WWF Monday Night RAW (May 8, 1995)

Original Airdate: May 8, 1995 (Taped April 24)

From Omaha, Nebraska; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler

Opening Match: Jeff Jarrett v Doink: Jarrett is Intercontinental Champion again (after defeating Bob Holly the day previous on Action Zone to win back the held up title), but this is non-title anyway. Poor Doink. Doink gets some with a backelbow and a clothesline right away, but Roadie trips him during a shoulderblock, so Doink slows it down with a wristlock. Also, Dink is still alive, apparently. Jeff tries another cheapshot with Roadie, but it backfires, and Doink schoolboys him for two, but telegraphs a backdrop, and take a facebuster. Jeff quickly follows up with a backelbow and a clothesline of his own, but he also telegraphs a backdrop, and takes a sunset flip for two. Jeff stops pussyfooting around and goes after the leg, but the referee catches him using Roadie for leverage during a half-crab, and forces a break. Jeff works a sleeper instead, but Doink escapes with a DDT, and a powerslam for two. Stump Puller, but Roadie breaks it up, and Jarrett quickly slaps on the Figure Four at 9:27. Basic stuff, but fine for what it was. *

Bodydonnas vignette. Sunny would get hotter. Then less hot. Then a LOT less hot. Then outright disgusting. Then kinda okayish again

Bam Bam Bigelow reflects on his shitty year, and all he's learned from jobbing for everybody. Kinda weird that he's already looking back at the Diesel match with all this wisdom, when the bout took place all of a week ago. 'I know a lot of people are wondering about Bam Bam Bigelow, and his future.' As someone who was a diehard fan in 1995, I can assure you that was not the case

Sid and Diesel offer pre-taped thoughts on their In Your House main event showdown. Also, Sid blinks a lot. You'd think they'd have edited that out

Vince McMahon brings Sid and Ted DiBiase out for an in-ring interview to hard sell the pay per view. Say what you will about some (okay, most) of their choices in 1995, but giving it a go with Sid made total sense, and they'd have been stupid not to try

Hakushi v Gary Scott: I really hope those faux tattoos on Hakushi were applied with some kind of easy-on strip, because the thought of him having to sit in a makeup chair for hours each night only makes 1995 that much more depressing. And 1995 does not need to be made any more depressing. Hakushi with a slingshot-springboard splash at 2:40. Hakushi was cool, but sadly, 1995 was all about who you were friends with, and Hakushi just didn't have the right connections. ¼*

In Your House Report! Diesel has a message for Sid: 'hey Sid, take a look at my eyes!' They look pretty dilated there, Big Daddy Cool

Owen Hart v Bart Gunn: I always liked the booking trope of putting two guys scheduled to have a tag match at the pay per view in singles matches during the build. Simple and effective. They trade hammerlocks to start, and Bart outclasses him on the mat (yeah, right), but runs into a distraction from Mr. Fuji, and Owen attacks. Bart manages to block a cross corner whip and hit a flying bodypress for two, then goes back to the hammerlock to ground the tag champion. Owen escapes, but walks into a powerslam, and Bart adds an elbowdrop for two. Sidewalk slam, but Fuji trips him as he runs the ropes with a follow-up, and Owen clotheslines him out of the ring, then runs his back into the post. Back in, Owen hits a neckbreaker for two, but a backdrop is countered with a sunset flip for two. Hart quickly cuts off the potential comeback with an enzuigiri, and a kneelift sets up a lariat for two. Vertical suplex, but Bart counters into a superplex - only for Jim Cornette to help Owen block. Hart perches up there, but Billy Gunn has had ENOUGH, and crotches him on the rope - Owen taking the bump with gusto! Bart quickly finishes with a schoolboy after that at 8:20. Basic, but well worked for what it was, and effective at hyping the tag match for In Your House. * ½

On Mania over the weekend, Todd Pettengill and Stephanie Wiand visit the house the WWF is giving away to go along with the pay per view. Why is Pettengill standing on their kitchen countertop? What an asshole! Luckily he doesn't piss in the pool

BUExperience: Better than last weeks parade o’ squashes, but certainly nothing memorable, or worth going out of your way to see