Monday, January 18th, 1993
Manhattan Center
New York City, New York
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Rob Bartlett is back and he rips up a picture of Bobby Heenan. Then, out of nowhere, comes Repo Man and he attacks Randy Savage and steals his hat.
Terrific Terry Taylor vs. Mr. Perfect
It's a SummerSlam '89 rematch. Randy Savage makes his way back to the announcer table as Perfect toys with Taylor. Perfect hits a hip toss and a dropkick and then leaps over the top rope to chase after Taylor. The energy here tonight is providing for a good atmosphere to start off the show. Heenan joins in via telephone during the match and isn't happy about Bartlett's comments. As we come back from commercial break, Taylor pulls Perfect through the ropes and then slams him onto the guardrail. Taylor hits a spinebuster for a 2 count and then hits a gutwrench powerbomb. Perfect makes a comeback and hits a really nice inverted atomic drop. Out comes Ric Flair to distract Perfect. Taylor hits Perfect with a knee to the back, sending Perfect to the outside. Flair takes it to Perfect while Taylor distracts the ref. Back in the ring, Taylor goes for a suplex, but Perfect counters it and hits the Perfect Plex for the victory. Solid little match there with good energy from both men.
Match Rating: **1/4 (out of 5)
We get a one-two punch of a Bret Hart ICOPRO and Randy Savage Slim Jim commercial.
Vince introduces WWF Champion Bret Hart for an in ring interview. Bret says he doesn't have much respect for someone who attacks his family. Hart says that Razor Ramon is the lowest scum in the WWF.
Undertaker and Paul Bearer talk about Headlock On Hunger. Yes, really.
Marty Jannetty vs. Glen Ruth
Ruth attacks Jannetty as he takes off his cut off t-shirt. It doesn't work out well, as Jannetty quickly comes back and hits an arm drag. Shawn Michaels now joins in via telephone. He says that the Rockers were only successful because of him and that he knows everything that Jannetty will try to do at the Rumble. Meanwhile Marty is wrestling this match against Ruth as if he's planning on it going 20 minutes. Jannetty hits a Rocker Dropper and finally gets the victory. I like Marty as a wrestler, but there's no reason he should be wrestling that long of a squash match 6 days before the biggest match of his singles career.
Match Rating: 1/4*
They show a clip of Crush being attacked by Doink on Superstars. Doink, wearing a sling, offers Crush a flower. Crush took it and gave it to someone in the crowd and Doink attacked him with the fake arm. It was a cool idea, but it didn't look like it hurt as much as I think they were hoping for it to.
Sean Mooney is now outside the Manhattan Center, who just happens to find Repo Man. Savage wants Repo right now and Repo says that he has Savage's prized possession.
It's time for a Royal Rumble report with Mean Gene. Razor says that he has gold on his neck, gold on his fingers and soon to have gold on his waist.
Back to Sean Mooney and we see an enraged Savage looking for Repo Man. Vince yelling for Mooney to get Savage out of traffic is pretty great.
El Matador vs. Ric Flair
Tito hits a body slam and then a headlock and Vince falls for the worst pin attempt ever. Tito hits a clothesline and continues to dominate Flair. It seems like forever ago since Flair was crowned champion at the previous Royal Rumble. Back from the break and Flair is in control. Tito makes a comeback and hits 10 right hands in the corner and then slams Flair off the top rope. Tito sends him over the top rope and to the floor. Tito follows it up with a clothesline. Tito hits Flair with the flying forearm, but for some reason doesn't cover him. He goes for another one, but Flair pulls down the ropes and Tito goes flying. Out comes Mr. Perfect and they are fighting outside the ring. A group of officials have to try to pull them apart and it sure looks like Pat Patterson takes a legit bump into the side of the ring. Back from the commercial break and Perfect and Flair are still brawling. Flair talks to Vince and tells him that the WWF isn't big enough for both he and Perfect. Next week on Raw, Flair wants Perfect in a Loser Leaves WWF match. Perfect now makes his way to Vince and Perfect says he'll accept. The match was actually pretty good despite it being quick and with no decision.
Match Rating: **
They show Repo Man with Savage's hat and he is towing Bartlett's car as we go off the air.
Now this was an enjoyable episode and would have made for a really good debut of Raw. The unique atmosphere provided for a night that was full of Savage, Flair and Perfect. My only complaint was the Jannetty squash being too long, but that's a pretty minor detail.
Overall Rating: 69%
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