World Wrestling Federation presents Shotgun Saturday Night:
Date: 1/4/1997
From: New York, NY
Matches:
1.) The Flying Nuns (Sister Angelica & Mother Smucker) defeated The Godwinns
2.) Goldust defeated The Sultan by count-out
3.) Ahmed Johnson defeated Crush by disqualification
4.) Mascarita Sagrada Jr. defeated Mini Vader
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Outside, Bob Backlund is yelling at fans and tells the camera there is violence going on in the building. Backlund thinks Shotgun Saturday Night should be banned.
2.) This is the premiere episode of Shotgun Saturday Night. Vince McMahon and Sunny are on commentary. The show takes place inside a bar/club to give the show a much more edgier vibe sort of like what ECW was doing. Well, this is the attempt by WWF.
3.) Todd Pettengill explains the Flying Nuns, who are Sister Angelica and Mother Smucker. Footage of them leaving a church is shown, but it’s literally just them walking.
4.) The Nuns attack the Godwinns before the bell to gain the early advantage. The Nuns are sent into each other and nailed by clotheslines by the Godwinns. Henry gains wrist control on Angelica and Phineas tags into the match to maintain control of the bout. Henry tags back into the match and keeps a headlock on Angelica before delivering a shoulder block. Smucker tags into the match to try his luck against Phineas. Phineas backs Smucker into the corner, but Smucker drops down to seemingly pray. Smucker gains wrist control on Phineas, but Phineas counters quickly. Smucker reaches the ropes to cause a rope break. Angelica returns to the match as the fans are chanting “go to hell” towards the nuns. Smucker chops Phineas in the corner, but Phineas acts as if he can’t hit the nun. Brother Love comes out to be in the corner of the Flying Nuns. The show goes to commercial.
Angelica backs Henry into a corner and delivers a shoulder ram. Henry backdrops Angelica out of the corner and is fired up as the Nuns regroup in the corner. Angelica stops Henry with a low blow and delivers a strike to gain the advantage. Smucker comes off the top to deliver a strike to maintain the advantage. Henry is beaten on the mat with double stomps. Henry is choked over the middle rope. Angelica leaps over Smucker to splash Henry over the ropes. Henry is yanked down to the mat by the Nuns for a near fall. Henry is beaten up in the corner by the Nuns. Angelica slams Henry and Smucker leaps off the top missing a leg drop. Angelica and Phineas are tagged in, but Phineas cleans house with strikes. Phineas tries to slam Angelica, but stops. Henry slams Smucker while Phineas is kicked by Angelica. Brother Love hits Phineas with something allowing the Nuns to pickup the win. (*1/2. So, this isn’t much of anything in regards to a match. Phineas acting as if the nuns were women was kind of humorous, but also shows how naive he is to think he’s wrestling women. Brother Love’s involvement was not expected, and this has to be seen as a major upset.)
5.) Todd Pettengill interviews Brother Love and the Flying Nuns in the ring. Love says he’s heard what Bob Backlund was talking about and witnessed it here today. Love calls the nuns pure as snow and their bodies have never been touched by human hands other than their own. Love says they shall be known as the Sisters Of Love. Love mentions other tag teams and says they will love them all. Love is issuing a challenge to any of the other team.
6.) Bob Backlund confronts Goldust and Marlena in the crowd and freaks out over Marlena showing off cleavage. Backlund is with the Sultan, by the way.
7.) Goldust ducks a cheap shot and hammers away on Sultan to kickoff the match. Goldust punches Sultan to the floor where Sultan gains control with a few strikes and a headbutt to drop Goldust. Goldust rams Sultan into the ring steps before returning to the ring. Sultan stops Goldust with a strike, but Goldust drops to his knees to uppercut Sultan followed by a clothesline for a two count. Goldust puts a sleeper on Sultan, but Sultan fights free and slams Goldust to the mat. Todd Pettengill is talking to Backlund at ringside. Backlund says he’s protecting Sultan from the lifestyle. Sultan knee drops Goldust and rams Goldust into his boot in the corner. Goldust fights back with a few strikes, but Sultan nails Goldust with a right hand. Sultan eye rakes Goldust to regain control of the match. Sultan comes off the ropes to deliver a leg drop for a two count. Sultan hits a powerslam on Goldust for a one count. Sultan headbutts Goldust and puts a nerve hold on Goldust. Goldust elbows free and punches Sultan a few times. Goldust nails Sultan with a leaping butt strike, but misses a forearm drop. Sultan connects with a falling headbutt for a two count. Sultan tosses Goldust to the floor. Sultan tries to use a chair, but the referee takes it away. They brawl around ringside until Sultan rolls Goldust back into the ring. Sultan jabs Goldust in the corner, but misses a spear. Goldust hits a swinging neckbreaker. Goldust punches Sultan several times in the corner. Goldust hits a bulldog, but Sultan kicks out at two. Goldust nails Sultan with a clothesline for another two count. Sultan hits a Samoan Drop and locks in the camel clutch. Marlena gets on the apron and takes off her top. Backlund gets in the ring to cover her up. Goldust decks Sultan and Backlund to the floor. Sultan gets counted out. (*1/2. The crowd went nuts for seeing Marlena ‘topless’. Aside from that there wasn’t much entertainment to the match. I’m wondering if the lack of effort is because they are wrestling in a club.)
8.) Sunny is pissed about Marlena and promises that she will not be out done. Sunny promises a homemade sex video.
9.) Johnson tackles Crush to the mat and they trade strikes on the mat. Crush gets the advantage with a headbutt. Johnson gets out of a front face lock with a scoop slam. Johnson dumps Crush to the floor and drops Crush over the railing chest first before returning to the ring. Johnson goes over the top to the floor while dropping Crush over the ropes. Johnson runs off a stage to clothesline Crush in the ring. Crush low blows Johnson and delivers a big boot. Crush stomps Johnson on the mat. Crush continues with a right hand as Pettengill talks to Clarence Mason. Crush rams Johnson into the ring steps. Johnson sends Crush into the ring steps. Mason says there is a new movement and that the Nation is going to overtake the WWF. Crush kicks Johnson in the ribs followed by more strikes. Crush hits a belly to belly suplex and taunts the crowd. Crush goes for a full nelson, but Johnson breaks free with a low blow followed by a scissors kick. D’Lo Brown gets in the ring to attack Johnson and causes a disqualification. After the match, Johnson hits a spinebuster on Brown. Crush prevents the Pearl River Plunge and Johnson is double teamed. Crush has a chair and smashes Johnson over the head. Goldust and the Godwinns slide into the ring to make the late save. Johnson recovers and they chase the Nation. Johnson attacks Brown on the sidewalk. Johnson tosses Brown onto a chair and they are on the roof of the car. Johnson hits the Pearl River Plunge on Brown onto the car! (**. Johnson entertains me and this was the most enjoyable match and segment on the show thus far.)
10.) Jim Cornette traveling with Mini Vader is shown.
11.) Sunny does some dancing while Pettengill raps about the competitors in the main event.
12.) Vader starts off with a boot into the corner and slams Sagrada, but misses a splash. Sagrada misses a springboard moonsault, but arm drags Vader. Sagrada hits a springboard arm drag to send Vader to the floor to regroup. Cornette gets in the ring and yells at mini Vader as the show goes to commercial. Sagrada dives onto Vader on the floor. Vader stops Sagrada with a kick in the ring and several headbutts. Vader nails Sagrada with a clothesline. Vader plants Sagrada with a powerbomb. Vader sends Sagrada into the corner, but misses a splash. Sagrada leaps off the top to hit a head scissors and Vader rolls to the floor. Sagrada dives off the top to take Vader out with a dive again. Sagrada hits a hurricanrana and goes to the top hitting a missile dropkick for the win. (**. Obviously this was solid in large part to the style of wrestling. There was some comedy thrown in there, but it was fine.) After the match, Cornette tries to get involved, but Sagrada shoves Cornette over Vader and they strip Cornette of his pants.
Final Thoughts:
If this is a true attempt to get some buzz with an ‘ECW style’ feel, it for sure misses the mark. If you thought WWF having to run shows in a high school gym came across as low rent, well, then you’d likely think the same with this presentation. Ahmed Johnson stood out on the show and his Pearl River Plunge on D’Lo on the car was incredible to see. For a debut episode, this gets a thumbs down.
Thanks for reading.