The opening video package to the event puts over British Bulldog growing up David Smith in Manchester with a dream, and with that dream, he became the British Bulldog. He came back to his home country at Summerslam 1992 to beat Bret Hart for the Intercontinental Championship in an awesome match. Then in Berlin Germany, he became the first ever WWF European Champion beating Owen Hart in another fantastic Raw match. Voiced over by Jim Ross. Dustin Shaffer is the ring announcer for this unique event, however, it's the usual 3-man booth of Jerry “The King” Lawler, Vince McMahon and JR on commentary. This match is available on the Shawn Michaels: My Journey DVD set. Like Bulldog's last Homecoming this match has bumped the WWF Championship match between Bret Hart and Undertaker to the penultimate match on the card.
Before the match we get a backstage interview with Shawn Michaels, he says it's time for the main event, and tonight he becomes the first Grand Slam Champion in WWF history. His music plays and the camera follows him out of the curtain. Some of the crowd go crazy, Shawn's popular everywhere he goes. Even in situations like this, although there are various anti-Michaels signs in the crowd too. British Bulldog brings his sister down to ringside to sit with his wife Diana. Michaels takes exception to the champion taking so long with his entrance, and some of the fans won't let Michaels go so he can get back in the ring. They're really milking this for time as a loud "Bulldog" chant starts. The bell rings and Michaels just walks up the ramp. Halfway up he changes his mind and rushes the ring to begin the match.
BRITISH BULLDOG © VS. SHAWN MICHAELS
(WWF EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
WWF One Night Only (20th September 1997)
Michaels shoves Bulldog, but Bulldog shoves him back, Michaels does a backflip back into the corner. He complains about a hair pull but Earl Hebner knows it's bullshit. Another chant for Bulldog starts up and they eventually lock up. Bulldog sends Michaels across the ring again, HBK rushes into a third collar-elbow tie up and ends up on his arse again, kicking the bottom rope in frustration when he gets to his feet. The fans are getting inside Shawn's head with Bulldog chants as Lawler says bulldog has a 2 stone weight advantage (about 30lbs in British measurements.) and also that the chants don't affect Bulldog's power. They lock up and Bulldog sends Michaels back into the corner, Michaels climbs up the ropes to avoid being squashed in the corner so Bulldog launches him across the ring! Bulldog sends Michaels into one corner, before forcing him across the ring. Michaels stumbles back into a pair of American Football tackles before Bulldog sends him out of the ring with a clothesline. Michaels' head collides with the guardrail.
WINNER: SHAWN MICHAELS (NEW EUROPEAN CHAMPION)
Shawn Michaels decides he's had enough and walks off, but goes back to the ring before he gets counted out. JR calls that a smart move, slowing the match down for a while. He gets on the apron and thumbs Bulldog in the eye. Michaels hits a pair of right hands, but Bulldog stops himself going into the top turnbuckle, Michaels is sent into it instead, and again the other side. Bulldog brings Michaels in with a sloppy inverted suplex, throwing him to the mat. He sends Michaels across the ring with an irish whip and lifts him overhead, Earl Hebner has to stop Bulldog throwing Michaels out of the ring, but Bulldog keeps Michaels perfectly in place overhead before dropping him. Michaels is sent across the ring again as Lawler puts over Bulldog's strength holding Michaels up there for that amount of time. Michaels runs into an abdominal stretch in the middle of the ring. Michaels eventually breaks it with a right hand and takes Bulldog over with a hip toss, and you'd think he took a giant dump on the Union Jack.
Michaels stomps Bulldog on the ground, as we see Diana and Bulldog's sister, who he's dedicated this match to. Michaels takes a breather and it costs him, getting sent over the top rope to the floor by Bulldog. Michaels gets back on the apron before Bulldog helps him in the ring over the top rope. Michaels gets sent over with arm drags, and Bulldog holds an armbar on the mat, now showing his wrestling skill over power. He drops his knees onto Michaels' left arm, pulling on his shoulder on the mat. We see a replay of Michaels going up and over again, landing on his head. Michaels fights to his feet, and he's fighting Bulldog chants too. Bulldog lifts Michaels up and slams him to the mat again. Bulldog is quick to drop to the mat and isolate the arm from the rest of Michaels' body. Michaels fights to his knees, so Bulldog twists at his arm, getting a different vantage point. Michaels gets to his feet, trying to force himself and Bulldog separate, and a pair of forearm shots breaks Bulldog's clasp.
Vince McMahon says that it was legal as Michaels hits a right hand, “that, not so much” Michaels grabs a side headlock but Bulldog's quick to send him off the ropes. Michaels runs into a shoulder block sending him back into the ropes, he tries again but gets the same result. Michaels comes off his third set of ropes now and Bulldog leapfrogs him. Michaels telegraphs the second leapfrog and pokes Bulldog in the eye. Michaels leaps up for a hurricanrana but is caught in a sitout powerbomb for a nearfall. Bulldog goes back to the armbar on the mat as we see a replay of the powerbomb. Michaels makes it to his feet and counters it but Bulldog is able to send him off the ropes. Michaels tries to roll Bulldog over for a crucifix but Bulldog drops him to the mat. British Bulldog bends Michaels back in a surfboard, but Earl Hebner counts his shoulders down for a nearfall! Bulldog gets in Hebner's face over the decision but Ross says it's the rules of the match. Michaels takes advantage of the time he's given knocking Bulldog down with right hands. He drops a knee onto Bulldog and stomps him on the mat. Michaels sends Bulldog across the ring but ducks too early, allowing Bulldog to hit a delayed suplex for a nearfall.
The fans don't like that decision, not that it's the referee's fault... They hate it, even more, when Rick Rude appears! Bulldog rolls Michaels up in the ring as Rude gets to ringside and he climbs on the apron, shoving Bulldog so Michaels has him rolled up but Bulldog kicks out. Bulldog sends Michaels down with a pair of clotheslines, Rude low bridges Bulldog on the third, and draws his attention allowing Michaels to knock him out of the ring. Michaels holds Hebner's attention whilst Rude sends Bulldog into the ring post in front of his family. Michaels hits an axe handle from the top rope to the floor and gets back in the ring. Rick Rude drives Bulldog into the ring apron before letting him try to get back in the ring. Michaels snaps Bulldog's head off the top rope. Michaels brings Bulldog back in the ring and sends him off the ropes. Hitting him with a back elbow. Bulldog runs into a sleeper hold, and Michaels has him on his knees. and Michaels has him on his knees. Bulldog drops to the mat and Michaels gets a nearfall in the sleeper. Michaels grapevines the arm for a second nearfall so Bulldog rolls to his side. The referee checks Bulldog's arm, but the crowd wills him to his feet and he drops Michaels with a back suplex!
I'm not sure what was louder there, Michaels hitting the mat or the crowd reaction. Jim Ross goes over Bulldog's tag team with the Dynamite Kid as Bulldog covers for 2 ½ Michaels drops his leg over Bulldog's throat and sends him into the turnbuckles. Michaels locks in a short-arm scissors in the middle of the ring, but Bulldog doesn't give up. We see his family looking on and he's able to roll himself over and lift Michaels overhead. He drops him with a back suplex to release the hold! Bulldog is slow to capitalise, and Michaels is able to send him off the ropes from a side headlock, they collide in the middle of the ring and the referee starts counting both guys down. Hunter Hearst-Helmsley and Chyna make their way out now, giving us something to watch as Michaels and Bulldog get to their feet. Bulldog blocks all of Michaels' shots and knocks him loopy with right hands. Michaels is sent upside down in the corner and comes back the way he left. Bulldog catapults him into the turnbuckle for a nearfall.
British Bulldog sends Michaels into the corner again, this time charging after him and sending his own shoulder into the ring post. Michaels hits a scoop slam on Bulldog and hits two consecutive elbow drops. Michaels sets up for the Sweet Chin Music but decides against it, sending Bulldog into the corner. Bulldog avoids the Sweet Chin Music from the corner, lifting Michaels for the Powerslam but Rude has hold of Bulldog's ankle! Michaels slips away from Bulldog but gets hit with a right hand. British Bulldog clotheslines Michaels over the top rope. Helmsley tries to help out but gets knocked down for his troubles. Bulldog has Michaels up for a Powerslam again but his foot slips from the platform. Michaels hits Bulldog with the Sweet Chin Music, and his foot is still trapped. Helmsley and Rude ram the barricade into Bulldog's knee before letting him free. Helmsley hits the worst Pedigree I've ever seen. (Any shit Pedigree I shall now call a “Mutt” instead.) Rude and Chyna send Bulldog back in the ring, where Michaels takes off his knee brace before applying a Figure Four leg lock. Bulldog's busted open in the mouth as Helmsley and Chyna give Michaels the assist from ringside. Bulldog tries to roll over, or crawl to the ropes to break the hold but Rude gets in a cheap shot. Michaels and Helmsley keep giving Michaels extra leverage and finally the referee has to call the match off for British Bulldog.
WINNER: SHAWN MICHAELS (NEW EUROPEAN CHAMPION)
As a match, I really wanted to like it, but I couldn't. They gave Bulldog every excuse in the world to lose this match with DeGeneration-X being involved, and Bulldog really looked strong but the whole match bugged me. There was nothing technically wrong with it, but I just can't give it anything for personal enjoyment or rate it too highly. – WORKRATE: 4/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT -3/5 OVERALL 1/10
No comments:
Post a Comment