Written by: Bob Colling
World Wrestling Federation presents RAW
Date: 3/13/1995
From: Stockton, CA
A video promoting the past happenings between Bret Hart and Jerry Lawler is aired. Lawler believes that Bret Hart is a racist. Lawler believes that Hart has been saying bad things about Japanese people. The Blu Brothers compete against the 1-2-3 Kid and Bob Holly. Also, WWF Intercontinental Champion Jeff Jarrett will be in action. Lastly, Ernie Ladd will make an appearance!
RAW opening video
Vince McMahon and Jim Cornette welcome everyone to the show.
Opening Contest: the New Headshrinkers fought the Blu Brothers to a double count-out: Bob Holly and 1-2-3 Kid were unable to make this match due to traffic at least that is what McMahon tells us. Fatu and Jacob start off the contest. The Headshrnkers have some kind of personality nowadays, not just meat eating guys, by the way. Fatu attempted a shoulder block but Jacob didn’t go down. Fatu dances after being rammed head first into the corner and works on Jacob with a few strikes before Simone tags in to deliver a double clothesline. Eli tags in after Jacob gains control. Simone ducks a clothesline and hits Eli with one of his own. Jacob kicks Simone as he runs the ropes but is knocked off the apron. Eli tosses Simone over the top to the floor and Jacob gets a few cheap shots in. Simone comes off the ropes but is met with a double big boot which gets a two count until Fatu breaks up the count. Eli power slams Simone for a near fall. Simone blocks a backdrop attempt by Jacob with a clubbing blow as RAW goes to commercial. Back from the break, Jacob has a sleeper hold on Simone. During the break, Eli clotheslined Simone on the floor. Simone clotheslines Jacob to the floor but Eli enters, fooling the referee but Fatu hammers away on Eli. Jacob returns as the referee is distracted. Simone continues to be double teamed by the Blu Brothers. Simone catches Jacob with a power slam and crawls to his corner. Fatu and Eli get the tags with Fatu hammering away on both men and super kicking Eli! Fatu super kicks Jacob but Eli breaks up the count. Simone brawls with Eli on the floor and Fatu ends up brawling with Jacob on the floor leading to the double count-out. (*1/2. It wasn’t an awful match which I was expecting. The fans are really reacting to Fatu, who is showing off his personality with some dancing moves and whatnot.)
A video promoting Lawrence Taylor is aired. The main point of the video is Taylor’s attitude on the football field which he will surely have at WrestleMania. Taylor will have several football players by his side for his match against Bigelow. Steve McMichael shared some thoughts about being on Taylor’s side. McMichael is going to show up next week on RAW.
Backstage, Bigelow is with the Corporation where he says that Taylor is going down at Mania. DiBiase says that the Corporation is going to be at ringside. Tatanka, Bundy and Kama warn the football players that they will regret getting involved in the match if they choose to.
Earlier today, Vince McMahon talked to NFL and WWF Legend Ernie Ladd. McMahon notes that Ladd terrorized the football field and wrestling ring during his days. Ladd gives his honest opinion whether or not Taylor has a shot to beat Bigelow. Ladd says that Taylor isn’t in his arena and doesn’t believe his chances are very good. Ladd says he chose to make the transition but it took time. He believes Taylor is wrestling on emotion and pride. Ladd praises Taylor as a great athlete but doesn’t see his chances being very good against Bigelow.
Backstage, Barry Horowitz shares some thoughts about his match against Jeff Jarrett. Horowitz believes in himself and has been talking to Razor Ramon recently. I’m shocked that Horowitz was actually given promo time!
Second Contest: WWF Intercontinental Champion Jeff Jarrett defeated Barry Horowitz in a non-title match: Horowitz tries several quick pin attempts on Jarrett but isn’t able to get a three count and Jarrett bails to the floor. Horowitz actually controls Jarrett for several minutes with several hip tosses and a leg drop to his arm. Horowitz injures his knee on a knee lift attempt and Jarrett manages to get the win with the figure four leg lock.
Another video promoting the issues between Lawler and Hart is aired. Lawler tried to sneak a win during a battle royal by hopping around ringside with the one foot that hit the floor. Hart prevented that from happening by hitting Lawler. Hart shared thoughts saying that Lawler has been bothering him for two years and the cure to beat the disease is his fists!
Todd Pettengill is back with the WrestleMania Report. Todd hypes up the same matches that have been promoted for several weeks now. The full card is as follows.
Lawrence Taylor vs. Bam-Bam Bigelow
WWF World Champion Diesel vs. Shawn Michaels
Bret Hart vs. Bob Backlund
WWF Intercontinental Champion Jeff Jarrett vs. Razor Ramon
WWF World Tag Team Champions the Smoking Gunns vs. Owen Hart and a mystery partner
We see footage from Action Zone where the Smoking Gunns were defending the tag titles against Men on a Mission and were able to retain the titles. After the match, Mabel and Mo attacked the Smoking Gunns!
Lex Luger and British Bulldog vs. the Blu Brothers is the last match announced to take place.
Main Event: Jerry Lawler defeated Bret Hart by count-out: Lawler brings Bull Nakano down to ringside with him for the match. Hart hammers away on Lawler in the corner to kick off the contest. Lawler bails to the floor but Hart follows and rams Lawler face first into the ring steps. Hart puts Lawler in the tree of woe and delivers several stomps. Hart continues to dominate Lawler since the opening bell with a head butt and elbow shot. We see Bob Backlund looking on in the crowd. Lawler misses a fist drop after coming off the ropes and Hart boot scrapes Lawler’s face. Hart gets a two count following a clothesline after an atomic drop. Hart rams Lawler head first into the top turnbuckle several times. Hakushi is seen standing at the top of the aisle way while Hart continues to beat down Lawler. Lawler dumps Hart to the floor and rams Hart into the ring steps as RAW goes to commercial. Lawler plants Hart with a running bulldog out of the corner. Lawler sends Hart back first into a corner and drives Hart to the mat with a vertical suplex. Hart blocks a double axe handle attempt off the top rope and begins to hammer away on Lawler before connecting with a running bulldog. Hart follows up with a side Russian leg seep and punches Lawler over the top to the floor. Nakano punches Hart but accidentally kicks Lawler as he held Hart. Nakano backs away from Hart but grabs Hart’s foot to prevent him from returning to the ring. Hart flips out at the referee for the decision. Hart goes up the aisle way but stops when he sees Hakushi. Hart punches Lawler back in the ring and backdrops King causing him to slide to the floor. (*1/4. A fairly uneventful contest and if this is the final match of their feud, it is a really poor one. I doubt it is though considering the finish of it.)
Next week, Razor Ramon squares off against Henry Godwinn. Also, the Smoking Gunns defend the WWF World Tag Team Championships against the Heavenly Bodies!
At ringside, WWF Intercontinental Champion Jeff Jarrett tells Barry Horowitz he will give him a rematch and a title match. However, before he can sign Bob Backlund attacks Horowitz and signs the contract instead! Jarrett doesn’t like what happened as RAW comes to an end!
Final Thoughts: The idea of pushing Barry Horowitz is actually quite hilarious to me, and shows how ridiculous the booking team is going about writing their product or pushing guys. As you can see, the show didn’t feature any jobber matches and for that fact alone, I’m giving this show a thumbs up. It’s refreshing to watch RAW without any squashes even if the matches still aren’t all that good.
Thanks for reading.