1996-09-06 WWF Raw - REVIEW

2025 Malapert Smark Podcast Review System:

🤯 - Mind Completely Blown!!! [+10]

🔥 - This Was Fire!! [+5]

❤️ - Loved It! [+3]

👍👍 - REALLY Liked It! [+2]

👍 - Liked It [+1]

1/2 👍- Kinda Liked It [+0.5]

👊 - Indifferent [0]

👎 - Didn’t Like it [-1]

👎👎 - Hated It [-2]

🤮 - Made Me Sick [-5]

🙋‍♂️- Chris Jericho Bad [-10]

=====

We reviewed this edition of Raw on episode #144 of the Malapert Smark Podcast with Vlad “The Wrestling Expert” and Robert "The Frozen Asian." Link:

https://youtu.be/nFd8LSQ5NPs

=====

This episode was called Championship Friday. There was no episode of Raw the previous calendar week due to the US Open Tennis Tournament, and on this particular week, the show was moved from Monday to Friday, also because of Tennis.

=====

STORYLINES:

(1) IC Title Tournament, Psycho Sid, HHH, Stone Cold, Mark Mero

-Psycho Sid defeats HHH.

-Stone Cold is DQd against Mark Mero as he pulls the ref into a Mark Mero attack. Post match, Austin and Mero keep fighting. Austin raised his hand claiming victory but Mero doesn't let him celebrate and a fight ensues as officials intervene to break it up.

🌪️REVIEWS🌪️

Kayhan TheMalapertSmark - 👍

Vlad TheWrestlingExpert - 1/2 👍

Robert TheFrozenAsian - 1/2 👍

➡️COMMENTS⬅️

⭐️Kayhan: 

⭐️Vlad: One was a job match and the other ended in a DQ. It was just ok. Sid was super over at this time.

(2) Mr. Perfect, HHH

-Mr. Perfect continues his recent trend of stealing HHH's women. Shows up during HHH's IC Title match with HHH and leaves with HHH's woman. This did not factor into the match, as Perfect showed up right as HHH was about to lose anyway.

-During the Stone Cold vs Mark Mero match, JR reports that HHH and Mr Perfect had to be separated backstage as a fight broke out.

🌪️REVIEWS🌪️

Kayhan TheMalapertSmark - 1/2 👍

Vlad TheWrestlingExpert - 1/2 👍

Robert TheFrozenAsian - 1/2 👍

➡️COMMENTS⬅️

⭐️Kayhan: Mr Perfect is just that cool. Can walk up to any girl and whisk her away. kind of an amusing idea for an angle. 

⭐️Vlad: I don't think this ever went anywhere but funny.

(3) Ahmed Johnson

-Ahmed Johnson and his doctor are interviewed regarding his injury. The doctor says he could make a full recovery. Johnson is feeling motivated after his injury and promises to be back.

🌪️REVIEWS🌪️

Kayhan TheMalapertSmark - 1/2 👍

Vlad TheWrestlingExpert - 1/2 👍

Robert TheFrozenAsian - 👊

➡️COMMENTS⬅️

⭐️Kayhan: In my wikipedia research, I have found that Ahmed Johnson suffered from a legit kidney problem but Farooq damaging his kidneys was their way of working it into the show… I do wonder why his push never got resumed when he recovered. Because it looked like they were gearing up to push him to the moon before he went out.

(4) Jim Ross, Diesel, Razor Ramon

-Before the Stone Cold vs Mark Mero match, JR says he will make the biggest announcement he's ever made, later on.

-During the main event, JR announced that Diesel and Razor Ramon will be returning to the WWF.

🌪️REVIEWS🌪️

Kayhan TheMalapertSmark - 🤯

Vlad TheWrestlingExpert - 👍

Robert TheFrozenAsian - 👍

➡️COMMENTS⬅️

⭐️Kayhan: Kevin Kelly didnt really sell the announcement with the correct enthusiasm. My 🤯 rating is a bit of a joke, as we all know what happened to this angle. But of course it would have been wild to think of Hall & Nash going back to WWF at that point. 

⭐️Vlad: 👍 for the announcement. but 👎 for what happened.

⭐️Robert: 👍 if i had reviewed this at the time of the announcement, but 👎👎 as a retro review. 

(5) Brian Pillman, Bret Hart

-Pillman joins commentary for the Stone Cold vs Mark Mero match saying he has news on Bret Hart's return. Pillman talks how he was trained by the Harts and is like family. Claims he has talked to Bret and Bret will be there at In Your House Mind Games, and that Pillman will have the scoop. During Stone Cold's match, they mentioned Austin's desire to challenge Bret. Pillman also discussed Bret possibly reconciliating with his brother Owen.

🌪️REVIEWS🌪️

Kayhan TheMalapertSmark - 1/2 👍

Vlad TheWrestlingExpert - 1/2 👍

Robert TheFrozenAsian - 1/2 👍

➡️COMMENTS⬅️

⭐️Kayhan: My first review of a Pillman angle. I thought he spoke well and got the point across clearly.

(6) Mark Henry, Jerry Lawler

-JR interviews Mark Henry in the ring. King talks Henry getting involved in WWE wrestler business, as it is shown Henry got involved in Lawler's match at Summerslam and got into it with Vader 2 Monday's ago. Lawler challenges Henry to a match. Henry says he's not ready, but Lawler calls Henry a coward. Henry gets mad and grabs Lawler, and accepts the challenge.

🌪️REVIEWS🌪️

Kayhan TheMalapertSmark - 👍👍

Vlad TheWrestlingExpert - 👍

Robert TheFrozenAsian - 👍

➡️COMMENTS⬅️

⭐️Kayhan: My favorite segment on this show. Very basic heel work from Lawler but he did nicely to put Henry over here.

(7) Mankind, Paul Bearer

-Mankind defeats jobber.

🌪️REVIEWS🌪️

Kayhan TheMalapertSmark - 👊

Vlad TheWrestlingExpert - 👊

Robert TheFrozenAsian - 👊

(8) Bob Backlund, Iron Sheik

-Bob Backland shows up in the ring to cut a promo. Backlund says he has a wrestler he claims will win the WWWF Title. Someone he has disdain for but also respect. The Iron Sheik. The Sheik will be a trainer for Backland's associate. Sheik rambles but is cut off as the show goes to commercials.

🌪️REVIEWS🌪️

Kayhan TheMalapertSmark - 👍

Vlad TheWrestlingExpert - 1/2 👍

Robert TheFrozenAsian - 👊

➡️COMMENTS⬅️

⭐️Kayhan: This was awful, but still, pretty wild idea for Backlund to align with the Sheik, considering the history. But man this is old history. Maybe not what they should be digging up to combat the NWO storyline. 

⭐️Vlad: Sheik was just rambling nonsense so I got a laugh out of that.

(9) Goldust, Shawn Michaels, Undertaker, Mankind

👉The main angle here is a WWF Title match between Shawn Michaels & Goldust, but included in this, Undertaker will be facing Goldust at the next PPV and Mankind will be facing Michaels.

👉Details:

-The show opened with a video package praising Shawn Michaels.

-Undertaker cuts a pre taped promo on Goldust before Goldust's match with Shawn Michaels. Undertaker will take on Goldust in a Final Curtain match at Mind Games.

-Marlena accompanies Goldust to the ring for his match against Shawn Michaels. During the match, cameras show Mankind claiming to have a surprise for Michaels. Marlena tries to interfere but Michaels is victorious, retaining WWF championship.

-Post match, Mankind tries to attack Michaels but Michaels escapes. Paul Bearer is happy with the 

🌪️REVIEWS🌪️

Kayhan TheMalapertSmark - 👊

Vlad TheWrestlingExpert - 👍

Robert TheFrozenAsian - 👍

➡️COMMENTS⬅️

⭐️Kayhan: A little disappointing how HBK just slipped out of the post match attack.

⭐️Vlad: Good tv title match and advertising for the matches at in your house.

=====

Other:
=====

A) Commercial airs for WWF's Big Bang Boom tour with schedule of upcoming House Shows.

B) Psycho Sid teamed with special Olympians to compete in tug of war with an elephant. It was very inspirational.

C) Shawn Michaels Playgirl spread was mentioned by commentary.