Monday, November 20th, 1995
Richmond Coliseum
Richmond, Virginia
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We go back to getting still photos, as they show us some of the chaos of the Diesel/Bret Hart match from Survivor Series. Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler recap Survivor Series and then show the 1-2-3 Kid heel turn last week. They show some more still photos of the Kid's match and the Wild Card match.
Hakushi vs. 1-2-3 Kid
These two had one of my favorite matches of the year at SummerSlam. Let's see if they get some time. We get a Razor Ramon phone interview, so that's not a great start. Razor says that he won't cry about what happened, but Kid knows firsthand just how bad Razor can be. Hakushi hits a dropkick and then out comes Marty Jannetty with the referees trying to hold him back as we go to commercial break. This is definitely a slower paced match compared to SummerSlam. Hakushi gets it going a little bit and hits a top rope shoulder tackle. He hits a back body drop and then a kick that sends Kid to the floor. Hakushi climbs the top rope, but DiBiase pushes him off behind the referee's back. Kid hits the spin kick and picks up the victory in a pretty good opener. After the match, DiBiase hands Kid some money.
Match Rating: **
Lawler interviews DiBiase and Kid after the commercial break. This seems to be their new trend. They make fun of Marty and out he comes. Sid is there and he attacks Marty and then Kid gets in his cheap shots. Sid hits a powerbomb to the floor and tells him that's what he gets when he messes with the Kid.
We go to Dok Hendrix for the Slam Jam. He reminds us that it will be Bret Hart taking on British Bulldog at In Your House. We hear from Bulldog and Cornette, reminding us of what happened at SummerSlam 1992. Dok also announces that Henry Godwinn will take on Hunter Hearst Helmsley in an Arkansas Hog Pen Match. He also announces that Diesel is in the building. They show Skip and Sunny in the ring and then Diesel talking to Shawn Michaels backstage before the commercial break.
Skip vs. Savio Vega
Don't forget to buy your denim jacket for $59.75! Take your pick of Diesel, Undertaker, Shawn Michaels or Bret Hart. I would love to know how many those sold. There is a Body Donnas Fan Club sign in the crowd today. Why do wrestlers who have the straps on their gear never actually wear the straps? Anyway, Vega has Skip bumping around the ring and then out comes Diesel. Savio sends Skip over the top rope and face-first to the floor. Diesel takes Skip and shoves him to the ground. He grabs a microphone and says that he thought about coming out here and apologizing to Bret and his dear fans for what he did. He's not going to do that. He said that for the first time in a year, he saw a smile on his face. He said he's not some corporate puppet that Vince decided to create, he's himself. He tells Vince that he missed the ball instead of dropping the ball. He was sick of being told to smile more and be a little bit more corporate. He says that last night was the tip of the iceberg and that Big Daddy Cool is back. He says the only things that matter to him are his family and friends, including Shawn Michaels. He says he's back and heads to the back. That's also the end of the match. We did get enough action I guess for me to rate it, but just barely. This is most notable for really being the first time that Vince was outed as someone more than just an announcer. They show Diesel walking with Shawn backstage and out of the building.
Match Rating: 1/2*
Next week on Raw, it's Undertaker vs. Kama. Plus, Brother Love makes his return to interview Bret Hart. Talk about random.
Owen Hart vs. Shawn Michaels
These two are two of the best in 1995 wrestling and we get an opening segment that shows that off. Owen hits a German suplex into a bridge and gets a 2 count. Owen is in firm control into the commercial break. Shawn is able to explode for a clothesline and both men are down. Shawn kips up and hits the leaping forearm after an Irish whip. Shawn hits the top rope elbow drop for a nearfall. He sends Owen into the corner sternum first and tries for Sweet Chin Music, but Owen hangs on in the corner. Shawn goes after him and Owen hits an enzuigiri. He goes for the Sharpshooter, but Shawn is able to wiggle out of it before he slaps it in. Shawn clotheslines Owen over the top and skins the cat. Shawn then falls to the ground in the ring, leaving Cornette a little confused. Owen isn't sure what to do either. The referee checks in on Shawn and Vince leaves the announce booth into another commercial break. When we come back, the medical team is giving Shawn oxygen. They even show Lawler looking concerned and we get another commercial to sell the drama. When we come back, we can hear Pat Patterson asking if Shawn can hear him and Shawn is shaking his head. They keep selling it and we go off the air. The match was what you would expect until the big angle. This is one of the more memorable angles up to this point in Raw history.
Match Rating: **
This was a big time episode with the Shawn drama and the Diesel attitude change. They continue to step up their game in presenting a better television product as we near the Attitude Era.
Overall Rating: 67%
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