SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 25:04 MIN.
In a Pay-Per-View (PPV) rematch from 1994’s WrestleMania X, Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon again face off in a ladder match for the WWE’s second most prestigious title. Held at Pittsburgh’s Civic Arena, on August 27, 1995, more than 18,000 fans would witness live this high-profile I-C Championship clash on SummerSlam 1995’s undercard.
REVIEW:
Despite recycling almost every trick from their last encounter, this match still entertains and has its fair share of surprises – even for a match that is 25+ years old. Re: the I-C Champ, “The Heartbreak Kid” gives a good performance. However, inconsistency with his ‘injured’ leg, blatantly scripted spots, and two botched finishes makes this one a bit of a dud for Michaels. As for Razor Ramon (aka Scott Hall), he puts on a clinic with good selling and a brutal beatdown of Michaels early on. Ramon probably has the best performance out of any wrestler at this PPV, which helps this match feel fresh.
Plus, watch for the new ladder moves! Moonsaults and mooning from atop the ladder by Michaels exhibits originality, as well as considerable risk, to ensure the big rematch equals their original WrestleMania X showdown. The only real issue with this bout, for better or worse, is that both Michaels and Ramon appear out of breath early. It’s most likely due to their choreography being more brutally structured as a match involving a ladder rather than an actual ladder match.
For fans of either HBK, Scott Hall, or ladder matches, this one is definitely worth checking out, even if the stunts feel outdated by today’s standards. Easily, this was one of Scott Hall’s best matches. Michaels, too, gets great pops from the crowd, even when Ramon carries most of the match.
ROSCOE’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars
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