WWF 1997.04.20 - In Your House: Revenge of the Taker

Location: War Memorial Auditorium, Rochester, New York

Commentators: Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler, Jim Ross

Match 1.  Tag team Championship, British Bulldog & Owen Hart vs Legion of Doom

British Bulldog and Owen Hart are a functioning team again, but they have tough opponents. The Legion of Doom have the advantage for most of the match. Eventually Animal pins British Bulldog, and they win the tag team championship belt. While Bulldog and Owen are walking out, another referee comes to the ring and says a mistake was made. Owen Hart was the legal man in the ring, so the pin doesn't count. The match has to be continued.

When the match restarts, the Legion of Doom have all the momentum. When Hawk is pinning Owen Hart, Bret Hart enters the ring and breaks the pin. British Bulldog and Owen Hart are disqualified, so they lose the match but retain the title.

Match 2. Intercontinental Championship, Rocky Maivia vs Savio Vega

On last week's Raw Savio Vega defeated Rocky Maivia in a non-title match. Now Rocky has to defend his title. Faarooq comes to ringside as a guest commentator. He specifies what he meant with last week's challenge: if Ahmed Johnson can beat Savio Vega, Crush and Faarooq himself in three singles matches on the same night, Faarooq will disband the Nation of Domination.

The two wrestlers are evenly matched. There's no interference in the ring itself, but Crush distracts the referee while Rocky is pinning Savio. When the match continues Savio throws Rocky out of the ring. Crush knocks him out, so Rocky is counted out. Savio Vega wins the match, but Rocky Maivia retains the title.

After the match the whole Nation Of Domination enters the ring to beat up Rocky. Ahmed Johnson comes to the ring and rescues him. Ahmed takes the microphone and accepts Faarooq's challenge.

Match 3. Jesse James vs Rockabilly

Jesse James comes to the ring, singing as he arrives. His opponent is Rockabilly, the wrestler formerly known as Billy Gunn. Rockabilly's manager is Honky Tonk Man, even though Billy hit him two weeks ago. Honky Tonk Man says that he recognised Billy Gunn's talent and needed him as his protégé, whatever he's done.

Jesse James pins Rockabilly, or whatever he calls himself now, after a one-sided match.

Steve Austin is beat over the head with an iron bar by British Bulldog and Owen Hart in the men's room. Gorilla Monsoon recommends that he shouldn't fight tonight, but Steve insists on fighting. Steve's match is due to take place next, but Gorilla Monsoon postpones it until the last match of the evening.

Match 4. WWF Championship, Undertaker vs Mankind

Mankind challenges the Undertaker for the WWF championship. It's a long, hard match in which the referee tolerates a lot of illegal moves from Mankind. While outside the ring,  Mankind smashes a water jug over the Undertaker's head and then hits him with a steel chair. Back in the ring, the Undertaker accidentally knocks the referee out. A new referee comes, but Mankind throws him out of the ring. Paul Bearer throws a steel chair into the ring for Mankind, but that's not enough. Mankind goes out to fetch the steel steps.

There's one thing that's constant in Mankind's matches: whenever he brings a weapon into the ring, it's used against him. The Undertaker grabs the steps and hits Mankind over the head with them. Then he hits Mankind with the steel chair that's still lying in the ring. He throws Mankind out of the ring onto the Spanish announcers table. When he goes back into the ring the Undertaker wins the match with a tombstone and retains the title.

The Undertaker chases Paul Bearer around the outside of the ring. Mankind has a fire lighter in his hand. The Undertaker grabs it and lights a cloth to make a fireball in Paul Bearer's face.

 

Dok Hendrix interviews Bret Hart before his match with Steve Austin. Bret says that he's defeated Steve Austin twice, but he still keeps coming back. A third time won't be enough to stop him, so he wants to end his career.

Match 5. Steve Austin vs Bret Hart

It's fortunate that this match was rescheduled to be the main event. It was the most exciting fight of the evening, as well as being the longest.

It's a hard match, inside and outside the ring. Bret Hart cheats a lot, but the referee Earl Hebner lets it go. Outside the ring Bret repeatedly hits Steve over the head with a steel chair. Inside the ring he uses the chair to injure Steve's knee.

Steve Austin puts Bret Hart in a sharpshooter, but British Bulldog and Owen Hart come into the ring to break the hold. Steve applies another sharpshooter. This time British Bulldog hits him over the head with a steel chair, so Bret Hart is disqualified.