WWF Monday Night RAW – May 8th, 1995

May 8, 1995

From the Omaha Civic Center in Omaha, NE

Your hosts are Vince McMahon and Jerry “The King” Lawler

This week, we have Owen Hart vs. Bart Gunn and Jeff Jarrett vs. Doink

We get a video package from last week where Sid attacked Razor Ramon before their match and laid him out with two powerbombs until Diesel ran him off. Vince says we will find out why Sid attacked Razor on this show.

The hosts are at ringside as Lawler claims that Bret Hart has insulted him and his family and started the “Burger King” chants as he promises to finish him off at In Your House.

Clips of yesterday’s “Action Zone” when Jeff Jarrett beat Bob Holly to reclaim the Intercontinental Title.

Jeff Jarrett w/ The Roadie vs. Doink w/ Dink

This is a non-title match. But first, we go back to one year ago on “Superstars” when Jarrett, dressed as Doink, harassed on the interview platform after an interview with Jerry Lawler. Doink fires away then catches Jarrett with a back elbow smash. Doink runs over Jarrett but gets tripped up by Roadie. Jarrett misses a charge in the corner as Doink now works the arm. Jarrett trips up Doink but misses an elbow drop as Doink goes back to the arm. We see Roadie polishing the Intercontinental Title belt as the announcers talk about Razor vs. Jarrett & Roadie at In Your House. Doink takes Roadie off of the apron with a stunner then rolls up Jarrett for a two count. Jarrett uses a mat slam on Doink and follows with a clothesline. Jarrett runs Dink off of the apron and goes back to attacking Doink. Jarrett struts around as Roadie holds up the title belt and fends off an attack by Doink to regain control. Doink uses a sunset flip for two but Jarrett goes back on offense. We head to break and return with Jarrett still in control. Jarrett now works the leg and ducks an enziguiri as he points to his head and shows us how he’s smart. Vince hypes the interview with Sid later on in the show as Jarrett now uses a single leg crab. The announcers talk about Bob Backlund’s announcement next week as Doink puts Jarrett in a sleeper. Doink then hits a DDT and fires away as Lawler also has a surprise announcement for us later on tonight. Doink whips Jarrett into the corner and Dink bites Jarrett in the ass. However, the ref is tied up with Dink and Roadie comes in to chop block Doink. Jarrett now puts Doink in the figure four and ends up getting the win after Vince was screaming about Doink not beating a quitter (7:24 shown) **.

Thoughts: The match itself was a fine TV match and I know they really want to get over The Roadie but man can’t the Intercontinental Champion get a clean pin on a lower-card talent? The announcers also spent a lot of time hyping Sid’s interview for later on in the show.

The Bodydonnas debut vignette is shown.

We get a taped interview with Bam Bam Bigelow as he reflects on the past few months. He realized that Lawrence Taylor was not in attendance to make fun of him but rather to have a good time, which is what the WWF New Generation is all about. Bigelow then says while some people say he got beat by a “football player” he was beaten by an all-time great football player and the best athlete he has ever faced in his life. Bigelow says that he felt great two weeks ago in his match against Diesel but Diesel felt a bit greater and won. Bigelow respects Diesel then says his future in the WWF will burn brighter than before and vows to deal with each and every member of The Corporation. And it starts next week when he faces IRS. Total babyface interview for Bigelow here but he came across as lame and pandering, which is still a problem with how the company portrays babyfaces today.

A video package on Sid airs.

Vince now welcomes Sid & Ted DiBiase into the ring. DiBiase wants to clear up the allegations that he has been in cahoots with Sid for longer than announced. He address Shawn Michaels and claims he first suggested to him that he needed a bodyguard and should select Sid as Sid is shown laughing. DiBiase tells us that Sid is the new crowning jewel of The Corporation then says that at In Your House, will finally have the WWF World Title. Sid now references the greatest lion in Africa and then calls himself the master of the WWF. Sid then promises to drive Diesel through the mat at In Your House and afterwards will rule the world. I liked Sid’s part but we are getting an awful lot of retcon for Shawn’s turn.

A hype video for next week’s Bam Bam Bigelow vs. IRS match.

Hakushi w/ Shinja vs. Gary Scott

Vince says that Hakushi & Shinja were in Calgary, Alberta over the weekend and how Jim Ross has the scoop on the Superstar Line as Lawler says no one is supposed to know about this. The announcers talk about Bret vs. Hakushi at In Your House as Lawler gets in more digs at Helen Hart. We hear “we want Bret” chants as Hakushi beats on Scott. Lawler says his announcement will be soon as Scott uses a crossbody for a two count. Hakushi fights back and hits a release brainbuster on Scott before taunting the crowd. Hakushi stays in control and hits a springboard splash for the win (2:50).

Thoughts: An easy win for match and Hakushi & Shinja being in Calgary is obviously due to the fact its where Bret is from so let’s see if the fallout of that is addressed going forward.

In Your House Report with Todd Pettengill. Todd sells the $14.95 price point and how its “almost” two hours of WWF action. And, adds that there is not an encore presentation of this show so if you want to see it you have to order on Sunday.

Owen Hart w/ Jim Cornette & Mr. Fuji vs. Bart Gunn w/ Billy Gunn

Vince jokes that Backlund’s announcement is that he is in fact Duckman. Lawler then says Duckman is cool, unlike Ren & Stimpy. Bart runs Owen through the ropes but Fuji distracts him and that allows Owen to run in from behind with the sneak attack. Bart fights back and uses a crossbody for two before grabbing a chin lock. Vince wonders if Yokozuna is not here due to The Headshrinkers taking too much out of him this past weekend on “Superstars.” Bart catches Owen with a slam then drops an elbow for a two count. Owen elbows Bart then knocks him down but is caught with a side slam for a two count. Fuji then trips up Bart and Owen attacks. Owen rams Bart into the post and chokes him out before hitting a reverse neckbreaker for two. Bart comes back with a sunset flip for two but Owen takes him back down with an enziguiri. We go to break and return with Owen beating on Bart. Owen clotheslines Bart for a two count as Lawler talks more trash about Bret. Bart blocks a suplex and places Owen up top but Cornette grabs Bart’s leg and he falls off trying a superplex as the ref was distracted. However, Billy runs over and crotches Owen and after that Bart uses a rollup for the win (6:36) **1/4.

Thoughts: Solid action with the babyfaces outsmarting the heels and getting some momentum heading into the title match at the PPV.

More footage of the home you can win from this weekend’s episode of “Mania.”

Clips from last week where Bret accepts Lawler’s challenge of a match at In Your House.

Lawler then talks about humiliating Bret at In Your House and says he will have his own mother at ringside for the PPV.

Final Thoughts: Not too much other than last minute hype In Your House as it was the final RAW before the show. The featured matches were not marquee but good enough for TV. Sid is being primed as an unstoppable force that the champion has to slay in order to retain. Lawler’s big announcement was saying his mom will be on the PPV so let’s see how that plays out and they really are starting with the Bigelow face turn with his promo. Next week we will see the fallout and build towards the next PPV, King of the Ring.

Here is my schedule for the next several days:

Monday: WWF Providence Civic Center: 5/12/95

Tuesday: WWF Superstars 5/13/95

Wednesday: WWF Boston Garden 5/13/95

Thursday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 5/14/95, WWF Action Zone 5/14/95

Friday: WWF In Your House: The Premiere 5/14/95

Saturday: WWF Monday Night RAW 5/15/95

Sunday: WWF Danbury, CT 5/16/95: Jeff Jarrett vs. British Bulldog Ladder Match for the Intercontinental Title