Live from Tacoma, WA
Airdate: December 14, 1998
Attendance: 17,508 (sold out)
Hosted by Michael Cole & Jerry “The King” Lawler
Will HHH win the WWF title, or can the Corporation find a way for Rock to retain? Will NAO survive against Bossman and Shamrock this time? What does DX have up its sleeve for the Corporation this week? What’s new between Austin and Mr. McMahon? Mankind? And who will be revealed as the Blue Blazer?
Opening montage.
***CONTENT WARNING*** The initial segment offers elements of both poor taste and discrimination. I neither condone nor accept this type of behavior and hope it doesn’t rear its ugly head in pro wrestling again.
DX emerges while impersonating the Corporation. While Road Dog takes the lead as Mr. McMahon, he declares that he is “not an asshole.” A couple of little people impersonate the Stooges, and “Brisco” remarks about “Mr. McMahon’s” ass. Speaking of asses, Gunn impersonates Shane and shows his. Next, the “Crock” impersonated by HHH doesn’t want to smell what “Shane” is cooking. X-Pac pipes in as “Shamrock,” and Chyna twirls a nightstick like a baton to resemble “Bossman.”
If that’s not enough, “Shawn,” impersonated by Jason Sensation, emerges and advises DX against using the word sphincter without repercussions. “Shawn” refers to himself as “HB-Gay” and “is always bending over.” When “Shawn’s” basketball rolls down the ramp toward the ring, the “Crock” reminds him that he’s “dropped the ball again.” Now that last part was funny.
“Shamrock” equates sphincters to being in the zone overwhelming “Shawn.” As the “Crock” believes “Shamrock” should “switch to decaf,” he encourages the Tacoma faithful to advise the Corporation to “suck it.”
DX celebrates, but the REAL Corporation emerges. Commissioner Michaels sanctions a rematch between the NAO and Bossman/Shamrock TONIGHT. After Rock takes the microphone, he challenges HHH to a match in the main event TONIGHT. Since HHH was “midcard for life,” Michaels declares it non-title and disses him about never being WWF champion.
HHH responds by mentioning that before his injury he was “kicking (Rock’s) ass every single week…” In rebuttal, Rock states that in their last match Chyna nailed him in the “Corporate jewels” and makes it a title match. He jokes about Hogan, Flair, Savage, and Bret’s taglines before launching his own.
The replay for WWF Rock Bottom airs TOMORROW NIGHT!
Backstage, Mr. McMahon rallies the Corporation for “business” tonight.
Prior to the opening match, Venis grabs the microphone and makes a Sleepless in Seattle joke. Godfather takes his turn and gets the Tacoma faithful to rattle off his catchphrase.
Match 1: The Brood (w/ Gangrel) versus Val Venis & Godfather (w/ ho’s)
Highlights:
Edge unloaded a spinning heel kick to Venis, got reversed on an Irish whip, but ate a sweet SPINEBUSTER. When Godfather tagged in, he slammed Edge. Venis splashed Edge, and Godfather followed with a leg drop, brother. As he gave Edge a cross corner whip, Godfather followed with a Ho Train.
Tags were exchanged on both sides, and Venis reversed an Irish whip. After Christian escaped a slam attempt, he flattened Venis with an UnPrettier for 2. Venis responded with a side-Russian leg sweep and tagged out. While Godfather knocked Christian’s teeth down his throat with a kick, he got 2. Edge distracted referee Mike Chioda enabling the Brood to double-team Godfather. SNEAKY!
Upon receiving a blind tag, Venis knocked Gangrel off the apron. He hooked a seaman’s suplex and pinned Christian. As a result, Venis and Godfather won at 2:36.
Rating: *
Summary: Quick tag match to showcase Venis and Godfather over established competition.
After the match, Gangrel promises a BLOODBATH tonight!
Backstage, Kevin Kelly interviews Blackman who promises to unmask the Blue Blazer.
Prior to the next match, we revisit last week when Blazer tripped and got his ass kicked by Blackman. Owen ambushed Blackman to save Blazer’s bacon.
RAW is WAR is sponsored by JVC, Castrol, and Stone Cold Metal.
Match 2: Goldust versus Blue Blazer
Highlights:
Blazer fed Goldust a spinning heel kick and followed with a snap suplex. As the Tacoma faithful chanted “nug-get,” Blazer delivered a hangman’s neckbreaker. He mounted the second turnbuckle and scored with a flying elbow drop for 2. When Blazer botched a springboard maneuver, he flattened Goldust with an enziguri.
Goldust responded with a slap and a slam for 2. After Goldust planted Blazer with a Curtain Call, he polled the Tacoma faithful about Shattered Dreams. Before that could transpire, Jarrett stormed the ring to attack Goldust. While referee Jim Korderas called for the bell, Goldust won by DQ at 2:12.
Rating: *
Summary: Due to the moveset of the Blazer, I have no doubts that Owen is wearing the costume.
Following the match, Jarrett blasts Goldust with a back elbow to send him reeling to the floor. Blackman storms the ring and nails Jarrett. When Goldust yanks Jarrett out of the ring, Blackman floors Blazer with one kick. He removes the mask, and it’s…
Who in the blue blazes is that? Never mind, it’s Owen!
Backstage, DX and the Corporation exchange more words, yet WWF officials prevent any shenanigans.
Prior to the next match, Henry grabs the microphone and declares he’s a lover and not a fighter. Instead, he wants to tell a bedtime story. He’s ready to reveal “all the details” about his date with Chyna. Without hesitation, Henry discloses that Chyna invited him to “bed.” He admits that she “wore (him) out.”
Match 3: D’Lo Brown & Mark Henry (w/ PMS) versus the JOB Squad (w/ Al Snow, Duane Gill, & Blue Meanie)
Highlights:
The JOB Squad hit the ring, and the match was ON. When they double-backdropped him, Brown clotheslined Holly. He gave Holly a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through. As Holly dealt him an inverted atomic drop, he clotheslined Brown. Scorpio tagged in and laid Brown out with a superkick.
After Henry tagged in, Scorpio launched a cross body block, but Henry escaped. He flapjacked and unloaded a leg drop to Scorpio. While Brown tagged in, he stymied Scorpio with a Lo Down for 2. He mounted the top turnbuckle but whiffed on a somersault senton. Hot tag Holly. The JOB Squad double-clotheslined Henry, yet Terri was checking out the dadbod on Blue Meanie.
Hammering Henry with a spinning heel kick, Scorpio got yanked down to the floor. Jacqueline mounted the top turnbuckle and delivered a missile dropkick bamboozling Holly. Thereafter, Henry powerslammed Holly. 1-2-3. Henry and Brown won at 3:01.
Rating: **
Summary: Henry and Brown continue to soar up the tag rankings while the JOB Squad knows their role.
SLAM OF THE WEEK: Mankind’s ambush of Rock prior to the PPV is shown.
Prior to the next match, Road Dog recites his spiel to the chorus of the Tacoma faithful.
Match 4 for the WWF tag team titles: New Age Outlaws (champions) versus Ken Shamrock & Big Bossman (w/ Shawn Michaels)
Highlights:
Gunn dropkicked Bossman as well as an incoming Shamrock. As Road Dog inserted his own dropkick to Bossman, he tagged in. Bossman reversed a cross corner whip sending Road Dog HARD into the corner.
When he gave Road Dog a cross corner whip, Bossman came up empty on his follow-through. Gunn tagged in but got reversed on a cross corner whip. After Bossman slid down to the floor, he tripped Gunn before trying to split his uprights.
On the other hand, Gunn used his leg strength to make Bossman HIT THE POLE. Shamrock hammered Gunn’s left knee with a steel chair unbeknownst to referee Earl Hebner. While Shamrock tagged in, he attacked Gunn’s knee, and the Tacoma faithful yelled “Shamrock sucks.”
Bossman tagged in, gave Gunn a cross corner whip, but Gunn collapsed. Upon baiting Road Dog to distract Hebner, Bossman illegally switched. Shamrock slammed him, but Gunn countered a huracanrana into a powerbomb. Hot tag Road Dog. Following a chair shot to the back by Michaels, Bossman planted a weakened Road Dog with a Bossman slam. Do we have new champions?
1-2-NO!
Road Dog took Bossman on a trip WAY DOWNTOWN, and tags were exchanged on both sides. Limping, Gunn attempted to piledrive Shamrock, but Michaels climbed onto the apron. Gunn grabbed Michaels but got shellacked by the nightstick. Subsequently, Shamrock trapped him in an ankle lock, and Gunn was OUT COLD. Hebner called for the bell, and Shamrock and Bossman won at 6:48. WE HAVE NEW CHAMPIONS!
Rating: ***
Summary: Copious amounts of chicanery enabled the Corporation to steal the tag titles, but Gunn’s being unconscious really sold the victory for them. This should have happened at the PPV.
Afterward, the Stooges stand at the entrance applauding the Corporation’s victory.
WAR ZONE!
Shane and Mr. McMahon approach the ring, and a tumbler sits atop a table inside the ring. As Mr. McMahon vows revenge against Mankind for his actions last night, he declares a no-holds-barred match between Kane and Mankind. Next, he rolls the tumbler, and Steve Austin’s Royal Rumble entrance number is…
No, it’s ONE!
Shane invokes the holiday season clause and makes another draw. Again, Austin draws the FIRST spot in the Royal Rumble match. Mr. McMahon adds a stipulation that a $100,000 bounty be paid to the man who tosses Austin out of the ring. Upon namedropping Ted Turner and WCW and teasing a “free agent,” Mr. McMahon gives the microphone to Shane who announces that none other than Mr. McMahon himself will be competing in the match. Lastly, Mr. McMahon’s spot in the match will be…
No, it’s THIRTY!
Nonetheless, Mr. McMahon cuts a promo on Austin, but Mankind interrupts him from backstage to challenge him to a match TONIGHT!
WWF REWIND: Debra strips at the behest of Commissioner Michaels although Blazer prohibited any nudity.
Backstage, Mr. McMahon and the Stooges argue about the match.
WWF Royal Rumble ’99 will be LIVE on PPV on January 24. Order NOW!
Prior to the next match, Jarrett grabs the microphone and is happy about “his” kind of match. Meanwhile, Debra may want to strip tonight since she enjoyed doing it last night.
Match 5 (guitar on a pole): Jeff Jarrett (w/ Debra McMichael) versus Steve Blackman
Highlights:
Jarrett reversed an Irish whip and leapfrogged Blackman. When Blackman floored him with a spin kick, he sought after the guitar. Jarrett stopped him and attempted a suplex. As Blackman blocked it, he dealt Jarrett a suplex of his own. He again sought after the guitar, but Jarrett stopped him. After Jarrett missed a dropkick, Blackman catapulted him face-first into the top turnbuckle.
Debra jumped onto the apron to distract Blackman allowing Jarrett to attain the guitar. While Blackman stopped him, he split Jarrett in two with a backbreaker. Blackman earned a 2-count following an elbow drop, but Debra jumped into the ring to strip. Woohoo!
Climbing the top turnbuckle, Jarrett snared the guitar, leaped, but came up empty. Blackman retrieved the guitar but whiffed. Upon knocking down referee Jim Korderas, Blackman unleashed a belly-to-back suplex. Owen stormed the ring and CLOCKED Blackman with his own guitar. How dastardly! Removing the evidence from the ring, Owen tossed Korderas back inside. 1-2-3. Jarrett won at 3:32.
Rating: DUD
Summary: The winner and how he would win was telegraphed from a mile away.
Backstage, BLOODBATH is written on Ali-Singh’s wall of his dressing room. Ali-Singh wants “no part of this.”
Also backstage, Mr. McMahon accepts Mankind’s challenge but only HIS WAY.
Ali-Singh makes his entrance, the Brood’s music plays, yet the Brood corners him on the stage. As they pummel him in the dark, the lights go out. Upon reillumination, Ali-Singh ends up covered in “blood.” Unquestionably, that’s a Vince Russo trope.
Match 6 (no holds barred): Mankind versus Kane
Highlights:
Kane gave Mankind a cross corner whip but ate a back elbow on his follow-through. As Kane reversed an Irish whip, Mankind blocked a chokeslam attempt. Kane clotheslined Mankind and dealt him a big boot.
When the match segued to the floor, Kane rammed him into the barricade. Mankind reversed an Irish whip sending Kane shoulder-first into the steps. After Kane blocked a shot with the steps, he fed Mankind his own shot with them.
Back in the ring, Kane mauled him, but Mankind rebounded with a swinging neckbreaker. Mankind clotheslined Kane over the top rope, but Kane landed on his feet. Suddenly, Mr. McMahon emerged and challenged Mankind to a street fight in the parking lot. Mankind left, and the match ended at 4:23.
Rating: DUD
Summary: Mere backdrop for the impending street fight.
Catch the encore of WWF Rock Bottom TOMORROW!
During the break, the Corporation attacks Kane, and orderlies apply a straitjacket upon him.
Backstage, orderlies take Kane away in an ambulance.
Elsewhere backstage, Mankind beats up Mr. McMahon bouncing him off fencing and a steel garage door. The Stooges try to rescue Mr. McMahon, but Mankind beats them up too. As Mankind applies Mr. Socko to Mr. McMahon, Rock makes the save. He brawls with Mankind and inevitably hits a Rock Bottom to him atop the hood of the car.
Prior to the main event, HHH takes the microphone and warms up the Tacoma faithful with DX propaganda.
Match 7 for the WWF title: The Rock (champion w/ Shawn Michaels) versus HHH (w/ Chyna)
Highlights:
Rock ambushed HHH before the bell, gave him a cross corner whip, and backdropped him. When he nailed HHH, Rock got 2. Rock gave him another cross corner whip, but HHH exploded from the corner with a clothesline. As he dealt Rock a back elbow, HHH dispensed a ten-punch count-along. Rock reversed an Irish whip and sent HHH reeling over the top rope to the floor.
After the match segued to the floor, HHH blocked a shot to the stairs and administered one himself to Rock. HHH bounced him face-first off the broadcast table, but Rock reversed an Irish whip sending HHH back-first into the barricade. While he clotheslined HHH, Rock nabbed Cole’s headset to provide his own commentary.
He bounced HHH’s face off the broadcast table twice before returning to the ring. Reversing an Irish whip, HHH barreled Rock over with a high knee. He suplexed Rock and followed with an elbow drop for 2. Rebounding with a swinging neckbreaker, Rock clotheslined HHH for 2. He fed HHH a side-Russian leg sweep for another 2. Blocking an Irish whip, Rock planted HHH with a DDT but couldn’t get 3. The Tacoma faithful informed Rock that he indeed “sucks,” but their nemesis connected with a back elbow.
Slamming HHH, Rock delivered a Corporate Elbow for another 2. HHH countered a chin lock with a belly-to-back suplex and blasted Rock with a back elbow. Catching Rock with another high knee, HHH got reversed on an Irish whip yet planted Rock with a face crusher. Do we have a new champion? 1-2-NO!
Again, the match segued to the floor, and HHH caromed Rock off the steps. Michaels got in HHH’s face, so referee Earl Hebner got distracted. With only Rock in the ring, Chyna slithered inside and belted him WAY DOWNTOWN. HHH climbed back into the ring and hit a DDT.
He’s got it this time, right?
1-2-NO!
Michaels began arguing with Chyna, so Hebner became distracted again. To a tremendous roar, HHH hooked a Pedigree, but Michaels scampered into the ring and CLOCKED HHH with the WWF title belt. Nefarious!
Rock only got 2, but Chyna manhandled Michaels at ringside. Since Hebner was preoccupied yet again, a blond giant stepped into the ring and demolished HHH with a pumphandle slam. 1-2-3. Rock retained at 10:47.
Rating: ****
Summary: Perfect chemistry makes for a great match. Plenty of excitement, great timing by everyone involved, and truly fun to watch. I look forward to more matches between them down the road.
After the match, Rock celebrates with “Motley Crue’s bodyguard” to end the show.
Conclusion: In case you’re wondering, “Motley Crue’s bodyguard” is none other than Andrew Martin a.k.a. Test. We’ll see how he’s intertwined with the Corporation in the coming weeks.
Without question, this was an extremely good post-PPV episode. From correcting the mistake of not changing the tag titles at the PPV to the PPV-quality main event with a non-screwy finish.
Could it finally overcome Nitro in the ratings?
TV Rating: 5.16
Who won? Yes, RAW beat Nitro by almost a full ratings point. From an entertainment standpoint, RAW is much better than Nitro. Whereas Nitro can deliver a strong match in the midcard, RAW delivers in the main event, and that’s where it counts. Those “changes” that Bischoff is promising had better pay off, or it’s a long road for WCW in 1999.
Stay tuned for WCW Thunder 12-17-98!
Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at rsg@rockstargary.com and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202).