WWF In Your House: Buried Alive (Version II)

Original Airdate: October 20, 1996

From Indianapolis, Indiana; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon, Jim Ross, and Jerry Lawler

Opening Match: Steve Austin v Hunter Hearst Helmsley: HHH is subbing for an injured Savio Vega. Jim Ross - after weeks of ranting about Vince McMahon - is finally side-by-side with him tonight, and JR is just tearing into him from the moment the broadcast starts. They measure each other to start, and in a funny bit, since both are heels, they team up to go yell at some obnoxious fans at ringside. Lots and lots of measuring and feeling each other out for the first few minutes, before they finally engage in a nice sequence that sees Austin uses a pair of snapmares to ground Helmsley in an armbar. HHH escapes, but hits boot while trying a charge in the corner, and Austin levels him with a lariat. Back to the armbar, but HHH manages to whip him into the ropes to escape, and this time uses a knee as they criss cross. That allows Helmsley to follow up with a turnbuckle smash, and he unloads in the corner for a bit, but Austin turns the tables. Cross corner whip, but HHH reverses, and hits a backdrop as Steve rebounds. Hunter adds a vertical suplex to set up a kneedrop for two, and a side suplex is worth two. HHH goes to the mat with a chinlock, as Ross keeps ripping into McMahon, repeatedly making fun of his inability to call moves by their names. 'That's a wristlock, by the way.' Austin forces a criss cross, so HHH tries a sleeper, but Steve reverses. Helmsley reverses right back, so Austin uses a modified Stunner for two, and a hotshot sets up a 2^nd rope pointed elbowdrop for two. Irish whip, but Helmsley reverses, and uses a high knee to turn the tide again. That sets up a 2^nd rope fistdrop for two, and a criss cross results in a double knockout spot. Cue Mr. Perfect to come out and steal Helmsley's valet, and man, he's over huge. Like, he probably could have been a top guy if he actually made a comeback then. HHH goes out to object, but Austin attacks him before he can stop Perfect's robbery, but then Steve gets in his face as well. Perfect goes after him, so Austin throws a drink in his face, and we nearly have a brawl, but HHH grabs Austin before it goes anywhere. That allows Perfect to finish his robbery, thus distracting Hunter from finishing with the Pedigree so he can go after Perfect in the aisle. Austin jumps him before he can grab him, but HHH reverses a vertical suplex in the aisle, as Perfect disappears with the lady. HHH tries a Pedigree on the floor, but Austin counters with a catapult into the post, and the Stunner finishes on the way back in at 14:50. Took a little while to get going, but the overbooking with Perfect was fun, and it was solid piece overall, if a bit dull. * ¾ (Original rating: ½*)

WWF Tag Team Title Match: Owen Hart and Davey Boy Smith v The Smoking Gunns: Owen and Billy Gunn start, and Billy immediately takes him down in a headlock. Owen counters to a headscissors, so Gunn uses a hiptoss, and both back off. They continue feeling each other out, with Billy dominating, but a flying axehandle gets blocked, and the champs hit a quick tandem clothesline, followed by a drop-toehold/legdrop combo. They wishbone Billy before settling on Davey in there with him, and Gunn manages to dodge a charge in the corner, allowing Bart Gunn to rush across the apron with a clothesline on the Bulldog. Gunns with a tandem backelbow for two, but Davey grabs Bart in a headlock anyway. That leads to a criss cross, and Bart powerslams him to set up a flying bodypress, but Davey dodges. Bulldog with a standard bodypress for two, and it's over to Owen for a missile dropkick. Somersault cradle gets two, and Owen unloads in the corner, before the champs hit a tandem clothesline. They work Bart over for a bit, and a criss cross with Owen ends badly when Bart accidentally collides with Billy. The Gunns get their shit together and double up to take control of Hart, and a tandem Russian legsweep gets them two. Billy with a bodyslam to set up an elbowdrop, and a neckbreaker follows. Bart with a swinging neckbreaker for two, and they go for the kill with the Sidewinder, but Smith pulls them out of position, and Owen is able to capitalize with a spinheel kick on Billy to retain at 9:03. Well, that was a lot better than the crappy Mind Games match, that much is for sure. ** ½ (Original rating: ¾*)

A fiery Jim Ross blazes into the ring, complaining that 'Vince's butt kissers' are messing with his headset, and he's got something to say. Kind of ironic that he's bitching about 'Vince's butt kissers,' considering he'd one day join that club in a less figurative sense. Anyway, he promises that Bret Hart will be live on RAW tomorrow, and he's 'bringing a shovel, because he's gonna bury some people.' I think there's one over by the graveyard set. Quick, someone grab it, and save a trip to Home Depot tomorrow. Their parking lots are annoying. I get why they wanted to have Ross take the 'credit' for bringing Bret to RAW (in case he decided to go to WCW after all, then Ross would take the on-screen blame), but considering this was only a few weeks removed from Ross promising Razor and Diesel on RAW, I'm not sure he was the best choice

WWF Intercontinental Title Match: Marc Mero v Goldust: With Ross having stormed out of the building, Mr. Perfect joins us for guest commentary on this one, looking a lot more disheveled than he did earlier. Guess he got right down to business with that valet. Goldust is a last minute sub for Faarooq, who got attacked by Ahmed Johnson on the Free For All pre-show (and in reality was also down with an injury). Funny moment in the early going, as Goldust gets a little handsy with Mero in the corner, and Marc violently flips out. I know he's no more Johnny B. Badd than Goldust is the 'Natural' Dustin Rhodes, but come on! Mero dominates with arm holds in the early going, but Goldust takes control with right hands in the corner, and he unloads for a while. Marlena looks like she's seconds away from nodding off at ringside. Marc fights his challenger off with a double-leg takedown and a headscissors takedown, followed by a backdrop and a clothesline to send Goldust to the outside. Marc dives after him with a somersault suicida, and a slingshot legdrop gets him two on the way back in. To the top, but Goldust slams him off before he can dive, and dumps the champion to the outside. Goldust follows to send Marc into the steps out there, and a clothesline on the way back in gets him two. Chinlock, but Mero fights free, so Goldust uses a fistdrop for two, and it's back to the hold again. Mero escapes, and a criss cross sees both guys try a bodypress at the same time, which Marc getting the better of it for two. Goldust cuts him off with a clothesline, however, and he grabs a mic to insult the crowd to get some heat on this thing. I appreciate the effort, and it worked, but what a stupid move in kayfabe. And, yep, Marc is able to fight him off with a side suplex as a result, and a flying moonsault press gets two, but Goldust fights him off. Curtain Call, but Mero counters with a double-underhook rollup for two, so Goldust thinks fast by backdropping him over the top. Goldust follows to abuse him on the outside for a bit, so Mr. Perfect walks over to make sure he's all right, and that draws Hunter Hearst Helmsley out. That allows Goldust to try a sneak attack on Perfect, but Perfect easily fights him off, and Marc hits Goldust with a Samoan drop, as HHH is removed from ringside. I'd say he's been less of a nuisance than Perfect, but whatever. Mero with the Wild Thing to retain at 11:36. Pretty much on par with their SummerSlam match. Interestingly, I've upgraded every other match across the board tonight, and by good margins, but this one I liked significantly less this time around. It wasn't poorly worked, but felt really sleepy most of the way through, like they had it on autopilot. * ¼ (Original rating: ** ½)

#1 Contender's Match: Vader v Sycho Sid: Winner gets a WWF Title shot at Survivor Series. And, speaking of the WWF Title, here's Champion Shawn Michaels to do guest commentary. Vader tries to charge Shawn before the bell, but ends up hitting Sid, and we're off. Sid takes him down for a legdrop for two, then into the corner for a ten-punch, but a bodyslam attempt ends badly. That allows Vader to start teeing off in the corner, and he drops Sid with a short-clothesline, before squashing him with an avalanche. Sid bails, and tries a slingshot sunset flip on the way back in, but Vader sit-down splashes him to block, and throws a three-alarm short-clothesline. Headlock, but Sid side suplexes his way out of it, and hits a corner big boot. He goes up with a flying bodypress, but Vader catches him in a slam, and adds a splash for two. Holy shit, though. Vader with a 2^nd rope splash, but he pulls Sid up at two, so you might as well walk away now, if you're looking for suspense. Vaderbomb, but Sid lifts his knees to block, and manages the bodyslam he couldn't get earlier. Powerbomb, so Jim Cornette interferes to prevent it, and Vader sneak attacks. Sid fights him off and tries the Powerbomb again, so Vader goes low this time to block, and tries a Powerbomb of his own, but he can't get him up. He tries softening him up with more blows, but Sid pops off a chokeslam for the pin at 8:02. Sid actually looked like he was giving a lot more than Vader was here. * ½ (Original rating: ¼*)

Main Event: Buried Alive Match: Undertaker v Mankind: They get right into a slugfest at the bell, dominated by Undertaker. He unloads in the corner until Mankind falls out of the ring, and when Mankind tries to sweep him out after him, Undertaker sends him crashing back into the guardrail. Undertaker dives out after him with a flying bodypress, and they brawl over to the grave set, where Undertaker drags him up the mound of dirt, but Mankind fights him off with a shovel. Mankind tries a suplex at the gravesite, but Undertaker uses a small package to force them both down the mound, and they brawl back over to ringside. I like how he went nearly six year without ever using a technical move, and the first time he busts out a small package it's on a freakin' hill of dirt. Mankind bumps around ringside a bit for the Dead Man, and they spill over the rail, for an exchange in the crowd. Undertaker dominates, and sends Mankind crashing back over to ringside, then dives after him with a jumping clothesline over the rail! Back into the ring, Undertaker throws a headbutt, so Mankind tries to bail, but another headbutt keeps his ass in place. Ropewalk forearm, but Mankind manages to crotch him on the top rope to block, and he puts the boots to Undertaker as the tide turns. Turnbuckle smash, but Undertaker reverses, so Mankind grabs a spike from Paul Bearer, and uses that to put him back down. Where was Bearer with these quality weapons when he was managing Undertaker? Six years of nothing but shrieking and moaning from him, and he could have been providing the goods that whole time? Mankind with a corner whip, but Undertaker rebounds out with a backelbow, and he grabs the spike to get some revenge with. Jumping clothesline connects, followed by a legdrop, and Undertaker decides to stop and go after Bearer on the outside. That allows Mankind to recover and come at him with a chair, and he leans Undertaker against the steps ahead of a running kneesmash. Back to the grave, where Mankind manages to knock him into the hole, but Undertaker pulls him in with him before any dirt gets shoveled. Mankind responds by throwing a handful of dirt into Undertaker's eyes, but Undertaker can still see enough to chuck Mankind off the mound, and onto the concrete floor. Back to the ring, Mankind pulls out a piledriver, and instinctively goes for a cover, but that goes nowhere. He tries to ground Undertaker in a hold, but gets quickly shrugged off. Elbowdrop, but Mankind dodges, and he drops Undertaker with a double-arm DDT onto a chair. He wastes times cradling the urn, however, allowing Undertaker to recover, and he puts Mankind down with the chair, then hits a chair-assisted legdrop. Mankind bails to the apron, and manages to drop Undertaker throat-first across the top rope when the Dead Man goes after him, and up come the mats on the floor! Mankind tries a piledriver out there, but Undertaker counters with a nasty backdrop driver into the steps, and they head back in - steps in tow. Undertaker nails him with them a few times ahead of the Tombstone, and it's time for the grave! He drags Mankind over, but Mankind slaps on the Mandible Claw before Undertaker can get him into the hole. He grabs the urn to finish the job, but Undertaker counters a blow with a chokeslam into the grave! He starts shoveling dirt in, and Mankind isn't moving - Undertaker getting his first victory over this rival at 18:21. I wasn't a fan of their first two pay per view meetings, but this was a whole different bag. Lots of action, crazy bumping from Mankind, and very engaging overall. The referee says enough, damn it, but the Undertaker knows Mankind needs to be finished, and he is up to the task of homicide. He continues shoveling on dirt until Executioner (Terry Gordy, under a mask) makes the save, and he, Mankind and a bunch of random heels spend forever burying 'Taker under all six feet of the dirt. BUT WAIT, just before the show goes off the air, lightning strikes the grave, and THE UNDERTAKER'S HAND COMES SHOOTING OUT OF THE DIRT! He’s okay, kids! No worries, you didn’t just watch a snuff film! **** (Original rating: * ½)

BUExperience: A unique main event tops a sleepy undercard. It’s not a bad show. There are no notable stinkers, and solid enough matches all the way up to the main. But, it’s also got nothing of consequence going on, either. This whole period feels like the WWF equivalent of a gloomy, lazy Sunday afternoon.

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