World Wrestling Federation presents Shotgun Saturday Night
Date: 6/7/1997
From: Huntington, WV
Matches:
1.) Ahmed Johnson & Mankind defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley & Jerry Lawler
2.) Owen Hart & British Bulldog defeated Bob Holly & Jesse James
3.) Blackjack Bradshaw defeated Phil LaFon
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Vince McMahon is in the ring and introduces WWF Tag Team Champion Shawn Michaels for an interview to begin the program. There are several officials in the ring with McMahon to prevent an altercation between Michaels and Steve Austin. McMahon introduces Michaels tag partner and foe for King of the Ring tomorrow night, Steve Austin, to join the segment for a face to face confrontation. McMahon knows they are both aware of their fight tomorrow night. McMahon notes that if either man is hurt too badly the titles will be vacated. Austin says that he never asked to be Michaels partner and doesn’t have anything to say to Michaels since Austin was suppose to wrestle Brian Pillman at King of the Ring. Michaels says he was put in the position similar to Austin. Michaels has no problem wrestling Austin, but he was suppose to wrestle Bret Hart instead. Michaels assures Austin this hasn’t been a dream for him either. Austin tells Michaels that Michaels is going to get his ass whipped this Sunday. Michaels reminds Austin his ass has been whipped several times. Michaels suggests Austin pull both his foot and head out of his ass. Michaels is going to give Austin a taste of Sweet Chin Music. Austin won’t experience it because he’ll be kicking Michaels ass. Austin slides to the floor and attacks Brian Pillman at the commentary table. Officials manage to get Austin away from Pillman before too much damage is done.
2.) Johnson and Helmsley kickoff the tag match. Johnson backs Helmsley into the corner, but Helmsley ducks a strike to deliver a few right hands that don’t bother Johnson. Johnson pummels Helmsley with right hands in the corner. Helmsley eye rakes Johnson and sends Johnson to the floor to taunt the fans. Johnson decks Helmsley with a few right hands and is limping in the ring. Johnson tosses Helmsley to the corner to get Lawler to tag into the match. Lawler leaps into the ring and circles Johnson. Johnson tosses Lawler to the canvas. Mankind tags into the match to try his luck with Lawler. Mankind backs Lawler into a corner and fakes out Lawler with strikes. Lawler backs Mankind into a corner, but is decked by Mankind. The show goes to commercial.
Lawler decks Mankind and rams Mankind into Helmsley’s boot in the corner. Helmsley continues with a series of stomps in the corner. Mankind elbows Helmsley to fight out of the corner. Mankind comes off the ropes to deliver a swinging neckbreaker. Mankind atomic drops Helmsley and runs the ropes to deck Helmsley with a clothesline. Johnson gets the tag, but is decked by Mankind to allow Lawler to strike Johnson. Lawler tries to ram Johnson into the corner, but Johnson avoids it and slams Lawler for a two count. Helmsley accidentally elbow drops Lawler and Lawler shoves Helmsley. Helmsley decides to leave the match and Chyna decks Lawler. Johnson hits a sloppy spinebuster to pin Lawler for the win. (*. Commentary didn’t even mention Mankind decking Johnson, but when Helmsley did it to Lawler it made it clear that it wasn’t some kind of major development. There’s not much to the match and they four guys are involved in the KOTR tournament so having them compete here effectively adds some interest into the tournament.)
3.) A video package promoting Paul Bearer holding a secret over WWF World Champion The Undertaker is shown.
4.) A video package highlighting Faarooq, who is challenging WWF World Champion The Undertaker tomorrow night at King of the Ring.
5.) Holly and Owen kickoff the tag match. Holly puts a headlock on Owen, but is sent into the ropes to shoulder block Owen. Owen hip tosses Holly, but Holly gains control with a headlock. Holly keeps control with a top wrist lock, but Owen manages to counter into a headlock. Owen shoulder blocks Holly, but Holly gets a headlock on Owen again. Holly hip tosses and arm drags Owen as Jim Neidhart and Bret Hart make their way down to ringside. James tags into the match and keeps wrist control on Owen. Owen backs James into a corner to deliver a few strikes and backdrops Owen. James arm drags Owen and keeps arm control on the mat. Owen eye rakes James and tags in Bulldog. James drop toe holds Bulldog and tags in Holly. Holly stomps Bulldog and takes Bulldog down to deliver a leg drop to the arm. Holly strikes Bulldog on the arm a few times as the show goes to commercial.
Holly runs the ropes and hip tosses Bulldog. Bulldog goes to the wrong corner and is double teamed as James deliver cheap shots from the apron. James keeps arm control on Bulldog and tags in Holly. Holly kicks Bulldog, and keeps a headlock on. Owen enters and nails Holly with a spinning heel kick. Owen and Bulldog yank Holly’s legs apart. Owen works over the left leg to keep Holly on the canvas. Owen puts an Indian death lock on Holly, but doesn’t get a submission. Holly fights free with strikes, but Owen keeps control and decks James off the apron. James tries to get involved and Holly is pummeled in the corner. Bulldog controls Holly on the mat with a sleeper. Holly punches Bulldog a few times and hits a sunset flip, but the referee is distracted by Owen. Bulldog powers out at two and nails Holly with a clothesline. Owen scoop slams Holly and heads to the top rope. Owen leaps off the top, but is met with knees to the midsection by Holly. Holly crawls to the corner and tags in James. James cleans house with strikes. James misses a running attack on Bulldog and crashes over the top to the floor. James is distracted by Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart. Bret whacks James over the back with one of his crutches. Bulldog takes advantage hitting the running powerslam for the win. (*. Holly and James didn’t provide much here as this was more of an extended squash match than it was a competitive bout. I don’t think there needed to be the interference by Bret as the Hart Foundation should be able to win a lower level such as this cleanly. James and Holly are both played out and can’t be used much longer in their current roles.)
6.) Bradshaw tosses LaFon to the mat, but LaFon delivers a spin kick. Bradshaw shoulder blocks LaFon and tosses LaFon across the ring. LaFon sends Bradshaw to the floor. LaFon tries for a suplex into the ring, but Bradshaw crotches LaFon on the top rope. Bradshaw tosses LaFon across the ring. LaFon chops Bradshaw a few times, but LaFon is sent into the corner back first. Bradshaw crotches LaFon on the top rope and delivers a strike. Bradshaw hooks LaFon for a suplex, but LaFon shoves Bradshaw off. LaFon leaps off and is driven back first into the corner. Bradshaw continues with a clothesline and LaFon bails to the floor to regroup. LaFon decks Bradshaw from behind to gain the advantage. LaFon slams Bradshaw and hits a middle rope senton splash for a near fall. LaFon hits a northern lights suplex for a near fall. LaFon runs into a big boot by Bradshaw. Bradshaw lifts LaFon up and down to the mat gut first. Bradshaw clotheslines LaFon in the corner. LaFon boots Bradshaw in the corner and runs the ropes, but Bradshaw delivers a powerslam for the win. (*1/4. The crowd simply doesn’t care about these guys and it shows that the tag division doesn’t have much interest in it and that’s why the WWF is using main event guys to fill the roles.) After the match. Doug Furnas comes out to complain and Bradshaw is double teamed until Blackjack Windham comes out to make the save.
Final Thoughts:
The action this week wasn’t very good, but they loaded up with a lot of major names appearing on the show, so that was nice. KOTR doesn’t seem to be the biggest show as they had to switch several matches that had been originally announced. I don’t think KOTR is a show that would be worth checking out and this show didn’t help the build.
Thanks for reading.