SKIP VS. BARRY HOROWITZ

 This is the pay-per-view debut of everyone involved in the match, except the referee. Barry Horowitz is a journeyman enhancement talent, but he got a shock victory over Skip on Wrestling Challenge back in June. He then went on to survive a 10-minute challenge with Skip on Superstars in July, leading into this match. On Action Zone 2 weeks previous Horowitz also got a victory over Hakushi. Skip makes his way out first, with Sunny leading the charge, she says third time will be the charm and Skip will get a win tonight over the out of shape loser Horowitz. Barry Horowitz sprints to the ring.

Vince McMahon and Jerry “The King” Lawler are on commentary for this match

SKIP VS. BARRY HORROWITTZ

WWE SummerSlam 1995 (27^th August 1995)

  Barry Horowitz starts the match with forearms to Skip and sends him across the ring into a backdrop. Horowitz hits a knee drop and knocks Skip down with a running knee lift.

  Barry Horowitz slides out of the ring and connects with a right hand. Skip begs off but is sent across the ring, Skip baseball slides to avoid the right hand but Horowitz catches the kick and takes him down with a dragon screw. Barry Horowitz clotheslines Skip over to the floor and panders to the crowd as Skip makes it back to the apron. Skip is brought back in the hard way, he begs off into the corner and kicks Horowitz in the midsection, cutting him off. I’m equally annoyed at WWF for doing this to Chris Candido, and at myself for making this the first match of his that I review as he connects with right hands in the corner. Barry Horowitz reverses an irish whip, he runs at Skip but there’s no one home, Horowitz is able to stop his momentum and climbs to the middle rope. He jumps over Skip who runs into the turnbuckles, Barry Horowitz gets the O’Conor roll for 2. He goes out to the apron, a forearm shot softens Skip up for a suplex to the floor. Sunny gets on the apron and throws her towel into the ring. Earl Hebner decides not to stop the match. Barry Horowitz brings it back to the ring but Skip reverses the irish whip.

  Sunny trips Horowitz, who also seems to accidentally run into Hebner on the way. Skip knocks Horowitz down and chokes him over the middle rope.Skip suplexes Horowitz and hits a legdrop from the top rope. Skip showboats and slaps Horowitz across the face, which is how he has a poor win/loss record against Horowitz recently. Skip slams Horowitz. Skip connects with a right hand and chokes Horowitz against the middle rope whilst pulling his hair. Skip hits a nice gutwrench suplex and scrapes Horowitz with a fist drop from the middle rope. Skip goes for a jog and chokes Horowitz with his boot whilst trash talking. Skip slams Horowitz but misses the elbow drop. Barry Horowitz grabs a headlock but is sent off the ropes, Skip goes down to a shoulder tackle and Horowitz covers for 2. Another shoulder block and sunset flip each get a 2 count, then Skip clotheslines Horowitz down. Skip puts Horowitz in an abdominal stretch on the mat, getting in some free shots on Horowitz. Barry Horowitz is sent off the ropes but he ducks the clothesline and gets a nearfall from a Lou Thesz press. Skip powerslams Horowitz and takes a break for some star jumps. Skip hits running leg drops and poses before covering for 2.

  Skip goes to the chinlock and takes Horowitz over to the corner. They exchange right hands, Horowitz knocks Skip back with a European uppercut. Skip with another right hand but the European uppercut staggers him back again. Horowitz headbutts Skip and gets a thumb to the eye. Skip sends Barry Horowitz off the ropes and leapfrogs, both men go for a dropkick at the same time leading to a double-down. Skip crawls to the corner and gets to his feet, Skip climbs to the top rope but he turned his back on Barry Horowitz who dropkicks Skip, crotching him on the corner. The crowd is behind everything Horowitz does in this match and the guy’s only won 3 times in his life, who doesn’t love an underdog? Skip fights off  a back superplex and hits a splash from the top rope. Skip covers but lifts Horowitz at the count of 2. Barry Horowitz reverses a piledriverand trips Skip. Horowitz hits Skip in the midsection and sends him off the ropes into a dropkick. Barry Horowitz climbs to the top rope but Sunny shakes the rope and he loses balance. Skip hits a superplex on Horowitz from the top rope as Hakushi is shown walking down to the ring.

  Sunny and Skip aren’t happy and Skip challenges Hakushi to get in the ring. Hakushi climbs on the apron and springboards in, jumping over Skip and Horowitz to roll through the other side. Barry Horowitz catches Skip in a small package for the win.

WINNER: BARRY HOROWITZ

This was a decent match, Skip should have had it won from the start, easy payday and early shower, but his taunting cost him momentum through the match, they worked well together but the false finish with the towel seemed unnecessary. The finish was a nice spin on the “distraction costs wrestler a match” trope so I can give credit for that. It was never going to lead to a push for Horowitz but it gave the fans a moment to cheer for and something to talk about the next day. [**] 4.25/10