In Your House: Final Four
by me

Live from Chattanooga TN, and we're with JR and the King.  But first, let's take a look at YOUR matchlist.......
 

Marc Mero  vs.  Leif Cassidy
Flash Funk/Bart Gunn/Goldust  vs.  the Nation of Domination
Rocky Maivia   vs.  HHH     Intercontinental Title Match
Owen/Bulldog   vs.  Doug Furnas/Philip Lafon    Tag Team Titles
Bret Hart  vs.  Steve Austin  vs.  Vader  vs.  Undertaker     Final 4 Match for the WWF Title
 

Are you ready for some wrestling?  Well, tough shit, because we start off with alot of talking.  Austin is out first to insult everybody he possibly can, including Gorilla for making the match, Shawn for being a pussy and "losing his smile", and all the fans for anything he can think of to say.  We get clips of Austin's run of destruction from KOTR 96 to present.  Finally, the UT comes out, but Austin doesn't care in the least and challenges him right then and there.  Awesome segment to start.
 

Clips of the eternal force, the Undertaker.  Whatever.

Shawn's "losing my smile" speech from Thursday RAW Thursday.

Clips of Bret and his comeback, victory over Austin at Survivor Series 96, and even a little "screwed" speech.  Kevin Kelly then interviews Bret, and Bret actually shows genuine concern for Shawn's knee injury and gives him some respect for his career possibly being cut short.  Whatever you say about Bret, you can't say he doesn't care, even about his worst enemy, because at that moment he believed Shawn was hurt and showed more sympathy than Shawn deserved.

Paul Bearer and Vader come out to the ring to talk.  Geez.  Enough talking already.
 

Marc Mero   vs.  Leif Cassidy

FINALLY we get a match......and who would have thought that 6 years later, Al Snow would still be with the WWF and the Meros would be lounging in the unemployment line.  I wonder where Al was on the payscale compared to Marc and Sable......sometimes life really is fair.

Sable does get a big pop from all the 14 year old horny idiots, naturally.  Leif bitchslaps Mero to start, but Mero comes back with a couple armdrags.  To the armbar, Mero hits a Northern Lights (called a modified fireman's carry by JR), and back to the armbar.  Mero tosses Leif around a little, and he bails.  Leif tries to take out the knee on the post, but Sable interferes.  Leif tries to go after Sable, but Mero hits a double axe and rights.  Slingshot legdrop to the inside gets 2 for Mero.  Rights, but Leif dropkicks Mero right in the knee.  YES!!!  Again, then he kicks field goals on the knee.  Nasty cross legbreaker (I don't know if there is such a move, but that's what Im calling it......think Ohtani in Super J 95 when he's trying to rip Mochizuki's fuckin leg off).  Crowd was dead to start, but they are actually getting into the match here.  Leif works the leg for awhile, then Mero hits a horrible enziguiri.  Note to wrestlers---if you can't get your leg up high enough to kick the guy in the back of the head unless he leans down.....DON'T DO AN ENZUIGUIRI.  That's why Owen's was so great, he didnt need help to solidly connect.  Anyway, it gets 2.  Leif comes right back with a figure 4 and Mero makes the ropes when Sable pushes the bottom rope towards Mero's hand.  Too bad the rope only moved about 1/4 inch.  Leif chases Sable and Mero hits tope suicida.  Back in, and samoan drop and Wild Thing (shooting star press) get the 3.  **1/2   Surprisingly decent match.
 

Another clip of Shawn refusing to job....I mean.....forfeiting the title.  Interview with Sid, who gets a shot at the title the next night on RAW.
 

Flash Funk/Mr. Glass/Goldust  vs.  the Nation

Flash comes out with the Godfather's gimmick, although he doesn't have a catchphrase and the King yelling "Ho's and puppies!!!", so he's not over.  The three faces had been the victim of Nation interference the previous couple weeks.  The Nation tonite is Faarooq, Savio, and Crush, but there's about 15 people with them, including two white rappers.  What the hell is that????  I NEVER understood that.  Pier six to start as the faces clean house, and Funk flies to the outside to hit all three heels.   We settle down into Funk and Faarooq, and Faarooq gets a quick spinebuster.  Tag to Savio, but Funk hits a corner clothesline and top rope rana for 2.  Dropkick sends Savio outside, and Funk hits a Bart Gunn-assisted plancha to the outside.  The Nation quickly takes over on Funk, and Savio gets a back body drop inside.  Crush gets the tag and hits a belly to belly for 2 as the King makes jailbird jokes.  Faarooq in to jaw at Funk, but takes a knee to the nuts for his trouble.  The heels take control again with a spike piledriver.  Double team clothesline attempt, but Funk ducks and hits his own.  Hot tag Bart, and it's left hands for everyone, and a powerslam.  It's all breaking down now, Bart hits a top rope bulldog, but Crush drops a leg on Bart and Faarooq rolls over for the 3.  *, for some nice stuff from Funk.
 

Dok questions Austin about his lack of a clearcut victory over any of the other 3 guys, which prompts Austin to absolutely go off about how there is a conspiracy against him being the champ, with Gorilla, Vince, and the rest of the bureacracy holding him back.  Pretty eerie, actually.
 

The Pebble  vs. HHH

Rocky is announced as being from the South Pacific.....but two minutes into the match JR contradicts that.  D'oh!!!  Rocky had won the IC title from HHH a couple weeks earlier in an upset on RAW, even though he clearly wasn't ready for it yet.  That really kind of puts to rest any kind of argument over who is in charge in the WWF....if Vince wants somebody pushed, they get pushed immediately.  Any other argument is just futile.  No real crowd heat for either guy here.....my how the times change.

Basic stuff to establish some equality to start.  Hiptoss and worst dropkick ever from Rocky.  Chops by HHH, but Rock gets a back body drop, and we hit the armbar.  HHH tosses Rock outside and baseball slides him into the railing.  Slam on the floor, and back in HHH slingshots Rock against the bottom rope.  Suplex by HHH, and JR says that HHH and Rock are indicative of the direction the WWF is taking, with young, in-shape men with their best moments AHEAD of them.  An obvious jab at WCW, but I don't think even JR knew how correct he was in that statement, and in particular, in this match.  We hit THE KNEE MOVES OF DOOM as HHH busts them all out in short order, but Rock gets a fluke small package for 2.  HHH comes right back with a backbreaker.  Small Rocky chant, but it dies just as quickly.  The crowd is seriously bored here.  Rock crossbody gets 2.  Rights in the corner, but HHH hits the DDP-clothesline.  HHH up top (!), but Rock catches him with a right coming off.  Rock up top (!) and a flying crossbody gets 2.  Ten punch countered to Snake Eyes by HHH, but a cover with feet on the ropes still only gets 2.  DDT by Rock for 2.  Neckbreaker by HHH, but he's distracted by Goldust in the aisle, and Rock gets a bridged belly to back for 3.  *1/4   Pretty decent pop for the win, but during the match there was nothing.  Postmatch, HHH and Goldust have a staredown, and an unknown woman in the crowd starts choking out Marlena and is taken away by security.   That unknown woman----Chyna.
 

Kevin Kelly interviews Vader and Paul Bearer.  Nothing special.
 

Owen/Bulldog  vs.  Doug/Phil

There is dissension between Owen and Bulldog because Owen "accidently" eliminated Bulldog in the Rumble.  Pre-match entrances sees Bulldog try to pose for the camera, but Owen steps in front of him and show off his Slammy.  Then, Owen points at Bulldog like "You da man,"  but Bulldog counters and says "No, YOU da man".....and Owen shrugs and agrees.  HAHAHA!!!!!  Hilarious stuff.

The crowd is pretty much dead to start as Owen and Doug start with some mat stuff.   Tag to Phil, and a monkey flip attempt by Owen leads to a nice pinfall reversal sequence.  Bulldog in and Phil gets a rollup for 2, then he floats over a suplex attempt and hits a spinning heel kick.  Owen cheapshot leads to a heel beatdown.  Crossbody, but Phil rolls through for 2.  The King just goes off on his usual Helen Hart rant as Owen hits a gutwrench and backbreaker, each for 2.  Heels wishbone Phil, but a sunset flip on Bulldog gets no count as Owen distracts the ref.  Owen quickly back in, but Phil blocks a Sharpshooter attempt.  Owen is relentless and goes right back to the legs.  Cheap shot by Bulldog, and a beautiful spot next as Bulldog holds Phil in a stalling vertical and Owen comes off the top with a crossbody.....for 2.  Crowd thought that was it right there.   Owen argues with the ref and Phil gets a surprise small package, but Bulldog flips it over, then Doug flips right back over, finally getting 2.  Heels argue now as Bulldog gets ahold of Phil, but Owen's spinning heel kick misses and he hits Bulldog.  More arguing, Owen slaps Bulldog, and Bulldog cleans Owen's clock with a clothesline that gets a BIG pop.  Bulldog turns to leave Owen, letting Phil take advantage with a money shot for 2 as Bulldog scrambles back to break it up.  Great little sequence there.  Tag to Doug, and a dropkick, gorgeous overhead belly to belly suplex, back body drop, Northern Lights suplex, and rana all get 2 counts on Owen.  All 4 men in now.  Incredible sequence next as Owen ducks a clothesline by Doug but runs right into a superkick by Phil, Doug clubs Owen in the back, Phil PLANTS Owen with a DDT, and Doug finally drops a leg......and somehow all of that only got 2.  Wow, and this crowd is jacked now.

Owen floats over on a suplex and nails the Owenziquiri, and gets the hot tag to Bulldog.  Heels...getting the hot tag?  What alternate universe am I in?  Only Owen F'n Hart could make the crowd boo him relentlessly, then cheer for him to make the tag, then boo him again postmatch.  Bulldog cleans house to big pops, but Phil gets a fluke rollup for 2.  Heel miscommunication leads to Bulldog and Owen running into each other, which gets another 2.  Corner charge by Doug, but it's reversed into a stungun by Bulldog.  Bulldog goes for the powerslam, but Owen hits Doug with the Slammy to draw the DQ. ****  Just superb tag team wrestling all around.  Postmatch, Bulldog is NOT happy with the DQ as Owen tries to soothe him by reminding him they still have the belts.  It's not working though, and Bulldog takes Owen's Slammy and throws it to the mat causing it to break.  NOW Owen is pissed and they try to tear each other apart until Clarence Mason can separate them.  Great lead-in to the main event.
 

Interview with the Undertaker.  You've seen one, you've pretty much seen them all.
 

Bret  vs.  Austin  vs. Vader  vs.  Undertaker

Vader is introduced first, but I think everyone knows he's not winning this match, so nobody cares.  Austin comes out to mostly boos, but with a small spattering of raucous cheers here and there, and don't think Vince didnt notice THAT.  Undertaker comes out to a mega-pop in case there was any doubt as to who the fans wanted to have the belt.  Bret does a quick interview and comes out to mostly cheers, but with a small spattering of boos, for the first time in a LONG time.  Notice how the cheers and boos for Bret and Austin are precisely inversed, which is the way it would stay for the rest of the year as everyone started to love Austin and hate Bret.  But we're not there yet......

This is a no-DQ match, with an over the top rule because of the controversal finish that let Austin win the Rumble.  We brawl right away to start as Bret and Austin go right after each other, as do Vader and UT.  Bret pounds Austin, then UT pounds everyone.  Ropewalk on Austin, but Vader hits a belly to belly on UT.  Vader cracks UT with the chair, but eats the chair himself when UT gets his foot up the second time, and sends Vader into the steps.  Meanwhile, Bret is just murdering Austin inside.  Back inside, Vader pounds UT.  Backbreaker and sleeper by Bret, but Austin counters with a jawbreaker for 2.  Crowd is just super-hot here after being almost dead the whole night.  UT gets the chokeslam on Vader, but Austin hits a Stunner out of nowhere that only gets 2.  Vader with an avalanche on Bret for 2 as we switch up.  Vader nutshots Bret and gives him a couple chairshots as Austin hits a swinging neckbreaker on UT.  Good camera shot as Vader is severely bleeding hardway from the eye, the result of UT kicking the chair in his face earlier.  UT and Austin go up the aisle where Austin gets back body dropped.

Phew.  Take a breath here.  Vader bails as the camera shows the ring again, but UT suplexes Bret in as he tried to follow, for 2.  Vader and Austin engage in a WILD brawl outside as Austin throws the steps at Vader, which prompts Vader to absolutely UNLOAD on Steve.  Bret goes to the knees on UT.  Austin nails Vader with the title belt, but Vader starts pounding Austin again.  Back inside we switch again, as Vader/Bret and UT/Austin go at it.  UT crotches Austin coming off the top and drops a leg to the nuts for 2 as Vader sends Bret into the railing outside.  Bret fires back as the crowd is REALLY hot now.  Vader sends Bret into the steps, Austin hits a flying clothesline on UT.  Vader puts the sharpshooter on Bret, and Austin the Opportunist takes advantage and kicks Bret in the head.  All 4 outside and Austin throws Bret into the steps, but Bret is PISSED now, and kills Austin again.  UT and Bret double team Austin for a second, then Bret turns and hits UT.  Austin hits the Thesz press on Vader inside to no reaction.  Avalanche by Vader, but UT comes in and clotheslines him.  Bret hits the Owendriver on Austin, but no broken neck results from this one.  Vadersault misses on UT as Bret controls Austin.  UT and Vader take turns choking each other out with some cable.  Bret and Austin try to take each other out, and Bret hits a middle rope elbow for 2.  Austin flips out of a belly to back and gets 2 on a rollup.

Switch again, UT pounds Austin as Bret and Vader go toe-to-toe in the middle of the ring, until Bret says "Fuck you" and kicks Vader so hard in the nuts that the whole arena feels a collective pain in the groin area and groans.  Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, OUCH.  Austin puts UT's knee into the post as Bret hits the leg sweep for 2.  UT and Austin take turns trying to dump each other as Vader pummels Bret in the corner, including one right hand that looked like it knocked Bret into next week.  UT hits a short arm clothesline on Vader for 2, then almost dumps Austin.  Austin clutches his knee as Bret comes over, and Bret quickly improvises and chokes Austin a few seconds, then dumps him out.  Vader pounds Bret again now.  UT comes over and opens up on Vader as Bret takes a quick breather in the corner.  Bret goes after the UT, which lets Vader clip the knee from behind, and UT bails.  Bret takes an avalanche as Paul Bearer cracks UT with the urn.  Suplex and Vader climbs, but Bret cuts him off with a superplex that has the whole place on their feet.  Sharpshooter, and UT breaks and tosses Bret to the outside.  Austin comes back out to kick the shit outta Bret as Vader knocks down UT.  Vader 2nd rope splash attempt, but UT simply does the zombie sit up and tosses him out to a HUGE pop.  Bret and UT left now, but Austin's in the ring beating on Bret until UT takes him out.  Chokeslam, UT goes for the Tombstone, but Austin stops it just so he can beat up Bret some more.  Just wild, as Austin refuses to be stopped by The Usual Idiots in his mission to destroy Bret.  UT knocks Austin off the apron, and Bret gets a rollup for 2.  Austin right back on the apron in Bret's face and they trade punches until UT gets a few shots in on Austin, which lets Bret slip out and clothesline UT over the top for the win and the title.  ****3/4  Just a wild, wild matchup that had a little bit of everything with a whole lot of ass kicking.  Postmatch, UT walks out looking SERIOUSLY pissed off, and Sid comes out to get in Bret's face, and that's where we leave it.   Sid would get the title on RAW the next night after Austin and UT interfered, which would lead to Wrestlemania 13, where UT would win the title off of Sid and Bret/Austin would produce a ***** classic.
 
 

Official Grade-- B.  A superhot main and an excellent tag match really make this show.  With solid wrestling throughout the rest of the card it's an easy recommendation.  The thing that really hurts this show is the lack of historical significance.  Not that I really care all that much about that sort of thing, but it is a consideration, because to get the highest grades a show has to be really special in some way.  I doubt IYH: Final Four comes up in many people's top ten lists of all time WWF PPVs.  It's not even on MY list, not even close.  The main is undoubtedly one of the top matches of the 90s though, so check that out if you can't find the complete show anywhere.