What the World Was Watching: WWF Monday Night RAW – April 12, 1993

WWF Tag Team Champions Money Incorporated pay the Beverly Brothers for information on the Steiner Brothers.

Vince McMahon, Rob Barlett, and Randy Savage are commentating, live from Poughkeepsie, New York. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the show drew a crowd of 3,500, most of which did not have to pay for their tickets because a previous WWF event had a lot of no-shows, so fans were allowed to bring their tickets for that card to this one and have it redeemed.

Opening Contest: Scott Steiner (w/Rick Steiner) beats Irwin R. Schyster (w/Ted DiBiase) via disqualification when DiBiase interferes at 9:52 shown:

IRS tells fans before the bout that they need to get their taxes in on time to avoid penalties. This match is the kickoff of the Steiner Brothers-Money Incorporated feud and it puts over how the Tag Team champions are overmatched. Scott outwrestles IRS in amateur sequences and is only stopped by DiBiase’s interference on the arena floor. After surviving some rest holds, Scott has IRS dead to rights after a double underhook suplex so DiBiase runs in to prevent his partner from getting pinned. Rating: **

After the bell, the Steiners beat up Money Incorporated and prepare to give DiBiase a Steinerizer but the Beverly Brothers run in. Heel miscommunication happens when DiBiase holds Scott in place for a Beverly double clothesline and a shoving match breaks out. The Beverlys knock IRS to the floor and McMahon suggests that the Beverlys have challenged the Tag Team champions.

Tatanka (13-0) pins Von Krus after the Papoose to Go at 4:00:

McMahon uses this match as an opportunity to encourage fans to buy the WrestleMania IX replay, which will air after RAW. Doink the Clown walks out during the squash and squirts fans and the cameraman with water. It is not Matt Borne as he was on the WWF’s European tour, so the WWF is learning that they can throw anyone under the costume and fans are none the wiser. There is no interaction between Doink and Tatanka so that is not a new feud. Tatanka does a lot of moves in a long squash and ring announcer Howard Finkel puts over how he is “still undefeated” after winning. Being undefeated seems to be the most important aspect of Tatanka’s gimmick.

Sean Mooney does a WrestleMania IX Report that plugs the replay that airs at 10 p.m. and some of the action. One wonders how many people wanted to buy a replay that would not wrap up until after midnight on a weekday.

Bartlett talks to Luna Vachon, who says that the only thing big about Sensational Sherri are her breasts. Bartlett takes up for Sherri and Sherri comes to the ring. Sherri blames Bartlett for bringing Vachon on the show and laughs at Vachon’s threats. She attacks Vachon and rips some of Bartlett’s clothes off. Each woman rips some of the clothes off the other and they brawl into the crowd until WWF officials intervene. The crowd was hot for most of this but the brawling started to overstay its welcome after a while.

After a commercial break, Savage interviews Sherri, only to have Vachon come back out. Sherri rips Vachon’s top off but nothing is shown as some road agents come out and haul her away. Sherri tells fans that she will fight Vachon anytime. Savage and Sherri raise their hands together, overcoming any hard feelings from WrestleMania VII.

Papa Shango (5-3) beats Scott Taylor after the reverse shoulderbreaker at 2:24:

McMahon tells fans that contract negotiations are ongoing between Money Incorporated and the Beverly Brothers for a match next week. A bruised Bartlett returns to ringside with his clothes torn to shreds. He collapses near the ring, so Savage revives him with a slap to the face. When the camera returns to the match, Shango wins with his finisher.

Friar Ferguson pins Chris Duffy after a butt splash at 4:22:

Ferguson was Mike Shaw, a trainee of Killer Kowalski who began his career in Vancouver’s NWA All Star Wrestling in 1980. He had a long run in Stampede Wrestling in the 1980s, working as Makhan Singh and winning the North American Heavyweight Championship three times and International Tag Team Championship. In late 1989 he jumped to WCW as a former insane asylum inmate called Norman the Lunatic and feuded with Kevin Sullivan. He transitioned to a short-lived gimmick as Trucker Norm before leaving the company and working for Global and Mexico’s EMLL promotion until 1992.

Duffy was another Killer Kowalski trainee going on his eighth year in the business. He had been doing enhancement matches for the WWF since 1986. In 1992 he made three appearances, losing to the Legion of Doom, Beverly Brothers, and the Undertaker.

The Ferguson gimmick is of a happy, simple Catholic friar along the lines of Friar Tuck in Robin Hood. The WWF’s original plan was to make the character a heel as Shaw had worked dark matches as the Mad Monk. The character comes to the ring to a Gregorian chant, has a wooden walking stick, and wears a robe. It is not a good debut as Ferguson appears immobile, slowly moving around and making it seem like Duffy is wrestling himself. Fans boo when Ferguson picks Duffy up after a splash, keeping the match going until he blocks a sunset flip with a butt splash. After the bout, Ferguson sprays some water down a willing fan’s throat. This was the only match for the Ferguson gimmick because of how poorly it was received.

A video package of Todd Pettengill talking to fans from different countries at WrestleMania airs.

WWF Tag Team Champions Money Incorporated have a backstage interview with the commentators interrupted by a Beverly Brothers attack.

Tune in next week to see WWF Tag Team Champions Money Incorporated face the Beverly Brothers! Also, Virgil battles Razor Ramon! And Bret Hart shows up for a special interview!

The Last Word: Even though the WWF did not have a full crew for this taping, they put together the best RAW since the last episode in Poughkeepsie. A story was told through the show of the Beverlys wanting a piece of Money Incorporated and that made fans anticipate a match between the two squads next week. Luna Vachon also made the most of her television time, outdueling Sensational Sherri on the mic. Their brawl also nudged the WWF toward an adult audience as it was reminiscent of The Jerry Springer Show.

Up Next: WWF Superstars for April 17!

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