This is one of the rare Pay-Per-View events that the WWF performed outside of
America. It's just over the border in Canada, but there's a completely
different atmosphere. In the USA Bret Hart is unpopular with the fans, but in
Canada he's a big hero. Davey Boy Smith, aka British Bulldog, is married to
the reigning Mrs. Calgary, Bret's sister Diana. This photo was taken at
an outdoor event earlier in the day.
Location: The Saddledome, Calgary, Alberta, Canda
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler. Jim Ross
Normally Jim Ross is the only one who wears a cowboy hat, but today it's also
Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler. Can Jerry see anything from under that hat?
Match 1. Hunter Hearst Helmsley vs Mankind
Triple H comes into the ring expecting an easy victory against Mankind after
defeating him at
the 1997 King of the Ring.
But all eyes are on Chyna. Does this fan called Serge have a chance? He might
do better if he knew how to spell her name properly-
Chyna follows Triple H to the ring without even giving Serge a glance. It
looks like the weather in Canada is colder than she's used to.
The match starts with a clear advantage for Mankind. He tosses Triple H around
the ring like a rag doll. The fans are all cheering for Mankind. Jerry Lawler
says it's because they can relate to him, since most Canadian women look like
him. Come on, Jerry, take another look at the photo of Mrs. Calgary.
She's a beauty, even though I prefer Chyna.
When Triple H is thrown out of the ring, he falls in front of the Hart family,
who are occupying the front row seats. It's more of a dynasty than a family.
Stu Hart, Bret's father, has 12 children, most of whom are connected with the
wrestling business.
Mankind applies his finishing move, the mandible claw, to Triple H. Chyna
punches him behind the referee's back, or rather over the referee's head. This
gives Triple H a temporary advantage, but Mankind fights back. While they're
outside the ring, Chyna throws Mankind against the steel steps. This is the
real turning point. Triple H fights brutally, concentrating on Mankind's leg.
Outside the ring again, Chyna knocks Mankind down behind referee's back. They
brawl outside, until the referee counts them both out.
The fight continues. Mankind runs into the audience, followed by Triple H and
Chyna. The referees, assisted by Jerry Brisco, do their best to separate them.
Match 2. Great Sasuke vs Taka Michinoku
The WWF does something unusual. Two unknown wrestlers are pitted against
one another in a PPV. Both are Japanese light heavyweights, but Taka Michinoku is
currently wrestling in Mexico. The Great Sasuke was already praised by Jim
Ross at the beginning of the show as the world's greatest light heavyweight
wrestler. Obviously, today's PPV is a try-out for Sasuke. Taka is a jobber
who's supposed to lose quickly.
But guess what? Even though he loses the match, the audience likes
Taka Michinoku more. They side with the underdog. I'm sure that Vince McMahon
at ringside was taking note of this. Wrestling ability is less important than
being able to win over the audience.
The match's start was delayed because Mankind, Triple H and Chyna were still
fighting at the back of the arena. When it finally started, it was an exciting
high-flying match between the two Japanese wrestlers. Sasuke used impressive
martial arts kicks. Taka fought valiantly, but he lost.
Mankind and Triple H are still fighting in the parking lot, while the referees
are doing their best to hold Chyna back.
Triple H is bleeding badly, but he doesn't want to stop.
Match 3. WWF Championship, Undertaker vs Vader
Undertaker was due to defend his title against Ahmed Johnson today, but his
knee was injured in a backstage brawl at
Raw two weeks ago.
Before the match Paul Bearer repeats his accusations that the Undertaker
murdered his whole family. Dok Hendrix doesn't believe it.
The Undertaker is the crowd favourite, in Canada as in America. Despite
his huge size, the Undertaker is fast and agile. Vader isn't fast, but he
makes up for it by having more muscle mass. For the first
few minutes the Undertaker has a clear advantage, making several near pins.
All the time Paul Bearer is standing outside the ring taunting the Undertaker,
calling him a murderer. Then Vader fights back, and the two wrestlers are
equally matched. Finally the Undertaker wins the match with a tombstone and
retains the WWF Championship title.
The Canadian country music group Farmer's Daughter comes out to sing the
Canadian national anthem. The crowd is clearly moved by the performance, but
the singing didn't impress me. Is that the best Canada has to offer?
Howard Finkel (also wearing a cowboy hat) introduces Stu and Helen Hart as the
patriarch and matriarch of the Hart family. On the right is Ralph Klein, the
premier of the province of Alberta.
Match 4. 10-man tag team match, the Hart Foundation (Bret Hart, Owen Hart,
British Bulldog, Jim Neidhart, Brian Pillman) vs the unnamed American team (Steve Austin,
Ken Shamrock, Goldust, Hawk, Animal)
Before the match begins, Dok Hendrix interviews the American team. It's
noticeable that Steve Austin refuses to talk and storms off. He's obviously
not happy at having to share the ring with partners.
One of the problems of having so many wrestlers in a match is that it takes
ages to get them all to the ring. I timed it: 8 minutes 58 seconds from the
first entrance till the start of the match. I've never seen Steve Austin be
booed so much as today. The Canadians love Bret Hart, so they automatically
hate his nemesis Steve Austin.
Only one of the Hart Foundation, British Bulldog, isn't Canadian, so he wins
over the crowd by being accompanied by his beautiful wife Diana.
Before the match starts there's a showdown between Steve Austin and Bret Hart.
I can't read his lips, but I know what he's saying. He's not interested in the
tag team match, he just wants to fight with Bret.
Incidentally, there are cameras at ringside filming a documentary about Bret
Hart.
These two wrestlers begin with a brutal brawl. The crowd cheers whenever Bret
hits Steve, and they boo whenever Steve hits back.
It's difficult for my review to do justice to the following 24-minute battle. It wasn't
wrestling, it was brawling. Both sides were cheating, entering the ring
without tags or attacking each other outside the ring. At one point Bret Hart
hit Steve Austin with a fire extinguisher. The referee Earl Hebner had no
control over the match. He should have taken the day off. Here are a few
pictures to capture the atmosphere:
Steve Austin pulls Brian Pillman's pants down so that Hawk can hit him.
Bret Hart is confused by Ken Shamrock's unorthodox style.
Steve Austin pulls 82-year-old Stu Hart off his seat to attack him. Stu's other sons who're sitting behind the railing leap to his defence.
Eventually Owen Hart pins Steve Austin.
The brawling continues with Stu Hart's other sons in the ring.
The fight calms down, but then Steve Austin returns and attacks everyone in
sight. He's led out of the arena in handcuffs.
Bret Hart celebrates in the middle of his family. Stu Hart is obviously very
weak. He can't even raise his arm without assistance.
And this is my favourite photo of the evening. Owen Hart celebrates the
Canadian victory with his son.
This was a very good PPV, even though the America vs Canada rivalry was
exaggerated.
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