House Show/TV tapings random happenings

[Statto]

22 minutes ago, air_raid said:

MSG on 26th Diesel famously snatches the belt in 8 seconds in front of just 7300

This thread is usually so well researched, but you're about 22k people short there, dude. #ObviousJoke

[air_raid]

[air_raid]

DECEMBER 1994
Diesel vs Bob Backlund rematches are our A show and business has fallen off a cliff. 3200 in Sacramento, only 2700 a piece to LA Sports and San Diego, 4900 is down in Anaheim and reportedly only 1600 of those inside the Cow Palace paid. Those last two have Razor Ramon as a sub ; Big Daddy Cool is on compassionate leave because Big Daddy's mama has died. Elsewhere early doors - here's a shock - another fucking European tour through Germany, Israel and over here, Davey Boy Smith vs King Kong Bundy on top, you don't need telling who wins.

A couple of Pennsylvania B shows before Kev's bereavement are headed by Razor Ramon vs Double J for the Intercontinental belt, 30th in Allentown, atop a fairly weak card as it is, it's Jarrett and Mabel.

THE CARDS
The Undertaker vs IRS is every night. Razor Ramon vs Double J all through Europe. Nothing changes for Lex Luger vs Tatanka. Our Smithers gets lumbered with Anvil after the tour. Owen Hart tags with big Jim against MOM up until TVs then has the rest of the month home with his family. Adam Bomb and Bam Bam Bigelow are swapping wins all month. 1-2-3 Kid beats Nikolai Volkoff until TVs then goes home for Christmas (probably). Doink works Brooklyn Brawler while the tour is on and King Kong Bundy after it.

Smoking Gunns vs Heavenly Bodies continues to be a global battle all month. As always it seems, one half of Well Dunn is off, so Bushwhackers vs Timothy Well & Barry Horowitz is every night too. When the Headshrinkers work, its with the Executioners. Bob Holly gets an early Christmas present, lying down for Henry Godwinn. Dumpster vs Kwang is every night. Aldo Montoya beats Pierre in Europe then the Brawler back home. Wink & Pink vs Queasy & Sleazy is a match that happens. For a second month in a row Shawn Michaels is essentially inactive, acting only as Backlund's second. Yokozuna is off TV selling, umm, being in the casket I guess. Bret Hart is on holiday.

VARIATIONS
For some reason in Allentown Volkoff squashes Bob Starr. 

TVs
12th Raw taping at Liberty High School (LOL) we've got Diesel vs Backlund, Razor vs Owen and Taker vs IRS plus tryouts for Mantaur (managed on the night by Million Dollar Man) and The Blacksmith who you might know as Maxx Payne from WCW, who will be repackaged as Man Mountain Rock. Next night in the same venue there's Diesel vs Owen, Kid vs Jerry Lawler, Taker vs Bundy and Bob Backlund does a rare job for these days to the Rebel Rack - the last two were on the Brawl In The Family tape. Mantaur's taping TV now but without Teddy. Next night in Newark its Diesel vs Backlund, Taker vs Tatanka, Razor vs Bundy and Owen & Anvil going over Men On A Mission - those last two ALSO going on Brawl In The Family. Plus more tryouts including - weird one this - Rockin Rebel. Of note also - Billy Gunn brings an injury back from Europe so the Gunns miss the three days of mid-month TVs, so they tape the Kid and Bob Holly beating Well Dunn in the first round of the tag team title tournament for airing early January. Billy is fine by the time house shows resume on Boxing Day, leading to the ridiculous scenario that the Gunns will be wrestling every night to fans that will switch their tellys on to hear he's injured, for the entire time the tournament plays out on TV, because the last quarter has to air January 7th and they aren't due to record TV again until 9th. Fuckin WCW shit, that.

Also this month, the start of two very different careers on WWF TV - the short-lived Stephanie Wiand starts working as host/interviewer, and the vivacious, effervescent Tamara Murphy starts hosting Live Event News in New York/New Jersey syndication. Wonder what will happen to her......

DEPARTURES
30th in San Fran is the last booking for Anvil. Its said that he got sacked for missing dates but I can't find any subs around the last few months of 94 or that he's missing for any length of time. Bret seems to think he and Owen were going to win the tag belts before the firing but if so, filming Owen & Jimmy losing their quarter final for TV then giving him bookings on the road (and wins!) for another month would be a curious decision. Not sure we have the truth of this one, unless Vince let him go because he realized Neidhart was never going to pay him back for covering his legal fees over some (ahem) antics.

Year end also tolls the bell for Nikolai Volkoff as a WWF wrestler. He'll be back on TV for the WrestleMania press conference and Mania itself, then randomly in May he'll come chase Ted DiBiase away during a match, mysteriously a babyface for one night, but thats it for his use in the ring - if he had any.

Edited August 6, 2022 by air_raid

[air_raid]

JANUARY 1995
Welcome to the year of Diesel Power! Attendance will dive, the roster will churn, Sid will come back and Nitro will start asking some serious questions about the TV model.

THE MAIN EVENTS

We kick off with continued Diesel vs Bob Backlund rematches, 4000 in Winnipeg, 6000 in Green Bay, only 3000 in Dallas for the best card they can muster (no B show that night). Between TVs and the Rumble and thereafter it’s one show a night with Diesel vs Double J for the belt although Taker, Bret or Razor actually go on last, except at MSG where we close with a big post match angle hyping the inevitable HBK match. They draw only 2500 to Baltimore. Takers carrying a knock and Kev has two nights off so the load is on Bret Hart vs Owen Hart and Razor Ramon vs Jeff Jarrett for the last nights of the month in Hershey (Bret on last) and Niagara Falls NY (Razor on last).

Razor Ramon vs Jeff Jarrett is the first B town main event of the year in Albuquerque and El Paso which are the only nights of the month they run 2 shows.

THE CARDS
Bret Hart vs Owen Hart you know about, previous to Bret coming back Owen had been losing to Davey Boy Smith. After the shuffle we also (finally) lose Lex Luger vs Tatanka and move to a series of Luger & Bulldog vs Bam Bam Bigelow & King Kong Bundy, leaving Tatanka losing to Undertaker. Prior to the shuffle Taker had been beating IRS. After the Rumble Taker is off with a knock, Bulldog is losing to Bundy to get HIM ready for Taker at Mania, Lex and Tatanka aren’t booked. Razor Ramon vs Jeff Jarrett happens lots either side of their title change, on night Jarrett is with Kev, Razor usually has a night off.

IRS isn’t booked between two sets of tapings, his post Rumble matches with Taker are filled in for by Mabel. The Adam Bomb push stalls ; he’s losing to Bundy before first TVs. Dumpster is beating Mantaur before first TVs then Timothy Well until the Rumble. Aldo Montoya is working all month - Brooklyn Brawler early, mid month Steven Dunn and post Rumble beating Kwang. Bob Holly vs Henry Godwinn goes on all month, Holly winning early and losing mid and late month. Early month before TVs Hakushi is on the road and it’s the match you’d want - he’s with 1-2-3 Kid. Also early, Doink swaps wins with Kwang.

The Bushwhackers vs Heavenly Bodies goes on early month and The Headshrinkers vs Well Dunn is scheduled too (see variations) then post Rumble the NEW Tag Team Champions (well, Newest) the Smoking Gunns are defending against Tim n Steve. There are zero tag matches between TVs from any recognized tag teams from the tag team division. There is Wink & Pink vs Queasy & Cheesy though. Bull Nakano vs Alundra Blayze is back on between TVs.

Shawn Michaels is still not wrestling much. His only matches all month are on TV and PPV and there’s only 3 of them.

You will notice that there are huge holes, as though I'm only able to tell you what guys did before TVs, between TVs, or after the Rumble and subsequent TVs - thats because one show a night is happening as a cost cutting measure and they've got more guys than spots. Lex Luger, a main event star a year ago, is no longer guaranteed a cheque every night available to him. Near the end of the year plenty of guys will leave or consider alternate fields of work altogether because they aren't earning enough as a pro wrestler with a contract to the biggest company in North America. 

VARIATIONS 
Baltimore is the only night of a Diesel/Jarrett match where Razor is booked - with Backlund. Dunn only makes it to Albuquerque so in El Paso its Headshrinkers vs Well & Barry Horowitz. In New Haven its Wink vs Cheesy 1 on 1 instead of the normal tag.

TVs
The month is only 9 days old when we have TVs. Bret vs Owen in the No Holds Barred version of their match, Razor vs Bundy, Luger vs Tatanka and Taker vs IRS are our exclusives and they do testers for Kama and Chris Candido against who will become his mortal enemy, Barry Horowitzand at last the Harris Twins get their break as Eli & Jacob Blu, and they have a look at the USWAs Spellbinder against Reno Riggins - he’ll have a cup of coffee as Phantasio later in the year. Next night some of the dark matches are the same but we also have Owen pulling double duty and wrestling Diesel - who also goes twice and pins Double J. Both that match and Bret/Owen from Corpus Christi end up on the Brawl In The Family tape. We’re taping Kama and the Blus squashes here plus Man Mountain Rock. Wednesday is nothing that didn’t happen Monday/Tuesday. By now Jim Cornette is managing Mantaur on TV.

Post Rumble Raw taping we have Bret/Owen, Diesel/Jarrett, Luger/Tatanka and Taker/Bundy plus a tryout for Bruiser Bedlam. Next night it’s two matches I’m bored of typing plus Razor/Jarrett and Smithers vs Bob Backlund. On the Wednesday we have Jarrett/Bomb and Diesel/Bundy, most of the Superstar v Superstar matches end up as Action Zone main events.

Not a thrilling month for developments.

[Chili]

Is their a clear reason why Shawn Michaels seemingly couldn't be arsed in this period and seems to have loads of time off not really doing anything? 

[air_raid]

19 minutes ago, Chili said:

Is their a clear reason why Shawn Michaels seemingly couldn't be arsed in this period and seems to have loads of time off not really doing anything? 

He asked to be taken off the road to try and save his marriage. He failed.

[wandshogun09]

When did he get that big inheritance from the superfan that died’s will? Sorry if you’ve covered it earlier in the thread Raid. It was after 95 wasn’t it? 

[air_raid]

31 minutes ago, wandshogun09 said:

When did he get that big inheritance from the superfan that died’s will? Sorry if you’ve covered it earlier in the thread Raid. It was after 95 wasn’t it? 

Depends who you ask. Observer got hold of the story in January 96 with Meltzer reporting that it was mere months back, Bruce says it was more like late 93 about the time Shawn flounced after failing the drug test for steroids. The best source would clearly be Shawn himself but he's always reticent to talk about it. I actually think Meltzer only found out about it at all because someone asked about it at the 96 Rumble presser in Fresno and Shawn said "No comment" and had a strop. As was his wont.

[wandshogun09]

For some reason I’ve had it in my head that it was around the time he took the 4 years off from 98-02. Late 93 makes sense though. 

[air_raid]

FEBRUARY 1995

THE MAIN EVENTS
What a mess this is. Diesel vs King Kong Bundy is the title match in Quebec City (6000) and Montreal (12.000+) where the real draw is local hero Pierre vs Shawn Michaels. Back in the States Big Daddy randomly beats IRS in Worcester then it becomes a run with Double J including the Spectrum (5500) and the Palace (5000). Some shows without Kev have Razor Ramon vs Bob Backlund or the Bret Hart vs Owen Hart no holds barred match on top. After TVs we move to Diesel vs Bam Bam Bigelow including just 4000 paid at the Rosemont.

B shows before TVs have Lex Luger vs Tatanka in a cage match, after TVs the high schools are getting Undertaker VS King Kong Bundy.

THE CARDS
Bret Hart vs Owen Hart happens most nights, with a few pinfalls in straight matches or Sharpshooter wins for Bret in the No Holds Barred match. Shawn Michaels is back on the road and by and large he spends half a month with Davey Boy Smith then half with Lex Luger, winning every night. "Made In The USA" had started his month beating Tatanka in a variety of regular, lumberjack and cage matches. Davey Boy starts his month with Bob Backlund and ends it with Tatanka. Undertaker's late month run with King Kong Bundy is his only action back from injury. Razor Ramon we've covered, a short Backlund filling in a Double J sandwich. Bam Bam Bigelow works no house shows until his main event run starts on 23rd February - no doubt in part to get over the suspension he was serving on TV post incident with Lawrence Taylor at the Rumble. 

Adam Bomb spends his month bouncing back and forth between beating Henry O Godwinn and losing to Bundy. 1-2-3 Kid spends 3 weeks tagging with (brief) tag title partner Bob Holly to beat the Heavenly Bodies then reverts to putting over Hakushi. Post TVs, Bobcore is losing to Kama. Most of the month, the THRIVING tag team division has the Smoking Gunns defending the belts against Well Dunn or on occasion on B shows, that renowned pair of contenders... Mike Bell & The Executioner. What the actual fuck? Those are nights Well Dunn are busy with the Bushwhackers who at this point surely were worth a punt as champions in comparison to the rest?? The Headshrinkers spend their month doing double count-outs with or losing to Jacob & Eli Blu. Bull Nakano vs Alundra Blayze continues for another month.

Kama works a really weird heel vs heel run with Kwang then a couple with Brooklyn Brawler. Aldo Montoya starts and finishes his month with Kwang and also does a couple with Hakushi inbetween. There are few of Duke Droese vs Mantaur swapping wins, Dumpster also loses a few to Hakushi. Doink is booked with either Brawler or Barry Horowitz. Mabel actually works a couple of early month openers with jobber (and future Baldie) Tony DeVito. Ridiculously, Mike Bell does DOUBLE DUTY on those nights, doing jobs to Man Mountain Rock as well as getting a crack at the tag belts. Technically there are only 2 shows a night but this stuff is lower than C show, it really is.

VARIATIONS
6th in Worcester Taker is with Owen, HBK is with Adam Bomb and Hitman is with Bundy. Same night in Bristol CT is the only report of the Headshrinkers actually winning a match, against Well Dunn. Kid doesnt make it to Pittsburgh so Sparky beats JDR in a singles. 17th in Tunica MS there are some oddities - Mabel does a job for Tatanka, Bulldog for Bundy, Man Mountain Rock beats Kwang, Aldo loses to Mantaur. 23rd in LaCrosse we've got Adam Bomb putting in pin on Mr Bob and HOG losing to Doink! 26th in Portland ME Davey Boy misses it so Aldo does a job for Tatanka. Kwang is thus missing his opponent so they call Scott Taylor. Finally also in Portland is the greatest variation of all time.... Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels with early-90s Coliseum heel gets fed up and walks off for the count out finish. As good as their (straight) matches were in 97-98, I can't help but think a ring-shape 1995 HBK against Taker would have been unreal. This being the same night as Diesel/Bam Bam, Bret/Owen, Razor/Double J and Kid/Hakushi, making it a strong candidate for best house show of all time.

TVs
20th in Macon we have Bret vs Owen, Razor vs Bam Bam and a few squashes and tryouts including Unibomb beating Reno Riggins - he'll be in shortly as Isaac Yankem DDS but of course best known as big red politician and genius, Kane. Next night in Augusta is far more interesting. Erik Watts and Chad Fortune try out, they'll be in soon and repackaged as Tekno Team 2000 - I was sure they'd be stars at the time. Bret vs Owen, Diesel vs Bam Bam, Razor & Luger vs Double J & Tatanka and HBK vs Smithers are dark matches and best of all Michael PS Hayes has a tryout - they take one look at him in the ring and decide he needs to be stuck in the studio and named Dok Hendrix. Finally next night in North Charleston we have our first look at Chris and Tammy from Team Spirit (BABYFACES!!) as Candido goes over Riggins. Is it any wonder this was remodelled as The Body Donnas? Plus Diesel/Bigelow, Bret/Owen, Razor/Jarrett and the will-be Allied Powers over Tatanka & Bundy. Also that night they tape two episodes of Action Zone where Men On A Mission turn heel by attacking the Smoking Gunns after failing to wrest the tag belts off them, then two weeks later win a squash then do a fake apology to Billy & Bart before annihilating them again as well as manager Oscar, which is the end of him. Most importantly Macon is where we tape the episodes of Raw where Sid is introduced as HBKs new bodyguard and subsequent episode where he helps Shawn put Bulldog down in a great, forgotten TV match.

DEPARTURE
It's time to say goodbye at last to The Model Rick Martel. Having appeared in the Rumble, he makes a guest appearance in Montreal first hyping a potential return that will never happen then attacking Shawn after HBK cheats to beat fellow Quebecois, Pierre. This is the last time Rick will appear for the WWF. They'll announce him prematurely for the 96 Rumble which never happens and be on the verge of signing him to be a tag team with Don "Jackyl" Callis in 1997, but then WCW will offer more money.

[wandshogun09]

2 hours ago, air_raid said:

Finally also in Portland is the greatest variation of all time.... Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels with early-90s Coliseum heel gets fed up and walks off for the count out finish. As good as their (straight) matches were in 97-98, I can't help but think a ring-shape 1995 HBK against Taker would have been unreal. This being the same night as Diesel/Bam Bam, Bret/Owen, Razor/Double J and Kid/Hakushi, making it a strong candidate for best house show of all time.

I’ve mentioned this before, even though it wasn’t on a big PPV or TV, I can’t help thinking Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels in 1995 would’ve been class. I think that was their only singles match ever up until their feud in 97 started. Only other time I remember them crossing paths would be that big tag match at MSG just before WrestleMania in 96, with Taker & Bret vs Shawn & Diesel. I’d love to see that 95 match, well the whole card really looking at your post. 

[air_raid]

25 minutes ago, wandshogun09 said:

I’d love to see that 95 match, well the whole card really looking at your post. 

Yeah. Portland had their 5th Feb show cancelled due to a massive snowstorm, its fair to say this made up for it ;

WWF @ Portland, ME - Cumberland County Civic Center - February 26, 1995 (3,959)
Kwang vs Scott Taylor
Bob Holly vs Kama
1-2-3 Kid vs Hakushi
The Headshrinkers vs Jacob & Eli Blu
Aldo Montoya vs Tatanka
Bret Hart vs Owen Hart (no holds barred)
The Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels
Jeff Jarrett vs Razor Ramon
Diesel vs Bam Bam Bigelow

As if the star power wasn't enough, it was meant to be Aldo vs Kwang and the absent Bulldog vs Tatanka. I'm open to suggestions if there was a stronger house show lineup, excusing some of the big 80s stadium shows.

[Loki]

On 7/31/2022 at 7:26 AM, air_raid said:

apparent babyface Diesel goes over Bundy

There's a matchup I'd never considered.  Did they ever wrestle on TV?  That'd be a sight.

[air_raid]

8 minutes ago, Loki said:

There's a matchup I'd never considered.  Did they ever wrestle on TV?  That'd be a sight.

Here's their Coliseum Exclusive ;

 

[Loki]

Fun but short.  Interesting to see Diesel bumping a bit for him.  That style of wrestling looks so much easier on the body than a modern match, especially for big guys like this.