Yokozuna was a very dominate force in the WWF during 1994. Until Hulk Hogan beat him at last year’s Wrestlemania, Yokozuna was undefeated. Now a two-time WWF champion, he was looking for a new challenger; that challenger would be announced when whomever won that year’s Royal Rumble match. Still being managed by Mr. Fuji (my favorite manager of the early nineties) Yokozuna’s manager would declare a challenge for someone to body-slam the champion. Many would try and failed, but flown in by helicopter; Lex Luger would make his debut and become the first man to body-slam Yokozuna. This gives Luger recognition with the fans and he also receives a championship match at Summer Slam of 1993. Luger would win by a count-out so he would not gain the championship. Luger would then go on to the Royal Rumble and win it with Bret Hart. Both men would have a coin toss to see who would face Yokozuna first and Luger won. Which would lead us to our title match, but let’s first see Lex Luger body-slam Yokozuna.
Yokozuna was a 500 pound sumo-wrestler and Luger was an American body-builder so this match would involve a lot of powerhouse moves. Many years before joining the company Luger would have a surgery which would leave a metal plate in his forearm and this plate would be used to his advantage whenever he would go for his forearm smash finisher. Against Yokozuna’s weight, Luger was going to need all the help he could get. On top of having to fight a man twice his size, Luger was also surprised by a special guest referee; Mr. Perfect. Luger would start the match off strong, knocking Yokozuna out of the ring after a stare-down between the two. Yokozuna, once in the ring, would remove one of the corner turnbuckle padding and would attempt to slam Luger’s head into the exposed steel. Luger would reverse Yokozuna’s attempt and instead Yokozuna would have his head smashed off the exposed turnbuckle. After a few running power-moves, Luger would body-slam Yokozuna; then hit him with his finisher; the running forearm smash. Mr. Fuji and Yokozuna’s new manager; Jim Cornette would try to interfere in the match, but Luger would knock both men unconscious. While Mr. Perfect checked on the knocked-out managers, Luger would pin Yokozuna. Mr. Perfect would not see the pin, and Luger would come over to Mr. Perfect and shove him for not making the count. Mr. Perfect would then turn heel and disqualify Luger; allowing Yokozuna to remain WWF champion. Luger would never again rise to the fame of this match, as he would soon leave to join WCW. This match symbolizes how something or someone can be gone from professional wrestling in the blink of an eye…
Shawn Michaels, The Heartbreak Kid, an Icon in professional wrestling, started to be called “Mr. Wrestlemania” After this match. Michaels spent most of his younger years in a tag team called “The Rockers”, but would soon grow tired of tag team wrestling and turn on his partner. Shawn Michaels would then go on to be managed by Sensational Sherri and win the Intercontinental championship. Michaels became a very cocky heel and would refuse to defend his championship, so WWF president Jack Tunney stripped him of his title and held a battle royal to crown a new intercontinental champion. A new rising star, “The Bad Guy” Razor Ramon would win the battle royal and earn the right to be called the new Intercontinental champion. Michaels did not like this and challenged Ramon to a match at Wrestlemania to decide would be the rightful champion. This match would end-up becoming a Ladder match, and set the bar for many other Ladders matches after it. Both versions of the Intercontinental championship would be held above the ring and the wrestler would have to climb a Ladder and regain the championship to win. The Intercontinental championship had led many wrestlers to become heavyweight champion, and Shawn Michaels was the next.
The match would begin with offense from Ramon, until Michaels would send him to the outside of the ring. Shawn Michaels brought down his new bodyguard; Diesel, who would interfere while Ramon was on the outside. The referee would see this interference and order Diesel to leave ringside and return to the back. This left the opportunity for the match to be completely even. While on the outside, Ramon would pull up the outside ring padding to attempt his finisher on Shawn Michaels. Michaels would reverse the move and Ramon would fall bareback on the concrete floor. Michaels would grab the ladder and attempt to reclaim the title, only to be knocked down by Ramon. Michaels would set up a ladder in one of the corners and try for a splash on Ramon, but Ramon would reverse it and Irish whip him right back into the ladder. Ramon would try to grab the titles, but Michaels would climb the ladder after him. After both men exchanged some shots, Ramon would superplex Michaels off the ladder. Ramon would again reach from the title, only to have the ladder drop-kicked out from under him from Michaels. Shawn Michaels would hit his finisher, then called, The Super Kick and add a piledriver to that as well. Michaels would then grab the ladder and prompt it up against one of the corners of the ring, jump on the turnbuckles and use his weight to make it and himself crash down on Ramon. Michaels would recover and try again to win the match, but Ramon would throw him off the ladder. Michaels would get entangled in the ropes, and Razor Ramon would reclaim the title and be declared the winner and rightful Intercontinental champion. Shawn Michaels would go on to become a heavyweight contender, while Ramon would go on to feud with Diesel. This match keeps me on the edge of my seat every time I watch it and never has a dull moment. This match would lead to such other match concepts as the Money in the Bank match and the TLC match (Tables, ladders and Chairs). This match will always be remembered as the first sign of the things to come for the WWF called “The Attitude Era” but for now let’s take a look at some of the highlights of this amazing match.
After a nail-biting ladder match and our first WWF title defense, it was time for our main event match. Wrestlemania 10 was rematch time for Bret Hart. At last year’s Wrestlemania, Bret Hart would lose his title to Yokozuna thanks to assistance from Mr. Fuji. Hart would then go on to win the first ever WWF King of the Ring tournament and be entered in the WWF Royal Rumble match. Bret Hart would win the match with Lex Luger and lose a coin toss to him on Monday Night Raw. Luger would face Yokozuna first, but he lost. Now it was Hart’s turn to win back the WWF championship. This match saw one of the only celebrities on hand, as Burt Reynolds would be the guest ring announcer for the match. Long time friend of Harts and Wrestlemania 8 opponent; Rowdy Roddy Piper would be special guest referee for this match as well. Yokozuna would attack Hart before the bell rang, but would make a mistake with a clothesline; allowing Hart to reverse and knock the champion to the mat. As Hart would begin to gain offense, Yokozuna’s new manager; Jim Cornette would attempt to interfere, only to be knocked out by the special referee; Roddy Piper. While that was happening, Yokozuna would regain control of the match and hit Bret Hart with a leg drop and a belly-to-belly suplex. Yokozuna would pull Hart near the ropes and try for his finishing move; The Banzai Drop. Yokozuna would lose his footing and fall to the mat. This would allow for Hart to win the match and not only win the WWF championship for the 3rd time, but win it for the first time at Wrestlemania. No longer was the Red and Yellow running wild, but the Pink and Black attack would show again why he will always be remembered as “The best there is, The best there was, and The best there ever will be”.
No comments:
Post a Comment