WWE RAW witnessed the brunt of the change in pro wrestling. The red brand bid farewell to two of its top stars in Razor Ramon (aka Scott Hall) and Diesel (Kevin Nash). Both men jumped ship to WCW. Their arrival in the rival promotion caused a seismic shift in RAW’s ratings.
The Outsiders, as they would be known in WCW, paved the way for the nWO. The faction had Hulk Hogan as the main man. Business was never the same for WWE as WCW would crush Vince McMahon’s flagship show for weeks to come.
Amid all the changes, there were some things that happened in WWE. Steve Austin arrived following an underwhelming stint in Ted Turner’s promotion. He’d soon declare himself the best wrestler in the world due to a series of stellar matches.
Let’s take a look at some of the best WWE RAW matches of 1997 featuring the future “Stone Cold,” Shawn Michaels, and others:
Steve Austin vs. Vader (December 16)
This match took place the night following WWE In Your House 12: It’s Time pay-per-view event. Bret Hart provided commentary for this clash between Steve Austin and Vader. The Hitman had lost his WWE Championship match against Psycho Sid due to interference from Austin and Shawn Michaels.
Austin and Vader had a back-and-forth contest, but the storyline in play was between Hart and Austin. The match went to no contest after Hart attacked Austin for his antics from the night prior. The match would’ve made it a higher spot on this list if it had more time and a clean finish.
Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart (November 25)
Brother clashed with brother as Bret Hart took on Owen in this rare match-up from WWE RAW in 1996. The Hitman had come out victorious in his Survivor Series match against just a week ago. Owen, on the other hand, didn’t have the same success in his tag team match.
The younger Hart had a lot of pent-up anger as he took on his brother in this great wrestling match. The finish involved Steve Austin and British Bulldog with a major tease for The Hart Foundation’s reunion.
Shawn Michaels vs. Marty Jannetty (July 1)
Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty had a series of excellent matches in 1993. They met in 1996 at the Kuwait Cup, where Michaels retained the WWE Championship against his former partner. Both men met again at the June 26 WWE RAW taping.
Though this match was far better than the matches three years prior, this non-title contest made for a solid RAW opener. The Showstopper looked ridiculously smooth in this match. The closing moments were incredibly done.
Shawn Michaels vs. 1-2-3 Kid (WWE RAW – March 4)
Shawn Michaels and 1-2-3 Kid first met in singles competition in 1993. They collided once again three years later on WWE RAW. Michaels had already developed a reputation as one of the best workers between the ropes.
Waltman was the underdog here but had proved himself thanks to some incredible matches in the past. You could see the motivation in their eyes to put on a good match for the fans in attendance and at home.
Another detail that is often overlooked is Bret Hart’s backstage commentary for the match. The Hitman would soon collide with the Showstopper in a 60-minute Iron Man Match.
Steve Austin vs. Mankind (No Holds Barred Match – November 18)
This could’ve easily main evented a PPV during the Attitude Era. Mick Foley entered the ring as Vader’s replacement. Austin showed signs of his future Rattlesnake gimmick in this match.
Both men immediately got into brawl. This match really got the crowd on their feet. At a time when WWE were still hesitant to do No Holds Barred Match, this bout felt like a breath of fresh air; truly an excellent match to kick off RAW.
Honorable Mentions
- Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H (WWE RAW – May 13)
- The Undertaker vs. British Bulldog (June 10)
- Shawn Michaels vs. Owen Hart (August 12)
- Mankind vs. The Undertaker (WWE RAW – December 9)
Also read: Best WWE RAW Matches Of 1999
