It's December 17th, 1995. Jumanji rolls the dice and wins the box office. Boyz II Men and Mariah Carey retake the Billboard Hot 100 with "One Sweet Day". And in the world of the WWF, somebody call Archie and Edith, because it's All in The Family for WWF In Your House 5. Emanating from Hershypark Arena in Hershey, Pennsylvania to an attendance of 7,289 and a staggeringly low .3 buyrate.
So what's been going on since Survivor Series? Bret Hart is once again the WWF champion, and this has led to a family affair as his next challenger is his brother-in-law The British Bulldog. This has brought up a lot of history between the two going back to Summerslam 1992 in Wembley Stadium where Bulldog defeated Bret for the Intercontinental Title. Another caveat added in this feud is a lot of focus on Bulldog's wife and Bret's sister Diana who the company seems intent on making you believe is very split on the matter, though seems to be in full support of Davey Boy.
In other angles, after Mabel injured the eye socket of the Undertaker a couple months back, and Taker's Darkside team crushed his Royals at Survivor Series, the last part of this feud has been made into one of Taker's specialties, a casket match. King Mabel is confident that he'll defeat Undertaker and has been wearing the melted urn chains originally stolen by Kama. Elsewhere, Owen Hart, gloating over injuring Shawn Michaels, put up an open challenge for anyone to face him. His response came from Shawn's buddy Diesel, who has been more aggressive since losing his title.
Vince and Jerry are on commentary as we open action with Sid and the Kid taking on Razor Ramon and Marty Jannetty. We see Goldust at his own private seating area (complete with an usher) staring intently and applauding Razor Ramon. Starting the match is Marty and the Kid. Marty teases tagging Razor, but the Kid goes in on the attack. Marty coes back with an enziguri. Cover, but only two. Marty treis another tag to Razor, but the Kid stops it. Kid takes Marty to the corner, but he gets shoved down with ease. Shoulder block and a clothesline (after blocking a back suplex attempt) cover only gets two. Marty drags the Kid to Razor, but the Kid avoids yet again.
Kid shoves Marty, but Marty comes back with an atomic drop. Tag to Razor. Kid tries to escape outside, but Marty brings him right back in. Hard slap and an atomic drop by Razor. But the Kid tagged Sid who gets in a cheap clothesline. Sid pummels at the back of Razor. Tag to the Kid who lands a spinning heel kick. Kid brings Razor to the corner and lands some strikes, while Sid gets in a cheap shot as well. Tag to sid who works some more rights to the midsection of Razor.
Razor comes back with some punches. Razor ducks a clothesline and collides into Sid, knocking both men down. Tags to Marty and the Kid. Marty gets in a big hairpull slam. Kid ducks a clothesline, but gets caught in a powerslam. Cover only gets two. Flipping facebuster by Marty who covers, but Kid gets a foot on the rope.
Marty follows up with a front facelock while Todd Pettengill talks to Goldust who is ogling the manliness that is Razor Ramon. Razor makes his flesh sweat in ecstacy with his every move. He talks about drowning in a hormonal sea of life, and tells Todd to hand him a gold envelope. Back in the ring, Marty fights off both men in the corner and goes to the top rope, only to get caught by Sid. Cover only gets a two. Slam by Sid who then goes after Razor. Marty tries a roll-up, but Kid breaks the cover. Kid comes in and hits a messy slam. He goes to the top and lands a frog splash. Cover only gets a two.
Tag to Sid who gets in a boot to Marty. Razor tries to make the save but ends up distracting the ref, allowing the heels to double team Marty. Sid goes in to the chinlock, and after about a minute, Marty breaks free, only to be pummeled some more. Marty tries to fight back, but gets nailed with an elbow. Tag to the Kid who lands a fast running leg drop. Tag back in to Sid who continues the strikes. Tag right back to Kid who goes to the top and lands an ax handle. Kid tries an attack in the corner, but Marty evades. Tags to Sid and Razor. Razor lays in some hard rights to both Sid and the Kid. Fallaway slam to the Kid. He tries a Razor's Edge, but Sid back drops him. Sid tries a leg drop but misses. Razor Hits a middle rope bulldog. Cover and the three. Razor sets Kid up for the Razor's Edge, but Sid makes the save.
Bland match. Marty looked okay, Kid looked okay, Sid was bland as usual, and we barely got much of Razor. It's my biggest issue with these types of tag matches. Majority of boring "face in peril" stuff. And the ending felt like it was out of nowhere as if to just end this match that was going nowhere. I was expecting better, ended up a bit soured.
Jerry Lawler enters the ring with what looks to be a painting. He says that it's a fat chance that Santa Claus will be visiting them. But he has brought someone else here. Why it's our old friend "Double J" Jeff Jarrett. If you recall, Jarrett left the WWF after In Your House 2 and like I said there, he would be back by late 1995. Lawler says that Jarrett's been preparing for his "Greater than Great" tour. He says that Double J's CD was so successful that Lawler has a gift for him.
To celebrate Jarrett's successful 500,000 sales of his album, Lawler gives him a gold CD. Jarrett said he told everybody that he was the greatest singer and entertainer, and promises that the finishing touches of his new album "Greater Than Great" are being done. He is also here to be the first participant for the 1996 Royal Rumble. He's going to win and become the champion, and the Hollywood Sign will be knocked down to replace the name "Jeff Jarrett". Lawler invites Jarrett to ringside, much to McMahon's chagrin.
Up next, it's Dean Dougla taking on Ahmed Johnson. Dean favors his lower back as he limps to the ring. Dean grabs a mic and says he would have given Ahmed Johson the beating of a lifetime, but the doctors sidelined him with a 65% healthy back. Instead of wrestling, he has found "Nature Boy" Buddy Landell.
Landell, coming out to Ric Flair's old theme song and looking like a super pasty Nature Boy.
Ahmed goes after Johnson, but Landell makes the save. However, realizing his imminent death goes to the corner. Ahmed grabs him and chokes him. Landell leaps off the top rope and gets caught in a spinebuster. Pearl River Plunger gets the fast win for Ahmed. He then smacks Dean Douglas with his paddle and sends the heels in retreat.
And as Dean Douglas waddles up the ramp, it's time once again to say goodbye. This time to one Shane Douglas. The reason, aside from the back injury during his match with Razor a few weeks back is similar to Bam Bam Bigelow and several others stems to the Kliq's actions backstage and screwing over any chances he had at a push. Ultimately Shane Douglas would return to ECW and have a far more successful run there followed by a run in WCW in the later years of its life. Shane never returned to work for the WWE, despite doing some interviews for their ECW related DVD material. There was also an infamous situation where he was kicked out of the arena during a Raw show. Did Douglas deserve better? Yeah, probably. Though the teacher gimmick I felt never really worked, nor did it feel a right fit for him. The guy who told the Harley Races and the Ric Flairs to kiss his ass in ECW sidled to a boring teacher shtick just felt pretty weak.
Lawler has yet another interview with Ahmed Johsnon, who looks at Jarrett. King says that Ahmed must think his victory was very impressive, but he asks Jarrett who says it was absolutely not. He says that Jarrett was a great athelete and had a 4.0 grade average. When Ahmed got his letter, he had to get the coach to read it to him. A cocky Lawler says that he and Ahmed are going to tangle, to which Ahmed has had enough. He calls Jarrett an Ahcy Breaky Heart wannabe and an Urban Cowboy.
He turns his attention to Lawler, as Jarrett sneaks up behind him and smashes him with the gold CD case. He follows with an attack with a steel chair. However, Ahmed begins to no-sell Jarrett and grabs the chair, only for Jarrett to get a chance to run off. They wrestle with the chair as Lawler makes his escape up the stage.
Todd Pettengill congratulates Razor backstage and talks about his IC title match against Yokozuna next week. Razor says that if big Yoko wants it, he can try to take it. Todd hands him the gold envelope. Razor opens it and looks confused and disgusted, walking off
.
Up next, it's Henry O. Godwinn taking on Hunter Hearst Helmsley in a hog pen match. Th match featuring a special guest referee, Hillbilly Jim! Hunter comes out next, particularly disgusted by the odor of the hogs. Godwinn comes to the ring wit not one, but two slop buckets. The rules of the match are simple. Throw your opponent into the hog pen. Which means we're due for a good few minutes of fighting to throw one another inside. Oh dear.
Godwinn stalks Hunter around ringside with a bucket and goes to throw the slop him, but Hunter throws Tony Chimel in front of him, saving his skin. Hunter throws Godwinn into the ring and hits a European uppercut. Godwinn hits a big back body drop. Hunter gets a thumb to the eye, but Godwinn gets a headbutt to the midsection. He ties Hunter into the ropes and grabs a handfull of slop, shoving it down the gullet of Hunter. Hunter, in a rage takes Godwinn to the corner and beats him down. He tries to choke Godwinn, but Hillbilly Jim puts a stop to it. Knee to the midsection and a neckbreaker from Hunter.
Hunter lands a knee drop and starts to land some fists to the face of Godwinn. Irish whip and a high knee follow. Both men end up outside as Hunter tries to whip Godrinn into the steps, but Godwinn stops it and rams him head first into the steps instad. We finally start to get near the pen as Godwinn tries to carry Hunter into the pen, but Hunter counters, slamming Godwinn face first into a guardrail. Godwinn comes back with a guardrail ram of his on. He tries to whip Hunter into the pen, but Hunter reverses, sending Godwinn slamming into the metal door.
Hunter tries for a Pedigree on the floor, but Godwinn turns it around into a backdrop, causing Hunter to land on top of the fence of the hog pen. Hunter shakily stands on top of the fence and hits an elbow drop to Godwinn. Hunter starts to crawl back to the ring with Godwinn giving chase. Godwinn reverses a whip, but Hunter lands a boot ot the face of the hog man. Hunter ducks Godwinn, but gets caught in a wheelbarrow slam. Hard whip to the buckle as Hunter takes the equivalent of a Shawn Michaels buckle bump. Godwinn whips Hunter out of the ring, causing Hunter to hit a cameraman.
Godwinn throws some more slop on Hunter and the two return close to the hogpen. Slop drop attempt by Godwinn is countered by Hunter. Hunter tries to whip Godwinn to the pen, but Godwinn counters, causing Hunter to crash hard into the steel door. Godwinn succeeds with the slop drop as both men hit hard on the mat. Godwinn charges at Hunter, but Hunter back drops him into the hog pen, earning him the win. Post-match, he shoves Hillbilly Jim who shoves Hunter into Godwinn who grabs Hunter and finally slams Hunter into the slop. Which is great for the giant gash on Hunter's back that's bleeding. Godwinn body slams Hunter into the slop some more as the two celebrate. Hunter slips and slides around in comical fashion.
While a dumb match, I still thought this match was pretty good. Far more hard hitting than I thought it would be. Godwinn and Helmsley surprisingly work well together, besides the whole "Greenwich snob vs Arkansas hillbilly' motif. Both men looked great, the match wasn't just minutes of trying to throw each other into the pen like I had initially feared, and Hunter keeps his winning streak going while still getting comeuppance. So the crowd at least gets a happy ending. Color me impressed by this match. It's no five star classic, but I had fun with it.
Up next, it's Owen Hart vs Diesel. We get a video package of Diesel's new, more aggressive attitude as well as Owen Hart taking credit's for Shawn Michaels' collapse. We get to the match as Owen gets caught early and thrown into the corner. Some knees to the midsection and a beal toss by Diesel. He follows up with a sidewalk slam. Owen avoids contact in the corner and tries for some punches, only to be quickly shoved off and clotheslined to the outside.
Owen tries to escape up the entrance way, but Diesel throws him right back into the ring. Hairpull slam by Diesel. He goes for a boot, but Owen dodges and lands a spinning heel kick. Owen goes to the top and lands a missile dropkick. He starts work on the leg with some kicks and slams. Owen continues working the leg in the corner, but DIesel gets a punch in. Enziguri by Owen who covers for two. Diesel boots Owen into the corner and follows with snake eyes. He throws Owen to the ropes and drops his weight on the back. Whip and a boot from Diesel. Jackknife by Diesel. He puts his foot on Owen, but chooses instead to hit a second. He shoves the referee, causing a DQ and lands a second Jackknife. Owen gets the win by DQ, but Diesel leaves looking dominant.
I liked this match, but my god was it brief. I really think if these two had a lot more time, it would be a far more entertaining match. Because if Bret could get a great match out of Diesel, I could think Owen could as well. But in the end, the intention was clear, make Diesel look super dominant following his title loss last month.
Santa Claus and Savio Vega are walking down the aisle, throwing t-shirts to the fans, when Ted Dibiases' music hits. Dibiase is in the ring with a mic. He says Merry Christmas and Bah Humbug. He says that the people are running their credit cards up in the spirit of Christmas. But he's here to say that as usual, everybody's got a price, including Savio Vega. He calls Savio to enter the ring and tells him to bring in Santa. Dibiase mocks Santa and asks if Savio believes in him. Savio yells in Spanish that Santa's his amigo. Savio says that he doesn't have a price for Dibiase or anybody, and he believes in Santa.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we have officially reached peak kiddie crap. We've had evil clowns, evil friars, evil dentists, pirates, more ninjas than you could shake a stick at, evil bodybuilders, whatever the hell Bastion Booger was, and now, yes, an evil Santa Claus. Or as we'll soon learn, Xanta Claus. Played by the man who would become one of the Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks Balls Mahoney. We'll only see this gimmick briefly as a heel Santa would honestly have an extremely brief shelf life anyways.
When we get to action, it's Mabel who starts with some strikes. Taker comes back with some of his own, taking Mabel to the corner with a choke. Whip to the buckle and a splash in the corner from Taker. Mabel whips Taker into the buckle and follows with a sidewalk slam. Taker sits up. Clothesline by Mabel. Taker sits up. Big body slam by Mabel. He goes for a second rope splash, but Taker sits up again, avoiding contact. Clotheslines from Taker that don't take Mabel down. Mo distracts Taker, allowing Mabel to hit a belly to belly and the leg drop. Taker tries to sit up, but is unable.
Mabel lands a massive splash to Taker. Sir Mo drags Taker and carries him to the casket. He puts him inside and instead of lowering the lid, gives Mabel his crown and gives Mabel the honors. But Taker gets his hand up in time. Taker gets back in, knocks the crown off Mabel and lays in boots and thrusts. Back to the clothesline spot with the third finally knocking the big man down. Massive chokeslam from Undertaker. He has the casket opened as he boots Mabel iside. Mo attacks Taker from behind to no avail. Not even the urn chains do any damage. Chokeslam to Mo. Taker rolls Mo into the casket, but before he shuts the lid he finally gets back the urn chains, then shuts the lid on Men on a Mission, ending the match.
It was fine for what it was. I was never expecting a five star classic. Hell, none of these casket matches have been good really. But this was mercifully short. Taker looks strong and dominant going forward and the King Mabel push is finally at an end. He and Mo aren't gone just yet, but after a year of injuring stars and being mediocre, this is where the King Mabel experiment finally sees its not-so-grand finale.
Interview with British Bulldog, Jim Cornette and Diana Smith. Cornette said that Davey stole his thunder, his fans, his family's respect, the Intercontinental title and his sister. Cornette promises to twist the knife further. Diana has nothing to add but to say she thinks Bulldog will win. Bulldog says tonight will be when the title will go where it belongs. Bret Hart is interviewed with Pettengill. Bret says that he's had to live with the defeat from 1992, but tonight, revenge is his.
It's main event time. British Bulldog challenges Bret Hart for the WWF Championship. A feud that is being dubbed as "All in the Family" as sister/wife Diana is at ringside. Both men lock up with Bulldog giving Bret a shove. Headlock takedown by Bulldog, but Bret comes back, locking in an armbar. He starts to wring the arm, but Bulldog spins out and yanks the hair, taking Bret to the ground. Bret takes Bulldog to the corner until a break is forced. Armbar takedown by Bret who drops his knee to the arm. Some "ECW" chants from the crowd as the match is at a slow point. Bulldog whips Bret, but he gets a cross body on Bulldog, covering for two. Inverse atomic drop by Bret followed by a boot to the lower extremities.
Hammerlock by Bret, followed by a leg trip, keeping Bulldog downed. Bulldog throws Bret off and gets a big knee to the midsection. Bulldog picks Bret up and puts Bret in the tree of woe, hitting some stomps on Bret and shoving down Earl Hebner seemingly by accident. He continues to pummel down Bret with some strikes to the back. He locks in a chinlock as he jaw jacks the crowd who are still chanting for ECW. Bret tries to come back with a crucifix, but gets caught in a slam and and elbow drop by Bulldog, who covers for two. Back to the chinlock as we learn that Undertaker will challenge the winner of this match at the Royal Rumble.
Bulldog drapes Bret on the bottom rope and distracts the referee, allowing Cornette to nail him with his festive tennis racket. Back into a long chinlock by Bulldog until Bret takes Bulldog into the corner, landing some shoulder blocks to the ribs. Bulldog comes back big time with a hard whip that sends Bret crashing sternum first into the buckle. Cover, but Bret gets his foot on the rope. Big back body drop by Bulldog who covers, but Bret kicks out at two. Back into the chinlock. Some "USA" chants can be heard despite neither man in the match being Canadian. Bret escapes the lock, and after some back and forth, Bret gets the monkey flip.
Inverted atomic drop followed by a headbutt to the lower midsection. Bulldog on the Bulldog as Bret covers for two. Bulldog tries a back drop, but gets caught in a big piledriver by Bret. Cover only gets a two. Shot to the gut and a side russian leg sweep followed by the patented second rope elbow drop. Bret sets Bulldog up for the superplex, but Bulldog throws him groin-first on to the top rope, causing Bret to spill outside. Bulldog goes to bring him back in. He hits Bret with a forearm, sending Bret crashing ot the steps. You can see Bret clearly blading his head as yes, we actually have color.
As "He's Hardcore" chants can be heard, Bulldog brings Bret back in and throws him hard into the buckle. He follows with a piledriver of his own. Cover, but Bret kicks out. The gash is so bad that Bret's blood is already staining Bulldog's gear. Stalling suplex by Bulldog. Bulldog follows up with a press slam. Cover, but Bret kicks out at two. Bulldog goes to the top and lands a headbutt to the ribs of Bret. Cover only gets a two. He follows with a bow and arrow, but Bret turns right around and tries for a sharpshooter, only for Bulldog to power out immediately.
Bulldog hits a shoulder block that sends Bret rolling out of the ring. The ring is stained in Bret's blood. Bret reverses a suplex over the ropes and hits a German suplex, bridging for only two. Bret reverses a whip, but both men clothesline each other. Bret throws Bulldog over the top rope and follows with a plancha over the ropes. He lays strikes on to Bulldog. He tries a splash off the ropes, but gets caught in a powerslam by Bulldog.
Bulldog pulls away some of the ring mat, exposing the concrete underneath. He goes for a suplex, but Bret blocks it, sending Bulldog groin-first into the barricade. Clothesline by Bret sends Bulldog crashing to the floor. He brings Bulldog back in and lands a backbreaker. Cover only gets a two. Bret throws Bulldog hard into the corner, and follows with another attempt at the superplex. This time, he's successful. Cover, but Bulldog still kicks out. Bulldog tries a rollup, but Bret turns it around, still only getting a two.
Ugly back drop by Bret. Bulldog's whites are dirty and red at this point. Bulldog tries an attack in the corner, but Bret gets a boot to the face. Bret goes for a roll up and finally gets the three in a bloody brawl.
A great match. It started slow and basic, but once we go to the action outside it definitely picked up with an intense final ten minutes or so. I believe this is the first time we've seen intentional blood in a match for this blog, and it did help the match, if seeing Bret blade his head didn't happen of course. While it was certainly no classic like the Wembley match, this was still a great main event.
We get an In Your House extra as Todd Pettengill interviews Paul Bearer and The Undertaker. Taker is the new number one contender, much to the delight of Paul Bearer. Suddenly Diesel arrives, who isn't pleased that Taker has jumped him in contendership (which he has a point. I don't think he's had his rematch). Bearer says that Big Daddy Cool hasn't been very cool lately. Taker says he doesn't dodge anybody as the two stare each other down awkwardly to end our event.
In Your House 5 was a surprisingly good show. There were some dud matches like the opening tag match and Taker vs Mabel, but everything else I enjoyed. The Ahmed squash was quick and a good way to bring Jeff Jarrett back into the company. Diesel looks strong in a squash over Owen Hart, the hog pen match was better than it had any right to be as Godwinn and Helmsley put in a surprisingly decent performance given the gimmick. And finally Bret vs Bulldog was an awesome match that took a bit to pick up but by the end it was definitely a nice brawl and a strong main event. Also evil Santa Claus. After a rough year that was 1995, ending it on not one, but two solid pay per views is a much needed treat. The final rating for In Your House 5: Season's Beatings is a B+. Mostly worth watching for Bret/Bulldog, but still a strong show.
Up next, we finally exit 1995 as it's time to rumble. The 1996 Royal Rumble is up next as the next twists and turns in the Boyhood Dream continue to build.
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