Written By: Bob Colling
World Wrestling Federation presents RAW
Date: 3/11/1996
From: San Antonio, TX
A video package hyping up the main event later on in the show airs. The Undertaker teams up with former rival Yokozuna to take on the British Bulldog and Owen Hart. Also, Roddy Piper will confront Goldust. Lastly, we will find out who the Ultimate Warrior will be facing at Wrestle Mania XII!
RAW opening video
Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler are on commentary. They briefly hype up the show.
Opening Contest: Savio Vega and Steve Austin fought to a double count-out: Hammerlock early on by Vega but Austin elbows out of it. Austin shoulder blocks Vega for only a one count. Vega is able to elbow out of a hammerlock from Austin and comes off the ropes with a cross body for a one count of his own. Vega follows up with a few arm drags until Austin fakes Vega out and Vega drops down to the mat. Austin delivers several forearm shots to keep control of the contest. Vega nails Austin with a short arm clothesline but misses a big boot. Austin is able to connect with a double forearm shot. Austin continues with a snap vertical suplex for a near fall. It is mentioned that Mark Henry is in the front row. Vega with a few chops but fails a big splash attempt as Austin got his knees up and gets a two count. Austin with a few shoulder rams to Vega’s back in the corner as RAW goes to commercial. Vega goes chest first into the corner and Austin clotheslines Vega’s back. Austin chokes Vega over the top rope before dropping down to the floor from the apron. Austin continues to work on Vega in the corner with right hands and soon gets a near fall following a knee drop. Several side elbow strikes by Austin in the corner. Vega is able to connect with a sidekick to a charging Austin in the corner and begins to get a second wind. Hip toss by Vega and connects with a spinning heel kick in the corner! As a result, both men fall to the floor. They brawl on the floor and eventually are counted out. **½
After the match, Vega gets the upper hand as they brawl in the ring. Austin bails to the floor following another spinning heel kick.
We see footage of Mark Henry press slamming Jerry Lawler earlier in the evening before the show.
Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler briefly talk about the WWF World Tag Team Championship tournament. Savio Vega and Razor Ramon defeated Tatanka and the 1-2-3 Kid to advance on Superstars. The next tournament match will take place on Superstars which will see the Bodydonnas take on the returning Bushwhackers.
Goldust’s music hits and Goldust makes his way down to the ring with Marlena. Back from a commercial, Vince McMahon introduces Roddy Piper! Piper comes down and quickly calls Goldust a “fruit cake”. Piper insults what Goldust decides to wear to the ring. Piper continues by saying that Goldust is embarrassing him and just wants the attention. Piper mentions beating Adrian Adonis and says that mind games aren’t fooling him. Piper is bothered that Goldust doesn’t have any respect or pride for himself or for the WWF Intercontinental Championship. Piper warns Goldust that he is messing around with the wrong guy. Goldust chimes in and says he wants a piece of Piper, badly. Goldust gets down on his knees and invites Piper to his back lot. Goldust knows Piper can do his best work in the back lot. Goldust begins to lift Piper’s kilt but Piper stops that. Goldust does his chest rubbing and is shoved by Piper! Goldust slaps Piper but Piper returns with a slap of his own! Piper accepts Goldust’s challenge for a back lot brawl. “I’m going to make a man out of you.”
Second Contest: The Godwinns defeated Alex P/Jerry M: Henry Godwin pinned Alex following the Slop Drop to end the squash. NR
Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler briefly talk about the Shawn Michaels/Bret Hart match at Wrestle Mania XII. there are a couple videos that play afterwards which just highlight some training that Michaels and Hart are doing for the big title match.
At this point, it is announced that Hunter Hearst Helmsley will wrestle the Ultimate Warrior at Wrestle Mania XII. A video hyping up Warrior’s return is shown.
Third Contest: Hunter Hearst Helmsley defeated Jeff Greer: HHH pins Greer following the pedigree to win the squash. NR
Scheme Gene provides hype for the Huckster vs. Nacho Man match taking place at Wrestle Mania XII. It will be given away for free on the Free For All prior to the actual pay per view. No handcuffs or ladies shoes will be allowed for the match. Two videos looking at the Huckster and Nacho Man “training” for their match to close out the segment.
Main Event: Yokozuna/The Undertaker defeated Owen Hart/British Bulldog by disqualification: Diesel is backstage watching the match on a monitor. Owen and Bulldog try to attack Taker and Yoko before the bell but they fail. Owen and Bulldog are tossed into each other and Bulldog is clotheslined by Yoko followed by a leg drop. Owen is tossed over the top to the floor by Taker. Diesel comes down to the ringside area and clotheslines Paul Bearer. Diesel gets a few right hands in before heading to the back. Taker sees what happened and goes after Diesel. Back from a commercial, Yoko is being double teamed as Taker is nowhere near the ring. Vader comes down to the ring and attacks Yoko as Yoko was starting to make his comeback, which causes the DQ. *After the match, Ahmed Johnson and Jake Roberts run down to the ring and help Yokozuna send the heels to the floor. Owen, Bulldog and Vader head up the aisle way raising their arms in victory to close out the show.
End of show
My Take: The opening contest between Vega and Austin was a solid bout that was given a good amount of time. Their appears to be some good chemistry between them despite only having wrestled once, that I know of up to this point. Crowd was into the whole match and enjoyed the brawl after the match as well. Good start the show, I thought.
Well, Goldust continues to be one creepy character. The segment with Piper was fine as their match at Wrestle Mania is going to be a street fight, which fits well with Piper lack of wrestling ability in 1996. By the end of the segment fans were cheering for Piper while at the beginning they seemingly didn’t care all that much about him.
The main event was rather quick and lackluster. I do like the storyline progress for the Diesel/Taker angle but the match just offered nothing. Aftermath was fine, I guess. Camp Cornette is a pretty strong heel group if you ask me and it has three good workers in it. That could make for some interesting matches in the months to come.
Overall, a solid opener, a good main interview segment and a weak main event. Not a bad show but nothing overly great, either.
Thanks for reading.