Wrestlemania Count-Up – Wrestlemania IX (2015): I Never Know What To Think Here
IMG Credit: WWE
Wrestlemania IX
Date: April 4, 1993
Location: Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 16,891
Commentators: Jim Ross, Bobby Heenan, Randy Savage
In one of the major moments of the show, Jim Ross (JR) makes his WWF debut and talks about the main events before taking his place as lead commentator. I really could have gone through life without ever seeing him in a toga.
Finkus Maximus (just go with it) introduces Caesar and Cleopatra on an elephant while JR gives a history of elephants and Rome. This is kind of missing the point of a wrestling show but Randy Savage is brought out on a sedan to make things a bit better. To really cap it off, Heenan comes out riding a camel backwards.
Intercontinental Title: Shawn Michaels vs. Tatanka
The champ grabs a headlock for a bit before going up top, only to dive into an armdrag. More weak armdrags send Shawn to the mat before he channels his inner Nature Boy with a Flair Flip in the corner. A Tatanka chop knocks him off the apron so Shawn has to go to the eyes (another Flair standard) to get a breather. Things speed up until Shawn charges into an atomic drop and gets caught in a DDT.
Shawn leaves and Luna slams Sherri on the floor.
Headshrinkers vs. Steiner Brothers
The Headshrinkers are Samu and Fatu (later known as Rikishi) and the Steiners are Rick and Scott, a pair of hard hitting amateur wrestling brothers. At the bell, JR debuts the term slobberknocker to make this one historic. Scott and Fatu get things going with Scott easily taking him down via a nice amateur double leg. Fatu tries to make it into a slugout but Scott just takes his head off with a clothesline. The Headshrinkers double team Scott down so he and Rick get up on the same buckle for stereo top rope clotheslines. That looked awesome.
Call the Hotline!
Crush vs. Doink the Clown
Crush is a now big power guy from Hawaii in bright purple and orange. Doink has an umbrella with him but Crush knocks it out of his hands and rams the clown face first into the post. Some right hands to the face have no effect on Crush so he grabs a neckbreaker and keeps up the beating. Doink finally gets a break by guillotining him across the top rope. A piledriver gets no cover so Doink rams him into the post. Heenan: “Break the pineapple head!”
Razor Ramon vs. Bob Backlund
Ramon debuted late last year but the crowd is rapidly turning him face. Backlund is an old veteran who is making a nostalgia run and having some good matches despite being in his early 40s and being out of the ring for years. Ever the good sport, Backlund offers a handshake but gets a toothpick to the chest for his efforts. A LOUD Razor chant starts us off as JR hypes up the Hotline. Backlund starts fast by sweeping the leg a few times so Razor punches him in the jaw.
Ad for King of the Ring.
Tag Team Titles: Mega Maniacs vs. Money Inc.
Money Inc is defending and Hogan comes in with a black eye, with explanations ranging from a jet-ski accident (official and most likely story), DiBiase hiring a bunch of people to attack him (storyline story) and Randy Savage punching him in the face over accusations that Hogan was sleeping with Elizabeth when she and Savage were still married (possibly true). Beefcake has a metal mask to protect his face and the team gets a decent but certainly not great reaction.
Hogan finally mixes up the offense with a big boot before going back to the right hands. A Piper style poke to the eye is enough to send Money Inc. walking but the referee says if they walk out, the titles change hands. As usual, Hogan has some corrupt official helping him out. Back in again and Heenan gets very close to accusing Savage of having something to do with the black eye.
Lex Luger vs. Mr. Perfect
Luger is still the Narcissist and comes out with some barely clothed women that have the announcers drooling. They trade wristlocks to start and Perfect shoves the much stronger Luger into the corner. A big running knee lift knocks Luger down and a dropkick sends him to the floor as this is almost all Perfect so far.
Gorilla previews the rest of the show.
Giant Gonzalez vs. Undertaker
Call the Hotline!
Oh and one more thing: Hogan wants the first shot either at Bret or at “the Jap” if he wins the title. As for a prediction, he thinks the title is staying in the USA in the match between a Canadian and a Polynesian wrestler billed from Japan. As usual, Hulk never was one for the most in depth thinking in the world.
Todd Pettengill (a very stupid interviewer) interviews some frat boys.
WWF World Title: Yokozuna vs. Bret Hart
The 505lb Yokozuna is challenging and has Mr. Fuji in his corner. The announcers have spent most of the show talking about how Bret is the huge underdog after being knocked out by Luger, sat on by Yokozuna and then just being in trouble against the monster in general. Bret charges across the ring for a running dropkick and some right hands, only to have Yokozuna shove him down and shoulder him out to the floor.
Back up and Bret gets his feet up in the corner, setting up something like a middle rope bulldog for two. That earns the champ a superkick and another nerve hold to continue boring the crowd. Heenan points out the stupidity of the USA chants as Bret fights up and gets a better middle rope bulldog for another two.
A pair of clotheslines put Yokozuna down for half a second so Bret punches away in the corner. Yokozuna shoves him so hard that the turnbuckle pad is pulled off, only to have Bret ram the monster face first into it. The Sharpshooter actually goes on but Fuji throws salt in his eyes, giving Yokozuna the pin and the title at 8:56.
WWF World Title: Hulk Hogan vs. Yokozuna
Ratings Comparison
Tatanka vs. Shawn Michaels
Original: B+
2013 Redo: B
2015 Redo: B
Steiner Brothers vs. Headshrinkers
Original: B+
2013 Redo: B
2015 Redo: A-
Doink the Clown vs. Crush
Original: D
2013 Redo: D+
2015 Redo: D
Razor Ramon vs. Bob Backlund
Original: C-
2013 Redo: D
2015 Redo: D
Money Inc. vs. Mega Maniacs
Original: C+
2013 Redo: D+
2015 Redo: D
Lex Luger vs. Mr. Perfect
Original: C-
2013 Redo: C
2015 Redo: D+
Undertaker vs. Giant Gonzalez
Original: F+
2013 Redo: D-
2015 Redo: F
Yokozuna vs. Bret Hart
Original: D+
2013 Redo: D+
2015 Redo: D+
Yokozuna vs. Hulk Hogan
Original: N/A
2013 Redo: N/A
2015 Redo: N/A
Overall Rating
Original: F+
2013 Redo: D
2015 Redo: D
How is this a Wrestlemania?
And the 2013 Redo:
http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2013/03/18/wrestlemania-count-up-wrestlemania-ix-why-would-fuji-do-that/
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