Wrestlemania Count-Up – Wrestlemania XII (2015): Michaels Got All Of It
IMG Credit: WWE
Wrestlemania XII
Date: March 31, 1996
Location: Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California
Attendance: 18,853
Commentators: Jerry Lawler, Vince McMahon
Free For All: Tag Team Titles: Godwinns vs. Bodydonnas
Skip drops Zip into a legdrop onto Henry but a Rocket Launcher misses. The cold tag brings in Phineas to clean house and Skip is in trouble. Phineas loads up the Slop Drop (reverse DDT) but Sunny gets on the apron and pulls up her skirt to flash Phineas, allowing Skip to roll him up for the pin and the titles at 5:24.
The opening video is entirely focused on Bret vs. Shawn and their contrasting personalities with Bret being all about respect and Shawn being very in your face. They respect each other coming in and this is going to be a great test for both, even though looking back there was no question about which way this was going.
Jake Roberts/Ahmed Johnson/Yokozuna vs. British Bulldog/Owen Hart/Vader
Vader and Yokozuna slug it out to start with Yokozuna getting the better of it until Owen and Vader get him down in the corner. Vader pounds him down with rights and lefts but misses a splash, allowing the hot tag to Ahmed. We get some real house cleaning from the powerhouse but Vader gets in a shot from behind. Vince talks about a herd of buffalo until Owen dropkicks Johnson down, allowing Vader to come back in for some more big shots to the head.
Jake finally avoids a legdrop and falls into the tag off to Yokozuna who pounds Vader down in the corner again. Owen takes the DDT but Jake has to intercept an interfering Cornette. That looks to set up a DDT on Cornette but Vader makes the save and Vader Bombs Jake for the pin at 13:11.
Call the Hotline!
Roddy Piper vs. Goldust
This is a Hollywood Back Lot Brawl and Piper is waiting, baseball bat in hand. Goldust drives up in a gold Cadillac, which Piper attacks with a fire hose and then the more logical bat. Piper goes after Goldust with the bat and the camera is jumping all over the place. They break up a concessions table and Piper beats him all over the lot, including some HARD right hands that sounded like they were making some very real impact.
Savio Vega vs. Steve Austin
Rating: C. The match was entertaining while they actually focused on it but instead we had to sit through Piper calling in (likely from backstage) to advance this stupid idea that no one not named McMahon finds funny. These two feuded for several months and it was a very underrated pairing with both guys getting better as a result. Of course Austin would move on to a much bigger feud later in the year and never looked back, but this was really fun stuff like it lasted.
More Piper footage which is still from the OJ chase.
Hunter Hearst Helmsley vs. Ultimate Warrior
Merchandise ad.
In Your House VII ad.
Diesel vs. Undertaker
Ultimate Warrior is on America Online.
We look back at the history of Bret vs. Shawn with a focus on both of their (singles) history in the company. Shawn has been rising through the ranks and is looking to fulfill his boyhood dream. We also get a focus on their training style with Shawn learning under high flier Jose Lothario and Bret being taught submissions by his father Stu Hart. This worked very well and summed up the entire idea in about a minute and a half.
Bret says he just wants to wake up tomorrow morning with the title.
Gorilla Monsoon is introduced as the new President of the WWF.
WWF World Title: Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels
Feeling out process to start as Shawn grabs some quick takedowns to frustrate Bret just a bit. Bret holds on to a headlock to slow things down as Vince tries to say there are no Bret or Shawn fans but only WWF fans. Lawler is all over him for sounding stupid as this headlock continues. In this case though it makes sense as both guys would want to conserve energy.
With three minutes left, Shawn gets two off a top rope ax handle. The top rope elbow gets the same and Shawn plants him with a gutwrench powerbomb. He goes up with two minutes left and a moonsault press gets another near fall. A middle rope hurricanrana gets the same and Shawn is winded. With a minute left, Shawn goes up top but misses a dropkick and gets caught in the Sharpshooter. Bret cranks back on it but the time limit expires at 1:00:00.
Bret is all ticked off and leaves, not to be seen for over seven months. Vince gets in the great line of “the boyhood dream has come true for Shawn Michaels.” Shawn is stunned but finally celebrates like you knew he was going to do.
A highlight package takes us out.
Ratings Comparison
Camp Cornette vs. Yokozuna/Jake Roberts/Ahmed Johnson
Original: D+
2013 Redo: C
2015 Redo: C-
Steve Austin vs. Savio Vega
Original: B-
2013 Redo: C+
2015 Redo: C
Ultimate Warrior vs. Hunter Hearst Helmsley
Original: N/A
2013 Redo: N/A
2015 Redo: N/A
Undertaker vs. Diesel
Original: B
2013 Redo: B-
2015 Redo: B
Roddy Piper vs. Goldust
Original: N/A
2013 Redo: N/A
2015 Redo: N/A
Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart
Original: B
2013 Redo: B
2015 Redo: B
Overall Rating
Original: C-
2013 Redo: C+
2015 Redo: B-
I’m kind of stunned that the Iron Man has stayed consistent.
And the 2013 Redo:
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