Raw Deal - Raw recap for October 7, 1996

Kevin Kelly announces that Jim Ross is supposed to be on commentary this week, but is nowhere to be seen. We soon find out where Jim Ross really is: accompanying "Diesel" to the ring for the first match of the night against "Wildman" Marc Mero. Jim Ross joins commentary says he had some official business to take care of with "Diesel." During the match, "Razor Ramon" says he's doing fine and says he's going to take a closer look at the in-ring action, and eventually does.

"Wildman" Marc Mero beats "Diesel" by disqualification after "Razor Ramon" interferes. "Diesel" hits the Jackknife Power Bomb on Mero after the match.

The Undertaker tells Mankind his work in the graveyard is nearly at its end, as is Mankind's existence on this earth, and that all that is left to do is to fill the grave he has made with Mankind's rotting, maggot-infested carcass. 'Taker tells Mankind he will not have a nice day and that he will not rest in peace.

Sycho Sid tells Goldust that he dances with the devil, and that he is the master of the game they will play.

"The Heartbreak Kid," The Undertaker and Bret "The Hit Man" Hart denim shirts are available for $49 each plus $7 shipping and handling.

We see a video package of Mr. Perfect, who will return to the ring in two weeks to face Hunter Hearst Helmsley.

Earlier today, The Smoking Gunns (Billy and Bart Gunn) stated that they looked forward to getting the WWF Tag Team Championships back at In Your House: Buried Alive, and Billy proclaims that Sunny will be by their side again.

The Smoking Gunns (Billy and Bart Gunn) beat The New Rockers (Marty Jannetty and Leif Cassidy). During the match, the commentary team interviews Sunny via telephone. Sunny says that if The Smoking Gunns can regain the tag team titles, she'll take them back. She is irritated with the fact that Ahmed Johnson will be live in the studio with her next week on Livewire and states that she will extra security in the studio that weekend. Nevertheless, Sunny says he loves when men beg for his attention, and that she'll be answering their questions for Livewire via fax and e-mail all week long so that they won't have to wait all week to beg.

We see Jim Johnston play acoustic guitar as "The Real Double J" Jesse James sings With My Baby Tonight. It is then revealed that Jesse James is the real singer behind the song. He says he doesn't hate "Double J" Jeff Jarrett, stating that Jarrett took him further than he had been but that he had taken Jarrett further than he'll ever be. He says that Jarrett can't sing or dance or even be entertaining. After the performance, Jesse James states that Jarrett felt great and that it was supposed to be a perfect night, but miscommunication between Jeff Jarrett and Jesse James cost Jarrett the WWF Intercontinental Championship. He says Jarrett can come back if he is willing to drive his Lincoln Town Car. It is then announced that he will be on America On-Line tomorrow night at 8 PM Eastern.

Goldust tells Sycho Sid that he's at the wrong place at the wrong time, and that while Sid might rule the world, he will rule Sid and hopes that Sid has prepared himself.

We see footage from last week's Livewire.

Jim Ross interviews Vader and Jim Cornette in the ring. It is announced that Vader will face Sycho Sid at In Your House: Buried Alive and that the winner of that match will face "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels for the WWF Championship at Survivor Series. Cornette is not happy with this, as he feels Vader should have the title match already due to beating Shawn multiple times, but never for the title as he accuses WWE of "protecting their merchandising cash cow" and that he and Vader "would destroy all that merchandising" and that the WWF has created the #1 contendership match to keep Vader further away from the WWF Championship. He tells Sycho Sid will be in his own private hell when he faces Vader in two weeks, and that Vader will take him out with his own power bomb to continue on to Survivor Series where he will take the WWF Championship at last.

The WWF Superstars take over New York on November 16 for the WWF Hall of Fame Ceremony. The following night, WWF Survivor Series will take place in Madison Square Garden.

Bob Backlund guests on commentary for the next match. The ever-bizarre Backlund says he is now wearing sunglasses - which he does after the match begins - because the WWF does not want him "scrutinizing the plebians" even though he can lift the lenses up and scrutinize them all he wants.

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin faces "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels next week on Raw!

The Sultan beats "The Portuguese Man-O-War" Aldo Montoya with the Camel Clutch.

Mankind says he doesn't want to be buried alive, but Paul Bearer says that won't happen. Nevertheless, Mankind jumps into the grave and goes crazy.

"Razor Ramon" watches the main event from backstage.

Sycho Sid beats Goldust. During the match, the commentary team interviews "The Heartbreak Kid' Shawn Michaels via telephone, and Shawn says that he'll have to be more than resilient to survive Survivor Series. He says that there are no friends when the WWF Championship is involved, and that he was born in a world of trouble and that's where he's staying. As for "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, he plans to take an ass whipping like he takes everyone else. Jim Cornette then guests on commentary in the middle of the match. After the match, Vader attacks Sycho Sid before hitting him with a splash from the second rope, but the splash only wakes Sid up as it has no effect. Sid gets a few shots in before hitting Vader with the choke slam as Jim Cornette runs to the back.