[RESULTS/OPINION]Monday Night RAW/Monday Nitro (12/18)

(NOTE: I had planned on including In Your House results, but as of noon
on Tuesday I have yet to have any come up on my newsfeed. Therefore, I will
include as much as I can that was mentioned on RAW).

Monday Night RAW: Live. 

 - Recap of confrontation at In Your House between Diesel and the
   Undertaker.

 - "DOUBLE J" JEFF JARRETT vs. FATU.
   Jarrett's back, having made his return last night at IYH. Clip shown of
   Jarrett smashing a glass encased "gold record" over Ahmed Johnson's head,
   then throwing him into a chair held by Lawler. This match wasn't much to
   watch as Jarrett seemed a touch rusty (and perhaps a few pounds heavier).
   Fatu was ... well, Fatu. Fatu seemed to have the upper hand until he
   "injured" his shoulder following a bulldog type maneuver. Jarrett wound
   Fatu up in the Figure 4, but Ahmed Johnson charged the ring, causing the
   DQ and forcing Jarrett to flee to the lockerroom.

   During this match it is mentioned that Hart successfully defended his
   title against the British Bulldog. It was said that he had a nasty cut on
   his head and the ref wanted to stop the match, but Hart asked to
   continue, and eventually won. McMahon said Hart needed 4 stitches on the
   top of his head.
 
 - Dok Hendrix interviewed Gorilla Monsoon. Monsoon said Jarrett will not be
   in the Royal Rumble, though he will fight Ahmed on that card. (Jarrett
   had claimed he was the first entrant in the Rumble at IYH). Monsoon also
   announced that the Rumble would feature present WWF wrestlers, past
   superstars, and faces new to the WWF fans. (i.e. possibly the Ultimate
   Warrior and other washed up 80's stars. The newcomers will probably be
   ECW wrestlers).

 - Taped comments from Goldust. Nothing new here, except that Goldust seems
   fixated on Razor Ramon. (More on that later).

 - Clip from IYH. The Undertaker has beaten Mabel in the casket match and
   recovered his urn-clace. Pettengill informs Undertaker that Monsoon has
   named him #1 contender and he will face Bret Hart at Royal Rumble. Enter
   Diesel, who's upset that he isn't getting a return match. Paul Bearer
   says "Big Daddy Cool ... you haven't been acting too cool lately ... "
   Diesel grabs him and says "Shut up Gomez!" Undertaker grabs Diesel. They
   stare down. "Seems like people have been ducking me lately!" "The
   Undertaker ducks no man." "Is this the way it's gonna be?" "If it has to
   be ... it has to be." Coming soon to a house show near you.

 - BUDDY LANDELL vs. BOB HOLLY.
   Landell is introduced with the really bad mix of the theme from "2001" 
   that Ric Flair had in the WWF. (I know what it's called-I just can't
   spell it!) Holly, as we all know, is the official jobber to new heels.
   Landell wins following a corkscrew elbow-drop. Landell gets a good 
   "Buddy" chant early in the match and a decent pop following the pin.

   McMahon and Lawler mention the Hunter Hearst Helmsley apparently won the 
   Arkansas Slop Match vs. Henry Godwin, but required 14 stitches on his
   back. Also, Hillbilly Jim was the surprise guest referee. The match took
   place in a wooden pen filled with mud.

 - Brother Love interviews Ted DiBiase. At IYH, someone dressed as Santa
   attacked Savio Vega. DiBiase announces he has signed Zanta Klaus, from
   the South Pole. Whatever. DiBiase also mentions that 1996 will be the
   the year of the Million Dollar Champion. (This is supposedly going to
   be Steve Austin). I have no idea who Zanta Klaus is, but it didn't look
   like Austin.

 - The RAW Bowl: Ramon, Vega, and the Smoking Gunns vs. Sid, The Kid,
   Yokozuna and Owen Hart. Plus Diesel vs. Mabel and a Bret Hart interview. 

 - RAZOR RAMON vs. YOKOZUNA (w/ JIM CORNETTE)
   Yokozuna waddles to the ring, followed by Goldust, who is lead by an
   "usher" with a flashlight. Goldust sits in a director's chair near the
   entranceway and watches the match on the big screen. A clip is shown of
   Goldust at IYH giving Todd Pettengill a gold envelope for Razor Ramon.
   Ramon is then shown reading the letter in the America Online room. Ramon,
   acting like a man who has just gotten a love letter from another man,
   crumples it up and storms out.

   Ramon enters the ring. Awaiting his fireworks, he is instead showered by
   gold dust from the roof. Yokozuna attacks the distracted Ramon, and we
   the audience are then treated to several minutes of punches, kicks, and
   rest holds. Match ends when the lights start to flicker and the
   Undertaker comes to ringside with his casket. Yokozuna flees and is
   counted out.

   Dok Hendrix interviews Ramon about Goldust's letter. Ramon said that
   Goldust wrote that Ramon was handsome and that he was hot for him. Ramon
   says he only likes girls and that Goldust can " ... do his thing ...
   just not with me!" McMahon acts disgusted at the overtures of Goldust's
   actions. Jerry Lawler claims to be in possesion of the letter, but would
   not reveal it's contents except to say it embarrased even him.

 - Show ends with a video retrospective of Shawn Michaels' career: from the
   Rockers to his collapse. (Done because Shawn's career has most likely
   come to an end, says McMahon).
 
 - Next week's main event: None. RAW not on because USA will be showing
   some jolly old Christmas crap.

Comments: To recap IYH: Diesel apparently beat Owen Hart - HHH beat Godwin.
Hart beat the Bulldog. Undertaker beat Mabel. Jeff Jarrett returned and will
feud with Ahmed Johnson. Hillbilly Jim appeared. DiBiase intro'ed Zanta
Klaus. NO ULTIMATE WARRIOR. (Suckers).

RAW was okay. Crowd was pretty dead at spots. The matches were all
forgetable. The big news in my eyes has to be the disgusting direction the
Goldust/Ramon angle has taken. The surprises and recaps of IYH were what
made it watchable (which isn't exactly a glowing endorsement).


Monday Nitro: Live.

 - Show opens with the announcing crew doing the usual hype when suddenly
   out of nowhere appears Alundra Blayze, who dumps the WWF Women's Title
   (which she identifies by name) in a trashcan and announces she " ... is
   and always has been Madusa." "WCW is where the big boys play and it is
   now where the big Girls play!" After she skulks off, McMichael brings in
   his pal William "The Refrigerator" Perry to maintain order. What an
   opener! Zoiks!

 - RIC FLAIR vs. EDDIE GUERRERO
   This match went well: the wily master vs. the high flying newcomer.
   Guerrero looked like he might actually get the upset until a spill off
   the top rope to the floor at ringside. Guerrero sold a knee injury. Flair
   pulled him in the ring and went to work on the leg, eventually slapping
   on the Figure Four. Guerrero would not submit, and the ref counts the pin
   when Eddie "passes out". 

   Arn Anderson joined him in the ring and they were interviewed by Mean
   Gene, who threatened to walk when Flair laid a few boots into the prone 
   Guerrero. Usual Horsemen stuff until Kevin Sullivan and Jimmy Hart came 
   into the ring. (Hart was wearing a coat with Sullivan's picture on the 
   back). Sullivan complained about Brian Pillman's comments last week prior
   to the Orndorff attack (clips of which were shown.) Sullivan said he
   didn't care about Orndorff, but Pillman better watch what he says about
   the Dungeon of Doom. Flair acted concilliatory, but Arn grabbed the mic
   and said " ... you come looking for Pillman ... you just might find
   Anderson and Flair!" Sullivan said there were no allegiances in WCW.
  
 - Sgt. Craig Pittman comes to the announcing booth and asks Bobby Heenan
   to manage him. Heenan says he is busy as a broadcast journalist, but
   will hook Pittman up with someone who can manage him.

 - LEX LUGER (w/ JIMMY HART) vs. MARCUS BAGWELL
   Lex quickly puts Baghead away with the Torture Rack. Okerlund interviews
   him on the ramp. He and Jimmy blather on about how Lex is the uncrowned 
   champ.

 - STING vs. "EARL" ROBERT EATON (w/ GEEVES)
   Sting wipes the map up with Eaton, hitting the Stinger Splash then
   getting the submission with the Scorpion Leglock. Okerlund interviews
   Sting in the ring. Sting admits he is upset at Luger. Sting claims he's
   been World Champ 5 times, and wants it again for the 6th.
 
 - RANDY SAVAGE vs. THE GIANT (w/ JIMMY HART)
   Not a bad match. Not for anything Savage does, but for the effort the
   Giant puts in. Carrying Savage on his back, he flips him to the mat-an
   impressive looking maneuver. He hits a backbreaker across his knee and a
   bodyslam. Savage is limited to weak punches and eye gouges. Savage spills
   to the floor. The Giant follows, picks him up, and throws him back in
   OVER the top rope. He then does a SPLASH OFF THE TOP ROPE which misses!
   Savage siezes the opportunity to land his own top rope elbow drop and
   covers for a pin count, but the Giant kicks out launching Savage 5 feet
   in the air. The Giant the DROP-KICKS Savage, who ends up outside again.
   The Giant rolls back the mat exposing the concrete. He tries to suplex
   the Champ, but Savage grabs the ring ropes in mid-air and hangs on. The
   Giant hits the concrete. Savage is groggy in the ring the Giant makes his
   way back in, delivers a chokeslam, a very Hogan-esque legdrop, then
   covers for the pin. Hogan out of nowhere enters the ring and nails the
   Giant with a steel chair. He also nails Kevin Sullivan, referee Nick
   Patrick, security chief Doug Dellinger, a few more shots to the Giant,
   and nearly comes to blows with Steve McMichael and William Perry, who
   have come to ringside to stop him. Crowd goes nuts, many on their feet
   since the Giant missed the splash. A "Hogan! Hogan! Hogan!" chant breaks
   out.

   After a break, Okerlun talks to Hogan and Savage in the ring. Hogan makes
   it clear he wants a title shot. The Giant comes back down the aisle,
   being held back by Sullivan and Craig Pittman. Hogan rushes over and lays
   in a few more chair shots. (15 when all was said and done). Giant looked
   to be cut open, but it was hard to tell. Savage agrees to give Hogan a 
   title shot if he is still champ on January 1st. 

 - Next week's main event: Savage vs. Ric Flair for the World Title.

Comments: A wild show from start to finish. Alundra/Madusa's defection to
WCW is every bit as big as Lex Luger's considering she is an active WWF
title holder. The Giant showed he can wrestle. Hogan won over a crowd deep
in Georgia (Augusta, I believe). The only real lull was Luger's squashing of
Bagwell, and even they recieved fair enough pops.


Bottom line: The WWF is making it clear that the Royal Rumble is going to be
big. The rumors of The Ultimate Warrior being at IYH were silly, people.
Maybe the Rumble, where he can do a one shot and slip back into obscurity,
but not a $19.95 PPV with only a day or two's notice. I must have read a
dozen posts giving reasons why it's a sure thing he'd be there and had to
laugh at them all. Has everyone forgotten the Piper piece they ran several
week's back? I have yet to see him return. Even Mr. Perfect's comeback has
only been behind the mic. The return of Jarrett is great, but not so much if
he's going to be jobbing to Ahmed Johnson for the next six months. Hot on
the heels of their rumored working agreement with ECW, the WWF is handling
the intergration of blood well. They've made a point of showing it's a
consequence of violence, not merely window dressing. (The comments about
Hart and Helmsley requiring stitches being an example). The WWF has upped
the level of violence and has attempted to tie that in to it's consequences.
In the process they have upped the realism level as well (just ask the Shawn
Michaels "get well" wishers).

WCW continues to do big things on Monday night. I still see little hope for
Starrcade to be much good, though. It's obvious that right now with WCW that
the PPV's can be skipped, the weekend shows are for the marks, and Nitro is
the one to watch. The question is quickly becoming "can WCW afford ...
money-wise ... to stay live on Mondays?"

This week's winner: Nitro.

(Again I apologize for no complete IYH results. My news server is quickly
becoming terrible. I'm still only picking up stuff from Sunday morning at
the latest).