Keller's Ringside Beat Flashback - 20 years ago

WWF House Show results
June 5, 1993
Minneapolis, Minn. at Target Center
Estimated Attendance: 4,200
Originally Published: Torch Newsletter #230

Not a VIP member? PWTorch VIP members get access to over 20 years of Torch Newsletter back-issues, plus access to the newest PWTorch Newsletter published weekly. Find out how to become a VIP member by CLICKING HERE - PWTorch.com/GoVIP.

(1) Owen Hart pinned Terry Taylor after an enziguiri at 12:00. A great opener that from start to finish had solid action. The fans were not quite sure what to think about a match this good, this early, as it took several near falls before they began to take the match seriously. By the sixth false finish in the final three minutes of the match, they were popping for the apparent victories by both men. A Russian legsweep, two DDTs, and a roll-up by Hart as Taylor complained to the referee were the three more believable false finishes. The enziguiri came out of nowhere for a great finish. (***1/2)

(2) Papa Shango pinned Jim Powers in 5:00. The highlight of the match was seeing the little girl sitting behind me begin to cry after seeing Shango's white face. She practically went into shock when the smoke started to come out of Shango's skull and fill the ring. This was a basic early-card squash. Nothing good, nothing bad. (*)

(3) Luna Vachon pinned Sensational Sherri in 9:00 in a strong women's match, including some good out of ring brawling and a missed top rope splash by Luna. Bigelow came to ringside late in the match and distracted from the action. Bigelow tripped Sherri leading to Luna's victory. (**1/2)

(4) Yokozuna pinned "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan in 10:00 after a bonzai splash. Duggan knocked Yokozuna off his feet for perhaps the biggest pop of the night, probably bigger pops than for anything Hogan did later. Duggan led the crowd in a "USA, USA" chant. (Suggestion: If you plan to become a pro wrestler or currently are one, make your gimmick being a "patriotic American" because when you look like Duggan and wrestle like Duggan, as long as you lead a "USA, USA" chant, you will seem popular.) Duggan's popularity does, though, transcend the basic patriotic chant. After the pinfall, Yokozuna went for another bonzai splash, but Duggan moved. Yokozuna and Mr. Fuji left the ring and Duggan absorbed the cheers as his music began on cue. (*3/4)

Before intermission, Bam Bam Bigelow came to the ring to get heat for his post-intermission match against Tatanka.

(5) Tatanka defeated Bam Bam Bigelow by disqualification when Bigelow hit Tatanka with a chair at 14:00. Bigelow was outside the ring following a ringside brawl with Tatanka. Tatanka reentered the ring and turned his back to Bigelow who used the chair. Overall, a decent match. Nothing spectacular, although it got off to a good start with a Tatanka dive through the middle and top rope onto Bigelow onto the floor, which got a pop out of the fans. Bigelow does not instill the aura of danger and fear he once did. (**1/4)

(6) Marty Jannetty pinned Shawn Michaels to retain the Intercontinental Title in 13:00. Several well-executed false finishes highlighted this bout, although the first 8 minutes were mainly restholds without a storyline. "Boring" chanting was common. Michaels complained to the referee after the match after Jannetty had returned to the locker room. Jannetty did not get a strong pop coming to the ring, but by the end of the match had earned the fans's cheers - partially due to Michaels's strong heel persona. (***)

(7) Hulk Hogan & Brutus Beefcake defeated Money Inc. (Ted DiBiase & I.R.S.) by DQ in 9:00. There was a mediocre reaction for Hogan, although still the best of the night. The cheers died quickly as soon as the music stopped, which explains why the music continued to play for a minute into a pre-match brawl. Hogan has figured the longer the music plays, the longer he gets cheered. Sgt. Slaughter was the special referee and called for the DQ when I.R.S. was about to hit Hogan with his metal briefcase. Slaughter then nailed DiBiase and I.R.S. with the case after the match. Hogan posed after the match. (1/2*)

It used to be an event, perhaps the highlight of the entire card, to stand around and cheer as Hogan posed. In fact, even if you were a critic of Hogan's in-ring style, it was tough not to get caught up in the posing. At this card, it was easy for the fans in the building to begin to file out of the building when the posing began. The posing abruptly ended after a few minutes of going through the motions while Beefcake stood around and watched. Hogan's first tag into the match got no reaction, and considering Beefcake was leaving the ring, you would think that would be good for at least a little pop. Hogan barely went through the motions and surely was a disappointment to anyone "experiencing Hulkamania" for the first time.

Notes: If the event ended with Jantetty vs. Michaels and the last tag match was not on the card, it would have actually been a strong event and probably left the fans happier. Seeing Hogan stand in the ring signalling for the tag belts to be awarded to him on a DQ didn't even impress six-year-olds who know better... An above-average WWF card with a relatively strong undercard and a weak main event. [Wade Keller reporting]

We suggest these recent related articles...

WWE FLASHBACK: Kane character debuts 18 yrs. ago today in first-ever Hell in a Cell match - Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels

HIAC FLASHBACK: Kane beats Undertaker in HIAC match 5 yrs. ago today, plus Randy Orton vs. Sheamus for WWE Title

ROH FLASHBACK: The aftermath of Joe vs. Kobashi 10 years ago today