WWF LiveWire 12/19/1996: Year in Review
Dec 18, 2015 23:31:39 GMT
Post by thecommish on Dec 18, 2015 23:31:39 GMT
WWF LiveWire
12/19/1996
USA Network
Jim Ross: “Hello and welcome everyone to this very special edition of WWF LiveWire. Happy holidays to you all – I’m Jim Ross and joining me as always is the one and only Vic Venom.”
Vic Venom: “J.R., you have the best Christmas present anyone could every receive right here this morning. You get to spend a whole hour with the man, the myth, the mind that is Vic Venom.”
Jim Ross: “… I’m sure it’ll be a pleasure. As you know fans, we are now weeks away from the Royal Rumble in San Antonio, Texas on January 19. It’s the start of the Road to WrestleMania and since we’re about to start a new chapter, it’s a good time to look back on the year that lead us to this point.”
Vic Venom: “It’s a fool who doesn’t learn from the events of the past. All you Venom-Heads at home and all the WWF superstars watching, don’t go anywhere because you all have a lot to learn!”
Jim Ross: “Where better to start than with the World Wrestling Federation Championship. We are just over a month removed from the Survivor Series, where Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart made his triumphant return to the WWF. However, before we get to that point, let’s go back to WrestleMania 12 in Anaheim.”
[VTR]
Cut to the final seconds of the Iron Man match between WWF Champion Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels – which end at 60 minutes with no falls scored. A furious Bret Hart is called back to the ring for a sudden death over-time match. Cut to Shawn Michaels landing the Sweet Chin Music on Bret Hart, scoring the pin to achieve his childhood dream of becoming WWF Champion. We see a furious Bret Hart walk out as Michaels celebrates.
[End VTR]
Jim Ross: “That was the last any of us saw of Bret Hart for quite sometime. Certainly there was considerable controversy over where there should have even been a sudden death round. Bret certainly didn’t think it was fair.”
Vic Venom: “Oh boo hoo. You know, Bret’s always cryin’ about something. He’s still complaining – even though it all worked out for him in the end.”
Jim Ross: “We’ll get to that momentarily! While Bret Hart retreated to Calgary after WrestleMania 12, Shawn Michaels arguably became the most fighting WWF Champion of all-time facing a new challenger on a monthly basis.”
[VTR]
Cut to the final moments of Shawn Michaels defending the WWF Title against Vader in April at In Your House: It’s Time. Michaels somehow manages to kick out of a power-bomb, before battling back and sending the Mastodon right out of the WWF with some Sweet Chin Music.
Cut to the final moments of In Your House: Every Dog Has His Day where Michaels slides his way out of a running power-slam from The British Bulldog and drills him with super kick to retain once again.
Cut to Monday Night Raw were a victory ceremony for Shawn is interrupted by The Kid and his new pal Hunter Hearst Helmsley, who blind-side Michaels. Shawn’s old pal Razor Ramon hits the ring seemingly to help out, only to join in on the attack and level HBK with the Razor’s Edge.
Cut to the following week on Monday Night Raw, where Shawn Michaels tries to convince his oldest friend Diesel to put their differences aside and join forces against this new Clique. Diesel tells Shawn his main concern is HBK’s own belt – but he’ll do Shawn this one favor if Michaels will agree to face him at SummerSlam. Shawn agrees –and Two Dudes with Attitude reunite for the King of the Ring to face Razor Ramon, Hunter Hearst Helmsley and the newly-rebranded X-Pac in a 3-on-2 match.
We cut to Diesel showing his true colors at King of the Ring and short-arm clotheslining Michaels as Shawn goes for a hot tag. Diesel lays his so-called best friend out with a power-bomb and then just watches as Hunter Hearst Helmsley plants a prone Michaels with a Pedigree for the pin. After the match, the formerly stern Diesel cracks a smile and trades Too Sweet hand gestures with the Clique.
[End VTR]
Jim Ross: “The WWF Champion was in serious trouble and totally outnumbered in his war with the Clique. When we come back, it’s SummerSlam… and return of the Hitman.”
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Commercial break
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Jim Ross: “We’re back fans. When we left you, it looked like what all hope was lost for World Wrestling Federation Champion Shawn Michaels.”
Vic Venom: “If only, J.R. If only!”
Jim Ross: “Let’s go back to the events leading up to SummerSlam: Good Friends Better Enemies, and beyond.”
[VTR]
Cut to Monday Night Raw, where WWF president Gorilla Monsoon begrudgingly announces that he cannot stand in the way of Diesel’s contractually guaranteed SummerSlam title match, despite his actions. However, Monsoon is banning every member of the Clique from ringside for the bout – on the threat of firing.
Cut to Shawn Michaels squaring off with X-Pac in a non-title match on the last Monday Night Raw before SummerSlam. Just as HBK is going for the Sweet Chin Music, HHH and Razor Ramon hit the ring to attack HBK. Finally Diesel strolls out once the champion has been decimated and lays him out with a Jacknife powerbomb, and the Clique celebrate as Raw goes off the air.
Cut to a heavily bandaged Shawn Michaels at WWF SummerSlam at the Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Diesel absolutely punishes the injured Michaels, but the champion will not stay down. A Jacknife powerbomb won’t even put HBK down for the count. And not even a second one! Diesel snaps at this point, and connects with a third Jacknife. Big Daddy Cool then drags a lifeless Shawn out to the floor and power-bombs him through a makeshift ringside table (more on that later). Diesel lost his cool – and he got disqualified for it. Medics load Shawn onto an ambulance as a furious Diesel looks on.
Cut to Monday Night Raw the next night where The Clique interrupt a match between Marty Jannetty and Bob Holly, and deliver beatdowns to both. Diesel says that Shawn Michaels will never return to the WWF, and so he wants Gorilla Monsoon to hand him the WWF Title. Monsoon refuses – saying it’s not clear yet when Shawn Michaels will return. What Monsoon does do is fine Diesel $5,000 for unnecessary force at WWF Summerslam.
Cut to later that night on Monday Night Raw, as The Clique ambush The Undertaker following a victory over Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler. Undertaker fights back, but not eve he can withstand the numbers and eats both a Razor’s Edge and Pedigree, before Diesel lays out his old rival with a Jacknife powerbomb to close the show.
Cut to The Clique gloating about their action the following week on Monday Night Raw, until the lights go out. Diesel promises to destroy every poster boy for the WWF until Gorilla Monsoon hands over the WWF Title. The lights soon come back up to reveal The Understaker on the ring steps – as “Ohhhhhh what a rush” is heard over the sound system. The Legion of Doom return to the WWF and go into battle side-by-side with The Undertaker against The Clique. This is a wild brawl that it takes nearly the whole roster to separate the sides.
Cut to Gorilla Monsoon announcing of WWF Superstars that the Legion of Doom and the Undertaker would face Razor Ramon, X-Pac and HHH at In Your House: Massacre.
Cut to the final moments of the six-man match at In Your House: Massacre, as Diesel makes his way down to ringside ready to get involved. However, the fans go crazy as WWF Champion Shawn Michaels returns and ambushes Diesel – they fight through the crowd and all over the building. In the ring, The Undertaker pins X-Pac with the Tombstone Piledriver.
Cut to a post-match segment with WWF president Gorilla Monsoon at In Your House: Massacre, as he announces that Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart has signed an exclusive lifetime contract to return to the WWF. Monsoon says since Shawn Michaels looks healthy, tomorrow night he would sign Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon for the title on WWF Monday Night Raw. The winner of that match would defend against Bret Hart at Survivor Series!
Cut to the main event the following night on Monday Night Raw, as Shawn Michaels slides out of a Razor’s Edge from Razor Ramon and knocks him out with the Sweet Chin Music. Michaels scores the pin, but Diesel and the Clique are right in to attack HBK. This brings out the Legion of Doom and The Undertaker for another brawl – which again it takes more than a dozen to break u[.
Cut to a week later on WWF Monday Night Raw as Bret Hart makes his return for a one-on-one interview with Jim Ross in mid-ring. Bret makes it clear that he doesn’t think it was fair how he lost the belt, and he doesn’t consider Michaels the rightful champion. However, he has to give Shawn credit for agreeing to put the belt on the line. The segment is interrupted here by WWF Intercontinental Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin, who is pissed off that Bret gets to waltz back in for a title match. When Austin argues that his belt makes him the top contender, Bret nonchalantly tells him to take it up with Gorilla Monsoon. Austin responds by pretending to walk off, only to ambush Hart and drop him with a Stone Cold Stunner. Austin is working over Hart, until surprisingly Shawn Michaels hits the ring to run off Stone Cold.
Cut to a week later on WWF Monday Night Raw as Stone Cold Steve Austin got a non-title match against WWF Champion Shawn Michaels. The final moments see Austin wrapping his fist with chain behind the referee’s back, which leads guest commentator Bret Hart to get up onto the apron and try to alert the referee. The distraction allows HBK an opening and he goes for the Sweet Chin Music, only for Austin to dodge and HBK to wipe out Hart by accident! A flustered Michaels then walks into a Stunner, which puts him down for the count. Austin scores a win over the WWF Champion in the non-title bout. Raw ends with a furious Hart hitting the ring to shove a groggy Michaels.
Cut to still photographs (but not video) of the Survivor Series main event, as we see Michaels fight off a Sharpshooter and Bret kick out of the Sweet Chin Music. When Michaels goes for the Sharpshooter himself, Bret reaches up and pulls through to a roll-up for the 1-2-3. Shawn Michaels’ run comes to an end, and Bret Hart makes a triumphant return to Madison Square Garden. There’s a handshake between the two – but it’s tense.
Cut to still photographs (but not video) of a wild bout between new WWF Champion Bret Hart and challenger Cactus Jack at In Your House: Holiday Hell just over a week ago. Hart survives a pile-driver through a ringside table (while the referee was down) to battle back and render Cactus Jack unconscious with the Sharpshooter to retain.
[End VTR]
Jim Ross: “That’s where we are today, folks. As you know at the Royal Rumble, it will be the rubber match. In Shawn Michaels’ home town of San Antonio, Texas – he will attempt to re-live the childhood dream against WWF Champion Bret Hart. One man who isn’t happy about that match-up at all is the Intercontinental Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin.”
Vic Venom: “How could you blame Stone Cold? He pinned Shawn Michaels first. He should be the WWF Champion, not the crybaby Bret Hart!”
Jim Ross: “That was non-title, Vic. Right now, let’s go to some exclusive comments from Stone Cold Steve Austin.”
Stone Cold Steve Austin: “I’m used to doing things the hard way around here. Nothing comes easy to ol’ Stone Cold. NEH-EH! Well that’s just fine with me because I ain’t ever come against anybody I couldn’t whoop yet. What pisses me off is all this crap about the dream match. Oh what a dream match! Boyhood dream! What a bunch ‘a crap! I stomped a mudhole in Shawn Michaels’ ass on worldwide TV. I beat the boytoy! I should be the WWF Champion right now.
“But the world’s best whiner, Bret Hart, got a shot instead! Wanna know what I think about Bret Hart? All you need to do is put an S in front of Hitman. And that’s all I got to say about that! So now Gorilla Monsoon tells ol’ Stone Cold, if you want a shot at the WWF Title, you gotta win the Royal Rumble! Oh and Stone Cold, you also gotta defend your title against this piece of trash Ahmed Johnson the same night. You know what Stone Cold says to that? Fine. I’m whoop Ahmed Johnson’s ass, I’ll whoop 29 other pieces of trash’s asses, then I’ll whoop Bret Hart’s ass and Shawn Michaels’ ass too! What Stone Cold wants, he gets and that’s the bottom line cuz Stone Cold said so!”
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Commercial break
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Jim Ross: “We left you before the breaking with some very candid comments from Stone Cold Steve Austin. He’s held the Intercontinental Champion for four months now – a lot of people think it will be the first of many here in the WWF.”
Vic Venom: “Mark my words J.R., Steve Austin will be the WWF Champion before the end of 1997. Take that to the point!”
Jim Ross: “He’ll have his chance to earn a WrestleMania title match at the Royal Rumble, along with 29 others. Right now, let’s go back in time to see how Stone Cold won the Intercontinental Title.”
[VTR]
Cut to In Your House: It’s Time where Ahmed Johnson squashed Goldust in two minutes to become the new WWF Intercontinental Champion. Shawn Michaels is out to congratulate his friend as Ahmed Johnson celebrates the biggest win of his career.
Cut to King of the Ring as WWF Intercontinental Champion Ahmed Johnson goes through Kama and Owen Hart to face Stone Cold Steve Austin. Austin got a bye in the semis, after The British Bulldog battled ‘Wildman’ Marc Mero to a double count-out.
Cut to the finals of the King of the Ring as Johnson and Austin score several falls on each other, and then brawl out to the floor. Stone Cold rolls back into the ring, and Ahmed goes to enter between the middle and top rope – but Austin hoists up the rope to crotch Ahmed. Referee Earl Hebner threatens to call for the DQ, but Austin swiftly boots Ahmed and drops him with the Stone Cold Stunner for the three count to become the King of the Ring. Austin mocks Ahmed’s religious believe during his coronation – and spawns the infamous catchphrase: “You talk about your psalms, your John 3:16? Austin 3:16 says I just whipped your ass!”
Cut to Ahmed Johnson attacking Stone Cold Steve Austin on Monday Night Raw, dodging a Stone Cold Stunner and laying him out with a Pearl River Plunge.
Cut to a title match between Ahmed Johnson and Steve Austin at SummerSlam, specifically the final moments. Ahmed seems to suffer an injury late in the contest, when collides shoulder-first into the steel ring steps. Back in the ring, Austin connects with a low blow behind the referee’s back and connects with a Stone Cold Stunner to become the new champion.
Cut to In Your House: Massacre as Stone Cold Steve Austin defends his title against his old rival Savio Vega. This time around, Austin dominates Vega and gets his big win back with a Stone Cold Stunner clean as a whistle.
[End VTR]
Jim Ross: “It’s been a whirlwind year – and maybe a nightmare year for The Undertaker. We’ll look back on the feud that dominated The Undertaker’s year when we come back.”
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Commercial break
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Jim Ross: “The Undertaker has his problems with the Clique these days, but he spent most of the year battling the most psychotic man in wrestling.”
Vic Venom: “When you step into the ring, you have to face truth or consequences. The Undertaker learned that first hand in 1996!”
Jim Ross: “Let’s go back to In Your House: It’s Time to see how this all started.”
[VTR]
Cut to In Your House: It’s Time as The Undertaker battles Diesel in a WrestleMania rematch – this time no holds barred. Undertaker looks to have the match won, when the lights go out. When they come back on, Cactus Jack is in the ring! Jim Ross goes crazy as Cactus assault the Undertaker and basically chokes him out with the Mandible Claw. Content with laying out Taker, Cactus Jack chases Paul Bearer to the dressing room. Diesel then lays out Undertaker with the Jacknife to score the pin.
Cut to Jim Ross’s interview with Cactus Jack, where the madman says he came to the WWF to achieve his destiny. He recalls seeing Snuka jumping off the cage onto Don Muraco in 1983 – in his mind, he always knew Undertaker would be his Muraco. When Jim Ross reminds Cactus that Muraco actually won that cage match – the psycho locks him in the Mandible Claw until production assistants drag him away.
Cut to In Your House: Every Dog Has His Day, as The Undertaker and Cactus Jack fight all over the Igloo in Pittsburgh earning a no contest. They eventually battle back into the ring and Undertaker hoists Cactus up for the tombstone. While Taker hoists Cactus up, the madman jams his fingers into the Undertaker’s mouth. This breaks the hold and Cactus Jack drops him with the Double Arm DDT. Paul Bearer is hoisting up the urn, which Cactus Jack sees. Cactus goes out after Paul Bearer, throws him into the ring and locks the manager into the Mandible Claw. After a few moments, Paul Bearer is foaming at the mouth and flailing. Cactus then pulls Paul Bearer into a piledriver! The Undertaker sits up now – furious at what he’s seen. Undertaker grips Cactus by the throat and choke-slams him! Undertaker turns to the fallen Bearer, but looks back in time to see Cactus Jack sit up! And now Cactus is laughing maniacally. Undertaker drills Cactus Jack with a right hand, hoists him up and tombstones him. A crestfallen Undertaker carries his hefty manager away from the ring – but stops again to see Cactus sit up with another sadistic smile, laughing away.
Cut to King of the Ring as Undertaker and Cactus Jack have their rematch, which is as brutal as ever. In the final moments, Paul Bearer makes his first appearance in a month when The Undertaker choke-slams Cactus. He steps onto the apron and holds up the urn. A confused Undertaker walks over to see what’s going on – and Paul Bearer bonks him across the head with the urn! Undertaker is dazed and confused, until Cactus low-blows him and connects with a piledriver. Cactus Jack then applies the Mandible Claw and The Undertaker is out cold so the referee calls for the bell. Paul Bearer is holding the urn up now – and it’s Cactus Jack who gets down on one knee and salutes the urn! Cactus and Paul Bearer walk off together as The Undertaker sits up and stares in disbelief at what he’s just seen.
Cut to Monday Night Raw as Vince McMahon demands answers from Paul Bearer on why he turned his back on The Undertaker. Bearer says he’s known The Undertaker and his brother since they were boys – he molded Taker into the warrior he’d become. However, in recent years he saw Taker go soft. Then, Cactus Jack showed him that he is the true phenom in the World Wrestling Federation. Bearer thanks Cactus for helping him see the light at last. Cactus Jack gives his ‘Uncle Paul’ a hug and then once again gets down on one knee before the urn – until the lights flicker.
Cut to Cactus Jack in several different matches on WWF Monday Night Raw, WWF Superstars and WWF Action Zone becoming distracted when the lights flicker during his matches.
Cut to Monday Night Raw as Cactus Jack is wrestling the rookie sensation Rocky Miavia, and really roughing up the youngster. Paul Bearer is hemming and hawing out on the floor, until the lights flicker again. It lasts just a moment, and then a flustered Cactus goes back to work on Rocky until the lights flicker again. This time a concerned Cactus Jack looks to Paul Bearer for answers – and there are none. From behind, Rocky Miavia rolls up Cactus and scores a surprise three count! Rocky gets out of dodge as a furious Cactus Jack scrambles to figure out what happened. Before too long, the lights go out again and when they come back on… The Undertaker is in the ring! Taker grips Cactus by the throat and choke-slams him. Undertaker then drives Cactus head-first into the canvas with a tombstone and looks at Paul Bearer, as he slides his thumb across his throat. Undertaker grabs the microphone and says at SummerSlam, Cactus Jack and Paul Bearer won’t rest… in… peace. They’ll burn in hell!
Cut to the Falls Count Anywhere Match at SummerSlam: Good Friends, Better Enemies between Cactus Jack and The Undertaker. This match actually goes on last because it’s no holds barred – making it the de facto main event. Both men bleed buckets, and Undertaker neutralizes Paul Bearer early on with a boot to the face and a choke-slam. Cut to Cactus Jack piledriving Undertaker threw the Spanish announce table – but Undertaker kicks out of a pin. Cut to Undertaker choke-slamming Cactus off the apron through the English announce table – and this time Cactus Jack kicks out. Cut to Cactus locking in the Mandible Claw in the ring – and there’s nowhere for Undertaker to go. Just when it looks like Taker is fading, he kicks Cactus square in the nuts. Cactus is on rubber legs as Undertaker scoops him and plants him with the tombstone piledriver for the one… two… no! Cactus kicked out. Cut to Cactus climbing to the top rope with a chair and diving all the way out to the floor to slam it across Undertaker’s prone body for the one… two… no! Cut to Cactus pulling the ring stairs into the aisle and then scooping Undertaker into position for the tombstone! However, Undertaker reverses the momentum and plants Cactus onto the ring steps head-first with the tombstone. Undertaker covers for the one… two… three! Undertaker’s nightmare is finally over, as Cactus Jack is loaded onto an ambulance and rushed out off Gund Arena.
[End VTR]
Jim Ross: “A war unlike anything we’ve ever seen in the World Wrestling Federation. We’ll be right back with one final look at the year on this holiday edition of WWF LiveWire.”
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Commercial break
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Jim Ross: “We’re back and before we cut to our final video package, I’m told we have a caller on the line.”
Vic Venom: “That’s right J.R. Did you think I was going to let you show that pro-Undertaker propaganda piece without letting the great Paul Bearer respond? I don’t think so.”
Jim Ross: “In any event, Paul Bearer, are you on the line?”
Paul Bearer: “OOOOOOOH YESSSS, Mr Ross! I saw the video you just showed, and I have a message for The Undertaker. The holidays are a time of forgiveness – but you don’t deserve any forgiveness, Undertaker! For all these years, I carried your secret. I kept hidden what you did your mother, your father, your brother! It’s time you pay, Undertaker! Fee-fi-fo-fum– I smell a man who wants your blood! Be ready Undertaker, I will have my revenge – in honour of your family! Fee-fi-fo-fum! Fee-fi-fo-fum! Your end is coming – OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH YES!!!!”
Jim Ross: “I… I think he hung up. Well, that was disturbing. Did you have any clue what he was going on about, Venom?”
Vic Venom: “I didn’t, J.R. – but I bet the Undertaker did!”
Jim Ross: “That’s about all we have time for. We’ll see you back here next week. Remember, this Monday night is a special Best of Raw. Monday Night Raw returns live for our final episode of the year on December 28. And then starting, January 4, you’ll have double the action on Monday Nights. Raw is War starting at 9pm – and an extra hour called the War Zone at 10pm. Right here on the USA Network. We leave you now with a special look at the WWF superstars! Merry Christmas, happy holidays!”
[VTR]
Shawn Michaels holds up the WWF Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania 12, fulfilling a boyhood dream.
The British Bulldog and Owen Hart score the pin on Bart Gunn of the Smoking Guns to become the current WWF Tag Team Champions.
Diesel driving Shawn Michaels through a makeshift ringside table with a Jacknife powerbomb at SummerSlam: Good Friends, Better Enemies.
Justin ‘Hawk’ Bradshaw connecting with a running lariat on Bob ‘Sparkplug’ Holly on WWF Superstars.
The Undertaker connecting with the choke-slam on Cactus Jack at SummerSlam, and then dragging his thumb across his throat.
Bret Hart rolling through a Sharpshooter attempt by Shawn Michaels for a pinning combination that wins him back the WWF Championship at Survivor Series.
Stone Cold Steve Austin holding the WWF Intercontinental Championship high above his head at SummerSlam, and shouting at the fans.
Ahmed Johnson drives Owen Hart into the canvas with the Pearl River Plunge.
The Legion of Doom connecting with the Doomsday Device on X-Pac at The Survivor Series.
Billy Gunn using the Rocker Dropper on Marty Janneatty on WWF Action Zone.
Shawn Michaels accidentally super-kicking Bret Hart off the ring apron, and then walking right into a Stone Cold Stunner on WWF Monday Night Raw.
The Clique trading their signature Too Sweet hand gestures on WWF Monday Night Raw.
Vice Venom taunting Jim Ross on WWF LiveWire.
Ken Shamrock psyching himself up on the way to the ring.
Sable raising the arm of her man ‘Wildman’ Marc Mero at WWF In Your House: It’s Time.
Bret Hart slinging the WWF Championship over his shoulder.
[End VTR]
© 1996, WWF
Working on it now.