By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

One of the most famous actors in the comedy genre, Leslie Nielsen, died today at the age of 84 according to numerous reports in the U.S. and Canada.

Nielsen's connection to pro wrestling was the Summerslam 1994 PPV as part of the Fake Undertaker vs. The Undertaker main event.

Neilsen was part of several skits during the PPV trying to find the "real" Undertaker (Mark Calloway), who was returning to WWE after a long storyline involving Brian Lee as the fake Undertaker character.

After the real Undertaker defeated the fake Undertaker in the main event, Neilsen was part of a show-closing skit declaring the case closed.

Torch Newsletter Coverage: The following is Torch editor Wade Keller's PPV report on Summerslam 1994 from the Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter #297.

***

WWF SUMMERSLAM '94
When: August 29, 1994
Where: Chicago, Ill. - United Center
What: WWF's fourth pay-per-view of the year
Live Attendance: 23,000
Report by Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

HEADLINE: Evil Undertaker falls to "real" Undertaker
Subheadline: An anti-climactic end to an unsensational match after a spectacular entrance

In what has to be considered a letdown to an already aborted feud, the original Undertaker (Mark Calloway) pinned the imposter Undertaker (Brian Lee) in an anti-climactic match saved only by the spectacle of the introductions. After three consecutive tombstone piledrivers in front of the nearly silent crowd, the nine minute match was over. After the match, the imposter Undertaker was rolled into a casket at ringside and rolled away, ending the short stint of Lee as the imposter Undertaker. Lee will return in two months with a new gimmick of his own with no reference to him having been the imposter Undertaker.

The highlight of the event was the Bret Hart retaining the WWF Title against Owen Hart cage match, but not enough to alone make up for what was overall a flat card.

MATCH-BY-MATCH ANALYSIS

(1) I.R.S. & Bam Bam Bigelow (mgd. by Ted DiBiase) defeated The Head Shrinkers (mgd. by Lou Albano and Afa) by DQ at 6:45. Bigelow began on offense, throwing his weight around. Fatu greeted a charging Bigelow with a foot to the face. At 1:52, Samu scored a near fall on Bigelow. I.R.S. tagged in, but Samu dominated immediately. McMahon commented on the Shrinkers being dejected after losing the tag team titles one night earlier. The Shrinkers hit I.R.S. with a double head butt and then drove him to the mat. Fatu then dove onto I.R.S. with a splash as DiBiase distracted the referee. Bigelow stomped on Fatu and then hit Lou Albano, who was on the ring apron. Afa then entered the ring for the DQ. The wrestlers brawled to the locker room. (**)

Another skit aired of Leslie Nielson searching backstage at the United Center for Undertaker, but instead of finding Undertaker he found George Kennedy, who has been in some movies with Nielsen.

(2) Alundra Blayze pinned Bull Nakano (mgd. by Luna Vachon) to retain the WWF Women's Title at 8:10. Before the match began a flower girl handed Nakano and Blayze flowers. Luna threw Nakano's flowers at Blayze. After a quick exchange, Nakano threw Blayze across the ring by her hair twice and then whipped her to the mat by the hair once. Nakano dominated offense until 2:50, when Blayze came back with a flurry of offense. A "USA, USA" chant began as Nakano had Blayze locked in a Boston crab. Blayze reached the ropes. Luna interfered by choking Blayze over the top rope. After missing a top rope legdrop, Blayze belly-to-back suplexed Nakano for the pin. Nakano looked powerful, but not spectacular. It was better than their TV match due to sheer duration, but it won't entirely change the way women's wrestling is perceived. (**)

Interview Todd Pettengill interviewed Shawn Michaels and Diesel regarding winning the tag titles and Diesel's defense of the Intercontinental Title. When asked about possibly overlooking Walter Payton, Michaels said he and Diesel overlook everyone.

(3) Razor Ramon (w/Walter Payton) pinned Diesel (w/Shawn Michaels) to capture the Intercontinental Title at 13:55. Ramon threw his toothpick at Diesel to start the match. Diesel went after Ramon, but Ramon dominated early offense and sent Diesel from the ring, which elicited a big response from the energetic crowd. Michaels consulted with Diesel outside the ring, who reentered with a determined, confident look. Diesel charged with a kneelift and elbow to the back. Ramon took over offense briefly, but Diesel caught a charging Ramon with an elbow. Diesel choked Ramon in the corner with his boot while Michaels held him by the hair. Diesel was getting booed by the fans, which wasn't necessarily a given since he was cheered so heavily at Madison Square Garden last week. Ramon charged Diesel and he tossed him over the top rope. Ramon grabbed his knee as Payton checked on him. Meanwhile, Michaels untied the top turnbuckle padding in one corner. Michaels wore the tag team title around the ring. Michaels approached Ramon, but when Payton approached him, he backed up. Referees pulled Payton away from Michaels, so Michaels then dove onto Ramon with a forearm to the face. At 5:45, when Diesel was about to swing Ramon into the exposed turnbuckle, the referee jumped in the way to block him. Michaels then leaped on the ring apron to distract the referee and Diesel then swung Ramon into the corner. Diesel scored a near fall.

At 7:29, as Diesel had Ramon locked in a chinlock, a "Razor, Razor" chant began. Ramon made a comeback, but was quickly flattened by a big boot to the face. Diesel then scored a near fall. Diesel then locked on the abdominal stretch. He grabbed the ropes for additional leverage. Ramon reversed the abdominal stretch at 9:33, but Diesel quickly hiptossed Ramon off of him. Ramon rammed Diesel into the exposed corner and then rolled up Diesel for a near fall. At 10:50 Ramon pulled Diesel crotch-first into the ringpost and then dove off the ropes with a bulldog for a near fall and a big anticipatory pop from the fans. Ramon slammed Diesel and scored another two count. Michaels got on the apron and Ramon hit him, knocking him from the ring apron. Ramon then put Diesel onto the top turnbuckle, but Diesel elbowed Ramon and stepped back to the mat. At 12:10 Diesel set Ramon up for a jackknife, but Ramon backdropped out of it. Ramon then signalled for the Razor's Edge. Michaels stood on the ring apron and distracted Ramon, so Diesel hit him from behind. Michaels then stole the tag belt from the ringside table. Payton grabbed it from Michaels. Payton won the tug-o-war, but while the referee talked with Payton, Michaels sidekicked toward Ramon, who was being held by Diesel. Ramon moved, though, and Michaels kicked Diesel hard in the chest. Ramon then draped his arm over Diesel and the referee counted to three for the pinfall. After the match Diesel yelled at Michaels from behind as they walked back to the locker room. A solid storyline but nothing spectacular in the ring. (***)

Interview Pettengill interviewed Lex Luger and Tatanka. Pettengill read the results of the WWF 900 line poll where 54 percent of the fans voted that Luger sold out. As Luger began to speak about it, Tatanka interrupted him and recounted all of the circumstantial evidence in favor of Luger having sold out to DiBiase. After the lecture was over, Tatanka left and Luger said Ted DiBiase can do and say anything he believes in because it's a free country, but again denied selling out and said he never considered it.

(4) Tatanka pinned Lex Luger at 6:00. When Tatanka's music began he received a considerable amount of boos among the cheers and overall, not much of a babyface pop. Luger received a similar mixed reaction. Tatanka kept pointing at Luger and blaming him for selling out. Luger vehemently denied it in the ring as the referee stood between them. They exchanged lock-ups in the opening minute. After a few more scientific exchanges, the two exchanged a series of punches. Lawler harped on Luger doing what DiBiase taught him. Luger appeared distracted by the boos from the fans. At 3:25 Luger missed a leaping elbow drop. Tatanka hit Luger with a flurry of offense including a powerslam for a two count. Tatanka wardanced and chopped Luger for a two count. Tatanka nailed Luger with a top rope forearm for a two count. Tatanka then missed a top rope bodypress. At 5:28 DiBiase began strolling to the ring with a red, white, and blue duffel bag full of money. Luger told him, "Get out of here, I don't want your money." Tatanka rolled up Luger from behind for the three count. Tatanka and Luger faced off in mid-ring. DiBiase then entered the ring and Luger kicked the money out of his hands. Tatanka then attacked Luger from behind and beat on him for several minutes as DiBiase watched. Tatanka threw off several referees. Tatanka and DiBiase then embraced in mid-ring as McMahon announced it was a set-up all along. DiBiase then shouted to McMahon, "I even fooled you, McMahon." As DiBiase and Tatanka left the ring, DiBiase suggested Tatanka give Luger more. Tatanka then reentered the ring and applied the "Million Dollar Dream." Tatanka then shoved a $100 bill into Luger's mouth. The storyline again dominated this match with action taking a backseat. Just okay. The angle afterward was flatter than it should have been, but still surprised the fans, who booed Tatanka as he left with DiBiase. (**)

They then went to Gorilla Monsoon at the 900 line headquarters as he waited for Tatanka to enter the room.

(5) Jeff Jarrett pinned Mabel (w/Oscar) at 5:45. Oscar again tripped over his tongue as he showed an inability to articulate the methodical rap lyrics as Mabel entered the ring. Jarrett strutted after hitting Mabel. Mabel hit Jarrett and then mocked Jarrett's squat. The fans "oohhed and ahhed" as Mabel elbow dropped Jarrett. Jarrett tried to knock Mabel off of his feet, but couldn't do it. He dove off the top rope and Mabel caught him. Mabel hit Jarrett with a spinning wheel kick for a near fall. The camera showed Knuckleball Schwartz walking down the aisle with a picket sign. At 4:30, Jarrett went after Oscar, but Mabel caught Jarrett after a long delay and held him as Oscar slapped him. Mabel then charged Jarrett into the ringpost. Mabel dove off the second rope and splatted on the mat when Jarrett moved. Mabel tossed Jarrett off and over the referee at the two count. At the finish, in one of the only ways a "500-plus pound wrestler" can lost, Mabel missed a sit-splash and Jarrett quickly hooked his legs for a pin. Oscar and Mabel chased Jarrett back to the locker room. Just a time filler. Nothing horrible, but certainly offered nothing good. (*)

Skit/Interviews: Vince McMahon then introduced Leslie Nielsen and George Kennedy in the aisle, who acted upset when the spotlight shined on them, i.e. "it was blowing their cover." Undertaker's silhouette then appeared behind them for a moment, but when they turned around, he was gone. Next, Pettengill narrated a lengthy recap of the Owen Hart-Bret Hart feud. Although the majority of viewers were familiar with the feud, the package helped fill the time it took to set up the cage at United Center.

McMahon interviewed Helen Hart. She said a demon possessed Owen. McMahon then asked Stu Hart a question, who unfortunately again had trouble getting out a coherent answer. McMahon then interviewed British Bulldog, the legitimate brother-in-law of Bret and Owen. McMahon then interviewed Jim Neidhart, who credited Stu for bringing Owen to his level of success. Pettengil then interviewed Bret, but said first that Bret was recovering from strep throat. Bret talked down the effects of recovering from illness. Bret then said he didn't hate Owen, but does hate Neidhart. Bret said Neidhart planted the seeds of jealousy in Owen.

(6) Bret Hart defeated Owen Hart in a cage match to retain the WWF Title at 32:17 Owen opened with a flurry of blows on Bret. After some offense of his own Bret climbed the cage but Owen dragged him off the side. The camera showed Stu and Helen Hart looking concerned at ringside. Owen climbed the cage at 3:05 and Bret pulled him off the side. After Owen almost escaped through the doorway, Bret pulled him in and climbed the side of the cage. Owen pulled him down. At 6:30 Owen made it all the way over the top of the cage, but Bret grabbed him by the hair at the last second, so Owen climbed back to the inside of the cage. They both stood on the top rope and exchanged blows. Owen shoved Bret off the ropes and then hit him with a top rope dropkick. Owen then tried to escape, but Bret met him on top. They again exchanged blows. At 14:11, after several more minutes of the same thing, Owen hung from the top of the cage from his hair as Bret dragged him back into the ring. The fans rose to their feet and cheered as Bret nearly escaped at 15:05. A split screen showed Bruce Hart and Neidhart standing up near their seats. At 18:00 Owen piledrived Bret and then climbed to the top of the cage, but Bret stopped him. Owen knocked Bret from the ropes. Owen then slipped and fell to the mat. Bret then crawled to the door, but Owen pulled him back in after some dramatic near escapes. Bret reached the floor with his hands, but his feet had to touch for the match to end. Owen then hammered away on Bret and also reached the floor with his hands. At 22:22 both men lay exhausted on the mat. Owen charged Bret, but Bret ducked and Owen's head hit the cage. Bret's leg also, however, hit the cage. Bret then attempted to climb, favoring his leg. Owen got up, then fell back. Owen grabbed Bret's armpad and then flipped Bret toward the ring headfirst and to the floor. Owen then hit Bret with a jump spin wheel kick. Owen slowly rose to his feet and climbed to the top of the cage. Bret stood and stopped him at the last second, grabbing him by his hair. At 27:00, both men lay on the mat exhausted again as a "Let's Go Bret" chant began. Owen climbed to the top of the cage, but Bret caught him and at 28:00 executed a suplex on Owen from the top rope. Bret crawled for the door, but Owen dragged him back to the middle of the ring. Owen then applied the sharpshooter, but Bret reversed it and the fans popped. Bret then almost escaped the cage but Owen leaped and grabbed Bret by the hair, yanking him in again. Both again fell to the mat. At 31:50, both were on the outside of the cage hanging onto each other. Bret rammed Owen into the side of the cage and Owen fell, but when he flipped head-first toward the floor, his legs got caught in the cage and he was suspended above the cage. Bret then leaped to the floor for victory. Neidhart then clotheslined Bulldog and his wife from behind (both flipped over the railing to the floor), then he and Owen locked Bret in the cage. Owen and Neidhart swatted Bulldog and several Hart brothers from the cage as they tried to enter it and make the save. Bulldog eventually made it into the ring, so Owen and Neidhart fled over the top and back to the locker room. The match began slow and it was repetitious at times, but not so repetitious that the drama didn't remain during the near escapes. A good, innovative finish helped. (***)

Plug/Preview: Thanksgiving Eve's Survivor Series pay-per-view was plugged. Then the Undertaker match was previewed as the cage was taken down.

(7) Undertaker (Mark Calloway) defeated the imposter Undertaker (Brian Lee) at 8:57. After Ted DiBiase brought the imposter Undertaker to the ring, he said he didn't know what Paul Bearer was bringing to the ring, but he had the real Undertaker. Paul Bearer then led a casket which was wheeled to the ring by men in black hoods and robes. At ringside, the casket opened and Bearer brought out the urn, but no Undertaker. McMahon then said he fully expected the Undertaker to come out of the casket. Lawler laughed as Bearer took the house mic. With the lights out, Bearer took the lid off the urn and light shined out of it. The lights flickered on and off and sounds of thunder and lightning blared over the sound system. Undertaker then came out of the runway as Lawler exclaimed, "There are two Undertakers!" After a dramatic mirror-image staredown (with Calloway's purple gloves and boots being the main distinguishing marks between the two), the match began with only 12 minutes remaining in the pay-per-view.

Lee (the imposter Undertaker) attempted to punch Undertaker, but Undertaker caught his hand. Undertaker punched Lee and sent him from the ring. Lee walked toward Bearer, but then Undertaker suplexed Lee back into the ring. Undertaker chokeslammed Lee from the top rope. Undertaker then walked the ropes and jumped onto Lee with a forearm smash. The crowd was for the most part silent except for a few "oohhs and ahhs," which McMahon described as the crowd being in "awe." The fans in the crowd in no way looked bored, but instead were at times tilting their heads trying to get a good look at the difference between the Undertakers, many probably thinking the second one was brought in only for this event and that Calloway had been the one on TV the last few months.

At 5:24 the action spilled outside the ring as McMahon again made mention of the virtual "stunned silence" of the fans. At 6:40 Lee showed frustration as nothing seemed to phase the Undertaker. Lee then hit Undertaker with a chokeslam. Undertaker sat up but Lee picked him up and tombstone piledrived him. Undertaker rose again. Lee went for another one, but Undertaker reversed it and tombstone piledrived Lee. Undertaker piledrived him again. After a third piledriver he scored a three count and after a short delayed reaction, the fans popped, but still looked somewhat stunned. Ted DiBiase then ran for cover as Undertaker rolled Lee into the casket as the Grim Reapers rolled him away. Undertaker and Bearer celebrated in the ring. Overall, too strange of a spectacle to rate relative to other matches. It was a sensational spectacle, but the actual match had to be considered a letdown by most who watched it. (*)

The program closed with Nielsen and Kennedy finding the casket Lee was dumped into and opening it, but finding it was empty. Kennedy then pointed to a case lying on the floor. Nielsen picked it up and Kennedy said, "The case, it's closed. The case is closed. You solved the case." SummerSlam then went off the air.

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