Live from Philadelphia, PA
Airdate: August 24, 1998
Attendance: 14,727 (sold out)
Hosted by Jim Ross & Jerry “The King” Lawler
What happens when Chyna confronts the Rock? Could there be a cage match? What’s new with Jarrett and X-Pac? It’s the go-home show for one of the biggest PPVs of the year! Get in here already!
In the cold open, Undertaker and Kane emerge from the locker room together. Cahoots, indeed.
Opening montage.
Undertaker and Kane head to and enter the ring. While Undertaker grabs a microphone, JR mentions the Hell in the Cell above the ring. Mr. McMahon approaches the ring and crows “I told you so” about the collaboration between the Brothers of Destruction. When he vows that Undertaker will win the title with Kane by his side, Mr. McMahon claims that Undertaker will need him for a variety of reasons.
He begs the question: friend or foe? Before the end of the episode, we’ll answer the question. Paul Bearer approaches the ring as the Philly faithful chants “Aus-tin.” After he pleads for Kane’s love, Bearer insults both Undertaker and Kane’s mother. He wants Kane to “destroy” Undertaker. Instead, Undertaker boots Bearer down. Meanwhile, Kane turns his back shunning Bearer.
Mankind storms the ring, but Undertaker hammers him too. Joining Undertaker, the Brothers of Destruction pummel Mankind. They spike tombstone Mankind causing Mr. McMahon to grimace. At the sound of his name, Austin emerges to a tremendous pop. On the other hand, a wall of fire prevents Austin from approaching the ring, yet he wants to “take somebody out tonight.”
TV Rating: 4.7
Following a commercial break, Mankind is ushered into the back of an ambulance.
Prior to the opening match, we revisit last week when Severn stopped Shamrock from winning by choking him out.
Match 1: Ken Shamrock versus Dan “The Beast” Severn
Highlights:
- At the time, UFC fans might have drooled about another matchup between these two.
- Severn fed him a spinebuster, but Shamrock escaped a leg submission hold.
- When Severn powerbombed him, he refused a pin.
- He dealt Shamrock a front suplex and got 1.
- As Severn reversed a cross corner whip, he powerslammed Shamrock for 2. Unfortunately, the camera angle was poor because you could see Shamrock leap into the maneuver.
- Referee Tim White forcibly removed Severn with Shamrock against the ropes.
- In the meantime, Owen sprinted to the ring and annihilated Shamrock. Evil!
- Owen climbed into the ring and grappled with Shamrock, so White called for the bell.
- As a result, Shamrock won by DQ at 2:53.
Rating: *
Summary: I truly believe that Severn does not belong in a pro wrestling ring. Since he’s merely a grappler, he has no charisma or style.
After the match, Owen applies a choke to Shamrock, but Steve Blackman hits the ring. He obliterates Severn with a bicycle kick, and the heels return to the locker room. When Blackman restrains him, Shamrock takes exception and flattens him with a belly-to-belly suplex. Blackman no-sells it and plants Shamrock with one of his own. WWF officials restore order, yet Shamrock’s crazy enough to ram his own head into the steps.
Backstage, Mankind has escaped the ambulance!
After the break, Mankind surfs the gurney down the ramp to the ring. HA! He brings a bag of tacks with him while grabbing a microphone. As he challenges Kane to a Hell in a Cell match, Mankind mentions that he will be atop it like KOTR ’98. He promises to turn Kane into a “seven-foot pincushion” with the tacks.
Speaking of KOTR ’98, we revisit the match and the horrific bumps that Mankind took.
Prior to the next match, we revisit last week’s arm-wrestling contest when Jacqueline dumped the table onto Sable.
Match 2: “Marvelous” Marc Mero (w/o Jacqueline) versus Kurrgan (w/ the Oddities)
Highlights:
- Sable was the guest ring announcer for this match.
- As Mero made his entrance, he grabbed the microphone and requested a one-on-one match against Kurrgan.
- The Oddities left, and Kurrgan clotheslined Mero.
- When he gave Mero a cross corner whip, Kurrgan came up empty on his follow-through.
- Mero clotheslined Kurrgan but couldn’t take him off his feet.
- After Kurrgan caught Mero in a bear hug, he converted it into a Bossman slam.
- With Sable still at ringside, Jacqueline snuck through the Philly faithful and ambushed her.
- Kurrgan dealt Mero a standing choke into a slam while Jacqueline mugged Sable.
- While Kurrgan was distracted by the violence outside the ring, Mero took him on a trip to SOUTH Philly.
- Referee Jim Korderas noticed Mero’s chicanery and disqualified him at 1:46.
Rating: DUD
Summary: Mere fodder for the continuing saga between Jacqueline and Sable.
Following the match, Mero and Jacqueline escape through the Philly faithful before the Oddities return to check on Sable.
Back in the locker room, X-Pac leads a cameraman inside and urinates in someone’s boots.
RAW is sponsored by JVC, Castrol GTX, WWF: The Music Volume 2, and 10-10-321.
An inebriated Hawk joins the broadcast table and slurs his speech until they cut off his microphone. Someone get this guy a cup of coffee STAT.
Prior to the match, Road Dog recites his spiel, yet Jeff Jarrett stomps down to ringside. He steals Hawk’s headset and demands X-Pac RIGHT NOW. As the camera focuses on his feet, Jarrett’s not wearing any boots. You can do the math.
Match 3: New Age Outlaws versus Southern Justice
Highlights:
- Billy leapfrogged Canterbury but ate a wheelbarrow driver.
- When Knight tagged in, he fed Billy an elbow drop for 2.
- Since the match was secondary, a move by Billy got ignored.
- Road Dog tagged in, but Knight suplexed him.
- As everyone’s distracted by Jarrett, Billy snuck into the ring and piledrove Knight.
- 1-2-3.
- NAO won at 3:17.
Rating: DUD
Summary: Nothing match as the focus was Jarrett/X-Pac at the PPV.
Afterward, cameraman Tom Bowridge catches Jarrett’s feet one time too many, so Jarrett manhandles him. Southern Justice restrains him while Jarrett shaves his head.
WAR ZONE!
Match 4 (Hell in a Cell): Kane (w/ Undertaker) versus Mankind
Highlights:
- During Mankind’s entrance, referees Jack Doan and Jim Korderas tried to prevent him from climbing the Cell but got blasted instead.
- Tim White and Mike Chioda made similar attempts, but Mankind nailed White and rammed Chioda into the Cell.
- As Mankind rammed the door into Kane, he unsuccessfully tossed a chair atop the Cell twice.
- Mankind climbed the wall of the Cell, but Undertaker yanked him down and through the Spanish broadcast table.
- Sorry, got ahead of myself there.
- When the Philly faithful chanted “Au-stin,” Kane scraped Mankind off the concrete and rammed him into the Cell.
- He tossed a portion of the Spanish table at Mankind, followed him around the Cell, and rammed him again into it.
- After Kane swung the door at Mankind, referee Earl Hebner locked the Cell.
- Kane tossed the top portion of the steps into the ring and destroyed Mankind with it twice.
- While Mankind stood on the floor, Kane propelled himself into a plancha. Amazing!
- Mankind crawled under the ring, yet Kane tossed the steps where he once laid.
- Bringing a chair and a bag of tacks, Mankind re-entered the ring and WHACKED Kane in the head with a chair. Sick!
- He walloped Kane in the back with it, breaking the chair.
- Spreading the tacks in the corner, Mankind got trucked landing on them. OUCH!
- Mankind countered a chokeslam with a Mandible claw, but Kane escaped.
- Piledriving Kane, Mankind slowly mounted the top turnbuckle.
- Kane sat up, grabbed the broken chair, and slammed Mankind like a Sammy Sosa home run.
- Chokeslamming Mankind, Kane tombstoned him.
- Undertaker signaled to dismantle Mankind, and Kane clobbered Mankind twice in the head with the broken chair. Vile!
- Tombstoning Mankind on the broken chair, Kane attempted a pin.
- Suddenly, Austin appeared from under the ring and began to attack Kane.
- Hebner called for the bell, and Kane won by DQ at 8:06.
Rating: *
Summary: Ultra-violent crap solely for the purpose of generating a big rating.
After the match, Austin mauls Kane while Undertaker remains stuck outside the Cell. Undertaker climbs the Cell, and it sounded like Austin blasted Kane with the broken chair. As Austin destroys Kane with a Stone Cold Stunner, Undertaker tries to break through the top of the Cell. Unfathomably, the Cell rises, but Austin gives Kane a bad trip to SOUTH Philly.
Why is the Cell rising? Because Mr. McMahon’s behind the switch. Kane stands up, but Austin puts him back down with another Stunner. Despite all the carnage, the Philly faithful eats it up with a spoon.
TV Rating: 5.34 (Well, it beat Warrior’s babbling promo)
In the ring, Undertaker cuts a promo on Austin while Kane is BUSTED OPEN. He wants to get his hands on Austin TONIGHT.
Chyna approaches and enters the ring as we revisit last week when the NoD destroyed HHH with a ladder. When the dapperly dressed Rock saunters toward the ring, the Philly faithful informed him that he “sucks.” The NoD accompanies Rock and sets up a ladder in the ring. As Rock advises her to watch the Titantron, a forklift prevents DX from exiting their locker room. Sinister!
Rock cuts a promo on HHH and puts himself over as only he can. After he turns his attention to Chyna, Rock advises her that she “needs to get some.” Rock volunteers albeit very late at night., so Chyna tries to charge at him. The NoD prevents her from doing so and restrains her. With Chyna on her knees, the Rock viciously humiliates her. He refuses to kiss her but summons Mark Henry to do his bidding.
Swiftly, Shawn Michaels storms the ring with a chair and HAMMERS Henry in the head with it. He tosses the IC title belt toward the Rock and hands the chair to Chyna. To finish the segment, he dances in celebration atop the broadcast table.
In the parking lot, DX angrily searches for the NoD.
Prior to the next match, Venis grabs his, er, I mean the microphone and uses sexual innuendo while namedropping Pat’s.
Match 5: Val Venis versus Taka Michinoku (w/ Mr. & Mrs. Yamaguchi)
Highlights:
- Michaels joined the broadcast table for the remainder of the episode.
- When Venis reversed a pair of cross corner whips, he followed with corner clotheslines.
- Michinoku rebounded with a spinning heel kick followed by a dropkick.
- As Venis sought refuge on the floor, Michinoku made him pay with a baseball slide.
- Michinoku launched a bee-yoo-ti-ful Asai moonsault, but Venis evaded another baseball slide.
- Back in the ring, Venis gave Michinoku a cross corner whip leading to a sternum-first bump.
- Michinoku landed on his feet upon receiving a release German suplex, but Venis countered a huracanrana into a powerbomb.
- While HHH hustled to the ring with a chair, Venis mounted the top turnbuckle and scored with a Money Shot.
- For whatever reason, HHH didn’t allow Venis to pin Michinoku by flattening him with a chair.
- Referee Earl Hebner called for the bell to disqualify Michinoku at 1:08.
Rating: **
Summary: Shitty finish to a decent short match.
Following the match, HHH obliterates Michinoku with a chair shot to the head. Demanding a microphone, HHH screams his promo at the Rock. According to HHH, the Rock “will be (his) bitch.”
Match 6: X-Pac versus Gangrel
Highlights:
- Gangrel attacked him before the bell, but X-Pac leapfrogged and fed him a spinning heel kick.
- As Gangrel reversed a cross corner whip, he ate boot on his follow-through.
- He powerslammed X-Pac and got 2.
- When he caught X-Pac in mid-air, Gangrel dealt him a modified powerbomb.
- He mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but there wasn’t any water in the pool.
- After Edge was shown lurking amongst the Philly faithful, X-Pac delivered a standing leg lariat.
- X-Pac scored with a series of kicks in the corner and followed with a Bronco buster.
- Instantaneously, Jarrett returned and demolished X-Pac with a guitar shot.
- Referee Tim White called for the bell to disqualify Gangrel at 1:38.
Rating: *
Summary: More angle than match as the Jarrett/X-Pac story continues.
Afterward, HHH and Chyna chase Jarrett away from the ring. As Gangrel slithers back into the ring, Edge launches a flying clothesline from the top turnbuckle. He rams Gangrel face-first into the mat and spears him. Upon bouncing Gangrel’s head off the mat, Edge beats him up. WWF officials arrive to calm things down.
Backstage, Undertaker pushes a casket.
JR shills Code Red on wwf.com following RAW.
STRIDEX TRIPLE-ACTION: Bradshaw makes Canterbury taste leather while Bart levels “Dr. Death” Steve Williams. Following that, Bart sends Godfather on a one-way trip to Dream Street with a right hand.
Match 7 (Brawl 4 All): Bradshaw versus Bart Gunn
Highlights:
ROUND ONE:
- The winner will receive $75,000 while the loser earns $25,000.
- When Bart connected with a pair of lefts, Bradshaw went down faster than an intern’s dignity at a cigar club meeting.
- Bradshaw got up, but the lights were on yet no one was home.
- As Bart scored with a combination, Bradshaw collapsed and quivered.
- Bart won by TKO.
Rating: NONE
Summary: Quite the demolition of Bradshaw since it took less than a minute for Bart to beat him. Unfortunately, Bart’s star won’t shine as was promised when he agreed to participate.
After the bout, the doctor immediately checks on Bradshaw who doesn’t respond well to smelling salts.
POINT OF ORDER: According to the Brawl 4 All episode of Dark Side of the Ring, Vince Russo created this monstrosity which injured almost everyone who competed. All for the purpose of shutting Bradshaw’s big mouth backstage.
Backstage, Michael Cole interviews Mr. McMahon who “will get (his) answer.”
Druids lead a casket down to the ring. While Undertaker approaches and enters the ring, he grabs a microphone and vows to regain the WWF title. Mr. McMahon comes to the ring and swipes the microphone from him. When he questions Undertaker whether he’s friend or foe, Mr. McMahon motions toward a handshake.
Nevertheless, Undertaker grips him by the throat and chokeslams him to a huge pop. Austin emerges from the casket and berates Mr. McMahon for trusting Undertaker. As Austin and Undertaker stare each other down, Kane jumps into the ring and plasters Austin from behind. According to JR, Kane was also in the casket, and he pummels Austin while Undertaker admires his brother’s work.
Austin escapes and grabs a chair; however, when he walks back up the ramp, fire blazes through it.
TV Rating: 3.83
EXTRA ATTITUDE: Austin returns to the ring only to backtrack up the ramp again. As he and Undertaker share a stare down, Austin leaves while Kane and Undertaker remain in the ring. Austin attacks Pat Patterson and tosses him into the ring. After Gerald Brisco gets involved, Austin rams him face-first into the casket. Undertaker subsequently chokeslams Patterson to close out the episode.
Conclusion: If you’re not sold on the main event of the PPV, you’ll need to check your pulse. This episode threw everything including the kitchen sink to prompt you to purchase the event. The drama between Austin, McMahon, Undertaker, Kane, and Mankind alone is worth it. But let’s not forget how Rock antagonized HHH before their ladder match. Also, a “pissed off” Jarrett is much better than what we’ve seen, and he’s on a mission to scalp X-Pac.
Nonetheless, the Brawl 4 All has finished, and Bart shocks everyone with a tremendous knockout of Bradshaw. Thank goodness that tournament’s over, and RAW can be just about wrestling going forward.
Summerslam ’98 card:
- Austin versus Undertaker for the WWF title
- Rock versus HHH in a ladder match for the IC title
- Owen versus Shamrock in the Lion’s Den
- Mankind & Kane defend the tag titles against NAO
- D’Lo Brown versus Venis for the European title
- Jarrett versus X-Pac where the loser loses his hair
- Kaientai versus the Oddities
- Mero & Jacqueline versus Sable & a mystery opponent
Could it finally overcome Nitro in the ratings?
Final TV Rating: 4.68
Who won? Nope, Nitro grabbed most of the Monday night wrestling audience’s attention with Warrior, Piper, Hogan, Nash, Goldberg, et al. With RAW pre-empted for the US Open tennis tournament, Nitro will enjoy an undefeated ratings month.
Stay tuned for WCW Thunder 08-26-98!
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