What the World Was Watching: Monday Night Raw – September 29, 1997
By Scott Keith on June 18, 2013
by Logan Scisco
–Michael Cole
narrates a video package about Steve Austin’s rampage of Stone Cold Stunners.
narrates a video package about Steve Austin’s rampage of Stone Cold Stunners.
–Vince McMahon, Jim
Ross, and Jerry “the King” Lawler are in the booth and they are in Albany, New
York.
Ross, and Jerry “the King” Lawler are in the booth and they are in Albany, New
York.
–McMahon interviews
D-Generation X. Rick Rude makes a sales
pitch to McMahon based on what Steve Austin did last week. Shawn Michaels gloats about beating down the
Undertaker last week. Hunter Hearst
Helmsley, who Shawn refers to as “Triple H,” which is the first time I recall
hearing that in Helmsley’s career, talks about getting impatient to get his big
break. Helmsley’s voice just does not
jive with this group or rhetoric and it is tough to take him seriously. Commissioner Slaughter arrives and orders
Helmsley to fight the Undertaker. The
Hart Foundation appear at the top of the ramp and Bret says that D-Generation X
have committed crimes that they will pay for tonight. A somewhat dry segment, but this promo is
where Michaels and Helmsley debuted their sophomoric personas that would be a
big part of DX.
D-Generation X. Rick Rude makes a sales
pitch to McMahon based on what Steve Austin did last week. Shawn Michaels gloats about beating down the
Undertaker last week. Hunter Hearst
Helmsley, who Shawn refers to as “Triple H,” which is the first time I recall
hearing that in Helmsley’s career, talks about getting impatient to get his big
break. Helmsley’s voice just does not
jive with this group or rhetoric and it is tough to take him seriously. Commissioner Slaughter arrives and orders
Helmsley to fight the Undertaker. The
Hart Foundation appear at the top of the ramp and Bret says that D-Generation X
have committed crimes that they will pay for tonight. A somewhat dry segment, but this promo is
where Michaels and Helmsley debuted their sophomoric personas that would be a
big part of DX.
–The announcers
talk more about One Night Only and the end of the European championship match
is shown.
talk more about One Night Only and the end of the European championship match
is shown.
–Opening
Contest: Vader beats The British Bulldog
by disqualification when the Hart Foundation interferes at 5:22 shown:
Contest: Vader beats The British Bulldog
by disqualification when the Hart Foundation interferes at 5:22 shown:
Ross points out that Vader beat Ken Shamrock last night
in Japan, but really makes no sense in recent storylines since Shamrock was
taken out of the Intercontinental title tournament because he was not medically
cleared to compete. However, the
semi-final that he would have been a part of is tonight. Anyway, this contest is meant to preview the
tag team flag match at Badd Blood. You
might be asking what flag match, since it has received little build the last
couple of weeks, but that will feature the Patriot and Vader against the
Bulldog and Bret Hart. The match has
some weird booking, as the Bulldog gets some impressive power spots which would
usually elicit a face reaction and Vader appears like a big bully. Vader hits the Vader Bomb, but the Hart Foundation
charges the right and attacks him before the referee can count the Bulldog down
and that finishes this standard TV match.
Rating: **¼
in Japan, but really makes no sense in recent storylines since Shamrock was
taken out of the Intercontinental title tournament because he was not medically
cleared to compete. However, the
semi-final that he would have been a part of is tonight. Anyway, this contest is meant to preview the
tag team flag match at Badd Blood. You
might be asking what flag match, since it has received little build the last
couple of weeks, but that will feature the Patriot and Vader against the
Bulldog and Bret Hart. The match has
some weird booking, as the Bulldog gets some impressive power spots which would
usually elicit a face reaction and Vader appears like a big bully. Vader hits the Vader Bomb, but the Hart Foundation
charges the right and attacks him before the referee can count the Bulldog down
and that finishes this standard TV match.
Rating: **¼
–After the match,
Bret Hart puts Vader in a ring post figure-four, but the Patriot runs out for a
brief save until he is also mauled by the Hart Foundation. The Harts make sure to attack him with
Canadian flags to call attention to the flag match stipulation.
Bret Hart puts Vader in a ring post figure-four, but the Patriot runs out for a
brief save until he is also mauled by the Hart Foundation. The Harts make sure to attack him with
Canadian flags to call attention to the flag match stipulation.
–Call 815-734-1161
to get your VHS copy of One Night Only for $19.95 (plus $6 shipping and
handling)!
to get your VHS copy of One Night Only for $19.95 (plus $6 shipping and
handling)!
–A video package
hypes Faarooq. Since it focuses on his
football background I’m sure that Jim Ross had something to do with this. The problem with this video package is that
it makes you a fan of Faarooq, who is supposed to be a heel.
hypes Faarooq. Since it focuses on his
football background I’m sure that Jim Ross had something to do with this. The problem with this video package is that
it makes you a fan of Faarooq, who is supposed to be a heel.
–Intercontinental
Championship Tournament Semi-Finals:
Faarooq (w/The Nation of Domination) defeats Ahmed Johnson (w/The Legion
of Doom & Ken Shamrock) by disqualification at 2:26:
Championship Tournament Semi-Finals:
Faarooq (w/The Nation of Domination) defeats Ahmed Johnson (w/The Legion
of Doom & Ken Shamrock) by disqualification at 2:26:
Just when you thought this feud was over it came back
like the villain in a horror film. This
isn’t much of a match as Faarooq gets in some offense, Ahmed responds, and then
when the referee tries to prevent Ahmed from bashing Faarooq with the ring
steps, Ahmed slaps him and that draws a disqualification. Faarooq advances to the finals to face Owen
Hart at Badd Blood. This has been a
terrible tournament.
like the villain in a horror film. This
isn’t much of a match as Faarooq gets in some offense, Ahmed responds, and then
when the referee tries to prevent Ahmed from bashing Faarooq with the ring
steps, Ahmed slaps him and that draws a disqualification. Faarooq advances to the finals to face Owen
Hart at Badd Blood. This has been a
terrible tournament.
–After the match,
Ahmed’s faction brawls with the Nation and the faces win.
Ahmed’s faction brawls with the Nation and the faces win.
–Dok Hendrix hypes
the Nassau Coliseum house show, which features Bret Hart defending the WWF
title against the Undertaker, the Legion of Doom facing Shawn Michaels &
Hunter Hearst Helmsley, and Steve Austin & Dude Love facing The British
Bulldog & Owen Hart in a Long Island street fight. This is a great card that sounds better than
Badd Blood.
the Nassau Coliseum house show, which features Bret Hart defending the WWF
title against the Undertaker, the Legion of Doom facing Shawn Michaels &
Hunter Hearst Helmsley, and Steve Austin & Dude Love facing The British
Bulldog & Owen Hart in a Long Island street fight. This is a great card that sounds better than
Badd Blood.
–The latest edition
of Brian Pillman’s XXX Files sees him in bed with Marlena and he says he will
not face Dude Love unless the WWF puts some structure in place to keep Goldust
away from him. He proposes handcuffing
Goldust to the ring post to prevent unwanted interference.
of Brian Pillman’s XXX Files sees him in bed with Marlena and he says he will
not face Dude Love unless the WWF puts some structure in place to keep Goldust
away from him. He proposes handcuffing
Goldust to the ring post to prevent unwanted interference.
–Dude Love comes
out to do guest commentary for the next match.
out to do guest commentary for the next match.
–Goldust defeats
The Sultan (w/The Iron Sheik) with a bulldog at 5:41:
The Sultan (w/The Iron Sheik) with a bulldog at 5:41:
McMahon tells us that Goldust and Marlena are renewing
their wedding vows next week on RAW and Dude Love tells the audience that if he
beats Brian Pillman at Badd Blood that Goldust will get a no disqualification
match with Pillman right after. They
adopt the Randy Savage strategy in this one, with the Sultan taking 90% of the
offense until Goldust hits two moves to win.
This was only five minutes, but it felt like fifteen. Rating: ½*
their wedding vows next week on RAW and Dude Love tells the audience that if he
beats Brian Pillman at Badd Blood that Goldust will get a no disqualification
match with Pillman right after. They
adopt the Randy Savage strategy in this one, with the Sultan taking 90% of the
offense until Goldust hits two moves to win.
This was only five minutes, but it felt like fifteen. Rating: ½*
–Steve Austin is
shown arriving to the arena.
shown arriving to the arena.
–Austin comes out
and McMahon tells Austin that if he does not care about his safety then he
doesn’t either. Austin says he doesn’t
care if he’s fired and McMahon responds by giving him three options: provide a medical clearance for next week, a
return to action if he absolves the WWF of liability if he gets injured, or he
can be fired. Austin says he’ll think
about it in his own “diplomatic” way.
and McMahon tells Austin that if he does not care about his safety then he
doesn’t either. Austin says he doesn’t
care if he’s fired and McMahon responds by giving him three options: provide a medical clearance for next week, a
return to action if he absolves the WWF of liability if he gets injured, or he
can be fired. Austin says he’ll think
about it in his own “diplomatic” way.
–WWF Tag Team
Championship Match: Jesus & Jose
defeat The Headbangers (Champions) by disqualification when the Godwinns
interfere at 7:11 shown:
Championship Match: Jesus & Jose
defeat The Headbangers (Champions) by disqualification when the Godwinns
interfere at 7:11 shown:
Before the match, Ross goes into a hilarious rant about
how Commissioner Slaughter has no brains because of his decision to let Steve
Austin present the Intercontinental title to the winner of the Owen
Hart-Faarooq match at Badd Blood. The
Headbangers lackluster tag team title reign continues here as the crowd refuses
to react to anything in the match. The
heat segment on Thrasher lasts so long that I think the Boricuas honestly run
out of moves to do. Jesus appears to
have the match won for his team with a super hurricanrana on Mosh, but the
Godwinns run in to make sure the Headbangers retain the titles so they can face
them for the belts at Badd Blood. We are
somewhat accustomed to champions looking weak in the current era, but the
Headbangers had to be the most poorly booked tag team champions in WWF history
up to this point. Rating: *½
how Commissioner Slaughter has no brains because of his decision to let Steve
Austin present the Intercontinental title to the winner of the Owen
Hart-Faarooq match at Badd Blood. The
Headbangers lackluster tag team title reign continues here as the crowd refuses
to react to anything in the match. The
heat segment on Thrasher lasts so long that I think the Boricuas honestly run
out of moves to do. Jesus appears to
have the match won for his team with a super hurricanrana on Mosh, but the
Godwinns run in to make sure the Headbangers retain the titles so they can face
them for the belts at Badd Blood. We are
somewhat accustomed to champions looking weak in the current era, but the
Headbangers had to be the most poorly booked tag team champions in WWF history
up to this point. Rating: *½
–Call 1-900-737-4WWF
to find out if Goldust is suspicious of Marlena’s time with Brian Pillman and
if she’s really not enjoying herself.
to find out if Goldust is suspicious of Marlena’s time with Brian Pillman and
if she’s really not enjoying herself.
–McMahon interviews
Owen Hart, who comes out in an “Owen 3:16” shirt that reads “I just broke your
neck” on the back. He also has a
SWAT-style security detail with him.
Owen says that he’s confident that he’ll beat Faarooq at Badd Blood, but
Steve Austin’s latest antics are scaring him.
Owen tries to persuade McMahon to fire Austin next week, but as Owen
celebrates to leave, one of the security guards takes off their helmet to
reveal Austin and he gives Owen a Stone Cold Stunner before fleeing through the
crowd. In a nice touch, the crowd blocks
the other SWAT guys from pursuing Austin.
Owen Hart, who comes out in an “Owen 3:16” shirt that reads “I just broke your
neck” on the back. He also has a
SWAT-style security detail with him.
Owen says that he’s confident that he’ll beat Faarooq at Badd Blood, but
Steve Austin’s latest antics are scaring him.
Owen tries to persuade McMahon to fire Austin next week, but as Owen
celebrates to leave, one of the security guards takes off their helmet to
reveal Austin and he gives Owen a Stone Cold Stunner before fleeing through the
crowd. In a nice touch, the crowd blocks
the other SWAT guys from pursuing Austin.
– Call 815-734-1161
to get your VHS copy of One Night Only for $19.95 (plus $6 shipping and
handling)!
to get your VHS copy of One Night Only for $19.95 (plus $6 shipping and
handling)!
–Backstage, Jim
Neidhart is shown guarding Owen Hart, who is on a stretcher nursing his neck.
Neidhart is shown guarding Owen Hart, who is on a stretcher nursing his neck.
–Footage of
contractors building the Hell in a Cell is shown.
contractors building the Hell in a Cell is shown.
–The Undertaker
defeats Hunter Hearst Helmsley (w/Shawn Michaels & Chyna) by
disqualification when Rick Rude interferes at 1:51:
defeats Hunter Hearst Helmsley (w/Shawn Michaels & Chyna) by
disqualification when Rick Rude interferes at 1:51:
During the Undertaker’s entrance he is attacked by Bret
Hart and the British Bulldog and they, in turn, are attacked by Vader and the
Patriot. As the Hart Foundation is
repelled, Michaels and Helmsley put the boots to the Undertaker for a couple of
minutes before the Undertaker and Helmsley end up in the ring to start this
match. The Undertaker makes short work
of Helmsley, but before he can hit a Tombstone, Rick Rude hits him with a
briefcase and draws the disqualification.
Hart and the British Bulldog and they, in turn, are attacked by Vader and the
Patriot. As the Hart Foundation is
repelled, Michaels and Helmsley put the boots to the Undertaker for a couple of
minutes before the Undertaker and Helmsley end up in the ring to start this
match. The Undertaker makes short work
of Helmsley, but before he can hit a Tombstone, Rick Rude hits him with a
briefcase and draws the disqualification.
–After the bell,
D-Generation X beat down the Undertaker and Michaels hits him with Sweet Chin
Music. DX puts the Undertaker in a body
bag, but the Undertaker sits up and tears his way out and forces DX to
flee. Michaels tries to run backstage,
but a red light keeps him from doing so, so he climbs the Titantron as the
Undertaker gives Helmsley a Tombstone on the stage as we close the show. A nice go home segment for this feud.
D-Generation X beat down the Undertaker and Michaels hits him with Sweet Chin
Music. DX puts the Undertaker in a body
bag, but the Undertaker sits up and tears his way out and forces DX to
flee. Michaels tries to run backstage,
but a red light keeps him from doing so, so he climbs the Titantron as the
Undertaker gives Helmsley a Tombstone on the stage as we close the show. A nice go home segment for this feud.
The Final Report Card: This show had some good moments, with the
closing segment putting over the main event and Austin being his usual badass
self. However, the matches were just
atrocious this week and were a chore to sit through. Bulldog-Vader was solid, but after that the
ring work went into a rut and never recovered.
I’ll give this a neutral rating as the non-wrestling segments
effectively advanced the major angles, but I got the feeling that much of the
show put more emphasis on hyping the RAW after Bad Blood than the actual
pay-per-view.
closing segment putting over the main event and Austin being his usual badass
self. However, the matches were just
atrocious this week and were a chore to sit through. Bulldog-Vader was solid, but after that the
ring work went into a rut and never recovered.
I’ll give this a neutral rating as the non-wrestling segments
effectively advanced the major angles, but I got the feeling that much of the
show put more emphasis on hyping the RAW after Bad Blood than the actual
pay-per-view.
Monday Night War Rating: 2.7 (vs. 4.0 for Nitro)
Show Evaluation: Neutral
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