WWF Monday Night RAW 05-31-93

Hosted by Vince McMahon, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan

Can Bigelow become IC champion AND King of the Ring? The first part of the question’s answered TONIGHT. Let’s rock!

Duggan wants to thank and honor veterans on Memorial Day before beginning a “U-S-A" chant outside the Manhattan Center.

Match 1 for the WWF Intercontinental title: Marty Jannetty (champion w/ Sensational Sherri) versus Bam Bam Bigelow (w/ Luna Vachon)

In case you’re curious, Bill Dunn performed ring-announcing duties in place of Howard Finkel. Allegedly, Finkel’s parking space wasn’t renewed, so he had to find alternate transportation.

Before the match began, Sherri ambushed Luna, but Bigelow rescued his valet shortly thereafter.
He then gave Jannetty a pair of shoulder blocks with each resulting in a 360° sell. Woohoo!
When Bigelow clotheslined him, Jannetty rebounded, mounted the top turnbuckle, nailed Bigelow, and got 2.
Bigelow then backdropped him, but Jannetty landed on his feet.
As Bigelow cinched in a bear hug, he rammed Jannetty back-first into the corner.
He then placed Jannetty atop the top turnbuckle but fell victim to a flying headscissors.
After another flying headscissors, Jannetty made attempt #3, but Bigelow countered with an electric chair.
Following a commercial break, Bigelow hit a standing dropkick, gave Jannetty a cross corner whip, and followed with an avalanche for 2.
While the Manhattan faithful chanted “Mar-ty,” Bigelow gave Jannetty another cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
Jannetty then mounted the second turnbuckle and clotheslined Bigelow for 2.
When he delivered a flying back elbow to Bigelow, Jannetty face-planted him for another 2.
He then hit a superkick that echoed throughout the Manhattan Center.
As he clotheslined and dropkicked Bigelow, Jannetty couldn’t get 3.
He then gave Bigelow a knee lift, but Bigelow rebounded with a slam.
After he delivered a gutwrench backbreaker, Bigelow came off the ropes while Sherri tried to trip him.
He then grabbed Sherri by the hair until Jannetty knocked him out of the ring.
When Jannetty hit a baseball slide, he mounted the top turnbuckle and gave Bigelow a cross body block.
Bigelow then made Jannetty HIT THE POLE and tossed him back into the ring.
Before he could re-enter, Sherri distracted Bigelow causing him to be counted out.
Jannetty retained.

Summary: Really good opener showcasing the big man-smallr man dynamic. The finish made sense because Jannetty needed to retain the title for credibility, and Bigelow’s featured in the KOTR tournament.

After the match, Bigelow re-enters the ring and attacks Jannetty. Following a slam, he delivers a senton splash. Bigelow then exits to a chorus of boos while Sherri checks on Jannetty.

Among the Manhattan faithful, New Jersey Nets center Dwayne Schntzius somehow avoids getting posterized by wrestling fans.

Suddenly, Sherri grabs the microphone and calls out Luna RIGHT NOW. I smell a catfight. Luna emerges, and Sherri jumps her from behind. She then slams Luna on the floor before re-entering the ring. While egging on Luna, Sherri gets restrained by Bigelow. Luna and Bigelow then double-team her until Tatanka saves Sherri’s bacon, but not before she was BUSTED OPEN.

Promo airs for the WWF title match between Hulk Hogan and Yokozuna at King of the Ring ‘93.

According to Meltzer, Scott wrestled with an ankle injury.
Rick reversed an Irish whip and gave the Executioner a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.
As he reversed another Irish whip, Rick DEMOLISHED Executioner with a Steinerline.
Myers tagged in, but Rick sandwiched him in the corner. More horseradish please.
When Scott tagged in, he delivered an overhead belly-to-belly suplex to Myers.
Shortly after, he hit a pumphandle slam and slammed Myers.
He then PLANTED Myers with a Steiner Screwdriver and hoisted him upon his shoulders.

Sorry, Chester.
After Rick mounted the top turnbuckle, Myers felt the Steinerizer.
1-2-3.
Steiners won.

Summary: Showcase match for the Steiners who made mincemeat out of Myers. Hopefully Myers’ long-lost cousin doesn’t seek revenge.

Also in attendance, but quite posterized, was former New York Giants kick returner Lee Rouson. Allegedly, he limped out of the arena before retiring.

Hughes launched Centeno across the ring while Vince and Heenan explained Wippleman’s absence from ringside.

When he hip-tossed Centeno, Hughes powerbombed him for 2.
He then followed with a big boot for another 2.
As Savage shilled the KOTR hotline, Hughes clotheslined Centeno.
He then delivered a Bossman slam and pinned Centeno.

KING OF THE RING REPORT: "Mean” Gene Okerlund runs down the card for the PPV:

WWF champion Hulk Hogan faces Yokozuna.
In the first round of the KOTR tournament, Bret Hart faces Razor Ramon. Mr. Perfect squares off against Mr. Hughes. Also, Duggan wrestles Bigelow, and the “Narcissist” Lex Luger challenges Tatanka.
The “Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels faces Crush.

Prior to the next match, Vince shills Ramon versus Crush on All-American Wrestling this Sunday.

Promotional consideration paid for by the following: ICOPRO and WWF action figures.

Thomas attempted a cross body block, but Duggan caught and slammed him.
As he delivered a knee drop, Duggan gave Thomas a ten-punch count-along.
He then backdropped and suplexed Thomas while Heenan and Vince ribbed Finkel.

When Duggan slammed Thomas again, he hit a three-point stance clothesline.
1-2-3.
Duggan won.

After the match, Duggan grabs the microphone and encourages the Manhattan faithful to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

After a commercial break, Vince acknowledges that Ramon increased his offer to the 1-2-3 Kid to $5000 for a rematch.

Following that, a pre-recorded interview by the 1-2-3 Kid airs. Obviously, he’s astonished by the offer yet rejects it on principle.

While the Manhattan faithful chanted “1-2-3,” Roy rolled up Ramon for 2.
Ramon rebounded with a clothesline followed by a fallaway slam.
When the chants grew louder, Roy rolled Ramon up for another 2.
Ramon then gave Roy a back elbow and hooked an abdominal stretch.
As the Manhattan faithful chanted “We Want the Kid,” Ramon released the hold out of frustration.
He then placed Roy atop the top turnbuckle, joined, and hit a belly-to-back superplex.
After he gave Roy a Razor’s Edge, Ramon pinned Roy.

Promotional consideration paid for by the following: WWF action figures and WWF Royal Rumble on Super NES.

Yokozuna and Mr. Fuji come to ringside to incite nationalism from the Manhattan faithful. Fuji then refers to June 13 as Memorial Day in honor of the death of Hulkamania. Meanwhile, Duggan waves Old Glory up in the balcony to close out the show.

Conclusion: For the most part, the table for King of the Ring ‘93 is almost set. A few finishing touches on the next episode should do the trick. Check out that Jannetty-Bigelow match if you’ve not seen it.