WWF LiveWire (February 8, 1997)

 

Original Airdate: February 8, 1997

Your Hosts are Dok Hendrix and Jim Ross in the control center

They discuss Bret Hart’s recent behavior, and whininess and all

Earlier this week, Steve Austin appeared on MTV’s Idiot Savants. That show was so short lived that it made LiveWire seem like the Simpsons

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The Army Slam of the Week is Bret brawling with Austin on RAW

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No Holds Barred Match: Undertaker and Ahmed Johnson v Mankind and Faarooq: From Monday Night RAW on February 3 (taped January 31) in Toronto Ontario Canada. Mankind trying to play along with the black power stuff is pretty funny. Big brawl to start, with Undertaker and Mankind immediately spilling to the outside, as Ahmed takes control of Faarooq with a spinebuster. Faarooq returns fire with a low blow, but a trip to the top rope ends in him getting slammed off, as 'Taker and Mankind half ass a brawl into the aisle. Can't blame them, it's so dark over there no one can see them anyway. Faarooq gets Johnson in a sleeper, but Undertaker returns to make the save, as the announcers again drone on and on about how we'll get to see the whole match, no bait and switch. You'd think they'd at least promote a really hot match if they're going to push that line so hard. Undertaker hits Faarooq with the ropewalk forearm, as Ahmed takes a breather in the aisle, totally leaving Mankind alone like an idiot. That allows Mankind to come in and force Undertaker to fight a two-front war, and 'Taker ends up in the Mandible Claw. Ahmed returns for the save, and he hits Mankind with the Pearl River Plunge, but Faarooq breaks the count at two. Not sure why Ahmed isn't just using his 2x4 here, since there's no disqualifications. Faarooq hits Johnson with the Dominator, and he chokes him down, as Undertaker does to the same to Mankind in the corner. Mankind responds with a mulekick, and he grabs a chair, but gets it kicked back into his face while charging, and Undertaker delivers a chokeslam. Meanwhile, the Nation come after Ahmed on the outside, so he finally grabs the stupid 2x4, and starts running wild. He chases Faarooq to the back with it, as Mankind manages a swinging neckbreaker on Undertaker in the ring. Undertaker responds with a handful of powder, so Vader runs in to splash his dead ass. He grabs a chair, but ends up hitting Mankind with it by accident, allowing Undertaker to chase Vader off. Tombstone onto the chair then finishes Mankind at 8:22. This was all over the place, with weird pairings, and very little flow. But, it was also all action, so it wasn't a total waste of time. ¾*

The Western Union Rewind is Undertaker tombstoning Mankind. In the match we just saw

From RAW, Vince McMahon brings WWF Champion Shawn Michaels out for an in-ring interview, and McMahon notes that this is 'Bret Hart country.' Maybe they should have a match in Canada sometime? That might be an interesting dynamic. Shawn says that he'll be as bad as he wants to be as long as it means keeping the title, comparing himself to Muhammad Ali, who 'everyone hated while he was champion, but now think is the greatest of all time.' History actually proved that to be a fair comparison. That brings Bret out, and once again Vince looks like he's gonna cry whenever anyone says anything negative about his boy toy. I love Bret, but he was definitely coming off like a grumpy old man during this period. Unfortunately, we don't get to see the end of this showdown, as Steve Austin runs in and attacks Bret, spilling to the outside for a brawl, with Shawn just looking on from a distance. That draws Sycho Sid back out to get in HIS face, but officials manage to separate them, and pull Hart and Austin apart as well. That leaves Shawn and Bret alone, so Michaels throws the title belt down at his feet, daring the Hitman to grab it. So Bret does, leaving Shawn to have to beg for it back, like a little kid on the playground. This was a pretty good segment, much better than last weeks

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BUExperience: More like DeadWire. Ahem.