WWF Shotgun Saturday Night (May 24, 1997)

 

Original Airdate: May 24, 1997 (taped May 19)

From Mobile, Alabama; Your Hosts are Jim Ross and Jim Cornette

Brian Pillman v Tony Williams: This is Pillman's TV in-ring debut, despite joining the company way back in June 1996. I know that it was due to injuries, but that’s still kind of insane. He did a few non-televised matches earlier in the month, but this is basically his first match since WCW SuperBrawl VI in February 1996. Pillman with a neckbreaker at 2:22. DUD

The Godwinns v Doug Furnas and Philip LaFon: Phineas Godwinn and LaFon start, and they posture. LaFon gets control, and hammers, but eats a backelbow out of the ropes. Phineas adds a clothesline, and Philip backs off, as Ross and Cornette discuss Cornette managing the Furnas and LaFon. They were dead in the water at this point anyway. Tags all around, and Henry Godwinn wins a criss cross. He also plants a backelbow before tagging to Phineas, and Phineas gets into trouble. They work Phineas over, until Henry gets the hot tag, and Roseanne Barr the door. Henry hits LaFon with the inverted DDT at 5:15. ¼*

Ahmed Johnson v D-lo Brown: Ross describes Johnson as ‘unrefined,’ which might be the most diplomatic thing I’ve ever heard. This is before D-lo had any push, and so this is just a squash, ending in a sitout tiger bomb at 2:38. Afterwards, Crush and Savio Vega attack Ahmed, so Rocky Maivia tries to make the save… but gets beat up as well. It’s crazy how D-lo and Rocky would end up as two of the biggest stars in the world in 1998, while Johnson, Crush, and Savio were all forgotten. DUD

Ross brings the Legion of Doom out, celebrating that they’ve got a shot at the tag title against Davey Boy Smith and Owen Hart at King of the Ring

The New Blackjacks v Reginald Walker and Karl Fergie: Ross continues his diplomacy campaign, noting that Barry Windham has been ‘hot and cold’ in his career. He then shills a UFC pay per view, since 1997 was a wild time. Blackjack Bradshaw finishes this one with a lariat at 2:46. DUD

Jesse James v David Haskins: Jesse is another guy that you’d think was on the way nowhere, before ending up as one of the biggest stars in the business a year later. Poor Furnas and LaFon, they just couldn’t catch a break. Jesse with a pumphandle-slam at 3:15. DUD

BUExperience: Just stuff. Not essential, but mostly an easy watch. Ross and Cornette are not a good team for this era, however.