Taped from Spokane, WA
Airdate: December 21, 1998 (taped 12/15)
Attendance: 9,487 (sold out)
Hosted by Michael Cole & Jerry “The King” Lawler
Can Gunn win the Intercontinental title? Will Road Dog attain singles glory with the Hardcore title? Or will Bossman find means to keep it? What’s new with Shane? Mankind? What’s going on with Henry? What’s the latest in the war between DX and the Corporation? Although it’s Christmastime, this episode is red hot!
In the cold open, Mr. McMahon puts Shane in charge but holds the Stooges responsible for his actions. He also promises a bonus for the Corporation upon his return. Wonder what that could be?
Opening montage.
The Corporation emerges and enters the ring. As Shane takes the microphone, DX interrupts him. HHH introduces Mankind, yet Shane mocks them. While HHH calls Shane an “asshole,” the Spokane faithful responds in kind. Shane declares “no rematch” for the WWF tag team titles for the NAO.
Taking the microphone, Commissioner Shawn Michaels sanctions a match between Gunn and Shamrock as well as a one between Road Dog and Bossman. In addition, HHH and X-Pac will tangle against Rock and Test. Lastly, Shane advises Mankind that “payback” will be a match against him. Mankind offers laughter as his rebuttal.
Prior to the commercial break, Cole notes that Stone Cold Steve Austin was listed as one of People Magazine’s most intriguing people of the year.
TV Rating: 4.0
Backstage, Brown warns Henry about not doing business at work.
Match 1: Gangrel versus Al Snow (w/ Head)
Highlights:
Snow unfurled a series of head butts followed by a spinning heel kick. When Gangrel reversed a cross corner whip, he ate boot on his follow-through. Snow charged, but Gangrel promptly powerslammed him. As he dealt Snow an overhead belly-to-belly suplex, Gangrel got 2. He suplexed Snow and got another 2.
After Snow blocked a clothesline, he fed Gangrel one of his own. He hoisted Gangrel atop the top turnbuckle, joined, but got shoved down to the mat. While Gangrel mounted the top turnbuckle, he connected with a cross body block for 2. Gangrel gave him a cross corner whip, but Snow floated over.
Although each wrestler blocked a couple of maneuvers, Snow planted Gangrel with a Snow Plow. 1-2-3. Snow won at 3:00.
Rating: **
Summary: Gangrel’s a decent wrestler, but Snow remains over with his gimmick.
After the match, Edge and Christian storm the ring and attack Snow. The arena goes dark, and Snow has received a bloodbath courtesy of the Brood.
During the commercial break, Snow has LOST HIS DAMN MIND.
Prior to the next match, Gunn grabs the microphone and encourages the Spokane faithful to say “suck it.”
Match 2 for the WWF Intercontinental title: Ken Shamrock (champion) versus “Bad Ass” Billy Gunn
Highlights:
The Spokane faithful informed Shamrock that he indeed “sucks,” so Gunn blasted their nemesis with a flying forearm smash. As he hip-tossed Shamrock, Gunn got 1. Shamrock gave Gunn a cross corner whip but ate a back elbow on his follow-through. When Gunn got 2, Shamrock blocked a cross corner whip and dealt Gunn a short-arm clothesline.
He stymied Gunn with a chop block and rammed his left knee into the ring post twice. After Shamrock appropriated a steel chair, referee Tim White took it away from him. Shamrock reversed a cross corner whip, but Gunn’s knee went SOUTH. While Shamrock delivered a spinning heel kick, he launched a huracanrana for 2.
Gunn countered a suplex attempt with an inside cradle and got 2. Hooking a fisherman’s suplex, Shamrock got 2. Gunn reversed a cross corner whip resulting in a sternum-first bump by Shamrock. Rolling up Shamrock, Gunn got 2. Shamrock attempted a victory roll, but Gunn escaped and cradled him. 1-2-3. Gunn won at 8:22. WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!
Rating: ***
Summary: Solid back-and-forth encounter with Gunn making the big counter to secure the belt.
Following the match, Commissioner Michaels emerges and clarifies that the title wasn’t on the line.
Is it me, or is Michaels higher than a Georgia pine? Nevertheless, he awards the match but not the title to Gunn. Taking exception, Gunn moons Michaels but gets bamboozled by Shamrock.
TV Rating: 4.9
PLAYSTATION SLAM OF THE WEEK: On HeAT, Hawk clobbers Droz to cost him the match against Snow and will reveal a secret tonight.
Hawk approaches and enters the ring. While he grabs the microphone, Hawk calls Droz an “enabler” prompting the latter to confront him. He accuses Droz of doping him up to steal his job. After Hawk spews his “hatred” for him, Droz attacks him from behind. Heinous! Animal rushes to the ring to save Hawk’s bacon and tosses Droz halfway across the ring.
Backstage, Henry’s ready for action, and PMS answers the door.
We revisit last year when Austin gave Santa Claus a Christmas present in the form of a Stone Cold Stunner.
We revisit last week when Blackman unmasked the Blazer to reveal Owen. Speaking of Owen, he emerges following Blazer’s introduction.
Match 3: Steve Blackman versus the Blue Blazer
Highlights:
Blazer ambushed Blackman before the bell and uncorked an enziguri. When Owen joined the broadcast table, Blackman dropkicked Blazer. Speaking of Blazer, he dealt Blackman a back elbow, got reversed on an Irish whip, and got split in two with a backbreaker. Blackman tried to remove Blazer’s mask, so Blazer guillotined him with the top rope.
As Owen gets fed up with Cole’s accusations, he left the broadcast table. Blazer reversed an Irish whip, so Owen tripped Blackman coming off the ropes. SNEAKY! After Owen jumped into the ring, he stomped the BEJEEZUS out of Blackman. Referee Mike Chioda called for the bell, and Blackman won by DQ at 2:00.
Rating: *
Summary: More storyline than match as the Owen/Blackman/Blazer saga rolls on.
Afterward, Blazer hooks a dragon sleeper on Blackman, yet Goldust storms the ring to atomic slam Owen. Blazer tries to sneak away by running up the ramp, but Goldust catches up to him. In the ring, Blackman flattens Owen with a flying shoulder block. Goldust holds Blazer while Blackman rips off the mask. Who’s under it?
It’s Ethan Hunt!
No, believe it or not, it’s Jeff Jarrett. Owen covers the Blazer’s head to end the segment.
Backstage, PMS seduces Henry under candlelight. They invite Henry to watch them take a shower. In the meantime, Brown anxiously paces outside.
TV Rating: 4.4
WAR ZONE!
Prior to the next match, Road Dog grabs the microphone and recites his spiel. Upon Bossman’s entrance, Road Dog baits Bossman to put the title on the line citing prior Cobb County connections.
Match 4 for the WWF Hardcore title: Big Bossman (champion) versus Road Dog
Highlights:
Bossman reversed an Irish whip and decimated Road Dog with a Bossman slam. As he gave Road Dog a HARD cross corner whip to injure the back, Bossman flung him to the floor. Bossman joined him, so Road Dog plastered him with a cookie sheet for 2. When Bossman dislodged the top step, he missed Road Dog by an eyelash. He pummeled Road Dog and whacked him with the cookie sheet.
After the match segued among the Spokane faithful, Bossman caromed Road Dog off a “technician’s table” according to Cole. He nailed Road Dog with a broom and deposited him back at ringside. Back in the ring, Bossman whipped him with his belt followed by a belt clothesline. Bossman tried to use powder, but Road Dog kicked it back into his face.
While he whipped Bossman with the belt, the match returned to the floor. Bossman sent him reeling into the front row, grabbed a portable electric fan, and chased after Road Dog. Hanging Road Dog with a noose, Bossman knocked the wind out of him but only got 2. Bossman chastised referee Jack Doan enabling Road Dog to book him on a trip WAY DOWNTOWN.
Placing a plastic garbage can over Bossman’s head, Road Dog mounted the barricade and pounded the can.
Bossman used the noose still around the neck of Road Dog to whip him from pillar to post. From the bowels of the building, Mankind appeared and draped a net over Bossman. Who does he think Bossman is? Michael Myers? Nonetheless, he clobbered Bossman with a foreign object knocking him OUT COLD. Making the cover on the concrete floor, Road Dog pinned Bossman at 7:00. WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!
Rating: *
Summary: As many of you know, I’m not the biggest fan of the hardcore style, but I’m happy an Armstrong attains some glory.
After the match, Road Dog returns to the ring and holds the belt up high to a great ovation while Bossman heads in the direction of Mankind.
TV Rating: 4.7
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Backstage, PMS helps Henry get undressed down to his skivvies. Thank goodness he’s not wearing tighty-whities. They fasten a collar around his neck and lead him onto a massage table. Next, they put a ball gag in his mouth and squirt copious amounts of whipped cream on his chest. Kinky!
Vignette airs featuring Jeff Jarrett.
Backstage, the Stooges try to convince Shane not to wrestle against Mankind, but Shane won’t hear of it.
Elsewhere backstage, PMS ties Henry down to the table and place a mask over his eyes.
Match 5: The Acolytes versus the J.O.B. Squad
Highlights:
Scorpio and Holly entered the ring, and the brawl was ON. When he flung Scorpio to the floor, Bradshaw joined him. He reversed an Irish whip and sent Scorpio shoulder-first into the steps. As Holly escaped a Dominator attempt from Faarooq, his trick knee acted up. The Acolytes floored Holly with a double shoulder block, but Bradshaw missed an elbow drop.
After Bradshaw hammered him with a big boot, he slammed Holly. Bradshaw missed another elbow drop but found himself battling both members of the J.O.B. Squad. While Holly distracted referee Jim Korderas, Bradshaw annihilated Scorpio with a lariat. The Acolytes decimated Scorpio with a double spinebuster, and Faarooq got 2.
Rebounding with a spinning heel kick, Scorpio got 1. All four wrestlers were in the ring, and Faarooq chucked Scorpio down to the floor. Joining Scorpio, Faarooq ricocheted Scorpio head-first off the steps.
Holly gave Bradshaw a cross corner whip but ate a lariat. Heaving Scorpio into the front row, Faarooq took pleasure in returning him back to ringside just as quickly.
Bradshaw powerbombed Holly, but Korderas called for the bell. Per ring announcer Tony Chimel, Korderas awarded the match to the J.O.B. Squad by DQ at 3:21.
Rating: *
Summary: Chaotic match that serves absolutely ZERO purpose.
RAW is WAR is sponsored by Castrol GTX, WWF: The Music Volume 2, and 1-800-COLLECT.
Match 6: Mankind versus Shane McMahon (w/ the Stooges)
Highlights:
At the bell, Brisco jumped onto the apron to distract Mankind enabling Shane to gain the early advantage. Mankind rebounded with a clothesline as the Corporation stood at the entrance. As Mankind planted him with a double-arm DDT, he grabbed Chimel’s chair and threatened to part Shane’s hair differently.
Shane cowered in fear, so Mankind offered him the chair. When Mankind advised him to take his best shot, Shane whacked him to ZERO effect. Shane tried to escape, but Mankind pounded on him in the corner. After Pat Patterson tried to intervene, he inadvertently nailed Shane. Mankind sandwiched Patterson between him and Shane, and Brisco interceded.
While Mankind gave him a cross corner whip into Patterson and Shane, he clotheslined Brisco. He applied a testicular claw to Patterson and pummeled a prone Shane with a knee to the skull. With Mr. Socko by his side, Mankind made Shane suffer greatly. Rock infiltrated the ring and attacked Mankind. For the sake of timing, referee Mike Chioda called for the bell to end this charade.
Rating: *
Summary: While it’s Shane’s coming-out party, Mankind disintegrated him into mincemeat.
Following the match, Rock and Mankind brawl at ringside while X-Pac jumps into the ring to give Shane a Bronco buster. The Corporation tries to invade the ring, but DX and Mankind have higher ground.
Video featuring a naughty Santa Claus portrayed by “Classy” Freddie Blassie.
TV Rating: 5.4
In the parking lot, the Stooges are perplexed.
Backstage, Brown yells for Henry as their match is next; even so, he’ll at least start the match on his own. Upon Brown’s entrance, Henry remains tied up with his package in a vice and being whipped by Jacqueline. Methinks Henry got a lot more than what he bargained for.
Match 7: D’Lo Brown & Mark Henry versus the Headbangers
Highlights:
Brown ambushed Mosh before the bell, but Thrasher blasted him from behind. When Mosh mounted the second turnbuckle, he flattened Brown with a flying clothesline. Mosh gave Brown a cross corner whip and followed with a senton splash in the corner. As Brown recovered with a running powerbomb, he got 2.
Thrasher tagged in, but Brown destroyed him with a Sky High for 2. After Mosh tagged in, he clotheslined Brown, mounted the second turnbuckle, but missed a flying elbow. Brown backdropped Mosh and followed with a leg drop, brother. While Mosh tagged out, the Headbangers leveled Brown with a dropkick/clothesline combo. They wasted Brown with a double flapjack and pinned him at 2:45.
Rating: *
Summary: What evolved into a handicap match was good for the Headbangers but bad for Brown.
Afterward, a battered Henry emerges, and Brown reads him the riot act.
Still in the parking lot, the Stooges remain dismayed about Shane. Mr. McMahon’s limousine pulls up, and Brisco immediately apologizes for Shane. Irate, Mr. McMahon power walks into the arena.
Get your copy of Tattoo Magazine with Undertaker on the cover.
Prior to the main event, HHH performs his spiel. Upon the Corporation’s entrance, Michaels grabs the microphone and bans DX from ringside while the Corporation can stay. Mr. McMahon emerges to a chorus of boos and overrules Michaels for the sake of the holidays.
Match 8: The Rock & Test (w/ the Corporation) versus HHH & X-Pac (w/ DX)
Highlights:
X-Pac leapfrogged Rock and followed with a pair of arm drags incorrectly called hip tosses by Cole. C’mon, guys, this was a taped show.
As tags were exchanged on both sides, Test mauled HHH and gave him an Irish whip. HHH thwarted a back drop attempt and clotheslined Test. When Test reversed an Irish whip, Rock tried to knee HHH in the back but ate a knuckle sandwich instead. HHH turned around, and Test bamboozled him with a big boot.
After Rock tagged in, he clotheslined HHH and got 2. Test tagged in while the Spokane faithful informed Rock that he indeed “sucks.” While he dumped HHH with a sidewalk slam, Test got 2. He gave HHH a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through. Tagging in, X-Pac dealt Test a leg lariat followed by a series of kicks in the corner.
He stymied Test with a Bronco buster and pounded Rock in the heel corner. Getting reversed on an Irish whip, X-Pac got low-bridged down to the floor. HHH distracted referee Earl Hebner, so Rock took X-Pac over to the area occupied by the Corporation and bounced his head like a basketball off the barricade.
Crotching X-Pac on the ring post, Rock tossed him back into the ring. Test baited HHH into the ring, so the Corporation double-teamed X-Pac in their corner. How dastardly! Illegally switching with Test, Rock delivered a side-Russian leg sweep and got 2. He reversed an Irish whip and fed X-Pac a back elbow.
Slamming X-Pac, Rock unfurled a Corporate Elbow for 2. HHH distracted Hebner again, so the Corporation supplied X-Pac with an all-expense-paid trip WAY DOWNTOWN. Illegally switching with Rock, Test gave X-Pac a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through. X-Pac charged but ate a clothesline. Ducking another clothesline, X-Pac hit a spinning heel kick.
Hot tag HHH. Planting Rock with a back elbow, HHH followed with a high knee. He unleashed a face crusher to Test as Rock dispatched X-Pac over the top rope to the floor. Devastating Test with a Pedigree, HHH got 2 thanks to a save by Rock. Abruptly, the lights went out, and Kane approached the ring. With the Corporation bewildered in the ring, Kane…chokeslammed HHH.
WE HAVE A HEEL TURN!
DX infiltrated the ring to fight the Corporation, but Kane chokeslammed Gunn. Next, Road Dog ate one as well followed by X-Pac. Chyna hammered Kane, but the episode left the air before we witnessed her fate. Obviously, a sports-entertainment finish happened due to Kane’s heel turn.
Rating: ***
Summary: A decent match culminating in a shocking heel turn.
TV Rating: 5.12
Conclusion: Extremely entertaining show albeit VERY adult with the Henry-PMS scenes. The main event was a good showcase of both the faction war and Test. Kane’s heel turn was well executed as the Corporation added more muscle. In addition, the Mankind-Shane match was better than it had any right to be.
In other matches, Snow sold the bloodbath properly as he’s not supposed to be stable. The Dusty finish of the IC match was compensated respectably by Road Dog’s achievement. The hijinks involving the Blue Blazer acted as a nice change of pace from the adult material.
Speaking of adult material, the Henry-PMS scenes were extremely controversial. Do they belong on a wrestling TV show? I don’t think so, but your mileage may vary.
Overall, if you’re truly interested in stages of the DX-Corporation war, this episode is essential, but please put the kiddies to bed before any of the Henry segments.
Could RAW is WAR overcome Nitro in the ratings?
Final TV Rating: 4.71
Who won? Yes, RAW defeats Nitro by a whole ratings point. Since the entire episode of RAW gets laid out in the first twenty minutes, I’m betting most wrestling fans stick with RAW rather than switch to Nitro. Speaking of Nitro, I understand the need for contrast, and matches like Eddie-Mysterio are great theater, but they’re not going to win ratings battles up against Mankind and Rock right now.
Stay tuned for WWF HeAT 12-27-98!
Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at rsg@rockstargary.com and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202).