Raw Deal - Raw recap for April 28, 1997

Brian Pillman shows up to start tonight's show. He says there are a lot of pre-conceived notions about who he is, saying that people think he's crazy, but he is here to tell him there is a sensitive side to him, and that he's very deeply religious. Pillman has played the carnage of last week over and over in his mind and had sleepless nights, wondering if what he did was right. Thankfully, a glorious awakening overcame him, and he was overwhelmed with the spirit of truth. Since that day, he has been compelled to pray for all of everyone's misgivings. He then asks the crowd to bow their heads, close their eyes and join him in prayer. Pillman then prays for Bret "The Hit Man" Hart to have a speedy recovery, for all the people who rejoiced in the savage brutality of last week's show so that they may be forgiven, and for all those who exalted in the devious actions of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin so that they may be forgiven as well. He also prays for the millions across America who savor the bloodthirsty violence that pervades American society. Pillman breaks down, and asks everyone to continue to bond with him in prayer as he prays for the utter destruction and annihilation of Austin, and that he be stricken down in the arena tonight so that he may never again practice "his evil craft." Pillman then prays to everyone to open their hearts and minds and let Bret Hart, "the savior of the WWF," into their hearts and souls. Austin is on the TitanTron now, and tells Pillman he should pray that he doesn't beat the hell out of him, as not even Bret will be able to save Pillman's ass. Pillman says he is not afraid of him, and says "an eye for an eye" and "turn the other cheek" before facing his rear end towards the TitanTron in an attempt to taunt him. Austin shows up, and as soon as he gets in the ring, so does Owen Hart and The British Bulldog. Austin immediately gets out of the ring and leaves through the crowd. Pillman tells Owen and The Bulldog that he needs a moment of silence as he is still in prayer. He says that the family that prays together, stays together, and blesses the day and the opportunity for the three of them to show their thanks. Bulldog prays for Bret's recovery, and Owen prays for everyone to pray for Bret and help him heal, and for "Stone Cold" Steve Austin to come to the other side and realize his mistakes. As he prays for Austin, Austin takes an ax, pulls the blade off, and runs for the ring with the ax handle in his hands. Pillman, Owen and Bulldog flee through the crowd. Austin then gets back in the ring, grabs the microphone, stands on the second rope and says that he doesn't know where they're going, but their asses are his.

Brian Pillman prays that "Stone Cold" Steve Austin doesn't hurt his knee anymore so that he, Owen Hart and The British Bulldog can welcome him with their best wishes backstage.

Flash Funk beats Rockabilly after he whips him into The Honky Tonk Man, who is standing on the apron during the match. During the match, we see that an ambulance, and that Bret "The Hit Man" Hart is inside. Flash Funk confronts Honky after the match only to have a guitar smashed into his head by Rockabilly, who then stomps on Flash Funk a few times along with The Honky Tonk Man. We then see Bret on the TitanTron, who is being pushed on a wheelchair backstage. Hart says he has something to say, and he wants to say it. They are accompanied by security guards as well as WWF President Gorilla Monsoon.

Vince McMahon announces that due to the consequences of last week's Street Fight, Bret "The Hit Man" Hart underwent knee surgery this past Friday. He then announces that Hart has something on his mind and wants to share it with the world as we see footage of last week's surgery. Bret is then introduced, and Bret is brought out on the wheelchair by Owen Hart and The British Bulldog. Hart sits on the entrance ramp, and pulls out a microphone. Hart says he knows where Brian Pillman is coming from and that it is great that he is praying for him, but no matter how much he prays, every once in a while a slimy, rotten hyena breaks through and makes a kill on a real lion. Thankfully, he was not killed, only wounded, but all the prayer in the world won't help against "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, whom he calls "the scum of America." He realized last week while wrestling Austin that it wasn't just one hyena, it's a whole pack, as hyenas don't hunt by themselves. The "pack" in question is the American wrestling fans, whom he calls a disgrace around the world while the rest of the world appreciates heroes and people who stand up for the truth, both of which Hart considers himself to be. Hart says he did both things, and all he got for it is Austin trying to rip his leg off and end his career. He doesn't care what the Americans think of him, but he says he never deserved that treatment. Hart says that all you have to do is watch TV to see how blood-thirsty American wrestling fans are, and calls said fans "a sick, depraved society." He knew it would come down to this sooner or later, and that he had to lower himself to those standards and to the fans, just so he could prove he is still the best there was, the best there is and the best there ever will be. He knows the fans are getting sick of it, and that now they know what the rest of the world thinks of them. Bret says he is back, though he may be out of commission for a while. He says the ambulance that brought him here tonight should stay real close, as the likes of Austin and "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels can get a ride to the hospital. He says that this time, The Hart Foundation (Bret "The Hit Man" Hart, Owen Hart, The British Bulldog) will be dishing out pain. He tells Austin his days are numbered as he tells the American wrestling fans that they make him sick.

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin is seen backstage with the ax handle still in his hands, looking for the first aid station.

In pre-recorded comments before the next match, Doug Furnas and Phil LaFon can't figure out why they can't be accepted by the fans. They say that the people can't handle their style, and that unlike The Legion of Doom (Road Warrior Hawk and Road Warrior Animal), they are actual wrestlers, and if they had the same kind of support as The Legion, they would be tag team champions by now.

Despite the Doomsday Device being foiled, The Legion of Doom (Road Warrior Hawk and Road Warrior Animal) beat Doug Furnas and Phillip LaFon. After the match, Jim Ross interviews Furnas and LaFon, saying that everyone else has a home-field advantage every night, and that they want a rematch.

We see the Sunny Undercover segment of last week's Shotgun Saturday Night, where The Headbangers (Thrasher and Mosh) join Sunny in bed to get under the covers with her.

Ahmed Johnson is in the locker room. He apologizes for his actions from last week, and tells Faarooq that if he wants a gang fight, he's got one.

Bret "The Hit Man" Hart, Owen Hart and The British Bulldog have a meeting backstage, while Brian Pillman continues to pray in the locker room with both of Owen Hart's Slammy Awards in his hands.

Before the next match, Owen Hart shows up with Bret "The Hit Man" Hart and The British Bulldog. As Bulldog and Bret stand at the entrance ramp, Owen dedicates the match to Bret, whom he calls "the dearest thing to all of us" as he prepares to take the WWF Intercontinental Championship from Rocky Maivia.

Owen Hart beats Rocky Maivia with an unorthodox pinfall to become the WWF Intercontinental Champion! With this victory, the WWF Championship is the only title not in the possession of The Hart Foundation (Bret "The Hit Man" Hart, Owen, The British Bulldog), who celebrate on the entrance ramp.

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin is still backstage...and he has an ax handle and a wheelchair...

The intro to the show replays to signify the start of the second hour.

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin returns yet again, this time to be interviewed in the ring by Vince McMahon. Austin comes out through the crowd with the ax handle and the wheelchair, which he sits in. He asks the crowd if they want to see a wheelchair match, and says all Bret "The Hit Man" Hart has to do is wheel himself out here so he can fight him wheel to wheel, then says he's a lying S.O.B. and that he'll get out of the wheelchair, stomp a mudhole in his ass and walk it dry. He knows the last thing The Hart Foundation (Bret, Owen Hart, The British Bulldog) and Brian Pilmman want to see is him as WWF Champion. On May 11th, The Undertaker will indeed see the coldest day in Hell, as come Hell or high water and an entire family of Harts, he will whip 'Taker's ass and become the next WWF Champion. Bret then shows up on the TitanTron with , and tells Austin he will ride to the hospital in the ambulance he came in on, busted to pieces. Austin says that if anyone's going into the ambulance, it's The Hart Foundation.

Vader is back. We see the footage from Good Morning Kuwait where Vader puts his hands on an interviewer that landed him under house arrest in Kuwait before his eventual return. We then get a look at Ken Shamrock, who says he loves being a challenger and putting himself in challenging situations. He calls the WWF the biggest challenge he'll ever have yet.

Vader, no longer accompanied by Paul Bearer and Mankind, beats "Double J" Jesse James. After the match, Jim Ross interviews Vader, and asks him if he has any remorse for his actions in Kuwait. Vader says he went to Kuwait to do a job, and he did it very well. As far as remorse or regrets are concerned, he apologizes for nothing and to no one. When Jim Ross asks him if he thinks he over-reacted, Vader tells him he can finish that interview in Kuwait with Jim Ross. He takes Ross' hat off and asks if he's a big tough guy from Oklahoma as he says he didn't come here to be insulted by anybody. Ross says he's just doing his job, but Vader backs him into a corner and removes his glasses before putting his hands on him. Ken Shamrock shows up and puts Vader in a belly-to-belly suplex. Vader backs away as officials rush to the ring, and Shamrock tells Vader that when they get in the ring, it'll be hard time, not Vader time.

Goldust asks Marlena not to accompany him to the ring tonight as he applies his make-up, telling her that where he is going tonight is no place for a lady.

Goldust beats Hunter Hearst Helmsley by count-out. During the match, it is announced that headlines about Sycho Sid and Sunny are on Option 6 of the WWF Superstar Line. Also, Marlena shows up at ringside despite being asked not to by Goldust. This somehow works to Goldust's advantage when Chyna confronts Marlena, and when Goldust gets between the two women, Marlena throws powder into Chyna's face, blinding her. When Helmsley checks on Chyna, Chyna grabs Helmsley by the neck with both hands and picks him up as Goldust gets back in the ring, and Goldust beats the count. As Helmsley and Chyna leave, The Undertaker's gong plays. The Undertaker appears on the TitanTron, and says that no man deserves to have the flesh burned from the flame, but also says that the one who covets the flame ends up being burnt. 'Taker says Austin has a bit of momentum built up, but if Austin walks in distracted, he may leave in far worse shape than a wheelchair will take him.

Brian Pillman prays for The British Bulldog to have the courage to maim, cripple and torture The Undertaker and make him feel the wrath of The Hart Foundation (Bret "The Hit Man" Hart, Owen Hart, The British Bulldog) and the pain of every nail that goes into his coffin.

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin paces backstage...

The British Bulldog dedicates the next match to Bret "The Hit Man" Hart, who introduced him to his wife Diana Hart Smith (who is also Bret's sister). He says he will win the WWF Championship for him, even though this is a non-title match.

The Undertaker beats The British Bulldog by disqualification after Owen Hart attacks 'Taker before he can perform the Tombstone Piledriver on Bulldog. Owen and The Bulldog attack 'Taker, but "Stone Cold" Steve Austin shows up through the crowd to go after Owen and The Bulldog, who are sent out through the crowd by Austin and 'Taker. Austin and 'Taker go back into the ring, but Austin takes the WWF Championship with him, raises it up after standing on the second rope, then walks up to Undertaker, throws the belt down and hits him with the Stone Cold Stunner. Austin then stands over 'Taker and talks trash to his face as he leans down, which earns him a choke slam as 'Taker gets back up. Austin then sees Bret "The Hit Man" Hart on the entrance ramp by himself, and Austin tells 'Taker he'll beat his ass later as he'll beat Bret's ass now. Bret stands up on crutches, but is unable to escape. Austin moves Bret's wheelchair out of the way, but he is attacked by a big man out of nowhere. That big man is Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, Bret's brother-in-law who hasn't been seen in the WWF since 1994. Bret hits Austin with one of his crutches, sending Austin falling over the edge of the entrance ramp and onto the floor. Bret and The Anvil high-five each other, then head to the back. Officials check on Austin, who then bring out medical help. As Austin is carried out on a stretcher, the last thing we see is a smiling Brian Pillman.