WWF Monday Night Raw Results
September 30, 1996 (Taped September 23)
Hershey, Pennsylvania (Hersheypark Arena)
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: Last week on Raw, Jim Ross said he has no loyalty to the World Wrestling Federation. He only has loyalty to himself. Vince McMahon couldn’t stand the competition on commentary and fired him. Ross said the people leaving the WWF aren’t an accident, but he’s been working hard. Ross then introduced Razor Ramon, who was not portrayed by Scott Hall.
Video: The Raw video plays.
Kevin Kelly, Jim Ross, and Jerry “The King” Lawler welcome us to the show. Kelly mentions that Savio Vega will battle Razor Ramon. Ross mentions that WWF Champion Shawn Michaels and José Lothario will battle Vader and Jim Cornette. Lawler then says “Stone Cold” Steve Austin will battle Jake “The Drunk” Roberts. Lawler pulls out a bottle of Jim Beam and says he has a surprise for Roberts.
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin vs. Jake “The Snake” Roberts
Referee: Mike Chioda
This is a rematch of the finals of the 1996 King of the Ring Tournament, which Austin won.
The bell rings, and they circle the ring before locking up. Roberts backs him into the corner, so Austin spins him around. The referee gets between them. Austin and Roberts are heated at each other. They lock up, and Austin backs him into the corner, but Roberts turns him around. Austin punches him back. Roberts is furious and gets fired up. They lock up, and Roberts backs him into the corner. Austin blocks a right hand and punches Roberts back. Austin sits on the middle rope to hold it open and tells Roberts to get out of the ring.
They lock up, and Austin applies a side headlock. Roberts whips him off, but he lowers his head, so Austin leapfrogs him. Roberts then punches him in the face. Austin quickly retreats to the corner. Roberts points at Jerry “The King” Lawler on commentary. Lawler says he’s got something for Roberts. Austin rolls out of the ring to recover, so Roberts starts a “DDT” chant. Austin gets in the ring and shouts at the crowd. They lock up, and Roberts wrenches his arm. Austin backs him to the corner and shoulders him in the midsection. Austin punches Roberts before whipping him hard to the opposite corner. Roberts boots him back and goes for a DDT, but Austin quickly escapes and rolls out of the ring to regroup. Roberts smiles and points at Lawler. Roberts leaves the ring and approaches the commentary table, but he turns to punch Austin down before he can attack.
Roberts gets in the ring, and Austin attacks him as he comes in. Austin elbows him in the neck and goes to the second rope for a bombs-away elbow. Austin pulls him to the ring apron and elbows him in the chest. Austin gets on the apron and comes down with another elbow to the chest. Austin stomps Roberts and rakes his boot on his face. Roberts is struggling to get up. Austin shoulders Roberts in the midsection and kicks him in the ribs. Austin jumps off the second rope and comes down with a boot to the back. Austin covers for a two-count. Roberts punches Austin in the midsection, sending him into the ropes, but Roberts lowers his head and eats a kick. Austin goes to the second rope and hits another bombs away elbow. Austin covers, but Roberts grabs the bottom rope at two.
-Commercial Break-
Back from the break, Austin is applying a rear chin lock. Austin punches him as he attempts to get up. Austin grabs him, but Roberts bounces him off the top turnbuckle. Austin quickly pokes him in the eyes and climbs to the top rope, but Roberts sweeps his feet. Austin collapses to the mat in pain. Roberts connects with a short-arm clothesline and signals for the end. Roberts sets up for a DDT, but Austin holds the ropes. Austin covers and puts his feet on the ropes, but the referee stops counting when he catches him.
Lawler gets up from commentary with the bottle of Jim Beam in his hand. Austin argues with the referee. Roberts then kicks Austin and hits a DDT! 1… 2… Austin gets a foot on the bottom rope! Lawler is waving around the bottle at ringside. Roberts is furious and tells the referee. Lawler takes a swig and spits it in Roberts’ eyes. Roberts is not happy. Roberts approaches Austin, but Austin catches him with a Stone Cold Stunner for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: “Stone Cold” Steve Austin
Jerry Lawler gets up and celebrates with Austin. Austin drops some elbows on Roberts before he and Lawler start double-teaming him. Savio Vega runs down for the save, swinging the leather strap to clear them from the ring. Vega will face Austin at In Your House: Buried Alive.
Mike’s Thoughts: I really liked this match. Jake “The Snake” Roberts, one of my all-time favorites, if we’re being honest, has not looked great in this run. Roberts came back to the WWF after a year away from wrestling and was clearly out of shape. Being a master of ring psychology, he could still work his magic and get the crowd behind him, but there haven’t been any matches in this comeback that were actually good. Until this one.
You can tell watching this that Roberts has an affinity for “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. During this run, Roberts had a chance to do some work with the writing staff, and he has said he was the one who identified Austin to Vince McMahon as someone who could be McMahon’s next guy. Roberts has also talked about mentoring Austin and going over his matches with him on the road.
That respect is also returned from Austin, who made Roberts look great here. This is by far the best that Roberts has looked in this run. Austin is clearly on the way up and being positioned for Bret “Hitman” Hart, while Roberts is closer to closing the book on his own WWF comeback. Both men seemed motivated by those converging paths, and it made for a surprisingly strong television match.
The Jerry Lawler stuff, which I’ve frequently acknowledged can co-exist in a world where it’s both funny and pathetic, is definitely getting a little old. Still, Lawler can squeeze every last drop out of the bit with his over-the-top mannerisms and obnoxious laughing at his own jokes.
Video: Mankind is digging a hole by hand in a cemetery as Paul Bearer yells that he doesn’t have to. Mankind says if he digs it, The Undertaker will come. Bearer says The Undertaker will dig his own grave, and Mankind will bury him in it.
Back to the Hersheypark Arena, Jerry “The King” Lawler returns to commentary.
Still to come, WWF Champion Shawn Michaels and José Lothario will battle Vader and Jim Cornette. Razor Ramon will also battle Savio Vega.
Backstage Segment
Razor Ramon is shown warming up as Diesel watches on.
In the arena, Hunter Hearst Helmsley storms down to the ring.
-Commercial Break-
Hunter Hearst Helmsley has had enough
Hunter Hearst Helmsley is in the ring, calling out Mr. Perfect. Helmsley knows he’s in the back and listening. If Perfect has the guts, he’s challenging him. Helmsley wants him to show why he’s called Mr. Perfect. If Perfect has any guts, Helmsley challenges him to come out and meet him in the ring. Helmsley will show him what the New Generation is all about.
Helmsley then leaves the ring and joins the commentary team.
Mike’s Thoughts: That’s about as bad as you’ll ever hear Hunter Hearst Helmsley on a promo at any point in his career, barring those first promos in WCW where he was feigning a French accent. So let me get this straight. Helmsley, fumbling over his words, calls out Mr. Perfect. Helmsley wants him in the ring if Perfect has the guts, and he’ll show him what the New Generation is all about. Then, he immediately leaves the ring. Just… not good.
Tag Team Match
The Grimm Twins (Jared Grimm and Jason Grimm) vs. The Godwinns (Henry O. Godwinn and Phinneas I. Godwinn) w/ Hillbilly Jim
Referee: Tim White
Phin
Okumaya devam et... 