Saturday 17 October 2020

WWF In Your House 5: Seasons Beating Review

 




Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet that has a better Twitter Game than T-Bar! It’s WWF In Your House 5: Seasons Beatings! We have Bret Hart taking on British Bulldog for the WWF Championship, Owen Hart battling Diesel and Sycho Sid and The 1-2-3 Kid against Razor Ramon & Marty Jannetty! WWF Survivor Series 1995 was a huge step up for the WWF, can the momentum train keep rolling here? Let’s find out!

 

Sycho Sid & The 1-2-3 Kid W/ Ted Dibiase vs Razor Ramon & Marty Jannetty


While Jannetty has a legitimate issue with Kid due to the Survivor Series, I can shake the opinion in my mind that Jannetty is here as a sacrificial lamb. Goldust watches on, very interested in Razor Ramon. I will leave it at that, Jannetty vs Kid to kick us off. Kid comes out with big kicks, Irish whip but Jannetty slides through the legs and lands an enzuigiri for two. Arm-wringer but Kid squirms out, Kid sends Jannetty to the buckle. Jannetty shoves down Kid, shoulder block from Jannetty. Clothesline from Jannetty for two, arm-wringer with a drop toehold. Kid scampers away, Kid shoves Jannetty again. Massive atomic drop from Jannetty, tag to Razor. Kid tries running away, Jannetty throws Kid back in the ring.

 

 

Slaps from Razor, atomic drop but Kid tagged in Sid. Sid catches Razor with a clothesline, forearm shots to the back. Sid chokes Razor on the middle rope, tag to Kid. Kid lands kicks to floor Razor, chops in the corner. Razor is shaking it off though, Sid lands shots from the apron. Massive gut shots from Sid, boot to the face from Sid. Razor answers Sid with right hands, Sid reverses the Irish whip and both men are down off the double clothesline. Jannetty and Kid come in, Jannetty sends Kid into the mat head-first. Kid ducks clotheslines but eats a powerslam for two. Whip to the corner, Jannetty lands a Diamond Dust for two as Kid places a foot on the ropes. Camel clutch from Jannetty, Kid escapes but Jannetty slaps on a front chancery. Kid backs Jannetty to the corner, Jannetty knees Kid and slaps on a reverse chin-lock.

 

 

Sid clubs Jannetty with a clothesline from the apron, spinning heel kick from Kid. Tag to Sid, Sid roughs up Jannetty in the corner. Jannetty fires back with right hands before Sid ends that with a powerslam for two. Scoop slam from Sid, Sid shoves Razor which allows Kid and Sid to double team Jannetty. In comes Kid, scoop slam and Kid climbs high. Frog Splash connects for two, tag to Kid who lands a massive big boot. Razor is with the referee as Sid and Kid decimate Jannetty with a corner dropkick and clothesline. Sid slaps on a reverse chin-lock, Jannetty tries fighting back but Sid is too strong. Elbow knocks down Jannetty, in comes Kid. Snap-mare and leg drop from Kid, tag to Sid.

 

 

Quick tags from Kid & Sid before Kid whips Jannetty to the corner, Kid misses a splash and in comes Razor. Right hands to Kid & Sid, Kid is whipped into Sid. Fallaway slam on Kid, Sid back-drops Razor to avoid the finish. Sid misses a leg drop, Sid whips Razor to the buckle. Boot from Razor, middle rope bulldog and this match is over! Razor’s Edge is stopped as Sid grabs Kid to the floor, Razor and Jannetty win.

 

 

Fuck me what are they doing to Sid in the WWF? From a potential main event feud with Shawn Michaels to jobbing to everyone and everything? A bulldog from the middle rope? My initial thought was wrong so, Jannetty was not just in this match to eat the pin, I am in shock. Happy for Razor to get the win but what a waste of Sid, this company continues to shoot itself in the foot when trying to build its way out of the hell that was 1995. Jannetty’s face-in-peril segment was a little flat to me, I thought Sid could have done more and taken more glee in destroying Jannetty but this seemed very by the book for everyone involved, nothing special here.

 

Winners: Razor Ramon & Marty Jannetty over The 1-2-3 Kid & Sycho Sid via Middle Rope Bulldog!

 

Buddy Landel W/ Dean Douglas vs Ahmed Johnson


Ahmed was going to kill Douglas but Douglas has Landel in his place, Landel chops Ahmed who backs down Landel. Right hands by Landel which has no effect, Ahmed picks up Landel and delivers a spinebuster. Pearl River Plunge and this match is over! After the match, Jarrett cracks Ahmed with his gold record and a steel chair, the first proper feud for Mr. Ahmed Johnson!

 

Winner: Ahmed Johnson over Buddy Landel via Pearl River Plunge!

 

(Hog-Pen Match) Hunter Hearst Helmsley vs Henry O. Godwinn


Helmsley has been feuding with Godwinn for a few months now, their lifestyles being the perfect reason for a feud. Helmsley has avoided being slopped a number of times but there will be no avoiding it this time as the loser of this match must go into the Hog-Pen. Hillbilly Jim is the referee, back-drop by Godwinn. Headbutt and hard right hand, Godwinn ties up Helmsley in the ropes. Helmsley has slop rubbed in his face, Helmsley breaks free and clotheslines the head of Godwinn. Neck-breaker after a lot of right hands and stomps from Helmsley, knee drop from Helmsley for two. Irish whip and high knee from Helmsley, Helmsley eats an elbow from Godwinn who rams Helmsley into the steel steps.

 

 

Godwinn begins carrying Helmsley towards the pen, Helmsley slips out and lands a right hand. Godwinn is rammed into the guardrail, Godwinn blocks the second time and throws Helmsley into the guardrail. Godwinn wants the Irish whip before Helmsley reverses, sending Godwinn into the gate. Helmsley wants The Pedigree, Godwinn wants the back-drop but Helmsley hangs on and delivers an elbow drop onto the chest of Godwinn. Back in the ring, Godwinn whips Helmsley to the buckle but Helmsley blocks with a boot to the face. Helmsley tries a monkey flip but Godwinn stops and slams Helmsley face-first into the canvas. Helmsley flips when hitting the buckle, taking his bump to the floor.

 

 

They battle towards the pen, Slop-Drop on the floor is countered as Helmsley grabs onto the guardrail to survive the drop. Godwinn’s back takes a beating with this bump, Godwinn whips Helmsley into the gate. Slop Drop and Helmsley is out-cold but Godwinn is in a lot of pain too. Godwinn tries a clothesline but Helmsley ducks and back-drops Godwinn into the hog-pen. Helmsley shoves Hillbilly Jim which leads to Godwinn military pressing Helmsley into the Hog-Pen.

 

 

Helmsley’s momentum continues but like a true heel, Helmsley gets covered in more pig shit than the actual loser. Helmsley throws a tantrum and it’s hilarious to see Helmsley be so good at comedy wrestling. Anyways, this match was decent, I thought it would have dragged more but things get down to business quite quickly.

 

Winner: Hunter Hearst Helmsley over Henry O. Godwinn via Into The Hog-Pen!

 

Owen Hart vs Diesel


So Diesel took out Bret and is acting like an absolute tool but Diesel will always stand up for his friend Shawn Michaels and since Owen Hart is claiming he was the one to take out Shawn Michaels, Diesel has signed on to batter Owen Hart.

 

 

Diesel starts off with knees and a toss for Owen, hard Irish whip and a sidewalk slam. Whip to the buckle, Owen leaps over Diesel. Right hands from Owen before Diesel shoves off Owen. Clothesline to the floor, Diesel throws Owen back into the ring. Diesel pulls Owen up by the hair, Owen ducks the big boot and lands his spinning heel kick. Missile dropkick from Owen, Owen begins softening up the legs. In the corner, Owen kicks the leg of Diesel. Enzuigiri from Owen for two, Owen goes after the leg. Spinning toe hold from Owen but Diesel kicks off Owen into the ring-post. Snake eyes from Diesel, leg across the back from Big Daddy Cool. Irish whip and big boot, Diesel says this is over. Jacknife Powerbomb and a foot on the chest for two, Diesel is not done yet. Diesel pie-faces the referee and Jacknifes Owen. DQ!

 

 

While it is quite confusing that Diesel is being cheered despite being a massive dickhead, there is some great story-telling here with Diesel pie-facing the referee and costing himself the match, showing his aggressive side and continuing down that darkpath. Big Daddy Cool is not the man that he once was, what will be next for Diesel?

 

Winner: Owen Hart over Diesel via DQ!

 

(Casket Match) King Mabel W/ Sir Mo vs The Undertaker W/ Paul Bearer


The Undertaker dominated at Survivor Series, it leads us to this moment as Mabel was the one to break the face of The Deadman. The match kicks off with headbutts from Mabel, Taker pummels Mabel with rights and lefts. Corner choke from The Deadman, whip to the buckle and corner splash from The Deadman. Mabel reverses an Irish whip to the buckle and lands a sidewalk slam but Taker sits up, clothesline and Taker sits-up again. Scoop slam from Mabel, middle rope splash misses as Taker sits up. Boot from Taker and a throat thrust, clothesline rocks Mabel. Make it two, Sir Mo grabs the foot of Taker. Taker eats a belly to belly suplex, leg drop and splash from Mabel. Mabel hands Taker to Mo, Mo wants to put Taker in the casket.

 

 

Taker is dumped inside but the two twats do not close the lid, Mabel dances towards the coffin and Taker stops the lid from closing. Mabel does not notice, Mabel is terrified of the charging Deadman. Boots and thrusts, clotheslines from Taker. Flying clothesline from Taker, Chokeslam from Taker. Taker boots Mabel into the casket, Mo attacks Taker to save Mabel. Mo’s attacks have no effect, Taker grabs Mo and Chokeslams Mo. Mo and Mabel are in the casket and Taker takes the remnants of the urns and buries Mabel & Mo.

 

 

Mercifully short which is a wise choice and Mabel would be gone from the WWF soon enough so I can’t really complain about a lack of offense for someone who was not long for the WWF. Undertaker is one of my favourite characters in the WWF and Thank God for that because Undertaker will hopefully soon have some interesting opponent to work with because after suffering through Bundy, Kama, IRS and Mabel, I would like a good match now.

 

Winner: The Undertaker over King Mabel!

 

(WWF Championship Match) The British Bulldog W/ Diana Smith & Jim Cornette vs Bret Hart


Bret Hart and British Bulldog are brothers in law, Bret’s sister is married to The British Bulldog and Bulldog turned his back on Bret when The Bulldog aligned with Camp Cornette. Bulldog has scored some big wins over the likes of Bam Bam Bigelow and even Razor Ramon on his way to challenging for the championship. An interesting affair due to the family issues but also the victory that The British Bulldog holds over Bret, their epic encounter from Summerslam 1992.

 

 

They lock-up, Bulldog shoves away Bret. Lock-up again with Bulldog showing his power, side headlock takedown from Bret. Drop toehold into an arm-bar, Bulldog flips out of the arm-bar but uses the hair for leverage. Bret backs Bulldog to the corner, clean break from The Hitman. Arm-drag into the arm-bar from Bret, Bulldog escapes but Bret continues his advantage with a crossbody and arm-bar before Bulldog changes everything with a massive knee. Bulldog slams Bret to the mat with his hair, Bulldog places Bret in the tree of woe. Stomps from Bulldog who clamps up a reverse chin-lock to keep The Hitman at bay. We get shots from Diana mixed in with the match, Bret fights his way out attempting a crucifix but Bulldog counters with a Samoan Drop.

 

 

Two from Bulldog, reverse chin-lock from Bulldog. Cornette cracks Bret with the racket when the referee was not looking, more reverse chin-locks from Bulldog. Bret backs Bulldog to the buckle, shoulder thrusts before Bulldog sends Bret into the buckle sternum-first. Irish whip and back body-drop from Bulldog for two, reverse chin-lock again. Bulldog continues to hold onto the headlock, Bret eats a shoulder block but Bret monkey flips Bulldog. Inverted atomic drop and right hand from Bret, headbutt to the groin. Running bulldog from Bret for two, Bulldog reverses an Irish whip and lowers the head. Bret piledrivers Bulldog for a close two, Irish whip and gut punch.

 

 

Russian leg-sweep with Bret’s Rope Elbow Drop, Bulldog blocks the suplex by crotching Bret on the top rope. Bret spills to the floor, Bulldog clotheslines the champion into the steel steps. Bulldog rams Bret spine-first into the ring-post, headbutt and hard Irish whip from Bulldog. Bret is bleeding, piledriver from Bulldog for a close two. Delayed vertical suplex from Bulldog, two for Bulldog. Military press slam from Bulldog for two, scoop slam from Bulldog. Bulldog climbs high, diving headbutt to the spine of Bret for a close two. Bulldog applies a bow & arrow but Bret flips out, looking for the sharpshooter. Bulldog scrambles to the ropes, Bulldog was limping but Bulldog runs the ropes and shoulder blocks The Hitman.

 

 

Bulldog clubs Bret on the apron, apron suplex is countered for a German suplex, two for Bret. Irish whip reversed by Bret, Bulldog ducks and we have a double clothesline. Bulldog charges Bret who back-drops Bulldog to the floor, Bret planchas onto Bulldog and pummels the challenger. Bret tries a springboard splash but Bulldog catches Bret and lands his Running Powerslam on the floor. Bulldog rips up the protective padding, suplex is blocked though and Bret puts Bulldog on the guardrail. Massive clothesline from Bret, back-breaker from The Hitman. Irish whip from Bret, Bulldog flips into the corner.

 

 

Bret picks up Bulldog, Bret wants that superplex. Bret connects, Bret covers for a close two. Bret is furious, O’Connor roll from Bulldog but Bret rolls through for two. Gut punch from Bret, massive forearms in the corner. Bulldog sends Bret to the buckle, Bret blocks with the knees. La Magistral and Bret retains his WWF Championship.

 

 

This was an excellent match, the first time I viewed it, it didn’t click for me. Something was wrong so I decided to take another look and I am so glad I did, this match has an awful lot going for it. You have the hatred between Bulldog and Bret, Bret’s sister being involved at ringside. It’s personal and the bumps reflect the hatred between the two, Bret being busted open is a great addition to the match. I believe it’s the spinebuster into the ring-post, if not it looks great. You also have Bret being crotched on the top rope by Bulldog and The Running Powerslam on the floor, Bret drops Bulldog on the guardrail and flips Bulldog into the buckle. A lot of aggression and intensity which adds so much to this match, Bulldog’s cheating ways work well in this match. You can contrast it so easily with their 92 Summerslam classic and see how Bulldog pulls hair and grabs tights in this one. Bret sells his ass off for this, the blood is just so perfect because Bret looks and sells like it’s a miracle that The Hitman is still conscious and then the finish. A hold that is inescapable for Bulldog, just like in 1992 when Bulldog caught Bret, Bret returns the favour and retains the championship.

 

Winner: Bret Hart over The British Bulldog via La Magistral!

 

That was WWF’s In Your House 5: Season Beatings, a very good showing from the WWF for hopefully a sign of things to come. So this is the end of my viewing of the WWF in 1995, at times it has been as bad as described by so many people in the industry. Some gimmicks are ludicrous, some matches have been very boring while finishes in the main event scene have been quite the mixed bag. I do think the biggest hinderance to the year was the lack of pushing certain talent with the company. I think Owen Hart has been wasted in his tag team with Yokozuna, I think Diesel is a much better fit as a heel or babyface badass with an edge as shown here, Razor Ramon, Jeff Jarrett and Sycho Sid could have all had major feuds going in the year but only Razor has something coming out of the year and that is his feud with The 1-2-3 Kid. So, I think proper care was lacking when it came to the talent as a whole, too much time invested in Mabel for sure. Anyways, let’s talk about this card now that I have finished ranting about 1995.

 

The show opens with a tag team match to further the feud between The Kid and Razor Ramon. Shocked by the finish, I thought for certain Jannetty was added to the match only to eat the pin-fall. However, it’s Sid and how this man will become WWF Champion during the year that follows I have no idea because Sid has slid further down that card with each and every match. I think Sid vs Razor could be its own feud so to see Razor pick up the win here was surprising and I am not sure it was a welcome one. Ahmed Johnson vs Jeff Jarrett can be a fun feud, Johnson looks like a tonne of fun and his explosiveness could make him a real star in the WWF. Hunter Hearst Helmsley continues to be one of my favourite gimmick-driven wrestlers in the WWF with top-notch facials and just the most smug look on his face all the damn time. The hog-pen was fun for sure, Diesel vs Owen was what it needed to be with Diesel getting a very intense character overhaul that made Big Daddy Cool look like a beast. Shame it was at Owen’s expense considering how awesome Owen Hart is inside of the ring. Undertaker destroys Mabel as it should be, nothing more needs to be said. Finally, the main event is a classic for sure. Was not expecting it but it delivers so well with Bret and Bulldog putting on an intense and heated contest which feeds off the blood that drips from Bret’s head and climaxes with The Hitman avenging his Summerslam 1992 loss in satisfying fashion. Easily digestible WWF Show here, might be the best of 1995 considering how hit and miss the year was, let’s see 1996. Thanks for reading and remember: there’s always another night!

Friday 9 October 2020

WWF Survivor Series 1995 Review

 



Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet that appears more infrequently than Mojo Rawley! It’s WWF Survivor Series 1995, WWF has been quite the interesting company to look at during the year of 1995. I have lambasted most of the big PPVs which featured some of the most awful content that I have had to ever stomach while praising some of the shorter In Your House PPVs but I have turned sour on those now too. Could Bret Hart be back on track? The Hitman will be challenging for The WWF Championship after their brawl at In Your House 4. Diesel has been leaning towards the heel side of things which is perfect for the big man who’s best work against Bret came when Big Daddy Cool was a heel. We also have Goldust vs Bam Bam Bigelow which I hope is a lot shorter than Goldust vs Jannetty which sucked the life out of me. We also have the Wild Card matches where heels and babyfaces could team up with one another in Survivor Series action. Can WWF end 1995 with a good PPV from one of the big five? Let’s find out!

 

The Underdogs (Hakushi/Bob Holly/Marty Jannetty/Barry Hororwitz) vs The Bodydonnas (Skip/Rad Radford/Dr. Tom Prichard/The 1-2-3 Kid) W/ Sunny & The Million Dollar Man


This is a little too on the nose right? Look at that Underdog team but the story here is The 1-2-3 Kid has been bought out by Ted Dibiase. Razor Ramon is out here already, wanting to murder The Kid. The Kid wants a piece of Razor, Razor is so close to getting his hands on Kid. Mr. Perfect is also here on commentary, that’s a nice change of pace but Vince Mcmahon is still on commentary who bellows and shouts over everyone else.

 

 

Prichard will start with Jannetty, Prichard backs Jannetty to the heels corner. Jannetty clotheslines and strikes everyone as Prichard nails Kid by mistake. Back body-drop and right hands from Jannetty, Prichard tags in Radford. Jannetty takes the arm, in comes Holly. Holly and Radford will reset us here, side headlock from Holly. Shoulder block and hurricanrana from Holly, right hands before Radford grabs the head. Shoulder block, Radford tries a hurricanrana but Holly lands a powerbomb. Scoop slam and arm-drag from Holly, leg drop onto the arm from Holly.

 

 

Tag to Hakushi, Hakushi wrenches the arm. Throat thrusts from Hakushi, spinebuster from Radford. Tag to Kid, Kid lands a top rope frog splash for two. Kicks in the corner from Kid, tag to Skip. Skip places Hakushi on the top rope. Super back suplex is countered as Hakushi lands a crossbody, tag to Holly. Holly and Skip leapfrog one another before Holly lands a back-drop, two clotheslines from Holly. Skip grabs the hair and tags Prichard, Dr. Bomb for two. Scoop slam from Prichard, Prichard misses the moonsault. Holly goes to the top rope, Diving Crossbody and Prichard is gone. Skip pulls down Holly by the tights and scores the elimination.

 

Bob Holly & Tom Prichard Have Been Eliminated!

 

Hakushi and Skip are in the ring, Hakushi misses his springboard splash. Skip slaps Hakushi hard twice, top rope Frankesteiner from Skip who landed on his head and knocked himself out. Hakushi crawls for the tag, Kid is in and stomps Hakushi down. Throat thrusts and spinning sole butt from Hakushi, handspring elbow and tiger chop from Hakushi. Diving shoulder block from Hakushi for two, scoop slam from Hakushi. Springboard headbutt misses for Hakushi, Radford is in and Kid illegally smacks Hakushi in the back of the head with a spinning heel kick. Radford grabs the tights and Hakushi has been eliminated!

 

Hakushi has been Eliminated by Rad Radford!

 

Horowitz is in the ring, Radford pounds on Horowitz before Kid kicks the face of Horowitz. Boot by Horowitz who kicks and elbows Kid, Kid kicks his way back into the match. Tag to Radford, Radford stomps Horowitz and lands a gut-wrench suplex for a close two. Jaw-breaker from Horowitz, Horowitz ducks his head on an Irish whip and eats a boot and a clothesline for two. Headbutt to the groin from Radford, snap-mare and neck-breaker from Radford. Northern lights suplex for two, Radford mocks Horowitz, Horowitz cradles Radford for being a twat and eliminates Radford.

 

Rad Radford has been Eliminated by Barry Horowitz!

 

Horowitz finally gets his hand on Skip, right hands and right hands. Big back body-drop from Horowitz. Another whip with Kid blind-tagging in, kick to the back of the head and a leg drop from Kid for the elimination.

 

Barry Horowitz has been Eliminated by The 1-2-3 Kid!

 

Jannetty is all alone, Jannetty dodges a corner splash from Skip. Skip counters with a knee, Jannetty tries leap-frogging Skip but Skip wants snake eyes, Jannetty dodges but Skip wants the powerbomb. Victory roll for two, Rocker-Dropper on Skip. Jannetty is crotched as Sunny shakes the ropes, Jannetty recovers to deliver a top rope powerbomb to Skip for the elimination.

 

Skip has been Eliminated by Marty Jannetty!

 

Jannetty gets up and immediately, Kid attacks with a clothesline followed by a spinning heel kick. Kid goes high, Diving Top Rope Leg Drop and Jannetty manages to kick out. Whip to the buckle, corner dropkick from Kid. Jannetty fights back on his knees, Kid lands a scoop slam. Somersault leg drop misses for Kid, Jannetty is hurting too though. Jannetty scores with right hands, Kid is begging off but there is nowhere Kid can go. Dropkick from Jannetty for two, right hands from Jannetty. Sid is here! Flying reverse elbow from Jannetty, Kid is slammed into the mat head-first. Rocker-Dropper in the middle of the ring, Kid places a foot on the ropes. Kid won’t let go of the ropes, Sid hurls Jannetty into the ropes by the throat and Kid covers for the win.

 

 

Remarkably, I didn’t totally hate this match. I am shocked by that as you but I really cannot say I hated this match. The “depth” of the roster is really shown here with jobbers all around, strange they would not have Horowitz as the last man on his team considering the amount of fans screaming his name during this match. Hakushi looked amazing the brief time he was in there, super talented and will do great things back in Japan. Right call for Kid to cheat his way through the eliminations and need help from Sid to win the match. Hopefully, they pay this off in a big way considering how much time has gone into The Kid now.

 

Winner: The Kid over Marty Jannetty via Hot-Shot!

 

Team Blayze (Alundra Blayze/Kyoko Inoue/Sakie Hasegawa/Chaparita Asari) vs Team Faye (Bertha Faye/Aja Kong/Tomoko Watanabe/Lioness Asuka) W/ Harvey Wippleman


Blayze and Faye’s feud continues with a bunch of Joshi pro wrestlers coming in here to round out the match. Aja Kong, Kyoko Inoue and Lioness Asuka are familiar to me because of their work. Beyond that, I am sorry I am not as familiar with everyone else.

 

 

Asari and Asuka kick us off, massive spinning heel kick and giant’s swing from Asuka. Asari escapes a scoop slam and tags in Blayze, scoop slam from Blayze and tag to Asari. Corkscrew splash from Asari, tag to Blayze. Blayze gets caught with a chop, Blayze ducks a chop and lands The German Suplex for the elimination.

 

Lioness Asuka has been eliminated by Alundra Blayze!

 

Watanabe comes in but Blayze dodges the moonsault, diving crossbody to the floor. Sakie comes in and lands multiple double-arm suplexes before whipping Watanabe who squishes Sakai with a senton followed by a diving top rope senton for a close two. Watanabe tags in Kong, massive chop from Kong. Sakie lands a spinning sole butt and two uranages for two, Sakie goes high. Kong blocks the crossbody with a kick, massive back-drop driver for the elimination.

 

Sakie Hasegawa has been Eliminated by Aja Kong!

 

In comes Asari who tries a crossbody and Kong bounces her back, massive scoop slam from Kong. Middle rope splash from Kong for her second elimination.

 

Chaparita Asari has been Eliminated by Aja Kong!

 

Blayze and Kong trade kicks before Blayze lands an enzuigiri, tag to Kyoko Inoue. Two clotheslines from Kyoko and Kyoko tries a sunset flip which does not work as Kong sits down on Kyoko and that’s Kyoko gone from this match.

 

Kyoko Inoue has been Eliminated by Aja Kong!

 

Multiple snap-mares from Blayze on Watanabe, snap suplex for two. Piledriver from Blayze and Watanabe has been eliminated!

 

Tomoko Watanabe has been Eliminated by Alundra Blayze!

 

In comes Bertha, whip to the buckle and a corner splash. Snap-mare, Irish whip and chop-block. More kicks to the leg, Blayze misses a kick but Bertha and Kong bang heads which leads to a German Suplex and elimination for Bertha.

 

Bertha Faye has been Eliminated by Alundra Blayze!

 

Blayze is whipped to the buckle, superplex from Kong. Kong tries for the backfist but Blayze dodges, no German suplex though as Kong sends Blayze to the buckle. Hurricanrana from Blayze for two, massive missile dropkick from Blayze. Standing moonsault from Blayze for two, Kong throws Blayze off the middle rope as Blayze was thinking moonsault. Kong is on the top rope, Blayze lands a kick but Blayze is shoved off, no superplex. Vader Hammer from Kong, make it two. Spinning Back-Fist and this match is over!

 

 

I mean it was as good as we were going to get with the WWF, the talent took the most of the occasion with Asari busting out one of the most insane corkscrew attacks I have ever seen. Kong is put over like a beast and that could lead to a potential match but I am not sure considering what we know about where Blayze goes next.

 

Winner: Aja Kong over Alundra Blayze via Spinning Back-Fist!

 

Bam Bam Bigelow vs Goldust


The Bizarre One takes on WWF main-stay Bam Bam Bigelow, The Beast From The East takes on the newest addition to the WWF Roster with a gimmick that is truly wild. The mannerisms are starting to come together now as Bigelow looks on very confused at Goldust.

 

 

Lock-up is stopped as Goldust hammers Bigelow, throw thrust from The Bizarre One. Bigelow is choked using the top rope, Bigelow reverses an Irish whip but Goldust hangs onto the ropes and decides to take a breather. Lock-up, hammerlock from Goldust. Slap from Goldust and Bigelow retaliates with a right hand, Goldust dodges an oncoming Bigelow but Bigelow lands a dropkick. Bigelow jaw-jacks with the referee, Goldust pulls Bigelow to the floor. Goldust tries a clothesline but nails the ring-post, Bigelow is stomped on as he re-enters the ring. Clothesline to the floor, choke in the corner from Goldust. Bigelow tries to fight back but Goldust scores with a massive knee for two. Front chancery from Goldust, Goldust rakes at the face of Bigelow.

 

 

Bigelow is thrown to the floor once more, Bigelow meets the steel steps hard. Bigelow is back in the ring, Goldust kicks Bigelow over and over. Bigelow grabs the boot of Goldust, belly to back suplex from Bigelow. Bigelow misses a falling headbutt, Goldust stretches Bigelow and rakes at the face. Goldust applies a camel clutch with Bigelow countering with the electric chair drop. Goldust whips Bigelow, flying clothesline from Goldust. Knee drop to the head for two, reverse chin-lock from Goldust. Bigelow counters with belly to back suplex again, clotheslines all around from Bigelow for two. Corner whip from Bigelow, Bigelow misses the corner splash as Goldust scores with the running bulldog for the win.

 

 

While The Goldust character and gimmick is certainly an interesting one in 1995, the in-ring work is not drawing me in just yet. Bigelow gets hardly any offense in during the match which means it relies on Goldust to really help sell this match to me and it is just not clicking with me. Hoping thins change as the year progresses.

 

Winner: Goldust over Bam Bam Bigelow via Running Bulldog!

 

The Royals (Jerry The King Lawler/Hunter Hearst Helmsley/Isaac Yankem/King Mabel W/ Sir Mo vs The Darksiders (The Undertaker/Henry O. Godwinn/Fatu/Savio Vega W/ Paul Bearer


Well this might be the most random match on the night, did Jerry Lawler target one of the men in this match? I guess it is built around Undertaker looking to murder Mabel, perhaps a waste of Hunter considering how much momentum The Connecticut Blue Blood was building up. Mabel had crushed the face of Undertaker with a splash which leads us to the Phantom of The Opera Undertaker.

 

 

Fatu and Helmsley to start off, Fatu hammers Helmsley with right hands. Back body-drop, clothesline but Helmsley almost lands the pedigree but locks eye with Taker. In comes Godwinn, Helmsley tags Lawler who tags in Yankem. Helmsley distracts Godwinn, Yankem goes to work with clotheslines. Irish whip and hip-toss by Godwinn, scoop slam and elbow drop by Godwinn. Godwinn slaps on a headlock, Yankem sends Godwinn to the buckle and lands a belly to back suplex. Helmsley comes in and lands uppercuts on Godwinn, Godwinn is choked on the middle rope. Foot choke by Helmsley, high knee from Helmsley for two.

 

 

Uppercut again rocks Godwinn, Godwinn sends Helmsley to the ropes. Military press slam from Godwinn, Helmsley tags in Lawler. Savio wants Lawler, hip-toss from Savio. Eye rake from Lawler, Savio whips Lawler but Savio lowers his head and is kicked in the face. Savio dropkicks Lawler and Fatu comes in, headbutt from Fatu. Lawler is bounced off the buckle ten times, headbutt from Fatu. Yankem knees Fatu from the apron, Lawler floors Fatu with a right hand. Yankem lands a big leg drop, tag to King Mabel. Mabel misses a corner splash, tag to Savio. Rights and chops, big spinning kick. Savio runs right into a sidewalk slam.

 

 

The heels stomp Savio before Mabel lands a northern lights suplex, Mabel tags in Yankem. Double headbutt rocks Savio’s world, Lawler and Helmsley batter Savio behind the referee’s back. Dropkick from Yankem, tag to Helmsley. More cheating from the heels who batter Savio, crowd seems largely indifferent to all of this. Knee drop from Helmsley for two, Helmsley stomps and punches Savio in the corner. Irish whip with Mabel landing an apron clothesline, in comes Jerry Lawler. Burger King chants ring throughout the arena, piledriver connects for Lawler. Lawler is very proud,1….2.. Savio manages to kick out! In comes Yankem, Savio chops back at the monster. Yankem drags Savio to the corner, Helmsley tags into the match.

 

 

Eye poke from Helmsley, Irish whip but Savio counters the clothesline for a massive uranage. Tag to Lawler, Lawler wants the piledriver and it connects again but Savio no-sells and tags Undertaker. Nobody wants a piece of Taker, two-handed throat toss from Taker. Lawler has been abandoned by his team, Tombstone Piledriver and Lawler is eliminated[SOC1] . Yankem comes in and eats a flying clothesline and a Tombstone for the elimination.

 

Jerry Lawler has been Eliminated by The Undertaker!

 

Isaac Yankem has been Eliminated by The Undertaker!

 

Helmsley tries running away from The Undertaker, there is nowhere to go though as Undertaker Chokeslams Helmsley all the way to hell for the elimination.

 

Hunter Hearst Helmsley has been Eliminated by The Undertaker!

 

Mabel lands a belly to belly suplex on Taker, massive leg drop but Taker sits-up which leads to Mabel leaving the ring and Undertaker Chokeslamming Mo while Mabel gets counted-out!

 

 

So pretty boring Survivor Series Elimination match with the match being a whole lot of nothing until we have The Deadman come into the ring and eliminate everyone inside of 5 minutes. The finish allows us to build toward Undertaker vs Mabel but can I just see Taker work with someone who can actually work inside of the ring?

 

Winners: The Darksiders over The Royals via Count-out!

 

Owen Hart/Yokozuna/Dean Douglas /Razor Ramon vs Shawn Michaels/Ahmed Johnson/Sycho Sid/British Bulldog


So what makes this match interesting? We have heels and babyfaces combining, we have Razor Ramon teaming with the likes of Owen Hart & Yokozuna against The British Bulldog and the likes of HBK and Ahmed Johnson. This could be a whole load of bullshit or a whole load of fun depending on how things play out with the booking.

 

 

Owen Hart and Shawn Michaels to kick us off, side headlock from HBK. Shoulder block, drop-down and hip-toss from Owen. Counters from both, Michaels skins the cat after head-scissoring Owen to the floor. Cornette is kicked in the ribs and waffled with his racket. Irish whip reverse by Owen, belly to belly suplex from The Rocket. Tag to Douglas, right hands from Douglas. Delayed vertical suplex and stomp from Douglas, stinging left jabs from Douglas. Michaels sends Douglas to both buckles off an Irish whip, flying forearm from HBK. Michaels goes high, diving axe handle from Michaels for two. Irish whip to the buckle, Douglas counters with a knee. Scoop slam from Douglas, Douglas tries a splash but Michaels dodges. Moonsault from HBK for two, Michaels tags in Ahmed.

 

 

Ahmed lands scissors kicks before wanting to slam Yokozuna, the heels batter Ahmed. Headbutt from Yokozuna, Yokozuna rakes the back. Tag to Douglas, rest-hold from Douglas. Owen swaps in behind the referee’s back, Owen has the referee as Ahmed gets roughed up by the heels. Tag to Douglas, double clothesline with Owen for two. Ahmed reverses an Irish whip and powerslams Douglas, tag to Michaels. Ahmed presses Michaels onto Douglas for two, Douglas powders to avoid Sweet Chin Music. Douglas almost rolls up Michaels, Douglas is shoved off and Ramon decks his partner, Michaels scores the elimination with a roll-up!

 

Dean Douglas has been Eliminated by Shawn Michaels!

 

In comes Owen and in comes Bulldog, the brothers-in-law stare one another down. They shove one another, Bulldog asks for a handshake before they batter one another. Bulldog leap-frogs Owen and lands a monkey flip, Owen drop-downs and lands his spinning heel kick. Two for Owen, Bulldog tags in Michaels. Now we have Michaels vs Razor, fans want to see these two go at it inside of the ring. Lock-up, shoulder block from Razor before Razor is side-stepped by Michaels. Big clothesline from Razor, Michaels lands an elbow to knock Razor.

 

 

Irish whip but the clothesline is ducked, Michaels lands a forearm and kips-up, Razor catches Michaels ducking his head. Razor’s Edge connects in the middle of the ring, Ahmed makes the save with a forearm. Razor sells being knocked hard by the forearm of Ahmed, Razor and Michaels bang heads after some drop-downs. Michaels tags in Sid, massive axe handles from Sid. Right hands to the ribs from Sid, choke in the corner from Sid. Massive hip-toss from Sid, Sid measures for a boot to the face. Yokozuna has enough, Yokozuna attacks Sid but Sid shakes it off. Forearms to the spine of Razor who looks to be in a bad way, Razor answers back with right hands before Side reverses, massive double clothesline spot.

 

 

Sid is climbing to the top rope, Razor manages to pull down Sid for a close two. Right hands from Razor, Sid ducks and chokeslams Razor. Sid tags in Michaels, Sid holds onto Razor. Razor ducks and Michaels kicks off the head of Sid, Sid is eliminated.

 

Sid has been Eliminated by Razor Ramon!

 

Bulldog attacks Razor while Sid yanks Michaels over the top rope and Powerbombs Michaels into the canvas. Bulldog allows Michaels to be the legal man, Razor and Michaels are both down. Razor crawls into the cover and gets a close two, Razor tags in Owen. Owen stomps the chest out of Michaels, back-breaker from Owen. Stomps to the spine over and over, back body-drop from The King of Hearts. Tag to Yokozuna, right hands in the corner. Michaels is whipped hard to the opposite buckle, shoulder claw from Yokozuna. Ahmed is with the referee which allows Owen to stomp The Heartbreak Kid. Michaels fights back with elbows, Yokozuna misses a clothesline but connects with an elbow that wipes out Michaels. Tag to Owen, double headbutt floors Michaels.

 

 

Snap suplex from Owen, diving headbutt misses as Michaels moves out of the way. Tag to Ahmed, clotheslines for Owen and Razor. Yokozuna is walloped too, Owen rakes the eyes. Owen ducks off the Irish whip, Pearl River Plunge and Owen Hart is out of this match.

 

Owen Hart has been Eliminated by Ahmed Johnson!

 

Razor comes in with right hands, Ahmed eats a boot from Razor and a bulldog. Razor knocks out Team Michaels, Ahmed reverses an Irish whip and spinebusters Razor. Ahmed is on the buckle celebrating, Razor’s Edge wipes out Ahmed. What was that? Bulldog interferes and is the legal man now, here comes Sycho Sid and The Kid. Bulldog is caught by Razor, fallaway slam for two. Clothesline by Razor, Kid grabs the ankle of Razor. Razor waffles Kid with a right hand but Bulldog drops Razor with The Running Powerslam for the elimination.

 

Razor Ramon has been Eliminated by The British Bulldog!

 

Michaels and Yokozuna are in the ring, right hands stagger Yokozuna before a palm thrust floors Michaels. Scoop slam from Yokozuna, massive leg drop from Yokozuna. Yokozuna wants a Banzai Drop, Michaels dodges at the last second. Tag to Ahmed, Ahmed slams Yokozuna but Bulldog breaks up the pin. Bulldog is decked by his partners, Sweet Chin Music for Yokozuna and Ahmed lands a splash for the win.

 

 

Interesting enough match, easily the best match on the card so far as the quality of workers in the match are off the charts. Sad that Sid is little more than a sidekick for The 1-2-3 Kid in his feud with Razor Ramon. Owen Hart was sacrificed for Ahmed, I can buy it though as Ahmed looks like as long as the big man is healthy, his matches will have some really fun moments. Ahmed Johnson did look dumb getting caught in that Razor’s Edge! Apart from that, the dynamic of the wild card match mixes things up and you have a match that might not be super satisfying but was far easier to sit through than anything else on this show. We continue the feud of Kid vs Razor, Bulldog gets a big pin-fall on Razor setting up his challenge for the WWF Championship and Ahmed looks strong off the bat with a dominate performance.

 

Winners: Team HBK over Team Razor via Sweet Chin Music & Splash!

 

(WWF Championship Match) Diesel © vs Bret Hart


Almost a year ago, Diesel captured the WWF Championship and this would be the third encounter between these two men, neither men have beaten the other in their previous encounters. KOTR 1994 ended in a disqualification while Royal Rumble 1995 ended in a no-contest as the referees lost control. However, there is no escape this time there must be a winner.

 

 

Diesel exposes the turnbuckle from the get-go, Bret Hart does the same thing. Bret tackles Diesel, shooting for the leg but Diesel uses forearms to club down Bret. Elbows in the corner from Big Daddy Cool, knees for good measure. Bret takes some big hits here, Bret cannot escape the corner as Diesel continues wearing down the challenger. Diesel lands a massive liver blow, Bret falls to the floor looking to catch his breath. Diesel stalks Bret, axe handle to the spine. Diesel batters Bret on the floor before sending Bret back into the ring, Diesel chokes Bret against the guardrail. In the ring, Diesel continues to forearm The Hitman inside of the ring.

 

 

Bret spills out to the floor, hard Irish whip to the steel steps. Diesel smashes a chair across the spine, a call-back from The Royal Rumble. I do love me some call-backs, Irish whip to the buckle. Short-arm clothesline from the champion, Diesel is talking shit too. Diesel calls for his finish, Jacknife but Bret holds onto the leg. Bret avoids the powerbomb, elbow to the nose and Bret bites the arm of Diesel. Right hands from The Hitman, Bret bites the head of Diesel. Eye rake from Bret, Sleeper from The Hitman. No it’s not Bret is ripping at the face of Diesel, Bret goes to work on the knee of Diesel. Multiple kicks to the left leg of Diesel, leg trip from Bret. Bret attempts everything to snap the leg of Diesel, Bret drops all of his weight on Diesel’s left leg.

 

 

Figure-four from Bret, Diesel crawls and crawls to make it to the ropes. Bret wants Sharpshooter but Diesel rakes the eyes of The Hitman. All is fair in love and war, Bret is shoved off smashing his neck off the exposed buckle. Clubbing blows on the back of the neck, Diesel is suckered in though as Bret lures Diesel to the ring-post. Diesel’s leg is smashed into the ring-post twice, Bret drops an elbow on Diesel’s leg. Bret uses a mic cable/camera cord to tie Diesel to the ring-post, Diesel drops a leg across Bret’s face to break free but the cord is tight. Bret lands a Bret’s Rope Elbow to the back of the head, Diesel cannot move. Bret rolls to the floor and grabs a chair, this is no DQ.

 

 

Diesel manages to boot away The Hitman, Bret steps on Diesel’s hand. Bret waffles Diesel in the back and now Bret goes after the knee with the chair. Diesel can be heard screaming, elbow to the head from Bret. Bret is on the top rope, chair in hand but Diesel crotches Bret. Diesel yanks Bret off the top rope, Diesel can now untie himself from the cable. Diesel is free! Bret backs Diesel to the corner, Diesel bears down on Bret. Sidewalk slam from Diesel for two, Bret is whipped sternum-first into the exposed buckle. Bret is on the middle rope, Diesel drops a massive leg across the back of The Hitman.

 

 

Snake eyes from Diesel, Diesel wants to do it again. Bret slips out and rams Diesel’s head into the exposed buckle, Bret hammers away with right hands. Flying neck-breaker from Bret for two, middle rope bulldog from Bret. Russian leg-sweep for two, Bret clotheslines Diesel to the floor. Plancha from Bret misses as Diesel dodges last second, Bret is climbing up to the apron. Diesel charges Bret at the apron and shoulder blocks Bret through the table! Fans rush to ringside, this is as close as you will get to ECW in the WWF. Diesel picks up Bret who can barely stand, clubbing blows from the WWF Champion.

 

 

Diesel throws Bret into the ring, Diesel looks at the fallen Hitman. Diesel calls for the end, this could be over in a matter of seconds. Diesel drags Bret to his feet, Diesel poses for the fans before Bret collapses. Diesel looks at Bret, not capitalising. Bret lures in Diesel and small packages Diesel for the win. Diesel snaps though, Jacknife Powerbomb from Diesel. Referee after referee is decked by Diesel, Bret is Powerbombed again.

 

 

What a match that might be the best Kevin Nash match you ever see, there was so much to this match. The taking off of the turnbuckles at the beginning to say this is it. No DQ, we can do whatever we like and I will not hesitate to send you into the buckle, I will do anything to win. That idea is developed further by both men using the chair and Bret using the cable to tie up Diesel. Both men showing they will do absolutely everything to win this match, both men attempting to destroy one another. Diesel sells the leg and Bret works the leg, it’s not all rest-holds like Bulldog and Bret shows us that the Sharpshooter might not work on Big Daddy Cool because even when Diesel is in the middle of that ring, Diesel is still only one step away from reaching the ropes. Diesel fights so hard not to give up his leg, only falling victim to Bret’s attack when his arrogance would takeover. And Diesel’s arrogance is his undoing as Diesel falls for the trap of The Hitman who was playing possum and gets rolled up, costing him the championship he held so dearly and so tightly to his chest. Angered by Bret’s clever plan, Diesel snaps and powerbombs Bret into oblivion, Big Daddy Cool has lost his cool and there’s a new heel in town. Great stuff!

 

Winner: Bret Hart over Diesel via Small Package!

 

That was WWF’s Survivor Series 1995, a massive improvement over everything else 1995 had to offer from the WWF. If anything, this PPV over-delivers because you have Survivor Series Elimination Matches which can always be hit and miss but on this night minus one Undertaker vs Team Lawler match, everything over-achieves. The opening match has a bunch of wrestlers who you never would think would give you an interesting match but Jannetty pulls it out here with a huge powerbomb spot with Skip, Kid looks like the biggest asshole walking the planet as he cheats his way to surviving and even Hakushi gets to shine so very happy with how the match played out, perhaps more heat could have been gotten if Horowitz was the last man eliminated. The women’s match is a lot of fun too, it only goes badly for Kyoko Inoue, I think she was meant to kick out but something went wrong. Either way, Kong looks dominate and if you need a challenger, Kong is the answer.

 

Goldust vs Bam Bam Bigelow does not deliver, Goldust is not there in terms of having the character completely figured out while Bigelow is leaving the WWF. Hopefully, things will click soon for The Bizarre One because Ahmed Johnson and Hunter Hearst Helmsley are looking like your brighter stars for the WWF’s future. Team Undertaker vs Team Lawler dragged for me because I knew what they were going for and was waiting for it and it just didn’t seem worth the wait. I felt so much could have been gotten out of Lawler being Tombstoned by Undertaker but Lawler was gone first, Yankem was tossed aside like garbage and Helmsley suffers his first loss but it’s to Undertaker so I can accept that but I really feel they could have made more of it but bottom line, they got Undertaker over strong which is what they needed to do at the end of the day.

 

Wild card match is interesting for sure, I like some developments and others I am not as keen on. To see Sid taken down by a superkick after not taking any damage in a match is a tough one to digest. Especially when Team Michaels was going to win so easily, why eliminate Sid? Did you have to go there? Also, what was Bulldog doing when Sid was being pinned? Completely screwed up the spot, Michaels is on fire again though. Looking everything look great and selling his ass off when taking Razor’s Edge or being powerbombed. Sad to see how Owen was treated, I feel they really dropped the ball with The Rocket but the winners are wise choices and the booking makes sense. We then end with an excellent main event, the best of Diesel with these two just leaving it out there and a finish which is so perfect which leads into a heel turn that Big Daddy Cool desperately needed to gain back lost steam. This is easily the best show of 1995 with a classic in Bret Hart vs Diesel. 1996 might not be that bad for the WWF, we have weathered the storm, there have been some absolute awful matches in here but things are looking a little brighter now with 1996 to come. Thanks for reading and remember: there’s always another night!

Wednesday 7 October 2020

WWF In Your House 4: The Great White North Review

 



Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series that gets weirder than Alexa Bliss & The Fiend fan-fiction! Headlined by Diesel defending his WWF Championship against The British Bulldog. Shawn Michaels cannot defend his Intercontinental Championship, what will happen with HBK? Razor Ramon and The 1-2-3 Kid challenge for The Tag Team Championships and The Bizarre One Goldust makes his PPV Debut!

 

Fatu vs Hunter Hearst Helmsley


From Headshrinker to dancing Samoan but it’s not the gimmick that finally clicked for Fatu, it’s the beginning of a number of gimmick changes for Fatu until we eventually get the beach blonde man who loves rubbing his ass in peoples’ faces. This would be a main event 5 years from this date but on this night, it’s two men trying to find their feet in the WWF.

 

 

Fatu decks Helmsley with right hands, back body-drop from Fatu. Ten punches in the corner rock Helmsley, Helmsley is in serious trouble. Helmsley is whipped to the floor, Helmsley meets the steel steps as Fatu dominates this match. Helmsley begs for mercy, Fatu is whipped to the buckle. Fatu leaps over Helmsley but Helmsley tries to bang Fatu’s head off the buckle and that does not work at all. Fatu decks Helmsley with right hands before Helmsley locks Fatu in between the ropes. Fatu is strangled as Helmsley dishes out the punishment. Piledriver from Helmsley, uppercuts from Helmsley.

 

 

Rights and stomps from Helmsley, Fatu fires back with right hands before Helmsley rakes the eyes. Neck-breaker from Helmsley for two, knee drop and right hands from Helmsley. Two for Helmsley, Helmsley applies a reverse chin-lock. Fatu fights out of the hold before a throat thrust from Helmsley, hard Irish whip and clothesline from Helmsley for two. Fatu almost rolls-up Helmsley for a close two, Helmsley wants the pedigree but Fatu back-drops Helmsley. DDT by Helmsley but no effect, superkick and back-drop from Fatu.

 

 

Back-breaker, Fatu is climbing to the middle rope. Diving Headbutt connects on Helmsley for a close two. Running out of the corner, Fatu lands a cutter. Fatu calls for the finish, Fatu climbs high to the top rope. Fatu misses the diving top rope splash, Helmsley takes control and delivers The Pedigree for the win.

 

 

Not much of a story to this match but it has some fun to it for sure, Helmsley’s gimmick lends to some great reactions from the fans, fans love Helmsley getting destroyed but also, I forgot how vicious The Pedigree looked when it came out first. However, Helmsley has had some horrid opponents to work with, I wonder when Helmsley will have his first proper feud in the WWF. I do not have to wait long as we see Henry O. Godwinn wanting to slop Hunter. Good opening match!

 

Winner: Hunter Hearst Helmsley over Fatu via Pedigree!

 

(WWF Tag Team Championship Match) The Smoking Gunns © vs Razor Ramon & The 1-2-3 Kid


So Michaels and Diesel as champions went nowhere I assume? So, Smoking Gunns are your champions with Owen Hart & Yokozuna nowhere in sight, the story of this one is can Kid & Razor put their problems behind them, they were having some serious issues the last time we saw the two.

 

 

Billy finally cut that atrocious mullet and moustache combination, Bart has not decided to follow Billy into the world of decent looking haircuts. Kid and Billy to start, Kid throws kicks that make Billy think twice about attacking. Lock-up, arm-drag from Kid. Another lock-up, Billy shoves Kid down with ease. Little trash-talking from both, Kid grabs a headlock. Billy picks up Kid and shoves him off, both men dodge before Billy hip-tosses Kid down. Arm-wringer from Billy, tag to Bart. Kid tags in Razor, crowd comes alive as Razor mocks Bart. Bart shoves down Razor, Razor takes the arm and lands shoulder thrusts. Bart reverses and arm-drags Razor, Razor takes the back.

 

 

Bart takes down Razor, Razor looks a little frustrated by these developments. Razor skips the arm-bars and throws big rights, Kid low-bridges Bart who wipes out on the floor. Kid thinks about stomping Bart but says, no not tonight.  Razor whips Bart to the buckle hard, corner clothesline from Razor. Right hands from Razor, tag to Kid. Kid lands big kicks to rock the face of Bart, spinning heel kick that rocks Bart. Kid cheap-shots Billy, signs of a new attitude from Kid. Two leg drops to Bart, tag to Razor. Fallaway slam from Razor, tag to Kid. Tag team manoeuvre as Razor fallaway slams Kid into Bart, chops in the corner from Kid.

 

 

Tag to Razor, chops and rights from Razor. Double team attack takes down Bart, elbow drop from Kid for two. Kid tags in Razor again, measured right to the ribs. Bart manages to send Razor into the mat as Razor lowered his head off an Irish whip, Razor and Bart bang heads. Billy gets the hot-tag, right hands and dropkicks rock Kid and Razor, scoop slam and elbow drop on Kid for a close two. Stomp to the face from Billy, tag to Bart who kicks Kid in the ribs. Bart lands a delayed back-breaker, make it two. Make it three, Razor saves his team. Tag to Billy, dropkick and suplex combination for a close two. Irish whip to the buckle, Billy misses a corner splash.

 

 

Bart pulls Billy on top of Kid, Razor pulls Kid on top of Billy. Close two for Kid, Kid manages to tag Razor. Right hands to both Gunns, Discuss punch for Bart who spills to the floor. Billy tries a back body-drop, Razor catches Billy for The Razor’s Edge. Kid wants the tag, Razor tags in Kid. Kid covers Billy not paying much attention to the downed Gunn and Billy reverses the pin-fall for a crucifix cover. The Smoking Gunns retain as Kid goes mental and wipes out The Smoking Gunns after the bell.

 

 

Nice little match that is heavy on story-telling compared to everything else, it’s all about what is happening with The 1-2-3 Kid. Kid is showing a meanstreak and a cockiness that costs the challengers the tag team championships. Again, I must sound like a broken record at this point but how Razor Ramon is not challenging for the WWF Championship is beyond me, the crowd goes nuts every time that Razor is in the ring and when that Razor’s Edge hits, everyone believes and so badly wants new tag team champions but they do not give it to us. Instead, we have more character development for The Kid and we will see just what happens next between Razor Ramon & The 1-2-3 Kid.

 

Winners: The Smoking Gunns over Razor Ramon & The 1-2-3 Kid via Roll-Up!

 

Goldust vs Marty Jannetty


A fan of the movies, The Bizarre Goldust is here looking like an Oscar or Golden Globe. Goldust gets the star treatment for sure with a unique entrance and a gimmick that was truly unique. Jannetty is the unlucky punk who will be putting over the fabulous Goldust in this match, Jannetty is back in the WWF and I am not sure how long this stint will last but I do not think it lasts very long.

 

 

Goldust rushes Jannetty but Jannetty dodges, big right hands and a back body-drop from Jannetty. Clothesline to the floor from Jannetty, Jannetty attacks Goldust on the floor with Goldust continuing to run away from his opponent. Goldust looks at the fans in attendance and stalks Jannetty, Jannetty calls Golduts a chicken. Goldust is in the face of Jannetty, words are exchanged but nothing happens. Goldust takes the back, O’Connor roll for two. Massive throat thrust from Goldust, Jannetty is rocked. Jannetty avoids the scoop slam, hurricanrana from Jannetty before Goldust shoves Jannetty twice.

 

 

Jannetty starts throwing rights, Goldust reverses the Irish whip but Jannetty scores with the right hand before Goldust lands a massive clothesline that turns Jannetty inside out! Jannetty is rammed into the buckle, right hand from Goldust. Hard Irish whip to the buckle, snap-mare and chop to the throat for two. Reverse chin-lock from Goldust, Jannetty escapes before Goldust cuts off Jannetty, dumping Jannetty to the floor. Goldust runs Jannetty into the steel steps and stomps him, Jannetty is on the apron and snap-mares Goldust to the floor. Jannetty rams Goldust into the steel steps before Goldust shoves Jannetty into the ring-post hard.

 

 

Suplex into the ring from Goldust for a close two, reverse chin-lock from Goldust again. Jannetty backs into the ropes, Goldust whips Jannetty with Jannetty slamming Goldust to the mat. Whip to the buckle but Jannetty misses a corner splash, Goldust lands a boot to the ribs and a DDT for two. Goldust lowers his head off an Irish whip, Rocker Dropper and Jannetty is on the top rope. Goldust dodges Jannetty’s attack but Jannetty elbow drops Goldust for a close two. Clotheslines from Jannetty, snap-mare and Jannetty goes high once more. Fist drop is blocked by the boot of Goldust, Front Suplex and Goldust wins.

 

 

So, I don’t know why they went about this in this fashion. Goldust, a new debuting superstar has a back and forth match up with Jannetty, Jannetty who is back in the WWF but has filled the jobber to the stars role successfully throughout 1993 and 1994 even doing the service on PPV for Ludvig Borga. However, we have a competitive match here that goes on for a lot longer than it needed to be and there are some awkward spots in there for sure. I wouldn’t be happy if that was my debut match, I can tell you that for sure.

 

Winner: Goldust over Marty Jannetty via Front Suplex!

 

King Mabel W/ Sir Mo vs Yokozuna W/ Mr. Fuji & Jim Cornette


This sounds like an encounter that would be fun for a little spot in a Royal Rumble match, not a fully-fledged match. Mabel is one of the most poorly booked babyfaces inside of that ring, we are talking Rhino levels of dumb while Yokozuna is at his biggest and fattest with no Owen Hart to carry the match. Both men batter one another, looks decent. Yokozuna begins winning the war, clothesline to the floor. Mabel walks around the ring, taking his time. Yokozuna stares down Mabel, Eye rake from Mabel, Mabel delivers a flying clothesline to Yokozuna. Elbow to the head and Yokozuna is on the floor, corner clothesline and stomps from Mabel. More forearm shots, Mabel struts around the ring.

 

 

Massive whip to the corner, Yokozuna clotheslines Mabel down. Massive leg drop misses though, Mabel misses an elbow drop. Right hands from Yokozuna, headbutt from Yokozuna. Mabel misses a bulldog but Yokozuna sells it anyways, large groans from the fans. They are on the floor, Mabel is sent into the ring-post. Yokozuna collapses onto Cornette from exhaustion? Double count-out?

 

 

The fans rush to the barricade, it looks as if someone has passed away but nope that’s all folks. The two climb back in the ring and embrace and celebrate? So why did they fight? What was the point of this match? What did we need to have two slow moving trucks try to wrestle for that amount of time? Yokozuna is beyond washed up now, the tag team scene is the only thing that can protect the massive wrestler and Mabel continues to have the worst finishes to matches in WWF history. A double count-out but Yokozuna just collapsed on Cornette randomly? Pure utter crap from the WWF here!

 

Double Count-Out!

 

(WWF Intercontinental Championship Match) Razor Ramon vs Dean Douglas ©


Shawn Michaels has a concussion, Shawn Michaels cannot wrestle and must forfeit his WWF Intercontinental Championship. A bittersweet moment considering how Michaels captured the championship and continued to tear it up in the WWF more than anyone else, only Bret Hart coming close to Michaels in terms of match quality in the WWF at the time although Bret has been saddled with some shitty feuds during this year.  Douglas is your champion but now must battle his nemesis Razor Ramon.

 

 

Ramon clocks Douglas with a right hand, Douglas is not happy with this development. Will The Kid be involved in this one? Lock-up, Ramon grabs the arm and lands shoulder thrusts on the champion. Douglas is begging for mercy as Razor continues to yank the arm out of its socket. Arm-bar from Razor, knee to the arm which leaves Douglas reaching for the ropes. Razor slaps the head of Douglas over and over, Razor pulls at the hair of the champion. Douglas lands elbows to escape, Douglas misses a corner splash and Razor goes back to the arm. Arm-drag from Douglas but Razor holds on, more paint-brushing from Razor. Douglas backs Razor to the corner, cheap-shot from Douglas who smashes Razor with right hands and stomps.

 

 

Razor reverses an Irish whip, Douglas ducks the right hand but jumps into the fallaway slam. Clothesline to the floor, Razor is firing up the fans. Razor hangs up Douglas using the top rope, eye poke from Douglas. Razor blocks and sends Douglas into the buckle, massive right hand floors Douglas. Douglas is suplexed into the ring, Razor stomps on the face of Douglas. Irish whip to the buckle, Douglas collapses to the mat as Razor kicks Douglas to the floor. Right hand from Razor, Razor covers Douglas with water and lands more big right hands. Shoulder thrusts from Razor, right hand counter from Douglas. Atomic drop from Razor, Razor wants the Razor’s Edge but Douglas back-drops Razor to the floor.

 

 

Right hands from Douglas, Douglas rams Razor into the apron back-first. Douglas is on the top rope, Douglas tries an axe handle but Razor lands his chokeslam on Douglas. Douglas has his shots blocked, Razor lands a discuss right that floors Douglas. Douglas is on the top rope, Razor is elbowed away. Diving Crossbody but Razor rolls through, 1…2… Douglas kicks out! Dropkick from Douglas floors Razor for two, Razor sends Douglas to the buckle. Belly to back suplex with Razor covering for the win. Douglas is in shock, Dean Douglas believes that his leg was under the rope.

 

 

Well I mean that’s interesting to see, I thought Douglas would have stolen the win considering Douglas was just awarded the championship but we have a new champion. This was one of Razor’s poorer matches for me, I much prefer the matches with Jeff Jarrett because Jarrett plays to Razor’s strengths, that being Razor punches you to death and runs through his spots before the heels dominate on top. This match does not start like that, we have Razor working the arm for what seems like an eternity and the fans are just not into it at all. They much prefer to see Razor deck Douglas, this routinely gets the biggest crowd-reaction from the fans. Anyways, Douglas does nothing to make me get into him during this match, I don’t know what Douglas brings to the table but then again, maybe the Kliq were already screwing with the mind of The Franchise. The finish leaves the match open for a rematch which hopefully, they rectify the mistakes they made with this match.

 

Winner: Razor Ramon over Dean Douglas via Belly to Back Suplex!

 

(WWF Championship Match) Diesel © vs The British Bulldog W/ Jim Cornette


Newly-minted British Bulldog faces the man who he attacked from behind, Bulldog took out Diesel before the champion’s encounter with King Mabel. Bulldog continued to antagonize the champion and that leads us to this match tonight with the championship up for grabs. Cornette is at ringside but more interestingly, Bret Hart is on commentary during this match.

 

 

Diesel is one man Bulldog cannot out-power, this is noticeable from the get-go as Diesel shoves away Bulldog twice. Side headlock from Bulldog, Bulldog dodges two clotheslines before eating a forearm. Bulldog tries a crossbody but gets caught in a scoop slam, make it two. Bulldog rolls to the floor, frustrated as Cornette tries to calm down his prodigy. Diesel is tracked to the ring-post, Diesel sends Bulldog into the ring-post using his feet. Irish whip and corner clothesline from Diesel, make it two. Knees in the corner from Diesel, elbows in the corner too. Bulldog goes low with a chop block, headbutts and forearms from Bulldog. Diesel reverses an Irish whip, Bulldog tries an O’Connor roll before a dropkick sends Diesel to the floor. Diesel is helped up by Bret, Diesel shoves Bret!

 

 

Stare-down from the two before Bulldog chop-blocks Diesel down, Bulldog begins working the leg with knees to Diesel. Bulldog drops his weight down on Diesel’s leg, staring at Bret while he does so, nice little touch from Bulldog. Leg drops to the knee from Bulldog, Texas Cloverleaf attempt from Bulldog. Diesel uses his height to reach up and elbow Bulldog in the head. Diesel is down on the floor, Cornette delivers an elbow drop to the leg. Cornette gets in some extra stomps too behind the referee’s back, Bulldog rams Diesel into the steel steps. Diesel tries fighting back but Diesel is clubbed down from Bulldog, single leg Boston crab from Bulldog. Boston Crab from Bulldog, Bulldog doing all he can to make Diesel submit in this match.

 

 

Diesel uses his leg-strength to shove off Bulldog, single leg Boston Crab applied again by Bulldog. Bit much on the rest holds now guys, come on. Leg drop from Bulldog for two, Diesel fights out of another hold but Bulldog goes back to attacking the leg. More rest-holds, Diesel lands forearms before Bulldog clamps down on the leg again with a rest-hold. Diesel kicks off Bulldog, Diesel is hobbling to the corner. Bulldog lures in Diesel, avoiding an elbow and Bulldog applies a front chancery before going back to the leg again! Bulldog tries a suplex but Diesel manages to land his own suplex. Diesel ducks a right hand and delivers a belly to back suplex.

 

 

Bulldog clubs Diesel over and over, Bulldog wants to apply The Sharpshooter. Such disrespect and Bulldog is trying all he can but Diesel kicks off Bulldog with ease. More kicks from Bulldog, scoop slam and Diesel falls on Bulldog for two. Running powerslam is countered and Diesel lands a big boot with his weakened foot, Diesel calls for the finish. Cornette is yanked into the ring, Bulldog aims for Diesel but clocks Cornette, forearms from Diesel. Big knee across the back, Bulldog is on the floor. Diesel slowly steps to the floor, Bulldog sends Diesel into the ring-post. Bulldog slaps Bret, Bret has had enough and starts pounding Bulldog in the ring.  Diesel is back in the ring, Diesel is like what did you do that for? Diesel and Bret begin brawling, Bulldog walks off as referees clear up the brawling.

 

 

That was garbage, hot garbage I might add. My poor In Your House reviews were going so well with 1 and 2 and things are collapsing fast. This main event which would be possibly the third or fourth time Diesel has let me down in the main event was a joke. The rest-holds were magnificent and hours long in this match, Bulldog spent 90% of it I am sure just holding Diesel’s leg in his hands. There was no urgency, no reason to get invested beyond Cornette being a smug shit at ringside. It was awful, terrible way to end the show. Bulldog is protected with the DQ, we will see if Bulldog challenges for the championship once more but I hated this, there needs to be a change at the top of the card.

 

Winner: British Bulldog over Diesel via DQ!

 

That was WWF’s In Your House 4, a bad show from the WWF. Like one of the worst up there with King Of The Ring 1995. You kick things off decently with Fatu vs Helmsley, the gimmicks are a perfect reason for a clash and Helmsley has no problem bouncing all around the ring for Fatu. Fatu sells, Helmsley sells and we end with a devastating Pedigree that the fans are buying into for sure. The tag team championship match is heavy on story-telling, I want to like The Gunns more, I think they did well working with The Blu Brothers and have had some terrible teams to work with in their division but this is all about The Kid. The Kid continues to show arrogance and mature into a heel before our eyes, his cockiness costing his team the championships which will lead to a confrontation with Razor possibly for the IC Championship. Things get so much worse though as we have Mabel vs Yokozuna, there are some big hits followed by massive rest periods and in the end, the match seemed pointless as they all embraced so what was the point?

 

 

HBK forfeits the championship, a terrible moment considering the level of performance HBK was turning in during the year, 1995 easily being the year Shawn Michaels stepped it up to a whole new level. So we have Douglas vs Ramon which has Ramon make Douglas look like crap and ends with a belly to back suplex. Could Razor have stuck Douglas with The Razor’s Edge to make this look somewhat decent? This match takes all the fun out of Razor and leaves you wondering how Razor could go from being fun in the second match to boring in the semi-main. Finally, the main event is rest-holds galore with Diesel sitting on his ass groaning about his leg for eternity. Nothing happens and the finish is just unsatisfying. Why anyone would enjoy this is beyond me? And you know what? Things are so bad I forgot that Goldust debuted on this show, 11 minutes of a competitive match for a debuting superstar makes no sense to me. Goldust doesn’t come off great in this one, skip this show if I were you because you are missing nothing. Thanks for reading and remember: there’s always another night!