What were the best raws&smackdowns

[Guest Tolwyn]

I'm in the fotunate circumstance to get  about every Raw or Smackdown show on tape.My question:

which ones are really worth havin' either on a historical basis or wrestling basis....

[Guest Army Eye]

Sounds like a sweet deal.  These are some must-see RAWs that immediately come to mind , mostly for historical basis

 

Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin street fight and ambulance attack

Owen Hart memorial

Mr. Perfect beats Flair (loser leaves WWF)

Shawn Michaels collapse

Austin challenges Vince McMahon to a match (for the first time.. Dude Love interferes)

Night after WrestleMania XIV, X-Pac debut, he and New Age Outlaws join DX

Austin vs. Rock, night after Survivor Series '98 (crowd was apeshit for this match)

The Radicalz debut in WWF

ECW reunion, ECW/WCW Alliance formed

 

 

The two Smackdowns that come to mind:

Mick Foley's first world title win

Austin vs. Benoit in Edmonton (tremendous ***** match)

 

 

Can I assume that this list won't help you much without the exact dates that they happened? If so, I'll try and help get the dates, unless someone else chimes in with them

[Guest joshicho]

I always liked the greater power Raw (May/June 99) but everyone on here seemed to hate it.

[Guest Tony149]

Raw

Bret/SCSA street fight, original WWF ambulance attack.

Foley wins 1st WWF Title

SCSA vs. Vince - 4-98

Night after WM 14

Night after Survivor Series '98

Raw 5/10/99

ECW return

Radicalz debut

10 man tag - Feb. 2000

 

Smackdown

The Radicalz debut match againt D-X

 

 

A lof more, but I can't remember at this time.

[Guest Tolwyn]

If someone has the dates or in the Xth raw after ppv format that would be nice!

[Guest blackjack4x]

For wrestling, May '01 was THE month. Benoit/Austin for the title, twice, Benoit/Jericho vs Austin/HHH, TLC 3 - a lot of good stuff.

[Guest Nevermortal]

The two Smackdowns that come to mind:

Mick Foley's first world title win

Austin vs. Benoit in Edmonton (tremendous ***** match)

Foley's First Title was won on a RAW, not a Smackdown.

[Guest areacode212]

Yep, my all-time favorite Raw was the Austin/Bret street fight w/ambulance attack. There was SO much stuff happening on that show, especially considering this was back in the days of 1-hour Raws (if I recall correctly)

 

Favorite Smackdown? Hm, I dunno. I'll go with Benoit/Austin from Edmonton.

[Guest Brian]

Austin/Bret streetfight RAW is definately worth getting. Go for the RAW that was like three weeks (maybe less) after WrestleMania with the Owen/Bulldog re-match with the special twist. Also go for their first match in the finals of the European title tournament. Best RAW match ever.

[Guest areacode212]

Yeah, everyone talks about that Owen/Bulldog tournament match. I'll have to get it on a comp tape someday.

[Guest EdBootyManTheDiscipleLeslie]

Yep, Foley's first title win was on RAW. Remember when Skeevonne

gave it away on Nitro and joked about Foley "putting butts in seats"?

Foley of course went on to become one of the most popular WWF

stars and authoring two #1  bestsellers while I last saw Skeevonne

doing announce work for some indie fed.

[Guest Tony149]

Yep, my all-time favorite Raw was the Austin/Bret street fight w/ambulance attack. There was SO much stuff happening on that show, especially considering this was back in the days of 1-hour Raws (if I recall correctly)

Yep, great stuff. Happened the night after the IYH: Revenge of the Taker PPV. The WWF was about in it's second month of Raw being a 2 hour show.

[Guest CB2M]

Yep, my all-time favorite Raw was the Austin/Bret street fight w/ambulance attack. There was SO much stuff happening on that show, especially considering this was back in the days of 1-hour Raws (if I recall correctly)

That show was on 4/21/97 and it was two hours.  In fact, it was Vince Russo's first Raw that he booked.  

 

The previous week was a really bad show from South Africa, and the ratings were horrible.  So McMahon finally started listening to Russo, which led to him writing Raw.

[Guest Tony149]

That show was on 4/21/97 and it was two hours.  In fact, it was Vince Russo's first Raw that he booked.  

 

The previous week was a really bad show from South Africa, and the ratings were horrible.  So McMahon finally started listening to Russo, which led to him writing Raw.

I didn't know that. Interesting. Russo had some good ideas working with McMahon.

[Guest Army Eye]

Yeah my mistake, I remember the Foley thing was pre-taped and so I thought it was a Smackdown.  But of course Raw wasn't live every week then

[Guest The Electrifyer]

The Austin/Hart feud Raw was a classic. The ECW reunion one was also good too, because it was the first time we saw all 3 feds in one ring. It was just plain amazing and shocking!

[Guest areacode212]

I wonder if someone watching the 4/21/97 for the first time today would enjoy it as much, since everyone knows what eventually happened to the people involved. I didn't know Russo did that. It was like one cool thing after another. The street fight, then the "you're going straight to hell!!" thing in the ambulance, then Shamrock challenging Tyson, then the first mention of "Dustin and Terri" (as opposed to Goldust and Marlena), then FUCKING PILLMAN making his SURPRISE RETURN!! It was like a full two hours worth of markout.

 

I hope I didn't ruin it for anyone who didn't see it.

[Guest Ihatesmarksandmarks]

the greater power raw???? u must be kidding me....i was at that raw...worst waste of 40 dollars EVER. Id say some of the best raws were the 10 man tag (unbelivable crowd heat),foley winning the title, rock/austin after deadly games 98 (more insane crowd heat), the raw after KOTR 2000 when foley and HBK came back,the raw where jericho debuted, and this past one with rock/hogan are the few that come to mind.

[Guest Ihatesmarksandmarks]

id say any raw between january and sepember 2000 will probably be a good show. That was a GREAT time for the wwf...up until they jobbed to TNN and started putting on shit sows.

[Guest dreamer420]

The Raw after Owen died is my all time favorite.  The matches don't really appeal to me but all the wrestlers who broke character to say a few words about Owen made this show one I will never forget.  That two hours, minus the wrestling, and Austin at the end was the greatest TV the WWF has ever produced.

[Guest Big McLargeHuge]

I'll add the Shawn/Austin vs Owen/Bulldog RAW to the list.

[Guest HellSpawn]

I'll try to post later some detailed Raw stuff from 1997, is a huge post.

[Guest Ihatesmarksandmarks]

the raw with owen was just unbelibeavable.....i remember a lot of people who dont even watch the wwf watched it, and said the wwf did a classy thing. That was a surreal show.

[Guest HellSpawn]

Here it is:

-----

Tape Name  : WWF32: WWF from 2/97 - 3/97

Length     : 6 hours (EP)

Date       : 2/97 - 3/97

Rec Quality: Good

Match List : (listing courtesy of John McAdam)

 

1. BRITISH BULLDOG/OWEN HART v DOUG FURNAS/PHIL LAFON- Owen and Davey

continuously hint toward a breakup. 3 1/4 ***.

2. BRET HART AND SHAWN MICHAELS have another in-ring argument. Steve Austin sneak

attacks Bret, and Sid comes in to argue with Shawn.

3. MANKIND/FAROOQ v THE UNDERTAKER/AHMED JOHNSON (NO DQ)- Vader's

interference backfires, as he KOs Mankind with a chair.

4. VADER v STEVE AUSTIN- The lights go out, and The Undertaker attacks commentator

Bret Hart. Then all four brawl in the aisleway.

5. ROCKY MAIVIA v HUNTER HEARST HELMSLEY- a loud "Rocky sucks" chant goes up,

which is a bad sign as Maivia wins the IC title to futher his mega-babyface push.

6. SHAWN MICHAELS FORFIETS THE WWF TITLE, citing burnout and a bad knee. A 5 ***

interview, and how often do I say that?

7. STEVE AUSTIN v SID- Bret Hart runs in to attack Austin, and Sid doesn't appreciate it.

8. BRET HART v VADER- Steve Austin is in the balcony trying to distract Hart, but Vader

misses a moonsault, and Bret gets the pin.

9. OWEN HART/BRITISH BULLDOG v DOUG FURNAS/PHIL LaFON (from IYH Final Four)

3 1/4 ***.

10. BRET HART v STEVE AUSTIN v THE UNDERTAKER v VADER (Final Four Match from

IYH) good match, but the wrestlers can be eliminated without being pinned, which turns the

bout into screw-job city. Vader sports a nasty cut over his eye. Bret regains the vacated

WWF title. 4 1/4 ***.

11. BRET HART v SID- Steve Austin attacks Bret before the match, and as Sid tries to break

it up, Austin clips his knee. The match is delayed, which gives Austin a second chance to

injure Hart- and this time he jumps Hart in the dressing room. Bret drops the WWF title in

his very first defense as Austin clocks Bret with a chair. It's a surprisingly excellent 4 1/4 ***

match.

12. JERRY LAWLER snaps at a fan holding up an "ECW RULES" sign, and does an interview

running down the local group. Looks like an angle, but it's still well done.

13. HUNTER HEARST HELMSLEY pummels Golddust, and his new valet bearhugs Marlena

into unconciousness. GD is such a flop as a babyface, and Marlena's interview is terrible.

14. OWEN HART v FLASH FUNK- Jerry Lawler takes a live phone call from ECW's Paul E.

Dangerously, who accepts Lawler's offer to bring ECW wrestlers to RAW. Owen wins with an

assist from British Bulldog, 3 3/4 ***.

15. *ECW INVADES RAW!! The Eliminators do a "Total Elimination" on a ring attendant, and

Paul E. gets in the ring and takes Lawler up on last week's offer. THE CROWD GOES NUTS!!

*

16. *ECW: STEVIE RICHARDS v LITTLE GUIDO- The BWO makes it's national debut. Lawler:

"Another ECW ripoff!"  Paul E: "OF WHAT?" Lawler is speechless!!!

17. KEN SHAMROCK debuts on RAW, interviewed.

18. *ECW: TAZ v MIKEY WHIPPWRECK, featuring more priceless banter between Lawler and

Paul E. Sabu dives off the RAW blocks onto Taz's dojo members, but they drag him off

before he can get to Taz.

19. THE ROAD WARRIORS v THE HEADBANGERS- The Roadies return, and the crowd goes

wild. Check out the loud "Nitro Sucks" and "Bischoff Sucks" chants.

20. *ECW: TOMMY DREAMER v DEVON DUDLEY- Dreamer takes objects from the fans and

bashes Devon with them- I'm surprised McMahon OKed that. The two creatively use a chair

while the heat turns up between Lawler and Paul E. Bubba Ray Dudley runs in, and The

Sandman, beer in hand, evens the sides. Lawler and Paul E have to be separated after the

fracas- GREAT STUFF!

21. KEN SHAMROCK has an exchange with Farooq.

22. THE UNDERTAKER v FAROOQ- no finish shown.

23. BRITISH BULLDOG v OWEN HART, finals of the WWF European Championship finals,

and I beleive the first time WWF tag champs have wrestled, and it's the first new

championship the WWF has created since 1979. FANTASTIC MATCH! 4 1/2 ***.

24. OWEN HART/BRITISH BULLDOG v THE NEW BLACKJACKS (Barry Windham & Justin

Bradshaw). Barry, with his hair dyed black, looks exactly like BJ Mulligan did in the 70's.

25. *ECW: TAZ AND JERRY LAWLER get into a shoving match, so Sabu tries to vault into

them- but goes through a table instead.

26. *ECW: "THE GREAT DEBATE" between Paul E. Dangerously and Jerry Lawler. GREAT

STUFF! Lawler and Paul E stiff each other with some brutal shoot comments, Tommy

Dreamer dares Lawler to fight, and Sandman drenches "The King" with beer.

27. VADER/MANKIND v UNDERTAKER/SID- Undertaker and Sid turn on each other.

28. OWEN HART/BRITISH BULLDOG v DOUG FURNAS/PHIL LaFON (from MSG 3/16)

29. VADER v THE UNDERTAKER (NO DQ Casket Match from MSG 3/16)- cool finish as

Undertaker goes to dump Vader into the casket- but Mankind is waiting in the casket for

him!

30. VADER v BRITISH BULLDOG

31. KEN SHAMROCK does commentary, and is challenged by Bill Gunn. Shamrock

dominates.

 

Tape Name  : WWF33: WWF from 3/97 - 4/97

Length     : 6 hours (EP)

Date       : 3/97 - 4/97

Rec Quality: Good

Match List : (listing courtesy of John McAdam)

 

1. BRET HART v PSYCHO SID (Cage Match) Steve Austin, who faces Hart at WM, interferes

on Bret's behalf. But Undertaker evens the sides, and Sid retains the title. Bret DECKS VINCE

McMAHON during the post-match interview, then uses the word "bullsh*t" a few times on

LIVE TV! A four-way brawl then erupts between Sid and Undertaker, and Hart and Austin-

GREAT ANGLE!!

2. MANKIND/VADER v OWEN HART/BRITISH BULLDOG (from WM)

3. BRET HART v STEVE AUSTIN (I Quit Match from WM) with Ken Shamrock as referee.

This may be U.S. MATCH OF THE DECADE -definitely one of the five best matches wrestled

in North America in the 1990's, and ONE OF THE TEN BEST MATCHES  I'VE EVER SEEN- an

all-time classic! I should also mention that this was one of the bloodiest matches ever-

Austin is a mess. They also execute a double turn (tough to effectively execute), and set the

table for a future Hart v Shamrock series. I can't say enough about the ringwork, booking,

psychology, action, drama, and heat this match provided. A MUST SEE!! 5 *** ++!!

4. LEGION OF DOOM/AHMED JOHNSON v THE NATION OF DOMINATION (Streetfight

from WM) a WILD brawl, especially by WWF standards. 4 ***.

5. THE UNDERTAKER v PSYCHO SID (No DQ from WM) The Undertaker wins the WWF

title with an assist from the Fed's new lead heel, Bret Hart.

6. OWEN HART and BRITISH BULLDOG finally break up in the middle of a match, and

exchange punches. Owen challenges Davey to defend his European championship, and

Bulldog accepts.

7. BRET HART does a great heel interview, whining about everything that happened to him

in the WWF over the past 12 months. Shawn Michaels comes out to argue, and gets in a

few good lines (even referring to Bret as a mark!). Bret attacks Michaels' injured knee,

employing the ringpost to apply the figure-four, until Sid runs him off. Good stuff, and the

fans totally turn on Hart.

8. BRET HASN'T HAD ENOUGH! Later in the show, Hart attacks Rocky Maivia, going after

his knee the same way he did Michaels'.

9. OWEN HART v BRITISH BULLDOG- the two go at it until Bret Hart comes to the ring and

breaks it up. Bret then blames the fans for the breakup of the Hart family. Owen in

particular does a great job, in tears over he and his brother reuniting after three years.

Match gets 3 3/4 ***, and the angle is fantastic.

10. THE UNDERTAKER lays out Paul Bearer, and Mankind makes the save- BY THROWING A

HUGE FIREBALL AT UNDERTAKER!!

11. BRET HART AND STEVE AUSTIN have an intense debate.

12. BRET HART v ROCKY MAIVIA- Bret uses the ringpost figure-four, and gets DQed. Steve

Austin makes the save, but Owen and Bulldog jump him. The Road Warriors then even the

sides.

13. KEN SHAMROCK v VERNON WHITE in a fake shootfight.

14. STEVE AUSTIN v MANKIND- Vader runs in to help Mankind out, but accidentally pops

him, leading to an altercation, then a reconciliation between the two.

15. LEGION OF DOOM v OWEN HART/BRITISH BULLDOG (from IYH)- Bret Hart runs in for

the DQ finish.

16. THE UNDERTAKER v MANKIND (from IYH)- a WILD match, where Mankind takes some

of the craziest bumps ever seen, including a head-first dive through a ringside table. After

the match, they botch a spot where Mankind is supposed to "accidentally" burn Paul Bearer,

but they blow it, and things look really bad. Undertaker then burns Bearer himself, which

also looks botched up. 3 3/4 ***.

17. BRET HART v STEVE AUSTIN (from IYH)- another great match between two of the top

wrestlers in the world. 4 ***.

18. FOOTAGE OF VADER roughing up a talk show host in Kuwait, which led to his legit

arrest there.

19. BRET HART v STEVE AUSTIN (Streetfight)- a wild one, as Owen Hart, British Bulldog,

and Brian Pillman jump Austin as soon as the match starts, but Shawn Michaels runs them

off with a chair. Austin destroys Bret with a chair, leading us to beleive that Bret has

suffered a broken leg and wrist. Bret is carried off on a stretcher, and taken into an

ambulance...where Austin is waiting, looking to get some more shots in.

 

Tape Name  : WWF34: WWF from 4/97 - 5/97

Length     : 6 hours (EP)

Date       : 4/97 - 5/97

Rec Quality: Good

Match List : (listing courtesy of John McAdam)

 

1. THE UNDERTAKER v HUNTER HEARST HELMSLEY, jip. Mankind comes to the ring with a

blowtorch and attacks Undertaker. Luckily, no "Pulp Fiction" scenes occur.

2. STEVE AUSTIN does an interview, and is jumped by Owen Hart and British Bulldog. Vince

McMahon tries to stop it, and Owen decks him! Shawn Michaels runs them off with a chair,

but then Brian Pillman finally returns to destroy Austin with a chair!

3. BRIAN PILLMAN does a mock prayer interview that had quite a few folks disturbed. I

thought it as really good, as Pillman openly prays for Steve Austin's destruction.

4. Austin runs in, but Owen and Bulldog run him off.

5. ROAD WARRIORS v DOUG FURNAS/PHIL LaFON- Furnas and LaFon do some whining

before and after the match.

6. OWEN HART v ROCKY MAIVIA- Owen wins the IC title.

7. VADER terrorizes Jim Ross until Ken Shamrock breaks it up.

8. THE UNDERTAKER v BRITISH BULLDOG- there's a skip in the match, but the finish is

shown. Owen runs in, and while he and Bulldog destroy Undertaker, Steve Austin evens the

sides. Austin then puts UT out with the stunner, but Undertaker makes his comeback. Austin

then goes after the wheelchair-bound Bret Hart, but Jim Niedhart reappears and destroys

Austin, who needs to be stretchered out.

9. VADER v GOLDDUST- Ken Shamrock does commentary, and naturally gets involved in

the match.

10. GOLDDUST does an interview as Dustin Rhodes. The WWF is trying to humanize Dustin,

and repackage him.

11. ROAD WARRIORS v DOUG FURNAS/PHIL LaFON- Owen Hart and British Bulldog

interfere, and the Roadies lose.

12. A DRESSING ROOM BRAWL breaks out with Shawn Michaels and Steve Austin v The

Hart Foundation.

13. STEVE AUSTIN v BRITISH BULLDOG- Austin gets a clean pin, which of course means

that Owen Hart and Jim Niedhart destroy Austin after the match. The Road Warriors run in,

but then Furnas and LaFon jump them. It's a mini-battle royal from there, with Austin and

Undertaker going at it last.

14. MANKIND v HUNTER HEARST HELMSLEY

15. MANKIND v ROCKY MAIVIA (IYH)

16. KEN SHAMROCK v VADER (IYH)- an incredibly brutal match- Vader was kicked in the

legs so hard, he was out of action for two weeks. 3 1/2 ***.

17. THE UNDERTAKER v STEVE AUSTIN (IYH)- Austin is about to win the WWF title, but

Pillman rings the bell. The entire Hart Foundation hits the ring, and Austin and UT team up

to drive them away. 3 ***.

18. ROAD WARRIORS v PG-13- The talented PG-13 play the ultimate clowns as they get

squashed by LOD- too bad.

19. THE UNDERTAKER v SAVIO VEGA (jip)- Farooq runs in and whips UT with a belt.

20. ROB VAN DAM v JEFF HARDY- Van Dam debuts his "Mr. Monday Night" gimmick on

RAW, and looks fantastic, all while the fans chant "you sold out" at him.

21. Owen Hart/British Bulldog v Doug Furnas/Phil LaFon v The Blackjacks v The

Headbangers. (4 Team Elimination Match)

22. BRET HART, still in a wheelchair, calls Shawn Michaels to the ring and chews him out.

Bret is supposed to stop at some point, with Shawn getting his comebacks (shown later on

the tape), but Bret runs on too long, and is still babbling as RAW goes off the air. This

infuriated Michaels (legit), and he'd be pulling his own revenge "shoot" soon...

23. MANKIND does an interview, humanizing him as Mick Foley. This was an excellent

segment.

24. LEIF CASSIDY v SCOTT TAYLOR- local star Scott Taylor makes a splash, getting a pinfall

on national TV.

25. BRET HART challenges Shawn Michaels to a match at King of the Ring. When Shawn

responds, he further spreads a rumor on national TV- that Bret has been sleeping around

with Sunny. This pissed Bret off to the point where he swore that when his knee was

healed, be would legit punch the crap out of Michaels (late note: Bret followed through, and

handed Michaels a backstage beating on 6/9). It must be nice to be Vince McMahon- his two

top stars behaving like children.

26. STEVE AUSTIN v JIM NEIDHART- short match, as the Hart Foundation jumps Austin.

WWF Prez Gorilla Monsoon then orders a match between Shawn Michaels & Steve Austin v

Owen Hart & British Bulldog. Problem is, Michaels and Austin hate each other, and start

brawling.

27. ROAD WARRIORS v BRIAN PILLMAN/JIM NIEDHART- I think this is Pillman's first match

back from his jeep wreck from over a year ago, and he doesn't look ready. Owen and

Bulldog run in for the DQ, and Austin and Michaels make the save. Of course, Michaels

accidentally nails Austin, and the two come to blows.

28. JERRY LAWLER v GOLDDUST- The match is in Evansville, IN, where Lawler has been a

legend for over a decade, so Golddust doesn't have a chance.

29. VADER v AHMED JOHNSON

30. ANOTHER MANKIND SEGMENT where they explore his past. They show clips from his

homemade "Dude Love" film, and clips of him training with Shane Douglas.

31. SHAWN MICHAELS/STEVE AUSTIN v OWEN HART/BRITISH BULLDOG- Michaels shows

no ring rust, and this is a fantastic match. Michaels and Austin win the tag titles, and the

Hart Foundation goes after Shawn after the match. Austin ignores the attack, so that he can

jump Bret Hart. All told, 4 1/4 ***.

 

 

Tape Name  : WWF35: WWF from 9/97 - 11/97

Length     : 6 hours (EP)

Date       : 9/97 - 11/97

Rec Quality: Good

Match List : (listing courtesy of John McAdam)

 

1. BRET HART v VADER (No DQ)- good match with the usual run-ins.

2. OWEN HART v GOLDDUST- Goldy gets DQed for using low blows. Bret and Bulldog run

in, but Steve Austin runs in and cleans house with a broom.

3. SHAWN MICHAELS AND HUNTER HEARST HELMSLEY attack British Bulldog.

4. DUDE LOVE v BRIAN PILLMAN- the focus of the match is on Marlena, who Golddust

"lost" to Pillman.

5. OWEN HART v THE PATRIOT

6. BRET HART/BRITISH BULLDOG v THE HEADBANGERS

7. OWEN HART v BRIAN PILLMAN- funny, as the wrestlers stage a "fake" match, then get

into a serious brawl. Golddust then gets Pillman DQed.

8. VINCE McMAHON gets a "Stone Cold Stunner" from Steve Austin in MSG.

9. CACTUS JACK v HUNTER HEARST HELMSLEY (No DQ, Falls Count Anywhere)- Mick

Foley's third WWF character debuts- Cactus Jack is back! A WILD brawl!

10. THE UNDERTAKER gets jumped by Michaels, Rude, and Helmsley.

11. VADER v BRITISH BULLDOG- The Hart Foundation saves Bulldog from being pinned.

The Patriot tries to make the save, but gets destroyed by the four heels.

12. UNDERTAKER v HUNTER HEARST HELMSLEY- Undertaker gets tripled on by Helmsley,

Michaels, and Chyna, and stuffed into a body bag. He makes his own savw, and chases

Michaels up the giant TV screen!

13. BRIAN PILLMAN v THE PATRIOT, jip- Golddust runs in after Pillman. This was Pillman's

final TV match.

14. OWEN HART v FAROOQ (from BB) finals of the IC title tourney. Austin KOs Farooq with

the belt, and Owen wins it.

15. BRET HART/BRITISH BULLDOG v VADER/THE PATRIOT (from BB)

16. SHAWN MICHAELS v THE UNDERTAKER (Hell In A Cell from BB) excellent match!

Shawn actually takes a bump from the roof of the cage through a table. UT's "brother" Kane

rips the door off of the cage, and attacks UT. Shawn is as bloody as I've seen a wrestler in

the WWF. Great stuff, 4 3/4 ***.

17. VINCE McMAHON asks all of the wrestlers to put aside their differences and salute the

late Brian Pillman. A classy moment.

18. SHAWN MICHAELS AND HUNTER HEARST HELMSLEY play a video of his saying goodbye

to Diesel and Ramon at MSG. Bret Hart then comes out, and he and Shawn exchange some

"shoot" comments at each other.

19. JIM CORNETTE does his editorial, slamming the NWO and WCW. I like it!

20. OWEN HART v ROAD WARRIOR HAWK

21. MELANIE PILLMAN does a live interview the day after her husband's death. Not a good

idea on the WWF's part.

22. A VIDEO TRIBUTE to the late Brian Pillman.

23. KANE, Undertaker's "brother", debuts by destroying two jobbers.

24. BRET HART v HUNTER HEARST HELMSLEY- Shawn Michaels comes to ringside, and

picks his nose with the Canadian flag...how can Vince allow that kind of crap?

25. Michaels KOs Bret with a superkick, and Hart is counted out. Geez...I wish I were a

friend of Shawn's and got this kind of a push from it.

26. BRET HART v FAAROOQ

27. JEFF JARRETT returns and throws some shoot comments at Eric Bischoff.

28. SHAWN MICHAELS v OWEN HART- Steve Austin prevents Michaels from winning the IC

title. Bret then runs in after Shawn.

29. KANE v DUDE LOVE- Kane doesn't sell a thing, then chokeslams Dude outside the ring

twice. Aaarrgghh...

30. BRET HART is the subject of an excellent video.

31. SHAWN MICHAELS baits the NOD into attacking the Hart Foundation.

32. MANKIND puts the mandible claw on Sgt. Slaughter.

-----

I got it from Prowrestlingtapes.com

 

Btw, I dont have the tapes, I just have the list.

[Guest dreamer420]

Those sound like wicked tapes.  I'm going to check out that website if i don't forget.

[Guest areacode212]

Wow, WWF33 from that list sounds like a great tape, angle-wise (not to mention for the WM13 Austin/Hart match). I'd love to see that Bret heel turn stuff again; those were the best promos of his career.  I hear prowrestlingtapes.com is pretty good, especially if you buy in bulk.

 

I forgot to mention the "Return to Manhattan Center" Raw, which also kicked ass. The first ECW invasion, the return of the Road Warriors (which was a big deal at the time), Shamrock's debut, the "Bischoff sucks!" chants. I wanted to attend that SO BADLY, but unfortunately, I had an exam that evening

[Guest SmarkySmark]

My Favorite Raws are:

 

Raw after Over the Edge '98 (both Foley and Taker have awesome promos with Vince and the build up the the famous Hell in a Cell starts)

Foley's first title win Dec. '98

Owen Hart Tribute Show

Dude Love's Debut

 

Favorite Smackdowns:

Cactus Jack's return before Rumble 2000

TLC 3

[Guest Tolwyn]

And Scott Keith says 1997 sucked for the WWF.The way I see it that was one of the WWF's best periods.This whole Hart/Austin Saga Rocked big time.Even so big that they make up for the sloppy,mediocre undercards....

Huge thanx for ur input all!

[Guest areacode212]

1997 was actually the last year that I was consistently REALLY EXCITED about wrestling, mostly due to the awesome Harts vs. Austin/USA feud. Most of the good stuff since then has been, "yeah, this is pretty cool", but not as involving as the stuff from '97.

[Guest Angus Podgorny]

Does anyone know the exact date of the RAW on which Paul Bearer first revealed the existence of Kane ("KAAANE TOLD ME!! KAAAANE TOLD ME!")?  I'm curious to know the date, as this was the first time I watched the WWF. That particular storyline hooked me in to pro wrestling, for some reason.

 

 

EDIT: Okay, it was 6/30/97.  Actually, my memory is bad because the "Kane told me" thing happened the following week on 7/7/97.  Oops.

 

-Angus