WWF Shotgun Saturday Night (March 29, 1997)

 

Original Airdate: March 29, 1997 (taped March 24)

From Rockford, Illinois; Your Hosts are Jim Ross and Brian Pillman

Mankind v Aldo Montoya: Mankind is now officially the top contender, and will face new WWF Champion, Undertaker, at In Your House. So, I don’t like Montoya’s chances here. I mean, they weren’t good before, but now? Mankind destroys him, beating him all over the ring, and finishes with the mandible claw at 2:55. Aldo didn’t get a single move in here. A complete squash. Afterwards, Mankind keeps the assault going, so officials come out to pull him off, and he puts Gerald Brisco down with the claw. Back before he was a playable character. DUD

WWF tour ad

Crush v Barry Horowitz: The guys who do the graphics for this show are always having fun, and I legitimately laughed when I saw ‘he’s a pepper’ as part of Crush’s. Crush with the heart punch at 4:15. This was way too long. DUD

Venum v Histeria: They trade shots to start, and Venum manages a takedown with a corkscrew legwhip. Venum tries a hammerlock, but Histeria escapes, and they do a reversal sequence, ending in Venum suplexing him. Venum goes up with a flying corkscrew splash, but it misses, though Histeria misses a dive of his own. Venum manages a spinheel kick, and a sitout powerbomb gets him two. Venum tries a rana off the top, but Histeria blocks, and dives with a flying somersault headscissors. That was cool. Venum ends up on the outside, so Histeria dives, but misses. That allows Venum a springboard moonsault press, and they go back inside. Histeria manages a rana, and a springboard missile dropkick sends Venum back to the outside. Histeria is on him with a flying corkscrew moonsault press, and he slams Venum off the top on the way back in. Histeria with another rana, but Venum rolls through for two. Venum with a slam to set up a standing moonsault for two, and a corner whip sets up a corner splash, but Histeria dodges. Histeria with a powerbomb to set up a flying shooting star press at 5:04. The crowd had no idea who these guys were, but they worked so hard, and worked in so many flashy moves (especially for the time period) that they got the fans into it by the end. ** ½ 

Jesse James v Sonny Rogers: The announcers discuss that James has, apparently, made Honky Tonk Man’s ‘shortlist’ of talent to manage. Oh, lucky him. James with a pumphandle-slam at 2:25. DUD

The New Blackjacks v Rod Bell and RT Williams: The Blackjacks are ice cold here, and Bradshaw finishes up with a lariat at 2:32. Not much to this one. Afterwards, they beat up Jim Cornette. Because? DUD

Dok Hendrix is in the studio with an update on In Your House. What the fuck is up with that graphic for Undertaker with the WWF Title? It looks like he’s posing with one of those foam toy versions

Sunny is out to host Sunny Undercover, which is just her gossiping about various backstage stuff at WrestleMania 13. As great as Sunny can be, this segment was death (as all of them have been). The only notable part here is Sunny revealing that an ‘unnamed official’ asked her to perform sexual favors in exchange for the Ms. Slammy award, but she refused, and accuses Sable of accepting that offer, since she won

BUExperience: The AAA match was fun, the rest was just kind of there. It’s like Superstars, but in the Attitude Era, and it’s a weird fit.