The 1995 WWE Raw episode launched with a preview of the television main event featuring Razor Ramon and Savio Vega taking on Yokozuna and Owen Hart. Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler introduced the show, highlighting Lawler’s ongoing feud with Shawn Michaels. Lawler accused Michaels of backing down from a previous challenge, calling him a coward, while post-match Mabel demanded respect from the crowd and confidently predicted becoming the WWF Champion after <a href="https://cynicaltimes.org/tag/summerslam/”>SummerSlam. These confrontations set an intense atmosphere for the evening’s events.
Segments and Conflicts Intensify the Storylines
During the program, a segment with one of the Fatu family members aired, where he revealed his avoidance of drugs on the path to success. This was followed by a verbal exchange between Lawler and Michaels, with Lawler stating that most WWF viewers eagerly awaited how Sid would handle Michaels. Michaels responded by saying he might fit Lawler into his schedule, prompting Lawler to assert his journalistic oath to avoid wrestling—although he hinted that otherwise, he would break Michaels in half.
Early Matches and Character Development
Bam Bam Bigelow secured a victory by pinning Bob Cook in the opening contest. McMahon humorously teased Lawler about his journalistic pledge and joked about Bigelow eating Kevin Costner and then burping him up on his outfit, referencing the film “Waterworld.” Following this, Dean Douglas returned with a segment grading Bigelow’s performance, assigning him an F. These moments mixed entertainment with competitive tension as the show progressed.
Promotions, Interviews, and Future Fights Previewed
Vince McMahon conducted interviews with Jim Cornette, Owen Hart, Yokozuna, and Mr. Fuji, providing insights into upcoming storylines. Later, Skip, accompanied by Sunny, scored a swift squash match victory, with a replay of his prior loss to Horowitz shown beforehand. The show also featured the first preview for the upcoming SummerSlam event, teasing bouts such as Diesel vs. Mabel, Bret Hart vs. Isaac Yankem, and Michaels vs. Sid. Promos with Diesel, Lawler, and Yankem furthered these narratives, notably with Lawler and Yankem criticizing Bret Hart in a mocking visual metaphor involving his teeth and career. Announcements closed with a tease for next week’s Raw main event, Diesel vs. Sir Mo.
Extended Main Event Tackles Authority and Controversy
The featured match pitted the tag team of Yokozuna and Owen Hart against Razor Ramon and Savio Vega, occupying almost the entire last half-hour of the broadcast. The match ended inconclusively as the TV time expired, adding to its dramatic tension. Throughout the bout, Vince McMahon pressured Jerry Lawler to participate in a match against Shawn Michaels, with Lawler ultimately agreeing. A critical moment occurred fifteen minutes in when Ramon executed the Razor’s Edge move and pinned Owen Hart. However, Jim Cornette intervened, convincing the referee that Yokozuna, not Owen, was the legal competitor, prompting a restart of the match.
This sequence seemed orchestrated to allow McMahon to later state,
“The referee made a mistake and wasn’t too proud to admit it,”
referencing prior controversial decisions involving Roadie and Jarrett. This admission highlighted the uneasy and intense atmosphere permeating the program’s closing minutes, which left viewers anticipating future developments in these intertwined rivalries and story arcs.
