This week Throwback Thursday dips into the archives of the WWE Network to revisit a truly classic edition of Monday Night RAW, as seen on the WWE Network and Peacock, that aired 30 years ago this month!
On July 6, 1994, five days before this edition of Monday Night RAW hit airwaves, opening arguments in Vince McMahon’s federal steroid trial had commenced.
At the time, in the heat of the moment, Vince McMahon’s eventual acquittal was far from guaranteed, and the fate of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF)—and by extension the entire industry—was very much in question.
With wrestlers like Rick Rude, Ultimate Warrior, Nailz, Tully Blanchard, and Hulk Hogan (to name but a few of the 11 wrestlers called as witnesses), the trial was to become a minor media circus that further tarnished the already ailing public image of not only the WWF but the entire sport.
Since the end of the 1980s and the demise of the revered “Golden Era” of wrestling, the WWF faced one setback after another. And the media was right there to pounce not just on the business, but it’s fans as well.
Sex and drug scandals (including the McMahon steroid investigation) chipped away at the carefully manicured family-friendly image the WWF had concocted just as a national recession and surge in unemployment that robbed many families of the expendable income needed to enjoy live events such as pro wrestling.
As live attendance dipped in the U.S., the WWF began to rely heavily on European tours, where the WWF was still a hot ticket, and “paid” or “sponsored” shows in far flung corners of the globe.
By the summer of 1994, with some of the economic handcuffs easing, numbers began to drift in a positive direction. Live attendance was up even as ratings for the WWF programming were slipping.
Pay, meanwhile, had stagnated. Some WWF stars, like Rick & Scott Steiner and Earthquake, chose to leave the Federation over pay disputes while others chose to ride it out, believing the WWF’s best day were still ahead.
Then there were the legal woes, with the WWF losing an initial $26.7 million judgment to Chad Austin (the wrestler paralyzed by the Rockers in a match in Tampa, Florida on December 11, 1990) and a landmark royalties case against former star Jesse Ventura that nabbed Ventura some $800,000 in back pay.
Behind the scenes at this time the WWF was still reeling from the sudden, tragic death of 31 year old Joey Marella, the adopted son of the iconic Gorilla Monsoon, on July 4, 1994.
Marella, a longtime referee for the Federation, and passenger Harvey Wippleman had just wrapped a Superstars taping in Ocean City, Maryland, and were headed to the Newark Liberty International Airport, where Marella was to catch a flight home to Florida, when Marella fell asleep behind the wheel of his car on the New Jersey Turnpike.
Marella, who was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, was killed instantly. Wippleman (real name Bruno Lauer), who was asleep in the passenger seat at the time of the accident but wearing his seat belt, was critically injured in the crash and hospitalized.
Then, to top it all off, the WWF’s top star, Hulk Hogan, had just signed the richest contract in the history of the sport to wrestle, with “full creative control”, for the WWF’s chief competition, World Championship Wrestling (WCW).
As Vince McMahon sweated out his days in a federal courtroom in a sweltering New York City, Hulk Hogan was preparing to face “Nature Boy” Ric Flair for WCW’s World Heavyweight title in the main event of WCW’s inaugural Bash at the Beach pay-per-view on July 17, 1994.
To combat Hogan’s defection to WCW and better build for the future, the WWF—after careful consultation with a number of high-powered marketing firms—developed their “New Generation” initiative.
The “New Generation” put the emphasis of WWF programming on younger talent, not established Superstars. While a few stars from yesteryear (like Randy Savage, Jerry Lawler, Ultimate Warrior, and Roddy Piper) were still around, the emphasis was to build the legends of the next two decades.
WWF programming of the day was an embarrassment of riches in respect to young talent. Stars like Shawn Micheals, Yokozuna, Intercontinental Champion Diesel, Razor Ramon, Jeff Jarrett, Undertaker, Tatanka, 1-2-3 Kid, Mable, Owen Hart, and WWF Champion Bret Hart (to name a slim few), were building new legacies and making WWF history with every match.
Though the present conditions of WWF business looked less than great in the summer of 1994, the future looked brighter than it had in years.
The business was awakening from its long slumber, and fans, once again able to financially indulge in their larger passions, were beginning to tune in and take notice.
As eventful as the summer of 1994 turned out to be, it was only the first step on an odyssey that would ultimately change the very nature and definition of professional wrestling for decades to come.
The top story in the World Wrestling Federation the week this edition of Monday Night RAW aired was the bitter battle between brothers Bret and Owen Hart, who wer headed for another showdown (though not announced at this time) at SummerSlam ’94.
The other top story in the WWF heading into SummerSlam ’94 was the infamous and iconic Undertaker versus Undertaker (or “Undertaker versus “Under-faker”) storyline that pit Ted DiBiase’s “Undertaker” against Paul Bearers’ true Undertaker.
Other noteworthy stories included Razor Ramon’s feud with Diesel over the Intercontinental title; WWF Women’s Champion Alunda Blayze’s war with the vicious Bull Nakano; and Tatanka’s war of words with Lex Luger over who was or wasn’t secretly a member of Ted DiBiase’s “Million Dollar Corporation”.
Now let’s head on over to the WWE Network on Peacock, hit ‘play’, and see how well this edition of Monday Night RAW holds up 30 years later!
Edits for this edition of Monday Night RAW are not an issue on the WWE Network and Peacock. Context, meanwhile, is excellent. All prior editions of Monday Night RAW, as well as all past editions of WWF Superstars (dating back to the series relaunch on April 18, 1992) and 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 #70 (WATCH)
Date: July 11, 1994 (TAPED: July 1, 1994) – Location: Fernwood Resort, Bushkill, Pennsylvania
Attendance: 1,600 – TV Ratings: N/A
Commentators: Jim Ross & Randy Savage – Interviews: Jerry Lawler, Jim Ross, & Randy Savage
IN POP CULTURE:
Number One Song: “I Swear” (All-4-One)
Number One Album: Purple (Stone Temple Pilots)
Number One on Television: Home Improvement (ABC)
Number One Film in Theaters: Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinese, Mykelti Williamson, & Sally Field)
U.S. President & Vice President: Bill Clinton & Al Gore
CHAMPIONS AT THE TIME:
WWF World Heavyweight Champion: Bret “Hitman” Hart (March 20, 1994, WWF WrestleMania X, from Yokozuna; this was the second match of the night for both wrestlers, necessitated after both Bret Hart and Lex Luger, whom Yokozuna defeated earlier in the night, simultaneously won the “1994 Royal Rumble”; Bret Hart lost to younger brother Owen in the opening match of WrestleMania X; Roddy Piper was the guest referee for this WWF Championship match)
WWF Women’s Champion: Alundra Blayze (April 3, 1995, WWF Monday Night RAW, from Bull Nakano)
WWF Intercontinental Champion: “Big Daddy Cool” Diesel (April 30, 1994, WWF Superstars, taped April 13, 1994, from Razor Ramon)
WWF World Tag Team Champions: The Headshrinkers (Samu & Fatu) (May 2, 1994, WWF Monday Night RAW, taped April 26, 1994, from The Quebecers (Jacques & Pierre))
This week’s edition of Monday Night RAW kicks off with a cold open, narrated by the returning Jim Ross, that documents the sudden rise of the 1-2-3 Kid, the Kid’s many upsets, and how Kid secured tonight’s WWF Championship match with Bret “Hitman” Hart.
The intro includes a clip of Bret Hart speaking in glowing terms about the future of the 1-2-3 Kid in the WWF at last month’s WWF Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
This is followed by the standard Monday Night RAW open of the era.
Following the open we head inside the Fernwood Resort where Jim Ross welcomes us to the show and Randy Savage graciously welcomes Jim Ross back to the World Wrestling Federation.
This marked Jim Ross’ first Monday Night RAW since being fired on February 11, 1994, a mere two weeks after suffering his first bout of Bell’s palsy. Ross had previously made his commentary return on the July 2, 1994, edition of WWF Superstars, which itself marked the debut of the J.R./Jerry Lawler commentary team.
J.R. and Savage then hyped the 1-2-3 Kid/Bret Hart WWF World title match to come, with Savage all but putting his money on Kid, before Kid’s music hits and we head to the ring for this week’s opening main event.
1-2-3 Kid makes his way to the ring before WWF Champion Bret Hart joins him. Before the bell can ring, though, Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart and “King of Harts” Owen Hart arrive at ringside, shouting at Bret Hart.
Owen and “Anvil” shout childish insults and say that it should be Owen in the title match and not Kid. Soon enough referees and officials arrive, slowly but surely driving the heels away from ringside and allowing the festivities to get under way.
—WWF World Heavyweight Championship (1:41)
1-2-3 Kid vs. Bret “Hitman” Hart(c)
This a truly classic WWF Championship match and one of the greatest matches in the long history of Monday Night RAW. Words simply cannot do this match justice. This bout is required viewing for any fan of Bret Hart, 1-2-3 Kid, and old school pro wrestling.
Bret and Kid shake hands in the center of the ring before Kid catches Bret with an arm drag that surprises the Champion. Kid and Bret trade momentum early on, with Kid using his speed and quick feet to knock Bret all the way to the floor, where we step out for our first mid-match Peacock ad-break.
Kid is control, working Bret’s arm, as we return from the break. Try as he might the Champion cannot free himself from Kid’s grasp.
Soon enough, though, Bret lands a low knee to Kid’s midsection that cuts Kid’s momentum short. Bret goes to work on Kid, focusing on stiff shots to Kid’s head and the back of Kid’s neck, landing a swinging neckbreaker for a near-fall.
Bret continues to work over Kid, battering Kid in the corner in an almost heel style, before the two trade a flurry of flash near-falls. Kid suddenly attempts a crucifix pin only for Bret to block it, splashing Kid. Bret makes the cover and, with Kid’s foot on the bottom rope, scores what looks to be a match ending three-count at 8:41.
Bret sees the foot and explains the mistake to the referee, refusing to accept the tainted victory. A second referee joins the argument and, after much debate, the match is eventually restarted just as we head to a second mid-match Peacock ad-break.
After the break, as Bret continues to control the Kid, we see a replay of Kid nearly putting Bret away with a modified O’Connor Roll during the commercial break.
Bret grounds Kid with a snug rear chinlock, nearly putting Kid away, before Kid fights his way free and attempts a rally that Bret easily fights off.
The WWF Champion has the upper hand on Kid until Bret attempts the second rope elbow drop and eats Kid’s upraised foot. Moments later Kid lands a spinning back kick that floors the Champion.
Kid comes storming back then, landing a stiff dropkick in the corner and a reverse crossbody for a long two-count. A powerbomb and diving leg drop earn the Kid another near-fall and the Champion is reeling.
Kid then sends Bret to the floor before landing a diving somersault that leaves both men down on the outside. As Bret slides back into the ring Kid goes up top again, missing a swanton bomb. Bret tries for the Sharpshooter but Kid is too close to the bottom rope.
Bret tries to regain control with a second rope superplex but Kid blocks it on the way down, scoring another long two-count. Momentum is on the side of the Kid as Kid misses a diving dropkick in the corner.
Bret lands a the running bulldog and goes to the top rope only to have Kid meet Bret there and slam the Champion to the mat. Kid goes to the top then and tries for a missile dropkick but Bret steps back, catching Kid’s legs, and cinches in the Sharpshooter for the submission victory at 17:41 to retain the WWF Championship.
WINNER and STILL WWF World Heavyweight Champion, Bret “Hitman” Hart (Submission, 17:41)
After the match Bret Hart celebrates his successful title defense before helping a weary Kid to his feet. The two get a standing ovation from the fans and the commentators, with J.R. calling the match one of the greatest matches he’s ever seen.
Bret and Kid embrace in the ring before Bret raises Kid’s arm in a sign of respect.
We then jump to the “promotional considerations” spot and a Lex Luger IcoPro ad.
This is followed by the very first “SummerSlam ’94 Report”. Host Todd Pettengill puts over the Bret Hart/1-2-3 Kid WWF Championship match before diving into SummerSlam ’94. Pettengill hypes the event and lets fans know how they can get tickets for the big event before announcing the main event for the show: Undertaker versus Undertaker!
After bouncing around a few odd ideas about the match, Pettengill then sets up and tosses to a pre-taped promo from Paul Bearer.
“Through the annuls of time”, Paul Bearer says, the Undertaker has been “persecuted” for his actions “and beliefs”. But finally, at the Royal Rumble, Undertaker had earned the respect of “everyone”.
Now, however, Ted DiBiase is trying to tarnish the name of the Undertaker and that just doesn’t sit well with the Undertaker. In fact, right now, Bearer says, he can feel the ground rumbling and the lightning flashing. It’s time for the return of the Undertaker, and soon DiBiase and DiBiase’s Undertaker “will be gone for eternity”.
We then head back to the arena and our next Peacock ad-break with graphic hyping an appearance from Crush next.
—Singles Match (28:57)
Crush w/Mr. Fuji vs. Matt Hardy
This match was Matt Hardy’s third televised match with the WWF after debuting on the May 23, 1994, edition of WWF Superstars in a losing effort to Nikolai Volkoff. Hardy then lost a bout to Razor Ramon on the June 26, 1994, edition of Wrestling Challenge.
This match is, as you might suspect, is a squash. While Matt Hardy has his moments early in this match it belongs solidly to Crush. After delivering a brutal high kick (which causes Randy Savage to shout “goal” a number of times) and a gorilla press slam, Crush lands a tilt-a-whirl back breaker for the pinfall win at 1:27.
WINNER is Crush w/Mr. Fuji (Pin, 1:27)
Following the match Crush celebrates his win and we see a promo for next week’s main event, an Intercontinental title match between Lex Luger and Champion Diesel.
We then jump to a shot of Razor Ramon getting ready for his match, coming up next, before we head to our next Peacock ad-break
We return from break to see Razor Ramon make his way to the ring before jumping to a great Randy Savage Slim Jim promo.
—Singles Match (32:36)
Razor Ramon vs. Barry Horowitz
This is a fun squash that sees Razor playing into Barry Horowitz’s campy, goofy nature, allowing Horowitz a bit of time to shine.
Razor controls the early portion, working Barry’s arm, before Horowitz lands a sneaky back elbow in the corner. The elbow only serves to rile up Ramon, who blasts Barry with a trio of punches before dropping Horowitz with the famous discus punch.
Razor stretches Horowitz with the modified STF/Indian deathlock before slapping the back of Barry’s head. Barry thumbs Razor in the eye and tries to mount a rally to no avail.
In a flash Razor connects with the fall away slam and calls for the Razor’s Edge. Instead, as Razor looks to be setting Barry up for the Razor’s Edge, Razor drops, cinching in an inside cradle for the 1-2-3 at 2:54.
WINNER is Razor Ramon (Pin, 2:54)
After the match Razor starts to celebrate his win as we head to this week’s special edition of Jerry Lawler’s “King’s Court” that was recorded “earlier today”.
We join Jerry Lawler in “one of the offices” of “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase where DiBiase, while perusing a newspaper, barks at his financial adviser on the telephone to buy ten thousand shares of an unnamed stock.
After complimenting DiBiase for setting up their interview in the office and away from any “busybodies”, Lawler touts DiBiase’s recent success in building his new stable, including “buying” the services of Nikolai Volkoff, Bam Bam Bigelow, and even (it seems) The Undertaker.
Now, Lawler hears, DiBiase has been “trying to purchase” Lex Luger. DiBiase says he’s no longer “trying” to buy Lex Luger, he’s done it! Luger is “bought and paid for” and “belongs to the ‘Million Dollar Man’”.
DiBiase says he offered Luger a deal Luger “couldn’t refuse”. Lawler presses DiBiase on whether Luger has actually signed a contract and DiBiase admits that Luger hasn’t signed anything yet but that the deal is a “done deal”, that Luger is “in the bag”.
“Everybody has a price for the ‘Million Dollar Man’,” DiBiase crows, as Lawler wraps the interview and tosses to the next Peacock ad-break
Coming out of the break we return to ringside where J.R. & Savage discuss the comments of DiBiase and wonder if DiBiase will be in Lex Luger’s corner next week during Luger’s Intercontinental title match with Diesel.
Savage points out the talk is just rumors at this point, not based on facts, and that Savage feels he “knows” Lex Luger. Be that as it may, we should never “underestimate the greed” of Ted DiBiase.
We head to ring for this week’s final bout as “I.R.S.” Irwin R. Schyster heads to the ring cutting his obligatory “tax cheat” promo. Jim Ross also announces that immediately following this match we’re going to hear comments from WWF Champion Bret Hart.
—Singles Match (40:19)
“I.R.S.” Irwin R. Schyster vs. Ray Hudson
This is an overlong squash that eats up the last few minutes of TV time. Schyster is all over Hudson from the opening bell, battering Hudson in and out of the ring.
Hudson has his moments but Schyster is just too much for him. “I.R.S.” wears out Hudson’s back and leg with a variety of holds and maneuvers before landing a stiff lariat and a running elbow drop. Schyster covers Hudson but picks Hudson up at the count of two.
In the end Schyster lands a beautiful butterfly suplex before cinching in a tight STF for the submission win at 3:47.
WINNER is “I.R.S.” Irwin R. Schyster (Submission, 3:47)
Following the match “I.R.S.” celebrates as we see a promo hyping comments from WWF Champion Bret Hart and head to the final Peacock ad-break of the show.
After break J.R. hypes next week’s card, including the big Lex Luger/Diesel Intercontinental title bout, and wonders again if DiBiase will be in Luger’s corner.
Jim Ross then tosses to the back where Bret Hart stands ready for an interview. J.R. begins by congratulating Bret Hart on his successful title defense against 1-2-3 Kid, calling it the “greatest” championship match J.R. had “ever seen” in his entire career.
Bret thanks Ross and puts over 1-2-3 Kid. Bret says he went into the match looking to give Kid a “wrestling lesson” but thinks now that it was more “the other way around.” Kid “put up a great fight”, Hart says, and calls himself “lucky” to still be holding the WWF Championship.
Savage then asks Bret about Owen Hart being happy that Bret retained the title because Owen wants to beat Bret for the title himself. Bret responds by saying that Owen could “quite conceivably be a fluke”, that that’s all Owen is.
Owen may have Jim Neidhart in his corner now but that doesn’t matter because Bret plans on having another of his brothers in his corner.
Bret calls Owen a “one-time incident” and if Owen really wants a “piece” of Bret then Owen knows where to look. They’re going to find out, the “hard way”, who really is the best in the Hart Family, who truly is ‘the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be”, and who will be the WWF Champion in the Hart Family!
With that this week’s edition of Monday Night RAW comes to a close!
Final Thoughts
This is an all-time classic edition of Monday Night RAW!
The opening Bret Hart/1-2-3 Kid WWF Championship match still holds up as not only one of the finest World title matches of the era but one of the greatest World title matches in the history of Monday Night RAW and the WWF.
The promos are great and help the slow, subtle build towards one of the most important SummerSlam events of the decade. The “mystery” of the Undertaker/Undertaker match begins to take shape here, as does one of the key undercard SummerSlam matches between Lex Luger and Tatanka, helped by the great “King’s Court” segment.
There is little to no fat in this show, with everything, obvious or not, working in service of the SummerSlam event to come. It’s also a treat to once again hear Jim Ross call WWF action in this era.
Ross’ professional and dedicated work, truly head and shoulders above anybody else in the sport at the time, helps to add respect and credibility to the story unfolding in the ring. For a moment, thanks to J.R., you may actually forget the match is a work. No one could have called the Kid/Hart title match any better.
So, what are you waiting for? Head on over to the WWE Network on Peacock right now and check out this classic edition of Monday Night RAW! You won’t be disappointed. And who knows, you may end up liking it, and that’s never a bad thing!
Already subscribed to the WWE Network on Peacock? Then you can relive this classic 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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