THE MOSS COVERED THREE HANDLED FAMILY CREDENZA

ARTICLE #30
MARCH 11, 2002

In Your House: Matches That Raised The Roof!

In Your House II: WWF Intercontinental Title: Jeff Jarrett (c) w/Road Dogg vs Shawn Michaels

Michaels got the better of Jarrett early. Jarrett armdragged Michaels. Jarrett won a fast exchange when he punched Michaels out of the ring. Both men countered hiptosses and Michaels poked Jarrett in the eye. Michaels hiptossed Jarrett and clotheslined him over the top rope to the floor. Jarrett started to walk away from ringside but decided not to take the countout to retain the title. Jarrett continued to stall outside the ring and Michaels punched him. Michaels came off the top rope but Jarrett met him with a punch to the gut. Jarrett dove onto Michaels whose neck was on the middle rope. Jarrett missed a dropkick. Road Dogg tried to intervene but Michaels poked his eyes. Jarrett ran towards Michaels but Michaels dumped him over the top rope onto Road Dogg at ringside. Michaels then hit a plancha on both Dogg and Jarrett. Michaels gave Jarrett a baseball slide kick. Michaels faked out Jarrett and went for a second rope sunset flip but Jarrett held on but missed a punch. Michaels charged at Jarrett in the corner but Jarrett backdropped him over the top rope to the floor and Michaels took one of his classic bumps. Jarrett rammed Michaels into the ring steps twice. Jarrett gave Michaels a face front suplex for a near fall. Jarrett applied an abdominal stretch and held Dogg�s hand for leverage. Michaels escaped with a hiptoss but Jarrett gave him a DDT for a near fall. Jarrett choked Michaels in the ropes, as did Dogg. Jarrett went to pounce on Michaels but Michaels moved and Jarrett pounced on Dogg instead. Michaels gained a near fall. Jarrett whipped Michaels hard into the corner and Michaels took a crazy flip bump over the top to the floor. Road Dogg gave Michaels a clothesline off the apron to the floor. Jarrett hit a flying bodypress but Michaels rolled through and gained a near fall. Jarrett attempted a sunset flip but Michaels punched him. Michaels and Jarrett then traded near falls. Jarrett gave Michaels a sharp dropkick for a near fall. Jarrett applied a sleeper on Michaels and held it for a while, gaining a near fall in the process. Michaels fought back with a back suplex. Michaels then gained a delayed near fall. After trading punches Michaels hit a great flying lariat. He whipped Jarrett into the corner and gave him a flying forearm. Michaels gave Jarrett a top rope axhandle for a near fall and a top rope elbow for another near fall. Michaels teased a corner splash, Jarrett jumped up, Michaels slid out of the ring and grabbed Jarrett�s legs, then drove him crotch first into the ringpost. Dogg shook the top rope and crotched Michaels. Jarrett gave Michaels a superplex and went for a figure 4 leglock but Michaels rolled him up for a near fall. Jarrett gave Michaels a kneebreaker. Michaels blocked a figure 4 leglock but in the process knocked Jarrett into the ref. Dogg clipped Michaels�s leg. Jarrett hit a flying bodypress for a near fall. On a criss cross exchange Dogg looked away and tripped Jarrett when Michaels reversed the whip. Michaels then gave Jarrett sweet chin music and pinned him at 19:59 to win the title. An excellent match, not quite as great as some think, but that�s because the U.S. was a virtual wasteland at this time when it came to great matches. Arguably the best singles match of Jarrett�s career. ****

In Your House VI: Shawn Michaels vs Owen Hart

Michaels attacked Owen and threw him over the top rope before the bell. They had a criss cross exchange ending with Michaels sliding out of the ring to high-five the fans around ringside. Owen then slid out of the ring after another exchange to mock Michaels. Michaels then hit a plancha on Owen for a pop. Back in the ring Michaels gave Owen a top rope axhandle for a near fall. Owen attempted a back suplex, Michaels countered and took down Owen, and Michaels then walked all over Owen�s body. Michaels grabbed a headlock and flagrantly pulled Owen�s hair to maintain the hold in a comedy spot. Owen hiptossed Michaels but Michaels kicked him and both did nip-ups. Michaels gave Owen a huracanrana and a barrage of punches. Owen missed a clothesline but gave Michaels a belly to belly suplex. Owen gave Michaels a backbreaker and whipped him hard into the corner. Owen gave Michaels a neckbreaker for a near fall. He attempted to apply a sharpshooter but Michaels kicked him off. Owen gave Michaels a knee to the back and applied a camel clutch. Michaels tried to fight back but Owen scored with a kneelift for a near fall. Owen applied a chinlock on Michaels. Michaels escaped but Owen gave him a spin kick. Owen tried to suplex Michaels back into the ring but Michaels countered and suplexed Owen out of the ring. Michaels dove off the apron but Owen powerslammed him. Owen hit a top rope dropkick for a near fall. Owen gave Michaels several forearm shots and whipped him into the corner but Michaels rolled him up for a near fall. Owen whipped Michaels into the corner and Michaels did a flip to the top rope, flipped back down, and Owen clotheslined him. Owen applied a sharpshooter on Michaels and held it for a lengthy period of time. Owen slammed Michaels but postured too much and Michaels rolled him up for a near fall. Owen gave Michaels the same enzuguiri to the head that knocked Michaels out in a previous injury angle and Michaels tumbled out of the ring. Owen then gained a delayed near fall. Owen whipped Michaels into the corner but missed a corner splash and got tangled in the ropes. Michaels atomic dropped Owen and gave him a flying lariat. Michaels mounted a comeback, whipped Owen into the corner and gave him a flying forearm. Michaels hit a top rope elbow and knocked Cornette off the apron with a punch. Michaels missed a superkick, Owen missed an enzuguiri but Michaels then hit sweet chin music and pinned Owen at 16:00. An excellent match in most ways, but it lacked seriousness at times, which took the match down because Michaels�s title shot at Wrestlemania was on the line. The work itself was great with both men in top form. ***3/4

In Your House Good Friends/Better Enemies: Shawn Michaels vs Diesel

This was a shockingly great match and by far the best match Diesel ever had. Again, you can credit that partially to Michaels, who had one of his best matches. Michaels went right after Diesel but Diesel got the better of him. Michaels knocked Diesel out of the ring with a dropkick. Michaels gave Diesel an Orihara moonsault and gained an early near fall. Michaels was whipped into the corner and Diesel knocked him off the apron onto the ringside barricade. Diesel dominated Michaels for the next several minutes with his usual offense and even choked the referee. Diesel took the referee's belt and whipped Michaels with it. Diesel also hit Michaels with a chair a few times. Michaels then went to hit Diesel with the chair but Diesel gave him a low blow. Diesel maintained his dominance of Michaels and gained a near fall. Michaels bumped like crazy for Diesel, adding to the drama of the match. Diesel then stunned the television broadcast team when he jacknife powerbombed Michaels through their table. Michaels sold that move like he was shot. Michaels used a fire extinguisher on Diesel to regain the advantage. Michaels gave Diesel a great flying forearm and hit him twice with a chair. Diesel fought back and gave Michaels a boot to the face. Diesel went for a jacknife but Michaels gave him a slew of punches. Michaels gave Diesel a top rope elbow and went for a superkick but Diesel gave Michaels a lariat. Diesel then grabbed Mad Dog Vachon in the front row and took his artificial leg. However, Michaels fought back and knocked Diesel out with the leg. Michaels then gave Diesel the superkick in dramatic fashion and scored the pin at 17:54. This match was never dull and was really dramatic following the powerbomb through the table. Diesel also worked harder than usual to add to the match. ****1/2

In Your House Beware of Dog: Caribbean Strap Match: Savio Vega vs Steve Austin (w/Ted DiBiase)

If Austin lost DiBiase would have to leave the WWF. If Vega lost he would become DiBiase�s chauffer. Vega tried to whip Austin with the strap but Austin bailed out of the ring. Austin got the better of Vega early but Vega fought back with a backdrop. Austin bailed out but Vega rammed him into the apron using the strap. Austin bailed out but Vega gave him a chop at ringside. Vega whipped Austin with the strap repeatedly. Austin bailed out again but Vega pulled him back up to the apron by the strap and whipped him again with it. Vega suplexed Austin back into the ring and whipped him with the strap again. Vega touched two corners but Austin pulled him back with the strap and Vega took a flip bump. Austin then repeatedly whipped Vega with the strap but Vega took him down and landed a series of punches. Austin held his own but they both tumbled out of the ring. Vega landed a couple chops but Austin rammed his back into the apron. Austin whipped Vega with the strap and dropped him neck first on the barricade. Austin then wrapped the strap around Vega�s neck and hung him on the apron. Austin suplexed Vega back into the ring and tied the strap around his ankle. Austin touched two corners but Vega started to literally spin him around by pulling on the strap and Austin crashed hard into the corner. Vega clotheslined Austin with the strap and whipped him with it again. Austin backdropped Vega over the top rope to the floor but also crashed to the floor because the strap that was tied to their wrists pulled Austin out. Austin chopped Vega and attempted to suplex him on the floor but Vega countered with a suplex of his own on the floor. Austin fought back but jumped off the steps and Vega punched him in the gut. Vega tied Austin�s arm and leg with the strap and touched three corners but Austin tripped him. Austin whipped Vega with the strap but Vega fought back. Vega placed Austin on the top rope and landed a couple chops but Austin knocked him to the mat. Vega kicked Austin and crotched him on the top rope. He gave Austin a top rope superplex and touched three corners but Austin cut him off with a spinebuster. Austin choked Vega on the ropes and pounced on him. Austin touched one corner but Vega poked his eyes. Austin went for a tombstone, Vega reversed it, but Austin reversed again and Vega tumbled over the top rope to the floor. Austin choked Vega with the strap but Vega fought back. Vega tumbled out of the ring again. Austin went to the top rope but Vega pulled on the strap and Austin took a spectacular bump into the barricade. Austin recovered and rammed Vega into the ring steps. However, Vega pulled on the strap and in turn pulled Austin into the ringpost. Vega carried Austin on his shoulders and touched two corners but Austin cut him off, but only momentarily as Vega touched the third corner. Vega went for the fourth but Austin pulled him away from the corner. Austin piledrove Vega and went for a second one but Vega countered with a backdrop. Austin then applied the million dollar dream but Vega touched two corners while in the hold. Vega escaped the hold by kicking off one of the corners and falling on Austin. Austin then dropped Vega head first on the top turnbuckle. Austin dragged Vega by the neck and touched three corners but so did Vega. Austin pulled Vega by the strap but Vega then crashed into the fourth corner and won the match in 21:25. A great finish and the biggest win of Vega�s career. As a result, DiBiase had to leave the WWF. A bit old school at times, but this was just a great match from start to finish with very good intensity and it never dragged. Austin made the match with his work and bumps, but Vega carried his weight as well. ****

In Your House Final Four: WWF Title: Bret Hart vs Vader (w/Paul Bearer) vs Undertaker vs Steve Austin

The rules were weird, as a wrestler could be eliminated either by pin, submission, or by being thrown over the top rope to the floor. Undertaker gave Vader a flying clothesline as Bret fought with Austin. Undertaker also attacked Bret and Austin and did the ropewalk into a punch on Austin. Vader belly to belly suplexed Undertaker and knocked him out of the ring (but not over the top rope). Vader rammed Undertaker into the barricade as Bret dominated Austin in the ring. Vader missed a chairshot on Undertaker and struck the ringpost. Austin whipped Bret hard into the corner. Vader went for a chairshot but Undertaker kicked the chair into his face as Austin gained a near fall on Bret. Austin elbowed Bret for a near fall as Undertaker whipped Vader into the ring steps and apparently busted him open in the process. In the ring Bret gave Austin a backbreaker. Vader gave Undertaker a series of clubbing shots as Bret applied a sleeper on Austin but Austin escaped with a jawbreaker. Austin gained a near fall on Bret. Undertaker chokeslammed Vader but Austin then gave Undertaker a modified stunner for a near fall. Vader steamrolled through Bret and gained a near fall. Undertaker got the better of Austin as Vader took his fight with Bret to the floor. Austin gave Undertaker a neckbreaker for a near fall and Vader hit Bret repeatedly with a chair. Austin attempted to piledrive Undertaker in the aisle but Undertaker backdropped him. Back in the ring Bret clotheslined Vader. Undertaker suplexed Bret from the apron back into the ring for a near fall. Vader went to hit Austin with the ring steps but Austin kicked him and rammed him into the steps. Austin then dropped the other half of the steps on Vader. Vader fought back with a series of clubbing shots on Austin as Undertaker gained a near fall on Bret. Bret attacked Undertaker�s leg as Vader dropped Austin head first on the barricade. Austin whipped Vader into the barricade but Vader fought back. Undertaker clotheslined Bret and crotched Austin on the top rope. Vader rammed Bret into the barricade in the aisle but Bret then whipped Vader over the barricade and into the crowd as Undertaker gained a near fall on Austin in the ring. Vader rammed Bret into the steps as Undertaker tried to throw Austin over the top rope. Austin gave Undertaker a top rope clothesline for a near fall. Vader applied a sharpshooter on Bret on the floor briefly. Austin rammed Bret into the steps but Bret fought back. Undertaker and Bret double teamed Austin until Vader intervened. Austin gave Vader a Thesz press and a barrage of punches to Vader�s wound on his head. Vader fought back but Undertaker clotheslined him. Undertaker whipped Vader into the corner but Vader responded with a clothesline. Bret piledrove Austin for a near fall. Vader missed a moonsault on Undertaker. Undertaker choked Vader with a camera cable at ringside as Austin got the better of Bret in the ring. Vader fought back and choked Undertaker with the cable as Austin tried to dump Bret over the top rope. Bret fought back against Austin as Undertaker gained a near fall on Vader. Bret gave Austin a second rope elbow for a near fall. Austin then rolled up Bret for a near fall. Bret and Vader had a slugfest but Bret knocked Vader down with a kick to the crotch. Austin rammed Undertaker�s leg into the ringpost and Bret gave Vader a Russian legsweep for a near fall. Vader clotheslined Bret as Undertaker nearly eliminated Austin over the top rope. Austin tried and failed to dump Undertaker over the top rope and Undertaker nearly eliminated Austin moments later. Undertaker gave Vader a short clothesline for a near fall. Vader won a slugfest against Undertaker and Bret dumped Austin over the top rope to the floor for the first elimination. Vader clotheslined Bret and gave him several clubbing shots in the corner. Undertaker whipped Vader into the corner and gave him a corner splash. Bret and Undertaker exchanged punches until Vader clipped Undertaker�s knee. Vader suplexed Bret and went to the top rope but Bret caught him there and gave him a remarkable top rope superplex. Bret applied a sharpshooter on Vader but Undertaker then clotheslined Bret from behind. Vader powerslammed Undertaker as Austin returned and attacked Bret at ringside. Vader went for a Vader bomb but Undertaker moved, got up, and gave Vader a low blow that sent him crashing over the top to the floor for the second elimination. Austin continued to attack Bret until Undertaker clotheslined him. Undertaker chokeslammed Bret and went for a tombstone but Austin grabbed Bret�s leg, and in doing so crotched Bret on the top rope. Bret rolled up Undertaker for a near fall and punched Austin. Bret clotheslined Undertaker over the top rope to the floor at 23:59 to win the title. Another super match with all four men contributing. However, Vader stole the show with one of the best performances of his career, both on offense and defense. He was fired up as evidenced by the stiffness of much of his offense, and he took the kind and volume of bumps that turned back the clock to 1993 when Vader was one of the top 10 workers in the world. In other words, this was Vader�s best performance in the WWF. None of the other three were nearly as memorable, but kept the match moving and contributed when they had to. ****1/2

In Your House Canadian Stampede: Steve Austin, Ken Shamrock, Goldust & Legion of Doom (Hawk & Animal) vs Hart Foundation (Bret Hart, Owen Hart, British Bulldog, Jim Neidhart & Brian Pillman)

Several members of the Hart family were sitting in the front row. Bret won a slugfest against Austin to start and pummeled him in the corner as fans popped huge. Austin whipped Bret into the corner but Bret responded with a clothesline. Austin fought back with a low mule kick. Austin applied a million dollar dream on Bret but Bret kicked off the corner and fell on top of Austin for a great near fall (Survivor Series �96 finish). Bret moved and a charging Austin crashed into the ropes. Austin got the better of Neidhart and tagged Shamrock. Shamrock kicked Neidhart and went for an ankle lock but Neidhart reached the ropes. Shamrock generally got the better of Neidhart on offense. He armdragged and armbarred Pillman. Pillman landed several chops on Shamrock, whipped him hard into the corner and gave him a backbreaker for a near fall. Shamrock clotheslined Pillman and belly to belly suplexed him. Goldust backdropped Owen but Owen fought back with an enzuguiri. Goldust gave Owen a series of punches in the corner. Hawk gave Owen a gut wrench suplex and a legdrop for a near fall. Hawk hit a top rope splash on Owen for a near fall. Owen fought back and applied a sharpshooter on Hawk but Animal intervened. Bulldog vertical suplexed Hawk for a near fall and powerslammed him for another near fall. Animal whipped Bret into the corner but ran into a kick. Bret clotheslined Animal and Animal tagged Goldust. Bret hung Goldust upside down in the Hart Foundation�s corner. After a few seconds all 10 men got into a fight as Goldust was being pummeled in the corner. Owen gave Goldust a backbreaker but missed a tackle and crashed shoulder first into the ringpost. Owen spin kicked Animal and gave him a top rope dropkick. Owen attempted a huracanrana but Animal powerbombed him. Animal powerslammed Owen, lifted him up, and Hawk came off the top rope with the doomsday device on Owen after which Animal gained a near fall. Another 10-man fight erupted. Austin rammed Owen�s leg into the ringpost and then hit that leg with a chair. Bret intervened but Owen was helped to the backstage area. Neidhart backed Austin into the Hart Foundation�s corner and everyone attacked Austin for a pop. Austin fought his way out of the corner and gave Pillman a stunner. Bret grabbed Austin�s leg and rammed it into the ringpost twice, then hit the leg with a fire extinguisher. Bret then applied a figure 4 leglock on Austin around the ringpost but Hawk quickly intervened. Bulldog crotched Hawk on the top rope and gained a near fall as officials tried to help Austin to the back but Austin refused. Bulldog and Neidhart double clotheslined Hawk. Animal overpowered Neidhart but Neidhart fought back. He held Animal over his knee as Bret gave him a second rope elbow for a near fall. Shamrock teased attacking Bret�s legs but Pillman intervened and clotheslined him. Shamrock whipped Bret hard into the corner. Bret fought back and threw Shamrock out of the ring. Pillman whipped Shamrock into one of the announcers� tables. Pillman and Neidhart then whipped Hawk into the ring steps. Bret gave Shamrock a Russian legsweep. Bulldog pummeled Shamrock in the corner and even did his best Austin imitation complete with double-bird salute. Shamrock fought back with a low blow on Bulldog. Goldust clotheslined Bulldog and gave him a bulldog. Goldust went for a curtain call DDT but Pillman intervened. Bulldog caught Goldust on the top rope and gave him a top rope superplex for a near fall. Austin then returned to the ring limping. Goldust tagged Austin but Bret also tagged in and another slugfest erupted. Austin whipped Bret hard into the corner and suplexed him for a near fall. Bret DDTd Austin and gave him a backbreaker. Bret gave Austin a second rope elbow for a near fall and applied a sleeper but Austin escaped with a jawbreaker. Austin then gained a near fall on Bret. Bret took down Austin and applied a sharpshooter but Animal clotheslined him. Austin then applied a sharpshooter on Bret but Owen returned to the ring and hit Austin. Austin clotheslined Owen over the top rope to the floor and assaulted him right in front of the Harts in the front row. Austin then got into a skirmish with the Harts and attacked one of them. Bret intervened but Hawk then attacked Bruce Hart. Back in the ring Owen rolled u Austin and pinned him at 24:29 for a huge pop. The fighting continued after the bell until a ton of officials and security restored order. The Hart Foundation then celebrated and the entire Hart family at ringside entered the ring in a memorable scene. The work itself was pretty good, but what made the match was the fan heat. This was perhaps the most rabid crowd of fans for any WWF event at least of the past 10 years, if not longer. They popped for every little action in the match from start to finish and it appeared that the wrestlers fed off the fans as their intensity was strong as well. The booking also helped with the Austin and Owen injury storylines. Perhaps the only drawback was that the finish was too sudden, but by that point such a flaw didn�t matter. A great was to conclude the final and by far greatest two-hour In Your House event. ****1/4

Next Issue: Setting New Standards: The 2001 U.S. Independent Classics

BACK TO THE MOSS COVERED THREE HANDLED FAMILY CREDENZA MENU
HOME