WWF Summerslam ’98 -

Live from New York, NY

Airdate: August 30, 1998

Attendance: 19,066 (15,274, sold out)

Hosted by Jim Ross & Jerry “The King” Lawler

Can Austin retain the WWF title against Undertaker? Will Kane be involved? Will Rock retain the IC title in a ladder match against HHH? Who wins the Lion’s Den match? And who will be Sable’s partner? Fuel up your vehicle, ‘cuz the WWF’s on a Highway to Hell!

Prior to the opening match, Venis makes the women of NYC squeal.

Match 1 for the WWF European title: D’Lo Brown (champion) versus Val Venis

Highlights:

In a cute touch, Brown hailed from Helsinki, Finland.
Venis attempted a forearm smash to the chest, but Brown’s chest protector hurt him instead.
When Brown bulldozed him with a running body block, he gave Venis a cross corner whip.
He followed with an avalanche, gave Venis another cross corner whip, but came up empty on his follow-through.
As Venis fed him a side-Russian leg sweep, he dropkicked Brown.
Since Brown was on the apron, Venis returned him to the ring the hard way.
Venis reversed an Irish whip and demolished Brown with a spinebuster for 2.
After tonight’s required Edge sighting, Brown reversed an Irish whip but ate a clothesline.
Venis attempted a splash but there wasn’t any water in the pool.
While Venis reversed another Irish whip, Brown countered a side head lock with a belly-to-back suplex.
Brown reversed a cross corner whip that sent Venis HARD into the turnbuckles.
Dealing Brown an exploder, Venis got flattened by a clothesline.
Brown slammed Venis and followed with a leg drop for 2.
Scoring with a spinning heel kick, Brown got another 2.
Venis attempted a slam, but his back wouldn’t permit it.
Clotheslining Venis again, Brown mounted the second turnbuckle, launched a flying elbow smash, but couldn’t get 3.
Venis blocked a suplex but was incapable of giving Brown one of his own.
Trapping Venis with a Texas Cloverleaf, Brown couldn’t achieve a submission.
He slammed Venis again, mounted the second turnbuckle, but missed a senton splash.
Rebounding with a pair of knees to the midsection, Venis delivered a back elbow.
He gave Brown a cross corner whip and followed with a back drop.
Mounting the top turnbuckle, Venis leaped but ate a Sky High. Brown got 2.
Venis reversed yet another Irish whip but fell victim to a DDT for another 2.
Mounting the top turnbuckle, Brown got caught.
Venis joined and attempted a superplex, but Brown nailed him back down to the mat.
Having difficulty remounting the top turnbuckle, Brown shuffled to the second one, leaped, but got powerslammed. Venis got 2.
Migrating to the apron, Venis was prevented from mounting the top turnbuckle but guillotined Brown with the top rope instead.
Venis mounted the top turnbuckle, but Brown caused him to shift his game plan.
Rather than risk a high-flying maneuver, Venis hooked a gutwrench suplex, slammed Brown, mounted the top turnbuckle, attempted a Money Shot, but ate knees.
The MSG faithful chanted “D-Lo,” and their hero attempted a running powerbomb.
Blocking the move, Venis got dumped basically on his head. Perhaps that’s why he’s crazy.
Brown successfully obliterated Venis with a running powerbomb, mounted the top turnbuckle, but missed a frog splash.
Making a comeback, Venis clotheslined Brown and ripped off the chest protector.
Venis reversed an Irish whip and powerslammed Brown.
Wearing the chest protector, Venis mounted the top turnbuckle, but referee Jim Korderas inadvertently crotched him.
Venis hit an inverted atomic drop and clotheslined Brown.
Persistently trying to rid Venis of Brown’s chest protector, Korderas got manhandled by Venis.
Despite Brown’s retrieval of the chest protector, Korderas called for the bell to disqualify Venis.
Brown retained at 15:26.

Rating: ****

Summary: Great storytelling and workrate by the combatants until the horrendous finish.

After the match, Venis slams Korderas, mounts the top turnbuckle, and launches a Money Shot. Rule of thumb: don’t piss off porn stars.

In the parking garage, Michael Cole runs into Mankind who’s upset about the hearse he rented and plugs Brisco Bros. Body Shop. He debates using a sledgehammer.

Match 2 (4 on 3 handicap): Kaientai (w/ Mr. Yamaguchi) versus the Oddities (w/ Luna & ICP)

Highlights:

As you’d expect, the Oddities’ entrance was spliced due to licensed music removal.
Golga headbutted all four members of Kaientai and removed Mr. Yamaguchi’s shoes.
When he poured a beverage into a shoe, he tossed it at an incoming Yamaguchi. Ew!
Tags were exchanged on both sides, and Kurrgan kneeled to face Funaki. HA!
After Kurrgan reversed an Irish whip, he trapped Funaki in a bear hug.
He converted it into a Bossman slam before members of Kaientai ambushed him.
While they attempted a triple-team, Kurrgan put Funaki down with a big boot and sent the other two members flying.
He backdropped Teioh before exiting the ring.
With Yamaguchi on the apron, he became the prize in a tug-of-war.
Kurrgan, of course, won that battle.
Tagging in, Silva forced Kaientai to scatter.
Togo tagged in but got chokeslammed back to his corner.
Teaming up to leg-dive Silva, Michinoku and Togo struggled.
Teioh and Funaki joined them, but Silva escaped from the grasp of all four wrestlers.
Grouping Kaientai in the corner, Silva sandwiched them together.
He gave Teioh a cross corner whip sending him splayed in the corner.
Next, Funaki got whipped into Teioh but also ate an incoming Togo.
Silva gorilla-pressed Michinoku and tossed him onto his teammates on the floor.
Rejoining the match, Golga powerslammed Togo and followed by an elbow drop.
He attempted an Earthquake splash, but Togo had it scouted.
Instead, Funaki and Teioh double-dropkicked Golga but couldn’t take him off his feet.
To do so, they double-slammed him.
They mounted top turnbuckles and hit a diving head butt and splash in succession.
Continuing the stereo tag team maneuvers, Togo and Michinoku hit consecutive splashes onto Golga.
Funaki tagged in, and a double-team with Togo took Golga down.
In sequence, all four members of Kaientai elbow-dropped Golga.
They held Golga in preparation for a seated dropkick by Michinoku.
Whipping Golga off the ropes, Kaientai fell victim to a quadruple clothesline.
Golga played possum and avoided a pair of double-team moves from Kaientai.
ICE COLD tag to Kurrgan.
This comedy match has worn out its welcome.
Dealing Michinoku a big boot, Kurrgan planted Funaki with a sidewalk slam.
Kaientai tried to quadruple-team Kurrgan, but Silva stepped in and held Togo and Michinoku at bay.
Trying to intervene, Yamaguchi was met by Luna who slammed him.
Kurrgan double-chokeslammed Funaki and Teioh while Silva double-chokeslammed Togo and Michinoku simultaneously.
Covering all four wrestlers, Golga pinned Kaientai at 10:12.

Rating: **

Summary: This was a mismatch in both size and comedy. While Kaientai bumped all over creation for the Oddities, the outcome was inevitable.

We revisit Sunday Night Heat when Jarrett and Southern Justice shorn the remaining locks from Finkel.

Match 3 (hair): Jeff Jarrett (w/ Southern Justice) versus X-Pac (w/ Howard Finkel)

Highlights:

Although Southern Justice was remanded to the locker room, X-Pac was seconded by a now completely bald Finkel wearing a DX t-shirt. X-Pac enabled Finkel to advise Jarrett to “suck it.”
X-Pac delivered a spinning heel kick and clotheslined Jarrett over the top rope to the floor.
When X-Pac scored with a springboard plancha, Jarrett re-entered the ring but missed a sunset flip.
Jarrett dropkicked X-Pac twice with the second one sending the latter to the floor.
As Jarrett joined him, he crotched X-Pac on the ring post. OUCH!
He gave X-Pac a HARD cross corner whip to injure the back.
After he whipped X-Pac into the opposite corner, Jarrett ate boot on his follow-through.
X-Pac charged, but Jarrett powerslammed him for 2.
While Jarrett gave X-Pac another cross corner whip, he followed with a corner clothesline.
He gave X-Pac a third cross corner whip but ate a back elbow on his follow-through.
Mounting the second turnbuckle, X-Pac planted Jarrett with a tornado DDT for 2.
The MSG faithful chanted “let’s go X-Pac,” and their hero levied a series of kicks in the corner to Jarrett.
Reversing an Irish whip, Jarrett hooked a sleeper, but X-Pac escaped and hooked one of his own.
Jarrett countered by crotching X-Pac atop the top turnbuckle, joined, but got elbowed down to the mat.
Mounting the top turnbuckle, X-Pac missed a cross body block.
Jarrett crawled over and got 2.
Giving X-Pac cross corner whip #4, Jarrett came up empty on his follow-through.
X-Pac missed a second spinning heel kick, so Jarrett applied a figure-four leg lock.
Refusing to submit, X-Pac struggled but made the bottom rope.
Jarrett tried again, but X-Pac booted him into the corner.
Feeding Jarrett a belly-to-back suplex, X-Pac obliterated him with a leg lariat.
He dealt Jarrett a Bronco buster, gave him a cross corner whip, but ate a back elbow on his follow-through.
Mounting the top turnbuckle, Jarrett hit a cross body block, but X-Pac rolled through and got 2.
Jarrett reversed another Irish whip, attempted a leap frog, but received a sit-out powerbomb for another 2.
Whipping Jarrett into the corner, X-Pac came up empty.
Jarrett rolled him up and got 2.
Using momentum, X-Pac cradled Jarrett for 2.
X-Pac attempted another Bronco buster, but Jarrett nailed him in his Minnesota Twins.
Jumping on the apron, Finkel got annihilated by Jarrett.
X-Pac demolished Jarrett with an X-Factor but only got 2.
Returning to the ring, Southern Justice both distracted referee Mike Chioda and tried to decapitate X-Pac with a guitar.
X-Pac grabbed the guitar and decimated Jarrett with it.
1-2-3.
X-Pac won at 11:11.

Rating: ****

Summary: Great story told as X-Pac avoided the heel shenanigans, capitalized on it, and won.

Following the match, NAO storms the ring with chairs to scatter Southern Justice and keep Jarrett in the ring. Droz and the Headbangers join DX in preparation for a haircut. X-Pac shears Jarrett’s golden locks while Jarrett complains about Chioda’s selective officiating. Finkel celebrates as he and Thrasher wear some of Jarrett’s trimmings.

In the meantime, Method Man from Wu Tang Clan enjoys Jarrett’s misery as Southern Justice helps their blond yet less hairy teammate escape.

At the theater, Dok Hendrix previews the Lion’s Den match.

Backstage, Cole interviews the Rock who relishes in the replay of his heinous strike against HHH’s knee on Sunday Night Heat. He claims to be “the people’s champ, the people’s choice, and the best damn (IC) champ there ever was.”

We revisit RAW from two weeks ago when Jacqueline dumped the arm-wrestling table on top of Sable and smashes the trophy on her. Next, we revisit last week when Jacqueline mugged her at ringside.

Match 4 (mixed tag): “Marvelous” Marc Mero & Jacqueline versus Sable & ????

Highlights:

Sable entered the ring alone, grabbed the microphone and introduced…Edge.
As Edge scored with a flying headscissors, Jacqueline tagged in prompting Sable to join the party.
Once Sable made the tag, Jacqueline scampered back to her corner and tagged out.
Edge flapjacked Mero, but Jacqueline tripped him coming off the ropes. SNEAKY!
When Mero fed Edge a knee lift, he distracted referee Tim White.
That allowed Jacqueline to give Edge the business. How dastardly!
After Edge escaped a TKO, he planted Mero with a DDT.
The women tagged in, and Sable took Jacqueline down immediately.
While she dealt Jacqueline some kicks in the corner, Sable gave her a hair mare.
Jacqueline slithered to the floor, so Sable socked her estranged husband.
Using subterfuge to assist Jacqueline, Mero felt the wrath of a scorned Sable down near Battery Park.
Sable attempted a Sable bomb to Mero, but Jacqueline delivered a double axe handle for the save.
Reversing an Irish whip, Sable hit a TKO to Jacqueline for 2.
Mero distracted Sable allowing Jacqueline to leap from the apron and belt her.
With Edge’s distraction of White, Mero and Jacqueline liberally double-teamed Sable. Nefarious!
Mero held Sable, and Jacqueline came off the ropes but nailed him inadvertently.
Tagging in, Edge launched a no-hands-needed plancha over the top rope onto Mero. Amazing!
He rammed Mero shoulder-first into the steps, but Jacqueline jumped on his back.
Maneuvering her onto his knee, Edge spanked her for being a bad girl.
Edge mounted the top turnbuckle and soared with a cross body block for 2.
Crotching Mero on the top turnbuckle, Edge demolished him with a hangman’s neckbreaker from it for 2. Innovative!
Jacqueline placed Mero’s foot on the ropes, so Edge hoisted her from the floor to the apron.
Sensing an opportunity to strike, Mero charged but blasted Jacqueline erroneously.
Edge rolled up Mero for another 2.
Reversing a cross corner whip, Mero planted Edge with a Samoan drop.
Mero staggered to the top turnbuckle, but Edge crotched him on it again. Poor Jacqueline.
Rejoining the match, Sable joined and flattened Mero with a super huracanrana. Incredible!
Sable attempted a pin, but Jacqueline leaped from the top turnbuckle only to land atop Mero.
With all four wrestlers in the ring, Sable whipped Jacqueline into the corner, and Edge whipped Mero directly into her.
Mero fell onto his back, but Jacqueline fell forward landing on Mero’s Statue of Liberty.
Decimating Mero with a Downward Spiral, Edge wheelbarrow splashed Sable atop him.
1-2-3.
Edge and Sable won at 8:26.

Rating: ***

Summary: You can see the potential written all over Edge with this match. Fun mixed tag match.

Backstage, Cole states Kane isn’t available and interviews Mankind who contemplates forfeiting the titles since he already lost his car and partner. A hysterical Mankind rants and raves until Mr. McMahon eases his anxiety and encourages him to compete. When Mankind mentions needing a weapon, Mr. McMahon offers him a baking dish. Mankind finishes the interview by offering DX thirteen words:

“How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?” HA!

Video airs featuring the feud between Shamrock and Owen. Next, Shamrock cuts a promo on Owen and Severn.

Match 5 (lion’s den): Ken Shamrock versus Owen Hart (w/ Dan “The Beast” Severn)

Highlights:

This match occurred in the theater beneath the arena.
When the MSG theater crowd chanted “nug-get,” Shamrock rammed their nemesis back-first into the cage. I thought they might be craving KFC.
Owen fed Shamrock a spinebuster, but Shamrock responded with a belly-to-back suplex.
Interestingly, referee Jack Doan stood on the “catwalk” of the coned cage rather than within it.
Owen blocked a choke with his trick knee and whipped Shamrock into the cage.
Exploding like a rocket, Shamrock bulldozed Owen with a clothesline.
Shamrock ripped off Owen’s t-shirt and clotheslined him again.
As he bounced off the cage, Shamrock plowed over Owen.
Shamrock dealt him a belly-to-belly suplex, but Owen retaliated by ramming him into the cage twice.
After the MSG theater crowd began a chant of “Sham-rock,” Owen force-fed their hero some more cage.
Owen connected with an enziguri and followed with a stungun into the cage.
While he delivered a backbreaker, Owen attempted a piledriver.
Shamrock countered with a back drop, but Owen responded with a spinning heel kick.
Attempting a Sharpshooter, Owen got kicked away.
Owen attempted a huracanrana, but Shamrock countered with a powerbomb.
Clotheslining Owen, Shamrock bounced off the cage and connected with a flying back elbow.
Shamrock bounced off the cage again, but Owen caught and powerslammed him.
Hooking a belly-to-belly suplex, Owen trapped Shamrock in a Sharpshooter.
Shamrock climbed the cage and escaped.
Up against the cage, Shamrock scored with a tornado DDT.
Shamrock clotheslined Owen again and followed with a spin kick.
Escaping a slam, Owen rammed Shamrock into the cage again.
Owen trapped him in a reverse choke, but Shamrock flipped off the cage and applied a Fujiwara arm bar.
Shamrock segued into an ankle lock, and Owen begged Severn to throw in the towel.
With Severn disgusted and walking away, Owen tapped out at 9:17.

Rating: ****

Summary: Despite the lack of pin attempts, this was a strong match with plenty of psychology and Shamrock’s aerial moves off the cage. The MSG theater crowd more than applauded the match as well.

Backstage, Cole interviews Austin who respects Undertaker yet “ain’t afraid.”

Match 6 (falls count anywhere) for the WWF tag team titles: Kane & Mankind (champions) versus the New Age Outlaws

Highlights:

As the NAO made their entrance, they brought a dumpster with them.
They entered the ring but ate a baking tray right in the mush.
When Mankind retrieved a chair from ringside, Gunn had the same idea causing a standoff.
Chair-fencing commenced, and Mankind won that battle.
After Road Dog snatched the chair away from Mankind, NAO took turns cracking Mankind’s skull with cookie sheets.
Road Dog nailed him with a bowl, but Mankind responded by backdropping Gunn over the top rope to the floor.
While Road Dogg laid prone in the corner, Mankind fed him a knee armed with a cookie sheet.
He slid down to the floor and dealt Gunn a swinging neckbreaker for 2.
With Mankind on the apron, Road Dog blasted him with a back elbow.
The match segued to the floor, and Mankind attempted to suplex Road Dog.
Making the save, Gunn joined Road Dog in ramming the back of Mankind’s head against the dumpster. That does NOT feel good.
Road Dog brought a table into the ring, and a smattering of the MSG faithful chanted “E-C-W.”
Upon Road Dog’s setup of the table in the corner, Mankind blocked a hip toss and delivered one of his own to Gunn through the table.
He clotheslined Road Dog, but NAO rebounded with a hangman’s neckbreaker/belly-to-back suplex combo for 2.
Setting up chairs facing one another, Gunn powerbombed Mankind onto the chairs for another 2. Thankfully, it was a glancing blow.
Road Dog introduced a tag title belt into the ring, and NAO spike-piledrove him onto it.
1-2-3.
NAO won at 5:20.
WE HAVE NEW CHAMPIONS!

Rating: *

Summary: Handicap match where Foley tried but got outnumbered every time.

Afterward, Road Dog grabs the microphone and announces the NAO as champions as the MSG faithful morph into their sheep. Gunn badmouths Mankind, NAO dumps him into the dumpster, and closes it. While NAO celebrates in the ring, Kane emerges from within the dumpster, takes Mankind’s sledgehammer, and allegedly pulverizes Mankind with it. Evil!

Chris Warren emerges to sing the DX theme LIVE. Are you ready?

Match 7 (ladder) for the WWF Intercontinental title: The Rock (champion w/ Mark Henry) versus HHH (w/ Chyna)

Highlights:

HHH caught Rock with a clothesline, got reversed on an Irish whip, but fed Rock a facebuster.
When HHH crotch-chopped him, Rock attempted a Rock Bottom.
HHH escaped, reversed an Irish whip, and attempted a Pedigree.
As Rock countered with a back drop over the top rope to the floor, the match segued to the floor.
HHH made Rock taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Fat Cat at Bill’s Bar & Burger.
After he rammed Rock into the opposite steel railing, HHH tossed him back into the ring.
HHH reversed another Irish whip and dealt Rock a high knee.
While HHH sought the ladder from the floor, Rock plastered him from behind sending him directly into it.
The MSG faithful informed Rock that he indeed “sucks,” so their nemesis made HHH taste the steel railing. Waiter, please give the long-haired foul-mouthed wrestler a Big Mamooooo?
Although Rock tried to bring the ladder into the ring, HHH intercepted and gave Rock another helping of the steel railing. That’s enough burgers for one match.
Rock reversed another Irish whip sending HHH into the ladder.
Clotheslining HHH, Rock brought the ladder into the ring and erected it.
Rock climbed it, but HHH mounted the top turnbuckle and delivered a flying forearm knocking him off the ladder.
Due to his quick thinking but poor planning, the ladder fell atop HHH on the mat.
He jammed the ladder into Rock and jabbed it into Rock’s midsection.
Meanwhile, JR questioned Lawler about Sammy Sosa. Woohoo!
HHH set up the ladder, climbed it, but Rock yanked him down causing HHH’s previously injured knee to buckle.
Working on HHH’s leg, Rock dropped the ladder onto it. That’ll ruin your weekend.
Rock Pillmanized the knee within the ladder and stomped it.
Appropriating a chair from ringside, Rock WHACKED the ladder with HHH’s knee inside it.
He rammed HHH’s knee into the ring post as the MSG faithful battled between “Let’s go Rocky” and “Rocky sucks” chants. Cena wasn’t the first, folks.
Leveraging the ladder in between the steps and the barrier, Rock slammed HHH knee -first onto it.
He mounted the apron and leaped with a flying elbow smash.
Tossing the ladder back into the ring, Rock climbed it again, but HHH recovered enough to shove him down.
HHH disposed of the ladder and Rock outside the ring, grabbed and set it up against the barrier, and attempted to bash Rock into it.
Blocking it, Rock catapulted HHH into it. Neat spot!
Rock tried to drop the ladder onto him, but HHH kicked the knee forcing Rock to FUMBLE it.
Reversing an Irish whip in the aisle, HHH clotheslined Rock.
HHH tried to Pedigree him onto the ladder, but Rock countered with a back drop onto said ladder.
With Chyna’s consoling HHH on the floor, Henry slung a second ladder into the ring.
Rock set it up and climbed, but HHH got detained by Henry.
Obliterating Henry on HHH’s behalf, Chyna received tremendous kudos from the MSG faithful.
HHH ultimately returned to the ring and pushed the ladder sending Rock down to the floor.
Using a baseball slide, HHH sent the ladder right into the Rock’s mush. Someone call a dentist!
HHH joined Rock on the floor and made him HIT THE POLE.
But of course, Rock was BUSTED OPEN.
HHH erected the ladder, climbed, but Rock struck the ladder causing HHH to crash down to the mat.
Straddling one of the ladders across the top turnbuckle, Rock blocked a cross corner whip reversal and planted HHH with a DDT.
Rock climbed the ladder again, and HHH climbed the other side.
Bouncing HHH’s face off the ladder, Rock vaulted him face-first into the second ladder. Innovative!
HHH retaliated by bumping the ladder causing Rock to guillotine himself with the top rope.
Although Rock grabbed the ladder, HHH smashed it with a chair.
With the ladder atop Rock, HHH viciously blasted it with the chair.
Rock slammed HHH onto the ladder and performed the People’s Elbow to a HUGE ovation.
Amid a loud “Rock-y” chant from the MSG faithful, HHH climbed the ladder and leaped.
Rock snatched him out of thin air and deposited him with a Rock Bottom.
To prevent Rock from retrieving the belt, HHH caused a full moon over New York City.
HHH decimated Rock with a Pedigree, but both wrestlers laid prone on the mat.
Heinously, Henry threw powder in HHH’s eyes.
HHH, with powder creeping into his eyes, climbed the ladder again.
On the opposite side, Rock climbed, but Chyna nailed him down near the New York Stock Exchange.
Rock collapsed down to the mat allowing HHH to climb unimpeded.
Grabbing the belt, HHH won at 26:10.
WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION, and the MSG faithful LOST ITS DAMN MIND!

Rating: *****

Summary: Brilliant storytelling combined with excellent chemistry, great psychology, ladder work, appropriate interference strictly defines this match as legendary by elevating both wrestlers. Absolutely remarkable!

After the match, DX joins HHH in celebration while Rock lays defeated on the mat.

We see “exclusive home video footage” of Rock returning backstage and chastising a backstage doctor. As Rock cuts a promo on HHH, he vows “payback is a bitch.”

Match 8 for the WWF title: Stone Cold Steve Austin versus Undertaker

Highlights:

To what was truly my favorite of his themes, Undertaker made his entrance with a purpose.
Undertaker reversed a cross corner whip and clotheslined Austin for 2
As he ducked a clothesline, Austin rolled up Undertaker for 2.
He blocked a back drop attempt but inadvertently smacked heads with Undertaker. Briefly, Austin was knocked OUT COLD.
When Austin came to, he prepped for a vertical suplex, but Undertaker used his strength to feed Austin one instead.
He dealt Austin an elbow drop but missed a second one.
After Undertaker reversed an Irish whip, he delivered a Stungun for 2. How appropriate!
He gave Austin a HARD cross corner whip to injure the back.
While Austin rebounded by ramming Undertaker’s leg into the ring post, Undertaker responded with a flying clothesline.
Undertaker attempted a ropewalk shoulder smash, but Austin yanked him down to the mat.
With Austin’s precision on Undertaker’s leg, Kane sauntered down the aisle.
Undertaker banished Kane backstage, but Austin rammed his injured leg against the apron.
Despite Austin’s being on the apron, Undertaker chokeslammed him back into the ring.
Austin retaliated by clotheslining Undertaker over the top rope to the floor.
Leaping from the apron, Austin hammered Undertaker with a double axe handle.
He rammed Undertaker face-first into the Spanish broadcast table and made him taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Chieftan at Carragher’s.
Brawling amongst the MSG faithful, Austin attempted a piledriver, but Undertaker countered with a back drop.
Undertaker clotheslined him back to ringside while superfan Vladimir Abouzeide appeared among the MSG faithful.
Making Austin HIT THE POLE, Undertaker returned him to the ring.
Austin attempted a Stone Cold Stunner, but Undertaker blocked it and sought refuge on the floor.
Catching a leaping Austin, Undertaker SQUISHED him against the ring post.
Austin charged, but Undertaker used momentum to launch him over the top rope to the floor.
Joining Austin, Undertaker shoved him knee-first into the steps.
He prepped the Spanish broadcast table and placed Austin atop it.
Mounting the top turnbuckle, Undertaker launched a guillotine leg drop, but the table remained mostly intact.
They returned to the ring, but Undertaker only got 2.
Giving Austin a cross corner whip, Undertaker came up empty on his follow-through.
He gave Austin another cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
Following a double clothesline sending both to the mat, Austin scored with a Thesz press.
He landed an elbow smash, got reversed on a cross corner whip, and again both heads smacked one another. Now I’m getting dizzy.
Placing an arm over Undertaker, Austin got 2.
Undertaker chokeslammed him, but Austin escaped a tombstone attempt.
Blocking the kick before the storm, Undertaker crotched Austin on the top rope.
He hit a side-Russian leg sweep as the MSG faithful chanted “Aus-tin.”
Again, Undertaker tried a ropewalk shoulder smash, but Austin caught him down near Greenwich Village and destroyed Undertaker with a Stunner.
1-2-3.
Austin retained at 21:06.

Rating: ***

Summary: The temporary knockout of Austin derailed what could have been a spectacular match. Instead, it had some fascinating spots but lacked a meaty story to feed the MSG faithful.

Following the match, Undertaker grabs the belt, stares into Austin’s eyes, positions himself to annihilate, yet hands the title to him instead. Sportsmanship! Before the show leaves the air, Kane joins Undertaker in the aisle to stare down the WWF champion.

Conclusion: What an entertaining and thrilling show. Obviously, Rock and HHH stole the show with their ladder match while the main event suffered due to an inadvertent botch. Otherwise, the rest of the card was truly entertaining and worth every penny. Enjoy!

Buyrate: 1.63

Stay tuned for WCW Monday Nitro 08-31-98!

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