{"id":53074,"date":"2017-12-26T01:05:14","date_gmt":"2017-12-26T07:05:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=53074"},"modified":"2017-12-26T01:05:14","modified_gmt":"2017-12-26T07:05:14","slug":"20-years-ago-kellers-wwf-raw-report-12-22-97-dx-moons-audience-michaels-challenges-triple-h-european-title-undertaker-vs-rock","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2017\/12\/26\/20-years-ago-kellers-wwf-raw-report-12-22-97-dx-moons-audience-michaels-challenges-triple-h-european-title-undertaker-vs-rock\/","title":{"rendered":"20 YEARS AGO &#8211; KELLER&#8217;S WWF RAW REPORT (12-22-97): DX moons the audience, Michaels challenges Triple H for European Title, Undertaker vs. Rock"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-162429938\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><p><em>The following was published in the Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter 20 years ago this week. PWTorch VIP membership gives you access to over 1,500 back issues of the Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter dating back to the late 1980s. Go VIP at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/govip\">www.pwtorch.com\/govip<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>KELLER&#8217;S WWF MONDAY NIGHT RAW REPORT<br \/>\nDECEMBER 22, 1997<br \/>\nLOWELL, MASS.<br \/>\nAIRED ON USA NETWORK<\/h3>\n<p><em>Announcers: Jim Ross, Kevin Kelly, Michael Cole<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>[HOUR ONE]<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>After highlights of the DX-LOD angle that concluded last week\u2019s Raw, Jim Ross, Kevin Kelly, and Michael Cole introduced the program. It began \u201csnowing\u201d inside the arena. DX came out wearing white bathrobes. Ross said censors were standing by because they got tipped off about what DX might be planning. Michaels asked the crowd if they\u2019ve been \u201cgood little boys and girls.\u201d Michaels said if so, they have a present for them. Ross said, \u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019m afraid of.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Hunter said the New Age Outlaws better not take credit for ending the career of the LOD. \u201cIf you know what\u2019s best for you and your health, you\u2019ll stay out of DX\u2019s business.\u201d A fan held up a \u201cBret Who?\u201d sign as Hunter brought up Owen Hart\u2019s name. Fans chanted, \u201cOwen, Owen.\u201d Hunter called Owen a baby and said if he needs a pacifier to suck on, he has one for him \u2014 then he did the DX crotch chop. Michaels said Undertaker couldn\u2019t beat him the first two times, and the third time wouldn\u2019t be any different. He said he would beat him like a \u201cred headed stepchild.\u201d Michaels said he doesn\u2019t rest in peace, and actually \u201ccan stay up all night\u201d while doing a pelvic thrust. Kelly said, \u201cDice lives.\u201d Michaels and Hunter took off their robes, revealing holiday boxers. Ross said, \u201cThat\u2019s not so bad.\u201d Then they dropped the boxers and bent over. The screen blocked out their butts which read \u201cMerry Christmas.\u201d Ross said, \u201cLook at those nuts.\u201d The crowd seemed more amused than offended, although the WWF carefully picked out women laughing.<\/p>\n<p>Sgt. Slaughter came out. DX put their robes back on. Slaughter then told Michaels he had to defend the European Title since he hadn\u2019t defended the title in over 60 days. Slaughter threatened to strip Michaels of the European Title. Michaels said he isn\u2019t scared of being stripped of anything. He added, though, that he would defend the title against anyone, anywhere, anytime. He had chosen Hunter as Michaels\u2019s opponent. Michaels and Hunter looked shaken up by the announcement. Hunter told Slaughter that Slaughter was just trying to ruin Michaels\u2019s Christmas by having him lose the European Title. Michaels interrupted and said he was with him until he said he could beat him. Michaels said, \u201cIn case you haven\u2019t heard, I don\u2019t lie down for anybody.\u201d Chyna stood between them as they cut to a commercial. The announcers wondered if DX would be breaking up later on the show\u2026<\/p>\n<p>Cole, Ross, and Kelly stood in front of a blue board with a shot of the arena in the background to simulate that they were announcing from the upper deck. It looked pretty \u201csimulated.\u201d In fact, the entire Raw was a bit of a throwback since they were in a smaller arena which was too small for the TitanTron to fit. There was no rampway, no fireworks. The set consisted of a lot of Christmas lights and decorations\u2026<\/p>\n<p>(1) Headbanger Thrasher (w\/Mosh) beat Henry Godwinn (w\/Phinneous) via DQ at 1:13 when Phinneous interfered. Before the match, the Godwinns said they deserved a shot at the tag titles. After the match the Godwinns whipped the Bangers\u2026 A recap aired of the New Age Outlaws-Dude Love angle from the week before\u2026 A promo aired with Mankind \u201cin the bowels of the arena\u201d saying that a funny thing happens when Dude Love gets hurt \u2014 he hurts in the same place. He vowed revenge against the New Age Outlaws. No hints yet of Cactus Jack resurfacing as has been talked about. I\u2019m beginning to like more and more the multiple personalities gimmick. Few people could pull it off, but Mick Foley is\u2026 In what was billed as a \u201cRaw Exclusive,\u201d they aired footage from the previous week\u2019s Raw that didn\u2019t make the air. It was of Steve Austin confronting a Santa Claus in mid-ring. When Santa kicked a kid out of the ring, Austin came out and demanded to know if he was the real Santa. Santa said he was. Austin said to prove it, he should say what he asked for for Christmas when he was six years old. The Santa thought for a minute and said a Barbie Doll. Austin polled the crowd on whether they thought he was the real Santa and encouraged them to shout, \u201cHell no.\u201d Austin then gave the Stone Cold Stunner and left\u2026<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-3606406930\" class=\"pwtor-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>A camera approached DX\u2019s locker room. Hunter and Michaels were shouting at each other. Chyna stormed out of the room\u2026<\/p>\n<p>(2) Undertaker fought Rocky Maivia (w\/NOD) to a no contest at 10:15. D-Lo Brown distracted Undertaker at the start of the match so Rocky attacked Undertaker from behind. That was pretty much the highlight of this snoozefest. Undertaker made an immediate comeback. Kama gave Undertaker a low-blow from behind. Paul Bearer walked out to the aisleway as they cut to a commercial\u2026<\/p>\n<p>Upon returning, Rocky had Undertaker in a nervehold. Rocky did his bug-eyed routine, an expression that he\u2019d be best to drop from his repertoire. It looks phony, exaggerated, and gross. When Undertaker began to break free from the nervehold, Rocky gave him a low blow. Undertaker came back and hit a chokeslam, at which point the lights went out and Kane came out. Bearer said Undertaker ran from Kane\u2019s challenge last week and he is ashamed to say he was ever associated with Undertaker. Bearer told Undertaker because of him his parents have to celebrate Christmas with the maggots and worms. Undertaker lurched at Bearer, so Kane jumped in and attacked him. Undertaker again refused to fight Kane. Kane stood over Undertaker in the corner of the ring\u2026<\/p>\n<p><strong>[HOUR TWO]<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Michaels came out for his match. Hunter then came out, but Owen Hart attacked Hunter in the aisleway. Sgt. Slaughter came out suspiciously quickly and ordered Owen to the back. Sarge smiled at DX and then Michaels accused Sarge of putting Owen up to it\u2026 Ross &amp; Jim Cornette introduced the second hour of Raw\u2026 A camera followed the New Age Outlaws through the \u201cbowels\u201d of the arena looking for Mankind. They attacked someone they thought was Mankind, but it turned out it wasn\u2019t and they ran\u2026<\/p>\n<p>(3) Marc Mero beat Scott Taylor via TKO at 2:16. Mero first came out without Sable. Fans chanted her name. He said since it was the holiday season, he would give the fans a gift and allow Sable to come out. Sable came out in a not-so-flattering reindeer costume with a flashing red nose (it would have fit in with Party of Five\u2019s mascot). Ross said Mero was belittling Sable. It\u2019s amazing how the WWF has manipulated the angle so the only way Sable can \u201cliberate\u201d herself is to strip nearly naked. Isn\u2019t liberation for women supposed to be more closely related to not having to \u201cexploit their bodies?\u201d Anyway, Mero said, \u201cLook at those set of antlers. Are those real?\u201d Mero then ordered Sable to \u201cdisrobe\u201d him. When the match started, Sable took off the head of her costume. I\u2019m surprised Joey Styles didn\u2019t show up and make some lame \u201chead\u201d puns. However, Ross and Cornette didn\u2019t need Styles to fulfill their quota of \u201cnutty\u201d puns. After winning with the TKO, Tom Brandi attacked Mero. Mero sold a knee injury, which gave Sable a chance to disrobe herself and reveal a sexy Santa outfit underneath the deer suit\u2026<\/p>\n<p>They went to DX\u2019s locker room where Hunter was complaining to Chyna about Michaels always bragging about being \u201cthe show stopper,\u201d to add credibility to the idea that these two might actually fight each other\u2026<\/p>\n<p>(4) Kurrgan (w\/Jackal) beat 8-Ball in 2:00. Not as bad as you\u2019d expect, but still very bad. Jackal\u2019s mic work is starting to find a direction. The Truth Commission attacked 8-Ball after the match and Skull made the save\u2026 They showed New Age looking for Mankind in the back halls again\u2026<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-3719542927\" class=\"pwtor-content-1 pwtor-entity-placement\"><!-- Tag ID: pwtorchcom_test_300x600 -->\r\n<div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __300x600\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>(5) Ken Shamrock beat D-Lo Brown at 2:22 with an ankle lock. Ross mentioned that Ken\u2019s younger brother, Frank, won the middleweight title at the UFC event over the weekend. Shamrock opened with Maurice Smith style roundkicks to D-Lo. D-Lo reached the ropes after an early leglock. He eventually succumbed to an ankle lock. Afterward Rocky walked out and said \u201cthe fans want to know what The Rock thinks of the crisis in the Gulf.\u201d Then he stopped himself and said what is really important is that UFC is for has-beens and never-beens and challenged Shamrock to a title match at the Royal Rumble. Shamrock gladly accepted\u2026 They showed Michaels confiding in Chyna his complaints about Hunter in the locker room\u2026<\/p>\n<p>New Age finally found Mankind. Mankind attacked them, but New Age stuffed him into a cooler. Nothing more was said, so as far as we know Mankind has died of suffocation in the cooler\u2026 Goldust and Luna came out. Goldust was dressed as a Christmas tree and read \u201cT\u2019was the Night Before Christmas\u201d with a lisp. Lots of bad puns by the announcers about \u201cChristmas balls.\u201d Santa attacked Goldust, and it turned out to be Vader. Goldust and Luna fled\u2026<\/p>\n<p>(6) Hunter Hearst Helmsley pinned Shawn Michaels to capture the WWF European Title at 1:17. After each man stalled before locking up, when they finally did lock up Michaels fell to the mat like he was shot. His bump was hilarious. He lay flat as Hunter bounced back and forth off the ropes. He finally splashed Michaels, but didn\u2019t come close to touching him. Michaels\u2019s crying routine afterward was also pretty funny. Hunter eventually embraced Michaels to \u201csooth him.\u201d Ross said, \u201cMichaels has lost his smile.\u201d Slaughter came out, not looking happy. Hunter called it the happiest moment of his life outside of his kid being born. He added, \u201cWell, I don\u2019t have a kid, well not that I know of. I did it! I did it!\u201d Sarge then said that next week Hunter would have to face Owen, but DX didn\u2019t hear him as they continued to celebrate. Expect quite a \u201cflashback of an angle\u201d in next week\u2019s European Title match\u2026 How did the WWF fit so little actual wrestling into two hours?\u2026<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>NOW CHECK OUT THE PREVIOUS FLASHBACK:\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2017\/12\/24\/10-yrs-ago-wwe-nashville-tenn-12-26-07-orton-defends-jericho-hardy-vs-kennedy-triple-h-vs-usage-plus-cody-snitsky-drew-santino-mickie\/\">10 YRS AGO: WWE in Nashville, Tenn (12-26-07): Orton defends against Jericho, Hardy vs. Kennedy, Triple H vs. Usage, plus Cody, Snitsky, Drew, Santino, Mickie<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-2973964785\"><div id=\"pwtor-372551412\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>The following was published in the Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter 20 years ago this week. PWTorch VIP membership gives you access to over 1,500 back issues of the Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter dating back to <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2017\/12\/26\/20-years-ago-kellers-wwf-raw-report-12-22-97-dx-moons-audience-michaels-challenges-triple-h-european-title-undertaker-vs-rock\/\" title=\"20 YEARS AGO &#8211; KELLER&#8217;S WWF RAW REPORT (12-22-97): DX moons the audience, Michaels challenges Triple H for European Title, Undertaker vs. Rock\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5613,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[46,30,31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-53074","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-spotlightarticles","category-specialfeatures","category-exclusives_flashbacks"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/TripleH_TB_3x2_600.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53074","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53074"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53074\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":53080,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53074\/revisions\/53080"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5613"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53074"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53074"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53074"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}