This is somewhat an infamous show. The show aired live on May 26th, 1996 - but because of a severe storm, the power went out in the arena (if I'm not mistaken, it occurred during the Savio Vega/Steve Austin match). The show went on, though, and the card was wrestled in relative darkness and without the PPV feed...up until the main event, when the power (and PPV feed) were restored. To appease the crowd and all the people who had ordered the show on pay-per-view, the next night's episode of Raw was built around hyping an emergency Tuesday PPV (also held in South Carolina) known as Beware of Dog 2. But in a questionable move, instead of giving fans a new reason to purchase the show (for example, for an HBK/Bulldog rematch), the only matches that aired on this emergency PPV were the three that were wrestled during the outage.
Any which way, on the WWE Network, the show is condensed/edited into one card - hence the "main event" coming on second. Anyway...
In Your House VIII: Beware of Dog kicks off with Hunter Hearst Helmsley (Triple H) taking on "The Wildman" Marc Mero (accompanied to the ring by Sable). The match kicks off in high gear, Mero and Helmsley both looking agile and energetic out there. Mero hits a dive to the floor and follows it up with a slingshot legdrop, but Helmsley takes control after Mero inadvertantly drives him into the post. Helmsley sends him shoulder-first into the opposite post and Mero takes a tumble to the floor. I really like how Hunter targets Mero's shoulder and just continues to work on it for the next 4 minutes - it is the kind of discipline in execution and purpose that you don't get out of him (or really anyone else) as time went on and more and more of the matches became all about hitting "signature offense" even if it wasn't setting anything up. Considering their friendship and Mero's run in WCW, I wonder if Hunter called up his buddy William Regal for some advice because this match is certainly wrestled in that WCW TV Title style. Mero, to his credit, does an absolutely fantastic job selling the limb damage throughout the contest - which, at nearly 20 minutes, goes a touch too long in my book. I'd still consider this a bit of a hidden gem, though, a match that I've never seen referenced as particularly great but is definitely well above average. What's also interesting is that, historically, there is a belief that Helmsley was punished for the Curtain Call immediately after it happened - a week earlier on May 19th - but this match suggests that it took some time for the gears to turn as Helmsley gets in plenty of offense and dominates the majority of the contest. I wonder if Scott Hall appearing on Nitro the next night also led him to take out his frustration with Helmsley even more; McMahon knew Hall and Nash were WCW-bound, but I'm guessing he figured WCW would saddle them with lame gimmicks - as was typical in pro-wrestling in 96' - and it wouldn't lead to Nitro toppling RAW for 84 weeks. A bit too long to be must-see, but still quite good. (3/5)
Main event time - even though its only the second match on the edited show - Davey Boy Smith challenging Shawn Michaels for the WWE World Championship. Before the match, Jim Cornette promised a "big surprise" for the match. During the build-up, the storyline was that Shawn Michaels had been accused by multiple women - including Diana Smith (the Bulldog's wife) - of various sexual improprieties. As Michaels walks into the ring, he bumps into Mr. Perfect. Perfect would end up being the guest referee of the rematch that would occur at King of the Ring, but I don't think anything ever even came of that and Hennig would be out of the company by the end of the year (popping back up in WCW the next year). Before the bell rings, Clarence Mason (Cornette's lawyer and future leader of the Nation of Domination) cuts a promo about Michaels, bashing him for trying to split up the Bulldog's marriage and charging him with "attempted alienation of a spouse" or something. Yeesh. What a bullshit "surprise." Michaels rips up the subpeona and we can finally get to the action. These two always had solid chemistry, though I've always regarded that as partially being based on Bulldog's willingness to do the job for Michaels (and Shawn's confidence that he'd never have to return the favor). Knowing that Bulldog would always be one tier below him, Shawn is at his professional best, trusting and willing to make Davey appear like a real threat. There's some solid mat wrestling early on, Michaels applying the pressure with headlocks and an armbar, trying to wear down his larger opponent. Bulldog uses his power to take control and the match definitely lulls a bit, Bulldog applying a rear chinlock and then a backbreaker. Bulldog cinches in a headlock and the minutes pile on. Shawn was over enough that the crowd isn't completely dead and his struggle and eventually escape ends up with Shawn launching himself into the arena floor in a nifty sequence. Bulldog sends him into the post and then into the apron, Shawn really selling the damage. Shawn attempts a slingshot clothesline but barely connects - though Bulldog sells it like he did. They go into another rope-running sequence and collide dead-center leading to a signature flying forearm and kip-up from HBK. A minute later, the referee ends up on the floor, bumped out of the ring by Bulldog. Michaels hits his elbow drop and then calls for Sweet Chin Music, but Owen Hart eats it instead! Bulldog takes the opportunity to beat down on Shawn and attempts his powerslam finish - but Shawn escapes and hits Bulldog with a german suplex! The ref makes the count, but Bulldog's music plays! Shawn's shoulders were down! But wait, Hebner comes back into the ring and now its Shawn's music that plays! Diana leaves with the title (holding it upside down), but Gorilla Monsoon grabs it and has a pow-wow with the refs. The Fink announces that the match has ended in a Draw - which makes no sense - and Shawn is declared the Champion by default. This match was okay, but seems like it ended at the end of Act 2 rather than at the end of Act 3. I could understand the match running short because of all the mayhem caused by the storm, but if that were the case, why spend so much time with the post-match bullshit? (2.5/5)
The show picks up two nights later for Savio Vega vs. Steve Austin in a Caribbean Strap Match. The stakes are high in this one - if Austin wins, Vega becomes Ted Dibiase's Chauffer, while if Vega wins, the Million Dollar Man has promised to leave the WWE. Austin had not yet cut his famous Austin 3:16 promo, but was already being called "Stone Cold" and no longer referred to as The Ringmaster. I'm not a big Savio fan, but he's good enough at whipping the strap and Austin's bumping and selling is terrific. Most strap matches stay in the ring for the most part (which makes sense considering how the winner is determined), so its cool to see them go out to the floor, bringing the fight right up to the crowd. There's not much in the way of technical wrestling, but that's not what a match like this is designed to provide. Instead, we get lots and lots of vicious strap shots separated by the occasional choke or suplex. The long runtime makes this one feel like a true war, though I do wish they had got to the false finishes a bit earlier - the crowd bites hard on the close calls, rallying behind Vega whenever he gets close to tagging a fourth turnbuckle. The finish comes when Austin wraps the strap around Vega's neck and starts dragging him around the ring only for Vega to tag the buckles behind Austin, the two eventually having a tug of war that sends Vega into the fourth buckle. After the match, Vega leads the crowd in a rousing rendition of "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye." This wasn't nearly as good as the Sting/Vader version, but that's also probably the best strap match ever. It goes too long, but the physicality is there and it does feel like a meaningful, satisfying ending to their rivalry. (3.5/5)
We cut backstage to see Shawn Michaels using a computer...but really looking confused by the entire process.
Back in the ring, Vader makes his way down the aisle to take on Yokozuna. A little after WrestleMania XII, Vader had taken out Yokozuna's leg with a Vader Bomb, putting him on the shelf for some time. Yoko might be at his biggest here, just looking absolutely massive. They spend the first couple minutes teasing a sumo collision, Vader eventually getting bounced out of the ring by the former WWE Champion. When Vader climbs back into the ring, Yoko tries to deliver some shots, but Vader's hit harder. Yoko gets Vader on the mat, though, and delivers a huge elbow to the leg, sending Vader back to the outside to regroup. They repeat the same sequence, but this time Vader ends up in the corner. Vader attempts a bodyslam but can't get Yoko up and Yoko surprises him with a Rock Bottom (or the move that would become known as the Rock Bottom)! Yoko follows it up a Samoan Drop too, showing that he still had some serious strength even if his weight had really ballooned by this point. Cornette stops him from delivering a Bonsai Drop and gets pulled into the fray, distracting Yoko long enough for Vader to get to his feet (and stop Yoko from hitting the move on Cornette instead). Vader targets Yokozun's leg one more time and then hits the Vader Bomb to end things. All things considered, this wasn't too terrible - but this is not nearly as good as it could've been if Yokozuna was still as credible and impressive (and agile) as he had been in 94'. Similarly, Vader needed the big win here to heat him up for SummerSlam, but because he doesn't really dominate his opponent, he doesn't necessarily gain much. (2/5)
Before the next match, JR and Perfect discuss the King of the Ring card.
For the first time ever, the Intercontinental Championship is up for grabs in a Casket Match - The Undertaker challenging Goldust. Considering the stakes of this match, I'm surprised I don't remember the build-up for this feud very well at all. Taker controls early and Dustin does a good job selling everything that's thrown at him, bumping and selling with considerable energy. Undertaker hits the Old School and then chokes Goldust in the corner, but ends up eating a back elbow and getting bodyslammed to the mat. Undertaker sits up and works Goldust back into the corner. They botch a classic Goldust spot (the slap-in-the-face counter to the back body drop) which really hurts the next spot - Goldust hitting Taker with a Tombstone! Goldust follows it up with a clothesline on the mat and then rolls the Deadman into the casket, but can't shut the lid. Taker delivers a big boot, but then gets back dropped over the top rope and onto the floor, giving Goldust a moment to regroup. He grabs a cord and starts to choke the life (death?) out of the Undertaker before rolling him back into the ring and towards the casket. Back in the ring, after some axehandles, the Undertaker tries to rally on offense by hitting the ropes, but ends up caught in a sleeper that brings him back to the mat. Goldust drags Taker towards the coffin and rolls him in, but again the Deadman won't let the lid fall! Goldust climsb on top of the lid, but Undertaker opens it up and dumps him onto the ground. Back in the ring, Taker hits a flying clothesline and the momentum of the match has shifted. Undertaker clotheslines Goldust out of the ring but both men up spilling out. Taker attempts a chairshot to the skull, but Goldust catches him with a big boot to the face and a clothesline! Goldust hits a spinning powerslam ala Randy Orton, Goldust really holding his own. On instinct, Goldust makes a cover and actually gets a visual pin on the Undertaker - which is weird to see. Goldust attempts an Old School of his own but gets whipped off the top rope and into the center of the ring. Taker calls for the Tombstone and hits it! Taker looks to roll Goldust into the coffin, but Mankind is in there! Mankind delivers the Mandible Claw and rolls the Undertaker into the coffin! Goldust is declared the winner as Mankind locks the casket. I totally forgot that finish. After Mankind and Goldust leave the ringside area, Bearer reopens the coffin and the Undertaker is nowhere to be found. Compared to 99% of the Undertaker's matches before this point, this was excellent - mostly because Taker actually sold and looked vulnerable. Unfortunately, the layout is a bit wonky, certain moments not necessary "hitting" the way they probably could've if the sequences had built up in suspense (for example, Goldust hitting the Tombstone is a throwaway moment in the first third of the match when it really could've been a bigger deal). Still a great match, but just short of being a "must see." (3.5/5)
With a relatively strong Kwang Score of 2.9-out-of-5, In Your House: Beware of Dog is worth a watch. Vader/Yoko is the only real dud here as the rest of the card features some of the best, most dependable workers on the roster - the underrated Marc Mero, Shawn Michaels in full Showstopper mode, an on-the-rise Steve Austin, Dustin "Goldust" Rhodes at his most aggressive, and The Undertaker clearly liking having an actual opponent with some depth nd talent after years of being paired with some of the most one-dimensional workers in WWE history (King Mabel, Giant Gonzalez, himself at SummerSlam 94'). Though I wouldn't consider any specific match to be a "must see," the opening contest and Taker/Goldust exceeded my expectations and while I don't consider the Vega/Austin match to be a true classic, the match certainly has its admirers (and is undoubtedly the best Savio Vega match I've ever seen).
FINAL RATING - Watch It
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