WWF Monday Night Raw Results
September 9, 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: Tonight, the WWF Intercontinental Championship Tournament continues on. Savio Vega will battle the “monster” who took Ahmed Johnson out, Faarooq. Johnson is shown saying the person who wins is just holding the title until he gets back. Also, rumors of The Undertaker’s demise were premature. Undertaker will be on the show tonight to have his first match since the Boiler Room Brawl at SummerSlam.
Video: The WWF Raw video plays.
The commentators welcome us to the show. Tonight, we’ll see the debut of “The Stalker” Barry Windham, we’ll hear from WWF Champion Shawn Michaels and José Lothario, and we’ll see The Undertaker battle the undefeated Salvatore Sincere.
WWF Intercontinental Championship Tournament
First Round Match
Faarooq w/ Sunny vs. Savio Vega
Referee: Tim White
Before the match begins, Faarooq and Savio Vega go at it. Faarooq gets in his face, so Vega slaps his hand away. Faarooq puts his finger into Vega’s cheek, so Vega slaps his hand away and punches away at him at the start of the match. Faarooq quickly cuts him off and hits a headbutt. Faarooq applies a side headlock, but Vega soon backs him into the ropes. Faarooq gives a clean break before kicking him and putting the side headlock back on. Vega whips him off, but Faarooq shoulder tackles him down and poses. Faarooq grabs Vega before punching and kneeing him. Faarooq sends him into the ropes, but Vega ducks a clothesline. Vega goes for a running crossbody block, but Faarooq catches him before throwing him down near Sunny. Faarooq gets Vega in the corner, but Vega punches out. Faarooq reverses a whip to the opposite corner, but Vega boots him back twice before hitting a spin kick for a two-count.
Vega sends him into the ropes for another spin kick, but Faarooq ducks. Vega goes for a leapfrog, but Faarooq catches him and hits a spinebuster for a near fall. Faarooq soon stomps him and shouts at the crowd. Faarooq punches him in the corner before hitting a snap suplex for another two-count.
-Commercial Break-
Back from the break, Faarooq is applying a grounded chin lock, using the bottom rope for leverage. Sunny joins in to hold Faarooq’s feet down to increase the pressure. The referee soon catches them and forces a break. Faarooq sends Vega into the ropes, but Vega attempts a sunset flip. Faarooq doesn’t go down and goes for a punch, but Vega moves. Vega hits the ropes and hits a running dropkick for a two-count. Faarooq quickly pops up and kicks him in the midsection before hitting a headbutt for a two-count. Faarooq goes back to the grounded chin lock, using the ropes illegally for leverage. Faarooq gets Vega to his feet and sends him to the corner. Faarooq charges, but Vega moves and hits an arm drag before punching away at him. Faarooq quickly regains the advantage by dropping down and pulling him face-first into the bottom turnbuckle for a near fall.
Faarooq takes him down with a stretch before pulling him up for a scoop slam, but Vega counters with an inside cradle for a two-count. Faarooq kicks him in the midsection and hits a scoop slam. Faarooq goes to the second rope for a diving headbutt, but Vega moves. Vega soon gets up and hits a big boot. Vega punches Faarooq and sends him into the ropes, but he lowers his head and eats a kick. Faarooq immediately follows up with a clothesline for a two-count. Faarooq puts a rear chin lock on, but Vega fights up and hits a jawbreaker.
Vega and Faarooq exchange punches before Faarooq rakes his eyes. Vega responds with some chops before sending him into the ropes. Vega lowers his head, so Faarooq headbutts him. Faarooq hits a HUGE Dominator for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Faarooq
Sunny gets in the ring with a microphone and says everyone has seen the first step of naming Faarooq the new Intercontinental Champion. All they have to do is power through Sycho Sid.
Sycho Sid makes his way to the ring to a big ovation, and he is laughing. Sid says to be careful what you wish for because you just might get it. Sid gets in the ring and gets in Faarooq’s face, but WWF referees quickly get in the ring and step between them.
Mike’s Thoughts: This was one boring slog. Faarooq dominated Savio Vega nearly the entire time before defeating him with nearly no drama. There wasn’t even a big comeback for Vega. Every comeback was immediately cut off. It does a good job of keeping Faarooq looking like a threat, but it didn’t need to go so long if this was what they wanted to do. Just a symptom of dragging out these long television tapings.
It also appears that they’ve completely ditched the “Asaad” last name for Faarooq. Now if only they could ditch the atrocious outfit he’s wearing. Ron Simmons is quite the man to wear that goofy costume and still portray himself as a total badass.
WWF Intercontinental Championship Tournament
First Round
Owen Hart def. The British Bulldog via CO
“Wildman” Marc Mero def. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin via DQ
Sycho Sid def. Hunter Hearst Helmsley
Faarooq def. Savio Vega
Semifinals
Owen Hart vs. “Wildman” Marc Mero
Sycho Sid vs. Faarooq
Video: Yesterday on the WWF Action Zone, Savio Vega, Sycho Sid, Mark Henry, and The Godwinns wished Ahmed Johnson well. Mr. Bob Backlund “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Clarence Mason, Goldust and Marlena, Jerry “The King” Lawler, and Owen Hart didn’t have anything nice to say to Ahmed Johnson.
Coming up next, we’ll hear from WWF Champion Shawn Michaels and José Lothario.
-Commercial Break-
Video: Mankind could be the horror that awaits the WWF Championship if Shawn Michaels can’t hold him off at WWE In Your House: Mind Games.
WWF Champion Shawn Michaels and José Lothario address Mind Games
Spanish commentator Carlos Cabrera is in the ring is in the ring to interview WWF Champion Shawn Michaels. Michaels comes to the ring with José Lothario. Cabrera wants to talk about Mind Games on September 22 from Philadelphia. Michaels will be facing Mankind. Is he ready for Mankind? Michaels says before he gets on to Mankind, he wants to address what’s left of Camp Cornette. Michaels says he’s dismantled the entire camp with the exception of Jim Cornette. At Mind Games, since the Heartbreak Kid don’t beat on women, he’s going to leave “Super Sock” José Lothario to clean Cornette’s clock. Lothario takes the microphone and says the issue with Cornette is personal. On September 22, he’ll kick Cornette’s butt like no one has done before. Lothario shouts in Spanish.
Cabrera says Lothario is upset, but no more than Michaels. Michaels says when Super Sock is mad, you won’t like it. As for In Your House, it’s Mankind vs. HBK, the World Wrestling Federation Champion. Mankind has been running roughshod over the WWF until now. Michaels always tells the truth. He’s never claimed to be the biggest and the baddest. Michaels has more guts than brains, but it works to his advantage. At In You House, Mankind’s run will end, courtesy of Shawn Michaels and The Kliq. As for Paul Bearer, the dirty dog turncoat, The Undertaker will find him and bury them both. Until he does, the Heartbreak Kid and his Kliq are going to show Mankind that he’s not his mommy or friend, but he’ll be his daddy. Michaels warns Mankind not to hunt what he cannot kill.
They promote Shawn Michaels’ appearance in Playgirl, on stands now.
Mike’s Thoughts: A pretty basic promo to build up the match against Mankind at Mind Games. It also seems like they’re signaling that Camp Cornette is at an end. There have been issues going on for a few months with Shawn Michaels and Jim Cornette, stemming from a House Show in Anaheim where Michaels accused Cornette of bumping early on Sweet Chin Music to make
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