We continue the Stockton, California Raw tapings as we open with Razor Ramon against Henry Godwinn. Godwinn shoves Razor around, but eats a slap to the face from the bad guy. Razor works the shoulder of Godwinn with some shoulder blocks and arm wringers. Godwinn counters with a big clothesline and a nice wheelbarrow facebuster. Jim Cornette mentions that he'll be replaced by Steve "Mongo" McMichael later. Oh man, I can't wait. Power slam by Godwinn gets a two count.
Godwinn rams Razor into the buckle. Razor tries to mount a comeback, but Godwinn hits a hard facebuster. Elbows to the back of the head of Razor while Vince shills the Superstar Line with Jim Ross (oh right, he's hired again). That's right, even mid-match Vince wants your dollar. Chinlock by Godwinn is eventually broken by Razor, who turns things around into a backslide for two as we go to break. When we return, it's Razor in control with some chops. Razor follows with a hard kick to the mouth and a bulldog for two.
Razor is distracted by the Roadie as Godwinn gets a cheap shot.
However, the 1-2-3 Kid gets a sneak attack spin kick on the Roadie. This distracts Godwinn long enough for Razor to hit a Razor's Edge using the ropes to get the three. I actually enjoyed this opener. It was nothing amazing in-ring, but I felt both guys worked well together. Godwinn worked well as the heel, and pulled off a couple decent moves (that wheelbarrow slam was impressive). This was definitely his best showing since his debut. I liked that this continues the feud with Razor and Jarrett even if it's just the Roadie making an appearance. And I've always liked this kinship with Razor and the Kid, so seing it continue was a nice moment. It lasted the right length of time and never felt dull. Good signs of a good opener.
Vince interviews Razor about the issue involving Backlund signing his way into an IC title match at Sunday Night Slam. Razor is pissed at Tunney, and realizes that if Backlund wins the title, he'll go to Mania to defend it against Bret Hart, and Razor's confident that Bret will easily lock Backlund in a sharpshooter and win the belt that Razor feels belongs to him. What about me, what about Raven-err, Razor? He promises to do something about this. Also announced for Sunday Night Slam is Lex Luger... and Tatanka... Again...
Oh wait, it's not on the Network so I don't have to cover it next time.
We get another quick interview with Lawrence Taylor. He's not scared of anything, except maybe snakes and alligators. So, clearly they should have booked L.T in a match against Jake "The Snake" Roberts and Skinner. But he sees Bam Bam more like a pussycat (they even add a meow sound effect on a clip of Bam Bam to make it all the more cringe worthy).
But never mind that stuff, here comes Mongo. Steve McMichael joins Vince at the announce table as Cornette has left to assist his Heavenly Bodies for a tag title match later against the Smoking Gunns.
Speaking of handicap matches, King Kong Bundy is up next against Adam Croomes and Raven Clark. Mongo is a very mumbly man as he mocks Bundy for wanting some of Reggie White. Mongo brings up that they should both be in the ring to pull a wishbone. Both men try a slam, but both eat headbutts from Bundy. Mongo says he's a throwback that could play without a helmet. Bundy tosses Raven Clark to the post and then goes to stand on Croomes. Body slam by Bundy followed by a fist drop for two. Irish whip and a clothesline by Bundy. Tag ot Clark, who gets an eye rake and a big splash in the corner. Cover for three. He follows with a clothesline and splash to Croomes.
It's Wrestlemania XI Report time. We get a quick interview with Shawn who says that he and Sid don't suck up to anyone. They bring up Diesel's interview on Sunday Night Slam, and they promise to be there in the building to hear it. As for the rest of the card, it's pretty much finalized from last week.
Up next is our main event of the show, it's The Smoking Gunns defending the WWF Tag Team Titles against The Heavenly Bodies. We bring up the heel turn of Men on a Mission last week, and Oscar apologizing for the recent attack. Vince shills the Home Shopping Network as we get the match underway. Headlock by Pritchard followed by a clothesline, but both men Criss Cross, only for Billy to land a bulldog, while Bart dropkicks Jimmy Del Ray. Cornette is angered by his Bodies saying he has promises that he has to keep.
Bart is tagged in, and no sells some chops from Pritchard, and lays in some of his own. Bart gets a press slam to Pritchard and tags in Billy who land a kick and works an arm bar. But it's turned around by Pritchard who tags in Del Ray, who gets quickly caught in a hiptoss. Tag to Bart who lands an ax handle to the shoulder of Del Ray. Both men reverse arm wringers, but Bart gets in an arm bar. Tag to Billy who drops a knee to the arm. Another quick tag as Bart gets a shoulder block to the gigolo. Another shoulder block by Bart. The bodies have a quick time out, but is locked back into the headlock and eats another shoulder block and a pair of hiptosses.
Double leg sweep by the Gunns followed by a drop toe hold and elbow drop as we go to break. When we return, Del Ray is in control with a headlock to Bart. Bart tags Billy, but the tag wasn't seen. While hte referee is distracted, the Bodies beat down on Bart. Del Ray choke holds Bart and follows with some knees to the side. Del Ray follows with a neckbreaker.
With a little of that gyration sensation.
Double clothesline follows as Pritchard is tagged in. Pritchard tries an underhook, but is unable to get it fully in on Bart. Bart reverses a suplex attempt with one of his own. Tag to Del Ray who gets some boots to the back of Bart. He follows with a front chinlock while raking the eyes. He lands a bdy slam and goes to the top for a splash, but Bart escapes in time. Tag to Pritchard who qucikly stops Bart, but Bart ducks a clothesline and collides into Pritchard with one of his own. Tag to Del Ray and tag to Billy.
Billy lays out both Bodies with punches. He knocks Del Ray out as Bart back in,setting up Pritchard for a sidewinder. Cover, but the ref is distracted long enough for Del Ray to hit a diving attack on Billy. He lands a big floatover DDT. Cover, but Bart makes the break. Del Ray goes for a cover, but Bart turns it around to a backslide for three.
A really good tag title match. Some great offense from both Gunns (Bart has definitely improved). And as always some excellent in ring work from the Heavenly Bodies. The face in peril stuff never felt like it dragged too long and the match lasted at just the right amount of time, never feeling like the pace faultered too much. A great capper to what has honestly been a pretty decent night for in-ring action. With that, we're done as we shill the Sunday Night Slam show and we're out.
A really good Raw overall. The Godwinn/Razor match was surprisingly good considering I wasn't expecting too much out of Henry Godwinn, plus good continuation of this whole situation involving Bob Backlund and his rogue Intercontinental title match. The Bundy squash was just window dressing for what was actually an exciting brawl with Mongo and Kama. And finally we get a really good tag title match as the Gunns held their own with the always exciting Heavenly Bodies. So after a really bland edition last week, we picked right back up with some quality stuff.
Good enough for what I feel is a solid A- show. Next up is a Wrestlemania preview Raw that does have a Bret vs Owen match, so it will be covered. And then it's smooth sailing to Wrestlemania XI.
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