(03.11.96)
Live from San Antonio, TX
Your hosts are Vince McMahon & Jerry Lawler
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin (W/Ted Dibiase) Vs Savio Vega
The match ends in a double countout. Both wind up getting into a huge brawl after the match, which Savio wins. These two have always had good chemistry with each other. If you really wanna see a good match between these two, check out their strap match at In Your House: Beware of the Dog.
**1/4
It's time for a face to face interview with "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and Goldust. Piper calls Goldust a fruitcake to start things off. He also calls Goldust a transvestite. He says Goldust is just trying to get attention from people, and that's all. Piper reminds Goldust that he dealt with Adrian Adonis and Goldust's mind games aren't fooling him for a second. He says Goldust is what he is, but Piper is a lesbian. HA! He says Goldust is terrifying the kids and making a mockery of the Intercontinental title. He says he's messing with the wrong guy and not even Freddy Krueger comes into his nightmares. That was a great line! Goldust says Hollywood has led Piper astray and that he's here to bring Piper back down to earth. Goldust lifts up Piper's skirt, but Piper isn't buying into the mind games of Goldust. Goldust slaps Piper, so Piper slaps him back. Piper says he'll fight Goldust in a backlot brawl and make a man out of him.
Thoughts: As creepy as it is, I have to give Goldust credit for being fully committed to the gimmick. Piper was the perfect choice for Goldust's first major Wrestlemania feud.
The Godwinns (W/Hillbilly Jim) Vs Jerry Meade & Alex Porteau
The Godwinns win when Henry Godwinn pins Porteau with a slop drop. This is a VERY basic squash match to elevate The Godwinns, nothing more, nothing less.
1/4*
Shawn Michaels is going back to his humble beginnings to train with his mentor, Jose Lothario. Shawn is shown discussing his boyhood dream with Lothario and doing various training exercises. Meanwhile, Bret is training for his match back home in Calgary. Bret says Shawn is good, but Mexican wrestling can't compare to the tough training he's had to endure with Stu Hart in the Dungeon. He says it really bothers him that people think Shawn is a better wrestler than him. He calls Shawn's fans bandwagoners and says people will see that Shawn is not the best.
Thoughts: I preferred Bret's segment the best. Shawn's is a nice underdog story with a dream, but Bret was the confident babyface, wanting to prove that he really is the best in the world. I also liked how they were slowly building up the animosity between Shawn and Bret. This would be a picnic compared to their real hatred for each other in the next year or so.
The Ultimate Warrior returns at Wrestlemania 12 to face Hunter Hearst Helmsley.
Hunter Hearst Helmsley Vs Vin Grier
Helmsley demolishes Grier to win with a Pedigree. This was simply here to make Hunter look strong heading into towards his match with Warrior at Wrestlemania.
1/4*
We get a "Geriatric Control Center" report with Scheme Gene. The Huckster will face Nacho Man during the Free For All pre-show at Wrestlemania 12. There will be no handcuffs or ladies shoes allowed at ringside. They show The Huckster struggling to train with an oxygen tank. They also do a segment where they try to add some hair on Nacho Man's balding head. If that's not enough, Billionaire Ted is the guest referee. This is amateur hour! Very unfunny and pointless stuff.
The British Bulldog & Owen Hart (W/Jim Cornette) Vs Yokozuna & The Undertaker
Tension is teased between Yokozuna and The Undertaker, but nothing really comes of it. Diesel comes down and decks Paul Bearer. The Undertaker goes after him, leaving Yokozuna to face Bulldog and Owen in a handicapped match. The match ends in a DQ after Vader, Ahmed Johnson, and Jake Roberts interfere. The babyfaces (Yokozuna, Ahmed Johnson, and Jake Roberts) end up getting the upper hand.
3/4*
Thoughts: This wasn't much of a match! It was really all about the aftermath after the match. I liked the continuity of Yokozuna and Taker. WWE didn't forget that they had casket matches and hated each other. Everything was advanced here nicely, even Taker and Diesel.
Live from San Antonio, TX
Your hosts are Vince McMahon & Jerry Lawler
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin (W/Ted Dibiase) Vs Savio Vega
The match ends in a double countout. Both wind up getting into a huge brawl after the match, which Savio wins. These two have always had good chemistry with each other. If you really wanna see a good match between these two, check out their strap match at In Your House: Beware of the Dog.
**1/4
It's time for a face to face interview with "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and Goldust. Piper calls Goldust a fruitcake to start things off. He also calls Goldust a transvestite. He says Goldust is just trying to get attention from people, and that's all. Piper reminds Goldust that he dealt with Adrian Adonis and Goldust's mind games aren't fooling him for a second. He says Goldust is what he is, but Piper is a lesbian. HA! He says Goldust is terrifying the kids and making a mockery of the Intercontinental title. He says he's messing with the wrong guy and not even Freddy Krueger comes into his nightmares. That was a great line! Goldust says Hollywood has led Piper astray and that he's here to bring Piper back down to earth. Goldust lifts up Piper's skirt, but Piper isn't buying into the mind games of Goldust. Goldust slaps Piper, so Piper slaps him back. Piper says he'll fight Goldust in a backlot brawl and make a man out of him.
Thoughts: As creepy as it is, I have to give Goldust credit for being fully committed to the gimmick. Piper was the perfect choice for Goldust's first major Wrestlemania feud.
The Godwinns (W/Hillbilly Jim) Vs Jerry Meade & Alex Porteau
The Godwinns win when Henry Godwinn pins Porteau with a slop drop. This is a VERY basic squash match to elevate The Godwinns, nothing more, nothing less.
1/4*
Shawn Michaels is going back to his humble beginnings to train with his mentor, Jose Lothario. Shawn is shown discussing his boyhood dream with Lothario and doing various training exercises. Meanwhile, Bret is training for his match back home in Calgary. Bret says Shawn is good, but Mexican wrestling can't compare to the tough training he's had to endure with Stu Hart in the Dungeon. He says it really bothers him that people think Shawn is a better wrestler than him. He calls Shawn's fans bandwagoners and says people will see that Shawn is not the best.
Thoughts: I preferred Bret's segment the best. Shawn's is a nice underdog story with a dream, but Bret was the confident babyface, wanting to prove that he really is the best in the world. I also liked how they were slowly building up the animosity between Shawn and Bret. This would be a picnic compared to their real hatred for each other in the next year or so.
The Ultimate Warrior returns at Wrestlemania 12 to face Hunter Hearst Helmsley.
Hunter Hearst Helmsley Vs Vin Grier
Helmsley demolishes Grier to win with a Pedigree. This was simply here to make Hunter look strong heading into towards his match with Warrior at Wrestlemania.
1/4*
We get a "Geriatric Control Center" report with Scheme Gene. The Huckster will face Nacho Man during the Free For All pre-show at Wrestlemania 12. There will be no handcuffs or ladies shoes allowed at ringside. They show The Huckster struggling to train with an oxygen tank. They also do a segment where they try to add some hair on Nacho Man's balding head. If that's not enough, Billionaire Ted is the guest referee. This is amateur hour! Very unfunny and pointless stuff.
The British Bulldog & Owen Hart (W/Jim Cornette) Vs Yokozuna & The Undertaker
Tension is teased between Yokozuna and The Undertaker, but nothing really comes of it. Diesel comes down and decks Paul Bearer. The Undertaker goes after him, leaving Yokozuna to face Bulldog and Owen in a handicapped match. The match ends in a DQ after Vader, Ahmed Johnson, and Jake Roberts interfere. The babyfaces (Yokozuna, Ahmed Johnson, and Jake Roberts) end up getting the upper hand.
3/4*
Thoughts: This wasn't much of a match! It was really all about the aftermath after the match. I liked the continuity of Yokozuna and Taker. WWE didn't forget that they had casket matches and hated each other. Everything was advanced here nicely, even Taker and Diesel.
