It's Sunday, July 23rd, 1995. Apollo 13 is holding strong in the box office spot, while TLC warned us not to go chasing waterfalls. Also Bill Gates is the richest man in the world. But in the world of the WWE, the rich days are far gone at this point. It's the second In Your House PPV, live from the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. 6,482 in attendance and a .7 buyrate is what rounded down in the end.
So, what's been going on since King of the Ring? Not much at all honestly. It's been a rather dull month. The biggest angle has however involved intercontinental champion "Double J" Jeff Jarrett. After years of boasting about being the next country music sensation, Jarrett finally released his first single "With My Baby Tonight" to rave reviews. Besides a live performance at this show, Jarrett also ended up in a feud with Shawn Michaels after a post-match brawl ensued after Jarrett's defense against Savio Vega. Michaels is poised to take the gold from the arrogant country star.
Over on the WWF title side, after the outcome of the King of the RIng tag match where Sid walked out on Tatanka, there have been questions raised about if Sid is a coward or not. To settle this feud once and for all and to ensure neither man tries to make an escape, Sid will challenge Diesel in a lumberjack match. 30 men surround the ring to keep the men in the ring. 15 chosen by Diesel, while 15 chosen by Ted Dibiase. Will Sid show his cowardice, or is Diesel's days numbered?
Ir's Vince McMahon and Jerry "The Cowboy King" Lawler on commentary tonight. Nice touch with the crown over the cowboy hat. But I do find it corny to see them go more "country" whenever they enter the south. But considering known disdain by Vince for the south, that's not too shocking.
Opening action tonight is The 1-2-3 Kid taking on The Roadie. The reason for this match is going back from a few months ago where the Roadie and Jarrett took out the Kid, causing an injury. The Kid attacks Roadie on the entrance way and brings him to the ring. The Roadie is quick to come back with some strikes. He removes his vest and whips the Kid, but the Kid counters. Shoulder block by Roadie, but the Kid takes him down with a rolling trip.
The Kid takes Roadie to the corner with some kicks. Roadie reverses a whip, but gets caught, only to take the Roadie out of the ring with a headscissors. After some stalling, the Kid jumps over the rope and kicks the Roadie. He takes him back to the ring and lays some kicks and a cross body in the corner. He goes for a second, but gets caught in a powerslam.
We cut backstage to Double J's dressing room as Jarrett isn't even watching the match, to the shock of Vince. Though Lawler brings up a great point that Jarrett needs to be more focused on his big concert.
Roadie hits a clothesline off the apron to the Kid on the outside. He follows by sending the Kid groin-first into the ring post, also slamming his head hard on the drop. Roadie bring the Kid back into the ring and hits a flapjack and a series of leg drops. Big back body drop on the Kid as the Roadie continues to showboat to the crowd. Cover gets only a two. We cut back to Jarrett who is talking with his backup singers instead of watching the action.
Roadie goes up for a diving headbutt, but the Kid gets out of the way, causing him to crash. A bit of a "Roadie" chant as the Kid tries to fight back, managing a roundhouse kick. Slow cover only gets a two. Whip in the corner and a dropkick from the Kid. He hits a body slam and goes to the top buckle to hit a nice frog splash for two. Kid goes for a hurricanrana, but gets caught in a nice sitout powerbomb, covering for a two.
Roadie takes Kid to the corner and charges, but misses. Kid goes back up, but the Roadie knocks him groin first. Sloppy top rope piledriver gets the three for the Roadie in what was actually a decent match. Great fast offense from the Kid, and a lot of really unique spots from the Roadie, who showed a lot of the charisma that would help get him over a few years later as the Road Dogg. However, that top rope piledriver.
Oof.
After a mic check from the Roadie, we go to the locker room of the Million Dollar Corporation. Dibiase says there's no where for Diesel to run since Sid has 15 of the finest lumberjacks out of the ring. Sid says that Diesel's in his asylum and has to meet the master and ruler of the world.
Barry Didinsky is backstage in the face dressing room to hock tonight's shirt, which is literally the same damn shirt from the last In Your House PPV, only with the lumberjack match info on the back. Lazy work guys.
Up next it's tag team action. Razor Ramon and Savio Vega taking on King Mabel and Sir Mo of Men on a Mission. Razor is still sporting some taped ribs, selling his injuries from over a month ago. Razor throws the wrap at Mabel, seemingly making it look like he's in better shape. Kicking off the match is Razor and Sir Mo. Mo pokes Razor and Razor responds with a toothpick. After a slap by Mo, it's an exchange of arm wringers, until Razor gets some shoulder blocks, and catches Sir Mo with a fallaway slam. Tag to Savio who works the arm and whips Mo. Mo catches him, but Savio breaks out, landing a few chops and a clothesline.
Mo reverses a whip and gets a knee to the sternum. He tags in King Mabel and whips him to the corner, but Savio avoids getting some clotheslines and kicks to both members of Men on a Mission, however, Mabel catches him in a sidewalk slam. He easily throws Savio over the top rope and gauds Razor to fight back. Savio is brought back in and Mabel follows with some sternum rattling whips to the buckle and a wheel kick to the back of the head. Cover gets a two.
Tag to Mo as both men hit a double clothesline to Savio. Cover gets a two. Suplex by Mo who covers nonchalantly for two. He tags back in Mabel who clubs the back of Savio and follows with an elbow to the face. Hard body slam and a vise grip. But unlike a Yokozuna variant, Savio gets out of it quickly and tries to body slam Mabel.
But he's no Luger.
King Mabel throws Savio over halfway across the ring and tags in Sir mo. Double elbows to the face of Savio followed by a cheap shot to Razor by Mo. Razor tries to get in, which allows Mabel to guillotine Savio on the ropes. Tag to Mabel. Drop toe hold and leg drop by Men on a Mission. Tag to Mo as we get a body slam and moonsault combo, only for Savio to avoid Mo's attempt. Savio rolls in to a tag to Razor, who lays in some rights to the face of Mo. Mo tries to call a truce, but Razor catches him, and hits a back suplex off the top buckle.
Razor calls for the Razor's Edge, and gets a shot in on Mabel. Mo comes back with some strikes and tags in the big man. Body slam by Mo as Mabel ascends the buckle. However Razor catches Mabel and throws him off the top. Cover only gets a really close two. Mo gets a cheap shot on Razor as Mabel hits a DDT. He goes for a splash, but Razor avoids. Savio clotheslines Mo outside as Razor tries to fight back, but Mabel whips him in the buckle and hits a splash, followed by the belly to belly for the three.
A decent tag match. A lot of basic face in peril stuff, but everyone looked pretty good. Even Mabel, who didn't seem as gassed. Mo impressed me with the moonsault spot, Savio worked fast and energetic, Mabel going for the top splash only to be thrown off was an amazing spot, and Razor, while not putting in as much work as the others, still put in the effort. Overall, a good tag effort.
Todd Pettengill is with Double J's band as he has a bit too much fun with the drummer.
Dok Hendrix is backstage with some of Diesel's lumberjacks as he tries to claim there's rumors that Dibiase has bought off one of the lumberjacks. Man Mountain Rock is at least interested, but turns it down. Hendrix claims it was Bam Bam, but he's still focused with literally setting Sid on fire.
It's time for the big performance of "With My Baby Tonight". Jarrett tells the crowd that he was going to use the WWF to raise his stock in the country music industrym and he's succeeded, now being the intercontinental champ and the owner of a hit country music song. He's proved everybody wrong and tells everyone who doubted him to go to the concession stand for a big serving of crow.
The music plays and it becomes somewhat more obvious that the voice coming out of the microphone is still not sounding like Jarrett's. In fact, it sounds a lot like... we'll get to it shortly.
Up next, it's Henry O. Godwinn taking on Bam Bam Bigelow. Godwinn is still associated with The Million Dollar Corporation, though not an official member. So when it comes to counting wins and losses in the counter, this will be a .5. Headlock by Godwinn is turned into a back suplex by Bam Bam, who hits two more. Shoulder block sends Godwinn tumbling to the outside. Bam Bam brings Godwinn back in, but Godwinn follows with some hard strikes. He goes for a back drop, but gets caught in a DDT.
Shoulder blocks by Bam Bam is eventually stopped as Godwinn pulls a rope sending Bam Bam tumbling out. He slams Bam Bam outside of the ring and smashes his face into the steps. Both men back in as Godwinn sends Bam Bam sternum first into the buckle nad hits a DDT of his own for two. Chinlock by Godwinn is eventually broken by Bam Bam who gets control, landing a cross body for two. Godwinn comes back with a clothesline. He goes for the slop bucket but stops, following with a body slam and elbow by Godwinn for two. Bigelow clotheslines out of the corner and lands some headbutts and a somp. Bam Bam ges for a headbutt, but Godwinn avoids, landing an elbow of his own. He goes off the second buckle, but misses, allowing Bam Bam to roll him up for three.
It was an okay match. Some decent back and forth early on, but it did slow to a crawl by the end. some of Godwinn's offense, for lack of a better term, was sloppy, but otherwise, for a five minute match, and something to cool down the crowd after the whole Jarrett stuff, it did the job it intended to do.
The Roadie comes to the ring first. He says that Double J will be champ today and tomorrow. He says that Jarrett is still hot and sweaty from singing the debut, but still introduces Jarrett, who comes out to a kinda bland reaction. Michaels comes out to a much better pop.
Jarrett applies a headlock, but Michaels escapes, eventually the spot leads to an eye poke my Michaels, and eventually a hiptoss and clothesline that takes Jarrett out, with Michaels skinning the cat and mocking Jarrett's strut. Jarrett begins to walk out, as Shawn mocks the count. Jarrett decides to get in at the 9 count, rolling back out to restart the count. He does it again to prolong the mind games. Shawn has enough and attacks Jarrett from behind, throwing him back in.
He leaps off the top, but Jarrett gets a shot to the gut and lands a leg to the draped neck of Shawn. Michaels avoids a dropkick, but Jarrett whips Shawn into the Roadie, but Shawn puts on the breaks, knocks down Roadie and throws Jarrett on to him, following with a cross body off the top, taking both men out.
Jarrett reverses a whip, but Shawn turns it around into a sunset flip. Jarrett tries to punch Shawn, but hits the mat. He does manage to back drop Shawn over the top rope as he goes crashing outside. Jarett rams Michaels into the ring steps and rolls back into the ring to reset the count. Jarrett lands a messy front suplex, covering for two. Jarrett follows with an abdominal stretch, taking the IRS route of using the ropes (and the Roadie) for leverage. Eventually the ref catches the Roadie, allowing Shawn to escape, but Jarrett drops him with a DDT. Slow cover only gets two.
Vince's mic appears to be dead as Jarrett goes solo on commentary. The Roadie chokes Michaels on the ropes while the ref is distracted. Eventually Shawn stops it, as Jarrett crashes groin first into the Roadie. Roll up by Shawn gets a two. Vince's mic is back as Shawn takes a patented flipping bump over the top rope.
Jarrett goes up top, but is stopped by Earl Hebner, allowing the Roadie to get a cheap clothesline off the apron on to Shawn. Michaels recovers at the last second. Jarrett goes back up top for a flying body press, but Shawn rolls it around into a cover for two. Sunset flip by Jarrett is turned into a roll up by Shawn, which is then turned into a roll up by Jarrett for two. Big dropkick by Jarrett who covers for two. Shawn avoids an elbow, but gets caught in a sleeper.
Shawn eventually recovers from the sleeper and breaks out using a back suplex. Shawn slowly crawls to Jarrett, covering for only two. Shawn blocks some rights and hits a forearm. to take down Jarrett. With renewed energy he lands some more rights and another flying forearm. Axe handle off the top only gets two for Shawn. Body slam and an elbow drop by Shawn, covering for only two. Shawn avoids a boot in the corner and grabs Jarrett's legs, pulling him groin first into the post. Shawn goes back up, but the Roadie again gets involved by shaking the ropes. Jarrett lands a superplex and goes for the figure four, but Shawn rolls him up for two. Jarrett slams the knee of Shawn and goes for another figure four, but Shawn pushes Jarrett into the referee.
Shawn goes for Sweet Chin Music, but the Roadie clips the knee. He recovers the ref as Jarrett lands a body press off the top. Cover only gets a two count. Shawn reverses a whip, which causes the Roadie to accidentally trip Jarrett. Sweet Chin Music gets the win and the title for Shawn Michaels.
A pretty good title match all things considered. Lots of energy and unique spots from Shawn, who like I said in the last review has at least come back with more energy and vigor in his in-ring work. Jarrett was definitely no slouch either playing a great heel and delivering in some crisp offense, while the Roadie's outside antics continue to entertain. Overall, in a night of decent at best matches so far, this has definitely been the highlight. It did tend to go on a bit too long and definitely dragged, but it was still a great outing for the Heartbreak Kid.
But now, almost unexpectedly, it's time to say goodbye for now. Because both Jeff Jarrett and the Roadie would leave the WWF for a brief period after In Your House 2. While the belief is a failed drug test befell the Roadie, Jarrett left due to being unhappy with the country music star character and frequent losses on television. It's kliq era WWF Jeff, welcome to the club. Both Jarrett and the Roadie will return by the end of 1995 and early 1996.
So, that leaves the big hole of the whole country star angle. The plan was that, surprise surprise, Jarrett was pulling a Milli Vanilli. He can't sing a lick. Instead the real singer of "With My Baby Tonight" was none other than The Roadie. This would have led to a feud, but due to the exit of both men, that ship has sailed for now, and this big angle and push feels all for naught. Will I miss Jarrett and Roadie? A little, but I know they'll be back. Honestly, they've been a highlight to this blog with Jarrett being a good in-ring hand, and Roadie's outside antics being very entertaining. So, this is a definite brief loss for TOTNG.
Dok Hendrix is backstage having what appears to be a panic attack, freaking out over what he saw backstage involving a fight with The Roadie and Jarrett. We of course see and hear none of this, but Dok's incessant ranting and raving makes up for it I guess. Seriously, take a valium.
Up next, it's the WWF Tag Titles on the line. Owen Hart and Yokozuna defending against The Allied Powers. Vince brings up the history between Lex Luger and Yokozuna on the USS Intrepid over two years prior. Yoko shoves Luger into the corner. Luger tries a grapple, but gets met with some headbutts. He lays in some strikes to Luger in the corner. Luger tries to fight, but gets caught with a body slam. Yoko tries an elbow, but misses. Yoko tries to ram Luger face first into the buckle, but Luger turns it around with 10 head rams into the buckle. After some more hard strikes, Yoko falls to the corner, dropping his weight on the foot of Owen.
Owen chastises Yoko for falling on his foot, but Yoko shoves Owen down. The two argue as Cornette tries to calm the situation. After a quick hug, it seems all is fine. Owen slaps Luger and lands a few cheap shots. Luger hits a shoulder block and some arm drag takedowns. Tag to Bulldog who works on the arm. Owen turns it around, but Bulldog rolls around to take Owen down. Owen escapes, but gets caught in a nasty back body drop. He follows with a catapult in the corner, as Luger gets some cheap shots. Clothesline and cover by Bulldog for two.
Tag to Yoko as the two hit a double wishbone. He follows with a falling headbutt. He locks in the long vise grip. We get the arm drop spot, but Bulldog recovers on the third drop, as usual. He breaks out of the vise, but gets hit with a clothesline. Tag to Owen who hits a knee drop. He whips Bulldog and hits a spin kick. Cover gets two. Bulldog recovers to get a sunset flip for two. Owen recovers right back with an enziguri. He whips Bulldog in the corner and goes for a dive, only to miss.
Tags to Yoko and Luger. Luger Clotheslines Yoko and throws Owen off the top buckle. He picks up Owen and throws him on yoko. Double clothesline to Owen by the Powers, followed by one to Yoko. Cover only gets two as Owen breaks the cover. Yoko misses an attack in the corner and the Powers land a double back suplex. Cover, but Owen dives off and attacks Luger. Bulldog and Owen brawl outside as Yoko drops the leg to get the win and the retention.
Not a bad tag match really. Lots of energy from everyone, even Yoko, despite also looking very winded. I'll admit that the Allied Powers team has actually led to some really good stuff from Luger lately. I don't think I'd have had a problem with the Powers taking the gold, but I've enjoyed Owen and Yoko so far, so I'm more than fine with this outcome.
It's time for our main event. Diesel defends the WWF title against Sid in a lumberjack match. We see the Undertaker fans at ringside since Kama is one of the lumberjacks at ringside. Sid goes for a sneak attack, but Diesel fights back, knocking Sid to the outside. The face lumberjacks throw him back in. Diesel throws him back out, and he gets thrown in again. Sid takes a breather outside of the heel lumberjacks, then throws Diesel out to the heel contingent, who stomp down Diesel, until the faces make a save.
Diesel is thrown back in and Sid covers, only getting two. Sid boots Diesel and hits a few elbows. He follows with some kicks to the sternum and a clothesline. The heel lumberjacks choke and attack Diesel. More stomps by Sid. Eventually Diesel comes back with some shots of his own and a big clothesline and series of elbow drops.
Diesel leaps over the top rope on to the heel lumberjacks, getting in a few shots. He follows with some more strikes and a drop of the leg to Sid on the rope. Snake eyes in the corner as you can literally hear one of the face lumberjacks say "how does that feel jerkface?" Diesel goes for a clothesline, but gets dragged out of the ring by King Mabel. Diesel gets rid of Sir Mo, but Mabel slams Diesel into the corner and slams him on the outside. He follows with a leg drop. The lumberjacks continue to brawl as Men on a Mission throw Diesel back in. Sid stomps on Diesel some more and chokes him with his knee.
Sid hits more uppercuts and boots. Cover only gets a two, however. Sid sets up Diesel for the powerbomb and lands it. Instead of covering however, he goes to high five the heel lumberjacks. Cover only gets a two however. He goes for a second, but Diesel escapes with a back body drop. Sid then goes to attack the faces, but the face Lumberjacks attack him, with Shawn hitting an ax handle off the top buckle. They throw Sid back in allowing Diesel to go for a jackknife, but the heel lumberjacks interfere. Sid gets caught with a big boot, as Diesel pins for the three.
A much better match than the first In Your House, but still not a very good match. The in ring was basic boots and strikes from Sid and there was nothing truly flashy or interesting involved. The involvement of the Lumberjacks made the match as they led to the most interesting moments with Diesel actually diving over the ropes and the build to the Diesel and King Mabel feud with Mabel's attack on the champ. So, for the end of this show and the build to the next feud, it did a fine enough job, I guess. At least the Sid/Diesel feud is finally done for now. Also, counting Godwinn, this means it's 0-11.5 for the Corporation on PPV.
And that ends the second In Your House. When I first saw the card, I wasn't expecting much in terms of quality. But honestly, it wasn't too bad. Kid vs the Roadie was pretty good, Men on a Mission vs Razor and Savio was better than expected, Bam Bam vs Godwinn was okay for its briefness, the tag titles was also good, and the main event, while no classic, was much better than Sid and Diesel's first outing. Match of the night was easily Shawn vs Jarrett, even if it did feel like it went on too long. I also like the general feel of a big push for Jarrett with so much heavy focus on him tonight with the title match and the concert. Shame that it just feels pointless with Jarrett's exit. In the end, it was a decent show. Nothing really worth coming back to, save for maybe the Jarrett/Michaels match, but it's still a show you can watch and find enjoyment out of. In the end, it's a B show, a definite step up from King of the Ring.
Up next, it's time for the biggest party of the summer. We're going to Summerslam. Where Diesel will defend against King Mabel, Bret Hart will wrestle a dentist, and Razor and Shawn look to recapture the magic of Wrestlemania X. Find out how that goes down as we begin the road to Summerslam.