WWF In Your House #2 7/23/1995

July 23, 1995
Municipal Auditorium
Nashville, Tennessee
Announcers: Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler
Attendance: 6,482
Buy Rate: .7

Dark Matches

Skip (Chris Candido) defeats Aldo Montoya (PJ Polaco)

“Coliseum Video Exclusives”

Bret Hart defeats Jean Pierre Lafitte (Carl Oulette)
Undertaker (Mark Callaway) defeats Kama (Charles Wright) in a Casket Match

Actual Show

1) The Roadie (Brian Armstrong) defeats the 1-2-3 Kid (Sean Waltman) with a top-rope piledriver at 7:25

Fun Fact: This is Roadie’s last PPV match until Survivor Series 1996.

Scott: One month after the worst PPV in WWF history, Vince tries to rebound with the second installment of “In Your House.” In this opener, two guys who in a few years would be side by side in the same group go one on one here. This is an extension of the Razor Ramon/Jeff Jarrett feud. The dissention between the Roadie and Jeff Jarrett widens as Jarrett cares more about his singing performance later in the night than he does his boy’s match. The match isn’t bad, as Roadie has definitely improved over the past couple of months, but he does have a lot of work to do. Roadie eventually wins the match with a very effective, almost dangerous piledriver off the ropes. Kid loses again, and as we see over the next couple of months, this leads to a change in attitude. Grade: 2

Justin: A pretty good opening match that featured a fresh combination of wrestlers. As Scott referenced, we keep seeing shots of Double J in the back preparing for his singing debut and ignoring the Roadie’s match. It is funny watching this PPV, and seeing how they built the whole thing around Roadie and JJ and they ended up leaving the company the next day (more on that below). After missing a few months with a neck injury, Kid puts on a solid outing in his first PPV match since the Rumble. There are a couple of sweet maneuvers in here, especially the top rope piledriver as well as Roadie crotching the Kid on the ring post. Roadie picks up the big win but unfortunately does not get to capitalize on it. Grade: 2.5

2) King Mabel (Nelson Frazier) & Sir Mo (Robert Horne) defeat Razor Ramon (Scott Hall) & Savio Vega (Juan Rivera) when Mabel pins Razor with a belly-to-belly suplex at 10:09

Fun Fact: This match was made after MOM decimated Ramon and Savio at the end of the King of the Ring finals match. Savio and Mabel battled around the country at house shows leading up to this show.

Scott: We still haven’t gotten the bad taste out of our mouth, as the KOTR and his manager defeat the popular, but getting stale Razor Ramon, and his friend, Savio Vega. This match was fairly dull as it really was just a reason to get Mabel over as the next big heel. God, I can’t believe I just said that. In any case, not much to this match other than that. Razor seemed to be treading water, as for the first time since mid-1993 he’s in a feud steered away from the Intercontinental Title. The crowd still popped for him, but not like they had been. Mabel must really be high on Vince’s list at this point since the portly King got a clean pin on Razor, even though they did feed into the storyline rib injuries. Savio actually looked ok in this match, as he takes a pretty decent beating and sells all of the evil MOM’s offense. Ok…enough of that. Let’s move on. Grade: 1.5

Justin: A rather slow and boring match featuring two pretty solid wrestlers and two…well, not so solid wrestlers. Savio actually wasn’t too bad at this point, as he was a fresh face that could put on solid matches, if nothing else. Ramon was getting a little stale, but was still pretty over, so Vince couldn’t really turn him heel. I know he had drug problems, but I’m surprised Ramon never got a full fledged Main Event run, at least before the problems really got a hold of him around this time. He was always consistently over and could put on a good match. I guess when you break it down, during the times that he was most popular, there was always a big face champion and it just didn’t make sense. Anyway, that is about it for this. Mabel gets the pin to continue his push into the Main Event scene and Mo is just happy to be along for the ride. Razor suffers the loss on the PPV stage but would be back in the thick of things next month. Grade: 2

***After teasing a live performance for over a year, Jeff Jarrett sings his hit single “With My Baby Tonight” live, continuing his huge push on this, his last show for 5 months***

3) Bam Bam Bigelow (Scott Bigelow) defeats Henry Godwinn (Mark Canterbury) with a roll-up at 5:41

Fun Fact: Since debuting in January as a lower-mid card heel, Henry Godwinn was trying to gain acceptance into the Million Dollar Corporation at this point, so DiBiase told him if he could beat Bigelow, he would consider it. After the loss, Godwinn was told he had no chance, and eventually ended up slopping DiBiase on the 9/15 Superstars, officially solidifying his face turn.

Scott: Bigelow was one of the few faces that was really getting over in 1995. You wanted a world champion to carry you through the year? Put the belt on Bigelow. Yeah I know, incredibly far-fetched. Could he do any worse than Diesel? Here, he beats Henry Godwinn, making his PPV singles debut, and who wouldn’t stay a heel for long. 1995 was the year of the resthold, it seemed like every PPV match had at least a ¼ of it saved for useless restholds. Was everyone on the roster (except for a select few) that lazy? Man it gets irritating as the year progresses. When you’re watching a 1986 house show and Jose Luis Rivera has Mr. X in a resthold that’s one thing, but now with professional wrestling based on athleticism, restholds look dated and out of place. Anyway this match was average, as has every PPV match since Wrestlemania. Finally up next we amp it up a bit. Grade: 2

Justin: A pretty slow match as Bigelow continues to lose motivation and standing in the company. Godwinn was on the verge of turning face after a brief heel run, but is used to put over the Bammer, who was now relegated to the mid-card, even after being promised a huge face run after jobbing to LT at Wrestlemania. Sadly, that Main Event run seemingly ended at our last PPV outing. Not much here really besides the furthering of the Godwinn-DiBiase storyline and the sad saga of Bam Bam Bigelow. Grade: 1.5

4) Shawn Michaels (Michael Hickenbottom) defeats Jeff Jarrett to win WWF Intercontinental Title with a Superkick at 19:59

Fun Fact: After the match, Jarrett and Roadie are heard arguing behind closed doors and eventually storm out of the arena, as JJ was pissed that the Road Dogg ruined his big night. Unfortunately the story was dropped immediately, as both Jarrett and Roadie quit the WWF the very next day. Jarrett would reappear for a brief run in December and Roadie would be missing until the fall of 1996.

Scott: After pretty much dominating the IC Title scene since beating Razor Ramon at the Royal Rumble, Double-J’s luck runs out. His first big moment since turning face after Wrestlemania, HBK wins his third Intercontinental title. This PPV was centered on Jarrett, including that absurd live singing performance. Jarrett does bring the goods in this match, as there is non-stop action and numerous 2-counts and almost-falls. We also see the breaking up of the Roadie and Jarrett, as Roadie accidentally grabs Jarrett’s leg in an Irish Whip (Jarrett had asked Roadie to trip Shawn on the Irish Whip, but Shawn reversed it and Roadie, not looking, tripped Jarrett) before Shawn drops him with the Superkick. Now, his reign as IC champ here lasts a couple of months before he’s sent to the sidelines in a real-life situation. Jarrett vanishes, not to return till the end of the year. It was just odd how all the hoopla of this show was surrounded by Jarrett, and then he vanishes. Best PPV match since Wrestlemania. Grade: 4

Justin: A really good match here that features solid psychology and some high impact wrestling. The crowd was really into the match, as Michaels was super over here. Jarrett brings it in his last WWF match for a while and Michaels carries his end of the bargain as always. This match is often forgotten since it was on such a throw away show, so it probably doesn’t get the credit it deserves, but it really is a lost classic. This is Michaels’ first singles title since he forfeited the I-C Title in October of 1993. In nice bit of continuity this reign would also end in controversy. Besides a brief confrontation on Raw, there wasn’t much build up to this match, as most of Jarrett’s focus was on his singing debut. This match is just a classic exhibition in solid wrestling and mixes a high impact style with a slower Southern style pace. Just a joy to watch and it ends up being the best match of Jarrett’s first run with the WWF. Michaels continues to put on great PPV match after great PPV match. If you haven’t seen this match before, do yourself a favor and track it down, as it doesn’t disappoint. Grade: 4

5) Owen Hart & Yokozuna (Rodney Anoia) defeat Allied Powers to retain WWF Tag Team Titles when Yoko pins Lex Luger (Lawrence Pfohl) after Owen Hart interference at 10:54

Fun Fact: This is Lex Luger’s final WWF PPV match. His final record is 5-5-1. He was 1-1 in Rumbles (he co-won 1994, so that counts), 2-1 at Wrestlemanias, 0-0-1 at KOTR, 1-1 at Summerslam, 0-1 at In Your Houses and 1-1 in Survivor Series matches. All in all, this was a pretty pedestrian record for the man who had been deemed as the “next Hulk Hogan.”

Scott: We are coming to the end of Lex Luger’s WWF career, as he and Bulldog put on a good match against the reigning tag team champions. Again more restholds, but at this point, it’s what you should expect from the almost 600 pound Yokozuna. Bulldog’s run as a face would end very soon which actually becomes a great benefit for his career. Owen & Yoko would stay champs for a couple of months, before they become victims of the Clique. Owen has settled into a nice role as an upper mid-card heel, and has carried this team while Yoko does splashes, leg drops, and nerve pinches. Since it seems everyone in the WWF is passing him by, Luger will have a change in working environment very soon. Grade: 2

Justin: An OK match that had a bit of a surprise ending at the time. I would have bet money that the Allied Powers would take home the titles here, as Owen & Yoko were due for a loss and the Powers seemed to be on track for a title reign. Luger and Bulldog were actually headed for an interesting little storyline turn, but Luger would shock the world in a little over a month’s time and the plans for the two never came to fruition. The unlikely due of Owen & Yoko roll along and continue to dominate the tag division. Grade: 2

6) Diesel (Kevin Nash) defeats Sid (Sid Eudy) in a “Lumberjack” Match to retain WWF World Title with a boot to the face at 10:03

Scott: Oh man, this is getting worse and worse by the month. My new nickname for Diesel is Big Daddy Cruel, since we are being treated cruelly to horrific main events this summer. This is a real lumberjack match, as there are 30 guys around the ring, 15 faces and 15 heels. There’s a lot of outside interference in this one, as there should be, but it doesn’t make up for the abysmal wrestling in the ring. Who wins a match with a boot to the face? When Vince was trying to mold Diesel to be like Hogan, he wasn’t kidding. What’s worse, his boot missed Sid’s head by like 2 feet. It’s absolutely inexcusable how bad this has become. When Diesel and Mabel start jawing with each other after the match, fear starts to creep into your mind as to what is coming on the horizon for the second biggest show of the year. Ugh. One point to note, one of the lumberjacks is a newcomer from WCW with long blond hair. That newcomer was none other than Hunter Hearst Helmsley. Triple H makes his first WWF PPV appearance in July 1995. It’s amazing that as of this writing, “The Game” has been here over 11 years, and we will have more on the “Greenwich Blueblood” in our next review. However for now, the main events are horrendous, and it’s just not stopping. Grade: 1.5

Justin: A pretty sad-ass main event, but it is actually better than the one at IYH in May for two reasons. One, it is marginally shorter, and two, having all of the Lumberjacks at ringside made the match more exciting than the first encounter. Plus, this match features the only PPV appearance of Tekno Team 2000. One of the worst moments of this match is when Mabel attacks Diesel on the outside of the ring, and you get that weird “oh, no” feeling, as you slowly realize what the Main Event of Summerslam is going to be. The boot to finish the match was so bad that it made Hogan look like the Great Muta. Diesel was tanking the WWF and fast, yet Vince will continue to stick with him even as his ship was sinking. There really isn’t much else to say here other than the show ends on a pretty sad note. Grade: 1.5

FINAL ANALYSIS:

Scott: After the atrocious effort that was King of the Ring, this was a little better. Yes, Mabel is still pushed down our throats, and Diesel is still putting on bad main events, but the undercard here wasn’t as bad. Everyone that knows me knows I love Sid, but 1995 was not his best year. Shawn Michaels puts on a typical HBK performance, the tag match is pretty good, but two things are missing. Bret Hart and the Undertaker don’t make the PPV broadcast for the second time in three months. This is off the wall, as two of the most over guys in the company are relegated to video afterthoughts. Both matches they wrestled here would be at Summerslam, but then why not give them other opponents? Maybe I’m not getting it, but a PPV in 1995 without Bret Hart and Undertaker is like a bar without the liquor. Other than Shawn Michaels, who else was there to cheer for? Certainly not Diesel and the fans are figuring that out. The fans in the audience got the pops, but the TV audience was stiffed. This isn’t as god-awful as last month, and the IC Title match is a forgotten gem in the pantheon of PPV, but the rest of this was crap. Final Grade: D+

Justin: A pretty pedestrian PPV that features a lost classic and a hot opener, but not much else. I kind of understand why Bret and Taker were left off, but it was wrong place, wrong time. Vince only had 2 hours, and he probably wanted to showcase a different variety of wrestlers than the same old guys. However, while his heart may have been in the right place, he just didn’t have the talent to make it work yet. Sure, in 1996 you can keep Taker off the card, because he had a slew of new talent that was, you know, good. But in 1995, he couldn’t take chances like that. Of course he did, and the company almost went bankrupt, but he finally took a hint and started pushing wrestlers that the crowd wanted pushed. I’m not even going to touch Mabel/Diesel yet, as we will save that for Summerslam. Michaels/Jarrett saves this show from an F, which shows just how good that match was. Final Grade: D+

MVP: Shawn Michaels & Jeff Jarrett
Runner-Up: 1-2-3 Kid & Roadie
Non MVP: Diesel & Sid
Runner-Up: Bam Bam Bigelow

All Time PPV Active-Wrestler Roster

Tito Santana
Buddy Rose
“Special Delivery” Jones
King Kong Bundy
Ricky Steamboat
Matt Borne
Brutus Beefcake
David Sammartino
Greg Valentine
Junkyard Dog
Barry Windham
Mike Rotundo
Iron Sheik
Nikolai Volkoff
Andre the Giant
Big John Studd
Leilani Kai
Wendi Richter
Paul Orndorff
Roddy Piper
Mr. T
Hulk Hogan
Don Muraco
Randy Savage
George Steele
George Wells
Jake Roberts
Fabulous Moolah
Velvet McIntyre
Corporal Kirschner
Ted Arcidi
Tony Atlas
Brian Blair
Jim Brunzell
Bret Hart
Jim Neidhart
Hillbilly Jim
King Tonga (Haku)
Pedro Morales
Bruno Sammartino
Danny Spivey
Jim Covert
Russ Francis
Bill Fralic
Ernie Holmes
Harvey Martin
William Perry
Davey Boy Smith
Dynamite Kid
Hercules
Uncle Elmer
Adrian Adonis
Terry Funk
Dory Funk, Jr.
Rick Martel
Tom Zenk
Bob Orton
Billy Jack Haynes
Hillbilly Jim
Haiti Kid
Little Beaver
Lord Littlebrook
Little Tokyo
Harley Race
Jacques Rougeau
Raymond Rougeau
Danny Davis
Butch Reed
Koko B. Ware
Honky Tonk Man
Jim Duggan
Ron Bass
Judy Martin
Dawn Marie
Donna Christanello
Sherri Martel
Noriyoi Tateno
Itsuki Yamazaki
Rockin’ Robin
Ax
Smash
Tama
Boris Zhukov
Jim Powers
Paul Roma
One Man Gang
Rick Rude
Ken Patera
Bam Bam Bigelow
Ultimate Warrior
Sam Houston
Sika
Bobby Heenan
Barbarian
Warlord
Big Boss Man
Marty Jannetty
Shawn Michaels
Arn Anderson
Tully Blanchard
Conquistador Uno
Conquistador Dos
Blue Blazer
Mr. Perfect
Scott Casey
Akeem
Red Rooster
Rockin Robin
Ronnie Garvin
Bushwhacker Butch
Bushwhacker Luke
Mr. Fuji
Dusty Rhodes
Jimmy Snuka
Zeus
Earthquake
The Genius
Sapphire
Sato
Tanaka
Kerry Von Erich
Crush
Hawk
Animal
Undertaker
Tugboat/Typhoon
Sgt. Slaughter
Kato
Mountie
Virgil
Dustin Rhodes
Shane Douglas
Brian Knobbs
Jerry Sags
Genichiro Tenryu
Koji Kitao
General Adnan
Irwin R. Schyster
Ric Flair
Berzerker
Skinner
Blake Beverly
Beau Beverly
Repo-Man
Owen Hart
Tatanka
Nailz
Kamala
Samu
Fatu
Razor Ramon
Yokozuna
Rick Steiner
Scott Steiner
Bob Backlund
Papa Shango
Jerry Lawler
Max Moon
Carlos Colon
Doink
Lex Luger
Giant Gonzalez
Mr. Hughes
Billy Gunn
Bart Gunn
Jimmy Del Ray
Tom Pritchard
1-2-3 Kid
Ludvig Borga
Diesel
Adam Bomb
Keith Hart
Bruce Hart
Black Knight
Blue Knight
Red Knight
Robert Gibson
Ricky Morton
Mabel
Mo
Bastion Booger
Pierre
Kwang
Great Kabuki
Bob Holly
Luna Vachon
Dink
Alundra Blayze
Bull Nakano
Ted DiBiase’s Undertaker
Wink
Pink
Queasy
Sleazy
Cheesy
Eli Blu
Jacob Blu
Duke Droese
Timothy Well
Stephen Dunn
Mantaur
Aldo Montoya
Henry Godwin
Dick Murdoch
Lawrence Taylor
Hakushi
Roadie
Savio Vega
Kama

PPV Rest in Peace List
“Playboy” Buddy Rose (Wrestlemania I)
“Special Delivery” Jones (Wrestlemania I)
Uncle Elmer (Wrestlemania II)
Adrian Adonis (Wrestlemania III)
Haiti Kid (Wrestlemania III)
Little Beaver (Wrestlemania III)
Junkyard Dog (Summerslam 1988)
Big John Studd (Wrestlemania V)
Sapphire (Summerslam 1990)
Dino Bravo (Wrestlemania VII)
Andre the Giant (Summerslam 1991)
Texas Tornado (Royal Rumble 1992)
Hercules (Royal Rumble 1992)
Elizabeth (Wrestlemania VIII)
Sensational Sherri (Wrestlemania IX)
Ludvig Borga (Survivor Series 1993)
Captain Lou Albano (Royal Rumble 1995)
Dick Murdoch (Royal Rumble 1995)

Next Review: Summerslam 1995