WWF Superstars 12/23/1995

Written by: Bob Colling

World Wrestling Federation presents Superstars
Date: 12/23/1995
From: Bethlehem, PA

Matches:
1.) WWF Tag Team Champions Smoking Gunns defeated Skip & Rad Radford to retain the titles
2.) Xanta Klaus defeated Scott Taylor
3.) Buddy Landell defeated Matt Hardy
4.) Henry Godwinn defeated the Brooklyn Brawler
5.) Davey Boy Smith defeated Marty Jannetty

Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Billy and Radford start the tag title match until Skip is tagged in and hip tosses Billy. Billy head scissors Skip to the mat. Skip collides with Radford on the apron and Billy almost gets a pin with a rollup. Skip rolls to the floor and argues with Radford. Radford returns to the ring, but Bart tags in and slams Rad to the mat followed by a knee drop. Gunns hit a double side Russian leg sweep on Radford for a one count. Billy decks Radford with a clothesline after a big boot by Bart. Gunns are making a lot of quick tags. Bart shoulder blocks Rad for a two count. Bart hip tosses Rad for a two count. Bart slides to the floor and picks up Sunny. Skip comes off the apron to hit Bart, but the camera missed it. Radford misses a clothesline and collides with Bart on stereo crossbody attempts. Gunns are nearly sent into each other, but Rad sends Bart to the floor. Rad holds Billy as Skip goes to the top rope. Bart press slams Skip off the top onto Rad and Billy manages to pin Rad. (*1/2. This wasn’t designed to be a good match and clearly an angle setup between Skip and Radford. The action was okay for what it was as they kept good pace regardless of the intent of the match.) After the match, Sunny gets on the microphone and she’s pissed about Radford losing the match. Sunny says that Radford blew it and she’s had enough of Radford. So, Sunny has fired Radford from the Bodydonnas. Sunny slaps Radford and Skip attacks from behind before bailing to the floor.

2.) This is Xanta Klaus’ debut in the ring for the WWF. He’s managed by Ted DiBiase. Klaus would be better known as Boo Bradley in SMW and later on Balls Mahoney in ECW. DiBiase provided pre-tape comments saying that he has a bigger surprise coming. DiBiase is on the look for the Million Dollar Champion.

3.) Buddy Landell is using Ric Flair’s WWF theme from 1991/1992. This is Buddy’s Superstars debut.

4.) Henry Godwinn has a more upbeat theme song this week instead of the pig sound theme. It’s the Country Boy song. Godwinn had some pre-tape comments and wants to know when he’s going to be put in the Royal Rumble. He’s going to go through the men like corn through a grinder.

5.) Davey Boy attacks Jannetty from behind thanks to Cornette causing a distraction. Jannetty hammers away on Smith and controls Smith with a headlock for a few moments. Smith counters a hammerlock with a side headlock. Smith shoulder blocks Jannetty and is met with a monkey flip leading to a near fall. Jannetty ducks a clothesline to hit a crossbody for a two count. Jannetty arm drags Smith a few times followed by a dropkick. Jannetty stomps on Cornette’s hand on the apron much to the delight of the fans. Smith yanks Jannetty down to the mat and keeps control with a sleeper hold. Jannetty elbows free from Smith and is met with a knee lift to the midsection. Smith lifts Jannetty up by the hair and drops him down to the mat. Smith continues to stomp on Jannetty and puts Jannetty in a tree of woe as the show goes to commercial.

Smith drives Jannetty down to the mat with a delayed vertical suplex. Smith tries for a cover, but Jannetty kicks out at two. Jannetty elbows free from Smith and gets a crucifix pin for a two count, but Smith quickly regains control of the contest. Jannetty fights out of a headlock, but Smith press slams Jannetty chest first over the top rope. Cornette gets a few cheap shots on the floor to help Smith. Jannetty slides back into the ring from the apron and tries for a backdrop, but Smith delivers a kick to the chest. Jannetty drives Smith face first down to the mat. Jannetty hits a modified Fame-Asser and goes to the top looking for the Rocker Dropper. Cornette manages to pull Smith to the floor. Jannetty baseball slides Smith into Cornette. Jannetty goes to the top rope and tries for a crossbody, but Smith catches Jannetty to hit a running powerslam for the clean win. (*1/2. A clean finish for Smith, which was needed since he lost to Bret Hart the previous weekend. It’s amazing how much a clean win for a heel over a lower level babyface will help the heel. The finish was nicely done, but the action leading up to that wasn’t all that great or exciting.)

6.) A music video highlighting Shawn Michaels career is shown. They are really teasing that Michaels may never be able to wrestle ever again.

Final Thoughts:
There wasn’t much going on here to close out 1995 for Superstars. Rad Radford gets fired two days before Christmas is a bummer for him, I guess. The build to Royal Rumble begins.

Thanks for reading.