September 11, 1995
From the Canton Civic Center in Canton, OH
Your hosts are Vince McMahon and Jerry “The King” Lawler
We get hype videos for tonight’s Shawn Michaels vs. Sid Intercontinental Title Match and for the British Bulldog vs. Razor Ramon match.
This show also features a new opening segment that sees the wrestlers on top of Titan Towers with a mock crowd. We also get new name graphics and other production wrinkles.
Razor Ramon vs. British Bulldog w/ Jim Cornette
Before the match we see the clip of Razor attacking Dean Douglas at SummerSlam. Vince mentions Bulldog facing Bam Bam Bigelow at In Your House as Cornette is yelling at Razor. We cut to some large woman in the crowd screaming “USA” as Vince welcomes Sky Sports viewers in Europe to watch RAW for the first time. Razor clothelines Bulldog over the top rope as Lawler brings up Bulldog defeating Bret Hart at Wembley Stadium and still never got a World Title. Razor now toys with Bulldog as he applies an armbar. Bulldog gets out and backs Razor into the corner and fires away. Bulldog hits a delayed vertical suplex then targets the back with forearm smashes. Lawler alerts us that Dean Douglas will be critiquing this match tonight as Bulldog uses a mat slam to stop a comeback attempt from Razor. Vince brings up the injuries Razor sustained from the ladder match at SummerSlam as Bulldog hits a press slam. We go to break then return as Bulldog slams Razor again for a two count. He sets up for the running powerslam but Razor grabs the ropes and falls on top of Bulldog for a two count. Bulldog heads up after a slam but Razor gets up and slams him off. Razor knocks down Bulldog then hits a fallaway slam for a two count. Razor now gets Bulldog up for the Razor’s Edge but accidentally hits the ref. Razor goes to cover but we now see Dean Douglas run over in his street clothes and hit Razor with a flying knee drop. Kid runs in but Douglas quickly dumps him outside then runs backstage. Bulldog then gets up and hits Razor with the running powerslam but Kid comes off of the top to try and break up the pin then ends up accidentally hitting Razor as the match is ruled a DQ in Bulldog’s favor despite Kid hitting Razor (7:04) *1/2. After the match, Bulldog clotheslines Kid then Cornette stomps Kid and Razor after Bulldog took him out again.
Thoughts: The action was not anything special with both guys really going through the motions until the finish. They were trying to push on commentary how Douglas outsmarted Kid & Razor but really he just attacked Kid then ran away and Kid decided to attack Bulldog but inadvertently hit Razor. The whole presentation makes Kid & Razor look like losers as Bulldog beat them both down afterwards with Cornette even stomping away on both men.
After the break, Vince is in the ring with both Kid and Razor. Kid asks Razor why he cost him his match against Douglas on “Superstars” after Vince put over Douglas’s intellect. We also learn that Razor vs. Douglas will take place at In Your House. Kid is sick of Razor treating him like a little kid and challenges him to a match as Lawler is laughing at all of this on commentary. Vince says that Kid is getting carried away but Kid says if he has to beat Razor once again to finally get some respect then he will do so next week. Kid then leaves as Razor doesn’t believe what happened. Razor says that anything can happen in the WWF and how he made history at SummerSlam. Razor talks about Douglas wanting to take him to school and on top of all that his “little buddy” 1-2-3 Kid, the person he made famous, wants a piece. Razor then says if he wants it and the fans want it and even if it Vince wants it then we got it. First, we learn that Razor vs. Douglas is in fact happening at In Your House. Also, we get Razor vs. Kid last week with as we see that Kid feels treated like a Kid by Razor, who is more or less treating him like a kid here. Better than both men getting laid out by Bulldog but both Vince & Razor giving Kid shit here when Razor cost Kid his match on “Superstars” was a little much.
We get an ad for next week’s Yokozuna & Owen Hart vs. Men on a Mission match. This was made by fan-favorite WWF Interim President Gorilla Monsoon because he thinks its what the fans want.
Smoking Gunns vs. Rad Radford & Brooklyn Brawler
We get a plug for Dean Douglas appearing on an AOL chat tomorrow night. We also see that Radford has been downgraded to a TV enhancement talent. Radford & Brawler attack the Gunns from behind to start. The Gunns fight back and work over Brawler for a bit. Radford knees Bart in the back from the apron and Brawler stomps away. The heels work over Bart and use quick tags until Bart slams Brawler off of the top rope. Billy tags and runs wild then the Gunns put Brawler away with the Sidewinder (2:47).
Thoughts: Basic match here as maybe one day The Gunns will get a title shot. The act is only mild responses since they’ve been directionless for over two years now.
A new Goldust vignette. He’s wearing a gold top hat while standing in the dark overlooking the city. He talks about the Creatures of the Night and how they follow the footsteps of their leader, Undertaker. Another promo that sees Goldust talk about a top babyface. They are not bad at all.
Still to come, Shawn Michaels vs. Sid for the Intercontinental Title.
Dr. Isaac Yankem DDS vs. Scott Taylor
Vince wonders why Gorilla did not suspend Lawler for what he did at SummerSlam as Lawler said he was within his rights after Bret said something awful about his mother. Yankem beats on Taylor in the corner as the announcers continue to talk about the feud with Bret. Yankem hits a chokeslam and stays in control as Lawler makes fun of Bret for being too stupid to operate a computer. Yankem then drops Taylor throat-first across of the top rope then hits a DDT that he calls the DDS for the win (2:14).
Thoughts: Crowd was dead but they are continuing with the Bret/Yankem feud.
What’s Happening In Your House with Todd Pettengill. He cracks a joke about NBC moving “Mad About You” to Sunday night’s since I guess they are pissed at the network about cancelling the WrestleMania special at the last minute during the Summer. It was a topical joke I suppose but still it was out of spite. We learn that WWF Interim President Gorilla Monsoon put in a stipulation that a DQ or countout would cause the loser to surrender their belt or belts. Also, Savio Vega vs. Waylon Mercy has been added to the PPV. As you remember from the Ross Report on Action Zone, he mentioned rumors of Jim Cornette telling his men to get counted out or DQ’ed if they were in trouble to keep the titles, Interesting match added as you’d figure Mercy would get the win with all of the attention his character had been receiving but Savio is also in need of a win himself.
Mayor of Merchandise, Barry Didinsky, is selling us the Shawn Michaels hat & gunslasses for just $25 that also comes with the free LT poster.
After Sid comes to the ring, Shawn is backstage and says tonight he closes the final chapter with Sid then acts creeped out walking past a ladder.
WWF Intercontinental Title Match: Sid w/ Ted DiBiase vs. Shawn Michaels (c)
Sid misses an attack in the corner then Shawn fires away. Shawn hits a dropkick after a reversal sequence then takes Sid back down with a flying forearm. Sid bails as Shawn makes fun of him as we see Sid huddle with DiBiase in the aisle. Lawler stresses the size difference between the two wrestlers as Vince wonders if Sid will be the new Intercontinental Champion. Shawn bounces off of Sid then is tossed over the top rope but skins-the-cat and returns to dropkick Sid through the ropes. Sid returns and grabs a side headlock then catches Shawn with a spinebuster. Sid roughs up Shawn in the corner as Vince talks up Shawn’s injuries from SummerSlam. Shawn gets whipped into the corner and ends up across the ropes as Sid kicks him onto the apron then to the floor. Sid heads out and drops Shawn on the apron and returns to the ring to distract the ref as DiBiase stomps away. Shawn is on the ground as Vince talks about Shawn not yet being recuperated from the ladder match. Shawn just beats the ten count as we go to break then return with Sid using a bearhug. Shawn escapes but runs into a boot then Sid takes him down with a side headlock. Sid kips up and hits a chokeslam in a nifty spot then taunts the crowd. Sid then sets up for the powerbomb and takes his sweet time but Shawn counters with a back drop. Shawn fights back and fires away then heads up top with a flying body press for a two count. Sid boots Shawn but whiffs on a clothesline and Shawn hits the super kick (technically it was a thrust kick and two super kicks) we heard about on Nitro and gets the win (7:24 shown) **1/2. DiBiase is pissed after the match as Shawn kips up and celebrates with Vince gushing on commentary about the WWF New Generation. Shawn then dances around as Vince calls it a show after the show as Shawn pulls down the trunks over his pants and flings it around then teases pulling his pants off but stops as the camera cuts to women in the crowd.
Thoughts: Solid but formulaic match and the best you can hope for with Sid involved. Shawn gets the win in this hyped match up and will go on to In Your House then likely find a new challenger as long as he retains. This loss also sees Sid slide further down the card and how the Million Dollar Corporation is nothing more than a tired, midcard stable with stale acts.
The In Your House ad airs.
We head backstage and see Shawn celebrate with Diesel. Dok Hendrix interrupts to ask them about the triple header at In Your House. Shawn talks about they will beat Owen & Yokozuna then move on to bigger and better things as Diesel says no-t only are they “two dudes with attitudes” but they will be “two chaps with all the straps.”
Preview for next week is shown as we get the aforementioned Yokozuna & Owen Hart vs. Men on a Mission Match and Razor Ramon & 1-2-3 Kid matches that we see previews of since they are taped shows. Kid is seen attacking Razor as Razor got into the ring then there is a shot of Kid crying.
Final Thoughts: I thought the show itself was focused and the main event was decent. The new production helped refresh the show I thought but the new coats of paint are not able to mask the fact this promotion is struggling with top acts and even midcard depth. With this show being taped more two weeks prior it lead to WCW making all sorts of remarks on commentary such as Eric Bischoff giving away the result of Shawn vs. Sid before it took place and how the current WWF champion could not make it past “midcard status” in WCW. As well as Luger wanting to leave WWF and go where the “big boys play” and where there is better competition. As far as the ratings, RAW lost to Nitro as Nitro drew a 2.5 rating and 3.8 share as opposed to RAW doing a 2.2 rating and a 3.2 share so chalk up the victory of WCW.
Here is my schedule for the next several days:
Wednesday: WWF Superstars 9/16/95
Thursday: WWF Monday Night RAW 9/18/95
Friday: WWF Superstars 9/23/95
Saturday: WWF In Your House 3 9/24/95
Sunday: WWF Monday Night RAW 9/25/95
Monday: WWF Superstars 9/30/95
Tuesday: WWF Monday Night RAW 10/2/95