WWF Monday Night RAW – April 25th, 1994

April 25, 1994

From the Utica Memorial Auditorium in Utica, NY

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

This week, Nikolai Volkoff is guest on the King’s Court. Also, Jeff Jarrett vs. Razor Ramon.

Jeff Jarrett vs. Razor Ramon

This is a non-title match. The announcers talk about this is a big chance for Jarrett while mentioning Razor defeating Adam Bomb this weekend on “Superstars.” Jarrett gets in Razor’s face but ends up getting a toothpick tossed at him. Match starts with some matwork then Jarrett rakes the eyes and attacks Razor in the corner. Jarrett now works the arm as Vince wonders if Razor is too focused on his title defense against Diesel. Razor catches Jarrett and hits a fallaway slam then Jarrett rolls out for a breather. We see a replay of the fallaway slam on a split screen billed as the “double feature” as it is apparently a new feature on RAW. Razor fires away until Jarrett escapes but this time Jarrett drags Razor outside and sends him into the steps. Jarrett beats Razor down then rolls him back inside and gets a two count with a back elbow smash. Jarrett gets another neafall with a flying fist drop then works a chin lock on the mat. Razor tries to fight back but Jarrett gets cut off as we go to break. Action returns as Razor gets a nearfall with a sunset flip but Jarrett goes right back on the attack. Jarrett now jumps on Razor’s back to apply a sleeper. Jarrett now has Razor on the mat but Razor keeps his arm up on the third raise. Razor fires up and hits a back suplex as both men are down on the mat. Razor drapes his arm across Jarrett’s chest for the cover but that only gets two. Razor fires away now and both his punches and Jarrett’s selling look great. Jarrett is then able to pull Razor through the ropes by his tights as we see Shawn Michaels head down the aisle. Shawn taunts Razor, who is lying on the ground, while Jarrett distracts the referee. Razor then gets up and slugs Shawn and catches Jarrett in midair on a double axe handle attempt from the apron. Razor rolls Jarrett inside and runs wild briefly until he sends him over the top rope with a clothesline. Razor now drags Shawn back inside and hammers away then sets up for the Razor’s Edge but Diesel comes in and breaks that up then boots Razor in the face for the DQ (10:04 shown) ***1/4. Shawn punches away until Diesel stops him in order to hit the Jackknife. Another ref comes in but Shawn shoves him away so Diesel can hit a second Jackknife attempt. Savage says Shawn looks like a “Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader” as Shawn & Diesel celebrate. Shawn then heads out and grabs the Intercontinental Title then tosses it to Diesel. Both men take turns standing on top of Razor then leave as Vince wants to know what type of condition Razor will be in this weekend for his title defense.

Thoughts: Really good TV match with a hell of a performance by Jarrett. He was awesome. The finish of course was used to build heat towards the Intercontinental Title match on “Superstars” and it served its purpose well.

We cut backstage to Shawn & Diesel as Shawn says that Diesel, calling him “Big Daddy Cool” is the real champion. Vince asks Diesel why he did this as Diesel says “why not” then says he will become champion this weekend on “Superstars.” Solid interview here from these two.

Bam Bam Bigelow w/ Luna vs. Tony DeVito

Bigelow shoves DeVito halfway across the ring as Vince says they are attempting to reach WWF President Jack Tunney. Bigelow gets a two count with a dropkick then goes to a chin lock. Vince also says Luna might be the next Women’s Champion during the WrestleMania Revenge tour althoguh in reality she was replaced by Leilani Kai due to a hand injury. Tunney has now called in as Vince asks him about forcing The Quebecers put the titles on the line against The Headshrinkers. Tunney first says that he is going to conduct a thorough investigation into the actions of Shawn, Diesel, and Jarrett. He then says after much deliberation, The Quebecers will put up the titles against The Headshrinkers and that will happen next week on RAW. Bigelow then hits DeVito with an enziguiri before putting him away with a jumping headbutt (2:16).

Thoughts: The big news here was learning that The Quebecers will in fact have to defend their titles against The Headshrinkers and that will happen next week. Bigelow did seem in line for a feud with Earthquake but the latter is now more focused on feuding with Yokozuna, leaving Bigelow with nothing left to do other than to come out and squash people while the announcers talked about Luna’s feud against Alundra Blayze.

We now cut backstage to The Quebecers & Johnny Polo. They say its unfair they have to face their friends, The Headshrinkers, but also claim they are not afraid while demanding there be justice. I did like how The Quebecers & Polo played this role of pretending they were not afraid of The Headshrinkers. It was their best work.

Stamford, CT mayor, Stan Esposito, talks about the WWF raising $60,000 for the town library and how the WWF and reading are a great match. Again, more positive PR spots to counter the negative press the company was receiving.

Heavenly Bodies w/ Jim Cornette vs. Jason Headings & John Paul

Vince talks about the Libertarian Party of New York nominating Howard Stern as their choice for Governor as Savage jokes that it was the “Animal House Party” who chose Stern for their party. The Bodies now have wings put on the back of their jackets. Vince brings up how RAW had its highest rating ever as Paul and Prichard mix it up. The Bodies stay in control as the announcers hype up the WrestleMania Revenge tour then Vince apologizes to fans thinking they would see Mr. Perfect against Lex Luger. Vince says Perfect backed out of the deal and was a “no-show” and no suspended. Del Ray catches Paul with a sit-out powerbomb as the announcers say Crush is Perfect’s replacement and a much better competitor anyway. Talk about a burial of Perfect. Headings tags in and runs wild briefly until he is hit with a guillotine crossbody. Vince puts over the Bodies skills as they hit a few other creative double-team moves. Savage confuses Del Ray’s nickname with Prichard’s then the Bodies finally put Headings away when Del Ray hits a moonsault block (4:55).

Thoughts: Long squash match here. Besides the wings, which looked ridiculous, Dave Meltzer of the “Wrestling Observer Newsletter “reported that the company wanted to have the Bodies come out with halos above their heads but apparently were able to negotiate their way to not wear those, which would have looked ridiculous. And of course the company really buried Perfect here, who also per the Observer had quit the promotion the Saturday before this show aired. The Observer also reported that Perfect told the “Wrestling Flyer” he did not come back because the WWF did not meet his price. And while it was rumored that Ric Flair wanted him in WCW, Perfect’s WWF deal did not expire until November.

We get a rundown of dates for the WrestleMania Revenge tour.

King’s Court with guest Nikolai Volkoff. Lawler introduces Volkoff as being poor and hitting rock bottom as Volkoff comes to the ring from the front row. Lawler tells Volkoff he brought himself up from the gutter but got homesick and cracks more jokes. Volkoff says he will tell the truth then says he is proud of the United States. However, he lost a lot of money through investments but has his health and will take him on anytime. Lawler tells Volkoff he is broke like the fans in the crowd and wonders if he is here to beg for a job. Volkoff says he is a proud man then asks Lawler if he ever worked a honest job a day of his life. Lawler then calls out Volkoff for begging and to get on his knees but Volkoff continues to state he is too proud to beg and an honest, hardworking man. Lawler then asks if anyone has a job to offer Volkoff then wants him to go back and sit with the “bums.” The story here is that Volkoff, despite constantly showing up on TV, is not doing so to beg for a job but rather um, I have no idea. Lawler was funny here but this is not making a whole lot of sense and just a little sense would have made Volkoff over as a midcard face.

1-2-3 Kid vs. Duane Gill

Vince says that Razor is not hurt but rather pissed off and storming around the locker room. Kid works over Gill to start. Gill comes back with a clothesline then dumps Kid outside but Kid comes back with a springboard clothesline then clutches his knee. Kid uses several kicks as Savage plugs the USA Movie “Ends of the Earth.” Kid stays in control until he ducks his head and gets kicked in the face. Gill uses a chin lock now but Kid comes back with a spinning heel kick for the win (3:10).

Thoughts: Not much to this but Kid looked good although Gill got in more offense than he probably ever had in a singles match up until this point.

Vince now talks about recent Undertaker sightings. We then see some deli worker claim he saw The Undertaker come in and order a “six-foot wedge.” He then handed him the sandwich and went to get some pickles but when he turned back around The Undertaker vanished in a cloud of smoke. This was quite dumb but its clear they are building to the Undertaker’s return.

An ad hyping the King of the Ring airs. The announcers talk about how last year Bret Hart won and that catapulted him to becoming a champion. Well, being the Royal Rumble co-winner did but whatever.

“The Rocket” Owen Hart vs. Rich Myers

Vince plugs Owen facing Mo on “Wrestling Challenge” this coming weekend. Myers gets pissed when Owen cheap shots him then Owen slaps Myers across the place that prompts Savage to say “that wasn’t just a slap, that was a slap.” The delivery made it work. Owen bulldogs Myers as Vince talks about Owen wanting to become the next champion. Owen then uses a gutwrench suplex then yells at Bret to come out to the ring. Owen puts Myers in a Camel’s Clutch then drills Myers with a clothesline before Vince tells us we will have an interview with Capt. Lou Albano before the show ends. Owen stays in control then puts Myers away with the Sharpshooter as Vince asks if Owen will become the next champion (3:25). Owen then stomps Myers after the match and puts his glasses on Myers.

Thoughts: They used this match to push Owen as a viable contender to the Heavyweight Title. And to plug what Albano will have to say.

Albano comes out to go nuts about how happy he is about next week’s Tag Team Title match. A pissed off Polo now comes out to bully Albano but gets backed off by Savage. We then see Savage hold Polo so Albano could hit him as Savage & Albano pose in the ring while The Quebecers come out to save their manager.

Final Thoughts: The Razor vs. Jarrett match was really good as was the Shawn & Diesel/Razor stuff. Plus they really hyped up next week’s Tag Team Title match. However, there was some garbage here and sadly that trend would continue the deeper we get into the year and really become even more prevalent in 1995.