(01.15.96)
Live from Newark, DE
Your hosts are Vince McMahon & Jerry Lawler
Sunny opens the show on a pool table wearing a gold dress. Her image is a bit tarnished for me these days, but she was a mighty fine- looking woman.
Marty Janetty Vs Owen Hart (W/Jim Cornette)
Owen wins with a version of a roll-up. I was kind of annoyed that this match ended when it did because of how good it was getting. The crowd was dead for it, but I rather enjoyed it.
**1/2
We get a Royal Rumble report with Todd Pettengill. Comments from Diesel and a Vader vignette are there as well.
We get a clip of Sunny playing pool with cleavage showing. She says everybody likes it "Raw" Let your imaginations run wild!
The Ringmaster (W/Ted Dibiase) Vs Matt Hardy
This is essentially Stone Cold Vs Matt Hardy, pre-fame. Ringmaster wins with the Million Dollar Dream. This was a fun squash match! Matt got in just enough offense to keep this slightly competitive. I liked Steve paying tribute to his days as Stunning Steve by using the stungun on the ropes as well.
*
We get a recap of all the traumatic events Shawn has endured over the past few months. He goes on record saying he's gonna win the Royal Rumble.
The Smoking Gunns Vs The Spiders
The Spiders are The Headbangers. This match is joined in progress. The Gunns win with The Sidewinder (legdrop/sidewalk slam combo from the top) This match is far too short for me to rate or comment on.
It's time for Billionaire Ted's "Wrasslin" Waroom. Vince takes shots at Hogan and Savage for being disloyal and greedy has-been's from the 80's. Billionaire Ted asks his crew to buy some of the New Generation superstars from the WWF. They make it clear the WWF is not for sale.
Vince brings out Goldust for an interview. I'll give you the highlights from the interview.
Goldust: Mr. Television announcer, is that a microphone in your pants or are you just happy to see me?"
Jerry Lawler: Goldust is here, he may be queer.
This is considerably tame compared to some of the stuff that went on in the Attitude Era, but it was still fairly edgy and something that would NEVER be put on TV today.
Razor Ramon shows up in the building looking for Goldust.
The Undertaker Vs Issac Yankem DDS
It's The Undertaker Vs Kane! It's crazy to think how iconic their rivalry would become after seeing Kane languishing as a sadistic dentist. Jerry Lawler gives Issac a pep talk before the match. The Undertaker wins with a Tombstone. These two certainly didn't have the chemistry they would have in a couple of years, that's for sure. It's weird to watch an Undertaker Vs Kane match and not feel anything special.
*1/2
Razor Ramon interrupts an interview with Goldust and starts to beat the crap out of him. Goldust gets the last laugh with a low blow.
Now, Sunny is in a bathtub! She's briefly explicit.
Razor Ramon catches Goldust trying to escape the building and brawls with him out in the snow, outside the arena. Goldust manages to escape as Raw goes off the air.
Overall, this episode was actually pretty decent. It gave us Stone Cold Steve Austin's in ring debut, an above average match between Owen Hart and Marty Janetty, and some fun brawling with Razor and Goldust. 1996 was MUCH better than 1995 for the WWF.
Live from Newark, DE
Your hosts are Vince McMahon & Jerry Lawler
Sunny opens the show on a pool table wearing a gold dress. Her image is a bit tarnished for me these days, but she was a mighty fine- looking woman.
Marty Janetty Vs Owen Hart (W/Jim Cornette)
Owen wins with a version of a roll-up. I was kind of annoyed that this match ended when it did because of how good it was getting. The crowd was dead for it, but I rather enjoyed it.
**1/2
We get a Royal Rumble report with Todd Pettengill. Comments from Diesel and a Vader vignette are there as well.
We get a clip of Sunny playing pool with cleavage showing. She says everybody likes it "Raw" Let your imaginations run wild!
The Ringmaster (W/Ted Dibiase) Vs Matt Hardy
This is essentially Stone Cold Vs Matt Hardy, pre-fame. Ringmaster wins with the Million Dollar Dream. This was a fun squash match! Matt got in just enough offense to keep this slightly competitive. I liked Steve paying tribute to his days as Stunning Steve by using the stungun on the ropes as well.
*
We get a recap of all the traumatic events Shawn has endured over the past few months. He goes on record saying he's gonna win the Royal Rumble.
The Smoking Gunns Vs The Spiders
The Spiders are The Headbangers. This match is joined in progress. The Gunns win with The Sidewinder (legdrop/sidewalk slam combo from the top) This match is far too short for me to rate or comment on.
It's time for Billionaire Ted's "Wrasslin" Waroom. Vince takes shots at Hogan and Savage for being disloyal and greedy has-been's from the 80's. Billionaire Ted asks his crew to buy some of the New Generation superstars from the WWF. They make it clear the WWF is not for sale.
Vince brings out Goldust for an interview. I'll give you the highlights from the interview.
Goldust: Mr. Television announcer, is that a microphone in your pants or are you just happy to see me?"
Jerry Lawler: Goldust is here, he may be queer.
This is considerably tame compared to some of the stuff that went on in the Attitude Era, but it was still fairly edgy and something that would NEVER be put on TV today.
Razor Ramon shows up in the building looking for Goldust.
The Undertaker Vs Issac Yankem DDS
It's The Undertaker Vs Kane! It's crazy to think how iconic their rivalry would become after seeing Kane languishing as a sadistic dentist. Jerry Lawler gives Issac a pep talk before the match. The Undertaker wins with a Tombstone. These two certainly didn't have the chemistry they would have in a couple of years, that's for sure. It's weird to watch an Undertaker Vs Kane match and not feel anything special.
*1/2
Razor Ramon interrupts an interview with Goldust and starts to beat the crap out of him. Goldust gets the last laugh with a low blow.
Now, Sunny is in a bathtub! She's briefly explicit.
Razor Ramon catches Goldust trying to escape the building and brawls with him out in the snow, outside the arena. Goldust manages to escape as Raw goes off the air.
Overall, this episode was actually pretty decent. It gave us Stone Cold Steve Austin's in ring debut, an above average match between Owen Hart and Marty Janetty, and some fun brawling with Razor and Goldust. 1996 was MUCH better than 1995 for the WWF.
