C. K. Punk: This is the second time, so far in 1997 where WWF has stepped up their game and produced a quality Monday Night RAW, much like the show I remembered from my childhood. The show moved from a one hour to a two hour format (for the first time ever) and they incorporated a good mix of back stage trash talk, promos, and matches. The final tag team, no DQ, match between Faarooq & Mankind and the Undertaker & Ahmed Johnson really provided and exciting end to the night. This helps to push match excitement up to 4.
There is however, some controversy over this show. It was called Royal Rumble Raw and it was being touted that for the first time since the 1980’s viewers would get to see an entire royal rumble match for free (IE: not having to pay for the pay per view (PPV). Long story short, after some push back and threatening of lawsuits from cable companies, the WWF had to back out of this, but do the best they could and simply played a couple video highlights of the Royal Rumble match and have some dubbed over commentary related to the Royal Rumble. Thus, at the time, if you were anticipating being able to see the entire Royal Rumble, you would have surely been disappointed. Additionally, it seems that the Sky dome in Toronto was around half capacity, and lighting got turned down to hide this fact. This dark atmosphere is a turn off to many. I can understand this, but watching it decades later and a fairly low quality recording I did not pick up on this point.
All things considered, I find this RAW to be one of the best shows I have seen so far far in 1997 (though to be fair, we are only talking 5 shows). No doubt there is better to come but I have to think this marks the turning point or WWF in being able to match up to WCW Nitro.
Some thoughts:
We finally got to see a video clip of Stone Cold’s “tainted” victory in the Royal Rumble. Yes, it was not was was promised, but for those who were not fortunate to be able to see PPV’s, this would have been at least a treat of sorts. In 1997, it would have been almost impossible to see clips like this on the internet, unlike today.
Stone Cold Steve Austin was agitated by the ref for trying to pull him off Vader and he gave the ref a stunner. Very reminiscent of the many shenanigans we will be seeing (based on my memories) out of Stone Cold.
Flash Funk definitely has some cool moves to hype up the crowd.
Marlena: I forgot about her staple of smoking cigars. She could be seen having a good smoke on this episode.
My rating:
Acting: 3 Commentating: 3 Match Excitement: 4 Production Quality: 3 Story: 3
Erock:
My Rating:
Acting: ? Commentating: ? Match Excitement: ? Production Quality: ? Story: ?
C. K. Punk: I first got into wrestling back in 1997, watching primarily Monday Night Raw. I am surprised to see how “raw” (no pun intended) the production quality is on this compared to what I remember for the RAW is WAR format. I suspect that this will improve a lot when RAW goes to 2 hour format and especially the RAW is WAR theme. For right now, WCW has a large edge in production quality over WWF.
The acting seems over the top, almost like that of an outlandish cartoon. To the contrary, WCW gives the feel that we are watching a “real” sport like boxing or UFC, which I prefer. I never did like Paul Bearer and still don’t. I am a huge Mic Foley fan, but didn’t seem to feel any connection to Mankind this episode. Vader and Shawn Michael were over the top as well. Bret Hart is really the only wrestler that I think seemed believable.
Keep in mind, I am 100% a WWF fan. That is virtually all that I watched when I was into wrestling as a kid/teenager. I no doubt began watching soon before WWF started to win the rating wars and I can see now why WCW was top dog at the time. I fully expect my opinion of WCW vs. WWF is going to change once the RAW is WAR format begins, along with the attitude era.
My Rating:
Acting: 2 Commentating: 3 Match Excitement: 3 Production Quality: 2 Story: 2
Erock: I remember watching wrestling with my dad in the early days. A Sting fan from the beginning, I was mostly a WCW boy. I didn’t get into wrestling on my own until the 96/97 range. As I got into wrestling more, I began to explore the WWE (then WWF) wrestling as well as WCW. in the realm of WWE/F, I have always been partial (as with many other fans) to Stone Cold and The Rock. These early 97 Raw episodes are completely new to me, although I am familiar with most of the wrestlers.
In this first episode which aired on Jan. 06 1997 I was immediately struck by the awkwardness of Vader’s ‘over the top’ acting. Then seeing Owen Hart Standing there looking all oiled up and posing with a trophy. this seemed a bit cheesy. Mankind was kind of interesting with his entrance, and I did enjoy this 1st match a little, but the timing was off a few times, and at one point I witnessed something strange. A double reversal is a good move, but Owen never lifted his arms from his sides in this process. interesting feat. then comes the team of Razor Ramon & ‘Big Daddy Cool’ Diesel, who were both in WCW as Hall & Nash, but the obvious impostors were awkwardly acknowledged by the commentators, and smoothed over with a subject change and continued with .. what? deceiving the fans? I am not deceived, just disgusted. This team that faced the impostors, seemed to be well versed in moves, speed, agility.. I was impressed by their performance most in the entire show up to this point. I found the Hart v Vader match to be pretty decent on excitement, but I was confused a little about the ref telling Vader not to go on top rope? was there a no top rope rule in place at this time? Finally, the ending of the show was pretty decent, but I felt like this show lived up to a mid week or weekend standard. Monday Night? not quite!
My Rating:
Acting: 2 Commentating: 2 Match Excitement: 2 Production Quality: 2 Story: 3
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