Raw Deal - Raw recap for March 11, 1996

Savio Vega and The Ringmaster - now known as "Stone Cold" Steve Austin - fight to a double count-out. After the bell, Austin and Vega continue to fight each other as the referee tries to break them up. During the match, US Olympic hopeful Mark Henry can be seen in the front row.

Earlier tonight, Mark Henry puts Jerry "The King" Lawler in a gorilla press slam, much to the surprise of Dr. Isaac Yankem, D.D.S., after Lawler says Henry couldn't possibly jump over the guardrail and get in the ring with him.

Last week on Superstars, Savio Vega and Razor Ramon beat The Million Dollar Corporation (The 1-2-3 Kid and Tatanka) to continue to the next round of the Tag Team Tournament. This weekend on Superstars, The Bushwhackers (Butch and Luke) will take on The Bodydonnas (Zip and Skip) in the final first round match of the tournament.

Goldust and Marlena show up before the break.

Tonight's featured WWF Store item is the limited edition WrestleMania 12 denim jackets. Only 5,000 are available, and once they're gone, they're gone.

When we come back from break, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper shows up. Piper wants to know exactly what is up with Goldust, and criticizes his appearance. Roddy says he's seen the "Piper's Pit" movie, and says that Goldust is embarassing him just so he can get some attention. He reminds us that he beat Adrian Adonis half to death with a baseball bat, and that Goldust's mind games aren't working for a second. He says "it's time to get our sexuality right," stating that Goldust is what he is and that Roddy himself is a lesbian. Piper says that what really bothers him is the pride that Goldust doesn't have, that he's not holding the Intercontinental Championship with pride, and that he's only in it to raise the ratings. Piper says that not even Freddy Krueger enters his nightmares. Goldust takes the microphone and states that he wants a piece of him really bad and knows Piper wants a piece of him, and tells him to stop pretending. He says that Piper has strayed from reality and is here to bring him back down to earth as he kneels down. He invites Piper to come to his backlot as that is where he does his best work and knows that Piper can do some of his there, too. Goldust tries to lay a hand on Piper, much to Piper's chagrin, and tries to pull up his skirt for a "sneak preview." Piper pushes Goldust's hand away, saying no more. Goldust and Piper stare down, then Goldust tries to seduce him. Piper pushes Goldust back, and Goldust slaps Piper in the face. Piper slaps Goldust back, knocking him down to the canvas and also knocking his wig off his head. Piper tells him he's got his backlot fight, and that he's going to make a man out of him. (This effectively turns the Miami Street Fight between Goldust and Razor Ramon into a Hollywood Backlot Brawl between Goldust and Piper, as Razor Ramon is suspended due to drug use.)

The Godwinns (Henry O. and Phineas I. Godwinn) beat Alex Porteau and Jerry Mead.

We see "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels training at home in San Antonio, where he introduces us to his mentor Jose Luthario, who made his every dream come true if he just listened to him. Eleven years later, he is now within grasp of the WWF Championship.

We see Bret "The Hit Man" Hart at home in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Bret notes the difference in wrestling styles between him and "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, saying that HBK's wrestling style is more in tune with Mexican wrestling, while his is more of a tough submission style. He says that talk of Shawn Michaels being better than him drives him nuts, and says that while Shawn is good, he will never be the best.

It is announced that Hunter Hearst Helmsley will be facing The Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania 12.

Michelle Snickler accompanies Hunter Hearst Helmsley to the ring tonight.

Hunter Hearst Helmsley beats Ben Greer.

"Scheme Gene" covers The Huckster vs. Nacho Man being aired for free on the Free For All before in the "Geriatric Match Report." Once again, the WWF makes fun of Hulk Hogan and "Macho Man" Randy Savage's storyline in WCW with a "no handcuffs or ladies' shoes allowed at ringside" stipulation being added to this fabricated match-up. We also see The Huckster train only to put his back out and rely on a walker and an oxygen mask. Meanwhile, The Nacho Man has spray-on hair applied to his bald spot. We also find out that "Billionaire Ted" is the special guest referee for this match...if he can pull himself away from the FTC hearings, that is. The WCW Hotline is parodied again, with the burning question being "Will there be nightfall?"

Bret "The Hit Man" Hart prepares for WrestleMania in a match against Tatanka next week on Raw.

Diesel watches the next match from the back in preparation for a tag match this weekend where he teams with "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels against The Undertaker and Bret "The Hit Man" Hart. He hopes that the rumors about Shawn Michaels aren't true, but he won't say what those rumors are.

Diesel shows up during Yokozuna and The Undertaker vs. Owen Hart and The British Bulldog and attacks Paul Bearer, then leaves. The Undertaker spots Diesel and leaves the ring, tends to Paul Bearer, then goes after Diesel, effectively making this match a 2-on-1 handicap match.

After the commercial break, Vader shows up and knocks down Yokozuna. Ahmed Johnson shows up and makes quick work of Owen Hart and The British Bulldog before beating Vader at his own power game. Jake "The Snake" Robert shows up to fully even the odds, and Cornette tries to help out on his side and direct traffic. Officials have to get into the ring to restore order, but Yokozuna fights back against Vader, and he, Ahmed and Roberts force Cornette's camp to retreat. Vader grabs a chair and smacks it against the ringposts, but is unable to do much else.