In this WWF Monday Night RAW 1/18/93 review, Ric Flair goes one-on-one with El Matador, Mr. Perfect takes on Terry Taylor, and much more.
Let’s jump in.
- Date: January 18, 1993
- Location: Manhattan Center in New York, NY
RINGSIDE: Vince McMahon, Randy Savage, and Rob Bartlett welcome us. Barlett’s return makes the mute button one of the best inventions ever. He immediately rips up a photo of Bobby Heenan. And then from outta nowhere, the Repo Man attacks Savage and runs away.
Terrific Terry Taylor vs. Mr. Perfect
Bartlett makes a parking space joke that goes nowhere. Shocking. Taunting from both men early as Savage returns to the announce area. Perfect delivers a dropkick and chases Taylor outside. Headlock by Perfect with the Headlock on Hunger banner in the background, which is perfect marketing.
Heenan on the phone now and he’s ripping into Bartlett. More back and forth in the ring with Perfect working the arm before commercial. Back from commercial and Taylor introduces Perfect’s face to the steel railing on the outside. Taylor with the jawbreaker in the ring while Heenan makes a collect call joke. Taylor gets a near fall and that leads to Perfect making his comeback.
Ric Flair comes down the aisle and distract Perfect, which leads to Taylor knocking the latter outside the ring. Taylor then distracts the ref while Flair beats the hell out of Perfect before hitting the road. Taylor goes for a duplex, but Perfect reverses with the Perfect Plex for the win at 10:30. This was fine.
VIDEO: Bret Hart in a white ICOPRO shirt is certainly a sight to see.
IN THE RING: Vince welcomes Bret. Vince references Razor Ramon’s comments from last week. Bret is pissed about Razor jumping Owen Hart and talking about slapping Stu Hart. Bret promises excellence.
VIDEO: Paul Bearer and The Undertaker hype Headlock on Hunger.
Marty Jannetty vs. Glen Ruth
I don’t like Ruth’s chances. Ruth attacks Jannetty from behind and that’s enough for Jannetty to start kicking some ass. Now we’ve got Shawn Michaels on the phone. Michaels states facts and calls Jannetty the weak link of the Rockers and a simpleton. Michaels then talks about retaining the IC title at the Rumble and that he thinks Sensational Sherri will be on his side. The announce trio goes for the UNCUT, UNCOOKED, and UNCENSORED plug but fuck it up. Go figure.
This match is essentially Jannetty using an armlock with Ruth getting a little offense in. Jannetty finishes things at 5:10.
RINGSIDE: Vince says Crush probably won’t make it to the Rumble due to Doink’s attack. Bartlett sells it like you would expect Bartlett to sell it. We get the video of Doink delivering the attack and beating crush with a cast. That’s gotta hurt. Seriously though, Doink was great here.
OUTSIDE THE ARENA: Sean Mooney sees Repo Man outside with Savage’s hat. Savage is watching on the screen and challenges Repo TONIGHT IN THIS VERY STREET.
VIDEO: Gene Okerlund with the Rumble report. Gene’s tan is something else. We get an interview from Razor.
OUTSIDE THE ARENA: Savage running around in the parking lot while Mooney looks on.
El Matador vs. Ric Flair
Savage comes back to ringside before the match begins. Good technical action to start, which is no surprise given the awesomeness in the ring. Tito with great offense and the crowd loves it. Back from commercial and Flair gets the near fall.
Chops in the corner and Tito reverses into a backdrop. Bartlett calling a Flair match should be illegal. Flair up top and Santana throws him off. We get the Flair flip on the Irish whip and TITO WITH A CLOTHESLINE FROM HELL ON THE OUTSIDE. Back inside and another back body drop to Flair. Tito tries to keep it going but Flair pulls the rope down and Tito flies over the top.
Perfect comes running out and he’s here to beat Flair’s ass. They brawl on the outside and to the back, which gives us the no contest at 8:40. Good match.
RINGSIDE: Back from commercial and Flair and Perfect still brawling. Flair gets away and tells Vince he wants Perfect next week with the loser leaving the WWF. Flair exits and Perfect comes out to accept the challenge.
SHOW SUMMARY
Better than the first episode, and Flair vs. Tito was good stuff.
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