Connor McGrath
WWF Monday Night RAW
March 13th, 1995
Live from the Memorial Civic Auditorium in Stockton, California
Announcers: Vince McMahon and Jim Cornette
We’re less than three weeks from WrestleMania XI with a LIVE episode of RAW. The show opens with Vince McMahon recapping Bret Hart and Jerry Lawler’s almost two year long feud. This feud has escalated with Lawler accusing Bret Hart of being a racist. Also! The undefeated Jacob & Eli Blu “from the Appalachia Region of the United States” meet former WWF Tag Team Champions 123 Kid & Bob Holly! Plus WWF Intercontinental Champion “Double J” Jeff Jarrett!
The New Headshrinkers Vs The Blu Twins (With Uncle Zebekiah)
I guess Bob Holly got injured at the last minute because The New Headshrinkers are filling in for 123 Kid & Bob Holly. Haven’t seen the Shrinkers on RAW since ’94, I think. Fatu’s not too faraway from transforming from savage to community role model and Sionne’s not too far away from joining the rest of the old dudes in WCW at this point. Adding to the notion that this is the end of the line for the Shrinkers, Captain Lou and Afa are nowhere to be found at ringside. We cut to commercial during the middle of a pinfall in a very WCW-esque moment.
Just noticed that the WWF referees have switched from the blue shirts and bow ties to striped ref shirts. We get a lame duck finish with both teams brawling to the back and getting counted out. Not a good sign for the Blu Twins going into WrestleMania for them not even being able to get a clean win (or any sort of win) over a lame duck team like the New Headshrinkers.
We get an up close interview with LT about his match at WrestleMania XI. Lawrence Taylor is so soft spoken in this, he’s almost impossible to understand.
Vince hypes LT’s All Star team! Carl Banks! Chris Spielman! Ricky Jackson! Ken Norton Jr! Reggie White! And Steve McMichael! In fact, we got some comments from Steve McMichael right now. McMichael is thrilled to be here! He’s heard Kama talking trash and he’s gonna be on RAW next week to check on things out for himself. Steve McMichael on a wrestling show? What a terrible idea!
We get a promo from The Million Dollar Corporation. No matter how many NFL players LT brings, Bam Bam and The MDC will take them out! Tatanka bad mouths Chris Spielman and King Kong Bundy’s got some words for Reggie White. Kama’s gonna hit Steve McMichael like he’s never been hit before. Jim Cornette LOVES these guys but he HATES football. There’s one football player he likes though…WWF (and San Diego Chargers) Hall of Famer “Big Cat” Ernie Ladd!
Vince talks to The Big Cat about Bam Bam Bigelow Vs Lawrence Taylor. Ernie Ladd cuts a great promo about how Lawrence Taylor doesn’t know what he’s getting into. Ernie Ladd says it took him years to transition from the NFL to the WWF! Lawrence Taylor’s gonna only have one night!
Jeff Jarrett (with The Roadie) Vs Barry Horowitz
We get a pre-match promo from Barry Horowitz. Horowitz says he’s sure of himself, confident, and picking up tips from Razor Ramon. Cornette says Horowitz’s record is 0 and NEVER! Horowitz and Vince say there’s a first time for everything in the World Wrestling Federation. This is the beginning of Barry Horowitz’s push as WWF’s favorite lovable loser (who occasionally wins) which would go into overdrive in the Summer of ’95. Horowitz dominates the Intercontinental Champion. Cornette thinks Horowitz is the one hit wonder of the WWF, he’s in over his head. Cornette’s an underrated color commentator. Some of his jokes make me eyeroll but he’s great at selling the drama. Jarrett wins with the Figure Four after The Roadie clips Barry’s knee.
Before the main event, we get a clip of Bret Hart eliminating Jerry Lawler from a 20 man battle royal on Superstars two weeks ago by stepping on Lawler’s other foot while Lawler’s hopping around outside on one foot. Noticed in the background; Kwang and Mantaur duking it out in the battle royal.
Bret Hart cuts a promo in the shower wearing his ring gear and a goofy backwards Calgary Hitmen hat. Hitman thinks Lawler’s nothing but a pain in the BUTT and he’s going to deal with him tonight!
We get another WrestleMania XI report with Todd Pettengill. Todd says WrestleMania is bigger than the Grammys, Oscars, and Super Bowl combined! Todd tells us to ask for WrestleMania by name from their local cable operator because you never know what they’ll give you if you don’t. Were people accidentally ordering WCW pay per views or something? Todd says Bam Bam-LT is the biggest showdown on pay per view since Tyson-Spinks! Toddster says LT’s added more star power to his entourage because Salt N Pepa will sing him to the ring. Todd sings us a bit of “Whattaman”
We get a look at Salt N Pepa in the studio. Salt N Pepa got the hots for the World Wrestling Federation Superstars, particularly Bret Hart. Odds that Bret banged Salt N/or Pepa (or DJ Spinderella)?
Shawn Michaels cuts a promo alongside a very uninterested looking Pamela Anderson. Todd announces that Jeff Jarrett will defend the WWF Intercontinental Title against Razor Ramon and The Smoking Gunns will defend the WWF Tag Team titles against Owen Hart and a mystery partner. On
On the Action Zone yesterday, the Smoking Gunns defended against Men on a Mission. MOM thought they won the titles but the Smoking Gunns won eventually when Billy reversed a Mo crossbody. After the match, Mo & Mabel pummeled the Smoking Gunns. Oscar was horrified by his buddies behavior.
Todd also announces that the most potent tag team in WWF history has been formed for WrestleMania XI. Lex Luger teams up with “The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith against The Blu Twins. Todd hasn’t even gotten into the Hollywood hotshots appearing (despite him just showing clips of Salt N Pepa and Pamela Anderson)
Bret “The Hitman” Hart Vs Jerry “The King” Lawler (with Bull Nakano)
WWF Women’s Champ Bull Nakano comes to the ring with Lawler. Cornette says this is proof that the people of Japan are on Lawler’s side. Mr. Bob Backlund is in the house to scout Bret “Hitman” Hart. Hakushi & Shinja also wander down to watch this match. The Japanese people (and Backlund) are united against that racist Bret Hart. This just in! Barry Horowitz has challenged Jeff Jarrett to a rematch with the WWF Intercontinental Title! For some reason, Bret and Lawler’s matches in ’95 were a lot worse than their matches in ’93. The storyline was way goofier in ’95 but it’s not like they hadn’t lost a step in terms of in-ring performance. This match ends when Bull Nakano grabs Bret’s leg when he’s outside the ring, causing Bret to lose by countout. Bret gives chase but Bull hides behind Hakushi. Bret says “Screw it” and decides to just kick Lawler’s ass some more. Cornette thinks Bret is a poor sport and a monster for going after a woman.
Jim Cornette wraps this show up by talking about next week’s episode. Vince McMahon is at ringside with Barry Horowitz and Jeff Jarrett. Jarrett thinks that Barry Horowitz on his best day, wouldn’t beat Double J on his worst day but he’ll give him a shot at the WWF Intercontinental title. Horowitz goes to sign the contract but Bob Backlund storms out and chicken wings him. He crosses out Horowitz’s name and writes in his own. Jeff Jarrett will have to defend the WWF Intercontinental Title against Former World Champ Bob Backlund! I don’t know if that contract is legally binding! Jeff Jarrett freaks out and decides to deal with it by pummeling poor Barry Horowitz with the Roadie.
That’s it. Another lackluster RAW to lead into a soon to be lackluster WrestleMania!
Next Week: Less than two weeks before WrestleMania XI, we have two main events. In the first half, Former Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon takes on Henry O Godwinn plus the Smoking Gunns defend the WWF Tag Team Titles against The Heavenly Bodies!
