The show opens with Jerry Lawler taking on Aldo Montoya. The New Rockers face the Bodydonnas. Kevin Kelly interviews Shawn Michaels. The main event is the Raw Invitational Battle Royal, where the winner gets a shot at the WWF Championship the day after SummerSlam. Vince McMahon interviews the winner after the match. An average episode.
2 Reviews
A really bland episode
callanvass8 May 2016
Warning: Spoilers
(08.05.96)
Live from Seattle, WA
Your hosts are Vince McMahon & Jim Ross
Jerry "The King" Lawler Vs Aldo Montoya
Lawler goes on a long tirade about insulting Jake Roberts's battle with alcoholism before the match. Lawler ends up winning with two piledrivers. Lawler pours whiskey down Montoya's throat after the match. Classy.
3/4*
The New Rockers Vs The Bodydonnas
This is the battle of two teams the fans don't care about. The match ends in a disqualification after The Smoking Gunns and The Godwinns interfere. Both teams did fine, it was just hard to care about this match at all. I had zero investment in it.
**
Kevin Kelly has a sit-down interview with Shawn Michaels. Kelly asks if Shawn's world is starting to crumble around him. Shawn says that's a bit melodramatic, and it's simply adversity he's gotta overcome. He's never claimed to be invincible. As a matter of fact, he's just like every other person walking the street. He admits Vader beat him but at Summerslam, Vader has to face him one on one, and the kliq. He says the WWF title is the most important thing in his life. To beat him, you have to beat him and all the people behind him. Kevin Kelly says people have said Shawn's victory over Bret Hart in the Iron Man match at Wrestlemania was tainted, and that Bret could be coming back soon. Shawn says he hopes Bret does come back to the WWF, and that the WWF without Bret is like peanut butter without jelly. He says the critics don't bother him. Nobody in the WWF is more equipped to handle the WWF schedule than Shawn Michaels.
Thoughts: This was a solid interview with Shawn, but nothing all that special. I felt Shawn was a tad too diplomatic.
Battle Royal
The winner gets a shot at the WWF Championship. The participants are Mankind, Steve Austin, The British Bulldog, Savio Vega, Ahmed Johnson, Marc Mero, Bradshaw, Goldust, Psycho Sid, The Undertaker, and Owen Hart. Ahmed wins the battle royal by eliminating Goldust. This was average as far as battle royals are concerned. Ahmed winning was a bit confusing, considering he had the Intercontinental Title. They may have been better off having a heel win it.
Ahmed says if he faces Shawn for the title, he'll be sad because Shawn's like a brother to him. If it's Vader, that's an entirely different story. Farooq Asad runs out and brawls with Ahmed as raw goes off the air.
4/10 overall
Live from Seattle, WA
Your hosts are Vince McMahon & Jim Ross
Jerry "The King" Lawler Vs Aldo Montoya
Lawler goes on a long tirade about insulting Jake Roberts's battle with alcoholism before the match. Lawler ends up winning with two piledrivers. Lawler pours whiskey down Montoya's throat after the match. Classy.
3/4*
The New Rockers Vs The Bodydonnas
This is the battle of two teams the fans don't care about. The match ends in a disqualification after The Smoking Gunns and The Godwinns interfere. Both teams did fine, it was just hard to care about this match at all. I had zero investment in it.
**
Kevin Kelly has a sit-down interview with Shawn Michaels. Kelly asks if Shawn's world is starting to crumble around him. Shawn says that's a bit melodramatic, and it's simply adversity he's gotta overcome. He's never claimed to be invincible. As a matter of fact, he's just like every other person walking the street. He admits Vader beat him but at Summerslam, Vader has to face him one on one, and the kliq. He says the WWF title is the most important thing in his life. To beat him, you have to beat him and all the people behind him. Kevin Kelly says people have said Shawn's victory over Bret Hart in the Iron Man match at Wrestlemania was tainted, and that Bret could be coming back soon. Shawn says he hopes Bret does come back to the WWF, and that the WWF without Bret is like peanut butter without jelly. He says the critics don't bother him. Nobody in the WWF is more equipped to handle the WWF schedule than Shawn Michaels.
Thoughts: This was a solid interview with Shawn, but nothing all that special. I felt Shawn was a tad too diplomatic.
Battle Royal
The winner gets a shot at the WWF Championship. The participants are Mankind, Steve Austin, The British Bulldog, Savio Vega, Ahmed Johnson, Marc Mero, Bradshaw, Goldust, Psycho Sid, The Undertaker, and Owen Hart. Ahmed wins the battle royal by eliminating Goldust. This was average as far as battle royals are concerned. Ahmed winning was a bit confusing, considering he had the Intercontinental Title. They may have been better off having a heel win it.
Ahmed says if he faces Shawn for the title, he'll be sad because Shawn's like a brother to him. If it's Vader, that's an entirely different story. Farooq Asad runs out and brawls with Ahmed as raw goes off the air.
4/10 overall
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