WWF Monday Night RAW (February 22, 1993)

Original Airdate: February 22, 1993

From New York, New York; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon, Rob Bartlett, and Randy Savage.

Opening Match: Bam Bam Bigelow v Scott Taylor: Taylor tries charging him at the bell, but walks into a shoulderblock. He tries a headlock, but Bam Bam whips him into the ropes for another one. Taylor with a diving forearm, but Bigelow doesn't go down, and clobbers him with a clothesline as he tries it again. Hanging vertical suplex, but Taylor slips free - only to get caught in an electric chair. Chinlock and a nice butterfly backbreaker set up the flying headbutt, but Bam Bam's not satisfied, and does it a second time for the pin at 3:01. Don't feel too badly for Scotty though... all those flames on Bigelow's tights rubbed off on him, and he's a real hottie now. ¼*

Ugly RAW Girl Sign of the Week: I like it Shaken, Stirred, and RAW!

Vince McMahon and Hulk Hogan do a prerecorded sit-down interview, where the Hulkster talks about 'tabloid terrorism,' and promises to be the leader of the 90s. Well, considering he was dressed all in black-and-white here, he wasn't too far off the mark.

Six-Man Tag Team Match: Shawn Michaels and The Beverly Brothers v Tatanka and The Nasty Boys: Shawn takes a great backdrop bump to the floor during the initial brawl, and the dust settles on Blake Beverly and Jerry Sags to start. The Nasty's double-team, so Beau Beverly runs in, but it's double pitty-city! Brian Knobs on Blake in the corner, but a blind charge misses, and he tags Shawn. Michaels with a diving backelbow, and he shoves Knobs into the corner for the Beverly's to double up on. Backdrop, but Knobs blocks with a facebuster, and adds a pair of clotheslines before tagging Tatanka. That sends Shawn running for the hill (represented by Beau Beverly), and Beverly gets trapped in an armbar. Tag to Sags to work his version of an armbar, and he hits a shoulderbreaker for two. Back to Tatanka, and he fires off tomahawk chops to the shoulder, but a tag back to Knobs backfires when he ends up getting backdropped over the top to the floor. The Beverly's ram him into the steps out there, and Shawn drives him into the post for good measure, before rolling him back in to cut the ring in half. Knobs manages to evade Michaels long enough to get to Tatanka, and he comes in hot - crotching Shawn on the ropes, and then powerslamming him for two. Series of tomahawk chops for two, and a brawl breaks out. Shawn tries the Teardrop Suplex in the chaos, but Tatanka counters into a sunset flip for the pin at 14:00. Watchable, though really dull. ¾*

WrestleMania IX Promo

Outside of the arena, Sean Mooney catches up with some fans who are excited about Hulk Hogan being here tonight. Poor Sean... why is he always stuck outside of the building?

Crush v Terry Taylor: Crush shoves him around in the early going, and slaps on a standing side-headlock. Taylor powers into the ropes to break, but gets caught with a dropkick coming out of the ropes, and Crush press slams him. Terry decides to take a walk, but Crush drags him back by the ears - only to get his neck snapped across the top rope as he does. Oooh, well, that's what he gets for getting cocky. Chinlock, but Crush pulls his hands apart to break, so Taylor gives him a swinging neckbreaker for two. Punches, but Crush SURFS UP!! Clotheslines! Inverted Atomic Drop! Tilt-A-Whirl Backbreaker! Head Vise! 3:46! Squash, but it was energetic enough, I guess. ½*

We take a look back at last week, when Money Inc attacked Brutus Beefcake with their briefcase. That leads in to Vince McMahon bringing Hulk Hogan out for an in-ring interview, and he wants Money Inc, brother! But he doesn't want them alone! He wants to share the load with his friend-to-the-end! Beefcake joins them (complete with makeup to sell the face injury), but that's not enough! How about Money Inc manager Jimmy Hart, brother?! Hart joins them as well, and they're the Mega Maniacs now, brother! Not a bad segment to get Hogan back into the mix - especially with Vince McMahon's exaggerated (almost orgasmic) facial expressions.

Another WrestleMania IX Promo

The Undertaker v Skinner: Uh, but not really. The match starts, but apparently we're out of time, and we'll see the rest next week! I guess the Hogan segment ran long, but really? The exciting conclusion of Undertaker/Skinner is supposed to get me to tune in? The 90s really were simpler times.

BUExperience: More build to WrestleMania IX, as Tatanka pins Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels, and Hulk Hogan returns to setup the tag team showdown with Money Inc. Pretty boring stuff all around though, unfortunately, but at least even when this show sucks, it’s not long enough to get annoying.