WWF Summerslam 1993 – August 1993

WWF Summerslam 1993 – August 30th 1993 – Auburn Hills, Michigan

Matches
Razor Ramon defeated Ted DiBiase (7/10)
Steiner Brothers defeated Heavenly Bodies {WWF Tag Team Titles} (5/10)
Shawn Michaels defeated Mr Perfect {WWF Intercontinental Title} (7/10)
IRS defeated 1-2-3 Kid (5/10)
Bret Hart defeated Doink the Clown (5/10)

Jerry Lawler defeated Bret Hart (8/10)

Ludvig Borga defeated Marty Jannetty (6/10)

The Undertaker defeated Giant Gonzalez (7/10)

Tatanka and Smokin Gunns defeated Bam Bam Bigelow & Headshrinkers (6/10)

Lex Luger defeated Yokozuna {WWF World Heavyweight Title} (6/10)

Moments – Positives

There are a few highlights including the Lawler / Hart segment / storyline of Lawler pretending to be injured and Hart fighting Doink the Clown instead. The Taker / Gonzalez Rest In Peace match was also well built up and included the return of Paul Bearer. HBK / Perfect match was also very good.

Moments – Negatives

The main event was pretty poor and the Mr America gimmick for Lex Luger just did not work. He was given the World title shot because clearly at the time, there was no other face to use apart from Bret Hart. The card was very up and down and some poor matches like IRS/1-2-3 Kid and The tag team title match.

Overall Summary

One of the worst PPVs since the start of 1992. The card itself just was not good enough and you could tell that the company was really missing the likes of Hogan and Flair. This was a PPV which lacked the big characters and the big charisma of those two. Ramon, Diesel, Michaels and Hart were all brilliant but not ready to carry the company and this really showed through on the event.

SCORE = 6.5

WWF King Of The Ring 1993 – June 1993

WWF King of the Ring 1993 – June 13th 1993 – Dayton, Ohio

Matches
Bret Hart defeated Razor Ramon (7/10)
Mr Perfect defeated Mr Hughes (6/10)
Bam Bam Bigelow defeated Jim Duggan (6/10)
Tatanka drew with Lex Luger (7/10)
Bret Hart defeated Mr Perfect (8/10)

Yokozuna defeated Hulk Hogan {WWF World Heavyweight Title} (8/10)

Smokin Gunns and Steiner Brothers defeated Headshrinkers and Money Inc (7/10)

Shawn Michaels defeated Crush {WWF Intercontinental Title}(7/10)

Bret Hart defeated Bam Bam Bigelow {KOTR Final} (7/10)

Moments – Positives

Firstly, this PPV will always be remembered as the death of Hulkamania in the WWF, at least for the 20th century! This was Hogan’s last PPV appearance for the WWF and he lost the title after a massive leg drop from Yokozuna. This makes the PPV something important. In addition, it included the debut of Diesel and Billy Gunn in the Smokin Gunns. The ending of the PPV was a great moment in establishing the Lawler / Hart feud. Classic moment.

Moments – Negatives

Some of the KOTR matches were slightly too long but the overall card was solid. Very few negatives in this PPV.

Overall Summary

Not only the first King of the Ring PPV but also somewhat of a start of the new WWF Generation. The death of Hogan in the WWF makes this show very important in the history of the WWF and the evolution of the whole wrestling industry.

SCORE = 8.5

WWF Wrestlemania IX – April 1993

WWF Wrestlemania IX – April 4th 1993 – Las Vegas, Nevada

Matches
Tatanka defeated Shawn Michaels {WWF Intercontinental Title} (7/10)
The Steiner Brothers defeated Headshrinkers (6/10)
Doink the Clown defeated Crush (4/10)
Razor Ramon defeated Bob Backlund (7/10)
Money Inc defeated the Mega Maniacs {Hogan / Beefcake} {WWF Tag Team Titles} (8/10)
Lex Luger defeated Mr Perfect (7/10)
The Undertaker defeated Giant Gonzalez (7/10)
Yokozuna defeated Bret Hart {WWF World Heavyweight Title}(7/10)
Hulk Hogan defeated Yokozuna {WWF World Heavyweight Title} (n/a)

Moments – Positives

Firstly a moment which lives in memory is the fact that after Yokozuna beat Bret Hart to win the World title he accepted an open challenge from Hulk Hogan who beat him in mere seconds. Secondly, a big part of this Mania was the fact that this was more or less the last time Hogan was on top at the WWF until 10 years or so later. A few other standout moments was the solid openner and Michaels confrontation with Sherri as well as the match between Taker and Gonzalez.

Moments – Negatives

Personally, I felt the whole programme with Hogan winning the title was something which should have not happened at a Wrestlemania. I also thought the whole Roman toga uniform of all the commentators was over the top and pretty poor.

Overall Summary

Not a bad Mania at all with a pretty solid card but I think it was let down by the whole theme of Ceasars palace which felt a little bit like the WWF had sold out. I also thought the World Title fiasco was entertaining but unnecessary at a Wrestlemania! The Gonzalez / Taker match, though one for the ages, felt like it could have been better too.

SCORE = 7.5

WWF Royal Rumble 1993 – January 1993

WWF Royal Rumble 1993 – January 24th 1993 – Sacramento, California

Matches
The Steiner Brothers defeated The Beverly Brothers (5/10)
Shawn Michaels defeated Marty Janetty {WWF Intercontinental Title} (7/10)
Bam Bam Bigelow defeated Big Bossman (5/10)
Bret Hart defeated Razor Ramon {WWF World Heavyweight Title} (7/10)
Yokozuna won the Royal Rumble (8/10)

Moments – Positives

A pretty solid WWF Royal Rumble which started off the Yokozuna year that was 1993. Razor Ramon got his automatic push to a World title race as the WWF re-iterated their focus on the new WWF Generation. A classic feud between HBK and Janetty also ended at the Rumble which was pretty well done.

Moments – Negatives

The opening match was pretty poor as was the Bam Bam vs Bossman match. I personally didnt feel the Rumble itself had as much of a buzz about it as in previous years. Also the World Title match was at best ok which let the PPV down slightly.

Overall Summary
A solid Rumble PPV but not as good as it has been in recent years. WWF focused on the New Generation and perhaps at the time were not ready to quite unleash the wrestlers to the main event scene and it showed.

SCORE = 7.0