Review of WWF St. Valentine's Day Massacre

First off, I have very mixed feeling about Vince McMahon's company using that title. While the name does sound cool, it also a bit offensive and disturbing to allude a criminal event that saw seven people murdered in part of the gang war between Al Capone and Bugs Morgan in 1929. It doesn't even make much sense beside the date of the event taking place during the holiday. Honestly if you going to take that controversial title. You might as well go all in on it. Why not have the silly over the top gimmicky stereotypical Prohibition era mobster image and urban landscape as a backdrop entrance. Also, why is this PPV was taking place in the Pyramid in Memphis, TN rather than fame arena Rosemont Horizon near Chicago, IL? Don't get me wrong Tennessee is known for some famous bootleggers, but the Windy City is king when it comes to that theming. To add onto that, it not like this was the first time WWF use that heading. In the 1980s, they had Chicagoland house shows with that name. So, it's quite possible to host an PPV there with that title. Nevertheless, this event was also the last show to use the B-show 'In Your House' subtitle until 2020 NXT. Kinda glad that they got rid of that gimmick. Every event should seem special. As for the poster. I do love the one with McMahon holding flowers with a bloody hand. I just don't get why there is a flash reflection. Is that supposed to represented the flash of a gun's muzzle or something? It's just odd. Also why is the poster made to look like it been worn down and folded. It's just makes the text harder to read. The alternate one with the steel cage is a little better. Regardless as for the event itself. Besides the dark match between Too Much (Brian Christopher and Scott Taylor) versus The Hardy Boyz (Jeff Hardy and Matt Hardy) that the live audience only got to see. Starting off the night was two matches that were contested on Sunday Night Heat, the preview show, with Test versus Viscera and Tiger Ali Singh against Billy Gunn. Both bouts were slow, sloppy and badly pace with them ending with disqualified or no contest. Hardly worth talking about. The real opening saw Goldust versus the Blue Meanie with the latter parodic the bizarre one's clothing and make up. It was short and gross. Probably not the best way to open a show. The next match was a lot better with the Job Squad members fighting along each other. Al Snow fighting Bob Holly for the vacant Hardcore Championship was surprising very entertaining. It must have suck for the arena fans but having them fight backstage with wacky props and weapons was kinda cool. Although, the best thing about this match was them going outside and crossing the street to fight on the banks of the Mississippi River. This was probably the first time a body of water ever played a factor in a WWF match. It was very unique. Still rare even today. Sadly, the next bout of the night saw two heel faction members, corporation Big Boss Man fight the ministry Mideon. Another short gross fight with slow moving big hosses with nothing major happening. To add onto that, Jeff Jarrett and Owen Hart with Debra defending their tag team championship against D'Lo Brown and Mark Henry with Ivory was not good as well. Surprising with three fast paced wrestlers and one decent powerhouse; it was also slow and sloppy. The ending shot with the guitar was awkward. Henry had to see that coming. Anyways that brings us to the Intercontinental Championship with Billy Gunn as special guest referee. Val Venis versus the champion, Ken Shamrock fighting for the title take a backseat as the main story of the match has two of the three men trying to make their moves on Shamrock's kayfabe sister Ryan. Besides the cringe worthy wolfing storyline, the bout was decent even with the botch Ken telling Ryan to slap him moment. The Corporation (Chyna and Kane) versus D-Generation X (Triple H and X-Pac) continue the night's entertainment as the intergender tag match was solid with every member doing their part. I like that Chyna really show that she can hang strong with the big boys in one of her earlier matches. She had the timing, selling and execution of move sets down to the wire. Anyways it was a really good showing from all four of these wrestlers. Champion Mankind versus challenger The Rock for the WWF Championship was next. The bumps that Foley was taking was really brutal, while the Rock was pretty entertaining on the mic. Sad that the match end with a horrible make no sense decision making for a Last Man Standing contest. No wonder why this bout is nearly forgotten. Their previous fights outshine this big time. It was a bit disappointing. Probably a good thing this no contest brawl didn't main event the pay per view. Stone Cold Steve Austin versus Vince McMahon in a steel cage is what everybody wanted to see. They finally pull the trigger after a year-long built. Love the old timey promo feud recap video. They really do make it seen like it was the end between them. In reality, the two would continue to feud years after this contest. Anyways, the match between them this night was decent enough even with all the time-wasting goating and escaping Vince was doing with Steve. The big bump that McMahon took that night was crazy. Along with that, the debut of Paul Wight and Austin accidently escape was iconic. Overall: I'm not married to the mob. I won't highly overrate this show. Besides a few key memorable spots in two or three matches. It was not quite a well balance event. At least, it's not a total mess. It's watchable and that's good enough for me.