On February 16th 1997, the WWF brought to customers a hour pay per view event called In Your House: Final Four.
This show was headlined by a four way match between Bret Hart, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Vader, and the Undertaker. In January at the Royal Rumble, Bret Hart eliminated Steve Austin but the referees missed it because they were dealing with a brawl between Mankind and Terry Funk on the outside. Austin returned to the ring and eliminated Undertaker, Vader, and Bret Hart. WWF President Gorilla Monsoon said that although he can't overturn Austin's win but he will not allow Austin to main event WrestleMania. So Monsoon put Austin, Vader, Undertaker, and Bret Hart into the Final Four Match to determine the number 1 contender for the WWF Title at WrestleMania 13. Before Gorilla announced this match, Bret Hart opened up Raw by quitting the WWF because he was tired of getting screwed. Austin repeatedly cut promos about how he was being screwed out of his title shot but he was going to kick the ass of everyone in the match any way. Vader informed us that he was a Mastodon and there wasn't anything anyone could do to stop him. Undertaker said that he was tired of taking a backseat and being distracted by other people to keep him from being champion. Undertaker has not been champion since November 1992 and that was for less than a week. The four men repeatedly got into brawls and interfered into each other's matches. They was a lot of chaos leading into this match. The RAW before the show was preempted by a dog show, so RAW was moved to Thursday and called Thursday RAW Thursday. I have no idea why they repeated the Thursday. On this show Shawn Michaels forfieted the WWF title rather than defend it against Sycho Sid claiming that he had a probably career ending knee injury. He also didn't like who wrestling had changed him and that he had, "Lost his smile." This entire time, Vince McMahon was in the ring interviewing him and seemingly trying to kiss Michaels and sob uncontrollably. This changed the Final Four match from being a number one contender match to a match for the vacant WWF title and the winner would defend against Sid the following Monday on Raw.
The British Bulldog and Owen Hart defend the Tag Team Titles against Doug Furnas and Phillip Lafon
The Bulldog and Owen were doing a lot of bickering during their matches. This stemmed from Owen accidentally on purpose eliminating the Bulldog during the Royal Rumble. This also made Bulldog annoyed by cheating despite the fact that he had been cheating for a few years now. Apparently when the Bulldog fell out of the ring at the rumble, he hit his head and it affected that part of his brain that handles determining the difference between right and wrong. Now Bulldog really hates when Owen hits people with Slammy's and gets counted out on purpose while faking an injury to retain the titles. These teams would meet in a variety of different ways with Bulldog getting upset with the cheating that Owen continued to do. You don't marry an alcoholic and ask them to stop drinking and you don't tag up with the King of Hearts and ask him not to be smarmy and not cheat. You knew what you were getting into when you entered this tag team Bulldog. Accept Owen for who he is!!
Hunter Hearst Helmsley defends the Intercontinental Championship against Ahmed Johnson.
On Thursday Raw Thursday, Hunter was defending the title against young blue chipper Rocky Maivia. Goldust and Marlena appeared and distracted Hunter so he put in extra show boating before hitting the pedigree. Rocky took advantage of this and rolled Helmsely up to become the new champion. Rocky then gave a terrible, I love everybody and work hard promo.
So now Rocky Maivia defends against Hunter Hearst Helmsley. To recap in match between Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Rocky Maivia which featured interference from Goldust and Marlena, Ahmed Johnson lost his title shot and pay per view paycheck. I would be really pissed if I was Ahmed. He probably tried to raise these concerns with Vince McMahon but Vince couldn't understand him because Vince doesn't speak fat tongued gibberish.
Also on this card that weren't announced and had no build.
Marc Mero vs Leif Cassidy
The Nation of Domination (Faarooq, Crush, and Savio Vega) vs Goldust, Flash Funk, and Bart Gunn
At a house show at Madison Square Garden, Savio Vega turned on Ahmed Johnson and joined the Nation, because he didn't like the way Ahmed was treating him during that match. So instead of just letting it go and discussing it in the back with your partner or just never teaming with Ahmed again, Savio decides that the only way to handle this is so attack Ahmed, change all of his values and morals, and join a street gang. Adds up. I don't even want to get caught with Savio Vega in traffic. Dude tends to over react.
On February 23rd, 1997 WCW presented Super Brawl 7.
Hollywood Hulk Hogan defends the WCW titles against Roddy Rowdy Piper
The WCW Championship committee has required that Hogan defend the title against Piper. Piper however does not want the title shot. He said two months ago that he just wanted one more match against Hogan, just to prove a point but it is time for him to go home and be a father. Piper has his 8ish year old son with him. Hogan and Bischoff come out to tease Piper for being a wimp and they even make fun of his son. The kid looks legit scared. Piper says that Hogan is the true icon and to just let him leave and go home. Piper walks his son out of the ring and takes off his belt and beats the every loving snot out of Hogan with it. Piper has been talked into accepting the title shot by Hogan's own arrogance and dickishness. Hogan would spend the next month pretending that he beat Piper In December and that he would do it again. Since Super Brawl 7 is in San Fran, Piper locks himself in a cell at Alcatraz a week ahead of the match. Piper believes that no food, water, or real exercise will better prepare him for his match against Hogan because it might make him crazier. I suggest that Piper intakes nutrients and trains and maybe just skips his meds on Sunday before the match. But what do I know, I am not a trainer, doctor, or psychiatrist.
The Outsiders defend the WCW tag team titles against Lex Luger and the Giant.
The night after Souled Out and the Giant getting screwed out of the WCW title. Luger came out and said that he would stand beside him. This earned them a shot against the Outsiders. The next week, Luger randomly shows up with cast on his hand. He broke his hand and Bischoff says that without a doctor to release him that he can't let Luger wrestle. He needs the doctor's release by the end of the end of the show or his title match is gone. Bischoff says this is because he is leaving the country and needs to time to promote and schedule the matches. We will ignore all of the matches that are put on the card next week and even some that are added the day of. Luger gets his doctor's release the next week but it is to late. Bischoff comes out and and denies him the match, despite the fact that Bischoff was supposed to me out the country this week. The Giant says that he will just go it alone and beat Hall and Nash on his own. It's a handicap match for the titles.
A Four Corners Tag Match for #1 contenders to the WCW Tag Tiltes
The Steiner Brothers vs Harlem Heat vs The Faces of Fear vs Public Enemy
The Outsiders tried to kill the Steiners with their car It gets interested at about the 2:00 mark and includes some nifty camera work. Good Job WCW!! The Outsiders give this video tape to Tony Schiavone to prove that they didn't cause the accident although the video is them causing the accident. It isn't brought up again. SCOTT HALL AND KEVIN NASH TRIED TO KILL TWO PEOPLE AND NOBODY SEEMS TO CARE!!!!! So since the Steiners are injured the match becomes......
Harlem Heat vs The Faces of Fear vs Public Enemy in a Triangle March for No Reason Whatsoever. So the only drama to come from the tag division at this time to hype this match involves two teams who aren't in the match nor will any of the teams in this match face in the future. Bad Job WCW!!
Kevin Sullivan vs Chris Benoit
Their rivalry over who gets to have Sullivan's wife rages on. I think it is at this point that Benoit and Woman transferred this angle from TV to reality. They seemed much more touchy feely and natural with their goo goo eyes. It is very creepy considering what would happen down the road. Kevin Sullivan says that he doesn't care about Nancy AKA Woman anymore and Jacqueline comes through the crowd. She is apparently a woman from Sullivan's past and doesn't like how Nancy has treated him and she is going to destroy Nancy for Sullivan. Sullivan since he is evil agrees to this. During their match at the PPV Jacqueline and Woman will be connected by a leather strap. Sullivan beats jobbers the next few weeks and Jacqueline beats them up. Benoit's portion of the feud other than banging his wife, is to cut nonsensical cryptic promos when standing with the other Horseman.
Jeff Jarrett vs Steve McMichael
Speaking of the Horseman, this story line makes zero sense. Ever since Jeff Jarrett joined WCW, he wanted to be a Horseman, Ric Flair wanted him to be a Horseman, but none of the other Horseman wanted him to be a Horseman. I am assuming it is because they heard what a fraud his singing career was. As the months, and I mean months went on, Jarrett continued to try to get into the Horseman while the Horseman bickered about it. Eventually the person that wanted him in the most was Steve McMichael's wife Debra. This even led to Mongo helping Jarrett beat Horseman member Chris Benoit. Mongo decides that he doesn't want Jarrett in the Horseman despite what he had said and done otherwise. He was tired of listening to his wife. So this match was booked and if Jarrett wins he gets to join the Horsemen. Mongo remains a Horseman either way.
Eddie Guerrero defends the United States Championship against Chris Jericho.
Eddie had defeated Syxx at Souled Out in the ladder match to retain the title. Jericho lost to Masahiro Chono at the same event. Apparently losing a non title match earned Jericho a shot at the second biggest singles title in company. WARNING These are not the Eddie Guerrero and Christ Jericho who would be awesome about 1 year later. These were boring "Yeah!! C'MON!!" generic create a wrestler versions.
Prince Iaukea defends the TV title against Rey Mysterio
This was originally going to be Lord Steven Regal who had the title for months. He went to a time limit draw against Mysterio in a really good Nitro match. This was supposed to be the rematch with the time limit waived. Then the week before on Nitro, Regal is defending against jobber Prince Iaukea and Mysterio comes out to watch, Regal who had been destroying the Somoan, gets rolled up for the 1-2-3. Now you scrap the match with build that people had seen is a very good match-up but this time you will get a winner instead of a time limit draw to replace it with a title defense of a jobber against Mysterio. What a terrible decision.
Dean Malenko defends the Cruiserweight title against Syxx
Malenko was wrestling and Syxx came out and stole the belt. This is exactly what Syxx did to Eddie Guerrero the previous month so you have to give credit to Syxx. He has apparently stuck with two things in his career stealing belts from guys so they defend it against him and drugs. Always do drugs. Malenko took the microphone a week later and asked Syxx to return the belt. Malenko's dad trained Syxx and if Syxx wants a shot all he has to do is ask. Syxx comes out and says that he respects Dean's dad more than anything.... but he is dead and Dean sucks. This was some harsh stuff which Dean responded to by not going after Syxx but staring at him stone faced. That'll teach Syxx for stealing your championship and talking about your family. Watcha gonna do, Syxx, when MalenkoMania stares blankly at you......
Added to the card the night of without anybody knowing ahead of time....
Konan, LaParka, Villano 4 vs Ciclope, Juventud Guerrera, Super Calo
-This was just for the heck of it.
Diamond Dallas Page vs Buff Bagwell
-The nWo had been gunning for Diamond Dallas because he was the only one to ever get one over on them. The nWo would try to attack him but Page would always escape. In my opinion, Page was the third most over face in the company at this point, behind Luger and Sting in the rafters. I have no idea why WCW wouldn't announce the Page match ahead of time. Page was being hinted at taking out current nWo member and former prison guard from Cobb County Georgia prison guard Big Bossman now known as Fat and Lazy. I mean Big Bubba. The entire nWo was walking into the arena and then boom, Bubba is laying on the ground unconcious. Nobody knows who did it or how they did it.
So which event would spend your hard earned February 1997 dollars on. This may be the hardest one to chose since the two companies began competing on Monday nights, but by a short margin I will select WCW because they made you want to see Piper get revenge on Hogan for embarrassing him in front of his kid and the main event of the WWF may only have the title one day because you were going to see the winner face Sid the next night for free anyhow.
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