Raw Deal - Raw recap for January 29, 1996

Diesel beats The British Bulldog after Bulldog's removal of a turnbuckle pad, Jim Cornette's distraction and a Yokozuna leg drop on Diesel all backfire. During the match, Yokozuna shows up and watches the match from The British Bulldog's corner, and it is announced that "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels is on his way to the arena.

Bret "The Hit Man" Hart said he once had respect for Diesel and thought he was a great champion. He says WWF is run on Hitman power and that Diesel has a problem with that, constantly getting into his matches. He hopes to settle it once and for all in a steel cage match - a type of match he has never lost - as the Excellence of Execution wipes Diesel out.

At In Your House, Razor Ramon and The 1-2-3 Kid will be in a Cry Baby Match, where the loser of the match will get a baby bottle and a diaper change. Also, Duke "The Dumpster" Droese will take on Hunter Hearst Helmsley after Helmsley cut Droese's hair on last week's Superstars. It is then announced that a TBS systems official telephoned WWF and express his "delight" in the Billionaire Ted vignettes. We then see the letter from said official (WCW Senior Vice President Eric Bischoff) that threatens legal action against WWF. Dok Hendrix says the WWF is ready to fight for their rights, their company and their fans.

We then hear from "Billionaire Ted," The Huckster, and Nacho Man. Ted says he is not a hillbilly and he doesn't wear cheap suits. When asked questions, he refuses to answer them and says "The facts speak for themselves." The only thing he confirms is that he is trying to run WWF out of business. The Huckster and Macho Man start fighting when asked who will win their match at WrestleMania after Huckster says that it's in his contact with Billionaire Ted that he's not allowed to lose. Ted is then asked what he wouldn't do to put WWF out of business. When he says he'd only use his own money, Huckster and Nacho turn on Ted, and Ted freaks out before asking "Jane" where his lithium is.

The Godwinns (Henry O. and Phineas I. Godwinn) beat The Bodydonnas (Skip and Zip) in Phineas' Raw debut. The Bodydonnas and Hillbilly Jim dance with a very reluctant Sunny after the match before celebrating on their own.

Clarence Mason calls Vader's suspension completely unfair as Interim WWF President Gorilla Monsoon put his hands on Vader and knew his history, and that he has already prepared a motion to nullify it as Vader did his actions in self-defense. He has also prepared a temporary stay on the suspension, and that he will also sue for civil and criminal action if Vader is not unsuspended immediately.

Well wishes to Interim WWF President Gorilla Monsoon can be mailed to the following address: Get Well Gorilla, P.O. Box 3857, Stamford, CT 06905.

Vince McMahon interviews in the ring the man that Gorilla Monsoon has chosen as the Acting President of the World Wrestling Federation: "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. Piper says it's a surprise to him as much as anyone, but says he's done some surprising things himself. He says he sees a new generation of the toughest athletes he's ever seen, saying they're stronger, faster and smarter but a little confused, and that he intends to straighten things out, saying there will be no government shutdown when he's President as he makes a Newt Gingrich joke. He then pulls out some hand-prepared notes, which happens to be rules, but puts them away when Vince says he's never lived by any rules. He then tells the fans that he loves them and that they're in good hands with him. As for the Superstars, everyone will pay the Piper and that Vince is no different. He then puts Vince in an airplane spin.

We hear from a man missing an ear who asks why the sky is blue, why his ear is missing, why he is how he is and why people are afraid of him. He then tells us to have a nice kind. Jerry "The King" Lawler says that this man is named Mankind.

"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels beats Yokozuna with Jim Cornette and Owen Hart's interference attempt backfires. Yokozuna gets ticked off with Cornette and Hart, and The British Bulldog shows up to be the voice of reason in the dissension amongst the ranks. All of them go after Shawn Michaels, but Diesel shows up and joins Shawn, clearing the ring. Vince McMahon then interviews Cornette, who says there is no dissension amongst his men, and challenges Shawn and Diesel to a tag team match against Yokozuna and Bulldog next week to see who the better team is. They accept.