Wrestlemania XXXVIII Night One
Date: April 2, 2022Beaut
Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Attendance: 77,899
Commentators: Jimmy Smith, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton, Michael Cole, Pat McAfee
America the Beautiful: Brantley Gilbert

I’m sure nothing has changed in the last year and that should make things all the more interesting. While I was in the stadium for this show, there are only certain parts of it that stand out as the two night structure leaves some things merging together. The show worked originally and now it is time to see how well it holds up. Let’s get to it.

I was in the stadium for this show, sitting in the next to highest section with the ring to my right.

Brantley Gilbert singes America The Beautiful.

Mark Wahlberg is in the opening video, talking about how this is the show where dreams are made. It’s the night of the big fight and nothing is better, because it’s STUPENDOUS. Yes that really is the best tag line they could find. This is designed to make Wrestlemania feel like the biggest show around and…yeah, well done.

Here are the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. They don’t add anything, but there is the local flavor and the obvious appeal so it makes sense.

Smackdown Tag Team Titles: Usos vs. Shinsuke Nakamura/Rick Boogs

The Usos are defending and dang I miss Pat McAfee dancing on the announcers’ desk. Nakamura and Boogs earned the shot after Boogs beat Jey by faking a leg injury in a clever move. Nakamura kicks Jey down to start and hits the running knee to the ribs for one. Jey comes in off a blind tag though and it’s a top rope forearm to the chest/backbreaker combination to drop Nakamura.

Some strikes don’t get Nakamura out of trouble as Jey enziguris him down for two. The chinlock doesn’t last long as Nakamura fights up and brings in Boogs to clean house. Boogs muscles Jey up into a delayed vertical suplex for two. Jey gets caught in a fireman’s carry and Jimmy dives on top so Boogs holds them both up….until his knee buckles.

It’s off to Nakamura as Boogs goes outside holding his knee, which now has a torn quadriceps and patella tenon injury and would keep him out for nine months. Nakamura hits the sliding German suplex on Jey, who superkicks him down. Jimmy adds the Superfly Splash for two, followed by the 1D to retain at 6:54.

Rating: C. The injury makes this one hard to grade as it derailed everything they had going on. Boogs was great at getting the hot tag and cleaning house but that only goes so far when your leg more or less exploded. The rest of the match was good enough, but the injury is what is remembered here, as it changed everything they were doing. This already feels like a lifetime ago as Boogs was out and Nakamura has vanished again. That’s on top of the Usos evolving into the monster team with individual personalities they would become soon.

We recap Happy Corbin vs. Drew McIntyre. Corbin’s life fell apart last year in a hilarious story but then he gambled his way up to success and happiness. Then he and his associate Madcap Moss attacked Drew McIntyre to write him off TV due to an injury. McIntyre came back and beat up Moss and now it’s time to do the same to Corbin, who stole McIntyre’s sword to make it personal (don’t worry as McIntyre got it back). It wasn’t any more interesting the first time around.

Drew McIntyre vs. Happy Corbin

Madcap Moss is here with Corbin. McIntyre starts fast and they slug it out until a clothesline puts Corbin down. They go outside with Corbin being sent into the barricade, only to come back and send McIntyre into the post. A whip into the corner drops McIntyre again and a suplex lets Corbin yell some more.

Corbin hits a running shot to the face so Moss gets on the apron to cheer, allowing McIntyre to grab a spinebuster. There’s a neckbreaker to drop Corbin again but the Futureshock is blocked. Deep Six gives Corbin two more but Moss has to bail Corbin out of the threat of the Claymore.

That’s fine with McIntyre, who hits the big running flip dive over the top to the floor. Back in and the Glasgow Kiss sets up the missed Claymore, allowing Corbin to grab End of Days for two (the first ever kickout, because Corbin’s finisher needed to be protected for years). McIntyre has had it and hits the Futureshock into the Claymore for the pin at 8:38.

Rating: C-. This feud wasn’t interesting when it was taking place in real time and it wasn’t any better watching it back. Corbin just doesn’t feel like he is on the same level as McIntyre and there is no way around it. That left McIntyre in little more than an extended workout, which wasn’t an interesting watch. McIntyre needed to get out of this feud as soon as possible because it wasn’t working.

Post match McIntyre grabs the sword and threatens Moss before cutting the top and middle ropes apart.

We recap the Mysterios vs. Logan Paul/Miz. Dominik Mysterio beat Miz, who wasn’t happy about things. That made him bring in Paul for a partner, setting up the tag match.

Miz/Logan Paul vs. Mysterios

Miz and Paul have matching gear, though Miz’s doesn’t come with the world’s most expensive Pokemon card ever to be purchased in a private sale (That thing again?) around his neck. Rey and Miz start things off, with a Paul distraction letting Miz take him into the corner. It’s off to Paul to hammer on the ribs in the corner before Miz comes back in. A hurricanrana gets Rey out of trouble and it’s off to Dominik (who appears to be in gear inspired by Eddie Guerrero from When Worlds Collide), who drops Rey onto Miz.

The Mysterios clear the ring and Dominik hits a springboard twisting dive to drop Miz again. Paul gets in a cheap shot though and grabs a powerslam to plant Dominik. The villains fire off the YES Kicks to Dominik as the pace slows down. A Blockbuster gives Paul two on Dominik, who manages to knock down the rather cocky Miz. The diving tag brings in Rey to take over on Miz, including the top rope seated senton and a kick to the head for two. A moonsault press gets the same as Paul has to make a save this time.

Miz is ready for the 619 so Rey tornado DDTs him instead. Three Amigos are broken up though and Paul hits his own version (to some rather strong heat). The frog splash (with Eddie dance) gets two on Rey as Dominik has to make another save. Dominik dives onto Miz on the floor and it’s a double 619 back inside. Back to back frog splashes hit Paul….but Miz grabs a quick Skull Crushing Finale to finish Rey at 11:15.

Rating: B-. This is almost all about Paul, as the Mysterios and Miz were doing their usual things. Paul came off like a total natural who just gets it when it comes to wrestling. The fact that he is an exceptional athlete makes it even better. This was one of the best celebrity matches you’ll ever see and Paul backed up everything he had been saying for the entire build to the match.

Post match Miz and Paul pose….and Miz turns on Paul to take him out. This was designed to make Paul a good guy, which is quite the path to take.

And now, Stephanie McMahon joins us to thank the fans for being here. She also brings out Gable Steveson to….wave! Yeah this has happened a few times for Steveson without him actually having a match. I’m sure he’ll be fine.

We recap Bianca Belair vs. Becky Lynch for the Raw Women’s Title. Lynch returned and beat Belair at Summerslam in less than a minute to win the (Smackdown Women’s, but it doesn’t exactly matter) title. Belair needs to prove herself again and now she is getting her chance in the big scheduled match (rather than the impromptu title change at Summerslam). There was also a weird thing involving hair cuts and it really didn’t add much. This has been a really well built feud and feels like a major, Wrestlemania worthy showdown.

Raw Women’s Title: Bianca Belair vs. Becky Lynch

Becky is defending and gets a huge entrance, with a Marvel Cinematic Universe style highlight package before her entrance. She even rides out in a Cadillac Escalade for a bonus. Belair on the other hand comes out to the full Texas State University marching band for a Wrestlemania worthy entrance. Belair’s gear looks awesome too, with the red and black theme and a pair of lips as the top.

They stare each other down until Becky hits her with a right hand and the Manhandle Slam (how she won at Summerslam) for two. Becky goes for some very rapid fire covers and the kickouts have her even more annoyed. A small package frustrates Becky even more but she’s fine enough to reverse a suplex into a DDT (that looked good) for two more. A moonsault (a rare move for Becky) misses though and Belair is right back with her own Disarm-Her.

They fight over rollups for two each until Becky kicks her in the ribs. Becky gets serious by using the hair to pull her to the floor and Belair is shoved hard into the steps. Back in and Belair is sent flying with a suplex as things slow way down. The Fameasser in the ropes gets two on Belair and it’s already time for Becky to get frustrated. The chinlock goes on before Becky tries an armbar, only to get powered up so they can crash out to the floor.

Belair muscles her up for a suplex (with a hard landing) and they go back inside to slug it out. A backbreaker gives Belair two but her powerbomb is countered into a rollup for two. Belair grabs a release Glam Slam, setting up the handspring moonsault for another near fall. Becky catches her on top but Belair manages to reverse into a fireman’s carry drop HARD onto the top rope for a heck of a crash. Belair’s middle rope 450 gets two but Becky knocks her down.

A Molly Go Round is left a bit short though, with Becky’s foot slamming into Belair’s face for two (followed by the referee checking Belair for….well probably quite a few things). Belair is back with a spinebuster but the handspring moonsault hits knees. Belair tries another Glam Slam but gets reversed into a cradle. That’s reversed into another cradle, which is kicked off to send Belair into the corner.

Back up and Belair KOD’s her out to the floor (might work better in the Royal Rumble but it looked good here too). Becky goes for the hair and Manhandle Slams her onto the steps for a nasty crash. That’s good for a nine count and Becky is LIVID. A super Manhandle Slam is loaded up but Belair flips out and hits the KOD for the pin and the title at 19:03.

Rating: A-. I loved it live, I loved it later that night at the hotel and I loved it a year later. This was a BATTLE that felt like a major showdown between two women who wanted to destroy each other and prove that they were the best. It completes Belair’s redemption and seeing Becky FINALLY get pinned made it feel like an even bigger moment. Awesome showdown here and one of the best women’s matches WWE has ever had.

Post match Becky collapses to the floor and looks up as Belair poses with the title on top for an incredible visual (it looks good on TV but it was even better in person).

We recap Seth Rollins vs. a mystery opponent. Rollins was given the annual ridiculous treatment of “how is this former multiple time World Champion and one of the biggest stars we have going to have a Wrestlemania match?”. After losing over and over in attempts to get on the card, Vince McMahon said he can go to Wrestlemania (Vince: “All you had to do was ask.”) but it will be against an opponent of Vince’s choosing. I see no way in which this can go badly.

Seth Rollins vs. ???

Rollins is sung to the ring by a choir and then has to wait for a good while. Some pyro finally goes off and the lights go dark before……”Wrestling has more than one royal family”! Cody Rhodes is back (complete with riser entrance and the Kingdom theme), leaving Rollins smiling and then glaring. This was INCREDIBLE live and a genuine Wrestlemania moment where you could feel the energy and the excitement (which I still pop up on YouTube every so often). Cody had been rumored as the opponent and it made for an outstanding moment. You can see how much it means to Cody and this is some great stuff.

Sidenote before we get to the match: who is the royal family that Rhodes is referring to in the opening? I get that he means the Rhodes family, but is he talking about the McMahons? Is there another family that would count at that level? I’m not sure who else it could be and it would make sense for Rhodes to have that mindset once he left WWE (not so much once he came back, but it’s part of the Cody presentation).

Anyway, the fans are VERY happy to see Cody back, even as he shakes the referee’s hand. Feeling out process to start with Rhodes grabbing a headlock and then turning a cartwheel to get inside Rollins’ head a bit. Rollins is sent into the corner and now the CODY chants seem to be getting to him.

Back up and Rollins tries a suplex but crashes over the top rope, leaving both of them down on the floor. They head back inside with Rhodes working on an armbar into a short armscissors. With that broken up, Rhodes goes up to but gets dropkicked out of the air, meaning Rollins can start in on the ribs. A gutbuster gets one and Rollins grabs a bearhug, which always looks weird from someone who isn’t huge.

Cody fights out and knocks him outside, which of course means the suicide dive to send Rollins over the barricade (for a huge bump). Back in and a moonsault press (which doesn’t quite connect properly) gives Cody two more and they both need a breather. Rollins rolls outside and this time pulls Cody down for a barricade bomb (ouch, as always). A springboard knee to the head and the basement superkick into the Falcon arrow (nice sequence) gives Rollins two more and they’re both down again.

The Stomp is countered into the Cross Rhodes for a very close two and Cody goes up top. That takes too long though and Rollins crotches him down, setting up the reverse superplex, which is rolled into the reverse suplex for another two. Rollins’ Pedigree is blocked but so is Cody’s, leaving Cody to settle for a tiger bomb instead.

The Cody Cutter gets two but Rollins snaps off a Pedigree for the same. Some hard shots to the face and another to the back of the head put Cody down. That doesn’t seem to matter though as Rollins takes too long to follow up, allowing Cody to snap off back to back Cross Rhodes. That’s not enough for a cover though as it’s a Flip Flop and Fly into the Bionic Elbow. One more Cross Rhodes finishes Rollins at 21:31.

Rating: B+. This was another great match and it felt like it belonged on Wrestlemania. Rhodes had to prove that he could hang with this kind of talent and beating a multiple time World Champion in Rollins is a great choice. Rhodes fought through the rib injury and hung with Rollins every step of the way before finishing him off. They had a heck of a match here and it would kick off an even better feud for the first half of the year.

Cody celebrates for a long time, including his signature kissing of the mat.

We look back at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony. I’m still getting used to it being in the ring, but I think I like it better. It still feels wrong to hear the name Mark Calaway on WWE TV though. Undertaker wrapped up his speech by saying “never say never”. At his Q&A session with fans that weekend, he said Vince asked what exactly that meant. Undertaker: “Vince, no. We’re not going there.”

This year’s class is presented:

Steiner Brothers (WAY overdue)
Shad Gaspard (perfect Warrior Award winner)
Queen Sharmell (sure why not)
Vader (again, way overdue)
Undertaker (eh he’s ok)

Undertaker gets the big entrance and comes out to pose, which seems like an excuse for one more Wrestlemania entrance and….well sure, as it’s still one of the coolest things ever in wrestling. Not so cool: the CGI Undertaker, which feels so out of place for something like this. Just let his entrance speak for himself.

We look back at Rick Boogs’ knee injury and see him carried out of the stadium. He officially has a torn quadriceps and a patella injury.

Tonight’s attendance: 77,899.

We recap Charlotte vs. Ronda Rousey for Charlotte’s Smackdown Women’s Title. Charlotte is the most successful woman in WWE history. Rousey returned at the Royal Rumble and won the title shot, setting up what is described as a huge showdown after a collision course. Charlotte has also beating Rousey up multiple times on the way here, which should set up a big revenge beating. Charlotte having a title match at Wrestlemania is rather played out at this point. Then again Rousey hasn’t exactly been inspiring since her return so it’s almost a wash.

Smackdown Women’s Title: Charlotte vs. Ronda Rousey

Charlotte is defending. Rousey powers her straight into the corner to start but Charlotte gets in a cheap shot behind the referee to take over. It’s too early for the ankle lock but Charlotte can’t get the Figure Four either. Rousey knees her in the head and grabs a choke with her legs over the rope. Since that can’t last long, Charlotte knees her down and hits a backbreaker on the apron to take over.

A hard posting sets up a right hand/elbow for two on Rousey back inside. Rousey can strike as well and hits a knee to the face, only to get sent face first into the buckle. Charlotte misses a knee though and Rousey snaps off a tornado DDT. With Rousey getting fired up, Charlotte spears her down for two and they both need a second. The moonsault kind of connects to give Charlotte two but Rousey is right back with a suplex.

Charlotte is fine enough to tie her in the Tree of Woe, where she grabs a Boston Crab of all things. You don’t do that to Rousey, who pulls her way up and…gets forearmed right back down. Rousey gets back up and hits a super judo throw for two as frustration is setting in (much like those chops, which have the top of Rousey’s chest VERY banged up). Piper’s Pit connects but it’s too early for the armbar.

Instead Charlotte kicks her in the face as Rousey gets cut off again (and again and again). A slam (kind of a snap hiptoss) gives Rousey two and now the ankle lock can go on. Charlotte reverses that (I’m stunned) into an ankle lock but gets sent into the buckle for the break. The armbar is countered into a powerbomb for two but Rousey is right back with the ankle lock, including a kneebar. Charlotte kicks that off for another break, only to have the Figure Four countered into an armbar.

That’s reversed into the Figure Eight, which is countered as Rousey turns it over. They fight to the apron where Rousey flips her down to the floor, only to charge into a fall away slam into the barricade. Back in and they glare at each other until Rousey snaps off a Piper’s Pit for two, as Charlotte gets a foot on the rope. Rousey yells at the referee enough that Charlotte can grab Natural Selection for two, leaving frustration to set in. Charlotte gets kicked into the referee so there is no one to see Charlotte tap to the armbar. Rousey goes to check on the referee, allowing Charlotte to boot her in the face to retain at 18:24.

Rating: B. It was a rather good and hard hitting match, but is anyone surprised that Charlotte is the first one to pin Rousey in a singles match? This match featured Charlotte taking Rousey out and cutting her off time after time, which isn’t the biggest stretch, but it certainly was deflating. Rousey got in some visible falls, but egads it was hard to take Charlotte winning AGAIN, as Rousey’s momentum (whatever there was of it) is cut off at the knees.

Night Two rundown.

Video on Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar, tomorrow night’s main event.

Wrestlemania XXXIX is in Los Angeles.

We recap Steve Austin being the guest on the Kevin Owens Show. Owens has been insulting Texas for months and he finally invited Austin onto the show. Austin cut a rather fired up promo about how he wrestled his last match nineteen years ago but Owens has lit a fire in him that has been out for a long time. Violence has been all but guaranteed, though no match was officially announced.

Here is Kevin Owens (with yet another awesome KO Mania shirt, this time based on the Ultimate Challenge at Wrestlemania VI) for the Kevin Owens Show (because the glass ceiling can in fact be shattered through hard work). Owens talks about how much he hates Texas but some people have suggested that he apologize. That is in fact what he does….for saying the absolute truth about Texas.

Now the people here much be waiting for him to bring out his guest, but we’re going to wait on that for a bit. Owens doesn’t want to hear about Austin being mad, because he will beat Austin up and drop him with a Stunner. As Owens is ready to insult Texas some more, cue glass shatter and MY GOODNESS the reaction to Austin is on another planet. Austin walks back and forth but then goes through the entrance to get his ATV (ok fair enough).

After a few laps, Austin gets in the ring and wrecks the set, leaving only the two chairs (and Owens). Hold on though as Austin has to get the off the charts hero’s welcome….until Owens tells him to take a seat (giving us a great Austin glare into the camera). They finally sit down and Austin isn’t happy with just wanting to have a conversation. Therefore, Austin insults Owens’ hair so Owens rips on Texas some more. Austin: “You’re about to have 75,000 people calling you an a******.”

Owens has to admit that he has been lying, because he didn’t call Austin out here for a talk. Even though Owens has a bad back, he is here to challenge Austin to a match. Sure it has been 19 years and Austin’s neck, knees and back were shot back then. Actually let’s make it a no holds barred match, which has Austin looking around a bit. There is some great stuff from Austin here, as you can see him thinking about it really hard.

Austin doesn’t say anything so Owens tells him that if he knows he can’t beat him, get his beer and go back to his ranch. That just makes the AUSTIN chants all the louder and he looks around quite a bit. Austin says he wrestled his first match in Dallas, Texas….and he could have his last match right here in Dallas, Texas (the fans like that). As he asks for the H*** YEAH, you can see Austin’s hand shaking….and he wants a referee. I’m not even an Austin fan and I was losing it at the idea that I was actually going to see this live, which is the kind of feeling that you do not get that often in wrestling (or anything for that matter).

Steve Austin vs. Kevin Owens

No Holds Barred. They stare each other down to start and Austin wins the slugout and stomps the mudhole (with a brief look to the crowd) in the corner. Austin sends him hard into the corner but let’s stop for some beer. Another mudhole is stomped and Austin sends him over the top to the floor. More beer drinking ensues (and yes it is Austin’s beer) and Austin turns him inside out with a clothesline (you know Owens is going to bump as much as he can here).

Owens manages a posting and right hands but takes too long setting up a table against the barricade. Austin whips him through it instead and NOW you can see the old eyes coming out. They fight into the crowd and Owens suplexes him on the concrete (I never would have bet on Austin taking that big of a bump).

Now it’s Owens being a bit fired up himself and they head back to ringside, where Owens is slammed onto the announcers’ table. More beer is consumed as Austin gets to hammer away on the table (Graves: “If Popeye had his spinach, Austin has his Steveweisers!”). Owens gets in a shot of his own and goes over to the ATV, which he can’t start. That takes too long as Austin is there to hammer away….and they go riding up the ramp.

Austin suplexes him on the stage (Owens’ sell is great) and then takes him to the other side of the stage for a second suplex. We pause for Austin to soak all of his in (yeah fair) before Austin throws him down the ramp. They get inside with Owens hitting a quick Stunner for two before grabbing a chair. The chair hits the top rope and bounces back into Owens’ face, setting up the Stunner to give Austin the pin at 13:58.

Rating: B. Special. That is the word that you could feel throughout this entire thing and my goodness it holds up on another viewing. Whether you are a fan of his or not, there is no way to deny how big of a star Austin was or what he meant to wrestling. Seeing Austin come back after NINETEEN YEARS and have an actual match rather than some two minute segment disguised as a match was amazing. Austin deserves this kind of treatment and I can’t even imagine what this meant to a lifelong fan like Owens. I would absolutely love to see his face when he was told that he would be in this spot, as it would have been incredible.

Oh yeah the match itself. This was a hard hitting fight that felt like a callback to the Attitude Era. That was the only thing they could do, as there was no way to have Austin wrestle a normal match. They beat each other up for the better part of fifteen minutes here and it was a heck of a fight, with Austin looking like an older version of his normal self. This was pretty amazing and my goodness it actually gave me chills.

Post match Austin drinks a lot of beer and throws one to his brother in the crowd. Owens gets another Stunner and is taken out by some Texas police (complete with hats). Austin says it’s great to be back in Dallas and hits the catchphrase. Byron Saxton is called into the ring and gets Stunnered (you can see/hear the utter joy from Corey Graves in a great moment). Austin’s brother gets in the ring for some beer and the big celebration ends the show. After it was over, Austin took some laps in the ATV before leaving for good to end the night.

Overall Rating: A-. This show started off slowly but after the second match, everything took off and it was one awesome match after another. What mattered the most though was it felt like a Wrestlemania, with some great moments like Belair winning the title, Rhodes’ return and the Austin stuff to cap it all off. All in all, this was one of the better Wrestlemanias in a good while and it kept me interested all night. Well done, as WWE continues to know how to make the big shows work.

Ratings Comparison

Usos vs. Shinsuke Nakamura/Rick Boogs

Original: C
Redo: C

Drew McIntyre vs. Baron Corbin

Original: C
Redo: C-

Miz/Logan Paul vs. Mysterios

Original: C
Redo: B-

Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair

Original: B+
Redo: A-

Seth Rollins vs. Cody Rhodes

Original: B+
Redo: B+

Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte

Original: B-
Redo: B

Steve Austin vs. Kevin Owens

Original: B
Redo: B

Overall Rating

Original: B+
Redo: A-

It was a very good show to start and it actually improved a year later. Nice job.

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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

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Wrestlemania XXVII
Date: April 3, 2011
Location: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
Attendance: 71,617
Commentators: Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, Josh Matthews

Pre-Show: US Title: Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan

Pre-Show: Battle Royal

R-Truth, Great Khali, David Hart-Smith, Mark Henry, Johnny Curtis, Evan Bourne, Trent Barretta, Chris Masters, JTG, Yoshi Tatsu, Chavo Guerrero, Ted DiBiase, Tyler Reks, William Regal, Drew McIntyre, Curt Hawkins, Tyson Kidd, Primo, Zack Ryder, Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, Daniel Bryan, Sheamus

Curtis is a generic guy who would later be known as Fandango and I think you know the Usos. Khali throws out Reks and Hawkins in the first twenty seconds and Henry tosses Tatsu a few seconds later. The match slows down a lot and everyone brawls with everyone with no one getting close to an elimination. Jimmy Uso is hanging onto the ropes and pulls them down to eliminate Truth.

Henry dumps both Usos a few seconds later and a big group of people gets rid of Mark. Primo and Ryder go out in quick succession and Drew has to last on the apron. Chavo tries to knock McIntyre out but gets backdropped to the floor and Khali knocks out Hart-Smith. JTG is dumb enough to go up top and gets chopped out by Khali. Bryan throws Kidd out and McIntyre eliminates Trent.

Keri Hilson sings America the Beautiful.

The cylinder from last year has been replaced by an even bigger cube.

The opening video is the standard operating procedure: talking about the history of the event with the major highlight clips before an assortment of stuff on the major matches. This still works so why mess with it?

Smackdown World Title: Alberto Del Rio vs. Edge

Alberto (who won the 2011 Royal Rumble to earn this shot) is challenging and comes out in a Rolls Royce (he was a car guy, to put it mildly) with his personal ring announcer Ricardo Rodriguez doing his introduction. Del Rio also has Brodus Clay as his bodyguard so Edge brings out Christian as backup. Feeling out process to start until Edge gets shoved into the corner but he comes out with a slap to the face.

Back in and Edge heads up top, only to get armdragged back down to the mat in a big crash. A big boot and flapjack get two for the champ but a Codebreaker to the arm looks to set up the armbreaker. Edge counters into the Edge-O-Matic for two but Del Rio grabs the armbreaker a few seconds later, only to have Edge roll his feet into the ropes. Del Rio follows up with a running enziguri but Edge gets his foot on the ropes again. Rodriguez tries to break it up, triggering a brawl between Christian and Brodus.

Tough Enough ad.

Cole brags about his Slammys and promises to win tonight.

Cody Rhodes vs. Rey Mysterio

Kane/Big Show/Santino Marella/Kofi Kingston vs. Corre

CM Punk vs. Randy Orton

Jerry Lawler vs. Michael Cole

Austin Stuns Matthews for making the announcement.

Wrestlemania week video.

JR and King are doing commentary now.

HHH vs. Undertaker

19-0 flashes on the screen and both guys are done. HHH slowly gets up as the trainer comes in to check on Undertaker (thankfully in silence). Undertaker gets out of the ring and falls on his face, eventually needing to be carted up the ramp.

Wrestlemania XXVII is in Miami.

Dolph Ziggler/Laycool vs. John Morrison/Trish Stratus/Snooki

The new attendance record is announced. Notice that they said for any entertainment event, which excludes football.

Raw World Title: The Miz vs. John Cena

Miz takes over in the corner and whips Cena hard across the ring, setting up his running clothesline for two. A gutwrench suplex gets the same for Cena as the crowd is just silent. Miz misses the second running corner clothesline and takes the top rope Fameasser for two. The champ slowly stomps him down and a baseball slide sends Cena out to the floor. Back in and a knee lift gets two as Cena has shown no fire so far.

Ratings Comparison

Edge vs. Alberto Del Rio

Original: C+

2013 Redo: C+

2015 Redo: C+

Cody Rhodes vs. Rey Mysterio

Original: B

2013 Redo: B-

2015 Redo: B

Corre vs. Kane/Santino Marella/Kofi Kingston/Big Show

Original: N/A

2013 Redo: N/A

2015 Redo: N/A

CM Punk vs. Randy Orton

Original: B-

2013 Redo: B

2015 Redo: B-

Michael Cole vs. Jerry Lawler

Original: C

2013 Redo: D-

2015 Redo: D

Undertaker vs. HHH

Original: B

2013 Redo: B

2015 Redo: A-

Snooki/Trish Stratus/John Morrison vs. Dolph Ziggler/Laycool

Original: N/A

2013 Redo: D+

2015 Redo: D

Miz vs. John Cena

Original: C-

2013 Redo: D-

2015 Redo: D-

Overall Rating

Original: C-

2013 Redo: D

2015 Redo: C-

That HHH vs. Undertaker match really is great.

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2011/04/03/wrestlemania-27-not-sure-on-this-one/

And the 2013 Redo:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2013/04/05/wrestlemania-count-up-wrestlemania-xxvii-rocky-cant-save-this-one/

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of the WWE Grab Bag (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/03/23/new-paperback-kbs-grab-bag/

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

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

WWE Attitude Era Unreleased DVD
Host: Corey Graves

So as you might be able to tell, this is a three disc collection of unreleased matches and segments from the Attitude Era. I did a similar set from the 80s/90s and absolutely loved it, but that is a time period I enjoy a bit more. I’m not sure what to expect here as I’ve tried to avoid the listings so I’m coming into this a bit blind. Let’s get to it.

Disc 1

We open with a highlight reel of house show clips, with fans talking about the greatness of the WWF.

Host Corey Graves (He was the best they could do?) welcomes us and explains the Attitude Era in case we somehow bought this nostalgia DVD with no idea about what we’re being nostalgic about.

From Germany, April 1996 (No specific date or location given, but it’s either April 7, 12, 17 or 22).

Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin

This is shot with a handheld camera for quite the different view. They fight over lockup to start and go technical (the fans approve), with Bret having to nip up out of an armbar. Austin switches into a hammerlock before Bret switches into one of his own and cranks away. Back up and Austin starts playing more towards his own strengths with an elbow to the face.

The middle finger elbow (minus the middle fingers) connects but Bret reverses into another armbar. That works so well that Bret grabs an O’Connor roll for two before going back to the armbar. Austin finally bails to the floor for a breather before coming back in for a test of strength. With that not working for either of them, Austin dumps him outside instead. A hard whip into the steps sets up a whip into the steps, allowing Austin to call Bret a LOSER.

Austin starts in on the leg and knocks him out to the floor again, followed by a suplex back inside. The middle rope elbow gives Austin two and we hit the chinlock. Back up and Austin sends him hard into the corner for two (with the feet on the ropes not really helping). Bret’s comeback is pretty quickly cut off so Austin stomps away, setting up a suplex. The chinlock goes back on but Bret is right back up with a sleeper.

Austin uses a jawbreaker to stun Bret a bit but the running crotch attack only hits ropes. Now Bret’s comeback is really on with a clothesline into an atomic drop into a clothesline for two. The backbreaker and Russian legsweep get two but Austin whips him hard into the corner. Bret knocks him off the top though and drops a top rope elbow (!), setting up the Sharpshooter for the win at 19:58.

Rating: B. Oh of course this works, even though it is a bit surprising given that this was NOT Stone Cold yet, but rather Austin getting to work for a change. It’s also interesting that this was just after Bret lost the title and took a hiatus after Wrestlemania, but you can see why he would want to come back and face Austin if this is what they’re capable of doing together. Heck of a match here, and you can see what got people interested in Austin.

Corey introduces our next match, which should be rather violent.

From In Your House VII: Good Friends, Better Enemies (dark match).

Undertaker vs. Mankind

This might be their first ever match. Undertaker stars fast and knocks him into the corner and slowly hammers away. The big elbow misses though and there’s the Cactus Clothesline. Undertaker is fine enough to send him face first into the steps and they’re already back inside. Old School connects but Mankind gets smart by going for the leg and hits a clothesline.

Another whip sends Undertaker knees first into the steps and Mankind drops a leg for two back inside. We hit the facial ripping as the fans are rather quiet, likely because this is coming a bit after the Shawn Michaels vs. Diesel No Holds Barred match that headlined the show. Back up and Undertaker elbows him in the face so hard that Mankind seems to lose some of his hair.

Mankind doesn’t seem to be Samson-esque (look it up) and hits a Texas piledriver. The Mandible Claw is blocked so Mankind goes back to ripping at his (as in Undertaker’s, since you have to specify with Mankind) face. Undertaker fights up and sends him to the floor again, only to be whipped into the barricade. Back in and Undertaker hits a quick chokeslam into the Tombstone for the pin at 11:02.

Rating: B-. The crowd being silent was the weird part here and it took something away from the match. Granted these two hadn’t developed their hatred for each other yet so it was more just a hard hitting match than two people who wanted to hurt the other. What we got was good, but you could tell this was a dark match as they weren’t exactly going nuts out there.

We look at WWE going to Kuwait in 1996 for the Kuwait Cup on a five night run of shows. There was a VHS tape of this that I watched a few times back in the day.

From Kuwait City, Kuwait, May 12, 1996.

Bret Hart/Undertaker vs. British Bulldog/Owen Hart

This is a different pairing and the Titantron, or at least its grandfather, looks like a Game Boy screen. Owen looking terrified of Undertaker’s entrance as well is a great touch. The villains hit the stall button to start until we settle down to Bulldog vs. Undertaker. Hold on though as Undertaker has to knock Owen of the apron so the stalling can continue. Back in and Bulldog wants to be declared the winner due to, uh, being British, but Earl Hebner isn’t having it.

Undertaker stares Bulldog down and it’s off to the apron again, this time with a tag to Owen. The staredown continues with Bret egging the fans on to boo Owen out of the building. The fans aren’t as nice to Bulldog as Undertaker and Owen stand around and watch the cheer off. They finally lock up after nearly five minutes and Undertaker grabs a headlock. Undertaker even armdrags (!) him into an armbar and I’m trying to get my head around Undertaker doing basic wrestling.

A heart punch knocks Owen down and there’s Old School to do it again. Bret comes in (the fans approve) and Owen gets wishboned, meaning it’s off to the Bulldog. Bret takes Bulldog down by the arm (that feels more right) before hammering away a bit in the corner. Bulldog has had enough of this getting beaten up thing and hands it back to Owen, who is promptly headlocked. A Bulldog cheap shot from the apron lets Owen stomp away, with Bulldog getting in some choking for a bonus.

Owen chokes away with the singlet (like a good villain should) before shifting to the stomping in the corner. Bret can’t quite fight out of a front facelock as Owen takes him back into the corner for more double teaming. Bulldog comes in to work on Bret’s back, complete with some chest popping for a bonus. Bret gets in a shot of his own but Owen is right there to cut him off. A double clothesline finally gives Bret a breather and he’s right over for the tag off to Undertaker. House is quickly cleaned and the Tombstone finishes Owen at 14:48.

Rating: B-. The wrestling wasn’t great here but that wasn’t anything close to the point. This was all about four people having a good time in front of a bunch of fans who are not going to get to see this in person pretty much ever. The stuff at the beginning was a good time and I had a blast with them just taking a night off and having a nice match without taking anything too seriously. And again, Undertaker did an armdrag!

Bret and Undertaker celebrate for a bit, which is strange as it’s to Undertaker’s slow music.

We get GTV, which is Corey Graves getting his makeup done and saying something that is not easy to understand.

From Kuwait City, Kuwait, May 12, 1996.

WWF Title: Shawn Michaels vs. Steve Austin

Michaels is defending and rather well received but Austin gets a nice reaction of his own. Why Austin has pick arm and wristbands isn’t clear. Hold on though as the referee checks for weapons…and actually finds something on Austin! Well that’s a rare one. The fans chant something pro-Shawn so Austin goes to the floor for some glaring. Back in and Austin takes over with a headlock before making it simple by punching him in the face. Shawn comes back with an armdrag into an armbar and Austin can’t technical his way out of it.

A shot to the face works a bit better and Austin gets to work on the arm a bit for a change. Shawn pulls him into a headlock, which is reversed into a headscissors, which is reversed right back into the headlock. Austin gets in another shot to the ace and a middle rope elbow, only to have Shawn pull him into the chinlock. Back up and Austin tries to send him over the top but Shawn is back with a hurricanrana. Shawn chases him into the corner, where Austin gets in the required low blow when the referee can’t see it.

Then the lights go out, as apparently there was a power issue in the venue. You can still hear the match going on, but it could be a rather violent checkers match for all I know. After about a minute and a half, we get a dim light as they have moved out to the floor. Back in and Shawn gets a rollup for two but Austin pulls him back down into the chinlock as the lights are back on full. Austin’s feet get caught on the ropes so the referee breaks it up (with the camera showing that it was the weakest chinlock imaginable), leaving Austin to hit a rather delayed backbreaker.

Michaels’ sleeper is countered with a jawbreaker but he’s fine enough to send Austin face first into the buckle a few times. The flying forearm into the nipup set up a top rope ax handle for two as the fans are getting into this. Austin grabs the Stun Gun (he didn’t use that much in the WWF) but Michaels faceplants him and….eventually…..hits Sweet Chin Music to retain at 16:34.

Rating: B-. This started slowly and then picked up but the lights messed everything up. The interesting thing is that Austin is still far from what he would become, but the talent is still there. What matters here is that Austin is capable of wrestling a good match with just about anyone and Shawn was on another planet from almost anyone else, so this wound up working well. It’s still cool to see what Austin would become though, as you could see the foundation there, and it seems the WWF would start getting there soon enough.

Post match Michaels thanks the fans for coming and how important it is to have a free Kuwait. Then he climbs the lighting grid and holds up a sign saying I HEART FREE KUWAIT! Fair enough.

We look at the Curtain Call (a week after the last two matches). And hey we get a match from the show, featuring Owen Hart with his VERY broken arm.

From New York City, New York, May 19, 1996

Ultimate Warrior vs. Owen Hart

This is a weird mixture of fan cam/hard cam/handheld cam, Jim Cornette is here with Owen and it’s also Warrior’s first match in MSG since 1991 (oh yeah the fans remember him). As tends to be his custom, Owen chills on the floor for a consultation with Cornette. Warrior gives chase before taking him inside for a shoulder and a slam. There’s the running clothesline to put Owen on the floor, meaning Cornette has some more advice (“Don’t get into destrucity.”).

Warrior chases after Cornette but cuts off the cheap shotting Owen. Back in and Cornette offers another distraction to some more success as Owen gets to take over. A tennis racket shot lets Cornette get in his over the top celebration as Owen slowly stomps away. Owen hits a missile dropkick but Warrior reverses a suplex into one of his own. Warrior is back up and hits three straight shoulders for a two finger pin at 7:17.

Rating: C-. This was all about having the Warrior back in the ring at the Garden and what else were you expecting from him in 1996? Thankfully they had Owen in there for most of the offense as he can work some miracles. Warrior kept it relatively short here too, but even then what we got wasn’t great. Sidenote: Owen’s arm was fine, making the pre-match discussion was a little weird.

Another GTV segment shows Corey Graves talking about Owen’s arm being completely fine and being rather confused. He also met Warrior as a kid and was confused by him wearing normal clothes.

From New York City, New York, August 9, 1996.

Steve Austin vs. Undertaker

Another multi-style camera match here, which will continue to mess me up a lot. Austin now has white wrist tape and no arm bands (making him look more like himself) and is trash talking a lot before the match. Paul Bearer is of course here with Undertaker and apparently this is the main event, meaning Austin’s star is already starting to rise. Austin ducks a charge and hits a right hand, which just gets him a stare.

The REST IN PEACE chant start up and Austin doesn’t like that. Hold on though as Austin needs a breather on the floor, which is certainly within his rights. Undertaker eventually joins him so Austin hammers away as they get back inside. That earns him a toss into the corner so Undertaker can fire off the rather wild rights and lefts. A backdrop (with the camera cutting in the middle of the move for what I’m sure is a logical reason) sets up Old School so Austin wants a timeout.

It seems to work too as Austin gets in a shot to the face and stomps away in the corner. Some elbows give Austin two and he low blows Undertaker for two more. There’s a swinging neckbreaker for another near fall and Austin goes up, crosses himself for some reason (nice to see) and drops Bret Hart middle rope elbow. A piledriver plants Undertaker for a rather delayed two so Austin tries a Tombstone for some reason. Undertaker easily reverses into one of his own but Mankind runs in for the DQ at 9:23.

Rating: B-. Yeah this was much more Stone Cold style than the Ringmaster as the evolution of Austin is rather interesting. They definitely know they have something with him and putting him in the main event, where he wasn’t even pinned, is a great sign for his future. This was one of the better Austin vs. Undertaker matches I’ve seen too, as they normally had some pretty awful chemistry.

Post match the double teaming is on until Shawn Michaels, in a jean jacket for a weird look, makes the save. Goldust comes in as well though and the villains get in the big beatdown. Mankind and Goldust leave though and Undertaker and Shawn get up for the double beatdown. Shawn and Undertaker pose together and….that’s kind of awesome.

Corey calls that post match stuff the embodiment of the Attitude Era. After we establish that he doesn’t get what the Attitude Era is like, we get sent to another match.

From In Your House: Buried Alive (dark match).

WWF Title: Shawn Michaels vs. Goldust

Goldust, with Marlena, is challenging, and this is a much more traditional camera setup. Before the match, Goldust says hit the music and dances to Shawn’s music, complete with poses. Shawn isn’t having that and knocks him down for the walk across Goldust’s back. A top rope ax handle gets two but Goldust knocks him outside a few times. There’s a suplex back inside and we hit the chinlock. Make that a sleeper and Shawn goes back down after a comeback attempt.

Shawn finally suplexes his way to freedom and a double knockdown lets them catch a breather. Back up and Shawn drops him again, setting up the top rope elbow. Sweet Chin Music misses though and Goldust drops him with a clothesline before doing the slow crawl onto Shawn. The Curtain Call doesn’t work either however and Shawn kisses him on the mouth, setting up the superkick to retain at 8:12.

Rating: C+. This was the equivalent of a quick house show main event and little more than a way to send the fans home happy. As usual, Shawn could have a good match with anyone and Goldust is more than talented enough to make anything work. Perfectly fine match here and the fans popped big for the kiss.

ANOTHER GTV video (we get the idea already) shows Corey Graves doing the Goldust deep breath pose.

From In Your House: It’s Time (dark match).

Shawn Michaels vs. Mankind

Mankind has Paul Bearer with him. Shawn comes to the ring with a cup of water, which he throws in Mankind’s face to start the fight fast. Mankind is sent into various things on the floor and then kneed in the head inside before Shawn pounds him down in the corner. Back up and Mankind hits his spinning clothesline, followed by some face ripping (Mankind: “COME ON SEXY BOY”) on the ropes.

The running knee in the corner sets up a blocked Mandible Claw, allowing Shawn to grab a belly to back suplex. Shawn hits the forearm but Mankind manages to get the Claw this time. They fall out to the floor though and Shawn sends him into the steps to really break it up. Mankind’s hand is sent into the steps as well, setting up the top rope elbow. The urn is brought in but Shawn hits the superkick to retain at 6:56.

Rating: C+. These two had some great chemistry together but there is only so much you can do in the limited time. It was also Shawn being a bit more aggressive, though at the same time he seemed a little less than interested in being out there. Either way, nice enough stuff here and I can always go for more from these two.

Disc 2

From Toronto, Ontario, Canada, February 3, 1997. This is a dark match from Raw, though it was taped on January 31.

WWF Title: Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart vs. Sid

Shawn is defending and he actually gets quite the positive reaction, which I wouldn’t have expected. Boxer George Chuvalo is guest outside referee. Bret’s sneering at Shawn as he goes through the whole stripping entrance is a great bonus. Bret shoves Shawn to start and they slug it out until Sid rams their heads together to take over. Shawn gets whipped over the corner and out to the floor, with Sid punching him off the apron to knock him down again.

Bret’s slugging away doesn’t do much good, leaving Sid to dump Shawn over the top and out to the floor for the third time. To mix things up a big, Sid pulls Shawn back in but misses a running boot in the corner. Sid is fine enough to hit one heck of a chokeslam on Shawn but Bret catches Sid on top (Sid’s leg is probably thankful). True to his nature, Bret hammers on Shawn in the corner but gets sent chest first into the buckle for his efforts.

Shawn gets to beat on Bret for a bit, including a stomp on the face. Sid comes back in to send Shawn outside and ax handles Bret in the back for two. The powerbomb is loaded up but Shawn makes the save (Why not wait for after the powerbomb?) and hammers Sid about the head and shoulders. A ram into the buckle is blocked though and Sid hits a gorilla press.

Back in and Bret hammers away on Sid in the corner before DIVING onto Shawn for more right hands. With Sid knocked outside, the Russian legsweep gets two on Shawn and the backbreaker gets the same. Bret backdrops Shawn to the floor but walks into a clothesline from Sid to leave them both down. Back up and Bret grabs the Sharpshooter on Sid but Steve Austin runs in to jump Bret. The boxer punches Austin out Bret tries the Sharpshooter again, only to have Shawn dive in with a high crossbody for the pin on Bret at 11:13.

Rating: B-. They were clearly trying to figure out the formula for the triple threat match here but it was still a good match with the ending being enough of a surprise. The boxer came in for the save, which at least reminded me that he was there. This felt more like a novelty for its time and that makes it a perfect fit for something like this set. If nothing else, how often do you see Shawn getting a pin on Bret?

Graves introduces us to Chainsaw Charlie.

From Uniondale, New York, December 29, 1997, the night Charlie debuted.

Nation Of Domination vs. Steve Austin/Undertaker/Cactus Jack/Chainsaw Charlie

Well that’s a stacked good guy team. If nothing else, it’s weird enough to see Undertaker and Mankind teaming together. Austin is in his jean shorts here and has what seems to be an intentionally awkward staredown with Undertaker before we get going. Cactus and D’Lo Brown start things off with Cactus running him over and dropping a leg.

Charlie comes in for a double clothesline and a hangman’s neckbreaker drops Brown again. It’s off to Rock to face Charlie (they couldn’t have wrestled too many times) but Austin comes in to chase him out. Brown comes back in to trade wristlocks with Austin (that’s another weird one) until a distraction lets Rock come in. Austin slugs away (that’s more like it) and the Thesz press sends Rock bailing to the floor.

It’s quickly off to Godfather to unload on Mankind in the corner before Brown drops the leg for two. Brown hits the legdrop between the leg before it’s back to Simmons to work on Cactus’ back. That’s broken up and the tag brings Undertaker back in as everything breaks down. Rock slugs at Undertaker but Austin makes a blind tag (or close enough, as he didn’t seem to touch Undertaker) for the Stunner and the pin at 8:24.

Rating: C+. Nothing match as you might have expected, but this was all about looking at the talent lineup in the ring. If nothing else, Rock and Terry Funk being in the ring together was such a weird generational clash that I wanted to see how it worked. This was the definition of star studded, as only Godfather and Brown aren’t former or future World Champions. Not bad for an eight minute dark match.

Graves introduces Ken Shamrock….as well as the Rock. If you’re buying a DVD of dark matches and rarities, you don’t need things like this.

From Anaheim, California, March 13, 1998 at a house show about two weeks before we would see the same match at Wrestlemania XIV.

Intercontinental Title: The Rock vs. Ken Shamrock

Rock, with the Nation, is defending and it’s another handheld camera shoot. Shamrock takes him down for an early ankle lock defense, with Rock immediately bailing to the floor. We hit the rather long stall button until Rock gets back in, where Shamrock kicks him down a few times. Rock manages a clothesline to the floor where the Nation drops Shamrock onto the barricade like good lackeys.

The Nation gets ejected but Rock is fine enough to slug away for two. The People’s Elbow gets two and we hit the chinlock to slow things down a bit. Shamrock fights up and grabs a fisherman’s suplex for two but Rock runs him over with a clothesline. They go outside again for an exchange of whips into metal objects as Rock takes over again. Back in and Rock chokes in the corner but Shamrock grabs a fisherman’s neckbreaker.

The Maivia Hurricane gives Rock a delayed two but Shamrock is right back up to slug away. Shamrock hits the standing hurricanrana on Rock and a running clothesline on the referee, allowing Rock to grab a suplex and put everyone down. The Nation offers a distraction though, allowing Brown to hit Shamrock with with a chair. Cue a second referee to say not so fast, leaving Shamrock to grab the ankle lock for the tap and the title at 9:11.

Rating: B-. I liked this one better than I remember the Wrestlemania title match, though I don’t think they’re exactly hiding what they’re doing with the finish here. Shamrock getting all fired up for the comeback is cool to see but they didn’t hide the Dusty Finish and that’s not something you want to see. For now though, I’ll take a pretty hard hitting fight though and it worked well here.

Post match Shamrock beats up the Nation and yeah it’s a DQ so no title change. He doesn’t like the ruling and leaves with the title anyway.

Graves runs us through the first ever Raw in Madison Square Garden, featuring the first Stunner to Vince McMahon and the debut of Cactus Jack (in back to back segments, as you could feel WCW dying at the same time). After a highlight package on Jack, we’re back to the Garden.

From New York City, New York, March 22, 1998, a week before Wrestlemania XIV.

Cactus Jack vs. Billy Gunn

Hardcore rules. Jack beats him up with a broom to start and they fight up the aisle. Gunn gets in a shot of his own for two, only to be sent face first into the steps. They head inside with Jack loading up a table in the corner and hiptossing him through it for two. Jack hits him low with…something made of metal but the Mandible Claw sends Gunn falling out to the floor. This time it’s Jack going into the steps but he pops up with a clothesline. Gunn is fine enough to chair the steps into Jack’s head, followed by a broom to the back.

Some metal sheets to the head put Jack down again for two and a good looking jumping piledriver plants him hard. Gunn dives face first into a chair though and the comeback is on. Jack hits a clothesline but walks into the Fameasser for another near fall. A chair shot takes too long though (Gunn having to flip it over so it’s the right side didn’t help), allowing Jack to take it away and hit a double arm DDT onto the chair for the pin at 8:26.

Rating: C+. I remember Gunn in a hardcore match at Wrestlemania XV and thinking that he didn’t quite have the art form of hardcore down. That was the case here, as Gunn’s offense consisted of just hitting Jack with random weapons. Jack know how to build things up a bit better, which comes with experience in this kind of match. Good enough here, but it was all about Jack, as it should have been.

We talk about Shawn Michaels vs. Steve Austin at Wrestlemania, but since Michaels can’t wrestle, HHH was taking his place. Like he’s doing here.

From New York City, New York, March 22, 1998, a week before Wrestlemania XIV.

HHH vs. Steve Austin

HHH’s European Title isn’t on the line and Chyna is here too. Believe it or not, the fans go nuts for Austin. HHH backs him into the corner to start and they grapple around a good bit with Austin getting in the double middle fingers. HHH’s headlock doesn’t last long as Austin elbows him in the face and grabs his own headlock. With that broken up, HHH takes a breather on the floor as Austin is just left standing around in the corner.

Back in and HHH flips him off, earning himself a quick beating. Austin hits the Thesz press but it’s too early for the Stunner, as HHH bails to the floor again. They get back in with HHH hitting the jumping knee and the wrapping Austin’s knee around the post a few times. The leg cranking continues back inside before Austin is sent outside for a shot from Chyna. HHH grabs the Figure Four back inside and Austin gets to scream a bit. He eventually turns it over into the ropes, where Chyna chokes away like a villain should.

HHH cranks on the leg some more, only to have Austin use the good leg to kick him in the face (he never was one for complicated offense). The facebuster cuts Austin down again though and they need a bit of a breather. Back up and the double clothesline puts them both down again as the fans are getting back into Austin.

Chyna gets in another cheap shot to give HHH two so he goes up top for some reason. Austin punches him out of the air and starts the comeback, including the running crotch attack against the ropes. A Pedigree attempt is countered into a catapult to knock the referee down but Chyna’s interference fails. Austin hits a Stunner each to finish HHH at 16:45.

Rating: B. Oh yeah you could absolutely see the chemistry here and this was a match that got a good deal of time. It made things a lot better as they had the chance to build a story and turn it into something rather than the fast stuff that has filled in this set so far. Austin was just crazy over and clearly the future, so it’s nice to see him getting this kind of a match. No wonder it headlined the Garden either, as no one was following that kind of a reaction.

Austin gets to pose post match and my goodness the tan line from his trunks being down a bit is distracting.

ANOTHER GTV segment (my goodness enough about Graves) shows Graves wanting frostier tips in his hair and a different wardrobe.

From New York City, New York, June 26, 1999. That’s a heck of a jump.

Big Show vs. HHH

For some reason we’re clipped from Show’s entrance to the match in progress with HHH getting shoved away a few times. HHH claims cheating and then loses a one handed test of strength without too much trouble. A hip attack to the ribs sends HHH outside for a meeting with Chyna, whose advice seems to be “don’t get chopped”. HHH slugs away in the corner but Show rams him into a few buckles to cut that off.

An escape attempt results in Show going through the curtain to catch HHH without much effort. The melee lets Chyna get in a low blow though and HHH scores with the facebuster to really take over. Elbows and stomping have Show in trouble for a change, allowing Chyna to get in some choking and a forearm of her own. The jumping knee gives HHH two but the kickout sends him flying out to the floor.

Back up and HHH avoids a heck of a splash in the corner and the sleeper (as required in a match against a giant) goes on. Show goes to his knees but comes back and easily flips HHH over for the escape. Chyna offers another distraction though and HHH hits him low, only to have Show hit a big side slam. HHH slowly hammers away but Show stands up and starts walking around. A big boot sets up a missed elbow drop so HHH goes up. That works as well as anything else involving HHH going up top, as he dives into the chokeslam for the pin at 14:02 shown.

Rating: B-. This was the original version of Big Show, as he was still moving around well and felt like a giant rather than the pretty standard style he would morph into. Show was pushed rather strong at first and it’s not the biggest surprise that he would be headlining Wrestlemania next year. We’re also firmly into the HHH era here, and that is likely to keep going for a good while.

We look at the company exploding in late 1999, including the stock launch with a huge presentation on Wall Street.

From Wall Street, October 25, 2000. Dang they’re jumping over all kinds of stuff here.

Dudley Boyz vs. T&A

Trish Stratus is here with T&A and THIS is unique, as the ring is literally set up outside on Wall Street with a bunch of business people walking around. D-Von shoulders Albert around to start before a double suplex takes Albert down. Test gets in a cheap shot from the apron though and one heck of a big boot (the fans liked that one) drops D-Von again. One of the worst dives off the middle rope for the sole purpose of landing on a raised boot ensues and it’s off to Bubba for something resembling a spear. There’s What’s Up to Albert and yes it’s time for tables. Instead we’ll settle for the 3D to Test for the pin at 3:08.

Rating: C. The match was nothing of note but what mattered here was the spectacle of the whole thing. The WWF is going public on the New York Stock Exchange and they’re having a show here live to commemorate it. That makes things feel so much more important and it’s such a cool visual. Nice job and this feels like it belongs on a set like this one.

Graves wraps it up, despite there being a third disc.

One more GTV show Graves asking if we’re done.

Disc 3

So this is “special features”, which seemingly is no different from the first two discs.

From Sun City, South Africa, September 14, 1996.

Yokozuna vs. The Sultan

This was seemingly broadcast in South Africa so Jim Ross, Owen Hart and a local sportscaster are on commentary. Yokozuna looks rather horrible here and commentary is pointing out how huge he has gotten, to the point where he can barely do the Banzai Drop. The fans approve of Yokozuna shoving him down and hammering away but it’s too early to try the Banzai.

Back in and an elbow to the face drops Sultan but Yokozuna misses the big elbow drop. Sultan slams him head first onto the mat and we hit the chinlock. Yokozuna fights up and strikes away but misses a splash (which grazed Sultan but officially it missed). Sultan takes the turnbuckle pad off but Yokozuna sends him into the steel instead, setting up the legdrop for the pin at 6:11.

Rating: C. It really is a shame that Yokozuna let himself go so badly as he certainly had the charisma and a face run with him at mobile size could have been rather interesting. Instead he is one of the sadder stories you’ll see, as he just couldn’t control himself and fell apart. He still had the talent and could have been something if he had lost a good bit of weight, but alas it was only going to end badly.

From In Your House: It’s Time.

Goldust vs. Steve Austin

Marlena is here with Goldust in a post-show dark match. Goldust drives him into the corner to start and Austin (with no wrist tape) glares at him. Austin cranks on the arm but Goldust does the same and takes him down to the mat. Back up and the Thesz press…doesn’t seem to work as Goldust doesn’t go down, leaving Austin to hammer away instead. The chinlock goes on but Goldust is right back up with something like a hot shot.

Goldust grabs the reverse chinlock as this isn’t exactly burning up the mat so far. Austin fights back up but misses a running crotch attack, leaving Goldust to hit a clothesline for two. The chinlock goes back on for a bit before they fall out to the floor. Back in and Austin hammers away in the corner and they’re right back to the floor. Cue HHH for a distraction and a belt shot to the back, setting up the Stunner (sans kick to the ribs) to finish Goldust at 8:37.

Rating: D+. To say these guys were moving in slow motion and not trying would be an understatement. It felt like they were out there for no reason other than they had to be and that made for a horribly uninteresting match. They’re both capable of much better so we’ll call this a (rather bad) off night.

So this third disc doesn’t include Corey Graves, but for some reason it also doesn’t include any on-screen dates for the matches. The DVD case has them, but that’s a really weird thing to leave out.

From Syracuse, New York, March 17, 1997 (the Wrestlemania XIII go home Raw).

Undertaker/Ahmed Johnson/Goldust vs. Nation Of Domination

Raw dark match with Marlena and the Nation’s lackeys at ringside. It’s a brawl to start as we have the rare Shotgun Saturday Night ring skirts. Undertaker and company clear the ring and we pause for the Nation to consider leaving. We settle down to Vega hammering on Goldust before Crush comes in for a backbreaker.

Faarooq gets to mock Goldust’s deep breath (there’s an image) before throwing in a hip swivel. A cannonball down onto the back only hits raised knees but it’s back to Vega to hammer away. Goldust avoids a charge into the corner though and everything breaks down. Undertaker hits the chokeslam and Tombstone on Vega for the pin at 4:35.

Rating: C. This is what I was looking for, as that is a wacky face team to face the Nation. Undertaker getting the win less than a week before he becomes WWF Champion is fine and it wasn’t like they were out there very long. Just about all of them will have a better match on Sunday, though the lack of rules would help the Nation and Ahmed. For now though, this was a nice enough quick send them home happy match.

From Toronto, Ontario, Canada, June 14, 1997.

Undertaker vs. Steve Austin

Undertaker, with Paul Bearer, is defending and does NOT like Bearer helping him with his jacket. Bearer stops to yell at him (this was around the time when Bearer was forcing Undertaker to let him be his manager to avoid revealing a secret, which would wind up being Kane) before telling the cameras to get away from him.

Austin dodges a charge to start and flips Undertaker off, earning himself a beating in the corner. Some choking puts Austin on the floor but he’s right back in to crank on the arm. That doesn’t work for Undertaker, who takes over on the arm and drives in some shoulders of his own. Naturally that sets up Old School for two and Austin needs a breather on the floor.

Undertaker isn’t one to accept these delays though and sends Austin into the steps and then back inside as Bearer yells a lot. A sleeper of all things is broken up with a jawbreaker and Austin grabs a front facelock. With that not working, Austin takes him down into a chinlock as this isn’t the most thrilling stretch. For some reason Austin lets that go and they slug it out, with Undertaker getting the better of things. The jumping clothesline sets up the chokeslam and the Tombstone to finish Austin at 11:12.

Rating: C. Austin and Undertaker continue to have the weirdest non-chemistry for two big stars, which was even the case here while Austin was still on the way up. That stretch in the middle with the chinlocks and facelocks killed whatever they were doing and you could hear that the fans weren’t exactly thrilled. Not the worst match, but something wasn’t clicking between them, as usual.

From Uniondale, New York, October 24, 1997.

Tag Team Titles: Shawn Michaels/HHH vs. Legion Of Doom

The Legion Of Doom is defending and are introduced as Road Warrior Hawk and Road Warrior Animal for a weird thing to hear from the Fink. HHH and Animal start but we pause for Shawn to yell at a fan about how much money he has. Animal easily powers HHH around to start so Shawn tries to come in, earning a double shove. It’s off to Hawk vs. Shawn (there’s one I didn’t expect to see) with Hawk getting in the gorilla press.

Shawn bails to the floor and then does it again from the threat of a clothesline. Back in and a clothesline connects to send Shawn right back to the floor. Animal comes back in to headlock Shawn, followed by a bearhug to both villains. HHH finally gets in a cheap shot to slow Animal down before a faceplant into an elbow to the back keeps him in trouble. A knee drop sets up a sleeper from Shawn but Animal suplexes his way to freedom (as tends to be the case).

That’s not enough for the tag though as HHH is back in with a sleeper of his own. This one is good for two arm drops before Animal his a jawbreaker but Shawn is right there to cut off the tag (nicely done). Animal powers over to the corner but HHH’s distraction still means not tag as they’re following the formula here. Shawn accidentally ax handles HHH though and NOW the hot tag brings in Hawk to clean house.

Everything breaks down and Shawn is sent outside but he gets in a cheap shot on Hawk for one. They do the same sequence again and this time….HHH gets the pin (with feet on the ropes) at 13:06? Actually never mind (ah there we go) as here’s another referee to say what happened and it’s a restart. Then the champs beat down Shawn and HHH so badly that it’s a DQ at 14:52.

Rating: B. Believe it or not, this was a more slow paced match for a good bit, with an older formula based style. That made it a good bit more entertaining than I was expecting, which is even better when you factor in the oddity of seeing these teams against each other. Good match, plus a rather cool novelty.

Post match Shawn chairs Animal but Hawk takes the chair away and Shawn bails fast.

From New York City, New York, January 10, 1998.

The Rock/D’Lo Brown vs. Cactus Jack/Steve Austin

Falls count anywhere and Jack brings a table with him to start things fast. Before the match, Jack calls out Rock for sucking and says that he’s substituting for Dude Love. After over a minute of standing around, Brown kicks away at Jack and grabs a headlock. We pause for the handheld camera to run around the ring and it’s Jack stomping away in the corner. A clothesline gets Brown out of trouble but it’s the Cactus Clothesline to put them both on the floor.

Back in and Cactus works on the arm before Austin comes in for a bit more physicality. Austin even offers Brown’s hand to Rock for the tag but Rock isn’t having any of that. Then Rock comes in a few seconds later and the slugout is on. The Thesz press has Rock in more trouble but he bails to the floor before the Stunner. Austin sends him into the barricade and chokes away before Jack tables Rock in the head. Believe it or not, Brown takes over on Austin as Rock fight back on Jack outside.

They get back inside as the fans are already getting behind Austin. A backdrop puts Brown on the floor but he pulls Austin out with him. Rock and Jack fight to the back as Brown gets two on Austin. Jack is back with a trashcan full of weapons that Austin can use on Brown though, including another trashcan to the head. Cue Rock with a chair and the Nation to go after Jack but Austin grabs the Stunner (off camera) for the pin (off camera) at 11:32.

Rating: B-. This was the kind of wild brawl that it needed to be, but where in the world was this version of Brown over the years? He beat up Austin for a good chuck of the match and didn’t even take the all. Fun match here though, as Austin could do no wrong at this point and having Jack there as a surprise worked well.

Post match the Nation and Goldust come in to go after Austin, who responds with Stunners.

From East Rutherford, New Jersey, February 22, 1998.

Steve Austin/Cactus Jack/Chainsaw Charlie vs. The Rock/New Age Outlaws

Anything goes and Rock is substituting for Shawn Michaels, meaning HHH and Chyna are here too. Cactus and Charlie throw a bunch of weapons in before the match (as you might have expected) and here’s Austin to blow the roof off the place (again). Everyone stands around for a bit until Billy poses at Charlie to start. Dogg comes in instead and gets punched in the face by Charlie, followed by some headbutts.

Cactus adds the running knee in the corner (Cactus: “That’ll leave a mark!”) and then pulls Gunn in for a beating from Austin. An atomic drop into a catapult into the corner takes us back to the 80s or so, followed by a heck of a clothesline to get the timeline back on track and drop Gunn at the same time. Rock comes in for the slugout with Austin, who hits the Thesz press and elbow drop. They head outside where Jack clotheslines Rock and Austin whips him over the barricade.

Everything breaks down and Charlie beats up Gunn before switching over to Dogg. Back in and Gunn is sent into the back of a table in the corner before being whipped into (not through) it. The Outlaws are put on the table and Cactus whips out the salad tongs for some crunching. We settle down to Gunn taking over on Cactus in the corner before it’s off to Rock to hammer away.

Dogg adds a chair shot to the head and Cactus is out of it, as only he can be. A belly to back suplex/neckbreaker combination puts Cactus down again and Gunn even makes sure to knock Charlie off the apron. Dogg takes too long loading up a chair though and Cactus uses it to knock him out of the air instead. That’s enough for the hot tag to Austin and house is cleaned in a hurry. Everything breaks down and the Stunner finishes Dogg at 12:04.

Rating: B-. This was the “send them home happy” match and it worked rather well all things considered. Austin was on absolute fire at this point and he would only get bigger and bigger over the next few months. When you’re in there with Mick Foley, Terry Funk, the Rock and the New Age Outlaws and are still head and shoulders above them, it is something incredibly special. Hot match too, as Jack and Charlie know just how to work in a match like this one before handing it off to Austin to land the thing.

More Stunners abound post match but HHH runs in to go after Austin. This goes as you would expect and HHH gets Stunned as well.

From Anaheim, California, March 13, 1998.

Steve Austin vs. HHH

We just did this match from nine days later on the second disc! Chyna is here too as they fight over some hammerlocks to start. We settle down for a bit until Austin sends him into the corner a few times. HHH bails to the floor for a breather before coming back in to flip Austin off. Austin, fighting for his intellectual property, slugs away but HHH gets in a hard shot of his own to take over.

The Thesz press and elbow drop get Austin out of trouble though and HHH is sent outside. Back in and Austin hits an atomic drop but HHH is fine enough to nail the jumping knee. HHH wraps the knee around the post (just like in the other match) but this time Austin rolls him up for two instead. The Figure Four goes on with HHH grabbing the rope before Austin turns it over, sending him into the ropes.

As you might expect, Chyna chokes away as she did in the previous match (because they put two matches with the same people from 9 days apart on the same set). HHH goes up but gets punched out of the air, followed by the double clothesline to leave them both down. Back up and HHH yells at the referee, who shoves him back, right into a beating from Austin. The comeback is on but the referee gets distracted by Chyna, meaning Austin’s catapult into the corner hits said referee instead. Chyna tries to come in so Austin Stuns the both for the pin on HHH at 12:29.

Rating: B-. I can’t get over this one, as it was almost the same match, even down to the same spots and finish. Why would you include two matches like that within the same set? Why not just put them both back to back? The match was fine as you would expect, but I watched it a few hours ago. Why should I be that interested again?

From New York City, New York, June 26, 1999.

WWF Title: Steve Austin vs. Undertaker

Undertaker, with Paul Bearer, is defending. Austin jumps him fast to start but Undertaker unloads with right hands in the corner. Back up and Austin hits a quick Thesz press and slugs away, setting up the elbow drop for two. Undertaker gets sent into some buckles and they head outside where the camera mostly loses track of them. Back in and Undertaker hits a big boot before Bearer gets in a cheap shot of his own.

Undertaker gets in his elbow to the face on the apron and the camera goes all over the place again. Austin is dropped throat first across the barricade but manages to fight back without much trouble. A piledriver on the floor has to be dropped though as Austin heads over to deck Bearer. That’s enough of a distraction for Undertaker to send him into the steps and slowly hammer away as the pace cools down.

Back in and Austin’s slam attempt fails as Undertaker falls on top of him for two. We hit the chinlock to keep things slow as Undertaker doesn’t look thrilled. Austin fights up and it’s a double clothesline to put them both down again. The stomping in the corner has Undertaker in more trouble but he loads up the Tombstone. That’s broken up as well though and Austin hits the Stunner. Bearer pulls the referee though and it’s Mideon coming in for the DQ at 11:24.

Rating: C+. This was a bad period for Undertaker as he was pretty clearly over all of the nonsense with the evil stuff and wanted to move to something else. Biker Taker really was a big change of pace for him and something that he needed. Austin was still hot, but things were about to start tilting away from him as his neck got worse and worse. If nothing else, he would take the title from Undertaker two days later in one of the highest rated segments ever on Raw.

From Wall Street, October 25, 2000 (yes that show again).

Hardy Boyz vs. Lo-Down

The Hardys’, with Lita, Tag Team Titles aren’t on the line and Lo-Down are in completely generic black pants with nothing making them stand out. Chaz headlocks and shoulders Matt down to start but it’s quickly off to Jeff for Poetry In Motion. Jeff gets punched down though and it’s off to Brown for a headlock of his own. The leg lariat drops Jeff again and an arm lariat does it as well. A Chaz distraction means Jeff’s sunset flip only gets two and Brown misses a moonsault to make it even worse. Matt comes in to clean house as everything breaks down. The Twist of Fate into the Swanton finishes for Jeff at 4:02.

Rating: C. That was as basic of a tag match as you could have had and it wasn’t supposed to be anything else. The WWF didn’t run a show on Wall Street for a Wrestlemania quality show but rather just getting some matches out there. The Hardys were big names and as a glorified cameo, this went fine.

Overall Rating: B-. This was a really weird set, as it has some rather interesting stuff like that eight man tag and the DX vs. LOD match, plus the rather cool Wall Street matches. On the other hand though, you have so many instances of repeats of matches that were done to death over the years. How many times do I need to see HHH vs. Austin or Austin vs. Undertaker?

I was hoping for some more oddities (Kurrgan for instance), or at least a focus on a bunch of people outside of the main event scene. I get why they’re prominently featured, but a little more variety would have been nice. Overall it’s a fun thing to see, but it really needed to be mixed up more. Also, you’re looking at the Attitude Era and have two matches each from 1999 and 2000? And from the same show at that? There are some weird choices on here and some weirder omissions (no Edge, Christian, Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle, Eddie Guerrero for instance), making this something that was good, but could have been SO much more.

 

 

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Wrestlemania XIV
Date: March 29, 1998
Location: FleetCenter, Boston, Massachusetts
Attendance: 19,028
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler

Tag Team Battle Royal

Los Boricuas (Vega/Perez), Los Boricuas (Estrada/Castillo), Truth Commission (Recon/Sniper), Bradshaw/Chainz, Nation of Domination (Brown/Henry), Nation of Domination (Faarooq/Mustafa), Legion of Doom 2000, Quebecers, Rock N Roll Express, Headbangers, Too Much, Disciples of Apocalypse, Steve Blackman/Flash Funk, Godwinns, New Midnight Express

Ever the poor sports, the Godwinns come back in with their metal buckets to knock the LOD silly and give the Express a chance. Animal rolls under the ropes to the floor, leaving Hawk to beat up both goons on his own. Animal comes back in to clean house and the Express is clotheslined out to give LOD the win at 8:13.

Kevin Kelly and Honky Tonk Man tell us to CALL THE HOTLINE!

Clips of various media appearances that took place in Boston over the recent days. This would become a Wrestlemania tradition and always made the show feel more important.

Light Heavyweight Title: Taka Michinoku vs. Aguila

Michinoku is defending and won the inaugural title late last year. Aguila is better known as Essa Rios and slaps hands with the champion to start. A quick spinwheel kick sends Taka out to the floor and Aguila follows him out with a moonsault to the outside. Taka kicks him outside as well and nails his signature running springboard dive to take over again.

European Title: HHH vs. Owen Hart

Hart starts fast and scores with some early clotheslines and right hands in the corner followed by a standing hurricanrana for two. So much for the leg being badly damaged but he does seem a bit ginger. HHH sends him to the floor but Slaughter stops Chyna from interfering. Back in and a poke to the eye breaks up the Sharpshooter to give HHH control.

Rating: B. What a difference a year makes with HHH as he went from a slow, boring match with Goldust to a really good, fast paced match here with Owen. I never quite got why Hart kept losing and losing to HHH as you would think they might want to go somewhere with him as the last remaining Hart. At least he was a good opponent for HHH and we got a good match here.

Marc Mero/Sable vs. Luna/The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust

Mero celebrates like he got the pin in a perfect character move.

Intercontinental Title: Ken Shamrock vs. The Rock

Rock is defending and the leader of the Nation of Domination. He actually gave Shamrock a title shot back at the Rumble where Shamrock got disqualified and the feud has continued from there. This included Rock BLASTING Shamrock in the face with a chair a few weeks back on Raw in a shot that would probably get him fired today. Rock has the Nation in his corner, minus Faarooq who Rock took the leadership from. If Rock gets disqualified here, he loses the title.

Tag Team Titles: Cactus Jack/Chainsaw Charlie vs. New Age Outlaws

In Your House XXI ad.

We recap Undertaker vs. Kane and this is going to get a bit complicated. Paul Bearer had promised to destroy Undertaker and revealed that Undertaker had a brother named Kane, who had been horribly burned in a fire as a child, a fire that Bearer claimed Undertaker set. During the first Hell in a Cell match, Kane actually debuted and laid out Undertaker, seemingly setting up their first match. However, Undertaker vowed to his parents that he would never fight his brother.

Undertaker vs. Kane

They stare each other down and Undertaker hammers away to almost no effect. A big toss by the throat sends Undertaker into the corner but Kane charges into a boot to the face. Undertaker charges into a Tombstone attempt but gets dropped on his head in the corner. Kane knees Undertaker down in the corner before draping him ribs first across the top rope.

Bearer comes in for some cheap shots, allowing Kane to lay Undertaker out with a chair and another Tombstone. Kane and Bearer leave but Undertaker sits up again.

Another Attitude spot, but this time with some legends talking about how amazing their days were. In their time, there were no flashing lights or moonsaults, no walking the top rope or pyrotechnics. Today though, the legends are the ones cheering. Another outstanding ad here as you can see that everything is changing.

We recap Austin vs. Michaels, which translates to a video on Mike Tyson, who is the real star of this show and the reason it was such a big deal. This is one of the best celebrity investments in company history and made the match.

WWF World Title: Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaels

JR gets the famous line with “The Austin Era has begun!” Michaels is ticked off at Tyson and takes a swing, earning him a right hand to the jaw to knock Shawn out cold. Confetti falls and the highlight package takes us out.

There are better Wrestlemanias out there but this one was the right show at the right time with the right ending. The memorable moments here are memorable for a reason and the show holds up today for all the right reasons. This show launched the WWF into its second great era and they never looked back. Well not for a few years at least.

Ratings Comparison

Tag Team Battle Royal

Original: D-

2013 Redo: D

2015 Redo: D+

Taka Michinoku vs. Aguila

Original: D+

2013 Redo: B

2015 Redo: B-

HHH vs. Owen Hart

Original: B-

2013 Redo: D+

2015 Redo: B

Marc Mero/Sable vs. The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust/Luna Vachon

Original: C

2013 Redo: C

2015 Redo: C

The Rock vs. Ken Shamrock

Original: C+

2013 Redo: C-

2015 Redo: D+

New Age Outlaws vs. Cactus Jack/Chainsaw Charlie

Original: C+

2013 Redo: C

2015 Redo: B

Kane vs. Undertaker

Original: D+

2013 Redo: C-

2015 Redo: D+

Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaels

Original: B+

2013 Redo: B+

2015 Redo: A-

Overall Rating

Original: B+

2013 Redo: B

2015 Redo: B

That’s a lot more all over the place than usual, even by my standards.

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2011/03/21/history-of-wrestlemania-with-kb-wrestlemania-14-everything-changes-forever/

And the 2013 Redo:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2013/03/23/wrestlemania-count-up-wrestlemania-xiv-the-austin-era-has-begun/

Monday Night Raw
Date: November 25, 1996
Location: New Haven Coliseum, New Haven, Connecticut
Attendance: 4,968
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Vince McMahon

We’ll wrap up the month with the Thanksgiving week show coming off last week’s different kind of show. There is a sense of change around here, as the action has been more aggressive, with Steve Austin leading the charge. We are on the way to In Your House in about three weeks and Sid defending the WWF Title against Bret Hart is going to need something else on the card. Let’s get to it.

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

Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart

Yeah this should work and Clarence Mason is here with Owen. We go split screen to see Shawn Michaels arriving in Jose Lothario’s living room with promises of an interview later. They fight over a lockup to start with Owen taking over on the arm. Bret switches to a wristlock of his own and drives a knee to the arm as they are in a rather low gear to start. Owen takes him down to escape a hammerlock but Bret slaps it right back on.

A clothesline takes Owen down for a change and Bret backdrops him for a bonus. Owen gets in a shot of his own though and sends Bret into the corner as the slow pace continues. There’s the hard whip into the corner to rock Bret again and a backbreaker stays on the…well the back. The camel clutch goes on so let’s go split screen to look at commentary. Owen hits the belly to belly as only he can and the enziguri sends us to a break.

Back with Bret slamming Owen off the top and hitting a Russian legsweep, with JR complaining about Vince not calling it. Bret’s Sharpshooter takes too long so Owen rolls him up, only to get kicked outside. Back in and Bret tries it again, only to have Steve Austin come in with a chair to his back for the DQ at 13:00.

Rating: C+. This wasn’t exactly what they were capable of doing and it felt like they were in slow motion for a good bit. I can understand why you don’t want a champion losing a fall so the Austin interference made sense, though you expect a bit more out of Owen vs. Bret. Then again, this is a rather different era than the peak of their feud and Bret was already dealing with Austin so he wasn’t quite himself.

Post match Austin loads up the Pillmanizing but British Bulldog makes the save, with Owen Hart not being happy. That’s too much for Austin, who chairs Bulldog down instead. Owen doesn’t like that either as Austin leaves.

Executioner vs. Freddie Joe Floyd

Paul Bearer is here with Executioner. Floyd takes him down a few times but Executioner gets in some knees to the face. An elbow gets one on Floyd and we go split screen to hear that Steve Austin has left but might be back. Floyd hits a jumping kick to the face but gets clotheslined in the corner for his efforts. The Asian Spike (thumb to the throat) knocks Floyd out at 3:15.

Rating: D. Every time the Executioner is in the ring, you can see just how sad the whole thing has become. Terry Gordy was an amazingly talented wrestler but his health issues destroyed anything he could do in the ring. This feels like nothing more than a pity job, but that doesn’t make it any easier to watch. It isn’t his fault, though having him at this level feels like a mistake.

Shawn Michaels and Jose Lothario join us from Jose’s house, with Jose apologizing to Shawn for costing him the WWF Title. As for Shawn, he can’t stand what Sid did to Jose, who is a legend with thirty years in this business. Shawn is coming for Sid no matter what and he’s doing it in his hometown at the Royal Rumble. He isn’t happy with losing the title but promises to get it back, whether the fans like it or not. He’ll be even more flamboyant and in your face than before. Shawn was ranting and raving here, making it sound like he was trying to be Steve Austin and it only kind of worked.

Sunny beats Sable in Karate Fighters….and gets caught cheating (using gum to hold her fighter in place) so Sable wins via reverse decision.

Rocky Maivia vs. Salvatore Sincere

Sunny is on commentary and Vince seems to approve. Sincere is something like Rick Martel with an Italian accent. Lou Albano also jumps in via split screen to talk about how great Maivia can be. Sincere goes for the face to start and Maivia isn’t pleased. Speaking of not being pleased, we go to Doc Hendrix via split screen to hear about Bret Hart being a bit messed up.

Maivia does the Jimmy Snuka double leapfrog into a dropkick before armdragging him into an armbar. Sunny seems impressed and Vince seems to think Sunny wants to manage him. Sunny: “Well how did you guess?” The sass in that response is a big part of what made her a star. Maivia gets knocked outside as we talk about Jerry Lawler’s jeans.

A slingshot puts Sincere on the floor for a change but he takes over back inside. Sunny thinks Maivia is the kind of person you could build an entire organization around, showing she might be the smartest person around here. Maivia avoids a charge though, does a weird pose, and hits a shoulder breaker for the pin at 4:22.

Rating: C-. This is more of a historical footnote than anything else and Rocky certainly had a long way to go in the ring. He was as generic as you could get so far but that has to be expected in his second match. Sunny was the star here, as she was selling the infatuation with Maivia rather well, which could lead in a few different directions.

Marc Mero is ready for Billy Gunn and if HHH is on commentary, so be it.

Doc Hendrix says British Bulldog and Owen Hart have calmed down but Bulldog is promising to go after Steve Austin.

Billy Gunn vs. Marc Mero

Sable is here with Mero and HHH is on commentary. Gunn jumps him from behind to start but Mero gets in a clothesline to the floor. There’s an ax handle from the apron to drop Gunn again and a slingshot legdrop gets two back inside. Mero’s double jump moonsault press drops Gunn again but Gunn gets in a hard shot of his own.

Commentary discusses looks, with Vince bringing up HHH introducing her to the company and “cutting the promo” about bringing beautiful women to the WWF. The chinlock, with feet on the ropes, goes on as HHH brags about using everyone he can to get ahead. With that broken up, Mero bounces into the ropes to crotch Gunn on top and we take a break. Back (after an ad for In Your House) with Mero hitting a super hurricanrana for two as HHH goes after Sable. Mero goes out for the save and the double teaming is on for the DQ at 10:49.

Rating: C-. Another dull match here which happened to get more time than the one before it. Mero was doing his usual stuff but this was the Billy Gunn who was trying to break into the singles ranks while still feeling like half of a tag team. The ending didn’t help either, but Mero vs. HHH could feel like a showdown when we get there.

Post match the beatdown is on but Jake Roberts runs in for the save. The brawl ends the show.

Overall Rating: C-. This wasn’t exactly a ringing endorsement for where things are going, but Austin’s energy boosted the show every time he was on screen. Other than that, you have the very beginnings of Rocky Maivia, a bad midcard feud and Executioner looking more sad than anything else. Not a good show, as we enter the lull between Survivor Series and the Royal Rumble.

 

 

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Monday Night Raw
Date: November 18, 1996
Location: New Haven Coliseum, New Haven, Connecticut
Attendance: 4,968
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Vince McMahon

It’s the night after Survivor Series and there is a lot to unpack. First of all, Sid is the new WWF Champion (somehow the first major singles title of his career), having hit Shawn Michaels with a camera to win the title. Other than that, Bret Hart beat Steve Austin in a classic to give Austin something else to get mad over. To cap it off, Rocky Maivia made his in-ring debut, because the show didn’t have enough going on. Let’s get to it.

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

Steve Austin vs. Mankind

This is billed as a Toughman Contest, which seems to mean anything goes. It was also supposed to be Vader vs. Austin but Vader was hurt so we get what should be an upgrade. Mankind jumps him in the aisle to start fast with Mankind knocking Austin down, leaving Austin’s eyes bugging out (possibly at the fan sign which clearly has an F bomb). Austin gets whipped hard into the steps as we’re still waiting on the bell to ring.

They get inside for the opening bell and Austin hammers away in the corner with the style that made him famous. Some ax handles off the apron rock Mankind again but he posts Austin for a breather. Back in and Austin hits a heck of a clothesline before hammering away again. They go outside again with Austin whipping him HARD over the barricade but Mankind gets the Mandible Claw back inside. Austin kicks him low to escape and we take a break.

Back with Mankind dropping an apron legdrop and sending Austin throat first into the barricade. They get back in again where Mankind snaps off a neckbreaker. Austin’s sleeper is broken up and Mankind blasts him with another clothesline. Mankind goes up but gets pulled back down and choked on the mat. They’re already back on the floor with Austin taking over, setting up the middle rope elbow back inside. Mankind is in trouble but here is the Executioner to jump Austin for the DQ at 11:18.

Rating: B+. This was GREAT and one of the best fights you’ll ever see on Raw. They didn’t bother with wrestling and just beat the living daylights out of each other for a while. It felt like a match two years ahead of its time as you would absolutely believe this belonged in the heart of the Attitude Era. This was physical and violent, but above all else, it is the kind of match that would get your attention fast, which is what Raw needed.

Post match Undertaker runs in for the save but Austin clotheslines him out for a bonus.

Video on Survivor Series.

The suspended Ahmed Johnson is in the crowd.

Here is Sunny to introduce Faarooq, complete with PG-13 handling the rap.

Faarooq vs. Savio Vega

Vega hammers away in the corner to start and monkey flips Faarooq out of another corner. Sunny joins commentary (Lawler approves) as Faarooq fights out of a hammerlock. A hard whip into the corner rocks Vega again and there’s a belly to back as we take a break. Back with Vega in a reverse chinlock and Johnson, uh, watching the match from the crowd.

Vega suplexes his way out of trouble again and gets two off a small package. An elbow misses for Vega but he crotches Faarooq on top. They fall off the top and out to the floor and thankfully are fine enough for Vega to land a spinwheel kick. Vega misses a charge so PG13 goes after him, allowing Faarooq to get the easy pin at 11:15.

Rating: C. They got a bit more time than they needed here but what mattered was a pretty nice back and forth match. Faarooq was still rather mobile at this point and could do the power stuff, but he was stuff dealing with Johnson for such a long time. Not a bad match at all though, which shouldn’t be a surprise given the talent in there.

Post match Johnson runs in with his 2×4 to clear the ring. Johnson is livid with Faarooq and swears revenge. We get Johnson’s YOU’RE GOING DOWN chant and you can feel the charisma. If he could stay healthy for more than eighteen minutes at a time, the potential was right there.

Sunny beats Bob Backlund at Karate Fighters.

Sid is waiting to talk to Jim Ross.

Vince McMahon talks about Sid turning full heel by hitting Jose Lothario with a TV camera to win the WWF Title. Vince makes it sound like Sid set a bus full of puppies on fire and praises Shawn’s title reign. It turns into an almost weird praising of Michaels and the title reign, with Vince promising that Michaels will be back. This was just weird, as Vince was making it sound like Shawn was either dead or at least horribly injured.

Bob Holly/Leif Cassidy vs. Doug furnas/Philip LaFon

Captain Lou Albano wanders out to do….Spanish commentary? LaFon and Cassidy start things off with LaFon taking him down into an armbar. That’s broken up so Cassidy misses a kick to the face, earning a knock out to the floor. Back in and we go split screen, with Owen Hart and British Bulldog not wanting to hear about Furnas and LaFon. Cassidy comes back in and blasts LaFon in the back of the head with a clothesline as we take a break.

We come back with Cassidy hitting a dropkick as commentary talks about baseball contracts. LaFon gets over to Furnas for the tag and house is cleaned in a hurry. A dropkick gives Furnas two and a Frankensteiner get the same, with Cassidy having to make the save. Cassidy’s dragon suplex gets two on LaFon so he tries it again, only to get reversed into a cobra clutch suplex to give LaFon the pin at 9:04.

Rating: C. You could see the different style from Furnas and LaFon here and that is the kind of thing that the company needed to try at this point. The problem is that they were hardly the most interesting team and that showed here. This was two dull teams having a pretty hard hitting match with a nasty looking finish. It worked, but only so much.

Here is Sid for his first appearance as WWF Champion (the title does look good on him) with Jim Ross handling the interview. Ross says that Sid is the man and it is his time, but does he have any regrets of how he won the title? Sid says that he doesn’t, because Jose Lothario made the mistake of getting involved. Sure Shawn Michaels can have a rematch because Sid can beat him again. There are challengers lining up, starting with Bret Hart at In Your House on December 15. Sid is ready and promises to keep the title, setting up his awesome pyro to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. The opener is great and the rest is just ok, but the biggest change here is things felt more aggressive. We are still a pretty far cry away from the full on Attitude Era, but you could feel that things are changing. Austin is leading the charge but there are more than enough others to back him up. The opener is absolutely worth seeing, if nothing else because of what it could mean for the show’s future.

 

 

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Monday Night Raw
Date: November 11, 1996
Location: War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Attendance: 4,555
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler

Hopefully this week’s show will include a lower level of gun play, as Brian Pillman pulled a gun on Steve Austin last week. This week is probably going to be a bit more traditional, as it is the go home show for Survivor Series. The show could use a more proper build, as last week was all about Austin vs. Pillman, the latter of whom isn’t going to be at the pay per view. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Tag Team Titles: Owen Hart/British Bulldog vs. Sid/Shawn Michaels

Owen and Bulldog, with Clarence Mason (as countered by Jose Lothario), are defending against the Survivor Series WWF Title match participants. It’s an old formula but it usually works out. After a long recap of Sid and Shawn’s issues in recent weeks, we’re ready to go with…well with Steve Austin popping up to say he isn’t apologizing for anything (with nothing being specified) and promising to hurt Bret Hart.

Anyway we start properly with Sid vs. Owen as Sid whips him hard into the corner. Owen manages some right hands but gets shoved down before Shawn comes in to work on the arm. Vince thinks we’re going to see new champions here, more or less guaranteeing the opposite. You would think the booker would know better. We take a break and come back with Sid kicking Bulldog down but getting caught in the delayed vertical suplex.

Lawler says the smart money is on Sid to win the title on Sunday, sending Vince into a bit of a weird statement that there has never been a betting scandal in the WWF. Owen grabs the chinlock as Lawler thinks Sid is letting Shawn get beaten up here to soften him up for Saturday (makes enough sense). Michaels gets up and grabs a rollup for a fast two, only to get choked on the ropes.

We take another break and come back again with Owen spinwheel kicking Michaels down for two more. Shawn tries to come back on Bulldog, who casually kicks him low, right in front of the referee, which isn’t a DQ for no apparent reason. It’s back to Owen for a missile dropkick but Shawn just falls down so Owen crashes instead. The hot tag brings in Sid to clean house and there’s a….chokeslam (more like he lifts Bulldog up and Bulldog shoves himself off) to Bulldog as everything breaks down. Shawn loads up the superkick but it hits Sid by mistake, allowing Bulldog to get the retaining pin at 18:07.

Rating: B-. This was the way the match should have gone as they advanced Shawn vs. Sid while putting the Tag Team Titles in a bit of jeopardy. Thankfully they didn’t change the belts here as the main event of Survivor Series doesn’t need something tacked on to make it feel more interesting. Good opener here and the extra time helped a lot.

Post match Owen kicks Shawn in the face to knock him out too.

Post break, Shawn and Sid have to be kept apart.

Dok Hendrix runs down the Survivor Series card.

Mankind vs. Freddie Joe Floyd

Floyd is better known as Tracy Smothers. As commentary manages to stop talking about Barbara Streisand, Floyd hammers away to start but gets knocked back down. More shots to the face rock Mankind but Floyd misses a charge over the top. Back in and the beating is on, with Mankind hitting the running knee to the face. A Texas piledriver sets up the Mandible Claw to finish Floyd at 2:36.

Post match the Paul Bearer mannequin from last week is lowered from the ceiling, with Undertaker’s voice promising to destroy Bearer and Mankind. Again.

Announced for the Hall of Fame: Killer Kowalski and the Valiant Brothers.

Video on Rocky Maivia. He is proud of his family and inducted his father Rocky Johnson into the Cauliflower Alley Club not too long ago. To say Maivia sounds nervous and humble is an understatement.

Sid can’t give Shawn Michaels the benefit of the doubt again. There will be no mistake at Survivor Series.

Steve Austin is ready to beat up Bret Hart at Survivor Series but we might as well do it tonight too.

Sable beats Dok Hendrix in Karate Fighters.

Shawn Michaels doesn’t like Bret Hart (ok then) but he’ll kick Sid in the face on Sunday and retain the title. Tonight was a mistake, but Sunday will be right on target.

Steve Austin vs. Bob Holly

Jim Ross joins commentary and is rather bitter about having to wait so long to get out here. Austin takes him into the corner to start but Holly isn’t having any of that. Instead Austin goes for the headlock as we see Bret Hart watching the match in the back. Holly gets him down into something like an abdominal stretch but Austin is right back up with a chop. A headlock takeover puts Holly on the mat as it is bizarre to see Austin wrestling this technical based style. Back up and Holly gets sent into the buckle a few times but manages to slam Austin’s head onto the mat as we take a break.

We come back with Austin hitting the Thesz press and hammering away from two. JR: “Hey Vince, that was a Lou Thesz press.” Vince: “And that was a clothesline JR.” JR: “You’re catching on!” Holly comes back with a hurricanrana and the required dropkick gets two. Austin misses a charge into the post and Holly goes up so he can land on Austin’s raised boot. The Stunner finishes for Austin at 10:23.

Rating: C-. This just kind of kept going and never got out of maybe second gear at best.
While Austin isn’t quite what he could become, he definitely has a lot of the pieces starting to come together. The Thesz press and aggression were on display here, but there is only so much you can do with a ten minute match and that many headlocks and mat holds.

Post match Austin heads for Bret Hart’s dressing room but he’ll pass because he doesn’t fight for free.

Overall Rating: C. This was the show that the WWF Title match needed, as Austin is rapidly taking over Raw every week. That doesn’t leave much time for anything else so Sid vs. Shawn needed a week of their own. Survivor Series is a show I’ve seen so many times I’ve lost count, but to say it has some historic stuff is an understatement. Good enough show here, but you rarely watch Raw for the in-ring quality at this point.

 

 

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Monday Night Raw
Date: November 4, 1996
Location: War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Attendance: 4,555
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler

The march through the first four years continues and….oh boy it’s this show. The show has officially moved to 8pm and they wanted to start with a bang. In this case, that means Steve Austin going to Brian Pillman’s house and Pillman is going to be waiting on him. Oh yeah, it’s THIS show. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Steve Austin being thrown out of the WWF studios by the police over making such a ruckus. In addition, Shawn Michaels and Sid just might not be able to trust each other. Yeah yeah. Back to Austin already.

Opening sequence, complete with someone coughing.

Kevin Kelly is live at Brian Pillman’s home in Walton, Kentucky for an interview. Steve Austin has promised to show up, despite Pillman recovering from ankle surgery.

Goldust vs. The Stalker

Goldust’s entire Survivor Series team, plus Mr. Perfect and Marlena, are here with him. Stalker (better known as Barry Windham) has his team with him too (including one Rocky Maivia, making his Raw debut). They start on the floor before Stalker (or Barry Windham as Vince calls him) takes him inside and falls down armdragging him.

We go split screen to hear from Doc Hendrix, who patches in a phone call from Steve Austin, on his way to Brian Pillman’s house. So yeah, we’re looking at half a screen of someone who basically handed Vince the phone. Anyway Austin is on his way as Windham gets two off a powerslam. Austin isn’t worried about any gun Pillman threatens to have because he’s a big star and hangs up.

Goldust is sent outside but gets thrown back inside by Windham’s team, drawling Jerry Lawler (also part of Goldust’s team) off commentary. Goldust catches Windham on top and kisses him down, only to dive into a raised boot as we take a break. Back with the two of them crashing out to the floor and yeah it’s time for the teams to start fighting, which is enough for the double DQ at 7:32.

Rating: D+. Understated historic debut aside, there was only to much to be done here, as most of the match was focused on the phone call and then they only had about 45 seconds after the break. Then again, it isn’t like the upcoming Survivor Series match was going to be anything more than a showcase for Maivia. Was anyone that interested in Barry Windham in 1996?

Doc Hendrix hypes up Survivor Series, focusing on Undertaker vs. Mankind. We see a clip from what appears to be a special called Bing Bang Boom (granted the RAW set kind of makes that feel off), with Mankind promising to destroy Undertaker. Cue Undertaker’s voice to promise pain, plus a one person cage for Paul Bearer, complete with a dummy inside. Note that the Executioner, better known as Terry Gordy, is here for a mini (and of course unmentioned) Freebirds reunion.

We go to Brian Pillman’s house where Pillman, with his wife Melanie, says Steve Austin has made this personal. Vince cuts in to say Steve Austin is circling the neighborhood but Pillman says he knows Austin better than anyone. Pillman doesn’t feel like he’s a hostage, because when Austin 3:16 meets Pillman 9mm Glock…..and Austin is apparently outside, as Pillman pulls out a gun.

With that cut away, we go back to the Karate Fighters tournament, with Sid beating Marlena. This was a toy that sponsored Survivor Series, giving us this kind of thing week after week. And yes, there were brackets.

Back at Pillman’s house, Austin beats up Pillman’s friends outside his house. One of them even gets his head crushed in a Jeep door while the other gets beaten up in a kid’s pool. Austin tries to go inside but has to go around to the back (with Vince calling it a publicity stunt, which is about as ironic as you can get). Worked in Home Alone…kind of.

Alex Porteau vs. The Sultan

Bob Backlund and the Iron Sheik are here with the Sultan. Before the match, Backlund insists that the Sultan will bring you into the 21st century as a respectable WWF Champion. Sultan sweeps the leg and grabs a belly to belly as commentary is all about Austin/Pillman. A backbreaker and the camel clutch finish for Sultan at 2:09. Of note: Vince says Austin and Pillman are former Tag Team Champions, a rare reference to another company’s title reigns.

Austin breaks a window and Pillman gets up with the gun pointed….as we lose the satellite feed.

Jim Ross brings out Shawn Michaels (with Jose Lothario) and Sid for a face to face meeting before their title match at Survivor Series. We see a clip of Sid turning on Shawn and powerbombing him over and over about a year ago, but Shawn says he has already forgiven him. That’s why he brought Sid back again, because ultimately, they are still friends. Sid: “THAT’S BULL****!”

Shawn says Sid has to know who he should thank for getting back in the WWF, but JR asks why Sid hit Shawn from behind last week. Sid calls JR fat and says it was just a mistake, which Shawn seems to accept. We hear a voiceover from Vince saying we now return you to Cincinnati where they have reestablished their satellite feed. Vince: “No….sorry, we don’t have it.”

Sid agrees that he is the favorite going into the match because of his size, but Shawn says Sid’s ability will be his downfall. Shawn says Sid isn’t in his league, with Sid saying that’s true: he isn’t in Little League. Violence is teased but here are Jim Cornette and Owen Hart/British Bulldog, who are facing Shawn and Sid next week.

The brawl is on with Vader getting involved too and Owen hits Sid with a chair. Shawn takes the chair away and makes the save but Sid thinks Shawn hit him. The villains come back again, only to get cleared out again. This went a bit long but it did build some tension for the title match at Survivor Series, even if it is feeling miles beneath anything involving Austin.

We recap Steve Austin beating up Brian Pillman’s friends and Pillman pulling the gun.

Marc Mero vs. Fake Razor Ramon

Sable and Fake Diesel are here too. As usual, Diesel looks like someone who might actually resemble the real thing if you’re about fifty feet away and only catching a glance but Razor…my goodness no. Jim Ross joins commentary to continue his heel run, which still doesn’t work no matter how much they try. Razor takes him into the corner for a weak slap to start but Mero punches his way out of trouble.

We get a phone call from Kerwin Silfies, who is in the production truck in Cincinnati. Brian Pillman’s power seems to be out as Mero armdrags him into an armbar. Silfies heard some noises but isn’t sure if they were gunshots. What kind of a roving reporter is he supposed to be?

We take a break and come back with Mero slugging Razor down as the scintillating phone call continues. The cops are still not at Pillman’s house and Vince is getting annoyed at them not being around yet. Razor works on the arm for a change but something happens at the truck and Silfies’ call drops. The chinlock goes on as even Lawler is sick of hearing about Austin and wants to talk about the match.

Mero finally fights up as Vince is in his serious voice talking about Pillman’s house. A missile dropkick gets two on Razor and a super hurricanrana (ignored by commentary to talk about Mr. Perfect appearing on Livewire) gets the same. Cue Mr. Perfect as we take ANOTHER break. Back again with Mero hitting a fall away slam but HHH (here with Perfect) breaks up the Wild Thing. The Razor’s Edge finishes Mero at 12:35 as Vince apologizes for a lack of enthusiasm over the match.

Rating: D-. This was the exact same thing that used to drive me nuts on Nitro: commentary completely ignoring everything in the match, even if it wasn’t very good, to talk about something else. Yes the Pillman/Austin stuff is more important but could you at least pretend what is going on in the ring matters? Granted it doesn’t help when the match is downright appalling, but don’t just ignore it entirely for the sake of one other angle that has dominated the show.

We look back at Pillman pulling the gun on Austin.

We go back live (with just two minutes left in the show for an amazing stroke of luck) and commentary asking if anyone was shot. Pillman is being held back by his friends (I like that UK shirt one of them has on) but Austin comes in again. The friends go after him and Pillman rants a bunch, including dropping an audible F bomb and waving the gun around to end the show.

Ok so that was a lot. To say this was a game changer for the WWF would be an understatement, as we go from what was still the cartoon era to Pillman literally pulling a gun on Austin. USA had wanted something new and edgier to combat Nitro but then took this REALLY badly and nearly canceled the show. Granted then it wound up being the style that made Raw a juggernaut and finished WCW off for good, but this really didn’t go well at first and it’s easy to see why. It’s such a jarring change from everything the WWF had been doing but yeah, it more than worked in the end.

Overall Rating: D+. Historic nature aside, this was a show that felt like Nitro and not in a good way. It was all about one story with everything else, including the World Title, feeling like a distant second. If you’re in on that story then you’ll have a good time, but other than that, there was nothing worth seeing here and it was painfully obvious. The times are certainly changing though and that is something that absolutely needed to happen. It could have been a bit more smooth, but this was the kind of thing that saved Raw and they are diving into it head first.

 

 

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Royal Rumble 2001
Date: January 21, 2001
Location: New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana
Attendance: 17,137
Commentators: Jerry Lawler, Jim Ross

This is the first of two requested Rumble reviews of the year to go along with the regular redo of last year’s show. We’re nearing the end of the Attitude Era and Steve Austin is back after nearly a year on the shelf for neck surgery. All signs are pointing to Rock vs. Austin for the title at Wrestlemania and there’s nothing wrong with that. Let’s get to it.

The opening video looks at how this is the only chance for a lot of people to become World Champion.

The opening sequence is rather clever as it’s a pole with street signs, each bearing a Rumble participant’s name. The Road to Wrestlemania you see.

Tag Team Titles: Dudley Boyz vs. Edge and Christian

Edge and Christian are defending and the story….well it likely doesn’t matter as these teams plus the Hardys feuded for the better part of ever. Thankfully the recap shows us that the Canadians laid both of them out with chair shots to the head on Monday. What a sign of the times that really is. Edge and Christian tease walking out but you know that’s not going anywhere.

D-Von neckbreakers Edge for two to start as Jerry goes over the Dudleys’ family tree. Eh it was better when Heyman did the same thing at Wrestlemania. Bubba comes in and drops a big elbow for two as Lawler makes fun of the concussions. Again, total sign of the times and it’s almost disturbing to hear today. Christian walks into a side slam for two but a forearm to the back of D-Von’s head gives the champs their first control.

A Russian legsweep keeps the head banged up as it’s time to talk about Christian’s hair and teeth. Bubba comes in for a save with Lawler giving tips for how to make the concussion even worse. We get a rare D-Von chant as he tries to fight out of a chinlock. Another neckbreaker gets two on D-Von and Edge stays on the neck. Lawler: “I love it when Edge talks trash.” JR: “Does it keep you aroused?” D-Von gets in half of a double clothesline and it’s time for the slow crawl to the corner.

Like any good villain, Christian distracts the referee so the tag doesn’t count. Instead it’s Conchairto time but the chairs only hit each other, allowing D-Von to clothesline both champions down. NOW the hot tag brings in Bubba and it’s What’s Up to Edge. It’s table time but Christian cuts him off. Edge misses a belt shot and gets rolled up for two. A spear cuts off the 3D though and gives Edge two on Bubba. The champs load up their own What’s Up but D-Von makes the save this time, followed by 3D for the pin and the titles.

Rating: B-. These teams are always good for a layup and like I said, it’s not like the story really mattered. You could throw any combination of these four and the Hardys out there for a great match and that’s a great thing to have in your back pocket. It’s not like the titles really mattered at this point as the fans wanted to see some combination of these three teams, which the company certainly gave them. The concussion stuff is still a bit rough to sit through though.

Drew Carey arrived earlier today. More on this later.

Also earlier today, Vince clarified that HHH will still get his title shot tonight despite what happened with Steve Austin on Smackdown. What happened you ask? Well again that’s not important enough to mention. Like anyone wasn’t watching the shows at this point though.

HHH doesn’t want Stephanie coming out to the ring tonight but Stephanie says she has to be there to deal with any potential Trish Stratus interference. After listening to Stephanie’s normal levels of acting, we’re joined by someone with some actual talent in that area as Carey comes in. He didn’t know the two of them were married because he’s been a bit busy lately.

Carey talks about running into Kamala recently and HHH tries to get rid of him. Drew understands and is looking for Vince for some tips on his upcoming comedy pay per view. Stephanie leaves with him because she wants to find Trish. Nothing wrong with a little promotion like this and the segment didn’t take long.

The APA talks about showing each other something. Bradshaw: “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours”. They mean Rumble numbers of course and Faarooq needs two beers. Crash Holly comes in to say he’ll thrown them out tonight even if they’re friends. Bradshaw: “And people say we’re drunks.”

We recap Chris Benoit vs. Chris Jericho. They’ve been fighting over the Intercontinental Title and tonight it’s a ladder match for Benoit’s belt. Most of the video doesn’t even have words but it’s not like it matters. Much like the tag match, you could throw these two and Angle out there with whatever story you wanted and it’s going to get a strong reaction. Again, that’s incredibly valuable to have at your disposal.

Intercontinental Title: Chris Benoit vs. Chris Jericho

Benoit is defending in a ladder match and the fight is on in a hurry. The slugout leads to both guys trying their submission to no avail. Benoit sends him shoulder first into the post as Lawler picks Benoit to win in a blowout. A shoulder breaker stays on the shoulder and Jericho’s springboard dropkick is knocked out to the floor. They’re definitely going with the idea that Benoit knows Jericho very well to start.

The shoulder goes into the post and it’s already ladder time. It’s way too early to climb though as Jericho pulls him off in an electric chair. Jericho rams the ladder into Benoit’s ribs and puts said ladder in the corner. Now you know what’s going to happen and I know what’s going to happen, but since Jericho is a face here, he’s stupid enough to be whipped into the ladder and fall outside again.

Benoit’s dive through the ropes is blocked with a chair to the head (egads that’s tough to watch). A ladder shot to Benoit’s back only hits barricade and now it’s the ladder going off Jericho’s head. Jericho sends him into the ladder back inside before tying Benoit’s leg into the ladder. That means a super Russian legsweep to bring them both crashing down. Benoit goes into the ladder again and Jericho catapults the ladder into his face to make things even worse. These are some brutal, brutal shots here and they keep getting harder and harder.

Jericho starts going up the ladder so Benoit belly to back suplexes him over the top in a heap. They both head up the ladder this time though and Jericho gets the Walls ON TOP OF THE LADDER for one of the coolest and most painful looking spots you’ll ever see. Benoit falls off but manages to kick the ladder over, sending Jericho into the ropes. The Crossface makes Jericho tap (and goes back to the shoulder from earlier) but Jericho’s other arm is still good enough to send Benoit into the ladder.

The ladder is set up in the corner but Benoit knocks him off, setting up a HUGE Swan Dive….which only hits mat. Jericho puts the ladder on top of Benoit for a climb but Benoit shoves it forward, sending Jericho crashing into the top rope. Benoit goes up but Jericho makes the save with a chair to knock Benoit to the floor. That’s too much of a fall and Jericho wins the title.

Rating: A. This is one of my all time favorites as the match is nothing short of brutal and featured some unique spots in there. Sometimes you just need two people to beat the heck out of each other with reckless abandon and that’s exactly what you got here. There’s even some psychology with the arm work and that’s all you could ask for. This isn’t a match that needs a lot of analysis because you get everything you need out of just watching the thing.

Carey meets Trish Stratus who isn’t all that interested when he hits on her (Drew Carey isn’t that bad of a catch actually) because she’s involved with someone. That someone would be Vince, who doesn’t seem thrilled to meet Drew. The pay per view is plugged and Vince has an idea to promote the show: Drew can be in the Royal Rumble! Drew: “I don’t wrestle. Of course I don’t act but I have a show.”

Chyna doesn’t want to hear from Billy Gunn about her match with Ivory. She tells him to worry about the Rumble. I’d worry about being Billy Gunn.

Jericho says he proved Benoit wrong.

We recap Chyna vs. Ivory. The Right to Censor gave Chyna a spike piledriver to put her out of action, meaning her career might have been over. Now she’s back to destroy Ivory for what she’s done to them in what should be a squash.

Women’s Title: Ivory vs. Chyna

Chyna is challenging and hits some quick clotheslines to begin the dominance. A toss off the top keeps it going and Ivory gets stomped in the corner. Ivory gets tossed outside so Chyna follows her into the crowd for the quick stop. Chyna cleans house, including tossing Steven Richards. Back up and a handspring elbow into the corner crushes Ivory….but Chyna collapses and grabs her neck. Ivory gets the quick cover for the pin after no offense.

Rating: D-. Of course the wrestling isn’t the point here as this was an angle disguised as a match. There are only so many ways you can book Chyna vs. Ivory, or Chyna vs. any woman for that matter, and this is the kind of trick booking you have to use. It’s barely a match of course and what we got was nothing worth seeing of course.

Lawler goes in the ring to check on Chyna and Billy Gunn (who comes from opposite the entrance for some reason) joins him. A long stretcher job ensues.

After someone seems to have her neck horribly injured, we go to Stephanie needing her hair fixed. She runs into Trish and things get catty, as expected.

Harvey Wippelman gives Drew some gear when Kane comes in. I think you know where this is going and it’s starting to wear thin.

Tiger Ali Singh and Low Down (D’Lo Brown and Headbanger Mosh in, shall we say, an ethnic gimmick, which is probably more offensive than funny) are arguing over who gets the spot in the Rumble. Vince comes in and says never mind because Carey is getting their spot. This is the kind of detail that makes the entry a lot easier. You’re not left wondering whose spot Carey is taking because the name is officially give. Also, who is going to remember Brown or Chaz in the match as cannon fodder for a big name? Put Carey in instead and give us a fun moment instead. It’s not like it’s going to change anything.

Fans at WWF New York give their picks for HHH vs. Kurt Angle.

We recap Kurt Angle vs. HHH. Angle won the title a few months back but HHH said he could get the title back whenever he wanted it. A few family strings were pulled and Vince’s son-in-law got the title shot. Since Angle couldn’t have a McMahon in his corner, he got Vince’s mistress Trish. This set Stephanie off and the ladies are in a bigger feud than the men. Oh yeah the men don’t like each other either.

WWF World Title: HHH vs. Kurt Angle

Angle is defending. They fight over the arm to start as JR has to point out that this is heel vs. heel for a really weird setup. Lawler of course would rather talk about the women at ringside (to be fair, Stephanie looks great here). Angle throws HHH outside but the fans think the champ sucks. The signature chant hasn’t started yet so that’s still some fresh thinking.

Angle follows him out for some right hands to the face, only to get sent into the barricade for his efforts. Back in and HHH starts on the knee as the announcers discuss Drew Carey. Lawler actually brings up a good point by saying he made a huge name for himself by piledriving Andy Kaufman. What kind of attention would someone get for taking out Drew Carey? Angle whips HHH over the corner for a big crash and more “acting” from Stephanie. Another whip sends him into the steps and it’s Angle being even more aggressive.

Long recap video on the Rumble. Does this really need an explanation? A bunch of people are in and about 25 five of them are kidding themselves into believing they could win.

Royal Rumble

The brawling continues until Grandmaster Sexay is in at #11. Weapons are swung until Kane has enough of the nonsense and eliminates Sexay with the trashcan. Everyone else follows him out and Kane is alone to face the Honky Tonk Man of all people at #12. For some reason he decides to ask Kane to stand back so we can have a song. One guitar shot later and Kane has his sixth elimination in about four minutes. Again: great usage of a legend there, if nothing else just to give the fans a breather and a transition between the sections of the match.

Ratings Comparison

Dudley Boyz vs. Edge and Christian

Original: B-

2013 Redo: B

2018 Redo: B-

Chris Jericho vs. Chris Benoit

Original: A

2013 Redo: A+

2018 Redo: A

Ivory vs. Chyna

Original: N/A

2013 Redo: D

2018 Redo: D-

Kurt Angle vs. HHH

Original: B

2013 Redo: B

2018 Redo: B

Royal Rumble

Original: B

2013 Redo: B+

2018 Redo: A-

Overall Rating

Original: A

2013 Redo: A

2018 Redo: A

It always interests me when the first and third ratings are the same and the middle is different. Still though, great show all around, as it always has been.

Here’s the original review if you’re interested:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2011/01/20/royal-rumble-count-up-2001-drew-carey-could-go-to-wrestlemania/

And the 2013 Redo:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2013/01/15/royal-rumble-count-up-2013-redo-2001-two-masterpieces-in-a-row/

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Volume VI: July – December 1999 in e-book or paperback. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2017/11/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-and-thunder-reviews-volume-vi/

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

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

Royal Rumble 1999
Date: January 24, 1999
Location: Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California
Attendance: 14,816
Commentators: Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole

Road Dogg vs. Big Boss Man

Intercontinental Title: Ken Shamrock vs. Billy Gunn

Shane McMahon tries to fire up his dad for tonight.

European Title: X-Pac vs. Gangrel

Sable is defending and this is a strap match. Luna bails to the floor to start but gets pulled face first into the post. Back in and Sable chokes away as Shane calls Luna hot. Sable can only get two buckles though until Luna pulls her down. That earns Sable a whipping and some kicks in the corner, only to have Luna hit a quick backbreaker.

The Corporation debates over who gets to eliminate Austin and win the $100,000 bounty Vince has put on his head tonight.

WWF World Title: The Rock vs. Mankind

Royal Rumble

As we wait, allow me to point out that save for the first two, the first eighteen entrants have all been eliminated, making nearly two thirds of the match completely worthless. Billy Gunn comes in at #20, wearing one boot. Heaven forbid we get anything going through as Shamrock takes him down with a kick to the bad ankle. Gunn throws him into the corner for a break but Ken goes after the ankle again.

Ratings Comparison

Big Boss Man vs. Road Dogg

Original: C-

2013 Redo: C-

2016 Redo: D

Ken Shamrock vs. Billy Gunn

Original: D+

2013 Redo: C+

2016 Redo: D+

X-Pac vs. Gangrel

Original: B-

2013 Redo: C+

2016 Redo: C-

Sable vs. Luna Vachon

Original: F

2013 Redo: D

2016 Redo: F+

The Rock vs. Mankind

Original: B

2013 Redo: B

2016 Redo: B-

Royal Rumble

Original: F

2013 Redo: F

2016 Redo: F

Overall Rating

Original: D-

2013 Redo: D

2016 Redo: F+

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2011/01/18/royal-rumble-count-up-1999-please-make-it-stop/

And the original redo:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2013/01/12/royal-rumble-count-up-2013-redo-1999-disturbing-to-watch-for-multiple-reasons/

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book of the History of Wrestlemania at Amazon for just $3.99 at:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0188BJRGU

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

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