WWF In Your House 3: Triple Header
September 24, 1995
Saginaw, Michigan (Saginaw Civic Center)
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: For the first time in history, all three titles, the WWF Championship, the WWF Intercontinental Championship, and the WWF Tag Team Championship, will be on the line in one match. Diesel and Shawn Michaels will put their titles on the line against the Tag Team Champions, Yokozuna and Owen Hart. If Diesel and Shawn Michaels win, they’ll add the Tag Team Championship to their waists. If one of them loses, their title goes to the person who pinned them. Tonight, this match will test the true mettle of a champion and the bond of friends. Someone is going to lose their gold.
Video: The classic In Your House video plays with the ’90s theme on full blast.
We go live into the Saginaw Civic Center to see some fireworks go off from the ceiling. Vince McMahon, Jerry “The King” Lawler, and Jim Ross are standing at ringside. Lawler says this is the biggest Triple Header to come out of Michigan since the Supremes. Lawler, changing his prediction from Raw, says Shawn Michaels will be defeated. Owen Hart will be the new Intercontinental Champion. Lawler said at the end of Raw that Yokozuna would become the WWF Champion. Jim Ross says Yokozuna will become the Intercontinental Champion tonight.
Savio Vega makes his way to the ring. He has a shaka hand signal shaved into the back of his head.
Replay: In May, Savio Vega debuted at the first In Your House. He attacked Jeff Jarrett and the Roadie as they double-teamed Razor Ramon.
Savio Vega vs. Waylon Mercy
Referee: Mike Chioda
Waylon Mercy goes for a handshake, but Savio Vega is wary of him. Mercy dances like Vega, and Vega shakes his hand. The bell rings. Mercy goes for a blindside attack, but Vega sidesteps him. Vega punches away at him and chops him in the corner. Vega sends him across the ring and kicks him before hitting another pair of chops. Mercy reverses a whip to the opposite corner, but Vega sidesteps him. Vega punches away at him and wrenches the arm. Vega whips him off the ropes and pulls him down with the arm. Vega pulls him up and then yanks him down with the arm. Mercy soon knees him in the midsection and hits a clothesline. Mercy sends Vega out of the ring and chops him at ringside. Mercy then connects with a scoop slam on the floor.
Mercy rolls Vega into the ring and applies a neck vice. Mercy sends Vega into the ropes and connects with a hot shot into the top rope for a two-count. Vince McMahon, not knowing what that move was, thought Mercy’s knee buckled. Mercy punches Vega down in the corner and slaps him in the face.
Video: Dok Hendrix appears on split-screen with some breaking news. Hendrix says the news is mind-boggling. Owen Hart, one-half of the Tag Team Champions, is not in the building. Hendrix doesn’t know how this will impact the Triple Header match.
Back to live action, Mercy connects with a sidewalk slam for a two-count. Mercy hits the ropes and goes for an elbow drop, but Vega moves. Vega punches Mercy, but Mercy reverses a whip to the corner and applies a sleeper hold. Vega looks to be fading, but he gets a head of steam and drives Mercy’s head into the top turnbuckle. Mercy is quick to recover and applies a sleeper hold, but Vega immediately counters out with a back suplex. Both men are down, and the referee begins counting them down. 1… 2… 3… 4… 5… 6… Vega gets to his feet, as does Mercy. They exchange punches before Vega headbutts him. Vega sends him into the ropes and hits a big boot. Vega hits a spinning heel kick for a near fall. Mercy reverses a whip into the ropes, but Vega counters with a bulldog for another two-count. Vega pulls him up and drives him into the mat for yet another two-count. Mercy didn’t actually kick out, but the referee stopped counting.
Vega sends Mercy into the ropes, but he lowers his head and eats a kick. Mercy quickly clotheslines him down. Mercy hits an ugly-looking brainbuster for a near fall. Mercy connects with a swinging back suplex for another two-count. Vega slides out of a scoop slam and hits a German Suplex with a (sort of) bridge for a two-count. Vega hits the ropes and hits a spinning wheel kick for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Savio Vega
Mike’s Thoughts: I should say that I absolutely loved the character of Waylon Mercy. Dan Spivey really did a great job portraying that character for the short time he did. It was a uniquely great character at a time in the WWF not known for great characters. Unfortunately, the character wasn’t long for this world because Spivey’s body was too broken down on him. Spivey would have one more televised match in a match that aired in October… and it was a count-out victory against WWF Champion Diesel. He would retire after that. Watching this match against Savio Vega, it’s clear that Spivey’s body was completely wrecked. He looked super stiff at times and could barely run. It was a good win for Savio Vega, but his character isn’t exactly lighting the world on fire here.
Locker Room Segment
A furious Interim WWF President Gorilla Monsoon is in the locker room with Jim Cornette, Mr. Fuji, and Yokozuna. Dok Hendix bursts in to see what’s happening. Monsoon says Cornette knows what time the guys are supposed to be here. Cornette says Owen Hart is in Michigan and will be here. Monsoon isn’t happy. Hendrix asks if the Triple Header match is in jeopardy. Monsoon says the Triple Header will happen. Monsoon says the fans won’t get ripped off.
Replay: This past weekend on WWF Superstars, Henry O. Godwinn slopped Sycho Sid, causing Sid to go ballistic backstage. Last month on Raw, Godwinn slopped Ted DiBiase. Godwinn would slop DiBiase again last weekend, causing Sid to deliver his devastating Powerbomb to Godwinn on the floor!
Sycho Sid w/ “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase vs. Henry O. Godwinn
Referee: Danny Davis
The referee starts the match. They lock up, and Godwinn powers him to the corner. Sid turns him around. Godwinn ducks a punch and punches away at Sid. Sid reverses a whip, but Godwinn grabs him by the hair and slams him down on his face. Godwinn punches Sid into the ropes and to the apron. Godwinn clotheslines Sid off the apron. Jim Ross says this will be a “slobberknocker,” which confuses McMahon and Lawler. Sid gets on the apron, and Godwinn suplexes him back into the ring. Godwinn clutches his back, still hurting from the Powerbomb to the floor this past weekend. Godwinn goes for a scoop slam, but his back gives out. Sid drives a knee into the spine, knocking Godwinn out of the ring. Sid distracts the referee as Ted DiBiase stomps away at Godwinn. Sid goes to the apron and waits for Godwinn to get up. Sid then comes off the apron with a double ax handle to the spine. Sid pulls him up, goes back to the apron, and hits another double ax handle to the back. Sid is fired up. Sid gets Godwinn in the ring and forearms the small of the back. Godwinn tries to fight back, but Sid easily shakes him off and clubs the back. Sid punches Godwinn in the midsection a few times before sending him hard into the corner, injuring the back further. Sid hits two running kicks before clubbing the chest. Sid kicks him in the ribs before applying a camel clutch. Godwinn tries to power out, but Sid sits hard on the lower back. Sid clubs the back and rips at his face, pulling the head back. Sid then goes back to the camel clutch. Godwinn fights up, but Sid beats him down. Sid puts Godwinn in the corner and charges with a big boot, but Godwinn moves. Sid then goes to the middle rope and leaps, but Godwinn punches him in the midsection.
Godwinn punches away at Sid before hitting a diving shoulder tackle. Godwinn sends Sid into the ropes before kicking him in the midsection. Godwinn connects with a Slop Drop! 1… 2… DiBiase pulls Godwinn off. Godwinn angrily approaches DiBiase before getting on the apron. Sid attacks him as he gets in the ring. Godwinn punches back and hits the ropes, but DiBiase trips him. Sid drops a leg on the back of the head. The crowd is loudly booing. Sid hits a massive Powerbomb for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Sycho Sid
Sid pushes Godwinn out of the ring by crawling and using his head. Sid and DiBiase go for the slop. They start arguing over who will slop Godwinn. All of a sudden, Bam Bam Bigelow attacks Sid. Kama immediately runs down and cuts Bigelow off. Kama holds Bigelow up as Sid punches away at him. Meanwhile, Godwinn sneaks up behind DiBiase, grabs the slop, and sticks the bucket on his head, slopping the Million Dollar Man a third time! Godwinn and Bigelow run off as DiBiase, Sid, and Kama seethe in anger.
Mike’s Thoughts: Not much of a match here. Henry O. Godwinn (H.O.G… get it?) spent the majority of the match selling his back and getting tripped by Ted DiBiase before taking the loss. Godwinn got a little revenge after by slopping DiBiase for a third time. This feels like such a waste of Sid.
Locker Room Segment
WWF President Gorilla Monsoon and Jim Cornette are still arguing as Dok Hendrix stays in the middle. Owen Hart still has not shown up. Hendrix asks for Monsoon’s decision. Monsoon says the match will show up whether Hart shows up or not. Cornette is incredulous. Monsoon says Cornette can have Yokozuna and have him single-handedly defend both titles. Cornette hates that idea. Monsoon says he has another out for him. Cornette can find another tag team partner who Monsoon will sanction for tonight only as a co-holder of the WWF Tag Team Titles to team with Yokozuna. Cornette asks who he could get to do that. Monsoon says that’s his problem. Cornette says if he finds a partner, does that person get the WWF Title or the Intercontinental Title if he pins Diesel or Shawn Michaels. Monsoon says that is the case. Cornette leaves to look for someone. Hendrix says the Triple Header match is on.
The British Bulldog heads to the ring without his manager, Jim Cornette.
Replay: Last month on Raw, the British Bulldog viciously attacked Diesel.
The British Bulldog vs. Bam Bam Bigelow
Referee: Jack Doan
The bell rings, and they circle the ring. They lock up, and Bulldog hooks a side headlock. Bigelow whips him off and shoulder tackles him down. Bulldog gets up and tells the referee that Bigelow pulled his hair. They circle the ring again, and Bulldog hooks a side headlock. Bigelow whips him off. Bulldog ducks a clothesline, but Bigelow quickly responds with a shoulder tackle that sends Bulldog out of the ring. Bulldog angrily gets in the ring.
Video: We cut to a split-screen to see Jim Cornette talking to Sycho Sid about possibly tagging with Yokozuna in tonight’s Triple Header match.
Back to live action, Bigelow reverses a whip to the corner and hits a hip toss. Bigelow takes Bulldog down with a running back elbow, followed by a scoop slam. Bigelow goes for an elbow drop, but Bulldog avoids it. Bulldog hits a snapmare and applies a rear chin lock. Bigelow slings him off and goes for a falling headbutt, but Bulldog moves. Bulldog punches Bigelow and hits a vertical suplex. Bulldog celebrates, but Bigelow gets up behind him. Bigelow hits a pair of clotheslines before charging, but Bulldog pulls the top rope down to get him out of the ring.
Bulldog taunts the crowd and clubs Bigelow as he gets on the apron. Bulldog attacks him again on the apron and goes to suplex him into the ring, but he can’t get Bigelow up. Bigelow then pulls him up and crotches him on the top rope. Bigelow climbs to the top rope and hits a flying headbutt for a near fall. Bigelow argues the count with the referee. As he does, Bulldog chop blocks the knee. Bulldog starts to attack the left knee of Bigelow, digging his knee into the injured joint. Bulldog talks trash to the crowd before dropping a leg on the knee. Bulldog knocks him to the corner and beats him down. Bulldog applies a leglock and powers him over for a two-count. Bulldog cinches it on again and nearly picks up the win. Bulldog chop blocks the knee again. Bigelow angrily fights back, so Bulldog grabs the knee, but Bigelow takes him out with an enzuigiri. Bulldog puts the leg on the ropes and continues to attack it. Bulldog applies a single-leg crab, but Bigelow won’t submit. Bigelow rocks Bulldog with a right hand that takes him down. Bulldog pops up and goes after the leg again, but Bigelow headbutts him down. Bigelow springs off the ropes, but Bulldog turns him inside out with a knee to the midsection for a two-count. Bulldog goes back to a rear chin lock. Bulldog cinches it in. The referee starts to check Bigelow’s arm. One drop. Two drops. Bigelow keeps it up the third time and fights up, driving Bulldog hard into the corner.
Bigelow punches away at Bulldog in the corner. Bulldog rakes the eyes and goes for a scoop slam, but he falls with Bigelow on top for a two-count. Bigelow sends Bulldog into the ropes. Bulldog attempts a sunset flip, but Bigelow doesn’t go down. Bigelow instead sits on Bulldog’s chest, knocking the wind out of him. Bigelow hits a falling headbutt before heading to the top rope. Bigelow goes for a moonsault, but Bulldog moves. Bulldog covers for a near fall. Bulldog heads to the top rope for a diving headbutt for another near fall. Bigelow answers back with some headbutts. Bulldog reverses a whip into the corner and connects with a Powerslam for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: The British Bulldog
Mike’s Thoughts: Boring match, but it makes sense considering what is coming later in the evening. If the layout was designed to keep Bulldog fresh for later in the evening, they could have done the crowd a favor by shaving a few minutes off it as well.
WWF Hotline Segment
Henry O. Godwinn and Ted DiBiase are shown on split-screen talking on the WWF Hotline. Just dial 1-900-737-4WWF (number no longer active). It’s $1.49 a minute. Wow. It’s $1.99 in Canada. Yikes.
Video: WrestleMania XI: The Special is coming this Saturday night at 11 p.m.
Bob Backlund makes his way to the ring to “Hail to the Chief.” The commentators talk about how he’s considering a run for the Presidency of the United States. Backlund tells the crowd not to exacerbate him. Where is their lexicon? Backlund holds up a dictionary. All the plebeians who come into this earth have an acute limitation. Everybody has to accept challenges to learn how to advance in their lives, like learning how to walk, crawl, eat, and learn the A-B-Cs. The plebeians are the ones who become dormant when it becomes necessary to learn how to read and write. Those acute limitations become chronic limitations. They become stagnant. Backlund has the great honor of introducing somebody who crawled out of the cavity. He’s an administrator who criticizes and disciplines his students. This person is Dean Douglas.
Replay: Razor Ramon did not take kindly to Dean Douglas’ critiques at SummerSlam. Two weeks ago on WWF Superstars, Douglas had the 1-2-3 Kid beaten, but he kept going, so Ramon attacked him. Last Monday on Raw, as Ramon and Kid were battling, Douglas interfered to cost Ramon the match.
Dean Douglas says for the first time ever, he’s proud of a WWF Superstar (he’s talking about Backlund). He is here to teach a valuable lesson. It’s a lesson that if he hasn’t done his homework and prepared, it’s a test he’ll fail. Douglas then introduces Razor Ramon, calling him the loser of the match.
Dean Douglas w/ Bob Backlund vs. Razor Ramon
Referee: Tim White
An angry Razor Ramon charges into the ring and punches away at Dean Douglas. The stagehands quickly take Ramon’s pyrotechnics out of the ring. Ramon punches Douglas out of the ring and poses. Douglas takes a moment to recover before getting in the ring. Ramon hits a headlock takeover, but Douglas gets out with a head-scissor. Ramon hits another headlock takeover, but Douglas hooks the head again. Ramon does it a third time, and Douglas again hooks the head. Ramon punches Douglas down for a two-count. Douglas retreats to the corner and talks to the referee. They lock up, and Douglas stuns him with some right hands. Douglas sends Ramon into the ropes, but Ramon counters a hip toss with a hip toss over the top rope.
Video: Yet again, we go to a split-screen in the middle of a match. We see Yokozuna face-to-face with King Mabel as Jim Cornette talks about Mabel teaming up with them tonight.
Douglas talks strategy with Backlund before getting back in the ring. They lock up, and Douglas wrenches the arm. Ramon reverses the wrench and applies an overhead wristlock. Ramon transitions to a hammerlock, but Douglas turns it on him. Ramon turns it back. Douglas flips over him, falls on his rear end, and then sweeps his feet. Douglas steps on him, hits the ropes, ducks two clotheslines, and goes for a running cross-body block, but Ramon catches him and hits a fallaway slam for a two-count. Douglas immediately gets out of the ring to recover. Ramon pulls him up to the apron and wrenches the arm before powering him into the ring. Ramon wrenches the arm and slaps him in the head a few times. Douglas fights up, so Ramon hits a trio of shoulder thrusts before dropping a leg on the arm. Ramon keeps the armbar applied. Douglas fights up. Ramon sends him to the corner, but Douglas jumps to the second rope and feigns a dive, causing Ramon to drop down. Douglas goes for a diving sunset flip, but Ramon sits on his shoulders for a two-count. Douglas counters with a roll-up for a two-count. Ramon pops up and clotheslines him down for another two-count. Ramon goes back to the armbar. Ramon pulls him up and hits another shoulder thrust before wrenching the arm. Douglas stuns him with a pair of right hands before sending him into the ropes. Ramon shoulder tackles him and hits the ropes, but Douglas sends him over the top rope. Ramon pulls himself up on the metal barricade. Bob Backlund yells at the referee as Douglas hits Ramon with a plancha.
Douglas attacks Ramon and hits a scoop slam on the floor. Douglas rolls in and out of the ring to restart the referee’s count. Douglas then knees Ramon in the back to send him into the steel steps. Douglas then picks him up and drives him into the ring post spine-first. Douglas gets in the ring and poses. Douglas goes outside and puts Ramon in the ring. Douglas goes to the top rope and hits a double ax handle for a two-count. Douglas forearms him in the back a few times. Douglas pushes him into the ropes, but Ramon responds with a slap to the face. Ramon sends him into the ropes, but Douglas pulls the hair and pulls him down for a two-count. Douglas hits a snapmare and stretches the arm back. Ramon fights up, but Douglas knees him in the back to keep him down. Ramon tries to fight up again, but Douglas knees him to keep him grounded. Ramon finally fights up and reverses the hold on Douglas. Douglas quickly gets on the ropes before elbowing him back. Douglas punches Ramon and sends him hard into the corner twice. Ramon collapses onto the mat. Douglas springboards off the middle rope with a big splash for a two-count. Douglas sits on the back and applies a chin lock. Douglas wrenches on the head and pulls back. Ramon fights up and puts Douglas on his shoulders before hitting an electric chair drop. Both men are down. 1… 2… 3… 4… 5… 6… no one is moving… 7… 8… 9… Douglas starts to crawl and covers for a two-count.
Douglas hits the ropes, but Ramon lights him up with some right hands. Ramon hits a double wristlock suplex for a two-count. Ramon sends him to the corner and charges for a clothesline. Ramon sends him sternum-first into the turnbuckles and puts him on the top rope. Douglas elbows him back and hits a cross-body block, but Ramon rolls through and picks up a near fall. Ramon gets up and grabs Douglas, but Douglas sends him into the referee, taking him out.
Douglas hits the ropes and hits a diving clothesline. Bob Backlund checks on the referee. Douglas goes for a springboard big splash, but Ramon moves. Ramon hits the Razor’s Edge and covers. The 1-2-3 Kid runs into the ring and counts the pin… he’s not a referee. Kid raises Ramon’s arm, but Ramon shoves him. Kid shoves back, so Ramon sends him out of the ring. Douglas rolls Ramon up and grabs the tights for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Dean Douglas
Razor Ramon is furious. Dean Douglas celebrates at ringside with Bob Backlund. Ramon goes outside and pulls Kid up by the hair before throwing him into the ring. Kid shoves Ramon, and Ramon responds with a slap to the face. WWF officials run down to separate the former friends.
Mike’s Thoughts: A solidly mediocre match with a stupid ending. The Dean Douglas character was so awful that it was hard to believe in a match where he’s taking it to Razor Ramon at all. I absolutely hated… and I mean hated… that ending with The 1-2-3 Kid coming in and randomly counting the pin. It didn’t make any sense. I get they’re trying to build up some drama for the big breakup, but that was a massively uncreative stretch to have him do that.
Video: In Your House heads to the Canadian Rockies in October. The Undertaker will battle King Mabel to avenge his loss at King of the Ring. Goldust will also debut at the show.
Backstage Segment
Dok Hendrix is wearing a Shawn Michaels cap and glasses and starts to hock it. If you call tonight, you’ll receive a free WWF classic video.
WWF Champion Diesel and WWF Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels join Hendrix. What’s their take on the missing Owen Hart story? Michaels says it’s really frustrating. It’s like being in love with a crazy girl. It’s frustrating. First, they want both of their belts on the line, so they do it. What’s the deal? Diesel says he smells a rat, and it’s not Hendrix. Diesel says something is up. No matter what, these Two Dudes with Attitudes will soon be Two Chaps with Four Straps.
Replay: On August 5 on WWF Superstars, Jean-Pierre Lafitte stole sunglasses from a fan that Bret Hart had gifted. Last month, he also stole Hart’s jacket. Three weeks ago, Lafitte and Hart got into a brawl.
Backstage Interview
Vince McMahon asks Bret “Hitman” Hart about Jean-Pierre Lafitte. How does he feel about the match? Hart says it’s like Captain Crook vs. Captain Crunch. Hart is Captain Crunch. Lafitte thinks it’s a small thing to steal his jacket, but it’s not. It’s special to him. The fact that he’s stealing sunglasses from kids in the front row, he’s nothing but a thief. It’s time for him to walk the plank.
Jean-Pierre Lafitte vs. Bret “Hitman” Hart
Referee: Mike Chioda
As Bret Hart finishes up his entrance, he surprises Jean-Pierre Lafitte with a WILD suicide dive! Hart kind of overshoots and lands hard on his back. The bell rings to start the match. Hart stomps Lafitte and punches him down. Lafitte scrambles around ringside, and Hart continues to assault him. Hart rips his stolen jacket off Lafitte and puts him in the ring.
Hart punches away at him in the corner as we see a replay of the crazy suicide dive. Hart punches away at him in the corner, but Lafitte fights back. Lafitte tries to bounce him off the top turnbuckle, but Hart blocks it and turns it on him. Hart continues to strike away at the eye-patched pirate. Lafitte pokes him in the eyes and bounces him off the top turnbuckle before beating him down. The referee is giving a lot of leeway. Lafitte whips him to the opposite corner and charges, but Hart sidesteps him. Hart hits an arm drag and starts to attack the shoulder. Hart applies an armbar, but Lafitte fights up and whips him off. Hart counters back with a crucifix pin for a two-count. Hart hits a drop-toehold and goes back to the armbar. Lafitte fights up and whips him off. Hart blocks a hip toss and goes for one, but Lafitte counters that with a clothesline. Lafitte chokes him on the top rope and slings him down. Lafitte chokes Hart and stomps the midsection a few times. Lafitte sends him into the ropes, but Hart counters with a roll-up for a two-count. Hart punches away at him and sends him into the ropes, but he lowers his head and eats a kick. Lafitte punches away at Hart’s midsection in the corner. Hart reverses a whip to the corner and charges, but Lafitte sidesteps him, sending Hart’s shoulder into the ring post.
Lafitte sees his opening and drives Hart’s shoulder back into the ring post. The pirate taunts the crowd before clubbing away at Hart. Lafitte sends him crashing into the turnbuckles sternum-first, and the Hitman is down. Lafitte covers for a two-count. Lafitte presses Hart against the middle rope and charges, but Hart counters with a back body drop over the top rope. Lafitte manages to land on his feet at ringside. Lafitte pulls him out of the ring and sends him shoulder-first into the steel ring steps. Jerry Lawler, Hart’s sworn nemesis, is laughing and loving what he’s seeing from commentary. Lafitte gets in the ring to break the referee’s count and comes off the apron with a club to the spine. Lafitte gets Hart into the ring and approaches him, but Hart fights back with some punches. Hart hits the ropes, but Lafitte catches him with a spinning spinebuster for a two-count. Lafitte applies a rear chin lock. Hart tries to fight up, but Lafitte keeps him grounded. Hart finally gets to his feet after a few moments and elbows out. Hart hits the ropes, but Lafitte catches him with a back elbow. Lafitte hits the ropes and drops a leg for a two-count. Lafitte goes back to the rear chin lock. Hart soon fights up and hits a sunset flip for a two-count. Lafitte quickly pops up and clotheslines him down. Lafitte hits a sidewalk slam and heads to the top rope. The commentators think he’s going for a Cannonball, but he instead hits a flying leg drop for a near fall. Lafitte sets Hart up and signals for the end. Lafitte goes to the top rope for a Cannonball, but Hart moves!
Both men are down, but they’re soon on their feet. Hart ducks a clothesline and hits an inverted atomic drop. Hart clotheslines him down and grabs the legs before going for a Sharpshooter. Lafitte manages to kick Hart out of the ring. Lafitte goes for a somersault plancha, but he takes a flat back bump on the floor when Hart moves! Hart then whips him hard into the steel steps, sending them flying. Hart gets Lafitte in the ring and whips him sternum-first into the turnbuckles, taking the huge pirate man down. Hart sends him into the ropes and punches him in the midsection before hitting a side leg sweep. 1… 2… Lafitte kicks out. Hart pulls him up and executes a small package for another two-count. Hart hits a backbreaker and heads to the second rope. Hart leaps, but Lafitte boots him in the face.
The referee is counting both men down, but Lafitte is up at three. Lafitte sends Hart into the ropes, but Hart counters with a crucifix pin attempt. Lafitte manages to hold him up, transfer him to his shoulders, and hits a wild rolling senton for a near fall. Wow. Lafitte sends him to the corner. Hart tries to slingshot over, but Lafitte catches him. Hart holds the ropes and then pushes off to land on top of Lafitte for a two-count. Hart headbutts and punches Lafitte before sending him to the corner. Hart charges, but Lafitte boots him down. Lafitte puts his feet on the ropes and covers. 1… 2… Hart kicks out. Lafitte argues with the referee, allowing Hart to dropkick him. Hart goes for a bulldog, but Lafitte sends him sternum-first into the turnbuckles again! 1… 2… Hart gets his feet on the bottom rope. Lawler says that’s the coward’s way out. Lafitte sends Hart into the ropes, but Hart ducks a clothesline and hits a diving shoulder tackle. Lafitte is leaning against the ropes, so Hart charges for a cross-body, but Lafitte moves! Hart bounces off the ropes and collapses to the mat.
Lafitte goes to the top rope for a big splash, but Hart rolls out of the way. Hart ducks a clothesline, and they take each other down with a double clothesline. From a prone position, Hart grabs the legs, ties them up, rolls over, and stands up with Lafitte trapped in the Sharpshooter in the middle of the ring! Lafitte submits!
Winner by Submission: Bret “Hitman” Hart
Jerry Lawler is disgusted on commentary. Lawler asks how Bret Hart keeps doing it. Jim Ross responds that Hart is the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be. Hart retrieves his stolen ring jacket and puts it on. Hart poses in the ring.
Mike’s Thoughts: WHAT. A. MATCH.
I mean… damn. Bret Hart was firing on all cylinders at this point and couldn’t have a bad match with anyone. I don’t think the finish was ever in doubt, especially because Jean-Pierre Lafitte made no friends on a Canadian tour the week before this, but Hart made this guy look like a million bucks.
Lafitte, of course, is better known today as PCO. What a career Carl Ouellet has had. He’s no slouch in the ring, and as a fellow Canadian, I’m sure Bret Hart wanted to have a great match with him… especially because Lafitte had butted heads with the Kliq.
Now, you may be wondering, “What the hell happened with Jean-Pierre Lafitte, the guy dressed as a pirate, and the Kliq?” I guess for those unfamiliar, I should say that the Kliq was a legendary backstage power group in the 1990s consisting of Diesel (Kevin Nash), Shawn Michaels, Razor Ramon (Scott Hall), and the 1-2-3 Kid (Sean Waltman, later X-Pac). Triple H was also part of the group. These guys had a ton of influence, and let’s just say… they weren’t shy about using it.
Anyway, they had a show in Montreal on September 15. Lafitte, being French-Canadian, helped heavily promote the show and was in the main event against Diesel. Lafitte was told he would be losing and refused to do the job in Montreal. Anywhere but Montreal (wow, sound familiar?).
Vince McMahon, who didn’t attend many house shows, was called at home and changed the finish to a double count-out. However, you had Shawn Michaels riling up Kevin Nash all day to add to all the tension. They had a fine, professional match that night with the planned double count-out, but afterward, Shawn Michaels came out to curse Ouellet out. Ouellet would wind up in Nash’s dressing room, but they didn’t wind up fighting.
Years later, in his autobiography, Shawn Michaels admitted that the Kliq buried Lafitte after that incident. He was soon gone from the WWF. McMahon did not fire him, but he rather left on his own.
Sorry for the lengthy history lesson, but after watching that phenomenal match and marveling at Carl Ouellet’s career, I just couldn’t resist. And that’s really what this whole thing is about, no?
Anyway, back to the show.
Locker Room Segment
Dok Hendrix is backstage with WWF President Gorilla Monsoon, WWF Tag Team Champion Yokozuna, The British Bulldog, Jim Cornette, and Mr. Fuji. Hendrix says Cornette has made a selection. Cornette says sometimes the things you search the hardest for you find under your nose. Even though he wrestled once tonight, he’s confident that Bulldog can get the job done in the Triple Header. Monsoon sanctions Bulldog for one night only to be one-half of the WWF Tag Team Champions. Cornette clarifies that if Bulldog beats either Diesel or Shawn Michaels, he’ll become the WWF Champion or Intercontinental Champion. Monsoon says that is correct and mentions he also has the opportunity to lose the Tag Team Titles. Cornette says he has a lot of confidence after Monsoon backed him into a corner.
We go back to ringside. Vince McMahon’s microphone is heard in the Saginaw Civic Center, complete with massive feedback. He introduces former WWF Women’s Champion Alundra Blayze. Blayze comes out modeling the hideous In Your House: Triple Header t-shirt. Not sure why you’d want to buy it since it has a picture of the wrong main event. Owen Hart isn’t in the main event anymore. Anyway, call 1-800-TITAN-91 to get that thing for $20. Blayze also shows off a free cassette that you’ll get with your purchase. Oh… the phone number is no longer active.
WWF Championship, WWF Intercontinental Championship, and WWF Tag Team Championship Match
Triple Header Tag Team Match
Yokozuna and The British Bulldog (c’s) w/ Jim Cornette and Mr. Fuji vs. “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels (c) and “Big Daddy Cool” Diesel (c)
Referee: Earl Hebner
Yokozuna and The British Bulldog are the WWF Tag Team Champions. Shawn Michaels holds the WWF Intercontinental Championship, and Diesel holds the WWF Championship. If Michaels and Diesel pin either Yokozuna or Bulldog, they’ll become the Tag Team Champions. If Yokozuna or Bulldog pins either Diesel or Michaels, that person will become the holder of the loser’s championship.
Shawn Michaels and Diesel play Ro Sham Bo to determine who will start the match. HBK wins with scissors beating paper. HBK will start against the British Bulldog. They waste a ton of time at the start of the match. They soon lock up, and Bulldog hooks a side headlock. Bulldog transitions to a hammerlock, but Michaels turns it. Bulldog quickly turns it around, but Michaels flips over him. HBK goes for a roll-up, but Bulldog holds the ropes. HBK slides through the legs, but Bulldog trips him. HBK rolls through, so Bulldog tries again for the same result. HBK hits a back body drop before hitting a clothesline over the top rope. HBK skins the cat to pull himself back into the ring. Yokozuna goes for a blindside attack, but HBK ducks it and punches away at him. Diesel runs in, bumps into HBK, and punches Yokozuna out of the ring. The Two Dudes with Attitudes celebrate in the ring.
Yokozuna and Bulldog regroup at ringside with Mr. Fuji talking strategy with them. Bulldog gets in the ring and goes back to his corner to talk with Yokozuna. Yokozuna then tags in, so HBK starts to get in a sumo pose. Yokozuna looks confused before sizing the tiny HBK up. HBK slides through the legs and punches away at the mammoth Yokozuna. HBK hits the ropes, but Yokozuna smashes him with a back elbow. Yokozuna takes a moment before hitting a scoop slam. Yokozuna backs up and charges for an elbow drop, but HBK moves.
WWF Champion Diesel tags in and punches away at Yokozuna. Yokozuna reverses a whip and takes Diesel’s head off with a clothesline. Yokozuna sends him into the ropes, but Diesel ducks a clothesline and hits a diving clothesline. Diesel then big boots Yokozuna out of the ring. Diesel reaches over the top rope and grabs Yokozuna by the hair. Mr. Fuji distracts the referee, and Bulldog attacks Diesel. Bulldog headbutts Diesel a few times before punching away at him. The referee sees this and allows Bulldog to stay in as the legal man without a tag. Bulldog tries to power Diesel up for a delayed vertical suplex, but he loses him. Bulldog tries again and is successful this time for a two-count. Bulldog punches Diesel a few times before shouldering him in the midsection. Bulldog hits a snapmare and applies a rear chin lock. Diesel soon fights up, so Bulldog bounces him off the top turnbuckle. Bulldog scoops him up for a Running Powerslam, but Diesel slides off. Diesel puts him in the corner and hits a pair of back elbows. Diesel whips him to the opposite side and avalanches him. Diesel sends him to the opposite corner and avalanches him again. HBK tags in and goes to the top rope. Diesel hits Bulldog with a scoop slam, and HBK dives off Diesel’s shoulders for a splash on Bulldog! 1… 2… Bulldog kicks out. Bulldog reverses a whip and presses HBK up before crotching him on the top rope. Yokozuna tags in and elbows HBK to the floor.
The referee is distracted by Diesel as Bulldog sends HBK into the steel steps before putting him in the ring. Yokozuna puts a foot on HBK’s throat before chopping him. Yokozuna whips HBK hard into the corner, causing him to roll up the turnbuckles and land on the apron. Yokozuna stomps HBK to the floor. The referee is distracted again, and Bulldog punches HBK before hitting a scoop slam on the floor. Bulldog tags in as HBK gets in the ring. Bulldog headbutts HBK down as the crowd boos. Bulldog sends him into the ropes for a back body drop. Bulldog covers for a two-count. Bulldog applies a rear chin lock. HBK soon fights up and elbows out. HBK hits the ropes and hits a sunset flip for a two-count. HBK hits the ropes and connects with a running cross-body block for another two-count. Bulldog quickly pops up and clotheslines HBK. Bulldog looks at Diesel and shouts, “You’re next!” Diesel angrily tries to get in the ring, but the referee stops him. Yokozuna takes advantage of the distraction and punches away at HBK. The referee allows Yokozuna to stay in despite no tag. Yokozuna locks HBK in a nervehold. Bulldog waves the Japanese flag on the apron. HBK soon fights up, but Yokozuna stuns him with a punch. Yokozuna drops him with a headbutt before heading to the second rope. Yokozuna goes for a Banzai Drop, but HBK moves!
A USA chant breaks out as Diesel and Bulldog tag in. Diesel punches away at Bulldog before sending him into the ropes for a back body drop. Diesel hits Bulldog with snake eyes before hitting the ropes and avalanching him against the ropes. Diesel hits a sidewalk slam before punching away at Yokozuna. HBK comes in and whips Bulldog into Yokozuna. HBK and Diesel then whip Bulldog into Yokozuna, flipping him onto the huge sumo wrestler. Yokozuna falls on top of his partner. Diesel grabs Bulldog and sends him into the ropes for a big boot. Diesel signals for the end. Diesel sets up for a Jackknife Powerbomb. HBK punches Jim Cornette off the apron. Yokozuna attacks Diesel and hits him with a Samoan Drop. HBK then sends Yokozuna flying out of the ring with Sweet Chin Music. Bulldog is back on his feet and hits a Powerslam. 1… 2… HBK breaks up the pin with a flying elbow drop!
Owen Hart runs down and goes to the top rope. Diesel punches him out of mid-air and connects with a Jackknife Powerbomb. Diesel covers Hart for the win.
Winners by Pinfall and new WWF Tag Team Champions: WWF Champion Diesel and WWF Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels
Diesel and Shawn Michaels hold up their individual titles and their newly won Tag Team Championship. Jim Ross doesn’t understand because Bulldog was ruled as the Tag Team Champion for the match. Vince McMahon says WWF President Gorilla Monsoon’s promise of a title change came to fruition. Jim Ross says the referee’s decision is final.
Video: Highlights from In Your House 3.
Mike’s Thoughts: Well… it wasn’t awful, mainly thanks to Shawn Michaels and the British Bulldog taking the majority of the match. Still, everyone watching had to know that Owen Hart randomly running down at the end, despite not being part of the match, and getting pinned was setting up for a screwy finish, which is exactly what happened.
Despite going off the air with a confused Jim Ross as Shawn Michael and Diesel held up the Tag Team Titles, Vince McMahon happily exclaimed that Gorilla Monsoon’s promise of a title change came to fruition. Man, did they spend a ton of TV time making Monsoon look like the biggest liar and goof of any fictional WWF President they’ve had. They flat-out lied to the viewing audience (and the poor folks in Saginaw), only to reverse it on Raw the very next night because – surprise, surprise – Owen Hart wasn’t a legal competitor in the match. Also, Hart losing with two moves didn’t exactly make him look great, either.
This is the typical scummy finish that erodes trust in the fanbase. It’s no wonder that the WWF was sinking in 1995… and sinking badly. Not long after this, they were making employees write a check to the company for long-distance phone calls and discontinuing the cafeteria at Titan Towers. They even got rid of water coolers. It’s amazing how they were doing crap like that finish in the face of all these financial difficulties. Dressing guys as pirates and weirdo college deans and thinking that’s going to turn it all around. Diesel, as the WWF Champion, wasn’t exactly lighting the world on fire. The level of cognitive dissonance at play is staggering.
Then, adding to this whole nightmare the company is going through, Ted Turner’s organization has basically declared war on the WWF, with WCW Nitro going head-to-head with Raw. Something’s got to change, but for now, it’s still going to get much worse… and I mean awful.
Check out my next retro Raw recap to see the fallout from this show!
Quick Match Results
— Savio Vega def. Waylon Mercy
— Sycho Sid def. Henry O. Godwinn
— The British Bulldog def. Bam Bam Bigelow
— Dean Douglas def. Razor Ramon
— Bret “Hitman” Hart def. Jean-Pierre Lafitte via Submission
— Shawn Michaels (Intercontinental) and Diesel (WWF) def. Yokozuna and The British Bulldog (Tag Team) to win the WWF Tag Team Championship in a Triple Header Match, where the WWF and Intercontinental Championships were also on the line
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.