WWF In Your House: Mind Games Retro Review By Connor McGrath
Live from the Core states Spectrum Philadelphia, PA Home of the world famous Viking Bingo Hall
Your Hosts Evil J.R, Vince McMahon and Mr. Perfect
This comes from a time when WCW was reigning supreme over WWF and Nitro was kicking Raw’s ass six ways to Sunday.
Starts off with a video package of the two feature matches HBK-Mankind and The Undertaker- Goldust
Justin Hawk Bradshaw (With Uncle Zebikiah) Vs Savio Vega (Strap Match)
This match stems from a beat down Bradshaw did on the free for all after Savio Vega’s match with Marty Janetty. Savio rants in Spanish before the match with Kevin Kelly. Bradshaw jumps Savio before the bell. “Bradshaw” chant started by the lovely Philly crowd, soon after Bradshaw gets to two turnbuckles but Savio stops him. Bradshaw throws Savio out, hey what’s Tommy Dreamer doing there? Bradshaw and Vega “brawl” outside. Just as Bradshaw and Vega go in front of the guard rails Sandman spits beer in Savio Vega’s face, jeez couldn’t he find somebody better then Savio? Security escorts Sandman, Tommy Dreamer and Paul Heyman out. Sandman celebrates with the crowd to a large pop. Bradshaw chokes Savio with the strap and gets three turnbuckles but Savio reverses it. Savio whips Bradshaw with the strap as J.R says Government mule. Both guys go for the turnbuckles. Savio hits his finisher the spinning heel kick. They do the standard spot where both men go for the turnbuckles. They both get three but Bradshaw rams Savio into the fourth turnbuckle. Bradshaw may be a hoss but he sure is an idiot. *3/4 for being an okay opener.
Video package for Jim Cornette vs. Jose Lothario oh lord.
Jim Cornette Vs Jose Lothario
This match stems from the HBK-Vader feud. Jim Cornette’s wearing a tight shirt, yuck! Backstage… Diesel and Razor Ramon attack Savio Vega…the second versions. Jim Ross yells at Vince McMahon while Cornette cuts a promo on Jose Lothario. Jose Lothario comes out with no shirt, just what I need to see an old man with saggy breasts kind of like Ric Flair at Wrestlemania X-8. Jose Lothario hits Cornette with a few punches and rams him into the turnbuckles then pins him with two punches. Much like the catch as the catch matches between Gotch and Hackenschmidt this was a technical classic. In reality this match blew donkey ass. –*1/2
Marc Mero and Farrooq talk on the Superstars line, Farrooq’s wearing his American Gladiator outfit. They hype there IC title match on RAW the next night.
Bret Hart calls Brian Pillman a liar.
Brian Pillman cuts a promo on Bret Hart and Philly to some loud boos. He brings out Owen Hart and Steve Austin to trash talk Bret Hart some more. Worst sign ever: Owen Hart, King of Farts and they did a close up on it too! Austin says a semi famous quote “ If you put the S in front of Hitman that’s how I feel about Bret Hart.
Owen Hart and British Bulldog Vs Smoking Gunns (With Sunny) (WWF tag team title)
This is a heel-heel match which usually means no feud this match is no exception. Bulldog and Owen Hart are the default baby faces here. Bart yells at Billy for being to close to Sunny. They put down a picture of Sunny which was drawn on by Bulldog and Owen. Owen and Billy start off Clarence Mason comes out. Billy and Owen trade armbars, Owen takes control, Owen gets a small package for 2. Billy tags to Bart and Owen tags to Bob Barron’s favorite, British Bulldog. Bulldog controls Bart with power moves and tags to Owen. Owen clips Bart puts him the corner and kicks him in the balls several times, OUCH! Owen tags out to Bulldog. Bulldog delivers a delayed vertical suplex to Bart. Tag out to Owen, Billy Gunn hasn’t been in for at least five minutes. Owen Hart hits an enziguri and tags to Bulldog. Bulldog gets in the Smoking Gunns corner and Bulldog is attacked by Billy Gunn. Early version of Poetry in motion by Billy Gunn. The Smoking Gunns hit the Sidewinder but Clarence Mason distracts the ref. Bart tags out to Billly, Billy stomps on Bulldog. Tag out back to Bart, Bart misses a running powerslam but Bulldog rams Bart into Billy and they start fighting. Bulldog takes advantage and powerslams Bart for the win. ***, good solid formula tag team match. After the match Sunny dumps the Smoking Gunns, Billy goes after Sunny.
Kevin Kelly interviews Mankind and Paul Bearer in the boiler room.
Jerry Lawler Vs Mark Henry
This feud started when Jerry Lawler spilled coffee on Mark Henry, so that’s where they got the idea. Lawler trash talks Mark Henry and tells him he’ll start off with a headlock. Mark Henry reverses the headlock into a hammerlock, wow I’m surprised Mark Henry could do a hammerlock. Lawler stalls for a few minutes, but Henry picks him up with a gorilla press slam. Mark Henry tosses Lawler out of the ring, Lawler stalls some more. Jerry Lawler pulls out some brass knuckles and he hits Mark Henry with them a few times and puts them pack in his tights. Mark Henry puts on a backbreaker which makes a Lawler submit. DUD, match was basically a squash. HHH and the New Rockers attack Henry for no real reason but get thrown out of the ring.
The announcers hype the next PPV Buried Alive, by the way check out Bob Barron’s review on 411wrestling.com
Video package on Goldust-The Undertaker
Goldust(With Marlena) Vs The Undertaker(No DQ match)
This feud was an off spring of the long Undertaker-Mankind feud. Goldust had won two matches against Taker already by interference so this is why we get this match. The Undertaker kicks Goldust’s ass to start and throws him out of the ring. Marlena slaps Undertaker, they go back into the ring where Taker gets a suplex on Goldust. Undertaker does the rope walk. The Undertaker throws Goldust out of the ring. Undertaker grabs Marlena and Goldust throws blinding sparkles in Undertaker’s eyes. Goldust chokes Undertaker and throws him out of the ring. Goldust throws Taker back in the ring and pretty much controls on offense for the next few minutes. Goldust rams a foreign object into Undertaker’s forehead. Goldust rubs himself but Undertaker grabs him and throws him into the corner. Goldust comes back with a power slam but Taker sits up. Goldust goes up top but Taker gives him a chokeslam off the top. Undertaker lifts him up for the tombstone for the win. *1/2, okay-ish regular match but a poor No DQ match.
Kevin Kelly interviews Shawn Michaels
Shawn Michaels Vs Mankind(With Paul Bearer)(WWF title match)
This match was randomly set up by Gorilla Monsoon no real feud behind it. Mankind comes out in a casket carried by Druids, I couldn’t make that up with Vince Russo nearby and large amounts of LSD in my system. Mankind pops HBK in the kisser a few times and hits HBK with a back body drop. Mankind tosses HBK out of the ring, Mankind pulls off the blue mats. But HBK knocks Mankind down puts the mat on Mankind and stops on Foley. HBK comes off the top with a cross body block, HBK slams Mankind’s head on the bare concrete. HBK throws Mankind back in the ring and hits him with an ax handle. HBK beats up Foley some more and hits a flying elbow drop. HBK goes for an early Sweet chin music but Mankind runs out of the ring. Mankind gets back in and HBK and him brawl for a bit. Mankind grabs HBK and tries to put on the Mandible claw, HBK gets out and starts punching Mankind. Mankind sets up the Spanish Announce tables but HBK jumps on him to prevent any damage. HBK suplexes Mankind onto the ringsteps. Mankind gets back in the ring, HBK rams Mankind’s leg on the casket. HBK puts a figure four on Mankind but releases it. Michaels does an Eric Watts dropkick to Mankind, HBK does a Perfect-Plex and Mr. Perfect starts gushing over Michaels. HBK gets a two count, then he goes for a hurracarana but Mankind throws him in the ropes. Mankind grabs a pencil and jabs it into his knee, OK. Mankind chokes HBK throws him into the corner and delivers a running knee to the face. HBK makes a comeback but it fails and Mankind throws HBK into the turnbuckle. Mankind boots HBK out of the ring. Mankind goes after HBK but HBK rams Mankind into the steel steps, HBK with a drop toe hold to Mankind onto the Steel steps. HBK and Mankind climb on the apron and HBK rams Mankind into the steel post. HBK with a power slam that gets a two count. HBK throws Mankind into the ropes and Mankind gets caught with his head between the two ropes, HBK tries to capitalize but gets a mandible claw for his troubles. Mankind throws HBK into a Spanish announcer. HBK hits Mankind with a chair a few times. They go back in the ring Mankind goes for a mandible claw but HBK grabs his arm and stomps on it to reverse it. HBK runs after Mankind but Mankind throws HBK out of the ring. Mankind with the flying elbow to the concrete, Mankind baseball slides out of the ring. Double armed DDT by Mankind for a two count. Mankind steals a Spanish Announcer’s and Mr. Perfect’s chair. Mankind throws HBK into the casket but HBK gets out. Mankind does a Back body drop from the top rope through the Spanish announcing tables. Poor Spanish announcer, HBK does a cool variation of the Van Daminator. HBK goes for the pin but Vader runs in HBK promptly dropkicks him out of the ring. Sid runs out and brawls up the aisle with Vader. Mankind puts the Mandible claw on HBK and Paul Bearer opens the casket but surprise surprise The Undertaker is there. Taker throws Mankind out of the ring and chases him up the aisle. ****3/4 without that stupid finish it would have hit *****, this match was more hardcore then most every WWF hardcore match with just a chair, a table and the steel steps.
I’ll give this tape a recommendation due to an excellent HBK-Mankind match and a good Owen Hart and Bulldog-Smoking Gunns match. I’ll give this PPV a 6.5 out of 10