We open the July 25th, edition of Raw with a recap of the Dibiase/Luger/Tatanka situation. We know from last week's episode of Tatanka's challenge against Nikolai Volokoff, but further developments went down on the following episode of Superstars as Dibiase would reveal on the Heartbreak Hotel that he has indeed bought Luger. Luger would come to the Heartbreak Hotel, but before he could explain the situation, Tatanka would come out again and lambast Luger as a sellout. Luger however still claims he hasn't sold out.
It's Jim Ross and Savage at the table tonight for our last of the four Bushkill, Pennsylvania shows. Along with Tatanka vs Nikolai Volkoff is a match between Yokozuna and a newly babyface Adam Bomb. We'll get into those details later on.
We open Raw with Tatanka vs Nikolai Volkoff (WIth Ted Dibiase). As per the stipulation last week, if Tatanka wins, he'll win ten thousand dollars from Dibiase. Tatanka works the wrist of Volkoff early on with some wringers and arm bars. Volkoff gets in a headbutt, but Tatanka gets a really awful looking shoulder block. Volkoff regains momentu with strikes in the corner. Thankfully he hasn't tried the head ram into the buckle. He chokes Tatanka on the ropes a couple times, edging closer to a possible disqualification. Irish whip and a kick by Volkoff followed by several stomps.
Volkoff bites at Tatanka in the corenr, but Tatanka wakes up with some chops, but Volkoff gets an elbow to the face. Tatanka ducks a clothesline, and hits one of his own. He dropkicks Nikolai out of the ring. Volkoff goes to leave, but Dibiase forces him back in the ring, since again, this is Dibiase's money on the line. Volkoff pulls Tatanka out of the ring and rams him head first into the steps several time. He brings him back in and lands more stomps. Volkoff is in control, and then he does what
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He rams Tatanka head first into the turnbuckle, which starts the no-selling war dance. Volkoff rams his head into the buckle again, because lord knows that's gonna work. He tries it a third time. For the love of god Nikolai, the man's head is seeminly iron plated, this isn't going to do jack squat! He goes for the quadruple and rams him into all four turnbuckle pads. This is my nightmare made flesh! Tatanka finally has enough and starts to chop Volkoff several times including a big chop off the turnbuckle. Vokoff gets a boot and a body slam. However, Tatanka gets an inside cradle for the three, insuring a ten grand win.
This was a bowling shoe ugly match. Volkoff's moves looked sloppy and slow, Tatanka added nothing fresh in terms of in ring work. And while innovative, the four corner ram spot was just infuriating. But it was mercifully short, so I can give it some points for that. I don't know if you can tell over the past few years, but I really, really dislike Tatanka.
Savage jumps into the ring and starts ordering Dibiase to give the ten grand to Tatanka, but Dibase and Volkoff just walk off. Eventually, Dibiase heads into the ring. Dibiase says that he's so impressed that maybe Tatanka has earned that money. But if could beat Volkoff, he certainly could not beat his Lex Luger. He hands Tatanka the money. Tatanka says that he could beat Luger on his worst day. Just as the two jaw jack, Luger shows up.
Luger asks about the challenge, which Tatanka confirms that he could beat him any time and any place. Luger accepts the challenge and walks off, really not confirming if he's with Dibiase or not.
The WWF Tag Team Champions The Headshrinkers are up next against Joey Stallings and Barry Hardy. Samu and Fatu start on the attack just as we go to commercial break. When we return, Stallings gets hit with a big clothesline by Fatu. Samu is tagged and both Shrinkers hit headbutts. Big kick to the face by Samu followed by a DDT out of the corner. Tag to Fatu as both Shrinkers beat down Stallings in the corner. Tag back to Samu as they hit a double clothesline. Samu knocks Hardy off the apron as Fatu continues the attack. Tag to Fatu as both men hit a double facebuster and a splash off the shoulders of Samu for a win in a dominant squash.
Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart is up next against Jim Powers. Powers starts with the offense, but Neidhart sends him over the top rope. Clubbing forearm to the chest and an ear pull slam to the mat. More clubbing blows to the back and the head. He slams around Powers some more as the crowd chants "We Want Bret". Powers tries to fight out of the corner, but gets an eye rake and a back suplex. He covers, but quickly breaks it. Powers gets some punches, but Neidhart gets a powerslam. He locks in a camer clutch for the win.
Jim Ross is in the ring next to interview Women's Champion Alundra Blayze. Remember her? Hell, last time she was even on Raw was in April on the King's Court. Blayze had recently started a series of open challenges to any woman in the world. She recently defeated Luna Vachon but now she has a new challenger on the way in Japanese talent Bull Nakano. Luna runs to the ring, still not finished with Blayze. It was Luna who was responsible for bringing in Bull. Blayze says she will always have the title, ensuring victory next week on Raw.
Up next it's Yokozuna taking on Adam Bomb. Bomb had recently turned face after being turned on by Harvey Whippleman and attacked by Kwang. So we can add babyface to the list of things to the gimmick. Along with the Kool-Aid tongue, the eyes, the goggles, etc.
Yoko starts with some chops and a choke in the corner followed by a whip and an elbow to the face of Adam Bomb. Adam ducks a clothesline and hits some right hands. He ducks a few more clotheslines and hits several of his own. He shoulder blocks Yokozuna, sending him out of the ring as we go to break. When we return, Adam Bomb calls for a test of strength. After some stalling, Yoko chooses to go for chops and a headbutt instead. He locks in a nerve hold to Adam Bomb as the crowd starts to get behind Adam.
Adam Bomb breaks out of the nerve hold, ducks a clothesline, but gets hit hard with the follow up. Yoko goes for a charge in the corner, but Adam Bomb escapes. More clotheslines from Adam Bomb, and follows with a DDT. He goes up top and lands a big clothesline off the rop buckle. But Harvey Whippleman and Kwang arrive at ringside. Kwang trips Adam Bomb, who goes in for the attack. He takes out Kwang, but gets counted out. Adam grabs Harvey Whippleman and tosses him at Kwang.
Overall, a decent match. Mostly just clotheslines, and a bit slow in places (mainly whenever Yokozuna went for offense), but overall an impressive showing for the newly babyface Adam Bomb.
Todd Pettengill is here with the Summerslam Report. The card is as follows. It's Undertaker vs Undertaker, Bret Hart vs Owen Hart in a steel cage for the WWF title, and the newly added Razor Ramon vs Diesel for the Intercontinental title.
Our last match of the night is "Our Favorite Garbage Man" Duke "The Dumpster" Droese taking on Dwayne Gill. Jerry Lawler is on the phone, defending himself for the garbage can assault from the previous month. In-ring, Droese lands a suplex and a chinlock. He locks in a bearhug. The King's Court is next week with his guest being Bob Backlund, who he refers to as Howdy Doody. Backlund is challenging Bret Hart on Superstars this week. Meanwhile, Droese wins the match with a powerslam.
We have a stacked card next week. Alundra Blayze vs Bull Nakano, Razor Ramon vs Shawn Michaels and Bob Backlund on the King's Court.
This was an okay edition of Raw for the most part. The squash matches were basic fare and Yokozuna vs Adam Bomb was better than I had expected, though still standard stuff. The biggest bogging down is the Tatanka vs Volkoff match that was just ugly to sit through. It also doesn't help that this feud with Tatanka and Luger is quite frankly boring with what almost feels like the most obvious heel turn in history on its way, and I don't mean from Lex Luger. Overall, this Raw gets a C+ rating.
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