WWE History Vol. 12: The First Ever Monday Night RAW

Shawn Michaels--resplendent in his 1990s mullet--puts the squeeze on Max Moon. Believe it or not, this is a match for the Intercontinental championship.

Yokozuna Squashed Koko B. Ware.

Yokozuna's entrance was full of pomp and circumstance.

The first edition of RAW featured only four matches. One of them was a squash match where the number one contender for Bret Hart's WWE World Championship, Yokozuna, defeated 'The Bird Man' Koko B. Ware.

While it's true that Koko B. Ware was never a main event talent in WWE, he was one of the better known mid-card baby faces. Even when Koko B. Ware lost a match, he always put on a good showing.

Not so much here. While Ware gets in a bit of offense, it's all ineffectual against the massive Yokozuna. While today, fans sometimes see well-known stars lose without putting up much of a fight, it was almost unheard of in 1993.

Yokozuna's squash victory was meant to build him up for the title match against Bret Hart, and it succeeded quite well, providing a taste of things to come.

The Samoan, billed to be from Tokyo, Japan, was a popular fixture back in the day as a strong heel character.

Edited by Michael McClead