After a couple weeks off due to the US Open, Raw is back... on a Friday night slot, but back nonetheless. We're also only a few weeks away until Mind Games, the next In Your House PPV. But tonight is an episode being dubbed "Championship Friday" as Shawn Michaels defends his WWF title against Goldust.
But opening action sees Sid taking on Hunter Hearst Helmsley, who we haven't seen much of on Raw since the ol' curtain call. Massive pop for Sid as he heads to the ring for this first round match of the IC title tournament. We've also been seeing Mr. Perfect has been having a habit of taking away Hunter's ring girls. Sid shoves Hunter out of the ring early on. Headlock and shoulder block spot with Sid coming out the winner. Sid reverses a whip with a big boot and a few more kicks. Hunter finally gets some momentum off a neckbreaker. Knee drop and a choke followed by another knee and a cover with Sid kicking out with force. Sid recovers with a few more rights and a chokeslam.
Mr. Perfect shows up at ringside as Sid sets up Hunter for a big powerbomb. Cover and a three as Perfect leads Hunter's ring girl away. Hunter gets up and notices that his valet is in Perfect's arms and is pissed.
An update on Ahmed Johnson who is still suffering from kidney damage from the months of beatings he's taken. He promises a return to the WWF.
Up next, Stone Cold Steve Austin takes on Marc Mero in the next IC title tournament matchup. Meanwhile, Brian Pillman makes it to the broadcast desk with Kevin Kelly and Jim Ross. He promises a big surprise for later as it pertains to Bret Hart and his return to the WWF. And he promises that he'll have Bret at Mind Games to finally spill the beans. Early stalemate from both men as they take each other into the corner. Austin tries to mock Mero, but gets decked with a right. An exchange of hammerlocks until Austin takes him to the corner and lays in an elbow. Sunset flip for two. Austin rolls him for two. Dropkick by Mero who covers for another two count.
Austin takes some time to regroup and returns to the ring. Test of strength is turned into a cheap kick to the midsection. Mero turns it around into a headscissor until Austin escapes, only for Mero to backslide for a two. Inside cradle from Mero for two. It's a stalemate as we go to break. When we return, Mero gets a shoulder block, but gets caught in a stun gun. Cover by Austin for two. He then hits that second rope elbow, but Mero avoids. Austin tries to ram Mero into the corner, but gets hit with one of his own. Mero takes him to the corner with punches, but Austin escapes.
Mero lands a back body drop and follows with a flying ax handle. Cover only gets a two count. Mero hits a knee lift and covers, but still only two. Austin throws Mero out of the ring, then throws the referee into Mero, causing a DQ. This allows Austin to land a stunner on Mero. The decision is that Austin is disqualified. Mero advanes to face Owen Hart. Post-match, both men continue to brawl until officials break them up. Overall, a really good match from both men, save for the deflating finish.
It's time for an edition of The King's Court, which explain's Lawler's absence from the announce team tonight. His guest is "The World's Strongest Man" Mark Henry. Lawler brings up his win over Jake Roberts at Summerslam and says that Jake and the Olympics have something in common, they both got bombed (OOOOF). Mark represented the US in the Olympics in weightlifting, but now he's in the WWF and he's making people mad. He made Lawler mad, and he made Jake mad because Jake wasn't finished drinking it. He also brings up Henry getting in Vader's face a few weeks ago. Mark says he doesn't like Lawler, Vader, or a few other people in the WWF. Lawler says that he wants to challenge Henry to a match, but not a street fight, a wrestling match. Henry says he isn't ready yet, but there will be a day. Lawler says that he should have won a gold medal for being a coward.
That's enough for Henry who grabs Lawler and accepts the challenge to a match. And it'll be a gold medal butt kicking.
Up next, Mankind (with Paul Bearer) takes on Alex "The Pug" Porteau. But never mind that, Jim Ross tells us that Diesel and Razor Ramon are coming back to the WWF. But how? But they? Tune in soon to see what this is all building up to. Mankind pummels Porteau early on and lands an elbow to the back of the head. He tears some of his hair out and mocks the Undertaker in front of a delighted Paul Bearer. He brings Porteau into the corner and lands a knee, followed by a neckbreaker. Jim Ross also mentions Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle meeting with officials. Wait a couple years on that. Mandible claw gets a dominant win for Mankind.
Recap of the CNE "Ex"perience in Toronto the past weekend where the superstars were involved in events with special Olympians. The highlight being Sid engaging in tug of war with an elephant. He doesn't do so well on his own, but with the Olympians, he manages to get some momentum.
Back in the ring, it's Bob Backlund in the ring introducing HOLY CRAP, the Sheiky Baby! The Iron Sheik, the man who beat Backlund for the WWF title back in the 80s. They're here to manage the man who will take the WWWF title back. Sheik mumbles about how much he respects Backlund, and he was lucky that he was champion. He rambles so much they just cut to commercial on him.
Up next, Goldust takes on Shawn Michaels for the WWF Title. We see a pre-recorded promo with Undertaker who promises that the end is at hand for Goldust and he will rest in peace. Goldust of course won the title shot against Shawn on the last episode of Raw in the last chance battle royal due to Ahmed's injury causing him to relinquish his shot. Goldust tries a pair of Pearl Harbors during Shawn's intro, but he gets thrown over the top rope both times. As the match prepares, we get an advertisement for Shawn Michaels in Playgirl magazine. Yes, the first major leap into pornography for the WWF and it was from Shawn. Also a fine sign of the company shedding the kid friendly mentality.
Shawn goes for an ax handle, but gets caught by Goldust early on. He recovers with some corner punches and a hiptoss. Uppercut and a clothesline bring things back in Goldust's favor. He then throws Shawn throat-first into the ropes. Throw to the corner with a patented Shawn rope flip to the outside. A throat-first drop to the guardrail follows that. Goldust brings Shawn to Marlena who blows cigar smoke in Shawn's face. Apron suplex and a cover only gets two for Goldust as we go to break.
When we return, Goldust has Shawn grounded, but Shawn recovers with body blows, only to eat a knee to the gut. Cover only gets a two. Goldust keeps a chinlock as we see footage from Mankind promising something for the sexy boy. Jim Ross is also repeating his claim about Diesel and Razor returning to the WWF. To hear more, tune in to Mania tomorrow and give Vince your dollar for the Superstar Line. Shawn recovers as both men clothesline each other. Shawn avoids another clothesline and hits a flying forearm. Nip up, slam and a flying cross body, but Goldust rolls him for two as we go to break again.
We return with the elbow drop from Shawn. He goes for Sweet Chin Music, but Marlena distracts him long enough for Goldust to sneak attack. Goldust tries for a Curtain Call, but Shawn escapes, makes it to the corner, fake outs Goldust and land a moonsault for the win in a really good title match.
Post-match, Mankind rushes to the ring. He goes to Goldust as the two try to double team, but Shawn slides out of the ring to escape. Bearer, Goldust and Mankind look on as we end this edition of Raw.
This was one of the best Raws in quite some time. The build of this being a championship edition may have given it some much needed momentum, but the show's quality is still top notch. Mero and Austin provided a good fast-paced battle despite the DQ finish, we had two dominant squashes with Sid and Mankind looking strong, We have some befuddling stuff on the way including the touted returns of Diesel and Razor, plus a solid main event between Shawn and Goldust. Whether it's absence that makes the heart grow fonder, or just the company getting more energetic lately, Raw is on an upswing as of late. Let's see how long that lasts. Regardless, Raw gets an A.
WHO WON THE WAR WEEK #47: NITRO
But sadly, no matter how good Raw could have been, it couldn't top this week's Nitro. The in-ring was better on Raw honestly, but the last half hour of television was some of the most compelling of this era. All crescendo'ed with Giant joining the NWO. It's a no-brainer that this week, I give the win to Nitro. Win #27.
RAW:
September 25th, 1995
October 2nd, 1995
October 23rd, 1995
November 13th, 1995
November 20th, 1995
December 4th, 1995
December 11th, 1995
January 1st, 1996
January 22nd, 1996
February 19th, 1996
February 26th, 1996
March 11th, 1996
April 1st, 1996
April 15th, 1996
May 27th, 1996
June 23rd, 1996
July 15th, 1996
July 22nd, 1996
August 5th, 1996
August 19th, 1996
April 1st, 1996
April 15th, 1996
May 27th, 1996
June 23rd, 1996
July 15th, 1996
July 22nd, 1996
August 5th, 1996
August 19th, 1996
NITRO:
September 11th, 1995
September 18th-21st, 1995
October 9th, 1995
October 16th, 1995
October 30th, 1995
November 6th, 1995
November 27th, 1995
December 18th, 1995
January 8th, 1996
January 15th, 1996
January 29th, 1996
February 5th, 1996
March 18th, 1996
March 25th, 1996
April 22nd, 1996
April 29th, 1996
May 6th, 1996
May 13th, 1996
May 20th, 1996
June 3rd, 1996
June 10th, 1996
June 17th, 1996
July 1st, 1996
July 8th, 1996
July 29th, 1996
August 12th, 1996
September 2nd-September 6th, 1996
July 29th, 1996
August 12th, 1996
September 2nd-September 6th, 1996
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