FanPost

Wellington’s WABAC 15: If You Just Smile

WWE.com

With the Royal Rumble in the rearview we start the road to Wrestlemania. Stone Cold is our winner, but with the murky results of the final four members of the Rumble fresh in our memory, will that remain the case by the time we reach the Showcase of the Immortals? As we race towards the final In Your House of the season, we'll have to find out.

Vlcsnap-2012-12-20-21h30m26s182_medium

January 20th, 1997

  • Bret Hart opens in the ring and complains about how he got screwed. (Foreshadowing Five!) Hart complains for a bit then quits- guess that was a quick return to the WWF... Stone Cold comes out, shoots on Vince, Bret and Sycho Sid then talks up his upcoming match against Undertaker. Right after all this mess, Vince McMahon leaves ringside and we just get Jerry and JR on the stick. As the dust settles we get our first match which is Lafon-Furnas vs Bulldog-Owen. It's a short match but enjoyable, the heels do a little heeling and then get the win via pinfall. Owen/Bulldog win via pinfall

  • Our 2nd match is Bart Gunn vs Farooq. Farooq is on the defensive and nearly gets pinned but one of the nation dudes puts his leg on the rope to stop the pin. Bart loses it and leaves the ring to attack the Nation, but Farooq uses the distraction to attack Bart, get him back in the ring and get the pin. Farooq wins via pinfall

  • Up next is Gorilla Monsoon being interviewed by Vince. He announces a four man no DQ elimination match for Stone Cold's #1 contendership. The four participants: Stone Cold, The Undertaker, Vader, and Bret Hart (the three guys Austin eliminated after being eliminated). Stone Cold comes out and points out that Hart quit so they can't have the match. He sarcastically asks about the "instant replay rule" not being present in the WWE.

Er13_photo_089_medium

(And luckily, Instant Replay is never used)

  • Austin insults Monsoon, calling him a jackass- that's not PG!. He then leaves the ring and gets in Vince's face. But Bret Hart comes back to the ring, grabs the microphone, Austin gets pissed and Bret accepts the offer for the 4 way match. Hart then chases down Austin and they start to brawl in the entrance way until the refs come out and pull them apart. Hart however gets the best of it by slamming Austin's head into the steel steps before Stone Cold escapes into the ring.

  • Then boom, the gong hits, the lights go down and Taker comes out to face Austin for their match. But en route- the Undertaker assaults Bret Hart, slugs him a couple times in the face. Then as Hart retreats, Austin assaults Undertaker from behind. Undertaker recovers and slams Austin into the steps again. Austin survives the brutal initial assault from Taker, and starts to take control. Jerry Lawler gets up and tries to coach Austin to attack Taker's broken ribs. But Taker low blows Austin, who starts to stumble but then turns and lands a stunner on Taker, both men go down. The two are really getting into it, with Stone Cold hitting his top rope elbow, but in comes Vader with Bearer. Undertaker takes out Vader, but the DQ gets sounded. Then Hart enters and goes after Cold. A brawl ensues as the episode ends. Someone wins via DQ...

Vlcsnap-2012-12-20-21h33m03s233_medium

(Wow, it's convenient that they had four guys ready for the "Final Four PPV")

~~

January 27th, 1997

  • Opening match is Ahmed Johnson vs Crush. Apparently on Saturday Savio Vega turned heel against Johnson, leaving Johnson to get laid out by Farooq. Vega is now part of the Nation. Crush attack first, but Ahmed recovers and dominates for a while. But Crush returns to control as Farooq comes out to ringside- Farooq eventually assaults Johnson while Crush distracts the ref, allowing Crush to hit the Heart Punch for a win. Then we get a Michael's promo about Hart's upcoming 4 way #1 contenders match. Out next is Taker. Then Stone Cold, they shout a while and nothing happens. Crush wins via pinfall

  • Out next, British Bulldog vs Doug Furnas. Another enjoyable back and forth match, good strength displays from Bulldog. Eventually Owen gets involved and accidently smashes Bulldog, but then Furnas tries to rollup Bulldog, only for Bulldog to counter into a pin. After the match, Bulldog and Owen get into it. But they shake and make up. Bulldog wins via pinfall

  • Our last match is Vader and Mankind vs The Godwinns. The Godwinns look unexpectedly strong, but the heels heel it up, then Mankind accidently smashes Vader with a chair to the head, leading to his team getting counted out. Mankind grins and walks away. We close with Ahmed Jonhnson attacking the Nation's car as it drives away. The Godwinns win via Countout

~~

February 3rd, 1997

Royal Rumble Raw in Toronto Ontario.

For whatever reason this is the "Royal Rumble Raw". Don't know why

  • First matchup is Stone Cold vs Vader- Austin gets into Vader's face and Vader just backs up because he sees Bret Hart who enters the ring and jumps on Austin. Then Vader goes after Hart, the refs flood the ring, Eventually they get on with the match, Stone Cold in control early but Vader recovers and sets up for the Vader Bomb, then decides to go up to the top rope. The ref gets in his way so Vader stops and pushes the ref off the apron. This allows Stone Cold to regain control, but Vader survives the double finger salute elbow drop. Austin gets Vader down tangled up in the ropes and wails on him, the ref tries to stop Austin, so Austin hits the ref with a stunner. The two go outside the ring and start doing some steel stair shots. New refs come out and Austin gets DQ'ed. Vader wins via DQ

4020-finger_medium

(Rude much?)

  • Flash Funk vs Savio Vega follows. It's a fun athletic start to the match- Eventually Funk takes control, sets up for his splash but instead dives outside to take out one of the Nation members. This lets Savio recover, so when Funk goes for his moonsault Vega rolls away, then rolls back to get the pin over Funk. These Nation Fellas sure seem distracting... Savio Vega wins via pinfall
  • Our next friend is Sid going full Sid on the microphone with JR in the ring. Then its LaFon-Furnas vs Bulldog-Owen for the tag team titles. Much the same match as before, this time apparently Furnas has the flu. The big moment comes when Owen gets one of the two down for a pin, and then tries to tag in Bulldog, but Bulldog is too busy showboating to the crowd. Bulldog and Owen get into it after they nearly lose the titles to a rollup. Owen Hart eventually gets accidently dumped over the rope by Bulldog, causing him to injure his knee. The bad guys defend via countout and walk out shouting at each other. Furnas/Lafon win via count out
  • Crush vs Goldust is up next. Sort of a plodding match, all around not very good. Helmsley distracts Goldust to give Crush an advantage, but Goldust survives, sets up the curtain call but Vega interferes, lays Goldust out and Crush gets the heart punch for the win. Out next is HBK cutting a promo about how he'll be bad if that's what it takes to be champion. Then Hart comes out, calls him a "degenerate", HBK gets back on the stick but Stone Cold comes out and jumps Hart.

Dx-shawn-michaels-d-generation-x-14379471-282-390_medium

(I can only imagine this "degenerate" thing will never gain traction)

  • Our next match is for the Intercontinental Title; Mero vs Helmsley- Mero dominates early, then eats some knees from the Haitch- Helmsley dominates, does his bow, and continues his punishment. The back and forth continues, until Mero gets a flip over the rope to lay out Helmsley outside of the ring, then gets him back in with a legdrop. Helmsley survives, so Mero hits a hurricanrana off the tope rope, but tweeks his knee, giving Helmsley time to kick out. Helmsley eventually removes the turnbuckle cover, but Mero keeps Helsmey from getting him into it, then Mero hits the Mero Sault but Helmsley kicks out. The ref gets distracted by the turnbuckle pad being removed, and Helmsley gets his brass knuckles on and knocks out Mero for the 3 count and the win.

Brassknuckles_medium

(You'd think they'd have someone to check for these things)

  • Our last match is Ahmed and Undertaker vs Mankind vs Farooq- lots of mentions made to how they are delivering what they promised, I guess WCW didn't do that? The match turns quickly into a brawl, lots of finishers stopped at 2, then the Nation gets involved. Vince takes some shot at how these guys aren't has bins but "young in their prime" wrestlers. Eventually Mankind sprays powder in Taker's face, and then Vader runs in and assaults a prone Taker. Vader accidently knocks Mankind out with a chair, then goes after Taker who no sells the chair shot. Then Taker drives Vader away and tombstones Mankind onto the chair for the win. Undertaker/Johnson win via pin fall

~~

February 13th, 1997

Thursday Raw Thursday. I don't know why they say it twice but they do, every time.

  • We open with Vince McMahons saying that HBK is forfeiting the title later in the game. Kind of a spoiler... We open with Rocky Maiava vs Helmsley for the IC title. The crowd quickly starts up a "Rocky Sucks" chant. Maiava "hits" a terrible looking drop kick to gain control after some Helmsley heeling. Helmsley gets back in control when Rocky sets Helsmley up on the post and Helmsley dodges letting Rocky slam into the post with his arm. We come back from commercials and the Honkey Tonk man shows up. Helmsley nearly puts Rocky out with a sleeper hold. Rocky eventually reverses it, but Helmsley dives into the corner and Rocky smashes into the turnbuckle and bounces off to the floor.

  • Rocky kicks out of a pile driver, causing Helmsley to get into it with the ref. Helmsley hits a suplex to set Rocky up for the pedigree, but Rocky just sort of collapses when Helmsley gets him set up. Rather than pin him though, Helmsley just taunts and does his bow- the delay allows Rocky to rollup Helmsley and get a surprise 3 count and win. Your new IC champion, Rocky Maiava. Rocky wins via rollup

03_raw_02131997_0003_medium

(Rocky Sucks...)

  • Out next is Sunny with two guys who have face paint. We get also get the M&M Slam of the week, featuring a M&M commercial with the green M&M and Dennis Miller. Ah, the late 90's. Now I don't want to go off on a rant here... so I won't; this leads us to the M&M's slam of the weak- Tombstone Piledriver onto an escalator. Then we get our actual match which is Bob Holly and Aldo Montoya vs two dudes, apparently they are called the Head Bangers. Long and relatively enjoyable match. Ends with a slam-into drop off the top rope combo for a Headbanger pin over Aldo Montoya. Headbangers win via pinfall

Im_green_medium

(And your NEW DIVAS Champion...)

  • Out next are Shawn Michaels and Vince. Apparently HBK's knee is shot and so he needs to step down. He makes some comments about how he got really big, and he's loved his time as champion. It's apparently a time where "toughness is really big in the WWF". Some woman legit starts crying. He gives back the title, and says he lost his smile. It's like he's retiring? Im not sure why... but there you go. No more H-B-Sizzle

Hqdefault_medium

(Smile... when your heart is aching)

  • Out next, Nation of Domination (Savio Vega) vs Undertaker. Taker dominates to start, then Vega uses his athleticism to start to do some damage outside the ring, but Taker goes all Taker and gets the win anyway. Then the Nation jumps on Taker. Ahmed makes the save. But then the Nation turns on Johnson, Taker sits up, and the faces clear the ring. Undertaker wins via pinfall
  • Stone Cold vs Sych Sid is up next on TRT. The slug fest starts immediately and the crowd is super hot. The crowd chants for Austin right away. It's not a long match, Sid in control then Bret Hart enters and assaults Austin, leading to Sid getting DQ'ed. Sid and Hart then go at it. Next is Farooq and Crush vs Bulldog-Owen Hart- Crush dominates Hart with his strength, but then Hart escapes. Crush continues to dominate, hits a pile driver on Bulldog. During the match they interview Hart about Michaels, Hart is totally no-selling his interest in the entire thing. In the match, the Nation keeps dominating until Bulldog gets Hart back in, but then Hart gets tossed out, and apparently injures his knee again. Because of the injury, Owen Hart gets counted out. Bulldog gets jumped on by the Nation. Austin wins via DQ , Farooq/Crush win via Count Out.
  • We close our go Home Thursday Night Thursday show on Thursday with Vader vs Bret Hart on Thursday. Vader is in charge early, dumping Hart from the ring, and then allowing Stone Cold to assault Hart outside the ring. Vader keeps up his Vadering, with some stiff looking fists. He survives a Hart comeback and a sharpshooter. Vader sets up for his Vader Sault, but misses, allowing Hart to get the pin and the win to go off to the Final Four. Hart wins via pin fall

Finish Recap

Pin falls: 10

Countouts/DQ's: 6

Final Grade: B

A decent enough series of shows. Some enjoyable matches and one pretty iconic promo. I've now got some understanding of what "losing your smile" is all about. Really looking forward to seeing the Final Four match, I have a feeling it'll be a great one.

The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Cageside Seats readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cageside Seats editors or staff.