Raw goes once again unopposed this week as we open this edition with a battle of the behemoths. Yokozuna takes on Vader. Mr. Perfect is replacing Jerry Lawler who will face off against WWF Champion Shawn Michaels in the main event. We'll also hear from The Ultimate Warrior, and there will be an arm wrestling contest between Ahmed Johnson and the British Bulldog.
Vader tries to intimidate Yoko early on, but it turns into a shove off. Stiff slaps from both men until Yoko lands several strikes and a massive samoan drop. Vader gets up and lands a clothesline. Vader begins to punch down Yoko in the corner until the referee forces the break. He goes back with more shots then distracts the referee to allow for Jim Cornette to nail Yoko with the tennis racket. Vader goes for a punch, but Yoko turns it into a ura nage and a big leg drop. Yoko pummels Vader in the corner then tries a splash, but Vader avoids. Cornette grabs Yoko's foot as Vader hits a vader bomb on the knee.
The match gets thrown out due to injury as Vader then climbs back up and drops a vader bomb on the knee again, followed by a third. Vader is given the victory as Yoko rolls outside the ring and writhes in agony. Gerald Brisco and several referees check on Yoko as the other officials and EMTs arrive with a stretcher to take him to the back.
However, since he's way too big for a stretcher, they had to get a forklift to carry him to the back. If that's not a clear message of "you're too fat Yoko", I don't know what is. As for the match, it was a good brawl with a logical ending that continues to build Vader as a legitimate threat.
Vince is in the ring to interview The Ultimate Warrior. Vince asks where Warrior has been, and Warrior rambles that he's been to places deep in the mind. In the three and a half years that he's been absent, the one thing that wouldn't die were the voices and the spirit of the warrior. All of the fans spoke to him as he points around. The very blood of their visions said that they wanted warrior and wanted him bad.
While Warrior rambles about spirit, Goldust shows up. We learn that Goldust will face the Warrior at In Your House: Good Friends, Better Enemies. Warrior snarls into the mic as Goldust tells the warrior to come out and play. He says the Warrior can come in his house, but no one will be there. But he says that Warrior can be Superman as he climbs on his back and flies away into the sunset. Warrior calls him a freak and says that what is is and whatever he's into he doesn't give a shit. Goldust tries to touch Warrior, who backs off. Warrior promises a full length ass kicking from beginning to end as he clotheslines Glodust, who retreats.
As Yokozuna is being brought to the ambulance, Vader shows up again and starts smashing the injured leg with a steel chair. He then starts to jam it into the knee several times until we cut to our next match.
Up next, it's Hunter Hearst Helmsley in action against Duke "The Dumpster" Droese. Droese rushes in and lans a back body drop, a body slam and a pair of clotheslines that send Hunter to the outside. He slams Hunter around a bit then brings him back in. Droese whips Hunter to the buckle as Hunter then takes a Shawn Michaels-esque flip bump over the buckle before stumbling into a press slam from the garbage man. Droese runs at Hunter, but Hunter pulls the ropes, causing Droese to fall to the outside.
Finally with some advantage, Hunter throws Droese into the stairs. We get a promo from Marc Mero who promises that the surprises start next week on Raw. Back in the ring, Hunter continues to stomp down on Droese, landing a knee to the ribs. He stomps down Droese in the corner as we go to break. When we return, Hunter is still in control. He tries for a Pedigree, but Droese turns it into a catapult. Inverse atomic drop and a regular atomic drop that sends Hunter smashing into the buckle. Spinebuster follows. He then catches Hunter with a powerslam. He whips Hunter and goes for the trash compactor, but Hunter turns it into a pedigree for the win.
A surprisingly good brawl. When I saw this listed as a match this week I didn't expect much, ultimately forgetting that the pair also had a really good match at the Royal Rumble. And while that one ended on shenanigans with a trash can lid, this was far more definitive.
Up next is the arm wrestling challenge between Ahmed Johnson and the British Bulldog. Owen Hart is with Bulldog in the ring while Diana Smith is in the crowd. We also finally see Yokozuna put in the ambulance while Perfect makes a well-timed Free Willy joke. Owen builds up that Bulldog is the most muscular as both men get positioned. Before they lock up, Owen yells about how oiled up Ahmed is and how he's a cheater. Ahmed wipes his hands on referee Jack Doan. They locks up again, Owen talks about how Ahmed is too close. Ahmed grabs a chair, but is told to relax. Both men lock up a third time, but Owen tells them that he's not ready. Owen is thrown out of hte ring for his constant interference. With Owen gone, the two lock up again and we get an actual battle. After some struggling from both men, Ahmed manages to win while Mr. Perfect claims that he's holding the table to win.
Bulldog hits Ahmed with a chair, then sets the table in the corner. he throws the chair at Ahmed so hard that it bounces, smashing into a cameraman at ringside. Ahmed tries to whip Bulldog into the table, but Bulldog reverses, causing Ahmed to bounce off the table hard (seems like a botched spot, likely Ahmed was meant to go through). Bulldog sets it up again and throws him into it, but the table still doesn't break. So Bulldog just throws the table on Ahmed then stomps on him a few times. Referees try to stop him, but Bulldog just grabs the table and throws it on Ahmed. He finally makes his leave as officials check on Ahmed.
Main event time up next. WWF Champion Shawn Michaels taking on Jerry "The King" Lawler. Diesel heads to the announce position, wearing a Shawn Michaels T-Shirt. He says that he's still part of the Kliq, but since he's recruited the derelicts, he's not so much. Lawler takes Shawn to the corner, but misses a punch as Shawn lands one of his own. A lot of stalling until Shawn takes Lawler to the corner. Lawler tries to duck a punch, but still gets caught. Lawler misses a punch as Shawn peppers several more. Lawler hides behind the referee, claiming Shawn's uses of closed fists. Shawn lays on the corner to mock Lawler, then goes outside to high five the Kliq.
Lawler misses another right as Shawn hits a few more punches and a back body drop. Lawler pulls something out of his singlet and tells the crowd to shut up. He challenges Shawn to a test of strench and begins to lose until he punches him with the loaded fist. He hits a right and chokes Shawn until the break is forced. Lawler enjoys his actions as we go to break. When we return, Lawler is still in control, hitting a punch on the apron. He goes for a second, landing one on the jaw. He then lands a piledriver on Shawn in the middle of the ring. He slowly covers, causing Shawn to kick out at two.
Another punch from Lawler who then goes up top. He goes for the ax handle, but Shawn gets in a shot to the gut. Shawn begins to pummel Lawler in the corner then whips him to the buckle, landing a flying forearm. Body slam and an elbow drop follow. He goes for a cover, but chooses not to. He stares at Diesel as Lawler goes for his weapon, only to get caught with Sweet Chin Music. Shawn doesn't take his eyes away from Diesel as he covers for the three.
He calls Diesel out to the ring. Diesel tries to get in, but Shawn goes right on him. Mr. Perfect takes the belt away and distracts Shawn long enough for Diesel to hit a big boot to the face of Shawn. Perfect then throws the belt to Diesel who nails Shawn in the face with it. Diesel throws the belt over Shawn and taunts, while pointing to Perfect, thanking him for the assist.
Another excellent edition of Raw this week. A good opening match with Yokozuna and Vader which helped continue to build Vader as an unstoppable bad ass. The Warrior and Goldust promo proved to be surprisingly good as well as both brought some real intensity to it as two of the company's more bizarre entities were in the same ring with one another. The arm wrestling segment was also great, thanks mainly in part to Owen Hart and a table that refused to break. Owen was right, Ahmed was way too oily. Hunter and Droese was a good brawl, and Shawn vs Lawler was also a fun main event that ended with Diesel destroying Shawn to build heat for In Your House. Overall, Raw's momentum has been staying nice and hot coming off Wrestlemania and this is another great example. This Raw gets another A rating.
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