Post by kingofoldschool on Jul 17, 2020 6:54:16 GMT -5
Monday Night RAW
March 25th, 1996
Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, TX
Your commentators are Vince McMahon and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan.
Tonight's edition of Monday Night RAW, the final stop on the road to WrestleMania, began with a video package narrated by Jim Ross to hype the match between Chris Jericho and Lance Storm. These two men broke into professional wrestling together and met at wrestling camp at the Hart family dungeon. Jericho and Storm had their very first match against one another in front of 100 fans in Ponoka, Alberta, Canada. From there, they worked their way up to become the best team in the industry, capturing the World Tag Team Titles on two occasions. But then, Storm grew jealous of Jericho's friendship with Owen Hart and turned his back on his partner of six years. This all leads up to tonight's opening contest on RAW.
These two former partners and best friends know each other so well and it showed in the early going as they traded armdrags. Chris Jericho countered a charge in the corner with a dropkick and then sent Lance Storm to the outside with a baseball slide. Jericho attempted to dive onto Storm from the apron but Storm side-stepped and sent Jericho into the guardrail. Back inside, Storm showcased his tremendous leaping ability with a beautiful dropkick. Storm hit a delayed vertical suplex for a near fall. Storm leapt to the top rope, looking for a flying back elbow, but Jericho countered with a dropkick between the shoulder blades! Jericho scored with an enzuigiri as WWF Tag Team Champions Lord Steven Regal and Hunter Hearst Helmsley, along with their manager Lord Alfred Hayes, came out on a scouting mission.
The two men traded roll ups. Jericho almost won it with a tiger suplex, before Storm launched himself and rocked Jericho's jaw with a leg lariat. A superkick from Storm got a two count. Jericho blocked a superplex and then executed a gourdbuster off the top, before connecting with a flying back elbow from the top rope. Jericho then had a frank exchange of views with the Tag Team Champions, who remained at ringside. Owen Hart arrived to get into it with the Gentleman's Club and as they began arguing, the referee left the ring to prevent things getting physical. PJ Walker, Storm's new tag team partner in the Impact Players, then attempted to get involved but Jericho cut him off with a springboard dropkick. Jericho took Storm down with an O'Connor roll but Storm kicked out, sending Jericho straight into a wicked kendo stick shot from PJ Walker! Walker caught Jericho right between the eyes and Storm easily scored the pin.
Lance Storm defeated Chris Jericho via pinfall in 0:12:48.
Rating: *** 1/2
[PJ Walker interfered against Chris Jericho.]
After the match, Lance Storm and PJ Walker continued the assault on Chris Jericho. Owen Hart was quickly on hand to intervene and the new teams of The Impact Players and The Lion Harts became embroiled in a wild brawl. As a slew of officials made their way out to restore order as The Gentleman's Club retreated to the back, delighted at seeing both challengers to their Tag Team Titles beating the hell out of each other.
In his dressing room, Scott Steiner was warming up for his match with Ahmed Johnson when Commissioner Slaughter walked in. Slaughter handed over the release papers from Bret Hart, which had been signed and faxed over by The Hitman earlier. This appeared to raise Steiner’s ire.
Video was shown of The Undertaker visiting his parents' gravesite to apologise for his failures in life and disappointing them at times. The Undertaker asked them for forgiveness for going against his own flesh and blood at WrestleMania. Undertaker hoped that in the end they can all rest in peace together, a family once again. And if that is not the case, The Undertaker said that he alone is willing to serve his penance. He is willing to burn in his own damnation. He is willing to look his destiny in the eye and go where the reaper leads him. The Undertaker asked his parents to understand that Kane has given him no other choice. He has to fight.
Scott Steiner was pacing in the ring as Ahmed Johnson made his way out. However, Johnson was jumped in the aisle by Steiner's stablemates, The Heavenly Bodies! Jimmy Del Ray and Tom Prichard threw Johnson into the ring and put the boots to him, while Tammy Fytch and Scott Steiner appeared to be having some sort of argument. It seemed that Fytch was oblivious to the plan to attack Ahmed Johnson, a man she had recently been making no attempt to hide her admiration for. With the crowd firmly behind him, Ahmed made his comeback on The Bodies. Johnson dropped Del Ray with an ax kick and planted Prichard with a spinebuster, but then Steiner struck him hard in the back of the head with a forearm smash. The impact sent the Pearl River Powerhouse to the outside and Steiner followed him out to ringside.
Scott Steiner crushed Ahmed Johnson against the guardrail with a Steinerline and then threw him viciously into the ring steps, completely dismantling them. Steiner picked up the top section of the steps and drove them into Johnson's face, flooring the Pearl River Powerhouse. Steiner threw Johnson into the ring and brought the steps back in with him. Johnson fought back with punches as the fans rallied behind him, but Steiner cut him off with a low kick. Steiner threw Johnson into the steps again and then applied the Steiner Recliner on top of the steps. Steiner is sending a message to Bret Hart here.
WWF Champion Shawn Michaels cut a promo ahead of his Ladder Match with Razor Ramon at WrestleMania. The Heartbreak Kid was currently in a bar in San Antonio and disingenuously apologised for his absence, citing "prior commitments". Michaels angrily tore into Ramon for embarrassing him in his home town last week and claimed that The Bad Guy will go down, just like everybody else in the WWF does when it comes to The Heartbreak Kid. Michaels said that Ramon hasn't shown him anything new since The Bad Guy decided to come crawling back from under his rock, adding that Ramon is still the same guy that ate his boot at WrestleMania last year. This time around, Michaels said that history will repeat itself when he puts his boot upside Ramon's face with a little Sweet Chin Music.
The Heartbreak Kid continued that at WrestleMania, he is not going to step down from where he has worked so hard to get; not to Razor Ramon, not to anybody. Instead, Michaels said that he will step up, rung by rung, to get to the very top where he belongs, while Razor Ramon will fall down the ladder of success so quickly he'll get splinters in his ass. This Sunday, Michaels vowed to walk out still The Icon, still The Show Stopper, still The Main Event and most importantly, still the WWF Champion.
Razor Ramon vs Jeff Jarrett
Jeff Jarrett got all up in Razor Ramon's face to begin, telling Ramon that he should be in the main event of WrestleMania instead of The Bad Guy. Jarrett then shoved Ramon, but received a toothpick to the face in response! Double J took the early advantage with some impressive reversals, prompting Vince McMahon to ponder if Ramon was thinking ahead to WrestleMania instead of focusing on his opponent tonight. Ramon caught Jarrett on a cross-body block and hit the fallaway slam. Jarrett rolled to the outside, where he regained control by ramming Razor's head into the ring apron. Back in the ring, Jarrett used a snap mare followed by a fistdrop off the middle rope for a close two count. Double J kept Razor grounded with a chinlock and put his feet on the ropes to apply more pressure behind the referee's back. On commentary, the announcers pondered whether Razor Ramon had maybe taken on too much with this bout just days away from WrestleMania.
Razor Ramon surprised Jeff Jarrett with a roll up for a near fall, but Jarrett recovered and hit a clothesline. Jarrett applied a sleeperhold, jumping on his larger opponent's back for extra leverage. The referee lifted Razor's arm twice, but it didn't drop on the third attempt and Ramon got the adrenaline pumping. The Bad Guy got to his feet and broke the hold with a back suplex. Razor unloaded with hard right hands, knocking Jarrett loopy. Out of desperation, Jarrett managed to grab Razor by the trunks and threw him to the outside. With Ramon on his hands and knees, Wynonna planted a well-placed boot into his ribs! Ramon started to go after Jarrett's manager, drawing the official out to get between them. Meanwhile, Jarrett pulled a ladder out from under the other side of the ring and propped it up in the corner. Jarrett then jumped Ramon from behind and slammed his head into the steel steps, before tossing Ramon back into the ring. Double J attempted to whip Ramon into the ladder, but Ramon put the brakes on and pulled Jarrett into a kick to the gut. Ramon then took Jarrett down in the Razor's Edge for the pinfall.
Razor Ramon pinned Jeff Jarrett with the Razor's Edge in 0:15:08.
Jeff Jarrett suffered a back injury. He will be out for approximately 3 months.
Rating: ** 3/4
[Wynonna interfered against Razor Ramon.]
Razor Ramon had barely gotten back to his feet when Shawn Michaels sprinted through the crowd and into the ring. He was here all along!! Michaels begged Ramon to turn around and when The Bad Guy did just that, he walked into Sweet Chin Music!! The crowd booed Michaels out of the building as he set the ladder up so that Ramon was slumped underneath it. The Heartbreak Kid then climbed to the top rung and held his WWF Championship belt aloft. Vince McMahon wondered if we will see this same sight at the end of WrestleMania this Sunday as the show went off air.
Circuit information:
WrestleMania XII is live on pay-per-view this Sunday night from the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California! Let's preview the final card...
WWF Championship Ladder Match
Shawn Michaels vs Razor Ramon
Razor Ramon and Shawn Michaels became embroiled in a bitter feud when Michaels interfered to cost Ramon his Intercontinental Championship at SummerSlam 1994. However, due to the elusive Michaels' tactics, Ramon was made to wait until WrestleMania XI to finally get his hands on the Heartbreak Kid. But Michaels shocked the world when he pinned The Bad Guy clean in the middle of the ring with the superkick. Ramon disappeared from our screens after the crushing loss and was in a slump. Meanwhile, Shawn Michaels was enjoying his most successful year in the ring to date, which culminated with Michaels becoming WWF Champion at Survivor Series.
Watching his arch enemy capture the sport’s biggest prize was the inspiration Razor Ramon needed to return. In his first appearance since WrestleMania XI, Ramon surprised everybody when he showed up at the Royal Rumble this past January. The Bad Guy entered the fray at number 17 and upon arrival he ended Diesel’s show of dominance, tossing Shawn Michaels' bodyguard to the floor after Big Daddy Cool had eliminated six other superstars. Ramon went on to win the 30-man match to earn this shot at the WWF Championship at WrestleMania XII.
The Bad Guy was building momentum and Shawn Michaels was rattled. Michaels goaded Ramon into putting his WrestleMania title shot on the line against Diesel, but Ramon duly dispatched with Big Daddy Cool at In Your House to keep his title dreams alive. Michaels attacked Ramon with a ladder after that bout, which prompted Commissioner Slaughter to add this unique stipulation to the WWF Championship Match at WrestleMania. The first man who is able to climb to the top of the ladder and capture the title belt will walk out of WrestleMania the WWF Champion, but don’t forget that the ladder can also be used as a weapon. Will history repeat itself and Shawn Michaels defeats Razor Ramon once again on the biggest show of the year? Or can The Bad Guy win the WWF Title for the very first time? Ramon would dearly love to avenge last year’s defeat while also taking the prize that Michaels holds most dear on the grandest stage of all. One way or another, history will be made this Sunday.
Bret "Hitman" Hart vs "Superstar" Scott Steiner
Scott Steiner's unprovoked and vicious attack on Bret Hart, punctuated with a Steiner Screwdriver on the steel steps, was one of the most shocking events in recent memory. There were serious fears that The Hitman's career was over due to the neck injuries suffered in the beating, but instead of showing any remorse Steiner just made things more and more personal. Steiner and Tammy Fytch flew all the way to Calgary just to bully and terrorise Bret’s elderly parents in their own home. He developed a new submission hold, the Steiner Recliner, which he claims is more effective than the Hitman's own Sharpshooter and used this to defeat Bret's brother Owen at In Your House in December. Steiner also produced new T-shirts which glorified his assault of The Hitman and tastelessly claimed all proceeds would go to Hart's retirement fund.
Scott Steiner feels that his career will be boosted exponentially by curtailng that of the legendary Hitman, so when Bret Hart arranged an interview on RAW last month Steiner fully expected Hart to announce his retirement. Instead, Bret revealed that his recovery was almost complete and he was returning to hunt down Steiner. The volatile Steiner has vowed to finish the job and end Hart’s career when they meet at WrestleMania. Steiner even went so far to draw up a waiver absolving himself of any responsibility, but Hart is chomping at the bit to settle the score with Steiner and duly signed the document. Don’t expect much wrestling in this battle between the NCAA Division I All American and The Excellence of Execution; this situation is much too personal for that, so strap yourselves in for a knock-down drag-out fight!
The Undertaker vs Kane
This sibling showdown has been eighteen months in the making.
Shortly after The Undertaker captured the WWF Championship for a second time at the 1994 Survivor Series, Ted DiBiase began threatening The Deadman with a secret that would destroy The Undertaker. DiBiase agreed to keep quiet in return for a title shot at the Royal Rumble, but when the Million Dollar Man came up short he revealed to the world that The Undertaker had set fire to his parents' funeral home, killing them and his younger brother, Kane. Enraged, The Undertaker viciously assaulted DiBiase, culminating in a Tombstone piledriver on the exposed concrete floor which has confined Ted DiBiase to a wheelchair ever since.
The following June it was revealed that DiBiase has been the silent benefactor to Gary Hart's Black Friday Management stable and he used this relationship to conspire to cost The Undertaker the WWF Championship at the King of the Ring. DiBiase would continue to embarrass The Undertaker by bringing up his past and calling him a murderer, before The Million Dollar Man turned The Undertaker's world upside down by announcing that Kane had actually survived the fire and was coming for revenge. The Deadman swore there was no chance Kane survived the horrific fire that claimed the life of his parents.
However, as The Undertaker and Sabu clashed in the first ever (deep breath) Exploding No Rope Barbed Wire Exploding Ring Time Bomb Death Match (which was funded by DiBiase) at Survivor Series, the lights went out, the arena turned red and out came Ted DiBiase…with a masked monster who was revealed to be Kane! Kane proceeded to confront a shocked Undertaker, standing face-to-face with his older brother for the first time in twenty years, before delivering a Tombstone and leaving him for dead as the ring exploded.
If DiBiase and Kane thought that was the end of The Undertaker, they would be left bitterly disappointed as The Phenom returned on RAW to crash his own funeral wake. This was to be followed by taunting and constant challenges from the Million Dollar Man in an attempt to get The Undertaker to go one-on-one with his younger brother. Kane wanted to take out all of his pent-up and vindictive aggression out on his brother but Undertaker refused to fight his own flesh and blood, even when Kane attacked him. Kane cost The Undertaker a Casket Match against Sabu at the Royal Rumble and in the aftermath Ted DiBiase and the crimson demon locked Undertaker in the casket and set it ablaze.
After disposing of his brother, Kane turned his attention to the rest of the WWF and seemingly had complete control until The Undertaker made a surprise return earlier this month, proclaiming himself ready to face Kane. Undertaker was shown tonight speaking to his parents' gravestones, revealing it may have to take the damnation of his soul to reunite their troubled family. This family will be very much divided this Sunday when these two brothers face off for the very first time.
Ultimate Warrior vs TITAN
TITAN made his very first appearance at last year’s WrestleMania and has carved a path of destruction ever since. In that time TITAN has never been pinned or submitted and has defeated some of the biggest men on the roster - Adam Bomb, Bam Bam Bigelow, Lex Luger - almost effortlessly. Also at last year’s event, The Ultimate Warrior returned after a three and a half year absence, picking up right where he left off with the same passion and intensity. It seemed inevitable that these two men would run into each other at some point and that’s exactly what happened during the first ever Wild Card match at Survivor Series, when they battled to a double count-out. Their paths crossed again in the Royal Rumble, where TITAN surprisingly eliminated Warrior with little effort. TITAN was ousted at the end of the match by eventual winner Razor Ramon, but his manager Harvey Wippleman still insists to this day that TITAN was wronged and is in fact the real winner of the 30-man match. When Wippleman attempted to make this point the following night on RAW, he was interrupted by The Warrior who cleared TITAN from the ring and saved the show from being hijacked. Three weeks later, TITAN interjected himself in a six man tag team match and targeted the Warrior, choke slamming him straight through the ring in one of the most memorable moments in WWF history!!
The Ultimate Warrior's battles with WWF Hall of Famer Andre the Giant are legendary, but TITAN is arguably more athletic, stronger and more ruthless than the Eighth Wonder of the World. Warrior has enjoyed some of his finest career highlights at the biggest show of them all, but he could truly be facing his Ultimate challenge against TITAN at WrestleMania.
WWF Intercontinental Championship
Ludvig Borga vs Crush
Crush was presented with this opportunity after overcoming Scott Steiner in a Steel Cage Match last month at In Your House. The benefits for the big Hawaiian are two-fold: it gives him the chance to silence the critics who claim that he fails each time it matters most, and it allows him to end his rivalry with Ludvig Borga which stretches back to when the Hellraiser from Helsinki started with the company almost eighteen months ago. Crush and Borga confronted each other for the first time back on 8th October 1994, one week after Borga had made his debut. Borga sucker punched and eliminated Crush at the 1994 Survivor Series, becoming the sole survivor in the elimination match, but then The Hellraiser from Helsinki tore his groin on Christmas Eve that same year during the course of a six man tag team match.
In the summer of 1995 Ludvig Borga returned better than ever, pinning The Undertaker at July's In Your House and capturing the Intercontinental Championship from Lex Luger one month later at SummerSlam. The dispute between Crush and Borga was renewed when Crush pinned the Intercontinental Champion at Survivor Series, returning the favour from the previous year, to win the very first Wild Card Match for his team. With each man holding a pinfall win over the other, this will be the long overdue blow-off match between these two superstars. Crush's Cage victory over Scott Steiner was just the latest in an impressive run of wins for the big Hawaiian and he is more focused and determined than ever to capture his very first Championship at the expense of the coldhearted Borga.
WWF Tag Team Championship Triangle Elimination Match
Lord Steven Regal and Hunter Hearst Helmsley vs The Lion Harts vs The Impact Players
The Thrillseekers, Chris Jericho and Lance Storm, had been the dominant force in the tag team division here in the WWF, holding the belts for a full calendar year. They were scheduled to defend the gold against The Gentleman’s Club at the Royal Rumble but a pre-match attack from the challengers ruled Storm out of the bout. Luckily, Owen Hart stepped in to replace Storm and helped Jericho retain. However, the next night on RAW interim champions Jericho and Owen dropped the belts in a rematch when the British Bulldog returned to help his stablemates emerge victorious. Lance Storm blamed Owen for the loss, accusing The Rocket of taking his eye off the ball. Storm resented the fact that he had lost his championship without being involved in the match. Storm put his problems with Owen behind him to team with The Rocket and Chris Jericho in a victorious outing over the Gentleman’s Club in a six man tag at last month’s In Your House. As a result of capturing the winning fall, Jericho was allowed to choose a partner to challenge the Tag Team Champions. Instead of regular partner Storm, Jericho unexpectedly selected Owen – a man he has the utmost respect for – by way of thanking him for his recent assistance. Storm was furious and turned on Jericho during the match, costing his former best friend the opportunity to regain the titles. Storm vowed to find another partner to challenge for the championship he never lost but when PJ Walker offered to team with him, Storm initially turned him down after PJ’s recent string of insipid performances. However, Storm changed his mind after Walker brutally assaulted Jericho and Owen with a kendo stick on RAW. The three warring duos – The Gentleman’s Club, The Lion Harts and The Impact Players – will all collide at WrestleMania in a Triangle Elimination Match. This is the third consecutive year that the Tag Team Championship has been up for grabs in such a bout. Last year The Thrillseekers emerged victorious but will either Jericho or Storm walk out of Anaheim with the gold this time around, or will Regal and Helmsley hang on to the titles?
Dean Douglas vs "Lightning" Sean Waltman
WWF Board of Directors representative Dean Douglas first arrived on the scene last August in order to breathe down the neck of President Jack Tunney. And almost immediately, Douglas began jerking around Sean Waltman. Douglas overturned Waltman’s Intercontinental Title win at September's In Your House and disqualified Waltman after botched interference from the Great Muta. Three months later Douglas fined Waltman $7,500 after Waltman cracked the smarmy Douglas with an errant chair shot. That fine would double when Waltman could not disguise his amusement when Jack Tunney punched out Douglas. Tunney had lashed out after Douglas callously fired him on Christmas Day, bringing Tunney's eleven year tenure as WWF president to an end and installing Douglas himself as interim president. Douglas' new powers went to his head and made life more unbearable for Waltman. Douglas, who has no real business being anywhere near the ring, once again got too close to the action at the inaugural RAW Bowl and caught a boot to the face from Waltman. Douglas again made sure that Waltman was disqualified from the match, this time costing Waltman a shot at the Tag Team Titles.
But Dean Douglas would take things too far at the Royal Rumble when he attempted to interject himself physically against Sean Waltman in the Free For All Match. This did not sit well with the WWF Board of Directors but Douglas took no notice and again tried to cost Waltman a match on the February 5th edition of Monday Night RAW, throwing the title belt in for Ludvig Borga to use in the bout for the Intercontinental Championship. Douglas' plan backfired spectacularly though as Waltman blasted Borga with the Eye of the Storm onto the belt to win his first title in the WWF. Douglas would see that the reign would not be a long one, attacking Waltman during his match with Borga at In Your House in February and the strap ended up back with the Hellraiser from Helsinki.
That was the last straw; Dean Douglas had crossed the line. Following these actions, Douglas was removed from the position of interim President and placed on the active roster after Dean begged to remain with the company. Now a wrestler, Commissioner Slaughter booked Douglas in his first match against rival Sean Waltman at WrestleMania. But another superstar who has a problem with Waltman, Mr Perfect, has taken it upon himself to train Douglas for his match on Sunday. This is another way for Perfect to stick it to Waltman, the poster boy for the New Generation he has nothing but contempt for.
The world premiere of Goldust
Goldust vs Bam Bam Bigelow
With the make-up and constant reciting of movie quotes, the bizarre newcomer Goldust has ruffled some feathers since arriving in the WWF. Bam Bam Bigelow was one of those superstars unsettled by Goldust's theatrics and called out Goldust to face him at WrestleMania. The match was duly signed and the Beast from the East will battle the movie-obsessed megalomaniac this Sunday in the shadow of Hollywood. Will it be an Oscar-worthy performance from the man clad all in gold, or will Bigelow ensure that Goldust’s premiere is a box office flop?
Free For All
Four Corners Elimination Match
The winner faces the Intercontinental Champion the next night on RAW
"Stunning" Steve Austin vs Savio Vega vs Raven vs Sabu
Savio Vega, Steve Austin, Sabu and Raven will all collide in a Four Corners Elimination Match and the superstar who survives this one will get an Intercontinental Title shot the following night on RAW. There is no doubt that these four men are currently at the top of their game. Austin has recorded a string of impressive wins since entering the singles ranks following tag partner Brian Pillman's injury. Savio Vega has earned plaudits for never backing down in his battles with The Flock. Sabu came within an eyelash of dethroning WWF Champion Shawn Michaels last month. And since the former Scotty Flamingo underwent this metamorphosis to Raven, he has become a force to be reckoned with. Which superstar will seize the opportunity to take their career to the next level?
Before we get to WrestleMania, make sure you join us this weekend for Superstars which features only the second-ever Tag Team Turmoil Match in company history. This match, in which two teams start and when one is eliminated a new team comes to the ring until all teams have competed, will determine the top contenders to the Tag Team Titles coming out of WrestleMania! Till then, so long everybody!
March 25th, 1996
Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, TX
Your commentators are Vince McMahon and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan.
Tonight's edition of Monday Night RAW, the final stop on the road to WrestleMania, began with a video package narrated by Jim Ross to hype the match between Chris Jericho and Lance Storm. These two men broke into professional wrestling together and met at wrestling camp at the Hart family dungeon. Jericho and Storm had their very first match against one another in front of 100 fans in Ponoka, Alberta, Canada. From there, they worked their way up to become the best team in the industry, capturing the World Tag Team Titles on two occasions. But then, Storm grew jealous of Jericho's friendship with Owen Hart and turned his back on his partner of six years. This all leads up to tonight's opening contest on RAW.
Chris Jericho vs Lance Storm
The two men traded roll ups. Jericho almost won it with a tiger suplex, before Storm launched himself and rocked Jericho's jaw with a leg lariat. A superkick from Storm got a two count. Jericho blocked a superplex and then executed a gourdbuster off the top, before connecting with a flying back elbow from the top rope. Jericho then had a frank exchange of views with the Tag Team Champions, who remained at ringside. Owen Hart arrived to get into it with the Gentleman's Club and as they began arguing, the referee left the ring to prevent things getting physical. PJ Walker, Storm's new tag team partner in the Impact Players, then attempted to get involved but Jericho cut him off with a springboard dropkick. Jericho took Storm down with an O'Connor roll but Storm kicked out, sending Jericho straight into a wicked kendo stick shot from PJ Walker! Walker caught Jericho right between the eyes and Storm easily scored the pin.
Lance Storm defeated Chris Jericho via pinfall in 0:12:48.
Rating: *** 1/2
[PJ Walker interfered against Chris Jericho.]
After the match, Lance Storm and PJ Walker continued the assault on Chris Jericho. Owen Hart was quickly on hand to intervene and the new teams of The Impact Players and The Lion Harts became embroiled in a wild brawl. As a slew of officials made their way out to restore order as The Gentleman's Club retreated to the back, delighted at seeing both challengers to their Tag Team Titles beating the hell out of each other.
In his dressing room, Scott Steiner was warming up for his match with Ahmed Johnson when Commissioner Slaughter walked in. Slaughter handed over the release papers from Bret Hart, which had been signed and faxed over by The Hitman earlier. This appeared to raise Steiner’s ire.
Video was shown of The Undertaker visiting his parents' gravesite to apologise for his failures in life and disappointing them at times. The Undertaker asked them for forgiveness for going against his own flesh and blood at WrestleMania. Undertaker hoped that in the end they can all rest in peace together, a family once again. And if that is not the case, The Undertaker said that he alone is willing to serve his penance. He is willing to burn in his own damnation. He is willing to look his destiny in the eye and go where the reaper leads him. The Undertaker asked his parents to understand that Kane has given him no other choice. He has to fight.
Ahmed Johnson vs Scott Steiner
Scott Steiner crushed Ahmed Johnson against the guardrail with a Steinerline and then threw him viciously into the ring steps, completely dismantling them. Steiner picked up the top section of the steps and drove them into Johnson's face, flooring the Pearl River Powerhouse. Steiner threw Johnson into the ring and brought the steps back in with him. Johnson fought back with punches as the fans rallied behind him, but Steiner cut him off with a low kick. Steiner threw Johnson into the steps again and then applied the Steiner Recliner on top of the steps. Steiner is sending a message to Bret Hart here.
WWF Champion Shawn Michaels cut a promo ahead of his Ladder Match with Razor Ramon at WrestleMania. The Heartbreak Kid was currently in a bar in San Antonio and disingenuously apologised for his absence, citing "prior commitments". Michaels angrily tore into Ramon for embarrassing him in his home town last week and claimed that The Bad Guy will go down, just like everybody else in the WWF does when it comes to The Heartbreak Kid. Michaels said that Ramon hasn't shown him anything new since The Bad Guy decided to come crawling back from under his rock, adding that Ramon is still the same guy that ate his boot at WrestleMania last year. This time around, Michaels said that history will repeat itself when he puts his boot upside Ramon's face with a little Sweet Chin Music.
The Heartbreak Kid continued that at WrestleMania, he is not going to step down from where he has worked so hard to get; not to Razor Ramon, not to anybody. Instead, Michaels said that he will step up, rung by rung, to get to the very top where he belongs, while Razor Ramon will fall down the ladder of success so quickly he'll get splinters in his ass. This Sunday, Michaels vowed to walk out still The Icon, still The Show Stopper, still The Main Event and most importantly, still the WWF Champion.
Razor Ramon vs Jeff Jarrett
Razor Ramon surprised Jeff Jarrett with a roll up for a near fall, but Jarrett recovered and hit a clothesline. Jarrett applied a sleeperhold, jumping on his larger opponent's back for extra leverage. The referee lifted Razor's arm twice, but it didn't drop on the third attempt and Ramon got the adrenaline pumping. The Bad Guy got to his feet and broke the hold with a back suplex. Razor unloaded with hard right hands, knocking Jarrett loopy. Out of desperation, Jarrett managed to grab Razor by the trunks and threw him to the outside. With Ramon on his hands and knees, Wynonna planted a well-placed boot into his ribs! Ramon started to go after Jarrett's manager, drawing the official out to get between them. Meanwhile, Jarrett pulled a ladder out from under the other side of the ring and propped it up in the corner. Jarrett then jumped Ramon from behind and slammed his head into the steel steps, before tossing Ramon back into the ring. Double J attempted to whip Ramon into the ladder, but Ramon put the brakes on and pulled Jarrett into a kick to the gut. Ramon then took Jarrett down in the Razor's Edge for the pinfall.
Razor Ramon pinned Jeff Jarrett with the Razor's Edge in 0:15:08.
Jeff Jarrett suffered a back injury. He will be out for approximately 3 months.
Rating: ** 3/4
[Wynonna interfered against Razor Ramon.]
Razor Ramon had barely gotten back to his feet when Shawn Michaels sprinted through the crowd and into the ring. He was here all along!! Michaels begged Ramon to turn around and when The Bad Guy did just that, he walked into Sweet Chin Music!! The crowd booed Michaels out of the building as he set the ladder up so that Ramon was slumped underneath it. The Heartbreak Kid then climbed to the top rung and held his WWF Championship belt aloft. Vince McMahon wondered if we will see this same sight at the end of WrestleMania this Sunday as the show went off air.
Circuit information:
WrestleMania XII is live on pay-per-view this Sunday night from the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California! Let's preview the final card...
WWF Championship Ladder Match
Shawn Michaels vs Razor Ramon
Watching his arch enemy capture the sport’s biggest prize was the inspiration Razor Ramon needed to return. In his first appearance since WrestleMania XI, Ramon surprised everybody when he showed up at the Royal Rumble this past January. The Bad Guy entered the fray at number 17 and upon arrival he ended Diesel’s show of dominance, tossing Shawn Michaels' bodyguard to the floor after Big Daddy Cool had eliminated six other superstars. Ramon went on to win the 30-man match to earn this shot at the WWF Championship at WrestleMania XII.
The Bad Guy was building momentum and Shawn Michaels was rattled. Michaels goaded Ramon into putting his WrestleMania title shot on the line against Diesel, but Ramon duly dispatched with Big Daddy Cool at In Your House to keep his title dreams alive. Michaels attacked Ramon with a ladder after that bout, which prompted Commissioner Slaughter to add this unique stipulation to the WWF Championship Match at WrestleMania. The first man who is able to climb to the top of the ladder and capture the title belt will walk out of WrestleMania the WWF Champion, but don’t forget that the ladder can also be used as a weapon. Will history repeat itself and Shawn Michaels defeats Razor Ramon once again on the biggest show of the year? Or can The Bad Guy win the WWF Title for the very first time? Ramon would dearly love to avenge last year’s defeat while also taking the prize that Michaels holds most dear on the grandest stage of all. One way or another, history will be made this Sunday.
Bret "Hitman" Hart vs "Superstar" Scott Steiner
Scott Steiner feels that his career will be boosted exponentially by curtailng that of the legendary Hitman, so when Bret Hart arranged an interview on RAW last month Steiner fully expected Hart to announce his retirement. Instead, Bret revealed that his recovery was almost complete and he was returning to hunt down Steiner. The volatile Steiner has vowed to finish the job and end Hart’s career when they meet at WrestleMania. Steiner even went so far to draw up a waiver absolving himself of any responsibility, but Hart is chomping at the bit to settle the score with Steiner and duly signed the document. Don’t expect much wrestling in this battle between the NCAA Division I All American and The Excellence of Execution; this situation is much too personal for that, so strap yourselves in for a knock-down drag-out fight!
The Undertaker vs Kane
Shortly after The Undertaker captured the WWF Championship for a second time at the 1994 Survivor Series, Ted DiBiase began threatening The Deadman with a secret that would destroy The Undertaker. DiBiase agreed to keep quiet in return for a title shot at the Royal Rumble, but when the Million Dollar Man came up short he revealed to the world that The Undertaker had set fire to his parents' funeral home, killing them and his younger brother, Kane. Enraged, The Undertaker viciously assaulted DiBiase, culminating in a Tombstone piledriver on the exposed concrete floor which has confined Ted DiBiase to a wheelchair ever since.
The following June it was revealed that DiBiase has been the silent benefactor to Gary Hart's Black Friday Management stable and he used this relationship to conspire to cost The Undertaker the WWF Championship at the King of the Ring. DiBiase would continue to embarrass The Undertaker by bringing up his past and calling him a murderer, before The Million Dollar Man turned The Undertaker's world upside down by announcing that Kane had actually survived the fire and was coming for revenge. The Deadman swore there was no chance Kane survived the horrific fire that claimed the life of his parents.
However, as The Undertaker and Sabu clashed in the first ever (deep breath) Exploding No Rope Barbed Wire Exploding Ring Time Bomb Death Match (which was funded by DiBiase) at Survivor Series, the lights went out, the arena turned red and out came Ted DiBiase…with a masked monster who was revealed to be Kane! Kane proceeded to confront a shocked Undertaker, standing face-to-face with his older brother for the first time in twenty years, before delivering a Tombstone and leaving him for dead as the ring exploded.
If DiBiase and Kane thought that was the end of The Undertaker, they would be left bitterly disappointed as The Phenom returned on RAW to crash his own funeral wake. This was to be followed by taunting and constant challenges from the Million Dollar Man in an attempt to get The Undertaker to go one-on-one with his younger brother. Kane wanted to take out all of his pent-up and vindictive aggression out on his brother but Undertaker refused to fight his own flesh and blood, even when Kane attacked him. Kane cost The Undertaker a Casket Match against Sabu at the Royal Rumble and in the aftermath Ted DiBiase and the crimson demon locked Undertaker in the casket and set it ablaze.
After disposing of his brother, Kane turned his attention to the rest of the WWF and seemingly had complete control until The Undertaker made a surprise return earlier this month, proclaiming himself ready to face Kane. Undertaker was shown tonight speaking to his parents' gravestones, revealing it may have to take the damnation of his soul to reunite their troubled family. This family will be very much divided this Sunday when these two brothers face off for the very first time.
Ultimate Warrior vs TITAN
The Ultimate Warrior's battles with WWF Hall of Famer Andre the Giant are legendary, but TITAN is arguably more athletic, stronger and more ruthless than the Eighth Wonder of the World. Warrior has enjoyed some of his finest career highlights at the biggest show of them all, but he could truly be facing his Ultimate challenge against TITAN at WrestleMania.
WWF Intercontinental Championship
Ludvig Borga vs Crush
In the summer of 1995 Ludvig Borga returned better than ever, pinning The Undertaker at July's In Your House and capturing the Intercontinental Championship from Lex Luger one month later at SummerSlam. The dispute between Crush and Borga was renewed when Crush pinned the Intercontinental Champion at Survivor Series, returning the favour from the previous year, to win the very first Wild Card Match for his team. With each man holding a pinfall win over the other, this will be the long overdue blow-off match between these two superstars. Crush's Cage victory over Scott Steiner was just the latest in an impressive run of wins for the big Hawaiian and he is more focused and determined than ever to capture his very first Championship at the expense of the coldhearted Borga.
WWF Tag Team Championship Triangle Elimination Match
Lord Steven Regal and Hunter Hearst Helmsley vs The Lion Harts vs The Impact Players
Dean Douglas vs "Lightning" Sean Waltman
But Dean Douglas would take things too far at the Royal Rumble when he attempted to interject himself physically against Sean Waltman in the Free For All Match. This did not sit well with the WWF Board of Directors but Douglas took no notice and again tried to cost Waltman a match on the February 5th edition of Monday Night RAW, throwing the title belt in for Ludvig Borga to use in the bout for the Intercontinental Championship. Douglas' plan backfired spectacularly though as Waltman blasted Borga with the Eye of the Storm onto the belt to win his first title in the WWF. Douglas would see that the reign would not be a long one, attacking Waltman during his match with Borga at In Your House in February and the strap ended up back with the Hellraiser from Helsinki.
That was the last straw; Dean Douglas had crossed the line. Following these actions, Douglas was removed from the position of interim President and placed on the active roster after Dean begged to remain with the company. Now a wrestler, Commissioner Slaughter booked Douglas in his first match against rival Sean Waltman at WrestleMania. But another superstar who has a problem with Waltman, Mr Perfect, has taken it upon himself to train Douglas for his match on Sunday. This is another way for Perfect to stick it to Waltman, the poster boy for the New Generation he has nothing but contempt for.
The world premiere of Goldust
Goldust vs Bam Bam Bigelow
Free For All
Four Corners Elimination Match
The winner faces the Intercontinental Champion the next night on RAW
"Stunning" Steve Austin vs Savio Vega vs Raven vs Sabu
Before we get to WrestleMania, make sure you join us this weekend for Superstars which features only the second-ever Tag Team Turmoil Match in company history. This match, in which two teams start and when one is eliminated a new team comes to the ring until all teams have competed, will determine the top contenders to the Tag Team Titles coming out of WrestleMania! Till then, so long everybody!