On May 14th, 1995, the WWF presented its first-ever In Your House event from Syracuse, New York. The presentation of In Your House #1 was interesting as this was the first of a series of events. The commentary involved Vince McMahon and Michael ‘Dok Hendrix’ PS Hayes on commentary. The event showcased several matches, including Diesel against Psycho Sid for the WWE Championship. What is interesting to note about the event is that the show was just under two hours. The first match on the card involved a former WWE Champion and Hall of Famer in Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart, and some wonder what could have been with Hakushi.
This week’s edition of the WWE Sunday Night Pay Per RetroView features In Your House #1.
Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart vs. Hakushi with Shinja
In Your House #1
Before the match began, we saw how this match initially came to be. An attack on Bret Hart by Hakushi during an interview segment led to the animosity between the two. Hakushi awaited Hart in the ring as the Hitman was interviewed backstage by Todd Pettengill. Hart makes his way to the ring determined to even the odds with the Japanse assassin in Hakushi.
The two lock up in the middle in the ring with Hakushi tying up the Hitman. Hakushi locks in a side headlock in the ring. After the two lockup, Hakushi forward rolls and follows that up with a cartwheel. His agility certainly impresses the Hitman. An attempted test of strength leads to Hakushi gaining the advantage. Hitman nips up, but Hakushi regains control wrenching a wrist lock. He then follows this up with a flying shoulder press. Hakushi then locks in an armbar on Bret while he’s resting on the mat. Hart begins to make his way to his feet slowly and breaks free. The hits a dropkick and follows up with a wristlock of his own.
After Bret hits a hip toss, he follows this up with a couple of arm drags. Hakushi leaves the ring to recover on the outside. The Japanese star attempts to sneak into the ring, but Bret prevents that. Hakushi follows up with consecutive thrust strikes. With Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler looking on, Hakushi locks in a nerve hold. Before it was a move, Hakushi hit a bronco buster on the Hitman. He then proceeds to pose in the corner turnbuckle. Hart then falls through the ring ropes and is beaten down by Hakushi’s aid on the outside. When Hart makes his way back in the ring, Hakushi whips him hard in the corner.
Hakushi: The On-going Assault on Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart
Hakushi then proceeds to choke Hart along the middle rope. Knife-edge chop after knife-edge chop beats down Hart. A cartwheel into a round off back elbow by Hakushi onto Hart. Hakushi hits a tilt a whirl backbreaker. He then climbs the top rope and hits a diving headbutt onto Brett. The Modern-Day Kamakazi then attempts a springboard splash, but Bret moves. Hart makes his way back to his feet and then follows up a Russian side leg sweep. Hendrik points out a momentum shift. Brett then hits an elbow drop from the second rope.
Shinja is then attacked by Hart, who refuses to allow himself to go down. Hakushi attempts a suplex, but Hart suplexes himself and his opponent over the top rope. Both men are on the outside of the ring, but Shinja prevents Hart to climb back into the ring. Hakushi attempts to hit a suplex, but Bret reverses it into a victory roll for a three count.
Winner: Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart
As he left the ring, Hart appeared to have tweaked his knee upon landing on the floor.
The set-up was unusual as they showed police-led squadron carrying entries that were ‘giving away a home.’
Handicap Match
Jeff Jarrett and The Roadie vs. Razor Ramon
In Your House #1
The match begins with the 1-2-3 Kid on the phone as he’s injured and unable to compete. With Razor in the backstage area, he is being interviewed via telescreen by Vince McMahon at ringside. He spoke about how it was personal. Jarrett and The Roadie awaited the bad guy as he was making his way to the ring. The recollection of pyrotechnics was impressive in the ring. To see it coming to the ring was one thing, but to see it in the ring was another.
Both the Roadie and Jeff Jarrett attempt to corner him. However, Razor Ramon gains the advantage by throwing rights and wiping Jarrett out of the ring. Once back in the ring, Double J begins to take the fight to Razor. However, only to have been taken out of the match. After distractions by the Roadie, Jeff Jarrett regains an advantage. Razor catches Jarrett and hits his fallaway slam on him. The Roadie is then tagged into the match and hits a clothesline. This matchup was well before Road Dogg had gained notoriety as a member of the New Age Outlaws and Degeneration X. Ramon attempts to make a comeback. Still, the odd continues to be an issue throughout.
Does Razor begin to make a comeback at In Your House #1?
Once Jarrett returns to the ring, he attempts a double ax handle only for Razor to catch him. We then see Razor attempt a Razor’s edge only to be tossed over the top rope. With the referee distracted, The Roadie hit a clothesline on Razor on the outside. Jarrett then hits a crossbody only for Ramon to reverse it. Both men exchange counts of two. Ramon continues to be in trouble until a miscue by Jarrett changes that. McMahon points out the word ‘Kid’ tapped to the side of Razor Ramon’s boot. A belly to back suplex by Ramon appears to be a last-ditch effort.
The Roadie reaches on, waiting for Jarrett to make the tag. Once The Roadie is in the ring, he hits an elbow from the middle rope. A rear chinlock by The Roadie is broken out of by Razor Ramon. After a break, Jarrett’s tagged in, but Razor can fight back. Ramon whips Jarrett into The Roadie. He begins to take the fight to The Roadie and hits a belly to back suplex from the middle rope. Razor Ramon is too focused on The Roadie, ignoring Jeff Jarrett in the process. Ramon kicks Jarrett from behind, leading to The Roadie being kicked off the ring apron to the floor.
Razor then proceeds to pick up for the Razor’s edge and hits it. He makes the pin for the three count and the win.
Winner: Razor Ramon
After the match, the Roadie comes in, and while attempting a Razor’s edge, from behind. Jarrett locks in figure four leglock. At this point, Aldo Montoya comes in to help Razor Ramon. But at that point, he’s double-teamed and removed from the ring. Then the debuting Savio Vega comes in and beats down both men. Referees begin to pull him off with his name not given throughout this encounter. The police come in and begin to escort Vega out of the ring. It was interesting to see him debut this way.
A preview of the upcoming main event between Psycho Sid and Diesel is certain to take place. The menacing and unpredictable nature of Sid becomes front and center here. From his endless attacks to his preparation for his match with Diesel. It is interesting to see an interviewer in the stands promoting merchandise. To fast forward twenty-five years later would be surprised to see this taking place.
King of the Ring Qualifying Tournament
Mabel with Mo vs. Adam Bomb
In Your House #1
The first-round matchup between Adam Bomb and Mabel is up next. The early opinion by Hendrix is that Bomb is a favorite because of his speed. An attack by Mo early leads to an attack by Mabel. Bomb begins to throw fists at Mabel, knocking him out of the ring. With Mabel back in the ring, Bomb hits a slingshot clothesline into the ring. Adam Bomb then climbs the top rope and hits a second clothesline this time from the top rope. Mabel reverses an Irish with by Bomb into a spin heel kick. Adam Bomb is then caught in mid-air by Mabel, leading into a splash. He follows this up with a pinfall and the win.
Winner: Mabel
Todd Pettingill is then in the backstage area, and this time, he is speaking with Razor Ramon. While there, Razor introduced Savio Vega, who he said was one of the biggest stars in the Caribbean as he shares how he has his back.
WWF Tag Team Championship Match
The Smoking Gunns vs. Yokozuna and Owen Hart (c) with Jim Cornette and Mr. Fuji
In Your House #1
Jerry Lawler continues to argue that he wants his match with Bret Hart immediately. WWE agents are leading Lawler to the backstage area. This championship match soon follows. It is an opportunity for The Smoking Gunns to capture the tag team championship. Billy locks in a side headlock with Yokozuna. He hits a couple of dropkicks, but the result barely phases the master of the Bonzai. Bart is tagged as is Owen. Gunn has the advantage only to tag in his brother Billy. Billy is easily distracted at ringside by Mr. Fuji is merely waving the Japanese flag.
A tag in from Owen to Yokozuna puts the champions in the early advantage. A spin heel kick by Owen whips Billy out of the ring. Yokozuna then attempts a splash only to miss Billy and hit the ring post. Yokozuna then drops a leg on Bart, who was outside the ring. Bart’s whipped into the ring, and Owen makes the cover for the three count.
Winners: Owen Hart and Yokozuna
Pettingill is speaking with Diesel backstage, who was pensive at the time. He spoke of how he lost his mother earlier and was experiencing his first mother’s day since her passing. He then moves on to discussing how Sid has joined the ranks of Ted DiBiase’s corporation. After this, Pettingill shares that Lawler is in the ring saying his ‘mother’ is there to support him. She’s likely half if not a third of his age and impossible to consider his mother. Bret is interviewed, saying his leg is 100%.
Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart vs. Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler
In Your House #1
When he makes his way to the ring, he fakes his injury, walking fine on it. Much to the dismay of Lawler, Hart comes into the ring and chases him. Hart takes the fight to Lawler, beating him down piece by piece. Bret then follows up with a back body drop on the King. The King catches Bret and hits a piledriver to which the Hitman quickly recovers from it. Bret then hits a piledriver on his own. Lawler is reaching for his ‘mom’ sitting at ringside. Bret then proceeds to gauge the eyes of Lawler.
Jerry then proceeds to climb the top and is caught with a punch in the midsection by Bret. Hart drops his head into the mid-section of a lying Lawler. At that point, Shinja (Hakushi’s aid) comes to the ring and distracts the referee. The referee is then tied in the ring ropes. Bret continues his attack on Lawler until Hakushi comes in and interferes. Two diving headbutts by Hakushi with a distracted recovering referee leads to a pinning attempt and a win.
Winner: Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler
After the match, Hart clears the ring of those in the ring. A great deal of focus after the match consists of Hart’s anger. Sid then says that time has run out for Diesel. Will there be a new champion? At the end of the night, will that question be answered?. Sid calls himself the master and the ruler of the world.
They gave away a vacation house in Florida. It was bizarre in retrospect. If Ed McMahon and Publisher’s Clearing House show up, it is undoubtedly a flashback, alright. Stephanie (not McMahon) climbs into the bin of envelopes. They call the winner of the house. Vince McMahon and Dok Hendrix run down the main event that is next between Sid and Diesel.
WWF Heavyweight Championship Match
Sid with ‘Million Dollar Man’ Ted DiBiase vs. Diesel
In Your House #1
Sid makes his way to the ring first, followed by Diesel. Sid questions McMahon to call him ‘Psycho’ to his face. He doesn’t and proceeds to stand face to face with Big Daddy Cool in the middle of the ring. The champion begins to take the fight to the challenger. Back elbows in the corner turnbuckle take the challenger out of the ring. Diesel then attacks Sid with several short-arm clotheslines.
The champion is distracted by DiBiase. Sid then begins to beat down the champion on the outside. The challenger continues to berate the champion. Sid comes charging at the champion and drives a boot to the side of the head of Diesel. Hendrix points out that Sid working on the back of Diesel weakens him for a powerbomb. The champion, whoever is pandering to the crowd taking his eyes off the champion. Sid returns his attack and focuses on the back of Diesel. Diesel begins to try and fight his way out of a camel clutch.
Could this be the end of Diesel at In Your House #1?
Diesel counts out of a pinning attempt by the challenger. Fans begin to chant for the champion, trying to encourage him in the process. The official is checking on the arm of the champion. Diesel then initiates fight off the challenge of the champion. Sid then hits a powerbomb on the champion but continues to pander, taking his time. The referee counts but only for a count of two. Diesel fights back and hits snake eyes, followed by a big boot on the challenger. He then hits a powerbomb of his own. When it appears as though Diesel will make the count, Tatanka makes his way into the match and causes a disqualification.
Winner: via disqualification Diesel
After the bell, Tatanka, DiBiase, and Sid all work together to beat down on Diesel. At this point, Sid attempts another powerbomb, but Bam Bam Bigelow comes to the ring to help save the champion. Bigelow and Diesel stand tall in the ring while Tatanka and Sid leave the ringside area. These events bring In Your House #1 to a close.
