WWF Shotgun Saturday Night
Encyclopedia
WWF Shotgun Saturday Night is a professional wrestling
television program
produced by the World Wrestling Federation
(WWF). It aired from January 4, 1997 through August 21, 1999 as a syndicated broadcast. Shotgun Saturday Night was replaced by WWF Jakked
in 1999.
nightly locations. The promotion pushed the program as an "edgier" project than its normal weekly offerings, partially as a response to ECW
's growing popularity.
Shotgun Saturday Night debuted on January 4, 1997 from the Mirage Nightclub in New York. One of the most memorable moments of the debut episode occurred when Marlena
climbed on the ring apron during a match between Goldust and The Sultan
, and removed her top, causing the Sultan to be distracted and lose the match. Though she was wearing pasties
, and though her back was facing the camera, this incident was a precursor for the tone of WWF programming for the next several years
.
Later episodes of Shotgun Saturday Night were broadcast from the All-Star Cafe in Times Square
, the Mirage Nightclub in Long Island
, and New York Penn Station.
There were several unique elements to the show that did not appear on any other WWF programming at the time. For example, due to the confining nature of the locales it was initially broadcast from, Shotgun Saturday Night used a somewhat smaller ring than a standard twenty foot by twenty foot WWF ring. All three ring ropes were taped yellow; something that was not replicated until WWE NXT
debuted in February 2010. Later in its broadcast run, Shotgun Saturday Night stopped being filmed live from New York City.
The show was commentated by Vince McMahon
and Sunny in the beginning, with Jim Ross
and Brian Pillman
performing the same duties until mid-1997, Pillman got pulled from commentary after beating up a fan on the June 28th 1997 episode of Shotgun, Kevin Kelly
, Michael Cole, Jim Cornette
and Vince Russo
also served as commentators. Stone Cold Steve Austin
also served as a surprise guest commentator on one episode along with Owen Hart
.
in 1999. Another syndicated version was called WWF Shotgun Challenge that aired in other markets. From 1997 until 1999, matches from WWF Shotgun were aired on the international version of WWF Superstars
with commentary by Michael Cole and Kevin Kelly, and in January 1999, Gorilla Monsoon joined them.
In the New York media market
, the show was rebranded as WWF New York in 1997
and 1998
, airing on WPIX
and WPXN-TV
,and later WLNY
. It was shown late at night, airing at 2:00 a.m., Eastern time (WPXN aired the series on Saturday mornings).
In March 1998, the WWF aired 11:Alive which aired the matches in the same order as WWF New York, but with different commentary that made less references to New York. The show aired on Saturday mornings and only ran four episodes until being discontinued. That final episode was hosted
by Michael Hayes
as a preview show to WrestleMania XIV
.
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
produced by the World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
(WWF). It aired from January 4, 1997 through August 21, 1999 as a syndicated broadcast. Shotgun Saturday Night was replaced by WWF Jakked
WWE Jakked/Metal
WWE Jakked and WWE Metal were professional wrestling television programs produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . Both shows aired syndicated weekly from 1999 until 2002 and replaced WWF Shotgun Saturday Night...
in 1999.
History
The show's original concept was unusual for its time, since it aired on late Saturday nights from various New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
nightly locations. The promotion pushed the program as an "edgier" project than its normal weekly offerings, partially as a response to ECW
ECW
ECW may refer to:Professional wrestling* Extreme Championship Wrestling, a professional wrestling promotion that operated from 1992 to 2001...
's growing popularity.
Shotgun Saturday Night debuted on January 4, 1997 from the Mirage Nightclub in New York. One of the most memorable moments of the debut episode occurred when Marlena
Terri Runnels
Terri Lynne Boatright Runnels is a former World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation professional wrestling manager, television host and occasional wrestler....
climbed on the ring apron during a match between Goldust and The Sultan
Solofa Fatu
Solofa F. Fatu, Jr. is an American professional wrestler, best known under the ring name Rikishi.-The Samoan Swat Team:...
, and removed her top, causing the Sultan to be distracted and lose the match. Though she was wearing pasties
Pasties
Pasties are adhesive coverings applied to cover a woman's nipples and areolae. Though pasties are commonly associated with burlesque and erotic entertainment, they are also at times worn as an undergarment and occasionally as beachwear.Some women wear pasties when wearing a strapless or backless...
, and though her back was facing the camera, this incident was a precursor for the tone of WWF programming for the next several years
The Attitude Era
The Attitude Era was a period in World Wrestling Federation and professional wrestling history that began as a direct result of the Monday Night Wars, a television ratings conflict between the WWF and longtime rival promotion World Championship Wrestling that lasted from 1995 to 2001...
.
Later episodes of Shotgun Saturday Night were broadcast from the All-Star Cafe in Times Square
Times Square
Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
, the Mirage Nightclub in Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, and New York Penn Station.
There were several unique elements to the show that did not appear on any other WWF programming at the time. For example, due to the confining nature of the locales it was initially broadcast from, Shotgun Saturday Night used a somewhat smaller ring than a standard twenty foot by twenty foot WWF ring. All three ring ropes were taped yellow; something that was not replicated until WWE NXT
WWE NXT
WWE NXT is a sports entertainment television program produced by WWE that debuted on February 23, 2010. Described as a hybrid between reality television and WWE's scripted live event shows, the premise of the show follows select talent contracted to WWE's developmental territory Florida...
debuted in February 2010. Later in its broadcast run, Shotgun Saturday Night stopped being filmed live from New York City.
The show was commentated by Vince McMahon
Vince McMahon
Vincent Kennedy "Vince" McMahon is an American professional wrestling promoter, announcer, commentator, film producer, actor and former occasional professional wrestler. McMahon is the current Chairman, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee of professional wrestling promotion WWE...
and Sunny in the beginning, with Jim Ross
Jim Ross
James William "Jim" Ross is a professional wrestling commentator, former professional wrestling referee, restaurateur, occasional wrestler, and former company executive of WWE, where he currently works as a commentator on the WWE Raw brand...
and Brian Pillman
Brian Pillman
Brian William Pillman was an American football player and professional wrestler best known for his appearances in the World Wrestling Federation, Extreme Championship Wrestling, and World Championship Wrestling....
performing the same duties until mid-1997, Pillman got pulled from commentary after beating up a fan on the June 28th 1997 episode of Shotgun, Kevin Kelly
Kevin Kelly (announcer)
Kevin Foote is an American professional wrestling manager, pundit, sportscaster and ring announcer, better known by his ring name, Kevin Kelly...
, Michael Cole, Jim Cornette
Jim Cornette
James Mark "Jim" Cornette is an American professional wrestling manager, commentator, promoter, and booker. As a manager, he has worked for Jim Crockett Promotions, World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation and from 1991 to 1995, was the owner of Smoky Mountain Wrestling...
and Vince Russo
Vince Russo
Vincent James "Vince" Russo is an American creative writer and author, well known for his work in the professional wrestling industry. He is notable for his tenure with World Wrestling Federation, World Championship Wrestling and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
also served as commentators. Stone Cold Steve Austin
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Steve Austin , better known by his ring name "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, is an American film and television actor and retired professional wrestler...
also served as a surprise guest commentator on one episode along with Owen Hart
Owen Hart
Owen James Hart was a Canadian professional and amateur wrestler who worked for several promotions including Stampede Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling , World Championship Wrestling , and most notably, the World Wrestling Federation , where he wrestled under both his own name, and ring name The...
.
Alternate versions
The WWF also aired a similar syndicated show at the time called WWF Shotgun, which aired in the afternoon and was more family-friendly. This show was later replaced with WWF MetalWWE Jakked/Metal
WWE Jakked and WWE Metal were professional wrestling television programs produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . Both shows aired syndicated weekly from 1999 until 2002 and replaced WWF Shotgun Saturday Night...
in 1999. Another syndicated version was called WWF Shotgun Challenge that aired in other markets. From 1997 until 1999, matches from WWF Shotgun were aired on the international version of WWF Superstars
WWF Superstars
WWF Superstars is an arcade game manufactured by Technos and released in 1989. It is the first WWF arcade game to be released. A series of unrelated games with the same title were released by LJN for the original Game Boy...
with commentary by Michael Cole and Kevin Kelly, and in January 1999, Gorilla Monsoon joined them.
In the New York media market
Media market
A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area , Television Market Area , or simply market is a region where the population can receive the same television and radio station offerings, and may also include other types of media including newspapers and Internet content...
, the show was rebranded as WWF New York in 1997
1997 in television
The year 1997 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1997.- Events :-Debuts:-Miniseries:*Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac, a reunion of the 1979–93 series*The Last Don...
and 1998
1998 in television
The year 1998 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1998.For the American TV schedule, see: 1998–99 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-1950s:...
, airing on WPIX
WPIX
WPIX, channel 11, is a television station in New York City built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WPIX also serves as the flagship station of The CW Television Network...
and WPXN-TV
WPXN-TV
WPXN-TV, which broadcasts on channel 31 in New York City, is the flagship station of the Ion Television network, formerly known as Pax TV and i.-Municipal ownership:...
,and later WLNY
WLNY
WLNY-TV, channel 55, is an independent television station licensed to Riverhead, New York, with studios in Melville, New York and transmitter in Middle Island, New York. WLNY's primary over-the-air signal serves most of Long Island, comprising Nassau and Suffolk counties...
. It was shown late at night, airing at 2:00 a.m., Eastern time (WPXN aired the series on Saturday mornings).
In March 1998, the WWF aired 11:Alive which aired the matches in the same order as WWF New York, but with different commentary that made less references to New York. The show aired on Saturday mornings and only ran four episodes until being discontinued. That final episode was hosted
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
by Michael Hayes
Michael Hayes (wrestler)
Michael Seitz is a retired American professional wrestler and former musician. Seitz is best known for leading The Fabulous Freebirds under the ring name Michael "P.S." Hayes and for his role as the announcer Dok Hendrix in the World Wrestling Federation...
as a preview show to WrestleMania XIV
WrestleMania XIV
WrestleMania XIV was the fourteenth annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation , which took place on March 29, 1998 at the FleetCenter in Boston, Massachusetts....
.