Let’s dive into WWE Shotgun Saturday Night and its first episode for “First Month Fire.” This was a B-show or minor program that debuted in January 1997 and when I say that this was peak B-show stuff, I mean there’s a lot of talent that tends to sit below the midcard crew making up this show.
Of course, it’s important to note that these minor shows were mainly used to further promote storylines and upcoming matches for PPV or the A-show: Monday Night RAW. These shows all took place at NYC night spots early on—not that it really added to the show itself.
The concept was really interesting but the implementation gets a thumbs down from me. After a while, it just feels like year one RAW without major superstars.
The Undercard
The episode’s first match saw the Flying Nuns—the Head Bangers in nuns’ wear—defeat the Godwin’s. For some reason, this match had a little more time than necessary but it’s the only match of the ones on this card that kind of worked with over 10 minutes.
WWE could marinate the fans who missed some of that week’s television and the big storylines while also getting a match that probably would’ve made Superstars at best. That’s right, not even a place on the Sunday Night HeAT card.
Anyway, thumbs in the middle for this match. It used the time it had well and it was pretty even.
Now, for most of the following match, Goldust vs. The Sultan was your basic, RAW opening match. There was nothing that you’d stop and be amazed by in their matches except for two things: the consistency for a perfectly acceptable, decent match and the Fatu clothesline bump.
The big guy could take a clothesline in over-the-top fashion.
While the match was basic for the most part, it didn’t finish basic as the ending was wild for national TV. With interference from The Sultan’s manager Bob Backlund, Marlena got in the ring apron and flashed The Sultan and the crowd!
This allowed Goldust to toss Sultan to the outside for a count-out win and we’re treated to WWE’s production team lingering on Goldust and Marlena a bit too long after the finisher. I don’t know what production hoped to pick up besides Dustin groping on his attractive wife while everyone in a nightclub watches…who knows.
Thumbs up for this one. It was pretty damn clean throughout, nothing was done that could be messed up, and the pace wasn’t bad at all. This was Dustin’s pace and young Rikishi could keep that pace. I could’ve done with a little more time on this one but the finish made up for it.
I thought we were already at the main event then heard my notes on Ahmed Johnson vs. Crush. I mean, it’s a match, it’s on the show, it’s the bad kind of basic. You know: painfully basic. It does have one benefit in that this isn’t a sluggish heavyweight affair at all. Mind you, it ain’t blistering fast either.
Thankfully, it was short and didn’t impact the vibe and flow of the overall show. Still, it gets a thumbs down.
The Main Event
The main event was a fun minis match between Mascarita Sagrada Jr and Mini Vader. Now, I’m not a big fan of the minis since comedy sometimes plays a big role in those matches but it’s comedy you’d would’ve already seen if you’ve watched any minis.
There was a balance of wrestling and the extra stuff. I’m still impressed by Sagrada Jr and how clean he could be in the ring. Thumbs in the middle because Espectrito Jr as Mini Vader was meh and was the only thing I just didn’t care for in the match.
WWE Shotgun Saturday Night #1: Silver Medal (Thumbs in the Middle for the Undercard and the Main Event)
Overall, this was a decent wrestling show debut but a really good wrestling minor show debut. There were no storylines established for Shotgun Saturday Night and that would’ve been nice but the show was enjoyable all the same.
Match of the Show: Goldust vs. The Sultan
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z65nmQj2BY4
