The SmarK Rant for Monday Night RAW – 08.07.95
So, randomly after weeks of breakneck additions to the RAW catalog, they just suddenly stop in August of 1995. They didn’t even show the last couple of episodes before the break where Monday Nitro debuted! Which is really weird because it’s not even the end of the taping cycle. And according to those who know, there’s no plans to add the rest at this point. So I guess I get to move onto something else. What an incredibly strange programming strategy they have.
Also, by popular and understandable demand, I’ve been paring down the writers on the blog tonight, and I feel pretty crappy about it.
Taped from Louisville, KY
Your hosts are Vince McMahon & Jerry Lawler.
WWF tag team titles: Owen Hart & Yokozuna v. Razor Ramon & Savio Vega
So Vince announces that Gorilla Monsoon is the new President of the WWF and Summerslam will now feature Shawn v. Razor in a ladder match. The babyfaces control Owen to start as Savio works a headlock and Vince notes that you can’t defend the titles with a defensive posture. But that’s kind of the whole…never mind. Ramon works the arm, but gets caught with a massive cheapshot from Yoko and Owen DDTs him for two. Neckbreaker gets two. Owenzuigiri gets two. The champs do the illegal switch and we take a break. Back with Owen tossing Ramon and Yoko goes to the nerve hold. Owen with a leg lariat for two as Vince gives the match his highest praise: See saw matchup back and forth! Ramon fights back with a suplex on Owen and makes the hot tag to Savio, who puts both heels down with kicks and cleans house. Razor trips up Owen, but Yoko destroys Savio with a samoan drop and legdrop at 14:13. Well that was kind of stupid on Ramon’s part. This was fine, but these guys had no chemistry together and just felt like filling time. **1/4
Meanwhile, Dean Douglas gives Ramon & Savio a grade of “TT” for “Terrible Twosome”. I know he got marginally better, but these promos are just death.
Meanwhile, Lawler continues hanging out with Isaac Yankem.
MAKIN’ A DIFFERENCE FATU v. Tony Devito
Like really, they couldn’t even give him a new NAME or haircut or anything? How lazy can you be with a repackage? Who are the ad wizards that came up with this one? Fatu headbutts him down and stomps away, then gets a powerslam and Ace Crusher before finishing with the flying splash at 2:40. Ironic that he was making a difference because I couldn’t see any difference.
Summerslam Insider with Todd. Is Stridex even a thing any more? Gorilla introduces himself as a fan friendly President, but then signs Alundra Blayze v. Bertha Faye for the show. That seems like a contradiction.
Diesel v. Sir Mo
Uh…what happened to the Kama squash they were promising before the break? The show is 5 minutes short this week, so something must have happened to force them to cut it. Who the hell knows with this company. Mo pounds away in the corner to start, but Diesel gets a corner clothesline for two. Mo comes back with more punching and a leg lariat for two, but Diesel slams him and even the heat machine can’t get excited about this match. Diesel puts him out of the ring with the big boot and they even manage to botch that spot, and now of course Mabel comes down to cause a distraction. Mo tosses Diesel in the midst of all this excitement, but Shawn also wanders out to stare Mabel down as we take a break. Back with Mo working on Diesel’s back with a rear chinlock. Diesel makes the comeback with the sideslam and big boot, and then finishes with an ugly Poochiebomb at 9:00. Mabel comes in for the beatdown, but Shawn chases him off with a dropkick that actually gets high enough to hit Mabel in the face. Mabel runs Shawn into the post, however, to get his revenge. Man, Shawn looks like he just got beat up by 12 marines! ½* He was seriously the only thing making these shows watchable at this point.
Next week: Shawn Michaels v. Jerry Lawler! Of course, this assumes that WWE Network ever starts adding these shows again. If not, it’s been fun, as terrible as the past year of product has been.
I guess we’ll see you at the Mall of America next…
