It's Sunday, May 26th, 1996. Tom Cruise takes the box office with Mission Impossible and we're still in the Crossroads with Bong Thugs-N-Harmony. And in the world of the WWF, we're entering the eighth In Your House event. In Your House the concept turns one year old as we arrive to In Your House: Beware of Dog. Emanating from the Florence Civic Center in Florence, South Carolina to an attendance of 6,000. So, what's been going down in the WWF Since Good Friends, Better Enemies? Well...
During In Your House 7, allegations began to stir in the back that Shawn Michaels had been caught flirting with Diana Smith, wife of The British Bulldog. Over the next several weeks, the list of allegations began to pile up on the WWF Champion including a silhouetted woman claiming to be a wife of a former WWF Superstar saying that Shawn had a history of sleeping with the wives of other wrestlers. An enraged Bulldog at one point even tried to drown Shawn Michaels in the waters of a beach in Kuwai. With Diana, Bulldog and Camp Cornette continuing to claim these actions to be true, it's put Shawn Michaels in a corner in his WWF title match against Bulldog at Beware of Dog.
On the Free For All before the show, The Godwinns defended their WWF Tag Team Titles against The Smoking Gunns. Sunny was at ringside acting as manager to Henry and Phineas, because wherever the tag titles go, so does Sunny. Mid-match, Billy plants Sunny with a kiss that distracts Phineas, allowing him to be easily defeated and for the Gunns to regain the tag titles that they were stripped of earlier in the year. This also means that, of course, Sunny is going to manage the Gunns at this point. Refer to my earlier comment on where the tag belts go, so too goes Sunny.
We open Beware of Dog with Marc Mero taking on Hunter Hearst Helmsley. On the previous edition of Superstars, Bob Backlund (who is surprisingly still around) attacked Mero with the Crossface Chicken Wing, allowing for Hunter to lay him out with the pedigree. Dok Hendrix interviews Mero who says today is a new day for the wildman. He welcomes Hunter to the Jungle. Mero makes it into the ring and immediately lays in some rights on to Hunter. Hunter retreats, but Mero gives chase, allowing for Hunter to gain control back in the ring. Both men exchange corner punches, but Mero wins the exchange, punching Hunter over the ropes. He follows with a dive over the ropes, connecting on to Hunter.
He brings Hunter back in for a slingshot leg drop, and covers for two. Hunter gets in a thumb to the eye. He goes to whip Mero in the corner, but Mero counters sending Hunter flipping into the buckle. He lays in a right to the blue blood, and covers for two. Mero throws him into the corner then goes for a charge, but Hunter avoids, causing the wild man to crash into the post. Hunter then uses this opportunity to throw Mero into the post, causing him to crash outside into the steel steps. He begins to work on the arm with an armbar takedown. Vince mentions that Soutch Carolina is storming badly. Keep that in mind for later.
High knee by Hunter who covers for another two. He then continues to work on the arm. Mero manages a roll up, but Hunter kicks out. He tries a backslide, but his arm is still sore, so he's unable to. Hunter takes the bad arm and slams it on the steel post twice while pointing to Sable. He throws the shoulder to the buckle, then applies a cross arm breaker, though Mero does his best ot block it. However, Hunter gets the full hold. After a couple of minutes in the hold, Mero manages to grab the ropes. Hunter, being no slouch, stomps on the arm, then follows with a knee drop.
Another arm wringer takes Mero down. Hunter then starts twisting around the bad limb, keeping the pressure. Another ram into the buckle shoulder first. He tries a back suplex, but Mero gets a roll up for two. Clothesline by Hunter immediately who covers for a close two count. Hunter continues arm work, yanking the arm over the top rope. Hunter then goes up and hits a diving forearm to the injured shoulder. He locks in an arm bar, using the ropes for leverage. Hunter drives a knee to the shoulder. Then he hits a hammerlock slam.
Hunter returns to the top turnbuckle for a dive, but this time, Mero runs to the ropes, crotching him. This gives the wildman enough time to land a really nice frankensteiner off the second rope. Hunter then tries to whip Mero, only for Mero to manage a headscissors. He then manages a back body drop. Mero heads to the top buckle an gets a great looking flying sunset flip for a two count. Mero dropkicks Hunter over the rope, then goes for the Bad Mood, but Hunter avoids, causing Mero to land awkwardly on his right knee.
Hunter points to Sable and calls for a Pedigree, but when she won't look, he just attacks him instead. He grabs her by the arm and yells at her to watch. He goes for another pedigree, but Mero catapults Hunter into the buckle. Cover gets the three for the wildman. A good match, though I will admit a lot of the arm work did feel tedious. I kind of wished this was a bit more back and forth as well, but what we got was still a solid opener.
Up next was Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Savio Vega in the Caribbean Strap Match. This is where that mention of the storm comment from earlier comes into play. Just as the match started, the severe thunderstorm caused power in the arena to go out, and stay that way for the majority of the show. Essentially, viewers at home were left in the dark for over an hour, while the matches continued on in the arena despite very little light. The power does return just in time for the main event between Michaels and Bulldog. That's why when you watch this version on the network, the next match is the actual main event. We'll get into what the WWF had to do to compensate after.
Mr. Perfect is backstage with Camp Cornetee, Diana Smith, and a bandaged up Clarence Mason, still selling the attack by Shawn Michaels a few weeks back. Cornette says that he has a big bombshell planned for tonight, but won't divulge it near Shawn Michaels. But he says that he will allow for a manager. He's given Owen Hart an official managers license for tonight only. He promises to drop another bombshell later tonight after Michaels is left prideless, beltless and friendless.
So it's Shawn Michaels vs The British Bulldog for the WWF Title. Dok Hendrix gets an interview with the champ. Shawn says he's still focused despite all the recent stuff. He says it would make a great story on Melrose Place, but it doesn't hang with the Kliq. He tells Davey Boy and Diana to beware of the Kliq as he and Jose Lothario make it to the entrance way. Mr. Perfect gives Shawn a glare as Shawn walks through the curtain.
Clarence Mason takes the microphone, saying that Shawn has attempted to break up the very happy home of the Bulldog and Diana. He says that they have retained his services so Shawn's actions will cease and desist immediately. He then serves Shawn a summons for attempted aleination of affection. He promises that justice will be swift and hard. Shawn looks at the summons, then tears it in half. Bulldog takes this opportunity to nail him with a clothesline to the back of the head.
Shawn leapfrogs over Bulldog, then gets in an arm drag. Bulldog tries to back drop Shawn over the ropes, but Shawn slides under him. He tries a superkick, but Bulldog rolls out of the ring. Shawn doesn't wait, and hits a plancha over the ropes. Headlock by Shawn. Bulldog tries to escape, but Shawn flips over the ropes and keeps the head locked. Crowd is somewhat split. Mostly HBK chants, but some "Bulldog" chants can be heard. Bulldog breaks free, but Shawn avoids offense... until Bulldog gets a bearhug. Shawn breaks free, then rolls up Bulldog for two. He then follows with an enziguri. Cover still just gets a two.
Shawn gets a sloppy looking arm drag, then begins with an armbar. Bulldog rolls Shawn's shoulders up a few times for a two count, then lifts Shawn up over his head and drops him. He follows that up with a back body drop. He grabs Shawn by the hair and slams him to the mat. He then goes into a headlock with a knee to the back of the neck. Shawn breaks free, but Bulldog lifts him up for an overhead backbreaker. Shawn breaks free, then tries a crucifix, only for Bulldog to drop his weight. He then follows up with a leg drop. Cover, but Shawn kicks out at two.
Bulldog locks in another long headlock. After a few minutes, Shawn breaks free,ducks some clotheslines, but crashes and burns, falling outside of the ring. Seems like Bulldog's knee caught him. Bulldog then takes this chance to ram Shawn into the guardrail a couple times. Shawn gets to the apron and guillotines Bulldog. He slings off the ropes with a sloppy clothesline. Shawn manages a big flying forearm then nips up. He slams Bulldog and stomps the face before going up top for an ax handle. Cover, but Bulldog kicks out. He tries a back drop, but Bulldog kicks him. Bulldog then ends up crashing into the referee, knocking him out of the ring.
Shawn goes up and lands a pitch perfect elbow. He then calls for Sweet Chin Music, but Owen comes in, only to eat the kick. Bullldog beats down on Shawn as another referee comes in. Bulldog goes for a powerslam, but Shawn shoves him into the buckle and hits a German Suplex for the pinfall.
HOWEVER, Bulldog's music hits and the referee raises the hand of Davey Boy. You see, from the ref's vantage point, Shawn had his shoulders down as well and that's all the ref saw. The original ref comes in and starts to argue as Camp Cornette celebrates. After come decision flippings, Diana tries to leave with the belt. Gorilla snatches it off her, and after even more arguing, the match is ultimately considered a draw. Shawn retains by default, and Bulldog will receive a rematch.
This match was okay. Actually pretty good when the energy was high with some impressive spots from both men. However, there were a lot of really long rest holds that really bogged things down. Also, I'm not much of a fan of the ending. Feels like a really weak way to keep this storyline going for another month. Which I also dislike because I'm tired of this angle as it is. Oh well.
Two nights later, the WWF with no other alternative, use their encore presentation of Beware of Dog and turn it into Beware of Dog 2. Emanating from Charleston, South Carolina, and not a storm to be seen, this event replayed the two matches from Sunday in their entirety, plus redid the three matches that were blacked out. Jim Ross and Mr. Perfect on commentary. Now, there were some added stipulations that were made on the previous night's Raw. One of which was added in the next match, the Caribbean Strap Match beween Stone Cold Steve Austin and Savio Vega. Since Savio technically won on Sunday, Ted Dibiase announced on Raw that should Savio win, the million dollar man will leave the WWF.
The rules to a strap match are as follows: Both men are attached to a ten foot strap. The only way to win is to keep the other man down for long enough to touch all four ring posts. Savio heads to the ring, but Austin whips the strap, preventing him from entry. Savio throws his vest at Austin, and eventually manages to make it inside. Savio tries to hit Austin with the strap, but Austin rolls out. He returns to the ring and gets in a boot and some rights. He lays into Savio with some elbows to the back of the head. Savio reverses an irish whip and hits a back body drop. He tries to lash Austin again, but Austin rolls out. Only this time, Savio pulls Austin into the corner a few times.
Savio pulls Austin to him and hits an elbow. They return to the ring and finally starts to lash leather into Austin. Austin escapes the ring again, but Savio pulls him up on the apron and lashes him some more. He hits a suplex over the ropes. He hits a roundhouse kick to Austin, and starts to touch the corners. He makes it to two, but Austin recovers and trips him, nullifying the count. Austin lays into Savio with stiff lashes, but Savio trips the legs and starts laying fists. Aoth men exchange blows, with the pair spilling to the outside. Hard chops by Savio, but Austin shoves him back-first into the apron and whips him kidney-first into the apron.
Austin rolls back in, but Savio is too far, so Austin wraps the strap over his throat and chokes him. He then hits a suplex over the ropes, bringing Savio back in. He wraps a leg on Savio and drags him around the ring. He touches one, two, but Savio stops him on the third. He spins Austin around, and sends him colliding into the buckle. Clothesline from savio who then starts whipping Austin with the leather.
Austin manages to back drop Savio, but he ends up yanked over the ropes as well, landing awkwardly. Austin tries a suplex, but Savio reverses, landing one on Stone Cold. He takes the strap and lays into Austin, until Austin gets a thumb in the eye. He tries a dive off the stairs, but Savio is there with a shot to the gut. He brings Austin in and drags him around, touching buckles. Austin grabs the ropes, but Savio still gets three buckles. However, Austin ends up tripping him. He goes to town hitting stiff whips, but Savio manages to get Austin on the top buckle. Austin headbutts him off the top buckle, but Savio returns with a kick that crotches Austin on the buckle. Savio sets up a superplex, connecting.
Savio gets up and slaps the buckles. He gets three, but Austin tackles him and hits an amazing spinebuster. He chokes Savio on the ropes, then drops his weight on the back. He takes the strap and starts to choke Savio some more. He starts to whip Savio some more, then starts to slap buckle. Savio manages to get a thumb to the eye, then hits a right to the back. Austin tries for a tombstone piledriver, but Savio reverses, only for Austin to reverse, then Savio reverses, falling out of the ring in the process.
Austin manages to hang Savio with the strap. Austin goes to the top rope, but Savio pulls the strap, sending him crashing. Austin shoves Savio into the steel steps, but Savio comes back by pulling Austin into the steps. He lifts Austin on his shoulders and touches buckles, but Austin gets a sunset flip. Savio breaks free and touches third. He goes for the fourth, but Austin yanks the strap hard, causing Savio to collapse. Austin then hits a stiff pilediver. Dibiase calls for one more pilediver, but Savio manages to back drop Austin.
Austin locks in a million dollar dream, but Savio manages to touch two buckles. He starts to fade, but kicks over the buckle to knock Austin down. Austin then slams Savio face-first into the buckle. He wraps the strap around Savio's neck and starts to drag, touching the buckles, but Savio starts touching the buckles as well. Both men make it to #4, but after a tug-of-war, Austin throws Savio into buckle #4, giving him the win. Ted Dibiase is gone! Austin walks off as Savio grabs the mic and the song "Na na na na. Hey Hey Hey. Goodbye" plays as the crowd cheers on.
This was an awesome match. Long, but well paced, filled with a lot of brutal, stiff spots from both men who beat the everloving hell out of each other. I was rough on Savio at the start of his run, after having too many bad Kwang memories, but this feud with Austin was exactly what he needed to show how good a brawler he is. For a rematch made due to circumstances beyond the company's control, this was definitely worth it. As for Ted Dibiase, this is the end of the road for him in the WWF, another name that's been with the blog since day one essentially, making his leave, much like Hall and Nash, for bigger bucks in WCW, so we will be seeing him again very soon.
Up next, it's the literal battle of the behemoths as Vader takes on Yokozuna. Yoko gets in some strikes early on, sending the mastodon in retreat in the corner. After a long standoff between both men. Yoko charges, but Vader again retreats. Yoko tries again, but again Vader retreats. Third time however, Yoko rams Vader, then clotheslines him over the ropes. Vader returns to the ring and lays in punches to the head. Yoko takes down the leg and hits and elbow drop on the knee. Vader limps into the ring, but gets in some more rights to the head, only to be tripped and for Yoko to drop the elbow on the leg again. Yoko headbutts Vader in the corner, then hits a few strikes until Vader pokes the eye.
He then sets up Yoko for a slam, but to no avail. Jim Ross on commentary with revisionist history saying that the only man who has ever slammed Yokozuna was Ahmed Johnson. It's like 1993 never happened. Yoko catches Vader with a ura nage. Yoko slams Vader in the corner and then hits a Samoan drop. He sets Vader in the corner for the Banzai Drop. Cornette tries to hit him with the racket, but Yoko throws him in. Cornette tries to plead, but Yoko headbutts him.
He goes to Banzai Cornette, but Vader drags Cornette out of the way, causing Yoko to crash and burn. Vader drapes the leg on the rope and splashs it. Vader Bomb off the second rope gets the win in a match that was okay for what it was. Can't really do much with Yoko at this point with how massive he's gotten, but Vader did his best.
It's time for the main event, Goldust taking on The Undertaker in a casket match. Undertaker sneaks behind Goldust and lays in a strike, sending the bizarre one in retreat. Taker chases Goldust outside of the ring, but Goldust starts attacking him when they return inside, however Taker regains control with a slam. He gets a back elbow in, and tries to throw Goldust to the open casket, hitting a clothesline. He then throws Goldust on to the casket, sending him in a panic.
Undertaker slams Goldust into the steps, then smacks him head-first into the casket. He brings Goldust back in and slams him, following with a lumping leg drop. He tries to throw Goldust in the casket, but Goldust relents. Taker instead chooses to use his old school off the top rope, dropping a clothesline on the arm. Goldust gets an elbow in and hits a body slam, only for Taker to sit up.
Goldust tries his patented uppercut, but Taker avoids. However, Goldust does catch him with a tombstone piledriver. Taker tries to sit up, but Goldust hits a clothesline. He tries to roll Undertaker into the casket, but before he can shut the lid, Taker punches him and escapes. Taker lands a big boot, but Goldust follows by throwing Taker over the top rope. Goldust rams Taker into the steel steps then proceeds to choke him with the camera cable. They return to the ring as Goldust pounds on him. Taker recovers with some boots and rights.
Goldust gets in a sleeper hold, taking Taker to the mat. He rolls Taker back into the casket, but again is unable to shut the lid as Taker gets his arm out. Goldust tries to get his weight on the casket, but Taker shoves him right off. Taker ducks a clothesline and hits one of his own. He gets in an uppercut and a clothesline that takes both men out. He grabs a chair and goes to hit Goldust, but Goldust gets in a boot and a clothesline. He brings Taker back in to the ring and hits a powerslam. He goes up top and hits a clothesline. He covers, but forgets that this is a casket match. Goldust goes for old school, but gets thrown off. Taker hits a tombstone, then opens the casket...
BUT INSIDE IS MANKIND!!! He puts the mandible claw on the Undertaker, then drops Taker inside the casket. He shuts the door, then locks the casket. Goldust wins thanks to interference. Mankind and Goldust retreat as smoke billows from the casket. The casket lid is opened, but there's no Undertaker inside. Paul Bearer panics as the lights go out and we end Beware of Dog 2. As for the match, it was good. Taker and Goldust work really well together and provided some quality back and forth. Plus we continue this feud with Mankind and Undertaker going into the Summer. As for the quality of the casket match, it was about the same as every other casket match we've seen, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
It's hard to rate In Your House 8: Beware of Dog as it's not exactly one event but two. But for the entire package, I think we got two quality shows that worked well under unfortunate circumstances. Hunter and Mero was good, though a bit too much focus on arm work, Shawn and Bulldog was good, but slow paced in areas and a victim of a lame finish. On to night 2 and Austin vs Savio was easily match of the two shows with a brutal strap match that satisfied. Yoko vs Vader was what it was since it's hard to do much with Yoko being just shy of 700 pounds. And the Casket match with Undertaker and Goldust was a good match that continued Undertaker's other feud with Mankind. Overall, 1996's PPV showings post-Wrestlemania have been consistently good, and this pair of shows is no exception. I give both of these shows a combined A- rating.
The rules to a strap match are as follows: Both men are attached to a ten foot strap. The only way to win is to keep the other man down for long enough to touch all four ring posts. Savio heads to the ring, but Austin whips the strap, preventing him from entry. Savio throws his vest at Austin, and eventually manages to make it inside. Savio tries to hit Austin with the strap, but Austin rolls out. He returns to the ring and gets in a boot and some rights. He lays into Savio with some elbows to the back of the head. Savio reverses an irish whip and hits a back body drop. He tries to lash Austin again, but Austin rolls out. Only this time, Savio pulls Austin into the corner a few times.
Savio pulls Austin to him and hits an elbow. They return to the ring and finally starts to lash leather into Austin. Austin escapes the ring again, but Savio pulls him up on the apron and lashes him some more. He hits a suplex over the ropes. He hits a roundhouse kick to Austin, and starts to touch the corners. He makes it to two, but Austin recovers and trips him, nullifying the count. Austin lays into Savio with stiff lashes, but Savio trips the legs and starts laying fists. Aoth men exchange blows, with the pair spilling to the outside. Hard chops by Savio, but Austin shoves him back-first into the apron and whips him kidney-first into the apron.
Austin rolls back in, but Savio is too far, so Austin wraps the strap over his throat and chokes him. He then hits a suplex over the ropes, bringing Savio back in. He wraps a leg on Savio and drags him around the ring. He touches one, two, but Savio stops him on the third. He spins Austin around, and sends him colliding into the buckle. Clothesline from savio who then starts whipping Austin with the leather.
Austin manages to back drop Savio, but he ends up yanked over the ropes as well, landing awkwardly. Austin tries a suplex, but Savio reverses, landing one on Stone Cold. He takes the strap and lays into Austin, until Austin gets a thumb in the eye. He tries a dive off the stairs, but Savio is there with a shot to the gut. He brings Austin in and drags him around, touching buckles. Austin grabs the ropes, but Savio still gets three buckles. However, Austin ends up tripping him. He goes to town hitting stiff whips, but Savio manages to get Austin on the top buckle. Austin headbutts him off the top buckle, but Savio returns with a kick that crotches Austin on the buckle. Savio sets up a superplex, connecting.
Savio gets up and slaps the buckles. He gets three, but Austin tackles him and hits an amazing spinebuster. He chokes Savio on the ropes, then drops his weight on the back. He takes the strap and starts to choke Savio some more. He starts to whip Savio some more, then starts to slap buckle. Savio manages to get a thumb to the eye, then hits a right to the back. Austin tries for a tombstone piledriver, but Savio reverses, only for Austin to reverse, then Savio reverses, falling out of the ring in the process.
Austin manages to hang Savio with the strap. Austin goes to the top rope, but Savio pulls the strap, sending him crashing. Austin shoves Savio into the steel steps, but Savio comes back by pulling Austin into the steps. He lifts Austin on his shoulders and touches buckles, but Austin gets a sunset flip. Savio breaks free and touches third. He goes for the fourth, but Austin yanks the strap hard, causing Savio to collapse. Austin then hits a stiff pilediver. Dibiase calls for one more pilediver, but Savio manages to back drop Austin.
Austin locks in a million dollar dream, but Savio manages to touch two buckles. He starts to fade, but kicks over the buckle to knock Austin down. Austin then slams Savio face-first into the buckle. He wraps the strap around Savio's neck and starts to drag, touching the buckles, but Savio starts touching the buckles as well. Both men make it to #4, but after a tug-of-war, Austin throws Savio into buckle #4, giving him the win. Ted Dibiase is gone! Austin walks off as Savio grabs the mic and the song "Na na na na. Hey Hey Hey. Goodbye" plays as the crowd cheers on.
This was an awesome match. Long, but well paced, filled with a lot of brutal, stiff spots from both men who beat the everloving hell out of each other. I was rough on Savio at the start of his run, after having too many bad Kwang memories, but this feud with Austin was exactly what he needed to show how good a brawler he is. For a rematch made due to circumstances beyond the company's control, this was definitely worth it. As for Ted Dibiase, this is the end of the road for him in the WWF, another name that's been with the blog since day one essentially, making his leave, much like Hall and Nash, for bigger bucks in WCW, so we will be seeing him again very soon.
Up next, it's the literal battle of the behemoths as Vader takes on Yokozuna. Yoko gets in some strikes early on, sending the mastodon in retreat in the corner. After a long standoff between both men. Yoko charges, but Vader again retreats. Yoko tries again, but again Vader retreats. Third time however, Yoko rams Vader, then clotheslines him over the ropes. Vader returns to the ring and lays in punches to the head. Yoko takes down the leg and hits and elbow drop on the knee. Vader limps into the ring, but gets in some more rights to the head, only to be tripped and for Yoko to drop the elbow on the leg again. Yoko headbutts Vader in the corner, then hits a few strikes until Vader pokes the eye.
He then sets up Yoko for a slam, but to no avail. Jim Ross on commentary with revisionist history saying that the only man who has ever slammed Yokozuna was Ahmed Johnson. It's like 1993 never happened. Yoko catches Vader with a ura nage. Yoko slams Vader in the corner and then hits a Samoan drop. He sets Vader in the corner for the Banzai Drop. Cornette tries to hit him with the racket, but Yoko throws him in. Cornette tries to plead, but Yoko headbutts him.
He goes to Banzai Cornette, but Vader drags Cornette out of the way, causing Yoko to crash and burn. Vader drapes the leg on the rope and splashs it. Vader Bomb off the second rope gets the win in a match that was okay for what it was. Can't really do much with Yoko at this point with how massive he's gotten, but Vader did his best.
It's time for the main event, Goldust taking on The Undertaker in a casket match. Undertaker sneaks behind Goldust and lays in a strike, sending the bizarre one in retreat. Taker chases Goldust outside of the ring, but Goldust starts attacking him when they return inside, however Taker regains control with a slam. He gets a back elbow in, and tries to throw Goldust to the open casket, hitting a clothesline. He then throws Goldust on to the casket, sending him in a panic.
Undertaker slams Goldust into the steps, then smacks him head-first into the casket. He brings Goldust back in and slams him, following with a lumping leg drop. He tries to throw Goldust in the casket, but Goldust relents. Taker instead chooses to use his old school off the top rope, dropping a clothesline on the arm. Goldust gets an elbow in and hits a body slam, only for Taker to sit up.
Goldust tries his patented uppercut, but Taker avoids. However, Goldust does catch him with a tombstone piledriver. Taker tries to sit up, but Goldust hits a clothesline. He tries to roll Undertaker into the casket, but before he can shut the lid, Taker punches him and escapes. Taker lands a big boot, but Goldust follows by throwing Taker over the top rope. Goldust rams Taker into the steel steps then proceeds to choke him with the camera cable. They return to the ring as Goldust pounds on him. Taker recovers with some boots and rights.
Goldust gets in a sleeper hold, taking Taker to the mat. He rolls Taker back into the casket, but again is unable to shut the lid as Taker gets his arm out. Goldust tries to get his weight on the casket, but Taker shoves him right off. Taker ducks a clothesline and hits one of his own. He gets in an uppercut and a clothesline that takes both men out. He grabs a chair and goes to hit Goldust, but Goldust gets in a boot and a clothesline. He brings Taker back in to the ring and hits a powerslam. He goes up top and hits a clothesline. He covers, but forgets that this is a casket match. Goldust goes for old school, but gets thrown off. Taker hits a tombstone, then opens the casket...
BUT INSIDE IS MANKIND!!! He puts the mandible claw on the Undertaker, then drops Taker inside the casket. He shuts the door, then locks the casket. Goldust wins thanks to interference. Mankind and Goldust retreat as smoke billows from the casket. The casket lid is opened, but there's no Undertaker inside. Paul Bearer panics as the lights go out and we end Beware of Dog 2. As for the match, it was good. Taker and Goldust work really well together and provided some quality back and forth. Plus we continue this feud with Mankind and Undertaker going into the Summer. As for the quality of the casket match, it was about the same as every other casket match we've seen, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
It's hard to rate In Your House 8: Beware of Dog as it's not exactly one event but two. But for the entire package, I think we got two quality shows that worked well under unfortunate circumstances. Hunter and Mero was good, though a bit too much focus on arm work, Shawn and Bulldog was good, but slow paced in areas and a victim of a lame finish. On to night 2 and Austin vs Savio was easily match of the two shows with a brutal strap match that satisfied. Yoko vs Vader was what it was since it's hard to do much with Yoko being just shy of 700 pounds. And the Casket match with Undertaker and Goldust was a good match that continued Undertaker's other feud with Mankind. Overall, 1996's PPV showings post-Wrestlemania have been consistently good, and this pair of shows is no exception. I give both of these shows a combined A- rating.
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