Monday Night Raw 10-28-96 Review

Original Airdate: Monday, October 28th, 1996
War Memorial Coliseum
Fort Wayne, Indiana

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We get a quick video hyping up a Bret Hart interview from Calgary and Steve Austin from Connecticut. 

Jesse James vs. Salvatore Sincere

This is the "Real Double J" era. There was so much money made on this angle. Not that JJ ever had good hair, but I can promise you that this style he is sporting tonight was no cooler in 1996 than it is 30 years later. We do get a nice pace here to star and Salvatore was probably the best fit out of the jobbers with a gimmick group. Sincere has him ready for a full nelson, but James counters out with an elbow and hits a pump handle slam for the victory. This was a spirited TV squash. 

Match Rating: *

Dok Hendrix hypes up the Survivor Series and Steve Austin comes in to mock him. He runs down the card of Sid/Shawn Michaels, Undertaker/Mankind, Steve Austin/Bret Hart and the random Survivor Series match. Austin interrupts Dok again to talk trash to Bret. This was a nice touch since that never happens. 

Crush vs. Aldo Montoya

We have Marc Mero on the phone, who is livid about what happened last week on Raw with Mr. Perfect turning on him. They really are pulling out all the stops here this week. Crush, Jesse James, Aldo Montoya. Did they even care? Oh good, we have disgruntled Jim Ross now too. Crush keeps making this weird face for some reason. Faarooq and Clarence Mason will be on Livewire this weekend. Crush hits the Heart Punch, which is an awful finisher, and picks up the history. JR says that wouldn't affect Vince since he has no heart. He thanks them for having him out for this preliminary match and not the main event. There was a lady who had a "Jailbird" sign and Crush goes back to her. There is a security guard and so Crush attacks him while Vince tells us that he can't stand when people call him that. 

Match Rating: 1/2*

We get a recap of last week with Mr. Perfect/Hunter Hearst Helmsley/Marc Mero from last week. It wasn't important enough for Netflix to post. Mr. Perfect was suspended by Gorilla Monsoon. Yep, sure. 

Now it's time for what I came to see, the Karate Fighters tournament. It's Phineas Godwinn vs. Mr. Perfect and we have Jerry Lawler and Todd Pettengill as the hosts. Mr. Perfect distracts Phineas and Perfect picks up the win. Next week it is Sid vs. Marlena. 

We get more Steve Austin, which is breathing life into this episode. They show Austin's attack on Brian Pillman from Superstars yesterday. This was really one of the few memorable Superstars moments from this era. Austin talks about Gorilla being a puppet for the real boss, Vince. He says that Vince is just a greedy promoter who wants the biggest match to go on. They show Bret and then go to commercial. When we come back, Bret has two of his kids on his lap for the interview. Meanwhile, in the background, Sunny is coming out before Bret can really talk. 

Billy Gunn vs. Freddie Joe Floyd 

The hits just keep coming. Bart Gunn comes out and confronts Billy. This was a feud that no one was asking for and I say that as someone who thinks the Gunns were one of the more underrated teams of the 90s. Gunn hits a Stun Gun and then hits a sort of dangerous looking top rope leg drop for the easy victory. As much as the card for tonight feels like a joke, I will say that all three matches so far have been spirited. 

Match Rating: 1/2*

We go back to Bret and Austin now. Bret doesn't think that Austin has what it takes and says that he's better than he's ever been. Vince questions that there may be some ring rust and that maybe Bret should have accepted a match with a lesser opponent. Vince tries to wrap it up and Austin hates that, so he attacks some crew members and starts tipping stuff over. 

British Bulldog vs. Shawn Michaels

During Bulldog's entrance, we see more of Austin's theatrics. Owen Hart is at the announce table, which is always a win. As I was curious to see what the ratings were for this week in the Monday Night Wars and as you would expect, Raw got absolutely destroyed here. I didn't do much additional research to confirm this, but this was the night that the Crow version of Sting debuted. Shawn gets the best of Bulldog for most of the beginning until Bulldog shifts the momentum by dropping Shawn on the top rope, which gets some of the males in floor seats to jump up and cheer. They say that the cops have been called on Steve Austin and we go to commercial break. We get a commercial for Full Metal: The Album. This was not an easy album to find. I think we called all around and finally found a local chain that carried it. Bulldog hits a Samoan Drop and Owen lets us know that he saved the Hart name from being in the gutter. This honestly is better than maybe both of their pay per view matches so far. We get another commercial break. Michaels is able to hit the leaping forearm and Vince reminds us that next week starts an hour earlier at 7:57. Bulldog gets Shawn up for the running powerslam, but Shawn sneaks out and hits a body slam. He climbs the top rope and hits the elbow drop. Owen puts down the headset and grabs Michaels' leg. That's enough for them to ring the bell when Bulldog attacks Shawn. Out comes Sid and he makes the save. Sid accidentally hit his elbow into Michaels' back and Shawn confronts him. Owen gets on the mic and challenges the two of them for the tag titles. Sid and Shawn accept and Shawn's music hits. This was really good until the finish. 

Match Rating: ***1/4

They show Austin smashing stuff again and then we go live to him with a security guard. Austin sees the police outside the building and starts talking to them as we go off the air. 

I know I was joking a lot about the names on this show, but this was an entertaining episode overall. It was definitely one of the quicker paced episodes in some time too. The build up for the top two matches was good and made me excited to be watching Survivor Series here soon. 

Overall Rating: 60%

In Your House 11: Buried Alive Review

Sunday, October 20th, 1996
Market Square Arena
Indianapolis, Indiana

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We get a decent but short intro hyping up the main event. That leads us to Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler and a bitter Jim Ross. This is heel JR, which is more annoying than effective and his microphone is not working. Vince gives JR his microphone for the introduction and Hunter Hearst Helmsley is on his way. This show was plagued by two injuries and this is one of them. The other is Goldust replacing Faarooq.

Hunter Hearst Helmsley vs. Steve Austin

We go back to Austin with Kevin Kelly and he talks about Bret Hart. His music hits and he gets a mild reaction. Were they that short on babyfaces for Austin to face here? Then we get more JR microphone "glitches". Great. They decide to work a slow pace probably so we can hear more of JR complaining. I mean in all seriousness, it's probably for the best that the match is dull because this is unbearable. Who thought this should go on for this long? Austin hits a Stun Gun and then a double ax handle off the second rope. They are starting to win over the crowd a little bit here. Out comes Mr. Perfect, who is scheduled to take on Helmsley tomorrow. Perfect goes towards Helmsley's valet and then Austin dumps beer in Perfect's face. Back in the ring, Helmsley has Austin set up for the Pedigree and decides to go after Perfect, who is walking away with the valet. Austin goes and gets him and sets him up for a suplex. Helmsley blocks it and hits a suplex instead. Austin recovers and hits a slingshot into the steps and post. Back in the ring, Austin hits a Stunner and picks up the victory. The first half of match was almost unwatchable because of the JR stuff. I actually liked the match before the Perfect stuff better than after. 

Match Rating: **1/4

We get a quick video package on drama with Sunny and the Smoking Gunns. We go to Dok Hendrix and he's with the Gunns. Billy's only talking about Sunny, with Bart trying to get him to focus on the match. 

WWF Tag Team Championship Match
Smoking Gunns vs. Owen Hart & British Bulldog

Don't worry, they're still doing the JR microphone gimmick. Billy gets the best of Owen early on until he gets greedy and goes up top and that allows for some double teaming by the champs. Has there ever been another WWF/E show that started with two consecutive heel vs. heel matches? They show Sunny watching on a monitor in the back. Bart then gets in some offense and then he misses off the top rope too. Unlike the last match, this one has not won over the crowd. The best part of the JR microphone thing is that it most definitely led to a big payoff. Billy snaps Owen's neck on the top rope behind the back of the referee and then they hit a double Russian leg sweep. The Gunns set up Owen for the finisher, but Bulldog pulls Bart so that Billy misses the leg drop and Owen picks up the pinfall to retain the titles. After the match, Sunny is clapping in the back while Bart is disappointed in Billy. This was more of a TV match.

Match Rating: **

Helmsley is yelling to probably no one on the Superstar Line with Raymond Rougeau. Vince tries to talk about Faarooq and realizes that JR is in the ring. He's ranting about the microphone not working. He guarantees that Bret Hart will be live in Fort Wayne and that he was the one who went to South Africa to talk to Bret. They then show Faarooq talking to Kevin Kelly on the Free For All and then Ahmed Johnson, who is not quite ready to make his return. Not quite ready. Then Faarooq was attacked. Out comes Mr. Perfect and Jim Ross is talking to him before he comes out. They shake hands and Perfect joins the announce team to watch the Intercontinental Championship match.

Intercontinental Championship Match
Goldust vs. Marc Mero

During Goldust's entrance, the announce team interviews Mero and Sable. Mero cuts a generic promo and Sable stands there and shakes her head. Perfect is all fired up at Austin and says he will take it out on Helmsley tomorrow night. Things get off to a pretty good start and Mero hits the first big move with the somersault over the top rope. So far, this is better than their SummerSlam match. Well, if the first two matches were all about JR's microphone, this one is all about Perfect's match tomorrow. It should be noted that Perfect is having no microphone issues. Neither is Goldust, who threatens to stick his tongue down everyone's throat if they don't shut up. Mero hits a moonsault and gets a 2 count. Mero charges at Goldust and gets dumped to the outside. Now it's time for shenanigans with Helmsley coming out. This leads to Perfect punching Goldust and going after Helmsley. Mero hits a Samoan drop back in the ring and Mero hits the Wild Thing for the victory. Perfect is back in the ring and celebrates with Mero. This was a solid match that was overshadowed by Perfect's angle, which spoiler alert, really led to nothing. 

Match Rating: **3/4

We then see Jim Ross with the fake Razor and Diesel in the AOL chat room. I'm sure I was in the chat room. 

We then get a battle of the powerbomb hype video for Sid vs. Vader. 

WWF Championship #1 Contender Match
Sid vs. Vader

Shawn Michaels is out and Cornette gets in his face. Shawn blows his nose in Cornette's hanky and throws it on the ground. Michaels kicks him when he bends over out of the ring and Vader tosses Michaels out and we are underway. Vader hits an avalanche in the corner and Sid rolls outside. Cornette gets in a few cheap shots with the tennis racket. Vader runs into a boot and Sid goes up top. He leaps and Vader catches him in the air for a body slam. Vader hits a splash from the second rope but decides to let off Sid at 2. He goes for the Vader Bomb and Sid gets the knees up. Sid hits a clothesline and a body slam to a good pop. Sid goes for the powerbomb and Cornette tries to come in. Sid kicks the ropes and Cornette's crotch. He goes for the powerbomb again, but with the referee checking on Cornette, Vader hits a low blow. Now Vader goes for a powerbomb but Sid blocks it. Sid hits a chokeslam and covers him for the victory. Kind of strange how the powerbomb was the story and neither guy hit it. Michaels goes in the ring to have a word with Sid, whom he was cheering for during the match. They shake hands and Michaels raises his arm. This was pretty solid for a big man match.

Match Rating: **1/2

We get a Survivor Series weekend hype video and go to Dok. Sid is there and then JR interrupts. He asks tougher questions and Sid says he will do anything he can to win the match as he flubs over his lines in classic Sid fashion. 

It's main event time and with that comes a hype video. This is probably Undertaker's best feud up to this point, which is not really saying much, but it has been well done. 

Buried Alive Match
Mankind vs. Undertaker

After the usual overlong Taker entrance, they get right to it in the ring. I do like how it looks with the smoke still from his entrance while they brawl. Taker pushes Mankind and the back of his head hits the guardrail. Taker then hits a top rope clothesline to the floor. Time to move things over to the gravesite and Mankind hits Taker with a shovel. Taker then goes for an inside cradle? They roll down the hill as a result. We go back to the ring just for Taker to hit a right hand that sends Mankind out of it. They're in the crowd and Taker throws Mankind over the guardrail and then Taker hits a leaping clothesline over the rail. Taker goes for Old School and Mankind is able to crotch him. Mankind now has a spike and is jabbing it into Taker's head. Taker fights back because he's unstoppable and he grabs the spike and starts using it. Taker starts going after Bearer and Mankind grabs a chair from under the ring. Taker is ready for it but Bearer gets in one more distraction and we get an unprotected chair shot to the head of Taker. We head back towards the grave and Mankind throws Taker in. Taker is up and starts battling with Mankind in the grave. Taker then throws Mankind off the hill where the grave is. They go back to the ring again for some reason. They have been wrestling at an impressive rate though I will say. Taker hits a leg drop with a chair on the face of Mankind. Mankind tries for a piledriver out of the ring and instead Taker hits a back body drop into the steps that looks a lot more dangerous than that sounds. Mankind was more dropped onto the floor. Taker starts using the steps in the ring now. Taker hits a Tombstone and now has to get him to the grave. Mankind gets the Mandible Claw on by the grave and then Mankind tries to use the urn but Taker grabs him by the throat and chokeslams him into the grave. Taker starts putting dirt on Mankind. He gets enough dirt on for the referee to declare him the winner but Taker wants more and shoves the referee away. Out comes the legendary Executioner and he hits Taker with a shovel. We don't know that is who he is at this point in time though. He digs Mankind out of the grave and rolls Taker into it. We start getting fake lightning effects in the arena. Mankind and Executioner start getting the dirt on him. Out comes Goldust, Crush, Helmsley and Justin Bradshaw to help. It takes a long time to bury someone. They finally call it quits and head towards the back. Bearer holds up the urn upside down and then we get a pyro lightning bolt and then Taker's arm pops out of the ground as we go off the air. This was a very good main event and a worthy match in their series. 

Match Rating: ***3/4

This show wasn't as good as I had remembered. The main event is the only one that had no distractions from it. The Vader/Sid one at least made sense with Michaels being there, but the JR stuff was atrocious. I know they weren't thinking about anyone really re-watching this 30 years later but it really doesn't hold up now either. The wrestling outside the main event was more TV quality than pay per view quality, but nothing was bad. This is a mild recommendation. 

Overall Rating: 58%