[1996-09-06-WWF-Monday Night RAW] Shawn Michaels vs Goldust

[Superstar Sleeze]

WWF World Heavyweight Champion Shawn Michaels vs Goldust - WWF RAW 9/6/96

Special RAW on a Friday because the US Open would pre-empt RAW this week. Now that they got competition in the form of Nitro they feel like they need to bridge the gap. 
 

The original Goldust heel run is one of all-time favorite runs by anyone. It is a near perfect gimmick played to the hilt by Dustin. It is a shame they turned him baby face by the end of the year, there was a lot of mileage left and interesting stories to tell as a heel. The visual aesthetic may be my favorite of all time and the gimmick was so versatile. That being said Dustin always seemed to be hurt when working as Goldust and could never put together that in ring classic. This is not exception. Two of the Top 100 wrestlers of all time and the match just merely decent and it is a shame. It is rushed. I wish they did get more time.
 

Shawn was in a very good mood to start. He was really hamming it up mocking Goldust. The back flip off Goldust was pretty nifty. Shawn sets too early and the classic Goldust drop down upper cut. Dustin always worked that spot in more organically than Cody does. Shawn takes the Harley bump. Marlena blows smoke in his face. After that Goldust works a very pedestrian, milquetoast heat segment. Shawn’s comeback is not much more interesting it is the usual stuff besides a top crossbody countered by Goldust. Shawn using the moonsault as his finish in a nod to the Summerslam finish against Vader was cool but in execution the run up felt a beat off. Felt like their chemistry was a half beat off the whole match. Mankind comes out to promote the upcoming Mind Games match and to further the Goldust alliance story that didn’t go anywhere but sounded cool as fuck. Decent match but very disappointing given who was involved. ***