IYH 13: Final Four

- Chattonooga, Tennessee.  February 16th 1997

Attendance: 6,339

Buyrate: 0.50

- WrestleMania 13 was allegedly set to have HBK Vs. Bret but Michaels didn't fancy that and luckily for him, wink,wink nudge, nudge his knee got injured and he 'lost his smile' so the WWF Title is defended in a fatal four way tonight and Psycho Sid gets a shot on RAW tomorrow, I think that RAW's on YouTube.

'Wildman' Marc Mero (w/ Sable) Vs. Leif Cassidy

 Leif Cassidy is already in the ring *cough* jobber *cough*, he would one day lead the J.O.B Squad as Al Snow. Couple of armdrags by Mero then an armbar after a fireman carry takedown. Cassidy is now ringside and distracted by Sable so Mero axe handles him, back in a springboard legdrop gets 2. Dropkick to the knee/thigh by Cassidy and he starts working the leg, I dig psychology and this stops Meros high flying moves. Leg submissions soon follow until Mero gets a rope break, about 10 fans are into this. Enziguri by Mero then Cassidy goes for the leg again, Figure Four is applied, I imagine Naitch is beetroot red and ranting somewhere. Sable slaps Cassidy ringside, DQ anyone? he goes for her but Mero hits a plancha and also seemingly forgot Cassidys legwork making 80% of this match pointless, nice work Marc. Wildting/Marvelocity/Shooting Star Press gets 3 at 9:29. ** - It was okay, I like psychology but it does help when the recipient sells it which is why this is stuck on **.

We see HBK 'losing his smile' on RAW is WAR then back live Psycho Sid talks/shouts with Kevin Kelly.

Flask Funk/Bart Gunn/Goldust Vs. Faarooq/Crush/Savio Vega
 For newer fans Faarooq is the man who occasionally shouts 'DAMN!', Goldust is the Twitter Blocker and the rest are irrelevant though Flash Funk better known as 2 Cold Scorpio was good at times. Flash Funk is a pimp seemingly from the Year 3000 going by his attire, I demand a Godfather Vs. Flash Funk match! This is the Nation Of Domination that were rapped to the ring by PG-13, the best Nation theme. Hey there's the as yet unamed D-Lo Brown. The faces, who must be the most mismatched team ever, clear the ring early then Funk jumps onto the Nation. Back in Funk this time jumps into a Spinebuster by Faarooq. Vega is in but he is hurricanraned off the top rope. Bart comes in and throws Funk onto The Nation but they simploy catch him and rough him up, great partner you are Bart. Faarooq trashtalks Funk who has been playing face in peril the whole match. Spike piledriver gets 2. Funk backflips over a double clothesline and tags Bart in who powerslams Faarooq for 2. All 6 are in and brawling now, Bulldog to Faarooq but Crush legdrops Bart and The Nation get 3 at 6:41. * - Too short to mean much really, but if you like seeing 2 Cold Scorpio getting beat on then this is *****.

Stone Cold says he has beat Vader, Bret and 'Taker before as he eliminated them from the Royal Rumble.

IC Title - Rocky Maivia (c) Vs. Hunter Hearst Helmsley
 Rocky, simply The Rock these days, won the IC Title off of Hunter on Thusday Night RAW prior to this. Weird watching these in 1997 knowing that in 3 years tey'd wrestle an hour. Drop toe hold by Hunter then he slaps Rocky. They trade counters until Rock hiptosses HHH and, kind of, does a dropkick. Rock slaps HHH like he slapped him. Backdrop then an armdrag by Rock, it's Rocky Steamboat! but his offence is stopped when HHH throws him over the top. Guillitine elbow by HHH, JR says about WWFs future being young, I guess as a thinly veiled shot at WCW, of course Rock just headlined the last two 'Manias. Hunter has been on top since he dumped Rock over the top. Harley Race knee gets 2. Small package gets Rock 2, a call back to their previous match as that's how Rocky won the IC belt. JR plugs Western Union, were they WWF sponsors? Rock is fighting back now, crossbody gets 2, he starts 10 corner punches but HHH drops him onto the turnbuckle, messy floatover DDT gets 2. Facebuster followed by a neckbreaker but here's Goldust to distratc HHH allowing Rocky to hit a bridged german for 3 at 12:31ish (Stopwatch issues). Postmatch Marlena is ringside with Goldust when she is grabbed by a 'fan'. She would soon be known as Chyna. **1/2 - The match was good, not a patch on the 2000 ones but to be honest they probably did more actual wrestling here. Better than I thought it'd be, HHH did a good job as the fans hated Rocky around this time.

Vader has his say about the main event.

WWF Tag Titles - Owen Hart/Bulldog (c) Vs. Doug Furnas/Phil Lafon
 As I write this yesterday was the 14th anniversary of Owens untimely passing, RIP Owen, Bulldog passed away 11 years ago. Owen has his Slammy with him. There was tension as Owen eliminated Bulldog from the 97 Rumble then blamed Austin. Armdrag into an armbar by Doug on Owen after a nice wrestling exchange. Monkey flip turned to a mount by Owen but Lafon soon has him down in a leglock. Bulldog in and Lafon gets 2 off a heel kick but he's then beaten down by the heels. Lafon rolls through a crossbody for 2, Owen responds with a gutwrench and a backbreaker. Bulldog does a kind of flip for some reason, is he running for Tennessee senate and trying to impress them? Lafon is still playing face-in-peril. Suplex and crossbody combo by the champs for 2. Lafon gets an inside cradle but Bulldog pulls him so Owen has the pin but Furnas pulls it back. Heel miscommunication as Owen heel kicks Bulldog, then seconds later slaps him as they argue so Bulldog clotheslines him then comes back to stop Owen being pinned. Northern lights suplex by Lafon for 2. All 4 are fighting now, the faces double up Owen endind in a DDT then legdrop for 2. Enziguri by Hart gets him a breather. Bulldog in and sets Lafon up for a Powerslam but Owen hits Lafon with the Slammy for a blatant DQ at 10:29. Post match Bulldog throws his belt down as he aint happy with Owen then my god HE BREAKS OWENS SLAMMY!! he should put him in Sharpshooter. Bulldog seemed set for a face turn but the reemergence of the Hart Foundation stopped that. ***1/2 - Entertaining, I enjoyed the petty squabbling between the champions.

WWF Title - Stone Cold Vs. Vader vs. Undertaker Vs. Bret Hart
 Bret talks with Kevin Kelly before his entrance. You're eliminated by pin, submission are being thrown over the top ala Royal Rumble. Vader/Deadman and Austin/Bret pair off to start. Clothesline sends Vader down, Old School to Austin as Taker goes for everyone. Taker boots a chair into Vaders fave busting his eye open, that must have something to do with when his eye popped out in Japan. Austin jawbreakers out of a Bret sleeper as Vader is Chokeslammed. Vaders eye is bad, he hits Bret with a chair as Austin has Deadman down, he goes for a piledriver in the aisle but is backdropped. They've rotated again as Taker is now fughting Bret as Austin bounces Vader off he ring steps then multiple belt shots. Taker clotheslines Bret then Vader drags him out and they fight in the crowd. Vader does the Sharpshooter! In the ring Austin thesz presses Vader but Bret soon piledrives him for 2. Undertaker avoids a Vader moonsult. Bret and Vader are trading punches until Bret just kicks him in the nuts. Stone Cold is gone at 18:16ish as Bret dumps him over the top. Vader removes his mask as Bearer, here with Vader, hits Taker with the urn. Bret superplexes Vader then locks in the Sharpshooter but Taker breaks it up. Austin's back and he attacks Bret. Vader's setting up for a Vader Bomb but Taker lowblows him and dumps him over the top at 22:30. Taker Chokeslams Bret and calls for Tombstone but Austin stops that but when Taker goes for him Bret dumps Taker out with a clothesline for the WWF Title at 24:04. Post match Psycho Sid comes out for a staredown. ****1/2 - I really enjoyed this kick ass brawl. Not a classic but i'd call it a forgotten gem. Bret would drop the WWF Title 24hrs later on RAW is WAR to Psycho Sid, the 1st WWF Title change on RAW.

13.5 / 25 - Opener was good, I only gave it ** due to the non selling, 6 man was short and inoffensive, Rock/HHH was okay and the final 2 matches were very good. I would recommend this PPV, a very good one for an IYH. Thumbs up.

WrestleMania III

- March 29th, 1987,  Detroit, Michigan.

- Attendance - 93,173

-Buyrate - 10.2

- When I think of WrestleMania this is the one I think of.

Vinnie Mac welcomes us to WrestleMania then Aretha Franklin sings 'America The Beautiful'

Can-Am Connection Vs. Bob Orton jr./Don Muraco (w/ Mr. Fuji)
 Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse Ventura on commentary. Rick Martel and Tom Zenk are the Can-Am Connection. Zenk shoulderblocks Muraco down, hiptoss then a double monkeyflip sends him flying. Orton in and hits a shoulderblock but then is scoop slammed. Can-Am are in control. Heel miscommunication as Don drops Bob, Martel works Ortons arm. Muraco hits a neckbreaker after Bob cheapshots Zenk. Muraco is whipped and does the Flair Flip then he's double dropkicked and a crossbody by Martel finishes him at 5:36. ** - Average but fun opener.

Video package for Hercules Vs. Bily Jack Hayes, then Hercules and Bobby Heenan 'It's Billy Jerk' are interviewed by Mean Gene.

Hercules (w/ Bobby Heenan) Vs. Billy Jack Hayes

 Billy reminds me of Dr. Death, RIP, also going by his attire I guess he's from Oregon. Knees by Hercules but he is soon presslammed then chopped but he hits a clothesline out of the corner to stop the onslaught. Suplex gets Hercules a 2, he himself stopping the count. Billy sells the back by being unable to do a suplex and Hercules is again in control, crowd boos, he goes for a Full Nelson* but cant lock his fingers and Billy pumps up and they do a double clothesline spot. Atomic drop by Hayes, he again sells the back, now he is in control of Hercules, he locks in the Full Nelson on the outside and both are counted out.  Postmatch Hercules bops Billy with a chain busting him open. ** - Okay for a powermatch but I dont like countouts. * I forgot to say the match was based around the Full Nelson move.

King Kong Bundy/Little Tokyo/Lord Littlebrook Vs. Hillbilly Jim/Haiti Kid/Little Beaver
 Bob Uecker is with Gorilla and Jesse on announcing. I'm slightly feared of midgets and there's 4 in this match, I dont like reviewing the odd match of theirs that pop up but that's very rare, Rumble 98 was the ;ast I think. KKB has gone from 'Mania 2s maine event to this. Little Tokyo looks like Antonio Inoki. The midgets run around, and soon Little Beaver is caught in the heel corner. Hillbilly gets Bundy down with a clothesline. Corner splash by Bundy, Little Beaver keeps interfering so Bundy slams him and hits an elbow drop for the DQ, wrestlers couldnt touch the midgets, at 4:08. * - Lest I never see this again.

Loser Must Bow - King Harley Race (w/ Bobby Heenan, Fabulous Moolah) Vs. Junkyard Dog

 Jerry Lawler was going to sue WWF or something over the King title, Harley coming out to Lawlers music wouldn't of helped matters. King Of The Ring at the time was only a house show attraction, only in 93 was it added to PPV. Prematch with het interviews from all involved. Bobbys jacket is sparkling like nobodys business. Something almost surreal about seeing Race in the WWF. JYD blocks punches but Heenan grabs his foot, Harley dumps him ringside but misses a diving headbutt, crazy. Abdominal stretch by JYD but Race hiptosses out of it but then misses another headbutt. JYD hits headbutts on all fours but Heenan distracts him allowing Race to hit a belly-to-belly for 3 at 3:21. * No time to do much. JYD hits Race with a chair instaed of bowing, sore loser.

Vinnie Mac interviews Hulk Hogan, funniest line - Hogan: 'Hulkamania is the purest truth'

Rougeau Brothers Vs. Dream Team (w/ Dino Bravo and Johnny Valiant)
 Brutus Beefacke and Greg Valentine, was Dream Team name a joke? Mean Gene interviews Dream Team. Raymond atomic drops Brutus then he is double dropkicked. Raymond crossbodys Greg for 2 but Greg ducks when another is attempted allowing Dream Team some offence. Figure Four by Valentine as Heenan joins commentary. Raymond cleans Gregs clock, Jacque, I think that's how you spell it, hits a seated senton on Greg as Raymond holds him up but Dino Bravo cheapshots Ray and Greg gets 3 at 4:03. Dream Team leave without Beefcake and really who blames them. ** - Okay formulaic tag but again it was short.

'Hair Match' Rowdy Roddy Piper Vs. Adrian Adonis (w/ Jimmy Hart)

 Roddys 'retirement match' .... he headlined WCW Starrcade 9 years later. Adonis is interviewed by Mean Gene. Roddy doesn't come down on the machine like the others have, instead he walks the aisle.  Nice pop for Piper. Roddy whips Adonis then gets Hart, Piper is now whipped with a belt. Adonis, who has a body ala Dusty Rhodes, does the Flair Flip. Hogan style chestrakes by Adonis followed by a clothesline as he has taken control. Jimmy squirts something in Roddys eyes allowing Adonis to apply a sleeper but he lets go to early thinking he's won, Brutus Beefcaker comes down and revives Piper, thus turning face, and he bops Jimmy and applies a sleeper to Adonis for the win at 6:07. Brutus starts shaving Adonis, I guess that's where 'The Barber' comes from. **1/2 - Entertaining given the time they had, crowd were certainly into it.

Hart Foundation/Danny Davis (w/ Jimmy Hart) Vs. British Bulldogs/Tito Santana (w/ Matilda)
 Jesse Ventura leaves the booth for this. Harts are tag champions, Danny Davis is a ref who made Bulldogs and Tito Santana lose there titles. Jesse leaves with Matilda, who went for Jimmy Hart, he may of turned her into a coat. Bulldogs dump Davis onto the Harts. Double headbutt to Jim Neidhart by The Bulldogs but soon Tito is caught in the heel corner. Davey backdrops Jim but is then distracted allowing Jim a cheapshot. Dynamite, Bret in. Dyno hits a clothesline and a headbutt but soon after Bret is beating on him in the corner. Hart Foundation hit a move akin to Demolition Decapitation, Danny Davis enters to boos.  Dynamite has been playing face in peril but manages to get his knees up when Davis goes for a splash., hot tag to Tito who beats on Davis, as does Bulldog who does a jumping Tombstone, vertical suplex and Powerslam but Jim breaks the count. All men are brawling then Davey Boy gets flattened by Jimmy Harts microphone and Davis gets 3 at 8:52. ***1/2 - Good match, I've bumped it up 1/2 due to crowd. As it's WrestleMania i'd of prefered a Face win here, any other PPV and i'm fine with a heel win.

Mean Gene is with Bobby Heenan and Andre The Giant.

Butch Reed (w/ Slick) Vs. Koko B. Ware
 Koko B. Ware is always used as the example in the 'Anyone can be in HOF' argument. Ventura is back announcing as Bob Uecker and Mary Hart were with Gorilla during the last match. Shots by Reed but then he is dropkicked. Koko's down but stops Reeds offence with a hiptoss, punches and a dropkick. Reed does get 2 though off a small package and then 3 when he rolls through a Koko B. Ware crossbody at 3:39. Slick attacks Koko postmatch so Tito Santana comes to make the save and rip Slicks clothing. * - Nothing really happened.

Intercontinental Title - Randy Savage (c) (w/ Liz) Vs. Ricky Steamboat (w/ George Steele) 

 Here is the best WWF match of the 80s and possibly 'Mania history. Savage injured Steamboats throat with a ringbell, also George is obsessed with Liz or something. We get promos from the pair 'History beckons the Macho Man'. Savage bails ringside to move Liz. Couple of armdrags by Ricky, Savage misses a corner splash so Steamboat targets his arm. Savage elbows Rickys throat then knees it when he has Steamboat in the ring. Soon Randy is tied in the ropes allowing Ricky some freeshots. Armdrag by 'Boat as the pace picks up, he skins the cat when Randy tries to toss him but Savage clotheslines him over again. Double Axe Handle connects then Randy hits one in the ring, running elbow gets 2 as does a hotshot, suplex by Macho who is in control, Savage cuts short a Steamboat comeback and hits a gutwrench for 2. Ventura calls for a DQ when Savage is backdropped over, this is WrestleMania not Starrcade Jesse. Brainchop gets 3 but Savage's foot is on the rope, multiple chops follow, sunset flip gets 2 as does a jacknife cover. Savage took a swing at Dave Hebner then, speaking of Hebner he is down when Ricky is whipped into him, Ref Bump! Savage lands the Big Elbow but there's no referee, he goes ringside to get the bell but George Steele pushes him off, Savage goes for a scoopslam but Steamboat gets an inside cradle for 3 at 14:35. Savage has his head in his hands as he leaves. ***** - WWFs best match of the 80s, some may say ever. Ohhh Yeaaaah!!!!

Mean Gene interviews Jake 'The Snake' and Alice Cooper. We see Honky hitting Jake with a real guitar.

Jake 'The Snake' Roberts (w/ Alice Cooper) Vs. Honky Tonk Man (w/ Jimmy Hart)

 Jake gets shots in before the bell rings, he probably was really pissed at Honky for the real guitar shot, HTM hasn't even got his Elvis attire off yet. Scoopslam on the outside, but when back in the ring HTM has the advantage at least until he is clotheslined. Ringside Honky whips Jake into the ringpost, Monsoon says when you're manager is out there they shouldn't help you up but didn't mind when Animal helped Steamboat hypocritical face comentator!! HTM has Roberts down in the ring but Shake, Rattle 'n' Roll is countered with a backdrop. Atomic drop and punches as Jake is coming back, DDT is signalled but Hart grabs his foot allowing HTM to roll him up for 3 at 7:03. Jake holds Jimmy postmatch, after swinging a guitar at HTM and throws him down as Alice throws Damian the snke at Jimmy. ** - Match was meh.

Gene Okerlund announces an, reportedly inlflated, crowd of 93,173.

Nikolai Volkoff/Iron Sheik (w/ Slick) Vs. Killer Bees
 Slick is still rocking the ripped attire, continuity. Nikolai sings his national anthem but 'Hacksaw' Jim Duggan runs down to stop him. Just dawned on me Sheik was the last WWF Champion here and that reign ended in 1984. Killer Bees are in control, Volkoff is dumped ringside. Double hiptoss to Sheik, Brian B. Blair reminds me of the mulleted Finlay from mid 90s. Volkoff has Brunzell in the heels corner then has him in a bearhug, I thought Blair had blind tagged in. Couple of suplexes by Sheik for 2. Harley Race style knee by Brunzell, he tags out but the ref didn't see it. Camel Clutch is applied as Duggan chases Vokloff into the ring then mindlessly cracks Sheik with the 2-by-4 so his fellow faces lose by DQ, idiot. at 5:41 ** - What we got was okay but stupid ending.

Mean Gene interviews Andre and Heenan.

WWF Championship - Hulk Hogan (c) Vs. Andre The Giant (w/ Bobby Heenan)

  Video plays of the build to the match, they were friends then Andre ripped Hogans cross and vest off on Pipers Pit and demanded a title shot, when people talk of heel turns this isn't mentioned much but it did lead to the Match Of The Century. Gene gets a word with Hogan. Bob Uecker is ring announcer and Mary Hart is time keeper. Trash is hurled during Andres entrance. Gorilla fires off the 'Irresistable force meets the immovable object' line. Hogan goes for a slam early but falls and Andre seems to get 3. Clubbing blows by Andre who then slams Hogan twice. Booty bash and headbutt in the corner follow. Hogan fires shots off but Andre boots him down then a bearhug lasts a while, Hogan's powering up and he punches free, couple of shoulderblocks follow but Andre boots Hogan who falls ringside. Hogan removes a mat but when he goes for a piledriver he is backdropped, sort of. Crowd are pumped for the Hulk up, The Slam Heard Round The World as Andre is slammed! Legdrop follows for 3 at 12:00. *** - Technically it wasn't great but who cares, this is what Sports Entertainment is all about. You need to see this at least once, the Slam is a true WrestleMania moment.

27/60 - Under .500 but forget that. Every fan needs to see this WrestleMania at least once it is what 'Mania is all about. Thumbs right up.

No Way Out 2000

- Goodbye Cactus and thank you ..... see you in 4 weeks.

 February 27th, 2000. Hartford, Connecticut.

Attendance: 12,551

Buyrate: 1.20 (480,000 approx)

Intercontinental Title Match - Chris Jericho (c) (w/Chyna) Vs. Kurt Angle

 Kurt is European Champion, I think he beat Venis but it's not on the line here, Chyna gets her own entrance for a reason P-Dawg cant comprehend. 'Y2J' Chant. Jericho starts off better, he backdrops Angle over the top and hits his 2nd rope dropkick when Angle's on the apron. On outside Angle whips Jericho but he jumps onto the steps and moonsaults Angle. Back in now as Angle starts taking control but Jericho gets a double underhook backbreaker, chinlock by Angle Boooo. Kurt targets the arm/shoulder. Flying forearm gets Jericho 2, then he goes all WCW as he hits a double powerbomb when Angle goes for a hurricanrana. Angle Slam gets 2, that was kind of out of nowhere. The Walls are applied but Kurt gets a rope break. It ends when Jericho goes for a Lionsault but Angle hits him with the belt when he lands and gets 3 at 10:13. **1/2 - Was alright, I didn't really like the cheap finish though I suppose it fits with Angles character. Kurt is 2nd or 3rd EuroContinental Champion after Jeff Jarrett and possibly D-Lo Brown. 

WWF Tag Titles - NAO (c) Vs. Dudleyz
 Dogg knocks Buh Buhs glasses off but he responds with a Bubba Bomb, Waaaaasup Drop, as yet unnamed (was it ever officially named?), connects. Dogg sunset flips D-Von for 2 but D-Von is soon on top. Road Dogg has been isolated now as Dudleyz use frequent tags. Road Dogg manages a superplex, tag to Billy who cleans house Fame Asser to D-Von but Buh Buh pulls Gunn out and hits his shoulder with a pipe, 3D to Road Dogg gets 3 at 5:19. *1/2 - Wasn't much beyond Dogg being beaten on but it did make sense as Gunn had a legitimate shoulder injury coming in so couldn't do much, also explains why Buh Buh hit his shoulder and not his bonce. (Gunn would return Oct/Nov time as 'The One' Billy Gunn)

Mark Henry Vs. Viscera
 Viscera splashed Mae Young to set this up. Henry gets clubbing blows but then they knock each other down, spinning heel kick by Viscera, not yet a Big Daddy, then he dumps Henry over the top. Lawler: 'I think Mae remembers Eve when she was a rib.' Viscera dominates at ringside 'Boring' chant. Samoan drop by Viscera, crowd makes some noise when Mae appears, Viscera goes to splash her but Henry scoop slams him for 3 at 3:47. *1/2 - At least it was short but do it on RAW/SMACKDOWN! or Heat. 

'Vivian' interviews Jericho who says he'll stop Angle celebrating.

Hardyz (w/ Terri) Vs. Edge/Christian

 APA are here as Terri bought protection from Dudleyz. Jeff misses Whisper In The Wind, as yet uunnamed Double leg drop to Christian, then a Poetry In Motion gets 2 after Christian has been isolated. Hardyz are playing subtle heels here. Christian gets out of a razors edge hitting a neckbreaker on Matt. Edge in, a roll up gets 2 on Jeff after a hotshot. Now Edge/Christian are playing it heel as Jeff is isolated. Dragon sleeper to Jeff but he Twist Of Fates out of it. Edge gets 2 off a piledriver. Hurricanrana by Jeff then he attempts another but is powerbombed, Christian in now as Jeff is still face-in-peril. Jeff almost gets a tag but is spinebustered, he does however dropkick Edge out of midair, Matt in and he cleans house. Edge victory rolls Matt as Jeff crossbodys Christian and the ref counts both. Legdrop, splash to Christian, I wasn't sure Matt would reach. Edge Spears Jeff as he goes for poetry in motion. Terri pushes Jeff off the top then slaps Matt who is Unprettiered/Kill Switch for 3 at 15:16. Post match Faarooq nearly breaks Jeffs neck with a funked up Dominatior. ***1/2 - Not as good as I remembered but still very good. Crowd wasn't dead but were on life support. Got better near the end but see they didn't need TLC to have good matches.

Jeff may be out cold. #BotchedDominator

Big Bossman Vs. Tazz

 This is more segment than match, by that I mean it's only here to put Tazz over as someone who can take a beatdown and get back up. It ended at 00:48 as Bossman was DQd but post match Bossman and Albert beat him down but he gets up until they break a nightstick on his head. Should've booked Tazz as someone who came down kicked some ass, choked you out then left ala Rumble 2000. * For the nightstick breaking spot.

No Holds Barred - Kane (w/ Paul Bearer) Vs. X-Pac (w/ Tori)

 In '99 these were a team, Champions even but in October (ish) DX reformed and X-Pac rejoined full time then Tori left Kane aswell in late 99, or possibly early 2000 but I think it was Dec 99. They had a cage match at Armageddon. Kane no sells some punches then hits a Tilt-A-Whirl backbreaker so X-Pac tries to leave. They're fighting near the entrance where X-Pac is thrown around for a bit, they come back ringside via the crowd. X-Pac gets Kane down with a ringbell then goes to hit him with a chair but Bearer attacks him to a pop then chases Tori around. Back in X-Pac does his corner kicks, Bronco Buster. Bit of psychology as X-Pac targets the knee, he avoids a Tombstone, lowblow then an X-Factor but Kane more or less shrugs it off. Chokeslam to X-Pac then Tori jumps on Kanes back so he Tombstones her. X-Pac dropkicks the stairs into Kane and pins him under them for 3 at 7:48. **1/2 - Not exactly a big blowoff to the feud. No Holds Barred so I wanted them to use weapons more or something just make it brutal, X-Pac targeting the knee though was sensible psychology.

Too Cool/Rikishi Vs. Radicalz (w. Eddie Guerrero)

 Eddies arm is in a sling, Saturn is the only un colour co-ordinated Radical, then again he was the odd one out. Eddie has a pipe but Rikishi hit him with it. Missile dropkick, enziguri then Grandmaster boogies. II Cool double team Benoit then Scotty moonwalks and tags 'Kishi. Stinkface for Benoit he goes for a Rikishi Driver, Greetings From Asbury Park for my WCW fans out there, but Dean dropkicks his taped ankle which is now targeted. Scotty bulldogs Saturn but Dean cancels the Worm. Lawler asks JR if his hair is like Scottys under his hat, he should've put a wig on and revealed it, speaking of Scotty he's playing face in peril as radicalz have isolated him using frequent tags, hurricanrana by Perry. Rikishi in and he runs corner to corner, which irritates me, Rikishi Driver and The Worm to Saturn. Dean chopblocks 'kishis ankle twice. Oh the goggles are on, Hip Hop Drop to Perry but Benoit hits Diving Headbutt on Sexay. Dean works 'Kishis ankle but is sonn Rikishi Drivered and Banzai Dropped for 3 at 12:43. ***1/2 - Radicalz lose PPV debut, to go with the TV losses. I liked how Radicalz isolated Scotty using frequent tags, I like that strategy/psychology. Had 'Kishi sold the ankle I may of busted it up to ****.

Winner Goes To WrestleMania - Big Show Vs. The Rock

 Show won the Rumble so this match is pointless, well it turned out to be anyway. This PPV marks Shows first full calender WWF year  *opens a Party Popper* Pop for Rock who slaps Show, floatover DDT gets an early 2, he goes for a Rock Bottom but Show knocks him ringside where they fight in the crowd but it's just punches then they're back in the ring. Rock starts a comeback until Show powerslams him thus regaining control. Side russian legsweep and a DDT both get Rock 2 then Show gets a 2 of his own off a sidewalk slam. Ref Bump!! Show ChokeSlams Rock, Tim White starts counting but Earl Hebner pulls him out. Pop for Shane-Os return but as Rock goes for Peoples Elbow Shane strikes with a chair allowing Show the 3 at 9:27. **1/2  Passable match but there wasn't much beyond punches, I like unexpected endings and Shows W was certainly that.

Career Vs. Title - WWF Championship - Hell In A Cell - Triple-H (c) Vs. Cactus Jack

 Coming off my favorite match we have the feud ender (I mean the Rumble street fight not Rock/Show). HHH/Foley was a great feud from Mankinds firing to his re-hiring and ass kicking which led to Cactus Jacks return to the MSG Street Fight to this. The Cell door is locked as Cactus had threatened to come flying off the roof. Cactus is in control to start but a HHH lowblow allows Hunter a breather. Facebuster by HHH but he's soon backdropped over the top, ringside Cactus does his whipped into steps spot then HHH launches them into Cactus' head, chairshots follow and a DDT gets Hunter 2. Cactus gets his own 2 off a Double Arm DDT to the chair. HHH throws Cavtus into the Cell walls but a Pedigree on the steps is avoided with a slingshot into the Cell, now HHH is cut. A chair assisted Cactus Elbow connects, now Cactus throws the steps at HHH but he ducks however the steps break the Cell wall allowing them to go outisde, piledriver on the announce table that doesn't break, now Cactus has the Barbed Wire 2-By-4, Hunter heads up the Cell, Cactus goes in pursuit but HHH manages to knock him down through the announce table, that seemed tame comopared to King Of The Ring. Cactus tries, and fails, to throw a chair up the Cell, why would he want to arm HHH anyway? Now they're  both on top where Hunter attacks with the 2-By-4 until he's lowblowed, HHH falls onto a corner panel whcih breaks slightly, if that had of gone through HHH would've landed on the mats outside so they're lucky another doesn't break when Cactus suplexes HHH. The 2-By-4 is set on fire, HHH is hit in the head but when Cactus goes for a piledriver on it HHH backdrops him throught the Cell and the ring, it's Cactus Splat would've been a good joke had he landed with a SPLAT ala KOTR 1998, HHH climbs down kicks Cactus' arm then in a horror film like moment he is up but is Pedigreed for 3 at 23:59. ***1/2 - At the time I was really sad Cactus was gone but watching it 13 years later all the emotion is gone via Micks comebacks, hell he was TNA Champion in 2009. To be honest it wasn't as great as I remembered but still good.

21.5 / 40 - 3 Good matches so this is recommended. The bad wasn't so bad as NAO/Dudz was rightfully a squash, Tazz/Bossman was more a segment and Viscera/Henry was short. Recommended PPV.

No Way Out 2007

- February 18th, LA, California

- No title match as it's RAW Vs. SMACKDOWN! main event.
Attendance - 14,000
Buys - 218,000 buys

MVP/MnM Vs. Hardyz/Benoit

- Mercury is wearing a facemask due to his nose being knocked from coast to coast at Armageddon. Benoit was US Champion at this time.  MVP scoop slams Matt but misses an elbow drop. Nitro snapmares Jeff into a headlock. Jeff is beat on in the heels corner but he soon manages to hit Whisper In The Wind to Nitro and tag in Matt, Side Effect gets 2 on Nitro. Now Matt plays face-in-peril and is beaten on by heels. Suplex to Mercury then a tag to Benoit, double german to MnM, Poetry In Motion, Side Effect, Swanton and Diving Headbutt to Mercury but MVP breaks the pin, then a Crossface to MVP is broken up by Nitro but a Crossface to Mercury ends it. **1/2 - Was ok, not fantastic but there wasn't anything bad.

CruiserWeight Title Open -
 2 Men start then when one's eliminated he is replaced. A turmoil match basically.
Scotty 2 Hotty Vs. Davari
 Davari goes for quick pins but is soon bulldogged and The Worm gets 3.
Scotty 2 Hotty Vs. Gregory Helms (c)
 Helms beats on Hotty. Helms stops The Worm and hits a type of Codebreaker for 3.
Gregory Helms (c) Vs. Funaki
 Crossbody by Funaki but Helms rolls through it for 3.
Gregory Helms (c) Vs. Shannon Moore
 My God 3 Count Explodes!! Headscissors by Moore on the outside. Backbreaker gets Helms 2. Double underhook suplex off the top by Helms followed by that Codebreaker style move gets 3.
Gregory Helms (c) Vs. Jimmy Wang Yang
 Standing moonsault by jimmy who soon locks in a funky submission. Jimmy misses a moonsault and gets clotheslined by Helms. Hurricanrana gets Jimmy the slightly surprising 3.
Jimmy Wang Yang Vs. Jamie Noble
 So we're guaranteed a new champion then. Neckbreaker gets Noble 2. Jimmy misses a charge and hits the post. Atomic drop, clothesline and spinning heel kick gets 2 for Jimmy, he soon pushes Noble off the top and hits a moonsault for 3.
Jimmy Wang Yang Vs. Chavo Guerrero
 Chavo beats on the weakened Jimmy until he gets heel kicked. Chavo is thrown over the top then splashed. 3 Amigos by Chavo. Top rope huricanrana by Jimmy but he misses a corkscrew so Chavo hits a Frogsplash for 3 snd the Championship. **1/2 - The good was the last 3 'matches' the bad was the rest. As the match progressed I was kind of thinkin' I'd rather see Gregory Vs. Wang Yang 1-on-1 until 'Open Invitational' rules allowed a Chavo win, Boooo.

Finlay (w/Hornswoggle) Vs. Boogeyman (w/Little Boogeyman)
 Firemans carry takedown by Boogeyman who is in control early. Little Boogeyman eats worms then Hornswoggle squares up to him so Finlay kicks Little Boogeyman then carries on beating him up. Boogeyman comes from under the ring. Boogeyman Boogeys up and beats on Finlay, clothesline then Little Boogey splash. Shilleleigh to Little Boogeyman by Finaly for 3. 1/2 - That was like a 10 minute acid trip.

King Booker Vs. Kane

 They trade punches and chops then a backbreaker, big boot and clothesline over the top by Kane. Missile dropkick by Booker. Kane goes for a top rope clothesline but Booker heel kicks him. Flying forearm gets Booker 2. Booker goes for a suplex but Kane suplexes him. Booker misses the Scissors Kick. Kane dominates Booker hits top rope clothesline and gets the ChokeSlam for 3. ** Bit boring as 80% of the match was punches but i'm feeling generous.

WWE Tag Titles - London/Kenderick (c) Vs. Deuce/Domino (w/ Cherry)
 Deuce and Domino may aswell of been called Kenicky and whatever John Travoltas Grease character was. Double hiptoss by the champions who are dominating Domino. Backbreaker by Deuce to London. Domino in now as London is playing face-in-peril, Deuce throws London into the turnbuckle in a scoop slam position. The beat down continues until London dodges D and D like I dodge Bowser when I have no coins on Mario then gets the tag to Kenderick who beats on challengers, backslide on Deuce gets 2. Deuce 'N' Domino go for Doomsday Device but Kendrick ducks the clothesline and rolls up Domino. **1/2 - Was okay. I liked the Kendrick/London team.

ECW Title - Bobby Lashley (c) Vs. Kennedy
 Kennedy attacks on the ramp as Cole has almost lost his voice. Lashley throws Kennedy across the ring nut Kennedy is soon in control. Clothesline by Lashley then a delayed suplex. Torture Rack by lashley until Kennedy rakes his eyes. Kennedy does a submission that is Figure Four-esque then targets Lashleys knee, a DDT gets 2. Kenton Bomb but Lashley gets his knees up. T-Bone by Lashley, the 10 or so people interested in this match boo Lashley and cheer Kennedy. Ref Bump! possibly the stupidest ever as Kennedy falls into him, chairshot to Bobby but Bobby then hits Ken with a chair and is DQd. *  - God that was possibly the most boring one ever, Kennedys leg work was okay but didn't lead to anything, bad DQ ending aswell.

Miz hosts a Diva Invitational, you know what i'm not gonna recap it. It ends with Ashley promoting her playboy shoot. I saw her recently in a mag she looks about 60, what happened there?

                                               
Batista/Undertaker Vs. Shawn Michaels/John Cena

 At WrestleMania it'll be Taker/Batista for the WHC and HBK/Cena for the WWE Title but tonight they team up. HBK/Cena are Tag Champions.  Batista has the advantage over Cena until he misses a corner charge. Taker/HBK in as Deadman works the arm then goes Old School. He tries it on Cena but it is blocked and Taker is superplexed. Michaels is gorilla press slammed over the top by Deadman. Michaels has been beat on for awhile now. Multiple clotheslines gets Batista 2 but he gets DDTd and Cena tags in. Top rope leg drop to Batista, i'm surprised Cenas never injured himself with that, 4 Knuckle Shuffle but Taker stops the FU. HBK clips Batistas knee when he goes to Batista Bomb Cena. Batista has been beat on for a bit and is now cut. STFU by Cena but Taker breaks it up. HBK hits the elbow then toots up the band but Batista gets a Bossman Slam. Spine buster to Michaels, ChokeSlam to Cena but then Batista swerves, expectedly, and Spinebusters Taker. A Sweet Chin Music and FU ends Undertaker. *** - Definatly got better nearer the end, I was expecting this to be worse than it was.

PPV Poster

14 / 35 - Was dragged down by Finlay/Boogeyman, the Cruiserweight may of had more had it not been turmoil and the rest was average I mean hell only 1 match got *** the majority got **1/2 which tells you how average this PPV was.

IYH 21: Unforgiven

April 26th, 1998. Greensboro, North Carolina.
Attendance - 21,427
Buyrate - 0.85

Opening video is all about the Inferno match.

Rock/D-Lo/Mark Henry Vs. Faarooq/Ken Shamrock/Steve Blackman

 This isn't just a thrown together team as it makes sense Faarooq was just usurped from Nation and Shamrock had feuded with Rock since January, Rock is IC Champion here. Faces do Nations pose, huh? 'Rocky Sucks' chant. This D-Lo is better than original Nations D-Lo where I believe he was un-named for a while but now he has a personality. Blackman arm drags D-Lo, Ken is in to a pop. Confusion in faces corner over who's tagging in. Battle of the 2 Nation originals as Faarooq Spinebusters D-Lo then whips him with a belt. Henry beats on Blackman then D-Lo Sky Highs him. Rock tags in when Faarooq is weakened. Henry powerslams Blackman who plays face in peril. Peoples Elbow minus pad removal or pin attempt. Nation beat on Steve for ages but it's getting no heat, D-Lo misses a moonsault. Faarooq is in and boom a Dominator to Rock gets 3 setting up a IC Match at Over The Edge which is here - (http://wwe-jan-may.blogspot.com/2013/01/iyh-22-over-edge.html) ** - Bit boring but Faarooq winning made sense to set up Over The Edge.

Stone Cold tells time keeper Mark Yeaton no funny business tonight.

European Title - Owen Hart Vs. HHH (c)

 Chyna is hanging in a cage above the ring so she doesn't interfere, why not just do a non-interference match? They'd been feuding for seemingly a year and a day. 'Playboy Needs Chyna' sign, was that guy a Terminator from the future sent to warn us? Owen gets HHH ringside and throws him into the cage which hasn't been risen yet. I spy a couple nWo signs, so they paid for WWF tickets so they could promote the WCW, fools. Harley Race knee by HHH. Suplex, kneedrop gets HHH 2 as Chyna tries to bend the bars, does she intend to leap to the ring? Sunset flip gets Owen 2. Can I hear HHH calling spots?? Facebuster gets Hunter another 2. Dragon Sleeper by HHH which he's used a couple of times here. Bridged german gets Owen 2, then a belly to belly followed by Enziguri gets him 2 again. Chyna bends the bars and hangs from the cage. SharpShooter is applied as Road Dogg lowers the cage so Chyna's now ringside. Owen Pedigrees HHH but X-Pac hits him with a fire extinguisher and HHH gets 3. **1/2 - Straight up 1-on-1 may of been better as the Chyna stuff was distracting, was the DX stuff booked to protect Owen or just so Russo could have his patented run ins? New life was breathed into this feud when Owen joined Nation after this.

NWA Tag Titles - New Midnight Express (c) (w/ Jim Cornette) Vs. Rock 'n' Roll Express

 Bombastic Bob is better known as Hardcore Holly and Bodacious Bart is Bart Gunn, my own self given nicknames aren't as bad as those. Robert Gibson knocks Bob ringside. Lawler - 'Panties aren't the best thing in the world but they're next to it'. Jim Cornette and Tim White square up to each other. Cornette trips Morton then two backbreakers get Bart 2 as does a powerslam. Cold tag to Gibson. Double dropkick to Bart but then Bob bulldogs Gibson for 3. ** - Not that bad to be fair but crowd were deader than me at a Cleveland Cavaliers game.

Evening Gown Match - Sable Vs. Luna

 Luna wins then is stripped under the ring.

Vince and Stooges are here. He talks for a while, am I watching a PPV or RAW is WAR? They're building Austin/Dude as Montreal 2.

WWF Tag Titles - NAO (c) Vs. LOD 2000 (w/ Sunny)

 This feud is still going?? cause the first few matches weren't dull enough. Doggs catchphrase entrance hasn't caught on yet and they bring out Dean Smith, UNC Tarheels coach, but it's a blow up doll. LOD won a battle royal at 'Mania 14. Double facebuster to NAO. Gunn is backdropped 'Oh Shit' he says. Shoulder breaker to Gunn, I dont think NAO have hit anything yet. Chinlock by Animal, that'll make it interesting. Gun stops Doomsday Device by chop blocking Animal. Spinning toe hold by Road Dogg as they work Animals leg, some psychology in this match will make me bump up the *s let's see if Animal sells it. Fame Asser connects for 2, as they dont make a big deal of it I guess it wasn't his finisher here. Backbody drop and leg whip by Animal, Hawk in he slams Dogg down, splash connects then Billy hits a very tame belt shot for 2. Hawk germans Dogg but both mens shoulders are down when ref counts 3 so NAO retain. *1/2 - Long and boring. I did appreciate the leg work by NAO. LOD were 10 years past usefulness here so why not just lose clean, Rumble had a crappy DQ and this had a Dusty finish.

Jeff Jarrett does a concert with Sawyer Brown, anybody?? until Steve Blackman attacks but he gets guitar shotted and figure foured.

Inferno Match - Undertaker Vs. Kane

 Lawler has marshmellows and a sausage. I haven't enough ink in my pen to recap the feud but you probably already know it. Corner splash then old school by Undertaker, he is thrown up by Kane and seems to land awkwardly, now Kane is in control. Powerslam and chairshot by Kane, Taker gets a side russian leg sweep but is soon Chokeslammed so he responds with one of his own but Kane sits up. Kane gets crotched when he goes up top and is superplexed. Kane is thrown over the flames leaving Taker in the ring, he goes to leave but Vader fights him down to ringside where Taker topes over flames onto them, nice pop for that. Kane is down via chairshots then Taker beats on Paul Bearer at the stage where Jeff Jarrett sang. Kane gets booted and his arm goes on fire. - *1/2 - They were limited to what they could do as they had to stay 8in ring for 90% of the match. This wasn't going to be a good wrestling match and always was going to be carried by the characters. I liked Takers tope which gives its rating a boost.

WWF Title - Dude Love Vs. Stone Cold (c)

 Austins 1st PPV defence. Foley had been Cactus Jack but after he got beat up by NAO and fans chanted for Austin he retired Jack, now the Dude is here, Owww Have Mercy.  Dude attacks from behind but Austin soon has the match in control. Dude is clotheslined and scoop slammed in the aisle then hip tossed off of Jarretts stage onto the concrete. They're back in the ring when Vince appears with Stooges and sits ringside which distracts Austin and Dude gets 2 off a roll up. Vince stares at time keeper Mark Yeaton, this Vince stuff is in danger of over shadowing the match. Austin is down in the aisle so Vince goes and trash talks him. Abdominal stretch by Dude as Vince tells Mark to ring the bell until Austin counters it to his own. Dude is suplexed on outside and his leg hits the steps. Back in ring as Dude toots up the band but Sweet Shin Music is blocked. Ref Bump!! as he is clotheslined. Mandible Claw/Love Handle to Austin but the ref's down. Austin smashes Vince with a chair KOing him. Stunner to Dude and Austin counts his own pin cause that's legal apparently. Post match Gerald Briscoe DQs Austin, setting up the rematch a month later. ***1/2 - More about Vince/Austin/Montreal than Dude/Austin, if Austin was allowed to count his own pin then why didn't Dude when he had the Mandible Claw? Was okay but their match a month later at Over The Edge was much better. (http://wwe-jan-may.blogspot.com/2013/01/iyh-22-over-edge.html)

13 / 30 - I wouldn't recommend this show from an in-ring standpoint. Reviewing it's bad but just watching it as a fan it could be okay as the characters drive the product. Thumbs slightly down for this one as the main event was bettered the following month.

IYH 22: Over The Edge



The PPV poster

- May 31st, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Attendance - 9,822
Buyrate - 0.65

LOD (w/ Droz, Sunny) Vs. DOA (w/ Chainz)

 'LOD' Chant. Not much happens until Animal headbutts 8-Ball downstairs. Skull sideslams Hawk, dreadful piledriver which Hawk no sells, not dreadful in a my god he dropped him on his head way but dreadful in a Hawks head was about 10ft off the mat way. LOD beat on Skull in the corner, aren't they face? Leg drop gets Hawk 2. Chainz, Droz fight on outside. 'LOD' Chant. Hawk gets beaten on. Animal and the other baldy are tagged in but the baldies switch, not that it matters as Animal gets 3 off a Powerslam. * Moving on.

Nation leader and IC Champion The Rock comes out to talk trash but he gets piledrivered 'on a chair' by Farrooq.
Steve Blackman Vs. Jeff Jarrett (w/ Tennessee Lee)
 I have a vague recollection of Blackman interupting Jarretts concert at the last PPV, also Jeff gave Blackman his first WWF loss. Jeff is in the country singer 'Aint I Great' phase. They fight outside then back in a german gets Steve 2. Jarrett is in tree of woe then chinlocked. Al Snow has joined spainsh announce team, Head has a sombrero on. Steve misses a diving headbutt, he goes for a vader bomb but Jeff gets his knees up. Spanish announcers say 'Hasta La Vista' to Snow. Lawler: 'An old country song, i'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy' Suplex, backbreaker, heel kick by Steve. Jeff tries to use one of Blackmans glow/Kendo/Whatever sticks but Steve stops him and uses them himself, but Tennessee Lee hits Steve with one and Jeff gets 3. ** -  Meh, not real good ut not real bad. JR/Lawler were brilliant on commentary at this time.

Marc Mero Vs. ?
 Sable picks his opponent and if they win then Sable is free from Mero but if Mero wins then Sable is fired. To cut a long story short Sable picks herself, Mero offers to take a dive but then cradles Sable for 3. UNR

Kaientai Vs. TAKA Michinoku/Bradshaw
 That is not a typo TAKA and Bradshaw were a team here and obviously this isn't the Kaientai most fans remember. Kaientai are Sho Funaki, Dick Togo and some other dude. Bradshaw presslams TAKA onto Kaientai at ringside. Bradshaw tags in so Kaientai scatter. TAKA is beaten down but Togo misses a corner splash so TAKA manages a tornado DDT then moonsaults Funaki on the outside, looks like TAKA hit the rail aswell, ouch!! Inverted Sky High to TAKA then a double underhook suplex gets 2 as does a snap powerslam. Swanton to TAKA who is then camel clutched, boston crabbed and dropkicked at the same time. Bradshaw in Powerbomb to Funaki, then Bradshaw busts out a TIGER SUPLEX!! *spits out Coca-Cola* why didn't he keep using that?? Togo finishes off TAKA with a senton bomb. **1/2 - Some nice moves in this match, Bradshaw was kind of pointless beyond the Tiger Suplex.

Intercontinental Title - The Rock (c) Vs. Faarooq
 Rocky doesn't appear at first due to a neck injury from Faarooqs earlier piledriver but Commissioner Slaughter threatens to strip him then he appears with a neck brace, which Faarooq takes off him and hits him with then a couple of clotheslines. Rock is soon in control Peoples Elbow gets 2. 'Goldberg F*ckin Sucks' sign in crowd. Rock gets 2 off a DDT. Spinebuster by Faarooq and the ref counts 3 but Rocks foot was on the rope, fans dont care anyway. Rock wins via Flair pin, double leg takedown and feet on ropes. * - Booooooooring. This should've been a big blow off match as Faarooq was usurped from Nation by Rock but instead we got this. At least it was short.

Mask Vs. Mask - Kane Vs. Vader
 This should just be one-on-one normal match, why would Vader care about losing a match that doesn't completely cover his face anyway? This is Earl Hebners first match since night before 'Mania 14. Punches etc. by Kane then Vader splashes him down and gets shots to back of Kanes head, probably stiff knowing Vader. Kane hits his top rope clothesline then a boot and clothesline get Vader down as fans chant 'Vader'. Snapmare into a neck vice by Kane. Chokeslam then Vader rolls ringside where he hits Kane with a wrench, continuity by WWF there. Vader misses a moonsault and a Tombstone is academic. ** - Average match. The continuity I mentioned was that Kane had attacked Vader with a wrench, possibly at No Way Out Of Texas. Post match Vader calls himself a fat piece of shit.

Mad Dog Vachon and The Crusher are in the ring being celebrated when Lawler attacks them, ripping off Vachons fake leg but he is soon cleared out by Crusher. I read that lawler said this was done on the spot.

HHH/NAO Vs. D-Lo/Kama/Owen Hart
 Continuation of DX/Nation feud also HHH/Owen were rivals and Owen joined Nation. HHH is European Champion. In case anyone doesn't know Kama is The Godfather. 'Owen sucks' chant. D-Lo/Road Dogg start but not much happens, Owen in but knocked straight down, gorilla presslam by Billy Gunn. Heel kick connects but SharpShooter is avoided. HHH gets a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for 2. 'Free Flair' sign, wrong company bub, though WCW probably did watch WWF PPVs. Drop toe hold by HHH as Road Dogg does Shake Rattle 'n' Roll knee drop to D-Lo who is the only original nation member left. Owen gets 2 off a piledriver as Road Dogg plays face in peril. Sky High by D-Lo. Nation are using the clap hands to sound like a tag strategy. HHH breaks up a SharpShooter then JR brings up the enziguri to HBK that 'KOd' him, that was good acting by HBK and Owen. D-Lo gets 2 off a moonsault then lukewarm tag to Billy but soon all 6 men are brawling. D-Lo is spike piledrivered by HHH, Billy onto the European Title but Owen Pedigrees HHH onto it and D-Lo gets 3 *spits out 7up as HHH lost to Pedigree*. **1/2 - I like multi-man tag matches but this was meh, and a bit to long as the heats segment on Dogg lasted a while and going by the crowd didn't really work, did like HHH losing to his own finisher though as finally Owen gets a measure of revenge on HHH.

WWF Title Match - Stone Cold (c) Vs. Dude Love

Patterson made it No DQ to favor Dude Love.

 I love the over the top intros for this match for Guest Ring Announcer Pat Patterson, Guest Time Keeper Gerald Brisco and Special Referee Vince McMahon. Undertaker comes ringside to keep Vince in check. Just dawned on me that only a month later Mick Foley comes flying off the Cell in a little known match with Taker. Dude gets a quick 2 off a shoulder charge. Dudes new teeth come out so Austin stomps a mudhole in them and tosses them into crowd, Lawler 'Dude Love has lost his smile'. Austin is whipped into steps as Dude is slowly taking control. Swinging neck breaker to Dude proceded by clotheslines. Mandible Claw/Love Handle is countered and Dude gets his head twisted in ropes. Patterson announces it is No DQ. Dude is clotheslined hard on the concrete. Neckbreaker in aisle way as Patterson announces it is Falls Count Anywhere then a backslide in the aisle gets 2. Austin is backdropped onto a car that is part of the set. Dude sunset flips off a car for 2. Austin is cut  and suplexed on the floor. Cactus Elbow on concrete but Austin avoids it. Back in ring as Patterson trips Austin so Dude is in control. Double Arm DDT on a chair gets 2. Dude gets levelled with a chairshot but Vince refuses to count. Dude accidentally CREAMS Vince with the chair knocking him into the year 3000. Stunner but Patterson pulls the new ref out so Taker chokeslams him through a table, ditto Gerald brisco. Stunner for Dude and Austin uses Vinces hand to count the fall. **** 1/2 - Very entertaining, not much wrestling but this is what WWFs Sports Entertainment is all about.

15.5 / 35 - Undercard was boring but main event rocked, which sums up most 98/99 PPVs. From a review standpoint it's not good but to just sit and watch it it's allright, possibly through nostalgia though. Dude/Austin is on Mick Foleys DVD. Mild recommendation but dont go out of your way to find it. In UK this PPV comes with IYH 21: Unforgiven in the Tagged Classics series, that review will be up soon.

Judgment Day 2006

- May PPVs generally suck and on paper this looks dreadful.

- May 21st, Phoenix, Arizona
Attendance - 14,000
Buys - 238,000 (That was hard to find so may be questionable)

WWE Tag Team Titles - MNM (W/ Melina) (c) Vs. Paul London/ Brian Kendrick
 Nitro does some poseing. armdrag into an armbar by London followed by a double hiptoss to Mercury. MNM on the outside and Kendrick leaps onto them. Heat building time as MNM beat on London. Springboard dropkick by Kendrick but he soon gets SnapShotted but London breaks the count. Now Kendrick's getting beat on, he does manage to get a small package but the referee is distracted. Hot tag to London, oklahoma roll but Mercury kicks out. London dropkicks Nitro and moonsaults Mercury in one move, nice nice. Mercury knocks into Nitro and London gets a roll up for 3, the titles and a pop. Post Match - MNM fight and Melina sides with Nitro. Was that an attempt to turn Mercury face? Teddy Long gets knocked down in the fracas. *** - I give it *** for the slightly  surprising title change and it was alright.  

Chris Benoit Vs. Finlay
 They lock up and go under the bottom ropes whilst still locking up. Finlay blocks Sharpshooter and counters a Benoit side headlock into a pin attempt. Chops by Benoit but Finlay drop toe holds him. Old school style so far but the fans haven't turned on it. Germans by Benoit but Finlay avoids the headbutt. Finlay gets a chair but Benoit baseball slides into him then does hit the headbutt for 2. Finlay has been doing submissions that you rarely see in WWE or TNA. Benoit starts a comeback but Finlay cuts him off. Germans by Benoit then a nenziguri, Finlay goes ringside so Benoit germans him on the outside. 3 Amigos by Benoit. Finlay gets some shots in but Benoit locks in a Crossface and Finlay taps. **** I enjoyed this match but I cant put my finger on why, if you know  what I mean.The start was slow, a observation not a complaint. This style wrestling usually gets boring chants but these fans didn't mind, these two probably loved wrestling each other.

Jillian Vs. Melina
 Thesz press by Jillian, then throws her into the barricade. Melina starts to take control then locks in a body scissors. Jillian gets a roll up for 3. ** - I think it's worth 2 based on my expectations of it.

CruiserWeight Title - Gregory Helms (c) Vs. Super Crazy
- If you dont know Gregory Helms he was the Hurricane.
 Crazy gets 2s off some quick pin attempts. Ref wont let Crazy jump over the top so he jumps over the ref 'ECW' chant. Helms gets some offence now, 2 off a neckbreaker. 'Super Crazy' chant. Helms gets the double underhooks then knees Crazy in the perm. Crazy now starts a comeback of his own, tilt-a-whirl backbbreaker and a standing moonsault gets 2. Helms misses a shining wizard and Crazy gets another 2 off a heel kick. Crazy goes for a hurricanrana but is powerbombed for 3. **1/2 - Okay match nothing stood out but also nothing was bad to be fair.

Melina slaps Teddy Long so he fires Nitro and Melina.

Mark Henry Vs. Kurt Angle
-  Angle will dictate wether this is good or not.
 Angle attacks from the bell he does a sunset flip so Henry tries to sit on him. Kurt gets a single leg takedown then starts to work the leg. Mark Henry gets a foot back in the match, when he does a camel clutch you see Angles mouthpiece which says Revenge, did any play WCW/nWo Revenge. German to Henry, the straps come down so Kurt means business, Angle Slam gets 2. Henrys Worlds Strongest Slam gets 2. Anklelock is applied but Henry squashes Kurt into the ringpost and Henry wins via countout. ** Henry had most of the offence which tells you all you need to know, bit boring.

King Of The Ring Final - Bobby Lashley Vs. Booker T
- They show former King Of The Rings but skip Mabel, Billy Gunn and others.
 Clothesline, suplex and armbar by Lashley. Thumb to the eye by Booker who now gets offence until he is clotheslined. Booker calls for a Scissor Kick but gets clotheslined. Sharmel stops Lashley hitting a spear and Booker gets 2 off a BookEnd. Powerslam almost gets Lashley the win, he charges but gets heel kicked, Scissor Kick gets Booker 2. Finlay hits Lasley with a Shilleleigh and a Scissor Kick gets Booker 3. *1/2 - Lasleys offence was basic and I wasn't drawn into the match. Book-As win was slightly surprising. This leads to him becoming WHC in the next month or so.

Undertaker Vs. The Great Khali
- Undertaker facing a big giant who can barely move, is it the 90s again?
 Taker dodges punches and gets his own. Everytime Taker gets punches Khali throws him to otutside. Khali counters Old School and Michael Cole says nobody has ever doen that, idiot. Khali uses Mortal Kombat offence to control the match, punch, punch, kick, headbutt etc. Brain Chop but Taker kicks out. Khali is tied in the ropes but soon hits Brain Chop and gets 3 with one foot. * - Taker puts somebody over and of all people it's Khali!!!! Closest you'll see to a taker squash. Why not put Orton in 05 or Angle in '00 (Fully Loaded, Survivor Series) over.

World Heavyweight Title - Rey Mysterio (c) Vs. JBL
 JBL beats on Rey until he gets a drop toe hold but JBL leaves ring to avoid 619. Rey does 10 Corner punche spot and lowblows JBL when ref is distracted. JBL gets a foot in the match and does the 3 amigos, the move Chavo still does today for a cheap pop. Rey is cut. Clotheslines by JBL who's dominated for a while now. Big or Mini boot I suppose gets JBL 2. God this is boring. Moonsault gets Rey 2. Ref Bump! as JBL puts him in the way of 619. JBL hits a Powerbomb and 2nd ref counts 2. Ref Bump!! JBL gets a chair but Rey kicks it in his face, a 619 and FrogSplash, for a cheap pop get 3. *1/2 - JBL dominated say 80% of the match and his offence isn't particularly exciting, I hated Reys title reign.

17 / 40 - The last 3 matches drag this PPV from surprisingly good to mediocre, though mediocre is good for a May PPV. London/Kendrick winning was surprising as was MNM breaking up and Nitro, Melina firing. Seeing Taker get squashed is worth a look for curiosity. Thumbs in the middle here. Just as much good as bad.