[1997-09-07-WWF-Ground Zero] Sgt. Slaughter and Jim Ross

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

Slaughter is getting heavily booed for his recent suspension toward Austin. Jim Ross brings Dude Love out to forfeit his half of the tag titles. The Dude is understandably upset about having to relinquish the title "with a heavy heart and a pained pancreas". Next, Steve Austin is out to give up his belt. He immediately threatens Vince and talks about the WWF repeatedly showing footage of him being dropped on his head when everyone has had about enough of it. He throws the belt on the ground and tells Slaughter to drop down and give him 20 if he wants the belt. He insists on Slaughter picking the belt up off the ground, or he'll beat the hell out of him. Slaughter finally does, then Austin turns his attention to Jim Ross. Austin doesn't take to Ross wishing him a speedy recovery and gives him a stunner! Great segment. Austin is a superstar by this point and there is no turning back. So amazing to watch him get there by seeing the week-to-week stuff.

[ajtroma]

If Austin would have gotten Vince that night, the Louisville Gardens would have crumbled from the effect of 5000 lunatics' pure joy.

 

Louisville is a shithole.

[Kevin Ridge]

The crowd do not like Sarge as he gets a big Slaughter sucks chant. Austin is very angry with Slaughter, Ross and McMahon. The timing of the Stunner on Ross was fantastic. In mid sentence and felt so out of nowhere.

[soup23]

I enjoyed this Austin a whole lot more. I also liked Slaughter standing up straight showing he was taller than Austin. Austin responds with some puns like thats an order. He then stuns Ross to a huge pop. Great PPV segment.

[PeteF3]

Terrific segment that's built up to and sold brilliantly by Ross, Sarge, the Dude, and the announcers. Vince's reaction is great and it's pretty clear that they already have the MSG endgame in mind.

[Exposer]

This is amazing. Sarge is interviewed about the Austin suspension & defends it saying the WWF doesn't want Austin to hurt himself any further. Dude Love comes out & surrenders one half of the tag belts saying he couldn't team with someone else if that was an option because Austin helped him win the belts. Then Austin comes out to surrender his half of the titles to a thunderous pop. I mean he is as over as ever. Incredible to the reaction he gets. He cuts a scorched earth promo on Vince, JR, & Sarge before surrendering the belt. Instead of handing it over he drops it at Sarge's feet & tells him to drop down & give him 20 if he wants the belt. He then threatens Sarge if doesn't get down & pick the belt off the ground. Sarge does so reluctantly & leaves. JR still wants an interview & to say a few things to Austin about his situation. Austin tells him to go ahead & say what he has to say & calls him a fat ass! JR thinks Austin should take care of his health & looks forward to seeing him compete again when he's ready. Austin acts like he's about to leave, but then turns around & stuns JR to an amazing pop! The place came unglued! The heat for this is insane. Officials come out to separate Austin as Dude Love tries to restrain him & calm him down a bit. Vince leaves the announce booth to check on JR. Austin leaves on his own as the crowd chants "Slaughter sucks!" while JR is being taken to the back. Tremendous segment. Austin is a megastar at this point. He's pretty much the guy now.