WWF Monday Night RAW (March 15, 1993)

Original Airdate: March 15, 1993

From Poughkeepsie, New York; Your Hosts are Gorilla Monsoon, Rob Bartlett, and Bobby Heenan. It’s another impression week for comedic genius Rob Bartlett, this week doing the entire telecast ‘as’ Vince McMahon. Hey, at least he’s trying.

Opening Match: Razor Ramon v Russ Greenberg: Just a couple of weeks ago, this guy was 'Ross Greenberg.' Looks like quite a card sharp, regardless. Razor is unimpressed, however, and slaps him around at the bell, then hits a hiptoss followed by a blockbuster. Abdominal stretch, but he gets sick of it, and switches to an STF. Chokeslam and a side superplex hit, and Ramon finishes Snaro with the Razor's Edge at 3:08. Paint-by-numbers. DUD

Cute RAW Girl Sign of the Week: Get RAW!

Typhoon v LA Gore: What the fuck kind of jobber name is LA Gore? Guy looks like the lovechild of early-90s DDP and mid-80s Magnum TA. Typhoon casually shoves him around, and hits an avalanche before abusing him in the corner for a bit. Backelbow, suplex, and a powerslam all hit, and another avalanche sets up a splash for the pin at 2:57. DUD

Bobby Heenan brings Giant Gonzalez out for an in-ring interview. The focus is the match against the Undertaker at WrestleMania IX, but really, it's just setup to show off Gonzalez's size to everyone in the crowd. Nothing notable, but anytime he's not wrestling is a plus.

WrestleMania IX Promo. The Hulkster is coming back, brother! Also, Bret Hart might be there.

Bob Backlund v Papa Shango: Backlund uses his speed advantage to dodge a charging Papa a couple of times, and be sweeps him off of his feet. Shango calls for a test-of-strength, and dominates the hold, but Bob counters into a wristlock. Shango with a swift backbreaker, as Bartlett nearly gives himself a heart attack by shouting 'MONDAY NIGHT RAAAAWWWW!!' in Vince McMahon voice every thirty seconds. Papa dumps him to the floor for a shot into the ring apron, and back in, he drops a headbutt downstairs. Chinlock, so Backlund hiptosses him, but he can't capitalize before Shango hits another backbreaker. He adds a pair of elbowdrops before slapping the chinlock back on, and he bodyslams him for two. He goes for it again, but Backlund counters with an inside cradle for the pin at 6:58. A little slow, but well worked. ¾*

WrestleMania IX Report! It's gonna be a toga party! An outdoor toga party! At Caesars Palace! Gene Okerlund, Bobby Heenan, and Gorilla Monsoon will all be wearing togas! The cameraman will be wearing a toga! The ring crew? Togas! Seriously, buy this show. If you don't you're an asshole.

The Nasty Boys v The Headshrinkers: The fat RAW Girl from a couple of weeks ago is back, but unlike Lex Luger, the Nasties embrace it, and hug her. Aww, that gives me hope. Brian Knobs starts with Samu, and quickly ends up in the corner for a clothesline. Another one, but Knobs dodges, and hits two of his own. Tag to Jerry Sags for a double-team backdrop for two, and back to Knobs for a single-arm DDT. The Nasties take turns working Fatu's arm, but Sags walks into a superkick, and the Headshrinkers work him over. Samu goes for the kill with a flying headbutt, but Sags rolls out of the way, and gets the tag. Knobs is an outhouse of fire, and the action quickly spills to the outside during the four-way brawl. They fight over to a prop concession stand (you know... the kind set up where fans aren't allowed to go), and it turns into a food fight brawl (with Samu getting covered in mustard and taking a crazy chairshot) for a double-countout at 8:26. Not a technical masterpiece by any means, but fun, didn't overstay its welcome, and the crowd was super hot for it. *

We take a look at various WWF Superstars doing charitable work with kids who have disabilities. Don't get me wrong, it's a good cause, I just didn't realize that this self-serving, rah rah rah we're so great stuff was something they focused on prior to recent times. Notable: the video ends with a still shot of Vince McMahon, with the caption 'President, CEO: Titan Sports/World Wrestling Federation

BUExperience: A giant blizzard forced them to relocate to Poughkeepsie this week (in a venue that they used to tape a lot of TV in during the mid-80s), and though it was cold outside, the crowd was hot – which really adds to the already fun atmosphere of these intimate venues. That said, I never thought I’d miss Vince McMahon and Randy Savage as commentators. Or that anyone could take the joy out of Monsoon and Heenan. Seriously, if I ever get a time machine, I’m going back to this night and killing Rob Bartlett just so I don’t need to have ‘MONDAY NIGHT RAAAWWWW!’ ringing in my ears for the next two weeks.