Preshow
Match 1: Rocky Maivia vs Cibernetico
Between the tapings of Superstar and Monday Night RAW, we see Rocky Maivia go one-on-one with Cibernetico. Fairly basic match that allowed time for the audience to use the restroom, grab some snacks and simply get ready for the main card. Rocky wins with a nice big slam.
Winner: Rocky Maivia
Rating: 4/10
Main Card
Opening Match: Ahmed Johnson & Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat vs The Nation of Domination (Faarooq & Crush) w/Clarence Mason
Great match to start the show. Crush and Faarooq showed some great chemistry in the ring together as tag partners, unfortunately for them though, chemistry doesn’t always mean you pick up the win. Match ends when Faarooq refuses to get tagged in and Ahmed Johnson somehow lifts the massive Crush and hits him with the Pearl River Plunge.
Winners: Ahmed Johnson & Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat
Rating: 8/10
Johnson gets on the microphone as Crush, Faarooq and Clarence Mason start to head for the back. Ahmed says, no more games, no more henchmen. “Faarooq, I want you in the ring at Rage in a Cage”. Faarooq tells Ahmed that “Your right, this has gone on long enough. I will take care of you myself. It’s on”.
Rating: 7/10
Camera goes to the back where we see Bret Hart arriving at the arena. Dox Hendrix runs up and asks Bret what he thinks Harley Race is going to do about his controversial Royal Rumble win. Bret looks over and starts to speak. “What can he do? I won the match, it's as simple as that. The decision was final as soon as that bell rang...I really don’t care what he says.” Bret walks off as Dox brings it back to the ring.
Rating: 8/10
Match 2: Tito Santana vs “Stone Cold” Steve Austin
No surprise here that Austin won this match fairly easily. Tito got a couple good shots in but overall it was a dominating performance by Austin.
Winner: “Stone Cold” Steve Austin
Rating: 7/10
After the match Austin grabs the microphone as he paces around the ring. “Tonight, the new WWF President, Mr. Harley Race is supposed to address that bull crap Royal Rumble win of Bret “The Hitman” Hart man. Now I do not know what Mr. President is going to say but I am going to make myself clear. Harley Race, if you don’t make this right I can promise you that there will be hell to pay...and that’s the bottom line, cause Stone Cold said so”. Awesome segment by Austin.
Rating: 9/10
Match 3: Savio Vega vs Vader w/Paul Bearer
No upsets in this match. Savio did get a decent amount of offense in but it wasn’t enough to take down The Man They Call Vader. Vader wins the match at about the 8 minute mark after hitting Vega with the Vader Bomb.
Winner: Vader
Rating: 8/10
After the match Paul Bearer gets in the ring with the microphone. “Undertaker,I hate to be the Bearer of bad news, but at Rage in a Cage, you better be afraid. You will not be fighting no normal man. No, at Rage in the Cage this man...Vader, will finally take you out once in for all.” Bearer puts the microphone down as Vader and Bearer head out of the ring but before they can leave the lights go dark and Undertaker appears on the Titantron. “Paul Bearer, I believe you are mistaken. It is not I who must be afraid but you and Vader. Vader may not be any normal man… but he is still a man. At Rage in a Cage, Vader...you will be stepping in the ring with The Lord of Darkness and just like the rest of Bearer’s followers, you will fall.” Fantastic segment. Undertaker’s speech gave me chills.
Rating: 9/10
Going to cut the next segment into two parts because of how long it was. After a quick commercial break, we come back to Harley Race in the ring. He asks for Bret “The Hitman” Hart to come down so we can discuss his Royal Rumble win. Bret comes down and tells Harley Race that there really isn’t anything to talk about. Bret explains that he won the match fair and square and “If you dare strip me of my Royal Rumble win, I will sue you and the World Wrestling Federation.” Race tells Bret to calm down. “There will be no suing, there will be no stripping of titles. Bret, you are the winner of the 1997 Royal Rumble...However, that does not mean you HAVE to be in the Main Event at WrestleMania.” Bret looks over at Harley with a confused look on his face.
Harley explains. “You see, winning the Royal Rumble match doesn’t technically guarantee you the Main Event match at WrestleMania. Winning the Royal Rumble match simply guarantees you a World Title match in the future. Traditionally, that match comes at WrestleMania but there is no rule that states it has to.”
Bret Hart now starts to look a little angry. Harley continues…
“But don’t worry Bret. I have a plan that I think will make everyone happy. You see at the Royal Rumble the match came down to four men. It was yourself, The Undertaker, Ken Shamrock and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. Now The Undertaker already has a match set for Rage in a Cage, and I know he wants to get his hands on Paul Bearer so he is all set. However, Ken Shamrock and Stone Cold are still not on the card. So at Rage in a Cage, we will see Ken Shamrock go one on one with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin in the cage.”
Bret holds his microphone up and interrupts Harley. “That’s great Harley, but what the hell does this have to do with me. Cut to the chase”.
“Well, whoever wins the Ken Shamrock vs Steve Austin match will go on to WrestleMania and face...YOU!”
The crowd erupts as Bret is now pacing back and forth in the ring. Harley Race continues.
“And Bret, whoever wins that match at WrestleMania will go on to wrestle in the Main Event against either Shawn Michaels or Sycho Sid for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship.”
Bret continues to walk around the ring as he lifts the microphone up to his mouth. “You know that is a complete pile of horse crap Race. You know just as well as I do that I should be guaranteed the World Title Match AT WrestleMania. I don’t know what Austin said to you to get you to agree to this, but it's complete bull”.
Rating: 8/10
The Glass shatters as the crowd erupts. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin heads out with a microphone.
“Bret...do you really think that this was my idea? You know just as well as I do that I should already be in that main event. I whooped your ass, I whooped Shamrock’s ass, I whooped every SOB in the back ass at Royal Rumble, yet somehow Stone Cold Steve Austin still has to prove himself...but Hitman, you ain’t going to hear me bitch and whine about it because I am going to do what I did all last year and that’s enter that ring, hit some stunners and win some matches. Bret, not sure if you remember that from last year because if I remember right your sorry ass was sitting in Canada crying all year because Shawn Michaels beat you.”
An Austin chant then erupts from the crowd as Vince apologizes to the viewers at home for Austin’s language.
“Hitman, this isn’t ideal for me, but you know what...I am going to accept this offer from Harley Race, I am going to whoop Shamrock’s ass at Rage in a Cage, I am going to whoop your sorry ass at WrestleMania and then will go on to whoop whoever holds that WWF World Title at WrestleMania...and that’s the bottom line cause Stone Cold Said So…”
The Titantron then turns on as we see Shamrock on the screen.
“Austin, I think you are getting a little ahead of yourself. They don’t call me the World’s Most Dangerous Man for nothing and the fact that our match will take place in the cage makes me feel right at home...Austin, I will see you at Rage in a Cage and Bret...your mine at WrestleMania”.
Camera cuts back and forth between all three men as we go to a commercial break. Fantastic segment. Can’t wait for this match and can’t wait for WrestleMania.
Rating: 9/10
Match 4: Owen Hart w/British Bulldog vs Goldust w/Marlena
As one would expect, an excellent match between these two wrestlers. I would love to see these two someday fight in a main event match because it was clear they were not giving it there all for this match. British Bulldog ends up distracting the referee, allowing Hunter a chance to sneak in and take out Goldust. Owen gets the win after Goldust tapped to the Sharpshooter.
Winner: Owen Hart
Rating: 8/10
After the match we see Goldust crawl up the rope as Marlena hands him a microphone.
“You’re a coward Hunter. You know you can’t beat me cleanly and now you are doing everything you can to avoid facing me. Give me my match”
Hunter, who is now joined by Mabel, is seen at the top of the ramp. Hunter has a microphone in hand and speaks.
“You want a match...you got it. You can have your match at WrestleMania...only if you can beat Mabel at Rage in a Cage”.
Hunter laughs as he drops the microphone on the ramp. Great segment overall.
Rating: 7/10
We go to the back where we see Shamrock getting ready for his match with HBK. Shawn Michaels then enters the frame as Shamrock stops warming up.
“Hey Ken, I just wanted to come in and wish you the best of luck tonight. I am excited to get in that ring with you tonight.”
“You know Shawn, I have admired what you've been able to do here in the World Wrestling Federation. I look forward to getting in there with you too.”
Shawn smiles at Shamrock and speaks. “Who knows, maybe this will be a preview of WrestleMania”
Shamrock then smiles back and responds. “I plan on it”.
The two men shake hands as HBK leaves. Good segment between these two. Shamrock was a little rough on the microphone though but I am sure they will be able to put on a hell of a match.
Rating: 8/10
Quick video segment announcing that next week, Mankind returns to action on Monday Night RAW. Look forward to seeing Mankind back!
Rating: 7/10
Match 5: Matt Hardy w/Jeff Hardy vs Sycho Sid
Match only lasted about 3 minutes. Sycho Sid toyed around with Matt for the entire match, eventually putting him out of his misery with a Power Bomb.
Winner: Sycho Sid
Rating: 6/10
After the match we see Sycho Sid head over to ringside and pull up a chair. Looks like Sycho Sid will be sticking around for the main event match between Shamrock and Shawn Michaels.
Rating: 7/10
Main Event: Ken Shamrock vs “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels
Fantastic match between these two men. Both men are incredible talents in the ring and didn’t expect anything less. Only downfall of this match was Shawn Michaels did appear to take over the match at times, taking up most of the offense. Shamrock as a result did look fairly weak at times, which isn’t good before his big PPV match with Austin. Match ended after Sid runs in and attacks Shawn Michaels, causing the ref to ring the bell.
Winner: Shawn Michaels
Rating: 8/10
After the match Sycho Sid continues to fight with Shawn Michaels. Shamrock looks as if he is about to pull Sid off of Michaels when Austin hits the ring and attacks. On one side of the ring we see Sid and HBK fight, on the other side Austin and Shamrock are going at it.
Rating: 8/10
As they continue to brawl in the ring WWF officials storm the ring and break them all up. Harley Race then comes out and tells them all to cut it out. Race says that if you want to fight, then you can fight! Next week on RAW, Austin and Sid vs Shawn Michaels and Ken Shamrock.
Rating: 8/10
Show Overall: 8/10
Great show overall. Lots of build up for both the Rage in a Cage PPV and WrestleMania on tonight's episode of RAW. Although I do wish they used Shamrock a little less tonight, as he did seem to struggle often in the segments, I don’t have any real complaints about this show. Great RAW.
