WWF Royal Rumble 1998 Review!

 

Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet that brings the house down more than D-Generation X! It’s WWF Royal Rumble 1998, the road to Wrestlemania is in full swing. Shawn Michaels reigns supreme as WWF Champion after surviving Ken Shamrock at the last PPV but now, HBK must face the man who he escaped at Bad Blood: The Undertaker and Kane seems to be on the side of his brother so how can Michaels survive The Brothers of Destruction? Also we have Ken Shamrock vs The Rock for the WWF Intercontinental Championship, Vader going after Goldust for what happened at Survivor Series 1997 and we have The Royal Rumble itself with the winner going onto Wrestlemania to challenge for the WWF Championship! What a night it could be!

 

The Artist Formerly Known as Goldust W/ Luna vs Vader

 

Goldust has a psychotic break following his divorce from Marlena, The Bizarre One dumped his wife and started acting more bizarre than ever before because Goldust wanted everyone’s attention once more. Vader wants to kill Goldust after his attacks with a coconut and walking out on Vader at Survivor Series.

 

Goldust jumps Vader as Vader enters the ring, right hands from The Bizarre One. Vader Hammer and a corner splash, Goldust powders to survive. Vader knocks Goldust into Luna, not expecting that bump this early into the match. Vader spanks Goldust and throws Goldust into the steel steps, back body-drop from Vader in the ring. Vader runs the ropes, Luna grabs the foot of Vader and this allows Goldust to land a clothesline. Sunset flip from Goldust, Vader tries a hip splash but Goldust dodges and lands a clothesline. Goldust lands a middle rope elbow to the groin of Vader. Goldust hurls Vader into the steel steps, Luna stabs Vader with her high heels. In the ring, Goldust lands ten punches in the corner. Goldust kisses Vader and Vader clubs the life out of Goldust.

 

 Eye-rake from Goldust, the scoop slam does not work for Goldust. Vader boots Goldust and lands a massive suplex, big splash from Vader for two. Short-arm clothesline, Vader wants The Vader Bomb. Goldust lands a low blow as Luna distracts the referee. Vader splashes Goldust after Goldust misses with the sunset flip. Vader Bomb attempt two, Luna tries choking Vader but Vader carries Luna on his back and lands a Vader Bomb for the win.

 

Mercifully it was brief, Goldust may be beloved now but during his initial run in the Federation, I doubt I have ever seen a good Goldust match. Sliding up and down the card would be a good way to describe both men but the odd time like Canadian Stampede, Vader delivers the goods and this was a good night for Vader.

 

Winner: Vader over Goldust via Vader Bomb!

 

Battalion/Tarantula/El Torito vs Max-Mini/Nova/Mosaic

 

Could they not have put Sunny with a top heel faction at any point? I mean she’s so good on the mic, was she that much of a wreck at the time? They did try again though with LOD a few months after this. Tarantula lands a clothesline on Nova, arm-drag from Nova. Headscissors and dropkick from Nova, Max-Mini and Battallion are in. Arm-drag from Mini, make it two. Make it three, Torito throws around Mosaic. Flapjack from Torito, flapjack countered for an arm-drag, make it two. Tarantula clotheslines Mosaic, tag to Battallion. Nova hip-tosses Torito, arm-drag and make it double. Tarantula boots Mini, clothesline from Tarantula. Tarantula misses a corner splash, Mini lands a top rope hurricanrana. Back body-drop, Tarantula eats an arm-drag.

 

Torito boots Mini in the back of the head, Mini eats another boot from Battallion. Torito lands a fist to the head, Mini lands a big gut punch. Torito counters with a massive fist, Mini brawls back into a leg drop. Mini uses Sunny to kick and attack the heels. Battallion beats on Mosaic, arm-drag from Mosaic who lands a middle rope tope con hilo. Torito lands a plancha, corkscrew tornillo from Mini. Tarantula lands a suicide dive and Nova lands an Asai Moonsault. Torito misses an elbow drop after wiping out Mini, Mini lands a top rope diving hurricanrana and a great arm-drag into a cover for the win!

 

Harmless if not overstaying its welcome, lots of arm-drags that are impressive take nothing away from the performers but much like the audience in attendance, I am rather immune to what was going on inside of that ring.

 

Winners: Team Mini over Team Tarantula via Roll-up!

 

(WWF Intercontinental Championship Match) Ken Shamrock vs The Rock ©

 

The Rock is getting over ladies and gentlemen and he is your WWF Intercontinental Champion but The World’s Most Dangerous Man is running through everyone and is over like rover so what does the future hold for The Rock? Who knows but people want to see Shamrock snap him like a twig so you could not ask for more really.

 

Rocky sucks chant fill the arena, Rock stalls wanting no part of Shamrock. Shamrock throws a kick that sends a shiver up Rock’s spine who backs away at the speed of light. Lock-up, Rock misses the cheap shot. Rock goes low with a boot, right hands from the champion. Shamrock lands a massive kick to the chest, right hand sends Rock to the floor. Eye-rake and right hands from Rock, corner clothesline from Rock. Right hands in the corner, Shamrock explodes out with a clothesline. Make it two, Rock counters the hurricanrana and sends Shamrock into the top rope throat first. Stomps from Rock, Shamrock fights back but Rock cuts off Shamrock and lands massive rights and delivers a foot choke to Shamrock.

 

Shamrock fights but Rock goes to the eyes, Shamrock ducks a clothesline to land a flying crossbody for two. Fisherman suplex from Shamrock for two, Rock pops right back up and lands a clothesline. In the ring, Shamrock lands right hands before Rock nails his floatover DDT for a close two. Reverse chin-lock from Rock, Rock drills Shamrock again to land the chin-lock once more. Rock tries the DDT again but Shamrock lands a northern lights suplex throw with both men down in the middle of the ring. Right hands and powerslam from Shamrock, Shamrock is feeling it right now before Rock goes to the eyes. Hurricanrana from Sahmrock, Shamrock calls for the finish with The Nation running down to ring-side. Rock drills Shamrock with the brass knuckles while the referee was with D’Lo Brown. Smash to the face with the brass knuckles, 1….2… Shamrock kicks out! Belly to belly suplex from Shamrock for the win but Rock tells the referee that brass knuckles were used to secure the win. The referee reverses the decision after finding the brass knuckles, Shamrock snaps accordingly at this injustice.

 

A decent match between these two, the two would build up a tremendous amount of chemistry over the months with their numerous encounters but this first affair was a little rough around the edges. Was it right to put the championship on Shamrock at this time? Yeah Shamrock was white-hot but it’s understandable if they wanted to hold it off until Wrestlemania. Eye-pokes seem to be the weakness of Shamrock, it is all they go after when facing The World’s Most Dangerous Man. Different finish, works for me to extend the feud, looking forward to the Mania match that has to be on the horizon.

 

Winner: The Rock over Ken Shamrock via Reversed Decision!

 

(WWF Tag Team Championship Match) The New Age Outlaws © vs LOD

 

The champions try jumping the challengers, it does not go well as Animal powerbombs Road Dogg to the floor, Hawk tosses Billy to the floor and the champions take a walk. Road Dogg and Hawk kick us off officially, Hawk nails a shoulder block. Road Dogg wants a tag but nobody is there, corner clothesline from Hawk. Following with a big boot and a fist drop, Hawk tags in Animal. Double elbow and a neck-lock from Animal, hangman’s neck-breaker from Hawk. Hawk smacks Billy off the apron, eye poke from Road Dogg and tag to Billy. Billy runs into a hip-toss and a Lou Thesz press from Hawk, hair-pull throw from Hawk. Tag to Animal, belly to back suplex from Animal. Billy dodges an elbow drop, Animal delivers a massive powerslam to both champions.

 

Animal is tripped up by Road Dogg, Billy sends Animal to the floor and Road Dogg hurls Animal into the steel steps. Road Dogg lands massive kicks to the spine, the spine of Animal is supposedly injured from a powerbomb through the announce table on Raw. Hawk clubs Billy in the ring, Road Dogg comes in for the double team. Hawk lands a clothesline on both champions, Hawk sends Road Dogg to the buckle and misses a corner spear. Hawk is handcuffed to the ring-post, Animal begins fighting back against two men. Animal flips out of the back suplex and lands a clothesline, flying shoulder tackle from Animal. Billy eye-pokes Animal and climbs to the top rope, Billy dives for a powerslam and Animal reverses into a powerslam. 1…2.. Road Dogg cracks Animal with a chair across the back, match ends in DQ as the champions batter the back of Animal.

 

Another case of LOD being protected when it comes to the finish of the match, LOD have been screwed at every opportunity when it comes to the championships, could they be setting up for something big at Wrestlemania? It was very possible but maybe politics/addictions caused those plans to go awry. LOD have been the most popular tag team in the WWF for the year that they have been there so their booking has always been a mystery for me but here we are once more with LOD looking like it’s time to put the championships on them only for those championships to be taken away, at some point it does get dull.

 

Winners: LOD over The New Age Outlaws via DQ!

 

The Royal Rumble Match

 

Thirty men fighting for the opportunity to be the number one contender for the WWF Championship at Wrestlemania, it’s all rather simple: Thirty men with two participants kicking off the rumble, there is a new entrant every ninety seconds and superstars can only be eliminated by being thrown over the top rope and both feet touching the floor. Who are the favourites for the rumble? Stone Cold Steve Austin, Vader, Ken Shamrock, Owen Hart and The Rock have to be big picks to win the rumble.

 

Entrants 1 to 5

 

Number one is Cactus Jack, Cactus Jack brings down trash cans to the ring so I guess we are getting a little hardcore to kick this rumble off, number two is Chainsaw Charlie! The two tag team partners are going to go at it, Terry Funk and Mick Foley are going to batter one another like they have done so many times in Japan & ECW. Cactus starts the match by battering Charlie with the chair, Charlie smashes Cactus back with the chair. Charlie backs off, Charlie wants the chair-shot and takes the best shot of Cactus. Charlie is allowed to crack Cactus, both men are trying to prove who is the toughest. Charlie almost dumps out Cactus, number three is Tom Brandi. Brandi is battered by the tag team of Cactus and Charlie and Brandi is immediately eliminated!

 

Tom Brandi has been Eliminated by Cactus Jack & Chainsaw Charlie!

 

Charlie tries a piledriver but Cactus blocks that action, Cactus suplexes Chainsaw onto two chairs. Number four is The Rock, Charlie and Cactus knock one another down before Rock comes in and starts hammering both men. Loud Rocky sucks chants, Rock forgets about Cactus and is drilled with the trash can. Cactus and Charlie take turns battering Rock who has a trash can on his head before Cactus cracks Rock with a chair. Charlie low-blows Cactus in the corner, number five is Headbanger Mosh who almost gets decked by a thrown chair from Charlie. Charlie misses a moonsault as the war rages on in the ring.

 

Entrants 6 to 10

 

Number six is Henry Godwinn, Godwinn goes after Mosh which is a nice bit of continuity. Charlie and Rock are brawling before Henry comes over, number seven is 8-Ball. The worst of 1997 is coming out here to annoy me, I just know it. Savio Vega has to be next for sure, Cactus Jack tries eliminating Chainsaw but Chainsaw ducks and Cactus goes sailing over the top rope.

 

Cactus Jack has been Eliminated by Chainsaw Charlie!

 

Rock almost dumps out Charlie but the veteran holds on, number eight is Blackjack Bradshaw. Lots of clubbing and brawling with all of these tag team members battering one another. The crowd seems to have dulled a little, Bradshaw continues battering 8-Ball. 8-Ball survives elimination as number nine comes down to the ring and it is Owen Hart who is attacked by Jeff Jarrett with Jim Cornette. Racket to the back of the neck, Owen Hart has been attacked brutally by Double J. Officials get Jarrett out of there, number ten is Steve Blackman. Blackman kicks and punches Chainsaw, Blackman almost dumps out Chainsaw.

 

Number 11 to 15

 

Number eleven is D’Lo Brown, D’Lo brawls with 8-Ball as Bradshaw batters Chainsaw Charlie. D’Lo and Rock brawl after some teamwork, the Nation is looking out for themselves on this night. Number twelve is Kurrgan, this should be a clearing of bodies or at least, I hope it is a clearing of bodies. Kurrgan dumps out Mosh confidently, Blackman is the next to try and face this giant.

 

Mosh has been Eliminated by Kurrgan!

 

Number thirteen is Marvelous Marc Mero who is overshadowed by Sable as always, Mero looks confident. Mero starts boxing Blackman, Sable chants all throughout the arena. Kurrgan shoves out Blackman with ease, Bradshaw starts teeing off on the monster.

 

Steve Blackman has been Eliminated by Kurrgan!

 

Number fourteen is Ken Shamrock, Kurrgan does not even move so Shamrock kicks and takes down Kurrgan. Everyone gangs up and dumps out Kurrgan, the monster has been thrown out but Shamrock took the monster down.

 

Kurrgan has been Eliminated by Everyone!

 

Shamrock and Mero are battling one another, Bradshaw boots D’Lo. Rock knocks down Chainsaw and delivers his elbow. Number fifteen is Headbanger Thrasher, Bradshaw clotheslines Thrasher. Shamrock chants are circling around the arena, Shamrock should be clearing the ring to be honest. Mero is standing in the middle of the ring before 8-Ball smacks Mero around.

 

Number 16 to 20

 

Sixteen is Mankind, Chainsaw has been eliminated by the alter ego of Mick Foley!

 

Chainsaw Charlie has been Eliminated by Mankind!

 

Shamrock has been pummelling Rock in the corner, Mero is talking to Sable instead of wrestling while number seventeen is The Artist formerly known as Goldust. Mankind and Goldust are brawling, Goldust dumps out Mankind in probably the most surprising elimination of the night.

 

Mankind has been Eliminated by Goldust!

 

Number eighteen is Jeff Jarrett who returned to the WWF at the end of 97, big right hands everywhere in the rumble before Owen Hart batters Jarrett. The Black Hart has sprinted to the ring and destroys Jarrett with right hands, spinning heel kick from Owen on Jarrett. Owen continues to tee off on Jarrett, Jarrett thinks he dumps out Owen but Owen skins the cat and hurls out Jarrett for a massive pop! Number nineteen is The Honky Tonk Man!

 

Jeff Jarrett has been eliminated by Owen Hart!

 

Ken Shamrock has been eliminated by The Rock!

 

Owen Hart has been eliminated by Hunter Hearst Helmsley!

 

In a massive flurry of events, The Rock low-blows Ken Shamrock and dumps out The World’s Most Dangerous Man while Triple H comes down to ringside on crutches with Chyna. Chyna distracts Owen and it leads to Triple H eliminating Owen with the crutch to the back of the head.

 

Number 20 to 25

 

Number twenty is Ahmed Johnson who does not look happy to be there at all, the reaction says it all from the fans with no reaction whatsoever. Number twenty-one is Mark Henry, smiling and ready to kick some ass. D’Lo and Rock have quite the back-up now, Ahmed is getting blasted by D’Lo Brown and Mark Henry. Everyone is pairing off not doing much, kind of crazy Honky Tonk is in there considering his 2001 appearance is so memorable while brief whereas here he is competing and staying in there with nobody caring. Number twenty-two does not come out, there is no music and nobody appearing on the ramp. The fans act confused, Ahmed Johnson is dumped out by The Nation. Phineas is dumped out by Mark Henry.

 

Ahmed Johnson has been eliminated by The Nation!

 

Phineas Godwinn has been eliminated by Mark Henry!

 

D’Lo Brown and Mark Henry are brawling, why? Ahmed and Phineas battle their way to the back, why? Very strange circumstances as number twenty-three is Kama Mustafa. Bradshaw is clubbing everyone in sight,  Kama is battering D’Lo with nobody reacting which means nobody cares haha. Number twenty-four is Stone Cold Steve Austin! Everyone wants to batter Austin, Austin comes through the crowd to jump everyone. Mero and 8-Ball are gone!

 

Marc Mero & 8-Ball have been eliminated by Stone Cold Steve Austin!

 

Austin’s red-hot running through everyone phase doesn’t come, I am bitterly disappointed as we see Henry Godwinn at number twenty-five. Henry goes for Austin, stomping and choking The Rattlesnake! Austin almost dumps out Henry,  Nation members are brawling with one another which is a shock to nobody considering they wasted that tease way back.

 

Entrants 26 to 30

 

Savio Vega is number twenty-six but all Boricuas come for Austin, Austin dumps them all out except Savio. Mark Henry goes after Austin, Thrasher gives Austin an assist. Bradshaw is still roughing up everyone in sight, nothing interesting is going on as per usual though. Number twenty-seven is here it’s Faarooq. The ring has 5 Nation members in there, will Faarooq bring everyone together, Faarooq goes after Rock and all members of The Nation. Rock and Austin are not eliminated, they go through the middle ropes. They brawl on the outside with Austin being smashed into the steel steps. Number twenty-eight is Dude Love, Foley just cannot stop making appearances in this rumble. Dude dances his way to the ring and bumps out Bradshaw!

 

Bradshaw has been eliminated by Dude Love!

 

Rock nails D’Lo with The People’s Elbow which leads to Austin punching the face of The Rock, Austin chokes Rock with the ropes. Leg across the back from Austin, Austin continues to choke Rock before an eye poke stops that attack. Savio attacks Austin and number twenty-nine is Chainz, this is such a lacklustre roster I swear. Number thirty is Vader! Could we have a clear-out? I sure hope so because I am not loving this match too much! Vader starts clobbering people, Honky Tonk is dumped out by The Man They Call Vader!

 

Honky Tonk Man has been Eliminated by Vader!

 

Austin back-drops two men over, Kama Mustafa and Thrasher.

 

Kama Mustafa & Thrasher have been eliminated by Steve Austin!

 

Savio Vega has been Eliminated by Steve Austin!

 

Vader has been eliminated by Goldust!

 

Henry Godwinn has been eliminated by Dude Love!

 

Goldust has been Eliminated by Chainz!

 

Chainz has been eliminated by Steve Austin!

 

Mark Henry has been eliminated by The Rock!

 

Faarooq, Rock, Austin and Dude Love remain. Everyone is thrown out in such quick succession, we barely have time to process or react because it just goes by in a flash. Dude Love applies the mandible to Austin but Austin nails the low blow and Faarooq dumps out Dude Love before Faarooq goes after Austin but Rock dumps out Faarooq. Austin almost tosses out Rock before Rock holds on, Rock runs into a Stunner and Austin tosses out The Intercontinental Champion for the win!

 

Definitely one of the weakest rumbles I have seen, I hold 95 and 96 up there as very weak rumbles but 1998 be damned, the roster is not in a good way with the amount of reactionless individuals making it into this rumble. The format of big moments being spaced out or dream confrontations seems to be a non-factor at this time. You couldn’t pick out 3 memorable moments in there to be honest, I think Shamrock should have had a bigger role as well as The Black Hart considering that reaction for Owen when Jarrett was dumped out of that rumble. Rocky was the right choice to be the marathon man, not many wrestlers in there could even generate a reaction from the fans so right final two but as I said, a weak rumble that seemed to just drag on for most of the time before abruptly ending. It was setup for Austin or Vader to clear house with all those lower-card talent in there at the end but nope, it simply never came together as I had envisioned or believed it should have went. However, maybe I am spoiled by the more choreographed rumbles but definitely not the crowning moment you would want for The Rattlesnake, I’d argue 1997 was much more fun!

 

Winner: Stone Cold Steve Austin over Everyone Else!

 

(WWF Championship Casket Match) Shawn Michaels © vs The Undertaker

 

All beginning at Summerslam, these two have been on a collision path with Undertaker looking to destroy the arrogant Shawn Michaels! The two brawled at Ground Zero which setup the legendary Hell in a Cell match with the perfect ending to debut Kane. In a beautiful twist to this saga, D-Generation X wanted to make use of Kane but it appears that The Brothers of Destruction have been reunited. How could Shawn Michaels possibly survive Kane and Undertaker? A casket match, the speciality of The Deadman. It seems all the odds are stacked against the champion but HBK always has a trick or two up his sleeve so let’s see how this plays out.

 

Michaels uses his quickness before being caught, Michaels dodges again though and jabs at The Deadman. Taker shoves off HBK who comes back for more each time before getting caught again, Michaels goes to the knees and tees off again. Taker snatches Michaels out of thin-air but Michaels escapes once more, Taker back-drops Michaels onto the casket. A spot which would live on in infamy for how it would change wrestling in the WWF in the months to come. Taker military presses HBK and boots Michaels into the casket but Michaels scrambles out of the casket. Michaels avoids Taker again and again before eating a massive right hand, scoop slam from the challenger. Taker misses an elbow but sits-up, Michaels wants to work the arm but Taker is too big for that. Old School connects with Michaels looking like a beaten man already, Taker pummels HBK in the corner.

 

Michaels does his corner bump to the floor, hot-shot from HBK. HBK climbs high, diving crossbody is countered for a powerslam. Michaels is placed in the casket but Taker cannot close the lid, Michaels throws powder in the eyes of The Deadman. HBK goes to work with stinging jabs, Michaels rakes the eyes to avoid a chokeslam and lands a diving moonsault to wipe out Taker. Clothesline to the floor and Taker drags out Michaels who was skinning the cat. Taker is sent into the steel steps though by HBK, HBK piledrivers Taker on the steel steps. Hunter gets in a few crutch shots while Michaels recovers, Taker is battered with the crutch. Michaels grabs the chair, Taker is waffled in the spine. Michaels attempts to put Taker in the casket, Taker comes up though and smashes HBK back into the ring with Helmsley getting knocked down too.

 

Undertaker ducks his head off an Irish whip, big mistake as Michaels lands a neck-breaker! Sleeper from Michaels, brilliant strategy from the champion. Taker fights out but Michaels lands his flying forearm, Michaels is looking for his elbow drop. It lands right in the hot of Taker, Michaels calls for his finish. Sweet Chin Music almost decapitates The Deadman, Taker is rolled towards the casket. HBK tells Taker to suck it before Taker grabs Michaels by his balls, Taker is alive and kicking. Back body-drop for Michaels, whip to the buckle with Michaels bump and a clothesline. Big boot from Taker, Taker misses his flying clothesline. Michaels decides to nail an elbow drop into the casket, both men are in the casket so what happens now? Michaels is dragged into the casket with Taker, Taker pummels Michaels down. Chokeslam straight to Hell! Taker Tombstones Michaels into the casket, Chyna wipes out the referee while here comes The New Age Outlaws and The Boricuas to attack The Deadman. Fans scream for Kane, Kane’s music hits!

 

Ask and you shall receive boys and girls! From monster heel to gigantic babyface, panic is across the face of all involved as Kane steps into the ring. The Outlaws and Boricuas are decimated by The Big Red Machine, Taker is pulling himself to his feet. Kane decks his brother, battering The Phenom. Chokeslam into the casket and Michaels closes the casket, the champion retains before Kane brings the casket to the stage locking it on all sides and they light it on fire!

 

Michaels and Taker have fantastic chemistry, that’s no surprise as they always have had it and whether it was the brawl at Ground Zero, the iconic Hell in a Cell or even this match here gimmick of the casket and all, we get some awesome moments of wrestling between the two. Michaels was on top of his game and while I have not seen the Wrestlemania XIV match in quite some time, I think it is important to say that this might have been the last great match of Michael’s first run in the WWF and it’s such a shame his career was cut short by that bump on the casket because nobody was more on the ball/better than HBK in 1997 (Maybe Bret Hart but he’s not in the WWF anymore either). So, the match is entertaining as Michaels is so arrogant and you are just praying that Taker gets his hands on him and demolishes him which Taker does and then we have the heels putting the boots to Taker with Kane making the save, all good fun here and then, it all slows down with Kane’s attack on Taker, very poor in execution as Kane’s pyro fails him and I think this could have been a lot tighter and produced/co-ordinated more. Example: Taker and Kane synchronised Chokeslams before the pyro and Kane attacking his brother, something small like that which could have fed into the deceit or portrayed the angle better. Regardless, chickenshit Michaels survives again, building heat for his eventual demise and we get the lock of Taker vs Kane at Mania if Taker survives being murder which I have a sneaking suspicion that The Deadman will!

 

Winner: Shawn Michaels over Undertaker via Closing The Casket!

 

That was WWF’s Royal Rumble 1998, not the big kick-off to 1998 you would hope for. Usually I would be angered by a rumble not finishing the show, I think the drama and suspense and excitement that comes with a rumble is unrivalled when executed well but it was the right decision not to end the show with this rumble. However, let’s start at the beginning with Vader delivering one of his better performances in the WWF taking out the turncoat and very bizarre Goldust, went in thinking this would be a horrid affair and was pleasantly surprised. The mini-match was horrible, I thought it was a little fun the first time but as it has continued, I have grown progressively bored and angered by these matches, this match possibly being the last straw for me as it was utter garbage. LOD chasing the tag team titles is a story as old as time itself at this stage in the WWF, you never pulled the trigger at the right time and you make me watch DQs, count-outs and screwjobs galore and you know what? After the tenth time, it doesn’t even leave an implant on my mind it just rolls together like all the other times whether it be Godwinns, Bulldog and Owen or The New Age Outlaws, I just don’t think I can make myself care anymore, congratulations WWF I don’t care about LOD. Rocky vs Shamrock was decent, both men are over and the feud can continue so not the worst piece of business in history. The rumble is weak filled with wrestlers who just aren’t that interesting, imagine having Chainz in there as one of the last few wrestlers? Chainz! It was dull, no monster clearing house, no monster babyface tearing through everyone. Austin was not a house of fire who took out everyone, Shamrock, Owen and Vader were all dumped out before we had fun and even simple things like having The Nation gang up on everyone was screwed up as they battered one another within seconds of entering the ring. Imagine how much better had it been The Nation operating to take everyone out, Shamrock gaining revenge on Rocky for earlier, Austin actually dumping out lower-card talent in quick succession, Stunner after Stunner. It all seems so easy to book yet they messed it all up. Thankfully, Austin was so over that we can just forget that giant blur of nothing and enjoy Austin’s journey to the top. Meanwhile, the main event is Michaels vs Taker tearing it up and a dramatic ending that makes you want to watch RAW that next night. A weak card overall, not befitting of a Rumble but two important things do happen on this show and you can’t skip this one if you want to see Austin’s big win or the beginning of the end of Michaels’s career. Thanks for reading and remember: there’s always another night!

WWF In Your House 16: Canadian Stampede Review!

 

Hello and welcome to another wrestling review on the only wrestling review series on the internet that is more controversial than an old veteran going over a young talent! It’s WWF In Your House: Canadian Stampede! We are in bizarro world King as Canada plays host to the World Wrestling Federation. This PPV is main-evented by a massive 10-man tag between The Hart Foundation and a team led by Stone Cold Steve Austin! We also have Hunter Hearst Helmsley vs Mankind, The Great Sasuke vs Taka Michinoku and Undertaker defending the WWF Championship against the man they call Vader! This is a stacked card especially with The Michinoku Pro talent which I am sure will be quite the experience.

 

Hunter Hearst Helmsley W/ Chyna vs Mankind

King of The Ring rematch with Mankind teeing off on Helmsley, running bulldog from Mankind. Scoop slam and leg drop, Double Arm DDT right off the bat. Mankind mocks the pose of Helmsley, Irish whip but Helmsley counters with a massive facebuster. Picking up steam, Helmsley is dumped to the floor. Cactus Jack elbow drop off the apron, close two for Mankind. Irish whip with Helmsley taking his tumble to the floor, Mankind is on the middle rope but Helmsley escapes the elbow drop this time. Mankind chases Helmsley up the ramp and lands a massive clothesline. Mankind wants a suplex and it connects! Helmsley is knocked off the apron to the floor with Chyna encouraging Helmsley to get back in the ring, shoulder thrust and sunset flip but Helmsley gets caught in The Mandible Claw before Chyna makes the save.

 

Mankind is not happy, getting in the face of Chyna. Helmsley tries a sneak attack but Mankind sees that coming with a massive kick, the referee takes a punch though. Helmsley whips Mankind and Chyna powerslams Mankind into the steel steps, Helmsley has a chair and waffles Mankind in the ankle that smashed into the steel steps. Massive chop block from Helmsley, big stomps to the knee of Mankind. Elbow drop onto that injured knee, Helmsley brings his knees down on that leg in the corner. Big right hands in the corner, Helmsley continues to punish Mankind with a figure four. Helmsley uses the ropes for leverage until the referee catches Helmsley, Mankind fires back with right hands. Irish whip to the buckle, Pedigree is blocked by Mankind who drops a low headbutt on Helmsley. Running knee in the corner and elbow to Helmsley who was in the tree of woe. Stump piledriver from Mankind but Mankind’s knee does not allow Mankind to use all his weight on the pinfall. Mankind charges in for the Cactus Jack clothesline, Mankind clutches his knee once more though.

 

Chyna steals the chair from Mankind, Helmsley cracks Mankind with the chair and Chyna lands a clothesline, all behind the back of the referee. Helmsley is on the top rope, Mankind crotches Helmsley. Mandible Claw, Chyna trips up Mankind as Helmsley distracts the referee. Mankind is rammed into the ring-post groin-first which looks very painful. Mankind is bashed off the guardrail, and the two brawl into the crowd for the double count-out.

 

Well I was going to say that this was a great opening match, Mankind is very popular as a babyface and Helmsley’s snob character is at its peak with Chyna adding so much to Helmsley. They have their spots down, Helmsley gets a chance to look aggressive while Chyna looks devastating constantly being a thorn in the side of Mankind while Mankind comes off as very sympathetic and lovable due to Chyna’s interference and Foley’s willingness to take some of the most brutal bumps I have ever seen. Would have loved to see Mankind get a little more retribution but things are only getting started and I am all in for this pay per view!

 

Double Count-Out!

 

Taka Michinoku vs The Great Sasuke

WWF giving their answer to WCW’s cruiserweight division, it’s crazy to hear The Great Sasuke’s theme on the WWE Network. Regardless, these two have been tearing it up for years in Michinoku Pro while Sasuke tasted greater success with Sasuke mixing it up in NJPW and capturing the J-Crown. Both men are tremendous wrestlers and they had earlier had a phenomenal six-man tag at ECW’s Barely Legal so while I think the crowd may be lukewarm to the action at first, this match is going to be simply insane.

 

Lock-up and clean break from Taka, Sasuke grabs the wrist and wrenches the arm. Taka trips the leg, Sasuke goes for the cross arm-breaker before trading pinfalls. Spinning sole butt from Sasuke, snap-mare into a reverse chin-lock before a headscissors cover for two. Taka wriggles free into a headlock. Taka stretches Sasuke, elbows from Taka. Arm-breaker from Taka, Sasuke locks on a sleeper before Taka runs right into a spinning sole butt. Single leg Boston crab from Sasuke before Taka reaches the ropes. Big kicks from Sasuke before Taka palm thrusts Sasuke, dropkick to the back of the head. Low dropkick to the face, Sasuke sends Taka to the floor. Sasuke lands a diving thrust kick to the floor.

 

Sasuke works over Taka with massive kicks and a spinning sole butt before dropping Taka with a massive kick. Sasuke asks for Taka to stand up, more big kicks before Taka lands a dragon screw. Taka low dropkicks the knee, Taka springboard planchas onto Sasuke. Crowd appreciates that for sure, it looks beautiful. Taka flips out of the German suplex for a hurricanrana, two for Taka. La magistral for two, handspring elbow from Sasuke. Asai Moonsault from Sasuke to the floor, Taka regains control in the ring with a kick to the face and a springboard dropkick. Taka calls for the finish, Michinoku Driver for a close two!

 

Sasuke is still alive, Taka climbs high. Sasuke counters the crossbody with a beautiful dropkick, springboard moonsault for two. Massive powerbom with a Tiger Suplex for the win, Sasuke is your winner.

 

Like I said it would be, the crowd was lukewarm when the match started and once those two started flying, it was incredible. Despite Taka being the heel in Japan, the fans were huge fans of the smaller athlete here and Taka to his credit did the bigger dives and spots. I love watching these two during their days in Japan. Kaientai DX vs The Michinoku Pro stars like Sasuke and Super Delphin were always amazing matches. Great stuff here, very fun to watch as the crowd warmed up to the incredible action.

 

Winner: Great Sasuke over Taka Michinoku via Tiger Suplex!

 

(WWF Championship Match) The Undertaker © vs Vader W/ Paul Bearer

And now the match at Royal Rumble makes sense as Vader finally has his chance at the WWF Champion The Undertaker. Honestly, this should have come before Austin and Faarooq but I do enjoy the continuity. As for Paul Bearer being back in Vader’s corner, they haven’t really discussed why Taker no longer cares about the supposed secret.

 

Paul Bearer is cowering at ringside, the question on everyone’s mind is how will The Undertaker deal with Vader. The bell rings and Taker goes to work with big right hands and kicks, massive clothesline. Taker continues to dish out the pain to Vader, Paul Bearer is not a fan of any of this. Old School time, Vader is wiped out but it’s a close two. Vader is whipped to the buckle and explodes out with a hammer, Vader goes to work with rights and lefts. Taker ducks the clothesline and lands his flying clothesline for two, eye poke from Vader. Side headlock from Vader, Taker escapes and sends Vader to the floor. Brawling at ringside time, Vader sends Taker into the steel steps with Paul Bearer talking trash to Taker. Vader eats a hot-shot from The Deadman, Taker stalks Paul Bearer who is in a panic while Vader clubs Taker in the back of the head.

 

Paul Bearer wallops Taker with his shoe, short-arm clothesline from Vader. Middle rope clothesline from Vader for two, suplex from Vader. Big splash for two, Vader has a nerve hold but Taker battles out with those rights and lefts. Eye-poke and clothesline to Taker, Taker tees off in the corner with rights and lefts. Vader is wobbling, Chokeslam but Vader goes low as Paul Bearer distracts the referee. Vader runs into a tombstone attempt but Taker floats-over for a quick cover, Vader is whipped to the buckle. Elbow by Vader, big crushing hammer from Vader. Vader wanted a Vader Bomb but Taker goes low and lands a massive middle rope Chokeslam for two. Another Chokeslam with Vader kicking out again, they are putting Vader over big in this one. Taker calls for the finish, Tombstone Piledriver and Taker retains.

 

Considering how bad I thought this was going to be, this was one of the most pleasant surprises I have experienced while watching the WWF during this era. The fans love Taker and react big to everything he does, same with Vader when he lands a massive move. Plenty of big moves, big spots that are fun too and Vader comes off like a beast surviving the chokeslams only to eat that tombstone at the end. People love to criticize Vader in the WWF but the man had his moments even in defeat where he simply kicked all sorts of ass. Pleasantly surprised by this match, another good match in Taker’s WWF Championship reign.

 

Team Austin (Animal/Hawk/Goldust/Ken Shamrock/Stone Cold Steve Austin) vs The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart/Owen Hart/Jim Neidhart/Brian Pillman/British Bulldog)

While I may understand Austin & LOD’s deep-rooted problems with The Hart Foundation, Goldust and Ken Shamrock are interesting additions to the feud for sure but yes this is going to be a massive brawl. The biggest heel faction in the WWF against the babyfaces of the WWF. I wonder why HBK was not part of this show, what a team it would have been then right? Anyways, this is going to be a brawl and with a Canadian crowd firmly in the corner of The Harts, I wonder just how good this match is going to be, the crowd goes absolutely ballistic the second Pillman appears on the ramp.

 

Pillman’s first match on WWF PPV? I believe so, what a match to make your debut in, another big reaction for Neidhart. Bulldog comes off to a massive ovation and it gets bigger for Owen Hart. Buzzcut Owen Hart and just wait for what is coming next, it’s going to be the biggest pop of the night by far. Let it be known on this night, Bret was a Canadian Hero and I believe it!

 

Everyone is squaring off, this feels big. I do believe we will kick it off with Austin and Bret, we are not messing about on this night. Bret wins the war, Austin is pegged back to the corner. Right hand and stomps from Bret Hart, the arena is shaking it is unbelievable. Austin rakes the eyes and tees off with right hands. Whip to the buckle, Bret clotheslines Austin down and lands a headbutt. Inverted atomic drop and a clothesline, Bret rakes Austin’s face off the ropes. Low blow from Austin, knee to the face from The Rattlesnake. Austin stomps away on Bret, the fans do not like it one bit. Million Dollar Dream from Austin, Bret tries the WM VIII counter but Austin has it scouted. Austin misses his knee attack on the ropes, tag to Anvil. Boot from Anvil, Irish whip and Austin lands a Thesz Press on Neidhart.

 

Tag to Shamrock, Shamrock floors Anvil and goes for The Ankle Lock. Pillman makes the save, arm-drag from Shamrock. Anvil lands big forearms, Anvil tries a hip-toss but Shamrock rolls through for the heel hook. Shamrock and Pillman wrestling now, eye rake from Pillman. Pillman bites the head of Shamrock, chops from Pillman. Whip to the buckle and a back-breaker for two, Pillman starts slapping and stepping on the face of Shamrock. Whip to the buckle and Shamrock explodes out with a clothesline, Shamrock lands a belly to belly suplex. Tag to Owen, large Owen chants ring throughout the arena. Goldust comes in, right hands by Owen but Goldust lands a back body drop. Owen answers with an enzuigiri, eye rake by Goldust.

 

Ten punches by Goldust, tag to Hawk who slaps and chops Owen. Gut-wrench suplex and leg drop for two, scoop slam and fist drop from Hawk. Hawk goes high, diving body splash for two. Hawk misses a dropkick, Owen wants the sharpshooter but Animal makes the save. Bulldog comes in, delayed suplex on Hawk for two. Forearms and it looks like it’s time for a Running Powerslam, Goldust makes the save. In comes Bret, in comes Animal. Lock-up, headbutts and shoulder thrusts from Animal. Whip to the buckle, Bret blocks with a knee and a clothesline. Goldust wants in, test of strength with Bret going low with a big kick. Elbow to the head, Bret puts Goldust in the tree of woe as The Hart Foundation batter Goldust before we have a brawl between the two teams. Owen is now legal, back-breaker from Owen. Whip to the buckle, Owen misses a corner spear as Goldust dodges and Animal comes in for massive kicks.

 

Owen lands his spinning heel kick on Animal, Owen goes high and lands his missile dropkick and kips-up. Animal reverses an Irish whip, powerbomb from Animal. Beautiful powerslam, Animal calls for Doomsday. Doomsday Device and Anvil makes the save, everyone is brawling once more with Austin smashing Owen’s knee into the ring- post. Austin grabs a chair and waffles the knee of Owen. Bruce Hart tries attacking Austin, Bret makes the save as Austin scrambles away. We are unsure if Owen can continue while Austin and Anvil battle, kicks by Austin before a bearhug from Anvil. Austin is in the corner of The Hart Foundation, more war as Austin is battered. Austin fights back, Pillman is dragged into the ring. Stone Cold Stunner on Pillman, Bret pulls out Austin and wraps Austin’s leg around the ring-post.

 

Bret pulls out a fire extinguisher and smashes Austin’s knee before we see an apron Figure-Four but Hawk makes the save and batters Bret. Bulldog is with Austin, Bulldog stomps away as Hawk comes in now against Bulldog. Hawk slams Bulldog, Hawk goes high but Bulldog crotches Hawk on the top rope. Two for Bulldog, tag to Anvil. Double clothesline, tag to Bret. Anvil and Animal will continue the match, Austin is being taken to the back. Test of strength, Animal wins at first before rallying, massive kicks before a tag to Bret. Back-breaker and middle rope elbow combination, Bret ducks his head off an Irish whip and Animal lands a kick to the head. In comes Pillman who smashes Shamrock with a clothesline, Bret is going to work Shamrock now.

 

Shamrock sends Bret to the buckle, sternum-first goes Bret. Shamrock doesn’t want to go low on Bret, Bret clubs Shamrock and dumps Shamrock to the floor. Pillman spills Shamrock over the announce table as LOD come to the rescue of The World’s Most Dangerous Man. Russian leg-sweep on Shamrock in the ring, Goldust saves the match. In comes Bulldog with massive forearms, Shamrock is rocked and stomped by an irate Bulldog. Low blow behind the referee’s back from Shamrock, in comes Goldust. Massive clothesline, whip to the buckle with a running bulldog. Pillman stops the curtain call, big save from Pillman again! Goldust is up though, middle rope dive is stopped as Bulldog climbs back and nails a superplex. Hawk makes the save, Austin is coming back to the ring on one leg. Austin gets the tag and Bret gets the tag, they tee off on one another with Austin stomping away on Bret. Sternum-first bump as Austin is cooking, suplex from Austin for two.

 

 Bret lands a neck-breaker from a lowered head Austin, back-breaker and Bret’s Rope Elbow Drop for two! Irish whip and a sleeper from Bret, Austin counters with a jaw-breaker. Bret kicks out and avoids a scoop slam attempting a sharpshooter but Animal makes the save with a clothesline. Austin applies the sharpshooter but here comes Owen Hart with the save. Tag to Owen with right hands to Austin, Owen lowers his head and eats a boot and a clothesline to the floor. Austin stomps Owen in front of The Harts, Austin grabs Stu and starts battering Harts at ringside, Bruce is in there. Owen rolls-up Austin with a handful of tights, can you believe it? Massive brawl with all Harts before The Hart Foundation stands tall to close us out!

 

What a match, what a crowd. That has to be up there with the Kobashi/Kikuchi vs Furnas/Kroffat tag match crowd, I mean they love The Hart Foundation and the match is just perfection. Everybody plays their roles so well and I love Owen getting to shine, Owen is so good and was given nothing for so long in the WWF. To see this match when he hits that dropkick and the place explodes, it’s beautiful. Austin and all the USA talent ramp up the heel factor, the crowd buys in and this might be Bulldog’s most energetic performance in years. You cannot watch this match and not get excited, it’s chaos from opening bell to end and when that finish comes, the fans are all for it. Maybe it could played out a little stronger with Owen coming out on one-leg and gutting it out, the finish was a little abrupt considering the little scuffle beforehand but this is one of my favourite matches of all-time.

 

Winners: The Hart Foundation over Team Austin via Handful of Tights!

 

That was WWF’s In Your House: Canadian Stampede, possibly the best WWF in Your House of all-time. The show is short but every match packs some sort of punch and there’s no dull moments. Helmsley vs Mankind is already becoming one of my favourite feuds with sympathetic glutton for punishment Mankind getting over big time against the snobby Helmsley and his bodyguard Chyna. The chemistry is there, these two need one another at this moment and time, it’s just working so well. We mix things up with a light heavyweight match and to nobody’s surprise, having two of the best talents in the world at that time tearing it up in the ring gets over by the end. I love these two, big fans of both and the crowd is lukewarm at first but the second Taka starts flying around, it’s a game-changer and it’s an entertaining and exciting match. Vader pulls out a great WWF performance vs Taker, this crowd helped for sure but the finishing stretch between these two alone was so much fun I could not help get sucked in along with the crowd. The main event has one of the hottest WWF crowds you will see on PPV, they react big to everything and this match just builds and builds until a very satisfying conclusion. Great PPV, the high point of 1997 so far and I would say watch this PPV because it is well worth checking out! Thanks again for coming to the blog and remember: there’s always another night!

WWF In Your House: Final Four Review!

 

Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet that will never freak out about a tier list. It’s WWF In Your House: Final Four! With Shawn Michaels capturing the WWF Championship at The Royal Rumble, Shawn Michael would lose his smile and now the WWF Championship has been vacated. It could be Bret Hart, The Undertaker, Vader or Stone Cold Steve Austin. 4 men doing battle for the WWF Championship, that’s all we are given going into this one so I guess we will see what is going to happen on the Road to Wrestlemania!

 

Marc Mero W/ Sable vs Leif Cassidy

Cassidy gets another chance to shine, last time it was with Flash Funk and this time it’s Marc Mero. Slap from Mero, arm-drag and make it two. Mero continues to work the arm of Cassidy who cannot catch a break here, Cassidy is shoved down again and again by Mero. The story here so far is Mero is a little more aggressive than before, perhaps a change of character. Cassidy lures Mero to the floor with Sable saving her husband. Mero lands a slingshot leg-drop for two, Mero talks trash in the corner with right hands before Cassidy goes to the knee. Basement dropkicks from Cassidy, perfect pinpoint attacks from Cassidy. Mero tries fighting back, Cassidy trips up Mero and applies a heel-hook.

 

Cassidy releases the hold but continues punishing the leg, Mero’s leg is driven into the mat. Mero begins brawling back, Cassidy thwarts his comeback with a massive elbows to the knee. Another variation of a heel hook with Cassidy, Mero continues to struggle to stay in this match. Mero fights back one more time with massive rights, enzuigiri that floors Cassidy. Oklahoma roll for two, Cassidy lands a shin-breaker and a big figure four from Cassidy. Mero makes it to the ropes thanks to Sable’s help, Cassidy is going after Sable. Slap from Sable, suicide dive from Mero. Rights on the floor, two mat-slams and Cassidy is rammed off the buckle, Samoan drop and it looks like it’s time for The Wild Thing. It lands and Mero wins!

 

A cold opening match for sure, don’t blame the crowd too much here though with Mero sliding down the card month after month and Cassidy being nothing of note on television at the time. Another odd dynamic to this one is of course the heelish behaviour from Mero and Sable, we have another heel vs heel match which really does not do any favours for the fans who are unsure of who to cheer throughout. Solid work from Cassidy and good selling from Mero but little reason to care about this match, one of he weaker opening matches I have seen in the WWF on an In Your House PPV.

 

Winner: Marc Mero over Leif Cassidy via Wild Thing!

 

Nation of Domination vs Flash Funk/Goldust/Bart Gunn

Well this is an interesting one for sure, I thought Ahmed Johnson would continue his feud with Faarooq here but we have a sort of random six-man tag with Bart Gunn, Flash Funk and Goldust taking on The Nation of Domination. Savio Vega is here in The Nation with Crush and Faarooq, can’t say I saw that coming but I don’t have an issue with it as Savio had been directionless for a while. We start hot with a brawl, the babyfaces clear out the heels. Funk gets the shine with a massive crossbody to the floor before Crush and Savio get in two cheap shots.

 

Faarooq and Goldust are legal, Goldust slams Faarooq’s head into the mat. Tag to Funk, spinebuster counter from Faarooq. Tag to Savio, Funk lands a corner clothesline before Bart Gunn sends Funk to the floor with a crossbody but The Nation catch Funk and batter the babyface. Savio lands a big back body-drop, Crush is in the ring with big headbutts and punches. Belly to belly suplex for two, tag to Faarooq. Measured right hand by Faarooq, Faarooq slaps and drops his weight on Funk’s back. Funk counters with a knee to Faarooq’s nether regions, Savio smacks Goldust in the face as Crush lands a spike piledriver on Funk for a close two. Headbutt from Crush, tag to Faarooq. Funk lands a double clothesline on Faarooq & Savio, could it be hot-tag time?

 

Tag to Bart, Bart clotheslines and hammer everything in sight. Faarooq eats a powerslam for two as Savio saves, in comes Goldust and Funk. Bart avoids the dominator, diving top rope bulldog from Bart but Crush leg-drops Bart on the back of the head and Faarooq steals the pin.

 

The easiest pay-day of Goldust’s career? The man hardly did a thing but all jokes aside, an interesting and controversial angle continues to gather steam with a win but I have to think plans changed with Ahmed Johnson suffering another form of injury that keeps us from having another encounter between the two.

 

Winners: The Nation of Domination over Team Flash Funk via Leg-Drop!

 

(WWF Intercontinental Championship Match) Rocky Maivia © vs Hunter Hearst Helmsley

Just months into his WWF Career and Rocky Maivia captured the WWF intercontinental championship from the clutches of Helmsley. The questionable booking of the championship continues with the title being passed around between Helmsley, Mero and Goldust as Ahmed Johnson’s injury continues to mess up the WWF. Helmsley wants to destroy Rocky who captured the championship on Thursday Raw Thursday.

 

Helmsley lost his championship due to underestimating the champion, will it happen again? Helmsley grabs the headlock, Rocky tries a drop toehold but Helmsley counters, applies his own and slaps the head of Rocky. They trade holds with Rocky landing a hip-toss, dropkick and a deep arm-drag. Rocky slaps the head of Helmsley who drags Rocky to the corner by the hair, they both slap one another. Helmsley backs away, Rocky lands a big back body-drop. Helmsley escapes the arm-bar and sends the champion to the floor, baseball slide and scoop slam on the floor from the challenger. Helmsley poses as Rocky struggles to make it back into the ring, Helmsley lands a massive elbow to the throat of Rocky who was hanging off the apron.

 

Rope guillotine from Helmsley, beautiful suplex from Helmsley. Knee drop from Helmsley for two, Helmsley applies the sleeper and uses the ropes for leverage behind the back of the referee. Hebnar kicks away Helmsley’s feet before Rocky almost steals the win with a small package again, nice call-back. Back-breaker for two, Rocky fights out but misses a dropkick as Helmsley holds onto the ropes. Rocky dodges the knee drop, eye rake from Helmsley. Whip to the buckle by Rocky, Helmsley misses a boot but connects with the clothesline. Helmsley climbs to the top rope, Rocky counters with a gut punch. Inverted atomic drop, right hands by Rocky. Helmsley flips out of the buckle, hard right-hand from Rocky.

 

Powerslam from Rocky, Diving Crossbody from Rocky for a close two. Helmsley begs off in the corner, ten punches from Rocky before a stun-gun into the buckle and Helmsley uses the ropes for leverage and gets a two. Irish whip by Helmsley but Rocky counters with a float-over DDT for two. Facebuster from Helmsley, neck-breaker too. Goldust tells Helmsley to kiss his ass as The Bizarre One is at ringside and Rocky steals the win with a German suplex!

 

Well it was solid for sure, the crowd hasn’t turned on Rocky yet and Helmsley was always fun to watch before his punishment due to The Kliq Incident. Neither man are on fire right now but they need the right angle and the right character change and it will be fine, we get to see something amazing here though as Chyna debuts choking the life out of Marlena at ringside, who was that Amazon? Who could she be? What’s going on? Helmsley might have an ace up his sleeve and what an ace it could be! Anyways, this was solid and better than anything I have seen so far on this card.

 

Winner: Rocky Maivia over Hunter Hearst Helmsley via German Suplex!

 

(WWF Tag Team Championship Match) Doug Furnas & Phil Lafon vs The British Bulldog & Owen Hart © W/ Clarence Mason

Continuing problems between Owen Hart & Bulldog leave a big cloud over this match, why is Clarence Mason still with these two? I thought Mason would take over from Cornette but Vader left the group and I honestly don’t see why he’s here. Anyways we actually have a babyface tag team who are credible against the heel champions.

 

Owen and Furnas start, great athletics with Furnas landing two deep arm-drags. Tag to Lafon, who shows some interesting leg-locks and transitions as Owen reaches the ropes. Owen tags Bulldog, Bulldog elbows Lafon. Lafon lands a knee, spinning sunset flip from Lafon. Bulldog eats a spinning heel kick from Lafon, Owen cheap-shots Lafon from the apron. Furnas complains and the champions double-team Lafon. Eye rake from Owen, Bulldog gets in some cheap-shots. Uppercut from Owen, Lafon sends Owen to the buckle who counters with a middle rope crossbody but Lafon rolls through for two. Eye-rake from Owen and a massive gut-wrench suplex for two. Back-breaker for two, tag to Bulldog. Double clothesline and wishbone-split, Bulldog stomps all over Lafon.

 

Lafon and Bulldog are in now with Bulldog landing a massive clothesline, stomp and tag to Owen. Lafon kicks off Owen to dodge a sharpshooter, Owen works the leg with stomps over and over. Bulldog waffles Furnas on the apron, Owen and Bulldog combine for a suplex/crossbody for two. Owen ducks his head off an Irish whip, small package reversals all around with the referee failing to keep control. Owen and Bulldog have words, Lafon is tripped by Bulldog. Owen nails Bulldog with a spinning heel kick by mistake, they have words again and slaps with Bulldog clotheslining Owen. Lafon lands a top rope splash with Bulldog saving Owen at the last second.

 

Furnas comes in, massive dropkick for two. Belly to belly suplex for two, tag to Lafon. Double back body-drop, two for Lafon. Northern Lights suplex from Lafon, Furnas lands a hurricanrana with Bulldog saving the match. Lafon and Bulldog brawl, superkick/lariat/DDT combination from the challengers for a close two. Owen escapes a suplex and wallops Furnas with a massive enzuigiri. Bulldog gets the tag, clearing the house with clotheslines and dropkicks. Lafon has the victory-roll for two, the match breaks down. Bulldog and Owen bang heads, Lafon covers Bulldog for a close two. Whip to the buckle, monkey flip is countered with Lafon eating a stun-gun, Bulldog wanted the Powerslam but Owen nailed Lafon with the slammy. Owen costs his team the match due to his actions.

 

Very good tag-team match, nice to have two teams who have chemistry and can work well together, it has been sorely lacking in the WWF at the time. I was sick to death of the heel vs heel dynamic and I mean how can you not find opponents for one of your most entertaining acts in Bulldog & Owen Hart? I really think the WWF did not appreciate what they had in these two, I am sure of it! Would love to see another match between these two, they were entertaining at Survivor Series and on this night, they kicked some serious ass. Lafon & Furnas tore it up in All Japan and Bulldog & Owen can go too so you have a kick-ass tag team match that continues the dissension angle between te two.

 

Winners: Phil Lafon & Doug Furnas over Owen Hart & The British Bulldog via DQ!

 

(WWF Championship Match) The Undertaker vs Vader W/ Paul Bearer vs Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Bret Hart

Shawn Michaels had given up the WWF Championship, losing his smile and putting a wrench in the plans for Wrestlemania. Austin would win The Royal Rumble but Austin had originally been tossed out of the rumble by Bret Hart so the rumble was considered null and void with these four men now doing battle for the WWF Championship. The other interesting part to this match is that Sycho Sid, the former WWF Champion is waiting in the wings on Monday Night Raw. You can win this match by pin-fall, submission or tossing your opponent over the top rope just like the Rumble.

 

We are guaranteed a new WWF Champion but who will it be? Austin and Bret, no surprise there. Undertaker and Vader too brawl, flying clothesline from The Deadman as Bret tees-off on Austin. Taker is out for blood, Taker takes out Bret and wants old school on Austin. Austin is flattened, Vader lands a belly to belly suplex on Taker. Vader knocks Taker to the floor, Vader lands many blows to the ribs before Taker boots the chair back into the face of Vader. Austin elbows Bret for a two, Vader is sent hard into the steel steps. Vader is bleeding, Bret lands a back-breaker on Austin. Bret slaps a sleeper on Austin who counters with a jaw-breaker for two. Taker catches Vader, Chokeslam on Vader.

 

Stunner on Taker, two for Austin. Vader clobbers Bret for two, Austin tees off on Taker who reverses the hold. Rights and lefts by Taker, Vader smashes The Hitman with a chair to the spine. Austin wants a piledriver on the floor but Taker reverses for a back-drop, Bret clotheslines Vader. Taker suplexes Bret into the ring while Austin and Vader brawl on the floor, Austin dumps steel steps onto Vader who is bleeding from his eye badly. Bret goes after the knee of Taker, Bret elbows and elbows the knee while Vader smacks Austin into the guardrail. Austin cracks Vader with the championship, both men are brawling by the announce table. Taker clotheslines Bret down, Vader drags Bret to the ring-apron.

 

Austin and Taker are in the ring, Taker leg-drops Austin while Bret sends Vader over the guardrail into the crowd. Austin lands a diving clothesline on Taker for two while Sid watches on, Vader has Bret in the sharpshooter while Austin stomps the neck of The Hitman. Taker and Bret pummel Austin, they are all brawling by the ringside area. Lou Thesz Press from Austin on Vader, there have been many close-ups of Vader’s face throughout this match, they love that blood.

 

Bret piledrivers Austin for a close, two Vader wants a Vader-Bomb! Vader goes all the way up though, Taker dodges the moonsault. Bret tees-off in the corner with right hands on The Rattlesnake, Vader is choked with a camera cable. Bret lands a fist-drop on Austin for two, Vader and Taker trade control with right hands all around. Austin rolls-up Bret for two, Vader and Bret are slugging it out with Vader winning the war before a massive low-blow from The Hitman. Austin yanks Taker into the ring-post by his jewels, Russian leg-sweep by Bret on Vader for two. Vader is throwing haymakers on Bret while Austin survives being thrown over the top rope because we need a reminder of that stipulation.

 

Vader and Taker are brawling again, Bret is slugging it out with Austin. Bret dumps out Austin with little to no drama, big reaction from the crowd for the elimination. Vader zeroes in on a struggling Hitman, Taker clubs Vader from behind. Whip to the buckle, corner splash from The Deadman. Bret headbutts Taker, Taker battles back with headbutts of his own. Vader chop-blocks the life out of Taker, great move from Vader. Paul Bearer gets involved to take out Taker while Bret superplexes Vader in the middle of the ring. Bret slaps on The Sharpshooter, Taker clotheslines The Hitman down. Austin is here attacking Bret, no surprise there.

 

Vader slams Taker in the middle of the ring, Austin sends Bret into the ring-post hard. Vader is low-blowed out of the ring after attempting a Vader-Bomb, Taker dumped out his arch-rival with Bret running into a massive Chokeslam from The Deadman. Undertaker calls for his finish, Austin will not give up. Austin almost pulls out Bret, Bret rolls-up Taker for two. Bret pummels Austin , Taker hammers Austin but Bret dumps out Taker with a clothesline.

 

A lot to talk about in this match, the first being the monster reaction for The Deadman. Nobody was more popular than Undertaker in this match, the crowd reacted big to everything The Deadman did, especially dumping out Vader and that Chokeslam to Bret Hart. The world was ready for the reign of The Deadman, Vader battles through an impressive injury for the majority of the match, blood pours out of just under his eye. Gives a great amount of drama and feel to the match with the blood just gushing out and this monster powering through the injury to slap the heads of all around him. I thought there was a lot of downtime in this though, like an actual rumble. Fair few times where they just paired-off and nothing really happened of note, don’t know why they decided to kickstart the match and have nowhere to go from there. Austin’s elimination was odd, I expected it to happen at the hands of Bret but not like that, it was unexpected considering Austin just survived an attempt from Taker and looked to be catching his breathe. Nonetheless, when the match was firing on all cylinders, it was enjoyable and dramatic for sure. Odd way for Taker to lose though, Bret did not duck Taker’s attack making Taker look like an imbecile when watching it back but The Hitman stands tall at the end of a very entertaining match at times!

 

Winner: Bret Hart!

 

That was WWF’s In Your House: Final Four, a good In Your House PPV from the WWF with all three championship matches ranging from solid to entertaining. The show kicks off with a less than stellar encounter between heel Leif Cassidy and a heelish Marc Mero, not a fan of Mero’s work in the WWF with him being inconsistent and sliding up and down the card due to injuries while Cassidy isn’t being given much of a role on TV to shine so the crowd is less than receptive to the match with neither man drawing reactions from the crowd that you would want for a hot opening match. Wild Thing still looks great though and we march on through to a six-man tag that seems thrown together with Ahmed Johnson out of the picture so The Nation pick up the win over a team where Goldust does hardly anything and Flash’s entrance is longer than the man’s involvement in the match itself.

 

Things change though as Rocky and Helmsley have quite the competitive match for the Intercontinental Championship with Helmsley no longer underestimating the younger rookie. Would have been nicer to see Rocky come out on top without the distraction from Goldust to establish Rocky as a credible champion and not just a fluke winner but with Helmsley’s booking over the past number of months, I don’t know who you would consider a worthy holder of the championship except for one of the men in contention for the world championship. Regardless, the match is solid with Helmsley showing what he can do given the right opponent while Rocky proves to be more than reliable as a babyface, imagine what they will be like in 3 years in time! The tag team championship match is also enjoyable with 4 very good workers showing how tag team wrestling should be done without the heel vs heel dynamic, Lafon & Furnas have an interesting style with a lot of what they did in All Japan being carried over to the WWF, it can be hit and miss but when they start busting out suplexes, superkicks and cool DDT combinations I am all for I while Owen is a tremendous little shit inside that ring while Bulldog brings the power. The main event brings tonnes of excitement with little moments of brilliance from all four involved, there is a downturn in the action mid-way through that makes the match drag a little but once we hit the home-stretch, it’s all guns blazing and the fans get their money’s worth on this night with a new WWF Champion. Good start to 1997 so far, Taker is climbing up in popularity once more and there is a new star in Stone Cold Steve Austin, things could be finally getting better for the WWF. Thanks for reading and remember: there’s always another night!