[1997-07-07-WWF-Raw] Show opening / Hart Foundation and Steve Austin

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Tim Cooke]

Austin sneak attacking the Hart Foundation is everything that made him such a dynamic character.

[Loss]

These clips from Calgary of fans talking are awesome! Vince's narration is classic jingoistic propaganda.

 

Bret mentions that he's not anti-American, just pro-Canadian, which sounds like Vince worrying about the heat getting out of hand. Bret talks about how Canada is a country that takes care of its elderly, has national health care, has gun control and has no racial hatred and prejudice.

 

Bret promises to win the WWF title from the Undertaker at Summerslam, and goes as far as to say if he doesn't win the title, he'll never wrestle on American soil ever again. He then introduces Owen and Davey Boy individually and "Oh Canada" is played on the Titantron. Austin attacks them all with a chair during this to massive heat. Awesome!

[Dooley]

Bret mentions that he's not anti-American, just pro-Canadian, which sounds like Vince worrying about the heat getting out of hand.

To me, it just seemed like Bret babyface-ing it up on home soil.

 

Bret talks about how Canada is a country that takes care of its elderly, has national health care, has gun control and has no racial hatred and prejudice.

And then we had the Harper years

 

Bret promises to win the WWF title from the Undertaker at Summerslam, and goes as far as to say if he doesn't win the title, he'll never wrestle on American soil ever again. He then introduces Owen and Davey Boy individually and "Oh Canada" is played on the Titantron. Austin attacks them all with a chair during this to massive heat. Awesome!

This was a fan-fucking-tastic segment. WWF in spring-summer 97 was just firing on all cylinders creatively.

[Kevin Ridge]

I looked at Bret not saying he was anti-American but pro-Canadian as dialing back heat. It went against all the promos he has been cutting in the US. I did like his overtly pro-Canadian promo though. He will be facing Undertaker for WWF title at Summerslam and if he can't win he will never wrestle in US again. I don't like them making it so obvious he would win using that type of stipulation. Bret, Owen and Bulldog have a moment to listen to Canadian National Anthem only for Austin to attack them from behind. Austin takes joy in this and the crowd seem legitimately shocked at what happened.

[soup23]

Bret Hart comes out for the big hometown promo to much adoration from the audience. The Taker match is established which finally gives Taker some competition in his reign as champ. Hart throws down the never wrestle on American soil stipulation. Owen and Bulldog get the big intros and Oh Canada gets played. Austin comes out and attacks them with a chair to some massive heat.

[PeteF3]

I can't see Bret's line being about Vince wanting to dial back the heat if they were going to end the segment with Austin interrupting O Canada--something that might have caused an international incident 5 years later. And then replaying it after the break. Another ballsy segment after a slew of them to end the PPV the night before. Vince somberly apologizes for Austin's actions, after being in his corner at Canadian Stampede.

[Exposer]

This is tremendous. The opening video with the Canadian fans being interviewed is awesome. Bret, Owen, & Davey Boy get amazing ovations from the Edmonton crowd. Bret's promo is great. He talks about how Canada has better treatment for the sick & elderly, better healthcare, & gun control. He says if he doesn't beat Undertaker at Summerslam he won't wrestle in the States again. It's obvious that still wanted to do that stip so they put it there which is fine. It being a title match makes the stip even bigger. Owen has Austin for the IC belt at Summerslam & Davey has Shamrock for the European Title. Bret says everything in the WWF is American so tonight he asks everyone to stand up for the Canadian national anthem! Awesome. Austin sneaks up behind the three of them during the anthem & hits them with a chair to great heat. This is an awesome segment. Definitely a bold segment but one that worked. I loved this.