My Take On The Monday Night Wars 12.26.07: Raw vs. Nitro (4.28.97)
Posted by Larry Csonka on 12.26.2007
We’re going to party like it’s 1997. No really, we are.
Introduction:
Welcome back to the latest edition of My Take On! With the addition of WWE 24/7 to my cable system, I have decided to have some fun and do some columns on "The Monday Night Wars." I plan to work this similar to the "My Take on MMA" columns, where it isn't a recap as much as it is an analysis piece. I will provide the ratings of the two shows, my breakdowns of each segment that aired and then give an overall final grade so to speak of the show. At the end I will give the winner a point for the ratings win and a point for the show I thought was the best. The goal is to run through as many of these as I can as they air. I think it will be a fun adventure to embark on. Sit back and relax, as I relive The Monday Night Wars!
WWE RAW IS WAR (4.28.97)~!: RATING: 3.4 Due to the NBA Playoffs, Nitro was one hour on this night and this episode of Raw ran unopposed.
Match/Segment: Brian Pillman Interview Larry's Enjoyment Index: 7.5 Final Thoughts: Stemming from the week before, which included the tremendous beat down of Bret Hart by Steve Austin (That would take Hart out in Storyline for surgery) Brian Pillman returned to Raw at the end of that show and attacked Austin, making his presence felt. Pillman kicked off the show with an in ring promo, in which he explained that he wasn't crazy. He was sensitive and very spiritual. The promo was designed to be a set up for Austin, who took the bait and charged the ring. Austin was quick enough to get away from Owen Hart and the British Bulldog. Pillman and Bulldog would pray in the ring, and this placed the seeds for what would eventually be the full Hart Foundation 97, at this time it was just Owen and Bulldog with Bret. Austin did return after finding an ax handle to stop the prayer for the well being of Bret Hart.
Match/Segment: Flash Funk vs. Rockabilly w/The Honky Tonk Man Larry's Enjoyment Index: 3.0 Final Thoughts: Sweet Jesus I hated the "Flash Funk" gimmick. This match was the epitome of blah. Flash got some of his more signature flying moves, but much of it was Rockabilly in control and doing bad Honky Tonk Man dancing. Funk scores the "surprise" win after Billy runs into Honky, but then he takes a guitar shot and beat down for his trouble. He Rockabilly gimmick sucked as well.
Match/Segment: Bret Hart Arrives/In Ring Promo Larry's Enjoyment Index: 7.25 Final Thoughts: Vince McMahon explains the knee surgery that Hart had, and announces hart is here to address the crowd. We see footage of the surgery; an nice inside the knee shot. Hart's set up is good in the wheelchair, with Bulldog and Owen in the background, slightly in the dark. Hart compares himself to the king of the jungle, a lion, while Austin is a wild hyena that took him down, part of the pack and the crowd is the rest. He then calls the American wrestling fan trash, while he is a hero that tells the truth and for that he almost had his career ended. Hart gives a really good promo here, keeping the focus on the American wrestling fan turning on him and that he is still a hero and that he is the best, and he knows the fans hate that. He did a good job of making himself hated, and it worked big time and helped in the set up of the entire angle.
Match/Segment: Lafon and Furnas Promo/The LOD vs. Lafon and Furnas Larry's Enjoyment Index: 4.0 Final Thoughts: Phil Lafon and Doug Furnas were, in my opinion never used right. They were in the wrong company at the wrong time and didn't have the right people to work with. They actually could have been a better fit in WCW, due to the guys they could have worked well with. The match here is basic, boring and nothing special. They also made Lafon and Furnas out to be babies that wanted a "fair advantage," but never got it because the fans would not cheer for them or accept them. People hate crybabies. Not so fun fact, this is just after the LOD hit the Doomsday Device on Henry O Godwin and broke his neck.
Match/Segment: Austin's Wheel Chair Olympics Larry's Enjoyment Index: 6.0 Final Thoughts: Steve Austin coming to the ring with a wheelchair and ax handle to challenge Bret Hart to a wheelchair match was next. Austin promised that he would beat Hart's ass if he came to the ring. He knows they don't want to see Steve Austin as the WWF Champion, and that they are all against him. He promised to be the next champion, and then Hart came on the screen and promised that Austin would ride in the ambulance that Hart arrived in. A good set up for what would be the end of the show.
Match/Segment: Ken Shamrock Video Package/Vader is free from Kuwait Larry's Enjoyment Index: 5.0 Final Thoughts: We saw a special video package for Ken Shamrock, who had challenged Mike Tyson the week before and was heading to a match with Vader. The Vader angle of being free is coming off of when WWF went to Kuwait, and Vader assaulted a TV host that asked about wrestling being fake. Vader faced off with THE REAL JESSE JAMES, complete with singing entrance! NO BUYS! I mean the crowd was SILENT. Vader dominates and wind easily. Jim Ross interviews him afterward, asking if he was ashamed due to the Kuwait deal and Vader says he did his job, which he does very well. Vader takes some offence to JR, tries to attack and Shamrock makes the save and promises hard time for Vader.
Match/Segment: Goldust vs. Hunter Hearst Helmsley/Taker Promo Larry's Enjoyment Index: 6.0 Final Thoughts: Goldust had demanded that Marlena stay backstage, because where he was going, he didn't want her around. Chyna is just beastly. Hunter and Goldust always worked well together, in my opinion. Chyna tries to beat down Goldust, and Marlena of course comes to the ring event though she was asked not to. They were also hyping the Goldust sit down interview for next week. We see Marlena blind Chyna with powder, she attacks Hunter by accident and Goldust wins by count out. Good stuff to advance the angle. After all of this, Taker appears on the big screen and promises to make Austin rest in peace. Sable models a Taker shirt. They should still do this shit.
Match/Segment: Undertaker vs. Bulldog/Austin tries to attack Bret Hart Larry's Enjoyment Index: 9.5 Final Thoughts: Undertaker vs. Bulldog was really throwaway stuff, as it wasn't much of a match. Owen attacks Taker after he chokeslams Bulldog. Austin makes the save, celebrates with the title and throws it down at taker's feet. Austin stuns him but eats a chokeslam for his troubles. But the magic happens after this, as Austin is set to attack Bret hart, who is alone now. He goes to attack him, but was set up as Jim Neidhart returned and helped beat down Austin, leading to Hart waffling him with the crutch, sending him off of the stage. Austin would then be stretchered from the arena. The ending of the show was Brian Pillman sitting there in the back, cackling like only he could.
The Overall: Best Match/Segment: Undertaker vs. Bulldog/Austin tries to attack Bret Hart 9.5 Worst Match/Segment:: Lafon and Furnas Promo/The LOD vs. Lafon and Furnas 4.0 Final Show Thoughts: Just to get this out of the way, all of the "F's" being censored out are extremely annoying. It just had to be said. This was a good follow up to the previous episode, which I didn't get to review, but it was the Austin beat down of hart, where he destroys his knee. The show centers around the total formation of the New Hart Foundation, as Pillman was essentially with them and we got the return of Jim Neidhart. The Hart Foundation added the IC title to the stable, and finally got a big one up on Austin as Hart waffled him with the crutch, sending him off of the stage. Very good stuff. Show Score: 7.5
WCW MONDAY NITRO (4.28.97)~!: Due to the NBA Playoffs, Nitro was one hour on this night and not head to head with Raw. RATING: 2.7
Match/Segment: Piper and Flair United Larry's Enjoyment Index: 6.0 Final Thoughts: We see highlights of Ric Flair overcoming the odds against Vader from back in the day to set the stage for the show tonight, which was Piper, Flair and NFL Player Kevin Green vs. Scott Hall, Kevin Nash and Syxx. Piper and Flair were tired hearing the n.W.o and all of their complaints about the legends of wrestling. The challenged the n.W.o to a fight tonight because they didn't want to wait for the PPV. A good opening to get the point across in what would be the predominant angle of this short show, but far from memorable.
Match/Segment: Cruiserweight Title Match: Juventud Guerrera vs. Syxx Larry's Enjoyment Index: 5.0 Final Thoughts: They tried to have an exciting match, but Juvi was off his game a bit, but worked hard while Waltman was more concentrated on doing "his stuff" while he was out there. That's a real shame because Waltman was once a benchmark for North American Light Heavyweight working, and he had already deteriorated into his formula due to the n.W.o ego trip. Syxx wins with the buzz killer/cross-face chicken wing in about 5-minutes.
Match/Segment: An n.W.o rebuttal in two parts Larry's Enjoyment Index: 5.0 Final Thoughts: The Wolfpack of Hall, Nash and Syxx took over the announce booth, Schiovone and Heenen SKIDADDLED and Zybyzko took his time leaving. I liked that touch of the announcers being afraid and leaving when they would come out. They said that they missed Hogan and wouldn't work for less than 75% of the gate. We then get the classic "paid for" advertisement with Randy Savage challenging DDP for another match. Liz was smoking hot. This was all fine, but had nothing behind it to make me care. It isn't bad, and it makes sense, but it was just there.
Match/Segment: Lex Luger and The Giant vs. The Fabulous French Canadians Larry's Enjoyment Index: 6.5 Final Thoughts: Sweet Jesus, you never realize how large Big Show got until you go back and watch these old shows. The Fabulous French Canadians were the former Quebecois. Jacques' hair was badly thinning and Carl Ouellette was very out of shape, easily nearing 300lbs. He would later get back into shape; an example was when he worked as "X" for TNA. They were still a serviceable team though and worked over Luger for a few minutes, the Giant got the hot tag and ran wild to a huge reaction and chokeslammed Jacques for the win. This has great heat, and was a perfectly acceptable match.
Match/Segment: Mongo w/Debra vs. The Barbarian Larry's Enjoyment Index: 2.0 Final Thoughts: They had what was a typical Mongo match. It was short sloppy and generally uninteresting. He won a short match with the briefcase shot. I hated Mongo as a Horseman. I miss the Barbarian.
Match/Segment: Piper and Flair call out the n.W.o Larry's Enjoyment Index: 4.0 Final Thoughts: They call out the n.W.o before the PPV, including Flair telling Syxx that he has been champion more times that Syxx has had pieces of ass. We see the n.W.o drop what was propaganda on the ring, paper saying, "tradition bites, n.W.o for life." Hall, Nash and Syxx would come out and Flair would battle with them in the isle while Piper stood in the ring like a goof. Heenan cements the moment saying that Piper was standing there like he couldn't read.
The Overall: Best Match/Segment: Lex Luger and The Giant vs. The Fabulous French Canadians 6.5 Worst Match/Segment:: Mongo w/Debra vs. The Barbarian 2.0 Final Show Thoughts: While WWF was following up a hot episode with another good show, WCW was offering up a placeholder show since they were only on for an hour. It wasn't bad, but not nearly the show raw was on this evening. Show Score: 5.0
THE WINNER: According to the Ratings: RAW(Although it was unopposed) According to Larry: RAW Overall Score - RAW: 2 – NITRO: 0
