Written by: Bob Colling
World Wrestling Federation presents RAW
Date: 11/18/1996
From: New Haven, CT
Matches:
1.) Steve Austin defeated Mankind by disqualification
2.) Faarooq defeated Savio Vega
3.) Doug Furnas & Phil LaFon defeated Leif Cassidy & Bob Holly
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) It’s the night after the Survivor Series and the show is going to kick off with Steve Austin and Mankind squaring off in singles action.
2.) Mankind attacks Austin from behind while Austin was taunting fans on the aisle way. They trade a few right hands with Mankind getting the better of the exchange and they roll around on the floor. Several officials have come down to ringside to try and break them apart but it’s not working very well. Mankind sends Austin back first into the ring steps and drives his knee into Austin’s head against the ring steps! The bell finally rings when they get into the ring and Austin stomps away on Mankind. Austin is getting a great face reaction from the crowd as he comes off the apron with a double axe handle. Mankind regains control of the match with a few strikes and chokes Austin in the corner. Austin runs out of the corner and drops Mankind with a clothesline. Mankind falls through the bottom rope and crashes to the floor after a right hand and grabs a chair. Austin kicks Mankind on the floor before he could use the chair. The referee takes the chair away and Mankind decks Austin with another right hand. Austin tosses Mankind into the guard railing and Mankind flips into the crowd. Mankind ducks a clothesline and goes for the Mandible Claw but Austin breaks the hold with a low blow as the show goes to commercial.
Mankind puts Austin on the top turnbuckle and punches Austin in midair in the midsection. Austin tries to suplex Mankind to the floor but Mankind counters with a suplex back into the ring. Mankind hits a swinging neck breaker and both men are slow to get up at this point. Mankind gets out of a sleeper hold and hits a clothesline to drop Austin. Mankind attempts a piledriver but Austin backdrops Mankind to the apron but Mankind drops Austin throat first across the top rope. Austin pummels Mankind with several strikes and stomps. Back to the floor where Austin sends Mankind into the railing. Austin comes off the middle rope and hits a forearm drop for a two count. The Executioner runs into the ring and attacks Austin to cause the disqualification. The Undertaker runs down into the ring and saves Austin from the double team. Taker enters the ring and stares at Austin who leaves and heads backstage. Austin had actually knocked Taker to the floor. (***. The match is exactly what RAW should be offering as it was constant action and a fun brawl between two excellent brawlers. The finish protects two guys who lost last night.)
3.) Ahmed Johnson is apparently coming through the crowd to watch the action tonight. He is apparently here to watch Faarooq in action. Ahmed sits in the crowd to watch the match.
4.) Sunny comes out and introduces the leader of the Nation of the Domination. Faarooq has undergone a change in look in recent days and isn’t wearing his ridiculous blue head gear.
5.) Vega avoids a splash in the corner and dropkicks Faarooq. Vega hammers away on Faarooq in the corner and catapults Faarooq out of the corner with a money flip. Vega comes off the ropes to hit a cross body for a near fall. Faarooq plants Vega with a spine buster but only gets a near fall on the cover attempt. Faarooq takes Vega over with a snap suplex for a near fall. Faarooq drops Vega on his neck with a back suplex as RAW goes to commercial. Savio blocks a sit down splash by getting his knees up. Savio nearly wins with an inside cradle and drives Faarooq down to the mat with a face buster. Vega scoop slams Faarooq but misses an elbow drop. Faarooq heads to the top rope but gets crotched on the top rope by Vega backing into the ropes. Savio goes for a superplex but they lose their footing and they literally crash off the top to the floor. Holy shit that was dangerous. Savio hits a spinning heel kick but doesn’t go for the cover. Vega misses Faarooq and goes over the top to the floor. Ahmed Johnson comes to the ring after Faarooq wins with a spine buster. Ahmed enters with a 2×4 and scares the Nation away. (*1/4. The match was not good as the fans have really cooled on Savio and it’s obvious. The superplex botch was a bad spot and luckily neither of them got hurt.) After the match, Ahmed Johnson gets on the microphone and says it’s payback time and starts a “Your’e Going Down” chant.
6.) Vince McMahon talks about how people don’t like Shawn Michaels but was a fighting champion and checked on Jose Lothario when Sid attacked his mentor. McMahon credits Shawn for being a man’s man.
7.) WWF World Tag Team Champions Owen Hart and The British Bulldog shared some comments during the final match. Owen says that LaFon and Furnas got lucky last night at Survivor Series. Clarence Mason says they will have to prove themselves before getting a title shot.
8.) WWF World Champion Psycho Sid makes his way down to the ring for an interview and the fans greet him with cheers despite his actions last night at Survivor Series. Jim Ross is in the ring and Sid says he shows no compassion for what happened last night because Jose Lothario put himself in the situation. Sid will give Shawn Michaels a rematch because he is the master and the ruler of the world. Ross notes that Sid will defend the championship against Bret Hart on December 15th. Sid says he will be a fighting champion for the people who called him to comeback. Sid is going to make Bret’s return a short-lived one on December 15th.
Final Thoughts:
I enjoyed the feature match this week between Austin and Mankind on an otherwise average show. Sid is certainly over with the crowd and fans are interested in a Sid/Bret showdown next month.
Thanks for reading.