by Logan Scisco
–McMahon discusses
the contrast between last week’s Raw in Canada and how tonight Raw is in San
Antonio, Texas, which is in Steve Austin’s native state.
the contrast between last week’s Raw in Canada and how tonight Raw is in San
Antonio, Texas, which is in Steve Austin’s native state.
–McMahon and Jim
Ross are in the booth and they are broadcasting from San Antonio, Texas.
Ross are in the booth and they are broadcasting from San Antonio, Texas.
–McMahon interviews
the Hart Foundation, who are booed out of the building. Bret says he looks forward to facing the
Undertaker for the WWF title at SummerSlam.
Owen says he doesn’t mind defending the Intercontinental title against
Steve Austin at SummerSlam, but is more focused on winning the tag team titles
with the British Bulldog tonight. The
British Bulldog says that if he loses the European title to Ken Shamrock at
SummerSlam that he will eat a can of dog food after the match. Brian Pillman says if he loses to Goldust
that he will wear a dress and wrestle him the next night on Raw. Jim Neidhart then says if any of the Harts
lose at SummerSlam that he will shave off his trademark goatee on Raw. Steve Austin appears on the entrance ramp and
as he stares at the Hart Foundation with an American flag waving on the
Titantron, Ken Shamrock walks out in matching black trunks, the Patriot walks
out to make his debut, Sid appears in street clothes, and Shawn Michaels walks
out. Any of these men might be Austin’s
tag team partner tonight.
the Hart Foundation, who are booed out of the building. Bret says he looks forward to facing the
Undertaker for the WWF title at SummerSlam.
Owen says he doesn’t mind defending the Intercontinental title against
Steve Austin at SummerSlam, but is more focused on winning the tag team titles
with the British Bulldog tonight. The
British Bulldog says that if he loses the European title to Ken Shamrock at
SummerSlam that he will eat a can of dog food after the match. Brian Pillman says if he loses to Goldust
that he will wear a dress and wrestle him the next night on Raw. Jim Neidhart then says if any of the Harts
lose at SummerSlam that he will shave off his trademark goatee on Raw. Steve Austin appears on the entrance ramp and
as he stares at the Hart Foundation with an American flag waving on the
Titantron, Ken Shamrock walks out in matching black trunks, the Patriot walks
out to make his debut, Sid appears in street clothes, and Shawn Michaels walks
out. Any of these men might be Austin’s
tag team partner tonight.
–Opening
Contest: Ivan & Scott Putski defeat
Jerry “the King” Lawler & “Too Sexy” Brian Christopher when Ivan pins
Lawler after a Polish Hammer at 4:55:
Contest: Ivan & Scott Putski defeat
Jerry “the King” Lawler & “Too Sexy” Brian Christopher when Ivan pins
Lawler after a Polish Hammer at 4:55:
Ivan doesn’t look bad here, although he is much less
ripped than he was in his prime. After
putting Scott in peril, it appears like the heels have it won after Lawler
delivers a piledriver, but Lawler agrees to let Christopher try a Tennessee
Jam, but that misses. The old Ivan then
cleans house and wins the battle for his team.
A serviceable tag match that gave the heels their comeuppance and the
crowd loved seeing Ivan tear into Lawler.
Rating: **
ripped than he was in his prime. After
putting Scott in peril, it appears like the heels have it won after Lawler
delivers a piledriver, but Lawler agrees to let Christopher try a Tennessee
Jam, but that misses. The old Ivan then
cleans house and wins the battle for his team.
A serviceable tag match that gave the heels their comeuppance and the
crowd loved seeing Ivan tear into Lawler.
Rating: **
–Footage of Mankind
coming to Steve Austin’s aid, but then getting hit with a Stone Cold Stunner
last week is shown.
coming to Steve Austin’s aid, but then getting hit with a Stone Cold Stunner
last week is shown.
–Mankind is shown
backstage and he refuses to talk about what happened to him last week.
backstage and he refuses to talk about what happened to him last week.
-Action between
Flash Funk and Owen Hart on Shotgun Saturday Night is our Stridex Triple
Action segment.
Flash Funk and Owen Hart on Shotgun Saturday Night is our Stridex Triple
Action segment.
–Paul Bearer tells
the Undertaker that his brother has lived in a personal hell for many years and
that Kane eagerly waits to confront the Undertaker. Bearer promises to give the Undertaker proof
that Kane is alive on next week’s show.
the Undertaker that his brother has lived in a personal hell for many years and
that Kane eagerly waits to confront the Undertaker. Bearer promises to give the Undertaker proof
that Kane is alive on next week’s show.
–A small video
showcases Michinoku’s performances against the Great Sasuke and McMahon doesn’t
bother noting that Michinoku lost those matches because he’s fired the Great
Sasuke.
showcases Michinoku’s performances against the Great Sasuke and McMahon doesn’t
bother noting that Michinoku lost those matches because he’s fired the Great
Sasuke.
–Taka Michinoku
beats Tajiri Yoshihiro with a Michinoku Driver at 4:08:
beats Tajiri Yoshihiro with a Michinoku Driver at 4:08:
Yes, this is Tajiri before he became a crazy man in ECW
and the effectiveness of that gimmick would eventually lead him back to the
company when ECW folded. They do a great
double KO sequence where they both slap each other silly and Tajiri utilizes
the kicks that would later make him famous.
Michinoku survives a dragon suplex and a dropkick to the back of the
head and the Michinoku Driver finishes Tajiri off. An entertaining contest that should have
landed Tajiri a permanent spot on the light heavyweight roster and it is very
obvious from these light heavyweight exhibitions that the Asian light
heavyweights are much more entertaining than their American counterparts. Rating: ***
and the effectiveness of that gimmick would eventually lead him back to the
company when ECW folded. They do a great
double KO sequence where they both slap each other silly and Tajiri utilizes
the kicks that would later make him famous.
Michinoku survives a dragon suplex and a dropkick to the back of the
head and the Michinoku Driver finishes Tajiri off. An entertaining contest that should have
landed Tajiri a permanent spot on the light heavyweight roster and it is very
obvious from these light heavyweight exhibitions that the Asian light
heavyweights are much more entertaining than their American counterparts. Rating: ***
–Ken Shamrock says
that he’s not Steve Austin’s tag team partner and was merely out there in order
to show him support against the Hart Foundation. He says he’s ready to knuckle up against Jim
Neidhart later tonight.
that he’s not Steve Austin’s tag team partner and was merely out there in order
to show him support against the Hart Foundation. He says he’s ready to knuckle up against Jim
Neidhart later tonight.
–Los Boricuas are
shown riding into the arena with a couple of women.
shown riding into the arena with a couple of women.
–Get the newest WWF
Magazine to find out more about the past, present, and future of Brian Pillman!
Magazine to find out more about the past, present, and future of Brian Pillman!
–The Headbangers
say that they are going to put Los Boricuas up in smoke tonight.
say that they are going to put Los Boricuas up in smoke tonight.
–Miguel & Jose
(w/Los Boricuas) defeat The Headbangers when Miguel pins Thrasher with a rollup
at 4:25
(w/Los Boricuas) defeat The Headbangers when Miguel pins Thrasher with a rollup
at 4:25
The gang wars concept was somewhat pathbreaking in the
fact that I cannot remember a time when the WWF had four stables (The Nation of
Domination, DOA, Los Boricuas, and The Hart Foundation) under one roof. I often wonder what younger fans that see old
footage think of the Headbangers, since that is a gimmick that you have to have
lived during the 1990s to understand.
Mosh has a cool move of sending Jose into the turnbuckles with a
hurricanrana, but that’s really the high spot of the match as the Headbangers
lose a close contest when Miguel escapes a Thrasher powerbomb. Rating: **
fact that I cannot remember a time when the WWF had four stables (The Nation of
Domination, DOA, Los Boricuas, and The Hart Foundation) under one roof. I often wonder what younger fans that see old
footage think of the Headbangers, since that is a gimmick that you have to have
lived during the 1990s to understand.
Mosh has a cool move of sending Jose into the turnbuckles with a
hurricanrana, but that’s really the high spot of the match as the Headbangers
lose a close contest when Miguel escapes a Thrasher powerbomb. Rating: **
–After the match,
Los Boricuas gang up on the Headbangers, but DOA show up and begin to brawl
with Los Boricuas, which changes the numbers equation.
Los Boricuas gang up on the Headbangers, but DOA show up and begin to brawl
with Los Boricuas, which changes the numbers equation.
–The Patriot says
that he’d be honored to be by Steve Austin tonight, but he’s simply in the WWF
to defend the honor of America.
that he’d be honored to be by Steve Austin tonight, but he’s simply in the WWF
to defend the honor of America.
–Steve Austin
encourages us to buy Cause Stone Cold Said So. Call 815-734-1161 to buy your copy for $19.99
(plus $6 shipping & handling)!
encourages us to buy Cause Stone Cold Said So. Call 815-734-1161 to buy your copy for $19.99
(plus $6 shipping & handling)!
–Footage of Shawn
Michaels winning the WWF title at the Royal Rumble earlier in the year is shown.
Michaels winning the WWF title at the Royal Rumble earlier in the year is shown.
–McMahon interviews
Shawn Michaels, who says that he will be Steve Austin’s tag team partner if
Austin wants him to be. Michaels says
that he’s not currently scheduled to be at SummerSlam so he appeals to McMahon
to allow him to be a part of the show and that request is honored.
Shawn Michaels, who says that he will be Steve Austin’s tag team partner if
Austin wants him to be. Michaels says
that he’s not currently scheduled to be at SummerSlam so he appeals to McMahon
to allow him to be a part of the show and that request is honored.
–Savio Vega grabs a
camera man and tells him to come and see something getting destroyed
backstage. When the camera man gets
there, one member of Los Boricuas is destroying one of the DOA’s motorcycles
and that triggers a brawl between the two groups.
camera man and tells him to come and see something getting destroyed
backstage. When the camera man gets
there, one member of Los Boricuas is destroying one of the DOA’s motorcycles
and that triggers a brawl between the two groups.
-Jerry Lawler comes
out to do commentary.
out to do commentary.
–Ken Shamrock
beats Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart via submission to a rear naked choke at 4:40:
beats Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart via submission to a rear naked choke at 4:40:
Neidhart continues to play his role as the whipping boy
of the Hart Foundation, as Shamrock forces him to submit to a standing rear
naked choke after four minutes of boring action where Neidhart uses a great
deal of chinlocks and right hands. Rating:
½*
of the Hart Foundation, as Shamrock forces him to submit to a standing rear
naked choke after four minutes of boring action where Neidhart uses a great
deal of chinlocks and right hands. Rating:
½*
-After the match,
the British Bulldog runs in and he and Neidhart briefly double team Shamrock
until the Patriot runs in and makes the save.
the British Bulldog runs in and he and Neidhart briefly double team Shamrock
until the Patriot runs in and makes the save.
–Call
1-900-747-4WWF to hear about Shawn Michaels future in the WWF and what some WWF
alumni feel about tonight’s SummerSlam Flashback show!
1-900-747-4WWF to hear about Shawn Michaels future in the WWF and what some WWF
alumni feel about tonight’s SummerSlam Flashback show!
–Mankind is still
sitting backstage and refuses to talk about what he might do later tonight
after he got rejected by Steve Austin last week. The commentators then speculate about who
Austin might choose for his tag team partner tonight against Owen Hart and the
British Bulldog.
sitting backstage and refuses to talk about what he might do later tonight
after he got rejected by Steve Austin last week. The commentators then speculate about who
Austin might choose for his tag team partner tonight against Owen Hart and the
British Bulldog.
–The Headbangers
are shown playing golf and they reveal the third clue for the SummerSlam One
Million Dollar Challenge and that is life.
are shown playing golf and they reveal the third clue for the SummerSlam One
Million Dollar Challenge and that is life.
-The next match is
scheduled to be The Legion of Doom against The New Blackjacks, but the Godwinns
attack the Legion of Doom on their way to the ring and Slop Drop Hawk on the
ramp, which busts the back of his head open.
Hawk no sells it because he’s Hawk.
scheduled to be The Legion of Doom against The New Blackjacks, but the Godwinns
attack the Legion of Doom on their way to the ring and Slop Drop Hawk on the
ramp, which busts the back of his head open.
Hawk no sells it because he’s Hawk.
–Shawn Michaels
begging Vince McMahon earlier in the show for a spot in SummerSlam is the
Discovery Zone Rewind segment.
begging Vince McMahon earlier in the show for a spot in SummerSlam is the
Discovery Zone Rewind segment.
–Vader (w/Paul Bearer)
pins Flash Funk after a powerbomb at 4:10:
pins Flash Funk after a powerbomb at 4:10:
Funk was settling into a role of making other guys look
good and he’s at the top of the list of guys in the company that need a gimmick
change. Would it really have hurt them
to make him 2 Cold Scorpio at this time and put him in the light heavyweight
division? Funk gets in far more offense
than I anticipated by hitting a plancha and tossing Vader into the ring steps. Funk even hits his moonsault, but he can’t
keep running into Vader, which is like running into a brick wall, and Vader
goes back to his WCW roots to finish him off.
After the match, Vader hits a Vader Bomb to make a point to
someone. A really fun abbreviated match. Rating: ***
good and he’s at the top of the list of guys in the company that need a gimmick
change. Would it really have hurt them
to make him 2 Cold Scorpio at this time and put him in the light heavyweight
division? Funk gets in far more offense
than I anticipated by hitting a plancha and tossing Vader into the ring steps. Funk even hits his moonsault, but he can’t
keep running into Vader, which is like running into a brick wall, and Vader
goes back to his WCW roots to finish him off.
After the match, Vader hits a Vader Bomb to make a point to
someone. A really fun abbreviated match. Rating: ***
–McMahon asks Steve
Austin if he’s concerned about Mankind being in the arena, but Austin says he
doesn’t care at all.
Austin if he’s concerned about Mankind being in the arena, but Austin says he
doesn’t care at all.
-Get your copy of Cause
Stone Cold Said So!
Stone Cold Said So!
–WWF Tag Team
Championship Match: “Stone Cold” Steve
Austin & His Mystery Partner defeat Owen Hart & The British Bulldog to
win the titles when His Mystery Partner pins Bulldog after Austin gives the
Bulldog a Stone Cold Stunner at 7:36 shown:
Championship Match: “Stone Cold” Steve
Austin & His Mystery Partner defeat Owen Hart & The British Bulldog to
win the titles when His Mystery Partner pins Bulldog after Austin gives the
Bulldog a Stone Cold Stunner at 7:36 shown:
As you have read in the last several reviews, Owen and
the Bulldog earned this match for the vacant tag team titles by winning an
eight team tournament. Austin charges
the ring and opts to fight the match alone, although his partner’s feet are
shown moving through the locker room backstage before the commercial
break. Austin takes a beating, but
manages to toss Bulldog and Owen out of the ring and that is when Mick Foley
comes on the screen and says Austin may not want to team with Mankind, but he
said nothing about Dude Love and he comes out to one of the most catchy themes
in wrestling to be Austin’s partner.
Austin’s facial expressions during this are awesome, as he doesn’t quite
know what to make of his new partner.
Shortly after Dude’s arrival, Austin spots an opportunity when the
referee is preoccupied with Owen Hart and he manages to become a multi-time tag
team champion with a new partner. The
match wasn’t much, but it was entertaining from a booking perspective. Rating: **¼
the Bulldog earned this match for the vacant tag team titles by winning an
eight team tournament. Austin charges
the ring and opts to fight the match alone, although his partner’s feet are
shown moving through the locker room backstage before the commercial
break. Austin takes a beating, but
manages to toss Bulldog and Owen out of the ring and that is when Mick Foley
comes on the screen and says Austin may not want to team with Mankind, but he
said nothing about Dude Love and he comes out to one of the most catchy themes
in wrestling to be Austin’s partner.
Austin’s facial expressions during this are awesome, as he doesn’t quite
know what to make of his new partner.
Shortly after Dude’s arrival, Austin spots an opportunity when the
referee is preoccupied with Owen Hart and he manages to become a multi-time tag
team champion with a new partner. The
match wasn’t much, but it was entertaining from a booking perspective. Rating: **¼
–After the match,
Dude gives Austin a tag team belt and some groupies come into the ring to
celebrate with Dude and Austin decides to give him a tag team belt and shakes
his hand before leaving. Dude dances
with the groupies as the show goes off the air.
Dude gives Austin a tag team belt and some groupies come into the ring to
celebrate with Dude and Austin decides to give him a tag team belt and shakes
his hand before leaving. Dude dances
with the groupies as the show goes off the air.
The Final Report Card: The debut of Dude Love is one of the biggest
“mark out” moments that I had as a fan growing up, so this show gets an easy
thumbs up from me. Austin’s injury at
SummerSlam made his pairing with Foley short-lived, but it could have provided
some entertaining material as Austin slowly moved up the ladder to win the WWF
title at WrestleMania XIV. The only
thing terrible about the show was Shamrock-Neidhart, but that was to be
expected. I don’t think a singles match
Neidhart has been in since he returned has topped * yet.
“mark out” moments that I had as a fan growing up, so this show gets an easy
thumbs up from me. Austin’s injury at
SummerSlam made his pairing with Foley short-lived, but it could have provided
some entertaining material as Austin slowly moved up the ladder to win the WWF
title at WrestleMania XIV. The only
thing terrible about the show was Shamrock-Neidhart, but that was to be
expected. I don’t think a singles match
Neidhart has been in since he returned has topped * yet.
Monday Night War Rating: 2.6 (vs. 3.5 for Nitro)
Show Evaluation: Thumbs Up