The Story of WWF One Night Only - HBK vs Bulldog

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1997 WWF was filled with remarkable pay per view events. Sky TV managed to secure a deal with the World Wrestling Federation that would bring an exclusive PPV event to the United Kingdom. Coming live from the Birmingham NEC Arena, WWF One Night Only turned out to be remarkable in it's own right.
With the rivalry between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels reaching a fever pitch, it was decided that Bret's brother-in-law Davey Boy Smith would defend his European Championship against Michaels in the main event. Because One Night Only was being held in the UK and because this was the first exclusive British WWF PPV, the natural assumption was that the British Bulldog would win and the crowd would get sent home happy. Instead, Shawn Michaels generated a ton of heat when he defeated The Bulldog in his home country. This video looks at the Bulldog vs HBK match at One Night Only.
00:00 - Davey Boy Smith and the European Title
03:59 - The buildup to One Night Only
07:34 - The Michaels vs Smith main event
13:37 - Shawn wins the European Championship in England
18:54 - Was the right decision made at One Night Only?
- Much More!
#WWE #Documentary #Wrestling

[@robbiesilverwolf]

I agree no one would remember this event if they didn’t make that decision. I just wish they told Dave sooner

[@jacobjones3916]

That may be, but if Bulldog wins this match, WWF could have set up more European-based pay-per-views.

[@anthonywatson1438]

@jacob jones like the guy said though if the numbers weren’t good maybe they don’t do more pay per views there

[@broderickmosley8763]

Shawn winning put heat on D-X.

[@jacobjones3916]

@@broderickmosley8763 yes but the purpose of heat is to build to a baby face winning in the payoff. Shawn's heat benefited him

[@zemox2534]

It did not benefit Davey as he never won the belt back.

[@brianmcghee3597]

I love how accurate The Hitman is. Remember dates and locations. Hart and Cornette are true jewels to the sport.

[@Mellbergfan]

Yes I read somewhere that Bret kept notes of shows and events. It's a good idea, wish more had done that.

[@dafttassia1960]

@ً exactly

[@brianmcghee3597]

@Chris McCoy Good one! So true. Hitman’s only weakness. Had the look, skill, etc.

[@paranormedic]

EXACTLY! HART and CORNETTE are bada$$ guys for remembering things accurate. People hate them alot cause they tell the truth.

[@scamp838]

​@@Black-Circle yeah he did... Think he actually says that in his book at some point as well.

[@brynellsidney3983]

RIP Davey Boy Smith.

[@captainn2094]

This was obviously a foreshadowing of the Montreal Screwjob!

[@ForEternia]

That's interesting 🤔. In some ways, yes.

[@1cooper526]

I was thinking the same thing rewatching this recently

[@lexkanyima2195]

Out of nowhere

[@romacechina]

Definitely feels quite foreboding of the events two months later in hindsight. Course none of us ever expected Vince to do to Bret what he did. I remember so vividly all the trash we threw at Shawn, how furious we were at him going over Dave etc. The revelations he wanted the Euro title simply to be the first grand slam champion and his now well known ahole antics backstage make it another scenario of the whole HBK vs Bret feud of 97.

[@jreed7125]

Sighhhhhhh One Night Only 1997... What HBK did was extremely dodgy man. He should have let Bulldog win that night for his sister

[@Kas58223]

Scumbag hated him definitely should have let Bulldog have his glory on his home soil

[@attiepollard7847]

No. This is 1997 WWF we were in a different time during. No one wanted to see the good guys anymore. So what a better way to piss off the fans then screw over their favorite lmao

[@jreed7125]

@@attiepollard7847 Dude, the British crowd wanted the Bulldog to win 100%. HBK winning royally pissed them off

[@camerondalton1495]

@@jreed7125 I think it worked in the long run as it made Shawn a huge heel.

[@attiepollard7847]

@@jreed7125 hmmmm interesting I did not know the crown took it seriously. Was there a knighthood in it for davy if he won,?

[@MrJuggalo909]

Bulldog losing after that dedication almost had me breaking my phone today.

[@pwx13]

The bulldog shouldn't have made that promise, that's wrestling

[@TherealRNOwwfpooh]

@@pwx13 He was booked to win right up to an hour before match time. DX "screwed the pooch" & got away with doing so, because they were buddy-buddy with the powers that be.

[@urabusxrw04]

Although this was the craziest heat I’ve seen, it really puts mcmahon and shawn’s pettiness on a pedestal.

[@kennywarren8150]

You want crazier heat look up Muhammad Hassan final promo

[@urabusxrw04]

@@kennywarren8150 thats the gross kind of heat dude. the "AH HATE AYRABS" kind

[@kennywarren8150]

@@urabusxrw04 everything Hassan said in his promos were right. He was the face and crowd were heels. He’d say his ancestors fought for freedom so all people could get a fair shake and they would boo. He would say the US is supposed to treat all men equal but y’all are racist and hate Arabs and they would boo. They legit showed their bigotry on his character. What culture made a top 10 list of wrestlers who were too good and lost their spot and somehow Hassan wasn’t on that list

[@spaceghost8886]

@@kennywarren8150 >tell crowd they are racist and bigoted >they boo because they don’t feel that statement is true >this somehow proves your original point I liked Hassan too bro but he is blatantly working heel.

[@speedking7224]

@@spaceghost8886 he made sense but the way he attacked undertaker rnade him a hypocritical heel

[@TheAutistWhisperer]

The heat must've been nuclear.

[@robattewell6087]

I thought there would be riots when Michaels was celebrating like crazy

[@mikemarek6243]

Did you not see the bottle of water explode when it hit shawn in the face as hhh had him in the air lol

[@superrobz]

@@robattewell6087 there nearly was, I was there

[@thatleeburton]

I was there. The atmosphere was fevered.

[@superrobz]

@@thatleeburton same here

[@wrestlefigsuk]

I was actually ringside for this and STILL have the shirt Triple H was wearing when he came down to help Michaels at the end.

[@BEEyonced]

Big up man holding it down!

[@MaxB1080]

A British bulldog vs William Regal European title fued would of been good

[@frankmaxfield7025]

I've always thought about that too

[@michaeljackson7732]

Yes indeed

[@criminalmindsgirl2936]

Hell yeah! You read my mind!

[@illkid86]

They clashed in WCW

[@MaxB1080]

@@illkid86 wasn't for the European title fool

[@WarhawkBeyond2040]

I watched this match a few months ago and I remember it was a red hot main event, I still remember when DX helped Shawn Michaels to win the european title from Davey and screwing him in his own hometown, the reaction was unbelievable and absolutely epic when fans threw rubbish in the ring over the finish. HBK came out of that show with unbelievable heat on a nuclear level. You will never see anything like that today, these were the good old days when heels were treated like true villains who you absolutely hated.

[@theenlightenedone1283]

Exactly... that's why he is the show stopper ... no one can match his energy, personality and impact He was Hollywood material But now wwe characters r anime 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@AzulQueso]

Showstopper of being an absolute ass. That is hbk hasbeen kid bald kid the first to smooch Vince McMahon rear end in reality

[@AzulQueso]

@@theenlightenedone1283 only one Hollywood

[@zemox2534]

​@The Enlightened One Anime is cool dude. And Shawn is an overrated hypocrite

[@CBright7831]

I always wondered why the Hart Foundation stayed in the back until the match was over despite the blatant interference by DX going on through out the match.

[@dylanhutchins7110]

I heard they had already left for the night and were still under the assumption Bulldog would win as originally promised/booked. Which would make sense because no way The Hart Foundation - even for the purposes of a storyline - would have sat in the back and let Davey get screwed like that

[@criminalmindsgirl2936]

You also gotta remember before his own death in 2002 and his brother in law, Owen Hart's death in 1999. Davey Boy went through alot. Especially with his own health and drug addiction. Both his mom and sister died of cancer in 1999 within 3 months of each other. Very sad. #RIPDaveyBoySmith congratulations on your 2020 WWE Hall Of Fame induction. Although, I think he deserves to be in more wrestling HOFs.

[@lexkanyima2195]

A huge domino effect

[@songkongphooey]

Davey was a legend. Not appreciated enough for his contributions to the business.

[@bradcarver8127]

Shawn couldn’t you have put your ego aside for One Night Only and let Davey go over.

[@underpressure07140]

"That doesn't work for me brother!"

[@ajsgaming8003]

it was not about getting over it was about getting haat on Shawn and setting up a rematch for the nxt uk ppv where Bulldog would get his revenge but it never happend coz Bulldog walked out with Bret b4 it could happen

[@lexkanyima2195]

@@ajsgaming8003 it's a pre-Screwjob

[@michaelcallan5992]

I think its funny that whenever Shawn Michaels gets in a real fight backstage, he always loses, no matter who he's fighting

[@illkid86]

All that controversy and no balls

[@tome2648]

Reckon Gillberg could take him tbh

[@ForEternia]

@@tome2648 😆🤣 I would definitely watch that

[@kylebushnell4461]

@@tome2648 & hornswoggle

[@ActiveRehabMobility]

It’s not humanly possible to be that pretty and a fighter

[@NookTommy]

i love how HBK said that bret never does what is right for business while he have been forfeiting titles or dropping it to his buddies only prior to this event. what a hypocrite.

[@vm2900]

dont forget he didnt want to lose to stone at WM 14 initially

[@brethurt7135]

It was a good move but the “dedicating the match to his sister” is what makes it wrong to change, or maybe he just shouldn’t of said that knowing it can be changed anytime.

[@pauldixon6118]

Or, HBK could have stopped crying like a little bitch, and do the job.. Thats best for business

[@johnepants]

@@pauldixon6118 something tells me Davey leaving for WCW a month later with the European Title wouldn’t have been what’s best for business. I know they had no idea that would happen at this point, but in the end, with how things worked out, it was a really smart move to get the belt of Davey Boy. At best, they could have had a rematch the following year in the UK, at worst, which is what happened, Davey Boy leaves the company without a title around his waste

[@mitchellima4736]

Exactly. Take that out and it's fine. If he wanted to do that and the company agreed he should have won. If we wanted shawn to win, which I think was the right decision, it shouldn't have been dedicated to his sister

[@ajsgaming8003]

@@pauldixon6118 Shawn Winning was what was best for business

[@KB-hh8rt]

@@ajsgaming8003 Shawn is a prick and should have did the job but he whined and cried to Vince.

[@carolinadoughboy]

Man I still don't think people remember this honestly.. Shawn didn't have to win.

[@miguelbayonrivera2467]

I don't think I would watch this match ever out of fear that I might cry at the end for Bulldog's sister.

[@McSorleyFan33]

Shawn winning and pissing off the entire British crowd made for great tv. There’s a reason this Ppv is still remembered. This is a killer ppv and the Shawn bulldog match was awesome

[@andrewmelville4570]

Was there on the night, have to agree was bigger than anything else here in the UK. Was a HBK fan at the time but can now see his politics at play here. RIP Bulldog

[@calamaty9963]

If Bulldog would’ve won, he and his sister would’ve treasured that moment. As well as the people who saw it. This only made the Hart Foundation weak by dividing themselves from Bulldog. I forgot about this match until this uploaded.

[@Rob_Thorsman]

The WWF could have really capitalized on this. British Bulldog gets angry at the Hart Foundation for not having his back, and quits, eventually returns to get the title back from now-champion HHH, then feuds with former teammate Owen Hart. What could have been.

[@kelvin19888]

UK Fans booed the hell out of Shawn Michaels when he won The European Championship

[@robattewell6087]

I know, I bought the PPV, it was a great reaction, I thought there would be riots!

[@michaeljackson7732]

Yep they sure did boy hbk had some heat

[@johnepants]

@Alex Kanyima I think it became a bigger deal after the screw job. This was an awesome event and a great match to l build Shawn up as the biggest heel in the company, with an eventual win for Davey Boy the next time they went back. Unfortunately, he left for wcw

[@Thor-Orion]

Almost started a riot. They had to sneak Shawn out of the building.

[@jkdeclaro]

@Alex Kanyima This was around the time that HBK and HHH started to form DX. And HBK was already starting to transform into the biggest heel at the time. And since it was in the UK, with Davey Boy in there, UK fans were understandably upset with that screwy finish

[@guacamole9199]

"I don't think I need to talk about Shawn Michaels in 1997 too much here" ohh Thank God you sir are a saint!!! Less HBK in this time period the better that era has been talked about and analyzed too death!!

[@stevencarter4338]

I was there that night . Bottles were being thrown everywhere. The crowd were really pissed off. Shawn loved it .

[@JobberBud]

After this match, the European title was an afterthought, and became a joke for a long time. HBK never acted like he cared about it, and the way he dropped it in a mock-match to HHH in December showed that the European belt no longer meant anything.

[@lwfwrestling1249]

I agree. Shaun absolutely destroyed that Championship

[@night6724]

Let’s be real the European title was made just so Bulldog could have a title to help draw in Europe

[@robattewell6087]

Here's a fact for you, The Bulldog never beat Shawn Michaels in any televised matches! As soon the match was made I said to my dad Shawn will win, unfortunately I was right

[@theradgegadgie6352]

Not by pin, no. He did by DQ in 1992.

[@robattewell6087]

@@theradgegadgie6352 Was the match televised? If so where can I find it?

[@theradgegadgie6352]

@@robattewell6087 I saw it on a British Bulldog VHS that came out in 1992, I think. My step-cousin owned it. Shawn got DQd when Davey was beating him around the ring and Sherry tried to strangle Davey from the outside. He yanked her over the top rope like a rag doll and the ref disqualified Shawn for outside interference. On the same video Davey also beat Quake and IRS.

[@ajsgaming8003]

@@theradgegadgie6352 yes it was on vhs but not on tv

[@Lorenzo3K]

Bulldog never got his win back either. Smh🤨🤨

[@blesstv8994]

The Kliq buries another one.

[@L1TTLEH0RN666]

What burial? Learn how to use that word before using it.

[@ajsgaming8003]

how did they bury him?? he was gunna win it bk at the nxt uk ppv but he walk out after SS 97 with Hart and went to WCW

[@danielbryan8206]

@@L1TTLEH0RN666 yes tell us your wrestling experience lol

[@johnb5082]

@@ajsgaming8003 perhaps. Perhaps not.

[@Baastilein31]

Getting beaten by literally 4 People is no burial.

[@superrobz]

I was there, my parents lived 40 minutes from the venue. The place went ridiculous after Davey boy lost...he really should have won this

[@lexkanyima2195]

He got screwed big times

[@CrazyBeardy]

I was there that night. A pretty good show and the ending was brilliant. This was pretty much the start of D-X or it hadn't been going long and the heat at the end was brilliant. I must have been the only person giving him a standing ovation as they walked up the ramp. Thanks for covering this match guys, well done!

[@adzbeck7681]

I had a ticket for this when I was 11 years old but got meningitis and nearly died, the same week my brother was crushed by a rock, was in the Nottingham post, he survived and he taped the wrestling for me, it was heartbreaking watching it in the hospital knowing I should of been there to see Bret v undertaker and hbk v bulldog 😭😢😭😢

[@only1icon1801]

Well at least you and your brother are still here mate

[@brethurt7135]

So your brother got a rock bottom by the rock?

[@adzbeck7681]

@@brethurt7135 🤣😂 I’m sure he would of chosen a rock bottom over getting crushed my a rock.. he was in a cave ( don’t ask ) 🤣 he was kicking at the walls and it collapsed he was lucky 3 men were near him to get him out otherwise he’d of been dead within minutes.

[@adzbeck7681]

@@only1icon1801 cheers man 👍🏻 still gutted I missed it ☹️

[@Giumelz]

Recently lost a friend to meningitis, horrible thing, glad you are your brother ended up making a full recovery

[@Kanefan701]

no matter what as a face or heel HBK's in ring performance was just amazing and something we couldn't dislike. he is after all among the greatest in ring match performers ever let alone very hard to be out performed.

[@dismothafuka405]

"In wrestling, never make a promise you can't keep". Isn't that what's wrestlings all about promising to win every match.

[@Marvellous132]

The funny thing is, Bret EXACTLY the same thing at a Survivor Series match in the early 90s. He dedicated the match to his brother Dean (whom he admired in real life, but sadly died), then jobbed for Ted DiBiase at the end to make the Million Dollar man, the soul survivor.

[@taylormademyself89]

Need more UK ppv shows as a American i always love seeing wrestling fans from around the world is awesome and shows no matter where ya from we are not so different and makes ya feel not so alone thats why I love wrestling 😎🤟🙏

[@residentelect]

Dude, when Progress starts up again after the pandemic, if you can afford it and fancy a great vacation, come over here to the UK and hit some of their shows! They ain't the biggest dog in the game, but it is an amazing experience. I was lucky enough to see Pete Dunne, Trent Seven, Walter and Timothy Thatcher, among other future greats who have now moved onto NXT and AEW.

[@michaelbusciacco9965]

I actually lost a lot of respect for Shawn when I heard the stories behind this match, I mean Bulldog put Shawn over numerous times but Shawn played his whining here and Bulldog never avenged it

[@zemox2534]

How? Heat from fans. There are things more important than heat

[@pwx13]

@@zemox2534 he needed to go over as a nuclear heel. This was necessary

[@TherealRNOwwfpooh]

@@zemox2534 Point is, when somebody is booked to win & dedicates the match to their terminally ill sister battling Stage 4 Cancer siting at ringside, you don't whine like a bitch/pechulant child to get the match outcome changed and screw the rightful winner out of his feel-good ending victory celebration just to get nuclear heat (especially when both DX & the Hart Foundation were heels stateside anyway)!

[@justincase813]

You had respect for Shawn Michaels?

[@tjkong4381]

Instead of the European championship, the winner should have gotten the exclusive rights to Sunny days

[@Michael-dd6hl]

Seeing what she looks like today..believe me nobody wants the rights to her..yuck.

[@GlobalWarmingSkeptic]

"Hey I got this great idea for the main event. See I win the match in my opponent's home country and completely bury him and deprive him of everything. By the way we're the Kliq and we're not marks and we so don't care about losing." As far as the idea of getting heat, typically what you do is you let Bulldog win, give the fans maybe a few seconds just to take it in, and then have him get multi teamed in the middle of the ring. Shawn can have the last laugh and take heat for the assault because the fans got what they wanted, and Bulldog still goes over for winning. The way that happened just made Bulldog look like a loser, someone easily toyed with by members of the Kliq.

[@maichea]

I sometimes imagine if Shawn Micheals hadn't gone into early retirement just how much damage he would have caused alongside Triple H I mean Austin was a guaranteed star but Shawn still held that position of power he most likely would have tried to politic his way and bury guys like The Rock, Mankind.

[@RoyStantz]

Shawn would've also buried Jericho, Angle, and the Radicalz once they came in.

[@cyrus2546]

That’s why Shawn getting severely injured & missing the whole Attitude Era was the best thing to happen. Honestly both Bret and Shawn needed to be gone so guys like Foley and Rock could get into the main event.

[@theitfactorjameswheezer2852]

Shawn Michaels actually tried to bury the rock. Bret stood up for Rocky, and later on The Rock beat Shawn’s ass backstage lol.

[@InLohmansTerms]

This is a rare story I actually have never heard of. So glad I got to hear it from you first, brother. Thank you. Great job.

[@PhiLLy84]

A clinic on how to get heat by HBK. From the pre match interview, to the entrance and through the match it was great to watch! Bell to bell Shawn was untouchable at this time, a reason most of his peers say he's the greatest.

[@owenpeterson]

Although I understand your point on this, that does not mean that this didn't cause irreparable damage to Bulldog's career. If you ask me they should NOT have had Shawn Michaels as Bulldog's opponent for One Night Only. Why couldn't Vince just say no to Shawn Michaels this one night?

[@MrDrokkul]

I don't think it mattered so much that Bulldog was thought of as a midcard at this time because honestly the European title was a midcard title. It was never really considered the stepping stone to the Heavyweight Championship as the Intercontinental title was. I think Shawn going over and the ensuing beatdown caused a lot of heat and controversy (which are good for wrestling), but at the same time given the dedications that were made, the build up for the event, and that Bulldog was the "hometown hero" in a place that was rarely visited at the time I think he should have gone over. The beauty of wrestling is there's always a way to do something to "kinda" give fans on both sides what they want. They just didn't try hard enough and unfortunately today it seems like they barely try at all sometimes.

[@ForburyLion]

Never dedicate a match to someone until you've won.

[@neilasif8572]

Even to this day what Shawn did to the bulldog was a disgrace.

[@jakedurnin566]

Shawn made bulldog....davey dropped the ball

[@timaustin2000]

As much as I agree that the ending was, in a business sense, probably the right one, to change it last minute to suit Shawn's ego was an truly asshole move. Without this ending, Davey might have stayed with Owen after Montreal. Had he done so, the trapdoor injury would never have happened and, likely, Owen would never have been booked as the Blue Blazer. I would rather have a dull, forgotten PPV and two living people than an infamous event with two fathers and husband's gone too soon.

[@mikeroagreschen5350]

Those are some massive logical jumps.

[@TherealRNOwwfpooh]

@@mikeroagreschen5350 No, they aren't. This glorified house show PPV was the catalyst for everything going wrong for the Hart Foundation & WWE are legally responsible for all of it (including Owen's death, which they caused, by the way, according to widow Martha Hart's winning Wrongful Death & Character Defamation lawsuit settlement, which WWE settled out of court for 18 million dollars, yet Martha refuses to let the company who killed her husband profit off his legacy and rightfully so, which is why Owen will be in the upcoming AEW console game, AEW: Fight Forever, because it's not a WWE company & it has created a tournament to crown both male & female winners of an Owen Hart Cup Trophy, essentially serving as AEW's answer to both WWE's Andre the Giant Battle Royal and the Warrior Award).

[@justincase813]

I’m not so sure it was even the right business move, it didn’t generate as much heat as people think. Remember this show wasn’t shown in the USA so the large majority of wwes fans didn’t see it. All they saw was a few stills showing that Shawn won the title and since bulldog was a heel in the us it created very little heat here and I’m sure really damaged the English market. Also to go out of your way to change the finish knowing that you are devastating a person with very little time left to live, to me is gross business not good business.

[@theitfactorjameswheezer2852]

@@TherealRNOwwfpoohAEW using his name and legacy for a tournament despite him having nothing to do with him is kinda bush league especially when it’s filled with ex wwe people constantly.

[@gamerfourlife64]

This was such an iconic moment the people in the UK snapped they are lucky Shawn even got out of there that night tho wwe needs more UK ppvs imo

[@dougwalker9286]

That amount of heat could be considered X-PAC heat.

[@JohnDoe-ym5ly]

Dude the way you sync up the audio or the narrative w images and video now is incredible -- like your opening video packages are better than a lot in the actual business

[@That_Random_Bloke]

This is an excellent and well researched video. Great work on a bizarre story.

[@d_ruggs]

just so sad about his sister. Barely got to live her life before cancer came after her

[@adrian29459]

Thanks for putting this together, I started watching in 2000s and knew nothing of this PPV. Watching on network now

[@john-paulchesworth6117]

Class . Love the channel and this was a good trip down memory Lane for me . Hbk was discussing back then foe his backstage work and antics . But correct I’m saying this did a lot for getting the uk 🇬🇧 and sky many more ppv. Keep up the good work .

[@michaeljackson7732]

They did Davy boy Smith wrong in this PPV

[@Marc_Masters]

Facts

[@lexkanyima2195]

10:48 Was out of nowhere and 12:36 was a accident, but it was a botch and Shawn didn't help him to escape the leg out of the guardrails.

[@azapro911]

Arguably the best WWF/E show ever put on in this country, Bret Hart admits his title match with the Undertaker was his last truly great one in the company.

[@nickysilks]

I was there, u can c me at 9.42 on the left with my 'we want ECW on Sky' sign that I printed in school. Best heel performance I've ever seen in the flesh. The heat at the end was unreal and I got hit with a few bottles that were intended for DX and I can tell you they stung like hell! On the other hand, pretty shitty thing for Shawn to do bearing in mind the Bulldogs dedication to his sister, but I've seen many WWF shows over the years and this event and particularly this match, sticks in the memory the most. Great video.

[@Danimal1177]

Shawn always got the upper hand on Davey Boy. Shawn beat him for the Intercontinental championship, the tag team championship, and the European Championship. He eliminated Davey Boy to win the 1995 Royal Rumble and beat him twice at In Your House events shortly after winning his first wwf championship.

[@Bull1908]

Before his death in 2002, there were plans to try and bring Davey Boy back again. I always believed that HBK would have made up for what he did at this event by giving him a program that allows Davey to FINALLY go over. Its a shame that never happened cause real wrestling fans would have embraced the program, JR and WWE would have made great storytelling about their past with a huge hype video and maybe Davey would have won one of the world titles.

[@vincenzosanzaproulx4665]

Love this channel ! Keep up the great work!!

[@htafcentertainment1435]

That intro was amazing! I rate it

[@rayzaramon6598]

Another story that you've smartened me up to that i didn't know about. Excellent video.👍

[@only1icon1801]

(Previous comment revoked for foul language so will try again, like anyone cares anyway) Have never watched the event again ever since it aired Totally the wrong call to do as HBK gained nothing from it bar heat from his own fans in the UK and proving to be a cancer in the locker room Davey Boy brought really prestige to a title that HBK didn't even care for and diminished it entirely during his reign. The Bulldog deserved better than that and as Bret said it took something out of him. What did Shawn gain really The event was half decent anyway with Bret vs Taker rematch and Owen vs Vader. The fact that they knew what his sister was going through and he dedicated the match to her is really immoral. Some things are more important than "business" But each to their own Great upload as always WB

[@cltcwarrior1]

These wrestling bios are awesome. Keep up the great work. And people say Hulk Hogan was a backstage politician, lol.

[@Lonewolf_665]

He was. Much much worse than HBK

[@cltcwarrior1]

@@Lonewolf_665 Hulk Hogan didn't get people fired!

[@risboturbide9396]

As always... Thank your for your great work.

[@tempestcallah2668]

7:40 while kissing girls of a questionable age 🤣😂 @wrestlingbios is a savage 🤣😂

[@ForEternia]

It wasn't on the lips. They were harmless IMO. In many countries kissing is a form of greeting like a handshake or a hug.

[@ShubhamMishrabro]

@@ForEternia yes they kissed on lips too. See full clip

[@tonydreads622]

I remember watching this, this was great, thank you

[@TheLandofObscusion]

Watching this, I think they definitely should have just gone with a DQ finish. Have Davey win by DQ due to DX interference, but follow it up with DX just absolutely destroying Davey afterwards, much like they did in the show itself. The crowd still has super heat on Shawn, because their hometown hero just got utterly decimated by DX, & Davey's dedicated win, though still technically kept intact, is now tarnished by the DQ finish. Then have Davey want a rematch with Shawn not long later on Raw & just do what happened in real life at ONS. That way, Shawn still becomes Grand Slam champion & still "ruins" the end of ONS for the British crowd, but Davey still gets a "win", to some extent. Regardless, this was just a great example of Shawn's myopic business sense during 1997, and getting things his way at the last possible second. I can only hope he's since visited Davey's grave in the years since & apologized for ONS, because there's no way he looked good coming out of it, both as a professional & as a person.

[@baitbait65]

The Hogan effect

[@johnepants]

It’s a great idea but if he lost the title in America, the fans would have popped hard for HBK, and Shawn was positioned as the big heel that would drop the belt to Austin, Vince wasn’t gonna let that happen. Remember, the Hart Foundation had nuclear heat in the US throughout 97 and always seemed to come out on top, so Bulldog losing here would not have had the desired effect to turn Shawn into a major prick.

[@TheLandofObscusion]

@@johnepants Fair enough. It was a really good idea that simply wasn't thought of in advance, and instead was changed to at the worst possible time.

[@johnepants]

@@TheLandofObscusion I will give you that, they should have told Bulldog earlier. Or at least told him not to promise victory on his promotional tours

[@ArmorKing1889]

Poor Davey Boy caught in the crosshairs of Shawn's ego. HBK going over was the best decision imo, but if everyone loved it so much, why didn't they make that decision sooner instead of making Davey(and the Hart Foundation) look like chumps.

[@KB-hh8rt]

But it wasn't the best decision at all. It was Shawn making a power move and getting one over on Bret and taking it out on the Davey.

[@ArmorKing1889]

@@KB-hh8rt You heard and saw the heat at the end, right? It clearly worked, but yes he did go into mid-90s Shawn mode and, as stated previously, should've brought this "great" idea up the moment the match was booked and not 10 mins before. Maybe option B where Davey wins and DX beats him down while the Hart Foundatiin is nowhere to be seen for some reason? Hart Foundation still looks terrible here too. If you could get Shawn's ear and he listens, what would you have proposed as the ending?

[@cax1175]

Because doing it in the UK would get the most heat. Same reason that Bret didn't drop the title before Survivor Series.

[@mrowley7300]

Had this on VHS!!!! My god I loved the this event

[@TheDimeDrawer]

Shawn winning made sense but I do feel for Davey's little sister really badly 😢

[@KB-hh8rt]

Nah, he didn't need to win.

[@TheDimeDrawer]

@@KB-hh8rt He did to build heat going into Survivor Series 1997.

[@901stinababy]

Yea DX was super disrespectful back then lol

[@GermanWehrmacht]

I agree with the sentiment that Shawn going over was the best thing, however changing the outcome the day of the event was wrong. The UK event getting that much attention, I would say is what increased interest of going to the UK when they did. Being unpredictable is always good for business when it makes sense.

[@threat2015]

I said the same comment on your last video that featured Michaels, I'm glad Hulk Hogan pinned him and didn't return the favour!

[@Jimmy_Hopkins15]

British Bulldog Davey boy smith should of gotten a world title run he was a great wrestler and underrated WWE did him dirty R.I.P bulldog

[@z216ghost]

Michael's may be a bigger piece of trash than Hogan. It's shocking how Vince let them run things. Especially Shawn and HHH ruining people's careers for their precious little egos. The business would be so different and better if those 3 weren't allowed to call all the shots.

[@poindextersheelturn436]

If they had better ideas than the "perfects" then ofcourse Michael's and the rest would get favoritism.

[@kennywarren8150]

I met Chris Chavis aka Tatanka when he came into my bank I worked at. We talked for almost 30 minutes. He said HBK and the cliq were the reasons he didn’t win the strap at mania 9 even though he was undefeated for a year

[@z216ghost]

@@kennywarren8150 How cool for you! But how lame of Shawn.

[@justinwalker2928]

Hogan is the bigger piece of trash. At least Shawn has own up to all the Politicking he did back then unlike Hogan.

[@kennywarren8150]

@@z216ghost he said they ran to Vince and made up a story about how tatanka had the big head and other lies. That’s why the mania 9 match ended so weirdly

[@jphasson]

Another excellent upload. You truly are the king of KZbin. Also, I was watching the Patreon names scroll; Glamour Smashed Face is one of the best handles I've ever heard. Yo, Glamour, if you see this please comment and let me know the origin (and yes, I know it's a play off of the Cannibal Corpse song).

[@julianswarzkoff771]

We could see why bret was on about not dropping the belt to hbk in montreal

[@oliverkloshophdndrecords50]

Once again, that music mix was spectacular. Restarting video to hear it again.

[@rudysalasiii210]

Shawn wanted to piss off Bert so badly he was enjoying it. He was responsible for the end of the Hart Foundation

[@lexkanyima2195]

Maybe but it was not that a big deal.

[@TherealRNOwwfpooh]

@@lexkanyima2195 Yes, it was. Bulldog was originally booked to retain, so he hastily made the premature dedication to his ailing sister Tracey who was literally dying of stage 4 bone cancer & wouldn't live to see her brother's lackluster 1999 comeback, but then DX whined like bitches to get the feel-good finish ruined just to garner go-away nuclear level heat that nearly almost caused a riot, to the point that DX was rather lucky the rabidly livid British crowd didn't straight up murder them in secret like the Canadian mafia did to Dino Bravo.

[@lexkanyima2195]

@@TherealRNOwwfpooh it was a shock how of the finish of the match should go and at that time Bulldog would have retain it by DQ

[@TherealRNOwwfpooh]

@@lexkanyima2195 Better that than the immorally unethical enraging bullocks we genuinely recieved.

[@SylentEcho]

16:20 this is why I loathe Michaels. I'm not even British, but ****ing hell, the ending of this PPV hurt like a bitch, especially after Davey dedicated the match to his sister.

[@lexkanyima2195]

It's a insult

[@michaeljackson7732]

Stone Cold Steve Austin wasn't on this show , Bret Hart and Owen Hart got huge pops

[@ForEternia]

Nice name 👌. Stone Cold was rehabbing from his neck injury if I'm not mistaken

[@leoconchola3163]

It basically show the powers Shawn & HHH had back then

[@lexkanyima2195]

Kliq rules

[@JessicaChastainFan]

Still do. No wonder WWE STILL sucks ass.

[@Zeke1379]

not Hunter. He was just along for the ride

[@therattlesnake1614]

Another great Bio "Brilliant" 👍💯👍

[@thethirtythree482]

Very good editing of your videos

[@theenlightenedone1283]

Awesome intro and music was sweet 👌🏼

[@danh27]

When I see the product today, how Vince runs his ship and how dirty he runs it at times, I wonder if I still consider myself a fan.

[@mbasandudane6334]

I love how Bret hart always tells the truth while Shawn Michaels always pretends he doesn't remember😂

[@johnrath5049]

Seems like Bulldog episodes always get tons of views. Great show again wrestling bios.

[@hermanthetosser4219]

Watching through this ppv again... I forgot the vader and owen match, they done a great job between them...

[@anitafloyd2554]

Great, great match.

[@yelnaw]

Awesome this. I was at Rebellion 99 at the NEC. Shoutout to the 2 blonde lads that ran past us through the crowd.

[@nujerusalemtv809]

One of my favorite matches of all-time

[@McSorleyFan33]

One of my top 5 ppvs. Say what u will bout the ending but that was some serious heel heat and it’s the reason people still remember this ppv unlike most other uk exclusive ppvs

[@adzbeck7681]

Why didn’t Owen and Bret help the bulldog they was both in the area ! Always bothered me how no one helped him

[@only1icon1801]

HBK and HHH were on the booking committee, basically running roughshod over them and making them look weak

[@TimmyTickle]

@@only1icon1801 Correction: HBK and HHH were the booking committee

[@angusthecat1689]

@@only1icon1801 i would guess vince has the final say on all title changes

[@ForEternia]

@@angusthecat1689 ya think?

[@lexkanyima2195]

@@angusthecat1689 that's a legit screwjob

[@hellionsentinel]

Well of course, any booking decision suggested by Mr “I lost my smile” is good for business right? 🙄

[@attiepollard7847]

Again why are you not blaming Vince McMahon for the change in the finish?

[@attiepollard7847]

@Strigorvious Dregorous people have to understand Vince McMahon will hear both sides of the story and then he will make his final decision. bulldog should have went to his office and explained why he does not want to finish changed. Close mouth do not get fed in this business

[@attiepollard7847]

@Strigorvious Dregorous and again if the dedication to his family member was that important he should have went to Vince.

[@ajsgaming8003]

actually it was it got him good heat and set up a rematch in england at the nxt uk ppv, thats called long term booking. but it never happend due to bulldog leaving the company with hart.

[@attiepollard7847]

@Strigorvious Dregorous how is it sucking up if you're explaining to Vince that you don't want the finish changed because you want to dedicate that to your sister?

[@Jay-Kaizo]

I don't know if no one would have remembered it. If they put on a good enough match they would. I absolutely remember Davy and Bret's match.

[@jaredquinney204]

Love this video

[@Wrestlefacts123]

I disagree, Knowing what we know now (Michaels laid down for HHH) that was the beginning of the end for the European TiTle. Michaels already had heat after SummerSlam and forming DX anyways. It did nothing for Davey’s Career who could have been put in contender-ship for a world title spot (after they had planned for Bret to lose at Survivor Series)

[@lexkanyima2195]

But the booking was pure Kliq influence

[@songkongphooey]

Huh? When was Davey boy ever considered for the world title?

[@E_l_l_i_e]

Whoever's doing the musical arrangement for WB deserves a raise.

[@tobiasmuller8148]

Thank you, i was always Interested in this backstory (sorry for my English, but odly enough i understood every Single word)

[@beezy22]

Yes indeed this was the beginning of the DX/Hart Foundation feud from one night only and ended at survivor series 1997 plus a foreshadow of survivor series 1997..RIP Bulldog Rick Rude Chyna Owen And Anvil....

[@davidford3968]

Im so glad you did a video on this match!! Especially as you being from the UK I have wanted to see what your view on this and what went into it on that side. Well done as always good sir!! I remember watching on RAW and seeing the results on this PPV. It was sole reason that my mother bought the video from that event because of this match and my mom was a huge HBK fan and she wanted to see how he won the title

[@eastsidereviews727]

Had Bulldog known sooner, the pill would've been easier to swallow. But man you feel shitty for Davie losing after dedicating the match to his sister and all the press he did.

[@XxCleanUpBoyxX]

I was there and saw Davey vs Owen in Berlin back in '97 it was really awesome! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼