This week Throwback Thursday celebrates the long, rich history of the WWE’s beloved Royal Rumble event as we revisit the Royal Rumble ’95 go-home edition of WWF Monday Night RAW, as seen on the WWE Network and Peacock, that aired 29 years ago this month!
Despite outward appearances the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) was struggling as the 1995 Royal Rumble drew near.
Though live event attendance was up, television ratings were down, with Monday Night RAW being seen in an average of 1.2 million homes each week.
The deluge of sex and drug scandals, culminating in Vince McMahon’s federal trial for illegal distribution of anabolic steroids in May 1994, had hobbled the WWF and their carefully manicured public image.
As the company tread water, struggling to find their footing, they looked not to the past but the future, to the so-called “New Generation”.
While the the WWF’s chief competitor, World Championship Wrestling (WCW), was gaining ground by cleverly exploiting past WWF stars like Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage, the WWF was relying more and more on young, hungry talent whose best years were yet to come.
Though the WWF continued to feature a number of established stars, like Bret Hart, Undertaker, and Bam Bam Bigelow, the bulk of the cards in early 1995 were filled with “New Generation” talent.
In an attempt to break through into the mainstream media the WWF signed a deal to bring Baywatch star Pamela Anderson into the WWF. Anderson, paired with Shawn Michaels, was set to appear at both the 1995 Royal Rumble ’95 and WrestleMania XI.
In an attempt to gin up coverage in the New York tabloid circles the WWF signed recently retired New York Giants star linebacker Lawrence Taylor for a high profile program with Bam Bam Bigelow to start at the 1995 Royal Rumble and culminate in an actual bout at WrestleMania XI.
Elsewhere, as contractual hurdles began to crop up between the WWF and Lex Luger, the company was readying the former Jean Paul Levesque for his WWF debut. The future “Hunter Hearst Helmsley” would go on to become one of the greatest WWF/E Superstars of all-time, redefining the very definition of “WWF Superstar” along the way.
The top story in WWF the week this edition of Monday Night RAW aired was the upcoming Royal Rumble ’95 event. Top matches for the event included the main event WWF Championship showdown between Bret Hart and WWF Champion Diesel, the finals of the World Tag Team title tournament, Jeff Jarrett challenging Razor Ramon for the Intercontinental title, and (of course) the “1995 Royal Rumble” for a main event WWF Championship match at WrestleMania XI.
With that out of the way, let’s head on over to the WWE Network on Peacock, hit ‘play’, and see how well this edition of WWF Monday Night RAW holds up in 2024!
Edits are not an issue with this edition of WWF Monday Night RAW on the WWE Network and Peacock. Context, meanwhile, is great. All past editions of Monday Night RAW and WWF Superstars (dating back tot he series’ relaunch on April 18, 1992), as well as all prior WWF pay-per-view events, are available for you to enjoy right now on the WWE Network and Peacock.
WWF Monday Night RAW #95 (WATCH)
Date: January 16, 1995 (TAPED: Jan. 9, 1995) – Location: The Summit, Houston, Texas
Attendance: 3,500 – TV Ratings: N/A
Commentators: Vince McMahon & Shawn Michaels – Interviews: Vince McMahon, Shawn Michaels, Tod Pettengill, & Jerry Lawler
IN POP CULTURE:
Number One Song: “On Bended Knee” (Boyz II Men)
Number One Album: The Hits (Garth Brooks)
Number One on Television: NBC’s Seinfeld
Number One Film in Theaters: Legends of the Fall (Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Aidan Quinn, Julie Ormond, & Henry Thomas)
U.S. President & Vice President: Bill Clinton & Al Gore
CHAMPIONS AT THE TIME:
WWF World Heavyweight Champion: Diesel (November 26, 1994, Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, from Bob Backlund; Diesel was subbing for the “injured” Bret “Hitman” Hart, who had just lost the WWF Championship to Backlund in a “submission” match at Survivor Series ’94)
WWF Women’s Champion: Bull Nakano (November 20, 1994, AJPW Big Egg Wrestling Universe, from Alundra Blayze)
WWF Intercontinental Champion: Razor Ramon (August 29, 1994, WWF SummerSlam ’94, from Diesel)
WWF World Tag Team Champion: VACANT (November 23, 1994; titles were vacated after then-World Tag Team Champions Shawn Michaels & Diesel split up at Survivor Series ’94, with Shawn tossing his half of the World Tag Team titles in a dumpster on the way out of the building)
This week’s edition of Monday Night RAW begins with a Star Trek themed vignette setting up William Shatner’s involvement on tonight’s card, including footage of Shatner taking Jerry “The King” Lawler down on last week’s edition of RAW, before we get the standard RAW open of the era.
We then head inside The Summit where Vince McMahon, with guest commentator Shawn Michaels, welcomes us to the show.
As the ring announcer introduces the opening match McMahon & Michaels discuss the main event Bret Hart/Jeff Jarrett showdown and William Shatner’s potential involvement before sending us to the ring.
—Tag Team Match (0:49)
The Heavenly Bodies (“Dr.” Tom Prichard & “Gigolo” Jimmy Del Ray) w/Jim Cornette vs. 1-2-3 Kid & Bob “Spark Plug” Holly
This was a rematch from this same weekend’s edition of WWF Superstars (January 14, 1995) where Kid & Holly defeated the Bodies to advance to face Bam Bam Bigelow & Tatanka in the finals of the WWF World Tag title tournament at Royal Rumble ’95.
The Bodies jump-start this one, blindsiding both Kid & Holly, sending Kid to the floor before isolating Holly. Employing a slew of double-team maneuvers, and aided by an overzealous Kid, the Bodies dominate a game Holly, scoring a number of near-falls as they cut off one hope spot after another.
Soon enough, as Bigelow, Tatanka, & Ted DiBiase watch from the aisle, Holly turns a Bodies double clothesline into a noggin knocker that gives Holly the opening to make the hot tag to Kid.
Kid comes in a “house of fire”, taking the fight to both Del Ray and Prichard. In a flash, however, Prichard waylays Kid and, with Del Ray, attempts a double vertical suplex. But, as the pair hoist Kid up, Holly spears Prichard, enabling Kid to hit the fisherman’s suplex on Del Ray for the pinfall at 4:36.
WINNERS are 1-2-3 Kid & Bob “Spark Plug” Holly (Pin, 4:36)
After the match Kid & Holly celebrate before McMahon tosses to the locker room for an interview with William Shatner & Bret “Hitman” Hart, who hasn’t wrestled on TV since losing to Bob Backlund at Survivor Series ’94.
Asked if he may have a bit of “ring rust” heading in his showdown with WWF Champion Diesel at the Royal Rumble, Bret says there’s “none”. Bret has fire in veins, not rust, and (with Shatner tossing in his own two cents) assures his fans that he will “destroy” Diesel at the Rumble.
Micheals jumps in to ask Shatner, who will be in Bret’s corner tonight, who will be watching Shatner’s back? Shatner says he can take care of himself. Shatner, nearly too excited to speak, says he took care of Lawler last week, telling Roadie to stay of out his and Hart’s way tonight or Roadie will become “Roadkill”.
McMahon wraps interview and hypes the forthcoming RAW debut of the infamous Mantaur before we head to the first Peacock ad-break of the hour.
—Singles Match (8:35)
Jason Ahrndt vs. Mantaur w/Jim Cornette
Mantaur made his WWF TV debut (complete with goofy boar’s head) on the January 7, 1995, edition of WWF Superstars, fast becoming one of the most infamous creations of Vince McMahon’s career.
Not much of a match here. Jason Ahrndt gets steamrolled by Mantaur right out of the gate and, despite an attempt to get something going late, never stands a chance.
Mantaur demolishes Ahrndt, suplexing and tackling Ahrndt before landing the standing splash for the three-count at 1:45.
WINNER is Mantaur w/Jim Cornette (Pin, 1:45)
Following the match Mantaur & Cornette celebrate as we head to the final “Royal Rumble ’95 Report” with Tod Pettengill. Before Pettengill dives into the Rumble card, though, we cut to the back where Pettengill prepares “Double J” Jeff Jarrett (with the Roadie) for their post-Report interview.
Pettengill hypes guest host Pamela Anderson before giving us a rundown of the rules for this years “Royal Rumble” match. This years “Rumble” winner not only earns a WWF Championship match at WrestleMania XI but will be escorted to the ring by host Pamela Anderson.
Pettengill talks about the Undertaker/I.R.S. match at the Rumble before tossing to a promo from Paul Bearer & the Undertaker. Bearer hopes I.R.S. is “happy” that the match with Undertaker is “signed and sealed” while Undertaker tells I.R.S. that there’s not backing our now. No amount of money or druids can save I.R.S from his fate this Sunday night.
Pettengill then runs down the announced card for the 1995 Royal Rumble, including the WWF Championship war between Bret “Hitman” Hart and WWF Champion Diesel, and hypes the show one final time before transitioning to the Razor Ramon/Jeff Jarrett Intercontinental title match and the prearranged interview with Jarrett (with the Roadie).
Pettengill asks Jeff Jarrett if his forthcoming bout with Bret Hart put “Double J’s” chances of dethroning Razor Ramon at the Royal Rumble “at risk”, but Jarrett says it’s Hart & Shatner who are at risk.
Jarrett says he’s going to send both Bret & Shatner back to Canada and that the Intercontinental title is “sowed up”. When Pettengill says his money is on Bret, Jarrett turns around and, fuming mad, calls himself the “Las Vegas kid”, telling Pettengill to put his money on “Double J”.
Jarrett and Roadie take off as Pettengill wraps the “Report” segment and we head to the next Peacock ad-break. After the break, as “Double J” makes his way to the ring the Roadie preps the equipment.
—Singles Match (16:26)
“Double J” Jeff Jarrett w/The Roadie vs. Bret “Hitman” Hart w/William Shatner
This match marked Bret Hart’s first match on TV since losing the WWF Championship to Bob Backlund at Survivor Series ’94.
This match is great for what it is. Bret looks great and goes out of his way to make Jarrett look like a real threat to Ramon’s Intercontinental title at the Royal Rumble.
After a bit of a slow start Bret Hart gets the upper hand on Jarrett, working a more aggressive, heel style than at anytime in his singles run thus far.
Bret is in control, scoring near-falls and cutting off Jarrett’s hope spots with ease, until Jarrett escapes a Hart sleeper hold with a back suplex. As Jarrett opens up on Bret, landing a nice swinging neck breaker, we head to a mid-match Peacock ad-break.
Jarrett continues to take the fight to a game Bret Hart, scoring a number of near-falls and cutting off Bret’s numerous hope spots. Soon enough, though, Jarrett attempts a fist off the second rope that Bret blocks.
Bret comes storming back, beginning to link together his key maneuvers for near-falls. But when Bret tries to cinch in the Sharpshooter Jarrett goes to Bret’s eyes. An angry Bret ties Jarrett in the ropes but misses the body splash, crotching himself on the ropes.
Jarrett seizes the opening and cinches in the figure-four leglock. Bret sells the knee and looks to be hobbled as Jarrett pounds on Bret along the ropes.
Bret reverses an Irish whip but Jarrett slides between Hart’s legs before securing an O’Connor Roll. But, as the referee begins the count, Bret rolls through (with the help of a handful of tights), reversing the O’Connor Roll and scoring the pinfall at 8:03.
WINNER is Bret “Hitman” Hart w/William Shatner (Pin, 8:03)
After the match William Shatner drops an attacking Roadie with a forearm. Roadie attempts a move from the second rope but Shatner easily evades Roadie before slamming Roadie into the top turnbuckle and chucking Roadie over the top to the floor.
William Shatner and Bret Hart celebrate in the ring before McMahon hypes an update on the WWF World Tag title tournament.
This is followed by the “promotional considerations” portion and a Slim Jim ad starring WWF Champion Diesel and the next Peacock ad-break.
Coming out of the break McMahon narrates the WWF World Tag Team Championship tournament update segment. We see Bam Bam & Tatanka defeat the Headshrinkers in the semi-finals before seeing 1-2-3 Kid & Bob Holly defeat the Heavenly Bodies from the same January 14, 1995, edition of WWF Superstars.
After a glimpse of the updated bracket, and hype for this Sunday night’s finals pitting Kid & Holly against Bam Bam & Tatanka, McMahon hypes an interview with the Million Dollar Corporation in the “King’s Court” before we head to the next Peacock ad-break.
Coming out of the break we head to the ring for this week’s edition of Jerry “The King” Lawler’s “King’s Court”. This week Lawler is set to interview Ted DiBiase, who is joined by the entire Million Dollar Corporation (Tatanka, Bundy, IRS, & Bam Bam) and a pair of “druids”.
DiBiase, the CEO of the Corporation, says Royal Rumble ’95 will be the “night of the Corporation”. First I.R.S. will defeat the Undertaker, driving Undertaker out of the WWF forever, before Bam Bam Bigelow & Tatanka easily defeat 1-2-3 Kid & Bob Holly to claim the vacant WWF World Tag Team gold.
The next night, DiBiase says, on next week’s edition of Monday Night RAW the new World Tag Team Champions, whom DiBiase claims will be Bundy & Tatanka, will put the gold on the line against the Smoking Gunns.
DiBiase then says the “odds on favorite” to win the “Royal Rumble” is the Corporation’s big man King Kong Bundy, who then will go on to win the WWF Championship at WrestleMania XI.
After that the Corporation, DiBiase says, will “have it all” in the WWF with no more Undertaker to bother them. The Corporation, DiBiase says, “is alive in ’95!”
As the Corporation slaps hands in the ring McMahon and HBK wrap the “King’s Court” and hype an appearance from Mable next before we head to the next Peacock ad-break.
After the break McMahon plugs the WWF Superstar Line before Mable and Oscar make their way to the ring for the final contest of this week’s card.
—Singles Match (37:21)
Lee Toben vs. Mable w/Oscar
This one is a squash. Though Lee Toben has his moments late, the match is all Mable, who uses his size and power to dominate Toben. In the end, after dropping Toben with a running lariat, Mable crushes Toben with the gigantic leg drop for the 1-2-3 at 2:35.
WINNER is Mable w/Oscar (Pin, 2:35)
Following the match Mable celebrates with Oscar as we head to the penultimate Peacock ad-break. After break McMahon & HBK interview the victorious Mable at ringside.
Asked about the “Royal Rumble” Mable says he’s the “biggest” and “baddest” and will come out on top. HBK takes issue with Mable’s comments, asking Mable why he thinks a “big man” is going to win it all.
But as Mable begins to answer King Kong Bundy, with Ted DiBiase, crashes the interview. Bundy says any conversation about the biggest and baddest must include Bundy, who promises to put Mable over the top rope this Sunday night.
Mable has heard enough and dares Bundy to fight right now. Mable takes the high ground in the ring, taunting Bundy, as DiBiase holds Bundy back and McMahon tosses to our final Peacock ad-break.
Coming out of the break we get a Royal Rumble ’95 promo with Pamela Anderson.
At ringside Vince McMahon and Shawn Michaels wrap this week’s show and hype next week’s WWF World Tag Team title match with the Smoking Gunns facing this Sunday night’s tournament winner.
We’ll also be getting an appearance from the winner of the “1995 Royal Rumble”, which leads a short HBK promo about the “Rumble”.
McMahon then sets up tosses to a show closing video package of WWF Champion Diesel that brings this edition of WWF Monday Night RAW to an end!
Final Thoughts
This is a fun, fast-paced edition of Monday Night RAW that serves as a great go-home show before the 1995 Royal Rumble!
All of the action, including the squashes, serve their purpose, though the match of the night is (by far) the Bret Hart/Jeff Jarrett showdown.
The promos and interviews are solid and believable, even if DiBiase is having a bit of an off night, and the table is set incredibly well ahead of one of the biggest events of the year.
Don’t be surprised if you catch yourself checking out the 1995 Royal Rumble when you’re done with this. Either way, whether you’ve seen this Royal Rumble ’95 go-home edition of RAW or it’s been it’s been a while, you can’t go wrong with this one! Who knows, you may actually like it, and that’s never a bad thing!
Already subscribed to the WWE Network on Peacock? Then you can relive this classic Royal Rumble ’95 go-home edition of WWF Monday Night RAW right now or experience it for the very first time! As always, let us know what you think in the comments section below!
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