Reliving A Title Run #8: Money Inc. As WWF World Tag Team Champions ’92 – ’93
Relive the WWF World Tag Team Championship run that Ted DiBiase and Irwin R. Schyster had from February 1992 until June 1993.
The make shift tag team of Irwin R. Schyster and Ted DiBiase began their two year dominance in the WWF on February 7th, 1992 in Denver, Colorado. If it weren’t for Road Warrior Hawk failing a drug test, the title change very well may have not have had happened. Also, then WWF President Jack Tunney decided the original challengers the Natural Disasters had used up all of their title matches and gave DiBiase and IRS a shot at the Legion of Doom, which they took advantage of and won the titles after Typhoon hit Hawk with a steel chair.
Considering the Natural Disasters were supposed to get the title shot and didn’t, it shouldn’t come to a surprise to anyone that they were not happy about that one bit. It was revealed that their manager Jimmy Hart had actually signed Money Inc. as his clients and essentially screwed them out of a title shot. This effectively turned the Natural Disasters into babyfaces and they would chase the champions leading to a title match at WrestleMania VIII in Indiana.
At WrestleMania VIII, DiBiase and IRS were able to escape Mania with the championships intact when they walked out on their match with the Natural Disasters. They outsmarted their opponents as they may have lost the match, but they kept the straps. For months after Mania, Money Inc. would square off against the Natural Disasters but each time they would bail on the match and lose by count-out, denying the Disasters a chance to hold the gold.
Well, they were able to deny the Natural Disasters for about five months. Because, on July 20th in Worcester, MA the Natural Disasters won the tag team championships at a house show to begin their first title run. Money Inc. would go on to feud with the Legion of Doom and lose to them at SummerSlam in August while the Disasters would successful defend the titles at the event against the Beverly Brothers.
Money Inc. would regain the championships on October 13th, 1992 in Regina, Saskatchewan when DiBiase forced Earthquake to pass out to the Million Dollar Dream. Prior to the match, the Nasty Boys turned babyface by attacking Money Inc. They were upset with the fact that Jimmy Hart decided against giving them a match with the Disasters. This would begin a feud between Money Inc. and the Nasty Boys.
The original plan was for the Nasty Boys to meet Money Inc. at WrestleMania IX, but a certain mega star would arrive back in the WWF and change everything. That’s right, Hulk Hogan made his return to the World Wrestling Federation after Money Inc. smashed his good friend Brutus Beefcake’s face with a steel briefcase. The incident made Jimmy Hart leave Money Inc. and align himself with Hogan and Beefcake for a showdown at WrestleMania IX for the WWF World Tag Team Championships.
Now, the storyline excuse to get the Nasty Boys off the card was that they realized how big a star Hogan was and stepped aside for Hogan and Beefcake to get revenge. Isn’t that just nice of them? Yeah, but then again it makes them sound like complete morons. Oh, I don’t need the Mania payday for a championship win. Yeah, right.
Anyway, Hogan and Beefcake were unable to win the championships as Money Inc. won the bout by disqualification. They escaped Mania with the championships in hand yet again, but their run on the top was coming to an end. But, who would be the team to end the two year dominance?
Back at the end of 1992, a top tag team from WCW arrived to WWF and fans were instantly drooling at the thought of them wrestling Money Inc for the titles. Scott Steiner and Rick Steiner, known as the Steiner Brothers, arrived in the WWF and completely ran through the tag team division before an eventual showdown with Money Inc. On June 14th, 1993 in Columbus, Ohio the Steiner Brothers were able to win the WWF World Tag Team Championships after six months in the promotion. Both teams would trade the championships over a four day period with the Steiner Brothers winning them again on June 19th. Money Inc. would never hold the championships again. Their final match against each other on television would be a steel cage match aired during the SummerSlam Spectacular on August 22nd. The Steiner Brothers won and Money Inc. would be disbanded less than a month later when DiBiase stepped away from the ring.
As you can probably tell, Money Inc. didn’t exactly wrestle against teams that could provide stellar matches on a regular basis. However, they could deliver solid promos and as a fan who appreciates solid promos, I greatly enjoyed their title run. Their series of matches with the Steiner Brothers to end their reign was a great way to elevate the Steiner Brothers and the right team for Money Inc. to lose to end their dominance.
What are your memories of the Money Inc. tag team title run? Feel free to share your thoughts on Money Inc. below!
Thanks for reading.
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Bob Colling Jr. View All
34-year-old currently living in Syracuse, New York. Long-time fan of the New York Mets, Chicago Bulls, and Minnesota Vikings. An avid fan of professional wrestling and write reviews/articles on the product. Usually focusing on old-school wrestling.
Money, Inc. was the first team I remember as champions with any clarity. To me, they were what it was all about. I was a huge mark for DiBiase when I was a little kid and I actually went to my first house show that saw them take on Hogan and Beefcake at the now demolished Civic Arena in Pittsburgh. They were happy memories indeed.