WWF In Your House 4: Great White North Results
October 22, 1995
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (Winnipeg Arena)
Commentary: Vince McMahon, Jerry “The King” Lawler, and Jim Ross
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
We go live into the Winnipeg Arena to see Joni Wilson, an up-and-coming international singing sensation, singing “O Canada.”
Mike’s Thoughts: The WWF introduces this person as an up-and-coming international singing sensation, but I’ve never heard of her. Naturally, I had to look her up. It turns out she may have attempted a singing career, but she’s a real estate agent now. Not a bad rendition.
“The World Wrestling Federation: for over fifty years, the revolutionary force in sports entertainment.” The WWF video leads us into the show.
Backstage Segment
We immediately go backstage to see Interim WWF President Gorilla Monsoon. Monsoon says, “Due to the severity of Shawn Michaels’ concussion, I am not allowing Shawn Michaels to compete here tonight. However, there will be an Intercontinental Title defense here tonight. I have asked Shawn Michaels to publicly forfeit the Intercontinental Belt to me tonight right in the ring, at which time I will take it and present it to Dean Douglas, making him the new Intercontinental Champion with all the rights and privileges of that title. However, Dean Douglas will have to defend that title right here tonight against Razor Ramon. Obviously, this is one of the most difficult decisions I’ve had to make in my entire career.”
Video: We see footage of fans excited about seeing In Your House tonight, particularly people shouting for Shawn Michaels.
We go live into the Winnipeg Arena again to see some fireworks go off over the ring. Vince McMahon is at ringside with Jerry “The King” Lawler and Jim Ross. McMahon asks them about Gorilla Monsoon’s decision to remove the Intercontinental Championship from Shawn Michaels. Lawler says he agrees. If a champion cannot compete, he should be forced to relinquish the title. Lawler is excited. Ross puts over that HBK will turn the belt over tonight.
Replay: This past weekend on WWF Superstars, Hunter Hearst Helmsley sprayed Fatu with his perfume.
“Make a Difference” Fatu vs. Hunter Hearst Helmsley
Referee: Jack Doan
Fatu attacks Helmsley as he gets in the ring and takes the perfume bottle before throwing it down. The bell rings as Fatu punches away at him. Fatu sends him into the ropes and hits a back body drop. Fatu gets him in the corner and does the ten punches. Helmsley is still in his entrance attire. Fatu sends Helmsley into the opposite corner, and he flies up the turnbuckles and out of the ring a la Harley Race. Helmsley finally gets his riding jacket off. Fatu attacks him at ringside and bounces him off the ring steps. Fatu punches him down and gets him into the ring. Helmsley starts to beg Fatu off. Helmsley reverses a whip to the corner, but Fatu slingshots over him. Helmsley elbows him and bounces him off the top turnbuckle, but Fatu’s head is too thick to feel it. Fatu hits some headbutts and charges, but Helmsley sends him into the ropes. Fatu is tied in a hangman as his head gets trapped in the ropes. Helmsley punches away at him and comes off the second rope with a diving fist.
The referee helps free Fatu from the ropes. Helmsley grabs Fatu and connects with a piledriver. Helmsley finally removes his white shirt and does a blueblood bow. Helmsley uppercuts Fatu a few times before stomping and punching him in the corner. Fatu starts to fight back, but Helmsley rakes the eyes and hits a swinging neckbreaker. Helmsley covers for a two-count. Helmsley drops a forearm and punches away at him. Helmsley sends Fatu into the ropes and hits a kitchen sink knee to the midsection for another two-count. Helmsley applies a rear chin lock. There looks to be some guy dressed as a vampire in the front row. Fatu starts to fight up, but Helmsley pulls him back down. Fatu fights up again, but Helmsley punches him to the corner. Helmsley whips him hard into the corner before hitting the ropes and turning him inside out with a clothesline. 1… 2… Fatu kicks out, and Helmsley argues with the referee. Fatu schoolboys Helmsley for a two-count. Helmsley clubs Fatu and uppercuts him. Fatu reverses a whip and lowers his head, so Helmsley attempts a Pedigree. Fatu hits a back body drop to get out of it. Helmsley quickly gets up and hits a DDT, but Fatu no-sells it because of his thick head. The crowd starts to get loud as Fatu gyrates and hits a superkick.
Fatu sends Helmsley into the ropes for a back body drop. Fatu connects with a clothesline and hits a backbreaker. Fatu goes to the second rope and hits a diving headbutt. Fatu takes a moment before covering for a two-count. Fatu pulls Helmsley up and hits a running cutter. Fatu signals for the end. Fatu goes to the top rope and dives, but Helmsley rolls out of the way. Helmsley follows up with a Pedigree for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Hunter Hearst Helmsley
Jerry “The King” Lawler catches up with Hunter Hearst Helmsley at ringside. Lawler says that was the most impressive victory he’s seen in his life. Lawler asks what it was like to be in the ring with a guy who uses a can of Raid as underarm deodorant. Did he smell like a dead skunk? Helmsley says it was ghastly and repulsive. Henry O. Godwinn sneaks up behind Helmsley to try to slop him, but Lawler’s scream warns him that something is going to happen. Helmsley grabs Lawler and uses him as a human shield before running away. Godwinn chases Helmsley with the slop bucket. Lawler was spared. No one was slopped.
Mike’s Thoughts: Not a bad start to the show with a relatively solid match with Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Fatu, the future Triple H and Rikishi, respectively. The “Make a Difference” character for Fatu was definitely not his greatest. Not the worst 1995 gimmick by any stretch, but it just didn’t connect with fans. It’s not even the worst gimmick of his career. That’s reserved for The Sultan, who will appear next year. The crowd was definitely into the comeback spot, but no one was probably devastated by the loss. Helmsley’s next opponent looks to be Henry O. Godwinn. Joy.
Backstage Segment
Dok Hendrix is backstage with The British Bulldog and James E. Cornette. They are fired up. Hendrix says this is Bulldog’s first WWF Title opportunity. Replays from two months ago on Raw are shown when Bulldog turned on Diesel. Two weeks ago, Bulldog pinned Diesel in a 6-Man Tag Match. Yokozuna had dropped a leg on Diesel right before. Cornette guarantees that Bulldog will pin Diesel when it counts and will become the World Wrestling Federation Champion. Bulldog says Big Daddy Cool thought he could hide in this “fifty below hellhole Winnipeg,” but Bulldog is live In Your House. Bulldog will beat him again.
WWF Tag Team Champions The Smoking Gunns head to the ring.
Backstage Interview
Razor Ramon and The 1-2-3 Kid are backstage with matching color gear. McMahon says it looks like they’re on the same page. Ramon says they have their problems behind them. The Gunns aren’t running from a fight, and they’ll give it to them.
WWF Tag Team Championship
The Smoking Gunns (Bart and Billy Gunn) (c’s) vs. Razor Ramon and The 1-2-3 Kid
Referee: Jimmy Korderas
Billy Gunn is sporting a new haircut. The bell rings. Razor Ramon and The 1-2-3 Kid go for handshakes before pulling back and slicking their hair. Billy Gunn will start against The 1-2-3 Kid. They lock up, and Kid connects with an arm drag. They lock up again, and Billy shoves him down. Kid does a kip-up and shakes it off. They lock up a third time, and Kid hooks a side headlock. Billy pushes him off. Kid rolls under a leapfrog, and Billy hits him with a hip toss. Kid kips up again. They lock up, and Billy wrenches the arm before tagging Bart Gunn in. Kidd gets away before the Smoking Gunns can double-team him. Razor Ramon tags in to a nice ovation and mocks the Gunns. A “Razor” chant picks up. They lock up, and Bart shoves Ramon down. Ramon grabs the arm and drives his shoulder into him, but Bart fights out and hits a fireman’s carry takeover. They circle the ring and lock up, and Ramon applies a waistlock. Bart does a standing switch and takes Ramon down. Ramon gets up and looks a little frustrated. They lock up, and Bart wrenches the arm. Ramon punches him in the face and sends him into the ropes. Bart ducks a clothesline, and Kid pulls the top rope down to get him out of the ring. The referee missed it because he was dealing with Billy.
Billy is furious, but the referee stops him from doing anything. Kid puts Bart back into the ring. Ramon stomps Bart and sends him hard into the corner. Ramon whips him to the opposite corner and hits a corner clothesline. Ramon stomps Bart’s head and puts him in the corner before punching away at him. Kid tags in and hits some lightning-fast kicks to the face, followed by a spin kick. Bart collapses to the mat. Kid sends him into the ropes for a spinning heel kick before going after Billy. The referee holds Billy back again. Kid hits a pair of running leg drops before tagging Ramon in. Ramon kicks Bart in the ribs before hitting a fallaway slam. Kid tags back in. Ramon sends Kid into the ropes and hits him with a fallaway slam into Bart for a two-count. Kid puts Bart in the corner and chops away at him before tagging Ramon in. Ramon chops Bart’s chest and rocks him with a right hand. Kid tags back in. Ramon and Kid send Bart into the ropes for a double-team back elbow. Kid drops an elbow on Bart for a two-count. Ramon punches Bart and sends him into the ropes, but Bart pulls him down by the hair.
Dean Douglas is shown watching this match in his classroom and taking notes. Ramon will face Douglas for the WWF Intercontinental Championship later tonight. Bart and Ramon go into the ropes and clunk heads.
Billy and Kid tag in. Billy ducks a clothesline and punches Kid before sending him into the ropes for a HUGE back body drop. Billy punches Ramon and Kid down before hitting Ramon with a dropkick. Billy hits Kid with a scoop slam before connecting with a big elbow drop for a near fall. Billy stomps Kid’s face and tags Bart in. Bart kicks Kid in the ribs and hits a trio of rib-breakers. 1… 2… Ramon breaks it up with a kick, though he was a bit late. Bart boots Kid in the head and tags Billy in. Bart holds Kid up in a delayed vertical suplex, and Billy hits Kid with a dropkick on the way down. 1… 2… Kid kicks out. Billy sends Kid into the corner and goes for an avalanche, but Kid moves. Billy’s face bounces off the ring post. Ramon checks on Kid, but the referee sends him back to his corner. As he does, Bart rolls Billy onto Kid. Ramon cries foul, so the referee admonishes Bart. Ramon then rolls them over, putting Kid on top of Billy. The referee starts to count: 1… 2… Billy kicks out.
Ramon soon tags in and punches Billy down twice before punching Bart. Ramon hits the Gunns with right hands, stunning the Tag Team Champions. Billy reverses a whip, but he lowers his head. Ramon grabs him and hits the Razor’s Edge! Kid begs to be tagged in. Instead of covering, Ramon tags him in. Kid covers. 1… 2… Billy reverses into a crucifix pin. 1… 2… 3!
Winners by Pinfall and still WWF Tag Team Champions: The Smoking Gunns
The 1-2-3 Kid is irate and attacks the Tag Team Champions as they celebrate. Kid dropkicks Bart from behind, knocking him over the top rope. Bart’s wrist gets tied in the ropes, which could have been a dangerous situation. Kid kicks away at Billy and sends him over the top rope. Kid grabs the Tag Team Titles. Ramon gets in the ring and stands with Kid to keep the Smoking Gunns back. Ramon takes the Tag Team Titles and gives them back to the Gunns. The crowd loudly boos.
Mike’s Thoughts: The tension between Razor Ramon and The 1-2-3 Kid continues to build. Kid was acting much more aggressively and selfishly in the match, which was actually kind of well-booked, but the crowd wasn’t really interested. Ramon was the only star the crowd cared about. The Smoking Gunns, the babyface tag team, got booed at the end. No one seemed to care about the Kid. As such, it was a segment that happened, and we moved on.
Backstage Segment
Dok Hendrix is with life-sized cardboard cutouts of Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels. Hendrix asks the ladies to imagine having Shawn Michaels in your house all the time. As for Bret Hart, he can watch over you as you sleep.
Mike’s Thoughts: Who would ever need it? What was Dok Hendrix insinuating by asking the ladies if they could imagine having a cardboard cutout of Shawn Michaels in their houses? What could you do with it?
Video: Goldust is shown in a pre-recorded video. Goldust says this is the Hollywood premiere the whole world has been anticipating. Tonight, it will be lights, cameras, and so much action. Mr. DeMille, he’s ready for his closeup. Remember the name… Goldust.
In the Winnipeg Arena, Goldust makes his WWF debut. Gold glitter falls from the ceiling as Goldust makes his way to the ring in a wig and a large gold robe. Paparazzi snap photos of him as he makes his way to the ring.
Marty Jannetty vs. Goldust
Referee: Tim White
As soon as Goldust removes his wig, he charges at Jannetty. Jannetty sidesteps him and sends him to the opposite corner before punching him down. Jannetty sends him into the ropes and hits a back body drop before hitting a clothesline over the top rope. Great way to kick off the Goldust character. Goldust regroups at ringside, so Jannetty leaves the ring and clotheslines him on the unpadded floor. Jannetty gets him in the ring, but Goldust immediately rolls out. Goldust walks around the ring as the referee keeps Jannetty in the ring. Jannetty signals that Goldust is a chicken. Goldust gets in the ring and gets in Jannetty’s face. They back up before locking up. Goldust gets a waistlock and rolls him up for a two-count. Goldust uppercuts him and kicks him in the midsection. Goldust drops to his knees and hits another uppercut. Jannetty gets out of a slam and goes for a roll-up, but Goldust holds the ropes. Jannetty hits a hurricanrana, but Goldust immediately pops up and shoves him. Goldust shoves him a second and a third time. Jannetty punches back at him. Goldust reverses a whip, drops down, and goes for a leapfrog, but Jannetty puts the brakes on and punches him down. Jannetty sends him into the ropes and leapfrogs him, but Goldust pumps the brakes and turns him inside out with a clothesline.
Goldust jumps onto Jannetty’s back and smothers him. Goldust bounces him off the top turnbuckle and punches him. Goldust whips him hard into the corner, and Jannetty collapses. Goldust pulls him up and rakes his face on the top rope. Goldust hits a snapmare and drops a forearm for a one-count. Goldust applies a rear chin lock. Vince McMahon refers to Goldust as androgynous. Jannetty fights up, but Goldust stuns him with a punch. Goldust sends him into the ropes and hits a back body drop. Goldust covers, but Jannetty is too close to the ropes. Goldust punches away at him and threatens the referee. Goldust throws Jannetty out of the ring and poses. Goldust comes off the steps with a club before bouncing Jannetty’s face off the steel. Goldust stomps him and gets back in the ring. Jannetty gets on the apron, blocks a punch, and hits a snapmare over the top rope. Jannetty then bounces Goldust’s face off the steel steps. Jannetty goes for a bulldog on the floor, but Goldust shoves him into the ring post. Jannetty takes a flip bump on the ground. Goldust bounces Jannetty’s face off the apron and chops his chest. Goldust gets in the ring and reaches over the top rope to pull him up to the apron. Goldust suplexes him back into the ring for a two-count. Goldust goes back to the rear chin lock. Jannetty fights up, but Goldust backs him against the ropes and clubs him. Goldust sends him into the ropes, but Jannetty (sort of) flips over him and pulls him down. Jannetty whips him to the corner and charges, but Goldust moves. Jannetty falls to the apron. Goldust kicks Jannetty and hits a DDT for a two-count. The fan dressed as a vampire is shown. Goldust sends him into the ropes and lowers his head, but Jannetty counters with a Rocker Dropper. Jannetty heads to the top rope, but he lands on his feet when Goldust moves. Jannetty drops an elbow and picks up a two-count.
Jannetty sends Goldust into the ropes and hits a trio of clotheslines. Jannetty connects with a snapmare and goes to the top rope. Jannetty dives, but Goldust gets a boot up. Goldust pulls him up and hooks the head before giving the thumbs down signal. Goldust connects with a front suplex for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Goldust
The lights go down, and Goldust is shown under a gold spotlight. Goldust leaves the ring.
Mike’s Thoughts: After spending weeks building up the debut of Goldust, as well as all the time they put into the production of the character (he certainly had one of the more unique entrances anyone had seen up to that point), they book him into a match that went WAY too long. This should have been five minutes, not over eleven. Who laid this out? Goldust and Jannetty had almost no chemistry. It was slow and boring. Awful debut match for what went on to be an infamous character for the WWF/E. It’s obvious that they’re still in the process of figuring out what the character is. Eventually, Dustin Runnels will perfect it, but on this night, it was a clear work in progress. Amazingly, we’ve he’s still performing at a high level thirty years later with AEW, though he is sidelined for quite a while with some serious joint injuries. I have no doubts he will be back.
WWF Hotline
WWF Tag Team Champions The Smoking Gunns are shown talking on the red phone. The 1-2-3 Kid is also shown on split-screen, looking frustrated.
Video: Two weeks ago on Raw, Yokozuna and King Mabel attacked the Undertaker, crushing his face and removing him from action. Vince McMahon announces he will return to action at Survivor Series.
King Mabel is carried down to the ring on a throne lifted onto the shoulders of some stagehands. Sir Mo leads the way.
Backstage Interview
Yokozuna is standing with Jim Cornette and Mr. Fuji. Vince McMahon says Cornette is not happy. Cornette says he’s correct. Everyone has wanted to see this match for a long time. The reason “Gorilla Baboon” made this match is to cause trouble with them. Yokozuna will mow down everyone in his path. Monsoon set this up to save the WWF from total destruction. McMahon asks about Cornette’s alliances with Mabel and The British Bulldog. Cornette tells McMahon not to try to cause any loyalty. Bulldog will be the champion tonight. Cornette will have a plot tonight.
King Mabel w/ Sir Mo vs. Yokozuna w/ Jim Cornette and Mr. Fuji
Referee: Jack Doan
The bell rings, and they take their time. Mable talks a little trash and slaps Yokozuna in the face. Yokozuna slaps back and punches away at him. Yokozuna hits him with a clothesline that knocks him out of the ring. Mabel walks around the ring before getting back in. Yokozuna leans over and talks with Mr. Fuji. There’s a lot of stalling. They soon lock-up, and Mabel punches Yokozuna. Yokozuna reverses a whip, but Mabel ducks a clothesline and hits a diving clothesline. Mabel elbows Yokozuna in the head, and he falls out of the ring. Yokozuna takes some time before getting back in the ring. Mabel avalanches him in the corner and kicks away at him. Mabel does a little dance and taunts the crowd. Mabel kicks Yokozuna in the midsection and whips him hard into the opposite corner. Mabel charges, but Yokozuna clotheslines him down. Yokozuna goes for a leg drop, but Mabel moves. Mabel goes for an elbow drop, but Yokozuna rolls out of the way. Yokozuna punches him to the corner before hitting a headbutt. Mabel shakes it off and headbutts Yokozuna. Mabel goes for a bulldog… but Yokozuna doesn’t fall with him. Yokozuna then just falls out of the ring.
Mabel comes off the apron with a sledge to the back. Mo goes over to Mr. Fuji and shoves him. Yokozuna drives Mabel into the ring post. Mo shoves Cornette down. Yokozuna turns around and collapses onto his manager! The referee then counts them both out.
Double Countout
Vince McMahon says this was “a less than stellar match-up.” Yokozuna and Mabel get in the ring and go face-to-face. Cornette and Mo try to help. They step up to each other and then hug before raising their arms. The crowd boos.
Mike’s Thoughts: Awful. Not much else to say.
Video: The Undertaker will return at Survivor Series to seek revenge on the men who injured him. Bret “Hitman” Hart will also challenge for the WWF Championship when Milton Bradley’s Karate Fighters presents WWF Survivor Series on November 19.
The commentators talk about Survivor Series and the addition of a Wild Card match.
Shawn Michaels forfeits the WWF Intercontinental Championship
Dok Hendrix is in the ring with Interim WWF President Gorilla Monsoon. Hendrix introduces Dean Douglas to the ring. A beaming Douglas heads to the ring, ready to accept the WWF Intercontinental Championship.
Hendrix then introduces the man who will forfeit the Intercontinental Championship, Shawn Michaels. WWF Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels heads to the ring. His right eye is bloodshot with swelling under both eyes from the attack in Syracuse, New York. HBK gets in the ring looking really emotional. HBK looks down at the Intercontinental Championship. There is a healing cut on his right cheek that just had stitches removed. HBK looks devastated, but his concussion from the attack is too severe to risk competing.
HBK takes his time before extending it out to Monsoon. Douglas intercepts it and takes it. Douglas kisses the title and is now officially the Intercontinental Champion. Douglas says, “That was easy.” HBK sadly looks on as Douglas puts the Intercontinental Championship around his waist. Hendrix introduces Douglas as the new Intercontinental Champion as HBK leaves the ring.
Mike’s Thoughts: Ok, so that’s one of those classic moments in WWF history from this time period (there were oh so few classic moments) that many remember well. Shawn Michaels, bruised, battered, and visibly shaken, walked to the ring with swollen, bloodshot eyes and a fresh scar on his cheek. The image of him handing over the Intercontinental Championship was genuinely powerful, and he came off completely sympathetic. You couldn’t help but feel for him.
Originally, Michaels was set to defend against Dean Douglas, but after being brutally attacked in Syracuse nine days earlier on Friday the 13th, he wasn’t cleared to compete. The WWF played it off by awarding Douglas the title in the ring. It was a cheap, flat way to crown a champion, even if the intent was to build heat. The problem is that it sucked the air out of the arena. The fans had already lost The Undertaker due to injury, and now Shawn Michaels wasn’t wrestling either.
The segment itself was well executed, but the show as a whole felt snakebitten. More on the real story behind the Syracuse incident will be in my next Raw recap.
“The Bad Guy” Razor Ramon heads to the ring to compete in his second match of the evening. Ramon was unsuccessful in winning Tag Team gold earlier in the evening. Can he take the Intercontinental Championship?
WWF Intercontinental Championship
Dean Douglas (c) vs. Razor Ramon
Referee: Tim White
Razor Ramon charges the ring and ducks an attack from Dean Douglas before laying in a right hand. The bell rings to start the match. Ramon punches Douglas to the corner and whips him to the opposite side before laying him out with a right hand. The new Intercontinental Champion rolls out of the ring to recover. Douglas takes a moment before getting into the ring. They lock up, and Ramon wrenches the arm. Ramon drives his shoulder into Douglas’ chest and takes him down. Ramon then applies an armbar. Ramon pulls Douglas up and wrenches the arm. Ramon pulls him up by the arm and slams him down. Ramon keeps this hold applied for quite a while. Douglas fights up, backs Ramon into the corner, and elbows him a few times. Douglas whips him hard into the corner and charges, but Ramon moves. Ramon takes him back down with the arm wrench. This is unbearable. Ramon keeps cinching in the arm wrench and shrugs his shoulders. Douglas fights up and backs him to the corner. Douglas punches away at Ramon and stomps him down. Douglas gets in the referee’s face as he admonishes him. Ramon reverses a whip, but Douglas ducks a clothesline. Ramon catches him and hits a fallaway slam before connecting with a clothesline over the top rope. Ramon celebrates a bit.
Douglas takes his time getting onto the apron, and Ramon snaps him off the top rope. The referee backs Ramon up. Ramon approaches Douglas, but Douglas pokes him in the eye. Douglas tries to bounce him off the top turnbuckle, but Ramon blocks it and punches him down to the floor. Ramon signals that he’ll be a four-time champion. Ramon pulls him up and hits a suplex back into the ring. Ramon stomps the head a few times and whips him hard into the corner. Douglas collapses in pain, and Ramon kicks him out of the ring again. Ramon goes outside and attacks him before pouring a water bottle over his head. Ramon punches away at him before putting him into the ring. Ramon drives his shoulder into Douglas before wrenching the arm. Douglas punches back, but Ramon counters with an atomic drop. Ramon sets up for the Razor’s Edge, but Douglas hits a back body drop over the top rope. Douglas punches away at Ramon and drives him into the apron before putting him in the ring. Douglas goes to the top rope and jumps, but Ramon counters with a chokeslam.
Both men are down. They slowly get up, and Ramon punches him back. Ramon puts him on the top rope and sets up for a back suplerplex, but Douglas elbows him away. Douglas hits a flipping cross-body block, but Ramon rolls through for a two-count. Douglas connects with a dropkick and covers. 1… 2… Ramon gets a foot on the bottom rope. Douglas punches him to the corner and whips him to the opposite side. Ramon reverses a whip and hits a back suplex. 1… 2… 3? Douglas’s foot was under the bottom rope, and Ramon only had an arm on his chest.
Winner by Pinfall and new WWF Intercontinental Champion: Razor Ramon
Razor Ramon is a four-time Intercontinental Champion. Dean Douglas is irate and argues that his foot was under the bottom rope. Ramon shrugs as he puts the title around his waist.
Mike’s Thoughts: What a putrid, pathetic finish to what was a horrible match. These guys had next to zero chemistry together. After what was already a bummer of a title change, these guys went out there and laid an egg in the ring. Razor Ramon/Scott Hall looked bored at times in this match, and it was definitely felt by the viewing audience. They lost me with the never-ending arm wrenches. And that finish… a simple back suplex… woof. Not even a back superplex. Yes, Dean Douglas had his foot under the rope to protect his character, but it didn’t work. Taking so little damage and still losing made him look unbelievably weak, not cheated. Add into that equation real-life problems with the Kliq and a hokey character… it’s a recipe for the collapse of the Dean Douglas experiment.
WWF Hotline
Shawn Michaels, still looking quite emotional, is talking on the red phone on the WWF Hotline. Only $1.49 per minute.
Bret “Hitman” Hart makes his way to the ring. He’ll be on commentary for the main event. Jerry “The King” Lawler gets up to confront him before cowardly running away. Lawler tries to sneak up on him, but Hart chases him off a few times.
Backstage Segment
Dok Hendrix is wearing a 2 Dudes with Attitudes shirt. If you want to be cool in school, you need that shirt (no, you absolutely do not). Hendrix then catches up with WWF Champion Diesel and asks him about his mindset. Diesel says he’s feeling funky. Diesel then walks through the curtain to make his entrance.
WWF Championship
The British Bulldog w/ Jim Cornette vs. “Big Daddy Cool” Diesel (c)
Referee: Earl Hebner
The bell rings to start the match. They stare at each other before Bulldog shouts at the fans to shut up. They lock up, and Diesel pushes Bulldog off. They lock up again, and Diesel pushes Bulldog back to the corner. Bulldog kicks Diesel and hooks a side headlock. Diesel whips him off, but Bulldog ducks a pair of clotheslines. Diesel then lays him out with a stiff elbow to the head. Diesel sends him into the ropes. Bulldog ducks a clothesline and dives, but Diesel catches him and hits a scoop slam. Diesel hits a second scoop slam, so a frustrated Bulldog rolls out of the ring. Jim Cornette talks with his client. Bulldog then grabs Diesel’s legs and tries to pull him crotch-first into the ring post, but Diesel bends his legs to drive Bulldog face-first into the ring post.
Bulldog gets in the ring, and Diesel attacks him. Diesel sends him to the corner for a clothesline. Diesel drives his knee into the midsection before hitting some elbows to the head. Bulldog clips the leg and punches him. Diesel reverses a whip, but Bulldog fights back before hitting a dropkick to knock him over the top rope. Diesel lands on his feet and shoves Bret Hart on commentary. Hart is not happy. Bulldog chop blocks Diesel at ringside and leers at Hart. Hart will challenge the WWF Champion coming out of this match at Survivor Series. Bulldog gets Diesel in the ring and attacks the knee. Bulldog stretches him before leaning the leg against the ropes and jumping on it. Bulldog continues to attack the leg before applying what looks like a cloverleaf. Diesel elbows out, but Bulldog kicks him out of the ring. Bulldog distracts the referee, allowing Jim Cornette to drop an elbow on Diesel’s injured leg. Bulldog continues to distract the referee, so Cornette stomps the leg. Bulldog goes outside and attacks Diesel before getting back in the ring. The referee deals with Bulldog, so Cornette gets more cheap shots in on the knee. Bulldog goes outside and attacks Diesel.
Bulldog gets Diesel back in the ring and cuts off a comeback attempt before attacking the knee. Bulldog applies a single-leg crab. Diesel won’t submit, so Bulldog drives his knee into the mat. Bulldog then applies a Boston Crab. Diesel is so close to the ropes that it’s laughable he doesn’t immediately grab it. Diesel eventually powers out of the hold, but Bulldog quickly pops up and stomps away at the injured leg. Bulldog goes back to a single-leg crab. Diesel clubs Bulldog’s leg to get out of it, so Bulldog drops a leg for a two-count. Bulldog grabs the leg and punches away at it. Diesel punches him, but Bulldog hits him with a chop block to take him back down. Bulldog drops an elbow on the leg and stretches it. Diesel grabs the bottom rope to get Bulldog off him. Bulldog puts a foot on Diesel’s throat before backing away. Diesel elbows him back and forearms him, but Bulldog picks the leg and stretches it out again. Bulldog jumps on the leg, but Diesel eventually boots him in the rear end to knock him over the top rope.
Diesel hobbles around and tries to recover. Bulldog crawls into the ring and avoids an elbow drop. Bulldog attacks Diesel and applies a front facelock before dropping some elbows on the knee. Bulldog stretches it out. You can literally see people’s eyes starting to glaze over in the crowd. Diesel uses his good leg to chop Bulldog in the face a few times to get out of the submission. Diesel pulls himself up and leans on the ropes. Bulldog goes for a suplex, but Diesel counters with a vertical suplex. Both men are down. Bulldog grabs Diesel and punches him. Diesel ducks a strike and hits a back suplex. A “Diesel” chant picks up. Bulldog soon gets to his feet and clubs the WWF Champion down. Bulldog covers for a two-count. Bulldog grabs the legs and looks over at his brother-in-law, Bret Hart. Bulldog locks Diesel in a Sharpshooter and immediately loses him. Hart says he should learn to put it on correctly. Diesel easily powers out of it. Bulldog gets up and attacks him before going for a scoop slam, but he falls under the weight of Diesel. Diesel picks up a two-count. Bulldog sets up for a Running Powerslam, but Diesel slides off and hits a big boot.
Diesel pulls himself up to his feet and signals for the end. Cornette gets on the apron, but Diesel brings him into the ring the hard way. Bulldog tries to blindside Diesel, but Diesel sidesteps him and sends him into Cornette. Cornette flops around and falls out of the ring. Diesel punches Bulldog down and hobbles as he avalanches Bulldog against the ropes. Bulldog rolls out of the ring. Diesel follows him out and is in a lot of pain as he lands on the floor. Bulldog quickly drives Diesel into the ring post. Bulldog then slaps the headset off Hart. Hart gets in the ring and attacks Bulldog, so the referee calls for the bell.
Winner by Disqualification: The British Bulldog
The WWF Championship cannot change hands on a disqualification.
Diesel gets in the ring and pulls Hart off the Bulldog. The British Bulldog is announced as the winner via disqualification. Diesel attacks Hart, and they start to brawl. WWF officials and referees run down to try to separate them. The Smoking Gunns and Henry Godwinn run down to help as well. Diesel runs through everyone and attacks Hart again. More babyface wrestlers run down to help as the show comes to an end.
Mike’s Thoughts: Horrible. I mean stinking. Horrific. Embarrassing. A pathetic excuse for a main event. This may be one of the most boring matches to ever main event a PPV in history. The British Bulldog worked on Diesel’s leg the entire match (I’m talking at least fifteen of the eighteen minutes) before they did a mini-comeback for Diesel, and then Bret Hart came in for the DQ. Awful. After all the stars missing on this show and the disappointment of the Shawn Michaels forfeit, they have the audacity to do a match like this and think that’s ok? Unbelievable.
This is once again everything that’s wrong with the WWF. Even with some decent build coming into this, they fumble the ball in the endzone. This is the beginning of the end for the Diesel title run. After a year of diminishing returns and subpar matches, it’s looking like it’s time for a change. By the end of this, the crowd was booing the babyface champion. As soon as the PPV went off the air, Vince McMahon threw his headset down and walked to the back, not before shouting, “Horrible, f***ing horrible” at the WWF Champion in the ring. McMahon would then allegedly chew Bruce Prichard out. Bulldog, to his credit, apologized when he got backstage for how horrible the match was. It truly was.
Overall, this is easily one of the worst PPVs in WWF/E history. Not quite as bad as December to Dismember or some of those early Saudi Arabia shows, but that’s not saying much. WWF is sinking deeper and deeper and is in need of a lot of help.
Quick Match Results
— Hunter Hearst Helmsley def. “Make a Difference” Fatu
— The Smoking Gunns (Bart and Billy Gunn) (c’s) def. Razor Ramon and The 1-2-3 Kid to retain the WWF Tag Team Championship
— Goldust def. Marty Jannetty
— King Mabel vs. Yokozuna went to a DCO
— Razor Ramon def. Dean Douglas (c) to win the WWF Intercontinental Championship
— The British Bulldog def. “Big Daddy Cool” Diesel (c) via DQ in a WWF Championship Match; Diesel retains the title
Email – mike@wrestleview.com
X – @MikeTedescoWV
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