We open the first Raw of 1995 with Jeff Jarrett giving us the big news that tonight, after a year of keeping quiet, we'll finally be hearing him sing tonight on Raw. This is the last Monday Night from the Liberty, New York tapings. Gorilla Monsoon and Shawn Michaels is at the table tonight with Vince being "sick".
And it's once again another green screen affair.
Opening action for Raw tonight is Tatanka and Bam Bam Bigelow of the Million Dollar Corporation taking on Lex Luger and the British Bulldog. As Luger gets into the ring, Bam Bam and Tatanka cheap shot him. Why both Luger and Bulldog didn't come to the ring together is beyond me, especially considering that Bam Bam and Tatanka have a long history with wanting to beat down on one Mr. Lexington Luger.
Bulldog and Bam Bam starts as Bigelow gets offense early, but eats a shoulder block, followed by a clothesline from Lex and one from the Bulldog. Cover by Lex for two. Luger puts in an arm bar and goes for a wringer, but gets whipped to the corner, however Bam Bam misses, allowing Luger to lock in another arm bar. Bam Bam whips, but misses again on the splash as Luger hits several clotheslines. A distraction from Ted Dibiase allows Tatanka to get a cheap knee to the back of Luger.
Tag to Tatanka who lands several chops to Luger. He hits several hard clubbing blows to the back of the head and hits a scoop slam followed by several elbow drops for a two count. When we return from commercial break, Tatanka heads to the top turnbuckle and lands a big chop off the top for the two count. More chops from Tatanka in the corner as "USA" chants rain out. Again, I remind you, the heels are also American and the only non-American is Bulldog. Tatanka locks in a bearhug. And after a minute or so of being held in, Luger escapes with some punches, only for Tatanka to regain momentum.
Luger gets some boots to the face out of the corner, but Tatanka quickly gets a tag to Bam Bam. Luger gets a back suplex to Tatanka, but Bigelow quickly gets in a falling headbutt. He continues with a pair of shoulder blocks, but Luger gets a powerslam out of nowhere. Shawn makes a "Luger out of gas" joke (that's pretty true) as Bulldog gets tagged and gets a running powerslam on Tatanka. Cover, but Dibiase pulls Tatanka out. Luger gives chase, but gets attacked by Bam Bam and Tatanka. all four men brawl outside, causing a count out.
Overall a pretty boring tag match. Bam Bam definitely tried, but Tatanka's offense, as always is just chop after chop with hardly any variation. Plus, way too much focus on Luger as the face in peril (which is something I definitely wouldn't have seen this time last year) just to get a hot tag to Bulldog seconds before the shmoz ending.
It's time for the Royal Rumble report for this week. Even Todd rips into the stupidity of a double count out finish. And if Todd hates it, then you know it's bad. Not much has really changed in the card since last week's edition. There are some new names added to the Rumble match including 1-2-3 Kid, Bob Holly, and both of the Bushwhackers.
The Roadie is setting up a microphone, preparing for Jarrett's concert coming up later tonight. We also learn that Luger and Bulldog will face off with Tatanka and Bigelow again later tonight.
Duke "The Dumpster" Droese is in action next against Mike Bell. Bell gets a slap, but Droese comes back with a back body drop. Snapmare and a chinlock by Droese for a couple seconds while Shawn does the USA Network Shill: TekWar! We've officially entered TekWar territory. And next week William Shatner is the guest on the King's Court. Bell gets caught in a powerslam and the trash compactor power slam for three in a quick squash.
We get a quick vignette for Kama, who is riding on a motorcycle interspliced with footage of him training and talking about how he is the baddest and toughest man there is.
It's the King's Court this week with Owen Hart (what is this, the fourth time he's been on the King's Court now?) Owen is carrying the pink and black towel. Lawler congratulates Owen on his acting skills at the Survivor Series. This was all part of Owen's master plan. He brings up the 1994 year for Owen, which as I said in the RAWtrospective, were all the easy reasons for making him the superstar of the year. His master plan is still far from done as there's another important scoop. He brings up Bret's title wins, but Owen says he'll do the exact same, but unlike Bret, he won't lose the WWF title. He is a winner and will always be a winner. And he will retire with the title. All this is doing is making me wish more that he had been given at least one run with the gold. He guarantees that he'll walk out of the Royal Rumble the winner.
Jeff Jarrett is in action next against Buck Quartermaine. After some quick go behinds (or crotch switches by Monsoon) until Jarrett gets a drop toe hold and a guillotine off the rope. Quartermaine goes for a whip, but gets turned around into a swinging neckbreaker followed by a big back body drop. He gets a knee to the back of the neck of Quartermaine. Back suplex from Jarrett followed by a superplex. Figure four gets the win for Jarrett as he sends the Roadie out for the guitar.
Jarrett sets himself up, but takes a long time to get set up as he sets the mic up. He has the light down, but has a lack of a spotlight. Due to the bungling, the concert is cancelled. "Where's Kevin Dunn when you need him?" says Gorilla. He's off being a bucky beaver creep, that's where he is.
We cut to John Laurinaitis... oh wait, that's actually Super Dave Osborne, who shills his new show and looks bored as hell as if somehow promoting his show on a wrestling product is somehow below Super Dave.
We return from break with the Luger/Bulldog vs Tatanka/Bam Bam match back on with no fanfare or nothing. We're just right back where we started with Luger as the face in peril. Bigelow hits a big suplex on Luger for two. Bam Bam drags Luger over to Tatanka, who comes in with more chops. You can actually see people in the crowd leaving as Tatanka keeps up his chops and a clotheslines.
Tag back to Bigelow who drops a series of falling headbutts, covering for two. Big leg drops from Bam Bam who covers again for two as we go to break. When we return, Bigelow hits a dropkick. Tag back to Tatanka who hits more chops. Tag back to Bam Bam who gets a strike and a tag right back to Tatanka. Luger ducks a double clothesline, but manages to get a clothesline on Bam Bam. Luger finally gets a tag to Bulldog, as he lands a double noggin knocker and some nice dropkicks to both Bam Bam and Tatanka followed by double body slams. Luger clotheslines Bigelow out of the ring. He gets back up, but Tatanka is whipped into him. Cover by Bulldog gets the three count. Dibiase chews out Bam Bam Bigelow as we end our show.
More of the same as the last time we had this match. Too much focus on face Luger in peril and just the same stuff as before. Thankfully however, a much shorter affair than the last time we went through this at the start of the show.
A pretty average edition this week honestly. Owen on the King's Court was fine, but didn't feel any different from the last several times he had been on. Luger/Bulldog vs Bam Bam/Tatanka wasn't that good the first time, so lord knows I didn't need to see it a second time. Droese's squash was short and to the point as was Jarrett's. I did enjoy Double J's antics in trying to get the concert going only to have constant issues. Other than that, there wasn't much to this one. A B- is a fair rating for this edition.
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