What the World Was Watching: WWF Monday Night RAW – 04.25.94

Vince McMahon and Randy Savage are calling tonight’s action, finishing the Utica, New York television taping.

Opening Non-Title Contest: Razor Ramon (Intercontinental Champion) (12-0) defeats Jeff Jarrett (12-2) via disqualification when Diesel interferes at 10:04 shown:

Jarrett’s entrance keeps improving he gets a light show on his way to the ring. There was something in the original match that McMahon did not like as these two wrestled a second time at the taping and parts of the matches were spliced together in post-production. That aside, Jarrett puts up a good fight in his biggest match to date, willing to use the apron, steps, and ropes to weaken the champion. McMahon and Savage’s commentary almost treats Jarrett like a babyface, expressing awe at what he is doing. Shawn Michaels comes to ringside late after Jarrett throws Ramon to the floor. When Michaels jaws with Ramon he is shut up with a punch. Michaels gets on the apron when the action resumes so Ramon tosses him into the ring and tries to give him a Razor’s Edge but Diesel comes in and gives Ramon a big boot. To referee Earl Hebner’s credit he did not call for a disqualification until the heels made offensive contact with Ramon. Rating: **¾

After the bell rings Diesel gives Ramon two Jackknifes. Michaels enjoys that and gives an enthusiastic high five. Diesel then stands on Ramon’s chest and Michaels tosses Diesel the Intercontinental Championship Belt so he can hold it. This segment got great heat.

Following a commercial break Michaels and Diesel do a backstage promo. Michaels says that Diesel is going to become the new Intercontinental champion. Diesel repeats that.

Bam Bam Bigelow (w/Luna Vachon) (12-2) pins Tony DeVito after a falling headbutt off the ropes at 2:16:

Vachon gets mad at some kids in the front rows who chant “Lunatic” at her. WWF President Jack Tunney calls into the show, saying that he is going to investigate what Jeff Jarrett, Michaels, and Diesel did tonight. He adds that the Headshrinkers will get a Tag Team title shot next week. As all of this happens, Bigelow pounds away and wins with a falling headbutt off the ropes.

WWF Tag Team Champions the Quebecers and Johnny Polo complain about Tunney’s decision. Jacques denies that the Quebecers are afraid of the Headshrinkers.

The Heavenly Bodies (w/Jim Cornette) (3-0) defeats Jason Headings & John Paul when Jimmy Del Ray pins Headings after the moonsault at 4:54:

The Bodies’ ring jackets now have wings on them. It is a silly addition that makes the Bodies look like they are part of a church play. McMahon and Savage bury Mr. Perfect on commentary. McMahon says that Perfect has been indefinitely suspended for “backing out of a deal” to wrestle Lex Luger on the WrestleMania Revenge Tour. Savage puts over Crush as a better wrestler than Perfect, thereby positioning Crush as Luger’s new rival. The Bodies decide not to pin Headings after a Veg-O-Matic, pummeling him for a few more minutes with double teams until Del Ray caps it all off with his moonsault.

Jerry Lawler hosts Nikolai Volkoff on the King’s Court. Volkoff climbs over the guardrail to get in the ring for the segment. Volkoff says he has made some bad investments but can still wrestle. However, he says he is not appearing on shows to beg for a job even though that is what any normal person would glean from that behavior. This segment was not good because of Volkoff’s habit of slurring his English. It did put more heat on Lawler for acting like a jerk.

The 1-2-3 Kid (3-0) defeats Duane Gill after a spinning heel kick at 3:10:

This is more subdued than recent Kid squashes. He blasts Gill with a lot of kicks, winning with a spinning heel kick after escaping a chinlock.

A deli worker says that the Undertaker came into his shop to get a six-foot wedge and then quickly vanished, presumably without paying. The worker does not seem worried about that, though.

Owen Hart (15-0) beats Rich Myers via submission to the Sharpshooter at 3:23:

McMahon continues the hard sell for the WrestleMania Revenge Tour saying that Owen could beat Bret for the title on those shows. Owen works a few rest holds to soak in the crowd’s “We want Bret!” cheers. Myers tries to fight back late but misses a dropkick and Owen Hart does a Rick-Martel like finish of going to his submission hold for the win. Afterward, Owen puts his shades on Myers and yells like he is talking to Bret.

Captain Lou Albano joins the announcers at ringside, excited that the Headshrinkers have a Tag Team title match next week. Johnny Polo comes out and gets in Albano’s face so Savage grabs Polo and Albano gets a shot in as the show goes off the air.

Tune in next week to see WWF Tag Team Champions the Quebecers face the Headshrinkers!

The Last Word: After spending weeks building up WWF President Jack Tunney’s decision it was surprising that the WWF just had him make it by calling in during a squash match. The opener on this show was quite good, putting a lot of heat on the Razor Ramon-Diesel match on Superstars. It is one of the few times since RAW’s inception that the USA Network show has been used to promote a syndicated program. The opener was also a testament to what Jeff Jarrett could do, becoming an advertisement for the WWF needing to more with him. The only thing that did not work on the show was the Nikolai Volkoff segment, which should have nuked any thoughts of using him going forward.

Up Next: WWF Superstars for April 30!

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