WWF 1997.05.12 - Monday Night Raw

Location: Bob Carpenter Center, Newark, Delaware

Commentators: Jerry Lawler, Jim Ross

This event was broadcast live. It takes place the day after the PPV called "A Cold Day In Hell".

Bret Hart enters the arena with his fellow members of the Hart Foundation. Speaking from the top of the ramp, he complains that the American fans consider Steve Austin an American hero, even though he was incapable of defeating the Undertaker yesterday. He says that when he's fit to fight he'll become the new WWF champion.

Match 1. Ahmed Johnson vs Hunter Hearst Helmsley

Today's first match is a first round match for the King Of The Ring contest. The final will take place at the next PPV on 88th June, and the winner will be given a title shot for the WWF Championship.

Ahmed fights well, despite being exhausted after facing three opponents yesterday. Chyna hits Ahmed on the back with a chair, so Triple H is disqualified. Ahmed advances to the second round of the tournament.

Steve Austin comes to the ring to be interviewed by Vince McMahon. He's carrying the crutch that he stole from Bret Hart last night. He dares Bret to roll his wheelchair down the ramp to get it back. He compares the Hart Foundation to a snake. The best way to kill a snake is to take a shovel and cut off its head. Bret Hart is the snake's head, but Steve wants to do things slowly. He wants to attack the snake's ass first. Brian Pillman is the snake's ass.

Match 2- Scott Putski vs Leif Cassidy

This is the first television appearance of Scott Putski, the son of the wrestler Ivan Putski. He has a different style to his father. Ivan Putski was a tough wrestler who relied on his strength, whereas Scott Putski is a technical wrestler. Jim Ross refers to this as Scott's WWF debut, which isn't true. It's a discrepancy between the WWF house shows and the television broadcasts. Scott wrestled for the WWF from 1993 to 1994, but he was never shown on television, because it was thought he didn't have the charisma to become a fan favourite. After this he fought in several other wrestling federations. Now he's back. Does he have enough charisma now? Judging by the audience reaction, I'd say No.

Leif Cassidy is another low tier wrestler, as far as audience popularity is concerned, but he's working his way up. Scott defeats him, so Leif has a temper tantrum, threatening Jim Ross. He attacks Scott outside of the ring. Leif is getting himself noticed.

Match 3. Legion of Doom vs PG-13

PG-13 is a team made up of the Nation of Domination's two rappers, Wolfie D and JC Ice. They should stick to rapping. They're totally out of their league against wrestlers like the Legion of Doom.

Mankind and Paul Bearer talk to the audience from the top of the ramp. Paul's face was burnt by the Undertaker at the PPV on 20th April. He calls on the Undertaker to accept him back as his friend and manager. This is his last chance. If the Undertaker doesn't take him back he'll reveal a secret about the Undertaker's past that will hurt him. It's a secret he vowed to keep at the graveside of the Undertaker's mother.

Faarooq comes to the ring to be interviewed by Vince McMahon. He's been picked as the number one contender for the WWF title at the King of the Ring PPV next month. He complains that there's never been a black WWF champion in the history of the WWF. He accuses Vince of keeping black people down. Black wrestlers have been given the Intercontinental title for brief periods, but they've never been considered good enough to be the WWF Heavyweight champion. That will change next month.

Match 4. Undertaker vs Savio Vega

It's a non-title match between the Undertaker and Savio Vega. The whole Nation of Domination is standing around the ring. The Undertaker applies the Tombstone and is about to pin Savio, but the Nation of Domination attacks the Undertaker in a pack. Savio is disqualified, but the Nation of Domination continues to attack the Undertaker. Faarooq takes the WWF championship belt and holds it up.

Match 5. Rob Van Dam vs Jeff Hardy

This is Rob Van Dam's WWF debut. At this time he's still under contract to ECW. Jerry Lawler interviews him before the match. He calls ECW Extremely Crappy Wrestling, but now he's finally found a good wrestler in ECW, Rob Van Dam. Rob agrees with Jerry. He says that ECW is low budget, and it's full of low talent wannabes. He says he's too good for ECW and wants to fight in the WWF. Jerry gives Rob the name Mr. Monday Night. That's a big name for a guest wrestler, but maybe he really will join the WWF full time.

At this point in his career, Jeff Hardy is still a jobber. Rob knocks him around, and Jeff doesn't get a single punch in. Rob is just showing off, and he pins Jeff easily. The audience is mixed, some cheering Rob Van Dam and some booing him, but none are indifferent. Whether you love or hate him, you have to agree that Rob has the charisma that Scott Putski lacks.

The Undertaker speaks over the Titantron. He says that he wins matches not with his physical condition, but with his mental condition. He says that he'll open the Vault of Souls and unleash a demon to defeat Faarooq at the next PPV.

Match 6. Four-Way Elimination Match

    (1) British Bulldog & Owen Hart

    (2) Headbangers

    (3) New Blackjacks

    (4)  Doug Furnas & Phil Lafon

This is a non-title match. Two men are in the ring at all times. They're allowed to tag anyone of any team. When there's a pinfall, a team is eliminated. After the first two teams have been eliminated, it continues as a normal tag team match.

The New Blackjacks eliminate Doug Furmas and Plil Lafon.

Doug and Phil walk up the ramp, but then they turn back to the ring. Phil Lafon holds Bradshaw's foot, allowing the Headbangers to pin him. The final two teams are British Bulldog and Owen Hart and the Headbangers.

Bulldog pins Thrasher, even though Owen Hart and Mosh are the legal men. Referees can make mistakes sometimes.

Bret Hart is brought to the ring by the Hart Foundation. He sends them away, because he says he has to be man enough to do something by himself. He calls Shawn Michaels into the ring. He tells Shawn that he hates him for many reasons, but most of all because he dances around arrogantly. Just like all other Americans, he thinks that he's the best and America is the best.

Shawn knocks over Bret's wheelchair. The Hart Foundation returns to attack him. Everyone runs up the ramp, fighting as they go. Steve Austin enters the arena and attacks the Hart Foundation, hitting them with Bret's stolen crutch. They want to go to the ring, but the referees stop them. The Hart Foundation tends to Bret's wounds.