WWE Badd Blood: In Your House 1997 GRADED - Review

The spookiest month of the year may be more associated with WCW than WWE, but that doesn’t mean Vince McMahon’s boys haven’t been extra ghoulish during October, as evidenced with Badd Blood: In Your House on October 5, 1997.

A personal war between The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels was set to go to depraved new lows with the first ever Hell in a Cell match, as Paul Bearer watched on from the sides taunting ‘Taker about his brother Kane being alive. Elsewhere, The Hart Foundation were in the final throes of their WWF run, The Nation of Domination were nurturing a precocious young talent in Rocky Maivia, and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin was on the warpath as he became the hottest commodity in professional wrestling.

With over 21,000 in attendance we head to St. Louis, Missouri’s sold out Kiel Center to see if Badd Blood still packs a punch almost 30 years later.

WWF Badd Blood: In Your House GRADED:

Before we start the broadcast let’s look at the poster with an angry Undertaker holding his own decapitated head. As a lapsed fan in 1997, seeing ‘Taker looking like this blew my little eight-year-old mind. We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto.

Opening package shows the best and worst of Shawn Michaels (on-screen) and how he has been brutally battering The Undertaker at every turn, including some vicious chair shots, one which saw an incredible blade job by ‘Taker on an episode of Raw (myself and Tom Campbell covered the build to this show and indeed this show itself on the Cultaholic Classic Raw Review - subscribe now). 

Classic dramatic big match music from WWF here - they’d use this theme throughout the era for the big bouts. “Tonight there’ll be no Helmsley, no Chyna, no insurance policy (Rick Rude) to save his soul. Tonight there’s no way in, no way out, no one to stop the carnage.” Take my money.

Steve Blackman’s original music plays as PlayStation presents Badd Blood; In Your House. Pyro fills the arena and we see a stripped back entrance stage - the classic In Your House ‘house’ set was used for the last time at Ground Zero in September 1997. Jerry Lawler, Jim Ross, and Vince McMahon on commentary for this event - the last time Vince will commentate a WWF show.

Vince McMahon sombrely relays that Brian Pillman passed away earlier in the day, and that he’ll give more information during the broadcast, should it arrive.

The Nation of Domination (D’Lo Brown, Kama Mustafa & Rocky Maivia) def. The Legion of Doom (Hawk & Animal) - Handicap Match

JR notes how doctors pulled Ken Shamrock from competing in this bout. Hawk grabs a mic and says Shamrock is spitting up blood due to Faarooq, and they’ll handle this themselves two against three.

Hawk stalks D’Lo Brown to start, and manhandles him with ease. The St. Louis fans take this time to tell Rocky that he sucks, and the former ‘Blue Chipper’ is not happy at what he hears. Rocky then gets manhandled by Animal, in traditional LOD fashion. Kama Mustafa is next in and has slightly more luck, with him and Hawk both no selling a double clothesline, before Hawk took control again. Animal perfect powerslam on Kama, but Rocky plants him with a crisp DDT. ‘WHAT A MANOEUVRE’ shouts Vince at a Kama heel kick to Animal’s face, before Rocky and D’Lo gang up on Animal on the floor. D’Lo gets some licks in as Vince compares him to Lennox Lewis, and Rocky grounds Animal, nailing him in the spuds with a flush punch behind the referee’s back. 

The crowd continue to rally behind LOD, and become unglued when Animal makes the hot tag to Hawk - but it was behind the ref’s back. The Nation continue to batter Animal in the confusion, D’Lo hitting the Lo-Down frog splash, but it’s only good for a two-count. Another double clothesline between Animal and Rocky, and Animal is quickly up for the hot tag. Hawk leathers Rocky, hits a neckbreaker on D’Lo, then the LOD clean house and get Maivia up for the Doomsday Device, but an interfering Faarooq allows The Nation to regroup, with Rocky planting Hawk with the Rock Bottom for the win.

Grade: C - Basic handicap match. I dislike the LOD, but hey, they’re still over and that’s what matters. They did their part well - despite the lack of selling - and The Nation looked like a chaotic organised gang, and more importantly, got the win.

Sunny and Dok Hendrix are backstage plugging the WWF Superstar Line. Sunny wants to have some fun with Dok in the cell after the main event. I assume she means she wants to absolutely leather him beyond repair.

Vince again addresses the fans at home, noting how Brian Pillman was found dead in his hotel room in Bloomington, Minnesota, earlier this afternoon. Pillman was set to face Goldust for the ‘ownership’ of Marlena, with Marlena having recently undergone a grungy makeover whilst being shacked up with Pillman against her will (in kayfabe). McMahon then says they’ve scrambled to fill the spot, and we have an unannounced match coming up next.

Max Mini & Nova def. Mosaic & Tarantula

Lucha Libre minis action. Minis matches were commonplace on Raw is War in 1997, Max Mini especially got over with the fans due to his skills. Lawler makes short jokes because he’s a b*ll-end.

Nova with a lovely step over kick to Mosaic, and quickly gets the better of Tarantula with his speed. Mosaic and Tarantula do not gel, constantly inadvertently striking one another. Doesn’t stop them beating Nova down on the floor, though. Max Mini runs rings round Mosaic, even hitting a lovely back body drop as Nova hits a diving splash. Max Mini hurricanrana is broken up, as the heels regroup to hit a double big boot on Max. Tarantula hits a diving splash halfway across the ring on Nova for two, then Tarantula hits an impressive walking military press on Max onto the comms desk. Lawler laughs his head off, naturally. Nova hits a headscissors armdrag and a springboard dropkick which sends Mosaic to the floor, Max hits a diving splash onto Tarantula, then whiffs a spinning armdrag but gets the three-count.

Grade: D+ - Sloppy from the minis, but seeing as this was a last minute addition to the card you have to give them some grace. 

Advert for the iconic Austin 3:16 t-shirt. $25. Decent.

21,151 in attendance tonight, and they come unglued when Sunny’s music hits. Sunny brings up her history in the tag division, before introducing the next match:

The Godwinns (Henry O. Godwinn & Phineas I. Godwinn) (c) def. The Headbangers (Mosh & Thrasher) (c) - WWF Tag Team Championships

Rare Uncle Cletus sighting! The Godwinns’ manager had a brief run, almost as brief as Headbangers’ tag title run. 

Four-man fight to start off, with the champs taking control and sending the challengers to the floor. Stalling by The Godwinns, and some disgusting antics as Phinneas spits into the air, and Mosh does the same, catching it in his own mouth. Mosh with a form of a headscissors sending Phinneas to the floor, with Thrasher hitting a super sloppy diving frankensteiner onto him from the apron. Champs in firm control with a double flapjack that nearly spikes Phinneas on his head, crowd react in a big way to it.

Lawler and Vince talk about Marilyn Manson because it’s 1997, as Headbangers hit a tandem rope assisted bum-drop thing. Thrasher front superplex drop to Mosh onto Phineas for two, and this is all Headbangers, as Thrasher flattens PIG with a diving clothesline, only for Henry to crush Thrasher with a clothesline behind the ref’s back. Challengers take control, crotching Thrasher on the top rope, and sending him to the floor where Uncle Cletus gives him a kick to the ribs and a clothesline for good measure. Aloha Phineas off a sunset flip, but the ref was distracted and late to count. Nice wheelbarrow into a facebuster by Henry Godwinn, and Phineas attempts to keep the momentum but Thrasher outsteps him and hits a back suplex before getting the hot tag to Mosh. Mosh runs wild and decks Phineas, Henry, and Cletus, before Thrasher hits a powerbomb on Mosh onto Phineas for two. Mosh flying diving bum off the top is countered into a sitout powerbomb by Phineas for the win, as Cletus prevents Thrasher from making the save. 

Post-match, the new champs beat Headbangers up. Cletus smacking the lads with his lucky horseshoe as Henry hits a Slop Drop reverse DDT.  The ref tells The Godwinns to stop their attack or be stripped of the titles.

Grade: C- - Just fine. Headbangers had a lot of time to shine, but it was a shame to see their one and only WWF Tag Title run come to an end here. Sloppy at times, but it was all about establishing the recently heel Godwinns as the top dogs, before yet another feud with Legion of Doom.

Video package on Steve Austin, showing him hit stunners on Jim Ross, Sgt. Slaughter (who takes it like a champ, far better than Rock or Scott Hall - fight me), Jerry Lawler, and Vince McMahon (who takes it awfully, defo worse than Rock and Scott Hall). All this stems from Austin not being allowed to compete on doctor’s orders and WWF management wanting to do right by Austin. We see footage from the last Raw where Vince and Austin hash things out ahead of a decision on Austin’s future tomorrow night on Raw is War.

Michael Cole backstage says Austin is here but refuses to talk to anyone, and he will forfeit the Intercontinental Championship. Owen Hart arrives in his amazing Owen 3:16 tee, and tells Sgt. Slaughter and WWF officials to keep Austin away from Owen. Hart has a restraining order in place against him after all.

Jim Ross salutes some greats of St. Louis wrestling, handing little plaques to former NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champions Gene Kiniski, Jack Brisco, Dory Funk Jr. - in an amazing custom letterman jacket - Harley Race, Terry Funk - as Vince name-drops ECW - Lou Thesz - 81 here, and in phenomenal shape - and influential promoter Sam Muchnik. Always nice to see WWF/WWE acknowledge wrestling that didn’t happen under their purview.

Dok Hendrix backstage talks to Faarooq and The Nation of Domination. Faarooq badmouths Steve Austin, and says tonight is Nation business, not Austin’s business. Faarooq vows to kick Owen’s ass.

Vince gives an update on Brian Pillman’s death, saying foul play has been ruled out, but drug use cannot. An odd tone to this.

Owen Hart def. Faarooq - WWF Intercontinental Championship

Steve Austin comes out to a pop before this kicks off, with Stone Cold set to award the Intercontinental Championship to the winner of this bout. He flips the bird, and jawjacks with commentary and Commissioner Slaughter before joining comms for the match. Owen taunts Austin by showing him the Owen 3:16 tee - a tee which was never officially released by WWF. Seems unthinkable in the modern era.

Faarooq starts strong, outmuscling Owen, and launching him across the ring from a back suplex position. Spinning heel kick by Owen, who then lays into Faarooq’s knee, working it over to soften him up for the Sharpshooter. Austin then joins Tito Santana and Carlos Cabrera on Spanish comms, before joining French comms and plugging Survivor Series in Montreal…oof.

Faarooq again on the front foot, he whips Owen around the ring and hits a big ribbreaker for two, but misses a Bret’s rope leg drop as Owen attempts a Sharpshooter to no avail. Lovely powerslam for two by Faarooq as Jim Neidhart runs down to the ring, as Faarooq hits a spinebuster for two. Anvil distracts the ref, and as Sgt. Slaughter lambasts Neidhart, Austin runs over and clocks Faarooq with the title, as Owen covers for three.

Austin launches the IC Title into the ring and walks off, commentary and Owen alike confused by what happened. Owen tells the fans at home he did this all by himself as he and Anvil celebrate on the ramp.

Grade: E - An angle more than a match. All focus was on Austin, and how could it not be? This was all to put the title on Owen ahead of Austin’s eventual win at Survivor Series, concluding their long-running feud.

We see footage from last Monday’s Raw, as The Hart Foundation laid a beating on The Patriot and Vader. Comms announce that their upcoming Flag Match can end by retrieving your flag… or by pinfall or submission. Seems like something has happened last minute here. JR then notes how Vader is a little worse for wear heading into this after a match against Ken Shamrock for FMW in Tokyo.

Disciples of Apocalypse (8-Ball, Chainz, Crush & Skull) def. Los Boricuas (Savio Vega, Jesus Castillo Jr, Jose Estrada Jr & Miguel Perez Jr)

Vince McMahon notes how this is a last-minute addition to the card due to Brian Pillman’s death earlier today. No motorcycle entrance for the DOA, boo. The two teams have been feuding since their formation, and it has been well received by fans on Raw, mainly due to the unbridled chaos of it all, which was refreshing and new.

Basic brawling match, JR notes you’d be rich if you charged a dollar for every clothesline thrown. Nice sambo suplex by Crush on Savio Vega, and a big military press by Chainz on Jesus. Brawl on the floor spills into the ring as Los Boricuas leather Chainz, and run a train on him in the corner, Savio punctuating it with a spinning heel kick. More Boricuas beatdown as the ref is distracted, Savio hitting a nice spinning back crescent kick on Chainz. Hot tag to Crush, and the crowd come unglued for a brief eight-man brawl. DDT by Jesus gets two, before Crush hits a big tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for the three count.

Grade: E - Boring. Again, like the minis you can give these guys grace as this was a last-minute addition to the card, but knowing these two teams, this is what you’d get if they had time to prepare.

Michael Cole backstage talks with WWF Champion Bret Hart, and The British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith. Cole says there’s a good chance the American flag can be flying high tonight. Bret does his usual anti-American spiel, saying he and Bully are better than any two American wrestlers in the WWF, whether the American fans like it or not. Davey says he and Hitman will win “tonight here in St. Louis…right here.” God I love Davey Boy. 

Dok Hendrix talks to Patriot and Vader. Patriot looks at the wrong camera and says he wants to settle this once and for all. Vader calls Bret’s claims of being the best there is etc. a load of ‘bulls***’, and he and Patriot don’t like it when Americans are bad-mouthed.

The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart & The British Bulldog) def. The Patriot & Vader - Flag Match 

Boos for The Hart Foundation, cheers for Patriot who comes out to Kurt Angle’s theme, and cheers for Vader, who is just cool. Four man brawl on the floor to start, Patriot batters Davey Boy with his flag - the one he brought with him, not the one he has to retrieve to win the match. Davey and Pat fight up the ramp as Vader and Bret brawl around ringside to loud USA chants.

The faces pose in-ring as the heels regroup on the ramp, and the match officially gets underway…despite Bret and Davey being on the floor. Patriot and Vader have tons of time to grab the flag but just don’t? Bret punches Patriot in the balls behind the ref’s back, but this barely slows him down as he hip-tosses and suplexes Bulldog with ease. Fans cheer loudly as Vader repeatedly slugs Bret, and boo when Davey and Bret double team ‘The Mastodon’ behind the ref’s back. Patriot attempts to grab the flag, but Davey and Bret attack. Davey goes for the flag, but Vader cuts him down. Standard flag/pole match fayre. Bret with the deadly figure four around the turnbuckle post to Patriot - that move always gets a big reaction, it’s been built very well. 

Sharpshooter by Bret as Vader and Davey fight, but Patriot reverses it into one of his own - I’m pretty sure Patriot was the first person to ever reverse The Sharpshooter, right? Anyway, Davey quickly stomps him. Patriot comes close to the US flag during a four-man corner skirmish, but Bulldog launches him across the ring. Demolition Decapitation by Bret and Davey Boy for two, before Vader tags in to wallop Bulldog, planting Davey with a lovely big back suplex, and crushing him with a standing splash for two. 

Back suplex on Vader by Bret, and into a Sharpshooter. Vader instantly grabs the rope, but Bret won’t break, as Patriot runs in to slug Bret in the mush. Vader teases a Sharpshooter but gets nowhere. Running Patriot missile headbutt and a Figure Four Leglock on Bret in the middle of the ring, but Bret tags Davey to break the hold. Davey ties Patriot in the ropes after thwarting a flag attempt, and the action breaks down a little as both teams grow tired and more desperate. Vader lands on his feet from a moonsault attempt after Bulldog rolled out of the way - incredible from the big man - and a stiff clothesline sends Bulldog to the floor. 

All four men fight on the floor, with Bret clocking Vader with the ring bell. In-ring, Bret leaps from his rope for an awkward looking fist drop to Vader, then hits a textbook DDT for two. Big reaction as Vader flattens the heels with a double clothesline, then Patriot runs wild with a flurry of strikes. Uncle Slam to Bret, but Davey breaks the pin attempt. A fan runs in the ring but Davey stomps him out, and has to be restrained by the ref. Attaboy. Vader Bomb on Bret, Davey and Vader then fight on the floor, as Bret reverses a roll-up on Patriot to get the pinfall win. Patriot is fuming and starts leathering Bret in the ring.

Grade: C+ - A bit sloppy, a bit too long, and a bit uncoordinated, but I enjoyed it. Patriot’s run was a curious one - a fine wrestler with a good look, but he just did not fit in with the changing landscape of WWF in 1997. This would prove to be his last big outing in the company, wrestling a couple of matches on Shotgun Saturday Night later in the month, before being released in 1998 due to injury.

“It’s not about senseless aggression, a search for identity, or the need to belong.” Los Boricuas, DOA, and The Nation all tooled up in gritty black and white in an advert for Survivor Series ‘Gang Rulz’ in November. And if you send your PPV order bill in you get WWF dog tags in return! Neat!

We see the cell hanging above the ring. Vince and JR talk about the specifics of the cell and how there is no way in or out when the match starts.

Dok Hendrix is backstage with European Champion Shawn Michaels and his cohorts HHH, Chyna, and Rick Rude. HBK says the good news is that his ‘coveted’ European Championship is not on the line, and sarcastically wipes sweat off his brow. Davey Boy must have been furious. HBK says the bad news is the brutal match that’s to come. HBK tells his pals he’s going to go it alone tonight, then puts himself over, saying his ability is what’s going to get him through this match.

Video package on Shawn’s rise set to knock-off U2 style music. Very face like presentation here as HBK talks about stirring the pot and ruffling feathers, as we see him smashing ‘Taker’s head in with a steel chair. Michael Cole notes how HBK has changed since rising to the top of WWF as we see the bad blood that’s built between Michaels and Undertaker. This didn’t do a great job of explaining why these two are at odds (Shawn cost ‘Taker the title at SummerSlam, and the issues between them got violent, as HBK and his buddies started leathering 'Taker out of fear).

We see Commissioner Slaughter and a ref checking the ringside area, making sure no one is hiding under the ring. Slaughter has a torch and shines it on a small amplifier. Silly sausage.

Shawn Michaels def. The Undertaker - Hell in a Cell Match

Shawn slowly walks to the ring, flanked by HHH, Chyna, and Rick Rude…didn’t Michaels say he was going to go it alone tonight? The cell lowers around Shawn and co as thunder fills the air and the lights flicker ahead of The Undertaker making his arrival. Undertaker bangs the lights on and Michaels looks terrified - I much prefer this to the slow raising of the arms. Earl ‘Don’t Forget About Me’ Hebner locks the cage door. HBK looks petrified, HHH tries to find a way to open the cell up, Slaughter tells him to p*ss off.

Bell rings as ‘Taker stalks Shawn, flattening Michaels with a big boot, and bouncing his head all over the ring. Michaels fights back after shaking off a goozle, but does his corner flip bump after being whipped by ‘Taker. Old skool flattens Michaels, and ‘Taker is cruising here, Michaels bumping his arse off. Taker launches Michaels over the top rope as HBK collides with the cell wall. Michaels tries climbing up the wall after escaping a double choke, but ‘Taker has his number. Undertaker is battering Shawn, repeatedly whipping him into the cell, and powerbombing the European Champion into the steel mesh. Taker continues, just rag-dolling Shawn all over the ringside area with little reply.

HBK eventually finds an opening and wails on ‘Taker with rights. ‘Taker momentarily stops Shawn’s momentum with a stunner over the top rope, but Michaels replies by launching ‘Taker into the cell wall, and follows up with a suicide dive, and an elbow drop from halfway up the cell wall. HBK repeatedly crushes 'Taker with the steel steps, and piledrives The Deadman onto the stairs. An irate HBK swears at a cameraman who finds himself in the middle of the action, then leaps from the top with a double axehandle to keep ‘Taker at bay. Shawn grabs a chair - the root of their problems dating back to SummerSlam - and wails on Undertaker, however he only gets a two count for his efforts. The two exchange strikes in the middle of the ring, Shawn getting the better and tying Taker in the ropes as Earl ‘Give Me Top Billing’ Hebner tries to restore order. This opening allows Taker to toss Michaels back over the top rope, with Shawn crashing into that overzealous cameraman from before.

Shawn then beats the stuffing out of the cameraman because it’s 1997, and Shawn Michaels is not a happy camper at the best of times. Bodies and weapons lay strewn around the ring, and this feels chaotic, a ringside doctor inside the cell asking for help for the downed cameraman. In-ring Michaels hits the flying forearm and kips up, then hits a pitch-perfect Heartbreak Elbow as Sgt. Slaughter makes his way to the ring. Slaughter and Hebner open the cell to allow officials to tend to the cameraman, and HBK uses this opening to escape, after Undertaker shook off a Sweet Chin Music with his Jason Voorhees sit-up.

Shawn and Undertaker fight outside the cell, Shawn bumping on concrete from a front dropkick, but ‘Taker catches a follow-up and catapults Michaels into the cell, busting him open. Good crimson mask on Michaels as Undertaker repeatedly lawndarts him into the cell - bleeding still a rarity at this time in the WWF.  Michaels finds an opening and climbs up the cell, Undertaker in hot pursuit. The crowd are cheering wildly as the two fight on the roof, Undertaker backdropping Shawn as a cameraman in the ring gets a great angle of the action, although he shouts “ah s***” as Shawn’s blood rains down on the lens. 

Huge military press slam by ‘Taker on the roof, and a big right sends Shawn towards the edge. Michaels tries to climb down and escape, but ‘Taker grabs him and stamps on Michaels’ fingers, with HBK careening off the side of the cell and through the Spanish announce table. Huge reaction for this, and probably the biggest bump in WWF history at this time.

Shawn is pretty quick to his feet, and he is covered in blood - a good eight or nine on the Muta scale. ‘Taker hip-tosses Shawn across the French announce table, then bodyslams him onto the destroyed Spanish announce table. A desperate Michaels crawls back into the cell as Slaughter and Hebner lock the door once more. Michaels is p*ssing blood, and eats a huge top rope chokeslam into the centre of the ring. Undertaker grabs a chair of his own and absolutely wallops Shawn in the head with it as the crowd goes wild. 'Taker signals for the Tombstone as the lights go out…

Eerie organ music plays, flames erupt, and the arena lights turn red, as Paul Bearer walks to the ring with a massive masked individual. Vince yells “THAT’S GOTTA BE KANE” as Undertaker’s brother finally arrives in the WWF, after weeks of taunting from Bearer. Kane angrily tears the cell door off its hinges, and deservedly smashes Earl Hebner into the cell - huge pop from me. Undertaker and Kane come face-to-face, and ‘Taker looks mortified, like he’s seen a ghost. An unflinching Kane brings the lights on as flames shoot from the turnbuckles, and plants his older brother with a Tombstone Piledriver, Kane snapping into the move - I love the way he hits it. 

Kane exits the cell and walks to the back with Bearer to a chorus of boos, as a groggy Shawn slowly crawls on top of ‘Taker, as Earl ‘Five Years at RADA’ Hebner does the slowest most dramatic three count ever.

Chyna, Rick Rude, and a topless HHH run into the ring to help a battered Shawn to the back, as Vince proclaims that although the victory belongs to Michaels, it was Kane who beat The Undertaker tonight. HHH crotch chops with Michaels, as Shawn looks like a bus has just flattened him.

Grade: A - A great match, first and foremost. The two used the cell to tell a great story, with the match paced wonderfully throughout. Although you could gripe that they shot their wad by exiting the cell in the first ever Hell in a Cell match, it doesn’t matter, as the huge bump by Shawn only added to the anarchic carnage. Throw in Shawn’s excellent crimson mask, and a ton of weapon shots, and this truly made this new gimmick feel violent, dangerous, and depraved. Then there’s Kane. One of the most impactful debuts in wrestling history, and a perfect way to end the match, and end the feud between Shawn and Undertaker.

Show Grade: C+ - A one-match show (a bit like Mind Games in 1996) but what a match it was. The undercard was nothing special, with several matches thrown on the card last minute due to the untimely death of Brian Pillman earlier in the day. The semi-main of Hart Foundation vs. Patriot and Vader wasn’t that good, but it was somehow still enjoyable, and a perfect set-up for the phenomenal main event. Whilst not as famous or as breathtaking as Undertaker vs. Mankind at King of the Ring 1998, I’d argue that Taker and Shawn inside the cell is the better match, and if you haven’t seen it then you owe it to yourself to give it a watch. As for the show as a whole? Mild recommendation, it’s a curio for sure of a changing WWF, and the last PPV before Montreal several weeks later…