The ’90s were such a fascinating time in pro wrestling. While the second half of the decade saw a record rise in fans and revenue due to the Monday Night Wars and stars such as “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and the nWo, the same cannot be said for the first half of the decade. The early ’90s were dismal…both in terms of attendance and superstars to get behind. The creative geniuses at WWE tried hard to create new gimmicks that would appeal to the masses, but few really stuck, and in all honestly, there were more misses than hits. So it’s no wonder there are numerous wrestlers who populated the ring wars in the early ’90s that you’ve probably forgotten. Let’s take a look at just a few of them.
Phantasio
A master of the finer arts of illusion, Phantasio made his debut on an episode of Wrestling Challenge in July 1995. Before he even locked up with his competition, he “dazzled” the crowd with some magic tricks, including turning a candle into a walking stick. When the match started, it was obvious that the entertaining part of act was over. He made quick, yet unmemorable work of his opponent, and then went back to doing magic tricks, including removing the referee’s striped underwear while he was still wearing pants.
With a perfect 1-0 record inside the squared circle, Phantasio disappeared from the WWF and wrestling competition altogether, never to be heard from again. It’s rumored that he became the victim of one of his own magic tricks. You can watch Phantasio’s lone match here if you’re sure you can handle the shock of seeing his unbelievable magic tricks.
Battle Kat
In late 1990, WWF fans were introduced to a talented new competitor with the martial-arts skills of a ninja, the high-flying acrobatics of a world-class gymnast, and the technical wrestling skills the likes of which would make Bret Hart say, “dang”. With his true identity hidden by a cat-like mask, Battle Kat battled such luminaries as Boris Zhukov, Pez Whatley, and the ever-dangerous “Playboy” Buddy Rose.
Battle Kat didn’t stick around WWF rings for long, and rumors at the time speculated that he traveled to the Orient to continue his in-ring career, and possibly compete in the Kumite tournament. If that were indeed the case, that’s probably why we’ve not seen him since. Can you imagine this guy going toe-to-toe with Chong Li? Me neither. But if you’re so inclined, you can watch one of Battle Kat’s few matches here.
Bastion Booger
In 1994, Bastion Booger didn’t even have to get into the ring with his opponents to make them hurt physically. His repulsive appearance and disgusting behavior were enough to make them physically ill. He was so gross, he was the only WWF Superstar to use his nose as a snack dispenser.
Booger didn’t enjoy very much in-ring success, coming up on the losing end in battles with stars like Razor Ramon, Doink the Clown and others. In 1995, Booger left the WWF and returned to Parts Unknown. But after years of not being seen, he shocked the world in 2007 when he appeared at the Raw 15th Anniversary show. If you can stomach it, check out Bastion Booger’s debut match here.
Max Moon
In 1992, the WWF was invaded by a space traveler decked out in a blue-armored suit. Moon met with initial success in his run with victories over experienced grapplers like the Brooklyn Brawler, Skinner, Repo Man, and more. But his in-ring success was over-shadowed by his out-of-the-ring persona. His futuristic jetpack and the gleaming spacesuit complete with pyro cannons made him a fan favorite.
Moon would go on to be a contender, eventually working his way up to challenge Intercontinental champion Shawn Michaels on the very first episode of Monday Night Raw in 1993. Give Max Moon a look here in this match against the Brooklyn Brawler.
Adam Bomb
The WWF was faced with a nuclear threat in 1993, when powerhouse Adam Bomb exploded on the scene, intent on winning the WWF Championship. Adter debuting with Johnny Polo as his manager, he quickly blamed him for a string of losses, and replaced with the slimy Harvey Wippleman. It wasn’t too long though before Adam Bomb relieved himself of Wippleman’s services and changed his attitude in the ring.
Adam Bomb embraced the cheers of the fans as he battled villains like King Kong Bundy and Bam Bam Bigelow. But by August of 1995, the bomb threat was diffused and Adam Bomb had disappeared from the WWF. Put your solar goggles on and watch Adam Bomb in action.
Be the first to comment