WWF Monday Night RAW 09-15-97

Can Smith and Bret capture tag team gold? Who will advance in the IC title tournament? What’s Austin up to? Will Michaels stir up trouble or play nice with Undertaker? Let’s find out!

Match 1 for the WWF Intercontinental title (quarterfinal): Faarooq (w/o the Nation of Domination) versus Ken Shamrock

Shamrock unleashed a series of kicks and followed with a knee lift.
When he reversed a cross corner whip, Shamrock ate knee on his follow-through.
Faarooq then mounted the second turnbuckle, leaped, but ate a shot to the midsection.
As Shamrock delivered a belly-to-belly suplex, he got 2.
Faarooq rebounded with a spinebuster causing Shamrock to seek refuge outside the ring.
After Faarooq joined him, he rammed Shamrock face-first into the steps.
Shamrock’s mouth was BUSTED OPEN, but nonetheless he hit another belly-to-belly suplex.
1-2-3.
Shamrock advanced.

After the match, Faarooq gives Shamrock a Dominator, and the rest of the NoD hits the ring to quadruple-team Shamrock. Suddenly, the Road Warriors come to Shamrock’s rescue and chase away the NoD. According to Ross, the Road Warriors will face the NoD at the IYH PPV.

Backstage, Austin stands next to a forklift. When Lawler informs him about Owen’s “big surprise,” Austin mentions that Owen’s due for a receipt.

This match marked El Pantera’s WWF debut. I wonder if he knows how to walk.

As El Pantera dropkicked him, Michinoku returned the favor.
El Pantera then gave Michinoku a flying headscissors that sent him to the floor.
When he delivered a somersault senton, El Pantera ate another dropkick.
Michinoku then delivered a spinning heel kick that sent El Pantera to the floor.
Upon hitting a tope, Michinoku received a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.
El Pantera then gave Michinoku a cross corner whip and performed a headstand on the top turnbuckle.
As he followed with another flying headscissors, El Pantera delivered a tope suicida. Woohoo!
Michinoku then mounted the top turnbuckle, but El Pantera took him down with flying headscissors #3 for a 1-count.
When he leaped to the top turnbuckle, El Pantera hit a moonsault for another 1-count.
Michinoku then reversed an Irish whip but fell victim to a huracanrana for yet another 1-count.
After El Pantera hooked la magistral cradle, he got 2.
He then placed Michinoku atop the top turnbuckle but succumbed to a tornado DDT for 2.
As Michinoku mounted the top turnbuckle, he gave El Pantera a missile dropkick.
He then delivered the Michinoku Driver and pinned El Pantera.
Michinoku won.

Prior to the next match, we revisit Shotgun Saturday Night when Shamrock rescued the Road Warriors from the NoD.

Match 3: The Truth Commission (w/ the Interrogator & the Commandant) versus the Road Warriors

Sniper clotheslined him, but Hawk reversed an Irish whip and returned the favor.
While the Muncie faithful chanted “U-S-A,” Hawk gave Sniper a hangman’s neckbreaker.
Tags were exchanged on both sides, and Animal reversed a cross corner whip.
Unfortunately for Animal, he ate boot on his follow-through.
Hawk then distracted referee Earl Hebner, and the Interrogator pulled Animal out of the ring. SNEAKY!
After Interrogator rammed Animal shoulder-first into the steps, Recon gave Animal a leg drop for 2.
Sniper tagged in and delivered a back elbow to Animal.
When Recon tagged in, he mounted the second turnbuckle and lowered the boom on Animal.
Recon then gave Animal a cross corner whip but ate a clothesline.
Hot tag Hawk.
As he powerslammed Recon, Hawk got 2.
He then clotheslined Sniper over the top rope to the floor, and the Road Warriors hit successive corner clotheslines to Recon.
After the Road Warriors delivered the Doomsday Device to Recon, the Interrogator entered the ring to save Recon.
Hebner then called for the bell disqualifying the Truth Commission.
As a result, the Road Warriors won.

Summary: If you’re wondering why the Truth Commission have made sparse appearances, their ring work provides the proof.

After the match, Animal clotheslines the Interrogator who doesn’t leave his feet. The Interrogator then gives Animal a big boot. As Shamrock comes to the Warriors’ rescue again, he gives Sniper a belly-to-belly suplex. Suddenly, the NoD hits the ring to pummel Shamrock and the Road Warriors. Officials then storm the ring to break up the melee.

Sunny was the guest ring announcer for this match.
As Max made his entrance, he took a peek up Sunny’s short dress. HA!
Max ate a boot from El Torito sending him out to the floor.
When Mr. Lucky came in, he dropkicked El Torito to the floor.
Morgan came in but received a flying headscissors from Mr. Lucky.
After Mr. Lucky climbed the ropes, he gave Morgan another flying headscissors.
He then dropkicked Morgan out of the ring and tagged in Max.
As Max sent El Torito to the floor, he hit a corkscrew Asai moonsault. Woohoo!
Mr. Lucky then hooked a victory roll on Morgan for 2.
When Morgan gave him a cross corner whip, Mr. Lucky ate a mule kick from El Torito.
Morgan then gave Max a cross corner whip, and El Torito sent him flying over the top rope to the floor.
After El Torito military-press-dropped Mr. Lucky into a backbreaker from Morgan, Max received a gorilla press slam from Morgan.
El Torito then hit a senton splash, but Max sent him flying outside the ring.
As Morgan clotheslined him, Max ate a double boot from the heels.
El Torito then gave Mr. Lucky a big boot followed by a cross corner whip.
When he came up empty on his follow-through, El Torito vaulted Mr. Lucky to the apron.
Max then mounted the top turnbuckle and delivered a flying headscissors to El Torito.
After Max gave Morgan another flying headscissors, he ate another big boot from El Torito.
Mr. Lucky then dropkicked Morgan out of the ring and hit a springboard cross body block on the floor.
As Max failed at his own cross body block, El Torito mounted the second turnbuckle.
He then missed a senton splash, and Max mounted the top turnbuckle.
When Max hit a diving head butt, he pinned El Torito.
Max and Mr. Lucky won.

Summary: Lucha spot-fest where the underdogs won again. Sady, there was no comedy displayed in the match, and it lost the crowd at times.

We then revisit IYH XVII when Pillman defeated Goldust and last week’s RAW is WAR featuring episodes 1 and 2 of Pilllman’s XXX files.

Match 5 for the WWF Intercontinental title (quarterfinal): The “Loose Cannon” Brian Pillman (w/ Marlena) versus Dude Love

When Dude Love made his entrance, Ross shilled the latest issue of WWF Magazine.

PIllman then made his entrance while Marlena was dressed in black and wore a nose ring.

Immediately, Ross interviewed Marlena who “miss(es her) baby and (her) husband.” Aw.
Pillman then teased Marlena briefly while revealing that she didn’t wear underwear. Woohoo!
As the Muncie faithful chanted “Pillman sucks,” their nemesis blew a kiss to Marlena.
Speaking of Marlena, she tried to escape, but PIllman brought her back to ringside.
Dude Love attempted a cross body block, but PIllman ducked. That sent Dude Love over the top rope to the floor.
After Pillman joined him, he rammed Dude Love face-first into the steps.
Back in the ring, he caught Dude Love with a lariat for 2.
Pillman then put a knee into Dude Love’s midsection but received a ten-turnbuckle count-along much to the delight of Marlena.
When Dude Love delivered a swinging neckbreaker, he prepped Sweet Shin Music.
Suddenly, Dustin Runnels, who wasn’t supposed to be in Muncie according to Ross, entered the ring to attack Pillman.
Referee Jack Doan had no choice but to call for the bell to disqualify Dude Love.
Nevertheless, PIllman advanced.

Summary: As you can tell from my description of the match, it had more storyline than substance.

In the ring, Lawler interviews Stone Cold Steve Austin. We then revisit IYH XVII when Austin gave Ross the Stone Cold Stunner. Next, we revisit last week’s show when he delivered the Stunner to Commissioner Slaughter. Lawler then hints that Vince McMahon has a bull’s eye on him. After Austin runs down Ross, he states that no one can stop him.

Austin then cuts a promo on Owen, and the Hart Foundation emerges through the entrance. While Bret calls Austin a “hoser,” he reads Austin the riot act. Owen then details that Austin is being served with a restraining order. Following that, Austin reads the legal document and hits the Stunner on Lawler to a raucous ovation. To punctuate the segment, Austin punts Lawler’s crown out of the ring. HA!

While the Muncie faithful chanted “U-S-A,” Ross shilled the semifinal match between Owen and PIllman next week on RAW is WAR.
The Muncie faithful then chanted “Owen sucks,” and Patriot reversed an Irish whip and hip-tossed Owen.
As Patriot slammed Owen, Ross shilled the flag match between Patriot/Vader and Bret/Davey Boy Smith at IYH XVIII.
Patriot then reversed a cross corner whip and hip-tossed Owen again.
When he reversed another cross corner whip, Patriot ate boot on his follow-through.
Owen then mounted the top turnbuckle and gave Patriot a missile dropkick.
Abruptly, Austin emerged through the entrance yet flanked by Muncie’s finest.
After a commercial break, Patriot reversed an Irish whip, blocked a piledriver, and countered with a back drop.
Owen then delivered a spinning heel kick for 2.
As Patriot hit a cross body block, he got 2.
He then reversed yet another cross corner whip which resulted in a sternum-first bump by Owen.
When Patriot gave Owen a belly-to-back suplex, he delivered a big boot.
He then powerslammed Owen for another 2.
After he snap-suplexed Owen, Patriot mounted the top turnbuckle, hit the Patriot Missile, but couldn’t get 3.
He then gave Owen a cross corner whip followed by the ten-punch count-along.
As Owen responded with an inverted atomic drop, he clotheslined Patriot.
Austin then returned through the Muncie faithful and tore up the restraining order.
Afterward, Patriot rolled him up and pinned Owen.
Patriot won.

Summary: Good match where the storyline caused the finish much to the delight of the Muncie faithful.

After the match, Owen grabs the microphone and wants Austin arrested. Austin then leaves through the Muncie faithful much to the chagrin of Muncie’s finest.

In the ring, Ross interviews the “Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels. Oh. My. God. Michaels is wearing skin-tight bicycle shorts with some extra stuffing down the front of them. We then revisit last week’s episode when Michaels and Hunter Hearst Helmsley attacked Smith. Following that, Michaels states he wants to be the first wrestler to win all four titles in the WWF.

After a quick edit, Michaels shills the upcoming Hell in a Cell match at the PPV. When Undertaker appears on the Titantron behind a fence, he promises to “leave with (Michael’s) soul.” After a subsequent edit, Michaels vows to make Undertaker bleed again.

According to Meltzer, Michaels gave a profanity-laced soliloquy and called out Undertaker despite his not being in Muncie. Michaels’ attitude has him in hot water with the WWF, and his motives are unclear. We’ll see what happens. My belief is that Michaels was heavily medicated albeit not under doctor’s orders.

Prior to the main event, a video featuring Headbanger Mosh versus the Philly Phanatic at Veteran’s Coliseum this past Saturday. Is it me or were the Headbangers better suited for south Philly rather than the WWF?

Match 7 for the WWF tag team titles: The Headbangers (champions) versus WWF champion Bret “Hitman” Hart & European champion the “British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith

Thrasher blocked a hip toss from Smith and gave him one of his own.
When Mosh tagged in, the Headbangers delivered an aided leap frog body guillotine to Smith for 2.
Mosh then slammed Smith but missed an elbow drop.
As Bret tagged in, Mosh gave him a cross corner whip followed by an avalanche.
Thrasher tagged in, and the Headbangers delivered a double flapjack to Bret for 2.

After Mosh tagged in, he mounted the second turnbuckle and lowered the boom on Bret.
Speaking of Bret, he rebounded with a slam and tagged in Smith.
Thrasher tagged in and hit a jawbreaker to Smith for 2.
When Smith reversed a cross corner whip, Thrasher countered a suplex with an inside cradle for another 2.
Mosh tagged in, but Smith reversed an Irish whip and gave him a spinebuster for 2.
As he delivered a vertical suplex, Smith tagged in Bret.
While the Muncie faithful chanted “U-S-A" again, Bret hit a side-Russian leg sweep on Mosh.
He then tied Mosh into the Tree of Woe and tagged in Smith.
After a commercial break, Mosh hooked a sunset flip for 2.
Bret tagged in and gave Mosh a backbreaker.
When he mounted the second turnbuckle, Bret leaped but hit nothing but mat.
Hot tag Thrasher.
All four wrestlers were in the ring, and a cross corner sandwich went awry.
As Smith delivered his running powerslam, he pinned Mosh.
WE HAVE NEW CHAMPIONS!
Referee Earl Hebner then realized the illegal man was pinned and restarted the match.
After Smith commandeered an American flag from a fan at ringside, he brought it into the ring and WALLOPED Thrasher.
Headbangers won by DQ.

Summary: Perhaps Bret didn’t see anything in the Headbangers because he and Smith performed way below reasonable expectations against them. In fact, they may have significantly dimmed the Headbangers’ star.

After the match, Bret and Smith continue to maul the tag champs until Vader and Patriot come to the Headbangers’ rescue. Vader then gives Bret a running body block while Patriot slams Smith.

The Stone Cold rampage continued with the attack on Lawler.
Michaels’ questionable/nefarious promo.

The rest of the program should be avoided at all costs as this taped show was a failure of biblical proportions. How did it fare against Nitro?

Who won? Not well, but not as poorly as last week. Instead of losing by two ratings points, RAW is WAR lost by 1.3. Next week, Nitro debuts at the “new” arena in Salt Lake City, and I hear there’s debuting a new character. Otherwise, on RAW is WAR, the show emanates for the very first time at MSG, so something spectacular had better happen or the WWF’s goose is cooked.