WWF In Your House VII

For those who enjoy the Free for All, here is “Wildman” Marc Mero versus the 1-2-3 Kid.

Prior to the first match, we revisit the aftermath of the Roberts-Owen match in Germany that involved both Smith and Jake’s snake Revelations.

Match 1: The “British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith and Owen Hart (w/ Jim Cornette and Clarence Mason) versus Jake “The Snake” Roberts and Ahmed Johnson

Mason handed referee Tim White an injunction against Revelations being in the ring. Roberts tore up the injunction and unleashed Revelations from the bag. The end result was Cornette’s fainting in the corner.
After taking Revelations backstage, Roberts returned with Ahmed Johnson.
Why is this a tag match rather than the advertised Smith-Roberts match, you ask? One, Johnson needed more seasoning and would pop the crowd. Two, Smith’s knee wasn’t 100% so he wouldn’t be able to work a full PPV match against Roberts. Insert Johnson and Owen. Voila! Instant tag match.
Owen and Roberts began the match.
Owen tagged out to Smith. Immediately thereafter, Roberts tagged out to Johnson. Fearing for his safety, Smith tagged back out to Owen.
Diana Smith was shown in the stands.
After reversing a hip toss with one of his own, Jake attempted the DDT, but Owen scampered away.
After slamming Roberts, Smith missed an elbow drop.
Johnson tagged in, and Smith tagged out again.
Monster clothesline from Johnson to Owen.
Military press slam by Johnson to Owen.
After giving Roberts a cross-corner whip, Owen hit the top turnbuckle sternum-first on his follow-through.
Upon giving Roberts a knee to the face, Owen mounted the second turnbuckle and hit a missile dropkick.
Behind White’s back, Owen choked Jake on the apron.
Leg drop by Smith followed by a top rope elbow by Owen.
Back elbow by Owen then he tried to apply the Sharpshooter to no avail.
As Smith distracted White, Owen choked Roberts on the top rope.
Sleeper by Owen, but Roberts countered with a jaw breaker.
Hot tag Johnson.
Spinebuster!
Roberts tagged back in, set Smith up for the DDT, but gave Owen a back drop instead.
Double clothesline by Johnson and Roberts to Owen.
As Owen grabbed Johnson to pull him outside the ring, distracting White in the process, Smith nailed Roberts in the knee with Cornette’s tennis racquet.
Leg bar got the submission for Smith.

After the match, Johnson made Owen taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like Floyd’s skinny plate at M’s pub.

Match 2 for the Intercontinental title: Goldust (champion w/ Marlena) versus the Ultimate Warrior

I always enjoyed Goldust’s letterbox entrance.
Earlier on the Free for All, Marlena blew cigar smoke at Warrior then Goldust blew, well, gold dust at him causing the Warrior to be infuriated. What? No injury angle to remove Goldust from the show? As you may recall, Goldust blew out his MCL in Germany less than two weeks prior to this show. He’s in NO condition to wrestle.
The mysterious man who accompanied Goldust and Marlena to the ring was Bruiser Mastino aka Mantaur. Please let’s not revisit Mantaur.
As usual, Warrior sprinted to the ring, shook the ropes, and energized the crowd. He’s still got it.
As Goldust fled with Marlena, the latter left her cigar in the aisle. Warrior picked it up and took a puff. Hey! Superheroes don’t smoke! Warrior must have seen this and decided not to be a role model.
While waiting for Goldust, Warrior brought the director’s chair into the ring. He then took Goldust’s wig and robe, draped them on the chair, sat down, and enjoyed Marlena’s cigar.
HUGE “Faggot” chant from the Omaha faithful. C’mon, people, that’s not politically correct.
Goldust grabbed the microphone and threatened the crowd with a kiss.
When Marlena joined Goldust in the ring, Warrior handed her cigar back to her.
Warrior held Goldust’s robe out for him to put back on.
As Goldust sat down in the director’s chair, Warrior grabbed the cigar and smoked it.
When Goldust reached his hand out for a handshake, Warrior burnt it with the cigar.
Subsequently, he delivered a clothesline knocking Goldust from the chair.
Goldust then high-tailed it backstage and was counted out.

Summary: Colossal waste of time. While I understand that, for the sake of name value, the WWF needed both Warrior and Goldust on the show, Goldust was in no condition to compete. Hence, there should have been an injury angle or quick pin instead. Methinks Vince doesn’t trust Warrior with the IC belt.

After the “match,” Warrior chases Mastino into the ring. I would be remiss if I didn’t inform you that Mastino is wearing a suit rather than wrestling gear. Once inside, Mastino tries to attack the Warrior but comes up empty. After two clotheslines, Warrior hits Mastino with a flying shoulder block. After Warrior slams the 400 pound Mastino, the latter runs for cover. Warrior puts on Mastino’s hat then Goldust’s wig and resembles Dee Snider of Twisted Sister.

Back in the locker room, Dok Hendrix informs us that Smith is irate and wants to enter Shawn Michael’s dressing room. Should Michaels retain his title in the main event, I smell next month’s PPV match-up.

He’s back! Ramon returned after a six-week suspension, but his “status” with the WWF was still a question mark.
Upon doing some fact-checking, Hall and White tagged together in the AWA in 1986 but did not face one another since they were both faces.
The power of Vader sent Ramon over the top rope to the floor.
As Vader pounded on Ramon, a healthy “Razor” chant broke out.
Standing clothesline by Vader took Ramon off his feet.
Ramon got the advantage, tried the Razor’s Edge, but received a back drop over the top rope to the floor.
He immediately re-entered the ring.
A pair of clotheslines by Ramon took Vader down.
A third one sent him over the top rope to the floor.
Vader tried a sneak attack, but it didn’t work.
Vader reversed a cross-corner whip and hit an avalanche.
Next, he gave Ramon a clothesline off the ropes.
Splash by Vader got 2.
After Vader missed a clothesline, Ramon delivered a belly-to-back suplex and got 2.
After a slam, Vader mounted the second turnbuckle and hit the Vader bomb.
1-2-NO!
Head butt followed by a belly-to-back suplex by Vader kept him in control.
Razor reversed a vertical suplex and gave Vader one of his own for 2.
Vader mounted the second turnbuckle but got caught with a powerslam for 2.
Clothesline in the corner by Ramon who then mounted the second turnbuckle.
Bulldog by Ramon got 2.
Running body block stopped Ramon’s momentum.
Again Vader mounted the second turnbuckle as if to deliver another Vader bomb; however, Ramon nailed him then tried to deliver a Razor’s Edge.
Vader, though, was too heavy for Ramon to complete the maneuver.
Vader tried a third Vader bomb, got caught again, and received an electric chair. Impressive!
Ramon again tried a Razor’s Edge, but received a back drop.
Vader then SQUISHED him.
1-2-3.

Summary: Those WCW rumors must be true as Ramon did the honors for Vader here. In fact, this would be the last WWF PPV that Hall performed for another six years.

After the match, Dok interviews Vader and Cornette at ringside. He informs them that WWF President Gorilla Monsoon has scheduled Vader to face Yokozuna at the PPV next month. Cornette is furious and cuts a promo on his former meal ticket.

Back in the AOL room, Paul Bearer and the Undertaker chat with the creatures of the night.

From the WWF Store, Todd Pettengill shills golf shirts and hats featuring Michaels, Warrior, and the Undertaker for only $39.95 plus shipping and handling.

Match 4 for the WWF tag team titles: The Bodydonnas (champions w/ Sunny) versus the Godwinns (w/ Hillbilly Jim)

After receiving a cross-corner whip from both Skip and Zip, Henry delivered a double clothesline.
Phineas threatened Zip with the slop bucket.
Lawler screwed up a Sunny joke so badly that Vince had to make fun of him for it.
Ocean cyclone suplex by Henry to Skip. Where did THAT come from? I don’t recall Canterbury spending any quality time in Japan.
Zip tried to replace Skip, but referee Mike Chioda noticed the difference and made them switch.
After receiving a cross-corner whip from Zip, Phineas nailed him with a leg shot to the head.
Skip low-bridged Phineas sending him to the floor.
Double slingshot suplex by the Bodydonnas to Phineas got 2. Tully Blanchard would be proud.
After ducking a clothesline from Phineas, Skip delivered a huracanrana.
After a brief exit, Sunny returned to ringside with a signed 8”x10” framed picture of her.
As Henry cleaned house with the Bodydonnas in the ring, Sunny gave Phineas the picture.
Trying to shoo her away from Phineas, Hillbilly Jim threatened to slop her.
Slop drop by Henry got no count because Chioda was distracted by the action outside the ring.
Meanwhile the Bodydonnas perform the switcheroo.
Inside cradle by Zip got the pin.
The champs retained.

Summary: Two things: a) there was no heat for this match for the crowd to get behind the Godwinns; and b) that is the third heel victory in three competitive matches. That will certainly kill what was a raucous crowd early on.

After the match, Phineas removed the picture from the slop and slipped it into his overalls.

Back in the dressing room, Dok interviews Marc Mero with Sable. We see highlights of the match during the Free for All when Helmsley interfered.

Prior to the main event, a promo for the bond and then the break-up of the two Dudes with Attitudes. In an act of tremendous hyperbole, Pettingill refers to Bret Hart as “the legend many consider to be the greatest WWF champion of all time.” You make the call! Quick snippets from Michaels and Diesel close the promo.

Match 5 for the WWF title (no holds barred): The “Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels (champion w/ Jose Lothario) versus Diesel

Before the match began, Diesel tossed his vest at Vince.
Mad Dog Vachon was sitting at ringside.
Knee lift by Diesel gave him the early advantage.
After receiving a cross-corner whip, Michaels leaped over Diesel.
He then dropkicked him over the top rope to the floor.
Baseball slide by Michaels, and he mounted the top turnbuckle.
He then hit a flying body press to Diesel on the floor. Wow!
As Diesel made his way back inside the ring, Michaels took Spanish team announcer Hugo Savinovich’s boot from him.
Michaels again mounted the top turnbuckle and walloped Diesel in the head with the boot.
A reversal of a cross-corner whip by Diesel led to a Michaels flip in the corner.
Diesel then made Michaels taste the steel railing without even leaving the ring! It must have tasted like the Dakota harvest lamb from the Grey Plume.
After tossing Michaels back into the ring, Diesel mounted the top turnbuckle and ~~hit a missile dropkick~~ hit a short-arm clothesline.
He then gave Michaels snake eyes and jawed with Vince. Back in ’96, it wasn’t common knowledge that Vince was the owner of the World Wrestling Federation.
Sidewalk slam by Diesel sent Michaels six feet under.
Diesel then unwrapped his wrist tape and choked referee Earl Hebner.
He then took Hebner’s belt, and ~~Hebner’s pants fell down~~ he whipped Michaels.
Next he used the belt like a noose and hanged Michaels over the top rope.
After tying Michaels to the second rope, Diesel yanked ring announcer Howard Finkel out from his seat and took his chair.
Next he HAMMERED Michaels in the back with it.
Back in the ring, Diesel gave Michaels chair shot #2 to the back.
A third try caromed off the top rope and hit Diesel in the head.
Michaels grabbed the chair, but Diesel hit Michaels down in the south of France.
Back body drop sent Michaels practically into the lights and got 2 for Diesel.
After a right hand by Diesel sent Michaels through the ropes to the floor, Diesel delivered a jackknife powerbomb through the announce table to Michaels. Holy demolition derby, Batman!
While Michaels was being uncovered from electronic equipment, Diesel grabbed the belt and strapped it on back in the ring.
Vince shouted at Michaels: “Let it be over!”
When Diesel tried to grab Michaels to bring him back in, Michaels shot off a fire extinguisher at him.
Back in the ring, Michaels hit a flying forearm and nipped up.
He then grabbed a chair and knocked Diesel into the middle of 1998.
Diesel nailed Michaels in the back when Michaels attempted a back drop.
He then delivered the big boot.
Give him the leg drop, get the pin, and rip your shirt, Diesel! On second thought, scratch that thought.
Michaels countered a second jackknife powerbomb attempt with fists of fury.
He then mounted the top turnbuckle and hit the big elbow.
Diesel blocked the superkick and gave Michaels a clothesline.
Meanwhile Vince and Lawler were using handheld microphones to call the action.
Diesel then clotheslined Michaels over the top rope to the floor.
Outside the ring, Diesel guillotined him on the steel railing.
After tossing Michaels back in the ring, Diesel grabbed Vachon , took him down, and removed his prosthetic foot.
Before Diesel could use the foot as a weapon, Michaels nailed him in the southern Himalayas.
Michaels grabbed the prosthetic foot, wound up, and clobbered Diesel with it.
Sweet Chin Music.
1-2-3.
Michaels retained the title.

Summary: Wow! I didn’t know that Diesel could be involved in a match this good. Michaels worked magic to make the monster 7-footer look good.

Conclusion: Similar to IYH V, this is a one-match show, and that match delivers in spades. The interesting thing about the main event is that while Diesel did the honors for Michaels, he didn’t look bad. Most people at the end of their contracts get booted with a boot imprinted upon them. I guess Nash’s connection in the Clique helps. Regardless, if you’ve never seen this show, check out the main event and skip the rest.