Raw Deal - Raw recap for June 23, 1997

Vince McMahon interviews The Nation of Domination (Faarooq, D'Lo Brown, Kama Mustafa, Ahmed Johnson) to start tonight's show. Ahmed, when asked why he joined the Nation, tells Vince to ask himself why, then says the fans never backed him up for a title, and that he never got another shot at the Intercontinental Championship after returning from injury as he is a Black man. Vince tells Ahmed he was going to get an opportunity, but Ahmed says that Martin Luther King Jr. was going to live another ten years and that never happened because he got assassinated for "trying to be nice." He then says Louis Farrakhan is alive because he doesn't preach the peace. Ahmed goes on to announce that he has no respect for The Undertaker anymore, saying that a man who has to listen to another man is "a low-down, dirty slave dog" and says that when The Undertaker puts his hands on him, he won't be dead enough. D'Lo Brown proclaims that Ahmed came back because he was held down and the people, including Vince, turned his back on him. Faarooq says the truth kills everybody, and says Savio Vega and Crush couldn't get the job done. He says the most feared threat in the world today is powerful, intelligent Black human beings getting together for a cause, and that the new Nation will get the job done. D'Lo Brown calls the Nation the four most dominating men in the WWF today, and that nobody will stop them. Ahmed tells Vince that if he crosses his eyes at the Nation again, he will wish he was never born. Kama says he is proud of himself for single-handedly defeating The Undertaker last week, and is also proud of The Nation as well as Ahmed Johnson, who finally has a chance to take down The Undertaker and prove The Nation are the champions. D'Lo Brown says The Nation rules the WWF, and will do so by any means necessary. Suddenly, four men in biker gear show up on motorcycles, and one of them is Crush. They surround the ring and rev up their motors as a means of intimidation, then get off the bikes and into the ring. Crush says he can't remember hearing so much crap in his entire life, and tells Faarooq he never fired him because he quit. He then introduces the Nation to a real brotherhood: D.O.A., the Disciples of Apocalypse, who live together, ride together and fight together. This starts an all-out brawl that not only referees have to quell, but also WWF officials and police officers.

The Legion of Doom (Road Warrior Animal and Road Warrior Hawk) says it's going to be their tournament tonight, and that's the way they like it.

Former UFC and current NWA champion Dan Severn guests on commentary for the next match to provide some insight on "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock, having faced Shamrock on two occasions.

"The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock beats Rockabilly with the ankle lock submission. The Honky Tonk Man almost whacks Shamrock in the head with his guitar, but Shamrock turns around and makes him think twice. Shamrock then notices Dan Severn at the commentary table, and both men stare down for a few seconds before shaking hands. Shamrock then raises Severn's hand.

Henry O. Godwinn says that his recent neck injury that broke his C4 vertebrae was no accident, and didn't feel like on either. He tells The Legion of Doom (Road Warrior Animal and Road Warrior Hawk) that what they will do to them tonight will be no accident. He's not stupid, and neither is his brother, Phineas I. Godwinn, and the Godwinns - now sans shirts - will do things their way from now on.

Chyna, Hunter Hearst Helmsley and "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock will be at Muscle Beach in Venice, California this Saturday from 1 to 2 PM.

It is noted that "Wildman" Marc Mero is seemingly becoming jealous of the attention that Sable has been getting in his absence, and that the issue is discussed in the newest issue of Raw Magazine.

The Godwinns (Henry O. and Phineas I. Godwinn) slop The Legion of Doom (Road Warrior Animal and Road Warrior Hawk), but all it does is get the L.O.D. mad. It is then mentioned that "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock has been attacked backstage by The Hart Foundation (Bret "The Hit" Man, Owen Hart, The British Bulldog, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, Brian Pillman).

The Legion of Doom (Road Warrior Animal and Road Warrior Hawk) beat The Godwinns (Henry O. and Phineas I. Godwinn) to continue to the next round of the tag team tournament. After The Godwinns attack The Legion of Doom with their slop buckets and Animal clears them out with a steel chair, The Hart Foundation (Bret "The Hit" Man, Owen Hart, The British Bulldog, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, Brian Pillman) zoom in to attack the L.O.D. as Bret "The Hit Man" Hart surveys the carnage from the top of the entrance ramp.

Boxer and multi-weight class champion Tommy "The Hitman" Hearns is seen in the front row with his family.

Paul Bearer tells The Undertaker it's all about him, and The Undertaker finally put his hand on the throat of Bearer...as well as Vader, who rushes in to protect Bearer. Bearer tells The Undertaker to remember the fire, and 'Taker leaves the room.

Owen Hart is disgusted with the triple threat with the Intercontinental Championship on the line, considering it unfair that a Canadian has to face two Americans at the same time on American soil. Owen is not worried, as he has a big surprise in store.

We see a preview of 'Cause Stone Cold Said So, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin's new video.

Paul E. Dangerously guests on commentary for the next match.

Flash Funk and Sabu wrestle to a double-count out as Sabu tries to put Flash Funk through a table with a moonsault, with the table refusing to break. During the match, It is mentioned that Bill Alfonso was originally a referee in the World Wrestling Federation prior to becoming a manager in Extreme Championship Wrestling. Sabu and his manager Bill Alfonso leave through the crowd after the match.

Mankind comes to the ring for his match wearing an Austin 3:16 shirt as well as a cardboard sign around his neck saying "Pick Me Steve." He dedicates his efforts in the ring tonight to "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, a man he is proud to call his friend. (The sign gets ripped in half by The British Bulldog during the match.)

The recently injured "Stone Cold" Steve Austin is interviewed via telephone, who says never to call him collect again because he will not accept the charges. He also says hello to his brother Kevin, who was recently stepped on by a bull and owes him $30. He will be back on Friday night in Salt Lake City, Utah. As for Mankind's campaign to be his tag team partner, he sees it as a tribute to himself and appreciates the effort, but also calls him a freak and would still defend the tag team titles by himself even if Mankind is a worth tag team partner.

Mankind beats The British Bulldog by disqualification after Bulldog repeatedly hits Mankind with a steel chair. Four chair shots aren't enough, however, as Mankind cinches the Mandible Claw on Bulldog until Bulldog is able to escape.

WWF President Gorilla Monsoon has no problem with Brian Pillman managing Owen Hart in the Triple Threat Match for the Intercontinental Championship.

We see some of the men who have held the WWF Intercontinental Championship: Pat Patterson, Pedro Morales, Don Muraco, Tito Santana, The Honky Tonk Man, "Ravishing" Rick Rude, The British Bulldog, Ahmed Johnson, and "Wildman" Marc Mero.

The intro to the show is replayed to signify the start of War Zone.

Pat Patterson is special guest referee for the next match.

Goldust almost beats Hunter Helmsley and Owen Hart to win the WWF Intercontinental Championship. During the commercial break, referee Earl Hebner and WWF President Gorilla Monsoon bring up the fact that Owen Hart placed his foot on the rope, which Patterson did not see. As a result, the match is restarted.

Owen Hart retains the WWF Intercontinental Championship against Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Goldust when Goldust tries to break Owen's pinfall attempt from the top rope only for Owen to move out of the way so he can cinch the win. Bret "The Hit Man" Hart and Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart watch the post-match celebration from backstage.

Vince McMahon interviews "Bret Hit Man" Hart, who is accompanied by Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart. Hart says The Legion of Doom (Road Warrior Animal and Road Warrior Hawk) aren't the best tag team in the WWF, and that he and Neidhart are. He has no problem with "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock coming to the WWF to make a name for himself, and tells Marlena that he has four sisters who will knock her socks off if she lays a hand on The British Bulldog. As for "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, he just considers him the scum of the earth. He says that Austin can look over his shoulder, but justice is coming in the form of The Hart Foundation (Bret "The Hit" Man, Owen Hart, The British Bulldog, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, Brian Pillman) in Hart's hometown, whether Austin likes it or not. He says that a victory will not be stolen from the Foundation, or else they will eliminate their opponents forever. Bret Hart then calls out Tommy "The Hitman" Hearns, saying that Hearns stole his nickname, and dares him to step in the ring and prove himself, which he does after Bret says "I don't think you're The Hitman, I think you're the Chicken Man." Bret and Hearns stare down, then Hearns punches Neidhart in the gut several times. Officials have to keep Hearns away from Bret, while Neidhart is out on his feet.

Tommy "The Hit Man" Hearns is seen on camera one more time after the break, this time to crowd ovation.

Faarooqis confronted by Savio Vega backstage, and gets beaten up by D'Lo Brown and Kama Mustafa for his efforts before Faarooq whips him with the leather straps.

Jerry "The King" Lawler guests on commentary for the next match after accompanying Brian Christopher to the ring. Lawler refuses to admit that Brian Christopher is his son, simply saying that Christopher is a great athlete.

Brian Christopher beats Scott Taylor in a Light Heavyweight Division match.

Paul Bearer tells Vince McMahon not to read into his "Remember the fire" statement to The Undertaker from earlier tonight, saying that everything is okay.

The Nation of Domination (Faarooq and Kama Mustafa) beat The Undertaker and Vader to continue to the next round of the tag team tournament after 'Taker punches Vader from the apron. During the match, The Disciples of Apocalypse show up and attack The Nation of Domination, but are cleared out during the break when The Undertaker also fights the D.O.A. off. After the match, Paul Bearer confronts 'Taker, but "Taker waves him off. Vader fights The Undertaker, but falls victim to a Tombstone Piledriver. Bearer runs away, and 'Taker is about to leave when Bearer tells him to turn around. He threatens to tell 'Taker's secret next week, and 'Taker answers with a throat slash gesture before heading to the back.