Live from Lexington, KY
Airdate: November 16, 1998
Attendance: 17,610 (sold out)
Hosted by Jim Ross & Jerry “The King” Lawler
What’s in store for Rock as the new WWF champion? Does Austin have something to say or do about it? What happens between Bossman and Shamrock? How does Mankind handle what happened at the PPV? And what’s the latest among the Road Warriors? A lot happens in two hours, so are you going to risk it?
NEW Opening montage.
Mr. McMahon, Shane, and their entourage approach the ring. As he grabs the microphone, Mr. McMahon crows about fooling everyone. He introduces the NEW WWF and Corporate champion—the Rock. Wearing a stylish leopard shirt, Rock steps into the ring to a “Rocky sucks” chant. Hugs are shared, and Rock doesn’t believe he’s either a sell-out or a kiss-ass.
He cuts a promo on Austin whom the Lexington faithful chants his name. When he refers to both his eyebrow and his Elbow, he defines them as Corporate. Honestly, this is Rock’s best promo to date. Nevertheless, Mr. McMahon appreciates his ass being kissed.
After Mr. McMahon advises the Lexington faithful to watch the Titantron, Austin is shown making his arrival to the arena. Mr. McMahon demands that the camera be taken off Austin, and we revisit from three weeks ago when Shane revealed that he signed Austin to a new contract. Next, we revisit two weeks ago when Shane “regained Austin’s trust.” We revisit last week when Austin saved Shane from Bossman, Rock was “attacked,” poor Mick Foley was preened, Rock beat Henry to re-enter the tournament, and Mr. McMahon ate an Elbow. Got all that?
Following that, we see stills of when Mr. McMahon screwed Foley out of the title. Footage of the finish of the Austin-Mankind match is shown when Shane screwed Austin. To an overwhelming reaction, Austin joins the party. He runs down Rock before Mr. McMahon reminds him of the “can’t touch a McMahon unless provoked” clause in his new contract.
Austin has his own provision as we revisit two weeks ago when Shane announced that Austin will get a title shot TONIGHT. Pulling out a contract, Austin emphasizes he will face the Rock TONIGHT. On the Titantron, Judge Mills Lane confirms that Austin’s contract is legally binding. That’s quite the opening segment and scheduled main event.
Promo airs for the encore of the PPV.
Prior to the next match, Road Dog recites his catchphrase with assistance from the Lexington faithful.
WWF Rock Bottom will be LIVE on PPV on 12/13. Order NOW!
Match 1 (six-man): DX versus the Oddities (w/ Luna & ICP)
Highlights:
- Not sure what popped the Lexington faithful more—the DX theme or the ICP song.
- Kurrgan reversed an Irish whip and dealt Gunn a big boot.
- When Road Dog tagged in, he unleashed a Gunn-assisted shaky-shaky knee drop.
- Kurrgan manhandled Road Dog planting him with a sidewalk slam.
- As Golga tagged in, he and Kurrgan steamrolled Road Dog.
- Golga gave Road Dog a cross corner whip followed by an avalanche.
- After he slammed Road Dog, Golga mounted the second turnbuckle but missed a flying elbow.
- Gunn tagged in, but Golga reversed an Irish whip.
- While Gunn demolished Golga with a Rocker Dropper, he got 2.
- Off-camera, Shaggy 2 Dope flew from the top turnbuckle but nailed Golga instead of Gunn.
- 1-2-3.
- DX won at 2:54.
Rating: *
Summary: More of a fluff match to keep the Lexington faithful going than an actual barnburner.
OK, but let’s not go there.
After the match, the Oddities argue with ICP. Also, the Headbangers jump Road Dog on the ramp before Gunn and X-Pac chase them off. You can see bits and pieces of Vince Russo in these episodes and this is one of them.
Meanwhile, Mankind arrives and throws an absolute FIT.
Promo airs for the NEW DX football jersey. Call NOW to get yours TODAY!
Back in Mr. McMahon’s office, Pat Patterson gets volunteered to handle Mankind. No, not like THAT.
Shamrock approaches the ring, grabs the microphone, and is PISSED OFF about last night. Upon cutting a promo on Bossman, Shamrock challenges him to a title match TONIGHT.
Prior to the next match, Venis grabs the microphone and makes a horse joke. Don’t worry, I’m NOT touching that one.
Match 2: Mark Henry (w/ D’Lo Brown) versus Val Venis
Highlights:
- Henry unloaded a forearm smash but ate a clothesline.
- As Henry blocked a back drop attempt, he dealt Venis a belly-to-belly suplex.
- The match segued to the floor, and Henry rammed Venis back-first into the apron.
- When he sandwiched Venis back-first against the ring post, the match returned to the ring where Venis clotheslined him again.
- Venis delivered a pair of knees to the midsection and followed with a side-Russian leg sweep.
- After Henry reversed an Irish whip, he flapjacked Venis.
- Suddenly, Chyna emerged, and Henry smiled when he saw her.
- Venis took advantage of the distraction, rolled up Henry, and pinned him at 2:38.
Rating: *
Summary: More angle than match as Chyna returns following surgery.
Following the match, Henry grabs the microphone and invites Chyna on a date. He recites a poem for her, but Chyna walks away without comment. Hey guys, just a quick tip. If you want someone to go out with you, do NOT sue them for sexual harassment first.
Back in Mr. McMahon’s office, Patterson couldn’t find the boiler room. Gerald Brisco knows where it is, so Mr. McMahon sends him after Mankind.
RAW is sponsored by JVC, Mr. Tees, and Stone Cold Metal.
Match 3: Jeff Jarrett & the Blue Blazer (w/ Debra McMichael) versus Steve Blackman & Goldust
Highlights:
- Jarrett leapfrogged Goldust but ate an elbow drop on a monkey flip attempt.
- When Goldust uncorked a lariat, Jarrett reversed an Irish whip only to eat an uppercut.
- Blackman tagged in, but Jarrett dropkicked him.
- As Jarrett suplexed Blackman, Blazer tagged in but ate a bicycle kick.
- In the meantime, Goldust and Jarrett brawled at ringside.
- 1-2-3.
- Blackman and Goldust won at 2:11.
Rating: DUD
Summary: Short attention span theater continues as this brisk match was over before it started. Vince Russo, I presume.
Afterward, Blackman attempts to remove Blazer’s mask, but Jarrett and Owen double-team him. Jarrett destroys Blackman with a Stroke, Blazer hooks a Dragon sleeper, and Owen goes WAY DOWNTOWN on him. Wait a minute! Who’s the Blazer if neither Jarrett nor Owen is wearing the costume? According to Meltzer, it was Dr. Tom Prichard.
Back in Mr. McMahon’s office, Brisco’s afraid to enter the boiler room. Fearless, Commissioner Slaughter gets his turn to locate Mankind per Mr. McMahon.
Following a commercial break, Slaughter returns empty-handed, so Mr. McMahon sends all three Stooges after Mankind. If there was ever a point in this era where Brisco, Patterson, and Slaughter should be considered as Stooges, it’s right at this moment.
WAR ZONE!
Prior to the next match, Godfather grabs the microphone and offers Regal a night with the ho’s “FOR FREE for the whole night” in lieu of a match. Regail ain’t stupid, so he’ll “take the broads.” HA! While Regal leaves with the ho’s, Godfather insults him using a homophobic slur. They brawl at ringside until WWF officials separate them. Sorry, folks, but I’m with Regal on this one.
Match 4: The Godfather (w/ ho’s) versus Steven Regal
Highlights:
- No match.
Rating: NONE
Outside the arena, Kane sends a production technician face-first into a truck. He chokeslams another tech onto a loading bed.
Back in Mr. McMahon’s office, he preps Bossman for his upcoming match against Shamrock.
Prior to the next match, we revisit last week when Shamrock battled Mankind until Bossman laid him out.
REAL Match 4 for the WWF Intercontinental title: Ken Shamrock (champion) versus the Big Bossman
Highlights:
- Shamrock connected with a back elbow followed by a thrust kick.
- When he grabbed the nightstick, Shamrock tried to wallop Bossman with it.
- Referee Mike Chioda took it from him beforehand, so Bossman took control with a sliding uppercut.
- As the match segued to the floor, Shamrock rammed Bossman face-first into the steps twice.
- Back in the ring, Shamrock gave Bossman a cross corner whip followed by a clothesline.
- A cross corner whip from Bossman was followed by an avalanche.
- After he dealt Shamrock a spinebuster, Bossman got 2.
- Yet another cross corner whip from Bossman occurred, but he came up empty on his follow-through.
- With Bossman on the floor, Shamrock leaped from the apron and unloaded a double axe handle.
- Chioda had trouble keeping them apart, so they both CLOBBERED him.
- While Bossman reversed a cross corner whip, he clotheslined Shamrock.
- The bell rang, yet Shamrock nailed Bossman with a high knee.
- Although the match had ended, the fight continued.
- WWF officials separated them until Shane and Mr. McMahon arrived.
- Questioning the goings-on, Mr. McMahon recruited Shamrock for the Corporation.
- To the dismay of the Lexington faithful, Shamrock agreed to join him.
Rating: NONE
Summary: Time filler until the angle transpired.
Afterward, Shamrock shakes Bossman’s hand.
Match 5: The Brood (w/ Christian) versus Road Warrior Animal & Droz
Highlights:
- Droz and Animal double-backdropped Gangrel, and Droz followed with a lariat.
- When Edge tagged in, the Brood hung Droz out to dry on the top rope.
- Christian held Droz by the legs, and Edge dropkicked him.
- As Gangrel tagged in, Edge whipped Gangrel into Droz.
- Gangrel unfurled a corner clothesline, and Edge followed with a Gangrel-assisted springboard avalanche.
- After Droz reversed a cross corner whip, he ate boot on his follow-through.
- He powerslammed Edge and got 2.
- At the entrance, Hawk glanced toward the ring.
- Animal tagged in and powerbombed Edge.
- Concurrently, Hawk climbed the Titantron.
- Animal and Droz left the ring to deal with him and got counted out.
- The Brood won by countout at 2:14.
Rating: DUD
Summary: More angle than match as you will see.
After the match, Hawk stands atop the Titantron while Animal, with microphone in hand, tries to calm the matter. “Precious” Paul Ellering breaks the fourth wall and speaks to Hawk. After a despondent Hawk refuses to listen to Ellering, Droz also climbs the Titantron. Out of character, Animal refers to Hawk by his real name, Mike. Hawk tells Droz that he’s “the last person (he) want(s) up here.” When Droz tries to grab him, he pushes Hawk who “falls” behind the Titantron.
Backstage, Hawk’s already in an ambulance, and a disconsolate Ellering is assisted by Skull and 8-Ball.
POINT OF ORDER: There are several ways to write off a character like Hawk. This wasn’t one of them.
Nonetheless, in the ring, Michael Cole interviews WWF Women’s champion Sable who dedicates the Women’s title to the fans. On the other hand, Shane interrupts and corrects her about who “made” her. She contradicts him, yet Shane insinuates that she only got to the top by doing THAT. After Shane leaves, she informs him that she’s not “for sale.”
SONY PLAYSTATION SLAM OF THE WEEK: Rock blasts Mankind with the WWF title at the PPV cementing his heel turn.
Backstage, the Stooges, wearing football helmets and riot gear, search for Mankind. Instantly, Mankind pops out of the dark and attacks them. He beats the BEJEEZUS out of them and leaves them laying.
Following a commercial break, Mr. McMahon, Shane, Bossman, and Shamrock approach the ring. Mr. McMahon disputes the title match while the Lexington faithful call him an “asshole.” As he declares this match to be Austin’s “last shot,” Mr. McMahon introduces the WWF champion.
Match 6 for the WWF title: Rock (champion) versus Stone Cold Steve Austin
Highlights:
- If this match only goes two or three minutes…
- Austin hit the ring, and it was on like…well, you know.
- As Rock tried to hightail it, Austin corralled him on the ramp.
- Austin dealt Rock an elbow smash and got 2.
- When he suplexed Rock, Austin mounted the second turnbuckle and launched a pointed elbow drop for another 2.
- Rock rebounded with a swinging neckbreaker and a clothesline.
- After the match segued to the floor, Rock clotheslined Austin into the front row.
- They brawled amongst the Lexington faithful until Austin returned Rock to ringside.
- While Austin tried to turn Rock’s lights out with a chair, Rock blocked it.
- Rock bounced Austin face-first off the Spanish broadcast table, yet the Lexington faithful chanted “Aus-tin.”
- Their hero rebounded with an elbow smash and attempted a piledriver on the floor.
- Conversely, Rock countered with a back drop and clotheslined Austin.
- Back in the ring, Rock hooked a sleeper, but Austin escaped.
- Rock reversed an Irish whip and caught Austin with a back elbow.
- Slamming Austin, Rock scored with a Corporate Elbow.
- Rock ducked a clothesline and demolished Austin with one of his own for 2.
- At ringside, Mankind brawled with Bossman.
- Shamrock assisted Bossman in double-teaming Mankind.
- Blocking a Stone Cold Stunner, Rock attempted a Rock Bottom.
- Austin escaped and obliterated Rock with a Stunner.
- Do we have a new champion?
- 1-2-NO!
- Shamrock pulled referee Earl Hebner out of the ring. You bastard!
- Next, Undertaker and Paul Bearer approached ringside.
- Undertaker entered the ring with a shovel and annihilated Austin with it.
- As a result, Austin won by DQ at 8:00.
Rating: ****
Summary: It doesn’t get much bigger and better than this as a main event. The screwy finish kept it from reaching an historical height, but these guys are M-O-N-E-Y.
Following the match, Undertaker winds up to bash Austin’s skull in, but Bearer doesn’t want a murder with a deadly weapon conviction for his protégé. And with that, the episode ended.
Conclusion: Blockbuster episode with an unbelievable main event. Seriously, this is a WrestleMania-level main event given away on TV, yet the belt doesn’t change hands. That’s a good thing as he’s just been established as the Corporate champion. Austin will somehow have to find a way to earn another title shot.
Like the PPV, this episode was full of sports entertainment with limited wrestling. Shamrock joining the Corporation, the opening segment to both establish Rock and his main event showdown with Austin, the Mankind saga, Chyna’s return, Regal’s wise decision to fight another day, and Sable dominated over the matches. We’ll see if its what wrestling fans prefer.
Oh, did I forget something? Yes, the lowlight of the episode was the unceremonious departure of Hawk. According to Cagematch, Hawk didn’t wrestle on TV for the WWF again until WrestleMania.
Regardless, could it overcome Nitro in the ratings?
TV Rating: 5.5
Who won? Yes, with the excitement turned up to 11, RAW sent Nitro packing 5.5 to 4.3. The big difference was the main event number as Rock/Austin garnered a 5.46 while Goldberg/Bigelow merely grabbed a 2.74.
With WCW coming off a PPV, they’ll need to showcase matches and angles that’ll maintain their audience. However, the WWF may have found a formula that viewers want to follow. We’ll see what transpires.
Stay tuned for WCW Thunder 11-19-98!
Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at rsg@rockstargary.com and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202).