What the World Was Watching: WWF Monday Night RAW – 05.30.94

McMahon narrates a video package to recap the qualifiers for this year’s King of the Ring Tournament. The planned qualifying match has been changed as Tatanka will be facing Crush instead of Jimmy Del Ray.

McMahon and Randy Savage call tonight’s action, taped from Youngstown, Ohio. Savage says that Jim Cornette struck a deal so that Crush could replace Del Ray.

Opening King of the Ring Qualifying Contest: Crush (w/Mr. Fuji) (15-1) wrestles Tatanka (w/Chief Jay Strongbow) (15-1-1) to a double count out at 7:09 shown:

Strongbow accompanies Tatanka, which means Tatanka cannot run down the aisle as part of his entrance. He is not effective, causing Tatanka to go on the floor to confront Fuji and then tapping Tatanka on the shoulder to turn around and eat a Crush superkick. The action in the ring goes back and forth and is fine but late in the contest there is a sad series of spots with the managers. Fuji goes to get in the ring but has to look like he cannot get on the apron because Strongbow misses his cue. Then Strongbow lays the weakest knife edge chop someone will ever see to knock Fuji over. Crush is incensed by this so he goes out to confront Strongbow, Tatanka follows and both men fight on the outside until they are counted out. According to last year’s precedent, this does not eliminate each man from the tournament. It just means they failed to qualify. Rating: *½

After the bell, both men keep fighting and WWF officials get in the ring to separate them.

Todd Pettengill provides The King of the Ring Report. He is wearing a terrible King of the Ring t-shirt that has way too much text on it. Pettengill says that WWF President Jack Tunney may provide a ruling on what to do with the last qualifying spot before the end of the show. Owen tells Tunney that since Crush and Tatanka were counted out he should get a bye and be moved to the semi-finals.

When McMahon asks Savage what he would if he were Tunney. Savage says that Crush and Tatanka should have to wrestle again.

The 1-2-3 Kid (7-1) pins George South with La Magistral Cradle at 2:32:

The Kid blasts South with a lot kicks and ties him up in a La Magistral Cradle to win – by his standards – an easy squash match.

WWF Champion Bret Hart is a guest on the King’s Court. Before Bret comes out, Lawler makes fun of the age of Bret’s parents. He tells the audience to save their applause for Bret for himself. Lawler asks Bret if he remembers what happens at the end of last year’s King of the Ring, laughing about how he “crowned” Bret. When Bret gets ready to fight, Lawler welcomes out Intercontinental Champion Diesel and Shawn Michaels. Bret tells Diesel that he respects him but he is going to find out why he is called “The best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be.” Diesel fires back that Bret is going to get the VIP treatment, which stands for “very intense pain.” Before more words can be exchanged, Michaels attacks Bret and Diesel does the Jackknife. Lawler, Michaels, and Diesel stomp Bret and Diesel keeps officials at bay for Lawler and Michaels to get more shots in. Before leaving the ring, Diesel holds up both title belts. This was the second good King’s Court of this taping, putting more heat on Diesel and Michaels and letting fans know the Bret-Lawler feud from last year was not over.

The Smoking Gunns (11-1) defeat Austin Steele & Reno Riggins when Billy pins Steele after the Sidewinder at 3:37:

Steele is very tan, doing his best to look good as he got a WWF tryout a few days later. It is tough to see why the company bothered as he has never done anything remarkable in his squash appearances. The match is background noise for McMahon to tell fans that Bret Hart is okay and discuss the WWF’s participation in the D-Day Challenge. The Gunns put away Steele with their suplex-dropkick combination and the Sidewinder.

Pettengill relays Jack Tunney’s decision on the King of the Ring Tournament qualifier. He has ordered a rematch between Crush and Tatanka, which will be a lumberjack match to ensure a winner. Some of the superstars that might be at ringside could be Nikolai Volkoff, Bam Bam Bigelow, the Bushwhackers, Irwin R. Schyster, Razor Ramon, Mabel, Duke Droese, and Yokozuna.

Jeff Jarrett (15-3) beats Chris Hamrick via submission to the figure-four leglock at 3:54:

Jarrett yells to Savage that he is looking at the future King of the Ring. Savage says “Dream on!” in response. McMahon talks about the end of The Arsenio Hall Show and thanks Arsenio for hosting WWF stars over the years. It is an ironic bit because Hulk Hogan’s disastrous appearance on the show in 1991 heightened the steroid controversy that put McMahon at risk of jail time. Jarrett’s bright red and Hamrick’s crystal blue tights are a nice contrast to each other. Hamrick gets a lot of hang time on some bumps. He does a knee lift into the top turnbuckle on a blind charge and nearly plummets over the top rope. After that, Jarrett applies the figure-four leglock as the crowd chants “We want Doink!”

Lawler announces that someone from Scotland that wears dress and a “Hot Rod” t-shirt will be his guest next week.

Tune in next week to see Tatanka face Crush in a lumberjack match for the last King of the Ring Tournament spot!

The Last Word: Fans were given better action in the middle of the taping than they were for the live version of the show last week. Doing a lumberjack rematch for Crush and Tatanka was big news in an era when stipulation matches were rare. It also seems like a prime opportunity for either Lex Luger or Irwin R. Schyster to intervene. Again, the King’s Court segment with Bret Hart was a lot of fun as Jerry Lawler needled him about their history and then piled on to help Diesel and Shawn Michaels.

Up Next: WWF Superstars for June 4!

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