Here is a rant I wrote for the June 7th Monday Night Raw on WWE 24-7 Online.
Monday Night Raw-June 7, 1993 WWE 24-7 Online Rant
Monday Night Raw, June 7, 1993
-From: Manhattan Center, New York, New York
-Annoucers: Vince McMahon, Bobby Heenan and Randy Savage
-Kickoff by announcing Shawn Michaels as the new Intercontinental Champion. He comes down the aisle with Diesel.
-Shawn Michaels says that it is not safe to watch Raw with him on top, especially with his "Insurance Policy."
-Interesting tag team match tonight as Rick Steiner and Billy Gunn take Fatu of the Headshrinkers and I.R.S. They actually had quite a few of those inter-tag team matches around this time.
-Shawn Michaels (w/Diesel) Vs. Ross Greenberg: Shawn Michaels starts by working his arm, which goes into a series of bodyslams. Ross Greenberg gets surprise small package, but only gets a one count. Michaels retaliates by punching Greenberg into the corner. Michaels with a supeplex, and Vince McMahon reminds us that the King of the Ring is this Sunday night, only on Pay-Per View. Michaels bodyslams Greenberg onto Michaels knee, and puts him into a headlock. Still to come tonight, Adam Bomb Vs. El Matador, never knew they fought. Michaels continues to pound on Greenberg, and connects with an eblow off of the middle rope. Michales with a piledriver, pin, and a three count. Fun old school jobber beatdown, *3/4. After the match Michaels yells at McMahon, because he feels that it is rude that he has to defend his newly regained Intercontinental Title against Crush this Sunday night. Very strange for 1993, because he seems to be yelling directly at McMahon, almost recognizing that McMahon is the owner of the company.
El Matador Tito Santana Vs. Adam Bomb (w/ Johnny Polo): They exchange arm bars to start. Tito Santana then gains the early edge as he continues to work on Bomb's arm. Adam Bomb returns with a series of punches. A bodyslam by Bomb, but he misses an elbow, and another one. Santana goes right back to Bomb's arm. An arm drag by Santana to keep the pressure on. He goes back to the arm to add some more pressure. Bomb begins to pound on Santana and send him from post to post. Bomb with a sideslam, and both men exchange a good amount of punches. Santana hits with the pattenant flying forearm, goes for the cover, but only gets a two count. Santana with a dropkick, does not affect Bomb. Bomb takes over, and then jumps from the apron over the ropes and clotheslines Santana, as he is in mid-air, he goes for the cover. Santana did a good job putting Bomb over as a newcomer, **1/4.
Tatanka Vs. Peter Weekes: Tatanka goes right to the arm, very El Matador-esque, I might add. Peter Weekes reverses and hits with a chop. Tatanka is able to reverse that and he chops him. The crowd start the "OHOHOH" chop chant. Tatanka is back in control as he sends Weekes to the outside. Back in, and Tatanka still delivering the chops. Weekes with a chop and a punch. I wanted to give a Bronx Cheer when he finally punched, rather than chopped him. Tatanka with more chops, just cannot get enough, these two guys chest will be bright red after this one. Tatanka on the top rope, comes down and hits with a big chop. He goes for the cover, and gets the three count. A chop fest, *1/4.
Kings Court with Jerry Lawler: Who has to go to the bathroom? This would be my normal break, but since I am doing this, I will hang in there. He begins by ripping on Randy Savage and Vince McMahon, typical Lawler jokes. He procedes to make jokes about New York City. His guest this, however, is Yokozuna. We go to a commercial break, isn't this basically a glorified commercial break? We're back, and the girls are out to give Yokozuna flowers. I wonder what their job description was. Yokozuna enter the Court with Mr. Fuji. Crowd chants "Hogan" and Lawler gets very upset, he should be happy they are even paying attention. Typical "Five Hundred Fitty Pounds" promo from Mr. Fuji. Lawler asks Yokozuna what he has to say to Hulk Hogan, and he responds with "Hogan, you're going down." What build up, no, I actually thought Hogan was going to win, stupid mark.
Billy Gunn and Rick Steiner (w/ Bart Gunn and Scott Steiner) Vs. Fatu and I.R.S. (w/ Samu, Afa and Ted Dibiase): IRWIN! IRWIN! Samu and Afa are eating WW_ Ice Cream Bar. Randy Savage wishes The Fink and some random lady in Houston a happy bar. It is a Randy Savage ice cream bar, I actually liked getting a Bret Hart ice cream bar personally, stupid mark. Fatu and Bart Gunn start, and Gunn kicks things off with a drop toe hold. He keeps the momentum as he gives Fatu a breakbreaker. Rick Steiner in and he works on Fatu as he sends him to the corner, but, catches an elbow. I.R.S. in, and he sends Rick Steiner to the outside. He comes back in, and we go to a commercial break. I.R.S. attempts to hit Rick Steiner and accidentally catches Fatu. During the break Ted Dibiase had to prevent a near confrontation between I.R.S. and the Headshrinkers by dishing out some dough to the Somoans. I.R.S. and Rick Steiner are the legal men, and Rick Steiner with a head lock, but I.R.S. is actually able to get two near falls. I.R.S. throws Rick Steiner out of the ring, but Scott Steiner tosses him back in. He throws him out again, and this time Dibiase and the Headshrinkers beat down on him. Scott Steiner is able to make the save, and send his Rick Steiner back in where he is greeted with a series of double team moves by I.R.S. Bart Gunn tries to help Rick Steiner, but he just distracts the referee which allows more double team moves. Rick Steiner finally tags in Bart Gunn, and he clears his. Howver, I.R.S. clotheslines him from behind, goes for the pin, and the gets the three count. Too many people all over the place, but still a cool concept. *1/4.
Next Week: Marty Jannetty Vs. Doink the Clown, there goes that push for Jannetty, plus Jerry Lawler in action.
Vince McMahon interviews Razor Ramon, and the crowd chants "1-2-3," which is more of a crowd response than Sean Wauldman ever got as X-Pac. Razor Ramon announces he will face the "Stick Man," 1-2-3 next week, and will give the kid $7,500. Vince McMahon then informs him that he only got 7 % of the vote in the crowds prediction for who will the King of the Ring Quarterfinal Match between him and Bret Hart on Sunday. Ramon comments on the location of the event, and he claims that it is perfect that he is at the Nutter Center, because when it is all said and done all Bret Hart will be is a "Nutter loser, a Nutter hase been, and a Nutter grease spot on the mat." That is all the time we have, do not forget King of the Ring on Sunday.
Bottom Line: Tons of build up for the King of the Ring, and not much else. Fun show, nonetheless.
