What the World Was Watching: WWF Monday Night RAW – May 24, 1993

Vince McMahon, Bobby Heenan, and Randy Savage are commentating, taped from the Manhattan Center in New York City.

Doink the Clown comes out for the next match and crawls underneath the ring. The broadcast goes to Lord Alfred Hayes outside, who is with Doink. Doink talks about pulling off an illusion and squirts Hayes with water from the flower in his jacket.

Opening King of the Ring Qualifying Match: Mr. Perfect (15-1-2) defeats Doink the Clown (15-2-2) after the Perfectplex at 11:38 shown:

The match is more mat-based than WWF fans are used to as Perfect and Doink battle over a leg scissors, Fujiwara armbar, and modified figure-four. After a second commercial break, Perfect clotheslines Doink over the top rope and another Doink sneaks out and crawls under the ring. An illegal switch happens as Steve Keirn replaces Matt Borne. Referee Earl Hebner should notice that as Keirn has face paint that has not sweated away. Perfect absorbs some punishment until the illegal Doink tries to backdrop him, leading to a Perfectplex finish that gives Perfect the last spot in the King of the Ring Tournament. This was a nice departure from the usual WWF style but both men seemed to have trouble getting the match into another gear after doing lots of mat work for eight minutes. Rating: **½

After the bell, the two Doinks gang up on Perfect until Crush runs in and makes the save. The Crush-Doink program has not gotten a lot of play since WrestleMania and this shows that it is not a dead issue.

Gene Okerlund does The King of the Ring Report. WWF Champion Hulk Hogan and Jimmy Hart do a backstage promo that lacks focus. It talks about Hogan’s physique, Hart’s babyface turn months ago, and that Yokozuna is going down for the last time. Hogan looked like someone had popped his body with a pin because of the steroid scandal fallout. McMahon was trying to cover for it on several shows by saying Hogan was slimming down for the Yokozuna match.

Before the next match, Ted DiBiase offers $100 to any fan who wants to come into the ring and shine their shoes. After a young man does what he is told, Irwin R. Schyster hilariously takes the federal government’s cut of the young man’s earnings so he leaves with $30.

Non-Title Match: Money Incorporated (WWF Tag Team Champions) (9-1) defeat Mike Bell & Tony DeVito when Irwin R. Schyster pins DeVito after the Write Off at 3:59:

1993 has seen a continued downsizing of the tag team division as there are only four active teams and all of them are in the eight-man tag team match at The King of the Ring. The champions take a long time to wear down their opponents, notching their ninth-straight win.

McMahon hypes an Owen Hart-Mr. Hughes match that will air on WWF Mania this Saturday.

Crush (15-2-1) beats Bobby Who via submission to the head vice at 3:25:

This is another long squash. The crowd is not very interested. McMahon fills time talking about how Crush is coming for Doink the Clown.

Heenan and Savage talk about Bob Backlund facing Bob Backlund on the next episode of All American Wrestling.

McMahon does an in-ring interview with Razor Ramon. Ramon offers $2,500 to the Kid for a rematch. When McMahon asks about the King of the Ring Tournament, Bret Hart interrupts and has the crowd chants “1, 2, 3.” The former WWF champion criticizes Ramon for not doing his homework, arguing that his lack of study will cause him to lose their tournament match. Ramon does not get in a rebuttal before the segment ends.

Heenan channel surfs before the next match to see if anything compares to Monday Night RAW. Johnny Polo comes on his screen and tells him that Adam Bomb is coming.

Adam Bomb (w/Johnny Polo) (1-0) pins Phil Apollo after a powerbomb at 2:34:

Bomb easily runs through Apollo, devastating him with a backdrop suplex, flying clothesline, and powerbomb.

Bam Bam Bigelow says that he has picked Luna Vachon to be in his corner for next week’s Intercontinental title match against Marty Jannetty because Jannetty will have Sensational Sherri in his corner.

Tune in next week to see Intercontinental Champion Marty Jannetty defend against Bam Bam Bigelow! Also, the Steiner Brothers, Mr. Hughes, and Hacksaw Jim Duggan will be in action!

The Last Word: Doink the Clown’s “illusion” trick finally backfired in the feature match. The show fell off after that, a consequence of the taped version lacking the same spontaneity of a live broadcast.

Up Next: WWF Superstars for May 29!

And if you would like to read a compiled breakdown of 1990-1992 WWF, 1993 ECW, or of various promotions in 1995, check out my Amazon author page to purchase e-books or paperback copies!