World Wrestling Federation presents Superstars
Date: 5/18/1996
From: Des Moines, IA
Matches:
1.) WWF Tag Team Champions Skip & Zip defeated Marty Jannetty & Leif Cassidy to retain the titles
2.) Ahmed Johnson defeated David Haskins
3.) Mr. Bob Backlund defeated Roy Raymond
4.) Savio Vega fought Justin Bradshaw to a double disqualification
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Sunny insults the New Rockers in the ring saying that they are dorks and they will beat them back into their own generation.
2.) Cassidy and Skip kickoff the tag title match with Skip backing Cassidy against the ropes and they trade slaps. Skip shoulder blocks Cassidy and runs the ropes leading to Cassidy putting a bearhug on Skip, but Skip breaks free to deliver a clothesline. Cassidy tosses Skip with a suplex as the Smoking Gunns and the Godwinns are watching on the aisle. Skip drop toe holds Jannetty as Jim Ross interviews the Smoking Gunns on the aisle. They don’t care who wins because the belts belong to them. Ross then goes to the Godwinns who say they have a beef with both teams and notes that Phineas is a little naive. There is a standoff in the ring and Skip is in the match following an illegal switch. Sunny grabs Jannetty from the apron. Jannetty drops Skip gut first over the ropes and plays to the crowd. Jannetty comes off the ropes to hit a leaping fist drop as the show goes to commercial.
Cassidy enters the match and works over Skip with a strike to the ribs. Cassidy continues with a few kicks to the chest and a clothesline. Cassidy drops down and puts a chin lock on Skip. Cassidy hits a hurricanrana and dances for the crowd instead of going for a cover. Skip hits a head scissors sending himself and Cassidy crashing to the floor. Cassidy tries to steal a pin with a handful of tights, but so does Skip. Skip is sent into Jannetty and Zip nails Cassidy with a knee strike from behind to win the match. (*1/2. That finish was rather lame. I could see this dorky version of Cassidy getting over as a babyface if they play it up correctly. I feel the match would have been better with some more time and not so much of a focus on the other teams in the aisle.)
3.) Footage from Kuwait is shown where the British Bulldog attacked WWF World Champion Shawn Michaels on a beach and attempted to drown Michaels in the water.
4.) Harvey Wippleman comes out to the aisle to scout the referee for the Bob Backlund match. Jim Ross asks Wippleman how the report is going. Wippleman promises once his report is done he will pass it along with Gorilla Monsoon.
5.) Next week on Superstars, Fatu squares off against Steve Austin.
6.) Bradshaw hammers away on Vega with strikes to the back. Vega ducks a clothesline and punches Bradshaw several times. Vega blocks a kick and pummels Bradshaw with right hands. Vega tries for a hip toss, but Bradshaw hits a hip toss and misses an elbow drop. Bradshaw knee lifts Vega and delivers a forearm strike. Vega arm drags Bradshaws out of the corner and keeps arm control on the mat. Bradshaw fights back with a forearm strike in the corner. Vega catapults Bradshaw out of the corner and chops Bradshaw. Vega tries for a monkey flip out of the corner, but Bradshaw holds onto the ropes. Bradshaw sends Vega shoulder first into the corner and delivers a boot to the back. Bradshaw yanks Vega to the mat by his arm out of the corner. Bradshaw keeps control with an arm bar on the mat. Bradshaw controls Vega with a hammerlock, but Vega backdrops free and follows up with a slam. Vega comes off the ropes missing an elbow drop. Bradshaw drives Vega down with an arm breaker as the show goes to commercial.
Vega avoids a backdrop by yanking Bradshaw down to the mat by his hair. Vega ducks a clothesline and hits a crossbody for a two count. Bradshaw nails Vega with a big boot and chokes Vega in the corner. Bradshaw hits a swinging neckbreaker for a two count. Bradshaw drops Vega over the top rope throat first. Bradshaw connects with a leg drop, but Vega kicks out at two. Vega chops Bradshaw a few times, but Bradshaw eye rakes Vega and kicks Vega’s arm over the ropes. Bradshaw kicks Vega’s arm over the ropes a second time. Vega fights back with a few strikes, but misses a dropkick attempt. Bradshaw gets a two count following an elbow drop. Bradshaw kicks Vega in the ribs and lower back. Bradshaw runs into a big boot in the corner, but rams Vega into the corner. Vega rams Bradshaw into the corner and hits a spin kick as the show goes to another commercial.
Vega headbutts Bradshaw and delivers a chop to stagger Bradshaw. Vega backdrops Bradshaw and gets ready for a clothesline. However, Zebakiah stops Vega. Vega grabs Zeb and tosses him into the ring. Bradshaw accidentally hits Zeb with his bullrope. Vega gets a strap and begins to trade shots with Bradshaw to cause a double disqualification as the show ends. (*1/2. I found myself not being entertained by this one as the action felt flat and lifeless. I tend to enjoy both guys, but this one didn’t click all that much.)
Final Thoughts:
This week was a lackluster outing for the WWF. Aside from Ahmed Johnson being the badass that he is and some of Leif Cassidy’s work during the tag match, there wasn’t much on this show to keep me interested or care.
Thanks for reading.