SkyDome show goes through the motions
By JOHN POWELL -- SLAM! Sports
Going in, nobody expected anything significant to happen at the World
Wrestling Federation SkyDome show in Toronto. And nothing did. With the
Backlash pay-per-view looming this Sunday, the WWF guarded their talent
from injury by slotting them into card filled top to bottom with
low-pressure tag matches.
Endangering a multi-million dollar pay-per-view for a commonplace house
show is not good business sense.
Backlash main eventers WWF World Heavyweight Champion - Steve Austin - and
challenger - Rocky Maivia, had their normal work load reduced in a
convenient tag team war which had Austin and former Corporate Team
bodyguard Paul Wight lock horns with current Corporate Team members Rocky
Maivia and D-Generation X turncoat Hunter-Hearst Helmsley.
"This isn't kareoke night with The Rock. I'm cutting this promo myself,"
said Maivia reciting his routine "candy ass" - "know-your-role-boulevard"
pre-match speech. Helmsley and Chyna followed but Triple H surrendered his
customary microphone time so that Paul Wight and Austin could wow the crowd
with their ring entrances.
Things broke down right from the get-go as the four men paired off brawling
at ringside. Once the ref restored order, Triple H took it to Austin. Stone
Cold suplexed Helmsley so that he could slap skin with The Big Show. Wight
backed both Maivia and Triple H into a corner and rammed them with his big
butt. A double-head butt had Helmsley and The Rock wishing they'd brought a
bottle of aspirin with them to the ring.
Wight raised The Rock into a Chokeslam. Helmsley low-blowed him from
behind. The Corporate Team beat on Wight as Austin tried unsuccessfully to
circumvent the ref and enter the ring without a tag. The Big Show got
himself out of the predicament. He double-clotheslined Triple H and The
Rock then hot-tagged Austin.
Austin and Helmsley went at it in the ring as Paul Wight and The Rock
traded blows on the outside. Chyna sneakily tripped up Stone Cold. Austin
recovered to thwart a Pedigree and Stun Helmsley. Seeing Austin had things
well in hand, Wight chased Maivia to the dressing room. Stone Cold got the
three count. Chyna and Triple H attacked a lone Austin. Stone Cold Stunned
both of them.
The next WWF SkyDome house show is Saturday, July 24th.
WWF SkyDome House Show Results
- The Acolytes made short work of D.O.A.
- Droz got a shocking win over Gangrel.
- X-Pac and Kane retained their WWF World Tag Team belts against Test and
The Big Bossman. Bossman abandoned Test who was then Tombstoned by
Kane.
- Al Snow knocked out Val Venis so that Bob Holly could hold onto his WWF
Hardcore title strap.
- The New Age Outlaws defeated the teams of Owen Hart - Jeff Jarrett and
Christian - Edge to score the victory in a tag team elimination match.
- Al Snow and Torrie downed Ivory and D'Lo Brown.
- The Ministry Of Darkness (The Undertaker and Midian) were victorious
over the team of Ken Shamrock and Mankind. The Undertaker Tombstoned
Mankind.
- The Godfather held onto the Intercontinental title by defeating
Goldust. Blue Meanie was officially welcomed back to the WWF prior to the
bout.
