Last weekend, along with tearing up the dance floor, I scoped out the Wrestling section at a nearby Suncoast. The Best of: Intercontinental Championship caught my eye. Like any other idiot, I couldn’t resist. Back at the dorm, I popped the DVD in and sat back with Louie, Andrew, and Curt for an hour of old-school WWF entertainment. Never before have I felt more satisfied with a purchase. Here’s the breakdown of the matches.
Shawn Michaels vs. Crush
I remember Crush being one of my favorite wrestlers. He never was the biggest star, but I would rank him with Tatanka. After watching this match, I can’t remember why I liked him. To start the match off, Crush grabs the Heartbreak Kid by the shoulders and, in a “display of strength”, he sits him on top of a turnbuckle. That’s it. Crush just backs off and HBK hops off onto his feet. At a random point in the match, Shawn Michaels steps out of the ring and the Earl Hebner counts him out as he walks backstage–Classic heart-pumping action.
Bret Hart vs. Skinner
No, I don’t remember Skinner either. He’s real dirty, in both senses. He has odd stains on his flannel that also run down the front of his trousers. Outside of the ring, he punches Bret Hart with an alligator claw in his fist. Back in the ring, he tries a leg drop on the Hitman’s crotch. Showing massive experience against this move, Bret reverses the attempt by grabbing the foot and applying a sharpshooter.
Shawn Michaels vs. Marty Jannetty
Shawn Michaels looks to be about 400 pounds in this match. For some reason, Marty Jannetty tries a sideways splash with HBK on the ropes. HBK moves to the side and the other Rocker flies out of the ring. Diesel throws him back in the ring and HBK gets the pin. The version of Shawn Michaels’s theme song, where he sings the verses himself, is used at this point in his career. Hearing this made the DVD worth it on its own.
Shawn Michaels vs. Mr. Perfect
Here’s a quote straight from the commentators “Mr. Perfect taught him everything he knows but he didn’t teach him everything he knows.” Surely, if you’ve read this far, you remember when wrestlers would lock elbows back to back and try to flip the other person over in a challenge of sheer strength. That is the best part of this match. Diesel pulls Mr. perfect out of the ring to break up a Perfect Plex. Shawn Michaels distracts Hebner, and Diesel throws Mr. Perfect’s head into the corner post and there is another count out.
Shawn Michales vs. Hacksaw Jim Duggen
For the first three hours of the match, Jim Duggen walks around the ring chanting “USA!” Shawn Michaels tries to walk backstage twice. The first time, Duggen picks him up and carries him back into the ring. The second time, Duggen punches him back near the ring. Still on his feet, Michaels pokes Duggen in the eye, then, in another showing of pure wrestling skill, HBK steps over the fan barrier and walks through the crowd as he is counted out.
Jim Duggen is one of the best wrestlers to wield the American flag. Duggen is right up there with Sergeant Slaughter–the pro-USA version. These were Pro Wrestling’s best times. When we had characters dressed up as Iraqi admirals burning American flags on national TV. This was a time when kids would believe things like Lex Luger having a bionic elbow and the Ultimate Warrior dying from tying his ribbons too tight. When a 400-pound behemoth could steal his opponent’s python and butt-smash it, Mario-style, just for revenge. When there were coffin matches with the loser buried and declared dead.
This DVD was an entertaining reminder of the good times. There are three count-outs and no title changes. Oh yah, Macho Man commentates three of the matches. Best ten bucks I’ve ever spent.