What the World Was Watching: WWF Monday Night RAW – 07.15.96

Footage shows WWF Champion Shawn Michaels, Intercontinental Champion Ahmed Johnson, and Jose Lothario showing up to the arena. They are accosted by Vader, the British Bulldog, Owen Hart, and Jim Cornette but WWF President Gorilla Monsoon and officials prevent a fight from breaking out.

Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler call the action for the last episode of the taping cycle in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Opening Contest for the Intercontinental Championship: Ahmed Johnson (Champion) (16-1) pins Bart Gunn (w/Sunny) (0-3) after the Pearl River Plunge at 11:22 shown:

The storyline of the show is that Sunny could end the evening controlling all of the WWF’s titles. However, trying to take a tag team and push them as singles threats that they have never been is too much for viewers to swallow. As Ahmed and Bart feel each other out there is a funny bit near the commentary table as Lawler kisses Sunny’s hand. When McMahon goes to do the same, Sunny pulls her hand away like a female Ric Flair and Lawler has a good laugh about it as McMahon looks irritated. Bart focuses his attack on Ahmed’s left arm and Shawn Michaels is shown watching backstage. To fill time, McMahon talks about how the WWF is hopeful it can reach an agreement with the Ultimate Warrior so he can return to the ring. After a commercial break, Bart uses a conventional bulldog and then a flying bulldog for near-falls. When he tries the move a third time, Ahmed crotches Bart on the top rope, tackles him off, and finishes Bart without much fanfare. By the finish, Ahmed stopped selling the arm and that nullified much of the work of the match. Rating: *½

Michaels tells the announcers that he is spread thin as WWF champion but he accepts the challenge of defending his belt tonight. He is confident that he and Ahmed can trust Sid at In Your House 9: International Incident.

Call 1-900-737-4WWF to find out Jim Cornette’s secret plan to wreck Michaels’ confidence going into In Your House!

Ahmed Johnson’s spinebuster and Pearl River Plunge to Bart Gunn earlier in the show is the Sudden Death Slam of the Week.

Marc Mero (w/Sable) (11-3) defeats T.L. Hopper (1-0) after a left hand at 8:25 shown:

Goldust’s usher appears for the first time since January, presenting Sable with a gift on her way to the ring. Sable just throws it to the ground rather than open it. In the split screen, Camp Cornette is seen putting their hands together as part of a strategy session of some sort. Lawler brings the comedy by saying that Hopper is a walking anti-drug ad because people need to “Say no to crack.” After a commercial break, Steve Austin is interviewed in the split screen. Austin talks about how Mero will pay for what he did to his face at King of the Ring. This match is a carbon copy of tonight’s opener as Mero gets limited shine, Hopper takes his time wearing his opponent down, and then Mero runs off some moves after Hopper misses a splash to win. Needless to say, this was not a good showcase of either man’s talents. Rating: *½

Camp Cornette does a locker room promo promising that they are not going to get involved in Shawn Michaels’ match later. Cornette talks about how his team is going to get their shots in at In Your House because Vader beat Ahmed last month and the Bulldog and Owen have put a beating on Michaels before. More punishment awaits Sid too.

A music video hypes the Undertaker and inserts disruptions from Mankind. It fills time since an angle involving Shawn Michaels, Ahmed Johnson, and the Ultimate Warrior against Camp Cornette was scrubbed from the show.

Michaels is shown making an appearance at the Sweethearts Tennis Tournament by the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

WWF Championship Match: Shawn Michaels (Champion w/Jose Lothario) (13-0-1) pins Billy Gunn (w/Sunny) after Sweet Chin Music at 11:24 shown:

McMahon offers condolences to Bret Hart’s thirteen-year-old nephew Matt Annis, who passed away of flesh-eating bacteria. Ahmed Johnson pops up in the split screen, promising a raw battle at In Your House and talking about how he is watching Michaels’ back. Michaels finally gives the crowd something to react to by kissing Sunny when she hops on the apron. Even though he forced himself on her, McMahon is convinced Sunny liked it. Outside of that, the match is just standard fare and Billy does not offer anything unique or special on his side of the match. Camp Cornette is shown heading out of the arena sans Cornette but McMahon is convinced that something is afoot. When the show returns from a second commercial break, Michaels kips up after a flying forearm and he does his finishing sequence to notch a monthly title defense since he is not defending his belt at In Your House. Rating: **

After winning, Michaels picks up Billy and throws him out of the ring. Michaels comes through the curtain and is congratulated by Ahmed. Cornette comes up to them and throws a cup of water on Michaels, triggering a foot race as the babyfaces chase after him. That leads to an ambush by Cornette’s crew but it does not develop much as Sid speeds into the picture, crashing his car into some wooden pallets. By the time Sid gets out of the car to help his teammates, Camp Cornette has jumped into their own car and speeds away.

The Last Word: Again, the idea of Sunny trying to get all of the WWF’s titles is not a bad storyline but it was wasted on this show because there was little hype for the concept, Sunny got no promo time, and if she wants to go after singles titles then she needs to get some single talents because the Smoking Gunns were not going to cut the mustard. It is also getting annoying how much the WWF is splicing interview segments into matches, making it difficult for viewers to concentrate on the action presented. Those bits can work in moderation but this month the WWF has overused that concept. All in all, this was a DUD of a show as it did not provide any additional reason for fans to buy In Your House.

Monday Night War Rating: 2.6 vs. 3.4 for Nitro (Main Event: Television Champion Lex Luger vs. Big Bubba)

Up Next: WWF Superstars for July 20!

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