WWE Throwback Thursday: The British Bulldog vs. Bret Hart at in Your House 5

The WWF had an interesting year in 1995. The company was nearing the start of the Attitude Era, a pay-per-view was held almost every month and WCW was starting to become a real threat.

It was during this time that the WWF doubled its PPV load from five to 10 events. In Your House launched earlier in the year as an event to tide people over between bigger shows, and 1995 ended with an IYH main event for the ages on December 17.

The British Bulldog and Bret Hart produced one of the all-time great matches at SummerSlam 1992, and Vince McMahon was looking to recreate that magic by having the two veterans fight over the WWF title instead of the Intercontinental Championship.

They met at the fifth In Your House pay-per-view in one of the most underappreciated matches of all time. It was both a technical clinic and a bloodbath.

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December 17th 1995; #WWF In Your House 5 Seasons Beatings; WWF Championship; Bret Hart def. The British Bulldog pic.twitter.com/V1eLjXnChZ

— Wrestling History (@pastwrestling) December 17, 2015"

Hart and Davey Boy Smith were both trained by Bret's father, Stu. Making it out of the Hart Family Dungeon meant you were tough enough to make it in this business, but it also gave them the tools they needed to be two of the greatest technical performers of their time.

When they met in Wembley Stadium at SummerSlam '92, it was an undeniably big deal. It was one of the first times the IC title was booked in the main event over the WWF Championship, but the personal history between the two men was what made it dramatic.

Both men were babyfaces, and the fact that Smith was married to Hart's sister, Diana, meant these men were more than just colleagues.

They produced an instant classic that night, but it unfairly overshadowed their later encounter.

In Your House 5 found them on opposing sides. The Bulldog had joined up with Jim Cornette and turned heel, so the crowd was firmly behind The Hitman.

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Bret Hart vs British Bulldog at In Your House: Seasons Beatings was FIREE!

— HyperBolicRapChamber (@HyperBolicRap) January 7, 2015"

The first few minutes of the contest saw them pull out every counter they knew. They put on a masterclass in wrestling technique throughout the 21-minute match, but things got messy during the second half of the bout.

Hart was busted wide open when he was sent into the ring post. Believe it or not, blood in WWF matches was uncommon in those days, so seeing our beloved champion bleeding like a faucet made for a jarring sight.

Hart was not one to give up due to a little crimson. He finished the rest of the match while Smith targeted the fresh wound on his head with the majority of his offense.

All of this occurred while Diana was sitting at ringside. A camera was fixed on her throughout most of the match to show how torn she was watching her husband and brother fight such a brutal war.

Their SummerSlam encounter saw The Bulldog win the IC title, but In Your House went a different way, as Hart was able to pin Smith to retain the WWF Championship.

If you ask anyone about The Hitman and The British Bulldog, they will bring up SummerSlam '92, but their match in December 1995 was just as enjoyable and is a classic any wrestling fan should take the time to watch.

Thanks for reading, and follow me on Twitter @BR_Doctor.