WWF Monday Night RAW (December 20, 1993)

Original Airdate: December 20, 1993 (Taped November 29). Really weird taping schedule here, as they aired a live show last week, and now pulled this one from the previous taping cycle back in November.

From White Plains, New York; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon and Shawn Michaels. What I’ve never understood about wrestlers doing guest commentary, is why do they come out dressed in full ring gear? I mean, do you really need wrist tape?

Opening Match: Jeff Jarrett v PJ Walker: Fin-a-fucking-ly. This is Jarrett's WWF debut, and it couldn't come sooner - one more vignette, and I'd likely lose my mind. Jarrett with a side-headlock right away, and he goes through all of his usual strut-and-stall tactics. Jarrett with a dropkick, and he chokes Walker on the ropes to show off how much PJ resembles Jerry Seinfeld. Meanwhile, Shawn and Vince discuss politics on commentary - a common occurrence during these early RAWs, which I always find weird, considering the show is geared to kids. Like, I didn't give half a shit about what happened that week in Congress when I was nine, sorry. In the ring, Jarrett misses a 2^nd rope fistdrop, but quickly regroups with a DDT for the pin at 4:09. Not much of a debut. DUD

Vince hypes the WWF Scamline Voteline, with this weeks topic: should Jack Tunney allow Lex Luger to participate in the Royal Rumble

Cute RAW Girl Sign of the Week: RAW Rules Fools

Men on a Mission v Duane Gill and Barry Hardy: According to Vince, Men on a Mission are here 'for the boys and girls!' Wait, so they're not going after the lucrative hermaphrodite market? Really weird mint green boots for MoM tonight. The jobbers try to double-team Mabel early on, but he's too fat to move, and they both get bulldogged. He slams Gill onto Hardy, as Vince declares that Mabel 'eats whole pigs all the time, and is as healthy as can be!' Hardy gets worked over by Mo for a bit, and Mabel finishes him with a 2^nd rope splash at 4:27. Well, the commentary was entertaining, anyway. DUD

Royal Rumble Report! The big angle going into the Rumble at this point is that Jim Cornette has gotten Lex Luger banned from entry, due to the clause in the SummerSlam contract that said there would be no rematch with Yokozuna

Ludvig Borga v Tatanka: This is the rematch, from when Borga ended Tatanka's undefeated streak, and put him out of action before Survivor Series. Tatanka with a series of chops to knock Borga into the corner for a ten-punch count right away, and another tomahawk knocks him out of the ring. Tatanka is right on top of him with a whip into the post, and back inside for a bodyslam. Flying bodypress gets two, but a criss cross backfires, as Borga clobbers him. Ludvig unloads on him with body shots, and hits a cool looking bodypress against the turnbuckles. Powerslam gets two, and a bodyslam sets up an elbowdrop - only for Tatanka to roll out of the way! Series of clotheslines draw Yokozuna and Mr. Fuji down, but Tatanka keeps it together with a powerslam. To the top, but Fuji whacks him with the flagpole, and we have a disqualification at 4:44. Afterwards, Yokozuna goes for the kill, but Lex Luger runs in to save - slamming the big guy. Nothing match, but Tatanka looked super motivated. ½*

Adam Bomb v Mark Thomas: Bomb tosses Thomas around to start, so Mark tries a headlock, but gets shrugged off. Side suplex, and the Atom Smasher finishes at 1:42. Quite dull for something that didn't even break two minutes. DUD

Thurman Plugg Vignette. Man, who'd have thought Bob Holly would have lasted as long as he did with the promotion?

We take a look back at Superstars over the weekend, where Bret Hart responded to brother Owen's challenge, stating that he wouldn't even consider a match with his own brother. God, I loved this angle, and in fact, it's the angle that got me into wrestling to begin with in January 1994

Owen Hart v Mike Bell: Owen is still giving away the shades like a babyface, since he didn't go 100% heel until the Rumble. He trades wristlocks with Bell to start, and Hart hiptosses him. Snap suplex and a 2^nd rope pointed elbowdrop hit, followed by a gutwrench suplex. Cross corner whip is reversed, but Owen quickly regroups with another snap suplex, and adds a standing dropkick. Belly-to-belly suplex, and the Sharpshooter wraps things up at 3:01. Just a squash, but Owen looked phenomenal here - crisp and fast. ½*

We take a look at footage of Paul Bearer and The Undertaker in a barn somewhere, where The Undertaker builds the infamous double-deep, double-wide casket for Yokozuna

The Headshrinkers v Phil Apollo and Jerry Seavy: Samu attacks both jobbers at the bell, and decides to start with Seavy - quickly gutwrench suplexing him. Headbutts, and Fatu tags in for a double-team clothesline. Bodyslam and a backbreaker, and back to Samu for some double-team chops. Savate kick, and Fatu finishes with the flying splash at 3:06. Well, easy paycheck for Apollo, anyway. DUD

BUExperience: Nothing at all of note this week outside of the Tatanka/Borga/Luger/Yoko angle and Jarrett’s debut, and neither of those were particularly intriguing.