What the World Was Watching: WWF Monday Night RAW – 11.14.94

Vince McMahon and Ted DiBiase commentate, still taped from Bushkill, Pennsylvania.

Opening Contest: Bob Backlund (10-2) defeats the 1-2-3 Kid (23-4-1) via submission to the crossface chicken wing at 5:01 shown:

Back when the WWE Network and Peacock had the Monday Night RAW archive this match was not shown because of “technical difficulties.” Even though WWF Champion Bret Hart promised last week to be in the Kid’s corner he is nowhere to be seen. The Kid rushes Backlund, getting quick near-falls before taking the match to the canvas with an armbar. Backlund powers out but in a nice bit, his arm is too hurt to capitalize and he is not used to the New Generation style that the Kid embodies so he cannot follow up, allowing the Kid to hit a missile dropkick for another near-fall. A forearm shot allows Backlund to work the Kid’s left arm but when he tries the crossface chicken wing the Kid quickly reverses to one of his own, which Backlund has to escape. The Kid sells that his arm is about to fall off but he does not need that to hit his leg-oriented offense. It builds to a top rope splash that misses and Backlund pounces with the chicken wing for a hard-fought win. This was good booking that made the styles clash a part of the match’s story and each guy came out looking better. Giving these two five minutes of airtime was criminal, though. Rating: ***

Backlund refuses to break the hold after the bell, causing Bret to rush the ring. Backlund breaks the hold to fight Bret but WWF officials flood the ring to separate them. Backlund sneaks up behind Bret and applies the chicken wing but he lets it go, telling Bret that he gave him a taste of what he will feel at Survivor Series. As Backlund starts going to the locker room, Bret trips him in the aisle and applies the Sharpshooter, quickly releasing it. He tells Backlund he will not let him out of the Sharpshooter at Survivor Series. That was a fun “turnabout is fair play” segment.

DiBiase argues that Backlund is the George Foreman of the WWF.

Mabel (w/Oscar) (19-3) beats the Black Phantom after a sidewalk slam at 1:57:

Oscar does a Survivor Series rap about the Guts & Glory team. When it comes to the Smoking Gunns, Oscar does not have much to say other than repeating Billy and Bart’s names. The Phantom has not been seen since the summer and he struggles against Mabel for the second time this year, dominated and finished with the sidewalk slam. The sidewalk slam is a much better finish for Mabel than doing a leg drop. McMahon urges fans to read a piece about Mabel in the latest WWF Magazine that talks about Mabel’s life on the streets and how he avoided drugs.

Todd Pettengill does the Survivor Series Report. Tatanka says that Chuck Norris had better stay out of his way if he wants to come down to the ring for the Undertaker-Yokozuna casket match.

Call 1-800-TITAN10 to get your Survivor Series souvenir program for $10 (plus shipping & handling)!

Jeff Jarrett (34-6-1) defeats Gary Sabaugh via submission to the figure-four leglock at 3:11:

McMahon wonders how Jarrett will function in team competition at Survivor Series. He and DiBiase talk about the pay-per-view more than the squash, which sees Jarrett avoid a dropkick after Sabaugh nearly pins him with a sunset flip. Sabaugh stops some leg work with a fluke small package but has his headlock turned into a Jarrett kneebreaker. Sabaugh tries a desperation enzuigiri but it misses and Jarrett wins shortly thereafter with the figure-four. Jarrett was generous to the veteran Sabaugh and it made for an interesting squash where Jarrett looked dominant but Sabaugh looked capable.

Call 1-900-454-WWF8 to reach the Survivor Series Hotline. Hear what Paul Bearer has to say about the show!

Owen Hart is welcomed out for the King’s Court. He carries Bob Backlund’s towel into the ring with him, noting that he is not going to do him dirty like Arnold Skaaland did in 1983. Owen and Lawler whistle for the British Bulldog to come to the ring, which he does with Bret Hart’s towel. The Bulldog predicts that Bret will still be the WWF champion after Survivor Series. Owen urges the Bulldog to throw in the towel when he sees Bret suffering from the crossface chicken wing. The Bulldog yells back that Backlund will never get that hold on Bret and he is not throwing in the towel. There was some good banter in this segment even though the Bulldog’s promo style is to yell as loud as possible.

Pettengill announces that the Bulldog and Owen will wrestle on a Sunday Night Slam special this Sunday. Also, the Smoking Gunns battle the Heavenly Bodies!

Aldo Montoya pins the Brooklyn Brawler with a reverse flying body press at 2:38:

Montoya, billed as “The Portuguese Man O’ War,” was a gimmick given to Peter Polaco, who WWF fans knew as enhancement talent P.J. Walker. The character wears the colors of the Portuguese flag, although yellow is dominant in his gear and he wears a yellow mask. The mask is not creative, though, leading to later jokes that Montoya took a yellow jock strap and cut it apart.

Speaking of characters, Steve Lombardi is back to the Brawler gimmick after the Abe Schwartz character went nowhere. Montoya solidifies himself as a high-flyer by throwing dropkicks, doing a pescado, and winning with a reverse flying body press. But it is not a great debut as Lombardi goes 50/50 with the newcomer. McMahon pays more attention to how DiBiase hypes a Young Guns showing on USA Network later in the week, re-reading it after DiBiase stumbles over it.

After the match, DiBiase heads into the ring, saying he was impressed by what he saw out of Montoya. Following a quick commercial, DiBiase offers him a spot on his corporate team. Montoya responds in Portuguese but does not seem interested. To break through the language barrier, DiBiase shows off some money. But this time Montoya responds in English, saying that DiBiase can take his money and “shove it in his ear.” McMahon puts over Montoya as a great human being.

WWF Women’s Champion Alundra Blayze comes to ringside, dressed like Carmen Sandiego. That would have been a great gimmick to rip off in this period in retrospect. McMahon announces that Blayze is heading to Japan to defend the title against Bull Nakano. Blayze says on November 20 she and Nakano will make history in the Tokyo Dome.

A music package shows highlights of tonight’s show.

Tune in next week to see Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon face Diesel in a non-title match!

The Last Word: The end of the show was not as good as the first half but there was still more good than bad. It is an open question of how the WWF title match will end at Survivor Series and both cornermen have said they will not throw in the towel. The WWF is reviving interest in the women’s division by talking about Alundra Blayze’s title defense in Japan but the stop-start push that division has received since its inception makes it tough for fans to care.

Up Next: WWF Superstars for November 19!

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!