Posts Tagged ‘Razor Ramon’

Remembering Scott Hall: 7 Must-See Matches From His Career

The wrestling world lost a legend on Monday with the passing of Scott Hall.

One of the most influential performers of his generation, Hall was the epitome of “cool” in the 1990s. Whether it was during his time as Razor Ramon in the World Wrestling Federation, or using his real name as a member of the nWo in WCW, Hall left a mark on the industry that won’t soon be forgotten.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a kid in the 1990s that didn’t imitate the man at some point during their adolescence — the toothpick throw, the signature walk or yelling out a “Hey yo!” Scott Hall became ingrained in popular culture.

For those wanting to relive some of the great moments of his storied career, here are seven must-watch Scott Hall matches for fans familiar to the man (or for those who want to become more acquainted with some of his best work).

Razor Ramon vs. 1-2-3 Kid, WWE RAW (May 17, 1993)

In the early days of RAW, this was a match that made it known that the show couldn’t be missed. In addition, on this same broadcast, Marty Jannetty defeated Shawn Michaels for the Intercontinental Championship. It was a historic night indeed.

This was Hall taking a pinfall that nobody saw coming for a man who would become one of his best friends in life, Sean Waltman. The finish would be replayed numerous times over the years as one of the most shocking moments on WWE television. It shows the generous side of Scott Hall. It’s not an in-ring classic, it’s very brief, but it’s on this list for historical significance.

Echoing history nearly 10 years later, Hall did a similar job for a rising young star in New Japan Pro Wrestling, Hiroshi Tanahashi.

Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels, WrestleMania X (March 20, 1994)

Razor Ramon WrestleMania X

This is the most obvious choice on the list. The most famous match of Hall’s career, and arguably his most influential. Though there had been a ladder match in the WWE before this (Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels in 1992 for the IC Title), this was the first time a ladder match was featured as part of a PPV.

Introducing the majority of wrestling fans at the time to a new match concept, Hall and Michaels (two real-life good friends) went out and electrified Madison Square Garden. The match received five stars in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter and won Match of the Year for 1994.

Watching the match now, the spots might seem tame in comparison to the more psychotic ladder matches we have seen since, but this one stands the test of time for its next-level psychology and historical significance.

Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels, WWE RAW (August 1, 1994)

Razor Ramon and Shawn Michaels

This was Shawn Michaels’ first television match since the aforementioned ladder match at WrestleMania X. The backdrop was the fact that Diesel (Kevin Nash, Intercontinental Champion at the time) would be defending his belt against Razor at SummerSlam just a couple of weeks later in Chicago.

This bout opens the RAW broadcast and is a doozy. From the first opening moments, Shawn is bumping all over the place for the much bigger Hall, letting him showcase his powerful offense.

As a bonus, this was the first episode of WWE television after Vince McMahon was acquitted of charges in the famous steroid trial. Randy Savage leans into this on commentary, with a “hung jury” being mentioned on more than one occasion.

Razor is outnumbered here, leading to Todd Pettengill mentioning moments after the match that Ramon might need to start looking into getting backup for SummerSlam. That would end up being none other than legendary NFL running back Walter Payton.

Razor Ramon and 1-2-3 Kid vs. Shawn Michaels and Diesel, WWE Action Zone (October 30, 1994)

Razor Ramon Diesel Shawn Michaels

Four best friends going out of their way to make each other look great. A bout that aired on WWE’s new Sunday broadcast (this was just the second episode of Action Zone) and did it’s best to make the new show can’t-miss programming.

This match earned 4.5 stars in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Given the short-lived television show it aired on, it has been hard to find over the years. However, it was released on a couple of Coliseum Videos at the time (Slamfest ’95 and Shawn Michaels: Hits From The Heartbreak Kid) and was featured on the 2015 Kliq Rules DVD set from WWE. Hits from the Heartbreak Kid is available on Peacock and the WWE Network.

Razor Ramon vs. Owen Hart, WWE RAW (January 9, 1995)

Razor Ramon and Owen Hart

Another outstanding bout that opened a WWE RAW broadcast. Razor was the Intercontinental Champion at the time, taking on Owen Hart in the final days of his feud with his brother Bret (Bret’s involved in the finish of the match).

The crowd that night at Houston’s Summit is on fire as, similar to the RAW match with Shawn referenced above, Owen bumps all over the place to make Razor look like a million bucks. There’s never a dull moment throughout the match — 100% action-packed from bell to bell in front of what has always been a great wrestling city.

Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels, WWE SummerSlam (August 27, 1995)

Razor Ramon and Shawn Michaels

The sequel to the WrestleMania X ladder match. Razor and Shawn take up the ladder once again for the Intercontinental Championship, this time in Pittsburgh. Honestly, some people actually prefer this one to the WrestleMania match, and it’s pretty close to a toss-up. I’d go with WrestleMania due to the historic nature of the match, but this one is really damn good, too.

This match would rank as one of the top 10 WWE matches of the 1990s by most accounts. You owe it to yourself to watch it if you’ve never seen it, especially if you’ve only seen the much more talked about WrestleMania ladder match.

Other than an IC Title match with Goldust at Royal Rumble 1996, this would end up being one of Razor’s last significant matches during his original run with WWE. Less than one year later, he’d be lighting it up with the nWo in WCW. Which leads us to…

The Outsiders vs. Randy Savage, Lex Luger and Sting, WCW Bash at the Beach (July 7, 1996)

nWo Formation

This one is more for the history than the match itself, although it’s not bad by any means. Ring work wise, it doesn’t live up to the matches listed above, but it’s iconic for a different reason.

This was the night the nWo was born. Hall and Nash, The Outsiders, promised a mystery partner. They work almost the entire match by themselves, but then in the closing moments, Hulk Hogan comes down and turns his back on WCW, aligning himself with Hall and Nash to form the New World Order. A new wrestling boom period was born and Hall was crucial to its success.

Hall had been the original Outsider, debuting with the company unannounced six weeks earlier during the Memorial Day broadcast of WCW Nitro. His arrival started a spark, Nash’s subsequent arrival at Great American Bash kept the momentum building, and Hogan’s heel turn was the fire being lit for one of the most memorable periods in wrestling history.

Final Thoughts

Other matches that just missed the cut but are absolutely worth checking out:

  • Razor Ramon vs. Bret Hart, WWE Royal Rumble 1993
  • Razor Ramon vs. Bret Hart, WWE King of the Ring 1993
  • Razor Ramon vs. Owen Hart, WWE King of the Ring 1994
  • Razor Ramon vs. Rick Martel, WWE RAW (October 11, 1993)
  • Scott Hall, Kevin Nash and Syxx vs. Roddy Piper, Ric Flair and Kevin Greene, WCW Slamboree 1997

What are your own favorite Scott Hall matches? Let us know in the comments section or give me a shout on Twitter, @ryandroste.

Check out my podcast, Top Rope Nation, as we will be doing a special look at Scott Hall’s career this week: Apple – Spotify – YouTube. 

Video: Sean Waltman On Epic Botch He Had With Scott Hall During Early RAW Days

https://youtu.be/A-5xhhGbwAs

Former WWE Superstar Sean Waltman recently spoke to WrestleTalk TV about a dangerous spot he tried a few times during his days as the 1-2-3 Kid character earlier in his WWE run.

Waltman spoke about diving head-first from the top rope to the floor during a match with Razor Ramon, noting that he fell and ended up landing on his head. Later, however, he would recreate the move successfully during a match with Bret Hart.

“The first time I tried that in WWE was in my rematch with Scott [Hall] where I slipped off the top turnbuckle and ate the concrete. Another time if I didn’t get up and pull something out of my ass, I’d have been screwed. Scott would have had to beat me and I would have been done.”

Waltman said that the spot worried him, primarily because he had been given a rematch with Razor Ramon following the initial upset. For the second time around, he had been booked in a $10,000 challenge rematch and had to meet time cues in the main event slot of RAW.

“It was the last thing and we were going off the air. I had to get that money and get out of there before we went off the air, or we would have been screwed. You can go back and watch my head that hits the concrete if that’s the kind of thing that gives you giggles.”

Kevin Owens On Wanting To Wrestle The Undertaker, Being I-C Champion & More

Kevin Owens recently appeared as a guest on the “Like Father, Like Son” podcast and spoke about wanting to wrestle The Undertaker, being the WWE Intercontinental Champion and more. Below are some of the highlights from the interview.

On wanting to wrestle The Undertaker:

“I’d love to get in the ring with the Undertaker one day… I feel like that’s a long shot, I guess, because he wrestles on a limited basis and when he does, it’s always a huge deal. But hopefully I can position myself in the next year or so to be seen as a viable opponent for the Undertaker, because it would be a thrill to be in the ring with him at WrestleMania or anywhere. It can be on a Raw or a live event, I don’t really care. I’d just love to be in the ring with him. I feel like that would be an experience I’d never forget.”

On the WWE Intercontinental Championship:

“When I was a kid, that was the title that I wanted to win, because Shawn Michaels and Owen Hart, and Bret (Hart) and Razor (Ramon), all those guys won that title and some of them eventually made it and won the WWE title. But the Intercontinental title, there’s just something special about that title. The cool part about the title I’m holding now is it’s the same design as the title I grew up watching. When I was a kid and I had all the foam replica belts, this was always the one I’d win first when I’d beat my pillow, so it’s pretty cool to have the real thing.”

Scott Hall Tells Behind-The-Scenes Stories Involving Ultimate Warrior, Lack Of Title Shots

WWE Hall Of Famer Scott Hall recently spoke with the folks at Title Match Wrestling about why he didn’t receive as many world title shots as others did, as well as the back-story behind an incident involving Ultimate Warrior during his WWE run.

“I was doing whatever was asked of me,” said Hall of not being put in many world title matches. “I looked at it as being a team player, whatever the team needed me to do on pay-per-view. Whether it was being on first or being on last.

Hall was also asked about some major reshuffling that took place prior to WWE Survivor Series 1992, as significant roster changes prevented the originally scheduled line-up from taking place.

“It was supposed to be Flair and I against Warrior and Savage. Warrior had a history of holding Vince up for money before pay-per-views to get his guarantees, and Vince called his bluff. They had to substitute for Warrior, so they brought Mr. Perfect in,” Hall said.

“I was told prior to the match I was going to break Randy’s leg and retire him. But when you have a substitute, you have to feature the substitute, so I think I got PerfectPlex’d and Flair got PerfectPlex’d.”

WrestleMania I-X: The Top 10 Matches From The First Decade

WrestleMania is now only a few weeks away, and to say that the build has been abysmal so far would be a bit of an understatement. Instead of criticizing the company for its incompetence, let’s relive the glory days together.

Over the course of the next week or so, we are going to be looking at the ten best matches from each decade of WrestleMania. Today we start by looking at the first ten WrestleMania events.

10. The British Bulldogs vs. The Dream Team (Greg Valentine and Brutus Beefcake) (WrestleMania II)

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2cyy4p_wwf-wrestlemania-ii-the-british-bulldogs-vs-the-dream-team_sport

This took place at one of the absolute worst WrestleManias of all-time, and was one of the few (if not the only) highlights of the night. Davey Boy put in most of the work for his team, showcasing his power throughout the contest.

There were multiple near-falls in this contest, with the Bulldog attempting Perfect-Plex that registered a two-count at one point. It appeared The Dream Team had the victory at one point, but Valentine foolishly pulled the Dynamite Kid’s head from the mat, and would lose mere seconds later after having his head smashed into the turnbuckle. Overall, there weren’t a ton of memorable tag matches during the first decade of WrestleMania, but this is definitely a highlight, and one that usually doesn’t get much credit.

9. Jake “The Snake” Roberts vs. Rick Martel (WrestleMania VII)

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2hsfmz_wwf-wrestlemania-vii-jake-roberts-vs-rick-martel_sport

Let me start by saying this match was pretty cheesy. We all knew the two competitors could see each other through the bags they were sporting. With that said, they employed decent in-ring psychology and told a solid story, and it was even unintentionally humorous at times. (I mean how could one not laugh at Martel delivering an elbow to the canvas after The Snake was long gone, or the two running past one another in the most obvious manner?)

Roberts finally tracked down “The Model” and picked up the win after hitting his signature DDT. Most importantly, this was one of the first gimmick matches to be featured at WrestleMania and would lay the groundwork for the next generation, which would deviate away from the traditional wrestling style that had characterized the first six WrestleManias. For that reason alone, I feel that it deserves to be included on the list.

8. Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant (WrestleMania III)

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1u6x5h_wwf-wrestlemania-iii-hulk-hogan-vs-andre-the-giant_sport

The action in this one was basically garbage. One of the main selling points involved fans hoping to see Hogan slam Andre for the first time, even though he and others had already done so in the past. And on top of that, it was the main event of the biggest show of the year and only lasted a little over ten minutes. Don’t get me wrong, the feud leading into the event was money, but the match itself was rather meh.

Even though the action didn’t live up to the hype, this was the most important match in the company’s history at the time, and one would be hard-pressed to find one since that had more impact. These guys worked a lengthy feud leading into the event and had millions of eyes watching a product that wasn’t even putting on pay-per-view events just a few years prior. Not only did they have millions of eyes watching at home, they also drew a record 93,173 fans to check it out on in person.

Hogan did slam Andre and followed it up with his Leg Drop for the win. The action wasn’t memorable, but without this match, there’s a good chance the WWE would never have become the global juggernaut it is today, so for that reason alone, it has to be included in a list such as this one.

7. Ultimate Warrior vs. Randy Savage (WrestleMania VII)

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2hsck9_wwf-wrestlemania-vii-randy-savage-vs-the-ultimate-warrior_sport

After Savage lost his title to Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania V, he had tried on numerous occasions to win it back. Hogan passed the torch to Warrior at WrestleMania VI, and the “Macho King” set his sights on the newly crowed champ. After Warrior refused to grant him a title shot (instead granting one to Sergeant Slaughter), Savage interfered in the contest, hitting Warrior with his scepter and costing him the title.

This led to a feud between the two heading into WrestleMania VII, with Savage putting his career on the line. Sensational Sherri accompanied the “Macho King” to the ring but his former girlfriend Miss Elizabeth was also in attendance. After hitting a remarkable five flying elbows drops, Savage was still unable to diminish the power of the Warrior, eventually taking three shoulder block tackles that each sent Savage to the floor. Warrior would stand over the fallen King and pick up the victory, forcing Savage to “retire.”

Some of the most memorable action actually took place following the match, however, as Sherri attacked Savage, leading to a memorable reconciliation between Miss Elizabeth and Savage, with Savage once again becoming a fan favorite after holding the ropes for Elizabeth. Awesome match. Awesome story. Awesome Wrestlemania moment.

6. Bret Hart vs. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper (WrestleMania VIII)

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2gs2s7_wwf-wrestlemania-viii-bret-hart-vs-roddy-piper_sport

Widely considered to be one of the greatest matches in WrestleMania history, Hart and Piper battled for the Intercontinental Championship back in the days when the title was actually worth a damn.

Hart could make anyone look good, and Piper was an above average worker in his own right, so there was little chance of this contest being anything other than a stone cold classic. It really felt personal too, with stiff action that was a borderline street fight at times. The “Hit Man” bladed during the match and was covered in blood by the end of this brutal affair.

After the referee was driven into the turnbuckle and knocked out for a few minutes, Piper considered using the ring bell as a weapon, but had a change of heart and chose not to. The “Hot Rod” instead attempted to put Hart away with his signature sleeper, but Hart countered the move by propelling himself off of the turnbuckle and countering into one of the most beautiful pinning combinations fans will ever see. Piper embraced Hart and helped him to the back after the contest, earning the respect and admiration of basically everyone in attendance.

Update On Kevin Nash’s WWE HOF Induction, Plans For nWo Induction In The Future

As noted recently, Kevin Nash is all but confirmed to be inducted into this year’s class of the WWE Hall Of Fame.

According to a new PWInsider.com report, Nash, much like Scott Hall, who was inducted under his WWE gimmick name of “Razor Ramon,” will be inducted as “Diesel.”

This is said to open the door for a potential second induction in the future, which could feature a faction being inducted like the Four Horseman was, as Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall could all be inducted a second time as part of a nWo group-induction.

It’s expected that Nash’s induction into the WWE Hall Of Fame will actually close out this year’s ceremony. As things stand now, Shawn Michaels is scheduled to handle Nash’s induction.

Bully Ray To Do Weekly Podcast, Scott Hall’s Son Joins The Bullet Club, RAW Note

– Bully Ray is the latest pro wrestler getting into the online podcast business. As things stand now, there’s no information on what his show will be, just that he’s going to begin doing one in the near future.

– Scott Hall’s son Cody Hall, wearing an old Razor Ramon vest, was announced earlier today as the newest member of The Bullet Club faction in New Japan Pro Wrestling.

– It’s expected that the ratings for this week’s edition of WWE RAW will take a hit in Canada because the World Junior Hockey Championships will take place with China vs. Russia.

Update On Kevin Nash’s Status For RAW Reunion Special On January 19th

As noted earlier today, despite the reports that Kevin Nash had been pulled from the RAW Reunion special on January 19th in Dallas, Texas, he remained on the advertising for the show on the official WWE website. Nash has since been officially removed from those advertisements.

Nash was suspended from his WWE Legends deal due to the domestic situation with his son over the holidays that led to his arrest. The same incident is what has resulted in his being pulled from the RAW reunion special.

Still scheduled for the RAW Reunion show on 1/19 are Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels and Scott Hall, who is being billed as Razor Ramon.

Update On Hall & Nash At RAW Reunion, Details On New Episode Of WWE Countdown

– The first new episode of WWE Countdown will air on the WWE Network next Monday, January 5th, immediately after WWE RAW at 11:06pm EST. The show will count down the “biggest cry-babies of all-time.”

– Regarding the upcoming RAW Reunion show on January 19th in Dallas, Texas, it’s worth mentioning that WWE is billing Scott Hall as Razor Ramon and Kevin Nash under his real name. As noted on Sunday, Nash has reportedly been pulled from the event following the recent domestic incident with his son, however he is still listed in the advertising for the event on the official WWE website. Also scheduled to appear on the show are Shawn Michaels and Hulk Hogan.

  • Backstage News On WWE Keeping BRAY WYATT Strong For THE UNDERTAKER At WRESTLEMANIA 31
  • Hulk Hogan Teases Legends House Appearance, WWE Ranks Top 25 I-C Champs

    – Hulk Hogan teased during a recent WWE App interview that he may be appearing on Legends House soon. Whether or not he was referring to the current season, which was filmed back in 2012, or a potential future taping of the series, is anyone’s guess.

    – The official WWE website recently ran another ranking article, this time looking at the 25 greatest WWE Intercontinental Champions in history. The top ten of the list reads as follows:

    10. Tito Santana
    9. Randy Orton
    8. Pedro Morales
    7. Bret Hart
    6. Razor Ramon
    5. The Honky Tonk Man
    4. Mr. Perfect
    3. The Ultimate Warrior
    2. Chris Jericho
    1. Randy Savage

    You can check out the complete list at WWE.com.

  • Find Out What SCOTT HALL Was Doing In The HOSPITAL THIS WEEK! (PHOTOS INCLUDED)
  • VIDEOS: Clips From All Of The 2014 WWE Hall Of Fame Induction Speeches

    WWE added the following “sneak peek” videos from Saturday’s WWE Hall Of Fame ceremony in New Orleans to their official YouTube channel. You can check them out below.

  • You’ll NEVER Guess Who’s In Town For WrestleMania XXX [FULL COVERAGE ALL WEEKEND >>]
  • WWE Hall Of Fame Inductees Receive Their Rings (Video), Photo Of Hall’s Ring

    – WWE updated their official YouTube channel with video footage of the backstage scene at the WWE Hall Of Fame ceremony in New Orleans on Saturday night. The clip features the 2014 inductees receiving their rings and taking photos with Vince McMahon and Triple H. You can check that out below:

    – Speaking of the WWE Hall Of Fame and the inductees receiving their rings, here’s a photo of Scott Hall, who was inducted as “Razor Ramon” on Saturday night, showing off his new bling:

  • You’ll NEVER Guess Who’s In Town For WrestleMania XXX [FULL COVERAGE ALL WEEKEND >>]
  • PHOTOS: The Kliq Reunites Backstage At The WWE Hall Of Fame Ceremony

    The following are photos of the original “Kliq” members reuniting backstage at the WWE Hall Of Fame ceremony in New Orleans on Saturday night.

    Additionally, here’s a shot of Hall backstage waiting to go out on stage at the WWE Hall Of Fame ceremony.

    For a full report from the WWE Hall Of Fame 2014 ceremony, CLICK HERE.

  • You’ll NEVER Guess Who’s In Town For WrestleMania XXX [FULL COVERAGE ALL WEEKEND >>]
  • Razor Ramon Display At Axxess (Photo), Kofi Kingston’s “My First WrestleMania”

    – The following is a photo of Scott Hall’s “Razor Ramon” display section at WrestleMania Axxess in New Orleans:

    – The following is Kofi Kingston’s “My First WrestleMania” video, courtesy of the official WWE YouTube channel.

    http://youtu.be/7ei5CkGLPcU

  • If There’s ANYTHING Going On Related To WrestleMania XXX, I PROMISE You It’s HERE [>>]
  • New Razor Ramon WWE HOF T-Shirt (Photo), Sheamus’ “My First WrestleMania”

    – The following is a new Razor Ramon WWE Hall Of Fame t-shirt:

    – The following is the latest video in the “My First WrestleMania” series, which features Sheamus talking about his experiences in his first ever WrestleMania.

  • WrestleMania XXX News, Results and *SPOILERS* [>>]
  • All Of The Inductors For The 2014 Class Of The WWE Hall Of Fame Revealed

    For those wondering who will be inducting this year’s inductees for the 2014 class of the WWE Hall Of Fame, here is a breakdown of what we know thus far.

    – The Ultimate Warrior will be inducted by Linda McMahon.

    – Jake “The Snake” Roberts will be inducted by Diamond Dallas Page (DDP).

    – Paul Bearer will be inducted by his sons Michael and Daniel Moody.

    – Mr. T will be inducted by Hulk Hogan.

    – Lita will be inducted by Trish Stratus.

    – Carlos Colon will be inducted by his sons Carlito and Eddie (Diego), and his nephew Orlando (Fernando).

    – As far as Scott Hall (as Razor Ramon) is concerned, no one is confirmed as the guy who will be inducting him, however Kevin Nash and Shawn Michaels are the leading candidates at this point.

  • WrestleMania XXX News, Results and *SPOILERS* [>>]
  • PHOTOS: All Of The 2014 WWE Hall Of Fame Rings Revealed

    The following are photos of every ring for the 2014 class of the WWE Hall Of Fame.

    Reason For WWE Inducting Scott Hall As Razor Ramon, Diesel To Get Inducted?

    Apparently the reason WWE decided to induct Scott Hall into the WWE Hall Of Fame under his “Razor Ramon” character is in fact due to plans for a future nWo induction, where he would of course be himself.

    In a related note, there has been discussion regarding the possibility of inducting Kevin Nash under his “Diesel” character in WWE, saving his induction under his real name, along with Hall, for the future nWo induction.

  • WrestleMania XXX News, Results and *SPOILERS* [>>]

    (Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

  • Backstage News On WWE’s Plans To Induct The Rock & nWo In Their Hall Of Fame

    While there have been some rumors that the reason WWE is inducting Scott Hall as “Razor Ramon” to the WWE Hall Of Fame this year is because they plan to induct him again as Scott Hall next year as part of a faction-induction with the nWo, that likely won’t be the case, at least not in 2015.

    From all accounts, it appears as though WWE is hoping to induct The Rock next year, and the guys in the nWo (Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall) probably won’t want to be inducted the same year as Rock, as they would likely be featured as the “co-main event” of the ceremony with The Rock being the obvious headliner.

    (Credit: Wrestling Observer Radio)

    Razor Ramon HOF Induction Video, Scott Hall Comments

    On Monday’s RAW, WWE legend Razor Ramon was announced as the final member of the WWE Hall of Fame’s Class of 2014.

    https://twitter.com/SCOTTHALLNWO/status/448471628264243200