be reversing the ratings freefall of WWF Superstars by putting more marquee matches on it, since in many peoples’ eyes RAW is the only show they’ll watch in a week. In fact, RAW’s strong ratings number have actually pulled attention away from how badly ever other WWF property on TV is currently doing.
• Also, Bill really wants to push Ahmed Johnson as a top level black babyface. And Bret Hart is getting the belt back ASAP.
• Further on with Vince’s stirring oration, he blasted WCW for daring to go against them on Mondays, when they could have easily put their show on Wednesday or Thursday and had the night to themselves! Apparently (you might want to sit down for this one), it’s more important for them to try and hurt their competitor rather than helping themselves! That’s just BAD BUSINESS!
• Bill Watts added that Time-Warner knows nothing about wrestling, and with Ted Turner suddenly getting phased down, it was actually quite likely that TBS would just dump wrestling completely. Vince apparently responded that “he hoped it wouldn’t happen because overall that would be bad for business”.
• So then Bill and Vince played some “what if” with regards to WCW and their talent, should the company go out of business as predicted by Cowboy Bill. Hulk Hogan? He’s never gonna work in the WWF again. Lex Luger? “We’ll see him in court!” He did, however, have positive things to say about Sting and Brian Pillman and Harlem Heat.
• And now, a word about fiduciary responsibility. Apparently Nitro was costing WCW $150,000 a week, and the WWF just can’t afford to do that. In fact, their strength would be giving away their own taped shows with the “Melrose Place” end of show highlights to hook people for the next week.
• Vince finished with a flourish, noting that Ted Turner has held a grudge for 10 years because he tried to buy the WWF and failed, and that the WWF has better production, better wrestlers and better booking. (That’s a unique interpretation.) Also, Eric Bischoff has less experience in the wrestling business than most of the wrestlers in the room with Vince at that moment.
• Speaking of things never happening again ever, Ultimate Warrior is sending out letters letting people know that he’s never going back to the WWF ever again because Vince McMahon is “a control freak”.
• Al Snow vacated his Midwest Territorial championship on 9/30 on his last show with the group, announcing that he was going full-time to the WWF. Originally he was supposed to get a gimmick based off The Crow, but that appears not to be the case.
• The WCW hotline also did a report on the mysterious Tatanka situation, which earned them a “nasty legal letter” from the WWF.
• To the WWF, where prelim ratings for the Wrestlemania special on FOX are sitting at a 3.8, which would make it the most watched wrestling show of the year.
• Jeff Jarrett update: He was flown in to Connecticut about coming back, but nothing has been agreed yet.
• As for Tatanka, we still don’t know the details, but it’s something significant and he’s not coming back until everything is cleared up and he’s exonerated.
• And finally, on RAW, they ran a poll about OJ Simpson’s guilt or innocence, promising to give the proceeds of their hotline to various abused childrens’ foundations. Those foundations immediately freaked out and disavowed all knowledge of this plan, saying that they wouldn’t want proceeds from a poll about a horrific double murder.

Interesting notes from this issue of the Observer. This is when Bill Watts became heavily involved in booking with the WWF. Also, a couple of these things notably came to fruition within the next couple months (and one in particular, years).

I’m wasn’t sure what happened with Tatanka, but I did some research and it was pretty serious. Tatanka was accused of some sort of nasty misconduct at a hotel. Apparently, a woman was seen leaving a hotel one morning in distress, half of her head shaven and blood on her face. She filed a lawsuit soon after which named Tatanka in the accusation. Tatakna was suspended prior to the In Your House 3 event in September, but was later reinstated when Tatanka’s lawyer proved his innocence. Jimmy Del Rey ended up being the guilty party and was subsequently released from the company.

It’s kind of cool to look back at Watts’s booking of black wrestlers throughout the years and how he wanted to attempt the same with Ahmed Johnson, who is debuting soon. It’s unfortunate that Johnson just wasn’t cut from the same cloth as Junkyard Dog.

Also, the fact that Vince said WCW going out of business would be a bad thing because competition is good for everyone is crazy. He literally put everyone out of business.

Taking all of this with a grain of salt because you never really know what to believe in these sheets, but Vince McMahon in 1995 reminds me a lot of Tony Khan in 2025. He puts over how amazing his shows are, the great booking, the “Melrose place” endings, the optimism for competition… He sounds very tone deaf here. This shit sucks.

​

Tonight on Superstars, Waylon Mercy takes on the World Wrestling Federation Champion, “Big Daddy Cool” Diesel! Mercy says “It’s gonna a mighty fine honor to face a champion the caliber of “Big Daddy Cool” Diesel.” Mercy says he’s putting Diesel to sleep tonight… know what I mean?

Wellllllllllll Diesel cool, Undertaker, Shawn Michaels heartbreaker. Bret Hart showdown lookin for some bad boy now. WHAT THE HELL IS THIS.

As quite possibly the worst WWF intro of all time ends, Jacob and Eli Blu are in the ring with their manager, Uncle Zebekiah. Vince McMahon, Jim Ross, and Jerry “The King” Lawler give us a quick rundown of what’s to come on the show, as we hear screeching tires in the background.

A quick recap from two weeks ago on RAW is shown as Razor Ramon took on the 123 Kid. But now, they’re in the ring together to take on the Blu Brothers!

MATCH 1: RAZOR RAMON AND 123 KID VS THE BLU BROTHERS W/ UNCLE ZEBEKIAH

Ketchup and mustard Razor Ramon is in the ring with one of the Blu Brothers. McMahon asks Ross if it’s Jacob or Eli, and Ross says “yes.” The Blu Brothers have the advantage, punishing “The Bad Guy” in the early goings. Lawler says Razor is optimistic that the Kid is still his friend, but Lawler doesn’t buy it.

At this point, McMahon has decided which brother is Jacob and which is Eli. Is it true? No idea. The Kid takes a tag and fires up on Eli until he’s caught mid-air for a slam. The Smoking Gunns are in the entrance way checking out their opponents at In Your House 4, Razor and The Kid.

The height and weight disadvantage, and the youth and inexperience of the 123 Kid is pointed out from commentary, as the Kid continues to be punished in the ring. This one continues on for a bit with good tag team action to open the show. The Kid and Razor will challenge for the Tag titles at IYH 4 as we wind down in the careers of both of them in the WWF.

Not many are fond of the direction which was taken for both of them in their final months in the WWF, but I do think it at least started off well. If you can excuse the weird ending to their match on RAW recently, the story of the good friends getting frustrated with each other and the younger “brother” getting jealous of his big brother’s success makes a lot of sense.

I believe this is the final appearance of the Blu Brothers in WWF until their return in the Disciples of Apocalypse a couple years later. Not the worst way to leave the company, with a good tag match against two of the most popular stars in the company. The 123 Kid comes off the top with a missile dropkick into the back of Razor, with the momentum forcing Razor into a pinfall for the win.

WINNERS: THE 123 KID & RAZOR RAMON



And now, the Slam Jam with Dok Hendrix and Kaboose the Moose. In Your House 4 is coming on October 22 live from the “majestic great north” Winnipeg, Manitoba. We get a recap from RAW this past Monday when Camp Cornette laid out Diesel, Shawn Michaels, and The Undertaker. Also, let’s not forget the Bulldog pinned Diesel on RAW in that six-man tag team match.

Dean Douglas says he’s coming to IYH4 with one purpose. The strategy is to beat Shawn Michaels for the Intercontinental Championship and show him the door out of the WWF.

Paul Bearer calls Mabel a coward for attacking his Undertaker from behind. It’s time for the funeral procession to begin and win it’s all over, Mabel will hear, “Rest in peace.”



MATCH 2: BAM BAM BIGELOW VS TOM KNOX

Bam Bam is HOOKED ON FISHING! He recently caught a 150 lb tuna. Hooked on Phonics? Bam Bam is HOOKED ON FISHING!

Bam Bam is taking on Tom Knox here on Superstars. Babyface Bam Bam Bigelow is just odd to watch. He was sort of a babyface in ECW from time to time, but in the WWF, it just feels cartoony, which I’m sure was part of the appeal. If there were ever a big nasty heel who had the look of a guy kids could eventually love, it’s Bigelow. The flames, the outfit, the cartwheels, and the flips are tailor-made for cartoons and children’s marketing. I just can’t say it’s for me. But that’s not to take away from the fact that I think Bam Bam Bigelow is one of the best big men in the history of the business.

Bam Bam wins here with a diving headbutt.

WINNER: BAM BAM BIGELOW



Now, we get another word from the newcomer, Ahmed Johnson! Oh boy.

AHMED ON HONOR. According to Ahmed Johnson, “honor” is when your mother goes to work at a minimum wage job every day, but you know in your heart that she’s not a minimum wage woman. But then she can take that money she makes to bring you to a WWF event. And then you go to school the next day and do your best for yourself and her. AHMED JOHNSON!

So is the WWF gaslighting poor people into coming to their events? Apparently, you don’t have honor if you don’t.



MATCH 3: THE SMOKING GUNNS VS AC CONNER & SCOTT STEVENS

We get a look back to three weeks ago when the Smoking Gunns defeated Owen Hart and Yokozuna for the WWF Tag Team Titles.

Billy Gunn starts things off with AC Conner. Early on, Billy Gunn hits a headscissors takeover on Conner, absolutely spiking Conner on his head. Good tag team offense as Bart Gunn is tagged in. The Gunns look confident here. In a parallel universe, I’d love to see how far the two of them could’ve gone as a tag team. I think they had many more years in them with several character evolutions throughout the years. It’s unfortunate to me that Bart’s career went the path that it did.

Also, it’s fun to watch Billy in the ring with AC Conner, known in the future as D’Lo Brown. Two of the most popular stars of the Attitude Era. I’m sure no one would’ve ever believed that if you’d told them in 1995.

Sidewalk slam/leg drop combination for the Smoking Gunns to pick up the win!

WINNERS: THE SMOKING GUNNS



The Undertaker will take on Kama next week on Superstars!



On their way to the ring, Sunny and Skip. Jim Ross says he thought about becoming a Bodydonna but he couldn’t handle taking orders from Sunny.

We come back from commercial and Sunny is still talking in the ring. But Skip is set to take on Sonny Rogers!

MATCH 4: SKIP W/ SUNNY & RAD RADFORD VS SONNY ROGERS

Rad Radford makes his way to ringside as a new honorary Bodydonna. Skip looks good here in this match. He sends out a couple shots at Barry Horowitz during the match as the announcers talk a bit about his ongoing rivalry with the former enhancement talent. On a related note, Hakushi (Barry’s partner) will take on Dean Douglas next week on Superstars.

Skip hits a top rope Frankensteiner for the win, doing push-ups on the chest of Rogers during the pin! I loved this.

WINNER: SKIP



We get another recap of the 6-man tag team match from this past Monday on RAW, followed by the British Bulldog and Jim Cornette’s promos to end that show.

​

MATCH 5: WAYLON MERCY VS DIESEL

And now it’s time for our main event. As Waylon Mercy makes his entrance, Jim Ross says he’s going backstage to get a word with the WWF Champion, Diesel. Jerry Lawler says Ross should ask Diesel about his current losing streak… since he’s now lost “1 in a row.”

After commercial, Diesel is with Jim Ross. Diesel says if anyone knows about a losing streak, it’s Jerry Lawler. If anyone has any questions about his performance as of late, he says all they have to do is watch this match.

Diesel makes his entrance to a great reaction from the crowd. We finally get a full entrance for a one-on-one match featuring the WWF Champion for the first time since starting these reviews.

One of the visuals that comes to my mind when I think about WWF in the ‘90s is Diesel in the ring with all his sparking pyro. It was cool. The WWF had several guys who were cool, but spent too much time trying to convince us that other guys were cool. Diesel, Sycho Sid, Bret Hart, and Razor Ramon were naturally cool. When the WWF tried to pair Diesel with Shawn Michaels and call them “two dudes with attitudes,” it didn’t feel cool at all, it felt forced. I don’t think Vince McMahon ever thought Sid was cool at all. Somehow, Sid’s own natural aura surpassed the portrayal of his character. Even Razor Ramon was as cartoony as it got, as he was basically just a fake Cuban. But again, somehow, he made it work.

I was very excited to watch this match. Waylon Mercy is a forgotten part of the WWF. He’s basically Bray Wyatt twenty years too soon. But in WCW, Dan Spivey was a monster. I’m glad he got this run and an chance to square off with the WWF Champion.

Unfortunately, we didn’t really get this match. The Bulldog comes down the aisle, and Diesel goes after him. Shawn Michaels and Dean Douglas are out soon after and we’ve got a brawl in the aisle. Diesel gets counted out. Once Diesel realizes this, he gets mad and gets back into the ring to attack Waylon Mercy. Diesel lays him out with a Jacknife Powerbomb.

Shawn Michaels pulls Diesel off Waylon Mercy, but Diesel breaks loose and has to be pulled apart by many referees and officials.

One thing I learned while writing this was that this would end up being Dan Spivey/Waylon Mercy’s final appearance in the WWF. So long, Mr. Mercy. You didn’t get the respect you deserved.

WINNER BY COUNTOUT: WAYLON MERCY



Dok Hendrix is asking Kaboose the Moose if he can believe Diesel has lost two matches in a row. Hendrix reminds us that if Diesel is disqualified or counted out at IYH 4, he will lose the WWF Championship to the British Bulldog.

Bulldog is standing by with Jim Cornette for a message to Diesel. Bulldog says he just proved that Diesel is a coward. At In Your House, Diesel won’t have Shawn Michaels to save him. After he beats Diesel, the crowd will be chanting “UK! UK!”

Dok Hendrix says Bret Hart will be in Winnipeg doing commentary for the WWF Title match, since he will take on the winner at Survivor Series. Also, In Your House will feature the “premiere” of Goldust, who will take on Marty Janetty. Hunter Hearst Helmsley will also take on Fatu.

Shawn Michaels is standing by, smacking the hell out of his chewing gum. He basically just says he’s going to catch up with Diesel sooner than later. Hell of a promo.

Next week on Superstars will feature a “special interview” between Vince McMahon and Diesel!



We now have two shows remaining before In Your House 4, and honestly, I can’t wait to watch that one. This wasn’t a bad Superstars show. It feels like a lot of ground was covered and there was a lot of build towards the next Pay Per View. It’s amazing how much difference actually featuring the WWF Champion can make in a show. And not to mention, how little we’ve heard from the insufferable Shawn Michaels over the last couple weeks.



And that’s that for the 30th anniversary of WWF Superstars on October 14, 1995!

 

[R-Troop]

Man I used to love this shit when I was a kid.

 

[Attitudester]

WWF RAW
10/16/1995
Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Center​

Tonight on RAW, it’s the Steel Cage match between Isaac Yankem DDS and Bret “The Hitman” Hart. If Jerry “The King” Lawler interferes in any way, President Gorilla Monsoon will order Lawler inside of a shark cage, which will then be suspended high above the ring! Isaac Yankem says he’s going to knock the teeth out of Bret Hart inside the steel cage. Bret Hart says tonight, he will be Isaac Yankem’s personal hygienist! Jerry Lawler says Issac Yankem already has the victory in the steel cage under “lock and key.” Something seems fishy about the look in Lawler’s eye… I wonder what he means by that.

​

Hunter Hearst Helmsley is inside the squared circle getting ready for action! Vince McMahon and Jerry “The King” Lawler are on commentary, and McMahon says, “If you like it RAW, you’ll LOVE the steel cage match!” Alrighty then.

Doink the Clown makes his entrance as Hunter Hearst Helmsley’s opponent! I may be in the minority, but I love Doink. Particularly, I love heel Doink. Matt Bourne’s portrayal was great. And since this is my first time to talk about Matt, I’m gonna detour a little bit and give some backstory.

Back in 2010/2011, I and a group of guys from the old Online World of Wrestling started what would become Pro Wrestling 247 Radio online (not to be confused with Pro Wrestling Nation 24/7 on Sirius XM now) and the show that came on directly after mine on Thursday nights was Carney Knowledge with Matt Bourne. This was before wrestling podcasts were really a thing, and before I ever heard the term “podcast.” The dude had some knowledge. He was a second generation wrestler, grew up in the business, had great psychology, he protected the business until the day he died… but he was an asshole. He was an asshole to me, personally. But I knew he was old school and I appreciated his contributions to the business.

I got to meet Matt in person not long after we started the website. He wrestled for Matt Riviera’s Traditional Championship Wrestling here in Arkansas. Guys like Jason Kincaid, Barrett Brown, Tim Storm, and “Golden Boy” Greg Anthony made a lot of waves with TCW. Matt was wrestling as “Boink” the Clown and selling giant hammers made with duct tape for $200. I approached Matt at the Pine Bluff Convention Center (the home of the final ECW show in 2001) and introduced myself and told him who I was, and he totally big-leagued me. He acted like he had no idea who I was or what website I was talking about. Later on that night during his entrance, his dentures fell out, slid under the railing, and a kid grabbed them and tried to take off with them. Because he was an asshole to me, I got a good kick out of it. Looking back, I feel bad for the guy. Either way, what a freakin story to tell.

MATCH 1: HUNTER HEARST HELMSLEY VS DOINK THE CLOWN

Back to RAW, Doink is making his entrance. Jerry Lawler on commentary says that Shawn Michaels was just attacked over the weekend in Syracuse, NY by several Marines! His status for In Your House 4 this weekend is up in the air. McMahon adds that “around ten” Marines jumped Shawn Michaels in a vile, cowardly attack. Lawler says he loves it. Pretty significant week of the ‘90s.

Doink is putting on a clinic here against HHH. It’s actually a pretty damn good match. I THINK this is the Steve Keirn era of Doink, but I could be mistaken. Keirn was the first babyface Doink but there would be several others throughout the years. Keirn was definitely a great worker, going back to the Jim Crockett days. The match goes back and forth for some time before HHH nails the Pedigree for the win.

WINNER: HUNTER HEARST HELMSLEY



And now for my favorite segment of the week. We go to the Americanization of Hakushi! Barry Horowitz is quizzing Hakushi on America’s pastime, baseball. Hakushi says that Hank Aaron is the greatest baseball player of all time, which makes Horowitz proud.



MATCH 2: WWF TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH: THE SMOKING GUNNS© VS PG-13

During the entrance, we get a split-screen promo from PG-13, who says they’re about to take those fools to school and take the Tag Team Titles!

Before the match begins, President Gorilla Monsoon has some breaking news for everyone. The Undertaker was injured by Mabel and will not be able to compete at IYH 4 this weekend. In kayfabe, they’re saying the injury occurred on RAW last week when Mabel and Yokozuna gave him that great post-match beating. I believe the injury actually occurred at a house show. Either way, the Undertaker’s face has been broken and he’s out of action for now, and when he returns, we’ll get the freaking awesome Phantom of the Opera Undertaker and I can’t wait. Monsoon says as a result of these events, King Mabel will take on Yokozuna at In Your House 4! That match is odd, considering they’re both heels. But it’s either going to be absolutely awesome or the absolute shits. I can’t wait to see it.

This was a good tag team match. The Smoking Gunns come out of this one looking strong heading into their Tag Title defense at IYH4 against Razor Ramon and The 123 Kid.

WINNERS AND STILL TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: THE SMOKING GUNNS



We get a recap of the “WWF World Tour de Force” over this past weekend. The British Bulldog and Jim Cornette are in the ring with Dok Hendrix talking about the WWF Title match coming up at IYH4. Dok Hendrix reminds the Bulldog that he only pinned Diesel last week on RAW because of Yokozuna. Bulldog says that’s typical, because no one respects him. But everyone will respect him when he beats Diesel and becomes the new WWF Champion at In Your House 4.



Up next, Ahmed Johnson! He yells about honor again. It’s the same promo from Superstars where he gaslights all the poor people into buying tickets to the WWF events.



MATCH 3: DEAN DOUGLAS VS JOE DORGAN

Dean Douglas makes his entrance. We get another recap from RAW last week when Dean Douglas attacked Shawn Michaels after the 6-man tag team match, suplexing Shawn onto the steel steps. Vince reminds us that Shawn was pulled from a car by ten Marines, who drove his face into a car. This left Shawn Michaels’s eyes both swollen shut, requiring a number of stitches.
Shawn Michaels calls into the show during the match, promises to be at In Your House this weekend. Dean Douglas makes quick work of Joe Dorgan with a Fisherman Suplex.

WINNER: DEAN DOUGLAS



Dok Hendrix and the Slam Jam is next. He and Kaboose the Moose (I can’t believe we’re making this a thing) are hyping up In Your House. Particularly, the “world premiere” of Goldust, when he takes on Marty Janetty. Goldust says Marty Janetty is a pretty boy and at IYH4, the pretty boy is in for a major makeover.

​

Paul Bearer is upset about his Undertaker and his injury, but promises the Undertaker will be back soon and he will come for revenge.

​

MATCH 4: STEEL CAGE MATCH – BRET HART VS ISAAC YANKEM DDS

It’s time for our main event! It’s a Steel Cage match and if Jerry Lawler interferes in any way, President Gorilla Monsoon will force him to be suspended high above the ring inside a shark cage! During Yankem’s entrance, it’s announced that there will be a 20-man battle royal next week to determine a new #1 contender for the Intercontinental Championship!
The match gets going pretty well here. It’s crazy to me how Yankem could stand flat in the ring and reach the top of the cage to start pulling himself up to try to escape. I’ve never seen anyone else do this. And also, I’ll say unequivocally that this is Isaac Yankem’s greatest match ever. Bret Hart knew the formula to steel cage matches and no one has ever done them better.
There’s a silly spot where Bret demands the door be opened for him to escape, even though he knows the door is locked shut. This makes Bret look kind of dumb, and I’m not a fan of that. But the “key” here is that Lawler had swapped the locks behind the referee’s back. The referee can’t get the door unlocked, so Bret can’t escape. Remember, Lawler said Yankem had the victory “under lock and key.”
Bret fires back on Yankem and gets him locked in the Sharpshooter. After a little while, he releases the hold and begins climbing the cage to escape. Before he can touch the floor, Lawler climbs the cage and attacks Bret, forcing him back into the ring. You know what that means…
Gorilla Monsoonn and a number of agents swarm the ringside area and throw Lawler inside the shark cage. The cage is suspended high above the ring, and Lawler completely steals the show now. He’s screaming, crying, and his nose legitimately starts bleeding because of his fear of heights. This is amazing, and it’s another reason why so many people in the business say Lawler is the greatest worker of all time.
Lawler is able to toss Yankem the “key to success” from above the ring, but Bret thwarts the plan and tosses the key into the crowd. Bret Hart escapes the cage and there is your winner!

WINNER: BRET HART

After the commercial, Lawler is screaming to be let out of the cage, but McMahon informs him there are problems with the cables, and Lawler might be stuck in the air. Don’t forget, In Your House 4 is this Sunday!

And that’s that for your 30th anniversary of WWF RAW from Ocrtober 16, 1995!



We’re gonna switch things up a little bit and take a look at some WWF-related notes from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, released on October 16, 1995. This time, we’re going to do it at the end of our RAW review, as to not potentially spoil anything from the show. This is fun for me, as I’ve never
actually read an Observer Newsletter before, until doing this. It adds to the craziness a bit. So let’s see what we have.

- Jim Hellwig was supposed to begin a new chapter of his career as promoter, starting on 10/7 in Las Vegas after buying into the NWC promotion with TC Martin. Originally the new company was going to be called Ultimate Creations, but earlier in the week Warrior suddenly requested that the name be changed to Warrior Promotions for legal reasons. So Warrior moved the promotion’s home arena from the 1200 seat ballroom at the Silver Nugget Hotel to the Aladdin Hotel’s 6500 seat arena instead. And then he was going to show up on 10/6, the day before the big debut there, and do some promotional work and interviews. So about 15 minutes before his first scheduled appearance, Warrior called Martin and informed him that his car had broken down outside of Scottsdale and he wouldn’t be there. 12 hours later he finally showed up in Vegas and checked into the hotel, putting a block on his phone so no one could call him. At the meeting the next morning, Hellwig collected $6000 in cheques from sponsors and said he’d settle with the hotel and then write cheques to cover the wrestlers’ pay. So then Hellwig then no-showed another appearance that was paying $2000 of that sponsorship money, and then checked out of the hotel without paying, claiming that they didn’t live up to their end of the deal because his name wasn’t first on the marquee when he got there. And then he was gone and missed the first show he was promoting as co-owner.
- In case you’re wondering, the top match ended up being Virgil doing a double countout finish with Jim Neidhart, with the storyline being that Anvil had run into Warrior at the buffet earlier and scared him out of town. The double countout came about because Virgil threw a fit before the match because he didn’t want to do the job.(Is this THEEEEE Virgil/Neidhart match? You know the one…)
- Odds are still pretty solidly behind Steve Austin ending up in the WWF, although if he sticks around ECW he’ll get pushed as World champion for a long time and make good money.
- Despite rumors to the contrary, Vader has still not been released from his contract or fired. Basically WCW is done with him but is deliberately screwing with his ability to negotiate with the WWF. So for the moment he’s working as a volunteer coach for the Colorado Buffalos football team.
- To the WWF, for your JEFF JARRETT UPDATE. He’s expected back by most people. Ditto Adam Bomb, who walked out but hasn’t been released yet, so he hasn’t been able to work anywhere.
- Al Snow will come in as a babyface, and he’s said to have “a good gimmick”. But not the Crow.
- Bill Watts is already making friends by instituting a new policy where guys don’t know the finishes of their matches until the day of the show, so that finishes won’t leak.
- And now ANOTHER understated Observer Debut, as Dave notes that potential Olympic weightlifter Mark Henry was at the MSG show, and they like him enough that they’ll probably try to make him into the next Ken Patera if he does well there.



And there you have it.

 

[Attitudester]

Man I used to love this shit when I was a kid.

The music in WWF has always been either really great or really awful to me. This feels like it was written for 5 year olds. Lol I'm sure if I were a kid, I'd dig it. I've never heard it before, either because I just haven't ever heard it or maybe it was on WWF The Music Vol. 3 and I just skipped it every time because it sounded bad. I don't know.

 

[R-Troop]

The music in WWF has always been either really great or really awful to me. This feels like it was written for 5 year olds. Lol I'm sure if I were a kid, I'd dig it. I've never heard it before, either because I just haven't ever heard it or maybe it was on WWF The Music Vol. 3 and I just skipped it every time because it sounded bad. I don't know.

So I was a child when this came out. Hence why I enjoy it. Nostalgia.

Given at this time WWE was trying to market towards children it makes sense that it feels written for children.

This was well before WWF the Music Vol 3 (1998) I don't think it was ever released on a CD. It definitely wasn't on Full Metal: The Album which is the one that came out around this time.