[1997-10-13-WWF-Raw] Legion of Doom video / Steve Austin and Vince McMahon / Laser Tag Commercial

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

The LOD talk about their first tag title win at Summerslam '91.

 

Then we get Austin and Vince. Austin doesn't trust Vince as far as he can throw him and says he wants Vince to sign first, then Austin will sign. Vince taking out his reading glasses to look as out of touch and geeky as possible is a great moment. Austin tries to leave without signing and Vince reminds him to put his name on the dotted line, so he does. Austin just wants a handshake and they have a deal, but Vince is understandably reluctant. He doesn't stun him, but says he could have just like that if he wanted. Vince isn't content to leave well enough alone and asks why Austin interfered at Bad Blood. This brings out Faarooq who cuts another scathing anti-Austin promo. Austin says anyone of the Nation can bring their asses in the ring. Rock takes the offer and eats a stunner. Austin bails before the numbers catch up to him. Wow, so many things being set up during this time that will carry them for years.

 

Then the LOD talk about Wembley Stadium. These features would be much better now that their history isn't quite so company-centric.

 

Finally, we get a continuation of last week's laser tag saga. This time Sable and Freddie Blassie are involved and engage in a game of laser tag. Mascarita Sagrada even makes a cameo!

[ajtroma]

I think this little chunk of segments shows what a wild identity conflict the WWF was going through at the time.

[Kevin Ridge]

Vince and Austin signed the contract for Steve’s return at Survivor Series against match for IC Title with Owen. Vince might be pushing his luck by putting Austin on the spot for why he got involved in Hart/Faarooq match. Rock accepts Austin’s challenge but gets stunned immediately. Such a low key sell for the Stunner by the Rock compared to what he does later on.

 

I miss Blassie. Laser tag thing was cute with Sagrada’s line.

[soup23]

LOD talks about the MSG win. I like how they are weaving in this story throughout the show.

 

 

Sweet segment with Austin and Vince. Vince putting on the glasses and Lawler and the crowd picking up on how out of touch he looks was a great moment. The roars for Austin are out of control. Austin ends the segment by stunning Rock. So much stuff in this segment for the future.

[PeteF3]

They're definitely giving this the old college try with LOD, but it's telling that the previous week on Shotgun we saw the aligning of Road Dogg & Billy Gunn, which would be a much bigger deal than anyone could have anticipated, least of all Hawk & Animal.

 

Vince signs his release for Austin to return to action effective 11/9, but browbeats Austin into signing or the deal is off. How could they NOT have had this feud in mind at this point? The NOD interrupt again, as basically Russo was becoming incapable of writing an interview segment without one, but since they're keeping strong talkers in these segments I'm okay with it. Also bears repeating how horribly banged up the roster was, which is really what necessitated the Crash TV, matches-are-secondary format. Austin drops Rock with the Stunner for the first but certainly not last time. Yeah, this episode really does feel like a total changing of the guard for the company. Outside of the LOD segments, this is a show right out of 1998.

 

ARNOLD SKAALAND makes an appearance, before doing a Mission: Impossible and pulling his face off to reveal Fred Blassie. We get a weirdly self-aware cameo from Mascarita Sagrada and we're out.

[Exposer]

LOD talk about their best moments in the WWF including winning the tag belts at Summerslam 91 & coming out on motorcycles at Summerslam 92. They also have a piece where they talk about their origin a little bit. All good peices building to the big main event.

 

The Austin segment is great. He & Vince sign the papers for his match against Owen Hart at Survivor Series. I love how smart Austin is here making Vince sign first, threatening to leave without signing, & making Vince shake his hand & telling him he could have given him a stunner if he wanted to. Austin even goes a little more baby face here asking the crowd what they think about Vince having to sign first. I liked that he said he usually doesn't asks for others opinions before doing it. He understands his character better than most wrestlers ever. Lawler was cracking me up making fun of Vince's glasses here too. After the agreement, Vince asks Austin why he attacked Faarooq & Austin says he was in the wrong place at the wrong time because he wants Owen Hart. Faarooq comes out & cuts another awesome promo on Austin. Austin tells The Nation to come down to the ring & get their asses kicked by a guy with a broken neck. Faarooq sends Rocky down who eats a stunner to a huge pop. Austin retreats as The Nation charge the ring. I loved the wide shot of the fans chasing after him as he left the arena. Austin is The Man.

 

Laser tag commercial is fun. The best one of the bunch. Freddie Blassie is revealed as the evil villain & Sable defeats him & his goons. Then Mascarita Sagrada is unfrozen & says something about how they didn't have a funny ending so they gave him a short bit. Short puns. Nice.