WWF Superstars of Wrestling

For all newer wrestling fans or older fans who don't recall, "WWF Superstars of Wrestling" is a perfect example of how wrestling used to be presented on television. Long before wrestling's explosion in popularity on Monday night cable TV, most wrestling fans used to be satisfied with these one-hour syndicated wrestling programs. Typical programs featured big-name wrestlers against jobbers (those wrestlers who always lost); interviews that were taped (usually) weeks in advance; promotions of upcoming wrestling events; promos, or skits, of wrestlers soon to either make their debut or introduce a new gimmick; updates of current events, feuds, etc. in a given wrestling organization; maybe but not always a confrontation between two currently feuding wrestlers; and perhaps a main event pitting two big-name wrestlers against each other. Most people were satisfied with these 60-minute programs for years. Of course, professional wrestling has improved greatly much better since the Monday night explosion, and the makeup of syndicated and cable wrestling programs has greatly changed. But for those who perhaps caught the professional wrestling bug in recent times, this is how it was. The now-defunct American Wrestling Association (AWA) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW) organizations -- plus other regional promotions that have long-since folded in the wake of Vince McMahon's expansion of his WWF -- had syndicated wrestling programs similar to "WWF Superstars of Wrestling."

Before the WWF became cartoon with Hulk Hoagan leading the way, the events of WWF TV broadcasts of the very early 1980s resembled the wild, wild west with all kinds of grudges and vicious acts of violence performed by some of the wrestlers that are known today to be the WWF's most beloved stars. Some of these seemingly very real moments stand out. A maniacal Sgt. Slaughter whipped then champion Bob Backlund with a riding crop after Backlund showed him up in a fitness test. Welts were all over Backlund! Sarge made the Iron Shiek look like a daycare provider! Slaughter also issued a challenge to anyone who could break his dreaded cobra clutch hold. This led a legendary and bloody alley match with commentator Pat Patterson. Hall of Fame member Blackjack Mulligan with Freddie Blassie came into the WWF with a claw hold that was censored on television. He claimed he was the true giant at 6'7" and challenged Andre long before Big John Studd in 1984. Adrian Adonis used his ominously named "Good Night, Irene" sleeper to take out the competition. A New Yorker clad in black leather, he was an ominous figure. George "the Animal" Steele was far from a crowd pleaser, as well. Even Jimmy Snuka was a fearsome sight as he set out maim opponents until Ray "the Crippler" Stevens delivered a piledriver onto the cement floor leaving Snuka a bloody mess. All these encounters took place a decade before hardcore wrestling was ever spoken of.

Remember during the 80's thru syndication mostly on Saturday nights on my TV the "WWF" had on a weekly program "Superstars of Wrestling". And the show was packed with action and entertainment with news, gossip and the showcase of feuds and the introduction of the latest wrestling stars made one glued to the TV set for one hour. It was hosted by Vince McMahon and Jesse Ventura who always bickered and bad mouthed one another during the matches and introductions. The matches were entertaining with the main events being interesting. Later on the Brother Love segment part of the show was fun and "The Undertaker" and Paul Bearer segment was a wicked and wild view to look at! Overall a great showcase of how far out and wild the "WWF" was during it's best and most entertaining glory days!

Below is in My opinion and a brief description of the program.

I'd always watch WWF Superstars of Wrestling as much as could. In the show's later years it came on late at night and this was thrilling. It was hosted by Vince McMahon and Jerry "The King" Lawler. The show would have good matches mostly some big names against some no names and then there'd be a good main event. Three matches in 1994 that come to mind that were special was the then WWF Champion Bret "The Hit-man Hart" against Bob Backlund. It was a terrific technical wrestling match. Backlund thought that he beat Bret because it was a very close count and Hart rolled Bob up and beat him. This is the match that caused Backlund to snap. He viciously attacked Bret and then looked at his hands like what has he done? This was really a big surprise. Another match up was when King Kong Bundy returned to the ring and fought Mitch Bishop. Bundy just totally mauled this wrestler. And the other was when Shawn Michaels and Diesel (Kevin Nash) were tag team champions. They fought Reno Riggins and Gary Scott. They just beat these two wrestlers up but it was mostly Big Daddy Cool that did the work. He Jacknife Powerbombed Scott very hard to the mat! Also during this match up Charlie Minn, a new WWF personality talked a bit and this appearance of his went something like this. He just got a note and it read " The King's royal robe has not been washed in six months" and he said it must stink! I thought that this was hilarious! This show was one of the WWF's best shows! If you are able to watch this show in any way do it because it was a special one. Thanks for reading!

Every Saturday morning at 11 a.m. I watched Superstars. All the biggest events happened on this show at the time. Challenge, which aired Sunday mornings, was decent too, but all the big stuff happened on this show. Wrestlers would do all their interviews with Mean Gene on a platform next to the live crowd or talk on their own to the screen in front of a background that promoted them. The matches were usually squashes but sometimes you would see 2 mid carders square off in the main event. There were also interview shows that usually resulted in violence thus setting up a feud. These segments ranged from Pipers Pit, The Body Shop, The Flower Shop, The Snake Pit, The Brother Love Show, The Funeral Parlor, and The Barber Shop. I don't recall any titles changing hands on this show. That usually happened at pay per views and Saturday Nights Main Event.