WWF Monday Night RAW (January 17, 1994)

Original Airdate: January 17, 1994 (Taped January 10)

From Richmond, Virginia; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon and Crush.

Cute RAW Girl Sign of the Week: Get RAW or Get Out

Opening Match: Owen Hart v Terry Austin: Owen has Bret with him this week, as they've gotten over their little spat. They trade hammerlocks to start, and Owen wins the eventual criss cross with a monkeyflip. Wristlock, and Austin tries his own monkeyflip during another criss cross, but takes a kneedrop. Chinlock, but Austin escapes, so Hart switches to an overhead wristlock. Meanwhile, Stan Lane calls in with an update on those two 'youngsters' Marty Jannetty and 1-2-3 Kid, as they are set to defend the titles in a rematch with the Quebecers right now, live. Of course, that show was going on as this aired, live, but this show was taped, and the title switch was actually about an hour before the match we're watching right now. Anyway, Hart with an enzuigiri, and a 2^nd rope elbowdrop. Dropkick followed by a snap suplex, and a missile dropkick sets up the Sharpshooter at 4:30. Well, at least this Austin got away without a broken neck. Afterwards, McMahon gets a word with the Hart Brothers at ringside, and Owen immediately says he hopes the Quebecers win the rematch so that the Harts would receive their scheduled title shot at the Royal Rumble, while Bret hops the titles stay with Jannetty and Kid, since he and Owen would surely get a title shot down the line. See, now that's some brilliant, subtle heel stuff right there, as Owen is selfishly pulling for the heels to dethrone our new champions. ¼*

Tatanka v George South: South muscles Tatanka into the corner for a beating early, but a cross corner whip is reversed, and Tatanka chops him. Hiptoss sets up the tomahawk chops, but South rakes the eyes, and hits a neckbreaker for two. Meanwhile, Stan Lane calls in again to let us know the match has started, and Kid/Jannetty are in control. South keeps pounding him, but Tatanka JIGS UP!! Chops! Flying Tomahawk Chop! 2:50! DUD!

Alundra Blayze Vignette. She has tits, kids! Just like your mom!

Vince McMahon brings Yokozuna and Mr. Fuji out for an in-ring interview regarding the WWF Title Casket Match set for the Royal Rumble. But wait, here's Paul Bearer to wheel Undertaker's double-deep, doubly-wide shop class project out. Yoko is terrified, but McMahon goads him into cracking the lid, and Undertaker pops out - nearly giving the big guy a heart attack in the process

Diesel v Scott Powers: Powers actually screws up a cross corner whip to start (tripping, and hitting the middle buckle), and Diesel gives him another one for practice. Sidewalk slam, and he tosses Scott out to the floor for Shawn Michaels to abuse. Back in, Diesel hits a backbreaker, as Stan Lane calls in with another update: The Quebecers have won the titles back. Well, good news for Owen, then. Diesel with a powerbomb, and the big boot finishes at 3:25. Seriously, they still haven't figured out that the powerbomb is the finish? I didn't realize it took them this long, but I'd imagine the switch must be coming soon, because this is about when I started watching as a kid, and I remember it being all about the Jackknife. DUD

Royal Rumble Report! This Saturday! Pay Per View!

Randy Savage v IRS: Savage is more interested in commentator Crush than his match, and threatens to dive from the top rope at him, but IRS still botches a sneak attack. He manages to snapmare Macho for an elbowdrop, and follows with a quick backelbow. Legdrop to the groin, and he practices for the Rumble by tossing Randy out over the top. IRS follows him out for a shot into the steps, but takes an atomic drop on the way back in. Hangman’s clothesline puts IRS on the floor, but he manages to drop Savage across the guardrail when he follows. IRS with a suplex back inside for two, and it's chinlock time. Savage powers out, but charges into a kneelift, and IRS drops a leg for two. Bodyslam, but Randy counters into a small package for two, so IRS locks a sleeper. Randy powers into the corner to break, but misses a charge, and IRS schoolboys him for two. Back to the chinlock, but Savage manages to dump him to escape. He dives off of the apron with an axehandle, but decides to go for Crush rather than following up - only for IRS to post him. Inside, IRS slaps on a rope-assisted abdominal stretch, and breaks before he gets caught, but Savage decks him, and tries for a flying axehandle - only to get gut-punched on the way down for two. Chinlock, but Randy makes the ropes, so IRS slams him instead. Flying elbowdrop, but Savage takes offense, and blocks with his boot for two. Bodyslam of his own, and he goes for the authentic Flying Elbowdrop - only for Crush to break things up, causing IRS to get disqualified at 10:00. Afterwards, the heels gang up on Savage, but Tatanka runs out for the save. He gets killed, too, and Yokozuna decides to waddle out to make sure. Lex Luger runs down to even the score, but now Shawn and Diesel join us again. The referees seem completely useless in breaking this up, so now Bret Hart runs back in, and it's a big mini-Rumble as we go off the air. Decent match, too - a bit too much chinlocking between bursts of stuff, but the bursts were good. *

BUExperience: Not the greatest of episodes, but it was nice to see them actually do a ‘go-home’ style show for a pay per view this time out, as without a SummerSlam Spectacular/Survivor Series Showdown type special to rely on instead. I also appreciated the ‘live’ updates from Madison Square Garden, a good effort in making this taped show feel livelier.