Editor’s Note: This was supposed to be posted yesterday, on the 25th anniversary of the show, but was waylaid by a lack of internet.
This is it. This is the show that kicks off the WWF holding a pay-per-view event every month. For a little while, at least, the In Your House shows were shorter, with a cheaper price tag than the big name shows (Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, King of the Ring, SummerSlam and Survivor Series), offering great value for cards with some pretty good action.
After Diesel dispatched of Shawn Michaels at WRESTLEMANIA, the Heartbreak Kid’s bodyguard, Sid, took exception to his boss’ bravado and turned on him, putting him out of action for a couple of months with a power bomb. When Diesel saved his former partner, it set up the next program with Sid and a battle of the power bombs. That begins here with a main event WWF Championship match. Sid and Diesel had a pretty good big man battle, with Sid showing a little hesitation as he isn’t used to fighting someone his own size. It’s one of Sid’s better matches, actually, even though it ends with fellow Million Dollar Corporation member Tatanka interfering to attack the champ. Diesel had help of his own, in the form of Bam Bam Bigelow, and the post-match brawl sets up the next main event at King of the Ring.
Best Match: Bret “Hitman” Hart defeated Hakushi – The “Hitman” really wanted Jerry Lawler, but he had to win his match against Hakushi, which kicked off the show, to get there. It’s easily the best opening match of the year so far, as Bret and Hakushi adapt their styles throughout the match, and everything flows wonderfully. The high-flying Hakushi and the more mat-based style of the “Hitman” worked well together, as Hart managed to roll Hakushi up for the win.
Worst Match: King of the Ring Qualifying Match: Mabel defeated Adam Bomb – Basically a squash to set up Mabel as a monster going into the King of the Ring tournament next month. Even with the pay-per-view win here, no one would have thought that Mabel would go so far there.
Trick Knee – When Bret left the ring after beating Hakushi, he favored his knee and limped to the back, prompting Jerry Lawler to keep asking for his match with Hart to start immediately so he could take advantage of the injury. Cameras backstage would even catch Bret icing the knee up before his match. But right before his match with Lawler, he revealed it was all a ruse, and his knee was fine. The “Hitman” really was the original “cerebral assassin.” Lawler eventually won their match, though, after interference from Hakushi.
Say Hello to Ramon’s New Friend – After winning a handicap match against Intercontinental Champion Jeff Jarrett and The Roadie, the heel team started to double team him. With Ramon’s usual second, The 1-2-3 Kid, unavailable, the Bad Guy was saved by newcomer Savio Vega, and even the announcers had no idea who he was until Ramon introduced him in a backstage interview. Vega would also get a pretty big push next month.
Ranking In Your House 1
1 – Bret “Hitman” Hart defeated Hakushi
2 – WWF Championship Match: Diesel (c) beat Sid by DQ
3 – Handicap Match: Razor Ramon defeated Jeff Jarrett and the Roadie
4 – Jerry “The King” Lawler defeated Bret “Hitman” Hart
5 – WWF Tag Team Championship Match: Owen Hart and Yokozuna (c) defeated The Smoking Gunns
6 – King of the Ring Qualifying Match: Mabel defeated Adam Bomb
The “Hitman” gets a second match in the Top 10!
*DISCLAIMER* The Top 10 rankings are for discussion purposes only and in no way reflect an official or authoritative list. It is simply my opinion. If you disagree, let me know in the comments. New arrivals to the Top 10 are in bold.
1 – WWF Championship Match: Diesel (c) and Bret “Hitman” Hart battle to a draw – Royal Rumble 1995
2 – WWF Championship Match: Diesel (c) defeated Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania XI
3 – WCW World Championship Match: Hulk Hogan (c) beat Vader by disqualification – SuperBrawl V
4 – Bret “Hitman” Hart defeated Hakushi – In Your House 1
5 – WCW TV Championship: Arn Anderson (c) defeated Johnny B. Badd – Clash of the Champions XXX
6 – Hulk Hogan and “Macho Man” Randy Savage defeated the Butcher and Kevin Sullivan – Clash of the Champions XXX
7 – WWF Tag Team Championship Tournament Final Match: The Kid and Bob “Spark Plug” Holly defeated Bam Bam Bigelow and Tatanka – Royal Rumble 1995
8 – ECW TV Championship Match: Eddy Guerrero defeated Too Cold Scorpio (c) – ECW Three-Way Dance
9 – Sting and “Macho Man” Randy Savage defeated Avalanche and Big Bubba – SuperBrawl V
10 – ECW Tag Team Championship Three-Way Dance: Public Enemy defeated The Tazmaniac and Rick Steiner and Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko (c) – ECW Three-Way Dance
Next week, the legends reunite for WCW’s Slamboree 1995! Stay tuned!