Good concept, poorly executed.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

Blistering performances.

Live from Richmond, VAAttendance: 9,381Your commentators are Jim Ross & Jerry LawlerFlash Funk Vs Hunter Hearst Helmsley (W/Chyna)Hunter wins with a Pedigree. There are definitely worse ways to start a show. This was a decent match that got even better towards the last 5 minutes or so. Funk took a couple of nasty bumps.**1/2Mankind Vs Rocky MaiviaMankind wins by submission with the Mandible Claw. This was a physical battle between these two. It pales in comparison to some of the matches they'd have a couple of years later, but it was still a fairly good match. **3/4Ahmed is wrestling three matches. If he wins all three matches, The Nation of Domination will be abolished.Ahmed Johnson Vs CrushAhmed wins with a spinning back kick to the face. Any time these two face each other, it turns out to be crappy. This match is no different.*Ahmed Johnson Vs Savio VegaAhmed wins by DQ after Savio uses a chair on Ahmed. This match was a bit better than his one against Crush, but that isn't exactly saying much. It's still a mediocre match filled with a lot of punching and kicking.*1/2Ahmed Johnson Vs FarooqFarooq wins with The Dominator. This was a pretty short match. It told the story well of Ahmed being a valiant fighter, but coming up just short due to fatigue.3/4*Ken Shamrock Vs VaderShamrock wins by submission with the Ankle Lock. This was pretty ugly to watch. They tried to make this a UFC style of match, but they failed miserably at it. Vader and Shamrock did get in some stiff shots. *1/2WWF ChampionshipThe Undertaker (C) Vs 'Stone Cold' Steve AustinAustin has the match won with a Stunner, but Brian Pillman confuses everybody by ringing the bell. The Undertaker tombstones Austin and retains the title. This was a very bland match. Most of the match was nothing but rest hold. I'd say about 75 to 80% of the match consisted of both men trying to work over the leg. More excitement was needed.**Well, this is a pretty poor PPV. With a disappointing main event and a lack of any standout matches, I'm gonna have to recommend you skip this one.4/10

1. Hunter Hearst Helmsley Vs. Flash Funk 6.5/10 2. Mankind Vs. Rocky Maivia - This match contains nice Rock Bottom on entrance ramp! And nice Mankind's got victory! 9/10 3. Ahmed Johnson Vs. Crush/Savio Vega/Faarooq - That part with Faarooq was quite exciting. Faarooq clearly won. 7/10 4. Vader Vs. Ken Shamrock - I like Shamrock's victory, but I hate Vader to job at almost every PPV :/ 7/10 5. WWF World Heavyweight Title Match: Stone Cold Vs. Champ-The Undertaker - Nice finish! Until the last moment I believed that Stone Cold finally gets the belt, then the Stunner on Taker, Austin had to solve thing, that the bell rings from Brian Pillman. Taker suddenly set in Tombstone, Austin once again bridges the catches him and also to Tombstone, but Taker covers a second time and it takes off powerfully. Retains, end, and I do have to give 9/10

In our House 15, the penultimate two hour WWE PPV, was a fine wrestling show. Developing the successful Hart Foundation/ Steve Austin rivalry through a decent main event match and also giving the likes of Rocky Maivia and Ken Shamrock a chance to shine.The night started off with Hunter Hearst Helmsley getting a routine victory over Flash Funk in a passable opener. Funk didn't enjoy great success in the WWE, but there are plenty of worse workers with less crowd support who've wrestled for three years or far longer.Next saw the first chapter in what would become a major rivalry as Mankind defeated Rocky Maivia in an average match with the mandible claw. Mankind was building up to a face turn at this stage and would team up with Steve Austin to win the Tag Titles later in the year. Rocky in the mean time was not far off becoming the Rock and then joining the Nation of Domination. Within two years they would be two of the top three singles stars in the company.The next match, the worst thing on the card, but not terrible saw the Nation of Domination defeat Ahmed Johnson in a three on one gauntlet match. Johnson was able to power his way though Crush, but was hit with a big chair shot by Savio Vega who was then disqualified. Nation leader Farooq took advantage, hitting a dominator to pin Johnson.Next match saw the continuation of Vader's fall from grace and Ken Shamrock's first PPV victory as Vader tapped out to the ankle lock in a decent match.This brings us to the main event, and entertaining brawl in which the Undertaker defeated Steve Austin to retain the WWE Championship. Bret Hart, supposedly injured, sat at ringside with his Hart Foundation cronies and interfered in the match. Instead of a double DQ we got Undertaker winning and then saving Austin from a beat down. Undertaker and Austin stand tall as the PPV ends.A Cold Day in Hell was an entertaining show, with every match, aside form the opener, advancing a meaningful storyline. It left the few people who bought it (this PPV happened at the same time WCW had one of the most successful angles in wrestling history happening with Sting taunting the NWO from the rafters) wanting to see the next chapter and these events would culminate with the WWE setting up the superstars who would lead them to unprecedented mainstream success (their superior financial years in 2005-2009 were due to conquering a number of international niche markets, not through growing market recognition in North America) in 1998-2001.

The In Your House events were always rather average-the same can not be said for this one which provided enjoyment throughout.The hugely popular Ahmed Johnson battled three members of the Nation of Domination in heated brawls. Risings stars Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Rocky Maivia had great matches with their respective opponents, Flash Funk and Makind. The main event pitted the Undertaker against Steve Austin. It wasn't their greatest match but it was decent enough.The best match of the night was two top wrestlers Ken Shamrock and Vader battling each other in one of 1997's best matches. It was unpredictable and action-packed. Check it out.