WWF Monday Night RAW (October 17, 1994)

Original Airdate: October 17, 1994

From Burlington, Vermont; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon and Randy Savage

Opening Match: Jeff Jarrett v Doink: Doink introduces another midget (‘Wink’) as his big surprise for Lawler. Also, is it sad that I’ve known the names of all of Doink and Lawler’s midgets for twenty years, and that they’re seared into my brain forever? Hopefully Alzheimer’s will fix this one day. Jarrett bails to the floor to frustrate Doink, and tries to sweep him off his feet on the way back in, but Doink dodges, and slams him. Drop-toehold into a side-headlock, with Jarrett going right into heel mode and reaching for the hair - only for it to not work, since Doink's hair is a wig attached to a mask. Heh. Jarrett switches up to a rope-assisted abdominal stretch, and a high knee puts Doink on the floor. Jerry Lawler's band of midgets attack him out there, but Jarrett breaks it up to pull him in for more abuse. Come on, now. Really? What kind of person breaks up a good midget beat down? Especially one leading to your easy countout victory. No wonder no one took Jeff Jarrett seriously in 1994. Jarrett hits a dropkick, and hooks a chinlock - but Doink somehow escapes. Enzuigiri gets two, but Jeff walks into a double-underhook suplex, and we have a double knockout. Various midgets cheer both men on, and Jarrett recovers first - but misses a 2^nd rope fistdrop. Doink with a powerslam, so Lawler's midgets try to get involved again - only to have Jarrett whipped into them (taking a crazy bump off of the apron - which, considering the size difference, is like Foley falling off the Cell), and Doink hits the Whoopee Cushion to finish, but the referee is caught up with the midgets, and the real Lawler runs in to nail Doink, allowing Jarrett the pin at 13:00. Afterwards, Lawler officially introduces us to the second midget: Sleazy. The match was just background for Lawler/Doink. ½*

Action Zone promo, promising Bret Hart/Owen Hart during Sunday's premiere episode, and billing at as their 'final encounter.' And it kinda was, as they never really had any high profile matches after that, oddly

Davey Boy Smith v Roy Raymond: Of all the goofy looks Bulldog had over the years, this has got to be the worst - maybe only second to the bizarre blue jeans period in 1999. And yes, I remember the cornrows fine. Davey runs through a few suplexes (hanging vertical, butterfly, super, fishermans) between chinlocks, and then finishes with the Running Powerslam at 3:30. Energetic squash. ½*

Burt Reynolds signs copies of his book 'My Life' in a mall somewhere. Surprised they never had him back after WrestleMania X, considering how much everyone seemed to like him - especially Vince. Great line afterwards, as Randy Savage tries talking McMahon into writing an autobiography of his own. Still waiting on that one

On Superstars over the weekend, Bob Backlund attacked former manager Arnold Skaaland with the Crossface Chickenwing - angry at Skaaland for throwing in the towel to cost him the WWF Title way back in 1983. However, Backlund objects to McMahon showing the footage again (his line about the people having great memories, and not needing to see the same things over and over again would certainly be quite welcome on today’s RAWs), and goes on an epic rant, tearing into the fans of the New Generation. Backlund is just on fire here with his crazy old man ranting, masterfully balancing his promo to generate real heel heat where a lesser heel might have started getting cheers. Finally, Lex Luger comes down, and challenges Backlund to 'pick on someone (his) own size,' and try putting Lex in the Chickenwing. WWF Officials break it up before it goes anywhere, which makes me wonder what's with all the stop/start feuds for Backlund? First Savage, now Luger. Backlund was just BRILLIANT here in every way, and it's a real shame that they didn't run with him on top for longer than they did, because he's just blowing everyone else in the WWF (or WCW, for that matter) out of the water

Bob Holly v Reno Riggins: Holly has switched to all a black base color scheme, in hopes of looking less like an idiot, I assume. Speaking of idiots, McMahon's back-and-forth with Savage on commentary regarding Backlund claiming to have 'never eaten marijuana' is awesome stuff. Seriously, what was stopping them from doing a Backlund/Savage feud? Or Backlund/Luger, after Savage bailed for WCW? It's not like Lex was doing anything else after Survivor Series - unless you count forming a tag team with Davey Boy Smith months later as 'something.' The more I think about it, the more upset I get! Holly could are less, however, and finishes Riggins with a flying bodypress at 2:33. ¼*

IRS v Tim McNeany: Hey, the Million Dollar Corporation! Wouldn't be a late 1994 RAW without 'em! As a kid, I guess I never realized just how oversaturated the show was with these guys (and how ineffective they came off as heels), but rewatching these twenty years later, it's unbelievable that they let them get as far as they did as a stable. IRS, for example, hasn't done anything since SummerSlam, and is now going around randomly accusing The Undertaker of being a tax cheat (really) to drum up a feud. The Penalty (an STF) finishes the jobber at 1:40. Write-Off or GTFO. DUD

On Superstars over the weekend, Paul Bearer wheels a casket down to the ring after a Yokozuna squash, and nearly scares the shit out of him. Thank God for the 'nearly' part, as I don't think they had enough money in 1994 to pay for that particular cleanup job

The Heavenly Bodies v Barry Horowitz and Nick Barbarry: Why are we wasting live show time on the Heavenly Bodies? Proving my point, the jobbers actually give them a run for their money before Jimmy Del-Ray finishes Barbarry with a flying moonsault at 2:30 ¼*

Backstage, Lex Luger again challenges Bob Backlund to a match. I don’t remember this ever going anywhere, but given the pattern of buildup, I’m going to assume they meet in two weeks – AKA hour three of this taping cycle

BUExperience: No great matches, but the Backlund stuff continues to carry entire episodes, and the squashes were nice and energetic this week