WEBVTT

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome back wrestling fans to another edition of The Fall Count.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm your host, Steve Fall and today we're hopping into

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<v Speaker 1>the wrestling time machine and setting the dial back to

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<v Speaker 1>January eighth, nineteen ninety six. Now, gather around, close your eyes,

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<v Speaker 1>and picture the wrestling landscape in early nineteen ninety six.

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<v Speaker 1>The Monday Night Wars are raging WCW Monday Nitro is

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<v Speaker 1>breathing down the neck of the World Wrestling Federation. That's right,

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<v Speaker 1>put the f back in, and Vince McMahon is feeling

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<v Speaker 1>the pressure. Tonight we are breaking down an episode of

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<v Speaker 1>Monday Night Raw that actually marked the third anniversary of

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<v Speaker 1>the flagship show. But oddly enough, for a company that

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<v Speaker 1>is completely obsessed with celebrating milestones, anniversaries, and historical numbers,

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<v Speaker 1>they didn't even mention the third year mark on the broadcast,

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<v Speaker 1>not even a peep. Now, let's look at who is

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<v Speaker 1>holding the gold on this historic night. You got your

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<v Speaker 1>reigning defending WWF Heavyweight Champion, the excellence of Execution Bread

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<v Speaker 1>the Hitman Heart who won the strap back at Survivor

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<v Speaker 1>Series in November of ninety five from Diesel. Your Inner

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<v Speaker 1>Continental Champion is the bad Guy Chico Razor Amone and

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<v Speaker 1>the world tag team champions of the Cowboy Duo of

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<v Speaker 1>Billion Bart, the Smoking Guns. But folks, folks, Tonight's episode

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<v Speaker 1>of Raw is a wild, desperate, fascinating piece of television history.

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<v Speaker 1>Vince McMahon pulls out all the stops to combat billionaire

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<v Speaker 1>Ted Ted Turner in WCW. On this very show, Vince

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<v Speaker 1>makes a jaw dropping announcement. He tells the fans that

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<v Speaker 1>the highly acclaimed bloody brutal main event from the In

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<v Speaker 1>Your House pay per view between Brett Hart and the

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<v Speaker 1>British Bulldog is going to air tonight on Monday Night

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<v Speaker 1>Raw for absolutely free. Think about that, Think about this,

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<v Speaker 1>Think about my parents. My parents bought that In Your

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<v Speaker 1>House season's beatings. Guess what Now I get to watch

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<v Speaker 1>it for free on television. A week ago on Raw,

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<v Speaker 1>they aired a free match from the same exact pay

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<v Speaker 1>per view, Hunter Hurst Hemsley versus Henry O Godwin, And

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<v Speaker 1>now we're getting the main event on Raw. Now, if

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<v Speaker 1>you were a loyal fan who shelled out those twenty

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<v Speaker 1>something bucks just a few weeks prior to watching the

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<v Speaker 1>pay per view, Vince McMahon essentially looked at you dead

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<v Speaker 1>in the eye and said screw you paying customers. Thanks

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<v Speaker 1>for the cash, but the ratings war is on. It's

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<v Speaker 1>true direct quote. We are also promised a massive stunning

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<v Speaker 1>relevation from Shawn Michaels. Is the Heartbreak Kid retiring after

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<v Speaker 1>that devastating headcick from Owen Hart? Or does he have

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<v Speaker 1>another trick up his sleeve? Plus the debut of a

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<v Speaker 1>man who would alter the course of professional wrestling history forever.

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<v Speaker 1>Another petty parody aim Street Atlanta in appearance by Scheme Gene.

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<v Speaker 1>Now sitting at the broadcast table tonight are the duo

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<v Speaker 1>of Vincent Kennedy McMahon and Jerry Lawler. So let's not

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<v Speaker 1>waste a single second adjust your headphones, sit back, and

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<v Speaker 1>let's get roh kicking things off in the ring. We

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<v Speaker 1>get Jeff Jarrett taking on Hakushi before the bell rings,

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<v Speaker 1>Vince and Jeredy King Lawler take us back to the

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<v Speaker 1>In Your House pay per view. That was the night

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<v Speaker 1>that Double J made his grand return to the WWF,

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<v Speaker 1>wasting zero time targeting the powerhouse Ahmed Johnson by blasting

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<v Speaker 1>him over the head with his signature gold record. Jerry

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<v Speaker 1>Lawler being the lovely villain that he is actually helped

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<v Speaker 1>jareded out in that segment by introducing a steel chair

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<v Speaker 1>into the mix. The whole thing is fueling the fire

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<v Speaker 1>for their massive match, heading it to the Royal Rumble.

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<v Speaker 1>Jeff jarretts Ahmed Johnson. But now on paper, we got Hakushi,

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<v Speaker 1>who should absolutely demolish Jeff Jarrett. But when Hakushi arrived

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<v Speaker 1>in the WWF, he was an absolute breath of fresh air, innovative, mysterious,

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<v Speaker 1>and talented. But by January of ninety six, the Office

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<v Speaker 1>decided to americanize him. They stripped away a lot of

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<v Speaker 1>what made him unique, turned his babyface, packed him into

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<v Speaker 1>a role that essentially turned him into a jobber to

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<v Speaker 1>the stars. Now, true to his form, this match isn't

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<v Speaker 1>about giving Hakushi a big win. It's about showcasing Jared's

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<v Speaker 1>technical cheating heel ways ahead of the Royal Rumble. Now

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<v Speaker 1>we're escapping past that back and forth chain wrestling in

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<v Speaker 1>the aerial maneuvers here because what really truly matters is

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<v Speaker 1>the story of Jeff Jarrett desperately trying to avoid Hakkushi's

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<v Speaker 1>offense until he finds an opening. Hakushi scales the turnbuckles

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<v Speaker 1>and launches himself off the top rope the high flying

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<v Speaker 1>springboard splash, but jareded is perfectly positioned. He hoists his

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<v Speaker 1>knees straight up in the air, catching Hakushi right in

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<v Speaker 1>the ribs. Hakushi collapses, Jarrett capitalizes, locking in the figure

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<v Speaker 1>four leg lock. Hakushi has no choice but to scream

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<v Speaker 1>in pain and submit, giving je haha, double F jaha

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<v Speaker 1>E double T Jeff chair haha the victory. Now, look,

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<v Speaker 1>I'm no medical expert, but I never knew taking a

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<v Speaker 1>pair of knees the rib cage could suddenly injure my legs.

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<v Speaker 1>But hey, that's wrestling for you. Moving on, though, It's

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<v Speaker 1>time for the Royal Rumble Report. But there's a shakeup

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<v Speaker 1>at the podium tonight. Jim Ross is standing in for

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<v Speaker 1>a Wayo Doc Hendrix to deliver the latest updates for

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<v Speaker 1>the upcoming January Classic. Jr. Starts riting off the list

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<v Speaker 1>of official participants entering the thirty Man over the Top

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<v Speaker 1>roy Rumblematch itself. The names announced tonight really paint a

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<v Speaker 1>picture of the transitional year that is nineteen ninety six.

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<v Speaker 1>We got Doug Gilbert, the Returning Jake, the Snake, Roberts,

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<v Speaker 1>Jerry the King Lawler making a difference Fatu, who is

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<v Speaker 1>in the middle of that transitional gimmick before becoming Rakishi,

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<v Speaker 1>Isaac Yankom Dds, henry O Godwin, Marty Jannetti, Kama the

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<v Speaker 1>Supreme Fighting Machine, skip of the body Donna's and we

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<v Speaker 1>also get a quick intense video montage of the newly

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<v Speaker 1>signed Monster Vader working out and looking like an absolute mastadon.

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<v Speaker 1>But if you were listening carefully to that list, someone

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<v Speaker 1>massive is completely missing from the conversation. There is absolutely

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<v Speaker 1>no mention of Big Daddy Cool Diesel. Now why would

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<v Speaker 1>one of the biggest stars in the company be left

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<v Speaker 1>off the list? Hum Well, enter Scheme GM. This was

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<v Speaker 1>WWF's incredibly petty, highly sarcastic parody of the Mean Gene

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<v Speaker 1>Oakland character who jumped ship to WCW and was famously

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<v Speaker 1>making a fortune hyping up his one nine hundred hotline

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<v Speaker 1>numbers on Night tro The WWS version of Mean Gene

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<v Speaker 1>is Scheme Gem and he pops up on the screen

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<v Speaker 1>doing the classic hotline grift. He tells the audience he

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<v Speaker 1>knows of a massive unmentioned superstar who has officially entered

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<v Speaker 1>the Royal Rumble Match, but of course, in true hotline fashion,

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<v Speaker 1>he tells the fans he can't reveal the identity right

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<v Speaker 1>now on free TV. You'll have to wait until later

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<v Speaker 1>in the program. I love the Monday Night Wars. Next

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<v Speaker 1>up is Ahmed Johnson versus Jeff Brettler. YEP, now I

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<v Speaker 1>loved Ahmed Johnson. We're the most explosive stars of the

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<v Speaker 1>New Generation era. Before we even talk about the ring

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<v Speaker 1>belling though, we have to talk about Jeff Brettler's gear.

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<v Speaker 1>I am convinced, folks, this poor guy's wrestling trunk or

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<v Speaker 1>sits together at the absolute last second using the ugliest,

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<v Speaker 1>most hideous living room curtains you have ever seen in

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<v Speaker 1>your entire life life. It was a visual disaster. But

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<v Speaker 1>as for the match, it wasn't a match. It was

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<v Speaker 1>a public execution. Imed Johnson steps into the ring carrying

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<v Speaker 1>an unbelievably amount of intensity and he just completely turns

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<v Speaker 1>his poor man into dust. High impact slam you around,

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<v Speaker 1>incredibly dangerous but entertaining. He hits hard, he moves fast,

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<v Speaker 1>and he does not care about the lung Jody long

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<v Speaker 1>jevity of your career. But the real story after I

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<v Speaker 1>met Johnson wins with a Pearl River plunge is the

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<v Speaker 1>second the referee's hand hits the mat for the three count.

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<v Speaker 1>Jeff Jarrett runs down. Jarrett completely bum rushes the show,

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<v Speaker 1>storming down the aisle with his acoustic guitar raised high,

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<v Speaker 1>looking to hit a total kaboom right over Ahmed Skull,

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<v Speaker 1>but Ahmed, with his spider sense tonight, he ducks out

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<v Speaker 1>of the way just in time. Jared realizes he missed

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<v Speaker 1>his window of opportunity, panics and scurries up the ramp

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<v Speaker 1>like a coward, leaving his acoustic guitar behind in the ring.

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<v Speaker 1>Ahmed Johnson is furious, as a pure form of visual anger,

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<v Speaker 1>he terrifies Jeff Jarrett. Ahead on the Royal Rumble, Amed

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<v Speaker 1>drives that guitar, grabs it so tight, steps out to

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<v Speaker 1>the ring, and smashes it into a million pieces right

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<v Speaker 1>against the steel ring posts. My god, that guitar had

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<v Speaker 1>a family. But again, we're building to Ahmed Johnson and

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<v Speaker 1>Jeff Jarrett at the Royal Rumble. Now we arrive at

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<v Speaker 1>what is undeniably the most historical significant segment of the

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<v Speaker 1>entire episode. We are are basking in history. This is

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<v Speaker 1>the moment where the plates on Earth shifted where we

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<v Speaker 1>saw volcanos shoot the sky stars aligne. It's time for

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<v Speaker 1>the Brother Love Show, hosted by that red faced, microphone

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<v Speaker 1>wielding Brother Love. His guest is none other than the

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<v Speaker 1>million Dollar Man, Ted Dibiasi. Tbiasi cuts a promo explaining

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<v Speaker 1>that he has spent an entire calendar year searching the

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<v Speaker 1>globe to find the perfect individual worthy of being crowned

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<v Speaker 1>the brand new million Dollar Champion, and tonight he has

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<v Speaker 1>finally found his man. He introduces a WWF newcomer known

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<v Speaker 1>as the Ringmaster. Now, let's look back at this through

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<v Speaker 1>historical eyeball, shall we. At the time, if you were

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<v Speaker 1>just a casual fan sitting in the Delaware crowd, you

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<v Speaker 1>didn't care the live audience gave this debut a eh, hey,

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<v Speaker 1>hey whatever. They didn't respond to him at all. The

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<v Speaker 1>only people who are thrilled were those smart kids, those

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<v Speaker 1>WCW fans who knew this man a stunning Steve Austin

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<v Speaker 1>in WCW and his brief legendary run in ECW. But

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<v Speaker 1>if you were just a WWF loyalist, well you had

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<v Speaker 1>no idea who was in the ring looking at you?

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<v Speaker 1>Looking back at this television tape. Though it doesn't take

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<v Speaker 1>a brain scientist or a rocket surgeon to realize that

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<v Speaker 1>this moment is monumental. It is the official WWF TV

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<v Speaker 1>debut of the man who would eventually change the wrestling world.

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<v Speaker 1>Shave his head, grow a goatee, drink a ocean of beer,

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<v Speaker 1>and becomes so cold syvass in the biggest box off

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<v Speaker 1>of straw in the history of the business. But tonight

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<v Speaker 1>he's just a ring master. He's presented as a cold, calculating,

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<v Speaker 1>technical wrestling machine. He takes the microphone from Brother Love

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<v Speaker 1>and cuts a promo. He establishes himself as the elite

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<v Speaker 1>competitor to watch out for in the nineteen ninety six year.

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<v Speaker 1>He doesn't need flashy gimmicks, he just needs a ring.

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<v Speaker 1>Knowing what we know now about how his career would

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<v Speaker 1>eventually explode into the stratosphere, destroying our eyeballs with middle fingers,

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<v Speaker 1>watching this early gimmick is strange, but we all got

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<v Speaker 1>to start somewhere. Following this historic debut, we get a

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<v Speaker 1>quick backstage interview with senior referee Earl Hebner. The interview

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<v Speaker 1>er asked Hemner a burning question regarding the recent in

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<v Speaker 1>your house pay per view match between Brett Hart and

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<v Speaker 1>the British Bulldog, specifically Earl. Why on earth didn't you

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<v Speaker 1>stop the match when Brett Hart was split wide open

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<v Speaker 1>and bleeding like a pig. Hemner, looking intense, gives a

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<v Speaker 1>purely old school k fab responds. He says he didn't

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<v Speaker 1>stop the match because every single time he checked on

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<v Speaker 1>the hit man, Brett was still fully conscious fully conscious,

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<v Speaker 1>so apparently he was half conscious. Yeah. It's good storytelling though,

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<v Speaker 1>asking and bringing up this match we're going to see

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<v Speaker 1>later on in the evening. But next we head right

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<v Speaker 1>back down to the ring for another quick matchup. It's

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<v Speaker 1>gold Dust taking on the Portuguese man O war Aldo Montoya,

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<v Speaker 1>who will later be known as just incredible, but let's

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<v Speaker 1>be honest, he's famously remembered for wearing a mask that

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<v Speaker 1>looked exactly like a yellow jock strap on his face.

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<v Speaker 1>This is another classic nineteen ninety six Jobber to the

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<v Speaker 1>Stars match. Goldest is highly controversial and involved with the

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<v Speaker 1>storyline with the Razor ramone heading into Roy Rumble. So

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<v Speaker 1>take a while, guests. Who wins Goldust does with a

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<v Speaker 1>curtain call? So two minutes about two minutes and we're

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<v Speaker 1>continuing his bizarre psychological warfare on Razor ramone. But now, folks,

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<v Speaker 1>we must transition to a strange video package. We are

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<v Speaker 1>taken to what looks like a strange, bizarre location for

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<v Speaker 1>a press conference. It's a Sean Michael's press conference. This

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<v Speaker 1>took place earlier in the day. Now to understand the

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<v Speaker 1>weight this, we have to go back to November of

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<v Speaker 1>nineteen ninety five at Survivor Series, Shawn Michael's returned from

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<v Speaker 1>being beaten down by a bunch of thugs and Syracuse.

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<v Speaker 1>He returned only to be power bombed and receiving a

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<v Speaker 1>razor's edge, but still winning the match. But now the

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<v Speaker 1>next None on Raw, when he was wrestling Owen heard

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<v Speaker 1>Owen Heart blasted Shawn Michaels in the back of the

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<v Speaker 1>head where a brutal in the dirty, causing Sean to

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<v Speaker 1>collapse in the middle of the ring. It is a

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<v Speaker 1>highly realistic, terrifying medical moment that scarred me as a child,

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<v Speaker 1>but as an adult, I respect Shawn Michaels for pretending

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<v Speaker 1>that he was hurt. But now Sean takes the podium

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<v Speaker 1>at this press conference, looking very emotional. He tells the

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<v Speaker 1>media and his personal doctors have evaluated his condition and

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<v Speaker 1>have strongly advised that would be the best interest of

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<v Speaker 1>his long term health if he never ever competed inside

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<v Speaker 1>a w WF ring again, Does that make your wrestling

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<v Speaker 1>debsw either way? The tension in the room, it feels

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<v Speaker 1>like a retirement speech. But then, but then the light.

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<v Speaker 1>But then Shawn Michaels delivers the ultimate swerve. He essentially says,

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<v Speaker 1>screw medical advancements, screw medical science, and screw the doctors.

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<v Speaker 1>Shawn Michaels announces that he is not going to retire,

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<v Speaker 1>but he is officially entering himself into the nineteen ninety

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<v Speaker 1>six Royal Rumble. And he doesn't stop there. He guarantees

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<v Speaker 1>that he's going to win the entire match, go to

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<v Speaker 1>wrestling at twelve and defeat whoever is the WWF World

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<v Speaker 1>Heavyweight Champion. Oh my god, the media has gone bananas.

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<v Speaker 1>He drops the mic, thank you have a great day.

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<v Speaker 1>It walks away whoa whoa? Now to me, that's a

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<v Speaker 1>huge announcement and unfortunately gives away who's winning the Royal

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<v Speaker 1>rom Bob. Let's be honest, and there never was a

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<v Speaker 1>doubt in anyone's mind Who's Gonna Win in nineteen ninety six. Now,

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<v Speaker 1>right after that footage airs, Jim Ross has to do

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<v Speaker 1>some serious serious work here, because now we get in

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<v Speaker 1>Scheme Gene back on the screen to finally deliver on

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<v Speaker 1>his hotline tease from earlier. Scheme Geam steps up and

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<v Speaker 1>officially reveals the mystery superstar answering the Royal Rumble is Vader. Hey? Now,

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<v Speaker 1>now come on, Scheme gem We saw workout footage earlier

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<v Speaker 1>in the night that Vader was being advertised for the

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<v Speaker 1>Royal Rumble. What I pay nine ninety nine to listen

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<v Speaker 1>to this? I call the nine hundred hotline number. Oh. Then,

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<v Speaker 1>to wrap up all this craziness about Jr. And Scheme

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<v Speaker 1>gam and this fake press conference. To wrap up this

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<v Speaker 1>Sean Michael segment, the cameras catch up now with Diesel,

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<v Speaker 1>the Razor, Ramone, and Owen Hart to get their thoughts

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<v Speaker 1>an HBK shocking announcement. Interesting enough, though, each is saying,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, hey, you shouldn't return, Hey, take care of yourself.

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<v Speaker 1>Owen couldn't care less. He couldn't care less. He wants

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<v Speaker 1>Sean to die, it seems like. But now it's time

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<v Speaker 1>for the main event. Oh it's but it's not on

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<v Speaker 1>it's not it's not on raw. It's for free television.

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<v Speaker 1>We're gonna get to see. As Vince McMahon promised earlier,

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<v Speaker 1>we're you getting the full unedited replay of the WWF

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<v Speaker 1>World Heavyweight Championship from your House five, featuring the champion, Brettthart,

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<v Speaker 1>defending against his brother in law Davy boy Smith. And

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<v Speaker 1>I'm gonna be honest, Bruce Bulldog. He fought Diesel, he

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<v Speaker 1>fought Brett Hart, he fought Shaw Michaels. He was never

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<v Speaker 1>really thought of as the main Heel antagonist, but he

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<v Speaker 1>wrestles all the champions in the New Generation era. Now,

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<v Speaker 1>they showed Davy boy entering the arena with Jim Cornet

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<v Speaker 1>and his wife Diana Hart Smith, who also happens to

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<v Speaker 1>be Don Dundun, Brett Hart's sister. Now a psychological warfare

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<v Speaker 1>is off the charts. Here Bulldog is actively trying to

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<v Speaker 1>get Inside's head, inside Brett Hart's head by constantly reminding

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<v Speaker 1>him of SummerSlam ninety two, the historic night where Davy

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<v Speaker 1>boy Smith defeated Brett Hart for the intercudinal title in

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<v Speaker 1>front of eighty thousand fans at Wembley Stadium in London, England. Now,

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<v Speaker 1>to make the mental gymnastics even more intense, Davy Boy

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<v Speaker 1>is wearing the same exact pair of Union Jack tights

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<v Speaker 1>he wore on that legendary night in London. Wow, you

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<v Speaker 1>gotta love the little subtleties. Diana Smith decides not to

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<v Speaker 1>stand in the corner with Jim Cornette. Instead, she takes

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<v Speaker 1>a seat directly at ringside, completely torn, offering deeply concerned

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<v Speaker 1>looks throughout the contest. In reality, she couldn't care about

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<v Speaker 1>her brother because she wants her damn husband to become

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<v Speaker 1>WWF champion. Now, during the matchup, Bret Hard is sent

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<v Speaker 1>violently into the steel steps. The impact splits his forehead

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<v Speaker 1>wide open. Now in an error with a WWF with

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<v Speaker 1>strictly banning intentional blaeding, Brett is pouring pouring from his forehead.

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<v Speaker 1>Then the sight of a WWF champion in nineteen ninety six, Well,

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<v Speaker 1>I guess this was filmed in ninety five, covered in

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<v Speaker 1>blood on Standard TV for an episode of Raw in

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<v Speaker 1>January of ninety six. It elevated the match into a

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<v Speaker 1>masterpiece revival of Is this Match better than Summer Slam?

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<v Speaker 1>Ninety two, but Brett Hard uses his master technical positioning

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<v Speaker 1>to counter British Bulldog's momentum. Brett rolls right over on

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<v Speaker 1>top of the Bulldog, trapping him in a beautiful tight cradle.

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<v Speaker 1>The referee one two three. Brett Hard gets the three

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<v Speaker 1>count and retains the WWF Championship in an absolute classic

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<v Speaker 1>that somehow gets forgotten about in Always a Summer Slam

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<v Speaker 1>ninety two match gets brought up more, but before the

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<v Speaker 1>show goes off the air, the atmosphere completely shifts. The

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<v Speaker 1>lights go out, the smoke and we get a chilling

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<v Speaker 1>dark promo from the Undertaker and his manager, Paul Bear. Oh,

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<v Speaker 1>Paul Bear shrieks into the microphone, and the dead Man

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<v Speaker 1>delivers a haunting message to the entire roster. He declares

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<v Speaker 1>that the creatures of the night are demanding that the

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<v Speaker 1>WWF World Heavyweight Championship find its way back into his hands,

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<v Speaker 1>and he fully plans to deliver on that promise very

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<v Speaker 1>very soon, which would be the Roy Rumble. You got

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<v Speaker 1>to close up the broadcast, we get the final weekly

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<v Speaker 1>installment of the infamous Billionaire Ted's Wrastle in warroom Scans. Now,

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<v Speaker 1>this was vincing Mann's heavy handed, highly comedic satire parody

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<v Speaker 1>attacking Ted Turner, wc W, the Hookster and the not Choman,

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<v Speaker 1>mocking them for being old and out of touch wrestling promotion,

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<v Speaker 1>trying to rip off the WWF youthful energy. It is

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<v Speaker 1>incredibly petty, completely hilarious, though, and a perfect time capsule

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<v Speaker 1>of the bitter corporate warfare. In the Monday Night Wars

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<v Speaker 1>of nineteen ninety six, Vince mcmahnon signs off by giving

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<v Speaker 1>us a massive preview for next week's episode of Monday

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<v Speaker 1>Night Raw. It's stacked, folks, you got the Undertaker schedule

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<v Speaker 1>to step in the ring with the evil wrestling dentist

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<v Speaker 1>who would later become his brother. It's Isaac gankamdds plus

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<v Speaker 1>Ohwen Hurt will go one on one with Marty Jeannetti.

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<v Speaker 1>He's rocking and rolling, folks, and that guys, is the

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<v Speaker 1>wild Historic a chaotic January eighth, nineteen ninety six edition

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<v Speaker 1>of Monday Night Raw. What a time to be a

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<v Speaker 1>wrestling fan. So much craziness. Thank you so much for

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<v Speaker 1>tuning into this episode of The Fall Count with Me,

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<v Speaker 1>Steve Fall Make sure to hit that subscribe button. Leave

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<v Speaker 1>a five star review. And let me know your favorite

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<v Speaker 1>memories of the nineteen ninety six Royal Rumble season in

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<v Speaker 1>the comments below, because boy, we got more ross to cover,

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<v Speaker 1>and we got more Royal Rumble ninety six to uscus

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<v Speaker 1>as well. I wonder who's gonna win. I got my

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<v Speaker 1>fingers crossed it, Invader's gonna do it. Thanks for being here,

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<v Speaker 1>We'll see you next time. Bye bye,