Opening action tonight is Stone Cold Steve Austin against Bob Holly in a King of the Ring qualifier. No Ted Dibiase as Austin lost the strap rematch against Savio at Beware of Dog 2. Austin gets in a headlock on Holly for about a minute, eventually turning it into a hammerlock. Bob escapes, turning it into his own variation. Austin works the leg for a bit until Holly escapes. Austin continues offense with some elbows, and tries to ram Holly into the buckle, but Bob counters, ramming Austin head-first. Some stiff chops and a hiptoss from Holly, who then goes into a chinlock. Austin regains control with an elbow and a rib breaker. He ascends the second rope and lands a nice diving elbow. Cover only gets a two.
Holly grabs at Austin, but Austin throws him through the ropes. He lands an elbow drop, then guillotines Holly on the ropes. Austin returns to the chinlock until Holly breaks free and lands some rights and lefts. He goes for a back body drop, but Austin gets in a kick to the face. He drives the knee to the head of Holly and covers for two as we go to break. When we return, Austin is back in the chinlock. Holly regains control by ramming Austin into the buckles. Austin tries to go up, but Holly gets a strike in, crotching Austin. Back body drop connects this time, and he follows with an elbow to the face. Cover still just gets a two. Holly gets some corner punches until Austin shoves him off and locks in the million dollar dream for the win. An okay match, but kind of underwhelming. I was expecting stiffer work considering the two men involved.
Recap of Lawler's involvement in the Warrior/Goldust match last week on Raw. This of course gives us ample time to advertise the Warrior comic, but Lawler suggests an alternate cover he's drawn. And, since Lawler is a talented artist, it easily trounces the artwork in that god awful comic book.
Up next, it's Barry Horowitz in action against Mankind. We learn that we'll see Undertaker take on Mankind at the King of the Ring. Why it took this long is beyond me, but at least it's finally happening. Dropkick by Barry who then lands a jawbreaker. Mankind comes back with some punches in the corner. He follows with an attack in the corner, but Barry tries for a roll up, only ot get kicked in the gut for his trouble.
Mankind rolls Barry out of the ring by the throat, then brings him back in. He sets Barry in the tree of woe, then lands a running forearm. He starts choking Barry in the corner, then throws him outside. He goes for a piledriver, but instead starts ripping some hair out instead as we go to break. When we return, Barry returns with some elbows, but Mankind gets in the mandible claw for the win in a basic squash. J.R interviews Mankind who says that he hopes Undertaker will stand up and show just a little bit of pride. Or maybe before the King of the Ring, he will decide there is no sense in fighting a man who has nothing left to lose. He can't take his ear or teeth, they're already gone. Of all the things that are gone, he misses his mind the most. And at the King of the Ring, Taker will lose it all.
Vince interviews Goldust who quotes The Color Purple. He says that he gave Ahmed Johnson the breath of life. He came to his aid. What would you want him to do? Allow him to expire? He didn't have it in his heart of gold to do that. He only did what came natural. He talks about how great chocolate tastes in his mouth. Lawler praises Goldust for his CPR actions, but Vince brings up the King of the Ring. Goldust calls Ahmed the Mighty Mandingo and promises that he will melt in his hands and not in his mouth.
Up next, it's The Godwinns taking on Tekno Team 2000. Yes, Tekno Team 2000 is still on the roster. Sunny is at the table, saying that she goes where the gold is. We get an interview from the Body Donnas who say that they're looking around everywhere for a new manager. Oh boy, we'll get to that at the King of the Ring. Travis and Henry start things off, as Henry gets in a hiptoss. Henry gives Phineas a hug and tags him in as Troy comes in. Loud Sunny chants, which shows where the real interest is in this match. Some arm work from Troy until the ref forces a break. Phineas then sees Sunny, but gets back into the match.
Henry tries to get him back on track, which leands to him whipping Troy around. but Troy comes back with some head rams. Tag to Travis. Phineas ducks a double clothesline, only to get hit with double kicks to the midsection. Travis follows with a spinning moonsault of some sort, covering for two. We take a quick break. When we return, Phineas manages a tag to Henry. Travis throws Henry into the buckle and tags in Troy. They try a double team to no avail. Clothesline and a slop drop gets the wins for the Godwinns in a mediocre match.
In our main event it's another King of the Ring qualifier. Hunter Hearst Helmsley against Jake "The Snake" Roberts. Shoulder block from Hunter early on, who bows to mock the snake man. Headlock into a hiptoss from Jake. Jake goes for a DDT, but Hunter slides out, only to get close to the snake bag, only to slide away in fear. Hunter goes around the ring to stall until he gets back in. Jake works the arm for a bit, playing with the crowd asking if they want him to kick the head. He continues shoulder work, applying an arm bar. Vince makes mention about Razor Ramon and Diesel leaving the WWF, and mentions how their ruse of being contracted to the WWF in their other appearances is all fabricated.
After more stalling, Jake goes back to the arm until Hunter makes his escape again, concerned about the snake in the bag. When we return from break, Hunter is in control, working Jake in the corner, then stomping on the head. He gets in a knee drop and covers Jake for two. Lawler makes references to the bat signal and commissioner Gordon and Vince thinks he's referencing the Warrior comic. Because god knows he wouldn't actually read it. Lawler promises to have a surprise for the Warrior next week. A special picture, if you will.
Back in the ring, Hunter applies a chinlock until Jake breaks it with a jawbreaker. He lands some hard fists and follows with a short arm clothesline. He signals for the DDT, but Hunter takes him to the corner. He lands an elbow to the face, then covers as we go to another break. When we return, Jake manages a DDT out of nowhere. Cover gets the win in another mediocre match. Lots of stalling and slow working holds. As previously stated, Hunter is getting the major burial for the Curtain Call, and his planned King of the Ring win has been squashed. Post-match, Jake teases sticking Revelation down Hunter's pants, but decides against it.
This was honestly one of the most boring episodes of Raw in a long time. None of the in-ring stuff was all that great, with Austin and Holly disappointing in particular. I do say there were some highlights at least with the Goldust segment being very disturbing content, even for mid 90s WWF. I liked Mankind's promo setting up his match with Undertaker, and Sunny was great on commentary, but other than that, this show was super bland and forgettable. Not a good showing what with WCW in the midst of their biggest angle kicking off. Raw gets a D this week.
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