Live from New York, NY
Airdate: August 30, 1998
Attendance: 19,066 (15,274 paid, sold out)
Hosted by Jim Ross, Shane McMahon, & the “Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels
Will Austin confront the Brothers of Destruction before the PPV? What happens when DX and NoD knuckle up? Catch the first pre-PPV episode coming at you right now!
Opening montage.
Prior to the opening match, Hawk approaches the ring wearing his helmet but without shoulder pads. He lobbies to join Animal and succeeds. However, Droz returns backstage wearing a scowl.
Match 1: Road Warriors versus Too Much
Highlights:
- Too Much ambushed Animal before the bell while Edge brooded in the upper deck.
- When Taylor dropkicked Animal, Christopher tagged in, and Too Much double suplexed Animal.
- Christopher slammed Animal and got 2.
- As Taylor tagged in, Animal blocked a double suplex and double-suplexed Too Much. Impressive!
- He double-clotheslined Too Much and followed with a clothesline to Christopher.
- After he powerslammed Taylor, Animal clotheslined Christopher over the top rope to the floor.
- Animal powerbombed Taylor while Hawk stumbled mounting the top turnbuckle.
- While Hawk, still wearing the helmet, climbed the turnbuckles backwards, Christopher rescued Taylor.
- Hawk fell from the top rope knocking down Animal.
- 1-2-3.
- Too Much won at 2:16.
Rating: *
Summary: The Hawk storyline is just plain sad. Considering Hawk’s personal demons, this irritates the stomach a bit.
After the match, Animal berates Hawk.
In the parking garage, Stone Cold Steve Austin paces while carrying a sledgehammer.
In the ring, Michaels introduces Sable who cuts a quick promo on Jacqueline. Next, she refuses to reveal who her secret partner will be for tonight’s mixed tag match. Instead, she reveals that her partner will NOT be one of the Oddities. She challenges Michaels to dance, so he shows Sable some moves.
Match 2: Gangrel versus Dustin Runnels
Highlights:
- Gangrel attempted a back drop, but Runnels countered by ramming him face-first into the mat.
- As he dropkicked Gangrel, Runnels gave him a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
- Astoundingly, JR notified us that RAW will be pre-empted tomorrow night due to the US Open tennis tournament.
- Gangrel clotheslined Runnels while JR mentioned that RAW will air “at a special time this Saturday.”
- When Gangrel landed an elbow drop, Runnels responded by guillotining him with the top rope.
- Gangrel reversed an Irish whip and powerslammed Runnels for 2.
- After Gangrel fed him a knee lift, Runnels countered another back drop attempt with an uppercut.
- He clotheslined Gangrel, dealt him an inverted atomic drop, and scored with a lariat for 2.
- While Runnels attempted a back drop, Gangrel countered with an Impaler.
- 1-2-3.
- Gangrel won at 2:32.
Rating: **
Summary: Hate to see Runnels as enhancement talent, but he put Gangrel over very well.
Backstage, Michael Cole interviews DX. HHH promises big changes.
Video airs featuring Mario Lopez and his interaction with Val Venis. During Venis’ response, we see Amy Hunter dismissing Venis’ MacDaddy skills.
Back in Mr. McMahon’s office, Cole interviews the WWF owner who wants to protect the main event at all costs.
Jeff Jarrett and Southern Justice enter the ring and attack ring announcer Howard Finkel. As Southern Justice restrains Finkel, Jarrett shaves the remainder of hair from Finkel’s head including the mustache. How dastardly! Jarrett warns X-Pac “Don’t Piss Me Off” while Finkel writhes in pain and humiliation on the mat.
In the parking garage, Mr. McMahon’s cronies plead with Austin to relinquish the sledgehammer, but Austin refuses.
In Mr. McMahon’s office, the WWF owner will take charge of the situation.
Tony Chimel replaces Finkel as the ring announcer for the evening.
Match 3: Disciples of Apocalypse (w/ “Precious” Paul Ellering) versus Bradshaw & Vader
Highlights:
- At the bell, Vader and Bradshaw bickered over who would start.
- Skull powerslammed Vader and followed with a pair of leg drops.
- When Vader bulldozed Skull down, Bradshaw tagged in amid a stare down with Vader.
- Skull ducked a clothesline but fed Bradshaw one of his own.
- As he landed a pair of elbow drops, Skull suplexed Bradshaw.
- Speaking of Bradshaw, he rebounded with a big boot.
- He dealt Skull a short-arm clothesline and tagged in Vader.
- After Bradshaw meandered to the middle of the apron to argue with Ellering, Skull reversed an Irish whip sending Vader directly into Bradshaw.
- Immediately, Bradshaw returned to the apron and clocked Vader like he was still in the Brawl 4 All.
- Skull rolled up and pinned the stunned Vader at 2:56.
Rating: DUD
Summary: More storyline than match as the Vader-Bradshaw duo has broken up.
Following the match, Bradshaw and Vader brawl at ringside until WWF officials separate them. The fight restarts in the ring, and Vader deals Bradshaw a running body block. To end the fight, Vader clotheslines him to the floor.
Cole shills WWF on Home Shopping Network with WWF merchandise immediately following the PPV.
We head to the Theater at MSG where the Lion’s Den match will occur.
In the parking garage, Mr. McMahon confronts Austin who chastises him over the mighty dollar.
We revisit RAW when Michaels crowned Mark Henry with a chair.
Next, the Rock along with the Nation of Domination populates the ring. The MSG faithful showers him with a “Rocky sucks” chant. With no time to spare in the show, DX infiltrates and attacks the NoD. Rock uses the IC belt to WHACK HHH’s bad knee before the NoD retreats. Will HHH be able to compete?
In the parking garage, a hearse pulls in, and Austin yanks the driver out. He demolishes the hearse while the MSG faithful sings his praises. When a forklift catches his eye, Austin drives it and lifts the rear by the shattered rear window.
Conclusion: Have you bought the PPV yet? Other than not running down the card, this episode was SELL, SELL, SELL the PPV. Due to licensed music issues, the soundtrack to the PPV, AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell,” wasn’t present, so some segments were completely scrubbed. The matches meant barely anything, but Jarrett’s torment of Finkel plus the DX/NoD encounter make for a solid appetizer.
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
What’s my recommendation? It’s a worthwhile preview for the PPV, so diehards should watch and enjoy it.
TV Rating: 3.23
Stay tuned for WWF Summerslam ‘98!
Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at rsg@rockstargary.com and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202).