Monday Night Raw 7-26-93

Original Airdate: Monday, July 26th, 1993
Manhattan Center
New York City, New York

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Doink cuts a promo on Randy Savage for interfering in his match a few weeks back. He tells him if he's a good Macho Boy tonight, he might just have a surprise for him. 

Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Bret Hart

Stu and Helen Hart are in the crowd tonight. There was really a great confidence to Bam Bam here in 1993. Bam Bam goes on the attack quickly, but eventually Bret's quickness allows him to hit a dropkick and then clothesline Bam Bam over the top rope. Bret hits a weird looking top rope Lou Thesz Press and then sells a knee injury. After the commercial, Bret is outside the ring holding his knee and Bam Bam does a cartwheel, but of course the cameras miss it. Bam Bam continues hitting a series of power move, but Bret kicks out. Bret makes a comeback and hits a second dropkick. It's short lived and we go into a second commercial break with Bam Bam using a chinlock. Bret makes another comeback and hits a back body drop. Side Russian leg sweep by Bret and he hits a second rope clothesline and Bam Bam kicks out at 2. Bret ducks a clothesline and hits a bulldog. Bret goes for the Sharpshooter and Jerry Lawler is up in the balcony. He confronts Bret's parents, leading Bret to leave the match. Bam Bam attacks him from behind and slams him into the ring post. Lawler keeps insulting Stu as Bam Bam continues to control the match. Helen's had enough and pushes Jerry away. Bret starts yet another comeback, but this is really distracting. Bret finally gets away and heads to the top, causing Bam Bam to win by disqualification. Lawler says he's had enough and heads out. Meanwhile, Bret is on the lookout for Lawler, but never finds him. He goes back to his parents as we head into an ICOPRO commercial. The match was going along well until the Lawler distraction.

Match Rating: **3/4

It's time for a SummerSlam Report with Mean Gene. Nothing new here.

Mr. Hughes vs. Russ Greenberg

A black wreath is once again delivered to ringside. Hughes hits a powerbomb and eventually his sidewalk slam for the victory. There was nothing of note of this one. 

Match Rating: 1/4*

WrestleMania: The Album is headed our way tomorrow. 

The Smoking Gunns vs. Duane Gill & Glen Ruth

Vince claims the album sold over 100,000 copies in the UK. After a leap frog, Billy hits a drop toe hold and a couple of dropkicks. Bart hits a double crossbody and gets a 2 count. They hit a double side Russian leg sweep. As they continue to squash the future Headbanger and Gillberg, it does appear that the WrestleMania album was a hit over in the UK. The Gunns hit a back body drop into a piledriver for the victory. That was a spirited squash by the Gunns.

Match Rating: 1/2*

They show a hype video for Ludvig Borga. 

We now go into an empty arena interview of Lex Luger. Gee golly willikers, Lex sure is ecstatic that he's getting a title shot at SummerSlam. He wants people to ask whatever is on their mind. As he's saying that, someone walks in the background, notices it, and turns around. I'm shocked Vince didn't make them do it all over again. We then get highlights of the Lex Express.

Doink vs. Phil Apollo

Hey, did you know that Doink is actually a really good scientific wrestler? Doink hits a back suplex and Vince lets us know that Lex Luger is going to talk about being expelled from the University of Miami and steroid use in wrestling. Doink goes up top and hits the Whoopee Cushion for the victory. 

Match Rating: 1/4*

Doink grabs the mic and calls Savage into the ring. Vince tells Savage to stay, so Doink comes down to Savage. Doink challenges Savage and Doink says that he'll be seeing triple vision and two more Doinks appear. Savage says he has a little surprise for him. We go out with the WrestleMania theme song playing. 

This was another above average outing for the show. They have kind of found a formula that works for the hour time constraint, even if it feels like there is still a lot of storyline that we aren't seeing. Nothing earth shattering happened here tonight, but outside of the Hughes squash, this was pretty entertaining from start to finish. 

Overall Rating: 60%