Written By: Bob Colling
World Wrestling Federation presents RAW
Date: 6/3/1996
From: Fayetteville, NC
RAW opens up with Goldust cutting a promo with the WWF Intercontinental Championship covering his groin. Goldust tells Johnson to come and get his championship if he wants it. Goldust blows a kiss to Johnson.
RAW opening video
Opening Contest: Steve Austin defeated Bob Holly in a first round match to advance in the 1996 King of the Ring tournament: Ted DiBiase is no longer managing Austin since Vega won a strap match last Tuesday at the pay per view. Austin backs Holly into a corner but doesn’t do anything. Holly gets out of a hammerlock with one of his own. Holly arm drags Austin to get out of a top wristlock. Austin elbow drops Holly’s left knee several times and keeps the advantage with a leg lock. Holly kicks his way out of the leg lock but Austin regains control with several clubbing blows. Austin chops Holly in the corner but Holly comes back with a few of his own and a hip toss. Holly slows down the contest with a sleeper hold. Austin arm drags Holly and nails Holly with a back elbow. Austin keeps the advantage with several forearm drops. Austin continues his offense with a backbreaker followed by a knee drop. Austin leaps off the middle rope connecting with a forearm drop! Austin covers but Holly kicks out at two. Holly fights back with right hands and chops. Austin stops Holly by sending him through the middle rope to the floor. Austin drops Holly throat first across the top rope from the apron and works on Holly with a sleeper hold. Holly fights out of it with several right hands but is met with a boot to the face by Austin. Austin drops a knee across Holly’s chest for a two count as RAW goes to commercial. Holly rams Austin head first into the top turnbuckle a few times from the apron. Holly crotches Austin on the top rope and Austin flips back into the ring! Holly backdrops Austin and connects with a back elbow for a two count. Holly with ten punches in the corner but Austin shoves Holly off. Austin locks in the Million Dollar Dream and wins the match. *
Footage from last week where Jerry Lawler screwed Warrior over from advancing in the KOTR tournament is shown. McMahon announces that Jerry Lawler will be wrestling the Ultimate Warrior at the King of the Ring! Lawler has made a cover of his own cartoon and it is Lawler standing over Warrior in victory.
Backstage, Jim Ross hypes up the Undertaker vs. Mankind at King of the Ring. Ross believes that Mankind will be the most dangerous opponent for Undertaker. Footage from the In Your House event where Mankind screwed Taker over in a casket match against Goldust is shown.
Second Contest: Mankind defeated Barry Horowitz: Mankind wins the extended squash match with the mandible claw.
After the match, Mankind tells Jim Ross and says he hopes that Undertaker will stand up and show a little bit a pride. Mankind mentions that he has nothing left to lose. Mankind tells Taker he can’t take his ear or teeth because they are gone. Mankind believes that he has lost his mind the most throughout his career. Mankind predicts that Taker will lose it all!
Footage from the IYH pay per view where Shawn Michaels and British Bulldog wrestled to a double pin. Bulldog and Michaels will compete again at the King of the Ring.
Footage from last week on RAW where Goldust performed mouth to mouth on Ahmed Johnson which caused Johnson to flip out is aired. Goldust cuts a promo from his den and believes that he revived Johnson. McMahon doesn’t believe that Johnson needed mouth to mouth. Goldust begins to lick chocolate and takes a bite from a Crunch bar (sadly I know that). Goldust says that Johnson will melt in his hands instead of his mouth at the King of the Ring. Johnson will never forget the name, Goldust!
Third Contest: the Godwinns defeated Techno Team 2000: Henry gets the quick win for his team following the Slop drop on Troy.
After the match, McMahon and Lawler protect Sunny from being touched by the Godwinns. Phineas brings a little boy into the ring and they dance.
Footage from IYH where Clarence Mason claims that Gorilla Monsoon put his hands on Mason is shown. It is clear that Monsoon simply put his hand on Mason’s back. Mason claims that Monsoon is guilty of aggravated assault.
Main Event: Jake Roberts defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley in a first round match to advance in the 1996 King of the Ring tournament: HHH has a side headlock on Roberts and comes off the ropes with a shoulder block in the opening moments of the contest. Roberts hip tosses HHH and nails HHH with a knee lift. Roberts goes for the DDT but HHH gets out of it twice and rolls to the floor. Roberts wrenches on HHH’s arm with a wrist lock and slams HHH down to the canvas. Roberts lifts HHH up into the air and slams HHH down to the mat while maintaining control of a wristlock. HHH back elbows Roberts in a corner and rams Roberts face first into the top turnbuckle. McMahon notes that Razor Ramon and Diesel are no longer part of the company despite saying on a rival promotions show that they are. Roberts keeps control on HHH with a wrist lock and goes to a corner but HHH pulls free and rolls to the floor as RAW goes to commercial. HHH has been stomping away on Roberts ever since the commercial. HHH comes off the ropes connecting with a knee drop for a two count. HHH knocks Roberts off his feet with a right hand and delivers an elbow drop for a two count. HHH knee lifts Roberts but Roberts comes back with right hands but misses a short arm clothesline. HHH nails Roberts with several shots and chokes Roberts to keep the advantage. Roberts stops HHH with a jaw breaker and a right hand. Roberts drops HHH with a short arm clothesline and signals for the DDT. HHH avoids it by ramming Roberts back first into the corner and back elbows Roberts for a two count as RAW goes to commercial. Roberts avoids a scoop slam from HHH and plants HHH with a DDT to pick up the win! *
After the match, Roberts puts his snake onto HHH and celebrates his win to end the show.
End of show.
My Take: This is going to be quick because I can sum up all four matches with one word. That word is, BORING. My god nothing happened wrestling wise to keep me entertained or interested in what was happening. A complete waste of time, but oh well.
The only positive I can think of is that the King of the Ring pay per view is shaping up to be a solid show, at least on paper. WWF really needs to start putting more focus on making RAW better though. Shows like this one will not beat Nitro in the ratings. It’s just not going happen. I’d rather see Savage, Hogan, Flair, Nash and Hall then watch Roberts, Bob Holly and Barry Horowitz.
Time to wake up WWF!
Thanks for reading.