(I forget if I’ve Scott Sez’d this one before, but we’re at that point so let’s check it out again.)
- Live from Omaha, Nebraska.
- Your hosts are Vince McMahon & Jerry Lawler
- This would be the farewell show for both Diesel & Razor Ramon, as they departed for WCW in what was supposed to be a minor defection and ended up turning the company around. Sound familiar? Well, not that the WWF needs turning around these days, but hopefully someone at WCW was watching RAW on Monday night and paying attention to the response for the Radicals got, one that they couldn’t get in WCW due to politics. (Turns out that politics were just as much of a factor in the WWF.) Anyway, in the Survivor Series 95 rant, I commented that the Bret v. Diesel match there was Diesel’s second-best ever, and that he had a better one with Michaels. Many have e-mailed to ask what that one was, and herein lies the answer. (Mystery! Intrigue!)
- Free 4 All match: 1-2-3 Kid v. Wildman Marc Mero.
This is Marc’s PPV debut after jumping from WCW due to squabbling with Eric Bischoff and working most of the internet in the process. Hey, Marc, guess who’s laughing at who now? (Also, your ex-wife is doing very well for herself.) Karate showboating from the Kid to start. Quick sequence puts Mero in control with a flying headscissors that sends the Kid to the floor. Mero follows with a tope suicida. Slingshot legdrop gets two. Reverse rollup gets two. He goes aerial and gets crotched, then HHH (Mero’s first feud) makes an appearance. Kid hits some vicious kicks to take over as HHH stalks Sable. Mero escapes and goes to confront Hunter, and gets nailed by the Kid from behind. The ref tosses HHH, and Mero mounts the comeback. HHH runs in for the lame DQ at 7:20 of what was looking to be a great match. *** (Future) DX beatdown follows on Mero. (Kid was practically out the door, between injuries and his friends leaving, at this point as well and they were STILL protecting him!)
- Opening match: The British Bulldog & Owen Hart v. Jake Roberts & Ahmed Johnson.
Johnson was getting into Goldberg territory of overness at this point, although his work was stiff and sloppy, a dangerous combination. (On the bright side, he never punched through a car window.) Bulldog had the issue with Ahmed over arm-wrestling (gotta love the mid-90s WWF) so Bulldog hides on the apron and lets Owen handle things. That goes pretty badly for him, as Ahmed tosses him around like a doll and then Jake nearly gets the DDT. Some cheapshots from Bulldog finally allow him to come in without fear of death. Ahmed plays face-in-peril for a bit, but doesn’t really sell anything and soon tags out to Jake and he gets beat on for a long while. Jake’s mobility is so limited by age and alcohol at this point it’s scary. Not as scary as Heroes of Wrestling, but scary. The match drags on and on. Ahmed gets the hot tag and screams a lot. Jake inexplicably comes back in to finish things, but takes a LOADED TENNIS RACKET OF DOOM to the knee and submits to a lame kneebar at 13:43. Just way too long. ¾* (And this was supposed to be a singles match with Bulldog v. Jake and was advertised as such all the way until the show started, and was changed because Bulldog injured his knee in Germany. Can you imagine how bad THAT would have ended up? And then Bulldog was supposed to challenge for the title at the next PPV. The booking was just on another planet of ridiculous at this point.)
- Intercontinental title match: Goldust v. Ultimate Warrior.
You know how some matches are so bad that they’re good? Well, this is so bad that it’s just BAD. Goldust has a knee injury, so the “match” is literally him walking around the ring and stalling for FIFTEEN MINUTES to waste time. Finally he gets counted out to put us out of our misery. That’s all, folks. -***** How hard would it have been to say “Goldust is injured, so Warrior is fighting [x]”? (And again, they were well aware of his knee injury for two weeks before this and still chose to advertise the match right up until the day of the show. They even did hotline updates where they ADMITTED that Goldust had a knee injury but lied and said he was cleared to wrestle at the PPV!)
- Vader v. Razor Ramon.
(Another super-weird booking decision, with Ramon off TV for weeks leading up to this.) This was Graceful Job-Out #1 on the night, as Razor was wooed by WCW a few months before this. Ramon bumps around for Vader to start, as Vader basically squashes him. Ramon punches a lot to come back. Three clotheslines put Vader on the floor. Vader stalls. Cornette’s help allows Vader to continue his destruction of Ramon. Vaderbomb gets two. Ramon gets a vertical suplex to come back. Powerslam as Vader is coming off the 2nd rope gets two. Bulldog gets two. He tries the Razor’s Edge, but his ribs give out and he collapses. Vader goes for the moonsault, but Ramon brings him down the hard way. Razor’s Edge attempt #2, but Vader backdrops out and sits on him for the pin at 14:47. The selling and psychology were sound enough for a good rating, but the match was REALLY boring. *** (And why give Ramon all that offense against the new monster is another mystery. I guess Vince really thought he could talk Razor into staying?)
- WWF tag team title match: The Bodydonnas v. The Godwinns.
This was a rematch from the finals of the inaugural “Placeholder champions until Billy Gunn’s injury heals” tournament at Wrestlemania 12. (At least they made it off the pre-show this time.) Zip gets double-teamed to start as Vince says “scufflin’” about 14 times. What the hell is with him and hillbilly gimmicks, anyway? Are the southern states REALLY so much of a hotbed that he has to tailor entire gimmicks for them? The story here is that Phineas is in love with Sunny. Just give her some crack, Phineas, that’ll bring her around. Highlight of the mostly-comedy match sees HOG pull out an Ocean Cyclone suplex (picture a german suplex, but starting with the opponent face-down on the mat) as the farmers dominate the champs. This whole period for the titles was a trainwreck, as the Bodydonnas were not over and Vince had no desire to help them become so (Cloudy, anyone?) and the Godwinns were, well, the Godwinns. Thank god for the New Rockers to save the tag division in 96. The champs cheat and gain the advantage. Phineas gets all “riled up” (seriously, is this whole gimmick like one big cheapshot at Ted Turner or something?) (Well, duh) and hot tags HOG, but Sunny had conveniently brought a framed, autographed 8x10 of herself to ringside (which probably wasn’t far from the truth at the time) and uses it to distract PIG while the Bodydonnas pull the switcheroo and pin HOG at 7:12. Soo-ey, that sucked… ½*
- WWF World title match: Shawn Michaels v. Diesel.
This is the ultimate blowoff for their long-simmering feud, as Diesel was leaving for WCW and made it known that he was on one final run of destruction before he left. Shawn was hot off beating Bret Hart at WM12 and needed credibility. This is no-holds-barred. Shawn uses his speed to avoid Diesel, then dropkicks him out and hits a moonsault tope onto him. He steals a boot from Hugo Savinevich and nails Diesel for two. Diesel gets pissed and knocks Shawn onto the railing, then tosses him back in and absolutely wallops him. Shawn sells like he’s dead. Diesel keeps shooting evil glances at Vince. Jumping side slam nearly puts Shawn though the mat, then Diesel undoes his wrist tape…and chokes out Hebner! He steals Earl’s belt and lays in some wicked shots on Shawn, then hangs him from the top rope and ties him there. As Shawn struggles to free himself, Diesel calmly grabs a chair and blasts Shawn. Back in for another solid chairshot. Lord, what a beating. One more, but Shawn ducks and Shawn gets the chair. That proves temporary, as a low blow gets two for Diesel. Diesel absolutely lays into him with forearms, sending him crashing to the floor. Vince keeps yelling at Shawn to “stay down”. Cool spot of the year: Diesel starts a long tradition, powerbombing Shawn through the announce table. He parades around with the title belt while Shawn, who is nearly dead, pulls himself out of the wreckage. Vince, his own microphone dead, does his usual awesome acting job, yelling “Just let it be over!” at Shawn. Shawn crawls to the ring, and finds a fire extinguisher, which he discharges into Diesel’s face. Flying forearm puts him down, and Shawn grabs a chair to even the odds. Two vicious shots follow, but Diesel won’t go down, and in fact hits the big foot to the face right away to KO Shawn. He takes too long, however, and Shawn escapes the powerbomb. Flying elbow sets up Sweet Chin Music, but Diesel calmly grabs his foot and rips his head off with a lariat. What is this, All Japan? He tosses Shawn out again and drops him on the railing, then gets inspired. He heads over to the front row and beats up Maurice Vachon, who is seated ringside, and STEALS HIS ARTIFICIAL LEG. Major, major heel heat for that. Shawn lowblows him, however, and steals the leg. He knocks Diesel cold with a shot from the leg, then waits for him to recover, warms up the band, and superkicks him for the pin to retain at 17:51. He didn’t win the match, he SURVIVED it. What a horrific beating and an AWESOME brawl. ****3/4 Shawn’s “in your FACE!” post-match celebration is amazing acting on his part, too, and it really makes the match. (This is still the only reason to watch this show, and it’s probably Nash’s best match ever.)
The Bottom Line: Most of the show is pretty worthless, but that brawl is something else and sets the tone for garbage main events to follow for years to come. In the next in my little In Your House series, I’ll look at an even BETTER Shawn brawl from a few months later against Mankind. As it is, I’m still in shock to this day that Shawn won Match of the Year for the Wrestlemania match rather than the Diesel or the Mankind one. As it was, however, this match, rather than the Bret one, was the one that really put Shawn over the top as a credible champion and got him over. I wonder if that pissed Bret off?
Recommended only for the main event.
Excellent match. I watched it the other day actually, still holds up well. Nash being a dick and taking Vachon's leg has to rank up there with the best heel moves of all time. I noticed the HBK celebration at the end too as I hadn't before and it was pretty cool, he generated some serious intensity.
ReplyDeleteShawn was pure gold from an in-ring standpoint in 1996. Sunny, during this time period, may have been the hottest woman every to be in wrestling. This was her prime.
ReplyDeleteMero could really go before the injuries. Not sure why they couldn't get some of that 15 minutes warrior and golddust had but what are you gonna do?
ReplyDeleteAccording to Hall, Vince no sold hall leaving until the end of that msg show. Hall asked for a bigger merch cut or 12 weeks out of the year to work in Japan and vkm said no to both but hall was just waiting for Vince to make any kind of gesture to ask him to stay and it never came. He even claims he asked to have asked to get that Tracy Chapman song played for his last match at msg.
ReplyDeleteSo, where did it all go wrong for Ahmed Johnson? He was easily one of the most over guys on the roster by that point and looked all set to be pushed to the moon. Sure, he wasn't up to much in the ring, but when did that stop Vince pushing anybody before?
ReplyDeleteI've always been bugged by how quickly Shawn recovered from the table bump. It's still a fantastic match, but I dunno. At this point, it felt like a table spot in the WWE should have been a stretcher job or at least Nash carrying Shawn's dead body into the ring and being surprised by a two count.
ReplyDeleteI know less than two years later, table spots became midcard near-falls, but it's always irked me.
Injuries. Horribly-times injuries at that.
ReplyDeleteInstead it was Fast Car that played as Razor walked out the door.
ReplyDeleteNash becomes the most over heel in years in this match, just in time to gain a shit load of momentum for his WCW debut. Vince's dumbest booking ever.
ReplyDeletePlus he was hurting dudes. He could get away with being sloppy when he was super-over but when his heat was diminishing following his frequent injury sabbaticals (and that heel turn), they could fuck with his push.
ReplyDeleteSmoking Gunn outfit.
ReplyDeleteI like trying to guess when the original rant was written by using the context clues. I'm guessing early 2000 for this one.
ReplyDeletethe line about the Radicals appearing on Monday night seems to pin it down pretty well.
ReplyDeleteTrue, considering the same thing happened to Mabel. He was challenging for the title at Summerslam and was subsequently depushed due to claims of injuring other workers.
ReplyDeleteOr maybe Vince is just really racist. Who can tell anymore?
I can't think of any move overrated series of matches than Diesel vs. Shawn Michaels. Besides the Mad Dog Vachon spot there is nothing memorable about this match.
ReplyDeleteNash vs. Hart form Survivor Series 95 is just worlds beyond this. I'd say the Undertaker match from WM 12 as well.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why you'd give Warrior vs. Goldust a bunch of time. Wouldn't the whole idea be that Warrior Honkey Tonk Man's him? No wonder he was so unhappy and walked in '96. On a roster that light on star power they have no idea how to use him.
ReplyDeleteShawn's run in 96 was weird ... the storylines were terrible but damn did he deliver in every main event he headlined.
ReplyDeleteTrish >>>>>>> Sunny and it's not even close.
ReplyDeleteMabel injured Nash in their title match ... it was nasty when he sat on his back. Vince was ready to fire him right there.
ReplyDeletewhew ... man I don't know. 96 Sunny was ridiculous
ReplyDeleteI feel like this was the only match in his entire WWE career where Nash got to truly be himself.
ReplyDeleteSunny in 96 was just a little hotter than Trish. But Sunny went downhill fast, whereas Trish has maintained her hotness for many years now.
ReplyDeleteAh, read Titan Sinking too?
ReplyDeleteYeah, given their booking/burying history I'm still shocked he wasn't out there jobbing to Skip, Aldo Montoya and barry horowitz on his way out the door
ReplyDeleteGood point that Trish was able to maintain her hotness but 2000 Stacy Keibler gives all of them a run for their money.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the storylines were all that bad, the roster was thin as hell but overall they've done much worse IMO. The one glaring hole was the Vader storyline, but that really falls on HBK himself and he's to blame there
ReplyDeleteThe Diana Smith storyline with Shawn supposedly lusting after her was crap.
ReplyDeleteAmen. Dem skirts and that dance!
ReplyDeleteThen he legit busted Taker's eye socket at a house show a few weeks before the 4th IYH.
ReplyDeleteWell he did lose every single ppv match he had from Bulldog to his departure.
ReplyDeleteI love that match. I only wish nash woukd have done a Mutombo finger wag before the clothesline.
ReplyDeleteVince allegedly started selling shirts with a slogan he came up with and not getting a cut of it, so he did his traditional no-shows as a leverage move.
ReplyDeleteI found it fun in some cheesy kind of way. Since it was so unbelievable.
ReplyDeleteLike Bret at Survivor Series a few months earlier.
ReplyDeleteIt's also around this time he did a top 20 '90s matches of all time or something
ReplyDeleteHow good is it?
ReplyDeleteAs others have said...injuries, that silly heel turn kind of killed him off too.
ReplyDeleteYou're being too harsh. The match itself is fantastic (all my opinion obviously). And the Mad Dog spot you just cast aside, it's a fantastic moment!
ReplyDeleteWarrior in 96 was so odd as they put him in mid-card comedy feuds against Goldust and Jerry Lawler that nobody thought for one second he could possibly lose. He also seemed kind of out of place.
ReplyDeleteYes, but he looked like a million bucks doing it and was still at the top of the card.
ReplyDeleteYeah noted, that was pretty stupid and boring. Forgot all about that angle actually
ReplyDeleteit was very good, it was probably the highlight of Shawn's title run. Too bad it happened to be his first PPV defense and it kind of went down from there.
ReplyDeleteYep ... fantastic. But I heard Nash tell that story on a shoot interview, too. He claims he actually was the one to convince Vinny Mac not to fire him.
ReplyDeleteCornette's furious, scorched-earth promo is almost enough to save it by itself. "YOU SIR, ARE A FORNICATOR."
ReplyDeleteYes! And also: "Don't flatter yourself".
ReplyDeleteThe Jackknife through the table isn't memorable? It was also pretty psychologically sound, with payback spots surrounding low blows and belt-choking and even footwear use (Shawn used Hugo Savinovich's boot as a weapon earlier). It's a fantastic match--up there with Shawn/Mankind and Bret/Austin for WWF MOTY.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the Warrior-Goldust shitshow.
ReplyDeleteI mentioned the Mad Dog Vachon spot because it's fantastic. I've seen this match like three times and I still can't tell you anything else about it. There have been so many jacknifes through a table since; plus I thought the table spot was done better and more organically at Survivor Series 95.
ReplyDeletethey went all in with Ahmed too, got him over like crazy, and just as they were teasing him and Shawn they couldn't pull the trigger and he got hurt (over and over).
ReplyDeleteThe HBK/Hart series is waaaaaay more overrated.
ReplyDeleteTBF, Vince also wanted Nash to put over Warrior and Nash refused.
ReplyDeletelol no
ReplyDeleteShe had an excellent rack.
ReplyDeleteI didn't mind Johnny B. Badd in 94-95. Wildman Marc Mero, on the other, was the hokiest, lamest, snoozefest.
ReplyDelete4/10
ReplyDeleteHe's not a BADD man, he's a WILD man.
ReplyDeleteWho knew being a Little Richard knock-off would be a winning gimmick.
Shawn is mocking Hulk Hogan at the end of the title match and saying "Fuck you, old man. I'm the best wrestler in the world." It's like the one cool thing lame-ass babyface 1996 HBK did.
ReplyDeleteFOUR flat ties? Who said anything about FOUR flat ties? I said I had... ONE flat tire!!!! (K.O. punch to DDP)
ReplyDeleteDiana Smith: "Shawn. I... I know you want me."
ReplyDeleteSurprising to hear that from you, thought you were always down on HBK
ReplyDeleteI cringe just reading that. As goofy as the "Wildman" gimmick was, Mero was still a reliable midcard worker. When he came back from his ACL injury as "Marvelous" Marc, wow. Just awful.
ReplyDeleteIf Bret sleeping with Sunny were "Sunny days", would Shawn allegedly sleeping with Diana be Snowy Nights?
ReplyDeleteI got nothing.
So you're argument is that since it was an awesome spot that was copied later, its not as good? Um okay.
ReplyDeleteThis PPV gets a thumbs up from me for featuring the greatest house mic promo of all time.
ReplyDeleteGoldust (to the fans): If you people don't shut up, I will personally come and KISS every last one of ya. SO SHUT UP!
Knowing Cornette's atheistic views makes me laugh at him accusing Shawn of anything - especially since Shawn wasn't saved during this time.
ReplyDeletePowerbombing a dude thru a table in 1996 was unheard of.
ReplyDeleteCowboy hat wearing Sunny wins all.
ReplyDeleteSee, that's what people liked about Shawn. A guy who can kick ass, take a beating and won't quit...sadly they dressed him up as a flamboyant sexy dancer with a boyhood dream and old man in his corner.
ReplyDeleteWildman Marc Mero was gayer than Johnny B Badd.
ReplyDeleteI actually liked the initial Marvellous Marc Mero when he had his head shaved and acted like a badass. Then he turned into a goofy idiot.
ReplyDeleteRead it. I blew through it and I usually take my time with books.
ReplyDeleteThe attitude was fine, but the work was terrible. I'm not saying he had to risk re-injuries by doing moonsaults and star presses, but all he did was punch and a lame fireman carry into a diamond cutter. I do give him credit for being the wrestler that got me calling people jobbers (his short-lived program with Tom "Salvatore Sincere" Brandi).
ReplyDeleteNot in my house!
ReplyDeleteShawn/Diesel was the template for Punk/Brock and better.
ReplyDeleteI like the anonymous women on Raw who said Shawn boned her to get in her husbands head to win a match.
ReplyDeleteAnd he ended up bring back his high flying stuff eventually anyway, after Sable already killed his career.
ReplyDeleteHe was ruined with the knee injury, though. Although I recall him hitting the SSP (such a bulky guy to do the move, too) a few times post-injury.
ReplyDeleteMero's last great moment: From Over the Edge '98, the douche move of tricking Sable into being in a compromising situation and pinning her to end her career... and then she was literally 2 weeks later.
ReplyDeleteI don't think he gave his official notice until February so the Undertaker match was already set there.
ReplyDeleteHe had lost his lister by the heel turn. The injuries which prolonged the Nation feud which never seemed to end, while Austin rose up as a top face.
ReplyDeleteI respectfully disagree about the Survivor Series match being better. It's a great match but I think this one is way more exciting and fun with a faster pace and cooler spots. I disrespectfully disagree about the Wrestlemania 12 match being better. Only a moron would say that.
ReplyDeleteUgh. Everything about Diana Hart was ugly.
ReplyDeleteDiesel/Taker was "as good as this combination could be", which translates to about 2-stars-ish. Diesel vs. Lex Luger from a 1994 episode of Raw was better than that. I haven't seen Diesel/Shawn in years, but I remember it being a little better than that. Bret/Diesel might give it a run, depending on what you're looking for
ReplyDeleteYour name looks like something Ahmed would say.
ReplyDeleteFair to who, Vince? Nash refuses and it's cool but Vader, the guy who you're gonna build for SummerSlam, let's have him lose to Warrior at house shows all across the country. Dumb.
ReplyDeleteAnd not to say you're lying but I've never heard Nash refusing to job to Warrior, ever. Do you have a source?
ReplyDeleteSurvivor Series 95 was before this PPV and that spot was better than this one.
ReplyDeletePunk/Brock was ten times the match this was and more. Both are way better athletes.
ReplyDeleteAnd Hollywood Hogan was the complete antithesis of Shawn: great storylines with the most god-awful matches you can have.
ReplyDeleteGladly a nincompoop then. Seriously, this is the most middle of the road hardcore match you could possibly have. Then again, Shawn Michaels in 1996's legend has reached such huge proportions of overratedness there is no talking sense about him on the internet. It's ridiculous how much better Shawn was in his comeback and how much more believable his matches were. The Triple H match from 2002 completely obsoletes this match. Hell, Mind Games with a no DQ stip would have destroyed this match.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard that, either. Warrior was planned for midcard attractions until a bigger role was set for the summer, but he was already gone by then, and Diesel gave notice before he returned to TV, and Vince had no plans to use Diesel on TV beyond IYH: GFBE.
ReplyDeleteMind Games and Summerslam '02 are better than this. I'm not disputing that. But really, UT/Diesel at WM12? Really? Come on, man. Get real. My fondness of this match has nothing to do with Shawn's "1996 legend" or whatever else you wanna call it. This match is good fun.
ReplyDeleteSo your argument makes no sense then. Okay.
ReplyDeletesad to say ... who won that battle?
ReplyDeleteNash has said it in multiple interviews.
ReplyDeleteNash himself said it on Austin's podcast, telling the story like this:
ReplyDeleteVince: I want you to put over Undertaker at Mania.
Nash: Sure.
Vince: And Shawn at IYH.
Nash: No problem
Vince: And Warrior on Raw
Nash: If he can take one on me (shoot pin him), yeah.
It's still in my file of average Shawn Michaels matches with all time classic ratings next to Iron Man, the Jeff Jarrett match and Wrestlemania X ladder match.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Shawn does have my "best ladder match" accolade for the 2008 Jericho match; I honestly think it might be #2 if it weren't for how tainted Jericho vs. Benoit is though.
I'll take the better wrestling 10 times out of 10. Hogan's matches weren't just bad, they were unwatchable.
ReplyDeleteWell I'm with ya on the Jarrett match. And frankly, though it's a great five-star match, the Wrestlemania 25 match against the Undertaker is overrated. Not that it shouldn't be considered five stars, but some people think it's the greatest match of all-time.
ReplyDeleteIf that's true, and I'm sure since Vincr is a god damn moron, that is so dumb. You're leaving Kevin so let me let you dictate how you're gonna leave.
ReplyDeleteNever heard of that. Guess he said it on Austins podcast. If so, dumb of the highest level.
ReplyDeleteThe 25 match I thought was amazing but the 26 match a total dog. I blame Undertaker for the sequel's lack of success, he just didn't have any timing and blew all his spots. I think it was one of those ones where he got hurt early and auto piloted the match like WM30. Shawn was game but it was a wreck and it looked way more like two old guys than 25 did.
ReplyDeleteI think Shawn would have actually been served well to do what Taker did and hang on a few more years for one match at Mania. A Punk and Bryan match would have been better career cappers than that one was.
I guess he said it on Austins podcast. Vince is a moron.
ReplyDeleteNash was leaving. If he refused to job, what were they going to do?
ReplyDeleteWho overrates it? It seems like most people are highly critical of the Iron Man match, besides Jobber.
ReplyDeleteNot put him over like a killer, that's a start.
ReplyDeleteThe Iron Man match is terrible due to Bret's dickish no-selling.
ReplyDeleteBreach of contract and not pay him his WrestleMania payday? I would've said not give him a payday for IYH: GFBE, but he probably only got 50 bucks for that to begin with.
ReplyDeleteIf Mero had debuted in 96 with his 98 Marvellous gimmick, the guy would have been huge.
ReplyDeleteDo you think he has it in his contract that he has to job?
ReplyDeleteUm, he lost.
ReplyDeleteWhile Mero wasn't the same worker before the knee injury, he could still work and have good matches. He certainly wasn't Ed Leslie bad.
ReplyDeletePeople that say it isn't terrible are overrating it.
ReplyDeleteWho knows. I'm still wondering how they can be independent contractors who are exclusively signed to work for WWE.
ReplyDeleteIs hating Bret and the iron man match your new thing? You're stealing Screamer's gimmick!
ReplyDeleteThat's bullshit, they both stunk up the joint. It's a 70s house show broadway on a big stage.
ReplyDeleteHaha indeed it does!
ReplyDeleteJobber is hilarious with that shit though. If you don't love that match, its because you love czw. Its right up there with saying you're a racist if you don't love the nba.
ReplyDeleteNot sure if you've seen the match. Vince protected him like he was gonna be with the company for years.
ReplyDeleteThat was the "Always Believe" debacle, correct?
ReplyDeleteFollowed by a looooooong 30 second pause....and a slap
ReplyDeleteTrish is hotter now than she was then. And Chris is right, 96 Sunny was just droolworthy.
ReplyDeleteYes, sir.
ReplyDeleteI heard it on the podcast.....I believe he also said it in the Kayfabe Commentaries 1996 with Kevin Nash....(I would post a link but...well....you know)
ReplyDeleteAgreed. I haven't seen the match in forever. I remember liking it, not loving it
ReplyDeleteI would probably give a slight edge to Trish.
ReplyDeletehorrific.
ReplyDeleteShawn's character was that he was a courageous guy that gets the shit kicked out of him, never gives up and takes the oportune moment to hit the super kick. It doesn't make any sense for him to beat nash up.
ReplyDeleteI liked Johnny B Badd too. Really strange that the gimmick worked, but it kind of did.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this recap while at the gym, I decided to watch on the Network this afternoon.
ReplyDeleteAnd let's take a moment to acknowledge the Clique, who were some of the best workers and characters on these shows, and withou them we fill the void with Godwinns, Savio Vega and a British Bulldog main event push.
ReplyDeletePunk/Brock was better.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really good match, but I still prefer Survivor Series 95 in the pantheon of Nash matches. I'd put this at number two, followed by Diesel-Bret at KOTR and Diesel-Bret at the Rumble.
ReplyDeleteYeah when Badd came out in 91 he was just over the top flamboyant but he toned that down from 93-95 when he just became a guy who looks like Little Richard and is a decent wrestler.
ReplyDeleteI watched some WCCW stuff over the weekend and Jose Lothario was too old even then. Boggles the mind that they thought having him follow Shawn around would be cool.
ReplyDeleteThen you replace Nash with Taker, Bulldog, anybody but the guy who is leaving. And this wasn't just a beating, it was the most WEF ruthless match I had ever seen up to that point.
ReplyDeleteNothing special, but worth the $3 or whatever I spent for it.
ReplyDeleteBecause I'm extremely biased, and Shawn Michaels was my first ever favourite wrestler, I like to think of things not in terms of "How bad WWF's numbers were with Shawn on top?" but rather, "How worse would WWF have been if they didn't have Shawn to mitigate the damage?"
ReplyDeleteI'd watch his 95/96 run all day personally. His post-comeback matches are well booked with good finishes, but he lost most of that freakish athleticism and bumping ability.
ReplyDeleteThat heel turn never made any sense.
ReplyDeleteMickie James is my all time fave. You'll remember the crowd rooting for her over the still hot Trish even though Mickie was playing a weird psycho.
ReplyDeleteShawn was my favorite too and loved him ever since his Rockers days but even I have to admit that his 1996 stuff with the exception of his PPV matches was mostly unwatchable.
ReplyDeleteHow did it not? They were black, he's black, so they gotta team up!
ReplyDeleteI never got why they didn't put Mero/Kid on the main card since WWF seemed pretty high on Mero at the time as the next guy to receive a good push and doing the match on the main card would have made Mero seem like a slightly bigger deal, not to mention that it was going to be a good match anyway.
ReplyDeleteAlso, IMO, he and bridged a gap that could of killed wrestling. It was a small time thing until the hogan phenomenon. But that was over and was impossible to duplicate. So Vince had to sell wrestling in general and he used them to do it. The fact they kept the wwe heart beat going is a miracle and as great of an achievement on top as anyone has had. If Shawn and Bret didn't get wrestling matches over with the general public big time wrestling was done.
ReplyDelete