Random Network Reviews: This Tuesday in Texas

This Tuesday in Texas
December 3rd, 1991 | Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Texas | Attendance: 8,000

Here we have an interesting show. This Tuesday in Texas is a Pay-Per-View that the WWF held to try and establish Tuesday as a secondary night to hold PPVs. The show did not get the buys they hoped for and the idea was shelved. There would not be another Tuesday Pay-Per-View until Taboo Tuesday in 2004. This is the only “This Tuesday in Texas” to ever air.

We start with a video that shows what happened after Survivor Series a few nights ago. You see, with help from Ric Flair, the Undertaker won the WWF Title from Hulk Hogan. Due to the circumstances, Jack Tunney ordered the rematch for this show. It’s just Undertaker and Paul Bearer cutting a promo on Hogan. One of my favorite commentary teams, Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan are on hand for this one.

WWF Intercontinental Championship
Bret Hart (c) vs. Skinner
The fighting champion thing that Bret Hart had going was always fun. I’ve seen him pull good matches out of Fatu and even the Berserker while champion. Skinner is undefeated at this point. Bret’s on a roll early with some atomic drops that send Skinner outside. The arm is Bret’s target here, wearing down Skinner on the mat. Skinner uses a cheap shot to take control, before busting out some classic old school heel moves, like using the ropes for leverage on an abdominal stretch. He even uses that weird claw thing he has on Bret but doesn’t cover. Skinner actually holds serves for a while. He hits his finisher but a nonchalant cover gets two. Bret starts the rally with his FIVE MOVES OF DOOM! Bret slams Skinner from the top and locks in the Sharpshooter. Skinner gives up and his undefeated run is over.

Winner and still WWF Intercontinental Champion: Bret Hart in 13:46

Better than I thought it would be. Bret Hart is always worth watching, but I was unsure of what Skinner would bring to the table. It had some fun back and forth, as they played into the heel reaching into his bag of tricks to beat the hot new IC Champion. If nothing else, it was solid. **¼

Jake Roberts gets interviewed about his match with Macho Man tonight. His snake is barred from the ring, so he cuts a promo about doing it alone tonight. Then Macho Man is interviewed. Both of these guys never fail to deliver on the microphone.

Jake Roberts vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage
Macho Man attacks during Jake Robert’s entrance, showing how personal this is. Out of desperation, Jake hits him rather low to swing the pendulum. They brawl outside for a bit before Roberts works him over inside. Looking back, I wanted to see this feud get extended into WrestleMania 8. Wisely, Roberts attacks Savage’s arm that was bitten by his snake a while back. That was one of the scarier segments they did. Child me was legit worried. Savage nearly takes out Earl Hebner when he sends Roberts into the corner. Savage makes it to the top and wins with the elbow as the crowd goes wild.

Winner: “Macho Man” Randy Savage in 6:24
For a blow-off to a bitter rivalry, this seemed very anti-climactic. It was far too short and didn’t click the way I hoped it would with two of the better storytellers in wrestling history. Scratch what I said about wanting it at WrestleMania 8, because what we ended up getting was better than this match. **

Randy Savage goes to continue the assault after the bell, but Jake Roberts pulls out the DDT instead. Maybe it’s not the end of the feud. Roberts hits a second DDT and goes to leave but turns around. He says that he gave his word there would be no snake in the corner, but pulls one out from under the ring. Elizabeth runs out to cover Randy and protect him. Man, she played the worried girlfriend better than any other valet I can think of. Roberts using a third DDT, which may as well have killed Savage. In a super heel move, he even slaps Elizabeth. The match was lackluster, but the post-match stuff delivered.

British Bulldog vs. Warlord w/ Harvey Wippleman
I reviewed a show recently that had this match on it. I think it was WrestleMania 7. Commentary bills this as the two strongest guys in the WWF doing battle. Bulldog actually tries a plancha to the outside but is caught and thrown into the ring post like he’s a cruiserweight. Warlord takes over and goes to the DREADED big man staple, the bearhug. They move into a series of near falls but Warlord clobbers him down. Warlord locks in a full nelson that Davey tries to power out of. He can’t but he doesn’t give in so Warlord tosses him aside. That went on for FAR too long. He busts out a stalling vertical suplex like he wasn’t even fazed by the long full nelson. He hits a crucifix from out of nowhere to win.

Winner: British Bulldog in 12:47
I have no idea what this was supposed to be. Far too much time given here, which they used by having Warlord lock in holds for extended periods of time. Commentary is probably the only saving grace here, as they do their best to analyze this thing. It’s just really boring. *½

Macho Man, still selling the DDTs like a pro, cuts a promo about how he’s going to get Jake Roberts.

Ted Dibiase and Repo Man w/ Sensation Sherri vs. El Matador and Virgil
I know that this was during the Virgil/Dibiase feud, but who invited El Matador and Repo Man. The two guys who are just here and not feuding, start things off. Gorilla says that Repo is well over the 300 pound mark, which is a nice way of saying he has a gut. They have some dull exchanges before they both tag. Virgil shows off some minor athleticism. Dibiase bumps for him like he’s a star. Surprisingly, he ends up playing the face in peril. I’m surprised since he’s the one in the midst of a push. Matador gets a mild tag but I guess will end up taking the serious heat. He and Repo make tags at the same time, leading to another chapter in the Virgil/Dibiase rivalry. Some Sherri interference leads to Dibiase pinning Virgil.

Winners: Ted Dibiase and Repo Man in 11:16
Again, who chose which matches get which amount of time? This was strangely booked. I get that Virgil’s push was kind of up, but he was still ahead of El Matador wasn’t he? Technically, this wasn’t a bad match but it lasted too long and was nothing special. Really basic stuff here and nothing of note. *¾

Hulk Hogan cuts one of his insane promos about the upcoming main event. He oddly ends it with “YAH YAH YAH”. Is he the original member of the Ascension?

WWF Championship
The Undertaker (c) w/ Paul Bearer vs. Hulk Hogan
Undertaker and Bearer both put the boots to Hogan to start, causing me to wonder why there was no DQ called. He gives them the old DOUBLE NOGGIN KNOCKER! He clotheslines Undertaker outside but he’s the Undertaker so he lands on his feet. Taker goes to choking Hogan to try and drain the life out of Hulkamania. He’s working that methodical pace that he was so well known for at the time. Paul Bearer’s eyebrows look incredibly fake. At this time, one of the most athletic things Taker did was his big leaping clothesline and I think he goes for it, but he slips and hits the ropes ugly. They reset in a way that doesn’t look bad and he hits it. Hogan counters Old School by slamming Taker to the mat. Ric Flair, the “real World’s Champion”, strolls down and Jack Tunney stops him in his tracks. Hogan gets a chair and whacks Flair in the back, causing him to fall onto Tunney. Hogan goes into some of his trademark offense inside but Taker is ready. The referee completely sees Flair about to cheat but turns his head at the very last second, as Hogan sends Undertaker into a chair. He hits the big boot but Undertaker is quickly up. Bearer makes a mistake by nailing Undertaker with the urn. Hogan empties it and throws ashes in his eyes because he’s a filthy cheater. A rollup regains him the belt.

Winner and New WWF Champion: Hulk Hogan in 13:09
Some rather fine storytelling here. They played off of their Survivor Series match well, and there was some cool moments here with Ric Flair and the urn being opened. They messed up a few spots and while I wasn’t a big fan of the finish, it did what it was supposed to as it lead to the vacated belt and the sweet Royal Rumble 1992 stipulation. **½

2.5

The final score: review Very Bad

The 411

Normally when a show’s highest match gets a score of **½, it’s not going to get a good overall score. This probably would have been lower had it not been for the fact that the show is only 93 minutes long. The Hogan/Undertaker match features solid storytelling and Bret/Skinner was decent. Roberts/Savage disappoints heavily and the other two matches are pretty damn bad.