What the World Was Watching: WWF Monday Night RAW – January 24, 1994

Vince McMahon and Jim Ross are in the booth, concluding the taping in Richmond, Virginia. This is the first time Ross commentates a Monday Night RAW.

Opening Contest: Lex Luger (3-0) defeats Austin Steele after a superplex at 3:38:

Steele wrestled on the Carolina independent circuit. He tried to become a poor man’s Ric Flair, mimicking Flair’s hair and trunks and using the figure-four leglock as a finisher.

It does not take long for Ross to reveal that Luger was a co-winner of The Royal Rumble. The same for McMahon, who also puts over the high rating for last week’s RAW. Luger continues to try to get the superplex over as a new finisher even though the running forearm would be more convenient.

Todd Pettengill recaps the events of last night’s Royal Rumble, wondering whether Lex Luger or Bret Hart will get the WWF title match at WrestleMania X. Pettengill says WWF President Jack Tunney will weigh his options and announce a decision this weekend. He also notes that Yokozuna won the casket match against the Undertaker and Owen Hart turned on Bret.

Jeff Jarrett (3-0) pins John Paul with an O’Connor roll and using the tights at 4:11:

McMahon continues to brag about Monday Night RAW’s ratings. He lies about Jarrett’s Royal Rumble performance, saying he lasted for a long time even though he lasted two minutes before Randy Savage tossed him. Paul scores a few near-falls from pinning combinations and starts to find a groove near the end. However, Jarrett does a standing switch to trap him in an O’Connor roll and uses the tights. It is a weak finish to a squash that went too long. Jarrett hits his running DDT on Paul before he can leave the ring.

The Headshrinkers (w/Afa) (4-0) beat Men on a Mission (w/Oscar) (1-0) after Fatu pins Mo after the splash off the top rope at 10:44 shown:

This was originally booked to be Bret and Owen Hart against the Headshrinkers but that was scuttled because of Owen’s turn at The Royal Rumble. The Headshrinkers were probably upset about the outcome of the Hart match with the Quebecers because it may have given them a title shot. In a tag division where many of the established teams have been passing each other like ships in the night for months it is welcome to see two of them battle it out. Even though Fatu made the final four of the Royal Rumble last night there is not much discussion about him. The Headshrinkers work methodically throughout the match, stalling at the beginning and doing some rest holds on Mo. The crowd enjoys Mabel running through his hot tag spot. Fatu prevents Samu from getting pinned after a Mabel spinning heel kick and then Mabel prevents Mo from being pinned from a Fatu thrust kick. When he leaves the ring, though, Samu gives him a shove and Mabel’s gargantuan frame plunges to the arena floor, giving the Headshrinkers enough time to hit their finisher and hand MOM their first televised defeat in 22 matches. Everything from the hot tag on was good but getting there was an issue. Rating: **

After the match, Mabel is a sore loser and clotheslines the Headshrinkers.

Adam Bomb (w/Harvey Wippleman) beats Tommy Angel after the Atom Smasher at 3:12:

Angel was a former paratrooper and trainee of Nelson Royal and Gene Anderson that worked as an enhancement talent for Jim Crockett Promotions and WCW from 1987-1994. He did some WWF enhancement matches in 1988 and 1991, carrying on his trade to Herb Abrams’ UWF and Smoky Mountain Wrestling in 1992.

Ross blames Wippleman for Bomb not winning the Royal Rumble even though Bomb drew number 30. He also blasts Wippleman for not coaching Bomb to win squash matches faster. Coupled with Bomb’s recent issue with Rick Martel one wonders if he is going to be turning babyface soon.

McMahon announces that Thurman Plugg will be making his debut in singles competition on Superstars and Wrestling Challenge this weekend.

Doink the Clown (w/Dink) (3-0) beats Joey Stallings after the flying butt splash at 3:24:

Dink walks an invisible dog to the ring, which McMahon finds hilarious. Ross calls Stallings an idiot for trying to pet it before the match. Despite some of those alleged shortcomings, Stallings does better than Doink’s recent opponents, lasting more than three minutes and catching him with a side suplex off the ropes.

Shawn Michaels (w/Diesel) (4-0) pins Tyrone Knox after the piledriver at 4:18:

Knox was trained by Gary Royal and entered the business in 1992. He worked in 1991 and 1992 for George Scott’s South Atlantic Pro Wrestling (SAPW) in the Carolinas.

McMahon shoots down “rumors” that the WWF is going to CBS to replace the NFL, saying with pride that the WWF will remain on USA Network. Considering the state of the company and its legal troubles that is quite the whopper. Michaels takes his time to prevail, giving Knox a dangerous piledriver at the end where Knox’s head does not appear to have been protected.

Tune in next week to see the 1-2- 3 Kid wrestle Johnny Polo! Also, Kwang will be in action! And Lex Luger and Bret Hart will appear for a special interview! Irwin R. Schyster will be guest commentator too!

The Last Word: Vince McMahon’s selling of the product went into overdrive tonight which made the broadcast hard to sit through. He may have been excited about the recent Monday Night RAW rating but also alarmed at the buyrate for The Royal Rumble. Men on a Mission eating a loss to the Headshrinkers knocks them down a peg in the tag team standings as they sit behind the Steiner Brothers and Smoking Gunns on the babyface hierarchy. It also led to discussions about whether the team would soon break up and Mabel would be given a singles push since commentators have not been shy about saying Mabel is the engine of the team. The push toward WrestleMania should get going next week as this show kept things in neutral to encourage fans to buy the encore showing of The Royal Rumble the following night.

Up Next: WWF Superstars for January 29!

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