WWF 1997.04.07 - Monday Night Raw

Location: Worthen Arena, Muncie, Indiana

Commentators: Vince McMahon, Jim Ross, Honky Tonk Man

This is a live broadcast, so when the commentators say "last week" they mean last week.

Match 1. Tag Team Championship, British Bulldog & Owen Hart vs The Godwinns

British Bulldog and Owen Hart come to the ring, united once more after Bret Hart's passionate speech last week. Or was it two weeks ago? They're carrying the flags of the United Kingdom and Canada respectively. Owen holds a short speech in which he thanks his brother Bret and berates America. He threatens that they'll beat up Shawn Michaels or anyone else who speaks badly of Bret.

They defend their tag team title against the Godwinns, Henry and Phineas. Bulldog and Owen retain their title after a rough match with a lot of cheating. As they're leaving the arena, the Legion of Doom are waiting for them. The Godwinns come from behind to throw a bucket of pig swill at them, but they duck and the Legion of Doom are drenched. The Godwinns and the Legion of Doom fight while British Bulldog and Owen Hart stand laughing.

Match 2. Steve Austin vs Billy Gunn

The match see-saws between the two competitors, but Steve Austin has the clear advantage. It's not a wrestling match, it's a brawl, and nobody can defeat Steve Austin in a brawl.

After the match the Honky Tonk Man goes into the ring to offer his sympathies to Billy Gunn. He says that he may have lost the match today, but with Honky Tonk's help he has the promise of being the best. All he needs is some good clothes, a haircut and sideburns. After listening to his offer, Billy knocks Honky Tonk over and leaves the ring.

The show is interrupted by a soldier marching into the arena. He says that he's the Commandant – or is that spelt Kommandant? – of South Africa's Truth Commission. Next week Monday Night Raw will be broadcast from Johannesburg, so the Commandant has come to America to study the effects of hundreds of years of democracy. He says that democracy makes people weak. In a healthy society the strong rule.

He tells us that one wrestler has gone to South Africa ahead of the others, a man that the Commandant respects. It's Bret Hitman Hart. In a taped interview from Johannesburg, Bret says that unlike America South Africa is a country that knows right from wrong. There's taped footage of Bret walking into a South African arena being cheered by the fans.

Shawn Michaels comes to the ring to be interviewed by Vince McMahon. He talks at length about Bret Hart. He says that they loathe one another. When Shawn first came to the WWF Bret was the biggest star, so he respected him. When Shawn became the biggest star, Bret didn't respect him back. The difference between the two of them is that Shawn can separate the ring from his private life. Back home he's just Shawn. Bret was born into a wrestling family, so wrestling is his life. He thinks of himself as a wrestler 24/7. Bret also points out that Bret left the WWF to join a rival organisation, WCW, stabbing Vince McMahon in the back. He's now returned, not out of any feelings of loyalty, but to make money.

British Bulldog and Owen Hart come to the ring to attack Shawn, but Shawn holds up a steel chair for self defence while the referees pull them away.

Match 3. The Headbangers vs Freddie Joe Floyd & Barry Horowitz

I didn't know these two wrestlers, so I expected them to be jobbers, but it soon became apparent that they're skilled wrestlers. Freddie Joe Floyd especially has had a long wrestling career in various companies. The Headbangers defeat them, but it isn't an easy victory.

Match 4. Ken Shamrock vs Vernon White

This is Ken Shamrock's first match in the WWF, but it's been billed as an exhibition match, not an official match. He fights against Vernon White, a former colleague of his from the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). It's a no holds barred fight, i.e. anything is allowed.  The referee stops the fight when Vernon is bloody from repeated punches to the face.

Jim Ross interviews Ken outside the ring, congratulating him on his victory. Vader comes into the arena and threatens Ken Shamrock, but the ring officials hold them apart.

Match 5. Vader vs Frank Stalletto

Don't you feel sorry for the jobbers who have to face a wrestler like Vader? Frank Stalletto never stands a chance. Several time in the match Vader could have pinned him, but he broke the count at two so he could hurt him some more. Vader is a bully.

Sycho Sid is due to fight Mankind in the main event, but he hasn't arrived yet. Gorilla Monsoon says that he probably missed his plane. That's one of the curses of live television. He says that if Sid doesn't arrive, the only person fit to replace him is Steve Austin.

Steve Austin walks in and said that he's already wrestled once tonight, so he doesn't want to wrestler any more just to save Gorilla Monsoon's little show. He says he'll only fight on one condition. He has to be given a match against Bret Hart at the next Pay Per View. Gorilla Monsoon agrees.

Match 6. Steve Austin vs Mankind

Mankind speaks to the crowd about his enmity with the Undertaker while he's waiting for Sycho Sid to arrive. The Undertaker answers over the Titantron, saying that Mankind must pay for his crimes. Steve Austin comes out, and there's a brutal brawl between the two before the match even starts. Finally in the ring, it's unclear what sort of a match it should be. It ought to be a standard wrestling contest, but Earl Hebner is allowing everything, as if it's a no holds barred contest.

British Bulldog and Owen Hart enter the arena. They say it's unfair that Steve Austin should be given a match against Bret Hart. The Legion of Doom come into the arena and attack Bulldog and Owen while the fight between Steve Austin and Mankind continues. Vader comes into the ring to attack Steve. but he accidentally hits Mankind. Earl Hebner calls for the bell, though it's unclear which one of them he's disqualifying. Mankind and Vader fight one another until Paul Bearer convinces them to make peace.