by Logan Scisco
–Vince McMahon
tells viewers that Brian Pillman passed away the previous afternoon and
wrestlers gather near the entrance to hear the ring bell tolled ten times in
his memory.
tells viewers that Brian Pillman passed away the previous afternoon and
wrestlers gather near the entrance to hear the ring bell tolled ten times in
his memory.
–McMahon, Jim Ross,
and Jerry “the King” Lawler are in the booth and they are live from Kansas
City, Missouri.
and Jerry “the King” Lawler are in the booth and they are live from Kansas
City, Missouri.
–Michael Cole
interviews D-Generation X, who at this time are just dubbed as “The Kliq.” DX gives Cole a wedgie as European Champion
Shawn Michaels gloats about winning Hell in a Cell last night at Badd
Blood. Michaels wants to see some
footage from last night, but the truck plays footage of the Madison Square
Garden incident instead. McMahon is not
happy about this and sells it well with his facial expressions. We go to commercial before Michaels can
finish ranting at McMahon. A great
segment for the smarks, but a good chunk of the audience was lost during it.
interviews D-Generation X, who at this time are just dubbed as “The Kliq.” DX gives Cole a wedgie as European Champion
Shawn Michaels gloats about winning Hell in a Cell last night at Badd
Blood. Michaels wants to see some
footage from last night, but the truck plays footage of the Madison Square
Garden incident instead. McMahon is not
happy about this and sells it well with his facial expressions. We go to commercial before Michaels can
finish ranting at McMahon. A great
segment for the smarks, but a good chunk of the audience was lost during it.
–When we return
from commercial, Michaels is still yelling at McMahon when the Hart Foundation
comes out. WWF Champion Bret Hart says
that Michaels is a disgrace to professional wrestling and he says Michaels and
Triple H are queer and he makes more money than all of the forces of the
Kliq. He puts over the WWF title, how
his possession of it trumps anything that Michaels can say, and that he drove
Diesel and Razor Ramon out of the company and he will do the same to Michaels
and Triple H. He challenges Triple H to
a match on tonight’s show. Michaels
responds by saying that Bret is only main eventing Survivor Series because he
is wrestling him and that Diesel and Razor left the company to expand the Kliq
and let them control the wrestling business.
This segment solidifies Bret as the face in this feud as the crowd
immediately takes his side.
from commercial, Michaels is still yelling at McMahon when the Hart Foundation
comes out. WWF Champion Bret Hart says
that Michaels is a disgrace to professional wrestling and he says Michaels and
Triple H are queer and he makes more money than all of the forces of the
Kliq. He puts over the WWF title, how
his possession of it trumps anything that Michaels can say, and that he drove
Diesel and Razor Ramon out of the company and he will do the same to Michaels
and Triple H. He challenges Triple H to
a match on tonight’s show. Michaels
responds by saying that Bret is only main eventing Survivor Series because he
is wrestling him and that Diesel and Razor left the company to expand the Kliq
and let them control the wrestling business.
This segment solidifies Bret as the face in this feud as the crowd
immediately takes his side.
–The announce crew
recaps the Badd Blood tag team championship match.
recaps the Badd Blood tag team championship match.
–Opening Non-Title
Lumberjack Match: The Headbangers defeat
The Godwinns (WWF Tag Team Champions w/Uncle Cletus) when Mosh pins Phineas
with a schoolboy at 4:15:
Lumberjack Match: The Headbangers defeat
The Godwinns (WWF Tag Team Champions w/Uncle Cletus) when Mosh pins Phineas
with a schoolboy at 4:15:
In a funny spot, the
Headbangers take advantage of the lumberjack stipulation by flying over the top
rope and body surfing among the wrestlers surrounding the ring. By the way, the lumberjacks are composed of
the Disciples of Apocalypse, Rockabilly, the Sultan, Flash Funk, the New
Blackjacks, the Legion of Doom, the Truth Commission, Los Boricuas, and the
Nation of Domination. This match works a
faster pace than the contest at Badd Blood and is much better by
comparison. The referee gets bumped when
Mosh tries to splash Phineas in the corner and everyone pours into the ring to
fight. The ring clears just as the
referee revives, though, and the Headbangers pick up a measure of revenge for
Badd Blood. Rating: **
Headbangers take advantage of the lumberjack stipulation by flying over the top
rope and body surfing among the wrestlers surrounding the ring. By the way, the lumberjacks are composed of
the Disciples of Apocalypse, Rockabilly, the Sultan, Flash Funk, the New
Blackjacks, the Legion of Doom, the Truth Commission, Los Boricuas, and the
Nation of Domination. This match works a
faster pace than the contest at Badd Blood and is much better by
comparison. The referee gets bumped when
Mosh tries to splash Phineas in the corner and everyone pours into the ring to
fight. The ring clears just as the
referee revives, though, and the Headbangers pick up a measure of revenge for
Badd Blood. Rating: **
–Ross and Lawler hype the house show circuit.
–Jesus of Los Boricuas says that he is going to easily defeat Marc Mero
tonight.
tonight.
–Marc Mero (w/Sable) beats Jesus with the TKO at 2:21:
This was Mero’s return from a
knee injury that he suffered in the early months of 1997. He has shed the “Wildman” gimmick and is
coming back with a “new attitude,” which is code for a heel turn. Mero’s offense has changed into a more
grounded, striking style, but that is not as appealing as his old aerial
attack. This is a short squash to
re-establish Mero, but its only highlight is the TKO, which is his new
finishing maneuver.
knee injury that he suffered in the early months of 1997. He has shed the “Wildman” gimmick and is
coming back with a “new attitude,” which is code for a heel turn. Mero’s offense has changed into a more
grounded, striking style, but that is not as appealing as his old aerial
attack. This is a short squash to
re-establish Mero, but its only highlight is the TKO, which is his new
finishing maneuver.
–Jim Cornette gives his views on the wrestling business, where he runs
down the New World Order, especially Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Sean Waltman, and
Eric Bischoff. He puts over Mick Foley,
Arn Anderson, and Ric Flair and other hardworking talents. This is a brutally honest rant, but I have
never been a fan of segments like this because they make the company doing them
look petty and second rate.
down the New World Order, especially Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Sean Waltman, and
Eric Bischoff. He puts over Mick Foley,
Arn Anderson, and Ric Flair and other hardworking talents. This is a brutally honest rant, but I have
never been a fan of segments like this because they make the company doing them
look petty and second rate.
–The British Bulldog (w/The Hart Foundation) defeats Rocky Maivia (w/The
Nation of Domination) with a running powerslam at 3:44:
Nation of Domination) with a running powerslam at 3:44:
This is a “proxy revenge” match
from the previous night, where Owen Hart beat Faarooq in the Intercontinental
championship tournament final. This
match is somewhat notable because it features the debut of the People’s Elbow,
although Maivia isn’t throwing his elbow pad into the crowd. Just your standard back-and-forth match, with
the Bulldog earning a surprisingly clean victory considering the factions
presence at ringside. Rating:
**
from the previous night, where Owen Hart beat Faarooq in the Intercontinental
championship tournament final. This
match is somewhat notable because it features the debut of the People’s Elbow,
although Maivia isn’t throwing his elbow pad into the crowd. Just your standard back-and-forth match, with
the Bulldog earning a surprisingly clean victory considering the factions
presence at ringside. Rating:
**
–After the match, Faarooq goes after the Bulldog, which causes the
factions to brawl with each other until WWF officials and Commissioner
Slaughter intervene.
factions to brawl with each other until WWF officials and Commissioner
Slaughter intervene.
–The announcers recap the Intercontinental tournament final between Owen
Hart and Faarooq from last night’s Badd Blood pay-per-view.
Hart and Faarooq from last night’s Badd Blood pay-per-view.
–McMahon interviews Steve Austin to get his decision about his
future. Austin says he cost Faarooq the
Intercontinental title last night because he felt like it. Austin says he didn’t go to a doctor, so he
has no medical clearance. McMahon then
presents him with a release form, but Austin says he is not going to sign
without preconditions because he has leverage.
What he wants in return for signing is for McMahon to give him a match
with Owen Hart for the Intercontinental title.
McMahon agrees and offers a handshake, but Austin says no until he has
it in writing. Faarooq comes on the
Titantron and cuts a great promo about what suffering and toughness really is,
sort of like the black version of Dusty Rhodes “hard times” promo. Austin just says “bring it on.” To hell with fighting Owen Hart, I want to
see Austin-Faarooq after that promo exchange.
After finishing his promo, Austin pushes McMahon and then grabs Lawler’s
crown and kicks it into the crowd.
future. Austin says he cost Faarooq the
Intercontinental title last night because he felt like it. Austin says he didn’t go to a doctor, so he
has no medical clearance. McMahon then
presents him with a release form, but Austin says he is not going to sign
without preconditions because he has leverage.
What he wants in return for signing is for McMahon to give him a match
with Owen Hart for the Intercontinental title.
McMahon agrees and offers a handshake, but Austin says no until he has
it in writing. Faarooq comes on the
Titantron and cuts a great promo about what suffering and toughness really is,
sort of like the black version of Dusty Rhodes “hard times” promo. Austin just says “bring it on.” To hell with fighting Owen Hart, I want to
see Austin-Faarooq after that promo exchange.
After finishing his promo, Austin pushes McMahon and then grabs Lawler’s
crown and kicks it into the crowd.
–Call 1-900-737-4WWF to hear more of what Jim Cornette has to say!
–Hawk promises that Owen Hart is going to be the shortest
Intercontinental champion in WWF history, but that’s not possible because Dean
Douglas was only champion for about twenty minutes.
Intercontinental champion in WWF history, but that’s not possible because Dean
Douglas was only champion for about twenty minutes.
–Owen Hart tells the crowd that he cannot wait to face Steve Austin
again.
again.
–Intercontinental Championship Match:
Owen Hart (Champion) beats Hawk when Henry Godwinn hits Hawk with a
horse shoe at 3:20:
Owen Hart (Champion) beats Hawk when Henry Godwinn hits Hawk with a
horse shoe at 3:20:
The crowd’s love of the Hart
Foundation does not apply to Owen, since he is the foil of the hottest act in
the company. The Godwinns come down to
ringside as Hawk sloppily bumps around for Owen and hardly sells the
enziguri. The Godwinns try to cost Hawk
the match by hitting him in the back with a slop bucket, but he kicks out and
Animal comes down and brawls with the Godwinns as the match continues in the
ring. Hawk hits the flying clothesline,
which has to set up twice because of a planned distraction by Uncle
Cletus, but interference shortly thereafter costs him the match. Rating: *½
Foundation does not apply to Owen, since he is the foil of the hottest act in
the company. The Godwinns come down to
ringside as Hawk sloppily bumps around for Owen and hardly sells the
enziguri. The Godwinns try to cost Hawk
the match by hitting him in the back with a slop bucket, but he kicks out and
Animal comes down and brawls with the Godwinns as the match continues in the
ring. Hawk hits the flying clothesline,
which has to set up twice because of a planned distraction by Uncle
Cletus, but interference shortly thereafter costs him the match. Rating: *½
–McMahon does his infamous interview with Melanie Pillman, which is completely
distasteful as he questions her about her husband’s drug use and how she plans
on supporting her family. This is
probably the lowest point in RAW history, which says something considering the
Katie Vick incident.
distasteful as he questions her about her husband’s drug use and how she plans
on supporting her family. This is
probably the lowest point in RAW history, which says something considering the
Katie Vick incident.
–A video tribute is aired for Brian Pillman.
–Ross and Lawler talk about how much they miss Brian Pillman.
–The next match is supposed to feature Sniper & Recon against the
Hardy Boys, but Kane comes out with Paul Bearer and destroys the Hardy’s. Bearer gets on the mic and says that he had
to bring in Kane because the Undertaker would not take him back. He warns the Undertaker to prepare for his
worst nightmare. This push that they gave to Kane was genius since it disguised his shortcomings and made him appear like a total wrecking machine that was an equal to the Undertaker.
Hardy Boys, but Kane comes out with Paul Bearer and destroys the Hardy’s. Bearer gets on the mic and says that he had
to bring in Kane because the Undertaker would not take him back. He warns the Undertaker to prepare for his
worst nightmare. This push that they gave to Kane was genius since it disguised his shortcomings and made him appear like a total wrecking machine that was an equal to the Undertaker.
–Non-Title Match: Triple H
(w/Chyna) defeats Bret “the Hitman” Hart (WWF Champion) by count out at 7:49 shown:
(w/Chyna) defeats Bret “the Hitman” Hart (WWF Champion) by count out at 7:49 shown:
This is the first time that
Hunter Hearst Helmsley is billed as “Triple H” during his entrance, but that
name change goes a long way towards making him a serious contender. As Bret dominates the action, Shawn Michaels
wanders out and picks his nose with the Canadian flag. This brings the Hart Foundation to ringside
and Helmsley stops the five moves of doom with a foot to the face when Bret
tries the second rope elbow drop. Ross subtly buries Bret by calling him “too predictable” in the ring. Bret gets Helmsley in the Sharpshooter, but
Chyna helps Helmsley get to the ropes and then stops Bret from applying the
ring post figure-four. When Bret
confronts her, Michaels blasts Bret with Sweet Chin Music and that enables
Helmsley to score the upset. Rating:
**
Hunter Hearst Helmsley is billed as “Triple H” during his entrance, but that
name change goes a long way towards making him a serious contender. As Bret dominates the action, Shawn Michaels
wanders out and picks his nose with the Canadian flag. This brings the Hart Foundation to ringside
and Helmsley stops the five moves of doom with a foot to the face when Bret
tries the second rope elbow drop. Ross subtly buries Bret by calling him “too predictable” in the ring. Bret gets Helmsley in the Sharpshooter, but
Chyna helps Helmsley get to the ropes and then stops Bret from applying the
ring post figure-four. When Bret
confronts her, Michaels blasts Bret with Sweet Chin Music and that enables
Helmsley to score the upset. Rating:
**
The Final Report Card: This match was like a smart fan’s dream as
the WWF bashed WCW throughout the evening and made several insider
references. The tasteless segment with
Melanie Pillman aside, this was a great episode that continued Steve Austin’s
search for revenge against Owen Hart, built a possible feud for Austin with
Faarooq and the Nation after he moved on from the Owen issue, set up the build
for Bret-Shawn at Survivor Series, and continues the tag team feud between the
Godwinns and the Legion of Doom. This
was also the highest rating for RAW since mid-August, which can probably be
chalked up to fans wanting to see how the company would respond to Brian
Pillman’s death.
the WWF bashed WCW throughout the evening and made several insider
references. The tasteless segment with
Melanie Pillman aside, this was a great episode that continued Steve Austin’s
search for revenge against Owen Hart, built a possible feud for Austin with
Faarooq and the Nation after he moved on from the Owen issue, set up the build
for Bret-Shawn at Survivor Series, and continues the tag team feud between the
Godwinns and the Legion of Doom. This
was also the highest rating for RAW since mid-August, which can probably be
chalked up to fans wanting to see how the company would respond to Brian
Pillman’s death.
Monday Night War Rating: 3.0 (vs. 3.9 for Nitro)
Show Evaluation: Thumbs Up