Happy Halloween Everybody and what better show to review on Halloween than this?
Stone Cold Steve Austin def. Hunter Hearst Helmsley(15:30)
Thoughts: Sometimes, us wrestling fans can get really lucky and here is such an occasion. Austin was originally supposed to face Savio Vega, in anticipation of facing Bret Hart. Instead, Vega got injured, so Helmsley is a last-second substitute. Yes, there was a time when someone had to get injured in order for Helmsley to get a shot on PPV. Their match here isn't anywhere as good as their match from No Way Out 2001, but I'll give it this: it was much better than their Survivor Series 2000 match. The best part was the ending to the match. Hunter avoids a charge but gets cocky and plays to the crowd, so Austin stalks him and gives him a Stunner for the win. I just get a laugh out of that.
Rating: ***1/4
Owen Hart & The British Bulldog(c) def. The Smoking Gunns(9:15)
Thoughts: Sunny left the Godwinns for the Smoking Gunns when the Gunns won the tag titles, then dumped the Gunns when the lost to Owen and Bulldog. Billy, who was PG-13 poking her, got upset and started a heel turn, putting a strain on the team. The finish sees Davey Boy break up the Sidewinder (Demolition Decapitation with a Legdrop) and Owen finishes Billy with a spinning wheel kick. This was another odd case, like the opener, of virtually everyone in the match being a heel except Bart, who gets booed for being a dunce.
Rating: **1/2
Marc Mero(c) def. Goldust(11:37)
Thoughts: There's not really too much to comment on here. It's just usual banter with Goldust playing mind games on Mero. Honestly, it's a pretty good match, so much so that I find it hard to make some kind of joke in it. The finish sees Mr. Perfect(who was out at the commentary table to replace JR.)
leaves the announce position, so Hunter Hearst Helmsley comes out to argue with him for a bit. Goldust tries to interfere and takes a shot from Perfect. Back in, Mero hits a Samoan Drop that sets up the Wild Thing. Mero looked great here, but injuries would derail his career shortly after this (despite what Mick Foley might tell you)
Rating: ***1/4
Sycho Sid def. Vader(8:01)
Thoughts: If I actually cared about the WWF during 1996, I would've been excited to see this match. Best part is that HBK is out here on commentary and goes all tweener during most of the match. Oh and if ever there was a bad idea, it was “Basic Instinct 2,” but if there was a second place finish, it would be picking up a man named Sycho Sid. Sid avoids the pump splash and crotches Cornette as he tries to interfere. He stops to go for the powerbomb, but Vader goes low and tries his own. Sid blocks the powerbomb and finishes with a chokeslam. Good match and fairly short at 8 minutes and most surprisingly, it didn't suck.
Rating: ***
The Undertaker def. Mankind(15:23)
Thoughts: The two pick up where they left off at Summerslam and start brawling. There's not too much to comment on that you can't see for yourself since this match is on the Best of In Your House DVD. What I will talk about is the ending. After Taker wins the match after shovelling a little bit of dirt on Mankind, he KO's the ref and continues burying Mankind. That is, until The Executioner (Terry Gordy) runs out and hits Taker with a shovel. Mankind and Gordy then commence to burying the Undertaker alive. A plethora of other heels join in until the Undertaker is completely buried. Even Triple H is there, doing manual labor, which is out-of-character for him. Just when they have him buried, though, lightning strikes the grave, and the Undertaker’s hand shoots out of the dirt. Not quite as good as their boiler room brawl match, but still an awesome match and a great way to end the show.
Rating: ****
3.20 out of 5
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