What the World Was Watching: WWF Monday Night RAW – 06.13.94

This was a special edition of Monday Night RAW called “The Countdown to the Crowning.” Vince McMahon and Randy Savage hosted the show from a studio. This episode is not available on WWE Network.

Opening Contest for the WWF Tag Team Championship: The Headshrinkers (Champions w/Afa & Captain Lou Albano) (13-0) beat the Quebecers (w/Johnny Polo) (12-4-1) when Fatu pins Pierre after a splash off the top rope at 6:24 shown:

The piped in crowd noise is strong in this match, taped in Erie, Pennsylvania on May 25. Stan Lane and Ted DiBiase commentate. This match moves in slow motion as it seems that most of the participants are tired. There are also subtle cuts imposed on the action so there must have been some blown spots. After a token beating on Samu, the Quebecers go for La Tour and miss. After the hot tag, the Headshrinkers knock Jacques out of the ring and finish off Pierre with the double forward Russian leg sweep and Fatu splash. This would be the final televised match of the Quebecers run. There would be a Montreal-exclusive angle where the team would break up, with Jacques becoming the babyface when Pierre and Polo turned on him. It would lead to a retirement match for Jacques in October 1994, which would sell out the Montreal Forum. But that would not be the end of the team as Jacques would exit retirement, rejoin Pierre, and the two would sign with WCW in 1996. Rating: *½

After the bell, Polo runs into the ring and Afa gives him a Samoan drop. McMahon reveals later that because of the loss Polo will have to shave his goatee due to a bet the manager made on All American Wrestling.

Crush, Yokozuna, Jim Cornette, and Mr. Fuji promote themselves as a powerful force. Cornette calls the Headshrinkers traitors for turning against “their island brothers.”

An ad draws a contrast between old and new cultural habits before Todd Pettengill urges viewers to check out the WWF’s “New Generation.” This new branding would define the WWF until 1997. It was a shot at WCW’s hiring of Hulk Hogan weeks earlier.

Footage of the first Hall of Fame induction ceremony airs, narrated by Lord Alfred Hayes. Randy Savage and WWF Champion Bret Hart gave speeches thanking past wrestlers.

Savage predicts that Intercontinental Champion Diesel will defeat Bret at The King of the Ring.

A long video package shows how different superstars qualified for the King of the Ring Tournament. Afterward, Savage predicts the tournament and does a fun narration for the matchups. He predicts a semi-finals of Irwin R. Schyster, Bam Bam Bigelow, Jeff Jarrett, and Tatanka. That deviates from what he predicted last week on RAW. From the semi-finals, Savage predicts Bigelow and Jarrett make the finals and Bigelow wins because Jarrett is distracted by a country music talent scout.

Ray Rougeau and WWF President Jack Tunney have the King of the Ring qualifiers come into the ring, which has a throne, robe, crown, and sceptre. Tunney gets clowned by some of the participants as Irwin R. Schyster promises that tax enforcement against him will get tougher after he wins and Razor Ramon goes to shake his hand before pulling back like Ric Flair. Surprisingly, no fight breaks out between the four babyfaces and four heels.

The Last Word: Even though the Quebecers were only around for a year they made a mark on the tag team division. Their entertaining heel actions, along with creative double team moves will be missed. Again, their departure makes the Heavenly Bodies the only heel team. As for the show, it was basic filler that did not effectively promote The King of the Ring. Roddy Piper-Jerry Lawler is flat because Piper never showed up before the pay-per-view and having the King of the Ring qualifiers come to the ring and awkwardly stand there accomplished nothing.

Up Next: WWF Superstars for June 18!

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