WWE In Your House #10: Mind Games

WWE In Your House #10: Mind Games

Philadelphia, PA - September 1996

CHAMPIONSHIP RUNDOWN: Coming into the show, the WWE Champion was Shawn Michaels, the Intercontinental Champion was vacant (due to Ahmed Johnson being injured mid-reign), and the WWE Tag Team Champions were The Smoking Gunns.

September 96' was an interesting time in the WWE, mostly because it was a much more interesting time in WCW. By this point, the New World Order angle was the hottest thing in all of pro-wrestling (at least in the US) and so McMahon was forced to get a bit more creative and start shifting his show into more of an "adult" space. The change to "The Attitude Era" didn't happen overnight, but as early as this show, things were changing in noticeable ways...

For example, during our opening contest, Savio Vega vs. Justin "Hawk" Bradshaw in a Caribbean Strap Match, we get the surprise appearance of ECW's The Sandman (who spits beer in Vega's face) and the acknowledgement of their presence by Vince as an "outlaw local promotion." There had been ECW chants during WWE shows in Philadelphia before, but to acknowledge the company on a WWE PPV was definitely something new. It also seemingly pissed off Bradshaw, who held a grudge against the company for years to come. As for the match...it's not as good as the Austin/Vega one from a few months earlier, and at 7 minutes, it doesn't really tell a full story, but the action we do get is hard-hitting and physical, more violent than most anything the WWE had produced over the previous 9 months (save for Mankind's outings). Unfortunately, the finish is a repeat of the one from Vega/Austin, which is just lazy booking/producing. (2/5)

In the back, the backs of "Diesel" and "Razor Ramon" are shown beating up Savio Vega from afar. This was part of the awful angle where Jim Ross brought back a fake "Diesel" and a fake "Razor Ramon" so that Vince could prove a point about how he had created those characters and that Nash and Hall were just two lucky "actors" playing those roles. It might be the dumbest angle in WWE history, really, as it backfired 100% and just made WWE look even lamer. 

Back to the ring we go for Jim Cornette vs. Jose Lothario. This is barely a match as Lothario just whips his ass in under a minute. There wasn't much of a story to this match beyond Cornette's stable of heels feuding with Shawn Michaels and Lothario being Shawn's mentor (though, as we'd see at Survivor Series 96', at the time, I don't think Shawn necessarily wanted an old man walking down the aisle with him). A half-point for this not going a second too long. (0.5/5)

Brian Pillman makes his way down the aisle, welcomes Owen Hart, and then "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, all three piling on and verbally destroying Bret Hart. Austin had been having good segments before this on TV and PPV, but this is one of the more memorable ones - and deservedly so. He spews his famous line about "adding an S in front of Hitman" during this promo and once again challenges Bret. This would lead to their Survivor Series classic. (+1)

In a somewhat interesting rarity, especially for this era, we get a heel/heel match as The Smoking Gunns (with Sunny) defend their WWE Tag Team Championships against Owen Hart and the British Bulldog. Bulldog and Owen actually get a bit of a face response, mostly because I think the Philly crowd respected their talent and would never have gotten behind a cartoonish gimmick team like the Gunns. On commentary, Mr. Perfect tries to hype this as being a great technical wrestling contest and, to be sure, there is far more actual wrestling in this one match than in the previous two combined. Still, it's just an average match with maybe a slightly above-average finish and at least one good nearfall towards the end. The right team won as Hart and Bulldog were much more reliable hands and added credibility to the titles. Sunny basically turns on her team after they lose, but if I recall correctly, this doesn't lead to a Bart Gunn/Billy Gunn feud like one would suspect. I think they actually disappeared from the scene instead, with Billy showing up as Rock-a-Billy a few months later. (2.5/5)

Jerry "The King" Lawler made his way down the aisle, hurling insults at his opponent, the debuting Mark Henry. Vince made it clear that Henry was untrained as a wrestler, but that if he got his hands on Lawler, he could use his strength to rip the King apart. It came off as him apologizing for what he knew would be a very one-note match, though, to his credit, Lawler, works hard to make Henry look good, gamely getting himself tossed into a guardrail with a sickening thud. Its a tremendous bump. Henry won with a backbreaker submission after 5 minutes. This was better than I thought it would be, but still not something worth checking out really. After the match, the New Rockers run in to attack Henry for no real reason and then Hunter Hearst Helmsley also shows up - inexplicably - to try to attack Henry only to get press-slammed out of the ring. I'm guessing they did this to establish that all the heels were jealous of Mark Henry? It didn't make sense to me. (2/5)

Next up - The Undertaker vs. Goldust. A month earlier, Paul Bearer had turned on the Undertaker and aligned himself with Mankind and I must say, it is kinda noticeable that the Undertaker seems almost "incomplete" here without Bearer at his side. Taker's own presence and charisma would eventually make it not such an uncommon sight but, at the time, it was weird. There's an Undertaker/Goldust match from a different PPV - I think it was In Your House #8: Beware of Dog - that I really liked but I was less impressed with their match at In Your House #9 and this one isn't that hot either. The match as billed as a "Final Curtain" match, meaning it must end by pinfall, which seems backwards because their first match was a Casket Match. Goldust attacks early and the Undertaker shows some vulnerability, even getting slapped by Marlena. Things get hokey when Marlena blinds Taker with "gold dust" from her purse and the Deadman sells that he's been blinded only for Goldust to not really capitalize all that much. For some reason, despite this match needing to end by pinfall (making it No DQ/No Countout by default), they didn't spend much time out of the ring or use any weaponry. I found that to be a missed opportunity as, while Taker and Goldust did more actual wrestling than brawling, this crowd probably would've appreciated something wilder and chaotic and Dustin Rhodes, at his best, was very capable of that. (2/5)

Main event time - Shawn Michaels defending his WWE Championship against Mankind. Mankind starts out in control, striking HBK with a series of strikes, a back body drop, and then the first major spot of the match - a clothesline that  takes both men over the top rope and onto the floor. Foley then kicks Michaels into the guardrail and uncovers the floor only to get caught underneath the padding and stomped by Michaels. Michaels immediately hits a crossbody on Mankind onto the floor! Michaels follows it up by sending Mankind skull-first into the floor in a horrific bump. Damn, this match has gone barely 2 minutes and we've already seem some nasty spots. Back in the ring and Michaels hits some rights and then a clothesline, the pace not letting up at all. Michaels delivers a scoop slam and then goes to the top rope to hit his trademark elbow. He calls for the Sweet Chin Music but Mankind dodges it by going to the floor. Bearer and Foley regroup on the outside and the two competitors trade blows in the corner and then end up brawling on the mat. Michaels attempts a neckbreaker but Foley falls back and grapevines him, attempting the Mandible Claw. Great hard fought, legitimate-looking exchange there with Michaels showing no restraint. Mankind gets up, though, and delivers a devastating right hand that Michaels sells perfectly. Mankind sends Michaels back to the outside and rearranges a table, but MIchaels dives over it! Shawn then hits one of the more legendary spots of the match, a suplex on the floor that sends Foley's leg right into the steel steps! Wow. That was brutal. Mankind barely sells it, though, and makes his way onto the apron. Michaels chop-blocks him and Foley ends up on top of the casket left at ringside from the previous match. Michaels continues to work on the knee and now Foley sells the heck out of it, falling into the corner. Michaels loses his cool momentarily and Mankind takes advantage, striking back. Mankind goes for a boot, but Michaels catches his leg and delivers a leg twist before applying the figure four. Good refereeing by Hebner as Mankind nearly gets pinned. Mankind rolls over and Michaels releases the hold, both men struggling to make it to their feet. Mankind sends him to the ropes and Michaels comes back with a dropkick to the knee and continues his attack on the knee. For some reason some fans can be heard chanting "Boring," which is just bizarre considering how action-packed this match has been with not even a single rest hold. Another great spot follows soon after as Mankind hits a surprise stun gun on Michaels that HBK sells perfectly. Mankind drives a pencil into his own knee on the outside and it seems to have energized him as he chokes Michaels on the bottom rope and then slams his headfirst into the casket. Michaels gets back in the ring but Mankind is in full control, eventually even hitting the running thigh in the corner, a move far ahead of its time. Mankind drives Michael's head into the canvas repeatedly but Michaels cuts him off with a back suplex. Mankind recovers quickly, though, and hits a headbutt and then a stomp. Michaels gets a second wind but succumbs to a big irish whip into the corner. Michaels hits a series of elbow drops on Michaels as he hangs in the corner, the champion taking a serious beating. Mankind hits a leg drop on Michaels as he lies facedown in the center of the ring and then eats another pair of stomps, the second one sending Michaels back over the top rope. Mankind goes for another running thigh into Michaels, but Shawn moves out of the way, sending Foley into the steps. Michaels follows it up with a drop toe hold into the steps and rolls back in the ring. Michaels attempts a suplex on the apron, but Mankind counters. Michaels lands on his feet on the apron and Mankind looks to drive him into the post, but Michaels dodges and its Foley who hits the post. Back into the ring and the breakneck pace continues as they go into another brilliant exchange of cut-offs and counters, ending with Foley caught in the ropes by his neck! Holy shit! Michaels approaches and Mankind manages to apply the Mandible Claw before Mankind slips through the ropes and goes to the floor. Back on the floor, Foley applies the Claw, but Michaels counters by driving him into the guardrail. Michaels grabs a chair, Foley punches him but catches the steel, and then HBK uses it on Mankind's knee and hand! Back in the ring, Michaels continues his attack on Mankind's hand, biting his fingers and stomping them on the mat. This is as vicious as Michaels has ever been, heel, face, any era. Michaels takes Mankind to the edge of the ring and uses the ropes to help him stomp on Foley's hand repeatedly! Michaels gets into it with Hebner, allowing Mankind to recover. Michaels comes running at him and Mankind back body drops him back onto the floor! Foley hits the big elbow drop on the floor and breaks the count. Foley comes back and hits a swinging neckbreaker on the floor, Shawn looking to be in serious trouble. As Michaels gets back in the ring, Mankind hits him with a leg drop and then a double-arm DDT...but only gets 2.9! Mankind then delivers a piledriver and, again, he only gets 2.5! Mankind applies another two pin attempts but can't get the W, pulling out his own hair in frustration. Mankind  then grabs some chairs, heaving them into the ring only for Hebner to toss them back out. Mankind opens up the casket and tries to roll Shawn into it, but Shawn fights back! Shawn hits the flying forearm and is all revved up! Michaels with the scoop slam and then a crossbody for 2! Michaels goes back to the top rope, but Foley grabs the ropes, crotching him on the top turnbuckle. Mankind climbs up the ropes too, looking to back suplex him into the table, but both men end up going through as Michaels ends up on top of him! Yet another fantastic spot. Mankind grabs a chair as Bearer distracts the referee. Mankind goes to the top with the chair, but Michaels catches him with a Sweet Chin Music in the corner! Michaels looks to have the match run but Vader runs in! Michaels fights off Vader as Bearer then strikes Michaels with the urn! Sid runs down and he and Vader get into it! The bell keeps ringing as Mankind gets to his feet and applies the Mandible Claw! Mankind looks to roll Michaels into the casket, but The Undertaker emerges! This match deserved a clean finish, but the booking here was actually really smart as Michaels won by DQ, Mankind was protected, and they set up some intriguing storylines going forward with Mankind and Undertaker continuing their feud, Sid and Vader igniting theirs, and Shawn Michaels proving that he could survive the most brutal match of his career. An absolute classic and arguably one of the top 5 WWE Matches of the 90s and maybe even of all time. (5/5)

This show's unremarkable Kwang Score of 2.5-out-of-5 might leave you thinking that Mind Games was a forgettable, middling show unworthy of a first watch let alone repeat viewings. While the show does start off with a series of stinkers, things pick up nicely after the Pillman and Owen segment, with the World Tag Team Title Match being at least interesting, Henry/Lawler serving its purpose, and the Undertaker/Goldust match (while not as good as their bout from a few months earlier) isn't outright offensive or anything. What makes this show worth checking out, though, is the main event, arguably a Top 10 WWE Match of All Time (which covers a TON of ground). As this match had no sequel and both guys' career trajectories were so different in the years after, it is a match unlike any other on either guy's resume. This match alone has made Mind Games something of a classic as its mere existence on this card somehow elevates the whole show and proved that the WWE might stand a chance against the juggernaut that WCW had become at this time.

FINAL RATING - Watch It...With Remote in Hand