WWF European Rampage Tour – Milan, Italy

April 25, 1993

From the Forum Assago in Milan, Italy

El Matador vs. Doink the Clown

Doink is portrayed by Steve Keirn here. The crowd gets behind Matador. Doink offers a handshake then avoids locking up and taunts the crowd. Doink attacks Matador from behind but whiffs on a punch and gets dropkicked. Doink retreats to the corner but after that turns around and gets caught with a side headlock. Doink bails then returns to cheap shot Matador and toss him outside. Doink now works the arm and that last for a while until Matador escapes and fights back. Matador runs wild and gets a nearfall with the flying forearm as Doink got his foot on the ropes then the ref breaks up Matador’s mounted punches in the corner for some reason so Matador shoves him aside and that allows Doink to reach into his coat and spray something into Matador’s eyes and that gets the win (8:43) *1/4.

Thoughts: Matador looked good during his offensive flurries but man was Keirn a third-rate Doink or what. He was much slower in the ring than Borne and his mannerisms not as effective. Matador was over in Europe but Doink was the act with a push and easy choice to put over.

Money Inc. runs down the Steiner Brothers to hype up their Tag Team Title defense.

WWF World Title Match: The Steiner Brothers vs. Money Inc. (c)

Before the match, IRS tells the crowd that most of the tax cheats are found in Milan, Italy. IRS grabs his briefcase and attempts to hit the Steiners but we hear the ring announcer tell us that if they do not give it up then they will not only lose the match but also forfeit the titles. Referee Dave Hebner takes the briefcase then the Steiners clear the ring. The match settles down with Rick and DiBiase as they fight over a side headlock on the mat. Rick catches DiBiase with a belly-to-belly suplex that gets two before tagging out as Scott works the arm. The Steiners stay in control as the match has been mat based so far at this point. DiBiase catches Scott with a knee smash then tags out but IRS misses an elbow drop as the Steiners now work over IRS’s arm. Scott dumps IRS outside then snaps his neck off of the top rope and covers for a one count as Hebner was distracted and took a long time to see the pin. DiBiase trips up Scott from the outside then drags him out and roughs him up as IRS distracts the referee. DiBiase works a side headlock but Scott runs him into the turnbuckle. IRS tags and prevents Scott from tagging out. Scott hits IRS with a jawbreaker but DiBiase tags back into the match and hits a suplex for a two count. DiBiase tries another suplex but Scott reverses that as both men are down. IRS tags in and takes a swing at Rick to prevent a tag then DiBiase distracts the ref as to not see Scott’s sunset flip. Money Inc. cut the ring in half until Scott hits a crossbody for two. DiBiase runs interference then dumps Scott outside where IRS lands a few attacks the camera missed. Rick tends to his brother on the outside and in the process knocks down Hebner. Back inside, DiBiase uses a gutwrench suplex for two then tags out as IRS prevents a tag from taking place. DiBiase is back in but ducks his head and gets slammed to the mat. IRS tags and comes off the top but eats boot and then Scott is finally able to tag out as Rick runs wild on DiBiase. Scott comes in as thematch breaks down then hits a flying clothesline on DiBiase as Rick covers for two. Rick catches DiBiase with a powerslam then knocks IRS off of the apron. Scott tags in and hits DiBiase with the Frankensteiner but IRS takes the belt and whacks Scott just before the three count as The Steiners win by DQ but Money Inc. remains champions (15:07) ***1/4

Thoughts: Easily the best Money Inc. match I’ve seen up until this point. The heat segment on Scott worked out well and Money Inc. was interesting on offense for a change and wrestled like a cohesive unit instead of two singles guys paired up together.

Mr. Fuji & Yokozuna are backstage and asked about The Undertaker. Fuji says Yokozuna is not afraid of the Undertaker as the camera zooms in on Yokozuna’s face. Fuji then says the next funeral for Undertaker will be his own.

Yokozuna w/ Mr. Fuji vs. The Undertaker w/ Paul Bearer

This match was also featured on the “Global Warfare” release from Coliseum Home Video. Yokozuna punches away but they do not have any effect. Undertaker hits a few throat thrusts then takes Yokozuna down with a jumping DDT. Undertaker misses an elbow drop then gets clotheslined outside where Fuji whacks him in the back with the flag. Yokozuna comes out to ram Undertaker’s face off of the steps and the apron before taking the match back into the ring. The crowd chants for the Undertaker, who no sells a turnbuckle smash then chokes out Yokozuna until he’s stopped by the referee. Undertaker misses an attack in the corner and gets slammed. Yokozuna hits a leg drop as Undertaker sits up then Yokozuna takes him back down with a clothesline. Undertaker is out on the mat as Yokozuna slaps him a few times then Undertaker sits up so Yokozuna takes the salt bucket and attacks Undertaker for the DQ (5:43) *1/2. Fuji comes in to hit Undertaker with the flag pole Yokozuna sets up for the Bonzai drop but Undertaker sat up to avoid the move. Undertaker then hits a clothesline before the chokeslam as Yokozuna bails.

Thoughts: Match was going along fine I thought until the lame DQ finish. Interesting to see Yokozuna facing a taller opponent and seeing Undertaker no-sell some of his offense but Undertaker’s character work and Yokozuna’s reactions were both strong and carried the match but they weren’t going to do too much as both guys needed to be protected.

Tatanka is backstage and puts over the people of Italy and now Papa Shango can ruin everything with his voodoo.

Papa Shango vs. Tatanka

Shango cheap shots Tatanka in the corner then hammers away. Tatanka fights back with chops then the action goes back-and-forth until Tatanka sends Shango over the top rope with a clothesline. Shango returns to challenge for a test-of-strength then ends up booting Tatanka in the gut. Shango hits a slam but misses an elbow drop as Tatanka hits a slam of his own. Tatanka heads up top but gets caught with a punch then Shango goes back on offense. Tatanka fights back but gets tossed outside then Shango knocks him off of the apron. Tatanka drags Shango outside and hammers away then the match goes back inside where Shango hits a side slam for a nearfall. Tatanka fires up then runs wild briefly before using a roll up for the win (6:03) *1/2.

Thoughts: This was better than I thought, actually, although the finish left a lot to be desired. It still keeps Tatanka’s undefeated in tact anyway.

Beverly Brothers vs. The Bushwhackers

This match was featured on the “Best of the WWF: European Rampage Tour” Coliseum Home Video release. The Bushwhackers play up to the crowd then Beau has enough and attacks Luke. The Bushwhackers fight back and clear the ring before marching around. We settle down with Blake attacking Luke as the Beverlys take control of the match. However, the match breaks down again then we get some comedy spots to make the Beverlys look like dopes. During the chaos, Beau attacks Luke from behind as the Beverly regain control of the match. Blake misses a splash but is able to get up and prevent Luke from making the tag. The Beverlys cut off the ring then run interference to illegally double-team Luke. Blake whips Luke into the corner but Luke comes back to turn him inside-out with a clothesline then tags out as Butch runs wild. The match breaks down after but Beau accidentally hits his partner coming off of the top and Butch covers Blake for the win (14:36) 1/2*.

Thoughts: Way too long for a Bushwhackers comedy match and the crowd became less interested as the match went along. This was Beau’s final appearance in the WWF as Blake hung around as an enhancement talent until August.

Bam Bam Bigelow says that Bret Hart is “excellent in his execution” but tonight Bret will be going down.

Bret now tells us that he has held every title in the WWF and does not like to lose and has a lot more moves than just the sharpshooter for those doubting he can put Bigelow in that move.

Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Bret “The Hitman” Hart

This match is featured on the “Bret Hitman Hart: The Dungeon Collection” DVD. Bigelow rolls on the mat to show his agility. Bret works a side headlock but Bigelow beats him down. Bret comes back with a dropkick then works the arm. Bret fires away then knocks Bigelow through the ropes. Bret heads outside but Bigelow grabs and rams Bret into the post then hears it from the fans. Bret is out on the floor then Bigelow heads back outside to send him into the post again. Bigelow taunts the fans then holds the stairs above his head and motions towards Bret but the ref steps in between for the save. Bigelow now targets the back of Bret as the action returns to the ring. Bret fights back until Bigelow whips him into the corner. Bigelow uses a delayed vertical suplex for a two count then applies a bearhug and ends up turning that into a back suplex for another nearfall. Bigelow uses a backbreaker submission now as the crowd chants “Hitman.” Bret gets his arm up before the three count and flips out to hit a back suplex as both men are down. Bigelow is up first and uses a falling headbutt but climbs up top and misses a flying headbutt as both men are down. Bret beats on Bigelow in the corner before getting a nearfall with a flying clothesline. Bret tries for the sharpshooter but Bigelow blocks that then applies a bearhug. Bret escapes and tries a Saito suplex but Bigelow falls on top and gets two. Bigelow then charges in the corner but eats boot and after that Bret uses a victory roll for the win (20:38) ***1/4.

Thoughts: Good match but maybe a little too long for what it was and they could have shaved off five minutes and it would have been for the best. Bret was over with the fans and this was certainly better than most main events have been on these early 90’s European tours.

Final Thoughts: This was a decent show I thought. The crap was kept to a minimum and we had two genuinely good matches, which was somewhat of a rarity for shows from this era. If you can seek out the main event and Tag Team Title match go for it and you can skip the rest.