WWF 1997.06.30 - Monday Night Raw

Location: Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Des Moines, Iowa

Commentators: Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler, Jim Ross

This event was broadcast live.

1. Ken Shamrock vs Hunter Hearst Helmsley

The show opens immediately with the entrance of Ken Shamrock to the ring. Hunter Hearst Helmsley says that it doesn't matter if Ken calls himself the World's Most Dangerous Man, because he's accompanied by the World's Most Dangerous Woman.

Triple H is referring to Joanie Laurer, who's better known as Chyna. She's a monster of a woman who makes me tremble all the way down to my groin.

For most of the match Ken Shamrock has the advantage. Triple H risks disqualification by pushing the referee Earl Hebner out of the way. When Ken is thrown out of the ring, Chyna picks him up and throws him against the steel stairs.

The fight continues, but then Mankind walks down the ramp towards the ring. Triple H watches him, threatening him, not realising that Ken Shamrock is still behind him. Ken pins Triple H.

Chyna will have her revenge.

We finally see the commentators. This threesome is the best commentator team in the history of wrestling.

Sunny announces a competition to win a million dollars at Summerslam, which is due to take place on 3rd August 1997. The contest details aren't revealed yet.

Whatever the contest is, I don't want a million dollars. I'd rather win a date with Sunny.

2. Legion of Doom vs Nation of Domination (Faarook and D-Lo Brown)

Before the match the Legion of Doom is interviewed by Michael Cole. This is his first appearance on a WWF show before he eventually went on to become a commentator. Today, 26 years later, he's still a regular commentator for the weekly WWE shows.

This is the first semi-final of the tournament to decide the new tag team champions. The fight is evenly matched until the Godwinns intervene. Hawk is attempting to pin D-Lo Brown, but Phineas Godwinn enters the ring behind the referee's back and hits him over the head with his slop bucket. Then Faarooq pins Hawk.

The Legion of Doom chases the Godwinns out of the arena. Faarooq calls Vince McMahon into the ring. Faarooq says he deserves to be the number one contender for the WWF championship, but he hasn't been given a title shot, because he's a black man. Vince asks whether the former Nation member Crush should be given a title shot, which just makes Faarooq angry. Savio Vega appears on the ramp and says that he wants to fight Faarooq. Faarook tells him to bring it on, but Savio runs to the ring with three other wrestlers, all dressed in white. Yet another gang? Before they can start to fight, the Disciples of Apocalypse ride to the ring on their motorbikes. They enter the ring, and all eleven wrestlers are hitting each other while the ring officials try to pull them apart.

I don't know the names of most of these wrestlers.

After everyone has left the ring, Michael Cole stands backstage to interview Savio Vega. He looks smart, even without a tie.

Savio Vega tells Michael that his three fellow wrestlers are all from Puerto Rico, and they're called Los Boriquas. The race card was played a lot in the final days of the WWF. Today the WWE is more politically correct. But I still don't know the names of the wrestlers.

3. Brian Christopher vs Scott Putski

This is a light heavyweight match, in which both wrestlers are under 215 lbs (97.5 kilograms).

Jim Ross asks Jerry Lawler whether Brian Christopher is his son. Jerry refuses to answer, but just look at his face. It's the face of a proud father.

The two wrestlers are evenly matched, until Jerry intervenes. He grabs Scott's legs, which allows Brian to pin him. The referees should try to maintain more control.

4. Brian Pillman vs Mankind

Mankind comes out and gives Jim Ross a present. Is it Christmas already? It's a rubber hand dressed up to look like a mandible claw. Brian Pillman attacks Mankind from behind and shoves the rubber hand into his mouth. The two wrestlers are brawlers, showing very little finesse. Brian risks disqualification by hitting Mankind over the head, also knocking the referee.

Triple H and Chyna stand on the ramp watching the match. When it seems like Mankind is about to win, they run to the ring. Mankind applies the mandible claw to Triple H. Brian Pillman takes his shoe off and hits Mankind on the head. Triple H tries to hit Mankind over the head with a chair, but he misses and hits Brian. Mankind chases Triple H and Chyna out of the arena. The referee counts him out, making Brian Pillman the victor.

Paul Bearer comes out to tell everyone the secret with which he's been blackmailing the Undertaker. It took place 20 years ago. Paul worked for a mortician. The family lived upstairs, and the dead bodies were stored downstairs. The mortician and his wife had two sons. One was a red-haired boy who grew up to be the Undertaker. The other was a younger boy called Kane who idolised his big brother. Kane was a sweet little boy, but the Undertaker had an evil look in his eyes. One day Paul arrived and found the funeral home had been burnt down. Everyone was dead, except for the Undertaker, who was hiding in the bushes. Paul accuses the Undertaker of murdering his family.

Sable shows off the million dollars to be won at Summerslam. There's something sexy about girls and money. What I didn't notice before is that the suitcase is shaped like a coffin.

5. Headbangers vs Owen Hart & British Bulldog

This is the second semi-final of the tournament to decide the new tag team champions. Despite a lot of cheating by the Headbangers, Owen Hart manages to pin Thrasher. Then Jim Cornette appears on the ramp and says he's brought a new tag team into the WWF. I don't know who they are, but they sure are fat. 400 lbs at least. Bulldog and Owen disappear fast, leaving the Headbangers to fight the new arrivals.

The Undertaker replies to Paul Bearer's accusations. He remembers the day well. He and Kane were playing with matches in the funeral home. When his father saw them he scolded the Undertaker as the older boy who should have known better. The Undertaker left, but when he turned round he saw Kane was still playing with embalming fluids. He should have told his brother that the liquid was highly flammable. Hours later he returned home and found the house in flames. His family was dead. The Undertaker says he wasn't a murderer, but he still blames himself for what happened.

6. Vader vs Rockabilly

Rockabilly comes to the ring accompanied by Honky Tonk Man. Vader comes to the ring accompanied by Paul Bearer. Rockabilly hits Vader on the back with his guitar, but he's unphased. They've hardly begun to fight when the Undertaker runs out. First he attacks Vader. Then he turns his attention to Paul and threatens to kill him if he doesn't tell everyone the truth. Paul shouts that Kane is still alive. Vader hits the Undertaker, which gives Paul the opportunity to flee.

I couldn't tell who won the match. The bell wasn't rung. When the Undertaker came to the ring, Rockabilly and Honky Tonk Man slipped away without anyone noticing.

7. Steve Austin vs Jim Neidhart

They're two tough fighters. Neither has a clear advantage. After about eight minutes Bret Hart enters the ring and attacks Steve. The referee disqualifies Jim, but the brawling continues. Bret tries to break Steve's leg by putting him in a figure four leglock around the ring post. Mankind comes out and puts the mandible claw in Bret's mouth. Brian Pillman comes out and attacks Mankind. Owen Hart hits Mankind over the head with a chair. At this point the show ends. That's a shame. I wanted to see what happens next.