WWF Superstars (February 9, 1997)

 

Original Airdate: February 9, 1997 (taped January 21)

From Lafayette, Louisiana; Your Hosts are Jim Ross and Jim Cornette

Goldust v Sultan: They measure each other early on, as Ross goes on and on apologizing for how ‘scantily clad’ Marlena is. I’m not saying she’s dressed conservatively, but this is nothing compared to most of the stuff we’d see regularly a year later. Including on Goldust. Goldust dominates, and gets Sultan in an armbar. Sultan escapes, and delivers a side suplex, so Marlena climbs onto the apron to distract him ahead of the camel clutch. That draws Hunter Hearst Helmsley out to pull her off the apron, and Sultan suplexes Goldust at 4:35. There was nothing to this, it was just treading water until the gaga finish. DUD

Steve Austin is ready for Vader this morning

Hector Garza and Octagon v Heavy Metal and Fuerza Guerrera: Cornette notes that ‘many observers’ have noted that Ross and Cornette are the best commentators to call a AAA match. I’m guessing that was an inside baseball reference there, but I’m not going to bother looking it up. Octagon hits Guerrera with a brutal tope here, diving with gusto, and ‘aided’ by the guardrail not being properly connected, which made the bump look even crazier. And it would have looked crazy enough regardless. Meanwhile, Ross and Cornette continue making inside jokes, and the crowd is so disinterested that you can see tons of empty seats opposite the hard camera. It’s a shame, they’re not bad workers, but they had no chance in hell of making it in this promotion in this period. Wrong time, wrong place. They could have had runs in WCW though, probably. Meanwhile, Paul Bearer split screens in, defending his decision to sign Vader against Austin today, with In Your House right around the corner, and a match with Bret Hart already signed for Thursday RAW Thursday before that. Octagon hooks Guerrera in a crucifix at 7:42 to put this one away. * ¾ 

Backstage, WWF Champion Shawn Michaels looks buzzed 

Backstage, Honky Tonk Man is chatting up Sable

Kevin Kelly brings Shawn Michaels out to talk about his title defense against Sycho Sid at Thursday RAW Thursday. For those keeping track, the smile is still in tact at this point 

Faarooq v Ken Reha: The jobber actually attacks to interrupt the Nation salute before the bell, which seems like a bad move even on the best day. Meanwhile, Steve Austin split screens in, promising to win the final four match at In Your House. Faarooq with the dominator at 2:16. DUD

Thursday RAW Thursday ad

Vader v Steve Austin: Bret Hart does guest commentary here, and Sunny acts as the guest ring announcer. Steve pounds him into the corner to start, and actually manages to stomp a mud hole, and everything. Into the ropes, but Vader reverses, and catches Steve with a bodyblock. The commentators are doing a great job here of discussing the strategy and psychology involved in the match. Steve catches Vader with a clothesline to win a criss cross, and Steve tries a ten-punch count, but Vader throws him off. Vader with a clothesline, but he wastes time gloating, and Steve clips the leg. Austin works the part, as Ross notes that there may be no more eventful week in WWF history than the one to come. Yeah, kinda. Though, not for the reasons Ross meant at the time. Vader fights off a grapevine, and takes Steve down for a fujiwara armbar, then snapmares him over for two. Steve fights to a vertical base for a slugfest, and Vader grabs a front-facelock to take the pep out of Steve’s step. Austin throws a mulekick to shake him off, so Vader throws a headbutt, and drops an elbow to the groin. Vader with a corner whip to set up an avalanche, and a clothesline sets up the pump-splash, but Steve gets his knees up. That allows Austin a lariat, and he puts the boots to Vader, just as the lights die. When they come back up, Undertaker is standing behind Bret, and he attacks him. Meanwhile, Vader and Austin spill into the aisle, and all four men brawl as the referee counts the combatants out at 9:10. Vader and Austin are both great wrestlers, but they didn’t have a ton of chemistry. ¾*

BUExperience: A weak episode, with an especially phoned in Goldust/Sultan match, woof. I do appreciate them actually building the pay per view with all four main event players involved, though.