OWEN HART VS. EDGE

  This is the first match on tonight's card. The opening video to the event focuses on Mr. McMahon's obsession with getting the WWF Championship off “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. His master plan is for Austin to face both members of The Brothers of Destruction in a triple threat match in tonight's main event. Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler officially welcome us from the commentary table. Also if any of Austin's friends interfere he will forefeit the championship. Edge makes his way through the crowd as JR mentions this is a match between two Canadians here in Hamilton, Ontario. Owen enters the match the normal way wearing a local CFL jersey and JR runs down his accolades, including 1987 Rookie of the Year. He pens Edge in as a candidate for 1998 Rookie of the Year. Also  in tonight's main event either Undertaker or Kane must pin Austin. 

OWEN HART VS. EDGE (CHAMPIONSHIP)

WWF Breakdown: In Your House (27^th September 1998)

  The bell rings as JR speculates a possible relationship between Edge and Gangrel, a similar character hanging around the WWF. Lawler confirms that Gangrel is here tonight as both men counter arm wrenches, Owen bridges Edge down with a top wristlock. Edge breaks the bridge, trying to send Owen over with an arm drag but fails, so he gets to his feet, using the top rope to flip out. He counters into one of his own dropping Owen to the mat but Owen kips straight back up as "Nugget" chants start. Owen brings Edge over with a suplex in the wristlock and drops his knee onto Edge. Edge kips up to his feet as Owen tries to go back to the arm, countering into a hammerlock. Owen Hart backs Edge into a corner, but doesn't break cleanly striking him with back elbows. Edge is sent across the ring but lands on his feet from a monkey flip out of the corner, dropping Owen with a dropkick. Edge takes Owen to the mat with a drop toe hold and grabs the left shoulder, but Owen fights to his feet and sends Edge off the ropes. Both men block a hip toss, Edge uses Owen's back to get on his shoulders and brings him down with a hurricanrana. Edge clotheslines Owen out of the ring.

  Owen Hart thinks he's avoided a dive but Edge thought twice, then hits Owen with a baseball slide using the momentum to leave the ring. Edge flies off the ring apron into a powerslam by Owen Hart. Not that we see it because a fan's sign was in the way. Owen Hart climbs up to the top rope as we see a replay of the powerslam from a better angle and Owen hits a missile dropkick, netting himself a nearfall. Owen hits a gutwrench suplex for a second before connecting with a backbreaker. The "nugget" chants start again. Owen drops Edge with a neckbreaker and covers for his third nearfall. That's not working so he sends Edge off the ropes, Edge ducks a clothesline and ducks under Owen but is caught with a belly to belly suplex for a close nearfall. Owen Hart applies a chinlock on the mat as JR talks about the first ever triple threat steel cage match tonight. Edge fights to his feet as JR also mentions Jeff Jarrett teaming with Southern Justice later on tonight. Edge has the hold broken but Owen rakes his eyes.

  Edge reverses an irish whip but meets Owen's boot. Owen uses the corner for a victory roll from Edge's shoulders. Edge counters at 2 but Owen kicks out also. Owen hits Edge with a spinning heel kick but still can't put him away. Edge tries to fight back but Owen has him in the corner. Edge catches himself on an irish whip, and springs back hitting Owen with a cross body from the middle rope. Owen kicks out at 2. Back on their feet Edge catches a kick to the gut but that sets him up for an enziguri! Owen Hart climbs up for a moonsault but takes too long, sneaking up behind him and bringing him out of the corner with an Electric Chair front slam! That paused Owen's momentum but Edge doesn't have the energy left to build some of his own. Owen is fist to his feet but Edge reverses an irish whip and catches Owen with a flapjack in the middle of the ring. Edge hits a running neckbreaker for a nearfall.

  He slams Owen back down to the mat before climbing to the middle rope. Owen's playing possum, getting to his feet to avoid the dive but Edge lands on his feet, outsmarting Owen but looking silly in the process. Owen Hart turns around into a DDT but Edge still can't get the win. Edge sends Owen across the ring, but Hart floats over, Edge lands on his feet from a back suplex attempt and grabs a waistlock. Owen elbows out but Edge counters to a Northern Lights suplex for a nearfall. Owen counters a suplex, getting a nearfall from a bridging german suplex and sends Edge into the turnbuckles. Owen charges but Edge is able to dodge, leaving Owen to land badly on the second rope. Owen is perched on top, but holds the top rope to block a superplex. He drops Edge face first to the mat. Edge lifts a boot but Owen stops himself going into it, attempting a sharpshooter! Edge kicks Owen off, catching him with an inside cradle for 2.9! Edge catches Owen in the jaw with a spinning heel kick but a fan (later found out to be Christian) jumped the railing. He distracts Edge so Owen Hart rolls him up for the win.

WINNER: OWEN HART

   This was a fantastic match from start to finish, Very crisp work at the beginning and they paced it nicely to get the fans into the show. I could talk about the sequences that I liked but it would be a rehash of the play-by-play to be honest. Owen really worked with Edge here and it's something I would liked to have seen develop into more of a feud. The match is notable for Christian's onscreen debut, and personally I find that the worst part of the match.– WORKRATE: 3.75/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT 3/5 OVERALL 6.75/10

  So I'm going to finish this at year 2000 due to the work load of these projects. The next post will be a preview of my Required Rewatch. Beginning with The Dudley Boyz vs. The Acolytes at Unforgiven 1999. (ORIGINAL REVIEW)