WWF Fully Loaded '98

Will Austin and Undertaker capture the tag team titles? Can they even cooperate? Or will the Kane-Undertaker bond affect the main event? Will HHH snag two falls over Rock for the IC title? What happens during a bikini contest between Jacqueline and Sable? Got all that?

At the onset, Lawler barges into Sable’s dressing room albeit announcing himself anyway. PERVERT! Sable offers a “preview” of her bikini, and Lawler almost loses it. Behind a partition, Sable’s silhouette reveals the removal of her top. To thrill the King, she tosses it at him. She offers him a peak, and Lawler can’t control himself.

Match 1: Jeff Jarrett (w/ Tennessee Lee & Southern Justice) versus Val Venis

Seriously? Venis jerked the curtain for this show?

When Jarrett made his entrance, referee Tim White ejected Southern Justice.
Kaientai emerged, but WWF officials diverted them. Hideo Nomo hatr. Yamaguchi, wearing a Hideo Nomo hat, joined the broadcast table for this match.
As he gave Jarrett a cross corner whip, Venis ate a back elbow on his follow-through.
Jarrett leapfrogged Venis and evaded a cross body block.
After Venis fed Jarrett a stungun, he got 2.
He planted a pair of knees to the midsection and dealt Jarrett a side-Russian leg sweep.
While he rolled up Jarrett, Venis got another 2.
Jarrett attempted a piledriver, got backdropped, attempted a sunset flip, but ate a knuckle sandwich instead. Hopefully, Venis didn’t supply the mayo.
Powerbombing Venis, Jarrett gave him a HARD cross corner whip to further injure the back.
He clotheslined Venis over the top rope to the floor and distracted White.
Behind White’s back, Lee gave Venis the business enabling Jarrett to deliver a baseball slide.
Jarrett PLANTED Venis with a DDT that Venis sold beautifully.
Stuck in a sleeper, Venis reversed it into one of his own.
Jarrett countered with a belly-to-back suplex and attempted a vertical suplex.
Escaping, Venis hit a rather SWEET belly-to-belly suplex.
He silenced Jarrett (tough thing to accomplish) with an inverted atomic drop and followed with a clothesline.
Hooking a fisherman’s suplex, Venis got 2.
He gave Jarrett a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
Charging Jarrett, Venis came up empty.
Jarrett mounted the top turnbuckle, connected with a cross body block, and got 2.
Powerslamming Jarrett, Venis guillotined Jarrett with the top rope; however, White got too close and got poked in the eye.
Venis mounted the top turnbuckle, but Lee crotched him. Send the director home, folks. The star will not be performing tonight.
Joining Venis, Jarrett hooked a superplex and attempted a figure-four leg lock.
Venis countered with an inside cradle and got 2.
Jumping onto the apron, Lee protested to White, but an O’Connor roll from Venis sent Lee crashing down to the floor.
1-2-3.
Venis won at 8:10.

Summary: Decent opener as each guy brought his working boots, but Jarrett is NOT OVER with the WWF crowds especially Fresno.

Following the match, Yamaguchi promises that tomorrow night Venis will “not be the same.” Venis grabs the microphone to address Yamaguchi and insults his manhood.

Match 2 (non-title): WWF European champion D’Lo Brown (w/ the Godfather) versus X-Pac (w/ Chyna)

As the Fresno faithful chanted “D’Lo sucks,” X-Pac executed some lucha libre and fed Brown a crotch chop.

He leapfrogged Brown and followed with a hip toss.
When he scored with a spin kick, X-Pac got reversed on an Irish whip and ate a spinning heel kick. Brown got 2.
Brown blocked a second spin kick but suffered a reverse enziguri.
After he gave Brown a whip into the corner, X-Pac came up empty on his follow-through.
Brown clotheslined him and got 2.
While the Fresno faithful chanted “Chy-na,” Brown reversed a cross corner whip causing a HARD bump by X-Pac.
He dealt X-Pac a standing leg drop and got another 2.
Giving X-Pac a cross corner whip, Brown came up empty on his follow-through.
X-Pac whiffed on a spinning heel kick, so Brown slammed him, mounted the second turnbuckle, and landed a flying double axe handle for 2.
Countering a reverse chin lock with a jawbreaker, X-Pac ate another clothesline.
Brown mounted the top turnbuckle, attempted a moonsault, but there wasn’t any water in the pool.
Reversing another Irish whip, Brown dined on another spin kick.
X-Pac made Brown’s life miserable with a Bronco buster much to the delight of the Fresno faithful.
Jumping onto the apron, Chyna distracted referee Jack Doan. This enabled Godfather to jump onto the opposite apron and clock X-Pac from behind. SNEAKY!
X-Pac dispatched Godfather back down to the floor, but the distraction led to a Sky High by Brown.
1-2-3.
Brown won at 8:27.

Summary: Solid chemistry here yet neither wrestler greatly succeeded with much of an aerial attack.

From the wwf.com area, Kevin Kelly alongside Dr. Tom Pritchard reports that Undertaker has yet to arrive at the arena. Doggone Fresno traffic! Nonetheless, Pritchard believes that he will appear shortly.

Funk and Bradshaw cut a promo, and Funk declares this to be his last match for six months. As expected, Bradshaw was quite miffed at this announcement.

Scorpio dropkicked Bradshaw but ate a back elbow.
When Scorpio scored with a huracanrana, Faarooq tagged in and fed Bradshaw a back elbow.
Bradshaw reversed a cross corner whip and followed with a corner clothesline.
As Bradshaw mounted the top turnbuckle, he launched a flying shoulder block for 2. He must have been studying “Hacksaw” Butch Reed matches.
Funk tagged in and dealt Faarooq a hangman’s neckbreaker for 2.
After Faarooq rebounded with a backbreaker, he got 2.
Faarooq attempted a gutwrench suplex, but Bradshaw made the save.
While Bradshaw tagged in, he mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but ate a powerslam as Funk couldn’t restrain Faarooq who got 2.
Scorpio tagged in and delivered a knee lift to Bradshaw.
Slamming Bradshaw, Scorpio mounted the top turnbuckle.
Funk, knowing his former tag team partner well, shook the top rope to spoil the fun.
Joining Scorpio atop the top turnbuckle, Bradshaw obliterated him with a belly-to-back superplex. A terrible camera angle enabled viewers to see Scorpio use his left leg for leverage.

Bradshaw got 2.
Following a powerbomb, Bradshaw landed an elbow drop for another 2.
Funk tagged in, tossed Scorpio to the floor, joined, and rammed Scorpio chest-first into the steel railing.
Making him taste the steel railing, Funk vaulted Scorpio into the front row. It must have tasted like the Lumberjack at South of Shaw.
Funk returned Scorpio to ringside and rammed him face-first into the apron.
Crashing with a botched quebrada, Funk hooked an O’Connor roll for 2.
Faarooq stormed in and walloped Funk for looking at him funny.
Remounting the top turnbuckle, Scorpio splashed Funk but only got 2.
The Fresno faithful enamored themselves with some unknown wrestler named ‘Boring,” but Scorpio mounted the opposite second turnbuckle to achieve a flying leg drop for another 2.
With all four wrestlers in the ring, Faarooq clotheslined Bradshaw between the ropes to the floor.
Scorpio slammed Funk, mounted the top turnbuckle, and demolished him with a 450°.
1-2-3.
Scorpio and Faarooq won at 6:51.

Summary: Convoluted mess as Scorpio and Funk used to be partners. This must lead to something, right?

After the match, Bradshaw returns to the ring and badmouths Funk. When Funk tries to gain his attention, Bradshaw lays him out with a lariat. Scorpio returns but gets booted out of the ring. As Bradshaw joins him, he destroys Scorpio with another lariat. Scorpio celebrates with a 360°. Woohoo! When Bradshaw grabs a steel chair, he viciously CREAMS Faarooq in the back with it.

At the onset, they botched a powerslam, but Henry overpowered Vader and slammed him.
Henry landed an elbow drop, so Vader sought refuge outside the ring.
As he nailed Vader with a double axe handle, Henry got 2.
He scored with a second elbow drop followed by a leg drop for another 2.
When Vader reversed an Irish whip, Henry attempted a sunset flip only to get SQUISHED.
Vader splashed Henry but only got 2.
After he gave Henry a cross corner whip, Vader followed with an avalanche.
He fed Henry a short-arm clothesline and dumped him down to the floor.
While Vader joined him, he sent Henry back-first into the steps.
Back in the ring, Vader slammed Henry, mounted the second turnbuckle, and launched a flying splash for 2.
Henry reversed an Irish whip and powerslammed Vader.
Splashing Vader, Henry pinned him at 5:04.

At the wwf.com table, Kelly and Pritchard speculate on Undertaker’s whereabouts. I’d suggest the local library, but it’s probably dead.

Mankind, Kane, and Bearer approach the ring, and Bearer grins like a fox in a henhouse. Suddenly, the New Age Outlaws interrupt, and Road Dog calls Bearer “Gomez.” HA! He lays down a challenge for the belts tomorrow night, and the brawl is ON. WWF officials arrive to restore order yet have great difficulty. Quite the promo for RAW.

We revisit RAW last week when DoA annihilated Animal until Hawk ultimately arrived.

Match 5: The Road Warriors versus the Disciples of Apocalypse (w/ “Precious” Paul Ellering)

Animal got destroyed in the DoA corner with assistance from Ellering. How dastardly!
When Skull slammed him, he fed Animal an elbow drop.
8-Ball came in and dealt Animal one as well.
As Animal avoided getting nailed, he double-clotheslined DoA.
Hawk tagged in, mounted the top turnbuckle, and picked up the 7-10 split.
After Animal tagged in, he dropkicked Skull.
Hawk tagged in, and the Road Warriors unloaded a Hart Attack upon Skull.
While he landed a fist drop, Hawk got 2.
He delivered a hangman’s neckbreaker to Skull and tagged in Animal.
Slamming Skull, Animal hit an elbow drop for another 2.
Hawk tagged in, and they planted a double back elbow to Skull.
Giving Skull a cross corner whip, Hawk came up empty on his follow-through.
Behind referee Tim White’s back, 8-Ball and Ellering rammed Hawk oblique-first into the steel railing. Evil!
Skull devastated Hawk with a running guillotine, and Ellering continued to cheat like there’s no tomorrow.

Thanks, Apollo.
8-Ball made Hawk HIT THE POLE and tagged in.
Landing a leg drop, 8-Ball got 2.
Ellering took more liberties by tripping Hawk coming off the ropes.
Tagging in, Skull blasted Hawk with a big boot for 2.
Skull clotheslined Hawk for another 2.
Joining the match, 8-Ball uncorked a backbreaker but couldn’t get 3.
Skull tagged in, but Hawk attacked them with consecutive clotheslines.
Hot tag Animal.
With a flying shoulder block, Animal decimated Skull.
8-Ball intervened but ate a belly-to-back suplex.
Double-teaming Skull, Animal whipped Hawk who almost decapitated him with a corner clothesline.
Animal followed suit, and the Road Warriors wiped out Skull with a Doomsday Device.
1-2-NO!
8-Ball made the save.
Catching Ellering on the apron, Animal bombarded him back to the floor.
8-Ball switched with Skull and flattened Animal with a DDT.
1-2-3.
DoA won at 7:51.

Summary: Ellering as a conniving heel is brilliant, and the DoA pulled the switcheroo again to attain victory. What does this mean for the Road Warriors going forward?

Mr. McMahon, along with Sgt. Slaughter, Pat Patterson, and Gerry Brisco climb into the ring, and Mr. McMahon chastises the Fresno faithful about the lack of Undertaker. They boo him out of the building, yet Mr. McMahon blames Austin for the whole mess. As he points out that the phrase “Card Subject To Change” applies to every show, he will invoke a “suitable substitution.” Said substitution emerges, and it’s…

Dan “The Beast” Severn was the special guest referee.
As Severn yelled “let’s fight,” Owen took down Shamrock.
Speaking of Shamrock, he booted Owen so hard that he hit the wall. OUCH!
When he suplexed Owen, Shamrock rammed him back-first against the wall.
Owen responded with a kick down Rte. 2 SOUTH and followed with a spinning heel kick.
After he rammed Shamrock into the wall twice, Owen scored with a German suplex.
Since it’s submission rules, Severn didn’t make a count.
Shamrock rebounded by ramming Owen into the wall and Irish-whipped him into the opposite wall.
While Owen grabbed an overhead pipe, he mule-kicked Shamrock.
He fed Shamrock a huracanrana but got rammed into a neighboring shelf.
Grabbing one of the weights off the shelf, Owen got blocked and rammed into the wall again.
Shamrock grabbed the overhead pipe, but Owen countered a huracanrana with a powerbomb.
Bieling Shamrock into the overhead pipe, Owen lifted Shamrock head-first into the ceiling.
Owen applied a Sharpshooter, but Shamrock powered out of it.
Dealing Owen a kick to the midsection, Shamrock inadvertently kicked Severn in the head.
Owen blatantly took a free weight and BLASTED Shamrock in the head with it. Nefarious!
Making Shamrock tap despite his being unconscious, Owen was declared the victor at 4:55.

Summary: Without a live crowd, these guys pounded one another until Owen’s craftiness led to his victory.

Match 7 for the WWF Intercontinental title (2 out of 3 falls): The Rock (champion w/ Nation of Domination) versus HHH (w/ D-X)

When the Fresno faithful LOUDLY chanted “Rocky sucks,” Commissioner Slaughter ejected both NoD and D-X members, but Chyna remained at ringside.
Rock clotheslined HHH and got 1.
As he gave HHH a cross corner whip, Rock fed Chyna a crotch chop.
That enabled HHH to explode from the corner and clothesline him.
After he dealt Rock a back elbow, HHH distracted referee Mike Chioda prompting Chyna to wallop Rock. Crafty!
Rock reversed an Irish whip, but HHH countered a back drop attempt into a Pedigree attempt.
While Rock countered with a back drop, HHH used momentum to send Rock flying over the top rope to the floor.
HHH joined and slammed him on the floor.
Making Rock taste the steel railing, HHH returned him to the ring. It must have tasted like the Lulu burger at Mad Duck.
Rock reversed an Irish whip sending HHH shoulder-first into the steps.
Guillotining HHH with the steel railing, Rock rammed him face-first into the apron.
Rock gave HHH another cross corner whip and followed with a clothesline for 2.
Upon giving HHH a third cross corner whip, Rock fell victim to a swinging neckbreaker.
HHH suplexed Rock and landed a knee drop for 2.
Reversing a cross corner whip, Rock sent HHH reeling over the top turnbuckle to the floor.
Rock joined HHH and suplexed him on the floor.
Blocking a shot to the steps, HHH rammed Rock into them instead.
Henry returned to ringside and splashed HHH on the floor.
Meanwhile, Rock distracted Chioda, so the chicanery wasn’t visible to him.
Billy Gunn sprinted to ringside and nailed Henry.
With both Gunn and Henry returned to the locker room, Rock CLOCKED HHH with the Intercontinental belt. Heinous!
Chyna, in the meantime, distracted Chioda which, again, wasn’t visible to him.
1-2-NO!
Hammering HHH in the midsection, Rock followed with his own swinging neckbreaker for another 2.
Rock belted HHH but couldn’t get 3.
Stumbling over WWF divas, Lawler mistakenly said Sunny then corrected himself with Sable.
L-O-N-G rest hold led to a “BOR-ING” chant from the Fresno faithful.

Clotheslining HHH, Rock got yet another 2.
HHH slid to the floor, Rock joined him, and Rock made him taste the steel railing. Waiter, could you give the long-haired blue blood a Gilroy burger please?
Tying HHH up in camera cable, Rock rejoined HHH in the ring, ducked a clothesline, and planted HHH with a DDT for 2.
Rock countered a back drop attempt by ramming HHH face-first into the mat for another 2.
Downing Rock with a high knee, HHH got reversed on an Irish whip and ate a stun gun.
Godfather approached ringside, but the NAO blocked his way.
Crushing HHH with a short-arm clothesline, Rock distracted Chioda.
Brown, more than likely missing his cue, sprinted to ringside, mounted the top turnbuckle with the European belt, but HHH ensured D’Lo’s late night plans were solitary.
Slamming Brown with his own belt, HHH slid right into a Rock Bottom.
1-2-3.
Rock won the first fall at 20:22.
Following a one-minute rest period, Rock clotheslined HHH again and tossed him to the floor.
He joined HHH and rammed him face-first into the steps.
Getting rammed back-first into the steel railing, HHH exploded with his own clothesline.
HHH attempted a Pedigree on the floor, but Rock countered and catapulted him face-first into the Spanish broadcast table.
Back in the ring, Rock slammed HHH and obliterated him with a People’s Elbow for 2.
HHH clotheslined Rock again, and both wrestlers laid spent on the mat.
Jumping onto the apron, Brown was summarily dumped by Chyna much to the delight of the Fresno faithful.
Chyna distracted Chioda allowing X-Pac to jump the railing, enter the ring, and decimate Rock with an X-Factor.
1-2-NO!
Again, Chyna distracted Chioda, so HHH grabbed a steel chair, but Rock knocked it away from him.
Rock grabbed the chair and SMACKED Chioda with it.
Clotheslining HHH again, Rock grabbed the chair once more.
Chyna jumped into the ring and demolished Rock straight down Rte. 41 SOUTH.
DDT’ing Rock on the steel chair, Chyna caused the Fresno faithful to erupt with glee.
She disposed of the evidence and returned to ringside.
Making the cover, HHH tied the match up at 1 fall apiece at 6:13.
Chioda, getting assistance from other WWF officials in the aisle, wasn’t available when HHH made another cover.
Sprinting to the ring, Earl Hebner only made it to 2 before Rock kicked out.
Two minutes remained in the match, and HHH took the match back to the floor.
Force-feeding Rock more steel railing, HHH rammed him back-first into the apron. Waiter, could you give the budding movie star a churro stack?
Regardless, HHH clotheslined Rock on the floor before returning him to the ring.
Rock reversed an Irish whip but ate a facebuster.
Delivering another clothesline, HHH only got a 2-count.
One minute left, and Rock squished HHH with a Samoan drop for 2.
HHH blocked another Rock Bottom and destroyed Rock with a Pedigree.
Do we have a new champion?
Nope, the bell rang at 30:06, so Hebner ruled the bout a time-limit draw.
Rock retained.

Summary: Amazing chemistry between these guys as Rock brought HHH up to his level. Great story told with HHH coming THIS close to winning before time ran out.

Following the match, NoD returns to the ring and dismantles HHH. D-X storms the ring and chases them off.

Backstage, Kelly announces that Undertaker HAS ARRIVED. Gee, If I was 2 hours late to work, I’d get fired.

Prior to the next, uh, event, we see highlights of the promo battles between Jacqueline and Sable.

Sable is 5’6” whereas Jacqueline is 5’1”.
Weight for both is “none of your damn business.” HA!
“Bombs” are listed at 38 Specials for Sable and 34DD (“double delights”) for Jacqueline.
The rest, I will leave to your imagination.

In the ring, Dustin Runnels grabs a microphone and wants to lead the Fresno faithful in prayer. Afterward, Lawler excites the rabid perverts in all of us.

Wearing Mero’s Everlast robe, Jacqueline made her entrance.
Before Jacqueline could disrobe, Sable arrived in a Sable Bomb t-shirt.
Jacqueline disrobed and flaunted a red thong bikini that was quite titillating.
At one point, whether accidental or not, her areola revealed itself. WWF was quick to blur it on the version I’m watching.
Unfortunately for her, she received a mixed reaction from the Fresno faithful.
Next, Sable removed her t-shirt revealing a crop top.
Needless to say, but Lawler was extremely disappointed.
Sable took the microphone, thanked Mr. McMahon for her job, and explained that he advised her to wear something “conservative.”
As the boos rained down upon the ring, Sable raised their spirits with Vince’s favorite line: “Anything can happen (in the World Wrestling Federation).”
She removed her crop top to reveal her breasts albeit with painted black hands.
Of course, Lawler absolutely LOST IT like he’d never seen anything like it previously.
One word described my reaction: Wow!

Encouraging Sable to cover up, Mero got slapped.
Mero claimed cheating while the Fresno faithful celebrated the partial nudity.
As you’d expect, Sable won.

Mr. McMahon approaches the ring, removes his jacket, and covers Sable with it. To countless jeers, he escorts Sable from the ring.

Backstage, Jacqueline storms Sable’s dressing room, argues with her, but gets removed by WWF officials.

Prior to the main event, we see highlights of KOTR ’98 when Undertaker cost Austin the WWF title. Next, we revisit RAW when Austin recaptured the title and laid out Undertaker afterward. Carnage by Undertaker is shown including the two major bumps Foley took at KOTR ’98.

Match 9 for the WWF tag team titles: Kane & Mankind (champions w/ Paul Bearer) versus Stone Cold Steve Austin & Undertaker

Before the bell, Undertaker left the ring to meet Austin in the aisle, but Kane and Mankind joined as well.
Austin made Kane taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Drive-In burger at Colton’s.
When he rammed Kane knee-first into the steps, Austin climbed into the ring to start the match.
Austin informed Undertaker that he’s #1 in his book, and, to the chorus of an “Au-stin” chant by the Fresno faithful, their hero clotheslined Mankind.
As Austin suplexed him, he gave Mankind a cross corner whip.
Kane tagged in, but Austin scored with a Thesz press followed by knuckle sandwiches and an emphatic elbow smash.
After Kane escaped a Stone Cold stunner attempt, he bailed over the top rope to the floor.
Austin joined and clotheslined him in the aisle.
While Mankind joined the fray, Austin conducted a meeting of the minds.
Undertaker tagged in and fed Kane a side-Russian leg sweep.
What’s good for the goose is good for the Undertaker--he flipped off Austin.
Mankind tagged in, but Undertaker gave him a cross corner whip followed by an avalanche.
Upon giving Mankind another cross corner whip, a second avalanche occurred.
Undertaker dealt Mankind a top rope shoulder smash, gave Mankind a third cross corner whip, but ate a back elbow during his follow-through.
Tagging in, Kane chokeslammed Undertaker and landed an elbow smash.
Kane gave Undertaker a cross corner whip and tagged in Mankind.
Sending Undertaker down in the corner, Mankind planted a running knee.
Mankind delivered a double-arm DDT but only got 2 thanks to a save by Austin.
Spilling over the top rope, Mankind hit a Cactus clothesline but crashed upon the Spanish broadcast table during a Cactus elbow attempt thanks to Austin.
Mankind charged Undertaker on the floor and suffered a back drop.
Spoiling the fun, Kane plowed through his “brother” with a clothesline.
Kane rammed Undertaker face-first into the steps, but Undertaker returned to the ring.
Countering a back drop, Undertaker planted Mankind with a DDT.
HOT tag Austin.
With all four wrestlers in the ring, Undertaker shipped Mankind over the top rope to the floor. Hopefully, it wasn’t postage due.
Nevertheless, Austin devastated Kane with a running guillotine, yet Mankind tossed a steel chair into the ring.
Intercepting it, Austin SMACKED Kane with it.
Do we have new champions?
1-2-NO!
Kane reversed an Irish whip and clobbered Austin with a big boot.
Getting dumped over the top rope, Austin met Mankind who made him taste the steel railing. Waiter, could you give the foul-mouthed bald Texan a Therapy burger?
Kane guillotined Austin with the steel railing and returned him to the ring.
Rejoining the match, Kane gave Austin a HARD cross corner whip to injure the back.
Kane reversed an Irish whip and obliterated Austin with a back elbow.
Taking his turn, Mankind dropped an elbow and got 2.
A double clothesline put both wrestlers down on the mat, and Kane tagged in.
Preventing a tag out, Kane slammed Austin and demolished him with a leg drop for 2.
Undertaker distracted referee Earl Hebner, so the heels wisely double-teamed Austin. This was NOT coincidence.
Chokeslamming Austin, Kane received advice from Mankind to “spike” him.
Kane attempted a tombstone piledriver, but Austin wriggled free and flattened Kane with a Stunner.
Jumping into the ring, Mankind firmly gripped Austin with a Mandible claw.
Austin countered with a Stunner, but everyone minus Undertaker was laid out in the ring.
Reaching for the tag, Undertaker barely got enough of Austin.
Undertaker booted down Mankind, mischievously implemented a trick knee, and chokeslammed Kane.
Chokeslamming Mankind, Undertaker annihilated Kane with a tombstone.
1-2-3.
Undertaker and Austin won at 17:27.
WE HAVE NEW CHAMPIONS!
The Fresno faithful LOST ITS DAMN MIND!

Summary: Entertaining and sizzling hot main event that sent the Fresno faithful home happy.

Afterward, Undertaker takes both belts for himself leaving Austin alone in the ring.

The hits:

The main event
HHH-Rock
Sable

The check-swings:

The opener
X-Pac/Brown
Road Warriors/ DoA mostly due to Ellering

The misses:

Faarooq/Scorpio/Bradshaw/Funk
Vader/Henry
Dungeon match

Since the main event sold the show, I won’t besmirch it too harshly. It certainly muddies the waters surrounding the WWF title match at the next PPV however. On another note, HHH and Rock told a great story in a rivalry that has yet to reach its peak. Due to the current “attitude” of the WWF, the bikini contest gets inserted to generate a bigger buyrate from the mostly male 18-34 demographic.

I’ll leave my opinion of the check-swings where they are, but the misses are quite egregious. Without question, the midcard is severely lacking, and the consistently awful reactions from WWF crowds prove it with each show. I wonder what Vince Russo has up his sleeve to entice viewers to watch RAW instead of Nitro tomorrow night.