Taped from Worcester, MA
Airdate: January 3, 1999 (taped 12/29)
Attendance: 10,668 (sold out)
Hosted by Kevin Kelly & Shane McMahon
Can Road Dog pass the Test? Or will Rock make him flunk? How will Owen and Jarrett fare against the tag champs? What happens when Venis encounters the Brood? What kind of tease does Chyna have for Henry? This episode contains LOTS of action, so adjust the ventilation accordingly.
Opening montage.
The New Age Outlaws approach and enter the ring. When Road Dog recites his spiel with assistance from the Worcester faithful, Gunn cuts a promo on Shamrock. Road Dog encourages the Worcester faithful to chant “Rocky sucks” while highlights of the RAW main event are shown. Angry, he wants a piece of The Rock.
No, this isn’t an insurance ad.
Rock emerges alongside Shamrock and Test. During Shamrock’s rebuttal to Gunn, he brags that he’s a (former) UFC champion. As expected, Gunn was NOT impressed. Shamrock denies Gunn a title shot while Rock offers Test as a roadblock for Road Dog before facing him.
Back in the locker room, Michael Cole interviews Shamrock who shoves him all the way to Rhode Island. Gunn attacks Shamrock, and the brawl is ON.
Prior to the opening match, Steele grabs the microphone and issues a challenge. Should Steele win, the Oddities will challenge the Headbangers for the “tag team champions of the universe” titles (the little belts the Headbangers wear to the ring and sold to children at the souvenir stand).
Match 1: George “The Animal” Steele (w/ the Oddities) versus Mosh
Highlights:
At the onset, referee Teddy Long prevented Steele from destroying a top turnbuckle pad. That allowed Mosh to clothesline Steele. Ultimately, Steele got frustrated and destroyed a different top turnbuckle pad. Perhaps he was hungry. Steele, nevertheless, chased him from the ring, but the Oddities returned Mosh to the ring expeditiously. When Steele hammered him in the throat with a foreign object, he pinned Mosh at 1:20.
Rating: DUD
Summary: Purely comedy.
After the match, Mosh tries to attack Steele, but the Oddities prevent that instantly. Mosh, upon retrieving the foreign object, attempts to convince Long that Steele used it illegally. Having not seen it with his own eyes, Long rejects the appeal.
From San Antonio, TX, an unnamed reporter interviews Michaels who’s not afraid whatsoever of Mr. McMahon. Michaels promises to appear tomorrow night amid joking about last week’s superkick.
Prior to the next match, HHH grabs the microphone and revs up the Worcester faithful.
Match 2: HHH (w/ X-Pac) versus Mark Henry (w/o D’Lo Brown)
Highlights:
Near the beginning of the match, Chyna emerged with another woman at the entryway. This distraction took Henry out of the match, so HHH fed him a Pedigree. 1-2-3. HHH won at 1:55.
Rating: DUD
Summary: More angle than match as Chyna certainly has SOMETHING in store for Henry tomorrow night.
Mr. McMahon training video airs. It must be seen to be believed.
WWF Royal Rumble ’99 will be LIVE on PPV on January 24. Order NOW!
Prior to the next match, Venis grabs the microphone and compares himself to a beer can. HA!
Match 3: Val Venis versus Christian
Highlights:
Venis dealt Christian a SPINEBUSTER, gave him a cross corner whip, but ate a back elbow on his follow-through. When Christian powerbombed the BEJEEZUS out of him, he got 2. Venis reversed an Irish whip and planted a pair of knees into the midsection. As he fed Christian a side-Russian leg sweep, Venis mounted the top turnbuckle. Christian responded with a dropkick that led to Venis getting crotched on the top turnbuckle. OUCH!
After he joined Venis, Christian attempted a superplex. Venis shoved him down to the mat, mounted the top turnbuckle again, and uncorked a Money Shot. 1-2-3. Venis won at 2:21.
Rating: **
Summary: The SPINEBUSTER, powerbomb, and Money Shot stood out.
Following the match, the arena darkens, and a red light flickers. Suddenly, the Brood gangs up on Venis three-on-one. The arena darkens again, and Val has suffered a bloodbath at the hands of the Brood. As Venis retreats to the locker room, he appears rather bewildered.
Backstage, the makeup artist dolls Debra up for the next segment.
Prior to the next match, we revisit RAW when Dan Severn returned to both distract and cost Owen the match.
Match 4 (non-title): WWF tag team champions Ken Shamrock & Big Bossman versus Jeff Jarrett & Owen Hart (w/ Debra McMichael)
Highlights:
Shamrock powerslammed Owen and got 2. As Shamrock attempted a huracanrana, Owen countered with a powerbomb for 2. Tags were exchanged on both sides, and Bossman ate a knee to the back from Owen on the apron. SNEAKY!
When Jarrett unloaded a single-arm DDT, Bossman reversed an Irish whip. Jarrett attempted a cross body block, but Bossman caught and powerslammed him. After he flattened Jarrett with a Bossman slam, Bossman only got 2 thanks to Owen. All four wrestlers were in the ring, and Debra jumped onto the apron to distract Bossman.
While she proceeded to get Bossman’s hopes up, Jarret snuck in from behind and rolled him up. 1-2-3. Jarrett and Owen won at 2:26. UPSET CITY!
Rating: **
Summary: Distraction finish aside, this was a major victory for Jarrett and Owen. Could they be wearing gold in 1999?
Backstage, Cole interviews Owen and Jarrett. Owen’s upset that it’s not a title match but confident they’ll win again with the tag titles up for grabs. As Jarrett refers to her as a “secret,” Debra believes she “can’t be kept under wraps.” HA!
Mankind emerges and joins the broadcast table much to Shane’s chagrin. Scared out of his wits, Shane hightails it backstage. Road Dog makes his entrance and summons Mankind into the ring. When he apologizes for last week’s debacle, Road Dog offers him a rematch. He also recites his spiel AGAIN while Mankind substitutes for Gunn—”SOCKO!”
Match 5 (non-title): WWF Hardcore champion Road Dog versus Test
Highlights:
Road Dog pummeled Test with a shaky-shaky right jab and dropkicked him. When he unleashed a shaky-shaky knee drop, Road Dog got 2. Test rebounded with a Falcon Arrow, gave Road Dog a cross corner whip, but ate boot on his follow-through. As he dealt Road Dog a big boot, Test planted him with a sidewalk slam for 2.
Road Dog blocked a hip toss but fell victim to a hangman’s neckbreaker. After Road Dog escaped a pumphandle slam attempt, he mounted the second turnbuckle and launched a double axe handle. Road Dog decimated Test with a pumphandle slam, but Rock stormed the ring to annihilate him. While referee Earl Hebner called for the bell, Road Dog won by DQ at 2:49.
Rating: **
Summary: Smooth maneuvers by Test, but Rock’s interference cost him the match.
Afterward, Mankind leaves the broadcast table to save Road Dog’s bacon. A four-way brawl erupts to end the show.
Conclusion: In all honesty, this was a very skippable episode. Although the DX-Corporation feud continues to simmer, not much is accomplished. Chyna’s present for Henry got teased, but it was barely an appetizer.
Owen/Jarrett versus Shamrock/Bossman has PPV title match written all over it, and if the champs retain, then the match on this episode is meaningless. Meanwhile, the Brood has drenched another victim in blood, but will it affect Venis’ character at all?
Just overlook this episode and watch RAW instead.
TV Rating: 4.3
Stay tuned for WCW Monday Nitro 01-04-99!