Written By: Bob Colling
World Wrestling Federation presents RAW
Date: 7-19-1993
From: Manhattan Center, New York City
Footage from last Thursday with Lex Luger doing a campaign about being patriotic. Luger says that people have said “it’s not cool to be patriotic”. He needs the fans to support his quest to get a WWF World Heavyweight title shot.
RAW Opening Video
Vince McMahon, Randy Savage and Bobby Heenan go over this edition of RAW. Shawn Michaels will defend the WWF Intercontinental Championship against Marty Jannetty. Also, Men on a Mission will debut.
Opening Contest: WWF Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels defeated Marty Jannetty to retain the title: Before the match begins, footage from nine weeks ago is shown where Jannetty pinned Michaels for the Intercontinental Championship. Jannetty uses his speed advantage on Michaels by dropping down and sending Michaels to the floor when Michaels was going for a go behind takedown. Jannetty manages to duck a super kick attempt which frustrates Michaels. Jannetty with a few slams and a middle rope clothesline. Jannetty continues his offense flurry connecting with a DDT. Jannetty goes for the cover and gets the three count, but Michaels foot was on the bottom rope. Michaels reverses a sleeper hold with a back suplex. Both men collide in the ring and Michaels falls to the outside. Jannetty reverses a power bomb attempt with a hurricanrana for a near fall. Jannetty rolls through a top rope cross body by Michaels for another near fall. Michaels gets tangled in the ropes, and Jannetty charges but Michaels moves and Jannetty falls to the floor hard. Diesel throws Jannetty back into the ring and Michaels picks up the win after fourteen minutes of action. ***1/2
Bobby Heenan and Randy Savage argue over which show is better. WWF Mania, which Savage co-hosts or, WWF All American, which Heenan co-hosts.
Vince McMahon is in the ring and calls out the former WWF World tag Team Champions, Money Inc. Ted DiBiase has quite a few one hundred dollar bills that he is counting. IRS says that they were robbed of the their WWF World tag team titles. IRS also says that they will have a return match on WWF Superstars. IRS continues by calling the Steiner Brothers “losers”. Ted DiBiase calls Razor Ramon a “loser” as well for losing to the 1-2-3 Kid. Ted DiBiase continues to verbally assault Ramon, and this prompts Ramon to come out. Ted DiBiase continues to insult Ramon in front of his face. Vince McMahon asks why Razor Ramon came out. Ramon tells DiBiase he will not work for him and Ted slaps Ramon with a one hundred dollar bill. Ramon responds by shoving DiBiase down and sending IRS over the top rope to the floor. Ted DiBiase challenges the 1-2-3 Kid to a match, to show Razor Ramon what a REAL man can do.
Second Contest: Men on a Mission defeated Rick Myers/Hank Harris: Men on a Mission are really over with the crowd considering this is their first actual appearance. Mabel tosses Myers around and drops a leg to back of Myers’s neck. Mo goes to the top and shoves Mabel down to splash onto Myers for the win.
Gene is ready for the WWF Summer Slam 1993 report. Gene is dancing to MOM’s music. Gene goes over two matches scheduled thus far to take place at the event. Bret Hart will be facing Jerry Lawler. Also, the Undertaker will meet Giant Gonzalez in a Rest in Peace match. Gene sings a Tiny Tim song because Tiny Tim will be on Kings Court later in the show.
Footage from Lex Luger and his campaign trail to get a title shot against WWF World Champion Yokozuna is shown. Luger has really transformed to a typical baby face considering his previous heel gimmick.
Third Contest: Bastion Booger defeated Scott Despres: Booger dominates with a few clotheslines and a power slam. Booger simply splashes Despres and picks up the win.
It is announced that Bam-Bam Bigelow will wrestle Bret Hart, next week on RAW.
Jerry Lawler is ready for King’s Court. Lawler says he is excited about Bam-Bam Bigelow taking care of Bret Hart. Tiny Tim eventually makes his way out. Lawler makes fun of Tim’s outfit. Lawler asks Tim to sing a few lines. Tim barely gets two words out, before Lawler cuts him off. Tim says that his career never ended, and mentions that he has a radio show coming up in Illinois. Tim says that Lawler is not a “Burger King” but rather a “Dairy Queen”. Lawler isn’t happy about that. To show his anger, Lawler breaks Tim’s mini guitar.
Main Event: 1-2-3 Kid defeated Chris Duffy: The former jobber taking on a jobber in the final match of the evening. Money Inc make their way down to the ring to scout the 1-2-3 Kid. Razor Ramon arrives through the crowd. Kid with a few basic moves and wins the match following a top rope leg drop.
After the match, Kid leaves through the crowd to prevent a confrontation with Money Inc. Razor Ramon and Ted DiBiase need to be separated by officials.
End of Show
My Take: This was a pretty entertaining edition of RAW. Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels managed to put on a better match than they had in May on RAW. The finish of the match could have been better, but the overall match was quite good. The segment with Razor Ramon and Money Inc. was another solid part of the show. Having Razor Ramon working with a upper mid-card heel like Ted DiBiase is a smart move. Lastly, Men on a Mission is really over considering they have just stepped into the company. If the reception continues they have to be favorites to get the tag straps fairly soon. Tiny Tim wasn’t a good fit with Lawler. Lawler barely made the segment passable.