Good vs Bad: IYH 16: Canadian Stampede

[TheOriginalOrangeGoblin 0]

Yah this is a try out review for SmartTalk and I asked ot post it here so yah. Anyways i'm not ogingp lay by play or match by match cause it's been done. Instead i'm doing good vs bad analysis(there's no ugly since this isn't an Eastwood movie). You'll see what I mean.

 

IYH 16: Canadian Stampede

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

 

Preface: This is one of the most forgotten PPV's in WWF history. Few have seen it and even less remember it. It seemed ike a throwaway show at the time, just to build up Summerslam. This is one of the few times in PPV history where the show seemed like it was only done for the live crowd instead of the buyrate. What the WWF and people at home didn't expect was that it would end up being one of the best PPV's ever done.

 

Mankind vs Triple H w/ Chyna

 

Story: Flashback one month to King of the Ring. Mankind and Triple H fought in an all-heel KOTR final and had an average match. The only notable point being that HHH and Chyna cheated so much that by default Mankind became a huge face. HHH won and then proceeded to torture Mankind in the following weeks. Before the MSG brawl, before the Rumble street fight, before the Hell in a Cell and before the cage match, this was their first blow off match.

 

The Good: Well first off this was HHH's best match up to this point as it was a very entertaining brawl, about 10 notches better than KOTR. The crowd was crazy for Manknid and made the match even better. HHH completely obliterates Mankind's knee and Chyna cheats like crazy. Mankind seels it all and HHH sells for him on every comeback. Hell even Chyna takes a bump. The ending is hated by many but those people just don't see how well it works. The whole match is a brawl and throughout the show they high-lights of them brawling in the back. This perfectly builds to Summerslam and with the hatred displayed here you don't expect a simple pedigree or mandible claw finish. These guys really brought out the good stuff out of each other.

 

The Bad: Mankind forgets the knee a few times. HHH dominates a tad too much although after the knee is injured you expect that. Watchign it you don't feel like you're wtaching a big match. The ending works but even before that you feel like it's just a commercial for the rematch. That's about it.

 

Overall: Great opener which stood as HHH's best match up to that point. ***3/4

 

Lightweight title: TAKA Michinoku vs The Great Sasuke

 

Story: None really. WWF needed guys to help solidify the lightweight belt and planned to make Sasuke their champion and TAKA was supposed to be just a victim to introduce Sasuke.

 

The Good: Everything. The crowd which was silent at the begining was won over by the sheer mastery that these guys brought to the ring. TAKA was supposed to be a jobbed but he stole the match right form under Sasuke's nose and made himself(key: made HIMSELF) a star in this match. No resting at all and just all out goodness as they threw everything they had at each other until Sasuke finally nails a tiger suplex to end the chaos. This MADE TAKA.

 

The Bad: Rumor has it they did an even better match the next night on Raw, which I haven't seen so I can't comment on. Yah that's the only bad, the fact that they supposedly topped it. Only other thing that hurts it at all is the fact that the crowd was dead early on, but again they sure woke up halfway through.

 

Overall: What can I say? Amazing match which made TAKA a star. ****1/2

 

WWF Title: Undertaker vs Vader

 

Story: Well this was supposed to be ahmed Johnson's big breakout match but he injured himself so they stuck Vader in there cause they wanted a big man.

 

The Good: Well this was a zillion times better than people thought possible from a Taker match not involving Bret or Shawn. Vader's best WWF match, and one that established him better than the rest of his WWF run combined. Pretty stiff, minimal resting for a Taker match. And an awesoem endign where Taker does EVERYTHING he can, including a top rope chokeslam, to Vader to put him away but Vader keeps proving he's one tough mofo. After the match Taker sells the exhaustion and the pain from the match and probably thanks Vader for giving him THAT good of a match and for making Taker's run look that much mroe credible. And again, a HOT crowd.

 

The Bad: As in most taker matches there is resting, but not as much as usual. A tad too much brawling. Didn't do anything for Vader as he wasn't even on the Summerslam card. And Taker himself lost the belt the next month. Not really much else.

 

Overall: Hmmm.....pretty much the best match possible out of these two. 1997 was a miracle year for Taker as Vader, Foley, Shawn & Bret carried him to good matches. This was no different. ***3/4

 

10 Man Tag: The Hart Foundation vs Steve Austin, Goldust, Legio of Doom and Ken Shamrock

 

Story: Well Bret and Austin were having, perhaps, the greatest feud of all-time through out the winter. Then on one fateful Raw Bret, fresh off a heel turn, reuntied his family(Owen & Bulldog) to help fend off Austin. They started preaching about how much better some things are in Canada, and despite them speaking the truth most of the time, the crowd HATED them. Soon Jim Neidhart and Brian Pillman were added to the Hart Foundation and at KOTR, Bret challenged any 5 Americans to a match on Bret's home turf.

 

The Good: The crowd. This was the HOTTEST crowd that I have ever seen. During the intro's the pop Bret got was so loud that you can't hear the commentators. When Austin MOVED they boo'ed him. When Pillman CHEATED they cheered him. The match itself was fantastic as all 10 guys got moments to shine until Owen's knee was messed up by Austin and he limped away. Then Ausitn's knee was messed up by Bret and he limped away. This had no traditional flow as it was literally a WAR. All 10 guys just brawled out of hate, non-stop. The ending. When Owen rolled up Austin the crowd blew the roof off the Saddledome. And then the Hart brotehrs storm the ring from the audience and brawl with team USA. Everyone just kilsl each other. Austin's defining moment as a heel occurs as he, chair in hand, tries to fight off 20 Harts and then flips off the crowd while handcuffed. Watching the celebration in the end has to bring a tear to your eye. Especially knowing how bad the Hart Family's luck has been it is great to see Pillman laughing with glee the whole match. Davey Boy with his wife getting cheered by 20,000. Owen celebrating with his kids as this is, arguably, his shining moment. And Bret, with a smile on his face for, what seems like, one last time during his career as him and his whole family go out on top. Plus this is my favorite match ever so that's a plus.

 

The Bad: Nothing. Simple as that.

 

Overall: This is my favorite match ever and the greatest moment in Canadian wrestling history. Plus ocnsidering what happened to half the guys in this match, it's the bets memory of them possible. Who would've thought that out of the 10 guys in the main event only Goldust would still be wrestling in the WWF/E? *****

 

Overall PPV Thoughts: Name another PPV where the worst match is ***3/4. You can't cause there hasn't been in North America. Some say this show has no historical value but if the end isn't historical, what is? Simply the best PPV in WWF history and, IMO, the best PPV ever. If you haven't seen it, kill whoever you have to do so.

[Guest nWoScorpion]

I like the new format for the recap. Play by Play for PPV's done over and over isn't that big.

 

Only 1 minor fault i see is a few spelling errors now and then. Nothing major.

[TheOriginalOrangeGoblin 0]

Yah I tend to type fast and miss some minor errors. But for my next one taht'll be corrected.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

I spell things wrong and still post them on the main site...so don't let that get you down.

 

Good review...and I've never seen this ppv.

 

sigh.

[Guest nWoScorpion]

I'm also guilty of making spelling errors (even though i generally spell check every thing i do now) so I guess I have no room to say anything really.

[Guest Dmann2000]

I spell things wrong and still post them on the main site...so don't let that get you down.

 

Good review...and I've never seen this ppv.

 

sigh.

Whatcha got? I'll make a trade for a copy done off of the Colliseum Master.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

I spell check too, but I'm guilty of typing the wrong words...or the wrong version of words...stuff that the spell check isn't going to catch.

[TheOriginalOrangeGoblin 0]

My main spelling mistake is instead of "from" I often put "form"

[Guest bob_barron]

Did you have to review this right before I do for 411??

 

Anyway- I enjoyed the review as I really like your format. Good stuff.

 

bps-

I also have this show as well. It's worth whatever you find it for on ebay

[TheOriginalOrangeGoblin 0]

Well I look forward to your review Barron. And this is a must own show which is my favorite PPV ever.

 

That's why I chose it first.

[Guest MrRant]

Why didn't you PM me when you posted it? And god dammit I just ordered this and was going to review it

 

Damn you both... and especially Bob.

[Guest bob_barron]

Just cause my RAW recap was 12 hours late is no reason to get pissy Rant. I mean- I transcribed Steiner's promo-

 

That's dedication!

[Guest goodhelmet]

for bps...

 

you will find after watching this show that is highly over-rated. it has been ever since SK gave the main the dreaded *****. it isn't even close.

 

the best match is def. the juniors match. everything else is merely entertaining.

[Guest theoldxpac]

lol chain always typing like this: acnadian tsampede. lol only jk m8, thats a nice read which the format was original.

Also this has to be the best ppv ever, i remember the 1st time i watched it was like one in the moring so i had the sound turined right down so my mum wouldnt copmlain, but fuck that didnt make a difference it still sounded like the sound was turened up quite high!

[TheOriginalOrangeGoblin 0]

for bps...

 

you will find after watching this show that is highly over-rated. it has been ever since SK gave the main the dreaded *****. it isn't even close.

 

the best match is def. the juniors match. everything else is merely entertaining.

I HAVE to disagree. The ME is a legit ****1/2 with the crowd giving it another 1/2* to make it a *****. Plus I aint Keith, this one of only 4 or 5 matches I'd ever give *****.

 

And MrRant I should've PM'ed you about it, my bad there.

[Guest Aero]

for bps...

 

you will find after watching this show that is highly over-rated. it has been ever since SK gave the main the dreaded *****. it isn't even close.

 

the best match is def. the juniors match. everything else is merely entertaining.

I HAVE to disagree. The ME is a legit ****1/2 with the crowd giving it another 1/2* to make it a *****. Plus I aint Keith, this one of only 4 or 5 matches I'd ever give *****.

I agree. While SK usually does overrate many matches that feature his Canadian heroes, I don't think that this main event is one of them. Going in, you've got 1997's hottest feud. The reversed face/heel is great. Here you have Brian Pillman, a heel in USA but face in Canada, cheating like crazy, and the crowd can't get enough. The match has so many great moments, and the crowd heat for USA is insane. I also give the match *****.