But first, a little catch-up for everything that's happened that won't be in the series:
It's safe to say that 1995 wasn't exactly the best year to be a wrestling fan, especially for WWF fans. After the steroid trial and the departure of Hulk Hogan, business took a big hit. WWF's television ratings hit a low that wouldn't be seen again until the 2010s and they had few real stars, and it didn't help that two of them were leaving for WCW in the very near future. As for WCW, they had just premiered Nitro the week before when RAW took a week off and Hulk Hogan was in the middle of his feud with the Dungeon of Doom, who he would fight alongside Randy Savage, Sting, and Lex Luger, who had returned on the premiere Nitro in a puffy shirt.
That's pretty much it. Now onto the reviews! I'm going to be reviewing RAW first every time, mostly because (as you may know) WCW had a habit of spoiling taped RAWs on Nitro, and since I haven't seen the majority of these segments & matches, I don't want them ruined for me. SO without further ado, here's the first RAW vs Nitro
RAW
- We get an opening hype video where Vince McMahon recaps Shawn Michaels defeating Razor Ramon at SummerSlam two weeks prior in a ladder match, before announcing Michaels will defend the Intercontinental Championship against Sycho Sid while Razor will take on the British Bulldog.
- Razor Ramon vs The British Bulldog with Jim Cornette-Razor starts by flicking his toothpick at Cornette before he & Bulldog lock up. The two exchange wristlocks before Razor knocks Bulldog down with a punch. Razor clotheslines Bulldog out of the ring, where Bulldog takes a minute to recover before coming back in. Razor locks in an armbar, but Bulldog fights out and whips Razor into the corner twice before hitting a delayed vertical suplex. Bulldog works over Razor's back with forearms and cuts off Razor's comeback with a facebuster. Bulldog gets a near fall of a clothesline before gorilla press slamming Razor before a commercial. We come back to see Razor counter a powerslam in the corner for a nearfall, which Vince McMahon gets over excited for on commentary and accidentally counts to three. Bulldog hits a bodyslam and goes to the top rope, but Razor gets up and throws him off to the mat before hitting a discus punch. Razor hits a fallaway slam for a near fall before accidentally Irish whipping Bulldog into the referee Tim White. Razor hits the Razor's Edge and gets the visual three, but White is down and can't count the pin. This brings out Dean Douglas aka my 2nd least favorite wrestler after Hulk Hogan Shane Douglas, who hits a double ax handle to Razor from the top rope. The 1-2-3 Kid runs down to help out, only to get suplexed onto the ropes and punched to the ground. Bulldog picks Razor and hits the running powerslam as White comes to. Bulldog makes the cover, but 1-2-3 Kid hops up on the top rope to splash Bulldog. Bulldog dodges, however, and 1-2-3 Kid ends up frog splashing Razor, which prompts White to call for the bell. Fine little match, but nothing special. Bulldog gorilla press slams 1-2-3 Kid into the ropes before he & Cornette beat down on Razor & 1-2-3 Kid.
- After a commercial break, we come back to McMahon in the ring to interview Razor & 1-2-3 Kid. 1-2-3 Kid counters the claim that he cost Razor the match by bringing up that Razor cost him a match last week. He brings up that he beat Razor Ramon once and says he'll do it again before challenging him to a match next week. 1-2-3 Kid walks off before Razor says accepts his "little buddy's" challenge.
- The Smoking Gunns (Billy & Bart Gunn) vs Rad Radford & The Brooklyn Brawler-The
jobbersheels blindside the Gunns and boot Billy from the ring before double teaming Bart, only to get a slingshot double clothesline from Billy and his incredible mullet:Billy hits a running neckbreaker before tagging in Bart and his less impressive mullet:
This must be why Billy got to be in the New Age Outlaws and Bart didn't. Surely...Bart runs the ropes before taking a knee to the back from Radford. The heels work over Bart until Brawler goes to the top rope, where Bart meets him and throws him to the mat. Billy gets the hot tag and hammers away on the Brawler before hitting a diving clothesline on Radford. Brawler & Billy whip Bart & Radford into eachother, which doesn't effect Bart at all, and the Smoking Gunns hit the Sidewinder, a sidewalk slam/diving leg drop combo for the win.
- We get a Goldust vignette. He says there are dark ghouls who walk in the darkness that follow the Undertaker. He says gold sheds no darkness, only light and says the dark cloud that hovers over the WWF will be sent to the heavens by him.
- Isacc Yankem D.D.S. vs Scott Taylor-THAT'S GOTTA BE KANE! Yes, it's one of Glen Jacobs' awful gimmicks he got before finally becoming the Big Red Machine. He was an evil dentist, complete with an awful drill sound for entrance music that'll make you cringe as soon as you hear it. Can you believe this company was pulling in ratings in the mid 2s with characters like this? He faces Scott Taylor, aka the future Scotty 2 Hotty. Yankem hits a chokeslam but doesn't make the cover, instead finishing Taylor off with a DDT, which he calls the DDS. GET IT, CAUSE HE'S A DENTIST!
- Before the main event, Shawn Michaels says he'll close the final chapter on his past. He then gets startled by a ladder
- Shawn Michaels (c) vs Sycho Sid with Ted Dibiase for the Intercontinental Championship-Sid overpowers Michaels to start, but Michaels is able to avoid him with his speed. Michaels fakes a second rope crossbody before going for a sunset flip, only for Sid to block it. Sid tries to punch Michaels, but he sneaks out and dropkicks Sid before clotheslining him to the ground. Michaels punches Sid out of the ring, where he takes a breather. Back in the ring, Sid tries to throw Michaels out of the ring, but he skins the cat and climbs back in before dropkicking Sid out of the ring again. Sid gets back in the ring and locks in a headlock and counters Michaels attempt at a Thesz Press by catching him and throwing him down. Sid hammers away at Michaels in the corner before whipping him into the opposite corner. Michaels takes a big bump onto the top rope before Sid kicks him, causing him a to take a comically high bounce onto the ring apron. Sid clotheslines Michaels to the outside before gorilla press slamming him onto the ring apron face first. Sid distracts the referee, allowing Dibiase to get a few stomps in on Michaels. Michaels barely beats the 10 count before the commercial break. We come back to Sid holding Sid in a bearhug. Michaels escapes and the two exchange holds. Sid manages to escape headscissors by Michaels with a very impressive kip up before chokeslamming Michaels. Sid sets up for the powerbomb, but Michaels flips him over him and starts punching away at Sid. Flying forearm by Michaels before going to the top rope for a diving crossbody for a near fall. Michaels dodges a clothesline and hits a superkick to Sid's gut, followed up by two Sweet Chin Musics for the win. Good match, easily the best on the show.
- To close the show, we get a backstage interview Michaels & Diesel by Dok Hendrix. Michaels says he's righting all the wrongs of his past. He's reunited with Diesel, got the Intercontinental Championship back, got his win back over Razor Ramon from WrestleMania X, and now he's beaten Sid. He says that it's time for him & Diesel to move on to bigger things and that they'll do it again at In Your House 3. Diesel ends the show by saying they'll not only be two dudes with attitudes, they'll be "two chaps with all the straps." Great promo by Michaels to close out the show, he's so charismatic.
Nitro
- Sabu vs Alex Wright-Yeah, that Sabu. You'd be forgiven for not remembering Sabu's very brief WCW run, where his most memorable was his uncle the Sheik going off script and throwing a fireball in Mr. JL's face at Halloween Havoc 1995. He faces "Das Wunderkind", or as I like to call him "Ya, German Boy" Alex Wright. Sabu starts off with a takedown followed by a springboard leg lariat before sending himself & Wright over the top rope with a hurricanrana. Sabu follows that up with a baseball slide and a slingshot plancha before using a chair as a launching pad, only for Wright to dodge him, sending him right into the steel barricade. Wright proceeds to beat down Sabu at ringside, including hitting a dropkick and a bodyslam before rolling Sabu back in the ring. Wright hits a missile dropkick he gets a lot of height on that sends Sabu out of the ring and follows it up with a baseball slide and a tope. Sabu springs up and goes to the top rope, but Wright meets him there and hits a superplex. Sabu whips Wright into the corner and hits another springboard leg lariat. Eric Bischoff on commentary says that Sabu will be with WCW for a long time. Yeah...nope. Wright backflips over Sabu in the corner and hits a beautiful German suplex for a near fall and goes to the top rope. Sabu meets him up there and hits a reverse super hurricanrana for the win.However, after the match, Sabu grabs a table, sets up Wright on it, and does a very dangerous dive through it. This causes referee Nick Patrick to reverse his decision and give the win to Alex Wright. That makes no sense. The match is over, he won fair & square, and he waited until after the match to use a foreign object. The match was actually really fun, never slowed down and all the offense looked nice. Sabu didn't botch anything too horrifically, so that's a plus as well.
- Mean Gene Okerlund brings out Ric Flair for an interview. Flair says Arn Anderson was calling his wife & son instead of running wild with him. Flair says he & Anderson used to be like Joe Montana & Lawrence Taylor, which is an odd reference to make because Joe Montana & Lawrence Taylor were never on the same team. Suddenly, outcomes Lex Luger. Flair says that Luger is going to take control tonight, and Luger says Flair is too much before leaving the ring. So wait...did he just come out to say that one thing and then go back to the back? That's bizarre. Flair leaves as well to close out the segment.
- VK Wallstreet vs Sting-Take a shot every time you see a Hogan-era WWF star on Monday Nitro. Seriously, I can understand guys like Hogan & Savage...but who was sitting there like "You know who we really need...IRS! That'll but some butts in the seats." Yes, this is Mike Rotunda, aka Irwin R. Schyster, under his toeing the line of copyright infringement gimmick, VK Wallstreet. VK, like Vincent Kennedy. Subtle. He faces the man who does this, who does that, who's big as a bull and as quick as a cat...the man called Sting! Also, he's the United States Champion. This might be just because I'm used to seeing Crow Sting now after years of TNA and, like 3 WWE matches, but seeing Surfer Sting is a little bizarre. Not that Surfer Sting looked bad, he looks absolutely awesome it's just that I've grown so accustomed to seeing Crow Sting. The two exchange moves to start before Sting hip tosses Wallstreet and dropkicks him twice. Sting whips Wallstreet into the corner and Wallstreet takes a breather on the outside. He re-enters the ring and sends a charging Sting through the ropes. Sting responds with a slingshot shoulder tackle, but Wallstreet keeps control with a back elbow. Wallstreet counters any attempts at a comeback by Sting until Sting stops Wallstreet from ramming his head into the corner. Sting rams Wallstreet's head into the corner a bunch before punching away and kneeing Wallstreet in the back. Sting hits a Stinger Splash and follows up with a diving crossbody for the win. Nothing match, not much to really talk about.
- Scott Norton vs Randy Savage-Oh my god, that rock cover of Pomp & Circumstance is Savage uses for entrance music is sh*t. Just terrible. Norton blindsides Savage before the bell and beats down before yelling at Steve McMichael on commentary. Norton counters a sunset flip by lifting Savage up by his throat and tossing him aside. Savage responds with a hip toss and clotheslines Norton out of the ring. Savage goes to the top rope and hits a double axe handle to the outside on Norton and goes for another in the ring, but Norton catches him and locks in a brief bear hug. Norton targets the back of Savage before hitting a powerbomb for a near fall. Norton hits two backbreakers before lifting Savage up for a gorilla press slam. Norton hits a powerslam for a near fall and follows it up with a shoulder tackle that sends Savage out of the ring. Norton picks up Savage and hits a top rope draping DDT and goes to the top rope, but Savage counters a diving shoulder tackle with a facebuster. Savage knees Norton into the corner before hammering away on Norton. Suddenly, Kamala & the Shark, aka Earthquake, from the Dungeon of Doom run down. They try to get in the ring, but Savage whips Norton into them. Kamala goes down to the ground while Shark falls into the ring and across Norton's legs, pinning him down in the perfect position for the elbow drop.Savage connects and gets the three and the win. Good match, told a good story with Macho's back, and the wrestling was solid. Although, I could do without the f*ck finish. After the match, Norton COMPLTLEY NO-SELLS THE ELBOW DROP AND SPRINGS UP TO HIS FEET! F*CK OFF! The rest of the Dungeon of Doom, Kevin Sullivan, The Zodiac, aka Brutus Beefcake, and Meng, aka Haku, runs down as Savage hurries out of the ring and Norton shoves the Shark. Shark shoves back before the Dungeon calmly leaves. A bit anti-climactic.
- Hulk Hogan with Jimmy Hart vs Lex Luger-The two lock up to start and each one forces the other into the corner. Hogan does a drop toe hold and switches to a front face lock before suplexing Luger. Luger no sells that and flexes. Luger hits a suplex of his own, so Hogan no sells and flexes. Luger locks in a headlock but bails out of the ring to avoid getting hit. Hogan chases him back in the ring and back body drops him. It's at this point that Bischoff rips on Diesel in the WWF for not being good enough to get past the midcard in WCW. That's probably gonna be awkward in the future. The two go back and forth again before Luger hits a scoop slam. Luger locks in the Torture Rack, but let's go prematurely when he thinks he's won the match. Luger makes a cover, but Hogan kicks out and starts shaking. Hogan Hulks Up, hits the big boot and the leg drop, but the Dungeon of Doom runs down and causes a DQ. The Dungeon of Doom beats up on Hogan, but not Luger, as Randy Savage & Sting run down to help out. Despite having a 5-on-3 advantage, the faces vanquish the Dungeon of Doom. Afterward, Hogan shoves Luger and questions why he didn't help. The two argue before a commercial break.
- We come back with Hogan, Savage, Sting, Luger, and Mean Gene all in the ring. Hogan says that Vader, who was supposed to fight alongside Hogan, Sting, and Savage at Fall Brawl, has "gone A.W.O.L" (he's off to New Japan) and now he's got Luger in his face. Hogan & Savage question why the Dungeon of Doom didn't attack Luger and wonder who's side Luger is on. Sting intervenes and says that Luger should replace Vader on the team, but Savage refuses. Sting says that if they want to win WarGames, they need Luger. Savage then questions why the Dungeon of Doom didn't attack Sting or Jimmy Hart tonight, but Hart defends himself by saying he went to get Savage & Sting for help. Savage still doesn't want Luger on the team, but Hogan makes the offer to Luger. Luger agrees to join their team, but he says he wants another title shot. Savage says he was right because Luger has an ulterior motive, and we close the show with everyone talking in the ring.
The Verdict
Both shows were very similar, each having four matches on the card and two promo segments. And overall, I'd say that Nitro had the better show. Outside of the Sting/Wallstreet match, all the matches on Nitro felt competitive, unlike RAW which had two squash matches. Nitro also out did RAW in the promos, as it's hard to top guys like Hogan, Savage, and Flair in the promo department. Nitro wins this time.
See you next time for the next edition of RAW vs Nitro
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