World Wrestling Federation presents Superstars
Date: 3/23/1996
From: Corpus Christi, TX
Matches:
1.) WWF Intercontinental Champion Goldust defeated Alex Porteau
2.) Ahmed Johnson defeated Jeff Brettler
3.) Jerry Lawler defeated Al Jackson
4.) Skip & Zip defeated Savio Vega & Steve Austin in a WWF Tag Team Title Tournament Match
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Porteau had a couple of near falls on Goldust largely taking advantage of Goldust taunting the crowd. Goldust finishes Porteau off with a lifting DDT for the win.
2.) Brettier is wearing very baggy pants, which Vince notes on commentary. Jim Cornette shares pre-tape comments saying that he’s worried about five minutes in the ring with Yokozuna at WrestleMania. Cornette wants the fans to get a petition going before it’s too late for him. Ahmed displayed some German suplexs and dropped Brettier on his head. Johnson wins following a Pearl River Plunge.
3.) Vince McMahon conducted an interview with Hunter Hearst Helmsley in the ring. Vince mentions that Helmsley is wrestling Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania. Helmsley repeats that he’ll meet Warrior at WrestleMania. Helmsley wants the people to keep it down. Helmsley says that the people think that Warrior is a real life superhero. Helmsley isn’t afraid to pull on Superman’s cape. Helmsley insults the fans as being manure shoveling losers and believes they see him as a superhero, too. Helmsley promises Mania to be a clash of the titans. Helmsley holds the kryptonite and it’s the pedigree.
4.) Backstage, Savio Vega is talking to Dave Hebner and wants to know who he’s teaming with tonight. Dave doesn’t tell him because he doesn’t know.
5.) Undertaker cut a pre-tape promo with Paul Bearer. Taker says that Diesel’s death will not be painless and quick. Taker says that Diesel sealed his fate when he put his hands on Bearer. Taker will crush Diesel with one hand and put Diesel down into internal darkness.
6.) Lawler cuts a promo before his match and wants to shake hands with the enhancement talent only to deliver a cheap shot. Lawler commentates his own match. Jackson gets a headlock on Lawler, but that doesn’t last long. Jackson backdrops Lawler followed by a left hand and goes to the top rope and hits a missile dropkick. Jackson backdrops Lawler and plays to the crowd. Lawler counters a backdrop with a piledriver to win the match. (NR. I really liked Jackson’s work here as he showed some charisma on his offense. Lawler’s heel work was nice, too.)
7.) Backstage, Savio Vega finds out who his partner is and it’s Steve Austin, the Million $ Champion. Austin shakes Vega’s hand and says “lets go for the gold, brother.”
8.) Zip and Vega kickoff the tag match trading holds until they standup from the mat for a standoff. They trade wrist locks for a moment until Vega gets the advantage and lifts Zip into the air and back down to the mat. Skip tries to get involved and Vega connects with arm drags. Vega takes Skip down to the mat by lifting him up into the air by his arm. Austin doesn’t look interested in tagging in from the apron. Skip misses a clothesline and Vega decks Skip with a right hand. Vega chops Skip in the corner after avoiding a boot. Vega clotheslines Skip in the corner. Vega is nailed by Zip with a bulldog from behind and hit a sit down powerbomb for a two count. Skip misses a diving headbutt off the top as Vega moved. Vega atomic drops Skip and the same to Zip. Vega decks Austin on the corner and heel kicks Skip. Austin leaps off the top to forearm his own partner, Vega. Skip has an arm over Vega and wins the match. (*1/2. The match wasn’t bad, but the crowd was dead for it since they seemingly knew that Austin was up to no good here. It’s a fine angle advancement between Vega and Austin.)
9.) Jake Roberts, Ahmed Johnson and Yokozuna cut a promo about WrestleMania. They are sick of Owen, Bulldog and Vader jumping them. Yoko promises to fire Cornette with a Bonzai.
Final Thoughts:
I thought it was a solid episode of Superstars. There was a show long angle between Vega/Austin and there was focus put on Helmsley for his feud with Warrior. The enhancement matches were enjoyable, too.
Thanks for reading.