WWF Superstars (February 16, 1997)

 

Original Airdate: February 16, 1997

From Chattanooga, Tennessee; Your Hosts are Jim Ross and Dok Hendrix at the UTC Arena

Clips of Shawn Michaels surrendering the WWF Title on Thursday RAW Thursday. Ross and Hendrix both put over Shawn’s forfeiture of the title as practically the bravest thing anyone has ever done in the history of the sport

Backstage, Steve Austin is pacing

Video package on Bret Hart’s run since returning at Survivor Series

Backstage, Dok catches up with Austin, promises to give Bret Hart something to cry about tonight

In Your House ad

Sycho Sid v Steve Austin: From Thursday RAW Thursday on February 13 in Lowell Massachusetts. Austin attacks before the bell, and pounds Sid into the corner, but Sid returns fire. Chokeslam, but Steve kicks him in the balls to block, and then adds a stomp down there for good measure. Sid's selling it really well, so I assume Austin really nailed him there, since 'Sid's selling it really well' is not something I think I've ever typed before. They spill to the outside, where Steve reverses him into the post, and then hits a backelbow for two on the way back inside. Austin works a leveraged abdominal stretch next, which looks really odd due to the side difference. Also, tickets still available for next weeks RAW. Meanwhile, WCW was drawing legit sellouts all over the place. Sid tries a sleeper, but Steve quickly escapes with a jawbreaker for two, and he works a front-facelock. I get the strategy, but there's a reason Bret would always stick to the leg while wrestling these big guys. Everything else looks silly. Steve tries to put the big man in a sharpshooter next, but Sid blocks, and starts making a comeback - only for Bret to run in and attack Austin for the DQ at 3:42. It's a shame we never got a proper Austin/Sid match. Not that it would have been any good, but Sid would have certainly made for an interesting and believable challenger for Steve in '98/1999 at some point. Afterwards, Sid gets in Hart's face for costing him the match, and they brawl as well. ¼*

Backstage, Vader grunts. No audio, so no clue if there’s farting also involved

Vader video package

Backstage, Kevin Kelly catches up with Vader, but doesn’t inquire about the farts, just talks In Your House. Sad state of journalism 

Undertaker is hanging around somewhere, smelling farts, by the look on his face

Undertaker video package, focusing on his lack of title wins. Yeah, he ducks

Kelly catches up with Undertaker, who says he’ll own three asses tonight. Farting asses?! Okay, last one. I promise. Undertaker actually cuts a good promo here, much more relatable in his quest to win the title than the usual supernatural stuff

Hunter Hearst Helmsley is out to discuss losing the WWF Intercontinental title to Rocky Maivia on Thursday, and promise to win it back tonight

Steve Austin video package 

Austin hits the ring, testing the ropes and such, but Vader shows up, and they have a staredown from a distance. It legitimately tickles me that each of them makes an entrance with their music, despite it being an empty arena, hours before the show

BUExperience: Man, they were all in on the In Your House main event here. Other than a brief mention of the Intercontinental title match, they didn’t hype anything else. Not even a little.