Nerd Watch Wednesday: In Your House: Canadian Stampede

Jul 8, 202014 min read

G’day lads and welcome to the first Nerd Watch Wednesday for a while. Over the last couple of weeks, since the #speakingout movement broke here in the UK and filtered in to the wider wrestling universe, it’s been quite a sombre time for the lads here in the group.

We scaled back our online content in order to free the space for victims to share their experiences and have had a brief hiatus on our weekly articles because, well, Wrestling hasn’t been a lot of fun.

Things are not back to normal and the wrestling industry, particularly Britwres, needs significant change and overhaul in order to ensure a safe working environment for performers and to win back the trust of fans.

However, during all this time, the WSBF group chat has still been ticking over and we decided as a group that it was important for us to try and remind ourselves of the ways wrestling has positively graced our lives over the years. We have tried to watch some Retro shows via Zoom watchalongs and had weekly quizzes to spark our collective interest in the industry that, as a whole, lost our favour a couple of weeks ago.

So here we are, our first NWW back and, this week, we are marking the 23rd anniversary of what is widely considered the best “B-show” or “In Your House” Pay Per View of all time, Canadian Stampede (The Attitude Era, is there anything it can’t do?). The WWF was completely in the throes of the Hart Foundation storyline, off the back of Wrestlemania 13, where the Harts would be red hot heels in The States but white meat babies up north.

MANKIND vs. HUNTER HEARST HELMSLEY

By Dom Van Dam

Our opener visits one of the most decorated feuds of the era. The (still) blue blooded Triple H vs the uncouth and uncontrollable Mankind. One month prior to this, these 2 met in the finals of the King of the Ring Tournament where Helmsley was able to claim the crown after interference from Chyna.

This is an era when both of these characters were truly developing. The WWF had begun acknowledging the human side of Mankind, even featuring Mick Foley’s home videos from his teenage years and an extended, out of character, interview on Monday Night Raw. Helmsley increasingly has more of an edge to his character, with the addition of Chyna into the mix, and the audience is beginning to see his Evolution (no mystery) into the cooler, bad boy, Triple H.

Helmsley is accompanied to the ring by Ode to Joy, which I always thought was fantastic. Also because of the Grandfather clause surrounding copyright, it’s pretty much free reign to use. It’s not a joyous start for Helmsley though as Mankind dominated the early going. Trips has next to no offence for the first 5 minutes and Foley locks in the Mandible Claw; it looks like this one is over early, until Chyna gets involved and Hunter takes over.

Action spills to the outside and is highlighted by a trademark Foley bump. Triple H whips Foley into Chyna, who Hip-tosses the masked man, knee first on top of the steel ring steps. Maaaate.

Triple H is working the leg during the heat section and Foley sells it like his leg is about to fall off. Mankind continues to sell the leg during his comeback, limping towards the running knee in the corner. There’s a loooong near fall off the back of a Pulling Piledriver and a Cactus Clothesline to the floor (Bang Bang).

Chyna is involved again and there’s a misdirection play with the referee, on the floor, so Hunter can drill the injured knee of Foley with a heavy chair shot. The brawl continues all the way to the penalty box here in the hockey arena and the referee has lost his patience. Both participants are counted out but that doesn't stop the hockey fight.

SUMMARY: As far as a match with a double count out finish, this is probably about as good as it gets. If you haven’t seen this for a while, do yourself a favour, it certainly brightened my outlook on the industry, even if just for 10 minutes.

WINNER - NEITHER VIA DOUBLE COUNT OUT

THE GREAT SASUKE vs. TAKA MICHINOKU

By Matt Connolly

So Nerd Watch is back and Boy do I have a doozy to start with. Michinoku Pro Founder The Great Sasuke wrestling in the WWF!?! I'll have a bit of that please. His opponent is probably the staple of WWF's short lived Light Heavyweight division, Taka Michinoku.

These two have history dating back to the early 90's. Taka had wrestled for Michinoku Pro of course and both are a part of the now legendary Super J Cup 94. This appears to be just a throwaway showcase match - but I'm here for it!

Both Men enter to little fanfare. Both are introduced as being from Japan because specifics are not important, obviously. We then cut to a brawl between Mankind and Triple H. This is presumably an overspill of the opener. Trips is wearing crimson mask. I want to see these two go at it some more now but we refocus to this match.

The early stages are a feeling out process. Both miss with strikes but get into it with some intense grappling on the mat. Sasuke lands a beautiful spinning heel kick into the chest of Taka at one point. JR tells us about the limitations of their English by saying they "might not know enough to order dinner".

The match hots up with Sasuke hitting another spinning heel kick. This time it's to the temple and it looks like it could knock out a horse! Plenty of good strikes from both, which eventually transitions into high flying offence when Sasuke nails a 'Martial Arts Kick' from the top rope to the outside. It's building nicely here and the crowd are warming to these unknowns.

The story starts to grow as it is now a battle between the ferocious strikes of Sasuke vs the resolve of Taka. After a third deadly heel kick smacks Taka around the lips it appears Sasuke is taking his opponent too lightly as he backs away to taunt.

Taka fights back, sends Sasuke to the outside and connects with a huge dive that the crowd react big for! Taka is the underdog here because Sasuke has battered him and commentary have helped the viewer at home with that by adding the Japanese media believe Michinoku is out of his depth. Good stuff all round.

Taka goes for the first pinfall at 7 minutes and almost picks up the win with a cradle. Sasuke then ups the athleticism by hitting a backspring elbow and then a moonsault off the apron. Taka looks second best until he creates separation with an overhead Belly to Belly suplex.

He hits his Michinoku driver finish but Sasuke kicks out! In his desperation to win, Taka goes up top but is caught with a boot in the midriff as he attempts a splash. Sasuke comes close to a win with his first pinfall attempt but doesn't rest on his laurels. A mean powerbomb is followed up with a textbook Tiger suplex for the win.

SUMMARY: That's as good a 10 minute match as you are going to get. A great story that builds to an exciting crescendo and draws the fans in along the way. Equally intense and technically sound. I'd highly recommend.

WINNER - THE GREAT SASUKE BY TEXTBOOK TIGER SUPLEX

WWF CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: THE UNDERTAKER (C) vs. VADER

By Nineties Mike

Welcome back to Nerd Watch Wednesday. We hope you didn’t miss us too much through the hiatus, but we’re back and better than ever with the much-loved Canadian Stampede from 1997. I have the pleasure of watching the WWF World Title match between The Undertaker and the Mastadon that is Vader.

Well?! How did we get here? It’s June 23 1997, and it’s an episode of Raw Is War. Vader is announced as number one contender for the WWE title. Undertaker and Vader had teamed up in a tournament match for the WWF Tag titles against D'Lo Brown and Faarooq of the Nation of Domination. Paul Bearer, currently Vader's manager, informed The Undertaker that he must do as he’s told he will tell a dark secret from The Undertaker's past if he doesn't.

Undertaker attacked Vader in the match, though, and Bearer told the secret the following week. During The Undertaker's youth, he lived in a funeral home with his parents and a half-brother. Paul Bearer claimed that The Undertaker set the funeral home ablaze, killing his parents and causing his half-brother's face to be irreparably scarred.

The Undertaker denied it and blamed Kane for the house fire. During an attack from The Undertaker on Vader during the match, Bearer said he heard that from Kane himself. To The Undertaker’s surprise, it seems that Kane had survived the fire and was still alive. (Insert Eastenders drums here).

Vader also has Ahmed Johnson’s Biscuit Knees (see Robin Van Persie circa 2004-12) to thank for this title opportunity, and JR and Vinnie Mac offer their condolences and best wishes to the erstwhile Nubian Terror. Doc Hendrix is up next with Bearer and Vader, and Bearer whines in that horrific voice. We see highlights from the Royal Rumble, including Bearer’s betrayal of The Undertaker, and he claims it will be de ja vu tonight.

It’s time, it’s time, it’s Vader Time! The Mastodon is out first with a rather smug-looking Bearer. Taker does his now standard slow-as-hell walk, and the fans are going ballistic! Taker raises his arms and the ensuing explosion shocks the life out of Vader! Bearer is hiding low under the apron, and JR makes a comment about it being hard to hide when you’re 450lbs. Bit rich from a hardly svelte JR there.

Taker kicks us off, literally, and keeps up the attack with big punches, rocking Vader into the corner. A clothesline and massive legdrop is followed by our first 2-count. Vader is yet to get a strike in. Taker launches Vader into the corner, follows up with a splash, and Vader is down again. We get another, rather sloppy 2-count. Taker twists Vader’s arm, climbs the ropes and we get Old School!

Another 2-count. JR puts over Vader’s exploits in Japan, and as if he’s listening, he counters Taker and flattens him. But Taker sits straight back up! Vader whips Taker, but he ducks, runs the ropes and we get the Taker diving clothesline and Vader is down again. That gets our fourth 2-count.

Thumb to the eye from Vader turns the tide, and he starts hammering Taker with punches and grinds him down with a side-headlock. Taker to one knee as Vader wrenches the hold. Off the ropes, Vader hits a tackle, knocking Taker down again. Some rope crossing leads to a big boot from Taker, and neither man can seem to take advantage, until a second big boot knocks Vader to the outside.

Taker looks to send Vader into the steps, but a reversal sees The Deadman collide knee-first. Vader goes inside to break the count and distract the ref while Bearer taunts and meekly kicks Taker the “murderer”.

Taker, now up on the apron, lures Vader in and chokes him on the top rope. An even bigger flying clothesline from the top by Taker gets us another 2-count. JR again puts over Vader, mentioning his training and football background. It’s not helping him here though, as a Taker uppercut sends him over the top rope. As Vader recovers, Taker stalks Bearer, but inevitably The Mastodon catches him and takes him down.

Bearer, seeing his opportunity, takes his bloody shoe off and starts pelting The Undertaker with it! Back inside, and Vader starts to batter his foe with pounding strikes. Short-arm clothesline and another one from the top rope gets Vader his first 2-count. A big deadlift suplex and an even bigger splash gets Vader another 2-count. He goes back to a rest hold to try to wear Taker down now, but the crowd are willing Taker to recover and he hits Vader with a multitude of strikes.

He has Vader where he wants him until another Vader thumb to the eye has him reeling into another big clothesline. More big strikes from Vader in the corner, but Taker battles back and get sin some more strikes of his own. Taker has control now and goes for the throat grab before his chokeslam, but Vader goes low. What is the ref doing? He reprimands him for it, so he saw him do it, but doesn’t call for the bell?! Matt Connolly is raging somewhere!!!!

Vader goes for another clothesline, but Taker avoids it and picks him up for the Tombstone. Vader is too heavy, and they go for (but as usual with Taker) botch the reversal spot and both land in a crumpled heap, which the ref counts to 2 for.

Taker launches Vader into the corner, but The Mastodon reverses with an elbow and a standing splash. Both men are tired now. Elbow drop from Vader, and he’s going up for the Vader Bomb. But Taker sits up and hits Vader with a low blow of his own! Have a day ON, ref! Shocking officiating here.

Taker climbs the ropes with Vader and hits a chokeslam from the 2nd rope! That should be it! 1, 2, 2.9! So close! We continue! Taker with another chokeslam, and Vader kicks out at 2.5 AGAIN! What does the Deadman have to do? He’s had enough, picks Vader up and nails him with a tombstone. And there it is! We have a winner, and stiiiiiilllll WWF Champion, The Undertaker!

SUMMARY: Bearer is devastated, but the crowd are pumped! And I’m not surprised. That was a bruising, hard-hitting slugfest between two absolute giants. If you like your wrestling big, hard and beefy, you’ll love this.

WINNER - AND STILL WWF CHAMPION, THE UNDERTAKER VIA TOMBSTONE PILEDRIVER

THE HART FOUNDATION vs. STONE COLD, KEN SHAMROCK, GOLDUST & LEGION OF DOOM

By Ross Casey

This event was of course in Calgary, Alberta Canada and the main event featured the Hart Foundation on home soil against a peculiar mish-mash of American wrestlers. Largely, this stemmed from the feud between Bret Hart and Steve Austin - their amazing chemistry and great booking in 1997 culminated in this classic 10 man tag.

I wonder if the Wrestlemania 14 main event would have been Austin going over Bret were it not for his defection to WCW?

The Americans are out first, who anywhere but Canada during this time would have been greeted with cheers. During Goldust's entrance, Vince says "conspicuous by her absence is Marlena. A super mum, a super lady and when in the corner of Goldust... a super corner person."

Shamrock gets booed and then LOD come out to crickets. It is super jarring. Welcome to bizzaroland! The heat that Austin gets for his entrance is amazing and you can tell how much he is loving it as he swaggers around giving the fans the middle finger.

Each member of The Hart Foundation gets a separate entrance from Brian Pillman onwards and the slow build to the molten Bret pop is fucking incredible. The crowd is white hot and I am so excited for the match.

The Hart Foundation made a big part of their ethos that America had no family values anymore. A fan has a bedsheet in the crowd with FAMILY VALUES in pink in black and we then see Bret placing his sunglasses on his mother's head as his father applauds next to them is a beautiful moment. How could these guys not be the faces?!

In an interesting beginning to the match, the two 'stars' Bret and Austin are the ones to start in the ring as they throw rights and lefts from the bell. Quite often in these sorts of multi-man matches, the impact players are kept apart for some time, but here it fits perfectly as the noise is unbelievable as Bret takes control and stomps their villain.

There's a great callback almost immediately to the finish of their Survivor Series 96 match, where Bret rolls through a Million Dollar Dream off the turnbuckle. This time though, Austin is wiser and kicks out at 2.

Anvil tags in and immediately ends up on the backfoot. He does an amazing job of putting Shamrock over as he is unsure of how to stance, clearly unnerved at being in the ring with an MMA fighter. It makes for some comedy viewing, but also really lays on the fact that he is out of his element against someone with the skills Ken possesses. Great job, Jim.

The Bulldog hits his running powerslam finisher on Hawk, but Animal breaks it up. There's quite a humorous part where Animal and Bret are the legal men and after some awkward exchanges, Bret simply stops and points at Goldust - as if to say get someone who can work a hold back in the ring.

L.O.D hit their Doomsday Device finisher on Owen and this time it is Bulldog who makes the save for the Hart Foundation. This brings all 10 men into the ring for the big brawl, which allows Austin to do some major damage to Owen on the outside with a chair.

Bruce Hart is ringside and tries multiple times to get involved, but Austin just ignores him. I'm almost certain that he either missed his cue for interference later in the match or just fancied getting a bit of extra TV time. The attack is severe enough for Owen to be taken to the back - leaving the Americans at an advantage of 5 to 4.

We then get a battle of the Hollywood Blondes, which Austin wins easily with a Stunner, but he gets blindsided by Bret, who then posts his leg and hooks on a sharpshooter around the ring post. Just like Owen, Austin is now forced backstage too.

The portion after this is where the quality of wrestling drops, but the crowd are so into the action, it honestly doesn't really matter. Austin returns to a chorus of boos from the Calgary crowd and tags in immediately to face off with Bret as the crowd explode once more. The quality returns to what it was before as he and Hitman are simply magic together.

There are several sloppy or stiff moves and strikes, with Bulldog and L.O.D the main culprits. Bulldog at one point almost pushes Goldust off the corner with a needlessly hard shove, which Dustin does well to avoid, then suffers a really poorly executed superplex off the top from Bulldog - who appears to be super gassed.

Owen Hart is the next to return to a massive pop. Shortly after, Stone Cold is on the outside stomping The Black Hart when Bruce again throws a drink on Austin. This time he does react and goes after Stu Hart either by error or misjudgement, whilst Bruce falls over the guardrail and over the floor mat. What a shit show from the bloke!

Bret rolls Austin back in the ring and Owen hits a roll up for the somewhat out of nowhere victory. Interestingly, this was the same finish when Austin pinned Owen the following month at Summerslam 97, albeit under scary circumstances.

The post-match then breaks down with seemingly hundreds of people in the ring like it's Bournemouth beach during lockdown and the crowd even seem unsure if the victory even counted.

The Americans are ushered off to the back and The Fink announces the Hart Foundation as the winners. Austin comes back to attack once more and is eventually handcuffed by police and taken away as he bends over and still gives the Canadian fans the finger. It's amazing.

Finally, the melee is cleared and that allows the extended Hart Family to have an endearingly genuine celebration in the ring, as their rabid hometown fans cheer with glee.

In my view, this was ultimately their crowing glory before tragedy struck multiple times in the coming months. It's a goosebumps moment and you simply have to smile watching it.

SUMMARY: In my view, this was the Hart family crowing moment before tragedy struck multiple times in the coming months. It's a goosebumps moment and you simply have to smile watching it.

In terms of the match itself, it doesn't hold up to many other Bret Hart classics, but the action is wild and in particular takes a turn for the better when Bret and Austin are in the ring together. They were magic.

As a spectacle, this is remembered for the right reasons, a brilliantly booked main event in front of an amazing wrestling crowd.

WINNERS - THE HART FOUNDATION VIA ROLLUP

That's all, folks!