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Dark Pegasus Video Review: Monday Night Raw (01.11.93)

August 11, 2008 | Posted by J.D. Dunn
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Dark Pegasus Video Review: Monday Night Raw (01.11.93)  

WWE Raw
by J.D. Dunn

Ah yes, the revolutionary force in sports entertainment revolves again. This time, we see a step away from the taped house shows with dubbed commentary that were so en vogue during the late 1980s to more of a hybrid with the studio shows of the early 1980s.

With this “revolutionary” concept, angles and matches play out in front of a live audience, giving the show more of an “anything can happen” feel. The result was increased ratings and a TV show that has damn near become an institution.

  • January 11, 1993
  • Live from New York, N.Y..
  • Your hosts are Vince McMahon, Randy Savage and Rob Bartlett.
  • But first! Sean Mooney informs Bobby Heenan that the Brain has been replaced and won’t be allowed at the show.
  • Yokozuna (w/Mr. Fuji) vs. Koko B. Ware.
    So, in answer to any trivia questions, this is the first match in Raw history. Koko was in his “High Energy” phase at this point. Yoko shoves Koko down a few times, so Koko tries to shoulderblock him. Capitol idea. He charges, but Yoko sidesteps him and hotshots Koko on the ropes. That sets up the big-ass legdrop and an avalanche. Koko is out, so Yoko finishes him with a Banzai Drop at 3:45. Koko didn’t even get a move in. 1/4*

  • Royal Rumble hype. One of the more lackluster ones as I recall.
  • Bobby Heenan joins us via videotape to hype some guy named Narcissus. The gimmick would quickly be tweaked so that they called him “The Narcissist” Lex Luger.
  • The Steiner Bros. vs. The Executioners.
    The Executioners are Duane Gill (of Gillberg fame) and Barry Hardy (of, “hey, I was one of the masked Executioners” fame). Doink the Clown can be seen screwing around in the crowd. The Steiners work in their usual – Steinerline, belly-to-belly, Butterfly Powerbomb. The Doomsday Bulldog finishes at 2:59. The Executioners got in about as much offense as Koko B. Ware did in the first match, but the Steiners’ offense was much more fun to watch. 3/4*

  • Outside, Rob Bartlett’s aunt tries to sneak in. Wait a minute! That’s Bobby Heenan.
  • Razor Ramon stops by to say he’s got a golden opportunity to take the title away from Bret Hart at the Royal Rumble. We see footage of him attacking Owen Hart in the locker room.
  • Shawn Michaels vs. Max Moon.
    Shawn doesn’t have Sherri but still has her music. Max Moon is Paul Diamond, one half of Bad Company, so Shawn should be able to work well with him. Then again, Shawn works well with everyone. The announcers throw out a bunch of Buttafuoco jokes, apparently to show that commentary was live. Not funny, mind you, but live. Moon gets in a few armdrags. Shawn misses a charge to the corner but hits Moon with a Snake Eyes. Bartlett works in the worst Mike Tyson impression you’ll ever hear and asks if Doink is Oprah Winfrey. How is that even funny? Randy Savage says Tyson got a raw deal. Suuuuure. Moon knocks Shawn to the floor and hits a pescado. That sets up a leg lariat in the corner and a Finlay Roll for two. Shawn quickly comes back and finishes with the Teardrop Suplex at 4:01. Disappointing. **

  • Royal Rumble report brought to you by IcoPro, the Integrated Conditioning Program. You gotta want it! Sadly, not enough people did.
  • Bobby Heenan tries to sneak in as a Rabbi. Oh, the hilarity.
  • Recap of Kim Chee and Harvey Whippleman berating Kamala until Reverend Slick makes the save.
  • The Undertaker (w/Paul Bearer) vs. Damien Demento.
    Yes, it’s Damien Demento, he of the alleged Youtube.com shoots. Undertaker destroys him with the usual Undertaker moves. Tombstone finishes at 2:24. 1/4*

  • Doink the Clown says kids who cry at his antics are just whiners who have no sense of humor. The important thing is that he’s having fun. Crush, brah, tells him, brah, not to do it again, brah. Doink squirts him in the face and runs off.
  • Sean Mooney says Heenan has finally been cleared to go up. Unfortunately, the show is over.

    • The 411: Hey, it's famous for revolutionizing the business, not for its quality. It may not seem like it now, but this was amazingly fresh and exciting at the time. Things were happening in real time, and we weren't catching up with things that happened weeks ago and were already part of the house show circuits. But just wait, the wrestling would catch up. Oh, yes it would.

    Thumbs down here, even with the historical importance.

    		  
    Final Score:  5.0   [ Not So Good ]  legend

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