What the World Was Watching: WWF Monday Night RAW – 08.01.94

Vince McMahon narrates a video package with highlights from WrestleMania X to promote tonight’s Razor Ramon-Shawn Michaels match.

Ramon says that he is going to eliminate Michaels so he cannot make it to SummerSlam. Michaels says he is out to do the same to Ramon.

Vince McMahon and Randy Savage are calling the action, live from Youngstown, Ohio. Savage gloats about McMahon and the WWF “annihilating the Justice Department.” Throughout tonight’s show Savage will take digs at the federal government.

Opening Contest: Shawn Michaels (w/Diesel) (8-1) pins Razor Ramon (24-2) after Diesel interferes at 17:57 shown:

This is Michaels’ first match since WrestleMania X as he took a break from the ring to resolve issues with his first wife and heal from injuries. Michaels bumps like a madman early but the match proceeds at a slower pace. There is a fun spot before a commercial break where Ramon slingshots Michaels out of the ring and Michaels crashes onto Diesel, who later gets in a few cheap shots. There are four double KO spots after a second commercial break. Michaels gets some close near-falls from a reverse flying body press and superkick. Ramon backdrops out of a piledriver attempt but when he goes for a Razor’s Edge Diesel gets on the apron. Referee Earl Hebner gets him to retreat and Ramon backdrops Michaels when Michaels tries to hit him with the Intercontinental Championship Belt. However, Michaels reverses an Irish whip into the ropes as Hebner gets the belt out of the ring and Diesel, who is back on the apron, gives Ramon a big boot. Ramon stumbles backward into a Michaels schoolboy, which finishes the match. This was a good return for Michaels but the pacing was so deliberate that the middle portion was tough to get into. Rating: ***¼

After the bell, Michaels and Diesel double team Ramon until WWF officials intervene.

Non-Title Match: Alundra Blayze (WWF Women’s Champion) (3-0) wrestles Bull Nakano (w/Luna Vachon) to a double count out at 5:26:

Nakano began her career in 1983 for All Japan Women’s Pro Wrestling (AJW) at the age of 15. Within a year she was the promotion’s Junior champion. She quickly became one of Japan’s most heralded women’s wrestlers, known for her distinctive towering hair styles and makeup designs that made her look like something out of a comic book. In 1990 Nakano won a tournament to win the WWWA World Single Championship, AJW’s most prominent title, and held it until November 1992 when she lost to Aja Kong. After AJW, Nakano worked from 1992-1993 for Mexico’s CMLL promotion, becoming its first Women’s champion.

Since Nakano is from Japan the WWF gives her the old Orient Express theme. A few fans in the crowd know about Nakano, working up a “Bull!” chant. Savage quickly becomes a fan of her style, telling McMahon that he might be in love with her. For his part, McMahon spends more time talking about Nakano’s size relative to Blayze. Nakano fails to put away Blayze with a piledriver and powerbomb and misses her flying leg drop. Blayze uses that as a chance to hit the German suplex but Nakano kicks out. Fans, who probably viewed the match as filler, start reacting after that when Blayze does a flying body press to Nakano on the floor. But unfortunately, they do not make it into the ring to resume the contest and get counted out. Disappointing ending aside, this match did a good job creating interest in seeing these two wrestle again, exemplified by how the crowd hates the lack of a clear winner. Rating: **¾

Blayze yells at Nakano afterward but is attacked from behind by Vachon. Blayze fights her off, though, and throws her into Nakano. That spot looks ugly as they do not go flying out of the ring.

Jerry Lawler comes out and goes into the crowd, insulting the quality of Randy Savage’s dates as he does so. Lawler introduces Mike Boyle and his girlfriend Andrea. Mike proposes as Andrea appears mortified. After a commercial break, Lawler has Andrea in the ring and she accepts Mike’s proposal. After she does, Lawler makes fun of her nose and forces a kiss, which comes across as creepy. The poor woman probably never wanted to attend a professional wrestling event again.

Lawler now hosts Bob Backlund as a guest on the King’s Court. Backlund says he is disappointed that society has degenerated since he was WWF champion ten years ago. It is tough to hear some of Backlund’s promo as McMahon and Savage talk over it. Backlund accuses WWF Champion Bret Hart of being part of a generation that refuses to work hard and “pay the price.”

The Smoking Gunns (14-2) defeat George Anderson & Tom Bennett when Billy Gunn pins Bennett after the Sidewinder at 1:41 shown:

Anderson had been doing WWF enhancement work for five years, first appearing in that role in 1990. He wrestled two matches in 1993, losing to Yokozuna and Bam Bam Bigelow.

Like Anderson, Bennett had also been doing enhancement work for the WWF since 1990. He started his career in 1986 and also did preliminary work for the AWA in 1990. On the independent circuit he wrestled for Windy City Pro Wrestling as part of a tag team called the Texas Hangmen. In 1993 Bennett appeared four times on WWF television, losing to Marty Jannetty, Tatanka (twice), and the Steiner Brothers.

After the Gunns finish their entrance there is barely any television time left. Savage applauds McMahon’s legal team as the show goes off the air right as Billy gets the pin.

Tune in next week to see Doink the Clown & Tatanka face Bam Bam Bigelow & Irwin R. Schyster!

The Last Word: The pacing of the show went awry because of the long Jerry Lawler segments. Lawler tried to be funny like Bobby Heenan in handling a proposal but his style came across as mean spirited. Still, this was a great hour of wrestling television with two solid matches. It also had a good beginning for Bob Backlund’s heel character even though Vince McMahon and Randy Savage barely let him speak.

Up Next: WWF Superstars for August 6!

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!