Prime Time Wrestling - 09/01/91

Caught this on WWE 24/7, last night and didn't feel it was worth an actual article. The date on this is up for debate, but for all intents and purposes, this was the first PTW after SummerSlam'91. At this time, Prime Time was had a live audience and studio guests--- it was sort of like a combo of "TNT" and "Superstars of Wrestling".

The broadcast started out with Bobby Heenan frantically running through the production booth, making sure everything was in order for the arrival of "The Real World's Champion, Ric Flair". Heenan got off a buncha' one-liner insults, as he slammed random members of the crew. "Nice hat... pull it down over your face!"

The studio host was Sean Mooney and surprisingly enough, he was quite adept at moving the show along, making relevant statement and playing off of both Heenan and the crowd well. Completely different from the robotic announcing he did in the "Events Center", or while announcing a match with Lord Alfred Hayes. He had about a two months run as host of the show and it was probably his best work in the WWF.

Matches included:
-"The Dragon" (Ricky Steamboat) vs. Colonel Mustafa
Decent little match that I recapped a few years ago. Dragon won with the high-cross body.

-Bushwhackers vs. Duane Gil & Barry Hardy
Guess who won?! From "Superstars". The Beverly Brothers cut an inset promo and introduced the Genius (Lanny Poffo) as their new manager.

-Hercules (w/Slick) vs. Phil Apollo
Return to singles competition for Herc, as he easily won with the backbreaker. I don't think "Power & Glory" appeared, as a team, on the nationwide WWF shows after SummerSlam '91

-Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart vs. Brooklyn Brawler
Another ring return, as Anvil had walked out of the "Wrestling Challenge" broadcast team. Nothing heel-ish...he left because he knew he'd lose his temper and deck the Brain if he stuck around. Real reason: Anvil on the stick STUNK. Anyways, quick match as he wins with a powerslam.

-Big Bully Busick (w/Harvey Whippleman) vs. Jim Powers
Before the match, Busick harassed the ring attendant and pulled his tie off. Oh, I see...he's a BULLY! They had a little gimmick where Busick was the muscle who would push guys around, so the wimpy Whippleman could make fun of them. Like the nerdy kid who gets a dumb jock or ruffian to be his psuedo "bodyguard". The role was a bit goofy, but worked well for both of these clowns. Busick won with his stump-puller submission. Powers was still coming to the ring with his OLD "Crank it Up" theme music.

-IRS vs. "Texas Tornado" Kerry Von Erich
Not a bad match, as Irwin could work when he wanted to. There's an MSG show from October 1991 on WWE 24/7 right now which features a pretty damn good match between Irwin and the British Bulldog. This match isn't as good, obviously, and features a lame DQ win for the Tornado, when IRS grabs the ref.

-Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka vs. (Pat) Tanaka (w/Mr.Fuji)
Joined in progress, as it was mostly punchy-kicky. Snuka won cleanly with the Superfly Splash. Nice to see Snuka got a win of some substance in 1991. Even if Tanaka was a nose-hair above jobber at this point.

-Warlord (w/Slick) vs. Mark Thomas
Another squash from "Superstars". I wonder if this Mark Thomas was the guy Rowe referred to as "Art Thomas" in his latest 1993 RAW recap? Had an in-match promo, as Warlord and Slick talked about challenging Bret Hart for the IC belt. I don't think they ever followed up on that program, as Bret soon went into a feud with Da' Mountie.

They also showed two brief clips of the SummerSlam 6-man tag (Bulldog, Dragon & Tornado vs. Orient Express & Warlord), plus the ending of the IC title match between Mr. Perfect & Bret Hart. Both were just ways to promote the Coliseum Video release. Can't forget the spots promoting the Hulk Hogan Hotline, either.

In-studio guest were the Undertaker & Paul Bearer, Ric Flair and the Legion of Doom. Paul Bearer showed off "photographs" of Elizabeth screaming at her wedding reception. They also set up a dual feud of Randy Savage vs. Jake Roberts and Undertaker vs. Sid Justice. The first worked, the other never got off the ground.

The Ric Flair segment was pretty good for historical significance. At the time, it was very surreal to see Flair in the WWF with the belt, finally challenging Hogan. In fact, all of the live guests were former NWA guys (okay, so Percy Pringle was World Class).

The LOD promo was a gas, as both were decked out in Zubaz! Alfred Hayes offered congratulations from the Queen of England on winning thge tag team straps. To which Hawk replied: "well, if the Queen were here right now, both Animal and myself would give her a big hug...followed by a nice, juicy, big kiss....... just like we did before!" Only Hawk can make smooching that old bag sound cool.