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I decided to review this certain episode of Prime Time Wrestling from 1992, just days before the Survivor Series. During this time, there were two changes to the card due to the British Bulldog and the Ultimate Warrior leaving the company amid steroid allegations. The tag match between Ric Flair and Razor Ramon vs. Macho Man Randy Savage and a partner to be named would be set in stone as Savage is looking forward to announce his tag team partner during this episode.
The panel for the show was Vince McMahon and four Hall-of-Famers: Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Hillbilly Jim, Mr. Perfect and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. I like to point out that Duggan is wearing an IcoPro shirt, since the brand was big around this time. The WBF wasn't. The panel interviewed Savage via satellite from Sarasota, Florida. Minutes past and Savage basically name dropped his selection by saying he wanted the "perfect" tag team partner. With the panel stunned and disappointed, McMahon asked Savage who his partner was, like we didn't know already. Savage blurted out "It's Mr. Perfect."
After the selection, Perfect was laughing and Heenan was ecstatic. Thinking the selection would give the Razor/Flair team an advantage, Heenan didn't have a dilemma about Perfect joining Savage. It was at this point where Savage was stirring the pot and starting to cause dissension between Perfect and Heenan.
BEVERLY BROTHERS VS. HIGH ENERGY
The Beverlys were managed by the Genius aka Lanny Poffo aka brother of Randy Savage. Owen Hart and Koko B. Ware were an ok team that brought a lot of energy (no pun intended). Decent match. Both teams worked well together. The Beverlys disqualify themselves by hitting Owen with the Genius' scroll.
SPECIAL REPORT SEGMENT
Lord Alfred Hayes was discussing the Undertaker constructing a special made coffin for the Ugandan Giant Kamala to coincide their coffin match at the Survivor Series. Then Harvey Wippleman and Kimchee cut a promo about the match.
MAX MOON VS. JOBBER
Moon gets the victory here. Trivia question: Which well-known WCW superstar portrayed Max Moon?......Answer: Wrestling's resident vato, Konnan. Oh, and Doink the clown makes an appearance.
Back to the panel and the phone rings. The call is for Perfect.
EVENT CENTER SEGMENT
Tucson's own Sean Mooney....not really, he worked there for years. He plugs the Survivor Series hotline.
Back to the panel and Perfect is still on the phone. Once he gets off, McMahon starts to insinuate that Heenan has been keeping Perfect from wrestling so Ric Flair could get the spotlight. Heenan tells Perfect that he is a great announcer and manager, but shies away from calling him a great wrestler. McMahon again causes dissension by pointing out that Heenan gives himself credit for guiding Ric Flair and not Perfect. Now the panel is joining in and Perfect doesn't look happy.
SATURDAY NIGHT MAIN EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
They show the final minutes of the HBK/Bulldog Intercontinental Title match, which Shawn Michaels won. Michaels and Bret Hart would face off at Survivor Series in a champion vs. champion match since Hart was the WWF Champion at this time.
Another panel segment and Perfect is miffed. Heenan points at that Savage is trying to throw them off their game and states that Savage could find someone better for Perfect's spot, which caused Mr. Perfect to glare at him. They decided to interview Ric Flair and Razor Roman via satellite from......I guess, Charlotte. Ramon and Flair try to convince Perfect to stay with their unit as a consultant. Heenan thought Flair called Perfect during the broadcast, which Flair denied. McMahon, again, continues to cause a rift. Flair once again states that he is the wrestler and Perfect is the man that walks behind him. Perfect looks irritated at this point. The panel points out that they continue to say that Perfect walks behind everyone in the faction, which causes Heenan to get upset. As the interview ends, Ramon and Flair will continue to say that Perfect "used to be" a great wrestler, but is now just a manager and an announcer.
LANCE CASSIDY VS. TERRY TAYLOR
The battle of stupid gimmicks. "Terrific" Terry Taylor goes up against a cowboy, like that gimmick hasn't been used. The match was somewhat boring. It ends in a draw as the time limit expires. Monsoon says that he wants to see them in a 30 minute battle. Please, no.
An advancement for Slam Jam, whatever that is.
Back to the panel and McMahon says that this opportunity to be the Macho Man's partner is a great one for Mr. Perfect. Heenan, angrily, wants to keep Perfect on his team. But think about it. If you keep telling the guy that he is just a manager, he will drift away and leave. Right? The panel now begins to argue about what Perfect should do. Heenan becomes agitated more and more. McMahon then asks Perfect if he's afraid. Perfect says he's not and he can perform in the ring perfectly.
BIG BOSS MAN VS. THE MODEL
This was decent considering they were top superstars in the Federation. Monsoon and his quotes are dearly missed. It ends in a no-contest.
RAZOR RAMON VS. JOBBER
Ok, here is a nitpick. Monsoon goes on about what's happening in the studio. The panel in the studio just interviewed Razor, who was supposed to be in Charlotte with Ric Flair, yet he is wrestling in this match. Logic be damned. Razor wins.
In the studio, the panel goes back to Sarasota with the Macho Man. Savage tells Perfect that he doesn't have the guts to be his tag team partner, which causes Perfect to get up from his chair and proclaim that he isn't scared and he could on all three of them if he wanted to. Both say that they don't like each other, but they can be a team. McMahon asks if he could consider it, which Perfect replies yes. This causes Heenan to jump out of his chair as he and Perfect begin to argue.
Heenan and Perfect continue to argue as they now have Savage, Flair and Ramon on to await Perfect's decision. Ramon tells Perfect to listen him, Heenan and Flair and continue to work for them. Here's another nitpick. Ramon just debuted for the company months earlier, yet Perfect has been with them for years and somehow, Ramon can just tell Perfect what to do because he is with Ric Flair? Flair calls Perfect "his baby", which was weird. Savage continues to tell Perfect to stand as a man and make a commitment.
"HACKSAW" JIM DUGGAN VS. REPO MAN
Duggan yells "USA!" to the crowd. They were in Sheffield, England. The crowd was courteous and chanted back. Also, no one uses the Atomic Drop move frequently anymore. The match was ok. Repo hits Duggan with a steal hook that causes a DQ. Wow, these Prime Time Wrestling matches think winning clean is bad.
DAMIEN DEMENTO VS. TITO SANTANA
Damien Demento. You guys thought creative in 2020 for the WWE was terrible? Demento gets DQ'ed for pulling the tights on Santana.......yet referees now just are blind to calling that. Especially in matches where Bayley is involved.
The panel is arguing as McMahon says it's put up or shut up and asks Perfect if he is going to be Randy Savage's tag team partner at Survivor Series. Heenan tries to talk, but Perfect shoves his hand away from him. Heenan says he is in charge and he takes orders from Flair and Perfect should too. He states that Perfect is not wrestling anyone. Perfect stands up and says he is sick and tired of everyone telling him what to do. He tells Savage that he accepts. Heenan gets up and slaps him. Perfect grabs Heenan by the tie and angrily tells him never to touch him again. Heenan apologizes and begs him to come back. Perfect pours water on the Brain as the panel laughs. Mr. Perfect is back as an active wrestler.
A promo for Bam Bam Bigelow airs. Who knew that years later he would be the sacrificial lamb for Lawrence Taylor?
MARTY JANNETY VS. "IRON" MIKE SHARPE
The legend of Mike Sharpe is that he is one of the loudest wrestlers of all-time. Obviously, this was taped weeks earlier as Perfect was in heel mode during this match. Jannetty wins convincingly.
After the commercial break, the panel is back sans Heenan as Savage is excited that Perfect made the right decision to join him at the Survivor Series. Ramon and Flair are angry about the decision. Flair goes full Nature Boy as he's yelling and screaming while he's taking off his jacket and ripping his shirt. Perfect says that Flair always wanted to be like him and gave Flair a "WOOOO!", which irritated Flair even more. The show ends with Perfect laughing.
So, the reason why I chose to review this peculiar episode is because of the unpredictability of Perfect's face turn. See, around this time in late 1992, the WWF decided to make title changes and turns at unexpected venues and in unexpected ways. Flair defeated Savage for the WWF title in Hershey, PA. Bret Hart won that same title from Flair in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Money Inc. defeated the Natural Disasters for the Tag Team titles on an episode of All-American Wrestling. The unpredictability of this gave fans that shock and awe reaction. Now, you can not do that due to social media and just straight stale creativity to storylines and matches.
The good ol' days were great. Just great.
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