WWF In Your House 10: Mind Games Results
September 22, 1996
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (CoreStates Center)
Commentary: Vince McMahon, Jim Ross, and Mr. Perfect
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“The World Wrestling Federation: for over fifty years, the revolutionary force in sports entertainment.” The WWF video leads us into the show.
Video: The horror of Mankind could soon be champion. Pray that Shawn Michaels can stop him. Pray for him if he can’t. The Undertaker will also battle Goldust in a Final Curtain Match tonight.
Vince McMahon welcomes us to the CoreStates Center as fireworks go off over the ring. Jim Ross and Mr. Perfect are with McMahon.
Justin “Hawk” Bradshaw makes his way to the ring along with Uncle Zebekiah. During the Free for All, Bradshaw challenged Vega to a match while Vega was competing against Marty Jannetty.
Backstage Interview
Kevin Kelly is backstage with Savio Vega. Vega says if Bradshaw wants to be on a WWF pay-per-view, then he’s got it. Vega is going to whip his butt.
Caribbean Strap Match
Justin “Hawk” Bradshaw w/ Uncle Zebekiah vs. Savio Vega
Referee: Harvey Wippleman
Savio Vega charges into the ring, and Bradshaw starts stomping on him before whipping him with the strap. Bradshaw sends him into the ropes and hits a forearm to the jaw. Bradshaw smacks Vega with the strap before choking him and throwing him across the ring. The referee tries to get Vega’s wrist strapped. Bradshaw slaps him a few more times with the strap before allowing his wrist to be attached. Bradshaw hits two turnbuckles, but Vega stops him after that. Bradshaw stomps him out of the ring before choking him against the ring post with the strap. Bradshaw argues with the referee, so Vega pulls him twice into the ring post. Vega then smacks him on the back with the strap. Suddenly, someone spits beer into Vega’s face. It’s revealed to be The Sandman from Extreme Championship Wrestling. Sandman smashes the beer can off his forehead, busting himself open. Tommy Dreamer of ECW is also there. Paul Heyman shows up and pulls Dreamer and Sandman back. Vince McMahon mentions that there is a “local wrestling group from Philadelphia” trying to make a name for themselves at the expense of the WWF. They will not shoot this “ugly incident” that is occurring.
Bradshaw and Vega get in the ring. Bradshaw chokes him with the strap before applying a side headlock and touching one turnbuckle, then two, and three. Bradshaw drags him to the fourth corner, but Vega pulls him back and hits a back suplex. WWF officials are at ringside trying to deal with the ECW contingent. Vega starts whipping Bradshaw on the back with the strap and in the face. Vega brutalizes him with the strap before touching three turnbuckles. Bradshaw stops him from touching the fourth. Vega hits a pair of clotheslines, followed by a spinning heel kick. One turnbuckle… two turnbuckles… three… Bradshaw pulls on the strap to pull him down. Vega hits the ropes, but Bradshaw big boots him down.
Bradshaw connects with a vicious lariat. Bradshaw taunts the crowd and touches a turnbuckle. Vega also touches. Bradshaw touches a second one, as does Vega, unbeknownst to Bradshaw. Bradshaw hits the third, and Vega does as well. Bradshaw is close to the fourth, but Vega pulls him back by the strap. Bradshaw tries to pull him down, but he instead pulls him into the fourth turnbuckle.
Winner: Savio Vega
Mike’s Thoughts: A real random, nothing match with Savio Vega and Justin “Hawk” Bradshaw. I was so confused as to why this was happening until they mentioned that Bradshaw attacked Vega at SummerSlam. I totally forgot about that because, you know, they never mentioned it once on television since then. They beat the crap out of each other, but no one cared because of the ECW guys at ringside. This was a neat little interpromotional angle that Vince McMahon and Paul Heyman came up with to combat a common enemy in WCW. I’m interested to see where it goes, but it was super awesome to see a prime Sandman and Tommy Dreamer.
Video: José Lothario vs. Jim Cornette
Backstage Segment
A camera is running toward a commotion backstage. It appears that Razor Ramon and Diesel are beating up Savio Vega. The camera runs over, but Ramon and Diesel run off. We never see their faces.
Jim Cornette makes his way to the ring to Vader’s music. Cornette takes the microphone from Howard Finkel and says he has something to say. It’s great for Philadelphia to see a real man for once. José Lothario is a legend and was a great wrestler. He taught Shawn Michaels everything he knows, but he’s now an old, broken-down cripple at 150 years old. If he turns his tail and runs off like the yellow coward he is, Cornette won’t hurt him. If he comes to the ring, he’ll beat his brains out.
José Lothario heads to the ring to Shawn Michaels’ theme song. He’s dressed in his old tights.
Jim Cornette vs. “Super Sock” José Lothario
Referee: Tim White
Lothario avoids a sneak attack from Cornette and punches him down. Lothario sends him into the ropes for a right hand. Cornette begs him off, so Lothario pulls him out of the corner. Lothario bounces him off the top turnbuckle before punching him in the face. Lothario signals for one more punch. Lothario lights him up with a southpaw uppercut for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: “Super Sock” José Lothario
Mike’s Thoughts: Well, that was certainly… something. Was it good? No. Was it something necessary that had to happen on a pay-per-view? Also no. At least it was kept to under a minute.
WWF Superstar Hotline
“Wildman” Marc Mero is shown talking on the phone as Sable watches on. On the other screen, Faarooq is talking on the phone with Sunny, who is on the line as well. They’ll fight tomorrow night on Raw for the vacant WWF Intercontinental Championship.
Brian Pillman and Owen Hart discuss Bret “Hitman” Hart
A furious Brian Pillman makes his way to the ring with no crutches. Pillman gesticulates to the fans and shouts.
Replay: Footage shown on last week’s Raw shows Bret “Hitman” Hart calling Pillman and Owen Hart liars because he was never going to be at the pay-per-view in Philadelphia.
Pillman grabs a microphone and says he’s going to prove that he’s an honest man. Pillman talks about the Liberty Bell and this state-of-the-art facility. They represent less than one-half of 1% of this sewer. The Founding Fathers are rolling over in their graves because the birthplace of freedom has become a cesspool of drug abuse, battered women, and welfare recipients. If you need any more proof, look at the illiterate, degenerate scum that sit before him. Pillman will bring some class to this program, “The King of Harts” and a Slammy Award Winner, Owen Hart.
Owen Hart heads to the ring with his Slammy Award. Hart is not wearing a cast anymore. Pillman says there has been bad blood between Bret and Owen. Bret has resented Owen’s youth and athleticism. It didn’t help matters when Owen beat him at WrestleMania X. When Bret stared retirement in the eyes, Pillman thought they reconciled. Owen says he thought everything was great with him and Bret. Owen thought they patched everything up and thought Bret was starting to accept that Owen is the best Hart. Bret is getting older and slower, admitting that Owen is the Best There Is, The Best There Was, and The Best There Ever Will Be. For Bret to come out and call him and Pillman liars, that is uncalled for. Owen says Bret told him he’d be in Philadelphia to give a speech. Owen is confused about Bret. Maybe he’s getting senile. Pillman asks why he’s not here. Owen says the only thing he could think of that would keep Bret away from Philadelphia. He’s not afraid of Pillman or Owen. Bret is afraid of the 1996 King of the Ring, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin heads to the ring in a vest that has “Austin” on one side and “3:16” on the other. Pillman asks for Austin’s thoughts on why Bret Hart isn’t here. Austin says the whole world knew Bret Hart wouldn’t show up. When Stone Cold is in the house, Bret Hart is at his house because he’s scared of him. When he rolled into the WWF, Hart packed up and took his carcass back to Canada. Pillman asks if Austin thinks Hart is a chicken. Austin says Hart is the slimy substance that runs out of the south end of a chicken. Austin says, “Let me make myself clear: if you put the letter S in front of ‘Hitman,’ you’ve had my exact opinion of Bret Hart.” That gets cheers.
Austin says he and Hart are alike in a lot of ways. Hart says he’s the Excellence of Execution. Austin lives it every day of his life. The problem is Hart always cared what the people thought. Austin has never given a rat’s ass about anyone. If Hart ever comes back, they’ll get in this same ring. Someone will get their ass whipped. Austin 3:16 says it’ll be Hart’s ass, and that’s the bottom line because Stone Cold said so. Pillman shouts, “And Philadelphia sucks because I said so!” They walk off.
Mike’s Thoughts: A really strong segment with Brian Pillman, Owen Hart, and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. This is the complete “Stone Cold” Steve Austin look, with the custom vest, jeans, and goatee. Austin is fully formed here and cut a great promo on Bret “Hitman” Hart here. This is definitely building toward something. The WWF won the Bret Hart sweepstakes. Hart was legitimately a free agent and received a strong offer from WCW, but he took less money to return to the WWF because it was a longer deal and he was loyal to the company. We’ll see how complicated that loyalty becomes, but for right now, he’s got a strong program in the works for when he does return to action against “Stone Cold.”
Video: Mark Henry is shown touring the City of Philadelphia, visiting the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall.
Vince McMahon puts over the beautiful CoreStates Arena.
The British Bulldog and Owen Hart head down to the ring.
Trainer’s Room
Dok Hendrix is in the Trainer’s Room as a loopy Jim Cornette is lying on the table being tended to. Clarence Mason has him sign something, but we don’t know what.
WWF Tag Team Champions The Smoking Gunns head to the ring with Sunny. Sunny’s giant poster is unraveled above the ring, but The British Bulldog and Owen Hart have defaced it. Sunny is furious. Billy Gunn embraces her in the ring.
As the match prepares to get started, Clarence Mason makes his way down to the ring to be in the corner of The British Bulldog and Owen Hart.
WWF Tag Team Championship
The British Bulldog and Owen Hart w/ Clarence Mason vs. The Smoking Gunns (Bart and Billy Gunn) (c’s)
Referee: Mike Chioda
Billy Gunn quickly rolls Owen Hart up for a two-count. Clarence Mason talks with Hart and Bulldog. Billy and Hart lock up, and Billy quickly wrenches his arm. Hart rolls through and kips up before turning it on Billy. Hart sends him into the ropes, but Billy shoulder tackles him. Billy hits the ropes, but Hart hits him with a hip toss, followed by an arm drag. Hart quickly hits a running crossbody block for a one-count. Billy angrily backs into his corner. They lock up, and Hart hooks a side headlock. Billy whips him off, drops down and leapfrogs him, but Hart soon catches him with an inside cradle for a two-count. Billy quickly kicks Hart and tags Bart Gunn in. Bart kicks Hart and hits a scoop slam, but Hart avoids an elbow drop.
The British Bulldog tags in and wrenches Bart’s arm. Bart quickly grabs a side headlock, so Bulldog whips him off. Bart shoulder tackles him and hits the ropes. Bulldog drops down and leapfrogs him, but Bart puts the brakes on and sends him into the ropes. Bulldog counters a kitchen sink knee into a roll-up for a two-count. Bulldog follows up with a dropkick, followed by an arm drag. Hart tags in and chop blocks Bart’s leg. Hart attacks Bart’s leg before backing him into the corner. Hart kicks away at Bart’s leg before tagging Bulldog in. Bulldog attacks Bart’s leg and stretches it out. Hart tags in and stomps him down in the corner. Hart threatens Billy, angering him. Hart takes Bart down and stretches his injured leg before dropping a leg on it. Hart then applies a deathlock. Hart then applies a Boston Crab, but Bart quickly grabs the bottom rope. Bulldog tags in and attacks Bart. Bulldog hits a delayed vertical suplex and poses before doing a nip up. Bulldog drops a leg. 1… 2… Billy breaks it up. Hart attacks Bart as the referee admonishes Billy. Hart stays in the ring despite not being the legal man. Hart applies a spinning leg lock, so Bart counters with an inside cradle for a two-count. Bart blocks a kick, but Hart stuns him with an enzuigiri. 1… 2… Billy breaks it up again. The referee admonishes Billy, so Bulldog attacks Bart and stays in as the legal man despite not tagging in. Bart reverses a whip, and Billy grabs Bulldog. Bart takes Bulldog down, and Billy pulls Bulldog out of the ring, beating him down before sending him into the steel steps.
Billy tags in and clubs Bulldog’s back. Bart tags back in and kicks Bulldog in the ribs. Billy is tagged in as Bart sends Bulldog to the corner. Billy jumps off Bart’s back and avalanches Bulldog in the corner. The crowd boos The Smoking Gunns. Sunny talks trash to Bulldog. Bart tags Billy in, and The Smoking Gunns hit a Sidewinder. Clarence Mason immediately gets on the apron to argue with the referee. As the referee’s back is turned, Hart comes off the top rope with a diving headbutt on Billy. Bulldog rolls over and covers for a near fall.
Billy gets to his feet and stomps away at Bulldog before taunting the crowd. Bart tags in and drops a pair of knees on Bulldog. Bart connects with a scoop slam and knees away at Bulldog’s chest. Billy tags in and punches Bulldog down. Hart runs in, but the referee keeps him back. Billy rakes Bulldog’s face and shouts at the referee. Billy applies a rear chin lock before punching Bulldog in the head. Billy tags Bart in. Bart goes for a powerslam, but Bulldog slides off and shoves him into Billy, who was distracted by Sunny. Billy shoves Bart. Bulldog hits Bart with a Running Powerslam. Hart wipes Billy out with a spinning heel kick. 1… 2… 3! New champions!
Winners by Pinfall and new WWF Tag Team Champions: The British Bulldog and Owen Hart
Sunny is furious and gets in the ring to berate The Smoking Gunns. Sunny says she gave them her time and money. She gave them everything. She thought they could be champions. She thought they could be winners. They’re nothing but no-good cowboy wannabes. Sunny has had it. They are fired. Sunny throws a tantrum and storms off. Billy Gunn chases after her.
Mike’s Thoughts: Not a bad match. I guess that was the point of the Lothario vs. Cornette match to get Cornette to unknowingly sign away The British Bulldog and Owen Hart to Clarence Mason. It still could have been a segment on Raw or Superstars. In any event, this Tag Team Division has been desperately underwater for quite a while with fake cowboys, hog farmers, nerdy 80s rehashes, and The Bodydonnas vying for the gold in matches that get worse and worse, so it’s high time for a reset. The Smoking Gunns look to be no more as The British Bulldog and Owen Hart take the gold. Other than The Godwinns, there aren’t any real established teams out there at the moment, but having the gold on two credible competitors is a good start.
Boiler Room Segment
Kevin Kelly is in the Boiler Room with Paul Bearer and Mankind. Mankind is sitting on the floor, rocking with the urn. Bearer says his Mankind will be the new WWF Champion. It is the Creatures of the Night’s fault that he did what he did to The Undertaker. It will be the fault of Shawn Michaels’ Kliq for what happens to him. Mankind says he lives to make Shawn Michaels miserable and make his Kliq feel the pain he’s known his whole life. Uncle Paul told him that it’s his destiny to hear Shawn Michaels gurgle screams and hear his liver rupture. It’s Mankind’s destiny to cuddle the Heavyweight Title. After that, we’ll all Have a Nice Day!
Jerry “The King” Lawler comes out with a microphone, insulting Philadelphia. Earlier today on WWF Superstars, Lawler pretended to throw hot coffee onto Mark Henry. During the Free for All, Lawler slapped Henry in the face. Back to the ring, Lawler says the only Olympics he watched were the synchronized swimming because he wanted to see if one drowned, they all have to. Mark Henry will get the wrestling lesson of his life. Henry might wet his pants when he’s through with him.
Mark Henry runs down to the ring. Lawler says at the next Olympics, Henry can be a javelin catcher. Henry will get the wrestling lesson of his life. Lawler has forgotten more about wrestling than he will ever know. Lawler will start with a basic headlock. Henry cannot get out of it and has no business being in the ring.
Jerry “The King” Lawler vs. Mark Henry
Referee: Jack Doan
The bell rings, and a “USA” chant lightly picks up. They lock up, and Lawler hooks a side headlock. Henry gets out with a hammerlock and shoves Lawler down onto his face. Lawler is not pleased. They lock up, and Henry hooks a side headlock. Lawler slides out and applies a hammerlock. Henry does a standing switch and shoves him sternum-first into the turnbuckles. Lawler is getting increasingly frustrated. Lawler circles the ring, and they lock up. Lawler goes for a scoop slam, but he can’t lift him. The World’s Strongest Man easily military presses Lawler and slams him down.
Lawler slowly gets up and hits the ropes before bouncing off Henry’s chest attempting a shoulder tackle. Lawler tries again and bumps off Henry’s chest. Lawler charges, but Henry sends him out of the ring headfirst! Lawler slowly gets in the ring and pulls something out of his tights. Lawler teases a test of strength and rocks Henry with a loaded right first. Lawler strikes away at Henry with the loaded fist, but Henry soon starts to absorb it and knees away at Lawler. Henry punches away at Lawler and signals for the end. Henry applies an over-the-shoulder backbreaker for the submission.
Winner by Submission: Mark Henry
Leif Cassidy runs down and attacks Henry, but Henry easily sends him out of the ring. Marty Jannetty runs down and meets the same fate. Hunter Hearst Helmsley runs in and punches away at Henry. Henry reverses a whip on Helmsley and military presses him out of the ring onto The New Rockers! Mark Henry stands tall in the ring.
Mike’s Thoughts: The debut of a future WWE Hall of Famer in Mark Henry went about as well as you could hope. Jerry “The King” Lawler took care of him big time by bumping all around for him and using his gift of gab to fill in the rest of the gaps. Henry really was coming off the Summer Olympics and hadn’t done any real training for the ring, so they had a lot of protecting to do and did a good job of it. This was as good as it was going to be.
In Your House: Buried Alive will take place in Indianapolis, Indiana at the Market Square Arena on Sunday, October 20. It will feature the first unsanctioned match in the history of the World Wrestling Federation. The title will not be on the line should Mankind win it tonight. Someone will literally be buried alive. The Undertaker and Mankind will battle in the first-ever Buried Alive Match.
The commentators discuss the Buried Alive Match.
Video: The Final Curtain Match with The Undertaker vs. Goldust.
Final Curtain Match
Goldust w/ Marlena vs. The Undertaker
Referee: Tim White
The Undertaker steps into the ring and punches Goldust down. Undertaker uppercuts him in the corner and sends him to the corner. Undertaker whips him into the opposite corner before lifting him with two hands and slamming him down. Undertaker drops a leg for a two-count. Goldust rolls out of the ring to recover. Marlena looks uninterested. Undertaker pulls Goldust up to the apron, but Goldust snaps him off the top rope. Undertaker leans on the ropes, and Marlena slaps him in the face. Undertaker boots Goldust in the midsection and sends him into the ropes, but Goldust fires back with a swinging neckbreaker. The Undertaker sits up and gets to his feet. Goldust is unaware and turns into an uppercut. Undertaker sends him into the ropes and hits a big boot, followed by a vertical suplex for a two-count.
Undertaker stands Goldust up and knees him in the midsection before throwing him across the ring. Undertaker grabs the arm and twists it before climbing to the top rope, walks to the middle of the rope, and comes down with a club to the spine. Undertaker grabs him and sends him over the top rope. Marlena hands Goldust a golden bag. She gets on the apron to distract The Undertaker, so he lifts her in anger. The referee makes the save for Marlena. Goldust gets in the ring and throws a fistful of gold glitter into The Undertaker’s eyes. Undertaker is blinded and starts swinging wildly in the air. Goldust takes Undertaker down and gets him to the ringside area, punching away at him. Goldust grinds Undertaker’s face into the steel steps. Goldust gets on the apron and punches Undertaker before bouncing him off the commentary table. Goldust gets into the ring and taunts the crowd. Undertaker pulls himself into the ring, so Goldust sends him into the ropes. Undertaker puts the brakes on, so Goldust runs him over with a clothesline for a two-count. Goldust punches The Undertaker down in the corner and digs his boot into his face. Goldust applies a side headlock, so Undertaker counters with a back suplex. Goldust is the first to his feet and continues punching away at Undertaker. Goldust sends him flying with a hip toss for a near fall. Goldust smothers Undertaker, so Undertaker punches him away. Goldust fires back with an uppercut and points to Marlena. Goldust then sends Undertaker hard into the opposite corner. Goldust starts doing his taunt, so The Undertaker grabs him by the throat, spins him around, and punches away at him.
Goldust reverses a whip to the corner, and they collide. Goldust catches him with a snap powerslam for a two-count. The Undertaker sits up, so Goldust punches him and sends him into the ropes. Undertaker ducks a clothesline and hits a flying lariat. Undertaker sends him to the corner, but Goldust boots him back. Goldust goes to the top rope, so Undertaker grabs him by the throat and hits a Chokeslam down to the canvas! The Undertaker signals for the end. Undertaker lifts him and hits a Tombstone Piledriver for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: The Undertaker
The Undertaker kneels in the ring as the commentators talk about him competing in a Buried Alive Match next month against Mankind.
Mike’s Thoughts: Not much of a match. It was advertised as The Final Curtain, but there wasn’t anything that differentiated this from any other match they’ve had. Other than the glitter being thrown into Undertaker’s eyes, this was a regular match where Undertaker gets weakened for a little while only to make the inevitable comeback. The glitter got everywhere, and this was the days before they started changing the ring canvas every other match. I always wondered why Shawn Michaels and Mankind were covered in glitter when I watched their match on DVD collections. That’s why. In any event, I’m still not seeing a discernible difference between The Undertaker with Paul Bearer and the urn and without.
Backstage Interview
Kevin Kelly is backstage with WWF Champion Shawn Michaels. We are moments away from his match against Mankind. Mankind spoke about Paul Bearer leading him to his destiny. However, everyone in The Kliq knows the WWF Title is Michaels’ destiny. Michaels says that since he won the title, he has not gone out to defend it when he is nervous. He feels like he can out-wrestle anybody in the WWF, but he’s wrestling the wackiest cat that the WWF has ever seen. You never know where he’s coming from. Michaels is jittery and nervous, but he’ll find a way to get the job done. They’re playing Mind Games. If he had a mind, they could get the job done, but there’s not a lot up there. Michaels doesn’t know how, but he’ll think on the job.
The druids wheel a casket down to the ringside. Paul Bearer trails behind it. After it’s brought to the ringside, Mankind is revealed to be inside the casket. Mankind gets in the ring, and Paul Bearer gives him the urn. Mankind sits and rocks with it in the ring.
WWF Championship
Mankind w/ Paul Bearer vs. Shawn Michaels (c) w/ José Lothario
Referee: Earl Hebner
The bell rings, and they circle the ring. Michaels hooks a side headlock, but Mankind quickly whips him off and delivers a back elbow. Mankind stomps him twice before punching him in the throat. Mankind punches Michaels and sends him into the ropes for a back body drop. Mankind waits for him to get up and then hits a clothesline over the top rope that sends him over as well. Mankind sits on the apron and kicks Michaels into the barricade. Mankind pulls the ringside mats up, but Michaels dropkicks him down with the mats on top of him. Michaels then stomps on him three times before going to the second rope and hitting a twisting crossbody block to the floor! Mankind lands on the exposed concrete! Michaels gets on the apron and leaps off the steel steps to slam the back of Mankind’s skull off the concrete floor!
Michaels gets Mankind in the ring and hits a double ax handle. Mankind reverses a whip and goes for a kick, but Michaels blocks it. Michaels spins him, ducks a clothesline, and peppers him with jabs before hitting the ropes and dropping him with a clothesline. Michaels pulls Mankind up and hits a scoop slam. Michaels heads to the top rope and hits a diving elbow drop. Michaels is signaling for the end early on. Paul Bearer looks stunned. Mankind sees Sweet Chin Music coming and dives out of the ring to avoid it. Mankind rocks at ringside, and Bearer gives him the urn to provide comfort. Bearer shouts encouragement to him.
Mankind gets into the ring and puts Michaels into the corner, hitting him with some forearms to the head. Michaels turns him around and punches away at him. Mankind reverses a whip to the corner. Michaels goes to the second rope and prepares for a crossbody block, but Mankind moves away. Michaels angrily gets down, shouts, “Come on,” and kicks him. Mankind responds with a slap, and Michaels lays in some punches. Mankind picks the leg, and they roll on the mat before brawling. Mankind takes him down, applies a body scissor, and tries to apply the Mandible Claw. Michaels blocks it and elbows Mankind in the face. Michaels turns him over and viciously punches away at him. Mankind pulls himself to the bottom rope, and Michaels stomps him on the head. Mankind gets up and runs him over with a forearm to the skull. Mankind then sends Michaels to the floor. Mankind goes outside and repositions the Spanish commentary table so it is diagonal to the ring. Michaels dives over the table and punches away at him. Michaels bounces him off the casket at ringside before hitting a vertical suplex onto the ring steps! Mankind’s knees smash off the steps.
Michaels gets in the ring and waits for Mankind to get in. Michaels chop blocks him as he tries to get into the ring. Mankind rolls onto the casket, and Michaels hits a knee smash onto the lid. Michaels stomps the knee several times before knocking him down in the corner. Michaels stomps Mankind’s leg before swatting the referee away. Jim Ross says, “That’s pretty stupid, right there.” Mankind fires back and punches away at Michaels. Mankind stomps him on the head and hobbles back. Mankind kicks him, but Michaels blocks a second one before hitting a dragon screw. Michaels then applies a Figure Four Leglock to Mankind’s injured knee. Mankind lies back, and the referee counts him down for two. Mankind sits up and reverses the pressure to escape the hold. Mankind gets to his feet and punches Michaels before sending him into the ropes, but Michaels hits a basement dropkick to the injured knee. Michaels then hits a leg breaker. Michaels then goes to a single-leg crab. Paul Bearer puts the urn on the apron and points to it. Mankind crawls toward the bottom rope and grabs it to break the hold. Bearer screams, “Get him off!”
Mankind quickly hits a throat thrust. Michaels fires back with a crucifix into a roll-up for a two-count. Michaels charges for a hurricanrana, but Mankind falls back and hits a snapshot off the top rope! Mankind rolls to the apron and sits before slapping away at his injured knee. Mankind asks Paul Bearer for something. Bearer hands him a pen, and Mankind starts to stab himself several times in the knee to get some feeling back into it. Mankind gets in the ring and stomps Michaels before choking him against the ropes. Mankind rolls him onto the casket and bounces his face off the lid. Mankind rocks in the ring as Michaels lies on the floor at the ringside. Mankind slaps himself in the knee a few times and hobbles around. Mankind kicks him in the head as he gets in the ring and forearms him down in the corner. Mankind backs up and hits a running knee to the skull! Mankind punches away at Michaels and bites his forehead. Mankind drives his face into the canvas before pulling him up and hitting another facebuster into the canvas. Mankind grabs him by the hair, but Michaels turns and fires back with a back suplex.
Mankind quickly gets up, but Michaels punches him back. Mankind kicks him in the midsection, taking Michaels down. Mankind headbutts him and stomps his midsection. Mankind sends him into the ropes, but Michaels slides through his legs and sweeps his feet. Michaels punches Mankind back. Mankind quickly reverses a whip into the corner, and Michaels rolls up the turnbuckles before getting trapped in the tree of woe. Mankind immediately follows up with a flying double fist to the jaw. Mankind gets up and hits a second flying double fist to the face. Michaels collapses in a heap. Mankind drops a leg to the back of the head and gets to his feet. Michaels slowly gets up, and Mankind boots him out of the ring, nearly into Paul Bearer’s lap. Mankind goes outside and goes for a running knee to the head against the steps, but Michaels moves! Michaels then hits Mankind with a drop toehold into the steel steps!
Michaels gets into the ring and is covered in glitter from the Final Curtain Match. Michaels pulls Mankind up to the apron and goes for a suplex into the ring. Mankind fights it and tries to suplex him out of the ring, but Michaels fights that. Mankind pulls Michaels to the apron and charges, but he hits the ring post headfirst when Michaels moves. Michaels sends Mankind into the ropes and hits a flying back elbow. Mankind quickly elbows him back and charges, but Michaels hits a snap powerslam for a near fall. Michaels sends Mankind into the ropes, but he lowers his head and eats a kick. Michaels shoves Mankind into the ropes and sends him out of the ring, but Mankind gets caught in a hangman! Mankind, while being hung from the ropes, applies a Mandible Claw to Michaels! The referee pulls on the ropes to get Mankind out of the hangman, and Mankind collapses to the floor.
Paul Bearer comes over to check on his Mankind. Michaels rolls out of the ring, and Mankind puts the Mandible Claw back on! In desperation, Michaels pulls him headfirst into the barricade. Bearer starts arguing with the referee as Michaels takes a steel chair and hits Mankind in the hand with it. Michaels clips his knee and then smashes the chair off his Mandible Claw hand! Michaels grabs him by the hand and pulls him into the ring before biting his fingers! Michaels takes him down and smashes the hand off the canvas before stomping his fingers. Michaels bends his fingers and rips off the protective covering from his hand. Michaels stomps Mankind’s hand three times and gets in the referee’s face. Bearer shrieks and shouts, “No! Not your hand!” Michaels charges, but Mankind catches him with a back body drop over the top rope! Mankind goes to the apron, puts his arm up in the air, and hits a flying elbow drop to the floor on Michaels!
Mankind gets in the ring, but he slides out and hits a swinging neckbreaker on the floor! The referee admonishes Mankind and checks on Michaels. Mankind gets in the ring. Michaels gets on the apron and puts his head through the second rope, but Mankind catches him with a leg drop on the ropes! Mankind connects with a Double Arm DDT and covers. 1… 2… Michaels barely kicks out. Mankind pulls him up and hits a Pulling Piledriver for another near fall! Mankind covers him again for the same result. Mankind hooks the head and the leg for another two-count. Mankind is irate and rips his own hair out before smashing his own head on the top turnbuckle.
Mankind psychotically goes to the ringside and throws a chair into the ring. Mankind then opens the casket up. Mankind rolls Michaels into the casket, but Michaels immediately pops up and fires back with some punches. Mankind reverses a whip, but Michaels comes back with a flying forearm. Michaels kips up to a HUGE ovation and stomps Mankind down in the corner. The referee backs Michaels up, but he shoves him off before hitting Mankind with a scoop slam. Michaels goes to the top rope and hits a crossbody block for a near fall. Michaels goes to the top rope, but Mankind hits the ropes to crotch him up there. Mankind sets up for a back superplex to the floor and through the commentary table, but Michaels turns mid-air! Mankind crashes through the table on the floor with Michaels on top of him!
Paul Bearer grabs the referee at ringside. There is a chair set up in the ring. Mankind grabs a steel chair and heads to the top rope, but Michaels charges, jumps off the chair, and hits the chair Mankind is holding with Sweet Chin Music right into his skull! Mankind collapses to the canvas. Michaels covers, but Mankind kicks out at two. Vader gets into the ring and attacks Michaels, so the referee calls for the bell.
Winner by Disqualification: WWF Champion Shawn Michaels
Vader reverses a whip, but Michaels ducks a clothesline and hits a flying forearm that sends Vader over the top rope. All of a sudden, Paul Bearer blindsides Michaels by hitting him in the skull with the urn! Sycho Sid runs down, pulls Vader off the apron, and they brawl to the back.
In the ring, Mankind psychotically gets to his feet and takes Michaels down with a Mandible Claw! Mankind incapacitates Michaels and tells Bearer to open the casket. The Undertaker is somehow in the casket! The Undertaker gets in the ring and grabs Mankind by the throat before shoving him over the top rope. The Undertaker stalks him to the back.
Howard Finkel announces that Shawn Michaels has won the match by disqualification. The crowd gives him a great ovation. Michaels poses in the ring for a few minutes. Michaels shows off a tattoo that is a little below the belt. Michaels slings himself over the top rope and sticks the landing before high-fiving some fans at the ringside. Jim Ross pats him on the back. Vince McMahon shakes his hand and says, “Unbelievable! Unbelievable!” Mr. Perfect just stares at Michaels.
Replays are shown from this war against Mankind. Back to the live show, Michaels is still parading around the ring.
Video: Highlights from In Your House 10: Mind Games.
Mike’s Thoughts: In my view, Shawn Michaels vs. Mankind is one of the greatest matches in the history of WWF/E. If not for that damn finish, it would be up there as a Top 10 forever match for this company. Those two went out there with not much of a road map and delivered one of the finest, most unique matches the company has ever produced, and one that still holds up now.
I know I’ve said it before in other recaps, but when I was a kid (from my teenage years into my early twenties), I wanted nothing more than to be a professional wrestler. Mick Foley/Mankind was by far my favorite. I was only nine years old when this match took place, and ordering pay-per-views at home was not high on my parents’ priority list. When his DVD “Hard Knocks and Cheap Pops” came out, this match was included on it. I watched the hell out of this thing to the point that, even as I was recapping this, I could almost type out every move that was coming next. It’s a hell of a match that hasn’t diminished whatsoever in thirty years.
In Have a Nice Day!, Mick Foley places it as one of the three best things he’s ever done in wrestling. As far as a wrestling performance, it may be the best of his entire career. We’ll see a few other masterpieces (as well as a rather infamous match where the punishment he took is what had everyone talking more than the wrestling), and there was the match against Randy Orton in 2004, but this is still a defining moment in his career to me. In a shoot interview, Shawn Michaels put over how great the match was, including how Mick Foley came up with the spot where he walked away from the crossbody block to play off what Michaels did against Vader, blowing the spot at SummerSlam. It was to get everyone thinking he was a hothead and led to a great little brawl in the middle of the match. Michaels said his biggest regret is that he didn’t get to work a full program against Foley. After seeing this, I cannot believe this is the only pay-per-view match they ever worked together.
I can’t say enough about this. I think it’s the finish that turns people off, but the work done in the first 25 minutes is all-time great stuff. Don’t punish them for the last thirty seconds. If you’ve never seen this match, the YouTube link is included above the match recap. Think I’m full of it? Give the match a watch then.
This match is what makes me love professional wrestling and keeps me hooked. This was a random WWF Championship match on a random pay-per-view in September. Any PPV or PLE match has a chance to be great. It doesn’t have to be at WrestleMania. What an absolute joy to watch this again in the context of 1996 and enjoy it as a fan. I hope you enjoyed it, too.
Quick Match Results
— Savio Vega def. Justin “Hawk” Bradshaw in a Caribbean Strap Match
— “Super Sock” José Lothario def. Jim Cornette
— The British Bulldog and Owen Hart def. The Smoking Gunns (Bart and Billy Gunn) (c’s) to win the WWF Tag Team Championship
— Mark Henry def. Jerry “The King” Lawler via Submission
— The Undertaker def. Goldust in a Final Curtain Match
— Shawn Michaels (c) def. Mankind via DQ in a WWF Championship Match
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.