Winter Combat '96
by me
THIS.... is Winter Combat '96, another compilation tape put out by Coliseum home video. This also has some of the best matches of In Your Houses (so Dok says) IV and V. The tape does say Winter Combat 1996, but all of these matches take place in 1995, just so you know. Now, I would make fun of things Dok says between the matches, but he doesnt really give me any material to work with, as he is solid in his introductions of all the matches. I guess I can deal with that. But, without further delay, let us get to YOUR matchlist......
Diesel vs. British Bulldog IYH: 4 World Title match
Goldust vs. Marty Jannetty IYH: 4
Undertaker vs. King Mabel IYH: 5 Casket Match
Dean Douglas vs Razor Ramon IYH: 4 Intercontinental Title match
Hunter Hearst Helmsley vs. Henry O. Godwin IYH: 5 Arkansas Hogpen Match
Owen Hart vs. Diesel IYH: 5
Bret Hart vs. British Bulldog IYH: 5 World Title match
On first glance, looking at that matchlist, it doesn't really blow you away. However, I had to be fair, and in the end, I was actually glad I was.......
Diesel vs. British Bulldog (with Jim Cornette) World Title match
This match came about because Bulldog tricked Diesel into a tag team match, and then turned on him. Vince, JR, and Bret Hart are at ringside for this. Bret was slated to fight the World champ at Survivor Series, so he has an interest in this. Tests of power to start, which Diesel wins. The crowd is solidly behind Diesel here, BTW. Bulldog tries to come off the ropes, but Diesel rocks him with a forearm. Off the ropes again, and Diesel this time with a slam, and follows up with another. Bulldog outside to consult with Cornette. Jim Cornette rules. Bulldog grabs Diesel's foot as Diesel walks over, and tries to crotch him around the corner post, but Diesel blocks. Back in, punches by Diesel, corner whip, and follows up with a couple clotheslines. Big Kev knees and elbows in the corner. Cornette finally manages to distract Diesel, and Bulldog clips the knee. Bulldog goes for a rollup, but Diesel holds onto the ropes, but Bulldog gets a dropkick anyway, which sends Diesel outside and he ends up practically in Bret's lap. Bret and Diesel exchange words, and Bulldog comes from behind and clips the knee again. Now Bulldog threatens Bret. Bulldog works the knee, tosses Diesel in, and works the knee some more. Big Diesel chant here. Bulldog goes for a Texas Cloverleaf (!), but he can't turn the big man over, so he tosses Diesel outside. Cornette goes absolutely nuts on the knees, drawing big heat. Bulldog out, rams Diesel into the steps, allowing Cornette to continue Operation Destroy The Knee. Back in, and Bulldog with a half crab. Crowd is actually very into this psychology. Bulldog turns the half crab into a Boston crab, and really sits down on it. BIG Diesel chant, and he powers out. Bulldog right back to the knee with kicks. NASTY half crab by Bulldog now. We're talking Sasuke/Ohtani level here, kids.
Diesel elbows the back of Bulldog's knee to finally get out. Diesel up, Bulldog clips the knee AGAIN. Elbow drop to the knee, and a kick to the face and choking by Bulldog. Cornette talking shit at Diesel now. Haha. Bulldog back to the knee, but Diesel kicks him from his back clear over the top. Bulldog back in though, and goes right back to the knee. This is AT LEAST ten solid minutes of knee work here, and crowd is eating it up. Diesel kicks Bulldog in the head, and Bulldog goes for a suplex, but Diesel blocks and gets one of his own. Both down, and Bulldog is up first, but Diesel gets a beautiful belly to back suplex, but his knee hurts too much. Bulldog is back up, pounding on the knees again. Bulldog points right at Bret now, and goes for a Sharpshooter. Bret points out he doesn't have it on quite right, and is proved right when Diesel powers out. Bulldog goes for a slam, but Diesel falls on him for two. Bulldog tries the Bulldog powerslam this time, but Diesel slips out and gets the big boot. His knee hurts too much though, and both down again. I'm totally serious here, I can't emphasize enough the excellent selling job by Diesel here. Bulldog finally rolls outside, and Diesel follows, but when he jumps off the apron, he just collapses. Brilliant. Diesel finally grabs Bulldog, but Bulldog slips away and rams Diesel into the post. Bulldog turns around and slaps Bret at ringside, knocking his headset off, so Bret runs in and beats the hell out of him, to a big pop, but it draws the DQ. **** Postmatch, Bret mops up Bulldog, but Diesel finally recovers and gets in the ring, and he and Bret have a little staredown. But when Bulldog is announced as the winner, Diesel looks majorly pissed, and a WILD brawl breaks out which takes numerous refs to break up. The crowd was totally jacked for this whole match, and a great postmatch brawl made this match a pleasant surprise for me. Especially considering our participants, I must admit I didn't expect them to deliver a match like this, but I was wrong, and I gladly admit it. The fallout from this would set-up Diesel/Bret at Survivor Series, and later Bret/Bulldog at IYH: 5.
UPDATE!!!!!!! 4/22/2001 Well, it seems the prominent reviewer of wrestling has just reviewed IYH:4, and he gave this match *. He's welcome to whatever review he wants to give it, but I'll stand by my ****, because I found Bulldog working the knee and Diesel actually selling really well to be an interesting match. My hearing isn't great, but I know I heard the crowd into the match as well. Maybe it was piped in, I dont know. The story of Vince slamming the headset down in disgust at Diesel, and the lowest buyrate in history.....actually I don't know anything about that. I just thought I'd point out that when I reviewed this it was actually the first time I'd ever seen it, and I was expecting it to suck, but I actually liked it. Take that as you will. Everyone has different opinions, but my opinion was and still is that the match has some very good knee psychology, which Bret would completely capitalize on at Survivor Series to continue that psychology.
Goldust vs. Marty Jannetty IYH: 4
This was Goldust's debut. I actually reviewed this match for my previous review, In Your House: Greatest Matches, but that match was clipped, while we get a full version of this. The match starts with alot of standing around, but finally Goldust charges and Marty ducks, and lays right hands in the corner. Corner whip and clothesline by Marty. Marty gets a back body drop, and follows up with a clothesline to the outside. Goldust decides to stand around awhile, so Marty goes out and nails him with another clothesline, which draws the Rocker oversell from Goldust on the concrete. Sweet. Marty throws him in, but Goldust rolls back out. Goldust stalling outside. When he finally decides to get in, he bitch slaps Marty, and gets a rollup for 2. Attempted slam reversed by Marty, Goldust off the ropes, but Marty gets a nice rana, which Goldust promptly no-sells. Trading rights, a whip leapfrog by Marty, and Marty takes the righteous oversell clothesline. Goldust pounds Marty in the corner. Eye rake and elbow drop get only 1 for Goldust. We go to the resthold now. Back body drop gets two for GD, and he tosses Marty outside. Brandon suggested that I refer to them as GD and OD, which makes me miss what happened, but apparently GD tossed him to the outside, because that's where Marty is. GD slams Marty into the stairs. Lots of standing around taking place here. Even JR comments on this, but Vince actually tries to save it by saying that GD is just methodical. GD inside, Marty on the apron, and a snapmare to the outside by Marty. Nice. Marty goes for a bulldog on the floor, but Goldust tosses Marty in the post. Nice again. Suplex to the inside gets 2 for Goldust. Vince mentions that Marty is resilient. More standing around. Resthold sleeper by GD. Whip by Goldust, but he lowers his head, and Marty off the ropes with.......something. I'm serious, I have no clue what the hell he was going for there, but Dustin, God bless him, actually sells it like a champ. DDT gets two for GD. Marty with a Rocker dropper that gets two. I don't care what Billy Gunn does, it will never be the Fameasser, it will always be called a Rocker dropper by me......because THAT'S WHAT IT REALLY IS!!! Marty off the top, but he lands on his feet, and nothing happens. I think Goldust was supposed to raise the foot there. Marty tries to save it by dropping an elbow. I must mention that Marty has some decidedly Ultimate Warrior type gear on here (think tassels), and in a weird moment, gets a series of clothesline (weak ass clotheslines though), and starts running in place ala Warrior. What the fuck? Snapmare, Marty up top again, and I'm proved right as Goldust raises the foot. Shoulda just moved on guys. Front suplex (almost, but not quite, a Curtain Call) gets the three for Goldust. **1/2, which surprises me considering our participants. This would have been higher, cause Marty actually had his working boots on here, but too much standing around by Goldust killed it for me.
Undertaker vs. King Mabel IYH: 5 Casket Match
Wow, this could really suck. Let's pray that it does not. This is the white mask Undertaker period here. Mabel attacks UT to start, but UT reverses, and we get punches in the corner. Cross corner whip and splash by UT. Nice Bossman slam by Mabel, and UT with the zombie sit-up. Clothesline, UT agains sits up. Fat ass splash from middle turnbuckle misses. Clothesline by UT on Mabel, but he can't go down because he' just too fat. Belly to belly and a legdrop by Mabel. Fat ass splash hits this time. I spy an ECW shirt in the front row, so we must be close to Philly, since this is still 1995. Sir Mo carries UT and drops him into the casket, but stupidly neglects to shut the lid. UT comes back of course, and gets punches and kicks. Three clothesline and Mabel finally goes down. Chokeslam by UT, and UT gets Mabel in the casket, but Mo stops the lid from being closed. Funny stuff as he pounds on UT, and even hits him with the MELTED CHAIN THAT WAS THE URN OF SUPERNATURAL POWERS, but UT just looks at him like a child. UT puts the necklace around Mo's neck, then chokeslams him, puts him in the casket, and shuts the lid. * for some funny stuff during the match by the regular scale, and by my special big man scale, this gets **1/2 stars. Luckily, better days would soon be ahead for the Undertaker, as Mankind would come along and end UT's run of two years of facing guys with no heat who just happened to be bigger than he was.
Dean Douglas vs. Razor Ramon IYH: 4 Intercontinental Title Match
Pre-match, Shawn hands over the title to Gorilla Monsoon, but Dean just grabs it, and says "That was easy." The storyline here is that Shawn got jumped in Syracuse and couldn't wrestle, so he had to forfeit the title. Shawn looks appropriately saddened at the loss, and just looks like he might cry. Nice. On to the match, and Razor pounds on Dean to start. Armbar by Razor, and shoulderthrusts, and a slam. Razor then goes into about 5 minutes of various armbars here. No kidding. It might have been interesting had there been some psychology, but there wasn't so it came off as just boring. Trust me, you're not missing out on anything by reading this instead of me describing the armbars. Eventually, Dean gets some offense, and comes off the ropes, but Razor catches him in the fallaway slam. Clothesline over the top, and Dean is outside for standing around. Dean finally gets back in, and gets an eye poke. KING--"A smart guy like Dean always remembers to dot his i's (eyes). Haha. Right hand sends Dean back to the floor, and Razor suplexes him back in, then kicks Dean back outside. Funny stuff as the King, who is solidly behind Dean here, offers him some bottled water. JR protests that there are no pit stops in wrestling. Razor follows Dean, and tries to grab the King's water, but Jerry won't give it to him. JR says "Here, take mine," and Razor pours it out on Dean's head. Gotta see it to fully appreciate it. Back in again, and Razor gets some rights and an atomic drop. Razor going for the Edge, but Dean backdrops him over and out. Nice little bump there by Razor. Back in, Dean heads up top, but Razor catches him with a chokeslam as he comes off. Both men down, Dean up first, and he goes up again and gets a flying crossbody, but Razor rolls through for 2. Dropkick by Dean for 2. Razor ducks a right, and gets a belly to back.......for 3? *1/2 Too much standing around in this one to make it exciting for anyone, and it showed as the crowd only popped during the water bit and when Razor slapped the back of Dean's head during the armbars. Postmatch, Razor is announced as the winner, and Dean goes apeshit, complaining that his leg was under the ropes during the count (it was). Razor wins his 4th IC Title. From the look of it, this might have set up something at least a little interesting after this, but knowing that this is Dean Douglas we're talking about, and from my own memory, I don't think it ever did.
Hunter Hearst Helmsley vs. Henry O. Godwin Arkansas Hogpen Match
Now I sorta understand why the WWF did this type of thing, because they really hadnt discovered the Attitude yet.......but seriously......a hogpen match? The only way to win this match is to get the other guy in the hogpen. To reinforce the surface stupidity of the match, Hillbilly Jim is YOUR special referee. I wonder who HE will be pulling for here. Anyway, onto the match. HHH comes out and looks appropriately disgusted by the slop, playing his Greenwich snob character perfectly. The ring announcer says that he is 226 pounds, which is just astounding to me. He's still undefeated at this point, too. Henry brings out a slop bucket, and tries to slop HHH to start, but HHH pulls some guy at ringside in front of the slop. That's why he's the smartest guy in wrestling. In the ring, rights by HHH, but Henry gets a back body drop. Henry with punches, and HHH gets caught in the ropes, so Henry grabs a handful of slop and shoves it into HHH's mouth. Ugh. HHH is pissed, and fires back. He gets a swinging neckbreaker, and drops the knee. Whip and knee lift by HHH, Henry to the outside. HHH tries to whip Henry into the stairs, but he reverses, and tries to bulldog HHH into the stairs. HHH's head misses by AT LEAST six inches, but he sells it anyway. Personally, that was one of the stupidest things I've ever seen, and if you see this match, you would understand because there is NO WAY that Henry could have ever made HHH's head hit the stairs without hitting the stairs himself first on that bulldog. Anyway......they're moving toward the hogpen, taking turns ramming each other into the rail. HHH whips Henry into the metal door of the pen. HHH goes for the Pedigree, but Henry tries to back drop him into the pen, but HHH holds onto the top of the fence, and comes off with a big elbow. They start to move back towards the ring. Whip and charge by Henry, but HHH gets the foot up, but both men down now. Whip by HHH and attempted monkey flip, but Henry blocks, and slams HHH face first. Corner whip by Henry, and HHH with a Flair flip. Another whip, another flip, this time to the outside. They trade rights towards the hogpen. Henry goes for the Slop Drop, but HHH grabs the railing and blocks it. Attempted whip by HHH, but Henry reverses it into the metal door of the hogpen. Henry gets the Slop Drop on HHH this time. Henry charges, but HHH back body drops him into the slop. Finally. ** This wasn't horrible to watch, but the commentary saved it. The King had some great jokes, and whatever jokes you make about Vince as an announcer, he was at least enthusiastic, which was sometimes grating, but in a match like this, absolutely necessary to keep the viewer interested. Postmatch, Hillbilly Jim tries to raise HHH's hand, but this leads to a shouting match. Jim tosses HHH towards the pen, Henry grabs him and drops him face first into the slop. You can see Hunter's back really cut bad, I assume by the metal door when he was whipped into it. HHH keeps trying to stand up to get out of the slop, but keeps falling down, which brings a smile to my face. The more I watch of HHH in his earlier days, the more convinced I am that it was only a stupid gimmick and a slight lack of timing that held him back. I've heard a ton of writers bash his early workrate, but he does many moves in this match that he still uses to this very day. But a column on that should be saved for another day.
Owen Hart vs. Diesel IYH: 5
This match was set up because Diesel wanted VENGEANCE, BABY!!!!! for putting out HBK with the "enziguiri of doom". Big pop for Diesel as he comes out. Diesel immediately backs Owen towards the corner, and Owen tries to dodge and get out of there, but Diesel keeps cutting him off. Hilarious stuff there. Finally Diesel just tosses him in the corner and hit elbows, then tosses him away. Hard whip into the corner, and sidewalk slam. Another corner whip, but Owen leaps over and gets punches, but Diesel just shoves him away. Clothesline sends Owen outside to consult with Jim Cornette. Owen back in, and gets a hairpull and slam. Whip, Owen ducks the big boot, and hits the spinning heel kick. Owen goes up top and hits the missile dropkick, and Owen starts going to the knee, and gets his patented WHOOOOO in celebration.......and if you don't know what I mean, shame on you. Owen starts kicking field goals with Diesels knee in the corner, and hits the enziguiri....for 2. Owen goes for the figure 4, but Diesel kicks him into the post, and gets Snake eyes. Big boot hits this time, and Diesel gets the Jacknife (while saying "this is for you Shawn"). He puts his foot on Owen, but takes it off at two. Ref is in his face for that (why?), but he pulls Owen up anyway, and when the ref tries to stop it, he shoves the ref away for the lame DQ. * Then he gives Owen the Jacknife again. This was just one of those matches that was just there, and there's not really much more you can say about it.
Bret Hart vs. British Bulldog IYH: 5 World Title Match
This of course was the fallout of the earlier match on the tape between Bulldog/Diesel. Bulldog slapped Bret, which caused Bret to attack the Bulldog and get him disqualified against Diesel. Bret went on to win the title from Diesel at Survivor Series, which in turn set up this match. Vince and the King play up how the Bulldog beat Bret at Wembley stadium, and Diana is with Bulldog at ringside again. I must say that I always thought Diana was hot, and here is no different. I've heard that her looks have declined in recent years, but the most recent time I've seen her is at Canadian Stampede in the ten man tag, so I'm not really qualified to agree or disagree with those statements. Anyway......
Bulldog comes out with Cornette, and Diana takes a seat at ringside. Early lockups to establish that Bulldog is in fact stronger, as if we couldnt figure that out. Headlock by Bulldog, reversed into a headscissors and armbar by Bret. Bulldog yanks Bret's hair to get out. Bret doesn't look happy about that. Armbar takedown by Bret, working the arm. Bulldog powers up and slams Bret, but Bret holds onto the armbar through the slam. For some reason, we get an E-C-Dub chant here, since this is in Hershey PA, but.........on an armbar? I don't know either. Whip by Bret and he gets a crossbody for 2. Bret slips outside, Bulldog tries to follow, but Bret slips right back in and gets the atomic drop. Nice sequence there. Another armbar by Bret, but Bulldog whips him and gets a kitchen sink. Bulldog puts Bret in the tree of woe, and gets kicks. Weirdness ensues as Earl Hebner is counting at Bulldog, and Bulldog turns to look at him and NAILS him with the elbow, which sends Earl down.....and Bulldog checks on him, since it was obviously an accident. More kicks, as the King declares that if the ref is hurt, he could go in and ref this thing right down the middle. Heh. Snapmare and chinlock by Bulldog, but Bret gets up, whips him, and goes for a crucifix rollup. Bulldog smartly just falls backwards to crush Bret. A legdrop gets 2, and back to the chinlock. Choking in the ropes, and Cornette gets the mandatory cheapshot in with the racket, which gets 2. Bret backs Bulldog into the corner with shoulderthrusts. Corner whip, but Bulldog reversed, and Bret goes Bret-first. A back body drop gets two as they keep showing split screens of the match and Diana looking on at ringside. She's looking good, so I approve. Side headlock by Bulldog, and he holds onto it as Bret tries to whip him. Shoulderblock by Bulldog, but Bret gets a monkey flip and atomic drop, followed by the headbutt down low. Move of Irony by Bret. Whip by Bret is reversed by Bulldog, but Bulldog lowers his head, and Bret gets the piledriver. KING---"He learned that from me!!"
We get the leg sweep and middle rope elbow, and Bret goes for a superplex, but Bulldog crotches him.......ouch. Bret falls to the outside, so Bulldog throws him into the stairs. Bearhug, and Bret gets rammed into the post. Bret obviously blades here and blood is literally everywhere. I can't really understand the blade by Bret there though. He should have bladed after the stair bump if anything, because he wasn't bleeding when he was rammed into the post, and he came nowhere near hitting his head there. Mysteries of life I guess. The E-C-Dubs chant that Bret is hardcore. Bret sells a whip back first, and piledriver gets 2 for Bulldog. Stalling vertical suplex gets another 2. Crowd is really into this match, and Bret is really bleeding everywhere. Almost the entire mat and Bulldog's tights are pink now from the blood. Slam and top rope headbutt gets another 2. Bulldog into a bow and arrow, but Bret reverses and tries to get the Sharpshooter on, but Bulldog escapes and gives a shoulderblock to send Bret out. Bulldog tries to suplex Bret in, but Bret floats over and gets a German suplex for 2. Double clothesline, and both men down. Eventually, back body drop sends Bulldog outside, and Bret hits a nice pescado. He goes for.....something.....a quebrada, I think, but Bulldog catches him and hits the running powerslam on the floor. Bulldog pulls the mat away and tries a suplex, but Bret blocks and crotches him on the railing. Back in, and a backbreaker gets 2 for Bret. Whip, and Bulldog with the Michaels flip (!) in the corner. Bret gets the superplex this time, but only for 2. Bulldog rolls him up, but Bret rolls through for 2 again. Bulldog whips Bret back first in the corner, but takes a foot to the face, and Bret rolls him up with a Majistral cradle for 3. ****1/4 The ending was kinda anti-climactic, which cost it a quarter star, but a ton of great action here, with Bret bleeding all over the place. Other reviewers have given Bret's blade job a lower Muta, which I don't quite get, because there is blood EVERYWHERE, and in the part of the match where Bulldog gives Bret the running powerslam, you can see Bret wearing the crimson mask.
Official Grade-- C. Bret/Bulldog is an excellent match, and despite what others think, I happen to like the Bulldog/Diesel match. So sue me. Still, aside from those, lots of barely average matches with some sucky ones mixed in.