by Logan Scisco
–Vince McMahon and
Jim Ross are in the booth and they are taped from Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Jim Ross are in the booth and they are taped from Tulsa, Oklahoma.
–McMahon interviews
the Nation of Domination and apologizes for the racist slogans posted in their
locker room last week. That’s not good enough
for Faarooq, who says that it does not make up for 400 years of racism in the
United States. Rocky Maivia takes the
mic as McMahon is ushered out of the ring and warns the Hart Foundation that
they have created a race war with the Nation and Faarooq challenges them to a
match next week. The Hart Foundation
comes out and Bret accepts the challenge, says there is no racial prejudice in
Canada, and tells Faarooq that D-Generation X is to blame for their problems. DX comes on the Titantron and makes some Ku
Klux Klan references and says that they heard the Harts use the “n-word” and
that leads to the Nation beating down the Harts on the ramp. Bret seems to have suffered an ankle injury
in the melee, which bodes poorly for his title defense against Ken Shamrock
tonight.
the Nation of Domination and apologizes for the racist slogans posted in their
locker room last week. That’s not good enough
for Faarooq, who says that it does not make up for 400 years of racism in the
United States. Rocky Maivia takes the
mic as McMahon is ushered out of the ring and warns the Hart Foundation that
they have created a race war with the Nation and Faarooq challenges them to a
match next week. The Hart Foundation
comes out and Bret accepts the challenge, says there is no racial prejudice in
Canada, and tells Faarooq that D-Generation X is to blame for their problems. DX comes on the Titantron and makes some Ku
Klux Klan references and says that they heard the Harts use the “n-word” and
that leads to the Nation beating down the Harts on the ramp. Bret seems to have suffered an ankle injury
in the melee, which bodes poorly for his title defense against Ken Shamrock
tonight.
–A clip of Bret
Hart on Mad TV is shown.
Hart on Mad TV is shown.
–Opening
Contest: Triple H (w/D-Generation X)
beats Goldust (w/Marlena) with the Pedigree at 5:36:
Contest: Triple H (w/D-Generation X)
beats Goldust (w/Marlena) with the Pedigree at 5:36:
Rude does Helmsley’s announcing duties and lets us know
that Helmsley is the “future of the World Wrestling Federation.” Helmsley’s theme music is in need of an
overhaul since he’s still using Ode to Joy, which does not fit the group. Michaels does commentary, but says little of
note. Chyna works in her usual
interference by slamming Goldust on the entrance ramp when he ends up outside
of the ring and Marlena gets in some interference by slapping Helmsley later in
the match. However, when Marlena is
working in these blows, Chyna gets into the ring and clocks Goldust with
Marlena’s purse and the rest is academic.
This is probably the best Goldust-Helmsley match since they had to work
a faster pace under the TV time constraints.
After the match, Michaels tells McMahon and Ross to “suck it” and
McMahon is not happy about that. Rating:
**
that Helmsley is the “future of the World Wrestling Federation.” Helmsley’s theme music is in need of an
overhaul since he’s still using Ode to Joy, which does not fit the group. Michaels does commentary, but says little of
note. Chyna works in her usual
interference by slamming Goldust on the entrance ramp when he ends up outside
of the ring and Marlena gets in some interference by slapping Helmsley later in
the match. However, when Marlena is
working in these blows, Chyna gets into the ring and clocks Goldust with
Marlena’s purse and the rest is academic.
This is probably the best Goldust-Helmsley match since they had to work
a faster pace under the TV time constraints.
After the match, Michaels tells McMahon and Ross to “suck it” and
McMahon is not happy about that. Rating:
**
–Jim Cornette rants
against the cage match WCW put on at Halloween Havoc between Hulk Hogan and
Roddy Piper. There’s no real point in
this and it’s the weakest of Cornette’s rants so far.
against the cage match WCW put on at Halloween Havoc between Hulk Hogan and
Roddy Piper. There’s no real point in
this and it’s the weakest of Cornette’s rants so far.
–A small video
package shows highlights of a presentation of Oklahoma wrestling legends like
Jim Ross, Bill Watts, Jack and Gerald Brisco, and Danny Hodge that happened in
the show.
package shows highlights of a presentation of Oklahoma wrestling legends like
Jim Ross, Bill Watts, Jack and Gerald Brisco, and Danny Hodge that happened in
the show.
–Intercontinental
Championship Match: Ahmed Johnson
defeats Owen Hart (Champion) by disqualification when Steve Austin interferes
at 6:19 shown:
Championship Match: Ahmed Johnson
defeats Owen Hart (Champion) by disqualification when Steve Austin interferes
at 6:19 shown:
Ahmed was in a gray area at this stage of his WWF career
because he could not be legitimately reduced to jobber status, but he was
nowhere near the heights he achieved in 1996.
Ahmed proceeds to dominate Owen in this plodding match, which the Nation
of Domination comes out to watch, and you can tell that he is making an effort
to work a less stiff style. Ahmed hits a
spinebuster, but Steve Austin runs in through the crowd and gives him a Stone
Cold Stunner and Owen retains the title heading into Survivor Series. Rating: ½*
because he could not be legitimately reduced to jobber status, but he was
nowhere near the heights he achieved in 1996.
Ahmed proceeds to dominate Owen in this plodding match, which the Nation
of Domination comes out to watch, and you can tell that he is making an effort
to work a less stiff style. Ahmed hits a
spinebuster, but Steve Austin runs in through the crowd and gives him a Stone
Cold Stunner and Owen retains the title heading into Survivor Series. Rating: ½*
–Call 1-900-7374WWF
to find out who the three superstars were that did not make it to the WWF’s
recent European tour!
to find out who the three superstars were that did not make it to the WWF’s
recent European tour!
–Ross interviews
Mankind, who says Dude Love just wanted to have fun and he thought he had a
truce with Paul Bearer for both of them to leave each other alone. He says he will retaliate by making Paul
Bearer’s life a living hell and will complicate Kane’s path towards the
Undertaker. Commissioner Slaughter comes
out and says that he will not sanction Mankind’s match with Kane at Survivor
Series, so Mankind puts Slaughter in the Mandible Claw. Mankind had absolutely no chance of beating
Kane at Survivor Series, but this was a good promo that made you want to see
the match. It’s also been a bad couple
of months on the job for Slaughter thus far.
Mankind, who says Dude Love just wanted to have fun and he thought he had a
truce with Paul Bearer for both of them to leave each other alone. He says he will retaliate by making Paul
Bearer’s life a living hell and will complicate Kane’s path towards the
Undertaker. Commissioner Slaughter comes
out and says that he will not sanction Mankind’s match with Kane at Survivor
Series, so Mankind puts Slaughter in the Mandible Claw. Mankind had absolutely no chance of beating
Kane at Survivor Series, but this was a good promo that made you want to see
the match. It’s also been a bad couple
of months on the job for Slaughter thus far.
–A video package
hypes the Bret Hart-Ken Shamrock WWF title match on tonight’s show.
hypes the Bret Hart-Ken Shamrock WWF title match on tonight’s show.
–WWF Championship
Match: Bret “the Hitman” Hart (Champion)
wrestles Ken Shamrock to a no contest at 10:31 shown:
Match: Bret “the Hitman” Hart (Champion)
wrestles Ken Shamrock to a no contest at 10:31 shown:
Again, Montreal did not have to happen as they could have
done a title switch here if they wanted to get the belt off of Bret. I like to think of this as a continuation of
the issue between these two from WrestleMania XIII, but the announcers don’t
reference that. Bret works the leg for a
long time and Shamrock does a good job selling the damage. Shamrock has an excellent ankle lock counter
to the Sharpshooter, but Earl Hebner gets bumped during that and is not there
to register Bret tapping out. Bret
proceeds to nail Shamrock with a chair and apply the Sharpshooter, but Shawn
Michaels runs in and blasts Bret with Sweet Chin Music. Shamrock doesn’t appreciate this and snaps on
Michaels and WWF officials run into the ring to put an end to this. That just leads to Bret attacking Michaels,
as another referee tends to Hebner who is still down from a slight nudge during
that Sharpshooter counter. Shamrock
still lacked a strong character at this time and if this match happened a
couple of years later it would have been much better. Rating: **½
done a title switch here if they wanted to get the belt off of Bret. I like to think of this as a continuation of
the issue between these two from WrestleMania XIII, but the announcers don’t
reference that. Bret works the leg for a
long time and Shamrock does a good job selling the damage. Shamrock has an excellent ankle lock counter
to the Sharpshooter, but Earl Hebner gets bumped during that and is not there
to register Bret tapping out. Bret
proceeds to nail Shamrock with a chair and apply the Sharpshooter, but Shawn
Michaels runs in and blasts Bret with Sweet Chin Music. Shamrock doesn’t appreciate this and snaps on
Michaels and WWF officials run into the ring to put an end to this. That just leads to Bret attacking Michaels,
as another referee tends to Hebner who is still down from a slight nudge during
that Sharpshooter counter. Shamrock
still lacked a strong character at this time and if this match happened a
couple of years later it would have been much better. Rating: **½
–WWF Champion Bret
Hart tells the announcers that after the Survivor Series he isn’t going to have
to worry about Shawn Michaels anymore.
That’s true in more ways than one.
Hart tells the announcers that after the Survivor Series he isn’t going to have
to worry about Shawn Michaels anymore.
That’s true in more ways than one.
-“The Road Dogg”
Jesse James & “Bad Ass” Billy Gunn beat The New Blackjacks when James pins
Bradshaw after Gunn hits Bradshaw with a chair at 2:14:
Jesse James & “Bad Ass” Billy Gunn beat The New Blackjacks when James pins
Bradshaw after Gunn hits Bradshaw with a chair at 2:14:
McMahon reminds viewers during this match that they can
watch Hulk Hogan fight the Undertaker on the Survivor Series flashback special
tomorrow night, which he promises is not “another bad Hulk Hogan movie.” It’s also fitting that the WWF picked a
Survivor Series match that Hogan lost.
McMahon also tells viewers that Gorilla Monsoon is very sick and in the
hospital, which was when Monsoon was diagnosed with cancer. This is an abbreviated match where James and
Gunn steal another win and continue to move up the tag team ranks.
watch Hulk Hogan fight the Undertaker on the Survivor Series flashback special
tomorrow night, which he promises is not “another bad Hulk Hogan movie.” It’s also fitting that the WWF picked a
Survivor Series match that Hogan lost.
McMahon also tells viewers that Gorilla Monsoon is very sick and in the
hospital, which was when Monsoon was diagnosed with cancer. This is an abbreviated match where James and
Gunn steal another win and continue to move up the tag team ranks.
–After the match, a
brawl breaks out between James, Gunn, and the Blackjacks and James and Gunn
tear about the Blackjacks cowboy hats after the Godwinns and Headbangers
interject themselves. This is to hype a
Survivor Series match between these teams at the pay-per-view.
brawl breaks out between James, Gunn, and the Blackjacks and James and Gunn
tear about the Blackjacks cowboy hats after the Godwinns and Headbangers
interject themselves. This is to hype a
Survivor Series match between these teams at the pay-per-view.
–Kane and Paul
Bearer come out and Bearer rants some more against the Undertaker. They also accept Mankind’s challenge for the
Survivor Series.
Bearer come out and Bearer rants some more against the Undertaker. They also accept Mankind’s challenge for the
Survivor Series.
–D-Generation X
cuts a promo where Shawn Michaels moons Bret Hart. Again, McMahon expresses his disgust.
cuts a promo where Shawn Michaels moons Bret Hart. Again, McMahon expresses his disgust.
–Marc Mero
(w/Sable) beats Flash Funk with the TKO at 3:48:
(w/Sable) beats Flash Funk with the TKO at 3:48:
Mero’s comeback continues in this match, but Funk gives him
all that he can handle. Mero brings back
the Merosault, but it just does not fit well the rest of his offense. Funk hits a moonsault for two, but Mero hits
a low blow behind the referee’s back like his match last week against Brian
Christopher and then finishes Funk off.
The only thing that the crowd cared about was Sable. Rating: *¾
all that he can handle. Mero brings back
the Merosault, but it just does not fit well the rest of his offense. Funk hits a moonsault for two, but Mero hits
a low blow behind the referee’s back like his match last week against Brian
Christopher and then finishes Funk off.
The only thing that the crowd cared about was Sable. Rating: *¾
–Ross interviews
Jeff Jarrett, who says that he left the WWF in 1995 because Vince McMahon put
limitations on him. He says he had no
chance of advancement in WCW because he was not one of Eric Bischoff’s
boys. He points out that the WWF shows
have great action from beginning to end, but WCW does not have that. Jarrett might have wanted to look at this
video before he decided to ditch the WWF and head to WCW’s sinking ship in
1999.
Jeff Jarrett, who says that he left the WWF in 1995 because Vince McMahon put
limitations on him. He says he had no
chance of advancement in WCW because he was not one of Eric Bischoff’s
boys. He points out that the WWF shows
have great action from beginning to end, but WCW does not have that. Jarrett might have wanted to look at this
video before he decided to ditch the WWF and head to WCW’s sinking ship in
1999.
–The Road Dogg and
Billy Gunn come down to ringside, playing with the pieces of the New Blackjacks
cowboys hats that they destroyed earlier in the show. They refuse to tell Ross why they have an
interest in the next contest.
Billy Gunn come down to ringside, playing with the pieces of the New Blackjacks
cowboys hats that they destroyed earlier in the show. They refuse to tell Ross why they have an
interest in the next contest.
–Non-Title
Match: The Legion of Doom (WWF Tag Team
Champions) beat Savio Vega & Miguel Perez (w/Los Boricuas) when Hawk pinned
Perez after the Road Dogg tripped him at 2:49:
Match: The Legion of Doom (WWF Tag Team
Champions) beat Savio Vega & Miguel Perez (w/Los Boricuas) when Hawk pinned
Perez after the Road Dogg tripped him at 2:49:
It doesn’t take long for the Road Dogg and Gunn to steal
the LOD’s shoulder pads and they put them on and do a pose down. What’s puzzling is that all of this happens
and Animal just sits on the apron and does nothing. The match slowly unfolds until the Road Dogg
tries to trip Hawk, but accidentally trips Perez, and Dogg and Gunn run away
with the LOD’s shoulder pads. I’m
surprised that the company never really got behind Savio and Perez as a tag
team threat because both were quite proficient in the ring. They were just tossed into a terrible stable.
the LOD’s shoulder pads and they put them on and do a pose down. What’s puzzling is that all of this happens
and Animal just sits on the apron and does nothing. The match slowly unfolds until the Road Dogg
tries to trip Hawk, but accidentally trips Perez, and Dogg and Gunn run away
with the LOD’s shoulder pads. I’m
surprised that the company never really got behind Savio and Perez as a tag
team threat because both were quite proficient in the ring. They were just tossed into a terrible stable.
–Ahmed Johnson
tells Steve Austin has entered his zone and it is his time to score on Austin
in his zone and get him.
tells Steve Austin has entered his zone and it is his time to score on Austin
in his zone and get him.
–Tune in next week
to see the beginning of the light heavyweight championship tournament and hear
more comments from Jeff Jarrett! Also,
Steve Austin will be here!
to see the beginning of the light heavyweight championship tournament and hear
more comments from Jeff Jarrett! Also,
Steve Austin will be here!
The Final Report Card: The entire month has been filled with
anti-WCW attacks, but it’s not showing any significant gains in the ratings of
the company or filling the bottom line.
As was the case with most of the taped RAWs, this one lacked the
atmosphere of the live episodes and the show really died after
Bret-Shamrock. Still, the first hour was
strong enough to warrant a neutral rating and by the same token, at least the
booking staff is giving most people in the company something to do.
anti-WCW attacks, but it’s not showing any significant gains in the ratings of
the company or filling the bottom line.
As was the case with most of the taped RAWs, this one lacked the
atmosphere of the live episodes and the show really died after
Bret-Shamrock. Still, the first hour was
strong enough to warrant a neutral rating and by the same token, at least the
booking staff is giving most people in the company something to do.
Monday Night War Rating: 2.3 (vs. 4.3 for Nitro)
Show Evaluation: Neutral