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KELLER’S WWF RAW REPORT
NOVEMBER 24, 1997
LIVE FROM FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.
(3.1 rating)
[Q1: 2.7]… The Harvey Wippleman angle played out followed by DX announcing Bret Hart would be out later. See cover story for details… (1) “Bad Ass” Billy Gunn & Road Dog beat The Legion of Doom at 9:23 to capture the WWF Tag Team Titles. Dog’s mic work on his way to the ring was excellent. Dog called LOD “the last of the dinosaurs” and said, “Oh, what a flush!” The WWF has done a great job finally giving Dog and Gunn a chance to begin to reach their potential. The match ended when the ref got knocked down. LOD set up their finisher on Gunn. Dog nailed Animal with a chair. Gunn rolled up Animal for the win. After the win, in a spoof of sorts on Earl Hebner’s quick arena exit after the Bret Hart double-cross, Dog & Bad Ass ran straight out of the arena and into a car and sped away… During the match Jim Ross mentioned that ECW bought broadcast time this coming weekend on WWF TV and “clarified” that ECW’s Nov. 30 PPV is not to be confused with their Dec. 7 IYH (it sounded like a backhanded plug, but it was meant as a boost in publicity for the ECW PPV). Cornette said, “I had it on my schedule to buy the PPV, but unfortunately I have to get my colon irrigated that day.” Ross continued to talk as if it were a given that Bret and Michaels would face off in mid-ring later on the show… They showed a white limo outside the arena and claimed Bret Hart was inside…
[Q2: 2.7]… Goldust was wheeled to ringside in a wheelchair by a nurse. Wearing a robe and apparently nothing else, Goldust again claimed to be an invalid. In a funny moment, he asked Michael Cole to cross his legs for him. Cole did so. Goldust’s character is really taking off again. Good stuff. Vader came out to his music and confronted Goldust. The nurse threw alcohol into his eyes and then Goldust got up and attacked Vader. The nurse removed her outfit to reveal herself to be Luna Vachon…
[Q3: 3.1]… They showed the white limo outside again… They showed a recap of Sgt. Slaughter’s WWF career as a preview to his match at the Dec. 7 PPV against Hunter… Michael Cole then interviewed Slaughter on the rampway. Slaughter said he would be unleashing the most dangerous submission hold in the world, the Cobra Clutch. Cole acted like he had never heard of the hold before. Sarge told him to shut his trap. Sarge said, as commissioner, he decided to make the match a Boot Camp Match. Sarge stretched out his interview, talking about his fictional military experiences playing Russian Roulet, killing people with his hands, etc. A bit long, but a good attempt to rehab Sarge’s image. Hey, he was just AWF World Champ last year, so he must still have it in him…
[Q4: 2.7]… (2) Brian Christopher (w/Jerry Lawler) beat Flanagan at 3:30 to advance in the cruiserweight tournament. Flash Flanagan had to drop his first name as not to conflict with Flash Funk’s name. Cornette ran down Flanagan’s background as co-holder of the USWA Tag Titles. Christopher nailed a sunset flip off the apron to the floor and won with a top rope legdrop…
[Q5: 3.2]… A slightly altered montage with new music aired for the opening of “War Zone.” Very sharp… DX came out again for the much hyped confrontation with Bret Hart. Hunter first said he isn’t scared of Sarge and mocked his interview. The Bret Hart spoof and the Jim Neidhart angle played out (see “Cover Story”)…
[Q6: 3.4]… After a commercial break, Ross and Lawler said the arena was still buzzing over the proposal by DX to Neidhart… A feature aired on Butterbean, including boxing footage, a song written about him, and scenes from his videogame… (3) Ken Shamrock beat Savio Vega at 5:20 via tapout with an ankle lock. Shamrock is carrying himself like a star now instead of like a green rookie unfamiliar with his surroundings. Savio attacked Shamrock before the bell. Shamrock went for an early ankle submission, but Savio reached the ropes. Miguel came to ringside to attack Shamrock on the floor as Savio distracted the referee. Fans chanted “Shamrock” as Savio had Shamrock locked in a chinlock. Shamrock won despite Miguel’s late attempt to interfere. Ross predicted Shamrock would make Michaels tap out “just like at the Survivor Series,” apparently implying Bret tapped out to Michaels, … They showed Steve Austin showing up in his “Austin 3:16” pick-up truck…
[Q7: 3.4]… Rocky Maivia came out with the rest of the NOD. He had the stolen WWF Intercontinental Title belt over his shoulder. As Rocky began talking, the mic started going out on him. Ross apologized for the technical problems. The lights in the arena began flashing on and off. Ross attributed it to the arena being brand new. The TitanTron began flashing “Rocky Sucks.” Rocky sent the NOD to the back to find out what the problem was. The TitanTron switched to a shot of Austin in the control booth messing with the controls. He told Rocky that when his beeper goes off and it says 316, it shows that Austin is one step behind. Austin said, “It is live or is it Memorex.” As Rocky stared at Austin on the TitanTron, Austin came up from behind. Rocky’s beeper went off and flashed 316. Austin then attacked Rocky from behind and got his IC belt back. Rocky fled. Austin told him that was just a taste of what he’d do to him at the Dec. 7 PPV. Good segment… (4) Crush beat Jeff Jarrett via forfeit. Jarrett refused to come out. The camera went to his locker room where Jarrett said he refused to wrestle a “grease monkey” like Chainz. He told McMahon to read the fine print of his contract. Jarrett, by the way, was dressed as a space alien who likes pastel colors. Jarrett booted the cameraman out of the locker room. The lights in the arena went out again and Kane came to the ring. Crush attacked Kane, but it had no effect. The rest of the NOD pulled Crush from the ring. Kane then gave Jerry Brisco a chokeslam… They showed Neidhart pacing backstage rubbing his goatee…
[Q8: 3.2]… (5) Shawn Michaels (w/Hunter, Chyna, and Neidhart) pinned Vader at 3:00 in a non-title match. Vader came to the ring with one eye taped up from the Luna attack. When DX came out without Neidhart, Ross said that must mean Neidhart turned them down. Michaels then introduced Neidhart as the newest DX member. Ross said the Hart family must be shocked. Lawler said Neidhart joining DX proves that everything Michaels said about Bret must be true. Sounds logical. When Michaels threw Vader to ringside, Neidhart and Hunter attacked him. Lawler again wondered aloud what Bret Hart “who is watching this from Calgary” was thinking. The match ended when Hunter threw hot coffee into Vader’s lone uncovered eye and then Michaels gave him two superkicks. After the match, DX attacked Neidhart. Ross called it a “sick double cross”… Really good show if you can look past the Bret swerve …
NOW CHECK OUT THE PREVIOUS FLASHBACK: 5 YRS AGO – KELLER’S WWE RAW REPORT (11/26/12): Punk main events, Ryback challenges Punk, The Shield give their mission statement, Cena on whether A.J. is good kisser
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