Review of Timeline WWE 1997 with Jim Cornette
Posted: Sep 8th 2011 By: mikeiles
1997 was what many that cover professional wrestling to be the year everything changed. ECW held its first PPV. WCW was killing it in the ratings wars. WWF was heading to the ?Attitude Era? and Jim Cornette was involved in several areas of the promotion. What a better person to be brought for Timeline: History of the WWE series.
Before I get into the details, I shall say this THE BEST in the series and that is hard to say with legends and stars like ?Superstar? Billy Graham, ?Hacksaw? Jim Duggan, Rikishi, Don Muraco, Greg Valentine, Honky Tonk Man & Ivory already in the books. If you have never seen a single edition of the series (first off where have you been), host/producer Sean Oliver (with help from www.thehistoryofwwe.com) brings in a pertinent member of the WWE for that particular year and they go January to December (Graham went through 1977-78) covering the major issues.
1997 in WWF was still being written by Vince McMahon with assistance from Jim Cornette, Bruce Prichard, Pat Patterson & others. Vince Russo was still working on WWF Magazine, Jim Ross ran talent relation and Stephanie McMahon was still in school. The In Your House PPV series was still in use. The roster featured several current and soon-to-be hall of fame members like Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, Steve Austin, HHH, the Rock, Undertaker, Kane, Legion of Doom, Sunny, Brian Pillman and Owen Hart among others. Mr. Cornette has the best prop anyone ever could bring to the table, his travel books from 1997. According to him, WWE road agents/producers carry a ledger style book that helps keep track of the house show & PPV cards, the attendance/gate figures/ticket prices. These books take the common fan or the biggest smark inside the room they will never sit in, Vince McMahon?s booking room.
Clocking in at around 3 hours and 10 minutes over 2 DVD?s, Mr. Cornette goes through the following items and then some: the debut of Shotgun Saturday Night, Royal Rumble 1997 in the Alamodome, WrestleMania 13 in the Rosemont Horizon, the explosion of ?Stone Cold? Steve Austin plus his injury in an accident with Owen Hart, the growth of the Rock, the birth of the Nation of Domination, the debuts of Kane, Chyna, Marc Mero, Sable, the Patriot & Dude Love, the passing of Brian Pillman, Vader smacking around a Kuwaiti newscaster, Rockabilly & the Road Dogg, the working relationship with Paul Heyman & ECW that led to Cornette appearing in the ECW Arena, the transition from taped to all live Raw is War, the rebirth of the Hart Foundation that saw the group become heels in America and babyfaces around the world that included the IYH Calgary Stampede PPV, Summerslam 1997, the birth of D-Genrration X, the creation of the Hell in the Cell and all the drama of Shawn Michaels/Bret Hart including Michaels ?losing his smile?, the June 9th backstage fight (Cornette witnessed the aftermath) that of course eventually lead to the infamous ?Montreal Screwjob.? Mr. Cornette gives details how Vince Russo went from writing the WWF Magazine to being part of the on-screen creative process & how Russo nearly killed the Undertaker/Kane feud 2 weeks out of the gate. When Cornette addresses the King of the Ring event he takes fans back to the May 19, 1996 MSG ?Curtain Call? only how Cornette could.
I will repeat myself; this is the best DVD in this already excellent series. I have no idea how Sean and Anthony will top this short of getting legendary names for the other years they will cover in the coming years. Having watched this I feel smarter and learned more about the business than in my previous 10 years covering the sport/business. When you visit www.KayfabeCommentaries.com you will find the following upcoming releases: September 20th Wrestling?s Most..Awful Angle, October 11th Timeline History of ECW with Shane Douglas covering 1994.
Supplemental Information
Spotlight in History
- 1972 Billy Red Lyons def. The Spoiler for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 1980 Mr. Hito & Mr. Sakurada def. Jose Lothario & Tiger Conway Jr. for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 1982 Ted DiBiase def. Junkyard Dog for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
- 1984 Gino Hernandez became the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
- 1989 The Stud Stable (Robert Fuller & Brian Lee) def. Jeff Jarrett & Mil Mascaras for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
- 2001 Big Daddy Moore def. Adam Lacroix for the OPW Oklahoma Television Title
- 2001 Grenade became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
- 2009 Joshua Michael & Epic became the ACW Tag Team Champions
- 2023 Dustin Tibbs def. Thrash for the WFC Prime Title
Week of Sun 06-21 to Sat: 06-27
- 06-21 1982 Junkyard Dog def. Bob Roop for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
- 06-21 1987 Al Perez def. The Dingo Warrior for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 06-21 2003 Kitty def. Manservant for the TPW Womens Title
- 06-21 2008 Tim Rockwell def. El Super Colibri for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 06-21 2008 Li'l Joe def. Xavior for the GPCW Cruiserweight Title
- 06-21 2014 Buster Cherry def. Havoc for the SWCW All-American Title
- 06-21 2024 Big Sed def. Sam Adonis for the TexPro Heavyweight Title
- 06-21 2025 Dan Webber became the LCW Lionheart Champion
- 06-22 2005 Phillip def. Se7en for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 06-22 2018 Joe Cuedo def. Brock Baker for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 06-22 2024 Pastor Brent def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 06-22 2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 06-22 2025 Billie the Kiid def. Dan Webber for the ASP Heavyweight Title
- 06-23 1972 Billy Red Lyons def. The Spoiler for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 06-23 1980 Mr. Hito & Mr. Sakurada def. Jose Lothario & Tiger Conway Jr. for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 06-23 1982 Ted DiBiase def. Junkyard Dog for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
- 06-23 1984 Gino Hernandez became the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
- 06-23 1989 The Stud Stable (Robert Fuller & Brian Lee) def. Jeff Jarrett & Mil Mascaras for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
- 06-23 2001 Big Daddy Moore def. Adam Lacroix for the OPW Oklahoma Television Title
- 06-23 2001 Grenade became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
- 06-23 2009 Joshua Michael & Epic became the ACW Tag Team Champions
- 06-23 2023 Dustin Tibbs def. Thrash for the WFC Prime Title
- 06-24 1972 Stan Stasiak def. Red Bastien for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 06-24 1974 Bull Ramos def. Rip Tyler for the TSW North American Title
- 06-24 1977 John Studd became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
- 06-24 1985 The Dynamic Duo (Gino Hernandez & Chris Adams) def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 06-24 2000 Great Bolo [2nd] def. Ichiban [2nd] for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
- 06-24 2000 Ichiban [2nd] became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
- 06-24 2005 Spoiler 2000 became the NWA-U Television Champion
- 06-24 2006 Prophet SteVens became the AACW Television Champion
- 06-24 2007 Matt Garza became the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
- 06-24 2016 Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) def. Terry Montana & Mighty Mouse for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
- 06-24 2016 Seth Angel def. Steven Cruze for the ComPro Showtime Title
- 06-24 2016 Adrian Dell def. Nathan Estrada for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 06-24 2017 Drake Gallows became the ASP Heavyweight Champion
- 06-24 2017 Excellence Personified (Duke Swellington & Dustin Heritage) def. Shawn Hendrix & Aaron Anders (substituting for Anthony Andrews) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
- 06-24 2017 Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) def. Big Smooth & Zakk Sinizter for the UWE Tag Team Titles
- 06-24 2018 Shawn Sanders def. Chaz Sharpe for the ASP Inter-County Title
- 06-24 2018 Canadian Red Devil def. Adam Patrick for the ASP Mid-American Title
- 06-24 2020 Warren Powers def. Giganto for the BPW 365 Title
- 06-24 2023 Stage Dive Mafia (Rook Tyler & Axel Savage) became the BCW Tag Team Champions
- 06-24 2023 C. M. Burnham def. Lunchador for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 06-24 2023 Lunchador def. C. M. Burnham for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 06-25 2011 Sam Stackhouse def. Shane Morbid for the BYEW Heavyweight Title
- 06-25 2011 The Sons of Ireland (Devan Scott & Shane Scott) def. The New Age Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the BYEW Tag Team Titles
- 06-25 2011 Chris Chaos became the BYEW Caution Champion
- 06-25 2011 The Future Hall of Famers (John O'Malley & Brad Michaels) def. Bernie D & Aaron Neil (subbing for Max McGuirk) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 06-25 2016 Brian Breaker def. Zakk Sinizter for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 06-25 2017 The Cub Scouts (Grizzly Gates & Brock Landers) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
- 06-26 1961 The Bolos (Great Bolo 1st & Mighty Bolo) became the TSW Southwestern Tag Team Champions
- 06-26 1987 Frankie Lancaster & Eric Embry def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
- 06-26 1999 Tarantula def. Original Renegade for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
- 06-26 2005 Li'l Joe def. Phillip for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 06-26 2009 Brandon Groom def. The Handsome Spoiler for the TOPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
- 06-26 2009 Kevin James Sanchez def. Bobby Starr for the BYEW Entertainment Title
- 06-26 2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese) def. Los Loco Moscas (Elijah Sparks & El Greengo Loco) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
- 06-26 2025 Microman def. Mini Abismo Negro for the EDW Heavyweight Title
- 06-27 1969 Wahoo McDaniel & Thunderbolt Patterson became the WCCW American Tag Team Champions
- 06-27 1971 Johnny Valentine def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 06-27 1976 Jose Lothario def. The Mongolian Stomper for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 06-27 2009 Randy Price def. Dustin Heritage for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 06-27 2009 Martin Justice became the OECW Southwestern Champion
- Athena Jun 23rd Today!
- Juan Sebastian Jun 24th
- Gabe Wilder Jun 24th
- Don Kent Jun 24th
- Kody Lane Jun 25th
- X-Storms Jun 25th
- Jax Samuel Jun 26th
- D. K. Bradley Jun 26th
- Paul Rodriguez Jun 26th
- Sylvia Richmond Jun 26th
- Kuda Jun 27th
- Dan Barnhart Jun 27th
- Jason Kirby Jun 27th
- Reckless Jun 27th
- Ignition Jun 27th
- Malico Jun 28th
- Kenny Mack Jun 28th
- Damian Kincaid Jun 28th
- J. J. Blake Jun 28th
- John Tidwell Jun 28th
- Doc Hearon Jun 28th
- Claire Jun 28th
- Boris Malenko Jun 28th
- Bill Dromo Jun 28th
- Voltio Santiago Jun 29th
- Barbara Galento Jun 29th
- Kenneth Caine Jun 30th
- Ed Lewis Jun 30th
- Terry Funk Jun 30th
- Tim WarCloud Jul 1st
- Li'l Joe Jul 1st
- Sung Yung Kang Jul 1st
- Jake Hollister Jul 1st
- Crowson D. Calhoun Jul 2nd
- Dalton Smith Jul 2nd
- Rex Andrews Jul 2nd
- Wrangler Rhett Jul 2nd
- Rachael Starz Jul 3rd
- Joe Sloan Jul 3rd
- Ray the Bae Jul 3rd
- Arman Hussein Jul 3rd
- Blake Wilson Jul 4th
- Greatest American Bolo Jul 4th
- Bob Sweetan Jul 4th
- Barry Windham Jul 4th
- Bree Ann Jul 4th
- Little Tokyo Jul 5th
- Terry Kage Jul 5th
- Roland Kirchmeyer Jul 5th
- Richard Pierce Jul 5th
- Dalton Bragg Jul 6th
Current Champions
Empire Pro Wrestling
Tag Team Champions
Deathknoks
- Heavyweight Champion: Remy Devereaux
- All-American Champion: Jay Hazzard
- Internet Television Champion: Nashoba
- Hardcore Champion: Max Mercer