RAW is Owen

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RAW is Owen
Details
Promotion	World Wrestling Federation
Date	May 24, 1999
Venue	Kiel Center
City	St. Louis, Missouri

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 during a botched entrance stunt.

[edit] Results

According to RAW Exposed (a special that aired before the first WWE RAW airing on its return to USA Network on October 3, 2005), WWF management gave all wrestlers on the roster the option of working or not. It was entirely their choice if they felt like it. Nevertheless, ten matches were booked with no kayfabe or storylines).

• The show began with all the wrestlers of the WWF standing on the entrance ramp (with the exception of The Undertaker). Vince McMahon, Linda McMahon and Stephanie McMahon were at the front of the ramp. Howard Finkel called for a ten-bell salute. Owen's former NOD comrades were emotional, most notably Mark Henry. Then a tribute video narrated by Vince was played on the TitanTron.
• 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. Foley noted that Owen was his son's favorite wrestler and had proudly gotten a haircut like Owen's. Bradshaw talked about how Owen spent much less money on the road than most wrestlers because he wanted to retire early and spend time with his family.

• Jeff Jarrett (w/Debra) vs. Test
  • Before his opponent was introduced, Jarrett told the world, "Just for the record, Owen never was a nugget", referring to an insult Triple H and Shawn Michaels threw at Owen in his final face run. Jarrett won by submission with the Sharpshooter, Owen's finisher.
• The next tribute was from Mark Henry, who read a poem he wrote about Owen's death. On the return from the second commercial break, more words of tribute from Droz, who said Owen "could walk into a locker room when things weren't going right and liven everybody up."
• X-Pac and Kane vs. The Brood (Gangrel and Edge) (w/Christian)
  • X-Pac and Kane won the match, with X-Pac pinning Gangrel after Kane (literally) threw X-Pac down on Gangrel.
• The next tributes were from Triple H and Chyna before the break (Triple H got extremely emotional, breaking down several times while speaking and barely made it through his piece) and WWF back office official Dave Hebner (twin brother of referee Earl Hebner) after the break.
• The Hardy Boyz (Matt and Jeff) (w/Michael Hayes) vs. Kai En Tai (Taka Michinoku and Sho Funaki)
  • The Hardy Boyz won the match, with Matt pinning Funaki after the Twist of Fate.
• The next set of tributes were by official Bruce Prichard before the break, and Dustin Rhodes (appearing out-of-character; at the beginning of the show, he was in his usual Goldust character), who told an amusing story about Owen spiking some chili with super-hot sauce at a wrestlers' barbecue and subsequently being chased with a taser by Harley Race.
• Hardcore Holly vs. Ken Shamrock
  • Shamrock won quickly by submission with the Ankle lock submission hold.
• The last tribute of the 1st hour was from Faarooq. Test's tribute began the second hour.
• Billy Gunn vs. 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 won by countout using Mr. Socko. After the match, Foley imitated one of Owen's catchphrases, saying, "Owen, this one's for you- whooooooo!"
• Jeff Jarrett cut a very emotional tribute before the next break, and Edge did a tribute after.
• D'Lo Brown and Mark Henry (w/Ivory) vs. The Acolytes (Faarooq and Bradshaw)
  • Brown and Henry won the match, with Brown pinning Bradshaw in a small package after Bradshaw accidentally gave Faarooq a Big Boot.
• Pat Patterson cut a tribute before the break; Hardcore Holly spoke in tribute as well, noting that Owen had volunteered to "put Holly over" in his hometown of Mobile, Alabama.
• Road Dogg vs. The Godfather
  • Road Dogg did a modified version of his own D-X cut. The Godfather was booked to lose the WWF Intercontinental Championship to Owen at Over the Edge before the accident took place. 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, saying they would "burn one and tell some Owen stories," with neither one feeling like fighting that night.
• Paul Bearer talked about Owen before the next break, followed by X-Pac after.
• Al Snow vs. Triple H
  • Triple H won by pinfall with the Pedigree.
• Road Dogg spoke about Owen before the next break, followed by Gerald Brisco after.
• Handicap Match: The Big Show vs. Goldust and The Blue Meanie
  • Big Show chokeslammed both quickly and pinned Blue Meanie for the win.
• Debra was the next to pay tribute before the break, with Shane McMahon speaking after.
• Val Venis vs. The Rock
  • Before the match, The Rock stated "Owen, this is your night, and dammit you know the Rock loved you like no other." The Rock won by pinfall after the People's Elbow.
• 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, and reminded the audience to always let the people you love know that you love them. Then Stone Cold Steve Austin came out and gave his signature beer toast to Owen's picture on the TitanTron as the show closed.

[edit] Aftermath

The next week, WWF taped the episode of RAW for May 31, 1999. During that show, Jeff Jarrett defeated The Godfather to win the WWF Intercontinental Championship, the title Owen was booked to win at Over the Edge for the third time. Jarrett screamed "Owen Hart!" as the belt was handed to him. Owen's wife thought that it was disgraceful that the day of Owen's funeral was the day that the WWF was shooting the May 31st show and many superstars had to leave Owen's funeral to get to the show.