by Logan Scisco
A video package
recaps the wild events on last week’s show, where Bret Hart, Steve Austin,
Vader, and the Undertaker got into a massive brawl.
recaps the wild events on last week’s show, where Bret Hart, Steve Austin,
Vader, and the Undertaker got into a massive brawl.
–Vince McMahon and
Jerry “the King” Lawler are in the booth and they are still in Beaumont, Texas.
Jerry “the King” Lawler are in the booth and they are still in Beaumont, Texas.
–Footage of Savio
Vega turning on Ahmed Johnson in a tag team match at Madison Square Garden is
shown.
Vega turning on Ahmed Johnson in a tag team match at Madison Square Garden is
shown.
–Footage of Sid
whacking Crush with a chair on Shotgun Saturday Night is shown.
whacking Crush with a chair on Shotgun Saturday Night is shown.
–Opening
Contest: Crush (w/the Nation of
Domination) pins Ahmed Johnson with a heart punch at 5:40 shown:
Contest: Crush (w/the Nation of
Domination) pins Ahmed Johnson with a heart punch at 5:40 shown:
If there was one superstar that was hurt by a lack of
squash matches in the company at this time it was Ahmed, who was put into feuds
with guys that could not carry him to good matches. This match is no exception, as they try to
work in some power moves, but can’t seem to cooperate and have a hard time
lifting each other. Faarooq runs out
when the referee’s back is turned and attacks Ahmed, enabling Crush to score
the victory, which marks just the second time that Ahmed has been pinned on WWF
television. Crush’s victory also sent a
subtle signal that Ahmed wasn’t on the same level of the card as he was in
1996. Rating: ¼*
squash matches in the company at this time it was Ahmed, who was put into feuds
with guys that could not carry him to good matches. This match is no exception, as they try to
work in some power moves, but can’t seem to cooperate and have a hard time
lifting each other. Faarooq runs out
when the referee’s back is turned and attacks Ahmed, enabling Crush to score
the victory, which marks just the second time that Ahmed has been pinned on WWF
television. Crush’s victory also sent a
subtle signal that Ahmed wasn’t on the same level of the card as he was in
1996. Rating: ¼*
–McMahon interviews
WWF Champion Shawn Michaels, who says that he’s ready to face Sid at Thursday
Raw Thursday. That’s a strange name for
the show, but they must really have wanted people to remember that it was going
to be on Thursday. Michaels says that
he’ll be bad because that’s what he’s going to have to do to keep the title in
the midst of all of the chaos happening lately.
McMahon brings out Bret Hart, who says that he wants Michaels to retain
the title against Sid because he wants to beat Michaels to regain the title. The cycle of interview time continues as the
Undertaker is brought out and the dead man says that the WWF title belongs to
him and he’s been screwed more than Bret Hart.
Austin comes out, with Jim Ross in tow because he fears an ambush, and
appears to be the voice of reason by saying that everyone whining about how
they’ve been screwed is wearing on him.
Poor Vader just stands by the entrance and only gets to jaw with Austin
as he heads to the locker room.
WWF Champion Shawn Michaels, who says that he’s ready to face Sid at Thursday
Raw Thursday. That’s a strange name for
the show, but they must really have wanted people to remember that it was going
to be on Thursday. Michaels says that
he’ll be bad because that’s what he’s going to have to do to keep the title in
the midst of all of the chaos happening lately.
McMahon brings out Bret Hart, who says that he wants Michaels to retain
the title against Sid because he wants to beat Michaels to regain the title. The cycle of interview time continues as the
Undertaker is brought out and the dead man says that the WWF title belongs to
him and he’s been screwed more than Bret Hart.
Austin comes out, with Jim Ross in tow because he fears an ambush, and
appears to be the voice of reason by saying that everyone whining about how
they’ve been screwed is wearing on him.
Poor Vader just stands by the entrance and only gets to jaw with Austin
as he heads to the locker room.
–The Western Union
rewind is Faarooq’s attack on Ahmed Johnson tonight.
rewind is Faarooq’s attack on Ahmed Johnson tonight.
–Ahmed Johnson is
shown breaking down a door backstage to try to find the Nation of
Domination. Lawler rightly points out
that Ahmed is an idiot because he’d just be walking into an ambush if he were
to find the Nation.
shown breaking down a door backstage to try to find the Nation of
Domination. Lawler rightly points out
that Ahmed is an idiot because he’d just be walking into an ambush if he were
to find the Nation.
–The British
Bulldog (w/Owen Hart & Clarence Mason) defeats Doug Furnas (w/Philip LaFon)
by sitting down on a sunset flip attempt at 7:14 shown:
Bulldog (w/Owen Hart & Clarence Mason) defeats Doug Furnas (w/Philip LaFon)
by sitting down on a sunset flip attempt at 7:14 shown:
Furnas gets the jobber entrance, but the Bulldog has
better theme music anyway. McMahon
announces that Furnas and LaFon will get a tag team title shot at In Your
House, but it would be nice if would clarify why they are getting the title
shot since they did lose their non-title contest last week. The cutting of the match does very little for
Furnas, as the Bulldog’s offense is showcased and he doesn’t get in very many
moves. The Bulldog appears to have the
match lost when a miscommunication spot sees him blasted with Owen’s Slammy,
but he quickly recovers and wins. After
the match, the Bulldog and Owen tease a breakup, but uneasily resolve their
dispute. I don’t get the booking for
this match, as it would not have hurt the Bulldog to do the job after Owen’s
interference and it would’ve given some credibility to Furnas and LaFon, which
they needed after last week’s loss. Rating:
*¾
better theme music anyway. McMahon
announces that Furnas and LaFon will get a tag team title shot at In Your
House, but it would be nice if would clarify why they are getting the title
shot since they did lose their non-title contest last week. The cutting of the match does very little for
Furnas, as the Bulldog’s offense is showcased and he doesn’t get in very many
moves. The Bulldog appears to have the
match lost when a miscommunication spot sees him blasted with Owen’s Slammy,
but he quickly recovers and wins. After
the match, the Bulldog and Owen tease a breakup, but uneasily resolve their
dispute. I don’t get the booking for
this match, as it would not have hurt the Bulldog to do the job after Owen’s
interference and it would’ve given some credibility to Furnas and LaFon, which
they needed after last week’s loss. Rating:
*¾
–More footage of
Savio Vega’s heel turn in Madison Square Garden is shown. Savio Vega’s interview with Todd Pettengill
on Shotgun Saturday Night, where he brushed off his heel turn, and his
subsequent joining of the Nation of Domination on that show is played for us.
Savio Vega’s heel turn in Madison Square Garden is shown. Savio Vega’s interview with Todd Pettengill
on Shotgun Saturday Night, where he brushed off his heel turn, and his
subsequent joining of the Nation of Domination on that show is played for us.
–Call
1-900-737-4WWF to find out what Sid’s secret weapon is going to be to win the
WWF title back at Thursday Raw Thursday.
1-900-737-4WWF to find out what Sid’s secret weapon is going to be to win the
WWF title back at Thursday Raw Thursday.
–Clips of the WWF’s
press conference, where they announced the signing of Tiger Ali Singh are shown. Talk about a prospect that didn’t pan out.
press conference, where they announced the signing of Tiger Ali Singh are shown. Talk about a prospect that didn’t pan out.
–The Godwinns (w/Hillbilly
Jim) defeat Vader & Mankind (w/Paul Bearer) via count out at 7:11 shown:
Jim) defeat Vader & Mankind (w/Paul Bearer) via count out at 7:11 shown:
The story of this match is that it’s Vader and Mankind’s
debut and they don’t communicate well.
This leads to some fun spots, like Vader tagging Mankind stiffly on the
shoulder and encouraging him to beat down Phineas in the proper fashion. As a sign of good booking, the Godwinns are
not made to look like jobbers in this contest and manage to get some sustained
offense against Vader and Mankind and they eventually win on a fluke when a
miscommunication spot sees Mankind take Vader out with a chair and smile as he
walks to the locker room. This would
appear to be leading us toward a Mankind-Vader feud and a potential face turn
for Mankind, but neither of those things happened in the immediate aftermath of
this match. The full version of this
match might’ve garnered a better rating, but the cutting of the match hurt its
momentum. Rating: *½
debut and they don’t communicate well.
This leads to some fun spots, like Vader tagging Mankind stiffly on the
shoulder and encouraging him to beat down Phineas in the proper fashion. As a sign of good booking, the Godwinns are
not made to look like jobbers in this contest and manage to get some sustained
offense against Vader and Mankind and they eventually win on a fluke when a
miscommunication spot sees Mankind take Vader out with a chair and smile as he
walks to the locker room. This would
appear to be leading us toward a Mankind-Vader feud and a potential face turn
for Mankind, but neither of those things happened in the immediate aftermath of
this match. The full version of this
match might’ve garnered a better rating, but the cutting of the match hurt its
momentum. Rating: *½
–Ahmed eventually
finds some of the Nation and he tosses a member of PG-13 in the trunk of a
white car, which starts to speed away.
The other member of PG-13 is hanging out of the driver’s side door as
the car speeds off.
finds some of the Nation and he tosses a member of PG-13 in the trunk of a
white car, which starts to speed away.
The other member of PG-13 is hanging out of the driver’s side door as
the car speeds off.
The Final Report Card: There’s a lot of curious booking on this show
as the wrestlers that you think would go over do not. I know that during this time frame Foley
pitched the idea of doing a feud with Vader, which McMahon refused to do
because they had already done it in WCW, but the main event finish would imply
that the company at least gave some thought to going in that direction. Although this show didn’t capitalize on the
momentum of the previous week, I did like that they kept the Godwinns
strong. There’s no point in making your
entire tag division look weak for makeshift teams that you may or may not keep
together for the long term.
as the wrestlers that you think would go over do not. I know that during this time frame Foley
pitched the idea of doing a feud with Vader, which McMahon refused to do
because they had already done it in WCW, but the main event finish would imply
that the company at least gave some thought to going in that direction. Although this show didn’t capitalize on the
momentum of the previous week, I did like that they kept the Godwinns
strong. There’s no point in making your
entire tag division look weak for makeshift teams that you may or may not keep
together for the long term.
Monday Night War Rating: 2.2 (vs. 3.6 for Nitro)
Show Evaluation: Neutral