6 Years ago today

[Guest Dmann2000]

It was exactly 6 years ago, 4-21-97

 

The Streetfight, The ambulance attack, the return of HBK & Pillman!

 

Just thought you should remember that...and cry

 

(Note every day this year will match up exactly with 1997)

[Guest natholy]

That was a classic Raw the Bret - Austin street fight, Bret locked up in the locker room as Austin tried to get in then the wild brawl, Austin smashing Bret's legs to the shit heap with a chair..

 

Also the other thing about that RAW was the fireworks screwed up and the building was filled with smoke most of the night.

 

regards nate holynski

[Guest BifEverchad]

WWF RAW is WAR: Live.

HOUR ONE: Hosted by Vince McMahon, Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler.

 

- The show starts off with slow-mo footage of the Undertaker throwing a

fireball into Paul Bearer's face as he cowers in the corner. Then the

intro and fireworks (which fill the arena with a good amount of smoke.

The same thing happens again at the start of the second hour).

 

Vince McMahon is already in the ring, awaiting the arrival of "Stone

Cold" Steve Austin. McMahon immediately hypes the fact that Austin has

recieved a title shot, to take place at the next IYH on May 11th. Austin

tells him to shut up, then challenges Bret "Hitman" Hart to come out for

a streetfight. Austin gives Hart a minute to come out. A countdown clock

appears on the jumbo screen. The crowd counts along during the last ten

seconds. Hart doesn't appear. Austin says he knew Hart was a coward, and

that he'll go in the back to find him.

 

Bret, Owen Hart and the Bulldog appear on the screen. He says he accepts

the challenge, calls Austin (and the U.S. fans) "dirty, stinking hyenas,"

and says Austin will be going "straight to HELL!" Austin replies "If I'm

going 'straight to HELL!' you're damn sure coming with me!" Austin heads

off to the back.

 

Ross and Lawler hype tonight's other attractions, which include a Vader

update and Ken Shamrock coming out to make a challenge to Mike Tyson.

The Undertaker will alos face Hunter Hearst Helmsley in the main event.

There's no mention of Sycho Sid who, over the weekend on WWF Superstars,

it was said would appear.

 

- AHMED JOHNSON vs. THE SULTAN (w/ the Iron Sheik)

Ahmed pretty much dominates most of this match. The Sultan does get in a

brief offensive turn with a reverse kick to the throat, then a big pile-

driver, but the rest of the match is all Ahmed. Ahmed hits a face first

DDT, which looks to have put the Sultan away for good. Ahmed covers, but

only gets a two count. Ahmed then hits a Spinebuster off the ropes. He

signals to the crowd for the Pearl River Plunge.

 

He is interrupted by the Nation of Domination's theme music. Faarooq,

Crush, Savio and the rest stand at the top of the rampway. Ahmed slides

to the floor and invites the group to come to ringside. Distracted, the

Sultan is able to come up from behind and lay in some shots, even

throwing him into a ringpost. Ahmed drops to the floor and starts groping

under the ring apron. He comes up with a 2X4. The NOD, who had started

making their way towards the ring, do an about face. Ahmed whacks the

Sultan with the board, which gets him DQ'ed. He tosses him into the ring,

then lays in a few more shots with the 2X4. The ring fills with several

officials. McMahon says Ahmed has gotten "carried away." Ahmed will face

three members of the NOD at the next IYH. He will face each man one at a

time, and will only continue so long as he continues to win (i.e. if he

beats Crush, he then faces Savio, then Faarooq). If he wins all the

matches, the Nation will be disbanded.

 

They cut to the back where Austin is roaming the halls in search of Hart.

 

They seem about to cut to a commercial when Sunny comes out wearing

"nothing" but the new Undertaker t-shirt. Dok Hendrix is somewhere on a

mic and he gives the price and address to order.

 

- Austin has found Bret's dressing room (marked "Hart Foundation"). He

tries to bash in the door with a chair. Inside, Bret awaits, along with

Pat Patterson, the evil Hebner, and other WWF official. Hart yells at

them to send Austin to the ring.

 

- Ken Shamrock is at ringside. They recap the Vader situation, showing

footage of the altercation on Kuwait TV that got him into trouble.

McMahon announces that Vader will go to court on Wednesday, then

hopefull be back in time for the next PPV.

 

Jerry Lawler holds up an excellent cartoon which he himslef drew (Lawler

is a terrific caricature artist). It shows Vader scooping up camel

droppings, dragging around a ball and chain. Lawler also holds up a Vader

action figure, still in it's package. Prison bars have been drawn across

the clear plastic.

 

Shamrock then admits that he will be facing Vader at the May 11th IYH.

He calls Vader a "bully." He goes on to challenge another bully: Mike

Tyson. He says he's always been dogged by the question of "who's

tougher?" Shamrock challenges Tyson to a no-holds-barred match in a WWF

ring. I'll comment later on the likelihood of this happening.

 

Suddenly Steve Austin comes to the ring. They show still from the IYH

match. They go to break. Upon return they show a clip of Austin getting

in the face of McMahon, which took place during the commercial. Austin

waits in the ring. His music finally stops playing, and it looks like

Bret isn't coming, until ...

 

- "STONE COLD" STEVE AUSTIN vs. BRET "HITMAN" HART

Hart swaggers to the ring. Both men are in their street clothes. Austin

taunts Hart from the ring, and Bret delays in entering.

 

The Bulldog and Owen run in and attack Austin from behind, having slipped

in unseen by the camera through the crowd. Since this match is a street

fight, there is no disqualification. Bret enters the ring and all three

pound on Austin. Bret is noticably limping. The crowd is on their feet as

the three tear Austin's shirt off and pummel his ribs and kidneys.

(Speaking of the crowd: it was hot for most of the show. Literally

hundreds of signs could be seen, and all kinds of t-shirts from ECW and

WCW). Who, oh who can save Steve Austin?

 

Shawn Michaels.

 

Through the crowd he comes swinging a steel chair. Bret ducks the chair,

but Owen catches a brutal shot right to the forehead. The bulldog takes a

shot on the shoulder. The crowd is going ape and flashbulbs are popping

like mad. Shawn drops to the floor and chases Owen and Davey Boy into the

crowd (the Bulldog catching a chairshot right on the tip of the elbow

which looked like it may have really hurt).

 

Back in the ring Bret begins dismantling Austin. He hits a standing

legdrop. McMahon and Ross have to legitimately yell to be heard over the

crowd. Hart goes to work on Austin's forehead (and I'm surprised that we

didn't see some blood the way things have been going). Austin is limp as

Hart hoists him up for a piledriver. Bret rolls out and grabs a chair. He

places it around Austin's foot, just as Austin did to Hart several months

ago. Bret goes to the top and leaps off. At the last possible moment

Stone Cold swings his leg away (great camera work here). Hart hits the

mat and clutches his own leg. He staggers to his feet, but Austin, having

retrieved the chair, catches the injured leg with a stiff whack. Hart

drops to the mat in agony. Austin drives the chair numerous times into

Hart's injured knee. He adds a few stomps to Bret's chin. He throws in an

elbow to the head for good measure. He drives the chair into Hart's

wrist, which the Hitman then clutches in pain. Austin drags Bret to the

center of the ring. He stomps Bret's right inner thigh. Bret crawls over

to the corner. Austin follows, taking a moment to catch his breath. He

then goes back to work with the chair on the leg. He finishes with a

BRUTALLY stiff shot to Hart's left shoulder. Austin grabs the legs, drags

him to the center of the mat, flips him off, then applies the Sharp-

shooter. Bret refuses to submit. Austin refuses to relenquish the hold.

Two more referees enter the ring and beg Austin to release it, but he

refuses. This goes on for at least two minutes. During all this McMahon

has been very pro-Austin. Lawler has been pro-Hart. Even Jim Ross, who's

been playing it down the middle, calls for Austin to release the hold.

The ring finally fills with enough referees that they are able to

physically get Austin off Hart. They go to commercial.

 

The Bulldog and Owen have come to the ring. Davey Boy yells at McMahon,

calling for an ambulance. The EMT's come to the ring with a stretcher

cart. Everyone in the ring is indicating that Hart's knee and wrist are

broken. They begin loading Bret up on the stretcher.

 

The camera cuts to the back where WWF President Gorilla Monsoon is

reading Steve Austin the riot act. Monsoon says that there are rules in

the WWF, and that Austin has broken just about all of them. "What are you

gonna do about it!" yells Austin. "I want you to get your ASS out of this

building right now!" Monsoon replies. Austin is nearly foaming at the

mouth, but tells Monsoon he's cutting him a break and leaves through the

open loading bay, where the ambulance is parked.

 

Back at ringside they are strapping Bret in. Bret gives out a profanity

laden howl, which is blanked out (showing that the USA had been running

the show on a three or seven second delay). McMahon apologizes for "the

language." They go to another break.

 

HOUR TWO: Hosted by Vince McMahon, Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler.

 

- SALVATORE SINCERE vs. TIGER ALI SINGH

Tiger makes his RAW debut, but it's completely overshadowed by other

events. They go to split-screen and spend the next several minutes

showing the stretcher being rolled back to the awaiting ambulance. The

Bulldog shouts at the paramedics each time they hit a bump, cable, etc.

An EMT tells Bulldog and Owen to calm down and they yell at him. Owen

yells at referee Hebner that "this wasn't supposed to happen!"

 

They concentrate solely on the match for a bit and what we see isn't too

bad. Both men use some decent moves. Ali hits a nice suplex. A solid

match, which is unfortunately a bit on the boring side. They go back to

split-screen. They've removed Bret's shoe and are asking him if he can

move his foot.

 

Back to the match and Tiger bounces off the ropes, hits a spinning heel

kick and gets the pin. Tiger, from Toronto, Canada, is named after his

father Tiger Jeet Singh and Muhammad Ali.

 

Bret is loaded into the ambulance. The rear doors are shut. The camera

shot cuts to the cab of the ambulance, loooking into the back. The

paramedic signals to the driver it's okay to pull away. The camera swings

around and there's Steve Austin in the driver's seat! Austin has hold of

the driver through the open door. " ... don't you say one word, I told

you we're going straight to HELL!" He jumps into the back and begins

pounding on Bret's midsection. The rear paramedic leaps out through the

doors like a scared rabbit. Hart is strapped down and helpless, his head

bouncing up and down in time with each blow. Austin drags the stretcher

out of the ambulance, propping it up against the rear end, and continues

to wail on Hart. Hart flops around like a rag doll. The crowd, obviously

able to see the action on the big screen, erupts. Owen and the Bulldog

move in and and beat on Austin, pushing him aside and into the arms of

numerous WWF officials. Hart's stretcher is pushed back into the

ambulance and it tears out of the arena. Owen and the Bulldog watch it

go, then stalk back in through the loading bay, pledging to kill Austin

later on tonight. "Let's do it!" growls the Bulldog.

 

In my best BUTT-head voice I utter "this is the greatest thing I have

ever seen!"

 

- Following the break they replay some of the last few minutes. Now Owen

and the Bulldog are stalking the halls in search of Austin.

 

- "DOUBLE J" JESSE JAMMES vs. ROCKABILLY (w/ the Honky Tonk Man)

They show the footage of Billy Gunn hitting the Honky Tonk Man a few

weeks ago, but still don't explain why he then joined Honkly as his

protege. Not a terrible match, but one I was in no mood to see on RAW,

and even less mood to write about here. Rockabilly wins with the old

"Shake, Rattle & Roll" swinging neckbreaker. Double J attacks Gunn after

the match, which brings Honky Tonk in with his guitar. Honky breaks it

over Double J's head. Yay.

 

They cut to the lockerroom where Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels are

yelling at each other. Michaels says he didn't come out to the ring to

help Austin, but to hurt Hart. Austin says he doesn't need Shawn's help.

Gorilla Monsoon is between them, trying to establish some order. Shawn

pokes Austin, who yells "don't touch me!" More yelling and Austin strides

away. Michaels then yells at Monsoon. Monsoon tells him to calm down.

"Go to hell!" Shawn yells. Monsoon follows Austin, saying "I'll go talk

to THIS maniac!"

 

- They show the "Castrol Super Clean Slam of the Week," featuring Mankind

going head-first through a table at IYH. The Undertaker knocks him off

the ring apron with the ring steps into the table.

 

- Mankind appears on the jumbo screen and describes how "Uncle" Paul

Bearer's face melted. The Undertaker's theme music kicks in and he (the

Undertaker) heads to the ring.

 

- THE UNDERTAKER vs. HUNTER HEARST HELMSLEY (w/ Chyna)

The Undertaker has a slightly new outfit, and is sporting a large bandage

on the side of his face. Chyna is wearing a leather bodice, and her

transformation into "Xena: Warrior Princess" is complete.

 

The Undertaker charges Helmsley on the ramp before he can reach the ring.

HHH is tossed into the ring, then the Undertaker stares at Chyna for a

moment. The Undertaker goes to work, dominating early in this non-title

match. A few minutes in and the bandage starts to come loose on the

Undertaker's head. After briefly going outside the ring Helmsley takes

control of the match. He concentrates his attack on the bandaged area.

The Undertaker is whipped into the corner and comes out, nailing Helmsley

with a standing guillotine legdrop, which turns the tide of the match.

Undertaker slaps on a resthold. Helmsley then is able to whip the Taker

to the floor. He shoves him into the ring steps. Back into the ring they

go and Jim Ross takes a moment to wish Harley Race well, who's been

recovering from a car accident. Ross says he expects Race to be in

attendance at an upcoming WWF card in Kansas City.

 

The camera swings over to ringside where a minor disturbance has arisen.

A member of the arena security is asking a "fan" at ringside to put out

a cigar she has lit. Jim Ross says "that's Dustin and Terry ... I mean

Marlena. I said Marlena." It's Goldust, without his makeup, and Marlena.

They are in street clothes and baseball caps. Helmsley and Chyna have

apparently not noticed them. They go to commercial.

 

Helmsley has dominated throughout the break. McMahon mentions that Steve

Austin is scheduled for one more interview to discuss his upcoming title

shot. Helmsley slams the Undertaker's head into a trunbuckle. The Under-

taker no-sells it, which gets a huge rise out of the crowd. Undertaker

takes over and wails on Helmsley in the corner, knocking him up and over

the top rope to the floor. Helmsley climbs back up on the apron and the

Undertaker suplexes him into the ring.

 

The camera swings to the top of the ramp. Mankind has appeared ...

"Oh my God he's got a blowtorch!" yells McMahon. The Undertaker warily

eyes Mankind, staying towards the far side of the ring. There's the sound

of a mic being dropped and Ross exclaims "where's the hell's Vince

going?" Mankind has reached the ring. The blowtorch is an acetylene tank

with a hose running to the nozzle, which is spouting a blue flame. The

Undertyaker comes over to the ropes to grab Mankind, but gets hit in the

head with the tank. Mankind enters the ring and hits him again. The ref

calls for the bell as Mankind continues to hit the Undertaker with the

tank. McMahon has by this time returned to the table (whatever he did,

they never showed). The crowd, which had grown eerily silent, starts to

chant "Rest in Peace!" Mankind rolls the Undertaker onto his back and

tries to relight the torch, which draws some screams from the crowd.

Vince and Ross are yelling "no!" as Mankind fumbles with the lighter (one

of those spark makers used for such occasions. Mankind is unable to get a

spark). He finally gets it lit and the Undertaker reaches up and grabs

him by the throat. Mankind drops the torch nozzle and it goes out again.

The Undertaker nails him with a few fists, which sends Mankind through

the ropes to the floor. The Undertaker follows and chases him into the

crowd. The camera pulls back from a shot of the departing duo and shows

Chyna, standing by the rail and watching. She turns her back and a black

leather purse strap drops around her throat. It's Marlena! (Gold)Dustin

Rhodes jumps over the rail and attacks Helmsley. McMahon yells "it's

Goldust ... I mean-" Ross adds "call him whatever you want, he's beating

the hell out of Helmsley!" The ringside are fills with officials who pry

Marlena off Chyna's back, and separate Goldust and Helmsley. They go to

the final break, with Stone Cold yet to come!

 

This was another great piece of camera work. Chyna's body was in the

right position to block out Goldust and Marlena, and you didn't know they

were there until the attack commenced.

 

- They run the "Motel 6 Replay," which featured Austin playing bongo drums

with the near lifeless Bret Hart. They also replay the Goldust/Marlena

sneak attack.

 

- Austin comes out to the ring. McMahon asks Stone Cold if he feel "pretty

good about yorself?" Austin says he sent Bret back to Canada, then rips

into the fans for cheering him on. He asks what they're cheering about,

since he did all the work. He then rips into McMahon for trying to suck

up to him. He asks McMahon to deny doing it. McMhaon doesn't deny it, and

Austin threatens to knock him on his ass. McMahon asks if come May 11th

there may not be hell to pay in the form of the Undertaker. Austin tells

the Undertaker he can bring his little tombstones and whatever else he

wants, but also to bring his "shiny little belt." Austin then says he's

the "Ruler of the World!" giving a sly smile, which seems to be a shot at

the absent Sycho Sid. Lawler says "uh-oh!" On the subject of Austin being

champion, he says "if you think for one minute I'm going to be a good

little role model, you've got another thing coming! That's all I got to

say. That's the bottom-"

 

Owen Hart and the Bulldog slide into the ring and attack Austin. McMahon

tries to step in and pull Owen off. Owen shoves McMahon to the mat. After

that Vince keeps his distance. Owen and the Bulldog meanwhile are

dismantling Austin, stomping him into the canvas. Who, oh who can save

Steve Austin?

 

Shawn Michaels.

 

Shawn runs to the ring with a chair. He chases the two back to the locker

area. Austin, meanwhile, is out cold in the ring. McMahon calls for

someone to get help for him. Austin starts to come to and staggers to his

feet. He leans against the ropes, barely conscious. The crowd chants

"Austin rules!" Vince has made it back to the table and he, in muted

tones, says he thought we'd seen enough tonight. The show seems to be

winding down and-

 

Brian Pillman runs in through the crowd, climbing over the rail. He

stomps Austin to the mat and this time there's no one to save him.

Pillman goes to ringside and grabs a chair. Several referees have come to

the ring. Austin staggers to his feet again and Pillman smacks him

solidly in the back with a stiff chairshot. He then chases the refs out

of the ring. Pillman wraps the chair around Austins ankle-just as Hart

did earlier in the evening, and just as Austin did to Pillman last year.

Who, oh who can ... you know.

 

Shawn Michaels runs in yet again. Pillman heads for higher ground as

Shawn pulls the chair off of Stone Cold's ankle and the show fades off

the air.

 

- otherarena.com

[Guest bob_barron]

I have that RAW on DVD- it rocks.

[Guest Dmann2000]

How'd you get that?

[Guest bob_barron]

Sydney Brown of 411mania made it for me

[Guest Dmann2000]

*grumbles* lucky bastrad, I've only got the first half of the show, it cuts into 4-10-00 RAW after the ambulance attack

[cawthon777 0]

At the time, I didn't like that particular Raw because I thought it buried Bret. Wasn't too into the whole Austin-face, Bret-heel route they were going.

[Guest tank_abbott]

Scary thing, I watched it on Monday, not realizing it was the anniverary.....(I'm scared, Hold me)

[Guest natholy]

Pity Monday nights aren't like that anymore.

 

regards nate holynski

[Guest Dmann2000]

At the time, I didn't like that particular Raw because I thought it buried Bret. Wasn't too into the whole Austin-face, Bret-heel route they were going.

Me too, I agreed with Bret (even though I was an Austin fan since the Stunning days). I even stood for the Canadian national anthem at anhouse show in May of 97.