Retro Reviews: WWE In Your House 3 – Triple Header

It’s back to 1995 during a rough period for WWE. Diesel was the WWE Champion while Shawn Michaels was the Intercontinental Champion. It was a show called Triple Header because both of those champions would put their titles on the line against the WWE Tag Team Champions Yokozuna and Owen Hart. As you’ll read below, what was advertised didn’t actually happen.

This show followed SummerSlam and led into In Your House 4 in October.

Here is the synopsis on WWE Network:

“All three titles will be on the line when WWE Champion Diesel and Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels team up to take on the Tag Team Champions. Bret Hart goes one on one with Jean Pierre-Lafitte. Razor Ramon faces Dean Douglas and much more.” PG (V)

Here’s what the VHS looked like.

Check out the full list of my WWE PPV Review archive right here. Let’s get to the show.

WWE In Your House 3 – Triple Header
Saginaw Civic Center in Saginaw, Michigan
September 24, 1995

The show began with a video hyping the tag team match main event with three titles on the line. There was also an In Your House theme song PPV that they ran for the first few IYH PPVs.

There was an impressive pyro display as Vince McMahon, Jerry “The King” Lawler and Jim Ross were ringside to welcome us to the show.

Savio Vega got a nice ovation from the crowd for his entrance. Waylon Mercy was making his first PPV appearance in WWE.

Savio Vega vs. Waylon Mercy

Pre-match notes: Savio Vega was a face while Waylon Mercy was a heel. Waylon was known as Dan Spivey for most of his career.

Vega was in control with punches early on, then an arm wringer and an armdrag takedown. Mercy came back with a knee to the ribs followed by a clothesline. They left the ring with Mercy giving Vega a body slam on the floor. Mercy lifted up Vega leading to a stun gun into the top rope although it looked sloppy. They had Dok Hendrix interrupting the match to say Owen Hart is not there and they have no idea why. Mercy with a sidewalk slam for two. Mercy went for a running elbow drop, Vega moved and Mercy hit the mat. Mercy applied a sleeper hold with Mercy making crazy faces while he applied the move. Vega drove Mercy into the top rope to break free. Mercy applied another sleeper, but Vega quickly got out of that with a belly to back suplex. Vega with a headbutt leading to a boot to the face. Vega hit a standing heel kick to knock Mercy down. Vega ran the ropes leading to a running bulldog for two. Vega hooked the shoulder/head into a pin attempt. Mercy came back with a kick followed by a clothesline. Mercy hit a sloppy-looking brainbuster for a two count. Mercy with a belly to back suplex for two. Vega with a bridging German Suplex for a two count. Vega bounced off the ropes with a jumping spinning heel kick for the pinfall win at 7:06.

Winner by pinfall: Savio Vega

Analysis: * A boring match. Savio was okay, but Mercy wrestled such a slow-paced match here, so watching him on offense for a few minutes helped kill the crowd. The fans did cheer for Vega’s spinning heel kick to win the match. Other than that, the crowd was dead quiet for most of the match.

There was a video package with WWE President Gorilla Monsoon talking to Jim Cornette along with Yokozuna and Mr. Fuji. Cornette said that Owen will be there. Dok Hendrix asked Gorilla if the Triple Header match will still take place and Gorilla ensured us that we will get the Triple Header match later.

Sycho Sid made his entrance with manager Ted Dibiase. Henry Godwinn poured slop on Sid on WWE Superstars, so Sid was angry and that’s how they set up this match. Henry barely got a reaction.

Sycho Sid (w/Ted Dibiase) vs. Henry O. Godwinn

Pre-match notes: Sycho Sid was a heel and Godwinn was a face.

Godwinn started off aggressive with a head slam into the mat. Sid to the apron, so Godwinn hit him with a clothesline off the apron to the floor. Henry with a suplex back into the ring. Henry tried a body slam, but he was selling a back injury, so Sid hit Henry with a knee to knock him out of the ring. Sid with a double axehandle off the apron onto Henry on the floor. Sid did that move again. Back in the ring, Sid with punches to the ribs followed by a hard whip into the corner. Sid with a running kick. Sid applied a chinlock to work over the back/neck a bit. Sid with another chinlock to kill the dead crowd even more. Sid charged, Henry moved, Sid his leg against the rope and Henry came back with a punch to the ribs. Henry ran the ropes leading to a shoulder tackle. Henry hit the Slop Drop (reverse DDT) and then he turned his legs to Dibiase, so you could tell what was coming as Dibiase pulled on Henry’s legs to break it up. Back in the ring, Henry with punches, then he ran the ropes and Dibiase tripped Henry. The referee didn’t see it. Sid with a leg drop to the head. Sid hit the Powerbomb on Henry for the pinfall win at 7:23.

Winner by pinfall: Sycho Sid

Analysis: *1/4 It was a bad match designed to put over Sid in dominant fashion. I’ll give Henry some credit for selling the back injury well during the match. It was lacking in terms of exciting moments. That’s not really a surprise since these guys were below average in the ring. I’ll give Sid credit for having star power at least.

Post-match, Sid and Dibiase each had the slop bucket that Henry has used on both guys. Bam Bam Bigelow ran out for the save, but Kama held Bigelow and Sid punched Bigelow repeatedly. Henry got the slop bucket and poured it on Dibiase’s head. Ted was freaking out about it. The fans loved it.

Analysis: A cheap way to get an ovation from the crowd. Pouring a bunch of slop on a heel like Dibiase is an easy way to get cheers after the fans were bored during a match.

There was a backstage interview with Gorilla Monsoon while Jim Cornette complained about it. Dok Hendrix was doing the interview. Monsoon told Cornette he could get Yokozuna to defend against both men or Monsoon will sanction somebody else that can defend the titles with Yokozuna. Cornette wondered who he can get. Monsoon said he has time to find a partner. Monsoon said that the deal for the match is still on. Cornette said he’ll find somebody.

Analysis: The ongoing drama continues.

The British Bulldog entered for a match. They showed a clip from one month earlier when Bulldog turned heel by attacking Diesel. That was when Bulldog had long hair and he had shorter now. Bam Bam Bigelow got a decent pop from the crowd.

Bam Bam Bigelow vs. The British Bulldog

Pre-match notes: Bigelow was the face while Bulldog was the heel.

Bigelow used his power early on to hit a shoulder tackle that led to Bulldog regrouping on the floor. They went to an interview with Jim Cornette talking to Sid about teaming up with Yokozuna. Bigelow hit a hiptoss on Bulldog followed by a body slam and Bulldog avoided an elbow drop. Bulldog with a chinlock, Bulldog broke free and Bulldog avoided a headbutt. Bulldog came back with a suplex, Bigelow popped back up with two clotheslines and then Bigelow went crashing over the top to the floor after Bulldog pulled the top rope down. Good bump by Bigelow, who was very agile for a big man. Bigelow suplexed Bulldog groin first across the top rope. That drew a pop from the crowd. Bulldog rolled into position as Bulldog went up top and hit a flying headbutt for a two count. Bulldog with a chop block to the back of the left knee. Bulldog with repeated knee drops on the left leg of Bigelow. Bulldog wrenched on the left knee for a couple of minutes and then back up with another chop block to the left leg. Bigelow came back with an enziguri kick to the head leading to Vince’s classic “WHAT A MANEUVER” call. Bulldog applied a half crab submission. Bigelow broke free, hit a punch to the head and a headbutt. Bigelow charged, but Bulldog was there with a knee to the ribs for two. Bulldog with a chin lock. Bigelow was back up as he drove Bulldog to the turnbuckle and Bulldog wanted a body slam, but Bigelow landed on top for two. That was a good nearfall. Bulldog went for a sunset flip, but Bulldog sat down on Bulldog much to the delight of the crowd. Bigelow with a headbutt. Bigelow went up top again, this time he tried a moonsault and Bulldog moved, so Bigelow hit the mat hard leading to Bulldog getting a two count. Bulldog went up top with a headbutt for a two count. Bulldog whipped Bigelow into the turnbuckle and Bulldog hit a Powerslam for the pinfall win at 12:02.

Winner by pinfall: The British Bulldog

Analysis: **1/4 This was an average match. They were good workers, but there wasn’t a lot of chemistry here. It was probably a few minutes long for this kind of match with a lot of weak submissions applied to kill some time. I liked some of the heel tactics of Bulldog as he worked over the left leg, but it didn’t really play into the finish. Bulldog getting the win made sense since he was the challenger for the WWE Title at the next PPV.

There was a commercial about “WrestleMania The Special” that aired on Fox that featured top matches from WrestleMania 11 like Lawrence Taylor vs. Bam Bam Bigelow and Diesel vs. Shawn Michaels.

Bob Backlund made his entrance for a promo. Backlund was “running for President” or so they said. Backlund said that everybody has to accept challenges to learn how to advance in their lives. Backlund kept on ranting saying that your acute limitations become chronic limitations and you become stagnant. Backlund introduced somebody that’s an administrator that disciplines his students, he weighs 234 pounds, he’s from the “University of Knowledge” and Dean Douglas made his entrance getting booed by the crowd. Douglas said he was proud to be in the ring with Backlund. Douglas said he was there to teach Razor Ramon a lesson. Douglas introduced his opponent. Razor ran down to the ring to start the match.

Analysis: The Dean Douglas gimmick failed miserably. Douglas ended up bitter against WWE for most of his career after he was released. Whoever came up with the “University of Knowledge” should have been dumb enough to realize this gimmick sucked, pal.

Razor Ramon vs. Dean Douglas

Pre-match notes: Razor was the face while Douglas was the heel. Douglas was best known as Shane Douglas in ECW and WCW. Bob Backlund was watching at ringside.

Razor knocked Douglas out of the ring with a clothesline over the top to the floor. Douglas was back, he got some punches, but then Razor got hold of him and hit a hip toss over the top to the floor. Cornette was shown talking to King Mabel backstage with Yokozuna standing by. Back in the ring, Razor with a top wristlock, Razor reversed into an armbar, Douglas flipped out of it and jumped into Razor’s arms so that Razor could hit a fallaway slam for a two count. Razor pulled on Dean’s arm against the top rope. Razor with an armbar that saw him lift Douglas over the top into the ring followed by a clothesline. They did a pinfall exchange with Douglas getting a sunset flip for two followed by Razor hitting a clothesline for two. Razor went for an armbar, Douglas with punches, Razor bounced off the ropes with a shoulder tackle and Douglas sent Razor over the top to the floor. Douglas with a double axehandle to the back and then he drove Razor back first into the apron. Douglas with a body slam on the floor. Douglas went back in to break the count, then back out and a knee to the back sent Razor into the steps. The fans chanted “Razor” as Douglas drove Razor back first into the ring post.

Douglas sent Razor back in the ring, Douglas went up top and hit a double axehandle to the back for two. Razor came back with a punch, so Douglas slammed him down by the head. Douglas grounded Razor by pulling back on both arms. Razor countered it into an arm pulling of his own until Dean got to the ropes. Douglas whipped Razor into both turnbuckles and hit a springboard splash off the middle rope for two as Razor continued to sell the back injury. Douglas had Razor trapped in a chin lock, Razor got out of that after about a minute and Razor fell back to slam Douglas down. Both guys were down selling for a bit. Razor came back with punches including the spin punch and an overhead suplex for two. Razor sent Douglas into the turnbuckle, Razor tried to set up for a move, but Douglas fought back with a cross-body block that Razor turned over into a pin attempt for two. Douglas shoved Razor into the referee on purpose. Douglas punched Razor to knock him down. Douglas went for a splash off the middle ropes, Razor moved and Razor hit the Razor’s Edge on Douglas. The 1-2-3 Kid went into the ring and he counted the pin. Razor wondered what he was doing, Kid said he was just counting and Razor shoved Kid out of the ring. Douglas drove Razor into the ropes and got a rollup with tights for the pinfall win at 14:54.

Winner by pinfall: Dean Douglas

Analysis: **1/2 They had a competitive match that mostly just average work with Douglas picking up a big win over an established guy like Razor. This was one of those matches where the loser (Razor) got a lot of offence because even though he lost the match, he was very competitive throughout the match and nearly won a few times. The cheap ending involving Kid also protected Razor while Douglas took advantage to get the win.

Dean Douglas celebrated the big win. Backlund was at ringside talking with Douglas. Meanwhile, 1-2-3 Kid was down on the floor while Razor looked frustrated in the ring. They showed the replay to emphasize the tight pulling.

Analysis: They were trying to build up Douglas to get him into the Intercontinental Title picture against Shawn Michaels. It was supposed to happen, but plans changed at the October PPV. I’ll cover that when I review that show.

Razor Ramon left the ring, grabbed 1-2-3 Kid by the head and brought him into the ring. Razor slapped Kid, then Kid slapped back and officials went into the ring to break it up.

Analysis: Razor and Kid were buddies for a while, but the relationship was falling apart here. Kid would officially turn heel soon after this.

There was a commercial for WWE In Your House 4 from October 1995 called Great White North in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They hyped up Goldust’s WWE debut.

Diesel (WWE Champion) and Shawn Michaels (Intercontinental Champion) were interviewed by Dok Hendrix. Shawn said he’s a bit frustrated that Owen Hart is not there and they wondered what was happening. Diesel said something’s up. Diesel said it didn’t happen who they got because the Two Dudes With Attitudes will be “Four Chaps With Straps.” Nice name.

Jean-Pierre Lafitte was in the ring. They showed highlights of Lafitte stealing Bret Hart’s jacket and that set up this feud.

Bret “Hitman” Hart was interviewed backstage. Bret said that Pierre thinks it’s a small thing that he stole the jacket and he said it wasn’t right that Pierre was still sunglasses either. Bret made his entrance to a big pop as one of WWE’s top babyfaces in this era.

Bret “Hitman” Hart vs. Jean-Pierre Lafitte

Pre-match notes: Bret was the face while Lafitte was the heel. It was the jacket feud because it started due to Lafitte stealing Bret’s jacket. Lafitte was known as Pierre (that’s Peter in French) when he was in The Quebecers tag team while also wrestling as Pierre-Carl Oulette aka PCO recently.

Pierre wrestled with an eyepatch on his right eye. Bret started the match with a suicide dive onto Pierre on the floor. Bret jumped a bit too far, but he was okay. Bret sent Pierre into the turnbuckle, and then Pierre sent Bret into the corner followed by a series of punches. Pierre charged at Bret, who moved and Pierre hit the corner. Bret with a knee drops on the arm followed by an armbar. Bret with a crucifix pin for a two count leading into an armbar. Lawler dared Bret to say something to him so Lawler can beat him up. Lafitte countered a hip toss attempt with a clothesline. Pierre stomped on Bret’s stomach repeatedly. Pierre took control by countering Bret with a kick to the chest. Bret went for a running attack against the turnbuckle, Pierre moved and Bret went shoulder-first into the turnbuckle. Pierre sent Bret shoulder first into the turnbuckle and then a whip into the turnbuckle with Bret taking his patented sternum first bump. Bret came back with a back body drop over the top, Pierre landed on his feet and he whipped Bret into the steel steps. Lawler was laughing at this because he loved this. Pierre sent Bret back into the ring.

Bret tried to come back with punches and a running attack, but Pierre hit him with a spinebuster for two. Vince called Pierre “one of the most underrated competitors” in WWE and that was an accurate statement as Pierre applied a chin lock. Pierre with a back elbow followed by a leg drop for two. Bret broke free from a submission attempt with a running sunset flip for two and then Pierre got a clothesline. Pierre with a sidewalk slam. Pierre went up top and he hit an impressive leg drop for a two count. Pierre went up top, he signalled for his finisher, he went up top and jumped off with a Cannonball, but Bret moved and Pierre hit the mat hard. JR said it was the first time they had seen Pierre miss that move. Bret back up with an atomic drop, a running clothesline and Pierre kicked him out of the ring during a Sharpshooter attempt. Pierre ran the ropes, he did a somersault dive over the top (using the ropes to assist) and Pierre landed back first on the floor! Ouch. Bret moved out of the way, so it was a rough landing for Pierre. Bret whipped Pierre into the steel steps. Bret whipped Pierre into the turnbuckle for his own sternum bump. Bret with a punch to the gut followed by a Russian leg sweep. Bret got an inside cradle for a two count followed by a backbreaker and the diving attack off the middle rope, but Pierre got a boot up to block it. Pierre had Bret on his shoulders leading to a rolling senton slam for two. Pierre caught Bret on his shoulders, but then Bret landed on top and got a two count. Bret sent Pierre into the turnbuckle, Pierre got the knee up and got a two count with his foot on the ropes. Bret with a dropkick, then went for a bulldog and Pierre shoved Bret into the turnbuckle for another sternum bump leading to Pierre getting a two count. Bret bounced off the ropes with a running forearm, then he tried another attack, Pierre moved and Bret hit the ropes. Pierre went up top, he jumped off with a headbutt and Bret moved. Bret ran the ropes leading to a running cross-body block collision spot. Bret applied the Sharpshooter while they were on the mat, Bret turned it over and Bret stood up in the Sharpshooter. Pierre tapped out to give Bret the submission win at 16:38. The fans popped for the win.

Winner by submission: Bret “Hitman” Hart

Analysis: **** This was a great match with Bret putting on an impressive showing as usual while Pierre was athletic enough to keep up with him. It’s probably Pierre’s best match in WWE since I can’t remember anything better than this. There was no doubt that Bret was going to win here since he was a top guy while Pierre wasn’t close to that level. I like how Pierre got a lot of offence to the point where you could say he nearly won a few times. Bret didn’t hit some of the signature moves that he usually did to win matches, but he found a way to win. I really liked the Sharpshooter spot with Bret applying the move from the mat. It is something that Bret had done in the past although it was pretty rare, so to see him bust it out again to win a match is cool to see. The fans responded to it very well.

After the match, Bret was given back his leather jacket and he put the jacket on as part of the celebration.

Analysis: I think of this match and the Hakushi PPV match as examples of how great was since he could have four-star level matches with so many different kinds of opponents whether they were a big name or not.

There was an interview in the Camp Cornette locker room with Yokozuna standing there with The British Bulldog, Jim Cornette, Mr Fuji, Gorilla Monsoon and Dok Hendrix doing the interview. Cornette said that even though Bulldog has wrestled once tonight, he knows he can get the job done. Monsoon is officially sanctioning (for tonight only) with Bulldog as one-half of the Tag Team Champions. They recapped the situation. Cornette said he’s got a lot of confidence now.

There was an appearance from Alundra Blayze modelling the In Your House – Triple Header shirt.

It was time for the main event with the Yokozuna and The British Bulldog up first as the Tag Team Champions. Bulldog was filling in for Owen Hart, or so we thought. Yokozuna was huge with the announcers saying he was over 600 pounds.

Shawn Michaels got a big ovation as the popular Intercontinental Champion that was on his way to being a top guy in WWE. Diesel was up last as the babyface WWE Champion. Pretty good pop for Diesel too.

Analysis: Owen missed the start of the match because his wife Martha gave birth to their daughter Athena a day earlier. Owen was in Calgary for that, so he had to fly to Saginaw for this show and was late arriving at the event.

Tag team match with every championship on the line: Two Dudes With Attitudes – Diesel & Shawn Michaels vs. Yokozuna & The British Bulldog (w/Jim Cornette & Mr Fuji)

Pre-match notes: Diesel and Shawn Michaels were the faces while Yokozuna and Bulldog were heels.

Diesel and Michaels were defending the WWE and Intercontinental Titles while Yokozuna and Bulldog were defending the Tag Team Titles.

Michaels and Diesel had “Two Dudes With Attitudes” on their tights. Michaels started with Bulldog with Shawn avoiding some power moves leading to a back body drop followed by a cross-body block over the top to the floor. Yokozuna went after Michaels, so Diesel punched Yokozuna to knock him out of the ring. Michaels mocked Yokozuna’s posing, so then they teased a sumo-style confrontation with Michaels sliding under the legs and Yoko stopped a running Michaels with a back elbow to the head. Yokozuna body slam, Michaels moved and Yokozuna hit the mat. Diesel tagged in with Yoko hitting a clothesline. Diesel with a leaping clothesline followed by a boot to the face that knocked Yokozuna out of the ring. Bulldog got in a cheap shot elbow. Yoko looked exhausted. Bulldog tried a vertical suplex on Diesel, he couldn’t get him up the first time and Bulldog did a second time successfully for a two count. Bulldog applied a chin lock. Bulldog went for the running powerslam, Diesel reversed it, sent Bulldog into the turnbuckle and Diesel hit a running clothesline. Diesel with another running clothesline. Diesel with a body slam, then Michaels got the tag and jumped off Diesel’s shoulders with a splash for a two count. Bulldog came back with a press slam sending Shawn groin first across the top rope. Yoko elbowed Michaels off the apron. Yoko was the legal man as he whipped Michaels into the turnbuckle. Bulldog with a body slam on Michaels on the floor.

Bulldog was back in for his team with a back body drop on Michaels. Bulldog applied a chin lock, Michaels hit a sunset flip and Michaels hit a running cross-body block. Bulldog came back with a clothesline. Yokozuna was back in with a vice grip on the shoulder. Once again Yoko looked like he was absolutely exhausted even putting his hand on Shawn’s shoulder. When Shawn got back up, Yoko delivered a headbutt. Yoko went to the middle rope, but Shawn moved and Yoko did a Banzai drop into the mat. The fans chanted “USA” for the faces. Diesel got the hot tag against Bulldog with Diesel hitting a back body drop, then a Snake Eyes into the top rope. Diesel with a running splash onto Bulldog’s back against the ropes. Diesel with a sidewalk slam. The four guys were on opposite sides, so Bulldog was whipped into Yoko. Bulldog has whipped again and he did a flip into Yoko against the turnbuckle. Diesel with a boot to the face of Bulldog. Michaels punched Cornette off the apron while Yoko hit a Samoan Drop on Diesel. Michaels hit a Sweet Chin Music superkick on Yoko to knock him out of the ring. Bulldog hit a Powerslam on Diesel, but Michaels made the save. That led to Owen Hart running down to the ring in his wrestling gear. Owen jumped off the top rope, Diesel punched him and Diesel hit the Jackknife Powerbomb for the pinfall win at 15:42.

Winners by pinfall AND NEW WWE Tag Team Champions: Two Dudes With Attitudes – Diesel & Shawn Michaels

Analysis: ***1/4 It was a solid tag team match with Michaels and Bulldog doing a lot of work. Yokozuna looked exhausted throughout the match. You could just tell Yoko was labouring through it. The good thing is Michaels still sold everything so well, Diesel was better in a tag team match than a singles match and Bulldog was everywhere although he looked a bit tired too. The finish was ridiculous with Owen Hart making his way down to the ring, getting hit with two moves and losing like that. What a lame ending to a title match with three titles on the line.

After the match was over, Diesel and Michaels were presented the Tag Team Championships and they celebrated along with the WWE and Intercontinental Titles. Diesel and Michaels kept posing while some fireworks went off. The show ended there.

There was a video that aired showing some highlights from the show.

Analysis: The results of this match were ignored the next night on Raw. Since Owen Hart wasn’t legally of the match, it was declared that Yokozuna and Owen were still the champions while Diesel/Michaels had to give up the titles. That night also saw The Smoking Gunns beat Yokozuna and Owen to win the Tag Team Titles. In other words, the result of this main event match ended up being meaningless.

This event had a runtime of 1:54:54 on WWE Network.

Final Thoughts

Show rating (out of 10): 5.5

It was a tale of two halves. The second half was a lot better than the first thanks to the great Bret/Pierre match that is one of the better In Your House matches ever. The main event was perfectly fine as a tag team match. I thought the first half of the show was dull for the most part.

It’s hard to like a lot of things about this show considering the main event was built around a guaranteed title change and then the next night on Raw, the result of the main event was changed. That meant by the next day, this mean event meant nothing. If you bought this show, you should be pissed off.

FIVE STARS

1. Bret Hart
2. Shawn Michaels
3. Jean-Pierre Lafitte
4. The British Bulldog
5. Diesel

OPINIONS

Best Match: Bret Hart vs. Jean-Pierre Lafitte (**** out of 5)

Worst Match: Savio Vega vs. Waylon Mercy (*)

Most Memorable Moment: Bret Hart applying the Sharpshooter while he was on the mat to win the match.

That’s all for me. Check out the full list of my WWE PPV Review archive right here. Thanks for reading.

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John Canton

Email mrjohncanton@gmail.com

Twitter @johnreport