Raw is Owen Review up

[Guest Retro Rob]

You know the deal, link is in the sig.

[Guest JHawk]

I'm glad you did it, because my tape got eaten by the VCR last year so I don't have a copy anymore.

 

Nice job on it.

[Guest Retro Rob]

Thanks. I accidentally taped over my copy in 2000. I just bought a new one last year.

[B. Brian Brunzell]

Thanks for the review, Bob. I need to get a new copy, as mine is worn out to shit.

[LaParkaYourCar]

Bought a new one? I didn't know you could buy this on tape.

[Guest Retro Rob]

I bought it from a tape dealer. It's a dub, not a commercial release.

 

If you are interested, it pops up on eBay all the time and most wrestling tape sites have it.

[Guest goodhelmet]

i remember the show like yesterday. i wish stone cold would have never shown up at the end to do his insincere beer salute. knowing that austin still despised owen for the botched piledriver, plus the fact that owen was buried for a good year and a half after that just makes the whole thing seem fake when it should not have been.

[Guest Dangerous A]

Amen to that, goodhelmet.

 

I watched that episode when it showed here on the west coast and it left a foul taste in my mouth back then. I was able to rewatch it about a year and a half ago and it made me even more sick. I actually thought everyone who gave an interview reflecting on Owen was pretty sincere. Some think that HHH and some of the other wrestlers didn't really mean what they said and after watching it a second time, I can say those people are full of shit. The only person who I felt wasn't sincere was Austin. I don't think he was glad about it, but I don't think the toast thing was appropriate at all.

[Guest Retro Rob]

Even if you don't like someone, that doesn't mean that you don't have any respect for them and what they do. Maybe Austin still held a grudge, but I'm still pretty sure that he felt badly about what happened. I mean come on, one of his co-workers plummetted to their death. Whether he likes the guy or not, at the very least he had to feel for the Hart family.

 

As for the toast, I thought that it was ridiculous like the pot smoking and various comments (If you ain't down with Owen Hart, you can SUCK IT), BUT by that point in the show I wasn't bothered that much by it because all the other wrestlers were sticking to their gimmicks in the ring, so why not Austin too.

Edited May 24, 2003 by Retro Rob

[Guest tank_abbott]

When I watched it live, I thought Taker would attack Austin at the end and crucify him (I think Taker had stated that he would do this or something similar, if he won the title) I figured the WWF would use Owen's tribute being disrupted to make it seem that more heinous...

[Guest bravesfan]

Here's something to think about:

 

Austin *volunteered* to come out at the end. On a "fans left the arena happy" sense, they had the Rock/Venis main event that could've suitably ended the show.

 

Maybe the "toast" at the end of the show, was Austin's way of saying "I'm sorry". I can't imagine why Austin would come out for any other reason than to pay homage to Owen in a respectful manner.

Edited May 24, 2003 by bravesfan

[LaParkaYourCar]

I remember that I hadn't watched Over the Edge or heard anything about it and when I got up the next morning the news said Owen had died and I was like, "What the f*ck!?"

[Guest Adrian 3:16]

i remember the show like yesterday. i wish stone cold would have never shown up at the end to do his insincere beer salute. knowing that austin still despised owen for the botched piledriver, plus the fact that owen was buried for a good year and a half after that just makes the whole thing seem fake when it should not have been.

A couple things:

 

1. If Austin did indeed despise Owen to the end, he at least had a reason (in his own mind at least) Even Bret has gone on record saying Owen never acted particularly remorseful after the piledriver.

 

2. Having a falling out like Austin and Owen did doesn't mean Austin didn't feel remorseful over the man's death.

 

3. The beer toast was the perfect sendoff for that show. It was appropriate for Austin's character and said plenty without using any words. Plus it was Austin's way of burying the hatchet.

 

4. It seems pretty silly and pointless in a very real situation such as a death to still bring in the cliched internet bitching about burials and what not, but as long as you're playing that game remember HBK and HHH did more to bury Owen than Austin ever did. Austin simply didn't want to work a program with him, which you can't really blame him. There was no good reason however for Owen to do consecutive jobs to Shawn, Hunter and even X-Pac.

[Guest pochorenella]

I liked the entire show and I agree with bravesfan. I truly believe that was Austin's way to say I'm sorry and I refuse to think that he still hated or held a grudge agains Owen in any way.

 

Overall, a great show that actually made me cry. God bless you, Owen.