5 Years ago: RAW
MottolaVersion2
Originally published: Pro Wrestling Torch Weekly newsletter #468
Cover dated: November 29, 1997
RAW IS WAR LIVE - 11/24 (3.1 overall rating)
(Live from Fayetteville, N.C.)... [Q1: 2.7]... The Harvey Wippleman angle
played out followed by DX announcing Bret Hart would be out later. See cover
story for details...
(1) "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn & Road Dog beat The Legion of Doom at 9:23 to capture
the WWF Tag Team Titles. Dog's mic work on his way to the ring was excellent.
Dog called LOD "the last of the dinosaurs" and said, "Oh, what a flush!" The
WWF has done a great job finally giving Dog and Gunn a chance to begin to reach
their potential. The match ended when the ref got knocked down. LOD set up
their finisher on Gunn. Dog nailed Animal with a chair. Gunn rolled up Animal
for the win. After the win, in a spoof of sorts on Earl Hebner's quick arena
exit after the Bret Hart double-cross, Dog & Bad Ass ran straight out of the
arena and into a car and sped away...
During the match Jim Ross mentioned that ECW bought broadcast time this coming
weekend on WWF TV and "clarified" that ECW's Nov. 30 PPV is not to be confused
with their Dec. 7 IYH (it sounded like a backhanded plug, but it was meant as a
boost in publicity for the ECW PPV). Cornette said, "I had it on my schedule to
buy the PPV, but unfortunately I have to get my colon irrigated that day." Ross
continued to talk as if it were a given that Bret and Michaels would face off
in mid-ring later on the show... They showed a white limo outside the arena and
claimed Bret Hart was inside...
[Q2: 2.7]... Goldust was wheeled to ringside in a wheelchair by a nurse.
Wearing a robe and apparently nothing else, Goldust again claimed to be an
invalid. In a funny moment, he asked Michael Cole to cross his legs for him.
Cole did so. Goldust's character is really taking off again. Good stuff. Vader
came out to his music and confronted Goldust. The nurse threw alcohol into his
eyes and then Goldust got up and attacked Vader. The nurse removed her outfit
to reveal herself to be Luna Vachon...
[Q3: 3.1]... They showed the white limo outside again... They showed a recap of
Sgt. Slaughter's WWF career as a preview to his match at the Dec. 7 PPV against
Hunter... Michael Cole then interviewed Slaughter on the rampway. Slaughter
said he would be unleashing the most dangerous submission hold in the world,
the Cobra Clutch. Cole acted like he had never heard of the hold before. Sarge
told him to shut his trap. Sarge said, as commissioner, he decided to make the
match a Boot Camp Match. Sarge stretched out his interview, talking about his
fictional military experiences playing Russian Roulet, killing people with his
hands, etc. A bit long, but a good attempt to rehab Sarge's image. Hey, he was
just AWF World Champ last year, so he must still have it in him...
[Q4: 2.7]... (2) Brian Christopher (w/Jerry Lawler) beat Flanagan at 3:30 to
advance in the cruiserweight tournament. Flash Flanagan had to drop his first
name as not to conflict with Flash Funk's name. Cornette ran down Flanagan's
background as co-holder of the USWA Tag Titles. Christopher nailed a sunset
flip off the apron to the floor and won with a top rope legdrop...
[Q5: 3.2]... A slightly altered montage with new music aired for the opening of
"War Zone." Very sharp... DX came out again for the much hyped confrontation
with Bret Hart. Hunter first said he isn't scared of Sarge and mocked his
interview. The Bret Hart spoof and the Jim Neidhart angle played out (see
"Cover Story")...
[Q6: 3.4]... After a commercial break, Ross and Lawler said the arena was still
buzzing over the proposal by DX to Neidhart... A feature aired on Butterbean,
including boxing footage, a song written about him, and scenes from his
videogame...
(3) Ken Shamrock beat Savio Vega at 5:20 via tapout with an ankle lock.
Shamrock is carrying himself like a star now instead of like a green rookie
unfamiliar with his surroundings. Savio attacked Shamrock before the bell.
Shamrock went for an early ankle submission, but Savio reached the ropes.
Miguel came to ringside to attack Shamrock on the floor as Savio distracted the
referee. Fans chanted "Shamrock" as Savio had Shamrock locked in a chinlock.
Shamrock won despite Miguel's late attempt to interfere. Ross predicted
Shamrock would make Michaels tap out "just like at the Survivor Series,"
apparently implying Bret tapped out to Michaels, ... They showed Steve Austin
showing up in his "Austin 3:16" pick-up truck...
[Q7: 3.4]... Rocky Maivia came out with the rest of the NOD. He had the stolen
WWF Intercontinental Title belt over his shoulder. As Rocky began talking, the
mic started going out on him. Ross apologized for the technical problems. The
lights in the arena began flashing on and off. Ross attributed it to the arena
being brand new. The TitanTron began flashing "Rocky Sucks." Rocky sent the NOD
to the back to find out what the problem was. The TitanTron switched to a shot
of Austin in the control booth messing with the controls. He told Rocky that
when his beeper goes off and it says 316, it shows that Austin is one step
behind.
Austin said, "It is live or is it Memorex." As Rocky stared at Austin on the
TitanTron, Austin came up from behind. Rocky's beeper went off and flashed 316.
Austin then attacked Rocky from behind and got his IC belt back. Rocky fled.
Austin told him that was just a taste of what he'd do to him at the Dec. 7 PPV.
Good segment...
(4) Crush beat Jeff Jarrett via forfeit. Jarrett refused to come out. The
camera went to his locker room where Jarrett said he refused to wrestle a
"grease monkey" like Chainz. He told McMahon to read the fine print of his
contract. Jarrett, by the way, was dressed as a space alien who likes pastel
colors. Jarrett booted the cameraman out of the locker room. The lights in the
arena went out again and Kane came to the ring. Crush attacked Kane, but it had
no effect. The rest of the NOD pulled Crush from the ring. Kane then gave Jerry
Brisco a chokeslam... They showed Neidhart pacing backstage rubbing his
goatee...
[Q8: 3.2]... (5) Shawn Michaels (w/Hunter, Chyna, and Neidhart) pinned Vader at
3:00 in a non-title match. Vader came to the ring with one eye taped up from
the Luna attack. When DX came out without Neidhart, Ross said that must mean
Neidhart turned them down. Michaels then introduced Neidhart as the newest DX
member. Ross said the Hart family must be shocked. Lawler said Neidhart joining
DX proves that everything Michaels said about Bret must be true. Sounds
logical. When Michaels threw Vader to ringside, Neidhart and Hunter attacked
him. Lawler again wondered aloud what Bret Hart "who is watching this from
Calgary" was thinking. The match ended when Hunter threw hot coffee into
Vader's lone uncovered eye and then Michaels gave him two superkicks. After the
match, DX attacked Neidhart. Ross called it a "sick double cross"... Really
good show if you can look past the Bret swerve ...
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