World Wrestling Federation presents Shotgun Saturday Night
Date: 4/12/1997
From:
Matches:
1.) WWF Tag Team Champions Owen Hart & British Bulldog defeated Bob Holly & Barry Horowitz
2.) Bart Gunn defeated Leif Cassidy by disqualification
3.) Billy Gunn defeated Freddie Joe Floyd
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Holly and Bulldog kickoff the tag match. Bulldog backs Holly into a corner, but cleanly backs off and complains of a hair pull, which never happened. They do a test of strength where Holly gets control with a headlock after a knee strike. Holly hip tosses Bulldog into the corner and Bulldog regroups with Owen. Bulldog backs Holly into a corner and Owen chokes Holly while the referee is distracted. Holly fights out of the corner with right hands and arm drags Bulldog followed by a wrist lock before tagging in Horowitz. Horowitz hits an axe handle off the middle rope and keeps control on the arm. Owen tags into the match and yanks on Horowitz arm. Horowitz arm drags Owen, but Owen hangs onto the arm to keep control. Owen sends Horowitz into the ropes and delivers a drop toe hold. Horowitz counters to control Owen on the mat with a modified abdominal stretch. Owen elbows Horowitz followed by a shoulder block. Horowitz hip tosses Owen and delivers a leg drop. Horowitz gets a two count with a hammerlock pin attempt. Holly tags into the match and yanks on Owen’s arm. Owen takes Holly down with an arm breaker. Bulldog tags into the match and continues to work over the arm. Holly fights back with strikes, but Bulldog yanks Holly down to the mat by his hair. Holly is kicked by Owen on the apron and is stomped by the champs while the referee is distracted. Bulldog controls Holly on the mat with a sleeper hold. Holly strikes Bulldog a few times, but Bulldog knee lifts Holly and Owen tags in to prevent a tag to Horowitz.
Owen stomps Holly in the corner to keep control of the bout. Owen rams Holly into the corner and Bulldog tags in to leg drop Holly followed by stomps. Holly ducks a clothesline and hits a crossbody on Bulldog for a two count. Bulldog stomps Holly to maintain the advantage. Owen tags back into the match to deliver an axe handle. Owen drives Holly down with a backbreaker and stomps Holly on the lower midsection. Owen dropkicks Holly for a two count. Holly surprises Owen with an inside cradle, but Bulldog distracts the referee. Holly still manages a two count, but Owen cuts Holly off with a clothesline. Bulldog covers for a two count. Holly boots Bulldog in the corner and drops down in the corner. Holly makes his way to the corner and tags in Horowitz. Owen nails Horowitz with a spinning heel kick. Bulldog plants Horowitz with a running powerslam for the win. (**1/2. I enjoyed the match as they got plenty of time to work. Holly just needs a new gimmick and he’ll be fine. It’s just tough to buy into him working a dead character.)
2.) Kevin Kelly is in the ring to interview Honkytonk Man. Kelly asks what is next for finding Honky’s protege. Honky isn’t bothered by not finding a protege. Honky has his broken guitar, which Jesse James did two weeks ago on RAW. Honky has a new guitar and promises that on April 20th at In Your House he will have his protege there. Honky says the hits are going to keep on coming on April 20th. All you have to do is line them up and they’ll knock them down. Honky says his new man will shake, rattle and roll on April 20th.
3.) Bart and Cassidy lockup with Cassidy backing Bart into a corner and delivers several strikes. Bart fights back with a knee strike, but Cassidy responds with a flurry of strikes. Cassidy goes to the apron, but is dropped arm first over the ropes and drops to the floor. Cassidy kicks Bart, but Bart sends Cassidy shoulder first into the ring post. Bart keeps wrist control and drives Cassidy down to the mat before delivering an elbow strike. Bart kicks Cassidy in the corner followed by a strike. Cassidy misses a clothesline, but dropkicks Bart on the left knee. Cassidy kicks Bart a few times on the left knee. Cassidy locks in a leg lock, but doesn’t get a submission. Cassidy yanks on Bart’s left knee to keep control on the mat. The show goes to commercial.
Bart elbows Cassidy as Brian Pillman has left the commentary table. Bart sends Cassidy into the corner, but runs into a boot. Bart powerslams Cassidy and delivers several punches. Bart heads to the top, but Cassidy crotches Bart and Bart crashes to the mat. Mankind runs into the ring and Cassidy bails allowing Mankind to put the Mandible Claw on Bart Gunn! The referee calls for the bell giving the match to Bart by disqualification. (*. There wasn’t much to this match as it’s two wrestlers that are just lost in the rotation and doing nothing of note. Thus, I’m not bothered by Mankind getting involved to put over his craziness.)
4.) Floyd starts off with an arm drag and a fireman’s carry on Billy causing Billy to bail to the floor to regroup. Floyd puts a headlock on Billy and runs the ropes. Floyd hip tosses Billy into the corner and plays to the crowd. Billy strikes Floyd a few times and tries for a backdrop, but Floyd gets a sunset flip for a two count. Billy decks Floyd with a clothesline and taunts the crowd. Billy tries for a cover managing a two count as the show goes to commercial.
Billy rams Floyd into the corner and hits a big splash. Billy snapmares Floyd and keeps a chin lock on Floyd, but doesn’t get a submission. Floyd elbows free, but is met with a knee lift to the midsection. Billy tries for a delayed cover, but Floyd kicks out at two. Billy stomps on Floyd and sends Floyd into the corner. Billy takes his time and misses a splash attempt. Floyd fires back with strikes and a leaping elbow strike. Floyd backhand strikes Billy and delivers a heel kick. Floyd climbs to the top hitting an elbow strike, but Billy kicks out at two. Billy boots Floyd in the corner and hits a tornado DDT. Billy covers and wins the match. (*1/2. Billy is looked a bit gassed up and I’m not sure if I noticed it previously. I’m liking cocky Billy Gunn, but he also needs to adjust his character and ditch the Smoking Gunns attire.)
5.) Sunny Undercover closes the program. Sunny talks about Bret Hart reuniting with Owen Hart and British Bulldog two weeks ago on RAW. Sunny says that she’s heard that Bret Hart is setting his sights on WWF Intercontinental Champion Rocky Maivia to become a three-time champion. Sunny brings up Ken Shamrock becoming fair game against the WWF wrestlers. Sunny can’t reveal the name of a guy who can compete with Shamrock, but he’s a beast. Sunny talks about not seeing Undertaker’s face and wonders if Taker is now disfigured from the fire, but he’s still better looking than Paul Bearer. Sunny brings up Jim Cornette and says he’s been keeping a low profile. Sunny talks about Cornette getting rejected by the Blackjacks. Cornette is now focusing on LaFon and Furnas. Sunny says if Cornette can’t bring the titles to them, then Sunny will return to ringside and she’ll get it done.
Final Thoughts:
It’s a fine show with the tag match taking up a good portion of the show and being entertaining. I find it interesting that a lot of the guys on the undercard are either in dead gimmicks or are just lost with no angles and don’t serve much of a purpose. Obviously that changes, but it’s interesting to see how they changes over time.
Thanks for reading.