–Jim Ross and
Michael Cole are in the booth and they are taped from Phoenix, Arizona. This is a special Tuesday St. Patrick’s
edition of Raw because Raw was pre-empted by USA Network’s Moby Dick. Today, RAW would get cute with this being St.
Patrick’s Day, but this is the Attitude Era so we do not have leprechauns or
green set themes for this show.
Michael Cole are in the booth and they are taped from Phoenix, Arizona. This is a special Tuesday St. Patrick’s
edition of Raw because Raw was pre-empted by USA Network’s Moby Dick. Today, RAW would get cute with this being St.
Patrick’s Day, but this is the Attitude Era so we do not have leprechauns or
green set themes for this show.
–Kevin Kelly
interviews Ken Shamrock and his introduction of Shamrock tries to channel
Howard Finkel and fails miserably. Kelly
asks Shamrock if he can control his temper at WrestleMania and Shamrock says
that the Rock has to worry the most about him losing his temper. Intercontinental Champion the Rock and the
Nation of Domination walk out and the Rock busts out the first “Know your role
and shut your mouth.” The Rock says that
if Shamrock can last two minutes with any member of the Nation that he will
defend his title against Shamrock and drafts a reluctant D-Lo Brown to do his
bidding. Shamrock’s mic work here was
better than normal and the Rock continues to bring the usual
entertainment. 1 for 1
interviews Ken Shamrock and his introduction of Shamrock tries to channel
Howard Finkel and fails miserably. Kelly
asks Shamrock if he can control his temper at WrestleMania and Shamrock says
that the Rock has to worry the most about him losing his temper. Intercontinental Champion the Rock and the
Nation of Domination walk out and the Rock busts out the first “Know your role
and shut your mouth.” The Rock says that
if Shamrock can last two minutes with any member of the Nation that he will
defend his title against Shamrock and drafts a reluctant D-Lo Brown to do his
bidding. Shamrock’s mic work here was
better than normal and the Rock continues to bring the usual
entertainment. 1 for 1
–Opening Two
Minute Challenge: Ken Shamrock beats
D-Lo Brown by disqualification when the Rock interferes at 1:48:
Minute Challenge: Ken Shamrock beats
D-Lo Brown by disqualification when the Rock interferes at 1:48:
D-Lo attacks Shamrock from behind to kick off this
challenge and the crowd busies itself with a “Rocky sucks” chant. D-Lo gets through the first minute without
difficulty, but Shamrock turns the tide and puts him in the ankle lock. Before D-Lo can submit with twelve seconds
left in the challenge, the Rock nails Shamrock with a chair and then gives him
another sick shot to the head. As WWF
officials tend to a knocked out Shamrock, Faarooq argues with the Rock about
his actions and the Rock jaws with fans on the way back to the locker
room. THIS is how to build heel heat.
challenge and the crowd busies itself with a “Rocky sucks” chant. D-Lo gets through the first minute without
difficulty, but Shamrock turns the tide and puts him in the ankle lock. Before D-Lo can submit with twelve seconds
left in the challenge, the Rock nails Shamrock with a chair and then gives him
another sick shot to the head. As WWF
officials tend to a knocked out Shamrock, Faarooq argues with the Rock about
his actions and the Rock jaws with fans on the way back to the locker
room. THIS is how to build heel heat.
–Kelly says that
Shamrock has suffered a concussion and other elements of his medical condition
are uncertain. Shamrock is shown not
wanting to go to the hospital and woozy.
Shamrock has suffered a concussion and other elements of his medical condition
are uncertain. Shamrock is shown not
wanting to go to the hospital and woozy.
–Sable comes out
and challenges Luna Vachon to a match tonight.
and challenges Luna Vachon to a match tonight.
–The Phoenix Sun
gorilla rappels from the rafters, trampolines into the ring, and jumps around
before taking up a position at the broadcast booth.
gorilla rappels from the rafters, trampolines into the ring, and jumps around
before taking up a position at the broadcast booth.
–Jeff Jarrett
(w/Tennessee Lee) defeats Tom Brandi via submission to the figure-four leglock
at 1:48:
(w/Tennessee Lee) defeats Tom Brandi via submission to the figure-four leglock
at 1:48:
Jarrett makes his entrance on a horse in electric
lights. Jarrett’s rebooted push
continues here against the hapless Brandi whose fifteen minutes of fame with
Marc Mero and Sable are long game. At
least Jarrett does some setup for the figure-four this week.
lights. Jarrett’s rebooted push
continues here against the hapless Brandi whose fifteen minutes of fame with
Marc Mero and Sable are long game. At
least Jarrett does some setup for the figure-four this week.
–Kelly tells us
that Shamrock is being sent to the hospital, but the Rock interrupts his report
and says that he is now worried about who he is going to face at WrestleMania
since Shamrock won’t be able to make it.
that Shamrock is being sent to the hospital, but the Rock interrupts his report
and says that he is now worried about who he is going to face at WrestleMania
since Shamrock won’t be able to make it.
–Lawrence Taylor’s
victory over Bam Bam Bigelow at WrestleMania XI is the M&M WrestleMania
Millennium Moment.
victory over Bam Bam Bigelow at WrestleMania XI is the M&M WrestleMania
Millennium Moment.
–A video package
hypes the Shawn Michaels-Steve Austin WrestleMania main event by providing
comprehensive retrospectives on Shawn Michaels career. The good thing about this video package is
that it puts over the importance of the main event and the WWF title and puts a
focus on the future and not on the past, which is a problem with the product
today.
hypes the Shawn Michaels-Steve Austin WrestleMania main event by providing
comprehensive retrospectives on Shawn Michaels career. The good thing about this video package is
that it puts over the importance of the main event and the WWF title and puts a
focus on the future and not on the past, which is a problem with the product
today.
–Handicap
Match: The Headbangers (NWA Tag Team
Champions) beat The Rock N’ Roll Express & Jim Cornette when Mosh pins
Ricky Morton with the Stage Dive at 2:06:
Match: The Headbangers (NWA Tag Team
Champions) beat The Rock N’ Roll Express & Jim Cornette when Mosh pins
Ricky Morton with the Stage Dive at 2:06:
This grew out of a Superstars match where Cornette pinned
Mosh after the Headbangers beat the Rock N’ Roll Express in a title defense
after the usual NWA shenanigans. The
Headbangers hit the Stage Dive out of nowhere to win this without Cornette ever
being part of the match. However, when
the Headbangers try to beat up Cornette, the repackaged Bart Gunn and Bob Holly
come out and attack them. Cornette
announces them as the New Midnight Express and they are now named “Bombastic”
Bob and “Bodacious” Bart. Cornette has
the New Express beat up the Rock N’ Roll Express because the Rock N’ Roll
Express has done a poor job protecting him.
Since the New Midnight Express did not have the old Midnight Express’s
awesome theme music this was a failure out of the gate much like the rest of
the NWA angle. (2 for 3)
Mosh after the Headbangers beat the Rock N’ Roll Express in a title defense
after the usual NWA shenanigans. The
Headbangers hit the Stage Dive out of nowhere to win this without Cornette ever
being part of the match. However, when
the Headbangers try to beat up Cornette, the repackaged Bart Gunn and Bob Holly
come out and attack them. Cornette
announces them as the New Midnight Express and they are now named “Bombastic”
Bob and “Bodacious” Bart. Cornette has
the New Express beat up the Rock N’ Roll Express because the Rock N’ Roll
Express has done a poor job protecting him.
Since the New Midnight Express did not have the old Midnight Express’s
awesome theme music this was a failure out of the gate much like the rest of
the NWA angle. (2 for 3)
–Call
1-900-737-4WWF to hear what the plan is for D-Generation X to eliminate Steve
Austin before WrestleMania!
1-900-737-4WWF to hear what the plan is for D-Generation X to eliminate Steve
Austin before WrestleMania!
–Gennifer Flowers
says that Shawn Michaels could be her “boy toy” anytime, that Steve Austin
would not be “stone cold” with her, and that she could make the Undertaker rise
from the dead. So that’s who we can
blame for American badass Undertaker…
says that Shawn Michaels could be her “boy toy” anytime, that Steve Austin
would not be “stone cold” with her, and that she could make the Undertaker rise
from the dead. So that’s who we can
blame for American badass Undertaker…
–The Phoenix Sun
gorilla keeps jumping around in the ring and unveils a “Gorilla 3:16”
t-shirt. Kane and Paul Bearer take
exception to that as the lights go out and Kane lays the Gorilla to waste. HUGE heel heat for that. 3 for
4
gorilla keeps jumping around in the ring and unveils a “Gorilla 3:16”
t-shirt. Kane and Paul Bearer take
exception to that as the lights go out and Kane lays the Gorilla to waste. HUGE heel heat for that. 3 for
4
–Jerry Lawler comes
out to do commentary for hour two.
out to do commentary for hour two.
–Footage is shown
of European Champion Owen Hart breaking his ankle against Barry Windham on last
week’s show. He comes out to do
commentary for the next match. They
clearly edit out a part where Ross tells the fans to quit reaching over the
guardrail and messing with the commentators.
of European Champion Owen Hart breaking his ankle against Barry Windham on last
week’s show. He comes out to do
commentary for the next match. They
clearly edit out a part where Ross tells the fans to quit reaching over the
guardrail and messing with the commentators.
–Chainsaw Charlie
beats Billy Gunn (w/The Road Dogg) by disqualification at 2:23:
beats Billy Gunn (w/The Road Dogg) by disqualification at 2:23:
This was setup from last week’s show where Gunn nailed
Charlie in the back with a chair. Ross
tells the fans that the tag team championship match at WrestleMania will be a
dumpster match. The Road Dogg proceeds
to commentate the match on the house mic and when things get sour for Billy
after he refuses to pin Charlie after two piledrivers, the Road Dogg runs in
and creates the disqualification. After
the bell, Charlie fights off the heels, gives Gunn a DDT on a tag team title
belt, and Cactus Jack comes out to help Charlie tie up Road Dogg by the feet
and lift him several feet in the air.
Nice segment that allows the faces to get revenge for the attack the Outlaws launched against
Cactus and Charlie on last week’s show. (4 for 5)
Charlie in the back with a chair. Ross
tells the fans that the tag team championship match at WrestleMania will be a
dumpster match. The Road Dogg proceeds
to commentate the match on the house mic and when things get sour for Billy
after he refuses to pin Charlie after two piledrivers, the Road Dogg runs in
and creates the disqualification. After
the bell, Charlie fights off the heels, gives Gunn a DDT on a tag team title
belt, and Cactus Jack comes out to help Charlie tie up Road Dogg by the feet
and lift him several feet in the air.
Nice segment that allows the faces to get revenge for the attack the Outlaws launched against
Cactus and Charlie on last week’s show. (4 for 5)
–Steve Austin’s
bullying of Vince McMahon on last week’s show is the Bop It Slam of the Week.
bullying of Vince McMahon on last week’s show is the Bop It Slam of the Week.
–Luna Vachon tells
the announcers from the backstage area that she accepts Sable’s challenge, but
it will be at a time that she decides.
the announcers from the backstage area that she accepts Sable’s challenge, but
it will be at a time that she decides.
–Vince McMahon
walks out to a chorus of boos and is interviewed by Kevin Kelly. McMahon considers Austin’s conduct on last
week’s show unprofessional, but considers it somewhat justified by Mike Tyson
joining D-Generation X. McMahon gets
tired of Kelly going back to last week’s footage and says he did not hit Steve
Austin last week because he wanted to save the WrestleMania main event since he
would have broken Austin’s jaw. When
asked if he wants to see Austin win the WWF title at WrestleMania, McMahon says
that if Austin would be willing to be molded into the WWF’s corporate image
that would be okay for the company, but if he won the title in present form it
would be a public relations disaster.
McMahon says that Austin and WWF fans cannot handle his answer, but when
Kelly presses him for an answer, McMahon relents and says his answer is not
only a “no,” but a “hell no.” McMahon
hits another segment out of the park here as McMahon gradually morphed into the
Mr. McMahon character over the course of the interview and let his disdain of
Austin be publicly aired. 5 for 6
walks out to a chorus of boos and is interviewed by Kevin Kelly. McMahon considers Austin’s conduct on last
week’s show unprofessional, but considers it somewhat justified by Mike Tyson
joining D-Generation X. McMahon gets
tired of Kelly going back to last week’s footage and says he did not hit Steve
Austin last week because he wanted to save the WrestleMania main event since he
would have broken Austin’s jaw. When
asked if he wants to see Austin win the WWF title at WrestleMania, McMahon says
that if Austin would be willing to be molded into the WWF’s corporate image
that would be okay for the company, but if he won the title in present form it
would be a public relations disaster.
McMahon says that Austin and WWF fans cannot handle his answer, but when
Kelly presses him for an answer, McMahon relents and says his answer is not
only a “no,” but a “hell no.” McMahon
hits another segment out of the park here as McMahon gradually morphed into the
Mr. McMahon character over the course of the interview and let his disdain of
Austin be publicly aired. 5 for 6
–Ross says that
Lucky Luke and Prince have been chosen to rap Mike Tyson to the ring at
WrestleMania. Owen makes me laugh by
saying that he hates rap. A Tyson video
package is aired.
Lucky Luke and Prince have been chosen to rap Mike Tyson to the ring at
WrestleMania. Owen makes me laugh by
saying that he hates rap. A Tyson video
package is aired.
–Steve Austin gets
a career retrospective video package to hype his participation in the
WrestleMania main event. It talks about
his WCW firing and Ringmaster gimmick.
a career retrospective video package to hype his participation in the
WrestleMania main event. It talks about
his WCW firing and Ringmaster gimmick.
–Triple H walks out
and questions Owen’s manhood. He
challenges Owen to a European title match tonight and when Owen refuses, Triple
H tosses water in his face and pushes him down.
This leads to a brawl that leads to…
and questions Owen’s manhood. He
challenges Owen to a European title match tonight and when Owen refuses, Triple
H tosses water in his face and pushes him down.
This leads to a brawl that leads to…
–European
Championship Match: Triple H (w/Chyna)
beats Owen Hart (Champion) by referee stoppage at 45 seconds to win the title:
Championship Match: Triple H (w/Chyna)
beats Owen Hart (Champion) by referee stoppage at 45 seconds to win the title:
Owen pounds on Triple H on the floor and tosses him into
the ring, but Triple H distracts the referee, thereby allowing Chyna to smash a
baseball bat into Owen’s injured ankle and roll him into the ring. Triple H puts Owen in an ankle lock and the
referee stops the match to give Triple H his then-record setting second
European title reign. You really want to
root for Owen in this feud, but it is becoming increasingly impossible when
he’s made to look like a fool each week.
You would almost think that is the point of all this…
the ring, but Triple H distracts the referee, thereby allowing Chyna to smash a
baseball bat into Owen’s injured ankle and roll him into the ring. Triple H puts Owen in an ankle lock and the
referee stops the match to give Triple H his then-record setting second
European title reign. You really want to
root for Owen in this feud, but it is becoming increasingly impossible when
he’s made to look like a fool each week.
You would almost think that is the point of all this…
–Confrontation: Sable (w/Marc Mero) and Luna Vachon
(w/Goldust):
(w/Goldust):
Both women come out to confront the other and brawl, but
WWF officials will not allow it to take place and the fans are not very
happy. Mero and Goldust assist by
holding their valets back, leading the crowd to work up a “Let them go!”
chant. Sable eventually gets free of
Mero and chokes Luna and rips her clothes as the crowd explodes. At the end of the segment, Sable appears to
have suffered a knee injury. The booking
team went way overboard on the injury angles this week.
WWF officials will not allow it to take place and the fans are not very
happy. Mero and Goldust assist by
holding their valets back, leading the crowd to work up a “Let them go!”
chant. Sable eventually gets free of
Mero and chokes Luna and rips her clothes as the crowd explodes. At the end of the segment, Sable appears to
have suffered a knee injury. The booking
team went way overboard on the injury angles this week.
–The lights go out
and Kane returns and in a really awesome heel move Mero flees the ring to “get
help,” thereby leaving Sable alone. Sable
begs for her life when the lights go out again and the Undertaker shows up on
top of the Titantron and tells Kane that he felt his wrath at the Royal Rumble
and now it is time for him to feel his.
The Undertaker uses his powers to set a casket that has Kane in effigy
alight as we go off the air. Everything
from the Sable-Luna brawl through this shows in about five minutes why the
Attitude Era was an awesome time to be a fan.
6 for 7
and Kane returns and in a really awesome heel move Mero flees the ring to “get
help,” thereby leaving Sable alone. Sable
begs for her life when the lights go out again and the Undertaker shows up on
top of the Titantron and tells Kane that he felt his wrath at the Royal Rumble
and now it is time for him to feel his.
The Undertaker uses his powers to set a casket that has Kane in effigy
alight as we go off the air. Everything
from the Sable-Luna brawl through this shows in about five minutes why the
Attitude Era was an awesome time to be a fan.
6 for 7
The Final Report Card: Since the WWF was not facing competition from
WCW with this show they decided to use it to hype the WrestleMania main event
with two long video packages for Shawn Michaels and Steve Austin, which was a
good move. The show also played up the
“WWF corporate executives do not want Austin to be the WWF champion” and it was
the first time that Vince McMahon portrayed a heel character on WWF television
(although USWA fans saw an early version of the character in 1993). Good effort this week in exposing the product
to new fans and any WCW fans that were starved for wrestling action on a
Tuesday night.
WCW with this show they decided to use it to hype the WrestleMania main event
with two long video packages for Shawn Michaels and Steve Austin, which was a
good move. The show also played up the
“WWF corporate executives do not want Austin to be the WWF champion” and it was
the first time that Vince McMahon portrayed a heel character on WWF television
(although USWA fans saw an early version of the character in 1993). Good effort this week in exposing the product
to new fans and any WCW fans that were starved for wrestling action on a
Tuesday night.
Monday Night War Rating: N/A
Show Evaluation: Thumbs Up