What the World Was Watching: WWF Monday Night RAW – 06.24.96

This review is dedicated to those who lost their lives in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler are commentating, live from Green Bay, Wisconsin. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the show drew a sellout crowd of 4,660.

Footage shows various babyfaces celebrating with Intercontinental Champion Ahmed Johnson after he won the title at King of the Ring. WWF Champion Shawn Michaels drops by and hugs him.

Opening Non-Title Contest: Ahmed Johnson (Intercontinental Champion) (14-1) pins Hunter Hearst Helmsley (11-6) after the Pearl River Plunge at 10:20 shown:

A woman named Julie Benardi escorts Helmsley to ringside. The bout has a slow pace as Ahmed shows some early power but then gets knocked to the floor. In the split screen, Goldust is with Marlena and talks about how he will be back and that he saved Ahmed’s life again last night and received no thanks for it. McMahon announces that Goldust will face the Undertaker at In Your House 9: International Incident and Goldust is not happy about it, saying he already buried the Undertaker in his own casket and has to do it again. Ahmed makes a powerful comeback out of nowhere but his attempt at a Pearl River Plunge is countered by a backdrop. Helmsley gets cocky and slaps Ahmed several times but soon gets a taste of his own medicine as he puts his head down too early on an Irish whip and Ahmed counters with the Pearl River Plunge. The WWF wants Ahmed to wrestle longer matches as he moves up the card but he is struggling with it. The longer bouts also expose some of his awkward transitions and movements. Rating: **

Dok Hendrix interviews Ahmed in the ring after the match, bringing attention to how he is the first Black Intercontinental champion. Ahmed says that makes him proud but he will defend the title for people of all races. When asked about Goldust, Ahmed says that he would be happy to give the former champion a rematch.

Sunny makes an entrance to do guest commentary for the next match. Afterward, the WWF reveals some letters that fans sent in to be the Bodydonnas manager, along with videos fans sent in. One wonders if these are still in the WWF’s warehouse somewhere.

The Bodydonnas (w/Cloudy) (11-4) defeat the Brooklyn Brawler & Jerry Fox when Zip pins Fox after the super hurricanrana-flying butt drop combination at 3:55:

Fox was trained by Sam DeCero and Sonny Rogers, starting his wrestling career in 1988. He was pencil thin, which hindered getting any attention from a major promotion in this era, so he was cast as an enhancement talent. Fox previously worked for the WWF in 1992 and 1993. In 1993 he appeared twice, losing to Razor Ramon and teaming with Virgil in a loss to Well Dunn.

McMahon asks Sunny why the Bodydonnas match with the Smoking Gunns is non-title at In Your House. Sunny answers that the Bodydonnas have not proved to her that they deserve a title shot. Sunny also reveals that she plans to bring in a singles wrestler to go after the WWF and Intercontinental titles. The crowd still does not want to cheer for the Bodydonnas, treating the enhancement match in silence. It goes too long as the Brawler and Fox beat on Zip until Skip turns the tide. After a long time, the Bodydonnas finally put Fox away. The bad nature of the match is emphasized by Fox having to twist himself 180 degrees to take the finish.

When the match is over, Sunny yells at Cloudy and Cloudy chases her around the ring and to the locker room. Cloudy then goes to kiss Lawler, who jumps into the crowd to get away.

A video package recaps the past rivalry between Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty. This hypes a non-title match that they will have next week.

Vader, the British Bulldog & Owen Hart (w/Jim Cornette & Diana Hart Smith) (1-0) defeat Savio Vega, Barry Horowitz & Aldo Montoya when Owen submits Montoya to the Sharpshooter at 4:18:

Cornette joins commentary to hype the In Your House main event, which McMahon announces as a six-man tag team match between Vader, the Bulldog, and Owen against Michaels, Ahmed Johnson, and the Ultimate Warrior. Horowitz outduels Owen to continue their recent fight on Superstars and Savio fares better against Vader than he did in January. Montoya is the weak link in the team and the heels capitalize when he gets tagged in. Vader avalanches the Portuguese talent, the Bulldog does his running powerslam, and Owen tags in so he can get the win for the team with the Sharpshooter. A glorified squash but there was some fun action in contrast to whatever the Bodydonnas were doing earlier. Rating: *

Brian Pillman comes to ringside before the main event. Pillman wants to know where his money is after being in the promotion for a week. All McMahon can say is that Pillman has yet to get into the ring.

The Undertaker (w/Paul Bearer) (6-3-1) defeats Steve Austin (18-2-1) via disqualification when Goldust interferes at 10:02 shown:

Contrary to WWF legend, there is not a single sign in the crowd that reads “Austin 3:16.” Early in the match, Lawler leaves the commentary table and interrogates Bearer about what happened at King of the Ring. Bearer refuses to answer any questions about how he cost the Undertaker his match with Mankind. The Undertaker swallows Austin up for five minutes and Austin changes the momentum with a chop block. As Austin works the Undertaker’s left leg, Goldust and Marlena walk to ringside to join the commentary team. Goldust says little to make people excited to see another clash with the Deadman, though. After a second commercial break, the Undertaker misses a flying clothesline but he moves out of the way of a body guillotine. Austin seems beaten after a chokeslam but Goldust hops on the apron and throws gold dust in the Undertaker’s eyes when he lifts Austin for the Tombstone. Like much of the rest of the show, this was killing time and things did not seem to click. Rating: *½

Goldust retreats with Marlena as Austin continues brawling with the Undertaker. The Undertaker’s blindness is temporary, though, as he forces Austin to flee. There is a tease of whether the Undertaker and Bearer are on good terms after last night but eventually the Undertaker poses as Bearer lifts the urn. Lawler gets on the apron and tries to stir the pot but the Undertaker will have none of it.

Tune in next week to see WWF Champion Shawn Michaels face Marty Jannetty in a non-title match! Also, Marc Mero faces Goldust! And Mankind will be in action!

The Last Word: Coming off of a pay-per-view one would have expected a hot Monday Night RAW but this show was the opposite. Outside of the six-man tag at In Your House, none of the other announced matches move the needle as the non-title stipulation takes any drama out of the Bodydonnas-Smoking Gunns match and Goldust and the Undertaker does not have a lot of juice since the Undertaker’s feud with Mankind is the bigger draw and Goldust is no longer Intercontinental champion. The parade of people doing color commentary also hurt the show as it seemed like McMahon preferred to desperately hype the next pay-per-view rather than letting some of the action do the talking and do a slow burn into those matches in the coming weeks. Thankfully there is a Shawn Michaels match next week.

Monday Night War Rating: 2.7 vs. 3.3 for Nitro (Triangle Match: WCW Tag Team Champions Sting & Lex Luger vs. Harlem Heat vs. The Steiner Brothers)

Up Next: WWF Superstars for June 29!

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