WWF Superstars 3/2/1996

Written by: Bob Colling

World Wrestling Federation presents Superstars
Date: 3/2/1996
From: Huntington, WV

Matches:
1.) Owen Hart defeated Barry Horowitz
2.) The Godwinns defeated The New Rockers in a WWF Tag Team Title Tournament match
3.) Steve Austin defeated Tony Williams
4.) WWF Intercontinental Champion Goldust defeated Hakushi
5.) Jake Roberts defeated Sherdell Taylor

Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Horowitz arm drags Owen and they have a standoff. Owen drop toe holds Horowitz, but Horowitz counters with a hammerlock. Owen keeps a wrist lock on Horowitz to maintain control of the contest. Horowitz takes Owen over with a suplex for a two count. Owen elbows Horowitz to get out of a hammerlock and stomps on Horowitz a few times. Owen uppercuts Horowitz in the corner. Owen takes Horowitz over with a snap suplex and a leg drop. Horowitz knee lifts Owen and plays to the crowd. Horowitz staggers Owen with a jawbreaker and tosses Owen with a hip toss followed by a dropkick. Horowitz nearly wins the match with a backslide. Horowitz misses a dropkick as Owen held onto the ropes. Owen locks in the Sharpshooter and wins the match cleanly. (*. A quick match and a much needed clean win for Owen over someone that had at least recently been on a winning streak.)

2.) Prior to the Godwinns vs. New Rockers match, a beagle pooped in the corner. They zoomed in on it to make sure we believe them.They just kick the poop to the floor, but there are still pieces of crap in the ring. Such a bizarre moment.

3.) A pre-tape promo by Ted DiBiase talking about how Steve Austin has proven he’s the Ringmaster.

4.) Jannetty and Phineas kickoff the tag match. Cassidy tags into the match and keeps arm control on Phineas. Phineas clotheslines both men to gain control of the contest. Jannetty and Henry are the legal men now. Jannetty is sent into the ropes and Cassidy dropkicks Jannetty onto Henry after tagging in. Phineas punches both men from the apron allowing Henry to deliver a double clothesline. Henry has a standoff with the New Rockers. Cassidy remains in the ring and Jannetty comes off the ropes with an elbow drop. Jannetty knee drops Phineas on the arm and locks in a hammerlock. Phineas backs Jannetty into the corner but misses a splash. Jannetty keeps arm control on Phineas with a wrist lock. Cassidy knee lifts Phineas followed by a double dropkick. Henry enters the match causing a brawl. Jannetty is left alone in the ring and tackles Henry allowing Cassidy to hit a top rope crossbody on Phineas, but Phineas rolls through and pins Cassify to win the match. (1/2*. The crowd was completely dead for this and I didn’t like how the match was formatted at all.)

5.) Goldust taunts Hakushi and blocks a kick managing to deliver a dragon screw leg whip. Goldust crawls on the mat to confuse Hakushi for a moment. Hakushi keeps a wrist lock on Goldust, but that is countered quickly and Goldust kicks Hakushi to the mat. Hakushi gains control in the corner, but is shoved away by Goldust. Hakushi delivers a few strikes and a dropkick. Hakushi slams Goldust and hits a middle rope splash for a two count. Goldust bails to the floor to regroup. Hakushi dives onto Goldust outside the ring and quickly brings the match back into the ring. Goldust backs off, but drops down and throat thrusts Hakushi followed by a clothesline to gain the advantage. Goldust uses his butt to strike Hakushi in the face. Goldust chokes Hakushi over the middle rope and Marlena blows cigar smoke into his face as the show goes to commercial.

Hakushi puts a sleeper hold on Goldust, but Goldust breaks free with a jawbreaker. Goldust heads to the top rope and is dropkicked off by Hakushi knocking Goldust to the floor. Hakushi rolls Goldust into the ring and delivers a few strikes in the corner. Hakushi hits a handspring elbow and a running forearm. Hakushi plays to the crowd and leaps off the top to hit a shoulder block for a two count. Goldust knee lifts Hakushi and hits the Curtain Call for the win. (**. I love the recent clean wins for Goldust over low midcard acts. It adds to his creditability. Hakushi has been criminally used poorly, but still showcased his move set well tonight.)

6.) Jake Roberts shared a pre-tape promo saying that he came back to establish that a man can get a second chance. Roberts has been changed and his snake Revelations will change you.

Final Thoughts:
It was noticeable that the crowd was not interested in a lot of what was going on here. Hakushi was really the only guy to accomplish a positive crowd reaction and yet doesn’t get properly pushed. I’ll give this a thumbs in the middle, but the lack of crowd reaction for what’s going on should be alarming.

Thanks for reading.