WWF Monday Night RAW (March 20, 1995)

Original Airdate: March 20, 1995 (Taped March 13)

From Stockton, California; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon and Jim Cornette

Opening Match: Razor Ramon v Henry Godwinn: Godwinn tries getting in his face at the bell, and gets paintbrushed for his trouble. Razor goes to work on the arm, as Jim Cornette starts talking about how 'shady' the WWF's contract dealings are. Sure, he was speaking in kayfabe, but still. Godwinn takes over with a bodyslam and an elbowdrop for two, and he blocks a Razor backdrop attempt with a facebuster, then chokes him out on the ropes. Headvise, but Razor counters into a backslide for two, and wins a slugfest. 2^nd rope bulldog gets two as Roadie joins us at ringside to allow Henry a clothesline from behind to take control. However, here comes 1-2-3 Kid to attack Roadie on the floor, and Godwinn cares for some reason, allowing Razor the Edge at 6:30. Afterwards, Vince brings Razor and Kid over to ringside for an interview, with Razor promising Jeff Jarrett will keep the Intercontinental Title against Bob Backlund so he can win it himself at WrestleMania. I like when they actually show the motivations behind the title chases like that. Match was nothing of note, but short and energetic enough for what it was, and what it needed to be. ¾*

Sunday Night Slam promo

Fan Festival promo

Lawrence Taylor vignette

On Action Zone over the weekend, Bam Bam Bigelow squashes Doink. Well, NOW he's ready to headline WrestleMania

Jim Cornette leaves his post to go help The Heavenly Bodies prepare for their tag title shot later, so Steve McMichael (part of Lawrence Taylor 'All-Pro Team' for WrestleMania) comes out to replace him. Weird how much both he and his wife would become a part of wrestling out of what was meant to be a one-time appearance

Handicap Match: King Kong Bundy v Adam Kroomes and Raven Clark: I don't watch RAW much anymore, but if they haven't used this gimmick for Rusev, they really should. The jobbers both try to slam Bundy, but can't hoist him up, as Vince schmoozes McMichael at ringside. Vince's shameless attempts at mainstream recognition at this point were really sad. Not that they're really any better now, but at least now it involves actual celebrities. Bundy with the Avalanche at 2:45. Afterwards, Kama (part of the Million Dollar Corporation) shows up to threaten McMichael, and but makes the mistake of throwing a drink in his face, and they get into a pull-apart brawl on the floor. Hey, give 'em credit - they were doing whatever they could to sell that WrestleMania main event. DUD

WrestleMania XI Report. Guys, Randy from Home Improvement will be there! How was this NOT the highest grossing WrestleMania of all time?

WWF Tag Team Title Match: The Smoking Gunns v The Heavenly Bodies: With Cornette managing, and McMichael bailing after his brawl with Kama, we're left with Vince flying solo for this one. What a treat! Billy Gunn starts with Tom Prichard, and a big criss cross ends in Billy bulldogging him, and Bart Gunn catching an incoming Jimmy Del-Ray with a dropkick to put the challengers on the floor. Back in, the Gunns take turns working Tom's arm, and Bart pulls off a nice press-slam. Over to Jimmy, but the Gunns armbar him into oblivion as well, but Bart runs into a cheapshot, and the Bodies cut the ring in half. Jimmy misses a flying splash to allow the tag to Bart, and he's a barn of fire! Four-way brawl, and the Bodies make a last ditch effort with an illegal switch, but can't put Billy away, and he ends up backsliding Del-Ray to retain at 12:00. Fine, but did anybody really buy the Bodies as the threat to the titles, anyway? *

Over the weekend in  New York, the top WWF Superstars joined Magic Johnson for March Magic. Kinda weird that they have Shawn Michaels there with all the babyfaces, laughing it up at Razor Ramon’s jokes and smiling ahead of WrestleMania

Lex Luger and Tatanka offer pre-taped thoughts regarding their Cage Match for Sunday Night Slam

BUExperience: Pretty dull one this time out, but it’s interesting to note that they continue moving away from the squash-heavy nature of the early episodes this far ahead of the Nitro debut