wrestling / Video Reviews
Raw History: Episode 195 and Reliving Nitro: Episode 72
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Raw History
Episode #195
January 27th, 1997 | Montagne Center in Beaumont, Texas
WWF Champion: Shawn Michaels (2) since 1/19/97
WWF Intercontinental Champion: Hunter Hearst Helmsley (1) since 10/21/96
WWF Tag Team Champions: Owen Hart and the British Bulldog (1) since 9/22/96
Recaps from last week’s excellent episode are shown. Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler are on commentary.
Ahmed Johnson vs. Crush w/ The Nation of Domination
We get footage from a recent MSG house show where Savio Vega turned on Ahmed and joined the Nation. He and Faarooq aren’t with Crush tonight. I assume Savio isn’t because this was taped before the turn. Ahmed goes after PG-13 before the bell, which sets up the obvious Crush attack from behind. Ahmed still kicks his ass until missing an ugly elbow drop. Crush takes control and Faarooq peeks through the curtain like a total creeper. This goes through a commercial break for some reason. Ahmed is on the verge of winning but they go outside and Faarooq jumps him. Inside, Crush hits the Heart Punch to win at 5:44. This feud has been rough and it’s not getting better. Ahmed should run over NOD guys before meeting Faarooq again, not this. [½*]
WWF Champion Shawn Michaels is here for the first time since winning back the title. Vince McMahon interviews him about his upcoming title defense against Sycho Sid at Thursday Raw Thursday. Shawn says Sid gave him a shot, so he has no problem giving one back. Vince asks about the Final Four competitors. Shawn puts them over and rambles in one of his least impressive promos. He doesn’t say much. Vince introduces Bret Hart, who wants Shawn to retain because he wants to beat him. He wants Shawn at 100% so there’s no excuses. The Undertaker joins us next and says he respects Bret, but he’s been screwed over for the title more than anyone. He’s sat back for too long and now the title needs to come to the dark side. Steve Austin is brought out next. He decides this could be an ambush so he’ll wait until the PPV. Vader and Paul Bearer are behind him, so he doesn’t leave and decides maybe fighting would be best. Nothing comes of this though. A fine segment that was strange at times because it didn’t go anywhere.
British Bulldog w/ Clarence Mason and Owen Hart vs. Doug Furnas w/ Phil Lafon
Considering the champs won the non-title match week, this feud shouldn’t be continuing. Furnas starts hot and nails one of his trademark suplexes. Bulldog sends Furnas into the ring post outside, then he slams the steel steps on him. RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE REFEREE! During a break, Ahmed breaks into the NOD locker room with a 2×4 but they aren’t there. Back in the ring, Furnas back body drops out of a piledriver attempt and has an opening. Alas, Bulldog hits a snap suplex and then counters a rana with a powerbomb. They go to cheat but Owen accidentally bashes Bulldog with the Slammy. Furnas rolls him up for two and then whacks Owen. Bulldog counters a sunset flip into the SummerSlam 92 pin to take this at 7:36. Solid little match here. There was good action and they continued the Owen/Bulldog dissension. [**¼]
Post-match, Owen and Bulldog argue again, while Clarence attempts to keep the peace. Cooler heads prevail and nothing happens. Vince notes that Furnas and Lafon get a title shot at the PPV, but never explains why.
THIS PAST SATURDAY ~ We get full video of Savio turning on Ahmed and joining the Nation. That was in the afternoon. On Shotgun Saturday Night (one of the girls from the DX tron is shown dancing here, which is where they got the clip), Savio acted like he didn’t legitimately join. However, he and the Nation jumped Rocky Maivia.
PRESS CONFERENCE ~ A quick clip airs of the signing of Tiger Ali Singh. I’m not looking forward to his arrival.
The Godwins w/ Hillbilly Jim vs. Mankind and Vader w/ Paul Bearer
It’s the first televised match for the Vader/Mankind pairing. Vince announces that the Royal Rumble match will air in full next Monday before Raw. Anyway, Paul’s team doesn’t do too hot because they don’t get along. Mankind doesn’t want to tag out, even enjoying when he’s getting beat up. Vader tags himself in and wails away on Phineas like an animal. They finally work together when Vader helps Mankind block an apron suplex. Henry comes over and HOSS FIGHTS Vader heading into a commercial break. Returning, Henry gets the hot tag and cleans house. Mankind gets a chair and misses his attack, accidentally hitting Vader. He could’ve stopped but didn’t. They get counted out, giving the Godwins a cheap victory at 7:14. I’m not sure how I feel about this. I don’t hate the idea of Vader and Mankind together, but the timing is weird considering Vader’s upcoming Final Four match. The match was nothing except some build for how that team doesn’t work too well together. However, I’ll give it some points for Vader and Hank’s brawl. [*¼]
In the parking lot, Ahmed Johnson finds the Nation. He takes a big swing with the 2×4 but misses. He does seem to get JC Ice into the trunk of a car, but it pulls away before Ahmed can do any real damage.
Clash of the Champions XXXIV 1/21/97 Results
Dean Malenko def. Ultimo Dragon (c) in 15:07 to win the WCW Cruiserweight Champions [****]
Scotty Riggs def. Mike Enos in 2:29
Chavo Guerrero Jr., Chris Jericho and Super Calo def. JL, Konnan and La Parka in 5:27
Harlem Heat def. Joe Gomez and Renegade in 3:50
Masahiro Chono def. Alex Wright in 4:30
Eddie Guerrero def. Scott Norton in 5:36
Chris Benoit def. Kevin Sullivan in a Falls Count Anywhere match in 5:11
The Steiner Brothers def. The Amazing French Canadians in 4:09
Lex Luger def. Scott Hall via disqualification in 10:29
Souled Out 1/25/97 Results
Masahiro Chono def. Chris Jericho in 11:08 [**]
Big Bubba def. Hugh Morris in a Mexican Death Match at 9:03 [¾*]
Jeff Jarrett def. Michael Wallstreet in 9:24 [¼*]
Buff Bagwell def. Scotty Riggs in 13:49 [½*]
Scott Norton def. DDP via countout at 9:03 [*¼]
The Steiner Brothers def. The Outsiders (c) to win the WCW World Tag Team Titles at 16:40 [**]
Eddie Guerrero (c) def. Syxx in a Ladder match to retain the WCW United States Title at 13:47 [***¼]
Hulk Hogan (c) vs. The Giant ended in a no contest at 11:00 [DUD]
Reliving Nitro
Episode #72
January 27th, 1997 | Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Des Moines, Iowa
WCW World Heavyweight Champion: Hulk Hogan (2) 8/10/96
WCW United States Champion: Eddie Guerrero (1) since 12/29/96
WCW World Tag Team Champions: The Steiner Brothers (5) since 1/25/97
WCW Television Champion: Lord Steven Regal (3) since 8/20/96
WCW Cruiserweight Champion: Dean Malenko (3) since 1/21/97
WCW Women’s Championship: Akira Hokuto (1) since 12/29/96
We’re 48 hours removed from the first nWo Pay-Per-View. This is called nWo Monday Nitro by our commentary trio of Eric Bischoff, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall. They send it footage from Souled Out, when the Outsiders lost their titles because referee Randy Anderson showed up and counted the three. He says he got to the show because a WCW promoter got him a ticket. BUT IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE ALL NWO! This is dumb. Bischoff says Anderson violated company policy by accepting a gifted ticket. Bischoff fires Anderson and send him away. They bring out the Steiner Brothers and have security in between them. Bischoff strips them of the titles and awards them back to the Outsiders. They angrily throw the belts on the ground and Bischoff tells them not to pick up their paychecks for the next six months because they’ll be fined. Not the best way to open the show. It did show how the nWo had power but it negated the PPV stuff, which I never like.
The Faces of Fear vs. The Steiner Brothers
Bischoff announces that the Outsiders will defend the titles tonight. This should be fun considering the teams involved. It starts hot, with some early Steiners offense before the Faces of Fear take over and hit Rick with the backdrop into powerbomb spot they do. That move is quite nuts. Barbarian suplexes Rick to set up a Meng splash. Rick gets his signals crossed and SITS UP, so Meng nearly breaks his neck. They hit the double diving headbutts but Scott breaks up the pin. Rick and Barbarian flub a top rope belly to belly spot before Scott comes in hot to save the day. Scott plants Meng with a belly to belly to win at 5:56. I was hoping for something better but Rick was quite sloppy. It was fun for what we got though. [**]
Tony Schiavone and Larry Zbyszko are back on commentary. They take us to photos from Eddie vs. Syxx at Souled Out, as well as DDP getting one over on the nWo.
The Giant vs. Roadblock
The Giant is pissed. He no sells Roadblock’s offense. Roadblock fails to slam Giant and gets slammed instead. Giant chokeslams him like nothing and wins it in 1:48. The squash I expected. [NR]
Giant gets a microphone and lays down another challenge to Hulk Hogan. I never want to see that match again.
WCW United States Championship: Eddie Guerrero (c) vs. Jeff Jarrett
Considering how heavily featured he is, you’d think Jarrett would be a shoe-in to win this. Especially since Eddie doesn’t get as much star treatment. Jarret struts early and wins the first few exchanges. Eddie lands on his feet on a monkey flip and dropkicks Jeff. Schiavone hypes a post-match surprise. Jarrett nails a suplex and taunts the crowd. Eddie rallies and hits the brainbuster. Jeff decides selling is pointless, and gets up to stop the Frog Splash with a superplex. Here comes Debra McMichael, pulling Mongo to the ring. Eddie hits the ten punches on Jarrett and she wants Mongo to hit Eddie. Eddie backs away and Mongo, pissed at his woman and rightfully so, whacks Jarrett with it for the DQ at 4:33. That was going quite well before the finish. [**¼]
Debra raises Jeff’s hand like a moron and whines when Mongo pulls her to the back.
Tony Schiavone brings us the surprise, which is the footage from Starrcade of Roddy Piper beating Hulk Hogan. Before Hogan loses, the feed cuts out as someone in the truck stopped it. This angle is so stupid. It was Bischoff, who is somehow already back at commentary with the tape. He breaks it and the angle still blows.
SATURDAY NIGHT ~ Harlem Heat vs. Public Enemy and Lex Luger vs. La Parka!
Billy Pearl vs. Ultimo Dragon w/ Sonny Oono
Pearl looks like a cross between Bob Backlund and Heath Slater. In other words, his look is shit. He takes a kick combo but manages to avoid the handspring elbow. He goes up top but can’t get any real offense and is knocked down. Dragon hits a moonsault and tiger suplex to win at 2:45. A nothing squash to give Dragon some heat back after dropping the title. [NR]
Mean “WOO” Gene brings out the Four Horsemen for their weekly interview. Ric is excited and tries convincing everyone that things are good within the Horsemen. Debra says she always wanted Benoit to be a Horsemen, which is a clear lie. Benoit says he’s beaten Sullivan and he should drop it. Nothing new here.
Lex Luger vs. Ron Powers
Well, we all know how this will turn out. It continues Luger’s streak of squashing the weirdest looking jobbers. SCREAMING CLOTHESLINE, Torture Rack and Luger’s night is done at 1:11. [NR]
Mean Gene is back to interview Luger. Luger says that though he hasn’t always seen eye to eye with the Giant, he has his back in WCW’s fight against the nWo.
HOUR NUMBER TWO! As usual, Bobby Heenan and Mike Tenay replace Zbyszko. They recap the start of the show.
The Amazing French Canadians w/ Col. Robert Parker vs. Arn Anderson and Steve McMichael w/ Debra
I like AFC’s singing gimmick. Instead of just singing their national anthem for heat (which should technically just get respect), they don’t know the words and sing it horribly. They jump the Arn to start and take control. He fights but eats a double hot shot. Arn takes a beating until making the hot tag to Mongo. Mongo’s hot tag run is generic but the crowd seems to like it. Parker tries throwing the flag in but gets caught. That allows Debra to give Mongo the briefcase, which he uses for the win at 4:28. A basic tag match that has historical significance. That just so happens to be the final match in the career of Arn Anderson. He’d been dealing with some numbness issues and one day woke up unable to move. He got surgery but it was too late. To this day, I still miss Double A. [*]
WCW World Tag Team Championship: The Outsiders (c) w/ Syxx vs. The Extreme
The Extreme are Devon Storm (the future Crowbar) and Ace Darling. They look like geeks. This goes exactly the way you’d expect. Hall and Nash get their shit in and get out. Outsider’s Edge ends it at 1:59. [NR]
Joe Gomez vs. Kevin Sullivan w/ Jimmy Hart
More of the same here. Sullivan is in a foul mood and throws a chair at Gomez. He quickly ends him with a double stomp at 0:44. [NR]
Holly Hogan and Eric Bischoff are out to discuss the Giant’s challenge. Bischoff hypes Hogan, who goes over the list of people he’s beaten. He says he’ll face Giant. In the crowd, Sting and Randy Savage are watching. Bischoff says Savage is out of WCW but can join the nWo. Hogan threatens to put on a posing routine after beating the Giant.
WCW Cruiserweight Champion Dean Malenko vs. Jerry Flynn
This is obviously non-title since Flynn is no cruiserweight. Flynn throws his shitty karate kicks from the start. He’s oddly loud in everything he does. Dean hops over the turnbuckle and Flynn runs into it. He catches Dean with two kicks and a big powerslam for two. Dean catches a kick and applies the Texas Cloverleaf to win at 2:33. Flynn dominated at times, which didn’t make Dean look good. [NR]
A police officer delivers a letter to Tony Schiavone. It’s from the offices of WCW. It’s an announcement that Roddy Piper is getting a WCW World Title shot at SuperBrawl VII! So much for Starrcade being Piper’s last match.
Chris Benoit w/ Woman vs. Hugh Morris
Earlier, Benoit said he wanted to compete alone, yet he brings Woman here. This match sees both men hit each other hard in the opening moments. Morris has dominated the lesser WCW shows but usually comes up short against anyone with an actual name. He hits a powerslam but misses the big moonsault. Benoit goes up for the diving headbutt but a random woman jumps the guardrail to confront Woman. It’s Jacqueline. Security escorts her and Kevin Sullivan arrives to blast Benoit with a wooden chair. Morris hits the moonsault and wins at 3:07. Not much of a match as it mostly just extended Sullivan/Benoit. [*]
Mean Gene interviews Sullivan about the mystery woman. Sullivan gives no answers but Hart doesn’t like it because he’s seen how women have come between the Four Horsemen. Jackie says once she saw Woman hit Sullivan with a chair at the Clash of the Champions, she took matters into her own hands. She’s here to “comfort” Sullivan in ways Jimmy Hart can’t. Okay.
WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Hulk Hogan (c) w/ Eric Bischoff, Ted Dibiase and Vincent vs. The Giant
Hogan is pissed about the Piper match and dares him to show up too and make this a handicap match. Giant comes out and fights off a double team from Hogan and Vincent. He sends Vincent packing like nothing. Giant beats up Hogan some more until the Outsiders run out and this gets thrown out around 2:45. Not much of a match here. [NR]
Lex Luger rushes out to save the Giant and they stand side by side to have a standoff with the Outsiders.
Raw Ratings: 2.2
Nitro Ratings: 3.6
Nitro: I’d say this week was quite even. Nitro had some positives but the negatives outweighed them a bit. I’m not a fan of Benoit/Sullivan continuing, the never-ending Horsemen promo stuff is tiring, and some of the matches were either disappointing or flat out useless. I do want to give the show points for the historical piece of being Arn’s final match. They also had a solid US Title match and did well to continue pushing the Giant. 4.0
