[1997-11-10-WWF-Raw] DX and Ken Shamrock

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

DX have their new intro and Jim Ross confirms that Bret has left the WWF. Shawn thought about coming out here and being politically correct, but since someone else drew first blood, he's going to unload. Shawn brags about beating Bret in his own country in his own finishing hold to win the WWF title, then ran him to WCW with the rest of the dinosaurs. Shawn says his friends there will beat the hell out of Bret one day and also says he would never beat up a 52-year old man. Ken Shamrock finally interrupts and stumbles, and these are the kind of guys that will eat him alive. Slaughter eventually comes out and makes Shamrock vs HHH for tonight. Michaels/Shamrock is a tough sell at this point. This is a flat segment and a reminder that WWF TV went through a brutal period right after Bret left.

[Kevin Ridge]

Shamrock is the worst person ever to try go word to word with Michaels and company. Such an easy win for Michaels to face someone on TV off Montreal. I wouldn’t mind seeing Rude and Shamrock going at it. Shamrock versus Michaels for title at next In Your House. Michaels sends a warning to Bret that he will have to deal with Nash/Hall in WCW. Not just them.

[soup23]

Shamrock is not the ideal first opponent for Shawn after SSeries but the face side is pretty weak overall right. Shawn gives a complete lip service promo putting himself over and erasing a lot of doubt of how sympathetic he was to what happened to Bret.

[Robert S]

Shawn brags about beating Bret in his own country in his own finishing hold to win the WWF title, then ran him to WCW with the rest of the dinosaurs. Shawn says his friends there will beat the hell out of Bret one day and also says he would never beat up a 52-year old man.

It's funny seeing the Wrestling With Shadows part with Shawn apologizing to Bret pretending to be upset saying he knew nothing about the screwjob and did not want to have anything to do with it and this promo back to back.

[PeteF3]

Yeah, "swear to God" all you want, Shawn. Kudos to Julie for not seeing through DX's bullshit. Kudos also to Rick Rude for working the long con even in these emotional times, waiting for the right time to jump ship. Shawn decides to "unload" because someone else drew first blood...as he pauses for a reaction that doesn't come because no one knows what the fuck he's talking about. "Flat" describes this perfectly--even someone like me who's predisposed to hate Shawn, this is an incredibly weak, stumbling promo by HBK's standards. He doesn't have any telltale signs of being on something but I wouldn't be surprised. Not nearly as heated as I remember, either. Ken Shamrock comes out to apparently save the segment, and yeah, this has Bad Idea written all over it. Shamrock's promo is far from great but it doesn't take any skill to just stand there and no-sell everything--something Rude is just as guilty of.

[Exposer]

JR confirms Bret has left the WWF. DX comes out to their theme for the first time. Shawn cuts a promo on Bret. They're in Canada so there's pretty good heat here. He brags about beating Bret in his own country with his own finishing move. He says Nash & Hall will beat up Bret in WCW too. Whatever. He says he'd never beat up a 52 year old man. Shamrock interrupts & I want him to whip Shawn's ass. This isn't his worst promo, but he can't compete with these guys on the mic. Him telling Chyna to leave the ring because she's a woman or a man or whatever is hilarious. Sarge comes out & says Shamrock is the #1 contender to the WWF Title at IYH. Shawn doesn't like that. Sarge announces HHH-Shamrock for later in the night. Ok segment, but WWF is already less interesting with Bret gone.