WWF Monday Night RAW 02-03-97

Match 1 for the WWF title: Bret “Hitman” Hart (champion) versus Sycho Sid

According to Ross, Undertaker will challenge for the WWF title at WrestleMania XIII.
Before the bell rang, Stone Cold Steve Austin hit the ring and brawled with Bret.
After Sid attacked him, Austin gave Sid a chop block.
Bret and Austin continued to brawl until officials separated them.
As Sid screamed in pain, officials kept everyone apart.
No match.

We then revisit Thursday RAW Thursday when Shawn Michaels surrendered the WWF title due to a **cough**knee injury**cough**.

Next, we revisit the Final Four match from last night through still photos. According to Lawler, Austin hyperextended his knee during his elimination. Perhaps he’ll lose his smile and go home.

Back in the locker room, Kevin Kelly interviews a hostile Sid who, despite his knee injury, will compete for the WWF title tonight.

Prior to the next match, we revisit Superstars when Sable kicked Undertaker in the ribs (aired 2/2, taped 1/21). Also, last night, she slapped the taste out of Leif Cassidy’s mouth.

REAL Match 1: Marc Mero (w/ Sable) versus Savio Vega (w/ the Nation of Domination)

Faarooq and Clarence Mason watched the match from the rafters.
After Mero dropkicked him, Vega sought refuge outside the ring.
Not wanting to miss a second, Mero delivered a somersault plancha.
Mero then gave Vega and Crush a double noggin knocker.
Back in the ring, Mero sent Vega on a cross-corner whip but ate a leg lariat on his follow-through.
Vega then gave Mero a cross-corner whip followed by a spinning heel kick.
As Mero came back with a cross body block, he got 2.
He then gave Vega the ten-punch count-along until Vega countered with Snake Eyes.
After a snap suplex, Vega tossed Mero outside the ring.
When one of the members of PG-13 attacked Mero, Sable literally kicked his ass.
Upon Mero’s return, Vega gave him another cross-corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
After a back drop, Mero whipped Vega into the corner and followed with a Samoan drop.
When Sable entered the ring, referee Mike Chioda called for the bell.

Summary: Horrible cop-out finish with little action. Unfortunately for Mero, this was his last match until September as he had recently torn an ACL in his knee. OUCH!

After the match, the NoD tries to gang up on Mero, but Ahmed Johnson hits the ring with his 2x4 to scatter the heels. Until the show, Johnson had been stuck in a Lowell, MA hospital due to an infection.

Prior to the next match, Ross interviews Bret who’s in the locker room and “not afraid of anybody.”

We again revisit Thursday RAW Thursday when Maivia won the IC title from Helmsley.

Match 2 for the WWF Intercontinental title: Rocky Maivia (champion) versus Leif Cassidy

Sunny was the special guest timekeeper for this match. Insert your own 4:20 joke.
Upon ducking a haymaker, Maivia hit a cross body block for 2.
After shilling this week’s WWF tour, Ross mentioned that RAW next week will emanate from the Manhattan Center in New York City. I wonder if Doink will be there.

Backstage, Helmsley cut a promo on Maivia.
Shortly after, Cassidy delivered a clothesline for 2.
A quick rollup by Maivia got 2.
Next, Maivia hooked a sunset flip for another 2.
He then secured an inside cradle and almost got 3.
After a single-arm DDT, Cassidy applied a cross arm breaker.
Upon slamming Maivia, Cassidy mounted the top turnbuckle and nailed Maivia for 2. Methinks Maivia was out of position.
As he slammed Maivia again, Cassidy remounted the top turnbuckle but got caught and slammed.
Maivia then mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a flying body press.
After a shoulder breaker, Maivia got 3.

Afterward, Lawler grabs a fan’s “ECW Rules” sign and disses ECW. He then badmouths WCW for removing a fan’s “Jerry Lawler” sign when Nitro was in Memphis. Next, he invites the ECW wrestlers to RAW next week.

We then revisit the PPV when Goldust distracted Helmsley costing him a chance to regain the IC title.

In the ring, Kevin Kelly interviews Goldust with Marlena who cuts a promo on Helmsley. Marlena then states that Goldust is “all man.” Suddenly, Helmsley comes to the ring and tosses water in Goldust’s face. While Helmsley gives Goldust the Pedigree, Marlena slaps him. Immediately, the tall brunette from last night enters the ring, grabs Marlena, and shakes her viciously. Security and officials then remove her from ringside as Goldust checks on Marlena. He then carries her backstage to end the segment.

After the Headbangers ambushed the Hardys, Jeff hit a lariat on Mosh.
Matt tagged in, mounted the top turnbuckle, and lowered the boom on Mosh.
As Mosh came back with a powerslam, Faarooq cut a promo from backstage.
Thrasher tagged in, mounted the second turnbuckle, and clotheslined Matt.
After a tilt-a-whirl slam by Thrasher, Mosh tagged in and tossed Matt outside the ring.
Meanwhile, Faarooq challenged Ahmed Johnson to a street fight at WrestleMania XIII.
While Matt was on the apron, Mosh hit a springboard dive returning him to the floor.
Thrasher tagged in and trashed Matt against the ropes. That did NOT look crisp.

As Mosh tagged in, he mounted the top turnbuckle as the Headbangers double-teamed Matt.
Shortly after, Thrasher missed an elbow drop.
Hot tag Jeff.
Mosh then reversed an Irish whip and DEMOLISHED Jeff with a clothesline. While safe, it looked BRUTAL.

Next, the Headbangers delivered the Stage Dive.
1-2-3.
The Headbangers won.

Summary: Showcase match for the Headbangers as the Hardy Boys die for their art.

Match 4 for the WWF title: Bret “Hitman” Hart (champion) versus Sycho Sid

As Bret made his entrance backstage, Austin attacked him from behind.
A melee broke out as Sid joined the fray.
Officials along with Vince McMahon separated everyone.
No match.

Backstage, Kelly interviews WWF President Gorilla Monsoon who promises a title match later tonight.

Prior to the next match, we revisit Royal Rumble when Owen eliminated Smith. Afterward, we revisit stills from last night as dissension is teased again between the tag champions.

REAL Match 4: WWF tag team champion Owen Hart (w/ Clarence Mason) versus Flash Funk (w/ the Funkettes)

According to Ross, Marlena was “coughing up blood” and rushed to a hospital.
After a cartwheel, Funk gave Owen a dropkick.
Owen then flipped out of a hip toss and clotheslined Funk.
As both wrestlers attempted a dropkick, an “ECW representative” called in for Lawler.
Unmistakably, it’s UNCLE PAUL who accepted Lawler’s invitation to next week’s RAW.

While both wrestlers exchanged monkey flips, Funk hit a superkick.
Funk then gave Owen a cross-corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
After a clothesline, Owen attempted a Sharpshooter, but Funk countered with an inside cradle for 2.
Mason then distracted Owen allowing Funk to dropkick Owen over the top rope to the floor.
As Funk mounted the top turnbuckle, he hit a tope on Owen.
Suddenly, Davey Boy Smith came to ringside and chased Mason away.
After a commercial break, Funk hooked a backslide for 2.
Owen then hooked a German suplex with a bridge for 2.
After a leg drop, Owen delivered a belly-to-belly suplex for 2.
From backstage, Austin’s ready to open a keg of “whoop ass”.

Meanwhile, Owen gave Funk a hangman’s neckbreaker.
After a gutwrench suplex, Owen got another 2.
He then gave Funk a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow through.
As Funk came back with a back drop, he slammed Owen, mounted the top turnbuckle, and hit a flying body press for 2.
Next, he whipped Owen into the corner, gave him an avalanche, and slammed him.
He then remounted the top turnbuckle and hit a moonsault for only 2.
Thanks to Smith’s Slammy shot to Funk’s back, a dazed Funk received a spinning heel kick.
While Smith held Funk’s foot from outside the ring, Owen pinned Funk.

Summary: Good technical match with angles and interviews tossed in for those who would rather pay attention to that.

Next, we return to footage from last night as the large brunette attacked Marlena. We then see what she did to Marlena earlier on the show.

Prior to the next match, Helmsley denies knowing the woman who attacked Marlena twice. Uh huh.

Honkytonk Man joined the broadcast table for this match.
After a hip toss, Bart delivered a dropkick.
Shortly after, Helmsley gave Bart a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow through.
He then gave Bart a high knee and another cross corner whip.
Abruptly, Goldust ran into the ring and chased after Helmsley.
They then ran through the Nashville faithful.
Helmsley was counted out.

A video by Dr. James Andrews from Birmingham, Alabama airs. He describes Shawn Michaels’ knee as needing rehabilitation but not surgery at this time. Of course, Michaels’ career is NOT over. I still believe his knee injury’s BOGUS.

Match 6 for the WWF title: Bret “Hitman” Hart (champion) versus Sycho Sid

Will part 3 actually occur?

Sid gave Bret a HARD cross corner whip injuring Bret’s back.
Bret came back with a side Russian leg sweep, but Sid delivered a short-arm clothesline.
After a backbreaker, Bret mounted the second turnbuckle and gave Sid a forearm smash.
Sid then delivered a backbreaker for 2.
Shortly after, Bret rammed Sid’s left knee into the ring post.
He then hooked a ring post figure-four leg lock as RAW took a commercial break. NEW MOVE ALERT!
During the commercial break, the FootAction Rewind is Undertaker’s punt of a steel chair back into Vader’s face from last night.

Afterward, Bret continued to work on Sid’s leg.
Sid then reversed a cross corner whip and clotheslined Bret.
After a leg drop, Sid got 2.
He then slammed Bret, mounted the second turnbuckle, and hit another leg drop for another 2.
Next, Bret tied Sid in the ropes, charged, but came up empty.
In desperation, Bret backdropped Sid over the top rope to the floor.
Austin then came to the ring through the Nashville faithful, but Sid nailed him.
As Sid attempted a sunset flip over the top rope, Bret rolled through and hooked the Sharpshooter.
While referee Earl Hebner was occupied with Sid’s potential submission, Austin grabbed a chair, got up on the apron, and WALLOPED Bret in the head with it.
Sid then gave Bret a powerbomb.
1-2-3.
WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!

Summary: In the then-four year history of Monday Night RAW, this was the first time the WWF title changed hands. As a result, Sid will defend the WWF title at WrestleMania XIII against Undertaker. But what will happen between Bret and Austin? Bret did a decent job of carrying Sid here.

After the match, Sid celebrates with the WWF title belt overhead as the Nashville faithful chants “Sid.” Suddenly, Undertaker’s music hits, and the lights dim. As Undertaker enters the ring, Sid lays the belt between them. They stand face-to-face as the show goes off the air. Add another ½* for adding intrigue to the WrestleMania XIII main event.

Conclusion: Despite the two bait-and-switches, the main event sold the show. With the exception of the Owen-Funk match, the rest of the show was forgettable at best. Could RAW finally overcome Nitro in the ratings?

Who won? Nope, Nitro beat RAW by less than ½ of a ratings point although the switch to two hours has helped RAW inch closer. What can they do to get over the hump? While the fallout from SuperBrawl VII happens on Nitro, RAW returns to the Manhattan Center with some ECW talent.