Austin Survives a ‘Giant’ Massacre

Sunday night in Memphis, Tennessee, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin fulfilled his two guarantees leading up to the steel cage match at the “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre” pay-per-view. Austin did defeat the WWF owner Vince McMahon to maintain his Wrestlemania WWF title show, and forced McMahon to shed blood.

The actual start to the cage match was delayed several minutes as Mr. McMahon did all he could to run around the ring, and prevent Austin to enter the twelve-foot steel cage. As both men tried to climb over the top of the structure to begin the match, Austin rammed McMahon’s head into the top bar of the cage, and the WWF boss landed on and crushed the Spanish announcer’s table.

When announcer Howard Finkel entered the cage to declare Austin the winner, “the rattlesnake” refused the win since the match actually never started. As paramedics escorted Mr. McMahon out on a gurney, Austin caught up, and threw McMahon back into the cage, with his neck brace still on.

Austin had two opportunities to win the match, one time escaping through the door, and another climbing over the top of the cage. Both times Austin was persuaded to remain in the match after being flipped off by McMahon.

The third occasion, Austin delivered a Stone Cold Stunner, and it appeared the match was over. All of sudden, Paul Wight (WCW’s The Giant) emerged through the ring, and started destroying Austin. Wight threw Austin into the cage, and the cage flew open, and Austin landed on the arena floor, and was declared the victor.

In a battle of two-time WWF champions, Mankind and The Rock fought to a draw in the last man standing contest when neither could answer referee Earl Hefner’s ten count. At one point in the match, Mankind delivered a DDT on The Rock on top of a table, crashing both competitors to the floor. Mankind tried the same on the WWF announcer’s table, only this time The Rock reversed the hold, landing Mankind hard on the arena floor.

Both men were able to apply their signatures moves, yet, in a match were someone has to win, neither one did. The more than 19,000 fans that witnessed the event live at the Pyramid in Memphis, starting chanting obscenities.

Chyna and Kane defeated Triple H and X-Pac when Hunter attempted the pedigree on the “ninth wonder of the world,” only to be caught and choke slammed by Kane, and the big red machine placed an blacked out Chyna on top to gain the fall. Chyna put in a strong performance in the her first WWF match, at one point slamming Triple H, and another delivering a running power slam to X-Pac.

The highlight of the match occurred when Chyna was helpless on the bottom turnbuckle, and X-Pac gave Chyna the bronco buster. X-Pac was struck by Shane McMahon who was doing commentating at ringside, leading him to chase Shane to the back, allowing Kane to gain the double team.

Val Venis won the Intercontinental championship from the “world’s most dangerous man” Ken Shamrock. Guess referee, Billy Gunn of DX, was nonchalant in his role and at one point, did not count to three when it was clear Shamrock had defeated Venis. As Shamrock applied his patented ankle lock submission hold, Ken’s “sister” Ryan helped Val grab the ropes, forcing the referee to break the hold. When Shamrock confronted his Ryan, she slapped him.

Gunn tossed Shamrock back into the ring, and quickly counted three when Venis rolled up the Intercontinental champion for the win. This match was likely a setup to a three-way dance for the IC title at Wrestlemania XV.

Debra challenged Ivory, the new valet of Mark Henry and D’Lo Brown’s, to change the tag team title match to a six person contest with both gals involved in the contest. She refused the request. Jarrett and Hart retained the WWF tag team titles when Jarrett applied the figure four-leg lock on Henry. The six-person match is likely to take place at Wrestlemania.

The Big Boss Man defeated Midian from the Ministry of Darkness, yet was surrounded by the other members of the Undertaker’s gang, and they carried Boss Man to the back.

With “Road Dogg” Jesse James out of action, it was announced the Hard-core championship would be decided between JOB Squad members, Al Snow and Bob Holly. The two fought outside the arena, landing both members into the Mississippi River. In the end, Holly trapped Snow in a chain-linked fence, and claimed the title.

In the opening bout, Goldust defeated Bluedust (ECW’s The Blue Meanie) with the curtain call. After the match, Goldust gave the Meanie shattered dreams.

The WWF returns to pay-per-view March 28th, for Wrestlemania XV at the First Union Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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