WWF Raw, PPV's 1997 Reviews

[Crippler]

WWF Champion: The Undertaker
WWF Intercontinental Champion: Owen Hart
WWF Tag Team Champions: Stone Cold Steve Austin & Dude Love
WWF European Champion: The British Bulldog

WWF RAW is WAR: Episode 220
July 28th, 1997
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Recap of last week’s show in Canada

The entire Hart Foundation come down to the ring with a security escort. looooooooooooooool Vince tells JR to do the interview. JR says WWF had a closed door meeting about Bret Hart’s less than professional behavior last week. JR says the WWF would have fired Bret for his actions, but they felt it best not to rob the fans of the SummerSlam main event. He says in one week time Monsoon is gonna name a new commissioner of the WWF and at that time his situation will be revisited. Bret says justice in America all you have to look at OJ to see they have no justice, one thing I’ve learned America will always find a way to screw ya. Bret tries to backtrack by saying he never meant if he loses at SSlam he would literally never wrestle in the US. He just meant it as a figure of speech He says that just means Americans will do anything to back you into a corner, but in Canada, we stick to our word. He says even though everything is stacked against me, I have nothing to be afraid of. And at the SummerSlam, whether you American’s like it or not I will be a 5th time WWF champion. Bret then challenges the Patriot to a match tonight.

Tonight: Shawn Michaels talks, AHMED JOHNSON IS BACKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!

Savio Vega & Miguel Perez (w/Los Boricuas) vs. The Legion of Doom
Standard LOD match, lots of no sell. Hawk gets iso but the Boricuas don’t work the head the just do a bunch of filler shit. The other Boricuas run in for the DQ. After the match; everyone brawls, the Godwinns jump Hawk on the floor and slop him.

Backstage: Hunter says Mankind is complaining about getting beat up by a woman. He says he’s okay with being locked up like an animal because I’m gonna show you how big of an animal I can be too.

Hunter and Vader come out for their match. Chyna goes to get in Vader's face, suddenly Mankind dresses as a camera man attacks Hunter from behind. Vader leaves, and Mankind gets the better of both Hunter and Chyna. They brawl into the crowd and to the back

Jesse Jammes, Flash Funk, & Bob Holly vs. The Truth Commission
Shitty stable, shitty squash, shitty names, shitty entrance. Monsoon takes credit for bringing in the Truth commission saying the WWF needs order, fuck you Monsoon.I didn’t mean it, I love you but still. One of these trash ass wrestlers hits a sidewalk slam for the win. looooooooooooooooooooool

Vince McMahon calls some kid and gives him free tickets to SSlam, this sounded so fake.

Backstage: The Patriot says he will never turn down an opportunity to defend his country, he says he doesn’t like Bret Hart that much and accepts the match.

Crush (w/DOA) vs. Faarooq (w/The Nation of Domination)
FUCK YEAH! AHMED IS BACK, HE’S DITCHED THE RED AND NOW HAS THE BLACK! HIS UNDERWEAR IS TIGHTER THAN BEFORE AND BY THE LOOKS OF HIS DURING THE INJURY HE’S JUST BEEN AT HOME EATING STERIODS AND NOT WORKING OUT! Oh, and he found the baby oil tonight. Crash still sucks and makes Faarooq even worse than he is usually. This goes a couple of minutes it turns into a big fight and the match is thrown out. Boricuas run out and powerbomb Crush on the ramp. YAWN!

The British Bulldog and Owen Hart join commentary

WWF Tag Team Championships: The Godwinns vs. Dude Love & Stone Cold Steve Austin
Obviously, the best Godwinns match due to Austin and Dude carrying this, the crowd being super hot for Austin and this going 6-7 minutes. Godwinns iso Dude, he doesn’t take insane Mankind/Jack bumps but he bumps well for these two sacks of shit. Austin’s hot tag rules, he hits a stunner but is knocked to the floor where Owen hits him in the head with the belt, Owen claims he only did it because he tried to steal his belt JR calls him out and says how can he steal your belt he had his back turn, and Owen says Austin tried to steal my belt with the back of his head The ref counts out Austin, so Austin jumps Owen. Everyone brawls and LOD come out for some revenge. The heel quickly runs away. **

Two geeks come out but are interrupted by Ken Shamrock. I forgot to mention in the last match, the Bulldog challenged Shamrock to an arm wrestling match.

More awful fake phone calls with Vince giving free tickets

The Bulldog comes out for the arm wrestling match, it’ pretty standard wrestling stuff. Go back and forth, Bulldog looks like he has it won, but Shamrock enters his zone and makes a comeback with help from the USA chants…………so Bulldog headbutts him and beats the shit out of him with a steel chair. Bulldog then covers Shamrock in dog food before leaving. Great angle.

Goldust (w/Marlena) vs. Rockabilly (w/Honky Tonk Man)
Goes about a minute before Rockabilly slaps Michael Moore, so Moore knocks him the fuck out with the greatest punch in wrestling history. Pillman attacks Goldust from begins and puts a dress in his mouth. Marlena jumps on Pillman’s back so refs and officials have to step in.

Video package of wrestlers putting over The Undertaker, Shawn, Bret and Bulldog.

Vince McMahon brings out Shawn Michaels. Vince asks will he say sorry for the remarks he made about Canada? Shawn says he doesn’t apologize to anyone about anything, he says one thing he knows is he is safer out here than backstage. He says he’s not here to win any popularity contest so he’s gonna take Vin man’s seat and take his place at the commentary table.

Backstage: Bret is pissed and is throwing a fit.

Bret demands the Canadian anthem be played, they play it in full. Shawn trolls by faking crying.

Bret Hart vs. The Patriot
Patriot now has Kurt’s theme but it’s in the early stages and sounds god awful. The Patriot comes out and gets the fans and the truck to play the American anthem. Bret being the classy man, lets it run for a few seconds before attacking him from behind. AWESOME! This goes about 7 minutes, Patriot is passable. But everything about him is so generic, he even moves like a create a wrestler. So during the commercial break, Bret had the Patriot in figure four about the ringpot and kept flipping off the ref while doing so. BRETGOAT! Bret targets the head and neck, but it’s not super obvious. Lots of punches and face rakes. The Patriot fucks up a corner spot and the ref gets bumped, Bret hits a piledriver but Hebner is still down. Shawn leaves commentary and gets involved which pisses Bret off. Bret stares down Shawn which allows the Patriot to schoolboy Bret for the win. Post-Match: Bret storms up the ramp but security stop him, Shawn then gets on the table to taught so Bret Storms down and challenges him. Suddenly, Taker’s gong goes off and RAW ends. ** - **1/4

 

[Deezy]

Michael Moore? Thanks guy who got knocked out by an old man.....And to think a few more than from now they get Mike Tyson.

 

[Crippler]

WWF Champion: The Undertaker
WWF Intercontinental Champion: Owen Hart
WWF Tag Team Champions: Stone Cold Steve Austin & Dude Love
WWF European Champion: The British Bulldog

WWF SummerSlam
August 3rd, 1997
East Rutherford, New Jersey

Commentary: Jim Ross, Vince McMahon & Jerry “The King” Lawler

Steel Cage Match: Hunter Hearst Helmsley (w/Chyna) vs. Mankind
It’s the ugly steel blue cage, the only way to win the match is through the door or over the top. Great opening with Hunter wanting no part of the match dives to the front door but Mankind catches him and they have a nice struggle, with Mankind pulling him back in. Hunter then tries to climb over the top but again is pulled back in. Mankind dominates early hitting all his stuff even a piledriver, he locks in the mandible claw but Chyna climbs the cage and begins choking Mankind from the outside with a belt to break the hold. A few minutes later Mankind begins climbing out but again Chyna interferes and does a straight punch to his balls. That allows Hunter to climb the cage and he hits a superplex off the top of the cage. Hunter looks like he has this won, but decides better and begins throwing Mankind into the sides of the cage. Hunter is now turning fully sadistic and just begins ramming his head off the steel bars and taking pleasure with every sickening thud Mankind’s head makes. Hunter tries to escape but Mankind pulls him back in and he takes over. He tries to use one of the metal bars to choke Hunter but again Chyna gets involved to briefly give Hunter control. Kinda weird but AWESOME spot is Mankind suplex’s Hunter into the cage but he did it in such a sake way that Hunter’s feet hook the top, so Mankind hits him with a crossbody into the cage. Mankind then pays Hunter back by throwing him into the cage but when he goes for another Piledriver Hunter backdrops him into the cage. At one point. Hunters feet gets hooked in between the ropes which allows Mankind to claw to the door, Chyna sees this so she runs over and slams Mankind’s head into the door. She takes out the ref and throws a steel chair in. Hunter goes for the pedigree but Mankind counters with a catapult into the cage and knocking Chyna down. He would hit the double arm DDT on the chair and begins to climb out. But as he sees he has the match won, he sees Hunter on the mat he takes off his mask and begins climbing back up…………..MANKIND THEN HITS THE ELBOW OFF THE TOP AND HAS HIS “SUPERFLY” MOMENT! Mankind starts climbing out the same time Chyna enters the ring and begins to pull Hunter out…………it’s a race to the end and Mankind drops down for the win. Mankind's music plays then randomly stops, and the Dude’s theme hits and Mankind begins feeling it andhe’s back up. Like I’ve said before, it’s in the convo as one of the best opening matches in wrestling history it’s with Bret/Owen, AJ/Cena/AJ and propably one of the MITB matches from 2010/2011. These two have amamzing chemistry and it would get better in 3 years. ***1/2 - ***3/4

If Pillman loses he will have to wear a dress on RAW: Goldust (w/Marlena) vs. Brian Pillman
This isn’t bad, Pillman is a shell of himself but he tries. This feels more like an extended TV match. Outside Goldust’s punches, he doesn’t bring much. They botch a sunset flip and Marlena hits Pillman with her purse probably loaded and Goldust rolls him up for the win. Post-Match: Pillman is pissed. *

Tonight's Attendance; 20, 213

The Godwinns vs. The Legion of Doom
This gets 10 minutes because Vince is testing me or hates me. Typical LOD match, run through you, run through you offense and no-sell your control. So yeah it’s boring LOD hit a spike piledriver for the win.

It’s announced One Night Only in the UK, the main event is Shawn Michels vs. The Bulldog for the Euro title.

WWF European Championship: The British Bulldog vs. Ken Shamrock
If The British Bulldog loses he would have had to eat a can of dog food. This is fine, Ken comes out hot with strikes and submission attempts. Bulldog hits this stiff clothesline and begins to take over. He works the head and neck he locks in some headlocks to slow the match down, and as I and the crowd slowly begin not giving a fuck Bulldog turns it up by throwing Ken around and Ken taking awesome bumps into the ring post, steel steps. Ken is bleeding from the mouth, back on the floor Bulldog throws dog food onto him about and Ken snaps. Ken smashes the dog food tin over Bulldogs head for the DQ. He then applies a sleeper in the ring and refuses to break even when Bulldog Is out. Refs and Officials do a terrible job breaking it up. And after 3 minutes, Ken breaks the hold………HE SNAPS AGAIN AND BEGINS BELLY-TO-BELLY SUPLEXING REFS AND EVEN PAT PATTERSON! **1/4 - **1/2

Backstage: Todd is with Shawn Michaels, Shawn says there is nothing between him and Bret He says it was settled at Mania last year He says he is her just to be a fair ref and to call it right down the middle.

Los Boricuas vs. The Disciples of Apocalypse
They start super hot with all 8 fighting, but sadly that lasts 30 seconds before they turn it into a traditional 8 man tag for 9 fuckin minutes UGH! WHY? Pretty shitty iso by both teams because all 8 fuckin’ suck. At one point the Nation come out to ringside to watch on. The match ends when the match breaks down, Chainz hits Ahmed so Ahmed hits him with a pearl river plunge onto the concrete. Savio rolls him back in and covers for the win. Afer the match; all 12 fight. YAWN! One of the smurfs tries to run them over with a bike as I see Ahmed again limping to the back, I swear if he injured himself again lmaolmao

Backstage: Michael Cole tries to interview Austin, Austin shoves him out of the way and refuses to answer, at the same time Owen is taking off one of the pads on the turnbuckle.

WWF Intercontinental Championship: Owen Hart vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin
If Stone Cold loses he will KISS Owen Hart’s ASS. Austin slips off Owen so when he turns his back to him and does his corner taunt Owen attacks Austin’s knee from behind. Super hot and awesome first 5 minutes, Owen is super aggressive in working the knee, and Austin’s comeback and control period is super hot and over too. Really face, crisp and smooth. Austin works the arm and it’s pretty sweet, he outsmarts Owen until a back elbow from Owen puts an end to that. Owen for revenge goes to work on Austin’s hand trying to break it, even showing a vicious side by biting it. Austin makes a comeback so Owen tries to leave, but Austin drags him back down. Owen begins targeting the head and neck and it's solid. Unfortunately, it gets cut off before Austin's comeback as Owen hits a Sit-Out Tombstone that breaks Austin's neck. Owen covers with a lot of taunting and celebrating as Austin recovers, and hits the worse schoolboy rollup in wrestling history to win. Shame that the injury happened when it did because this fuckin ruled and if it wasn’t cut short it could have beaten Hunter/Mankind for MOTN. *** - ***1/4

Bret Hart comes down to the ring and grabs a mic, He says he would like everyone to listen to the Canadian nation anthem, he dedicates this match to all his fellow Canadians and fans all over the world that feel the same way he does about America and Americans.

WWF World Heavyweight Championship: Bret Hart vs. The Undertaker (Special Referee: Shawn Michaels)
Okay, So if Bret doesn’t win the WWF championship he will never wrestle on American soil again, and if Shawn doesn’t call right down the middle he too would never wrestle on American soil again. This goes 30 minutes, IDK if that was the plan or did they get extra time due to the Owen/Austin match being cut short. Good fight on the floor which is won by Taker, Taker works the back but it doesn’t lead to anything as Bret no sells it and goes right into working Taker’s knee in vintage Bret fashion. Paul Bearer comes out to watch, Taker manages to fight out of the figure four and punches Bearer on the floor. Refs rush down and escort Paul to the back at Bret continues to work Takers knee, it feels like an eternity but it was just 10 minutes which in wrestling also feels like an eternity. Owen and Pillman come out to watch from ringside. Taker breaks free out of Bret’s knee work to fight Owen and Pillman on the floor, Shawn sends them to the back and Taker hits a chokeslam but Shawn doesn’t see Taker cover and misses it. Fuckin’ Bret just abandons 10 minutes of knee work to target Taker’s back. Seriously, it just keeps going for 15 more minutes. Seriously, there is only so much knee work, back work, and no selling I can take. They go back and forth now, Taker chokeslams him from the apron back into the ring but only get two. After 20+ Taker goes for old school, but Bret kicks the ropes from under him. He heads up top and connects with a superplex. He goes for the sharpshooter and locks it in, but Taker breaks the hold and Bret flys to the floor. Bret then applies this hilarious, god awful sharpshooter around the ringpost Taker again fights out sending Shawn into Bret knocking him out, Bret grabs a chair and nails Taker in the head but only gets a 2 count. Shawn sees a chair in the ring and argues with Bret about it, Bret spits right in Shawns face but when Shawn goes to swing the chair Bret ducks and he whips out Taker with it. Bret covers and Shawn has no choice but to count to three. Bret wins, Shawn leaves pissed and Taker follows after him. The fans begin to litter the ring, as the Hart Foundation come out to celebrate. Way too fuckin long, everything felt like a filler. **1/2

 

[Deezy]

Bret wins his 5th title, tying Hogan in a time when title reigns meant something.

Also, needed to make a bigger deal out of the mankind getting the door closed on his head, he said that was the most painful thing to ever happen to him and Chyna fucked up the finish by jumping in the ring too early.

 

[Crippler]

WWF Champion: Bret Hart
WWF Intercontinental Champion: Stone Cold Steve Austin
WWF Tag Team Champions: Stone Cold Steve Austin & Dude Love
WWF European Champion: The British Bulldog

WWF RAW is WAR: Episode 221
August 4th, 1997
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

The Hart Foundation come down to the ring, JR is already in the ring. JR says it was obvious that he provoked Shawn, by spitting in the man’s face. Bret says say your suppose to suffer for your crimes. Well, if you’re not suffering, maybe it not a crime. He says he proved last night that he is the best there is, best there was and the best there ever will be when he beat a dead man and a ref against me, as he favored the other guy the whole match. Bret says he stuck to his word the whole match, but what he can see is the WWF doesn’t. He says Shawn favored The Undertaker all match, a he's only here because he was smarter than both of those Americans. Bret says he wants WWF to stick to their word by having Shawn never wrestle on US soil again. JR announces it will be the Patriot/Bret at Ground Zero. Bret says unlike last night, Patriots win was a fluke and everyone knows it, he says the Patriot means nothing to him. Bret says the Bulldog means something to him, and says Ken will never get another rematch again. As for Pillman, the Hart Foundation doesn’t wear dresses. He says Pillman has too much class to wear a stupid dress, and what happened to Owen was American justice. Owen says he did a stupid thing last night by showing compassion for Austin, and he beat himself. But in doing that, he broke his neck and he ended Austin's career. He says Austin should forfeit the belt since he'll never wrestle again. JR then introduces the new WWF commissioner…………………. Sgt. Slaughter. Slaughter says he’s the sheriff in town, he makes the rules around here. His first act will be the Patriot/Bret with the title on the line. Bulldog will have another match with Ken and it will be soon, Pillman WILL have to wrestle in a dress tonight or he’ll be suspended. And Owen will have a rematch with Steve Austin as soon as he’s cleared. Stone Cold comes out on the stage, he has his neck brace in his hand to this huge pop. Austin challenges Owen right now and says he ain’t wearing no neck brace, the bottom line is Owen is a loser because it runs through his veins. Tonight he will open a can of whoop-ass and show him what Austin 3:16 means.

Last Night: The fans blame Shawn Michaels, one girl calls Shawn a traitor. Some fat fuck calls Shawn an idiot. Loooooooooooooooooool did the fans not see Bret spit in his face?

Vince Announces Faarooq vs. Savio Vega vs. Crush at Ground Zero

Backstage: Faarooq says the Nation showed up last night to send everyone a message. Ahmed says you can take the boy out the hood, but you can’t take the hood out the boy.

Ken Shamrock vs. KAMA
Before the match, Slaughter comes out and sends the Nation to the back. Nice will stiff fight, tons of punches and kicks at one point the Savio and one of his other geeks come out, they suplex Kama on the floor behind the ref and Ken’s back. They roll him back in and Ken hits a belly-to-belly for the win.

BRAKUS IS COMING!

Sunny comes out to do ring introductions, her face isn’t looking bad but DAT CLEAVAGE IS A1

TAKA Michinoku vs. Brian Christopher
TAKA does what he can, Lawler kid is just awful he’s still stuck in that Memphis mode of doing a move, taunt, do a move laugh and taunt some more. It’s just awful. TAKA counters a suplex into a small package for the win. After the match; Lawler argues with the ref. So Lawler kid slingshots Taka to the floor. You know the match is over right, you can jump him in front of the ref. **

Backstage: Slaughter hands Pillman a dress, Pillman refuses and Slaughter says he will have to wear a dress every week on RAW until he beats someone and if he doesn’t he’ll be suspended.

Still to come: Shawn Michaels & Owen/Austin

Hunter Hearst Helmsley (w/Chyna) vs. Vader (w/Paul Bearer)
Real fun back and forth match, Vader beats the shit out him for the first 2 minutes or so, before Hunter gets his shots in. Bearer interferes so Chyna takes him out with a dropkick, which brings Vader out. Vader and Hunter brawl on the floor and get double counted out.

The Sultan (w/The Iron Sheik) vs. The Patriot
They get into a flag waving contest, but with Patriot being the dumb ass American he turns his back allowing the Sultan to attack him from behind with a flag stick. His goes about a minute thankfully, Sultan does a bunch of shit until the Patriot hits the half-nelson slam for the win.

Bret, Owen, and Bulldog walk out but Slaughter pulls Owen and Bulldog to the back, Bret doesn’t know it. But as soon as he does from begins The Patriot attacks him SMH! They get into a brawl but refs and officials break it up.

Vince McMahon is in the ring and brings out Shawn Michaels, the thots and some kids are cheering, grown men are now openly booooo’ing. IDK how Shawn turned heel off the accidently chair shot, but fuckit. Shawn sure is moving like he’s never had a knee problem in his life, this whole knee injury is so fake it worse than Naomi’s. Vince says if it hadn't been for him Taker would still be champ, Shawn says the entire world and people in the back are now dumping this in his lap. He tells Vince to shut up and says it’s just like him, Bret and the fans of the WWF to not take responsibility and to blame him. SHAWN says he doesn’t give a damn what people think of him, he says he went out last night and did one hell of a job. Vince asks him if he’s in cahoots with Bret, Shawn says he always knew Vince was an idiot but now this confirms he is the dumbest son of a bitch he’s ever met Vince is now pissed and books Taker/Shawn at ground zero and leaves pissed Shawn says he is not in cahoots with Bret, they hate each other. He says Bret needs him because he is the only one in the WWF to beat his ass. Undertaker, he says he's never crossed paths with The Undertaker for the 7 years he's been here. THE HEARTBREAK KID LAYS DOWN FOR ABSOLUTELY NO ONE! Undertaker the next time you see Shawn Michaels……………..The crowd begins to BOOOOOO so Shawn tells them to go to hell and says he will kicks Takers teeth down his throat. The Undertaker comes out, and when he turns the lights on, Shawn is gone. Vince is back in the ring with the mic and Taker says he's not going to say how mad and how bad he is because he's done way too much talking and it's time to get back to taking souls and making people rest in peace. Shawn Michaels you will have to look me in the eyes and you will have to pay for your crimes. Paul Bearer appears on the Tron, he calls Taker a criminal and a murderer. He tells him to beat on and make fun of the fat man, and Kane is ready! He's waited 20 years, but he's coming. HE'S COMING! YOU'RE A MURDERER! HE'S COMING! Taker goes to leave, but instead of the blue lighting, it's now red.

In the back; a doctor says, Austin is not cleared for tonight

Ahmed Johnson vs. Chainz
Before the match; Slaughter comes out and kicks all the gang members to the back because he knows no one wants to see this shit. This goes about a minute, it’s god awful Ahmed wins with a pearl river plunge after Savio comes down to distract him by getting on his bike. After the match; DOA circle the Nation in the ring, they help Ahmed up………………..BUT INSTEAD TURN ON AHMED HAHAHAHAHAHA they beat him down 3-1 as DOA leave. They attack Ahmed’s knee and Faarooq whips him with a belt.

The Godwinns vs. The Headbangers
FUCKIN’ HELL THIS MIGHT BE THE WORSE BOOKED CARD IN RAW history, this is shit everyone here sucks just do stuff I don’t care I hate you WWF mid-card you are truly the worse to ever do it. Godwinns win.

Vince announces it’s now Owen Hart vs. Dude Love

Goldust and Marlena come out to watch on from the front row, even though they came down the ramp.

Brian Pillman vs. Bob Holly
The streak continues, they do a whole bunch of nothing until Pillman is distracted once Marlena pulls out a bra for him so he gets counted out trying to grab the bra or her. AWFUL!

Bret Hart comes out to join commentary, Vince is pissed about and Slaughter comes out to warn him too. Bret then says Shawn Michaels didn’t have to pass a kind of freak test to do commentary or a ref and Vince is dead silent. BRET THE GAOT!

Owen Hart vs. Dude Love
Clearly, the best match on the card but not the greatest, Dude works the arm but Owen no sells it. Dude’s offense is pretty bad, Vince calls Bullshit on Lawler now cheering on Bret now that he’s champ so that’s pretty awesome. Owen turns it into second gear and carries the match by himself, high flying and moves. Bulldog comes down to distract the ref which allows Bret to slam Dude’s head into the post. Austin marches out and acts like he wants to fight Bret but he picks up one of Owen’s Sammy's and nails him in the head as everyone is trying to maintain order. Dude covers for the win. **1/4

 

[Crippler]

WWF Champion: Bret Hart
WWF Intercontinental Champion: Stone Cold Steve Austin
WWF Tag Team Champions: Stone Cold Steve Austin & Dude Love
WWF European Champion: The British Bulldog

WWF RAW is WAR: Episode 222
August 11th, 1997
Biloxi, Mississippi

JR is in the ring and Shawn Michaels comes out. JR announces it will be Shawn/Mankind here tonight FUCK YEAH! Shawn says first; let’s recap what’s going on lately. WWF asked me to be the ref at SummerSlam and I was told if I didn’t call that match fairly I wouldn’t be allowed to wrestle in the united states. Well, I had a job to do and I did it. Now, it's like this either you with me or against me. This match with Mankind, I had to find while I was at home watching WWF superstars because the man that runs the WWF doesn’t have the guys to call me on the phone. Mankind you, SHAWN IS GAY! Chants break out and Shawn says “Why don’t you ask your mother and your sister how gay Shawn is?” and he does a little crotch chop. Shawn says, Mankind I’ll see you in a few, he invites the Undertaker to watch his match tonight. He says the WWF and their officials have not put him on their private hit list, the new commish Slaughter is calling the shots and if he thinks he is gonna stick is huge chin in his business he has another thing coming. Slaughter comes out now and says he is putting his jaw in his business and his decisions are for the betterment of the WWF, not Shawn Michaels. And as far as his match tonight, it's time for Shawn to put up and shut up and finally do something. Shawn says no one talks to him this way, and he will do something about it. He says he feels his life is in danger and he's got another insurance policy! Tonight, Mankind will get some Sweet CHIN Music and there's nothing anyone can do about it. AND THAT'S AN ORDER!

Majority of the fans pick HBK to wins tonight match

Backstage: Hawk is whipping some cans, as Animal cheers him on.

Owen Hart & The Bulldog come out for commentary

Country Whipping Match: Road Warrior Hawk (w/Road Warrior Animal) vs. Henry Godwinn (w/Phinnis Godwinn)
So the only way to win this match is to whip your opponent until he leaves the ringlmao They do some stuff, whips and using the best to choke the other. It’s really bad. Vince announces a 4-wa for the title. Owen/Bulldog vs. LOD vs. Godwinns vs. Dude Love with No Austin. Owen and Bulldog both want to fight The Patriot. This is awful, and Hawk wins after he hits Henry in the head with the bucket and he goes over the top? SO THIS WAS PRETTY MUCH A FUCKIN OVER THE TOP ROPE MATCH? FUCK OFF!

Backstage: Slaughter gives Pillman his dress for the night.

Goldust and Marlena come out for commentary

Tony Williams vs. Scott Putski
Putski/Lawler's Kid is booked for Ground Zero, AWFUL! And this is awful. Goldust says they have a big surprise for everyone, the latest Shattered Dreams Production, and it's a camera shot of Pillman's dressing room as he puts on the dress. GTV, before GTV, was a thing. Putski wins terrible. Slaughter comes out and gets Goldust and Marlena to leave.

Flash Funk vs. Brain Pillman
This is fine, but it’s mostly spent to talk about Lawler on ECW this Sunday on PPV, Slaughter announces on split screen it will be Owen/Bulldog vs. Patriot and ???? Goldust and Marlena came out, they show the footage of Pillman putting on the dress again and Pillman is distracted, so Funk rolls him up for the win.

Still to come: Shawn/Mankind, but up next Dude Love.

A replay of Austin breaking his next at SummerSlam, and last week's RAW.

Vince McMahon is in the ring and introduces Dude Love. Vince asks if he has an update on Austin, Dude says the ice man is at home, but he sent his newest bestest buddy and his right-hand man out here to tell you that Stone Cold will be back soon. Vince asks him about the 4-way, Dude says brother and daddy a lot it pretty terrible. Vince asks for his pick for Mankind/Shawn Michaels, and Dude says he knows both men and he's got a good feeling Mankind will win. In the back, Shawn interrupts and hopes someone knocks out Dude so he wakes up in the 21st century. He says he wants to make one thing clear Dude is not him, and Dude isn't even himself and he's an idiot. He says Dude's alter ego is going to see the new insurance policy of HBK live and in living color.

Owen Hart & The British Bulldog come out, The Patriot follows……………………KEN SHAMROCK IS THE MYSTERY PARTNER!

Owen Hart & The British Bulldog vs. The Patriot & Ken Shamrock
Patriot now has the full Kurt theme now. This is fine but it’s way too much Patriot as they try to build him up as a credible threat, it doesn’t work. Owen and Bulldog iso Ken which is a ton of fun, Bret Hart comes out on the stage to watch before the commercial break. Patriots hot tag is babyface 101 stuff, knocking heads and flying shoulder tackle. At one point, Bulldog and the Patriot double clothesline one another, Owen slides a chair in and goes to taunt Ken on the floor. On the ramp, Slaughter stops Bret from coming down. But in the ring, the Patriot hits a full nelson slam onto the chair for the win. God damn American cheater.

Clips air of Bret Hart in Canada.

Backstage: Shawn is talking to his insurance policy, we only see the back of his head but it’s a dead giveaway. LOL WWF

Backstage: The Patriot says Bret is great but not unbeatable, but Bret attacks him from behind but is pulled off by refs and officials

Faarooq vs. Chainz
This is god awful but never mind that. Vince says Ahmed reinjured his knee lmao The ref gets bumped and ROCKY MAIVIA RUNS OUT………………..He HITS CHAINZ WITH THE ROCK BOTTOM! Faarooq covers, and he wins. ROCK DOES THE NATION POSE WITH FAAROOQ! FINALLY ROCKY CAN BECOME AMAZING!

Backstage: The camera tries to spy on the NEW Nation but Faarooq kicks them out, DOA try to attack but the door is locked so they yell at one another like smurfs.

Sable comes down wearing this amazing leather, real tight black leather outfit. But the fuckin’ Patriot comes out and grabs the mic, he says he can take any man one on one, but their’s every little I can do when a man jumps me from behind. He challenges Bret to come out right now. Bret Hart walks out with the Canadian flag, the Patriot gets the better but, OWEN, BULLDOG, AND PILLMAN COME RUN DOWN TO ATTACK PATRIOT! YES! It’s a 4-1 beating, refs try to stop but can’t. Bret buries the Patriot under the flag before choking him with it. The Hart Foundation eventually leave as the Patriot is helped up.

BRAKUS COMING SOON!

Shawn Michaels vs. Mankind
No secret I'm gay for Shawn's attire and color schemes. I love the San Antonio one, I love, love, love the Zebra with gold one. But tonight Shawn has my all time favorite one on it’s White with Gold, it’s so simple yet so amazing, nothing is better than white and gold, apart from black and gold maybe. Or Red and Gold. No that I got my fruity fashion erection out the way, this match is AWESOME! It’s about 8 or 9 minutes long. Mankind comes out with a trash can but Shawn jumps him when he brings it in. Shawn begins using it as a weapon. Shawn gets too cocky which allows, which allows Mankind to apply the mandible claw. They brawl onto the floor where Shawn backdrops him onto the announce table, as Mankind tries to get up. SHAWN HITS A FUCKIN’ ELBOW DROP ONTO THE TABLE BUT THE ELBOW ACTIULLY HITTING HE BACK OF MANKIND! Shawn does an amazing job, turning on the aggression its shades of Mind Games and this new Heel HBK just being a dick, Shawn hits the elbow off the top but when he goes for Sweet Chin Music, Mankind ducks and again applies the mandible claw. The flaw to the floor which Mankind still applying the claw, but Shawn viciously rams the back of Mankind’s head off the ring post to break the hold. He follows that with a back suplex through the table. Hunter and Chyna come out as we go to a commercial.

When we return Shawn pulls the Mankind mask off and starts beating him with it, this is brutal and amazing. Shawn wants to slow things down tries to wear him down with a sleeper but that doesn’t last long. Shawn continues to cheat, but Mankind refuses to stay down. Mankind comeback is great as he begins turning up the violence with strikes, Shawn bumps and sells better than anyone………….RICK RUDE COMES OUT! As Mankind hits the double arm DDT, but both men are down. Hunter trips up Mankind, as Rude nails Mankind with a chair as the ref is distracted with Chyna. Mankind slowly gets to his feet, but when he turns around walks right into Sweet Chin Music and Shawn covers for the win. AWESOME TV! Match, just fuckin’ great. Fuckin’ Shawn man, how is it every time he comes back he has literally no ring rust ever. Just insane. ***1/2

After the match; The Undertaker comes out as Shawn plays it off as he;s scared but he has Hunter, Rick, and Chyna all around the ring. Suddenly, Paul Bearer’s is on the TRON and says, "THE TIME IS DRAWING NEAR, UNDERTAKER! KANE IS COMING AND YOU WILL BURN IN HELL! I PROMISE YOU, DEAD MAN, YOU WILL BURN IN HELL!" THE BLUE LIGHTING IS NOW RED, AND A WALL OF FIRE IS ON THE STAGE!

 

[Deezy]

Scott Putski, the underrated goat of light heavyweights

 

[Crippler]

WWF Champion: Bret Hart
WWF Intercontinental Champion: Stone Cold Steve Austin
WWF Tag Team Champions: Stone Cold Steve Austin & Dude Love
WWF European Champion: The British Bulldog

WWF RAW is WAR: Episode 223
August 18th, 1997
Atlantic City, New Jersey

Vince McMahon is in the ring and brings out “Ravishing” Rick Rude. Rude asks for the music to be cut and says what I’d like to have right now is for all you fat, out of shape Atlantic City Sweathogs. Button your lips; open your eyes to what a real man has to say. Vince asks him about last week, Rude says he is an insurance salesman. Short term, long term, life, disability, you supply the buck, he'll supply the bang. Vince asks who paid was it, Hunter or Shawn, Rude says he was paid a handsome sum to get a job done, and he's muscle for money. He said Vince could use some insurance too and refuses to say who he's working for. He says If you want to be in good hands, get Rude. It pays. Vince asks him about protection and Rude says once the premium is paid, someone's in for a Rude Awakening.

Tonight: JR interview with Stone Cold Steve Austin, Hunter/Shawn vs. Undertaker/Mankind & LOD vs. Hart Foundation

Backstage: Commish Slaughter and Shawn Michaels are yelling at one another, no audio so we can’t hear what’s said.

Owen Hart & The British Bulldog vs. The Legion of Doom
Pretty standard stuff, LOD don’t do the usual LOD run through you offense, instead Owen and Bulldog control for the whole match. They iso Hawk it’s decent, Hawk just goes with it, no real effort, he might be drunk. Animals hot tag is just as lame. The Godwinns come out and they hit Animal with the slop bucket and Bulldog covers to win. After the match; all 6 brawl, Owen, and Bulldog smartly leave and leave the other 4 to fight.

In the boiler room; Mankind says his mind had not yet forgiven him, and his body cannot forget. But now, Undertaker. The WWF say we’ve got to be a team. So who knows, I may be the most loyal partner you’ve ever had, or I might be the final nail in your coffin. Have a nice day.

Backstage: Shawn says the WWF are still giving him the shaft, he’s sick of getting thrown to the lions. You keep puts him in a corner, they'll deserve what comes out of it.

Sunny comes out to do the ring introductions.

Brian Christopher vs. Flash Funk
This is fine, better than fine. Quite enjoyable, Funk flys around and Lawler's kid bumps for him. Sadly he hits a stroke and goes into his shitty move-taunt-move-taunt offense, it’s so bad. YOUR NOT FUCKIN OVER OR HATED! NO ONE CARES ABOUT WHEN LAWLER YOUR DAD ISN’T WITH YOU! Lawler leaves commentary and asks his kid to do the piledriver, but he shakes him off which allows Funk to crotch him. Funk then hits the 450 for the win. After the match; Lawler and his kid get into an argument. **

Backstage: The Undertaker says Shawn Michaels won’t make it to Ground Zero and if Mankind gets out of line, he’ll take him out just like he’s gonna take out Shawn Michaels.

The Sultan (w/The Iron Sheik) vs. Ken Shamrock
This goes a couple of minutes, It's pretty much a Ken showcase, he hits the belly-to-belly on both the Sultan and Sheik before forcing the Sultan to tap to the ankle lock.

JR hypes up his interview with Steve Austin……..BUT instead, the NEW, NEW Nation of Domination come out. They demand JR join them in the ring for this interview. Faarooq says everyone wants to know about Ahmed, well under all that thick Ahmed black skin……….HE IS A WHITE MAN THAT’S DYING TO GET OUT He says Ahmed couldn’t be white if they sandblasted your ass 20 times. He says he took Savio and Crush out of the trashcan and made them in the WWF, and they want to challenge him to a street fight? HE IS THE STREET. He'll bring the streets to them on Ground Zero, and he points out Rocky Maivia. He says this man tried to do things the American way, kissing babies and shaking hands, but he found out that it isn’t the way to do it. Rocky found out that anything in this world worth getting is something the Nation stands for. Rocky says he's got three words. "DIE, ROCKY, DIE!" "That's the gratitude I get from you pieces of crap? For all my blood, sweat, and my tears? This isn't about the color of my skin, this is about respect. I became the youngest IC Champion in WWF history, but what did it get me? Across the country. I heard chants of "ROCKY SUCKS!" Rocky Maivia is a lot of things, but sucks aren't one of them. He says the DOA epitomizes racism, he says the Nation is all about respect, and they'll earn it BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY! In the parking lot; DOA yells some garbage about kicking ass and taking names, they challenge them to fight in the parking lot.

Backstage: Hunter and Chyna are standing by, Hunter says he’s not scared of Mankind or the Undertaker, he then questions his match and Vince, he says Shawn Michaels does the crime and I pay the time again? You want a war with Shawn, go ahead……….BUT IF YOU WANT A WAR WITH ME YOU GOT ONE! Vince then cuts away to the parking lot; DOA and The Nation brawl, as that’s going on in the background Los Boricuas steal the DOA's bikes and ride off lmaolmao

Jessie James vs. Brian Pillman
The dress rules are still in effect, only way Pillman can stop wrestling a dress is to win a match on RAW. I think this goes about a minute, it’s a whole bunch of nothing. Pillman looks to have this won when Goldust comes in and attacks Jessie James for the DQ. So James wins via DQ which means Pillman still has to wear a dress. Michael Cole interviews Goldust and says Pillman looks so cute he wants to see it again next week, Pillman grabs a mic and he challenged Goldust to a match at Ground Zero to end this. He says if Goldust beats him, he'll leave the WWF forever, and Goldust is cool with this. Pillman says if he wins, he gets Marlena as his personal property for 30 days. Goldust says no, and he's not putting his wife on the line. Pillman then claims he's the father of Dakota, GOLDUST IS PISSED AND RUSHES DOWN TO THE RING! Pillman bails.Marlena says that's not true at all and accepts the challenge.

Backstage: Vader says the Patriots colors are Red, White and Blue but when he gets done with him he’ll be Black & Blue because IT’S TIME! IT’S VADER TIME!

Vader (w/Paul Bearer) vs. The Patriot
Bret Hart comes out onto the stage to watch on. Vader does what he can to make this CAW look credible for a few minutes, Patriot cheats by crotching Vader into the ring post. Vader counters a sunset flip and drops all his weight onto the Patriots' chest, Vader begins working it. It’s fine, Vader doesn’t really have any moves directed to the chest outside run someone over or the Vader bomb. The Patriot hits the Full Nelson Slam out of nowhere for the win. After the match; The Patriot stares down Bret on the ramp, so Vader attacks him from behind. Bret Hart gets in and puts the Canadian flag on Patriot as Vader is about to hit the Vader Bomb. He sees the flag and gets down. He has words with Bret about it, VADER THEN PICKS UP THE CANADIAN FLAG AND BREAKS IT OVER HIS KNEE! FUCK YEAH! VADER! Bret and Vader brawl now, until Bulldog and Owen run down to join. Sarge and referees come out, and it is broken up. **

Jim Ross’s interview with Stone Cold Steve Austin, it goes about 5 minutes Austin talks about how scared he was when the neck injury first happen. But now he’s moving, he says he’s pissed off and Owen will get his. Austin says he’s gonna see the top spine guy in the world, but the decision is his and regardless of what the doc says Owen will get the shit kicked out of him. He says he’s gonna do what he wants, he’ll probably take a few days or weeks off but he will be back. Austin says he will be at ground zero.

Hunter Hearst Helmsley & Shawn Michaels (w/Chyna) vs. Mankind & The Undertaker
Fun little dream match of sorts, it mostly about Shawn doing his best to avoid Taker at all cost. Mankind does a phenomenal job fighting off both Shawn and Hunter, while Taker looks disinterested on the apron. Taker and Hunter get into it with Shawn on the apron doing whatever it takes to get a few cheap shots in before running away. Before the commercial, Shawn signals to the back and out comes Rude when we return Hunter and Shawn are back in control, as they isolate Mankind. A cool little sequence with Shawn beeing too quick for Mankind and sucker him in with a blind tag, they do the high-low double team spot. Taker’s hot tag ruled as Taker is at is best against smaller guys who will bump their ass off for him and when Taker can just murder you with offense. Shawn takes this amazing bump off a straight right hand and he drops from the ring apron to the steel rails. On the floor, Taker has Shawn in the double-handed chokeslam but drops him just before Rude can hit him with a chair. He stares Rude down, back in the ring Taker hits a chokeslam on Hunter but Shawn comes in and murders him with a sick chair shot. THAT FUCKIN’ CHAIR IS BENT AF! Taker is now busted open but gets back to his feet where Shawn again hits him with the chair. Taker sits up, as the heels bail. The match was obviously thrown out and via DQ. **3/4

 

[Crippler]

So according to the WWE Network, this was the last raw for two weeks. I did some research and that is correct RAW was not on Monday. But instead we got WWF Friday Night's Main Event as a replacement, but seeing how that's not added to the network I'm just gonna skip it because fuckit. Also weird how they never advertised it or even mentioned it once, if this was today's wrestling show would have been brought up every 10 minutes for a month straight.

The only thing that sucks about this is one of the WWF Friday shows took place on August 29th, which would have been my 6th birthday Young fab remembers that well, went to Pizza hut for their buffet and got so many lego toys. Who would have known in just under a months time my life would change forever.............More to come.

Up Next: Ground Zero

 

[Deezy]

DOA epitomize racism.....How could a group of white bikers with two skin head twins with SS tattoos epitomize racism?

 

[Crippler]

DOA epitomize racism.....How could a group of white bikers with two skin head twins with SS tattoos epitomize racism?

 

[Deezy]

Total babyfaces.

 

[Crippler]

WWF Champion: Bret Hart
WWF Intercontinental Champion: Stone Cold Steve Austin
WWF Tag Team Champions: Stone Cold Steve Austin & Dude Love
WWF European Champion: The British Bulldog

WWF In Your House: Ground Zero
September 7th, 1997
Louisville, Kentucky

Commentary: Vince McMahon, Jim Ross & Jerry “The King” Lawler

Goldust (w/Marlena) vs. Brian Pillman
So if Goldust wins, Pillman is gone from the WWF. But if Pillman wins, he gets Marlena as his personal assistant for 30 days. Pillman is not wearing a dress anymore, so I guess that angle is done. SMH! Goldust who is pissed after Pillman claimed he is Dakota's papi jumps Pillman on the floor, Vince says before Marlena got with Dustin/Goldust she was banging Pillman, BRAH! Don’t you think this should have been brought up before tonight? The match is fine, not as hate filled like I would have liked but Goldust is on and brings the good strikes, and Pillman bumps his ass off. Pillman tries to work the neck but forgets then does some stuff before going back to it so Goldust doesn’t really sell it, I don’t blame him. Goldust doesn’t really have a comeback, he just gets a few moves in. At one point, Goldust goes for the certain call but the ref gets poked in the eye, Marlena goes to hit Pillman with the loaded purse but Pillman blocks it. He grabs the purse and nails Goldust with it and covers for the win. After the match; Pillman drags Marlena to the back, Goldust awakes and runs after them. Lawler then goes into the ring to get the purse. He pulls out a BRICK! **1/2 - **3/4

In the back; Pillman puts Marlena in a car and drives off.

Backstage: Goldust is losing his shit, he begins tearing up his locker room and shit.

Scott Putski vs. Brian Christopher
Usual awfulness, but with a twist. Putski breaks his ankle or leg on the floor after Lawler's kid fucks up a dive to the floor, so they stop it. That and the crowd chanting “Jerry’s Kid” were the only highlights. Putski just lays on the floor and is carted to the back, what a pussy. Lawler joins his kid and taunts him.

Savio Vega vs. Faarooq vs. Crush
I’m guessing all stable members are barred from ringside, cause everyone comes out alone. It feels like they want to drag this shit out till Survivor Series cause they are trying their best to no have multi-man tag matches. This shit could have been over on this show. This goes 11 minutes, it’s so AWFUL! Lots of punchy, kicky shit. I did like they basically had all 3 in the ring the whole time instead of the 1-1, and the other on the floor for the majority. Savio hits Crush with a spin kick and covers for the win.

El Torito vs. Max Mini
Now I normally don’t have a problem with little midget wrestlers getting a match on PPV for filler, but 9 minutes, 9 FUCKIN’ MINUTES VINCE? REALLY? The Sad thing is this is the best match so far and like the 2nd best match on the card. A bunch of cool spots, dives, crisp Lucha style with added comedy which got the crowd back into the show after the last 2 atrocious matches. At one point, Max Mini runs and hops on Lawler lap, JR says just pretend it was Brian when he was a kid. Then right on Que, the crowd start a “Lawler’s Kid” chant Max wins off a sunset flip. **1/2

Video package airs of Stone Cold’s injury, in the package Slaughter suspends Austin and says it’s for his well-being, he also orders Austin to forfeit his half of the tag team titles.

JR and Commish Slaughter are in the ring, Slaughter says being the commish is not an easy job. He says he owes it to all the WWF fans to do his job and to do it to the best of his abilities. JR brings out Dude Love, Dude says he’s usually a happy cat, but he had to make a tough decision. He could try to defend the titles by himself, but that wouldn’t be right. Austin brought him to this dance, so he relinquishes the tag titles. JR then brings out Stone Cold Steve Austin. He and Slaughter go face to face, he tells JR to blow it out his ass. He tells Vince to knock that stupid look off his face or he’ll come out and stop his ass into the ground. He says he’s seen enough of him getting dropped on his head. He says he knows and believes he can wrestle, Son. And that’s an order. He asks Slaughter if he wants the belt, to drop down and give him 20 you piece of trash. Austin then throws the belt on the ground and tells Slaughter to pick it up and that’s an order, or he’ll knock his ass off. Slaughter picks up the titles and leaves, Austin says the WWF makes him sick. JR says he is the toughest SOB in the WWF and hopes his recovery goes fast. Austin grabs a MIC…………………BUT STUNS JR INSTEAD!!!!! AWESOME POP! Patterson, Brisco, Vince and Slaughter all come out to check on JR. Dude holds Austin back and gets him to leave.

Backstage: Dox is with Owen and Bulldog, Owen says it’s a load of crap. JR is a special friend and he didn’t deserve it. He says Americans cheering that is just plain wrong, and he will be lobbying to see Stone Cold not only fined and suspended, but he should be put behind bars. Not only should they have stripped them of the tag belts, they should have given me the IC title back. Bulldog says even though he’s from Oklahoma he didn’t deserve that.

Fatal 4 Way for the WWF Tag Team Championships: The Headbangers vs. The Godwinns vs. Owen Hart & The British Bulldog vs. The Legion of Doom
You see this is why IYH should never be 3 hours because matches like this when only 2 guys can work and can’t carry 6 sacks of shit for 17 MOTHERFUCKIN’ MINUTES! I guess this is an elimination match, cause after 13 terrible minutes of LOD/Headbangers/Godwinns, LOD is DQ'd for killing the Godwinns with the buckets and then the Headbangers beat the Godwinns. Owen and Bulldog finally get into the ring, kayfabe wise is smart let the dumb fucks eliminate one another and pick up the pieces, but for the views at home is terrible because not enough Owen and Bulldog. Owen and Bulldog do what they can but this continues to fill like a filler until Austin runs back out and hits Owen with the Stunner, and the fucking Headbangers cover for the win. FUCK EVERYTHING! *

​

Backstage: JR tells Slaughter this isn’t right, and something needs to be done. Slaughter says this won’t happen again. JR says the fans love it but they can kiss my 3:16 ass. He tells Slaughter to tell Vince if this shit happens again, his ass with be gone.

A Patriot video package airs, from his college football days to footage of his Japanese tours. MISAWA SIGHTING!

Backstage: Sunny interviews The Patriot, he says he’s beaten Bret once and will do it again. He says if anyone sticks their nose in tonight he will fight them. Patriot then makes his entrance

Backstage: Michael Cole interviews Bret Hart, Bret says he is the WORLD champion and he may not have any fans in the US anymore, but that’s because America doesn’t know what a hero is anymore. Bret says what he does to the Patriot is what he will be doing to the US fans. Oh man, I miss interviews before the main event, just like I miss the backstage walk before the main event too. Made everything feel so real and meaningful.

WWF World Heavyweight Championship: The Patriot vs. Bret Hart
And the streak of long ass matches continues. Granted Bret was at the point where Vince trust’s him more than anything so giving him 19 minutes seemed fine, but the Patriot in 19 minutes is laughable. Bret is good in this. Patriot works the arm, it’s better than expected and Bret sells it temporarily until he just starts working the legs in vintage Bret fashion. Patriot hobbles around like twice, so he no sells and Bret just randomly hitting back breakers I guess he’s done with the back and knows theirs only so much knee work and no sell anyone can take. Bulldog interferes about 3 times, so Vader comes out to even the odds. The ref allows Vader to beat the shit out of Bret and rolls him back in, Patriot begins to fire himself up as Bret says that should be a DQ. The Patriot hits his shitty Patriot missile which is just a flying should block off the top for a two. Bret does this AWSOME stun gun counter, he mistimes the drop onto the top rope so when he drops down he misses it and the Patriot goes throat first onto the middle rope. The ref gets bumped as The Patriot his the uncle slam, uncle tom slam for two. Both men get double KO’ed off double clotheslines, Patriot being a terrible rub it in American goes for Bret’s own sharpshooter, thankfully Bret grabs his leg and reverses into his own and the Patriot “passes out” even though we see him moving on the mat and full conscious after the match. Bret continues to kick away at him, he murdered him with a piledriver and breaks the American flag over the ring post. But Bret isn’t done, he begins choking the Patriot with the flag until he is physically pulled off. **1/4

Backstage: Michael Cole interviews Bret, Bret calls the whole of the US and all their wrestler's losers.

Backstage: Shawn Michaels says he’s too jacked up to rest, and he doesn’t rest in piece for anybody. He says some other stuff but he’s too coked up to make sense.

Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker
So this is fuckin’ awesome, underrated and underappreciated. Cool thing is during Shawn’s entrance as he does with pose with the pyro in the background, it doesn’t go off at the right time Shawn does a jackoff pose knowing the crew fucked up, Vince claims it must be an omen and Taker had something to do with it. The Undertaker comes out and Shawn does a great job cowering behind the ref, so what does taker do? HE PUNCHES THE REF KNOCKING HIM OUT! AWESOME! Shawn tries to bail, so Sarge makes him go back in. Taker beats the shit out of him in amazing fashion. One thing I love about Coke/Drunk/Pilled up 1997 Main Event HBK is his bumping and facial expressions are the greatest ever. He does this one spot up the ramp where he’s banging on the set door as Taker pulls him by the hair, just like in the movies as one man tries o escape but the murderer catches him and drags him back to his death. Shawn takes amazing back bump onto the steel ramp and Taker proceeds to beat the shit out of him for 10 minutes until Earl Hebner comes down to ring the bell. Taker has a few choice words with Heber which allows Shawn to chop block Taker’s knee and finally get some offense in. He briefly gets some shots in before Taker fights back to which Shawn’s bumps better than anybody ever for Taker’s punches and moves. This really is the HBK show. Shawn counters old school by kicking the top rope, crotching him. Taker catches him on a plancha attempt and rams him back-first into the ring post twice before briefly targeting it. I love that nothing that Shawn did could keep Taker down, he kept coming back and Shawn kept running for separation. Shawn brings a chair in but Taker counters and grabs the chair himself, Earl stops him from using it which allows Shawn to dropkick him from behind take both Taker and Earl out. Shawn hits the elbow off the top twice for two. Rude comes out and hands Shawn some brass knuckles. He nails Taker with it but again the ref is too slow to wake up so another ref runs down for the count. Hunter and Chyna are here, Shawn nails that ref so that 4 refs out. Hunter and Chyna interfere and Shawn helps out so it’s pretty much a 3-1 for like 3 minutes, Hunter does a crotch chop so a FAN yells “See you in the back room, smurf” Taker blocks SCM and takes the knuckles out of Shawn’s pants and uses it on both Shawn and Hunter, but SHAWN KICKS OUT! C’MON! Taker is pissed and chokeslams Hebner Tim white runs down and calls for the bell because FUCKIT!

Taker continues to fight both Shawn and Hunter, until Shawn superkicks TAKER and he gets locked up in the ropes. Chyna hands Shawn a chair but as he goes charging in, Taker kicks the chair back into Shawn’s face. Patterson and Brisco come out but Shawn beats them up. Taker tombstones Hunter, until jobbers and geeks rush down to help, LOD put a stop to it as Rocky randomly comes in, DOA soon comes out and Rocky being the smart man is he just leaves, not trying to kill kayfabe. FUCK YEAH! TAKER DIVES ONTO THE HEELS ON THE FLOOR! SHAWN AND HUNTER QUICKLY BAIL TO THE BACK AS THE SHOW ENDS! A little long for what they were going for, but still awesome. Their chemistry is off the charts and to think this is only the beginning. ***1/2

 

[Deezy]

Pillman banging Marlena was the catalyst of the stipulation. Said their daughter was his.

And you didn't talk about Shawn breaking character and stopped selling to spit at some dick head in the crowd.

 

[Crippler]

was that during his entrance, because the camera's cut to that stupid crowd shot midway, but they came back to him doing the suck it and blowjob taunt

as for the Pillman papi thing, I guess it makes sense Goldust rejected the first match so he needed to piss him off. I think I read that she was gonna turn on Goldust at the next PPV, but then RIPillman and Goldust went into my 2nd favorite Goldust gimmick