[1997-01-20-WWF-Raw] Gorilla Monsoon, Steve Austin and Bret Hart

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

Gorilla gets some boos. He's saddened that Bret quit the WWF, but he also tells Austin no way is he going to WM to face the champ. He sets Bret vs Undertaker vs Vader vs Austin for Final Four, if Bret will accept the invitation. The winner will face the champ at WM.

 

Austin is out and cuts a scathing promo on Monsoon and wants to fight him, but Vince intervenes. Bret returns through the crowd and accepts. He and Austin then duke it out.

 

Great stuff that was really groundbreaking at the time in terms of the television format. This feels like the first night the WWF started taking steps in the right direction.

[soup23]

Gorilla lays out the scenario of the Rumble and sets up Final Four. This build feels really like what we see now with Elimination Chamber being the bridge to Mania.

 

"YOu call yourself a Gorilla, yet you yeehaw out here like a jackass" I may start a stone cold quote book.

 

The pull apart between Austin and Bret is really heated. This was great stuff all around.

[Kevin Ridge]

Gorilla getting some boos from the crowd. I want to say WWF was the frontrunner of fans hating on commissioners/presidents of sports leagues. Monsoon is upset at Bret quitting. He declares Austin the official winner of the Rumble. Gorilla sets up a four man elimination match at In Your House with Undertaker/Vader/Hart/Austin. They actually make sense about Diesel not being involved as Undertaker/Vader/Hart are all in as they were illegally eliminated by Austin. Bret returns to accept his spot in four way match.

[El-P]

Great stuff that was really groundbreaking at the time in terms of the television format. This feels like the first night the WWF started taking steps in the right direction.

 

Definitely. This feels like the beginning of something hot, juste like when Hall showed up on Nitro. I haven't watched that stuff basically since it happened, and not only it's great to watch it back because it brings back so much great memories, but it also looks even better with time compared to how things are today. That "jackass" line was classic Austin.

[PeteF3]

Monsoon lays out the main event for Final Four, though he forgets to name the date and then blows off Vince's handshake in a funny moment. Austin is back out to rant some more, and what a glorious job he does of it. More elements that make this segment a few months ahead of its time--guys coming out for multiple segments, a feeling of chaos, JR screaming to cut to commercial break, teases and cut-offs within the confines of an interview, just fantastic stuff.

[Exposer]

Another great segment on this show tying all of the Rumble controversies together. Vince brings Gorilla to the ring who announces a Fatal 4 Way #1 contender elimination match for IYH in February. Taker, Vader, Bret (if he accepts), & Austin are announced as the participants. Taker, Vader, & Bret are in the match because they were illegally eliminated by Austin. Gorilla blowing off Vince's handshake is hilarious. Austin comes out angry that he has to go through another step to get a title shot & cuts an awesome scating promo on Gorilla. He even gets in his face & Vince has to seperate them. Bret comes back out through the crowd & accepts the invitation to compete in the 4 way & brawls with Austin to great heat. Amazing segment. Austin is a star & Bret is the perfect foil for him. This definitely feels like the first time where the WWF is "on" so to speak. One of the most important, and underrated, nights in company history.

[Superstar Sleeze]

Awesome segment. Love when they weave an overarching story throughout an episode of RAW. You have Bret quitting at the outset and Austin berating him. Now Gorilla says his hands are tied, but he is going to force Austin to defend his No. 1 Contendership against the three men he wronged (Vader, Taker & Bret Hart). Austing gets in a greta line about Gorilla hee-hawing like a jackass. Bret Hart returns. EXPLOSION! Everyone hates everyone! Leads right into a hot Steve Austin vs Undertaker main event.

[KB8]

Yeah, this was great. Everything with Austin is gold because he'll just verbally tear into everyone like a madman, and you buy that given opportunity he'll tear into them physically as well. That jackass line at Monsoon was fucking great. It feels like they're giving him a little more leash every week and boy is he making the most of it. Awesome stuff all around and all the good aspects of Attitude. 

[dawho5]

I'll agree this is awesome and the WWF is really building some momentum here.