WWF Monday Night RAW (December 30, 1996)

Original Airdate: December 30, 1996

From Albany, New York; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler

Savio Vega and Jesse James v Steve Austin and Faarooq: They actually have a decent looking crowd here. And, according to HistoryofWWE, this is actually a bigger crowd than they got for In Your House a couple of weeks before. Austin attacks James in the aisle during his sing-a-long, so Vega runs out early to make the save. See, that's why you always come out WITH your partner. Vega beats Austin into the ring to officially start the match, but a reversal sequence ends badly for him when Steve uses a hotshot. Short-clothesline follows, and it's over to Faarooq to drop Savio with a spinebuster for two. Charge in the corner hits boot, however, and Vega throws a spinkick for two, as Bret Hart watches on a monitor in the back. Vega with a small package on Austin for two, so Steve tries cutting him off with a clothesline, but Vega fires back with another spinkick. The crowd is dead here, which I think is a by-product of these taping cycles. Even on the live portion, they've likely already filmed a bunch of stuff for the next few weeks, and they're not hyped up anymore. Tag to Jesse, and he comes in hot on Austin, though you could hear a pin drop here. Bulldog gets two, but Steve fights him off, and passes back to Faarooq. Irish whip, but Jesse reverses, and he backdrops Faarooq. Hiptoss follows, but a charge misses, and Jesse takes a spill over the top. That allows Austin to clip the leg out there, and that draws Bret out to chase Steve around. Funny that this week he's in street clothes, after Shawn Michaels made fun of him for wearing his gear while doing commentary a few weeks prior. Words hurt, Shawn. So with Jesse down and unable to continue (which is fitting, given his first big angle at Royal Rumble '95), Bret decides to take his place as Savio's partner. The heels cut the ring in half on Vega, as the match actually LOSES steam after the inclusion of the bigger star. Vega fights Faarooq off with an electric chair to allow the hot tag to Bret, and this time we get a fitting crowd response. Hart runs wild on Faarooq, and he goes for the Sharpshooter, but Crush runs in for the DQ at 12:29. The Nation do a beat down after the bell (with Austin gleefully helping in assaulting Hart), until Ahmed Johnson runs in to make the save. This was fine. * ½

Royal Rumble ad. Man, they went all in with these Adam and George goofs, didn't they?

Hunter Hearst Helmsley v Flash Funk: HHH's WWF Intercontinental title is not on the line tonight, and Goldust is watching from the crowd. That's twice now that they've run that bit with him, and both times he can't even get good seats. I guess it kinda makes sense, business wasn't great at this point, and the roster probably took pay cuts. Realism! Anyway, Goldust's presence distracts HHH, allowing Funk to attack from behind to get things going. Funk with a spinheel kick to set up a standing moonsault for two, but a 2^nd rope bodypress misses, and HHH clobbers him with a clothesline. You think Vince still insists on calling HHH by his 'full name' to this day? "Please pass the potatoes, Hunter Hearst Helmsley." Flash tries a cradle for two, but HHH cuts him off with a neckbreaker for two, as Lawler keeps taking shots at the deceased Tiny Tim, noting that, like Goldust, he wasn't a 'real man.' Seriously, was there some beef between them, or something? Flash tries a bodypress for two, but HHH cuts him off again with another clothesline, and he puts the boots to him. This dead crowd is really killing my mood. HHH with a reverse chinlock (complete with some really over the top selling from Funk, acting like he's on acid), and Hunter moves on to an abdominal stretch. Flash escapes, but a splash attempt lands on HHH's knees, and Hunter drops a knee for two. HHH with a hanging vertical suplex to set up a 2^nd rope fistdrop for two, and he just keeps working Flash over in the dullest fashion imaginable. It's, like, pick it up, already! Let Flash do his springboards, and shit! Funk finally starts making a comeback, but just as the match might potentially start getting interesting, we have to start the overbooking. Lawler leaves the commentary position to start insulting Goldust, as Funk hits a flying moonsault on Helmsley for two, but we're barely paying attention to the match anymore. So Lawler goes after Goldust in the crowd, which somehow distracts the referee despite having nothing to do with the match, and Hunter hits Funk with the title belt for the pin at 11:06. This was like a Honda Civic - mechanically sound, but just really dull. *

Shotgun Saturday Night ad. Sadly, George and Adam look like they're about 15 years old, so they probably won't get in. Also, if you want to sell something as a 'sexy, rocking good time,' maybe find someone other than Todd Pettengill to shill it?

WWF Tour ad

Jim Ross brings Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart out for an in-ring interview, and the nicey face-to-face interviews from back in March feel like they took place on another planet at this point. So, this is basically just the two of them bitching at each other like a couple of teenagers, with Ross just kinda giving up on actually conducting any sort of interview. Both promos are very heelish, though Bret's is more overtly heelish. And both guys take personal shots, with Bret hitting him with a lot of 'Shawn is gay' stuff, and Shawn hitting him about not being the role model he claims he is, until finally WWF Champion Sycho Sid comes out before the hair pulling starts. Shawn saying that he's seen Bret's behavior on the road seemed to get under the Hitman's skin a little. So now Undertaker comes out too (for some reason), but Vader attacks him in the aisle, and Sid gets in his face as well. Not really sure what this is all about now, since they're building Michaels/Hart in general, but Michaels/Sid for the PPV, so what the fuck is Undertaker doing out here? So then Shawn hits Bret with a lowblow, before diving out of the ring after Sid to end the segment. This was a fun segment with all the sniping and insider shots, but since Bret and Shawn never actually had the planned WrestleMania match, it all kind of lead nowhere

The Starburst Fruit Twists Rewind is Ahmed Johnson chasing off the Nation earlier tonight

Goldust v Jerry Lawler: Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Honky Tonk Man both sit in for guest commentary. Goldust dominates Lawler to start, but gets distracted by HHH, and goes after him at ringside. That allows the King to attack, and he beats Goldust back into the ring. Jerry with a 2^nd rope fistdrop, as HHH and Honky go at a mile-a-minute trying to get their bullshit angles over at the same time. Bless Vince, he actually makes sense of it all. So with Lawler in control, HHH kidnaps Marlena, and carries her back to the dressing room, but Marc Mero cuts him off in the aisle. At least, I think it's him - there's no light. So Goldust chases for a brawl in the aisle and gets counted out at 4:00 - injuring Marlena in the process. This wasn't really a match, just a bunch of angles. DUD

BUExperience: Really boring matches this week, but the Michaels/Hart segment was pretty hot, and will probably be tough for WCW to top.

Monday Night Wars Rating Chart

	12/30/96
Show	RAW	Nitro
Rating	1.6	3.6
Total Wins	17	44
Win Streak		27
Better Show (as of 12/23)	19	39