WWF: Monday Night Raw (04.05.93)
Monday Night Raw
April 5, 1993
New York City
The current WWF champs were as follows:
World Champion: Hulk Hogan (4/4/1993)
Intercontinental Champion: Shawn Michaels (10/27/1992)
World Tag Team Champions: Money Inc. (10/13/1992)
Your hosts are Vince McMahon and Randy Savage. Rob Bartlett is still stuck in Las Vegas since apparently he was cleaned out at the casinos. Oh, that Rob!
- Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Virgil
Savage is the one who announces Hulk Hogan as the NEW WWF champ after last night’s WrestleMania. Of course, barring Jack Tunney’s thorough investigation. Virgil tries the stick and move strategy with Bigelow, but the NYC crowd would rather see him get squashed. Bam Bam instead wears him down with restholds. Virgil fights out of a bearhug and hits somewhat of a flying clothesline. Missile dropkick gets two. Horrible floatover in the corner followed by a crossbody on the other side, but Bigelow slam dunks him to the mat. Flying Headbutt scores for the win. (6:59) Either NYC loves Bigelow or really hates Virgil. Ehh, I believe both options hold some serious truth. ½*
It’s supposed to be time for Jerry Lawler’s wrestling debut in the WWF, but the crowd won’t stop cheering ‘Burger King’. With such disrespect shown by the crowd, he walks out.
- Bob Backlund vs. Kim Chee
Big reaction for Backlund here. Reminds me of a Randy Savage match in WCW. Backlund takes most of the punishment and wins with one move. Actually here, Backlund blocks a monkey flip and wins with a fancy prawn hold. (4:00) Randy likes it. ¼*
- Damien Demento vs. Jim Brunzell
Rob Bartlett joins us via telephone begging Vince and Randy for some money to get out of Las Vegas. Unfortunately for Rob, they are less than helpful. Trading of the armbars to start. Lots of stomps from Demento. He’s certainly got that move down pat. Brunzell comes back with an atomic drop and the Best Dropkick in the Biz for 1-2-NO! Demento quickly hits a reverse neckbreaker and a jumping knee drop for the win. (5:04) Bruiser Brody, he ain’t. ¼*
Jerry Lawler’s wrestling debut in the WWF, take two. I don’t think this crowd was trying to disrespect him though. Perhaps they just REALLY love Burger King. Lawler leaves again. Oh boy.
- The Steiner Brothers vs. The Beverly Brothers
Here is the feature match of the night. Scott handles Beau pretty well to start until Beau blocks a hiptoss and buries a knee before slamming Scott’s head back onto the mat. It’s not too long before Scott comes back with the butterfly slam. Time for Rick and Blake. They trade powerslams. Tag to Scott, he gives Blake an overhead suplex. After Blake reverses a whip on Scott, Beau grabs Scott from the apron to yank him down. While the ref is with Rick, the Beverly boys deliver a Leapfrog Guillotine to Scott. More face in peril stuff continues as we go to a commercial break. AND WE’RE BACK! Scott is still stuck on the wrong side of town. Blake works a bearhug and then tries a suplex, but Scott counters for one of his own. They cut off the hot tag, but Scott fights back against Beau and delivers a tilt-a-whirl side slam. HOT TAG TO RICK! Steinerline gets two. As Beau dumps out Rick, Scott blind tags into the match. Heel miscommunication ensues as Blake gets stuck with the FRANKENSTEINER and the three-count. (8:54 shown) And the Steiners continue their winning ways. **
- Jerry Lawler vs. Jim Powers
Lawler seems peeved this time as well, but a super lean Jim Powers is here to make sure he wrestles tonight. I mean, he is Terry Taylor size compared to how jacked he would become in 1996 jobbing on Nitros. Anyways, Powers beats Lawler in and out of the ring as the crowd continues to give it to him. He jaws with Randy Savage down on the floor possibly foreshadowing to some future plans. Powers finally makes a mistake when he tries a dropkick and Lawler grabs hold of the ropes. Lawler continues to mess with Savage and can’t put Powers away just yet. Powers gets a Knee Lift, but telegraphs a backdrop and takes a PILEDRIVER to give Lawler the win. (6:17) They did a good job of making Powers seem credible while also giving you the idea that Lawler had bigger plans in mind like Randy Savage, for example. ½*
Afterwards, Jerry Lawler tells Randy Savage that he doesn’t have the guts to get in the ring with him. Savage stands up and tries to remain calm because he’s now a broadcast journalist, dagnabbit.
NEXT WEEK: Money Inc. vs. The Bushwhackers!
Posted on October 2, 2012, in WWE and tagged Bam Bam Bigelow, Beau Beverly, Beverly Brothers, Blake Beverly, Bob Backlund, Damien Demento, Jerry Lawler, Jim Brunzell, Jim Powers, Kim Chee, Randy Savage, Raw, Steiner Brothers, Virgil. Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment.