Live from Milwaukee, WI
Airdate: October 19, 1998
Attendance: 12,157 (sold out)
Hosted by Jim Ross & Jerry “The King” Lawler
Since Austin was fired, what’s next for Mr. McMahon? How will a new WWF champion be crowned? Who wins the battle of champions? What surprise does Jarrett have for us? You won’t have to hunt very long to enjoy this one!
In the cold open, streamers and balloons fall from the ceiling as the entire WWF roster enters or surrounds the ring. As Mr. McMahon emerges in a wheelchair, he “guarantee(s)” that there will be a new WWF champion as a tournament will be held at Survivor Series on 11/15. The Milwaukee faithful showers him with an “asshole” chant.
He repeats the words he said to Stone Cold Steve Austin last night and shows a photo of him in disbelief from last night. While Mr. McMahon mentions that “Austin’s been hunting,” he fills in the rest with “for a job.” He informs Austin that if he wants to be involved in a WWF event, he’ll “have to buy a ticket.” Next, he compares the firing of Austin to being “better than sex.” Poor Linda.
He advises the WWF roster to heed his words and not “cross the boss.” Changing Austin’s motto to his, Mr. McMahon coins “McMahon 3:16 – I’ve got the brass to fire your ass.” On the Titantron, Austin sits in a pickup truck while wearing hunting gear.
Following a commercial break, McMahon’s advisers tell him about Austin’s arsenal. McMahon instructs the Big Boss Man to get his family out of town.
Prior to the first match, we revisit last week when Shamrock defeated X-Pac to become the new IC champion. After that, we see Shamrock’s personal reconstruction of HHH’s injured knee.
Earlier today, DX congregated with rock band Motley Crue who will perform next week on RAW.
Match 1 (non-title): WWF Intercontinental champion Ken Shamrock versus WWF European champion X-Pac
Highlights:
- Shamrock ambushed X-Pac from behind and fed him a knee to the midsection.
- When he suplexed X-Pac, Shamrock followed with a fist drop.
- He snap-suplexed X-Pac and got 2.
- Meanwhile, Gerald Brisco advised Mr. McMahon that “everything’s under control.”
- Two men in uniform approached, handcuffed, and escorted Chyna from ringside.
- As X-Pac dealt Shamrock a spin kick, he delivered a leg lariat.
- Shamrock rebounded with a quick powerslam for 2.
- After he gave X-Pac a cross corner whip, Shamrock followed with a corner clothesline.
- X-Pac reversed a cross corner whip but came up empty on a Bronco Buster attempt.
- While Shamrock connected with a belly-to-belly suplex, he stymied X-Pac with a huracanrana.
- Mankind approached the ring to a great pop as the Milwaukee faithful chanted “Sock-o.”
- Distracted by Mankind, Shamrock brought him into the ring the hard way but fell victim to a Mandible claw.
- Shamrock countered with a belly-to-belly suplex, but X-Pac waffled him with an X-Factor.
- 1-2-3.
- X-Pac won at 4:17.
Rating: **
Summary: Action-packed four minutes until the distraction finish cost Shamrock the match.
Backstage, officers place Chyna in the back of an unmarked police car much to the chagrin of the NAO. In the meantime, two cops approach Austin sitting in his pickup truck and request autographs.
In Mr. McMahon’s office, Mr. McMahon’s SCARED OUT OF HIS BVDs about Austin. Following a commercial break, he demands a K-9 officer arrest Austin; however, the K-9 officer tells him: “Screw you.” HA!
Prior to the next match, the Headbangers, wearing toy belts, parody the NAO introduction with their own spiel.
RAW is sponsored by Castrol Syntec and Mr. Tees. I pity the fool who doesn’t sponsor this show.
Match 2: The Headbangers versus Road Warrior Animal & Droz (w/ Road Warrior Hawk)
Highlights:
- Animal fed Mosh a clothesline, gave him a cross corner whip, but ate boot on his follow-through.
- As he mounted the second turnbuckle, Mosh uncorked a flying clothesline.
- He dealt Animal a senton in the corner but got reversed on an Irish whip and powerslammed. Animal got 2.
- When Droz tagged in, he and Animal double-backdropped Mosh.
- Droz missed an elbow drop, so Thrasher tagged in.
- After the Headbangers double-gourdbustered him, Droz hooked a sunset flip for 2.
- He countered a back drop attempt with a sit-out powerbomb for another 2.
- While all four wrestlers were in the ring, Animal and Droz rammed the Headbangers together.
- Animal clotheslined Mosh over the top rope to the floor, but Droz got distracted by Hawk.
- Rolling up Droz, Thrasher hooked the tights and pinned him at 1:55.
Rating: *
Summary: That double gourdbuster looked DANGEROUS, but Droz came away unscathed.
In Mr. McMahon’s office, the Stooges leave him alone to grab some coffee.
There’s a knock at the door, and Mr. McMahon answers. Although it could have been Austin, it ends up being Mr. Socko. Mankind drops the “Vinnie’s got a sweet tooth” line again upon dropping a garbage bag. As he recites Sally Field’s famous line from the Oscars, Mankind ensures the door’s closed. Mr. McMahon notes that “it doesn’t lock.”
Undertaker and Paul Bearer emerge through the entrance and enter the ring. When he grabs the microphone, Undertaker mentions a reconciliation and introduces Bearer as the leader of the Ministry of Darkness. Undertaker promises mayhem, and Bearer dismisses his former charge Kane. Next, Undertaker informs Kane that HE set the fire that killed their parents. Evil!
Suddenly, Kane emerges with a large casket. He applies a device to assist his vocal chords and challenges Undertaker to a casket match TONIGHT and vows to win.
In Mr. McMahon’s office, Mankind shares a meal with the boss. He opens the bag and begins playing a game of Twister with the camera firmly on Mick Foley’s HUGE ASS. When Mankind calls him a “major party pooper,” Mr. McMahon adamantly yells at him to leave.
Prior to the next match, we revisit last week when Shamrock beat Blackman by wrenching his still-injured knee. Afterward, the Blue Blazer made his presence felt by knocking Shamrock down and pounding Blackman.
WAR ZONE!
Match 3: Jeff Jarrett (w/ Debra McMichael) versus Steve Blackman
Highlights:
- Holy WCW defections, Batman! It’s Mongo’s wife! Realistically speaking, she’s been divorced for a solid week according to court records.
- Jarrett clotheslined Blackman but missed an elbow drop.
- When Blackman dropkicked him, Jarrett migrated to the apron and guillotined him with the top rope.
- He mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a cross body block.
- As Blackman used momentum to land on top, he got 2.
- Blackman fed Jarrett a spin kick for another 2.
- After the Milwaukee faithful displayed an aura of being crass with a “show your tits” chant at Debra, Jarrett reversed an Irish whip, ducked another spin kick, and dealt Blackman a swinging neckbreaker.
- He dropkicked Blackman and got 2.
- While he delivered a DDT, Jarrett got reversed on a cross corner whip but gave Blackman a back elbow during the latter’s follow-through.
- Jarrett mounted the second turnbuckle, leaped, but ate a kick to the midsection.
- Landing an elbow drop, Blackman flattened Jarrett with a flying shoulder block.
- He pulverized Jarrett with a bicycle kick, but the Blue Blazer stormed into the ring.
- Due to the Blue Blazer’s interference by way of belly-to-belly suplex, referee Jim Korderas called for the bell to disqualify Jarrett.
- Blackman won by DQ at 2:33.
Rating: ***
Summary: While I understand that the WWF was using shock value to debut Debra, her presence didn’t affect the outcome of the match. Instead, another Blue Blazer run-in made her debut ineffectual.
After the match, Jarrett and the Blue Blazer double-team Blackman while the Milwaukee faithful crave chicken. C’mon, they were chanting for chicken nuggets, right?
Regardless, Jarrett procures his guitar and prepares to cream Blackman. Al Snow sneaks into the ring ready to bash Jarrett with Head, but Debra distracts him. OK, that makes sense. Unfortunately for Snow, Jarrett wallops him with the guitar.
Back in Mr. McMahon’s office, the phone rings, and Mr. McMahon contemplates answering it. Austin’s on the other end and informs him: “Your time’s up, you sorry bastard. I’m comin’ to get you.” Creepy!
Following a commercial break, Mr. McMahon’s on the phone with his limousine driver. He questions if the driver can see Austin, but he cannot. Quickly, Mr. McMahon deduces that Austin’s in the building. Mr. McMahon wants the limo ready for him and to scream if Austin’s nearby. When he exits the arena, Mr. McMahon tries to jump into the limo.
Instead, Austin throws a hunting bow atop the limo and intercepts him. Mr. McMahon tries to ride away in his wheelchair, but Austin yells at him to “freeze.” As he wheels Mr. McMahon back into the arena, he grabs his bow. Austin purposefully and recklessly knocks him from the wheelchair while Mr. McMahon screams about his ankle. Austin wheels Mr. McMahon into his office and closes the door.
SLAM OF THE WEEK: Brown dives but falls victim to an X-Factor as X-Pac recaptures the European title.
Back in Mr. McMahon’s office, Austin questions Mr. McMahon’s hunting skills. He pulls out a knife and asks Mr. McMahon a question, but Mr. McMahon stammers.
We revisit last week when Brown and Henry excommunicated Rock from the NoD.
Match 4: Rock versus D’Lo Brown (w/ Mark Henry)
Highlights:
- As Rock makes his entrance, I don’t believe I’ve ever heard this version.
- The Milwaukee faithful informed Brown that he indeed “sucks.”
- When Brown started trash-talkin’, Rock laid the smackdown on him with a clothesline.
- Brown reversed a cross corner whip but ate a swinging neckbreaker.
- After Henry distracted referee Tim White, Rock smashed Brown WAY DOWNTOWN.
- Brown quickly rebounded with a spinning heel kick, slammed Rock, and landed a leg drop.
- While Brown gave him a cross corner whip, Rock exploded from the corner with another clothesline.
- Brown sent Rock sailing over the top rope to the floor and distracted White.
- With Rock on the floor, Henry clotheslined him.
- Henry tossed Rock back into the ring, and Brown got 2.
- Slamming Rock, Brown missed an elbow drop.
- Rock got reversed on an Irish whip but fed Brown a Samoan drop.
- Getting reversed on another Irish whip, Rock planted Brown with a DDT for 2.
- He slammed Brown and followed with a People’s Elbow to a MONSTER pop.
- Coming back with a clothesline, Brown mounted the second turnbuckle and leaped.
- Rock caught and destroyed Brown with a Rock Bottom.
- 1-2-3.
- Rock won at 3:41.
Rating: **
Summary: You’d better believe that the WWF audience is buying what the Rock is selling.
Following the match, Henry jumps into the ring, and he and Brown double-team Rock until WWF officials restore the peace.
Back in Mr. McMahon’s office, Austin asks him if he wants to know the sharpness of the knife. Austin stands, and Mr. McMahon screams for his life. Instead of piercing him, Austin grabs a granny smith apple. After a break, Austin claims that although he went hunting, he didn’t get a deer, he got a jackass.
In the ring, Tiger Ali Singh berates the Milwaukee faithful while Babu “grills” frankfurters. He will pay $500 to anyone who can swallow an entire kielbasa. Of course, Babu picks a female plant from the front row behind the broadcast table. According to Meltzer, it’s the Sausage Queen from the Howard Stern show. She’s dressed quite provocatively for a wrestling show. Her attire notwithstanding, she handles the long kielbasa without issue to the delight of heterosexual men everywhere.
Babu pays the woman her winnings as she performs the stunt again. Suddenly, Godfather struts to the ring and claims that she’s one of his ex-ho’s. He’s demanding to get paid. Adamantly, Singh “wanted an amateur, not a professional.” Godfather retorts that he could have spent the night for her for less. Upstaged, Singh uses Babu as a shield and attacks Godfather to ZERO reaction. Singh pushes Babu in the way, so Godfather slams him. To end the segment, WWF officials arrive to separate them. This guy is doomed to fail.
In McMahon’s office, Austin shoots an arrow through a picture of a Detroit Red Wing. Continuing to intimidate him, Austin recalls the movie Deliverance and wants Mr. McMahon to squeal for him. Meekly, Mr. McMahon squeals, so Austin takes issue with it. He forces Mr. McMahon to squeal louder with the threat of his bow. Under duress, he complies. Next, Austin asks him if he’s seen Misery and threatens to hobble him. Mr. McMahon desperately screams for help.
Since there’s already a 2×4 between his feet, Austin’s in need of a sledgehammer. To quell Mr. McMahon’s screams, Austin tapes his mouth shut. He wraps Mr. McMahon in duct tape before hunting for a sledgehammer.
Prior to the next match, we see stills of the Venis-Goldust PPV match. Before the match begins, Venis is still smarting from his comeuppance. He grabs the microphone and makes a snake joke.
Match 5: Mankind versus Val Venis (w/ Terri Runnels)
Highlights:
- The match began with a criss-cross, and Venis put a pair of knees into Mankind’s midsection.
- When he fed Mankind a side-Russian leg sweep, Venis dealt him a ten-punch count-along.
- Mankind attempted an inverted atomic drop, but Venis countered with a clothesline.
- As Venis attempted a running guillotine, Mankind evaded him causing more pain, blues, and agony to the big Valbowski.
- Mankind backdropped and split Venis’ uprights.
- After he annihilated Venis with a double-arm DDT, Mankind invited Mr. Socko into the match.
- Mankind applied Mr. Socko to Venis, but Terri jumped onto the apron to distract referee Mike Chioda.
- While all that transpired, Shamrock approached ringside with a chair and jabbed Mankind in the knee with it. Heinous!
- 1-2-3.
- Venis won at 3:34.
Rating: **
Summary: More storyline than match as Socko couldn’t help Mankind against chair shots to the knee.
Afterward, Mankind goes after Shamrock and sends him shoulder-first into the steps. He beats him all the way to Kenosha including a chair shot.
Despite the win, Venis stands in the ring while Goldust appears on the Titantron to threaten him that he’s not seen the last of him. Terri tells Venis something, but Venis bails.
Back in Mr. McMahon’s office, Austin informs Mr. McMahon that he “won’t feel a damn thing.” After a break, Austin channels You Bet Your Life and forces him to choose Undertaker or Kane. Reluctantly, Mr. McMahon chooses Kane. Austin continues by saying if Kane wins, “we’ll do things the easy way.” But if anything else happens, “we’re gonna do things the hard way.”
TV Rating: 4.7
WWF Survivor Series ’98 will be LIVE on PPV on 11/15. Order NOW!
Match 6 (casket): Undertaker (w/ Paul Bearer) versus Kane
Highlights:
- Kane gave Undertaker a cross corner whip but ate a back elbow on his follow-through.
- As he fed Kane a flying clothesline, Undertaker got reversed on an Irish whip and powerslammed.
- Undertaker countered a back drop attempt with a DDT and clotheslined Kane over the top rope into the casket.
- When Kane landed on his feet, he dragged Undertaker into the casket with him.
- They battled tooth-and-nail inside the casket until Undertaker SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE.
- After Undertaker dealt Kane a DDT in the casket, the referees closed the casket.
- Is it a draw?
- No, they obliterated the casket, and Kane escaped the remains.
- Undertaker mounted the apron, leaped, but Kane caught and rammed him back-first into the apron.
- While Kane sauntered after Bearer, Undertaker followed behind and SMACKED him with a chair.
- Since both wrestlers retreated backstage, the match ended at 4:43.
- BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Rating: DUD
Summary: Can we PLEASE never see these two compete against one another again?
In Mr. McMahon’s office, Austin tells him that he’s lost and must pay the consequences.
TV Rating: 4.7
Austin wheels Mr. McMahon out of his office and into the arena. As they enter the ring, they replay the clip where Mr. McMahon says: “I’ve got the brass to fire your ass.” Austin gives him something to read and puts it in his pocket. Next, Austin polls the Milwaukee faithful about seeing Mr. McMahon’s eyes pop out. Of course, he receives an unanimously favorable response. Austin removes his .38 Special from his pocket, but he doesn’t hold it loosely.
Instead, he points it directly at Mr. McMahon’s head, pulls the trigger, and…
a BANG 3:16 flag rolls out like in a Tom & Jerry cartoon.
Austin reminds him that “Vince McMahon screwed Vince McMahon.” After he acknowledges Mr. McMahon’s dilemma, Austin states: “McMahon 3:16 says: ‘I just pissed my pants.’” To put the exclamation point on the show, Austin stuns Mr. McMahon twice to a ROAR from the Milwaukee faithful.
TV Rating: 6.25
EXTRA ATTITUDE: With Mr. McMahon unconscious on the mat, Austin celebrates to a raucous ovation from the Milwaukee faithful. He removes his camouflage top and salutes them. Finally, the Stooges return to the fallen Mr. McMahon, and the Milwaukee faithful serenades them with an “ass-hole” chant. The Stooges carry him down to his wheelchair and up the ramp while Mr. McMahon is whimpering.
Conclusion: To quote the old proverb:
Actually, it’s “Revenge is a dish best served cold.” Austin sought revenge for his humiliation at the PPV and cashed in during tonight’s episode. Without question, pro wrestling took a back seat to sports entertainment.
The main message of the episode was the 16-man tournament to crown a new WWF champion at the next PPV. The rest of the episode was all about ratings.
Could it finally overcome Nitro in the ratings?
TV Rating: 5.01
Who won? Yes, RAW won by more than six-tenths of a point as the WWF kept the audience’s attention away from the big shill for the WCW PPV. Heaven knows what the WWF will do next, but WCW’s got to pull a rabbit out of its hat to win next week. I guess we’ll see what happens.
Stay tuned for WCW Thunder 10-22-98!
Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at rsg@rockstargary.com and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202).