[1997-09-08-WWF-Raw] Sgt. Slaughter and Steve Austin

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

Sgt. Slaughter is one of the top heels in the promotion. Hilarious. He says Austin is still suspended and even says starting tonight there will be a tournament to crown a new IC champ. The crowd HATES that. Steve Austin finally comes out and talks some trash in response and finally gives him a stunner. Austin and Vince end up arguing and Vince gets a little brave before thinking better of it and the ring fills to keep them apart. Another awesome Austin segment. I'm curious exactly when Vince figured out this was his guy.

[Kevin Ridge]

Ground Zero was complete chaos to Slaughter. He picks on Austin specifically and suspends Steve and starts up a tournament to crown new IC Title. He is ordering Austin to be at Badd Blood to hand over title to winner of tournament. See, Austin is not wrestling but he’s already been hyped for the PPV. Sarge had a great looking sell of the Stunner. Two down and one to go. Vince gets face to face with Austin and it’s obvious what everyone wants to see.

[Zenjo]

I just remember this as it's the first segment of the first Raw that I ever watched. In September of 97 I'd finally convinced my parents to get satellite TV. Not for the WWF mind you. I hadn't watched wrestling for several years, but found a different product to the one I had left behind. I was hooked on the show for the next 5 years or so, and 16 years later my pro wrestling love remains strong.

[soup23]

Man, Raw had an electric feeling tonight. Slaughter is getting some heel heat and mugs it up. Austin is now unquestionably the #1 face and he gets a huge pop when he beats up Slaughter. Vince flipping the mic and then backing down was great stuff. The crowd is really raucous shaking and patting Austin when he heads to the announce booth.

[PeteF3]

Slaughter intends to bring law & order to the WWF...whether the wrestlers, the executives (stares at Vince), or the FANS (big boos) like it or not. He also announces a tournament for the IC title and orders Steve Austin to appear at Badd Blood to present the belt to the winner--I'm sure that will go well. Austin comes out and drops Sarge with a Stunner and makes a move toward going after McMahon--I don't know if they had the Austin vs. Vince storyline in mind yet or not, but there's no question that they've made the decision for this Stunner rampage to climax with Vince. Austin threatens to hijack the announcer's table before leaving. Yet another electric segment involving Austin--the guy who in my mind is going to have to carry the load for the entire company from a personal entertainment standpoint for the last quarter of the year.

[Exposer]

Awesome segment. Sarge is interview is says there has to be law & order in the WWF & he's there to make sure of it. He says Austin's actions at Ground Zero were unacceptable reminds him & the fans that he's still suspended until doctors say he can wrestle. Therefore, an IC Title tournament as been announced & the finals will take place at Badd Blood. Sarge expects Austin to be there to hand over the title to the new champion. Sarge has tremendous heat here. Austin comes out & mocks Sarge about law & order & talks to trash. He then stuns him to a huge pop. The fans love him so much it's amazing. I loved Austin doing push-ups & crunches after the stunner. Vince is livid & gets in Austin's face reprimanding him. Austin looks like he's about to strike at Vince at one point. Vince is great here. Austin goes over to the announce booth & takes Vince's seat & intimidates JR. Officials eventually get Austin to leave. The heat & buzz for this segment is great. Austin is special.