WWE Heat Report (04/27/08) Special In Studio Edition (Tag Teams)

WWE Heat Report: 27th April 2008
By Shaun Best-Rajah.com Reporter
Special In Studio Edition: Great Tag Teams
Hosted By: Jack Korpela

Welcome to this special edition of Heat. Today we received a nice throwback with highlights from some of the greatest tag teams in WWE history. The order of the teams featured were the Rockers, Demolition, The Hart Foundation, Legion of Doom and the Hardys. For each team we got to see one of their matches which were all joined in progress. Here’s what was on the show:-

The Rockers vs The Orient Express (Royal Rumble 1991)
We pick the action up with Shawn Michaels being worked over. Kato Irish whips him upside down and out to the ring apron, before Tanaka crescent kicks Michaels back in. The Express give Michaels a double clothesline before Michaels gives Tanaka a faceplant. Kato cuts Michaels off. Michaels ducks under a clothesline then jumps across the Express who crash into each other. Marty Jannetty gets the hot tag and dishes out punches, slams and dropkicks. Jannetty scores nearfalls on Kato with a powerslam and flying elbow. Tanaka kicks Jannetty into a backslide for an Express nearfall. The Rockers land a double kick on Kato but Tanaka thwarts a Rocket launcher attempt from the top rope. The finish comes after Jannetty counters a slingshot attempt with a sunset flip on Tanaka for the 1-2-3. Good match. After this, the Express were turned into job fodder then disbanded which was a shame. Here Are Your Winners: THE ROCKERS.

The Colossal Connection vs Demolition (WrestleMania VI)
Not the best of bouts to feature Demolition. Haku has Ax grounded in a nerve hold. Smash’s attempts to get in lead to Andre choking Ax with the tag rope behind the referee’s back. Haku gives Ax a shoulderbreaker and Irish whip but eats boot on a charge. Ax tags out. Smash delivers punches, a battering ram in the corner, backelbow, backbodydrop and cross body double axehandle to Haku. Demolition dish out some double clotheslines until Andre grabs Smash. Smash moves as Haku aims a kick and he catches Andre who ends up getting tied in the ropes. Demolition give Haku a stun gun across the top rope then finish things with the Demolition decapitation (backbreaker/elbow combo from the second rope) for the 1-2-3. Demolition threepeat as tag champs. WWE has dubbed over Demolition’s music with generic garbage. This was Andre’s last appearance at a WrestleMania and was sad seeing him in the shape he was in here. Here Are Your Winners: DEMOLITION.

Demolition vs The Hart Foundation (2/3 Falls-SummerSlam 1990)
Demolition had recently added Crush as a third member due to Ax being in poor health. As a rule, only two members of Demolition were allowed at ringside for this match. We pick this up with Demolition already one fall up. The Harts give Smash the Hart Attack but Crush manhandles the referee which gives the Harts the second fall by DQ. As Bret continues with Smash, Ax runs down and hides underneath the ring. Demolition soon pull the switcheroo as Ax wears down Bret. Ax whips Bret front first into the corner before Crush delivers a nice backbreaker. Demolition continue to triple team the Harts until the Legion of Doom come out and pull Ax from underneath the ring. LOD then break up a Demolition decapitation attempt on Bret. This distraction allows Anvil to hit a flying shoulder tackle over the top rope onto Crush. Crush falls over Bret who hooks the legs to get the decisive three count. Here Are Your Winners: THE HART FOUNDATION.

We now see some short pieces lifted from the Road Warriors DVD which profiles the Legion of Doom. We hear comments from Animal, Demolition’s Smash, Jerry Lawler, Paul Ellering and Jim Ross. The piece concludes as we get to SummerSlam 1992 where Animal admits that Hawk wasn’t on the up-and-up going into this match. In truth, Hawk was pissed off at the direction the team were going in as they were saddled with a dummy called Rocco. A fact that was glossed over here. Animal then tells the story about getting to ride Harleys down to the ring at Wembley Stadium for SummerSlam 1992. Hawk parked his Harley too close to Animal’s resulting in Animal getting his calf and tights caught in the bike. This leads to…..

The Legion of Doom vs Money Inc (SummerSlam 1992)
Money Inc wear Hawk down with a few chinlocks. Hawk ducks an IRS clothesline before both men collide. Hawk can’t tag and continues getting worked over. Hawk and IRS then clothesline each other and tag out. Animal lands a flying shoulder tackle to DiBiase then a dropkick to IRS. Animal ducks a Money Inc clothesline and comes back with one of his own. An atomic drop sends IRS out of the ring. DiBiase gets a clothesline in the corner. Legion of Doom set DiBiase up for the Doomsday device but IRS dropkicks Animal to thwart this. Animal comes back by whipping DiBiase into IRS. Animal gives DiBiase a powerslam to get the 1-2-3. Not long after this, LOD disappeared from WWE until mid-1997. Here Are Your Winners: THE LEGION OF DOOM.

The Hardys vs Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch (Backlash 2007)
Matt gives hiptosses to both members of the redneck wrecking crew. Matt gives Murdoch a slam and fistdrop. Jeff hits a dropkick. The Hardys give Murdoch a quick legdrop/elbow combo. A double elbow by the Hardys is followed up by a senton/elbow drop combo. Jeff gives Murdoch the whisper in the wind. Matt clotheslines Cade over the top rope. Jeff leaps off Matt and hits Murdoch with a suicide dive as we cut away for some HBK/Batista Backlash hype. We return to see Jeff hit a reverse heel kick on Cade. Murdoch gives Jeff a slam. Murdoch comes off the second rope, catches a boot attempt but misses an elbow drop. Matt tags in to give Murdoch a backbodydrop. Matt follows up with an Irish whip, clothesline and running bulldog for a nearfall. The Hardys miss with poetry in motion. Murdoch blocks the twist of fate so Matt comes back with a side effect. Cade breaks up the pin with a top rope double axehandle. Murdoch gets a nearfall on Matt from this. Murdoch hits the ace of spades (mini canadian destroyer) on Matt for a nearfall. Murdoch throws a fit. Murdoch gets Matt on his shoulders. Matt uses the ropes to get down and hit the twist of fate. Cade pulls Matt outside while Jeff connects with a swanton bomb on Murdoch. Matt wrestles free of Cade, gets back in and covers for the 1-2-3. This was the start of a great feud and was a pretty good match. Here Are Your Winners: THE HARDYS.

Korpela runs down the Backlash card-sans the Women’s match before signing off to end the show.

Best match: Demolition vs The Hart Foundation.
Worst match: Demolition vs The Colossal Connection.
Show verdict: Thumbs way up. A thoroughly enjoyable show with some great memories being replayed. Check out the show if you can. One tiny gripe. After seeing this show and listening to Korpela talk about the recent rejuventaion of the tag team division, how come there’s no tag matches on the Backlash card?

Speaking of Backlash, here are my picks and predictions: RANDY ORTON: UNDERTAKER: BATISTA: MATT HARDY: KANE: BIG SHOW. TEAM BETH PHOENIX.

I can see Chris Jericho screwing Shawn Michaels which will lead to the resumption of their excellent 2003 feud. Also Great Khali is due to head back to India for a bit so it would be counterproductive for him to win. Besides Big Show needs the win as he rebounds from his loss to Floyd Mayweather. Undertaker looks like he’s getting a lengthy title reign so he’ll retain. I hope I can stay awake during Kane and Chavo Guerrero. I hope they use the Women’s match to establish some new interbrand feuds. Matt Hardy/MVP is tough to call but it’s time for Matt to get the U.S. Title and for MVP to move on. The Fatal Four way is another tough one. The Elimination aspect is a good twist and I have a nice idea. Have someone ‘eliminate’ Randy Orton early and have him carried out all bloody. The other three carry on and when it’s down to the last two, one gets the pinfall before Orton sneaks out from under the ring and RKO’s the ‘winner’ to retain. I think that would be good.

Wherever you are, enjoy Backlash later tonight. Heat returns in its normal format next week so I’ll see you then. Shaun.

If anyone wants to sound off, chew the fat or talk wrestling get in touch. Comments/praise/feedback/criticism/discussion points please direct to [email protected].