What the World Was Watching: WWF Monday Night RAW – 07.11.94

A video package hypes tonight’s WWF title match between Bret Hart and the 1-2-3 Kid.

Jim Ross and Randy Savage commentate, taped from Bushkill, Pennsylvania. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the taping happened on July 1 and drew a sellout crowd of 1,600 fans.

Opening Contest for the WWF Championship: Bret Hart (5-3) defeats the 1-2-3 Kid (14-2) via submission to the Sharpshooter at 16:14 shown:

Before the match, Owen Hart and Jim Neidhart get on the apron and yell at Bret until WWF officials force them to return to the locker room. In a battle of babyfaces Bret ends up as a de facto heel due to size even though he does not take any shortcuts. The Kid’s early strategy of chain wrestling with Bret backfires as it lets Bret get an edge for the first eight minutes. There is a false finish when Bret counters a crucifix into a Samoan drop and the Kid gets his foot on the bottom rope. Bret refuses to take the win and orders the match be restarted, which happens after referee Tim White tells referee Earl Hebner that Bret was correct. Bret deliberately works over the Kid after the restart until the Kid catches him with a spinning heel kick. The Kid nearly wins the title with a reverse flying body press and flying leg drop but Bret kicks out. The Kid keeps taking risks but misses Bret with a flying somersault senton to the floor. He recovers enough to try another into the ring but misses again. Bret goes for a superplex but the Kid reverses it in mid-air, crashing onto the champion for a close near-fall that the crowd bites on. After avoiding a Kid blind charge, Bret tries to go to the top rope but the Kid throws him off. However, when the Kid tries a missile dropkick, Bret backs up and traps the Kid in the Sharpshooter, retaining the title. This was a good, hard-fought match that showed Bret was the more experienced competitor but that he nearly got outfoxed by Kid’s unique style of wrestling. Rating: ****

After winning, Bret consoles the Kid and raises his hand.

Todd Pettengill does the SummerSlam Report. Paul Bearer argues that Ted DiBiase is sullying the Undertaker’s name and he does not appreciate it.

Crush (w/Mr. Fuji) (15-2-1) defeats Matt Hardy after a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker at 1:26:

Crush’s feud with Lex Luger has gone cold as the two have not had any interaction since King of the Ring. Hardy gets to show some agility by floating over a Crush blind charge and flipping over him from the top rope on another. But he cannot escape Crush’s clutches for long, leading to an annoying bit where Randy Savage keeps screaming “GOOAALLLL!” after every Crush move.

Razor Ramon is shown getting ready for his next match in the locker room.

Razor Ramon (21-2) pins Barry Horowitz with a small package at 2:53:

This is one of the matches refereed by the recently deceased Joey Marella. Ross talks about how the WWF is going to hire a detective to resolve the Undertaker vs. Undertaker situation. More developments are promised on WWF Mania. Every time Horowitz throws a punch it is met with a stronger counter punch by Ramon. After doing a fallaway slam, Ramon mocks a dazed Horowitz and pins him with a small package. Savage calls the finish smart.

Jerry Lawler does a taped King’s Court in Ted DiBiase’s office. DiBiase declares that he has bought Lex Luger and all that is left for Luger to sign a contract.

Irwin R. Schyster (20-3) defeats Ray Hudson via submission to the Penalty at 3:47:

With all of DiBiase’s talk of getting Luger, IRS is probably wondering where a lucrative contract is for him to join DiBiase’s corporation. Since IRS is winning his house show feud with Tatanka that means the WWF is keeping him warm for another prominent feud. Ross talks about how the WWF’s stars do not go on strike in what will become the first of many digs against Major League Baseball. IRS grabs the ropes a lot as he wears Hudson down with various holds to set up the Penalty.

WWF Champion Bret Hart applauds the 1-2-3 Kid for putting up a great fight, seeing himself as lucky to still have the title. When asked about Owen Hart, Bret argues he is going to get a brother to back him up when he faces Owen again.

Tune in next week to see Intercontinental Champion Diesel defend against Lex Luger! Also, Mabel and Owen Hart will be in action!

The Last Word: The WWF title match was arguably the best Monday Night RAW match to this point, challenged only by the Ric Flair-Mr. Perfect career match a year and a half ago. Bret Hart has wrestled in three of the best four matches to this point in the year, enhancing the credibility of Owen Hart, Diesel, and the 1-2-3 Kid. The rest of the show was poor but the feature match was more than enough to overcome it.

Up Next: WWF Superstars for July 16!

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