From: bpc@cunyvms1.gc.cuny.edu
Subject: monday night raw
Reply-To: bpc@cunyvms1.gc.cuny.edu
Organization: Computer Center, CUNY Graduate School, New York NY 10036
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 23:14:17 GMT

I don't know what "Monday Night Raw" was like on TV, but having been at the 
Manhattan Center, I can give you some idea of what the show was like live.

My friends and I got on line a half-hour before the doors opened (7:30 p.m.
EST) and started doing our usual routine of getting heat for cheering the heels
and referring to other promotions (the latter of which has been condemned by 
some Observer readers).  We wanted to see how much we had to do to get thrown
out, I guess.  Anyway, they had a camera outside while we were waiting, and
every so often they would let a fan have a mic to say a coached line like "It's
Monday, it's live and it's Raw!" or some such nonsense.  We countered by 
chanting The Berzerker's "Huss! Huss! Huss!"  

The studio was on the 7th floor and looked actually like a ballroom.  The Titan
people were trying to fill the on-camera section, but we noticed some seats
near ringside behind the announcer's table, so we stalled and then snuck over
to them.  It took a while for them to fill the room, and outside they were
asking if anyone still wanted to buy tickets, so it was clear that this taping
wasn't an instant sellout.  Of course, the $12 tikcet price probably turned
more than a few people away.  Their on-camera section was just about full by
showtime, however, when local DJ Ricky Ricardo (yes) came out to warm up the
crowd.  Things didn't bode well when his station, Hot 97 (what Billboard calls
Urban Contemporary) was booed.

McMahon and Savage came out and took their places, and we were set to go. 
There were several matches not shown on USA, but all of which were taped for
future use.

1. In the opening dark match, Bob Backlund was a DQ winner over Damian Demento 
(Mondo Kleen in IWCCW). I don't quite understand Backlund's gimmick, as he moves around the ring making
faces like George Steele.  This match was obviously meant to narcotize the
crowd for what was to come.  DUD.

2. In the second dark match, Cheetah (Kid) pinned local guy Johnny Rotten with
a backflip body press (a move I've not seen before).  This was a tryout for
both guys.  Cheetah got over a bit with his aerial moves, but there was little
heat here.  He's not bad, but quite slow, so that these moves come as somewhat
of a surprise.  **

They counted us down to the opening of the show, which was the biggest pop of
the night until the Undertaker appeared.

3.  Yokozuna squashed Koko B. Ware in the TV opener.  And no, the USWA title
did not change hands (or am I wrong in saying that Koko still has that strap?).
Decent heat. *

4.  I lost track here, but I think the Steiners did their squash.  Their pop
was in between the opening of the TV show and the Undertaker.  Doink, however,
was distracting us. Rating: incomplete.

Vince then interviewed Razor, who, like all the heels on the show, was cheered
by at least a third of the fans.

5. Shawn Michaels retained his IC title by downing Max Moon (Tom Boric) with
his version of the Jumboplex.  Everyone I heard from had Max fired (for
sleeping with Mrs. Tatanka?!!?), but here he was.  Easily the best "match" of
the evening, even if it was still sort of a squash.

6. While the rest of you were watching the Royal Rumble Report, we were treated
to Tito Santana pinning Mike Sharpe.  The chants of "Go, Mike, Go!" will likely
be edited out if you ever see this.  * 

7.  Undertaker tombstoned Damian Demento, inexplicably out for his second match
of the night. Damian was not put into the body bag.  1/2 (for Undertaker's p
pop, believe me)

Just before USA came back to Vince's closing interview with Doink, Vince
scowled at me and my friends for splitting our fingers and yelling out, "No
pain."  Guess our silliness merited it, but I have to figure Vince would sign
Big Van Vader if he was available.  We were hoping for Doink to attack Crush,
but Crush just came out and chased Doink away.  They signed off after that, but
wait. . .there's more!

8.  Yokozuna came out again to tape a squash over Jim Powers.  Not sparkling,
needless to say, but for the time being, the former Konishiki is only slightly
less over then the ring-card girl on "Raw." 1/4*.

9. In our main event (a main event in any high school gym in America, I
proudly add), Bam Bam Bigelow was DQ'd when Doink tripped Crush coming off the
ropes.  Crush then attacked Doink, who was in turn attacked by Bam Bam, but
Crush prevailed and chased Doink away again.  Missed moves all over the place.
DUD.

They closed by reminding us about next week's taping, where most of the "A"
team will appear, though I think I'll miss it, what with Flair possibly having
to put over Tito Santana, unless they plan a Perfect run-in.  Speaking of that,
the best they could do as far as out-of-the-ring stuff was hint at the
Crush-Doink feud and show us Jamison.  I was a bit disappointed, if not
surprised, and I wish I could have seen the whole skit of Heenan trying to get
in the building (only a bit of which I could see by trying to see the
announcers' monitors.  All in all, nothing special happened, considering how
they were pumping this thing up.  At least Center Stage is a freebie.

Brian Craig
"No Pain.  No Pain" 
believe me)