WWF Monday Night RAW – July 12th, 1993

July 12, 1993

From the Manhattan Center in New York City, NY

Your hosts are Vince McMahon, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, and Bobby Heenan

WWF World Heavyweight Title Match: Yokozuna (c) w/ Mr. Fuji vs. Crush

The crowd is singing the last lines of the Star Spangled Banner and pumping themselves up with USA chants. Crush and Yokozuna shove each other after locking up then Crush fires away until walking into a slam. Crush avoids an elbow drop then boots Yokozuna in the face as that sends him through the ropes. Yokozuna returns and the trade shots then Crush hits an avalanche in the corner but fails on his second attempt. Yokozuna catches his breath after hitting a double chop then drops him throat-first across the ropes. Yokozuna punches Crush through the ropes then brings him back in and chops him down. Yokozuna now works a chinlock before we go to break then the action returns with Yokozuna beating on Crush. Yokozuna now works a nerve hold as the announcers talk about all of the Doinks that were shown this past Saturday on “Superstars.” Yokozuna misses an avalanche then Crush fires away and even busts out a standing dropkick. Crush drops Yokozuna with a clothesline then heads up top for a shoulderblock as that gets two. Crush heads up again but Fuji whacks him with the flag as Heenan claims Crush lost his footing and slipped. Yokozuna slams Crush on the floor then rolls him back inside. Yokozuna then hits a belly-to-belly suplex and follows with a leg drop as Savage proclaims he’s seen car wrecks that are not this bad. Yokozuna drags Crush into the corner and hits the Bonzai Drop for the win (11:11) *3/4. After the match, we see Yokozuna hit a pair of Bonzai Drops then Tatanka runs out for the save but Yokozuna knocks him off of the apron. Yokozuna then hits another Bonzai Drop before dispensing of the several enhancement talent that run out. Vince warns Savage not to get involved as he has that look in his eye then Savage drags Crush to safety and grabs a chair but is backed off by the referee. Heenan blames Lex Luger for creating a monster in Yokozuna as the medics come out with a stretcher.

Thoughts: With this match they really drove home the story of Yokozuna has snapped since Luger slammed him as Yokozuna destroyed Crush. The match was not good but it got the point across as Crush was a pawn to get over the real storyline of whether or not Luger will ever get a title shot.

Back from break as Crush is wheeled off in the stretcher. Heenan then looks into the camera and warns Luger he will end up in a body cast and says this is a new era of Yokozuna.

The Headshrinkers w/ Afa vs. Aaron Ferguson & PJ Walker

The Headshrinkers attack their opponents to start. Ferguson gets dumped then Walker nearly breaks his neck after receiving a double pancake. Samu then drills Walker (who the announcers keep referring to as Ferguson) with a clothesline then drag Walker over to his partner for the tag. Fatu drops Ferguson with a clothesline as Heenan keeps making “Weekend at Bernie’s” references with regards to Walker still lying on the apron. Vince promises we will get an update on Crush as the Headshrinkers destroy Ferguson before Fatu hits a flying splash for the win (3:23).

Thoughts: Man, Walker got fucking destroyed in this match. The real focus was on Crush’s condition though as the Headshrinkers are in need of a feud. They’re talented and continue to impress.

We now get a video package to hype a Shawn Michaels vs. Marty Jannetty Intercontinental Title match for next week’s show.

Tatanka vs. Brooklyn Brawler

Vince once again mentions how Yokozuna is undefeated. Brawler taunts the fans then locks up with Tatanka as they end up in the corner. Savage then gives up an update on Crush and how its “not good” as Crush is having difficulty breathing and talks about being worried for his friend. Heenan then tells Savage to blame Luger for this but Savage yells “don’t switch the heat!” I love that line. Brawler slaps Tatanka then bails and is chased back into the ring but gets caught with a powerslam. Tatanka works the arm now but Brawler comes back with a clothesline. Brawler then uses a reverse neckbreaker as Heenan accuses Tatanka of making moves on Luna Vachon. Tatanka misses a charge then Brawler uses another clothesline. Brawler takes off his shirt and uses it to choke out Tatanka before applying a chinlock. Brawler mocks the crowd and Tatanka as he stays in control but Tatanka fights back. Tatanka runs wild and hits a flying chop then uses the Samoan Drop for the win (7:14) *.

Thoughts: Far too long for this type of match. However, it served as a backdrop to sell the Savage/Crush friendship while once again getting over the Yokozuna has snapped after getting slammed stuff which is setting up Luger to come in and be the hero.

We hear from fans before the show as they all believe Lex Luger should get a shot at the title because of how he helped the USA.

Mr. Hughes w/ Harvey Whippleman vs. Tony DeVito

We see someone walk a wreath to ringside with a tag that reads “Rest in Peace.” The announcers make more jokes about Basil DeVito as Hughes beats takes control. Hughes whips DeVito into the corner then follows with a falling headbutt but pulls up after a two count. Hughes busts out a dropkick then he yells into the camera about Undertaker going down and after that uses a sidewalk slam for the win (2:15). After the match, Hughes tosses DeVito outside then takes a look at the wreath and sees that it is from the Undertaker. Hughes then rips up the card and destroys the wreath then tells Undertaker to come find him.

Thoughts: We now see The Undertaker playing mind games with Mr. Hughes by sending out these wreaths as their feud continues.

SummerSlam Report airs. Same as what we saw on the syndicated shows this past weekend.

Another Men on a Mission vignette to hype their debut on RAW next week.

Adam Bomb w/ Johnny Polo vs. Scott Amati

Savage is back with another update on Crush and says he might have permanent damage then warns Heenan about making comments as Crush is his friend. Bomb beats down Amati then tosses him across the ring. Bomb then hits a clothesline as the announcers plug “Mania” and “All-American Wrestling.” Amati gets tossed outside where Bomb slams him and Polo yells about total destruction. Back inside, Bomb hits a flying clothesline then uses the Atom Smasher for the win (2:39).

Thoughts: Another match serving as a backdrop for the announcers to discuss other things, such as the Savage/Crush friendship and the other WWF shows on the USA Network

Vince is then handed a note that says next week, Jerry Lawler will have Tiny Tim as his guest on the “King’s Court.” Quite the way to attract a young audience.

Final Thoughts: The big news here was Yokozuna destroying Crush and sending him out on a stretcher as part of the storyline that Yokozuna is a monster that has snapped and unable to control. The Savage/Crush friendship was stressed here too and while the in-ring action was not that good, it was heavy on storyline this week. And next week we get Shawn vs. Marty for some match quality as we start the build towards SummerSlam.

Here is my schedule for the next several days:

Saturday: WWF Superstars 7/17/93

Sunday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 7/18/93

Monday: WWF Monday Night RAW 7/19/93

Tuesday: WWF Superstars 7/24/93, WWF Wrestling Challenge 7/25/93

Wednesday: WWF Monday Night RAW 7/26/93

Thursday: WWF Superstars 7/31/93, WWF Wrestling Challenge 8/1/93

Friday: WWF Monday Night RAW 8/2/93