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From The Network- A Raw Batch #1 (Episodes 1-4)

June 12, 2014 | Posted by Dylan Diot
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From The Network- A Raw Batch #1 (Episodes 1-4)  

WWF Monday Night Raw
1-11-93
New York City, NY

Your hosts are Vince McMahon, Rob Bartlett, and Randy Savage.

Bobby Heenan tries to get into the building but he is not allowed in.

Koko B. Ware vs. Yokozuna w/Mr. Fuji
Yokozuna overpowers Koko to start and Koko hits some dropkicks. Yokozuna throws Koko neck first into the ropes to come back and he connects with a leg drop. Avalanche in the corner by Yokozuna and he goes up. Bonzai Drop by Yokozuna gets 3.
Winner- Yokozuna SQUASH ( Yokozuna got to look dominated over a name people recognize, so it was a good way to build Yokozuna up as the favorite for the upcoming Royal Rumble. )

Bobby Heenan claims that The Narcissist is beyond perfect and he mocks Mr. Perfect. He plans to unveil The Narcissist at the Royal Rumble.

Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott Steiner) vs. The Executioners (#1 and #2)
Scott starts with #1. Tilt-a-whirl slam by Scott as we see Doink the Clown in the crowd. Tag to Rick and he knocks #1 down. Clothesline by Rick and he rams #1 sternum first into the corner. #1 bails and he rams the Executioners’ heads together. Back in, Rick catches #2 with a powerslam. Tag to Scott and he hits an overhead belly to belly suplex. Tag to #1 and Scott hits a butterfly power bomb. Doomsday Bulldog by the Steiners gets 3.
Winners- Steiner Brothers SQUASH ( The Steiners these poor jobbers and they were very stiff with them at times. )

Bobby Heenan tries to sneak into the building dressed in drag and fails.

Razor Ramon comes out and says he was born for the golden opportunity he gets at the Royal Rumble. Razor said while it took Bret Hart eight years to get to the top, it took him only eight and a half months to catch up to him. Razor said he enjoyed beating up Owen Hart and tells Bret there is nothing he can do about it. He says Bret Hart can’t do anything about him taking Bret’s title at the Rumble.

WWF Intercontinental Championship- Shawn Michaels © vs. Max Moon
Feeling out process to start and Moon slams Shawn. Knee to the gut by Shawn and Moon takes Shawn down by the arm into the hammerlock as we go to break.
Back and Shawn charges in the corner but misses. Shawn drops Moon in the ropes to come back and he stomps away. He chokes Moon with his boot and connects with a dropkick. Roll-up by Moon gets 2 and Doink appears on the floor. Shawn sends Moon hard into the corner and he hammers Moon on the mat. Small package by Moon gets 2 and Shawn rakes the face. Back elbow by Shawn gets 2 and he goes to the chinlock. Moon fights out and he catapults Shawn to the floor. Seated senton off the apron by Moon and back in, Moon hits a spinning heel kick in the corner. Fireman’s carry roll by Moon gets 2. Summersault senton misses and Shawn hits the superkick. Saito suplex by Shawn gets 3.
Winner and Still WWF Intercontinental Champion- Shawn Michaels **1/4 ( This was pretty much a prolonged showcase for Shawn and he did give Moon a little bit of offensive to make this the most competitive match on the show. )

Bobby Heenan tries to get into the building using another disguise but again no luck.

Damien Demento vs. The Undertaker w/Paul Bearer
Rights by Demento and he hits some thrusts. Taker slams Demento’s face off the mat and he goes OLD SCHOOL~!!!! Taker chokes Demento in the corner and he charges in the corner but eats boot. Leaping shoulder block by Demento and Take rcomes back with a flying clothesline. Tombstone by Taker gets 3.
Winner- Undertaker ¼* ( Just a squash for the Deadman. Demento’s little offense was god awful and it’s no wonder he didn’t last much longer. )

Doink the Clown says that it doesn’t matter to him if no one has a sense of humor and if his pranks make kids cry. Crush comes out to confront Doink and Doink sprays him with water. Crush chases him as Doink laughs on the floor.

Bobby Heenan finally gets into the show as the show comes to a close.

1-18-93

At the start of the show, Repo Man attacks Randy Savage from behind and steals his hat!!!

Terry Taylor vs. Mr. Perfect
Both men look for the early advantage and Taylor works Perfect over in the corner. Hip toss and a dropkick by Perfect and Taylor bails. Back in, Perfect goes to the side headlock. Taylor pokes the eye to come back and Perfect works the arm of Taylor to come back. Slam by Perfect and he goes back to the arm as we go to break.
Back and Taylor pulls Perfect to the floor. He follows out and works Perfect over on the floor. Back in, Taylor hits a jaw breaker and he stomps away. Backbreaker by Taylor gets 2. Rights by Perfect but Taylor pokes the eye again. Snap mare and Taylor goes to the chinlock. Perfect fights out and Taylor hits a spinebuster for 2. Gutwrench powerbomb by Taylor gets 2. They slug it out and Perfect hits a reverse atomic drop. Mr. Perfect neck snap by Perfect and Ric Flair comes out. The distraction allows Taylor to hit a knee strike to the back, knocking him to the floor. Flair works over Perfect on the floor and back in, Taylor goes for a suplex but Perfect counters into the Perfect Plex for 3!!!
Winner- Mr. Perfect *** ( Good competitive match, as expected from these two since they are almost parallel as workers. )

Bret Hart comes out and says he has no respect for Razor Ramon for the things he’s said and done to his family. He calls Razor scum and he says the Hart name will redeem itself at the Royal Rumble.

Marty Jannetty vs. Glen Ruth
Ruth attacks from behind to start and he charges but eats elbow. Second rope bulldog by Jannetty and he begins to work the arm. Knees to the midsection by Ruth and Jannetty comes back with a clothesline. Jannetty goes back to the arm and he hits a suplex. Ruth works the arm of Jannetty and Jannetty goes to the hammerlock to come back. He converts it into a cover for 2 and Ruth rakes the eyes. Rights by Ruth but Jannetty fires back to come back. He sends Ruth hard into the corner and Jannetty goes back to the arm. Shoulders to the gut by Ruth but Jannetty comes back with the Rocker Dropper for 3.
Winner- Marty Jannetty DUD ( This was the world’s longest squash, taking Jannetty five minutes to put away this jobber. This was so boring and Jannetty did not look good heading into his match at the Rumble with Shawn Michaels. )

Repo Man brags about stealing Savage’s hat and Savage wants a piece of him right now. Repo Man says he now has his attention and he can’t wait to get in the ring with him.

Randy Savage heads to the parking lot to look for Repo Man but he is nowhere to be found.

Tito Santana vs. Ric Flair
Santana overpowers Flair to start and he hits a slam. Side headlock by Santana but Flair escapes so Santana hits a clothesline. Dropkick by Santana and he goes back to the side headlock as we go to break.
Back and Flair blocks a monkey flip attempt. Jackknife roll-up by Flair gets 2 and he pokes the eye. Flair hammers the head of Santana and he snap mares Santana. Knee drop by Flair and hammers Santana in the corner. Backdrop by Santana and he stomps away in the corner. Punches in the corner by Santana but Flair pokes the eye to come back. Flair goes up but Santana tosses him off the top. Santana sends Flair to the corner and the impact sends Flair to the floor. Santana follows out and hits a clothesline on the floor. Back in, Santana hits a back drop. Knee lift by Santana and he hits the flying forearm. He goes for another one but misses and falls to the floor. Mr. Perfect comes out and attacks Flair!!!
Match ends in a No-Contest **1/4 ( I was so disappointed in this match. They didn’t get much time but nothing they did was all that interesting. Both men were on their way out the door, so I guessed they phoned it in here. )

WWF officials come out to separate them and Flair says the WWF isn’t big enough for the two of them. He wants Mr. Perfect next week and says the loser must leave the WWF!!! Flair says Mr. Perfect doesn’t have the guts to accept his challenge and says there will never be a day where Perfect beats him. Perfect comes back out and accepts Flair’s challenge.

Repo Man repossesses Rob Bartlett’s car to end the show.

1-25-93

Repo Man arrives in his tow truck and promises to repossess Randy Savage’s career tonight.

Bobby Heenan is on commentary for this episode due to Savage competing in a match.

Repo Man vs. Randy Savage
Savage attacks to start and he chokes Repo with his boot. They go to the floor and Savage snap mares Repo into a knee drop. Back in, Savage chokes away and goes up. Second rope knee drop by Savage and Repo dumps him to the floor. Savage comes back in and hits a flying knee strike to the back, knocking Repo to the floor. Savage follows out and works over Repo on the floor. Back in, Savage stomps away and chokes Repo with his boot in the corner. They go back to the floor and Repo slams Savage’s head off the steps. Repo sends Savage into the post and back in, Repo works Savage over in the corner. Snap mare and Repo goes to the body scissors. Savage escapes as we go to break.
Back and Repo snap mares Savage into a leg drop for 2. Repo goes back to the body scissors but Savage grabs the ropes to break. Clothesline by Repo and he chokes Savage in the ropes. Back suplex by Repo gets 2. Chinlock by Repo but Savage fights out and cleans house. Repo gets a cheap shot to stop the momentum and Repo hits a back breaker. Repo goes up and leaps but Savage clotheslines him on the way down. Slam by Savage and he goes up. Flying elbow drop by Savage gets 3.
Winner- Randy Savage *** ( Good match. Savage gave Repo Man a lot and eventually pulled off the win to get revenge for last week’s wackiness. Can’t ask for more than that. )

Kamala w/Slick vs. Brooklyn Brawler
Brawler attacks to start and goes for a slam but Kamala blocks and hits one of his own. Super kick by Kamala and he sits on Brawler in the corner. Kamala stands on Brawler and he chokes Brawler in the ropes. Big boot by Kamala and he stands on the back of Brawler. Kamala sends Brawler shoulder first in the corner and hits a big splash for 3.
Winner- Kamala SQUASH ( Just a squash but man was Kamala terrible in the ring, looking lost several times and his offense is so basic and dry it just wasn’t catching on with the fans, especially as a babyface. )

After the match, Slick warns Kim Chee and Harvey Whippleman to stay away from Kamala as he will not be responsible for what happens to them.

Ric Flair vs. Mr. Perfect
Loser of the match must leave the WWF. Slaps by Perfect and he drop toe holds Flair before toying with him. Flair bails to regroup and back in, Perfect grabs a hammerlock. Flair backs Perfect to the corner to break and he chops away. Perfect returns the favor and Flair flops. Knee to the midsection by Flair and he works Perfect over in the corner. Chops by Perfect and he throws some jabs at Flair. Flair pokes the eye of Perfect and he dumps Perfect to the floor. Flair goes to nail Perfect with a chair but the ref blocks as we go to break.
Back and Flair sends Perfect to the corner with the momentum sending Perfect crashing to the floor. Back in, Flair hammers on the now bloody head of Perfect. Flair covers for 2 with his feet on the ropes for the added advantage. Perfect knocks Flair down to fight back and he gets the jackknife roll-up for 2. Perfect blocks a hip toss and he gets a backslide for 2. Backdrop by Perfect and he pulls Flair out of the corner. Punches in the corner by Perfect but Flair takes him out with an inverted atomic drop. Roll-up by Flair gets 2. Flair bails to the floor and Perfect suplexes Flair back in for 2. Sleeper by Flair but Perfect’s arm only goes down twice. He runs to the corner sending Flair’s head crashing into the turnbuckle to break. Sleeper by Perfect but Flair breaks with a back suplex. Flair grabs the Figure-4 and he uses the ropes for added pressure. The ref finally catches Flair and forces him to break the hold. Snap mare and Flair goes up. Perfect tosses Flair off the top as we go to break.
Back and Flair pulls out brass knuckles from his knee pad. He nails Perfect with the brass knuckles and he hits an elbow drop for 2 as Perfect gets his foot on the ropes!!! Flair hammers the head of Perfect and he chops away in the corner but Perfect is fired up!!! Chops by Perfect and he hits a back drop. Perfect knocks Flair down and Flair goes up. He leaps but Perfect clotheslines him on the way down for 2!!! Flair rolls Perfect up with his feet on the ropes for 2. The ref forces Flair to break again and Perfect gets the small package for 2. Perfect Plex gets 3!!!
Winner- Mr. Perfect **** ( The first great match in Raw history. Just an excellent back and forward match with Flair throwing every dirty trick in the book but Perfect withstood it and prove to be the better man. Flair ended his first WWF run on a high note. )

2-1-93

Tatanka vs. Damian Demento
Small package by Tatanka gets 2. Demento hammers away on Tatanka but Tatanka comes back weith a hip toss. Slam by Tatanka and he clotheslines Demento to the floor. Back in, Tatanka chops away in the corner. Demento comes back with a clothesline and he stomps away. Back elbow by Demento and he hits a leg drop for 2. Leg drop to the groin by Demento and he stomps away for 2. Chinlock by Demento but Tatanka fights out. Chop to the head by Tatanka and he knocks Demento down with a chop. Samoan drop by Tatanka gets 3.
Winner- Tatanka * ( Just a quick match to give Tatanka a good win and Demento looked better than he did in the Undertaker match but that’s not saying much. )

We see footage from the Headlock for Hunger event at MSG, where they donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross.

Brutus Beefcake makes his return and says he’s here to make an important announcement. He announces he is ready to return to the ring after his parasailing accident and he goes over the tragic events in his life the last few years. Brutus said one person was there for him after the surgery on his face, and that was Hulk Hogan. Hogan told him to go for it, even when he had nothing left in his life. Brutus said after all the suffering he has been through, nothing is going to make him quit and Brutus declares he has an open contract to face him.

High Energy (Owen Hart and Koko B. Ware) vs. Skull Von Krus and Iron Mike Sharpe
Owen and Sharpe start. Dropkick by Owen and he drop toe holds Shape. Tag to Koko and they wishbone Sharpe. Snap mare and Krus tags in along with Owen. Double back drop by High Energy and they hit a dropkick Hart Attack for 3.
Winners- High Energy SQUASH ( All I have to say about this is I feel so bad about those pants Koko and Owen had to wear. )

Doink the Clown vs. Typhoon
Doink takes Typhoon down to start and he hits an elbow drop. Typhoon powers Doink down to the mat and Doink rakes the face of Typhoon. Doink works the arm of Typhoon and he goes to the sitting chinlock. Typhoon rams Doink into the corner to break and he grabs a bear hug. Doink rakes the eyes to break and he hammers away but Typhoon no sells. He goes for the crossbody but Typhoon catches him and hits a powerslam. Typhoon misses an Avalanche in the corner and Doink hits a second rope clothesline for 3.
Winner- Doink the Clown ¼* ( Ugly match as Typhoon was all kinds of awful and Doink did not get the chance to look good thanks to him. )

We get a ten bell salute for Andre the Giant who passed away around this time.

Yokozuna w/Mr. Fuji vs. Bobby DeVito
Superkick by Yokozuna and he hits an Urinage. Leg drop by Yokozuna and he knocks DeVito down with a chop. Yokozuna hammers away on DeVito in the corner and he hits the hip check in the corner. Bonzai Drop gets 3.
Winner- Yokozuna SQUASH ( Another day, another squash for Yokozuna. )

Money Inc. comes out and they compare Brutus Beefcake to Humpty Dumpty. Dibiase said the accident knocked a screw loose for issuing an open challenge. Dibiase offers Beefcake the chance of facing a champion next week and they flip a coin to decide who takes Beefcake’s open challenge. Dibiase wins the coin flip and Jimmy Hart comes out. Hart expresses concern about Money Inc. getting hurt but Dibiase eases his concerns.

We see footage of Mr. Perfect passing footballs to NFL Tight End Steve Jordan. Mr. Perfect throws and catches his own pass.

Lex Luger vs. Jason Knight
Luger overpowers Knight to start and he hits a clothesline. Luger drops Knight in the ropes and he hits a powerslam. Clothesline by Luger and he knocks Knight down with a forearm. He covers Knight with only his pinky for 3.
Winner- Lex Luger SQUASH ( The Narcissist gimmick did not fit Luger and thank god they would abandon it a few months later. )

Raw #1: 5.0 Raw #2: 6.0 Raw #3: 9.0 Raw #4: 4.0 My final score is the average of the four episodes I've watched. Episode #3 of Raw is the only one of the bunch worth a look since it has the excellent Perfect vs. Flair match. Let me tell ya, sitting through Rob Bartlett on commentary over the next few episodes is going to be a chore.

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Dylan Diot