WWF RAW 3/29/1993

Written By: Bob Colling

World Wrestling Federation presents March to Wrestle Mania IX
Date: 3/29/1993
From:

Bob Bartlett starts the show in an empty Manhattan Center and is wondering where everyone is.

Cut to Vince McMahon who is with Bobby Heenan and they will be calling the show. The official contract signing between WWF World Heavyweight Champion Bret Hart and Yokozuna is shown. Yokozuna viciously attacks Bret Hart by ramming the table into Hart’s gut. Yokozuna splats Hart with the Bonzai Drop. Bret manages to get to his feet fairly quickly.

Vince McMahon hypes up Wrestle Mania and Bobby Heenan does the same. Randy Savage will be facing Yokozuna tonight. Also, Bam-Bam Bigelow will go to war with the Undertaker. Lastly, the Mega Maniacs will share their thoughts on the WWF World Tag Team Champions, Money Inc.

Yokozuna defeated Randy Savage: Savage avoids a clothesline but is quickly shoved to the mat as they lock up to start the match. Savage with a side headlock but is sent into the ropes and dropped with a shoulder block. Yoko follows up with a throat thrust and a head butt. Savage is sent over the top to the floor and Yoko sends Savage chest first into the ring post. Yoko also sends Savage into the ring steps before throwing Savage back into the ring. Yoko with several overhand rights to continue his dominance of Savage. Savage with a few left jabs and right hands but is caught with a quick right hands from Yoko! Yoko scoop slams Savage and drops his leg across the chest of Savage! Yoko with another right hand to drop Savage. Yoko chokes Savage in the corner for a few moments. Yoko misses a running back splash in the corner. Savage quickly goes up top and leaps off with a double axe handle! Savage goes up again but is hit with the Japanese flag by. Mr. Fuji. Yoko grabs Savage and connects with a belly to belly suplex and gets the three count! ***
After the match, Yokozuna goes for the Bonzai Drop but Savage rolls out of the way. Yoko staggers around and is met with a knee to the back by Savage. Yoko wants to get back into the ring but Fuji prevents that from happening!
After the match, Yokozuna attempts the Bonzai Drop but Savage manages to move out of the way and sends Yoko to the floor.

Commercials

Gene introduces the Mega Maniacs, Hulk Hogan, Brutus Beefcake and Jimmy Hart. Hogan absorbs his reaction, but it isn’t nearly as big as it has been in the past. Hogan brings up the attack on Beefcake a few weeks ago. Hogan says he heard everyone praying for Beefcake, so he got on his motorcycle for seven days and seven nights to go help him. Beefcake talks about ripping Money Inc. hair out of their heads. Hogan finishes off by saying “When I put the WORLD TITLE on the jaws of the sharks, they are going to get lock jaw”….

Commercials

The debut of Lex Luger from the Royal Rumble is shown. Footage of Luger destroying various jobbers is shown as well. Gene mentions that Luger thinks he is “perfect”, which leads into the following.

Second Contest: Mr. Perfect defeated Skinner: Skinner breaks kayfabe by saying “Come on Curt” at one point. Skinner did get some offense in but nothing special. Perfect manages to win following the Perfect Plex in four minutes.

Commercials

Bob Bartlett is still sitting in the empty Manhattan Center, not sure what is going on.

Wrestle Mania IX Report with Gene. Bret Hart cuts a promo saying that he doesn’t see himself as the underdog against Yokozuna.

Commercials

The Undertaker defeated Bam-Bam Bigelow via count-out: Bigelow with a couple of right hands that hardly have any affect on Taker. Taker drop toe holds Bigelow down and grabs a hold of Bigelow’s face. Bigelow rolls to the floor and works on Taker with head butts back in the ring. Taker comes off the ropes and plants Bigelow with a nice DDT. Taker chokes Bigelow in the corner for a few moments. Taker continues with a uppercut as the show goes to commercial. Bigelow head butts Taker from the ring to the floor. Taker is pulled back into the ring but is driven down to the mat with a back suplex. Taker rises up and is slammed down with a power slam. Taker again just rises up and Bigelow continues to work on Taker with right hands. Bigelow with a uppercut and scoop slams Taker followed by a standing head butt. Taker continues to rise up after every attack but isn’t getting any offensive moves in. Bigelow with another head butt and Taker is down, not rising up quickly but eventually does rise up. Bigelow comes off the ropes and connects with a jumping head butt. Bigelow drags Taker to middle of the ring and goes up top. Bigelow leaps off and misses a flying head butt. Taker with a leaping clothesline and choke slams Bigelow! Bigelow simply rolls to the floor and heads to the back, causing the count-out. **
After the match, Giant Gonzalez comes down but is held apart by referees.

Commercials

Vince McMahon makes a bold prediction that Bret Hart will retain the WWF World Heavyweight Championship and the Mega Maniacs will win the WWF World Tag Team Championships.

We see a Bret Hart music video going along with the song “Respect” by Aretha Franklin

End of show

My Take: Not a bad show this week, a great improvement compared to the past several weeks. Savage/Yoko was a great way to get Yokozuna not only more over with the crowd, but to give him great momentum heading into Wrestle Mania IX. Wasn’t a fan of the Mega Maniacs interview because Hogan took the focus off of the feud with Money Inc. and onto himself. Also, the video with Bret Hart was awful because of the song choice. Bigelow getting some offense was nice to see. The fact that the Giant Gonzalez was able to be held back by much shorter referees is ridiculous.