FEBRUARY 16
1991
USWA television planted the initial seeds for the Tennessee vs Texas feud that would dominate most of the year in the territory, as Jerry Lawler is positioned to feud with Eric Embry and Tom Pritchard while heel Eddie Gilbert is positioned for a babyface turn, forming an unlikely (and shaky) rivalry with Lawler.
The debuting Paul Bearer was Brother Love’s guest on WWF Superstars and would soon take over managing duties for The Undertaker. Bearer’s demeanor was much quieter and more reserved initially, acting as if he was in mourning. Also on the show, vignettes aired to hype the return of Ricky Steamboat without specifying him by name. He would only be referred to as “The Dragon” during this WWF run. Meanwhile, the Nasty Boys won a tag team battle royal on WWF Superstars, earning a shot at WWF World Tag Team Champions The Hart Foundation at Wrestlemania VII.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snxHpYrmWLk
1992
El Toreo in Naucalpan was home to a ****1/4 match on a UWA card, when Silver King, El Texano and Gran Hamada teamed to face Negro Casas, Dr. Wagner Jr. and Mike Lozansky.
1993
The New Japan vs WAR feud reached its peak on a New Japan card in Tokyo, when New Japan’s Riki Choshu, Tatsumi Fujinami, Osamu Kido, Hiroshi Hase and Tayayuki Iizuka teamed to face Genichiro Tenryu, Ashura Hara, Takashi Ishikawa, Ricky Fuyuki and Tatsumi Kitahara in an outstanding ****1/2 which spanned forty minutes. The match was strong from an in-ring standpoint and it also advanced many ongoing feuds. Tenryu had yet to face Shinya Hashimoto in a singles match, which was a match they were building, but the two had an altercation here, as Hashimoto was at ringside to support the New Japan team.
1998
WCW Monday Nitro aired live on TNT from Tampa, FL. The show kicked off with a brief on-screen graphic announcing the recent death of Louie Spicolli. WCW received immense criticism at the time for their televised response to his death, as Larry Zbyszko, with whom Spicolli was feuding at the time of his death, said that he would not comment out of respect to Spicolli’s family. Also on the show, Brian Adams debuted fresh off of a WWF run, swerving Bret Hart and joining the NWO. Meanwhile, Rick Martel, who had recently staged an impressive comeback, defeated Booker T to win the WCW TV title. The show ran unopposed and did a strong 5.1 rating.
In The “To Watch” Queue:
Chigusa Nagayo, Bomber Hikaru & Sonoko Kato vs Eagle Sawai, Jen Yukari & Michiko Nagashima (GAEA 02/16/96)
Kaoru vs Combat Toyoda (GAEA 02/16/96)
