WWF Monday Night RAW August 17, 1998

by

Taped from Des Moines, IA

Airdate: August 17, 1998 (taped 08/11)

Attendance: unknown

Hosted by Jim Ross & Jerry “The King” Lawler

What happens when Austin calls out Undertaker? Who will advance to the Brawl 4 All finals? What happens when DX and NoD engage in a street fight? What’s new with Venis? How will Sable fare against Jacqueline in an arm-wrestling contest? Don’t dawdle! C’mon in and get RAW!

In the cold open, Stone Cold Steve Austin tries but fails to open Mr. McMahon’s office door.

Opening montage.

A hearse backs into the arena, and Austin emerges. Upon entering the ring, he calls upon Mr. McMahon. He hijacks the show until Pat Patterson appears. As Austin runs him down, Gerald Brisco joins Patterson. More insults fly, and Commissioner Slaughter materializes. While Mr. McMahon finally arrives, the WWF management quartet meets Austin in the ring.

Austin’s glad that he and Undertaker are no longer tag team champions. When he threatens to “stuff Undertaker in the hearse,” Mr. McMahon’s not thrilled whatsoever. Austin wants a piece of Undertaker TONIGHT.

Prior to the opening bout, we revisit RAW from three weeks ago when Severn pulled Shamrock off Owen and tied him in a choke hold.

Match 1 (triple threat): Owen Hart (w/ the Nation of Domination) versus Ken Shamrock versus Dan “The Beast” Severn

Highlights:

  • Owen jumped into the ring and took Shamrock down immediately.
  • When Owen landed a jumping elbow drop, WWF officials sent the rest of the NoD packing.
  • Shamrock reversed an Irish whip and scored with a thrust kick.
  • As Shamrock gave him a cross corner whip, Owen rebounded with a spinning heel kick.
  • The Des Moines faithful showered Owen with a “nug-get” chant, and Severn stood by waiting for the right opportunity to strike.
  • Sorry, Chester.
  • After Owen slammed him, he fed Shamrock a leg drop.
  • Owen dealt Shamrock a backbreaker followed by a gutwrench suplex for 2.
  • While Owen gave Shamrock a cross corner whip, he ate a back elbow on his follow-through.
  • Owen delivered an enziguri, hit a cross body block, and got another 2.
  • Reversing an Irish whip, Shamrock blasted Owen with his own spinning heel kick.
  • He uncorked a huracanrana to Owen, gave him a cross corner whip, and followed with a belly-to-belly suplex for 2.
  • Finally, Severn got involved as he broke up the pin attempt.
  • Shamrock lost focus as he turned his attention to Severn, and Owen made him pay with a German suplex accompanied by a bridge for 2.
  • Planting a standing dropkick, Owen attempted a Sharpshooter, but Shamrock blocked it.
  • Shamrock took down Owen and applied an ankle lock.
  • Before Owen could submit, Severn locked Shamrock in a choke hold.
  • The bell rang despite any acknowledgment from referee Earl Hebner, so Severn must have won by submission at 4:41.

 

Rating: **

Summary:  Awkward match as Severn stood by while Shamrock and Owen went through their portion of the match. It wasn’t until Shamrock was ready to win before Severn intervened.

After the match, WWF officials prevent Owen from further chicanery while Severn continues to choke out Shamrock. Owen plants a knee down near south Sacramento, and Steve Blackman storms the ring. As he decimates Owen with a sidewalk slam, Blackman gains Severn’s attention. Severn releases the hold yet applies it to Blackman instead.

When Owen adds to Blackman’s misery, more WWF officials arrive to break up the carnage. Severn and Owen share a high-five to celebrate. After Shamrock returns to his feet, he wonders if Blackman did him wrong. Blackman denies it, but Shamrock is understandably frustrated.

TV Rating: 4.3

While the wrestlers for the next bout are introduced, Lawler has “Mr. President” on the phone. For those unfamiliar, the WWF hired a Bill Clinton impersonator years ago and gave him the moniker Mr. President. I could barely pay attention to the nonsense because one of Godfather’s ho’s was practically topless.

We revisit Sunday Night Heat when Godfather and Bart had a tussle in preparation for tonight. Godfather takes the microphone but doesn’t offer Bart the ho’s because he wants “to kick (Bart’s) ass.”

Match 2 (Brawl 4 All semifinal): Godfather versus Bart Gunn

Highlights:

ROUND ONE:

  • Godfather threw a few jabs and blocked a takedown.
  • As Godfather scored with a combination, he wisely blocked any impending left hooks by guarding the right side of his head.
  • The unofficial scorecard had Bart up 5-0.

 

ROUND TWO:

  • When Godfather pounded on him, Bart unloaded a series of lefts.
  • Godfather wobbled and went down at the bell.
  • After two rounds, the unofficial scorecard had Bart up 20-0.

 

ROUND THREE:

  • Godfather staggered, and Bart CLOBBERED him with a left-right combo.
  • While Godfather laid OUT COLD on the canvas, Bart won by KO.

 

Rating: NONE

Summary:  Bart advances to the finals, who will he face?

Following the bout, Bart approaches the broadcast table and demands respect. JR’s response: “You earned it.”

Prior to the commercial break, Shamrock and Blackman destroy the backstage area.

Backstage, Michael Cole informs us that Owen’s trainer for the Lion’s Den match at the PPV is none other than Severn.

We revisit Sunday Night Heat when Gangrel defeated Taylor with an Impaler DDT.

Match 3: Gangrel versus “Too Sexy” Brian Christopher (w/ Scott Taylor)

Highlights:

  • From the balcony and shown in spotlight, Edge witnessed this match.
  • Taylor distracted Gangrel, so Christopher attacked at the bell.
  • When Christopher mounted the second turnbuckle, he bulldogged Gangrel.
  • Speaking of Gangrel, he fed Christopher a tiger bomb and got 2.
  • He planted Christopher with an Impaler DDT.
  • 1-2-3.
  • Gangrel won at 1:04.

 

Rating: ½*

Summary:  Showcase match for the newcomer.

Backstage, Cole interviews Shamrock and Blackman. Shamrock wants to put both Owen and Severn in the hospital and runs Cole off. Further backstage destruction by both Shamrock and Blackman happens.

TV Rating: 3.07

Backstage, Cole attempts to interview DX, but the NoD ambushes them. Chaos erupts until WWF officials arrive.

Prior to the next match, Lawler continues his phone call with “Mr. President.”

Match 4: Disciples of Apocalypse (w/ “Precious” Paul Ellering) versus 2 Cold Scorpio & Faarooq

Highlights:

  • Skull landed an elbow upon Faarooq, gave him a cross corner whip, but ate a right hand on his follow-through.
  • As Faarooq mounted the second turnbuckle, he launched a flying clothesline for 2.
  • Scorpio tagged in, mounted the second turnbuckle, and lowered the boom onto Skull.
  • When 8-Ball tagged in, Scorpio attempted a leap frog, but 8-Ball caught and powerslammed him for 2.
  • 8-Ball missed an elbow drop, so Scorpio dropkicked him twice.
  • After he scored with a spinning heel kick, Scorpio gave 8-Ball a cross corner whip but ate a clothesline.
  • Skull tagged in, mounted the top turnbuckle, and leveled Scorpio with a flying fist for 2.
  • While Skull fed Scorpio a sidewalk slam, he got another 2.
  • In the meantime, the brawl between DX and NoD raged on in the backstage area.
  • DoA double-back-elbowed Scorpio, and they devastated him with consecutive elbow drops.
  • Due to referee Mike Chioda’s distraction by 8-Ball, Ellering pounded Scorpio into deviled ham. How dastardly!
  • Skull clotheslined Scorpio on the floor as the distraction continued. Nefarious!
  • Rebounding with a flying forearm, Scorpio made the ICE COLD tag to Faarooq.
  • He powerslammed Skull, but the carnage from backstage reared its ugly head on its way to the ring.
  • Tagging in, Scorpio mounted the top turnbuckle and flattened Skull with a 450°.
  • The chaos at ringside further distracted Chioda, so Scorpio only earned a false pin.
  • Making the switcheroo, 8-Ball hooked an inside cradle on Scorpio.
  • 1-2-3.
  • DoA won at 4:30.

 

Rating: *

Summary:  They tried, but none of these wrestlers is over at all. According to Meltzer, the match was heavily edited to look better than it was.

WAR ZONE!

Prior to the next match, HHH grabs the microphone and performs his spiel.

Match 5 (street fight): DX versus the Nation of Domination

Highlights:

  • A melee broke out at the bell, and Brown ate an aluminum trash can.
  • When the Rock got his share, HHH celebrated Hulk Hogan-style.
  • HHH guillotined Brown with the top rope, and he and Billy double-suplexed him back into the ring.
  • As the Rock brained X-Pac with a trash can lid, HHH snuck up from behind to give him a dose of his own medicine.
  • HHH rammed the Rock face-first into the steps and fed Brown a DDT.
  • After the Rock caved in HHH’s skull with a cookie sheet, Brown nailed Road Dog down in southern Alabama.
  • Road Dog disintegrated the Rock with the cookie sheet to a big pop.
  • While the Rock slammed Road Dog, he placed the cookie sheet atop him.
  • Although the cookie sheet went flying, the Rock planted Road Dog with a People’s Elbow.
  • HHH sent Brown shoulder-first into the steps and celebrated with some crotch chops.
  • Before he could pin Road Dog, the Rock ate another scoop of cookie sheet.
  • Billy piledrove the Rock on the cookie sheet, and Jeff Jarrett approached the ring.
  • Clotheslining X-Pac from the apron, Jarrett dragged him to the floor.
  • X-Pac brawled with him until Southern Justice destroyed him from behind.
  • With an electric razor, Jarrett took a few inches off X-Pac’s mane.
  • The Rock, however, planted HHH with a Rock Bottom while Jarrett made X-Pac taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the High Life Man at El Bait Shop.
  • Setting up a ladder, the Rock beat up a BUSTED OPEN HHH.
  • The Des Moines faithful LOUDLY advised the Rock that he indeed sucks, yet their nemesis rammed HHH into the ladder in the corner.
  • Hammering HHH in the midsection with a ladder, the Rock dropped it on his back. OUCH!
  • Without a winner, the match ended with HHH left laying under the ladder.

 

Rating: DUD

Summary:  Garbage brawl that serves as an appetizer for the PPV with HHH-Rock and X-Pac-Jarrett. According to Meltzer, HHH has been working with a bad knee but maintains his schedule.

TV Rating: 4.4

RAW is sponsored by JVC, Burst gum, M&Ms, and 10-10-321.

Next, we revisit Sunday Night Heat when Singh paid a ham’n’egger to eat a live nightcrawler.

Tiger Ali Singh and Babu approach the ring, and Singh runs down the Des Moines faithful. We witness a video of Babu training outside the arena, and he hasn’t yet cleaned up. As Singh offers $500 to someone to lick Babu’s “unwashed feet,” a male youngster in an Austin 3:16 shirt volunteers. Babu removes his sweaty sock, and copious amounts of toe jam exist on his feet.

Pardon me while I lose my lunch.

OK, I’m back.

Nonetheless, the youngster happily licks between the toes for the sake of $500. Since it’s 26 years later, this kid probably has kids that do things that are much worse like vote Republican.

We revisit Sunday Night Heat when Jacqueline and Sable exchanged insults.

Match 6 (arm wrestling): Sable versus Jacqueline (w/o Marc Mero)

Highlights:

  • During her introduction, Sable brought the bikini contest trophy with her.
  • Jacqueline, as you’d expect, stalled earning herself an earful from referee Earl Hebner.
  • As the Des Moines faithful chanted her name, Sable had the advantage.
  • Jacqueline broke her grip and shoved the table atop Sable. Evil!
  • Regardless, Sable won.

 

Rating: NONE

Afterward, Jacqueline takes the trophy and CRACKS it over Sable’s back. Heinous! Mero joins Jacqueline, but the Oddities aren’t far behind to protect Sable. In fact, Giant Silva carries Sable backstage.

Back in the locker room, Cole interviews Venis who’s ready to run the gauntlet against Kaientai to get his hands on Mr. Yamaguchi.

TV Rating: 4.4

DROZ’S WORLD: Droz is decorated with tattoos, piercings, and a unique hairstyle.

Match 7: Bradshaw versus Droz

Highlights:

ROUND ONE:

  • Bradshaw threw the most punches as well as more effective ones.
  • According to the unofficial scorecard, Bradshaw led 5-0.

 

ROUND TWO:

  • Droz scored with a couple of shots, but Bradshaw returned fire with rabbit punches.
  • At the bell, Droz took down Bradshaw.
  • The unofficial scorecard had Bradshaw leading 10-5.

 

ROUND THREE:

  • When Droz attempted another takedown, Bradshaw backed into the corner.
  • Bradshaw won, and Droz felt cheated.

 

Rating: NONE

Summary: Bradshaw advances to face Bart Gunn next week in the finals. I know you’re all very excited.

Al Snow is back! While it seems like he’s talking to himself, Head is face down on the floor. Snow believes Head is drunk. HA!

Next, Dustin Rhodes cuts a pre-taped promo for the sake of EATME.

In the meantime, Sable returns to the ring and grabs a microphone. She calls out Jacqueline whom she calls a “bitch.” However, Jacqueline responds via the Titantron alongside Mero. She offers a challenge to Sable to pick a partner against Mero and her at the PPV. Suddenly, the Oddities storm the locker room to ambush them.

Outside the locker room, Cole informs us that Undertaker has arrived.

Match 8 (gauntlet): Kaientai (w/ Mr. Yamaguchi) versus Val Venis

Highlights:

  • Should Venis survive against all four members of Kaientai, he’ll get five minutes with Mr. Yamaguchi.
  • Teioh missed a dropkick and attempted a leap frog.
  • As Venis caught him, Teioh escaped and rolled up Venis for 2.
  • Venis clotheslined him and fed Teioh a big boot.
  • When he hooked a fisherman’s suplex, Venis won at 1:12.
  • Funaki’s next and mounted the top turnbuckle.
  • After Funaki leaped, Venis caught and powerslammed him.
  • 1-2-3.
  • Venis won at 0:15.
  • While Togo took his turn, he scored with a springboard dropkick.
  • “Mr. President” was on the line, but…
  • Concurrently, Venis took a sternum-first bump, and Togo delivered another springboard maneuver.
  • Venis reversed an Irish whip and powerbombed Togo for 2.
  • With the Des Moines faithful SOUND ASLEEP, Venis gave Togo a cross corner whip followed by a corner clothesline.
  • Togo responded with a DDT, but Venis reversed another Irish whip and planted a knee to the midsection.
  • Reversing a third Irish whip, Venis annihilated Togo with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.
  • He migrated to the apron, got stopped by Togo, yet dealt him a guillotine across the top rope.
  • Powerbombing Togo, Venis mounted the top turnbuckle and launched a Money Shot.
  • 1-2-3.
  • Venis won at 2:52.
  • Afterward, Michinoku entered the ring and delivered a spinning heel kick.
  • A second attempt by Michinoku led to a belly-to-back suplex by Venis.
  • Giving Michinoku a cross corner whip, Venis followed with an inverted atomic drop.
  • He charged, but Michinoku evaded him. That sent Venis over the top rope to the floor.
  • From there, Michinoku mounted the top turnbuckle and unleashed a tope. Woohoo!
  • Venis blocked a suplex back into the ring and nailed a back elbow.
  • Landing an elbow drop, Venis powerslammed Michinoku for 2.
  • He obliterated Michinoku with a big boot and hooked a double underhook suplex for another 2.
  • Giving Michinoku a cross corner whip, Venis ate boot on his follow-through.
  • Venis came up empty on another charge, blocked a Michinoku driver, and slammed him.
  • Mounting the second turnbuckle, Venis missed a flying elbow drop.
  • Michinoku hit a Michinoku driver and pinned Venis at 3:33.

 

Rating: **

Summary:  Although decimating an entire faction is booking cruelty, what was the point for Venis?

After the match, Kaientai returns to the ring to annihilate Venis, and Mr. Yamaguchi brings his wife to the ring. While Kaientai holds Venis at bay, Mrs. Yamaguchi slaps the BEJEEZUS out of him. Venis grabs a pink Super Soaker and douses all of Kaientai with it. Of course, Lawler feels compelled make Monica Lewinsky jokes.

TV Rating: 4.34

Undertaker’s in the ring, and Austin hustles to the ring thereafter. As the turnbuckles explode, Kane is wearing Undertaker’s gear and chokeslams Austin. Kane reverses an Irish whip, but Austin scores with a Thesz press. Although Austin clotheslines him over the top rope to the floor, Kane lands on his feet.

Tossing Austin into the front row, Kane follows suit. Austin vaults Kane over the steel railing, joins, and throws Kane into the back of the hearse. Trapping Kane, Austin flips him off and tries to open the door. When the door’s locked, Undertaker appears behind the wheel and drives off.

TV Rating: 5.39

Conclusion:  What an absolute crock of shit of an episode. If there’s a week to skip RAW, this was it. I hate to admit it, but Schiavone was right. The main event confrontation was short and meaningless. The Venis match paid off with some revenge, yet the Des Moines faithful seemed nonplussed.

Truly, I feel the lone highlight of the episode was Bart’s knockout of Godfather.

Could it finally overcome Nitro in the ratings?

Final TV Rating: 4.16

Who won? For the second week in a row, Nitro defeated RAW. Obviously, the Warrior debut left its mark on the WCW audience while RAW teased an Austin-Undertaker confrontation.

At national parks, signs are posted: “Do NOT feed the bears.” Well, WCW didn’t feed them, but they certainly poked them. I wonder if it’ll affect next week’s numbers.

Stay tuned for WCW Thunder 08-20-98!