WWF Shotgun Saturday Night (July 19, 1997)

 

Original Airdate: July 19, 1997 (taped July 14)

From San Antonio, Texas; Your Hosts are Jim Ross and Jim Cornette

The Godwinns v Bob Holly and Jesse James: Henry Godwinn starts with Holly, and some criss crossing ends in Bob dropkicking him out of the ring. Tags to Phineas Godwinn and Jesse, and James works an armbar. Phineas forces a criss cross, but James has a dropkick of his own loaded, and Phineas ends up on the outside just like ol’ Henry. Tag to Henry, but he telegraphs a backdrop, and gets nailed. Jesse looks for a follow up, but Henry plants a big boot on him for two, and he passes back to Phineas, as the Godwinns take control. They work James over, until Holly gets the tag, and he gets a little traction. A rana on Phineas gets two, bringing Henry in, and Jesse is right there - Roseanne Barr the door! Holly rolls Phineas up, but Henry saves with the inverted DDT, and Phineas hooks the leg at 7:59. This was fine for the random late night TV tag match that it was, but certainly nothing of note. ½*

Vince McMahon brings the Hart Foundation out to discuss the various stipulations they’ve added to all their SummerSlam matches. Not much here, just sort of namechecking the big angles

Scott Putski v Nick Golden: The chyron notes that Putski ‘loves kielbasa,’ which is a very 1997 joke. Scott was in the midst of the angle where his dad came in to back him up, which should have been a small thing that he quickly moved past on the way to bigger and better things, but ended up being the highlight of his career. Putski with a flying splash and the hammer at 2:10. Afterwards, Jerry Lawler and Brian Christopher attack. ¼*

Flash Funk v Leif Cassidy: A criss cross ends in Cassidy delivering a hiptoss, but Funk is right back up, and grabs a standing headlock. Cassidy reverses, but loses another criss cross, and Funk gets another headlock on. A reversal sequence ends in Funk delivering a rana for two, and a spinkick sends Cassidy over the top. Funk dives after him, and he rolls Cassidy in to cover for two. Backdrop, but Cassidy blocks, and another reversal sequence ends in Cassidy throwing a clothesline. A superkick knocks Flash to the outside, and Cassidy is on him with a springboard moonsault press. Inside, that gets Cassidy two, and he puts a chinlock on. Funk escapes, so Cassidy clotheslines him, and goes back to the hold. Funk fights free, and manages a bodypress for two, before Cassidy cuts him off with a superkick for two. Backdrop, but Funk blocks, and hooks a victory roll for two. Rana, but Cassidy counters with a sitout powerbomb for two. Flash hooks a backslide for two, so Cassidy clotheslines him to buy time. That allows him to try for another powerbomb, but Funk counters with a sunset flip at 5:59. Both guys worked really hard here, this was a nice little match. ** ½ 

The New Blackjacks v Jim Johnson and Kit Carson: This one drags on, before Blackjack Bradshaw pins Carson with a lariat at 3:18. Not technically too long, but it dragged. DUD

BUExperience: An enjoyable hour. Definitely check out Funk/Cassidy, and the rest is an easy watch.