WWF HeAT December 6, 1998

by

Taped from New Haven, CT

Airdate: December 6, 1998 (taped 12/01)

Attendance: 7,154 (sold out)

Hosted by Kevin Kelly & Jim Cornette

Will Undertaker finally dismantle Mankind once and for all? What happens when Rock, Shamrock, and Bossman encounter the Brood? Will Michinoku capture the Light Heavyweight title? What other wackiness occurs with the show down the street from Titan Tower?

In the stairwell, Kaientai cuts a promo in Japanese. They’re probably mad they didn’t get a free trip to England.

Opening montage.

Match 1 for the WWF Light Heavyweight title: Duane Gill (champion w/ JOB Squad) versus Taka Michinoku (w/ Kaientai)

Highlights:

  • Michinoku attacked Gill before the bell and leveled him with a spinning heel kick.
  • When he dealt Gill a forearm smash, Michinoku got 2.
  • The New Haven faithful expressed their patriotism/jingoism with a “U-S-A” chant while Michinoku unloaded a seated dropkick.
  • As he carved Gill in two with a backbreaker, Michinoku landed an elbow drop to the back.
  • Gill reversed a cross corner whip but ate a knee to the midsection on his follow-through.
  • After he mounted the second turnbuckle, Michinoku flattened Gill with a tornado DDT.
  • Do we have a new champion?
  • No, Michinoku, in lieu of making a cover, mounted the top turnbuckle and launched a missile dropkick.
  • The title changed hands now, right?
  • Nope, Michinoku attempted a Michinoku Driver; however, Gill countered with an inside cradle.
  • 1-2-3.
  • Gill retained at 3:18.

Rating: **

Summary: Showcase match for Michinoku until he bled the well dry but went back for more.

After the match, the Acolytes storm the ring and pummel the BEJEEZUS out of Kaientai.

Backstage, Stone Cold Steve Austin arrives late for work AGAIN.

Match 2: Road Warrior Animal & Droz versus Too Much

Highlights:

  • Right off the bat, Animal powerslammed Taylor while Droz fed Christopher a shoulder block.
  • Taylor attempted a cross body block, but Animal caught and split him in two with a series of backbreakers.
  • As Animal missed a splash, Taylor dropkicked him.
  • Droz took exception and chop-blocked Taylor.
  • When Droz tagged in, he applied a leg bar.
  • Taylor tapped out; thus, Droz & Animal won at 1:33.

Rating: ½*

Summary: Taylor must need his knee scoped to employ that quick finish.

Following the match, Christopher carried his injured buddy Taylor backstage. Aw.

Backstage, Cole interviews Austin who has a ticket to watch tonight’s show.

WWF REWIND: Droz demolished Taylor’s knee putting him on the shelf for a bit.

Backstage, Taylor writhes in pain while Christopher consoles him.

We revisit RAW from last week when the Blue Blazer was NOT Owen this time. Instead, it was Steve Blackman.

In the ring, Cole interviews Owen who cuts a promo on Blackman and announces he’s coming out of retirement to wrestle against him.

Entering the arena, DX shows up for work EXTREMELY late.

Moments ago, the Corporation congregated with Commissioner Shawn Michaels at the helm.

WWF Rock Bottom will be LIVE on PPV on 12/13! Order NOW!

Match 3: WWF champion Rock, WWF Intercontinental champion Ken Shamrock, & WWF Hardcore champion Big Bossman versus the Brood

Highlights:

  • If I may say so, there’s a LOT of gold on one side of the ring.
  • The New Haven faithful informed the WWF champion that he indeed “sucks,” yet Shamrock almost decapitated Edge with a spinning heel kick.
  • When Edge returned the favor, Christian tagged in only to eat an elbow drop from Shamrock.
  • Bossman tagged in and hip-tossed Christian ¾ of the way across the ring.
  • As he gave Christian a cross corner whip, Bossman ate boot on his follow-through.
  • Christian mounted the top turnbuckle and uncorked a cross body block for 1.
  • After tags were exchanged on both sides, Rock gave Gangrel a cross corner whip followed by a clothesline.
  • Shamrock tagged in, dealt Gangrel a pair of kicks, and flattened him with a spinning back elbow.
  • While Bossman tagged in, he and Shamrock double-clotheslined Gangrel.
  • Edge distracted referee Mike Chioda, so the Corporation cheated like there’s no tomorrow.
  • Thanks, Apollo.
  • Illegally switching, Rock stymied Gangrel with a side-Russian leg sweep for 2.
  • He gave Gangrel a cross corner whip but walked right into a back elbow.
  • Immediately, DX stormed the ring to battle the Corporation.
  • Chioda called for the bell, and the Corporation won by DQ at 3:52.

Rating: **

Summary: Exciting match until the schmozz finish.

Afterward, it’s a pier-six brawl until DX clears the ring. HHH and X-Pac stare holes through the New Age Outlaws, but cooler heads prevail.

We revisit RAW for a second time when Henry and Chyna went on a date before it got ugly at a bar thanks to some hooligans. Following that, Debra and Goldust exchanged machinations.

Match 4: Mark Henry (w/ D’Lo Brown) versus Jeff Jarrett (w/ Debra McMichael)

Highlights:

  • Henry reversed a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
  • As Jarrett dropkicked him, he unloaded a ten-punch count-along.
  • Henry reversed an Irish whip and flapjacked Jarrett.
  • When he landed a leg drop, brother, Henry whipped Jarrett into the corner.
  • Debra instantly snuck into the ring to distract Henry, so Jarrett sought his guitar from the corner.
  • After Brown stole it from him, he WHACKED Jarrett with it.
  • Referee Tim White called for the bell, and Jarrett won by DQ at 1:07.

 Rating: DUD

Summary: Waste of time. Let’s move on.

After the match, Goldust emerges and challenges Jarrett to a match at the PPV. Should Jarrett win, Goldust’ll “strip down to (his) birthday suit.” On the other hand, if Goldust wins, “Little Debbie” must show her “tastycakes!” HA! Jarrett accepts.

HeAT is sponsored by FootAction, Snickers, WWF: The Music Volume 2, and Lego Mindstorms.

Match 5: Kurrgan & Luna (w/ the Oddities) versus Tiger Ali-Singh & Babu

Highlights:

  • Luna ambushed Babu before the bell and planted him face-first into the mat.
  • When she clotheslined Babu, Luna slammed him.
  • She mounted the second turnbuckle and uncorked a pumphandle splash.
  • As the match segued to the floor, she sent Babu reeling into the steps.
  • She tossed Babu into the front row, joined, and Babu’s brains were on sale in aisle 5.
  • After the New Haven faithful chanted “Lu-na,” WWF officials separated their hero from her prey.
  • No match.

 Rating: NONE

Summary: Reminder to self: Never piss off Luna.

Clips of the war between Undertaker and Mankind are shown including the two bumps from Hell in a Cell. Somewhere in southeast Texas, Kevin Sullivan feels a chill up and down his spine.

Prior to the main event, Austin takes his seat while drinking an ICE COLD Steveweiser on tap. Undertaker exits the ring to confront him but gets doused in Steveweiser. Alcohol abuse!

REAL Match 5: Undertaker (w/ Paul Bearer) versus Mankind

Highlights:

  • Mankind attacked Undertaker immediately thereafter and rammed him face-first into the steps.
  • When he grabbed a steel chair, Mankind doubled Undertaker over with a shot to the midsection.
  • Referee Earl Hebner swiped the chair away, so Undertaker bounced Mankind’s skull off the steps.
  • As the bell rang to begin the match, Undertaker gave Mankind a cross corner whip but ate a back elbow on his follow-through.
  • Mankind clotheslined him, yet Undertaker sat up.
  • After Mankind pounced on him, he pummeled Undertaker in the corner.
  • He blasted Undertaker with a running knee to the face, headbutted him, but got dumped to the floor.
  • While Undertaker joined him, he caromed Mankind’s face off the steps again.
  • The New Haven faithful chanted “Aus-tin,” but Undertaker made Mankind HIT THE POLE.
  • Reversing an Irish whip, Undertaker unleashed a big boot.
  • Mankind rebounded by guillotining Undertaker with the top rope.
  • Mounting the top turnbuckle, Mankind leaped, but Undertaker caught him by the throat.
  • Bearer distracted Hebner, so Mankind took Undertaker on a trip WAY DOWNTOWN.
  • Dealing Undertaker a knee lift, Mankind unfurled Mr. Socko.
  • Rock stormed the ring only to fall victim to Mr. Socko.
  • Calling for the bell, Hebner awarded Mankind the match via DQ at 3:58.

 Rating: **

Summary: Like we were getting a decisive finish to this pairing on THIS show.

Following the match, Undertaker nails Mankind enabling Rock to escape. However, Austin jumps the barricade, enters the ring, and brawls with him. Have your knife and fork ready, ‘cuz your double main event for the PPV stands before you with Rock battling Mankind and Austin combatting Undertaker.

Conclusion: As you might expect, a tag team involving Austin, Mankind, Rock, and Undertaker will happen on tomorrow night’s RAW. In other matches, DX has a score to settle with the Corporation, so anticipate more bloodshed between them. The opener makes a ton of sense because Michinoku’s greediness cost him a chance to regain the title. Since this is a quick appetizer for what should be a wild episode of RAW, I’d seek this show out.

TV Rating: 4.1

Stay tuned for WCW Monday Nitro 12-07-98!

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