Raw is War, October 27, 1997

Truly a pay-per-view that needs no introduction, as the Hitman’s Last Great Year slams into the endpoint of that year. But there’s more to the card than just Bret being stripped of his dignity and WWF Championship, right? Well, sort of. Don’t worry, a super team of Matt, Daniel, AND Will break it all down and try to end the podcast with a bang. And we even have a bonus match so you’re not bummed out, hopefully! BONUS MATCH: Bret Hart vs. Rick Steamboat, Boston Garden, March 8, 1986

Bret Hart is… not on this episode of Raw outside of a video package, and neither is Owen Hart, but their opponents at Sunday’s Survivor Series are here to fight… uh, other people. It’s not the best way to build to a match that will ‘never happen again’, but there are some pretty famous circumstances that lend to this odd Raw. Join Matt and Will as they break it down! BONUS MATCH: Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels, Survivor Series 1992, November 25, 1992

Bret Hart wrestles his final match on Raw on this episode, defending his WWF Championship against Ken Shamrock. Who comes out on top? Well, you know. Right? Like, obviously? You wouldn’t be surprised to hear Shawn Michaels gets involved, right? This is wrestling, after all. Join Matt and Joel as they break it all down!

Some issues just don’t line up well with wrestling, and racism might just be one of them. On this episode, there’s more that is interesting about what has been cut out of this show rather than what was put in, with the Nation of Domination upset about their locker room being trashed, with Bret Hart and his boys seemingly responsible for it. Join Matt and Will as we navigate thorny issues infinitely better than WWF did at the beginning of the Attitude Era!

On this episode, D-Generation X gets named and stirs the pot, the Hart Foundation barely get a chance to speak, and Jerry Lawler says an all-time racist joke on the show, yikes. But the biggest news: The Legion of Doom are in the main event challenging for the tag titles, and if they don’t win, they’ll retire! So that’s something. Kris and Matt break it all down, including the tiny historic moments! BONUS MATCH: Bret Hart vs. Jean Pierre LaFitte, In Your House 3, September 24, 1995

It’s the night after Badd Blood, and we have to grapple with the death of Brian Pillman and the tough-to-watch interview that takes place on this show with Pillman’s widow. But we also have to contend with proto-DX, a nameless group of children who sneer at all things authentic and might just be undercutting the show. Also, Faarooq picks way too man fights, and lumberjack matches are embraced and loved. Join Matt and Daniel as they hack their way through a show that is heavy on Attitude Era!

It’s the debut of the Hell in a Cell gimmick, and it might just be the best one they’ve ever done. Also, there’s a pretty significant debut (that really shouldn’t work, but does) toward the end that Matt and Will dig into. Also on the card: Bret’s in a tag team flag match (if you can call it that) and several matches get added or elongated as the WWF grapples with Brian Pillman’s sudden death. Join us for one legendary match and several other non-legendary bouts!

Badd Blood is coming right up, but first, here’s a Raw where almost nothing happens! Sure, Steve Austin is called to the carpet to answer for his stunner to Vince McMahon last week, but that’s just an excuse to have ol’ Stevie around the building. Matt and Will break all the exciting non-action down, plus they discuss the mechanics of No Mercy 64’s cage match, which is not easy! BONUS MATCH: Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels, steel cage match, WWF Superstars TV Taping, December 1, 1993

This may just be one of the most important Raws ever, as Stone Cold kicks, whams, and stunners Vincent Kennedy McMahon, kicking off a feud that would bring the WWF to pro wrestling dominance for decades to come. Also, Dude Love and Mankind conspire to bring a third option up against HHH, and Bret Hart just beats up on Goldust’s knee before all hell breaks loose in the main event. Join Matt and Daniel in Madison Square Garden as they take in this seismic episode of Raw is War!

In this infamous show, British Bulldog defends his European Championship against Shawn Michaels in front of Bulldog’s countrymen (and women), and boy is the result rough. Also, Bret Hart wrestles what may be his last great match, and Owen Hart and Vader put on a really solid big-man-little-man match. Join Matt and Joel as they confront the ugly reality of One Night Only and the questionable decisions therein!