WWF In Your House 6: Rage in the Cage Results
February 18, 1996
Louisville, Kentucky (Louisville Gardens)
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: Sunny is shown in a bikini, kneeling in the surf on a beach. She says tonight’s show contains action that’s too hot for some. Viewer discretion is advised.
Video: What beats in the heart of the champion? Euphoria, power, or fear? This could be the last night Bret Hart enters the ring as champion. What enters the mind of a former champion? Rage, defiance, or frustration. What anger dwells in the soul of a man who had the opportunity taken from him? Undertaker will serve revenge cold. Tonight, a Steel Cage will keep the anarchy contained In Your House.
We go live into the Louisville Gardens arena. Vince McMahon and Jerry “The King” Lawler welcome us to the show and go over what we’ll see tonight.
Replay: Last month at the Royal Rumble, The 1-2-3 Kid attacked Razor Ramon, costing him the WWF Intercontinental Championship to Goldust. Two weeks ago, on WWF Superstars, Kid brought a stroller down to the ringside as Ramon was facing Jeff Jarrett. Kid attacked Ramon with the stroller. Last week on Superstars, he hit Ramon with Jarrett’s guitar.
Crybaby Match
Razor Ramon vs. The 1-2-3 Kid w/ “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase
Referee: Tim White
The 1-2-3 Kid gets in the ring with a teddy bear dressed as Razor Ramon. Kid throws it in Ramon’s face, so Ramon throws his toothpick at him. They exchange slaps before Kid sends Ramon into the ropes, but Ramon runs him over with a shoulder tackle. Ramon punches him down twice and clotheslines him over the top rope. Ramon celebrates as Kid regroups with Ted DiBiase at ringside. DiBiase yells at Ramon, distracting him. Kid snaps him off the top rope and hits a springboard diving clothesline for a one-count. Kid stomps Ramon a few times before kicking him in the corner. Kid sends Ramon into the ropes and hits him in the midsection before connecting with a spin kick. Kid poses.
Kid puts Ramon in the corner and chops him. Ramon quickly turns him around and lays in some stiff chops before connecting with a hip toss. Ramon sends him to the corner and hits a corner clothesline. Ramon sends him into the ropes, but Kid ducks a clothesline and leaps at him. Ramon catches him and hits a fallaway slam. Ramon sets up for a Razor’s Edge, but Kid quickly scurries away. Ramon punches him off the apron. DiBiase puts some baby powder in his hand and throws it into Ramon’s eyes. The referee pretends not to have seen that, despite the cloud of talcum powder in the air. Kid comes off the top rope with a missile dropkick. 1… 2… Ramon kicks out. Kid hits a snapmare and some running leg drops. Kid stands him up and hits a dropkick. Kid goes to the top rope and hits a diving splash for a two-count. Kid stands Ramon up and peppers him with jabs. Kid gets him in the corner and hits a spinning kick before going for a sleeper hold. Ramon whips him off, and they mistime something. After some fumbling, Kid ducks a clothesline and puts the sleeper hold back on. Ramon starts to fade, but he fires up as he listens to the crowd and backs him into the corner. Kid quickly jumps onto his back and puts the sleeper hold back on. Razor weakly reaches for the ropes, but he collapses. Kid holds it on for a while, but the crowd fires Ramon up by chanting his name. Ramon fights to his feet and crotches Kid on the top rope to get out of the hold.
Both men are down, and the referee starts counting them down. Kid crawls over and covers Ramon. 1… 2… Ramon barely kicks out. They get up, and Ramon punches away at Kid. Kid ducks a spinning punch, but Ramon catches him on the rebound. Ramon puts Kid on the top rope, but Kid elbows him back. Kid hits a diving crossbody block, but Ramon rolls through for a near fall. Ramon sends Kid into the ropes, but Kid ducks a clothesline and hits a spin kick. 1… 2… Ramon kicks out. Ramon reverses a whip into the ropes and catches Kid. Ramon places Kid on the top rope, kicks him in the ribs, and comes off the second rope with an avalanche fallaway slam! Ramon signals for the end, but DiBiase puts some baby powder on the apron. DiBiase jumps on the apron as Kid tries to sneak up behind Ramon. Ramon kicks the baby powder into Kid’s face and crushes him with an emphatic Razor’s Edge! 1… 2… Ramon pulls Kid’s shoulders off the mat. DiBiase is irate as Ramon yells at him. Ramon signals for one more and grabs Kid. Ramon hits Kid with a vicious Razor’s Edge. 1… 2… 3.
Winner by Pinfall: Razor Ramon
Referee Tim White sadly hands Razor Ramon the diaper and oversized baby bottle. Ramon stuffs the bottle into Kid’s mouth before lifting his legs up in the air. DiBiase runs in, but Ramon throws baby powder into his face. Ramon then puts a diaper on Kid, much to Vince McMahon’s delight, and pours baby powder all over him before walking off. McMahon guffaws like crazy at the sight. Wow.
Kid slowly regains consciousness in the ring and is completely out of it. Kid thinks the match is still going on. Ted DiBiase comes in and lets him know he lost the match before angrily stomping around. Kid realizes he’s wearing a diaper and starts to cry. Kid rips the diaper off and screams at the camera before throwing the baby stroller.
Mike’s Thoughts: That was… something. I can’t imagine either man was thrilled about being part of this match. I saw a video of Bruce Prichard talking about this as high entertainment, and it doesn’t matter because it was memorable. There’s something to that, but damn. Even Scott Hall looked into the crowd and shrugged apologetically. Tim White, the referee, looked depressed as he handed Ramon the implements to diaper the 1-2-3 Kid and apply baby powder. That was a visual no one needed to see. There’s a reason why this match of high entertainment was only done once. The action was decent before the finish, and Jerry Lawler’s jokes were pretty funny as well. The whole spectacle wasn’t as bad as I remembered, but it wasn’t exactly great, either. With this and the Goldust angle, it’s no wonder that WCW was looking more and more attractive to Scott Hall. It was well known at this time that he and Diesel could wind up there. Putting Hall over so strongly in this could have been an attempt to keep him. I believe this (along with a lot of backstage issues with substances) was the reason the 1-2-3 Kid would also wind up in WCW by the end of 1996.
WWF Superstar Line
Ray Rougeau and Sunny are backstage at the WWF Superstar Line. Sunny might ask Razor Ramon what he’s doing later. Rougeau said he’d ask if the baby powder cured his diaper rash. Footage from earlier shows Jake “The Snake” Roberts scaring Sunny with his python.
Hunter Hearst Helmsley makes his way to the ring alongside a model named Elizabeth Hilden.
Backstage Interview
Todd Pettengill is backstage with Duke “The Dumpster” Droese. Droese is sporting a shorter haircut. Droese is fired up and says there will be nowhere for Helmsley to hide. He’ll take him out like yesterday’s garbage.
Replay: Three weeks ago on WWF Superstars, Helmsley attacked Droese with his garbage can, gave him a Pedigree, and cut his hair.
Hunter Hearst Helmsley w/ Elizabeth Hilden vs. Duke “The Dumpster” Droese
Referee: Mike Chioda
Duke Droese runs down to the ring, so Helmsley attacks him as he gets in the ring. They exchange punches before Droese punches him to the corner, rocking the Connecticut Blueblood. Droese throws him across the ring and talks some trash. Droese whips him hard into the corner, causing Helmsley to roll up the turnbuckles. Droese then hits a press slam. Droese takes off his jacket and belt before striking Helmsley with it. Droese stomps Helmsley in the corner before sending him into the ropes for a big boot. Droese poses and saunters around the ring before slapping Helmsley in the face. Droese does the ten punches before Helmsley counters with a flapjack into the top turnbuckle.
Jerry Lawler gets flustered as he asks Elizabeth Hilden about the match. Hilden says the match isn’t over yet. Helmsley fights back at Droese by kicking him in the midsection and going for a Pedigree. Droese counters with an inverted atomic drop. Droese clotheslines Helmsley down and taunts him. Droese rakes his back and hits the ropes, but Helmsley gives him a back body drop over the top rope. Droese holds his back in pain. Helmsley goes outside and whips him hard into the steel steps. Helmsley puts Droese back into the ring and covers for a two-count. Helmsley punches away at Droese before rocking him with an uppercut. Helmsley hits a snapmare, followed by a knee drop to the forehead. 1… 2… Droese kicks out. Helmsley pulls Droese up. Droese starts punching at him, but Helmsley cuts him off, sends him into the ropes, and hits a Harley Race-style knee to the face for another two-count. Helmsley hits some quick punches to Droese’s head before pulling him up for a vertical suplex, picking up another two-count. Helmsley gets in the referee’s face. Helmsley chops him in the corner and whips him hard to the opposite corner. Droese boots him back, and they take each other out with a double clothesline.
The referee is counting both men down. Helmsley is the first to get up. Droese reverses a whip and hits a spinning spinebuster. Droese is too hurt to follow up. Droese pulls himself up and punches Helmsley back. Droese sends Helmsley into the ropes for a back body drop. Droese punches and clotheslines Helmsley down before pulling him by the hair. Droese sends Helmsley into the ropes for a snap powerslam. Droese shouts, “It’s time to take out the trash!” Droese sends Helmsley into the ropes and hits a big powerslam, which Vince McMahon calls the Trash Compactor. Droese goes outside and grabs his garbage can. Droese throws the lid in the ring, and it lands on Helmsley’s face as he lies on the mat. Ouch. Droese also throws the can in the ring. The referee quickly throws the can out of the ring. As he does, Helmsley smashes Droese with the garbage can lid for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Hunter Hearst Helmsley
The referee raises Helmsley’s hand and seems to confirm that Helmsley has all of his teeth after the lid smashed him in the mouth. Elizabeth Tilden gives him a kiss as they head up the ramp.
Mike’s Thoughts: Average match. Nothing more than that. Duke “The Dumpster” Droese wasn’t a great wrestler with a going-nowhere gimmick. They clearly have bigger plans for Helmsley, as evidenced by how good his match was with Razor Ramon a few weeks ago on Raw. I guess they were seeing how he could navigate around some really bad gimmicks, such as Henry O. Godwinn and Duke Droese. This was Droese’s only match on a PPV. He’d get out of wrestling not long after and get into education. The last few years have seen him get into significant legal trouble.
Dial 1-800-TITAN-91 to get to the WWF Store. It’s open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They show off some of the merchandise you can buy. By the way, the phone number is no longer active.
Replay: Two weeks ago on Raw, The British Bulldog accidentally gave Yokozuna a leg drop during a tag team match against the Two Dudes with Attitudes. Shawn Michaels then gave Yokozuna some Sweet Chin Music, knocking him out of the ring and causing him to lose by countout. After the match, Jim Cornette berated Yokozuna until the big man snapped. Bulldog and Owen Hart attacked him, but Yokozuna fought them off.
Backstage Interview
Dok Hendrix is backstage and says anything can happen in the World Wrestling Federation. For almost three years, James E. Cornette forbade Yokozuna from speaking. Now, the 650-pound mammoth Yokozuna will speak for himself. Yokozuna comes in and shouts, “Jim Cornette! For nearly three years, I stood in the shadows while you hotdogged that spotlight. Well, it’s my turn! Because I gave you the gold, and yet you get all the credit and all the money. And as far as you, Owen Hart, the only gold you wore is when you hid behind me. Me! And British Bulldog… brother, you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time, because this 650 pounds of bad attitude is going to burn Camp Cornette down to the ground. Banzai!” Hendrix tells everyone to get ready for a trainwreck.
Mike’s Thoughts: That’s the first time we’ve heard Yokozuna cut a promo on WWF TV. I remember being stunned that not only could he talk, but he talked in perfect English. It’s such a shame that he was dangerously overweight and basically immobile by this point, because that promo showed a lot of fire and could have led to a career renaissance for him if he could keep up.
Also, I had to look it up… Michael Hayes (Dok Hendrix) was only 36 years old in in this segment. I’m two years older than he was at this point. He looks at least 15 years older than his age. Wild how people seemed to age so differently years back.
The British Bulldog w/ Jim Cornette vs. Yokozuna
Referee: Jack Doan
Yokozuna gets in the ring and starts punching Bulldog before sending him into the ropes for a back body drop. Yokozuna connects with a pair of clotheslines, leaving the Bulldog to scramble to the corner and beg him off. Yokozuna grabs him and hits a scoop slam. Yokozuna backs up and goes for an elbow drop, but Bulldog moves. Bulldog clubs away at Yokozuna and hits the ropes for a clothesline, but Yokozuna doesn’t go down. Bulldog tries again for the same result. Bulldog hits the ropes a third time and finally takes the big man off his feet with a clothesline. Bulldog chokes him on the middle rope and clubs him. Bulldog distracts the referee as Jim Cornette jams the tennis racket handle into Yokozuna’s jaw.
Bulldog grabs Yokozuna, but Yokozuna reverses a whip to the corner and avalanches him. Yokozuna clotheslines him down and looks into the crowd. Yokozuna pulls Bulldog to the corner and signals for the Banzai Drop. Yokozuna starts climbing the ropes, but Cornette pulls Bulldog out of the ring. Yokozuna goes to the ringside area and clubs Bulldog before whipping him into the ring post. Yokozuna charges, but Bulldog moves, causing Yokozuna to hit the ring post hard. Yokozuna slowly rolls into the ring and gets to his feet. Bulldog comes off the top rope with a double ax handle to take him down. 1… 2… Yokozuna kicks out and sends Bulldog flying. Bulldog goes back to the top rope, but Yokozuna swats him out of mid-air. Bulldog quickly gets up and punches Yokozuna. Bulldog hits the ropes three times for a clothesline, but Yokozuna doesn’t go down. Yokozuna sends Bulldog into the ropes for a Samoan Drop, which Vince McMahon calls a fallaway slam. Bulldog has the wind knocked out of him. Yokozuna connects with a belly-to-belly side suplex. Yokozuna grabs Bulldog to reposition him for the Banzai Drop, but Jim Cornette runs in and hits him with his tennis racket.
Winner by Disqualification: Yokozuna
Cornette hits him with the tennis racket a few more times, but Yokozuna doesn’t feel it. Yokozuna gets Cornette in the corner and threatens him. As he does, Vader runs down and attacks Yokozuna from behind. Yokozuna and Vader exchange punches before Bulldog joins in the attack. Vader takes some handcuffs out of his leather jacket. Vader and Bulldog handcuff Yokozuna to the top rope as Cornette holds the referee back. Vader and Bulldog double-team Yokozuna. Yokozuna fights back at them, knocking the mask off Vader.
WWF officials and referees run down to help, but they can’t keep Vader away. Yokozuna keeps fighting, but he’s overwhelmed. Cornette unloads on Yokozuna, smashing him over and over with the tennis racket. Clarence Mason runs in to talk some sense into Vader. They eventually walk off.
Mike’s Thoughts: Well, I think that’s as good as they could have done with a Yokozuna singles match. The decision to turn him face does help because he can stay on his feet longer, but at this mammoth weight (I believe the 650 pounds is a total shoot weight), he’s in no condition to be in the ring. It’s dangerous for him and everyone else in the ring with him. The handcuff angle was done well because they made Yokozuna look like a total machine, but he was completely gassed after just a few minutes (I’m talking two or three minutes) of action, so this was a kind of Pyrrhic victory.
America Online Corner
WWF Intercontinental Champion Goldust is holding a very scared stagehand, who is typing what Goldust is saying for the people waiting on AOL. Marlena, half-dressed and holding the title, is seated next to him. Goldust says he’s excited to face Razor Ramon and dance cheek to cheek with him tomorrow on Raw.
Video: Shawn Michaels vs. Owen Hart
Backstage Interview
Todd Pettengill is backstage with Shawn Michaels. Michaels says this is the biggest match of his career. If he doesn’t get a W here, there’s no WrestleMania. However, he’ll be rocking it with the Kliq tonight, and they’re going to WrestleMania, guaranteed.
We go into the Louisville Gardens to see Shawn Michaels dancing on the “roof” of the In Your House set. Fireworks go off behind him before he grabs a rope and swings down to the floor. Michaels gets in the ring, attacks Owen Hart, and sends the Hartbreaker over the top rope. Michaels’ music never stops playing, and he continues to dance.
No. 1 Contender’s Match
Owen Hart w/ Jim Cornette vs. Shawn Michaels
Referee: Earl Hebner
Shawn Michaels is putting his No. 1 Contender’s spot on the line. The winner of this match will go on to face the WWF Champion at WrestleMania XII.
After Shawn Michaels completes his entrance, Owen Hart picks himself up from ringside and tells HBK he’ll be going for his head. Hart hit an enzuigiri that caused HBK to collapse on Raw in November 1995. They get into a shoving match before locking up. HBK hooks a side headlock, but Hart whips him off. HBK ducks a clothesline and slides through his legs before leaving the ring and high-fiving some fans at ringside, including Vince McMahon. HBK kisses some fans at ringside and gets on the apron. Jim Cornette angrily takes off his jacket, but he stays back. HBK gets in the ring, and Hart kicks him before applying a side headlock. HBK whips him off and leapfrogs him. Hart slides through his legs and gets out of the ring, looking for high fives. Hart turns to see HBK coming off the top rope with a twisting crossbody block to the floor!
HBK gets Hart in the ring and goes back to the top rope for a double ax handle to pick up a two-count. HBK goes back to the side headlock. Hart goes for a back suplex, but HBK flips through it, sweeps his feet, and walks on Hart’s back. Hart is furious. HBK applies another side headlock and cinches it in. Hart whips him off, but HBK holds his hair. HBK keeps the side headlock applied. Cornette is furious and yells at the referee. As the referee deals with Cornette, HBK pulls Hart’s hair some more. Hart soon whips HBK off. HBK shoulder tackles him and hits the ropes. Hart hits a hip toss, but HBK soon kicks him away. They do a double kip-up. HBK goes for a roll-up, but Hart holds the ropes. HBK hits a hurricanrana, then punches the forehead. HBK sends Hart into the ropes and lowers his head, so Hart grabs him and sends him into the ropes for a belly-to-belly suplex. Hart grabs his legs and stomps his midsection. Hart stomps him before connecting with a backbreaker. Hart stomps away at HBK before sending him hard into the corner. Hart pulls him out and hits a neckbreaker for a two-count. Hart sets up for a Sharpshooter, but HBK kicks him away. Hart quickly drives his knee into HBK’s back and stretches him out a bit. Hart then transitions to a camel clutch. After holding it on for a few moments, HBK fights up and punches out. HBK hits the ropes, but Hart drops down and hits a kitchen sink knee to the midsection. Hart does a jackknife pin for a two-count. Hart goes back to the rear chin lock. HBK soon fights up and punches out. HBK jabs him and hits the ropes. Hart drops down before popping up and hitting a spinning heel kick, knocking Michaels out of the ring.
Hart distracts the referee, but the referee still catches Cornette nearly attacking HBK at ringside. Hart grabs HBK as he comes onto the apron. Hart tries to suplex him into the ring, but HBK blocks it and hits a suplex to the floor. Hart lands on his feet and catches HBK diving off the apron with a powerslam on the floor! Hart gets HBK in the ring and goes to the top rope. HBK is looking like he’s having trouble catching his breath. Hart hits a missile dropkick and covers. Is the WrestleMania dream over? 1… 2… Michaels kicks out. Hart hits some uppercuts in the corner before whipping him to the opposite corner. HBK gets out of a slam and rolls him up for a near fall. Hart fires back with a hard whip into the corner, causing HBK to roll up the turnbuckles. When he falls down to the canvas, Hart runs him over with a stiff clothesline. Hart stands with HBK’s head between his feet. Hart then goes to the Sharpshooter. HBK claws for the bottom rope, but Hart walks him to the center of the ring. Michaels is trying to hold onto his WrestleMania dream. Michaels withstands the pain and manages to grab the bottom rope to break the hold.
Hart continues to stomp away at HBK before hitting a scoop slam. Hart stands over HBK and blows snot on him. HBK catches him with a possum pin for a two-count. HBK blocks a kick, but Hart catches him with an enzuigiri, the same move that took HBK out of action for two months. HBK is knocked out of the ring and isn’t moving on the floor. 1… 2… 3… 4… 5… 6… Hart gets out of the ring and grabs HBK. Cornette doesn’t like that strategy. Hart rolls HBK into the ring and covers for a two-count. Hart cannot believe it. Hart gets HBK in the corner and hits some shoulder thrusts. Hart sends him to the opposite corner and charges, but HBK sidesteps him. Hart hits the middle turnbuckle crotch-first. HBK follows up with an inverted atomic drop. Hart sends HBK into the ropes, but HBK ducks a clothesline and hits a flying forearm.
Both men are down as the crowd chants, “Let’s go, Shawn!” Hart slowly gets up, and HBK kips up. HBK punches away at Hart and bounces him off the top turnbuckle. HBK sends him hard to the opposite corner and hits another flying forearm. HBK is fired up and stomps Hart’s face. HBK hits a scoop slam and heads to the top rope. HBK hits a beautiful flying elbow drop. Jim Cornette gets on the apron, so HBK punches him down. HBK sets up for Sweet Chin Music, but Hart ducks. HBK blocks a kick and ducks an enzuigiri. HBK catches him clean with Sweet Chin Music and covers him for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Shawn Michaels
Shawn Michaels is going to WrestleMania XII. A young girl gets in the ring, dressed in Shawn Michaels attire, and HBK dances with her. HBK lifts her up and poses with her as fireworks go off above the ring.
Mike’s Thoughts: Super solid match with Shawn Michaels and Owen Hart. The finish was absolutely never in doubt, but did he have to throw Owen Hart out of the ring like a piece of trash before the match even started? It was already hard to believe that Hart was winning in the first place. Combined with the elaborate entrance, it just made the next 15 minutes or so feel pointless. It was still a damn good match, but it was really devoid of any genuine drama. I know the point is to keep Shawn Michaels looking as strong as possible heading into WrestleMania, but a little drama never hurt anyone.
Video: WrestleMania XII is coming on Sunday, March 31.
Todd Pettengill is on a platform among the fans. Pettengill introduces the Acting WWF President, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper. The crowd gives Piper a great ovation. Piper says he has some very important stuff he wants to say. Piper takes his job as the WWF President extremely seriously. He can’t be bought, won’t pull any punches, he doesn’t think Michael Jackson is innocent, and he’s not afraid of no booker man. Piper says he’s proud to announce the No. 1 Contender for the WWF Championship at WrestleMania XII is Shawn Michaels. Piper watched him for a long time, but he’d better do everything he can to train because he’ll either face Bret Hart or Diesel. Neither one is a cakewalk. HBK better be ready to fight because he’s not letting it stop until there’s a winner.
As for Yokozuna, he doesn’t feel sorry that he was handcuffed and beaten on. Yokozuna is 640 pounds of nasty beast. As strong as he can be, if he’s going to be that dumb, they have to do some work on his head. Piper doesn’t know what Vader’s major malfunction is, but Piper is here to cure it. Vader comes from the Rocky Mountains and is obviously inbred. That thing he wears on his face… that’s not where your jockstrap goes. In the case of Vader, maybe that’s where it belongs because he’s nuts. Piper says he wouldn’t suspend Vader. That was the Board of Directors. Piper will keep Vader around. At WrestleMania XII in Anaheim, he wants to let them go and let the blood flow. It’ll be Yokozuna versus Vader.
Jim Cornette comes onto the platform with Clarence Mason. Piper puts a hand over Mason’s mouth and warns Cornette to have a lot of respect. Piper accuses Cornette of being inbred. Cornette says Piper is a funny guy, but he remembers when Piper used to wear a shirt that said, “No fear.” Cornette remembers Hot Rod used to say he wasn’t scared of anything because he’s been through it all. There was one man who did. He scared Piper and the World Wrestling Federation: Vader. What did Vader do? He scared everybody, so the WWF tried to banish him. Thanks to Mason, Vader is back. As for what will happen at WrestleMania XII, it’s on Piper’s head.
Piper says Cornette is one of the great managers. He had Yokozuna and now has Vader. Yokozuna is 640 pounds, that’s about 320 pounds per cheek. If Vader loses at WrestleMania XII, Cornette might find himself cheek to cheek with Yokozuna. Piper grabs Cornette’s rear end and walks off. Cornette is furious.
Mike’s Thoughts: Really awesome promo from Roddy Piper and a great back and forth with him and Jim Cornette. They did a great job of building up the upcoming Yokozuna vs. Vader match at WrestleMania XII, which unfortunately (or fortunately) never actually happened. As I talked about earlier in this recap, Yokozuna is in no shape to be in the ring and is larger than he’s ever been. After seeing the match with Davey Boy Smith earlier tonight, they’d decide soon after to make it a 6-Man Tag Team Match instead to protect him. It’s sad that it’s gotten to this point.
While the interview was going on, the blue Steel Cage was constructed around the ring.
WWF Championship
Steel Cage Match
“Big Daddy Cool” Diesel vs. Bret “Hitman” Hart (c)
Referee: Tim White (ringside official)
The bell rings, and Diesel starts the match with a knee to the midsection. Hart quickly kicks him in the knee and punches away at the midsection. Diesel fights out of the corner and clubs the WWF Champion down. Hart fires back with some strikes to the knee, but Diesel shakes it off and punches him. Diesel knees him in the midsection before grabbing him by the hair and shouting this is going to be a long night. Diesel knees Hart in the midsection and chokes him with his boot. Diesel whips Hart hard into the corner and poses, causing the crowd to boo. Hart stumbles to the corner and kicks away at Diesel’s knee. Diesel fights him off and bounces him off the top turnbuckle. Diesel tries to drive him headfirst into the cage, but Hart blocks it and drives Diesel’s head into the cage. Hart kicks the stunned Diesel down to his knees before driving him back into the cage wall. Hart elbows Diesel in the head twice before starting to climb the ropes. Hart gets a leg over the top of the cage, but Diesel reaches up and pulls him back. Diesel and Hart are standing on the top rope as the cage precariously squeaks and twists. Diesel pulls Hart down and drives his spine into the cage wall twice before punching him down. Diesel signals for the cage door to be opened and starts sauntering toward it. Diesel gets a leg over the top rope, so Hart pulls the rope up to low blow him. Hart punches Diesel down and drops an elbow.
Hart grabs Diesel’s legs and hits a headbutt to the midsection. Hart starts crawling toward the cage door and manages to pull half his body out. Diesel pulls him back and starts to crawl toward the door. Hart pulls him back and stomps the midsection. Hart puts Diesel’s leg on the bottom rope and jumps onto it twice. Hart stretches the injured leg before kicking it. Diesel fires back with some strikes, followed by a short-arm clothesline. Diesel lifts Hart up and connects with a sidewalk slam. Diesel backs up for an elbow drop, but Hart rolls out of the way. Hart begins climbing the cage as Diesel crawls through the door. Hart realizes he won’t get over it in time, so he jumps down to the canvas and quickly pulls Diesel away. Hart drops an elbow and drives his knee into the injured leg several times. Hart stretches Diesel’s leg before starting to climb the cage. Hart gets both legs over the top of the cage, but Diesel quickly gets up the ropes and pulls Hart back over by the hair. Diesel slams Hart off the top rope, and the WWF Champion is hurting. Diesel sends Hart into the corner, but Hart boots him back. Hart comes off the second rope with a diving bulldog.
Hart slowly gets up and starts to climb the cage wall. Diesel pulls Hart down to the canvas and hits a back suplex. Diesel holds his left leg in pain. Hart slowly makes his way toward the open door, but Diesel lunges to pull him back. Diesel pulls him into the center of the ring and drops an elbow. Hart pulls himself up in the corner and avoids a running knee from Diesel. Hart viciously attacks his leg, grinding Diesel down to the mat. Hart stretches the hamstring and goes to the second rope for a diving elbow onto the knee. Hart bounces Diesel’s face off the top turnbuckle and continues to kick the leg. Diesel reverses a whip into the opposite corner, and Hart hits sternum-first HARD! That sounded like a cannon going off!
After a few moments of recovering, Diesel stands over Hart and clubs away at him as he slowly gets up. Diesel talks trash to Hart and throws him to the corner before driving his knee into his midsection. Diesel elbows Hart in the head, and Hart stumbles to another corner. Hart quickly kicks him in the knee several times before climbing. Hart is completely over and climbing down, but Diesel climbs the ropes, reaches over, grabs him by the hair, and pulls the WWF Champion back into the ring. Diesel, standing on the second rope, punches away at Hart’s midsection. Hart slumps down to the canvas. Diesel grabs him and drives him face-first into the cage wall. Diesel taunts the crowd and signals he is about to become the WWF Champion. The crowd boos Big Daddy Cool. Diesel grabs Hart and sends him sternum-first into the corner once again.
Diesel looks toward the door and smirks. He could escape, but he wants to inflict more punishment on Hart. Diesel leans Hart on the middle rope and jumps on his back. Diesel puts Hart over his shoulder and goes for snake eyes, but Hart slides off and drives Diesel into the cage. Hart gets up and tries to apply the Sharpshooter, but Diesel wiggles around before poking Hart in the eyes to avoid it being locked on. A “Diesel” chant starts to pick up. Hart clubs away at the kidneys before hitting a Russian leg sweep. Hart starts to climb the cage. Hart turns and kicks Diesel away as he approaches him. Hart hits a diving elbow off the top rope. Hart starts climbing the cage, but Diesel reaches up and low blows him! Hart falls, gets crotched on the top rope, and collapses to the mat. Diesel’s knees also give out.
Both men are down. Diesel chops Hart’s face with his leg and starts to pull himself on the ropes toward the cage door. Diesel kicks Hart away and makes it toward the cage door, but Hart lunges and grabs him. Diesel kicks him away and has the opening he needs to win this match. All of a sudden, The Undertaker emerges from a hole in the canvas and grabs Diesel’s legs! Undertaker pulls a terrified Diesel into the hole and under the ring! White smoke emerges from the hole!
Hart uses this advantage to climb the cage wall and climb out of the cage to retain the title!
Winner by Escaping the Cage and still WWF Champion: Bret “Hitman” Hart
Diesel anxiously scrambles out of the hole with his right pant leg ripped and scoots away. The Undertaker emerges from the hole, so Diesel, whose knee is no longer hurting, easily climbs the cage and gets out. Diesel looks stunned and backs away from the cage. The Undertaker climbs the cage and points at Diesel as purple lights bathe the Louisville Gardens.
The Main Event of WrestleMania XII will be Bret “Hitman” Hart defending the WWF Championship against Shawn Michaels.
Mike’s Thoughts: Oh man. That image of the Undertaker emerging from under the ring and pulling Diesel under scared the absolute bejesus out of me as an eight-year-old kid. I still remember that. I’m not ashamed to say I cried. That’s an enduring, incredible visual for me. The WWF wasn’t firing on all cylinders by any means at this time, but every now and then, they’d pull out an incredibly creative finish. This had to be a Pat Patterson finish.
Still, once again, Bret Hart looked like a total afterthought and chump as the WWF Champion. For the second PPV title defense in a row, the challenger had him pretty much dead to rights before something happened. At the Royal Rumble, Diesel interfered. On this show, it was the Undertaker. It’s no wonder that Bret Hart was so bitter about this run as champion. They did him absolutely no favors from a booking standpoint.
As for the match, it really wasn’t good. The crowd wasn’t into it. It was way below what they did at Survivor Series. There’s some talk that Diesel suffered a separated and fractured shoulder early in the match (he’ll actually take some time off for that injury), but I think that was an excuse to cover for how below par it was. Diesel was moving his arms just fine. It’s always stunning when Bret Hart is involved in a match that isn’t good to great. This was way below his standards, but with the booking, it’s hard to go out there and give it your A-game every time. Still, he was running himself into those turnbuckles HARD. No one has ever done it quite as good since.
Well, this was the last big stop on the Road to WrestleMania XII. We’ll see in the weeks to come if things get any better for the Hitman.
Quick Match Results
— Razor Ramon def. The 1-2-3 Kid in a Crybaby Match
— Hunter Hearst Helmsley def. Duke “The Dumpster” Droese
— Yokozuna def. The British Bulldog via DQ
— Shawn Michaels def. Owen Hart in a No. 1 Contender’s Match
— Bret “Hitman” Hart (c) def. Diesel in a Steel Cage Match via Escape 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.