WWF Shotgun Saturday Night 2/1/1997

World Wrestling Federation presents Shotgun Saturday Night
Date: 2/1/1997
From: New York, NY

Matches:
1.) Ahmed Johnson defeated Vader by disqualification
2.) Mankind defeated WWF Tag Team Champion Davey Boy Smith
3.) Savio Vega defeated Jesse James
4.) The Godwinns fought the Headbangers to a no contest

Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Outside, Todd Pettengill is in a back alley at the Mirage where the first Shotgun took place as if it was a long time ago and not five weeks ago. Paul Bearer and Vader are near Pettengill searching for Mankind in a dumpster. Mankind is seen across the street and almost gets hit by a car crossing the street. Mankind tells Bearer to calm down and reminds us of all the women and dancing. Mankind loves the Mirage because of the sex. Vader tells Mankind to get ahold of himself because he has to wrestle tonight.

2.) Mankind joins commentary for the opening bout, but Sunny doesn’t want him there because he smells bad.

3.) Vader starts off with an eye rake and pummels Johnson with strikes in the corner several times. Vader continues with a forearm to the chest of Johnson and more clubbing blows to the head. Vader delivers a short arm clothesline, but Ahmed doesn’t budge. Vader nails Johnson with a forearm shot to drop Ahmed to the mat. Vader continues with strikes in the corner and pummels Vader. Johnson fights back with stomps and a leaping strike in the corner to stagger Vader. Johnson plants Vader with a spinebuster and delivers a punt to the ribs sending Vader to the floor. Mankind leaves the commentary table and gets in the ring to confront Johnson while Vader recovers on the floor.

Vader has gotten control after a commercial break by delivering an elbow drop to the knee. Vader delivers another elbow drop to the groin area. Vader pummels Johnson with strikes in the corner several times. Vader splashes Johnson in the corner to keep the advantage. Vader climbs to the middle rope and looks for a splash, but takes too much time and is kicked by Johnson. Johnson nails Vader with a heel kick and a few knee strikes. Johnson looks for the Pearl River Plunge, but Mankind enters with a chair. Vader grabs the chair and hits Ahmed. Vader almost hits Mankind, but stops himself. Johnson whacks Vader with the chair two times. The referee called for the bell when Mankind got involved and Ahmed won by disqualification. (*1/2. It’s obvious that there’s going to be some kind of breakup between Vader and Mankind. There wasn’t much substance to the match, which was a disappointment.)

4.) Todd Pettengill is with the Headbangers. Thrasher dumps hot wax onto his arm as Mosh says that they’ve never been afraid of stuff. Mosh thinks the club sucks and they have to entertain themselves.

5.) Mankind remains at commentary and says he doesn’t want to wrestle British Bulldog because he’s not at the right mindset Bulldog attacks Mankind on the stage and tosses Mankind into the ring.

6.) Bulldog works over Mankind in the corner with strikes and stomps on the mat. Bulldog stomps Mankind on the apron as Mankind is on the floor. Mankind crawls back to the commentary table and says “I just want to talk.” Mankind fights back with right hands and eye rakes Bulldog on the floor. Mankind rolls Bulldog into the ring and continues with strikes. Mankind delivers an elbow drop for a two count. Mankind keeps control on the mat with a chin lock. Bulldog sends Mankind through the ropes to the floor and Mankind get stuck between the apron and stage. Bulldog takes advantage with stomps. Bulldog puts a half Boston Crab on Mankind causing Mankind to crash to the floor. Bulldog stomps Mankind some more, but Mankind chokes Bulldog between the apron and stage. Mankind tries for a cover, but Bulldog kicks out easily. Mankind splashes Smith over the middle rope. Pettengill tries to talk to Savio Vega in the crowd, but Vega tells Pettengill to leave him alone. Mankind nails Bulldog with a running knee strike in the corner and sends Bulldog hard into the corner. Mankind continues with a leg drop and covers Bulldog for a two count. Vader has come down to ringside as Mankind backdrops Bulldog for a two count.

Bulldog backdrops Mankind on the stage as the show returns from commercial. Bulldog rams Mankind into the corner a few times using each turnbuckle. Mankind dumps Bulldog through the ropes to the floor. Vader drops Bulldog over the railing chest first a few times. Mankind covers Bulldog and wins the match as the referee was distracted. After the match, Bulldog is double teamed by Vader and Mankind. Ahmed Johnson makes the save with a 2×4.(**1/4. It’s a bit weird to see Mankind wearing sweatpants and coming across as a human being. But, obviously that would become a trademark for the character. The match was fine for what it was.)

7.) Todd Pettengill talks with Paul Bearer, Vader, and Mankind. Meanwhile in the ring, Bulldog and Ahmed are having a standoff with the 2×4. Mankind thinks he and Vader are two peas in a pod. All seems to be going well now between the two of them. Ahmed and Bulldog continue to have issues.

8.) Henry Godwinn is up and personal watching a girl dance on the stage. Phineas Godwinn is on commentary, and Sunny does not want him there either considering their past.

9.) Savio Vega cuts a promo in the ring saying that he cares about one thing and that’s the Nation of Domination.

10.) Vega starts off with a kick to James and several strikes in the corner. Vega eye rakes James on the mat to maintain the cheap advantage. Vega overhand strikes James in the corner several times. Vega chops James in the corner several times. Vega rams James into the corner and hits a spinning heel kick. Vega stomps on James to maintain the advantage. Vega misses a clothesline and James hits a crossbody for a two count. Vega stomps on James to regain control of the bout. Vega chokes James over the middle rope. Vega snapmares James and keeps arm control on the mat. James forearms Vega a few times and nearly wins with a sunset flip. Vega clotheslines James for a two count. James gets a two count after Vega argued with the referee. Vega spikes James with a piledriver for a two count. Vega controls James on the mat with a nerve hold. Vega hip tosses James to the mat and keeps control with a chin lock. Vega rams James into the corner, but James comes back with a headbutt and a few strikes. Vega boots James in the corner to avoid a strike. Vega taunts Phineas on commentary before delivering a knee drop. Vega covers managing a two count as James got his boot on the bottom rope. Vega chokes James over the middle rope. Vega elbows James to the mat and taunts the crowd before putting a chin lock on James. James stops Vega with a jawbreaker, but can’t gain the advantage for long as Vega chokes James over the ropes and taunts Phineas. Vega nails James with a few elbow strikes and chops. Vega hip tosses James out of the corner. Vega misses a splash in the corner and James nails Vega with a clothesline. James clotheslines Vega in the corner again and delivers a flurry of strikes. James struts around in the ring and Vega falls flat on his face leading to a near fall. James backdrops Vega out of the corner and delivers a boot to the midsection. James tries for a piledriver, but Vega breaks free and delivers a boot. Vega nails James with a spinning heel kick for the clean win. (*1/2. There’s probably no reason for this match to go nearly this long with essentially an extended squash. Typically these clubs have been energetic, but that was not the case during this match.)

11.) Todd Pettengill is again with the Headbangers. Thrasher doesn’t understand why the fans don’t like them. Mosh vomits on Thrasher and then licks his own vomit. We get a replay of the vomit, which they don’t actually show the vomiting.

12.) Henry and Thrasher kickoff the tag match with Henry hitting a shoulder block to send Thrasher reeling into the corner. Henry gains wrist control and tags in Phineas to maintain control with strikes. Phineas and Mosh lockup with Mosh getting wrist control and delivers a few strikes to the left shoulder. Phineas counters and tags in Henry. Henry backdrops Mosh coming off the ropes. Henry controls Mosh with a wrist lock, but Mosh counters with a hammerlock for a moment. Mosh shoulder blocks Henry, but Henry responds with a hip toss and Mosh regroups in the corner. Thrasher tags into the match and backs Henry against the ropes to deliver a knee strike. Mosh leaps off the top to clothesline Phineas coming off the ropes as the show goes to commercial.

Thrasher sends Phineas into the ring steps and rolls Phineas into the ring. Mosh leaps off the top to hit an elbow drop on Phineas for a two count. Thrasher stomps Phineas on the mat and delivers a forearm drop leading to a near fall. Mosh tags into the match and leaps over Thrasher to splash Phineas over the ropes. Phineas nails Mosh with a clothesline and both men are down. Henry tags into the match and decks Thrasher with a clothesline. All four men are brawling on the floor. Henry slams Thrasher on the floor as they brawl in the crowd. The referee counted both teams out as the show goes off the air. (*1/2. There was zero energy for this match. I’m liking the Headbangers, but there was nothing here to enjoy.)

Final Thoughts:
This was a lifeless crowd, which is the first instance on Shotgun in the club setting. This week gets a thumbs down from me.

Thanks for reading.