Taped from Tacoma, WA
Airdate: December 20, 1998 (taped 12/14)
Attendance: 17,508 (sold out)
Hosted by Kevin Kelly & Shane McMahon
Can Mankind win in a fatal 4-way against the Corporation? Will X-Pac retain the European title? How will the Hardy Boyz fare this week? Does he win, or does Snow fall? What’s up with the Road Warriors? Even though it’s the Christmas season for this episode, the temperature is truly rising.
Prior to the opening match, we revisit RAW when Singh protested having “BLOODBATH” written on his dressing room wall. Later, he suffered from an actual bloodbath courtesy of the Brood.
Match 1 for the WWF European title: X-Pac (champion) versus Tiger Ali-Singh
Highlights:
Singh gave X-Pac a cross corner whip followed by a gorilla press into a flapjack. When he whipped X-Pac into the corner, Singh came up empty on his follow-through. X-Pac launched a lariat and followed with a spinning heel kick. As he dealt Singh a Bronco buster, X-Pac planted him with an X-Factor. 1-2-3. X-Pac retained at 1:53.
Rating: *
Summary: Showcase match for X-Pac.
Backstage, Commissioner Shawn Michaels advises Rock, Bossman, and Shamrock. I smell a coup.
Prior to the next match, we revisit last week when Quinn defeated Christopher.
Match 2: “Too Sexy” Brian Christopher & Kevin Quinn (w/ Scotty 2 Hotty) versus the Hardy Boyz
Highlights:
Taylor, on crutches, joined the broadcast table for this match. As Quinn scaled the top rope, he fed Matt a huracanrana. Tags were exchanged on both sides, and the Hardy Boyz unloaded an atomic drop/clothesline combo to Christopher. Synchronicity!
When Jeff backdropped him, Christopher tagged out. Jeff guillotined Quinn with the top rope, and Matt tagged in. After Matt slammed Quinn, Jeff tagged in, mounted the top turnbuckle, and uncorked a somersault senton splash. Nifty! Matt distracted referee Jim Korderas, so Christopher snuck up on Jeff from behind and planted him with a Stroke.
While Christopher tagged in, Jeff reversed an Irish whip but fell victim to a sit-out powerbomb. Quinn tagged in, mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but ate a mid-air dropkick from Jeff. Tagging in, Matt slammed Quinn and an incoming Christopher. He mounted the top turnbuckle and launched a GORGEOUS moonsault.
Taking his turn, Jeff mounted the same top turnbuckle, attempted a corkscrew moonsault, but there wasn’t any water in the pool. Quinn demolished Jeff with a head-and arm suplex, and Christopher mounted the top turnbuckle. Annihilating Jeff with a Tennessee Jam, Christopher pinned him at 3:17.
Rating: ***
Summary: Solid work from both teams, but the Hardy Boyz’ inexperience reared its ugly head.
From the boiler room, Mankind wants to make history in tonight’s main event. I wonder if he brings a text book to use as a weapon.
Match 3: Al Snow (w/ Head) versus Droz (w/ Animal)
Highlights:
Snow reversed an Irish whip and connected with a flying back elbow. When Droz leapfrogged him, he dealt Snow a powerslam. A rather displeased Animal, meanwhile, felt no obligation to remain at ringside and abandoned Droz. As Snow popped back up, Droz dropkicked him. Droz gave him a cross corner whip, but Snow applied the brakes and steamrolled him with a clothesline.
After Hawk, in street clothes and wearing a large cast on his left arm, approached ringside, Droz reversed an Irish whip and bowled over Snow with a shoulder block. Hawk jumped onto the apron to distract Droz. While Snow distracted referee Earl Hebner, Hawk walloped Droz with his cast. REVENGE!
Snow destroyed the disheveled Droz with a Snow Plow and pinned him at 1:23.
Rating: *
Summary: More angle than match as Hawk rightfully took his frustrations out on Droz.
After the match, Hawk grabs the microphone and warns Droz about revealing their “deep, dark, little secret” on RAW tomorrow night.
HeAT is sponsored by FootAction USA, Snickers, and WWF: The Music Volume 2.
Prior to the next match, the Oddities bring a gift-wrapped present for the Headbangers.
Match 4: The Headbangers versus Kurrgan & Golga
Highlights:
Headbangers attacked the Oddities from behind and sent Kurrgan reeling to the floor. As they double-suplexed Golga, Kurrgan returned to clothesline Mosh over the top rope to the floor. Golga gave Thrasher a cross corner whip and followed with an avalanche. When Mosh assisted Thrasher to the floor, the Headbangers opened their gift.
What’s in it?
If you can believe it…George “The Animal” Steele!
Although Thrasher ran for this life, Steele caught up to him and rammed him face-first into the barricade. Referee Mike Chioda called for the bell, and the Headbangers won by DQ at 1:10.
Rating: DUD
Summary: Comedy match 100%. No filler.
Following the match, the Headbangers scramble back to the locker room while the Oddities and Steele celebrate in the ring.
WWF REWIND: From RAW, Motley Crue’s bodyguard helped Rock retain the WWF title.
DX enters the ring, and Gunn grabs the microphone. As Gunn cuts a promo on Michaels, Road Dog reinforces the sentiment but wants another piece of Bossman and Shamrock. HHH takes the stick and runs down Rock and Michaels. According to Kelly, Motley Crue’s bodyguard’s name is named Test, and HHH wants to break him.
Suddenly, Rock alongside Test emerges, but HHH isn’t impressed. Rock runs down NAO before turning his attention to X-Pac. Before he’s finished, he insults Chyna for dating Mark Henry. Vicious! He puts Test over like there’s no tomorrow.
Thanks, Apollo.
Before the segment ends, HHH puts in another $.02 by using a DEEZ NUTS reference for the taste in Rock’s mouth. HA! He challenges Rock to a match anytime, anywhere.
Stills from last week’s PPV are shown courtesy of WWF Magazine.
Prior to the next match, Gunn gesticulates his feelings with his crotch toward the camera while Road Dog recites his spiel with help from the Tacoma faithful. Next, we revisit RAW when Michaels assisted Bossman and Shamrock in attaining WWF gold at the expense of Gunn.
WWF Royal Rumble ’99 will be LIVE on PPV in only FIVE WEEKS!
Match 5: The New Age Outlaws versus Disciples of Apocalypse (w/ “Precious” Paul Ellering)
Highlights:
Is THAT Teddy Long as a referee?
Road Dog withstood 8-Ball’s anemic offensive onslaught, got jiggy with it, and unloaded a shaky-shaky knee drop for 2. When 8-Ball reversed an Irish whip, Skull obliterated Road Dog from the apron. SNEAKY!
Skull tagged in and mauled Road Dog. As Skull dealt Road Dog a back elbow, 8-Ball tagged in and gave Road Dog a cross corner whip. 8-Ball ate boot on his follow-through, so Road Dog quickly mounted the second turnbuckle and launched a flying clothesline.
After tags were exchanged on both sides, Gunn conducted a meeting of the minds. All four wrestlers were in the ring, and Ellering jumped into the ring. While Ellering inadvertently demolished Skull with his briefcase, Gunn pinned the altered biker at 3:05.
Rating: **
Summary: Predictable victory by the FORMER tag team champions as DoA has been MIA lately.
Afterward, DoA has an issue with Ellering and destroys him. Methinks Ellering’s WWF days may be numbered.
Prior to the main event, we revisit stills from the PPV when Mr. McMahon informed everyone that the Rock did not QUIT. This becomes VERY important down the road. Following the introductions, we revisit RAW when Test made his infamous wrestling debut by assisting Rock with retaining the WWF title. Also, Mankind obliterated Mr. McMahon before eating a Rock Bottom on the hood of a car. Lest we forget that Kane was also forcibly institutionalized.
Match 6 (fatal 4-way): WWF Champion Rock versus WWF Intercontinental champion Ken Shamrock versus WWF Hardcore champion Big Bossman (w/ Shawn Michaels) versus Mankind
Highlights:
At the onset, Bossman barraged him until Mankind rebounded with a discus clothesline. Shamrock tagged in, and the Corporation played the numbers game against Mankind. As Rock tagged in, Mankind dealt him a kick to the midsection and ejected him to the floor. The match segued to the floor, but Shamrock countered a Cactus elbow with a clothesline. Crafty!
With Mr. McMahon and Test enjoying the action on a backstage monitor, Rock and Bossman distracted referee Tim White. That enabled Shamrock to hammer away at Mankind. How dastardly!
When Shamrock tagged in, he fed Mankind some Chef Boyardee a back elbow. He leveled Mankind with a spinning heel kick much to the delight of Test. After he unloaded a knee lift, Shamrock tagged out to Bossman. Mankind ducked a Bossman clothesline and applied a Mandible claw. While Rock tripped Mankind from behind, he broke the wishbone on him. OUCH!
Mr. McMahon and Test sauntered toward ringside, and Rock tagged in. Planting Mankind with a DDT, Rock got 2. Bossman grabbed a steel chair and tossed it into the ring. Since White was distracted by Shamrock, Rock stymied Mankind with a Rock Bottom atop the chair. Rock rid the ring of the evidence, faked a Corporate Elbow for a moment, yet delivered it with extra mustard. 1-2-3. Rock won at 6:10.
Rating: ***
Summary: Was there any doubt about the outcome? This was a mugging, and Mankind might want to check his wallet.
After the match, the entire Corporation stands in the ring, and Mr. McMahon pulls out his own version of Mr. Socko albeit a black sock. Evil! He applies a Mandible claw until DX storms the ring. As DX clears the ring of the Corporation, the episode leaves the air.
Conclusion: Despite the result of the main event never being in question, it showcased how exciting the war between Mankind, DX, and the Corporation truly was. In addition, DoA booted Ellering as their manager after some heel miscommunication cost them a victory. While the Headbangers “won” a comedy match involving Steele, Hawk also returned to cost Droz his match. The Hardy Boyz learned a valuable lesson, and X-Pac made quick work of Singh.
Lately, the booking has been the equivalent of a watermelon on a hot summer day—juicy, delicious, and captivating. Get all this!
TV Rating: 3.5
Stay tuned for WCW Monday Nitro 12-21-98!
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