(01.22.96)
Live from Stockton, CA
Your hosts are Vince McMahon & Jerry Lawler
Sunny warns us of the graphic nature that can be displayed from Raw. Viewer discretion is advised! Sunny playing pool in a red outfit never gets old.
Vader (W/Jim Cornette) Vs Savio Vega
Vader wins relatively easy with a Vader Bomb from the second rope. Vega was enough of a mid-card talent to make Vader's dominance look somewhat impressive.
After the match, Vader hits another Vader bomb on Savio. He also powerbombs a referee. Interim President, Gorilla Monsoon comes down and gets in Vader's face for his actions. Gorilla announces that Vader is suspended indefinitely. Gorilla ends up nailing Vader with some knife-edge chops. Vader doesn't like this at all so he decides to beat up Gorilla Monsoon as well until Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon run down and chase Vader away before Vader can inflict any more damage. Gorilla is carried out on a stretcher.
Thoughts: It's a crying shame Vader wasn't booked like this more in the WWF. After Shawn Michaels derailed his push at Summerslam, Vader was never the same. Seeing Gorilla chop away at Vader was pretty cool as well.
Vader is declaring war on every single person in the WWF, including Vince McMahon.
Razor Ramon Vs Hunter Hearst Helmsley
Hunter wins by countout after Razor gets busy chasing The 1-2-3 Kid around ringside. Razor tries to give Hunter the Razor's Edge after the match, but Hunter escapes. Everybody won in this match. Razor doesn't lose credibility because he doesn't lose clean. The 1-2-3 Kid looks like a genius to outsmart razor, and Hunter gains a little momentum from the win.
*
We get another segment of Vince poking fun at Ted Turner and WCW.
Vince brings out Shawn Michaels for an interview. Shawn gloats about his Royal Rumble win and says he has only one goal left to accomplish, the WWF Championship. He addresses Owen Hart for taking credit of putting Shawn on the shelf. Shawn says it was the 9 thugs in Syracuse that did the damage. Jim Cornette interrupts the proceedings and says if he wants Owen, he's gotta talk to him. He tells Shawn to leave Owen alone because Owen has no reason to give Shawn another match. Shawn says he'll do anything to face Owen Hart. Cornette says the only way Shawn can face Owen Hart is if Shawn puts his WWF title shot on the line against Owen. Shawn initially isn't too keen on the idea. After a consultation with his clique (his fans) , Shawn agrees to the stipulation. Shawn throws Cornette over the top rope and onto the floor to end the interview.
Thoughts: I'm one of the very few people who prefers the Shawn Michaels from 2002 until his retirement. Shawn was magnificent performer in the mid to late 90's, but it was hard to root for him due to his attitude problems. This segment was fine, though. You'll never catch me complaining about a Shawn Michaels and Owen Hart match!
Next week, Diesel faces The British Bulldog, and Shawn Michaels battles Yokozuna.
Champion vs Champion
Bret Hart Vs Goldust (W/Marlena)
Bret is the WWF Champion, Goldust is the Intercontinental Champion. Neither title is on the line here. At one point, Goldust tries to bail on the match, but Razor Ramon comes out and tosses Goldust back inside the ring. Bret wins by submission with a Sharpshooter. I'm a little surprised at how cleanly Bret won. The match itself was just "there" It's not often Bret has a match that's under two stars, but this is one of them.
*1/4
Bret says nobody will ever known if The Undertaker had the title won against Bret at the Rumble because Diesel interfered. Bret says he's fed up with Diesel and his excuses about the WWF making him change his (Diesel's) personality. He says Taker can have a rematch any time he wants.
Thoughts: Bret will never be known as the greatest promo man, but he delivers in that area when it counts. He did a good job here.
I'd have to say Vader stole the show here. It really was "Vader time" at one point. He looked like an unstoppable monster here, something that should have happened consistently. The WWF title picture was getting more and more interesting with HBK, Diesel, and The Undertaker all in the mix. Overall, it was alright.
Live from Stockton, CA
Your hosts are Vince McMahon & Jerry Lawler
Sunny warns us of the graphic nature that can be displayed from Raw. Viewer discretion is advised! Sunny playing pool in a red outfit never gets old.
Vader (W/Jim Cornette) Vs Savio Vega
Vader wins relatively easy with a Vader Bomb from the second rope. Vega was enough of a mid-card talent to make Vader's dominance look somewhat impressive.
After the match, Vader hits another Vader bomb on Savio. He also powerbombs a referee. Interim President, Gorilla Monsoon comes down and gets in Vader's face for his actions. Gorilla announces that Vader is suspended indefinitely. Gorilla ends up nailing Vader with some knife-edge chops. Vader doesn't like this at all so he decides to beat up Gorilla Monsoon as well until Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon run down and chase Vader away before Vader can inflict any more damage. Gorilla is carried out on a stretcher.
Thoughts: It's a crying shame Vader wasn't booked like this more in the WWF. After Shawn Michaels derailed his push at Summerslam, Vader was never the same. Seeing Gorilla chop away at Vader was pretty cool as well.
Vader is declaring war on every single person in the WWF, including Vince McMahon.
Razor Ramon Vs Hunter Hearst Helmsley
Hunter wins by countout after Razor gets busy chasing The 1-2-3 Kid around ringside. Razor tries to give Hunter the Razor's Edge after the match, but Hunter escapes. Everybody won in this match. Razor doesn't lose credibility because he doesn't lose clean. The 1-2-3 Kid looks like a genius to outsmart razor, and Hunter gains a little momentum from the win.
*
We get another segment of Vince poking fun at Ted Turner and WCW.
Vince brings out Shawn Michaels for an interview. Shawn gloats about his Royal Rumble win and says he has only one goal left to accomplish, the WWF Championship. He addresses Owen Hart for taking credit of putting Shawn on the shelf. Shawn says it was the 9 thugs in Syracuse that did the damage. Jim Cornette interrupts the proceedings and says if he wants Owen, he's gotta talk to him. He tells Shawn to leave Owen alone because Owen has no reason to give Shawn another match. Shawn says he'll do anything to face Owen Hart. Cornette says the only way Shawn can face Owen Hart is if Shawn puts his WWF title shot on the line against Owen. Shawn initially isn't too keen on the idea. After a consultation with his clique (his fans) , Shawn agrees to the stipulation. Shawn throws Cornette over the top rope and onto the floor to end the interview.
Thoughts: I'm one of the very few people who prefers the Shawn Michaels from 2002 until his retirement. Shawn was magnificent performer in the mid to late 90's, but it was hard to root for him due to his attitude problems. This segment was fine, though. You'll never catch me complaining about a Shawn Michaels and Owen Hart match!
Next week, Diesel faces The British Bulldog, and Shawn Michaels battles Yokozuna.
Champion vs Champion
Bret Hart Vs Goldust (W/Marlena)
Bret is the WWF Champion, Goldust is the Intercontinental Champion. Neither title is on the line here. At one point, Goldust tries to bail on the match, but Razor Ramon comes out and tosses Goldust back inside the ring. Bret wins by submission with a Sharpshooter. I'm a little surprised at how cleanly Bret won. The match itself was just "there" It's not often Bret has a match that's under two stars, but this is one of them.
*1/4
Bret says nobody will ever known if The Undertaker had the title won against Bret at the Rumble because Diesel interfered. Bret says he's fed up with Diesel and his excuses about the WWF making him change his (Diesel's) personality. He says Taker can have a rematch any time he wants.
Thoughts: Bret will never be known as the greatest promo man, but he delivers in that area when it counts. He did a good job here.
I'd have to say Vader stole the show here. It really was "Vader time" at one point. He looked like an unstoppable monster here, something that should have happened consistently. The WWF title picture was getting more and more interesting with HBK, Diesel, and The Undertaker all in the mix. Overall, it was alright.
