WWF Monday Night RAW (October 10, 1994)

Original Airdate: October 10, 1994 (Taped September 26)

From Utica, New York; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon and Randy Savage

Opening Match: Lex Luger v Bam Bam Bigelow: Bigelow has the Corporation with him (sans IRS, for some reason), and they crowd Luger to allow Bam Bam to take control early. Bigelow controls with power stuff, as I wonder if Vince McMahon actually (like, really and truly) believed that a main event heel stable with Tatanka and Bam Bam Bigelow as its centerpieces would get over. But then, he did push them all the way to the main event of WrestleMania XI, so I guess we have as good an answer as we could hope for. Lex comes back with a long armbar, but Bigelow escapes, and powerslams him for two. Falling headbutt sets up a flying version, but Luger rolls out of the way, and hits a lariat for two. That draws King Kong Bundy out (making his return), and he stands with the Corporation as Bigelow escapes another armbar. Bam Bam takes over, but now Adam Bomb and Mabel come down for some reason (like, seriously, what association do they have with Luger, anyway?), and stand in Lex's corner, and set up Survivor Series. The crowd is really pumped up about it, in any case. Bam Bam keeps pounding him with dull punch-kick stuff, and adds a DDT for two. Meanwhile, on commentary, McMahon is having a fit that Luger has been unfairly outnumbered by the Corporation, though really, no one has yet to lay a hand on him. If he's too dumb to focus on Bigelow instead of the guys on the floor, frankly, he doesn't deserve to win. Wasn't that exactly why he choked at WrestleMania X, too? Focus, dickbag. Bigelow with a dropkick to set up a chinlock, as now Vince has moved on to talking about Lex fighting 'against all odds' tonight. Again, it's been strictly one-on-one thus far. Luger even ends up getting choked on the ropes in front of the Corporation, and no one touches him. Luger blocks a cross corner charge to allow him a pair of clotheslines, and the Corporation again proves my point when Lex keeps bouncing off the ropes RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM and they do nothing. Somehow, against all those odds, Luger manages to take Bigelow down, and now suddenly Tatanka gets involved. It backfires, however, and Lex ends up rolling Bigelow up for the pin at 13:00. Thank God the Corporation was there, otherwise Luger might have lost! The feature matches have been just terrible on this taping cycle, and this was no exception. ¼*

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

On Superstars over the weekend, Bob Backlund visits the Heartbreak Hotel, and even fellow heels Shawn Michaels and Diesel think this guy is bonkers

Mabel v Reno Riggins: Oh, goodie! More Mabel! Cute spot, as Riggins tries a 3-point stance at the bell, and bounces off Mabel like he's a big, black brick wall. More spots to get over that Mabel is big (including one with Riggins going onto the middle turnbuckle when he's too short for a test-of-strength), until Mabel drops a leg for the pin at 2:00. Nothing, but fun for what it was, because Riggins actually worked to make Mabel look better than he is. ¼*

Earlier today, at a Columbus Day Parade, Randy Savage rode a float to raise awareness for awareness of Cooley's Anemia

Owen Hart v John Chrystal: Lots of empty seats on the camera side of the building, as these long taping cycles continue to thin out the crowd by the later portions. I understand the financial reasons behind the taping schedule, but when you're offering mostly squash matches featuring the likes of Mabel and Bundy in hour three, you can't blame people for giving up on you. Owen looks in good form as he runs though his offense, and finishes the jobber with the Sharpshooter at 3:39. ¼*

On Superstars over the weekend, The Undertaker continues to try and sell Hart Attack Tour tickets with the promise of matches against Yokozuna. Why yes, business was terrible at this point! Why do you ask?

Hart Attack Tour promo

King Kong Bundy v Mike Khoury: So, after making not even a dent against Luger earlier, this is Bundy's official return. Terrible booking, as they should have had him come out and Avalanche Luger against the post or something to cost him the match (and build him as a threat) rather than have him come out and stand around doing nothing, on the way to Luger winning. I was the markiest mark who ever marked (markier a mark than Marky Mark) in 1994, and even I wasn't buying Bundy at this point. Plus, why is he always so cold all the time? Seriously, no ones teeth should chatter that damn much unless there is a blizzard going on, and they happen to be naked. Bundy with the Avalanche for the five-count at 2:49. Again, this would have had a lot more impact had Bundy actually made a splash earlier on. DUD

On Superstars over the weekend, Dink pies Jerry Lawler, in retaliation to Lawler breaking his tricycle the week before. As noted before, this angle worked more for me as a kid because I thought Dink was Doink's kid, and I felt bad for him. The fact that he's an adult male, and feuding with Lawler over balloons and tricycles, doesn't quite have the same effect

Jerry Lawler hosts The King's Court, and introduces us to his answer to Dink: Queasy, the Royal Midget

Action Zone promo

The New Headshrinkers v JS Storm and Corey Student: Quickie squash to introduce us to Sione as Samu's replacement, with him finishing Storm with a big boot at all of 1:50. Frankly, Sione (Barbarian) was a better Headshrinker than Samu, but the team was just so far past relevant at this point, that there was no saving them - a situation not helped by the fact that they gave them stupid angles revolving around footwear. DUD

New Generation promo that sees Razor Ramon visit a confessional booth, and confess his sins. Luckily, it's heavily edited

Doink and Dink come down to put Burger King crowns on McMahon and Savage, and promise a surprise for Lawler next week. Wait, crazier than PAPER CROWNS?!?

BUExperience: Another ‘DUD’ of an episode this week, as they haven’t really begun building towards Survivor Series in any real way yet, and there’s nothing else really going on