What the World Was Watching: WWF Monday Night RAW – November 1, 1993

Heenan does a pre-show talk with Bastion Booger, who is eating lots of food backstage and has crumbs all over his chest.

Vince McMahon and Bobby Heenan are in the booth, doing the last episode of the taping in Poughkeepsie, New York.

Opening Non-Title Contest: Razor Ramon (Intercontinental Champion) (31-3-2) beats Bastion Booger (13-6) with a roll up at 7:21 shown:

There is a poorly placed commercial break that happens in the first minute of the match. Heenan sets up Booger’s bearhug as his biggest move. McMahon makes the ridiculous claim that Booger has won matches with it when that has never happened. Booger applies the hold several times after working the back, causing McMahon to call the match “lethargic.” Ramon catches Booger with a boot on a blind charge; slams him; and goes for the Razor’s Edge, doing a funny shrug of the shoulders before trying. However, Booger backdrops out and does his sit-down splash finish. But Ramon counts that into a roll up at two and wins. As noted before, that finish makes Booger’s finish look ineffective. He has lost to it twice before in prominent matches. Rating: ½*

Todd Pettengill does the Survivor Series Report in place of Joe Fowler, who the company soured on quickly. Fowler would make his last prominent appearance on All American Wrestling over the weekend, where he was replaced as host the next week by McMahon. Pettengill was a great fit for these segments because he has a better voice, presence, and enthusiasm that is less overbearing. He says that Tatanka’s condition will be updated on the weekend shows.

McMahon does an in-ring interview with the Foreign Fanatics. Jim Cornette insists that Tatanka will not make it to Survivor Series. McMahon reveals that Ludvig Borga will wrestle Scott Steiner on next week’s program. Borga has a good comment that Scott keeping him out of the Survivor Series is an “American dream that will not happen.” Cornette tried his best to sell this main event but it needs a better injection of star power to feel like a big deal.

Mr. Perfect (35-3-2) pins the Executioner after the Perfectplex at 4:53:

Speaking of flat programs, Perfect’s feud with Diesel is not drawing eyeballs. Perfect has lost most of his feuds in 1993 so his babyface turn the year prior has done nothing for him. Turning him heel again would not have been the worst idea to create some new matches in the midcard. Perfect spends much of the squash working the Executioner’s knee. Although the kills the crowd, it was unique to see a wrestler just dismantle their opponent’s limbs before winning.

A new Jeff Jarrett vignette sees him appear outside of Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge in Nashville. He continues to rant about the politics in the country music industry. His callouts are Razor Ramon, Men on a Mission, and the 1-2-3 Kid. The rant about MOM had a nice turn of phrase as Jarrett promises to send them on a mission back to the homeless shelter they came from.

The Smoking Gunns (19-3) defeat Well Dunn (w/Harvey Wippleman) (6-3) via disqualification when Wippleman interferes at 7:44:

This is the third match between these two teams since July. The Gunns won the first two matches shortly after Well Dunn debuted. The heels, now that they have a manager, fare a bit better this time in their RAW debut, putting Bart in peril for a lengthy period of time and chalking up some near-falls. The match does not have a lot of heat, though, because the Gunns are only partially over and no one cares about Well Dunn. After a lukewarm hot tag, Billy cleans house until Wippleman trips him when he runs the ropes in view of the referee. So the Gunns triumph again and clear the heels out of the ring after the bell. Rating: *½

Randy Savage calls into the show, only to have Heenan make fun of Savage’s tongue laceration. Savage warns Heenan that he is coming back to RAW next week and is going to be all over Crush.

Adam Bomb (w/Harvey Wippleman) (25-0) pins Virgil (8-9) after the Atom Smasher at 5:24:

Bomb beat Virgil in May on Wrestling Challenge in less than three minutes. Despite Virgil losing his last four matches, the crowd works up a chant for him. Inspired, Virgil catches Bomb off guard with a body press off the ropes for two and breaks up a conference Bomb has with Wippleman outside the ring. The bout is not a good showcase for Bomb as he seems to screw up a spot where he needs to clothesline Virgil when he chases Wippleman around the ring. Also, the momentum of the match dies when he takes control, and he fails to duck when Virgil does a reverse flying body press off the second rope during a late comeback. If not for Virgil’s energy, this match may have ended up as a contender for worst bout the year. Rating: ½*

Heenan sings “Happy Birthday” to himself as the show goes off the air.

Tune in next week to see Scott Stiener battle Ludvig Borga! Also, Crush will be in action in front of Randy Savage, who will be doing commentary!

The Last Word: This was a bad show from an in-ring standpoint. Nothing of significance transpired other than having Todd Pettengill replace Joe Fowler for pay-per-view hype. Next week should see some fireworks, though, when Randy Savage returns and Crush is booked for a match.

Up Next: WWF Superstars for November 6!

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