WTWWW WWE

Vince McMahon, Mr. Perfect, and Jim Ross commentate, live from Cleveland, Ohio. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, 17,000 people came to the event, with 14,926 paying for the privilege of doing so. According to wrestlenomics.com, the card drew a 0.58 buyrate (157,000 domestic buys), less than the 0.90 buyrate (205,000 domestic buys) of the previous year’s edition. That number made it the lowest purchased SummerSlam pay-per-view to this point in company history.

The Free for All begins with the Biki Beach Blast-Off. There is an above ground pool rigged up, surrounded by various potted trees and sand. As advertised, Sunny, Sable, and Marlena are in bathing suits but there is some ridiculousness as Jerry Lawler floats in the pool; Goldust wears a black thong over his tights and Marlena puts sunscreen on his buns; and Marc Mero is sitting by the pool, trying to get a tan even though they are not outside. Who is present, wearing sunglasses over his mask and Aldo Montoya and WWF Tag Team Champions the Smoking Gunns put their kayfabe differences aside to play catch. When Todd Pettengill makes it to the pool, he spots something brown in it. T.L. Hopper investigates, picks up the brown object that looks like a turd, sniffs it, and bites into it in a lampooning of Caddyshack.

Pettengill catches up to Steve Austin backstage. When asked for his thoughts about his match with Yokozuna, Austin tells Pettengill that he will whip his ass just like Yokozuna’s if he does not get out of his way.

Vince McMahon, Mr. Perfect, and Jim Ross are in the booth for the last episode of the taping cycle in Yakina, Washington.

Opening Contest: The Undertaker (w/Paul Bearer) (8-4) pins Who (0-2) after the Tombstone at 1:08:

This is the first Undertaker match on Superstars this year. Ross finally explains what the Boiler Room Brawl is, telling fans that the match will start in the boiler room of the Gund Arena and will end in the ring. Who clubs the Undertaker across the back with some forearms and that is all he can do as the Undertaker mows him down with a flying clothesline and plants his big frame into the canvas with the Tombstone.

Vince McMahon announces that due to life-threatening complications from a ruptured kidney, Intercontinental Champion Ahmed Johnson underwent emergency surgery to stem internal bleeding. Ahmed is shown in the hospital and recuperating at home and McMahon wishes him well.

McMahon and Jerry Lawler call tonight’s action, wrapping up the taping in Seattle, Washington. This is the last RAW before SummerSlam.

Vince McMahon, Mr. Perfect, and Jim Ross are in the booth, once again broadcasting from Yakina, Washington.

Opening Handicap Contest: Vader (w/Jim Cornette) (12-1) beats Alex Porteau & Lou Andrews when he pins both of them after two Vader Bombs at 3:40:

Jose Lothario does color commentary, talking about how WWF Champion Shawn Michaels will cut Vader down like a tree at SummerSlam. Any semblance of Porteau’s push ends as Vader focuses most of his offense on him. Vader stacks his opponents in the corner and devastates them with two Vader Bombs.

Vince McMahon announces that Mark Henry has signed a 10-year, multimillion dollar contract with the WWF. Henry talks about how Andre the Giant picked him up as a kid and it made his day. Jerry Lawler argues that Henry will rue the day that he agreed to wrestle.

McMahon and Jim Ross commentate the third of four episodes taped from Seattle, Washington.

Vince McMahon, Mr. Perfect, and Jerry Lawler call today’s action, taped from Yakina, Washington.

Opening Non-Title Contest: The Smoking Gunns (WWF Tag Team Champions w/Sunny) (10-2) defeat Adrian Lester & Matt Farmer when Billy pins Farmer after the Sidewinder at 2:37:

Lester wrestled for a variety of Canadian promotions in the early 1990s as Firefighter Adrian and Thunder Warrior.

Farmer started his career in 1992 and wrestled in the Pacific Northwest. He would later become a wrestling historian of the region’s history and become a co-founder of the Seattle-based DEFY Wrestling promotion.

The Godwinns and Hillbilly Jim are guest commentators for the match and Phineas is excited for SummerSlam. Despite Phineas rooting for the enhancement team, they are unable to do anything against the three-time WWF Tag Team champions. After the Gunns win, Phineas hypes the Godwinns as the next Tag Team champions and the Godwinns tease going to the ring to fight.

Vince McMahon announces that Intercontinental Champion Ahmed Johnson suffered a ruptured kidney because of Faarooq Asad’s attack on last week’s program.

McMahon and Jerry Lawler are in the booth, taped from Seattle, Washington.

The Superstars “Are You Ready?” song returns after being shelved for the last few months due to roster turnover. Brian Pillman and Sid are added in and several stars like Marc Mero, Sable, Sunny, and Paul Bearer sing “Are you ready to go?”

Vince McMahon, Mr. Perfect, and Jim Ross resume duties as the Superstars commentating trio, starting a new taping in Yakima, Washington. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the taping happened on July 23 and attracted a crowd of 2,922 fans.

Sunny comes out to do commentary for the first match to Rick Rude’s old theme song.

Fans are shown entering the Key Arena, the venue for tonight’s program.

Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler commentate, live from Seattle, Washington. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, 6,755 fans attended the taping. McMahon wishes a happy birthday to WWF Champion Shawn Michaels and former WWF Women’s Champion the Fabulous Moolah.

Sunny wheels a cake to ringside with WWF Tag Team Champions the Smoking Gunns before the opening contest where the Gunns are defending their titles against Shawn Michaels and Ahmed Johnson. The champions attack Michaels and Ahmed before the bell but that just results in Billy eating Sweet Chin Music before the bell rings. Michaels slides out of the ring and wheels the cake toward Sunny. He takes some icing off and puts it on her face, which she does not like. Sunny picks up the cake and thinks of throwing it on Michaels’ head but he catches her. When Sunny backs up, Ahmed stops her and shoves the cake in her face. As the crowd cheers, Michaels licks it off her face.

Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler, and Jim Ross commentate, live from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, 14,804 fans attended the show, with 11,955 paying for tickets. According to wrestlenomics.com, the show drew a low 0.37 buyrate (99,000 domestic buys), making it the third-lowest purchased pay-per-view of the In Your House series.

Vince McMahon, Mr. Perfect, and Jim Ross are in the booth, taped one last time from LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

Footage shows WWF Champion Shawn Michaels, Intercontinental Champion Ahmed Johnson, and Jose Lothario showing up to the arena. They are accosted by Vader, the British Bulldog, Owen Hart, and Jim Cornette but WWF President Gorilla Monsoon and officials prevent a fight from breaking out.

Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler call the action for the last episode of the taping cycle in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Sid laughs and screams into the camera “Guess who’s back?”

Vince McMahon, Mr. Perfect, and Jim Ross are today’s commentary team, taped once again from LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

WWF President Gorilla Monsoon announces the indefinite suspension of the Ultimate Warrior because of his failure to appear at house shows in Indianapolis, Detroit, and Pittsburgh two weeks ago. Monsoon adds that the suspension will be lifted if the Warrior posts an appearance bond. However, since the Warrior was booked tonight to face Owen Hart he will appear.

Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler commentate again, taped from Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Vince McMahon, Mr. Perfect, and Jim Ross call today’s action, taped from LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

Opening Non-Title Contest: Ahmed Johnson (Intercontinental Champion) (15-1) pins Brock Wagner after the Pearl River Plunge at 2:25:

Ahmed gets fireworks for his entrance. There is a bad sequence early when Wagner hesitates to run into an Ahmed clothesline and he awkwardly takes an Ahmed forearm instead and falls to the floor. Then Wagner throws some weak punches that Ahmed does not sell, going on to plant Wagner with a spinebuster and winning with the Pearl River Plunge.

Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler commentate, once again broadcasting from Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Opening Non-Title Contest: Shawn Michaels (WWF Champion w/Jose Lothario) (12-0-1) beats Marty Jannetty (w/Jim Cornette & Leif Cassidy) (1-4) after Sweet Chin Music at 14:50 shown:

It seems like Cornette managing Jannetty for the match should have had more of a story behind it. There could have been an angle that went through the show or that took place last week to set it up. After a long feeling out process, Michaels almost hits Sweet Chin Music but Cassidy pulls Jannetty out of the ring and then distracts Michaels so that his tag team partner can take advantage. Michaels mixes in a few fluke near-falls and Jannetty nearly wins when Michaels goes shoulder-first into the ring post. Good near-falls follow as each man rolls through a Michaels hurricanrana and Jannetty rolls through a reverse flying body press for a close two count. After a second commercial break, Jannetty delivers a Rocker Dropper but does not go for a cover, aiming to go for the flying fist drop. Michaels rolls out of the way, floats over a suplex, goes back to his 1993 finisher of a piledriver, and prevails after a flying elbow drop and Sweet Chin Music. Jannetty has not been a threat to anyone in 1996 but the match shoved that aside, turning back to the clock to a time when Jannetty was a midcard contender. Rating: ***½

After the bell, Cassidy attacks Michaels but he soon eats Sweet Chin Music as well. Cornette gets into the ring to do a sneak attack but Lothario punches the heel manager in the face. Fireworks go off as Michaels and Lothario celebrate their victory.

Vince McMahon and Mr. Perfect are in the booth, taped from LaCrosse, Wisconsin. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the taping took place on June 25 and drew 3,523 fans.

Opening Contest: The British Bulldog (w/Jim Cornette & Diana Hart Smith) (6-4-2) pins Buck Zumhofe after the running powerslam at 3:01:

Zumhofe was trained by Verne Gagne and made his professional debut in 1972. He reached his highest fame in the American Wrestling Association (AWA), winning the promotion’s Light Heavyweight title three times. He was also a Tag Team champion with Iceman Parsons in World Class. Zumhofe started doing enhancement work for the WWF in 1987. In 1995 he made three appearances, serving as the first televised opponent for Hunter Hearst Helmsley and losing other matches to Kama and Men on a Mission. Zumhofe would become one of the darker characters in the wrestling business as he was convicted of sexually abusing his daughter and sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2014. Despite having a rap sheet of other misconduct against minors dating back to 1989, the WWF continued to use him at television tapings like this one.

The most that Zumhofe gets is a headlock. The Bulldog lifts him for a long vertical suplex with ease and kips up to a chorus of boos. The match allows the commentary team to talk up the In Your House 9: International Incident main event. The squash ends with the Bulldog avoiding a Zumhofe blind charge and planting him with the running powerslam.

This review is dedicated to those who lost their lives in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler are commentating, live from Green Bay, Wisconsin. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the show drew a sellout crowd of 4,660.

Footage shows various babyfaces celebrating with Intercontinental Champion Ahmed Johnson after he won the title at King of the Ring. WWF Champion Shawn Michaels drops by and hugs him.

Vince McMahon and Jim Ross commentate, live from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. According to thehistoryowwe.com, the show drew a sellout crowd of 8,762. According to wrestlenomics.com, the card drew a 0.60 buyrate (158,000 buys). The number of domestic buys was an increase from the 139,000 buys of the previous year’s King of the Ring and the highest number of buys for the show since 1993.

Prior to the Free for All match, the Bodydonnas introduce their new manager. It is Cloudy, independent wrestler James Haney, dressed up in Sunny’s Bodydonna gear and wearing a blonde wig. The crowd is unimpressed, remaining silent or jeering the introduction. That is bad news for the gimmick but also bad news for the Bodydonnas, who are not over.

The show does a custom “Are You Ready?” intro for King of the Ring based on the matches that will happen there.

Todd Pettengill and Mr. Perfect host a King of the Ring special edition of the show.

Video packages hype the Marc Mero-Steve Austin King of the Ring semi-final. Austin does a follow up promo about how it is a shame that Mero has to face him next as he is more focused without Ted DiBiase.