We open Raw with a bizarre commercial for the show with doctors performing surgery, only to drop everything when it's time for Monday Night Raw. You could call this general malpractice, but considering tonight's show involves Tatanka in action, this could be grounds for straight up murder.
We got a stacked card tonight. Lex Luger is in action, Tatanka and Doink take on Bam Bam Bigelow and I.R.S and the King's Court is in session with Owen Hart and Bruce Hart. Yes, somehow Bruce has found his way back on the program.
Opening action involves Ted Dibiase's Undertaker against Butch Banks. "Taker" starts off with some boots and a face first ram into the buckle. A series of chokes in the corner followed by a few more stomps and a clasped hand over the jaw of Banks. Irish whip and a lazy boot to the face from "Taker". A clothesline on Banks by "Taker". Banks ducks a clothesline, but gets hit with a big chokeslam by "Taker" for the three. Post-match, Dibiase and "Taker" wrap up Banks in the body bag.
We recap last week's edition of Superstars where Lex Luger was the guest on the Heartbreak Hotel. Luger continues to state that he hasn't sold out to Dibiase. Michaels tricks Luger into saying that Luger and Dibiase have met and that he has gotten a big offer. Essentially it's still a "maybe, maybe not" situation.
Lex Luger is in action next against Chad Miller. Before the match however, Luger gets confronted by Ted Dibiase, who says something to Luger and leaves. In a backstage interview, Dibiase continues to make it seem like Luger truly did sell out. Luger works the arm with some wringers early on and an arm bar. Miller tries a powerslam, but Luger reverses, getting in a couple arm drags and another long arm bar. Miller gets an elbow to the face and some weak looking knee lifts. Luger gets some stomps, strikes and his loaded forearm for the three in a boring squash.
The Undertaker vs The Undertaker
Bret Hart vs Owen Hart in a steel cage match for the WWF Title
Lex Luger vs Tatanka
Razor Ramon vs Diesel for the WWF Intercontinental Title (With Walter Payton in Razor Ramon's corner)
Also added are:
Bull Nakano vs Alundra Blayze for the WWF Women's Title
The Headshrinkers vs IRS and Bam Bam Bigelow for the WWF Tag Team Titles
And Mabel vs Jeff Jarrett because... why not I guess.
So overall, a stacked, yet somewhat underwhelming card.
Up next, it's Bam Bam Bigelow and IRS (With Ted Dibiase. Making this what, the fourth appearance tonight?) against Doink and Tatanka. Face Doink and Tatanka. Kill me now. Also, don't worry, even though he's under the employ of Dibiase, you still get a classic "Tax Cheats" promo from IRS. Vince refers to Doink and Dink as not being Lisa Marie and Michael Jackson. No, seriously, can we have Jim Ross back?
"Irwin" chants from the crowd as we get started with IRS and Tatanka beginning for both teams. IRS starts by ramming Tatanka head first into the buckle, but don't worry, it's way too early to no sell that. A couple elbows from Tatanka and a cover for two. Tatanka avoids a collision in the buckle and gets a hiptoss and a dropkick. He hits several chops and a hard whip to the buckle. He grabs the Tie of IRS and give him a throw followed by an elbow for two. Tag to Doink who works on the arm, but gets turned around into a hiptoss by IRS. Doink regains momentum with a slam, but misses the elbow. Tag to Bam Bam, who gets hit with a drop toe hold.
Doink ducks an enziguri attempt from Bigelow and follows with several elbow drops for a two count. Doink follows with some more work on the arm. Tag to Tatanka who chops the arm and continues the damage with more arm bars. Bam Bam escapes and takes down Tatanka with a shoulder block. Tatanka comes back with a cross body for a two count. Several clotheslines by Tatanka, knocking Bam Bam down on the third. Cover for a two. Bam Bam sends Tatanka crashing through the ropes as IRS gets a cheap shot before the break.
When we return, IRS is in control as both heel double team Tatanka with a double clothesline for a two count. IRS locks in the chinlock, which Tatanka quickly wakes up from and breaks free. Tag to Bam Bam who continues the offense with more clubbing blows, followed by an elbow to the face. Tatanka ducks a clothesline and both men end up colliding with double body presses. Tags to Doink and IRS. Doink gets an elbow to the face and a powerslam for a two as Bam Bam breaks it. With the official distracted, Bam Bam gets a wheel kick to the back of the head. Write off clothesline by IRS gets the win.
Boring match for the most part, mainly due to a really dull mixture of IRS, Tatanka and face Doink. Mainly boiled down to 65% arm bars and maybe some interesting offense sprinkled here and there. As always I do commend Bam Bam who put in good work for as limited a time as he was given. Overall, for this week's big match, it was a big flop.
Post-Match, Tatanka tries to fight off the corporation, but gets double teamed by Bam Bam and IRS. They stomp and headbutt him, until Lex Luger comes in and chases the heels off. Dibiase enters the ring with a wad of bills in hand. He hands the money to Luger as both Tatanka and Luger confront each other. Tatanka tosses the money away and continues to claim that Luger has sold out. He's so angry that he's war dancing. Referees and the corporation members hold both men back as we go to break.
It's time for another edition of the King's Court. His guests are Owen Hart (Flanked by Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart) and Bruce Hart, who will be in the corner of Bret at Summerslam. Lawler welcomes Owen and Neidhart first, calling them great gentlemen. Owen is pleased to be facing Bret in this rematch for the championship. He calls Bret a bully but he got bigger and stronger and now he's the one beating down Bret. He claims that the entire family is now on his side, but Lawler interrupts by bringing up Bruce Hart not being on board, who he then introduces.
Bruce continues to interrupt Lawler's comments by calling Owen a disgrace and a sell out. He calls Neidhart a flat topped freak and a loser. Bruce took his angry pills today. He says that the cage will be like a big playpen with Owen being a big cry baby after it's over. He calls Neidhart jealous and claims that he's the one brainwashing Owen. He's so shouty and cantankerous that Vince says "screw this, let's go to break".
In our last match, it's Bob Backlund in action against Kevin Kruger. We get that new generation ad that mocks Hogan, Andre and the likes, which feels ironic since Backlund was champion before Hulk Hogan. He's the last person you'd consider new. A lot of stalling early on, but Backlund quickly gets a leg trip on Kruger. He follows with a fireman's carry. Kruger waistlocks Backlund, but Backlund quickly escapes. A test of strength turned into a trip by Backlund. He breaks out of a hammerlock. He works the arm, but gets reversed. The crowd chants "boring' and "we want Bret", which I agree, despite the fact I don't even mind the more technical style. Backlund goes crazy over the Bret chants. He locks in the crossface chicken wing for the win in a unique, but dull match.
We end Raw with Lex Luger barging into Dibiase's dressing room with Volkoff quite happy to see him. He demands to see Dibiase as Tatanka barges in more or less claiming "Gotcha bitch!" Both men brawl some more to end this Raw.
This was a pretty boring show overall. The big match of the week wasn't very good, three dull squashes and a lackluster King's Court, even with Owen Hart involved. I just can't find myself caring about what Bruce Hart thinks. I'm also already tired of Ted Dibiase being the focus of so many angles on the show. While I don't mind the concept of the corporation, it also feels like it's clogging the program on certain weeks. This all makes for a D edition of Raw. Dull and not worth coming back to.
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