#281: Roddy Piper vs. Bret Hart, WWE WrestleMania 8 (4/5/1992).
This is for Piper’s Intercontinental Championship.
Both men are babyfaces here, which was a rarity at the time for WWE. The story coming in is whether Piper will remain a good guy, or if he will revert back to his evil ways in order to retain the championship.
The bell sounds, and here we go! The crowd is hot for this, as they're ready to see these two fan favorites go at it. They go face to face, and then slowly back away. This should be dope.
They circle each other, and then lock up. Nice arm drag by Piper, and Bret looks ready to get him back for that. They lock up again, and now Bret pops off an arm drag. Fair game!
Another lock up, and Piper connects with a drop toe hold. He takes the back, and Bret sends him to the floor. Piper and Bret shove each other, and it seems the gamesmanship is over.
Piper calls for a test of strength, and Bret obliges. Bret takes control of the arm, and Piper tries to yank himself free. He sends Bret head first into the turnbuckle, and chops him in the chest.
Bret maintains control, and sends Piper to the mat. He fakes an injury, and catches Piper in a small package pin for 2. Piper is pissed and he slaps him. Piper catches Bret in a dive, and the momentum takes both men to the floor.
Piper recovers first, and he holds the middle rope down for Bret to return to the Ring. Bret is skeptical, but he's able to return cleanly. Piper with a sucker punch right after, and more strikes on the mat.
He slams Bret's head off the turnbuckle, and lands a running bulldog. He covers, and Bret kicks out. Bret is busted open now. Piper bites at the wound, and then Irish whips Bret into the opposing corner.
Big knee to the face follows, and Bret kicks out. Piper lands a nice punch to the cranium. Bret with a sunset flip into a pin for a quick nearfall. Piper drills him with another punch, and now some quick jabs.
Bret lands a flying forearm that sends Piper to the outside. Piper rushes the ring, and both men are down after a double clothesline. Piper is up first again, and now he scales the top rope. Bret cuts him off, and sends him face first to the mat.
Inverted atomic drop, and a Suplex by the Hitman, which Piper is able to kick out of. Russian Legsweep follows, and Piper again kicks out. Bret goes for the Sharpshooter, but Piper is blocking it. Bret with a quick elbow to the head, followed by a middle rope elbow.
Both men throw shots while on their knees, and then Piper sends Bret into the referee. He clotheslines Bret to the outside, and then smashes his head off the steel steps.
Piper brings Bret into the ring, and then he grabs the ring bell. He looks to use it on Bret, but he quickly has second thoughts. He tosses it aside, realizing it's not worth it. The crowd pops for that.
Piper punches Bret, and then applies the sleeper hold. Bret uses his feet to walk up the turnbuckle, and flip himself over Piper, and pin him while still in the sleeper! Bret is the new Intercontinental Champion!
Post Match, Piper gives Bret the title, and then helps him to his feet. They leave together, as two warriors full of respect.
That was an awesome match. Another coming out party for Bret, who will win his first WWE Championship before the end of the year, and arguably the best match Piper ever had in WWE. It gradually built in its short time, and the back and forth exchanges between them were nice. The highlight was Piper’s internal conflict on whether or not to use the ring bell, but at the end of the day, he chose to remain on the good side.
Bret’s roll up out of the sleeper hold is an iconic move, and one that’s been replicated several times. This match has to be in contention for best babyface vs babyface match. Great stuff.