Monday, December 18th, 1995
Bob Carpenter Center
Newark, Delaware
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We get a very brief intro video featuring some clips of In Your House and then Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler hype up Razor Ramon vs. Yokozuna. They also are talking about the tension between Diesel and Undertaker.
Jeff Jarrett vs. Fatu
He's back and they show him attacking Ahmed Johnson with a gold record. I remember thinking as a kid that this was a weird way to bring Jarrett back by putting him in a feud he can't win. Fatu gets off to the hot start and mocks Jarrett's strutting. Fatu misses in the corner and Jarrett hits a swinging neckbreaker. Jarrett is the first official Royal Rumble entrant. Jarrett slams Fatu's head into the steps and we go to commercial break. Fatu battles back with a scoop slam and a back body drop. But then Fatu sells a shoulder injury and Jarrett throws him into the ring post again. He's about to slap on the Figure Four, but out comes Ahmed and we have a DQ finish here. God forbid Fatu take a loss here. This was pretty vanilla stuff.
Match Rating: 3/4*
Dok Hendrix is in the crowd with Gorilla Monsoon and he reminds us that Undertaker will be taking on Bret Hart for the WWF Championship. Gorilla says that Diesel will get over the decision and get his shot sooner or later. Gorilla says that Jarrett is wrong in claiming that he'll be in the Royal Rumble. Instead, he's going to take on Ahmed Johnson. Gorilla says that they'll start releasing the entrants on Superstars.
Goldust cuts a pre-recorded promo on Razor Ramon and tells him that the two of them can ooze machismo together.
We get an interview from In Your House with Paul Bearer and Undertaker. Bearer thanks Gorilla for the title shot and that's when Diesel comes in. Diesel says it's his turn next. Undertaker and Bearer are so lame in this era.
Buddy Landel vs. Bob Holly
Who in the world thought that Landel was going to work during this era? Dok then hypes up the WrestleMania: The Arcade game on SNES, Genesis and Playstation. They're going to throw in the strategy video for absolutely free. I can only imagine what that video even has on it. The crowd seems to have no interest in this match. If you were booking your one live Raw of the month, why would you book Jeff Jarrett vs. Fatu and Buddy Landel vs. Bob Holly? Raw was on fire for a few weeks and now this is where we're at. Landel even sells Holly's clothselines weird. Landel then pins the corkscrew elbow drop. Really? Lawler pushing him makes it seem even worse. This was a death spot.
Match Rating: 1/2*
Another Raw, another Brother Love segment. He has good buddy Ted DiBiase here to talk about the Santa Claus attack. That wasn't Santa, that was Xanta Klaus and is from the South Pole. This is all real. Did DiBiase do anything worthwhile after the Virgil feud? He says that 1996 will be the year of the Million Dollar Corporation. I bet it won't. He says that Sid and the Kid will be Tag Team Champions and that it will also be the year of the Million Dollar Champion. This was at least quick.
We get the Freddie Blassie Raw Bowl commercial again.
Intercontinental Championship Match
Yokozuna vs. Razor Ramon
Goldust is out and playing mind games already with Razor. They talk about the letter that Goldust gave Razor and he crumpled after reading. Lawler says he had someone grab the letter. Razor tries a sunset flip, but avoids a splash from Yoko. Yoko puts on my favorite move, the nerve hold. This is definitely not the fun version of Yoko here tonight. He's basically at the point where he can only do tag matches, which is sad. Razor comes back and hits the second rope bulldog. The lights then start to flicker. Out comes Undertaker with teh casket. Yoko sees it and he runs out of the ring and to the back. I do not remember this at all. We get a countout finish, which is stupid. This was pretty blah like everything else on the show.
Match Rating: 3/4*
Dok is with Razor and he says the letter told him how handsome he is. Razor doesn't play that and he only loves women. Razor says he can tell Dok in the back about what the letter says because it's not for children. Lawler then screws up the date for the Raw Bowl.
It's time for a Shawn Michaels music video since he is definitely retiring. Yes, everyone, it is time for "Tell Me A Lie". Absolutely one of the cheesiest songs they have ever used. The video is good stuff though.
This Raw was such a missed opportunity. I know December typically sucks, but take advantage of the live atmosphere. Don't give us Buddy Landel. This just wasn't good once again.
Overall Rating: 30%
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