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Guest Rasslin Review #17 - WWF September-November 1994 Flashback
From Our Pal, "OrangeGoblinFan"
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WWF Television September-November 1994 Compilation:
Starting off where I left off, Summerslam featured Bret Hart retaining the world title in an excellent steel cage match against Owen Hart, Razor Ramon regained the Intercontinental Title from Diesel, and Paul Bearers Undertaker defeated Ted Dibiases Underfaker. Also, Tatanka defeated Lex Luger, and revealed that he himself had sold out to Ted Dibiase, and he and Ted put a beating on Lex. The Head Shrinkers lost the tag titles the night before to HBK & Diesel, and lost the non-title match to I.R.S & Bigelow by disqualifcation. Alundra Blayze retained the Womens Title in a match versus Bull Nakano, and Jeff Jarrett pinned Mabel.
- The Smoking Gunns vs. Heavenly Bodies:
From Superstars. The Bodies jump the Gunns from behind and do a beat down on them, and throw them to the floor. They prance around wearing their hats, and stomp away on them. The Gunns get revenge by beating down the Bodies and ripping apart their Wings from their entrance robes, and the referee calls for a no contest at 0:48. NR The Heavenly Bodies debuted new ring attire afterwards, the one they would keep until their end in 1995. The two teams keep on brawling on the outside and it takes a busload of officials to separate them.
Vignette from a WWF studio, and soon its lifted off the ground by...a GIANT KING KONG BUNDY! King Kong Bundy Returns to the World Wrestling Federation! Speaking of returns...
- British Bulldog vs. Reno Riggins:
This is Davie's Return Match in 1994. The crowd is just going nuts for him. A few shoves put the jobber down, but he gives Bulldog a few knees. Hip toss by DBS. HUGE back body Drop. Leap Frogs by Bulldog scares Riggins. Superkick by Riggins gets 1! Bulldog with the Stall Suplex to a good ovation. He scoops him up and nails a headbutt. Rear chinlock by the Bulldog. Double under-hook Suplex follows but he picks him up at 2. Running Powerslam puts Reno out of his misery for three at 3:09. 1/4* of course but it was fun to watch.
Special Interview with Vince Mcmahon from RAW. His guest is Bob Backlund. McMahon brings up he's a former NCAA champion. Has-been chants from the crowd. McMahon says most people probably think Bret Hart proved himself better. McMahon mentions Backlund's return several years previous, and thought he would come back as the same man he was, and he did until a few weeks ago when he snapped and attacked Bret Hart. Backlund hates the word former, and says he's been champion for 16 years and going on 18, and Savage says he can't count. Backlund says his standards are too high for everyone else. Backlund goes on a tangent about shitty school education. McMahon mentions that Backlund says there is no escape from the cross-face chicken wing. So Vince McMahon brings in WWF Magazine editor Lou Gianfredo to be put in the hold and say if its possible to get out. Backlund applies it loosely and Lou can't escape. Backlund then SNAPS, and applies it on hard throwing the guy around like a rag doll until McMahon starts choking him and a bunch of officials and Randy Savage pull him of the guy.
WWF Hart Attack Tour! From The Boston Gardens on Septemeber 25, 1994! In a Casket Match, The Undertaker faces Yokozuna. WWF World Champion Bret Hart defends the title against Jim Niedhart. Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon defends against Owen Hart. WWF Womens Champion Alundra Blayze takes on Bull Nakano. WWF Tag Team Champions Shawn Michaels & Diesel face the Head Shrinkers. Also Sparky Plugg takes on Steven Dunn and Jim Powers battles Abe Knuckleball Schwartz! Also On the Tour Duke Droese will take on I.T.S, the Smoking Gunns take on the Heavenly Bodies, Tatanka battles Lex Luger, and Doink The Clown faces Jerry Lawler.
- WWF-Intercontinental Championship Match:
Razor Ramon (c) vs. Tatanka:
Tatanka has just turned heel if you didn't remember. Dibiase tries buying Ramon so Tatanka attacks from behind with knife-edge chops. Tatanka still has his good guy blue on. Ramon back with some chops and he whips Tatanka to the buckles and scores a hip toss and a clothesline sending Tatanka outside. Lockup and Tatanka with some knees to the midsection and some chops to the back of the head. Ramon with a series of roundhouses but he gets caught with a short arm clothesline and Tatanka boots him. Ramon makes Tatanka kiss the canvas and works the shoulder. On the outside Tatanka rams Ramons back into the apron several times and they go back inside. Tatanka with a series of scoop slams for two. Tatanka with chops and an abdominal stretch. Ramon with his own and that's reversed with a hip toss and Tatanka misses an elbow drop. Ramon hammers away on Tatanka and lays him out with a discus punch. Second Rope back suplex by Ramon. Dibiase distracts him and Tatanka attacks Ramon hammering his back. Here comes Lex Luger but Bigelow jumps him. Ramon rolls back in the ring while Tatanka goes for Luger and the referee counts him out at 9:51. 3/4* Boring. Team Dibiase beat on Luger and Ramon now comes into the aisle for some of the action.
Footage from Japan where Bob Backlund snaps on some Oriental Guy and applies the Cross-Face Chicken Wing. O-Kay.
- British Bulldog vs. Jim "The Anvil" Niedhart:
Savage coins the phrase "Poetry in Motion" he-he. Owen distracts Bulldog allowing Anvil to put some roundhouse rights to him. Shoulder Tackle goes nowhere. Anvil bails for advice by Owen. Two lockups go nowhere. Side headlock by Bulldog is reversed with an Irish whip but a hip toss by DBS turns the tide. Anvil with an uppercut but runs into a drop toe hold. Bulldog works him over with an armbar. Test of Strength (haven't seen that for a while) with Anvil winning it followed by several boots to the chest. Bulldog fights back up and lands a drop-kick. Headlock takeover by DBS followed by a leg sweep and grapevine. Eye rake by the anvil. Whip to the buckle and Anvil with a few shots to the head followed by a million dollar dream like sleeper hold. Bulldog breaks the hold with a series of elbows and a running knee does nothing and hurts himself. Stomp to the midsection by the Anvil followed by a rear chinlock. Bulldog off the ropes and Owen pulls down the ropes. Bret comes out to even the odds a bit. Back and anvil is working on bulldog with a Bear Hug. Anvil continues the beat-down and starts slapping DBS around. Bulldog with the boots to Anvil followed by a clothesline for 2. Knee ringer by Niedhart. Knee wrenching by Anvil continues. Owen screams at Bret. Camel Clutch by Niedhart. He misses a splash and gets clotheslined a few times by DBS followed by the Stall Suplex for 2. Here comes Backlund. Sunset flip by DBS but Owen stops it causing the DQ at 10:16. Bret, Bulldog, Owen, Niedhart get into a brawl which Bret & DBS get the best of. Match was OK, I'll say *1/2. Basically just a buildup match.
History Lesson About Bob Backlund. He was a NCAA Champion you know. On February 20, 1978 he won the WWF championship from "Superstar" Billy Graham. Footage of Backlund winning matches against countless opponents. We go to December 26, 1983 when Arnold Skaaland threw in the towel causing Backlund to lose the title to the Iron Sheik. Backlund returned in 1992 to once again win the title. On July 30, 1994, Backlund faced Bret Hart for the title. Backlund ended up snapping and attacked Bret with the cross-face chicken-wing. Several weeks ago he applied the hold on Magazine Lou Gianfredo. In Japan and Backlund applies the hold on several more people, but no names are mentioned.
- Duke "The Dumpster" Droese vs. Bam Bam Bigelow:
Droese had recently debuted in the WWF I think so this is a toss up match. Lockup is broken up clean in the corner. Bigelow with a cheap shot but its ducked and Droese hammers away and catches Bigelow with a big boot and clothesline. Armbar by Droese and he jerks the arm but he's thrown to the outside. Bigelow with a series of head-butts in the middle of the ring and he drops one across the neck of Droese for two. Bigelow with a choke across the top rope and continues the beating. Big snap suplex by Bigelow gets two and he applies a rear chin-lock. Bigelow keeps Droese on the ground and connects with several shoulder tackles but gets caught with a powerslam for two! Clotheslines by Droese to Bigelow and he nails a leg drop for two. Dibiase distracts Droese but Bigelow misses a charge and Droese hammers away. Droese misses a charge and Bigelow rolls him up with a fist full of tights at 4:49. * Bigelow with another win in a string of victories of the last few weeks.
Heartbreak Hotel time with the NEWLY crowned Shawn Michaels & Diesel. Shawn Michaels brings out Bob Backlund. Jeez, enough with Bob Backlund. Pointless Interview as he rambles...a lot and blowing his lines.
- King Kong Bundy vs. Mitch Bishop:
This is Bundy's WWF Return match, and he has Ted Dibiase in his corner. (Starts the Heat-Suck-Away Machine). It's been 6 years since Bundy has competed on WWF television (1988-1994) and he seems to be a little smaller then before. Bundy takes Bischop in the corner and splashes him. Whip to the buckle and he puts the boots to him. Shoulder Tackle puts down Bishop and he flattens him. Whip and he Avalanches him in the corner, and thats enough for five at 1:24. DUD Bishop got no offense in and Bundy just killed him.
- King Kong Bundy vs. Rod Bell:
Another squash match. Bundy with some clubbing shots and a shoulder tackle. Bell eats buckle and gets stepped on. Back elbow by Bundy, and he connects with a knee drop for two, but he pulls him up. Bell to the buckle and Bundy whips him to the buckle and Avalanches him followed by a big elow drop for five at 1:40. DUD again.
Jerry "The King" Lawler introduces his new midget, Queazy. This is just the start of something stupid...Really Stupid.
- "Made in the USA" Lex Luger vs. Bam Bam Bigelow:
Bigelow comes out with Tatanka and Nikolai Volkoff, and really, with Volkoff on your team, who needs jobbers? Bigelow hammers away on Luger and connects with a headbutt. Bigelow pounds on Luger while the crowd chants USA. Several shoulder blocks by Bigelow followed by a scoop slam for two. Luger scores a back elbow and sends Bigelow outside with a roundhouse right. Luger pounds on Bigelow and applies an armbar. Bigelow rakes the eyes to break out and catches Luger with a powerslam for two. Bigelow goes to the top rope but misses the flying head butt. Luger nails Volkoff and clotheslines Bigelow for two. Luger with another arm bar and here comes King Kong Bundy. Mabel & Adam Bomb come out to somewhat even the odds while Bigelow works over Luger. Bigelow with some chokes and a DDT for two. Big clothesline gets two again. Standing drop-kick gets two for Bigelow again! Bigelow with a chinlock and some choking. Luger with a series of big boots and he lands a series of rights and several clotheslines. Diving clothesline by Luger but Tatanka gets on Luger only to kiss foot. Bigelow is whipped into Tatanka and Luger rolls him up for three at 8:35. 1/2* Pretty lame match. Bomb & Mabel celebrate with Luger in the ring afterwards.
From Superstars, Vince McMahon interviews the former manager of Backlund, Arnold Skaaland. Bob Backlund soon interupts and starts punking him out, until he applies the cross-face chicken wing on him too.
- Doink The Clown vs. "Double J" Jeff Jarrett:
Thank god this tape has two awesome matches near the end. Jarrett stalls and Doink has his ugly ring attire. Jarrett trips him up and works the leg, kicking it out from under him. He misses a butt splash and Doink with a hip toss and scoop slam. Dink bites his butt and Doink with a drop toe hold and a front head lock. Oh No! Wink was introduced earlier and he's at ringside! Doink with another headlock and Jarrett breaks it with a drop toe hold but misses an elbow and Doink returns to the headlock. Jarrett with an abdominal stretch and we know what happens. Dink bites Jarretts hand off the top rope and Doink hammers away and scores a diving back elbow. flying clothesline and heres Queazy and another midget! Jarrett with a high knee sends him outside and the midgets beat him up. Jarrett works over Doink inside and makes him eat boot. Jarrett continues the punishment but gets caught with a double under-hook suplex! Jarrett misses a top rope fist drop and Doink hammers on him and scores with a powerslam. Jarrett is whipped into the midget and Doink with a float over suplex for two. Midget Run! Drop-kick by Doink gets two. Doink with a slam and knee drop, and he goes upstairs for the whoopee cushion and connects! Lawler in and he drops a fist across the neck of Doink and rolls Jarrett on top for the three count at 8:53. *1/2 The new king midget is apparently named Sleazy.
- Thurman "Sparky" Plugg vs. Bob Backlund:
This match has potential to be good. Bob Backlunds entrance includes the video wall playing his losing the world title to Iron Sheik. Backlund debuts wearing a towel to the ring around his neck. Backlund offers a hand shake and Plugg doesn't accept. They try amateur lockups but no go. Backlund with a go behind and they trade off reversals and Backlund trips him up by pulling his leg from under him between his legs. Lockup and Plugg breaks clean in the corner. Backlund with a single leg take down and he releases quickly. Plugg with a take down as well. Backlund with a scoop slam with aggression and he lets Plugg up. Another slam but Plugg mule kicks him away, and nails a drop-kick and applies an armbar. Plugg drives the knee into Backlunds bicep and reapplies the hold. Backlund reverses, and Plugg reverses back and leg drops the arm. Lawler & McMahon go over Backlunds crazy rambling. Plugg with a shoulder tackle puts Backlund down and he arm drags him and applies an armbar. Backlund with a whip but he gets knocked down with a shoulder block but gets a knee lift in on Plugg to put him down. Backlund with a rear chinlock, but Plugg arm drags him off, and Backlund goes back to the chinlock. Plugg with a jawbreaker. Backlund with a gut-wrench suplex and that gets two. McMahon says Plugg will be racing in Pensacola this December (1994). Plugg with his own gut wrench suplex on Backlund and a single leg take down. Another and Plugg with a monkey flip. Whip and Plugg connects with a great drop-kick but for only two. Powerslam by Plugg and that gets another two count! Another whip but Backlund avoids a clothesline and applies the cross-face chicken wing for the submission at 8:30. **1/2 Decent match with good old school wrestling. Backlund won't release the hold but does eventually afterwards.
Flashbacks of the Owen Hart/Bret Hart feud over the past 8 months, that will culminate in a final World title Match on the DEBUT Edition of the Action Zone!
- WWF-World Championship Match:
Bret "Hitman" Hart (c) vs. Owen Hart:
This is Owen's last shot at the title as long as Bret is champion, which would usually mean a title change, or Owen will win the title in some way down the road. Owen Hart took the belt and celebrates with it before the match. Owen throws his sunglasses at Bret, so he gives them to another kid. Lockup and no one wins it so Owen celebrates it. Lockup again and Bret backs Owen into the ropes, and he breaks clean so Owen pushes him and slaps the taste out of his mouth...then hides in the ropes and celebrates. Lockup and Owen with a behind hammer lock, and Bret reverses and hammers on Owens bicep with aggression. Owen with a whip but he misses a drop-kick and Bret slingshots him into the corner and school boys him for two, then applies an overhead hammer lock. Owen with an Irish whip out but he gets caught with a series of hip tosses and he runs to the outside. Anvil comes out to consult with Owen. They trade shoves and Bret with a bitch slap and school boy for two again and reapplies the hammerlock. Bret catches Owen with a crucifix for two and applies an armbar. Owen whips out of it, and Anvil trips Bret, so Owen stomps away at Bret. The Bulldog comes out to even the sides. Owen has Bret in the corner as we go the break. Back and Owen with a camel clutch and turns it into a reverse chinlock. Bret starts reversing it but Owen takes him down back into a headlock. Bret whips him but Owen pulls the hair and holds onto the hold. Bret reverses into a wrist lock but gets pulled down by the hair, and Bret starts pulling Owens hair while he's in reverse chin lock. Bret with a series of elbows but runs into a knee lift and Owen celebrates and stomps the midsection of Bret and applies a chinlock. Both men to their feet and Bret pounds on Owen but gets caught with an over head belly to belly suplex for two! Bret pounds on Owen again and sunset flips him for two!! Bret with boots to the midsection and some vicious European uppercuts in the corner. Bret takes the oversell corner whip bump and Owen comes off the top rope and nails a beautiful missile drop-kick then slaps the Bulldog. Anvil wraps Bret's leg around the ring post while the referee is distracted with Owen and Bulldog. Owen stomps away at him and grapevines Bret's leg around the middle rope and starts laying in some stiff kicks and takes him over with a dragon screw and applies an Indian death lock submission hold! Owen snaps the leg back on Bret a few times to soften him up and lays some more hard shots on the knee. Another dragon screw by Owen and he snaps back the leg again. Owen butt-drops Bret's leg, laid across the bottom rope, and applies a figure four! Bret reverses the hold and we go the break. Owen off the top rope and Bret fists his mid section and nails an inverted atomic drop and diving clothesline for two! Whip and Bret with a Russian leg sweep for two! Headbutt and Small package by Bret gets another two count! Back breaker by Bret Hart and he goes to the second rope and nails the elbow drop but Owen has his foot on the ropes at two thanks to Niedhart. Owen from behind with a victory roll for two, and Bret reverses it with his own for two as well! Bret goes for the sharpshooter but Owen rakes the eyes and nails a spinning heel kick for two! Owen with a headbutt and boots to the head. Suplex is blocked and Bret sets him on the top rope and comes off with a Super-Plex...on himself!!! Anvil held Owens legs but Bulldog shoves him off the top rope and he gets crotched across the top rope! Bret quickly recovers and pins Owen for three at 15:01. Owen got screwed! **** For a Hot match, good wrestling sequence to start and a hot finish. But Bret cheated!!! After the match, Bret gives Backlund a title shot at Survivor Series.
Charlie Minn tries interviewing Bob Backlund, but he doesn't believe Bret Hart until he gets a contract in his hands, signed by Bret Hart, and that's all he says.
- WWF-Intercontinental Championship Match:
Razor Ramon (c) vs. Yokozuna:
Yokozuna jumps Ramon from behind with clubbing shots but Ramon with his own shots rocks the big man and puts him down with a flying clothesline, sending Yokozuna outside. Ramon with an armbar but he gets caught with a slam. Ramon avoids an elbow drop and works the arm some more. Yokozuna with a big clothesline and fat ass leg drop. Yokozuna with the Vulcan nerve punch and that lasts a while. Yokozuna hammers Ramon in the corner viciously and gets in the nerve hold again. Yokozuna misses his corner splash and Ramon comes off the top rope with a bulldog for two. Yokozuna is sent out and backs into a casket of the Undertaker and runs off scared and Ramon wins at 9:23 via count-out. -* That match just sucked on so many levels.
WWF Survivor Series Report!! It's The Very First One! Wednesday Night on November 23, 1994 at 8 p.m ET. WWF Champion Bret Hart defends the title against Bob Backlund. Lex Luger, Mabel, Adam Bomb, and the Smoking Gunns take on Bam Bam Bigelow, Tatanka, King Kong Bundy, and the Heavenly Bodies! Razor Ramon, 1-2-3 Kid, British Bulldog, Head Shrinkers take on Shawn Michaels, Diesel, Owen Hart, Jim Niedhart, and Jeff Jarrett!! Also, The Undertaker faces Yokozuna in a Casket Match! And Chuck Norris will be a special outside enforcer.
WWF Holiday Wish Tour! The Bushwhackers face Well Dunn. Mabel takes on Quebecer Pierre. British Bulldog battles King Kong Bundy, WWF Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon defends against Jeff Jarrett, WWF tag Team Champions HBK & Diesel defend against the Head Shrinkers, Undertaker squares off with I.R.S, and WWF Champion Bret Hart faces Bob Backlund, plus much more!
- WWF-Tag Team Championship Match:
Shawn Michaels & Diesel (c) vs. Razor Ramon & 1-2-3 Kid:
Yes, it is indeed the infamous KLIQ match that aired on the second edition of the Action Zone. The champs jump the challengers from behind and we get a double whip sending the champs into each other and 1-2-3 Kid heel kicks Diesel and Ramon clotheslines him out. Headlock by Ramon and he Razors Edges him for two! Ramon hammers Diesel in the aisle and throws Michaels back inside and the Kid rolls him up for two. Michaels rakes the eyes but gets whipped to the buckle, and the Kid with a back drop and top rope moonsault for two. Victory Roll gets two as well but he gets caught with a vicious powerbomb by HBK. Diesel in and he drives the elbow into the back of his head and throws the Kid across the ring. Sunset Flip by the Kid is no go and Diesel choke lifts him from the ground and slams him back to the ground. Drop-kick by 1-2-3 Kid and he tags in Ramon and he hammers away on Diesel and slams him for two. Diesel catches him with a short-arm clothesline and hammers away. Ramon fights back but Diesel catches him with a knee lift and foot choke. Michaels in and Ramon catches him with an atomic drop, but Diesel gets the blind tag and catches him with an awesome clothesline and HBK with a back elbow. Diesel has Ramon in the corner with those elbow shots to the head and a series of knee lifts. Shawn in with an awesome splash in the corner and that gets a two count. Diesel comes back in and hammers on Ramon and whips him to the buckle several times before nailing a side walk slam for two. HBK in and he slams Ramon and heads to the second rope, and he nails an awesome elbow drop with plenty of hang time for two. HBK goes to a reverse chin-lock but he's soon caught in a back slide for two, but nails an immediate drop-kick for two again. Diesel in with some hard shots and he gives Ramon the snake eyes. They choke Ramon across the second rope and is thrown to the canvas and Diesel connects with a series of elbow drops for two. Diesel with a series of forearms and a chinlock. HBK with a knee to the kidneys and Diesel comes off the ropes with a diving shoulder tackle. Michaels in and he applies an abdominal stretch. They keep beating down Ramon in their corner, and Michaels continues the pain, but Ramon nails a series of roundhouse rights and a hip toss, followed by a modified chokeslam. Diesel gets the tag and holds Ramon, while Michaels goes for the super-kick, only to nail Diesel and knocking him out! 1-2-3 Kid in and he nails a huge spinning heel kick and his signature shots in the corner, and Michaels flair flips to the outside and the Kid with a somersault plancha and a missile drop-kick for two! Ramon in and he catches HBK with a fall away slam. The Kid in and he gets slammed into Michaels for two again! Second rope back suplex by Ramon but its blocked with a cross body but its reversed by Ramon for two! 1-2-3 Kid to the top rope with a missile splash for two!!! Ramon in and he gets caught with a clothesline for two! Sleeper hold by Michaels and he and Ramon are both down. Diesel is finally moving outside and gets to his feet. Ramon slingshots HBK into the post and the Kid is in with a guillotine leg drop for two! Diesel catches him with a big boot and Michaels covers for three at 22:02!! ****1/4 Really good match of course, that featured the hottest finish for a tag match in quite a while.
- "Made in the USA" Lex Luger vs. Bob Backlund:
JIP. Luger catches with an arm drag and mocks Backlund. Luger with a series of elbows. Backlund with a go behind takedown but Luger escapes backlunds clutch. Backlund with an armbar which is reversed, and Backlund mule kicks him and follows it up with an arm drag and wrist lock. Luger avoids the cross-face but is sent to the buckles, and Backlund with a belly to belly suplex for two! Hammerlock slam by Backlund and follows it with a bear hug. Luger sends Backlund to the buckles and nails a running knee lift and some posing. Powerslam by Luger and he calls for the rack. Backlund with the cross-face while Tatanka distracts Luger. Tatanka runs in the ring for the DQ at 7:08 and stomps away at Luger while he's still in the hold. 1/2* Luger REALLY DID suck as a wrestler, I guess I was blind. Backlund reapplies the hold later on. Randy Savage makes the save and chases Backlund away.
- Mabel vs. Yokozuna:
Shoot me. Announcers mention George Foreman defeated Michael Moorer for the boxing Heavyweight Championship the night previous. Mabel puts Yokozuna down with a shoulder tackle but Yokozuna eventually lays shots in him. Mabel with a diving tackle sends Yokozuna outside and they trade slamming each other on the steel steps with Yokozuna winning the exchange. Yokozuna puts the hurt on Mabel in the ring and applies the nerve hold. Mabel drops him with clotheslines and gets the fat ass leg drop for two. Mabel with a second rope cross body press for two. He goes upstairs but is slammed off with velocity and splashes him in the corner. Banzai drop wins the match at 5:02. DUD Why did I tape this crap?!
I.R.S vignette from a cemetary. He talks about how dead people shouldn't get away with cheating on taxes, so he has "John Dough's" head stone taken away, as well as the flowers resting on the grave. Wow, what a heel! (sarcasm!)
- 1-2-3 Kid vs. Mr. Bob Backlund:
Kid starts off hot hammering Backlund with kicks in the corners and whipping him to the buckles and nailing a back drop. Backslide gets two and the Kid with a spinning heel kick for two. Arm drag by the Kid and a short arm scissors applied for two. Backlund rolls through and places Kid on the top rope, who comes off with a sunset flip for two. Backlund up fast and nails a nasty forearm sending the kid sailing. Backlund works in a hammerlock but The Kid comes back with the Chicken Wing! Backlund reverses it back into an armbar and takes him down to the canvas. Kid comes back with a leg lariat for two. More kicks in the corner and The Kid with a slam. He goes to the top rope and misses a splash. Backlund with the chicken wing for the win at 5:02. *** Pretty fast match, but was really good for the amount of time given. Bret comes down to save and both he and Backlund trade off applying their own finishing moves.
The Undertaker (w/ Paul Bearer) vs. Jim "The Anvil" Niedhart:
This is from a week or so before Survivor Series, and is from an episode of Superstars. I wonder who gets in the first actual wrestling move. I'll bank it on Anvil. Niedhart stalls and hammers away in the ring. Big Boot by Undertaker, so I guess that counts as a wrestling move, but just in case it isnt...Taker with a choke in the corner and he goes Old School back when it wasn't old. Short Arm clothesline by Undertaker and he misses the flying lariat. Niedhart puts Taker down with a clothesline but not for long. Taker hammers the Anvil who scores a powerslam. Make it 2 out of 3 falls. Anvil with a two count on a CHOKE. Anvil pounds Taker some more and nails a SUPLEX! Anvil wins my bet I guess. Anvil stomps away at the Taker and nails a series of elbow drops. Undertaker back up with rights and nails a shoulder tackle and a big boot, sending Niedhart into the casket. He shits his pants and runs away, getting counted-out at 6:03. DUD Incase you couldn't guess.
- WWF-World Championship Match:
Mr. Bob Backlund (c) vs. Diesel:
From MSG. Exclusive on the Action Zone. Here's a long run-down of the match. They talk trash to each other before the bell, and Diesel nails a boot to the midsection followed by the Jackknife powerbomb for the win and championship at 0:08. DUD So much for making Backlund worth anything at the hands of Bret and others.
- Duke "The Dumpster" Droese vs. King Kong Bundy:
Last Match on the tape, and it must be ranked in the who will perform a real move first. I know Droese was trained by Kowalski (well, I'm 99% sure), the same man who trained current Main Eventer (and then no-name) Triple H, but he was never that impressive so don't expect much. Froese hammers away on Bundy and nails a series of clotheslines and a dropkick sending him to the outside. Droese hammers Bundy in the aisle and makes it back to the ring in time. Bundy with a boot to the midsection and several forearm shots send Droese down. Elbow drop for two and he nails a back elbow once back on his feet. Droese avoids another elbow drop and he applies an armbar. Droese comes off the ropes with a Cross Body Press for two, and applies a wrist lock. Bundy takes over with a boot to the midsection and he applies a reverse chinlock. Droese fights free and puts Bundy down with a shoulder block! Twisting Elbow drop misses and Bundy misses his big splash. Droese with a diving forearm and scissors leg drop but it only gets two. Bundy avoids a corner charge and sends Droese to the buckle and nails TWO Avalanches for the easy FIVE count at 6:47. 1/2* Because I'm generous and it wasn't out right bad.
Final Thoughts: Overall not a bad tape here. Action Zone debuted giving us a few awesome matches, then tanked afterwards, we got to see Bob Backlund put on pretty decent matches with almost everyone (aside from Luger), and we got a bit too much King Kong Bundy, but at least his matches aren't twenty minutes long.
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