Where He Lives And Where He Loves: Bob Backlund in 1981 WWF

Hey yo Stud Muffins & Foxy Ladies,


This is a collection of reviews of Bob Backlund matches from 1981 as WWF Champion. His challengers from 1981 include Sgt. Slaughter, Stan Hansen, King Kong Mosca, Killer Khan, George The Animal Steele, Don Muraco, and Greg "The Hammer" Valentine.

WWF World Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund vs Sgt. Slaughter - WWF, Philly 1/10/81

I can hear Johnny Sorrow of Titans of Wrestling fame talking about Kal saying Backlund was "pumping pain" into Slaughter. Kal explains that these two are just living on weird street in this match.

It is Gomer Pyle vs Howdy Doody. Dick & Kal blames Vince for getting Gomer Pyle over. Right in the front row there is a sign says "Kill Gomer Pyle" and there are constant chants of Gomer. Slaughter is really frazzled by all this and has a hard time concentrating. He muffs his ears. This is a really fun shine with the typical Backlund showing up his opponent, but Slaughter is extra good at taking the bumps. Slaughter tries to sneak attack with the swagger stick after giving Backlund the thumbs down. Them's fighting provocations. Slaughter totally whiffs on a punch and tumbles over the top rope. Love it. Backlund single leg pick up. Slaughter rams his shoulder into the post. The Backlund arm work is actually unusually lackluster. Slaughter uses headbutts to break the hold. He uses the headlock to cover up driving knuckles into Backlund's head. Backlund is really WOAHING tonight. I like Kal description of Slaughter looking like a cartoon character with his jaw, big eyes and his expressive face. The ref catches Slaughter cheating and thus he switches to the back with backbreaker and then using trunks to pull Backlund into hard strikes on the back. Backlund fires back and knocks Slaughter onto weird street with a  big headbutt. HUGE PILEDRIVER! Slaughter needs a quick jab to the throat and Dick says that Backlund opponents have no alternative because Backlund is so good. He signals for the unbreakable Cobra Clutch, but Backlund slips out. Slaughter is press slammed off the top. Slaughter kicks off Backlund in the O'Connor Roll sending him crashing to the floor. Backlund is knocked loopy. This is when the match goes into overdrive. The fans are urging Backlund on as Slaughter gets a chance to recuperate. Slaughter drives Backlund back first into the railing and backbreaker on outside. He drives Backlund's head into the post and turnbuckle. Backlund is busted wide open and Slaughter is very proud of his work. Slaughter bites the cut and punches Backlund's forehead on apron.Slaughter punches himself out and Backlund fires back with two headbutts into the midsection that doubles Sarge over. Backlund whips Slaughter for him to take his signature bump. The crowd goes wild and so does Backlund who is incensed and kicks the shit out of Slaughter on the outside driving him into hard metal objects. They fight on the apron and Backlund knocks Slaughter back in the ring giving Slaughter a countout win. The post-match brawl is awesome with Backlund kicking major league ass. The ref brings the title in the ring and Slaughter uses it to crack Backlund and the ref into the head.

I thought this match did a lot better job than the Backlund/Patera match in setting up the gimmick match. I really liked Backlund/Patera match as a classic wrestling match, but this is the match that makes you want to see a bloody steel cage match. Slaughter kicked the ass of Backlund and then left Backlund laying. Plus Backlund kicking ass was also awesome. A really awesome set up match for the steel cage match. ****1/2 


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund vs Stan Hansen - WWF MSG 2/16/81

Two of my favorites that just never managed to have that all time classic together. My favorite match of theirs is still the 1980 NJPW match, but this is the best of the New York matches. It starts off auspiciously with Hansen meeting Backlund at the gate and Backlund firing off rounds into Hansen's face and then a belt shot for good measure. Backlund actually pretty much straight up kicks ass. We know Hansen is an asskicker so I was like maybe I was just kinda out of it the first time I watched it, but then I realized what my issue was. Hansen was pretty content to just sit in holds. I thought Backlund did keep them interesting with his struggling and facial expressions. One classic Backlund moment is Hansen is trying wrangle Bob back into an armbar and most people would let him do it, but Backlund kicks him right in the face before he can get it on. It is those little touches that make Backlund one of the best to have ever lace them up. The match picks up once Backlund blasts Hansen with a high knee! Then runs through his bombs: butterfly suplex, vertical suplex and PILEDRIVER~! Backlund whiffs on a high knee and crashes to floor. Hansen busts Backlund open with fists. You can see Backlund concentrating on trying to pump blood through his forehead and his selling is great. Hansen beats him senseless with fists and gnaws at him. This is really good. Backlund fires up with rapid fire punches to the gut and then big time punches send Hansen reeling to outside where Backlund busts him open. They brawl in the ring and ref has lost control and it Is a No Contest due to excessive bleeding.

The beginning and the finish stretch were pretty awesome and want you want from these two, but the middle was pretty boring. Wish we got that one kickass Backlund/Hansen brawl. ***3/4

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

WWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund vs Stan Hansen - MSG 3/16/81

Before the match, Pat Patterson challenges Sgt Slaughter to a match for next months Garden show. Now there's a series of matches I need to rewatch!

I cant believe, I am going to say this, but Hansen felt subdued in this match. He was totally content with rhythm breaks and grounding Backlund. It was not his usual running around with reckless abandon. The match was fine and told a decent story. Backlund jumpstarted the match and he wanted to beat the shit out of Hansen. Hansen wanted no part of it. Hansen could never keep Backlund down who was throwing headbutts to mid section and fists to the head. So Hansen kept running, which is just very un-Hansen like. Eventually, Backlund gets fed up and starts chasing him to the outside. Hansen misses his lariat on two occasions and pays for it, but always makes it to the outside. The third time Bob follows him to the outside he caught coming back into the ring with the Lariat! It looked good, but not great and didn't feel like a climax. Backlund cant make it back in, which sets up a rematch in a cage. Backlund gets his heat back by sending Stan packing. Good match, but disappointing. Their NJPW match is way better. ***

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WWF World Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund vs Sgt. Slaughter

WWF, Philly 3/21/81, Steel Cage Match

"He hit him where he lives and where he loves." - Kal Rudman on when Slaughter punches him in the testicles.

For my money, the best WWF steel cage match of the 1980s, but it is close. It is a perfect combination of bumps and violence. Backlund at avoiding moves to elicit a big pop. Slaughter smashes his hand and head into the steel cage because Backlund ducks. Backlund throws Slaughter into the cage a couple times and Slaughter really launches himself into the cage. Kal's bloodlust is working in overdrive during this match as he eagerly awaits the bloodletting of Sarge. Slaughter after getting his ass kicked goes low and then inverted atomic drop on the balls. He throws Backlund shoulder first into the cage twice. Dick lets us know that Backlud shoulder was injured by Hansen at MSG. Backlund shows great wherewithal always grabbing Sarge's foot before Slaughter can exit via the door. BACKLUND PILEDRIVER! Here comes a classic Titans of Wrestling line about pablum, which was a classic Johnny Sorrow/Parv interaction. Backlund tries to climb out, but Slaughter is able to yank him down. Slaughter tries to climb the cage himself so Backlund gets some payback and smashes Slaughter's balls. Both men are down and to quote Kal Rudman, They are on Weird Street! Again Slaughter tries to exit the door and Backlund is able to stop him by grabbing the foot. BIG SLAUGHTER BUMP OVER THE TURNBUCKLES INTO CAGE! Kal's bloodlust is revving up. Backlund is teeing off on Slaughter's head and throwing him into the cage. Kal cant believe there is no blood. It is only a matter of time, Kal says, Backlund with big hammer punches on Sarge. Kal is so excited when the blood gushes and even says he is working on the cut. That's exactly what I was going to say! Slaughter backs him into the corner and Backlund moves as Sarge rames his head into the post on a mistimed shoulderblock. LOVE IT! Backlund rakes Sarge's face on the steel. THAT IS BLOOD! Kal exclaims. Backlund's awesome punches are on full display here. He punches Slaughter so hard he falls to the door. This is the best escape struggle. He slams Slaughter's head into the steel doorframe. OW! We get a closeup of Sarge's fingers on the door and then Backlund stomps those fingers on the steel! OUCH! Awesome! Slaughter goes back to work on the nuts of Bob Backlund because that is his only offense. There is a quick cut in my version. Backlund slams Slaughter's head into top of cage. Backlund triumphantly parades out to a roaring crowd.
The cut hurts the finish and makes it feel a little lackluster. This was a great Backlund asskicking. As with most Backlund matches, I do wish we get some more heat on Backlund, but after the January match you wanted to see Backlund kick the shit out of him and that's what you got. Sarge took some awesome, awesome bumps. Classic steel cage match. ****1/2

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund vs Stan Hansen - WWF MSG 4/6/81 Steel Cage

Two sentences I did not think I would ever write: I saw Stan Hansen's ass & Stan Hansen needed more offense. Even with that complaint, I thought this was the best match these two have ever had together. I am a huge fan of both and it is disappointing that they never really hit out of the park, but this was great. It was an all out fight. Because they went for that fight there was not much selling, which I think makes sense, but then there were times when a pro wrestling sell became overselling because they were going for that fight feel. Backlund is rocking this whole match. His punches looked great. Hansen took a bunch of cage shots. Lots of energy. Stuff like Hansen ballshotting Backlund and Backlund being back on offense soon after or Backlund ballshotting Hansen and Hansen bodyslamming Backlund soon after was a bit off putting. What I liked was there was no downtime. I thought it was cool there was no shine, no heat, no finish. It was just a fight. You will not find a bigger defender of the shine->heat->comeback->finish formula, but I think deviations like this are necessary. It was just two big strong dudes just to beat the shit out of each other. Hansen gets color and Backlund works over the cut. Good drama getting out the door and over the cage. Hansen takes two big bumps off the top rope. Backlund emphatically exits through the door to a MASSIVE pop. Unique take on pro wrestling, good energy, Hansen getting some more offense and smarter selling would have improved this, but definitely a match worth seeing and you really don't have to watch the other ones. ****

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

WWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund vs Don Muraco

WWF MSG 9/21/81 Texas Death Match

 

I can see why people do not really care for this match, but I did enjoy it for it was. Yes, this did not need the Texas Death stipulation as this was not the all-out, balls to the wall brawl of the Patera match. Backlund's arm work does get long in the tooth. However, I still think this was a solidly great body part psychology match with a hot finish. With the couple reviews I have read, I agree what this match needed more than anything was to be 10-15 minute shorter.

Backlund and Muraco try to get this started hot with punches, but I just did not believe them. Muraco takes over on offense with a whiffed clothesline; I think Backlund fell a little too early. I actually thought Muraco was pretty damn good on top for ten minutes. That was the part I was dreading the most. He wrenched the chinlock he had. the front facelock was not egregiously long. The best part was the midsection work. He was a beast stomping Backlund, standing on him, double stomping, ab stretch. Backlund was great at selling this gasping for breath and doubling over. He was fightback and Muraco was just throw big time blows to the midsection. It was really good stuff. Muraco rams his shoulder hard into the post when he wanted charge into the midsection. Backlund goes to town with armbar, boot rakes the face and NASTY elbow to the bridge of the nose. Muraco pussies out of the piledriver. Backlund's arm work is great; it just goes on forever. There are ton of great spots he incorporates and it is really well worked. Muraco sells well and is fighting back too. It could have been about 5 minutes shorter. It never felt like it was going anywhere even if it was technically great and entertaining.

The finish run is very dramatic and is what really the entire match should have been. Backlund hits his big Atomic Drop, but Muraco ends up on the outside and Backlund lunges at him from the ring with a headbutt. Muraco grabs a chair and jabs it in his throat. Backlund is coughing and has spit on his lips. One of the all time great I cant breath selling.  Of course, this sets up for the Muraco Double Thumb Asiatic Spike, which he uses liberally. Things do not look good for the champ as he collapsed on the outside.  Backlund is an underrated seller. Big Asiatic Spike on the apron sends Backlund flying over the railing! Muraco goes out after him and punches him in the crowd. Fantastic. Backlund falls into the ring out of instinct and Muraco looks to suck the life force out of him with the Asiatic Spike. Backlund is firing up and BIG BACKLUND SUPLEX!!! I would have popped huge if I was in the crowd for that. Backlund cant capitalize. Muraco covers Backlund! As Jesse would say that's just depressing as hell. MURACO TOMBSTONE! MURACO SUPERFLY SPLASH! VERTICAL SUPLEX! He is pouring it on. Im loving this. Muraco goes for the Butterfly Suplex and Backlund deadlifts him from this position backdrops him out to cover to win the match to a huge pop! WAIT! There is controversy as Muraco clearly had his foot on the rope, but cant leave it up to chances, bud, need to kick out. Nice way to protect the IC Champ.

Awesome finish stretch, Muraco & Backlund control segments were entertaining and technically proficient just did not really go anywhere and Backlund armwork was way too long. Easily, a safely great match, but needed an editor. ****

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund vs Don Muraco - WWF Philly 10/17/81

I have been both dreading this match and am intrigued by it. Doing it this the same way as the Valentine draw in twenty minute intervals.

"They are really playing to the crowd" - Dick Graham as Backlund sits in his third hammerlock of the night

"You cant doubt Don Muraco is a great athlete." - Dick Graham as Muraco sits in his third stomach claw

"This feels like it has been going on for hours and hours." - Dick Graham finally getting it right

" This is too much for even a masochist to handle" - Kal Rudman with the great line of the night

First Twenty Minutes: It picked up in the last 3 minutes, but the first 17 were pretty damn boring. The lone highspot was a Bob Backlund monkey flip. Muraco headlock was transitioned into a Backlund hammerlock. There was some movement in and out of the hammerlock, but yeah they are clearly going long. Last three minutes Muraco picks it up with some great midsection work. Double stomp. Standing on him. Bob is great at selling this. Bearhug and as Backlund balls up the fist the ref admonishes him allowing Muraco knee him in the gut. Bob's look at the ref was hilarious. Muraco digs the Asiatic Spike in the midsection as twenty minutes in this contest goes by. Will Backlund make a comeback? Will Muraco break a sweat? Will I be able to stay awake?

Second Twenty Minutes: Muraco is so fucking lazy he invents a new resthold. He literally hugs Backlund's leg for like two minutes. Christ. There was some decent movement in and out of the stomach claw with Backlund not able to capitalize until finally he punches out and boot rake and nice elbow. Then Backlund headscissors. This was brutally boring. Muraco gets out by prying the legs open and making a wish. Decent leg work until the hugging the leg bs. Backlund escapes but Muraco comes down with all his weight on the leg. Escape again, but Backlund cant hold him up and Muraco gets two. They tie each other up. Muraco had a leg hold and Backlund his arm. Can this match be any more boring? Will Muraco come up with any more new restholds? Will Dick Graham fall asleep before me?

Last Fifteen Minutes: You know what this match needed? A fucking Indian Deathlock! Backlund escapes a toehold by smashing Muraco face with the heel of his boot. Muraco lunges for the leg and Backlund hammers Muraco's leg for revenge. Backlund sells leg well and at first the leg work looks good until the Indian Fucking Deathlock. Backlund leans too far back and Muraco rakes the face and gets some nice punches in. There is about ten minutes left, maybe this will heat up. Muraco is up favoring his left leg. Muraco drops him throat first on the top rope setting him up for the Asiatic Spike. He kisses the protected thumb. He nails up, but Backlund is unphased. He Hulks Up! Muraco hits the Asiatic Spike in the corner and Backlund is gasping for breath. So Muraco sticks the thumb in his throat. Yep we needed another hold! Backlund powers up and shoulder tackle. Backlund walks into a phantom Spike and he rolls to outside. Muraco gets him back in and nails a Tombstone to set up the Superfly, but eats knees! It is a draw as Backlud hammers away. NOW THEY BRAWL! This match sucks!

The way they worked was grab a hold, two escapes each ending up back in the original hold and then third time is a charm the other takes over with a new hold. The times in each hold was way too long. Not enough movement. No real story. Just hold->escape->hold->escape->hold->successful escape. Worst Backlund match I have ever seen. Silver lining: it was just a 55 minute draw.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund vs Greg Valentine - MSG 10/19/81

Huge kudos to the Titans especially Pete to get me to watch this in short order. This bad boy did not disappoint.

"Anything you can do, I can do better." - Bob Backlund's motto. Whether it is out-brawling Patera, out-powering Hogan or in this match out-slugging Valentine, Backlund's game is to prove he is better than his opponent at their game. It is this attitude that truly makes him a world heavyweight champion (I acknowledged it was not recognized as a World title, but damnit Bob is my boy.).

In this match, there a countless of examples of Valentine executing a move and Backlund absorbing the move and then dishing out the same move but with even more impact and ferocity. This is established early with Valentine getting three early takedowns. Backlund fires back in rapid fire those three same takedown. Anything you can do, Hammer, I can do better and don't you forget it, pal!

The crux of the match centers around Valentine and his full court press to apply the figure-4 on Backlund. He begins by weakening the knees. There is a great spot where Backlund gets a monkey flip out of a half crab. Anytime, Backlund looks to turn the tide, Valentine comes crashing down with a thunderous blow. Valentine tries 8 million ways to apply the figure-4, but he can't wrangle the ever-scrappy Backlund. This is just perfect pro wrestling. You can feel Valentine's frustration about not being able to apply this hold and simultaneously you feel Backlund's desperation to avoid this hold at all costs. The figure-4 becomes everything and you are totally invested in this struggle between these two competitors. Valentine tries a different tact. He turns the match into a slugfest. Against pretty much anyone else, Valentine could bully his way to victory with his vicious forearms, but not against our hero. Backlund gives as good he gets with equally vicious elbows, fists and headbutts that must have inspired BattlArts, The dynamic switch between stand up and ground really feels like you are watching BatBat match take place in early 80s WWF in MSG. It is crazy. Valentine bullies him into the ropes and goes back to the legs. He applies the figure-4 and Backlund immediately flips to his stomach. GREATEST SPOT EVER! Bow down at the altar of Bob Backlund!  Again Valentine stymied switches to slugfest and this ends with a BACKLUND PILEDRIVER~! Only two for Bob, who misses the leg drop and hurts the injured leg. BattlArts headbutts from the knees ensue and they just beating the shit outta each other.

Then we get the finish. Valentine hoists Backlund up for the airplane spin, but hits the ref. Backlund ends up on top, a groggy ref counts to three, Valentine is up first and because they wearing the same trunks and have similar builds the ref hands the title incorrectly to the Hammer thus the title is held up. I get that they are setting up for  a rematch and this is creative, but I didn't dig it. It is just kinda lame. I can't really explain it. It is just lame in my eyes. It knocks the match down just a peg. Still one of the all-time classics of the Backlund era, an absolute pleasure to watch and guide on how to sell the importance of a hold and a match. Terrific performance from both wrestlers. ****1/2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bob Backlund vs Greg Valentine
MSG 11/23/81 WWF Heavyweight Championship, No Holds Barred

 

This is the rematch from last month's disputed finish show where The Hammer walked out the Champion, but did not win the match. Thus the championship is held up and there must be a winner! Backlund is red-hot to start and beats Valentine's ass from pillar to post. The Hammer was great here at selling, begging off and bumping for Backlund making him look like Superman. Valentine goes for broke rushing into the corner with double knees and jams them in the turnbuckles. Backlund gives a taste of his Hammer's medicine to the Hammer working over the leg. I will say the one thing that did bring it down for me was Backlund's kicks to the leg were not the best. I recognize this is not Shoot-Style Japan, but Backlund has those killer headbutts, punches and forearms it makes his kicks look extra weak. Valentine is selling this for all its worth and when Backlund does use his fist to work the leg or an actual hold it is better for it. Valentine tries to dig himself out of this hole with desperation lunges, but it seems too deep at first with Backlund headbutting and punching his way back into control. On a figure-4 attempt, Valentine is able to punch Bob in the head and pounce on his leg. Valentine takes Backlund to school. No disrespect to the champ, but this is how you do it. Backlund fights him off and throws some wicked European Uppercuts to Valentine's leg from ground. Holy shit, both their legs are just shot and I am loving the double leg psychology. Valentine just grabs Backlunds ankle and scoots out and wraps his knee around the post. There is no avoiding it this time, Backlund is taken into the Figure-4 twice and his mettle is tested, but GOSHDARNIT HE IS BOB BACKLUND AND HE NEVER GIVES UP. With every fiber of his being and muscles bulging, Bob  turns Valentine into the ropes. Both men are just exhausted. Valentine is the first one to try  a suplex for a victory, but he can't capitalize. Backlund hits a magnificient, textbook German with a beautiful bridge to win the match! MSG explodes and Backlund leads him in a proto-Yes chant. I agree with the Titans this feels like the climax of Bob Backlund's reign. I thought this was exactly on par with the original 1981 match. I thought the original one just felt a bit grittier. Valentine was more frustrated and Backlund scrappier, but this one had sweet feel-good finish. It is a total toss-up; both are all-time classics. ****1/2

Nothing But Pure Salt: WWF In 1981

Hey yo Stud Muffins & Foxy Ladies,

This will be a collection of reviews of non-Bob Backlund matches from 1981. The major babyfaces of 1981 in WWF were Pedro Morales (I-C Champion), Andre The Giant, Pat Patterson & the tag team combination of Rick Martel & Tony Garea. The major heels of 1981 were Sgt. Slaughter, Don Muraco, Stan Hansen, Greg "The Hammer" Valentine, King Kong Mosca, Killer Khan, the Moondogs.

Andre The Giant vs Sgt. Slaughter - WWF MSG 3/16/81

Wildly entertaining. Slaughter was so over. I liked the Hall of Montezuma bit Sarge did at the beginning. With Backlund working Hansen (Blassie), the Grand Wizard's charge was facing the other babyfaces such as Pedro, Andre and Patterson. I loved how much fun this was. Sarge bumping for Andre was awesome! So good. I love that ass spot Andre always does as a babyface. I was impressed with how Sarge was creating offense for himself. It was all about getting that Cobra Clutch. I liked how he tried for it while Andre had him in the leglock. Andre's selling after his own suplex was great. Like he is so strong he knocked himself loopy. Sarge rakes the eyes and tries to go up top and PRESS SLAM! Huge pop! Andre is on a roll. Sarge pulls the ref in front of him to draw the DQ. Andre looked great here and is so much fun. Sgt. Slaughter is the perfect heel foil for Andre because he bumps big, but the threat of the Cobra Clutch keeps it competitive. ***1/2

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WWF World Tag Team Champions Rick Martel & Tony Garea vs The Moondogs

WWF Championship Wrestling 4/4/81

I forget the ring announcer's name, but this is the one that the Titans love to impersonate and he is a lot of fun. I preferred the MSG match to this one even though the MSG match had the non-finish. This one just did not have the same zip. The babyface shine felt like more heel in peril as Martel/Garea worked over the arm and the Moondogs kept missing elbow drops. There were no big bumps and like I had Martel & Garea put in effort, but it was not that same level of fun. The heat segment was definitely solid. Martel sold like a million bucks and the Moondogs were good on top: eye rakes, choking, fishhooks, backbreakers. Great hope spots. I thought the finish was the best part. Garea puts on the ab stretch, but Albano has coached up his Moondogs don't hit him with bone yet just break up the hold. Garea strikes the ref on his backswing of his punch. Now the Moondogs hit him with his big bone. Ref is up 1-2-3! Great old school heel finish to put some heat on the feud as you cant have Martel & Garea beat the Moondogs like a drum each time. Good stuff. ***1/4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sgt. Slaughter vs Pat Patterson - WWF 4/6/81

My review of the alley fight has the background to this match.

WOW! Loved this pure babyface vs heel match. Patterson was keyed up and ready to roll. Sarge was feeling it. Sarge is running away from Patterson at every turn as Patterson is revved up. Sarge tries to catch him from behind, but Pat turns around and wallops him! This is pure WWF/AWA style babyface throwing all that heel shit right back at the heel. Sarge takes his classic nutty bump over the top turnbuckle into the post not once, not twice, but three times! Patterson chokes him, rakes the eyes and bites the hand. Boston Crab for Patterson gets a pop! MSG is rockin! Sarge throws Patterson to the outside, who takes a nasty tumble. Slaughter thinks about coming off the top rope, but thinks the wiser it. He bites Patterson's forehead. Working a decent King of the Mountain. Slaughter misses the Bombs Away Kneedrop, Patterson's own move! Figure-4 by Patterson on the bad knee! Genius! Slaughter uses the ropes again. Patterson kicking at the knee and hits it with a chair. I love it! The ref wants Patterson to break and he shoves him. Slaughter eye rakes Patterson to avoid the figure-4. Slaughter and Patterson go at it and they throw the ref out. Slaughter low blows Patterson and applies the Cobra Clutch. The ref back in and Slaughter kicks him in the gut. The whole thing gets called a Double Disqualification. Patterson is livid and almost comes to blows with Dick Whirly. Calls bullshit on it. I love how into it he is. Awesome, awesome placesetter for the big Alley Fight, just enough energy to get hyped, but not too much that they cant top it the next month. ****

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sgt. Slaughter vs Pat Patterson - WWF, MSG 5/4/81, Alley Fight

The World Wrestling Federation in 1980-81 was a damn solid promotion. I feel like Bruno would have been in this role if he was still around, but instead we get Pat, which aint a bad thing at all. Slaughter had been tormenting jobbers on TV as part of his Cobra Clutch. Well Black Demon wasnt having any of it so he bailed on the whole thing. Patterson conducted the interview with Sarge, who called him yellow so it was on. Slaughter and Patterson have a great little mini match with Patterson trying to escape the Cobra Clutch and just as he is about to, Slaughter knees in the gut and then brutally attacks him with a chair and puts the Clutch back on. Titans favorites Middle Aged & Crazy Dom Denucci (Kelly), Tony Garea (Johnny) and Ricky Martel (Parv's) save the day as Denucci lives up to his name and goes crazy with the chair on Slaughter. It was a damn good brawl. I know I have seen the April MSG match that set up this match before. but I couldnt find it so I went straight to the Alley Fight.

Hot damn! They just dont make bloody violent brawls like they used to. Patterson comes out in the famous I <3 NY shirt that is usually how I picture him in my head. He wastes no time bringing the fight to Gomer excuse me I mean Sgt. Slaughter. Patterson takes off his belt and whips Slaughter like the dog he is and then he chokes him out. Slaughter is getting his ass handed to him. He rakes the eyes and get gets a hold of the belt. He whips Patterson and then wraps the belt around his mouth, which is another famous visual from this match. Sarge rips off the I <3 NY shirt only to choke him with it. BOOOOOOOOOOOO! Patterson sends him flying over the top rope to the floor. Patterson drops his famous and dangerous Bombs Away Kneedrop on Slaughter. Slaughter is able to resume control by chucking Patterson over the top rope. But not for long as Patterson catapults him over the turnbuckles into the steel and Sarge does a 5-alarm baldejob. Holy shit! He was gushing blood profusely. His selling of being knocked loopy was awesome. Patterson starts to tee off on him to a raucous crowd so Sarge goes back to his favorite cut off punching some where he lives and where he loves, his balls. He puts on some brass knux, but he is so fucked up he cant capitalize. Patterson blocks at every turn and takes off his Cowboy Boot and smokes him. Then he starts ramming his head into hard metal objects then back to cowboy boot. We need a mercy killing because Patterson is destroying Slaughter and Wizard finally throws in the towel. Slaughter kinda intimates he wants to keep fighting, but he is so fucked up on weird street I don't think he knew where he was! Wizard takes him to the back.

As a street fight this was badass, but I think the rules or lack of rules hurt the finish. I get what they were going for with no referee that was an unsanctioned, real deal street fight like you would see at a bar. It accomplished that all the way up until they needed a finish and it just lacked that climax that is the 1-2-3. I think "I Quit" rules would have also been perfect for this if someone had thought of that. Still one of the all-time classics and a top 5 WWF 80s match. ****3/4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

WWF Tag Team Champion Rick Martel & Tony Garea vs Mr. Fuji & Mr. Saito

WWF Championship Wrestling 10/17/81

"RIGHT IN THE FACE WITH NOTHING BUT PURE SALT" - Vince McMahon with a ***** call

After Moondogs lose the tag belt back to Martel & Garea (couldn't find the title switch back), Albano returns with a new team this one from Land of the Rising Sun, WWF stalwart, Mr. Fuji teaming with one of the all-time greats, Mr. Saito. Martel & Saito would go onto have a classic match for the AWA World Championship in the mid-80s but here they have a fun tag team match. Martel is such a joy to watch. I really have not watch much Garea but he reminds me of an older Martel just as fired up and excited to wrestle. I loved the babyface shine. Lots of energy and excitement. Martel's crossbody was great. I thought the transition to heat was a little weak they just sort of all sudden beat up on Garea. It is a solid heat segment. I guess I was expecting more Saito like I saw in the AWA here he is much more toned down version. Wrestling more like Fuji meaning a lot more cheating. I liked Garea whiffing hard on that dropkick. Garea breaks free and tags in Martel and it is pure OUI OUI RICKY MARTEL! As much as I love FIP Martel, HOT TAG RICKY MARTEL is hard to beat. It was short but sweet. He goes up for the crossbody when Mr. Fuji hits him RIGHT IN THE FACE WITH NOTHING BUT PURE SALT! The ref, Dicky Whirly, does not see it. 1-2-3! New World Wrestling Federation Tag Team Champions. Rick Martel gives the absolute best sell job of salt I have ever seen as he is just writhing in agony. ***1/2

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Andre The Giant vs Killer Khan - WWF Philadelphia 11/14/81 Stretcher Match

One of the most famous matches of this era, Andre is looking to exact revenge for Khan breaking his ankle. I guess Andre broke his ankle getting out of bed so they shot an angle where Khan injured him or did they just say on TV that he did. Then on TV when Andre was giving an interview as an update on his recuperation, Khan attacked Andre with his crutch reinjuring the ankle. Here comes Andre now ready to kick some ass. No fun comedy spots. Andre here was ready to rock. Headbutts, punches, slaps and Khan could run but he could not hide. Andre just sits on him with all his own weight. Andre misses a headbutt. This is Khan's only chance. He ties up the ankle in the ropes. Khan attacks the ankle. Khan tries to have Andre put on the stretcher. Oh yeah, so they bring in a stretcher and the ref & trainer try to put the man on the stretcher. Andre ROARS back whacking Khan with the stretcher! I thought the match kinda petered out after that. Andre just sits on Khan a lot. Khan would resist getting on the stretcher. Andre would sit back on him. Andre splashes him to win. Andre definitely kicked ass. It just did not feel like that fist pumping moment. Definitely a good match, but pales in comparison of their New Japan classic. ***1/2

Kliq Kliq Kliq: WWF in 1995

Hey yo Stud Muffins & Foxy Ladies,

Below is the second installment of the forty part series looking back at the WWF from 1978-2017.

The format is a review of the year in totality. Then looking at different ranking systems for matches such as Meltzer's Observer Match of the Year Poll. For this particular year we will include the Smarkschoice poll and ProWrestlingOnly.com's Loss list of the best matches in WWF in 1995. I reveal my top three matches of the year for 1995. Ultimately to crown the greatest ever as part of the Greatest Match Ever project.

The year 1995 is in the running for the worst year in World Wrestling Federation history. I think other years would include 1983, 1993 and 2003. I don't think there is any year where I had to watch less matches to ensure that I was choosing the absolute best three. I had to watch only 13 matches. It was a rough year in ring. It is a year of poor booking and at best uninteresting TV and at worst abysmal entertainment. On top of that, it was a terrible year financially. The nadir of business I believe comes later in late 96/early 97. I think the Diesel reign opened up a crack that WCW could take advantage of. The combination of Nitro, Luger jumping and interesting multi-layered storylines afforded WCW the opportunity to compete with the WWF for almost a year before finally overtaking them with the ingenious New World Order angle. It all starts in 1995 with the WWF this terrible year really gives WCW that chance.

So what makes 1995 WWF so terrible? Diesel in 1995 is not "Big Sexy" Kevin Nash. He is this plastic, white bread version of Kevin Nash. It is painful to watch his promos around this time. Watching Nash in WCW or listening to him on podcasts, he is a charismatic and articulate man. You may not agree with everything he says, but you can listen to him without cringing or feeling embarrassed for him. It was like McMahon wanted to create a Nickeldeon superstar (not that I think McMahon knew what Nickeldeon was), but it was that kind of lame cheese that Diesel was cutting. Now it did NOT help that from April through August of 1995 he was fighting some of the worst in ring performers in WWF history: Sycho Sid, Tatantka and King Mabel. I am a Sycho Sid apologist through and through, but pairing Nash and Sid is financial suicide. The whole King Mabel experiment was a total bust. Things recover slightly in the Fall of 1995 once Camp Cornette (Owen, Bulldog & Yokozuna) become the top heels because at least they are credible challengers, good in the ring and engaging characters. Ultimately this does lead to one unheralded classic which is Bret Hart defeating Diesel for the World Championship at Survivor Series. I discuss this more in the Bret Hart section. The night after Survivor Series, Diesel begins his metamorphosis into Big Sexy Kevin Nash when he does a GREAT quasi-shoot promo outing Vince as the boss and saying this show runs on Diesel Power. This was in direct response to how Nitro was being presented as a chaotic show where you did not whose side who was on. Diesel's year long reign as champion was ultimately a bust. They move the title back to Bret to be a transitional champion as a launching pad for Shawn Michaels push in 1996.


Bret "The Hitman" Hart began the year in the main event challenging for the World Championship against Big Daddy Cool Diesel at Royal Rumble and ended the year in the main event winning the World Championship at Survivor Series, but in between he was shunted into the midcard as the Kliq reigned supreme in the year 1995. Bret instead faced heels such as Mr. Bob Backlund, Hakushi, Jerry "The King" Lawler, Dr. Isaac Yankem and the Pirate Jean-Pierre Lafitte. True to form, Bret made the most out of a mediocre situation getting good to great matches out of these midcarders. It should be noted that there was actually a blowoff match between Bret Hart and Owen Hart in 1995 that I was completely unaware of until a couple days ago. It took place on RAW 3/27/95, No Hold Barred and it was about as great of a match you can have in that style with no blood and no weapons. I do recommend it.  Then when the time came he delivered a true masterpiece at Survivor Series 1995 against Diesel that is criminally underrated.


With Bret Hart firmly in the midcard and Big Daddy Cool stinking up the joint against the likes of Sycho Sid & King Mabel, it was up to Shawn Michaels to deliver those high end upper midcard matches. Shawn Michaels began the year winning the biggest match of his career up until that point at Royal Rumble 1995 meaning he would go to face real life best friend, Diesel. This was a natural progression given their break up as tag team champions in the Fall of 1994. I did not review Shawn and Diesel's match at WrestleMania XI (which did not main event. Lawrence Taylor vs Bam Bam Bigelow did), but I have seen it once before and I remember thinking it was good, but Shawn was working way too fast. They would have a much better match a year later when Shawn had the title. Sid, who was Shawn's bodygiuard, turned on Shawn after leading to Sid run in the main event and Shawn's babyface turn.

This was the first time Shawn was babyface as a singles. If you read reviews of the 1995 King Of The Ring, often maligned as the worst WWF PPV ever, smart money was on Shawn to win. However, thinking about now, they clearly wanted to use the King of the Ring to vault a new heel challenger into the main event to face Diesel at Summerslam 95. King Mabel would not be my first choice either, but I think the problem was the clear dearth of heels with Diesel, Shawn, Bret, Razor, AND even the Bulldog as babyfaces. I think they didn't think Owen could cut it unless he was in the ring with Bret and thus went the monster route. So I cant say I am surprised Shawn did not win King of the Ring. However, the next month Shawn did win the Intercontinental Championship from Jeff Jarrett in an amazing match and the best Jarrett match I have seen thus far. This made sense as it gave Shawn a purpose for the rest of 1995 and earmarked as someone to watch.

The Summerslam Ladder Match rematch against Razor Ramon was heralded at the time finishing SECOND overall in Wrestling Observer Newsletter Rankings ahead of many classic All Japan matches INCLUDING 6/9/95. However, it has faded into obscurity for a reason I don't know why because it is truly a classic and even better than the first ladder match. I guess when your first match is so revolutionary it is hard for the rematch to stick.

After that Shawn ran into some personal problems aka Marines in Syracuse, which apparently beat the dogshit out of him. He was forced to relinquish the Intercontinental Championship to Dean Douglas (Shane Douglas) and promptly Razor defeated Douglas for the title, which often cited as Kliq politics and the fuel for many of Shane Douglas' infamous tirades. Shawn did make it back into the ring in late 95. They ran a very famous quasi-shoot angle where Owen Hart hit him with an Enziguiri to the head causing Shawn Michaels to be knocked out. This was a great way to tie the Syracuse Incident into the storylines. They really sold this as a serious situation and it was one of the better angles they ran in this time period. This set Shawn up really well for his '96 campaign as he would be on the comeback trail but you never knew with that head injury.

Other notables from 1995:

What was the Undertaker up to? - 1995 was not kind to Deadman. A long, terrible, heatless feud with Ted DiBiase's Million Dollar Corporation (IRS, King Kong Bundy, Kama). I guess this had something to do with Ted DiBiase creating a Fake Undertaker. I think IRS wanted to repossess the urn as collateral for not paying his taxes. Kama ended melting it into a chain. Brutal. He ended the year feuding with King Mabel. Shaking my head.

Kliq happenings - Diesel and Shawn are covered above. Razor feuded Double J for the beginning of the year. I have never really checked that feud out. It was how Savio Vega was introduced as Razor's buddy to fight off Double J and Road Dogg. Razor was a part of the "Kliq screwjob" on Shane "Dean" Douglas described above. 1-2-3 Kid started the year working in an underdog tag team with Bob Holly that upset the Million Dollar Corporation to win the Tag Titles, but dropped them to the Smokin Gunns the next night. Looks like he was injured in May & June which is why Savio Vega was introduced. Then he was put in as a plucky babyface against new heels such as Waylon Mercy, Dean Douglas and soon to be best friend, Hunter Hearst Helmsley. Eventually he turns on Razor Ramon in the Fall of 95 due to frustrations that they cannot win the tag titles. The Kid joins the Million Dollar Corporation. Hunter Hearst Helmsley debuted and the Kliq is finally at full force.

Bam Bam Bigelow - Bam Bam Bigelow main evented WrestleMania against Lawrence Taylor. Bigelow was the crown jewel of the struggling Million Dollar Corporation. Plans say he was supposed to get a monster babyface push out of this, but I think that where they went wrong. As I say above with Bret, Shawn, Diesel, Taker AND Razor all babyfaces, you do NOT need another face. They needed a heel. He should have been the challenger for Diesel between April through August instead of Sid. I have always heard rumors of Kliq politics fucking him over.

Wrestling Observer Newsletter Match of the Year Rankings (Overall Ranking):

1. WWF Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels vs Razor Ramon - Summerslam 95 (2)
2. WWF Intercontinental Champion Jeff Jarrett vs Shawn Michaels - WWF In Your House II (15)

Smarkschoice Poll for Greatest WWF Match Ever (Overall Ranking):

1. WWF World Heavyweight Champion Bret Hart vs British Bulldog - In Your House V (11)*
2. WWF Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels vs Razor Ramon - Summerslam 95 (36)
3. WWF Intercontinental Champion Jeff Jarrett vs Shawn Michaels - WWF In Your House II (41)
4. WWF World Champion Diesel vs Bret Hart - WWF Survivor Series 1995 No DQ (54)
5. WWF World Champion Diesel vs Bret Hart - WWF Royal Rumble 1995 (83)


*I just wanted to mention that I think this was match was incredibly overrated. It is overrating it by just making it the match of the year in 1995, but saying it is the ELEVENTH best match in company history is nuts. It is basically remembered because of Bret's massive bladejob. The front half is a snoozefest. The second half is very good but not enough to salvage it and call it a classic.

ProWrestlingOnly.com's Loss 1995 Match of the Year List (Overall Ranking):

1. WWF Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels vs Razor Ramon - Summerslam 95 (3)
2. Bret Hart & Davey Boy Smith vs Owen Hart & Bob Backlund - WWF Action Zone 2/16/95 (33)
3. WWF World Champion Diesel vs Bret Hart - WWF Survivor Series 1995 No DQ (49)
4. WWF Intercontinental Champion Jeff Jarrett vs Shawn Michaels - WWF In Your House II (59)
5. WWF World Champion Diesel vs Bret Hart - WWF Royal Rumble 1995 (65)


Bret Hart in 1995: http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2018/03/where-are-you-hitman-why-cant-i-find.html

Shawn Michaels in 1995: http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2018/03/excedrin-headache-69-shawn-michaels-in.html


Honorable Mention:
7. Bret Hart vs Jean-Pierre LaFitte - In Your House III
6. WWF World Champion Diesel vs Bret Hart - WWF Royal Rumble 1995 ****
5. Bret Hart vs Owen Hart - RAW 3/27/95 - ****
4. Bret Hart & Davey Boy Smith vs Owen Hart & Bob Backlund - Action Zone 2/16/95 ****1/4

3. WWF Intercontinental Champion Jeff Jarrett vs Shawn Michaels - WWF In Your House II

One of my all-time favorite WWF matches because of just how feel good it is. I love me some good shtick and this is good shtick. Shawn Michaels as part of the Rockers was in some good bullshit matches and he fit in this Memphis style match seamlessly. I thought he was great as cocky jock showing up the annoying showboat, Jarrett. Jarrett actually gets a couple over on HBK allowing him to strut and kick back and relax on the top rope. But he gets a little too fancy for his own good so Michaels pokes him right in the eye and then does exactly what Jarrett intended and blasts him in the face. After HBK dumps him on his ass, he does a little strut and booty shake. Combining the Fabulous Ones and Fantastics in one awesome combo! Michaels wipes out both Double J & The Roadie. I am probably alone in feeling this way, but I actually thought Shawn Michaels felt pretty cool in this. I liked the head and shoulders fake out on the reverse crossbody sunset flip by HBK. It is not the greatest babyface shine ever, but it is a fun one and one that is unique for WWF. The bump Michaels takes to the outside over the top turnbuckle to set up the heat segment is crazy. I think Jarrett supplies a lot of great heel character work in this, but Michaels was dictating the flow of the match with his bumping. The heat segment was not as good as I remembered it unfortunately. It felt a little dry. I liked the classic cheating like ab stretch assist and Roadie attacking with a  clothesline from the apron and Michaels mixed in good bumping and hope spots. The sleeper was a good climax to the segment. It just did not feel special. The finish was well-done with Shawn working through his comeback and adding a nice posting of Double J. I liked the wrinkle of Roadie causing Shawn lands on his nuts on the top turnbuckle to set up some figure-4 attempts. Jarrett signals for Roadie to trip HBK on a criss cross, but Roadie not looking trips up Jarrett and BANG! Sweet Chin Music! Great finish

Feels like a great, Southern 1980s match that happens in 1990s WWF, which makes it special. I would say easily Jarrett's best WWF match and a top ten Shawn Michaels 90s match. Thought the shine and comeback were real fun and the heat segment was just alright. I loved the fan sign that said "HBK would be with Jarrett's belt tonight" and even with the loss "With My Baby Tonight" remains the best pro wrestling song not named Badstreet USA. ****1/4

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. WWF World Champion Diesel vs Bret Hart - WWF Survivor Series 1995 No DQ

What is missing from pro wrestling today is enthusiastic grandmas in the front row!

I think this most underrated WWF match of all time. I truly think this is incredible and one of the best Bret Hart performances of all time. I say this all the time but he is the king of face vs face matches and this is his best ever. As each wrestler takes turns playing babyface throughout the match in really logical fashion that never undercuts the drama or the characters in the ring. The video package before this is awesome with each man discussing their strategy. I thought Nash was especially excellent saying he was going to use power and size, this is not collegiate wrestling he is going for the early knockout. It really set the table for the actual match where these two just wove in a compelling story over the course of 25 minutes.

Each other taking off a turnbuckle pad right at the outset set the tone of the match and established that each man had come for a dirty, nasty fight. Loved Bret going for the leg early and driving Big Daddy Cool into the corner. Nash does a great job hitting heavy, heavy blows to stymie The Hitman. I love how Nash keeps Hart in that corner. He is suffocating him. Hart can find no quarter. Nash stalking Bret as he escapes to the outside is such a great visual especially how Nash always climbs over the top rope. There is such a looming sense of dread with each blow that Hart has to take from the big man. If I had one complaint, it is not the speed as this had a great horror movie like feel to it, but like in most Bret Hart matches there was not much in the way of struggles, he just took his licks. His matches can be too neat sometimes.

The transition to Bret Hart on offense is awesome. He holds onto Nash's leg for dear life to avoid being splatter on the canvas via the Jacknife. He eventually makes it to the ropes and then starts biting the arm of Diesel. You know how I know this because Diesel just starts hollering. Great verbal selling by Nash. Hart kicks at the knee and we all know what is coming up next. Just textbook dissection of the knee with excellent execution.  Figure-4 always a nice touch. I liked how Diesel going for Jacknife was a transition and we see Bret going for the Sharpshooter leads to Bret being kicked off and his head hits the exposed turnbuckle.

Bret, being wary of losing his lead, trips up Diesel and wraps his knee around the post and then in the most famous spot of the match ties him up with the mic cable. Diesel is now helpless. It is funny to see Grandma Hitman fan cheering on Bret even though he is clearly heeling on Diesel now. I love this segment so much. Diesel trying to stand but getting knocked over, but the cord stopping him from falling properly. Diesel knocking the chair out of Bret's hand with his free foot, but only for Bret to step on his hand when he was trying to get the chair. That's some next level heel shit right there. Bret hitting the backbreaker and just mercilessly attacking the knee. Bret goes up top again, but this time Diesel crotches him. A really effective heat segment.

Diesel's selling of the leg is top notch. Like really fucking good. Love him gingerly walking over to drop all his weight on Bret's neck. Or the Snake Eyes and how he does it. Bret slams Diesel's face into the exposed steel on the second attempt this allows him to go for the Five Moves of Doom, bulldog off the middle rope was cool. Bret misses the pescado in epic crash and burn fashion. In a bump I absolutely love, Bret gets slingshotted from the apron through table still makes me say holy shit.

Here is my big grievance is the possum finish. It is just the bump right before it was so badass. I just feel like the finish undercuts that bump. I did like Bret dropping like a dead fish when Diesel first tried to pick him up. Cradle and the Granmda Bret Hart goes crazy and Diesel famously says "Muthafuckin Shit" and then destroys Bret two of the most badass Jacknife powerbombs ever.

Love, love this match. I am genuinely curious why people do not rate this higher. The David vs Goliath beginning with a  great transition to the leg work then the awesome tie Diesel's foot to the post segment followed by really friggin awesome Diesel selling during the finish stretch with two huge Bret Hart bumps before the possum finish. Easy Top 10 WWF match of the 90s and really should be discussed more as an interesting case study on how to work face vs face. ****1/2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. WWF Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels vs Razor Ramon
WWF Summerslam 1995 Ladder Match Part Deux

Probably the greatest WWF match where limb psychology was the main hook of the match. Razor just decimates Shawn's left knee in a way you just never saw in the WWF then what adds to it is the use of the ladder. My favorite spot in this match is where Razor just lets the ladder fall onto the injured knee. It really is a master class in how to work a body part and Shawn is phenomenal at both selling and timing hope spots (like the kicking off into the ladder or over the top rope). In such a heavy, heavy heat segment, hope spots are so critical to avoid dying. I will get on people's case when heat segments go so far that they hurt the credibility of the match because they render a comeback unbelievable. Here I thought they toed the line, but it was Shawn that was keeping it all alive.

Before that all happens, there is a nice little match that happens without the ladder. It is face vs face so I loved the symmetry of them both going for their finishes. I liked that it took THREE big moves for Razor to finally bring the ladder in. The Irish Whip bump and the super Fallaway Slam were great spots, but the crown jewel was that suplex to the floor. Damn! Usually people just tease that and even when they do take it is a much safer bump on the feet. Shawn went all out on that.

I loved all the callbacks to WM X. Razor smartening up to the baseball slide. Shawn mooning the audience, but this time het tries to keep climbing, but when Razor pushes the ladder, he wrenches his knee. Razor taking Shawn's bump with the Irish whip to the ladder. Shawn doing a super tippy-top of the ladder splash to do WrestleMania X, but eating canvas.

Shawn's comeback was perfectly pitched. It was a very gradual progression to finally gaining control. It was not too energetic, but it was also not completely dead either. The reverse crossbody off the ladder was great and the aforementioned missing the big splash was a good level the playing field spot.

The finish was my least favorite part even if it was not blown. It just felt so contrived and really drawn out like the cinematic WWE main events of today. So much down time selling, I usually encourage more selling, but this was excessive. The Razor's Edge, only for Michaels to still be able to set up another ladder. The two ladders in general just did not sit well with me. If Sweet Chin Music hit well AND he was able to leap and grab the belts, I would probably forgive everything because that would be badass. The fact he missed it a second time (nice cover with backdrop on Razor's Edge attempt) was pretty funny especially with the classic Shawn hissy fit. Third time is the charm for the Heartbreak Kid.

Callbacks and the leg psychology make this an all-time WWF classic for me. Razor never looked better on top and Shawn gave an impressive performance in a very difficult role. The finish is the only thing that holds it back from the tippy top. It feels like such a unique match in the WWF environment with how critical the leg psychology is in this match and they do a great job mixing in big time spots. ****3/4

Excedrin Headache #69: Shawn Michaels in the WWF 1995

Hey yo Stud Muffins & Foxy Ladies,

With Bret Hart firmly in the midcard and Big Daddy Cool stinking up the joint against the likes of Sycho Sid & King Mabel, it was up to Shawn Michaels to deliver those high end upper midcard matches. Shawn Michaels began the year winning the biggest match of his career up until that point at Royal Rumble 1995 meaning he would go to face real life best friend, Diesel. This was a natural progression given their break up as tag team champions in the Fall of 1994. I did not review Shawn and Diesel's match at WrestleMania XI (which did not main event. Lawrence Taylor vs Bam Bam Bigelow did), but I have seen it once before and I remember thinking it was good, but Shawn was working way too fast. They would have a much better match a year later when Shawn had the title. Sid, who was Shawn's bodygiuard, turned on Shawn after leading to Sid run in the main event and Shawn's babyface turn.

Jeff Jarrett Will Be With His Baby Tonight

This was the first time Shawn was babyface as a singles. If you read reviews of the 1995 King Of The Ring, often maligned as the worst WWF PPV ever, smart money was on Shawn to win. However, thinking about now, they clearly wanted to use the King of the Ring to vault a new heel challenger into the main event to face Diesel at Summerslam 95. King Mabel would not be my first choice either, but I think the problem was the clear dearth of heels with Diesel, Shawn, Bret, Razor, AND even the Bulldog as babyfaces. I think they didn't think Owen could cut it unless he was in the ring with Bret and thus went the monster route. So I cant say I am surprised Shawn did not win King of the Ring. However, the next month Shawn did win the Intercontinental Championship from Jeff Jarrett in an amazing match and the best Jarrett match I have seen thus far. This made sense as it gave Shawn a purpose for the rest of 1995 and earmarked as someone to watch.

The Summerslam Ladder Match rematch against Razor Ramon was heralded at the time finishing SECOND overall in Wrestling Observer Newsletter Rankings ahead of many classic All Japan matches INCLUDING 6/9/95. However, it has faded into obscurity for a reason I don't know why because it is truly a classic and even better than the first ladder match. I guess when your first match is so revolutionary it is hard for the rematch to stick.

After that Shawn ran into some personal problems aka Marines in Syracuse, which apparently beat the dogshit out of him. He was forced to relinquish the Intercontinental Championship to Dean Douglas (Shane Douglas) and promptly Razor defeated Douglas for the title, which often cited as Kliq politics and the fuel for many of Shane Douglas' infamous tirades. Shawn did make it back into the ring in late 95. They ran a very famous quasi-shoot angle where Owen Hart hit him with an Enziguiri to the head causing Shawn Michaels to be knocked out. This was a great way to tie the Syracuse Incident into the storylines. They really sold this as a serious situation and it was one of the better angles they ran in this time period. This set Shawn up really well for his '96 campaign as he would be on the comeback trail but you never knew with that head injury.

Below are the Shawn Michaels' matches I watched in 1995:

WWF Intercontinental Champion Jeff Jarrett vs Shawn Michaels - WWF In Your House II

One of my all-time favorite WWF matches because of just how feel good it is. I love me some good shtick and this is good shtick. Shawn Michaels as part of the Rockers was in some good bullshit matches and he fit in this Memphis style match seamlessly. I thought he was great as cocky jock showing up the annoying showboat, Jarrett. Jarrett actually gets a couple over on HBK allowing him to strut and kick back and relax on the top rope. But he gets a little too fancy for his own good so Michaels pokes him right in the eye and then does exactly what Jarrett intended and blasts him in the face. After HBK dumps him on his ass, he does a little strut and booty shake. Combining the Fabulous Ones and Fantastics in one awesome combo! Michaels wipes out both Double J & The Roadie. I am probably alone in feeling this way, but I actually thought Shawn Michaels felt pretty cool in this. I liked the head and shoulders fake out on the reverse crossbody sunset flip by HBK. It is not the greatest babyface shine ever, but it is a fun one and one that is unique for WWF. The bump Michaels takes to the outside over the top turnbuckle to set up the heat segment is crazy. I think Jarrett supplies a lot of great heel character work in this, but Michaels was dictating the flow of the match with his bumping. The heat segment was not as good as I remembered it unfortunately. It felt a little dry. I liked the classic cheating like ab stretch assist and Roadie attacking with a  clothesline from the apron and Michaels mixed in good bumping and hope spots. The sleeper was a good climax to the segment. It just did not feel special. The finish was well-done with Shawn working through his comeback and adding a nice posting of Double J. I liked the wrinkle of Roadie causing Shawn lands on his nuts on the top turnbuckle to set up some figure-4 attempts. Jarrett signals for Roadie to trip HBK on a criss cross, but Roadie not looking trips up Jarrett and BANG! Sweet Chin Music! Great finish

Feels like a great, Southern 1980s match that happens in 1990s WWF, which makes it special. I would say easily Jarrett's best WWF match and a top ten Shawn Michaels 90s match. Thought the shine and comeback were real fun and the heat segment was just alright. I loved the fan sign that said "HBK would be with Jarrett's belt tonight" and even with the loss "With My Baby Tonight" remains the best pro wrestling song not named Badstreet USA. ****1/4 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WWF Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels vs Razor Ramon 

WWF Summerslam 1995 Ladder Match Part Deux

 

Probably the greatest WWF match where limb psychology was the main hook of the match. Razor just decimates Shawn's left knee in a way you just never saw in the WWF then what adds to it is the use of the ladder. My favorite spot in this match is where Razor just lets the ladder fall onto the injured knee. It really is a master class in how to work a body part and Shawn is phenomenal at both selling and timing hope spots (like the kicking off into the ladder or over the top rope). In such a heavy, heavy heat segment, hope spots are so critical to avoid dying. I will get on people's case when heat segments go so far that they hurt the credibility of the match because they render a comeback unbelievable. Here I thought they toed the line, but it was Shawn that was keeping it all alive.

Before that all happens, there is a nice little match that happens without the ladder. It is face vs face so I loved the symmetry of them both going for their finishes. I liked that it took THREE big moves for Razor to finally bring the ladder in. The Irish Whip bump and the super Fallaway Slam were great spots, but the crown jewel was that suplex to the floor. Damn! Usually people just tease that and even when they do take it is a much safer bump on the feet. Shawn went all out on that.

I loved all the callbacks to WM X. Razor smartening up to the baseball slide. Shawn mooning the audience, but this time het tries to keep climbing, but when Razor pushes the ladder, he wrenches his knee. Razor taking Shawn's bump with the Irish whip to the ladder. Shawn doing a super tippy-top of the ladder splash to do WrestleMania X, but eating canvas.

Shawn's comeback was perfectly pitched. It was a very gradual progression to finally gaining control. It was not too energetic, but it was also not completely dead either. The reverse crossbody off the ladder was great and the aforementioned missing the big splash was a good level the playing field spot.

The finish was my least favorite part even if it was not blown. It just felt so contrived and really drawn out like the cinematic WWE main events of today. So much down time selling, I usually encourage more selling, but this was excessive. The Razor's Edge, only for Michaels to still be able to set up another ladder. The two ladders in general just did not sit well with me. If Sweet Chin Music hit well AND he was able to leap and grab the belts, I would probably forgive everything because that would be badass. The fact he missed it a second time (nice cover with backdrop on Razor's Edge attempt) was pretty funny especially with the classic Shawn hissy fit. Third time is the charm for the Heartbreak Kid.

Callbacks and the leg psychology make this an all-time WWF classic for me. Razor never looked better on top and Shawn gave an impressive performance in a very difficult role. The finish is the only thing that holds it back from the tippy top. It feels like such a unique match in the WWF environment with how critical the leg psychology is in this match and they do a great job mixing in big time spots. ****3/4

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Camp Cornette (Owen Hart, British Bulldog, Yokozuna) vs

 Diesel, Shawn Michaels, & Undertaker - WWF RAW 10/09/95

WWF 1995 Main Event scene EXPLODES! It is pretty incredible that for the last third of 1995, Jim Cornette was the leader of the number one heel stable and Bulldog was the number one heel basically. Shawn is IC champion here this right before him getting his ass handed to him by the Marines.

The babyface shine is fun. Shawn and Owen have such a great dynamic with each other. Its a shame they did not get a PPV main event in 1996 or in late 97 or early 98. I liked them sending Owen & Bulldog into Yoko and then the double big boot to Yoko. Diesel/Davey Boy don't have much chemistry which is unfortunate because they are main eventing the next PPV. Undertaker and Yoko was kinda fun. Yoko threw Shawn Michaels down! Good transition to heat. The heat segment is the real treat here. Owen and Bulldog pick Shawn apart with some really great Hart offense. Davey Boy looked great with his press slam and delayed vertical suplex. Shawn was great at selling. Owen misses top rope splash. Shawn tags in Diesel and in shocking fashion, Bulldog actually gets one over on the WWF champion thanks to some assistance from Owen. Running Powerslam, Taker saves but Yoko drops the leg and gets Bulldog the win. Wow! I guess they wanted to put some heat on Bulldog. Fun match with Owen and Bulldog working great against Shawn. Good stuff. ***

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shawn Michaels vs Owen Hart - WWF RAW 11/20/95

Right on the heels of the Diesel quasi-shoot promo where he outed Vince as the boss, WWF runs another huge angle with Shawn's collapse in the ring based off the Syracuse Incident. The match itself before the monster angle was really damn good. Shawn vs Owen is always a damn good time. Really liked Shawn's shine lots of movement and energy and playing to the crowd. Owen was great bumping for him. Owen catching with a clothesline over the top rope and then blasting him with a baseball slide was great. Is Owen the king of the baseball slide? Owen's heat segment on Shawn is awesome! German suplex, backbreaker, spinwheel kick among other things. Owen was in such a groove and Shawn is great at selling peppering in hope spots like a backslide. Owen goes for a superplex, but Shawn shifts his weight. Great spot! Shawn runs through his comeback in grand fashion. He really had the crowd behind him. He goes for Sweet Chin Music, but Owen hits the Enziguiri of Death and Shawn goes down in a heap. I thought that was end, but there's more. Shawn actually gets up and fights off Owen's Sharpshooter and manages to clothesline him out and skin the cat back in. So he gets a big pop for that and then gets woozy and collapses!

That was an even better way to handle the angle. If they just did the enziguiri everyone would have thought it was a part of the story. By having him fight off Owen and then collapse, they really blurred the lines. Great execution from Shawn's selling to Owen, Cornette, Vince and Lawler's reactions. All time great angle that really bolsters an already very good match. ***3/4

Where Are You Hitman, Why Cant I Find You: Bret The Hitman Hart in 1995

Hey yo Stud Muffins & Foxy Ladies,

Bret "The Hitman" Hart began the year in the main event challenging for the World Championship against Big Daddy Cool Diesel at Royal Rumble and ended the year in the main event winning the World Championship at Survivor Series, but in between he was shunted into the midcard as the Kliq reigned supreme in the year 1995. Bret instead faced heels such as Mr. Bob Backlund, Hakushi, Jerry "The King" Lawler, Dr. Isaac Yankem and the Pirate Jean-Pierre Lafitte. True to form, Bret made the most out of a mediocre situation getting good to great matches out of these midcarders. Then when the time came he delivered a true masterpiece at Survivor Series 1995 against Diesel that is criminally underrated.

Below is a resume of Bret Hart's work in 1995. In addition to the aforementioned Diesel match, a tag team match with British Bulldog vs Owen Hart & Bob Backlund is a hidden gem not discussed enough.

Bret is the King of the Babyface vs Bayface Match

WWF World Heavyweight Champion Diesel vs Bret Hart - WWF Royal Rumble 1995

All hail Bret Hart, king of the babyface vs babyface match. Bret would have been an excellent understated travelling NWA World Champion. Bret is the challenger so he is ultra-aggressive but he runs into the Mack Truck that is Diesel. I really enjoy Big Sexy as a character and a shoot interview, but in the ring he underwhelms 95% of the time due to his inability to bump, stiffness (in like an awkward not flexible way), his lack of aggression. Nash is a pretty big dude, but more often than not he does not feel big. Bret made him feel big. Bret prompts a shoving war by taking him into the ropes. Then loses a battle of fists. He goes for a crossbody and gets caught thrown to the mat. Nash feels like a force. From the outset, Bret has the subtle heel touches not to heel Diesel. The first really overt one is picking the leg and dragging him to the post and wrapping it around the steel. Really solid leg work and loved the figure-4 repeatedly. It just makes sense. Nash's selling leaves a lot to be desired. LOVED Bret's dive through the ropes tackling Diesel. Awesome spot that added some spontaneity to the match. Diesel reverses a whip into the steps. Nash runs his usual corner offense, sidewalk slam. Teases jackknife and goes with Argentine Backbreaker nice hope spot from Bret, but eats Big Boot. Bret catches Diesel charging, but I love this little touch that Bret needs to go to the middle rope to get a clothesline to knock Diesel off his feet because earlier in the match the clothesline was ineffective. Here is the wrist tape spot, which would be done better at Survivor Series with the cord. This sets up the Five Moves of Doom section of the match. Love that Bret goes for another dive to the outside, but gets caught and rammed hard into the post. Bret was really good at setting up repeat spots in this match. Diesel hits the jackknife. Then I remember I have seen this match before because all of sudden it occurred to me Shawn Michaels was going to interfere, but they were not going to call DQ. Weird. Michaels attacks the bad wheel of Diesel, Bret reapplies the figure-4 and Bret goes back to work even slamming a chair over it. Still no DQ? Alright this ref is being consistent. Bret finally goes for the Sharpshooter, but now Owen interferes. Ref is adamant that there must be a winner. Owen exposes the turnbuckle pad and rams Bret into it. I watched this match last night and am doing this all on memory. At some point, in Bret's third heat segment (second on the leg), he takes a really unique Bret Bump where he charges in and Diesel moves slightly and Bret hits the pads hard and really sells well. So the exposed turnbuckle shot to the chest by Owen is an escalation based on that. Now the match turns into a knock down drag out affair with fists flying. I thought Diesel's selling was a lot better here really milking it before he finally left his feet. We get the Bret playing possum spot getting inside cradle. The O'Connor Roll takes out ref and here comes the heel locker room, HBK, Double J, Backlund and Owen to finally draw a the No Contest.

It is a real testament to Bret's vision on laying out a match that I was able to wake up this morning and write this review with no notes. But when you tell a coherent story that goes from A->B-> C. It is not that hard to remember! I really want to highlight that this was very well done in regards to momentum shifts. Bret establishes he cant win a battles of fistcuffs and power with Diesel. He must take him off his feet. He has a challenger's mentality so he is very aggressive with the pescado. But on the outside he loses the advantage. He then takes to the air to get him off his feet, but he needs to use a trick to really cement his advantage. That ultra-aggressive mentality almost costs him the match when Diesel catches him rams him into the post and then hits the Powerbomb. Michaels saves re-setting up the leg work. Bret takes that really cool Bret Bump, but is able to recover to try to apply Sharpshooter and now Owen comes in. They have a heat finish, a fun Bret possum spot and schmozz. It highlights Bret Hart as a master of Realpolitik and Diesel as a force. I think Nash just adds almost zero to this match like this is a really obvious carry job. The Survivor Series match is way better, but I think this should be commended for Bret's ability to string a bunch of memorable spots along in a really logical fashion. This may sound weird, but I think I found the match I would show non-wrestling fans because the story is clear and there is no misstep to the narrative and the spots are memorable, but also not super great so they wont get false expectations and/or not a appreciate a master piece. Great entry level wrestling match and I guess when you are working with Nash that's what happens. ****

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Bret Hart & Davey Boy Smith vs Owen Hart & Bob Backlund - WWF Action Zone 2/26/95

Can the Harts (along with Backlund) outdo the Kliq? Thought the shine was great because it really established the babyfaces as dominant and Bret as pissed off. As a big Backlund fan, it was so weird to watch Backlund lose a suplex struggle to Davey Boy. Bret was hitting anything that moved. I loved how liberally Backlund was interfering. Bret was basically taking them two on one and kicking ass because he was so pissed about Survivor Series '94, the original screwjob. So it makes sense Backlund has to resort to tripping him from outside and wrenching his knee. Awesome heat segment working the leg. Thought Backlund was not great, but Bret/Owen killed it. I thought they could have used some more hope spots and more moments for Bret to sell. Like there was almost too much knee work there could have been some more of the other stuff to build drama. Still textbook leg work by Owen, really great. Heel miscommunication and the way Bret stumbled and crawled to make the tag was great. Davey Boy is such a great hot tag, Backlund repeatedly interferes, Bulldog stays concentrated and then sees him coming and double noggin knocker and then sends them into each other. Great finish with Bret applying the Sharpshooter outside the ring to Backlund and Bulldog hitting the running powerslam for the win. Awesome little tag team match. Falls shy of the Kliq match which I thought had the better heat segment with more drama and a crazier finish run. Loved the leg work and simple, elegant finish. ****1/4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bret Hart vs Owen Hart - RAW 3/27/95 No Holds Barred Match

What a hidden gem! I didn't even know this existed until yesterday. For some reason, it never smacked me as weird that there was no blowoff to Bret/Owen. I figured since Bret won the Summerslam Cage match that was it and that Owen was just to be a constant thorn in his side. Turns out this is the blowoff the feud. As Owen would link up with Yokozuna for a tag title run and Bret was destined for midcard hell until November. This is on a weird RAW. The majority of RAW is Vince and Todd running down Mania XI card in a studio. This match is the only match on the RAW and it is called by JR and Gorilla Monsoon.
I really dug this match. This about the greatest street fight you can have without blood and weapons. It was all punches, violence and hatred. Owen jumps Bret as he is going through the ropes. Bret earns his shine and fights back. He tees off on Owen. Pulling hair, raking the face across the ropes, railing. All nasty stuff. DDT. A big blow to the head. This is NOT Mania X where it is two brothers seeing who the best is. This is a fight. Bret takes him up for a backbreaker and Owen rakes the eyes. Owen is all over the eyes, back rakes. Nice enziguiri gets Owen a two count. Owen slams Bret into the railings. He puts his foot on Bret's chest and calls himself the real King of Harts. This is great Brother vs Brother action. Owen puts Bret in the Tree of Woe and while the ref is tending to Bret. Owen takes off the turnbuckle pad.
Owen wants to send Bret headfirst into the exposed turnbuckle, but Bret blocks and sends him in. Bret gets a clothesline. Bret just hitting all his moves with great ferocity. That backbreaker looked awesome. Sharpshooter time, but Owen pokes him in the eye! I love it. He whips Bret hard into the exposed turnbuckles, which Bret takes in classic Bret fashion front first. Wow! Bret's sell was amazing. I audibly gasped. Owen misses a missile dropkick and Bret catapults him into the exposed turnbuckle and then Sharpshooter and he wins.
There was a ceiling on this match because blood and a bit more violence would have taken this next level, but this also felt rushed. I think it was only 8 minutes. Bret takes that nasty, nasty front first bump into the exposed turnbuckle and he wins like a minute later. If they had 5 more minutes to flesh things out this could have been a real classic. Still a really great match that people should watch! ****
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bret Hart vs Hakushi - In Your House I

I think this another great candidate for a match to show to a non-fan as their first match. I think you want something that showcases the fundamentals of pro wrestling without being great. Because a non-fan wont appreciate the greatness of a truly great match. You want something they can digest. This has a good basic structure: shine->heat->comeback->finish. The shine is roughest part. Their timing seemed off. It was not too interesting. The heat segment was good. Bret is a great seller. There is plenty of cheating. Hakushi does a Vaderbomb, BroncoBuster and a back handspring elbow so there's enough high end offense to keep a new fan engaged. They build to a good mini-climax with the diving headbutt being his big nearfall. Hakushi misses the springboard headbutt huge in 1995 America. Bret has his typical comeback but to a new fan it would look great because Bret is awesome at offense. You have more cheating from Shinja. Two crazy highspots at the end, the vertical suplex over the top rope to the floor which is still insane and then the Asai Moonsault. Then a solid victory roll win for Bret. Bret wins definitively without hurting Hakushi too much. Long time wrestling fans might call it predictable or formulaic and I wouldn't disagree, but sometimes those things are still good. ***1/2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bonus Match: Owen Hart vs Davey Boy Smith

WWF RAW 06/05/95 KOTR Qualifying Match

Love their 1997 RAW match, never seen this before. Just a great pro wrestling match. Love the ups and downs of the shine. They move in and out of armbar so well. Davey Boy uses that as a base, but they have a lot of motion like monkey flips, press slam and hitting the post. Owen bumps so well so add excitement to the match. Builds perfectly to the Bulldog's delayed vertical. Great climax to the shine. Before you know Owen moves to his heat with a keelift, great sense of timing. Go to ad break and come to find there is a 15 minute time limit so that telegraphs the finish. Owen's spinwheel kick and then raising his arms with a Woooo is how I remember Owen. Bulldog makes his comeback outta chinlock. Nice catapult, Fisherman suplex, upside down surdboard, cool set up into Bulldogs powerslam. Owen get his foot on ropes. Great series of nearfalls adds to the drama as Gorilla counts down the time limit. Real time time calls to audience would have helped. Nice, tight wrestling match that built well to time limit draw, both wrestlers came out looking good. ***1/2

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bret Hart vs Hakushi - RAW 7/24/95

FLYING SPACE TIGER DROP~! So that's why this match is famous.

I thought this was an improvement on their IYH match. I had never seen this match before. I liked Shinja distracted Bret before the bell to give Hakushi the advantage, but Hakushi squanders that when he eats knees on his Vaderbomb. Bret is so good working on top and grinding his opponent. Hakushi Irish Whips and Bret falls and slides hard into the post back first. Great spot! Similar Hakushi heat segment. I love Bret feeds himself hope spots and Hakushi cutoffs. The ending of the match is red hot. FLYING SPACE TIGER DROP! You don't see those even today. Bret does the double noggin knocker. Bret hits an Asai Vaderbomb! I marked out for that. Hakushi gets one more hope spot before Bret polishes him off definitively with the superplex/Sharpshooter combo. Really dug this TV match. ***1/2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bret Hart vs Jean-Pierre Lafitte - In Your House III 9/24/95

I have watched this match three times and everytime I watch it my thoughts initially are always "why did I like this match so much again?". Oh yeah because the finish stretch is so badass. I have no idea what got into Bret, but he was out to prove something in this match. It was probably all the months since Royal Rumble 95 being condemned to midcard hell. This is my favorite Bret Hart match of that period between Rumble '95 and Survivor Series '95. He was throwing himself into bumps and he was keeping everything moving. I liked his constant attempts for victory. Basically he was pissed off at the beginning of the match, he got his jacket back and then he just wanted to get the victory. This was not Bret's greatest long term selling performance and the match was more structured around Bret trying to win the match with veteran tactics and Jean Pierre's bumps.

I liked Jean Pierre's look. I just don't think you should have called him a pirate. On the RAW before this PPV, Bret Hart basically undercut the entire gimmick when he said he did not know pirates still existed. It is a cool look, but no reason to say he is out and out a pirate. As for being underpushed, I am not buying it. Besides Pierre's bumps, this was the Bret Hart show. Pierre looked lost when he was working a control segment and Bret was carrying it via selling and feeding smart cutoffs. The initial arm posting by Bret and then the consequent quick succession of whips was so well-done to cement Pierre, but Pierre then ran out of things to do.  Underutilized, I would buy as I loved the Quebecers and I think Pierre in a tag team where he can be the big bumper and hide his weaknesses in a heel tag team would be perfect.

Pierre gets up top and hits a legdrop instead of the Cannonball well that was not too bright. CANNONBALLLLLL!!! MISSES!!! Bret goes for the Sharpshooter because he is angling for a quick victory. The spot of the match is Pierre doing a somersault plancha to the outside floor with no protection because Bret moved. Bret takes over and looks great mixing his Five Moves and his pinnning combinations. Pierre catches him on a crucifix and plants him with a somersault. Folks, I think we have established that Pierre can indeed do a somersault. Pierre looks pretty strong, but whiffs on a top rope splash should have went CANNONBALLLLLL!!! and Bret gets the Sharpshooter from on the mat.

This is an incredible finish stretch especially in 1995. There is not a ton of really classic selling, but it is not mindless either because there is a real sense of struggle to win the match. Bret is going for pinning combinations and his Sharpshooter. Pierre is going for his big knockout blow. It just that Bret is getting countered and Pierre is whiffing. It comes down to if Pierre hits a big move he will win, but what toll are these misses taking on him and eventually if he keeps missing Bret will take advantage with a pinning combination or Sharpshooter. I would not call this a spotfest even though the match is totally structured around spots and bumps and not selling, but there is still a psychology of winning behind it where each man has his own strategy and the other wrestler is responding to that strategy, which is lacking in today's product. ****

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WWF World Heavyweight Champion Diesel vs Bret Hart - WWF Survivor Series 1995 No DQ

What is missing from pro wrestling today is enthusiastic grandmas in the front row!

I think this most underrated WWF match of all time. I truly think this is incredible and one of the best Bret Hart performances of all time. I say this all the time but he is the king of face vs face matches and this is his best ever. As each wrestler takes turns playing babyface throughout the match in really logical fashion that never undercuts the drama or the characters in the ring. The video package before this is awesome with each man discussing their strategy. I thought Nash was especially excellent saying he was going to use power and size, this is not collegiate wrestling he is going for the early knockout. It really set the table for the actual match where these two just wove in a compelling story over the course of 25 minutes.

Each other taking off a turnbuckle pad right at the outset set the tone of the match and established that each man had come for a dirty, nasty fight. Loved Bret going for the leg early and driving Big Daddy Cool into the corner. Nash does a great job hitting heavy, heavy blows to stymie The Hitman. I love how Nash keeps Hart in that corner. He is suffocating him. Hart can find no quarter. Nash stalking Bret as he escapes to the outside is such a great visual especially how Nash always climbs over the top rope. There is such a looming sense of dread with each blow that Hart has to take from the big man. If I had one complaint, it is not the speed as this had a great horror movie like feel to it, but like in most Bret Hart matches there was not much in the way of struggles, he just took his licks. His matches can be too neat sometimes.

The transition to Bret Hart on offense is awesome. He holds onto Nash's leg for dear life to avoid being splatter on the canvas via the Jacknife. He eventually makes it to the ropes and then starts biting the arm of Diesel. You know how I know this because Diesel just starts hollering. Great verbal selling by Nash. Hart kicks at the knee and we all know what is coming up next. Just textbook dissection of the knee with excellent execution.  Figure-4 always a nice touch. I liked how Diesel going for Jacknife was a transition and we see Bret going for the Sharpshooter leads to Bret being kicked off and his head hits the exposed turnbuckle.

Bret, being wary of losing his lead, trips up Diesel and wraps his knee around the post and then in the most famous spot of the match ties him up with the mic cable. Diesel is now helpless. It is funny to see Grandma Hitman fan cheering on Bret even though he is clearly heeling on Diesel now. I love this segment so much. Diesel trying to stand but getting knocked over, but the cord stopping him from falling properly. Diesel knocking the chair out of Bret's hand with his free foot, but only for Bret to step on his hand when he was trying to get the chair. That's some next level heel shit right there. Bret hitting the backbreaker and just mercilessly attacking the knee. Bret goes up top again, but this time Diesel crotches him. A really effective heat segment.

Diesel's selling of the leg is top notch. Like really fucking good. Love him gingerly walking over to drop all his weight on Bret's neck. Or the Snake Eyes and how he does it. Bret slams Diesel's face into the exposed steel on the second attempt this allows him to go for the Five Moves of Doom, bulldog off the middle rope was cool. Bret misses the pescado in epic crash and burn fashion. In a bump I absolutely love, Bret gets slingshotted from the apron through table still makes me say holy shit.

Here is my big grievance is the possum finish. It is just the bump right before it was so badass. I just feel like the finish undercuts that bump. I did like Bret dropping like a dead fish when Diesel first tried to pick him up. Cradle and the Granmda Bret Hart goes crazy and Diesel famously says "Muthafuckin Shit" and then destroys Bret two of the most badass Jacknife powerbombs ever.

Love, love this match. I am genuinely curious why people do not rate this higher. The David vs Goliath beginning with a  great transition to the leg work then the awesome tie Diesel's foot to the post segment followed by really friggin awesome Diesel selling during the finish stretch with two huge Bret Hart bumps before the possum finish. Easy Top 10 WWF match of the 90s and really should be discussed more as an interesting case study on how to work face vs face. ****1/2

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WWF World Heavyweight Champion Bret Hart vs British Bulldog - In Your House V

Between September 1995-June 1996, there were ten PPVs, Bulldog main evented half of them. Pretty crazy stat that often goes over looked, This match has a pretty huge reputation, not quite as big as Summerslam in WWF lore, but in terms of match ratings. This is either my third or fourth time watching it, I come away with the same thoughts each time. This first half is boring and the second half is badass. First half is Bret formula to a tee with an unmotivated Davey Boy. Bret's bulldog and piledriver look nice, but Bulldog was chinlock city. On top of that no struggle, just moving spot to spot. Just too neat. Once Davey Boy crotched Bret Hart on the top rope when Hitman was trying to do a superplex the match picked up in a big way. Bret slams his head into the edge of the steel steps in order to blade, but make seem like it was hardway (I think that was his intent) as I imagine Vince was not thrilled about this. Bullodg kicked some ass here. Piledriver and delayed vertical suplex all great blood rushing to the head spots. Loved the press slam. I think he jammed his knee pretty good on the diving headbutt. Bret sprinkling in some hope spots helped give some struggle. I liked Bret diving out onto Bulldog. Then trying the Vaderomb on the outside to be caught with the POWERSLAM on the floor. That was big. Bulldog really wants to hurt him and exposes the concrete, but Bret crotches him on the railing (receipt), clothesline city. Great clothesline really! He finally gets to hit his superplex that is how this all started! I really think that should have been the finish. They do some rollups to try to recreate the Wembley magic, but it is off and La Magistral feels abrupt.

Tale of two halves, first half is formulaic and second half is bloody and dramatic. Finish is too abrupt also. No way is this better than Summerslam 92. ***3/4