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The Monday Night Raw after WrestleMania continues to be one of the most exciting nights on the wrestling calendar for fans as it is filled with surprises. It typically includes big returns and twists in the stories that exploded the night before at the Card of Cards.
This trend started in 1993 following WrestleMania IX. This was the first year for Monday Night Raw, and while that particular night was more so a genesis, then a groundbreaker for shocks, returns and turns, it was still nice to have a show the night after the “Big Night”, even if this particular edition was horrible.
As we approach the 30-year anniversary of the show, let’s take a look back at the very first, “Night After WrestleMania” show from April 5, 1993. I’ve arranged some talking points to go over for each portion of the show that stood out.
It had NOTHING to do with the night before!
The first thing to jump out to me about this episode is that it didn’t feature a single name from any of the big matches at WrestleMania IX. In fact, this came across as a extremely sub par house show. When we look at all the glorious moments the Night after Mania RAW’s would provide over the years, it is remarkable with how bad this one was.
It featured ZERO headliners from the night before. There was no Hulk Hogan, Yokozuna, Shawn Michaels, Tatanka, Lex Luger, Mr. Perfect, Bret Hart, Giant Gonzales, Brutus Beefcake, Money Inc, The Undertaker, Crush, Doink or Razor Ramon. In fact, the only wrestlers who appeared at WrestleMania IX who also appeared on RAW the next night were, Bob Backlund and The Steiner Bro’s. This was easily the worst Night After Mania RAW of all time.
So, what did happen you ask?
Bam Bam Bigelow opened the show with a squash match win over Virgil. This was the start of a solid push for Bigelow that saw him begin to headline European Tours with Bret Hart shortly after. Their chemistry would lead to Bigelow and Hart eventually headlining the first King of the Ring PPV.
Speaking of men who would later headline with Bret Hart that summer, out came Jerry The King Lawler several times throughout the night, mocking the crowd and drawing heat. King Lawler kept promising to get in the ring and fight, but would then change is mind and go to the back. He would eventually get in a scrap with the “returning” Jimmy Powers to close the show.
Yes, that’s right folks. The night after Mania is known for returns of legends and debuting superstars, but this one featured the returns of Jimmy Powers and Jumping Jim Brunzel. The crowd went absolutely mild for both. I don’t even think they realized that Brunzel, who lost to Damian Demento, was once part of one of the most popular Tag Teams in the Golden Era of the WWF. They couldn’t simply care less about Powers or Brunzel.
It was a night of squash matches that saw The Steiner Brothers crumple the Brothers Beverly as well as the 1 star classic of Bob Backlund pinning Kimchee. The only semblance of WrestleMania IX was a clip filmed the night before of Mr. Fuji complaining alongside Yokozuna that they got ripped off. That was literally it!
The only saving grace of this show was that they left the obnoxious Rob Barlett at home and he wouldn’t be joining Macho Man Randy Savage and Vince McMahon on commentary. In fact, his days were numbered and the ill-suited broadcaster was gone from the company two weeks later after a disastrous 4 month run.
Conclusion
Not exactly the Night after Mania RAW we would grow to love and look forward to over the next 29 years. A part of me wonders if they taped it before WrestleMania and that is why pretty much no one was there of any importance. There were no debuts and if you consider the return of Jimmy Powers and Jumping Jim Brunzel to be noteworthy, then more power to you as both lost.
In the end, I guess they had to start somewhere, might as well be rock bottom!
