Original Airdate: October 6, 1997
From Kansas City, Missouri; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon, Jim Ross, and Jerry Lawler. Vince opens the show standing in the ring to announce that Brian Pillman was found dead in his hotel room yesterday, and we do a ten-bell salute for him, with the whole roster standing on the stage in his honor. I believe that was the first time they ever did that, though certainly not the last, sadly. And an extra depressing layer, as we get a close-up of a solemn Owen Hart on the stage, in the very building where he too would tragically die less than two years later
Michael Cole brings Shawn Michaels, Triple H, and Chyna out, and we’re officially calling him ‘Triple H’ now, with even Vince saying it. Cole looks like an undersized Rick Rude here. He also has no purpose, as they give him a wedgie, and just cut their own promo without him actually conducting any sort of interview. Shawn notes that he may have taken a beating last night, but he is here, while Undertaker is not. He also calls himself the best ‘sports entertainer’ in the world today, so apparently weird verbiage isn’t just a modern phenomenon, here it is during the glory days of the promotion. Weird moment here, as Shawn mocks Ric Flair, which is especially odd considering both he and HHH are two of the biggest Flair fans in the business. Then we move on to mocking Vince, as they show clips of the infamous ‘curtain call’ on the TitanTron, which I believe was the first time that was ever acknowledged on WWF TV. All this brings the Hart Foundation out, with Shawn noting that “bringing that idiot out here is even worse.” Feels like the crowd doesn’t know what to do here, since they don’t like either group, but at the same time the Hart’s are in mourning, and Shawn’s a much bigger jerk than Bret, even if Bret talks shit about the USA. Hart calls them both ‘homos’ a number of times, but Shawn and Hunter basically brush it all off, no-sell, and act like they’re above it all. Rude seems increasingly embarrassed at being associated with these three, and it shows. This was certainly something. I love Shawn as a heel, though the way he completely no-sells everyone (be it Undertaker or the Harts) during his promos is kind of annoying, and some of the directions this went felt uncomfortable
We get a live shot inside Brian Pillman’s living room, where Pillman’s widow will be joining us later on. Can you really blame the people who thought Brian’s death was a work? I mean, the guy drops dead a day prior, and they’ve already got a camera crew in his house, ready to interview his wife on national TV like it’s all part of the show
Lumberjack Match: The Godwinns v The Headbangers: The Godwinns' newly won WWF Tag Team Title is not on the line. Vince sounds legitimately exasperated after all of Shawn’s antics in the last segment. The crowd is so into this match that they chant ‘LOD’ at the bell. Brawl to start, with the lumberjacks getting involved. Dust settles on the Headbangers doubling up on Phineas Godwinn, but Thrasher misses an elbowdrop to allow the tag to Henry Godwinn. He blasts Thrasher with a big boot, and a bodyslam follows. Back to Phineas, but he misses an elbowdrop as well, and Mosh gets the tag. Ten-punch in the corner, but Phineas drops him across the top turnbuckle, and tags Henry back to throw a clothesline. Poor Faarooq (one of the lumberjacks) looks like he’s on the verge of falling asleep out there. The Godwinns work Mosh over for a bit, but the referee gets bumped, and literally all the lumberjacks fill the ring for a giant brawl. The referee somehow doesn’t notice that (despite literally every square inch of the ring being filled), and Mosh schoolboys Phineas at 4:17. This was really rough and dull. No wonder they started leaning so heavily on angles when this was what they had as far as undercard workers. The big brawl popped the crowd, at least. DUD
Back in Pillman’s living room, we get a close-up of him and Steve Austin with the WCW World Tag Team Title belts, and Vince actually notes that they were known as the Hollywood Blonds. 1997 is the weirdest year in WWF history, bar none
Backstage, Jim Cornette is getting mic’d up, and he wants to make sure they do a good job because he’s got lots to say about Eric Bischoff. Let’s just hope no one asks him about Vince Russo
Earlier today, Miguel Perez said a bunch of things
Marc Mero v Miguel Perez: This is Mero’s return, and he’s doing a boxer gimmick now, though Sable is still doing the ‘wildman tamer’ thing on her end. Marc goes right at him with fists at the bell, and a running kneelift puts Perez down. Marc works a wristlock as Lawler makes Mike Tyson jokes, which seem to annoy Vince. Were they already trying to bring him in, or something? Mero misses a charge to allow Perez a clothesline to turn the tide, and he goes to work in dull fashion. Irish whip, but Mero reverses, and hits him with the TKO at 2:23. Clearly Sable has a thing for guys who use that finish. This was a pretty unexciting return on every level. DUD
Backstage, Cornette offers his viewpoint on all things wrestling, specifically how angry he is about how the nWo treated Arn Anderson and Ric Flair recently. This is an epic rant, with Cornette savagely shooting on Kevin Nash (“he’s got six moves and no mobility”), Scott Hall (“he’s a good wrestler… and that’s about it”), Syxx (“the only reason he’s employed is because the other guys think it’s funny when he gets drunk and throws up on himself”), and Eric Bischoff (a mark who “throws a billionaire’s money around so he can feel cool hanging around with a bunch of wrestlers”). This was really over the top and weird (even by 1997 standards), and felt oddly prescient of Cornette’s rants about AEW 20+ years later. Also, why are they basically promoting the Horsemen/nWo feud for WCW? Maybe Flair’s contract was due to expire, and as it was no secret that he wasn’t very happy with the climate in WCW at the time, maybe this was part of their plan to entice him into jumping ship
Back in Pillman’s house, we get a close-up of him on the cover of Wrestler Magazine… which also features WCW talent. So odd how we went from ‘never acknowledge the other side even exists, ever’ to ‘let’s do entire segments about the competition
Davey Boy Smith v Rocky Maivia: The Hart’s look like they’re on their way to a funeral. I have no idea how they were working. Davey with a few quick takedown to send Rocky to the outside, where Maivia regroups. Back in, Bulldog takes him down for an armbar, but Rocky forces a criss cross, and throws a knee to turn the tide. Bodyslam sets up an elbowdrop for two (kind of like a proto-People’s Elbow there), but Maivia telegraphs a backdrop, and Smith is able to counter with a hanging vertical suplex. Corner charge hits boot, however, allowing Maivia an Oklahoma roll for two. But then Smith just fights him off, and delivers the running powerslam out of nowhere to get the pin at 3:43. They were just sleepwalking through this one, though at least Davey had a good excuse. Afterwards, the Nation of Domination attack the Foundation, but officials break it up before it really goes anywhere. DUD
Vince brings Steve Austin out so he can make his big decision about his future, and Austin is right in his face from the get-go. Since Austin still doesn’t have a medical release, Vince offers him a hold harmless agreement, and if Steve signs it, then he can compete. Austin agrees, but he wants a contract for an Intercontinental title match against Owen Hart, or he isn’t putting pen to paper. Vince agrees to the match, and books it on a handshake, but Steve has been around the block one time too many with that one, and he wants it in writing, or eh-eh. But before we can finish the negotiation, the Nation show up on the TitanTron, and Faarooq notes that if Austin’s going to be fighting anyone, it’s him, since he cost him the title last night. Steve, of course, is ready to kick anyone’s ass, and he starts by kicking Lawler’s crown into the crowd just to be a dick. Oooh, he’s not getting his full payoff tonight
Back at Brian’s house, we’re reminded that he left behind children, in case this whole thing wasn’t already depressing enough
Backstage, Road Warrior Hawk wants to spit at Owen Hart. Considering this is the world of 90s pro-wrestling, that’s actually a pretty hygienic threat
WWF Intercontinental Title Match: Owen Hart v Road Warrior Hawk: Hawk with a press-slam and a neckbreaker for two right away, and a cross corner whip sets up a corner clothesline. Another one, but Owen dodges this time, and Hawk runs into the buckles. That allows Hart a leg-feed enzuigiri, and a bodyslam sets up a 2nd rope pointed elbowdrop for two, as the Godwinns wander down to ringside. Hart with a backbreaker and a gutwrench suplex for two, as they continue to go through the motions ahead of the obvious screwy finish. Hart with uppercuts in the corner, but a cross corner whip backfires when Hawk rebounds with a lariat. Hawk makes his comeback, but the Godwinns get involved, so Animal runs out to brawl with them. Hawk stays on Owen with a bodyslam and a flying clothesline, but Henry Godwinn bashes him with the horseshoe, and Owen hooks the leg at 3:21. This was the match of the night thus far at a whopping ½*
Vince conducts a split-screen interview with Melanie Pillman, in the most surreal moment of an already surreal show. She’s obviously very legitimately emotionally distraught… which Vince piles right on to by literally asking her how she’s going to feed her five children now that her provider is dead. Seriously, no wonder some people thought this was an angle. The whole thing just came off so cruel and scummy that it couldn’t possibly have been real. It’s gotta be just another Pillman work, right? But, sadly, it was all too real. This was one of the most uncomfortable to watch segments of all time
Video tribute to Pillman, narrated by Ross. This was fine, though pretty limited considering his WWF career was all of a year, and he was on the shelf for a lot of it
Kane makes an unannounced visit, taking out a couple of jobbers who are waiting to get squashed by the Truth Commission. The jobbers in question are Matt and Jeff Hardy, though they look more like the New New Rockers than the guys we’d come to know later on. Interestingly, Jeff has ‘Nero’ written on his tights here. So with the ring clear, Paul Bearer can officially introduce us to this new character
Bret Hart v Triple H: Bret's WWF Title is not on the line, which I’m sure stuck in HHH’s craw. Hart pounds him into the corner to start, and delivers a vertical suplex. Cross corner whip leads to a Russian legsweep, and Hart stomps the groin. Hunter goes to the eyes to shake him off, and he pounds Hart into the corner with some really loose looking shots. I’m not saying you have to really kill guys like Vader, but at least make it look good. Hart fights back with a clothesline and a DDT for two, as Shawn Michaels shows up at ringside. Hart tries to keep things cool by putting Hunter in a chinlock, but Shawn starts messing with the Canadian flag, and Hart gets distracted. That allows HHH to nail him with a high knee for two, as Shawn puts the flag up his nose, in a famous moment. Hunter with a kneedrop, as the Hart Foundation come down to back their leader up. HHH with a vertical suplex for two, and an inverted atomic drop connects. Ten-punch count and a sleeper look to put the Hitman away, but Hart side suplexes is way out of trouble, and delivers an inverted atomic drop of his own. Clothesline and a backbreaker set up a 2nd rope pointed elbowdrop, but Hunter lifts his boot to block the dive. DDT gets HHH two, and he cracks the Hitman with a backelbow, but telegraphs a backdrop, and Hart takes him down for the Sharpshooter! He gets it locked, but Chyna helps him to the ropes to save. Bret responds by trying the ringpost figure four, but Chyna attacks him on the outside, and Shawn blasts him with a Superkick in the chaos for the countout at 9:53. This was watchable. * ¾
BUExperience: The wrestling was almost uniformly terrible, but man, there were some absolutely wild, crazy, freewheeling segments on this thing. This almost felt like the WWF’s take on surrealism, as at times it almost felt beyond belief that what we were seeing was actually being presented on the same show that featured Freddie Joe Floyd and TL Hopper a year prior.
Monday Night Wars Rating Chart
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