Classic Wrestling - 1993

A few months ago I started a thread talking about how I am going to review wrestling beginning with 1993. Due to crazy circumstances I stopped, but I liked doing it and that's why I am going to bring it back! I understand there are very few actual fans in this guild but if anyone does get the WWE Network and would like to watch it as they go along they can! I am beginning with the very first RAW back in January 11th 1993, and will watch them pretty damn regularly.

The Attitude Era, NWO and more will all happen with these Classic Wrestling threads, and I invite you all to join me on this grand journey, and if you are coming from the distant future and watching along with me, then enjoy my storytelling and focus!

How will this be structured

After each show I will post a review giving my thoughts on the key moments throughout the show and the developing storylines. While I will track the results and post them at the end, this is not a blow by blow review, and instead I will only talk about it like a fan would and not a reviewer. As well as this, I shall post a link to the episode on the WWE Network.

Throughout the year I will try to build up PPVs, show of goings on elsewhere and post up an end of year review for each year!

Join me today, and begin the wrestling fan's dream adventure!

Current Champions:

Current Power Rankings 1993:

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WWF Monday Night RAW - January 11th 1993


Promotion: WWF
Date: 11/01/1993
Venue: Manhattan Center
City: New York City, New York
Link: Available on the WWE Network here!

The very first episode of RAW largely continues with what's happening in WWF. As this is the first post I shall make it clear that I will be talking as if I have never seen the show from here on out.

RAW is planned to be the new A show for WWF which means it will be it's biggest show for story advancement, and opening with a bang we got a great Intercontinental bout and build up for the signature fueds at the Royal Rumble!

Aside from the big match itself, the main event will be WWF Champion Bret Hart vs Razor Ramon for the WWF Championship and we got an interview from the "Bad Guy" himself. I love everything about Razor, I love his delivery, I love his presence, he's beyond his time and oozes charisma. Not only that but I feel the dynamic between he and Bret Hart is fascinating and I feel this is going to be a great match in what is a great fued. Good promo, looking forward to the Champion's response on the next episode!

The best match of the night fell in the Intercontinental Championship match with Shawn retaining the title against Max Moon. This was a well done match that was the longest of the night and actually made you believed Max Moon had a chance! I think the highlight quote "I've broken so many homes, so many homes" by Shawn Michaels stands out the most, which made me fucking laugh lol. He faces Jannetty at the Rumble, with Sensational Sherri at ringside for one of them, neither of them, both of them, who knows!

We got some build up this week to the Royal Rumble match with a look at some of the stars competeting, it's a plethora of talent and the match should be epic as every Rumble is. Bobby Heenan also said that a new wrestler is coming named Narcissus and he will debut at the Rumble and will be another antogonist for Mr Perfect.

The main event was Damien Demento vs The Undertaker that saw 'Taker dominate from start to finish and get the first ever main event win in RAW history!

Overall Thoughts: Great build up to the PPV in a solid show. Plenty of things to look forward to at the Rumble and I felt this show really helped build that.

Results


Yokozuna (with Mr Fuji) defeated Koko B. Ware (3:45)
The Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner and Scott Steiner) defeated The Executioners (Duane Gill & Barry Hardy) (3:00)
Shawn Michaels (c) defeated Max Moon to retain the WWF Intercontinental Championship (10:30)
The Undertaker (w/ Paul Bearer) defeated Damien Demento (2:26)

Coming Up! January 13th 1993 - Clash of the Champions XXII - Tomorrow!

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Clash of the Champions XXII


Promotion: WCW
Date: 13/01/1993
Venue: Mecca Arena
City: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Link: Available on the WWE Network here!

The first WCW event has come and it's time for Clash of the Champions XXII! Now, for those wondering, as of writing there are no regular shows on the network for WCW and therefore until 1995 when Nitro debuts, I will only be watching WCW's PPVs and Clash of the Champion events. Clash of the Champions is a special tv presentation that is almost like mini-PPV so they are often must watch!

The main story heading into this event was two teams duking it inside of a Thundercage. The first team was lead by Sting, and the second by the WCW World Champion Vader. This match was going to be especially interesting as Vader's team had a one match advantage going in. As we saw before their match they brutalized Ron Simmons and took out one of their partners to maintain that advantage, more on that in a bit.

Onto the matches themselves and it was awesome to see Cactus Jack who, if you're knew, is like a 2014 Dean Ambrose in booking terms. Good solid match to open the show!

Before 2 Cold picked up a win, we were treated by a rather unique vignette, a look at 2 Cold Scorpio and I felt it was really cool to see, would love to see this kind of unique take on building a vignette today. It seems almost cutting edge to see it from the perspective of a clean cut, perfectly produced modern WWE.

Chris Benoit and Brad Armstrong had an excellent, and strong match. Benoit is a well known wrestler around the world but this was his first singles match for WCW and he put on a clinic. A very aggressive style saw Benoit get a good win here.

The one, and only, title match came as the Unified Tag Team Champions Ricky Steamboat and Shane Douglas faced Steve Austin and Brian Pillman. Like before, this was an excellent match that ended hilariously as Austin and Pillman cheated by attacking them with the belts before getting DQ'd. I guess the two thought fuck it, and proceeded to beat the shit into them before stealing the belts LOL. I fucking love the balls and aggression on these two, can't wait to see more of them!

Before the Main Event got under way, we were treated with a great promo showing how Vader defeated Ron Simmons to become the WCW Champion, and a promise that these two will clash again. Vader ambushed Simmons before the match in a fucking brutal display.

The main event was a crazy fast cage match that was going Vader's way before Cactus Jack, a victim of Vader's manager Harley Race, came in, interfered, and then pinned to win the match? I don't know what the fuck was wrong with the ref but last I checked Cactus Jack wasn't in the match.

Overall Thoughts: Fun event that had some pretty good matches. On the scale of things nothing major changed, but we got some good feature bouts and wrestling, and that's what counts.

Cactus Jack defeated Johnny B. Badd (2:50)
2 Cold Scorpio defeated Scotty Flamingo (4:13)
Chris Benoit defeated Brad Armstrong (9:34)
The Wrecking Crew (Wrecking Crew Fury & Wrecking Crew Rage) defeated Johnny Gunn & The Z-Man (6:06)
Ricky Steamboat & Shane Douglas (c) defeated Flyin' Brian & Steve Austin by DQ to retain the NWA/WCW Unified World Tag Team Title Match (13:39)
Cactus Jack, Dustin Rhodes & Sting defeated Barry Windham, Big Van Vader & Paul Orndorff in a Steel Cage Match (11:22)

Coming Up: WWF RAW on Thursday!

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WWF Monday Night RAW - January 18th 1993


Promotion: WWF
Date: 18/01/1993
Venue: Manhattan Center
City: New York City, New York
Link: Available on the WWE Network [url=network.wwe.com/video/v31307511]here![/url]

With Royal Rumble 1993 right around the corner it was time for the go home show as we opened with a hilarious skit with The Repo Man attacking, and then stealing Macho Man's hat LOL His laughter and style is fucking awesome and I loved this opening!

Mr Perfect opened the show with the match of the night which saw an interference from former WWF Champion Ric Flair. Even with this, Mr Perfect picked up the victory as he chased after Flair.

The most poignant moment came as we were greeted with the WWF Champion Bret Hart's comments on what Razor said. He said that Razor is the lowest piece of scum in the World Wrestling Federation and that come Royal Rumble they will have a fight for the title. Bret Hart looked a million bucks up there as the World's Champion and is the current face of the company if you're new to this era.

We had more delightful Repo Man fun as he cut a great promo outside the building having a war of words with Randy Savage. This would all conclude when at the end we would see him towing Rob Bartlett's car, something the commentator had been complaining had gone missing since the start of the show. Repo Man may look ridiculous, but he's fucking hilarious to watch and listen too. Next week we will see Randy Savage vs Repo Man.

Before the biggest news of the night, there was more promotion for the Royal Rumble with the Royal Rumble build up, and yet more words from the Intercontinental Champion, Shawn Michaels as he states hilariously when questioned if Sensational Sherri is going to hear what he says "If I'm talking, she's listening".

In the main event we got to watch Ric Flair face Tito Santana that was then interupted by Mr Perfect. After the match Flair declares the WWF isn't big enough for the two of them and challenges Perfect to a match next week with the loser LEAVING the WWF! Mr Perfect said yes setting up a HUGE match up on the next RAW after the Royal Rumble. I love Flair more, so I shall be rooting for him!

Overall Thoughts:

Royal Rumble is right around the corner and by and large it's really open with some many potential winners. It's hard to choose who just maybe the winner and that makes the event that much more interesting. Bret Hart vs Razor Ramon is built on two people who are direct opposites, and the two make a great interesting clash. Michaels vs Jannetty will no doubt be interesting to watch especially with Sensational Sherri involved.

That said, the Royal Rumble begins the road to Wrestlemania, who will walk out as the number one guy to challenge the champion?



Mr. Perfect defeated Terrific Terry Taylor (10:30)
Marty Jannetty defeated Glen Ruth (5:10)
El Matador vs. Ric Flair ended in a No Contest (8:40)

Coming Up: Royal Rumble 1993 on Wednesday!

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