I think it might be a case of WWF holding up better over time that WCW has at this point, because in the moment I'm pretty sure I still felt that despite its flaws WCW was better at this time.
It also just wasn't ratings that were lagging. WWF were still using front row tickets across from the hard camera, and a good amount of them as promotional giveaways. More on that when we get into August

In the moment you were invested in Hogan-Piper, so you probably had a greater tolerance for a lot of this stuff than I ever would have.

I enjoyed WCW at the time as a supplement to WWF, but I don't see much going on here that can really be minimized down to simply aging badly.

When I watch along (which is far from every week unfortunately), I tend to have the same general view as I did then: WWF has the better main event scene, WCW is generally better otherwise. The only difference is that my enthusiasm is hurt a bit because I know how things end, and what U.S. wrestling is like in the ensuing years. So perhaps it is more of a matter of taste and knowledge of how everything turns out than poor aging.

This is a reasonable view, but as phrased, it makes it seem like the quality is a 50/50 proposition. I can't agree with that.

First, WCW does have better undercard in-ring action, but the advantage is less than WWF's main event advantage.

At this point in time,
WCW undercard >> WWF undercard
WWF main event scene >>>>>>> WCW main event scene

Part of this is that it reaches both the wrestling and the storylines. The WWF main event guys are compelling to watch in stories, and then they also deliver in their matches. WCW's main event guys are generally flopping on both points, and that ends up being a ton of air time.

Second, the two things don't deserve equal weight. The main event is the focus of the show. Not sure if this is correct statistically or not, but it feels like it takes up over half of the airtime just on its own segments. Beyond that, the undercard exists as a filler that doesn't even get the full focus of the segment when they are the segment. The announcers generally spend some portion of the time putting over the latest in the main event scene, and worse yet we get those moments where they interrupt a great match completely to go backstage to indulge in nWo nonsense. "Rey Mysterio to the top rope, and...wait, what's going on backstage?? VINCENT IS MAD AT BUFF BAGWELL FOR MESSING UP HIS PIZZA ORDER! Ohhh there's trouble in the nWo!" A great main event scene is a tide that lifts all boats, and a bad main event scene acts as a cloud over more than just its own segments.

There's also very little in terms of interesting midcard angles. As I'm increasingly getting agitated with, one of the only things that exists without nWo interference is the ****ing Mongo/Jarrett angle that can't possibly be interesting to anyone.

Things that I enjoy when they come on during these WCW shows at this point:
Cruiserweight wrestling
Benoit/Sullivan
Savage/DDP

Things that I don't enjoy:
Most everything else

The ratio is just really rough at this point. I do know that things get better in terms of the cruiserweights getting better stories before long, so that will be something.

I don't think it is 50/50; if I had to pick, I'd pick WCW. I just don't care much about any of these guys on the WWF roster at this time except Foley, Bret Hart, and Austin. Regal, Jericho, Benoit, Savage, DDP, Luger, Sting, Hall, Psicosis, Ultimo Dragon...it goes on and on for WCW's side.

The key difference, other than the roster, might be that WWF angles have ruined the matches and wrestlers for me at least as much as they have improved them over the last 25 years or so. If I see a wrestler I like wrestling, unless they have been ruined by comedy segments, or terrible booking, an awful cartoon gimmick, etc., I am invested. It is like a sport in that way for me. I don't need anything extra. So it is far from an unequivocal plus for me that an angle exists. Or it might be that generally I like the NWO other than Hogan, whose matches I still am invested in, unless he is against somebody so awful as 1997 Piper. Or it might be that I just enjoy WCW's presentation better; how everything looks, the camera work, etc.

Well obviously I don't think it's the case for anyone that the mere existence of an angle is an automatic plus, since angles can ruin just as easily as they can enhance.

In terms of presentation, that's fair enough; I usually favor the WWF presentation, but I don't think there's a clear objective advantage for either, so that's all just personal taste.

By the way, one thing I don't think I've mentioned in any of my writeups: Gene Okerlund, great as he was, feels overused. He basically seems to be running out there like 90% of the time after matches, and although I like him, there are limits to how much I really want to see him. But I think he was very well-paid, and I'm sure they wanted to get something back on their investment.

Made me think of you and this thread, LKJ:



Wasn't that the Sparky Plugg incarnation?

Think the Thurman "Sparky" Plugg name was pretty short-lived. Changed at some point to Bob "Sparkplug" Holly without changing anything about the character. I'm guessing it was Bob Holly then? Not really sure. Don't think he became Hardcore Holly until sometime in 1998.

Yeah it went from spark plug to just Bob Holly before Hardcore. If I remember correctly he still kept the tights with the checkered flag type design on the sides after he dropped the Sparkplug name

One thing that I found interesting that Scott Hall mentioned (when I visited DDP's workshop) was that when Vince brought in guys that were established in other organizations, he would have them job in dark matches to people like Virgil - just to see how they reacted. He said that Hennig had warned him about this and told him to just take it with a smile. I'm guessing Norton probably didn't take it with a smile.

Sorry for another lull in the thread. I'll find the WIM to finish another writeup before too terribly long, as I got halfway through Spring Stampede over a week ago before throwing my hands up in despair. With my other tribute threads, it's all "write up matches that this longtime wrestling journalist says are awesome" or "write up matches/segments that all feature one of your favorite wrestlers of all time," so they were easy to stick with more consistently than the thread that semi-frequently demands that I watch and write up **** like Mongo McMichael & Jeff Jarrett vs. Public Enemy.

But I'll delve back into Spring Stampede soon.

Reward yourself with Backlash 2004 for getting through it.

Good show. I thought the rematch was on par with the Mania match

wonder why there are no more wrestling live shows in Asia

I heard there's a few small shows in Japan every now and then.

WCW SPRING STAMPEDE '97



Tupelo, MS

Tony Schiavone, Dusty Rhodes, and Bobby Heenan welcome us to the show. Tony says that they know that Scott Hall is not here tonight, and the WCW Championship Committee has ruled that Kevin Nash cannot substitute for Hall in defense of the Tag Team Titles tonight, and must go 1-on-2 against the Steiner Brothers. They had gotten word that Nash has demands before he'll go forward with that match, but they haven't been able to get word on what those demands are.

Ultimo Dragon vs. Rey Mysterio Jr: Mike Tenay joins in to call the match. No Sonny Onoo tonight. Incidentally, has anyone else felt like Rey's entrance music in WCW didn't fit him all that well? It sounds foreboding, like the type of music that a monster would use to intimidate, rather than the music that signals that some little dude is coming to the ring to perform a variety of flips. Anyway, full match writeup is here. Cliffs: really strong execution by both guys, not the most gripping story…Mysterio ends up going over with a springboard hurracanrana off the second rope during a fast-paced back-and-forth sequence.



Result: Rey Mysterio Jr. via pinfall
Rating: ***3/4

Lee Marshall, after attempting to get word with Kevin Nash during the last match, marches back toward Nash's dressing room drawer with defiance, in full "I WANT THE TRUTH!" mode. While Marshall is trying to get a word, Scott Steiner tries to run in and attack, causing a whole bunch of WCW officials to subdue him. Nash yells that he wants Nick Patrick, then takes advantage of Steiner's prone position, spitting in his face, obviously inflaming Scotty further. Officials and some security guys work and bring Scott down, actually spraying mace in his eyes. Then they cuff him. That's…pretty extreme.



Women's Title - Akira Hokuto (c) (w/ Sonny Onoo) vs. Madusa: Lee Marshall joins the announce team for this match, disgusted with the indignity of having been privy to that confrontation between Scott Steiner and Kevin Nash from just now. Well that's a treat…not that this match has much potential to begin with. Hokuto kicks Madusa in the gut and then flings her across the ring by the hair a couple of times. Corner whip, but follows with an empty corner charge, and Madusa turns her around and throws some bad-looking punches at her. Whip and a clothesline by Hokuto. The champion chokes Madusa from behind while seated on the top turnbuckle, at least until the referee forces a break. More choking. Slam, cover, 1-count for Hokuto. Botchy mid-ring collision by the two.

Madusa runs and pulls her down by the hair a few times. Headscissor takeover in the corner. Hokuto fights back, dragging the challenger's leg to the bottom rope and then distracting the referee so that Sonny Onoo can get some shots in. Hokuto lifts Madusa over her back, Madusa counters into a botched crucifix takeover that gets two. Front dropkick off the second rope by Madusa. And another one from the adjacent corner. German suplex, Onoo jumps up on the apron, referee counts to two, Hokuto kicks out when I think that Madusa missed her distraction spot, we get an accidental bell even though the referee only counted two, and at this point Madusa does get up to go after Onoo. She knocks him off the apron. Hokuto with a waistlock from behind, Madusa counters out, but as the referee is distracted with Onoo, Luna Vachon comes in and kicks Madusa's leg out. Hokuto takes advantage and makes the pin. Trash.



Result: Akira Hokuto via pinfall
Rating: 1/4*

Tony Schiavone keeps talking breathlessly about keeping us updated on this Scott Steiner story, but I really don't know what the update would be. I suppose maybe he's out, and because Scott Hall is also out, they're just going to do Kevin Nash vs. Rick Steiner in a singles match for the Tag Team Titles.

TV Title - Prince Iaukea (c) vs. Lord Steven Regal: I don't remember when this awful title reign of Iaukea ends, but it sure needs to be here, especially as they've got an actually interesting title program between Regal and Mysterio set up. After the opening bell here, Regal stalls and wastes time riling fans before finally engaging, which seems monumentally stupid in kayfabe for a challenger to a title that generally has 10-minute time limit matches. Regal gouges Iaukea's eyes, but Iaukea fires back with a chop to knock the Brit to the mat. More stalling and fan-taunting by Regal, who I guess is playing the role of 1996 Goldust for this evening. Tony Schiavone updates us on Scott Steiner, and says that Steiner has been incarcerated. Sure enough, it's Nash vs. Rick Steiner later for the Tag Team Titles.

Armdrag by Regal. Iaukea with an armbar into a side headlock. This side headlock segment goes on for a bit. Regal eventually forces Iaukea into the ropes and gets separation with some palm strikes. Throws a European uppercut, then stomps and kicks at the champion. He sends Iaukea out through the middle rope, but Iaukea is back up really quickly, up to the apron and then back inside with a springboard cross-body. Two. More Regal stalling. Stop it. Test of strength between the two is eventually won by Prince, but Regal kips up and then pokes the eyes. After telling everyone that it was an open hand, he thumbs Iaukea in the eyes again. Full nelson. Iaukea gets separation by jutting his ass backward, goes for a sunset flip, but Regal punches his way loose. European uppercuts and then straight rights. This is so slow and awful. Iaukea launches a comeback with a series of chops. Regal forces Prince into the corner, jumping double knee, corner whip, and Regal does a great arrogant avoidance where he just rolls his eyes and strolls away as Iaukea attempts a jumping cross-body.



Punches by Regal. Iaukea reverses a corner whip, hits a backdrop, jumping double chop, crescent kick, corner whip, Regal tries to counter out into a schoolboy, but Iaukea re-counters into a pinning combo and unfortunately retains.



Result: Prince Iaukea via pinfall
Rating: 1/4*

Regal attacks after the bell, proceeds with the beatdown, and slaps on the Regal Stretch, hitting him with the title belt in the process. The locker room all poured out to try to save Chris Jericho on Monday night, but Iaukea must not have any friends.

Mean Gene, at the top of the aisle, brings out Ric Flair. Gene says that the rumor is out that Flair's return to the ring is right around the corner. Flair confirms. Also mentions that Arn Anderson is having his surgery this coming Tuesday. Flair says that the Carolina Panthers have released Kevin Greene to wrestle, and Flair invited him to come wrestle at an event with the Horsemen. Next he turns his attention to Hulk Hogan, and challenges him and the rest of the nWo to take the Horsemen on at an upcoming event in Charlotte. It looks like the event is the next PPV, Slamboree.

Public Enemy vs. Jeff Jarrett & Mongo McMichael (w/ Debra): Yeah, that reference in the post above wasn't just to some hypothetical bad match that I wouldn't want to watch…in the service of completeness, I have to watch this thing. Mongo and Rocco Rock kick this thing off, with Mongo attempting some intimidation tactics but Rocco not backing down. There's a lot of stalling here before any real impact. Finally Rocco gets aggressive, landing a kick to the gut and laying in some shots in the corner. Mongo reverses a corner whip, Jarrett hits a cheap shot from the outside, Johnny Grunge comes in to help, but the Horsemen clear the ring, and Mongo actually struts alongside Jarrett in the middle of the ring.

After PE regroups, Grunge is in to take Jarrett on. Jarrett with a facebuster, then a whip into an abdominal stretch. Mongo helps give Jeff leverage from the apron, as the prior rivals do seem to be working together tonight. Eventually the referee catches the cheating, kicks Jeff's arm loose, and Grunge throws a hip-toss. JJ attempts a leapfrog, but Grunge stops short and hits an uppercut, then lands an atomic drop that sort of sloppily launches Jarrett into Mongo. Jarrett outside for a regroup. He waits until a 9-count before re-entering, but he's able to get a quick advantage and tag to McMichael. McMichael locks a chinlock on Rocco. Returns to a vertical base, hits a side slam, then gets a non-believable visual pin while the referee is tied up with a distracting Johnny Grunge. McMichael with a couple of forearms to the lower back, then a whip and a tilt-a-whirl slam. Grunge breaks up a pin, Jarrett goes and attacks, and we get some four-way mayhem, with separate brawls going outside the ring.

Grunge sets Jarrett up on a ringside table. Mongo and Rocco are fighting with stage props at the top of the ramp while Grunge dives off the ropes, breaking the table when Jeff rolls out of the way. Action returns inside, Jarrett with a top-rope cross-body, but the pin gets broken up. PE clears Jarrett out, then tries to double-team Mongo, but Mongo gamely fights them off. They stop a double noggin-knocker. Off a double whip, Mongo manages to reach out and tag Jarrett, who clears out Rocco and slaps the figure-four on Grunge. Rocco gets the Haliburton and hammers Jarrett with it while the referee is distracted. 1-2-3, Public Enemy wins.



Result: Public Enemy via pinfall
Rating: *

Public Enemy's usual WCW music is always neutered on the Network into some worse-sounding generic ****, but they seem to have failed to edit it out after this win, so we do hear their actual music from the time this once. It was…well, it fit them, and I don't even totally mean that in a bad way.

Backstage, Mean Gene shills the WCW Hotline and then brings in Sister Sherri and Harlem Heat. Oh, here it is. After Sherri vows that the Heat are going to work together to divide and conquer, Gene pulls the mic over to Booker T, who cuts the infamous promo where he slips and calls Hulk Hogan the n-word on live TV. Mean Gene and Stevie Ray do a nice job of 100% no-selling, but Sherri's corpsing in the background and Booker's horrified (but trying to hide it) reaction are pretty classic.



US Title - Dean Malenko (c) vs. Chris Benoit (w/ Woman): Collar-and-elbow tie-up, jostle for position, and a clean break in the corner. Rinse and repeat with a clean break against the ropes. The two trade side headlock takeovers and escapes, then armdrags. Benoit dumps Malenko through the middle, but Malenko pops up quickly and returns to the middle, as the two stare down for a moment before resuming the action. Single-leg takedown by Dean, into a grapevine. He wrenches away at the leg to thwart Benoit's attempts to break free. Transition into a leglock with Benoit on his stomach. Finally an escape by Benoit, who gets up and gets the better of a mid-ring collision. Love the crisp action here. Malenko was knocked outside by the shoulderblock, and does take a moment to regroup before returning inside. He takes Benoit down and slaps on an armbar. Benoit tumbles and cartwheels, reversing the leverage and getting the better side of a hammerlock. Benoit appears to have busted his fingers open at some point, showing clear blood on the back of his hand. Malenko escapes, and we reset.

Greco-Roman knucklelock into a test of strength. Malenko powers Benoit down, Benoit bridges and refuses to be broken down even as Dean jumps on him multiple times. Benoit back to his feet, into an arm-wringer, and takes Dean down with an armbar. While a coherent story mostly hasn't emerged yet, the execution and artistry on this mat wrestling is fun to watch for a wrestling purist. Snapmare and a reverse chinlock by the Crippler. Transitions into a surfboard, then adds leverage by laying back and forcing a boot into the back of Malenko's neck. The champ forces his way back up to his feet and suplexes his way free. Corner smash by Dean. Surprise small package gets a two-count. Upon kicking out, Benoit gets up and hauls off with a couple of vicious-sounding knife-edge chops. A noticeable gash has opened up on Dean's torso near his shoulder, but he fights back and hammers Benoit down in the corner, complete with mudhole stomp.



Drop toe-hold by Malenko into a crossface. Transitions into a camel clutch. He releases the hold, hip-toss off an Irish whip, then an armbar variation with a short armscissor. Benoit powers to his feet, dead-lifting a clinging Malenko up in the air in a great feat of strength, then slamming him down in a move akin to an electric chair drop.



After a recovery period, both regain their feet, Benoit hitting a back suplex for two. Short clothesline for another two. Chop, kick, Irish whip, abdominal stretch by the challenger. He loses a grip on the hold, but for some reason they stick with the broken hold as a rest hold spot instead of transitioning. Malenko eventually gets loose with a hip-toss, cover for a one-count. Benoit is first up, laying in repeated kicks and then briefly strangling Malenko against the second rope. Swinging neckbreaker. Two-count. Unfortunately the crowd isn't feeling this match because of the excess amount of mat wrestling, but I'm enjoying it. Snap suplex by Benoit. Two. Punches, chops, and kicks at Dean in the corner. Dean fights back, turning Benoit around and whipping him into the opposite corner, following him in with a clothesline. Benoit counters a suplex, landing behind and then hitting a reverse front suplex.

Here comes Jacqueline down the aisle. She ambushes Woman at ringside, then hammers away. Jimmy Hart sprints down, runs by the brawling women, and while this is happening Benoit hits a top-rope swandive headbutt. Hart grabs the title belt and is going to make off with it, but Eddie Guerrero appears in street clothes from the back, arm in a sling, and stalks toward Jimmy, forcing him back toward the ring. Malenko suplexes Benoit from the ring to the floor from the apron. The match seems to be hitting some of its best action, but WCW has gummed it up with all of these outside people, so we're barely seeing the match action. Benoit and Malenko brawl on the floor, and amidst the chaos Arn Anderson runs down and attacks Malenko from behind, then rolls him into the ring. Here's Kevin Sullivan, who runs past Arn, gets on the apron, and hits Benoit in the back with a kendo stick. Malenko attacks Sullivan, and Sullivan falls back into Guerrero on the floor. Referee Randy Anderson finally calls the match off. Ugh.



This match was going well, and I thought it was going to be match of the night, but they wrecked a bunch of the positive with this weird ending.

Result: No Contest
Rating: ***

After the match there's a weird-ass sequence where Kevin Sullivan and Jacqueline drag a reluctant Guerrero back up the aisle while Jimmy Hart puts the US Title belt on Guerrero's shoulder and says that Eddie's the man. Eddie struggles the whole way, not seeming to know WTF they're doing.



After the chaos clears out, Malenko helps Benoit to his feet. The camera picks up Malenko saying, "He was not supposed to be here." Benoit says, "No, no he wasn't." Malenko leaves peacefully. Tony Schiavone wonders aloud whether "he" means Guerrero or Sullivan.

Tag Team Titles - Kevin Nash (c) (w/ Ted DiBiase, Syxx, & Nick Patrick) vs. Rick Steiner: I guess Nick Patrick is going to be the referee, per Kevin Nash's earlier demands. I can't claim to understand this thing where the WCW Executive Committee ordered Nash to defend the titles here, then Nash got to make demands before acceding to their orders. If they have the power to compel him to be in this match, how does he have any negotiating power to be making demands?

The two wrestlers throw forearms at each other, Nash eventually outpowering Rick and hammering him down to the mat. Corner whip and a running clothesline, then repeated knee lunges and elbow lunges into Steiner in the corner. Steiner fights back, hammering Big Kev out of the corner and connecting on a running clothesline. He successfully executes a belly-to-belly, albeit a pretty ugly one given Nash's size. Hits another throw and then gets a two-count. Steiner goes off the ropes, but spills out over the top when Syxx pulls down the top rope. Syxx gets some shots in while Nash distracts Nick Patrick. Err, why do they have to do the distraction ruse with Patrick? Can't he just watch Syxx haul off and then not disqualify anyway? Also wouldn't a disqualification be okay since Nash would retain?

Back inside the ring, Nash hits the big side slam. Two-count. Ted DiBiase gets his chance to get a shot in as well, again with Nash distracting Patrick. Kev hits the legdrop along the ropes, then a big boot. Hits the Jackknife Powerbomb…Rick Steiner kicks out? Weird. Nash expresses his disbelief for a bit before going back to work. He goes for another powerbomb, but Rick hits a low blow to get loose. He does it right in front of Patrick, but no disqualification, which also makes no sense. Steiner with a top-rope bulldog. 1, 2…Patrick won't count three. Rick keeps after it, hitting a couple of clotheslines, but once Syxx distracts Steiner, Nash turns Steiner inside out with a blindside clothesline. Syxx and DiBiase take the top turnbuckle pad off in one corner. Nash, executing Snake Eyes, drops Steiner on the exposed corner. Does it again, the second time dropping Steiner on his injured ear.

Nash is about to go for a powerbomb when DiBiase gets up on the apron and pleads with him, saying this beatdown has gone far enough. WTF? He just helped pull the turnbuckle pad off…admittedly because Syxx was failing on his own, but still. Nash gets pissed and goes over to get in DiBiase's face. He yells, "I don't care, you're with us! I'll tell you when it's enough."



Another Snake Eyes on the exposed corner. DiBiase steps into the ring, again pleading for mercy on Steiner's behalf for some reason. DiBiase, the conscientious objector, washes his hands of the situation and walks off. Nash with another Snake Eyes, finally another Jackknife Powerbomb. Nick Patrick even seems to have a problem with this beatdown, and hesitates before Nash makes him count to three.

Result: Kevin Nash via pinfall
Rating: *1/4

Mean Gene is backstage with Lex Luger and The Giant. Giant says the best man will win tonight and will deserve the title shot at Hulk Hogan. Luger gets a promo as well, decent work but nothing really notable about it. Neither one calls Hogan a racial slur.

Four Corners Match - Booker T vs. Stevie Ray vs. The Giant vs. Lex Luger: Incidentally, and I don't think I've commented on this, but I couldn't possibly explain to you why the Harlem Heat guys are rounding out a #1 contender match for the World Title. They haven't even been the top tag team in kayfabe, and they don't compete in singles, so uhh WTF? Anyway, here we go, Luger vs. Booker to start. Booker elbows his way free of a hammerlock and throws some shots. Press slam by Lex. Booker recovers and fights Lex into the corner, more forearms and choking. That thing where Luger sometimes screams in a totally over-the-top way when taking moves? He's got that **** cranked up to 11 tonight; I've never heard it this bad. Luger raises his boot on a corner charge by Booker, but when he looks to follow, Booker gouges the eyes and tags to Stevie Ray.

Luger and Stevie botch a simple clothesline spot. Giant actually attacks Stevie from the apron in service of Luger, but Luger graciously tags Giant in a moment later as well. The underlying story here is an odd dynamic where there can only be one individual winner, but the allies are being unselfish anyway. Stevie tries to take the fight to The Giant, and does clobber him backward into the corner. Giant reverses a corner whip and hits a running clothesline in the corner. Whip and a clothesline. Booker comes foolishly charging in and hits a press slam of his own. Booker and Stevie both go for a breather, and they actually end up jawing at each other.



After Stevie slowly makes his way back in, he walks over and tags Lex Luger. Luger enters, and the two friends are going to go at it. After a brief moment of hesitation, they tie up. After an Irish whip, Luger goes for a bodyslam but Giant falls on top and gets a near-fall. Then they get up and each tag the Harlem Heat guys. As far as I know, this isn't elimination, so people shouldn't be so damn anxious to tag out. The non-tornado nature of these WCW multi-way matches was always a leak. Booker and Stevie come in. They jaw a bit, Stevie kind of shoves Booker, and Booker finally nods his head as if to say, "Okay, let's do this." They trade hammerlocks, do a rope-running sequence, and then after one leapfrogs the other, they congratulate each other on that absolute nothingness as if they're those AAA wrestlers working in WWF. Booker tags Luger.

Luger with repeated forearms to Stevie. Stevie fights back, kick to the gut, then Stevie tags Booker. Side salto by Booker, who then misses with an elbow drop. Luger tags Giant, and the big man enters with a whip and a clothesline. Big chop by Giant, a slam, and he misses an elbow. Stevie just enters without a tag at this point, Booker exits, and Randy Anderson questions it but ultimately allows it. The Heat double-team Giant in Booker's corner. Tony: "That's what you need to do with a big man: double-team him." Bobby: "Or offer him cash." Booker with a Harlem Side Kick. He chops away at one of Giant's legs with repeated kicks, then tags to his brother. Stevie botches a snapmare, then misses a legdrop. Giant on the comeback with a knee lift and a big boot. Tag to Lex.

Luger gets the initial advantage on Stevie, but Stevie pulls him face-first into the buckle and then tags to Booker. Luger dodges a corner charge and then back-suplexes a staggering Booker, but Stevie has hung around in the ring after the tag and attacks Luger to put him back down before finally retiring to the apron. Booker with a measured knee drop, and after a two-count he slaps on a reverse chinlock. Allow me to take this rest hold as an opportunity to say that none of the action in this match has been entertaining, and the psychology has been painfully stupid.



Lex fights his way free of the hold, but eats a Harlem Side Kick shortly after regaining his feet. Two-count, and Booker tags to Stevie. Stevie with a clothesline and a cover for another two. And another reverse chinlock. Luger finds enough adrenaline to get his feet and suplex his way free. Stevie is quicker to recover from this move; he tags Booker, and Booker cuts off any tag attempt by Lex. Scissor kick by Booker. Giant breaks up another pin. Stevie re-enters, I think illegally, hitting a side slam but then tagging the already-legal Booker for a return. He sends Booker off the top in a rocket launcher, but Luger rolls out of the way. Lex gets free for long enough to tag The Giant. Big man powerslams Stevie, kicks Booker out over the top, then signals for the chokeslam. As he prepares to deliver the move, he has a second thought. He walks over to Luger and offers him the tag and the opportunity to win the match.



Luger comes in, promptly slaps the Torture Rack on Stevie Ray, and ships the win. He and The Giant embrace in mid-ring. I will say that, despite the match being trash, I do get the warm fuzzies from this ending. Giant does owe a debt of gratitude to Lex for welcoming him back to the WCW side of the war when nobody else would take him in, so it works for me, as it also really solidifies Giant as a trustworthy babyface in the ongoing war.



Result: Lex Luger via Stevie Ray submission
Rating: *

We witness the full walk through the back by Randy Savage and Elizabeth before their entrance for our main event. Diamond Dallas Page and Kimberly give an interview to Mean Gene before theirs.

No Disqualification - Randy Savage (w/ Miss Elizabeth) vs. Diamond Dallas Page (w/ Kimberly): Savage stalls outside the ring for a bit, as DDP is absolutely chomping at the bit to get after things. Savage finally baits Page to the outside and hits him on arrival, but DDP fights back, smashing Savage hard into the guardrail and throwing fists at him. He returns the action inside the ring. Whips Savage into the ropes, catches him off of there, then hits a terribly sloppy atomic drop. Makes an early Diamond Cutter attempt, but Savage grabs the top rope to block, causing DDP to hit the deck hard. Savage hangs him along the top rope, and Page rolls out. Macho Man follows him out, flings him over the guardrail, and they fight through the crowd and onto a concourse area. Savage picks up a trash can that seems to have some gross **** in it, and they hit each other with it. Brawling continues back through the crowd, DDP stopping at one point to choke Savage with an electrical cord. As they get back to ringside, Savage actually takes cover behind Kimberly. DDP is furious, but Elizabeth rakes Page's back, Savage shoves Kim into him, and then runs up and punches Page himself to capitalize on the situation.

Savage smashes Page into the guardrail and then picks him up and drops him on it. Scales to the top rope, and drops the axhandle all the way to the floor. He sends DDP hard into one set of steel steps, then another. Rolls Page back into the ring and records a two-count. He goes out and commandeers the steel chair that Michael Buffer is sitting on. Connects with a hard chair shot to the back before referee Mark Curtis takes it and disposes of it. Savage goes and demands that David Penzer get up and give up his chair. As Penzer gets up, Savage slaps him. Heenan: "Nothing wrong with that." Tony: "Yes, there is too!"



Savage puts the chair in the ring, jaws at the two ring announcers a bit, and then walks into a chair ambush from DDP. DDP collapses immediately after though, and Savage is actually the quicker one to get up, laying in punches in the corner. Page eye-gouges his way loose and fights back. Back and forth the two go, Savage pulling out a hard clothesline and getting a two-count. Page reverses a whip, Savage catches his boot on the way back, but after Savage turns him around, Page pulls out a hard clothesline. I remember warming to this match last I saw it, but I don't quite know why, because it's just a lot of very basic brawling offense. Scoop slam by Savage. And another. He goes outside and picks on David Penzer some more, then swipes a ring bell. He starts to scale the ropes as if to jump off the top with it, but Kimberly runs up and frantically swipes it away. Savage goes ahead for a flying elbow anyway, but runs into a boot on the way down.



DDP goes for the Diamond Cutter, but Savage counters as if to go for a backslide, then kicks backward in a low blow. Makes his way over for a cover, but only gets two again. A frustrated Savage attacks Mark Curtis and piledrives him. He removes Mark Curtis's belt and whips him with it before dumping him out of the ring. Macho Man connects on the flying elbow this time, but is stuck with a visual pin since Savage just dispatched of the official. Enter Nick Patrick, who jogs to the ring and shakes Savage's hand. Kevin Nash appears at the top of the ramp, smiling as he watches on. As Savage goes to follow up on Page, Page counters with a surprise Diamond Cutter. Nick Patrick looks conflicted, but ultimately gets down and counts three.



Result: Diamond Dallas Page via pinfall
Rating: **

Kevin Nash, pissed, comes charging out to confront Patrick. A whole bunch of nWo guys, led by Bischoff and including Ted DiBiase back in the fold, charge toward the ring as well. Nash hits the Jackknife Powerbomb on Patrick. A revived Savage knocks DDP from the ring, then grabs Kimberly. Bischoff steps in to stop Savage, saying it's going too far. Savage lets himself get talked down, but then shoves Bischoff down. That causes Nash to come storming back in at Savage.



Nash and the rest of group simply subdue Savage and settle things down, with no further violence being done tonight. The latest rift in the nWo has shown itself.

Back to the announce table, where the broadcast team talks up how much trouble the nWo seems to be in now. After a bit of banter they sign the show off.

Overall: Not very good. Ultimo/Rey was really good, Benoit/Malenko was really good until it got obliterated by overbooking, lots of garbage from a match standpoint otherwise. I do think that the story moments from this show were actually pretty cool, between Giant tagging out the win to Luger and some of this nWo infighting. I guess I didn't hate the show entirely, but it was really a slog to get through at times.

April 7, 1997

NITRO

Huntsville, AL

We cold-open on footage from the end of Spring Stampede, with Eric Bischoff stopping Randy Savage from attacking Kimberly, resulting in Savage shoving Bischoff hard to the mat and then punching him before the nWo stepped in to play peacemaker.

After credits, Tony Schiavone and Larry Zbyszko welcome us to the show. We see stills from last night's main event between Diamond Dallas Page and Randy Savage before being sent to the ring for our opening bout.

Konnan & Hugh Morrus vs. Alex Wright & Psicosis: Psicosis has largely been working as a heel, so it's weird that he's not only randomly teaming with Wright, but that this time he's high-fiving fans on the way to the ring. Morrus starts things off with right, throwing fists in the corner, but Wright flips his way behind after a corner whip, throws a hip-toss, a jumping wheel kick, and he records a one-count. Tag to Psicosis, who connects off the ropes with an axhandle, but Morrus basically no-sells, fighting back and going over to tag Konnan in. Psicosis puts Konnan down with a superkick, then takes him over with a headscissor. Spinning wheel kick off the top rope connects. He dropkicks Morrus off the apron, seemingly to clear him out, then scales the ropes. Larry echoes my sentiments to what follows when he yells, "Whoa, he went THAT way!" In lieu of continuing the attack on Konnan, Psicosis throws a beauty of a moonsault all the way to the floor.



As Psicosis re-enters, Konnan takes advantage and hits him on the way in. Seated dropkick connects, then he tags Morrus back into the match, seemingly unaffected by the big moonsault that just hit him. We cut away and see a split-screen replay of Diamond Dallas Page arriving at the arena earlier today, heavily wrapped and telling the camera guy to GTFO. Returning to the action, Konnan records a one-count after a powerbomb. Tag back to Morrus, who misses on an elbow off the ropes. Konnan with the hot tag to Wright, who takes on both Dungeon members with good success. Cross-body off the top rope on Morrus only gets one. Wright takes a shot from Konnan on the apron, Morrus hits a swinging neckbreaker and the big moonsault, and this one is over.



Result: Konnan & Hugh Morrus via pinfall

Lord Steven Regal vs. Rey Mysterio Jr.: Both men in the ring as Nitro returns from break. Tony insults Rey by calling him "Prince Iaukea." Regal throws Rey up and lets him drop to the mat. He snapmares him across the ring, causing Rey to roll outside. Regal follows, putting Rey on his shoulders and then dropping him across the ringside guardrail. They do another stupid cut-away to show the nWo arriving at the arena. I have no idea why wrestling companies love showing these backstage arrivals so much. Hulk Hogan, Eric Bischoff, Ted DiBiase, and Vincent are here. Hogan says they're going to take care of family business tonight, and that "either the family is together, or they swim with the fishes." It's SLEEPS with the fishes, you dolt.

Back to the match, Regal hits a jumping double-knee on Mysterio. He goes for a butterfly powerbomb, but Rey counters out of it with an armdrag, then goes to the apron and hits a springboard dropkick from there. They jostle for an advantage on a corner whip, Rey ultimately prevailing and causing Regal to fly out over the turnbuckle to the floor. Regal tries to return, but finds himself caught up on the top ropes. Reverse hurracanrana from there gets two. Rey signals for the finish, does execute the springboard hurracanrana, but fails to hook the legs and only gets two. Regal back after him with a European uppercut. He hits a reverse front suplex, then slaps on the Regal Stretch…Rey slowly works his way over and barely grabs the ropes to force a rope break, but Regal fails to relinquish the hold and gets disqualified.



Result: Rey Mysterio Jr. via DQ

Prince Iaukea runs out and attempts the save, leading Regal to give up his hold on Rey, but he turns right around and slaps that Regal Stretch on Iaukea. He ultimately leaves both of his rivals laying in the ring.

Here's a second wave of nWo arrivals: Randy Savage, Miss Elizabeth, Buff Bagwell, Syxx, Mike Rotundo, fake Sting, and Kevin Nash is the last to emerge from this limo. Everyone in the faction has their serious face on tonight.

After commercials, we see stills of Kevin Nash vs. Rick Steiner from last night. Tony mentions that Ted DiBiase walked out on the beatdown, and that Nick Patrick didn't want to make the three-count.

Ice Train (w/ Teddy Long) vs. Chris Benoit (w/ Woman): From the category of "LOL nobody cares," Ice Train appears to be back to being a babyface, reunited with Teddy Long. I'm not just imagining that he was a heel who had stopped associating with Long, right? He powers Benoit into the corner to start, but Benoit regroups and fires back with punches and chops. Benoit runs the ropes, Train shows impressive agility in leapfrogging him, then the big man hits a press slam. Running clothesline and a corner whip, but he runs into the raised boot of the Crippler. Hard chops by Benoit, but Ice Train no-sells and chops back. Benoit returns the no-selling favor, as he just keeps forging ahead with his own chops. Irish whip and a jumping clothesline by Ice Train.

They cut to a split-screen backstage, where the nWo is hashing things out. Hogan, addressing some of the members who arrived separately, says, "I want to know what color you guys are." He does not yet go on to say, "I guess we're all a little bit racist." Hogan is pointing the finger at Nash, Savage seems to back Nash up, causing Bischoff to start jawing at Savage. Savage tells Bischoff that he got soft once he got put on probation. Bischoff retorts that no, he got smart. Hogan tries to settle things down; that stuff is to be continued.



Back to the match. Woman is up on the apron running distraction, Teddy Long is up to confront her, and Benoit knees a distracted Ice Train into Long to knock Long off the apron. Benoit ships the match with a DDT.



Result: Chris Benoit via pinfall

They spend time shilling Dennis Rodman's new movie with Jean-Claude Van Damme.

Hector Guerrero vs. Kevin Sullivan (w/ Jacqueline & Jimmy Hart): Sullivan and Jimmy Hart pretended to be aligned with Eddie Guerrero last night, despite Eddie's apparent confusion with the situation. Now Sullivan fighting with Eddie's brother Hector. Sullivan knocks Hector from the ring, and Jacqueline suplexes him out there before chopping him and rolling him inside. Hector tries to charge Sullivan in the corner, but Sullivan gets a boot up and then hammers away. He rakes the aback a couple of times, then sends Hector back outside to take more abuse from Jacqueline, this time featuring a bodyslam on the floor. Once Guerrero is back inside, Sullivan ties him up in the tree of woe, charges in and lands a hard running knee, then finishes things with the double stomp.



Result: Kevin Sullivan via pinfall

After break, the nWo music hits. Tony says, "For the first time since I've been doing this program, I want to see them come out. We want to see if, in fact, the nWo will dissolve, will fall apart before our very eyes." I realize they don't break the group up here, but even with that knowledge I share in Tony's sentiment, that the nWo music is usually an eye-roll, but in this case the infighting has been interesting and I don't actually remember what turn this takes next. And for the first time in a while, I'm intrigued.

The entirety of the faction strolls out, albeit somewhat staggered in the same order as the groups that arrived separately earlier in the night. Tony notes that there is no Nick Patrick tonight…after he took the powerbomb from Kevin Nash last night, I guess that was the end of his membership in the group. By the way, it doesn't really make any sense for these guys to come out to the ring together to air their dirty laundry, but this is the type of thing that I'm willing to suspend disbelief on. Ted DiBiase is the first one to speak. He acknowledges that there are hard feelings in the group, but says they're going to settle things.



He passes the mic to Hogan. Hogan confronts Kevin Nash, saying the word is out that Nash has a problem with Hogan being in Chicago last week at Rodman's movie premiere. Nash says he has no problem with Dennis Rodman, and he welcomes him to the group. He says that he's sorry if he was a bit grouchy last week. Hogan says that's half the equation…the other half is that he wants to know where Scott Hall is, and if he's still in or not. Nash reassures him that Hall is nWo for life. Hogan notes that Nash is still staring daggers through him, and wonders if he and Nash have to "do the thing right now." Nash replies, "I don't have to love you to respect you. Where I come from in Detroit, Michigan, you're only as big a man as your word. When you walked out in Daytona Beach, and you joined me and Scott, and we sat in the back and said, 'Yeah, you're the man, let's do that.' I gave you my word then, I'll give it to you now: we're not going around to these arenas saying that we're nWo for life as some kind of catchphrase. Because when we are nWo, it is for life." They do their secret handshake thing or whatever.



Hogan and Nash seem to have brokered a peace, but Randy Savage is still hopping around the ring on crutches, looking very agitated, particularly with Bischoff. Hogan says that if he and Nash can get on the same page, Savage and Bischoff need to get their **** straight as well. Savage says that he's willing to go with the flow, but adds to Bischoff, "Like you're on probation with Ted Turner, you're on probation with me. And in turn, I'm on probation with you. Is that cool?" Bischoff says, "Works for me." They bury the hatchet. A tentative peace is reached all around, closing out the segment.

After commercial, we enter into hour #2. Zbyszko out, Bobby Heenan and Mike Tenay in.

Mean Gene brings out the 13-time champion of the world, Ric Flair. The crowd approves. Flair promptly calls for Rowdy Roddy Piper to come join him. He greets his friend with a high-five. Piper: "So the doctor gave you a note that says you can come out and play again. Have I got that straight?" Flair, grinning ear to ear: "You got it straight!" Piper says that we can see the problems in the nWo; "it's time to strike." Flair says that Kevin Greene wants to join them. Piper says that if Greene is cool with Flair, he's cool with him. Suddenly Kevin Greene pops into the ring. Greene, marking out for both of these legends, says that he's got their back and is going to be ready. I guess he's no longer grumpy about the Horsemen all jumping him back at Great American Bash '96.



US Title - Dean Malenko (c) vs. Chris Jericho: I was excited to see these two come out…then I saw the search bubbles show that the match is unfortunately going to be quite short. I hate that. Jericho blocks a hip-toss, Malenko ducks a clothesline, roll-up by Malenko only gets a two-count. Jericho hits an enziguri and then a spinning wheel kick. Springboard shoulderblock from the second rope to the apron. He rolls Malenko back inside and then promptly connects with a missile dropkick off the top. Dean reverses a corner whip, but Jericho comes countering out of the corner with a backslide. Two. Jericho's backdrop attempt is thwarted by a boot to the face by Malenko, who powerbombs the challenger hard. The Texas Cloverleaf is on, but Jericho is right next to the ropes and grabs on quickly.

Jericho misses on a corner charge, but recovers from the impact quickly enough to stop Malenko in the middle of climbing the ropes. He meets him up top and hits a superplex. Both slow to recover from that one, and then they connect on a mid-ring collision. After another recovery period, Malenko smashes Jericho into the turnbuckle, which leads us to an awkward ending. I can't tell if Jericho got legitimately hurt here, because he stays down, not showing his face. The referee indicates concern, Malenko actually indicates concern, but then rares back and just punts him hard in the face, then covers to retain the title.



Result: Dean Malenko via pinfall

The referee waves furiously for help from the back for Jericho as Malenko stoically grabs his belt and walks off. We do get a partial glimpse of Jericho's face and see blood before quickly cutting to commercial, so that all seems to have been a legit injury and an early go-home.

As High Voltage enters for the next match, one of them looks at the camera and mockingly says, "LODI DODI!" Aww ****; that can only mean it's Public Enemy time. We see footage of High Voltage scoring the upset over PE two weeks ago due to Jeff Jarrett interference.

High Voltage vs. Public Enemy: PE whips Kenny Kaos and Robbie Rage into each other. Double suplex on Kaos. After Kaos regroups, he re-enters and attempts to backdrop Rocco Rock, but eats a boot for his efforts. Rocco ends up fighting with Rage outside the ring for a moment. Kaos tags Rage in, who hits a shoulderblock and records a two-count. Schiavone notes that High Voltage is wrestling with increased confidence since that win over Public Enemy a couple of weeks ago. Rocco throws a swinging neckbreaker at Kaos, then tags Johnny Grunge. Grunge takes on both Volts, then Rocco rejoins and helps him in double-teaming both opponents. Rocco sets Kaos on a ringside table, Grunge climbs the ropes, but his dive off the top puts him through the table when Kaos moves. That impact looked pretty wicked.



Back in the ring, Rage hits a release Northern lights suplex on Rocco, then he records a three-count. High Voltage scores another win, this time 100% clean.

Result: High Voltage via pinfall

Mean Gene comes out to grab a word with Public Enemy. Grunge and Rocco tip their caps to High Voltage, but Rocco lays out a challenge for High Voltage to meet them in a Philadelphia Street Fight next week. To be clear: the city they name at the start of "street fight" never actually changes the rules, I'm pretty sure. PE makes clear reference to their ECW roots, saying that they might need to go back to their roots next week and get a little bit extreme.

After commercials, Prince Iaukea is getting his ribs taped backstage. He's scheduled to defend the TV Title tonight, but they're not sure whether or not he'll be able to go.

Harlem Heat (w/ Sister Sherri) vs. Jeff Jarrett & Mongo McMichael (w/ Debra): Jarrett and Debra are the only ones to enter for their side, as both indicate en route to the ring that they don't know where Mongo is. Debra says, "I don't know where Steve is!" but says it with a smile and an apparent lack of concern. Booker T puts Jarrett down with a shoulderblock, but falls to a Japanese armdrag and a hip-toss. An uppercut by Jarrett puts Booker down again, and it's time for Stevie Ray to tag in. Stevie hits Jarrett repeatedly, then misses on two clotheslines but hits a front slam. Jarrett comes back with a pair of dropkicks to put both Heat guys down, but Sherri runs distraction as the Heat converges to put Jarrett down. Stevie hits a legdrop and gets a two-count.



Debra leaves the ringside area for a moment, then comes back muttering something about car trouble and saying that she doesn't know where he is. She's more upset about it now than she was on the way to the ring. Booker hits an axe kick on Jarrett, then tags to Stevie. Stomp, stomp, stomp. Big mafia kick by Stevie; two-count. Booker tags in and continues the deconstruction of Jarrett, but almost falls victim to a surprise small package, barely kicking out on two. Booker misses on a corner charge, again allowing for a surprise pin by Jarrett that Stevie has to break up. Double delayed suplex by the Heat. Two. The Heat begin to show frustration with their inability to put away Jeff Jarrett in a handicap match. Booker drops his head too early for a backdrop and gets backslid for a two-count.

Booker T misses on a Harlem side kick and winds up crotching himself along the top rope. Back to Stevie. Finally we see Mongo emerge from the back, looking pissed and barking for the camera to get out of his face. He reports to his corner and waves off the static he gets from Debra upon arrival. He takes a tag from Jarrett and comes in throwing clotheslines. Bodyslams, chop blocks…then he smirks and tags an unready Jeff Jarrett back into the ring. Jarrett sleepily re-enters, stops to question Mongo, and Mongo shoves him as if to say "get in there," causing Jarrett to blindly stagger into a big Harlem side kick by Booker that finally ends this thing.



Result: Harlem Heat via pinfall

Schiavone somberly says, "As we see this, we can see that there are real trouble within the Horsemen." This ****ing angle is the worst take on Groundhog Day that I've ever seen. Here's Mean Gene to check in on this. Jarrett says he's sick and tired of being sick and tired. He thunders away at Mongo, asking where the hell he's been. Mongo responds by…threatening the rest of the company, and telling everyone else to be afraid. Jarrett objects and says that Mongo didn't answer his questions, but that's all we're going to get tonight.

TV Title - Prince Iaukea (c) vs. Ultimo Dragon (w/ Sonny Onoo): As mentioned earlier, Iaukea has taped ribs due to the attack from Regal earlier tonight. The rib pain is evident early, as he favors the ribs after an early collision, and then can't execute a basic bodyslam. Small package by Iaukea gets two. He blocks a hip-toss by Dragon and executes a backslide for another near-fall. Hard running clothesline by Dragon, who lands the signature series of kicks. Dragon goes to the top, but jumps off into the raised feet of the champion. Iaukea with an Irish whip and a chop on the way back. Ultimo ducks a spinning heel kick, but Prince hits a chop. Dragon back at him with another vicious series of kicks though, and Prince simply succumbs to the pain at this point, as Ultimo hooks the leg on his prone opponent and records the pinfall. Thankfully, the TV Title is back in the hands of a legit wrestler. Hopefully Iaukea fades away quickly from this point forward.



Result: Ultimo Dragon via pinfall, new TV Champion

Scott Steiner is set to enter for our main event match, set to take on The Giant, but during his entrance he gets jumped from behind by Konnan and Hugh Morrus. That's random. Giant runs out and saves Steiner, but as Giant is setting to chokeslam Konnan, Morrus hits him from behind with a steel chair. Giant no-sells. He and Steiner stalk the Dungeon of Doom guys toward the back. Seems we're not going to have the match after all.

After a commercial, a broken, battered, and heavily-wrapped Diamond Dallas Page emerges through the entryway to no music and no pyro, but a nice pop from the crowd. "You know, last night in Tupelo, Mississippi, in Spring Stampede, in the main event, I went and faced one of the biggest superstars in the world of professional wrestling. Now if you asked anybody just two years ago if DDP could ever be a main eventer, they would say that you were nuts. But you know what? I am an anomaly. What is an anomaly? Something that wasn't supposed to happen. But I did happen, and I happened to YOU, Savage! It all started at Uncensored, when you painted my wife up and down with that nWo crap. But last night, late at night, when I found out that you were dragging her around by her hair, and you were gonna smack my wife upside the head…if I'd have found you, sucker, I'd have killed you! Because sometimes winning just isn't enough. I know you're hurt, low-life. So am I. And I say, if you've got any guts, you get out here right now and let's do it again now!"



The nWo music hits. After a delay, Randy Savage limps out from the back on crutches all by himself. He gets halfway to the ring when Hulk Hogan runs up to stop him. The camera picks up Hogan saying, "This one is on me." Savage says he wants to do it himself. Hogan insists, and Macho Man lets Hogan go ahead, telling him, "Take him out completely." Before Hogan can hit the ring, we see Sting lower from the ceiling in the middle and drop down in the aisle in between DDP and the nWo. Sting points his black bat at the nWo, then throws it back to DDP. Now Sting produces a second bat, goes and joins DDP in the ring, and the both of them stand down the whole nWo group as the show signs off.





Overall: Pretty good episode IMO. Some enjoyable action, some interesting story work. Aside from the Mongo/Jarrett stuff, which is among the worst things going in the Monday Night Wars at this point, it felt like everything else was at least watchable.

I think we've found our gif of the year.

Piper's part in that gif is fantastic.

April 7, 1997

RAW

Muncie, IN

We open on footage from last week, when Mankind lit a fire in Undertaker's face and burned him.

Vince McMahon welcomes us to tonight's episode, telling us that we will see Sid vs. Mankind, a No Holds Barred exhibition by Ken Shamrock, and what sounds like a promo by Shawn Michaels.

Owen Hart & The British Bulldog come out for the next match, Bulldog waving the Union Jack and Owen waving the Canadian flag. Owen cuts a promo thanking his inspiration, his big brother Bret, for causing the family to love each other again. He threatens Shawn Michaels that they'll come out and destroy him later if he says one bad thing about Bret.

Owen Hart & The British Bulldog vs. The Godwinns: Henry powers Owen to the mat. He sneds him off the ropes, then catches him into an overhead press and slams him. Nice hard running clothesline to get an early two-count. He slams Owen, tags in Phineas, and slams Phineas on top of Owen. Owen makes an escape and tags Bulldog, who quickly falls victim to a hip-toss by Phineas. Vince sends it to a split-screen interview with a smirking Shawn Michaels backstage, who assures us that he will upset Owen and Davey and probably a lot more people tonight. Bulldog ties up with Phineas and fights him into the corner, but Phineas throws a fit, knocking both Owen and Davey to the floor and continuing to rage in the ring until Henry comes in and settles him down.

The Godwinns isolate Davey for a moment until Owen makes a blind tag in and throws a spinning wheel kick at Phineas. He baits Henry into the ring to create more latitude to double-team Phineas with the Bulldog. Phineas does manage a backslide that creates a visual pin, but Bulldog has distracted referee Earl Hebner, and Owen is able to kick out of the late count at two. Hart connects on a big enziguri, but only gets a two-count. As Owen tags Davey, the show goes to break.



Back from break, the champions are double-teaming Phineas as Henry furiously tries to run interference to save his partner. Hebner pushes Henry out, but Phineas is able to duck a double clothesline and then clothesline both Owen and Davey on the way back. Hot tag to Henry. Vince sends it to a PIP promo from the Legion of Doom at this point, which is a super weird thing to do during a hot tag sequence. In fact, the match ends during this promo when Bulldog hits Henry off the top with an axhandle while Henry appeared to have the match won via a Slop Drop. Poor job on the production side by the WWF, though thankfully it only served to mangle a match that wasn't any good anyway.



Result: Owen Hart & The British Bulldog via pinfall

As a celebratory Owen and Davey back up the aisle, the Legion of Doom appears at the top of the aisle to block their path. The Godwinns surround them from the other side. The Godwinns recklessly fling slop toward the champs, but accidentally slop the Road Warriors instead as Owen and Davey safely escape up the ramp. A brawl ensues between the Road Warriors and Godwinns as the champions point and laugh from the top of the ramp.



After commercial, Owen and Davey cut another promo from backstage. They're watching a monitor replaying the slop incident from just now, laughing it up. They get interrupted from off-camera, as Steve Austin yells at them from a distance…but Austin gets dragged away by officials before it becomes a physical confrontation.

Now Austin comes to the ring, apparently going to wrestle for the first time on TV since WrestleMania 13. Basically his first on-screen ringwork as a WWF babyface.

Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Billy Gunn: Honky Tonk Man comes out with Billy Gunn, but then heads over to commentary for the match, apparently not actually acting as his manager. After the two wrestlers circle each other for a bit, Austin baits Billy Gunn into a failed single-leg attempt, which Austin capitalizes on to beat Gunn down. Irish whip and a backdrop by Austin. After he lays in a couple of punches, Billy rolls out of the ring to take a respite. Vince goes to a split-screen interview backstage with Davey Boy Smith and Owen Hart. Even as a fan of these two, especially Owen: you don't need to include these two in every single segment of the show. Anyway, they threaten Austin for a bit.

Back to the match. Austin chokes Billy along the top rope. Billy reverses an Irish whip, but Austin grabs him on the way back and slams him down on the back of his head. He pulls Gunn over to the corner and rams his arm into the post a couple of times. Gunn finally fights back with a couple of punches in the corner and then a nice swinging neckbreaker in the middle of the ring. Austin gets Gunn turned around in the corner, does the mudhole stomp, then hits a pretty blatant low blow on Billy that causes referee Tim White to admonish him. Austin takes the admonition and then flips the double bird at White as soon as White turns around. Snapmare by Austin. He climbs to the top, but Billy catches up and crotches him. Austin reverses a corner whip, but then runs into a big boot as he tries to follow up. Gunn misses a clothesline, Stone Cold capitalizes with a kick to the gut and a Stunner to get the three-count. This was an underwhelming match.



Result: Steve Austin via pinfall

Austin celebrates the win briefly before exiting up the aisle. Honky Tonk Man comes into the ring and tells Billy that he's watched hundreds of hours of tape on him. If the government forced someone to watch hundreds of hours of Billy Gunn, I would call it unconstitutional. Honky tells Billy that no matter what happened with Jesse James, Billy has always been Honky's first choice. It's odd to put this segment right after Billy just got done jobbing. Honky gives the sales pitch and formally invites Billy to come be his protégé. Billy appears to think for a moment, then clocks Honky in the face.



After Dok Hendrix shills some ridiculous ****, Vince is poking fun at Honky Tonk Man at the announce table when we're interrupted by "ATTEN-HUT!" Reminiscent of Sgt. Slaughter, but this is some random. Oh FFS, I'd forgotten this completely pointless group. Vince doesn't know who this is. The guy introduces himself as being from The Truth Commission from South Africa. He mentions that next week's episode will come from South Africa. He says that he and his group are here to study the effects of democracy. He prattles on about how unnatural and bad democracy is.



"Only when you have law and order can you have real democracy and true freedom." What used to be a wrestling promo is a stump speech in 2016. Right on cue, he derides "you sissy liberal Americans." And then he goes on to praise Bret Hart for Hart's views against sissy liberal Americans. Well that makes a lot of ****ing sense; his problem is with democracy and liberalism, so he heaps praise on a Canadian patriot? He throws it to a pre-taped Titantron promo of Bret.

Bret says that he's proud to already be outside of America, in South Africa, where people still respect right and wrong. Says that he's never seen things more clearly. He fires shots at Shawn Michaels and Steve Austin. Not much going on here.



After commercial, Vince McMahon brings out Shawn Michaels. This run of promos has been bad, and this seems unlikely to improve the situation. Michaels admits that the beatdown that he took from Bret two weeks ago is the type of thing that happens when Shawn chooses to run his mouth. Admits that it was a "setback," and says that he's not saying when he's coming back to the ring. He continues, "Everyone is asking, 'Why is Bret Hart suddenly a 'bad guy'?' Well ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I'm not gonna lie to you." (He must not have a title right now to forfeit under false pretenses.)



Okay, COME ON. Really, I enjoy the digs at Bret even though I'm a Bret fan, but **** this **** where Shawn Michaels is going to come out and deliver a blurred-lines worked shoot and pretend that he ever did anything selfless for business, at least prior to working in a borderline crippled state at the yet-to-exist WrestleMania XIV.

God dammit Shawn, every time your promo picks up steam you say something completely ridiculous that makes me want to time-travel back to 1997 to punch you in the face. Shawn points to Vince and says, "You're the boss: am I right or wrong?" Vince smiles and confirms that Shawn was right. FFS. That had zero basis in reality.



Incidentally, it would be super weird if Bret had criticized Shawn for having long hair, so that part probably wasn't true. Anyway, I'm not entirely sure why I started transcribing this verbatim, but I wasn't expecting it to be so long.

As he starts into his next line, he seems to stop to respond to a heckler from the crowd.

Likely translation: Shawn is under contract with no escape clause and is stuck with Vince no matter what he might like to do.

Shawn stops to acknowledge that some people are booing him, and admits this used to bother him, but he goes into the corny shtick about how people can cheer for whoever they want. Shawn sheds his jacket. He says that he's not a role model, but that if the parents out there plop their money down, he will come out and work his ass off whether anyone likes it or not. It took a long promo, but Shawn finally managed to hit on one pro-Shawn talking point that I can't disagree with.



Shawn says that he's going to do his dance just for Bret. From backstage, we see Owen Hart and Davey Boy Smith head out toward the ring. Michaels grabs a chair from ringside to fend them off as they try to enter the ring. Owen and Davey ultimately turn around and leave after being threatened by the chair. While parts of that promo were tilting, it was easily the most entertaining part of this episode so far.

The Headbangers vs. Freddy Joe Floyd & Barry Horowitz: This isn't technically a local jobber match since Horowitz and Floyd have both had entrance music within the past year or so, but obviously it's a standard enhancement match anyway. Horowitz gets a bit of token offense early, the Headbangers take over and run their offense from there. We get a PIP promo from a random dude named Vernon White, who I guess will be taking on Ken Shamrock later. After spending almost the entire match in the ring, Horowitz finally manages a hot tag to Freddy Joe Floyd. Floyd gets a bit of offense in before falling victim to a sidewalk slam by Mosh. The Headbangers execute the Stage Dive, the powerbomb into the top-rope legdrop, and this one is over.



Result: Headbangers via pinfall

No Holds Barred - Ken Shamrock vs. Vernon White: At the start of the match, Vince openly advertises the UFC's upcoming PPV. Shamrock plays it cautiously at first, just dodging repeated strikes from White. He finally dodges a full roundhouse kick, hooks the foot, and tries to convert into a submission, but White escapes and mounts Shamrock. He goes for a leglock, but Shamrock counters into his own before hammering away with one strike. They end up in the ropes, where referee Jack Doan enforces a break, thus…you know, barring the ongoing hold. During the rope break, White gets up and takes something of a cheap kick that stuns Shamrock, but just seems to piss Shamrock off. Shamrock takes White down and pounds him into submission, busting him open pretty badly. Jack Doan calls the match off. Crowd was dead for this, and it wasn't very entertaining.



Result: Ken Shamrock via referee stoppage

Jim Ross tries to grab a ringside interview, but it quickly gets interrupted by Vader's music. Vader, with Paul Bearer in tow, gets up to confront Shamrock, but a group of officials keeps them apart.

After break, we go straight into a match in progress.

Vader (w/ Paul Bearer) vs. Local Jobber: Vince says that Vader is trying to outdo what Shamrock just did in his fight. Vader throws a nice release German on the jobber. Vince goes to a split-screen interview with Mankind, asking him what sort of surprise Mankind has for The Undertaker. Mankind says that he wants to make amends to Undertaker, so he has a surprise for him later. In the meantime, Vader picks his opponent up on two after a Vaderbomb. He gets up and hits a second one, but again doesn't go for a pin. He finally pins the poor guy after a powerbomb.



Result: Vader via pinfall

So Sid is scheduled to be in tonight's main event, but apparently isn't at the arena yet. Vince goes backstage to Gorilla Monsoon and asks him where Sid is. Gorilla doesn't know, saying that there are unconfirmed rumors of an automobile accident or a missed flight. He says that if Sid doesn't make it, he needs to have a contingency plan, so he has scanned the roster and decided the only suitable replacement opponent for Mankind tonight would be Stone Cold Steve Austin. Austin interrupts and says that he already wrestled tonight, and isn't here to rescue the show. He calls Sid a coward. This partial Sid burial seems like it's probably the end of the line for him; I had previously thought that his final appearance in '97 was at Mania. Austin threatens to wrap his knee brace around Monsoon's fat head. He says that Sid is supposed to have a big match with Bret Hart at the next PPV, and says that he'll only wrestle tonight if Monsoon will give him the match against Bret at the PPV. Monsoon agrees.



Mankind comes out for an interview with Jim Ross. JR asks him why he would burn The Undertaker last week. "Was it the greed of becoming WWF Champion?" WTF, these two feuded for basically all of 1996. In kayfabe, these two hate each other's guts. Ross also raises the possibility of revenge. Mankind says that they engaged in a series of brutal matches, but afterward it didn't feel like Undertaker knew him at all.



Ross asks what kind of match we can expect at the PPV. Mankind continues.

Paul Bearer unveils a matching Mankind mask.



Foley was such a ****ing master on the stick. The Undertaker gong hits. The dead man's voice streams over the arena speakers. He threatens that Mankind will soon "feel the heat" and scream in anguish. "I have sentenced you to eternal damnation. … I will soon open the vaults of souls and unleash the most deadly of demons. You see, Paul Bearer: you think that you know the darkness. I taught you everything you know of the darkness…but I didn't teach you everything I know. When all is said and done, you two will understand that even Hell hath no fury like The Undertaker's." Great segment, carried by Foley, but I dug Taker's response promo as well.

As soon as we're back from break, the mystery of Mankind's opponent tonight, whether it will be Sid or Steve Austin, is quickly settled when we hear the glass break.

Mankind (w/ Paul Bearer) vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin: Mankind bails out of the ring to meet Austin before he can get into the ring. The two brawl at ringside, then halfway up the aisle. Austin blocks Mankind's suplex attempt and throws his own suplex that connects squarely with the steel ramp. After taking a couple of punches, Mankind fights back with a clothesline. Austin blocks a subsequent attempted smash into the steel steps, and instead rams Mankind into the steps. Stone Cold gets up on the apron, puts the boots to Mankind from there, and the brawl continues around the ringpost. Owen Hart and Davey Boy Smith get another appearance on the split-screen, both pissed on Bret Hart's behalf that Bret is suddenly stuck in a PPV match with Stone Cold because of Sid's no-show.



The brawl between Mankind and Austin continues at ringside, with Austin dropping Mankind along the guardrail. Austin with an axhandle off the apron. Short clothesline. Mankind fights back, throwing a right and then slamming Austin head-first into the timekeeper table. Action back inside, where Austin hits a Thesz press and throws a series of rapid-fire right hands on a fallen Mankind. He gets up and stomps on the lower abdomen. A whip, a back elbow, a two-count. As Austin slaps on a reverse chinlock, Owen and Davey appear up in the crowd. Austin spots them and waves for them to come on down. They aren't coming, at least not yet. We go to commercial.

After break, Mankind has apparently just waffled Austin with a steel chair. He tries to suplex Austin into the ring. Austin blocks, tries his own suplex, also blocked. Mankind hangs Stone Cold along the top rope. Jim Ross announces that we're going to see LOD vs. The Godwinns next week after their run-in earlier tonight. With Austin back in the ring, Mankind slaps on a chinlock, but Austin works his way up and creates violent separation with a jawbreaker. He misses on a running elbow though, and Mankind legdrops him along the bottom rope. Mankind exposes the concrete outside the ring and dumps Austin out. He drops an axhandle, then climbs back up to the apron and drops an elbow to the floor. A moment later Mankind pulls Austin over to the steel ramp, makes like he's going to piledrive him, but Austin pushes Mankind off the ramp instead, knocking his head into the rail.

Action returns back inside. Austin sets Mankind up on the top rope, but here come Owen and Davey through the crowd. As Austin climbs up the ropes, Mankind knocks him off. As Owen and Davey jump the guardrail, the LOD show up to neutralize them. Austin mudhole-stomps Mankind in the corner. Here's Vader all of a sudden. He charges, clearly taking a run at Austin, but Austin moves and Vader rams into Mankind. We have a DQ or a no contest.



Result: No Contest

Without hesitation, Mankind fights back at his (former?) stablemate. Vader and Mankind brawl in the ring while the LOD chases Owen and Davey up the ramp. Paul Bearer intercedes and successfully makes the peace…Vader and Mankind embrace to the boos of the live crowd as the show goes off the air.



Overall: Episode was legit awful until the Shawn Michaels interview, which was pretty entertaining. Then Mankind fully salvaged the episode into "watchable" status with a great promo and a very entertaining final match. Tip of the cap to Steve Austin for more good work tonight as well.

Ratings for 4/7/97: Nitro 3.7, Raw 2.2
Ratings Running Score: Nitro 57-17-2

Better Show: Despite a nice late rally by Raw, I've got Nitro as the slightly better episode from top to bottom. Thin margin this week.
Better Show Running Score: Nitro 54-22

Match of the Night: Mankind vs. Steve Austin

Its odd today watching the Foley we get and sighing whenever his music hits. He was always one of my favorites back in the day. He was so great at portraying a character. Not just as the different faces, but even within them. Unhinged mankind here was great and later his confused out of touch guy that the world has left behind goofball mankind was great as well.

He always had a great ability to make what he was doing seem like it mattered to him on a personal level. And now he just rambles and yells randomly

When it comes to Foley I'm really pretty happy just that he seems to be able to lead a normal life after retirement from the ring. With so many dead wrestlers lying around, you would certainly have bet on a worse fate for the most reckless of them all (from an in-ring perspective).

But yeah, unfortunately he's not interesting in his authority figure role today.

But really, there just aren't very many old ex-wrestlers from the 80s and 90s that convert well to being on-screen characters after their in-ring days are done. A person just watching today for the first time would have zero reason to think that Ric Flair was among the greatest of all time. Hulk Hogan was completely worthless before bad publicity wiped him off-screen entirely. Roddy Piper, RIP, was horrendous in his retirement appearances. Every Bret Hart appearance today is terrible...less surprising with Bret since he was only ever good during one out of every 10 promos during his heyday, but still. Similar story with Shawn Michaels. You would think that mic skill and character work would carry over even as the in-ring ability fades, but not so in a ton of cases.

yeah thats very true on both counts. Foley's first two books are must reads for wrestling fans and seeing him be relatively normal after reading about his bleeding for dollars days is great. He also seems to be one of the nicest and kind hearted people there is which makes it even better.