WWF In Your House XVII: Ground Zero

Will Bret retain the WWF title against Patriot? What will transpire between Undertaker and Michaels? Can Pillman actually beat Goldust or will he leave the WWF forever? Let's find out!

Prior to the opening match, we revisit the soap opera that is the Pillman/Goldust feud.

If Pillman loses, he will leave the WWF “forever.” If Goldust loses, Marlena becomes Pillman's “personal assistant” for thirty days.
The match began on the floor but quickly moved to the ring.
When Goldust reversed an Irish whip, he gave Pillman an inverted atomic drop.
He then delivered a lariat followed by the twenty-punch count-along.
As Pillman rebounded with a back elbow, he sauntered after Marlena.
Goldust then caught and gave a stungun to Pillman on the steps. OUCH!
Back in the ring, PIllman attempted a bulldog, but Goldust crotched him instead.
After Pillman sought refuge on the ramp, Goldust joined, blocked a suplex attempt, and suplexed Pillman on the ramp.
Goldust then crotched Pillman with the ring post to a raucous ovation.
Upon ramming Pillman's knee into the ring post twice, Goldust attempted a bulldog but got shoved off.
While the Louisville faithful chanted "Pillman sucks," Pillman backdropped Goldust.
He then gave Goldust a HARD cross corner whip injuring the back.
Shortly after, Goldust countered a rear chin lock with an electric chair.
As Goldust reversed a cross corner whip, he ate a back elbow.
Pillman then mounted the top turnbuckle, but Goldust mistakenly on purpose crotched him again.
After Goldust moved to the apron, he launched Pillman causing him to taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Three Little Pigs at Bungalow Joe's.

Goldust then stood Pillman up so that Marlena could slap him.
When he hoisted Pillman atop the top turnbuckle, Goldust joined and attempted a superplex.
Pillman then blocked it and gave Goldust a front suplex down to the mat.
As he mounted the top turnbuckle, Pillman attempted a missile dropkick, but Goldust evaded him.
Goldust then attempted the Curtain Call, but referee Earl Hebner got nailed in the process.
After Goldust delivered his finishing maneuver, he earned a false pin.
Marlena then got up on the apron and tried to WALLOP Pillman with her purse.
Unfortunately for her, Pillman blocked the purse and stole it.
He then CREAMED Goldust with the purse, and Goldust was OUT COLD.
1-2-3.
PIllman won.

Summary: Unlike Summerslam, Pillman didn't fall for the purse trick this time. Regrettably, this was Pillman's final supershow appearance.

After the match, Marlena is despondent, yet Pillman drags her backstage. Goldust then chases after his wife, and Lawler opens the purse to reveal a brick. Next, Pillman tosses Marlena into a Lincoln Town Car and drives away. Goldust, sadly, is just seconds too late.

Backstage, Goldust destroys the dressing room in anger before chasing the cameraman out.

We then revisit Shotgun Saturday Night when the Lawlers gave Putski a spike piledriver followed by a Tennessee Jam with a chair (aired 7/19, taped 7/14).

While the Louisville faithful chanted "Jerry's kid" at Christopher, Putski gave him a cross corner whip followed by a corner clothesline.
As he hip-tossed Christopher, Putski dropkicked him over the top rope to the floor.
Christopher then countered a second hip toss with a clothesline.
When he slammed Putski, Christopher mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but ate a shot to the midsection.
Putski then hit a huracanrana for 2.
After Christopher came back with the Stroke, Putski clotheslined him twice.
Christopher then responded with a release German suplex and tossed Putski to the floor.
When Christopher delivered a plancha, Putski landed improperly and grabbed his left knee.
Referee Jack Doan then checked on Putski who couldn't continue and declared Christopher the winner.

Summary: Sometimes things don't go your way. This would be Putski's final match in the WWF.

After the match, Lawler chastises the injured Putski who appears to have dislocated his patella. Officials then place Putski on a stretcher and carry him backstage for medical attention.

We then see footage of the war between the Nation of Domination, Disciples of Apocalypse, and Los Boricuas.

When Faarooq and Vega gave him a double Irish whip, Crush delivered a double clothesline.
He then gave Faarooq a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
As Vega rolled up Crush, he got 2.
Faarooq then removed his belt and whipped both Crush and Vega.
After Crush stole it from him, he whipped Faarooq.
Vega then gave Faarooq and Crush a double noggin knocker and hip-tossed Faarooq.
When Vega attempted another hip toss, Crush blocked it and hip-tossed him for a 1-count.
Faarooq then nailed Crush down 1-65 SOUTH to Elizabethtown.
As he hit a spinebuster, Faarooq got 2.
Vega came back by face-planting Faarooq for a 1-count thanks to Crush.
After Crush reversed an Irish whip, he powerslammed Faarooq for 2.
He then gave Faarooq and Vega a double noggin knocker and got another 2 on Faarooq.
When Vega hit a spinning heel kick, he gave Faarooq a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
He then attempted a splash but ate knees.
As Faarooq mounted the top turnbuckle, he gave Crush an axe handle to the back for 2.
Crush rebounded with an electric chair to Faarooq, and Vega got 2.
After Vega dropkicked him, he gave Crush the ten-punch count-along.
Crush then countered with an inverted atomic drop and clothesline for 2.
When Vega attempted a swinging neckbreaker, Faarooq took the move in the opposite direction. Oops, that's quite the botch.

Crush then gave Vega a backbreaker for 2.
As Crush and Faarooq double-suplexed Vega, Crush tossed Vega to the floor.
Faarooq then delivered a backbreaker to Crush for 2.
After Crush tossed Vega out of the ring again, he hit a backbreaker on Faarooq for 2.
Faarooq then dispatched Vega and powerslammed Crush for 2.
When Crush and Vega gave Faarooq a spike piledriver, Crush clotheslined Vega over the top rope to the floor.
He then delivered the heart punch to Faarooq, but Vega hit another spinning heel kick to Crush.
1-2-3.
Vega won.

Ross informed Lawler that Torito isn't a "corn chip." HA! Pass the chips and salsa please!

As Max gave Torito a flying headscissors, he spun out of a fireman's carry to deliver another one.
Torito then sought refuge outside the ring, but Max hit a somersault plancha. Woohoo!
When Torito slammed him, he attempted a somersault senton but came up empty.
He then gave Max a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
After Torito "bit" him on the ass, Max kicked referee Jack Doan in the shin to make El Torito stop his shenanigans.
Max then "bit" Doan on the ass to reinforce his point. Mind you, each wrestler wore a mask that covered the mouth.
As Doan chased Max out of the ring, Max ran around the ring and jumped in Lawler's lap. HA!
He then placed Lawler's crown atop his head, and Lawler threatened to nail him into the middle of 1998.

When Torito slammed Max, he successfully delivered a somersault senton.
Max came back with a lightning-quick huracanrana for 2.
After Torito powerbombed him, he got 2.
Max then hooked a sunset flip for 2.
As Torito cradled Max, he got 2.
He then clotheslined Max who sold it with a 360° spin.
When Torito sought refuge outside the ring upon receiving a pair of arm drags, Max hit an Asai moonsault. Wow!
Back in the ring, Torito gave Max a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
Max then mounted the top turnbuckle and delivered a flying headscissors.
After a victory roll, Max hooked another sunset flip.
1-2-3.
Max won.

Summary: Great high-flying mixed with witty comedy made for an entertaining match.

We then revisit Summerslam '97 when Owen momentarily paralyzed Stone Cold Steve Austin. On Friday Night's Main Event, Commissioner Slaughter suspended Austin and ordered him to forfeit the tag titles at the PPV due to the severe injury (aired 9/5, taped 8/23).

In the ring, Ross interviews Slaughter who lays down the law. Dude Love comes to the ring and forfeits his tag team belt. Austin then arrives to a raucous ovation and flips off Ross. As he commandeers the microphone, Austin believes he can wrestle and disrespects Slaughter. In the process, he relinquishes his tag team belt and calls Ross "fat ass."

Ross then wishes him well while toeing the company line, but Austin responds with a Stone Cold Stunner. Meanwhile, the Louisville faithful ERUPTS. Slaughter then ejects both Austin and Dude Love, but not before Austin flips him off. While officials assist Ross up the ramp, Vince looks on with concern.

Backstage, Dok Hendrix interviews Owen and Smith. Owen's extremely perturbed about Austin's actions, but he and Smith ready to regain the tag team titles.

Vince then apologizes for Austin's actions despite referring to him as a "jackass."

Prior to the next match, the Headbangers and Godwinns cut separate pre-recorded promos. Michael Cole then interviews the Road Warriors backstage.

Match 5 for the WWF tag team titles (Fatal 4-way): WWF European champion the “British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith & Owen Hart versus the Godwinns versus the Road Warriors versus the Headbangers

The Headbangers substituted for Austin and Dude Love.
When Thrasher rolled up Henry, he earned a 1-count.
He then tagged in Phineas, and Henry tagged in Mosh.
As Mosh reversed an Irish whip, he leap-frogged and hip-tossed Phineas.
Thrasher tagged in, mounted the second turnbuckle, and gave Phineas a lariat.
After tags were exchanged, Animal sent Henry flying outside the ring.
Hawk then nailed Henry on the floor.
When Mosh tagged in, Animal powerslammed him.
Hawk tagged in, mounted the top turnbuckle, and clotheslined Mosh.
As he delivered a military-press slam, Hawk antagonized Smith.
Owen tagged in, mounted the top turnbuckle, and lowered the boom on Phineas.
After Phineas reversed a cross corner whip, he tagged in Henry.
Speaking of Henry, he gorilla-press-slammed Owen for 2.
Owen rebounded with an enziguri for 2.
When Animal tagged in, he attempted a clothesline but sailed over the top rope to the floor instead.
Phineas then gave Animal a jawbreaker while the Louisville faithful chanted "L-O-D."
As he slammed Animal, Phineas mounted the second turnbuckle, leaped, but ate boot.
Hawk tagged in, and the Road Warriors attempted the Doomsday Device.
However, Henry interfered, and Phineas nailed an incoming Hawk in the midsection.
After Owen distracted referee Tim White, Animal thwarted a bucket shot from Henry to Hawk.
He then HAMMERED Phineas with it, and White disqualified the Road Warriors.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
When Mosh came in, he slammed Phineas.
Thrasher then mounted the top turnbuckle and gave Mosh a front suplex atop Phineas for 2.
As Thrasher tagged in, he hit a Mosh-assisted tope to Phineas. Woohoo!
Phineas then reversed an Irish whip, and Henry provided a low bridge to Thrasher spilling him from the ring.
After Henry tagged in, he slammed Thrasher and delivered an elbow drop.
Phineas tagged in, and the Godwinns double-backdropped Thrasher.
When Henry tagged in, Thrasher hooked a sunset flip on Phineas.
1-2-3.
The Godwinns were eliminated which left the Headbangers against Owen and Smith.
As Owen gave Thrasher a gutwrench suplex, he hit a leg drop.
While the Louisville faithful chanted "U-S-A," Mosh distracted White so that Owen and Smith could double-team Thrasher. How dastardly!
Smith then delivered a back elbow to Thrasher and followed with a delayed vertical suplex for a 1-count.
After Owen mounted the top turnbuckle, he hit a missile dropkick to Thrasher for 2.
Thrasher then gave Owen a cross body block for 2.
When Owen delivered a hangman's neckbreaker, he got 2.
He then slammed Thrasher, tagged in Smith, and jointly broke Thrasher's wishbone. OUCH!
As Thrasher collided with Smith, he made the lukewarm tag to Mosh.

Owen tagged in, but Mosh backdropped him.
After Mosh dropkicked him, Owen tripped him coming off the ropes. SNEAKY!
Heel miscommunication then knocked Smith out of the ring, and the Headbangers prepped for the Stage Dive.
On the other hand, Smith crotched Thrasher on the top turnbuckle.
While Smith and Thrasher distracted White, Owen attempted a Sharpshooter on Mosh.
Suddenly, Austin hit the ring and gave Owen the Stone Cold Stunner.
Mosh then pinned Owen.
WE HAVE NEW CHAMPIONS!

Summary: When Austin's got a grudge, he holds it well. Owen felt his wrath, and it cost him the tag titles.

Back in the locker room, Ross holds an ice pack to his neck while he speaks to Slaughter.

Video airs featuring Patriot which includes 1980 Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers.

Backstage, Sunny interviews Patriot who's ready to defeat Bret for the second time.

Elsewhere backstage, Cole interviews Bret says he'll beat Patriot and enjoy doing it.

Bret delivered a belly-to-back suplex and tied him to the Tree of Woe.
As the Louisville faithful chanted "U-S-A," Patriot reversed a cross corner whip and clotheslined Bret.
He then dropkicked and clotheslined Bret over the top rope to the floor.
Shortly after, Bret hooked the ring post figure-four leg lock and rammed Patriot's left knee into the ring post.
Abruptly, Smith came to the ring while Bret hooked a side-Russian leg sweep for 2.
When the Louisville faithful chanted "Au-stin," Bret gave Patriot a backbreaker.
He then attempted a vertical suplex, but Patriot blocked it and hit one of his own.
After Bret reversed an Irish whip, Patriot hooked a sunset flip for 2.
Patriot then delivered a DDT for another 2.
As he gave Bret a cross corner whip, Patriot ate knee on his follow-through.
Bret then mounted the second turnbuckle, leaped, but ate a shot to the midsection.
When Patriot clotheslined Bret, Smith tripped him coming off the ropes.
Bret then rolled up Patriot for 2.
After Patriot sent Bret to the ropes, Bret inadvertently knocked Smith from the apron to the floor.
Patriot then rolled up Bret for 2.
As Patriot hit Uncle Slam, Smith dragged Bret's leg under the bottom rope to prevent the pin.

Patriot then sauntered after Smith, and Vader came to ringside.
When Bret joined them, a four-way brawl erupted.
Vader then rammed Bret shoulder-first into the steps.
After officials sent both Smith and Vader backstage, Patriot gave Bret a big boot.
He then slammed Bret, mounted the top turnbuckle, and delivered the Patriot Missile.
Do we have a new champion?
1-2-NO!
Patriot then hit an atomic drop/belly-to-back suplex combo for another 2. Nifty!
As Bret came back with a stungun, he gave Patriot a bulldog.
He then mounted the second turnbuckle and delivered an elbow smash for 2.
When Patriot struck Bret in the corner, referee MIke Chioda got nailed in the process.
Bret then attempted a full nelson, but Patriot countered with Uncle Slam #2.
Due to Chioda being shaken up, Patriot only got 2.
While a mid-ring collision put both wrestlers down on the mat, the Louisville faithful chanted "U-S-A" in unison.
After Bret hooked an inside cradle, Patriot used momentum to counter for another 2.
He then gave Bret a cross corner whip resulting in a sternum-first bump.
As Patriot hooked a Sharpshooter, Bret escaped and hooked one of his own.
Although Patriot had the Louisville faithful in his back pocket, he submitted.
Bret retained.

Summary: Great story, good psychology, and an electrified crowd made this an extremely fantastic match. Great job, guys!

After the match, Bret attacks and piledrives Patriot. He then grabs the American flag and breaks the flag pole in half. Next, he chokes Patriot with the American flag until officials stop him. He then decks Pat Patterson and kicks Patriot before leaving. Is it me or is Patriot NEVER seeing the main event again?

Backstage, Cole interviews Bret who calls Austin, Undertaker, Michaels, and Patriot "losers."

Video featuring Undertaker airs. We then revisit Summerslam '97 when Michaels screwed Undertaker out of the WWF title. Following that, we revisit RAW is WAR when Michaels bloodied Undertaker with another chair shot (aired 8/18). From Friday Night's Main Event, Undertaker cut a promo on Michaels (aired 8/29, taped 8/23).

When Michaels hid behind referee Mike Chioda, Undertaker grabbed Chioda and ANNIHILATED him. Methinks he's just a tiny bit miffed.

Michaels then threatened to leave, but Slaughter stood in his path and instructed him to return.
As Undertaker lifted him up, he dumped Chioda over the top rope atop Michaels. HA!
He then nailed Michaels who crawled back to the "house."
After Undertaker gorilla-press-slammed him on the steel platform, he tossed Michaels into the bushes that decorate the exterior of the "house."
Undertaker then hammered him so hard that Michaels bounced all the way down the steel ramp.
When he rammed Michaels face-first into the steps, Undertaker made Michaels taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Big Pig at Merle's Whiskey Kitchen.
He then CLOCKED Michaels causing him to land atop the French broadcast table.
Next, another shot resulted in Michaels' tasting of the steel railing again. Waiter, could you give the egomaniacal showboat a Dunked Cuban please?
As they returned to the ring, Undertaker clotheslined Michaels.
He then hit a pair of elbow drops, made a cover, but no official was within sight.
After a cross corner whip by Undertaker resulted in a Michaels flip to the floor, Slaughter sent Earl Hebner to the ring.
Undertaker then tried to intimidate Hebner, but Michaels clipped him.
Finally, the bell rang to begin the match.
When Michaels gave him a HARD cross corner whip, he attempted the ten-punch count-along, but Undertaker shoved him down.
Another attempt then equaled the same result.
Upon a third attempt by Michaels, Undertaker tried to chokeslam him.
Michaels then took Undertaker down to a knee, mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but ate a shot to the mush.

As Undertaker clotheslined him over the top rope to the floor, Michaels re-entered the ring via sunset flip.
Undertaker then caught himself and hooked a standing choke.
After he gave Michaels another cross corner whip straddling Michaels across the top turnbuckle, Undertaker punted him.
He then punted him twice more until Michaels crotched himself on the top rope. OUCH!
When he clotheslined Michaels, Undertaker got 2.
He then attempted the ropewalk shoulder smash, but Michaels crotched him on the top rope instead.
As Michaels sent him to the floor, he gave Undertaker a baseball slide.
Michaels then attempted a plancha, but Undertaker caught and rammed him back-first into the ring post twice.
During another one of Michaels' attempts to escape, Undertaker nailed him south of the border.

Sorry, Chester.
After Undertaker backdropped him, he got another 2.
Michaels then made an ass out of himself to the thrill of some of the Louisville faithful.
When Michaels came back with a swinging neckbreaker, Undertaker sat up.
Michaels then grabbed a steel chair, but Undertaker kicked it out of his hands.
As Undertaker grabbed the chair, Hebner stole it from him.
Undertaker then confronted Hebner so Michaels dropkicked Undertaker and the chair into Hebner.
To say the least, Hebner was OUT COLD.
Michaels then hit a flying forearm, mounted the top turnbuckle, and delivered the big elbow.
After he remounted the same top turnbuckle, he hit big elbow #2.
While Hebner tried to return to Earth, "Ravishing" Rick Rude came to the ring.
Hebner then counted 2, and Undertaker's kick-out sent Michaels atop him.
When Rude tossed brass knuckles to him, Michaels CREAMED Undertaker with them.
Rude then returned backstage, but Michaels couldn't revive Hebner.
As Jack Doan became referee #3, he counted 2 for Michaels.
Meanwhile, Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Chyna came to ringside.
Michaels then WALLOPED Doan right out of the ring.
After Michaels extricated Undertaker from the ring, Helmsley beat the cream cheese out of Undertaker.
Helmsley and Chyna then rammed Undertaker knees-first into the steps.
When Michaels assisted Hebner to his feet, he rammed him into the top turnbuckle. Nefarious!
Helmsley then tossed Undertaker back into the ring, and Michaels delivered a pair of knee drops.
As the Louisville faithful began to chant "rest in peace," Michaels clotheslined Undertaker over the top rope to the floor.
Undertaker then landed on his feet, attempted to re-enter the ring, but Helmsley clocked him.
After Chyna gave him a forearm shot, Undertaker grabbed Helmsley.
Michaels then mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a double axe handle to Undertaker on the floor.
When Michaels and Helmsley double-teamed him, Helmsley provided the Louisville faithful with a crotch chop.
Back in the ring, Undertaker reversed an Irish whip and attempted a tombstone.
Michaels then attempted Sweet Chin Music, but Undertaker blocked it.
As he pounded Michaels until he was atop the top turnbuckle again, Undertaker stole the brass knuckles and CLOBBERED Michaels.
Helmsley then got up on the apron only to get nailed by Undertaker.
After Undertaker made a cover, he only got 2.
Undertaker then chokeslammed Hebner, reversed an Irish whip, and hit a flying clothesline.
Tim White then charged the ring and called for the bell.
As a result, the match ended in a double-disqualification.

Summary: Much more of a brawl than a match, but it was truly exciting watching Michaels bounce like a superball while getting his ass kicked. With all of the outside interference, methinks their rematch should transpire in a steel cage.

After the match, Undertaker chokeslams Helmsley into Michaels and tosses him over the top rope to the floor. Michaels then delivers Sweet Chin Music which ties Undertaker in the ropes. Yikes! I don’t like his chances. Chyna then grabs a steel chair and hands it to Michaels. In the meantime, Helmsley DEMOLISHES White. Michaels then charges with the chair, and Undertaker kicks it in his face.

At first, Undertaker succeeds against the duo, but, upon another tombstone attempt to Michaels, fails due to Helmsley's interference. Officials then storm the ring, but Michaels cuts them off. When Undertaker tombstones Helmsley, the locker room empties to break up the melee. All order appears restored until Undertaker hits a tope onto several wrestlers including Michaels and Helmsley. Holy flying power forwards, Batman! Add an extra star for that and furthering the interest in a rematch.

Conclusion: With a hot main event, a great title match, and the Austin angle, this show needs no further recommendation from me. For those that truly enjoy a good technical match, watch the WWF title match. And those who enjoy a match with some edge to it, check out the main event.