ROCKY MIAVIA (C) VS. THE SULTAN

 Rocky Miavia recently debuted as a blue chipper and quickly won the IC title from Hunter Hearst Helmsley which didn’t go down well with fans. He’s making his Wrestlemania debut here, try telling these fans he’d be in the Wrestlemania main event 2 years later. The Sultan is more commonly known as Rikishi, one of the Anoi’ai Samoan wrestling family. Jim Ross, Jerry “The King” Lawler and Vince McMahon are on commentary for this match. The Honky Tonk Man makes his entrance as Captain Lou Albano and Arnold Skaaland are shown at ringside. HTM’s going to be on commentary too, which excited Lawler “you 2 are close like you’re cousins or something”

 

  The Sultan makes his way out first, accompanied by Iron Sheik and Bob Backlund. Rocky Miavia makes his way out, and Lawler calls him the luckiest man in the WWF. Jim Ross goes over Miavia’s credentials before the match starts.

 

ROCKY MIAVIA © VS. THE SULTAN

(WWF Intercontinental Championship)

WWF Wrestlemania 13 (23^rd March 1997)

  The Sultan starts a shoving match, but Rocky Miavia backs him into the ropes with right hands, an irish whip is reversed, Miavia hits the ropes and he’s knocked down with a shoulder tackle. Rocky Miavia kips up and gets in more right hands before he’s sent into the corner, he explodes out with a clothesline and knocks The Sultan out of the ring with a pair of dropkicks. The Sultan takes a break as Earl Hebner keeps the champion in the ring. Miavia is dragged out of the ring, he tries to fight back but clotheslines the ring post. Rocky’s arm is sent into the guard rail and they go back in the ring. The Sultan keeps the focus on Rocky’s shoulder. Rocky Miavia is sent off the ropes into a clothesline. Rocky Miavia is sent into the corner and again The Sultan runs through him with a clothesline. The Sultan covers and only gets a nearfall, so he puts Rocky Miavia in the nerve hold as Honky Tonk Man says he’d already be in the back, combing his hair.

  Rocky Miavia fights to his feet but is cut off with a knee to the midsection, The Sultan hits a backbreaker and climbs to the top rope, diving headbutt gives The Sultan enough confidence to pander to the crowd before covering, a strategy that only gets him 2. The Sultan sends Rocky Miavia off the ropes, he’s caught in a sunset flip but is able to stay on his feet. The Sultan drags Miavia to his feet and hits a belly to belly suplex, but he only gets 2. The Sultan puts Rocky in the chinlock as commentary say the stalling before covers is costing The Sultan this match and the title. Jerry Lawler seems to hate wrestling families as he treats Rocky Johnson the way he treated Stu and Helen Hart, with the chinlock still being worked for a good 45 seconds before Miavia fights to his feet and breaks it with right hands, he ducks a clothesline from The Sultan. They collide with a double clothesline and use the count, Rocky Miavia drags himself over The Sultan… 1, 2, no! 

  The Sultan gets to his feet and clubs at Rocky Miavia, but Miavia gets fired up, fighting back with a series of right hands “just like his dad” – JR. Rocky Miavia hits another dropkick and sends The Sultan off the ropes. The Sultan runs into a kick to the midsection and Rocky Miavia plants him with a belly to belly suplex, but can only get a nearfall. The Sultan rakes at Miavia’s eyes and sends him off the ropes, but Rocky Miavia hits a floatover DDT, he climbs to the top rope and hits a crossbody but The Iron Sheik is on the apron. Rocky Miavia goes to see what’s going on but The Sultan gets to his feet. Rocky cuts him off with right hands and a kick to the gut. Rocky Miavia lands an uppercut but The Sultan drops him with a kick and a piledriver but Rocky Miavia keeps kicking out. The Sultan asks the referee about the count giving Miavia a chance to roll him up for the win.

 

WINNER: ROCKY MIAVIA (STILL WWF Intercontinental Champion)

 

Based on this match, I agree with Lawler’s statement. Rocky Miavia took a beating for 90% of the match and took advantage when his opponent’s back was turned to retain the title. It was a decent match, but not Wrestlemania quality. At least Miavia got a decent moment at the end with his father. [**] 3.5/10

 

After the match the Iron Sheik and Bob Backlund get in the ring to complain, JR tries to get an interview with Miavia but The Sultan attacks Miavia from behind, knocking Jim Ross over. The Sultan puts Rocky Miavia in the ring and hits a splash from the top rope. Iron Sheik puts Miavia in the Camel Clutch bringing out Rocky Johnson! He comes to the aide of his son, and the heels back off. The Sultan grabs the flag that Sheik brought in the ring and attacks Rocky Johnson from behind. Rocky Miavia sends The sultan out to the floor and scoop slams The Iron Sheik, Rocky Johnson slams him too and father and son connect with stereo right hands. The heels walk to the back as father and son celebrate in the ring together.