WWF Free For All (March 23, 1997)

 

Original Airdate: March 23, 1997

Your Hosts are Todd Pettengill and Dok Hendrix from inside the arena in Chicago, Illinois 

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Todd welcomes everyone, before throwing to Dok, who is at the merchandise stands, with the rowdy fans

Vince McMahon, Jim Ross, and Jerry Lawler are at the announce position, and run down the big matches on the card

Billy Gunn v Flash Funk: Gunn charges in to kick start the match, and he puts Flash down with a backelbow. Backdrop, but Flash lands on his feet, and throws a superkick. An armdrag leads to a savate kick, and a dropkick sends Billy over the top. Gunn beats the count back in, so Funk welcomes him with a kneelift, but a corner whip gets reversed on him. Gunn with a side superplex for two, so Funk tries a 2nd rope bodypress for two, but Gunn cuts him off. Gunn wastes time jawing at the fans, allowing Flash a schoolboy for two, but Billy cuts him off again. Gunn misses a dive to allow Flash a proper comeback, but he telegraphs a backdrop, and takes a rocker dropper for two. Flash manages a leg lariat for two, and a victory roll off the top gets another two. Funk with a kneedrop, but a flying moonsault hits the knees, and Gunn plants him with a tornado DDT at 7:05. This was mostly okay, but didn’t really have much of a good story to the ring work. ¾* (Original rating: *)

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Yesterday, the superstars participated in Fashion Mania, which was some sort of charity event 

Bret Hart/Steve Austin hype video

Backstage, Pettengill catches up with Austin, who gives a fiery go-home promo. I love the line about how Bret should stop talking about getting ‘screwed’ because Steve isn’t ‘bringing a condom to the ring’

Dok shills WrestleMania merchandise

Ahmed Johnson/Faarooq feud review video

Backstage, Todd catches up with the Nation of Domination, with Faarooq literally promising to hang Ahmed Johnson’s “stupid, black ass,” until Vince cuts them off, and looks legitimately uncomfortable as he mumbles something about an apology. Yeah, Faarooq went a little too far there, wow

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The lights die in the arena, and Undertaker comes on over the sound system, doing a last minute hard sell for the pay per view. Weird use of Undertaker

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BUExperience: This was fine. Not enough Pettengill.