It's Sunday, April 2nd, 1995. Chris Farley's antics in Tommy Boy win the weekend box office. Madonna decides to "take a bow" at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. And once again, in the world of the WWF, it's time for the annual tradition of Celeb-a-Mania... wait, I mean WRESTLEmania. That's still what I'm covering right? Because with everything that went down from between now and the Royal Rumble, it sure feels like that wrestle part became less prominent to the build.
Let's go back to the Royal Rumble as Shawn Michaels won from the entrant #1 to earn himself not only the valet services of Baywatch beauty Pamela Anderson, but also a shot at Diesel's WWF title. To ensure his safety, Shawn also acquired the services of Sycho Sid, who returned to the company seemingly crazier than ever. Meanwhile, Bret Hart's long running issues with Mr. Bob Backlund have resulted in the two facing off once more. This time in an "I Quit" match, where the only way to win is to make the other utter the two dangerous words.
But the real focus of this event is that of Lawrence Taylor and Bam Bam Bigelow. At the Royal Rumble, after losing to Bob Holly and the 1-2-3 Kid, Bam Bam Bigelow would take issue with the NFL linebacker. Believing that Taylor was mocking him, Bigelow would shove L.T, and thus set up what is the real main event of the evening. Yes, to cap off what has been quite a year, the WWF title is once again not ending the show. Instead we have a football player taking on Bam Bam Bigelow. And you wonder why people don't give this show the warmest of regards.
Wrestlemania XI was held in the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, Connecticut. Despite the WWF's intent to gain more mainstream attention with the likes of Lawrence Taylor, Pamela Anderson, and... I kid you not... Jonathan Taylor Thomas, this event's attendance was 16,305, down from Wrestlemania X's 18,605. The buyrate was 1.3, also down from last year's 1.68. Proving the ultimate point that Vince McMahon has never learned. Nobody wants to watch wrestling for celebrities or outside sports. At least no crowd since the first Wrestlemania. People who weren't football fans cared about L.T's involvement and football fans who didn't care for wrestling weren't going to simply be swayed either. And since 1995 was continuing its tumultuous turn in attendance, this really didn't even help put a patch on a continually rough year. With all this out of the way, how was Wrestlemania XI? Let's find out together.
We get an opening video package for Wrestlemania focusing on all those great moments like Hogan slamming Andre, Macho Man winning the WWF title, The Ultimate Challenge, Bret vs Ow... oh who am I kidding, this whole video package looks back at all the celebrities from the past ten Manias...
Finally finishing off by bringing up the celebrities on board for this event. Amazing we've from the likes of Liberace, Ray Charles and Burt Reynolds to Nicholas Turturro, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, and that Anti-Vax idiot who I will only refer to as "her". No mention of the actual matches or... you know... the people who are wrestling. I thought I was watching Wrestlemania, not some terrible variety show with people who occasionally grapple. Amazing how it took 90 seconds for me to already hate this PPV.
And this asshole.
Finally finishing off by bringing up the celebrities on board for this event. Amazing we've from the likes of Liberace, Ray Charles and Burt Reynolds to Nicholas Turturro, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, and that Anti-Vax idiot who I will only refer to as "her". No mention of the actual matches or... you know... the people who are wrestling. I thought I was watching Wrestlemania, not some terrible variety show with people who occasionally grapple. Amazing how it took 90 seconds for me to already hate this PPV.
Mongo's sad expression really speaks volumes.
This year's rendition of "America the Beautiful" was done by Special Olympian Kathy Huey and was pretty good. I'll definitely take it over the originally booked FishBone, that's for sure.
It's Vince and Jerry Lawler at the table for this edition. Lawler calls the event fit for a king, as we get to our opener. It's the Blu Brothers vs the Allied Powers. A really awesome mixed theme song for Luger and the Bulldog, but I once again have to be amazed at just how far Luger's fallen. From the focus of two WWF title matches last year to jerking the curtain against the friggin' Harris Brothers.
Jacob and Eli try a sneak attack, but Luger and the Bulldog regain contol, sending them colliding into each other and landing stereo powerslams and clotheslines. Double elbow by Luger and Bulldog. Bulldog and... I don't know which one it is, start it off. Bulldog hits a stalling suplex for two. Tag to the other Blu as they try a double team, but Bulldog gets a double clothesline for two. Bulldog ducks a clothesline, but gets a cheap shot from the other Blu, who is then tagged. He gets a cheap punch in to Bulldog.
Another tag to one of the Blus who gets another cheap shot to the midsection. He follows with a sidewalk slam for two. Another tag to a Blu as they hit a double big boot. Bulldog gets some strikes and a clothesline. The blus switch as the ref is distracted and gets a big boot. Cover for two. Big whip to the corner is met with boots by the Bulldog. The Blus regain control as one is tagged back in. He hits a big body slam and adjusts his trunks (this is at least the fourth occurance so far of trunk pulling in this match and surprisingly not many of them from Lex.) The Blu goes for a leg drop off the second rope, but Bulldog escapes.
Tag to Luger and a Blue. He boots and knee lifts the Blu, following with a clothesline. He hits a powerslam, but doesn't go for a cover. He knocks down the other Blu and follows with a loaded forearm. Cover, but the other Blu breaks it. Bulldog is with the ref as Uncle Zebekiah distracts Luger. the Blus switch again and kicks out of a cover. He tries a piledriver, but Bulldog gets a rollup for three. Post-match, Uncle Zebekiah is none too please, claiming that they were hornswoggled by big city folk.
A decent opener with a lot of energy. Luger looked good for how brief he was in, and Bulldog was good as well. The Blus were also good, especially working in the twin switch spots. While it was a good opener, my problem is that it feels like it really has no purpose being on this card. Why is Lex Luger and the Bulldog jerking the curtain other than the company really had no idea what to do with them? I guess at least they had something to do. That's better than nothing. Still, despite the confusing logistics, this was a decent way to start the show.
We go backstage to Nick Turturro who is backstage with the Million Dollar Team and "Her". However, the microphones aren't working, so we're forced to cut from them abruptly. This feels like at least the second or third time the WWF has been plagued with mic issues in the last couple months. Was Kevin Dunn asleep at the wheel? Because of this we go to awkwardly long shots of the crowd at the Allied Powers theme continues to play.
Up next, it's the WWF Intercontinental Championship as "Double J" Jeff Jarrett defends his title against Razor Ramon. We recap the Royal Rumble last year as the Roadie's interference helped Jarrett to become the champion. Razor is accompanied by the 1-2-3 Kid, who for some reason is dressed like he's ready for a karate match. Razor is particularly pissed. You could say he's "the mad guy".
Razor runs in and gets some strikes to the face. Sending Jarrett to the outside, Razor has plenty of time for his sparkler pyro. After some stalling, Jarrett tries to gain offense, but eats a clothesline for two. Jarrett avoids offense, but gets hit with another clothesline for two. Once again Jarrett tries to escape, but gets clotheslined over the ropes. Jarrett stalls, complaining of a hurt tooth. This gives him a chance to trip Razor. He goes for a sunset flip, but Razor turns it around for two.
Jarrett tells the Roadie to get on the apron for a cheap shot to Razor. However, Razor reverses Jarrett, almost sending him into the Roadie. Jarrett ducks one punch, but not the other that sends him crashing into the Roadie, knocking him off the apron. Cover by Razor only gets a two. He sets up the Razor's Edge, but the Roadie manages to grab Jarrett and slide him off. Jarrett and the Roadie try to escape, but the Kung-Fu Kid stops the escape, sending Jarrett back in the ring. Roll up by Razor for two.
Hard whip to the buckle by Jarrett followed by a choke on the rope. With the ref distracted, the Roadie chokes Razor on the rope. Jarrett dries to drop the leg but misses. Roadie tries another attack, but gets hit hard into the buckle. Razor tosses Jarrett over the top rope on to the Roadie. Razor tries a back drop, but gets hit with a neckbreaker and a pair of dropkicks, followed by a drop of the leg on the rope. He gets another hard whip to the buckle and goes for an enziguri, but misses. Razor misses an elbow drop as Jarrett covers for two. Elbow to the face of Razor and a cover for two.
After a short chinlock, Jarrett tries for a hiptoss, but gets countered into a backslide by Razor for two. Clothesline by Jarrett for two. Some hard rights from both men. Jarrett turns things around into a sleeper. Razor gets out, but Jarrett slams Razor head first into the mat. Cover for two. He puts the chinlock back on, but Razor manages a suplex to break the hold. Both men collide into each other, knocking them both down for a ten count. Both men get up, Razor gets a punch, and both collapse to the mat yet again.
Razor recovers enough to cover for two. Jarrett tries for rights, but is met with rights from Razor. Jarrett tries a cross body, but is caught in a fallaway slam for two. Hard roundhouse right by Razor. The Kid tries to pull Jarrett into the steel post, but is kicked away. Razor tries a bulldog off the buckle, but Jarrett escapes. With the leg injured, Jarrett goes for the figure four with the Roadie adding leverage. After some time, Razor manages to turn it around, reversing the pain.
Razor lands a big back superplex off the buckle, but his knee is still injured, so he can't go for a cover. Razor however feels plenty ready for a Razor's Edge. He gets Jarrett up, but the Roadie clips the knee, causing the blatant DQ. The Kid immediately enters the ring and lays kicks to both Jarrett and the Roadie. But Jarrett recovers, pancaking the kid to the mat. He locks the Kid in the figure four as the Roadie lays strikes. Razor makes the save as officials enter to stop the brawl. Jarrett and the Roadie make their escape, but come back for more. Razor gets in one more shot as the heels leave with title in tow.
And nose a-bloodied.
A solid IC title match with both men pulling some good offense with very few slow rest spots (save for the three ten count spots in a row). However, I do feel this match did go on too long and I did start to tire of it as it went along. And to have it end on a DQ feels like it cheapened the match a little. It does look like the feud will continue with Jarrett and Razor, which is fine since they both work very well together.
Since the mic issues had occurred last time, we have a take two with Nick Turturro in the green room with Million Dollar Corporation and "Her". She gets ogled by the wrestlers as Shawn Michaels and Sid show up to say that tonight Shawn will become WWF champion. All while "Her" stands around smiling like someone who in 20 years will be happy with the deaths of children because she's stupid enough to think vaccines cause autism, and stupid parents are stupid enough to listen to someone as stupid as her. Yeah, I went there.
Up next, it's the Undertaker taking on King Kong Bundy. This story began back at the Royal Rumble when the Million Dollar Corporation stole the Undertaker's Urn. They bring focuse to the umpire of the match, an American League umpire Larry Young. Dibiase clutches the giant urn as we begin. Bundy tries for a charge, but Undertaker dodges and lays in some uppercuts. He goes to the top rope for old school and drops the forearm to the back of the head. Bundy is still on his feet as Taker hits more clotheslines, with the third finally dropping the big Bundy.
Bundly hits the lightest clothesline over the ropes I've ever seen. Taker manages to grab the Urn while outside, and hands it to Paul Bearer. Taker goes back in as Bundy hits strikes, but nothing works. Dibiase calls out Kama, who attacks Paul Bearer and steals the urn. Taker grabs Kama by the face, but Bundy attacks Taker, allowing Kama to escape with the urn in hand. Jim Ross interviews Kama as he exits. Kama tells J.R that he plans to melt the urn and put it on a chain for him to wear.
Meanwhile, back in the ring, Bundy his a couple more weak clotheslines. He stomps on the head of Undertaker and boot chokes him in the corner. More punches by Bundy and a body slam. Knee drop by Bundy who covers for two. Bundy continues with a long chinlock. After a couple minutes, Taker escapes, but Bundy is still in offense, landing a big splash in the corner. Taker no sells it and lands a boot and a body slam of his own. Flying clothesline by Taker and a cover for three.
This was a boring match. Another Undertaker vs A big man match, which means nothing but strikes and clotheslines for the majority of Taker's offense, while we get slow rest spots and weak clotheslines from Bundy. The body slam was impressive I will admit. I also enjoyed some of the outside antics. And considering the last time Undertaker was at Wrestlemania he took on Giant Gonzalez, this was a better match at the very least. At least this time the match didn't end via chloroformed rag. So in essence, bad match, decent antics, and most importantly this is loss #4 on PPV for the Million Dollar Corporation.
We go back to Nick Turturro who is at Pamela Anderson's dressing room. We learn that Pamela and Shawn have had a bit of a falling out and she's nowhere to be seen. Mongo shows up, and isn't concerned with the missing Baywatch beauty. He's more focused on Kama as he and the other NFL stars are all ready for the Million Dollar Corporation. Turturro continues to wander and finds...
Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Bob Backlund playing chess? Okay then, I'm confused. Backlund is unhappy with people with cameras who can intrude on anyone at any time. He also has no clue who Pamela Anderson is as he gets checkmated by J.T.T. Backlund claims that kids have no respect and begins to quiz J.T.T on presidents and capitols, which J.T.T gets them right. Backlund gets pissed, claiming that kids think they know it all.
Up next, it's the WWF Tag Team Titles on the line. It's The Smoking Gunns defending against Owen Hart and his mystery partner. A man who has beaten Bret for the WWF title in the past. And that man is...
Yokozuna! Now looking fatter and furrier. In an interview with the Gunns, they guarantee that they will enter tag champs, and leave tag team champions. Not to much fanfare fo Billy and Bart from the Hartford crowd. After some stalling, it's Billy and Owen to open action. Billy takes Owen to the ropes, but Owen shoves him off, Billy retaliates, but gets a thumb to the eye. Owen tries a leapfrog, but gets a chop for his trouble. Tag to Bart who drops ass first on to Owens's arm.
Tag to Yokozuna. Bart ducks a clothesline, but gets caught in a body slam. Elbow drop by Yoko is missed. Bart goes for arm wringers, but Yoko quickly puts a stop to it. Tag to Owen who works the arm and follows with a shoulder block. Bart manages a couple arm drag takedowns and locks an arm bar. Tag to Billy and the Gunns hit a double Russian Leg Sweep to Owen and a pair of dropkicks to Yokozuna, sending him tumbling ot the outside. Billy brings Owen back in and tags back Bart.
Back suplex/neckbreaker combo from the gunns. Cover only gets a two. Hard whip to the buckle on Owen, followed by another near fall. Sidewalk slam and leg drop by the Gunns. Cover, but Yokozuna distracts the ref, helping Owen to escape. Drop toe hold and leg drop from Owen and Yoko, who is tagged in. Owen rams Billy into the ring post on the outside. He throws Bart to Yokozuna, who hits a headbutt.
Billy tries to fight back with punches, but is caught into a long vice grip. Yoko is clearly gassed despite a lack of offense. He sets up Billy to be dropkicked by Owen, but Owen accidentally hits Yoko instead. The crowd chants "USA" as Billy manages a tag to Bart. Punches and a press slam to Owen and a hairpull slam to Yoko. He keeps Owen out of the ring as he tags Billy. Owen gets rid of Bart as Owen hits a belly to belly suplex on Billy. He sets Billy to the corner and lands the Banzai Drop. Bart makes the save, but is dumped out. Tag to Owen who covers for the three. New tag team champions!
An okay tag title match, but my god is Yokozuna out of shape. I mean, he never was "in shape", but two year ago he was much more mobile in the ring. Now he moves much slower and is out of breath much quicker. The Gunns worked well with double teams, and while Owen worked well, we really didn't get to see much of what he's capable. Overall, this wasn't as good as I was hoping for.
Vince is stymied by the Stridex blimp as we go to Bam Bam Bigelow. We recap the situation with Bam Bam and Lawrence Taylor. From the shove at the Rumble, to L.T getting a shot in at the Pre-Mania workout in Times Square the prior Tuesday. Todd Pettengill tells Bam Bam that the fans are behind L.T, but Bam Bam is not worried. He will not be the man who loses to Lawrence Taylor at Wrestlemania XI. He has the million dollar team to have his back against the all pro team. He calls Taylor a flash in the pan and he will not make a fool out of him.
Up next, it's the "I Quit" Match between Bret Hart and Mr. Bob Backlund. There is a special referee...
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper! What is this, the second time Piper has refereed a Bret Hart Wrestlemania match? This is also the first time we've seen him since the King of the Ring last year. Great reaction for the Hitman as he enters for the match.
Up next, it's the WWF Tag Team Titles on the line. It's The Smoking Gunns defending against Owen Hart and his mystery partner. A man who has beaten Bret for the WWF title in the past. And that man is...
Yokozuna! Now looking fatter and furrier. In an interview with the Gunns, they guarantee that they will enter tag champs, and leave tag team champions. Not to much fanfare fo Billy and Bart from the Hartford crowd. After some stalling, it's Billy and Owen to open action. Billy takes Owen to the ropes, but Owen shoves him off, Billy retaliates, but gets a thumb to the eye. Owen tries a leapfrog, but gets a chop for his trouble. Tag to Bart who drops ass first on to Owens's arm.
Tag to Yokozuna. Bart ducks a clothesline, but gets caught in a body slam. Elbow drop by Yoko is missed. Bart goes for arm wringers, but Yoko quickly puts a stop to it. Tag to Owen who works the arm and follows with a shoulder block. Bart manages a couple arm drag takedowns and locks an arm bar. Tag to Billy and the Gunns hit a double Russian Leg Sweep to Owen and a pair of dropkicks to Yokozuna, sending him tumbling ot the outside. Billy brings Owen back in and tags back Bart.
Back suplex/neckbreaker combo from the gunns. Cover only gets a two. Hard whip to the buckle on Owen, followed by another near fall. Sidewalk slam and leg drop by the Gunns. Cover, but Yokozuna distracts the ref, helping Owen to escape. Drop toe hold and leg drop from Owen and Yoko, who is tagged in. Owen rams Billy into the ring post on the outside. He throws Bart to Yokozuna, who hits a headbutt.
Billy tries to fight back with punches, but is caught into a long vice grip. Yoko is clearly gassed despite a lack of offense. He sets up Billy to be dropkicked by Owen, but Owen accidentally hits Yoko instead. The crowd chants "USA" as Billy manages a tag to Bart. Punches and a press slam to Owen and a hairpull slam to Yoko. He keeps Owen out of the ring as he tags Billy. Owen gets rid of Bart as Owen hits a belly to belly suplex on Billy. He sets Billy to the corner and lands the Banzai Drop. Bart makes the save, but is dumped out. Tag to Owen who covers for the three. New tag team champions!
An okay tag title match, but my god is Yokozuna out of shape. I mean, he never was "in shape", but two year ago he was much more mobile in the ring. Now he moves much slower and is out of breath much quicker. The Gunns worked well with double teams, and while Owen worked well, we really didn't get to see much of what he's capable. Overall, this wasn't as good as I was hoping for.
Vince is stymied by the Stridex blimp as we go to Bam Bam Bigelow. We recap the situation with Bam Bam and Lawrence Taylor. From the shove at the Rumble, to L.T getting a shot in at the Pre-Mania workout in Times Square the prior Tuesday. Todd Pettengill tells Bam Bam that the fans are behind L.T, but Bam Bam is not worried. He will not be the man who loses to Lawrence Taylor at Wrestlemania XI. He has the million dollar team to have his back against the all pro team. He calls Taylor a flash in the pan and he will not make a fool out of him.
Up next, it's the "I Quit" Match between Bret Hart and Mr. Bob Backlund. There is a special referee...
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper! What is this, the second time Piper has refereed a Bret Hart Wrestlemania match? This is also the first time we've seen him since the King of the Ring last year. Great reaction for the Hitman as he enters for the match.
Bret tries another sharpshooter, but Backlund escapes. Bret locks in a figure four as Roddy Piper continues to ask if her quits, but Backlund refuses. Backlund manages to reverse the figure four, but Bret reverses it again. Backlund gets to the ropes, forcing a break (though this is supposedly no disqualification). As we get some commentary from the German team, Bret locks in a leg lock. Lawler continues to bring up Bret's supposed racism to the Japanese as Backlund tries to escape by pushing at the chin. Bret keeps the leg locked as Backlund refuses to quit.
Backlund breaks free of Bret's leg lock and begins work on Bret's arm by slamming it into the ropes and hitting hard wringers. He tries for the Chicken Wing, but Bret avoids. Hard whip to the buckle by Backlund. A second attempt at the Chicken Wing is avoided, but Backlund works in an armbar takedown and locks in a hammerlock. Bret refuses to quit as the pressure is applied. He teases a Chicken Wing, but Backlund places in an arm bar. He lays in some elbows as Bret continues to refuse to quit.
Bret escapes and lands a backbreaker and his patented second rope elbow. He locks in the Sharpshooter, but Backlund gets to the ropes again. Though, again, if this is no DQ, this wouldn't matter. Bret whips Backlund to the post and goes for a tackle, but crashes shoulder first into the steel post. Backlund locks in the Chicken Wing. Bret tries to use the ropes, but Backlund pulls him off. He can't lock the move in as Bret refuses to quit. Bret turns it around into a Chicken Wing of his own. He grapevines and takes Backlund down. Piper asks if Backlund quits, and he says "Graaaaaaahhh! Yaaahh!" which I guess translates to an "I quit"? Bret gets the win.
Nowhere as good as their submission match back at the Survivor Series as I feel there was far less technical finesse in this match. It also felt a bit more rushed, although we didn't spend what felt like 20 minutes on if Helen will throw the towel. Piper served as a good official, but it really didn't feel like adding him mattered that much. None of Bret and Piper's history played into the match for it to really have any impact. And Backlund screaming instead of saying "I quit" kinda cheapens the end. Either he was supposed to, they rushed the finish, or this was just meant to be a screwjob, I don't know. But it does hollow out what was still a decent match.
Jim Ross tries to talk to Bob Backlund post-match, but Backlund is seemingly more out of it than usual. He keeps saying "I saw the light" as he wanders off.
Nick Turturro is still unable to find Pamela Anderson. He's searched all over the building and she's nowhere to be found. Pettengill is with Diesel. He knows what Shawn Michaels is up to, and if he wants a war, he'll get a war. Big Daddy is going to walk down that aisle and he'll show Michaels why he's the WWF champion.
It's time for the WWF Championship match between Shawn Michaels and Diesel. The first person introduced is the special guest timekeeper, Jonathan Taylor Thomas. Nick Turturro is the guest ring announcer. Michaels, no longer with Pamela, comes down to the ring with "Her" and Sid.
However it's Diesel who one-ups Shawn by being escorted by Pamela Anderson. Diesel back drops Shawn out of the ring early on, to allow Pam to enter the ring to bask in the pyro. The bell rings as Shawn lays in some fists early. He ducks some clotheslines, but eventually eats a fist to the face. Shawn works the wrist, but is quickly thrown in the corner, hit with an elbow and beal tossed out. Diesel then follows with a big back body drop. He tosses Shawn out of the ring, sending him crashing into a photographer.
Sid tries to distract Diesel, but Shawn's sneak attack is met with another fist. Diesel misses Shawn in the corner as Shawn lays in more fists. Diesel hits a big elbow to the back of the head and follows with a press slam, but Shawn escapes. Shawn goes for a suplex, but is quickly reversed into a suplex from Diesel. High knee sends Shawn tumbling outside. Shawn rakes the eyes of Diesel and continues with the punches. Diesel reverses a whip, but Shawn tries to turn it into a sunset flip. Diesel throws Shawn groin first into the rope. Diesel misses a boot, allowing Shawn to clothesline Diesel over the ropes. Shawn goes to the top buckle and hits a cross body to the outside on Diesel.
Michaels follows with a baseball slide to the face of Diesel. Shawn tries a second, but gets caught. Diesel tries an elbow to Shawn, but ends up colliding ribs first into the steel post. Shawn splashes off the ring apron right to the sternum of Diesel. As Shawn distracts the ref, Sid tries to stalk Diesel, but Hebner sees the attempt go down. Diesel returns to the ring, but Shawn immediately begins the punches and kicks to take the champ down. He stomps the face of Diesel a couple times and follows up with a bulldog off the second buckle. Cover barely gets a two.
More punches and boots by Shawn. He follows with a ram face first to a buckle. Diesel tries to reverse a whip, but Shawn gets a springboard elbow to the back of the face. Cover only gets a two. Despite Diesel being the face, there is a very noticeable "Let's go Shawn" chant coming from the crowd. More ax handles from Shawn, followed by some knee drops to the injured ribs. Shawn goes to the top buckle again and lands a picture perfect elbow drop from over halfway across the ring. Cover only gets a two.
Diesel manages a back drop. Shawn tries a DDT, but Diesel escapes again. Shawn hits a hard strike in the corner. Diesel reverses a whip and catches Shawn, but Shawn sends Diesel ribs first into the corner. Shawn locks in a sleeper hold. We get the arm drop spot, but as always, Diesel recovers on the third arm drop attempt. He tries to power out, but Shawn climbs back on to his back. Diesel sends Shawn to the corner and lays in some elbows. He lands a massive clothesline in the corner, followed by a second and his patented snake eyes to the buckle. Big hip drop on the ropes followed by a whip that sends Shawn tumbling to the apron. A punch brings Shawn out.
Shawn tries to escape, but Diesel pulls at his tights (which garners a huge pop from the female fans). He starts laying fists to Shawn's face, eventually knocking him down. Shawn rolls back outside, and the two brawl in the sea of photographers. Both men get back in and Shawn lands Sweet Chin Music. However, the ref was distracted by Sid and injured himself somehow. Sid tosses the ref in the ring, who counts, but Diesel kicks out at two.
Sid cuts off the top turnbuckle pad as Shawn goes to ram Diesel into the the buckle, only to get hit with a back suplex. Referee Earl Hebner, hobbling on one leg starts to do the double count out. Shawn slowly rolls on to Diesel, but only gets a two count. Shawn goes for another second rope bulldog, but gets caught into a sidewalk slam. Both men are down and the ref starts the ten count again. Diesel catches Shawn and catapults him face first into the exposed turnbuckle. Some more forearms and a big boot by Diesel. Diesel wins the match with a Jackknife Power-
BAAUGH!
I enjoyed this title match. So far for the blog it's been the best WWF title match we've seen. Mainly thanks to a lack of shenanigans. Shawn was very good, bouncing around and selling all of Diesel offense. Diesel, while not executing that much in terms of innovative moves, looked good, and felt like a believable power house champion. Plenty of good back and forth and even at a 20 minute run, the match never felt like it was too slow at any point. If I had to complain, I did feel Sid, much like in this bodyguard role, did feel out of place. Still, in the end, this was easily the match of the night to this point. I guess when you actually have a match with a long build behind it, that tends to happen.
After some jaw jacking, Bam Bam finally shoves L.T. Eventally L.T follows suit with a big slap to the face of Bam Bam followed by a clothesline. Knee to the face and a whip, followed by a clothesline that sends Bam Bam flopping outside (seemed like the timing was off on the spot. L.T seemed like his cue was wrong). Bam Bam tries another strike, but misses. Bulldog by L.T gets a two count.
L.T lays some forearms and hits a nice hiptoss. The Million Dollar Corporation have a timeout, but L.T goes right into it and shoves Bam Bam. Both the all-pro team and the corporation have issiues as Bam Bam finally is in on offense with some boots and forearms. L.T shoves Bam Bam out of the corner, but Bam Bam comes back with a body slam. He goes for the headbutt, but misses, eating another clothesline from L.T. Bam Bam takes him back to the corner, but L.T fights out with boots. Bam Bam takes him right back in and chokes him on the middle rope.
Bam Bam tries to turn L.T around into a boston crab and gets it in barely, turning it into a half crab. L.T tries to reach, but Bam Bam pulls him away, putting in a toe hold. He eventually gets to the rope, but Bam Bam drags him back ot the middle of the ring, locking in another toe hold until L.T gets the ropes. Healock by Bam Bam is turned into a back suplex. Ax handle from Bam Bam followed by a series of headbutts to the chest. Bam Bam goes to the top rope and lands a moonsault, but he seems to have hurt his knee on the descent (or he feared that L.T wouldn't kick out right). Cover gets a two.
Bam Bam tries a back drop, but gets hit with an underhook suplex (Vince tries to claim it as a Jackknife a la Diesel, but lord no). Bam Bam recovers with some more headbutts. He goes for the top buckle, but the all-pro team distract him. He does go back up and lands a headbutt for two. L.T gets back up and lands some big forearms and shoulders in the corner. Three point stance and a massive set of forearms to the chin. He goes to the buckle...
And lands a massive forearm off the second buckle, visibly smashing his head on the mat as he comes down. Cover gets the three for L.T. The all-pro team help Lawrence up as he appears knocked out from the offense. J.R tries to interview the corporation, but Dibiase is berating Bam Bam for losing to a football player. But why is he complaining? So far it's 0-5 for the corporation on PPV. And we just end there.
This wasn't a very good match. Granted, L.T did his fair share and wasn't bad in the ring, but my god was the Bam Bam offense for the most part just slow and tedious. Even stuff like his moonsault and his diving headbutt weren't as impressive as they usually were. It also feels like they were both off cue on several spots, making things feel all the more rough. Also, all the build up of involving the NFL pros dealing with the Million Dollar Corporation and nothing really came out of it. Overall, I will say at least it didn't end with Bam Bam slipping off a turnbuckle, so I give it points for that. A rough end to a rough night.
So... Wrestlemania XI, was it as bad as Wrestlemania IX? Honestly, I don't think it was. Oh, believe me this is one of the worst Wrestlemanias, with a lackluster card, matches with no real heat to them and a bad main event, but at least with the exception of Jarrett/Razor, we had matches end with conclusions. Wrestlemania IX had multiple matches end on disqualifications or count outs, souring any real quality to be found within. And we didn't end on anything to the level of horrible like Hogan-Senpai winning the WWF title.
But that aside, this was a very weak Wrestlemania. The majority of the card was filled with nothing matches like the Allied Powers vs the Blu Brothers or Undertaker vs King Kong Bundy. Bret and Backlund was fine, but they had a far better told story and match at Survivor Series. Match of the night was easily Shawn vs Diesel as I felt they put in the most effort on the show. And L.T and Bam Bam, while they tried, it just wasn't a very good match. And I know, Lawrence Taylor is not a wrestler, and I give him props for the effort, but as someone who doesn't care for football, I had no interest in this match, and what was offered didn't entertain me. After the excellence of last year, Wrestlemania returns to the doldrums. Final rating is D+. Not the worst show ever, but nothing worth coming back to. I guess the TL/DR way to describe this show would be...
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