What the World Was Watching: WWF Monday Night RAW – July 19, 1993

Footage of fans rallying at WWF headquarters for Lex Luger is shown. Luger addresses the fans, saying that he is proud to be American.

Vince McMahon, Bobby Heenan, and Randy Savage provide commentary, live from the Manhattan Center in New York City. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, 1,200 fans attended the show.

Opening Contest for the Intercontinental Championship: Shawn Michaels (Champion w/Diesel) (19-4-1) beats Marty Jannetty (11-2-1) after Jannetty misses a body press off the ropes and goes over the top rope at 14:01 shown:

This is the rubber match between these two. Jannetty frustrates Michaels with several reversals and catches Michaels with a DDT after landing on his feet during a flying fist drop attempt. Referee Earl Hebner counts three but Michaels gets his foot across the bottom rope to save his title. Unfortunately, several commercial breaks interrupt the flow of the action. After a long front facelock, Jannetty scores some close near-falls, with the crowd biting from a hurricanrana reversal of a piledriver attempt. They bite on another when Jannetty rolls through a Michaels flying body press. Michaels sells the Rocker Dropper poorly, popping up immediately afterward and remembering that it is supposed to be a devastating move. Jannetty tries a dive at his former tag team partner but misses, going over the top rope. Diesel rolls him back in and Michaels covers to retain. Despite the flat finish, this was a hard-fought match that was the best of their series. Rating: ****

Heenan and Savage argue over whether WWF Mania or All American Wrestling is a better show.

McMahon does an in-ring interview with Money Incorporated. They insist that they were robbed of the WWF Tag Team Championship by the Steiner Brothers, hyping a rematch. Ted DiBiase changes the subject to talk about Razor Ramon’s foolishness in dealing with the 1-2-3 Kid. Ramon walks out to a big pop, telling Money Incorporated that he would never work for them. After DiBiase slaps Ramon with some cash, the Bad Guy clears the former Tag Team champions from the ring and heads to the locker room. Before leaving, an incensed DiBiase challenges the Kid so he can beat him quickly and show up Ramon.

Men on a Mission (w/Oscar) (2-0) beat Rich Meyers & Gus Kantarakis when Mabel pins Kantarakis after an assisted splash at 1:50:

The Manhattan Center crowd is electric for MOM, enjoying Oscar’s pre-match rap and popping for a Mabel leg drop to the back of Meyers’ head. The team also goes with a different finish as Mo flies off the top rope to drive a standing Mabel down onto Kantarakis. That works better than the brainbuster-Mabel flying senton splash/leg drop MOM were doing on syndicated shows. Enhancement talents were probably in favor of the change as well.

Footage of the Lex Express in Philadelphia airs. Lex Luger does a lot of autographs for children and visits the Liberty Bell. McMahon hypes an appearance for Luger on Regis & Kathie Lee tomorrow morning as the WWF continues his massive push.

Tiny Tim is shown rehearsing “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” backstage.

Bastion Booger (4-3) pins Scott Despres after a sit-down splash at 1:00:

McMahon likens Booger to a warthog, which would be a better gimmick than he has now. Savage makes a funny comment about how Booger needs to take ICOPRO. Booger makes quick work of Despres, doing a powerslam to set up the sit-down splash.

Tiny Tim is a guest on the King’s Court. Tim gets a lukewarm reaction and Lawler makes fun of his appearance and career. Lawler gets mad when Tim says that Lawler is not a “burger king” but a “dairy queen,” which finally wakes up the crowd. Lawler responds by taking Tim’s ukelele and smashing it. Tim overreacts by getting on his knees and “crying.” The segment was pointless as Lawler was already over as a jerk and Tim was no longer a star, dying on stage after performing to a sparse crowd in Minneapolis, Minnesota in late 1996.

The 1-2-3 Kid (3-2-1) defeats Chris Duffy after a flying leg drop to the back of the head at 2:16:

The Kid debuts an upbeat rock-like theme that fits him well. Money Incorporated scout the squash from the aisle and Razor Ramon comes to ringside through the crowd to keep them at bay. After the match, the Kid exits through the crowd because he does not want to run into Money Incorporated or Ramon. Ramon sends nonverbal signals to Ted DiBiase that he will be the Kid’s next victim.

Tune in next week to see a rematch of the King of the Ring Finals as Bret Hart collides with Bam Bam Bigelow!

The Last Word: The King’s Court segment was terrible but was overshadowed by a fantastic Intercontinental title match. Razor Ramon’s babyface turn got a tremendous reaction, continuing one of the better angles in the company.

Up Next: WWF Superstars for July 24!