Live from Vancouver, BC, Canada
Airdate: December 13, 1998
Attendance: 17,677 (16,891 paid, sold out)
Hosted by Michael Cole & Jerry “The King” Lawler
Can Mankind defeat Rock to become WWF champion? How will Austin fare against the darkness of the Undertaker? Will NAO retain against Shamrock and Bossman? Who will strip? We’re approaching the end of 1998, and…
Yesterday, Rock enters Planet Hollywood and shows off his swagger. After all, the PPV’s named after a uranage. Um…
Opening montage.
Prior to the opening match, Venis grabs the microphone and tells a dad joke. Godfather enters with his entourage of beauties, takes the microphone, and offers them Venis “for the whole night.” As Venis speaks to them wantonly, he relates unbridled carnal excitement to Christmas. How festive!
Match 1: Val Venis & the Godfather (w/ ho’s) versus D’Lo Brown & Mark Henry (w/ PMS)
Highlights:
Brown pounded on him, but Venis responded with a lariat. When he clotheslined Brown, Venis thwarted a back drop attempt, leapfrogged him, and unleashed a SPINEBUSTER. Godfather tagged in and dealt Brown a back elbow. As he clotheslined Brown, Godfather gave him a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through. Godfather stymied Brown with a thrust kick, and the Vancouver faithful informed Brown that he indeed “sucks.” After Henry tagged in, Godfather steamrolled him with a cross corner whip and corner clothesline.
Henry rebounded with a powerslam, slammed Godfather twice, but missed an elbow drop. While Venis tagged in, Henry whipped him into the NoD corner and splashed the ever-loving BEJEEZUS out of him thanks to Brown. Brown tagged in and dealt Venis a Sky High for 2. Slamming Venis, Brown mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but there wasn’t any water in the pool.
Tags were exchanged on both sides, and Godfather backdropped Brown. Getting another turn, Venis joined Godfather in a double suplex of Henry. PMS exchanged a verbal assault with the ho’s, so Godfather rightfully played his role as pimp and shooed PMS back to the NoD corner. Amid the chaos, referee Jim Korderas was distracted, so Jacqueline jumped into the ring, revealed Venis’ thong underwear, and slapped the taste from his mouth. Henry clotheslined the bewildered Venis and CRUSHED him with a splash. 1-2-3. Henry and Brown won at 5:58.
Rating: **
Summary: Between Venis, Godfather, and Brown, this match was perfect to jerk the curtain. No Venis pun intended.
After the match, Godfather needed the SPATULA to remove Venis from the mat.
Backstage, Dok Hendrix shills the Superstar line and interviews HHH and Chyna. HHH cuts a promo on behalf of the NAO at Shawn Michaels’ expense.
We revisit HeAT and the replay of the Rock promo where Mankind fed him a Canadian beatdown in the skybox. Next, Mankind declares the WWF title “mine, mine, all mine” should Rock forfeit. Rock is beyond enraged as the trainer valiantly tries to evaluate his condition.
We return live backstage. Rock advises Mr. McMahon as well as Shane that he won’t forfeit, yet McMahon advises him that it’s all handled.
Match 2: The Headbangers versus the Oddities (w/ Luna & Giant Silva)
Highlights:
Popcorn, anyone?
Kurrgan leisurely tossed Mosh into the corner, charged, but ate boot. As he reversed a cross corner whip, Kurrgan came up empty on his follow-through. Mosh dealt him a five-punch count-along and guillotined him with the top rope. When Mosh charged, he ran smack dab into a Bossman slam from Kurrgan. Thrasher tagged in, but Kurrgan reversed an Irish whip and uncorked a sidewalk slam. Not surprisingly, Cole was oblivious to the difference between the slams.
After he gave Thrasher a cross corner whip, Kurrgan held a boot choke in the corner. Mosh tried to intervene, but Kurrgan whipped him into the corner with Thrasher. While he charged, Kurrgan sandwiched the Headbangers. Golga tagged in and flattened the Headbangers with an avalanche. Hip-tossing Thrasher, Golga landed an elbow drop followed by a leg drop for 2, brother. Kurrgan tagged in, slammed Thrasher, mounted the second turnbuckle, leaped, but hit nothing but the bottom of the net.
Failing to suplex Kurrgan, Thrasher enlisted Mosh to help him. The Headbangers double-suplexed Kurrgan as Golga distracted referee Tim White. Double-teaming Kurrgan, the Headbangers scored with a leap frog guillotine. Mosh further distracted White enabling Thrasher to give Kurrgan the business. SNEAKY!
Reversing an Irish whip, Kurrgan sent Mosh high into the Canadian sky with a back drop. He clotheslined Mosh but tagged out. Must’ve been a Canadian winter tag because it was ICE COLD. Dropkicking Mosh, Golga gave Thrasher a cross corner whip and unfurled another avalanche. Mosh tagged in, yet an unaware Golga powerslammed Thrasher. Golga attempted a senton splash to Thrasher; however, Mosh mounted the top turnbuckle and surprised him with a body block. 1-2-3. The Headbangers won at 6:55.
Rating: *
Summary: Unquestionably, this was a concession stand/hit the refrigerator match where the Headbangers bumped like crazy for the big men before stealing the pin.
Following the match, a knucklehead fan grabs Mosh and gets his front row ticket revoked.
At the wwf.com table, Kevin Kelly and Dr. Tom Prichard discuss the main event. Footage of Austin’s examination of the gravesite is shown.
Backstage, the Stooges try to convince Mr. McMahon they can help to no avail. I’m with Vince as they’re useless.
Prior to the next match, we revisit incidents between Blackman and the Blue Blazer.
Match 3: Owen Hart versus Steve Blackman
Highlights:
Upon his entrance, Owen received a tremendous hometown hero response. He ambushed Blackman before the bell and gave him a cross corner whip. When the Vancouver faithful chanted “O-wen,” their hero fed Blackman a snap suplex. Owen landed a leg drop, but Blackman reversed a cross corner whip and backdropped him.
As he unleashed a spin kick, Blackman chopped Owen before clotheslining him over the top rope to the floor. The match segued to the aisle, and Blackman caught Owen with a lariat. After they returned to the ring, Blackman snap-suplexed and broke Owen in two with a backbreaker. He trapped Owen in a bow-and-arrow but couldn’t achieve a submission.
While he uncorked a back elbow, Blackman grabbed the wrong foot first yet still fell victim to an enziguri. Owen delivered another snap suplex and followed with a knee drop. Hammering Blackman with a gutwrench suplex, Owen got 2. He slammed Blackman, mounted the second turnbuckle, leaped, but ate boot. Sticking Owen with a standing dropkick, Blackman suplexed him. The Vancouver faithful LOUDLY chanted “US sucks,” but they were a mere 28 years before their time.
Flattening Owen with a spinning elbow drop, Blackman got 2. Owen evaded a thrust kick by exiting the ring but got blasted by a baseball slide. Back in the ring, Blackman reversed an Irish whip and attempted a leap frog. Owen countered with an inverted atomic drop followed by a spinning heel kick for 2.
Leveling Blackman with his own standing dropkick, Owen unfolded snap suplex #3. He mounted the top turnbuckle, hit a flying elbow drop, but only got 2. To the chorus of another “US sucks” chant, Owen connected with a knee to the midsection. Blackman reversed another cross corner whip, but Owen leaped to the second turnbuckle. Rolling through a cross body block by Owen, Blackman got 2.
Owen scored with another enziguri for 2. Untying the top turnbuckle pad, Owen got reversed on a cross corner whip and went sternum-first into the exposed turnbuckle. OUCH! Blackman dropkicked and guillotined Owen with the top rope. Slamming Owen, Blackman hit a series of elbow smashes and hooked a sleeper.
Owen escaped and locked a dragon sleeper on Blackman. Countering with knee strikes, Blackman escaped, whipped Owen into the corner, but came up empty on his follow-through. Owen planted him with a DDT and mounted the top turnbuckle. Evading Owen’s missile dropkick, Blackman hooked a Sharpshooter.
Owen made the ropes to escape, and the match segued to the floor. Before he could be counted out, Blackman returned, yet Owen didn’t. Referee Mike Chioda called for the bell, and Blackman won by countout at 10:29. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Rating: ***
Summary: Are you serious with that outcome? Tomorrow’s show is back in America. Put Owen over!
Promo airs for WWF Royal Rumble ’99. It will be LIVE on January 24. Order NOW!
Backstage, Mr. McMahon seeks out Mankind. He locates a door marked “Mankind’s office” and knocks. As Mankind invites him in, he bargains for a deal between them.
Match 4 (six-man): The Brood versus the JOB Squad
Highlights:
Holly powerslammed Edge, got reversed on an Irish whip, but scored with a Falcon Arrow right off the bat. As he gave Edge a cross corner whip, Holly ate boot on his follow-through. Edge rebounded with an electric chair facebuster and tagged in Christian. When Holly dumped Christian with a double underhook slam, Scorpio tagged in and gave him a pair of cross corner whips and corner clotheslines. He dealt Christian a spin kick and slammed him.
After he mounted the second turnbuckle, Scorpio launched a somersault leg drop for 2. Snow tagged in and battered Christian with a series of headbutts. While he gave Christian a cross corner whip resulting in a sternum-first bump, Snow clotheslined him. Snow fed him a head-and-arm suplex, but Christian responded with a dropkick.
Tagging in, Gangrel reversed a cross corner whip that sent Snow reeling. Gangrel gave him a cross corner whip, but Snow floated over. Following a few standing switches, Snow locked Gangrel in a Northern Lights suplex for 2. He gave Gangrel a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
Clotheslining Snow, Gangrel succumbed to a wheelbarrow suplex. Snow got 2 but suffered an Impaler DDT from Gangrel shortly after. Getting another opportunity, Edge ate a reverse enziguri from Snow.
Gangrel and Edge gave him a cross corner whip, but Snow applied the brakes, clotheslined Gangrel, and fed Edge a sit-out powerbomb.
With tags being exchanged on both sides, Christian reversed an Irish whip but swallowed a spinning heel kick from Scorpio. All six wrestlers were in the ring, and Scorpio backdropped Christian over the top rope to the floor. Attempting a plancha, Scorpio missed Christian and went SPLAT.
Edge slammed Holly, and Christian mounted the top turnbuckle. Having missed a flying splash, a woozy Christian became fodder for Snow and Head. Gangrel sent Snow reeling to the floor, but Holly speared him. Since Christian remained OUT COLD, Scorpio mounted the top turnbuckle and dropped the bomb onto him. 1-2-NO! This match continued?
Nevertheless, Edge used Gangrel as a springboard to hit a tope con hilo onto Snow and Holly. Scorpio dropkicked Gangrel, but Christian made him suffer with an Unprettier. 1-2-3. The Brood won at 9:09.
Rating: **
Summary: Absolutely heatless as neither team is over. Edge looks like a shining star, but he’s a long way from there.
Back in Mankind’s office, he and Mr. McMahon chat.
We revisit RAW when Goldust “flashed” Debra which led to a loss by Jarrett. Later, Debra “flashed” Goldust, but it cost Owen the match rather than Goldust.
Match 5 (striptease): Jeff Jarrett (w/ Debra McMichael) versus Goldust
Highlights:
According to the stipulations, should Goldust lose, he must strip; however, if Jarrett loses, Debra must disrobe. Sorry, Dustin, you may be risqué, but I want Debra’s goodies on display. Goldust reversed an Irish whip and dealt Jarrett a spinebuster. When he connected with a senton splash, Goldust got 2.
Jarrett reversed an Irish whip and unloaded a back elbow to Goldust. As Jarrett guillotined Goldust with the top rope, he mounted the top turnbuckle and delivered a cross body block. Goldust used momentum to land on top and got 2. After Jarrett blocked a hip toss, he planted Goldust with a single-arm DDT.
Goldust reversed an Irish whip, but Jarrett decimated him with a swinging neckbreaker for 2. While he mounted the second turnbuckle, Jarrett soared with a fist drop. Goldust blocked a suplex attempt and fed Jarrett one of his own. Dropkicking Goldust, Jarrett got 2. Jarrett trapped him in a sleeper until Goldust escaped. Trapping him again, Jarrett almost put Goldust to sleep. Goldust countered with a slam and got 2.
Clotheslining Goldust, Jarrett instructed Debra to grab the guitar. Goldust reversed another Irish whip, but Jarrett stopped short of eating his own guitar. With referee Jack Doan distracted, Goldust demolished Jarrett with a Curtain Call. Unfortunately, he only earned a false pin due to Debra’s continued distraction of Doan.
Countering a rollup, Goldust sat down and got 2. Jarrett reversed another Irish whip but got the infamous Goldust slap. Bulldogging Jarrett, Goldust got another 2. He set up Jarrett for Shattered Dreams, but Debra snuck into the ring to seduce him. Dismissing Debra’s advances by spitting on her, Goldust ruined Jarrett’s weekend with Shattered Dreams. Meanwhile, Debra distracted the mystified Doan. Debra CLOBBERED Goldust with the guitar and snuck out of the ring. How dastardly! With the Vancouver faithful chanting “Gol-dust,” Jarrett obliterated their hero with a Stroke. 1-2-3. Jarrett won at 8:04.
Rating: **
Summary: What a travesty of justice! Debra, of all people, cost Goldust the match. Who’da thunk it?
Afterward, Jarrett and Debra celebrate until Commissioner Shawn Michaels arrives. He dismisses Jarrett but requests Debra to stay put. According to Michaels, the rulebook states that what happened technically was a DQ of Jarrett. “Therefore,” Michaels continues, “the winner of this match would be Goldust.” The Vancouver faithful rejoices, and Michaels instructs Debra “to take off (her) clothes.” Happily, Michaels dictates: “Stop your grinnin’ and drop your linen.”
Striptease music plays, and Debra unbuttons her jacket. In the meantime, Michaels pulls a C-note out of his wallet, yet a bewildered Jarrett looks on from a backstage monitor. Michaels sticks the $100 tip in her bra and receives a kiss. Next, she removes her skirt to reveal a matching thong. While Michaels exclaims that he “loves (his) job,” Debra lowers her bra straps. Before anything goes too far, the Blue Blazer steps in to cover her up with his cape.
Although Debra wants to remove the cape, Jarrett returns to save her dignity. To magnify how over the top this segment was, Michaels cherishes holding Debra’s bra despite the lack of nudity.
Backstage, Mr. McMahon exits Mankind’s office bearing a smile.
Get WWF Attitude cologne NOW!
Prior to the next match, Road Dog recites his spiel with copious amounts of crowd participation.
Match 6 for the WWF tag team titles: New Age Outlaws (champions) versus Big Bossman & Ken Shamrock (w/ Shawn Michaels)
Highlights:
Shamrock halted a cross corner whip and fed Road Dog a short-arm clothesline. As Shamrock baited Gunn and distracted referee Tim White, Bossman hammered Road Dog. Nefarious! Bossman tagged in and slammed Road Dog. When Bossman missed a splash, Gunn tagged in but received a cross corner whip. Bossman slid down to the floor, tried to break the wishbone, but HIT THE POLE instead.
After Road Dog tagged in, NAO double-backdropped Bossman for 2. Shamrock tagged in, gave Road Dog a cross corner whip, and followed with a corner clothesline. While Road Dog unloaded a shaky-shaky right hand, he followed with a shaky-shaky knee drop. Who else wants a chocolate milkshake?
Nonetheless, Shamrock took exception to a DX crotch chop and hooked an ankle lock. Gunn made the save while Lawler insulted Canadians by stating they believed that “OJ is Bart’s father.” The absurdity is rather hilarious. HA!
Reversing an Irish whip, Shamrock dealt Gunn a massive hip toss. He gave Gunn a cross corner whip and unfurled a big boot. Rebounding with a Rocker Dropper, Gunn tagged out. Road Dog charged, but Shamrock hooked a belly-to-belly suplex. Tagging in, Bossman stymied Road Dog with a knee lift. He gave Road Dog a cross corner whip and followed with an avalanche. Catching Road Dog with a knee to the midsection, Bossman tagged out.
Concurrently, Michaels supplied Road Dog with the Kiss of Death. Shamrock delivered a back elbow and got 2. Rocking Road Dog with a knee lift, Shamrock baited Gunn into the ring. The Corporation illegally switched, and Bossman crushed Road Dog with a running guillotine. Diabolical!
Upon nailing Road Dog with a sliding uppercut, Bossman ate a what-for from Gunn. Shamrock tagged in and connected with a springboard splash to Road Dog’s back. Slamming Road Dog, Shamrock flattened him with a leg lariat. He gave Road Dog quite the unhealthy cross corner whip that could probably still be felt to this day.
Walloping Road Dog with a clothesline, Shamrock tagged out. Bossman reversed a cross corner whip sending Road Dog back to the original corner with authority. Coming off the ropes, Road Dog ate a knee to the back from Shamrock. Evil! Bossman illegally switched with Shamrock again, and a false tag transpired due to Bossman’s shenanigans.
Following an argument between Gunn and Michaels, Bossman and Shamrock gave Road Dog a double cross corner whip. Bossman attempted a piledriver, but Road Dog countered with a back drop over the top rope to the floor. From the apron, Road Dog launched a flying double axe handle, and Shamrock distracted White. That enabled Michaels to give Road Dog the business in the heel corner. Insidious!
Flummoxing Road Dog with another knee lift, Shamrock gave Road Dog yet another cross corner whip.
This time, however, he ate boot. Road Dog smacked Shamrock with a back elbow yet ultimately made the HOT TAG. Cleaning house, Gunn dropkicked Bossman but ate a spinning heel kick from Shamrock.
Gunn countered a huracanrana with a powerbomb but only got 2 thanks to Michaels’ yanking White out of the ring. Distracting White, Michaels tossed the nightstick to Bossman who wiped out NAO with it.
Shamrock made the cover but somehow didn’t get 3. With Gunn on the apron, Shamrock attempted to suplex him. On the other hand, Gunn escaped and attempted one of his own. On the other other hand, Michaels tripped Gunn, and Shamrock landed on top. Nope, Gunn used momentum to land on top. My bad. 1-2-3. NAO retained at 17:05.
Rating: ***
Summary: The tag formula was implemented with varying success as neither Gunn nor Michaels could keep the Vancouver faithful involved during the entire match. Methinks the heat segment was too long to sustain, and NAO were average babyfaces with a good schtick. There should have been a title change here.
Get your FREE Attitude bandana today!
Elongated video airs featuring the Rock. In case you didn’t know, he’s “a millionaire (and) the WWF champ.”
Backstage, Mr. McMahon explains that Mankind wants witnesses to his forfeit yet the clause “will be whited out.” Cunning!
Prior to the title match, Mr. McMahon grabs the microphone and points out a hole in Mankind’s attire. Mankind appreciates his “observation” and wipes out the forfeiture clause. While he requests redemption, Mankind describes his “loss” at Survivor Series.
Despite Mankind’s claim that he never said, “I quit,” Cole has the unmitigated gall to call it “the biggest double cross in WWF history.”
To remove the forfeiture clause, Mankind wants Mr. McMahon to admit that he essentially screwed Mankind out of the WWF title. He wants Mr. McMahon to “start talking…on your damn knees and admit (he) never quit.” On the contrary, Mr. McMahon claims someone said, “I quit,” but the Vancouver faithful refers to him as an “asshole.”
Mankind wants the chant amplified and gets his wish granted. As Mr. McMahon stands behind his word, Mankind rips up the contract. Rock hammers Mankind from behind, so the match is on?
Match 7 for the WWF title: Rock (champion) versus Mankind
Highlights:
In case you’re wondering, Mr. McMahon and Shane sat near the broadcast table for this match. Mankind gave Rock a HARD cross corner whip to injure the back. When the Vancouver faithful informed Rock that he indeed “sucks,” the match segued to the floor. Mankind sent Rock shoulder-first into the steps, dislodged the top step, and plastered Rock with it. OUCH!
As he rammed Rock face-first into the barricade, Mankind fed him a knuckle sandwich. He reversed an Irish whip and clotheslined Rock on the floor. After he bounced Rock’s head off the other set of steps, Mankind caromed it off the broadcast table too. Mr. McMahon grabbed the microphone again and vehemently advised Mankind that he’d be disqualified if he continued such unscrupulous behavior.
While Rock mowed him down in the ring with a lariat, he knocked Mankind down to the floor with a right hand. Rock joined and suplexed Mankind on the floor before returning to the ring. Thwarting a back drop attempt, Rock charged but ate boot. He charged again, so Mankind sent him sailing over the top rope to the floor.
Annihilating Rock with a baseball slide, Mankind mounted the second turnbuckle. Shane grabbed Mankind by the leg to prevent a massive Cactus elbow, and Rock yanked him all the way to the floor with a very audible SPLAT.
To kill time, Rock stole Cole’s headset and offered his own play-by-play. He ricocheted Mankind’s skull off the broadcast table and spit water in his face. Ew. Rattling off his catchphrase, Rock tried again, but Mankind blocked it before giving Rock some of the same medicine. They brawled at the broadcast table, but referee Mike Chioda intervened. Grabbing a steel chair, Mankind was stopped by Chioda only to get kicked in the midsection by Rock.
Knocking him sillier, Rock planted Mankind with a DDT on the chair while still on the floor. Back in the ring, Rock got 2. He slammed Mankind and, to an overwhelming response, delivered a Corporate Elbow for another 2. Rebounding with a swinging neckbreaker, Mankind destroyed Rock with a discus clothesline for 2. He dealt Rock a leg drop and got another 2.
In response to Mankind’s splitting of Rock’s uprights, Mr. McMahon begged Chioda to call for the bell.
Preventing Chioda from ending the match, Mankind piledrove him. Chioda was OUT COLD, yet Mr. McMahon demanded the timekeeper ring the bell. To halt that notion, Mankind obliterated Mark Yeaton.
Mankind sauntered after Mr. McMahon, so Rock took advantage and WHACKED Mankind in the back with a steel chair. In the ring, Rock fed Mankind a Rock Bottom but could only receive a false pin. Chioda remained OUT COLD, so Shane jumped into the ring. Trying to transport Mankind into the middle of 2001, Shane missed him but inadvertently blasted Rock with the WWF title belt.
Mankind made the cover, and referee Tim White slid into the ring. Do we have a new champion? 1-2-NO! Rock rebounded with a float-over DDT and got 2. Ducking a clothesline, Mankind decimated Rock with a double-arm DDT for 2. He introduced Mr. Socko to the match, and Rock made his acquaintance albeit rudely. With Rock unconscious, White called for the bell. Mankind won at 13:35. WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!
Wait a minute!
Before ring announcer Howard Finkel could address the Vancouver faithful, Mr. McMahon swiped the microphone and stepped into the ring. He conceded that although Mankind won the match, Rock neither submitted nor said “I Quit.” Therefore, Rock remained WWF champion.
Rating: ***
Summary: Combine chemistry between Rock and Mankind with the heat and drama involved, this is an entertaining match but by no means a classic.
After the match, Mankind applies Mr. Socko to Mr. McMahon, but Shane rescues his father by paddling Mankind with a steel chair. Mankind reapplies Mr. Socko to Mr. McMahon, so Shane thrashes him again with the chair. Sauntering after him, Mankind dismantles Shane with Mr. Socko.
Mr. McMahon regains enough consciousness to sit up in the corner, so Mankind levels him with a running knee to the head. The Stooges arrive, but Mankind beats them up. Abruptly, Shamrock and Bossman storm the ring to pummel Mankind. Rock calls them off to inflict damage himself.
Video airs featuring the history between Austin and Undertaker.
Match 8 (buried alive): Stone Cold Steve Austin versus Undertaker (w/ Paul Bearer)
Highlights:
Before the match began, Undertaker and Austin brawled in the aisle. The Vancouver faithful showered their hero with an “Aus-tin” chant, and he made Undertaker taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Canuck at Two Parrots.
As Austin lifted the railing, Undertaker sent it back into his face. They fought around the gravesite and through the Vancouver faithful. When they entered the ring, Austin connected with a Thesz press. He landed a forearm smash and guillotined Undertaker with the top rope. After Austin split Undertaker’s uprights with the ring post, he rammed Undertaker’s left knee twice into it. He mounted the barricade and lowered the boom onto Undertaker with a double axe handle.
While he sent Undertaker hip-first into the steps, Austin ate a big boot. Undertaker heaved Austin atop the Spanish broadcast table and countered a piledriver with a back drop on the floor. Dribbling Austin’s head off the steps, Undertaker dragged him to the gravesite. They brawled atop the gravesite, but Austin sent Undertaker reeling down the mound.
Smashing the steel railing against him, Austin dragged Undertaker into the grave itself. Undertaker nailed Austin with a wreath, and they’re both inside the grave. Headbutting Austin, Undertaker tried to maim him with a shovel. Austin blocked it and yanked a scampering Undertaker back into the grave. Stomping Austin, Undertaker made him fall down the mound. He made Austin taste the steel railing, and I’m summoning the waiter for a bacon’n’egger.
Returning the favor, Austin hammered Undertaker among the Vancouver faithful. He dragged Undertaker back toward the ring and made him HIT THE POLE. Brandishing a steel chair, Undertaker scrambled Austin’s brains with it. In the ring, Austin clotheslined Undertaker over the top rope to the floor. He guillotined Undertaker with the top rope again and leaped from the apron.
Catching Austin, Undertaker rammed him back-first into the ring post. He made Austin HIT THE POLE, and they re-entered the ring. Reversing an Irish whip, Undertaker chokeslammed Austin. He rolled Austin out of the ring, dragged him to the gravesite, and pushed him into the grave. Getting dirt shoveled atop him, Austin escaped, grabbed a nearby gas can, and bamboozled Undertaker with it.
A second shot by Austin had Undertaker staggering, and a Stone Cold Stunner put Undertaker into the grave. Taking a wheelbarrow full of dirt, Austin poured it atop Undertaker. Austin chased Bearer backstage, yet Undertaker climbed out of the grave. Following an explosion on the gravesite, Kane emerged. He and Undertaker brawled at the gravesite although Austin disappeared. Where’d he go?
Taking zero chances, Undertaker took Kane on a trip WAY DOWNTOWN. Undertaker attempted to tombstone him, but Kane escaped. Simultaneously, Kane tombstoned Undertaker while Austin drove a backhoe into the arena. Kane threw Undertaker into the grave, and Austin summoned the backhoe driver to dump the dirt onto Undertaker in the grave. With the backhoe and a shovel, Austin buried Undertaker alive. Austin won around the 21:02 mark.
Rating: ***
Summary: If you were expecting Flair versus Steamboat, then you got the exact opposite. Since this was a dirty, macabre brawl involving a gravesite, the symbolism of darkness reigned throughout the match.
Following the match, an extremely filthy Austin retrieves some Steveweisers to celebrate becoming an entrant in next month’s Royal Rumble match.
Conclusion: For the second PPV in a row, Mr. McMahon has SCREWED Mankind out of the WWF title. I wonder if this becomes a trend. Regardless, Austin survives the Buried Alive match and is back on a mission to recapture WWF glory.
In other matches, the NAO barely survives against the Corporation, but for how long? Goldust loses, but Debra strips down to her bra and panties before cooler heads prevail. While the Brood wins, Owen loses in Canada. That’s not cool, and I’m not even Canadian. The Headbangers achieve victory as Brown and Henry move up the tag team rankings.
Folks, I would LOVE to recommend this show, but I cannot. Nothing earth-shattering or historical happens. If you enjoy good storytelling, please enjoy the madness that Mr. McMahon inflicts upon poor Mankind. Otherwise…
Buyrate: 0.78
Stay tuned for WCW Monday Nitro 12-14-98!
Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at rsg@rockstargary.com and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202).