Monday Night Raw Tapings

Shinya Hashimoto in Hiroyoshi Tenzan's Corner:
Diesel defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan by disqualification in 0:17:36.

The Midnight Express beat Paul Roma and Arn Anderson when Lane pinned Roma
 after the Midnight Drop in 0:29:02.
Click here to see highlights.

Sting pinned Waylon Mercy after a flying cross body press in 0:07:12.

1-2-3 Kid pinned Hiroshi Hase with the Top Rope Legdrop in 0:13:13.
                  (1-2-3 Kid won the WWF Intercontinental Title)
Click here to see highlights.

Steve Williams defeated Yokozuna by disqualification in 0:18:04.

Chris Benoit and Al Snow and Shinya Hashimoto and Toshiaki Kawada
 battled to a draw in 0:30:00.
         (Al Snow and Chris Benoit retained the WWF World Tag Team Titles)

Great Muta pinned Ric Flair after a flying cross body press in 0:20:06.

Two-out-of-three-Falls Match:
Shawn Michaels beat Razor Ramon 2 falls to 1 :
         x Shawn Michaels via the Superkick in 0:19:00
         x Razor Ramon via the Razor's Edge in 0:32:39
         x Shawn Michaels via a small package in 0:39:45
                   (Shawn Michaels retained the WWF World Title)



Match observations: 

I knew there was something going on when Steve Williams helped Diesel clear the
ring of Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Shinya Hashimoto. I knew there was something going
on when Diesel returned the favor when Williams faces Yokozuna and was out-
manned three to one.

I knew something was up, although I wasn't quite sure what exactly it was. When
I found out, quite frankly, I was shocked beyond belief. The two men Diesel and
Shawn Michaels recruited as new members of the New Generation are Steve "Doctor
Death" Williams and none other than The Great Muta !

Now it also dawned on me why Muta has not teamed up with the rest of the
Japanese contingency in recent months and why he was on Diesel's and Michaels'
side in the six-man tag prior to WrestleMania. Now I also understand why Muta
basically handed the victory to Shawn Michaels by setting Razor Ramon up for the
Superkick in that match and then tagging Michaels in instead of going for the
pin himself.

It was a ploy, and it worked. Razor Ramon put up a great fight against the WWF
champion, but for once, the Bad Guy didn't reign supreme. The decision was as
close as can be, but Michaels won and he won cleanly.

Hiroshi Hase's reign as Intercontinental Champion may very well be one of the
shortest in recent WWF history, as it lasted all of 24 hours.

On the other side of the spectrum, the tag team champions Al Snow and Chris
Benoit escaped the challenge of Shinya Hashimoto and Toshiaki Kawada, although
this will definitely not be the last match between these two teams.