Taped from Columbus, OH
Airdate: November 22, 1998 (taped 11/17)
Attendance: 12,678 (sold out)
Hosted by Michael Cole & JR
What’s the latest on Austin? Can Venis capture the Intercontinental belt? What’s going on with Faarooq and Bradshaw? It’s a scorcher out there! I hope you have plenty of water.
Opening montage.
Rock along with Mr. McMahon, Shane, and the rest enter the ring. To a chorus of “asshole” chants, Mr. McMahon disputes Austin’s chance at the WWF title last Monday. According to Mr. McMahon, Rock will defend the WWF title against Mankind at the upcoming PPV. He informs Austin that he will NEVER become WWF champion again.
Nevertheless, Mr. McMahon deems Austin “one of the thirty participants if (he) qualifies.” To qualify, Austin must defeat Undertaker in a Buried Alive match at the PPV. Mr. McMahon mentions that Sergeant Slaughter has resigned as Commissioner, and a new “independent, free-thinking” WWF commissioner will be appointed on Monday. Who could THAT be?
According to Cole, Austin “suffered a blackout l and was taken to a “San Jose hospital” this afternoon. More on this during the RAW reflection.
POINT OF ORDER: First of all…
Second, this episode was taped on Tuesday, so it’s obvious the Austin “injury” is a work.
Prior to the first match, Scott Taylor grabs the microphone and spouts his brotherly love for Brian Christopher.
Match 1: Too Much versus the Hardy Boyz
Highlights:
- Jackal joined the broadcast table for this match.
- When Matt reversed an Irish whip, he backdropped Taylor.
- Jeff tagged in, mounted the top turnbuckle, and launched a Swanton bomb.
- As an imcoming Christopher blasted Jeff with a dropkick, he tagged in.
- Too Much decimated Jeff with a double sit-out powerbomb.
- Meanwhile, Jackal introduced The Acolytes while Bradshaw and Faarooq scampered toward the ring.
- They pummeled both Too Much and the Hardy Boyz as Faarooq dealt Jeff a Dominator while Bradshaw destroyed Matt with a powerbomb.
- No contest at 1:02.
Rating: NONE
Summary: More storyline than match as The Acolytes have made their mark.
On the phone, Jack Lanza, senior WWF official, states that Austin is being examined after experiencing headaches and dizziness.
TWISTER GAME CENTER: Cole and Game Master Robbie throw it to George and Adam who explain how “Pass It” is played. Jerry Lawler and Robbie briefly demonstrate the game until we see Lawler macking on a production assistant.
Backstage, Slaughter is elated over some news, so the Stooges enter Mr. McMahon’s office. They inform Mr. McMahon of Austin’s current medical status, but Bossman shoos everyone away.
Sunday Night HeAT is sponsored by M&Ms, WWF: The Music Volume 2, and Castrol GTX.
Match 2: Gangrel (w/ the Brood) versus Al Snow (w/ Head & the JOB Squad)
Highlights:
- Gangrel reversed a cross corner whip, but Snow floated over and dealt him a release German suplex.
- As he clotheslined Gangrel, Snow fell victim to a trapped arm suplex.
- The Columbus faithful clamored for “head,” and their hero fed Gangrel a wheelbarrow suplex.
- When Snow attempted a Snow Plow, Gangrel blocked it and planted him with an Impaler.
- Before referee Tim White could count the pin, Bob Holly yanked Gangrel from the ring.
- Christian tried a sneak attack only to get leveled by Holly.
- After Snow blocked a second Impaler attempt, the obliterated Gangrel with a Snow Plow.
- Edge mounted the top turnbuckle and scored with a missile dropkick to Snow unbeknownst to White.
- In the meantime, Too Cold Scorpio mounted the adjacent top turnbuckle and connected with his own missile dropkick to Edge.
- White called for the bell and threw the match out at 1:52.
Rating: NONE
Summary: More “get everyone involved on the show” rather than a match.
Afterward, chaos erupts as all six wrestlers are in the ring. WWF officials separate them, and the JOB Squad leaves to cheers among the Columbus faithful. For those unaware, Lima, Snow’s hometown, is a mere 90 miles northeast of Columbus.
We revisit RAW when Hawk climbed the Titantron only for Droz to push him behind it. According to JR, Hawk has suffered “internal injuries.” Back in the locker room, Kevin Kelly interviews Animal and Droz. Droz steals the microphone and is “ready to take control.” Confused, Animal has no rebuttal.
Match 3: Big Bossman versus “Marvelous” Marc Mero (w/ Jacqueline)
Highlights:
- Bossman gave Mero a cross corner whip and followed with an avalanche.
- When he nailed Mero, Bossman followed with a sliding uppercut.
- Mero reversed an Irish whip and unloaded a DDT.
- As Bossman reversed an Irish whip, Jacqueline inadvertently tripped Mero.
- Bossman planted Mero with a Bossman slam and pinned him at 0:58.
Rating: DUD
Summary: Showcase match for Bossman as Mero’s career gets wrapped up like a sandwich at the deli.
Following the match, Mero grabs the microphone, berates Jacqueline, and dumps her as his valet.
Video airs featuring Mankind as stills from the PPV are shown.
WWF REWIND: Mankind questions the PPV main event and gets clobbered.
Surprisingly, Mankind brings a leaf blower with him to the ring. While he holds the leaf blower up, he mentions that it could have belonged to Mr. McMahon as a Father’s Day gift, but instead he’s “divorcing (his) family.” He’s not thrilled to wear loafers and tosses them amongst the Columbus faithful. Next, he’s wearing Socko because he wants Vince to eat it by his hands.
Mr. McMahon and Shane emerge at the entrance to insult Mankind. Following that, he sanctions a triple threat match for the Hardcore title between Mankind, Shamrock, & Bossman on RAW.
WWF Women’s champion Sable approaches the ring while stills of her victory over Jacqueline for the title at the PPV are shown.
WWF Rock Bottom will be LIVE on PPV on 12/13. Order NOW!
Match 4: Jeff Jarrett (w/ Debra McMichael) versus Kurrgan (w/ the Oddities)
Highlights:
- Sable joined the broadcast table for this match.
- As the bell rang, Jarrett nailed Kurrgan who reversed an Irish whip.
- Jarrett ducked a big boot but succumbed to a sidewalk slam.
- When Kurrgan clotheslined him, he dealt Jarrett a Bossman slam.
- ICP jumped onto the apron to distract referee Mike Chioda, but the Oddities at ringside took exception.
- After Jarrett unloaded a ten-punch count-along, Kurrgan reversed an Irish whip and fed him a big boot.
- He clotheslined Jarrett over the top rope to the floor, but Debra stepped into the ring.
- While she distracted Kurrgan, Jarrett grabbed his guitar and WALLOPED him with it. Devious!
- 1-2-3.
- Jarrett won at 1:47.
Rating: DUD
Summary: Highlight of the entire segment was Debra.
Upon leaving the broadcast table, Sable confronts Debra, yet Jarrett drags Debra away.
Backstage, Kelly interviews Venis who cuts a promo on Shamrock.
On the phone, Lanza provides another update on Austin. He states that Austin has suffered a concussion at the hands of Undertaker. The shovel shot from last week is shown again.
Match 5 for the WWF Intercontinental title: Ken Shamrock (champion) versus Val Venis
Highlights:
- At the bell, Venis scored with a cross body block for 2.
- Venis reversed an Irish whip but missed a big boot.
- When Shamrock connected with a leg lariat, he fired a forearm shot that should have knocked Venis’ teeth out.
- Instead, Venis connected with a SPINEBUSTER.
- Shamrock reversed a cross corner whip and followed with a clothesline.
- After he fed Venis a belly-to-belly suplex, Shamrock got 2.
- The Columbus faithful informed Shamrock that he indeed “sucks,” but their nemesis rang Venis’ bell.
- While Venis powerslammed Shamrock, he got 2.
- He dealt Shamrock a pair of running knees to the midsection and followed with a side-Russian leg sweep.
- Rebounding with a dragon screw leg whip, Shamrock hooked an ankle lock.
- Suddenly, Mankind sprinted to the ring and CREAMED Shamrock with the powered-on leaf blower.
- Referee Earl Hebner called for the bell, and Shamrock won by DQ at 2:46.
Rating: **
Summary: Quality match until the BS finish.
After the match, Bossman hits the ring and hammers Mankind with his nightstick. He holds Mankind so that Shamrock can dismantle him via a shot with the leaf blower. They double-team Mankind as the episode leaves the air.
Conclusion: Vince Russo is in full command of this episode with either non-finishes or shitty ones. On the other hand, the abuse that Mankind has suffered has propelled him into a mega-babyface. Besides that, the Acolytes are born, but what will the WWF do with them?
TV Rating: 4.1
Stay tuned for WCW World War III ‘98!
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