World Wrestling Federation presents Superstars
Date: 3/30/1996
From: Corpus Christi, TX
Matches:
1.) Savio Vega defeated Tatanka
2.) Justin Bradshaw defeated Barry Horowitz
3.) Steve Austin defeated Ben Greer
4.) The Bushwhackers defeated Johnny Blade & Joseph White
5.) The Godwinns defeated Owen Hart & Davey Boy Smith by disqualification in a WWF Tag Team Title Tournament Match
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) This is the 500th episode of Superstars.
2.) Tatanka works over Vega with several strikes, but misses a clothesline. Vega responds with chops in the corner to stagger Tatanka. Vega monkey flips Tatanka out of the corner. Vega clotheslines Tatanka in the corner. Tatanka drives Vega down to the mat face first. Tatanka sends Vega back first into the corner. Tatanka slams Vega and delivers an elbow drop for a two count. Tatanka keeps Vega on the mat with a sleeper. Vega elbows Tatanka and gets a rollup to counter a Samoan Drop. Vega side slams Tatanka for a two count. Vega ducks a clothesline and nails Tatanka with a spinning heel kick for the clean win. (*. This has to be the end of Tatanka’s run in the WWF. A short match and a clean win for Vega.)
3.) A vignette promoting Mankind is shown. Mankind says it’s almost time to leave and he doesn’t feel guilty about leaving. Mankind is coming to the neighborhoods and he’s going to show how ugly mankind can really be.
4.) Bradshaw controls Horowitz with a fireman carry and keeps arm control. A pre-tape promo by Zeb and Bradshaw is aired. Bradshaw wants to own the man he’s beating up and welcomes us to Bradshaw’s ranch. Bradshaw kicks Horowitz arm over the top rope. Horowitz tries to fight back, but Bradshaw focuses his attack on the arm. Bradshaw delivers a side Russian leg sweep. Bradshaw slams Horowitz to the mat and plays to the crowd. Bradshaw kicks Horowitz a few times in the midsection and back. Horowitz punches Bradshaw a few times followed by a knee lift. Bradshaw kicks Horowitz on the arm, but Horowitz responds with a couple of dropkicks. Horowitz knocks Bradshaw down following a third dropkick. Horowitz misses a splash in the corner. Bradshaw big boots Horowitz and delivers a lariat for the win. (*. Bradshaw looked good in there and Horowitz continues to do well with his underdog gimmick. Those wins in ’95 allow some belief that Barry could pull another one out, but that’s unlikely nowadays.)
5.) Following Austin’s victory, Savio Vega came out to attack Austin. However, Austin got the Million $ Dream on Vega to leave Vega laying in the ring.
6.) WWF Intercontinental Champion Goldust and Marlena recently went to the Oscars. Goldust says that he and Piper have staked claim on the same area. Goldust says there are no red carpets down the road from here. Goldust is promoting the Backlot street fight at WrestleMania. Goldust tells Piper to enjoy the experience and wants Piper to remember his name.
7.) New Rockers cut a pre-tape promo saying they were robbed in the tag team title tournament. Jannetty also says the women have been robbed from seeing them. They are confident that the Godwinns won’t win the tournament.
8.) Bulldog and Owen attack before the bell, but the Godwinns hit a double clothesline. Bulldog enters the match to start off with Henry. Henry gets a headlock on Bulldog and hip tosses Bulldog followed by a scoop slam. Henry tags in Phineas and Phineas delivers a strike to the shoulder. Owen tags into the match and headbutts Phineas in the corner. Owen yanks on Phineas arm. Phineas reaches the ropes. Owen yanks on Phineas arm, but Phineas reaches the ropes. Phineas decks Owen and Bulldog with several right hands and an elbow. Phineas clotheslines Owen, but Cornette hits Phineas with a tennis racket from the floor. Phineas is sent into Bulldog’s boot as Hillbilly Jim chases Cornette with his dog. Bulldog stomps on Phineas followed by strikes. Bulldog keeps a sleeper on Phineas, but doesn’t get a submission. Owen tags in as Phineas gets a sunset flip, but the referee didn’t see the tag. Phineas gets a one count on the cover. Owen sends Phineas into the corner, but misses a spear and hits the ring post. Phineas backdrops Bulldog and clotheslines Owen before sending them into each other. Phineas rams Bulldog into the corner face first for a two count. The New Rockers have come down to ringside. Leif Cassidy is on the top rope and clubs Henry over the back as Bulldog had Henry setup for a powerslam. Leif hit Henry and that allows for a disqualification win for the Godwinns. (*1/4. I had hopes this match, but instead we get a crap finish because Leif Cassidy doesn’t know how to properly screw the Godwinns over.)
9.) Backstage, Jim Cornette has jumped onto a truck to avoid Hillbilly Jim and his dog.
Final Thoughts:
I feel like this was a stronger show due to it being the 500th show. There were more notable names on the program, but the action was fairly lackluster. Despite that, I still enjoyed the show.
Thanks for reading.