Sunny tries to get revenge by throwing the cake at him, only to be caught by Shawn, allowing Ahmed to smash it in her face. Then Shawn, like a creep, forces himself on her. Maybe those allegations from Diana Smith weren't unfounded. So, as for the match, this has been delayed until later tonight.
Up next it's Marc Mero taking on The Goon. Who is the Goon? You know how we've seen sort of a resurgence on the "second profession" wrestlers on this blog lately? Well, now we have a wrestling hockey player. Complete with hockey stick and hockey skate wrestling boots. And just like all these heel sportsmen, The Goon was kicked out of every hockey league for being too aggressive. As seen when he ambushes Mero to start things off. Stone Cold Steve Austin shows up on commentary to say he opened a can of whoop ass on Mero last night. He says that he wants to face everyone, from Ahmed to Shawn. He really wants to face Bret Hart, but he's gone.
Jake "The Snake" Roberts is on the line saying that he's been down, but he's not out. Of course Lawler immediately goes to town with the alcoholism puns. He even grabs a bottle of Jim Beam, calling it Jake's tag partner. In the ring, Marc finally gets some control on The Goon, but Goon comes back with a back suplex, only for Mero to reverse into a roll up for two. Austin chides Mero's "Wildman" character, and says that they should give him a bus where he can kick everyone's ass. He also promises victory next week against The Undertaker. Mero scores a hiptoss and covers for two. Goon regains control and locks in a chinlock.
Goon whips Mero, but Mero counters with a terrible headscissors (seems like Goon screwed that up). Mero follows that with a back body drop and a boot/knee lift combination. Goon throws Mero to the outside, then charges at him, only to end up crashing into the steps. Bad mood over the ropes into the spilled cake icing. Slingshot leg drop and a cover gets the three for Mero in a messy match, and not just for the cake.
Shawn Michaels and Ahmed Johnson are backstage. He thanks Sunny for the action, making him even more of a rapey creep. He says he's had the tag titles before, but he and Ahmed promise to take all the titles tonight.
While Bob Backlund campaigns in the crowd, we enter our next match. It's Freddy Joe Floyd taking on Mankind. We also see footage of Clarence Mason trying to get his new client, a former criminal, a job in the WWF. I won't reveal who it is, just to say he's someone from the first few years that's been gone a long time. No, not Mr. Hughes... yet...
Floyd tries a go-behind, but gets nailed with multiple elbows and a shoulder block. Floyd manages to throw Mankind out, then his a dropkick. He goes for some sort of flying move that looks like a mess, causing him to crash and burn. Mankind gets Floyd into the corner and nails a massive knee to the face. He pulls out more hair and drops a leg. Floyd gets in several punches, but Mankind comes right back with a clothesline. He starts choking Floyd, then sets him up in the tree of woe. He tries to attack, but Floyd avoids. Fast strikes and some enziguris. He goes back up and hits a flying back elbow. Cover only gets a two. He tries a roll up, but Mankind kicks out. Floyd goes up again, only for Mankind to knock him and lock in a mandible claw, crotching him on the ropes in the process. Mankind gets the win.
Brian Pillman makes his way to ringside as we get into our next match, Goldust taking on Barry Horowitz. Pillman joins commentary and promises that we might hear the seven dirty words on television tonight. As Goldust makes it to the ring, we get an interview with Marc Mero who promises jungle warfare against Vader next week on Raw. As for Goldust, he says don't tug on Superman's cape, don't spit in the wind, and don't mess with Sable. He'll have Mero's full attention at Summerslam.
Goldust stays on Horowitz early with a clothesline and a ram into the steps. This is far less the mindgames Goldust, and far more aggressive. Barry tries to fight back, but Goldust comes back with a suplex. He rakes the back and follows with a rake of the eyes on the ropes. Pillman says that he should be careful what to say about Horowitz as it could be looked as anti-semitism. Goldust hits a Curtain Call for the win in a super fast squash. Post-match, Goldust pounds on Horowitz a little more post-match, making me think Barry legit pissed him off somehow.
Sunny and the Gunns are backstage, still angry over the mess earlier. Sunny says that the Gunns are respectable champions. They're going to defend the belts the best they can. She promises that Shawn and Ahmed will not have their cakes and eat it too.
Vince is in the ring to interview Vader and Jim Cornette. Cornette gloats over winning the six-man tag match at International Incident, saying that Vader should be next in line for a world title shot. He says that Vader is the ultimate representation of the schoolyard bully, here to take the WWF Title. He promises to shake Shawn for change.
Main event time up next as Shawn Michaels and Ahmed Johnson take on The Smoking Gunns for the WWF Tag Team Titles. Gunns try an early ambush, only for Shawn and Ahmed to lay them out. Sunny and the Gunns regroup while Shawn still wants some more "sunny days". Billy and Shawn start with Shawn getting in some strikes and a clothesline sending Billy over the ropes. The Gunns and Sunny regroup again as Shawn plays to the crowd. He then throws Billy in and begins some arm work. Tag to Ahmed who hits a jumping fist strike, then yanks the arm, following that up with some stiff boots to the armpit.
After a commercial break, Shawn is back in, continuing the arm work. Billy tags in Bart, who tries an elbow, but misses. Tag to Ahmed who takes Bart to the corner, only to get caught with boots to the midsection. Ahmed gets whipped into the corner and comes back with an explosive clothesline. Stun gun by Bart sends Ahmed throat-first into the ropes. Tag to Billy who whips Ahmed, only for Ahmed to hit him with a "sack of crap" powerslam. Tag to Shawn who nails an ax handle, covering for two. Shawn whips Billy into the corner and nails a big powerslam followed by a headscissor. But his momentum is immediately stalled by an assissted stun gun by Bart and Billy.
Bart presses Shawn over his head and throws him throat-first into the ropes. Bart berates Shawn a bit before following with a body slam. Tag to Billy as we get a double team maneuver. Cover by Billy only gets a two. Shawn tries to regain momentum but gets throws over the buckle with force. No wonder the man would have back problems. Cheap shots by Bart on the outside until Shawn is brought back in. Cocky cover by Billy only gets a two count. Billy keeps Shawn locked as Shawn tries a tag to Ahmed. He gets it, but the referee never sees it due to distraction, allowing the Gunns to double team.
We return from break with Shawn still trying to tag Ahmed, only for Bart to stop him. Tag to Billy who runs off the back of Bart to hit a flying fist to Shawn in the corner. Cover still only gets a two. Billy puts in a deep chinlock, keeping Shawn in the Gunn corner. Shawn breaks free, only to get an eye poke. Tag to Bart, but Shawn lands a double noggin knocker. He crawls over to a ready Ahmed Johnson. He succeeds as Ahmed cleans hose. Stiff spinebuster from Ahmed. Bart pulls the rope sending Ahmed out of the ring.
As Shawn fights with the guns in the ring, some guy in a neon blue and black gladiator outfit and a goofy rubber helmet starts attacking Ahmed Johnson on the outside. Why that's just former WCW Champion Ron Simmons, now being renamed Faarooq Assad. Faarooq beats on Ahmed some more, slamming him into the post. Referees and officials keep him backed as Shawn chases him off. Lawler even refers to him as Ron Simmons ("He looks like Ron Simmons, but he's bigger than Ron Simmons!"). Sunny and Faarooq continue to try to antagonize Shawn as the show comes to a close.
This was an interesting episode of Raw. Not a really good one as I felt the in-ring was okay at best, but did contain a lot of unique new things going forward. Mero and Goon wasn't that good, Mankind/Floyd was a squash, while Goldust/Horowitz was an even more aggressive squash. As for the main event, it was good stuff as the Gunns have gotten much better in the ring with their heel personas. I do feel the face in peril stuff stifled things a bit for me, and the ending with Faarooq's debut came off as trying to be serious, but then you remember one of them is wearing a NERF Gladiator costume. Overall, the road to Summerslam is certainly intriguing at the very least. I'll give this Raw a C+.
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