This is the first episode of Raw to air since the debut of WCW Monday Nitro. The show opens with Razor Ramon facing Davey Boy Smith. Vince McMahon interviews Razor Ramon and the 1-2-3 Kid after the match. The Smoking Gunns make short work of the Brooklyn Brawler and Rad Radford (Louie Spicolli). Goldust cuts a promo. Isaac Yankem drills Scott Taylor. Todd Pettengill gives the In Your House Report. Shawn Michaels cuts a promo on Sid. The main event is Shawn Michaels defending the Intercontinental Championship against Sid. After the match, Dok Hendrix interviews Shawn Michaels and Diesel. The show ends with a preview of next week's episode, including footage from the episode, surprisingly dropping the pretense that the show is live.
3 Reviews
Shawn Michaels and Sycho Sid disappoint
callanvass22 February 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Monday Night Raw
Live from Canton, OH
Your hosts are Vince McMahon & Jerry Lawler
Razor Ramon Vs The British Bulldog (W/Jim Cornette)
Bulldog had turned heel the week on Raw before this. Man, Razor barely gets a pop during his entrance. What a weak crowd! The British Bulldog wins by disqualification after a miscommunication between The 1-2-3 Kid and Razor. This match wasn't too shabby. It started a little slow, but kicked into gear after a bit and both delivered decent performances. The finish was messy, especially with Dean Douglas's interference, but it protected both Razor and Bulldog. The Bulldog had just turned heel and couldn't really afford a loss.
**
Afterwards, The Kid complains that Razor treats him too much like a little kid and doesn't show him enough respect. He reminds Razor that he beat him on an episode of Raw in 93. Razor says he made The Kid famous and it'll be difficult because The Kid is his "little buddy" but he accepts.
The Smoking Gunns Vs Rad Radford & The Brooklyn Brawler
The Gunns win with a sidewalk slam/legdrop combo off the top turnbuckle. This was a squash match to put over the Gunns. The Gunns hit some fun maneuvers, though.
1/2* (Half a star)
Issac Yankem D.D.S Vs Scott Taylor
Both these guys would be huge in the attitude era. Yankem is Kane and Taylor is Scotty 2 Hotty. Yankem wins with a DDT. This was nothing more than a dominant squash win for Yankem. For those wondering, the Yankem gimmick sucked donkey balls.
We get in an In Your House III: Triple Header report with Todd Pettengill.
Intercontinental Championship
Shawn Michaels (C) Vs Psycho Sid (W/Ted Dibiase)
Michaels wins after three super kicks. This match never took off like it should have. Sid and Michaels are capable of great stuff, such as Survivor Series 96, but they also had times where they didn't deliver, such as Royal Rumble 97) . I really like both of these guys, but this was a below average match and not exactly a great main event. Eric Bischoff gave away the result away on Nitro anyways.
*3/4
Final Thoughts: 1995 was a bad year all around for the WWF. The Raw episodes were really hard to watch at times and make some of the episodes today look great in comparison. There is nothing in this episode for me to recommend.
3.5/10
Live from Canton, OH
Your hosts are Vince McMahon & Jerry Lawler
Razor Ramon Vs The British Bulldog (W/Jim Cornette)
Bulldog had turned heel the week on Raw before this. Man, Razor barely gets a pop during his entrance. What a weak crowd! The British Bulldog wins by disqualification after a miscommunication between The 1-2-3 Kid and Razor. This match wasn't too shabby. It started a little slow, but kicked into gear after a bit and both delivered decent performances. The finish was messy, especially with Dean Douglas's interference, but it protected both Razor and Bulldog. The Bulldog had just turned heel and couldn't really afford a loss.
**
Afterwards, The Kid complains that Razor treats him too much like a little kid and doesn't show him enough respect. He reminds Razor that he beat him on an episode of Raw in 93. Razor says he made The Kid famous and it'll be difficult because The Kid is his "little buddy" but he accepts.
The Smoking Gunns Vs Rad Radford & The Brooklyn Brawler
The Gunns win with a sidewalk slam/legdrop combo off the top turnbuckle. This was a squash match to put over the Gunns. The Gunns hit some fun maneuvers, though.
1/2* (Half a star)
Issac Yankem D.D.S Vs Scott Taylor
Both these guys would be huge in the attitude era. Yankem is Kane and Taylor is Scotty 2 Hotty. Yankem wins with a DDT. This was nothing more than a dominant squash win for Yankem. For those wondering, the Yankem gimmick sucked donkey balls.
We get in an In Your House III: Triple Header report with Todd Pettengill.
Intercontinental Championship
Shawn Michaels (C) Vs Psycho Sid (W/Ted Dibiase)
Michaels wins after three super kicks. This match never took off like it should have. Sid and Michaels are capable of great stuff, such as Survivor Series 96, but they also had times where they didn't deliver, such as Royal Rumble 97) . I really like both of these guys, but this was a below average match and not exactly a great main event. Eric Bischoff gave away the result away on Nitro anyways.
*3/4
Final Thoughts: 1995 was a bad year all around for the WWF. The Raw episodes were really hard to watch at times and make some of the episodes today look great in comparison. There is nothing in this episode for me to recommend.
3.5/10
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