Taped from San Diego, CA
Airdate: August 9, 1998 (taped 08/03)
Attendance: 9.703
Hosted by Jim Ross & Shane McMahon
Anything can happen when Mankind and Undertaker tangle, so what about this chapter? Can Droz beat Jarrett? Or will Lee have something to say about it? What’s up with DX and Kaientai? Turn on your fans, ‘cuz the heat is ON.
To begin the show, Kane, Mankind, and Paul Bearer approach the ring. We revisit RAW when Kane blasts Mankind in the head with a chair. Not to be outdone, Undertaker further caves in Mankind’s skull. Mankind grabs the microphone and describes family time with the Foleys. As we revisit the cage toss of utter terror from KOTR ’98, we also revisit the chokeslam that disfigured him. In a rather brilliant promo, he challenges Undertaker for a match TONIGHT.
Mariah and Linda sit besides Shane at the broadcast table. Yowza!
Match 1: Vader versus Mark Henry
Highlights:
- Henry military-pressed and dropped Vader like a bad habit. Impressive!
- When Henry booted him in the midsection, he fed Vader a double axe handle.
- He landed an elbow drop and got 2.
- As Vader reversed an Irish whip, he dealt Henry a pair of standing body blocks.
- He splashed Henry and got 2.
- After he delivered a short-arm clothesline, Vader joined Henry on the floor.
- Henry, whose mouth was BUSTED OPEN, reversed an Irish whip sending Vader shoulder-first into the steps.
- While he clotheslined Vader, Henry splashed Vader twice but refused to make the cover.
- Henry unloaded two more splashes before referee Mike Chioda called for the bell.
- As a result, Vader won by DQ at 3:32.
Rating: *
Summary: Strong-style match leading to a bloody Henry who lost his composure and the match.
Backstage, Michael Cole stands outside Undertaker’s locker room. According to Cole, Undertaker will have a statement later in the show.
Match 2: Southern Justice (w/ Tennessee Lee & “Double J” Jeff Jarrett) versus the Headbangers (w/ Droz)
Highlights:
- Southern Justice hammered the Headbangers at the onset, and Canterbury gave Thrasher a cross corner whip.
- As Canterbury came up empty, Mosh mounted the second turnbuckle and launched a flying clothesline at Knight for 2.
- Mosh slammed Knight, but Canterbury tripped him coming off the ropes. SNEAKY!
- When Knight connected with a thrust kick, Canterbury tagged in and slammed Mosh.
- Canterbury landed an elbow drop and got 2.
- After Canterbury distracted referee Tim White, Knight gave Mosh the business in the heel corner. How dastardly!
- Knight tagged in, and Thrasher distracted White.
- While that enabled Southern Justice to dominate Mosh, Knight clotheslined the BEJEEZUS out of Mosh.
- Speaking of Mosh, he reversed a cross corner whip and scored with a standing seated senton.
- Jarrett annihilated Droz at ringside, and all four wrestlers were in the ring.
- Jumping into the ring, Jarrett assisted Southern Justice in their destruction of the Headbangers.
- White called for the bell and disqualified both teams at 3:26.
Rating: 1/2*
Summary: I have never heard more crickets than I did during this match. The San Diego faithful did not give any fucks for this one.
After the match, Droz inserts himself into the melee and clotheslines Jarrett over the top rope to the floor. What’s his reward? A lariat by Canterbury.
Prior to the next match, we revisit RAW again for the #1 contender for the IC title match between HHH and X-Pac. Chyna rudely inserts herself into the match costing X-Pac his opportunity.
Match 3: X-Pac (w/o Chyna) versus Taka Michinoku (w/ Mr. Yamaguchi)
Highlights:
- Michinoku leapfrogged X-Pac, and Yamaguchi tripped the latter coming off the ropes. Devious!
- When Michinoku scored with a spinning heel kick, he fed X-Pac a seated dropkick.
- He mounted the top turnbuckle and launched a missile dropkick.
- As he slammed X-Pac, Michinoku mounted the adjacent top turnbuckle but missed a flying splash.
- X-Pac flapjacked him and landed a spin kick.
- After he placed Michinoku in the corner, X-Pac dealt him a Bronco buster.
- X-Pac got distracted by Yamaguchi yet connected with an X-Factor.
- 1-2-3.
- X-Pac won at 2:16.
Rating: ***
Summary: Complete contrast to the opener as these light heavyweights used agility and quickness to put together a solid short match.
Following the match, Kaientai storms the ring to barrage X-Pac. DX arrives shortly thereafter to even the odds. As Billy Gunn gorilla-presses him, he launches Funaki down to the floor atop the rest of Kaientai. As Yamaguchi backs his way up the ramp, he encounters Chyna. Blasted by her, Yamaguchi barrels his way down the ramp to ringside. To celebrate, HHH and X-Pac moon the San Diego faithful who eat it up with a spoon.
Moments ago, Cole was prevented from interviewing Undertaker on camera.
Prior to the next match, we revisit the previous PPV when Bradshaw dismantled Terry Funk.
Match 4: Bradshaw versus Dustin Runnels
Highlights:
- Runnels attempted a handshake but ate a big boot instead.
- As Bradshaw gave Runnels a cross corner whip, he followed with a corner clothesline.
- He fed Runnels a single-arm DDT and another big boot that sent Runnels to the floor.
- When Runnels dragged Bradshaw to the floor, they brawled like one of them owed the other money.
- Bradshaw delivered a belly-to-back suplex for 2.
- After JR mentioned that Droz and Jarrett will battle in the next match, Runnels backdropped Bradshaw.
- He clotheslined Bradshaw but ate a flying shoulder block.
- While Bradshaw annihilated him with a lariat, he pinned Runnels at 2:14.
Rating: DUD
Summary: Showcase match for Bradshaw.
WWF Attitude promo airs featuring Stone Cold Steve Austin.
DROZ’S WORLD: In essence, he’s a free spirit.
Summerslam ’98 will be LIVE on PPV on 8/30. Order NOW!
Earlier tonight, Jarrett waffled Droz from behind.
Match 5: “Double J” Jeff Jarrett (w/ Tennessee Lee) versus Droz
Highlights:
- Droz leapfrogged Jarrett and dealt him some Traylor Trash.
- When he connected with a flying back elbow, Droz powerslammed Jarrett for 2.
- Southern Justice approached ringside and distracted Droz.
- As Jarrett nailed him, Droz got knocked down to the floor.
- Jarrett baseball-slid Droz, joined him on the floor, and made him taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like KISS burger at Werewolf.
- After he mounted the top turnbuckle, Jarrett scored with a cross body block for 2.
- He flattened Droz with a DDT and followed with a side-Russian leg sweep.
- While he snap-suplexed Droz, Jarrett got another 2.
- Jarrett trapped him in a sleeper, but Droz broke it.
- Upon giving him a cross corner whip, Droz came up empty on his follow-through.
- To support Droz, the Headbangers made their presence known at ringside.
- Droz flew with a lariat, but a mid-ring collision put both wrestlers down on the mat.
- With the Headbangers’ distraction of referee Jim Korderas, Lee tossed his boot to Jarrett.
- Droz intercepted and scored by WALLOPING Jarrett with it.
- Disposing of the evidence, Droz pinned Jarrett at 4:19.
Rating: **
Summary: Droz has a boatload of potential, but this Jarrett-Lee partnership seems quite rocky, no?
Afterward, Jarrett takes exception to Lee’s botched assistance. When Lee returns fire, he grabs the microphone and sends Southern Justice to do his dirty work. Instead, Southern Justice dogpile Lee, and they, along with Jarrett, triple-team him. SWERVE! Knight obliterates Lee with an inverted DDT, and Jarrett notifies Lee and the San Diego faithful where to kiss him.
For those curious, this marks Lee’s final WWF appearance.
Prior to the main event, Mankind performs his best Pinhead impersonation.
Match 6: Undertaker versus Mankind (w/ Paul Bearer & Kane)
Highlights:
- Mankind stood on the apron, but Kane launched him through a table and down to the floor.
- As Kane decimated Bearer, he dislodged the top step and threw it at Mankind.
- He tombstoned Mankind on the floor, returned to the ring, and revealed himself to be Undertaker. Shocking!
Rating: NONE
Summary: A second appearance of Undertaker under the disguise turning Mankind into mincemeat.
Conclusion: Obviously, with very little time left in the show, the main event is an angle for Undertaker to get the better of Mankind. In other matches, Jarrett and Southern Justice punt Lee from their corners going forward. Bradshaw looks strong in a tune-up match. While X-Pac knocks off Michinoku, DX wipes the ring with Kaientai. Finally, Henry loses his temper and the match to a fallen Vader.
Some may not like it, but I enjoy Shane’s enthusiasm at the broadcast table. The passion in his voice as he enjoys being a color commentator cannot be understated.
What’s my recommendation?
TV Rating: 4.25
Stay tuned for WCW Monday Nitro 08-10-98!
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