Written By: Bob Colling
World Wrestling Federation presents RAW
Date: 2/22/1993
From: Manhattan Center, New York City
Rob Bartlett opens up RAW with a Saturday Night Live type of opening.
RAW Opening Video
Vince McMahon, Randy Savage and Bob Bartlett go over the matches for this weeks RAW. Hulk Hogan will be live here on RAW. Also, Tatanka will team up with the Nasty Boys to take on Shawn Michaels and the Beverly Brothers.
Opening Contest: Bam-Bam Bigelow defeated Scott Taylor: Bigelow has a big fan base here in NYC. The fans really enjoy every move he does with Taylor selling them very well. Bigelow wins following a flying head butt in three minutes.
A pre-recorded interview with Vince McMahon interviewing Hulk Hogan is shown. Vince says everyone is hoping for Hogan to return to the ring. Hogan admits to his mistakes, but doesn’t mention exactly what he did. Hogan rips on the tabloids but still maintains to be a good guy throughout the interview.
Commercials
Tatanka/Nasty Boys defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels/Beverly Brothers: Tatanka charges the ring and goes right after Shawn Michaels. All six men begin to brawl with the baby faces getting the advantage. Tatanka backdrops Michaels over the top to the floor and Michaels almost flips onto the announcers table! Sags clubs away on Blake and tags in Knobs who drives Blake face first down to the mat. Knobs delivers a double Pit Stop to the Beverly Brothers. Knobs works on Blake with right hands in the corner. Knobs misses a splash in the corner and Blake tags in Michaels. Michaels takes Knobs down with a back elbow and taunts Tatanka. Knobs is held by the Beverly Brothers in the corner as Michaels taunts his opponents in the corner. Michaels with several jabs on Knobs as the fans get behind Knobs. Knobs with a face buster and several clotheslines. Knobs tags out to Michaels who tags out to Beau Beverly. Tatanka whips Beau into the corner and delivers a big chop! Tatanka places Beau in a arm bar and tags out to Sags. Sags continues to work on the arm of Beau by sending him shoulder first into the corner a few times. Sags with a shoulder block and gets a two count on Beau. Tatanka tags back in and works on the arm of Beau again for several moments. Tatanka is backed into the corner but chops away on all three of his opponents. Beau stumbles into a atomic drop from Knobs and is chopped by Tatanka. Knobs tags in and works on Beau in the corner with right hands. Back from a commercial, Knobs is back dropped over the top by Blake. Beau sends Knobs hard into the ring steps and Beau clotheslines Knobs on the floor. Michaels tags in and stomps away on Knobs. Michaels with several jabs but Knobs comes back briefly with a few of his own. Beau leaps onto the back of Knobs as Blake held him and Michaels gets a near fall. Beau covers Knobs again but only gets a two count. Blake with a bear hug on Knobs to keep control of the contest. Michaels works away on Knobs with right hands but misses a shoulder attack in the corner. Michaels tags in Beau who jumps onto the back of Knobs. Beau delivers a standing fist drop and tags in Blake. Knobs comes off the ropes and kicks Blake in the face to stop their momentum. Michaels tags in and cuts off Knobs from making the tag. Knobs comes off the ropes and again kicks Michaels in the face. Double shoulder block and both men are down. Knobs leaps to his corner and tags in Tatanka. Michaels begs off but is chopped by Tatanka. Tatanka crotches Michaels on the top rope and clotheslines Michaels down. Tatanka with a big power slam but only gets a near fall. Tatanka chops the Beverly Brothers and goes on the War Path. Tatanka with a series of overhand chops and goes up top. Tatanka leaps off and nails Michaels with a overhand chop but Michaels is able to kick out. Tatanka with a Samoan Drop and covers Michaels but the Beverly Brothers break up the count. Nasty Boys send the Beverly Brothers over the top to the floor. Michaels goes for a teardrop suplex but Tatanka slides out and rolls up Michaels to win the match! **½
Sean Mooney is outside with several fans talking about Hulk Hogan. Some poor guy tries to get a Hogan chant going, but no one joins in.
Commercials
Third Contest: Crush defeated Terry Taylor: Crush wins the typical squash match in three and half minutes by submission with a neck vise.
Highlights from last weeks attack by Money Inc. on Beefcake.
Commercials
Vince McMahon introduces Hulk Hogan for the weekly interview. The reaction doesn’t seem to be really loud. Hogan pretty much goes over the attack of Beefcake. Hogan thanks God and Jimmy Hart for helping Beefcake get through the situation. Hogan proceeds to announce he is back in the WWF, without any suspense. Hogan wants to “right the wrong” against Money Inc. Beefcake comes out with a simple bandage on his nose. Beefcake repeats exactly what Hogan had just said. Jimmy Hart is the new manager of Hogan and Beefcake, leaving Money Inc. Hart goes on to say that Hogan and Beefcake will be the great tag team, ever.
Commercials
Main Event: The Undertaker fought Skinner until the show went off the air: Their isn’t a finish as RAW ends during the match in just over one minute. It’s safe to say that Undertaker beat Skinner.
End of show
My Take: Bam-Bam Bigelow is on the same path as Razor Ramon. Both heels who continue to get a pretty good baby face reception. I can’t imagine both men turning though. The six man tag team match was pretty good as well. Tatanka has to be considered the number one contender for Shawn Michaels title. A big negative on this show was the Hulk Hogan, Brutus Beefcake and Jimmy Hart segment. Very repetitive and I don’t believe that people care for them as much as Vince McMahon believes they do. Also, not a fan of the mismanagement of time so that the complete main event wasn’t able to be shown. Must have been the long Hogan segment.