WWF Wrestling Challenge [02.10.91]

UTC ARENA / CHATTANOOGA, TN
Hosted by Gorilla Monsoon & Bobby “The Brain” Heenan

The Undertaker (w/ Brother Love) vs. Allan Reynolds
• Undertaker wins with the Tombstone [2:08]
– Undertaker’s moveset seems to deepen with each week, as he adds a leapfrog and a helicopter spin this week

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WWF Prime Time Wrestling [02.04.91]

Hosted by Gorilla Monsoon & Bobby “The Brain” Heenan

The Nasty Boys (w/ Jimmy Hart) vs. Reno Riggins & Mike Williams
• Nasty Boys win with the Trip to Nastyville [2:42]
– The Nastys had a unique personality for 1991, but have literally done nothing since they debuted two months ago. No feuds, no non-squash matches, no direction.

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WWF Wrestling Challenge [02.03.91]

UTC ARENA / CHATTANOOGA, TN
Hosted by Gorilla Monsoon & Bobby “The Brain” Heenan

“British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith vs. Carl Nelson
Vodpod videos no longer available.
• Bulldog wins with a Running Powerslam [1:28]
– In the opening vignettes, the Orient Express are shown backstage warming up by punching eachother in the chest
– Heenan calls Bulldog’s haircut “lousy”, which anyone would agree with now, but at the time I thought his long braids were a top notch!
– Nelson is a big dude with a very early-90s pro wrestler look, but is put away quickly and easily. It wasn’t meant to be, Carl.

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WWF The Main Event V [01.28.91]

COLISEUM / MACON, GA
Hosted by Vince McMahon & “Rowdy” Roddy Piper

Hulk Hogan & Tugboat vs. Earthquake & Dino Bravo (w/ Jimmy Hart)
Vodpod videos no longer available.

Vodpod videos no longer available.
• Hogan pins Bravo with a rollup to win [8:56]
– The “toot”s from the crowd when Tugboat tags in could very easily be confused for boo’s, and I wouldn’t question it
– Gotta love the way Earthquake stands in one spot, then slowly lumbers toward Hogan for that bodyslam
– Yeah ref, make sure that the beloved role model and American icon doesn’t illegally interfere in the match, while the two well-known cheaters are left unattended for two minutes
– An Earthquake/Tugboat shoot-fight would have been a serious spectacle
– The gut-punch/missed clothesline that Hulk knocks Earthquake down with was embarrassing

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WWF Prime Time Wrestling [01.28.91]

Hosted by Gorilla Monsoon & Bobby “The Brain” Heenan

Big Bossman vs. Jeff Sword
Vodpod videos no longer available.
• Bossman wins with the Bossman Slam [1:26]
– If Sword came around twenty years later, he’d be Mike Knox
– After the match, Bossman handcuffs Sword to the ropes, which is just completely unnecessary

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WWF Wrestling Challenge [01.20.91]

AUDITORIUM / WEST PALM BEACH, FL
Hosted by Gorilla Monsoon & Bobby “The Brain” Heenan

The Undertaker (w/ Brother Love) vs. Sonny Blaze
Vodpod videos no longer available.
• Undertaker wins after hitting Blaze with a Tombstone [2:25]
– It’s the morning after the Royal Rumble, and since this was taped a god damn month ago, there is no mention of it whatsoever
– Not one single tattoo visible on Undertaker; I’m going to try to keep a look-out for the point that he starts getting inked up
– Taker’s insert promo shows him with a Clint Eastwood inflection in his voice
– Funny little side-storyline: Gorilla Monsoon accuses Brother Love of rifling through peoples lockers and stealing backstage. I love when the announcers make up character attributes on the spot that actually seem plausible.

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WWF Royal Rumble [01.19.91]

MIAMI ARENA / MIAMI, FL
Hosted by Gorilla Monsoon & “Rowdy” Roddy Piper

The Rockers vs. The Orient Express (w/ Mr. Fuji)

• Jannetty pins Tanaka with a sunset flip [19:15]
– The Rockers’ entrance music still stands as top ten of all time
– Jannetty hits Kato with a Sweet Chin Music (“crescent kick” according to Gorilla) early in the match; remember this is long before Michaels began using that as his finisher
– It’s amazing to watch the Rockers here in what was probably their breakout match, because the crowd is in awe of every one of the high-flying moves that today’s crowds have come to expect
– “U-S-A” chant tells those dastardly Japs where they are. If nothing else, Vince was a master at creating a sense of blind patriotism during this time.
– This crowd is HOT for Michaels to break out of that headlock midway through the match, so it’s safe to say that everyone’s doing their job in that ring right now
– Michaels’ moonsault had the crowd going crazy, and I don’t think Gorilla Monsoon’s ever seen anything like it in his life
– Fuji smashes his cane across Michaels’ throat while the ref had his back turned, because the referee seems to be more concerned with keeping Jannetty out of the ring all match than he is with stopping double-teams and outside interference. This is where that faulty pro wrestling logic comes in: why isn’t he equally concerned with stopping the men who are well-known for illegal activity? In real life it wouldn’t make sense, but in that ring, the crowd reaction for when Jannetty finally tags in explains it all.
– OHHHHhhh, a double Sweet Chin Music
– The finish here is AWESOME. Kato tries to slingshot Jannetty into a Tanaka sidekick, but Michaels punches Tanaka in the gut, and Kato slingshots Jannetty into a sunset flip on a doubled-over Tanaka, for the win. I had to rewatch it three times just to explain that.
– Great opening match, and even better than I expected. And we all know the story from here, Pat Tanaka went on to become one of the greatest Superstars in wrestling history.

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WWF Superstars [01.05.91]

SUNDOME / TAMPA, FL
Hosted by Vince McMahon, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper & Honky Tonk Man

“Texas Tornado” Kerry Von Erich vs. Tom Stone• Von Erich wins with a Discus Punch [1:46]
– Stone starts out fiesty for a jobber, jumping Kerry on the apron before the bell, but after that the guy didn’t stand a chance.
– This is the bodybuilding era, which means that it was completely natural for Vince to randomly plug Bodybuilding Lifestyles magazine during the match, complete with inset graphic.