Kevin Ridge

Undertaker and Paul Bearer getting back together? Mankind hits Undertaker with a fireball. Sid actually makes the save to run off Mankind/Bearer.

Owen's pre match dropkick is such a great signature move of his. The one he hit on 123 Kid at King of the Ring was great too. Bulldog defending European title for the first time. Differently than their Berlin match as this doesn't have the early feeling out stuff. This is actually a pretty good match and is probably forgotten with their earlier March match and the post match segment after this. Here's Bret! As someone how was so emotionally involved in the Bret/Owen feud this was such a great turn of storyline telling. Bret is tired of the Harts fighting each other for people's enjoyment. The hug with Bret and Owen is such a great moment but Bret's face during this was awesome too. This blows away Shawn's phony bullshit music videos about his knee.

Weren't their matches in Carnival automatic draws at this point? Nice sequence with Misawa trying to throw elbows but Kawada avoiding and hitting a German. Pretty good action from what is shown. It was believable here that Kawada could steal a victory with all the kicks. Another draw though. This Kawada guy will never beat Misawa. Full match seems worth checking out for me as this was really strong from what is shown.

Good stuff from what is shown. Jun was more than ready to hang with the top guys in singles matches. Blue Thunder Driver by Akiyama. These moves bring me back to the AKI video games. JDW ruined this match with the Kobashi crying finish. He isn't noted for finishing guys with a powerbomb so not sure what he was weeping about.

The Tazmaniac was the underdog. But Taz is different. He can taste Sabu. Okay. They been building Sabu/Taz since late 95 I believe but it does seem to be forgotten what this is even about.

Funk comes off as the easy crowd favorite to go up against Raven. The crowd are ready to get behind Richards but Funk has pushed the "one last run" thing heavily enough to root for.

Good points on the mask since it was fairly obvious from the very beginning that it was Rude. Pitbull #1 is wearing a neck brace again.

So Savage challenges for TV title but doesn't seem to care about winning it when he lets up on Iaukea? DDP charges the ring but the NWO numbers are way too strong for that. Bischoff even gets a kick in of his neighbor.

The Desperados videos looking for Stan Hansen were better than this.

Ross introduces Bret as former WWF champion. Way to set the table. Wants to apologize to his European, Middle East, Far East and Canadians fans. Bret drops the big one in not apologizing to the American fans. Quick camera cut to Vince who has a very apprehensive look on face about Hart's promo. Just great. Bret lays out the most recent history of the problems he's faced. Bret talks about maybe a better man would have quit. Vince, "You did Bret". Hart talks about Shawn's career ending injury and wipes the tears from his eyes. Great. Bret thinks Americans value Charles Manson and OJ Simpson. Hart talks about respect and tells US fans to kiss his ass. I'm really hating Shawn right now. Well Michaels calling Bret "Mark Man" was funny. Shawn talks about fans booing him and that he didn't get bent out of shape. Survivor Series 96? Bret attacks Michaels after much to my pleasure. Great promo by Bret but it did sadly lead to WWF thinking they should lead every Raw off with a 20 minute promo. Those just weren't as captivating as this.

It's funny to watch these yearbooks and continue to hear Ross hawking the hotlines. They tease issues with Bret and Owen and they get into it so much that it draws a DQ finish. Both guys come to blows and it looks to be the end of this tag team. Owen wants a singles match for the European title. What can save this team?

One of my least favorite WrestleMania main events. Just dragged on. Undertaker goes old school with the gray gloves and boots. Hard to follow Hart/Austin on same card. Bret makes another appearance and nails Sid with a chair. Shawn was his usually obnoxious self on commentary taking every shot he can at Bret. Taker wins the title for the first time since 91 which seems like a very long time.

Bret makes an appearance before WWF title match. Hart alludes to Michaels pussy foot knee injury. Damn right. Bret is no longer friends with Undertaker. Sid isn’t having any of this and powerbombs Bret. I would think Undertaker should have been the one to take out Bret. This made Sid seem more of a face.

It didn’t hold up over time but I’m still fine with watching the full thing. PG13 and D’Lo take bumps early on. Ahmed hit a big shoulder block over the guardrail which went unnoticed in the background. They are playing up the everything but kitchen sink angle with the sink being out there. That was a sad piledriver attempt by Animal. Ahmed with the forceful bodyslam of Faarooq through the table. Ahmed and Faarooq had been feuding for a while now. That one security guy doing crowd control earned his money that night. Faarooq takes a nasty bump from the top rope to the floor. Ah, heck this thing is still enjoyable to me. Yes, I thought it was better back in the day but still more than fine to watch now. PG-13 take a great double Doomsday Device to finish it off.

The prematch video package is amazing in setting up the double turn in the match. Shamrock gets the WrestleMania theme as his entrance. Austin gets the glass breaking entrance and has a big fan response. Vince maybe be lusting about Shawn but JR loves him some Steve Austin. Hart family sitting ringside. Captain Lou and Tony Atlas had some good seats too. Them brawling outside sets the pace for things immediately. Vince hopes this match will make Bret come back to his senses. Stunner to a big cheer from crowd. Ross was really heavy with the cliches already. Hart does the ringside figure four which is such a great move for him. Oh, but the crowd likes Bret using the chair to go after Austin's ankle. But Austin gets up and clocks Bret with it much to the fans delight. Crowd just wants these guys to beat each other up. Ross tells us this match is not about posing (he would use that one a lot when announcing for WCW back in the day) and covering up a bald spot. Austin busts out a funky submission. We get the infamous line of Lawler mentioning about Bret submitting to the sharpshooter and Vince's response of "it could happen". Austin gets great blood. Love Bret's sell of the low blow. Vince, is not sure if that was maybe deserved. Sheesh. Vince trying to downplay the violence. Austin choking Bret with the cord and Hart using the ring bell to counter. Back to WrestleMania VIII. Austin shows great fight and we get those amazing visuals of the blood pouring down his face while he's in the sharpshooter. He even fights the Sharpshooter off at times but Bret holds on. Austin passes out from blood loss and we are made clearly aware that Steve never gave up. Announcers are putting over Austin's performance more than Bret winning. Bret ain't finished going after Austin and Shamrock does the great waistlock on Hart to break things up. Hart is not having any of Shamrock and just walks off and the boos rain down from the crowd. Things were so set up for a Bret/Shamrock feud. Big Austin chant. What a match and amazing they could so effectively turn Bret into one of the biggest heels of 97 and set the stage for Austin in becoming the top guy. This is one of my faves.

Sabu speaks? Pretty good english for him. He clocks Alfonso good. And then puts him through a table. No Taz appearance.

Gertner was a better announcer than Michael Buffer. Bubba plays the harmonica for us as the Dudleys show off the tag team title belts.

The Masked Man wearing a sweater that would belong on WWF Primetime with McMahon, Heenan and Jake Roberts. Styles makes over the top facials after Masked Man’s lines for Douglas and Francine. Douglas has a VHS tape to shake at us. Watch the tapes to see what Douglas has done. Swearing promo by Douglas. Bret’s was so much more effective. Shane does some fantasy booking about Rude from 93 facing Douglas of 97.

There is a lot of guys involved here so I’m destined to get lost. They are working it like a battle royal with trying to eliminate guys over the top rope. I feel like Monsoon in not knowing what is going on and missing stuff. I barely noticed Dandy with the hair cut and facial hair. Check out that mangled forehead on that guy who I don’t know name. The match stops and now we have some type of tag match. I have no chance here. Not everyone is up on apron though to “make tag in”. Like the AJPW super long tag team elimination match where only two guys involved from each team at a time. Also feels like hockey with line changes as guys move in and out and don’t have to be eliminated to change up who the two involved are. Had some good stuff but just way too much going on and impossible to keep track of rules/eliminations.

I did get a kick out of Savage taking a swipe at Sherri. Finally we get additional WCW guys to fight it out with NWO. Sting drops from the rafters. I loved Hogan’s over the top selling of this as when it happened at PPV a week ago he was not being too fazed by it then.

Continuing to use Rodman heavily in segments. I’m sure Nash appreciated the dated Isley Brothers reference.

DDP sees Savage as nothing more than a chalk line. Randy is completely in DDP’s head right now. I wanted to hear what Elizabeth had to say. DDP charges into crowd after them. It was amusing to see the security chasing frantically after Savage/Elizabeth as they bolted.

I’m wondering when Austin gets rid of the earring. Maybe it was this year. He delivers another great promo and there is great anticipation for the Cage match now. Commentators talk about how this match will effect Austin and Undertaker too. Austin hits the ring to close the cage door which Sid was trying to escape through. Hart takes a powerbomb and needs Austin to cut off Sid from trying to climb over cage. Bret and Austin teaming up on Sid is nice. Undertaker finally gets involved and takes his own shots at Bret. Undertaker ends up closing the cage door on Bret. Hart got screwed. Bret pushing down Vince and then McMahon’s reaction to it is so fantastic. Just wow. Hart goes on a huge profanity laced promo which leads to the five second delay for USA. Austin lets Bret know he blew it. More from Undertaker and Austin with a pull apart brawl at the end. What an amazing go home Raw finish before WrestleMania. I was getting this show at the time no matter what but if I’m on the fence this show would have sold it for me.

Bret Hart had Kevin Kelly for his interview. Shawn gets Vince. Michaels does not seem to have any physical issues with his knee. Shawn continues his streak of annoying the hell out of me. And Vince yucks it up the whole time. The knee has come along. Hopefully within a few months Shawn will return. Shawn wants to involved at WresleMania. How about wrestling a match? Nope, he is going to be doing commentary during World Title match.

Bret talks about changing the face of WrestleMania by beating Sid for title before to make new main event. He will give Undertaker a title shot down the line. Vince notes some of the fans not being fully behind Bret.