Monday Night Raw
Date: June 10, 1996
Location: Cumberland County Memorial Auditorium, Fayetteville, North Carolina
Attendance: 5,000
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler

We’re less than two weeks away from King Of The Ring and the tournament has already started. That’s the kind of thing that can carry a show, but we also have Mankind still wanting to hurt the Undertaker. In addition, we have Shawn Michaels dealing with the British Bulldog. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

King Of The Ring First Round: Owen Hart vs. Yokozuna

Hart, with Jim Cornette, jumps him from behind to start fast but Yokozuna headbutts his way out of trouble. The big elbow misses Hart though and he’s back with a running crotch attack on the ropes. A running spinwheel kick drops Yokozuna for two but for some reason Hart tries a headbutt. Yokozuna drops him with a headbutt of his own and tries the Banzai Drop, only to fall off the ropes and give Hart the pin (with feet on the ropes) at 3:59.

Rating: C-. Yokozuna cannot do much right now and that’s becoming more and more obvious. He’s so big and it’s becoming obvious that his size is all he has at this point. Hart beat him in about four minutes, which isn’t a great sign for Yokozuna’s future. Nothing match, but they did about all they could.

Yesterday on the Action Zone, Jake Roberts talked about his drug issues.

In the back, Yokozuna can’t believe he lost again and talks about how he wants to get his hands on Jim Cornette. For now, he’s going to leave and figure out what he wants to do.

King Of The Ring First Round: Marc Mero vs. Skip

Jake Roberts is on commentary and Sable is here with Mero. They take their time to start with Mero backing him into the corner and giving him quite the stare. A hiptoss and armdrag have Skip on the floor but he moves before Mero can dive. Back in and Mero charges into a boot in the corner, followed by Skip’s middle rope fist to the face.

Mero catches him on top but gets knocked down, only to dropkick Skip out of the air. Skip catches him on top for a change but a super hurricanrana is blocked. Mero’s top rope sunset flip gets two and we take a break. We come back with Skip grabbing a gutwrench suplex and we hit the chinlock.

Mero fights up and hits the running knee but misses a charge and crashes out to the floor. They change places and Mero hits a flip dive to the floor, followed by a slingshot dive (the Bad Day as it was called in WCW) for two. A super hurricanrana gives Mero the pin at 14:27.

Rating: C+. Mero was starting to figure this stuff out, which mainly included showing off his athleticism. He was someone with a good enough look and who could move out there, even with Sable out there. She’s not a huge focal point yet, but that’s going to be the case, as it tends to be with women managing good guys.

Jerry Lawler is in the ring for a chat and Vince McMahon brings out the Ultimate Warrior, who is in a hat for no apparent reason. Lawler praises the artwork in Warrior’s comic book and presents him with a (rather nice) portrait of Warrior that Lawler did himself. Warrior says Lawler is a CON artist, and while he appreciates the art, there is only one king and that is Warrior himself.

Lawler hits him with the portrait and runs off, with Warrior giving chase (without even going down) I’m assuming the hat was covering up a pad of some kind. If that’s the case, it makes Lawler complaining about the hat on the infamous Warrior DVD all the worse. It’s a fine angle, but was anyone overly interested in Warrior vs. Lawler?

Undertaker vs. British Bulldog

Owen Hart, Diana Smith and Paul Bearer are here too. Before the bell, we get a split screen interview with Shawn Michaels at the WWF Studios, but Jim Cornette jumps on commentary to ask how it felt to lose to the Bulldog. Cornette has a surprise: there is going to be a guest referee at King Of The Ring and Cornette gets to pick him.

Michaels knows he’s in trouble and we get the opening bell. They take their time to get going until Undertaker throws him into the corner to hammer away. Bulldog bails outside for a breather but comes back in for Old School, with Cornette not understanding how that is possible. A nice legdrop gets two but Bulldog is back up with his delayed suplex. Undertaker fights back until a powerslam puts him down for two more.

We take a break and come back with Bulldog holding a chinlock, naturally complete with his foot on the rope. The comeback doesn’t take long but Bulldog knocks him down again to restart the chinlocking. Undertaker fights up again, this time with a belly to back suplex for the break. Back up and Undertaker slips out of the running powerslam as we take another break. We come back again with Undertaker hitting a chokeslam and they go outside, with Bulldog being sent into the steps. They head back inside…but Mankind pops out from underneath the ring to grab Undertaker for the DQ at 11:24.

Rating: C. Well there was no way we were getting a clean finish when these two have big matches coming up at King Of The Ring. It would be insane to go that way so this was more about waiting for Mankind to come out and do something. That’s a fine enoughw ay to go and the match wasn’t bad, but dang there was a good deal of chinlocking.

Mankind beats Undertaker down and hits a piledriver to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This show was definitely a step up from the previous week, if nothing else due to having some better action. Undertaker and Mankind is a hot feud and overshadows the dull stuff that is Bulldog vs. Michaels. That’s about all you can ask for here and it was a good enough show on the way to the pay per view.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Monday Night Raw
Date: June 3, 1996
Location: Cumberland County Memorial Auditorium, Fayetteville, North Carolina
Attendance: 5,000
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler

We’re coming up on King Of The Ring and there is a good chance that we’ll get some matches in the tournament either this week or sooner. Other than that, WWF Champion Shawn Michaels is still dealing with the British Bulldog, who Michaels couldn’t beat last month at In Your House. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of Goldust giving Ahmed Johnson mouth to mouth resuscitation, which was received about as well as expected. Then Goldust posed wearing only his robe and the Intercontinental Title as he taunted Johnson.

Opening sequence.

King Of The Ring First Round: Steve Austin vs. Bob Holly

Austin backs him into the corner to start before grabbing a headlock. Holly’s hammerlock is broken up and Austin takes him down by the leg. Back up and Holly takes him into the corner to hammer away, earning himself a nasty backbreaker. A middle rope elbow gives Austin two and we’re off to the chinlock. We take a break and come back with Holly still in the chinlock but he fights up to send Austin into some buckles. That doesn’t get him anywhere though as Austin is right back with the Million Dollar Dream for the win to advance at 12:15.

Rating: C. Yeah this wasn’t much, but there was no reason to believe that Austin was going to lose to Holly. At the end of the day, Austin might not be the obvious next big thing here, but he’s certainly bigger than Holly at the moment. He’s going to need something besides the Million Dollar Dream though.

Jerry Lawler mocks Ultimate Warrior’s comic book and shows a (nice) drawing he’s made of his own comic book cover, featuring THE ULTIMATE LOSER.

Mankind vs. Barry Horowitz

Mankind goes right at him to start but gets caught with a quick dropkick. Mankind misses a charge into the corner though and gets rolled up, only to hammer Horowitz down. The running Tree of Woe elbow hits Horowitz and we go outside…to take a break? We come back with Mankind grabbing the Mandible Claw for the win at 6:54.

Rating: C-. Mankind vs. Barry Horowitz does not need a break, but for some reason the match got that much time. Mankind was still new at this point but he had hit the ground running, already tormenting the Undertaker. Taking this long to beat Horowitz didn’t help, but at least it was fairly dominant.

Post match Mankind talks about wanting to hurt the Undertaker. Of all the things he has lost, he thinks he misses his mind the most.

We look at Shawn Michaels vs. British Bulldog going to a double pin at Beware Of Dog.

We look at Ahmed Johnson losing his mind of having Goldust kiss him last week.

Goldust, still with just the belt covering him, says he was saving Johnson’s life last week. They’re fighting at King Of The Ring and Johnson will never forget Goldust’s name.

Godwinns vs. Tekno Team 2000

Sunny is on commentary and we get a promo from the* Bodydonnas, who are looking for a new manager. We even get an address for people to send in applications. Travis works on Henry’s head to start before it’s off to Phineas, who keeps looking at Sunny. We actually get a handshake between Phineas and Troy, with the latter pulling him into the corner to take over. Travis’ standing moonsault gets two but Phineas gets up and brings Henry back in. House is quickly cleaned and the Slop Drop finishes for Henry at 6:03.

Rating: D+. For the life of me I still don’t know what Tekno Team 2000 was supposed to be but they didn’t work. The Godwinns weren’t much better, as the tag division was moving in a different direction and they were still doing their goofy stuff. That being said, Sunny was the focal point here and that often works, as she had so much star power and you couldn’t avoid it.

We look at Clarence Mason claiming to have been injured by Gorilla Monsoon, which is total nonsense of course.

King Of The Ring First Round: Hunter Hearst Helmsley vs. Jake Roberts

Helmsley’s headlock takes Roberts down to start and we get a quick curtsy. Back up and Roberts hiptosses him into a knee lift, with Helmsley bailing out to the floor. Roberts is smart enough to wait inside, where he takes Helmsley down by the arm. The armbar goes on for a bit until a frustrated Helmsley rolls outside again.

We take a break and come back with Helmsley sending him into the corner. Helmsley drops a knee for two as commentary talks about Warrior’s comic book. More stomping sets up a chinlock but Roberts jawbreaks his way to freedom. The threat of a DDT is broken up with a ram into the corner and we take another break. We come back again with Roberts hitting the DDT for the pin at 16:15.

Rating: C+. It’s a bit weird to see Helmsley losing like this, but at the same time the DDT was up there as an all time devastating finisher. The fans reacted to it rather well and Roberts getting a Cinderella run in the tournament isn’t a bad idea. Other than that, the match was probably the best thing on the show, which is rather telling.

Overall Rating: C-. The tournament needs to get going, because there is not much going on with the show otherwise. Michaels vs. Bulldog isn’t interesting and without Undertaker here to brawl with him, Mankind is just sort of weird. That’s pretty much the show at this point, and this show didn’t make me want to see what they have going on at the moment.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Monday Night Raw
Date: April 24, 1995
Location: Omaha Civic Auditorium, Omaha, Nebraska
Attendance: 5,800
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler

We’ll wrap up the month with a pretty big show, as Diesel is defending the WWF Title against Bam Bam Bigelow. The winner of that goes on to face Sid at In Your House in about three weeks, so there is already quite a bit on the line. The rest of the pay per view card could use some build of its own though and we might be seeing that come together this week. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We look at Bam Bam Bigelow’s recent issues, including losing at the Royal Rumble and Wrestlemania. Bigelow is going to do better, such as getting a WWF Title match tonight. That’s quite the punishment for a high profile loss.

Opening sequence.

Commentary welcomes us to the show and runs down the card.

Smoking Gunns vs. Barry Horowitz/Brooklyn Brawler

Billy works on Brawler’s arm to start and Bart comes in with a top rope ax handle. A double Russian legsweep lets Bart stay on the arm before a neckbreaker/belly to back suplex combination finishes for Billy at 2:16. Short and sweet.

Bam Bam Bigelow, with a very black eye, is ready to win the WWF Title for the Million Dollar Corporation.

Diesel is ready for Bigelow.

Bertha Faye vs. La Pantera Serena

Faye is the woman who attacked Alundra Blayze a few weeks ago. This time though she’s in bright rainbow colors and a skirt rather than all black for quite the downgrade. Faye kicks away to start and Serena can’t do much with the power. Serena comes back with some kicks but Faye sits down on her to block a sunset flip. A legdrop crushes Serena and a sitout powerbomb drops her again. Faye’s falling splash finishes at 3:54.

Rating: C-. And we’re done with Faye being someone who can be taken seriously. She came in as a monster a few weeks ago and felt different but here she’s little more than a comedy monster who does some good power stuff. The presentation makes a huge difference, but why go with someone serious when you can do something goofy?

The In Your House report runs down the card, which now features Razor Ramon/1-2-3 Kid vs. Jeff Jarrett/The Roadie and Bret Hart vs. Hakushi. And you can win a house!

Sid is ready for In Your House.

WWF Title: Diesel vs. Bam Bam Bigelow

Bigelow, with Ted DiBiase, is challenging. Diesel actually wrestles him to the mat to start and Bigelow needs a breather on the floor. Back in and Diesel unloads on him in the corner before dropping a big elbow for two. A boot choke in the corner sets up an armbar but Bigelow slams his way out of trouble.

Diesel shrugs off a falling headbutt and hits a running clothesline so they can head outside. Bigelow posts him and hits a Samoan drop for two back inside. We take a break and come back with Diesel fighting out of a chinlock so they can collide for a double down. Diesel is up first to drop an elbow, setting up the running crotch attack against the ropes.

A snap suplex gives Diesel two and he grabs a neck crank. That’s broken up and Bigelow gets his own suplex into his own neck crank. Tatanka comes out to ringside as Diesel fights up, only to get stomped back down. We take another break and come back with Tatanka accidentally tripping Bigelow. A big boot and the Jackknife retain the title at 16:04.

Rating: C+. We’re pretty clearly on the way to a Bigelow face turn and that’s not the worst idea. He’s having the year of his life and it is easy to see why he is getting this kind of a chance. The fans are going to respond to someone who looks like that with that kind of movement and it’s why he was pushed this strong. Just do something with him and it could work.

Post match DiBiase and Tatanka get in the ring to yell at Bigelow. DiBiase can’t believe that Bigelow lost to a FOOTBALL PLAYER and now this. DiBiase slaps him and Tatanka jumps Bigelow from behind, only to get dropped. Bigelow quits the team so here is IRS to help with the beatdown. Sid (in blue for a weird look) comes in as well and a rather horrible powerbomb leaves Bigelow laying. Diesel runs in for the save.

Aldo Montoya vs. Black Phantom

Montoya hammers away to start and sends him to the floor for a slingshot dive. Back in and Montoya works on the arm but Phantom fights up. A middle rope crossbody puts Phantom down again and Montoya’s middle rope bulldog finishes at 2:45.

There’s a new star coming to the WWF. Some Connecticut blue blood.

We look at Diesel and Bam Bam Bigelow shaking hands during a commercial earlier tonight.

Overall Rating: C. Well, there was a big angle and that helped a bit, but the rest of the show was the run of the mill stuff we’ve seen around here forever. The show needs something interesting to spice it up and while the Bigelow turn was close, it was only so good. It’s going to take a long time for the company to get out of this rut and that’s making for some rough times.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Monday Night Raw
Date: April 17, 1995
Location: Mid-Hudson Civic Center, Poughkeepsie, New York
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler

We’re coming up on the first In Your Hour next month but there is still a lot of time to fill in before we get there. That includes this week, which will see Bob Holly/1-2-3 Kid getting a Tag Team Title shot after last week’s win in a six man tag. Hopefully they come up with something bigger to draw me in to the pay per view so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Over the weekend, Sid was added to the Million Dollar Corporation.

Opening sequence.

Jean Pierre Lafitte vs. Duke Droese

Lafitte hammers away to start and kicks Droese into the corner but Droese is back up with a hiptoss. Droese knocks him to the floor and then drops a knee back inside. Lafitte drops him again though and hits a legdrop for two. With Droese tied up in the ropes, Lafitte gives him a running crossbody for a painful looking crash. Droese gets out and misses a charge into the corner before his sunset flip is blocked.

We take a break and come back with commentary talking about a poll about cheating on your taxes. A double clothesline gives us a double knockdown before Lafitte dives into a raised boot. Droese makes the comeback, including a powerslam, only to miss a top rope splash. Lafitte’s Cannonball finishes at 11:10.

Rating: C+. This worked well enough as a hoss fight, but I’ve always liked both of them. Lafitte was a good example of someone who knows how to wrestle his style rather well and that was the case here. Droese was someone with some size who could move well, but there was only so far you could go as a wrestling garbage man.

Bob Backlund is on the beach and promises to make a big impact. Get your dictionary!

We look back at Sid joining the Million Dollar Corporation. The idea is that DiBiase got Sid to attack Shawn Michaels so Bam Bam Bigelow could get the next title shot. I’ve heard worse continuity ideas.

Doink The Clown vs. Raymond Roy

Dink is here with Doink. The chase doesn’t go well for Roy to start as Doink catches him with a suplex. Doink starts working on the arm and drops an elbow for two. More arm cranking has Roy in trouble, followed by the Whoopee Cushion. Dink adds one of his own for the pin at 3:22.

Rating: C. This version of Doink is nowhere near as entertaining as the original villain, but there is something to be said about someone who is there for a pretty clearly defined purpose. Good guy Doink is a simple character who exists to make the kids laugh. That’s not a bad thing at all and it worked well enough, at least until it is done way too often.

We get the first In Your House report, with the WWF Title match between Sid and Diesel being made official. And you can win a house!

Tag Team Titles: 1-2-3 Kid/Bob Holly vs. Owen Hart/Yokozuna

Hart and Yokozuna, with Jim Cornette, are defending. Kid takes Hart down by the arm and holds on despite some flailing. Holly comes in to stay on the arm but it’s off to Yokozuna. Holly actually manages to take him down by the hair but Yokozuna sends him outside. A ram into the steps has Holly down and Hart grabs a suplex.

The double arm crank goes on but Holly fights out. The backslide is blocked though and we take an early break. We come back with Yokozuna using the laziest nerve “hold” I’ve ever seen. It looks like he’s taking Holly’s pulse. Thankfully it’s back to Hart for an enziguri but Holly rolls him up for two.

A double clothesline puts Holly down for two and we’re back to the nerve hold. Hart’s chinlock doesn’t last long as Holly gets up for a collision. The Kid comes in to fire off the kicks, including knocking Hart out to the floor. A dive off the top is pulled out of the air though and Yokozuna crushes Kid with a belly to belly suplex to retain at 15:51.

Rating: C. This was a match that made sense and was put together well enough, with Yokozuna eventually crushing the Kid because there was no other way it could have gone. At the same time, that nerve hold takes away some points as Yokozuna couldn’t have looked less interested. Hart and Yokozuna weren’t about to lose to these two, but at least the match was treated fairly seriously.

Undertaker doesn’t want you to drink and drive.

Henry Godwinn vs. Rich Myers

Godwinn starts fast with a wheelbarrow faceplant as commentary takes a phone call from….a cartoon pig named Cornfed. The pig (a detective from the series Duckman) thinks he could beat Lawler but is a big scared of Godwinn. The Slop Drop finishes at 1:50.

Commentary hypes up next week’s show to wrap it up.

Overall Rating: C. And this is what happens when you don’t have a ton of star power on one of these shows. While it wasn’t bad, it wasn’t a show that felt interesting or important in the slightest. I do like the idea of keeping a lot of the matches shorter though, as they only have about forty five minutes a week. Let them get some people out there and see if something sticks, as they can certainly use the help.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Monday Night Raw
Date: April 10, 1995
Location: Mid-Hudson Civic Center, Poughkeepsie, New York
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler

We’re still dealing with the fallout from Wrestlemania, which last week saw Shawn Michaels dumping Sid, earning himself a beating in the process. That isn’t going to go well for Michaels, whenever he’s back to deal with Sid. Other than that, we’re about a month away from the first In Your House and the show needs to be put together. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We preview tonight’s show.

Owen Hart and Yokozuna are ready for tonight’s six man tag. Hakushi stands there.

Opening sequence.

Commentary hypes up the show.

Adam Bomb vs. Tatanka

Ted DiBiase is here with Tatanka, who hammers Bomb up against the ropes to start. A single right hand knocks Tatanka outside, followed by a running clothesline for two back inside. We take a break and come back with Tatanka knocking him into the corner, followed by a DDT for two. Bomb fights out of a chinlock and slugs away, with the clotheslines sending Tatanka outside. They fight to the floor and that’s enough for a double countout at 7:43.

Rating: C. Not much that can be done with so little time shown and that kind of an ending. As usual, the heel version of Tatanka was just lame as he was the exact same thing he was before the turn, albeit with a lot less energy. I’ve always liked Bomb, but he wasn’t getting to do much in this situation.

Headshrinkers vs. Tony DeVito/Mike Bell

This is Fatu and Sionne (Barbarian) as Samu has left. DeVito rams their heads together to start and it goes as well as you would expect. A clothesline actually takes Fatu down but Sionne gets in a cheap shot from the apron. Bell gets knocked into the wrong corner and the Superfly Splash finishes for Fatu at 2:54.

Jean-Pierre Lafitte talks about having his treasure stolen and seems to want revenge.

Bob Holly won a race.

We look back at last week, with Shawn Michaels seemingly blaming Sid for the loss to Diesel at Wrestlemania. Sid laid Michaels out, and we see the beatdown, which took place during a break for some reason. Vince just walking away as Sid beats Michaels down is rather funny for some reason. Diesel made the save after some powerbombs.

Kama vs. Scott Taylor

Before the match, Kama holds up a gold chain, which is the melted down urn (that can’t be a good idea). Kama rolls him up for a fast two but Taylor manages a quick armdrag. Back up and Kama sends him into the corner and chokes on the rope, followed by a Vader Bomb for the pin at 2:43.

We look at Alundra Blayze winning the Women’s Title last week but then being attacked by an unnamed woman. As a result, Blayze needed surgery to repair a broken nose.

The 1-2-3 Kid, Bob Holly and Bret Hart are ready for the six man tag.

You can win a house!

Yokozuna/Owen Hart/Hakushi vs. 1-2-3 Kid/Bob Holly/Bret Hart

Bret and Yokozuna start things off with Bret slugging away and handing it off to Holly. Some arm cranking doesn’t do much and it’s off to Hakushi as we take a break. We come back with Owen coming in to kick Kid down for two before Yokozuna comes in for a nerve hold. Hakushi chops away and we take another break.

We come back with Owen waving the Japanese flag and Kid fighting back against Hakushi, which is enough for the tag off to Bret. Yokozuna gets knocked down for the middle rope elbow and it’s back to Owen. Some stops have Bret in trouble but he dropkicks Owen into a rollup to give Holly the pin at 15:32.

Rating: B-. They’re trying to make Holly into a big deal and while I can appreciate the effort, there is only so much you’re going to be able to get out of someone whose deal is he drives race cars. At the same time though, it isn’t like they have many other options so this is about as good as it can be. The Harts and Hakushi were both good enough here, but the match was hardly great.

We see the introduction of Lawrence Taylor’s All Pro team at Wrestlemania as a way to entire you to buy the replay.

Overall Rating: C. A bunch of squashes and a decent main event make this a rather 1995 Raw. The show wasn’t interesting around this time and taking Shawn Michaels out of the picture wasn’t making things better. The main event felt like they were trying to do something bigger, but it only got them so far.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Monday Night Raw
Date: April 3, 1995
Location: Mid-Hudson Civic Center, Poughkeepsie, New York
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Jim Cornette

It’s the night after Wrestlemania XI and the big story is that Diesel retained the WWF Title over Shawn Michaels. Other than that…well there’s a reason you don’t hear about Wrestlemania XI all that much. Ted DiBiase won’t be happy that Bam Bam Bigelow lost to Lawrence Taylor in the main event though so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with some stills from last night’s bigger matches.

Opening sequence.

Jim Cornette is VERY happy to be managing the Tag Team Champions.

Bob Holly vs. Hakushi

The 1-2-3 Kid and Shinja are here too. Holly starts with the dropkicks and a hiptoss, which has Hakushi down again. Back up and Hakushi knocks him into the corner and avoids a high crossbody. Cue Owen Hart and Yokozuna to watch as we take a break. We come back with Hakushi working on the arm as the Kid and Hart get in a fight on the floor. Holly fights out and hits a top rope clothesline into another dropkick for two more. Yokozuna trips Holly down though and Hakushi nails a backsplash for the pin at 6:49.

Rating: C+. Not much to see here, but Hakushi was always worth at least a bit of a look. He was a different kind of star than someone you would see in the company around this time and he’s getting a chance to showcase himself. At the same time, even though he’s a champion, there is something strange about seeing Yokozuna go from being the World Champion last year to cheating to beat Bob Holly.

Jim Ross gives us one more Wrestlemania Report, which is little more than a recap of the main event. After the match, Bigelow said that he’s going to make the New Generation a better generation. We also look at Bret Hart beating Bob Backlund and Undertaker beating King Kong Bundy.

Here is Diesel for an in-ring chat. Diesel knows Shawn Michaels deserves a rematch and thinks Sid might have cost Michaels the match at Wrestlemania. The reality is that he and Michaels have been friends and Michaels can have a rematch anytime. Also, Michaels needs to know that Sid is NOT his friend. When it comes to the rematch, leave home without it.

Allied Powers vs. Well Dunn

Well pounds on Bulldog to start but the Powers hit press slams and clotheslines to clear the ring. Luger headlocks Well but Well Dunn is back with a Beverly Bomb to slow Luger down. Back up and Luger gets in another clothesline, allowing the tag off to Bulldog. Everything breaks down and a Hart Attack (forearm version) finishes Dunn at 3:43.

Rating: D. And you wonder why Luger was gone in just a few months. He could not seem to care any less if he was trying here and while that’s not exactly stunning given the competition, dang it’s rough to watch. At least the Powers’ finisher was good, though that’s about all there was to be seen here.

The Wrestlemania celebrities had fun.

Women’s Title: Bull Nakano vs. Alundra Blayze

Nakano is defending and starts fast with a dropkick into a hair toss from one corner to another. Something like an ankle lock keeps Blayze in trouble but she fights up and hits a spinwheel kick. The middle rope dropkick gives Blayze two but Nakano sits down on a sunset flip attempt for two of her own. Nakano grabs something similar to Paige’s Scorpion Crosslock before a piledriver gets another near fall.

Blayze knocks her outside for a big dive but Nakano gets in another knockdown back inside. The guillotine legdrop gives Nakano two but the bridging German suplex gives Blayze the same. Nakano shoves her outside but misses a dive, only to send Blayze into the steps. The moonsault misses though and Blayze grabs another German suplex for the pin and the title at 6:45.

Rating: C+. As has been the case far too often before, there is only so much that you can get out of a match without much time. They were going for something a bit more epic here and that didn’t work with less than seven minutes. These two worked well together and have had some far better matches, but this felt like something of an aftermath.

Post match Blayze celebrates but a mystery woman attacks her.

Men On A Mission vs. Ben Jordan/Tony Roy

This is the evil Men On A Mission and they waste no time in clearing the ring to start. And they waste no time in clearing the ring. Mo stomps away in the corner and Mabel hits a belly to belly to finish Roy at 1:47.

You could win a house at In Your House!

Here are Shawn Michaels and Sid for a chat. Michaels’ back is killing him but he knows that there is nothing more important than the WWF Title. Therefore he would love to accept Diesel’s offer of a rematch and he can live his life just fine without a bodyguard. He certainly doesn’t need a bodyguard who causes a referee to twist his ankle and cost him the WWF Title. Sid isn’t happy and goes off on Michaels as we take a break. We come back with Sid having laid Michaels out (off camera of course) and Diesel running in for the save. And that’s how Shawn Michaels turned good.

Overall Rating: C+. It wasn’t quite what you would expect from a Raw After Wrestlemania, but the Shawn deal in the end was a good way to go and felt important. Other than that you had the title change, but the wrestling itself was hardly inspiring. That’s 1995 in a nutshell, as a few people are carrying the show and the other people just kind of exist.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Monday Night Raw
Date: December 30, 1996
Location: Knickerbocker Arena, Albany, New York
Attendance: 6,855
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Jim Ross

It’s the last show of the year and we are closing in on the Royal Rumble. In this case that means we have a live show to close out 1996, which should be a decent one. Shawn Michaels is still after the WWF Title and Sid, but he doesn’t think much of Bret Hart either. I’m sure nothing will come of that so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of Michaels and Hart’s recent issues, including at It’s Time.

Hart wants to see Michaels face to face.

Michaels says Hart is out of excuses.

Opening sequence.

Faarooq/Steve Austin vs. Jesse Jammes/Savio Vega

Hold on though as Austin jumps Jammes in the aisle (apparently not a fan of his singing). Vega slugs away at Austin and is willing to go it alone but can only get so far. Faarooq plants him with a spinebuster but walks into the spinwheel kick as we see Hart watching in the back. Austin stomps away in the corner and hits a running clothesline for two. Vega fights up again and rolls over for the tag to Jammes, who has managed to get back to his feet (if that wasn’t clear).

Jammes gets knocked out to the floor and Austin beats him up even worse, apparently injuring him. Cue Hart in street clothes to take Jammes’ place (which apparently he can just do) as we take a break. We come back with Faarooq holding Vega in a chinlock as Jammes has been taken to the back. Austin comes in for his own chinlock and cuts off the comeback with a shot to the face.

Faarooq plants Vega for two more and then does his cannonballs down onto Vega’s back. Vega manages to reverse into an electric chair and Hart comes in to clean house. The Sharpshooter is loaded up on Faarooq but the Nation Of Domination comes in for the DQ at 13:30.

Rating: C. Well it was kind of a mess, but it felt like another case of “hey, you need to keep watching to see what is going on”. That’s a nice thing to see after so much dull stuff, though that doesn’t really mean this was good. Hart was only involved at the end and the DQ saved Faarooq, who needs something to do at the moment.

Post match the beatdown is on but Ahmed Johnson, in some very striped pants, makes the save.

Intercontinental Title: Flash Funk vs. Hunter Hearst Helmsley

Funk, with the Funkettes, is challenging. We get a pre-match interview from Helmsley, who says Goldust doesn’t deserve to be in the same ring as him. He’ll be showing Marlena what a real man does. Speaking of Goldust and Marlena, here they are to watch in the crowd, just like last week. Helmsley jumps him to start but Funk takes him with a quick rollup.

A backdrop and right hand have Helmsley in more trouble but he ducks a spinning crossbody. Helmsley sends him outside as Goldust and Marlena don’t look impressed. Back in and Helmsley stomps away before grabbing the reverse chinlock. We take a break and come back with Funk hiptossing his way out of an abdominal stretch but getting suplexed down.

A middle rope fist drop gives Helmsley two and he knocks Funk outside again. Back in and Funk grabs a belly to back suplex so Jerry Lawler gets off commentary to mock Goldust. Funk connects with a moonsault for two so he goes to yell at Lawler. That’s enough for Helmsley to get in a belt shot for the win at 12:13.

Rating: C+. Another nice win for Helmsley here, as he’s getting protected more often than not. What matters the most is that he is getting a nice boost and becoming a bigger deal. There are wrestlers who want the title and that’s only going to make the championship feel that much more important. Keep doing that kind of thing and see where it goes.

Post match Funk beats Helmsley up and crushes him with a 450.

Here are Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels for a face to face chat. Jim Ross brings up that Hart is facing Vader next week, with Michaels saying that he’ll be on commentary. Michaels mocks the idea of getting the first question, saying “the almighty” Hart can go first. Hart says that attitude is what he finds disrespectful. When Jose Lothario cost Michaels the WWF Title, he apologized the next day. When Michaels cost Hart the title at It’s Time, there was no apology at all.

Hart brings up the Playgirl shoot and suggests it doesn’t have much of a female audience. So whose man is Michaels? That’s enough for Michaels to take off his jacket as Hart threatens to kick his “a**”. Cue Sid, who wants competition, so cue the Undertaker. Vader comes out to jump Undertaker from behind but it’s broken up, with Undertaker stalking Vader to the back. Sid and Michaels get into it as well and Pat Patterson, with that amazing sweater, tries to break it up.

Goldust vs. Jerry Lawler

Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Honky Tonk Man are on commentary. We’re joined in progress with Helmsley distracting Goldust so Lawler can get in a cheap shot from behind. Lawler chokes away on the ropes but Goldust fights up with a running clothesline. Helmsley gets up to kidnap Marlena but Marc Mero cuts them off. This leads to a big crash and the countout at 2:49.

Marlena is hurt to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. Definitely a somewhat better show this week, with the focus being more on the titles. If the WWF and Intercontinental Titles are treated as a bigger deal, the whole show is going to feel more important. That’s what we need to be seeing here, especially with the Royal Rumble coming up so soon.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Monday Night Raw
Date: December 23, 1996
Location: Ice Palace, Tampa, Florida
Attendance: 2,925
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler

The Royal Rumble is still coming up and other than the show’s namesake match, we also have Sid defending the WWF Title against Shawn Michaels in a rematch from the Survivor Series. The show is going to need a few more matches than that and we might find some of them out here. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Intercontinental Title: Marc Mero vs. Hunter Hearst Helmsley

Helmsley is defending and can lose the title by DQ or countout. Goldust and Marlena are watching from the crowd as Mero slugs away to start. Mero chases Jerry Lawler (who helped beat him down last week) to the back before snapping off a Japanese armdrag to Helmsley. Back up and Helmsley sends him outside in a big crash for a ram into the steps.

Mero comes back in with a sunset flip for two and we take a break. We come back with Helmsley grabbing a delayed vertical suplex and dropping the knee for two. Mero is back with a running knee lift and a Samoan drop. The Merosault misses though and the Pedigree retains the title at 9:30.

Rating: C+. As usual, it helps to have a nice match with two people who know what they’re doing in the ring. They got a bit of time as well and the story is tied together well enough after the last few weeks. Helmsley is getting a nice rub out of this as well and that’s the big idea of the whole thing.

Post match Mero has to be held back from going after Helmsley again. Helmsley grabs the mic and says this must mean he’s facing Goldust at the Royal Rumble. He promises to show Goldust what it’s like to be a real man and Marlena will see what it’s like to be WITH a real man. That’s enough for Goldust to chase Helmsley off.

We look back at Billy Gunn injuring his neck against Bart Gunn last week. Over the weekend, Bart Gunn called in to Livewire to talk about how sorry he was for what happened.

Rocky Maivia vs. Salvatore Sincere

Sunny (impressed with Maivia) is on commentary and Jim Cornette is here with Sincere. Maivia gets shouldered down and nips right back up to hammer away. Sincere’s side slam gets two and Sunny is rather concerned about Maivia. That doesn’t last long as Maivia fights up, hits a clothesline, and grabs the shoulderbreaker for the pin at 5:47. Sunny is VERY pleased.

Rating: C. Sunny was the star of this match as she had the charisma turned up to about an eleven. Her looks helped get her over but she was a star because she knew how to act in front of a camera. That was on full display here, with the match itself being pretty much nothing more than a way to get Sunny involved.

Here is Sid for a chat (with his always cool SID pyro) as Shawn Michaels is watching from the back. With his music playing throughout, Sid brags about his recent success and promises to keep the title.

Cibernetico/Pierroth vs. New Rockers

Mil Mascaras is on Spanish commentary as Pierroth takes Cassidy down by the arm to start. Back up and Pierroth runs him over and hits a running dropkick. Cibernetico comes in to take Jannetty down but Cassidy gets in a cheap shot from the apron to take over. A basement dropkick to the back of the head has Cibernetico in more trouble and we take a break. We come back with Cibernetico’s sunset flip getting two and he raises his boots to cut Cassidy off. Pierroth comes back in for a powerbomb and Cibernetico dives onto Cassidy. A top rope splash gives Pierroth the pin at 7:23.

Rating: C+. Well they were different, but there is a reason that this AAA crossover isn’t exactly well remembered. There’s just nothing here that makes me care about them, as they’re doing some cool moves but that’s about it. Give me a reason to get behind them or go against them and it would be that much better.

Post match Mascaras talks about being excited for the Royal Rumble. Vince: “Another award winning interview by JR.”

Various wrestlers are in the Royal Rumble.

Bret Hart vs. Razor Ramon

Honky Tonk Man is on commentary due to whatever reason. Hart works on the arm to start as Honky Tonk Man talks about looking for his new protege. Ramon fights back and stomps away, followed by a lifting choke. The reverse chinlock goes on, followed by a weird looking clothesline to the back of the head to put Hart on the floor. Hart wins a slugout on the floor and posts him as we take a break. We come back with the middle rope elbow setting up the Sharpshooter for the submission at 9:37.

Rating: C. Nothing to see here, which is the case with Ramon over and over. There is only so much you can get out of something like he and Diesel, because the two of them still feel like they’re cosplays of famous stars. Hart is someone who can do a lot, but even he is limited with this situation with the focus being on the Honky Tonk Man for a long stretch.

Shawn Michaels still isn’t impressed and is coming for the WWF Title.

Overall Rating: C. Gah the Royal Rumble cannot get here soon enough as this was another mediocre, at best, show. They’re trying whatever they can do at this point and almost nothing is clicking. The main event scene is working well enough, but that’s nowhere near enough to carry a one hour show. More weak stuff here, and that’s going to need to change.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Monday Night Raw
Date: December 16, 1996
Location: Ice Palace, Tampa, Florida
Attendance: 2,925
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler

We’re done with It’s Time and Sid is still the WWF Champion, having defeated Bret Hart. That means we are off to the Royal Rumble next month, which happens to be in Shawn Michaels’ hometown of San Antonio, Texas. I’m sure that won’t lead anywhere special so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Here is Bret Hart to get things going. Hart isn’t going to make excuses, but there is no good reason for him not being the WWF Champion. Things have changed since he came back and you don’t know who your friends are right now. There are no rules around here and that’s fine by him. Shawn Michaels, “you little pu**y”, has been out for Hart since the beginning and Hart will do everything to get back on top. He’s officially entering the Royal Rumble and now he’s going to join commentary.

Steve Austin vs. Vader

This could be interesting and Jim Cornette is here with Vader. This is also a toughman match, which basically means anything goes. Austin yells at Vader to start and is promptly hammered down in the corner. Vader knocks him down again and then does the standing splash but Austin hits the Thesz press. Austin slugs him down to the floor and we take a break.

We come back with the two of them slugging away on the floor until Vader sends him over the barricade. The violence is fine with Austin, who wins the brawl in the crowd and sends him back to ringside. Vader gets in a shot of his own but the Vader Bomb is broken up with a low blow. A backdrop sends Austin to the floor and Hart grabs the Sharpshooter on him for the DQ at 8:03.

Rating: B. These guys beat the fire out of each other and it made for a good fight. It’s not much of a surprise that these two worked so well together, as Austin is more than capable of having a brawl with anyone and Vader knows how to fight with the best of them. This was a lot of fun and a nice upgrade after recent weeks.

Post match Hart and Vader get into it before Hart puts the Sharpshooter on Austin again. It’s broken up and Austin crawls away.

We go back to last night where Ahmed Johnson yelled about the Nation Of Domination, who interrupted him, earning a bunch of shouting from Johnson.

Diesel/Razor Ramon vs. Godwinns

Ramon and Phineas start things off with Phineas knocking him out to the floor in a hurry. Back in and Ramon gets dropped again, with Henry slamming Phineas onto him. It’s off to Diesel as JR continues singing their praises as much as he can. The Godwinns take turns working on Diesel’s arm until Ramon gets in a cheap shot. Ramon’s armbar has Henry in some trouble but he manages to make a quick comeback on Diesel. Phineas comes in to clean house as everything breaks down. The Slop Drop puts Ramon down but Diesel is back in with a not so great jackknife to Phineas for the pin at 6:26.

Rating: D. They’re not any good. I’m not sure why the WWF keeps insisting on putting these guys out there over and over but it gets worse and worse every single time. Then you move on to Ramon and Diesel, who continue to be one of the worst ideas they’ve ever had, which is impressive even by the WWF’s standards. Another bad match, which you have to expect from these two….things.

Sid says no one can beat him and he has no doubt that he’ll beat Shawn Michaels again at the Royal Rumble. Jose Lothario better stay at home.

Michaels is ready to get the title back and warns Sid not to disrespect Lothario. He won’t be crying like Bret Hart though and he’ll lay it all on the line at the Royal Rumble. And Hart is still not him.

Doug Furnas/Philip LaFon vs. TL Hopper/Dr. X

We’re joined in progress with Furnas snapping off a suplex to Hopper before grabbing a triangle choke. That’s broken up so it’s off to LaFon for a faceplant, followed by a doctor bomb from X (who is pretty clearly Tom Pritchard). Everything breaks down and a cobra clutch suplex finishes Hopper at 3:16.

Rating: C-. You can’t get very far with something like this, as Furnas and LaFon were a talented yet not so interesting team. You can only get so much out of having them squash a random team, even if they were hitting some of their bigger stuff. I can go with a different kind of team, but Furnas and LaFon need something better than this.

Billy Gunn is ready to prove he’s the top gun.

It’s time for Jerry Lawler vs. Sable in the Karate Fighters Tournament final. Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Marc Mero are the seconds here, because we need those in something like this. Sable wins but Lawler accuses her of cheating and the brawl is on. Mero gets beaten down until Goldust makes the save. Goldust clears the ring and Lawler gets on him for being mad at Helmsley for making a pass at Marlena. Lawler tries to suggest that Goldust is….different….before flat out saying he’s a “qu***.” Goldust says no and decks Lawler. Well that didn’t go well.

Classie Freddie Blassie conducts a WWF choir who sing a WWF version of O Tannenbaum (O Powerbomb, featuring lyrics about Sycho Sid).

Billy Gunn vs. Bart Gunn

Bart clotheslines him down to start and we take a break about fifteen seconds in. We come back with Billy hammering away in the corner and grabbing a chinlock as Vince talks about the various replays of It’s Time due to some technical difficulties in the original broadcast. Billy neckbreakers him into another chinlock but Bart fights up with a hot shot…and Billy hurts his neck. The match is stopped at 6:44.

Rating: C. So this was the WWF’s version of trying to do something shocking to end the show, as the Attitude Era style is starting to come together. There is only so much that you can get out of the Smoking Gunns coming to blows though, and having the ending be so obvious didn’t help either. Nothing to this one, which shouldn’t be the biggest surprise.

Post match Bart is distraught as their wives come in to freak out. After a break, Billy is loaded onto a stretcher to end the show.

Overall Rating: C-. Austin and Vader were trying but there is only so much you can do with that short of an amount of time. Other than that, it’s the fallout from a boring pay per view and the very long away start of a build towards the Royal Rumble. It’s going to take some time to get that show ready and it’s not like things are overly interesting around this point anyway. Not a good show, but Austin and Vader is worth a look.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Monday Night Raw
Date: December 9, 1996
Location: New Haven Coliseum, New Haven, Connecticut
Attendance: 4,968
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler

After last week’s less than thrilling show, it’s time to do something else to pick up the pace. Therefore, this week it’s the Undertaker vs. Mankind in a no holds barred match. I’m not sure how that is going to go, but even a short form version of those two fighting each other is worth a look. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a look back at Undertaker vs. Mankind.

Sid vs. Hunter Hearst Helmsley

Non-title. Sid jumps him in the aisle to start fast and sends him inside. The clothesline puts Helmsley back on the floor and there’s the chokeslam into the powerbomb. Helmsley crawls out for the countout at 2:57.

We look at the Boiler Room Brawl, with Mankind beating Undertaker at Summerslam 1996.

Goldust vs. Bart Gunn

Marlena is here with Goldust, who jumps Gunn to start. Gunn gets dropped throat first across the top rope and Goldust sends him outside to keep up the beating. Some shots to the ribs don’t get Gunn very far as Goldust grabs a suplex back inside. Billy Gunn is shown watching in the back and doesn’t think much of Bart’s efforts. Goldust grabs the chinlock for a bit before Gunn misses a charge into the buckle. We take a break and come back with Gunn hammering away in the corner. A running crossbody and bulldog give Gunn two but he misses a spinning high crossbody. Goldust chop blocks him for the pin at 5:59.

Rating: C. Eventually they’ll figure out that Gunn isn’t interesting but it might take some time to get there. At least Goldust got the win here, even if it was kind of a weird way to get there. Just not much of an interesting match, with the highlight being Billy’s rather snazzy cowboy outfit.

Post match here is Billy to say HE won the Tag Team Titles, with Bart just being along for the ride. Bart fights up and chases Billy off, limping as he goes.

Uncle Zebekiah and Justin Bradshaw are ready to make Jesse Jammes squeal.

We preview the Karate Fighters finals. Yes.

Justin Bradshaw vs. Jesse Jammes

Rematch from last week and Uncle Zebekiah is here with Bradshaw. Jammes jumps Bradshaw to start and even takes out Zebekiah. A Japanese armdrag takes Bradshaw down for two but he sends Jammes outside. Back in and Bradshaw and Zebekiah hammer away (the referee does at least chastise Zebekiah) as I guess this is a handicap match. Jammes rolls Zebekiah up for two but Bradshaw makes the save.

The double teaming in the corner is broken up but Bradshaw cuts him off with a side slam. Jammes comes back with a middle rope clothesline and loads up the pumphandle slam, which is broken up just as fast. Bradshaw grabs a full nelson and Zebekiah brings in his branding iron but hits Bradshaw by mistake, giving Jammes the pin at 5:49.

Rating: C. It’s a bad sign when I’m not even sure what the rules are for the match. That being said, I’ll take this over another singles match between the two of them, as they are only so good in the ring in the first place. This hasn’t been the most thrilling feud, but at least they mixed it up a bit here.

Post match Bradshaw beats Zebekiah up.

Here is Bret Hart for a chat about this title match with Sid at It’s Time. We recap Hart’s recent issues with Steve Austin, which lead to his issues with Sid. Hart has wanted to be WWF Champion again for the last six months and Sid is the only thing in his way. When Sid snaps, people call him Psycho, but when Hart snaps, they’ll call him the WWF Champion. That’s a great line to wrap it up.

Undertaker vs. Mankind

Anything goes and Paul Bearer is here with Mankind and his early distraction earns Mankind a boot to the face. The chokeslam hits less than a minute in but here is the Executioner to break up the Tombstone. Undertaker stalks him to the back and we take a break. We come back with Mankind hammering away on the floor but Undertaker goes after the Mandible Claw hand.

Said hand is stomped and crushed on the steps but Mankind takes out the leg. They’re quickly back on the floor, with Undertaker being sent knees first into the steps. Mankind drops the apron elbow onto the leg and they’re back in, with Undertaker barely being able to stand. They’re already back on the floor, with Undertaker throwing him over the announcers’ table.

We take another break and come back again with Mankind using a drop toehold of all things to escape a chokeslam attempt. Undertaker kicks and punches a chair into Mankind’s face but Mankind is fine enough to grab the Mandible Claw. That’s broken up with a ram into the corner though and Undertaker hits the Tombstone for the pin at 16:17.

Rating: B-. Not their best match, but it’s hard to beat what they’ve done before. What matters the most is that they were able to beat the living daylights out of each other for a good while, which is what they do as well as anyone else at the moment. Undertaker getting a clean win is a bit of a surprise, and the match did feel big for the show.

Post match Executioner comes in to choke Undertaker out to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. The main event helped it a lot and that’s the best thing on the entire card. Hart vs. Sid should be fine for a B show main event, with Hart’s closing line being a nice preview for the match. Other than that though, there wasn’t much to see on here, which was the case for a lot of shows around this time.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6