Live from Albany, NY
Airdate: December 28, 1998
Attendance: 11,928 (sold out)
Hosted by Michael Cole & Jerry “The King” Lawler
What happens to Michaels? Who will win the main event and how is Rock involved? What’s the latest between DX and the Corporation? What’s the deal with Henry, PMS, and Chyna? Can the WWF close out 1998 on a good note?
Opening montage.
Backstage, the Corporation wanders around. Mr. McMahon advises Shane about when he’ll fire Shawn Michaels, and they enter the boiler room in search of Mankind. As he appears, the Corporation roughs Mankind up as “payback” for last week. Mr. McMahon declares he’ll get a Hardcore title shot. When Road Dog’s music hits, Mr. McMahon’s perplexed. Shane informs him Michaels had other plans for the Hardcore title tonight.
Prior to the opening match, Road Dog rattles off his spiel with help from the Albany faithful. Venis gets his turn and makes a lewd holiday joke.
Match 1 for the WWF Hardcore title: Road Dog (champion) versus Val Venis
Highlights:
Road Dog ambushed Venis at the bell, dealt Venis a shaky-shaky right cross, and followed with a back drop. When he uncorked a shaky-shaky knee drop, Road Dog got 2. Venis reversed an Irish whip and planted Road Dog with a SPINEBUSTER. As Venis gave Road Dog a cross corner whip, he came up empty on his follow-through.
The Corporation, minus the McMahons, approached ringside and distracted Road Dog. After Venis saw his opportunity, he clotheslined Road Dog, placed a pair of knees into the midsection, and dumped him with a side-Russian leg sweep. Test jumped into the ring and bulldogged Venis. WTF? While referee Earl Hebner called for the bell, Venis won by DQ at 2:04.
Rating: *
Summary: Short, inoffensive match with a finish that smells like…
After the match, Test pummels Venis before tossing him to the floor. The Corporation unquestionably ruins Venis’ late-night plans by bruising him without his consent. The remainder of DX joins Road Dog in the ring, but Mr. McMahon stands at the entrance. As he advises Road Dog about another title defense later in the show, he fills in the blank of the opponent—Mankind!
Mr. McMahon warns DX that they’ll pay for ridiculing Shane. Later, he will “humiliate…and publicly fire (Michaels’) ass…”
Backstage, Snow has LOST HIS DAMN MIND as he throws Head into a bin while still covered in blood from last week.
Following a commercial break, Mr. McMahon speaks to Kane and demands a member of DX to be placed upon his mantle.
Prior to the next match, we revisit last week when the Brood doused Snow in blood following his match against Gangrel.
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Match 2: Edge (w/ the Brood) versus Al Snow (w/ Head)
Highlights:
Immediately, the match segued to the floor, and Snow reversed an Irish whip making Edge HIT THE POLE. Edge rebounded with a spinning heel kick but ate a clothesline. As Snow slammed him, he mounted the top turnbuckle and launched a moonsault. He grabbed a steel chair, re-entered the ring, mounted the second turnbuckle, but got caught.
When he hoisted Snow atop his shoulders, Edge decimated him with an inverted sit-out powerbomb. He mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but WHIFFED on a flying senton splash. After Snow headbutted the BEJEEZUS out of him, he clobbered Edge with Head. Referee Teddy Long called for the bell, and Edge won by DQ at 2:48.
Rating: *
Summary: Another match of gimme 90 seconds of good stuff followed by a horrible finish.
Following the match, Gangrel and Christian storm the ring to save Edge’s bacon. The JOB Squad is closely behind, and a pier-six brawl erupts. Snow exits through the Albany faithful to end the segment.
SLAM OF THE WEEK: Sable powerbombs Jacqueline and captures the Women’s title at Survivor Series ’98.
Back in the locker room, X-Pac confers with Dennis Knight who was apparently beckoned to be in Albany tonight. By whom?
During Sable’s entrance, an obsessed fan enters the ring and offers Sable a single yellow rose. This “fan” would later become Tori.
Match 3 for the WWF Women’s title: Sable versus Spider Lady
Highlights:
Spider Lady stormed the ring and ambushed Sable from behind. When Spider Lady removed her belt, she whipped Sable mercilessly with it. The Oddities infiltrated the ring, and Spider Lady removed her mask. Who was she? Luna!
Rating: NONE
Backstage, the Oddities tend to Sable’s injuries.
Prior to the next match, we revisit HeAT when Kane dismantled X-Pac. Also, we revisit last week when, thanks to Mankind, Road Dog defeated Bossman for the Hardcore title.
REAL Match 3 for the WWF European title: X-Pac (champion) versus Big Bossman
Highlights:
Bossman countered a leap frog attempt with a spinebuster. When he gave X-Pac a HARD cross corner whip to injure the back, Bossman locked a bear hug. He sandwiched X-Pac in the corner, reapplied the bear hug, and sandwiched him again in the opposite corner. As Bossman reapplied the bear hug, X-Pac escaped, whipped him into the corner, but came up empty on his follow-through.
With X-Pac stuck in the corner, Bossman SQUISHED him with an avalanche. He blasted X-Pac and got 2. After X-Pac attempted a cross body block, Bossman caught and split him in two with a backbreaker. He headbutted X-Pac, slammed him, mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but there wasn’t any water in the pool.
While X-Pac leveled him with a pair of spin kicks, he connected with a spinning heel kick. He pummeled Bossman down into the corner and dealt him a Bronco buster. Suddenly, Test approached ringside. Bossman reversed an Irish whip and unloaded a big boot. Abruptly, Venis brawled with Test at ringside until Bossman intervened.
Referee Jim Korderas called for the bell, yet X-Pac floored Bossman with a plancha. Sports-entertainment finish at 5:00.
Rating: **
Summary: This had the makings of a decent David versus Goliath-style match until yet another disgusting finish.
Video airs featuring Mr. McMahon’s training for the Rumble match including drinking raw eggs. Mr. McMahon’s motivation: “I hate Austin!”
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Prior to the next match, we revisit two weeks ago when Blackman unmasked the Blue Blazer and revealed Owen. Next, we revisit last week when Blackman unmasked him again to reveal Jarrett.
Match 4: Owen Hart & Jeff Jarrett (w/ Debra McMichael) versus Steve Blackman & Goldust
Highlights:
Jarrett powerslammed Goldust and got 2. As Jarrett reversed an Irish whip, he ate a clothesline. Goldust dealt him an atomic slam and set up Shattered Dreams. When Owen interceded, Jarrett used the distraction to demolish Goldust with a single-arm DDT. Owen tagged in, and the heels double-clotheslined Goldust.
After the Albany faithful categorized Owen as a “nugget,” their nemesis missed a dropkick. Blackman tagged in and split Owen in two with a backbreaker. While he missed an elbow drop, Blackman ate an enziguri. Owen planted Blackman with a spinning heel kick and got 2. Dropping Blackman with a hangman’s neckbreaker, Owen got another 2. Blackman reversed an Irish whip, but Owen caught and fed him a spinebuster.
Trapping Blackman in a Sharpshooter, Owen noticed Dan Severn in a neck brace approaching ringside. Severn tried to confront him, but Owen kept backpedaling. Placing both Jarrett and Debra in front of Severn, Owen re-entered the ring. Blackman rolled up and pinned Owen instantaneously at 3:32.
Rating: *
Summary: The distraction finish rears its ugly head costing Owen and Jarrett the match.
TV Rating: 4.3
WAR ZONE!
Out in the parking lot, the Acolytes destroy Knight and stick him into the trunk of his rental car. They drive away, and we have a kidnapping!
Prior to the next match, HHH grabs the microphone and amps up the Albany faithful.
Match 5 for the WWF Intercontinental title: Ken Shamrock (champion w/ the Corporation) versus HHH (w/ DX)
Highlights:
The Albany faithful LOUDLY informed Shamrock that indeed “sucks,” so HHH dealt their nemesis an inverted atomic drop. When HHH delivered a hangman’s neckbreaker, Shamrock took a powder on the floor. Shamrock leaped over the top rope and hammered HHH with a forearm smash. As he fed HHH a back elbow, Shamrock attempted a vertical suplex. HHH blocked it and countered with a gourdbuster.
After he hit a baseball slide to Test, HHH unleashed a DX chop. Shamrock swept the leg of his distracted opponent and worked it over. While Shamrock gave him a cross corner whip, HHH collapsed down to the mat. HHH reversed a cross corner whip resulting in a sternum-first bump by Shamrock. Smacking Shamrock with a high knee, HHH got reversed on an Irish whip but rearranged Shamrock’s appearance with a face crusher.
Bossman jumped onto the apron, yet HHH belted him. Snaring HHH from a prone position, Shamrock applied an ankle lock. HHH eventually made the ropes, but Shamrock wouldn’t release the hold. Calling for the bell, referee Tim White awarded the match to HHH via DQ at 6:35. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Rating: **
Summary: Another horrible finish in a match that deserved a better outcome.
Afterward, Shamrock shoves down White to reapply the hold. Billy Gunn interjects himself by steamrolling Shamrock. With absolute mayhem happening in the ring, the Stooges encourage Kane to sway the odds in the Corporation’s favor. Kane enters, but DX scatters before any further chaos can ensue.
TV Rating: 5.36
WWF REWIND: Last week, Gunn upset Shamrock, but Michaels changed the stipulation after the fact. Crafty!
Backstage, Kevin Kelly interviews Gunn, but Shamrock interrupts. Words but not fists are exchanged.
Mark Henry and D’Lo Brown approach the ring. While Henry grabs the microphone, he apologizes to Chyna for interacting with PMS. He pleads for forgiveness, but PMS answers instead. As Brown calls them “ring rats,” Insider jargon! Chyna marches to the ring, and Henry is IN TROUBLE. When she takes the microphone, Chyna confronts and warns PMS. Jacqueline makes fun of her and gets shoved down to the mat as a result. Chyna turns around and informs Henry: “I’ll see you later.”
Backstage, the Corporation seeks Mankind.
Video airs featuring WWF in 1998. T’was a remarkable year that altered wrestling fans’ perceptions and turned the Monday Night War in its favor.
Backstage, the Corporation assaults Godfather while the ho’s squeal in terror.
Prior to the next match, Gunn grabs the microphone and cuts a quick promo on Shamrock. In lieu of Godfather, Shane emerges to switch his opponent from Godfather to…Kane!
Match 6: “Bad Ass” Billy Gunn versus Godfather Kane (w/ the Corporation)
Highlights:
Gunn tried to pound on him, but Kane manhandled him instead. As Kane clotheslined him, he flattened Gunn with a big boot. He hung Gunn out to dry, mounted the top rope, and planted Gunn with a flying axe handle. When he backdropped Gunn, Kane ate a Rocker Dropper. Gunn clotheslined him over the top rope to the floor, yet momentum took him as well. After Kane rammed him face-first into the apron, he re-entered the ring to distract referee Mike Chioda.
Shockingly, Shamrock sprinted to ringside to brutalize Gunn. He applied an ankle lock while Pat Patterson continued to distract Chioda. Upon Gerald Brisco’s convincing Shamrock to release the hold, Gunn returned to the ring only to eat a chokeslam. Kane attempted to cover Gunn, but the Stooges strongly urged him to further destroy Gunn.
Chokeslamming Gunn again, Kane was coerced for a third attempt. DX appeared, and X-Pac launched a missile dropkick to Kane. Having witnessed that and ONLY that, Chioda called for the bell. Kane won by DQ at 3:58.
Rating: *
Summary: Yet another WHIFF on a match that could have been better. Russo and Ferrera are striking out poorly tonight. The storyline of Kane’s reluctance to do the Corporation’s dirty work continues however.
Wearing a stylish button-down shirt, Rock joins the broadcast table.
Prior to the main event, Road Dog takes the microphone from ring announcer Tony Chimel and recites his spiel again. Also, showing up EXTREMELY LATE TO WORK, Shawn Michaels has entered the building. Methinks he should have called out sick if he’s going to be that late.
Match 7 for the WWF Hardcore title: Road Dog (champion) versus Mankind
Highlights:
The match began during the commercial break.
When he headbutted Road Dog, Mankind unleashed a Cactus clothesline. He rammed Road Dog into the barricade and the steel ramp before suplexing him onto it. As Rock’s charisma completely stole the show, Mankind introduced a table to the entranceway. He suplexed the table onto a prone Road Dog and got 2.
After he charged Road Dog, Mankind ate a back drop on the steel ramp. OUCH! Road Dog picked up the table and SMACKED Mankind with it. While Mankind tumbled down to the ring, he vaulted Road Dog face-first into the apron. Mankind retrieved a toolbox from under the ring, but Road Dog kicked it back in his face.
Walloping Mankind with a cookie sheet, Road Dog tossed Mankind back into the ring. In the meantime, Rock absolutely took Cole to school on commentary. This was GLORIOUS. Road Dog retrieved a steel chair and whacked Mankind with it. Setting the chair down on the mat, Road Dog, in pure Armstrong fashion, dumped Mankind onto it with a side-Russian leg sweep for 2.
Mankind rebounded with a piledriver and got 2. Piledriving Road Dog onto the chair, Mankind placed the cookie sheet atop his face. He demolished Road Dog with a leg drop for another 2, brother.
Transferring the match to the floor, Mankind heaved Road Dog into the front row. He sent Road Dog into the penalty box, but when did the WWF become WCCW?
Nevertheless, Mankind tried to commit felonious assault with a TV monitor, but Road Dog evaded him.
Road Dog stymied Mankind with a chair to the midsection and whacked him so hard that he took out a WWF technician too. There’s your fifteen minutes of fame, dude.
Climbing into the bleachers, Mankind guillotined Road Dog with the railing. Mr. Socko surfaced, and Road Dog found him instantly in his gullet. Ascending the rafters, Mankind launched a Cactus elbow plowing Road Dog through a table. E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W!
Meanwhile, Rock left the broadcast table, checked his extremely fashionable watch, and dealt Mankind a Rock Bottom on the concrete floor. 1-2-3. Road Dog retained at 9:09 shown.
Rating: **
Summary: Yet again, Mankind gets upended by the Corporation—this time by Rock.
After the match, Road Dog’s upset about the way he won swearing six ways to Sunday.
TV Rating: 5.54
Promptly, Mr. McMahon approaches the ring and grabs the microphone. He advises the Corporation to remain backstage and calls out Michaels. As Michaels enters the ring, Mr. McMahon addresses Michaels’ accolades thanks to him. Footage from last March with Mike Tyson in the background is shown where Michaels runs down Mr. McMahon.
More footage is shown as Michaels holds the Corporation back while Mankind pummels Shane. When he informs Michaels that he “suck(s)” as Commissioner, Mr. McMahon uses Michaels’ own words against him: “Mr. McMahon doesn’t lay down for anybody.”
Next, Mr. McMahon, as only he can, tells Michaels: “YOU’RE FIRED!” Without further ado, Michaels lays him out with Sweet Chin Music. WE HAVE A FACE TURN! Mr. McMahon is OUT COLD. Celebrating, Michaels removes some of his clothing to rub it in Mr. McMahon’s face.
On the other hand, the Corporation hurriedly infiltrates the ring while Michaels gets the heck outta Dodge.
TV Rating: 5.55
EXTRA ATTITUDE: The Corporation picks up the humiliated Mr. McMahon and assists him out of the ring. Reluctantly, Kane offers some help but remains in the ring. Mr. McMahon collapses atop Patterson and berates him for it. Ultimately, Bossman helps Mr. McMahon return backstage with Kane and the Stooges in tow.
Conclusion: One false start and five shitty finishes cannot overcome the excitement of the main event. And that’s mostly due to Rock’s involvement. This was an absolute PUTRID episode that I would be ashamed to have produced. Avoid at all costs.
Could it finally overcome Nitro in the ratings?
TV Rating: 4.9
Who won? Surprisingly yes, RAW eeked out a victory by 0.3 points. While Nitro relies heavily on the wrestling, RAW gets by on its storylines almost exclusively. With the impending World title match in the stadium on Nitro, WCW has a good chance to overtake the WWF next week. Let’s hope they seize their opportunity.
Stay tuned for WWF HeAT 01-03-98!
Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at rsg@rockstargary.com and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202).