Monday, September 18, 2023

Monday Night Raw 4-17-95 Review

Original Airdate: Monday, April 17th
Mid-Hudson Center
Poughkeepsie, New York

Follow me on Twitter: @WorkTheNetwork2

We get a quick clip from Action Zone, where Ted DiBiase announced that Sycho Sid was the new crown jewel of the Million Dollar Corporation.

Duke Droese vs. Jean Pierre Lafitte

Here's your reminder that Droese still exists. For some reason he decides to offer a handshake to Lafitte, so Lafitte attacks him. Vince just wants to know why he wears an eye patch. Meanwhile, Droese clotheslines Lafitte over the top rope. Lafitte comes back with the reverse neckbreaker and a second rope leg drop for a 2 count. We get a commercial break after a failed sunset flip attempt from Droese. We get a double clothesline and both men are down. Lafitte goes off the second rope again, but Droese gets his boot up. Droese hits a big power slam and climbs to the top rope. Lafitte rolls out of the way of a weird looking splash. Lafitte climbs up top and hits a senton for the victory. I just realized that Lafitte was basically the Kevin Owens of his era. This was a decent match, with Lafitte looking like someone worth pushing.

Match Rating: **1/4

We see the same Bob Backlund spring break skit from Superstars. 

Doink vs. Raymond Roy

I guess this is also our reminder that Doink exists. We get more Duckman talk, for those who are into that. Doink seems to have a little less pep in his step here today. He hits the Whoopee Cushion and we get the fart sound. Dink then hits one and we get another fart sound. Doink picks up the victory. This just needs to end.

Match Rating: 1/4*

We go to Todd Pettengill for the In Your House Report. I guess Stephanie gets the weekend gig. Don't forget to try and win that house in that exclusive neighborhood in Orlando. 

WWF Tag Team Championship Match
Bob Holly & 1-2-3 Kid vs. Owen Hart & Yokozuna

I could watch Owen and Kid wrestle any day of the week. Kid gets the best of Owen early on and tags in Holly. They hit a double back body drop and then Holly hits some arm drag takedowns. Owen is able to get a tag to Yoko and they have done a nice job of making Yoko look like the difference maker when he's in there. Holly actually is able to yank Yokozuna down by his hair, which doesn't make sense to me. However, when Holly is running the ropes, Owen pulls down the top rope and Holly goes crashing down. Owen then drives Holly's back into the ring post. Back in the ring, Owen hits a snap suplex for a 2 count. Holly is able to sneak in a backslide for a 2 count right before the commercial break. Holly once again goes crashing down to the floor, as his beatdown segment continues. Owen and Holly collide and both men are down. Both men make the tag and Kid hits a series of kicks. After about 10 kicks, he gets Yoko down and then goes flying over the top to take out Owen. He goes up top, but Yoko catches him and hits a slam for the victory. That last burst from the Kid was great and again they made Yoko look like a guy who is always just one move away from winning any match. This wasn't as good as I was hoping for, but it was still a good match.

Match Rating: **3/4

Undertaker does a don't drink and drive ad. 

Henry Godwinn vs. Rich Myers

We have Cornfed from Duckman, who is the pig in the show. Get it, he's a pig and Godwinn is a pig framer. Godwin hits a press slam and an elbow drop while they 100% ignore the match to interview a cartoon character. Vince loves it though and that's all that matters in Vince's mind. Godwinn  hits a headbutt to the gut and finishes him with the Slop Drop. This was a USA commercial.

Match Rating: 1/4*

Next week, it will be Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Diesel here on Raw. They show how Bam Bam has been kind of kicked to the curb by Ted DiBiase. 

This was a good episode of Raw for the era. Lafitte looked like a character that could have a future (even though he doesn't) and the Owen and Yoko team was built nicely here. I'm curious to see what other build we are going to get going into In Your House as well. 

Overall Rating: 67%

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