WWF 1997.02.17 - Monday Night Raw

Location: Nashville Arena, Nashville, Tennessee

Commentators: Jerry Lawler, Jim Ross

This episode of Monday Night Raw is taking place the day after the Final Four PPV. Yesterday Bret Hart became the WWF champion. Today he has to defend his title against Sycho Sid.

Match 1. WWF championship, Bret Hart vs Sycho Sid

The WWF championship match opens today's Raw. It doesn't get very far. Before the match can begin, Steve Austin runs into the ring and attacks Bret Hart. Sid attacks Steve Austin, but in the altercation his leg is injured and the match is postponed. In an interview with Kevin Kelly he says that nothing will stop him facing Bret Hart later today.

Match 2. Marc Mero vs Savio Vega

Marc Mero is accompanied to the ring by Sable. Savio Vega is accompanied to the ring by five members of the Nation of Domination. During the match Sable kicks one of the PG-13 rappers. Crush chases her into the ring, where she's surrounded by the Nation of Domination members. The referee disqualifies Savio Vega, but the Nation of Domination still wants to attack Marc and Sable. Ahmed Johnson runs into the ring to stop them.

Match 3. Intercontinental championship, Rocky Maivia vs Leif Cassidy

It was only last Thursday that Rocky Maivia won the Intercontinental championship, and he's had to defend the title twice in the following four days. And he's still smiling.

Sunny comes to the ring. Is there a reason? Does anyone care?

Sunny flirts with Rocky, but he pushes her away. What's wrong with him?

She looks disappointed at being rejected, but everyone else still wants her.

Rocky defeats Leif Cassidy in a fair fight. There aren't many fair fights in the WWF. After the match Jerry Lawler rips an ECW sign out of the hands of a ringside fan. He says that the ECW, Extreme Championship Wrestling, is just an organisation for has-beens and wrestlers who aren't good enough to be in the WWF.

Goldust comes to the ring, accompanied by Marlena. He tells the audience that Hunter Hearst Helmsley should stop trying to take Marlena away from him.

Marlena says that despite his effeminate acts in the ring, Goldust is more man than Hunter Hearst Helmsley will ever be.

That insult is too much for Triple H to take. He runs to the ring and pedigrees Goldust. Then he turns to threaten Marlena. Some men just can't take No for an answer.

While Marlena is looking at Triple H, a woman comes into the ring from the crowd and attacks her. It's the same woman who attacked Marlena yesterday. Security guards rush into the ring and take her away.

Match 4. Tag team match, The Headbangers vs The Hardy Boys

Was this the first appearance of the Hardy Boys, Jeff and Matt Hardy, on television? I don't remember seeing them before. I did a little research and found that they weren't hired by the WWF until 1998. Before then they were jobbers, just stepping into the ring to lose. Yes, the Headbangers defeat them today, but Jeff and Matt put on a good show. They have a big future ahead of them.

Match 1 (reprised). WWF championship, Bret Hart vs Sycho Sid

The championship match is about to begin, but before it can start Steve Austin attacks Bret Hart outside of the arena. The match has to be postponed again.

Match 5. Owen Hart vs Flash Funk

Flash Funk comes to the ring accompanied by his two unnamed dancing girls. Owen Hart comes to the ring accompanied by Clarence Mason, who's still his manager despite his connection with the Nation of Domination. British Bulldog comes to ringside and tells Clarence to leave. The match progresses fairly, but at the end British Bulldog hits Flash Funk with Owen's Slammy award and holds his leg while Owen pins him. This is the reverse of last night's win. Owen wanted to win fairly, so he's angry that British Bulldog got involved.

While the match is on, Jerry Lawler receives a phone call from Paul Heyman, owner of the ECW. He says that he'll bring some wrestlers to Raw next week to show just how good they are.

Match 6. Hunter Hearst Helmsley vs Bart Gunn

Honky Tonk Man joins Jerry Lawler and Jim Ross at the commentary table. The wrestlers are equally matched until Goldust runs into the ring to provoke Triple H. They chase each other out of the arena, so Bart Gunn wins the match by a countout.

Match 1 (reprised again). WWF championship, Bret Hart vs Sycho Sid

The championship match is finally underway. At the beginning it's in Sid's favour, but Bret has more stamina and slowly wins the advantage.

Steve Austin hits Bret over the head with a chair when the referee isn't looking.Sid pins Bret and becomes the new WWF champion.

The Undertaker comes to the ring and the two stare at one another, nose to nose.