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WWF Monday Night Raw -April 5, 1993
by SamoaRowe

-They are airing from the Manhattan Center, just 24 hours removed from Wrestlemania IX. In actuality, this show was taped two weeks prior to airing, but that’s okay. Our hosts for the evening are Vince McMahon and Randy Savage, minus Rob Bartlett (who is lost in Vegas, supposedly). But tonight, Jerry “The King” Lawler, their new broadcast partner, will make his debut!

Virgil vs. Bam Bam Bigelow
They tie up, with Bigelow shoving Virgil to the mat. Virgil uses his speed to throw Bigelow off his guard and locks the wrist. The crowd is all over Virgil for some reason, as he continues the wrist work. Bigelow catches Virgil during a slide, but misses a falling head butt. Virgil gets a quick roll-up and attempts a crucifix slam, but Bigelow counters. Bigelow snapmares and applies a chinlock. Bigelow smashes away on Virgil. Bigelow locks the arm, this match is welcome to end anytime now. Instead, Bigelow applies a neck vice. Virgil tries to power out of the rest holds, but finds himself stuck in a bear hug. Virgil finally shows sings of life, hitting a drop-kick off the turnbuckle for 2. Virgil jabs but misses a cross body. Bigelow clotheslines and goes high risk for the flying head butt! Bigelow gets the win at 6:58. This started and ended well, but that resting period in the middle really dragged it down, ½*.
Winner: Bam Bam Bigelow

-Jerry “The King” Lawler makes his debut entrance. He takes a mic and proceeds to verbally abuse the fans in the Manhattan Center. The crowd respond with a “Burger King” chant, and Lawler threatens to leave if they keep chanting. Lawler makes good on his promise and exits.

-Mean Gene Okerlund is standing by with Yokozuna and Mr. Fuji, who are protesting the events of Wrestlemania IX, where Hulk Hogan defeated Yokozuna for the WWF Championship. Jack Tunney needs to decide if Hulk Hogan is the WWF Champion or not, since the match really wasn’t officially sanctioned.

Bob Backlund vs. Kim Chee
Backlund is too fast for Kim Chee in the early going. Backlund outsmarts Kim Chee, making him flee to ringside. Kim Chee gets a cheap shot from the floor and lands some scoop slams back in the ring. Backlund counters a suplex, but Kim Chee elbows the face and goes for the cover. Chinlock by Kim Chee. Things pick up, with Backlund rolling through a sunset flip, but Kim Chee knees the face and goes back to the chinlock. Backlund counters with a back suplex. Kim Chee misses an elbow drop and runs into some scoop slams. Backlund catches Kim Chee in a bridged pinning predicament and gets the win at 3:59. The match was lively, *.
Winner: Bob Backlund

Damien Demento vs. Jim Brunzell
After the break, this match is already in progress. McMahon and Savage are talking to Rob Bartlett on the phone, who is stuck in Vegas and is apparently out of money. Brunzell gets a roll-up, but it’s only 2. Otherwise, Demento has had the upper hand. Brunzell goes for another quick pin with a sunset flip, but Demento blocks and dishes out some more punishment. Demento is continually distracted by the voices in his head. The dreaded “boring” chants break out across the building. Brunzell rebounds with an atomic drop, boxes the ears, and plants Demento for a cover attempt. Demento is pissed and hit’s the Neckbreaker. Demento picks up the win at 4:45 (shown). Yes, this was boring, ¼*.
Winner: Damien Demento

-Jerry Lawler comes back out to the ring, but gets hit with the “Burger King” chants again, so he leaves.

-We get a video package putting over last night’s Wrestlemania IX event. Be sure you order the replay!

The Beverly Brothers vs. The Steiners
Scott Steiner kicks things off against Beau Beverly, and tosses him effortlessly. Scott works Beau’s arm. Scott applies a headlock, but Beau reverses a hip toss and plants him to the mat. Scott blocks a back drop with a double underhook slam. Blake Beverly tags, as does Rick Steiner. Blake hit’s a knee lift and kicks away in the corner. Rick runs right into a power slam. Rick catches Blake in a leap frog and power slams him. Scott tags and hit’s an overhead belly to belly suplex. The referee is distracted by Rick and misses the Beverly Brothers double teaming Scott. Scott is the isolated face in peril, as we head to a commercial.

After the break, Rick seems to have made the hot tag, but the referee missed it. The Beverly’s keep the tags coming and manage to continually double team Scott when the ref’s back is turned. Blake wears down Scott with a bear hug, but his suplex attempt is blocked. Scott suplexes Blake! Beau tags, but soon misses a leg drop. Scott fights off Beau and makes the hot tag to Rick. Blake also tags, but gets dominated by Rick. The Beverly’s double team Rick, but miss a double team on Scott. Scott hit’s a frankensteiner on Beau and gets the pin at 8:53 (shown) even though he wasn’t the legal man. Even with the screwy stuff at the end, the match was decent, **.
Winners: The Steiners

-Jerry Lawler comes out a third time, but Jimmy Powers jumps him before he can decide to leave again.

Jerry Lawler vs. Jimmy Powers
It’s all Powers in the early going, with Lawler escaping to ringside to regroup. The “Burger King” chants are back in full force. Lawler returns to the ring, but gets caught with a hip toss and a scoop slam. Lawler retreats to ringside again. Lawler continually talks smack to Savage during the match. Powers catches Lawler with some shots, but the referee keeps things civil. Lawler stalls so he can keep reacting to the “Burger King” chants. Lawler runs into a big back body drop, but he blocks a drop-kick. Lawler methodically picks apart Powers. Lawler runs into a big boot, allowing Powers an opening to smash his head into the turnbuckle. Back body drop by Powers, but Lawler blocks a second attempt. Lawler hits his patented piledriver for the victory at 5:59. The match was carried by Lawler’s personality, *¼.
Winner: Jerry Lawler

-After the match, Lawler taunts Savage some more. Vince McMahon takes a mic and asks Lawler about his comments towards Savage. Lawler accuses Savage of not having enough guts to get into the ring with a competitor like himself.

Final Thoughts:
This was a big improvement over last time. We got some competitive matches and some angle advancement. Lawler’s debut was handled very nicely and he drew some big time heat from the crowd. The seeds were also planted for a Lawler/Savage rivalry. I would like to mention that there was about 25 minutes of wrestling on the show this week, and this was when they only had an hour to work with.

Thumbs up.

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