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By Wade Keller, Torch editor

KELLER'S WWF WRESTLEMANIA X-2 REPORT
MARCH 31, 1996
LIVE FROM ANAHEIM, CALIF. AT THE POND

Attendance: 18,000 near sellout.

MATCH ANALYSIS by Wade Keller

(1) Vader & Owen Hart & British Bulldog (mgd. by Jim Cornette) beat Jake Roberts & Ahmed Johnson & Yokozuna when Vader pinned Jake Roberts at 13:08. Roberts was the right man in this match to do the job and Vader was the right man to get the win. Roberts is past a point where he is a main event contender, yet beating him still means something. This match benefited from a high energy level on the part of all six wrestlers, a well-booked WWF-style finish, and a hot crowd. The match was hurt by Ahmed being the best worker of the three babyfaces. The match opened with a hot six-way brawl. The babyfaces, of course, cleared the ring with Yokozuna getting a pop for sending Vader over the top rope with a clothesline. Yokozuna then threw Ahmed over the top rope onto Vader, although Vader caught him and sort of landed on him. At 3:30 Ahmed tagged in and cleaned house on all three heels. The timing on some of the moves early, especially the punches, hurt the otherwise strong early part of the bout.

Ahmed tagged in Roberts for the first time at 7:00. Roberts hit Owen with a short-arm DDT, but Owen blocked his subsequent DDT attempt. The heels worked over Roberts for five minutes (the bad part of the match) before Yokozuna got the hot-tag at 11:30. Yokozuna cleaned house and got great fan heat. Yokozuna backslammed Owen and tagged in Jake. Jake DDT'd Owen Hart, but when he went for the cover the referee was distracted by brawling at ringside between Vader and Ahmed. Cornette then came in with his racquet. Jake moved out of the path of the swing, but Vader then hit a distracted Roberts with a splash. The referee came in and counted the pin. A good opener and about as good as this match could have been considering the participants. (**1/2)

(2) Roddy Piper fought Goldust to a no contest at about 4:30. The back alley street fight took place "live" and was broadcast on the video wall in the arena. As Goldust drove up in his gold monster Cadillac, Piper charged with a baseball bat and smashed in the side window and windshield. Goldust came out the passenger side and was met by a vicious Piper. Piper used an aluminum garbage can, food from an "actor's buffet," and the wall of the studio against Goldust's head. Piper then sprayed Goldust with a high powered water hose. Goldust took over at 3:20 with a lowblow. He then got into his car and ran into Piper on his way out. As he was hit, Piper leaped so he landed on the hood of the car and then fell off. Piper then got into his White Ford Bronco and chased after Goldust.

(3) Steve Austin defeated Savio Vega via submission with the Million Dollar Sleeper at 10:05. The early portion of the match was merely a backdrop for McMahon and Lawler to talk to Piper via cellular phone as he chased Goldust in his Bronco. The match itself began pretty hot with all-out brawling between both of them. Austin did his usual strong selling and bumping for Vega, although the crowd was not responding until Savio began throwing hard chops at Austin's chest at ringside. At 3:40 when Savio sold a bicep injury after a failed clothesline, Austin worked over his arm. Piper was then interviewed again. He said he's gonna chase Goldust to wherever he goes and "make a man out of this fruitcake." At 4:40 they went to a sequence of near falls, some of which were strong, others a bit sloppy. Savio went for a backslide, but failed to pull Austin over because of his bum arm - a major storyline of the match which McMahon and Lawler failed to pick up on. Vegas took over with a wheel kick, but Austin caught him with a knee as he came off the ropes. More near falls. A minute later Vega caught Austin with boot as Austin dove off the top rope (it didn't look good, though). Vega then took over but when Austin ducked, Vega spin wheel kicked the ref. With the ref down, Austin hit Vega with the Million Dollar belt twice with definite impact. Austin then applied a chinlock on Vega. Meanwhile, DiBiase tried to wake the referee by pouring a soda on his face. The ref lifted and dropped Vega's limp arm three times for the finish. A strong storyline, hard work, good bumps, and lots of near falls mitigated by spotty execution. (**3/4)

McMahon then showed a White Bronco driving through traffic (actually O.J. footage) and implied it was Piper. Mr. Perfect then interviewed Diesel. He said he'd take care of Undertaker, then said, "Shawn, good luck. I'll take care of you next."

(4) Ultimate Warrior pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley at 1:39. The fans popped for Hunter's music because they knew it meant Warrior's match was next. Although it didn't come across on TV, the fan reaction in the arena was thunderous. Hunter attacked Warrior before the bell. Warrior immediately began no-selling. Hunter executed an early pedigree, but Warrior just popped up a la Hulk Hogan. Warrior then hit Hunter with three clotheslines (what an athlete!) and a flying shoulder tackle. He signalled for a powerslam and got a huge pop from the fans. He pressed him, dropped him, and splashed his back and then pinned him. Hunter was a professional about it and obviously was promised "You'll be taken care of if you do this favor for us." Warrior looked pretty much the same as before. (1/4*)

Todd Pettengill introduced "Wildman" Marc Mero who did an intense interview talking about being excited about entering the WWF after five years of anticipation. Pettengill asked him if the quality of his opponents could be any better, mentioning Ultimate Warrior, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, and Undertaker (all babyfaces). As Mero answered, Hunter bumped into him. Mero shoved back. When Hunter blamed the woman he was with, Mero came to her rescue and ran him into the metal garage door. Just as the brawling began, they pulled away back to a wideshot of the arena for no good reason.

(5) Undertaker beat Diesel at 16:46 after a tombstone piledriver. Diesel opened the match the usual way, bashing Undertaker in the corner. Diesel ran into Undertaker's boot, but Undertaker missed a high elbow drop. Undertaker quickly rose and they brawled at ringside. At 1:50 Undertaker bodyblocked Diesel. He then walked the ropes and came off with a forearm. They fought again to ringside exchanging ringpost shots. Diesel returned to the ring, raised his arm, and the crowd booed. At 8:17 they both gave each other simultaneous high boots. Then the action slowed with Diesel locking on a bearhug at 9:30. At 10:36 Undertaker escaped. A moment later Diesel surprised Undertaker with a jackknife. Diesel kicked Undertaker and challenged him to get up. Undertaker rose. Diesel jackknifed Undertaker again. Diesel stalled, but eventually went for a pin, but as he went for the pin, Undertaker grabbed his throat and rose to his feet. Diesel came back with a short-arm clothesline. Diesel blocked another choke attempt and hit a back suplex as the crowd was buzzing. They exchanged blows. Undertaker power choke-slammed Diesel although it didn't get the pop the move should have received. Diesel got to his feet, but Undertaker tombstone piledrove him for a clean win. Well above expectations. For each man, this was probably their best match in the last year if not longer. (***1/4)

After the match Goldust sped up to the entrance of the arena. Piper followed and rammed into him in the process. Goldust ran to the ring and Piper followed. Goldust took over right away because Piper was still favoring the leg he "injured" when he was hit by the car. Goldust went for a piledriver, but while he had Piper in position, he began rubbing Piper's butt which got a huge crowd pop. Piper went nuts and fought out of it, but Goldust lowblowed him and began ripping off his shirt. Goldust choked Piper with a shirt and wrapped Piper's leg around the ringpost. Goldust then sat on top of Piper and pummeled him with a series of punches. When Goldust went to the top rope, Piper shook the ropes causing Goldust to crotch himself. Goldust headbutted Piper twice and then kissed him. Piper then began no-selling. Piper went berserk and grabbed Goldust's crotch. Goldust sold like mad. Piper kneed Goldust in the groin and then spanked him. At 5:00 he then ripped off is gold suit revealing strange leather undergarments. Piper kneed the barely glad Goldust in the crotch. Marlena wrapped Goldust in a black cloth and they ran to the back as Piper celebrated.

(6) Shawn Michaels pinned Bret Hart at 1:52 of overtime after a 60 minute no-falls draw. Michaels propelled to the ring from a rope atop the arena and slid to the ring in a harness. After feeling each other out early, at 2:20 Bret rolled Michaels into a headlock. After several minutes of Bret locking on the headlock, Michaels locked on an armbar. At 10:30, in the first highspot of the match, Michaels threw Bret from the ring via a headscissors. Michaels went back to an armbar. Except for one brief interruption, the armbar stayed on until 14:00 when Bret caught Michaels in a leapfrog and went for his first sharpshooter attempt. Outside the ring Michaels rammed Bret into the ringpost. Bret fell onto the lap of the timekeeper. Michaels superkicked at Bret, but Bret moved and Michaels KO'd the timekeeper at 15:00. Bret worked a chinlock for five minutes. Then Michaels re-applied an armbar. Michaels worked over the arm in over a dozen ways until 28:00. Bret scored two near falls near 30:00 after propelling Michaels into the ringpost from inside the ring. At 30:50 Bret hit a piledriver for a two count. When Michaels kicked out, there was some booing as fans caught on that they weren't going to do any falls. At 33:00 Michaels hit a top rope bodyblock to the floor. After some near falls Michaels applied the sleeper at 35:00. At 37:00 Michaels charged Bret in the corner, but Bret backdropped him over the top rope to the floor for the best bump of the match. Bret worked over Michaels's back for a long time with the first brief hope spot not coming until 46:00. Bret dove through the ropes and Michaels with a shoulder tackle. The next hopespot came with a simultaneous clothesline off the ropes at 52:00. At 53:00 Bret hit a top rope superplex. Michaels then blocked a sharpshooter and scurried to the ropes. Bret settled for a half-Boston crab. At 56:00 Michaels took over offense for the first time since 37:00. He hit a top rope elbow at 57:30 for a near fall. He hit a moonsault bodyblock for another near fall. After a couple more near falls Bret caught Michaels off the ropes and applied the sharpshooter. The time limit expired. Overtime began, despite Bret's protesting. As Bret continued to work over Michaels's back, Michaels surprised him with a superkick. Both men lay on the mat for a minute. Michaels was the first to his feet. He hit another superkick for the three count and the win. (****1/4)

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