WWF Monday Night RAW (June 20, 1994)

Original Airdate: June 20, 1994  

From White Plains, New York; Your Hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Randy Savage. This show marks the first time they add a Spanish commentary team to the mix, and hopefully sold them some insurance for their table

Opening Match: Diesel v Mark Thomas: Diesel slugs him into the corner for some kneelifts early, but Thomas reverses a turnbuckle smash. He tries to take over with rights, but Diesel shrugs him off, and tosses him out of the ring - Mark nearly hitting the Spanish announce table! And so, it begins. Diesel and Shawn Michaels beat the jobber on the floor, then back in, Diesel hits a sidewalk slam. Elbowsmashes in the corner set up the snake-eyes, and he slaps on a headvise. Big boot and the Jackknife finish at 3:58. Just a squash to give then announcers an excuse to discuss last night's King of the Ring main event. DUD

King of the Ring Report! What, not even a mention of Art Donovan?

#1 Contender's Match: 1-2-3 Kid v Nikolai Volkoff: Winner gets a WWF Title shot. Volkoff overpowers him in the early going, but Kid bodypresses him for two, as I have to question Ted DiBiase's investment strategy in getting VOLKOFF a #1 Contender's Match. No wonder he expanded with Tatanka, Bigelow, and IRS before the summer was out. Like, even if Volkoff wins, does DiBiase seriously believe the guy is going to beat BRET HART? In 1994?! Kid tries a headlock, but Volkoff shrugs him off, and hugs him like a bear. Kid sunset cradles out for two, and some lightning kicks knock Nikolai into the corner, but he nails him coming in, and hits a double-underhook suplex for two. Bodyslam, but Kid counters into a rollup for two, and fires a spinkick for two. Volkoff cuts off the comeback with a press-slam, and a press-backbreaker gets two. Another press-backbreaker for two, but Kid tries to block a cross corner whip, and ends up landing badly on his knee. He flails around on the mat, but as Volkoff moves in for the kill, Kid cradles him at 5:59. Yeah, no one bought Volkoff as a contender, but at least this led to a really good match. Kid has talked about his disdain for working with Volkoff in shoot interviews since, and who could blame him? The guy looked old, out of shape, and didn't particularly sell anything for the Kid. ¾*

Yokozuna v Nick Barberri: Yoko slugs him down right away, and adds a bodyslam. Barberri tries slugging back, but gets decked, and stomped. Belly-to-belly suplex hits, and a legdrop finishes at 2:23. Yoko has just been completely directionless since losing the title at WrestleMania. DUD

King of the Ring Encore promo

Typhoon v Black Phantom: I don't even remember Typhoon in the WWF in 1994, but there you go. Before we get started, we get clips of an altercation between Typhoon and Yokozuna in the aisle during the commercial break. I guess Vince REALLY wanted to run that Yokozuna/Earthquake program, and WOULD NOT be denied. Typhoon tosses Phantom around for a bit, but he gets his eyes raked, and Phantom slugs away in the corner - only to have a cross corner clothesline reversed on him. Pair of snap suplexes and an avalanche set up a splash for the pin at 2:45. Welcome back, Typhoon! Looks like you haven't changed a bit! DUD

Jerry Lawler hosts The King's Court, with guest Duke Droese. Droese doesn't appreciate Lawler's endless barbs at his profession (not wrestling, the other one), so Lawler attacks him with his own garbage can, and beats him down. So awesome, that if you turn up the sound on your TV, you can practically HEAR the wallets opening

Cute RAW Girl Sign of the Week: Scream If You're RAW

The Heavenly Bodies v Jim Powers and Russ Greenberg: Jimmy Del-Ray starts with Powers, and gets overpowered by the aptly named jobber. Powers gets quite a flurry of offense in, so Jimmy tags Tom Prichard in. Powers controls through a reversal sequence, and bodyslams him, but takes a slingshot clothesline from Del-Ray. Tag to Greenberg, but he can't get any momentum going like his partner, and Jimmy powerslams him. Prichard with a DDT, and Del-Ray hits a flying moonsault press to finish at 3:57. Wow, that was a ton of jobber offense, and frankly, the jobbers looked more impressive than the weird uncle looking Bodies. In fact, Del-Ray broke his pelvis on the finish, as Greenberg was out of position, so maybe these jobbers should know their place better. ¼*

We come back from commercial, with Gorilla Monsoon reading a very official apology for the earlier King's Court segment, as Lawler's use of the trashcan as a weapon is not condoned by the World Wrestling Federation. Or, more accurately, their lawyers. Monsoon apologizes repeatedly, and promises that we will 'never, never, ever' see that type of behavior again. Well, not until 1997, anyway. The deal here was that they had agreed to new anti-violence standards from USA Network, and use of objects not for their intended purpose is a direct violation

SummerSlam Promo

Backstage, Ted DiBiase thinks Lex Luger has loads of potential, he just needs the right guidance. Considering Luger’s track record, who could argue?

BUExperience: The Lawler stuff is interesting from a smart fan perspective, but any show where Nikolai Volkoff is within arms reach of the WWF Title in 1994 is not getting a thumbs up from me, sorry.