Monday Warfare: RAW vs. NITRO – Episode 16 (4/1 & 4/8/96)

Monday Warfare: RAW VS. NITRO Podcast

It’s the fallout from WrestleMania XII with new WWF Champion HBK making enemies left and right from Diesel to Mr. Perfect to the King! Vader breaks the ankle of Yokozuna and Yoko has to be carted off ON A FORKLIFT! The Wildman Marc Mero arrives in the WWF, and Sable isn’t far behind. Ahmed Johnson meets his match with something STIFFer than him! Goldust confronts the Potty Mouth Ultimate Warrior. Plus, Mankind makes his in-ring debut in memorable fashion when he takes out The Undertaker!

Over in WCW, it’s the oddest episode of Nitro to date. The Giant turns face, then turns heel again. The Roadies vs. Steiners vs. Nastys in a Triangle match. The Hulkster & Kevin Sullivan play dueling shoes. Hulk Hogan and the Booty Man continue to be booed out of the building while they dominate the competition, brother. There are two Brian Knobbs? Please, no! Plus, Lex Luger challenges WCW Champion Ric Flair for a cup of coffee.

Plus, we’re 7 full months into the Monday Night War and we take a look at the collective Ratings of Raw vs. Nitro, both the 1996 Quarterly report and overall. Who is currently winning the rating war based on the average Rating? It’s closer than you think!

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TIMESTAMPS below!

WWF WrestleMania XII Quick Results (00:00:58)
We run down the quick results for WWF’s WrestleMania XII PPV, featuring the Sixty Minute Ironman Match between WWF Champion Bret “Hitman” Hart vs. Shawn Michaels! Which you can listen to in full as part of our Watch-Along Series over at https://www.patreon.com/wrestlecopia . You can Subscribe to Patreon and our All-Access for only $5! Cancel at any time. New shows are added weekly, including all PPVs from the Monday Night War era. They make great complementary pieces to this Podcast!

The Hitman says Goodbye… For Now! (00:03:04)
After losing the WWF Championship to Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania, Bret Hart embarks on new ventures outside of the squared circle.

WWF Monday Night Raw 4/1/96 (00:09:06)

• Mankind makes his long-awaited in-ring debut as Bob Holly becomes his first victim
• Up next in the debut department, “Wildman” Marc Mero debuts against Dr. Isaac Yankem, while the lovely Sable handles HHH’s advances in the crowd.
• NEW WWF Tag Team Champions The Body Donnas take on arch-nemesis Barry Horowitz and Aldo Montoya
• Vince McMahon fawns over the NEW WWF Champion Shawn Michaels during an in-ring promo
• Justin “Hawk” Bradshaw meets his toughest opponent to date when he tangles with The Undertaker!
• Mankind returns to wreak havoc on the Undertaker in a post-match beatdown on the Deadman that leaves the fans in unbelievable silence.

WCW Monday Nitro 4/1/96 (00:33:44)

• This week Nitro emanates from Cleveland, OH in the weirdest night of booking to date… And that’s saying something.
• The show kicks off with an angle in progress when the newly turned babyface Giant has apparently turned back heel only 7 days later.
• After originally being scheduled as a tag team on the program, The Stinger goes up against The Giant in a singles contest that features Jimmy Hart and Lex Luger on opposite sides of the fence
• Triangle Tag Team Match featuring The Steiner Brothers vs. The Road Warriors vs. The Nasty Boys. With a Special Appearance by The Public Enemy, including Johnny Grunge dressed up as Brian Knobbs. No, Seriously!
• Hulk Hogan teams with the Booty Man to take on Kevin Sullivan & Arn Anderson. Which Shoe will strike first, Woman’s or Kimberly’s?
• The Hulkster and the Booty-ster challenge Arn & Sullivan to a rematch but they don’t know the stipulations just yet
• WCW Champion Ric Flair defends against Lex Luger, and we find out how the Total Package takes his coffee…
• Plus, Bobby Heenan announces his retirement from professional wrestling…. APRIL FOOLS!

Ratings Breakdown (00:56:24)
We talk TV Rankings and First Quarter Ratings for 1996 and Average Ratings for both Nitro and Raw throughout the first 7 months of the Monday Night War. Who is currently winning the war? Listen and find out for yourself!
WWF Monday Night Raw 4/8/96 (01:01:17)

• Mr. Perfect joins Vince McMahon on commentary this week!
• Vader vs. Yokozuna finally goes down on FREE TV, that is until the Mastodon crushes the ankle of the 650 pounder.
• We discuss the Yoko injury angle, the real reason behind it, the great sell job, and the visual of Yoko being carted off on a FORKLIFT!
• Vince McMahon interviews the ULLLLTIMATE Warrior. Goldust interrupts as the Warrior spouts off some no-no words right on the air.
• Hunter Hearst Helmsley meets his old foe Duke “The Dumpster” Droese one more time in another solid contest between the two
• Ahmed Johnson faces The British Bulldog in an Arm-Wrestling contest. Ahmed wins the battle, but a Wooden Table may win the war
• Diesel joins commentary for the WWF Title main event
• WWF Champion Shawn Michaels has his first title defense against the crafty Jerry “The King” Lawler. We discuss how less can be more, and how psychology wins out over spotfests.
• With a little help from Mr. Perfect, Diesel takes out the Heartbreak Kid to close the show
• Plus, Raw shatters its former Ratings record high. Find out what they drew when going unopposed against WCW Nitro.