Team nWo (Hogan, Hall, Nash, Savage) def. Team WCW (Von Erich, Luger, Benoit, Anderson) in an elimination match in a clean sweep
Diamond Dallas Page def. Lord Steven Regal (c) to win the WCW United States Championship
Eddie Guerrero def. Dean Malenko
The Amazing French Canadians def. The Public Enemy in a Tornado Tag match
Greg ‘The Hammer’ Valentine def. Wrath
Psicosis def. Ultimo Dragon
Rey Misterio Jr vs Prince Iaukea
WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION World Heavyweight Champion: Scotty Flamingo (3) - 175 days Intercontinental Champion: 2 Cold Scorpio - 28 days Tag Team Champions: Camp Cornette (2) - 175 days
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING World Heavyweight Champion: Kerry Von Erich - 21 days United States Champion: Diamond Dallas Page - 0 days Tag Team Champions: The Four Horsemen (Arn & Benoit) - 21 days
WWF WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Scotty Flamingo (c) vs. Mankind
CHICAGO STREET FIGHT
Shawn Michaels & The Legion of Doom vs. The Nation of Domination
SUBMISSION MATCH
Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart vs. ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin
BATTLE OF THE SUPER-HEAVYWEIGHTS
Yokozuna vs. Vader
WWF WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Camp Cornette (c) vs. The New Blackjacks
WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
2 Cold Scorpio (c) vs. Ahmed Johnson
ROBINSDALE RULES MATCH
Mr. Perfect vs. Ravishing Rick Rude
WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION World Heavyweight Champion: Scotty Flamingo (3) - 182 days Intercontinental Champion: 2 Cold Scorpio - 35 days Tag Team Champions: Camp Cornette (2) - 182 days
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING World Heavyweight Champion: Kerry Von Erich - 28 days United States Champion: Diamond Dallas Page - 7 days Tag Team Champions: The Four Horsemen (Arn & Benoit) - 28 days
1997 HEADLINER - ‘MR WONDERFUL’ PAUL ORNDORFF Mr Wonderful worked both babyface and heel all the way to the Main Event for the WWF. A 5 time former world champion, including 2 time WWF World Heavyweight Champion, Paul Orndorff was part of the historic main event of the very first WrestleMania. However, despite losing on that night, Orndorff was good value as he defeated both of his stablemates (Cowboy Bob Orton & Roddy Piper) at WrestleManias 2 & 3 respectively (including retiring Piper at WM3). Orton would defeat Hulk Hogan in Toronto, Canada in the Main Event of The Big Event at Exhibition Stadium to win the WWF World Heavyweight Championshp before losing it to Andre The Giant. However, Orndorff’s biggest win came at WrestleMania V where he ended the year long reign of Ravishing Rick Rude in the Main Event to the delight of those at Trump Plaza and then retained it one year later in Toronto defeating Roddy Piper one more time. Only instead of the first match on the card, this time he beat Piper to close the show. In total Orndorff went 4-2 at WrestleMania and his 2 reigns combined for 665 days while his 2nd reign from WrestleMania V to SummerSlam 1990 (512 days) still sits supreme as the longest reign in modern WWF history.
1997 INDUCTEE - TITO SANTANA Tito Santana was a fan favourite for those in the golden era of the WWF. A 2-time former Intercontinental champion (over a decade apart with wins in Feb '84 & July '95), Tito showed a longevity much beyond expectations as so many of his contemporaries failed to find relevance in the 1990s. Tito is noteworthy for winning the first match at the very first WrestleMania and lost in the Main Event of WrestleMania VIII to world champion Marty Jannetty. Overall Santana went 1-3 at WrestleMania and it’s surpirsing he didn’t appear on the card more often in his 12 years with the WWF.
1997 INDUCTEE - SAM HOUSTON Sam Houston had a brief but intense run with the WWF, winning the first WWF Royal Rumble and the hearts of the WWF fanbase. Houston made a deep run at WrestleMania IV’s World Heavyweight Championship tournament and lost in the Semi-Finals to eventual winner Rick Rude. That was Houston’s only WrestleMania but does allow him a 2-1 record at the event. Houston was also the sole survivor on his team in the 1988 Survivor Series
1997 INDUCTEES - THE ORIENT EXPRESS The Orient Express only had the 1 WWF World Tag Team Title reign but they made it count, going from WrestleMania VIII to Summerslam 1993, some 512 days later. The Orient Express would only make two appearances at WrestleMania winning both for a perfect 2-0 record
I know that Undertaker has already lost at WrestleMania in the simulation and didn’t become as big as star as real life. But to not even see him on the card for a WrestleMania he main evented is astonishing.
Scotty Flamingo (c) def. Mankind to retain the WWF World Heavyweight Championship
Shawn Michaels & The Legion of Doom def. The Nation of Domination in a Chicago Street Fight
Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart def. ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin in a Submission Match
Vader def, Yokozuna
Camp Cornette (c) & the The New Blackjacks went to a Double Countout. Camp Cornette retain the tag titles
2 Cold Scorpio (c) def. Ahmed Johnson to retain the WWF Intercontinental Championship
Ravishing Rick Rude def. Mr. Perfect in a Robbinsdale Rules match
WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION World Heavyweight Champion: Scotty Flamingo (3) - 182 days Intercontinental Champion: 2 Cold Scorpio - 35 days Tag Team Champions: Camp Cornette (2) - 182 days
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING World Heavyweight Champion: Kerry Von Erich - 28 days United States Champion: Diamond Dallas Page - 7 days Tag Team Champions: The Four Horsemen (Arn & Benoit) - 28 days
PRO WRESTLING ILLUSTRATED PRESENT THE PWI 500 FOR 1997* Last year in parentheses
Scotty Flamingo (WWF - 7)
Mankind (WWF - 19)
Kerry Von Erich (WWF - 6)
Too Cold Scorpio (WWF - 20)
Ted DiBiase (WCW - 18)
Mr Perfect (WWF - 13)
Vader (WWF - 3)
Yokozuna (WWF - 4)
Bret Hart (WWF - 2)
Owen Hart (WWF - 10)
Diamond Dallas Page (WCW - 30)
Hollywood Hogan (WCW - 1)
Stone Cold Steve Austin (WWF - 15)
Chris Benoit (WCW - 55)
Ric Flair (WCW - 9)
Kevin Nash (WCW - 24)
Lex Luger (WCW - 12)
Arn Anderson (WCW - 14)
Scott Hall (WCW - 41)
Shawn Michaels (WWF - 11)
Other Notables
Jeff Jarrett (21), Rick Rude (22), Ricky Steamboat (23), Magnum T.A. (24), The Giant (26), Randy Savage (27), Steven Regal (29), Marty Jannetty (32), Hunter Hearst Helmsley (33), Jesse Ventura (36), Davey Boy Smith (44), Sting (45), Synn (49), Booker T (51), Roddy Piper (54), Dusty Rhodes (63), Jake Roberts (72), Rey Misterio Jr (73), Sid (75), Chris Jericho (94), Rocky Maivia (104), Eddie Guerrero (114), The Undertaker (120)
Highest Debut: Rey Misterio Jr (73) Most Improved: Ahmed Johnson (up 68) Biggest Fall The Undertaker (down 63)
FOUR CORNERS MATCH TO DETERMINE THE #1 CONTENDER FOR THE WCW WORLD TITLE Hollywood Hogan vs. Lex Luger vs. Jeff Jarrett vs. Ted DiBiase
The Outsiders vs. The Public Enemy
Roddy Piper & Randy Savage vs. The Steiner Brothers
WCW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
The Four Horsemen (c) vs. The Faces of Fear
Lord Steven Regal vs. Bam Bam Bigelow
WELCOME TO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING The Giant vs. Marty Jannetty
Dean Malenko vs. Kevin Sullivan
WCW UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Diamond Dallas Page (c) vs. Larry Zbyszko
WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION World Heavyweight Champion: Scotty Flamingo (3) - 196 days Intercontinental Champion: 2 Cold Scorpio - 49 days Tag Team Champions: Camp Cornette (2) - 196 days
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING World Heavyweight Champion: Kerry Von Erich - 42 days United States Champion: Diamond Dallas Page - 21 days Tag Team Champions: The Four Horsemen (Arn & Benoit) - 42 days
Wrestling doesn’t have an off-season but the immediate aftermath of Wrestlemania is about as close as we get with the following events occurring
The Civil War between Hollywood Hogan and Ted DiBiase continues after all of the nWo lost their gold at SuperBrawl while Hogan def Luger in his match. This was followed by the nWo membership choosing Hogan to lead them in the NWO vs WCW match at Uncensored which was won in a clean sweep by the New World Order. With both men in the Fatal 4 Way, the stakes might be bigger than the WCW World Heavyweight Championship
Jake Roberts has retired from the ring. He’s said to be happy with his run and looks forward to living a quiet life running a wrestling school in the South East of the United States
Nikita Koloff has jumped to the WWF. It’s said that Vince is drooling at the idea of hitting the Evil Russian storyline once more and may even run back an old WCW storyline for a global audience with Magnum vs Koloff being at least mentioned in some meetings
Marty Jannetty has jumped to WCW. There are those behind the scenes who don’t think it’s going to go well for him as he’s coming off as a ‘poor-man’s older Scotty Flamingo’
On the note of Scotty Flamingo. It’s said that his contract is due to expire and he has a launching off point to WCW but he still has possession of Vince’s world title. Scotty also has a creative control stipulation and was the reason he didn’t lose in the Main Event of WrestleMania as it would have hurt his stock. It’ll be interesting to see what In Your House 14 brings. Will Flamingo drop the belt in the Main Event of an In Your House instead?
On a sombre note, The Bezerker has died. We pass along our best to the family of the performer. He was 38 years old.
Hollywood Hogan def. Lex Luger, Jeff Jarrett, and Ted DiBiase in a Four Corners Match to become the #1 contender to the WCW World Title by pinning DiBiase
The Public Enemy def. The Outsiders
Roddy Piper & Randy Savage def. The Steiner Brothers
The Four Horsemen (c) def. The Faces of Fear to retain the WCW World Tag Team Titles
Lord Steven Regal def. Bam Bam Bigelow
The Giant def. Marty Jannetty
Dean Malenko def. Kevin Sullivan
Diamond Dallas Page (c) def. Larry Zbyszko to retain the WCW United States Championship
WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION World Heavyweight Champion: Scotty Flamingo (3) - 196 days Intercontinental Champion: 2 Cold Scorpio - 49 days Tag Team Champions: Camp Cornette (2) - 196 days
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING World Heavyweight Champion: Kerry Von Erich - 42 days United States Champion: Diamond Dallas Page - 21 days Tag Team Champions: The Four Horsemen (Arn & Benoit) - 42 days
WWF IN YOUR HOUSE 14: THE PERFECT NIGHT PREVIEW - APRIL 20, 1997
WWF WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Scotty Flamingo (c) vs. Mr. Perfect
STEEL CAGE MATCH
‘The Real Double J’ Jesse James vs. Rockabilly
WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
The Hart Foundation (c) vs. The New Blackjacks
The Legion of Doom vs. Power & Glory
WINNER RECEIVES THE WWF WORLD TITLE SHOT AT IN YOUR HOUSE 15
Vader vs. Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart
WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
2 Cold Scorpio (c) vs. Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION World Heavyweight Champion: Scotty Flamingo (3) - 210 days Intercontinental Champion: 2 Cold Scorpio - 63 days Tag Team Champions: The Hart Foundation (2) - 210 days
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING World Heavyweight Champion: Kerry Von Erich - 56 days United States Champion: Diamond Dallas Page - 35 days Tag Team Champions: The Four Horsemen (Arn & Benoit) - 56 days
We’ve seen the relaunch and expansion of a familiar phrase - The Hart Foundation. Bret interrupted an Owen vs. Bulldog match and talked about the importance of family, the importance of nationhood, the importance of the World Tag Team titles, and the importance of Canada. The Hart Foundation are now a 5 piece strong group with Bret, Owen & Davey, Brian Pillman and a returning Jim Neidhart
WWF IN YOUR HOUSE 14: THE PERFECT NIGHT RESULTS - APRIL 20, 1997
Mr. Perfect def. Scotty Flamingo (c) to win the WWF World Heavyweight Championship
Rockabilly def. ‘The Real Double J’ Jesse James in a Steel Cage Match
The Hart Foundation (c) def. The New Blackjacks to retain the WWF World Tag Team Titles
The Legion of Doom def. Power & Glory
Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart def. Vader to become #1 Contender to the WWF World Title
2 Cold Scorpio (c) def. Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION World Heavyweight Champion: Mr. Perfect - 0 days Intercontinental Champion: 2 Cold Scorpio - 63 days Tag Team Champions: The Hart Foundation (2) - 210 days
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING World Heavyweight Champion: Kerry Von Erich - 56 days United States Champion: Diamond Dallas Page - 35 days Tag Team Champions: The Four Horsemen (Arn & Benoit) - 56 days
I’ve actually managed to port most of it over while listening to POST’s post WM review this morning - good stuff. All I need is to set up allies & enemies and I’m good to go
WWF IN YOUR HOUSE 15: REVENGE OF THE TAKER - MAY 11, 1997
WWF WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Mr. Perfect (c) vs. Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart
Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Magnum T.A.
The Legion of Doom vs The Nation of Domination (Savio & Crush)
NO HOLDS BARRED
Ken Shamrock vs. Vader
The Undertaker vs. Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler
Rocky Maivia vs. Mankind
WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION World Heavyweight Champion: Mr. Perfect - 21 days Intercontinental Champion: 2 Cold Scorpio - 84 days Tag Team Champions: The Hart Foundation (2) - 231 days
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING World Heavyweight Champion: Kerry Von Erich - 77 days United States Champion: Diamond Dallas Page - 56 days Tag Team Champions: The Four Horsemen (Arn & Benoit) - 77 days
