WWF Monday Night RAW - October 18, 1993
by Scrooge McSuck
- Last week on Monday Night Raw, we crowned a new Intercontinental Champion when Razor Ramon defeated the Model Rick Martel in the finals of a untraditional tournament (Battle Royale finalists meeting in a one-on-one match). Also, Ludvig Borga made it clear he doesn't care very much for the United States, and there's been rumblings between Randy Savage and Crush, which leads us into the "main event" of the broadcast... a face-to-face summit between the former best friends.
- Televised LIVE on October 18th, 1993, from the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, NY, with Vince McMahon, Randy Savage and Bobby Heenan calling the action, unless otherwise noted. According to a weird tidbit from TheHistoryofWWE.com, apparently Crush showed up in a form of his old Demolition gear, but thankfully that didn't go anywhere... I guess. I dunno. With so much to look forward to, let's go to ringside...
The Steiner Brothers vs. Corey Student & Tony DeVito:
The Steiners are about a month removed as Tag Champions, but are still penciled in for the Main Event at Survivor Series. Scott starts with DeVito. Lockup, and a quick takedown. Scott grabs a leg and lays him out with an elbow. Whip to the ropes is reversed, Scott puts him down with a shoulder, then takes him over with a full nelson suplex. Scott forces Student tag in, and here comes Rick to continue the torture for the job squad. Rick catches Student in the air with a powerslam and drops an elbow. Whip to the ropes, and he connects with a vicious Steinerline. Scott tags back in and hits a dropkick. Scott with a suplex into a tombstone (what's that called... that was fucking sick), then forces DeVito into tagging back in. Whip to the ropes, and Scott with a tilt-o-whirl slam. Rick to the top rope, and the bulldog headlock finishes things off, finally, at 3:08. The Steiners were always fun to watch for squash matches, but I'm sure their opponents weren't the biggest fans.- WWF Voteline, sponsered by TitanSports, Inc... how can you sponser yourself? Anyway, the Poll question is should Shawn Michaels' Suspension be lifted by WWF President Jack Tunney? Considering this poll is just taking place, it's obvious Shawn is still well employed after whatever was the reason for taking him off television (the long storied rumor is steroids, but who knows...). Vote Yes or No, if you want to spend your money like a moron. We get comments from Diesel and Mr. Perfect, just because.
Irwin R. Schyster vs. Scott Taylor:
More squash action... I.R.S. is slowly being pushed into a program with Razor Ramon, no doubt the highlight of the Intercontinental Championship's History. It's amazing the I.R.S. gimmick lasted for so long. It's such a one-note gimmick, yet somehow lasted four years. Lockup, I.R.S. with a knee to the midsection. He rams Taylor to the buckle, takes him over with a suplex, and drops an elbow. Whip to the ropes, and he connects with another elbow. Taylor with a surprise sunset flip for two, but I.R.S. is still in control. He takes him over with a double underhook suplex, then continues to pound away. Whip to the corner, snapmare, and it's time for a chinlock. This just keeps dragging, as he slaps on he abdominal stretch. Whip to the ropes, and the Write Off (flying clothesline) finishes it at 3:41. That went a little longer than it needed to.- Tatanka tells us to use Ico-Pro, and Randy Savage shills some Hasbro Action Figures. I approve of the latter.
- "Double J" Jeff Jarrett is coming to the WWF, to launch his career in Country Music. Whatever. This was their big plan for the guy? Thank goodness Bret Hart backed out of this character back in the day.
Tatanka vs. Iron Mike Sharpe:
Hey, high profile Jobber... does this make it a FEATURE Match? I'm just kidding, only a stupid person would believe that. Tatanka is still undefeated, and yet has never won a Championship. He's had a recent rumbling with Ludvig Borga on Superstars. Lockup, and Sharpe quickly goes for a Full Nelson. Tatanka counters, forcing Sharpe into the ropes. Next they fight over a hammerlock, with Sharpe once again forcing a break by going for the ropes. Much like he would back in the day, Sharpe stalls a bunch, even on a televised squashing. Tatanka gets rammed to the buckle, but that only starts his comeback War Dance. Really, you've taken zero damage, and doing your big Hulk Up? He comes off the ropes with chhops to the top of the head. Whip to the ropes, and another big chop. He scoops Sharpe up, and the Papoose to Go finishes things at 3:02. I don't recall if that move had an official name until his heel turn, when it became "The End of the Trail."- Joe Fowler is standing by with the Survivor Series Report, headlined by the All-Americans (Luger, Steiners, Tatanka) against the Foreign Fanatics (Yokozuna, Quebecers, Borga). Also, the Hart Family takes on Jerry "The King" Lawler and his "Knights." Before we run down any more imformation, we're told Crush has arrived, and he's getting an ear-full from Bobby Heenan.
Bam Bam Bigelow (w/ Luna Vachon) vs. Dennis Diamond:
I just want to get through the rest of these squashes and get to the big "Summit" later in the show. Bam Bam went from being in a program with Tatanka to acting like a goof for the freshly turned Doink (the Clown). Lockup, and Bigelow chucks Diamond across the ring. Lockup, and repeat. Bigelow continues to punish Diamond and brings him over with a suplex. Bigelow with a series of headbutts. Another throw across the ring turns ugly. Bigelow connects with an enziguri, and it's time to bust out the silverwear, because it's time to stick a fork in him, 'cause he's done. Whip to the corner, Bigelow charges in with a dropkick, then finishes him off with a slingshot splash at 3:01. Good, we're done, time for the big reason for this episode...- It's the Randy Savage / Crush Summit, conducted by impartial narrator, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. Crush comes to the ring sporting a new, evil goatee, and along with his former manager Mr. Fuji (although that part of his career is ignored). He is apparently bitter about Savage pushing him into challenging Yokozuna, then turning his back on him by not coming to his rescue, and not coming to visit him more often. Randy Savage tries talking some sense into him, rallying the crowd and offering to talk it out more later, away from the likes of the Weasel and Fuji. Crush appears to agree to this, and everyone is happy... until Crush lays Savage out with a clothesline, then drops him across the security rail. Suddenly Yokozuna comes to ringside, and it's Banzai Drop time! Thankfully, referee's come to the rescue after only one, thus proving Crush's point when he took FOUR and no one came to his rescue. Savage is injured and gets some nice sympathy heat, Crush looks like a badass, and everyone looked good doing it. You don't think they'll mess up Crush's push, will they?
- Shawn Michaels poll says 64% no, 36% yes in regards to lifting the suspension. Wonder if that was rigged or not...
Final Thoughts: The big angle between Savage and Crush is the only reason to check out this episode. All the squashes were pretty boring, except for the Steiners typical attempted murder of their jobber opponents. There wasn't much else here, otherwise: No feature matches, nothing more in storyline development, other than a 30-second clip from Superstars, and not even a proper Survivor Series Report.
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