Matt's Classic RAW Review 2.3.97 (two hours)

[The Stats Man]

Aired: February 3rd, 1997
Taped: January 31st, 1997
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Toronto Skydome
Attendance: 25,628
Neilsen Rating: 2.6

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Vince welcomes us to a special TWO HOUR edition of RAW titled "Royal Rumble RAW" in Toronto where twenty-five thousand fans are in attendance (As compared to not even 5,000 in the last arena. Huge difference.) He said Shawn Michaels and Vader are here, and tonight two championships will be defended.


Vader is shown making his way to the ring, escorted by Paul Bearer, but before the match starts Vince shows us the ending of the Royal Rumble, where Austin cheated to win. Vader is posing in the ring and pyros go off, then GLASS SHATTERS and here comes the baddest man on the planet. 25,000 fans are on their feet as Stone Cold Steve Austin makes his way to the ring. Vince hypes that either Vader or Austin could be the toughest men in the WWF! Before the bell can ring, Bret Hart runs down the aisle and jumps on Austin as they begin to brawl!!! Fisticusps begin as referees and agents fill the ring. Bret Hart is thoroughly pissed off as the fight is separated, but Austin and Bret meet in the aisle again! The crowd is going crazy. They love it. Bret is finally pulled away, and escorted to the back as Austin rolls in the ring.


*I tried a new system on this show, figuring there was twice as much to cover. Abandoned it after this show.*


1) Steve Austin vs Vader

Bell rings at 4:58.
-Austin starts with boots to Vader as Big V rolls in the ring.
-Vince announces that tonight Undertaker and Ahmed Johnson take on Mankind and Faarooq in tag action!
-Also, Hunter Hearst Helmsley defends the Intercontinental Championship agains Marc Mero!
-Austin has been booting Vader in the gut in the corner the entire time.
-Austin beats Vader down with a barrage of punches, stands up, spits on him, and walks away.
-Vader stands up and clotheslines the Rattlesnake in the back of the head
-Vader whips Austin off the ropes and clotheslines Austin hard
-Vince announces that Psycho Sid will talk about losing the WWF Title later on tonight
-Vader begins hammering Austin in the corner now
-Shortarmed clothesline by Vader
-Powerslam near the corner, and signals for the Vader Bomb
-Vader pushes the referee away, and Austin low blows Vader from behind!
-JR calls it a street fighting tactic by Austin, as Austin unloads fists on Vader
-Austin pounds Vader in the corner again, and tries to irish whip him, but Vader reverses, Austin reverses, and Vader reverses.
-Vader whips Austin into the original corner, and Austin slams the ref
-Vader levels Austin with another clothesline
[*Commercial break*]

-We're back to see Vader scoop slam Austin, the ref is back up and makes a very slow two count
-Vader with a body splash, which nets another two count.
-Vader tries a standing bonzai splash, but Austin rolls away
-Austin with a scoop slam to the much larger man, followed by some middle fingers, ascends the middle turnbuckle, some more taunting, and a leaping forearm/knee combo by Austin which gets a two count
-Both men up, and theyre exchanging punches almost in a boxing manner. Vader gets the advantage and stumbles Austin, who then falls
-Vader tries a headlock, but Austin kicks Vader in the groin, underneath between the legs
-Austin begins to pound Vader on the mat
-Austin stomps a mudhole in Vader, who's hanging on the bottom rope, the ref tries to stop Austin
-Ref eats a Stone Cold Stunner and the crowd pops!
-Ross says that it should be a decent fine, and a automatic disqualification
-Vader from behind with a clothesline to the head
-Both men outside and Vader sends Austin into the turnbuckle and then the stairs shoulder first
-Vader sends Austin face first into the steel steps.
-A hoard of referees pour from the back and call for the bell


Winner via disqualification in 5:37+commercial: Vader


Rating: 1.0[/color] Sloppy slow brawl, and neither man took a finisher. Entire match was used to preview the pay per view. Could have been longer, or shorter, but five minutes on air did not feel right.


Vince reminds us that Austin was disqualified tonight, but can not be disqualified at the pay-per-view, as the four corners match will be a No Disqualification match.


We go to a preview of live Thursday RAW Thursday on February 13th. Announced is Bret Hart vs Vader, and Sid vs Shawn Michaels for the WWF Championship. The Undertaker, Steve Austin, Ahmed Johnson, and the Nation of Domination will be there.


The next match features Flash Funk in the ring, who awaits Savio Vega, a member of the Nation of Domination.


2) Flash Funk vs Savio Vega

Bell rings at 13:46
-They try to lock up but Vega pounds Flash down to a knee
-Vega into an armwring, and slaps a fist into Funk's shoulder
-Flash rolls over on the mat, and gets up reversing into an armwring of his own
-Vega breaks and brings Flash Funk into the turnbuckle and nails him with a back elbow
-Whip into the opposite corner, Flash Funk moves, and leaps into a sunset flip attempt that gets two
-Funk with chops which knocks Vega into the ropes
-Funk misses with a shortarm clothesline, and Vega reverses into a belly to back sidewalk slam
-He begins to choke Flash on the mat, gets broken by the ref
-Vega chokes Funk in the corner now and hiptosses Funk out of the corner
-Vega stomps Funk on the mat, but Funk no sells it and taunts Savio Vega, the announcers say Funk is about to boogie
-Funk with some more chops, and irish whip, and a back body drop!
-Flash Funk with a clothesline and signals for the Flash Splash
-Funk smashes Vegas head into all four corners
-As Vega is dazed, Funk drops Vega with a standing spin wheel kick and signals for it again
-Funk climbs the turnbuckle and leaps off, but it's only a diving plancha move, which nets a two count
-Funk hits a nice standing somersault legdrop and signals for the Splash again
-Climbs the turnbuckle and dives into the Nation of Domination at ring side!!
-Funk gets back in the ring, and signals once more for the Splash
-Climbing the turnbuckle, he misses a moonsault!
-Savio Vega crawls over, hooks the leg and gets a three count


Winner via pinfall at 4:20: Savio Vega


Rating: 1.5[/color] A quick match, Flash Funk has some nice offensive moves in there, but it was only four minutes long. Vega wins out of no where.


Here comes Pyscho Sid for an interview to discuss losing the WWF Title. Jim Ross is in the ring with the former champion. Ross goes over Sid winning the title, beating Bret, and then losing at the Rumble. Ross says fate is a funny game. Ross asks Sid what he thinks of Shawn Michaels..

Sid says the relationship Michaels and he has is a weird one. He says it goes up and down, mentally, physically, and emotionally. He says it might be a friendship that's on the edge of madness. Sid says that Michaels will agree that evil is just that, it's evil. Sometimes we mistaken it for happiness. He says his evil showed up at Survivor Series, and Shawn Michaels' evil showed up at the Royal Rumble. He says when the roller coaster ride is over, after it goes up and down, it comes to a halt and the smoke clears he will be standing the man. Sid says he will be the man, and the master, and the ruler of the world.


Delivery: 2.5 (I thought Ultimate Warrior had left the Federation by this point?)
Purpose: 3.0 (Hyping Thursday RAW Thursday? I think. I don't actually know.)
Reasoning: 1.0 (Why did we need this? It didn't make any sense. He just talked about random stuff.)

Total Rating: 2.2[/color]


We go backstage where we're going to have another interview. Owen Hart and Davey Boy Smith, the WWF Tag Team Champions are standing by in the locker room.

Vince tells Bulldog that it was his own brother in law and tag team partner, Owen Hart, that eliminated him from the Royal Rumble. Owen tells Vince to not worry about that, he was trying to eliminate Steve Austin, and Bulldog accidentally fell out. He says it's no longer an issue and they've moved on. They show a replay after the elimination, Bulldog called Owen an idiot. Vince reiterates that Bulldog called Owen an idiot. They start arguing amongest themselves. Owen tells Bulldog not to call him an idiot, and that if he shuts up he can take him to the top. Bulldog says it wasn't an accident, as we fade away.


Delivery: 3.5 (I enjoyed it. The fracture of this tag team is starting to really show. I like the little things every week between the two.)
Purpose: 4.0 (The tag champions are at odds with each other. Owen is playing his role perfectly, and Bulldog is certainly not a weaklink. I wouldn't trust Owen, and the fans know that too. Owen's sleezy persona is awesome.)
Reasoning: 4.0 (Did Owen eliminate Bulldog on purpose or not? Is the Bulldog jealous of Owen's Slammy?! We'll find out.)

Total Rating: 3.8[/color]


Up next, the tag champs defend the belts against Doug Furnas and Phil LaFon, again. Furnas and LaFon in the ring, as the champs make their way down. The announcers mention that the teams have done battle in tag team and singles action over the past couple weeks. Owen bad mouths Canada on his way down.


3) WWF Tag Team Champions Davey Boy Smith and Owen Hart[/color] vs Doug Furnas and Phil LaFon
WWF Tag Team Championship

Bell rings at 27:42
-LaFon and Bulldog start off. LaFon misses a sweeping kick, and they lock up
-Bulldog sends LaFon off the ropes, and Bulldog powers out of a shoulderblock.
-Phil LaFon leaps at Bulldog with a dropkick, but locks his legs around Bulldogs knee, into a leglock.
-Bulldog gets to the ropes, both men up, to the corner LaFon with a chop.
-Whips Bulldog into the other corner, Bulldog reverses and LaFon into the corner
-Bulldog charges, but eats a boot to the face
-LaFon dives off the middle turnbuckle, and gets caught in Bulldog's Powerslam position
-LaFon escapes, and sends Bulldog chest first into the wide turnbuckle
-LaFon tries a backlock, but Bulldog elbows out
-Bulldog with a hard running lariat and tags in Owen
-Owen charges, but LaFon with a nice armdrag takedown into an elbow lock
-Owen escapes, and puts LaFon in an armwringer, and pulls his head down hard to the mat
-Owen with a headbutt, and a whip to the corner.
-Owen charges and flips LaFon with a monkeyflip
-LaFon stays on his feet
-Owen turns around, gets taken down with a wristlock, into an armbreaker
-LaFon breaks the submission, and takes Owen to his corner as Furnas comes in and they double stomp Owen
-Owen pokes Furnas in the eye.
-Owen sends Furnas off the ropes, they exchange misses, leapfrog by Furnas into an armdrag
-Furnas with a clothesline, but Owen rolls out of the way and tags Bulldog
-With a test of strength, Bulldog foot to the gut
-Off the ropes, Furnas with a hiptoss, but Bulldog takes Furnas into a headlock
-They exchange headlocks, Bulldog ends with the advantage and tags Owen
-Owen in quickly with a feint spinkick
-Owens tries to wear down Furnas, and tags Bulldog back in
-Wishbone by the tag champs
-Crowd starts to chant "Owen! Owen! Owen!" And Owen tells them to shut up
-The tag champs execute some double team moves
-Furnas reverses an Owen whip into a sunset flip pin, but Bulldog distracts the ref
-Bulldog back in, stomping on Furnas
-Double headbutt by the tag champs, and Owen is back in
-Owen pounds on Furnas, but Furnas lifts Owen on his shoulders and drops him backwards!
-Owen makes the tag, Furnas tries to reach LaFon
-LaFon distracts the ref for some reason, as Furnas with a small package, but no count
-Owen tags back in
-Owen with a spinning neckbreaker
-Bulldog taunts the crowd as Owen reaches for a tag, Bulldog doesn't see it
-Owen slaps Bulldog in the head
-Furnas with a roll up- two count!
-Furnas knocks Bulldog down, and turns into a clothesline
-The tag champs start arguing as we fade to commercial
[*Commercial break*]

-We're back with a double teamn clothesline, as Furnas is still in
-Bulldog with a cover and Furnas kicks out
-Bulldog off the ropes, Furnas with a snapping belly to belly suplex
-Furnas gets LaFon, Bulldog gets Owen.
-LaFon gives both champs clotheslines!
-LaFon with the coconut smash
-LaFon off the turnbuckle into a corkscrew splash roll up, two count
-LaFon with a cross between a wristlock and a northern lights suplex

-Owen tries a hiptoss, LaFon reverses into a stalling DDT
-Pin..Three count!!! NEW CHAMPS!!!

-No no, ref tells them Owen had his feet on the ropes
-LaFon with a small package, Bulldog breaks it up
-LaFon gets Owen up, and armwringers him followed by a hook kick. Two count!
-Bulldog in illegally, drops a knee. Announcers say Bulldog doesn't care if he's disqualified because they'd retain the titles
-Champs try a double team move, but LaFon reverses and Bulldog back body drops Owen over the top rope
-Bulldog Powerslams LaFon, but Owen is the legal man
-Owen can't get up outside, and is counted out to retain the titles


Winners, by count-out at 11:28+commercial: Phil LaFon and Doug Furnas
Still WWF Tag Team Champions: Owen Hart and Davey Boy Smith[/color]


Rating: 2.5[/color] Nice tag match. Not your regular LaFon/Furnas match, it was a showcase for the tag champs and their problems. Had some interesting exchanges though. The ending had some interesting storylines. Bulldog tossed Owen over the top rope, but it lead to the champs retaining.


This is followed by an interview by Ahmed Johnson in the back. They show footage of the Rumble, and the past couple weeks of the feud between Ahmed Johnson and the Nation. Johnson says he's off his Prozac, and when he's off his medicine bad things happen.

Delivery: 3.0 (Strong delivery. Ahmed is off his knocker I guess.)
Purpose: 4.0 (Ahmed Johnson is a big mad guy, and he's coming for the Nation.)
Reasoning: 4.0 (Continuation is never a bad thing.)

Total Rating: 3.7[/color]


We go to the ring where Nation of Domination member, Crush is making his way out for a match. Backstage again, Undertaker is shown staring at Ahmed. They're partners later tonight. Ahmed says he's going to finish this now, Taker tells him if he goes now, he goes alone. But if he waits, they'll bury them together.


We go to a commercial, and come back with "The Bizzare One", Goldust, making his way out for a match with Crush. Goldust gets on his knees in front of his manager Marlena, who blows smoke in his face seductively. She leaves the ring and the match starts.


4) Goldust vs Crush

Bell rings at 44:20
-They brawl into the corner
-Announcers put over the Heart Punch, saying Goldust needs to be aware of it, as it put down Ahmed Johnson last week
-Goldust into an armwringer
-Crush punches Goldust into the turnbuckle, but Goldust with a clothesline
-Goldust with a clothesline over the top rope
-Crush back in, charges, and Goldust hits a drop toe hold
-Goldust with an armbar on the ground now
-They stay in the armbar until Goldust tales Crush down with an armdrag
-Goldust with another armlock, Crush powers out of it
-Crush powerslams Goldust, but Goldust grabs Crush's arm on the way down and into a third armbar
-Suddenly Hunter Hearst Helmsley makes his way down, which distracts Goldust
-Crush from behind with a headbutt and they both go to the outside
-Crush drops Goldust throat first into the guard rail, then a headbutt and back into the ring
-Goldust to the corner and gets stomped to the mat
-The announcers tell us that tonight's tag team main event will be No Holds Barred, no disqualification
-Crush beats Goldust some more, and locks on a nerve hold, into a headlock on the mat
-Crush with a legdrop, two count
-Standing exchanges, headbutt b Crush and then a hard side belly to belly slam, pin- two count only!
-Crushes misses a diving fistdrop
-Goldust with an uppercut, Crush doesn't flinch
-Crush headbutt, into a piledriver attempt, but Goldust with a back drop
-Crush is up quick, punch to the gut, misses an elbow, and Goldust with a DDT
-Both men up, Goldust with some punches, Crush misses a clothesline, and Goldust with his own lariat
-Crush tries a hiptoss off the ropes, but Goldust reverses into as bulldog takedown into a quick two count
-Goldust sets Crush for the Curtain Call, referee walks away distracted by the Nation of Domination
-Savio Vega in from behind, spinwheel kick to Goldusts head
-Crush lifts Goldust up and finishes the match with the Heart Punch and the pin


Winner by pinfall at 8:18: Crush


Rating: 1.0 Very slow match. Lots of rest holds. Crush's matches seriously suck. Headbutt, punches, and a random occasional attempt at slams. He no sells, and often botches on the receiving end of moves. The Nation steal another one.


Cutscene to a video hyping the return of the Blackjacks to the WWF. Blackjack Mulligan asks us what the black gloves and the black hat means. He says the Blackjacks will ride again and laughs as the promo fades out.



As we come back we get a flashback from the Rumble, which is the "WWF Slam of the Week" sponsored by the US Army. Spots from the Michaels/Sid match are shown, and Vince welcomes Shawn Michaels to the ring as the WWF Champion makes his way to the ring. JR tells us that Shawn Michaels is the man, and his greatest years are still ahead of him.

Vince is in the ring, and asks Shawn to respond to the allegations from Psycho Sid earlier. Shawn says if we asked him six months or a year ago, he'd have said the WWF Title represents everything good about the business, but adds that now everything is different. HBK says that Sid may be wacky and a few cards short of a full deck, but Sid is absolutely correct! He says that the title has brought out the worst in most of the people that have held it, including himself. Michaels says that if you have to be bad to be the WWF Champion, he'll be the worst guy wrestling has ever seen. He changes course and says that since we're in Canada, the fans want to see their guy Bret Hart, and if that's what they want it doesn't bother him because he doesn't worry about being popular, he just cares about being number one, because that's what the title and the people have brought out in him.

Vince says that Bret Hart hasn't always been the nicest guy to Shawn Michaels, and asks if he would speak on that. Shawn says he's used to being disliked. He's says when youre the WWF Champion, and if you're honest, everybody hates you. He says everyone hated Muhammad Ali when he was the champion, and now they regard him as the greatest of all-time. Michaels says Bret may call himself the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be, but right now, Bret can not call himself the WWF Champion.

The crowd begins to cheer as Bret Hart makes his way from the back, and gets in the ring. Bret gets on the microphone and says "Muhammed Ali, I don't think so, Dennis Rodman- maybe." (I couldn't paraphrase that. Unintentional comedy.) Bret says no matter how hard he tries to like Shawn, he can't. He says Shawn said it best when he called himself a degenerate. Bret says Shawn prides himself on being a complete jackass. Bret says as far as he's concerned, Shawn is nothing but a punk. Bret says Shawn can stop him whenever he wants, and Shawn grabs the mic. Shawn says he accepts being all those things, but he's the champion of the world.

Another cheer as Austin hits the ring and begins to brawl with Bret Hart! Michaels scampers out of the way. Sid makes his way out and begins to shout at Shawn, as Shawn slaps the title around his waist. JR tells us they need to take a commercial break as all hell has broken loose!

As we come back, Bret and Shawn are still in the ring. Ross informs us that Sid and Austin were escorted to the back. Shawn is jawing with Bret, and drops the belt and drapes across the ring between them both. They're nose to nose, Shawn is still jawing at Bret. Shawn backs up and tries to pick up the title, but Bret steps on it and picks it up himself. Shawn takes off his chainmetal vest and asks Bret if he wants to fight. Bret looks at the WWF Title, and hands it over to Shawn, but before Shawn can receive it, Bret drops it to the ground as the fans explode. Bret extends a middle finger to Shawn Michaels and exits the ring. HBK's music hits as he poses with the WWF Title to a loud ovation.


Delivery: 3.7 (I can't give it a 4.0, because it wasn't absolutely perfect, but 3.5 was too low. I cut the middle even though I rarely try to do that. Shawn was off the hook, but Bret's continuance was a little sloppy. The difference between Michaels and Hart has always been mic skills.)
Purpose: 4.0 (That was fantastic. Michaels hit every note possible and did a very well job at that. He addressed Sid, Bret Hart, the WWF Title, and then pageantry with Bret at the end was absolutely compelling.)
Reasoning: 4.0 (Talked about Sid's claims earlier, and gave a reasoning why Sid was right. He talked about what the WWF Title means, and how it changes people and how it's changed him. Phenomenal. We heard everything we wanted to hear as fans of the business, whether you love him or hate him.)

Total Rating: 3.9[/color]


Marc Mero is in the ring, as the Intercontinental Champion Hunter Hearst Helmsley makes his way down the aisle. The announcers tell us that this a "No Managers Allowed" match, because of Mr. Hughes's involvement in Helmsley's matches lately. Also, Sable got involved in Mero's match against the Undertaker earlier this week, so both managed have been banned for this match. They add that this is Mero's last chance at Helmsley's IC Title.


5) WWF Intercontinental Champion Hunter Hearst Helmsley[/color] vs Marc Mero
WWF Intercontinental Championship

Bell rings at 1:07:34
-Lock up, Hunter with a standing shoulderlock, Mero reverses into one of his own, and Hunter drops Mero with a drop toe hold
-Hunter rolls over into a headlock, but Mero escapes and flips Helmsley into a grounded armbar
-Hunter gets out of it, sends Mero off the ropes and takes him down with a shoulderblock
-Hunter off the ropes, Mero with a hiptoss
-Helmsley crawls to the corner and gets up. Lock up, Hunter into a headlock
-Mero off the ropes, leapfrog, Mero takes Hunter down with multiple arm drags
-Mero with a dropkick, Helmsley gets into the corner again
-Helmsley with a boot to the gut, and sends Mero face first into the turnbuckle
-Helmsley with a whip, Mero reverses and flips the champ back first to the mat
-Mero clotheslines Helmsley over the top rope
-Mero tries a diving splash to the outside, but the champ moves
-Mero recovers and sends Helmsley into the apron, and back in the ring
-Mero tries a slingshot splash, but goes ribs first into Hunter's knees!
-Helmsley knees Mero into the ribs a couple times and drops the challenger with a long stalling vertical suplex
-Helmsley poses, drops a knee, tries a pin and only gets two
-Helmsley tries a back suplex, but Mero escapes and rolls the champ up in a fancy double legged bridge pin, but only gets two
-Hunter misses a clothesline, Mero sends him off the ropes and ducks down, but Helmsley meets him with a facecrusher across the knee
-Helmsley puts Mero in the corner and slaps a chop!
-And again as we go to commercial..
[*Commercial break*]

-We're back to see Mero trip Helmsley face first into the turnbuckle pad
-Mero off the ropes, Helmsley tries to grab him, but Mero grabs Hunter's head and slams him face first to the mat
-They begin to brawl, Mero goes off the ropes and Helmsley tries a tilt-a-whirl slam, but it's reversed into a flipping hurricanarana like move from Mero
-Mero off the ropes and knocks the champ down with a diving forearm
-Mero goes off the ropes and slams a knee into Helmsleys head, which puts the champion down again
-Mero whips Helmsley into the opposite corner, and Helmsley takes the pattened Flair Flop over the turnbuckle to the outside
-Mero flies off the back ropes and flips onto Helmsley with a somersault plancha to the outside!!
-Mero sends Helmsley into the stairs
-The champion is groggy, and gets rolled into the ring
-Mero jumps into the ring with a slingshot legdrop across Helmsleys head and tries a pin, but Helmsley kicks out!
-Mero buries the champ in the corner and ascends, pounding his fist into Helmsleys head to the count of ten
-Whip into the opposite corner, followed by a charge but Hunter gets the foot up
-Helmsley tries to climb to the top rope but it tripped up by Mero, and crotches across the turnbuckle
-Mero sets himself and hits a top rope Frakensteiner..
-Mero pauses, and crawls for a cover. ONLY A TWO COUNT!!
-Mero off the ropes, and Hunter drops him with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Both men down
-The champ is up first, as the ref tends on Marc Mero
-Helmsley uses this to remove a turnbuckle pad and go back on the assault
-They exchange irish whip reversals, until Mero puts Hunter in a firemans carry and drops Helmsley with a samoan drop
-Mero signals for a "Merosault" and climbs the turnbuckle
-Mero jumps, turns around in mid air and springs off the top rope into a moonsault splash to a standing Helmsley, roll up and still can't keep the champ down! Just two again!
-Both men up, Helmsley tries to whip Mero into the exposed turnbuckle, but Mero stops and back elbows the champ
-Mero shows the referee the exposed turnbuckle, and then gets hit in the face by Helmsley who used the distraction to pull brass knuckles from his boot
-The referee turns around, and counts to three!


Winner via pinfall, and still Intercontinental Champion, at 10:26+commercial: Hunter Hearst Helmsley[/color]


Rating: 3.5[/color] Excellent match. Really good match for free tv. Helmsley is still the champ, but Marc Mero was impressive.


Main event time. Ahmed Johnson makes his way out, and poses in the ring with a 2x4 wooden plank. Gong strikes, the arena darkens and out comes the Phenom, the Undertaker.


6) Ahmed Johnson and Undertaker vs Faarooq and Mankind

Bell rings at 1:24:51
-All four men brawl to begin. Mankind and Taker outside
-Ahmed Johnson hits a hard spinebuster on Faarooq inside
-Announcers put over the fact that this match is No Holds Barred
-Mankind into the guard rail
-Ahmed takes Faarooq off the top rope with a press slam
-Faarooq off the ropes, Johnson misses a punch, Faarooq applies a sleeper
-Ahmed fades to a knee
-Mankind gets sent into the steel guard rail again, Taker makes his way into the ring
-Taker breaks the sleeper with an elbow to Faarooq
-Taker with the soupbone punches to Faarooq in the corner
-Ahmed and Mankind outside, Ahmed sends Mankind face first into the steps
-Faarooq gets sent to the corner, and back elbows Taker
-Faarooq with a stiff clotheslines
-Undertaker sits up
-Undertaker with a clothesline to Faarooq
-Undertaker is going Old School on the top rope connects with a forearm!
-Mankind tries to get in the ring, but Taker sends him outside
-Ahmed rolls Mankind inside and Taker sends Mankind to the corner
-Ahmed and Faarooq brawl outside
-We go to commercial as the Nation of Domination make their way out
[*Commercial Break*]

-When we come back, Undertaker is attempting Old School on Mankind
-Taker falls off the ropes into the Mandible Claw!!
-Mankind gets Undertaker on the ground, but Ahmed breaks the hold
-Johnson with a kick to the gut
-Ahmed Johnson sets Mankind for a Pearl River Plunge as the crowd cheers and connects!
-Ahmed tries the pin, but Faarooq breaks it up at the last moment
-Faarooq comes in and levels Ahmed Johnson with a Dominator
-Faarooq is the only person standing
-Faarooq takes this time to pose and taunt Ahmed Johnson
-Tries a pin, but Taker breaks it
-Mankind has a chair, targetting Undertaker
-Mankind charges, and Undertaker boots the chair into Mankinds face
-Ahmed Johnson to the outside and is brawling with all of the Nation
-Undertaker chokeslams Mankind in the ring
-Ahmed Johnson chases the Nation up the aisle
-Faarooq and Mankind double team Undertaker
-Ahmed Johnson gets in the ring with the 2x4 and sends Faarooq outside
-Undertaker unloads on Mankind with a barrage of fists in the corner
-Johnson stalks Faarooq up the aisle as Faarooq retreats
-Mankind off the ropes, spinning neckbreaker on Undertaker
-Mankind accidentally throws powder in his own face
-Vader hits the ring, off the ropes and body splashes the Undertaker
-Vader tells Mankind to grab Taker
-They try a double team chair assault, but Taker ducks and Vader slams Mankind stiff with the chair
-Vader sends the chair across Takers back
-Taker stands up unaffected, and throws Vader to the outside
-Tombstone on the chair to Mankind for the three count


Winners via pinfall at 7:44+commercial: Undertaker and Ahmed Johnson


Rating: 2.5[/color] Fun brawl. All four guys worked well together, and there was some fun moments. Everyone looked strong and requiring a Tombstone to a chair put an exclaimation on the finish


Show Rating: B-

The second half of the show was much better than the first half. Shawn Michaels promo was the highlight. Absolutely great. The main event was a top tier tag brawl. Mankind took some hard shots. We had some good pay per view hype, but the show really tried to hype up Thursday RAW Thursday more. There's still only two matches announced for IYH: Final Four.


MVP: Shawn Michaels
Non-MVP: Crush

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