DraVen
10-11-2007, 02:22 PM
Basically, it's here for people to discuss past matches that they've either seen or rewatched recently. Maybe the first time you saw it, it wasn't that great; but after seeing it again it was pretty decent
I sat down this evening to watch Summerslam 1997 from the Tagged Classics DVD (also includes Summerslam '96), and match is...
WWF Championship - Bret "Hitman" Hart vs The Undertaker (c) (Shawn Michaels as Special Guest Referee)
After seeing this again, it truely was a marks masterpiece
You had Bret Hart, who after Wrestlemania 13 and his match against Austin, had transformed himself into what could be described as a "regional heel" - Hated everywhere else in the world except for his home country of Canada. Bret stated that if he did not beat Undertaker for the title at Summerslam, he would never again wrestle on American soil
Then you throw in Shawn Michaels who has a storied past with the Hitman. Many people wondered how HBK would officiate this match. Add to that the fact that Taker also wanted Michaels to have nothing to do with it
The Hitman comes out first and gets under the skin of the New Jersey crowd as the Canadian national anthem is played
Taker follows Shawn and before the match begins, Bret heels it up by thumping Taker with the title belt before HBK has a chance to ring the bell
About a third of the way through, Bret locks the Deadman in a figure four around the ring posts; but before doing so yells at Michaels not to DQ him. The Hitman breaks on four which adds to the tension between the two
Then it's Takers turn, as he beats on Pillman and Owen as they make their way to ringside. After this, back in the ring Undie hits the chokeslam and it looks to be all over. That is if Shawn isn't making sure the Hart Foundation members have been successfully ejected. Hitman scores a quick rollup which gets 2 and 3/4. Again, he remonstrates with Michaels. JR, King and Vinnie Mac begin to change their tune and start commending Shawn on calling the match down the middle
Bret has Taker locked in the Sharpshooter in the centre of the ring - no way out. Suprisingly, the Deadman powers out and propels Hart to the outside. Lip readers amongst us clearly see Bret, as shocked as everyone was, shout out the F-word as he gets back inside; this time putting his opponent in his patented hold around the ring posts
But once again, Taker powers out as the Hitman this time inadvertantly launches in to HBK and lands on his knee on the outside
This gives the Canadian time to grab a steel chair from ringside and throttle the Deadman's skull. Michaels dives in to count... 2 and 3/4
Bret once again argues with Shawn, but the referee notices the chair on the apron and begins to accuse the Hitman of using it on his opponent
Now for the finish,
Hart shouts "F-U" at Michaels (which was clearly audible) and spits in his face. HBK, out of rage, loses it and swings the chair at his nemesis but Bret ducks and Taker inadvertantly takes the blow
Michaels has no choice but to count the three as Bret is declared WWF Champion once again, immediately sticking it to the crowd
Overall, an absolutely fantastic match that incorporated almost every aspect of professional wrestling that i think is key - suspense, swerves and psychology. It was superbly paced for a match that must have come close to the thirty minute mark - Bret worked on Taker's legs throughout to set him up for the Sharpshooter. Ultimately, everything that was done in that match was believable
I sat down this evening to watch Summerslam 1997 from the Tagged Classics DVD (also includes Summerslam '96), and match is...
WWF Championship - Bret "Hitman" Hart vs The Undertaker (c) (Shawn Michaels as Special Guest Referee)
After seeing this again, it truely was a marks masterpiece
You had Bret Hart, who after Wrestlemania 13 and his match against Austin, had transformed himself into what could be described as a "regional heel" - Hated everywhere else in the world except for his home country of Canada. Bret stated that if he did not beat Undertaker for the title at Summerslam, he would never again wrestle on American soil
Then you throw in Shawn Michaels who has a storied past with the Hitman. Many people wondered how HBK would officiate this match. Add to that the fact that Taker also wanted Michaels to have nothing to do with it
The Hitman comes out first and gets under the skin of the New Jersey crowd as the Canadian national anthem is played
Taker follows Shawn and before the match begins, Bret heels it up by thumping Taker with the title belt before HBK has a chance to ring the bell
About a third of the way through, Bret locks the Deadman in a figure four around the ring posts; but before doing so yells at Michaels not to DQ him. The Hitman breaks on four which adds to the tension between the two
Then it's Takers turn, as he beats on Pillman and Owen as they make their way to ringside. After this, back in the ring Undie hits the chokeslam and it looks to be all over. That is if Shawn isn't making sure the Hart Foundation members have been successfully ejected. Hitman scores a quick rollup which gets 2 and 3/4. Again, he remonstrates with Michaels. JR, King and Vinnie Mac begin to change their tune and start commending Shawn on calling the match down the middle
Bret has Taker locked in the Sharpshooter in the centre of the ring - no way out. Suprisingly, the Deadman powers out and propels Hart to the outside. Lip readers amongst us clearly see Bret, as shocked as everyone was, shout out the F-word as he gets back inside; this time putting his opponent in his patented hold around the ring posts
But once again, Taker powers out as the Hitman this time inadvertantly launches in to HBK and lands on his knee on the outside
This gives the Canadian time to grab a steel chair from ringside and throttle the Deadman's skull. Michaels dives in to count... 2 and 3/4
Bret once again argues with Shawn, but the referee notices the chair on the apron and begins to accuse the Hitman of using it on his opponent
Now for the finish,
Hart shouts "F-U" at Michaels (which was clearly audible) and spits in his face. HBK, out of rage, loses it and swings the chair at his nemesis but Bret ducks and Taker inadvertantly takes the blow
Michaels has no choice but to count the three as Bret is declared WWF Champion once again, immediately sticking it to the crowd
Overall, an absolutely fantastic match that incorporated almost every aspect of professional wrestling that i think is key - suspense, swerves and psychology. It was superbly paced for a match that must have come close to the thirty minute mark - Bret worked on Taker's legs throughout to set him up for the Sharpshooter. Ultimately, everything that was done in that match was believable