IYH: Badd Blood Review

The In Your House ppvs, up until 1997 had for the most part been one good match with a bunch of mediocre to garbage matches. Since Canadian Stampede the ppvs have increased steadily in quality. I gave Canadian Stampede the highest IYH rating when I reviewed it awhile back. Then that record was broken by the next IYH Ground Zero. Ive watched Badd Blood before and I have a feeling it's gonna beat Ground Zero. Unbiased opinion of course:)


Live from St Louis Missouri, McMahon, JR and Lawler are calling the shots. Before the opening match begins Vince lets the viewers know that Pillman was found dead just hours prior to the event. He was supposed to face Dude Love in some nothing match, and will be replaced by a midget tag match.


Match #1

Handicap Match

The Legion Of Doom Vs The Nation Of Domination


Shamrock was supposed to team with the LOD in a 6 man but a spinebuster from Faarooq had him spitting up blood so he's out. Rocky Maivia has been part of the nation for a few months now and is really starting to find his niche. Hawk nosells a few moves and Animal plays face in peril. LOD are game but eventual breakdown and a brawl breaks out. LOD go for the doomsday device but Faarooq runs distraction and Rocky gets the ppv debute of the Rock Bottom on Hawk and the pin at 12:09. 1 1/2 star.


Next we get the replacement midget tag match. FF.


Match #2

Tag Team Championship Match

The Headbangers Vs The Godwinns w Uncle Cletus

Sunny does ring introductions, to earn her paycheck I guess. Everybody starts out by spitting in the air and Bangers mostly moking the Godwinns. Pretty boring match. Bangers control then fall victim to heel cheapshots. Thrasher hottags after a few minutes and it all breaks down as it usually does to indicate a finish. Phineos gets a sloppy powerbomb and pins Mosh for the belts at 12:11. Worthless title change and the LOD would take the belts 2 freaking days later. 1 1/2 star.


Match #3

Intercontinental Championship Match

Owen Hart Vs Faarooq


The final match in the IC title tournament after Austin gave it up post Summerslam. This match is over before it really gets rolling. Austin does commentary and is obviously upset by Pillmans death but does his best to disguise it as hatred for Owen. Austin sounds more hyperactive than usual as a result. Owen is looking out of it too. Faarooq controls most of it. Neidhart wanders to ringside for no real reason. Owen with a sharpshooter is broken by Faarooq then a spinebuster gets two. Originally Ahmed was supposed to be in this final tournament match but you know the routine, and Faarooq gets another shot. Faarooq gets too close to the ropes and Austin smacks him with the IC title and Owen pins him at 6:00. 1 star. Austin wants to beat Owen for the title himself.


One more boring match then the ppv gets real good.


Match #4

8 Man Tag Team Match

The Disciples Of Apocolypse Vs Los Boricuas

Yet another boring brawler tag match from the gang warz. Nothing noteworthy. Crush pins Jesus Christ after a backbreaker at 9:08. 1 1/2 star. Of the Gang Warz in 97 the DOA were the only group that was actually liked by the fans. But they lost nearly all their fights to the NOD and Boricuas.


Match #5

Flag Match

World Champion Bret The Hitman Hart and The British Bulldog Daveyboy Smith Vs The Patriot and Vader


This is probably the best flag match ive seen so far (which isn't saying much) but I liked it. Suprisingly long match. Vader is getting a pretty good cheer as a face. Big brawl to start. Vader beats on Bret outside and Patriot whacks Bulldog with the US flag. Things calm down and we get started in a proper tag team format. Patriot and Bulldog start with Bulldog getting beat up then Bret and Vader tag in with Vader beating him down in the corner to the cheers. Patriot and Bulldog try going for the flags on their next turn but get pulled down. In a flag match you grab the flag or get a pin or submission to win. Hart tries a sharpshooter but Patriot does a Ground Zero finish to counter but Patriot soon finds himself in the get beat up role. Doesn't last very long, Vader hottags and wipes out Bulldog. Vader goes for a moonsault on Bulldog who rolls out of the way but Vader lands on his feet. Bret uses his title and pastes Vader with it and they beat him down. Some A$$hole runs into the ring and gets a **** kicking. Vader bomb on Bulldog and uncle slam on Bret but Hart reverses a rollup on Patriot at 29:43!!! To win it. Didn't remember it being that long. 3 stars.


Match #6

Hell In The Cell Match

European Champion Shawn Michaels Vs The Undertaker


DX gets sent to the back and everyone is convinced Michaels will die a horrible death tonight. Shawn runs away then Taker finally gets his hands on him and it ain't pretty. Michaels bumping around like a nut. Taker tosses Shawn over the top rope to the floor, he chokes Shawn against the cage and Michaels tries climbing to get away but Taker yanks him down. The fans in the front row are chanting "make him bleed". Shawn might be the most hated wrestler of 97. Taker tries a piledriver but Shawn flips up and jabs away. Taker uses this huricinrana position and rams Shawn into the cage before dropping him to the mat. It's almost totally lopsided ass whipping at this point. Shawn gets a suicide dive through the ropes on Taker in his first real offense. Shawn grabs the steps and bashes Taker in the back then hits a nasty piledriver on the second piece of stairs. Shawn ties up Taker in then then charges into eat a boot. Shawn gets backdropped over the top rope and whips out the cameraman then draws even more heat by kicking the poor guy. The refs get the carcass out. Shawn hits the flying elbow and gets ready for sweet chin music. Taker sits up and Shawn goes out the door. They brawl in the entrance way then Taker slingshots Shawn into the cage and he's busted open. Taker ramrods him face first into the cage and Shawn retreats to the top of the cage. He tries a piledriver but gets backdropped and Taker press slams him, getting closer to the edge. Shawn tries climbing down but Taker stomps his hand and he drops about 8 feet down to one of the announcers table to a roar from the crowd. Taker press slams him onto the other announce table and Shawn in gello at this point. Back inside Taker grabs a chair and absolutely smashes the hell out of Shawn. Taker calls for the finish, the lights go out and Kane makes his debute. Kane rips the door off the hinges wipes out Hebner and tombestones Taker and leaves. Shawn with whatever energy he has left slithers over and puts a hand on the Ko'd taker and Hebner crawls in and makes a super long 3 count and Shawn wins it at 30:12. Possibly the best match of 97? I don't know. You still got Bret/Austin at Mania 13 and Mysterio/Eddie at Halloween Havoc 97. Im going 4 stars. I would of gone 4 1/2 but the finish deducts 1/2 a star and personally I don't like giving 5 stars to matches like HITC or TLC or any of those spotfest stuntman matches. But it is awesome.


Overall Opinion: Yeah, I think this is the best IYH up until that time. Everything up to the flag match is pretty stinko but this ppv has a 4 1/2 star match and a 3 star match on it so it's worth watching. Might cost you a couple of bucks to get it on Coliseum Video so go for a cd burn or something.


Final Score: Im going with a 4.1 Still like Ground Zero a bit more as a package.