WWF RAW 1/23/1995

Written by: Bob Colling

World Wrestling Federation presents RAW
Date: 1/23/1995
From: Palmetto, FL

The show opens up with a very serious Vince McMahon standing at ringside apologizing for what Bam-Bam Bigelow did at the Royal Rumble the previous night. Bigelow pie faced Lawrence Taylor at ringside and has been suspended without pay for doing that.

RAW opening video

Vince McMahon introduces the winner of the 1995 Royal Rumble, Shawn Michaels to join him at commentary for the show. Michaels says he knows how much it pains everyone to call him the winner of the Royal Rumble. Michaels says he will fulfill his destiny at WrestleMania XI by winning the WWF World Championship.

Opening Contest: the Smoking Gunns defeated WWF World Tag Team Champions 1-2-3 Kid/Bob Holly to win the titles: Billy and Holly start off the title match after they all shake hands. Billy shoulder blocks Holly but is taken down by Holly with a hip toss and scoop slam. Billy kicks Holly away and puts an arm bar on him. Bart tags in but Holly quickly backs away from being double teamed. Holly works on Bart’s arm with a few elbow strikes before tagging in Kid. Bart catches Kid on a leap frog attempt by hitting a power slam and goes for a dropkick but Kid hangs onto the ropes. Kid gets a two count following a dropkick of his own. Holly tags back in and kicks Bart in the midsection. Holly controls Bart with an arm bar but also scoop slams Bart. They both miss quick elbow drops and have a standoff. Billy tags in and botches a running bulldog as Holly has his back turned but gets a two count. Bart tags back in and they connect with a double team press slam. Bart sets Holly up for their finisher but Holly wiggles free and sends Bart into the corner where Billy is crotched. The champs hit a double superplex and Holly nearly wins the bout as RAW goes to commercial! Holly hits Billy with a side kick before tagging in Kid. Kid nails Billy with a spinning heel kick but only gets a near fall. Holly tags into the bout and the champs hit Billy with a double dropkick which gets Holly a two count. Billy stops Holly with a few right hands but Holly rams Billy head first into the top turnbuckle. Billy big boots a charging Holly in the corner and both men slowly crawl to their partners. Kid gets the tag and leg drops Billy on the back of the head. Billy counters a scoop slam with one of his own. Billy kicks Kid in the face but Kid dropkicks Bart off the apron to prevent a tag from being made. Bart is pissed off about that but Billy recovers with the Fameasser! Bart gets the tag and cleans house on the champs. Bart backdrops Kid but only gets a two count. Bart scoop slams Kid and gets a two count after hitting a leg drop. Gunns connect with a side slam/leg drop combo but they aren’t able to get a cover. Gunns hit a side Russian leg sweep on Kid as RAW goes to another commercial. Bart has a sleeper on Kid but Kid elbows out of it only to be stopped with a knee lift to the gut. Billy tags in to hit a leg drop and stomps Kid in the face. The Gunns hit a double team dropkick/vertical suplex combo but Billy gets a two count after taking several moments to gloat. Bart tags back in to get a two count following a couple of knee drops. Kid trades right hands with Billy but isn’t able to tag in Holly. Billy scoop slams Kid before tagging in Bart who quickly tags in Billy who runs into the ropes but is met with knee from Holly! Kid breaks free from Bart and tags in Holly! Holly dropkicks Billy but only manages to get a two count. Holly leaps off the top but Billy gets a foot up. Bart sets Holly up and they hit the Sidewinder! Billy covers Holly and wins the match! (**3/4. It was a solid title match but I would’ve liked to see more power moves by the Gunns since they are considerably bigger than their opponents. It also got plenty of time and they were able to put together some quality wrestling.)
After the match, Vince McMahon interviews the former champions on the floor. Kid agrees that last night they got beaten up by Bigelow and Tatanka. Kid would like to have a rematch next week against the Gunns. God, both men are awful at cutting promos.

Royal Rumble Report with Todd Pettengill is up next. Todd talks about what happened at the show. Diesel fought Bret Hart to a draw to retain the WWF World Championship due to Owen Hart, Shawn Michaels and Bob Backlund got involved. Jeff Jarrett won the WWF Intercontinental Championship by defeating Razor Ramon. 1-2-3 Kid and Bob Holly won the vacant WWF World Tag Team Championships by beating Bam-Bam and Tatanka. The Undertaker pinned IRS and Shawn Michaels won the 1995 Royal Rumble match after drawing number one.

Shawn Michaels talks to Vince McMahon saying that he is going to find someone who he can trust. He is looking for a bodyguard to watch his back.

Second Contest: IRS defeated Buck Quartermaine: IRS now has possession of the urn after taking it from Paul Bearer last night. Roddy Piper called in during the match and hypes up the New Generation and the Royal Rumble. Piper plugs the Royal Rumble Encore. IRS wins the bout following a lariat.

Man Mountain Rock is coming to the WWF soon.

Jerry Lawler welcomes the new WWF Intercontinental Champion Jeff Jarrett as his guest on this week’s Kings Court. Jarrett says that he told everyone that he was going to win the championship and he did just that. Jarrett also says he humiliated Ramon at the Rumble. Jarrett welcomes another challenge from Ramon if he wants it. Jarrett says something is missing and that is the WWF World Championship. He calls out Diesel! Jarrett issues a challenge to Diesel because he believes he can win the WWF World Championship. Jarrett says he can make Diesel tap out to win the WWF World Championship! He says if Diesel has the guts, he will accept his challenge!

Main Event: the British Bulldog defeated the Black Phantom: Bulldog wins the bout following a running power slam.

Bam-Bam Bigelow is standing by to issue his apology but they experience techincial issues preventing him from doing so.

Next week, Mabel vs. King Kong Bundy in an over the top challenge. A rematch between the Gunns and Kid/Holly will also take place. We will also see the debut of Kama.

Final Thoughts: This was another good RAW episode. So, that appears to be the third week in a row where RAW has been entertaining. To think people find 1995 to be the worst year in WWF history there has been some quality bouts so far in the early year. I hope Jarrett is made out to look like a threat to Diesel and isn’t quickly jobbed out to the guy. I don’t think you would want your second highest champion to lose creditability so soon. Hopefully WWF can continue this good show streak for a little while longer as the build up towards WrestleMania XI begins!

Thanks for reading.