March, Week 2, 1997

Providence Civic Center in Providence, Rhode Island
Attendance: 13,212

Announcers: Jim Ross, Jerry “The King” Lawler & Vince McMahon

Preshow

Match 1: Abismo Negro vs Lance Storm 

Decent match before the show began. Crowd was quiet as both names were unknown to this Rhode Island crowd. The style of these two seem to match up really well as they were in perfect sync with one another the entire match. Lance Storm wins it with a Single Leg Crab submission. 

Winner: Lance Storm

Rating: 4/10

Match 2: Freddy Joe Floyd vs Leif Cassidy

Pretty straightforward match between these two. Nothing special by any means. Match was a little louder then the Negro/Storm match but not by much. Cassidy wins it at around the 7 ½ minute mark.

Winner: Leif Cassidy

Rating: 4/10

Main Card

Opening Match: Faarooq vs Jesse James

Jesse James has been having some issue with The Nation as of late, mostly with their former member though, Crush. Faarooq dominated the match throughout, really showing off how strong he is. For the finish, we see Jesse James who is completely beaten somehow grab Faarooq with his back turned for an inside cradle pin. Faarooq kicks out at the last second and the camera shows that he was in complete disbelief that he almost just lost to Jesse James. Faarooq then gets angry and completely destroys James. The referee tries to pull Faarooq of but Faarooq won’t let up. After 10 seconds or so the Referee calls for the bell. It is announced that due to Jesse James being unable to continue, Faarooq will be declared the winner.

Winner: Faarooq

Rating: 6/10

After the match Faarooq stands tall over a beaten James as he poses to the crowd. With his back turned we see Crush grab Jesse James foot and pull him out of the ring. Crush drapes James on his shoulder as he carries him up the ramp to safety. Faarooq ends up turning around, seeing Crush carrying his victim up the ramp. Faarooq yells at Crush to “Stay out of The Nation’s Way”. 

Rating: 6/10

Match 2: The Godwinns w/Hillbilly Jim vs Hunter Hearst Helmsley & Mabel

Decent match between these two teams. Hunter seems to have carried this match in terms of both wrestling ability, and crowd reactions. Pretty brutal match between these two teams as well. Lots of brawling on the outside, which included some stair bumps and a couple wrestlers getting thrown into the barricade. Mabel and Hunter pick up the victory after Mabel choked out Phineas. 

Winners: Hunter Hearst Helmsley & Mabel

Rating: 6/10

After the match Hunter grabs the microphone as he talks about how dominating of a wrestler he is, and how with Mabel by his side nobody will be able to take him on. Goldust’s music hits as we see Goldust come out from behind the curtain with Marlena. Goldust tells Hunter to enjoy it while it lasts because in just a few short weeks, Hunter will not have any gold anymore. 

Rating: 8/10

We cut to the back where we see Crush and Jesse James sitting backstage in the locker room. Jesse James looks pretty beat up but he is able to still sit up. James thanks Crush for the save, telling Crush that if he didn’t come out to help, Faarooq might have put him in the hospital. Crush tells him that there was a good chance he would have ended up there. James tells Crush that he is a hell of a fighter and a hell of a person. James puts his hand out for a handshake. Crush looks at his hand for a second or two and eventually shakes his hand. It looks like these two rivals are now on the same page. 

Rating: 5/10

Camera now goes to another locker room area where Ken Shamrock is sitting and talking with Shawn Michaels. Shamrock tells Michaels that he can’t wait to get his hands on Jake Roberts at WrestleMania. Shawn tells Shamrock that he knows Jake Roberts well and “He may not look like much but trust me, Jake always has some trick up his sleeve. Do not take him lightly”. Shamrock tells Shawn that “I’m not worried”

Rating: 8/10

Match 3: Ahmed Johnson vs Kama Mustafa

Fairly poor match between these two massive men. Match went back and forth for the majority of it and for the finish we had Ahmed push Kama, who accidentally knocked out the referee. Once the referee is down Faarooq and D’Lo storm the ring and attack Ahmed. Within seconds we see Crush and James running down the ramp for the save. Eventually we have all six men brawling it out in the ring as the referee slowly starts to get up. The referee calls for the bell and it is announced that the match will be considered a Draw. 

Winner: Draw

Rating: 5/10 

As the six men continue to brawl, Harley Race comes out and keeps yelling for them to stop. Eventually the men stop brawling as the entire Nation of Domination stands outside of the ring looking in. Harley Race then announces that if these guys have problems with one another, then they should settle it right way. Next week on RAW, we will see The Nation of Domination vs Ahmed Johnson, Crush and Jesse James. 

Match 4: Tito Santana vs Sycho Sid 

Quick match between these two. As expected Sid simply dominated the match, defeating Tito Santana at about the 6 minute mark with a choke slam. Nothing special to say besides the fact that it was a fairly awkward match between the two as there styles did not work well together.

Winner: Sycho Sid

Rating: 6/10

After the match Sid grabs a microphone and calls Taker out, saying that they need to talk. Undertaker comes out on the top of the ramp. Taker tells Sid that the time for talking is coming to an end. Sid laughs in the ring. “Of course you don’t want to take Undertaker because you don’t want to know what I have to say… I know Taker...I KNOW! Sid starts to laugh in the ring as Jim Ross speaks to the audience at home. 

“What the hell does he…”

Before JR can finish, fire comes bursting out of the ring posts as Sid laughs louder in the ring. Jim Ross and Vince are in shock with what just happen. 

“The Ringposts are on fire McMahon!” 

The camera cuts to Sid laughing as fire can be seen behind him as we cut to a commercial break.

Rating: 9.5/10

We return with Howard Finkel interviewing Marc Mero and Flash Funk, with Sable in the background. Finkel asks both men who they believe will win the next match between The Asylum and the WWF World Tag Team Champions, Owen Hart and British Bulldog. Mero says that both teams are incredibly talented, and it really could go both ways. Funk adds that they will be watching closely in the back to this match as they prepare to take on both teams, plus The Fantastic Duo, at WrestleMania. 

Rating: 6/10

Match 5: The Asylum (Mankind and Vader) vs Owen Hart and The British Bulldog

Decent match overall, but to be perfectly honest was a little bit of a letdown based on who was in the ring.These two teams have the potential of having 5 star matches, but tonight neither team showed it. Mankind ends up winning after hitting The British Bulldog with a DDT.

Winner: The Asylum

Rating: 7/10

After the match Bulldog and Hart grab their titles tight as they are in disbelief that they lost the match.  We see Bulldog and Hart talking as the camera picks up Hart saying “It’s alright, we are still the champs, that’s all that matters”

Rating: 7/10

After the break we come back to Bret “The Hitman” Hart's music playing. Vince tells the crowd at home that Bret will be joining them in the booth for this main event match. 

Rating: 7/10

Main Event: Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat vs “Stone Cold’ Steve Austin

Fantastic main event between these two stars. Austin did come out looking better, but Steamboat was able to hold his own. Great match that ended with Austin hitting Steamboat with a Stunner for the win.

Winner: “Stone Cold’ Steve Austin

Rating: 9/10

After the match Austin calls Hart into the ring so they can meet eye to eye. Bret gets into the ring and gets into the face of “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. Austin talks about how Hart walks around, pretending to be such a nice guy, but we all know that the real Bret Hart is really a Piece of Sh*t. The two argue back and forth. Great segment helped continue this fantastic feud. 

Rating: 9.9/10

As Bret and Austin argue, it begins to get a little physical. The two start pushing and shoving.  Right before it escalates though, Shawn Michaels comes running in to break up the fight. Out of nowhere, Austin looks over at HBK and nails hin with a Stunner. While Austin is distracted Hart leaves the ring. The two continue to exchange words, Austin in the ring, while Bret is on the floor. As the two continue to argue, the camera zooms in onto HBK laying motionless in the ring as RAW comes to a close. 

Rating: 8/10

Overall Show Rating: 8/10

Overall good show for this episode of Monday Night RAW. In my opinion, WWF is really lacking in the number of high quality feuds. If WWF could fix this, I am sure they would be beating WCW every week when it came to show ratings. 

WWF Superstars

March, Week 2, 1997

Providence Civic Center in Providence, Rhode Island
Attendance: 13,212

Announcers: Joseph Aiello and Shane McMahon

Preshow

Match 1: PG-13 vs The New Blackjacks

Straight forward match between these two teams. New Blackjacks are starting to look good together as a team. Great match for a pre-show match up. Truthfully, it was worthy of being on the main card for a B show such as Superstars. Blackjack Bradshaw wins the match for his team when he made Wolfie D submit. 

Winner: The New Blackjacks

Rating: 5/10

Match 2: Northern Impact (Edge, Christian & Rhyno) vs Cibernetico, Fuerza Guerrera and Perro Aguayo

Nice seeing 3 vs 3 matches once in a while since they are few and far between in the WWF. Audience was dead for this match since they really didn’t know anyone in the match, however, I can see great potential in many of these wrestlers. Rhyno wins it for Northern Impact when he hits Fuerza Guerera with a spear.

Winners: Northern Impact

Rating: 2/10

Main Card

Opening Match: D’Lo Brown vs Thrasher

We start the show off with a one on one competition between D’Lo Brown of The Nation of Domination, and Thrasher of the Headbangers. At the start of the match we are also introduced to the new announcing team of Superstars, Joseph Aiello and Shane McMahon. Pretty poor match between these two wrestlers, with no investment from the crowd. D’Lo Brown ends up winning the match with the Low Down.

Winner: D’Lo Brown

Rating: 2/10

After the match D’Lo Brown says that his win was dedicated to Faarooq, his fearless leader of The Nation of Domination. D’Lo states that under the leadership of  Faarooq, The Nation will thrive. Better segment then I would have expected from the young Nation member. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see some more mic time from him in the future.

Rating: 5/10

We cut to the back where we see Fatu standing with Bob Backlund and Iron Sheik. Fatu tells Backlund and Sheik that tonight he will not defeat just one, but two wrestlers in the ring when he takes on both Hardy Brothers. Fatu says that he hopes his cousin, Rocky Maivia, is watching so. Backlund says he will be watching from the back. 

Rating: 5/10

Match 2: Fatu w/Iron Sheik vs The Hardy Boys

Squash match for Fatu as he dominated both Hardy Boys. Audience was very vocal from Fatu and Sheik at ringside, with very little crowd reaction for The Hardy Boys. Match ends after Fatu slams both Matt and Jeff Hardy at the same time and pins Jeff Hardy for the win.

Winner: Fatu

Rating: 4/10

After the match we see Backlund coming out clapping as Fatu and Sheik stand tall in the ring. Fatu then calls out his cousin, Rocky Maivia, because he has something to ask. Rocky comes out and stands at the top of the ramp. Fatu then challenges Rocky to a 3 vs 3 match at WrestleMania. Fatu states that he will partner with Iron Sheik and Bob Backlund, two former WWF World Champions, and Rocky can partner with two men of his picking, “If you can even find a friend in the back”. Rocky accepts and says that he is sure he can find two men who want to kick their asses as much as he does.

Decent segment between these four men. Should be a decent filler match for WrestleMania as well. 

Rating: 6/10

We cut to the back where Howard Finkel is with the WWF’s newest hires, Edge, Christian and Rhyno, also known as “Northern Impact”. Finkel asks the group to introduce themselves to the crowd. Edge says that “Rhyno is the toughest, baddest man he knows. Not only is he powerful, but he is incredibly quick.”. Rhyno then talks about Christian. “Man, I have known Christian for a long time and he is one of the most gifted and talented athletes I have ever met. He makes every move in the ring look effortless.” Christian ends by talking about Edge. “Edge is pure heart. I have never seen him once give up in the ring, or in anything for that matter. Put him in that ring and he will go at 110% until the bell rings.” 

The fact that these three men are new made for a quiet audience...however, you need to start somewhere! 

Rating: 3/10

Main Event: Billy Gunn vs Goldust w/Marlena

No surprise here but Goldust picks up the victory over Billy Gunn after hitting him with a bulldog. Goldust was really the start of this match.

Winner: Goldust

Rating: 6/10

After the match we see Hunter Hearst Helmsley run out with the IC belt and hit Goldust in the back of the head with it when he was not looking. Helmsley jumps on Goldust as he throws him some punches to the head. Camera shows Mabel at ringside taking guard as his boss beats down on Goldust.

Rating: 7/10

The show ends with The Undertaker backstage talking about his upcoming match with Sycho Sid. Undertaker says that at WrestleMania he will not be focused on Paul Bearer or anybody else from the Asylum for that matter. At WrestleMania, all his focus and energy will be put on Sid, and for that reason alone, Sid better be worried. 

Rating: 8/10

Overall Show Rating: 6/10

Standard quality show for WWF Superstars. Nice to see some big names at the end of the show, such as Goldust, Hunter Hearst Helmsley and even a backstage segment with The Undertaker. Good mixture of unknowns, such as D’Lo Brown, Hardy Boys, Northern Impact and known names, Goldust, Gunn, Fatu as well. Hopefully with some more exposure, the crowd is into these unknowns, just as much they are with the more well recognizable names.