What the World Was Watching: WWF Monday Night RAW – 02.19.96

Sunny is back in a black bikini on the beach, reminding viewers that discretion is advised.

A video package recaps the ending of last night’s WWF title match, hypes the Goldust-Razor Ramon match for the Intercontinental Championship, and Vince McMahon raises a question about the status of the Ultimate Warrior, who has not been mentioned on WWF television since November 1992.

McMahon and Jerry Lawler call tonight’s action, live from Cincinnati, Ohio. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, 8,500 attended the television taping.

Opening Contest for the Intercontinental Championship: Razor Ramon (2-3) defeats Goldust (Champion w/Marlena) (3-1) via count out at 5:32 shown:

The usher is no longer part of Goldust’s crew. Marlena approaches Goldust before the match and blows smoke in his face. Ramon knocks the cigar out of her hand and immediately takes the fight to the champion, knocking him out of the ring with a clothesline. Much of Goldust’s time on offense is wiped out by a commercial break and when the action returns, Ramon soon crotches Goldust on the top rope and delivers a superplex. His fallaway slam gets a reaction as he throws Goldust over the top rope and then hits the super back suplex inside the ring. The title is on the verge of changing so Goldust goes to a finish that is taking over the house shows by running to the locker room. Rating: *¾

Ramon demands that his music not play, arguing that he wants Goldust’s ass more than his title, a comment that could have multiple meanings in this feud. Ramon tells interim WWF President Roddy Piper that he does not want Goldust on television for his kids to see so he demands another match against him. But according to that logic, the rematch would need to happen on pay-per-view or a house show.

Backstage, the Undertaker emerges from a casket at the behest of Paul Bearer.

Dok Hendrix does a live Slam Jam segment near the RAW Band. Hendrix narrates pictures of the Shawn Michaels-Owen Hart, Bret Hart-Diesel, and Yokozuna-British Bulldog matches last night. The long rundown is interrupted by Vader, who stops a planned Bodydonnas-Aldo Montoya & Barry Horowitz match by destroying Montoya and Horowitz.

A video package hypes the Ultimate Warrior.

A camera slowly pans over Sunny’s body in a red dress while she does the Marilyn Monroe bit of singing happy birthday to the U.S. president because this episode took place on President’s Day.

Bob Backlund argues with fans in the crowd as part of his presidential campaign.

The Ringmaster (w/Ted DiBiase) (3-0) defeats Marty Jannetty (1-2) via submission to the Million Dollar Dream at 5:13 shown:

Steve Austin has now shaved his head. Lawler reveals that Jannetty and his mystery partner in the WWF Tag Team Championship Tournament are going to call themselves the New Rockers. Throughout the match, McMahon keeps emphasizing the Ringmaster’s “stone cold” personality. The action goes back and forth but sadly the crowd does not care, a bad sign for Jannetty because he could usually get the crowd to react to what he did. When Jannetty tries an atomic drop, Austin flips behind him and locks in the Million Dollar Dream. Rating: **

Mankind is in a dark basement or cellar, asking why God created him different from normal people. He holds a black rat while yelling about the ugliness of others. His middle and ring finger on the right hand are held together by a black covering. Mankind rocks himself back and forth to end a dark promo, one that continues to put the character on the map for a debut at an undetermined time.

The Undertaker (w/Paul Bearer) (2-0-1) pins Tatanka (w/Ted DiBiase) (2-2) after the Tombstone at 4:18 shown:

The WWF knows that this match is not going to be good so they have Diesel come to the ring with an ax two minutes after it begins. Diesel has not come to commit murder but to grab a cameraman, who he takes with him to the locker room. After a commercial break, Diesel uses the ax to destroy the Undertaker’s casket. Lawler screams that Diesel is destroying the Undertaker’s home. The Undertaker runs into the End of the Trail off the ropes but Tatanka does not cover. It is hard to follow the match because the split screen shows Diesel destroying the casket on the left while the match airs on the right. Tatanka is able to get out of a Tombstone and delivers a piledriver but he has no effective follow up, causing him to get chokeslammed and beaten with the Tombstone. Rating: *¼

When the match ends the Undertaker sees footage of Diesel destroying his casket on the video wall. He walks faster than he ever has before to the screen and goes backstage with Bearer. Lawler leaves the commentary table to find out more.

Larry Fling, a play on CNN interviewer Larry King, interviews Billionaire Ted on BNN: The Billionaire News Network. Ted reminds Fling that he owns him and both admit that they loved In Your House 6. The Nacho Man calls in, worried about his thinning hair. Then the Huckster calls in, making a hilarious request for time off because he has been hit by a woman’s high heel shoe, a play on how Hulk Hogan lost on Monday Nitro before this episode. “Jane from Hanoi,” referring to Turner’s wife Jane Fonda, lets him know that Sears called because his suits are ready. A graphic then notes that Turner has a Sears charge card. Ted has no good answer to Fling’s statements about Hogan getting paid from other Turner divisions and the steps he is taking to put the WWF out of business. The Huckster and Nacho Man are said to appear next week to hype their geriatric match at WrestleMania XII where Ted will be the referee.

Paul Bearer cries over the destruction of the Undertaker’s casket, crying for revenge against Diesel.

Tune in next week to see Yokozuna battles Owen Hart & the British Bulldog in a handicap match! Also, Jake Roberts faces Isaac Yankem! Diesel is in action! And there is an in-ring encounter between WWF Champion Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels!

The Last Word: Diesel taking an ax to the Undertaker’s casket was a unique way to get at the Dead Man as no one had thought to do that to him before. The idea of the Ultimate Warrior returning was also big news, a sign that Vince McMahon was getting desperate for new talent. The rest of the episode was lackluster, making it the worst of the year so far and again, the Billionaire Ted segments are an awful way to end the show. The WWF still won the night in the Monday Night Wars, probably owed to fans wanting to see what happened at In Your House.

Monday Night War Rating: 3.1 vs. 2.9 for Nitro (Main Event: WCW World Champion Ric Flair vs. Randy Savage)

Up Next: WWF Superstars for February 24!

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