Live from Philadelphia, PA
Airdate: November 29, 1998
Attendance: 19,671 (18,364 paid)
Hosted by Michael Cole & Jim Cornette
Can Henry defeat X-Pac to capture the European title? Will Christian regain the Light Heavyweight title? Can Venis and Godfather topple the Headbangers? And what’s the latest with NAO? If you have a stiff back, try some HeAT!
Opening montage.
Prior to the first match, we revisit RAW when Gill upset Christian and captured the Light Heavyweight title. Since it isn’t included in my RAW recording, I’m glad I finally get to see it.
Match 1 for the WWF Light Heavyweight title: Duane Gill (champion w/ JOB Squad) versus Christian (w/ the Brood)
Highlights:
- Christian gave Gill a cross corner whip and followed with a powerslam.
- When he dropkicked Gill, Christian unleashed a pair of suplexes followed by a gourdbuster.
- He mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but there wasn’t any water in the pool.
- After Christian clotheslined Gill, the Blue Meanie jumped into the ring.
- Christian demolished Gill with an Unprettier, but Meanie intervened.
- As a result, Christian won by DQ at 1:46.
Rating: ½*
Summary: Mere backdrop for the debut of Meanie, yet Gill retains.
After the match, Cornette claims that Meanie’s not part of the WWF. The Brood and JOB Squad brawl with one another until WWF officials restore order. As quickly as he possibly can, Meanie escapes through the Philly faithful.
For the second time, we revisit RAW when Blackman defeated the Blue Blazer, but Owen attacked him afterward.
Match 2: D’Lo Brown (w/ Mark Henry) versus Steve Blackman
Highlights:
- Before the bell, Blackman ambushed Brown, gave him a cross corner whip, and clotheslined him.
- He slammed Brown but got reversed on an Irish whip.
- As Brown connected with a spinning heel kick, the Philly faithful informed him that he indeed “sucks.”
- He slammed and dealt Blackman a standing leg drop.
- When Brown landed an elbow drop, Blackman reversed a cross corner whip and dropkicked him in the back.
- The match segued to the aisle, and Blazer emerged from under the ring albeit stuck due to his cape being caught on the ring apron. D’oh!
- After Blackman attacked Blazer, referee Mike Chioda called for the bell.
- Brown won by countout at 2:19.
Rating: ½*
Summary: Mere backdrop for the potential yet botched interference attempt by Blazer.
Following the match, Blazer ditches the cape, but Blackman tosses him into the ring. Blackman nails Blazer who hightails it backstage.
WWF REWIND: The Headbangers win while ICP switches their allegiance to them by attacking the Oddities. In an act of complete treachery, the Headbangers shear Luna’s weave off.
Backstage, Kevin Kelly interviews the Oddities backstage. Luna calls ICP “scum” and challenges the Headbangers and ICP for an eight-person tag match at the PPV.
Prior to the next match, Godfather grabs the microphone and tells us that Venis “kept the (ho’s) up all night.” He repays them by giving the ho’s “the night off,” and Venis makes his entrance. Upon getting his turn, Venis gets destroyed by the Headbangers.
Match 3: The Headbangers versus Val Venis & Godfather (w/ ho’s)
Highlights:
- The Headbangers double-flapjacked Venis, Mosh gave him a cross corner whip and flattened him with a senton splash in the corner.
- When the Oddities approached ringside, Venis powerslammed Mosh.
- Godfather tagged in and clotheslined Mosh.
- As Mosh reversed an Irish whip, Thrasher put a boot into Godfather’s back. SNEAKY!
- Mosh planted Godfather with a DDT, and Thrasher tagged in.
- After Golga jumped onto the apron, Thrasher slammed Godfather but got distracted by the big man.
- Godfather took advantage by demolishing Thrasher with a Pimp Drop a.k.a. Death Valley Driver.
- 1-2-3.
- Godfather and Venis won at 2:08.
Rating: ½*
Summary: It’s all about the post-match shenanigans, right?
Afterward, the Oddities strike the Headbangers 3-on-2, but the Headbangers scatter when Luna jumps into the ring. Don’t mess with Luna!
In the skybox, the New Age Outlaws join Mr. McMahon, Shane, and the Stooges. They must have known there was a party.
BOP-IT GAME CENTER: Al Snow plays Bop-it with Head. Corny stuff that’s meant for children.
For the third time, we revisit RAW when the NAO joined Bossman and Shamrock in dismantling the JOB Squad and Mankind.
In the skybox, Mr. McMahon and Shane tempt the NAO with money to join their stable.
For the fourth time, we revisit RAW when Shawn Michaels swerved X-Pac costing him the match against the Rock.
HeAT is sponsored by Remington, RISK, WWF: The Music Volume 2, and Lego Mindstorms.
For the fifth time, we revisit RAW when Chyna accepted Henry’s offer for a date.
Prior to the next match, Henry addresses Chyna with a poem. He “can’t wait ‘til tomorrow night.” Upon jumping out of the ring, Henry confronts a “fan” who conveniently has the latest issue of RAW Magazine with Chyna on the cover.
Match 4 for the WWF European title: X-Pac (champion) versus Mark Henry (w/ D’Lo Brown)
Highlights:
- X-Pac disrupted Henry’s reading time by kicking him at ringside.
- As the match segues into the ring, Henry reversed an Irish whip but ate a dropkick.
- X-Pac scored with a spinning heel kick and got 2.
- When X-Pac mounted the top turnbuckle, he attempted a cross body block.
- Henry caught and powerslammed him.
- After he whipped X-Pac into the corner, Henry came up empty on his follow-through.
- X-Pac unleashed a series of kicks that seated Henry in the corner.
- While he dealt Henry a Bronco buster, X-Pac got reversed on a cross corner whip.
- Henry SQUISHED him with an avalanche but stopped to confer with Brown.
- Mounting the second turnbuckle, X-Pac floored Henry with an X-Factor.
- 1-2-3.
- X-Pac retained at 1:51.
Rating: *
Summary: Brief title defense as Henry’s mind was on Chyna rather than the match.
In the ring, Kelly interviews X-Pac who warns Henry to be a gentleman with Chyna or else. Kelly points out that the NAO are meeting with Mr. McMahon in a skybox, but X-Pac hopes there’s no ass-kissing. Immediately, NAO exits the skybox much to Mr. McMahon’s confusion.
Video airs featuring the saga between Undertaker and Austin.
Yesterday in the Fleet Center in Boston, MA, JR interviews Austin who’s pissed off about everybody. He must need a Steveweiser.
Backstage, Undertaker alongside Paul Bearer cuts a promo on Austin and coins the name of his mission as the Ministry of Darkness. Bearer, knowing his parental rights, threatens Kane with commitment to a mental institution.
Vignette airs featuring Jarrett.
WWF Rock Bottom will be LIVE on PPV on 12/13. Order NOW!
Match 5: Jeff Jarrett (w/ Debra McMichael) versus Kane
Highlights:
- Debra utilized subterfuge so that Jarrett could get the initial upper hand.
- When Kane reversed an Irish whip, he unloaded a big boot.
- He clotheslined Jarrett over the top rope to the floor, joined, and guillotined him with the steel railing.
- As they returned to the ring, Kane dealt Jarrett a sidewalk slam.
- He mounted the top turnbuckle, launched a flying clothesline, but missed a second big boot.
- After Jarrett chop-blocked him, he planted Kane with a DDT.
- Kane reversed a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
- While Jarrett mounted the top turnbuckle, he leaped, but Kane caught him.
- Kane set Jarrett up for a chokeslam, but Debra slid into the ring.
- Although Kane grabbed Debra, Jarrett briefly stymied Kane with his guitar.
- Referee Tim White called for the bell, and Kane won by DQ at 2:12.
Rating: *
Summary: Jarrett’s plan backfires as Kane remains uncontrollable.
Match 6: Mankind & Al Snow (w/ Head) versus Big Bossman & Ken Shamrock
Highlights:
- Rock joined the broadcast table for this match.
- As Snow and Mankind hit the ring, the brawl was ON.
- Snow applied the brakes following a cross corner whip and clotheslined Shamrock.
- When Shamrock reversed a cross corner whip, he fed Snow a huracanrana.
- Shamrock clotheslined Snow and tagged in Bossman.
- After Bossman gave Snow a cross corner whip, he came up empty on his follow-through.
- Mankind tagged in, nailed Bossman, and offered some lip service to Rock: “Become a movie star, and you’ll make bank!” or something to that effect.
- While Bossman scored with a sliding uppercut, he gave Mankind a cross corner whip and followed with an avalanche.
- Shamrock tagged in and delivered a back elbow.
- Rebounding with a swinging neckbreaker, Mankind tagged in Snow.
- Giving Shamrock a cross corner whip, Snow got caught with a belly-to-belly suplex.
- Mankind left the broadcast table and attacked Rock.
- In the meantime, Bossman destroyed Snow with the nightstick.
- 1-2-3.
- Bossman and Shamrock won at 2:43.
Rating: *
Summary: Mere appetizer for the PPV as the saga between Mankind and Rock begins.
After the match, Mankind and Rock brawl at ringside, and they bounce each other’s heads off the barricade. The JOB Squad storms the ring to fight with Shamrock and Bossman. Meanwhile, the Brood joins the fray as chaos condudes the episode.
Conclusion: You can’t say this show isn’t action-packed. Nevertheless, seeds for Rock-Mankind were planted, and I believe the tree’s grown considerably over the years. It’s a fun episode with short matches where some incredibly made some sense. More of this to follow on RAW.
TV Rating: 4.5
In other matches:
- Andrew Martin defeats Devon Storm.
- Droz beats “Marvelous” Marc Mero.
- Shotgun Saturday Night (12/5): NAO defeats DoA.
- Shotgun Saturday Night (12/5): Tiger Ali-Singh beats Goldust by DQ.
- Shotgun Saturday Night (12/5): Taka Michinoku, Dick Togo, & Men Teioh defeat the Acolytes by DQ.
- Super Astros (12/13): El Hijo Del Santo beats Jose Estrada.
- Super Astros (12/13): El Torito defeats Mini Nova.
- Super Astros (12/13): Apollo Dantes and Negro Casas fought to a double-DQ.
- Stone Cold Steve Austin beats the Rock, Undertaker, & Kane in a non-title fatal 4-way. Bossman is the special guest referee.
Stay tuned for WCW Monday Nitro 11-30-98!
Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at rsg@rockstargary.com and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202).