Raw Deal - Raw recap for May 26, 1997

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin shows up to start tonight's show, as does "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels. When Jim Ross asks them if they can co-exist long enough tonight to win the tag team titles, it becomes apparent that they don't like each other, but at the same time they will kick some ass. Suddenly, The Legion of Doom (Road Warrior Animal and Road Warrior Hawk) show up for their match and desire a tag team title shot if they win. Both Austin and Shawn agree, then The Hart Foundation (Bret "The Hit Man" Hart, Owen Hart, The British Bulldog, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, Brian Pillman) show up, and Bret Hart is finally standing upright without the aid of crutches.

The Legion of Doom (Road Warrior Animal and Road Warrior Hawk) beat The Hart Foundation (Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart and "The Loose Cannon" Brian Pillman, who finally has his first match on Raw) by disqualification after Owen Hart and The British Bulldog interfere. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels show up together to clean house, but when Shawn goes after the Foundation, Austin confronts Shawn and the two of them fight one another yet again, and officials have to break up the brawl.

In Episode 3 of Sunny's Search and Soak Mission, The Honky Tonk Man gets soaked with the Super Soaker CPS 2000.

Paul Bearer is backstage, and we can finally see half of his face. It is noted that his hair is red and his facial hair is notably absent. He says that he has all the bases covered ashis attorney has a key to the safe deposit box that holds his secret, and only his attorney can open that box. He says that whatever happens, the secret will be revealed one way or another before the end of the night. He says that he is a different Paul Bearer, and either the secret comes out or The Undertaker joins him.

Faarooq guests on commentary for the next match.

D'Lo Brown - who appears for the first time on Raw in wrestling gear instead of behind a suit as a member of The Nation of Domination - beats Bob "Spark Plug" Holly.

The Undertaker knows he has to make a decision that could affect the rest of his life in an hour's time, and is not even worried about Faarooq.

Jerry "The King" Lawler says Goldust has an identity crisis, and says Dusty Rhodes doesn't love him anymore because he married the biggest gold-digger in Georgia before wearing a woman's wig and "kissing men like a flamin' fag." He tells Goldust to bring Marlena and Dakota with him, as tears will be running down their faces when he's done with them. He also says that Dakota should have been named "Target," as "everyone had a shot at it" last week.

The official King of the Ring inflatable chair is available for $59.99 plus $11 shipping and handling.

Jerry "The King" Lawler beats Goldust to continue to the second round of the King of the Ring Tournament after putting his feet on the ropes for leverage. After the amtch, Goldust continues to fight Lawler on the ramp, and Lawler rolls down to the ring after a slap from Goldust. Marlena steps on Lawler's gut as she and Goldust leave.

Owen Hart, The British Bulldog and Brian Pillman attack "Stone Cold" Steve Austin backstage.

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin and "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels argue backstage after Shawn confronts Austin for not watching his back.

Rocky Maivia beats Flash Funk. During the match, The Headbangers (Thrasher and Mosh) guest on commentary with King of the Ring inflatable chairs, popcorn, cotton candy and their own music, but it isn't long before they interfere in the match. Amazingly, no disqualification takes place, and The Headbangers' interference gives Rocky the win. Flash Funk tells Rocky what happened, and both men show respect after the match.

We see more of the interview with Mankind. We learn that he played lacrosse in high school, where he played as a goalie...without protective gear. One May morning, he got hit in the testicles during a game, and even though it was supposed to be three weeks before he could return to school, he went back the next day even though the swelling had not gone down. He remembers this as the only time girls looked at his genital region, which he considers his greatest day in his high school days.

Bret "The Hit Man" Hart appears on the TitanTron with the rest of The Hart Foundation (Owen Hart, The British Bulldog, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, Brian Pillman). He says that at King of the Ring, it will be an untamed world, like a lion ripping into an antelope. He tells "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels he's got what he wanted, but promises that all he needs is ten minute to beat Shawn's face to a pulp, as Shawn will find out how real he is. Pillman tells "Stone Cold" Steve Austin he knows everything about him, and that he hates his guts. He plans to pull his head out of his ass at King of the Hart so he can clearly see that he is the king of Austin's pathetic world. Owen Hart and The British Bulldog plan to expose Austin and Shawn as the losers that they are, especially when they can't get along.

The intro to the show is replayed to signify the start of the second hour.

"The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock guests on commentary for the next match.

Ahmed Johnson beats Vader. Before the next match, it is announced that Ahmed Johnson's semi-final slot in the King of the Ring tournament is on the line in this match.

It is announced that news on why Brian Pillman isn't a full-fledged member of The Hard Foundation (Bret "The Hit Man" Hart, Owen Hart, The British Bulldog, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, Pillman) as well as whether or not there is dissent - and new members on the way - in The Nation of Domination on The Ross Report on Option 3 of the WWF Superstar Line.

Paul Bearer is backstage. He says that he has had a secret on his conscience for so long, and in a few words, he will bring him to his knees like no giant, warrior or immortal could do.

Hunter Hearst Helmsley beats Rockabilly after Chyna stops The Honky Tonk Man from using his guitar as a weapon and scoop slams him outside of the ring.

The Undertaker says that sometimes in live, we have to make decisions we don't want to, but have to. He tells Paul Bearer to do what he has to do, and in turn, he will do what he himself has to do.

Sable shows off the King of the Ring inflatable chair.

We see part two of the interview with Mankind. He talks about how he hitch-hiked to the match between "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka and Don "The Rock" Muraco in a steel cage in October 17, 1983 in Madison Square Garden, and realized what he wanted to do with his life when Snuka dove off the top of the cage. This led to him creating an alter-ego in high school, and made a movie of himself when he was 18 as a form of escape. He says he met "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, who asked him if he always envisioned himself in this way. During this time, he was not Mick Foley, nor was he Mankind. Instead, he was "Dude Love." We see portions of this homemade movie, including one where he dove off the roof of his friend's house's roof. The video ended up in the hands of Dominic DeNucci, who took him under his week and trained him to wrestle every weekend for two years, with Mankind traveling 800 miles round-trip and eating and sleeping in the back of his 1979 Ford Fairmont during these training sessions as he tried to realize his dreams. This led to him becoming "Cactus Jack," which was supposed to last for only three months but ended up staying for eleven years.

It is announced before the next match that The Legion of Doom (Road Warrior Animal and Road Warrior Hawk) will officially face Shawn Michaels and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin for the WWF Tag Team Championships next week should Shawn and Austin win.

In what is "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels' first match in four months, "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin beat Owen Hart and The British Bulldog to become the WWF Tag Team Champions! During the match, The Legion of Doom (Road Warrior Animal and Road Warrior Hawk) are seen watching the match from the back. After the match, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart and Brian Pillman rush into the ring and attack Shawn while Austin makes a beeline for Bret "The Hit Man" Hart. Austin is able to make it to the back before Bret's comrades can attack him, too.

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin and "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels still can't get along even after winning the WWF Tag Team Championships, and start arguing when Austin says he won the titles by himself.

Paul Bearer shows up, and is interviewed by Vince McMahon. He tells The Undertaker that his time is up, and says Brother Love didn't bring him to the WWF off the streets. He has known The Undertaker for many, many years. He then reveals that he was the mortician and funeral director when The Undertaker's parents' caskets were lowered. He then reveals that there were three graves prepared that day. As he is about to elaborate, The Undertaker immediately makes his way to the ring and tells Bearer he hates him with all that he is. He loathes and despises him for what he is about to do tonight, and although the hounds of Hell may bay at the secret Bearer's attorney will reveal, Bearer won't be able to, and he only hopes the ones that love him and have loved him in the past will be able to forgive him. He then grabs Bearer by the throat, and Bearer begs for merc. The Undertaker lets him go, then rejoins Paul Bearer.