WWF Monday Night RAW (June 27, 1994)

Original Airdate: June 27, 1994 (Taped June 20)  

From White Plains, New York; Your Hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Randy Savage.

We start with a really awkward opener, as Jerry Lawler cuts a taped promo on Duke Droese, but a producer interrupts to 'remind him why he's here,' and the King stutters his way through an official apology for using the trashcan as a weapon last week

Opening Match: Bam Bam Bigelow v Mabel: Mabel overpowers him in the early going, so Bigelow rakes the eyes, and takes him down with an enzuigiri. Snapmare, but Mabel no-sells some forearms, and dodges a charge in the corner to set up a legdrop. Elbowdrop misses, however, but Luna gets knocked off the apron as they criss cross, and Mabel bodyslams him. Bam Bam bails to go check on Luna, and Mabel follows with an axehandle off of the apron. Slugfest seems to set up a double countout, but Mabel rolls back in just in time for a countout win at 3:35. Afterwards, Luna chews Bigelow out for the bump, but Ted DiBiase comes down and calms them down - setting up Bigelow's addition to his Corporation. Bigelow looked game to work a fun power match, but Mabel was in full plod mode. At least it was short. DUD

On Superstars, Ted DiBiase visits the Heartbreak Hotel to present his latest acquisition: The Undertaker. I remember my six year old cousin visiting when that aired on the weekend shows, and being just terrified when I explained the whole angle of the death/resurrection/return to him

King of the Ring Encore promo

Cute RAW Girl Sign of the Week: We Be RAW

IRS v Rich Myers: IRS' spiel includes a barb about universal healthcare that they were about twenty years too early on. IRS controls with an overhead wristlock to start, and he wastes no time in going for the abdominal stretch. Snap suplex sets up a chinlock, but he quickly shifts back into an overhead wristlock for whatever reason. Bodyslam, and an STF finishes this dull squash at 2:45. DUD

Jerry Lawler hosts The King's Court with guests Owen Hart and Jim Neidhart. Neidhart clarifies his actions at King of the Ring, explaining that he made sure Bret retained the title so that Owen could go on to win it from him

The Headshrinkers v The Executioners: Standard Headshrinkers squash, as Fatu beats down one of the Executioner's with headbutts for a while, and Samu chops him. Bodyslam, as Gorilla Monsoon promises that 'obviously' the Headshrinkers will be defending their WWF Tag Team Titles at SummerSlam. Not if the Kliq has anything to say about it. More kicky-punchy stuff from the tag champs, and Fatu finishes with a flying splash at 4:55. DUD

Backstage, Ted DiBiase approaches Bam Bam Bigelow about a deal backstage, but the cameraman gets chased off by Nikolai Volkoff before we hear anything. That's something that really got lost during the Attitude Era (and never recovered, unfortunately), as now guys pretend they never notice the camera right in their faces as they plot dastardly things, and no one ever acknowledges it

Kwang v Mike Moraldo: Another dull squash, as Kwang works him over with his martial arts stuff, and spews mist at random intervals. Savate kick for two, and a snapmare sets up a chinlock. Moraldo manages to block a turnbuckle smash, but Kwang blocks a monkeyflip, and spinkicks him for the pin at 3:21. DUD

WWF New Generation promo. They actually have the balls to feature Roddy Piper in this

Lex Luger v Mike Bell: Luger powers Bell around, and works a standing side-headlock. Hiptoss, as Ted DiBiase comes out to observe from the aisle. Bell manages a few axehandles to try and turn things around, but a cross corner whip backfires when Luger charges him with a lariat. Backbreaker, and the Rebel Rack finishes at 2:59. More about getting the DiBiase program off the ground than anything else, which is fine. DUD

King of the Ring Encore promo

Backstage, Ted DiBiase announces that Bam Bam Bigelow has officially joined the Corporation, and that Lex Luger is next

BUExperience: If you really, really like the Million Dollar Corporation, then this is definitely the episode for you! Everyone else, keep your head down, and move along quietly.