Connor McGrath
WWF Monday Night RAW
April 24th, 1995
Live from the Civic Auditorium in Omaha, Nebraska
Announcers: Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler
The show opens with a special look at Bam Bam Bigelow’s fall from grace. He was humiliated and abandoned by his teammates in the Million Dollar Corporation at the Royal Rumble! Then he got suspended for shoving a chuckling Lawrence Taylor after the match. Then Lawrence Taylor kicked his ass at WrestleMania XI (out on Coliseum Video on May 24th!). Ted DiBiase has been embarrassed by his client Bigelow and he’s got a new star pupil of the Corporation, Sycho Sid. Bam Bam Bigelow’s got a shot at redemption when he takes on the WWF World Champion Diesel for the title in tonight’s main event!
We are live from Omaha, Nebraska tonight. Jerry Lawler is inexplicably psyched to be here for some reason. Lawler says our main event is WrestleMania quality. Lawler says Bam Bam will not be humiliated again!
The Smoking Gunns Vs Barry Horowitz and The Brooklyn Brawler
We haven’t seen Brooklyn Brawler in a while. Barry Horowitz is back to being a goofy heel after being a dorky face during his mini-feud with Jeff Jarrett last month. Smoking Gunns will be facing Owen Hart & Yokozuna for the WWF Tag Team Titles at In Your House in three weeks. Lawler says Yokozuna and Owen Hart have the nerve to accept a challenge but Bret Hart refuses to face him! Vince McMahon says Bret Hart signed a contract for a match with Hakushi at In Your House long before Lawler challenged him! Gunns win a fun squash with the Sidewinder on the Brawler. Horowitz sulks and paces around outside.
We go backstage to Ted DiBiase and Bam Bam Bigelow. Bam Bam has a nasty black eye. He says he’s gonna make Mr. D and The Million Dollar Corporation proud tonight. McMahon asks about Bam Bam’s shiner and he tells McMahon he should see what Diesel will look like after tonight!
In interest of being fair and balanced, Vince then interviews Diesel. Diesel said he wants to be a fighting champ. Vince asks Diesel if he feels bad because he’s indirectly responsible for Bam Bam’s fall from grace because he invited LT to the Royal Rumble. Diesel brushes him off and says Bam Bam and LT are responsible for their own actions
Bertha Faye (with Harvey Whippleman) Vs La Pantera Serena
During her first appearance, Bertha looked like a monster but here she debuts the look that we’re familiar with of goofyassed clothes and hanging out with Harvey Whippleman. Jerry Lawler calls Whippleman the, “Tom Arnold of the WWF,” and I kind of wonder if Bertha Faye’s gimmick was that she was like Roseanne? Surprised I hadn’t noticed the similarities. Vince even points out the difference between Bertha’s first appearance and her second appearance tonight. Lawler lusts after Bertha Faye, which is ridiculous. Lawler interested in a woman over the age of 18? La Pantera Serena, unfortunately, doesn’t dress up like Dimebag or Phil. Lawler talks about Bertha living in a trailer park in Walls, Mississippi. Nothing like some insider jokes about the Memphis metropolitan area. Bertha wins with a gorilla press slam. Bertha looked pretty impressive there despite the awful gimmick. Vince McMahon says it’s too bad Bertha’s not eligible to win the In Your House “Win A House” Sweepstakes!
Todd Pettengill and his awful mullet is here with our In Your House report. In Your House is an unbelievable value at only $14.95. Only five dollars more than the amount I’m paying for the last WWE PPV! Todd announces a big tag team match between Razor Ramon & The 123 Kid and Jeff Jarrett & The Roadie. Plus “The Legend” Bret “The Hitman” Hart takes on the undefeated Hakushi!
SID cuts a very SID like promo! He’s NOT HAPPY about the Bam Bam-Diesel match. The ONLY THING that will make THE MASTER HAPPY is becoming World Wrestling Federation Champion. Sid says he has friends in low places. SID quoting Garth Brooks= all-time great promo.
WWF World Title Match: Diesel (c) Vs Bam Bam Bigelow (with Ted DiBiase)
Diesel still seems over huge. The lackluster booking of his WWF World Title run eventually made him just another pretender to Hogan’s throne but he still seemed like he was pretty popular here. Vince does a good job of putting over Bam Bam’s shot at an upset by saying Diesel just flew back yesterday from a European tour and is jetlagged. Vince tells us that Shawn Michaels will be back roughly in a month. Even though Nash and Bigelow are both capable of good matches with the right opponent, I had no expectations for this match and was pleasantly surprised to find it to be a pretty good big man match.
Uh oh! Here comes Tatanka to “lend moral support.” Wait a second, Tatanka just tripped Bam Bam Bigelow. WHAT THE? Diesel pins Bam Bigelow with the Jackknife Powerbomb to retain the title. Bam Bam’s humiliating 1995 continues.
Ted DiBiase yells at Bam Bam. Million Dollar Man says Bigelow is an EMBARRASSMENT to the Million Dollar Corporation. No one humiliates him three times in a row! Bam Bam Bigelow is FIRED. Tatanka kicks Bam Bam’s ass but Bam Bam fights him off. Bam Bam says DiBiase can’t fire him! He quits! IRS runs in and him and Tatanka beat down Bam Bam. Oh no! Here comes Sid! In the tights he wore at WrestleMania VIII when he retired wrestled Hulk Hogan! He destroys Bam Bam. Big Daddy Cool runs down to make the save. SID flips out on his way back down the aisle. THIS DOESN’T HAPPEN! SID IS THE MASTER!
Next week on RAW, SID makes his in-ring RAW debut against two time WWF Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon!
Aldo Montoya Vs The Black Phantom
Aldo Montoya has switched his hair style to some awful dreads. Jerry Lawler ignores the action to make some Helen Hart jokes. Vince McMahon is APPALLED! The future Gangrel (Black Phantom) looks like he’s wrestling in moonboots. I have to ask Gangrel on Twitter if that’s the case. While that happens, Aldo Montoya wins with a bulldog off the middle turnbuckle.
@ConnMan520 no, silver boots kick pads”
Thanks, Gangrel.
Vince McMahon throws it to our first look at a new WWF Superstar Hunter Hearst Helmsley.
Pfft. Like this guy will ever go anywhere in the company. Fast forward.
Show closes with some footage from earlier tonight during a commercial break. Bam Bam Bigelow shook Diesel’s hand after Diesel saved him from the Million Dollar Corporation. Lawler says he’ll NEVER shake hands with Bret. I’m glad they’ve turned the focus on this Bret-Lawler angle back to Lawler making fun of Bret’s parents and away from Lawler inexplicably accusing Bret of being a racist for no reason.
Next Week on RAW: Razor Ramon takes on Sycho Sid in our featured match! Plus The Allied Powers, Men on a Mission, and MANTAUR will all be in action!
