Live from St. Louis, MO
Airdate: November 15, 1998
Attendance: 19,322 (sold out)
Hosted by Michael Cole & Jim Cornette
It’s the pre-show for Survivor Series ’98! Read this already!
Opening montage.
Prior to the first match, we revisit last week when Droz and Animal turfed Hawk from the Legion of Doom.
Match 1: Road Warrior Animal & Droz versus the JOB Squad (w/ Al Snow)
Highlights:
- Scorpio reversed an Irish whip, leapfrogged Animal, and attempted another leapfrog.
- When Animal caught him, he powerslammed Scorpio.
- He shoulder-blocked Scorpio who retaliated with a thrust kick.
- As he connected with a standing spinning heel kick, Scorpio tagged out.
- Animal slammed Holly and tagged in Droz.
- After Droz missed an elbow drop, Holly ruined his late-night Sunday plans with an inverted atomic drop.
- He clotheslined Droz who reversed an Irish whip and clotheslined Holly for 2.
- With all four wrestlers in the ring, Droz dumped Holly to the floor.
- He and Animal double-clotheslined Scorpio who celebrated with a 360°. Woohoo!
- While the St. Louis faithful clamored for Head, Droz and Animal decimated Scorpio with a Doomsday Device.
- Holly returned and put a knee into Animal’s back sending them to the floor, and referee Mike Chioda kept a keen eye on them.
- Suddenly, Snow entered the ring and WHACKED Droz with Head.
- Allow me to remind you that Head still wore Socko as a headband.
- 1-2-3.
- Scorpio and Holly won at 2:17.
Rating: **
Summary: Since it was the most over object involved, Head made all the difference with the outcome.
Prior to the next match, Singh grabbed the microphone, but Venis’ entrance interrupted him. We revisit RAW from last week when Terri got REVENGE against Venis for casting her aside. When Venis takes the microphone, he pays tribute to Anheuser-Busch as only he can.
Match 2: Val Venis versus Tiger Ali-Singh (w/ Babu)
Highlights:
- Venis gave Singh a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
- As Singh celebrated beating on him, Venis retaliated with a clothesline.
- Singh and Venis battle over an abdominal stretch while USA’s Sunday night lineup is shilled.
- Hey! There’s a WWF PPV following this show! Nobody’s watching that!
- Nevertheless, Venis won the battle, attempted a backslide, but felt the wrath of Singh’s trick knee.
- Singh clotheslined Venis who reversed an Irish whip and scored with a pair of knees to the midsection.
- When he dealt Singh a side-Russian leg sweep, Venis swiveled for the St. Louis Squealers.
- Venis mounted the top turnbuckle, but Singh crotched him.
- After Singh landed a double axe handle from the apron to the floor, he guillotined Venis on the barricade.
- Babu distracted referee Tim White, so Godfather CLOBBERED Singh from behind on the floor.
- While he rammed Singh shoulder-first into the ring post, Godfather returned him to the ring.
- Venis connected with a Seamen’s Suplex and pinned Singh at 2:38.
Rating: **
Summary: Babu cost Singh the match. Plain and simple. I don’t like his chances of continued employment.
HeAT is sponsored by Very Bad Things, FootAction USA, Skittles, and WWF: The Music Volume 2.
Video airs detailing the upcoming tournament for the WWF title at the PPV and the drama surrounding it. For those who didn’t regularly watch RAW, this was perfect. For those who did, it was a beer break.
Backstage, the Stooges summon Shane to the ring on Mr. McMahon’s orders.
Match 3: Disciples of Apocalypse (w/ “Precious” Paul Ellering) versus Bradshaw & Faarooq
Highlights:
- Before the bell, Bradshaw and Faarooq ambushed DoA.
- Bradshaw walloped Skull with a chair while Faarooq pummeled 8-Ball with the steps.
- When Bradshaw and Faarooq entered the ring, they annihilated Ellering with a double powerbomb.
- WWF officials halted the carnage, so no match occurred.
Rating: NONE
Backstage, Kevin Kelly interviews the New Age Outlaws, and Road Dog begins his promo. Abruptly, D’Lo Brown, Mark Henry, and the Headbangers attack them 4-on-2. A melee ensues.
Video airs featuring the feud between Sable and Jacqueline.
Sable emerges and enters the ring. While Sable guarantees victory, Marc Mero interrupts her. He pleads with her not to wrestle, yet Jacqueline storms the ring and brutalizes her from behind. How dastardly!
Prior to the next match, we revisit RAW from two weeks ago when the Blue Blazer bombarded Blackman backstage when Blackman was fighting Owen Hart. Last week on RAW, the Blue Blazer interfered by blitzing Blackman. During Gangrel’s entrance, we revisit last week on RAW when Kane turned the Brood into goo. Before he could commit multiple murders with an acetylene torch, WWF officials rightfully intervened.
REAL Match 3: Gangrel (w/ the Brood) versus Steve Blackman
Highlights:
- Blackman tackled Gangrel but missed an elbow drop.
- When Blackman reversed an Irish whip, he scored with a thrust kick.
- Gangrel rebounded with a clothesline and got 2.
- As he suplexed Blackman, Gangrel floated over for another 2.
- He guillotined Blackman with the top rope but couldn’t get 3.
- After he reversed an Irish whip, Gangrel connected with a back elbow for yet another 2.
- He gave Blackman a pair of cross corner whips but ate boot on his follow-through.
- While he dropkicked Gangrel, Blackman dealt him a belly-to-belly suplex.
- Blackman shoulder-blocked Gangrel, and Christian jumped onto the apron to distract referee Earl Hebner.
- Meanwhile, Edge mounted the top turnbuckle and blasted Blackman with a missile dropkick. SNEAKY!
- Gangrel obliterated Blackman with an Impaler and pinned him at 3:22.
Rating: *
Summary: Solid match, but the numbers game caught up with Blackman.
After the match, Christian mounts the top turnbuckle and delivers a diving head butt to Blackman. Once the Brood leaves, the Blue Blazer descends from the ceiling but gets stuck in his harness. Blackman beats up the defenseless Blazer until he gets returned to the ceiling.
POINT OF ORDER: Obviously, this was both a Sting parody and, regrettably, the precursor to the unfortunate disaster that occurred on May 23, 1999 on PPV. Where was this crew when Owen needed him?
At ringside, Mr. McMahon calls out the Rock who approaches the ring. But first…
WWF Survivor Series ‘98 will be on PPV NEXT! Call NOW to order!
Following the plug, McMahon calls out Shane McMahon who joins Rock in the ring. Next, he calls out Stone Cold Steve Austin, and the roof of the Kiel Center almost blows off. As Undertaker interrupts alongside Paul Bearer, Austin meets him in the aisle for a brawl. X-Pac hits the ring, mounts the top turnbuckle, and hammers Undertaker with a double axe handle. It’s a pier-six brawl as Bossman, Goldust, and Mankind enter the fray. Afterward, Steven Regal, Al Snow, and Ken Shamrock join the melee. The lights dim, and Kane approaches. As he enters the ring, Undertaker stares him down to end the show.
Conclusion: Do you need ANOTHER reason to watch the PPV?
TV Rating: 3.9
Stay tuned for WWF Survivor Series ‘98!
Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at rsg@rockstargary.com and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202).