WWF Sunday Night Heat September 6, 1998

by

Taped from New Haven, CT

Airdate: September 6, 1998 (taped 8/31)

Attendance:

Hosted by Jim Ross & Shane McMahon

After an absolute dreck of a RAW last night, can the WWF rebound?

Opening montage.

Prior to the opening match, we revisit RAW from three weeks ago when Edge kept his eye on Gangrel. Next, we fast-forward a week when Edge manhandled Gangrel.

Match 1: Gangrel versus Dick Togo (w/ Mr. Yamaguchi)

Highlights:

  • Gangrel made his entrance elevated through the stage in a ring of fire.
  • When Togo reversed an Irish whip, he glanced Gangrel with a spinning heel kick.
  • He slammed Gangrel, leaped to the second turnbuckle, and launched a moonsault for 2.
  • As Gangrel reversed an Irish whip, he powerslammed Togo.
  • He landed a corkscrew elbow drop and followed with a release Tiger suplex.
  • After he fed Togo a diving head butt, Gangrel connected with a vertical suplex, floated over, and got 2.
  • He planted Togo with an Impaler DDT and pinned him at 2:16.

 

Rating: *

Summary:  Showcase match for Gangrel.

We revisit RAW from three weeks ago when Jacqueline lost an arm-wrestling contest by pushing the table onto Sable and subsequently destroyed the trophy. Following that, we see a video dated 9/3 where Mero presented Jacqueline her own trophy. Jacqueline runs down Sable as the happy couple hugs.

After a commercial break, we revisit Sunday Night Heat from last week when Vader knocked Bradshaw off the apron. That led to a Bradshaw haymaker that stunned Vader enough to suffer defeat. Transitioning to last night’s RAW, the Brothers of Destruction made one of its numerous completely unnecessary interruptions to disrupt the feud.

Match 2: Ken Shamrock versus Bradshaw

Highlights:

  • Shamrock hooked a vertical suplex with a bridge and got 2.
  • As he fed Bradshaw a flying shoulder block, Shamrock got reversed on an Irish whip and attempted a cross body block.
  • Bradshaw caught and dealt Shamrock a fallaway slam.
  • When he gave Shamrock a pair of cross corner whips, Bradshaw followed with a pair of corner clotheslines.
  • Shamrock blocked a suplex and slammed Bradshaw.
  • After he delivered a flying back elbow, Shamrock connected with a spinning heel kick.
  • A second spinning heel kick ultimately took Bradshaw off his feet.
  • While Bradshaw caught him, he powerslammed Shamrock for 2.
  • Bradshaw flattened Shamrock with a big boot, but Vader jumped into the ring to nail him.
  • Nevertheless, referee Earl Hebner called for the bell to disqualify Shamrock.
  • Bradshaw won by DQ at 1:58.

 

Rating: *

Summary:  Solid action before the bullshit finish.

After the match, Vader obliterates Bradshaw with a pair of short-arm clotheslines. Bradshaw rebounds with a big boot and clotheslines Vader over the top rope to the floor. They brawl at ringside while Shamrock stands idly by. Irritated over getting disqualified, Shamrock chases after WWF officials.

Prior to the next match, Road Dog recites his spiel with assistance from the New Haven faithful.

Match 3: Road Dog (w/ Billy Gunn) versus Dennis Knight (w/ Mark Canterbury)

Highlights:

  • To my knowledge, WWF hadn’t yet placed a second G on the end of Brian Armstrong’s ring name.
  • Road Dog booted Knight down and followed with a reverse running guillotine for 2.
  • When Knight distracted referee Jack Doan, Canterbury hammered Road Dog. SNEAKY!
  • Knight reversed an Irish whip, and Canterbury tried to interfere again.
  • As Canterbury distracted Road Dog, Knight walloped the DX canine from behind. How dastardly!
  • Doan exited the ring to halt any shenanigans between Gunn and Canterbury, so Jeff Jarrett snuck into the ring to destroy Road Dog.
  • After Doan noticed the chicanery, he called for the bell.
  • Road Dog won by DQ at 2:27.

 

Rating: DUD

Summary:  A couple minutes of nonsense before another finish.

Following the match, Southern Justice and Jarrett cripple the NAO until X-Pac rescues his buddies to even the odds. Chaos ensues until WWF officials break up the melee.

We revisit RAW from last night again when Mr. McMahon antagonized the Brothers of Destruction. During the episode, the Brothers of Destruction disrupted matches, injured wrestlers (e.g. Steve Blackman), and ruined any chance of a good wrestling show.

Match 4: The Brothers of Destruction versus Road Warrior Animal & Droz (w/o Hawk)

Highlights:

  • On the phone, Hawk notified one and all that he’ll be seeking rehab for his substance abuse issues. PSA from your friendly neighborhood Rock Star, If you need help, get help.
  • Kane gave Droz a cross corner whip and followed with a corner clothesline.
  • As he clotheslined Droz, Kane missed an elbow drop.
  • Droz met a charging Kane with a mule kick followed by a clothesline.
  • When Droz fed him a three-point stance tackle, Kane sat up immediately.
  • Tags were exchanged on both sides, and Undertaker flattened Animal with a big boot.
  • After he clotheslined Animal, Undertaker missed an elbow drop.
  • Undertaker reversed an Irish whip, but Animal dealt him a flying shoulder block for 2.
  • While Undertaker reversed another Irish whip, Kane blasted Animal from behind. Evil!
  • Undertaker delivered a chop block to Animal and applied a leg bar submission hold.
  • With Mr. McMahon looking on, referee Mike Chioda called for the bell.
  • Undertaker wouldn’t release the hold despite Droz’s best efforts.
  • Chokeslamming Droz, Kane deposited him over the top rope to the floor.
  • Officially, Animal submitted; thus, the Brothers of Destruction won at 2:51.

 

Rating: *

Summary:  Showcase match for the newest and most diabolical tag team in the WWF.

After the match, Undertaker notices Mr. McMahon’s pleased supervision.

Prior to the next match, we revisit the PPV with stills of Sable and Edge teaming up.

Match 5: Edge versus Taka Michinoku (w/ Mr. Yamaguchi)

Highlights:

  • Edge flapjacked Michinoku and followed with a bulldog.
  • When he gave Michinoku a cross corner whip, Edge ate a knee on his follow-through.
  • Michinoku fed Edge a tornado DDT but got hurled across the ring on a second attempt.
  • As Edge scored with a spinning heel kick, he got 2.
  • He dealt Michinoku a reverse suplex, clotheslined Michinoku twice, and flapjacked him again.
  • After he mounted the top turnbuckle, Edge missed a diving head butt.
  • Michinoku mounted the adjacent top turnbuckle and launched a missile dropkick.
  • While Michinoku attempted a Michinoku Driver, Edge escaped and planted him with a Downward Spiral.
  • 1-2-3.
  • Edge won at 2:07.

 

Rating: **

Summary:  Showcase match for Edge.

Following the match, the Brothers of Destruction manhandle Gerald Brisco and Pat Patterson on their way to the ring. Undertaker grabs the microphone and demands Mr. McMahon’s presence by the count of ten; otherwise, McMahon’s “top stooges” will get dismantled. When the count reaches ten, Kane obliterates Brisco with a clothesline. The Brothers of Destruction deliver stereo chokeslams to Patterson and Brisco to send yet another message.

Match 6 for the WWF European title: D’Lo Brown (champion) versus Val Venis

Highlights:

  • Before the bell, Venis met Brown in the aisle and clotheslined him.
  • He made Brown HIT THE POLE, followed him into the ring, and planted him with a DDT for 2.
  • As Venis leapfrogged him, he made a second attempt only to eat a Liger bomb.
  • Dustin Runnels was shown again promoting Warrior’s return to prominence in WCW, and Brown fed Venis a backbreaker on the floor.
  • When Brown mounted the steel railing, Venis caught and dropped him down to the floor.
  • He backdropped Brown and followed with a back elbow.
  • After he landed an elbow drop, Venis dealt Brown a ten-punch count-along.
  • Referee Jim Korderas admonished Venis allowing Brown to untie the top turnbuckle pad.
  • While Venis charged, he met the exposed turnbuckle head-on.
  • Brown hooked a German suplex with a bridge and pinned Venis at 2:54.

 

Rating: ***

Summary:  Short return match, but they put it all out there within three minutes.

After the match, Brown taunts him, but Venis responds by nailing him. He removes the chest protector again and powerbombs Brown. As Venis wears the chest protector, he mounts the top turnbuckle and scores with a Money Shot.

Following a commercial break, Mr. McMahon stands in the ring and states he’s in “mourning.” Why? He’s mourning the conclusion of Austin’s WWF title reign at the upcoming PPV. Oh, I thought it was due to RAW’s rating due to its utter awfulness. While the New Haven faithful calls him an “asshole,” Mr. McMahon turns his attention to the Brothers of Destruction, and they appear.

Cowering on the floor, McMahon apologizes for his remarks from last night. He acknowledges their destruction as well as Undertaker’s quest for another title shot. As McMahon addresses him, he believes Kane deserves another reign as WWF champion.

When McMahon mentions the WWF champion by name, Stone Cold Steve Austin emerges to a tremendous ovation. McMahon declares that Austin will defend the WWF title at the PPV against both of the Brothers of Destruction to end the show.

Conclusion:  For those who were lucky enough to escape seeing last night’s RAW, this episode cleans it up in preparation for next Saturday’s RAW. For the most part, the matches were decent to OK with a couple of exceptions. Since the PPV main event will get shilled on RAW, this episode was meaningless.

TV Rating: 3.2

Stay tuned for WCW Monday Nitro 09-07-98!

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