WWF Monday Night RAW 07-13-98

Who will be the tag team champions by show’s end? Are the Undertaker and Kane colluding? What will the WWF do to counteract WCW World champion Goldberg on the other channel?

Holy short retirements, Batman! It’s the Heartbreak Kid—Shawn Michaels. He joins the broadcast team for at least one segment. Meanwhile, Bagwell’s on Nitro.

When Undertaker made his entrance, the turnbuckles exploded unexpectedly causing him to turn away. Hey production crew! That’s not Kane, at least not this week.

Vader made his entrance, but Kane, Mankind, and Paul Bearer soon followed.
As Vader reversed an Irish whip, he ate a flying clothesline.
Undertaker gave Vader a cross corner whip but received a running body block on his follow-through.
After Vader clotheslined him, he gave Undertaker a cross corner whip but suffered a Rocker Dropper for 2.
Undertaker fed Vader a ropewalk shoulder smash and clotheslined him over the top rope to the floor.
While he joined Vader, Undertaker made him taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Betson burger at Redd’s.
Vader reversed another Irish whip and powerslammed Undertaker.
Clotheslining Undertaker, Vader splashed him for 2.
He mounted the second turnbuckle and delivered a flying splash for another 2.
Chokeslamming Vader, Undertaker tombstoned him.
1-2-3.
Undertaker won in 4:38.

After the match, Mankind and Kane jump into the ring, but Kane stops Mankind from decimating Undertaker with a chair. Undertaker descends to the floor to grab his own weapon, so Kane annihilates Vader with a chair shot. Are the brothers in cahoots?

According to Bart, the “tournament” wasn’t random as his opponent was his tag team partner.
The New Midnight Express exploded as Michaels, JR, and Lawler trashed Bash at the Beach ‘98.
As the North Jersey faithful booed the BEJEEZUS out of the bout, Bart got the better of Holly.

Following the bout, the New Midnight Express is no longer a team as Holly’s temper led to a brief fight.

Jason Sensation joins the broadcast team and performs a quick Owen impression. Next, he mimics Bret Hart whom Michaels mocked as a “midcarder.” Another impression of Owen has me roaring in hysterics (“I am an aardvark”). Afterward, he mimics Undertaker followed by Michaels thrilling the actual one. Unfortunately, his Austin impression isn’t as strong. He finishes with another Owen gem—“I know I’m late, but my nose got here ten minutes ago.”

Backstage, the Nation of Domination is outraged about last week’s parody, so Rock cuts a promo on HHH. Godfather runs down Billy while Henry puts X-Pac in his place. Subsequently, Brown chastises Road Dog, and Owen insults Sensation. In rebuttal, Sensation mimics Owen again.

Owen sprints to ringside and slaps the BEJEEZUS out of Sensation. Upon dumping Sensation in the ring, Owen applies a Sharpshooter. Sensation writhes in pain until the NoD arrives to stop Owen. Suddenly, DX hauls ass to the ring, but the NoD hightails it. Someone, get the spatula to scrape Sensation off the mat!

It’s bedlam at the bell as all four wrestlers brawled both in and out of the ring.
According to JR, Rock and HHH will battle title-for-title in a best 2 out of 3 falls match at the PPV.
When HHH clotheslined Owen over the top rope to the floor, Rock rammed X-Pac face-first into the broadcast table.
Rock ducked a clothesline from HHH but ate a kick from X-Pac.
As DX double-clotheslined Rock over the top rope to the floor, Michaels accidentally cursed on live TV.

Rock gave X-Pac a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
After he reversed an Irish whip, Rock fed X-Pac a Samoan drop for 2.
Owen tagged in, mounted the top turnbuckle, and unloaded a big elbow for another 2.
While Owen distracted referee Mike Chioda and HHH, Rock gave X-Pac the business in the heel corner. SNEAKY!
Owen gave X-Pac a HARD cross corner whip to injure the back.
Hooking a belly-to-belly suplex, Owen couldn’t get 3.
X-Pac rebounded by leaping to the second turnbuckle but whiffed on a cross body block.
Planting X-Pac with a backbreaker, Owen tagged in Rock and joined him in splitting X-Pac’s uprights.
X-Pac returned fire with a spinning heel kick but ate a clothesline that led to another 2-count for Rock.
According to JR, X-Pac will battle D’Lo Brown at the PPV.
Slamming X-Pac, Rock performed the People’s Elbow, called by JR, for yet another 2.
HHH distracted Chioda, so Rock took advantage and nailed X-Pac down near Seaside Heights.
Jumping onto the apron, Chyna further distracted Chioda while Rock earned a false pin on X-Pac.
Owen continued distracting Chioda, so HHH grabbed his European title belt and CLOCKED Rock with it.
Draping an arm to make a cover, X-Pac got a LONG 2.
X-Pac dropped Rock with an X-factor and pinned him at 6:30.

Summary: Exciting match with a lot of heat and chemistry. Rock’s putting over X-Pac not only keeps the rivalry hot but also puts X-Pac on his level.

Can you smell ratings? Sable joined the broadcast table for this match. Yowza!
Blackman blocked a back drop and followed with a back elbow for 2.
As Mero gave Blackman a cross corner whip, Michaels asked Sable if she liked gladiator movies. HA!
Blackman snap-suplexed Mero while Michaels continued his Airplane! routine.
When Blackman dealt Mero a backbreaker, Jacqueline got in Sable’s face.
Mero nailed Blackman all the way downstairs and fed him a Samoan drop.
In the meantime, Sable distracted referee Jim Korderas, so Jacqueline mounted the top turnbuckle.
Sable noticed this and crotched her on the top rope. OUCH!
After Blackman decimated him with a bicycle kick, he pinned Mero at 2:15.

Summary: More angle than match as the women were the highlight instead of the men.

Match 5 for the WWF tag team titles: New Age Outlaws (champions w/ Chyna) versus Kane & Mankind (w/ Paul Bearer)

When Road Dog performed his spiel, he gave a shoutout to his wife Tracy.

Upon the challengers’ entrance, Undertaker made his second entrance of the evening yet remained at ringside.
Rightfully, JR pointed out that Mankind still suffered from a “sore shoulder” from KOTR ’98 two weeks ago.
Mankind gave Road Dog a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
As Road Dog clotheslined Mankind, Gunn tagged in and fed Mankind a single-arm DDT. Smart!
Mankind sought refuge on the floor, but Chyna blasted him in the shoulder with the tag title belt. SNEAKY!
After Road Dog tagged in, Mankind charged him in the corner but rammed his own injured shoulder into the ring post.
Gunn tagged in, mounted the second turnbuckle, but fell victim to a Mandible claw.
While Road Dog made the save, Kane tagged in and threatened to chokeslam Gunn.
Road Dog saved his partner’s bacon again, so Kane kicked him down to the floor.
From there, Mankind sent Gunn shoulder-first into the steps, and Kane returned him to the ring.
Rock and Owen emerged through the entrance to taunt DX, and Mankind tagged in.
Reversing a cross corner whip, Mankind charged leading to a meeting of the minds.
Tags were exchanged on both sides, and all four wrestlers were in the ring.
Piledriving Mankind, Gunn joined Road Dog in double-teaming him.
Meanwhile, HHH and X-Pac also emerged and brawled with Rock and Owen on the ramp.
Gunn scored with a Rocker Dropper to Kane, and Road Dog followed with a side-Russian leg sweep.
Suddenly, Brown, chest protector and all, mounted the top turnbuckle and launched a frog splash atop Road Dog.
In the nick of time, referee Tim White returned to the ring.
Kane tombstoned and pinned Road Dog at 5:35.
WE HAVE NEW CHAMPIONS!

Summary: With a lackluster tag team division, it took a team of main-eventers and plenty of interference to dethrone the NAO.

Backstage, HHH reams out Mr. McMahon about shoddy refereeing. Mr. McMahon will take care of it.

Match 6 (six-man): Kaientai (w/ Mr. Yamaguchi) versus Taka Michinoku & Too Much

Christopher leapfrogged Funaki and followed with a monkey flip.
As Taylor tagged in, Too Much double-leapfrogged Funaki and demolished him with a Hart Attack.
Teioh tagged in, but Taylor leapfrogged him before unleashing a pumphandle overhead slam.
When Michinoku tagged in, he gave Teioh a cross corner whip followed by a boot to the chest.
He mounted the top turnbuckle and uncorked a missile dropkick.
Before Michinoku could apply his finisher, Togo and Funaki ambushed him.
Too Much chased them from the ring, Togo tagged in, but heel miscommunication ensued.
After Christopher tagged in, Togo reversed an Irish whip but fell victim to a sit-out powerbomb.
Taylor tagged in, and Too Much decimated Togo with an assisted leg drop for 2.
While Taylor missed an elbow drop due to overconfidence, Togo slammed him, mounted the second turnbuckle, and launched a moonsault for 2.
Teioh and Funaki chased Christopher from his corner and double-dropkicked Taylor. That enabled Togo to get another 2.
Folding Togo in two with a belly-to-back suplex, Taylor got 2.
Since Michinoku and Too Much aren’t the best of friends, Michinoku dropkicked Taylor out of frustration.
Teioh slammed Taylor, and Togo mounted the top turnbuckle to uncork a senton splash.
1-2-3.
Kaientai won at 3:41.

Summary: Sorry, folks, but this was change-the-channel type of stuff as the North Jersey faithful sought popcorn.

Following the match, Christopher takes exception and dispatches Michinoku from the ring.

Prior to Kaientai’s departure, Val Venis interrupts the mass exodus toward the concession stand in order to apologize to Mr. Yamaguchi for “(messing) with another man’s wife.” He showcases his latest video—“Land of the Rising Venus.” As the suggested fellatio subsides (albeit blurred), Mrs. Yamaguchi emerges from under the sheets much to Mr. Yamaguchi’s shock and dismay. I fear more than just a slap coming Venis’ way after those shenanigans.

Mr. McMahon approaches the ring amid jeers from the North Jersey faithful. As he introduces Undertaker, he credits Undertaker for fooling everyone. Mr. McMahon wonders if Kane and Undertaker are colluding, but Undertaker tells him to “go to hell.”

Before Mr. McMahon is turned into Jersey sludge, Stone Cold Steve Austin appears to forecast both the main event of the next PPV and Summerslam ’98. He wonders what Undertaker’s motives are, but Undertaker advises him to “go to hell” too. Abruptly, DX interrupts inexplicably. HHH “books” the rematch for the tag titles tonight whether Mr. McMahon likes it or not. In a fascinating twist, he also demands THREE referees—one on the inside, and Undertaker and Austin on the outside.

With the arena DEEPLY darkened, those who didn’t seek the facilities chanted “BORING.”
“Unofficially,” Severn won the round.

Match 8 for the WWF tag team titles: Kane & Mankind (champions w/ Paul Bearer) versus New Age Outlaws (w/o Chyna)

Both Austin and Undertaker were special guest referees outside the ring.
As Gunn clotheslined Mankind, they each spilled over the top rope to the floor.
Kane gave Road Dog a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
When Gunn CROWNED Mankind with the steps, Kane slammed Road Dog.
Speaking of Road Dog, he retaliated with a dropkick to Kane’s knee while Gunn chop-blocked him.
After they split Kane’s uprights, they attempted to suplex Mankind on the ramp.
Kane interrupted, but Mankind’s head appeared to spear the ramp anyway.
Back in the ring, Kane gave Road Dog a HARD cross corner whip to injure the back.
Kane fed Road Dog a sidewalk slam, mounted the top turnbuckle, and launched a flying clothesline for 1.
While Mankind tagged in, he dealt Road Dog a swinging neckbreaker for 2.
Road Dog reversed an Irish whip and applied a sleeper to Mankind.
Backing him into the corner, Mankind escaped.
Although there was no tag, Gunn switched with Road Dog, gave Mankind a cross corner whip, and SQUISHED referee Mike Chioda.
Gunn charged, missed Mankind, but further annihilated Chioda.
GET OUT THE SPATULA!
Nevertheless, Kane headbutted Road Dog who rebounded with a shot buried deeper than Jimmy Hoffa.
Road Dog hooked an inside cradle, but who will count the pin?
Immediately, Austin crawled into the ring to count, but Undertaker yanked him back to the floor.
Kane chokeslammed Road Dog, and Undertaker crawled in to make the count.
Expectedly, Austin halts that effort to thwart any attempts at collusion.
Undertaker and Austin stood face-to-face until Kane leveled Austin.
Upon Mankind’s return to the ring, he brawled with Undertaker.
Chaos was running amok.
With the NoD arriving, they pummeled the NAO.
DX followed, and a riot occurred.
Much to the delight of the North Jersey faithful, Austin FLATTENED Kane with a Stone Cold Stunner.
He stunned Henry while Undertaker chokeslammed HHH.
Excitedly, Michaels rejoiced as Austin laid out Gunn and Brown with Stunners.
The show left the air without any result whatsoever.

Summary: That was the WWF’s answer to a Goldberg title defense albeit longer.

Conclusion: With the exception of the “boxing” matches and the six-man tag, this episode was extremely entertaining. The tag title switch helps to elevate the PPV main event, and all the PPV storylines were advanced. Considering the bump that Chioda took near the end, I’ll bet he still smells like pancake syrup.

Who won? Yes, RAW beat Nitro by 0.19 in quite a hard-fought battle. With Austin and Undertaker involved in the main event, RAW eclipsed Nitro due to a better main event. I believe most folks thought Goldberg wouldn’t lose the title after one week. Next week, a new US champ is crowned on Nitro while more main event drama occurs on RAW.