STW - In Your House 5 [Show Notes] (Patreon)

WWF In Your House 5, which was later called Seasons Beatings because you named all the shows the same thing and we needed a way to tell them apart, happened on December 17, 1995 at the Hersheypark Arena in Hershey, PA. 7,289 fans were in attendance that night. We don’t have a number on how many were paid but the estimate for the live gate was $100,000.

Let’s talk for a second about how the show did on PPV. Because it was not good. 80,000 buys were reported on PPV which, if correct, would make this the lowest drawing PPV show the company has done up until then. But things have been looking really bad for a while, now….

WWF Wrestlemania XI

325,000

WWF In Your House I

190,000

WWF King of the Ring 1995

150,000

WWF In Your House II

170,000

WWF Summerslam 1995

205,000

WWF In Your House III

175,000

WWF In Your House IV

100,000

WWF Survivor Series 1995

140,000

WWF In Your House V

80,000

You’re basically doing the same buys right now that WCW is doing and in some cases, less. And the next year is going to see that get worse before it gets better.

What is it about this year that eroded business so bad for the company? Were the right steps being taken yet in what would eventually be the turn around for business? Or were you still spinning your tires?

News and Notes

So the night after this PPV, the Nitro vs. Raw Monday Night Wars produced another one of wrestling's most memorable moments when Debra Micelli, formerly Alundra Blayze, came onto Nitro with the WWF womens title belt and threw it in the garbage can. Calling herself Madusa, and saying she's always been Madusa, she showed the belt and put it in a garbage can saying that's what she thinks of the WWF and its womens title, calling the WWF by name. She said she was now in WCW, that she used to be Alundra Blayze in the WWF and said she wanted to come to where the big boys play and said it's also where the big girls play.

Meltzer: Reports we received were that Vince McMahon, who found out about it from a technician early in the Raw show, was stunned to the point that's why he seemed so tired and distracted on the live show.

How did Vince find out about this one? What was his reaction? What did you think? Etc

The bombshell came on the heels of a week filled with rumors and signings. Micelli's WWF contract expired on 12/13 and it was well known within the WWF that she was negotiating with WCW and her contract wasn't renewed, so technically she was fired. J.J. Dillon sent a letter in mid-week to All Japan women, cancelling the Blayze vs. Aja Kong match that was scheduled for the Royal Rumble, saying that Blayze's contract was going to expire and not be renewed. This decision had to have been made several days earlier as when Kong's squash match with Chapparita Asari aired on Raw on 12/11, announcers Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler played it down and never once mentioned Blayze's name, which was a give away that the womens division was being abandoned. Several WWF wrestlers had been under the impression that Blayze was going to be dumped after the Rumble anyway, and we had heard several reports from Japan that Kong would be given the title in the January match.

Is that true? Was Aja Kong going to win the title at the Royal Rumble?

Aja Kong worked one of the stiffest television matches of the year on Raw 12/11 against Chapparita Asari finishing off by breaking her nose with her huracan (backhand punch). Kong got over great with the live crowd but it appears from the commentary that Vince McMahon isn't sold on this womens deal since he paid little attention to the match and didn't try to get Kong over as anything but a comedy figure in the commentary.

It was a brutal punch. Was there any repercussions over this or was there any time for it, considering what happened with Blayze?

That night on Raw...Nitro set its all-time record with a 2.7 rating and 4.0 share headlined by Randy Savage defending the title against The Giant. Despite coming off a PPV show and being live, Raw faltered to a 2.3 rating and a 3.4 share, while the Nitro replay did a 1.0.

What is morale like within the company as all of this news comes in?

On the syndicated Superstars show, at the end of the show they had Jim Ross hint that Warrior would be returning to WWF. However, it was never mentioned either on Action Zone, which is taped later in the week, nor on the 12/17 In Your House PPV show or the subsequent Raw show. We've been unable to get any confirmation on it other than the rumor mill among the WWF wrestlers was that Hellwig would be returning as a regular starting at the Royal Rumble, but nobody seemed to know for sure, and he wasn't backstage at the show despite all kinds of rumors going around that he was. It's possible he's coming in, or given his track record, that he agreed to come in early in the week and the deal had already fallen through before it was broadcast; or even it's possible that WWF was following WCW's lead and teasing him at the last minute as a fake hotshot angle to get last second curiosity for a PPV show which on paper looked to need all the help it could get as far as drawing a buy rate.

Did you know during this period that Warrior would return at Wrestlemania 12?

Among those who were backstage at the PPV were Steve Austin, who debuted at the Raw tapings as The Ring Master and was given the Million Dollar Belt using the sleeper as a finisher. In a funny moment, he started doing jumping jacks while wearing the belt and the belt fell off him.

Were you involved in the production of that segment?

Steve Austin did an unbelievable interview on the 12/19 ECW show saying how he spent four years waiting for a world title shot, then got two in two weeks and lost them both, and admitted he came into ECW out of shape, that he didn't rehab his arm and said if he was smart he'd call up Eric Bischoff and tell him he deserved to win announcer of the year and kiss his ass to get his job back so he could sit around and get a big paycheck. He said he was disgusted with his career over the past four years.

Are you guys seeing him on ECW doing these amazing shoots during this time? If so...why would you give him what amounts to a non-speaking role?

House business this past week wasn't bad at all. Biggest shows were 12/8 in Pittsburgh (5,300 paying $75,000) and 12/9 in Chicago (3,200 paying $80,000). While the numbers aren't impressive on the surface considering how loaded the shows were, when you factor in how horrible the weather was supposed to be in both cities, it's not that bad. Other shows were 12/5 in Oshawa, ONT (2,200 paying $38,000 Canadian), 12/6 in Niagara Falls (3,000 paying $45,000) and 12/7 in Clarion, PA (1,500 paying $20,000).

Bret Hart vs. Undertaker headlined, with Undertaker getting cheered heavily in all cities. They changed the finish up, with them doing double count outs in matches that went as long as 27:00 in some cities.

The shows were very long, maybe too long.

Was the house show business in late 95 struggling?

An Army soldier was charged on 12/6 with the beating of Shawn Michaels (Michael Hickenbottom) in the 10/13 incident outside a Syracuse night club.

Douglas Griffith, 23, was charged with second degree assault in the beating and will face a court appearance on 12/14. Griffith, stationed at the Fort Drum U.S. Army base in Watertown, NY, is being accused of beating Michaels senseless. Griffith is alleged to be one of four or five serviceman who attacked Michaels in a wild brawl that involved approximately nine servicemen and three pro wrestlers (Michaels, Davey Boy Smith and 1-2-3 Kid). According to the police report, Michaels was passed out in the front seat of the car in front of the night club when he was pulled out of the car and had the car door slammed on his head and his head slammed into the car several times before Smith was able to get out of the back seat of the car and give him a measure of protection and finally the bouncers from the club chased the assailants away.

Initially both Michaels and the World Wrestling Federation declined to press charges in the case, despite going on television and saying the opposite, perhaps because of fear that if the incident gained a lot of publicity, they would face embarrassing publicity that Smith was out with Michaels when the two were feuding, and in fact saved him from a worse beating. A few weeks back, Michaels changed his mind and pressed charges.

Why did Shawn change his mind and decide to press charges? Why was he ever thinking about not?

Let’s talk for a second about the Shawn Michaels injury angle, since Shawn is going to miss out at several important events including this PPV:

They did a segment on Raw with a guy billed as Shawn Michaels' doctor acting as if the injuries are so severe he may never return to wrestling. Dr. Unger is a real doctor from San Bernardino who has been around the WWF for years so I'm pretty sure he's not Michaels personal physician, but...he's a guy who likes to pal around and be friends with wrestlers and will go on television and help get the angle over. In other words, the entire segment was a work. A very well done work, by the way.

The next week on Raw….

They had a Shawn Michaels interview, where he appeared to be fine and his usual self, and then freaked out when Todd Pettingill brought up that his career could possibly be over. Definitely a more realistic touch, Meltzer said.

Were you involved in the production of these? Any interesting stories?

Was there ever any talk about getting Shawn on this PPV card or fear that leaving him off would hurt the show?

The Thursday Raw replay has been canceled. It was a catch-22 anyway. WWF never plugged the show for fear it might hurt the Monday numbers a slight bit for people who would watch Nitro and watch the replay three nights later. With no plugs, the ratings weren't competitive with what USA wants in prime time, so now it's gone.

Was there a consideration at the time for a Thursday show, if you could have delivered in the ratings? Or was this a one-off?

WWF received complaints regarding Bret Hart and Diesel using the chairs and Diesel mouthing motherf***er at the Survivor Series. They're trying to do a balancing act between making it a rougher product but not alienating any of the audience or the sponsors. That isn't going to be easy.

Did any new edicts go out after this about shouting motherfucker in the camera?

A story of interest in the Observer around this time…

McMahon was at the wedding of Richard Glover, an ESPN exec who was a former Titan v.p. and talked about Bruce Prichard being the key force in booking, that Brother Love would be getting a huge push and they were going to introduce a hot looking girl as Sister Love. There was some speculation it would be ECW's Beulah if only because Sister Love was described as someone who had posed for Penthouse.

What can you tell us about Sister Love?

Francine once gave an interview saying she was approached about being Sister Love. Any truth to that?

The Show Itself

WWF IN YOUR HOUSE

• Thumbs up 73 (48.7%)
• Thumbs down 72 (48.0%)
• In the middle 5 (03.3%)

A. Savio Vega pinned Bob Backlund in a dark match that was said to be dreadful. 1/2*

Is it really an In Your House if it doesn’t open with a Savio Vega match?

1. Razor Ramon (Scott Hall) & Marty Jannetty beat 1-2-3 Kid (Sean Waltman) & Sid (Sid Eudy) in 12:22 when Ramon pinned Sid after a bulldog off the middle rope. Goldust watched the match at ringside and talked about how masculine Ramon was, and then gave Todd Pettingill a note, which turned into a love letter. This match was a disappointment as Jannetty's work has been slow and sluggish since returning and Sid was pretty bad. The match just didn't get going, although there was good heat for Ramon vs. Kid. *¼

Were there ever any serious plans for Sid and the Kid as a tag team? The names were cool and worked.

What did Razor Ramon think about being put in the opening match? Do you think this spot on the card contributed to him looking for greener pastures?

At this point, to show a communications breakdown somewhere, ring announcer Manny Garcia announced coming from Knoxville, Tennessee, Nature Boy Buddy Ridell, so one would assume Landel was getting a new name and about to debut. Then Jerry Lawler cut him off and went to the ring for a surprise, which would surely be Landel, but instead was Jeff Jarrett. Lawler gave Jarrett a plaque commemorating a gold CD and Jarrett announced he'd be in the Rumble. Jarrett got no pop at all. When the segment was over there were light cheers and light boos but no real reaction. Many have forgotten by now because of just how great the video and the Michaels match was that until the very end of his first WWF tenure, Jarrett was actually the least over wrestler in the company of all the guys who got a push. Jarrett did a good job but the segment didn't get much of a reaction.

What happened with the communication gaffe and the announcer? Just a mistake?

Do you think Jarrett killed his momentum after going home following the second In Your House? After such a big night for him, he was just gone.

2. Ahmed Johnson (Tony Norris) pinned Buddy Landel (William Ansor) in :42 with the Tiger driver, which is now called the Pearl River Plunge. Dean Douglas came out and said he was scratched from the show by the doctor with a bad back but was bringing in Landel as his replacement. Landel came out to Ric Flair's old WWF music. Landel jumped Johnson, who didn't sell anything. After the match Johnson spanked Douglas with a paddle.

Was there ever any plan here for Buddy Landell?

Who was pushing Ahmed so hard, Vince? When did that change?

On commentary Vince, Jerry Lawler, and Jeff Jarrett argue with Jarrett saying “He don’t wrestle fair.” Vince says Lawler is afraid to interview Ahmed, so he then interviewed Johnson. He begins by saying he wants to have a word with the teachers pest. Double J and he both say they aren’t impressed. Lawler says Jarrett lettered in football and when Ahmed lettered, he had to get the coach to read it to him!

Ahmed’s interview is a treasure. It’s also maybe the only time he doesn’t begin by saying “First of all.”  He calls Jarrett an achy breaky hart wannabe! It actually gets a pop! And then...he can’t think of anything to say so he repeats it and calls him a fake urban cowboy. Then he turns to Lawler and looks legitimately hot!

“Let me tell you something. You have one more time to ever get in my face again. Talking about you understand that? You understand?? And I’m going to make your boy. I’m going to make you something you never, ever thought…”

POP.

Jarrett broke the framed album over the back of Johnson's head! He swings again with the glass to break it. Then Jarrett says “King get him a chair!” Lawler holds the chair up as Ahmed is rammed face first into it. Jarrett swings once on the back - pretty standard - but then hits Ahmed in the face with the seat of the chair. Vince screams “Oh no!”

It really devolves down into what almost looks like a shoot. Either that or just a very confusing finish.

A few of these were pretty brutal chair shots! Any heat in the back over that? What happened here?

The next match begins with us zooming out on the prolapsed asshole of a pig. It’s the hog pen - which is in the middle of the audience. A lot of fans are seated next to a bunch of nasty hogs.

Was that just tough shit for them?

3. Hunter Hearst Helmsley (Paul Levesque) beat Henry Godwinn (Mark Canterberry) in the Arkansas Hog pen match in 8:58. Hillbilly Jim, looking much older then the last time he was on WWF television, came out as surprise special ref and got a good reaction. He never could work but he had a lot of charisma. Both these guys worked hard but the idea was to work the match down to behind the ringside area and throw the opponent into the hog pen for the win. It made everything in the ring lack any meaning. Godwinn heaved the slop bucket at Helmsley, who got out of the way and a ringside attendant (Yeaton?)  took the brunt of it blocking it from the fans. Helmsley then had some of the slop rubbed in his face. They worked their way to the pen and Godwinn whipped Helmsley into the pen and tried to backflip him into the pen but Helmsley landed on the top. Helmsley delivered a Cactus Jack elbow off the pen onto the floor which was also covered with mats. They worked their way back to the ring, then back out again. Finish saw Godwinn deliver his slop drop near the pen, then have Helmsley set up and went for a tackle but Helmsley ducked and Godwinn went into the pen and lost. Helmsley then got into a shoving contest with Jim, but Godwinn came back and press-slammed Helmsley dropping him face first into the pen and then bodyslammed him into the pen. It was even more gross since Helmsley had a cut opened up in his back from taking a guard rail shot. Helmsley then slipped around doing a Bobby Heenan inside the pen falling down time after time. *

Bruce. Who booked this hog shit?

What did Hunter do to earn this great honor?

Note: Didn’t people always say this was a match Hunter had to do because of the Curtain Call? Because this is 5 months before that (May 19, 1996)

During the match, Jerry Lawler keeps telling Jeff Foxworthy Redneck jokes. But he’s changing it to “You might be from Bitters, Arkansas.” After several of these, Vince shouts “I’m not from Bitters, Arkansas! What is this stuff?”

Did Vince have any idea what You Might Be A Redneck jokes were?

IN THE WEEDS: Out of curiosity, why choose a fictional town name of Bitters for Henry Godwin? There’s no Bitters, Arkansas. But there’s a Biggers, there’s a Bald Knob, there’s a Weiner, lots of great choices! Was it because he was a heel at first and you didn’t want to offend a real place?

4. Owen Hart beat Diesel (Kevin Nash) via DQ in 4:34 when Diesel shoved the ref after using the jackknife. After the match he used another jackknife. Hart did a great job of carrying this. *½

Are you continuing to build the Diesel with attitude character here?

How many black gloves were you selling during this time and is that why Diesel was only slapping hands of fans wearing them?

Next up, Meltzer wrote…

Ted DiBiase did an interview saying he could buy anyone. At about the same time, Savio Vega, who worked a dark match, was throwing WWF merchandise to the crowd along with Santa Claus. DiBiase told Vega he could buy him. The two started arguing when Santa jumped Vega and attacked him. You could see this coming a mile away but for some reason I always enjoy Santa Claus angles, I guess because one of the best angles I ever saw was a Santa Claus angle in 1983 at Reunion Arena in Dallas during the Von Erichs-Freebirds feud where Dok Hendrix in his former life dressed up as Santa Claus and when he turned on the Von Erichs, Bill Mercer questioned whether or not he was the real Santa Claus. DiBiase left with Santa when Vega ran from the ring and attacked him, pulling off his hat, wig and beard revealing him to be John Rickner. The next night on Raw they gave his new ring name as Zanta Klaus.

Please explain the creative meeting where this idea was squeezed out…

This is the debut for Xanta Klaus, better known to us all as Balls Mahoney. He appeared on the Brother Love Show the next night on Raw. Apparently, Santa had an evil twin and his name was Xanta. Only, instead of the North Pole, Xanta was from the South Pole. He pinned Brian Walsh the next night at TV. The gimmick was killed that week.

How quickly did you know this one was dead on arrival? In Your House, the Brother Love Show, the first match, or when the idea was first spoken of?

On a YouShoot with Sean Oliver, Balls said that Vince wanted to keep him on the roster and pay him until another opportunity came up. Apparently, a leak to the dirt sheet said he stayed drunk in the locker room. Mahoney thought this leak came from Vince Russo and called in to the company to ask for Vince. When “Vince” got on the phone, he cussed him out, said he would kill him, etc. When Vince tells him “You realize this is Vince McMahon?” Balls said “No!” and hung up. He said that’s how he got the nickname “Balls.”

Did you hear about Vince getting cussed out by Xanta Claus?

5. Undertaker (Mark Calloway) beat King Mabel (Nelson Frazier Jr.) in a casket match in 6:11. Mabel did a bunch of moves and Undertaker kept sitting up. Mo distracted Undertaker allowing Mabel to use a belly-to-belly, a legdrop and a big splash. Mo went to put Undertaker in the casket but forgot to shut the lid. The two celebrated, then as they went to shut the lid, Undertaker blocked it, got out of the casket and made the comeback. After a choke slam, Undertaker kicked Mabel into the casket. Mo attacked Undertaker who didn't sell it. He choke slammed Mo and put him in the casket as well, grabbed the necklace which was the remnants of the urn, to give him back his magical powers in 1996, and shut the lid. It wasn't anywhere near as bad as their previous PPV match. *½

Did you like the match?

After this, King Mabel works the 1996 Royal Rumble but then he’s gone. Had Mabel just made too many enemies by hurting Diesel, hurting Taker, etc.?

6. Bret Hart retained the WWF title pinning Davey Boy Smith in 21:09 with a Lucha cradle move known as La Magistral or Dandina. Diana Smith came to ringside with Davey Boy. Diana was pushed hard on TV as rooting 100% for Davey Boy in this match rather than being torn between the two as in their 1992 SummerSlam classic. It started slow but built into an excellent match. Among the new spots was Hart trying for a superplex, Smith blocking it and picking Hart up as a reversal and crotching him on the top rope. Hart hit his head on the steps and had his back rammed into the post and ended up juicing heavily. Smith used a piledriver and a head-butt off the top rope for near falls. After a bow and arrow, Hart reversed it and went for the sharpshooter but Smith got out. The two traded near falls until Hart hit a plancha, tried for a second dive but Smith caught him and powerslammed him on the floor. Smith undid the mats around the ring and went to suplex Hart, but Hart reversed it and crotched Smith on the guard rail. Hart used a backbreaker and a superplex for near falls. Smith tried a rolling reverse but Hart reversed it for a near fall, before using the Magistral to win. After the match, Smith left hugging his wife and walking out together which certainly looked as though Smith is going to turn back to babyface. In the commentary in the closing minutes, they almost gave you the impression both were babyfaces. ****½

Did this save the show?

Meltzer had the impression here Smith was going to turn back babyface. Was that ever something considered here? (He didn’t)

Check this out...Meltzer reported. Most reports are that the blood in the Hart-Smith match was from a blood capsule rather than a blade job. Don't know for sure.

So did you guys use one of those blood capsules here?

It had already been announced that the WWF champion would defend at the Royal Rumble against Undertaker. Undertaker and Paul Bearer were doing an interview when Diesel came out and complained saying he deserved the title shot and the show went off the air with the two doing a face-to-mask staredown.

How did these two end up programmed together for Wrestlemania? Did Taker want to work with Diesel, vice-versa, or did it come from Vince?

After the PPV, the live crowd got to see some bonus action...

B. Goldust pinned Duke Droese. The match went too long and no had heat following the main event. DUD

Why leave Goldust off the PPV here? Were you still trying to figure out the character?

C. Smoking Gunns & Hakushi & Barry Horowitz beat Yokozuna & Isaac Yankem & Skip & Flip (Tom Prichard). *

BEST MATCH POLL

Bret Hart vs. Davey Boy Smith 131

WORST MATCH POLL

Ahmed Johnson vs. Buddy Landel 72

Undertaker vs. King Mabel 29

Hunter Hearst Helmsley vs. Henry Godwinn 9

Here’s what Meltzer thought about the show:

The WWF's In Your House PPV on 12/17 from Hershey, PA was like two different shows. The first show before a crowd of 7,289 (no word on paid) at the Hershey Park Arena was almost a complete mess. One bad match after another. One bad segment after another. A total lack of crowd heat. It seemed like one was watching a dying company like the AWA at the end, desperately throwing bad angle and bad character that you knew wasn't going to get over, just hoping that something would stick. Going into the main event, the show was in the toilet and was more memorable because the WWF for whatever reason decided against confiscating signs before the show (although a woman during the show did confiscate two signs during the early part of the main event, a "Hogan rules" and the "Bret Hart: Family Disgrace" sign. However, two minutes later, she returned and gave the fans their signs back saying that, "In the spirit of Christmas, here are your signs back." The ECW fans pretty much stole the show with poster after poster right in camera range during the entire show.

Then came the main event with Bret Hart vs. Davey Boy Smith. The match was nothing short of fantastic, and featured the return to WWF of heavy juice by Hart. Announcer Vince McMahon, apparently in an effort to play both sides of the coin, ordered wide shots and apologized about the blood, I guess to placate the cable people who don't want blood on wrestling PPVs, while also trying to get over a rougher style because the old style just didn't cut it anymore. Hart's blood caused an ECW Arena like reaction of "He's hardcore." The finish of the show, complete with a post-show face-off with Undertaker and Diesel, was so good that I felt almost guilty giving a show with a main event that good a thumbs down. That probably explains the mixed reaction to the show in the poll, although many who voted thumbs up were very strong in that feeling, almost all citing the blood as the reason.

Among the signs visible included: "SMW RIP 1991-1995," "911," "We're Hardcore," "ECW," "Bert Hart," "Marty must die," "Gangstas rule," "Mikey rules," "Hogan," "Oz" "Diesel Sucks," "Hello ECW fans," "Read the Lariat" and many more. There were attempts to get ECW chants going that were noticeable but not overwhelming on television until the early moments of the main event when the chant came off on television really strong.

What did you think of IN YOUR HOUSE 5 -  SEASONS BEATINGS?

Questions

Ben asks..There have been times when Vince was cool with blood, and there are times, like now, when Vince absolutely despises blood. Why do you think his feelings have changed? What do you think Vince's true feelings are on getting juice?

Bruiser asks...1-Buddy Landell? End of question.

2- Why did not one ever tell Ahmed Johnson he always had a wedgie? We’re people scarred of him?

3- That Post champion Diesel character was awesome!!!!!!!!!!!! That was the pre curser to SCSA. No question just comment

The rosencoaster asks...Was this the same event where allegedly Owen Hart locked the pigs from the Hog Pen match in Vince’s office and if so can you tell that story?

Mr Beard asks...After returning for the undertakers farewell at survivor series when is the hog pen 2 match taking place? So Henry can get his win back. Personally I want a hog pen ppv with multiple pen matches.

Jimmy asks...why did you bring back Double J but not the Roadie?

Jordan asks...Vince, as well as the name plate, called 123 Kid just “The Kid” during his match. Did Vince just love that it rhymed with Sid? Why didn’t it stick?

Jaden asks...Bruce, where'd you find a casket big enough to hold Mabel's big ass?

Jordan asks...How were the jobbers chosen to carry Mabel? Jeff Hardy is seen wincing and everyone always looked like they legit struggled.

Darryl asks a great question...I remember for the next month on the TV shows that matches from this PPV were shown for free which hadn't happen before so what went behind that decision? 

Matt asked...Eric mentioned on a Podcast that in 1995 Vince would write and call Turner complaining about blood on WCW. Who made this call?

Keith asks..How much heat did Mabel have from Undertaker from the injured face? 

Michael asks...Which Bret/Bulldog match does Bruce prefer: this one of the one from Summerslam for the IC title?

Jeremy asks...Who do you think was the better back stage interviewer: Todd Pettengill or Doc Hendricks?

Eric asks...How would Jerry Jarrett describe the Hog Pen Match?

Anthony asks...What was the original plan for Xanta Claus?

Joe Lawson has a great question..1624 on the house...what's the easter egg behind that?