Raw opens as we see a confrontation between Shawn, Ahmed and Camp Cornette as we're only a week away from International Incident. This leads us to our opening match. The first of two title matches. It's Ahmed Johnson taking on Bart Gunn for the Intercontinental Title.
Arm drag by Bart who then high fives Sunny. Ahmed comes back with one of his own. A lot of slow stuff to start, with Ahmed being in control for the majority. Bart hits a clothesline and stomps, following with a lot of arm work. From wringers to bars to slamming the arm in the corner. But the camera is obviously more forcused on every angle imaginable on Sunny. I mean, I guess it's a better alternative than a Bart Gunn/Ahmed Johnson match. We cut to a shot of Shawn watching the monitor with a nervous expression on his face. Classic heeling as Sunny helps Bart with leverage on an arm bar, only to get caught.
Ahmed comes back with shoulder blocks in the corner. Ahmed goes for a shoulder charge, but Bart avoids, sending Ahmed shoulder-first into the post. Slow cover by Bart only gets a two count. He goes into another arm bar, while Vince says that talks are still going on with Warrior to hopefully make a deal. Ahmed recovers with a powerslam, but sells the injured shoulder, being unable to cover. Bart throws Ahmed into the corner then slams him as we go to break. When we return, Bart hits a bulldog, and slowly covers for two. He hits a top rope bulldog and covers, but still just gets a two count.
He tries a third bulldog, but Ahmed counters, setting Bart on the ropes, and roughly shoulder blocking him over. Ahmed brings Bart back in and lays into him in the corner. Big spinebuster (a really good one at that). Ahmed sets up for the Pearl River Plunge and connects. Cover and the three in a decent match. Outside of the crazy spot from Ahmed, this match was basic heel work. Got the right amount of time and was inoffensive, so I'm fine.
Vince interviews Shawn Michaels who says that he's been spread thin. Every time he walks out, he worries about walking out with champ. He has Billy Gunn tonight, and has to worry about Sunny and Camp Cornette, but he'll walk out tonight with the gold. In terms of Sid, he trusts Sid as there's a history between both men. He promises a gang warfare at International Incident.
Up next, it's "Wildman" Marc Mero taking on T.L. Hopper. Oh my god, I finally get to talk about T.L. Hopper! So, we've seen our fair share of the "2nd profession" superstars in this look back at the New Generation. We've had Man Mountain Rock: the wrestling rock star. We've had Duke "the Dumpster" Droese: the wrestling garbage man. Don't forget "Double J" Jeff Jarrett: wrestling country music star. We've even had Friar Ferguson: wrestling monk. Now, we have T.L. Hopper: the wrestling Plumber! Yes, complete with messy wifebeater, full exposed crack, plunger (named Betsy), and an entrance theme that is just toilet flushing sounds. Wrestling is a weird, weird thing.
We see Goldust's usher show up, handing Sable a present. But the two prefer to just drop it and head to the ring instead. Mero starts with an STF, followed by a shoulder block and some fast arm drags. A dropkick sends Hopper to the outside. Mero teases a Bad Mood over the ropes, but Hopper avoids. We see Camp Cornette are all happy backstage. They must have some sort of plan in motion when it comes to their match at International Incident.
Hopper is in control with a body scissors, but Mero quickly escapes. Mero gets some punches in, but Hopper lands an elbow to the head. Lawler says that T.L. Hopper is anti-drug, he says no to crack! Hopper hits a decent sidewalk slam. When we return from a commercial break, Hopper is in control with a chinlock. Mero escapes and tries a sunset flip, only to be punched by Hopper. He follows with a leg drop and a slow cover for two. We get an interview with Stone Cold Steve Austin who says that the outcome at In Your House won't be any different in the match with Mero. He promises revenge for his injured face, because Austin is the best wrestler in the WWF.
Mero tries a comeback, but Hopper hits a boot and a slam. He tries a falling headbutt, but Mero escapes. Mero hits a headscissors and follows with a big hiptoss. Back body drop followed by a knee lift. Lawler talks about how Princess Di has just gotten divorced, so he's available. Mero hits a windup punch on Hopper and gets the cover for the win in a bland match.
Camp Cornette interview. Cornette says they haven't been getting involved tonight. This has been a war leading to International Incident. They got the first shot in taking out the Warrior, Shawn and Ahmed got the second shot in getting Sid, but Camp Cornette is due winning the Six-man tag.
We get a video package looking at the Undertaker, which turns into footage of Mankind and Goldust getting the better of him in the past few months. A really well edited video package, as you'd expect from the WWF.
Main event time. Billy Gunn (with Sunny) taking on Shawn Michaels (with Jose Lothario) for the WWF Title. Headlock and shoulder block spot early on from Billy. Lawler begins to make his weekly shots on Jake Roberts while this match starts off slowly. We get an interview with Ahmed who mumbles as always, but he says that they'll all be watching each other's back as it'll get downright raw in the ring this Sunday. Shawn sends Billy over the ropes. Sunny distracts him, but Shawn plants kisses on her. He avoids contact from Billy and gets a roll up for two. He tries Sweet Chin Music, but Billy escapes.
Baseball slide sends Billy into the corner, then he more or less teases molesting Sunny. Billy gains control and hits a rocker dropper. Slow cover for two. Shawn regains control and drags Billy groin-first into the steel post. Slingshot clothesline followed by some punches to the head of Billy. Shawn goes up, but Sunny distracts him, causing him to be thrown off and clotheslined over the ropes by Billy Gunn. After a commercial break, Shawn breaks from a headlock from Billy, only to eat an elbow to the face. Cover, but Shawn kicks out at two. Shawn blocks a ram in the corner, but gets a thumb in the eye. Billy lands some punches, and covers for two.
Billy throws Shawn hard into the buckle, then high fives Sunny. He hangs Shawn in the tree of woe, landing some stomps in the sternum. Shawn slowly tries to recover, but Billy hits a massive jumping clothesline. We cut to video of Camp Cornette actually leaving the building. Well, everyone but Jim. Billy hits a bulldog as we go to break. When we return, Shawn lands a huge forearm and nips up. Big dropkick followed by a body slam. Shawn goes up and hits the elbow drop. Sweet Chin Music and a cover gets the three for Shawn in a pretty good main event. A good showing for Billy Gunn, who continues to be a hidden gem in the ring.
Post-match, Shawn and Ahmed celebrate. Cornette shows up and throws a cola in the face. Shawn and Ahmed chase after him, only to be ambused by Camp Cornette.
But Sid comes crashing into the scene in his car to chase Camp Cornette off. The heels get in their car and make their leave as we fade to black.
This was an all right episode of Raw. Not a lot of nonsense, just three matches and focus on the six-man tag at the pay per view. Ahmed and Bart was inoffensive, save for Ahmed's scary as hell spot around the end of the match. Hopper and Mero was pretty forgettable, save for the fact that again, T.L. Hopper is literally a wrestling plumber! That is almost the absolute peak of goofy job-related gimmicks. Shawn and Billy was a really good match as well, showcasing how charismatic and good in the ring Billy Gunn. It often gets overlooked in the later years when Billy became more of a punch-line, but he is a really good worker. Especially in his prime. For a go-home show before In Your House, this Raw delivered as much as it needed to. A B+ rating is fair enough.
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