World Wrestling Federation presents Shotgun Saturday Night
Date: 4/26/1997
From:
Matches:
1.) Legion of Doom defeated The Godwinns
2.) Goldust defeated Mike Bell
3.) Crush, Savio Vega & D’Lo Brown defeated Aldo Montoya, Freddie Joe Floyd & Steve Corino
4.) Flash Funk defeated Nick Barberry
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Three weeks ago the Godwinns accidentally slopped LOD when trying to slop Owen and Bulldog. Godwinns beat LOD two weeks ago on RAW with help by Owen and Bulldog.
2.) Henry and Hawk kickoff the tag match. Henry and Hawk trade several strikes with Henry getting the advantage. They collide on stereo clothesline attempts and neither man budged two times. They get a running start and collide in the middle of the ring, but get right back up. Animal and Phineas tag into the match. Phineas backs Animal into a corner, but cleanly backs off. Animal gets in Phineas face and they have a standoff before shoving each other. Animal shoulder rams Phineas against the ropes, but is met with a kick and strike by Phineas. Phineas continues with a flurry of strikes in the corner. Phineas sends Animal into the corner and is met with a boot. Animal decks Phineas with a clothesline. Hawk forearms Phineas and hits a shoulder block. Hawk misses a top rope splash attempt as Phineas rolls away and tags in Henry. Henry knee lifts Hawk followed by strikes and a scoop slam. Henry elbow drops Hawk and delivers a strike before spiking Hawk with a piledriver. Hawk no sells and clotheslines Henry. Animal stomps Henry in the corner for a few moments before putting a chin lock on Henry, but doesn’t get a submission. Henry fights back with strikes to stagger Animal, but runs into a boot to the midsection. Animal delivers an elbow drop for a two count. Phineas elbows Hawk and tags Henry back into the match. Henry accidentally splashes Phineas in the corner and Hawk clotheslines Henry into Animal. LOD hit the Doomsday Device and Henry lands on his head lading to a three count. (**. I’m surprised this match was put on Shotgun, but I’m not going to complain about it. This is the match where Henry broke his neck and wouldn’t take the required time to recover and was back in the ring in less than eight weeks instead of the suggested sixteen weeks.)
3.) Goldust arm drags Bell to kickoff the match. Bell responds with a shove. During the match, Helmsley cuts a promo saying that Goldust has set the stage for his destruction on RAW. Helmsley promises no attacks from behind, but rather head on. Goldust sends Bell into the corner and delivers a jumping butt strike as Bell comes off the ropes. Goldust delivers a leg drop and plays to the crowd before spanking Bell and delivers another kick and forearm drop. Goldust nails Bell with a running punt kick. Bell shoulder rams Goldust against the ropes and rams Goldust into the corner. Goldust drops down and uppercuts Bell followed by a running clothesline. Goldust sends Bell into the corner and hits a bulldog for the win in a 69 position. (*. Goldust working as if he’s pissed is always a better viewing experience. Helmsley has brought out intensity that Goldust needed to show.)
4.) Kevin Kelly is in the ring to interview Mankind. Kelly runs off when Mankind shows a flame. Mankind says that some very bad things are going to happen very soon. Mankind wants everyone to be aware of why they are going to happen. Mankind says only one man has ever believed in him in his life. Mankind is pissed that Undertaker tried to take him away from him. Mankind loves Uncle Paul and goes to the front row to talk to little kids. Mankind finds it hard to forget Paul’s face melting. Mankind promises that Undertaker will learn about loss, but first Psycho Sid has a lesson to learn. Mankind asks a little girl if she goes to school, and she doesn’t. Mankind tells a story about Louis and Clark and how they wouldn’t find Sid. Mankind was suppose to wrestle Sid a few weeks ago, but Sid was hurt. Mankind didn’t feel good after being put through a table. Mankind says he wouldn’t wrestle a lot if he didn’t wrestle when he didn’t feel good. Mankind will have a big surprise for Sid on May 11th at IYH.
5.) Footage of Vader threatening a host on a TV show in Kuwait. Vader was held hostage in Kuwait for eleven days. Vader will wrestle Ken Shamrock at IYH on May 11th. Vader doesn’t apologize for any of his statements or actions in Kuwait.
6.) This is D’Lo Brown’s in-ring debut.
7.) Brown backs Floyd into a corner and delivers several strikes and stomps. Floyd hits a middle rope crossbody for a near fall and keeps arm control on Brown. Montoya tags in and hits a double dropkick with Floyd for a two count. Montoya clotheslines Brown, but is stopped by Vega on the apron. Brown sends Montoya hard into the corner back first. Brown sends Montoya hard into the corner a second time. Crush tags into the match and works over Montoya with strikes, but Montoya tries to fight back with a few blows. Crush headbutts Montoya and delivers a tilt a whirl backbreaker. Vega tags into the match and rams Montoya into the corner and hits a spinning heel kick in the corner. Vega decks Floyd off the apron as the Nation triple teams Montoya in the corner. Brown counters a backdrop by driving Montoya down to the mat face first. Montoya hits a crossbody off the ropes for a two count on Brown. Montoya plants Brown with a DDT to counter a backdrop. Corino gets tagged in and punches Brown a few times. Corino runs the ropes, and is stopped by a sit out powerbomb by Brown. Crush enters the match and press slams Corino. Vega drops Corino with a chop and taunts Corino to tag out. Brown and Crush attack the other guys on the floor. Corino is triple teamed as the referee is distracted by PG-13 on the apron. Vega pins Corino with one boot on the chest for the easy win. (*1/2. A good showing for the Nation and the enhancement guys had a brief hope spot to make it a little entertaining.)
8.) Funk controls Barberry on the mat with an arm bar in the opening moments. Barberry breaks free with an arm drag. Barberry comes off the ropes with a crossbody and a dropkick. Funk avoids a second dropkick attempt. Funk hits a double under hook suplex. Funk slams Barberry and hits a twisting leg drop, but doesn’t stay on the cover. Funk chops Barberry to the mat. Funk hits a spinning kick on Barberry. Funk hits a back suplex and signals for the end. Funk delivers a knee drop and heads to the top rope hitting the 450 splash for the win. (1/2*. Simple fun for Funk and nothing more or less.)
Final Thoughts:
A good show this week. I’m liking that main event guys are getting at least promo time to promote main events. If it were just midcard guys I can see it getting a little boring, but they’re keeping a focus on the show thus far.
Thanks for reading.