WWF Monday Night Raw Results
June 3, 1996 (Taped May 27)
Fayetteville, North Carolina (Cumberland County Memorial Auditorium)
Commentary: Vince McMahon and Jerry “The King” Lawler
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“The World Wrestling Federation: for over fifty years, the revolutionary force in sports entertainment.” The WWF video leads us into the show.
Video: Last week on Raw, WWF Intercontinental Champion Goldust gave an unconscious Ahmed Johnson “mouth-to-mouth,” which infuriated Johnson when he regained consciousness. A seemingly naked Goldust is shown on a couch with the Intercontinental Championship covering his private area. Goldust says he heard Johnson wants his title, so he can come and get it.
Video: The Raw video plays.
Vince McMahon and Jerry “The King” Lawler welcome us to the show. McMahon announces that Goldust will defend the WWF Intercontinental Championship against Ahmed Johnson at the WWF King of the Ring.
Replay: Last Sunday at In Your House 8: Beware of Dog, the lights went out as “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Savio Vega prepared to have a Caribbean Strap Match. This past Tuesday, they redid the match with “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase’s career on the line. Austin lost the match, so DiBiase has been banished from the World Wrestling Federation. Austin is on his own.
King of the Ring Tournament
First Round Match
Bob “Spark Plugg” Holly vs. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin
Referee: Mike Chioda
They lock up as the bell rings, and Austin powers him to the corner. Austin gives a clean break, but he stares down Holly. Holly takes exception to that. They lock up, and Austin applies a side headlock. Austin cinches it in, but Holly elbows out. Austin turns it into a hammerlock, but Holly does a switch. Austin twists out and applies an overhead wristlock. Holly quickly takes Austin down and applies an armbar. Austin fights up and pushes Holly against the ropes. Austin gives a clean break and backs up, nodding at Holly.
Austin hits a double leg takedown and starts attacking Holly’s left knee. Austin applies a leglock, but Holly soon twists out and delivers some ax kicks to Austin’s face. Holly gets to his feet, and Austin looks for a test of strength. Holly obliges, so Austin kicks him in the midsection. Austin clubs the back and strikes Holly. Holly blocks a shot into the top turnbuckle and turns it on Austin. Holly clubs Austin and bounces him off the top turnbuckle. Austin quickly turns him into the corner and chops his chest. Holly turns Austin and chops him before throwing him across the ring. Holly applies a rear chin lock. Austin quickly fights up and slings Holly off before hitting a back elbow to the jaw. Austin drops a forearm on Holly and clubs him. Austin pulls Holly up and hits a rib-breaker. The crowd loudly boos Austin. Austin hits a snapmare and drops a knee on Holly’s chest. Austin goes to the second rope and hits a diving elbow. 1… 2… Holly kicks out.
Holly elbows and punches back at Austin, but Austin quickly grabs his tights and pulls him out of the ring. Austin attacks Holly as he gets in the ring before hitting a snapmare and applying a rear chin lock. Holly fights up and punches out. Holly punches away at Austin, knocking him against the ropes. Holly sends him into the ropes, but he lowers his head and eats a kick. Austin drops an elbow on him before climbing the ropes for a knee drop to pick up a two-count.
Video: A quick image of a near-naked Goldust is shown.
-Commercial Break-
Back from the break, Austin is cinching in a rear chin lock. Holly fights up and tries to punch out, but Austin knees him in the midsection. Austin goes to the apron and tries to bounce him off the top turnbuckle, but Holly turns it on him three times. Austin quickly knocks him back and goes to the top rope, but Holly crotches him on the top rope. Holly sends Austin into the ropes for a back body drop. Holly sends him back into the ropes for a back elbow to pick up a two-count. Holly kicks Austin in the corner and punches away at him. Austin shoves him off and sets up for the Million Dollar Dream. Austin applies the hold and cinches it in. The referee calls for the bell.
Winner by Referee Decision: “Stone Cold” Steve Austin
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin advances to the Quarterfinals of the King of the Ring Tournament and will face the winner of Savio Vega vs. Marty Jannetty.
Mike’s Thoughts: And just like that, the tournament that will lead “Stone Cold” Steve Austin to cutting one of the greatest promos of all time, helping to strap a rocket onto him to become one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, is off and running for him. This was a total nothing match against Bob Holly, who, the week before, had been attacked by Ahmed Johnson as an innocent bystander, so there was no hint that Austin would lose this. Still, historically speaking, it’s a pretty interesting match.
Replay: Last week on Raw, WWF Intercontinental Champion Goldust battled The Ultimate Warrior in a First Round Match in the King of the Ring Tournament. Both men were counted out, eliminating them from the tournament. Jerry “The King” Lawler distracted Warrior and kept him from getting back to the ring.
Vince McMahon mentions that Jerry “The King” Lawler will face The Ultimate Warrior at the WWF King of the Ring. Lawler says he thought Warrior was going to attack Marlena. Lawler criticizes Warrior’s comic book and says he’s a better artist. Lawler then shows a drawing he made for his own comic book, which features him beating The Ultimate Warrior.
Later tonight, we’ll see exclusive pay-per-view footage from In Your House.
Backstage Segment
Jim Ross says Mankind could be one of the most dangerous individuals who has ever stepped into the World Wrestling Federation. At King of the Ring, Undertaker will be challenged like never before.
Undertaker and Mankind will do battle at the WWF King of the Ring.
Replay: Last Tuesday at In Your House 8: Beware of Dog, Part Two, Mankind attacked Undertaker and cost him the Intercontinental Championship against Goldust. Undertaker was stuffed into a casket, but white smoke billowed from inside. When the casket was open, the Undertaker had disappeared.
Barry Horowitz vs. Mankind
Referee: Mike Chioda
Horowitz quickly ducks a clothesline, but Mankind quickly punches him down. Horowitz fights up and hits a dropkick, but Mankind doesn’t go down. Horowitz goes under his legs and punches Mankind before hitting a jawbreaker. Mankind fires back with some right hands and wildly forearms him down in the corner. Mankind backs up and avalanches him in the corner. Horowitz sidesteps a second avalanche and goes for a roll-up, but Mankind holds the ropes and stomps his midsection. Mankind quickly falls through the ropes and drags Horowitz out with him. Mankind pulls him into the ring and punches him before putting Horowitz in the tree of woe. Mankind backs up and charges to drop a fist to Horowitz’s jaw. Mankind chokes him and screams wildly. Mankind grabs Horowitz and throws him out of the ring. Mankind sets up for a piledriver on the floor, but stops to pull his hair out.
Video: The WWF Attitude Adjustment Tour is heading to your area. This Thursday, they’ll be in the Metrocentre in Rockford, Illinois. On Friday, they’ll be in the Peoria Civic Center in Peoria, Illinois. This Saturday, they’ll head to The Mark in Moline, Illinois. On Sunday, they’ll be at the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago, Illinois. On Thursday, June 13, they’ll be in the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
-Commercial Break-
Back from the break, Horowitz delivers some uppercuts. Mankind quickly kicks Horowitz down and applies the Mandible Claw. Horowitz is unconscious.
Winner by Technical Knockout: Mankind
Jim Ross gets in the ring with Mankind. Ross asks for comments on Undertaker and King of the Ring. Mankind says he’s hoping that the Undertaker will finally stand up and finally show a little bit of pride. Or maybe before King of the Ring, he’ll decide that there is no sense fighting a man who has nothing left to lose. Mankind says Undertaker can’t take his ear. It’s already gone. He can’t take his teeth. They’re already gone. Of all the things Mankind has lost in life, he misses his mind the most. At the King of the Ring, Undertaker will lose it all. Mankind squeals several times. Ross shakes his hand and walks off.
Mike’s Thoughts: Good squash match with Mankind going over Barry Horowitz. It may have gone a little too long (I’m a fan of squash matches being actual squashes, particularly when the one going over is facing the Undertaker on the next PPV). Good post-match interview with Jim Ross. These little drop-ins with Jim Ross interviewing Mankind are really working.
Replay: Last Sunday, during the first half of In Your House 8: Beware of Dog, Shawn Michaels hit The British Bulldog with a bridging German Suplex. Both men’s shoulders were down. A new referee awarded the match to Bulldog, but the original referee had given it to Michaels. The match was ruled a draw.
At the King of the Ring, Shawn Michaels will defend the WWF Championship against The British Bulldog in a rematch.
-Commercial Break-
Goldust Interview
A nearly nude WWF Intercontinental Champion Goldust is shown lying on a couch with the WWF Intercontinental Championship strategically placed over his lower half. A disgusted Vince McMahon asks where Goldust is. Goldust says he is in his den. McMahon says it is a “Den of Iniquity.”
Replay: Last week on Raw, Owen Hart knocked Ahmed Johnson unconscious by hitting him in the head with his cast. Johnson was brought to the back on a stretcher, but Goldust stopped them and gave him “mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.” A furious Johnson flipped out when he regained consciousness and terrorized people backstage as he looked for Goldust.
McMahon asks what Goldust will do when Johnson eventually finds him. Goldust quotes from “The Color Purple” from 1985. McMahon asks Goldust about his claim that he saved Johnson’s life. Goldust says he gave Johnson the breath of life. It’s what any caring individual would have done. Goldust ran to his aid. What did McMahon want him to do? Allow Johnson to expire? Goldust doesn’t have that in his heart of gold. McMahon says Johnson didn’t require mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Goldust says it gave him satisfaction, like chocolate gives others. The taste is exhilarating. Goldust bites into a chocolate bar. Goldust says he shares that very taste for Johnson. Lawler claims the Red Cross will present Goldust a medal for his efforts. Goldust says some of the best nurses are male.
McMahon asks about the match against Ahmed Johnson at King of the Ring. Goldust says he’ll be holding his Golden Wonka Ticket. Johnson will melt in his hands and not in his mouth. In the end, he will never forget the name of Goldust.
Mike’s Thoughts: That was certainly something. Early Goldust stuff is weird. I forgot just how weird it was because I was a kid, and most of my core memories of him are with the Tourette’s or his tag team with Booker T. This is just the latest in a string of really outrageous segments with him that keep getting increasingly provocative. As I’ve covered extensively before, this is Vince McMahon playing both sides. He was stating that the character is supposed to just be bizarre, but he’s booking fans to hate him because of the heavy amount of homophobia that existed and was sort of embraced in the 1990s. It’s gross.
Sunny will be on commentary for the next match.
Video: The Bodydonnas say it doesn’t matter who their manager is. They’ll rise to the top of the World Wrestling Federation again. Skip says his relationship with Sunny is over. Skip says they’re on a worldwide search for a new manager. You can send suggestions to “Manager Search, P.O. Box 3857, Stamford, Connecticut 06905.”
Tag Team Match
The Godwinns (Henry O. and Phinneas I. Godwinn) w/ Hillbilly Jim vs. Tekno Team 2000 (Troy and Travis)
Referee: Earl Hebner
Travis starts against Henry O. Godwinn. Travis elbows Henry before hitting the ropes, but Henry catches him with a bear hug. Travis elbows out and claps his ears. Travis sends Henry into the ropes, but Henry reverses a hip toss on him. Troy and Phinneas I. Godwinn tag in. A “Sunny” chant picks up. They lock up, and Phinneas wrenches Troy’s arm. Troy turns it on Phinneas and wrenches the arm. Phinneas quickly goes through the ropes to back Troy up. Phinneas stares longingly at Sunny. Sunny says she’s being visually harassed. They lock up, and Phinneas backs Troy against the ropes. Phinneas backs up and goes for a handshake, which Troy obliges. Henry whispers to Phinneas. They lock up, and Phinneas wrenches the arm before slinging him into the corner. Troy sidesteps an avalanche and hits a clothesline. Troy bounces Phinneas’s head off the top turnbuckle several times. Travis soon tags in. Tekno Team 2000 sends Phinneas into the ropes for a double-team clothesline, but he ducks it. They quickly come back with a double-team big boot. Travis hits an ugly standing moonsault for a two-count.
Troy tags back in and drops an elbow on Phinneas. Troy sends Phinneas into the ropes for a back elbow.
-Commercial Break-
Travis tags in, and Troy tries to give him a front suplex onto Phinneas, but Phinneas gets his knees up.
Henry tags in and punches away at Travis. Henry applies a side headlock and drives him into the turnbuckle. Troy tags in. Travis sends Henry to the corner and leapfrogs Troy, but Henry moves. Henry clotheslines Travis and hits Troy with a Slop Drop for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: The Godwinns
Mike’s Thoughts: Not much of a match at all. Tekno Team 2000 was a horrendous gimmick, and these two really weren’t anything special to write home about. Troy was portrayed by Erik Watts, the son of “Cowboy” Bill Watts. Erik saw moderate success in WCW (when his father was booking), but beyond that, he didn’t find much more success until he went to NWA:TNA in 2002 at the start of the company, when they needed talent. This was Tekno Team 2000’s final WWF appearance.
The focal point of the Tag Team Division is Sunny, who bounces from team to team, basically trying to go with whoever has the gold. That means the action in the ring is secondary, and no one really cares about the teams. They only care about the scantily clad manager. That doesn’t bode well for the division.
Phone Call
Clarence Mason, attorney for James E. Cornette, calls in. Mason sounds hoarse.
Replay: Three weeks ago on Raw, Gorilla Monsoon was escorting Diana Smith and Clarence Mason to the back. Monsoon lightly tapped Mason’s back to stop him from hitting into WWF Champion Shawn Michaels as he went to the ring.
Mason claims that it was an assault, and his injuries have gotten progressively worse since then. Last week at In Your House, Mason was in a neck brace and using a cane.
WWF Raw is brought to you by the U.S. Army: Be all you can be. Also, have you got milk?
King of the Ring Tournament
First Round Match
Hunter Hearst Helmsley vs. Jake “The Snake” Roberts
Referee: Jack Doan
The bell rings, and they lock up. Helmsley quickly applies a side headlock. Roberts whips him off, but Helmsley shoulder tackles him down and does a Blueblood Bow. Roberts chuckles. They lock up, and Helmsley goes back to the side headlock. Roberts whips him off and hits a hip toss. Roberts hits a knee to the face and signals for a DDT, but Helmsley slides out. Helmsley nearly backs into the canvas bag with the snake, so he scurries away. Roberts goes for another DDT, but Helmsley quickly gets away and gets out of the ring.
Jerry “The King” Lawler talks to Ginnie Lee, who escorted Helmsley to the ring. Helmsley slowly gets in the ring, and Roberts wrenches his arm before slamming him down. Helmsley fights up, so Roberts slams him back down. Roberts cinches in an armbar before going to a hammerlock. Helmsley backs him into the corner and elbows Roberts in the face.
Vince McMahon talks on commentary about how Diesel and Razor Ramon are no longer part of the World Wrestling Federation in any manner. It’s been reported that they “intend to pawn themselves off as the stars they once were in the WWF and to furthermore perpetuate some sort of ruse that they’re still representing the World Wrestling Federation while actually under contract to a rival organization.”
Roberts tries for another DDT, but Helmsley gets out of the ring to recover. Roberts goes over to the canvas bag and pets the snake inside. Helmsley cautiously gets back in the ring, and they lock up. Roberts quickly wrenches Helmsley’s arm and drags him near the canvas bag, but Helmsley cowardly bails out of the ring.
-Commercial Break-
Back from the break, Helmsley is punching and kicking Roberts in the corner. Roberts collapses to the mat. Helmsley chokes Roberts with his foot before being backed up. Helmsley punches Roberts in the head and hits a snapmare before dropping a knee. Helmsley picks up a two-count. Helmsley saunters around the ring. Roberts pulls himself up using Helmsley. Helmsley easily punches him down. Helmsley drops an elbow for a near fall.
Roberts starts fighting back and hits some stinging left jabs. Helmsley quickly ducks a short-arm clothesline and punches him down. Helmsley chokes Roberts and applies a rear chin lock. Roberts fights up and hits a sit-out jawbreaker. Helmsley holds his mouth in pain. Roberts kicks and punches away at Helmsley before taking him down. Roberts connects with a short-arm clothesline and signals for the end. Roberts goes for a DDT, but Helmsley drives him into the corner. Helmsley sends him into the opposite corner and hits a back elbow for a two-count.
-Commercial Break-
Video: The WWF Superstar Line is always open at 1-900-737-4WWF. On Option 6, find out what Vince McMahon has to say about Billionaire Ted’s latest corporate raid.
Back from the break, Helmsley punches Roberts in the corner and sends him to the opposite corner. Roberts pops out and slides out of a slam before hitting a DDT! Roberts turns over and puts an arm on Helmsley. 1… 2… 3!
Winner by Pinfall: Jake “The Snake” Roberts
Jake “The Snake” Roberts will face Justin “Hawk” Bradshaw in the Quarterfinals of the King of the Ring Tournament.
Roberts points at the canvas bag. You can see the snake lifting its head. Roberts dumps Revelations onto Helmsley and teases putting the snake down Helmsley’s pants. Roberts holds Revelations up as the show comes to an end.
Mike’s Thoughts: Let the punishment of Hunter Hearst Helmsley officially begin. Jake “The Snake” Roberts is a wrestling legend, no doubt. One of the greatest minds to ever grace the squared circle. If not for his demons derailing him, maybe he’d have even won the WWF Championship at some point in his career, but at this point, he’s 41 years old and really out of shape. There were a few times in this match when he was rolling on the mat, and you could see just how doughy his physique was. It was greatly juxtaposed against the great, natural physique of Hunter Hearst Helmsley, the guy who, up until a few weeks ago, was absolutely being primed to be a favorite to win the King of the Ring. Then, the Curtain Call happened. As I’ve detailed, Helmsley was the only one of that group who could be punished with Shawn Michaels as the WWF Champion, and Razor Ramon and Diesel were gone, so this is the start of that. That King of the Ring push you were expecting? It’s over. Not only that, but you’re losing to an older, slower, out-of-shape Jake Roberts. Ouch.
This match is also notable because a frustrated and furious Vince McMahon read a prepared statement in the middle of it, acknowledging that Scott Hall had appeared on their rival’s broadcast the week prior, portraying the star he once was, and warned that Kevin Nash would be doing the same thing. McMahon wanted to pour water on the angle that created major buzz throughout the week because Hall was so effective in making it look like he was a WWF guy invading WCW. With a few more weeks of television in the can before they can even create an actual response to what the competition is doing, the WWF thinks a legal statement is enough to derail this clear momentum. They’re about to be getting stomped in this Monday Night War.
King of the Ring Tournament
First Round
The Ultimate Warrior vs. Goldust ended in a Double Countout
Vader def. Ahmed Johnson
Justin “Hawk” Bradshaw def. Henry O. Godwinn
Jake “The Snake” Roberts def. Hunter Hearst Helmsley
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin def. Bob Holly
Savio Vega vs. Marty Jannetty
Yokozuna vs. Owen Hart
Skip vs. “Wildman” Marc Mero
Quarterfinals
Vader receives a bye to the Semifinals
Jake “The Snake” Roberts vs. Justin “Hawk” Bradshaw
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin advances to the Quarterfinals
Quick Match Results
— “Stone Cold” Steve Austin def. Bob “Spark Plugg” Holly via Referee’s Decision in a King of the Ring Tournament First Round Match
— Mankind def. Barry Horowitz via Technical Knockout
— The Godwinns (Henry O. and Phinneas I. Godwinn) def. Tekno Team 2000 (Troy and Travis) in a Tag Team Match
— Jake “The Snake” Roberts def. Hunter Hearst Helmsley in a King of the Ring Tournament First Round Match
Mike’s Wrap-Up: What We Learned from Raw
This was a solid episode of Raw, but more than anything, it felt like a company trying to keep its balance while the ground underneath it continues to shift.
On television, the WWF has some genuinely promising pieces coming together. Steve Austin is beginning to stand on his own after the departure of Ted DiBiase. Mankind continues to feel unlike anything else on the roster. Shawn Michaels is still carrying the company as the WWF Champion, and the King of the Ring tournament gives the company a clear direction for the rest of this month, heading into the summer.
Behind the scenes, however, things are becoming increasingly unstable.
Razor Ramon and Diesel are gone. Ted DiBiase is gone. This week, reports surfaced that “The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith had given his 90-day notice to the company. While the expectation is that the situation will eventually be worked out, the fact that one of the company’s top heels felt the need to formally get Vince McMahon’s attention says a lot about the atmosphere within the WWF during this period.
What’s interesting is that Davey Boy Smith wasn’t looking to jump ship to WCW the way Hall and Nash did. Instead, reports at the time indicated he was trying to get Vince McMahon’s attention regarding contract concerns and other frustrations that had gone unresolved. Whether those concerns were justified or not, it paints a picture of a company where even some of the top stars weren’t entirely happy.
It may be the worst time for this to happen to the WWF, with WCW breathing down its neck.
Last week, Scott Hall arrived on WCW Nitro and instantly became the most talked-about story in professional wrestling. This week, the WWF’s response was essentially a legal disclaimer read in the middle of a Jake Roberts match. With their marathon tapings, that was their only comeback, and it was a poor one. Ever since the Billionaire Ted segments, the WWF has increasingly tried to fight WCW through legal arguments and corporate messaging rather than compelling television. Each time, it makes the company appear weak rather than confident. Tonight was no exception.
For eight straight weeks, the WWF had managed to fend off WCW in the ratings. Granted, some of those weren’t technically head-to-head matchups, but nonetheless, that streak ends tonight.
WWF Raw (USA Network, taped): 2.3 (Record: 18-15-2)
WCW Nitro (TNT, live): 3.0 (Record: 15-18-2)
Winner: WCW Nitro (snaps Raw’s 8-week streak)
The ratings battle is still in the WWF’s favor overall, but for the first time in months, it feels like a genuine shift in momentum has occurred. The war just got more serious.
Email – mike@wrestleview.com
X – @MikeTedescoWV
In Your House 8 (Part 1 and Part 2) | Last week’s Raw
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Part of Wrestleview’s Monday Night War: 30 Years Later series, with weekly Raw and Nitro recaps every Thursday.