The Best And Worst Of 1997

i didnt like that it happened. this is best/worst for you personally. i didnt like that bret wouldnt job to shawn and vince did what he did. to me that is one of the worst things to ever happen in wrestling. most talked about or most important happning sure, but my best or worst list, its on worst.

Strange year, but fun to watch since both companies were red-hot. The crowds were really into it as well.

As for things I liked, for WWF; the Bret/Austin feud was amazing as was their match at WM13 (in my opinion, the best match in Mania history). Bret turning heel and forming the Hart Foundation, I really liked the USA vs Canada angle, it was odd to see how some wrestlers would be cheered in some arenas and booed in others. LOD coming back, they, along with the NAO and Cactus Jack/Chainsaw Charlie really re-ignited the tag team division in the WWF. IYH: Canadian Stampede main event was great. Bret vs Taker at Summer Slam was another great match. The first Hell in the Cell, still my favorite hell in the cell match to this day. For WCW; the build to Sting v Hogan at Starrcade, this was one of the things that WCW did correctly. NWO was fun, most of the year. The Macho/DDP feud was great, also, they had great matches. Hennig returning to the ring. The Great Muta coming back to WCW. Luger winning the belt on Nitro - he probably got his loudest crowd reaction ever that night.

For things I didn't like, though each company was doing well they really only had about 10-15 guys each that I enjoyed watching. There were a lot of characters that were just a waste of time, I really didn't care for the NOD, Los Boricaus, and DOA, any time that angle/feud was on TV I switched over to WCW. I was also never a fan of the cruiserweight division, though they had some really talented guys like Rey, Eddie, Dean, Jericho, the rest were not that fascinating or interesting to watch. One problem that I have with the cruiserweight style is that if the wrestlers are not very very skilled or quick the moves look really fake (meaning when they don't move a million miles per second you can really see how they have to work together to make a move or set of moves work). Also, I'm not one who really enjoys matches with a million high spots, I think Bret Hart is correct that if you do these amazing moves that look really devastating and get up right after it you diminish the effectiveness of the move - which is one of the main problems with wrestling today, a lot of high spots, very little selling and no logic to matches (in my opinion). Anyway, back to what i didn't like. The NWO ballooning up in size, I preferred them when they had 4-6 guys in the group, a lot of guys really didn't need to be added like Norton, Vincent, Buff, Konan, etc. Also, the build-up to the Sting/Hogan match at Starrcade was so great but the match was pretty disappointing. Most of the match was good but the botched finish kind-of ruined it. I would also add the Montreal Screwjob, though it's one of the most talked about moments, i just wish it didn't have to happen. I also wish Bret didn't go to WCW, they just wasted him there. I would have much rather seen him end his career with WWF working with some of the younger guys coming up.

WWF

Best

All 5 big PPVs
All the In Your House PPVs
Monday Night Raw becoming two hours
ECW invasion from March - August
The first six episodes of Shotgun Saturday Night
The LOD return
Austin vs. Hart feud
Bulldog face turn and some what feud with Austin
Owen vs. Bret STILL!
Bulldog vs. Owen in the finals for the European Title
Austin face turn/Hart heel turn
Bret reconciles with Owen and forms the Hart Foundation with Owen and Davey Boy
Pillman returns to join with the Hart Foundation
Jim Neidhart returns to protect Bret in the Hart Foundation
Chyna debuts
Goldust vs. Triple H feud
Ahmed vs. NOD feud
Ahmed turns heel and joins the NOD
Undertaker has a dominant WWF Title reign
Owen Hart wins the IC Title
HBK & Austin win the Tag Titles
Mankind turns face
Debut of Dude Love
Foley vs. Triple H feud
Triple H finally wins the KOTR
HBK vs. Undertaker feud
First ever Hell in a Cell
HBK turns heel, joins Triple H and Chyna
HBK wins the European Title, becoming the first ever grand slam champion
Austin wins the IC Title
Start of the Austin vs. Rock feud

Worst

The Sultan, fake Razor, fake Diesel, Flash Funk, Rockabilly, etc.
Henry Godwinn breaks his neck (that just sucks, let's be honest)
Brian Pillman passes away
Bret Hart gets screwed and leaves along side Davey Boy and Neidhart
The Patriot arrives
Tiger Ali Singh
Rocky Maivia being a babyface for the first 5 months


WCW

Best

The NWO still on fire
Randy Savage joining the NWO
Benoit, Jericho, Guerrero, Malenko, Mysterio, etc.
Raven debuting
Curt Hennig debuting
DDP wins the US Title
Steiners win the Tag Titles
DDP vs. Savage feud
Lex Luger wins the WCW Title
Saturn debuts
Jeff Jarrett vs. Dean Malenko feud
Curt Henning turning on the Horsemen to join the NWO
Rick Rude arriving
Bret Hart arriving
Sting 'wins' the WCW Title at Starrcade


Worst

Not using Bret Hart correctly right off the bat
Prince Iaukea's TV Title reign
Syxx losing the Cruiser Weight Title at a house show to Chris Jericho
The Hogan/Sting debacle at Starrcade
Using football players and basketball players for matches


ECW

Best

Tyler Fullington going back to the Sandman
Rick Rude arriving and having his new years resolution to be to " with the Franchise!"
Pitbull 1 returns to a huge ovation at the ECW Arena
The Monday Night Raw invasion
Bubba Ray Dudley turns heel and joins D-Von Dudley
Dudleys win the Tag Titles
The Barely Legal PPV
RVD becoming Mr. Monday Night on Raw
The TV show of Wrestlepalooza
-Dreamer pinning Raven
-RVD, Sabu and Jerry Lawler attacking Dreamer
-Taz clearing house
-Sabu beats Taz in the rematch
-Taz calls out Shane Douglas and says he can make him tap under 3 minutes for the TV Title
-Taz beats Douglas and wins the TV Title
Terry Funk getting one last run as ECW Champion
Bam Bam Bigelow debut
Sabu vs. Funk in the barbed wire massacre for the ECW Title
Douglas beating Sabu and Funk to win the ECW Title
Bam Bam Bigelow beating Shane Douglas to become the ECW Champion
The surprise return of Stevie Richards
Shane Douglas beating Bam Bam Bigelow at the November To Remember for the ECW Title
Lance Storm and Chris Candido winning the ECW Tag Titles


Worst

Saturn and Raven leaving ECW for WCW
That's about it, ECW was pretty solid in 1997!

thats what i love most about all these different threads im doing, everyones answers remind me of so many things i forgot or even change my mind on things. for instance, i thought i kinda liked NOD & DOA, etc but looking back i too remember switching rooms when the gang faction stuff was on. but yeah, love everyones answers. i read them thoroughly, sdont just skip over them.

you always have the biggest/best lists! you have good memory. loved these.