WWE Monday Night Raw (8/26/02)

 

WWE Raw

Madison Square Garden

New York City, NY

August 26, 2002

Commentators: Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler

Ring announcer: Howard Finkel

Summerslam was the turning point in the company it seemed, giving the WWE Championship to the rookie Brock Lesnar showed the future of WWE was now. Rey Mysterio Jr may have lost to Kurt Angle but he was a bright new star in WWE. Rob Van Dam was the new Intercontinental Champion and Triple H destroyed Shawn Michaels after their glorified street fight. How will we usher in a new era in WWE? Let's find out.....after the dark match.

Dark Match

Shawn Stasiak vs Shelton Benjamin

Stasiak was wrestling out his contract while Benjamin continued to get his trial run in WWE. Benjamin wins it with the Dragon Whip.

Winner: Benjamin by pinfall

Now let's get started. Ross and Lawler welcome us to MSG before Eric Bischoff hits the ramp for a conference. Bischoff welcomes us to HIS Raw and he promises to have a historic night. They're going to retire the WWE Hardcore title by having a unification match between Tommy Dreamer and Intercontinental Champion Rob Van Dam. He's going to honor a WWE hall of famer with a lifetime achievement award. Bischoff then brings out Brock Lesnar and his agent Paul Heyman. 

Heyman and Brock get in the ring and the crowd chants "Rocky", won't see him for awhile. Paul runs down Superstar Billy Graham, Hulk Hogan and Bruno Sammartino saying they don't equal Lesnar combined. Heyman "The funniest thing is I TOLD YOU SO!" He goes on to gloat about saying Brock was the next big thing, he'd win the King of The Ring, beat Hulk Hogan and beat The Rock and nobody listened. Brock himself grabs the mic and says he's 25 years old and the youngest champion in history. Paul "Who can beat you?" Lesnar says nobody can beat him.

All of a sudden Shawn Michaels' music hits. Jim Ross "My god its a miracle!" Then Triple H walks out to a chorus of boos. Of course HHH has to steal Brock's spotlight. HHH says that'll be the last time you'll hear Shawn's theme and he took him out for good. JR reluctantly has to agree with that. HHH gets to the point and says Brock is just a boy. He takes credit for softening The Rock up for Brock and he gets first crack at him. HHH says Brock owes him and Brock takes the belt off, ready to fight. HHH "Are you man enough to play the game?" 

And.....here comes The Undertaker to join in. Taker says the way he sees it, Hunter is all wrong. Taker says he gets first crack at the young blood because he was the number one contender anyway. Taker asks Brock if he's the next big thing or the next big bitch. HHH attacks from behind and its 2 against 1. HHH beats down Taker then turns around into Brock to tell him to get him some. That gives Taker enough time to recover, throw both guys in the corner and clothesline them both. Taker drops HHH then clotheslines both men in the corner. He clotheslines Hunter over the top rope and slaps LEsnar in the face. Taker big boots Lesnar over the top to the floor. Taker then wants a piece of HHH as Hunter slowly circles him. Hunter retreats with Heyman and Lesnar taking off as well. Ross asks who the number one contender is as we cut to commercial.

Back from break Bischoff is at the commentators table and promptly makes a match, Undertaker vs HHH tonight to determine who faces Brock. On to our first match finally.

Match 1

Booker T (with Goldust) vs Christian (with Lance Storm)

This match stems from last night when The Unamericans retained the tag titles against Booker T and Goldust after Test interfered. Christian runs right into a spinebuster at the bell. Booker punches away at Christian, sends him off and hits a big forearm. Booker kicks Christian but misses the scissors kick. Christian hits a reverse backbreaker and covers for a 1. Christian kicks away at Booker in the corner and chokes him. Booker rallies with right hands and hits a snapmare. Christian locks in a chinlock but Booker fights out of it. Christian hits a running knee to the ribs and covers for a deuce. Christian goes for the blatant choke and stands on Booker's face. Christian punches away then chokes him in the corner as well. Booker reverses it and chops away at Christian in the corner. Referee Jack Down pushes Booker back but Booker hits the axe kick anyway. Booker kind of botches the up and over sunset flip but still gets a two count. Christian goes for the Flair Pin in the corner but Goldust pushes his feet off the ropes. Christian swipes at Goldust but walks into the axe kick. Booker calls for the spinaroonie but Lance Storm gets in the ring, only he's intercepted by Goldust. Goldust clotheslines Storm over the top rope and leaves but Christian goes for the Unprettier. Booker counters with a kick to the ribs and the scissors kick. He covers for 1...2..3. to win the match. Booker dominated Christian in that match as Lance Storm comically runs in with a chair after Booker had already left. Total crash match.

Time of match: 3:15

Winner: Booker T by pinfall

We cut to a vignette of earlier in the day where WWE stars hit NYC to tell fans to honor America by Smackdowning your vote. The dignitaries were Bradshaw, The Rock, Mark Henry, Kurt Angle and Edge.....Edge? He's Canadian. New York governor George Pataki is all in favor of it. From something cool to something not, later tonight we get Evening Gown vs Tuxedo Match as Howard Finkel takes on Lilian Garcia....why? Back from break Christian is throwing a temper tantrum with Lance Storm trying to calm him down. Test walks by with the American flag and says he's got something big planned to have people talking about them for years to come. What's he mean? On to the next match.

Match 2

The Dudley Boys (Bubba Ray and Spike) vs Christopher Nowinski and William Regal (with Molly Holly)

The hell is Molly doing there? Earlier tonight Nowinski was talking to Molly Holly with Victoria standing there and say they made a great team two weeks ago. He begs her to join his corner and Victoria says the Dudleys are dangerous. Chris says he'll make sure nothing happens to her and Molly agrees. Chris says it means a lot to him and tells her to get ready. Victoria tells him good luck and Nowinski says he has a feeling he's getting VERY lucky. Bell rings and Bubba starts with Chris with Nowinski missing a punch in the corner. Bubba punches away with right hands and a chop of his own. Bubba gets whipped in the corner but the charge eats elbow. Bubba hits a neckbreaker and covers for two. Spike tags in as Bubba scoop slams Nowinski. Spike hits the coup de gras and punches Nowinski in the corner. Regal pulls Chris out of the way and Spike goes sternum first into the buckle. Molly and Regal pull Spike nad first into the ring post. Nowinski covers for 1...2...no. Regal tags in and punches away at Spike. Spike headbutts Regal in the ribs then pulls off a double head scissors. Bubba tags in and cleans both guys out, avalanching Regal in the corner. Nowinski eats a german suplex and Bubba hits a sidewalk slam on Regal. Nowinski elbow drops his own partner by accident and Bubba clotheslines him over the top to the floor. Bubba hits the Dusty Punches on Regal but Molly Holly goes up to the top rope. Molly misses the Molly Go Round and Bubba scoop slams her. Spike goes upstairs and hits the wazzuppp headbutt. Bubba pushes Spike and tells him to get the tables. Spike gets the table but Molly slaps Bubba into a schoolboy by Regal for 1....2...no. Nowinski scoop slams Spike outside but gets knocked off the apron by Regal. Bubba hits the Bubba Bomb on Regal and covers for 1...2..3 to win the match. After the match, Bubba brings Molly in the hard away and sets up the table. Bubba goes for the powerbomb but Nowinski saves her. Spike ends up hitting the Acid Drop on Regal onto the table that doesn't break. Bubba powerbombs Regal through it to finish the job....yay. Nowinski carries Molly away as JR scoffs. Bad match but this is more about Nowinski's attempt to bag Molly.

Time of match: 4:16

Winners: The Dudleys by pinfall

Eric Bischoff is talking to our unnamed Hall of Famer. He says when he gives to cue, come out when he's ready. Back from break Nowinski is in the back with Molly. Molly calls him a gentleman and if there's anything she can do to repay him, she'll do it. They hug it out and he says "I'm sure I'll think of something." Given the time period, it would have added to Molly's character if they actually did get it on in the storyline. Trish wouldn't be able to call her granny panties, virgin, or anything else anymore. 

Back to the ring, Eric Bischoff introduces our legend...SUPERFLY JIMMY SNUKA! 59 years young and still looks great. Rikishi, Mick Foley, Shawn Michaels and Booker T all turned 59 in the year 2024. Eric says its overwhelming to be there with him and he's prepared a video tribute package. It actually is a nice package complete with the top of the cage dive (with Mick Foley and Bubba Ray Dudley in attendance) from MSG in October of 1983. The crowd chants "Superfly" in real time as JR says he deserves this. Eric presents him with a plaque for a lifetime achievement award. He asks how it feels and Jimmy goes to answer but Eric cuts him off. Eric says "for the last three minutes....did I just say, three minutes?" You know where this is going. Right on cue, here are Rosey and Jamal for the beatdown. Snuka does chop Jamal down but Rosey stands there staring at him. Jimmy squares up but Jamal clotheslines him from behind allowing Rosey to clothesline him from the other side. Rosey brings Jimmy to the corner and Jamal hits the top rope splash. Why Vince brought Snuka out just to humiliate him is beyond me. JR "Tribute my Oklahoma ass." King agrees with him as we go to break.

Back from break JR is still mad about the beat down as Jimmy is helped up by the referees. Here comes Chris Jericho for his match with Jeff Hardy after losing to Ric Flair the night before. Jericho takes down Snuka and puts him in the Walls of Jericho. Jericho grabs a mic and cries about Madison Square Hasbeen. Jericho runs down Snuka and Flair saying they're 75 years old and Jericho deserves the award. Jericho says he made Ric tap last night and to roll the footage....which is Ric "tapping" after he grabbed the rope. Jericho screams "WHY" again and again as JR calls him a crybaby. Jericho says he's going to take it out on Jeff Hardy....after he sings for the crowd. He's going to sing New York, New York. "Start spreading the news, I'm leaving todayyyyyy. Can't wait to get right the hell out of New York, New York....these vagabond shoessss will take me wayyyyy" JR says things will get better after break. Back from break Jericho is still going as JR asks when its gonna end. Jeff Hardy's music hits and JR says "Thank god."

Match 3

Chris Jericho vs Jeff Hardy

Jericho attacks Jeff at the bell and slaps him in the face. Jericho hits a suplex and dropkicks Hardy. Chris punches away as King calls Hardy an ass clown. Hardy lands a flying clothesline and and punches him in the corner. Jeff hits the up and over head scissors but runs right into a clothesline. Jericho chokes Jeff on the second rope and drops him with a right hand. Jericho slaps Hardy but Jeff slingshots him over the top rope to the floor. Jeff goes to the top rope and hits the dive. Jeff runs up the barricade but Jericho counters with a powerslam. Jericho throws Jeff inside and stomps on him. Jericho hits a side backbreaker and chokes him with his own handkerchief. Jericho locks in a surfboard but Jeff powers out of it. Jericho hits a dropkick and covers for a deuce. King won't shut up about Howard Finkel and Lilian Garcia but does say the winner of that match is Raw's permanent announcer moving forward. Jericho dops an elbow on Jeff and covers for a two count. Jericho chokes Jeff on the second rope again and says he's the king of the world. Jericho jumps but misses Jeff as Hardy moved out of the way. Jeff misses a dropkick and Chris hits a standing senton before covering 1....2...no. King makes fun of Smackdown and Jericho taunts Jeff to get up. Jericho punches Jeff down and does the Ali shuffle but Hardy punches his way back. Jericho hits a neckbreaker and covers for 1...2...no. Jericho locks in an abdominal stretch but Hardy hiptosses Chris. Jeff counters a second rope crossbody with a dropkick then hits whisper in the wind. Jeff stuns Jeff with a jawbreaker and legdrop between the legs before covering 1.....2..no. Jeff goes for the sunset flip but Jericho counters with a Walls of Jericho attempt. Jeff kicks Chris into the ropes and hits an inside cradle for a near fall. A charge in the corner by Jeff eats boot and Jeff hits a face first bulldog. Jeff blocks the lionsault by getting his knees up then hitting a modified bridge for another two count. Jeff hits a mule kick then goes for the swanton bomb. Jeff hits it and covers for 1...2....no, Jericho grabs the ropes. Jeff goes for a hurracarana but Jericho counters into the Walls of Jericho. Jeff makes it to the ropes but Chris refuses to let go. The ref counts 1..2...3....4...5....and that's it, Jericho has been disqualified. All the referees and Sgt Slaughter hit the ring to get Jericho off. Kind of a bad match as Jeff started not giving a damn with Matt not there to keep him in check. Still, Jericho keeps heel heat as JR scoffs.

Time of match: 10:49

Winner: Jeff Hardy by DQ

Terri Runnells catches up with Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman. Terri asks who they want to win the number one contenders match and Brock says it doesn't make a difference. She says if he had to choose and Brock goes "It really doesn't make a difference." We cut to Lance Storm and Christian saying that's too much. Huh? Test has a blowtorch and says he's gonna burn the American flag as we cut to break.

Test, Christian and Storm hit the ring and Test grabs a mic. Test says he can't think of a better way to signal the rest of the world's hate than to burn the flag. Kane's pyro hits as the Unamericans scatter but he doesn't come out. Test then resumes the blowtorch but Booker T and Goldust hit the ring to stop them. The 3 on 2 advantage has Goldust and Booker down as Test grabs the flag in the ring. Finally Kane comes out to make the real save with his new half mask. Kane clears out Test and Storm then no-sells a chair shot by Christian. Kane chokeslams Christian, clotheslines Storm over the top rope and chases off Test as the crowd chants USA. Point of the segment is to bring back Kane.....oh wait, we're not done. Booker grabs the mic and says the people are gonna get what they paid to see, the spinaroonie. Booker does the spinaroonie and says "CAN YOU DIG THAT SUCKAAAAA" Kane stops Booker and grabs the mic. He says these people didn't come here just to see the spinaroonie, they came to see the Kane-aroonie. Kane does the Kane-aroonie as King laughs. Trying to humanize Kane is kind of dumb but it sure is funny. We get a graphic of HHH vs Taker later as we go to break.

Back from break we get a vignette saying there is no off-season or contract disputes in WWE. This was right around when Major League Baseball was threatening to go on strike but it never actually happened. No Abe "Knuckleball" Schwartz needed this time. On to the next match.

Match 4

WWE Hardcore Champion Tommy Dreamer vs WWE Intercontinental Champion Rob Van Dam in a Unification Match

Ross says this is hardcore rules in the last hardcore match on Raw. Makes sense to have the two ECW guys to do it. They shake hands to start and circle before Dreamer gets a waistlock. Rob gets a headlock takeover but Van Dam misses a somersault. Both men miss enziguiris, Van Dam ducks a line and they stop. The crowd chants ECW as Dreamer counters a split with a dropkick to the face. Dreamer rams his head into the buckle but Van Dam counters with shoulderblocks in the corner. Dreamer finally grabs the singapore cane and waffles Rob in the ribs with it. Dreamer hits the White Russian leg sweep and covers for 1.....2...no. Dreamer grabs a ladder but Van Dam comes out and kicks it in his face. Rob covers on the ramp for 1...2...no. Rob sets the ladder up on the edge of the ring and barricade as Dreamer hits a spinebuster. He covers for 1..2....no. Dreamer rolls Van Dam in but Rob catches him on the apron. Van Dam blocks a suplex but Dreamer brings him on the apron. Dreamer goes for a bulldog but Rob throws him face first into the ladder. Rob crotches Dreamer on the barricade and dropkicks him off the ladder. He covers for 1..2....no. Van Dam throws a chair into the ring and hits a standing moonsault on Dreamer for 1...2..no. Dreamer goes upstairs and goes for the split legged moonsault but Dreamer gets the chair up. Van Dam hits Northern Lights for a deuce but Dreamer goes for the Dreamer Driver. Rob rolls out of it but right into the DDT. Dreamer covers for 1....2..noooooo. Dreamer hits a sidewalk slam on the ladder and goes up to the second rope. Dreamer misses the elbow drop on the ladder and Rob puts it on Tommy. Rob hits rolling thunder on the ladder and covers for 1...2...no. Van Dam hits a spinning legdrop and goes up to the top. Dreamer drops Rob with a right hand and pins Rob against the ropes with the ladder. Dreamer ends up crotching himself in the ladder and Rob heel kicks him down. Rob hits the Van Daminator on the ground and goes back up to the top. Rob hits the five star frog splash and covers for 1..2...3 to win the match and retire the Hardcore title. The belt ran its course after the 24/7 Crash Holly stuff ended but having the two ECW guys put on a good ECW match was the honorable way to end the title. Dreamer hugs Van Dam after the match and leaves with JR saying he's got nothing to be ashamed of.

Time of match: 8:06

Winner: Rob Van Dam by pinfall (Unified Intercontinental Champion)

We cut to the back with HHH pacing back and forth preparing for his match when Lilian Garcia and Trish Stratus walk by much to King's delight. Guess its time for this nonsense when we come back from break. Stacy Keibler walks to the ring with Howard Finkel saying hi. Keibler says she's not there to support him but she wants to make sure Trish doesn't interfere. Howard says she's interfering with something in his trousers. Stacy is grossed out and I'll never understand why Vince repeatedly humiliated Howard any chance he got. Stacy gets out of the ring as Trish and Lilian come to the ring. Howard announces his own opponents which is kind of funny.

Match 5

Lilian Garcia (with Trish Stratus) vs Howard Finkel in an Evening Gown Tuxedo Match

Storyline wise, this is the end of the Finkel/Garcia & Trish feud. Howard says that's a nice gown but he thought Rudy Guliani barred hookers from New York City a long time ago. Ha! Howard shoves her down as the bell rings. Lilian jumps on his back and they roll around the ring. Howard goes to rip the dress but he can't and he grabs the mic. Garcia rips his suspenders but he throws her against the ropes, her falling down. Howard says "That's how it should be, blondes like you laying down on your back." Suddenly Stacy and Trish hit the ring, taking turns slapping him in the face. Trish drops him with a clothesline and they all strip Howard to his underwear. JR goes "Ohhh and they're stained. Can we get a wide shot? Can we go to commercial?" Patrick raises Trish's hand in victory as she raises Lilian's hand in victory. Howard runs to the back as JR scoffs. Vince never misses a chance to humiliate the Fink, let's move on.

Time of match: 1:28

Winner: Garcia

We go right from commercial break to the main event.

Match 6

The Undertaker vs Triple H

Winner of this is the number one contender as Ross & King shill Unforgiven coming up in Los Angeles. They brawl on the outside to start with HHH sends Taker to two ring posts. HHH clotheslines Taker over the barricade into the crowd. HHH pulls Taker back and rams him into the barricade. HHH continues to punch away then throws him inside. The bell officially rings as Triple H tries to end it early with a pedigree, but Taker counters with a clothesline. Taker elbows Hunter in the corner then hits the flying clothesline. Taker drops the big leg and covers for 1...2..no. He's not Hogan. Taker wrenches the left arm and shoulderblocks him down. Taker goes Old School on Hunter and covers for 1.....2..no. Taker gets kicked in the head but whips HHH in the corner and clotheslines him. Taker punches away at HHH and hits snake eyes. HHH hits a high knee to Taker then throws him through the ropes to the outside. HHH punches Taker outside then whips him into the ring steps. Hunter breaks the count then rams Undertaker's head into the steel steps. Hunter back inside hits a neckbreaker and covers for 1...2....no. Hunter punches away and drops an elbow before a cover gets a deuce. Hunter locks in a sleeperhold but Taker punches out of it. HHH hits a kneelift and covers for a deuce. HHH goes to the chinlock then goes back to the sleeper. The crowd gets bored so Taker hits a back suplex on Hunter. They slug it out in the middle of the ring as HHH runs right into a clothesline. Taker's lateral press gets two and he rams Hunter's head into the buckle. Taker's charge eats elbow but then referee Earl Hebner gets avalanched. Taker hits a horrible looking big boot as Taker signals for the choke slam. Taker chokeslams HHH as here comes Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman. Taker knocks Brock off the apron and HHH hits a low blow. Taker backdrops out of HHH's pedigree but Lesnar decks Taker with the WWE title belt. HHH covers for 1...2...3 to win the match. Lesnar laughs on the ramp as JR scoffs. Kind of a bad match since they only had 8 minutes but par for the course tonight.

Time of match: 8:36

Winner: Triple H by pinfall

After the match Lesnar laughs on the apron as HHH rips the bandage off his head. JR says HHH is Brock's next opponent as Stephanie McMahon is seen in the back. Eric Bischoff tells her to get the hell out of his building. Eric brags about having Lesnar and the number 1 contender HHH on Raw but Stephanie tells him to shut up. Stephanie says HHH is the number 1 contender for nothing. Stephanie reveals that she paid Brock to be exclusive to Smackdown and tonight was the last time the WWE Champion will be on Raw. Stephanie asks how her peaches taste now and leaves in a limousine with Brock and Heyman. Eric looks sick as King and Ross sign off dumbfounded. This was all designed for the brand split. How is Eric going to respond to this? All in all this was a bad show but that was mostly due to Raw's reliance on ECW guys and the dregs. Now with Brock Lesnar gone and The Rock off in Hollywood, Raw is severely lacking in star power. Our next show is this Thursday night at Moehgan Sun in Connecticut. I'll see you there. 

WWF All-American Wrestling (9/11/83)

Welcome to this week's edition of WWF All-American Wrestling. Last week Vince McMahon Jr presented the inaugural episode as an hour long tribute to WWF Champion Bob Backlund. This week's show will be centered around the most popular star on the roster, "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka. No disrespect to Bob Backlund but he was considered "boring" by today's standards with monotone interviews and mat based wrestling. Jimmy Snuka was the opposite with cocaine fueled promos and death-defying dives to make him a hot commodity in wrestling. Not to mention unlike Backlund, he came to WWF as a heel and had a great story arc for his face turn. I'm sure this episode will cover all of it. Unlike the first episode, my copy of this one has no commercials so it should transition more smoothly.

Host/Commentator: Vince McMahon Jr

We don't even start with an intro by Vince, we actually start with a highlight. Jimmy Snuka's WWF debut on January 25, 1982 on Championship Wrestling where he hits the Superfly Splash on Jeff Craney. THEN we go to Vince wearing a horrible plaid suit who welcomes us to the show. Vince runs down what we're about to see including his face turn. When we come back, we'll go to Jimmy's debut that the clip in the intro was from.

Match 1

Jeff Craney vs "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka (with Captain Lou Albano)

Commentators: Vince McMahon Jr and Pat Patterson

This was the WWF debut for the Superfly from the WWF Championship Wrestling shown on January 26, 1982. Craney was a local New York/Pennsylvania jobber and we all know Snuka by now. Bell's gone and Patterson praises Snuka's ability. Snuka is actually wearing wrestling boots as he chops Craney down. He drops a few knees on him before slugging away at Craney in the corner. Snuka snapmares Jeff and drops a fist. Patterson says there's plenty of Samoans in wrestling but Snuka's the only one from the Fiji Islands. Jimmy headlock punches Craney then delivers forearms in the corner. Snuka scoop slams Craney and drives a knee to the chest. Snuka then hops up top and nails the Superfly Splash for 1....2....3 and that's it. The crowd cheered the splash but booed the outcome. Albano gets in the ring to celebrate with Jimmy as Joe McHugh announces Snuka the winner. To put Snuka over even more, Craney is stretchered out to make it look like the Superfly Splash is dangerous. Vince says Craney was a mile from the corner and Snuka still hit the splash. Patterson says that's why he's called the Superfly.

Time of match: 2:58

Winner: Snuka by pinfall 

Back to Vince who says Snuka was amazing but was a different man then. He says Albano not only controlled Snuka financially but his mind as well. When we come back, we're going to see the infamous cage match between Snuka and WWF Champion Bob Backlund. Vince brings up last week's show where Bob said he's never met anyone like Snuka. Vince gives the rules of the cage match and says Snuka pulled off an incredible feat but thankfully doesn't give away what it was. Let's head to the match.

Match 2

"Superfly" Jimmy Snuka with Captain Lou Albano vs Bob Backlund for the WWF Heavyweight Championship in a steel cage match

Commentator: Vince McMahon Jr

We're joined in progress from the cage match on June 28, 1982 between Snuka and Backlund. This would be the height of Snuka's heel run as his unorthodox style was making him a fan favorite despite being a heel. One of the many cases throughout history where fans simply refused to boo. We're at the part where Snuka sends Bob off the ropes but Bob reverses the whip and sends Snuka face first into the cage. Snuka blades and Backlund slingshots Snuka into the cage as the crowd pops. Bob rakes Snuka against the cage and pounds away at the bloody mess. Vince says Snuka is getting the beating of his life as Bob continues the onslaught. Snuka fights back with chops to the throat but Bob sends him into the cage again. Bob goes to leave the cage but Snuka grabs Bob's ankle and hits him with a thrust kick. Snuka drops Bob with a a series of chops and scoop slams him. Snuka goes up to the second rope and drops a knee. Snuka drops an elbow as Vince says a pin will get you nowhere in this match. Snuka drops a knee to Backlund's head and hits a vertical suplex. Snuka climbs to the top rope then goes to the top of the cage. He goes for the Superfly Splash but Backlund rolls out of the way for a tremendous pop. Backlund crawls out of the cage to win the match and retain the title. Even though this was only a clip, the high flying tactics if Snuka didn't go unnoticed. He was prime for a face turn and after coming up short against Backlund, it was only a matter of time. Snuka diving off the cage was talked about for a long time after even though Bob won the match.

Time of match: Joined in Progress

Winner: Bob Backlund (still WWF Champion)

Back to Vince who insinuates it was Albano's call to have him jump off the cage. Vince says Albano poisoned the mind of Snuka but one man felt that Jimmy was being manipulated. That man was the first ever WWWF Champion "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers. By 1982, Rogers was semi-retired and hosting a segment on WWF television called Buddy's Corner. It was there in October of 1982 where Buddy had Jimmy and Captain Lou on to discuss the way Albano was handling Jimmy. Buddy "Today my guests, one is invited and the other I don't give a darn about." Hahahahaha. Buddy says Albano doesn't need an introduction and what goes around, comes around. Buddy reveals he looked into Snuka's contract with Albano only to find there is no contract and Albano is legally not his manager. Albano screams that he's a liar and storms off while Snuka just sits there. Rogers tells Snuka that he's a free man but his money is gone. Rogers and Snuka stand up and hug each other signifying Snuka's face turn. Jimmy himself says he doesn't say much but he wants Rogers to be his manager. Rogers says he'll give him an answer shortly. Albano comes back to shout at Buddy but Buddy takes his jacket off.

Snuka then heads to the ring to face Ray "The Crippler" Stevens managed by "Classy" Freddie Blassie and Jimmy gets a huge face pop. Joe McHugh announces the match but Albano hits the ring and starts shoving Jimmy. Snuka unloads on Albano but he's attacked from behind by Stevens. Stevens uses Blassie's cane to choke Snuka while Albano pulls something out of his pants to hammer Jimmy with it. Blassie cheers the two of them on as Albano hammers away. The camera shows Snuka is busted wide open and they throw him over the top rope to the concrete floor. Stevens then hits a piledriver on the floor as Patterson says we won't be seeing Snuka for a while after that. We cut here as Vince says revenge would be Snuka's. Snuka would get his hands on Stevens at Madison Square Garden and we cut to that.

Match 3

"Superfly" Jimmy Snuka with Buddy Rogers vs Ray "The Crippler" Stevens with Freddie Blassie

Commentators: Vince McMahon Jr and Gorilla Monsoon

The Buddy's Corner/Ray attacks segment was from October of 1982 and Snuka now gets Stevens at MSG on December 28, 1982. They slug it out to start but Snuyka gets the upper hand with a jumping headbutt that has Stevens begging off in the corner. Snuka unloads in the corner and snapmares him to the center of the ring. Snuka nails a second rope fist-drop and Stevens bails to the outside. Ray goes to get back in but Jimmy kicks him in the head back down. Snuka rams Stevens' head into the apron. Back inside Ray begs off as Snuka stalks him. Monsoon makes a dated reference by saying the winner gets all the purse money as Stevens looks to have hit a low blow on Jimmy. Ray takes over with right hands then chokes him on the middle rope. Ray gets a thumb to the throat and starts hammering away with forearms. Ray goes for the piledriver but Snuka backdrops him out of it. Snuka drops Stevens with a right hand then rams his head into the mat. A chop to the throat floors Stevens and a knee to the forehead causes Ray to wither around. Stevens gets away with another low blow as Monsoon asks if the Superfly will fly tonight. Ray slugs away at Snuka in the corner then hits a snapmare. Ray goes upstairs for Bombs Away but Snuka catches him and slams Ray off the top rope. Snuka gets all fired up as the crowd explodes. Snuka beats the crap out of Ray with right hands and sends Ray flair flipping over the top to the floor. The ref counts and Ray can't make it back in, Snuka wins it by a count-out. Kind of a lame blow-off for a feud that started with a piledriver on the floor but they didn't want to make Ray look too weak since he was Bob Backlund's next opponent. Superfly gets his revenge and it was on to 1983 for him.

Time of match: 6:50

Winner: Jimmy Snuka by count-out

Back to Vince who says Stevens was one of the toughest opponents Jimmy has ever faced. Next up for Snuka would be the WWF Intercontinental Champion Don "The Magnificent" Muraco. The feud started because Muraco was jealous of the attention Jimmy was getting despite being the IC champ. We're shown a highlight from May 31, 1983 where Snuka was about to wrestle a match when Muraco just spit on Snuka. Snuka just smiled at him and told him to bring it. When Muraco was on the floor taunting, Snuka plancha'd over the top to the floor onto Muraco back before planchas were a thing in the US. Snuka ripped Muraco's clothes off and beat the crap out of him as the crowd goes crazy. The jobbers had to hold Snuka back but Muraco uses the distraction to beat Snuka in the head with a microphone. They continued to slug it out as even Snuka's scheduled opponent tried to break the fight up. Snuka is busted wide open as we get a big red X with the word "censored" on it because apparently a bit of blood was too much. Vince in the studio said Snuka finally got his hands on Muraco in the Philadelphia Spectrum in our final match on this show.

Match 4

"Superfly" Jimmy Snuka with Buddy Rogers vs Don "The Magnificent" Muraco for the WWF Intercontinental Championship

Commentators: Dick Graham and Gorilla Monsoon

The previous clip was in May and now this match was from August 13, 1983 at the Spectrum. Gary Michael Capetta does the introductions as Snuka gets a great pop. Muraco throws the belt at the feet of Snuka as special guest referee Swede Hanson holds the belt up. Muraco throws it at him again and Snuka goes crazy on him early. Snuka beats the crap out of Muraco in the corner and locks in a chinlock. Muraco powers out of it with elbows to the stomach then floors Snuka with a shoulderblock. Snuka leapfrogs over Muraco twice and nails him with a big chop. Snuka splashes Muraco and covers but Muraco gets his foot on the rope. Jimmy snapmares Muraco into the center of the ring and locks in another chin-lock. Muraco grabs the hair but Swede yells at him "watch the hair!". Monsoon says neither Muraco or Snuka was the type to surrender as Muraco makes it back to his feet. Muraco sends Jimmy off but eats a shoulderblock followed by a flying dropkick. Snuka snapmares Muraco again then goes back to the chinlock. Muraco gets back to his feet again and catches Snuka with a low blow. Hanson never saw it and Muraco takes over with a sleeper hold of his own. Snuka then serves it back to Muraco with a low blow of his own. Snuka chops Muraco then drops him with a jumping headbutt. Jimmy goes up to the second rope and flies across the ring with a headbutt. Muraco is busted wide open as Snuka sends him head first into the ringpost. Jummy snapmares Muraco again and lands a diving headbutt. Jimmy heaves Muraco over the top to the floor. Snuka lands and axehandle smash to Muraco on the floor and Swede starts to count Muraco out. Muraco slides back in only for Jimmy to do another jumping headbutt. Dick Graham asks how much more can Muraco take as Jimmy does another diving headbutt. Jimmy then goes to finish off Muraco with a Superfly Splash but Muraco pulls Hanson in the way, Jimmy landing on both of them. Muraco low blows Snuka again then steals Hanson's belt. Muraco whips Snuka with the belt but Jimmy grabs the belt and pelts Muraco with it. Jimmy sends Don off the ropes and Snuka whips him in the gut with the belt. Snuka hands another headbutt to send Muraco over the top to the floor. Hanson calls the match off as Muraco bails to the back, Jimmy winning by disqualification. The fans in the Spectrum are mad as we cut here. This was just a preview of the mayhem that these two would be causing at Madison Square Garden down the road. For now, Muraco escapes with the belt....barely.

Time of match: 11:24

Winner: Snuka by count-out (Muraco retains)

Back to Vince who says Muraco hasn't heard the last of Snuka....that's for sure. Vince says when we return we'll have an interview with Snuka himself. Back from commercial, Vince says he started out under Albano and asks what that was like. Snuka says he didn't know what Albano was doing and he doesn't feel good about letting Lou swindle him. Vince says the man took his money and misguided him, only to leave him for Ray Stevens. Vince says Stevens failed to put Snuka out and Jimmy says he can't explain how he felt but he didn't give up. Finally Vince says Muraco is going to get his and thanks Jimmy for his time. Vince says Snuka will be in action next week on All-American Wrestling as there will be a profile on Andre The Giant. We're shown a clip of the Wild Samoans battling Snuka and Andre at MSG including Snuka doing the Superfly splash off Andre's shoulders for the three count. Way to give away next week's show for those who hadn't seen that match before!

That wraps up the second edition of All-American and it was definitely better than the first. The first was trying to cram as many Bob Backlund highlights into 45 minute program as they could while this one kept it to a few matches, plus Snuka was far more entertaining. Bit of a side tangent but there was a question a while ago that asked if Hulk Hogan never came to WWF, who would have replaced Backlund as champion? The logical answer would have been Snuka as he was the number 1 babyface in the company by 1983, especially after what he would do at MSG a month from now. But, with the arrival of Hogan, that pushed Snuka to the side and he'd never again be the top face. Andre The Giant was making bank as an attraction around the country and Japan so he didn't need to be tied down by being WWF Champion. The next MSG show wouldn't be until October 17 and it just so happened to have the next Muraco and Snuka match. Stay tuned for that.