WWF Monday Night Raw Results
August 12, 1996 (Taped July 22)
Seattle, Washington (Key Arena)
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: Vince McMahon announces that due to life-threatening complications from a ruptured kidney, Intercontinental Champion Ahmed Johnson underwent emergency surgery this past week. A procedure known as fusion stemmed internal bleeding inside Johnson’s damaged kidney. The injury was originally sustained by a series of blows to Johnson’s kidney area by newcomer Faarooq Asaad. The injury was further aggravated by Johnson’s insistence in last week’s Battle Royal and another attack by Faarooq. Johnson demanded to be released from the hospital and is improving. However, if the bleeding returns, it could necessitate kidney removal. McMahon joins WWF fans in wishing Johnson a complete and rapid recovery. Footage was shown from Johnson’s surgery, as well as him at home.
Mike’s Thoughts: As detailed in last week’s Raw Wrap-Up, Ahmed Johnson was scheduled to undergo surgery for the kidney issue, but it was moved up to emergency surgery when his symptoms got worse. This was a very serious issue for him, but of course the WWF is playing it up like it’s life-threatening to garner sympathy for him.
Video: The WWF Raw video plays.
Skip vs. Faarooq Asaad w/ Sunny
Referee: Mike Chioda
The bell rings as Sunny shouts at Skip. Asaad viciously elbows Skip down and punches him into the corner. Asaad sends Skip over the top rope, and Sunny happily claps at ringside. Asaad goes to the ringside area and punches Skip down. Asaad pulls Skip up, points at Sunny while talking trash to him, and hits a lariat on the floor. Asaad sends Skip into the ring and kicks him. Asaad clubs and headbutts Skip. Skip tries to fight back, but Asaad absorbs it. Asaad sends Skip into the ropes, but Skip ducks a clothesline. Asaad catches him and hits a fallaway slam. Asaad kicks Skip in the ribs and chokes him on the bottom rope as Sunny talks trash to him. Sunny claps for Asaad. Asaad hits Skip with a scoop slam before hitting the ropes and hitting a falling headbutt. Asaad pulls Skip up and chokes him on the top rope while pointing to Sunny again before slinging him down. Asaad kicks Skip in the face and says he doesn’t know how to treat a lady. Asaad slaps him, so Skip slaps him back. Asaad angrily chokes him with his boot and taunts the crowd.
Asaad pulls him up and sets up for a scoop slam, but Skip counters with an inside cradle for a two-count. Asaad pops up and hits a running knee to cut Skip’s momentum off. Asaad kicks Skip in the ribs and sends him into the ropes for a scoop powerslam. Asaad talks trash and sends Skip into the ropes, but Skip slides through his legs and punches away at him. Asaad quickly reverses a whip to the opposite corner and hits another scoop powerslam. Asaad then CRUSHES him with a Dominator (Inverted Powerbomb)! 1… 2… 3!
Winner by Pinfall: Faarooq Asaad
Sunny gets in the ring and celebrates with Faarooq Asaad. Jerry “The King” Lawler teases that Sunny will give “The Naked Truth” later tonight.
Mike’s Thoughts: There were some really vicious, stiff shots from Faarooq in this. Ron Simmons always worked a bit snug. He absolutely sold nothing for Skip and beat him quite handily. Faarooq’s costume… it’s just a mess. That gladiator helmet (or whatever that is) looks absolutely goofy. The interviews he did with Sunny, as well as the debut (except for the ultra stiff shot to Ahmed Johnson’s kidney), were really well done. I have a feeling that if he were dressed up like an actual real person rather than… I guess they’re going for Spartacus… this character would have taken off much bigger from the get-go.
Sadly, this is the last real action we’ll see Skip (Chris Candido) have for some time. At the WWF House Show in Madison Square Garden on August 9, he suffered a terrible accident while taking a Sidewinder from The Smoking Gunns; he suffered cracked vertebrae in his neck. He was taken to the hospital and put in a neck brace. Skip is out of action indefinitely. This was a really, really difficult stretch for poor Chris Candido with this neck injury and the rumors of an affair with his fiancée, Sunny, and WWF Champion Shawn Michaels.
Replay: Last week on Raw, Jerry “The King” Lawler defeated Aldo Montoya. Lawler then forced a bottle of Jim Beam whiskey down Montoya’s throat while mocking Jake “The Snake” Roberts.
Phone Call: Jake “The Snake” Roberts calls in. Roberts says he’s reached his limits with Jerry “The King” Lawler. Roberts says this Sunday, the power that lives within him that saved him will crush Lawler.
Savio Vega makes his entrance. He’ll face Clarence Mason’s new man next.
Jerry “The King” Lawler is talking trash to Jake Roberts, but we cut to commercial in the middle of it.
-Commercial Break-
Clarence Mason leads Crush to the ring! Crush is sporting a tattoo on his forehead, a nasal piercing, and dreadlocks.
Savio Vega vs. Crush w/ Clarence Mason
Referee: Jimmy Korderas
Clarence Mason joins the commentary team. They lock up, and Crush throws Vega into the corner. Mason and Vince McMahon talk about Crush’s legal troubles. Mason says he was arrested, but he was never convicted in a court of law. We’re innocent until proven guilty in America. Vega ducks a lock-up and punches away at Crush. Crush blocks a strike and takes him down. Crush punches away at Vega and kicks him in the ribs. Crush pulls Vega up and puts him in a side headlock before jamming him in the throat. Crush puts Vega’s neck on the top rope and leaps over to snap him. Crush lays him over the apron and leaps off with a club to the back. Crush elbows and headbutts Vega. Crush pulls Vega out of the ring and lifts him up before driving his shoulder into the ring post.
Crush rolls Vega into the ring and stomps him. Crush lifts him, holds him for a moment, and hits a scoop slam. Crush goes to the second rope and goes for a diving fist drop, but Vega moves. Crush gets to his feet and kicks and punches Vega. Crush sends him into the ropes, but Vega ducks a clothesline and hits a facebuster. Vega recovers in the corner before kicking and chopping him back. Vega sends Crush into the ropes, but he lowers his head and eats a kick. Crush connects with a leg drop before applying a neck vice. Crush pulls him up and punches him into the corner. Crush whips him to the corner and charges, but Vega sidesteps him and rolls him up for a two-count.
-Commercial Break-
Back from the break, Crush is applying a camel clutch. Vega fights up, ducks a clothesline, and hits a running crossbody block for a two-count. Vega hits the ropes, but Crush big boots him down for a near fall. Crush headbutts him and sends him into the ropes, but Vega ducks a clothesline and chops him before hitting a spinning heel kick. Vega sends Crush into the ropes for another spinning heel kick, but Crush holds the ropes to avoid it.
Crush grabs Vega and drives his shoulder into the ring post. Crush then applies a Full Nelson, and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner by Technical Submission: Crush
Crush celebrates with an exuberant Clarence Mason.
Mike’s Thoughts: I really love the new look for Crush, but oh my god this was a horrible match. Dull as dishwater. Like watching paint dry. Mind-numbingly boring. Choose your idiom. This went two segments. TWO!
So, Crush is back in the WWF after being gone since early 1995, and the company isn’t exactly subtle about why he was away. Brian Adams had been arrested in Hawaii in March 1995 on drug and weapons charges, and after pleading no contest, he received probation. WWF very publicly fired him during this time, even referencing it on their shows. Now that he’s legally in the clear, rather than ignore it, the WWF brought him back with Clarence Mason as his lawyer and essentially made his real-life legal issues part of the character.
That is very 1996 WWF. Take something real, uncomfortable, and serious, then turn it into a wrestling gimmick. Just take a look at what they’re doing with Jake “The Snake” Roberts. Crush now has a darker look, a harder edge, and commentary openly talking about his criminal charges. Whether that makes him interesting is another question entirely, because this match was absolutely brutal to sit through. And for whatever reason, years ago, WWE decided to upload highlights from this match on YouTube, so it’s linked above for you to “enjoy.”
Replay: Last week on Raw, the Undertaker and Mankind eliminated themselves from the Raw Invitational Battle Royal within seconds, but they continued to brawl around the ring and the backstage area.
Video: Hype for the Boiler Room Brawl at SummerSlam, which takes place this Sunday on pay-per-view.
Backstage Segment
We see a silhouette of Sunny behind a shoji screen. We’ll hear The Naked Truth next.
-Commercial Break-
The Naked Truth
We see Sunny’s silhouette as she tries on different bikinis. Sunny can’t believe they invited other women to be at poolside with her at SummerSlam. Maybe she’ll show everyone she looks better in black or gold. Sunny then peeks out and asks The King if she can be the Queen of the Bikini Beach Blastoff.
Mike’s Thoughts: Tacky garbage. The insinuation when they were building to this was that Sunny would be shown naked on television. If you believe that, I’ve got a bridge to sell you. I’m on fire with the idioms today! WWF is trying to inject a little attitude into their shows to combat what WCW is doing, but they’re looking at the trees and missing the forest. They’re not understanding what makes WCW’s broadcasts must-see. It’s not because they’re promising nudity.
Replay: The video says two weeks ago, but it was really three weeks ago on Raw. Faarooq Asaad made his debut and viciously kicked Ahmed Johnson in his kidney. Last week on Raw, Johnson ignored doctor’s orders and competed in the Raw Invitational Battle Royal with a ruptured kidney and broken nose. Fighting through the pain, he won the match.
We see footage of Ahmed Johnson at the Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas. Johnson had emergency surgery. The surgery was a success, but the future of one of the most promising young superstars in the WWF remains in question.
Ahmed Johnson Interview
Kevin Kelly flew to Ahmed Johnson’s home. Johnson is seated in a red robe. Johnson says he can ignore the physical pain, but it’s the mental pain that hurts worse. Kelly asks what symptoms he had that made him call for help. Johnson says he was in a hotel and his insides felt like they were turning ice cold. What happened to his kidney? Johnson says Faarooq’s kick to the kidney burst it. The Battle Royal made the tear worse. Kelly asks if there was a chance he could lose the kidney. Johnson says it’s just bleeding, but if it keeps going, it’ll have to go. Kelly asks if he has considered his future if he cannot compete in the WWF again. Johnson doesn’t know how to answer that because he doesn’t know if he’ll ever be able to perform again. He doesn’t know if he’ll get to defend his Intercontinental Championship again in his life.
Mike’s Thoughts: A really good interview with Ahmed Johnson, who looks great coming off surgery. Unfortunately, this injury couldn’t have come at a worse time for him. The WWF is in a real war with WCW and losing quite handily. This week’s rating, which I’ll discuss more in the Wrap-Up, is one of the worst Raw numbers yet and the kind of result that should make the company seriously reconsider what it is presenting.
For Johnson, the timing is brutal. He had momentum, the fans were responding to him, and the WWF was clearly positioning him for something bigger. By the time he gets back, though, the landscape will already be shifting. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin is coming fast, Mankind is gaining traction, Sid is back in a major role, and the company’s direction is going to look very different. There will still be a place for Ahmed Johnson, but this specific push is basically over. And the worst part is, medically speaking, Johnson still isn’t out of the woods.
T.L. Hopper and Who (a large man in a yellow mask and yellow trunks) head to the ring.
Mr. Bob Backlund cautiously approaches the commentary table and may be joining the match. Backlund does indeed put the headset on.
Tag Team Match
T.L. Hopper and Who vs. The Godwinns (Henry O. Godwinn and Phinneas I. Godwinn) w/ Hillbilly Jim
Referee: Tim White
Henry O. Godwinn will start against Who. Henry shouts, “Suey!” They lock up, and Henry applies a side headlock. Who whips him off, but Henry shoulder blocks him down. Henry hits the ropes and hits Who with a hip toss. They lock up, and Henry wrenches the arm before tagging in Phinneas I. Godwinn. T.L. Hopper manages to tag in and wrenches Phinneas’ arm. Phinneas sends Hopper into the ropes and hits a big slam. Phinneas punches Hopper and connects with a headbutt. Bob Backlund talks about WWF Champion Shawn Michaels and does not like him. Hopper reverses a whip, but Phinneas ducks a clothesline. Who knees him in the back, and Hopper punches away at him. Hopper and Who send Phinneas into the ropes for a double-team back body drop. This Who guy seems like a great tag team competitor. Who sends Phinneas hard into the corner, and he collapses. Hopper tags in and clubs Phinneas. Hopper hits Phinneas with a rib-breaker for a two-count.
Backlund is so fired up on commentary about something involving the school systems, saying schools aren’t teaching kids not to kill, but rather how not to contract AIDS by wearing a “condominium.” This audibly cracks both Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler. Backlund is so incensed that he knocks his headset off. Backlund will be bringing someone to the World Wrestling Federation who will straighten things out. Backlund then storms off. Hopper goes for a suplex on Phinneas, but Phinneas counters it.
Video: WWF President Gorilla Monsoon appears on split-screen. Vince McMahon asks about the disposition of the Intercontinental Championship. Monsoon says after reviewing the facts and the severity of the injury, he’s left with no alternative but to say that the Intercontinental Championship is vacant. McMahon mentions that Faarooq Asaad thinks he should be the Intercontinental Champion. Jerry “The King” Lawler mentions that when Shawn Michaels was injured, the title was given to someone else. Monsoon says he won’t award the perpetrator of this incident, which is Faarooq. Monsoon says he will formulate a single-elimination tournament to begin next week on Raw to crown a new Intercontinental Champion.
Back to the action, Henry tags in and takes Who down. Hopper and Phinneas get into the match. The Godwinns take them out, and Henry hits Who with a Slop Drop for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: The Godwinns
Mike’s Thoughts: Another absolutely nothing match on a show that has been straight-up awful thus far. I’ll spoil it now. This is the lowest rated episode of Raw up to this point in the show’s history. With stellar tag team combinations such as T.L. Hopper and Who competing, who would have thought people wouldn’t tune in for that?
It’s so strange that they decided to announce that the WWF Intercontinental Championship was being declared vacant on a split-screen during a match where you can literally hear clickers changing channels rather than making this its own segment. They could’ve not aired this at all… but, then again, we’d never find out that Bob Backlund doesn’t know the difference between a condom and a condominium.
By the way – brace yourselves – Who is actually Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart. Yes, the legendary Anvil is the one in the pitiful yellow trunks and stupid yellow mask. What an absolute waste of his talent. Luckily, it won’t be too long before he has some redemption.
We’ll hear from Bret “Hitman” Hart on the Wrestle Vessel in moments.
Video: Bret “Hitman” Hart is shown walking on the Wrestle Vessel cruise ship with Mr. Perfect. Perfect says the fans want Hart back. Hart says people will have to live with his decision if he decides not to come back. He hopes his career accomplishments are enough. Hart loves being home and has had a great time being off. The only thing that makes him want to come back is his fans. Hart wants to take some more time and think about everything. When he comes back, maybe in two or three months, he’ll say whether he’s really back or not. If he comes back, he’ll have a shovel.
Mike’s Thoughts: After months of hearing nothing from Bret “Hitman” Hart, he’s shown in a largely unadvertised video on one of the worst Raws in a long time. In keeping with the theme of “this show must be horrible at every step,” Hart was noncommittal about returning one way or the other.
Backstage Segment
Jim Cornette and Vader are firing up Owen Hart. Hart will battle WWF Champion Shawn Michaels.
Owen Hart makes his entrance, still wearing a cast on his left wrist from an injury that happened in May. The main event is next.
Monday Night Raw is brought to you by Burger King: Get Your Burger’s Worth. Sponsorship is also provided by Stridex.
-Commercial Break-
Video: Footage from WWF Friday Night Fever at Madison Square Garden is shown. Olympic hopeful Mark Henry was at the event and shoved Hunter Hearst Helmsley down.
Video: WWF Champion Shawn Michaels was recently on the set of the hit show Baywatch.
Non-Title Match
Owen Hart w/ Jim Cornette vs. WWF Champion Shawn Michaels w/ José Lothario
Referee: Jack Doan
The bell rings, and Shawn Michaels smirks at him before saying something. They lock up, and Hart wrenches the arm. Michaels turns it on him and takes him down, but Hart kips up and pulls him down by the hair. Michaels kips up and pulls Hart down by the hair. Hart kips up and gets in Michaels’ face before slapping him. The referee keeps Michaels back as Hart puts himself through the ropes. Hart gets a cheap shot in and stomps him on the mat. Hart sends Michaels into the ropes for a kick, but Michaels blocks it and sweeps his feet. Michaels hits a shoulder tackle and hits the ropes. Michaels avoids a slam and goes for a roll-up, but Hart ducks to send Michaels over the top rope. Hart celebrates, but Michaels skins the cat to get back into the ring. Michaels hits Hart with a head-scissor over the top rope, followed by a plancha. Michaels gets in the ring and lies on the mat.
Jim Cornette is not happy and talks with Hart. Hart shoulders Michaels from the apron and flips into the ring. Michaels quickly hits an arm drag, followed by a running crossbody block for a two-count. Michaels hits a headlock takeover and gets another two-count. Michaels powers his shoulders down, but Hart fights up.
Replay: On Raw on November 20, 1995, Owen Hart caused Shawn Michaels to collapse after an enzuigiri to the head aggravated his post-concussion syndrome.
Hart whips Michaels off, but Michaels shoulder tackles him and hits a hip toss, followed by an arm drag. Michaels applies an armbar to Hart’s injured wrist. Hart is still wearing the cast on his arm. Hart fights up and hits a scoop slam. Hart goes to attack Hart with the cast, but Michaels moves. Michaels quickly hits an arm drag and goes back to the armbar. Hart fights up and backs Michaels into the corner. Hart forearms him in the chest. Michaels reverses a whip to the opposite corner, causing Hart to hit the turnbuckles sternum-first, and Michaels hits a clothesline. Michaels applies an armbar, but Hart fights up and whips him off. Hart connects with a belly-to-belly suplex.
Hart holds his wrist in pain and stomps Michaels. Hart stomps the midsection and connects with a backbreaker.
-Commercial Break-
Back from the break, Hart hits another backbreaker. Hart applies a camel clutch to the WWF Champion. Michaels manages to fight up and elbows out. Michaels hits the ropes, but Hart smashes him with a spinning heel kick for a near fall. Hart applies a rear chin lock.
Replay: At In Your House: International Incident, Vader hit Shawn Michaels with a Vader Bomb and pinned him for the win.
Michaels fights up from the rear chin lock and elbows out. Michaels hits the ropes and blocks a dropkick before hitting a jackknife pin for a two-count. Hart pops up and hits a clothesline. Hart drops a leg before pulling Michaels up for a neckbreaker. Hart celebrates and heads to the top rope. Hart connects with a missile dropkick.
-Commercial Break-
Stridex Slam of the Week: On WWF Superstars, Sycho Sid crushed Marty Jannetty with a Powerbomb
We return from the final break of the evening to see Hart mocking Michaels by tuning up the band. Michaels blocks a kick and ducks the enzuigiri before hitting a flying forearm. Michaels kips up and punches away at Hart. Michaels sends him into the ropes and hits a snap powerslam. Michaels goes to the top rope and hits a flying elbow drop. The crowd sounds like it’s going wild, but no one is moving.
Michaels starts to tune up the band. As he does, Vader runs down to the ring and gets on the apron. Michaels dropkicks Vader to the floor. Michaels avoids an attack from Hart and goes for Sweet Chin Music, but it’s too low. Hart quickly gets up, and Michaels connects with Sweet Chin Music for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: WWF Champion Shawn Michaels
Vader is not happy and throws timekeeper Mark Yeaton away before taking his chair. Vader gets on the apron, so Michaels pulls Hart’s cast off to use as a weapon. Jim Cornette slides his tennis racket to Hart. Hart goes to hit Michaels, but Michaels kicks him, takes the racket, and hits Hart on the head. Vader gets in the ring and clotheslines Michaels down. Michaels’ head lands on the chair.
WWF officials run down, but they’re helpless as they watch Vader punching away at Michaels’ midsection. Vader headbutts Michaels and hits a short-arm clothesline. Some bad editing shows Referee Jack Doan down on the canvas when a second ago he was on his feet. At some point, he must have been struck, but they edited it out. Vader hits Michaels with a scoop slam and goes to the second rope. Vader smashes Michaels with a Vader Bomb. Vader grabs Referee Mike Chioda and throws him out of the ring. Vader goes back to the second rope and hits Michaels with another Vader Bomb! Vader scares the officials away and heads to the top rope, but the show comes to an end.
Mike’s Thoughts: A good match with Shawn Michaels and Owen Hart, but nothing more than that. They weren’t going to go out and have a stinker, but this match is coming at the end of a very long taping where this Seattle crowd was hot for the most part, but they crashed something fierce for this fourth television taping. The beatdown from Vader after the match was good, but this is the first time we’ve seen Vader and Shawn Michaels interacting since International Incident, and SummerSlam is six days away. It’s so weird how little they thought they had to build matches back in the day heading into pay-per-views. This segment was good to get me kind of interested in seeing the match, but imagine what a few weeks’ worth of stuff could have meant for the buyrate? This business model is in major need of an overhaul.
Quick Match Results
— Faarooq Asaad def. Skip
— Crush def. Savio Vega via Technical Submission
— The Godwinns (Henry O. Godwinn* and Phinneas I. Godwinn) def. T.L. Hopper and Who* in a Tag Team Match
— WWF Champion Shawn Michaels def. Owen Hart in a Non-Title Match
Mike’s Wrap-Up: What We Learned from Raw
A quick note on the ratings: starting with this recap, I’ll be using the historical television ratings data compiled by Wrestlenomics for the Monday Night War records. Their database is more detailed and more accurate than the numbers I had been using, so the weekly records may look slightly different moving forward. One notable change is that the two ties the shows had in October 1995 weren’t actually ties. They rounded up or down to the same number, but they were not exact ties. The overall story doesn’t change. WCW is still winning this stretch, but this gives us a cleaner picture of exactly how the battle was playing out week to week.
As for this episode of Raw, this was brutal. There were a few important developments, but getting through the show was a chore. Faarooq Asaad looked dangerous in his win over Skip, but the costume is still ridiculous. Crush returned with a darker presentation, only to have a painfully boring match with Savio Vega that somehow went two segments. The Godwinns beat T.L. Hopper and Who in a match that existed for reasons known only to the WWF. Even Bret Hart’s first real appearance in months was tucked into one of the worst episodes of Raw so far, and he was still noncommittal about returning.
The big story remains Ahmed Johnson. The WWF opened the show with a serious update on his ruptured kidney, then later declared the Intercontinental Championship vacant. That is a major blow. Johnson was not polished, but he had real momentum. The fans responded to his intensity, and the company had clearly been positioning him as one of its top babyfaces. He was supposed to defend the Intercontinental Championship against Faarooq at SummerSlam and had earned a WWF Championship match on the Raw after SummerSlam. Instead, he is out, the title is vacant, and the WWF has to pivot again.
The final angle with Vader destroying Michaels was good, and Shawn Michaels vs. Owen Hart was easily the best thing on the show. The problem is that it took nearly the entire episode to get there. This was a go-home show for SummerSlam, and it should have made the pay-per-view feel urgent. Instead, it mostly felt like a company trying to squeeze whatever it could out of the last hour of a long television taping. Vader is finally looking like a monster again, but the company waited until six days before SummerSlam to really heat up his title match with Shawn Michaels. There are pieces here, but the WWF keeps either misusing them, losing them, or waiting too long to push them properly.
WCW wins again, and this one was not close. Raw dropped below a 2.0, which is a terrible number for a company already getting beaten every week. Nitro has momentum, the hotter story, and the advantage of feeling alive every Monday. The WWF has SummerSlam coming up and a few promising directions, but this episode showed just how much work still needs to be done.
WWF Raw (USA Network, taped): 1.98 (Record: 16-25)
WCW Nitro (TNT, live): 3.30 (Record: 25-16)
Winner: WCW Nitro (9-week streak)
Email – mike@wrestleview.com
X – @MikeTedescoWV
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Part of Wrestleview’s Monday Night War: 30 Years Later series, with weekly Raw and Nitro recaps every Thursday.