RAW is Owen

RAW is Owen is the name given to a special live episode of WWF RAW is WAR that aired on May 24, 1999. It was broadcast live from the Kiel Center in St. Louis. It was a tribute to WWF wrestler Owen Hart, who died the previous night at WWF Over the Edge when he fell 90 feet from the rafters into the ring in a botched entrance stunt.

Related Topics:
WWF RAW is WAR - May 24 - 1999 - Kiel Center - St. Louis - WWF - Owen Hart - WWF Over the Edge - Botched - Stunt

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According to RAW Exposed, a special that aired before the first WWE RAW airing on its return to USA Network on October 3, 2005, no one was required to wrestle during the tribute. Nevertheless, ten matches were booked (with absolutely no regard to kayfabe; it wasn't about ongoing storylines), of which nine were actually fought.

Related Topics:
WWE RAW - USA Network - October 3 - 2005 - Booked - Kayfabe - Storylines

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The show began at 8:00pm CDT with all the wrestlers of the WWF standing on the entrance ramp. Vince McMahon, Linda McMahon and Stephanie McMahon were at the front of the ramp. Howard Finkel called for a ten-bell salute. Then a tribute video narrated by Vince was played on the TitanTron.

Related Topics:
CDT - Vince McMahon - Linda McMahon - Stephanie McMahon - Howard Finkel - Ten-bell salute

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Throughout the broadcast, personal thoughts on Owen in the form of interviews with various WWF Superstars were played. Before the first commercial break, such thoughts were aired from Mick Foley and Bradshaw.

Related Topics:
Interviews - Mick Foley - Bradshaw

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The first match of the night was Jeff Jarrett (accompanied by Debra), who was a personal friend of Owen and his tag team partner at time. Before his opponent was introduced, Jarrett told the world, "Owen never was a nugget," referring to an insult people threw at Owen in his final heel run. He fought Test, and won with the Sharpshooter, Owen's finisher. After the match, Mark Henry (at the time in his poetry-writing "Sexual Chocolate" gimmick) read a poem he wrote about Owen's death in another vignette.

Related Topics:
Jeff Jarrett - Debra - Tag team - Heel - Test - Sharpshooter - Mark Henry - Poetry - Gimmick

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On the return from the second commercial break, more words of tribute from Droz, followed by a match between the WWF Tag Team Champions, X-Pac and Kane, and The Brood's Gangrel and Edge, with Christian at ringside. X-Pac and Kane won when Kane (literally) threw X-Pac down onto Gangrel for the pin. Before the next break, Triple H and Chyna spoke in a vignette. Triple H got extremely emotional, and barely made it through the vignette.

Related Topics:
Droz - WWF Tag Team Champions - X-Pac - Kane - The Brood's - Gangrel - Edge - Christian - Triple H - Chyna

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After the commercial, WWF backoffice official Dave Hebner (twin brother of referee Earl Hebner) spoke of Owen. Afterward, Michael Hayes brought out The Hardy Boyz for a tag team match with Kai En Tai's Taka Michinoku and Sho Funaki. The Hardy Boyz won when Matt Hardy put the Twist of Fate on Funaki. Afterward, another vignette by official Brian Pritchard.

Related Topics:
Commercial - Dave Hebner - Earl Hebner - Michael Hayes - The Hardy Boyz - Kai En Tai - Taka Michinoku - Sho Funaki - Matt Hardy - Twist of Fate - Brian Pritchard

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When we returned, Dustin Rhodes, appearing out-of-character (at the beginning on the ramp, he was in his usual Goldust character), spoke. Then Hardcore Holly came out for a match against Ken Shamrock. Shamrock won quickly with the Ankle lock submission hold. Before the end of the first hour, Faarooq also spoke of Owen.

Related Topics:
Dustin Rhodes - Hardcore Holly - Ken Shamrock - Ankle lock submission hold - Faarooq

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As the second hour of the show began, we saw a vignette by Test. Then a match was held between "Mr. Ass" Billy Gunn and Mankind. Before Mankind came out, Billy Gunn did his old D-Generation X spot: "If you're not down with Owen Hart, we've got two words for you!" to which the fans all yelled, "Suck It!" Mankind ultimately won with Mr. Socko. Then Jeff Jarrett cut a very emotional vignette before the next commercial break.

Related Topics:
"Mr. Ass" Billy Gunn - Mankind - D-Generation X - Mr. Socko

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When the show returned, Edge cut his own vignette. Afterward, D'Lo Brown and Mark Henry (with Ivory) had a tag team match The Acolytes. Brown and Henry won when Bradshaw accidentally gave Faarooq a Big Boot, after which Brown quickly rolled Bradshaw up for the pin. Pat Patterson cut a vignette before the break.

Related Topics:
D'Lo Brown - Ivory - The Acolytes - Big Boot - Pat Patterson

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When we returned, Hardcore Holly spoke about Owen. Then "The Road Dogg" Jesse James did a modified version of his own D-X cut. He took on The Godfather, who supposedly was booked to lose the WWF Intercontinental Championship to Owen at Over the Edge. Instead of fighting, The Godfather offered to take the Road Dogg out on the town with his ho's (an offer he usually made to opponents). Road Dogg accepted, adding that they tell stories about Owen, neither one feeling like fighting that night. Before the next commercial, Paul Bearer talked about Owen.

Related Topics:
"The Road Dogg" Jesse James - The Godfather - WWF Intercontinental Championship - Paul Bearer

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After that break, X-Pac was next to speak. Then Al Snow fought Triple H. Triple H won with his Pedigree) finisher. The next vignette was an emotional one by the Road Dogg.

Related Topics:
Al Snow - Pedigree)

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After another vignette by Gerald Brisco, The Big Show made quick work of Goldust and The Blue Meanie in a Handicap match. After that, another emotional vignette by Debra.

Related Topics:
Gerald Brisco - The Big Show - The Blue Meanie

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On the return, Shane McMahon spoke about Owen. The main event was Val Venis versus The Rock. Before the match, The Rock stated "Finally The Rock has come back to St. Louis!" then spoke of Owen directly to the fans.

Related Topics:
Shane McMahon - Val Venis - The Rock

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After the match, Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler had some emotional final words. Ross stated he hoped he could be as good a man as Owen was, so he could see him again someday. Lawler revealed that he held Owen in the ring as he died. Then Stone Cold Steve Austin came out and quietly drank a few beers for Owen as the show closed.

Related Topics:
Jim Ross - Jerry Lawler - See him again someday - Stone Cold Steve Austin

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