Taped from New Haven, CT
Airdate: December 7, 1998 (taped 12/01)
Attendance: 7,154 (sold out)
Hosted by Michael Cole & Jerry “The King” Lawler
It’s the go-home show for Rock Bottom! Will Austin and Mankind overcome the combo of Rock and Undertaker? What’s the latest on the NAO? Are they with the Corporation or DX? What are the latest shenanigans revolving around the Blue Blazer?
Opening montage.
DX minus the New Age Outlaws heads to the ring. As HHH takes the microphone, he demands the NAO explain their current status to his face. The NAO emerges while wearing suits and drinking bottled water, and they have joined the Corporation! After the NAO introduces him, Commissioner Shawn Michaels joins them. WE HAVE A HEEL TURN!
Michaels gets in HHH’s face and calls himself the “founding father of (DX).” After Michaels accuses him of “gimmick infringement,” HHH states he owes Michaels “nothing.” I smell a lover’s quarrel. Their egos engage until HHH advises Michaels to “suck it.” Yep, I was right. In response, Michaels sanctions a HHH/X-Pac versus Bossman/Shamrock “anything goes” match. Ultimately, the Corporation arrives to welcome their newest employees.
Backstage, HHH asks Chyna to ‘have their backs.”
Prior to the opening match, we revisit HeAT when Goldust laid down a challenge to a “striptease” match at the PPV. Later, Brown interferes on Henry’s behalf to demolish Jarrett’s guitar atop him.
Match 1: Jeff Jarrett (w/ Debra McMichael) versus D’Lo Brown (w/ Mark Henry)
Highlights:
Jarrett attacked Brown from behind and fed him a knee to the midsection. When Jarrett gave him a cross corner whip, Brown exploded from it with a clothesline. He mounted the second turnbuckle and stymied Jarrett with a flying clothesline. As Debra distracted referee Earl Hebner, Jarrett brought Brown to the floor with him.
Jarrett ended up getting pinballed between Henry and Brown before being returned to the ring. After Brown gave Jarrett a cross corner whip, he came up empty on his follow-through. Cole passed along best wishes to Jim Ross who was at home convalescing from another bout of Bell’s Palsy. From my research, Ross’ affliction arose due to the loss of his mother.
While Brown reversed an Irish whip, Jarrett dealt him a swinging neckbreaker. Jarrett mounted the top turnbuckle and launched a cross body block for 2. Giving Jarrett another cross corner whip, Brown ate a back elbow on his follow-through. Jarrett delivered a side-Russian leg sweep and got another 2.
Reversing another Irish whip, Brown succumbed to a sunset flip attempt. Brown countered with a knuckle sandwich, yet Debra distracted Hebner again. Upon getting kicked WAY DOWNTOWN, Brown responded with a running powerbomb. The New Haven faithful informed Brown that he indeed “sucks” as Goldust approached the ring wearing a full trenchcoat.
Following a Brown guillotine with the top rope, Debra jumped onto the apron. Goldust grabbed her attention and flashed her. HA! Hooking a cradle, Brown pinned a distracted Jarrett at 4:35.
Rating: **
Summary: Solid match until the Goldust business.
Vince McMahon spoke at Oxford University this past Thursday.
RAW is sponsored by 10-10-321, Norelco, and Castrol GTX.
Match 2: The Brood (w/ Christian) versus the Headbangers
Highlights:
Gangrel dealt Mosh a double-arm suplex and tagged out. As the Brood flattened Mosh with a double DDT from the second turnbuckle, Edge only got 2 due to a save by Thrasher. Speaking of Thrasher, he low-bridged Edge to the floor before dropping him face-first into the steps. Mosh slammed Edge, joined Thrasher atop the top turnbuckle, and hit a Thrasher-assisted gourdbuster for 2. Nifty!
When the Headbangers “tagged out,” they double-flapjacked Edge for another 2. Suddenly, Luna approached ringside and clotheslined Mosh. Referee Mike Chioda called for the bell, and the Headbangers won by DQ at 1:54.
Rating: *
Summary: Couple of amazing top-rope maneuvers hidden in this brief matchup.
After the match, Tiger Ali-Singh joins the fray to confront Luna. The Oddities come to her rescue, so Luna sends Babu to the floor. Demolishing Babu with a DDT on the floor, Luna ruins his weekend. Golga SQUISHES Mosh with a senton splash before the Oddities clear the ring.
Backstage, Mr. McMahon motivates Paul Bearer.
Prior to the next match, we revisit HeAT when Owen declared he’s coming out of retirement.
Match 3: Owen Hart versus Goldust
Highlights:
Owen unleashed a spinning heel kick and gave Goldust a cross corner whip. When he dealt Goldust a gutwrench suplex, Owen got 2. He slammed Goldust and attempted a Sharpshooter. As Goldust escaped, he hooked an inside cradle for 2. Owen retaliated with an enziguri and got 2. After Goldust gave Owen a cross corner whip, he came up empty on his follow-through.
Owen fed Goldust a hangman’s neckbreaker, mounted the second turnbuckle, scored with a flying elbow drop, but only got 2. While Goldust reversed a cross corner whip, he clotheslined Owen. Goldust unfurled a butt butt, yet Jarrett and Debra approached ringside. Getting reversed on an Irish whip, Goldust bulldogged Owen.
Debra “flashed” Goldust in response to his earlier efforts. Despite Debra’s display of deliciousness, Goldust rolled up Owen and won at 4:07.
Rating: ***
Summary: Poor Owen. Debra’s distraction was supposed to foil Goldust, not him.
Highlights from Capital Carnage are shown along with fan reaction.
Prior to the next match, Venis grabs…the microphone. What did you think I would say?
Nevertheless, Godfather takes the microphone and offers one of his ho’s to a member of the New Haven faithful. A plant named Bob flashing the cash is escorted into the ring, and Godather offers him both ho’s for FREE. What a Christmas present!
Match 4: Godfather & Val Venis (w/ ho’s) versus the Acolytes (w/ Jackyl)
Highlights:
Godfather reversed an Irish whip but ate a clothesline from Bradshaw. As Bradshaw and Godfather migrated to the floor, Venis face-planted Faarooq. All four wrestlers were outside the ring, and Venis bounced Faarooq face-first off the steps. When Godfather made him HIT THE POLE, Bradshaw responded by caroming Godfather’s head off the steps. Venis sent Faarooq shoulder-first into the ring post while Godfather reversed an Irish whip and sent Bradshaw barreling into the steps. After 48 seconds of nonsense, referee Tim White threw the match out.
Rating: DUD
Summary: Methinks this’ll be a PPV matchup.
Following the match, the brawl continues until WWF officials separate them.
WAR ZONE!
Stone Cold Steve Austin approaches the ring to a massive reaction. When he’s pacing inside the ring, a glimpse of Jim Ross can be seen. Austin cuts a promo on Undertaker promising “no mercy.” As the lights dim, a symbol appears on the entrance. Undertaker cuts a chilling promo on Austin, and upon his completion, the symbol ignites!
Prior to the next match, we revisit last week when the Blue Blazer turned out to be Blackman.
Match 5: Tiger Ali-Singh (w/ Babu) versus Steve Blackman
Highlights:
Prior to the bell, Singh attacked Blackman with his flagpole. Blackman rebounded by clotheslining Singh over the top rope to the floor. When he gave Singh a cross corner whip, Blackman uncorked a SPINEBUSTER. He fed Singh a standing dropkick and guillotined him with the top rope.
As he planted Singh with a snap suplex, Blackman slammed him. Singh responded with a high knee, got reversed on an Irish whip and leveled. After Blackman delivered a flying shoulder block, he stymied Singh with a bicycle kick. 1-2-3. Blackman won at 2:12.
Rating: DUD
Summary: If there was a match that contained zero or negative charisma, it’s this one.
Afterward, the Blue Blazer soars to the ring but trips coming down the ramp. HA! Blackman meets him at ringside and upends him with a snap suplex. Immediately, Owen arrives to battle Blackman. While the Blue Blazer scurries to the locker room, Owen slams Blackman on the steel ramp. He applies a dragon sleeper until WWF officials separate them.
The latest issue of Rolling Stone magazine contains a featured story about Austin.
Prior to the next match, we revisit last week when Henry took Chyna to a bar where they danced.
Match 6: Mark Henry (w/ D’Lo Brown) versus Droz (w/ Road Warrior Animal)
Highlights:
Henry nearly decapitated Droz with a pair of clotheslines, charged, but fell between the ropes to the floor. As the match segued to the floor, Droz rammed Henry face-first into the barricade. He bounced Henry face-first into the apron and followed with a flying clothesline. When he reversed an Irish whip, Droz sent Henry reeling into the steps.
Chyna meandered to ringside while Droz got 2. After Droz rallied with a flying back elbow, he bowled Henry over with a flying shoulder block. Impressive! Chyna stood up on the apron, yet Animal distracted referee Jim Korderas. While Chyna refused to hit Henry, she blasted Droz with a forearm shiver. Henry powerslammed, splashed, and pinned Droz at 3:37.
Rating: *
Summary: Henry’s power and Droz’s high-flying made this short match somewhat enjoyable. The New Haven faithful only popped for Chyna however.
Prior to the next match, HHH performed his schtick. No beckoning for nudity occurred though.
WWF Rock Bottom will be LIVE on PPV this Sunday. Order NOW!
Match 7 (anything goes): HHH & X-Pac (w/ Chyna) versus Ken Shamrock & Big Bossman
Highlights:
Bossman mauled X-Pac before eating a leg lariat. When HHH tagged in, he gave Bossman a cross corner whip followed by a clothesline. The match segued to the floor, and HHH rammed Bossman face-first into the barricade. As HHH introduced Bossman to the steps, X-Pac leaped from his corner and bamboozled Bossman. HHH and Shamrock fought on the ramp, yet Bossman made X-Pac HIT THE POLE.
After Shamrock slammed HHH on the ramp, Bossman tried to commit felonious assault by injuring X-Pac with the steps. Instead, X-Pac evaded him, and Bossman ran smack dab into the ring post. D’oh! HHH blocked a vertical suplex and delivered one of his own to Shamrock on the ramp. Back in the ring, he gave Shamrock a cross corner whip followed by a corner clothesline. X-Pac brought up the rear with a Bronco buster, but Bossman leveled him.
While he overpowered X-Pac with a spinebuster, Bossman got 2. He guillotined X-Pac with the top rope, and X-Pac’s right arm got tangled in the ropes. Instantly, Michaels and NAO approached ringside as Shamrock tagged in. He flattened X-Pac with a spinning heel kick, gave him a cross corner whip, and followed with a clothesline.
Attempting a comeback, X-Pac met another spinning heel kick from Shamrock. X-Pac rallied with a lariat, yet Shamrock attempted an ankle lock. Countering with an enziguri, X-Pac made the HOT TAG. Shamrock reversed an Irish whip but fell victim to a HHH face crusher for 2. With all four wrestlers in the ring, Gunn low-bridged X-Pac coming off the ropes. SNEAKY!
Gunn launched a chair to Shamrock and joined him in the ring. Taking the chair himself, Gunn intentionally CLOCKED Shamrock. Referee Mike Chioda called for the bell, and the Corporation won by DQ at 8:07.
Rating: ***
Summary: Decent tag match with tons of heat, but…
After the match, NAO removes the dresswear to reveal DX stripes much to Michaels’ dismay. WE HAVE A FACE TURN! Seriously, Russo? Within the SAME episode?
TV Rating: 5.3
Back in Austin’s dressing room, Mankind left a present for him. Austin opens it, and it’s a cold Coors Light. Could Mick Foley really be Santa Claus?
WWF Rock Bottom will be LIVE on PPV this Sunday. Order NOW!
Match 8: Stone Cold Steve Austin & Mankind versus Rock & Undertaker (w/ Paul Bearer)
Highlights:
Before Austin made his entrance, Mankind fought both Rock and Undertaker. Undertaker unloaded a big boot until the roof blew off when Austin arrived. As Undertaker and Rock tried to ambush him, Austin dodged and blasted Rock on the ramp. All four wrestlers brawled on the ramp before Mankind rammed Undertaker face-first into the broadcast table.
When Mankind tried to end Undertaker’s career with the steps, Undertaker belted the steps with a steel chair. Austin bounced Rock’s head off the steps as well as the broadcast table. After Rock sent Austin reeling into the steps, Undertaker made Mankind HIT THE POLE. Austin implemented his trick knee and tossed Rock into the front row.
Joining Rock among the New Haven faithful, Austin got nailed back to ringside. Undertaker chokeslammed Mankind and followed with an elbow drop. Slamming Mankind, Undertaker delivered a leg drop, brother. Rock tagged in and mauled Mankind. Since Austin distracted referee Earl Hebner, Rock took Mankind on a trip WAY DOWNTOWN.
Undertaker tagged in, but Mankind responded with a swinging neckbreaker. Tagging in, Rock slammed Mankind and enlightened us with a Corporate Elbow for 2. Mankind reversed an Irish whip and attempted a double arm DDT. Blocking it, Rock backdropped him. Rock scored with a Rock Bottom, but Austin made the save. Out of nowhere, Shamrock and Bossman stormed the ring. Austin and Mankind won by DQ at 8:20.
Rating: **
Summary: Delicious appetizer for the PPV, but what’s the Corporation up to?
Following the match, Bossman handcuffs Mankind to the top rope while Undertaker clotheslines Austin into the front row. Austin battles back to ringside and chokes Undertaker with some camera cable. To free himself, Undertaker smacked Austin’s head with the bell. He annihilated Austin with a chair and hoisted him over his shoulder. While ominous music played, Undertaker and his druids tied Austin to Undertaker’s symbol. Austin is raised vertically like he’s being sacrificed as Undertaker revels in his madness.
TV Rating: 5.6
Conclusion: Frenetic yet entertaining main event aside, the post-match angle was incredibly DARK. Meanwhile, the double swerve by the NAO was done too quickly. At least let the heel turn marinate, Russo. Nonetheless, the Jarrett-Goldust feud barrels into the PPV with a curious yet tantalizing stipulation.
Could RAW is WAR overcome Nitro in the ratings?
Final TV Rating: 5.14
Who won? You betcha. By almost an entire Nielsen point, RAW is WAR dominated Nitro from start to finish. The WWF’s proclivity toward sex and violence has drawn away some casual viewers from WCW. Despite Nitro’s filling the Astrodome, a taped RAW demolished it. Things are not looking good for WCW.
Stay tuned for WCW Thunder 12-10-98!
Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at rsg@rockstargary.com and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202).