World Wrestling Federation presents Superstars
Date: 4/27/1996
From: San Diego, CA
Matches:
1.) Owen Hart defeated Fatu
2.) WWF Intercontinental Champion Goldust defeated Mark Cassell
3.) The Bushwhackers defeated Tim Patterson & David Starr
4.) Vader defeated John Black
5.) WWF World Champion Shawn Michaels defeated 1-2-3 Kid in a non-title match
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Fatu controls Owen with a headlock to kickoff the match, but Owen breaks free by sending Fatu into the ropes, but is met with a shoulder block. Fatu hip tosses Owen to the mat and keeps control with a headlock. Owen counters with a wrist lock and rams Fatu into the corner head first, but Fatu isn’t bothered by it and dances. Fatu blocks a few right hands and drops Owen to the mat. Fatu teases a stomp to the groin, but gets distracted by Cornette. Fatu decks Owen with a right hand. Fatu hooks Owen and crotches Owen onto the top turnbuckle. Owen heads to the top rope hitting a missile dropkick and taunts the crowd. Owen leaps off the apron to forearm drop Fatu on the floor. Owen continues with right hands at ringside. We see the two guys watching Fatu on the aisle as Owen beats on Fatu. Owen rolls Fatu into the ring and delivers a leg drop as the show goes to commercial.
Owen sends Fatu into the corner and chokes Fatu for a moment to maintain the advantage. Owen distracts the referee allowing Cornette to choke Fatu on the apron. Owen continues to choke Fatu on the apron. The two guys watching Fatu have since left the area. Fatu almost wins with a sunset flip, but Owen nails Fatu with a clothesline and gets a two count. Owen uppercuts Fatu a few times and delivers a DDT. Fatu no sells it and decks Owen with a few right hands. Fatu backdrops Owen coming off the ropes. Fatu drives Owen down with a backbreaker for a two count. Fatu drives Owen down to the mat with a running cutter out of the corner. Fatu goes to the top rope, but is stopped by Owen. Owen hooks Fatu hitting a superplex and locks in the Sharpshooter to win the match by submission. (**. Wow, a clean finish for Owen. Fatu must be wrapping up or something to be losing a match cleanly. I love it for Owen, though. The action was decent and it didn’t drag along.)
2.) There is a face to face segment between WWF World Champion Shawn Michaels and Diesel. Both men are appearing via satellite. Diesel thinks that Michaels is a sellout and that’s why he hit Michaels with a chair at MSG. Diesel tried to knock sense into Michaels and thinks that Michaels is going down the same road as he did. He’s going to get rid of the burden of the title, which was the worst year of his life. Michaels says this is all too much, too soon. Michaels calls Diesel ‘Kev’ and says that Diesel rode his coattails when he arrived into the WWF. Michaels doesn’t want to be blamed for Diesel not being able to handle it. Michaels taught Diesel everything he knows about being cool and successful. Diesel says that Michaels never knows when he has something good going. Michaels believes he was always a friend to Diesel and admitted when he was wrong. Michaels wants Diesel to address him to face to face so he can knock him down.
3.) Ultimate Warrior cut a promo on Goldust saying he’s not coming for the WWF IC Championship, but he’s rather looking to make Goldust squeal like a pig.
4.) Sunny and the WWF Tag Team Champions the Bodydonnas cut a promo on the Godwinns. Sunny thinks the Godwinns are pathetic and doesn’t think they are going to lose the tag titles at In Your House this Sunday.
5.) The Bushwhackers made their entrance with someone in a kangaroo costume.
6.) DiBiase distracts Michaels with some money, but Michaels decks Kid with a right hand. Michaels backdrops Kid coming off the ropes and clotheslines Kid over the top to the floor. Kid chops Michaels and delivers a boot to the midsection. Kid runs the ropes and is met with a tilt a whirl backbreaker by Michaels. Michaels keeps a chin lock on Kid, but doesn’t get a submission. Kid elbows Michaels and tries for a sunset flip, but Michaels blocks with a right hand. Kid fights back with a few right hands, but Michaels staggers Kid with strikes. Kid misses a spinning heel kick. Michaels sends Kid into the corner, but misses a splash and is kicked by Kid. Kid nails Michaels with a running dropkick in the corner leading to a near fall. Kid connects with a series of kicks in the corner and sends Michaels shoulder first into the ring post for a near fall. Kid stomps on Michaels several times. Kid comes off the ropes with a quick leg drop for a near fall as the show goes to commercial.
Kid slams Michaels and heads to the top rope missing a swanton bomb attempt. Michaels spikes Kid with a piledriver in the middle of the ring, but doesn’t go for a cover. Michaels rams Kid into the corner and hits a leaping forearm smash. Michaels kips up and stomps Kid on the face. Michaels powerslams Kid coming off the ropes and goes to the top rope hitting an elbow drop. Michaels press slams Kid over the top to the floor. Michaels slingshots over the top and pummels Kid on the floor with punches. Michaels stalks towards DiBiase and ends up taking DiBiase’s money. Michaels sends Kid into the ring post. Michaels heads to the top rope delivering an axe handle. Michaels nails Kid with the Sweet Chin Music and pins Kid. (***. A quality main event with constant action and both men looking good in there. This may be one of the better Superstars matches not only of the year, but ever on Superstars.) After the match, Michaels plays to the crowd and tosses the money into the crowd. Steve Austin slides into the ring and attacks Michaels. Austin misses a chop and Michaels clotheslines Austin over the top to the floor. Austin is held back by officials on the floor.
Final Thoughts:
Another good episode of Superstars before the PPV. Kid/Michaels was a good match, and I enjoyed the Michaels/Diesel confrontation for the last minute hype for their PPV match. Two quality feature matches is always going to lead to a thumbs up show for Superstars.
Thanks for reading.