Summer Tour 2013

Rob Van Dam pinned Razor Ramon with the Split Legged Moonsault in 0:05:00.
Rating: ** 1/4
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[Special Challenge Match]:
Cactus Jack and Sabu defeated Dan Severn and Ken Shamrock when Sabu pinned
Shamrock after a triangle choke in 0:19:42.
Rating: ***
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Brian Christopher pinned Rick Steamboat with the Tennessee Jam in 0:05:42.
Rating: ** 3/4

Rick Steiner and Steve Williams defeated Jushin Liger and Kensuke Sasaki when
R. Steiner pinned Liger after a rolling reverse cradle in 0:15:50.
Rating: ** 1/2
(Rick Steiner and Steve Williams retained the WWF World Tag Team Titles.)
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Hayabusa and Dean Malenko battled to a double pin in 0:21:09.
Rating: **** 1/4
(Hayabusa retained the WWF Intercontinental Title.)
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Shawn Michaels and Diesel defeated The Dudley Boys when Michaels defeated
D-Von Dudley by disqualification in 0:15:46.
Rating: * 1/2
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Chris Benoit defeated Vader by disqualification in 0:16:39.
Rating: *** 1/2
(Chris Benoit retained the WWF World Title.)
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Card rating: ***


Match observations: 

We had no less than six in-ring debuts tonight ! The WWF is changing and for the
better. 

Both Rob Van Dam and Brian Christopher won their debuts against seasoned ring
veterans: Razor Ramon in Van Dam's case and none other than Rick Steamboat in
Christopher's case.

Shawn Michaels and Diesel have gotten themselves some reinforcement against Paul
E.'s troupe alright: Ken Shamrock and Dan Severn ! Those two could tip the scale
into Shawn and Diesel's direction, although they still need to learn a lot about
the pro style. They lost their debut match against the former tag team champions
Cactus Jack and Sabu. The way how they lost was typical for inexperienced pro
wrestlers: Shamrock locked Sabu in a triangle choke - which is a viable and
dangerous tactic in the world of NHB fighting (ask Severn... he'll tell you how
painful the triangle choke really is !) - however, in the pro wrestling world, 
you'll have to watch out not to find both your shoulders pinned to the mat when
using the triangle choke. Exactly that is what happened to Shamrock, and it cost
him and Severn the match.

Jushin Liger and Kensuke Sasaki almost caught the current WWF World Tag Team
Champions Steve Williams and Rick Steiner offguard with their superior teamwork
and unconventional styles. However, Rick Steiner had the tenacity... and a 
handful of tights and they kept the titles. These two teams will surely be 
rematched soon considering the close verdict.

If you recall, there's been tremendous controversy over Hayabusa's title victory
over Dean Malenko. WWF officials met until the wee hours yesterday and the
decision was made to have the two wrestle each other once again tonight and if
there was no decisive winner, the title would be vacated. Malenko and Hayabusa
both saw their shoulders pinned to the mat tonight, and the decision stands:
the WWF Intercontinental Title has been vacated !

Next month's In Your House will feature a 16-man single elimination tournament
with sixteen of the top WWF wrestlers today fighting for the gold.

Nothing has been settled in the feud between Shawn Michaels and Diesel and
Paul E.'s Dudley Boys as D-Von suckered Shawn Michaels who was on the verge of
scoring the win for his team into dropping his guard thus enabling Big Dick
Dudley to flatten Shawn with a chair shot.

Steve Austin did it again. He's supposedly at home nursing his various injuries.
The word "supposedly" is the key word here. At the last In Your House, Steve
Austin nearly killed both Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, The Undertaker and... Chris
Benoit. Back then, we wondered why he attacked Benoit whom he has never had a
problem with. It's obvious now: Austin saw Benoit beating Vader for the title
and he wants it back and badly at that. 

Austin made that point painfully clear when he attacked Benoit once again 
tonight, this time nearly taking his head off with a wicked chair shot. WWF
officials will certainly look into this matter...