Written by: Bob Colling
World Wrestling Federation presents RAW
Date: 11/11/1996
From: Ft. Wayne, IN
Matches:
1.) WWF World Tag Team Champions Owen Hart & The British Bulldog defeated WWF World Champion Shawn Michaels & Psycho Sid to retain the titles
2.) Mankind defeated Freddie Joe Floyd
3.) Steve Austin defeated Bob Holly
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Owen attacks Sid from behind but that doesn’t work out so well for him. Sid sends Owen chest first into the corner and yanks Owen down by his hair. Sid shoves Owen out of the corner and works over Owen’s arm. Michaels comes off the top to hit a double axe handle. Michaels catapults Owen and clotheslines Hart over the top to the floor as we go to commercial. Bulldog hip tosses Michaels but Shawn comes back with an arm drag and tags in Sid. Bulldog drives Sid down with a delayed vertical suplex, but Sid comes back and tags in Michaels. Owen knee lifts Michaels from the apron to get the cheap advantage. Owen atomic drops Shawn and stomps the lower midsection area. Michaels is double teamed in the corner. Owen knee lifts Michaels as he comes off the ropes and maintains control with a sleeper. Shawn nearly rolls Owen up but gets met with a clothesline right afterward. Owen nails Michaels with a dropkick and Michaels is double teamed again. Owen drives Shawn down to the canvas with a neck breaker. Owen comes off the top to hit a cross body but Michaels rolls through for a near fall. Bulldog decks Michaels and enters to deliver a few more shots to the champion. Sid is distracting the champion as Michaels is getting double teamed as RAW goes to commercial again. Owen nails Michaels with a spinning heel kick for a two count. Bulldog gets tagged back in and double teams Michaels. Michaels is stopped by Bulldog with a low blow and Owen enters to double team Shawn once again. Bulldog holds Michaels for a missile dropkick but Michaels moves and Owen nails Bulldog on accident. Sid finally gets the tag and big boots Owen and choke slams Bulldog! Sid signals for the power bomb. Sid backdrops Owen and Bulldog backdrops Sid to get out of the power bomb. Michaels misses the super kick aimed for Bulldog and nails Sid! Bulldog covers Sid and gets the win! (***. I love that the champs got pin fall victory over Sid and Michaels. That gives the Bulldog and Owen a huge rub.) After the match, Michaels is nailed with a kick to the head by Owen, similar to the kick that knocked Michaels out in ’95.
2.) Backstage, Sid and Shawn Michaels have been separated into two different locker rooms. Kevin Kelly tells us that Sid has a lot on his mind regarding Shawn Michaels, as you’d imagine.
3.) After Mankind’s victory, we see the segment that was shown last week. So, it wasn’t part of the Big, Bang, Boom Tour whatsoever.
4.) A video promoting Rocky Maivia who comes across as an All American.
5.) Kevin Kelly is backstage with Psycho Sid to get his thoughts on Shawn Michaels. Sid flips out on Kelly for saying Michaels made an honest mistake. Sid will give Michaels the benefit of the doubt for the steel chair but tonight there was no mistake. There will not be a mistake at Survivor Series as it will be the end of Michaels reign as WWF World Champion.
6.) Backstage, Steve Austin doesn’t think it will take long for him to handle Bob Holly. Austin turns his attention to Bret Hart and their important match at Survivor Series at Madison Square Garden. Austin is going to find Bret after his match and get it on prior to the pay per view.
7.) WWF World Champion Shawn Michaels recently appeared on LIVE with Regis and Kathy Lee.
8.) Backstage, Shawn Michaels is interviewed and says that while his kick was an accident he still knocked Sid out. Shawn says that with the chin that Sid is sporting this Sunday he will be able to do it again especially when he is aiming for it. Shawn wants Sid’s respect and if he has to beat it out of him he will do just that.
9.) After Austin’s victory he heads backstage and is about to enter the locker room but says he isn’t going to beat Bret Hart up for free. Austin pretends to open the door and taunts Bret before leaving, but I’m not sure Hitman was actually in there.
Final Thoughts:
A good go-home show as the top three matches all got last minute hype with Sid/Shawn getting the most followed by Bret/Austin and Taker/Mankind. Honestly, Survivor Series looks to be a loaded card with those top three headlining.
Thanks for reading.