This review is dedicated to the memory of Leon "Vader" White.
It's 24 hours removed from Summerslam and Raw is in Wheeling, Pennsylvania. Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler and Kevin Kelly on commentary. No Vince interestingly enough. Opening action is the first match of the Intercontinental Title Tournament. British Bulldog facing Owen Hart. Camp Cornette implodes in this opener. No taking it easy on each other either despite being family, Bulldog lands a monkey flip and a dropkick early on. Headlock and shoulder block spot. Owen then comes back with an arm drag and a dropkick. Both men keep the ropes open for the other. Bulldog throws Owen hard into the buckle and follows with a slam and a cover for two. Bulldog follows up with a chinlock. Owen ducks a clothesline, but gets caught in a press slam. Cover and a two.
Suddenly, we see some static on the screen, but it goes away just as quick. Leg drop from Bulldog who covers for two. Commentary speculates that the static may have been caused by Undertaker. Running powerslam by Bulldog who covers, but Owen gets his foot on the rope. Suddenly Sunny shows up at ringside. When we return from break, Bulldog hits his knee in the corner. Sunny says that Cornette's nowhere to be seen, but she'd be there all the way for them. We do hear from Cornette who says that the company is against him. They screwed Vader, Clarence Mason is trying to steal his talent and now Sunny is trying to take his place. He also takes credit for Yokozuna who will face Shawn tonight.
Sharpshooter by Owen Hart (which J.R. calls a Scorpion Death Lock). Bulldog escapes and throws Owen out of the ring, then suplexes him over the ropes. Spinning heel kick by Owen who then knocks Bulldog into Sunny. Owen returns to the ring as he wins by count out. Sunny throws a drink at Bulldog and he starts to stalk her. As for the match, it was really good stuff. Unfortunately we took the focus away with Sunny and everything else, but what we still got was excellent.
Sunny screams that Bulldog is a pervert, which brings out Cornette who full on calls her a slut. Stay classy 90's WWF.
As Mark Henry signs autographs, we go into our next match. Speaking of Jim Cornette, it's Vader in action next against Freddy Joe Floyd. Vader mocks Mark who is nonplussed. Floyd tries to rush Vader, but Vader takes none of it. Vader pummels Floyd in the corner with body blows and a headbutt. Corner splash followed by a body slam. We see that static yet again just as Vader lands a Vader Bomb. Cover, but Vader doesn't finish the match. He goes up and hits a second as the lights start flickering. Cover and the three in a definitive squash.
Jim Ross interviews Mankind and the turncoat Paul Bearer. Paul's sick and tried of being sick and tired. He's tired of carrying Undertaker all around the world. He's tired of being abused. The lights flicker some more, which causes Paul into a panic. Paul says that it's not Undertaker, it's Mankind. The focus goes on to Mankind's title shot against Shawn Michaels at Mindgames. Mankind says his body is still in pain from the boiler room brawl, and he loves it. Paul Bearer has shown him that by defeating Shawn Michaels for the WWF title, he'll make Shawn the least sexy boy toy and in one night he will have the chance to destroy the lives of the Kliq. The lights keep flickering and J.R. says that the presence of the Undertaker is here. Paul is adamant that Taker's gone forever.
Suddenly, the gong goes off as the lights go out. The druids music plays again and the body of Undertaker is carried out. Mankind says that all that is is the corpse of Undertaker. He's passed away. And this is all mind games. Apropos of the next In Your House. But instead of being gone, Undertaker sits right up. There seemed to be a timing issue as Taker has to get his arms up twice to cue the pyro from the ring posts. Mankind and Paul Bearer escape as Taker poses to the crowd.
We get a vignette for The Stalker, out to pursuit the superstars of the WWF. So, Barry Windham in camo paint. Your guess is as good as mine.
Up next, it's the second chance battle royal. Sid vs Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Goldust vs Savio Vega. Winner will face Shawn Michaels at an upcoming special called Championship Friday. A special episode of Raw on September 6th. Oh, and it's the next Raw we'll cover, meaning that we have a few weeks without Raw. Gotta love tennis season in the 90s. Big crowd reaction for Sid, but the other three go right after him, immediately dumping him over the top rope. Sid, none too pleased at that, chokeslams the three of them before leaving.
Goldust and Austin then turn their attention to Savio. But it doesn't take long for Austin to turn on Goldust and hit a back drop as we go to break. After the break, Goldust is in control as he almost throws Savio over the ropes. Goldust pulls a "one foot on the rope" and survives elimination. Austin lays Goldust out with a clothesline. But Goldust comes back with a superplex. Why Savio didn't just shove both men off the buckle is anyone's guess. Good old wrestling logic.
Savio almost throws Austin over the ropes, but Austin survives, only to be catapulted over the ropes and officially eliminated. A pissed Austin returns and lays out Savio. Goldust picks the bones and tries to throw Savio over, but Savio survives. Goldust sets up the curtain call, but Savio slides behind and hits a spin kick. He goes for a clothesline, but gets thrown over. Goldust gets a WWF title shot September 6th on the Championship Friday.
It's time for the main event as Shawn Michaels takes on the man that Jim Cornette claims to be back on his side, the 650 pound Yokozuna, who we last saw at Summerslam breaking the ring rope and looking like a goof. Yoko shoves Shawn down, then hits a clothesline. Some more shoves from both men. Shawn slides under Yoko and lays in some more punches, eventually sending the big man falling on his butt. Cornette comes to ringside as we go to break.
When we return, Yokozuna has his patented vice grip while Cornette lays a cheap shot on Jose Lothario. Shawn chases Cornette off and checks on his manager. Yoko throws Shawn to the corner and hits a massive belly to belly suplex. He then goes for a splash, but Shawn avoids. Elbow drop follows. Shawn tries a sweet chin music, but Yoko catches him and hits a Samoan drop. Yoko goes for the leg drop, but Shawn avoids, hits sweet chin music for the three in a better match than expected considering Yoko's horrible shape.
This was a really good Raw to follow Summerslam. I enjoyed what we got with Owen and Bulldog, which actually gave us some of Bulldog's best work in a long time. Vader gets to look like a monster after the mess that was the Summerslam main event, while we get a great segment to build up not only Paul Bearer's heel turn, but the concept that while Mankind may be focused on Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker is still out for him. The Battle Royal was also solid, with some logical eliminations and Goldust getting a shot at Michaels before Mankind. And the main event with Michaels and Yokozuna was fine, but Yokozuna is depressing to look at, especially with hindsight. In the end, strong momentum fills this show, giving it a worthy A rating.
No comments:
Post a Comment