What the World Was Watching: Monday Night RAW – 07.01.96

Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler commentate, once again broadcasting from Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Opening Non-Title Contest: Shawn Michaels (WWF Champion w/Jose Lothario) (12-0-1) beats Marty Jannetty (w/Jim Cornette & Leif Cassidy) (1-4) after Sweet Chin Music at 14:50 shown:

It seems like Cornette managing Jannetty for the match should have had more of a story behind it. There could have been an angle that went through the show or that took place last week to set it up. After a long feeling out process, Michaels almost hits Sweet Chin Music but Cassidy pulls Jannetty out of the ring and then distracts Michaels so that his tag team partner can take advantage. Michaels mixes in a few fluke near-falls and Jannetty nearly wins when Michaels goes shoulder-first into the ring post. Good near-falls follow as each man rolls through a Michaels hurricanrana and Jannetty rolls through a reverse flying body press for a close two count. After a second commercial break, Jannetty delivers a Rocker Dropper but does not go for a cover, aiming to go for the flying fist drop. Michaels rolls out of the way, floats over a suplex, goes back to his 1993 finisher of a piledriver, and prevails after a flying elbow drop and Sweet Chin Music. Jannetty has not been a threat to anyone in 1996 but the match shoved that aside, turning back to the clock to a time when Jannetty was a midcard contender. Rating: ***½

After the bell, Cassidy attacks Michaels but he soon eats Sweet Chin Music as well. Cornette gets into the ring to do a sneak attack but Lothario punches the heel manager in the face. Fireworks go off as Michaels and Lothario celebrate their victory.

Footage of the WWF’s house show action in Indianapolis, Detroit, and Pittsburgh is shown, along with fans in Cleveland, Ohio lined up to buy tickets for SummerSlam.

Mankind (8-0) defeats Duke Droese (7-4) via submission to the Mandible Claw at 4:07 shown:

Jake Roberts joins commentary as it is announced that he will face Mankind at In Your House 9: International Incident. Lawler wastes no time needling him about alcoholism, arguing that Roberts will need liquid courage to beat Mankind and that when he sweats he is a fire hazard. The back-and-forth between them overshadows the contest, not that it is much of one as Mankind dominates, not selling Droese’s trademark spinebuster. Droese applies a sleeper hold but Mankind rams his way out of it and then when Droese applies a bearhug, Mankind counters with the Mandible Claw for a relatively easy win. Rating: ¾*

Lawler keeps ripping into Roberts after the match, calling Roberts a hypocrite. After mocking Roberts’ religious beliefs of turning the other cheek, Lawler slaps him twice. Roberts responds by grabbing Lawler and choking him on the announce table. The crowd loves that but it is short-lived as Mankind comes into the picture and puts the Mandible Claw on Roberts.

Call 1-900-737-4WWF to find out why the Ultimate Warrior is in the WWF doghouse!

Goldust (w/Marlena) (10-6-2) beats Marc Mero (w/Sable) (11-2) after the Curtain Call at 11:35 shown:

Steve Austin, in a WWF polo shirt, continues the parade of color commentators, insisting that he would have beaten the Undertaker last week if Goldust had not gotten involved and he will beat the Deadman later. With regards to Mero, Austin says he looks forward to it because Mero busted him open at King of the Ring. Throughout the match Austin has some fun back-and-forth with McMahon, complaining about McMahon not giving him enough credit for winning the King of the Ring Tournament. When it comes to this match, Lawler explains the supposed parking lot incident between Marlena and Sable as Marlena adjusting Sable’s dress when Sable was getting luggage out of her vehicle. Marlena makes some suggestive gestures on her cigar as she glances at Sable as Goldust controls much of the action. It takes ten minutes for Mero to get his offense rolling, which leads to Marlena checking Sable out during a double KO spot. This eventually distracts Mero further, who is kneed in the back and finished with the Curtain Call. This was a surprisingly strong win for Goldust. Austin’s work on commentary also helped to make some of the slow parts interesting. Rating: **

Tune in next week to see Vader & the British Bulldog face the Godwinns! Also, the Ultimate Warrior battles Owen Hart!

The Last Word: This show was a significant improvement over last week’s outing. The Shawn Michaels-Marty Jannetty match was fun by itself but there was some heat put on the Mankind and Jake Roberts match booked for In Your House and the development of midcard programs between Roberts and Jerry Lawler and Marc Mero and Goldust. However, a problem for the next In Your House is that the outcomes of many matches seem predictable. The Undertaker is likely to beat Goldust, who is being redirected into a midcard program with Mero. Steve Austin is likely to beat Mero, whose stock is falling. And Mankind is likely beating Roberts because Mankind has a hotter program going with the Undertaker.

Monday Night War Rating: 2.6 vs. 3.3 for Nitro (Main Event: The Four Horsemen vs. Joe Gomez, the Renegade & the Rock N’ Roll Express)

Up Next: WWF Superstars for July 6!

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