[1997-05-19-WWF-Raw] Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

Last few minutes of Steve Austin vs Jim Neidhart, with Brian Pillman on commentary. Austin goes after Pillman at ringside and Pillman responds by running in and attacking Austin with his crutch. Does everyone have a crutch to use as a weapon in both promotions? Shawn makes the save and starts clearing the ring with a chair. While Shawn is distracted, Austin picks up the chair and Shawn turns around just in time.

 

Jim Ross comes in the ring to tell Austin and Shawn next week that they'll be tag team partners based on direction from Gorilla Monsoon then hightails it. Good decision, as Austin and Shawn get in a fight of their own that the referees have to pull apart.

[Kevin Ridge]

Pillman and Austin to face each other at King of the Ring. That card went through some big changes. Hart Foundation runs in to attack Austin. Michaels was just carrying chairs around at this point as every time he charges the ring he has one in his hands. Owen/Bulldog versus Austin/Michaels signed for next week.

[soup23]

The narrative of unwilling tag partners still feels really fresh here. I love the animosity between Austin and Pillman. Great edition of raw.

[PeteF3]

The crutch has indeed eclipsed the high heel shoe as wrestling's most deadly weapon. Jim Ross relays to Austin and Michaels, in the midst of another near-brawl, that Gorilla Monsoon has ordered them to team up as partners next week to go after the tag titles. This comes after segments earlier in the night with Michaels trying to recruit Ken Shamrock as his partner, and Austin, out of obligation of needing a partner at all, trying to recruit Harvey Wippleman. This does not sit well with either man and we have yet another pull-apart. Part of me wishes the Hart Foundation could have stuck around and we'd get an off-the-air shot of them laughing it up to close out Raw. This was an action-packed episode that also offered a ton of things to keep you tuned in next week, between Shawn Michaels' return and the possibility of Paul Bearer's secret being revealed.

[Exposer]

The segments where Austin looks for a partner during the show are hilarious. Especially the Sable one.

 

Austin-Anvil ain't bad for a two minute brawl. Pillman gets some brief commentary time to hype a match with Austin at King of the Ring (which never happens). Austin notices Pillman & pulls him over the announce table & starts brawling with him. He goes back in the ring & Pillman follows breaking a crutch over his back for the DQ. Owen & Davey join in & pummel Austin. Shawn comes out & fights them off with Austin. Austin almost getting the chance to whack Shawn with a chair is a nice touch. JR is told that they are forced to team up for the Tag Titles next week & tells them in the ring. They're none too happy & close with another hot brawl. Great segment. Next week is a big one with this Tag Title match & Bearer potentially revealing Taker's secret.