WWF In Your House: Good Friends, Better Enemies Results
April 28, 1996
Omaha, Nebraska (Omaha Civic Auditorium)
Commentary: Vince McMahon and Jerry “The King” Lawler
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“The World Wrestling Federation: for over fifty years, the revolutionary force in sports entertainment.” The WWF video leads us into the show.
Video: The glass is half full for Diesel. His WWF Title run ended last November, but he’s unleashed a crusade of reckless abandon since. Now, this “rebellious malcontent” finds himself in a position to reclaim championship gold in a No Holds Barred match that favors a man of his size.
As for WWF Champion Shawn Michaels, the glass is half-empty. He fulfilled the “Boyhood Dream” at WrestleMania XII, but he lost a close friend on the road to the championship. Michaels has both physical and psychological disadvantages against Diesel. Can David slay Goliath?
Fireworks and sparklers go off inside the Omaha Civic Auditorium as Vince McMahon and Jerry “The King” Lawler welcome us to the show.
The British Bulldog heads to the ring alongside Owen Hart, James E. Cornette, and Clarence Mason.
Video: Last weekend in Bayreuth, Germany, Jake “The Snake” Roberts put a python on top of a terrified British Bulldog.
Video: Jake “The Snake” Roberts talks about a Plan A and a Plan B, but Vince McMahon cuts him off. Roberts says he has something and will bring it to him now.
Jake “The Snake” Roberts makes his way to the ring with the canvas bag containing his live python. Jim Cornette and Clarence Mason get in the ring and confer with the referee before handing him a legal document. Roberts tears the document up before taking the python out! The crowd goes wild as Roberts throws the python onto the referee, Cornette, and Mason!
Cornette faints and is completely unconscious! Bulldog and Mason check on Cornette. The referee tells Roberts to send the snake to the back. Roberts angrily brings his python backstage. Cornette is back to consciousness and is near tears as he complains about the snake touching him.
The crowd chants, “USA.” Roberts emerges from the back alongside Ahmed Johnson, who is dressed to compete. This was originally supposed to be a singles match with the British Bulldog facing Roberts, but it looks like it’s been changed to a Tag Team Match with absolutely no explanation.
Jim Cornette is brought to the back to recover with Clarence Mason.
Tag Team Match
The British Bulldog and Owen Hart vs. Jake “The Snake” Roberts and Ahmed Johnson
Referee: Tim White
Jake Roberts starts jabbing away at Owen Hart and takes him down. Roberts wrenches the arm, and Hart starts to beg him off. Roberts lifts Hart and drives him into the mat. Hart kips up and quickly tags the British Bulldog in. Roberts tags Ahmed Johnson in. Johnson, who has been nursing a broken thumb, gets into the ring. Bulldog quickly tags Hart in before he comes into contact with Johnson. Hart is not happy. They lock up, and Johnson easily throws Hart into his corner. Hart wants a tag, but Bulldog refuses. Johnson’s right hand is taped up. They lock up, and Johnson slams him to the mat. Hart quickly hooks a side headlock, but Johnson lifts him and throws him off.
Diana Hart-Smith is shown watching at ringside. Roberts tags in, and a “DDT” chant picks up. Roberts locks up with Hart. Hart punches him and sends him into the ropes, but Roberts blocks a hip toss and hits one of his own. Roberts sets up for a DDT, but Hart escapes. They lock up, and Roberts applies a hammerlock. Hart fights out, but he quickly scurries away as Roberts attempts another DDT. Roberts gets the crowd chanting for the DDT. Hart rakes the eyes and bounces him off Bulldog’s boot. Bulldog tags in, punches Roberts, and hits a scoop slam. Roberts avoids an elbow drop and tags Johnson in. Bulldog immediately tags Hart in. Bulldog feigns an injury at ringside. Johnson wants a strength test against Hart. Hart falls for it, and Johnson brings him to his knees in pain before kicking him in the chest. Johnson sends Hart into the ropes and hits a big clothesline. Johnson puts Hart in the corner and punches away at him with his cast-covered hand. Bulldog quickly attacks Johnson from behind.
Hart tags Bulldog in, and Bulldog clubs away at the injured Johnson. Bulldog hits a scoop slam and flexes his muscles. Johnson gets to his knees and isn’t selling Bulldog’s strikes. Hart blind tags in and gets a cheap shot in on Johnson. Hart stomps away at Johnson and hits an uppercut. Hart goes for a scoop slam, but he can’t lift the massive Johnson. Johnson, with a broken thumb, military presses Hart above his head before slamming him down! Roberts tags in, and we hear more “DDT” chants. Roberts attacks Hart. Hart reverses a whip to the corner and charges, but Roberts sidesteps him. Hart quickly boots him back and hits a missile dropkick.
Bulldog tags in. Bulldog and Hart double-team Roberts with stomps. Hart goes to the apron as Bulldog continues to stomp Roberts. As the referee admonishes Bulldog, Hart chokes Roberts. Roberts manages to get to his feet, but he is in a lot of pain. Bulldog bounces Roberts’ face off the top turnbuckle. Roberts fights back, but Bulldog pokes him in the eyes before clubbing him down. Bulldog drops a leg and tags Hart in. Hart comes off the top rope with a diving forearm to the chest for a two-count. Hart applies a rear chin lock. Roberts fights up and hits the ropes, but Hart hits a leaping back elbow. Hart goes for a Sharpshooter, but Roberts kicks him off. Roberts goes for a tag, but Hart holds him back and tags Bulldog in. Hart and Bulldog hit a double-team wishbone split on Roberts. Bulldog punches away at Roberts and applies a rear chin lock. Roberts is gasping for breath, completely winded. Roberts fights up to his feet and elbows out. Roberts hits the ropes, but Hart knees him in the back from the apron. Hart holds Roberts as the Bulldog attacks him. As the referee admonishes Bulldog, Hart chokes Roberts on the top rope. Hart tags in and stomps Roberts’ midsection. Hart sends Roberts into the ropes, but he lowers his head and eats a kick. Roberts has a whip reversed, and Hart goes for a sleeper hold. Roberts gets out with a sit-out jawbreaker, stunning Hart!
Johnson and Bulldog tag in. The crowd goes wild as Johnson punches away at Bulldog. Johnson sends Bulldog into the ropes and hits a spinebuster. Hart runs in, but Johnson takes him down. Johnson intensely tags Roberts in, and the crowd chants, “DDT.” Roberts hooks the head, but Hart runs in. Roberts hits him with a back body drop. Johnson runs in and knocks Bulldog out of the ring. Roberts and Johnson then hit Hart with a double-team clothesline. The referee admonishes Johnson as Hart pulls him out of the ring. As the referee is distracted, Bulldog hits him twice in the knee with Jim Cornette’s tennis racket. Bulldog hits a third shot to the leg and applies a leglock for the submission!
Winners by Submission: The British Bulldog and Owen Hart
Mike’s Thoughts: Considering how winded Jake “The Snake” Roberts was in this match, it’s probably a good idea that they made it a tag match rather than the originally booked singles match against the British Bulldog. The Bulldog’s knee was legitimately in bad shape following the European tour, so the reality is they did this tag to actually help him rather than Roberts, but it was overall a win-win for anyone who had to watch. Ahmed Johnson was rough and a bit limited because of his healing thumb (to add to his already built-in limitations), but he’s getting a fantastic reaction at this point. The biggest issue with this match is that it simply went too long. Nearly fifteen minutes. Oof.
Backstage Segment
On split-screen, “Wildman” Marc Mero and Sable are shown on the WWF Superstar Hotline. On the other side of the screen, we see the 1-2-3 Kid on the line.
A limping WWF Intercontinental Champion Goldust heads to the ring with Marlena and a bodyguard dressed up like a mafioso from “The Godfather.”
Replay: Earlier tonight on the Free For All, Marlena blew cigar smoke into the Ultimate Warrior’s face during an interview with Dok Hendrix. Goldust then blew gold sparkles into his face, which only served to enrage the Warrior.
Goldust is shown wearing a large knee brace on his left.
The Ultimate Warrior makes his high-energy entrance to the delight of the crowd in Omaha, Nebraska. A big Warrior emblem is shown behind him in sparklers.
WWF Intercontinental Championship
Goldust (c) w/ Marlena and a Bodyguard vs. The Ultimate Warrior
Referee: Jack Doan
The bell rings to start the match. Goldust is outside the ring, trying to avoid the Warrior. The bodyguard gets on the apron, so Warrior scares him away. Goldust teases getting in the ring, but he hobbles away with Marlena when Warrior turns around. Warrior takes Marlena’s cigar and hits a few puffs. Warrior gets in the ring and pulls in Marlena’s director’s chair. The bodyguard is not happy. Warrior grabs Goldust’s wig and hat and puts them on the director’s chair before sitting back and blowing some more smoke.
The referee orders Goldust to get into the ring, but he refuses. The crowd chants something at Goldust, so he covers his ears and screams. Goldust limps off, but he turns around and starts to head back to the ring. Goldust hobbles to the timekeeper’s area. Goldust grabs a microphone and warns that if the people don’t shut their mouths, he’ll personally come out and kiss every one of them. The crowd boos. I believe the crowd is chanting a slur at him.
Goldust cautiously gets on the apron. Warrior throws his wig at him and holds Goldust’s ring jacket up to put it on him. Goldust is using Marlena as a human shield between him and Warrior. Warrior gives Marlena her cigar back. She puffs on it. Warrior holds Goldust’s robe up and puts it on him. Goldust sits in his chair and looks at Marlena. Warrior looks confused. Warrior takes the cigar back and smokes it some more. Goldust puts his hand out for Warrior to kiss, but he buts it with the cigar instead. Warrior then clotheslines Goldust out of the chair and shakes the ropes. Goldust hobbles off with Marlena. He’s barely able to stand. The referee counts Goldust out.
Winner by Countout: The Ultimate Warrior
Goldust retains the WWF Intercontinental Championship
The Ultimate Warrior angrily chases the bodyguard into the ring. The bodyguard attacks him, but the Warrior doesn’t feel the pain. Warrior clotheslines him twice before hitting a diving battering ram. Warrior rips the suit off the bodyguard and hits a scoop slam. The bodyguard runs away. Warrior celebrates by putting Goldust’s wig and the bodyguard’s hat on.
Mike’s Thoughts: A horrific, pathetic waste of time. Goldust was injured on the April 13 WWF House Show in Düsseldorf, Germany, in a match against Razor Ramon. Goldust tore his hamstring and calf, and damaged the ligaments in his knee, leaving the tour early (interestingly, this was the same show where the British Bulldog injured his knee in a match against Bret Hart). You’re not just going to come back from an injury like that, yet the WWF continued to promote this match against the Ultimate Warrior. Ok, fine, they had a bunch of TV taped from April 1 for the whole month, and it’s not easy to change on the fly, but they couldn’t come up with a better idea in two weeks than this? This was some of the worst television I’ve ever seen. Maybe it had something to do with what the Ultimate Warrior would agree to… who knows? But this was bad. Like all-time bad stuff.
The only interesting note was that this is the one time that the bodyguard showed up, and he was played by Mantaur (the late Mike Halac). That would be his final WWF appearance.
Yeah, this was a total disaster. It really felt like they stole ten minutes from people and ripped them off.
Backstage Segment
Dok Hendrix is standing in front of WWF Champion Shawn Michaels’ locker room. The British Bulldog is attempting to get in alongside Owen Hart, but WWF agents Dave Hebner and Tony Garea are preventing him. Hendrix doesn’t know why Bulldog wants to get in there, but he heard a rumor that it had something to do with Bulldog’s wife, Diana Hart-Smith.
Replay: Three weeks ago on Raw, Vader viciously attacked Yokozuna’s knee. Yokozuna’s leg was not broken, but he has been out of action. Yokozuna will be returning soon.
Vader w/ Jim Cornette vs. Razor Ramon
Referee: Tim White
This is Razor Ramon’s first televised match since the February 19 episode of Raw.
The bell rings, and Vader flexes his muscles before taunting the crowd. Razor Ramon flicks his toothpick at Jim Cornette, who flips out at ringside. Vader and Ramon lock up before Vader pushes him off and over the top rope. Vader talks trash to Ramon and tells him to get into the ring. Ramon goes back in the ring, and they lock up. Vader pushes him down and growls at him. Vader flexes as Ramon gets to his feet. They lock up, and Vader backs him into the corner. Ramon slides around Vader and backs up. They lock up, and Vader punches Ramon in the midsection several times. Vader headbutts Ramon and puts him in the corner, striking away at Ramon’s ribs. Ramon drops to a knee as Vader taunts the crowd.
They lock up again, and Vader beats on Ramon with right hands. The crowd chants “Razor.” Ramon starts to punch back, but Vader cuts him off and punches him to the corner. Vader connects with a short-arm clothesline before taunting the crowd again. Vader sends him into the ropes, but Ramon ducks a clothesline and a back elbow. Ramon punches away at Vader and sets up for a Razor’s Edge, but Vader gives him a back body drop over the top rope. Ramon quickly pops up and gets in the ring, punching away at Vader. Ramon punches Vader down in the corner, and Jim Cornette flips out. Cornette checks on his Mastodon. Ramon punches away at Vader as he gets to his feet and takes him down. Ramon hits the ropes and connects with a pair of clotheslines. Ramon then clotheslines him over the top rope.
Vader recovers with Cornette at ringside. Vader is nearly counted out, so he slides in and goes back to the ringside area. 1… 2… 3… 4… 5… 6… 7… 8… Vader slides in and out again. Vader is rethinking his strategy against The Bad Guy. Cornette gets on the apron to distract the referee and Ramon. Vader tries to sneak up on Ramon, but Ramon turns and punches away at him. Vader reverses a whip to the corner and avalanches him. Vader sends Ramon into the ropes and clotheslines him down. Vader drops an elbow on Ramon from an odd angle. Vader then hits a big splash. 1… 2… Ramon kicks out. Vader puts Ramon in the corner and lights him up with some right hands. Ramon ducks a short-arm clothesline and hits Vader with a back suplex for a two-count.
Vader gets to his feet and punches Ramon’s midsection. Vader lifts him up and hits a front slam. Vader heads to the second rope and connects with a Vader Bomb. 1… 2… Ramon kicks out! Vader is stunned. Cornette flips out at ringside. Ramon gets up and punches Vader, but Vader cuts him off and hits a back suplex. Vader pulls Ramon to his feet and knees him in his injured ribs. Vader puts him in the corner and hits some stiff bear paws to the head. Vader punches Ramon in the midsection before setting up for a suplex. Ramon fights it and hits Vader with a vertical suplex. Ramon rolls over and covers for a two-count. Vader pulls himself up and bounces off the ropes for a clothesline. Vader hits Ramon with a snapmare and heads back to the second rope. Vader dives, but Ramon hits him with a scoop powerslam for a near fall!
Ramon sends Vader to the corner and hits a running clothesline. Vader reverses a whip to the opposite corner, but Ramon boots him back. Ramon comes off the second rope with a diving clothesline for a near fall. Ramon hits the ropes, but Vader avalanches him down. Vader hits an ugly snapmare and heads to the second rope. Ramon gets up and attacks him. Ramon sets up for a Razor’s Edge, but he drops him and grabs his injured ribs. Vader mauls him with some more bear paws before hitting a front slam. Vader heads to the top rope for a moonsault, but Ramon attacks him and hits an electric chair drop! Both men are down, but Ramon is first to his feet. Ramon signals for the end. Ramon sets up for the Razor’s Edge, but Vader hits a back body drop before delivering a cannonball to the injured chest! Vader covers for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Vader
Dok Hendrix comes to the ringside to interview Jim Cornette and Vader. Hendrix says he just spoke to WWF President Gorilla Monsoon. Because Vader won this match, he will be on the next In Your House event on May 26. Monsoon has chosen his next opponent: the 650-pound Yokozuna. Vader flips out and shoves Cornette. Cornette says Yokozuna has made a bad mistake. He’s stepping into the danger zone. First, it was Yokozuna’s leg. Now, it’ll be his whole body. He’s stepping into the Vader Zone. Vader and Cornette storm off.
Mike’s Thoughts: When this first started, I figured they were booking Razor Ramon/Scott Hall to look supremely weak on the way out. Vader was dominating him early on, tossing him around like nothing. Then, this thing picked up pretty good. It was a way better match than I thought it would be. They told a solid story. Vader concentrated on the ribs early on, which became a factor later in the match when Ramon couldn’t hit the Razor’s Edge due to the pain. The cannonball finish was the right one, even if it wasn’t as impressive looking as a Vader Bomb or a moonsault would have been.
This is Razor Ramon’s/Scott Hall’s final televised appearance for the World Wrestling Federation until his return in February 2002. Ramon will make a few more appearances for the company on WWF House Shows, including one legendary moment on the final one, which I’ll cover in a future recap. Then, it’s off to WCW to really get this Monday Night War to the next level.
The WWF on AOL Zone
The Undertaker and Paul Bearer are dictating messages for someone to write on America Online.
The WWF Shop
You can buy a sports shirt featuring Shawn Michaels, Ultimate Warrior, or Undertaker. With each shirt comes a matching hat. This package is available for $39.95 a pop.
WWF Tag Team Champions The Bodydonnas and Sunny head to the ring. Sunny tells the world to take a good look at them. When they’re around, you never know what you’re going to see.
WWF Tag Team Championship
The Godwinns (Henry O. and Phinneas I. Godwinn) w/ Hillbilly Jim vs. The Bodydonnas (Skip and Zip) (c’s) w/ Sunny
Referee: Mike Chioda
Zip will start against Henry O. Godwinn. Henry spits into the air, catches it, and claps his hands together. They lock up, and Zip hooks a side headlock. Henry whips him off and lifts him for a bear hug, but Skip runs in. The Bodydonnas double-team Henry, but he pops out of the corner and clotheslines them down. Henry wrenches Zip’s arm and gets Skip in. Phinneas I. Godwinn goes to slop him, but Zip runs off. Phinneas bites Zip’s arm and wrenches the arm before tagging Henry in.
Zip fights Henry off and tags Skip in. Henry quickly grabs Skip, but he slides off and applies a side headlock. Henry whips him off and shoulder tackles him. Henry puts him on his shoulders and slams him down. Henry drives Skip’s head into the top turnbuckle and hits a wheelbarrow German Suplex! Skip rolls out of the ring to recover with Zip and Sunny. Zip tries to replace Skip, but the referee notices the difference. Skip has to tag in Zip. Zip kicks away at Phinneas, but Phinneas soon kicks him back and claps his ears. Zip sends him into the ropes, and Skip pulls the top rope down to get him out of the ring. Skip stomps away at Phinneas and puts him in the ring. Zip covers for a two-count. Skip tags in and punches Phinneas. Zip tags in, and they hit Phinneas with a double-team slingshot suplex for a two-count. The camera nearly missed the pin while looking at Sunny. Skip hits Phinneas with a snapmare and applies a rear chin lock. Phinneas fights up and sends Skip into the ropes. Skip ducks a clothesline and hits a hurricanrana for a two-count. Zip tags in, and the Bodydonnas double-team Phinneas. Phinneas fights them off and does some mule kicks.
Sunny runs to the back and comes back with an autographed picture of herself. Henry tags in and runs wild on the Bodydonnas. Henry hits Zip with a big back-body drop before hitting Skip with a military-press flapjack. Hillbilly Jim threatens to slop Sunny. Henry hits Skip with a Slop Drop, but the referee is distracted by what’s happening at ringside. Zip uses the distraction to replace Skip. Zip catches Henry with an inside cradle for the win.
Winners by Pinfall and still WWF Tag Team Champions: The Bodydonnas
Henry is not happy and puts Sunny’s autographed picture in the slop bucket. Phinneas feels bad, so Henry and Jim embrace him. Phinneas then takes the picture of Sunny and puts it in his overalls.
Mike’s Thoughts: Luckily, they kept this short. This was an ok match with two teams with bad gimmicks. The only reason anyone could possibly care about this back in the day was all the shots of Sunny they were getting.
Video: This Memorial Day, bring the WWF into your house! On May 26, Vader will battle Yokozuna. “Wildman” Marc Mero will take on Hunter Hearst Helmsley. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Savio Vega will battle. The WWF Championship will also be defended.
Mike’s Thoughts: This is going to be yet another spectacular show… for all the wrong reasons again.
Locker Room Interview
Dok Hendrix catches up with “Wildman” Marc Mero and Sable. There is no love lost between Mero and Hunter Hearst Helmsley. It started at WrestleMania with Sable, and now Helmsley attacked Mero during the Free for All match against the 1-2-3 Kid. Mero says he’s been wondering why anyone would reach into the cage to unlatch the hook and unleash the beast within. Helmsley stuck his silver spoon where it doesn’t belong. Mero’s fury will destroy Helmsley. At In Your House, Helmsley will enter the jungle and will answer the call of the wild.
Replay: During the Free for All earlier tonight, we see Hunter Hearst Helmsley attacking Mero. The 1-2-3 Kid took Mero down, and Helmsley hit Mero with the Pedigree.
Mike’s Thoughts: Woof, that was a lame promo. This “Wildman” gimmick for Marc Mero is not lighting the world on fire in my view. They signed him to the first guaranteed contract in the company’s history, so they’re locked in and feel the urge to have to present him. Still, this feels like a gimmick from a lesser company. They’ve got to do some work with him. You can kind of see that his wife, Sable, will eventually surpass him.
The first 2,500 people who send in a copy of their cable or satellite bill as proof of purchase of tonight’s show will get a five-minute card for long-distance calls.
Video: WWF Champion Shawn Michaels vs. Diesel
Video: Earlier tonight on the Free for All show, Shawn Michaels says his friendship is at the end of the road with Diesel. He promised the Kliq a party. It won’t happen until the Sweet Chin Music is cued and they’re dancing all over Diesel’s face.
Video: Also, on the Free for All, Diesel promised he had a little something for Vince McMahon in tonight’s match. It’s live, so he can do whatever he likes.
“Big Daddy Cool” Diesel makes his entrance. As he gets in the ring, he throws his heavy leather vest at Vince McMahon. McMahon is not happy.
Wrestling legend Mad Dog Vachon is shown seated at ringside.
WWF Champion Shawn Michaels makes his entrance with his trainer, José Lothario. Michaels is focused.
WWF Championship
No Holds Barred Match
“Big Daddy Cool” Diesel vs. Shawn Michaels (c) w/ José Lothario
Referee: Earl Hebner
Shawn Michaels gets in the ring, ducks a right hand from Diesel, and punches away at Diesel. Diesel quickly floors him with a vicious knee to the midsection, taking the champion down. Diesel bounces Michaels’ head off the top turnbuckle before sending him to the opposite corner. Michaels slingshots over him and dropkicks Diesel out of the ring. Michaels takes off his chaps from his entrance attire and hits Diesel with a baseball slide. Michaels goes to the top rope and hits a moonsault block to the floor!
Michaels goes over to the commentary table and grabs Hugo Savinovich’s boot. Michaels goes to the top rope and leaps, cracking Diesel in the skull with the boot. Michaels picks up a two-count. Michaels bounces Diesel off the top turnbuckle before having a whip reversed on him. Michaels rolls up the turnbuckles and lands on the apron. Diesel then sledges him in the back, knocking him into the metal barricade! Diesel slowly goes outside and grabs Michaels, punching him down. Diesel puts Michaels back in the ring and elbows him down. Diesel pulls Michaels to his feet and hits a short-arm clothesline. The crowd loudly boos Diesel as he looks over at McMahon. Diesel lifts Michaels and hits him with Snake Eyes. Diesel shouts over at McMahon before grabbing Michaels. Diesel talks trash to Lothario and knees away at Michaels in the corner. Diesel chokes Michaels before hitting a sidewalk slam.
Diesel starts to saunter around the ring before unwinding his wrist tape… and he uses it to choke referee Earl Hebner out! Diesel steals Hebner’s belt and whips Michaels with it! Diesel puts it around Michaels’ throat and chokes him with it. Diesel then slings Michaels over the top rope and hangs him there for a moment before tying the belt to the ropes. Diesel goes to ringside, viciously throws Howard Finkel aside, takes his steel chair, and smashes Michaels on the spine with it. Earl Hebner managed to get Michaels out of the belt noose. Michaels is gasping for breath in the ring as Diesel gets in and smashes him on the back again with the chair. Diesel goes to hit him in the head with it as he gets up, but Michaels ducks. The chair rebounds off the top rope into Diesel’s face. Michaels grabs the chair, but Diesel hits him with a low blow to save himself!
Diesel sends Michaels into the ropes for a back body drop. Diesel walks around a bit before covering for a two-count. Diesel then applies a neck vice. Michaels manages to fight back and punches out. Diesel quickly punches him down, but Michaels pops up. Diesel punches him down several more times before punching him out of the ring. Diesel goes to the ringside and grabs Michaels. Diesel then hits a Jackknife Powerbomb through the commentary table! Wow! The TV monitors land hard on Michaels’ body, and the headsets rip off the heads of Vince McMahon and Jerry “The King” Lawler.
McMahon pleads with Michaels to “just let it be over.” Michaels emerges from the wreckage and crawls back to the ring. Michaels reaches under the ring and grabs a fire extinguisher, spraying Diesel in the face as he grabs at him. Diesel is blindly throwing punches as Michaels gets in the ring and punches away at the giant. Diesel reverses a whip, but Michaels hits him with a flying forearm. Michaels kips up as the commentators come back on. They’re using handheld microphones since their headsets were wrecked. Michaels grabs a chair, with Lawler’s headset still wrapped around it, and smashes Diesel on the back with it. Michaels then hits him in the head with the chair.
Michaels sends Diesel into the ropes, but Diesel clubs him down. Diesel sends him into the ropes and big boots him. Diesel signals for the end and points into the crowd. Diesel goes for a Jackknife Powerbomb, but Michaels punches away at him as he’s lifted, knocking him down. Michaels stomps his face before heading to the top rope for a diving elbow drop. Michaels starts to tune up the band in the corner. Diesel blocks Sweet Chin Music and clotheslines him down. Diesel and Michaels slowly get up, and Diesel hits a clothesline over the top rope.
Diesel goes to the ringside area and drops Michaels throat-first on the metal barricade. Diesel throws Michaels into the ring and goes to get in, but he stops himself. Diesel saunters over to Mad Dog Vachon and grabs him! Diesel throws him down and steals his prosthetic leg! Vachon lost his leg in 1987 after being hit by a car. Diesel holds the leg up and gets in the ring with it. Diesel goes to hit Michaels with it, but Michaels low blows him! Michaels grabs Vachon’s prosthetic leg, winds it up, and hits Diesel in the head with it! Michaels tunes up the band and catches Diesel with Sweet Chin Music! 1… 2… 3!
Winner by Pinfall and still WWF Champion: Shawn Michaels
Shawn Michaels flips out in celebration, shouting expletives at Diesel and throwing his chewing gum at him. Michaels lays the WWF Championship in the center of the ring and challenges anyone to come and get it. Michaels poses and celebrates in the ring. Fireworks go off as the show comes to an end.
Mike’s Thoughts: Truly a fantastic main event that holds up really well thirty years later. Kevin Nash and Scott Hall both worked hard in their final television appearances for the World Wrestling Federation. Like Hall, this is also Nash’s final televised appearance for the company until they returned with Hulk Hogan in February 2002 as the original nWo.
You could run the layout of this match today, and it would be a fantastic PLE main event. It might even be a little too extreme for today’s WWE with the hangman spot. I still remember the outrage of Bryan Danielson being fired from the company in 2011 when he choked Justin Roberts with his tie during a segment. Still, the weapon spots weren’t overdone or painstakingly planned. There wasn’t violence for the sake of violence. This was the story of two guys who were once the best of friends and are now the bitterest of enemies, just wanting to beat each other. Yes, I think crowds have changed and been conditioned to want more violence, but I think well-placed weapon spots that complement a well-told story can still be enough for a tremendous match.
This also featured a spot which is quite commonplace on regular shows now: the slam through the commentary table. It first happened at the Survivor Series when Diesel knocked Bret Hart off the apron and through the table. That seemed accidental, but it was an awesome, shocking visual. This was a deliberate Jackknife Powerbomb through the table. This was a fantastic spot, and a great reminder of why every wrestler does a cursory swipe of the table to clear off the equipment. Watching those old heavy monitors fly into the air and land on HBK looked incredibly painful.
This was a wonderful main event to really jumpstart the WWF Championship reign of Shawn Michaels. They didn’t let the fact that Nash was leaving impact the layout. They gave Nash a lot of offense here and made him look strong, but in the end, it was the champion pinning him clean to the mat after his finish. This really elevated a show that was already weakened by another pitiful bait-and-switch with the Ultimate Warrior/Goldust match. Also, my hat is off to Vader and Scott Hall. They also had a really strong match.
Bottom line is this is the last we’ll be seeing Scott Hall and Kevin Nash in the World Wrestling Federation in this series. They’ll still compete on WWF House Shows for the next few weeks, which I’ll cover one in particular, but they can leave with their heads held high, putting on strong performances on the way out.
It didn’t feel like it if you were watching this live in 1996, but thirty years later, you can truly see this is the end of an era for the World Wrestling Federation.
Quick Match Results
— The British Bulldog and Owen Hart def. Jake “The Snake” Roberts and Ahmed Johnson via Submission in a Tag Team Match
— The Ultimate Warrior def. Goldust (c) via CO in a WWF Intercontinental Championship match; Goldust retains the Intercontinental Championship
— Vader def. Razor Ramon
— The Bodydonnas (Skip and Zip) (c’s) def. The Godwinns (Henry O. and Phinneas I. Godwinn) to retain the WWF Tag Team Championship
— Shawn Michaels (c) def. “Big Daddy Cool” Diesel in a No Holds Barred Match to retain the WWF Championship
Email – mike@wrestleview.com
X – @MikeTedescoWV
Thanks for reading!
Part of Wrestleview’s Monday Night War: 30 Years Later series, with weekly Raw and Nitro recaps every Thursday.