WWF Monday Night Raw Results
September 16, 1996
Wheeling, West Virginia (Wheeling Civic Center)
Commentary: Kevin Kelly, Jim Ross, and Jerry “The King” Lawler
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“The World Wrestling Federation: for over fifty years, the revolutionary force in sports entertainment.” The WWF video leads us into the show.
Video: Owen Hart, “Wildman” Marc Mero, Sycho Sid, or Faarooq will be the next WWF Intercontinental Champion. The Semifinal round of the tournament will take place tonight. Also, are “Big Daddy Cool” Diesel and “The Bad Guy” Razor Ramon returning to the WWF? Jim Ross says “yes,” but WWF President Gorilla Monsoon will have the official WWF word. We’ll also hear the latest from Bret Hart, who competed for the company in South Africa.
Video: The Raw video plays.
We go into the Wheeling Civic Center to see fireworks going off over the ring as Jake “The Snake” Roberts heads to the ring. Roberts puts his canvas bag down and immediately makes a beeline for Jerry “The King” Lawler on commentary. Lawler quickly climbs over the table to avoid him and runs away to the back.
Mr. Bob Backlund and The Iron Sheik lead The Sultan to the ring. Jerry “The King” Lawler trails behind him. Lawler and Backlund join the commentary team. Backlund says he has left The Sultan’s training to The Iron Sheik. Sheik is a man he has a lot of abomination for, but he is the ultimate in professional wrestling.
Jake “The Snake” Roberts vs. The Sultan w/ Mr. Bob Backlund and The Iron Sheik
Referee: Earl Hebner
They lock up, and The Sultan backs Roberts into the corner before punching away at him. Sultan sends him to the opposite corner and charges, but Roberts sidesteps him. Roberts goes for a DDT, but Sultan drops down and angrily gets out of the ring. Lawler says The Sultan was once captured and held hostage. When he wouldn’t talk, they cut his tongue out. Roberts points at Lawler, and Lawler makes fun of Roberts’ past drinking. The Sultan gets in the ring, and they lock up again. Roberts wrenches his arm, but Sultan punches and turns the wrench on him. Roberts takes him down with an arm drag and backs up. Roberts looks over at Lawler again.
They lock up, and Sultan puts Roberts back into the corner. Sultan pretends to give a clean break before delivering a shoulder thrust to the midsection. Sultan fights out of the corner with some punches. Sultan whips Roberts into the corner twice before sending him into the ropes, but he lowers his head and eats a kick. Roberts goes for a DDT, but he stops when Lawler throws a mini bottle of booze at him. The Sultan attacks Roberts from behind and applies a Camel Clutch for the submission.
Winner by Submission: The Sultan
Mike’s Thoughts: Ah, this is the latest repackaging for the future WWE Hall of Famer Solofa Fatu Jr. I think anyone in the know is aware that The Sultan character is not in the Hall of Fame, so he’ll have a much better and long-lasting repackaging coming up once this character fizzles out. The Sultan kind of just appeared. Yes, they did an in-ring promo with Bob Backlund and The Iron Sheik (which was a disaster where they never mentioned his name), but there were no vignettes or hype for him. They didn’t close last week’s Raw by saying Backlund’s and Sheik’s protégé will debut on the next show. He was just there out of nowhere. The backstory of his tongue being cut out is goofy but not made to last long. That said, and I may be in the minority here, I thought the character’s look was fantastic. It’s a step up from the “Make a Difference” Fatu character.
Locker Room Segment
Brian Pillman is backstage with Owen Hart. Pillman is so excited that this Sunday is right around the corner. He’ll have an exclusive interview with Bret “Hitman” Hart. Owen credits Pillman with getting him and his brother back together. The family is thrilled. Pillman says all of the questions will be answered. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin walks in and says he’ll be there to get his answers firsthand. The Bottom Line is that Stone Cold is the best there is!
Bob “Spark Plugg” Holly and Alex “The Pug” Pourteau are in the ring. They’ll face WWF Tag Team Champions The Smoking Gunns in a non-title match. Sunny puts over The Smoking Gunns when they get in the ring. She then says all the men want her, so she has a giant poster of herself unveiled over the ring.
Monday Night Raw is brought to you by Tekken 2.
Later tonight, we’ll hear from WWF President Gorilla Monsoon, as well as Bret “Hitman” Hart.
-Commercial Break-
The new Fall Season for the WWF is displayed.
Non-Title Tag Team Match
Bob “Spark Plugg” Holly and Alex “The Pug” Pourteau vs. WWF Tag Team Champions The Smoking Gunns (Bart and Billy Gunn)
Referee: Jack Doan
The bell rings to start the match. Billy Gunn will start against Bob Holly. Holly hooks a side headlock, but Billy whips him off. Holly shoulder tackles him and hits an arm drag, followed by a hip toss. Holly connects with a clothesline, and Billy rolls out of the ring to recover. Sunny runs over to check on Billy.
Jim Cornette, The British Bulldog, and Owen Hart come down to the ringside area with chairs to sit on and watch this match. Jim Ross announces that Razor Ramon and Diesel will be live on Raw next week from Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Bart Gunn is in the ring and hits Holly with a military press slam. Bart goes for an elbow drop, but Holly moves. Alex “The Pug” Pourteau tags in and hits a drop toe hold on Bart. They lock up, and Bart backs him into the corner. Bart knees him in the midsection twice. Pourteau reverses a whip to the opposite corner, but Bart boots him back. Billy tags in and leaps off Bart’s back to avalanche him in the corner. Cornette throws water at Sunny, upsetting Billy. Bart tags back in and stomps Pourteau in the corner. Bart hits Pourteau with a powerslam. 1… 2… Bart pulls Pourteau’s shoulders off the mat. Pourteau sends Bart into the ropes for a dropkick, but Bart avoids it. Bart clubs Pourteau’s back and tags Billy back in. Billy kicks Pourteau in the ribs and goes for a vertical suplex, but Pourteau counters with an inside cradle for a two-count. Billy quickly takes Pourteau down. Billy puts him in the corner and stomps him before backing up. Pourteau avoids an avalanche, and Billy smashes his face off the ring post.
Pourteau rolls and misses a tag to Holly, but the referee allows it anyway. Holly comes in and punches away at Billy and Bart. Holly dropkicks Bart out of the ring before hitting Billy with a hurricanrana for a near fall. Holly heads to the top rope, but Bart crotches him up there. Bart tags in and clubs Holly’s back. Billy tags in as Bart sends Holly into the ropes. The Smoking Gunns hit Holly with a Sidewinder. 1… 2… Billy gets up when he sees Owen Hart on the apron. Holly then rolls Billy up for the win!
Winners by Pinfall: Bob “Spark Plugg” Holly and Alex “The Pug” Pourteau
The Smoking Gunns and Sunny flip out over this upset loss. Cornette, Hart, and Bulldog look pleased with themselves.
Mike’s Thoughts: It seems like the WWF is going for a reset of their awful Tag Team Division. Reports state that Skip’s injury has made the Bodydonnas no more. Zip is being reassigned to work with Mark Henry and a young rookie named Flex Kavana. I wonder who that could be? Now, with a loss to a total loser tag team like this, it seems like The Smoking Gunns are preparing to go the way of the dodo. Holly and Pourteau, despite beating the Tag Team Champions, will not be getting a title opportunity. Other than losing a rematch to The Smoking Gunns on an episode of Superstars a week or so later, this is it for their team. Basically, this meant nothing.
-Commercial Break-
Video: WWF Superstars premieres this Sunday at 11 a.m. Eastern/10 Central on the USA Network.
Gorilla Monsoon addresses Jim Ross’ claims about Razor Ramon and Diesel
WWF President Gorilla Monsoon is seated in his office. Kevin Kelly asks about the WWF’s official stance on Razor Ramon an
Okumaya devam et... 