Welcome to the eleventh, Tybo Talks 1995. We are continuing from WCW Halloween Havoc and shifting gears from WCW to WWF with Survivor Series.
We have officially rolled into the ‘Monday Night Wars’ Era…
With the ease of access to pretty much all of WWE’s back catalog on the WWE Network I thought it would be cool to change it up a bit and do some classic reviews (with a twist). As some of you may know I have already done this with WWE in 2002 and 2003, but this time I’m doing it a little differently.
In the past, I have reviewed all the PPV (from the year) but watched all Raw and Smackdown episodes too. This time as it’s 1995 I’m watching all PPV but in between, I’m watching WWE Raw, ECW’s Hardcore TV, and WCW Nitro (when it starts in September)… Wish me luck!
The PPV opens with the return of Mr. Perfect, he would be joining Vince McMahon and JR on commentary.
FunFact: Mr. Perfect hadn’t been on WWE TV since Wrestlemania X (1994)
The opening vignette is all about the Bret Hart and Deisel main event for the WWE Championship, and the fact that it can only end in pinfall or submission.
FunFact: Bret Hart is the only man (at the time) to be a two-time World Heavyweight, Intercontinental, and Tag Team Champion, and he is the only man (at the time) to be a triple crown champion in a single year.
Traditional Survivor Series Match
The BodyDonnas: Skip, Rad Radford, Dr. Tom Prichard, and 1-2-3 Kid (with Sunny and Ted DiBiase)
vs
The Underdogs: Marty Jannetty, Hakushi, Barry Horowitz, and Bob Holly
This one starts interesting when 1-2-3 Kid comes to the ring with Million Dollar Man, and cementing his new heel status, this was teased Kid was the special referee for a match between Razor Ramon and Sid. The Kid would fast count the pin and cost Razor the match.
The match starts quickly and sets a solid pace for the show, the match looks to be a great showcase for everyone involved. Although there is a lot of time before the first elimination, they come fast after that. We get Prichard, Holly, then after a great flurry of moves Hakushi and Radford then Horowitz.
This leaves Jannetty all alone in a two-on-one situation, Jannetty pulls off an amazing top rope powerbomb, to make it one-on-one with Kid. This match is far better than it ever needed to be, great work from everyone involved, but Jannetty and Kid really pull it out of the bag.
Outcomes Sid (part of the Million Dollar Corporation) to attack Jannetty so Kid can get the win.
Winner: 1-2-3 Kid (The Bodydonnas)
Survivors: 1-2-3 Kid (sole survivor)
Traditional Survivor Series Match
Bertha Faye, Aja Kong, Tomoko Watanabe, and Lioness Asuka (with Harvey Wippleman)
vs
Alundra Blayze, Kyoko Inoue, Sakie Hasegawa, and Chaparita Asari
FunFact: This would be the last WWF PPV appearance from Alundra Blaze (except a one-off at WWE Evolution in 2018)
When I first saw this one on the card, my first thought was I didn’t know they had that many women on the roster. It turns out the ‘Forbidden Door’ was a thing all the way back in 1995, with most of the women being from Japanese promotions. That being said, it’s good to see that WWF seemingly went out of its way to have a women’s elimination match.
There are some great moves in this match, and even a ‘three amigos’ style move but with five suplexes. These Japanese women are amazing in the ring, why would you not sign these and have the women’s evolution 20 years earlier?
This was a really great match, bar some miscommunication with some spots and pins this was far better than anyone would expect in 1995. The finish with Aja Kong pinning the women’s champion Alundra Blaze for the win seemed to be setting something up… but it wasn’t meant to be.
Winner: Aja Kong
Survivor: Aja Kong
FunFact: Aja Kong was set to be Blaze’s next challenger, but instead the whole women’s division would be scrapped as part of cutbacks before the year’s end. The Women’s championship wouldn’t return till 1998.
Todd Pettengill was in the crowd with the (fake) President, and when Bam Bam’s pyro goes off all his protection thinks it was a gunshot. This is actually a pretty fun little segment. Although it would be crucified on the internet if it happened now.
Goldust vs Bam Bam Bigelow
Goldust’s mind games start early and he is not only working Bam Bam but he is expertly working for the crowd too. The match itself starts slow, but as soon as Bigalow hits a big move we are off to the races. The first thing you notice is Goldust really needs a new suit, you can see everything.
The match isn’t bad but there seems to be a lot of rest holds from Goldust, and as soon as Bigalow starts making the comeback, it’s all over with a bulldog out of nowhere.
Winner: Goldust
FunFact: This would be Bam Bam Bigalow’s last WWF match ever. He would never return to the company.
Todd Pettingill is in the crowd with a ‘The President’ and Bob Backlund, this is a very strange segment.
Traditional Survivor Series Match
The Darkside: The Undertaker, Savio Vega, Fatu, and Henry O. Godwinn (with Paul Bearer)
vs
The Royals: King Mabel, Jerry Lawler, Isaac Yankem, and Hunter Hearst Helmsley (with Sir Mo)
Firstly, I feel really sorry for the guys carrying King Mable on the mobile thrown, that is no light duty. This is also the first time we are seeing The Undertaker since Yokozuna and Mable (kayfabe) broke Undertaker’s face. (Undertaker actually sustained a broken orbital bone).
This is the first time Undertaker is wearing his now-iconic mask, it’s safe to say that the crowd pop for ‘Taker is the pop of the night. I don’t have a lot of good things to say about Mable, but he completely sold the idea of the gothic Undertaker mask as soon as he saw it.
FunFact: The Dark Siders may seem like an odd team, but they are actually all in a gang together. Collectively known as The Bone Street Crew (BSK), it’s made up of Yokozuna, Undertaker, Fatu, Vaga, Godwin, Bearer, and Kama. Many of the members have a BSK tattoo.
It’s crazy to think that it wouldn’t be long before Undertaker and Isaac Yankem would be connected as ‘brothers’ and would be influential in each other careers until they both retire.
FunFact: There are a lot of ‘final appearances’ on this PPV, but the entire ‘Royals’ team would still be with the company over 10 years after this PPV.
This match is Undertaker’s coming back party, he basically eliminates everyone, Lawler gets a Tombstone, Yankem gets a Tombstone, Helmsley gets a chokeslam, leaving Mable verse everyone and he runs away to a count-out lose. Job done.
Winners: The Dark Siders
Survivors: The Undertaker, Savio Vega, Fatu, and Henry O. Godwinn.
Backstage: We get some pre-recorded comments from Bret Hart and Diesel, both doing great work putting themselves and each other over while mentioning The British Bulldog and In Your House 5.
Todd Pettingill interviewing the teams from The Wildcard match. I really liked this idea but it never continued after this PPV.
Traditional Survivor Series Match
Wild Card
Shawn Michaels, Ahmed Johnson, The British Bulldog, and Sycho Sid (with Jim Cornette and Ted DiBiase)
vs
Yokozuna, Owen Hart, Razor Ramon, and Dean Douglas (with Mr. Fuji)
The wildcard match is an interesting take on the traditional Survivor Series match, the basic idea is heels and faces and mixed within teams. I guess you could say it’s a little like the Bragging Rights PPV or the Raw vs Smackdown Survivor Series concept.
This is Shawn Michaels’s first match back after the ‘Sacramento Marine Incident’, he looks like he has something to prove and getting in the ring first. He actually eliminates Douglas with an assist from Razor even though they are on different teams.
FunFact: This would be Dean Douglas’ last WWF PPV appearance.
Ahmed Johnson looks like an absolute powerhouse, he has a great showing in this match considering it’s his PPV debut.
We do see some fantastic wrestling in this match that we wouldn’t normally see. Owen Hart vs British Bulldog and Shawn Michaels vs Razor Ramon are ‘face vs face’ and ‘heel vs heel’, and are the highest points in this match, and well worth a re-watch.
Unfortunately, the match starts to fall down a little when Sid gets in and it feels like everyone needs to remind themselves who is on who’s team. It ends up with Yokozuna vs three after Kid came out and interfered to eliminate Ramon.
Ahmed Johnson body slams Yokozuna, why is this not talked about more? ‘Zuna is clearly at his heaviest and Johnson almost scoops him up with ease.
Winners: Shawn Michaels, Ahmed Johnson, British Bulldog, and Sycho Sid
Survivors: Shawn Michaels, Ahmed Johnson, and British Bulldog
Todd Pettingill is back with ‘The President’ and this time Sunny is sitting on his lap. As you would expect the innuendo is off the charts.
WWF Championship
(You Can Only Win via Pinfall of Submission)
Diesel (C) vs Bret Hart
This feud goes all the way back to Royal Rumble 1995, or even King of the Ring 1994 when Hart was the WWF Champion. The promo video is a great watch, it is almost like a bit of a shoot interview where the two are talking about their strengths and that the previous matches were some of the most hard-fought of the year. This really adds something interesting to the match build.
The match starts with both men taking off their respective corner pads. The story they are telling is a clear ‘power vs stamina’ match. Bret seems to do nothing in the early going because he knows the longer it goes the better for him it is, not only that but when Bret does come back he works on cutting Diesel down. Hart works the knee, ties Diesel’s leg to the turnbuckle, and introduces a chair.
Is Bret working as a heel in this match? Showing he will do anything to get his championship back. Even when the match shifts back, Deisel is working hard to sell the hurt knee. Even pushing Bret off the apron through the Spanish announce table, this was a perfect spot and looks great.
FunFact: Bret Hart was the first person to be put through the Spanish announce table
Diesel hits Bret with a Jackknife Powerbomb and asked the referee to check on him, this is such solid work from Diesel acting like he doesn’t want to do it again and injure a friend, Diesel is trying to be a nice guy. Hart gets a small package win out of nowhere and Diesel goes crazy and drops the loudest F-Bomb I have heard in 1995 wrestling.
Winner: Bret Hart
After the match Diesel hits Bret with two Jackknife Powerbombs and attacks three referees. Deisel is absolutely irate at the loss. The PPV ends with no celebration for Bret’s win. Bret doesn’t look like the winner, but he is the WWF Champion.
Overall
The last two matches save this PPV and then some. The Wildcard Elimination Match was great, the star power and the ‘strange bedfellows’ aspect really worked for me. I was actually going to give this the Match of the Night. That was until Diesel had the best match of his WWF Championship run, and maybe the best match of his career, ironically it was the night he lost it.
After a full year of mixed PPVs that end on a weak note, this was truly a great match and easily the best WWF Championship match of 1995. The psychology and the story of the match, the no disqualification not being overused, Hart going a bit dark, but Deisel going full heel. It was all great and I would highly recommend checking this match out.
Roll on brother vs brother-in-law next month.
3.75/5
Tybometer ’95
(1995 PPV’s scored out of a possible five)
WWF Royal Rumble – 4
WWF Wrestlemania – 2
WWF In Your House – 2.5
WWF King of the Ring – 0.5
WWF In Your House 2 – 3.5
WWF SummerSlam – 2
WCW Fall Brawl: WarGames – 2.75
WWF In Your House 3 – 3.25
WWF In Your House 4 – 1.5
WCW Halloween Havoc – 3.5
WWF Survivor Series – 3.75
Look out for the next Tybo Talks 1995, where I shift back to WCW and review World War Three
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