WWF WrestleMania X Results
March 20, 1994
New York City, New York (Madison Square Garden)
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
A video kicks off the show that showcases highlights of the first WrestleMania in 1985. We’re back to where it all started – Madison Square Garden. It’s WrestleMania X!
We go live into Madison Square Garden. Vince McMahon is in the ring in his tuxedo with red bowtie. McMahon growls, “Welcome everyone to New York City! Welcome to Madison Square Garden! And welcome to WrestleMania X!” The crowd cheers loudly.
McMahon introduces the original Wildman of Rock and Roll: Little Richard. Little Richard gets in the ring, and the crowd gives him a nice hand. He’ll be singing “America the Beautiful.” There’s a choir around the ring. The crowd gives him a nice hand.
Mike’s Thoughts: Little Richard completely lip synced that whole thing and was completely out of sync with his track. Almost no effort put into this appearance. You can tell he was just there for a paycheck. I love Little Richard, but there’s a reason why he was playing into his 80s.
Vince McMahon is ringside with Jerry “The King” Lawler. Lawler wonders if that was Little Richard’s voice or his underwear was too tight. They talk about the matches we’ll see tonight.
Video Package: Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart
“The Rocket” Owen Hart vs. Bret “Hitman” Hart
The crowd is really buzzing for this match. Owen is pacing in the ring as the referee talks to Bret. The bell rings, and they circle the ring before locking up. Owen shoves him off and taunts the crowd. They lock up again, and Owen takes Bret down with a fireman’s carry. Bret quickly grapevines the head, so Owen kips up out of it and celebrates. Bret takes Owen down, but Owen gets to the ropes. The referee backs Bret up. Owen takes Bret down with a waistlock, but Bret runs toward the ropes to run Owen out of the ring. Owen gets to his feet and angrily gets in the ring. Bret shoves Owen, so Owen slaps him in the face. Owen puts himself through the ropes to keep Bret back. They lock up, and Owen goes to a hammerlock. Bret reverses the hammerlock, so Owen hits a drop-toe-hold and a side headlock. Bret gets out, drops a knee on the arm, and wrenches the arm. Bret takes Owen down, but Owen kips up, does a flip, and yanks Bret down by the hair. Bret kips up and wrenches Owen’s arm. Owen reverses a whip to the corner, but Bret slingshots over him and rolls him up for a two count. Bret hits a quick arm drag and keeps the arm bar on. Owen fights up, so Bret applies a hammerlock. Owen elbows him in the face and hits a shoulder block. Owen hits the ropes, but Bret leapfrogs him and hits a monkey flip. Bret then clotheslines Owen out of the ring to a big reception.
Owen acts like he’s going to leave, so Bret throws him back in the ring and asks what he’s doing. They get into a shoving match before Bret slaps him and rolls him up for a two count. Bret applies an overhead wristlock, but Owen fights up and whips him off. Bret takes him down with a crucifix pin for a near fall. Bret quickly goes to an arm bar. Owen whips him off, drops down, leapfrogs him, and takes Bret down with a spinning heel kick. Owen then stomps Bret out of the ring. Owen goes outside, scoops Bret up, and slams him into the ring post. Owen then talks some trash.
Owen gets Bret in the ring and head-butts him. Owen whips him hard into the corner, and Bret collapses to the mat. Owen hits a backbreaker before applying a camel clutch. Bret fights up and elbows out before hitting the ropes. Owen drops down and catches him with a belly-to-belly suplex for a near fall. Owen head-butts him before having a whip reversed on him. Owen comes back with a springboard cross-body block, but Bret rolls through and picks up a two count. Owen angrily knees Bret in the back before applying a reverse chin lock. Bret fights up and wiggles out of a scoop slam for a two count. Bret then gets out of the ring to recover. Owen happily taunts the crowd. Bret gets on the apron, so Owen goes for a suplex. Bret gets out, but Owen quickly catches him with a German Suplex bridge for a near fall. Owen drops a leg on the back of the neck for a two count. Owen head-butts Bret before going for a suplex. Bret blocks it and catches him with an inside cradle for a two count. Owen uppercuts Bret before having a whip reversed. Owen flips through a backbreaker attempt and hits Bret with a kneeling piledriver. Owen goes to the top rope for a diving head-butt, but Bret moves!
Both men are down. Owen gets up first, but Bret soon hits an inverted atomic drop. Bret clotheslines him down and picks up a two count. Bret sends him into the ropes for a punch to the midsection and a side leg sweep for a near fall. Bret connects with a backbreaker before going to the second rope for a diving elbow drop to pick up a near fall. Bret argues with Earl Hebner over the count. Owen begs him off before hitting an enzuigiri. Owen then tries for a Sharpshooter, but Bret punches him in the face. Bret goes for a Sharpshooter, but Owen rolls through. Owen quickly rolls him up for a two count. The kickout sends Owen out of the ring. Bret quickly catches Owen with a plancha, and he clutches at his knee. Owen gets in the ring and staggers around. Bret slowly rolls into the ring. Owen kicks away at Bret’s injured knee and stretches it. Owen drags him to the ring post and rams the leg into the post a few times. Bret hobbles around the ring, so Owen drops him with a dragon screw. Owen then applies a deathlock. Bret is in a lot of pain, so Owen drops a knee on the injured leg. Bret continues to hobble, so Owen hits another dragon screw and applies a Figure Four Leglock. Bret is in so much pain he is nearly pinned twice. Bret rolls Owen over to reverse the pressure. Owen rolls him into the ropes to break it.
Owen puts Bret’s leg on the middle rope and kicks the knee. Bret then drops Owen with an enzuigiri. Bret punches and head-butts Owen down. Bret then viciously whips his brother sternum-first into the corner. Bret drops a leg for a near fall. Bret follows up with a bulldog and covers for a near fall. Bret connects with a piledriver, but he clutches his knee before covering for a two count. Bret puts Owen on the top rope and connect with a superplex. Bret takes a moment to recover before covering for a near fall. Bret forearms Owen in the face before applying a sleeper hold. Owen gets to the ropes and low blows his brother while the referee was distracted. Owen then applies the Sharpshooter! Bret screams in pain, but he powers Owen down. Bret applies the Sharpshooter, but Owen immediately gets to the bottom rope. Owen reverses a whip to the corner, but Bret boots him. Bret goes for a victory roll, but Owen sits on the shoulders and gets the win!
Winner by Pinfall: “The Rocket” Owen Hart
Bret Hart looks absolutely disgusted with the loss. Owen Hart cannot believe it.
Todd Pettengill is backstage with Owen Hart. Owen says he feels great. Owen says he is the best there is, the best there was, and he will be the best there ever will be. Now maybe he’ll start getting the recognition he deserves. Pettengill asks Owen what he thinks about Bret’s chances in a title match later tonight. Owen says Bret is a great competitor, but after the beating he just gave him he doesn’t have a chance.
Mike’s Thoughts: Wow – what an excellent match. It never gets old no matter how many times I see it. This match would fit in perfectly well with anything of the modern age. About as close to perfect as you can get. It’s most certainly the best opening match in WrestleMania history, though Daniel Bryan vs. Triple H at WrestleMania XXX did give this a run for its money. The only thing that bugs me is I cannot believe no one told Owen after the match to wipe that white glob off his mouth. It was there as soon as he pinned Bret and then he goes backstage and Todd Pettengill didn’t say, “Hey… you’ve got a little something…” This is the biggest moment of the guy’s career and of course that happened. Anyway, this should be required viewing for anyone compiling a “Best of WrestleMania” list.
WrestleMania Moment: WrestleMania II highlights
Sy Sperling from the Hair Club for Men is in the ring. Howard Finkel has a new toupee on.
Bam Bam Bigelow and Luna Vachon vs. Doink the Clown and Dink the Clown
Bigelow attacks Doink as he gets in the ring and sends him into the ropes for a shoulder lock. Bigelow shoulder blocks him again. Doink ducks a clothesline, but Bigelow dropkicks him down. Bigelow hits a big scoop slam and goes for a senton splash, but Doink moves. Doink sends Bigelow hard into the corner and wrenches the arm. Doink takes Bigelow down and applies an arm bar. Bigelow fights up and elbows Doink down.
Doink avoids an elbow drop and tags Dink in. Luna also must come in. Dink avoids Luna and she faceplants. Dink slaps her on the backside, but she soon catches him and chokes him on the ropes before posing. Vachon splashes him against the ropes and chokes him. Dink avoids a second splash and covers for a two count. Dink runs around Vachon a number of times before she kicks him. Dink avoids an elbow drop and shoulder her down. Dink goes to the top rope and jumps, but Vachon moves. She rakes Dink’s back and takes him down. Vachon hits a scoop slam and goes to the top rope. Vachon goes for a splash, but Dink moves.
Doink and Bigelow come in. Doink hits a drop-toe-hold and punches him. Doink hits the ropes, but Bigelow clotheslines him over the top rope. Dink is in the ring and avoids a splash from Bigelow. Vachon tries to dive on him, but Dink moves. Doink gets in the ring and goes for a sunset flip. Bigelow counters by sitting on his chest. Bigelow sends him to the corner, but Doink boots him back and hits a big DDT. Doink goes to the top rope for a diving seated senton, but Bigelow moves. Bigelow hits a pair of clotheslines before knocking Dink off the apron. Bigelow counters a back suplex from Doink into a splash for a near fall. Bigelow drops a head-butt and goes to the top rope. Bigelow hits a diving head-butt to end the match.
Winners by Pinfall: Bam Bam Bigelow and Luna Vachon
Dink confronts Bigelow after the match. Vachon scoop slams Dink. They each go for a splash and are supposed to miss, but Vachon lands on Dink. Bigelow and Vachon then just leave the ring.
Mike’s Thoughts: This was absolutely awful. By this point the clown gimmick was on life support, if it had any legs to begin with. Nothing worked about this. To go from Owen vs. Bret to this… the sublime to the ridiculous.
“Hail to the Chief” plays, and a President Bill Clinton impersonator is shown in the crowd. WWF President Jack Tunney is next to him. It is never admitted that this is an impersonator.
WrestleMania Moment: WrestleMania III highlights
Falls Count Anywhere Match
“Macho Man” Randy Savage vs. Crush w/ Mr. Fuji
Savage attacks Crush while he makes his entrance. Crush quickly hits an inverted atomic drop before hitting a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Crush presses Savage over his head and slams him on the barricade. Crush covers and gets a three count. Crush gets in the ring, so Savage has 60 seconds to get back in the ring or the match is over. Savage gets to his feet and staggers toward the ring. Mr. Fuji hits Savage in the back with the Japanese flag. We’re down to the final 10 seconds. Savage gets in with 2 seconds to spare.
Crush attacks Savage and drops a forearm on him. Crush head-butts Savage down and puts him in the tree of woe before kicking and punching him. Mr. Fuji hands Crush some salt while the referee is helping Savage. Savage gets out of the corner and knocks the salt into Crush’s eyes. Savage jabs away at Crush before hitting a running elbow. Savage goes to the top rope and hits a diving double axe handle. Savage scoop slams him and goes back to the top rope. Savage hits a Diving Elbow Drop, but he gets Crush to his feet rather than pinning him. Savage then kicks Crush out of the ring. Savage covers him outside the ring and gets the pin. Crush has 60 seconds to get back in the ring. Mr. Fuji goes over to Crush and tries to slap some life into him. Fuji pours water on Crush’s face, and Crush gets in the ring with 2 seconds to spare.
Savage attacks Crush and kicks him in the ribs. Savage chokes Crush on the top rope and charges, but Crush gives him a big back body drop over the top rope. Crush attacks Savage outside the ring and head-butts him. Savage blocks a shot into the ring post and slams Crush’s head into it instead. Savage bounces Crush off the steel steps before clotheslining him into the crowd. Savage punches him but Crush quickly comes back with a superkick. Crush goes for a piledriver on the concrete, but Savage hits a back body drop on the floor. Savage sends Crush into a wall before throwing him through the doors to the backstage area. For whatever reason, there is some scaffolding with a rope attached to it. Savage covers Crush for a three count. Savage ties the rope around Crush’s ankle and hoists him up. Savage ties him upside down, but the knot immediately comes out. Savage gets in the ring, and Crush is counted out. Savage punches Mr. Fuji out of the ring for good measure.
Winner by Pinfall: “Macho Man” Randy Savage
Mike’s Thoughts: This was hideous. The rules of this very weird, not close to a Falls Count Anywhere match absolutely handicapped and killed them. This was probably the worst Randy Savage match I’ve ever seen. Everything about this was embarrassing from the rules to the stupid scaffold to the inability to tie a knot… Stunningly, this was Savage’s last WWF match. He would continue to commentate, but he would never have another televised match. What a sad way to go out.
Todd Pettengill is trying to get an interview with the Bill Clinton impersonator they’re trying to pass off as the actual President of the United States. “Clinton” says he’s a big fan of wrestling and there’s nothing like the World Wrestling Federation. Pettengill asks if “Clinton” is aware of Irwin R. Schyster. “Clinton” believes he can work it out with IRS. IRS comes up and commends the president on raising taxes.
Video Package: WWF Fanfest highlights
“Macho Man” Randy Savage appears in the Paramount Theater in Madison Square Garden and goes into the crowd.
WrestleMania Moment: Randy Savage wins the WWF Championship at WrestleMania IV
WWF Women’s Championship
Leilani Kai vs. Alundra Blayze (c)
The bell rings, and the referee holds up the WWF Women’s Championship. A graphic shows Blayze’s name before showing Owen Hart’s name. They lock up, and Kai sends Blayze into the ropes for an avalanche. Kai sends her to the corner, but Blayze rolls her up for a two count. Blayze rolls her up for another two count. Kai lifts her with two hands and slams her. Kai pushes her down before hitting a scoop slam for a two count. Kai sends her into the ropes, but Blayze comes back with a hurricanrana for a near fall. Kai hits some snapmares before throwing her over the top rope. Kai gets her back in the ring and throws her by the hair. Kai hits a suplex for a near fall. Kai sends her into the ropes, but Blayze ducks a clotheslines and clotheslines her down. Blayze sends her into the ropes for a spin kick. Blayze follows up with a suplex for a near fall. Blayze hits a pair of snapmares for another two count. Kai reverses a whip, but Blayze takes her out with a German Suplex for the win.
Winner by Pinfall and still WWF Women’s Champion: Alundra Blayze
The Fabulous Moolah and Nikolai Volkoff are sitting at ringside watching this. Mae Young is also there, but she is not acknowledged.
Mike’s Thoughts: They had absolutely no time, so it was just move after move with nothing really meaning anything. Just there for me.
WrestleMania Moment: “Rowdy” Roddy Piper deals with Brother Love and Morton Downey Jr. at WrestleMania V
Todd Pettengill is backstage with Rhonda Shear from USA Network’s “USA Up All Night” show. Shawn Michaels walks up, and Shear is excited to see him. Burt Reynolds all of a sudden shows up, and Shear is even more excited. Michaels is relegated to the back and is not happy.
WWF Tag Team Championship
Men on a Mission (Mabel and Mo) w/ Oscar vs. The Quebecers (Jacques and Pierre, c’s) w/ Johnny Polo
The Quebecers attack Men on a Mission at the sound of the bell. Mo is sent out of the ring. The Quebecers send Mabel into the ropes, but he double clotheslines them. Mo and Pierre are in the ring. Pierre ducks a clothesline, but Mo comes back with a running cross-body block for a two count. Mabel tags in. Mo hits Pierre with a drop-toe-hold, and Mabel drops a leg on him. Mabel dances around the ring and tags Mo back in. They drop a double-team elbow before the referee admonishes Mabel. Jacques tags in and kicks away at Mo. Pierre chokes Mo with the tag rope while the referee deals with Mabel again. Jacques scoop slams Mo. Pierre tags in, and Jacques gives him a back body drop onto Mo for a two count. Pierre throws Mo out of the ring and tags Jacques back in. Jacques then gives Pierre a back body drop over the top rope onto Mo! Pierre gets Mo in the ring and covers for a two count. Jacques tags in, and the Quebecers give Mo a double-team hot shot on the top rope. Jacques picks up a two count. Pierre tags in, and Mo ducks a clothesline before hitting a rolling heel kick. Jacques stops Mo from making a tag and slaps Mabel in the face. Pierre tags in and goes for a diving leg drop, but Mo moves.
Mabel tags in, as does Jacques. Mabel clotheslines Jacques and Pierre. Mabel sends Pierre into the ropes for a back body drop. Jacques is sent into the ropes, and Mabel hits a falling slam. Mabel sends Pierre to the corner and charges, but Pierre moves. The Quebecers go for a double-team suplex, but they can’t lift Mabel. They kick and punch him before hitting a double-team suplex to a big reaction! Pierre goes to the top rope, and Jacques flips him onto Mabel… but Mabel kicks out. Johnny Polo cannot believe it. Jacques punches Mabel, but Mabel fights back. Jacques jumps on Mabel’s back. Pierre accidentally hits Jacques, and Mabel hits a spinning wheel kick on Jacques! Men on a Mission hit a double-team splash on Jacques. Johnny Polo and Oscar get into it at ringside. Mabel knocks Pierre out of the ring and hits a splash at ringside. Johnny Polo drags Jacques out of the ring.
Winners by Count-Out: Men on a Mission
The Quebecers remain the WWF Tag Team Championship
Men on a Mission take the WWF Tag Team Championship belts and hold them up despite not winning them.
Mike’s Thoughts: Not a good match, but with Men on a Mission in it this never had a chance anyway. The Quebecers really worked hard in this, taking big bumps and doing their unique brand of double-team moves. I appreciate what they were doing. Probably the thing that stuns me the most from this match are that Pierre eventually becomes today’s PCO (and took some crazy bumps in this very arena 25 years late at the Supercard) and Scotty Flamingo became Raven. What turnarounds for those two.
WrestleMania Moment: The Ultimate Warrior defeats Hulk Hogan for the WWF Championship at WrestleMania VI
Rhonda Shear will be the guest timekeeper for the next match. The ring announcer will be Donnie Wahlberg of NKOTB. Mr. Perfect will be the guest referee for this match. Perfect comes out in an outfit that is completely black and white vertical stripes.
WWF Championship
Yokozuna (c) w/ Mr. Fuji and Jim Cornette vs. Lex Luger
Special Guest Referee: Mr. Perfect
“USA” chants fire up as Rhonda Shear rings the bell. They pace around the ring a bit before going face-to-face. Yokozuna pokes the chest, so Luger slaps the hand away and punches him. Yokozuna reverses a whip, but Luger ducks a clothesline and staggers him with a clothesline. Yokozuna then takes him down with a clothesline. Yokozuna goes for an elbow drop, but Luger avoids it. Yokozuna gets to his feet, but Luger punches him and sends him out of the ring. Luger attacks Yokozuna at ringside. Yokozuna fights back, but Luger quickly bounces him off the ring steps twice. Luger gets him in the ring and hits a diving cross-body block for a near fall. Luger drops an elbow for another near fall.
Luger punches Yokozuna, but Yokozuna uppercuts him and chokes him on the middle rope. Yokozuna sends him into the ropes, but Luger ducks a clothesline and goes for a scoop slam. Luger collapses under the weight of Yokozuna. Yokozuna picks up a two count. Yokozuna punches away at Luger and bounces him off the top turnbuckle. Yokozuna begins to take the top turnbuckle pad off. Cornette was distracting Mr. Perfect. Luger fights back at Yokozuna, but Yokozuna punches back at him. Yokozuna chops him down and applies the dreaded nerve hold. A “USA” chant picks up. Yokozuna holds the nerve hold on forever, really cinching it in. Luger begins to fight up, and another “USA” chant picks up. Luger elbows out, hits the ropes, and ducks two clotheslines, but Yokozuna soon avalanches him down. Yokozuna kicks Luger and bumps into Mr. Perfect. Yokozuna clubs away at Luger and reapplies the nerve hold. Yokozuna holds it on for a while before chopping Luger and throwing him out of the ring. Mr. Fuji stomps Luger for good measure. Yokozuna attacks Luger as he gets into the ring and chops him down. Yokozuna then goes back to the nerve hold. Luger eventually fights up and punches away at him, but Yokozuna quickly punches him down and goes to his fourth nerve hold of the match. Luger fades, so Mr. Perfect checks the arm. Luger gets pumped up, but the crowd isn’t cheering. Luger elbows out and ducks a pair of clotheslines, but Yokozuna wipes him out with a belly-to-belly side suplex. Yokozuna goes to bounce Luger off the exposed turnbuckle. Luger blocks it and bounces Yokozuna off the exposed turnbuckle. Yokozuna goes down.
Luger boots and clotheslines Yokozuna, but he’s just staggering in the ring. Luger then floors him with a big clothesline. Luger connects with a big scoop slam before hitting him with his bionic forearm. Luger brings Cornette into the ring the hard way and punches him. Mr. Fuji comes in, so Luger punches him. Luger covers Yokozuna, but Mr. Perfect is checking on Cornette. Luger grabs Perfect and tells him to count the pin. Perfect instead checks on Mr. Fuji. Luger turns Perfect and shoves him before going back to cover Yokozuna. Perfect disqualifies Luger and walks off. Luger cannot believe it.
Winner by Disqualification and still WWF Champion: Yokozuna
Todd Pettengill catches Mr. Perfect backstage. Perfect says he called the match down the middle. When you put your hands on an official, you’re automatically disqualified. Lex Luger angrily comes backstage and gets into an argument with Mr. Perfect. Officials keep them separated.
Mike’s Thoughts: That was one of the most awful WWF Championship matches you will ever see. Yokozuna is not the same wrestler we saw at WrestleMania IX. By this point his weight has ballooned even higher, as if that was possible, and he was relegated to just applying nerve holds for the entire match. Mind numbingly boring stuff. The screwjob finish effectively ended Lex Luger’s chances of ever being considered a main eventer in WWF.
WrestleMania Moment: Jake “The Snake” Roberts beats “The Model” Rick Martel in a Blindfold Match
Howard Finkel announces Harvey Wippleman into the ring. Wippleman rips the microphone out of Finkel’s hand and calls him ugly. Wippleman calls Finkel a New York Yankee piece of garbage. Finkel may have hair on his head, but he still has big ears, a monkey face, a banana nose, and dresses like a goof. Wippleman says Finkel’s tuxedo is ugly and rips his front pocket. Finkel shoves Wippleman down. Adam Bomb storms the ring and grabs Finkel. Earthquake runs out to make the save.
Adam Bomb w/ Harvey Wippleman vs. Earthquake
Earthquake hits a belly-to-belly side suplex. Earthquake picks him up, walks around the ring with him, and hits a powerslam. Earthquake then hits the Earthquake Splash for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Earthquake
Mike’s Thoughts: The match lasted barely a minute, but somehow managed to be better than Yokozuna vs. Lex Luger.
Todd Pettengill is backstage and talking about how great the match was with Lex Luger and Yokozuna. Jim Cornette walks in and says Yokozuna still has the belt. Luger thought he had everything in hand, but he didn’t. Cornette thought Mr. Perfect did a great job officiating. Remember, the official was agreed upon by both parties beforehand. As for Bret Hart, he was beaten by his brother earlier tonight and will not leave with the WWF Championship. Hart’s career may be over. BANZAI!
WrestleMania Moment: The Undertaker appears at WrestleMania VIII
WWF Intercontinental Championship – Ladder Match
Shawn Michaels w/ Diesel vs. Razor Ramon
The bell rings, and Michaels talks with Diesel. They stand across the ring from each other before locking up. Michaels applies a hammerlock, but Ramon reverses it. Michaels takes him down and hits the ropes. Michaels gets out of a hip toss, but Ramon blocks one. Michaels pokes the eye and does a backflip, but Ramon chokeslams him. Ramon punches him and sends him into the ropes, but Michaels ducks a clothesline and hits a neckbreaker. Michaels stomps him before going to bounce him off the top turnbuckle. Ramon blocks it and bounces Michaels instead. Ramon clotheslines him down before hitting the ropes, but Michaels sends him to the floor. Diesel follows Ramon at ringside and clotheslines him down. Diesel stands over Ramon, so the referee admonishes him. Earl Hebner then ejects Diesel from ringside, and he is absolutely livid.
Michaels leans over the top rope to grab Ramon by the hair, but Ramon punches him back. Ramon gets in the ring and punches Michaels before whipping him to the opposite corner and turning him inside out. Ramon then clotheslines Michaels over the top rope. Ramon punches Michaels before pulling back the mats at ringside to reveal the concrete floor. Michaels pokes him in the eyes and sends him into the ring. Michaels punches him in the ring, but he has a whip reversed. Ramon punches him and sets up for a Razor’s Edge. Michaels gives him a back body drop over the top rope onto the concrete!
Michaels goes to the ladder in the entranceway and starts to drag it into the ring. Ramon blindsides him with a right hand and puts him in the ring. Ramon puts it in the ring, but Michaels dropkicks the ladder hard into his ribs! Michaels goes outside and bounces Ramon off the ring steps. Michaels puts the ladder in the ring and rams the top of it into Ramon’s midsection. Ramon collapses in pain. Michaels picks the ladder up and rams the top of it into Ramon’s midsection again. Ramon didn’t even get his hands up to block it! Michaels lifts the ladder over his head and slams it off the back. Ramon is leaning against the ropes trying to catch his breath. Michaels throws the ladder at him and the edge catches Ramon in the back! Michaels sets the ladder up in the middle of the ring. The two WWF Intercontinental Championship belts hang above the ring. Michaels climbs the ladder, but Ramon grabs him. Ramon pulls Michaels’ tights down, revealing his backside much to the delight of the women in the audience. Michaels kicks Ramon down and hits a flying elbow drop off the ladder with his rear end still exposed. Michaels finally pulls his pants up.
Michaels sets the ladder up in the corner and hits Ramon with a scoop slam. Michaels goes to the top rope behind the ladder and climbs to the top of the ladder. Michaels then crushes Ramon with a splash off the top of the ladder! Michaels sets the ladder up in the middle of the ring and climbs, but Ramon at the last moment knocks it over. Michaels hits the top rope throat first and collapses to the mat. Ramon hooks a side headlock, but Michaels whips him off. They clunk heads and both are down. Michaels soon gets up and closes the ladder up. Michaels sets it up in the corner and clubs Ramon. Ramon reverses a whip into the ladder, and Michaels falls out of the ring. Ramon takes the ladder outside and sandwiches Michaels with the ladder and the ring post. Ramon then hits him with the ladder. Ramon leans the ladder against the ring and catapults Michaels into it! Michaels falls back onto the floor with the ladder on top of him.
Ramon gets him in the ring and brings the ladder in. Ramon then slams Michaels right in the face with the ladder, sending him over the top rope. Ramon sets the ladder up and starts to climb. Michaels goes to the top rope and jumps to club Ramon in the back. Ramon falls off the ladder to the mat. The ladder falls over and hits Michaels in the back! They set the ladder up and climb opposite sides. They punch each other on top of the ladder. Ramon then gives Michaels a slam off the top of the ladder! The ladder buckles under the weight and collapses. Ramon sets it up and climbs, but Michaels dropkicks the ladder to knock Ramon off. Michaels then tips the ladder over onto Ramon. Michaels sends Ramon into the ropes and connects with a superkick. Michaels mocks Ramon’s taunt and connects with a piledriver. Michaels folds up the ladder and goes to the corner. Michaels then rides on top of the ladder as it falls and splashes Ramon!
Michaels sets up the ladder and puts it over Ramon. Michaels starts to climb the ladder, but Ramon starts to get up. Michaels grabs at the Intercontinental Championship belts. Ramon hits the ropes and hits the ladder with a shoulder block to knock it over. Michaels falls off the ladder and hits the top rope crotch-first! Michaels’ ankle gets tied up in the ropes! Ramon climbs the ropes. Michaels gets out of the ropes, but accidentally gets his forearm tied in the ropes instead. Ramon retrieves the belts and falls to the mat!
Winner and the undisputed WWF Intercontinental Champion: Razor Ramon
Mike’s Thoughts: That’s about as good as it gets for a Ladder Match. Yes, there have been crazier ladder matches with flashier moves and a lot more danger, but this one was the first to do it on a big stage and set the bar for all future ones to come. Not many have lived up to this standard. Most modern day ladder matches are just car crashes. This one told a story and everything that was done had a purpose. As great as this match was, it was really a one-man show. I’d hate to take away from Scott Hall, but Shawn Michaels could have done this match with anyone. It was all Michaels doing things with the ladder and taking great bumps. Ramon just happened to be there. If you’ve never seen this match, it’s another one of those required viewings.
IRS is arguing with his team over who would be the team captain, so there will be no 10-man tag team match since they can’t decide that.
Todd Pettengill is in the Presidential Box with “President Bill Clinton.” Ted DiBiase greets “Clinton” and says everybody has a price for the Million Dollar Man.
Mike’s Thoughts: Was there anything worse than WWF trying to pass off the Bill Clinton impersonator as the real deal? So much of what they tried to do in this time period to seem relevant made them look like they were sinking. Oh, and Todd Pettengill stinks as well. I never liked him as a kid and his gimmick has not aged well.
WrestleMania Moment: The world’s largest toga party at WrestleMania IX
Video Package: Bret Hart vs. Yokozuna
Jenny Garth will be the guest timekeeper. Burt Reynolds will be the guest ring announcer. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper will but the guest referee.
WWF Championship
Yokozuna (c) w/ Mr. Fuji and Jim Cornette vs. Bret “Hitman” Hart
Special Guest Referee: “Rowdy” Roddy Piper
Yokozuna attacks Hart as he gets in the ring, and the bell rings. Yokozuna stomps him and head-butts him. Hart is still hobbling from the bad knee. Hart punches Yokozuna, but Yokozuna takes him down. Yokozuna viciously chops him down and clubs him. Yokozuna scoop slams Hart and picks him up by the hair. Roddy Piper admonishes Yokozuna. Hart punches back at Yokozuna and hits a dropkick, but Yokozuna stays standing. Hart goes for another dropkick, but Yokozuna sidesteps him. Yokozuna kicks at the injured knee before choking him on the ropes. Yokozuna bites the forehead, so Piper gets in his face.
Hart hobbles around the ring, so Yokozuna attacks and chokes him on the ropes. Jim Cornette gets on the apron, so Piper scares him off. Yokozuna head-butts Hart down and goes for a big splash, but Hart moves. Piper begins counting them down. Yokozuna is first to his feet. Hart punches Yokozuna back before head-butting him. Hart goes down in pain, and Yokozuna falls to his rear end. Hart then slams Yokozuna’s face off the mat. Hart gets to his feet and is in pain. Hart boots and kicks Yokozuna back. Yokozuna punches him before sending him to the ropes. Hart ducks a clothesline and punches away at him before clubbing him down. Hart covers, so Cornette pulls Piper out of the ring. Piper levels Cornette with a right hand!
The crowd is chanting for Piper as Mr. Fuji checks on Cornette. Yokozuna hits a falling head-butt and rips at Hart’s face. Yokozuna and Piper get into it. Yokozuna drops a leg on Hart! Yokozuna waits for Hart to get up and throws him out of the ring. Piper begins to count Hart out, but Hart gets in at 9. Yokozuna thumbs Hart in the eyes and chokes him on the top rope. Yokozuna bites Hart and stomps him down. Yokozuna chops the chest before sending him hard into the corner. Yokozuna goes for an avalanche, but Hart moves. Hart comes off the second rope and hits a bulldog for a near fall. Hart quickly goes to the second rope for a diving elbow to pick up another two count.
Hart punches away at Yokozuna, hits the ropes, and connects with a flying clothesline for a near fall. Hart goes to the second rope and jumps, but Yokozuna catches him and hits a belly-to-belly side suplex. Yokozuna drags Hart to the corner and sets up for a Banzai Drop. Yokozuna climbs the ropes, but he all of a sudden loses his balance and just falls to the mat. Hart covers him for the win.
Winner by Pinfall and new WWF Champion: Bret “Hitman” Hart
Yokozuna is stunned and angrily chases Roddy Piper to the back. Hart gets to his feet and holds up the WWF Championship to big cheers from the crowd. Vince McMahon says we’re entering a new era.
Lex Luger gets in the ring and stares at the new WWF Champion. They shake hands and hug. Roddy Piper returns to the ring and holds Hart’s arm up while Luger holds the other up. Burt Reynolds gets in the ring and hugs him. Tatanka, 1-2-3 Kid, Sparky Plugg, Rhonda Shear, Razor Ramon, Randy Savage, Donnie Wahlberg, Pat Patterson, and Gorilla Monsoon all get in the ring. They hoist Hart up on their shoulders. Owen Hart makes his way down the entrance ramp and angrily stares at his brother. Bret Hart celebrates as the show comes to an end.
Mike’s Thoughts: This was much better and shorter by a few minutes than Yokozuna’s earlier match with Lex Luger. Hart was able to do a lot more to keep the fans connected than Luger could. I’m not knocking Luger, it’s just the truth. The guy wasn’t a strong worker. Even though they worked hard in this, the finish stunk. Yokozuna goes for a Banzai Drop and then just falls off the ropes. Hart didn’t kick or shake the ropes. Yokozuna just loses his balance and Hart covers for the win. Very lame.
Overall there were two of the best matches in WrestleMania history on this show and the rest was just passable to outright garbage. If not for Bret-Owen and the Ladder Match, WWF’s return to Madison Square Garden for WrestleMania would have been a dreadfully poor affair. With how this company was going around this time, they’re so lucky to have booked those matches because not a lot of what they were doing was going right at this time. The steroid trial was on the horizon and times were tough. That being said, they pulled off something memorable here.
Quick Match Results
— “The Rocket” Owen Hart def. Bret “Hitman” Hart
— Bam Bam Bigelow and Luna Vachon def. Doink the Clown and Dink the Clown
— “Macho Man” Randy Savage def. Crush in a Falls Count Anywhere Match
— Alundra Blayze def. Leilani Kai to retain the WWF Women’s Championship
— Men on a Mission (Mabel and Mo) def. The Quebecers (Jacques and Pierre) via CO; The Quebecers remain WWF Tag Team Champions
— Yokozuna def. Lex Luger via DQ to retain the WWF Championship
— Earthquake def. Adam Bomb
— Razor Ramon def. Shawn Michaels in a Ladder Match to become the undisputed WWF Intercontinental Champion
— Bret “Hitman” Hart def. Yokozuna to win the WWF Championship
E-Mail – mike@wrestleview.com
Twitter – @MikeTedescoWV
Thanks for reading!