Shawn Michaels is the new WWF World’s Heavyweight Champion, having recently dethroned Bret Hart in their…famous 60-minute Iron Man match. Diesel is on his way out of the promotion, heading to World Championship Wrestling in a move that’ll surely prove inconsequential. Since losing the belt at Survivor Series, Diesel has been increasingly mean, now threatening Vince McMahon and even throwing his vest at him. My god!
These two have what we experts call “history” and this is a No Holds Barred match. Also, Mad Dog Vachon is watching on from the front row and Jose Lothario is in Michaels’ corner. Anyway, they brawl in centre ring, with Michaels using his speed advantage for some early success, even heading up top for a moonsault to the floor. Michaels then retrieves Hugo Savinovich’s shoe (yes, seriously) and whacks Diesel over the head only to be dispatched to the guardrail mere moments later.
Thrilling start here, with Michaels throwing himself around even more so than usual. Naturally, it slows down some with Diesel in control, utilising a DELIBERATE pace to work Michaels over. Bits aside, Diesel’s offence looks good, including an especially explosive sidewalk slam. Being mean, he showcases some of that offence on Earl Hebner too, then using his belt to batter Michaels. He even strangles the champ with Hebner’s belt, ultimately hanging him over the top rope.
That’s one thing but then Diesel crosses the line, throwing poor Howard Finkel and taking his chair. Man, they really cracked the code with Diesel in these final months, it’s quite incredible to watch in contrast to his inexplicable stint as babyface ace. Either way, Diesel lands a few chair shots before Michaels evades, with it whiplashing back into the challenger’s face. Michaels can’t build on that fortune though, eating a low blow as Diesel maintains control.
Back body drop next, which we need to bring back. At long last, Diesel allows me to take a breath, grabbing a hold as the people root Michaels upright. Diesel deals with that brief resistance anyway, clobbering Michaels to the floor. Things only get worse from there for the champion, eating a Jack-knife through the announce table as Diesel prematurely celebrates with the belt. Michaels fires up, ignoring McMahon’s cries of “it’s over” and climbing back through the ropes.
He doesn’t come alone though, stunning Diesel with a fire extinguisher and going to work with right hands. Michaels’ comeback follows, kip up and all as he retrieves a chair of his own. It’s hilariously tangled up with a headset and monitor but Michaels swings it anyway, which is real graps I’m sorry to report. Diesel somehow turns the tide again however, dropping Michaels via big boot only for his second Jack-knife to be countered by another onslaught of right hands.
Michaels then heads up, landing the big elbow drop but eating a clothesline as he tunes up the band. There’s genuine drama for this double-down, the place is absolutely hooked. Diesel gets the better of things again as they fight upright, then heading over to poor Mad Dog and taking his artificial leg. Indeed. Luckily, Michaels punches Diesel in the dick but uses the damn leg anyway, finally closing the show via Sweet Chin Music.
Some matches fall through the cracks of wrestling history and to me, this has always been a particularly obvious example. This is a great match, one of the decade’s best WWF World’s Title matches in my view. More specifically, it’s probably the best performance of Kevin Nash’s whole career, and I don’t mean that as a critique of his general work. Especially in this run, Nash was good in multiple big matches but he’s incredible here, finally presented correctly.
Speaking of such, this presentation serves Michaels rather well also, operating with a more serious edge than usual. As far as Michaels’ reign as champion, only the famous Mind Games bout with Mankind recaptures this atmosphere. In that sense, this match feels like an outlier in every which way, which makes its understated place in history all the more interesting to me. It just happens sometimes I guess but a terrific match regardless, one of the era’s best.
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