WWF RAW is WAR: Monday, Week 1, December 1997
I: WWF RAW introduction[/color]
"Thorn in Your Eye" plays as we see the usual graphic for WWF RAW is WAR, showing us Stone Cold Steve Austin walking across a warzone, helicopters flying everywhere, four wrestler fighting inside a flaming ring in a warehouse among other things. Also during this time, they show quick images of WWF superstars hitting their signature moves in a shadowy effect. The graphic finishes as the 'WWF RAW' logo appears on the screen. RAW's secondary theme plays into the arena as we zoom out of the WWF RAW logo to show a massive titantron above a curtain, with two scaffoldings on either side showing the RAW is WAR logo. Pyro explodes as the ring is set up with red ropes and 'New Generation' era style turnbuckle pads, even though the bug at the bottom left of the screen shows the 'Attitude Era' scratch WWF logo. At ringside sits Jim Ross, Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler who introduce us to the show and run through the upcoming card for the first hour of RAW, such as Skull and 8-Ball vs. Kurrgan and Recon; TAKA Michinoku vs. Brian Christopher & Steve Austin vs. Farooq.
II: Shawn Michaels In-Ring Promo[/color]
The theme of D-Generation X played into the arena, signalling the arrival of the WWF Heavyweight and European Champion's arrival. Shawn walks down the ramp in patented DX tights and shirt, accompanied by the 'Ninth Wonder of the World', Chyna. Shawn talks about how good a career it has been for him in the World Wrestling Federation. Since debuting almost ten years ago as what he described, 'in a gimmicky queer-guys tag team'. To dumping the queer guy and becoming a massive star in the WWF, also bringing in Diesel, who he described as 'Big Kev' and made a controversial faction with 'Scott' and 'Sean'. Michaels was cut off when describing his encounter with Bret Hart in Montreal by the "Hitman's" brother, Owen. Owen told Michaels that he cannot let the 'Showstopper' simply slide past after what he did to the Hart Family name. The two argued for a while as Owen came closer to the ring, eventually shoving Chyna onto the canvas and giving Michaels a dropkick sending him flying out of the ring. Michaels and Chyna fleed up the ramp as we went to the commercial break.
III: Vince McMahon Makes Shawn Michaels vs. Owen Hart For Tonight[/color]
Following the previous angle in the ring, we return from the commercial breaks to see Vince McMahon sitting on a coach in his office. He is shown to be talking on a telephone about somebody debuting tonight on RAW. Just then the WWF Heavyweight and European Champion, Shawn Michaels storms into the room and shoves over a lamp. McMahon tells the caller on the phone to call back later. McMahon then says to Shawn that he saw what happened and was disgusted about what Owen Hart said, and stated that Bret Hart disgraced the Hart Family, not him. Michaels then yelled his way through the segment, until McMahon announces that tonight on WWF WarZone it will be Shawn Michaels vs. Owen Hart for the WWF Heavyweight Championship. Michaels smiles and leaves.
IV: Truth Commission def. Skull and 8-Ball[/color]
Oh, poor poor Recon. He tried so hard in this contest to get over but unfortunately the rebellious crowd despised him. I knew that from the get-go that this match would definately not go down well with the crowd and it succeeded in doing that. These four men are poor in technical, high-flying, and even brawling skills as it is. They lack WWF skill in there and it showed in that ring. Kurrgan showed off his lack of skill most, mainly because he was the one in the ring for a large part in this match. Skull seemed like the only man trying in this match. 8-Ball I don't even think was concentrating as he slugged his way through this contest. A bad start to matches on RAW is WAR tonight. I wonder what the World Wrestling Federation will do with Recon now that the fans hated him. I suppose send him to development, in my dreams. Skull and Kurrgan gained a little performance skill in there, which is what they were lacking prior to the match. Recon pinned Skull after a Guillotine Legdrop at 6:56.
V: Truth Commission Attack Todd Pettingil[/color]
Following the terrible match that just went down, Todd Pettingil tried to get a few words with the man behind the supposedly strong alliance known as Truth Commission, The Jackyl. Shame that he said the wrong thing asking Jackyl who could stop the Commission. That's when Kurrgan and Recon, after blurring their way through a crap match gave Pettingil a ruthless clothesline. Jackyl showed most skill in there to be honest, only that because the heat was on Recon, it made the Commission look absolutely crapper than before. Jackyl deserves better than this.
VI: Steve Austin Interview[/color]
In a nice move to get the crowd's bad mood with the Commission out of sight, they popped loudly when Stone Cold Steve Austin popped up on the titantron. Austin yelled at the Commission to get their sorry asses out of the arena like the fans told them to do. Austin succeeded as they left while the camera focused on Austin backstage rather than from a titantron in the live arena. Austin got alot of his issues out of his mind, such as Vince McMahon, Shawn Michaels running around with nothing but his championship belt on [in reference to the upcoming DX video release], the light-heavyweight division and illegal immigrants [Savio Vega and Miguel Perez Jr.], but that's when he settled down on the topic of Rocky Maivia, Faarooq, Kama Mustafa, D'Lo Brown and Mark Henry, also known as what Stone Cold called 'Characters Sold Seperately'. Austin badmouthed about how The Rock wanted his Intercontinental Championship and that if he wanted it then he'd have to come and get it. He hyped his match with Farooq up as well. We go to a hype video for the upcoming match between TAKA Michinoku and Brian Christopher, this crowd may rip the hell out of this one unfortunately.
VII: TAKA Michinoku def. Brian Christopher[/color]
This match actually did better than I'd of thought it'd of been. Though the crowd weren't thrilled about Brian Christopher wrestling, against Jerry Lawler's opinion, but at least we know that this arena is very into the faces, as the heat for Brian Christopher got TAKA Michinoku over more easily, something not done often to a foreign wrestler. This match was pretty fun, choc full of aerial and high-flying attacks on TAKA Michinoku's part. Brian Christopher continuously tried to slow down the pace of the match, which could be why they didn't like him. ASo obviously this Pittsburgh crowd are not all into technical wrestling. Obviously they've been seeing too much ECW. Michinoku and Christopher pulled off alot of false finishes, but in the end, TAKA Michinoku picked up a victory. TAKA Michinoku pinned Brian Christopher with a Michinoku Driver at 8:34.
VIII: TAKA Michinoku and Brian Christopher Show Honor[/color]
In a confusing move, TAKA Michinoku and Brian Christopher, face and heel, respectively, stood in the ring face to face after Christopher got up and shook hands. I don't understand this technique, but it oughta lead to something good. Jerry Lawler wasn't exactly proud of his son for shaving hands with Michinoku, but I don't think Christopher cared too much. Following this, there aired yet another hype video for the upcoming WWF RAW main event with Steve Austin taking on Farooq, up next.
IX: Steve Austin def. Farooq[/color]
These two had a decent match, though the only thing that let this bout down was that Farooq doesn't sell alot, then again neither does Steve Austin but at least Austin has learnt somewhat over the years. Austin put on a good showing, protecting Farooq from appearing terrible in the ring, and it seems that the road agent, Ed Ferrera did a good job going through this match with them. Farooq was accompanied to the ring by D'Lo Brown and Kama Mustafa, but they didn't do a thing except distract the official, Earl Hebner when Austin went for a cover. Austin eventually went out there and took both men out in half a minute. Farooq though got into control from there and almost won the match with a Dominator but Austin got his foot on the ropes. Austin eventually hit a Stunner and went for the cover only for the number one contender to the WWF Intercontinental Championship, Rocky Maivia to run out and nail Austin with a steel chair. Steve Austin defeated Farooq via disqualification at 10:35.
X: Rocky Maivia and The Nation Beat Down Steve Austin[/color]
"The Rock" Rocky Maivia grabbed a microphone as D'Lo Brown and Kama Mustafa stomped away on Steve Austin. Maivia grabbed Austin's Intercontinental Championship and cut an amazing promo, yelling for Mark Henry to get in on the action. Kama hit his super kick, Mark Henry splashed him on the canvas, D'Lo Brown hit him with the Frog Splash and Farooq hit the Dominator. That's when The Rock hit his Rock Bottom and nailed Austin in the ribs with the IC title belt, leading Austin on the canvas, coughing up blood. We go to commercials.
XI: WWF In Your House: D-Generation X Commercial[/color]
While fast forwarding through my taped edition of RAW's commercials I skimmed a commercial that had caught my eye. Rewinding it, I realised that it was a World Wrestling Federation commercial, promoting their upcoming pay-per-view event, D-Generation X for being on Sunday, Week 4 of December. It featured Kane on it despite the title being 'DX related', with the words 'Striking For Glory' beneath an In Your House logo but the logo was on fire.
XII: WWF WarZone Introduction[/color]
"Thorn in Your Eye" plays as we see the usual graphic for WWF RAW is WAR, showing us Stone Cold Steve Austin walking across a warzone, helicopters flying everywhere, four wrestler fighting inside a flaming ring in a warehouse among other things. Also during this time, they show quick images of WWF superstars hitting their signature moves in a shadowy effect. The graphic finishes as the 'WWF RAW' logo appears on the screen. RAW's secondary theme plays into the arena as we zoom out of the WWF RAW logo to show a massive titantron above a curtain, with two scaffoldings on either side showing the RAW is WAR logo. Pyro explodes as the ring is set up with red ropes and 'New Generation' era style turnbuckle pads, even though the bug at the bottom left of the screen shows the 'Attitude Era' scratch WWF logo. At ringside sits Jim Ross, Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler who introduce us to the show and run through the upcoming card for the second hour of RAW is WAR, such as Marc Mero vs. Goldust; New Age Outlaws vs. Legion of Doom & of course, Shawn Michaels vs. Owen Hart for the WWF Championship.
XIII: Earlier Today: Goldust[/color]
On the subject of the opening match, Marc Mero vs. Goldust we went to a bizarre video on a graphic from earlier today in which Goldust was seemed disposing of his golden suit and changing into a patient's gown, truly bizarre, Goldust has changed a lot since Survivor Series back on November 9th.
XIV: Marc Mero def. Goldust[/color]
Like the segment before with Goldust at a hospital, this match was weird, no weird is not the right word for it, this match was totally bizarre. Mero went out there with the beautiful Sable like normal, but then Goldust came out in golden make-up and the patient gown! In very short timing, Mero knocked out Goldust and tore off the gown leaving Goldust to wrestle out there in just a golden thong. He looked very weird with Gold facepaint on but normal flesh-colored skin. The crowd actually were more into the exposed Goldust than Marc Mero, for some reason a couple of girls loved seeing Goldust wrestle in almost nothing, and others thought he looked pretty good out there in the ring. I can see a feud developing between these two for some reason. Sable got involved as well, at one point, Goldust gave Mero an uncomfortable inverte atomic drop before stalking Sable, actually hugging her from the waist. That's when Mero hit a suicide dive and the two brawled back into the ring leading to Mero finally picking up the win. Marc Mero pinned Goldust with a Discuss Punch at 10:31. Following this, we see a hype video for the upcoming New Age Outlaws vs. Legion of Doom match before going to commercials.
XV: New Age Outlaws def. Legion of Doom[/color]
A good match, though the crowd of course had to hate on somebody in there, so they decided to bully Road Warrior Animal. Billy Gunn and Road Warrior Hawk seemed to have good chemistry, and everybody in that ring seemed to advance in performance and technical skills, weird that Animal in this day in age can improve in wrestling skills. At least he'll actually be able to wrestle properly. The commentary may I add is very good, Michael Cole and Jim Ross make amazing play-by-play commentators, along with Jerry Lawler's color commentary, rooting for the heels. Billy Gunn and Road Dog dominated Road Warrior Hawk, isolating him from the more agressive of the two Legion of Doom members. Billy Gunn and Road Dogg all of a sudden hit the Spike Piledriver on Hawk but they didn't know that prior to the piledriver, Animal had gotten the tag. Animal and Hawk eventually picked up the win. Legion of Doom defeated New Age Outlaws with a Powerslam from Animal on Dog at 11:31.
XVI: Goldust Gets More Bizarre[/color]
We cut from the Legion of Doom's celebration to Goldust backstage standing by with Jim Cornette, and Goldust is still wearing nothing but the thong he wrestled in earlier tonight. Goldust in a bizarre challenge, calls out Marc Mero to a Pose Down Challenge at In Your House: D-Generation X in three or four weeks. Goldust then showed off his 'muscle' in some weird style of strength technique, giving himself a wedgie. Terrific.
XVII: Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Chyna In-Ring Interview[/color]
After returning from a commercial break, we return to the ring where Hunter Hearst Helmsley was making his way down the ramp accompanied by Chyna, and they were interviewed by Jim Ross, but for pretty much all of those three minute interview, Hunter Hearst Helmsley talked about how good he is compared to some other wrestlers like Disciples of the Apocalypse, Stone Cold Steve Austin and in particular, TAKA Michinoku. Helmsley then told everybody that the Heavyweight and European Champion plans on vacating the WWF European Championship, in which Helmsley then says that he has better skills than Brian Christopher, Owen Hart and in particular, Ken Shamrock. That didn't go down well with Ken Shamrock as he appeared on the titantron and argued with Hunter Hearst Helmsley, challenging the D-Generation X representative to a match next week on WWF RAW. Helmsley then accepts, Helmsley and Shamrock have some good charisma, so I bet they'll be good in the ring with one another. This was followed by a hype video for the main event, Shawn Michaels vs. Owen Hart for the WWF Heavyweight Championship.
XVIII: WWF Heavyweight Championship: Shawn Michaels def. Owen Hart[/color]
This was an outstanding match and it is safe to say that it was the match of the night. Both men seemed to put on a five star performance which is what they did. The two traded amazing move after amazing move and the commentary made it even better. Owen Hart seemed to be a little weak in his left leg, but that didn't affect his performance too much. Michaels targetted that injured leg and applied some pretty painful submissions. It was very lengthy and it seemed like there was no botches or mess ups at any point during this spectacular. I wonder why they didn't save this for In Your House, then I saw the ending. Like Christopher/Michinoku, this match was choc full of false finishes, swerves in momentum and different tidbits of aerial attacks, fast paced action, technical action, some brawling and a whole lot of response from the hostile crowd. Amazing work from both men, and I actually think they did a better job of this match than their In Your House #6 showdown back in February 1996. Classic match. Shawn Michaels pinned Owen Hart following interference from the returning Jeff Jarrett at 18:20. After the match though, Kane made his prescense known, coming in and destroying both men in the space of two minutes. But then Mankind came in with a steel chair from through the crowd and nailed Kane in the back, but it didn't effect Kane one bit. The two faced off as WarZone went off the air![/center][/size][/i]