Live from Omaha, NE
Airdate: August 10, 1998
Attendance: 7,601 (sold out)
Hosted by Jim Ross & Jerry “The King” Lawler
Who will win the four-way match for the tag team titles? Will DX split? Who joins Venis this week after what happened last week? Amp up your Attitude with this episode!
In the cold open, Mankind destroys things backstage “want(ing) the truth.” Highlights from RAW and Sunday Night Heat follow.
Opening montage.
Following the fireworks, Mankind sprints to the ring and grabs the microphone. He states that there’s only one person who gives him the truth—Mr. McMahon. Speak of the devil, and he appears. While the Omaha faithful chants “Au-stin,” Mr. McMahon steps into the ring and chastises Mankind. Instead of helping him, Mr. McMahon claims collusion between Undertaker and Kane against the entire WWF.
Kane along with Paul Bearer scares the BEJEEZUS out of me while entering the ring. As Bearer calls himself “the fat man” and threatens to quit, Mr. McMahon refers to Kane as a “son of a bitch.” He believes it’s Undertaker and not Kane. When he threatens to remove the mask, the lights darken for quite a while. As the lights reilluminate, Undertaker’s in the ring and grabs Mr. McMahon.
Mankind saves Mr. McMahon’s bacon and battles Undertaker in the ring. After Undertaker plasters both Mankind and Bearer, he chases Mr. McMahon backstage.
TV Rating: 4.2
Backstage, Undertaker storms into Kane’s locker room.
Prior to the next match, we revisit last week (which was scrubbed from the original broadcast) when Luna nailed Jacqueline with a bouquet of flowers, and a catfight erupted.
Match 1: Jacqueline (w/ “Marvelous” Marc Mero) versus Luna (w/ the Oddities)
Highlights:
- Sable was the guest ring announcer for this match.
- When the Oddities made their entrances, their music was overdubbed.
- This match marked Jacqueline’s WWF wrestling debut.
- As Luna bulldogged her, Mero jumped onto the apron to protest.
- Sable interjected herself and pulled Mero down. In the process, Mero tasted the apron.
- After Kurrgan prevented Mero from assaulting Sable, Jacqueline charged at Luna.
- Speaking of Luna, she evaded Jacqueline who speared referee Mike Chioda.
- Both Jacqueline and Chioda spilled between the ropes to the floor.
- While Mero returned Jacqueline to the ring, Luna speared her.
- Jacqueline rebounded with some hair mares, and Mero distracted Chioda.
- Hammering Luna down near Crooked Blvd., Jacqueline slammed her.
- Jacqueline mounted the top turnbuckle, and Mero distracted Chioda again.
- Shaking the ropes, Sable disrupted Jacqueline’s balance, and she crotched herself on the top rope.
- Luna fed her a swinging neckbreaker, mounted the top turnbuckle, and scored with a flying splash.
- 1-2-3.
- Luna won at 2:26.
Rating: *½
Summary: Lots of extracurricular activity around the ring, but Luna got the duke.
After the match, Sable presents Luna with the trophy formerly owned by Jacqueline. The Oddities along with the Omaha faithful rejoice.
TV Rating: 4.1
Outside the arena, NAO exits a limousine.
Prior to the next match, we revisit RAW from “last month” when Droz broke Hawk’s nose. Although Hawk won the fight, he’s forced to withdraw. Droz substituted for him.
Next, we revisit RAW from “last month” when Vega handily defeated Brakkus.
Match 2 (Brawl 4 All quarterfinal): Savio Vega versus Droz
Highlights:
ROUND ONE:
- Droz CLOCKED Vega who went down to a knee.
- As referee Jack Doan called it a slip, I call…
- The unofficial score had Droz with 5-0 lead.
ROUND TWO:
- When Droz tackled Vega, the Omaha faithful ROARED.
- Vega appeared to slip at the end of the round.
ROUND THREE:
- After Droz took Vega down again, he almost scored a knockdown.
- They hugged after the bell. Great sportsmanship!
- While Droz won, I’m surprised that he didn’t puke.
Rating: NONE
TV Rating: 4.0
Backstage, HHH and Chyna arrive in a BMW Z3 convertible. I’m truly shocked they fit into such a tiny car.
Following a commercial break, Michael Cole interviews Chyna who tells him to “suck it” and shoves him into the Beamer.
RAW is sponsored by Mead *****, JVC Kaboom Box, WWF: The Music Volume 2, and 10-10-321.
As the Road Warriors make their entrance, Hawk stumbles off the ramp. Following a commercial break, WWF officials deem Hawk unfit for competition. JR determines that Hawk is struggling with his personal demons. Considering Hawk’s past, this is tough to stomach.
We revisit Sunday Night Heat when Jarrett gave Colonel Parker his walking papers with help from Southern Justice.
Speaking of whom, they make their entrance, and an inebriated Hawk attacks them. WWF officials assist Hawk backstage, and Southern Justice dominates Animal. To rescue Animal, Droz makes a beeline to the ring. He blasts Dennis Knight sending him over the top rope to the floor. As Jarrett approaches the ring, he sneaks up from behind on Droz and CREAMS him with a guitar that reads “Don’t Piss Me Off.” To add insult to injury, Jarrett shaves Droz’s hair.
X-Pac arrives to the arena all by himself.
TV Rating: 4.8
NAO powerwalks to the ring, and X-Pac joins them soon thereafter. When we revisit RAW from “five months ago,” X-Pac made his WWF return. HHH and Chyna join the party. We revisit RAW from last week when Chyna assisted HHH in winning the #1 contender’s match against X-Pac.
HHH begins, but X-Pac interrupts him by saying he’s “had (enough) with you and your bitch.” To really amp up the TV-14 rating, HHH abuses X-Pac’s word “Jackoff” against him. HHH also besmirches NAO yet refers to everyone in the ring as “jackoffs.”
In their efforts to split DX, all four male wrestlers threaten to moon both the Omaha faithful and the TV audience. However, Chyna intervenes and “initiate(s) a DX split” with her own full moon. HHH moons the Omaha faithful and encourages female fans to reveal themselves. Of course, this segment was 100% bullshit and a waste of time.
WAR ZONE!
Backstage, Cole interviews Austin who pranks him in the shower.
Summerslam ’98 will be LIVE on PPV on August 30. Order NOW!
Prior to the next match, Bart Gunn interrupts JR demanding some respect. JR stands up to him and tells him to take it out on Godfather next week. Bart remains at ringside.
Match 3: Vader versus the Godfather (w/ ho’s)
Highlights:
- Godfather grabbed the ho’s the microphone and offered them to Vader in lieu of the match.
- After careful consideration and some prodding from the Omaha faithful, Vader chose…
- No?
- Godfather clarified and offered all three women for the whole night.
- Obviously, Vader reconsidered like a smart man.
Rating: NONE
Afterward, Vader gets in his face, so Bart CLOCKS him. He jumps into the ring, takes down Godfather, but WWF officials separate them to end the segment. Adding some mustard to the Brawl 4 All makes perfect sense.
TV Rating: 4.8
Another long limousine pulls in backstage, and both Venis and John Wayne Bobbitt are inside.
Dustin Runnels, in his effort to promote family TV, offers a reptile program on the Discovery Channel for younger viewers. This segment was brought to you by Evangelists Against Television, Movies, and Entertainment a.k.a. EATME. Let’s just call it a clever way to take a potshot at the Parents Television Council (PTC).
VENIS/BOBBITT PRESS CONFERENCE: Venis limps his way into the ring alongside Bobbitt and Mrs. Yamaguchi while holding an icepack on the South Pole. His “hello ladies” is rather subdued under the circumstances until he tears his pants off revealing a ruse.
As Lawler speculates that Mr. Yamaguchi did not, in fact, “choppy choppy” Val’s “pee pee,” Venis describes a COLD butcher’s block, shrinkage, and great timing on Bobbitt’s part to turn off the lights as his saving graces. Bobbitt states that he and Venis “live on the edge,” and Lawler makes slicing as well as a MISSING section on a milk carton jokes.
Next, Venis breaks up with Mrs. Yamaguchi due to the “trouble (she) brought (him).” As a parting gift, he tosses her a battery.
POINT OF ORDER: I realize the WWF was trying to be as edgy as possible, but the Bobbitt story was quite real with legal proceedings et al. I understand it was done to pop a rating, but I’m not sure it worked.
Edge is shown standing among the Omaha faithful.
Prior to the next match, we revisit RAW from “two months ago” when Bradshaw defeated Mark Canterbury. We see the bracket, and the next bout will determine the final semifinalist.
Match 4 (Brawl 4 All quarterfinal): “Marvelous” Marc Mero versus Bradshaw
Highlights:
ROUND ONE:
- According to JR, Steve Blackman had to withdraw from the tournament due to an injury sustained while training; hence, Mero substituted for him.
- Bradshaw took down Mero for five points, but the unofficial scorecard had it even.
ROUND TWO:
- As Bradshaw took Mero down again, the Omaha faithful was not entertained.
- The unofficial scorecard remained even, but I don’t like Mero’s chances.
ROUND THREE:
- When Bradshaw earned a third takedown, Mero demanded “a fucking break.
- Referee Jack Doan called the bout a draw, so he sanctioned another round.
ROUND FOUR:
- After Bradshaw scored with a fourth takedown, he smartly held Mero to run out the clock.
- Bradshaw won.
Rating: NONE
TV Rating: 4.5
Backstage, Cole interviews Undertaker who says he’ll “do his explaining in the ring.” Fair enough.
We revisit RAW from “two months ago” when the Outlaw rule was established where a partner cannot pin another partner to win the match. Road Dog recites his spiel, but Ken Shamrock jumps into the ring and destroys Owen. As HHH and X-Pac assist NAO against the Rock, Shamrock locks the ankle lock on Owen. DX continues to hold the NoD at bay, and Shamrock further cripples Owen. When WWF officials restore order, RAW takes its final commercial break.
Brown will substitute for the injured Owen.
Match 5 for the WWF tag team titles (four-way): Stone Cold Steve Austin & Undertaker (champions) versus the New Age Outlaws versus the Rock & Owen Hart D’Lo Brown versus Kane & Mankind (w/ Paul Bearer)
Highlights:
- Mankind applied a Mandible claw, but Austin went low to break.
- When Mankind fed him a swinging neckbreaker, he got 2.
- Austin reversed an Irish whip and attempted a Stone Cold Stunner.
- As Mankind escaped, he tried to suplex Austin from the apron to the floor.
- Austin countered with a guillotine across the top rope and suplexed Mankind back into the ring for 2.
- After Brown tagged in, he dealt Austin a spinning heel kick.
- Meanwhile, an overserved member of the Omaha faithful tried to crash the party. Folks, RSG loves ya, but you’re NOT part of the show.
- Nevertheless, Brown covered Austin and got 2.
- While Brown reversed an Irish whip, Austin clotheslined him.
- Brown reversed another Irish whip, and Austin scored with a Thesz press.
- Landing an elbow smash, Austin tagged in Kane.
- Scrambling Brown’s brains, Kane tagged in Billy Gunn.
- Speaking of Gunn, he reversed an Irish whip, but Brown dealt him a cross body block for 2.
- Gunn rebounded with a Rocker Dropper followed by a gorilla press drop for 2.
- Tagging in, Road Dog delivered a shaky shaky knee drop for another 2.
- Mankind tagged in, and the Omaha faithful informed the Rock that he indeed “sucks.”
- Attempting to piledrive Road Dog, Mankind got backdropped but tagged in Rock.
- Speaking of Rock, he distracted referee Earl Hebner so that Mankind and Brown could double-team Road Dog. SNEAKY!
- Brown tagged in and suplexed Road Dog.
- Rejoining the match, Billy Gunn suplexed Brown for 2.
- Brown rebounded with a back elbow and tagged in Austin.
- Making his first appearance in the match, Undertaker tagged in and sent Billy Gunn over the top rope to the floor.
- Austin guillotined Billy Gunn on the steel railing, yet Gunn tagged him into the match.
- On the floor, Billy Gunn rammed Mankind into the steps while the champs contemplated wrestling one another.
- Austin went to the floor and made Billy Gunn taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Maverick burger at the Old Mattress Factory Bar & Grill.
- Entering the ring, Road Dog ate a ropewalk shoulder smash from Undertaker.
- Brown tagged in and slammed Road Dog.
- Flattening Road Dog with a leg drop, Brown got 2.
- Rock tagged in and planted Road Dog with a side Russian leg sweep for another 2.
- Re-entering the ring, Brown withstood a brief Road Dog comeback, decimated him with a Lo Down, and got 2.
- Rock tagged in and plastered Road Dog with a People’s Elbow for another 2.
- Following a tag, Mankind fell victim to a side Russian leg sweep by Road Dog.
- Hot tag Undertaker.
- With seven of the eight wrestlers in the ring, Undertaker booted Rock out of the ring.
- He knocked Mankind silly with a big boot, and Kane finally tagged in.
- Chokeslamming Brown, Undertaker came face-to-face with his brother.
- Kane chokeslammed and pinned Undertaker at 14:30.
- WE HAVE NEW CHAMPIONS!
Rating: ****
Summary: Wild chaotic action with an outcome that was difficult to predetermine. Kane and Mankind regain the titles, but did Undertaker allow his brother to beat him?
Afterward, Austin and Undertaker share disdainful looks.
EXTRA ATTITUDE: The Omaha faithful chants “Aus-tin,” and their hero confronts Undertaker. As Undertaker motions that he wants to win the WWF title, Austin continues his lack of trust of everybody.
TV Rating: 5.22
Conclusion: Awesome main event to a show that barely featured any other wrestling. If you’re part of the sports-entertainment crowd that likes the talk and no action, this is the episode for you. Otherwise…
Next week, Owen will square off against both Shamrock and Dan Severn in a triple-threat match.
Could it overcome Nitro in the ratings?
Final TV Rating: 4:55
Who won? Nope, and I see why Nitro was action-packed with 12 matches. RAW, for better or worse, had one match. That’s not going to get the job done. Congrats, WCW! You’ve broken your losing streak.
Stay tuned for WCW Thunder 08-13-98!
Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at rsg@rockstargary.com and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202).