Wednesday 29 June 2016

Journey Through The Attitude Era Vol 21: WWF Rebellion 1999 Review

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Another day passes and it is time for another instalment of our Journey Through The Attitude Era series where we look back at The Attitude Era through the pay per views of each month and ask the question: do these pay per views hold up today or can their greatness be chalked up to only nostalgia? I’ll give my review but ultimately, it is you the fans who have the final word on what passes for good or bad. Tonight’s time machine drops us at none other than WWF’s Rebellion of 1999, a U.K pay per view which took place on a Saturday. The big matches of the night include a steel cage match for the world wrestling federation championship between the champion Triple H and the challenger The Rock, Giants collide as Big Show takes on Kane and we also have Chris Jericho vs Road Dogg and Jeff Jarrett vs Chyna. Let us waste no more time and dive into Rebellion!

(Intercontinental Championship Match) Jeff Jarrett © W/ Miss Kitty vs D’Lo Brown

A coin toss will decide whether Jarrett’s or Brown’s championship will be on the line. Before the match begins, Jarrett gets on the microphone, slagging off the women of the world stating that they are only good for cooking, cleaning and making babies. In the 1000 pounds challenge, Jarrett asks a woman to clean up some crap in the ring, Jarrett hands the woman a vacuum cleaner before applying the figure four leg lock to the woman. Chyna makes the save and beats the piss out of Jeff Jarrett.

 What an underrated feud this was, the more I watch, the more I want Chyna to destroy him. Looking forward to next month’s No Mercy. Referee Mike Chioda executes the coin flip and Jarrett’s title is on the line and D’Lo could become a double champion once more. D’Lo explodes out of the gates, right hands and a powerslam by D’Lo. Jarrett tries to leave with the belt and Ms. Kitty but D’Lo gives chase and tosses Jarrett into the ring. Sleeper hold applied by Jarrett, D’Lo fights out of it and drops Jarrett with a suplex, D’Lo tried a splash from the second rope but Jarrett saw it coming and dropkicked D’Lo into next week. Jarrett goes to work on D’Lo’s arm, single arm DDT by Jarrett drops the challenger.

 Running powerbomb by D’Lo leaves both men down, tilt a whirl slam and a calf kick from D’Lo. Scoop slam and leg drop from D’Lo. Two and a half for D’Lo, Jarrett blocks D’Lo’s second rope elbow, Jarrett goes to the top rope, Jarrett’s crotched and suplex from D’Lo. Jarrett tries for the figure four, D’Lo kicks Jarrett over the top rope, Ms. Kitty distracts D’Lo and the referee.

 Meanwhile, Jarrett grabs the vacuum cleaner and smacks D’Lo in the face and wins the match. Jarrett grabs the microphone and challenges Chyna to a match. Fun opener with Jarrett cheating to win to retain his championship. Good work from Jarrett and D’Lo who warmed up the crowd and hopefully, a sign of things to come.

Winner: Jarrett over D'Lo following a Vacuum Shot!




The Godfather vs Gangrel

Godfather delivers some fine Hos who are wearing very little and I am not complaining. Godfather cuts his promo as usual which the crowd chants every word. Lockup, shoulder block from Godfather, Gangrel meets each turnbuckle with his face, Gangrel creates some momentum with a DDT and a forearm to the face of the pimp daddy. Gangrel chokes Godfather and hammers away at the Godfather, scoop slam and an elbow into the heart of The Godfather. Second rope clothesline from Gangrel but he misses an elbow, Godfather battles back, clotheslines and a scoop slam followed by a leg drop from Godfather.

 Two count for Godfather, irish whip is reversed by Gangrel, Gangrel walks into the elbow and it is time for The Ho Train, it connects and Godfather scores with the pimp drop for the win. I felt that was a fairly short match, Gangrel never really got any heat and Godfather never seemed in any danger, Referee Tim White dances with The Hos as the segment ends.

Winner: Godfather over Gangrel via Pimp Drop!




Val Venis vs Mark “Sexual Chocolate” Henry

Before this match begins, British Bulldog tells Michael Cole that he demans a title shot as everyone in England came to see The Bulldog. Val compares himself to the game of rugby, the comparisons being both are played with balls and rough. Lovely Val thank you for sharing that with me, I can really appreciate considering I am older and now understand you, you filthy dirty man. Val tries going toe to toe with Henry, it does not end well as Mark powerslams Val to the mat, right hands from Mark Henry. Venis changes the pace as he dodges Henry who falls to the outside, baseball slide by Val.

 On the outside, Val meets the guard rail. In the ring, Val reverses Henry by dodging a splash attempt, side Russian leg sweep by Val finds the mark. Two count of the legsweep. Henry reverses Val off an irish whip, a gorilla press slam is countered into a school boy by Val, he chops down the big man, bulldog by Val, three elbows on Henry and Val goes high, Money Shot and Val picks up the win. Another short match and I was not expecting that result, I thought Henry would walk away the win but it is clear Val is above Henry in the pecking order as Val took him out easily.

Winner: Val Venis over Mark Henry following a Money Shot!




(WWF Women’s Championship Match) Ivory © vs Luna vs Tori vs Jacqueline

British Bulldog demands his title shot and is denied by Vince. In retaliation, Bulldog tosses a bin that hits Stephanie right in the head which I believe to a short term memory loss storyline but Stephanie would see the light and remember her love Test. Luna tackles Ivory and it seems everyone wants to kill Ivory for her annoying attitude. They triple team poor Ivory who looks fantastic I must say, Jacqueline and Tori brawl briefly as Ivory and Jacqueline team up, Jacqueline takes down Luna and Tori while Ivory watches on.

 Tori and Luna double team Jacqueline with a clothesline, double suplex for good measure, Ivory comes back in and Ivory gives Jacqueline a piece of her mind, Jacqueline hammers away on the champion, Ivory locks in a sleeper on Jacqueline, Luna grabs a sleeper on Ivory and Tori grabs a sleeper on Luna, Jacqueline escapes with a jaw breaker and all women get knocked down.

 Ivory grabs her belt and whacks Jacqueline in the face, Ivory pins Jacqueline to retain the championship. Another short match but what can you expect, the women were not treated well during that time.

Winner: Ivory over Everyone Else!




Road Dogg vs Chris Jericho W/ Curtis Hughes

Road Dogg is ready for revenge, his back was injured at the hands of Y2J who powerbombed through a table on Smackdown. By now, you should know my opinion of Road Dogg as a singles wrestler but if you are new, let me remind you of a Road Dogg singles match. Road Dogg gets killed, hits his punch and knee drop and loses the match. This is the way 90% of his matches finish and it kills me to watch, there is no hope spots, he just gets beat and beat.

 Road Dogg attacks Jericho on the outside, right hands and Jericho spills into the crowd, double ax handle, Road Dogg throws Jericho back into ringside before Jericho is sent into the guard rail. As soon as Road Dogg steps into the ring, Jericho takes over, stiff kicks to Road Dogg and right hands from Y2J. Road Dogg tells Jericho to suck it after a right hand, kicks to Jericho but Jericho fights back, corner clothesline and a choke in the corner. Road Dogg gets some offence in(I am surprised) with a dropkick but Jericho takes over, stungun and a springboard dropkick sends Road Dogg crashing to the floor.

 Bodyguard Curtis Hughes smashes Road Dogg with a clothesline. Jerihco superplexes Road Dogg from the apron into the ring, Jericho steps on the face of Road Dogg. Jericho chokes Road Dogg on the second rope, springboard splash from Jericho, boot to the face by Y2J. Road Dogg throws some rights before Jericho cuts him off with a bulldog, right hands from Y2J. Leg across the lower back from Y2J, reverse chinlock from Jericho. Road Dogg throws more rights and crotches Jericho before planting Jericho with a superplex, right hands and more right hands from Road Dogg. Swinging neckbreaker by Road Dogg, Jericho counters an irish whip with a walls of Jericho attempt, Road Dogg counters, Jericho misses a lionsault and Road Dogg scores with his punches and knee drop but the referee was wiped out in the chaos.

 Hughes grabs a chair from ringside, smack on the lower back. Jericho makes the pin, two count, Hughes jumps onto the apron, right hand from Road Dogg. Jericho low blows Road Dogg and gets the pin. Surprised by this I was(for some reason I am Yoda?). Road Dogg sold his back he always sold his ass off so that was good but he pulled off more than some right hands and fairplay to Jericho who played an obnoxious heel quite well.

Winner: Chris Jericho over Road Dogg via low blow & pinfall!




Jeff Jarrett W/ Miss Kitty vs Chyna

Chyna had accepted Jeff’s challenge and we now have their impromptu match, Chyna makes her way to the ring first, interesting dynamic here as Chyna is a face going after Jarrett while she is a heel for siding with Triple H. Soon after this, Chyna would separate from Triple H in a good move as you do not want one of your top faces being booed(unless it is Roman Reigns, ok that was a low blow I apologize). Jarrett runs right in and punches Chyna all around the ring, big clothesline form the ninth wonder of the world, shoulder block, Jarrett catches Chyna coming in but Chyna low blows Jarrett right in front of the referee(no DQ? Ok whatever).

 Pedigree attempt by Chyna is countered into a catapult, Chyna does not stay down for long as she reverses Jarrett and attempts a figure four on Jarrett. Surprise, surprise as British Bulldog who was insulted by Chyna attacks Chyna and lays her out with a running powerslam, the match ends in a dq and Jarrett locks in the figure four to Chyna as the referees pull Jarrett off. Extremely short so I cannot really rate it as it never got going but I am fine with it, this feud would come to an end at next month’s No Mercy with a satisfying conclusion.

Winner: Chyna over Jarrett via DQ!




Big Show vs Kane

I will always have a soft spot for big man vs big man matches, big men work best against smaller wrestlers who will bump around the ring for them but watching two big men slug it out reminds me so much of the Godzilla movies that I came to love so much when I was younger. This won’t be a spotfest or a technical masterpiece but I do not care, these two will destroy one another. Kane starts off with right hands before Show takes Kane off his feet with a clothesline and a dropkick, Kane is sent over the top rope but lands on his feet stungun from The Big Red Machine. Punches in the corner from Kane, Show shoves Kane off, knees in the corner from Show, hard irish whip from Show backfires, Kane explodes with a clothesline and a dropkick of his own, they trade blows in the centre off the ring before Show catches Kane with a two handed toss.

 Two count for The Big Show, headbutts from Show, backbreaker submission from Show. Show chokes Kane with his boot in the  corner, chest slaps, Kane blocks the third attempt, right hands Kane is hammering away, Show turns the tide by reversing an Irish whip and planting Kane with a reverse DDT. Boston Crab by The Big Show, Show breaks the hold and stomps The Big Red Machine. Enzuigiri from Kane, Show is down to one knee, Kane tries for a scoop slam but his back fails for him due to the abuse he has suffered.

 Kane dodges an elbow from Show though, Kane scores with a DDT, Kane climbs to the top, clothesline wipes out Show. Could it be chokeslam time? Show blocks the chokeslam, Kane is thrown to the outside and into the steel steps. Show grabs a chair from ringside, this match is no disqualifications, Show gets the chair kicked into his face and Kane musters up the strength he has left and scoop slams the giant.

 Kane wins with the slam, I like the finish it makes sense as Show is such a big man and the force it would take to slam him was a lot and he got struck with the chair in the face so it is all good in my book.

Winner: Kane over Big Show by Slam!




X-Pac vs British Bulldog

Triple H promo where he states that he is the man, The Rock will lose tonight and the only thing that matters is Triple H. I wonder why Bulldog started wearing jeans, he had such great colourful tights, maybe Vince just wanted to mess with him after Bulldog left in support of Bret Hart. Lock up and the bigger man Bulldog shoves down X-Pac, X-Pac catches Bulldog with an arm drag, kip up and Bulldog grabs a side headlock. Shoulder block from Bulldog takes X-Pac down, clothesline from Bulldog, X-Pac counters the second attempt looking for a spinning heel kick.

 Bulldog catches X-Pac mid air and plants him with a slam. X-Pac is tossed to the outside, Bulldog makes his way back into the ring and admires his handy work. Standing vertical suplex by the Bulldog two count and a sleeper is applied by Davey Boy. Bulldog maintains control with a knee to the mid-section, sleeper hold is locked in again. Spinning heel kick from X-Pac, right hands and another spinning heel kick, kicks in the corner, bronco buster by X-Pac. Bulldog does not stay down for long, he catches X-Pac coming in and gorilla press slams poor X-Pac onto the ropes and scoops X-Pac off the ropes into his trademark running powerslam.

 Man is it just me or are these matches really short? Ending comes out of nothing, X-Pac just got caught after the bronco buster and beat like a chump. Felt a bit strange to me so maybe take a look yourself and see what you make of it

Winner: British Bulldog over X-Pacv via Running Powerslam!




(Number One Contenders Match for the Tag Team Titles)  Edge & Christian vs The Acolytes vs The Holly Cousins

It is announced that Stephanie is being kept overnight in the hospital due to her attack at the hands of The British Bulldog. Three teams, two men in the ring, you can tag in anyone, Edge and Hardcore Holly start, Edge is dropped by a Hardcore Holly dropkick before both Edge and Hardcore tag out to their partners, Christian picks apart Crash but a thumb to the eye allows Crash to tag Hardcore. A lot of quick tags going on here, it is hard to take note of all the action. Crash and Bradshaw remain as the legal men, Crash is crotched by Faarooq, massive back drop by Bradshaw, Hardcore plants Bradshaw with a Falcon’s Arrow, Hardcore and Faarooq brawl on the outside. Inside the ring, Bradshaw pins Crash after a Clothesline From Hell. The Holly Cousins are eliminated.

Down to two, Edge and Christian double team Bradshaw briefly, Bradhshaw has enough and boots Edge is his face, Bradshaw tags in Faarooq and they dissect Edge like a frog in a college experiment. Edge makes the tag to Christian, a splash is countered into a fallaway slam by Bradshaw, Faarooq is tagged in massive bearhug on Christian. Crowd comes alive for Christian but Christian must wish he was dead as he gets planted with a spinebuster, make it a double spinebuster as Bradshaw is now legal, Christian shows signs of life but Bradshaw is having none of it, Faarooq is in, Faarooq gets cocky and pasy for it, Christian scores with a facebuster. Dominator is blocked and DDT by Christian, hot tag to Edge, dropkicks and clotheslines, Faarooq is on the outside, Bradshaw scores with the clothesline from hell, Christian saves Edge, tornado DDT from Edge and he pins Bradshaw. Edge and Christian are number one contenders, good match from these three teams.

Winners: Edge & Christian over Everyone Else via Tornado DDT!




(WWF Championship Match) The Rock vs Triple H © W/ Chyna(Steel Cage Match)

Triple H had pinned The Rock to regain the WWF championship at Unforgiven which was 6 days prior, Rock would have his opportunities at the championship on this night but there was the looming threat of The British Bulldog who was hell bent on winning the championship. Quick sidenote, that WWF championship looks beautiful I wish they would bring that championship back, looks much better than the one they use today. No Chyna with Triple H, Triple H looks to do it on his own but we know Triple H’s word is not much good. They start it out slugging it out, Rock hammers Hunter with right hands, Rock whips Triple H and lowers his head, Triple H takes control with right hands, Triple H lowers his head and Rock returns the favour with a right hand to the champion’s face.

 Triple H tries escaping the cage but Rock pulls him back into the cage and a clothesline sends the champion crashing to the canvas. Boots in the corner by The People’s Champ, elbow to the face and The Rock begins climbing over the top, Triple H tugs out Rock, catching his attention, Rock tries for a double ax handle, Rock regrets the move as Triple H takes down the challenger with a right hand to the sternum. High knee to the face by the champion, Triple H begins to press his advantage, Rock battles back with a swinging neckbreaker, Rock climbs the cage again, Triple H sees his championship fading away and jerks Rock off the cage. Rock tastes the cage as Helmsley rams his head into the cage, stomps by the champion.

 Triple H almost escapes the cage but Rock staggers to his feet and takes down the champion. Rock begins climbing and is so close to winning, he is on the verge of winning, Triple H drags Rock back inside the ring and both men trade blows before landing groin first on the ropes. Both men down and both men possibly living a life without producing children. Triple H recovers quicker(must have super balls) Triple H tries a double ax handle but walks into The Rock Bottom. Rock climbs once more but Triple H backdrops Rock to the canvas, both men lay in the centre of the ring. Right hands and a powerslam from the challenger Rock has to pull himself back up, fatigue has sent in, Triple H grabs the tights and yanks Rock down from the cage, Rock Bottom is countered into the Pedigree. Triple H looks to crawl out the door, Rock grabs Triple H’s ankle, Triple H tries to use a steel chair, Earl Hebnar grabs the chair and gets knocked out, Rock climbs out the door but there is no referee, Rock had the match won and what a pop when he did crawl out but it does not count as the referee is unconscious.

 Rock cracks Triple H in the head with a chair, a little revenge after Triple H cracked The Rock with a chair the night he won the championship from Mankind on Raw. Triple H is busted open by the chair shot and Rock puts Hunter through a table with an elbow. Rock drags the champion back into the ring, Triple H meets the steel cage twice and eats a DDT courtesy of The Rock. The referee slowly revives as The Rock begins climbing over the cage, Shane Mcmahon starts brawling with The British Bulldog, powerslam on the floor takes out Shane, Patterson and Brisco come to ringside but Bulldog mows them down. Bulldog takes out Rock and Triple H, low blow by The Rock slows down Bulldog. Rock Bottom by Rock, he begins crawling towards the door.

 Here’s Chyna! Rock is robbed again as the steel cage door is smashed into his face, Triple H begins climbing the cage, Rock cuts off Helmsley, Chyna climbs the cage and now Bulldog grabs The Rock it is three on one and Triple H escapes the cage and wins. Triple H retains the championship thanks to Chyna and The British Bulldog. Vince Mcmahon makes his way to the cage, he locks the cage and Rock drops The Bulldog. Even in defeat The Rock sends the fans home happy as he scores with The People’s Elbow. I really liked this main event, I loved Rock and Triple H’s other cage match on Raw and this might be slightly below that match but it is still one hell of a match.

 Rock was screwed by so many people here and still came off looking great rather than a total chump while the fans are just waiting for the day that Triple H gets annihilated for his attitude. The crowd was hot for The Rock and the drama was there in tenfold, I didn’t remember Shane attacking Bulldog, I wonder if that led to anything, I presume Stephanie’s fiancé Test wanted to kill Bulldog but there was no pay per view match between the two, I mean that was a pretty easy feud to be built upon but there is no follow up which is a little disappointing. Rock was screwed twice in quick succession by Bulldog but they would get it on at next month’s No Mercy and Triple H would defend his championship against Stone Cold Steve Austin.

Winner: Triple H over The Rock thanks to British Bulldog!




Overall, I would recommend giving this pay per view a miss, U.K only shows are usually fun and have a different edge to them than the traditional pay per views, perhaps it is the crowd being starved of a WWF show and making the most of the experience, perhaps the wrestlers phone it in as it is abroad and could be considered a glorified house show, I cannot nail exactly what it is but they are different, this show had a lot of quick matches, if the wrestling is poor then generally, nobody minds but these matches were so short it was hard to invest in them and finishes came out of nowhere. For example, Mark Henry and X-Pac were in control one moment and the next Val Venis and The British Bulldog had their hands raised in victory. 

For me, Jarrett’s character and the main event saved the show for me, Jarrett was such a huge dickhead on this show and the storyline was super easy to be invested in, he felt that women were inferior and had no place in the wrestling business, a man’s world. However, Chyna is no mere woman she is the ninth wonder of the world a phenomenon like no other and she is so over and believable that the fans can see her kicking Jarrett’s ass. Soon she shall have her moment and it will be great, and as I said before, the main event had drama and excitement. While there was a screwy finish, Triple H had just been crowned champion, there was no hope of him losing the title. That being said, they did a great job of convincing the fans that a championship change would take place. Some great storytelling and it continues the feud between British Bulldog and Rock and continues the storyline that The Rock has had Triple H’s number on a few occasions now, Rock’s day will be coming soon. Next pay per view is No Mercy, The American pay per view, strange that WWF did two pay per views of the same name in the same year. Anyways, see you next time guys.




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