Raw Deal - Raw recap for August 11, 1997

"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels shows up to start tonight's show. It is announced that Shawn will take on Mankind tonight, and Shawn gets everyone up to speed on what's been happening. Shawn says he had a job to do at SummerSlam, and he did it. If WWF doesn't want to step up and take responsibility for what happened and wants to throw it in his lap instead, he's not worried as he's had plenty in his lap before. He says either you're with him or against him. As for Mankind, he had to find out while he was sitting at home watching Superstars because Vince McMahon didn't tell him over the phone. The crowd chants "Shawn is gay," and Shawn responds by asking "Why don't you ask your sister and your mama how gay Shawn is?" He then tells Mankind he'll see him in a few, then invites The Undertaker to watch him smack Mankind around, and if he can beat Mankind, he can beat him. He then says WWF officials have put him on his private hit list, and have the new Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter calling the shot. He tells Slaughter that if he can stick his chin in his business, he's got another thing coming as nobody steals the spotlight and he wants it all. The crowd then chants that Shawn is gay again. Slaughter shows up and tells Shawn that he's listened to what he has to say, and says he's right about him not wanting his chin in his business, but he's going to put it there anyway. He says he's been in the spotlight so many times Shawn couldn't count them all, then tells Shawn that if he thinks he's here to play games, he's wrong. Anything he says, does or decides is for the betterment of the World Wrestling Federation, not Shawn Michaels. As far as Shawn's match with Mankind is concerned, it's time for Shawn to put up or shut up. Shawn tells him that his life is in danger in the WWF, and that he's got a big insurance policy.

We hear from fans who they think will win between "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels and Mankind.

Road Warrior Hawk gets ready for his Country Whippin' Match against Henry O. Godwinn backstage.

Owen Hart and The British Bulldog guest on commentary for the next match.

Before the next match, Henry O. Godwinn explains the Country Whippin' Match: two men have a leather strap and both men whip each other until one man can take no more. Henry O. says that this is the way matters are settled back home and that he will whip the hide off of Road Warrior Hawk's back.

On the newest issue of WWF Magazine, there is an article about what is going on behind the scenes between The Godwinns (Henry O. and Phineas I. Godwinn) and their former manager Hillbilly Jim.

Road Warrior Hawk beats Henry O. Godwinn in a Country Whippin' Match after Phineas I. Godwinn and Road Warrior Animal get involved and Animal sends both Godwinns out of the ring with the Godwinns' slop bucket. During the match, Owen Hart and The British Bulldog argue over which of them will challenge The Patriot to a match.

Inside specially marked packages of Stridex are three limited edition WWF trading cards! There are six in all: "The Heartbreak Kid' Shawn Michaels, Bret "The Hit Man" Hart, Sycho Sid, Ahmed Johnson, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and The Undertaker.

Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter tells Brian Pillman to wear a dress once again.

Goldust and Marlena guest on commentary for the next match.

Scott Putski beats Tony Williams in a Light Heavyweight Division match. During the match, we see security footage of Brian Pillman's locker room, courtesy of a "golden handicam" placed there courtesy of Goldust and Marlena, where we see Pillman angrily change into the dress only to fail miserably and throw things around in the locker room. After the match, Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter tells Goldust and Marlena to leave, which they do.

The Undertaker tells "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels he will watch his match against Mankind, then tells him that no insurance policy will be necessary at Ground Zero except burial insurance.

Goldust talks about his life and his relationship with his father Dusty Rhodes in the newest issue of Raw Magazine, on newsstands tomorrow.

Flash Funk beats Brian Pillman with an inside cradle when Goldust and Marlena show up and distract Pillman with the "golden handicam" footage of Pillman changing into the dress. During the match, it is announced that Extreme Championship Wrestling's Hardcore Heaven event will air on pay-per-view Sunday night. Also, Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter announces that both Owen Hart and The British Bulldog will both take on The Patriot and a partner of The Patriot's choosing later tonight on War Zone, and that The Patriot's partner will not be announced until the match starts.

We see footage of fans chanting for Dude Love from earlier today.

Vince McMahon interviews Dude Love. We see two of Dude Love's groupies in the front row. Dude Love feels that "Stone Cold" Steve Austin will be coming back soon. As for the Fatal Four-Way for the tag titles, he hopes that their opponents - The Legion of Doom (Road Warrior Animal and Road Warrior Hawk), The Godwinns (Henry O. and Phineas I. Godwinn) and the team of Owen Hart and The British Bulldog - have more than one life, if you know what he means. As for who might win between Mankind and "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, he knows both men and if he had to take a guess, he would say Mankind would rock and roll all over Shawn with the Mandible Claw. Shawn appears on the TitanTron, wishing someone would knock Dude Love out so hard he wakes up in the 21st century, and tells him he's not The Heartbreak Kid or himself, for that matter. He says Mankind will see his new insurance policy live and in living color, and he's sticking his foot down Mankind's throat with some Sweet Chin Music. Dude Love quotes John Lennon "I am we, and you are we, and we are all together," and that Mankind will tear Shawn up. Dude Love then parties in the ring with the two groupies.

We hear some more fan predictions on the match between "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels and Mankind.

The Patriot talks to his mystery partner backstage, saying that it's time to take care of business tonight.

The intro to the show replays to signal the start of War Zone.

Before the next match, Owen Hart dedicates the next match to Bret "The Hit Man" Hart, who is watching from backstage.

The Patriot's partner is revealed to be "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock.

The Patriot and "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock beat Owen Hart and The British Bulldog. During the match, Bret "The Hit Man" Hart, who is initially seen watching the match from backstage, shows up to watch the match from the stage. When Bret tries to walk down the entrance ramp, Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter shows up and stops Bret, distracting Shamrock and the referee and allowing Owen Hart to place a steel chair in the ring. This, however, backfires when Shamrock catches Owen sneaking up on him and The Patrio slams The British Bulldog into the steel chair.

On the WWF Superstar Line, option 3 has news on why Ahmed Johnson was booted from The Nation of Domination as well as the future of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.

We see footage of Bret "The Hit Man" Hart saying that he is proud to be Canadian right now and that Americans are going to have a harder time accepting that the WWF Champion is not American. We then see footage from Toronto Peason International Airport from last Tuesday where the Canadian fans show their support for Bret as 15,000 fans showed up to see Bret come back from SummerSlam. Bret says that he will carry the WWF Championship with honor for his fans all over the rest of the world.

"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels is caught backstage talking to someone in a suit who might be his "insurance policy."

The Patriot is here to prove his success in the WWF is no fluke, and says Bret "The Hit Man" Hart is not untouchable. He is suddenly attacked with a steel chair by Bret, and referees have to get Bret away from The Patriot.

Faarooq beats Chainz after referee Jack Doan is accidentally knocked down. Suddenly, Rocky Maivia shows up, checks on the referee and suddenly attacks Chainz. Before the match, it is announced that the rest of The Nation of Domination and The Disciples of Apocalypse have all been banned from ringside for the match. During the match, it is announced that Ahmed Johnson has re-injured his knee. After the match, Rocky Maivia reveals that he has joined The Nation of Domination when he raises his fist along with Faarooq.

Rocky Maivia is seen with The Nation of Domination (Faarooq, D'Lo Brown, Kama Mustafa) backstage, and the cameraman is kicked out of The Nation of Domination's locker room. Suddenly, The Disciples of Apocalypse (Crush, Skull, 8-Ball, Chainz) try to break into the room.

Sable shows up to be the guest ring announcer for the next match, but that match doesn't happen as The Patriot shows up, grabs the microphone and says he can take any man, one-on-one, face to face, and won't back down from anybody. He tells Bret "The Hit Man" Hart that if he wants to prove he's the man and champ he says he is, then they don't have to wait until September, and that they can do it right now. Bret shows up, Canadian flag in hand, and both Bret and The Patriot brawl. The rest of The Hart Foundation (Owen Hart, The British Bulldog, Brian Pillman) show up and gang up on The Patriot, and referees get into the ring before Bret can lock the Sharpshooter onto The Patriot. As The Foundation covers The Patriot with the Canadian flag, Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter shows up to try to restore order.

Mankind tells "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels that he hopes the insurance policy he talks about is life insurance, because when he thinks about him he gets a lump in his throat from emotion. He then says Shawn will have a lump in his throat, too, but instead of emotion, it will be his liver.

We see another vignette for Brakus.

Mankind shows up before the next match with a trash can and tosses it into the ring. It ends up being used as a weapon quickly by "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, which referee Earl Hebner somehow allows. Mankind - now with the garbage bag over his head and shoulders like a poncho - gets the Mandible Claw on Shawn, but Shawn hits him with a low blow.

"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels. During the match, Hunter Hearst Helmsley - now in a white T-shirt and black pants - and Chyna are seen walking down the entrance ramp. We later see the man in the suit from earlier, who is now walking down the ramp: "Ravishing" Rick Rude, straight out of Extreme Championship Wrestling. As Chyna distracts the referee, Rick Rude hits Mankind in the head with a steel chair and Shawn hits the Sweet Chin Music for the win. After the match, The Undertaker makes his presence known as Chyna, Rick Rude and Hunter Hearst Helmsley all get on the apron. Paul Bearer is seen on the TitanTron, telling him that his brother Kane is coming and that he will burn in Hell. The last thing we see before the show ends is fire.