Nineteen years ago today, WWF's "In Your House" PPV was stopped by a major East Coast storm that interrupted a live Sunday night PPV.

The event was completed two nights later at a TV taping...

PWTORCH #390: COVER STORY
Lightning strike blacks out In Your House
WWF offers encore presentation live, but replays Michaels vs. Bulldog double pin
By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

The Full PWTorch Newsletter can be read HERE for VIP members in the 1996 Torch Back-Issues. Not a VIP member? Find out how to subscribe by going VIP here - PWTorch.com/GoVIP.

For the first time in pay-per-view wrestling history, Mother Nature defeated Human Technology, interrupting the live feed of In Your House on Sunday night. When lights flickered in the arena during the opening matches, wrestlers backstage wagered when the electricity would actually go out. As fans stood in line to get in the arena, they were pelted by raindrops and covered by ominous clouds. When loud thunder could be heard in the arena during the opening match, Vince McMahon took the opportunity to warn fans watching on pay-per-view that because of severe weather the event might soon be blacked out temporarily.

The Free For All aired without interruption with The Smoking Gunns cutting short The Godwinns WWF Tag Titles reign. Then Marc Mero beat Hunter (In The Dog House) Helmsley in the opener. During ring introductions for Steve Austin vs. Savio Vega, lightning struck a transformer supplying power to Florence, S.C., blackening the entire arena. Fans pulled out lighters to temporarily light the arena. Within five minutes, emergency generators supplied enough power to faintly light the ring. Howard Finkle spoke to the crowd with a megaphone. Meanwhile, Austin vs. Vega continued. From all accounts it was a great match. The adrenaline rush of the power outage led to great fan heat and an intense effort by the two wrestlers.

Battery operated cameras filmed the matches. Spotlights on the cameras helped brighten the ring, but it was still for the most part dark and shadowy, and definitely not of broadcast quality.

While a blank screen greeted pay-per-view customers for an hour, the action continued in the arena. Yokozuna pinned Vader. Then Goldust beat Undertaker in a casket match to retain his IC Title. The finish came when several wrestlers - including Isaac Yankem, Vader, Justin Hawk Bradshaw, and Hunter Hearst Helmsley - attacked Undertaker and stuffed him in the casket. When word came that power would likely be restored in time to broadcast the main event, Vince McMahon broke in on the pay-per-view feed to tell viewers they hoped to bring them the main event within minutes. He also said Tuesday was scheduled to be an encore presentation of In Your House, and that might end up being the actual live pay-per-view.

Jake Roberts was fighting Justin Hawk Bradshaw in a match meant to fill time in the arena until the lights came back on. When the lights came back on, the fans popped and Roberts quickly went to the finish, DDT'ing Bradshaw for the win.

With power restored, the pay-per-view broadcast picked up with the ring introductions of Shawn Michaels and British Bulldog. They would fight to a double pin draw, prompting a rematch at King of the Ring. After the match, the WWF didn't exactly make clear what their plans were, probably because they didn't know. It was a tension-filled night, as evidenced by Michaels and Bulldog obviously breaking character and becoming preoccupied with a woman at ringside who was yelping and screaming at them throughout the match, diverting the attention of the fans away from the match. Michaels's temper flared minutes later. After the match he stepped to ringside where he chewed out a WWF employee wearing a headset at ringside, perhaps for cuing the music incorrectly or for another reason. He continued to angrily yell at and swear at him before finally getting back to business and posing with the title belt.

The next night on Monday Night Raw, McMahon announced that the matches that already aired would re-air Tuesday night on the encore presentation, but that the three missing matches would take place live from North Charleston, S.C., the site of the WWF's scheduled Superstars tapings.

WWE In Your House Results
May 26 and May 28, 1996
Part One: Florence, S.C. - Civic Center
Part Two: Charleston, S.C. at the Charleston Arena

IN YOUR HOUSE: SUNDAY

(1) Marc Mero (w/Sable) pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley at 16:29. Mero brawled with Hunter at the start, sending him to the floor. Mero then hit a tope on Hunter. He sling-shot over the rope with a legdrop for a two count. Hunter took over offense with a rake of the eyes. Mero missed a shoulder drive in the corner at 2:05 and hit the ringpost. Hunter played to the crowd and was greeted by boos. Hunter then began working over Mero's arm and shoulder. McMahon then said, "If for any reason we leave you due to storming outside, stay with us, we won't be gone for long." Mero made a brief comeback but when he went for a backslide, his left shoulder gave out. Hunter then worked over Mero's arm by wrapping it around the ringpost. Hunter dominated until Mero surprised him with a roll up for a near fall at 9:55. At 12:35 Mero knocked Hunter off balance so he crotched himself. Mero then hit a top rope frankensteiner. Mero, though, still sold his arm injury. At 14:07 Mero hit a top rope sunset flip for a two count. He then dropkicked Hunter out of the ring and went for a flip splash over the top rope, but when Hunter moved, Mero's left knee buckled. Sable then couldn't stand watching Hunter beat on Mero. Hunter left the ring, grabbed Sable by the wrist, and insisted she watch him beat on her man. When he returned to the ring, Mero recovered enough to slingshot him head first into the ringpost and then score the pin. The psychology was consistent, yet basic. A good match. (***)

Mr. Perfect interviewed Jim Cornette who announced that Owen Hart had obtained a manager's license and would be in British Bulldog's corner that night only.

During the live broadcast, there was an hour delay. During the Tuesday replay, they jump-cut to the main event. Jim Ross interviewed Shawn Michaels. On his way out of the locker room, he bumped into Mr. Perfect. Perfect laughed at Michaels, who stared back at him.

(2) Shawn Michaels fought British Bulldog to a double pin draw at 17:19. During ring intros, McMahon told Lawler that Michaels did an interview with Playgirl. He said there might have been some photography, but "not what you would think." He then backed off and said, "At least I don't think so." Clarence Mason then served Michaels with a summons as a defendant for his alleged actions against the "budding tulip" Diana Hart. The charge: Attempted alienation of affection. That was the surprise bombshell Cornette promised which was meant to be a distraction before his title defense. Michaels ripped up the summons which popped the crowd. They started the match with a hot opening series of moves. Michaels went for a superkick at 1:00 but Bulldog held onto the ropes to avoid walking into it. He then hit Bulldog with a tope at ringside. Bulldog took his time returning to the ring. When Bulldog returned, the action slowed with Michaels applying a headlock. At 3:45 Michaels hit another series of nice highspots and two counts, then worked over Bulldog's left arm. At 6:35 Bulldog literally lifted Michaels as Michaels applied an armbar and dropped Michaels back on his head. Bulldog then took over offense. At 9:00 Bulldog applied an inverted bodyvice. Michaels powered out, but Bulldog fell back on Michaels's crucifix attempt. Bulldog then returned to a headlock. Bulldog shouted at a woman at ringside to "shut up." The camera focused on Michaels as he said something, likely about the woman. A moment later it appeared Michaels was upset with the uninspired Bulldog's call of the match. Bulldog had slowed the match unnecessarily to a standstill with a boring (not to mention very loose) chinlock. Michaels threw up his hands in disgust while in the chinlock and said something to Bulldog. Bulldog then shifted the chinlock to the mat. Michaels began fighting out of the loose chinlock a minute later, but fell out of the ring after a criss-cross. Bulldog stayed on offense until they collided. With both men down, Michaels kipped up. Michaels then hit a double axe handle from the top rope for a two count. Bulldog accidentally knocked the referee from the ring. Michaels then hit a top rope elbowdrop. He then set up chin music, but Owen Hart ran in, so Michaels kicked Owen instead. Bulldog got up and nailed Michaels from behind. Michaels then back suplexed and bridged Bulldog, but both men's shoulders were on the mat. A second ref counted Michaels's shoulders down and the first ref counted Bulldog's shoulders down. Good in spots, but entirely uninspired at other times. (**1/2)

Bulldog's music immediately began playing, even before the referee gave indication of who won. The other referee raised Michaels's arm and his music played briefly. Gorilla Monsoon then came to the ring and declared the match a draw. Therefore, he ruled, Michaels retained the title but Bulldog would be granted a rematch. In the original broadcast, Michaels left the ring to chew out a WWF official at ringside. On the replay, McMahon obviously not pleased with Michaels's post-match display, cut that out and jumped ahead to Michaels posing briefly, although he was still muttering in frustration while glaring at the guy at ringside.

IN YOUR HOUSE: TUESDAY

Jim Ross, who had introduced the Tuesday event before cutting to the rebroadcast of the two matches above, handled commentary for the Tuesday live bouts with Mr. Perfect on color.

(3) Savio Vega beat "Stone Cold" Steve Austin (mgd. by Ted DiBiase) in a Carribean strap match at 21:27. Austin tried to whip Savio as Savio entered the ring. When Austin retreated to ringside, Vega yanked him into the side of the ring several times. He then joined Austin at ringside and chopped him. Savio aggressively whipped Austin, who jumped over the top rope at 2:40. Vega nailed Austin across the face with the strap. He then suplexed Austin into the ring. When Vega reached to touch a third of four turnbuckles, Austin yanked him back, crotching him. (Perfect then bragged about doing that to his dog. Bring back Lawler.) They brawled at ringside. Austin then tried to hang Savio from the top rope. Austin then reached for the third of four buckles, but Vega yanked on the strap and began twirling Austin around the ring. Austin then flew into a corner. They both bumped to the floor and brawled some more. At 11:42 Vega superplexed Austin. Savio struggled to his feet and began touching turnbuckles. Austin caught Vega with a spinebuster before Vega could reach the fourth. Austin came off the top rope and hit Vega on the floor with a forearm. Austin then rammed Vega into the stairs. Vega took over at 16:48 and carried Austin to two corners touching the turnbuckles. At 17:35 Austin yanked Vega away from touching the fourth turnbuckle. Austin piledrived Vega and a minute later applied the Million Dollar Dream. Vega, though walked to three turnbuckles with Austin on his back. At 20:15 Austin wrapped the strap around Vega's neck and dragged him from corner to corner. Each time Austin touched a turnbuckle, Vega also managed to reach and touch the turnbuckles. When they came to the fourth turnbuckle, Vega and Austin had a tug of war. Austin yanked the strap trying to get some slack, but in the process yanked Vega right into the turnbuckle for the win. (****)

After the match, Vega asked for his music to end and then asked for the "Na na na na, hey hey hey, good bye" song to start. Fans sang as DiBiase threw a fit. Ross said, "He'll have to get his checkbook out to see what else he can buy."

They showed Michaels backstage on AOL. He read the screen for a few seconds and then went to respond, but only found one letter before having to search for the second letter to type. They went back to the ring before he found the second letter.

(4) Vader (mgd. by Jim Cornette) pinned Yokozuna at 8:52. After exchanging some early blows, they squared off and were going to shoulder charge each other. Vader backed down twice. The third time Yokozuna knocked Vader on his back and then clotheslined him over the top rope. Vader took over briefly, but then Yokozuna elbowdropped his inner leg. Vader retreated to the floor in pain. When Vader returned to the ring, Yoko dropped another elbow on his leg. At 6:18 Yokozuna chokeslammed Vader. Yoko was going to bonsai splash Vader, so Cornette distracted Yokozuna. Yoko threw Cornette into the ring. Cornette begged off and offered his hand. Yokozuna grabbed his hand and squeezed it. Yokozuna went to bonsai Cornette, but Vader yanked Cornette out from under Yoko . Yokozuna missed the bonsai. Vader then dropped on Yokozuna's leg twice and then hit the Vader bomb for the pin. Good for what it was. They kept moving and the match told a story. (**)

(5) Goldust (w/Marlena) defeated Undertaker in a casket match to retain the Intercontinental Title at 12:40. Undertaker came from nowhere to attack Goldust. He hit Goldust with a flurry of offense. At 1:38 Undertaker rammed Goldust into the stairs. Goldust caught Undertaker with an elbow at 3:50, but after a slam, Undertaker rose and returned to his methodical offense. At 4:30, Goldust surprised Undertaker with a tombstone, but Undertaker sat up. Goldust, though, shoved Undertaker into the casket, but Undertaker escaped before the lid closed. At 8:26 Goldust got Undertaker all the way into the casket, but again Undertaker stopped the lid from closing. Undertaker went to hit Goldust with a chair, but Goldust caught him with a boot first. Goldust then powerslammed Undertaker in the ring and continued to look strong. He went to the top rope and nailed Undertaker with a clothesline. Goldust went for a cover as Marlena, continuing to play her role well, just stoically puffed away at ringside. Goldust wanted a three count, but the ref reminded him he had to use the casket to win. Goldust then went to the top rope and was going to walk the rope just as Undertaker does, but Undertaker armdragged him to the mat. He then tombstoned Goldust. When Undertaker went to open the casket, Mankind was lying in it. He grabbed Undertaker by the throat and put him in the casket, thus Goldust won the match. Mankind then locked the casket door. The casket began smoking from the inside. (Of course, Undertaker was okay, because he just left the same way Mankind entered, through the secret door.) Paul Bearer cried at ringside. Then when the casket door opened, Undertaker was gone. Paul Bearer cried, but then the lights went out again in the arena as Ross and Perfect signed off. The match was good. Goldust looked stronger than he usually does, getting a good share of offense and looking credible against Undertaker. A decent finale to the event. (***)

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