WWF LiveWire (January 18, 1997)

 

Original Airdate: January 18, 1997

Your Hosts are Dok Hendrix and Kevin Kelly from the control center, and they immediately announce that they’re going to be too busy to take calls, emails, or faxes this week. Too busy for faxes?! This is serious

WWF Champion Sycho Sid is in the empty Alamodome in San Antonio Texas, thinking about philosophy. This was a great promo to sell the Royal Rumble

Recently, Vic Venom caught up with Shawn Michaels, wondering what Shawn will try to do differently this time against Sid. Shawn thinks he’s done worrying what people think, and he’s ready to do what he wants. He also sounds like he’s coming out of the closet here, talking about how his ‘lifestyle’ isn’t ‘illegal,’ and ‘doesn’t hurt anyone else.’ But, anyway, it’s going to be ‘rougher and tougher’

Royal Rumble ad

Sycho Sid/Shawn Michaels hype video. They were really great at these during this period, they could make any angle seem like a big deal. Not that this angle wasn’t good on its own, but just saying

Superstar Line ad

Ahmed Johnson/Faarooq feud review video

WWF The Music ad

Dok and Kevin run down the entrants in the Rumble match

We take a look at the finish of the 1996 Rumble match, likely to highlight Shawn eliminating current WCW star Kevin Nash

WWF tour ad

The Starburst Fruit Twists Rewind is another clip from the ‘96 Rumble, this time highlighting Jake Roberts clearing the ring with his snake

Davey Boy Smith v Rocky Maivia: From Monday Night RAW on January 13 (taped December 30 1996) in Albany New York. Bret Hart is out to do guest commentary, selling an injury he sustained at the hands of Steve Austin yesterday on Superstars. Despite that being taped weeks before this show was, and that Hart already wrestled Vader earlier on this taping. But it works, since if you were in the crowd, you'd just assume he got hurt during the Vader match. Anyway, he immediately puts Rocky over as someone with more potential than anyone he's ever seen coming into the WWF. Well, he ain't wrong. Feeling out process to start, as Bret complains about the lack of rules and structure in the WWF as of late. I'm not sure whether or not they'd actually decided on the heel turn yet at this point, but you can sure see the seeds being planted regardless, as well as for the Hart Foundation angle. Bulldog works a headlock, but a criss cross ends badly when Rocky puts him down with a hiptoss, then out with a dropkick. Davey regroups with Clarence Mason on the outside, but he ends up in a wristlock once back inside, so Owen Hart joins us at ringside. Davey manages to dump Maivia to the outside as Owen stops over to get in Bret's face, apparently worried that the Hitman will interfere in the contest. With Owen standing guard, Bulldog puts the boots to Rocky, but Maivia manages a slingshot sunset flip for two, so Bulldog cuts him off with a clothesline. Chinlock, but Rocky fights free, and uses a bodypress for two. Bulldog cuts him off with a hanging vertical suplex, however, and he adds a legdrop for two. Back to the chinlock, but Rocky escapes again, and they collide for a double knockout on the criss cross. Maivia makes a comeback as they recover, but a big clothesline sends both guys crashing over the top, and Davey chucks him into the steps out there. Cue Steve Austin to attack Bulldog on the outside, but Bret can't make the save since Owen is guarding him. Also 'cause he can barely walk, but whatever. So Rocky rolls in first, and Bulldog is counted out at 10:13. Austin was basically the Flesh Guy from the nightmare episode of Louie during this period, and he was just such an incredible heel that it took me a really long time to start cheering him even long after his official turn. ¾*

Royal Rumble ad

Hunter Hearst Helmsley/Goldust feud review video

Royal Rumble ad

Undertaker v Crush: Also from the January 13 episode of RAW. Crush's look worked both as a babyface and his initial heel run, but this look was a total miss, and makes him look like just another guy. Undertaker attacks during the entrances, and feeds Crush a helping of steps. Inside, Undertaker fights off some stomping with a DDT, and a bodyslam sets up a legdrop. Cross corner whip rebounds Crush into a clothesline, but Faarooq shakes the ropes to crotch Undertaker during a ropewalk forearm attempt. Crush tries to capitalize, but Undertaker backdrops him over the top, since Crush is so useless that he can't even get THAT done. Undertaker pulls him up to the apron, but Crush drops his weight to snap 'Taker's throat across the top rope, and that's finally enough to give him an advantage. For about two seconds, though, as he misses a charge, and Undertaker clotheslines him down. Backdrop, but Crush counters with a piledriver, and this match is pretty sad so far. Like, Crush was a pretty decent worker only a few years before this, and here he is having trouble even running the ropes right. To the outside, Crush halfheartedly drops him across the guardrail, as Vader shows up to watch from the aisle. Inside, Crush pounds on him in slow and dull fashion, and then slows it down even further with a chinlock. 2nd rope fistdrop misses, allowing Undertaker to make his comeback, but Crush counters the Tombstone with a belly-to-belly suplex. Heart Punch time, but Undertaker counters with a poorly executed chokeslam, so the Nation just runs in for the DQ at 9:28. Vader joins in as well, and it's beat down time, until Ahmed Johnson runs in with a 2x4. Unfortunately for Ahmed, this week the Nation gets the better of him, and he ends up taking a beating as well to end the episode. Terrible match, but at least they're working to build matches for the Rumble. DUD

BUExperience: Without the fan interaction, this show is nothing. It was a decent hype show for the Rumble, but that’s not what I’m looking for out of this show.