What the World Was Watching: WWF Monday Night RAW – July 5, 1993

A video montage shows various U.S. athletes trying to slam WWF Champion Yokozuna at the Stars & Stripes Challenge, including Rick Steiner, and all of them failing.

Vince McMahon, Bobby Heenan, and Randy Savage provide commentary, live from the Manhattan Center in New York City.

A longer package recaps the events of the Stars & Stripes Challenge. Lee Rouson of the New York Giants, Bob Backlund, Peter Tanglianetti of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Scott Burrell of the Charlotte Hornets, Scott Steiner, Tatanka, Bill Fralic of the Detroit Lions, Crush, and Randy Savage all failed. Fralic and Crush came the closest. The challenge did not have consistent rules either as wrestlers were allowed to hit Yokozuna with some moves before trying a slam. When it seemed like Yokozuna won the challenge, a helicopter landed on the Intrepid. Fans think it is Hulk Hogan but Lex Luger in a flag-adorned polo shirt emerges, walking through the crowd and shoving Bobby Heenan aside. Luger was not going to be allowed to compete since he was not on the list but Luger cuts a small promo about how the champion and Mr. Fuji are leeches on America. After throwing Fuji out of the ring, Luger avoided a Yokozuna charge, hit him with his forearm, and slammed him to win the competition. Despite being a heel, the crowd loudly cheered the slam and it made a great visual. Afterward, wrestlers hoisted Luger on their shoulder as he waved the U.S. flag.

McMahon tells fans that after the challenge, Luger issued a challenge to Yokozuna for a title match but Fuji has refused to sign a contract to make that bout happen.

Opening Contest: The 1-2-3 Kid (2-2-1) defeats Blake Beverly (0-3) after a flying leg drop to the back of the head at 8:02:

Heenan furthers the Money Incorporated-Razor Ramon feud, arguing that Ramon is at home looking at job postings for “a domestic.” Blake has allowed his physique to go in the months that has served as a glorified enhancement talent and his gut is starting to hang over his tights. The crowd is a big fan of the Kid’s agile offense and Blake does a good job feeding into it, eventually putting the Kid in his place with a powerslam. Blake uses the Kid’s small stature to do unconventional moves like a suplex in the corner and gorilla pressing the Kid to the floor. However, when Blake goes for a flying headbutt off the second rope he misses and the Kid does a flying leg drop to the back of the head for the win. This was a fun, fast-paced match that got the Kid over while also making Blake look like the heel version of El Matador. Rating: ***

As Bam Bam Bigelow has his back turned to the camera, Luna Vachon says fans will see the Beast from the East in a few moments.

Bam Bam Bigelow (w/Luna Vachon) (26-3-1) pins Joey Maggs after a falling headbutt in 41 seconds:

Overwhelmed by the forces of love, Bigelow avalanches Maggs against the corner with authority and does a quick falling headbutt to win in less than a minute. This marks the second time that Maggs has lost to Bigelow this year.

The Undertaker (9-0-1) defeats Samu (w/Afa) after the Tombstone at 7:23 shown:

This is the Undertaker’s first appearance since Mr. Hughes laid him out prior to The King of the Ring. Paul Bearer is still recovering from that attack so he is not present. Unlike the Undertaker’s previous matches, the lights are turned off for his entrance, furthering adding to the character’s aura. Even though the lack of an urn should make the Undertaker weaker, he wrestles a more energetic style and does traditional wrestling moves like a leapfrog and drop toehold. He also shrugs off most of Samu’s offense. It takes a while for the match to get going but there is a good exchange of offense by the end. Samu misses a chance to win after the flying headbutt. When he gets greedy and goes for another, the Undertaker sits up to avoid it and finishes the Headshrinker with a chokeslam and Tombstone. Rating: **

McMahon interviews WWF Champion Yokozuna and Mr. Fuji at ringside. In very broken English, Fuji argues that Lex Luger did not slam his man, saying he hiptossed him. Fuji adds that there is not a legitimate challenger to Yokozuna but the champion can beat anyone who steps forward. Crush interrupts the segment, taking time to thank Luger for slamming Yokozuna. The big Hawaiian asks for a title match and McMahon goads Yokozuna into accepting for next week. This was another case where McMahon had to carry a Yokozuna promo segment because Fuji could not shoulder the load.

Mr. Perfect (22-2-2) pins Brian Costello with the Perfectplex in 59 seconds:

Before the match, Perfect puts his gum on the glasses of one of the Rosati sisters. Since the show is running out of time, Perfect works quickly to win a fourth-straight match.

Slow motion footage of Lex Luger body slamming Yokozuna at the Stars & Stripes Challenge ends the show.

Tune in next week to see WWF Champion Yokozuna defend his title against Crush!

The Last Word: While the two feature matches do not mean a lot in the long run, they provided fans with some fun content, continuing a hot series of RAW episodes. Lex Luger’s babyface turn came as a surprise because many fans assumed Hulk Hogan would avenge his loss at The King of the Ring and win a blowoff against Yokozuna at SummerSlam. WCW made Luger its top attraction in late 1991 to tepid results, missing out on a chance to capitalize on his babyface potential years earlier, and the jury would be out on whether the WWF could succeed in making him a bigger star to carry the promotion. The immediate impact of Luger’s ascension is that it pushes Bret Hart, the top babyface after King of the Ring, down the card. If Luger’s push worked, Bret’s ceiling as a babyface would become solidified so it was an open question about what Bret’s future was going to be like after having the title just four months earlier.

Up Next: WWF Superstars for July 10!