World Wrestling Federation presents Shotgun Saturday Night
Date: 6/14/1997
From: Hartford, CT
Matches:
1.) Jim Neidhart defeated Jesse James
2.) Jerry Lawler & Rob Van Dam defeated The Headbangers
3.) Henry Godwinn defeated Salvatore Sincere
4.) Scott Taylor defeated Steve Ramsey
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Jim Ross mentions that there was some kind of altercation between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels and neither man is there. Ross announces that Michaels isn’t honoring his contract, which has four years remaining on it.
2.) Neidhart backs James into a corner and delivers a strike to the midsection. Neidhart continues with several strikes and chokes James on the mat. Neidhart stomps James in the corner and argues with the referee. Neidhart pummels James some more with strikes. James ducks a clothesline and hits a crossbody for a one count. Neidhart sends James to the floor where Bulldog and Owen cheap shot James. Brian Pillman comes out to ringside and rolls James back into the ring. Neidhart keeps a sleeper on James as Pillman joins the commentary table with Jim Ross. James fights back with right hands to back Neidhart into a corner. James sends Neidhart into the corner, but is met with a clothesline. Neidhart taunts James on the mat and the crowd. Neidhart grabs James to deliver an overhand strike to the back. Neidhart takes James down to the mat with a double leg takedown and stomps James on the midsection. Neidhart keeps a sleeper on James, but doesn’t get a submission. James elbows free and comes off the ropes, but is met with a knee strike to the midsection. Neidhart overhand strikes James and chokes James over the middle rope. Pillman throws a drink in James face to wake him up. Neidhart locks in a bearhug and drops James to the mat. James tries to fight off a Boston Crab, but Neidhart locks in the hold. Neidhart hits a running powerslam for the win. (1/2*. I have not witnessed a match with as little a crowd reaction as I saw here in a long time. Jesse James is a dead character and shouldn’t be on TV in any capacity. Neidhart is the least interesting character in the Hart Foundation, so this match was likely doomed from the start.)
3.) Vince McMahon introduces Ahmed Johnson to come out for an interview. McMahon asks Johnson to explain his actions at King of the Ring in relation to the Undertaker. Ahmed says that he loves the Undertaker just like the fans. Ahmed wants Taker to wakeup and realize that they don’t care about the secret that Paul Bearer holds over him. Ahmed says they want Undertaker to return to reality. McMahon talks about Ahmed teaming with Taker against the Nation next week on RAW. Ahmed notes that he refuses to join the gang and says he’s the man if they want a gang fight. Ahmed says if Taker comes out as Undertaker that’s fine, but if he comes out listening to Paul Bearer then he’ll do what he has to do.
WWF World Champion The Undertaker makes his way out to join the segment. Johnson sits on the top turnbuckle as Undertaker begins to speak, but Paul Bearer chimes in quickly. Bearer tells Ahmed to listen to him. Bearer says Ahmed will be in the same boat as Undertaker and tells Ahmed he’ll do what he tells him to do on RAW next week. Bearer threatens they could do it the hard way. Johnson tells Taker that he’s always loved Taker like a brother and the fans love him. Johnson warns Taker if he crosses him he’ll stomp his ass. Johnson says Bearer is making Undertaker into a slave and he’ll do what he can to break Bearer from the slave mentality. Bearer orders Taker to leave the ring, and eventually Taker walks off, but doesn’t want to listen to Bearer. Ahmed gets the crowd behind him in saying the fans love Taker and to not listen to Bearer. Taker shakes Ahmed’s hand and departs the ring.
4.) Footage from the ECW Arena is shown where Rob Van Dam and Jerry Lawler destroyed several wrestlers. Sabu was on their side for the beating, but isn’t directly mentioned.
5.) RVD and Thrasher kickoff the tag match. RVD backs Thrasher into a corner and backs off taunting Thrasher. Thrasher backs RVD into a corner and Mosh chokes RVD while the referee is distracted. RVD forearms Mosh on the apron, but Thrasher strikes RVD. Mosh leaps off the middle rope to clothesline RVD and taunts the crowd. Mosh stomps RVD on the mat and chokes RVD over the middle rope. Mosh splashes onto RVD’s back over the middle rope. RVD kicks Mosh several times followed by a spin kick, but an eye rake stops RVD in his tracks. RVD forearms Mosh and tags in Lawler. Mosh is double teamed in the corner with strikes. Lawler scoop slams Mosh followed by a fist drop. Lawler pummels Mosh with right hands in the corner. The show goes to commercial.
RVD slams Mosh and hits the rolling thunder for a two count. Mosh strikes RVD and drops RVD throat first over the top rope. Thrasher tags into the match and double teams RVD briefly. Thrasher hits a gut wrench slam and plays to the crowd. Thrasher sends RVD into Mosh’s boot in the corner. Mosh hits an axe handle off the top rope to drop RVD to the mat. Mosh tosses RVD through the ropes to the floor. Mosh strikes RVD and hits a springboard clothesline to knock RVD off the apron to the floor. Thrasher tags back in, but RVD fights back with strikes until Mosh pummels RVD in the corner. Thrasher tries for a cover, but RVD kicks out easily. RVD nails Thrasher with a spin kick and scoop slams Thrasher. RVD heads to the top rope hitting a splash and taunts the crowd some more. RVD slams Thrasher but misses a moonsault. Tommy Dreamer arrives and attacks Lawler causing the referee to throw the match out. Dreamer pummels Lawler with right hands. (*1/2. RVD was the most impressive out of the group and actually managed to get a slight reaction from the crowd considering it’s a throwaway match. Dreamer arriving isn’t a surprise, but works into the ECW/WWF feud that’s been going on heavy in ECW.)
6.) This is Henry Godwinn’s return to in-ring action since he broke his neck on April 26th against LOD on Shotgun.
7.) Sincere mocks Godwinn signaling that he smells badly. Sincere held the pose for a long time due to Godwinn not looking in his direction. Sincere complains of a hair pull in the corner, but that didn’t happen. Sincere backs Godwinn into a corner, but backs off. Sincere eye pokes Godwinn in the corner followed by a strike to the head. Sincere shoulder blocks Godwinn, but Henry doesn’t budge. Godwinn hip tosses Sincere over the top to the floor. Sincere crawls to the ring announcer to be consoled. Henry follows to the floor and decks Sincere with a right hand. Sincere gains control with strikes to the back of Godwinn. Godwinn yanks Sincere to the mat and Sincere begs off in the corner. Godwinn pummels Sincere with strikes in the corner and chokes Sincere. Sincere sends Godwinn into the corner chest first and follows up with a clothesline. Sincere stomps Godwinn on the mat. Sincere strikes Godwinn over the back. Sincere sends Godwinn into the corner, but misses a splash. Godwinn runs through Sincere with a clothesline. Godwinn plants Sincere with the Slop Drop to win the match. (*1/2. Honestly, I was shocked to see Sincere get a reaction with his antics. Sincere did a good job of being a heel and having a little bit of comedy to garner a reaction from the crowd. I was not expecting to praise Sincere on this episode.)
8.) Taylor and Ramsey trade wrist locks in the opening moments of the match. Taylor shoulder blocks Ramsey and delivers a heel kick. Ramsey bails to the floor to regroup. Ramsey shoulder rams Taylor from the apron and tries for a back suplex, but Taylor lands on his feet. Taylor ducks a wild strike and chops Ramsey. Taylor snapmares Ramsey followed by a seated dropkick. Taylor delivers a few elbow drops for a two count. Taylor connects with a leaping heel kick for another near fall. Ramsey avoids a backdrop with a kick to the chest and a gut buster. Taylor tries for a cover managing a two count. Ramsey strikes Taylor a few times. Ramsey elbows Taylor coming off the ropes for a two count. Ramsey snapmares Taylor and connects with a leg drop for a two count. Ramsey sends Taylor over the top to the apron. Taylor hits a springboard clothesline and is fired up. Taylor takes Ramsey over with a snap suplex and heads to the top rope. Taylor leaps off and spikes Ramsey with a DDT to pickup the win. (*. When compared to WCW’s Cruiserweight division it looks nowhere near as good. Taylor has a good finishing move, but that was about all here.)
Final Thoughts:
A major weakness for the WWF right now is their lack of interest for their undercard wrestlers. They have a strong main event scene, but they are very limited aside from that. Considering Shotgun showcases the weaker aspect of the roster, the show tends to be not so great action wise. There are some positives with RVD getting a reaction and the Ahmed/Taker segment was effective, but aside from that it’s a weak show.
Thanks for reading.