[1997-04-21-WWF-Raw] Vader in Kuwait

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

Vader acted like an idiot, but I always felt sympathetic for him protecting the business as he was likely taught, and the promotion he works for making fun of him on the air for doing so. It was funny that they even mentioned the "Is wrestling fake?" question on the air. Shamrock is with them and is ready for Vader at the PPV, and also throws a challenge to Mike Tyson. I'm sure there's a story here, but can someone explain? Was the deal with the WWF supposed to happen sooner? The course of WWE history would probably be different had that taken place.

[ajtroma]

I think the Tyson deal was just a publicity attempt.

[Zenjo]

I'm sure they wanted Tyson at this stage but probably weren't willing to cough up the $$$'s yet. Vader vs the chat show host was so old school, except with unfortunate cultural misunderstandings.

[Dooley]

Vader said later that he knew he was going to be asked the "is it fake?" question in advance and that the producer encouraged him to go after the host. Whether the host was in on it, who knows.

[Death From Above]

Even before I was smartened up, the WWF hanging out Vader to dry here seemed... weird. Like they were looking for a reason to get after him.

[Kevin Ridge]

My favorite part is Undertaker sitting there barely moving a muscle at this is going on. Lawler gives us a great drawing of Vader and also puts bars across the wrapping of his toy figure box. I do enjoy the Stossels and Belzers being smart around these huge guys and then being put in their place for it. But it is 97 so we are past Vader having to protect the business like that. Shamrock is stumbling during his interview about Tyson.

[soup23]

Lawler was really harping on Vader in this segment and it feels like they already are treating him as an afterthought main player even with the Shamrock match on the horizon. Speaking of, Ken still gives a terrible promo saying the match will be in March instead of May.

[zep81]

Meltzer did say this was a worked shoot. Was it in fact?

[Johnny Sorrow]

They did start including the footage of him going after the host in his Titantron video not too long after it happened.

[PeteF3]

Vader is still in Kuwait after threatening the host of a morning talk show over the dreaded "fake" question. A concerned Lawler has a drawing of Vader shoveling camel dung. Yeah, this pretty much sinks Vader as any kind of main event threat. Shamrock cuts a promo, hyping a no-holds-barred match with Vader at Cold Day in Hell, then issues a challenge to Mike Tyson. Yeah, I don't think there was ever anything to this. Ken is starting to get better as a talker.

[Exposer]

I'm sympathetic with Vader here too. What a dumb question. The WWF making fun of him for being detained is bizarre though. I forget that Lawler is one hell of an artist. That Vader drawing is fantastic. Shamrock cuts an anti-bully promo to hype his match with Vader at Cold Day in Hell. Weird. Then he challenges Mike Tyson to a fight in a WWF ring as a publicity stunt. Also weird.