WWF Monday Night RAW 04-14-97

Prior to the opening match, we revisit last week’s episode when the Godwinns mistakenly slopped the Road Warriors.

This match took place in Muncie.
After Phineas delivered a back elbow, he piledrove Hawk.
Of course, Hawk NO-SOLD it and clotheslined Phineas.

Shortly after, Animal delivered a flying shoulder block to Henry.
Phineas tagged in and gave Animal a jawbreaker.
As Hawk tagged in, Phineas gave him a cross corner whip followed by a corner clothesline.
Phineas then tried to suplex him, but Hawk blocked and delivered one of his own.
After a fist drop, Henry tagged in, but Hawk gave him a cross corner whip.
Unfortunately for Hawk, he came up empty on his follow-through.
Hawk then gave Henry another cross corner whip yet came up empty again.
In fact, he fell out of the ring.
As the Muncie faithful chanted “L-O-D,” Henry delivered a shoulder breaker for 2.
During the commercial break, Phineas gave Hawk a single-arm DDT.
Phineas then gave Hawk a cross corner whip that both resulted in a sternum-first bump by Hawk and a head-to-head collision.

Hot tag Animal.
All four wrestlers were in the ring.
While Animal slammed Henry, Smith and Owen came to the ring.
Smith then WALLOPED Animal in the back of the head with the tag title belt.
In the meantime, Hawk and Phineas distracted referee Jack Doan from outside the ring.
Phineas then made Hawk HIT THE POLE.
As Doan crawled back into the ring, Henry pinned Animal.
The Godwinns won.

Summary: More fuel to add to the fire for the upcoming tag title match at the PPV. If I made it sound entertaining, I offer my sincerest apologies.

Prior to the next match, we revisit RAW is WAR from two weeks ago when Jammes smashed Honkytonk Man’s “hair-loom” guitar. We then revisit the finish to the Goldust-Helmsley match at WrestleMania XIII when a knee from Helmsley to Goldust sent Marlena from the apron into Chyna’s arms.

This match took place in Johannesburg. Despite Ross and Honkytonk Man’s sitting at ringside, there was ZERO play-by-play at the beginning of this match. Unfortunately, it would become a running theme for the show.
After Jammes delivered a hip toss, Helmsley slammed him.
Suddenly, the play-by-play appeared.

According to the Honkytonk Man, his protégé will “take care of” Jammes this Sunday.
Jammes then hip-tossed Helmsley again and delivered a dropkick.
And the play-by-play disappeared again.

After Jammes reversed an Irish whip, Helmsley gave him a facebuster.
Back from commercial, Helmsley gave Jammes a cross corner whip followed by a swinging neckbreaker for 2.
He then delivered a vertical suplex, hit a knee drop, and got another 2.
Despite the lack of commentary, the WWF tour schedule was shown.
At least we know that next week’s show will be LIVE from Binghamton, NY. Nobody tell Lee Marshall, ok?
Helmsley then followed with a high knee but couldn’t get 3.
While applying a rear chinlock, Helmsley put his feet on the second rope. SNEAKY!
Jammes came back, gave Helmsley a cross corner whip, but ate boot on his follow-through.
As Helmsley mounted the top turnbuckle and leaped, Jammes caught him with a clothesline. That did NOT look crisp.
He then gave Helmsley an inverted atomic drop followed by a back drop.
Suddenly, the play-by-play returned.

When Honkytonk Man left the broadcast table, Jammes gave Helmsley the ten-punch count-along.
Honkytonk Man then tripped and nailed Jammes causing a distraction.
Meanwhile, Chyna got up on the apron to distract referee Jim Korderas.
Seeing the distracted opponent, Helmsley delivered the Pedigree.
1-2-3.
Helmsley won.

Summary: More angle than match as Honkytonk Man’s playing mind games with Jammes.

After the match, Jammes gets on the microphone and challenges Honkytonk Man RIGHT NOW. Honkytonk Man threatens to face him but chickens out.

We then see footage from earlier today of Maivia interacting with South Africans. I wonder if he asked them for some pie.

Match 3 (non-title): WWF intercontinental champion Rocky Maivia versus Savio Vega (w/ the Nation of Domination)

This match took place in Johannesburg.
In split-screen, Ahmed Johnson cut a promo on the NoD. I didn’t use closed-captioning, but it would probably say “incoherent mumbling.”

Don’t give me that look, Ahmed. I can usually understand you.
After a leap frog, Maivia delivered a back elbow.
A New York Daily News article titled “Lords of the Ring” was shown but not explained.

Not The Lord of the Rings!
Nonetheless, Maivia reversed a cross corner whip but ate a leg lariat on his follow-through.
Shortly after, Maivia hit a sunset flip for 2.
Suddenly, Faarooq, with his left arm in a sling, came to the ring.
After a commercial break, Vega hit another leg lariat while the Johannesburg faithful chanted “Rock-y.”
Shortly after, Maivia came back with a cross body block for 2.
While the WWF Superstar Line gets screen time, Maivia escaped a trapezius hold and gave Vega a cross corner whip.
Vega then rolled up Maivia for 2.
When Maivia’s kick-out sent him to the second turnbuckle, Vega hit a cross body block for another 2.
Maivia then catapulted Vega face-first into the top turnbuckle.
As Maivia attempted a monkey flip, Vega shook him off.
Vega then whipped Maivia into the corner but came up empty on his follow-through.
After a belly-to-back suplex, Maivia got 2.
Vega then missed a leg lariat so Maivia hooked a fisherman’s suplex for 2.
Next, Maivia delivered a uranage for another 2.
After a DDT, Maivia mounted the top turnbuckle, hit a cross body block, and signaled for the shoulder breaker.
Vega escaped Maivia’s grasp, pushed him into the corner, and rolled him up.
Ultimately, he pinned Maivia while hooking the tights.

Summary: Lackluster match that made Vega the #1 contender to the Intercontinental title.

After the match, the NoD enters the ring to pummel Maivia. Abruptly, Johnson runs to the ring with a 2x4 to save him. He then HAMMERS D’Lo Brown with it and almost gets Faarooq too.

We then revisit last week’s episode when Austin negotiated a match against Bret at the PPV. Cornette then shills the upcoming match at the PPV. Following that, Owen and Smith cut a scathing promo about it.

This match took place in Johannesburg.
We’re joined in progress as Goldust delivered a lariat.
Next, he gave Sultan a ten-punch count-along followed by a kiss.
Sultan then sought refuge outside the ring until Iron Sheik encouraged him to return.
Upon pulling Goldust outside the ring, Sultan whipped him into the steps.
He then made Goldust taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Gone Fishing at JB’s Corner.
Back in the ring, Sultan delivered a piledriver for 2.
As the Sunday night line-up for USA scrolls at the bottom of the screen, Goldust gave Sultan a bulldog for 2.
Abruptly, Helmsley ran to the ring and nailed Goldust.
Referee Mike Chioda then called for the bell disqualifying Sultan.

Summary: More angle than match since we only got a portion of it. Needless to say, what we saw was AWFUL.

After the match, Helmsley and Chyna double-team Goldust. Sultan joins the party, and they spike-piledrive Goldust. While Sultan hooks the camel clutch, Helmsley nails Goldust. Sultan then releases the hold and WHACKS Goldust with the flag pole.

A pre-recorded video of Bret airs. Apparently, he’s in Kuwait. During the video, Bret cuts a series of promos as a hero to all countries except America.

Prior to the next match, we revisit the main event from last week when Vader mistakenly nailed Mankind sparking a brawl between them.

This match took place in Muncie.
While Mankind distracted referee Billy Silverman, the Headbangers gave Vader a cross corner whip followed by a Thrasher-assisted SQUISH by Mosh.
They then delivered a double vertical suplex.
Next, Vader countered a front face lock with a belly-to-belly suplex.
Vader then reversed an Irish whip and gave Mosh a running body block.
In split-screen, we revisit the FIREBALL.

Not THAT Fireball, but pour me a shot. This show sucks.
All four wrestlers were in the ring.
After Mankind tossed both Headbangers outside the ring to the ramp, Vader bowled over them.
Vader then rammed Mosh into the steps as Mankind made Thrasher taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Patty Meltdown at Mr. and Mrs. B. Champs.
Back in the ring, Mankind gave Mosh a double-arm DDT and tagged in Vader.
Vader then gave Mosh a cross corner whip followed by an avalanche.
After delivering a vertical suplex, Vader tagged out.
Mankind then put a knee into Mosh who was slumped in the corner.
Upon receiving a Cactus clothesline, Mosh crawled under the ring.
He then got up on the apron and spat liquid in Mankind’s face.

As you would expect, Silverman called for the bell to disqualify the Headbangers.

Summary: Disjointed brawl with a horrendous finish with a horrendous finish, and the commentary was all over the place.

After the match, a blinded Mankind inadvertently hooks the Mandible claw on Vader. Bearer then pulls him off to break the hold.

From Johannesburg, the lights flicker, and the voice of Undertaker emits over the sound system as he cuts a promo on Mankind.

After a commercial break, a promo for the latest RAW magazine is read. Inside, you will find very revealing shots of Sable.

In the ring, the Commandant warns us of the impending arrival of the Truth Commission.

This match took place in Johannesburg.
Ross then besmirched WCW for being Atlanta-based while the WWF was worldwide.
From the apron, Johnson flipped over Crush.
He then gave Crush a bicycle kick sending him over the top rope to the floor.
As the Johannesburg chanted “Ah-med,” Crush used momentum to send Johnson to the floor.
While Crush distracted referee Mike Chioda, D’Lo Brown put the loafers to Johnson.
With Johnson on the apron, Crush suplexed him back into the ring.
He then delivered a series of leg drops for 2.
As Vega came to the ring, RAW is WAR took a commercial break.
Afterward, Crush hit a backbreaker for 2.
The commentary disappeared as Johnson gave Crush a scissors kick.

Upon slamming Crush, Johnson missed an elbow drop.
Crush then delivered a piledriver for 2.
While the commentary returned briefly, Crush hooked a sleeper.

Vega then distracted Chioda so that Faarooq could toss something for Crush to choke Johnson.
As Johnson made his comeback, Crush put a knee into his midsection.
Crush then attempted a heart punch, but Johnson countered with a spinning heel kick.
When Crush reversed an Irish whip, Johnson rolled him up.
1-2-3.
Johnson won.

Afterward, Faarooq gets on the microphone and accepts Johnson’s challenge from two weeks ago.

Undertaker defends the WWF title against Mankind.
Austin faces Bret.
Smith and Owen defend the WWF tag team titles against the Road Warriors.
Maivia defends the WWF Intercontinental title against Vega.
Jammes will face Honkytonk Man’s protégé.

Conclusion: First, I’ll provide one reason/excuse for the matches shown. For the matches in Johannesburg, the rest holds made sense because the city sits over a mile above sea level (5,751 feet). On the other hand, the matches in Muncie were CRAPTACULAR.

Second, despite the slow matches with little to no heat, the match quality reminds me of the RAW shows from 1996. Why? Because it was TERRIBLE! I give the WWF no excuses because they knew when they were going to South Africa and could have programmed their shows accordingly. In this case, they didn’t. In essence, they provided their version of a clip show.

Who won? Nope, RAW is WAR lost by 1.25 ratings points. In other words, they got SLAUGHTERED. While Nitro promises a special announcement regarding Eric Bischoff next week, RAW is WAR offers the fallout from IYH XIV.