The Fan-Cam Files: WWF @ Madison Square Garden – 03.19.1995

Welcome to another edition of the Fan-Cam Files, where we randomly pull a fan-recorded show from the archives to peek into the window that was. For today’s show, we’re on the Road to WrestleMania XI, which I consider near the bottom when it comes to ranking the worst WrestleMania of all-time (but the top honor probably goes to 15). It’s the IN HIGH GEAR Tour (we’ve covered this before, but the WWF started naming their tours for whatever reason, maybe to give them a little more identity than “The WWF in Your Area”), and we’re just two weeks away from the granddaddy of them all! This record features all but one match that took place, that being Henry O. Godwinn def. Barry Horowitz.

The stars of the WWF had a busy day, also making appearances at the March Magic fundraiser held on behalf of the Magic Johnson Foundation and Robin Hood Foundation. Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Big Daddy Cool Diesel, the 1-2-3 Kid, Razor Ramon, The Undertaker and Paul Bearer were among those in attendance, as well as sports icons Magic Johnson (duh), Patrick Ewing, Pat Riley, and Lawrence Taylor.

Tekno Team 2000 vs. The Heavenly Bodies:
Oh, how I missed 1995 WWF. Tekno Team 2000 haven’t debuted on TV yet, and we don’t have introductions, but we’re going with the team name and gimmick names since they have matching gear, and that’s good enough for me. TT2000 consists of Travis and Troy. I know, those are some fantastic names. Travis is Chad Fortune (real name Chad Fortune), who prior to entering wrestling, had a short career in the NFL (Tight End), having spent time with six teams, mostly in practice squad roles. Troy is more well known by his real name, Erik Watts, son of Bill. Watts and Fortune were actually college teammates at the University of Louisville, where Watts played QB. Instead of an attempt to jump into the pro leagues, Watts went to wrestling, where he was immediately put on TV and pushed in what many consider one of the worst examples of nepotism (for the era, at least). We know the Heavenly Bodies enough, “The Doctor of Desire” Tom Prichard (no T!) and The Gigolo, Jimmy Del Ray. Despite being a center-piece of Jim Cornette’s SMW, they have been little more than enhancement talent in the WWF tag team division.

Troy (Watts) and Prichard start. In my original notes, I wrote down Watts and Fortune, so if it bleeds into the recap, forgiveness please. Lockup and some chain wrestling to start. Prichard complains about a hair pull, then does it himself CAUSE HE’S A HEEL. Troy nips up and the TT2000 bust out their double leap-frog, followed by a hip toss and splash combo for a two-count. TT2000 with more double-team spots before settling down, working the arm of Delray. Prichard with a knee to the back of Travis (Fortune) to take control. Delray with a slam and assisted leg drop for a two-count. Dr. Tom takes a shot at Troy, setting up another double-team behind the referee. Travis with a few surprise roll-ups, but Delray and Prichard cut him off each time. Delray goes up for a moonsault and Travis doesn’t quite roll away from it, so we get a clothesline double-down instead to set up the hot tag to Troy. He runs wild with rights and sends Delray out of the ring with a dropkick. TT2000 with a sloppy back suplex (mostly because of Travis) and Troy finishes with a twisting body press from the top rope at 7:30. Fortune at times looked greener than grass after a cool spring shower, but Watts looked OK and the Bodies know how to keep it all together. Overall, a solid opener. **½

WWF Tag Team Championship Match:
The Smoking Gunns (c) vs. Kama & Tatanka:
I guess we needed a bit more star power here, considering other teams at the time were The Blu Twins and Well Dunn. The Gunns won the titles the night after the Royal Rumble, defeating the unlikely duo of The 1-2-3 Kid and Bob “Spark Plugg” Holly, and are scheduled to defend at Mania 11 against Owen Hart and a MYSTERY PARTNER. I don’t know with 100% certainty, but I think the original plan was to work Owen and Neidhart into the title match based on how they were eliminated from the tournament, but Neidhart was fired for being Jim Neidhart sometime between the start of the new year and the Royal Rumble. Tatanka and Kama are members of Ted Dibiase’s Million $ Corporation, and the less said about that group, the better. Tatanka and Luger were still working dates and would finally blow off their feud on a Sunday Night Slam special that nobody watched. Kama is new to TV after weeks of vignettes hyping him up as a real bad dude (but the white t-shirt covering his chest is certainly an odd look, probably to mask the fact he was Papa Shango less than 2 years ago).

Kama starts with Billy, trying to showcase his arsenal of mixed martial arts offense, including a takedown from a front chancery, as well as all kinds of kicks that would make Eric Bischoff cream in his pants if he were calling the action. Tatanka shows off what he can do… chop and kick. Billy counters The End of the Trail (Tatanka’s Samoan drop finisher) with a sunset flip and pops off an arm drag and dropkick before the Gunns take turns working the arm. Bart throws a craptacular dropkick, just a notch ahead of Erik Watts’ from Starrcade ‘92. Gunns with a double suplex and Billy drops a knee for barely a one-count. Combo side slam and the leaping leg drop for two. Kama with a shot to the back of Billy for the Corporation to take control. Kama with a belly-to-belly suplex, and then it’s just a bunch of uninspired, boring work from the heels. Lots of kicking and little else. Bart works in the inside-out clothesline sell off a soft clothesline. Kama meets the knees attempting a splash and it’s hot tag time for Billy. He runs wild with right hands on Tatanka, followed by a powerslam. Double Russian leg sweep takes out Kama, and Billy catches Tatanka by surprise with a small package to retain at 11:01. The Gunns seemed game and Kama had a few decent moments, but Tatanka offered nothing, and the heel side in general had no clue how to work a tag formula match. *½

Submission Match: Adam Bomb vs. Mr. Bob Backlund:
OH JOY, A BOB BACKLUND MATCH. Even in 1995, I remember this being advertised and thinking “why the hell would ADAM BOMB sign up for a submission match?” Speaking of Adam Bomb, he’s like the poster-child of half-assed pushed babyfaces of the New Generation. A guy with a good look and size who they would tease doing something with, and then nothing. Rinse, repeat, until he had enough and was gone by the end of the Summer. Backlund is coasting on fumes at this point, about to wrap up his rivalry with Bret Hart at Mania 11 and then mostly disappear as an in-ring competitor on TV (they dusted him off briefly in December, but tucked him back in the drawer after the Rumble). We’ve covered some of Backlund’s live event appearances before, and all I can hope is that we are in and out in short order. If go-away heat was a thing in 1995, Backlund had it with me.

Backlund offers a handshake that Bomb wants nothing to do with. That’s rude, but Backlund is a demented old circus monkey, so it’s understandable. Backlund avoids the lockup and does the Opie Shuffle(™). They jockey for control of a waist-lock and Bomb mocks Backlund’s little dance. Bomb starts working the leg and slaps on a crummy-looking single-leg crab. Backlund escapes to the apron and hangs Bomb’s arm across the top rope. Bomb avoids the Chicken-Wing and goes back to the leg. Jeez, who booked this? All of Bomb’s best offense is stuff that Backlund isn’t taking. Backlund slips out of a slam and the Chicken-Wing finishes at 7:38. It was semi-short, and that’s all that can be said. There was no need to book a match where the heel is favored so heavily. It could have been slightly improved letting Bomb work like normal instead of this half-assed attempt at working a limb to set up a submission we’ve never seen him use in any other match. ZERO STARS

Diesel & Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels & Jeff Jarrett (w/ The Roadie):
Hey, it’s the Main Event, and it’s not going last! Diesel is in the middle of his year-long reign as WWF Champion, scheduled to defend against former best-friend Shawn Michaels, and Jeff Jarrett is the reigning Intercontinental Champion, scheduled to defend against the man he beat at the Royal Rumble to win the title, Razor Ramon. Without watching the match, I can only guess the big story of the match is that Diesel can never get a long enough period to really put a beating on Shawn, with someone saving him or Shawn running away at all costs to build up excitement for when they finally have an extended sequence.

Diesel starts, and sure enough, Shawn wants nothing to do with it and forces a tag on Jarrett. Diesel pops Double J with a knee and lays it in with the forearms. Shawn tries to help, but Razor meets him in the ring, and we get the double whip spot where Shawn and Jarrett get launched over the turnbuckles in opposite corners. Roadie with a distraction, but Razor cuts off the ambush with a DOUBLE NOGGIN KNOCKER. Jarrett does his best to keep away on a rope running sequence, but Razor lands a right and launches him into Michaels with a fallaway slam. Diesel gets hold of Shawn for about 3 seconds, but Jarrett saves. Diesel catches Jarrett in mid-air and rolls snake eyes. Shawn prevents a Razor’s Edge and Jarrett lays Ramon out with a diving clothesline. Shawn and Jarrett take turns working Razor over, never settling down for a rest hold. Shawn spits at Diesel, drawing him in to distract the referee while Roadie and Double J double-up on Ramon on the outside.

Back inside, Ramon rolls through a flying body press, but Jarrett remains in control. Razor teases a comeback, but Jarrett counters a back body-drop with a swinging neck breaker. Jarrett straddles the ropes missing a seated splash, then the referee stops Shawn from hitting Sweet Chin Music, but it’s THE ROADIER who keeps Razor from tagging, hitting from the apron with a clothesline. Shawn with a flying clothesline for two. Ramon fights out of a front face-lock, tossing Shawn across the ring. Whip to the ropes and they smack heads for a double-down. Diesel with the hot tag, running through Jarrett with forearms. He plants Jarrett with a side slam and takes shots at Roadie and Shawn on the apron. Diesel calls for the Jackknife, but Roadie pulls Jarrett to safety. The heels try taking a walk, but Razor is all NUH-UH, and fights both of them, sending Jarrett into the ring. Diesel offers up Jarrett to Razor and cuts off Shawn’s save, but Roadie sneaks in to clip the knee. Razor takes a tumble out of the ring and collapses before he can beat the count-out at 14:28.

Wow, I was expecting Razor to get back in and… wait, DIESEL WANTS THE MATCH TO CONTINUE, 1-ON-2? SURE, WHY THE HELL NOT. Jarrett attacks from behind, allowing Shawn to get some shots in. Whip to the ropes and a double clothesline takes down the WWF Champion. Jarrett with a series of near-falls off a flying clothesline, bulldog, and body press. Shawn with more shots while Diesel is in a vulnerable state. Diesel launches Jarrett off the top onto Shawn and plants JJ with the Jackknife, and AGAIN the Roadie pulls Jarrett out of the ring! Shawn and Jarrett had enough and are counted-out at 17:45. BUT WAIT! The referee is honoring Diesel’s request that the match is now 1-on-1 with Diesel versus Shawn Michaels, and this will count as a victory for Diesel if Shawn doesn’t comply, so he rushes back in and the two trade blows, with Diesel winning the exchange easily. Whip and a BIG BACK BODY-DROP, followed by a big boot with gusto. Suddenly, Sycho Sid shows up and attacks Diesel for the disqualification at 18:41. They double-team Big Daddy Diesel until THE UNDERTAKER of all people shows up to make the save. This was some overbooked, wacky and crazy house show nonsense, and it did the job. The bell-to-bell action appeared to be highly motivated with little resting or slow spots. This easily could have been a lazy afternoon effort, but all five men were running all over the place and hitting everything with perfect execution. One of the best matches I’ve seen on a WWF fan-cam. ****

The Undertaker (w/ Paul Bearer) vs. Bam Bam Bigelow:
I don’t know if I want to follow the last match, but we’ve got more star power, so that’s a plus. The Undertaker has had a miserable few months, feuding with the ice cold Corporation, first a battle with I.R.S. at the Rumble over I.R.S. taking advantage of a John Doe (including repossessing flowers and his headstone, among other things), and now Taker is set to face a washed and unmotivated King Kong Bundy at Mania 11. Bigelow is co-headlining Mania 11, set to face with New York Giants legend and future Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor, which began at the Royal Rumble where an embarrassed Bam Bam didn’t care for people laughing at him and took it out on LT, who was sitting in the front row as a guest of Big Daddy Cool.

The bell rings and Bigelow immediately powders. I hope that isn’t going to be the story of the match. Maybe they needed to make up for the lack of stalling in the last match. Bigelow with a shoulder block to no effect. He tries it again, but this time Bigelow goes down, and he’s on the outside again. Taker gives slow-motion zombie chase, allowing Bigelow to get the jump on him, but Taker counters a back body-drop with an uppercut. Whip to the corner and Taker hits NEW GENERATION SCHOOL. Bigelow counters a whip with a Samoan drop to take over. He unloads on Taker with forearms and headbutts. Whip to the corner, Taker brings up a boot and hits a clothesline. Crowd with chants of LT. Taker meets an elbow in the corner and Bigelow with the clothesline this time. Taker escapes a chin-lock, but gets sent to the outside with a shoulder block. Bigelow bops him with a chair and sends him into the steps. Back inside, Bigelow cuts off another comeback attempt. He misses a moonsault without Taker having to bother to roll away from it. Taker with a clothesline and Chokeslam, and Bigelow takes a walk at 10:36. With his position at Mania 11, it’s no surprise we got that kind of finish. Without extraordinary effort, you’re only getting so much out of Zombie no-selling mid 90’s Undertaker. **

The 1-2-3 Kid vs. Hakushi (w/ Shinja):
We’re doing the gimmick where a fan does the ring introductions, and those are always a good time (that was sarcasm, by the way). The WWF did every trick in the book to get fans excited, including gimmicks like that and being an honorary manager. Hakushi made his debut at the end of 1994, and right before Mania 11 (in TV time), was put in a program with Bret Hart, accusing Hart of being racist against Japanese people. The 1-2-3 Kid is just doing whatever. Sometimes he’s getting pushed, sometimes he’s not. He’s basically Marty Jannetty while Jannetty is not employed by the company. The Kid is like a bunch of other people who don’t have a match at WrestleMania but will be involved in the show as Razor Ramon’s second to counter the Roadie (Spoilers: FAILED).

Lockup and The Kid cranks a side headlock. The Kid hits the ropes at lightning speed for a crisscross sequence and takes Hakushi over with a hip toss. They run it again, roles reversed, and this time Hakushi with a cartwheel into a heel kick. Hakushi blocks a hip toss, but gets caught with a kick, sending him to the floor, where the Kid is more than willing to meet him with a tope con hilo. Shinja with a distraction, but the Kid catches the sneak attack. Whip to the corner, Hakushi with a handspring into a standing side kick, followed by the proto-bronco buster. Things slow down a bit with Hakushi working the arm. The Kid fights to his feet but gets caught coming off the ropes with a spinning back-breaker. Hakushi with a flying shoulder tackle for a near-fall. The Kid ducks a clothesline and counters a hurricanrana with a sit-out Powerbomb for two. BAAAAACK BODY-DROP and jumping heel kick, followed by a guillotine leg drop for a two-count. The Kid misses a senton splash and Hakushi finishes with a diving headbutt at 7:23. Wasn’t that still Bam Bam’s finish (assuming he was winning matches)? A solid pick-me-up after the sluggish Taker/Bigelow match. While short, spots were spaced out enough so that it wasn’t just moves for the sake of moves with a complete lack of selling. ***

Bret “Hitman” Hart & The British Bulldog vs. Owen Hart & Jerry “The King” Lawler:
The final match of the night, and legitimately something like the 5th or 6th time Owen and Bret are facing off at Madison Square Garden since WrestleMania X (this show held almost a year to the date). We’ve covered both of them briefly elsewhere, but for those who skipped around, Owen Hart is scheduled to challenge the Smoking Gunns for the Tag Titles with a MYSTERY PARTNER at WrestleMania, while Bret is finishing up with Bob Backlund as he transitions to a program with Hakushi. The Bulldog isn’t doing much of note and is in a thrown-together tag team with Lex Luger, scheduled to meet Eli and Jacob Blu at Mania 11. Jerry Lawler is the sh*t stirrer that has Hakushi worked up about Bret, so yes, we’re running it back with Lawler and Bret sooner than later. Lawler is wearing a double-strap singlet, which just seems weird. I always associate the one strap with his look.

The crowd is all over Lawler with chants of “Burger King.” Bulldog and Owen start, and if you’ve seen them wrestle once, you know their go-to formula, trading wrist-lock counters and the crisscross spot ending with Bulldog launching Owen with a monkey-flip being the notable stuff. Bulldog blocks a dropkick and sends Owen into the turnbuckle with a slingshot. Bret in with rights and a hard whip across the ring, complete with chest-first bump from Owen. Bret grabs a double handful of hair and sends Owen over the top rope with a clothesline. Lawler reluctantly tags in and quickly takes a beating.

Owen comes off the top with an axe-handle to an unsuspecting Davey Boy to turn things around. Owen feeds the boot and hits the enzuigiri, followed by a suplex and leg drop for a pair of near-falls. Lawler with a snap mare and the Memphis fist drop. Bret tries to help out but the referee blocks, allowing some extended double-team work. Bulldog escapes a chin-lock but is cut off with a spinning heel kick. Another escape and Bulldog surprises Owen with a crucifix cradle for two. Owen blocks a tag and brings Lawler in for a front face-lock. The referee misses the hot tag, but don’t fret, as Lawler hits Owen with a dropkick in a beautiful moment of heel miscommunication. Bret with the hot tag for real, unloading with rights and a DOUBLE NOGGIN KNOCKER. Lawler gets whipped into Owen, sending him to the floor. Bret with the Russian leg sweep, flying elbow and Sharpshooter, but Owen saves. Bulldog sends Lawler to the floor with a clothesline. He tries taking a walk, but Bret’s all NUH-UH and sends him back. Bulldog with a press slam and again Lawler tries running, unsuccessfully. Owen tags, but the referee misses it and blocks Owen’s entry, allowing Bulldog to finish Lawler with the running powerslam at 11:31. Everyone had their working boots on here, keeping the action lively with a fun heat segment on Bulldog, and even better comeuppance sequence to set up the finish. After two weak finishes to other matches on top, this one needed something more decisive, and while one can argue the referee refusing to let the tag stand might be seen as an out, it’s consistent with him not seeing the tag to Bret earlier in the match. ***½

Strength of Card: We’ve got most of the stars of the day on the card (or people who can be considered stars as reasonable stretches), two loaded tag team matches on top, and a match third from the top that features heavily pushed talent as well. The only argument you can make against the card is the lack of title defenses, but both Champions are part of the same match with their natural challengers also involved in the match, so we’re still getting a taste of what we want, but we’re going to have to wait for WrestleMania XI to see all of it. Grade: A

Highs: Diesel and Razor vs Shawn and Jarrett has been my favorite match (at least on the WWF side of things) since going through all these fan-cams with a great blend of action and house show f*ckery with the referee keeping the match going because Diesel told him so. Bret and Bulldog vs Owen and Lawler was better than I expected, since we all know the reputation of Bret on house shows and Lawler usually dragging matches down with a lot of stalling and shtick. Elsewhere, The Kid vs Hakushi is unlike anything else on the show, and the Heavenly Bodies dragged a solid match out of Erik Watts and Chad Fortune!

Lows: Tatanka and Kama had no business being a tag team and highlights how pathetic the tag team division was during this period. When the heel side of ready-to-go teams is the Blu Twins, Heavenly Bodies, and Well Dunn, you’re screwed (and while I like the Bodies, they’re job guys. They have no star power or rub because they were treated as geeks as soon as they were signed). I’m not going to waste more space bitching about how terrible Bob Backlund is beyond this sentence.

The Rest: I really don’t have much positive or negative to say about Taker vs Bam Bam. They’ve probably done that same match over and over between 1993 and 1995, and it’s always the same thing. You get a big power move spot or two and a weak finish. It’s almost as good as you’re going to get out of Taker around this time. No comment on HOG vs Horowitz, of course, but I’m sure that one isn’t going to sway my opinion on this card in one direction or the other.

Final Thoughts: 1995 is never looked at fondly, and for good reason, with a thin roster loaded with silly gimmicks and jobbers, and a lack of balance when it comes to heels and faces on top of the card (a problem that gets worse as we get to the Spring). This is probably as good as a show as you can hope to get for the era, with two satisfying main event level matches and a couple of other solid efforts further down the card. We’ve got a couple of stinkers, but nothing that kills the overall enjoyment of the show. There’s a reasonable argument to be made that this is a better show than what WrestleMania XI delivered. Final Grade: A-

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