Written By: Bob Colling
World Wrestling Federation presents RAW
Date: 1/17/1994
From: Richmond, VA
Footage from last week where Marty Jannetty and the 1-2-3 Kid won the WWF World Tag Team Championships from the Quebecers.
RAW Opening Video
Vince McMahon is standing with guest announcer, Crush. Crush says that he will be winning the Royal Rumble. Crush also cuts a brief promo on Randy Savage and how Savage stabbed him in the back.
Opening Contest: Owen Hart defeated Terry Austin: Bret Hart is by his brother’s side for this squash match. Austin rams Owen head first into the corner a few times but that doesn’t last long. Owen with a standing kick and a top rope elbow drop. Missile dropkick and Owen locks in the Sharpshooter for the win.
Vince McMahon interviews Owen Hart and Bret Hart after the match. Owen wants the Quebecers to regain the WWF World Tag Team Championships. Bret says that the 1-2-3 Kid and Marty Jannetty are great champions. Owen seems aggravated that Bret Hart would question his logic.
Some hype for the Royal Rumble hotline.
Second Contest: Tatanka defeated George South: South actually holds his own for a little while but Tatanka goes on the war path and connects with a overhand chop to knock South down. Moments later, Tatanka connects with a top rope chop to pick up the win.
Video package of WWF Women’s Champion Alundra Blaze working out and showing off her body is shown.
WWF World Champion Yokozuna and Mr. Fuji are in the ring with Vince McMahon. Jim Cornette is in Japan for a big, big press conference. Vince mentions the casket match and Yokozuna is scared, again. Undertaker’s music hits and the lights go out. Paul Bearer comes down to the ring with a enormous casket. McMahon wants Yokozuna to get closer to the casket. Yokozuna gets closer to the casket. Fuji wants Yokozuna to squash the casket. Yokozuna goes to open the casket, but the Undertaker is inside the casket and scares Yokozuna all the way up to the aisle way.
Video package hyping up a Hart Brothers/Headshrinkers tag team contest.
Third Contest: Diesel defeated Scott Powers: A big boot and a elbow drop coming off the ropes to win the squash.
We now go to Todd Pettengill who just goes over the same things with his Royal Rumble Report.
Main Event: Randy Savage fought Irwin R. Schyster to a No Contest: Crush and Savage want to get a piece of each other, but do not for the time being. IRS with control early on sending Savage over the top to the floor. Savage is flipping out and grabs a chair, apparently is trying to go after IRS, but IRS attacks him from behind. Savage with a atomic drop and a few clotheslines to take the advantage. IRS comes back with a vertical suplex from the apron back into the ring. Savage nearly pulls out the win with a roll up. IRS also almost picks up the win with a school boy. Savage sends IRS through the middle rope to the floor. Savage with a double axe handle off the apron onto IRS. Savage goes over to Crush, but IRS comes over and sends Savage into the ring post. IRS delivers a shot to the gut of Savage who came off the top looking for a double axe handle. Savage comes back with a scoop slam and goes to the top but Crush comes over and shoves Savage off. Crush viciously attacks Savage, causing the no contest. *
After the match, IRS works on Savage with several right hands. That is until Tatanka runs down but doesn’t help much. Crush with a side slam on Savage. Yokozuna makes his way down to the ring. Tatanka comes back in and works on IRS. Lex Luger runs down to the ring and delivers several right hands to Yokozuna but Yokozuna fights back. Diesel, Shawn Michaels, and Bret Hart also come down to the ring to brawl.
End of show
My Take: The aftermath of the main event got the crowd going. Too bad it was at the end of the show. IRS controlling the match was a pleasant site. I like that Yokozuna has a fear. WWF is doing a good job at slowly building the heel turn of Owen Hart.