WWF DeGeneration-X

Can Shamrock reach the top of the mountain and dethrone Michaels? Will Austin retrieve the Intercontinental belt? Or will the Rock beat him? Will HHH survive a boot camp match? Or will Slaughter make him drop and give him twenty? Let’s find out!

Match 1 for the WWF Light Heavyweight title (final): “Too Sexy” Brian Christopher versus Taka Michinoku

While I find a tournament to be a cool concept in pro wrestling, this was one tournament that needed to occur in Rio De Janeiro.
Christopher slammed Michinoku while the Springfield faithful chanted “Jerry’s kid” to mock him. Lawler’s running commentary throughout the match toggling back and forth was hysterical.
When Christopher hip-tossed him, Michinoku reversed a cross corner whip.
Christopher then floated over, delivered a German suplex, but Michinoku landed on his feet.

As Michinoku scored with a spinning heel kick, he dropkicked Christopher twice.
He then clotheslined Christopher over the top rope to the floor.
Next, he leaped to the top turnbuckle and hit a tope.
With Christopher on the apron, Michinoku attempted to suplex him back in, but Christopher blocked it.
Christopher then crotched Michinoku on the top rope. OUCH!
Upon sending Michinoku to the floor, Christopher mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but tasted the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Flapper at the Back Room.
Back in the ring, Michinoku mounted the top turnbuckle but missed a cross body block.
In the meantime, Christopher’s lip was BUSTED OPEN.
Christopher then gave Michinoku a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
When Michinoku delivered a tornado DDT, he got 2.
He then hit a huracanrana.
As Christopher attempted to regroup outside the ring, Michinoku mounted the second turnbuckle and hit a moonsault. Amazing!
Lawler then left the broadcast table to check on Christopher.
After Michinoku landed a pair of seated dropkicks, Christopher rebounded with a Stroke.
Michinoku then reversed an Irish whip but suffered a sit-out powerbomb.
With an overconfident cover, Christopher got 2.
Michinoku then hooked a sunset flip for 2.
When Christopher mounted the second turnbuckle, he delivered a missile dropkick.
He then hit a Rocker Dropper and followed with a backbreaker for 2.
As he supplied Michinoku with a baseball slide right hand, Christopher slapped the taste from Michinoku’s mouth.
He then clotheslined Michinoku for another 2.
After he provided Michinoku with another German suplex, Christopher delivered a leg drop but couldn’t get 3.
He then powerslammed Michinoku, mounted the top turnbuckle, but missed a Tennessee Jam.
Suddenly, Michinoku hit a Michinoku Driver and pinned Christopher.
WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!

Summary: Despite the inadvertent blood from Christopher, he reigned in Michinoku’s high-flying and put him over much to Lawler’s chagrin.

After the match, Gerald Brisco and Pat Patterson present Michinoku with the Light Heavyweight title. Photographers, allegedly from Japan, captured the moment.

Prior to the next match, we revisit last week’s episode of RAW is WAR when the ludicrous gang wars continued despite Chainz and Perez’s participation in a four corners match.

Match 2 (six-man): Disciples of Apocalypse versus Los Boricuas (w/ Savio Vega)

Referee Tim White ejected Vega before the bell.
As Chainz reversed a cross corner whip, Perez floated over but ate a big boot.
Chainz then hip-tossed and clotheslined Perez who sold it with a 360° flip. Woohoo!
When tags were exchanged on both sides, Jesus scored with a back elbow to 8-Ball's midsection.
8-Ball rebounded by ramming Jesus face-first into the mat.
While the Springfield faithful chanted “shave your back” to Perez, Jose tagged in but suffered a powerslam from 8-Ball.
Skull tagged in and landed a knee drop for 2.
After 8-Ball tagged in, DoA double-clotheslined Jose.
He then delivered a sidewalk slam for another 2.
As Skull tagged in, he countered a back drop with a swinging neckbreaker.
While 8-Ball distracted White, Perez provided Skull with a spinning heel kick from the apron. SNEAKY!
Jose then gave Skull a cross corner whip followed by a corner clothesline.
When Perez tagged in, he slammed Skull and hit a standing moonsault.
He then mounted the top turnbuckle, scored with a right, but blew out his right knee.

After Jose tagged in, Jesus tripped Skull coming off the ropes. How dastardly!
Since White didn’t see it, Skull gave Jose a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
Jose then landed a flying back elbow and tagged in Jesus.
As Vega tried to take Perez’s place, White disallowed it.
Jesus then gave Skull a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
When tags were exchanged on both sides again, Chainz clotheslined Jose.
He then delivered a death valley driver, but shenanigans between the DoA and Los Boricuas in the Boricuas’ corner distracted White.
After Perez miraculously returned to the ring, he nailed Chainz with a somersault leg drop.

1-2-3.
Los Boricuas won.

Summary: If there’s a consensus about this feud, it’s this: NOBODY CARES! Perez’s chicanery allowed Los Boricuas to steal the match despite the Springfield faithful’s absolute apathy for the match.

Back in the locker room, Dok Hendrix interviews Butterbean with Art Dore and Murray Sutherland. Butterbean believes last night’s PPV match was a “warm-up” and defends Sable’s honor. What a gentleman!

Footage of Mero’s Golden Gloves work and shenanigans from last week’s RAW Is WAR are shown.

Backstage, Michael Cole interviews Sable who was in Butterbean’s corner during last night’s PPV. She will be in Mero’s corner, but Mero interjects to harass her and cuts a promo on “that fat tub of crap.”

Mero tried to abuse referee Mike Chioda’s authority by ducking between the ropes, but his third attempt allowed Butterbean to PLASTER him down to the floor.
After the bell, Mero scored with a cheap shot to the back of Butterbean’s head. Nefarious!

When the round began, Mero sprinted to Butterbean’s corner and delivered a high knee.
While Butterbean’s cornermen distracted Chioda, Mero cheated with his glove tape. Wicked!
He then gouged Butterbean in the eyes and landed a shot to the kidneys.
As the bell sounded to end the round, Mero dropkicked Butterbean. Nasty!

Despite their attempts to resemble a legitimate fight, the punches made either no contact or no sound when landing.
Butterbean then held Mero with his left hand and CREAMED him.
Although Mero went down, he was saved by the bell.
Between rounds, a dazed Mero fell off his stool, so Butterbean used his spittoon to wake him up.

The round began, and Butterbean FLOORED Mero.
After Mero got to a knee, he nailed Butterbean somewhere down SOUTH I-95.
Subsequently, Chioda called for the bell to disqualify Mero.
As a result, Butterbean won.

Summary: Boxing matches in wrestling are a heel’s dream, so he can cheat every which way before getting himself disqualified. During the whole fiasco, the Springfield faithful made a run for popcorn.

After the match, Mero CRACKED Butterbean with his stool twice before hightailing it backstage. An infuriated Butterbean chases after Mero.

Oh my word...Luna and TAFKA Goldust emerge through the curtain wearing pink outfits and black with white makeup. TAFKA Goldust proceeds to read Green Eggs and Ham. Before he can finish, Luna exerts her control by pushing him down and dragging him through the curtain.

Backstage, Cole interviews the Road Warriors. Footage of their title loss from two weeks are shown, and Animal calls Dog and Gunn “sissies.” Politely, Hawk compares them to a booger. OK, I don’t know which segment was ickier.

Match 4 for the WWF tag team titles: Road Dog & “Bad Ass” Billy Gunn (champions) versus the Road Warriors

During the champions’ entrance, Road Dog cuts a bitter promo while calling the Road Warriors “dinosaurs.” They tried to play mind games with the Road Warriors, but WWF officials intervened.

Animal clotheslined Road Dog and tagged in Hawk.
As he dropkicked Road Dog, Hawk delivered a hangman’s neckbreaker.
With the champs on the floor, Hawk leaped from the apron and double-clotheslined them.
He then supplied them with a double noggin knocker while the Springfield faithful chanted “L-O-D.”
When Hawk followed him to the other side of the ring, he rammed Road Dog face-first into the broadcast table.
Animal tagged in, yet Road Dog reversed an Irish whip, leap-frogged him, but ate a powerbomb on a second attempt.
After Animal got 2, he tossed Road Dog to the floor.
Hawk then made Road Dog taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Al Capone at the Back Room.
As the Road Warriors traded places, Animal gorilla-pressed and rammed Gunn face-first into the steps.
The champs then tried to exit, but the Road Warriors met them in the aisle.
Following that, Animal supplied Road Dog with another taste of the steel railing. Waiter, could you provide the Southern-fried big mouth a Jack Diamond?
While Animal distracted referee Jim Korderas, the champs DEMOLISHED Hawk with JR’s cooler.
Road Dog then delivered an Orndorff-esque knee drop for 2.
When he dropkicked Hawk, Road Dog got another 2.
Gunn tagged in and distracted Korderas so that Road Dog could nail Hawk. What chicanery!
After he planted a knee into Hawk’s midsection, Gunn hit a knee drop but couldn’t get 3.
A double clothesline then put both wrestlers down on the mat.
As Gunn sent him sternum-first into the corner, he and Hawk rammed their heads together.
Hot tag Animal.
When Animal gave Road Dog a cross corner whip, the Road Warriors provided consecutive clotheslines to him.
The Road Warriors then prepped for the Doomsday Device, however, Henry Godwinn stormed the ring and SPLATTERED Animal with his slop bucket.
After Hawk retrieved the slop bucket from Godwinn, he PLASTERED the champs with it.
Korderas had no choice but to call for the bell and disqualify the Road Warriors.
As a result, Road Dog and Gunn retained.

Summary: The tag formula held the match together, but the Godwinn DQ finish stunk up the ring.

Backstage, Cole interviews HHH who carries a “survival kit” to mock Slaughter and tells dick jokes.

After HHH makes his entrance, Jim Cornette interviews Slaughter who refers to HHH as “human excretion.”

In case you weren’t sure the Patriot’s WWF career was over, Slaughter came to the ring with his music.

Slaughter clotheslined HHH with his riding crop and booted him in the midsection.
When he delivered a gutbuster, Slaughter followed with an elbow to the midsection.
He then tossed HHH over the top rope to the floor, joined, and rammed him face-first into the steps.
As he guillotined HHH with the steel railing, Slaughter attempted a pin on the floor, but referee Jack Doan disallowed it.
Instead, Slaughter rammed HHH knee-first into the steps, removed his belt, and whipped him.
He then choked HHH with the belt, gave him a cross corner whip, and followed with a clothesline for 2.
Upon attempting a cobra clutch, Slaughter instead met a mule kick.
HHH then reversed a cross corner whip and sent Slaughter flying over the top turnbuckle to the floor. Hmmm...HHH isn’t the only one performing trademark corner bumps.
When HHH joined him on the floor, he rammed Slaughter into the steps.
He then tossed Slaughter over the steel railing into the front row.
As HHH attempted to steal the ring bell, he CLOBBERED timekeeper Mark Eaton with it.

Before HHH could do the same to Slaughter, he ate a clothesline.
HHH then knocked Slaughter silly with the bell and tossed him into the ring.
Next, he whipped Slaughter with the belt, obtained a chain from Chyna, and knocked Slaughter into the 21st century.
He then landed a fist drop with the chain for 2.
After officials carried Eaton away from ringside, Slaughter blocked a chain shot.
He then wrapped the chain around his fist, charged, but HHH backdropped him over the top rope to the floor.
When HHH tossed Slaughter back into the ring, he mounted the top turnbuckle, performed a crotch chop, leaped, and ate boot.
Slaughter then attempted a slam but collapsed.
As Helmsley attempted a suplex, Slaughter blocked it and delivered one of his own.
Slaughter then mounted the top turnbuckle, but HHH caught and slammed him down to the mat for 2.
After HHH applied a sleeper, Slaughter countered with a cobra clutch.
Chyna then entered the ring, knocked down referee Jack Doan, and gouged Slaughter.
When Doan argued with her about interference, she HAMMERED him.
She then grabbed a steel chair from ringside, re-entered the ring, but took a serious powder shot from Slaughter. Her face became WHITE.

As Helmsley scored with a boot to the head, he made a second attempt only to fall prey to another cobra clutch.
Right before Doan could call for HHH’s submission, Chyna regained her eyesight and PUNTED Slaughter.
She then slid the chair to HHH who hit the Pedigree on it.
1-2-3.
HHH won.

Summary: Project put-HHH-over continued as Slaughter took what HHH had and made it look decent. On the other hand, all of HHH’s heat came from Chyna.

Backstage, Cole interviews Jarrett who’s ready to use Undertaker as a stepping stone.

Undertaker gave Jarrett a cross corner whip followed by a clothesline for 2.
As he supplied Jarrett with a ropewalk shoulder smash, Undertaker gave Jarrett another cross corner whip but ate elbow on his follow-through.
Jarrett then mounted the second turnbuckle, leaped, but fell right into a choke.
When Jarrett blocked a chokeslam, he clipped Undertaker.
He then rammed Undertaker’s leg into the apron, yet Undertaker rebounded with a backbreaker.
After he delivered a leg drop, Undertaker got 2.
He then hit a big boot, and the lights went out.
Abruptly, Kane and Paul Bearer came to the ring.
Jarrett instructed Kane to attack Undertaker but ate a chokeslam instead.
As a result, referee Tim White called for the bell to disqualify Undertaker.

Summary: More storyline than match as the Undertaker-Kane angle continues to unfold.

After the match, Kane stands face-to-face with Undertaker, slaps him, and ignites the turnbuckles. When Kane leaves, Jarrett ambushes Undertaker and attempts a figure-four leg lock. On the other hand, Undertaker blocks it with a choke and chokeslams him.

In the cheap seats, Cole interviews Mark Henry who’s ready to make his return to the ring.

Match 7 for the WWF Intercontinental title: Stone Cold Steve Austin (champion) versus the Rock (w/ the Nation of Domination)

While the Springfield faithful chanted “Rocky sucks,” Rock grabbed the microphone and announced he’s ready “to defend his Intercontinental title.” HA!
Austin made his entrance in a black Chevy pickup with an Austin 3:16 skull on the hood.
Before the bell rang to begin the match, the NoD triple-teamed Austin.
D’Lo Brown charged Austin bot got backdropped onto the hood of the truck.

When Austin joined him, he delivered a Stone Cold Stunner atop the cab.
The match began, and Austin hit a Thesz press.
As Rock flipped Austin over, he got 2.
Austin then rolled up Rock for 2.
After Rock reversed an Irish whip, he tossed Austin over the top rope to the floor.
While Rock distracted referee Mike Chioda, Faarooq and Kama double-teamed Austin.
Faarooq then made Austin taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Rockefeller at Back Room.
When Faarooq grabbed Austin from behind, Kama obtained a steel chair.
Instead of hitting Austin, Kama inadvertently CREAMED Faarooq.
Austin then whipped Kama back-first into the front fender of the truck.
As the Springfield faithful chanted “Au-stin,” Rock nailed their hero down near New Bedford.
He then slammed Austin and landed a People’s Elbow for 2.
After Rock put a knee into Austin’s midsection, he slammed Austin again.
He then removed his elbow pad but missed a second People’s Elbow.
Mind you, Austin had yet to remove his vest.
Rock then reversed an Irish whip, and Austin attempted a Stunner.
Meanwhile, Kama got up on the apron, so Austin nailed him.
In lieu of hitting the Stunner on Rock, Austin mistakenly FLATTENED Chioda with it.
Rock then added a set of brass knux to his hand but fell victim to a Stunner.
With Chioda OUT COLD, referee Jim Korderas replaced him.
1-2-3.
Austin retained.

Summary: Truly exciting match where the Springfield faithful were into it from beginning to end. I smell a future PPV main event between these two.

To celebrate his victory, Austin stood atop the cab of the truck and provided his single-finger salute.

We then revisit last week’s episode of RAW is WAR when DeGeneration-X mocks Shamrock’s ankle lock and humiliates JIm Neidhart.

Back in the locker room, Cornette interviews Shamrock who declares that Michaels will be “squealing like a baby.”

After Shamrock makes his entrance, Michaels cuts a promo on him alongside DeGeneration-X. He also made fun of JR just to be a dick.

Match 8 for the WWF title: The “Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels (champion w/ DeGeneration-X) versus Ken Shamrock

Shamrock reversed an Irish whip and landed a kick to Michaels that sent him reeling to the floor.
As Michaels returned, Shamrock launched Michaels across the ring and backdropped him.
He then gave Michaels a cross corner whip that resulting in a Michaels flip to the floor.
When Chyna got up on the apron to distract him, Shamrock didn’t fall for Michaels’ sneaking up from behind.

Michaels then provided Shamrock with a ten-punch count-along but charged once too often into a back elbow.
After Michaels attempted a suplex, Shamrock blocked it and delivered one of his own.
He then clotheslined Michaels over the top rope to the floor while JR & Lawler discussed the destruction of the Hart Foundation.

To break up the lovefest on the floor, Shamrock supplied Michaels and HHH with a double noggin knocker.
Back in the ring, Shamrock reversed another Irish whip, but Michaels hooked a sunset flip.
Shamrock blocked it and gave Michaels another cross corner whip.
As Michaels landed on his front, Shamrock punted him.
That caused Michaels to crotch himself on the top rope. My theory would be that he wouldn’t be whispering tonight.
When Shamrock attempted a belly-to-belly suplex, Michaels grabbed referee Earl Hebner, shoved him away, and used his trick knee. OUCH!
He then clotheslined Shamrock over the top rope to the floor and skinned the cat back into the ring.
While Michaels distracted Hebner, HHH walloped Shamrock on the floor. Devious!
Michaels then mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a not-so-crisp cross body block thanks to Shamrock.
After a baseball slide, Michaels tried another but came up empty.
Shamrock then hammered Michaels on the floor and scored with a shot to an incoming HHH.
With Hebner distracted by HHH, Chyna made Shamrock HIT THE POLE. Heinous!
Michaels then distracted Hebner so that Chyna could slam Shamrock on the floor. Evil!
As Shamrock laid prone on the floor, Michaels leaped from the apron and splashed him.
Since Hebner had his back turned, HHH made Shamrock taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like Hot Momma at Kaptain Jimmy’s.
Back in the ring, Michaels mounted the second turnbuckle and launched a flying elbow drop.
He then dropkicked Shamrock for 2.
When he gave Shamrock a HARD cross corner whip, Michaels positioned him against the second rope.
Once again, he distracted Hebner so that HHH could give Shamrock the business.
Shamrock rebounded with a cross corner whip, but Michaels leaped to the second turnbuckle and delivered a cross body block.
With momentum, Shamrock landed on top for 2.
He then rolled up Michaels for another 2.
After Michaels rebounded with a clothesline, he hooked a sleeper.
Ultimately, Shamrock backed Michaels into a corner to escape.
He then gave Michaels a pair of cross corner whips followed by vicious clotheslines.
As he backdropped Michaels again, Shamrock hit a flying back elbow.
He then powerslammed Michaels but couldn’t get 3.
When he executed a huracanrana, Shamrock escaped a sunset flip, rolled up Michaels, and earned another 2-count.
Shamrock then clotheslined himself on the top rope yet countered a huracanrana with a powerbomb.
Do we have a new champion?
1-2-NO!
After Michaels grabbed Hebner, Chyna and HHH tripped Shamrock. Conniving!
HHH then decimated Shamrock before tossing him back into the ring.
Upon slamming Shamrock, Michaels mounted the top turnbuckle and delivered the big elbow.
He then prepped for Sweet Chin Music but missed.
Instead, Shamrock hooked a belly-to-belly suplex.
He then applied an ankle lock, but both Chyna and HHH interfered.
As a result, Hebner called for the bell to disqualify Michaels.
Shamrock won by DQ; however, Michaels retained.

Summary: Michaels has been called a lot of things in his career, but on this night, he was a magician. His ability to carry Shamrock to this level is astounding.

After the match, Chyna and HHH double-team Shamrock until HHH tosses him over the top rope to the floor. Suddenly, Owen Hart comes out of nowhere and shoves Michaels off the apron through the Spanish broadcast table. He then pummels Michaels and hightails it when HHH makes the save. Justice for Bret!

Conclusion: While Michaels’ performance was extraordinary once again, the true main event was Austin-Rock. Slaughter did his best to make HHH look good, but Chyna looked better and got a better reaction. The Road Warriors failed to recapture the WWF titles. What could be in store for them going forward? Lastly, Michinoku ended the disaster that was the light heavyweight tournament with a predictable win. As far as a recommendation goes, check out Austin-Rock as well as the post-main event actions by Owen.