WWF In Your House V

Before the match we see the ending to the opening match at Survivor Series where Sid assisted the 1-2-3 Kid to victory. From there we revisit the wild card match where the Kid interfered with Ramon.

Match 1: Razor Ramon and Marty Jannetty versus Sycho Sid and the 1-2-3 Kid (w/ the “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase)

As Ramon made his entrance Goldust admired the “Bad Guy.”
For those unaware Hershey, PA is approximately 90 miles west of Philadelphia. Why mention that? Because quite a few ECW fans made themselves known at this show. The first one in particular had a sign that read “Marty must die” which even I find tasteless.
Enziguri by Jannetty to the Kid.
Clothesline.
Atomic drop.
After Ramon tagged in the Kid tried to escape outside the ring, but Jannetty tossed him back in.
Atomic drop by Ramon, but the Kid made the tag.
Clothesline by Sid.
Spin kick by the Kid.
Double clothesline.
Powerslam by Jannetty to the Kid.
Jannetty mounted the second turnbuckle and hit a blockbuster on the Kid. Impressive!
Meanwhile at ringside Todd Pettengill interviewed Goldust who fantasized over Ramon.
Leg lariat by the Kid.
Goldust has a golden envelope for Ramon.
Jannetty mounted the top turnbuckle but got caught and powerslammed by Sid.
The Kid mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a splash.
Big boot by Sid.
Upon receiving an Irish whip from Sid the Kid gave Jannetty a dropkick.
Sid followed with a clothesline that Jannetty sold with a 360° flip. Woohoo!
Leg drop by the Kid.
The Kid mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a double axe handle.
Hot tag Ramon.
Fallaway slam by Ramon to the Kid.
Sid countered a Razor’s Edge with a back drop but missed a leg drop.
Ramon mounted the second turnbuckle and hit a bulldog on Sid.
1-2-3.

Summary: Not a bad opener. The Goldust stuff in the middle was pure RAW fodder and should have been reserved as such.

After the match Ramon tries to deliver the Razor’s Edge to the Kid, but Sid saves him.

Ring announcer Manny Garcia (where is Howard Finkel?) screwed up Buddy’s name, so Lawler made his way into the ring.
Lawler introduced “Double J” Jeff Jarrett in his latest return to the WWF. To show you how over Jarrett was you could hear a pin drop in the arena.
Lawler unveiled a present for Jarrett. He then presented Jarrett with a gold CD.
Jarrett declared himself a participant in the 1996 Royal Rumble then stated he would win and become the champion at WrestleMania in Hollywood. WrestleMania XII would actually emanate from Anaheim.
Douglas finally made his way to the ring with a paddle.
In a funny bit Jarrett asked about Douglas: “Who is this guy?” Poor Shane.
Douglas stated that doctors have sidelined him because his back is only 65% healed.
He then revealed his replacement…Buddy Landel…to Ric Flair’s WWF music.

To be perfectly honest the last time I saw Buddy Landel was in Jim Crockett Promotions in 1985. Prior to this appearance here he had been involved in Smoky Mountain Wrestling.
After Johnson placed Landel atop the top turnbuckle Landel leaped but ate a spinebuster.
Pearl River plunge.
1-2-3

Summary: It’s fascinating that Douglas would substitute a “Nature Boy” for himself as his disdain for “Nature Boy” Ric Flair was well-known. The monster push of Ahmed Johnson continues.

After the match Johnson paddles Douglas. For the third time Lawler interviews Johnson while Jarrett stood by. Johnson refers to Jarrett as an “achy-breaky heart wanna-be.” Jarrett uses his plaque to nail Johnson from behind twice. Lawler held up a chair and Jarrett rammed Johnson into it. He then nailed Johnson with the chair twice then rammed him into the steel steps twice. Johnson started to no-sell, and they fought all the way to the back.

Todd Pettengill interviews Ramon at the AOL table. They discuss Ramon’s match tomorrow night on RAW against Yokozuna then Todd delivers the envelope to Ramon. Upon reading it Ramon crumples it up and leaves disgusted.

The special guest referee for this match was Hillbilly Jim.
Not only was there a hog pen at ringside but also several pigs as well.
Godwinn followed Helmsley outside the ring carrying his slop. When he tossed it Helmsley pulled a ringside attendant in front of him who was slopped instead.
In a SMH moment five people in the section behind ringside held up an H-O-G-A-N sign. They must not be from Charlotte.
With Helmsley tied up in the ropes Godwinn made him eat some slop.
Swinging neckbreaker by Helmsley.
Formal bow.
High knee.
On the floor Godwinn gave Helmsley a back elbow then rammed him into the steel steps.
He then hoisted him to the hog pen.
Godwinn made Helmsley taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Shellfish Boullabaisse at Devon.
Upon reversing an Irish whip Helmsley sent Godwinn into the steel gate of the pen.
Helmsley tried to Pedigree Godwinn on the floor but received a backdrop onto the railing of the pen.
Helmsley stood on the wooden railing and delivered an elbow drop. Innovative!
Back in the ring Godwinn delivered a pancake.
Helmsley flip followed by the Helmsley bump over the turnbuckle to the floor.
Godwinn set up for the slop drop on the floor, but Helmsley escaped.
Helmsley received an Irish whip into the steel gate on the pen.
Slop drop on the floor (well, there was padding around the pen.)
Godwinn charged, but Helmsley backdropped him into the pen.
Helmsley won.

After the match Helmsley gets into a shoving match with Hillbilly Jim. Godwinn then press slams Helmsley into the pen face-first. YUCK! Since the steel gate caused cuts in Hunter’s back blood is shown. To add insult to injury Godwinn slams him once more in the pen. As you would expect Helmsley gets up only to fall back down in the pen. He continued to have issues in the pen when a fan tossed a cup directly at him.

We revisit the finish to the main event at Survivor Series along with Diesel’s comments from the subsequent RAW. Next we see Shawn Michaels’ collapse after Owen’s enziguri.

Another sign at ringside: “Hello ECW fans.”
Sidewalk slam by Diesel.
He then clotheslined Owen over the top rope to the floor.
Spinning heel kick by Owen.
He then mounted the top turnbuckle and delivered a missile dropkick.
Enziguri.
Snake Eyes by Diesel.
Running guillotine.
Big boot.
Jackknife powerbomb.
Diesel covered Owen with one foot but removed it.
Before giving Owen a second Jackknife powerbomb Diesel shoved down referee Tim White.
Diesel was disqualified.

Summary: This encounter was more character development by Diesel as it wasn’t as much a match as it was a showcase of Diesel’s new persona.

Another fan at ringside held up an “SMW RIP 1991-1995” while another held up a “Diesel call 911.”

Santa Claus and Savio Vega are handing out gifts to the audience while DiBiase is in the ring claiming “everybody’s got a price for the Million Dollar Man.” Since he wants to prove that Vega can be bought both Vega and Claus enter the ring. DiBiase asks Vega if he believes in Santa Claus. After speaking in both English and Spanish Vega affirms that he does. Suddenly Claus nails Vega with his big red bag then gives him a clothesline. As it would seem even Santa Claus has a price for the “Million Dollar Man.” As Vega and Clause brawl in the aisle Claus’ wig and beard are removed to reveal Balls Mahoney. E-C-W! E-C-W! Officials come out to clear the mess. I hope the kiddies had been put to bed before this segment.

Pre-taped promo by King Mabel followed by one by the Undertaker and Paul Bearer.

From the locker room Dok Hendrix shills Akklaim’s WrestleMania the arcade game.

Match 5 (Casket): The Undertaker (w/ Paul Bearer) versus King Mabel (w/ Sir Mo)

Avalanche by the Undertaker.
Bossman slam by Mabel.
Clothesline.
Mabel mounted the second turnbuckle but missed the splash.
Pair of clotheslines by the Undertaker couldn’t take Mabel off his feet.
After a distraction by Sir Mo Mabel delivered a belly-to-belly suplex.
Leg drop.
Splash and the Undertaker got SQUISHED.
Mo grabbed the Undertaker and requested the casket be opened.
He tossed the Undertaker into the casket but didn’t close the lid.
After receiving his crown from Sir Mo Mabel tried to close the casket, but the Undertaker prevented that from happening.
Again a pair of clothesline couldn’t knock Mabel off his feet, but a flying clothesline did.
Chokeslam by the Undertaker.
Boot to the back sent Mabel through the ropes into the casket.
Sir Mo came into the ring and received a chokeslam as well.
Mo was rolled into the casket as well.
Before closing the lid the Undertaker grabbed the chain that used to be his urn.

Backstage Jim Ross recaps the finish to Summerslam ’92 when Smith beat Bret for the Intercontinental title. He then interviewed Smith, his wife Diana, and Jim Cornette.

Match 6 for the WWF title: Bret “Hitman” Hart (champion) versus the”British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith (w/ Jim Cornette and Diana Smith)

Lawler noted that Smith was wearing the same tights that he wore when he beat Bret in 1992.
Another ECW fan held up a “Mikey Rules” sign.
Cross body block by Bret got a 2 count.
Inverted atomic drop.
Knee to the midsection by Smith.
He then put Bret in the Tree of Woe.
Accidental ref bump by Smith.
While Smith held a long headlock on Bret the crowd erupted with an “E-C-W” chant.
Smith countered a crucifix with a Samoan drop.
Leg drop.
Vince mentions that the Undertaker will face the winner of this match for the WWF title at the Royal Rumble.
With referee Earl Hebner distracted by Smith Cornette nailed Bret with the end of his racket.
Sternum-first bump in the corner by Bret.
Inverted atomic drop #2.
Bulldog.
Piledriver.
Side Russian leg sweep.
Bret mounted the second turnbuckle and delivered an elbow.
Top rope superplex blocked by Smith sent Bret down to the floor.
Smith followed him and put a knee into Bret’s back sending him into the steel steps.
He then picked Bret up and rammed him back-first into the ring post.
Oh my! Bret’s busted WIDE OPEN!
The ECW fans chanted “he’s hardcore.” But where’s Tommy Dreamer?
Piledriver by Smith.
Delayed vertical suplex.
Gorilla press slam.
Smith mounted the top turnbuckle and delivered a diving head butt.
Bow-and-arrow by Smith, but Hart attempted to counter with the Sharpshooter.
Shoulder block by Smith sent Bret to the floor.
Bret countered a vertical suplex with a German suplex for 2.
Double clothesline.
Smith charged at Bret but received a backdrop to the floor.
Plancha by Bret.
Bret climbed the ropes to hit Smith but got caught and received the running powerslam on the floor.
Smith removed the padding from a section around the ring then attempted to suplex Bret onto the concrete floor.
Instead Bret crotched him on the steel railing. OUCH!
Clothesline by Bret.
Top rope superplex.
La Magistral cradle got the pin.
Bret retained.

Summary: Now THAT’S a main event! Bret put Davey on his back and carried him to an excellent match. Check this one out if you’ve not already seen it.

Backstage Todd interviews Paul Bearer and the Undertaker. Diesel interrupts and is quite perturbed about the Undertaker’s title shot. The Undertaker and Diesel go eye-to-eye and nose-to-nose to end the show.

Conclusion: Say it with me—ONE MATCH SHOW. But that was one hell of a match. I cannot advocate watching the entire show because besides the opener the rest was utter tripe; however, that main event is a must-see.

The blood coupled with the suggestive behavior of Goldust on the show was another signal that the WWF was heading in a new direction. I wonder what else is on the menu in 1996. Stay tuned.