Old School Review: WWF Survivor Series 1997 PPV

In yet another addition of the old school review we take a look back at WWF most infamous wrestling ppv of all time WWF Survivor Series 97. Last time out we took a look at WCW BATB 97 and tried to answer or show why WCW at that point in pro wrestling history had taken over (pun intended). Now for this review we pick up are story were we left off in the 3rd review for the JWR podcast old school wrestling review back in the WWF and this time we take a look back at the very real life feud between Bret The Hitman Hart and Shawn Michaels in 97 and ask what role vince McMahon had to play in all of this and try to answer the question was the Montreal screw job best of business or not on this fateful night on November 9th 1997. 

Bret Vs Shawn: A very real life feud

As I pointed out in previous reviews Bret and Shawn had heat with one another and that's putting it mildly. Last time out we talked about how Bret felt disrespected by HBK for not doing the honours for him at wrestlemania 13 after Bret had done just that for Shawn at wrestlemania 12. We also had reached and talked about the infamous real life fight between the two which took place on June 10th of 97 backstage during a live raw is war broadcast. Now during the summer of 97 Shawn was yet again gone from WWF either injured )as vince McMahon had announced) or had lost his smile and had gone (shawn had basically threated to quit WWF and go to wcw after he lost that fight to Bret) home but was scheduled to return to the WWF shortly after WWF in your house 16 Canadian stampede. Shawn did on a live episode of raw is war and announced he would be the special guest referee for the undertakers title defence against Bret hart at WWF summerslam. During the summerslam ppv Shawn accidently cost taker the WWF title in his match with Bret by KO taker with a chair shot he had intended to hit Bret with. Bret was now a five time WWF champion while Shawn was now in a feud with taker. Bret as champion played second fiddle to HBK during the august/October period of 97 and for good reason his feud with taker was simply better than anything Bret was booked in at this point. Bret worked a mediocre program with longtime journey man the patriot while Shawn v taker took Center. It resulted in the two locking up in the first ever hell in the cell bout at WWF in your house 18 hell in a cell which Shawn won by the skin of his teeth after the debuting Kane attacked his 'brother' taker costing him the match in the process. During this period WWF head vince McMahon announced a record loss for the WWF in 97 as he told people within the company at the time he had lost over 7 million mainly due to wcw taking over (again pun intended). Vince was put on the spot as he had only just   just signed Bret to a 20 year 1 million per year deal (a deal Shawn was reportable jealous over). Vince and Bret had a meeting during a house show in Detroit Michigan where vince had told Bret there was no way he could afford such a contract and urged Bret to try and get a deal done with wcw. You see in the Summer of 96 wcw head eric Bischoff had offered Bret a massive 3 million a year, 3 year deal but vince shoot back with his 20 year deal and as Bret alluded to on the brilliant Paul Jay documentary wrestling with shadows he never really wanted to leave the WWF anyway so he was more than happy to resign with the WWF and not jump to wcw as the fourth man of the nWo. Now though vince had told Bret to get employment elsewhere because as he put it he couldn't afford Bret anymore and Bischoff was more than happy to sign the then WWF champion. By this point eric was claiming the WWF was dead and wcw was now the only game in town or so he believed. The deal with wcw wouldn't come into effect until December 19th of 97 (remember that because it's important) so vince had over 3 months to prepare for brets exit. During this period things intentisfied between Bret and Shawn after Shawn loudly exclaimed backstage he wouldn't do anymore jobs and this was just a rumour at the time but remember this Shawn Michaels didn't do a job not once since his return (like hogan I find this all very strange do they not know they actually aren't losing a match at all because pro wrestling isn't real so how is anyone losing, talk about being insecure). Bret as a lockeroom leader backstage (a lot of WWF wrestlers dispised Shawn and his backstage antics) had a lot of his fellow wrestlers asking him by saying they were worried about Shawn and his clear power he held in WWF. Bret talked about this in his book saying the boys told me they feared what would happen if they got on the wrong side of Shawn as he was Vince's golden child. Shawn refusing to do jobs upset all of the lockeroom and now he was number 1 contender to brets title and Bret was leaving the WWF for wcw. Bret knowing vince was going with him vs Shawn and Shawn basically pissing everyone off even Bret after Shawn had lost his smile and got out of doing the job back to Bret at mania 13 out right told vince he wouldn't do the job for Shawn anywhere and espiecally not at survivor series 97 because it was in Canada his home country and he felt the Hitman character needed to look strong in his home country. Bret told vince he would drop the title to anyone expect for Shawn and he meant anyone saying he would lose to mankind, steve austin or even bob Holly if he wanted. Vince told Bret he had come to a compromise and at survivor series the Bret v Shawn match would end in a DQ then the next night Bret could come out on raw is war and vacate the title. It was a compromise which reportable suited both parties going into this show or so we were lead to believe. Many believed McMahon had caused this whole mess between Shawn and Bret by playing the other off against the other but this wouldn't become clear until following this show. Meanwhile during this period the WWF had gone under some radical changes now long gone where the cartoon gimmicks and in there place was more real life characters like stone cold, mankind (who by this point was a very loveable guy and basically had become an extension of his real life persona) and the WWF embraced attitude (basically in a nutshell WWF ripped off the ECW but I will get more into that during the next review so before you think he's just an ECW mark with a chip on his shoulder I'm not and I will make my point in the next review regrading the above comment) and now vaguely resembled an episode of jerry springer. Sex, violence and lots of tongue in cheek jokes were now the norm on WWF tv and at first it never really connected with the fans due to all the noise wcw was still making over on turner. The WWF came under criticism from a number of different sponsors, tv partners and there own wrestlers for the new direction. One wrestler who was not fond of this direction was Bret hart while Shawn had embraced it by pushing the envelope week in week out. It all came to a head backstage when Shawn stuffed a sock into his hot pants and crotch chopped in JR's face and into the camera. Brets agruement was "what kind of message was we sending to are children doing tasteless stuff like this, he even claimed on the wrestling with shadows documentary he wouldn't even let his son watch WWF anymore because the product was no longer for children. So now we are at the zenith of this real life feud boiling over so let's get right into it and review this show already one I'm personally not looking forward to. 

WWF Survivor Series 97 November 9th 1997 Montreal, Quebec Canada  Molsen Centre Att:20,593 PPV Buy Rate: 250,000 (0.89) 

To open the show it's the dreaded free 4 all pre show which almost picks up off the bat thanks to sunny coming out to the ringside. Sunny gets in the ring and cuts a promo in French which gets a very cheap pop indeed. A video package is shown on the feud between Bret hart and Shawn Michaels. This was a very cool video package to open the show profiling the twos desire to be top dog in the WWF. Dox Hendrix is in the back outside HBK dressing room he knocks on the door and it is opened by DX stooge and team mate triple h. Hunter tells Dox he has respect for Dox because he is a freebird but really doesn't give him many answers. Sunny introduces Owen hart who comes out with the British bulldog, Doug Furnas and Phil Lafon. Them there is a quick recap by sunny of how Owen broke Austin's neck. Owen says he is the real IC champion and Owen 3:16 says I just broke your neck, the pro Owen crowd big time for that classic line (a line austin says in his book that he never really liked and didn't appreciate Owen made money off of his injury with that catchphrase put on a t-shirt which only Owen got royalties for). Then austin voice comes over the PA system to boos. He says tonight Owen hart I'm gonna whoop your little ass and every fan in this stinking building wearing an Owen 3:16 shirt. A video is shown on the debut of Kane and his destruction of the undertaker and Kanes mini feud with mankind. Dox Hendrix plugs team Canada vs team USA then Michael cole hard sells the viewers at home this is a can't miss event. The show finally opens up proper and the Pryo explodes (it also caused a small fire inside the entrance tunnel) as Jim Ross and The King welcome us to the show. Ross mentions tonight's main event and him and king both wonder who will win the WWF title match and where was vince McMahon tonight as he is absent from the announce desk. Traditional 4 on 4 Survivor Series Elimination Match The Headbangers Mosh and Thrasher & The New Blackjacks Bradshaw and Windham Vs The New Age Outlaws Billy Gunn and Road Dogg & The Godwinns Herny and Phineas. The crowd seem to be well and truly behind the baby face team of the blackjacks and Headbangers. A rather crappy exchange early on between blackjack windham and Phineas. Bradshaw gives Phineas a powerslam for a near fall and follows it up with some chops to Phineas chest. Herny is in now and him and bradshaws exchange ain't much better. Herny counters a suplex attempt by Bradshaw and gets another near fall. Roll up by Bradshaw on Herny and the Hog man is eliminated. Phineas attacks windham but Barry gives him a gut wrench powerbomb for a near fall. Windham is gone after Phineas gives him a clothesline and windham is gone now. Mosh gives Phineas a drop toe hold and an elbow drop to the back of mr PIG head. Billy Gunn has some major heat with this crowd as he works over mosh and the crowd chant something at Gunn, I won't even put it here what I think this crowd was chanting. Fall away slam by billy and now mosh is eliminated, it's now 3 on 2 to the heels. Thrasher comes in and applies a side lock to Phineas and the two have a rest for a minute or two. The crowd go silent as thrasher has a top wrist lock on Phineas, thrasher then rolls through and has Phineas rolled up for a two count. The crowd picks back up when thrasher gives Phineas a hip toss and arm drag then thrasher goes up top drops and leg drop and gets the 1,2 and 3 and Phineas is eliminated. Bradshaw goes to work on road dog with some big clubbing blows which leads to the referee DQ'ing Bradshaw and he is eliminated. The outlaws double team thrasher for a bit but he makes his comeback while the crowd is silent. Then billy gunn makes a blind tag as thrasher hits dog with a cross body. Thrasher pins dog but billy gunn drops an awful looking top rope leg drop and gets the 1,2 and 3. Your Sole Survivors The New Age Outlaws. It's right into match two as the truth commission make there way to the ring for there match next. Traditional survivor series 4 on 4 elimination match The Truth Comission the Interrogator (Kurrgan of the Oddities), The Jackyl (Don Callss of a ECW and TNA), Recon and Sniper Vs DOA Crush, Chainz (Brian Lee/Underfaker), 8 Ball (Don Harris) and Skull (Ron Harris). JR notes that this is the first (and last) WWF ppv appearance, DOA make there enterance on motorcycles and get a decent pop to begin the match. Chainz and interrogator start out the match exchanging big power moves. Chainz is eliminated by the interrogator who gives him a side walk slam. Jr can't tell the difference between the Harris twins and nor could I actually. 8 ball gives the Jackyl a power slam and the Jackyl is eliminated. Jackyl puts a headset on his head and does what he does best and that is run his mouth. Crush is all over recon to silence, another press slam by crush to recon to silence again. Recon hits skull with a booker t like side kick for a close two count. The twins do bella twin magic to eliminate recon. Swinging neck breaker to interrogator for a near fall. Sniper is given some double team moves by the DOA then interrogator attacks skull from behind and sniper covers skull for the 1,2 and 3. Some near falls from crush on sniper to more silence and then crush applies an armbar to sniper. The match begins to drag as 8 ball and sniper exchange some miserable looking moves. Interrogator is back in he gives 8 ball a side walk slam and sends 8 ball packing. Crush is all on his own now and eliminates sniper with a side suplex then interrogator attacks crush from behind and drills him with another side walk slam and pins crush for the 3 count. Sole Survivor Interrogator. Right into a video package of fans predicting who will win tonight's WWF title match. Vader and his team USA team mates cut patriotic promos on team Canada, no one says anything of importance, team Canada then do the same thing. Traditional 4 on 4 survivor series elimination Tag Team USA Vader, Steve Blackmen (making his in ring WWF ppv debut), Marc Mero/with Sable and Goldust Vs Team Canada The British Bulldog, Jim The Anvil Neidheart, Phil Lafon and Doug Furnas. Team USA is booed expect sable while team Canada get another massive pop from there fellow countrymen. Bulldog and mero start out the match exchanging left and rights, shoulder block by Davey to mero and then a arm drag which sends mero to the outside. Mero gets hot over some sable chants and mero takes her to the back as Vader comes in and works over the bulldog. Vader jumps from the second rope and bulldog catches him and gives Vader a power slam for a near fall. In comes Lafon to silence, Lafon and mero have a neat little exchange. Anvil is in he goes to work on mero and quickly tags Lafon back in. Blackmen tags in and he gives Lafon a back elbow smash and a knee drop. Lafon gives Blackmen a DDT for a near two and follows it up with a crucifix pin for another two. The can am express double team Blackmen on the outside and jr says on commentary I think Blackmen just got counted out. Mero and anvil are back in the ring and anvil whips him into the corner but misses a splash and gets rolled up by mero for a two count. Big shoulder tackle by anvil to Vader and the two exchange big power moves back and fourth. Vader then splashes Neidheart and gets the 1,2 and 3. Lafon and Vader brawl on the outside then back in the ring Lafon walks into a belly to belly suplex and Vader goes up to the second rope splashes Lafon and gets the 1,2 and 3. Furnas comes in and drop kicks Vader off of his feet. Mero is back in and he moonsualts into Furnas who catches him but both men crumble and fall down. After that clear botch Furnas rams meros head into the top turnbuckle and tags in Davey. Davey teases the running powerslam on mero but mero counters it. Furnas is back and after some sloppy exchange between mero and Doug sees Furnas rolls up mero for the 1,2 and 3. Bulldog and Vader have a nice heated exchange in the mid ring. Meanwhile jr is banging on about how Goldust has walked out on his wife Marlena (terri runnels), some awful Russo booked silliness. Furnas and bulldog work over Vader as goldy sits on the apron showing no emotion says JR.  Goldust won't tag Vader as the rocky mountain man is worked over some more by Furnas and the bulldog. Vader battles back and slaps Goldust for refusing to tag and tags him in the hard way. Goldust then leaves the ring and walks out on Vader as jr cries he's walking out on his wife, his team and now his country he makes me sick. Back in the ring Vader gives Furnas a Vader bomb as bulldog grabs the ring bell. Furnas is eliminated then bulldog jumps Vader from behind with the bell and covers Vader for the 1,2 and 3. Sole Survivor The British Bulldog. A video airs plugging the stone cold t-shirt, the blimp sponsored by Milton Bradley's is shown as JR plugs Kane vs mankind. JR announces a contest winner who's on the phone and she wants to go to dinner with stone cold, I didn't pay much attention to this at all. A brilliant video airs on the feud between Kane, undertaker and mankind, I will never face my own flesh and blood (you know the one). Mankind cuts a Brillant promo in the back saying he fills like hes been treated like a pebble and tonight this pebble would fight back against Kane and uncle Paul, only foley could make a pebble sound cool. Mankind Vs Kane/with Paul Bearer. This match gets the sin cara light job (rather than using a blue light a red one was used) throughout the entire match. Mankind jumps Kane in the aisle way but the big red machine is having none of it and then drives foley head first into the ring steps. Back in the ring Kane sets off his Pryo and then works over mankind in the corner. The red light is brought up by jerry and jr says Kane has unexplained powers (so he can control the lights). Back on the outside Kane launches the ring steps into mankinds face as Paul bearer laughs on the outside. Kane is all over mankind with a big boot and punches. Kane then pulls at foleys face and takes his eyes then puts the boots to mankind in the corner. Mankind begins to pull his hair out, Kane then gives foley a side walk/rock bottom slam for a two count. The two brawl back on the outside and then Kane gives mankind a Irish whip into the steel steps. Foley then recovers and gives Kane a drop toe hold onto the ring steps and drives a chair into Kane's back. Back In the ring mankind gives Kane a piledriver and then gives bearer a maniable claw. Foley stands on the ring apron as Kane recovers and goes over and pushes foley off the ring apron and foley falls through the spainish announce table which implodes on impact. Kane grabs the side of the announce table and beats mankind with it. Back on the outside mankind battles back and gives Kane a DDT onto the concrete floor as the crowd chant E-C-Dub (I did notice faith no more guy in the crowd). Mankind takes another fall from the ring apron this time hitting the floor with a thud. Mankind pulls himself up and gets back into the ring but Kane grabs him and gives him a tombstone for the 1,2 and 3. Your Winner Kane. Vince McMahon is in the back with Sgt Slaughter and Michael cole, they tell is they have beefed up security for tonights main event because we don't wont these getting into it before the bell (referencing the famous backstage fight between the two. Then cole asks vince who he thinks will win tonight's main event he says he doesn't know but says it with a smile on his face. Traditional Survivor Series 4 on 4 Elimination Match The Nation of Domination Faarooq, Rocky Maivia, D-lo Brown and Kama Mustafa Vs Road Warriors Ken Shamrock, Ahmed Johnson and The Legion of Doom Hawk & Animal. Lots of rocky sucks chants early on as he fakes starting out with hawk instead dlo and hawk start out. Dlo runs into a clothesline by hawk then recovers and gives hawk a piledriver but hawk no sells it and gives dlo a neck breaker. Rocky is tagged in and he gives hawk a rock bottom and Maivia pins hawk for the 1,2 and 3. Kama and Johnson have an awful exchange which elicits silence from the crowd. Ron Simmons is tagged in and he gives Ahmed a spine buster for a close two count. Triple team in the corner as Faarooq distracts the referee, dlo has enough time to grab and leather strap and whip Ahmed in the corner. Ahmed battles back and gives Faarooq a pearl river plunge and Faarooq is eliminated. Dlo comes in and attacks Johnson from behind and gives him a frog splash but doesn't pin Ahmed. Ahmed is back up and gives dlo a front face lock driver which looked different. Faarooq doesn't leave ringside and him and Johnson argue as dlo comes in sends Johnson into Faarooq who trips him dlo pins Johnson as Faarooq holds onto Johnson's leg on the outside and dlo gets the 1,2 and 3. Ahmed and Faarooq brawl on the outside as officials try to break it up between the two. Back in the ring the rock and animal have terrible exchange and shamrock is in who gives the rock a running clothesline and a side suplex. Rocky tags in Kama who comes in and drills shamrock with a shoulder block. Animal is in and him and Kama circle one another as a LOD chant breaks out in the molston centre. Animal and Kama send the crowd into silence as they battle it out. The crowd picks back up and chants rocky sucks as the sound goes all weird and jerry remarks that is are illustrious sound guy Kevin Dunn. Back In the ring Kama is DQ because him, rocky and dlo were triple teaming animal. Dlo low blows shamrock right in front of the referee and no DQ there for some reason. Dlo slaps on a side headlock on shamrock as the two need a rest now. Shamrock battles back and hits the ropes but runs into a big knee by dlo into his gut. Back breaker by dlo who then takes a little to long going up top and misses a botched moonsault. The new age outlaws come out to ringside dressed up and mocking LOD. Animal gets tossed to the outside and outlaws attack throwing powder into his eyes and animal is counted out. Shamrock is all on his own now and the crowd knows this and chants his name as rock and dlo lock there lips knowing they have the advantage over the worlds most dangerous man. Shamrock takes out both nation members with a double clithesline and sends rocky to the outside and slaps on the ankle lock to dlo and dlo taps out. Meanwhile as the referee deals to a downed dlo rocky grabs a chair and nails shamrock from behind in the head but only gets a two count. DDT by Maivia to shamrock but again shamrock kicks out at two. The rock does the peoples elbow (well it wasn't quiet the peoples elbow at this point) for another two. Shamrock battles back and hits a northern lights suplex for a best fall on rocky. Shamrock hits rocky with a huancanrana for another two and shamrock snaps and locks on the ankle lock and rocky taps out. Sole Survivor Ken Shamrock. Michael cole is out in the Crowd and he is polling fans who will win tonight's WWF title match (poor old cole). A video package was shown on next months ppv which would be called WWF In Your House: D Generation X. Jr and the king talk about steve austin and Owen hart which is up next, A video package is shown on the Owen and austin feud. WWF Intercontinental Title Match Owen Hart (Champion)/With Team Canada The British Bulldog, Jim The Anvil Neidheart, Phil Lafon and Doug Furnas Vs Stone Cold Steve Austin.  Austin seems to be quiet over in Canada but he still plays heel by jaw jacking with fans at ringside. Owen takes his time to get the ring but for good reason as Neidheart attacks austin from behind but austin drills him with a stunner and Owen attacks steve. Owen teases the piledriver early on but austin counters it with a back drop to owen. Owen goes to leave but austin is in hot pursuit and stone cold runs over Owen. The two brawl on the outside as the crowd chant break his neck. Owen low blows austin and rams Austin's head into the announce table. Owen grabs some cables at ringside and chokes out austin as Owen begs the referee to DQ him. Owen grabs the bell and rings it but the referee refuses to DQ Owen. Owen goes to work on austin in the corner as he gives us a wooo, austin comes back and stomps a mud hole on Owen and gives Owen a stunner from out of nowhere and gets the 1,2 and 3. Your Winner and New Intercontinental Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin. Afterwards team Canada try to attack austin but they all get stunners too then austin goes back to celebrating. The announce team talk about tonight's WWF title match some more before tonight's main event, jr says this is going to be stiff no dealt about it. Another brilliant video package airs about Bret hart/HBK feud, so many quotes In just one video package. We go backstage and Shawn is shown walking with rock rude, hunter and chyna as the crowd roars knowing it's main event time. WWF Championship Title Match Bret The Hitman Hart (Champion) Vs HBK Shawn Michaels. After Shawn's entrance Bret is she on walking backstage with the anvil, Davey, Owen and his son blade, Bret gets a hogan like pop in Montreal. Both men attack one another before the Bell rings and exchange some stiff left and rights in the ring. The two roll to the outside and Bret rams Shawn's head into the ring post then the two begin to brawl in the crowd. Jerry remarks that it is like 20,000 on 1 at the moment, vince McMahon then walks out to ringside. Shawn and Bret are brawling some more on the outside and Shawn pushes over a camara man then chokes out Bret with some tv cable. Jr brings up if Bret hart loses this match it could be his last match in the WWF. Both men brawl some more out in the crowd then Bret suplexes Shawn over the guardrail back near ringside. Both men brawl some more in the aisle way now and HBK goes for a piledriver but Bret counters and gives HBK a back drop onto the floor.

Shawn battles back and gives Bret a suplex in the aisle way as jr remarks why is McMahon, slaughter and all this security out here. Both men bounce one another's heads off the guardrail in the aisle way and brawl some more in the crowd. Vince is now asking both Bret and Shawn to get In the ring but both men ignore him. Some more brawling from the two in the aisle way and thankfully make there way back to ringside. Bret tosses HBK back in the ring as the bell rings indicating the start of the match. Bret gives Shawn a Firemans carry back in the ring and inverted atomic drop. Shawn battles back with a cross body and flying forearm which sends Bret onto his back. Shawn grabs a French Canadian flag and chokes out Bret with it to chorus of boos. Michaels drops a fist drop and rallies up the crowd by kissing and posing for them. Shawn then tosses Bret out in front of those fans and goes to work on Bret. Shawn picks up Bret into a suplex position but just drops Bret face first down into the ring steps. More brawling on the outside by the two but Bret eventually rolls back into the ring while Shawn goes up top and drops a double axe handle onto brets back. Shawn and Bret need a rest as Shawn slaps on a front face lock but Bret battles back pushing Shawn off and begins to work over Shawn's knee with an elbow drop. Shawn comes back with a stun gun drop dropping Bret throat first into the top rope. Shawn goes up top and try's a cross body but Bret catches him and rolls through on Shawn for a near fall. On the outside Bret wraps up Shawn's leg in the ringpost and slaps ona figure four. Bret works over Shawn's knee some more and then gives him a atomic drop. Bret then slaps on a figure four leg lock but Shawn refuses to quit and eventually turns the hold over forcing Bret to break it. Bret whips Shawn into the corner and Shawn goes up and over then Bret grabs Shawn and gives him a Russian leg sweep for another near fall. Back breaker by Bret to Shawn but rather than cover him Bret goes up top and dives off but Shawn pulls referee earl 

Hebner in front of him and earl gets squashed. Shawn then applies the sharpshooter and earl calls for the bell. Your Winner and New WWF Champion Shawn Michaels. Shawn leaves in a bad mood as new champion while Bret spits at McMahon because it's still clear that you hear vince telling earl to ring the bell. The show ends with Michaels barley acknowledging he is new WWF champion. 

Round Up of Survivor Series 97 

So that is one of the most controversial wrestling matches of the modern era reviewed and is done and dusted. This review was hard for me personally as I was a massive Hitman mark at the time and during this period didn't really understand what I had just seen. It wasn't until 1999 I saw the wrestling with shadows documentary (it aired on BBC 2 one night) and then you start to work out what actually went down that day. First there is evidence Bret was legit screwed (those people who believe this was a work can believe that but I'm sorry your wrong). In that documentary Bret wore a wire in a meeting with pat Paterson and on the film he is heard telling Bret the finish it would end in a smooze with a DQ and that was not what happened here obviously. All in all I never did forgive Shawn for screwing Bret and lying about it whole doing an rf video shoot interview then coming clean In his book years later and still I had a resentment towards Shawn. It wasn't until 2010 when Shawn and Bret finally buried the hatchet on raw all those years later that I finally forgave Shawn for what he did. As for McMahon this much is true he was the one who played Shawn and Bret to get the best out of one another, he was also the one who signed Bret to a mammoth deal in the first place and also the one who pursued Bret to join wcw. So why force what was not best for business and have Shawn vs Bret at survivor series 97 why not just have austin beat hart instead as said above Bret was willing to put over anyone just not Shawn because Shawn had said it himself I don't lay down for anybody. I'm with Bret on this one and obviously found this hard to go back and review objectively but that's my opinion on Montreal so let's move on. Overall the show was a missable show the first three matches drag and never seem to end and doesn't really get going until Kane vs mankind. I'd say this was due to it being traditional survivor series matches did we really need the truth Comission v DOA or the opener (which was truly horrible) they both lacked star power and I really didn't care because the crowd didn't care. As for team USA vs team Canada I enjoyed it but maybe it was because the crowd was hot for this one as well as the the nation vs road warriors match. The IC title match was short but had to be only 3 months earlier had austin suffered that serious stinger after being dropped on his head by Owen at summer slam. It was an exciting match but lacked something and that something was the lenght of the match. As for the main event I think the match without adding the screw job into it that this point was average at best both Shawn and Bret brawled forever on the outside and again the match only went 10 minutes which seemed criminal considering both men previous match together had gone well over an hour. I don't like this show but objectively I didn't like this show either and would say to those who haven't seen it don't bother it's a waste of time and 3 hours, overall I would give his show a 4 out of 10 as nothing of importance happens expect

The screw job obviously. Ok so next time out it's time to jump with two feet into WWF wrestle mania 14 and the unofficial launching point of the WWF attitude era. In the next review I will talk about the stone cold character how raw was better by this point to nitro, weather or not taker really wanted to fight Shawn for real. As well as DX, mike Tyson and dumpsters and as usual I will end this review in the words of bill apter I will see you at the matches. 

By Billy_Jay_222 @billy222me or @RantsWrestle