by Logan Scisco
–Vince McMahon, Jim
Ross, and Jerry “the King” Lawler are in the booth and they are live from
Rochester, New York.
–I couldn’t find
footage of the Free for All match, but on that show the Sultan defeated Flash Funk
with a powerbomb at 2:55 for those that are interested.
footage of the Free for All match, but on that show the Sultan defeated Flash Funk
with a powerbomb at 2:55 for those that are interested.
–Opening Contest
for the WWF Tag Team Championship: The
Legion of Doom defeat The British Bulldog & Owen Hart (Champions) by
disqualification at 10:09:
for the WWF Tag Team Championship: The
Legion of Doom defeat The British Bulldog & Owen Hart (Champions) by
disqualification at 10:09:
It’s really disheartening that three of the four
participants in this contest are no longer with us. The tag team champions face another tough
matchup in the opener of the pay-per-view and they had to be wishing for the
days when The New Rockers, The Godwinns, and the Bodydonnas constituted the tag
team division. The crowd loves to chant
“LOD”, but they are subdued during much of the match, even in parts when it
looks like the LOD might win the titles.
Animal hits a powerslam off the second rope to pin the Bulldog, but the
decision is overturned because it is ruled that the Bulldog was not the legal
man. The champions start walking towards
the locker room dejected, but when they hear the announcement Owen gives a
great “I knew that!” expression. After
the restart, it doesn’t take long for Owen to eat a Doomsday Device, but before
the three count, Bret Hart runs out of the locker room and creates the
disqualification. This was just a
standard tag match, but it could’ve come off better with a more vocal
crowd. Rating: **
participants in this contest are no longer with us. The tag team champions face another tough
matchup in the opener of the pay-per-view and they had to be wishing for the
days when The New Rockers, The Godwinns, and the Bodydonnas constituted the tag
team division. The crowd loves to chant
“LOD”, but they are subdued during much of the match, even in parts when it
looks like the LOD might win the titles.
Animal hits a powerslam off the second rope to pin the Bulldog, but the
decision is overturned because it is ruled that the Bulldog was not the legal
man. The champions start walking towards
the locker room dejected, but when they hear the announcement Owen gives a
great “I knew that!” expression. After
the restart, it doesn’t take long for Owen to eat a Doomsday Device, but before
the three count, Bret Hart runs out of the locker room and creates the
disqualification. This was just a
standard tag match, but it could’ve come off better with a more vocal
crowd. Rating: **
–Dok Hendrix
interviews The British Bulldog and Owen Hart and Owen says that they didn’t
keep the titles on a fluke. The
champions refuse to believe that Steve Austin is in the building to face Bret
later tonight.
interviews The British Bulldog and Owen Hart and Owen says that they didn’t
keep the titles on a fluke. The
champions refuse to believe that Steve Austin is in the building to face Bret
later tonight.
–Sunny and Brian
Pillman hype the Superstar line and urge us to call 1-900-737-4WWF!
Pillman hype the Superstar line and urge us to call 1-900-737-4WWF!
-Kevin Kelly
interviews Intercontinental Champion Rocky Maivia, who says that Savio’s in for
a hell of a fight in their upcoming match.
interviews Intercontinental Champion Rocky Maivia, who says that Savio’s in for
a hell of a fight in their upcoming match.
–Intercontinental
Championship Match: Savio Vega (w/The
Nation of Domination) beats “The Rock” Rocky Maivia (Champion) by count out at 8:34:
Championship Match: Savio Vega (w/The
Nation of Domination) beats “The Rock” Rocky Maivia (Champion) by count out at 8:34:
Savio defeated Maivia on Raw prior to the pay-per-view
and you would think that after the beating Maivia took on that show that he’d
bring some backup to this encounter.
Faarooq wanders out to do guest commentary and he discusses the gauntlet
challenge that he laid down to Ahmed Johnson on last week’s RAW. You can hear a pin drop for this match,
showing how little enthusiasm Maivia was generating as champion. This isn’t much better than their match on
Raw, with Savio draining the energy of the match with chokes and nerve holds. At least Maivia gets in more offense in his
comeback. Savio tosses Maivia to the
floor and Crush gives Maivia a heart punch behind the referee’s back, but Crush
doesn’t roll Maivia into the ring and that costs Savio the title, much to
Savio’s chagrin. There is some arguing
between the two before Faarooq gets into the ring and the Nation resolves the
problem by beating the young Maivia until Ahmed makes the save. This match continued Maivia’s weak run as
champion and he’d lose the belt shortly after this. Rating: *
and you would think that after the beating Maivia took on that show that he’d
bring some backup to this encounter.
Faarooq wanders out to do guest commentary and he discusses the gauntlet
challenge that he laid down to Ahmed Johnson on last week’s RAW. You can hear a pin drop for this match,
showing how little enthusiasm Maivia was generating as champion. This isn’t much better than their match on
Raw, with Savio draining the energy of the match with chokes and nerve holds. At least Maivia gets in more offense in his
comeback. Savio tosses Maivia to the
floor and Crush gives Maivia a heart punch behind the referee’s back, but Crush
doesn’t roll Maivia into the ring and that costs Savio the title, much to
Savio’s chagrin. There is some arguing
between the two before Faarooq gets into the ring and the Nation resolves the
problem by beating the young Maivia until Ahmed makes the save. This match continued Maivia’s weak run as
champion and he’d lose the belt shortly after this. Rating: *
–Ahmed gets on the
mic and accepts Faarooq’s challenge.
mic and accepts Faarooq’s challenge.
–Ken Shamrock is
shown having some fun on America Online.
shown having some fun on America Online.
–Hendrix interviews
Sable and Marc Mero. Sable says she
appreciates that she is a two-time Slammy winner and Mero says he hopes to be
back soon. Austin goes into the bathroom
behind them, cursing the whole way, and an altercation is heard in the room. The British Bulldog eventually emerges with a
deer in headlights look as he holds an iron bar in his hand and he runs
off. Owen follows shortly
thereafter. Dave Hebner tells Hendrix
that Austin is hurt and he needs help before also running away. The whole segment was hilarious because of
the bad acting of everyone involved.
Sable and Marc Mero. Sable says she
appreciates that she is a two-time Slammy winner and Mero says he hopes to be
back soon. Austin goes into the bathroom
behind them, cursing the whole way, and an altercation is heard in the room. The British Bulldog eventually emerges with a
deer in headlights look as he holds an iron bar in his hand and he runs
off. Owen follows shortly
thereafter. Dave Hebner tells Hendrix
that Austin is hurt and he needs help before also running away. The whole segment was hilarious because of
the bad acting of everyone involved.
–“The Real Double
J” Jesse James pins Rockabilly (w/The Honky Tonk Man) with a small package at
6:44:
J” Jesse James pins Rockabilly (w/The Honky Tonk Man) with a small package at
6:44:
This was the blowoff of the Honky Tonk Man protégé angle,
which had been going on for months, and the end result was terrible as Billy
Gunn, who had rejected The Honky Tonk Man two weeks prior to this, emerged as
the chosen man with a new name:
“Rockabilly.” Oh well, on the
other side of the coin you can look at this an encounter of the future New Age
Outlaws. Billy dances around a lot, but
the crowd could care less and was probably wondering why they paid top dollar
for pay-per-view tickets by this point in the show. The match is dreadful and James scores the
victory out of nowhere, thereby killing any hopes for the Rockabilly gimmick
out of the gate. That’s a clear vote of
no confidence from the booking team. Rating:
DUD
which had been going on for months, and the end result was terrible as Billy
Gunn, who had rejected The Honky Tonk Man two weeks prior to this, emerged as
the chosen man with a new name:
“Rockabilly.” Oh well, on the
other side of the coin you can look at this an encounter of the future New Age
Outlaws. Billy dances around a lot, but
the crowd could care less and was probably wondering why they paid top dollar
for pay-per-view tickets by this point in the show. The match is dreadful and James scores the
victory out of nowhere, thereby killing any hopes for the Rockabilly gimmick
out of the gate. That’s a clear vote of
no confidence from the booking team. Rating:
DUD
–Hendrix urges us
to call 815-734-1161 to get an Undertaker door banner for $29.95 (plus shipping
& handling)!
to call 815-734-1161 to get an Undertaker door banner for $29.95 (plus shipping
& handling)!
–Kelly interviews
Steve Austin, who says that he’s still going to compete despite being hurt
tonight. WWF President Gorilla Monsoon
says that he’s going to reorder the lineup to make sure Austin has time to
recover. This lineup change makes
Austin-Bret the de facto main event.
Steve Austin, who says that he’s still going to compete despite being hurt
tonight. WWF President Gorilla Monsoon
says that he’s going to reorder the lineup to make sure Austin has time to
recover. This lineup change makes
Austin-Bret the de facto main event.
–Lance Wright interviews
the Hart Foundation and the Bulldog and Owen rant about Austin. Bret merely gives a “Who’s crying now?” and
walks away, which is great.
the Hart Foundation and the Bulldog and Owen rant about Austin. Bret merely gives a “Who’s crying now?” and
walks away, which is great.
–A video package is
played for the Undertaker-Mankind title match.
played for the Undertaker-Mankind title match.
–Hendrix interviews
Mankind and Paul Bearer. Bearer promises
that Mankind will be the next WWF champion and Mankind says that the
Undertaker’s screams will be music to his ear.
Mankind and Paul Bearer. Bearer promises
that Mankind will be the next WWF champion and Mankind says that the
Undertaker’s screams will be music to his ear.
–WWF Championship
Match: The Undertaker (Champion) defeats
Mankind (w/Paul Bearer) with a Tombstone at 17:26:
Match: The Undertaker (Champion) defeats
Mankind (w/Paul Bearer) with a Tombstone at 17:26:
The Undertaker is wearing a bandage over the right side of
his face because of the burns he suffered at the hands of Mankind several weeks
prior to this. This is a wild brawl, as
Mankind takes some nasty bumps into the guardrail and delivers an elbow drop
off the second rope while the Undertaker is on the arena floor and the
Undertaker takes some stiff shots with the urn, a glass water pitcher at
ringside, and a chair. Referees take a
beating as well, with the main one being sandwiched during an Undertaker blind
charge and another receiving the Mandible Claw when he runs out to assist. Mankind brings the steps and a chair into the
ring, but the Undertaker kicks the steps in his face and then murders him with
a chair shot, a bump that is tough to watch based on what we know about
concussions today. Just when you think
you’ve seen enough, Mankind loses his mask and the Undertaker knocks him off
the apron with the steps and Mankind goes head-first through the Spanish
announce table, which has to be the craziest WWF table bump I’ve ever
seen. After that, things are just
academic. Mankind was just a lame duck
challenger for the Undertaker in this contest, but credit Foley for nearly
killing himself to keep his character relevant and creating a good first pay-per-view title defense for the Undertaker.
The match started slow, but after the first ten minutes everything was
stiff and brutal and it ended up telling a great story. Rating: ***½
his face because of the burns he suffered at the hands of Mankind several weeks
prior to this. This is a wild brawl, as
Mankind takes some nasty bumps into the guardrail and delivers an elbow drop
off the second rope while the Undertaker is on the arena floor and the
Undertaker takes some stiff shots with the urn, a glass water pitcher at
ringside, and a chair. Referees take a
beating as well, with the main one being sandwiched during an Undertaker blind
charge and another receiving the Mandible Claw when he runs out to assist. Mankind brings the steps and a chair into the
ring, but the Undertaker kicks the steps in his face and then murders him with
a chair shot, a bump that is tough to watch based on what we know about
concussions today. Just when you think
you’ve seen enough, Mankind loses his mask and the Undertaker knocks him off
the apron with the steps and Mankind goes head-first through the Spanish
announce table, which has to be the craziest WWF table bump I’ve ever
seen. After that, things are just
academic. Mankind was just a lame duck
challenger for the Undertaker in this contest, but credit Foley for nearly
killing himself to keep his character relevant and creating a good first pay-per-view title defense for the Undertaker.
The match started slow, but after the first ten minutes everything was
stiff and brutal and it ended up telling a great story. Rating: ***½
–After the match, they
try to work a spot where Mankind accidentally throws a fireball into Paul
Bearer’s eyes, but it doesn’t work, so the Undertaker grabs the materials and
tosses it into Bearer’s face, which is just as effective as far as future
storylines go. Bearer leaves with his
suit coat over his head and he’s later taken to the hospital by paramedics.
try to work a spot where Mankind accidentally throws a fireball into Paul
Bearer’s eyes, but it doesn’t work, so the Undertaker grabs the materials and
tosses it into Bearer’s face, which is just as effective as far as future
storylines go. Bearer leaves with his
suit coat over his head and he’s later taken to the hospital by paramedics.
–Hendrix interviews
the Hart Foundation and Bret says that he’s going to make an example out of
Steve Austin tonight when he beats him for a third time.
the Hart Foundation and Bret says that he’s going to make an example out of
Steve Austin tonight when he beats him for a third time.
–“Stone Cold” Steve
Austin defeats Bret “the Hitman” Hart by disqualification when the British
Bulldog interferes at 21:10:
Austin defeats Bret “the Hitman” Hart by disqualification when the British
Bulldog interferes at 21:10:
Keep in mind that this was originally supposed to be
Bret-Sid, but Sid no showed an episode of Raw so the card was changed. I’m not sure what that would have done to
Austin’s role on this show, but I’m sure he would’ve made his presence felt
after Bret got his job back from Sid. Owen
Hart and the British Bulldog try to come down with Bret, but they are ushered
to the back by WWF officials. This is an
extension of WrestleMania XIII, as they brawl into the crowd and Bret attacks
Austin’s knee with a chair after an early ref bump. Austin isn’t selling the attack earlier in
the evening, but that becomes a mute point once Bret targets the legs for the better
part of fifteen minutes. Bret goes to
finish Austin with the Sharpshooter, but Austin clocks Bret with his knee
brace, which Bret took off early in the match, and applies the
Sharpshooter. Before Bret can submit,
though, Owen and the Bulldog run out and the Bulldog clocks Austin with a chair
to draw the disqualification. This tried
to recreate the climate of their WrestleMania encounter, but the electric
atmosphere that surrounded that match was missing here. Nevertheless, it was still a good technical
match that continued the feud between Austin and the Hart Foundation. Rating: ****
Bret-Sid, but Sid no showed an episode of Raw so the card was changed. I’m not sure what that would have done to
Austin’s role on this show, but I’m sure he would’ve made his presence felt
after Bret got his job back from Sid. Owen
Hart and the British Bulldog try to come down with Bret, but they are ushered
to the back by WWF officials. This is an
extension of WrestleMania XIII, as they brawl into the crowd and Bret attacks
Austin’s knee with a chair after an early ref bump. Austin isn’t selling the attack earlier in
the evening, but that becomes a mute point once Bret targets the legs for the better
part of fifteen minutes. Bret goes to
finish Austin with the Sharpshooter, but Austin clocks Bret with his knee
brace, which Bret took off early in the match, and applies the
Sharpshooter. Before Bret can submit,
though, Owen and the Bulldog run out and the Bulldog clocks Austin with a chair
to draw the disqualification. This tried
to recreate the climate of their WrestleMania encounter, but the electric
atmosphere that surrounded that match was missing here. Nevertheless, it was still a good technical
match that continued the feud between Austin and the Hart Foundation. Rating: ****
–After the match, Bret
tries to attack Austin with the ring bell, but Austin jabs a chair into Bret’s
knee and applies a Sharpshooter before Owen and the Bulldog can come to Bret’s
aid.
tries to attack Austin with the ring bell, but Austin jabs a chair into Bret’s
knee and applies a Sharpshooter before Owen and the Bulldog can come to Bret’s
aid.
The Final Report Card: This show
started like a bad episode of RAW, but the last two matches increase the show’s
quality. The Austin-Bret feud would only
get hotter after this show and the Undertaker-Paul Bearer storyline would morph
into the “Kane” storyline that would dominate much of the Undertaker’s title
run. The company was about to right some
of the wrongs that happened on this show as well, since Maivia was on his way
out as Intercontinental champion and Rockabilly never made another pay-per-view
appearance.
started like a bad episode of RAW, but the last two matches increase the show’s
quality. The Austin-Bret feud would only
get hotter after this show and the Undertaker-Paul Bearer storyline would morph
into the “Kane” storyline that would dominate much of the Undertaker’s title
run. The company was about to right some
of the wrongs that happened on this show as well, since Maivia was on his way
out as Intercontinental champion and Rockabilly never made another pay-per-view
appearance.
Attendance: 6,477
Buyrate: 0.5
Show Evaluation: Thumbs Up