WWF 1994 Discussion

[LillaThrilla]

Well that was quite the ending!

Also, f'n HBK. He's doing a Grade A job as a slimy heel.

Warrior-Titan wont be a high-star match, but it is a pretty epic showdown.

[kingofoldschool]

Monday Night RAW
November 20th, 1995
Coliseum, Richmond, VA
Your commentators are Vince McMahon and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan.

The show began with some still shots of Shawn Michaels defeating Bret Hart for the WWF Title last night at Survivor Series. Dean Douglas then congratulated Michaels, before adding that he has agreed to give The Heartbreak Kid the night off as Michaels is feeling a bit tender following last night's exertions. Vince McMahon wondered aloud if he is referring to last night's gruelling match with Bret Hart, or the wild partying Michaels is rumoured to have done after capturing his first WWF Championship. Douglas also revealed that since Jack Tunney canned the King's Court - a decision Douglas was sure to point out that he does not agree with - it will be replaced by the return of the Brother Love Show!

Lex Luger made Rick Martel submit to the Rebel Rack in 0:05:38.
Rating: **

After Lex Luger racked Rick Martel in short order, Vince McMahon interviewed The Total Package at ringside. Luger was still mad about last night's events at Survivor Series, when TITAN drilled him with a choke slam after Luger took exception to a disguised Harvey Wippleman popping up at ringside, a blatant disregard for the stipulation which banned managers that Luger had worked hard to secure. Luger wanted to finish things between him and TITAN once and for all. In order to make sure it was one-on-one and so that Wippleman cannot get involved, Luger challenged TITAN to a steel cage match!

Scotty Flamingo, who popped up last night at Survivor Series, was once again shown in the crowd. Bobby Heenan attempted to interview Flamingo last night but got absolutely nothing. It was Todd Pettengill's turn to try and get answers tonight but again Flamingo refused to talk. Pettengill said it was more than a coincidence that Flamingo was here two nights in a row. Pettengill had done some digging and revealed that Flamingo's contract had expired some time ago, so wondered what Flamingo is doing here. Had he bought a ticket? Flamingo yanked the microphone away and recited a poem stating he doesn't understand social grace or the human race, but then said what I am doing here? Isn't that the same question I've been asked time and time again since my childhood? Isn't the question really - have I any dreams to sell? Quote the Raven, nevermore. Flamingo then got up from his seat and walked off.

Ludvig Borga pinned Fatu after a powerslam in 0:06:11.
Rating: ** 1/4

After Ludvig Borga had smashed Fatu, Gary Hart took the mic and cut a promo on the Great Muta. Hart said that Muta had been a cancer at the heart of Black Friday Management. Hart warned that they know everything about Muta, including all of his weaknesses, and claimed that at In Your House there is no way that Muta will take the Intercontinental Championship away from Ludvig Borga.

IIII LLLOOOOOOVVVVVE YYOOOOOOOU!!!
Brother Love made his triumphant return from getting killed by Ultimate Warrior almost five years previous, but remained as unpopular as ever with the WWF fanbase. Brother Love said that his guest tonight is a former WWF Champion, making sure to emphasise the word “former”. Love continued that this man WAS a great champion, but his title reign is now OVER. Love announced that his guest is none other than Bret “Hitman” Hart.

The Hitman entered the ring looking most unimpressed. Love noted that Brother Hitman looks different tonight, like there’s something missing. Love asked didn’t Brother Hitman used to wear something around his waist? Bret wasn’t in the mood, telling Love to shut up and grabbing Love's arm holding the mic towards him so he could talk. Hart acknowledged his defeat to Shawn Michaels last night at Survivor Series, stating that if we overlook the fact that Michaels was crying like a baby in the Sharpshooter, giving up for whole world to see, and overlook the fact that Michaels struck an official and should have been disqualified, then yes the record books will show that Shawn Michaels won the match and the title. On commentary, Bobby Heenan asked if The Hitman wants some cheese with that whine?

Bret Hart warned Shawn Michaels not to get too attached to that WWF Championship belt, stating that Michaels’ reign won’t be measured in years, or months, not even a week if Hart gets his way. The Hitman said that he will ensure Shawn Michaels is the shortest reigning champion in history. Now, Hart said he was all set to demand his rematch tonight, but those plans went out the window as Shawn Michaels is not here tonight; he’s nursing a hangover after partying all night with Diesel. According to The Hitman, this shows a complete lack of respect for the WWF Championship and for all his fellow professionals. The champion is supposed to be a locker room leader and somebody that whole roster aspires to, and Michaels falls a long way short of that. Hart was unsurprised by the lack of respect and professionalism shown by the Heartbreak Kid. Hart said that he was a fighting champion, ready to defend the title every night, the complete opposite to Shawn Michaels who is a disgrace to the business. Hart said that when he gets Michaels in the ring again he’ll make him feel a hell of a lot worse that any hangover could. As soon as Michaels deigns to grace us all with his presence again, Bret Hart vowed to beat the hell out of him and get his belt back!

The crowd cheered that statement from an extremely disgruntled Bret “Hitman” Hart. Scott Steiner’s music then hit and Tammy Fycth accompanied her Superstar down to the ring. Brother Love was delighted to see Brother Steiner and Sister Tammy, but Bret wanted to know what they were doing out here. Steiner confronted Hart, claiming that The Hitman has had his time in the sun and now it is time for him to step aside. Steiner stated that last night at Survivor Series he was the sole survivor in the first ever Wild Card Match – well, apart from Crush but he doesn’t count! – and that shows that he is in fact the Best There Is. Steiner bragged that not only that, he’s the Best There Ever Will Be, and he would prove that to the whole world if The Hitman has the guts to meet him one on one. Bret commended Steiner for stepping up, but said that right now he is focused on winning back the WWF Championship. Once he does that, he’d be more than happy to fight Steiner. Tammy Fytch got in The Hitman’s face, screaming that nobody dismisses Scott Steiner!

Bret Hart was taken aback by the verbal onslaught from Tammy Fytch, leaving him wide open for a shot to the head with the microphone by Scott Steiner! Steiner dropped the blindsided Hitman with a stiff Steinerline, before picking up Brother Love's podium and smashing it across Hart's back. Steiner had completely lost it, grabbing Hart by the hair and tossing him to the outside. Hart tried to fight back by throwing some wild punches, but Steiner kneed him in the gut and threw him viciously into the ring steps. The impact dislodged the steps and sent the upper portion flying. Steiner dragged Hart over onto the bottom section of the ring steps. The announcers begged Steiner not to do it, but Steiner went ahead and planted The Hitman with the SSD onto the ring steps! There was a sickening thud as the top of Hart's head met with the cold hard steel. A hush descended on the fans as Bret Hart was not moving. The severity of what Scott Steiner had just done seemed to sink in with The Superstar, while Tammy Fytch looked at her man with concern that he might have gone too far. Officials arrived on the scene and frantically called for medical attention.

Injury:
Bret Hart was attacked by Scott Steiner
Bret Hart received a neck injury and will be out for 4 months.

Commercial Break:
Brisco Bros. Body Shop, Inc. Collision Center - "Worth the drive!"

During commercials a backboard was brought out for Bret Hart while paramedics placed a neck brace on The Hitman. Owen Hart was on hand to tend to his brother. Once The Hitman had been carefully strapped to the backboard and transferred onto a stretcher, Owen vented his anger on Scott Steiner! Owen went after Steiner with a flurry of punches, bloodying up Steiner's nose. The Rocket had to be dragged off and restrained by a gaggle of referees.

During the next match Bret Hart was shown being loaded into an ambulance. Owen accompanied his brother to a local medical facility, but not before throwing a few threats in Scott Steiner's direction.

Ultimate Maniacs (The Ultimate Warrior and Randy Savage) defeated
Tennessee Lee Promotions (Jeff Jarrett and The Roadie) when Warrior pinned
Roadie after the Big Splash in 0:11:59.
Rating: ***

Jeff Jarrett and The Roadie managed to survive an early onslaught from The Ultimate Maniacs and then isolate Randy Savage, working The Macho Man over with quick tags and double teams. Jarrett held Savage in place for Roadie to bounce off the ropes and wind up with a big right hand, but Savage ducked and Roadie hit Jarrett! The crowd cheered as Jarrett rolled to the floor. Double J was already upset with Roadie following his screw-ups at Survivor Series and this was all Jarrett could take as he signalled he was finished with the match and walked back to the dressing room. Tennessee Lee tried to talk him back round but Jarrett was almost through the curtain. The Roadie was quickly taken apart by the Maniacs, who put him out of his misery with the flying elbow-big splash combo.

The crowd cheered as The Ultimate Maniacs celebrated their win. A beaming Dean Douglas then made his way out, applauding their efforts. Douglas took the mic and cut right to the chase. With Bret Hart expected to be out of action for a while and The Undertaker having "passed on" last night, we need a number one contender for the WWF Championship. Douglas addressed Randy Savage, citing the fact that the Macho Man holds two pinfall victories over current WWF Champion Shawn Michaels. Savage said Douglas was right about that. But Douglas said, Savage has never beaten his tag team partner The Ultimate Warrior, in fact he has lost to him on two occasions, and Warrior is a former WWF Champion too.

Douglas suggested we have a singles match next week between Macho Man Randy Savage and The Ultimate Warrior to determine the next challenger for Shawn Michaels' WWF Championship. Savage and Warrior are close friends but each would dearly love to hold the WWF Title again, so they agreed to the match with a handshake. The crowd were absolutely delighted at the prospect, while on commentary Vince McMahon almost wet himself that such a gigantic match will be happening next week on RAW!


Circuit information:
Bret Hart suffered a severe neck injury tonight when Scott Steiner dropped him with the Steiner Screwdriver on the ring steps. The SSD is perhaps the most dangerous and physically devastating hold there is when executed in the ring, but when the move is performed onto unforgiving steel it becomes a whole different animal. We can only imagine the damage that has been inflicted on The Hitman's neck and spinal cord. Hart is still being checked out at time of writing and we will bring you an update on his condition as soon as we have it.

Problems continue between Jeff Jarrett and The Roadie after the Road Dogg accidentally punched Double J during their tag team match tonight and Jarrett walked out. Jarrett refused to talk to The Roadie after the show and wouldn't even let him into their dressing room. Tennessee Lee will have his work cut out smoothing this one over.

The Ultimate Warrior will meet Macho Man Randy Savage next week on RAW to determine the number one contender to the WWF Championship. This bout was put together after some degree of baiting by Dean Douglas but regardless, if it is anything like the previous titanic struggles between these two superstars it will be a classic.

No word from Harvey Wippleman yet on whether TITAN has accepted Lex Luger's challenge to a steel cage match. But you have to question Luger's way of thinking - why would anybody be willing to lock themselves in a cage with a 7'4", 440 pound monster?!

Todd Pettengill attempted to interview Scotty Flamingo tonight, who it was revealed is no longer affiliated with the WWF. Flamingo finally responded by reciting poetry, relating the line of questioning to his childhood somehow. This has just created even more questions about Flamingo, who has already dramatically altered his appearance.

The Thrillseekers narrowly defeated The Heavenly Bodies to retain the Tag Team Titles at Survivor Series, but this weekend on Superstars they'll need to work that much harder to remain champions as the two tandems square off again in a Best Two out of Three Falls Match! Plus, Lord Steven Regal returns to the ring after his knee injury to battle Savio Vega and Tatanka goes one-on-one with the man who was the sole survivor in his match last night, PJ Walker. Till then, so long everybody!

[kingofoldschool]

WWF Superstars
November 25th, 1995
Coliseum, Richmond, VA
Your commentators are Vince McMahon and Jerry "The King" Lawler.

The show opened with comments from WWF Tag Team Champions The Thrillseekers, who expressed their disgust at Scott Steiner for his attack on fellow Canadian Bret Hart. Chris Jericho and Lance Storm wished The Hitman a speedy recovery, before hyping their Two out of Three Falls Match with The Heavenly Bodies.

WWF Tag Team Championship Two out of Three Falls Match
The Thrillseekers vs The Heavenly Bodies



This was all-action from the opening bell, with both teams determined to seize the advantage and claim the first fall. Chris Jericho was sent for a ride but countered with a springboard cross body out of the corner onto Tom Prichard for an early two count. Storm dropkicked Jimmy Del Ray out of the ring, and then brought him back in the hard way over the top rope. The Heavenly Bodies made a blind tag to take control. Storm connected with a spinwheel kick on Prichard, but unbeknownst to him Del Ray was now the legal man and he blasted Storm from behind with a superkick. The Thrillseeker then staggered straight into a DDT from Prichard. Beautiful tag team wrestling. Del Ray scored a near fall with a Doctor Bomb and the Bodies combined for an assisted elevated legdrop from Prichard for another two count. The Bodies threw Storm into the corner and then Del Ray tried to whip Prichard in for further punishment, but Storm moved and Prichard hit the corner! Storm made the hot tag to Jericho for a loud pop. Jericho went for an O’Connor roll out of the corner on Prichard, but Tammy Fytch entered the ring and pulled Jericho down by the hair to reverse the roll up and give Prichard the leverage. However, Storm then clotheslined Prichard to reverse the pin again and Jericho got the three count!

Tammy Fytch threw a tantrum on the outside of the ring. Her team now needed to win two straight falls in order to become champions. The Bodies went on the offense during the scheduled rest period between falls and clotheslined Chris Jericho out of the ring. Tom Prichard dominated Lance Storm with a series of elbowdrops. The Bodies took the opportunity to engage in double teaming and choking each time Jericho attempted to get back into the ring. Jimmy Del Ray hit a lovely snap suplex and followed up with a kneedrop. There was still fight in Lance Storm however as he rolled through a flying cross body press from Del Ray for a near fall. Prichard hit a kneedrop off the second turnbuckle. The challengers went for a double clothesline on Storm, but Storm splashed through the Bodies’ outstretched arms and sent them crashing into one another! Storm made the hot tag and Jericho was a house of fire! The match quickly broke down with both teams fighting in the ring. The Bodies attempted a double suplex on Jericho, but Storm speared Prichard down to the mat and Jericho hit a Northern Lights suplex on Prichard for a very dramatic two count. Tammy Fytch was getting desperate and she threw one of the championship belts in for Prichard to use. However, before Prichard could wallop Jericho with the belt, Storm sent the strap into Prichard’s face with a flying dropkick! Dr Tom was out cold and Jericho quickly scrambled on top for the pinfall.

Two-out-of-three-Falls Match:
The Thrillseekers (Chris Jericho and Lance Storm) beat
The Heavenly Bodies (Jimmy Del Ray and Tom Prichard) 2 falls to 0:
x Jericho beat Tom Prichard via a rolling reverse cradle in 0:10:04
x Jericho beat Tom Prichard via pinfall in 0:16:48
Lance Storm suffered a torn ligament in his left knee. He will be out for approxim
ately 3 months.
Rating: *** 1/2
(The Thrillseekers retained the WWF World Tag Team Titles.)
[Tammy Fytch interfered against Chris Jericho.]

Commercial Break:
Arrogance for Men - It's today's man in a classic can.
The fragrance that overpowers, overwhelms and pins down the competition.

After the commercial break The Heavenly Bodies remained in the ring. Tom Prichard, Jimmy Del Ray and Tammy Fytch were having a heated exchange over who was at fault for this latest loss to The Thrillseekers. Leif Cassidy chose the worse possible moment to make his way out for the next bout, as the disgruntled Bodies took their frustrations out on the youngster. Cassidy was given a severe kicking until officials and road agents brought it to a halt.

A vignette rolled to hype the debut next week of Jean-Pierre Lafitte, a swashbuckling descendant of legendary French sea rover Jean Lafitte. Jerry Lawler claimed that the United States "used" Jean Lafitte's talents and abilities to run off British soldiers, but instead of showing thanks this country exiled him. Now, Lawler said, Jean-Pierre Lafitte is here to exact his revenge on behalf of his great great grandfather. Vince McMahon disputed Lawler's story, suggesting that Jean Lafitte was purely and simply a pirate.

Footage aired from last July's In Your House pay-per-view of Owen Hart applying the Sharpshooter to Lord Steven Regal outside the ring. Regal suffered a dislocated right knee and blamed The Rocket for the injury. Regal made his surprise return at Survivor Series to cause Owen to be eliminated in the tussle between the New Generation and the League of Legends. Tonight, Regal returns to active competition against Savio Vega.

Lord Steven Regal made Savio Vega submit to the Regal Stretch in 0:07:44.
Rating: ***
[Lord Alfred Hayes interfered against Savio Vega.]

During the match, Owen Hart cut an inset promo in which he gave out the address details for fans to send their well-wishes to Bret Hart following the attack from Scott Steiner. Owen vowed to put Steiner in the hospital as payback for what Steiner did to his brother Bret. Owen warned that he hasn't forgotten about Regal either, and said that the snooty Brit will be dealt with once he is finished with Steiner.

Lord Steven Regal showed no signs of ring rust following his four months on the shelf. After avoiding the Caribbean Kick, Regal drilled Savio Vega with a double underhook suplex and quickly used the Regal Stretch for the submission.

Vince McMahon announced that new WWF Champion Shawn Michaels is scheduled to appear on the Brother Love Show this week on Monday Night RAW. McMahon revealed that Michaels had got into some sort of altercation with a group of marines during his wild night of partying after capturing the title at Survivor Series. Hopefully The Heartbreak Kid will be able to fill us in with the details on Monday night. Meanwhile, Jerry Lawler harrumphed that the Brother Love Show is nowhere near as good as The King's Court.

Tatanka defeated PJ Walker by countout in 0:09:00.
Rating: * 1/2

PJ Walker was out to follow up his impressive performance at Survivor Series with defeat of former Intercontinental Champion Tatanka here tonight and he had the upper hand as he sent the Native American crashing to the outside with a dropkick. Walker went after Tatanka with a flying move off the apron, but Tatanka caught Walker on his shoulders and hit the End of the Trail on the floor! Walker appeared to be out and Tatanka struggled to shift his dead weight back into the ring. In the end, Tatanka rolled back in and settled for a count-out victory.

But Tatanka wasn't satisfied. Again he tried to drag PJ Walker into the ring for further punishment, but Francine jumped on Tatanka's back in order to help her boyfriend. Tatanka flung Francine down hard on the ringside floor which looked like it hurt the young lady. Tatanka retrieved his Tomahawk from underneath the ring and zoned in on Francine. The announcers begged for somebody to help as Tatanka began hacking off chunks of Francine's hair! Francine was in a major state of distress as she let out terrified screams. Eventually Walker fought back up and ran Tatanka off, before tending to his girlfriend who was left crying and humiliated.

The Ultimate Maniacs cut a promo on Dean Douglas. Randy Savage claimed that they know what Douglas is trying to do and that's drive a wedge between he and Warrior. Savage said this would never work; it failed when Douglas put them on opposite teams at Survivor Series and his tactic of putting them against each other with a title shot on the line will also be unsuccessful. Warrior agreed that the bond between he and Savage is stronger than ever. Savage stated that whoever wins the match this week on RAW will have the full backing and support of the other when they challenge Shawn Michaels for the WWF Title.

Vince McMahon closed the show in full-on hype mode for the Ultimate Warrior vs Randy Savage this coming week on RAW.


Circuit information:
We will bring you an update on the condition of Bret Hart this coming week on Monday Night RAW. Rumours are rife that The Hitman has broken his neck after Scott Steiner drilled him with the SSD onto the ring steps, and that his career is in serious jeopardy. We should be able to clear up the speculation on RAW, but we do understand that Bret Hart has requested privacy while he begins his recovery and this has led to a delay in us providing the latest news on his health.

You can understand the Heavenly Bodies' disappointment at losing twice to The Thrillseekers within a week and failing to win the Tag Team Titles, but their attack on Leif Cassidy was completely uncalled for.

Francine was inconsolable after the show, having been put through quite the ordeal by Tatanka. The Native American embarrassed this poor young woman on national TV, cutting off several locks of her hair with his Tomahawk. PJ Walker is beside himself with anger at this whole disconcerting episode.

There's no doubt about the highlight of this week's edition of Monday Night RAW. The Ultimate Warrior will battle Macho Man Randy Savage for the right to face Shawn Michaels for the WWF Championship. The two men are great friends, but you have to believe that they will pull out all the stops with a title shot at stake! In addition, Michaels himself will be on the Brother Love Show, Sean Waltman will square off with Jeff Jarrett and we are scheduled to hear from the Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase. Till then, so long everybody!

[LillaThrilla]

Wow - another injury to a major star!

[kingofoldschool]

Monday Night RAW
November 27th, 1995
Coliseum, Richmond, VA
Your commentators are Vince McMahon and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan.

Tonight's edition of Monday Night RAW (the 150th for those keeping score!) was interspersed with highlights of the two previous epic encounters between The Ultimate Warrior and Macho Man Randy Savage from WrestleMania VII and SummerSlam '92. These two superstars will meet again in the main event of the show to determine the number one contender to the WWF Championship.

IIII LLLOOOOOOVVVVVE YYOOOOOOOU!!!

The show opened with an excited Brother Love introducing his guests, the new WWF Champion Shawn Michaels and his bodyguard Diesel. Michaels was more obnoxious than ever, regaling the audience with a tale from his night of debauchery after winning the title at Survivor Series. Michaels said that he had the strap in every bar that he and Diesel went to, and naturally he was getting a lot of female attention. Michaels said that in one bar, he had selected one particular hottie to go back to the hotel with him for some fun. However, it turns out that this girl was married to a marine who was drinking in the bar, along with eight of his army pals. Needless to say, G.I. Joe and his friends took exception to this, so Michaels decided to show these guys exactly who he is. Michaels claimed that he and Diesel took those nine marines outside and proceeded to pound them into the pavement! Then, Michaels said he took G.I. Joe's wife back to his hotel room and gave her the greatest night of her life!

The crowd were booing and jeering, but Brother Love was gushing over Michaels and his story, hanging on every word. The WWF Champion turned his attention to Bret Hart. Michaels said that he had listened to every bitter comment that The Hitman had made last week, but the one that cut deepest was when Hart presumed that Michaels would not be a fighting champion. The Heartbreak Kid said that he would prove Hart wrong and give him his rematch tonight! Vince McMahon scornfully stated that Michaels knows very well that Bret Hart is not here tonight following last week's attack by Scott Steiner. Michaels said he will put the belt on the line right now and invited Bret Hart down to the ring, but of course nobody came out. Brother Love chimed in that Bret Hart is chicken. Michaels didn't blame Hart for no-showing, chirping that if Michaels were Hart, he'd be scared to come out to the ring too!

Finally, Shawn Michaels addressed tonight's number one contenders match between The Ultimate Warrior and Macho Man Randy Savage. Michaels claimed it doesn't matter who wins later, because one of those chumps is going to face the music - and that's Sweet Chin Music! Michaels said that he is going to be WWF Champion for a long, long time because he and Diesel are going to take care of business, just like they did last Sunday when confronted by those nine cheerleaders, and just like they always do.

Before the next match, Jeff Jarrett told The Roadie that he has screwed up too many times recently and instructed him to stay in the back.

Sean Waltman pinned Jeff Jarrett with the Eye Of The Storm in 0:12:07.
Rating: ** 3/4
[Tennessee Lee interfered against Sean Waltman.]

Sean Waltman was dominating Jeff Jarrett with that familiar lightning-quickness, dazzling Double J with kicks and almost pinning him with a Victory roll. Sensing his man was in trouble, The Roadie defied Jarrett’s orders and ran down to the ring. Waltman took down Jarrett with a beautiful moonsault bodyblock and had him covered, but Tennessee Lee took the referee. Roadie then climbed the turnbuckles and went for a flying headbutt on Waltman, but Waltman moved and Roadie nailed Jarrett! Waltman obliterated the interfering Roadie with kicks in the corner, but Jarrett recovered and attacked from behind. However, Waltman reversed a whip into the corner and Jarrett collided with Roadie! Waltman then hit the Eye of the Storm for the pin.

Suffice to say, Jeff Jarrett was furious at what had happened. Roadie apologised and desperately tried to offer an explanation, but Jarrett decked him and stormed to the back! Tennessee Lee left Roadie on the ringside floor clutching his mouth and quickly followed Jarrett backstage to calm him down.

In the ring, Sean Waltman celebrated his win when suddenly Ludvig Borga ran in through the crowd and floored him with a cheap shot from behind using the Intercontinental Title belt! Borga put the boots to Waltman, drawing the Great Muta out for the save. Borga battered Muta with the belt as he entered the ring and then laid him out with the Rack and Ruin.

Dok Hendrix presented the In Your House Slam Jam and confirmed that a singles match has been signed for the show between Scott Steiner and Owen Hart.

Todd Pettengill then provided an update on the condition of Bret Hart following the brutal assault by Scott Steiner last week. Pettengill revealed that The Hitman will be out of action indefinitely with a herniated disk in his neck. Requiring surgery, the injury is the result of receiving the bone-jarring SSD onto the steel steps courtesy of Steiner. Pettengill was interrupted by Scott Steiner and Tammy Fytch. Steiner showed absolutely no remorse, claiming Bret Hart is finished and that Hart paid the price for disrespecting Steiner. Fytch chimed in that nobody disrespects Scott Steiner, before threatening Owen Hart ahead of the match with Steiner at In Your House, vowing to turn The Rocket into a vegetable.

Backstage, WWF President Jack Tunney was talking with Dean Douglas. Tunney was clutching a brown envelope which contained Scotty Flamingo’s contract. Tunney said that a lot of hard work had been done behind the scenes to draw up the contract and it was now ready to be signed. Flamingo was shown sitting in the front row, looking disinterested and drinking a soda. Douglas wondered what Tunney was waiting for and told him to bring the contract to Flamingo. Tunney was aghast at the idea of approaching Flamingo, claiming this was highly unusual. Douglas told Tunney he needed the exercise and sent him out to the arena.

Footage was shown from the shocking conclusion of the Exploding No Rope Barbed Wire Exploding Ring Time Bomb Death Match between The Undertaker and Sabu at Survivor Series, where Kane attacked his brother and threw him into the ring just before it exploded.

The Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase cut a promo, alongside the masked monster he presented as The Undertaker’s little brother, Kane. DiBiase said that the proof is here for all to see and he was telling the truth the whole time. DiBiase claimed that when The Undertaker stood face to face with his own brother for the first time in twenty years at Survivor Series, the whole world could tell by the look on the Phenom’s face that Undertaker knew who it was. Well, Kane is very much alive, and after twenty long years of suffering the hiding out is now over and we have The Undertaker to thank for that.

The Million Dollar Man said that The Undertaker has been a thorn in his side for a long, long time. DiBiase said that the only thing dead he likes are dead presidents, and he has invested a lot of them to see to it that The Undertaker is no longer around. Well after Survivor Series, that is money very well spent indeed.

DiBiase claimed that over the past twenty years, Kane hasn’t just been suffering in silence. He has been plotting his revenge against his brother. At Survivor Series their plan was going slightly awry, so DiBiase did what he had to do and brought Kane out so that he could have his ultimate revenge. DiBiase said it was poetic that The Undertaker was Tombstoned on the floor, the very move that Undertaker had himself used to put DiBiase in a wheelchair, and that Undertaker experienced the same terrible fiery end that his own parents did. Kane bowed his head in sadness at that latter statement. A delighted DiBiase beamed that Kane was The Undertaker’s stop sign on his highway to eternity and he is gone forever, never to be seen again! BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!

Back in the arena Jack Tunney was at ringside ready to present the contract to Scotty Flamingo, clearly anxious to get this over with. Flamingo took the contract, but then started spouting more poetry about the purpose of human existence, a nation of hollow stuffed people and rats feet over broken glass in a dark and forgotten cellar. Tunney rolled his eyes. Flamingo then ripped up the contract, stated “Quote the Raven, nevermore” and then walked off into the crowd, leaving Tunney in disbelief!

Number One Contenders Match
Ultimate Warrior vs "Macho Man" Randy Savage


Ultimate Warrior and Macho Man Randy Savage shook hands to start. The crowd was incredibly hot, alternating chants for both superstars. Before they could lock up, Shawn Michaels’ music hit and The Heartbreak Kid came out to do commentary, with Diesel remaining at ringside to watch the match. As ever, Michaels had to make sure that the spotlight was on him and spent the match making disparaging comments at the expense of the two men in the ring.

Randy Savage took control with a knee and a pair of clotheslines, but was caught coming off the top rope with a punch to the gut and then Warrior followed up with a pair of atomic drops. The two men went back and forth, with Savage scoring a near fall off a kneedrop and Warrior getting a two count with a clothesline. Macho Man tripped Warrior into the corner and clotheslined him to the floor. Savage followed up with two double axe handles off the top rope. He went for a third, but Warrior caught Savage with a backbreaker and then hit a side suplex. Warrior started working Savage’s back with a bearhug. Savage hit a small package out of nowhere for two. Warrior put his head down on a whip and Savage countered with a swinging neckbreaker.

Randy Savage’s back was hurting and he couldn’t get the Ultimate Warrior up for a suplex. Warrior hit a suplex of his own, but came up favouring his neck. The fight went to the floor and Savage scored with big axe handle from the top to the outside. Savage warned Diesel to keep his distance and threw Warrior back in. Macho Man used a sunset flip for two; Warrior replied with a series of clotheslines. Warrior went for the big splash but Savage got his knees up. Savage gave Warrior a piledriver for a near fall. Macho Man delivered the big elbow off the top, but Warrior saved himself by getting a foot on the bottom rope. Warrior fired up and blasted Savage with the press slam. Warrior went for the diving shoulderblock, but Savage side-stepped it and Warrior ate canvas. Both men struggled back to their feet, but then wiped each other out with a double clothesline.

Shawn Michaels and Diesel then nodded at one another before jumping into action. Michaels and Diesel stormed the ring, attacking the participants and forcing the match to be thrown out. Warrior and Savage were struggling to defend themselves following the effort they had put into the bout and were easy pickings. Michaels threw Savage into a Jackknife from Diesel and then Warrior received the same treatment. Michaels held up his WWF Championship belt and posed in the middle of the ring as the show went off-air.

Number-One-Contenders-Match:
Randy Savage and The Ultimate Warrior battled to a no-contest in 0:16:52.
Rating: *** 1/4
[Shawn Michaels and Diesel interfered against Randy Savage.]
[Shawn Michaels and Diesel interfered against The Ultimate Warrior.]


Circuit information:
The overbearing Shawn Michaels was all over tonight’s show. Perhaps now that he is WWF Champion he feels that he is untouchable and can do what he likes? The Heartbreak Kid was full of himself as he a spun a far-fetched yarn on the Brother Love Show of how he and Diesel took out nine marines, before challenging the absent Bret Hart to a rematch for the WWF Title. Michaels and Diesel then ruined tonight’s much ballyhooed main event between The Ultimate Warrior and Macho Man Randy Savage, a bout that was supposed to determine the next challenger to Michaels’ championship. Something needs to be done about Shawn Michaels; he cannot be allowed to run roughshod over the company like this.

The relationship between Jeff Jarrett and The Roadie appears to be irreparable. Despite being told to stay in the back, The Roadie couldn’t help himself and tried to help Double J out in his match with Sean Waltman, but it once again backfired. Jarrett decked The Roadie and stormed off, giving Tennessee Lee a big headache as tensions run high in his group.

Ludvig Borga blindsided Sean Waltman and beat him down, knowing full well this would draw the Great Muta out to help his friend. Borga then assaulted Muta with the Intercontinental Championship belt in an attempt to soften up the man who will challenge him for the gold next month at In Your House.

We have witnessed quite a transformation in Scotty Flamingo, who continues to show up in attendance for WWF shows yet refuses to sign a new contract with the company.

"Stunning" Steve Austin squares off with Bam Bam Bigelow this weekend on Superstars, while Crush goes one-on-one with "The Good Doctor" Waylon Mercy. In addition, Marty Jannetty, Rad Radford and The Heavenly Bodies are all scheduled for action, plus we'll bring you the debut of the WWF's newest swashbuckling superstar, Jean-Pierre Lafitte! Till then, so long everybody!

[kingofoldschool]

WWF Superstars
December 2nd, 1995
Wicomico Youth & Civic Center, Salisbury, MD
Your commentators are Vince McMahon and Jerry "The King" Lawler.

Steve Austin made Bam Bam Bigelow submit to the Hollywood and Vine in 0:10:34.
Rating: ** 3/4
[Hunter Hearst Helmsley interfered against Bam Bam Bigelow.]

Bam Bam Bigelow had lost out to eventual sole survivor Steve Austin in an elimination match two weeks ago and was keen to settle the score. Brian Pillman hobbled onto the apron and held Bigelow in place for Austin to deliver a blow, but Bam Bam moved before Austin could connect. However, Austin just stopped short of striking his tag team partner, but then Bigelow ran Austin into Pillman, who fell back down to ringside! Pillman clutched his injured leg in agony as the fans cheered. Bam Bam dominated Austin with a series of clotheslines, before flattening his opponent with an avalanche in the corner and then following up with a nice enzuigiri. Bigelow signalled that he was going up top for the headbutt, but then Lord Steven Regal ran out for a word with the referee. Bigelow took exception to this and didn’t notice Hunter Hearst Helmsley sneaking into the ring. Helmsley smashed Bigelow in the back of the knee with a cricket bat, before making a quick exit. Sharp as a tack, Austin quickly applied the standing figure-four leglock he calls the Hollywood and Vine to get the submission. Austin’s hot streak continues.

Footage was shown of Bob Backlund’s confrontation with US President Bill Clinton at Survivor Series. Vince McMahon said that Backlund will be on the Brother Love Show this week on RAW and rumour has it that the former WWF Champion has a huge announcement to make!

Marty Jannetty pinned Jason Arhndt after a German suplex in 0:03:44.
Rating: * 1/4

PJ Walker cut a promo on Tatanka in which he was visibly shaking with anger following the Native American’s attack on Francine last week. Walker said that Tatanka had made things real and challenged him to a hair vs hair match. Walker vowed to beat up and humiliate the former Intercontinental Champion for daring to go near his girlfriend.

Jean-Pierre Lafitte pinned Jerry Flynn with the Cannonball in 0:04:44.
Rating: * 1/4

Jean-Pierre Lafitte overwhelmed Jerry Flynn with his power in the early going, flooring him with a running shoulderblock. Flynn responded with a wristlock turned into a roundhouse kick and delivered a series of quick kicks. Lafitte soon tossed Flynn over the top rope and then hit a running somersault plancha, displaying impressive agility for a guy his size! Lafitte hit a cool flip senton off the top to win on his debut.

Rad Radford pinned Rich Myers with the Nevermind Suplex in 0:04:17.
Rating: * 3/4

In the trainers’ room, Bam Bam Bigelow was restless with anger at the attack by Hunter Hearst Helmsley earlier. He continually hobbled around, preventing the doctors from getting a good look at his injured knee. Bigelow thought he had seen the last of Hunter Hearst Helmsley when he squashed his enormous nose against the ring post two weeks ago. The Beast from the East challenged the duo of Helmsley and Lord Steven Regal to face him next week.

Leif Cassidy was out to get payback on The Heavenly Bodies after Tom Prichard and Jimmy Del Ray took their frustrations at failing to land the Tag Team Titles out on him last week. Cassidy will team up with Dave Thornberg to square off with Tammy Fytch’s men.

This match hadn’t even got officially started as The Heavenly Bodies isolated Dave Thornberg on the outside and dropped him throat-first over the steel guardrail. Leif Cassidy then wiped out the Bodies at ringside with a stunning somersault plancha! Cassidy was given a standing ovation. Tammy Fytch distracted Cassidy however and Tom Prichard and Jimmy Del Ray jumped him. Back in the ring, The Bodies went to work on Cassidy and when the official stepped in, Del Ray threw him to the mat. Del Ray drilled Cassidy with a superkick and Prichard followed with a gutwrench power bomb. Fytch slid a chair into the ring for her team to use, but Marty Jannetty ran in and swiped it before one of the Bodies could gain possession. Jannetty used the chair to run off Fytch’s team, before tending to the bruised Cassidy.

Crush made Waylon Mercy submit to the Cranium Crunch in 0:08:33.
Rating: ** 1/2

During the match, Crush cut a scathing inset promo at the expense of Scott Steiner. The big Hawaiian said that he considers Bret Hart a good friend and Steiner’s attack on The Hitman made him sick to the stomach. Crush wished Bret the best for his neck surgery and said he couldn’t wait to see The Hitman back to give Steiner the beating of a lifetime.

Vince McMahon closed the show with the announcement that TITAN has accepted Lex Luger's challenge to a Steel Cage Match and that bout will take place this coming week on Monday Night RAW!


Circuit information:
Bam Bam Bigelow is desperate for revenge on Hunter Hearst Helmsley and wants both the Greenwich blueblood and Lord Steven Regal to meet him in the ring after they cost him his match tonight. Nobody wants to mess with an angry Bigelow, but surely these odds are too much for the Beast from the East?

PJ Walker wants to defend the honour of his girlfriend Francine and has laid down the challenge to Tatanka for a hair vs hair match. This stipulation, which results in somebody being shaved bald, is designed to humiliate the loser and Walker sees it as the perfect revenge after Francine was publicly embarrassed when Tatanka hacked off some of her locks last week on Superstars.

The Heavenly Bodies have been running riot ever since they failed to land the Tag Team Titles and Leif Cassidy is bearing the brunt of their frustrations. Cassidy was targeted by Tammy Fytch’s team again tonight and they could have inflicted some serious damage had Marty Jannetty not intervened. Jannetty and Cassidy spent some time getting to know each other after the show and apparently got on famously!

This week on Monday Night RAW, we will bring you that Steel Cage Match between TITAN and Lex Luger, plus Intercontinental Champion Ludvig Borga squares off with Savio Vega in a non-title match and Scott Steiner, who has quickly become the most hated man in the locker room, will be in action. Plus, what will Bob Backlund's announcement be?? Till then, so long everybody!

[kingofoldschool]

Monday Night RAW
December 4th, 1995
Coliseum, Richmond, VA
Your commentators are Vince McMahon and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan.

Scott Steiner made Bob Holly submit to a camel clutch in 0:07:26.
Rating: **

During the match, Vince McMahon spoke with Bret Hart's parents, Helen and Stu, on the telephone. Vince was keen to get an update on Bret's neck surgery, but Helen didn't know because The Hitman is not answering their calls. Nobody can get any information out of him because he is refusing to see or speak to anybody. Helen understands that Bret will want revenge on Scott Steiner, but she was keen for her son to just walk away from this for the sake of his family - he has a wife and kids and they need him to stay healthy. Helen also wasn't exactly thrilled at the prospect of Owen facing Steiner at In Your House. An angry Stu challenged Scott Steiner to come down to the dungeon and then we'll see what kind of a tough guy he really is.

Scott Steiner and Tammy Fytch cut a promo after the match. Fytch said that Bob Holly just became the first victim of the Steiner Recliner. Fytch said that Steiner already has the Steiner Screwdriver, the most devastating finishing move in the industry, and now he has added the most excruciating and painful submission hold in professional wrestling to his arsenal. Fytch added that just like Steiner is a superior athlete and superior wrestler to anybody with the surname Hart, the Recliner is a superior submission hold to the Sharpshooter. Steiner grabbed the mic and snarled that he spits on the life, the career and the family of Bret Hart. Steiner then threatened to snap Owen's neck at In Your House, just like he did to his brother.

Backstage, Dean Douglas chewed out Jack Tunney for screwing up Scotty Flamingo's contract offer last week. Douglas claimed that Flamingo has created a real buzz around the place and everybody is talking about Him. As a result, the Board of Directors want Flamingo tied up to a new deal as soon as possible. Douglas demanded that Tunney pull out all the stops to re-sign Flamingo.

IIII LLLOOOOOOVVVVVE YYOOOOOOOU!!!

This week’s guest on the Brother Love Show was Bob Backlund, who had a big announcement to make. Backlund tried to equate this announcement with certain historical events, such as when the Olympics started, Alexander The Great's death and when JFK was shot. Backlund also mentioned his WWF title win on February 20, 1978 as one of these historical moments and started to get choked up. Tired of being kept in suspense, Brother Love attempted to rein Brother Backlund in and get him to make his announcement. Backlund corrected him, stating that it is “Mr Backlund”, and finally announced that he is running for the President of the USA! Love did an epic sell job; the look on his face was priceless.

A marching band then came down to ringside playing "Hail to the Chief" and holding Backlund campaign signs. Fireworks even went off in honour of Bob! Backlund said that he has dreams of being God again, and reigning supreme over all of the plebeians! The former WWF champion proceeded to go on a rant, but Brother Love told him that they have to go to commercial. Backlund was irate, ignoring Love and continuing to ramble on. Finally, the director literally held up a sign on camera saying “Go To Break” and Backlund’s mic was cut off.

Commerical Break:
Playboy Buddy Rose Blow Away Diet Plan
Just Shake It On and Blow It Away!
1-500-LAR-DASS Call now to order!



Bob Backlund was shown looking for the sound engineer before Dok Hendrix presented his weekly In Your House Slam Jam, in which footage aired of last week’s non-finish in the number contenders match between The Ultimate Warrior and Randy Savage. The bout was interrupted when WWF Champion Shawn Michaels and his bodyguard Diesel stormed the ring and attacked both superstars. Dok announced that the main event of the December pay-per-view is now confirmed and will be a tag team contest pitting The Ultimate Maniacs against The Heartbreak Kid and Big Daddy Cool. It appears that the Warrior and the Macho Man have agreed to put their title aspirations on hold in order to get even with Michaels and Diesel.

Back at ringside the announcers plugged the seismic main event at In Your House. Vince McMahon then revealed that on next week's go-home show, Michaels and Diesel will be in action against Sean Waltman and the Great Muta! Bobby Heenan was showing off his new “Mr. Backlund for President” lapel pin.

Speaking of Backlund, before the next match the former champion finally located the sound engineer and procured the Cross-Face Chicken Wing on the poor guy. Vince McMahon called for help, while Bobby Heenan joked that Backlund had just lost one vote.

Ludvig Borga pinned Savio Vega with the Rack and Ruin in 0:14:00.
Rating: ** 3/4

After the match, Gary Hart cut a promo directed at Great Muta. Hart pointed at Savio Vega who was laid out on the canvas and told Muta to look at what Ludvig Borga had done to one of Muta's weak friends. Just then, there was a commotion in the aisle as Sean Waltman appeared surrounded by officials. Waltman wanted a piece of Borga after last week's attack. Borga laughed at Waltman, completely unaware of the Great Muta entering the ring behind him. It seemed that Waltman was only there to create a diversion as Muta and Borga brawled in the ring.

Steel Cage Match
Lex Luger vs TITAN


Lex Luger made his way down to ringside but instead of entering the cage, Luger pushed the official out of the way and locked the door with him outside. The announcers were unsure about what Luger was doing, but then The Total Package turned his attention to Harvey Wippleman. Wippleman tried to run, but Luger caught him and gave him a pasting! Luger fired Wippleman into the side of the cage like a dart. TITAN went into a wild rage, unable to help his manager as he was trapped in the cage. TITAN shook the cage violently, but was unsure of climbing up the bars. While Wippleman was helped to the back, Luger climbed the cage and then took TITAN down with a massive flying clothesline from the top!

Lex Luger covered but was only able to get a two count on the giant. TITAN then proceeded to take over, controlling the pace of the bout as he took slow pleasure in the destruction of his opponent. Displaying scary strength, TITAN was on the top rope and grabbed Luger in the ring, then yanked him up by the throat to the top turnbuckle. TITAN threw Luger’s head into the cage and Luger fell back into the ring. TITAN then steadied himself but missed a huge flying elbow off the top! TITAN went for the choke slam, but Luger blocked it by grabbing hold of the cage when TITAN lifted him up. Luger managed to get his humongous opponent up in the rack as the crowd went wild! However, an exhausted Total Package couldn't hold TITAN for long and collapsed under the giant's weight.

Both men were tiring. Harvey Wippleman stumbled back out to ringside and yelled at TITAN to kill Luger. With all his might, TITAN tossed Luger into the cage like a child. However, the side of the cage broke and Luger fell to the floor to win the match!

Cage Match:
Lex Luger defeated TITAN by escaping the cage in 0:13:01.
Rating: ** 1/2

Lex Luger was battered with purple bruises mapping his body, but he had secured a victory over Harvey Wippleman’s 440-pound nasty giant! As the show drew to a close, TITAN threatened to pull down the rest of the cage in anger while the battle-weary Luger revelled in his win.


Circuit information:
Our main event for this month’s In Your House pay-per-view is now set and it should be a barn burner! WWF Champion Shawn Michaels will team with his bodyguard Diesel to square off with Macho Man Randy Savage and The Ultimate Warrior, The Ultimate Maniacs. Most people expect either Savage or Warrior to be the first man to challenge new champion Michaels, so if one of these superstars could pin The Heartbreak Kid on December 17th it would no doubt boost their title credentials.

I’m told that WWF officials were very impressed with the heart and fighting spirit displayed by Lex Luger, not just in his victory in the cage match tonight but throughout his feud with TITAN. The Total Package may be rewarded with a title shot in the near future.

After sidelining Bret Hart with a serious neck injury, Scott Steiner now seems to be obsessed with showing that he is superior to The Hitman in every way. Much like the British Bulldog did earlier in the year, Steiner has developed a submission hold that he believes can rival the Sharpshooter. If the Steiner Recliner can bring Steiner as much success as the Sharpshooter has for Bret, then Tammy Fytch’s man could he heading straight to the top of the company.

Bob Backlund wants to be President of the United States and chicken wing the plebeians into submission. Now there’s an election campaign you don’t hear every day.

Here is how the card is shaping up for the next In Your House pay-per-view, which we will bring to you live on December 17th from the Hersheypark Arena in Hershey, Pennsylvania:

Shawn Michaels and Diesel vs The Ultimate Maniacs

WWF Intercontinental Championship
Ludvig Borga vs Great Muta

Scott Steiner vs Owen Hart

Does Bam Bam Bigelow have more guts that brains? We shall see this weekend on Superstars when the furious Beast from the East challenges both Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Lord Steven Regal from Lord Alfred Hayes’ Gentleman’s Club. Adam Bomb, Waylon Mercy, PJ Walker and Fatu are all set for action, plus Marty Jannetty has formed a team with Leif Cassidy and they will have their first outing on the show! Till then, so long everybody!!

[kingofoldschool]

WWF Superstars
December 9th, 1995
Wicomico Youth & Civic Center, Salisbury, MD
Your commentators are Vince McMahon and Jerry "The King" Lawler.

The show opened with a promo from Owen Hart, who announced he would team up with Bam Bam Bigelow tonight to face the team of Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Lord Steven Regal. The Rocket was seizing the opportunity to get his hands on Regal with whom he has unresolved issues.

The New Rockers (Leif Cassidy and Marty Jannetty) defeated
Jerry Faith and Jason Arhndt when Jannetty pinned J. Faith with the Rock-a-Bye in
0:05:25.
Rating: ** 1/4

During the match, The New Rockers cut an inset promo. Leif Cassidy revealed that after last week’s show, he and Marty Jannetty went out on the town and got to know each other. Cassidy said that it didn’t take long to realise that they have so much in common – for example, their favourite band is The Monkees and they both agree that go-go boots are all the rage! Jannetty admitted that he and his former tag team partner Shawn Michaels had a lot of success in the tag team ranks but the Tag Team Titles eluded them. Jannetty was confident that he has found a tag team partner in Leif Cassidy that will finally help him win the gold. A giddy Cassidy said that they are two groovin' happenin' dudes and it’s inevitable that they’re going to be the champs!

The New Rockers exhibited great chemistry as a team and you would never have believed that this was the first time they had tagged up together. Marty Jannetty and Leif Cassidy were always on the same page and their opponents had no answer to their lightning quick double team manoeuvres, sustaining double dropkicks, double elbowdrops, double hiptosses and even a double slingshot belly-to-back suplex. The New Rockers secured a debut win with their Rock-A-Bye finisher, which sees Cassidy lift up one of their opponents in position for a reverse power bomb and Jannetty bring them down with a flying bulldog. After the match, the overexcited Cassidy screamed, "I love being a Rocker! I love it!" into the camera.

The celebrations were cut short by Tammy Fytch, who called Cassidy and Jannetty “dorks” and accused them of being stuck in the 70s. Fytch challenged the two goofs to a match with her Heavenly Bodies at In Your House and promised to give them a reality check.

Adam Bomb pinned Ken Raper with the Atom Smasher in 0:02:00.
Rating: *

Highlights were shown of Jean-Pierre Lafitte’s debut on last week’s show. Repo Man then cut a promo, claiming that pirates are nothing but thieves and if there is one thing he hates, it’s a thief(!) Repo challenged Lafitte to a match next week.

Waylon Mercy made Tony Williams submit to the Procedure in 0:04:23.
Rating: * 1/2

Comments aired from WWF Champion Shawn Michaels and his bodyguard Diesel, known as Two Dudes with Attitudes, who were unconcerned by their match with The Ultimate Maniacs at In Your House. Michaels said that they had left their opponents laying two weeks ago on RAW and will do the same in Hershey. Michaels then plugged their match with Sean Waltman and Great Muta this Monday, claiming that he will superkick their heads off and Big Daddy Cool will Jackknife them through the ring.

Fatu pinned Reginald Walker with the Samoan Splash in 0:03:37.
Rating: *

Tennessee Lee Promotions will be on the Brother Love Show this week on Monday Night RAW. There have been murmurs of discontent in the group recently as Jeff Jarrett and The Roadie have struggled to get long. Will the group choose this time to air their dirty laundry in public?

PJ Walker pinned Rich Myers with the Walkover in 0:01:57.
Rating: DUD

No sooner had PJ Walker made short shrift of his opponent than Tatanka’s music hit. Francine quickly entered the ring and joined Walker’s side. The Native American addressed Walker’s challenge to a hair vs hair match and made certain to emasculate Walker by continually referring to him as “Francine’s boyfriend”. Tatanka said that it is not Walker’s hair he wants, but rather Francine’s, and would only accept the match if Francine puts her hair on the line! Walker flat out declined the stipulation, but Francine jumped in and accepted the challenge on his behalf! Francine said that offering up her hair is a risk she is willing to take if it means Tatanka getting what is coming to him. Walker was not happy at Francine’s decision, whereas the smirking Tatanka had got exactly what he wanted.

Gentleman's Club (Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Lord Steven Regal) defeated
Bam Bam Bigelow and Owen Hart when Helmsley defeated O. Hart by countout in
0:10:38.
Rating: *** 1/4

Owen Hart had Hunter Hearst Helmsley in perfect position for the Rocket Launcher and prepared to take flight when Scott Steiner made his way down the aisle. Owen readjusted his perch on the top turnbuckle and then dived onto Steiner at ringside! Owen hammered away on Steiner and then followed him to the back to continue the beating as the official counted The Rocket out.

After the match, Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Lord Steven Regal doubled up on Bam Bam Bigelow. Helmsley laid Bigelow out with the Pedigree and then The Beast from the East got a taste of the Regal Stretch.


Circuit information:
Owen Hart helped out Bam Bam Bigelow as they teamed up to battle the Gentleman's Club duo of Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Lord Steven Regal, but ended up being distracted by the presence of Scott Steiner. Steiner and Owen are scheduled to lock horns at In Your House as The Rocket goes for revenge on behalf of injured brother Bret.

Speaking of Steiner, rumour has it that he is headed to Canada this weekend but the purpose of the trip is unclear.

PJ Walker is not happy that his girlfriend's hair will be on the line when he faces Tatanka. Francine is keen to see The Native American get his comeuppance and granted Tatanka's stipulation in the heat of the moment.

Although a little on the dorkish side, Leif Cassidy is unquestionably a talented individual. Time will tell if he and Marty Jannetty are the New "and Improved" Rockers, but they will receive a real test from the Heavenly Bodies.

It's the go-home edition of Monday Night RAW this week and we are bringing you a marquee tag team match as Shawn Michaels and Diesel warm up for In Your House when they face the Great Muta and Sean Waltman. Till then, so long everybody!!

[kingofoldschool]

Monday Night RAW
December 11th, 1995
Wicomico Youth & Civic Center, Salisbury, MD
Your commentators are Vince McMahon and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan.

The show opened with footage from earlier in the day of Bob Backlund campaigning amongst fans who were queueing to get in to the arena. One fan asked Bob for an autograph, but Backlund said he would only sign if the young man could recite the names of all of the U.S. Presidents in chronological order! The fan couldn't do it, which angered Backlund as he complained about the education system in this country. Backlund said that the new generation doesn't celebrate American history even though history is important. The fan was laughing at Bob's ranting, which did not sit well with the Presidential hopeful. Backlund snatched the fan's autograph book, then quickly slapped on his patented chicken wing! Backlund shook the fan around violently in the dreaded hold, until thankfully Crush appeared. Crush dragged Backlund off the fan and then held Backlund against the wall by the lapels. Crush tore off Bob's "Backlund for President" pin badge and said the only candidate Backlund is, is a candidate for a Cranium Crunch, brah! Crush told Backlund he'd see him in the ring tonight and then walked into the arena to cheers from the fans outside.

Crush made Bob Backlund submit to the Cranium Crunch in 0:07:36.
Rating: ** 3/4

Vince McMahon interviewed Crush outside the ring after the match and the big Hawaiian had a further warning for Scott Steiner. Crush said that he will be at In Your House on Sunday and he will be watching Steiner's match with Owen Hart intently. Crush said that if for some reason Owen is unsuccessful at getting revenge on Steiner, then Crush will have no option but to take matters into his own hands.

A disinterested Scotty Flamingo was once again shown in the crowd as Vince returned to the commentary table. McMahon warned viewers that there was some shocking and disturbing footage from Scott Steiner’s recent trip to Canada which will be shown later on the programme.

Dok Hendrix presented the final edition of the In Your House Slam Jam, in which he confirmed that the PJ Walker vs Tatanka Hair vs Hair and the New Rockers vs Heavenly Bodies matches were now official. Comments then aired from Marty Jannetty and Leif Cassidy, in which they revealed that they have a special plan to deal with Tammy Fytch should she get too close to the action.

Tatanka pinned Jeff Hardy with the Wykea in 0:03:37.
Rating: *

Tatanka produced a pair of scissors after the match and proceeded to give poor Jeff Hardy an impromptu trim. A gaggle of officials were able to drag Hardy away before The Native American could remove too many chunks of hair.

Bobby Heenan suggested that Francine could borrow one of Vince McMahon's toupees after she gets her head shaved by Tatanka at In Your House.

Scott Steiner’s trip to Canada
The scene opened with Scott Steiner and Tammy Fytch stood outside a familiar-looking grand mansion. Fytch was wrapped up against the snow and complaining about the freezing weather. Steiner said you might recognise the building behind him as the Hart family home in Calgary. Steiner said that last week, Bret Hart’s decrepit old daddy Stu invited him to try his luck in the world-famous dungeon, so that’s why he and Tammy have made the trip to this stinking country, this cesspool which we call Mexico North. Fytch quickly apologised to all the Mexicans watching. Steiner said they were going to enter this dump so Stu can test him.

Scott Steiner marched up to the front door and banged on it. Helen Hart answered, but then immediately tried to close the door when she recognised the unwelcome visitor. However, Steiner forced his way in and demanded to know where Stu was. Dogs started barking at Steiner but he told them to shut up. Fytch grabbed Helen by the hair and instructed the “old bag” to get Stu, but Helen threatened to call the police. Steiner was not far away from snapping, shoving several antique ornaments off the mantelpiece. Stu, who doesn’t move too well these days, then hobbled in to investigate the commotion. Steiner called him an old bastard and dared Stu to take him down to the Dungeon and try and stretch him. Stu told him to get out, but Steiner challenged Stu to make him leave. Stu tried to confront him but Steiner effortlessly overpowered the Hart family patriarch and held him against the staircase with his forearm against Stu’s throat. Steiner threatened to hit him with the SSD right here on the floor and break his neck, just like he broke his boy Bret’s neck. Helen was crying now, begging them to leave and saying that she’d called the police. Fytch told Steiner they’d better get out of here. Steiner told Stu that every single member of the Hart family is white trash and they don’t have any guts. Steiner vowed to put Owen in a hospital bed this Sunday, right beside Bret, before pushing Stu down and storming out of the house. Helen was in floods of tears and ran over to check on her husband, before yelling at the camera crew to get out as well.

Vince McMahon was repulsed by the footage. He sent his best wishes to Stu and Helen and believed that the whole locker room will be supporting Owen Hart this Sunday at In Your House.

Meanwhile, Dean Douglas was having a good old chuckle at what he had just seen. WWF President Jack Tunney then appeared, leafing through a document and shaking his head. Tunney said that after sending out another contract offer to Scotty Flamingo, he received the contract back via courier but it had been rewritten with various clauses and stipulations. Tunney revealed that Flamingo was referring to himself as "Raven" in the contract. The revisions included such details as Raven will only appear under his own conditions, sit where he wants, wrestle when he wants and the way he wants (no DQ). Douglas excitedly and hurriedly agreed to all of the demands, much to the chagrin of Tunney, and said that Flamingo can call himself whatever he likes as long as he signs the contract. Douglas instructed Tunney to bring the contract out to Raven for his signature. Tunney was reluctant to do so after last week's debacle, but Rad Radford then interrupted and said he would deliver the contract to Raven. Douglas and Tunney were unsure of Radford's motives but agreed to hand the contract over.

Commercial break:


Back from commercial and Rad Radford was in the ring with Raven's contract. Raven looked on with complete contempt. Radford told Raven that they had given him everything he wanted and almost pleaded with him to get in the ring and sign the contract. Raven hopped the railing and got into the ring. He snatched the contract from Radford, scanned it quickly and then signed the document, much to the delight of the grunge rocker. Suddenly, Raven kicked Radford in the gut and then planted him with a DDT, before walking out through the crowd!

IIII LLLOOOOOOVVVVVE YYOOOOOOOU!!!

Tennessee Lee Promotions were this week’s guests on the Brother Love Show. Love said that there were rumblings from Tennessee Lee’s camp that the group are not getting along, following recent dissension between Brother Jarrett and Brother Roadie. Jarrett took the mic before Lee could respond. Double J felt like he was at the crossroads of his career and changes need to be made so that he can get to the next level. Jarrett said that In Your House in his home town of Nashville, Tennessee back in July was supposed to be the highpoint of his career, but things didn’t work out the way he wanted and he has been on a downward spiral ever since. But Jarrett said that he has worked out the reason why things have gone so wrong lately…

Suddenly, Jeff Jarrett smashed his guitar over the unsuspecting Roadie’s head!! Jarrett ranted that The Roadie is the problem! Double J said that Roadie has screwed up one too many times recently. Jarrett blamed Roadie for his failure to land the Intercontinental Title and his elimination at Survivor Series, therefore The Roadie was now fired from Tennessee Lee Promotions! Jarrett then unceremoniously dumped Roadie out of the ring to the floor with his foot.

Jeff Jarrett said that after taking care of that unpleasant piece of business, it was time to get his career back on track starting this Sunday at In Your House. Jarrett threw out an open challenge for anyone in the locker room to face him on the show, before the newly-focused Double J marched to the back. Tennessee Lee remarked, “Ain’t he great?” and followed Jarrett. Meanwhile, The Roadie required assistance to leave the ringside area.

Two Dudes with Attitudes vs Great Muta and Sean Waltman


The Two Dudes with Attitudes jumped their opponents to start, but Sean Waltman and Great Muta came roaring back. Waltman almost shocked the WWF Champion, scoring near falls on Shawn Michaels with a moonsault bodyblock and a Victory roll, but Michaels then countered an attempted Frankensteiner with a power bomb. Diesel relished throwing Waltman around the ring with ease. Waltman went for a sunset flip on Big Daddy Cool, but Diesel countered with a choke lift and hurled Waltman down hard to the mat. After absorbing a tremendous amount of punishment, Waltman countered a backdrop from Diesel with a mid-air dropkick and made the tag to Muta. Muta was running wild with a dropkick to the knee on Diesel, followed by his trademark flashing elbow. Michaels went to the eyes on Muta, but Waltman intervened and dropped the Heartbreak Kid with a spinning leg lariat. Waltman scored with a flying legdrop on Michaels and a flying dropkick on Diesel. Waltman whipped Michaels hard into the corner, who took his Ray Stevens bump all the way to the outside. Muta then followed with a plancha on Michaels! Ludvig Borga made his way down to ringside and sneaked up behind Muta for an attack, but Waltman saved his partner as he wiped out the Hellraiser from Helsinki with a slingshot somersault plancha!! Waltman then leapt off the top and almost decapitated Diesel with a spin kick to the back of the head. Quick as a cat, legal man Muta scaled the turnbuckles and connected with the moonsault on Big Daddy Cool! The referee was about to slap the mat for the third time when Borga pulled Muta out of the ring for the DQ!

Great Muta and Sean Waltman defeated
Two Dudes with Attitudes (Shawn Michaels and Diesel) when Muta defeated Diesel
by disqualification in 0:15:25.
Rating: ***
[Ludvig Borga interfered against Great Muta.]

Ludvig Borga and Great Muta fought down the aisle to the back while officials tried to separate them. In the ring, Shawn Michaels and Diesel were infuriated at being made to look weak this close to In Your House. Diesel grabbed a hold of Sean Waltman, who had humiliated Big Daddy Cool with his quickness throughout the match, and he and Michaels proceeded to give Waltman a hiding. Diesel held Waltman in place so Michaels could lay in with punches. Diesel then set Waltman up for the Jackknife and signalled for his signature move, when suddenly the music of The Ultimate Maniacs hit! The place came unglued. Diesel threw Waltman aside while Michaels dared Randy Savage and The Ultimate Warrior to enter the ring. When they complied, Michaels and Diesel immediately bailed out, drawing the ire of the crowd. The Two Dudes with Attitudes backed their way to the sanctuary of the locker room, with Michaels waving at their In Your House opponents and telling The Ultimate Maniacs that they'll see them on Sunday.


Circuit information:
In one of the most sickening and vile acts in company history, Scott Steiner and Tammy Fytch flew all the way to Calgary just to bully and terrorise Bret and Owen Hart’s elderly parents in their own home. Owen flew back to check on them following the attack, but has vowed to return for In Your House on Sunday.

From now on, all of Raven's matches will be fought under "Raven's Rules," which means he can set stipulations and conditions for every one of his matches. You have to believe that after tonight's events, Rad Radford will be first in line to challenge the mysterious Raven.

Here is the final card for this Sunday's In Your House pay-per-view, which we will bring to you live from the Hersheypark Arena in Hershey, Pennsylvania:

Two Dudes with Attitudes vs The Ultimate Maniacs



The bad blood between these two teams began at In Your House in September, when Shawn Michaels interfered in the Tag Team Title match and cost the Ultimate Maniacs their chance to win the gold. The next month, Diesel was instrumental in The Ultimate Warrior's loss to Shawn Michaels in a number one contenders match. Michaels went on to win the WWF Championship at Survivor Series, while at the same event Diesel and Randy Savage - who were on the same team - caused one another to be eliminated from the Wild Card Match. The Maniacs ended up brawling with Diesel and Michaels in the latter's dressing room, interrupting the new champion's title-winning celebrations. Board of Directors representative Dean Douglas then booked a match between Warrior and Savage to determine who would be the first challenger to Michaels' championship, but the bout resulted in a no-contest after Diesel and The Heartbreak Kid jumped both men. That all leads us to this gigantic tag team battle. Will the Two Dudes with Attitudes finally get their comeuppance, or will they continue to remain one step ahead of Warrior and Macho Man?

WWF Intercontinental Championship
Ludvig Borga vs Great Muta



Ludvig Borga and Great Muta used to be teammates in Gary Hart's Black Friday Management stable. However, Muta's loyalty to the group came into question when the Pearl of the Orient struck up a friendship with Sean Waltman. Muta and Waltman had acknowledged the mutual respect they hold for one another, which displeased Gary Hart. Muta almost caused Borga to drop the Intercontinental Title to Waltman at In Your House in September when he misted the Hellraiser from Helsinki instead of Waltman, although it was questioned if Muta was targeting Borga all along. Muta finally split from the group and joined Waltman's New Generation team at Survivor Series for a battle against the League of Legends, a match in which Muta was dominant. However, his momentum was halted by an interjection from Borga who hit Muta with the Rack and Ruin, leading to him to be pinned. Muta returned the favour later that night, costing Borga the deciding fall in the Wild Card Match. If Muta can reproduce the same performance levels from Survivor Series then we could be crowning the first ever Japanese Intercontinental Champion in WWF history, but just bear in mind that Borga and manager Gary Hart know Muta perhaps better than anyone.

Scott Steiner vs Owen Hart



Recently deposed WWF Champion Bret Hart used an appearance on the Brother Love show last month to clamour for an immediate rematch when he was confronted by Scott Steiner. Steiner, full of himself after coming out on the winning side in the Wild Card Match at Survivor Series, was keen to prove himself against top tier talent and challenged the Hitman to a match. However, Hart was preoccupied with regaining the WWF Title and gave Steiner the brush off. Big mistake. Steiner gave The Hitman a hellacious beating, culminating in a sickening Steiner Screwdriver on the steel steps. Owen Hart was the first on the scene to help his brother, who has since undergone neck surgery and is out of action indefinitely. The Rocket challenged Steiner to this bout in order to get revenge for his brother, but after the events of this past weekend Owen will also be fighting for his parents.

Hair vs Hair Match
Tatanka vs PJ Walker



PJ Walker has been very protective of girlfriend Francine ever since Bob Backlund put his hands on her, so when Tatanka crossed the line and used his Tomahawk to hack off some of the poor woman's hair, it sent Walker into a rage. Walker demanded a hair vs hair match with Tatanka in order to humiliate the nefarious Native American and get some payback for Francine. However, Tatanka would only agree to the match if Francine put her hair on the line and Francine surprisingly agreed to the stipulation, perhaps out of desperation at seeing Tatanka get made to suffer at the hands of her boyfriend. Somebody is going to get their head shaved bald this Sunday!

New Rockers vs Heavenly Bodies



After twice failing to win the Tag Team Titles from The Thrillseekers, The Heavenly Bodies vented their frustrations on Leif Cassidy. Cassidy was very much in the wrong place at the wrong time. Cassidy had put in some spirited performances on TV recently against more established superstars and he refused to be pushed around by the Bodies. However, when Jimmy Del Ray and Tom Prichard went to inflict more punishment with a steel chair, Marty Jannetty came to Cassidy's aid. And thus began the friendship between Jannetty and Cassidy, and with it the birth of the New Rockers. But Tammy Fytch plans to end this new team's run before it ever really gets started and we shall see if she is successful this Sunday.

Jeff Jarrett's Open Challenge!



There is no doubt that recent errors from The Roadie have led to a lot of staring at the lights from Jeff Jarrett. But now that Double J has kicked The Roadie to the kerb, Jarrett is confident that this will arrest his slump and has challenged any WWF superstar to a match this Sunday. Who will answer the challenge and face the reenergised Double J at In Your House?

[kingofoldschool]

WWF Superstars
December 16th, 1995
Wicomico Youth & Civic Center, Salisbury, MD
Your commentators are Vince McMahon and Jerry "The King" Lawler.

Jean-Pierre Lafitte pinned Repo Man with the Cannonball in 0:04:00.
Rating: **

After a bit of back and forth to start, Repo Man missed a charge into the corner and Jean-Pierre Lafitte took over with a flying legdrop for two. Lafitte choked Repo over the middle strand, then tied him up in the ropes for a couple of cross-body blocks. Repo tried to come back with a sunset flip, but Lafitte stood strong and punched Repo in the face. Repo fought out of a chinlock into a double-KO. Lafitte came off the middle rope but flew straight into an outstretched boot. Repo hit a back body drop, a stiff clothesline and a back suplex. Repo headed up top but missed a splash and Le Cannonball was enough to put away Repo Man.

After the match, Jean-Pierre Lafitte pilfered Repo Man's tow rope.

Lex Luger made Jason Arhndt submit to the Rebel Rack in 0:02:58.
Rating: **

Comments aired from Jeff Jarrett in which he expressed his gladness at ditching The Roadie last week on RAW. Jarrett said that it won't be difficult to find somebody else to carry his bags. Double J claimed that whomever is stupid enough to answer his open challenge this Sunday at In Your House will be the first stepping stone on his path to championship glory. Ain't he great?

Adam Bomb pinned Rad Radford after a flying lariat in 0:06:53.
Rating: ** 1/2

During this bout the newly-signed Raven was shown sitting in the front row, staring blankly at proceedings. Rad Radford sent Adam Bomb into the steel steps and then caught sight of Raven, the man who DDTed him last Monday on RAW. Radford seemed mesmerised by Raven, who was glaring at the grunge rocker and seemed to be trying to make contact with Radford's soul. Adam Bomb turned things around when the bout returned to the ring and he finished Radford with a clothesline off the top rope.

After the match, Raven hopped the rail and stood over Rad Radford in the ring. Radford used Raven's jean shorts to pull himself back up, but then Raven dropped him with another DDT and then left through the crowd.

Gentleman's Club (Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Lord Steven Regal) defeated
Sonny Rogers and Bill Gorgan when Helmsley pinned B. Gorgan with the Pedigree in
0:05:47.
Rating: * 1/2

During the match Lord Alfred Hayes cut an inset promo in which he announced that after last week's impressive performance, he had put Lord Steven Regal and Hunter Hearst Helmsley together as a team. Hayes claimed that his charges would be the men to end The Thrillseekers' lengthy title reign.

Big Boss Man defeated Steve Austin by countout in 0:08:20.
Rating: **
[Brian Pillman interfered against Big Boss Man.]

As is the norm in Steve Austin matches these days, Brian Pillman made his presence felt each time the referee turned his back. Lex Luger took exception to Pillman's constant interference and came down to ringside to confront the injured Blond. Luger snatched Pillman's crutch away from him and then The Total Package proceeded to snap it across his knee! This turn of events delighted the crowd. Austin left the ring to investigate the commotion and traded words with Luger. Stunning Steve completely forgot about his opponent and ended up being counted out!

A heated Steve Austin returned to the ring to go after the Big Boss Man but ran straight into the Boss Man Slam! Brian Pillman then tried to take a swing at Lex Luger, but without the crutch to aid him he lost his balance and landed flat on his face. Luger helped Boss Man celebrate the victory.


Circuit information:
It's almost time for the final pay-per-view of the year! Tomorrow night we will bring you In Your House, live from the Hersheypark Arena in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Let's preview the final card:

Two Dudes with Attitudes vs The Ultimate Maniacs



The bad blood between these two teams began at In Your House in September, when Shawn Michaels interfered in the Tag Team Title match and cost the Ultimate Maniacs their chance to win the gold. The next month, Diesel was instrumental in The Ultimate Warrior's loss to Shawn Michaels in a number one contenders match. Michaels went on to win the WWF Championship at Survivor Series, while at the same event Diesel and Randy Savage - who were on the same team - caused one another to be eliminated from the Wild Card Match. The Maniacs ended up brawling with Diesel and Michaels in the latter's dressing room, interrupting the new champion's title-winning celebrations. Board of Directors representative Dean Douglas then booked a match between Warrior and Savage to determine who would be the first challenger to Michaels' championship, but the bout resulted in a no-contest after Diesel and The Heartbreak Kid jumped both men. That all leads us to this gigantic tag team battle. Will the Two Dudes with Attitudes finally get their comeuppance, or will they continue to remain one step ahead of Warrior and Macho Man?

WWF Intercontinental Championship
Ludvig Borga vs Great Muta



Ludvig Borga and Great Muta used to be teammates in Gary Hart's Black Friday Management stable. However, Muta's loyalty to the group came into question when the Pearl of the Orient struck up a friendship with Sean Waltman. Muta and Waltman had acknowledged the mutual respect they hold for one another, which displeased Gary Hart. Muta almost caused Borga to drop the Intercontinental Title to Waltman at In Your House in September when he misted the Hellraiser from Helsinki instead of Waltman, although it was questioned if Muta was targeting Borga all along. Muta finally split from the group and joined Waltman's New Generation team at Survivor Series for a battle against the League of Legends, a match in which Muta was dominant. However, his momentum was halted by an interjection from Borga who hit Muta with the Rack and Ruin, leading to him to be pinned. Muta returned the favour later that night, costing Borga the deciding fall in the Wild Card Match. If Muta can reproduce the same performance levels from Survivor Series then we could be crowning the first ever Japanese Intercontinental Champion in WWF history, but just bear in mind that Borga and manager Gary Hart know Muta perhaps better than anyone.

Scott Steiner vs Owen Hart



Recently deposed WWF Champion Bret Hart used an appearance on the Brother Love show last month to clamour for an immediate rematch when he was confronted by Scott Steiner. Steiner, full of himself after coming out on the winning side in the Wild Card Match at Survivor Series, was keen to prove himself against top tier talent and challenged the Hitman to a match. However, Hart was preoccupied with regaining the WWF Title and gave Steiner the brush off. Big mistake. Steiner gave The Hitman a hellacious beating, culminating in a sickening Steiner Screwdriver on the steel steps. Owen Hart was the first on the scene to help his brother, who has since undergone neck surgery and is out of action indefinitely. The Rocket challenged Steiner to this bout in order to get revenge for his brother, but after the events of last weekend Owen will also be fighting for his parents.

Hair vs Hair Match
Tatanka vs PJ Walker



PJ Walker has been very protective of girlfriend Francine ever since Bob Backlund put his hands on her, so when Tatanka crossed the line and used his Tomahawk to hack off some of the poor woman's hair, it sent Walker into a rage. Walker demanded a hair vs hair match with Tatanka in order to humiliate the nefarious Native American and get some payback for Francine. However, Tatanka would only agree to the match if Francine put her hair on the line and Francine surprisingly agreed to the stipulation, perhaps out of desperation at seeing Tatanka get made to suffer at the hands of her boyfriend. Somebody is going to get their head shaved bald tomorrow night at In Your House!

New Rockers vs Heavenly Bodies



After twice failing to win the Tag Team Titles from The Thrillseekers, The Heavenly Bodies vented their frustrations on Leif Cassidy. Cassidy was very much in the wrong place at the wrong time. Cassidy had put in some spirited performances on TV recently against more established superstars and he refused to be pushed around by the Bodies. However, when Jimmy Del Ray and Tom Prichard went to inflict more punishment with a steel chair, Marty Jannetty came to Cassidy's aid. And thus began the friendship between Jannetty and Cassidy, and with it the birth of the New Rockers. But Tammy Fytch plans to end this new team's run before it ever really gets started and we shall see if she is successful tomorrow night.

Jeff Jarrett's Open Challenge!



There is no doubt that recent errors from The Roadie have led to a lot of staring at the lights from Jeff Jarrett. But now that Double J has kicked The Roadie to the kerb, Jarrett is confident that this will arrest his slump and has challenged any WWF superstar to a match tomorrow night. Who will answer the challenge and face the reenergised Double J at In Your House?

[kingofoldschool]

IN YOUR HOUSE 5: Seasons Beatings
December 17th, 1995
Hersheypark Arena, Hershey, Pennsylvania
Your commentators are Jim Ross and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan.

[Dark Match]:
Adam Bomb and Jean-Pierre Lafitte battled to a no contest in 0:01:14.
Adam Bomb tore his right PCL. He will be out for approximately 8 months.
Rating: **

[Dark Match]:
Lex Luger made Waylon Mercy submit to the Rebel Rack in 0:07:24.
Rating: * 1/2

[Dark Match]:
Gentleman's Club (Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Lord Steven Regal) and Steve Austin
defeated Savio Vega, Sean Waltman and Bam Bam Bigelow when
S. Austin pinned S. Vega with the Stunner in 0:14:34.
Rating: *** 1/4
[Brian Pillman interfered against Savio Vega.]

The pay-per-view began with our commentators Jim Ross and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan welcoming viewers to the show and pointing out Santa Claus making his way through the crowds with as unlikely a pair of helpers as you could likely imagine - The Bushwhackers.

New Rockers vs Heavenly Bodies



The Heavenly Bodies wasted no time in going on the attack as soon as the New Rockers entered the ring. Marty Jannetty and Leif Cassidy turned the tables on their opponents, with Cassidy holding the ropes open for Jannetty to dive onto the Bodies at ringside. A double back elbow took Jimmy Del Ray down. The Bodies were thrown into opposite corners and then monkey flipped out by the Rockers, before Tom Prichard and Jimmy Del Ray suffered a double noggin knocker! The New Rockers were one step ahead of their opponents and the Bodies had been knocked out of their stride. The timing of Fytch’s team was completely off and she was growing ever frustrated, demanding better continuity.

The advantage swung when Tom Prichard reversed a whip from Leif Cassidy into a sitout power bomb. Jimmy Del Ray scored with a flying back elbow and then taunted Marty Jannetty by gyrating in front of him. Out on the floor, Tammy Fytch held Cassidy in place for Del Ray to hit a beautiful Asai moonsault. Dr Tom used a powerslam for a near fall. The Gigolo executed a snap suplex and followed up with heavy kneedrops to the face but Cassidy would not quit, displaying that great resiliency we have come familiar with. Cassidy kicked out of the Veg-O-Matic. Del Ray used a moonsault bodyblock but Jannetty broke the resulting pin attempt. The Bodies tried to launch Cassidy with a double backdrop, but Cassidy countered with a double DDT and made the hot tag to Jannetty! Jannetty ran wild with dropkicks and backdrops. Soon all four men were in and the bout was being fought at a frenetic pace, with both teams willing to take chances. Cassidy rolled up Del Ray, but Prichard grabbed Cassidy and threw him over the top rope. The Bodies teamed up on Jannetty, but Cassidy then came flying off the top with a cross body onto both men! The New Rockers connected with a double dropkick. Tammy Fytch entered the ring, purse in hand, and prepared to take a big swing at the back of Leif Cassidy’s head! Before she could connect, none other than former (and technically still-reigning) WWF Women’s Champion Rockin’ Robin hit the ring and tackled Fytch down to the mat! The fans cheered as Robin threw Fytch out by her hair and then took up position in the corner of the New Rockers. Jannetty and Cassidy then put away Prichard with the Rock A Bye to secure their very first pay-per-view win as a team.

The New Rockers (Leif Cassidy and Marty Jannetty) defeated
The Heavenly Bodies (Jimmy Del Ray and Tom Prichard) when Jannetty pinned
Tom Prichard after the Rock A Bye in 0:11:29.
Rating: *** 3/4
[Tammy Fytch interfered against Leif Cassidy.]

Tammy Fytch was absolutely beside herself after the match. She had never before been manhandled like this and she was not happy about it. Meanwhile, Rockin’ Robin celebrated alongside the victorious New Rockers.

Hair vs Hair Match
Tatanka vs PJ Walker



PJ Walker went after Tatanka as soon as the bell sounded, but the Native American kept his distance by stepping between the ropes. While the referee kept Walker at bay, Tatanka connected with a big right over the official’s shoulder. The Vengeful Warrior used a bodyslam and followed up with an elbowdrop. Tatanka fired off on Walker with hard chops and then signalled to Francine that she is getting her hair cut while he choked Walker with his boot. Walker used his speed to keep the bigger Tatanka off balance, sliding out of an End of the Trail attempt and spiking Tatanka with a DDT for two. Walker then sent Tatanka to the floor with a dropkick.

PJ Walker went to whip Tatanka into the railing, but Tatanka shifted his weight and reversed to send Walker straight into Francine! Walker crushed his girlfriend against the steps and the ring post, injuring her. Walker desperately called for help, but Tatanka wanted to continue with the bout and slammed Walker's head into the steps, before throwing PJ back in the ring. Tatanka stomped away at Walker, but PJ kept pushing Tatanka away and attempted to leave the ring to be by his girlfriend's side. Tatanka prevented Walker from tending to Francine and laid him out with a DDT. In the meantime, Francine was helped to the back by medical staff. The remorseless Tatanka smirked and went back to work on his opponent. PJ countered a Tomahawk chop off the top rope with a well-placed dropkick. Walker tore into Tatanka with a Russian legsweep and a sitout power bomb out of the corner. Walker went for the Walkover, but Tatanka countered by crotching PJ on the top rope. Tatanka then ploughed Walker into the mat with the Wykea for the win.

[Hair vs Hair Match]:
Tatanka pinned PJ Walker with the Wykea in 0:10:27.
Rating: ** 1/4
[Francine interfered against Tatanka.]

PJ Walker was more concerned with checking on girlfriend Francine than the defeat as he left the ring and walked up the aisle with purpose. Tatanka grabbed the mic and told him to hold it as they aren't done. Tatanka demanded that Francine get back out here and get her head shaved, as per the pre-match stip. Walker argued that Francine had been hurt and couldn't possibly go through with this. Brandishing the clippers, Tatanka said that PJ would have to get his head shaved instead. Eager to get this over with and see Francine, Walker quickly agreed and sat in a chair in the centre of the ring while Tatanka cut off his hair with the razor. Walker was seething as Tatanka gave him a close shave. Tatanka added insult to injury by throwing clumps of Walker's hair around the ring in triumph, while Walker stormed off to the back shaking his freshly-shaved head in anger and disgust.

WWF Intercontinental Championship
Ludvig Borga vs Great Muta



Ludvig Borga adopted that familiar boxer's stance to start and did some shadow boxing, but Great Muta was not falling for the mind games. They locked up and Borga used his superior power to hurl Muta over the top rope to the floor! Muta quickly returned to the ring and locked up again, but this time he was shoved down hard to the mat. At ringside Gary Hart was very pleased. Borga worked over Muta's ribs with vicious punches and held him in a choke lift. The Intercontinental Champion clubbed away with forearms to the back, then whipped Muta into the corner and dropped him with a clothesline. Borga used a headbutt, but Muta started to fire back with chops and some stiff kicks to Borga's ribcage. Muta went for a dropkick but Borga avoided it by holding onto the ropes. Borga then pressed Muta over his head and dumped him to the ringside floor!

Gary Hart took the opportunity to choke Great Muta on the floor. Back in the ring, Ludvig Borga bodyslammed Muta and hit an elbowdrop, but a second one missed. Muta came back with a jumping spin kick and a big backdrop. The fans were right behind Muta now and were calling for the moonsault. Muta used the space rolling elbow in the corner before signalling to the crowd and executing a tremendous top-rope Frankensteiner for a near fall. Muta went up top again for an aerial assault, but Borga caught him with a punch to the gut. Borga used a side suplex and a flying lariat, but couldn't put Muta away. Muta avoided a splash in the corner and drilled Borga with a vertical suplex, before scoring with the flashing elbow for a big pop. Gary Hart got up on the apron to protest, but Muta kicked him off to another roar from the crowd! Muta backdropped the charging Borga over the top rope and then hit a plancha onto both men at ringside, before spraying some red mist into the air.

The momentum was with Great Muta now and it felt like he was a moonsault away from capturing the championship. Muta went for a kick to the head, but Ludvig Borga used the referee as a shield and Muta scrambled the poor official's brains! Undeterred, Muta dropkicked Borga in the knee, kicked him in the head and connected with the moonsault, but there was no official to register the three count. Gary Hart entered the ring and cracked Muta across the back with a chair. Hart and Borga put the boots to Muta as the crowd voiced their disapproval. Sean Waltman sprinted down to the ring to help his friend, firing off an array of kicks at Borga and Hart. Waltman seized the steel chair to keep the duo at bay, when Dean Douglas jogged down to the ring to stick his oar in. Douglas patted Waltman on the shoulder and Waltman proceed to turn round and CLOCK DOUGLAS WITH THE CHAIR!! The crowd erupted as Douglas hit the deck! Waltman was a little shocked at what he'd just done, but didn't seem too concerned. Borga then knocked Waltman through the ropes to the floor, but the referee had come to and disqualified Borga for pulling him in front of the kick from Muta.

Great Muta defeated Ludvig Borga by disqualification in 0:12:00.
Rating: *** 3/4
(Ludvig Borga retained the WWF Intercontinental Title.)
[Gary Hart interfered against Great Muta.]
[Sean Waltman interfered against Ludvig Borga.]

Ludvig Borga couldn't have cared less about the result. He drilled Muta with the chair again and went for another hard shot, but Sean Waltman intervened with a flying dropkick which sent the chair back into Borga's face! Muta then sent Borga flying out of the ring with a spin kick and he and Waltman celebrated despite the fact that the Hellraiser from Helsinki holds on to the Intercontinental Championship.

A couple of officials helped a woozy Dean Douglas to the back after the match. The fans were not showing any sympathy.

Jeff Jarrett's Open Challenge!



Tennessee Lee gave Jeff Jarrett the big build up as Double J strutted around the ring in his flashing cowboy hat and jacket. Lee called Jarrett “The World’s Greatest Singer, The World’s Greatest Entertainer…and whoever answers the open challenge is fixing to find out that Double J is also the World’s Greatest Wrestler”. Ain’t he great? Lee said that Jarrett doesn’t have all night and demanded that Double J’s opponent come out right now.

A familiar guitar riff hit, followed by this awesome music:



The challenge had been answered by the big Hawaiian, Crush! Crush said he was going to be here tonight to keep an eye on Scott Steiner, but it seems that he fancies a piece of Jeff Jarrett as well. Crush slapped hands with the fans as he walked down the aisle, ready for this rematch of the King of the Ring quarter final from earlier in the year. Jarrett was focused and needs to be at the top of his game if he is to end his recent losing streak.

Jeff Jarrett vs Crush



Jeff Jarrett backed Crush into the corner to start and tried a hiptoss, but Crush blocked and hit one of his own. Jarrett went for a headlock but Crush threw him off. Double J attempted to whip Crush out of the corner but Crush reversed into a short clothesline. The big Hawaiian shoulderblocked Jarrett down when Double J charged him and then Crush hit a huge powerslam. Tennessee Lee swatted Crush's legs with his cowboy hat to cause a distraction and Jarrett knocked Crush out to the floor. Double J followed up with a baseball slide which sent Crush crashing into the guardrail.

Jeff Jarrett jumped off the apron with a clothesline and threw Crush into the steps. Back in the ring, Jarrett hung Crush on the ropes and then busted out his trademark strut to a chorus of jeers. Jarrett connected with a DDT and a flying cross body press for near falls. Double J went for an axehandle off the top but Crush caught him in a bearhug! The Original Hawaiian Punch scored with a series of clotheslines and a dropkick. Crush got near falls off a neckbreaker and a spin kick. Crush missed a legdrop and Jarrett went straight to the figure-four, but Crush reversed the hold and Jarrett released. Jarrett stayed on the leg and went for another figure-four, but Crush kicked him off and Double J bumped into the ref. Tennessee Lee removed his belt, wrapped it round his fist and tried to clock Crush, but Crush moved and Jarrett absorbed the blow! Jarrett then fell victim to the Hawaiian Smasher.

Crush pinned Jeff Jarrett after the Hawaiian Smasher in 0:13:28.
Rating: *** 1/4
[Tennessee Lee interfered against Crush.]

The night had not gone according to plan for Double J and his frustration boiled over after the match. Jarrett shoved Tennessee Lee when his manager tried to offer an apology.

Backstage, Todd Pettengill tentatively approached Owen Hart as The Rocket prepared for his match with Scott Steiner. Owen was wrapping his fists up tightly. Owen confirmed that his parents are ok following the unwelcome visit from Steiner, but added that Scott Steiner will certainly not be ok after tonight. Owen warned that this will not be a wrestling match, but rather a fight. The Rocket said that he plans on hurting Steiner and inflicting as much pain as possible. Owen dedicated the bout to his brother Bret.

Scott Steiner vs Owen Hart



Owen jumped Scott Steiner in the aisle as The Superstar made his entrance and the fight was on from there. The Rocket connected with some stiff punches on the outside and threw Steiner into the guardrail. Steiner crawled into the ring and tried to run, but Owen caught up with him and unloaded with more punches. Owen stomped Steiner repeatedly and choked him with his boot. Steiner scored with a double takedown and the two men rolled around trading punches on the mat. There was definitely nothing pretty about it; this was simply a fight.

Scott Steiner raked the eyes and then went for a charge in the corner, but Owen placed both boots in Steiner's face. Steiner grabbed hold of Owen's trunks to dump him to the outside, then knocked The Rocket off the apron and into the railing when Owen tried to get back in. Steiner tried to shake off the early onslaught from Owen and approached the Rocket as he attempted to drag himself back up on the apron. Owen quickly snapped Steiner's neck off the top rope, then followed up with a swinging neckbreaker! Owen was fighting on anger, on adrenaline and on emotions, hellbent on getting revenge for his brother. Owen continued to attack Steiner's neck, executing a brutal sitdown Tombstone out of the ropes, but Steiner managed to kick out. Steiner caught Owen with a boot running into the corner and then hit a beautiful rolling belly-to-belly suplex. Steiner decided to go after Owen's neck, hanging his opponent in the tree of woe and then pulling Owen's head back at an unnatural angle. Steiner choked Owen over the middle rope and then posed for the crowd while Tammy Fytch applauded. Owen capitalised on Steiner's showboating with a well-placed enzuigiri which sent Steiner out of the ring. Owen then blasted Steiner with a plancha.

Tammy Fytch made her presence felt, removing one of the top turnbuckle pads to expose the raw steel underneath. The referee caught her in the act and ordered Fytch back to the dressing room to loud roars of approval. Meanwhile, Owen threw Steiner back in and went for the Sharpshooter. Fytch was refusing to leave, so the official left the ring to forcibly remove her. Steiner kicked Owen back into the exposed turnbuckle, which connected with the back of Owen's head. Steiner lifted Owen into position for a powerslam, then rammed him repeatedly into the metal turnbuckle! The top of Owen's spine hit the steel each time. Steiner slammed Owen down and applied the Steiner Recliner. With Fytch finally departed, the referee returned to the ring to check on Owen. The Rocket blacked out from the pain and Scott Steiner was declared the winner.

Scott Steiner defeated Owen Hart when Owen Hart passed out in the
Steiner Recliner in 0:10:49.
Rating: *** 1/4
[Tammy Fytch interfered against Owen Hart.]

Paramedics were called to the ring for Owen and he was placed in a neck brace. The Rocket was stretchered to the back to polite applause.

Backstage, Todd Pettengill said that he would provide an update on Owen's condition as soon as possible while The Rocket was wheeled past in the background. Suddenly, Lord Steven Regal burst onto the scene and pushed Owen off the gurney! Regal locked the Regal Stretch on Owen, but was quickly dragged off by officials and road agents.

Two Dudes with Attitudes vs The Ultimate Maniacs



The Two Dudes with Attitudes had to regroup after being overwhelmed by The Ultimate Maniacs at the opening bell. When the match settled down, Diesel countered an armwringer by Randy Savage with a short clothesline. Big Daddy Cool struck with a kneelift and then used a boot choke on the Macho Man in the corner while Shawn Michaels held onto Savage's hair. The Ultimate Warrior intervened and blasted Diesel and Michaels with punches and clotheslines. Michaels made a blind tag to Diesel when Savage lifted him up for an atomic drop, then Michaels came sliding through Savage's legs and the Macho Man turned into a stiff clothesline from Diesel. Michaels ran across the apron and floored Savage with a clothesline from outside behind the official's back, once again drawing the ire of the Warrior.

The Two Dudes with Attitudes were starting to dominate, using great teamwork to wear Randy Savage down. Diesel whipped Michaels into a splash on Savage in the corner. Big Daddy Cool sent the Macho Man repeatedly into the turnbuckles and then hit a side suplex. A bodyslam from Michaels set up an elbow from the second rope which earned a count of two. The Heartbreak Kid kept the pressure on with a chinlock on Savage. The Macho Man countered a backdrop from Michaels with a backslide, but Michaels kicked out and then immediately struck with a dropkick. Diesel used Snake Eyes and then choked Savage over the middle rope. Michaels continued to choke Savage from outside while the referee was tied up with trying to keep an irate Warrior from entering the ring. Diesel scored with a big elbowdrop and went to a neck crank while the crowd rallied behind Savage. The Macho Man fired up and started a comeback, but Michaels cut that off with a well-placed knee to the back from the apron. Diesel then followed up with a diving shoulderblock. Michaels and Diesel took turns in punishing Savage with an abdominal stretch while holding one another's hand for extra leverage. Savage managed to escape and finally tag out to the Warrior, but Michaels had the referee's back turned and the official missed the tag! The referee desperately attempted to keep Warrior at bay to loud boos. Behind the official's back, Diesel held Savage in place for Michaels to deliver Sweet Chin Music, but Savage moved at the last second and Michaels clocked his seven-foot bodyguard with the superkick! The crowd erupted! Diesel was out cold!

Randy Savage capitalised and tagged in The Ultimate Warrior. It was clotheslines and shoulderblocks everywhere, and Shawn Michaels was in serious trouble! Warrior used a suplex before clotheslining the WWF Champion over the top to the outside. Michaels tried to desperately to revive Diesel, who had rolled out to the floor. Savage grabbed Michaels and threw him back in, where Warrior slammed him down with a Gorilla press. The Macho Man tagged back in, looking for payback after being on the receiving end of so much punishment earlier in the bout. Savage connected with a series of clotheslines of his own on The Heartbreak Kid, who was now essentially having to fight both Ultimate Maniacs on his own. Michaels desperately tried to slow the pace down and grab a breather with a sleeperhold on Savage. Warrior broke the hold before Savage's arm dropped for a third time. Warrior dropped Michaels with a diving shoulderblock and went for the big splash, but Diesel had now managed to shake off the cobwebs and he tripped Warrior coming off the ropes. Diesel dragged Warrior to the outside and then took his head off with a big boot. Meanwhile, Savage sent Michaels flying into the ring post with a slingshot! The Heartbreak Kid then staggered into a small package from Savage for the three count! The Macho Man has pinned the WWF Champion!!

Ultimate Maniacs (The Ultimate Warrior and Randy Savage) defeated
Two Dudes with Attitudes (Shawn Michaels and Diesel) when Savage pinned Michaels
after a small package in 0:20:06.
Rating: *** 1/2

It had been a gruelling, see-saw match-up and WWF Champion Shawn Michaels was hot at losing the fall. Diesel desperately tried to calm Michaels down at ringside while Randy Savage taunted the Heartbreak Kid from the squared circle as the show faded to black.

Card rating: ** 3/4


Match observations:
With Board of Directors representative Dean Douglas taken to the emergency room with a suspected concussion, liberated WWF President Jack Tunney moved quickly after tonight's show to name Macho Man Randy Savage the new number one contender to the WWF Championship. Savage will get his title shot at the Royal Rumble on January 21, 1996, at the Selland Arena in Fresno, California. The Macho Man will be confident of capturing his third title in his home state, especially if Michaels is still champion heading into the Rumble. Savage has a great record against The Heartbreak Kid; this was his third pinfall victory on pay-per-view over Michaels having already defeated him at WrestleMania X and last year's King of the Ring. Suffice to say that Shawn Michaels is not happy at this turn of events.

The unrelenting Scott Steiner did his utmost to damage Owen Hart's neck tonight, driving the back of Owen's neck repeatedly into the unprotected steel turnbuckle and then applying the devastating Steiner Recliner. Owen was then attacked backstage by Lord Steven Regal, who still holds Owen responsible for an injury suffered back in July. Bad night for The Rocket, who is expected to be out for several weeks.

Thankfully Francine was not seriously injured during her boyfriend PJ Walker's match with Tatanka. Francine got too close to the action and was badly shaken up after being crushed against the side of the ring. The whole episode took Walker completely off his game and he succumbed to the Wykea, before stepping in for his girlfriend and getting his head shaved.

Great Muta may have defeated his former stablemate Ludvig Borga tonight, but he could not wrest the Intercontinental Championship away from The Hellraiser from Helsinki. Surely Muta's performance merits another crack at the gold. Meanwhile, there may be repercussions for Sean Waltman after he floored Dean Douglas with an errant chair shot. Who knows why Douglas decided to make his way out to ringside during the bout, but it isn't the first time paths have crossed between Waltman and Douglas.

When Tennessee Lee Promotions cut The Roadie loose, it was supposed to reinvigorate the career of Jeff Jarrett. With rediscovered confidence Double J issued an open challenge for tonight, but things did not pan out the way Double J planned as Crush answered the call and the big Hawaiian defeated Jarrett after Tennessee Lee's interference backfired. Quite where Jarrett goes from here is anybody's guess.

The New Rockers were victorious in their pay-per-view debut over The Heavenly Bodies and just like they promised, Marty Jannetty and Leif Cassidy had an ace up their sleeve to neutralise the threat of Tammy Fytch. It came in the surprise form of former Women's Champion Rockin' Robin, who showed up to take Fytch out before she could interfere.

Some dreadful news before the pay-per-view began as Adam Bomb suffered a serious knee injury in a dark match. Bomb's bout with Jean-Pierre Lafitte ended prematurely when he landed badly off a backdrop and required immediate medical attention.

Monday Night RAW rolls into Newark tomorrow night for all the fallout from tonight's pay-per-view and already announced is that Scott Steiner and Tammy Fytch will be the guests on the Brother Love Show. We also expect to hear from WWF Champion Shawn Michaels. For all that and more, make sure you tune in tomorrow night! Till then, so long everybody!!

[kingofoldschool]

Monday Night RAW
December 18th, 1995
Bob Carpenter Center, Newark, DE
Your commentators are Vince McMahon and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan.

The show opened with stills from the main event of last night's In Your House pay-per-view, where Randy Savage pinned WWF Champion Shawn Michaels in the feature tag team match between The Ultimate Maniacs and Two Dudes with Attitudes. Savage has earned a WWF Title Match at the Royal Rumble by virtue of the pinfall. However, before we get to the Rumble, Vince McMahon announced that Lex Luger will face Michaels for the WWF Championship next week on Monday Night RAW! WWF President Jack Tunney feels that Luger is deserving of a title shot after defeating TITAN in a steel cage match two weeks ago and The Total Package is now presented with the opportunity to win both singles titles in a calendar year.

Footage aired of Sean Waltman’s accidental chair shot to Dean Douglas last night at In Your House. WWF President Jack Tunney was watching the video backstage and seemed to be amused at his aggravator getting knocked out. An angry Douglas showed up to wipe the smile off Tunney’s face by announcing that the Performance Improvement Plan had now concluded and the decision regarding Tunney’s future will be made next week.

As the team of the Great Muta and Sean Waltman made their way out for tag team action, Vince McMahon revealed that Dean Douglas has fined Waltman the sum of $7,500 for interfering in the Intercontinental Title Match last night. McMahon accused Douglas of having a vendetta against Waltman and surmised that Douglas only slapped Waltman with a fine because he is bitter about the chair shot.

Great Muta and Sean Waltman defeated
Jerry Faith and Jason Ahrndt when Muta pinned J. Faith with the Moonsault Press in 0:04:30.
Rating: * ¾

A promo aired hyping the RAW Bowl on the January 1st edition of the show. Classie Freddie Blassie was playing the role of a football coach, telling his guys to kick some butt on New Year's Night. Vince McMahon revealed that the RAW Bowl will feature four teams all in the same match, with the winners challenging for the WWF Tag Team Championships at the Royal Rumble. Those participating in the first ever RAW Bowl will be Sean Waltman and Great Muta, The New Rockers, The Heavenly Bodies and Gentleman's Club representatives Lord Steven Regal and Hunter Hearst Helmsley.

A vignette rolled taking a look at the voice of "Generation X" in the former Scott Flamingo, now christened the Raven. The video showed Raven brooding on a cold winter day, standing beside a "Dead End" road sign. Staring coldly at the camera, Raven sent a message to the World Wrestling Federation:

"The world is full of kings and queens, they'll blind your eyes and steal your dreams. Kurt Cobain didn't make it and he left an entire generation of tortured souls behind. WWF take heed…Quote The Raven…Nevermore."

Fatu pinned Jeff Jarrett via pinfall in 0:08:54.
Rating: **
[Tennessee Lee interfered against Fatu.]

Jeff Jarrett tried hitting Fatu in the head and but got nowhere and Fatu slugged him down. However, Fatu missed a blind charge and Jarrett choked him out on the ropes. Double J began working the shoulder, but Fatu came back with a backdrop and corner clothesline. A backbreaker got a near fall and Fatu followed up with an Ace Crusher, but he hurt his bad shoulder in the process and Jarrett sent him into the post again before going to a sleeperhold. Fatu managed to fire back up, but then both men banged heads and were laid out. Tennessee Lee threw one of his cowboy boots in the ring and took the ref, but Fatu grabbed the boot first and coldcocked Jarrett for the three count!

That's two nights in a row that Tennessee Lee accidentally cost Jeff Jarrett a match. Jarrett was sick of it and he and his manager got into a shoving match, before Double J walked out on him.

Vince McMahon provided an update on Adam Bomb, who suffered a serious knee injury last night in a match with Jean-Pierre Lafitte before the pay-per-view aired. McMahon said that an MRI scan confirmed that Bomb has torn his right PCL and the Creation of Devastation will be out of action until the summer. Bobby Heenan claimed that the alleged pirate Lafitte has stolen eight months of Bomb’s career.

Jean-Pierre Lafitte pinned Bob Holly with the Cannonball in 0:07:34.
Rating: ** 1/4

Backstage, Todd Pettengill caught up with Jeff Jarrett in the parking lot. Double J was heading straight to his rental car without bothering to get changed out of his gear. Jarrett said that he was ending his business relationship with Tennessee Lee for the good of his career, and if Lee doesn't like it he can kiss his A-Double-S!

IIII LLLOOOOOOVVVVVE YYOOOOOOOU!!!

Scott Steiner and Tammy Fytch were the guests on the Brother Love Show. Steiner bragged about his victory over Owen Hart last night at In Your House, proclaiming himself to be the HARTbreaker for putting both Bret and Owen out of action. Scott Steiner announced that he is the first official entrant in the 1996 Royal Rumble and vowed to emulate Bret Hart's achievement last year and win the match. However, unlike Bret Hart he will not fail when he challenges the WWF Champion at WrestleMania. Steiner said that he held the Tag Team Titles for a full year, something Bret Hart never did. Steiner continued that he held the Intercontinental Title for longer than either of Bret Hart's reigns, and when he wins the big one at WrestleMania, he will be a better WWF Champion than Bret Hart. Why? Because he is superior to the Hitman in every single way.

Steiner and Fytch then unveiled a new T-shirt for the Superstar, which was emblazoned with an image of Steiner hitting Bret Hart with the SSD on the steel steps. Steiner said it is a bargain at just $20 (plus $5.95 shipping) and it makes the ideal Christmas present. Fytch added that all proceeds will go to the Bret Hart retirement fund!

As the dastardly duo made their exit to jeers from the crowd, Scott Steiner was jumped by two men identified by Vince McMahon as Ross and Keith Hart! The Heavenly Bodies ran out to help their stablemate, but were quickly followed by The New Rockers as a huge brawl broke out!

The Ultimate Warrior pinned Brooklyn Brawler with the Big Splash in 0:00:46.
Rating: **

As The Ultimate Warrior flattened the Brooklyn Brawler in less than a minute, there was just enough time to announce that The Warrior will go one-on-one with Diesel in two weeks on RAW. Vince McMahon was also scheduled to speak with Shawn Michaels on the phone and discuss next week’s WWF Title Match with Lex Luger, but the bout was over so quickly that there was no time for the call. This will do nothing to improve The Heartbreak Kid’s mood.


Circuit information:
The hatred that the Hart family feels for Scott Steiner boiled over tonight as two more of the Hart siblings, Keith and Ross, jumped Steiner as he left the ring. The entire Hart clan wants retribution for the pain and distress Steiner has inflicted on their family.

The business relationship between Jeff Jarrett and Tennessee Lee appears to be over after Lee cost Double J his match with Fatu tonight. This was just 24 hours removed from Lee’s interference backfiring against Crush and Jarrett has had enough of it. Will Jarrett be on the lookout for another manager, or will he choose to go it alone from now on?

Next week is the Christmas night edition of Monday Night RAW, and this is when the Board of Directors will announce their decision on WWF President Jack Tunney’s future. Surely Dean Douglas would not be cruel enough to give Tunney the boot on Christmas Day?

This weekend on Superstars we will get a look of two of the teams participating in the inaugural RAW Bowl as The Heavenly Bodies and Gentleman’s Club members Lord Steven Regal and Hunter Hearst Helmsley will be in action. Not only that, but Intercontinental Champion Ludvig Borga, Caribbean legend Savio Vega and the now chrome-domed PJ Walker will all compete! Till then, so long everybody!

[kingofoldschool]

WWF Superstars
December 23rd, 1995
Stabler Arena, Bethlehem, PA
Your commentators are Vince McMahon and Jerry "The King" Lawler.

The show opened with comments from "The Model" Rick Martel ahead of his match with PJ Walker tonight. Martel made some disparaging comments at the expense of Walker, who had his head shaved last Sunday at In Your House. Martel called Walker "cue ball" and invited Francine to run her hands through the gorgeous flowing locks of a real man such as himself.

The Heavenly Bodies (Jimmy Del Ray and Tom Prichard) defeated
Dave Thornberg and Jerry Faith when Tom Prichard pinned D. Thornberg with the
Power Bomb in 0:03:22.
Rating: * 1/2

During the match, Tammy Fytch cut a inset promo in which she said that Rockin' Robin made a big mistake putting her hands on Fytch at In Your House. Fytch warned Robin to stay out of her way next week when The Heavenly Bodies team up with Scott Steiner to battle The New Rockers and Crush in a six man tag.

We haven't seen Sabu or Paul Bearer since that godforsaken match with The Undertaker at Survivor Series, but both are scheduled to appear on the Brother Love Show this week on RAW.

Rick Martel defeated PJ Walker by disqualification in 0:08:24.
Rating: * 3/4
[Francine interfered against Rick Martel.]

Rick Martel continually blew kisses at a disgusted Francine throughout this match, before eventually leaving the ring and offering her the chance to run her fingers through his hair. Francine did put her hands on Martel - with a hard slap right across the face! Martel did not take kindly to this and grabbed her arm as she went for another slap. PJ Walker came to his girlfriend's aid, taking Martel down with a baseball slide. Walker hurled Martel into the steel steps twice and then destroyed the grounded Model with a succession of punches. The referee tried to restrain Walker, but it was too late as PJ had completely lost it as he shoved the official down. The referee called for the bell but Walker did not care, returning to smash Martel's face in. More officials were quickly on the scene to drag the crazed Walker away.

Ludvig Borga pinned Scott Taylor with the Rack and Ruin in 0:03:17.
Rating: DUD

Vince McMahon invited us to take another disturbing look at Raven. This vignette was set in a playground late at night. A sullen Raven sat on a swing and began to speak.

"The pain and suffering of a childhood lost. An empty swing, an empty promise. A broken dream, a broken home. It's strange how laughter looks like crying…with no sound and raindrops taste like tears…without the pain. WWF superstars, you will relive the turmoil and anguish of an uncertain youth. Quote The Raven...Nevermore."

The camera then faded to an empty swing beside Raven and the picture turned to black.

Shawn Michaels cut a promo on Lex Luger, in which he mocked The Total Package for getting a title shot as a result of being thrown through a cage. Michaels said Luger has a million dollar body but a ten cent brain, and promised that the only thing Luger is getting for Christmas this year is a blast of Sweet Chin Music.

Gentleman's Club (Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Lord Steven Regal) defeated
The Hardy Boys (Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy) when Regal made M. Hardy submit to the Regal Stretch
in 0:04:56.
Rating: ** 1/2

During the match, Lord Alfred Hayes cut an inset promo regarding his team’s preparation for RAW Bowl. Hayes admitted he was not very familiar with the rules of American football, claiming that all it appears to be is a bunch of oversized fatties, who lack the athleticism to play real sports, running into each other. Hayes said that his men Lord Steven Regal and Hunter Hearst Helmsley are much too refined for that. However, Hayes added that in the RAW Bowl there will be no pads and no protection. It will be all-out war, and it will be the Gentleman’s Club who are left standing tall.

Savio Vega pinned Ken Raper with the Caribbean Kick in 0:02:53.
Rating: * 1/2

The soon-to-be-debuting Justin “Hawk” Bradshaw cut a promo. Bradshaw, a throwback from the old Wild West days, is a big rangy Texan managed by Uncle Zebekiah. Bradshaw warned that he is looking for a fight, and whoever has the guts to step up is gonna get beaten like a rented mule! Bradshaw said that any WWF superstar who gets in his way is gonna be left squealing like one of them cows that's had this branding iron stuck on its booty!

Waylon Mercy pinned Repo Man after a Hotshot in 0:06:11.
Rating: **
[Nurse Luna interfered against Repo Man.]

The announcers closed the show by hyping the WWF Title Match between Shawn Michaels and Lex Luger this coming week on the Christmas night edition of Monday Night RAW!


Circuit information:
Last weekend at In Your House, PJ Walker lost his hair. Tonight he seemingly lost his mind and it was Rick Martel who bore the brunt of Walker’s aggressive assault after The Model had unwisely tried it on with Francine. Walker is very protective of his girlfriend after recent events and this evening he once again flew off the handle. PJ needs to learn how to keep his temper in check if he wants to capitalise on his huge win at Survivor Series and further his career in the WWF.

Teams are gearing up for RAW Bowl, which we’ll bring to you on the New Year’s Night edition of Monday Night RAW. The winners of this unique four team elimination match will face The Thrillseekers for the WWF Tag Team Titles at the Royal Rumble.

Before we get to that however, there is the Christmas night edition of RAW to get to and it is a loaded show! In a rare WWF Title Match on free TV, Shawn Michaels will defend the championship against Lex Luger! Not only that, but Jack Tunney’s Performance Improvement Plan review period is over and the decision is in. Dean Douglas is set to announce Tunney’s future – has Tunney done enough to keep his job, or will Douglas ruin Tunney’s Christmas by firing him and ending his eleven-year stint as WWF President? Make sure you tune in to find out! Till then, so long everybody!

[kingofoldschool]

Monday Night RAW
December 25th, 1995
Bob Carpenter Center, Newark, DE
Your commentators are Vince McMahon and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan.

There was no time to waste on the Christmas Night edition of Monday Night RAW as straight away Dean Douglas led WWF President Jack Tunney out while Vince McMahon entered the ring to oversee the outcome of Tunney’s Performance Improvement Plan. Douglas reminded everybody that the Board of Directors felt that Tunney had been underperforming in his role as President and appointed Douglas to monitor and provide feedback on Tunney. Douglas informed Tunney that the President had continually failed to meet expectations over the past few months, making decisions which often made no sense and which resulted in Douglas having to step in and correct them. Douglas stated that the result of Tunney’s Performance Improvement Plan is most unsatisfactory, and Douglas has arrived at the conclusion that Tunney is a bumbling semi-senile over-his-head President who struggles to control all the chaos in the WWF. And so it was with regret, Douglas lied, that he must advise Tunney that he is now dismissed of his presidential duties, effective immediately! The fans jeered as a delighted Douglas laughed at Tunney, before adding that he has waited a long time to say this: “You’re relieved, Mr President!”

Vince McMahon asked for Jack Tunney’s reaction to this, speculating that Tunney never really had a chance in keeping his job. Tunney said that he agreed with Dean Douglas – he is relieved, relieved he no longer has to worry about Douglas following him around. And besides, Tunney has also waited a long time to do this...

Jack Tunney wiped the smug smile off Douglas’ face with a right hook, flooring the Board of Directors representative and sending his glasses flying out of the ring! The roof almost came off the arena; the sympathetic fans were still backing Tunney. Tunney, the now former President of the World Wrestling Federation, left the ring and slapped hands with the fans as he walked up the aisle and disappeared to the back.

A flustered Dean Douglas staggered backstage, where he ran into Sean Waltman. Waltman enjoyed seeing Douglas get decked and quipped that Jack Tunney packs quite a punch. Douglas did not appreciate Waltman’s cheek and doubled the fine he had levelled Waltman with last week to $15,000. Waltman was unconcerned, because next week he said that he and the Great Muta will win RAW Bowl, earning the chance to go on to become the Tag Team Champions. The opportunity to win championship gold for the first time was priceless to Waltman, and there is nothing that Douglas can do to stop that. Waltman walked off, but Douglas smirked as if to think, “We'll see about that".

Pre-show footage was shown of Santa Claus giving out gifts to fans in the crowd. Suddenly, Bob Backlund appeared and knocked Santa down from behind, before traumatising the children in the audience by applying the Chicken Wing to Jolly Old Saint Nick! Savio Vega made the save and ran Backlund off, before helping Santa back to his feet. This has led to Vega challenging The Grinch, aka Backlund, to a match tonight.

Savio Vega pinned Bob Backlund with the Caribbean Kick in 0:08:46.
Bob Backlund injured his right knee. He will be out for approximately 1 month.
Rating: ** 3/4
[Santa Claus interfered against Bob Backlund.]

Bob Backlund was distracted by the appearance of Santa Claus giving out more presents to fans at ringside. Backlund started jawing at Santa from the ring and Santa responded by walloping Backlund with his gift bag to a large roar from the crowd! Backlund then staggered in to the Caribbean Kick and was pinned. Christmas is saved!

The same Classie Freddie Blassie promo from last week aired to hype the New Year's Night RAW Bowl. It will be the team of Sean Waltman and Great Muta vs Gentleman's club members Lord Steven Regal and Hunter Hearst Helmsley vs The Heavenly Bodies vs The New Rockers for the right to challenge for the Tag Team Titles at the Royal Rumble!

The New Rockers were interviewed backstage ahead of what Todd Pettengill described as the biggest week of their career. Leif Cassidy and Marty Jannetty will team with Crush to battle the trio of Scott Steiner and The Heavenly Bodies this weekend on Superstars, before participating in the RAW Bowl next Monday night. Pettengill asked if they were nervous, a notion which the Rockers dismissed. Cassidy, who is loving the gimmick, said you can't be nervous when you're a Rocker! Cassidy added that they were looking forward to teaming with Crush because he's pretty cool.

Tatanka pinned Matt Hardy with the Wykea in 0:03:33.
Rating: * 1/4

During this match it was announced that Tatanka will square off with Randy Savage on RAW in two weeks' time. The Native American is keen to avenge his elimination at the hands of the Macho Man back at Survivor Series.

IIII LLLOOOOOOVVVVVE YYOOOOOOOU!!!

On the Brother Love Show, Paul Bearer was overjoyed that after the events of the recent Survivor Series pay-per-view, The Undertaker is gone forever. Bearer said that despite the fact that the cremation has already occurred (cue laughter from Bearer and Love), he had arranged for the funeral wake to take place next week and everybody is invited. Bearer also asked Brother Love to preside over next week’s wake. Love excitedly accepted, saying it would be very fitting since he was there when The Undertaker arrived in the WWF and he would gladly be there to oversee when The Undertaker departs. Bearer said that now The Undertaker is condemned to an eternity of agony, next week he wants to give the audience an opportunity to thank him.

In order to really get us into the Christmas spirit, another Raven vignette aired. This one was set in an abandoned classroom where Raven had chosen to vent his pain and anguish. Raven was surrounded by dozens of empty chairs as he sits alone at his desk, crowded by memories of his haunted childhood. Raven talked about how some of the miseries of childhood where knowledge is supposed to help, but memories of school are scars that can't be hidden, can't be moved and are always there.

Lex Luger made his way out for perhaps the biggest match of his career since SummerSlam 1993, when he was suddenly jumped from behind by “Stunning” Steve Austin! Austin whacked Luger across the back of the head with Brian Pillman’s crutch, before wailing away with punches. Austin threw Luger hard into the guardrail and stomped The Total Package repeatedly before Austin was finally dragged away by officials.

WWF Champion Shawn Michaels then made his entrance for this title defence and could not believe his luck at what had happened to the challenger. Medical staff came out to check on Lex Luger and Dean Douglas soon joined them at ringside. Todd Pettengill arrived to grab a word with Douglas, questioning whether the match will be postponed following the vicious attack on Luger. Douglas said that we are running out of time on the show so there is no way the bout can be postponed – the WWF Title Match will happen right now!! Surely this will be a mere formality for Shawn Michaels?


WWF Championship
Shawn Michaels vs Lex Luger

Shawn Michaels wasted no time in going to work, hammering away at Lex Luger at ringside with axhandles to the back and driving the challenger back-first into the ring apron. Michaels continued to work over the lower lumbar with more axhandles, including a flying version off the middle rope. The Heartbreak Kid connected with a flying back elbow, but Luger kicked out of the pin attempt to give the crowd heart. Michaels went to a chinlock but with the crowd behind him Luger powered out, before running into a flying forearm. Luger backdropped out of a piledriver attempt, but then Michaels struck with a thumb to the eye. The champion took a boot when he charged into the corner, then missed a shoulderblock in the corner when Luger side-stepped. Luger may have been weakened before the match but he was determined not to let this opportunity pass him by. The crowd came alive as Luger hit a clothesline, a back elbow and a powerslam at speed. Vince McMahon remarked that it would be a Christmas miracle if Luger wins the title. The Total Package whipped Michaels into the corner and Shawn ended up lying across the ropes in the corner! Luger then punted Michaels out of the ring!!

Lex Luger dared Shawn Michaels to get back in the ring and finish this, but then Diesel wandered out to check on his bff. That brought out The Ultimate Warrior who went after the man he is scheduled to clash with next week. Diesel and Warrior brawled around ringside as a glut of officials came out to try and restore order. Michaels capitalised on the chaos, swiping the WWF Championship belt and clocking Luger in the back of the head for the pin.

Shawn Michaels defeated Lex Luger via pinfall in 0:10:05.
Rating: *** 1/4
(Shawn Michaels retained the WWF World Heavyweight Title.)

As Michaels went through his post-match celebration routine, he was handed a Christmas present by a stage hand. Like a kid on Christmas morning, Michaels impatiently ripped off the wrapping paper and tore the lid off the box inside. Michaels shoved his hand in through the polystyrene chips to get to the good stuff but quickly withdrew the appendage, dropping the box in the process. The box emptied to reveal that it had been full of razor blades! Michaels sucked the blood from his bleeding fingers, then punched out the stage hand who had presented him with the gift. The WWF Champion stormed to the back, while the announcers debated who could have been behind this sick prank.


Circuit information:
It was the end of an era here tonight on Monday Night RAW as Jack Tunney was officially removed from the position of WWF President after eleven years in the role. You get the sense that Tunney was doomed ever since the smarmy Dean Douglas arrived on the scene to announce details of the Performance Improvement Plan that Tunney was placed on. Yet Tunney maintained the same dignity he has always shown since being appointed president back in September 1984. Tunney had the last laugh however, releasing months of frustration by flooring Dean Douglas with a punch to loud cheers from the crowd before leaving the arena for the final time.

For many fans around the world, Jack Tunney was considered the voice of reason in the WWF and was behind the correcting of many injustices and unfair doings that occurred. With Tunney now shown the door, quite where this leaves us now is anybody's guess.

Despite Lex Luger sustaining a pre-match beatdown, Shawn Michaels still needed to take a shortcut to retain his championship. It was a valiant effort from Luger who hung in there for longer than he had any right to after suffering a brutal attack at the hands of Steve Austin. Luger and Austin crossed paths not so long ago on Superstars and it appears that this issue is just getting started between them.

Shawn Michaels was in a major huff backstage after the show, spouting off about an "unsafe working environment" after he was the victim of a cruel prank. Somebody is certainly trying to get into Michaels' head and it seems to have worked. The Heartbreak Kid is rattled.

Two of the teams involved in next week's RAW Bowl, The Heavenly Bodies and The New Rockers, will be on opposite sides in a huge six man tag team match on Superstars this weekend. Scott Steiner will team with stablemates Tom Prichard and Jimmy Del Rey, while Crush joins up with Leif Cassidy and Marty Jannetty. There is no love lost in this one! In addition, Bam Bam Bigelow, PJ Walker and the Big Boss Man will all be in action! Till then, so long everybody, and Happy Holidays one and all!!

[kingofoldschool]

WWF Superstars
December 30th, 1995
Stabler Arena, Bethlehem, PA
Your commentators are Vince McMahon and...

Tonight's show began with a surprise as Howard Finkel introduced a returning Mr. Perfect. Joining Vince McMahon on commentary for the evening, Perfect looked a picture of radiance as he settled in ready to host this edition of Superstars. Perfect is still recuperating from the biceps injury he suffered back in July.

Jerry "The King" Lawler made his way out with a belated Christmas present for his opponent, PJ Walker. Vince McMahon wondered what Lawler was up to. Lawler said he had a gift for Walker which he hoped would stop Francine giving the eyes to the boys in the dressing room and turn her attention back to Walker. An irritated Walker humoured The King by opening the box and producing a three-month supply of Rogaine! Lawler began laughing hysterically, but Walker was unimpressed. PJ took one of the aerosol cans and drilled Lawler with it, getting this bout off to an impromptu start!

PJ Walker pinned Jerry Lawler with the Walkover in 0:06:36.
Rating: ** 1/2

Another vignette for Raven aired. Raven sat in a tree and talked about how everybody needs a place to escape, dream and hope. He said for some, darkness is a relentless enemy and once darkness senses your fear and pain, it is never far behind. Raven said he can understand those people and forgives their hopelessness. "I feel their pain," he said. "Quote the Raven. Nevermore..."

Rad Radford was then shown watching the Raven vignette on a backstage monitor. Radford was absolutely transfixed.

Rad Radford pinned Titus Dunning with the Nevermind Suplex in 0:04:12.
Rating: * 3/4

It was announced that following the departure of Jack Tunney, Dean Douglas has been appointed interim president of the World Wrestling Federation. Vince McMahon claimed that this was a very dark day for the WWF. Comments aired from a beaming Douglas in which he vowed to do such a great job as president that the company will have no option but to give him the role on a permanent basis. Douglas added that he has a big announcement regarding the Royal Rumble which he will make this week on Monday Night RAW. Mr. Perfect said that Douglas would be the perfect choice for new WWF President and is a definite upgrade on Jack "On The Take" Tunney.

Bam Bam Bigelow pinned Jason Arhndt with the Diving Headbutt in 0:03:47.
Rating: 1/2*

Branding iron wielding-Hoss Justin "Hawk" Bradshaw cut another promo ahead of his debut next week. Bradshaw said that you are fixing to see greatness being born and Roscoe, Texas is going to be pretty dang proud. Bradshaw added that there are gonna be a lot of carcasses with his brand stuck on him, before welcoming everybody to the Bradshaw Ranch next weekend!

Big Boss Man pinned Reginald Walker with the Boss Man Slam in 0:03:36.
Rating: -1/4*

The announcers recapped the appearance from Paul Bearer on the Brother Love Show in which he revealed that the funeral wake for The Undertaker will take place this week on Monday Night RAW. Nobody has seen or heard from The Deadman after his brother Kane threw him into the exploding ring at Survivor Series. Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase then cut a promo in which he announced that not only will be in attendance for the wake, but he has also splashed the cash in order to give The Undertaker a lavish remembrance service. DiBiase has paid for a Rolls Royce hearse and a $20,000 gold-plated Promethean Casket. DiBiase said that The Undertaker deserves a fitting and proper sendoff, adding that this will not be a sad occasion but rather a celebration. And nobody will be celebrating more than The Undertaker's little brother Kane, who is delighted at the fact that his sibling is gone forever.

A hype video for the RAW Bowl was shown. This unique bout takes place this week on RAW, where four tag teams will compete in an elimination style match for the chance to face the Tag Team Champions at the Royal Rumble. Mr. Perfect said he'd heard through the grapevine that the winners will also receive the "Lombardi trophy", whatever that may be. Perfect added that he hoped the New Generation team of Sean Waltman and Great Muta are the first ones eliminated.

The New Rockers (Leif Cassidy and Marty Jannetty) and Crush defeated
Fytch Wrestling Enterprises (Jimmy Del Ray, Scott Steiner and Tom Prichard)
when Jannetty defeated S. Steiner by disqualification in 0:14:13.
Rating: ****
[Tammy Fytch interfered against Crush.]
[Tammy Fytch interfered against Leif Cassidy.]
[Tammy Fytch interfered against Marty Jannetty.]

The New Rockers appeared to have sealed the win for their team when they drilled Tom Prichard with the Rock-A-Bye, but Tammy Fytch pulled the referee out of the ring before he could record the three count. Rockin' Robin took exception to this and chased Fytch around the ring, but ran straight into a Steinerline from Scott Steiner! The crowd, as well as Vince McMahon on commentary, were aghast at this turn of events. Steiner showed no remorse and simply kissed his bicep. Crush then went after Steiner and the two rivals brawled around ringside. Steiner grabbed hold of Crush's trunks and pulled him into the side of the timekeeper's table. Steiner then clocked Crush with the ring bell as the referee threw the match out.

Scott Steiner returned to the ring to help The Heavenly Bodies lay waste to The New Rockers. With Crush and Rockin' Robin laid out at ringside, and The New Rockers sprawled out on the canvas, Fytch Wrestling Enterprises ended the show standing tall over their enemies to the disgust of the crowd.


Circuit information:
This was Jerry Lawler's last night with the company, which explains Mr. Perfect replacing him as regular commentator on Superstars. We wish The King the very best in his future endeavours.

It's the first Monday Night RAW of the New Year next week and it promises to be a very newsworthy show. The much-hyped RAW Bowl is the feature bout, which sees the teams of Sean Waltman and Great Muta, The New Rockers, The Heavenly Bodies and the Gentleman's club contingent of Lord Steven Regal and Hunter Hearst Helmsley do battle in an elimination match with a Tag Team Title shot at the Royal Rumble on the line. The Ultimate Warrior and Diesel will wage war in a huge grudge match, plus Paul Bearer brings to you the wake for The Undertaker! Till then, so long everybody!!

[kingofoldschool]

Monday Night RAW
January 1st, 1996 - The RAW Bowl
Bob Carpenter Center, Newark, DE
Your commentators are Vince McMahon and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan.

It’s time for the first annual Lipton Brisk Iced Tea WWF RAW Bowl! Tonight’s unique show had a college football-type atmosphere, with cheerleaders, a RAW Bowl queen, a pep band and a green ring mat that looked like a football field.

Vince McMahon and Bobby Heenan are holding down the fort known as the broadcast position, both clad in football uniforms and wasting no time in making tons of Gridiron related jokes. McMahon ran down the rules for the RAW Bowl Match:
- One timeout per team can be used at any time!
- Team is eliminated when a teammate is pinned, disqualified, counted out, or submits!
- Any player may be tagged in at any time!
- Once tagged, physical contact must be made with opponent before tagging out!

We cut backstage during introductions to Brother Love, Minister of Offence, who was rambling nonsense.



The RAW Bowl
Great Muta and Sean Waltman vs The Heavenly Bodies vs The New Rockers vs Lord Steven Regal and Hunter Hearst Helmsley

All the participants are wearing practice jerseys for this match, except for the team of Lord Steven Regal and Hunter Hearst Helmsley who are sporting rugby shirts. Tammy Fytch was sending hearts racing at ringside in her cheerleader outfit. Even Earl Hebner is caught up in the shenanigans, decked out like an NFL referee complete with cap and whistle!

These four teams were raring to go at it, with a shot at the Tag Team Titles at the Royal Rumble up for grabs.

Marty Jannetty and Tom Prichard start. They do a football style face off, won by Jannetty with a drop toe hold, and Jannetty took Dr Tom down with a pair of armdrags. Prichard tagged out to Leif Cassidy, and the New Rockers explode!! Lockup, and a criss-cross sequence. They did a hiptoss spot, but it was a fake out and they simultaneously tag out to The Heavenly Bodies! Prichard was reluctant, but Del Ray was ready to go. Tammy Fytch had her head in her hands at ringside. Earl Hebner threatened to throw the penalty flag but Prichard came in and ran into a shoulder tackle (what a sack!). Prichard tagged out to Sean Waltman, and the match rumbled on. Cassidy ducked a heel kick and connected with a clothesline on Waltman for a two count, then hit his own heel kick for another two count. Muta tagged in and ran into an armdrag. Cassidy used a series of kicks to the chest, but Muta came back with a springboard dropkick which earned a near fall. WWF Tag Team Champions The Thrillseekers came out for a closer look at the action, taking their seats at ringside either side of the RAW Bowl Queen, Ashley, as we go to a commercial break.

We return to action, with Marty Jannetty backdropping out of a Pedigree attempt by Hunter Hearst Helmsley. Waltman tagged in and ran riot with heel kicks for everybody. Helmsley absorbed the corner assault and then desperately called for a timeout. Waltman ignored it and planted Helmsley with the Eye of the Storm. Lord Alfred Hayes jumped on the apron and Hebner threw the flag. Lord Steven Regal tried to go after Waltman but was floored with a leg lariat. Interim WWF President Dean Douglas then ran in and tried to get Waltman’s attention, but he took a boot to the face as well for his trouble! The crowd popped, but Waltman immediately realised that he had made a grave mistake. After checking that he still had all his teeth, Douglas spoke with Hebner and demanded that Waltman is disqualified. Faced with going up against Douglas, Hebner felt that he really had no choice and the team of Waltman and Great Muta were the first to be eliminated.

Play resumes, with The Heavenly Bodies and The New Rockers renewing their rivalry. Cassidy surprised Prichard with a roll up for a near fall. Tammy Fytch tried to swing the tide of the bout in the direction of her team as she prepared a handful of powder and went to throw it in Cassidy’s eyes. However, Rockin’ Robin intervened and kicked it back into Fytch’s face, blinding her! Fytch scrambled around on the mat for her purse and she found it just as Prichard went to help out his manager. The visually-impaired Fytch then took a swing and clocked Prichard with the purse! Prichard was out cold and Cassidy covered for the three count.

We were down to the Gentleman’s Club and The New Rockers. Helmsley attacked Cassidy immediately following the fall, so there was no break in the action. Helmsley threw Cassidy out of the ring for Regal to deliver an elbow drop off the apron. Helmsley used a nice flying back elbow for a near fall. The Gentleman’s Club did a good job of isolating Cassidy and keeping him in the corner until Regal missed a senton and Cassidy made the hot tag to Jannetty, who hammered away on anything walking. With the crowd firmly behind him, Jannetty continued to work over Hayes’ men. The New Rockers managed to hit the Rock-A-Bye on Regal, but Lord Alfred Hayes got up on the apron to distract the ref. Hebner again threatened to throw the flag, before Rockin’ Robin pulled Hayes down. The two managers got into a heated argument at ringside, allowing Helmsley to connect with a flying kneedrop to the back of the head of Jannetty, who was still covering Regal. Helmsley knocked Cassidy out of the ring while Regal pinned Jannetty, making The Gentleman’s Club the winners of the inaugural WWF RAW Bowl and the number one contenders to the Tag Team Titles.

[RAW Bowl]: Number-One-Contenders-Four Corners Match:
Gentleman's Club (Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Lord Steven Regal) defeated
The New Rockers (Leif Cassidy and Marty Jannetty),
The Heavenly Bodies (Jimmy Del Ray and Tom Prichard) and
Great Muta and Sean Waltman:
x Helmsley beat Waltman via disqualification in 0:08:11
x L. Cassidy beat Tom Prichard via pinfall in 0:12:17
x Regal beat Jannetty via pinfall in 0:16:04
Rating: ***
[Tammy Fytch interfered against Leif Cassidy.]
[Lord Alfred Hayes interfered against Marty Jannetty.]

The Thrillseekers offered polite applause before escorting RAW Bowl Queen Ashley to the back.

It was time for Dok Hendrix to present the Wrigley's Halftime Report, sponsored by Wrigley's Winterfresh gum. Hendrix shilled the upcoming Royal Rumble in Fresno, California, where Shawn Michaels will defend the WWF Title against “Macho Man” Randy Savage and now the Tag Team Title Match is also confirmed as The Gentleman’s Club will challenge The Thrillseekers for the gold. Then we've got the Royal Rumble Match, the winner of which will face the WWF Champion at WrestleMania XII. Hendrix then dropped a huge bombshell, announcing that returning to compete in the Rumble is none other than the legendary Jake “The Snake” Roberts!!

Backstage, interim President Dean Douglas was standing by ready to deliver a huge announcement regarding the Royal Rumble. However, the moment was rudely interrupted by Sean Waltman, who confronted Douglas over his involvement in the RAW Bowl Match. Waltman was fired up and was choking the life out of the interim President with Douglas' own tie. Douglas spluttered that he now has the power to fire Waltman if he doesn't let him go. Waltman thought better of it and complied. Douglas straightened his tie, regained his composure and said that he understood Waltman's frustrations, but Douglas had to make a stand earlier tonight when Waltman broke the rules once again. However, Douglas understands how driven Waltman is by the desire to win gold, therefore he was going to offer Waltman a huge opportunity. Douglas revealed that his announcement was going to be that on the Free for All, the Royal Rumble pre-show event, there will be a singles bout. The winner of this match will gain the coveted number 30 slot in the Royal Rumble later that night, while the loser will enter at number 1. Douglas said that Waltman will be part of this match and as such, Waltman was being presented with the chance to hold the advantage over the other 29 participants if he is victorious against an opponent to be named at a later date. Waltman seemed to accept this but warned Douglas against any more dirty tricks.

As The Ultimate Warrior made his way out for this grudge match with Diesel, Vince McMahon announced that the Warrior will officially be part of the 30-man over the top rope Royal Rumble match. It is Warrior’s first appearance in the Rumble for six years.

The Ultimate Warrior pinned Diesel with the Big Splash in 0:03:05.
Rating: **

Diesel and The Ultimate Warrior have been embroiled in a bitter rivalry since the fall, when Big Daddy Cool cost Warrior his number one contenders match with Shawn Michaels. Tonight would be the blow-off, and Warrior wasted no time in taking Diesel down with a shoulderblock and decking him with a right. Warrior smashed Diesel’s head into the turnbuckle and followed in with a hard clothesline, before throwing Diesel over the top rope. Outside, Diesel took over by whipping Warrior into the railing and ramming him into the steel steps. The advantage did not last long as once back inside Warrior scored with a succession of clotheslines. The flying tackle and splash finished things in short order, in the usual Warrior demolition.

After the match, The Ultimate Warrior shook the ropes in celebration while the announcers were in awe at how one-sided the previous match-up had been.

Backstage, Lord Alfred Hayes was busy congratulating Lord Steven Regal and Hunter Hearst Helmsley, clearly delighted with their night’s work. Hayes said that if there is one thing they hate more than pathetic Americans, then it’s pathetic Canadians – and The Thrillseekers fall into that category. The Brooklyn Brawler suddenly arrived to present the Gentleman’s Club with their reward for winning the RAW Bowl – The Lombardi Trophy. The STEVE Lombardi Trophy, that is. And what a magnificent memento it was – a wooden stick with the Brawler’s portrait taped to it. The Gentleman’s Club did not appreciate the interruption by such riff-raff, throwing the "trophy" to the floor and quickly manhandling the Brawler. The Thrillseekers then showed up to dump a cooler of Lipton Brisk Iced Tea all over the Gentleman’s Club! Regal, Helmsley and Hayes were beside themselves with rage.

It was time for the funeral wake for The Undertaker. No expense had been spared as the ring was decorated with funeral wreaths, candelabras and a black podium with an extravagant open casket on top. Brother Love, Paul Bearer and Sabu were all stood around the casket with their heads bowed, while the wheelchair-bound Ted DiBiase was stationed at ringside with a huge grin on his face. To loud boos and jeers, Bearer took the microphone and proclaimed that the saga is finally over. The Undertaker is never coming back; he is burning in the fires of Hell for eternity. Bearer addressed the crowd with a look of disgust on his face, demanding that they thank him for ridding the false hope The Undertaker provided to each of their meaningless lives. Bearer said he knows that each and every fan is clinging to a futile shred of hope that The Undertaker will return. That will never happen. The so-called Phenom is six feet underground, rotting and decomposing like his legacy.

Brother Love then announced that the time for mourning is now and demanded that all of the audience and everyone at home stand up and bow their heads. It's time to observe a moment of silence for the man we'll never see again – The Undertaker.

Suddenly a bolt of lightning shot from the ceiling and struck the casket in the middle of the ring, slamming the lid shut! There were screams of excitement from the crowd as the attendees of the wake looked at each other with uncertainty. Paul Bearer tentatively approached the casket, but then the lid burst open and The Undertaker himself popped out!! The crowd exploded with delight at the sight of the Deadman, who had been gone since Survivor Series! Undertaker dropped Paul Bearer and Brother Love with right hands, but before sending Sabu out of the ring with a big boot to the face! Undertaker then turned his attention to Ted DiBiase, who immediately tried to wheel away. The Undertaker caught up with him and began choking DiBiase in his wheelchair. Sabu intervened, cracking Undertaker across the back with a chair, but that merely got the Deadman’s attention. Sabu slid back into the ring and went for a dive, but The Undertaker countered by delivering a vicious chair shot to Sabu as the Human Highlight Reel took flight! Undertaker then entered the ring and choke slammed Sabu into the casket, before knocking it over! Meanwhile, Ted DiBiase was frantically wheeling his way to the back. The Undertaker pointed at The Million Dollar Man and made the throat-slitting gesture as the crowd gave the returning Deadman a standing ovation!


Circuit information:
Lord Steven Regal and Hunter Hearst Helmsley will officially challenge The Thrillseekers for the Tag Team Titles at the Royal Rumble after Lord Alfred Hayes’ men became the first ever winners of the RAW Bowl. And what a chaotic match-up it was. The Gentleman’s Club were unable to savour this victory as Chris Jericho and Lance Storm showed up to cover them in iced tea! Regal and Helmsley are riled.

There is no love lost between interim WWF President Dean Douglas and Sean Waltman. Douglas came out during the RAW Bowl and sustained an errant kick to the face from Waltman, before personally ensuring that Waltman was disqualified from the match. Douglas has offered Waltman a spot in the Free for All match (and potentially the number 30 slot in the Royal Rumble) as consolation, but Waltman is right to be wary.

What a performance from The Ultimate Warrior, who trounced the hapless Diesel tonight. It was quite shocking just how easily Warrior managed to put Big Daddy Cool away and now Warrior must surely be considered one of the favourites to win the Royal Rumble.

The Dead Man refuses to die! Paul Bearer, Sabu and Ted DiBiase all thought that at Survivor Series they had got rid of The Undertaker forever, but the Phenom made a spectacular return tonight to interrupt his own funeral wake. Undertaker is most definitely back, and he wants to make his antagonists suffer.

This weekend on Superstars, Fatu will lock horns with TITAN and “Stunning” Steve Austin will square off with the Big Boss Man, plus Intercontinental Champion Ludvig Borga will be in action. Also, Justin “Hawk” Bradshaw makes his in-ring debut! Till then, so long everybody!

[kingofoldschool]

WWF Superstars
January 6th, 1996
Stabler Arena, Bethlehem, PA
Your commentators are Vince McMahon and Mr. Perfect.

This week's edition of WWF Superstars kicked off with the debut of the big clubbering Texan, Justin "Hawk" Bradshaw.

Justin Bradshaw pinned Brian Walsh with the Lariat in 0:00:10.
Rating: DUD
[Uncle Zebekiah interfered against Brian Walsh.]

Uncle Zebekiah distracted Brian Walsh by branding him in the chest before the match started! As soon as the referee called for the bell, Justin Bradshaw connected with a vicious lariat to secure a debut win in a matter of seconds!

After the match, Justin Bradshaw took the mic and demanded another match. Bradshaw said that he had come here to fight, and complained that he had barely broke sweat in that last bout.

Justin Bradshaw pinned Marty Garner with the Lariat in 0:03:52.
Rating: * 1/4

Justin Bradshaw got to show off exactly what he is all about here, displaying great stiffness and intensity. Bradshaw brutalised Marty Garner with power moves and flattened him with a stiff lariat to pick up another win.

While Zebekiah branded Marty Garner, Bradshaw again was not satisfied and demanded someone else come out and fight him. Bradshaw promised to look his opponent in the eye and then kick their teeth in. This time however, the challenge was answered by the Big Boss Man! The former corrections officer was quite a step up on quality from Bradshaw's previous opponents this evening and the big Texan decided to bail and fight another day.

He fired The Roadie and then he split with Tennessee Lee, now Jeff Jarrett is scheduled to return on the Brother Love show this week on RAW. Apparently Double J will have a big announcement regarding his future.

Ludvig Borga pinned Bob Holly with the Rack and Ruin in 0:08:06.
Rating: ** 3/4
[Kimona interfered against Bob Holly.]

During the match, it was revealed that Intercontinental Champion Ludvig Borga will face Sean Waltman in the Free for All match at the Royal Rumble, the winner of which enters the Rumble at number 30 and the loser at number 1. Gary Hart then cut an inset promo in which he talked up Borga's chances of capturing the coveted number 30 slot and then going on to win the Rumble.

The enigmatic Raven was shown sitting in the front row as Rad Radford made his entrance. Radford walked over to Raven, who responded by suddenly grabbing Radford's head and staring into his eyes. Raven demanded elimination by any means necessary.

Rad Radford pinned Barry Horowitz with the Nevermind Suplex in 0:04:02.
Rating: **

After the match, Raven hopped the railing, entered the ring and planted Barry Horowitz with a DDT. Raven and Rad Radford then left together.

Comments aired from Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase, who was seething over the return of The Undertaker this past week on RAW. DiBiase said he should never have trusted Paul Bearer to get the job done. DiBiase cursed the ground Undertaker walks on and claimed to despise the very air that Undertaker breathes. But DiBiase added that the hatred he feels for The Undertaker is nothing compared to that which Kane feels for his older brother. The Million Dollar Man said that he is not holding Kane back any longer, and revealed that he is bringing Kane to RAW this week! DiBiase refused to be held responsible for Kane’s actions next Monday.

TITAN pinned Fatu with the Choke Slam in 0:04:48.
Rating: * 1/2

After the match, Harvey Wippleman took the mic and acknowledged that Andre the Giant may have been considered to be the king of battle royals, but his man TITAN is bigger and badder than Andre ever was. Wippleman predicted that TITAN will win the Royal Rumble handily and then go on to become the most dominant WWF Champion this company has ever seen. Wippleman issued a unique challenge to the entire roster for anybody to come and try to throw TITAN over the top rope next week on Superstars.

Bam Bam Bigelow came out to interrupt. He reminded his former manager Wippleman that it was he who chucked the 7'4" monster TITAN out of the Golden Opportunity battle royal last summer and vowed to repeat the feat at the Rumble. Bigelow also took up the challenge to be part of next week's over the top rope invitational.

Footage was shown of the previous encounter between Big Boss Man and Steve Austin which featured involvement from Lex Luger. Luger counteracted the persistent interference from Brian Pillman on the outside, which distracted Austin and lead to him losing the match on a count out. The rematch is next!

Steve Austin defeated Big Boss Man via pinfall in 0:10:01.
Rating: *** 1/4

During the match Steve Austin cut an inset promo, in which he claimed that his attack on Lex Luger two weeks ago on RAW was him simply repaying the favour after Luger stuck his nose in Austin's business.

Boss Man narrowly avoided being tripped by Brian Pillman and that crutch. After laying out Austin with a big boot, Boss Man slid under the bottom rope and floored Pillman with an uppercut, taking him out of the game! That drew a great reaction from the crowd. In the end, Austin avoided a splash from Boss Man in the corner and then pinned the former corrections officer with his feet on the ropes.

Knowing that he had stolen one, Steve Austin did not hang about after the contest. Big Boss Man complained to the official about Austin's cheating, but then turned around into a hard lariat from Justin "Hawk" Bradshaw! Bradshaw stood over Boss Man and yelled that they would fight on his terms as the show went off-air.


Circuit information:
Justin Bradshaw made quite an impact tonight on Superstars, winning his debut match in seconds and then immediately demanding another bout. However, when the Big Boss Man answered the call, Bradshaw was not so willing to fight. Bradshaw waited to strike until the former corrections officer had faced Steve Austin and clobbered Boss Man with a super stiff lariat. We can exclusively reveal that Bradshaw and Boss Man will meet in two weeks on Superstars.

TITAN and Bam Bam Bigelow are set to clash once again next week in a unique over the top rope invitational challenge. We are not aware yet of any other superstars throwing their hat in the ring for this one, but we will announce any names as soon as we have them.

Crush, Sean Waltman and the New Rockers are all set for action this week on Monday Night RAW, while Randy Savage will be looking to build momentum ahead of his WWF Title Match at the Royal Rumble when he battles Tatanka. But who knows what else might happen on RAW as Ted DiBiase has threatened to unleash the monster Kane!! Make sure you tune in and find out! Till then, so long everybody!!

[kingofoldschool]

Monday Night RAW
January 8th, 1996
Bob Carpenter Center, Newark, DE
Your commentators are Vince McMahon and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan.

Randy Savage pinned Tatanka with the Macho Elbowdrop in 0:18:00.
Rating: *** 1/2

Randy Savage won a hard-fought match over Tatanka, a man with his own good record against Shawn Michaels and who actually defeated The Heartbreak Kid for the Intercontinental Title at WrestleMania IX. Savage kicked out of the End of the Trail and countered the Wykea, before finishing off The Native American with the flying elbow.

After the match, Vince McMahon pushed the three pinfalls that the Macho Man has recorded over Shawn Michaels and opined that The Heartbreak Kid's title reign is in serious danger at the Royal Rumble.

Crush made Jeff Brettler submit to the Cranium Crunch in 0:02:30.
Rating: 1/2*

Jim Ross presented a Slam Jam segment in which it was noted that Crush, Great Muta, Lex Luger, Steve Austin, Tatanka and Jean-Pierre Lafitte had been added to the Royal Rumble match. Ross also announced that on the pay-per-view The Undertaker will face Sabu for the last time ever and this time it will be a Casket Match!

The New Rockers were ready for action when suddenly the lights in the arena went out. Vince McMahon thought that somebody was playing a joke in the back, but then dark organ music began to play and Kane appeared to much hellfire and brimstone! We had not seen this seven foot monster in person since Survivor Series. The Rockers unwisely decided to attack the younger brother of The Undertaker and were pummelled. Kane hit a double choke slam on The Rockers with ease, while Ted DiBiase cackled at ringside in his wheelchair. Kane lifted up Marty Jannetty and tossed him like a rag doll out of the ring, before grabbing Leif Cassidy and launching him out on top of his partner. Kane stood silently in the ring to much booing while the Million Dollar Man took the microphone.

Ted DiBiase said that Kane is The Undertaker’s stop sign on his highway to eternity. Starting with these boys tonight, DiBiase threatened to destroy every wrestler on the roster until they get to The Undertaker. That is why Kane is here, and we have The Undertaker to thank! DiBiase said that every time The Undertaker looks around, he’s going to see his brother behind him. Every time he closes his eyes to sleep, he is going to remember that terrible night - the night of the fire! DiBiase welcomed The Undertaker to his worst nightmare.

Sean Waltman pinned Matt Hardy after a moonsault bodyblock in 0:04:08.
Rating: * 1/2

Intercontinental Champion Ludvig Borga was shown watching this match backstage, along with his manager Gary Hart. Borga will face Waltman in the Free for All pre-show before the Royal Rumble, the winner of which will earn the #30 spot in the Rumble. Dean Douglas then showed up for a private conflab with Gary Hart.

IIII LLLOOOOOOVVVVVE YYOOOOOOOU!!!

Brother Love's guest this week was the returning Jeff Jarrett who made a grand entrance, riding down to the ring on a horse! The horse had the same flashing lights on it to match Jarrett's hat and jacket. A lady wearing a sparking silver dress made her way out and Jarrett introduced her as his new business manager, Wynonna. Wynonna presented Jarrett with a gold disc to commemorate selling 500,000 copies of his country music album, "Ain't I Great".

The delighted Jarrett claimed that 1996 will be the year of Double J. Not only will he be starting work soon on his second album, "Greater Than Great", but Jarrett is also officially entering the Royal Rumble match. Jarrett said that he will go through 29 other superstars and then at WrestleMania XII in Los Angeles, right there in Hollywood, Double J will become the new champion. Jarrett said that they would tear down the Hollywood sign and replace it with "Double J" Jeff Jarrett. That's J - E - Double F, J - A - Double R - E - Double T. Double J, Jeff Jarrett, the world's greatest singer, the world's greatest entertainer and the world's greatest wrestler and NEW WWF Champion. Ain't I great?

The Jarrett love-in was interrupted by The Roadie, who had not been seen since Jarrett assaulted and fired him the last time they appeared on the Brother Love Show one month ago. Roadie entered the ring and confronted Jarrett, stating that no, Jarrett is not great. The crowd cheered that comment from The Roadie, who went on to say that Jarrett doesn't deserve that gold disc because Double J is nothing but a phoney! Roadie claimed that Jarrett didn't even sing on the album and in fact, back at In Your House last July, Jarrett lip-synced his entire performance! Jarrett was aghast at these accusations. Brother Love demanded to know how Roadie knew this, while the fiery Wynonna got in Roadie's face. Wynonna yelled that Roadie is nothing but a liar and threatened to sue him for making these claims. Before Roadie could offer a reply, Jarrett smashed the gold disc over Roadie's head and left him laying as the show went off-air!


Circuit information:
Ted DiBiase was infuriated at the return of The Undertaker last week and as a result, he vowed to unleash the monster Kane tonight. Well, The Million Dollar Man was certainly true to his word and it was The New Rockers felt the full brunt of the seven-foot weapon of mask destruction's wrath. Kane dismantled Leif Cassidy and Marty Jannetty with ease. DiBiase wants to make The Undertaker’s life a living hell until DiBiase gets what he wants…but exactly what that could be is unclear at this stage.

The final chapter in the violent rivalry between The Undertaker and Sabu will be written at the Royal Rumble as the two superstars are scheduled to meet in a Casket Match. This time, the match-up is sanctioned by the WWF so that proceedings can be contained and controlled by the company. Good luck with that!

A new year, a new Jeff Jarrett as Double J made a triumphant return following his split with Tennessee Lee. Jarrett brought his feisty business manager Wynonna with him, who gifted Jarrett with a gold CD celebrating half a million copies sold of the "Ain't I Great" album. But what should have been a moment of celebration was ruined by Jarrett’s former Roadie, who joyfully dropped the bombshell that Jarrett never even sang on the album at all! Before The Roadie could elaborate, he was laid out by Jarrett. There will surely be a lot more to come out of this.

This weekend on Superstars, Bam Bam Bigelow and TITAN will rekindle their feud when they tussle in a unique Over The Top Rope Challenge, where the only way to win is to dump your opponent over the top rope to the floor. Each superstar will be looking to give their Royal Rumble credentials a boost with a victory. Plus, Scott Steiner, Jean-Pierre Lafitte and The Heavenly Bodies are all scheduled for action, while Great Muta will square off with "The Good Doctor" Waylon Mercy. Till then, so long everybody!

[kingofoldschool]

WWF Superstars
January 13th, 1996
Stabler Arena, Bethlehem, PA
Your commentators are Vince McMahon and Mr. Perfect.

Great Muta pinned Waylon Mercy with the Moonsault Press in 0:08:23.
Rating: **
[Nurse Luna interfered against Great Muta.]

Todd Pettengill interviewed Steve Austin backstage, in which Austin bragged that he will win the Royal Rumble. Bam Bam Bigelow interrupted to suggest that Austin should enter tonight's over the top rope invitational match and prove he has what it takes to win. However, Bigelow doubted Austin had the guts to show up and said that Austin's confidence was misplaced because Brian Pillman won't be able to help him in the Rumble. Bigelow's comments certainly appeared to rile the Stunning One.

Raven was spotted at ringside once again, but now Rad Radford was by his side and both sat staring blankly at proceedings. Vince McMahon announced that Radford is scheduled to square off against Savio Vega next week on Superstars. McMahon added that it is now over a month since Raven signed his contract and is yet to compete in a match. McMahon wondered if we will ever see Raven in a WWF ring.

The Heavenly Bodies (Jimmy Del Ray and Tom Prichard) defeated
Chaz Warrington and Glen Ruth when Tom Prichard pinned G. Ruth after
a piledriver in 0:04:14.
Rating: * 1/4
[Tammy Fytch interfered against Chaz Warrington.]

During the match Tammy Fytch cut an inset promo in which she blamed that "tramp" Rockin' Robin for costing her Heavenly Bodies another shot at the Tag Team Titles in the RAW Bowl. Fytch said that if Robin tries anything like that again, she can expect a lot worse than a clothesline from Scott Steiner.

In a recording studio, Jim Ross conducted a sit down interview with the former Roadie, now going by the name Jesse James. Ross wanted to discuss James’ claims from this past Monday that supposed country crooner Jeff Jarrett is really a fraud. After footage was shown of Jeff Jarrett lip-syncing badly at In Your House this past July, James presented secret rehearsal tapes of himself singing “With My Baby Tonight”. James then performed a rendition of the song alongside resident music maestro Jim Johnson, confirming that he is in fact the voice behind it and always has been. James said that this is all the evidence you need that Jarrett’s entire music career is a hoax and added that Jarrett is not even close to being a good entertainer.

Jesse James said that he doesn't hate Jeff Jarrett because Jarrett helped his career, but he just wants the proper credit for that hit song and threatened to file a false and deceptive packaging suit in order to seek compensation for his vocal contributions. James claimed that Jarrett’s fame and influence was supposed to carry both of them to the top, but then Jarrett left him high and dry. Well, James admitted that he used to be in Jarrett’s shadow, but now he’s ready to take the spotlight as the real Double J!

Jean-Pierre Lafitte pinned Jeff Hardy after a flying legdrop in 0:03:16.
Rating: * 1/4

Footage was shown from this past week on RAW of Kane’s destruction of The New Rockers, along with Ted DiBiase's remarks that Kane is here to make The Undertaker’s life a living hell.

Comments aired from The Undertaker regarding his Casket Match with Sabu at the Royal Rumble. The Phenom said that he had fought Sabu on two occasions, but that nothing was settled except that he can beat Sabu at will. Undertaker said that Sabu will have to look into the eyes of the Reaper at the Royal Rumble for the final time. The Undertaker added that his history in Casket Matches is legendary, having never lost a single one before.

The Undertaker then addressed the situation with his younger brother Kane. He claimed that for over 20 years now, he’s walked the face of the Earth, covered by a dark cloud, carrying the grief of a family lost. And in one moment’s time, the brother that he had lost forever – or so it seemed – stood before him at Survivor Series. Undertaker said that when he looked into Kane’s eyes, he didn’t see the love of a long-lost brother, but the hatred of a man whose mind has been poisoned. Undertaker called Ted DiBiase nothing more than an infectious disease and despite what he has told Kane of his older brother, somewhere behind that mask of evil is his little brother and The Undertaker knows that there is something good left in him. Undertaker said that DiBiase will pay for what he is doing.

Scott Steiner made Barry Horowitz submit to the Steiner Recliner in 0:03:13.
Rating: ** 1/4
[Tammy Fytch interfered against Barry Horowitz.]

Scott Steiner cut an inset promo in which he laughed off Crush's threat to target him in the Royal Rumble. Steiner branded Crush a "fluorescent goon" and said if Crush is in the ring when Steiner enters the Rumble, it will be Crush who ends up splattered all over ringside. Steiner said that he is unstoppable; he is the man that ended Bret Hart's career and it is his density to become WWF Champion at WrestleMania.

TITAN waited patiently in the ring while Bam Bam Bigelow made his entrance, but Bigelow was suddenly jumped from behind at ringside by Steve Austin! It was another trademark sneak attack by Austin, who was not pleased by what Bigelow had said about him earlier. Austin drove Bigelow's head into the ring steps and hammered away with forearms to the back. There was a thunderous roar as Lex Luger then arrived on the scene to go after Austin, a man he has a big issue with. The over the top rope invitational had just become a four-way.

Over The Top Rope Invitational Challenge
TITAN vs Bam Bam Bigelow vs Lex Luger vs Steve Austin

Steve Austin scrambled into the ring and then threw himself over the top rope to get away from Lex Luger, effectively eliminating himself. Austin scarpered through the crowd while in the ring, TITAN cut Luger off. TITAN wanted to avenge his loss to Luger in their steel cage match, but The Total Package was holding his own here. Luger had TITAN rocking near the ropes and pulled down his elbow pad to deliver the blow he hoped would knock the giant over the top rope. However, Austin came back out and jumped on the apron. Austin and Luger started brawling, allowing TITAN to dump Luger out to the floor.

TITAN was celebrating, but Bam Bam Bigelow was still in this. Bigelow shook off the effects of Austin's pre-match assault and took it straight to TITAN. Bigelow was relentless with headbutts and clotheslines. The Beast from the East connected perfectly with a gamengiri which floored the monstrous TITAN! Mr. Perfect questioned Bigelow's strategy as Bigelow now had to lift TITAN off the mat and then over the top rope. Instead, Bigelow went up top, looking to deliver the flying headbutt. However, TITAN stunned the crowd with a kip-up, displaying such crazy athleticism for a man his size. Nobody was more surprised than Bigelow, who was frozen on the top turnbuckle in disbelief. TITAN wrapped a huge hand around Bigelow's throat and then sent him plummeting to ringside with a giant choke slam!! TITAN wins the over the top rope invitational, and on the back of this performance he must be considered the overwhelming favourite for the Royal Rumble!

[Over The Top Rope Invitational Challenge]: 4-Man Battle Royal:
TITAN won a 4-man Battle Royal:
x S. Austin eliminated himself in 0:00:02
x TITAN threw out Luger in 0:03:37
x TITAN threw out Bigelow after the Choke Slam in 0:07:44
Rating: ***


Circuit information:
It’s official - Jeff Jarrett is the Milli Vanilli of the WWF! He hoodwinked us all at In Your House last July with his “live” performance. Footage of the rehearsal tape showed that it was in fact The Roadie singing in Nashville and after the revelation that his real name is Jesse James, I guess this makes him "the Real Double J"! In tonight’s revealing interview, James said that Jarrett promised him the world, but James ended up on the unemployment line. Now James is back and he wants the right credit. It will be interesting to see how Jarrett responds to this scandal – he is scheduled for action this week on Monday Night RAW.

TITAN continues to amaze us all with his incredible athleticism. He may weigh 440 pounds but that does not stop him being able to move like a cat, with the power of a bull. TITAN has stunned us by performing dropkicks and flying shoulderblocks, but tonight he pulled off perhaps his most impressive feat to date when he kipped up from the mat to a standing position, before choke slamming Bam Bam Bigelow out to the floor to win the Over The Top Rope Invitational Challenge. Can anybody stop TITAN from winning the Royal Rumble?

Here's how the card is shaping up for the ninth annual Royal Rumble, coming at you live on pay-per-view on January 21, 1996 from the Selland Arena in Fresno, California:

30-man Royal Rumble match for a WWF World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania XII

WWF Championship
Shawn Michaels vs "Macho Man" Randy Savage

Casket Match - Last Time Ever
The Undertaker vs Sabu

WWF Tag Team Championship
The Thrillseekers vs Lord Steven Regal and Hunter Hearst Helmsley

Free For All Match - Winner enters the Royal Rumble match at #30 and the loser at #1
Sean Waltman vs Ludvig Borga

Ahead of his WWF Title opportunity, Randy Savage will appear on the Brother Love Show this week on Monday Night RAW to discuss his chances at the Royal Rumble. Gentleman's Club members Lord Steven Regal and Hunter Hearst Helmsley will be in action to warm up for the Rumble, plus Jeff Jarrett will appear under this current cloud of controversy. It's the go-home show for the Royal Rumble and you will not want to miss it! Till then, so long everybody!!

[kingofoldschool]

Monday Night RAW
January 15th, 1996
Bob Carpenter Center, Newark, DE
Your commentators are Vince McMahon and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan.

The show opened with Bob “Spark Plugg” Holly in the ring, ready for one-on-one action. However, as Holly patiently waited for his opponent, the lights went out and the nightmare organ sounded. No! It’s Kane!

Bob Holly is a gamer though and attempted several dropkicks, including one off the top rope, but none of them managed to do anything except bump Kane back a couple of steps. The doomed Holly ran at Kane again and this time Kane caught him around the throat, left him in the air for several seconds and then slammed him down hard with a choke slam! Kane picked Holly back up and then drilled him with a Tombstone piledriver.

At ringside, Ted DiBiase grabbed a microphone. He warned The Undertaker that everything he has ever dreamed of and everything that he wants to accomplish, they are going to take away. Human eye has not seen nor has human ear heard what Kane has in store for his brother, The Undertaker. DiBiase threatened to stroll through the WWF, crushing everybody in Kane’s path until Undertaker meets his brother face to face. All the agony that they cause and all the souls that they destroy will be The Undertaker’s fault. And Undertaker, you will never, ever rest in peace.

Ted DiBiase and Kane were being booed out of the building, which only served to rile The Million Dollar Man. DiBiase looked at the fans with disgust and considered whether Kane’s path of destruction should not just be restricted to the locker room. Maybe the leeches of the night should be forced to suffer as well! DiBiase invited Kane to join him at ringside so they could choose an unfortunate victim from the crowd to burn in the fires of Hell! Vince McMahon begged for help as the show cut to commercial.

The show returned with Kane walking around ringside and it seriously appeared that he was about to start murdering civilians. DiBiase claimed that it doesn’t have to be like this. Nobody else has to suffer – the rampage will end if The Undertaker agrees to face his brother one-on-one. Suddenly, The New Rockers – victims of an assault by Kane last week – arrived armed with steel chairs which they smashed Kane with! The monster barely flinched and then shoved The Rockers down before throwing them into the ring. Rockin’ Robin ran down to cheer her men on as Leif Cassidy and Marty Jannetty each climbed to a top rope and sent a pair of flying double axe-handles at Kane. The masked man didn’t even fall over! Kane grabbed Jannetty by the neck, kicked Cassidy in the face and delivered a massive choke slam and a Tombstone piledriver to Jannetty, and another Tombstone to Cassidy. Robin entered the ring to check on her men. Bad idea. Ted DiBiase instructed Kane to go after Robin, while a frantic Vince McMahon once again demanded that somebody, anybody, get out here immediately. Kane dragged Robin up by the hair and she let out a terrified scream. Then the arena plunged into darkness…

…GONG…

The Undertaker is here! The Phenom was given a rapturous response as he walked slowly down the aisle. The announcers wondered if he and Kane will finally have it out right here. The Undertaker entered the ring and the two brothers stood face to face once again. DiBiase remarked what a beautiful family portrait this is, but there’s only one thing missing – their parents! The parents that The Undertaker murdered! And here in front of The Undertaker is his brother, the brother that suffered for twenty years and it’s all The Undertaker’s fault! Just like the agony that all of the WWF superstars are going through right now is all his fault! DiBiase said that the list is growing, day by day, but he is going to give the Deadman one chance. One chance to step up to the plate, one chance to be a man. DiBiase said that The Undertaker must face his brother!

And with that, Kane drew back and slapped The Undertaker across the face, sending the Phenom reeling. Kane went for another slap, but this time The Undertaker grabbed his arm and held it, staring into Kane’s eyes before slowly walking to the back. Ted DiBiase shook his head in disgust. Kane lifted his arms, then slammed them to his sides, sending flames shooting up from the ring.

Gentleman's Club (Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Lord Steven Regal) defeated
The Bushwhackers (Bushwhacker Luke and Bushwhacker Butch) when Regal made
Luke submit to the Regal Stretch in 0:03:25.
Rating: * 1/4
[Lord Alfred Hayes interfered against Bushwhacker Butch.]
[Lord Alfred Hayes interfered against Bushwhacker Luke.]

Lord Steven Regal and Hunter Hearst Helmsley were ultra-aggressive tonight as they murdered fan favourites The Bushwhackers. The Gentleman's Club were taking their frustrations out following their perceived embarrassment when The Thrillseekers doused them in iced tea following the RAW Bowl. Helmsley took Butch out of the equation when he Pedigreed him on the floor and then he and Regal destroyed Luke two-on-one. Regal then put Luke out of his misery with the Regal Stretch.

Regal and Helmsley weren't satisfied with the win and continued to beat on Luke after the bell. Helmsley threw the referee out to the floor before the Gentleman's Club set Luke up for a Pedigree onto the steel steps! Before they could complete the move, The Thrillseekers arrived on the scene to run off the men who will challengers for their belts at Sunday's Royal Rumble.

Jeff Jarrett made Matt Hardy submit to the Figure-Four Leglock in 0:03:01.
Rating: 3/4*

Jeff Jarrett's new business manager Wynonna joined the announcers on commentary during this match. She played down the claims made by Jesse James on Superstars, completely ignoring the evidence James had presented of Jarrett's lip-syncing, suggesting that James is full of it and is nothing but a bitter former employee. She insisted that James' singing voice is nowhere near as good as Double J's. Wynonna threatened to hit James with a gag order to prevent him from causing further damage to Jarrett's reputation and branded James' own threats of litigation as "ludicrous".

IIII LLLOOOOOOVVVVVE YYOOOOOOOU!!!

Macho Man Randy Savage was the guest on this week's Brother Love show. Or so we thought, because Savage did not even have a chance to utter one word before Love brought out his "real guest", WWF Champion Shawn Michaels. The Heartbreak Kid was out to confront Savage, accusing him of being behind the prank of sending him a box full of razor blades. With Diesel standing menacingly in the background, Michaels said it was a dirty trick, but Savage's mind games would not work and at the Royal Rumble, he will dance all over the Macho Man's face.

Savage said that he could see how "cut up" Michaels was, but denied any involvement. Macho Man pointed out that it could have been anybody back in that locker room who played the trick on Michaels, because we're all just a touch sick of Michaels strutting around with the WWF Title around his waist. Savage said he had proved already that he doesn't need to use mind games to beat Shawn Michaels. Savage stated that he has pinned Michaels before - not once, not twice, but three times - and when he does so again at the Royal Rumble, he'll become a three-time WWF Champion.

That incensed an already upset Shawn Michaels. Michaels fired back that two years ago, he ended Savage's marriage when he took Savage's old lady. This time, it will be the end of Savage's career when he takes Savage's hopes and dreams and smashes them into dust.

Macho Man interrupted by saying that if he can't beat Shawn Michaels for the Title at the Royal Rumble, then he doesn't have a career! An animated Michaels vowed to beat Savage and then he would never have to worry about the Macho Man ever again...

BAM! Diesel suckerpunched the distracted Savage and then Michaels kicked Macho Man in the head. Diesel blasted Savage with the Jackknife as boos rained down. Macho Man was left favouring his right elbow. Michaels shoved the WWF Championship belt in Savage's face and ranted that he will never ever wear this again. Referees hit the ring to break things up but Diesel scared them all away. Michaels dragged Savage up and threw him into Diesel's clutches for a second Jackknife, but thankfully The Ultimate Warrior burst onto the scene to send Michaels and Diesel scattering and prevent any more damage being done.


Circuit information:
It was a setup all along! Macho Man Randy Savage was the victim of an ambush on the Brother Love Show at the hands of Shawn Michaels and Diesel. And it appears that Savage suffered a serious elbow injury when he sustained Diesel's Jackknife power bomb. Savage was treated with an ice pack after the show and left the arena with his arm in a sling. The Macho Man was making noises tonight about being finished if he cannot dethrone Michaels as WWF Champion in six days at the Royal Rumble, but with a severely injured right elbow - the elbow he uses to hit his finisher, no less - what does this mean for his chances??

Here is the card for this Sunday's Royal Rumble, coming at you live on pay-per-view from the Selland Arena in Fresno, California:

30-man Royal Rumble match for a WWF World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania XII

We are guaranteed to have a first-time winner of the Royal Rumble this year as no previous victors make up the field of 30 superstars. The Ultimate Warrior and TITAN have impressed in recent weeks and are considered two of the big favourites. Scott Steiner has been on a tear as of late and the Superstar is determined to emulate the achievement last year of Bret Hart, the man Steiner injured and sidelined for an indeterminate period of time, and win the Rumble match. Crush, the man who has made it to the final two in each of the last two Rumbles, will be hoping to go one better this time around. And with Jake "The Snake" Roberts returning to compete in his first Royal Rumble since 1992, who knows what other surprises are in store this weekend in Fresno?

WWF Championship
Shawn Michaels vs "Macho Man" Randy Savage



The history between these two superstars is well documented. Randy Savage's wife Elizabeth left him for Shawn Michaels, kicking off a bitter feud between the two that raged on for much of 1994. Savage enjoyed the better of it, pinning The Heartbreak Kid on two occasions. Fast forward eighteen months to In Your House 5 and Savage continues to hold the Indian sign over Michaels, pinning the new WWF Champion once again in the tag team main event. That victory earned the Macho Man this title shot and the opportunity to become only the second man in history to wear the WWF Championship three times.

Shawn Michaels has been thrown off his stride as of late, unsettled by bizarre mind games of which he has accused Savage of being the architect. Savage has never needed such calculated manipulation to defeat Michaels before but the Macho Man is desperate to do so again, so much so that he has vowed to walk away if he fails. And Michaels would absolutely love that; a victory over Savage, a man he has never beaten, would be a major psychological win for The Heartbreak Kid and provide an extra degree of credibility to his WWF Championship reign.

Casket Match - Last Time Ever
The Undertaker vs Sabu



This will officially be the final meeting between The Undertaker and Sabu and this time it will be contested in a Casket Match, a bout sanctioned by the company so that it can be controlled and contained as much as possible. But what else can these two men do to each other, having blown each other up and ripped each other's flesh with barbed wire at Survivor Series?? The Undertaker has never been defeated in his specialty match and will be out to bury this dangerous and unforgiving rivalry on Sunday, once and for all.

WWF Tag Team Championship
The Thrillseekers vs Lord Steven Regal and Hunter Hearst Helmsley



Lord Alfred Hayes pulled off a masterstroke when he decided to pair up his charges Lord Steven Regal and Hunter Hearst Helmsley. Unbeaten as a team thus far, they were victorious in the inaugural RAW Bowl to secure this crack at the tag team titles. Hayes appears to have struck gold with this team, now we'll see if the team can strike gold on Sunday. It will not be an easy task; the Royal Rumble will mark a full calendar year since The Thrillseekers regained the straps at last year's event and they have turned back every challenge since. But the Tag Team Titles have been a hot potato at the Royal Rumble, changing hands at the event in each of the last two years.

Free For All Match - Winner enters the Royal Rumble match at #30 and the loser at #1
Sean Waltman vs Ludvig Borga



In the first ever Free For All pre-show match, the winner will enter the Royal Rumble match later that night at number 30 while the loser will have to make do with number one. Dean Douglas offered Sean Waltman this opportunity as a peace offering of sorts after Douglas caused the team of Waltman and the Great Muta to be eliminated from the RAW Bowl. Waltman will square off with Intercontinental Champion Ludvig Borga and these two have history as back in September, Waltman thought he had beaten Borga for the title only for the decision to be reversed by - you guessed it - Dean Douglas. Noticing a theme here? Both superstars will be desperate to avoid being the first man in the Rumble, otherwise it is going to be a very long and gruelling night if they want to keep their title dreams alive at WrestleMania.

Before the Royal Rumble, we'll be back this weekend with Superstars where Justin "Hawk" Bradshaw will square off with the Big Boss Man and Savio Vega is set to tangle with Rad Radford. Plus the man who refers to himself as "The Real Double J", Jesse James, will return to the ring for the first time since his acrimonious split from Jeff Jarrett. Till then, so long everybody!!

[kingofoldschool]

WWF Superstars
January 20th, 1996
Stabler Arena, Bethlehem, PA
Your commentators are Vince McMahon and Mr. Perfect.

Ted DiBiase opened the show with a promo in which he addressed the events of this past Monday night. DiBiase claimed that The Undertaker is nothing but a shell of the man he once was and added that it would have been so easy for Kane to send The Undertaker to his eternal damnation last week on RAW. But that's not what Kane wants. Kane wants The Undertaker to suffer, just like Kane did for 20 long years for the sin that The Undertaker committed.

DiBiase said that The Undertaker knows what he has to do if he wants all of this pain, all of this anguish, all of this suffering to end. He must face his little brother one-on-one. No interference, no excuses, so Kane can prove to all the leeches of the night that he is superior. Once Undertaker agrees to face Kane, then the rampage will end. Otherwise, the line of bodies left in Kane's wake will continue to grow.

One of Kane's victims on Monday, Bob Holly, was up first in the opening match on Superstars. Holly was limping slightly, the aftereffects from Kane's assault on RAW evident for all to see.

Bob Holly pinned Rockabilly after a small package in 0:08:03.
Rating: ** 3/4
[Tennessee Lee interfered against Bob Holly.]

As Savio Vega walked down the aisle for his match with Rad Radford, he caught sight of Raven sat in the crowd. After a brief staredown, Vega resumed his walk to the ring. Raven suddenly hopped the railing, spun Vega around and blasted him with a DDT on the floor! Raven then rolled the unconscious Vega into the ring.

Rad Radford had been deep in conversation with the referee, who eventually shrugged Radford off and called for the bell. Both the official and Radford had missed Raven's attack on Vega and thus were stunned to turn around and see the Caribbean superstar splayed out on the canvas! Radford first tried to revive Vega, and failing that he approached Raven for advice. Raven got on the apron, slapped Radford down and demanded that he cover the man. Radford did as he was told and the three count was academic.

Rad Radford defeated Savio Vega via pinfall in 0:00:20.
Rating: N/R

Savio Vega required assistance to walk back to the dressing room area after the vicious and unprovoked assault by Raven. On commentary, Mr Perfect had no sympathy for his old rival.

"The Real Double J" Jesse James returned to the ring in the next match and was given a nice ovation from the crowd. James sang the song "With My Baby Tonight" as he made his entrance, which will no doubt irk Jeff Jarrett and Wynonna. It was announced that James will be entering Sunday's Royal Rumble and with Jarrett already confirmed for the match, sparks could fly.

Jesse James pinned Arachnoid with the Back Alley Finale in 0:04:46.
Rating: 3/4*

During the match, Jesse James cut a tongue-in-cheek insert promo in which he said he wouldn't mind teaming with Jeff Jarrett again, but would only welcome Jarrett back to be his roadie.

Justin Bradshaw pinned Big Boss Man with the Lariat in 0:11:38.
Rating: ***
[Uncle Zebekiah interfered against Big Boss Man.]

Justin Bradshaw chalked up another win here when Zebekiah distracted the Big Boss Man with a trip and Bradshaw took advantage with that brutal lariat.

After the match, Bradshaw ripped open Boss Man's shirt and branded him in the chest.

Rockin' Robin cut a promo in which she said she was tired of listening to Tammy Fytch run her mouth. Robin challenged Fytch to a match, so she could shut her up permanently.

PJ Walker pinned Phil Apollo with the Walkover in 0:03:29.
Rating: **

The Undertaker cut a promo in a darkened part of the arena. The Deadman told Ted DiBiase that he can rest assured that The Undertaker is now living in hell, for when he looked into Kane's eyes last Monday he saw the demon. But regardless of how DiBiase poisoned Kane's mind, he still refuses to fight his own flesh and blood. The Undertaker reiterated that he will never, ever fight Kane.

Sabu on the other hand, well The Undertaker has no problem fighting him. The Undertaker said that Sabu is in the wrong place at the wrong time and the Royal Rumble will be Sabu's final resting place.

Fatu pinned Marty Garner with the Samoan Splash in 0:03:42.
Rating: 1/4*

Irate at The Undertaker's continued refusal to face his brother, The Million Dollar Man threatened to show up in Fresno and let Kane loose in Sunday's Royal Rumble! The announcers were left reeling from this chilling warning as the show went off air!


Circuit information:
Savio Vega was taken to a local medical facility after the show, where he underwent testing and was diagnosed with a concussion before being discharged. The Caribbean superstar has been ruled out of Sunday's Royal Rumble as a precaution, but not expected to miss any significant ring time. This will come as a huge blow to Vega, who debuted at last year's Rumble event and has now had an opportunity at main eventing WrestleMania cruelly taken away from him. Raven will be in serious trouble when Vega catches up with him, and Raven may have no choice but to finally step into the ring.

Here is the card for tomorrow night's Royal Rumble, coming at you live on pay-per-view from the Selland Arena in Fresno, California:

30-man Royal Rumble match for a WWF World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania XII

We are guaranteed to have a first-time winner of the Royal Rumble this year as no previous victors make up the field of 30 superstars. The Ultimate Warrior and TITAN have impressed in recent weeks and are considered two of the big favourites. Scott Steiner has been on a tear as of late and the Superstar is determined to emulate the achievement last year of Bret Hart, the man Steiner injured and sidelined for an indeterminate period of time, and win the Rumble match. Crush, the man who has made it to the final two in each of the last two Rumbles, will be hoping to go one better this time around. And with Jake "The Snake" Roberts returning to compete in his first Royal Rumble since 1992, who knows what other surprises are in store this weekend in Fresno?

WWF Championship
Shawn Michaels vs "Macho Man" Randy Savage



The history between these two superstars is well documented. Randy Savage's wife Elizabeth left him for Shawn Michaels, kicking off a bitter feud between the two that raged on for much of 1994. Savage enjoyed the better of it, pinning The Heartbreak Kid on two occasions. Fast forward eighteen months to In Your House 5 and Savage continues to hold the Indian sign over Michaels, pinning the new WWF Champion once again in the tag team main event. That victory earned the Macho Man this title shot and the opportunity to become only the second man in history to wear the WWF Championship three times.

Shawn Michaels has been thrown off his stride as of late, unsettled by bizarre mind games of which he has accused Savage of being the architect. Savage has never needed such calculated manipulation to defeat Michaels before but the Macho Man is desperate to do so again, so much so that he has vowed to walk away if he fails. And Michaels would absolutely love that; a victory over Savage, a man he has never beaten, would be a major psychological win for The Heartbreak Kid and provide an extra degree of credibility to his WWF Championship reign.

Casket Match - Last Time Ever
The Undertaker vs Sabu



This will officially be the final meeting between The Undertaker and Sabu and this time it will be contested in a Casket Match, a bout sanctioned by the company so that it can be controlled and contained as much as possible. But what else can these two men do to each other, having blown each other up and ripped each other's flesh with barbed wire at Survivor Series?? The Undertaker has never been defeated in his specialty match and will be out to bury this dangerous and unforgiving rivalry on Sunday, once and for all.

The ominous shadow of The Undertaker's brother Kane also looms over this bout. Ted DiBiase continues to be frustrated by The Undertaker's refusal to face Kane in a one-on-one match and has threatened to bring Kane to the Royal Rumble tomorrow night. When DiBiase has had to put his money where his mouth is recently, he has delivered, which could be very bad news for the Phenom.

WWF Tag Team Championship
The Thrillseekers vs Lord Steven Regal and Hunter Hearst Helmsley



Lord Alfred Hayes pulled off a masterstroke when he decided to pair up his charges Lord Steven Regal and Hunter Hearst Helmsley. Unbeaten as a team thus far, they were victorious in the inaugural RAW Bowl to secure this crack at the tag team titles. Hayes appears to have struck gold with this team, now we'll see if the team can strike gold on Sunday. It will not be an easy task; the Royal Rumble will mark a full calendar year since The Thrillseekers regained the straps at last year's event and they have turned back every challenge since. But the Tag Team Titles have been a hot potato at the Royal Rumble, changing hands at the event in each of the last two years.

Free For All Match - Winner enters the Royal Rumble match at #30 and the loser at #1
Sean Waltman vs Ludvig Borga



In the first ever Free For All pre-show match, the winner will enter the Royal Rumble match later that night at number 30 while the loser will have to make do with number one. Dean Douglas offered Sean Waltman this opportunity as a peace offering of sorts after Douglas caused the team of Waltman and the Great Muta to be eliminated from the RAW Bowl. Waltman will square off with Intercontinental Champion Ludvig Borga and these two have history as back in September, Waltman thought he had beaten Borga for the title only for the decision to be reversed by - you guessed it - Dean Douglas. Noticing a theme here? Both superstars will be desperate to avoid being the first man in the Rumble, otherwise it is going to be a very long and gruelling night if they want to keep their title dreams alive at WrestleMania.

[kingofoldschool]

WWF ROYAL RUMBLE 1996
January 21st, 1996
Selland Arena in Fresno, California:
Your commentators are Jim Ross and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan.

Free For All Match - Winner enters the Royal Rumble match at #30 and the loser at #1
Sean Waltman vs Ludvig Borga



Ludvig Borga kept the pace slow and deliberate, using his superior power to wear Sean Waltman down. Borga pressed Waltman in the air - looking for an uppercut on the way down - but Waltman turned it into a dropkick! Waltman connected with a spinning heel kick, then whipped Borga into the corner and followed in with a dropkick to the face. Waltman climbed to the top rope and delivered a reverse cross body for a heart-stopping near fall. Waltman went high-risk again but missed a front flip dive off the top and crashed hard. Borga signalled that this was the end and dragged Waltman up for the Rack and Ruin. However, Waltman managed to slide down and spin Borga around, kicking him in the gut and hitting the Eye of the Storm! The crowd was going crazy as Waltman crawled over to make the cover. Suddenly, Dean Douglas sprinted down, climbed to the top turnbuckle and launched himself at Waltman, but Waltman moved out of the way and Douglas hit Borga with a big splash! The referee called for the bell, disqualifying Borga for Douglas' attempted outside interference. Sean Waltman earns the coveted number thirty spot in the Royal Rumble, while Ludvig Borga faces an uphill task as he will now be the first man in!

[Free For All]:
Sean Waltman defeated Ludvig Borga by disqualification in 0:12:33.
Rating: *** 1/2
[Dean Douglas interfered against Sean Waltman.]

Footage aired from earlier in the evening of Shawn Michaels arriving at the arena, along with Diesel. Todd Pettengill caught up with the WWF Champion for an interview. Before Michaels started talking, he was distracted by the sound of screeching tyres in the distance which seemed to stir up a memory for him, but Michaels quickly shook his head and dismissed it. The Heartbreak Kid told Pettengill how this night is going to go. First, he's going to beat up Randy Savage so badly that the Macho Man won't be able to show his face around here anymore and Savage will be out of his hair forever. Then, Diesel is going to win the Royal Rumble, then step aside and forego his title opportunity. Michaels said he hated to disappoint everybody, but there will be no WWF Title Match at WrestleMania this year. Pettengill stirred the pot, asking if Diesel was really willing to give up the chance to become WWF Champion. Michaels proceeded to emasculate his seven foot bodyguard, saying that Diesel works for him and he pays Diesel's wages, so Diesel will do whatever he tells him to. Michaels then brushed past Pettengill and into the arena and Diesel eventually followed. It was impossible to read Big Daddy Cool's expression behind his sunglasses.

The pay-per-view proper began with the WWF Tag Team Title Match.

WWF Tag Team Championship
The Thrillseekers vs Lord Steven Regal and Hunter Hearst Helmsley



Lord Alfred Hayes' challengers cut off The Thrillseekers in the aisle as the champions made their entrance and a brawl erupted around ringside. During the melee Hunter Hearst Helmsley absolutely leathered Lance Storm in the knee with the cricket bat. Storm was very clearly hurt and made no attempt to hide his anger, leaving Chris Jericho to fight alone. Jericho did a respectable job for the first couple of minutes, even small packaging Lord Steven Regal for a two count. The challengers turned the tide when Regal dropped an elbow on Jericho, while Storm could not even manage to walk a few steps at ringside. Storm did drag himself onto the apron but the Gentleman's Club knocked him off. Jericho sent Regal crashing to the floor with a springboard dropkick, before powerslamming Helmsely and hitting an Asai moonsault, but Lord Alfred Hayes distracted the ref. The trainers came out to help Storm to the back for treatment, while the challengers proceeded to lay a royal ass-whupping on the abandoned Jericho.

Helmsley hit a spinning backbreaker on Jericho, before bowing and then following up with a kneedrop. Regal came in and unloaded with European uppercuts and forearms, throwing in a few bitch slaps to add insult to injury. Jericho wasn’t given a chance to catch breath as the challengers used quick tags and double teams. Regal blasted Jericho with a gutwrench suplex and then Helmsley applied a surfboard, but Jericho fought out and hit a desperation enzuigiri out of nowhere!

Chris Jericho inched towards his empty corner with his arm extended for a tag. Suddenly, Owen Hart ran down to the ring to replace Lance Storm in the match! The fans were going crazy for the return of the Rocket, while Regal - Owen's bitter rival - looked on from the apron, furious! Owen made the tag and went to town on the challengers. The Rocket took Hayes' men down with hiptosses and standing dropkicks. Owen telegraphed Regal’s monkey flip attempt and countered with a kneedrop to the head. Owen used a beautiful Northern Lights suplex on Helmsley, but Regal broke up the pin. Owen then reversed a whip into the corner from Helmsley and caught the Greenwich blueblood coming out with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex.

The match had broken down with all four superstars fighting. Owen took Regal out with a bodyblock over the top rope to the floor. Helmsley countered Jericho’s backdrop with a facebuster on the knee, then kicked him in the gut and hooked Jericho up for the Pedigree. However, Owen raced back in and struck Helmsley in the nose with a spinwheel kick! Jericho used the momentum to roll through and trap Helmsley in a cradle to score the very popular pinfall!

Owen Hart and Chris Jericho defeated
Gentleman's Club (Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Lord Steven Regal) when Jericho
pinned Helmsley after a jack-knife cradle in 0:18:27.
Rating: ****
(The Thrillseekers retained the WWF World Tag Team Titles.)
[Lord Alfred Hayes interfered against Chris Jericho.]

Jake "The Snake" Roberts, who makes his return to the company later tonight in the Royal Rumble, cut a trademark promo. Roberts warned that just when you thought the demons were gone, you've got a snake you gotta deal with. Roberts alerted the other 29 superstars in the Rumble that each and every one of them will get a taste of him...and he just might get a taste of them.

In the trainer's room, Lance Storm was getting his knee checked out by doctors. The prognosis was good; the knee is badly bruised but there is no long term damage and the doctors agreed that Storm could be back in the ring in about a month. Chris Jericho and Owen Hart then burst in triumphant. Jericho was delighted at retaining the gold, but Storm angrily snatched his title belt off Owen's shoulder. Jericho thanked Owen for helping them out and said that they owed him one. The Rocket said that he didn't want to miss an opportunity to stick it to Lord Steven Regal. Meanwhile, Storm skulked off back to his locker.

Dean Douglas was hurriedly walking down the corridor, perhaps hoping to avoid Sean Waltman, when he ran into an irate Gentleman's Club headed up by Lord Alfred Hayes. Hayes was furious at the outcome of the Tag Team Title Match, claiming that Owen and Jericho was not the team they signed up to face. They aren't even the Tag Team Champions! Douglas hastily arranged a match for Monday Night RAW, where Regal and Helmsley will compete against Jericho and Owen. Since Storm is injured and not cleared to compete, Douglas was making Owen the interim champion and the titles will be on the line tomorrow night!

Elsewhere backstage, Randy Savage was getting his elbow heavily strapped by the trainers. Savage said that even if his arm was broken, it wouldn't stop him beating Shawn Michaels for the title tonight. The Macho Man reaffirmed his claim that if he can't get the job done tonight, then you'll never see him again.

WWF Championship
Shawn Michaels vs "Macho Man" Randy Savage



As the bell sounded Randy Savage was immediately protecting his injured elbow from an attack from Shawn Michaels. The body part was clearly bothering Savage and Michaels was desperately trying to make a grab for it. The Macho Man bounced Michaels off the turnbuckles and threw Michaels over the top to create some space. Michaels skinned the cat, but Savage then clotheslined him out to the floor with his good arm and then followed up with a flying axhandle from the top rope to the floor which struck the champion right between the eyes.

Despite favouring the elbow, Savage still managed to hurl Michaels into the railing and the steel steps. Back inside, Michaels went to the eyes and that was the opening The Heartbreak Kid was looking for as he hit a single-arm DDT on Savage’s bad elbow. Michaels applied an armbar and a hammerlock, but there was no way that Savage was quitting despite being in a world of hurt. Savage asked Michaels if that’s all he had and spat at the champion. Michaels lost his cool and aimed a kick at Savage, but the Macho Man caught the boot and then launched Michaels with a slingshot which sent The Heartbreak Kid into the ring post!

Vintage Savage as he used a leverage move to snap Michaels’ neck off the top rope. A high knee to the back sent Michaels to the outside again and Savage whipped him into the post. Savage warned Diesel to keep his distance, but that momentary distraction allowed Michaels to grab Savage’s right arm and wrap the Macho Man's elbow around the post! In the ring, Michaels twisted Savage’s arm back and then stomped on the elbow. Michaels bodyslammed Savage on the injured arm and connected with a flying fistdrop. Michaels was confident that this was in the bag, but his cockiness got the better of him as he put his head down going for a back body drop and was caught with a kick.

Savage connected with a left-handed clothesline and scored a near fall off a flying cross body press. Michaels reversed a whip into the corner, but Savage ran up the turnbuckles and hit a spinning cross body for a count of two and nine tenths! Savage was now in total control and now Michaels sensed the title was slipping away. Michaels desperately signalled for Diesel. Big Daddy Cool stepped over the top rope and floored Savage with a big boot right in front of referee Earl Hebner! Not this way!! However the referee, perhaps sensing how much was on the line here, opted not to disqualify Michaels and instead ordered Diesel to the back! The fans cheered the decision, but Michaels was livid. Savage fought back to his feet as Michaels measured him for the superkick. With the referee still dealing with Diesel, Michaels tried to take Savage’s head off with Sweet Chin Music but Savage ducked down and punched Michaels in the balls! The roof almost came off!!

The Macho Man was ready to go for it all. He tore off the padding from his elbow, climbed to the top rope and signalled for the big elbowdrop that would surely seal his third WWF Championship. Savage leapt off and landed the move perfectly. The fans implored Savage to make the cover, but the Macho Man was rolling in agony from the impact to his elbow. Eventually Savage scrambled across and covered his man, but Michaels kicked out at the last possible moment! The delay on the pinfall had saved Michaels. Savage went back up top and this time aimed a flying axhandle at the champion, but Michaels countered with a perfectly-timed superkick right to Savage’s jaw. Michaels fell on top of Savage and hooked the leg for the three count. The hoodoo that Randy Savage had over Shawn Michaels is finally over. Shawn Michaels is still the WWF Champion.

Shawn Michaels pinned Randy Savage with the Sweet Chin Music in 0:23:55.
Rating: **** 1/4
(Shawn Michaels retained the WWF World Heavyweight Title.)
[Diesel interfered against Randy Savage.]

Despite the defeat, the crowd rose as one to give Randy Savage a standing ovation and show appreciation for his efforts. This irked Shawn Michaels, who grabbed referee Earl Hebner and instructed him to get Savage out of the ring. Michaels then resumed his celebrations with his post-match posing routine.

On commentary, Jim Ross blew up at the disrespect Shawn Michaels had shown to a legend like Randy Savage. Ross paid tribute to the Macho Man, thanking Savage on behalf of all of his fans for all of his positive contributions in the WWF and for all the wonderful memories over so many years.

Casket Match - Last Time Ever
The Undertaker vs Sabu



This bout, the final time that The Undertaker and Sabu will meet, is a casket match. That means the only way to win is to close the lid on your opponent after tossing him into the casket. There are no pinfalls, no submissions, no count-outs and no disqualifications. Just lock your opponent in an oak box.

Sabu set the tone for what we were about to witness as he threw several steel chairs into the ring before entering. As The Undertaker walked menacingly down the aisle, Sabu set up a chair in the ring and then sprang off it onto the top rope and then hurled himself with a flip dive onto Undertaker, flooring the Deadman at ringside! Sabu was all over the Undertaker now, ramming him into the casket and smashing a floral arrangement into the Phenom’s face. With Undertaker lying prone on top of the casket, Sabu connected with a triple jump legdrop! It didn’t look like the casket was going to survive this match, let alone either of these two superstars.

Sabu made the first attempt to put Undertaker in the casket, but the Deadman fought him off. Sabu snapped Undertaker’s neck off the top rope, but was then powerslammed when he attempted a high risk move off the top. Undertaker used a big boot and then the ropewalk forearm across the back. Sabu threw a chair at Undertaker out of desperation and followed up with a moonsault press. Sabu placed the chair onto The Undertaker and hit a ropeflip moonsault. Sabu was controlling this match to such an extent that the announcers debated whether The Undertaker’s mind was on something else, namely his younger brother Kane. The Undertaker sat up, but Sabu drilled the seated Undertaker with a springboard leg lariat. The Undertaker rolled to the outside and Sabu tried to dive through the ropes and over the casket onto his opponent, but The Undertaker opened the casket and Sabu shot head-first into the lid like a dart! The crowd were on their feet for that one as Paul Bearer grimaced.

Sabu crumpled into the casket, but managed to crawl out before The Undertaker could get the lid closed. The Undertaker introduced Sabu to the ring post and bodyslammed him on the floor. Sabu scrambled on top of the casket to get away, but The Undertaker caught him and went for a choke slam onto the lid. However, Sabu countered by kicking him low and then planted The Undertaker with a DDT on top of the casket. Sick! Sabu then landed an Asai moonsault on the casket, crushing The Undertaker beneath him and showing no regard for his own body. Back inside, Sabu opened a chair and laid The Undertaker’s head on it, before blasting him with a flying legdrop using another chair to sandwich The Undertaker between the steel!

Paul Bearer demanded that the official open the casket, sensing the bout was nearing the end as Sabu wore the Deadman down in a camel clutch. The Undertaker was able to power out of the hold though and drop Sabu with an electric chair! Undertaker tried to follow with a flying clothesline, but Sabu side stepped and Undertaker rolled into the casket. Bearer pushed his way past the official at ringside and tried to close the lid himself, but The Undertaker goozled him and climbed out of the casket with his hand still wrapped around the rotund manager’s throat. Sabu kicked The Undertaker in the head and went for a huracanrana from the ring apron, but The Undertaker blocked it and power bombed Sabu on top of the casket! Sabu dropped to the floor and writhed in agony. Bearer secretly passed a spike to the downed Sabu and then created a distraction by slapping Undertaker across the face! The Undertaker choke slammed his former manager on the floor, taking him out of the game, but Sabu dropkicked Undertaker in the back and sent him crashing into the steps! Sabu attacked Undertaker with the spike and then drilled him with a succession of wicked chair shots. Undertaker was lying spread-eagled on top of the casket and Sabu tried to impale him by leaping off the top rope with the spike! However, at the last second Undertaker rolled off and Sabu drove the spike into the lid of the casket. Sabu desperately tried to pull the spike back out of the lid, but The Undertaker cracked him across the back with a steel chair! The Undertaker then lifted Sabu up and splattered him over the casket with a gigantic choke slam! Sabu still had the wherewithal to drag himself into the ring away from the casket, but The Undertaker signalled for the finish and told the referee to lift the lid. The Undertaker lifted the limp body of Sabu over his shoulder, stepped over the top rope and hit a jaw-dropping Tombstone piledriver from the ring apron into the casket! The Undertaker prepared to slam the lid shut on this match and his feud with Sabu, when suddenly the lights went out and Kane’s horrific organ music began to play.

Through hellfire and brimstone, Kane emerged from the back flanked by Ted DiBiase in his electric wheelchair. It was one year ago at the Royal Rumble that The Undertaker ended DiBiase’s career and left him paralysed with a Tombstone on the concrete floor. The Undertaker and Kane went face-to-face once again in the centre of the ring. DiBiase demanded that The Undertaker fight his little brother. Kane shoved The Undertaker, but Undertaker refused to fight back. A slap to the face by Kane, again no response from the Deadman. Kane had had enough and snapped, landing several punches on his brother. Suddenly, The Undertaker stopped the onslaught by grabbing Kane by the neck! The crowd was delighted to see The Undertaker finally stand up to Kane!

The Undertaker paused and looked at his brother, but didn’t do anything. Kane used the hesitation to his advantage and continued attacking The Undertaker. Kane threw The Undertaker into the corner and destroyed him with kicks and stomps. Shot after shot into his brother’s face! The dishevelled Paul Bearer helped drag Sabu out of the casket, before Kane grabbed The Undertaker by the throat and choke slammed him into the box! Sabu then shut the lid, leaping on top of it to make sure it was sealed. The referee called the match. The Undertaker has been defeated for the very first time in a casket match!

Casket Match:
Sabu defeated The Undertaker in 0:15:09.
Rating: *** 1/2
[Paul Bearer interfered against The Undertaker.]
[Kane interfered against The Undertaker.]

After the match, Kane and Ted DiBiase padlocked the casket with The Undertaker inside it. Kane wheeled the box to the entrance way, where he grabbed an axe and a canister. Kane whacked the casket with the axe repeatedly from all sides, breaking through the top. Kane then poured the contents of the canister into the hole and all over the casket, before Ted DiBiase lit a matchbook and handed it to Kane. The masked monster tossed it onto the casket which immediately burst into flames, much to the horror of the announcers! Road agents were quickly on the scene to extinguish the blaze and crowbar open the casket lid, but when they looked inside The Undertaker was nowhere to be seen! The Undertaker’s dismembered voice then spoke over the PA system warning Kane that until their paths cross again, he will not rest in peace!!

Backstage, Shawn Michaels was overjoyed at retaining his WWF Championship and finally defeating Randy Savage. Michaels said that the Macho Man has been a thorn in his side for years and expressed his delight at getting rid of Savage. The Heartbreak Kid said that he was going to kick back, relax and enjoy the Mack Truck Diesel running through 29 fools in the Royal Rumble.

A pumped up Sean Waltman was interviewed by Todd Pettengill. Waltman admitted that he doesn't know what Dean Douglas' agenda is, but said that despite Douglas' best efforts he could not hamper his chances at winning the Royal Rumble. Waltman vowed to go on and do exactly that.

Before the Rumble match, Raven was once again shown in the crowd. He now has amassed a small group of followers: there's Rad Radford of course, along with The Birdman and Man Mountain Rock, who had not been seen since suffering a serious shoulder injury back in the spring.

30-man Royal Rumble match for a WWF World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania XII

Ludvig Borga came out in a surly mood as the number one entrant, still smarting over his loss to Sean Waltman in the Free For All. His mood was not helped by the fact that the man who drew number two was his former stablemate, Great Muta! The two superstars rekindled their rivalry until Rockabilly came out and he and Borga teamed up on Muta. Number four was none other than the returning Jake "The Snake" Roberts! The place came unglued as Roberts made his first appearance for nearly four years. Jake had that ominous green bag over his shoulder. He emptied the contents into the ring and scared Borga away with the python. Rockabilly had his back to proceedings, choking out Muta in the corner, and he ended up getting the snake treatment to his humiliation and disgust!

Jimmy Del Ray entered at number five, before Rockabilly - still reeling from getting up close and personal with Jake's python - was the first man to be eliminated when Great Muta launched him over the top. "Stunning" Steve Austin was out next, followed by Marty Jannetty. Austin earned a chorus of boos when he dumped Jake out and denied Roberts a dream return. Jesse James was the next man in and he came out singing "With My Baby Tonight", which will not please Jeff Jarrett. This incidentally was the first year that every entrant had their theme music played. The ring began to fill up as Rick Martel and Bam Bam Bigelow joined the fray, but Bigelow soon eliminated Del Ray from proceedings. We were a third of the way through the field.

"Double J" Jeff Jarrett was entrant number double-1 and he and Jesse James made a beeline for each other which brought the crowd to their feet. It was the first time they had crossed paths since James revealed himself as "The Real Double J" and the true singer of "With My Baby Tonight". PJ Walker was next out before Jarrett backdropped his former Roadie out of the ring! While Jarrett gloated before the eliminated James, performing his trademark strut right in front of him, Walker dropkicked Jarrett from behind and sent him crashing out to the floor! The crowd were lapping this up, and this took some of the disappointment away from James' own elimination. James taunted Jarrett by doing Double J’s own strut, while Bobby Heenan questioned if James can come up with anything original. Jarrett and James had to be separated as they returned to the back.

Lex Luger was in next and Steve Austin cowered in the corner to avoid any contact with The Total Package. PJ Walker clotheslined Rick Martel out of the ring. Ludvig Borga lifted up Great Muta in a choke lift and attempted to drop him over the top, but Muta misted Borga while still in the hold! The blinded Borga was left reeling from the attack and Luger easily threw out the Intercontinental Champion! Luger then sensed an opportunity to strike on Steve Austin and rolled down his elbowpad, but when he bounced back on the ropes to build momentum he was low-bridged by Brian Pillman, who had used his crutch to pull down on the top rope! Luger tumbled out to the floor, eliminated, while Pillman celebrated. The irate Luger started to go after Pillman, which distracted Austin and allowed Bam Bam Bigelow to throw the Stunning One out, gaining a measure of revenge after recent run-ins with Austin. On the floor, Austin dropped Luger with a forearm to the back of the head and he and Pillman took off.

"Big Daddy Cool" Diesel was the next man in at number fourteen. Diesel was accompanied down to the ring by WWF Champion Shawn Michaels, who jumped up and down excitedly by the side of his bodyguard with words of encouragement, firing the big man up. Diesel went straight after Michaels' former tag team partner Jannetty, unloading with kneelifts and elbowsmashes in the corner before dumping him out. PJ Walker felt Diesel's wrath next, tasting a stiff boot to the face before being tossed over the top rope. Great Muta tried to go after Diesel but the Pearl of the Orient was tiring after almost half an hour of action. Diesel hit him with Snake Eyes and then threw him over. That left Diesel and Bam Bam Bigelow together for a showdown. Bigelow had Big Daddy Cool staggering with a series of headbutts, before sending him close to the ropes with a dropkick. Bigelow mustered up a head of steam and shoulder charged at Diesel, but Diesel side stepped and sent Bigelow crashing out to the floor!

Diesel was now left all alone in the ring and he shared a high five with Shawn Michaels, who was celebrating wildly. Bobby Heenan called Diesel a one man wrecking crew as Leif Cassidy made his way down to the ring. Cassidy put up a valiant, if brief, fight against the big man before being dumped over the top in short order. Michaels waved Cassidy on his way while a smattering of fans chanted "Diesel" as the seven footer waited for his next victim. Bob Holly met the same fate as Cassidy, albeit without putting up much of a fight. The “Diesel” chants grew louder.

Shawn Michaels was really enjoying this, counting down with the fans to the next participant. The buzzer went off and screeching tyres blared over the sound system, before a familiar catchy synth line kicked in. It can’t be, can it?! Yes! It’s Razor Ramon! Hey chico, The Bad Guy is back!

We had not seen or heard from Razor Ramon since WrestleMania XI last year and Shawn Michaels looked like he had seen a ghost! The “Razor” chants were absolutely deafening! Razor entered the ring, Diesel bared his teeth and went after him, but Razor ducked a clothesline and connected with a right! The Bad Guy rocked Diesel with two more hard right hands, before clotheslining Big Daddy Cool over the top rope to the floor!! Now it was Razor left all alone in the ring, and Shawn Michaels had completely lost it. He climbed up the ring ropes to protest with Ramon, who responded by almost sending The Heartbreak Kid flying into the front row with a right hand!! The fans were at fever pitch!! Diesel helped Shawn to the back while the buzzer sounded once again.

Scott Steiner was next out to loud boos and jeers. There is history between Steiner and Ramon; the two men battled over the Intercontinental Championship in 1994. Ramon met Steiner coming in with a toothpick to the face and the two men went at it. Fatu was next to enter, followed by Jean-Pierre Lafitte. The ring was beginning to fill up again following Diesel’s earlier purge, with Big Boss Man and Waylon Mercy joining the fray. Number 23 was Crush, who received a tremendous ovation, bringing the total number of men in the ring to seven. Crush went after Scott Steiner, manhandling him with a series of clotheslines and a dropkick. Tom Prichard came out next to give his stablemate Steiner some back-up, but Crush took him down easily with a spin kick. Steiner went to the eyes, then tried to get Crush up for the SSD but the big Hawaiian slid down and landed on the wrong side of the ropes. Before Steiner could react, Crush grabbed him and pulled him back over the ropes to the floor! Tammy Fytch was furious, her dreams of a WrestleMania main event for Steiner had just disappeared before her eyes. Sore loser Steiner then took hold of Crush’s legs and pulled him down off the apron, thereby eliminating him as well! Steiner floored Crush with a Steinerline and then threw him hard into the ring steps, completely dislodging them. The announcers feared that Crush would get the Bret Hart treatment and receive the SSD on the base of the steps. Instead, the crazed Steiner lifted the top part of the steps and sent them crashing down on Crush’s spine. Steiner then applied the Steiner Recliner, as officials and road agents thought twice about approaching the unhinged Steiner. Steiner eventually let Crush go and celebrated, before making his exit with Fytch. Steiner took his time walking back to the dressing room, sharing choice opinions with some of the fans stood along the aisle. Suddenly, Crush recovered and made a dash for Steiner, the two men brawling backstage.

That explosive skyrocket The Ultimate Warrior was the next superstar to enter. Warrior sprinted like a madman down to the ring and quickly sent both Jean-Pierre Lafitte and Tom Prichard packing, while Waylon Mercy dumped Fatu out. Tatanka was in next followed by Rad Radford, who left his position in the crowd to hop the rail and enter the ring. The camera quickly cut backstage, where security were busily attempting to separate Crush and Scott Steiner in the hallways of the arena. Once the buzzer sounded for number 28 there was a collective gasp from the crowd at the sight of TITAN! Not only is he 7’4”, not only is he 440 pounds, but he is also fresh. TITAN targeted The Ultimate Warrior, who was battling Waylon Mercy in the corner. TITAN immediately grabbed Warrior by the hair and then tossed him over the top rope with ease! What a statement from the giant!!

The camera cut to the parking lot, where security were still struggling to prevent Crush and Scott Steiner from laying into each other. Justin “Hawk” Bradshaw was out next for his pay-per-view debut and first Royal Rumble appearance, before Sean Waltman closed out the field by virtue of his win on the Free For All earlier in the evening. One of the eight remaining superstars was going on to headline WrestleMania. We quickly knew that it would not be Rad Radford, who was dispatched by Razor Ramon. Radford returned to his place beside Raven, who then grabbed Radford and dragged him to the back of the arena with Man Mountain Rock and The Birdman in tow. Ramon, who was clearly the crowd favourite, then tossed Tatanka to the floor while TITAN eliminated Boss Man. Sean Waltman used a spin kick to send Mercy flipping over the top rope. And then there were four: Ramon, TITAN, Bradshaw and Waltman. Ramon ducked Bradshaw’s lariat attempt and sent him out with a clothesline, while almost simultaneously TITAN pressed Waltman out to the pretty blue mats at ringside.

It had come down to Razor Ramon and TITAN, who prepared to do battle for victory in the 1996 Royal Rumble and guarantee a WWF Title shot at WrestleMania. TITAN managed to shrug off Ramon’s punches and floor him with a kick to the face. TITAN lifted Ramon up in the choke slam and attempted to dump him out, but The Bad Guy landed on the apron. Ramon used the ropes to pull himself up but TITAN tried to send him to the floor with a big boot. Ramon moved and TITAN ended up crotching himself on the top rope! TITAN was in trouble, doubled over in pain and Ramon went in for the kill. He foolishly tried to give the giant the Razor’s Edge and TITAN backdropped him over the top. Luckily, Razor managed to hang on to the ropes and drag himself back into the ring. TITAN then drew out a merciless beating, punching, kicking and throwing Ramon around at will. TITAN slapped Ramon hard across the chest, the impact echoing around the arena, before bodyslamming The Bad Guy. TITAN punished Ramon with hard whips into the corner and then finally drilled Razor with the choke slam. All that was left to do was for TITAN to dump Ramon out. TITAN draped Ramon over his shoulder and ran towards the ropes, but Ramon held on to the top strand and stayed on the apron while TITAN tumbled out to the floor! The place exploded!! Razor Ramon wins the Royal Rumble!!!

30-Man Battle Royal:
Razor Ramon won a 30-man Royal Rumble:
x L. Borga and Muta started out.
x Rockabilly entered at 0:02:00
x Jake Roberts entered at 0:04:00
x Jimmy Del Ray entered at 0:06:00
x Muta threw out Rockabilly in 0:07:44
x Steve Austin entered at 0:08:00
x Marty Jannetty entered at 0:10:00
x S. Austin threw out J. Roberts in 0:10:08
x Jesse James entered at 0:12:00
x Rick Martel entered at 0:14:00
x Bam Bam Bigelow entered at 0:16:00
x Bigelow threw out J. Del Ray in 0:16:56
x Jeff Jarrett entered at 0:18:00
x PJ Walker entered at 0:20:00
x J. Jarrett threw out J. James after a backdrop in 0:21:23
x Walker threw out J. Jarrett after a dropkick in 0:21:40
x Lex Luger entered at 0:22:00
x Walker threw out Martel after a clothesline in 0:22:42
x Luger threw out L. Borga in 0:22:54
x Luger was eliminated in 0:23:20
x Bigelow threw out S. Austin in 0:23:58
x Diesel entered at 0:24:00
x Diesel threw out Jannetty in 0:24:31
x Diesel threw out Walker in 0:24:36
x Diesel threw out Muta in 0:25:05
x Diesel threw out Bigelow after a side step in 0:25:47
x Leif Cassidy entered at 0:26:00
x Diesel threw out L. Cassidy in 0:26:56
x Bob Holly entered at 0:28:00
x Diesel threw out B. Holly in 0:28:45
x Razor Ramon entered at 0:30:00
x Ramon threw out Diesel in 0:31:43
x Scott Steiner entered at 0:32:00
x Fatu entered at 0:34:00
x Jean-Pierre Lafitte entered at 0:36:00
x Big Boss Man entered at 0:38:00
x Waylon Mercy entered at 0:40:00
x Crush entered at 0:42:00
x Tom Prichard entered at 0:44:00
x Crush threw out S. Steiner in 0:44:57
x Crush was eliminated in 0:45:19
x The Ultimate Warrior entered at 0:46:00
x Warrior threw out Tom Prichard after a kick to the midsection in
0:46:21
x Warrior threw out Lafitte in 0:46:39
x Mercy threw out Fatu after a facerake in 0:46:45
x Tatanka entered at 0:48:00
x Rad Radford entered at 0:50:00
x TITAN entered at 0:52:00
x TITAN threw out Warrior in 0:52:55
x Justin Bradshaw entered at 0:54:00
x Sean Waltman entered at 0:56:00
x Ramon threw out Radford in 0:56:44
x Ramon threw out Tatanka in 0:57:17
x TITAN threw out Boss Man in 0:58:58
x Waltman threw out Mercy in 0:59:09
x Ramon threw out Bradshaw in 1:01:12
x TITAN threw out Waltman in 1:01:15
x Ramon threw out TITAN in 1:09:46
Rating: ****
[Gary Hart interfered against Great Muta.]
[Brian Pillman interfered against Lex Luger.]
[Scott Steiner interfered against Crush.]
[Nurse Luna interfered against Big Boss Man.]
[Uncle Zebekiah interfered against The Ultimate Warrior.]


Card rating: ****


Circuit information:
Razor Ramon shocked the world tonight, returning after nine months away to win the Royal Rumble and earn a WWF Title shot at WrestleMania. Ramon’s last appearance was at WrestleMania last year, where he was defeated by his arch-rival Shawn Michaels. As it stands right now, Ramon and Michaels will meet again in the main event of this year’s show and The Bad Guy has the chance to gain the ultimate revenge by taking The Heartbreak Kid’s title. But there is still a long way to go on the road to WrestleMania.

Indeed, if Harvey Wippleman has his way, the result of the Rumble will not stand. Wippleman insists that Razor Ramon’s feet touched the floor when the Bad Guy held on to the ropes to send TITAN out of the ring. Is this just sour grapes from Wippleman after his giant let victory slip through his fingers?

As often happens in the Rumble, ongoing feuds bubbled over with superstars determined not to let their enemies claim a WWF Title shot. Crush managed to overpower Scott Steiner and send him over the top, but Steiner then pulled Crush to the floor and the two men continued to fight all over the backstage area and into the parking lot. Jeff Jarrett eliminated his former roadie Jesse James, while Brian Pillman caused Lex Luger to go over the top thus continuing the latter’s rivalry with Steve Austin.

Perhaps the most impressive performance in the Royal Rumble match came from Diesel. Towering over his opponents, he quickly disposed of everybody in the ring upon arrival and ended up accounting for six superstars, the most out of all the entrants. Big Daddy Cool has a bright future here in the WWF, but you feel he needs to break away from Shawn Michaels in order to fully realise his potential.



Shawn Michaels was on a huge high after finally defeating Macho Man Randy Savage, a man he has never been able to beat before. But the ecstasy of finally overcoming his heated adversary did not last long as another returned to haunt him.

We would like to echo the sentiments shown by Jim Ross tonight and if this indeed is the last time that we see Savage, then we wish him nothing but the best. God speed and good luck.

The Undertaker was heading for victory in his final showdown with Sabu as he drilled the Arabian Machine of Destruction with a Tombstone off the apron and into the casket. That’s when Kane exploded onto the scene. After putting up some brief resistance, The Undertaker refused to fight back against his brother and took a choke slam into the casket to lose his speciality match for the very first time. Kane and Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase then locked The Undertaker in the box – ensuring no chance of another miraculous escape like at Survivor Series – and set it ablaze. Kane and DiBiase briefly celebrated the incineration of The Undertaker, but the Phenom sent a chilling warning from beyond the grave. When will we see The Undertaker again, or is he gone for good this time?

Owen Hart was brutalised by Lord Steven Regal one month ago at In Your House, but tonight he returned to help Chris Jericho retain the Tag Team Titles against Regal and Hunter Hearst Helmsley. It was a delicious piece of revenge for The Rocket, as it seemed nothing would stand in Regal’s way of winning gold after a sneak attack on Lance Storm left Jericho at a two-on-one disadvantage.

Obviously, the Gentleman’s Club were not about to accept this turn of events. This had led to a match being booked for tomorrow night on RAW and will see Chris Jericho and Owen Hart team up to defend the Tag Team Titles against Lord Steven Regal and Hunter Hearst Helmsley.

Rumour has it that the WWF Board of Directors are very unhappy that interim President Dean Douglas got involved in tonight’s Free For All Match and put his hands on Sean Waltman. Douglas must resolve his personal issue with Waltman if he wants to hold on to his position, otherwise Douglas’ provisional role could be over before it has really got started.

Many thanks for joining us tonight for the Royal Rumble! We'll see you tomorrow night on RAW for all of the fallout so until then, so long everybody!!

[thesubverse]

Man, I'm such a fanboy for this circuit. I've been hoping for months that the Rumble would go to Razor, and the way you've been hinting at it the last handful of shows has been perfect. Fantastically well done!

[kingofoldschool]

Monday Night RAW
January 22nd, 1996
Civic Auditorium, Stockton, CA
Your commentators are Vince McMahon and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan.

Following the standard still-pictures-and-voice-over recap of the previous night’s Royal Rumble, this edition of RAW began with a rematch-of-sorts from the pay-per-view with the Gentleman's Club of Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Lord Steven Regal preparing to challenge Chris Jericho and Owen Hart for the Tag Team Titles.

As the Gentleman’s Club made their entrance, we cut backstage to Todd Pettengill who was standing by with The Thrillseekers and Owen Hart. Chris Jericho once again thanked Owen for digging them out of a hole last night and gushed over The Rocket, claiming that Owen is somebody that he has always looked up to and admired. Jericho said it was an honour to tag with him tonight, but Lance Storm interrupted the love-in. Storm spoke in a serious tone, expressing his unhappiness that he had to trust another man to defend his title. Storm said that he and Jericho had worked hard to become the best team in the world. Holding the titles for a full year has proved that and Storm said that the most important thing was that they hold onto the belts tonight. Storm added that failure was not an option, before heading towards the entrance way. Owen said he had nothing to worry about and shook hands with Jericho.

WWF Tag Team Championship
Chris Jericho and Owen Hart vs Lord Steven Regal and Hunter Hearst Helmsley



Owen Hart and Lord Steven Regal zeroed in on each other at the beginning and began wailing away at the bell. While Chris Jericho took care of Hunter Hearst Helmsley with a springboard bulldog and a dropkick, Owen threw Regal off his game with a hiptoss, an armdrag and a standing dropkick. Regal lost his composure on the outside and had to be restrained by Helmsley and Lord Alfred Hayes, who pleaded with Regal to calm down and focus. The challengers managed to isolate Jericho while Lance Storm played cheerleader at ringside. Helmsley used a high knee and a swinging neckbreaker, while Regal punished Jericho with a gutwrench suplex. Owen broke up a Regal Stretch attempt. The Rocket tagged in and used a snap suplex on Helmsley, before dropkicking Regal off the apron and then scoring with a spinwheel kick for a near fall. Owen tagged Jericho back in to deliver the missile dropkick, but Hayes climbed up on the apron to have a word with the official. Lance Storm hobbled over and pulled Hayes back down, but then Regal got in Storm’s face and shoved the injured man to the floor! Owen took exception to this, diving onto Regal with a tope and then laying in punches. Owen checked on Storm and tried to help him up, but Storm yelled at The Rocket to stop worrying about him and instead focus on keeping the belts. Jericho climbed to the top turnbuckle, but from out of nowhere came the British Bulldog who shoved Jericho off his perch! Storm was helplessly witnessing these events going on behind Owen’s back and frantically told him to get back in the ring! Helmsley took full advantage, drilling Jericho with the Pedigree for the win and the titles. By the time Owen finally turned around, it was too late.

Gentleman's Club (Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Lord Steven Regal) defeated
Chris Jericho and Owen Hart when Helmsley pinned Jericho with the Pedigree in
0:12:21.
Rating: *** 3/4
(Gentleman's Club won the WWF World Tag Team Titles.)
[British Bulldog interfered against Owen Hart.]

While the Gentleman’s Club celebrated with their newly-won belts, Owen Hart went to check on Chris Jericho. Lance Storm immediately left for the backstage area, devastated that his lengthy title reign had come to an end without him being involved.

Howard Finkel was getting ready to introduce the participants in the next match when he was rudely interrupted by the eerie music of TITAN playing over the sound system. Harvey Wippleman led his giant down to the ring and was not in the mood to play games. Wippleman snatched the mic from Finkel who then tried to leave, but Wippleman warned him not to or else TITAN would choke slam the Fink into next week.

Wippleman proclaimed that TITAN is the real winner of the Royal Rumble because Razor Ramon’s feet hit the floor before TITAN did. And what’s more, Wippleman claimed to have video proof. Wippleman warned that tonight’s show will not go on until this miscarriage of justice is rectified and TITAN is confirmed for the main event at WrestleMania. Wippleman then demanded that the footage be played on the big screen, but nothing happened. Frustrated, Wippleman ordered that somebody in the back roll the video, but received the same result. At the end of his tether, Wippleman told TITAN to bring Finkel over here so he could announce TITAN as the 1996 Royal Rumble winner. TITAN grabbed the terrified veteran ring announcer around the throat, but officials and road agents entered the ring. TITAN dispatched with them as if he were swatting away mosquitoes. Several enhancement guys with a death wish attempted to intervene but were choke slammed out of their boots, one of them literally!

Harvey Wippleman was fed up at not being taken seriously and instructed TITAN to hit Finkel with the choke slam. Suddenly, The Ultimate Warrior burst out from the back and lit TITAN up with a series of clotheslines! Warrior beat his chest, built up a head of steam and wound up for an almighty clothesline which blasted the giant over the top rope to the floor!! Security flooded the ringside area to help get TITAN backstage, while Warrior was given a standing ovation!

Jake Roberts pinned Rockabilly with the DDT in 0:03:36.
Rating: 3/4*

Jake Roberts returned to the company at last night's Royal Rumble and tonight he was making his Monday Night RAW debut. Rockabilly was going for revenge here after Jake allowed his python to slither all over Rockabilly in the Royal Rumble match. However, the result was a thorough squashing of the hapless Rockabilly as Roberts finished off the former Billy Gunn in over three minutes.

Todd Pettengill presented an In Your House report, in which the first matches were announced for the card on February 18th. Due to their persistent fighting outside the ring and further brawling backstage following their eliminations at the Royal Rumble, Crush will battle “Superstar” Scott Steiner inside the confines of a steel cage! Also, “Stunning” Steve Austin is scheduled to square off with “The Total Package” Lex Luger.

Vince McMahon revealed that Austin and Luger’s paths will cross before the pay-per-view - this weekend in fact - when Austin teams with Justin “Hawk” Bradshaw to face off with the tandem of Luger and the Big Boss Man.

Great Muta pinned Rick Martel with the Moonsault Press in 0:05:20.
Rating: ** 3/4

Great Muta defeated Rick Martel in short order here tonight, putting The Model away with the moonsault. Muta was immediately assaulted after the decision by Ludvig Borga, who floored Muta with a shot to the back using the Intercontinental Title belt. On commentary, Vince McMahon surmised that Borga was still upset over Muta’s mist attack in the Royal Rumble that led to Borga’s elimination. Borga whipped Muta across the back several times with his heavy championship strap before Sean Waltman ran in to make the save. A flurry of kicks sent The Hellraiser from Helsinki packing. Waltman and Muta then each picked up an end of the Intercontinental Championship belt, and neither superstar was keen to let go. The tension was escalating, despite the two men being close friends. Borga then re-entered the ring to reclaim his belt, drilling Muta with a punch to the kidney and flooring Waltman with a lariat. Borga threw Waltman out of the ring, kicked Muta in the head and then left with his title belt back over his shoulder.

Jeff Jarrett and his business manager Wynonna cut a promo on Jesse James. James' continued singing of "With My Baby Tonight" was getting on their nerves. Wynonna ranted that the song is the intellectual property of Jeff Jarrett and James does not have permission to use it. Jarrett warned James that if dares sing the song again then Jarrett has another smash hit in store for him!

IIII LLLOOOOOOVVVVVE YYOOOOOOOU!!!

This week's guest on the Brother Love Show was the 1996 Royal Rumble winner, Razor Ramon. The Bad Guy was given a thunderous ovation on his return to RAW and seemed taken aback by the response. Ramon told Brother Love to beat it before taking the mic for himself. He was very grateful for the support of the fans, especially after he felt he let them all down at WrestleMania last year. Ramon said that he was ashamed of his defeat to Shawn Michaels and couldn't show his face afterwards. He admitted that he was in a slump, but then he realised that bad times don’t last, but bad guys do! Last night he came back and did things the hard way - the same way he has done things his whole life - and went through 29 of the best superstars this company has to offer. Ramon said he was fighting his way back from rock bottom, but he vowed to reach the very, very top. The crowd cheered as Ramon promised that he would not let the fans down again and at WrestleMania XII he will become the new WWF Champion!

Razor Ramon then addressed Shawn Michaels. The Bad Guy hoped Michaels hadn't forgotten about him and then asked if Michaels enjoyed his Christmas present, revealing himself to be the one who sent the box of razor blades! Shawn Michaels and Diesel then made their way down to the ring, uninvited. Michaels said he should have known that a trick like that could only be played by a no-good, dirty low-life like Ramon. Michaels said that instead of coming back last night, Ramon should have stayed in the gutter where he belongs. Michaels allowed himself to clue Ramon in on what's been happening since Ramon went home to feel sorry for himself. The Heartbreak Kid said that he has become the axis on which the whole World Wrestling Federation revolves around; he is the man that sits on top of the mountain looking down on everybody else. And that's not going to change; not now, and not at WrestleMania.

Razor Ramon shot back that he hopes Michaels is still the champion heading into WrestleMania. Ramon admitted that he felt that everything had been taken away from him when he lost to Michaels at last year's event. But now he's back and he's going to take everything from Michaels, including the thing that means everything to Shawn Michaels - the WWF Championship. Ramon pointed at the gold which was draped over Michaels' shoulder, before punctuating his point by flicking his toothpick in Michaels' face! Diesel then jumped in, clobbering Ramon and then taking the Bad Guy down with a short clothesline. With Michaels directing traffic, Diesel smashed Ramon with the Jackknife. Two more Jackknifes followed before a slew of officials and road agents arrived to escort Diesel and Michaels to the back. Ramon was in serious discomfort after absorbing Diesel’s vicious power bomb on three occasions. The Jackknife was the manoeuvre that broke Randy Savage’s arm and the Macho Man only took one power bomb – what possible damage has been done to Razor Ramon?


Circuit information:
Razor Ramon’s triumphant return was soured by Shawn Michaels and Diesel, who for the second week in succession used the Brother Love Show to ambush one of their foes. Diesel blasted the Royal Rumble winner with three Jackknife power bombs and it is unclear at this stage what damage has been done to the Bad Guy. You have to be certain that nothing will stop Ramon from competing for the WWF Championship in the main event of WrestleMania and thereby exorcising the ghosts from last year’s event.

Owen Hart’s timely comeback at the Royal Rumble helped The Thrillseekers retain the Tag Team Titles, but tonight it was the Gentleman’s Club who benefitted from a surprise return of their own as the British Bulldog returned to the fold and bit Chris Jericho. The Thrillseekers’ epic run as champions is over - exactly one year to the day that they won the belts for a second time - and you can understand the frustration of Lance Storm, who refused to talk to anybody after the show.

The Ultimate Warrior brought an abrupt end to the hostage situation instigated by TITAN and Harvey Wippleman, and in the process got a little payback for last night’s elimination in the Royal Rumble.

Great Muta and Sean Waltman may be friends, but both have their sights set on Intercontinental Championship.

This weekend on Superstars, PJ Walker will square off with Jean-Pierre Lafitte, The Heavenly Bodies are in action and in the feature bout, "Stunning" Steve Austin teams up with Justin "Hawk" Bradshaw to battle Lex Luger and the Big Boss Man! Till then, so long everybody!

[kingofoldschool]

WWF Superstars
January 27th, 1996
Convention Center, San Jose, CA
Your commentators are Vince McMahon and Mr. Perfect.

Before the opening contest, Tammy Fytch took the mic and addressed Rockin’ Robin, aghast at Robin having the temerity to challenge her. Fytch said that fighting is so unladylike. Fytch claimed to have grace and class, and to be delicate and gentle like a flower. Fytch said that she was incapable of hurting anybody and refused to lower herself in order to face Robin.

The Heavenly Bodies (Jimmy Del Ray and Tom Prichard) defeated
James Samudo and Ed Morretti when J. Del Ray pinned E. Morretti with the
Moonsault Bodyblock in 0:04:23.
Jimmy Del Ray suffered a dislocated left shoulder. He will be out for approximately 1 month.
Rating: **

After the bout, Rockin’ Robin appeared in the aisle mic in hand. Tammy Fytch quickly joined her Heavenly Bodies in the ring. Robin aggravated Fytch by saying that she understands that Fytch doesn’t want to fight her, but if she is scared then she should just go ahead and admit it. Fytch had a face like thunder. Robin then suggested an mixed six person tag team match for next week – Fytch and the Bodies versus her and the New Rockers. After a brief consultation with Prichard and Del Ray, Fytch agreed to the bout and threatened to make Robin sorry for ever calling her out.

Raven was shown in the crowd once again, along with his Flock of Rad Radford, Man Mountain Rock and The Birdman. Todd Pettengill approached Raven for an interview, but the Poet of the Macabre branded Pettengill a breathable piece of garbage. Raven scolded Radford for letting him down with his performance in the Royal Rumble, but also lambasted society in general in his diatribe. Raven ranted about his abusive childhood once again, talking about being bullied, picked on and tormented in his youth. But that was then and this is now. Raven said that all the freaks and the disenfranchised have come forth from out of the shadows to stand beside him to help him get vengeance from those who treated him poorly and he blamed the crowd for making him do this. Man Mountain Rock said they realised that Raven is the disenchanted voice of their generation and they're down with him, his cause and his vibe. They are ready to stand by Raven.

Suddenly there was a commotion in the crowd as Savio Vega forced his way through to attack Raven’s group! Vega was out to settle the score with Raven after being laid out with a concussion-inducing DDT on the floor last week which ruled him out of the Royal Rumble. A group of officials tried to hold the fiery Caribbean superstar back. Vega rolled into the ring and challenged Raven to face him. Raven told Vega that this is not the proper time and he sent The Birdman in to do battle instead.

Savio Vega pinned The Birdman with the Caribbean Kick in 0:03:17.
Rating: *

Savio Vega defeated The Birdman with ease but he was quickly set upon by Rad Radford and Man Mountain Rock. Radford and Rock were joined by The Birdman in beating Vega down, while Raven entered the ring and pouted in the corner looking all Charles Manson-like. Raven then put an exclamation point on the mugging by dropping Vega with the DDT.

It was announced that interim WWF President Dean Douglas has prepared a statement for this week on RAW to address his actions during the Free For All match before the Royal Rumble, in which he tried to attack Sean Waltman. Douglas was conspicuous by his absence on last Monday's show and it is rumoured that Douglas is doing this at the behest of the Board of Directors, who are disappointed with his lack of professionalism and are considering removing him from his position. Mr. Perfect chimed in to say that he felt that Douglas is doing a great job.

Jean-Pierre Lafitte pinned PJ Walker with the Cannonball in 0:11:53.
Rating: ***

Perhaps a minor upset here as Jean-Pierre Lafitte was able to defeat PJ Walker, whose career has really hit the skids recently. Lafitte countered the Walkover by lifting and driving Walker groin-first into the corner. With Walker seated on the middle turnbuckle facing the ring post, Lafitte clubbed him down with a forearm across the chest. In agony, Walker inadvertently rolled into position for the Cannonball and that was all she wrote.

PJ Walker was deeply frustrated with himself after the match. Francine tried to console her boyfriend but the dejected Walker brushed her off.

Jesse James appeared for singles action and once again took no heed of the warning from Jeff Jarrett as he belted out “With My Baby Tonight” on the way to the ring. James never reached the squared circle though as he was smashed across the back by Jeff Jarrett and his acoustic guitar! As James lay at ringside clutching the back of his head, Jarrett was dragged away by officials.

Steve Austin and Justin Bradshaw defeated Big Boss Man and Lex Luger when
S. Austin defeated Luger by countout in 0:13:06.
Rating: ** 1/2

Steve Austin had been doing a stellar job of avoiding Lex Luger until the match broke down and all four men began brawling around the ring. Uncle Zebekiah tried to get a shot in on Big Boss Man with the branding iron, but Boss Man grabbed his nightstick and chased Zeb to the back. Justin Bradshaw followed in order to save his manager. Meanwhile, Luger gave Austin a pasting at ringside, dropping the Stunning One chest-first across the steel guardrail. While Austin begged off, Brian Pillman took a swing at Luger with the crutch but Luger ducked and then hoisted Pillman up in the Torture Rack! Pillman yelled in agony but Austin, ever the opportunist, sneaked back in the ring and beat the referee’s count.

After the match, Lex Luger took Brian Pillman’s crutch and took off in hot pursuit after Steve Austin, while Pillman was left in a crumpled heap on the ringside mats.


Circuit information:
Jimmy Del Ray suffered a shoulder injury in The Heavenly Bodies' bout tonight and therefore will not compete in next week’s six person tag team match. He has been replaced by stablemate Scott Steiner. This is going to be so intriguing, as it will mark the first time that Tammy Fytch competes in a wrestling match! Rockin' Robin is desperate to get her hands on Fytch, but knowing the conniving Tammy she is bound to have a trick or two up her sleeve.

Raven has now surrounded himself with a Flock of followers and you have to wonder what kind of mind control he has over these men. Raven refused to compete against Savio Vega tonight and ordered The Birdman in to do his dirty work. The former Koko B. Ware accepted without hesitation and even though Vega was victorious, he did not look like a winner as he was left laying by Raven and his band of misfits.

Jeff Jarrett warned Jesse James what would happen if James continued to sing what Jarrett claims is "his" song. James paid no attention and was laid out on his way to the ring tonight thanks to a vicious guitar shot from Double J.

Speaking of Jeff Jarrett, he is scheduled for action this coming week on Monday Night RAW, along with the British Bulldog, "Big Daddy Cool" Diesel and Intercontinental Champion Ludvig Borga. Plus, Sabu will square off with Bam Bam Bigelow, and just what will Dean Douglas have to say in order to appease the Board of Directors? Till then, so long everybody!