WWF Monday Night RAW – April 5th, 1993

April 5, 1993

From the Manhattan Center in New York City, NY

Your hosts are Vince McMahon and Randy Savage.

Tonight, we will see Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Virgil, Steiner Brothers vs. Beverly Brothers, and Jerry Lawler in action.

Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Virgil

Vince talks up WrestleMania as being great and lets us know that Hulk Hogan is once again the new champion and that Yokozuna & Mr. Fuji are protesting the result. A “Virgil sucks” chant breaks out as he works the arm of Bigelow. Virgil gets a neafall but Bigelow counters a crucifix with a Samoan drop. Bigelow beats on Virgil as Vince hypes WrestleMania IX as one of the best of all-time. Vince also brings up how Lex Luger knocked Bret out at the brunch before WrestleMania with his forearm and also knocked out Mr. Perfect as WWF President Jack Tunney is likely going to investigate why Luger’s forearm smashes are knocking people out. We are told that Rob Bartlett was stranded in Las Vegas because he lost all of his money as Bigelow works a neck vice. Bigelow now amps up the excitement in the ring with a bearhug. Virgil fights back and hits a missile dropkick for two then lands some jabs but crashes and burns on a crossbody attempt then Bigelow hits a clothesline and gets the win with a flying headbutt (6:59) *1/4.

Thoughts: Once again, the Manhattan Center crowd showed their disdain for Virgil as he was booed. Bigelow was cheered after winning as well. The match itself was sluggish and featured a really long bearhug spot but the focus on commentary was the news of Yokozuna & Mr. Fuji protesting Hogan’s title win at WrestleMania.

Jerry Lawler comes out for his match. He then tells the “imbecilic idiots” that they should bow down and kiss his feet but they respond with a “Burger King” chant so he storms off.

Gene Okerlund is with Yokozuna & Mr. Fuji and mentions that Tunney is ruling on the case as to whether or not Hogan is champion as Fuji is protesting that it was not a sanctioned match. Oddly enough, Okerlund did all of the talking here as apparently the company even realize that Fuji is awful on the mic.

Bob Backlund vs. Kimchee

Kimchee blows off a handshake attempt then fails to catch Backlund, who uses a few single leg takedowns. Kimchee bails then trips up Backlund on the outside. Kimchee uses a pair of slams as Vince hopes Lawler will return to wrestle before the show ends. Kimchee sends Backlund down with a back elbow smash and stomps away before applying a chinlock. Backlund escapes with an arm drag but Kimchee comes back with a sunset flip for two. Kimchee goes back to the chinlock as Vince brings up Luna Vachon making her debut at WrestleMania and how she attacked Sherri. Backlund fights back then blocks a monkey flip and uses a bridging cradle for the win (3:58) 1/2*. Vince promises that Bartlett will be on the phone when we return.

Thoughts: Another dull match serving as a backdrop to talk about other happenings at the PPV. Backlund’s match against Razor Ramon was not brought up.

Damien Demento vs. “Jumping” Jim Brunzell

Bartlett is on the phone saying he lost all of his money and is stranded as he cries then asks for a ticket to head home. Brunzell and Demento trade standing holds as Vince pretends that he lost his connection to Bartlett. Brunzell surprises Demento with a small package for two then gets another two count with a sunset flip. Vince hypes the encore presentation of WrestleMania on PPV as Demento listens to the voices in his head in between beating on Brunzell but Brunzell fights back and gets two with a dropkick. Brunzell hammers away but runs into a boot then Demento uses a reverse neckbreaker and readjusts his knee pad and uses a knee drop for the win (5:07) 1/2*.

Thoughts: The bit with Bartlett sucked but I did laugh at Vince pretending that he lost connection at the end. And the commentary on the show was addition by subtraction with Bartlett not around. Anyway, this match was lousy as Demento remains as unimpressive as ever.

Bartlett is trying to call collect again but Vince refuses to answer.

Lawler comes back out and is greeted with the “Burger King” chants but refuses to enter the ring because the crowd refuses to stop then heads backstage.

We get an ad for the WrestleMania IX replay as Vince calls this the “greatest WrestleMania of all-time” that is worth seeing again. And its announced it will air again on PPV next Monday night.

Beverly Brothers vs. Steiner Brothers

Scott takes Beau over with an arm drag as Beau complains of a hair pull. Scott takes Beau down again and Beau complains of another hair pull. Beau catches Scott with a knee then Scott uses a powerbomb. Blake and Rick are in now as Rick uses a powerslam. Scott tags in and hits an overhead suplex but Beau cheapshots Scott from the apron as the Beverly Brothers take control of the match. We go to break then return with Beau working a chinlock. Scott makes the tag but Blake ran interference and the ref orders Rick back to the apron. Blake is in now and works a waistlock but Scott reverses a suplex as both men are down. Blake tags out and grabs Scott’s leg but Beau misses a leg drop. Scott then catches Beau in a tilt-a-whirl slam and tags out as Rick runs wild. The match breaks down as Scott, who was not the legal man, hits Blake with the Frankensteiner for the win (10:56) **1/4.

Thoughts: The match was okay and the Steiners offense looked great as usual. The Beverly Brothers did a fine job but the gimmick has killed their credibility.

We get an ad for WWF Mania.

Jerry “The King” Lawler vs. Jim Powers

Powers, whose clearly off steroids, decks Lawler at ringside then rams him into the post. Powers hits a flying punch in the ring then whips Lawler into the corner twice as Lawler bails. The Burger King chants start back up then Lawler returns and gets caught with a hip toss and a slam. Lawler bails again and the crowd gives him more shit. Lawler goes back inside but misses a punch and gets decked. Lawler avoids a dropkick then taunts the crowd before ordering Powers to kiss his feet. Lawler chokes out Powers in the corner then jaws at Savage, who is getting upset. Lawler eats boot on a corner charge then Powers runs wild until he ducks his head for another back drop and gets elbowed then Lawler, who tells Savage to pay attention, hits a piledriver for the win and pulls the tights for the win (6:19) *1/2. After the match, Lawler stares and points at Savage.

Thoughts: Lawler was entertaining and this would have been better with an opponent that was better. Powers physique was deflated here and his offense was lame. The crowd did not get behind him and only reacted when chanting Burger King whenever Lawler ducked out. They also played up tension between Savage and Lawler.

We return from break with Lawler in front of the announcers table telling Savage and the crowd he is the best wrestler ever. Lawler then calls out Savage for not having the guts to face him in the ring. Interesting they are playing up Lawler and Savage as they are both commentators on “Superstars.”

Next week, we will see Money Inc. vs. The Bushwhackers.

Final Thoughts: Despite airing the day after WrestleMania, this was taped on 3/22. The matches were dull and mostly featured talent who did not wrestle at the PPV. Speaking of the PPV, this show’s main goal was to sell the PPV replay. They also discussed the key matches and angles from the PPV but as a show, this was entirely skippable.

I’ll also post the 4/10 Superstars and 4/11 Challenge reviews today.