WWF Monday Night RAW 07-20-98

Who will face Kane and Mankind in the main event? Can HHH successfully defend the European title? Or will the NoD get involved? Will Rock retain against X-Pac, or can DX dethrone the NoD leader? Get the family together for a good time watching RAW!

Mr. McMahon graces us with his presence amid a chorus of boos. With the Binghamton faithful LOUDLY chanting “Au-stin” at him, Mr. McMahon has us revisit Undertaker’s disguising himself as Kane to become the #1 contender to the WWF title. Next, he revisit last week’s episode when Undertaker told Mr. McMahon where to go and gave him directions. Again, we revisit last week when Undertaker and Austin got involved in the main event.

Upon filling in the blanks, Mr. McMahon introduces the Undertaker and demands respect from him. Again, he asks Undertaker about being in cahoots with Kane, and Undertaker stares a hole right through him. Mr. McMahon declares that Undertaker will face both Kane and Mankind by himself TONIGHT.

Before Undertaker leaves, Mr. McMahon tells him to “go to hell.” Furiously, Undertaker grabs and chokeslams him. Patterson and Brisco intervene, and Brisco receives a chokeslam. When Sgt. Slaughter gives it a go, he also eats a chokeslam.

RAW is sponsored by WWF: The Music Volume 2, 1-800-COLLECT, and Akklaim for WWF War Zone.

Match 1 for the WWF European title: HHH (champion w/ Chyna) versus D’Lo Brown (w/ the Rock)

Brown slammed HHH and followed with a back elbow.
When HHH rebounded with a clothesline, he gave Brown a cross corner whip followed by another clothesline.
HHH attempted a Pedigree, but Brown escaped.
As HHH clotheslined him over the top rope to the floor, Brown got in Chyna’s face and paid the price.
HHH made Brown taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Inferno at Burger Mondays.
After Brown fed HHH a sit-out powerbomb, he got 2.
Brown distracted referee Jim Korderas, so the Rock dealt HHH a knuckle sandwich. SNEAKY!
While Brown scored with a spinning heel kick, he got another 2.
He gave HHH a cross corner whip and followed with a corner clothesline.
Showboating, Brown cost himself dearly by eating a high knee.
HHH clotheslined Brown again, got reversed on an Irish whip, but delivered a face crusher.
With yet another clothesline, HHH got 2.
He suplexed Brown, but the Rock tripped him behind Korderas’ back. Conniving!
Sneaking up from behind the Rock, Chyna made him HIT THE POLE.
HHH powerslammed Brown, but Mark Henry sauntered down to ringside.
Since chaos erupted outside the ring occupying Korderas, HHH attempted another Pedigree.
The Rock intervened and decimated HHH with a Rock Bottom.
1-2-3.
Brown won at 6:05.
WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!

Summary: Lots of shenanigans, but Brown won his first title in the WWF. I had totally forgotten that HHH was still the European champion by this point.

Prior to the next match, former Oklahoma Sooners and Dallas Cowboys football coach Barry Switzer offers some genuine words about Williams. Quite the ringing endorsement!

Williams took down Ouellet early.
As he took Ouellet down again, Williams scored yet another takedown.
JR believed that Ouellet scored a takedown prior to the end of the round.
When the scores were tallied, Williams led 15-5.

Williams blasted Ouellet so hard that it required a standing eight-count.
Afterward, Ouellet was saved by the bell.
Williams led 35-5.

Fisticuffs galore led to another standing eight-count for Ouellet.
While Ouellet couldn’t answer it, referee Jack Doan called for the bell.

Summary: I understand that Ouellet is a tough individual, but having vision only in one eye limited his chances severely. Regardless, Williams advances.

We revisit last week when Val Venis shocked Mr. Yamaguchi with his latest feature starring Mrs. Yamaguchi. When we return to Binghamton, Mr. Yamaguchi threatens punishment to his wife as they enter the ring. He forces her to kneel and crawl between his legs to get spanked with a paddle. Before the ritual occurs, Venis stops Mr. Yamaguchi and whacks each member of Kaientai with the paddle. While Kaientai runs away scared, Venis carries Mrs. Yamaguchi away like the scene in Officer and a Gentleman.

SKITTLES SLAM OF THE WEEK: Undertaker chokeslams Mr. McMahon and his cronies earlier tonight.

Animal summoned reinforcements but got ambushed in the aisle.
When DoA rammed him shoulder-first into the steps, Ellering started one of the motorcycles and prepared to run over Animal.
Better late than never, Hawk arrived to save his brother-in-paint.
DoA annihilated Hawk until WWF officials chased them off.
No match.

Summary: More development for the upcoming Road Warriors-DoA match at the PPV on Sunday.

Prior to the next match, we revisit RAW from “three months ago” when Jarrett shattered a guitar over Blackmon’s head.

REAL Match 3: “Double J” Jeff Jarrett (w/ Tennessee Lee & Southern Justice) versus Steve Blackman

Blackman approached the ring, saw four against one, and returned backstage.
Accordingly, Jarrett requested a forfeit, but referee Mike Chioda didn’t budge.
Blackman returned with Ken Shamrock and Dan Severn by his side.
When Blackman clotheslined Jarrett over the top rope to the floor, he chased Jarrett back into the ring.
He powerslammed Jarrett and got 2.
As Blackman missed an elbow drop, he fed Jarrett a backbreaker for another 2.
He shoulder-blocked Jarrett but couldn’t get 3.
After he dealt Jarrett a spinning heel kick, Blackman mounted the second turnbuckle but missed a diving head butt.
Jarrett attempted a figure-four leg lock, but Blackman kicked him face-first into the top turnbuckle.
While Blackman scored with a bicycle kick, he pinned Jarrett.
Blackman won at 2:12.

After the match, Owen approaches ringside and rams Shamrock shoulder-first into the steps. How dastardly!

Backstage, Michael Cole follows Undertaker as he exits the arena. What will happen to the main event?

Following a commercial break, Cole advises that Undertaker will be at the PPV on Sunday.

In the ring, JR interviews Austin to a huge ovation. As Austin questions Undertaker’s motives, he states that “if anybody deserves to be screwed, it’s Vince McMahon.” Say his name, and he appears. When Mr. McMahon emerges, Austin elicits a “Hell Yeah” from the Binghamton faithful. Covertly, Mr. McMahon inserts Austin into Undertaker’s spot in the main event, but Austin refuses. Mr. McMahon threatens to strip the WWF title and hand it to Undertaker. Reluctantly, Austin meets his demand albeit quite confidently.

At the onset, Faarooq ambushed Owen and connected with a back elbow.
He fed Owen a backbreaker for 2.
As he clotheslined Owen, Faarooq fell victim to a swinging neckbreaker.
Owen slammed Faarooq as the Binghamton faithful called him a “nugget.”
When he mounted the second turnbuckle, Owen launched a flying elbow drop for 2.
Faarooq rebounded with a slam and followed with a splash for 2.
After Owen dealt Faarooq a hangman’s neckbreaker, he landed a leg drop.
He delivered his own backbreaker and applied a Boston crab.
While Faarooq powered out, Owen recovered to ram him face-first into the mat.
Owen grabbed the microphone and denied being a “nugget.”
Scoring with an enziguri, Owen got 2.
Faarooq reversed an Irish whip and powerslammed Owen for 2.
With a leaping elbow, Owen mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a missile dropkick.
Owen attempted a leap frog, but Faarooq caught and decimated him with a spinebuster.
Slamming Owen, Faarooq mounted the second turnbuckle but missed a flying leg drop.
Owen locked the Sharpshooter, and Faarooq tapped out at 5:37.

Summary: Owen solidly beats Faarooq in anticipation of his PPV match against Shamrock.

Following the match, Shamrock sprints to the ring after him, but Owen hightails it through the Binghamton faithful.

Backstage, Paul Bearer along with Kane and Mankind accuses Undertaker of “tuck(ing) his tail and (running.)” Despite being a heel, Mankind utters a “Have a nice day!”

Prior to the next segment, we revisit last week when Sable severely crotched Jacqueline on the top rope.

“Marvelous” Marc Mero and Jacqueline step into the ring, and Jacqueline cuts a promo on Sable. Emerging through the entrance wearing an ill-fitting housedress, Sable holds her own until Jacqueline rips off the dress to reveal bra and panties. Yowza! The taller, stronger Sable manhandles Jacqueline and chases Mero from the ring. Before the segment ends, Edge lays out Mero in the ring.

Following a commercial break, Shawn Michaels emerges, gyrates, and joins the broadcast table.

Earlier tonight, 2 Cold Scorpio battled 8-Ball in a Brawl-4-All match, and Scorpio won by decision. It’s terribly obvious that the WWF knows these segments are ratings death and are trying to minimize them as much as possible.

Backstage, Rock cuts a promo on X-Pac laying the foundation of some of his soon-to-be famous catchphrases.

Prior to the bell, DX stormed the ring to brawl with the NoD.
WWF officials settled the melee and sent everyone to the back; however, Chyna returned shortly after the bell.
When X-Pac leapfrogged him, he hip-tossed the Rock.
He gave Rock a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
As Rock clotheslined X-Pac, he got 2.
Rock reversed an Irish whip and fed X-Pac a stun gun for another 2.
After he tossed X-Pac to the floor, Rock joined and guillotined him with the steel railing.
Back in the ring, Rock couldn’t get 3.
Rock dealt X-Pac a Samoan drop for another 2.
While he delivered a swinging neckbreaker, Rock earned yet another 2-count.
Rock clotheslined X-Pac, slammed him, and hit the People’s Elbow for one more 2-count.
Rebounding with an X-Factor, X-Pac crawled over but only got 2.
Rock laid motionless in the corner, so X-Pac scored with a Bronco buster.
Reversing a cross corner whip, Rock ate a back elbow on his follow-through.
X-Pac charged but got powerslammed for 2.
Vaulting Rock over the top rope to the floor, X-Pac distracted referee Tim White.
Chyna, slower than molasses, finally jumped onto the apron and CLOCKED Rock with the IC belt. Nefarious!
Crawling over, X-Pac almost got 3.
X-Pac reversed a cross corner whip sending Rock directly into White.
Hitting a spinning heel kick, X-Pac fell to the mat.
Brown came to the ring through the Binghamton faithful, mounted the top turnbuckle, but got crotched by HHH.
Entering the ring, HHH laid out Rock with a Pedigree.
Do we have another new champion?
Before White could reach 3, referee Jim Korderas stopped him.
At 9:46, Rock retained via DQ.

Summary: Decent match as Rock works very well with a ring general like X-Pac.

Afterward, Chyna objects to the decision and waffles Korderas. She kicks Brown right in the huevos, yet the NoD returns to help Rock. “Bad Ass” Billy Gunn, sans Road Dog, hits the ring, but WWF officials restore normalcy.

Next, an extremely gorgeous redhead wearing an Austin 3:16 tank top gets noticed by both the camera and HHH. He motions to her, and she holds up her sign while doing half of a DX chop. After HHH asks her to reveal more of herself, she flashes her bra at him. He eggs her on to reveal more, and her headlights are shining albeit behind a DX “censored” sign. Of course, Lawler LOSES HIS DAMN MIND.

Prior to the main event, JR shills CODE RED on wwf.com. That web site might get them in a bit of hot water.

Match 6 (handicap): Stone Cold Steve Austin versus Kane & Mankind (w/ Paul Bearer)

Before Austin could enter the ring, he walloped Mankind with the WWF title belt.
He fought with Kane until the numbers caught up to him.
As Michaels properly referred to the match as “Texas tornado rules,” Kane consecutively gave Austin then Mankind cross corner whips. I never thought I’d agree with HBK.
Austin clotheslined both Mankind and Kane sending the Big Red Machine over the top rope to the floor.
When he joined Kane on the floor, Austin made him taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like Pasquale’s Grampwich at My Uncle’s Place.
He sent Kane shoulder-first into the steps, jumped back into the ring, clotheslined Mankind, and got 2.
After Mankind reversed an Irish whip, he applied a Mandible claw.
Both wrestlers spilled between the ropes to the floor, and Mankind reapplied the claw.
While Austin countered by bouncing Mankind’s head off the ring post twice, Kane attacked him from behind.
Kane reversed an Irish whip but succumbed to a Thesz press.
Tripping Austin coming off the ropes, Mankind dragged him to the floor.
Austin rebounded by ramming Mankind face-first into the broadcast table.
Giving Mankind his own taste of the steel railing, Austin finally shed his vest.
Kane reversed an Irish whip, and Austin attempted a Stone Cold Stunner.
Getting shoved away, Austin collided with Mankind.
Undertaker returned to ringside carrying a steel chair.
Standing on the apron, it appeared as if Undertaker became Austin’s partner.
Austin fell to the floor, and Bearer struck him with his loafer. Sinister!
Nailing Austin in the midsection with a chair, Mankind charged at Austin in the corner but came up empty.
Mankind reversed an Irish whip, but Austin destroyed him with a Stunner.
Before Austin could secure victory, Kane made the save.
Kane reversed another Irish whip and attempted a chokeslam.
Countering with a shot STRAIGHT DOWN TO HELL, Austin almost got crowned by Undertaker.
Instead, Undertaker BRAINED Kane with the chair, but referee Earl Hebner called for the bell.
Kane and Mankind won by DQ at 4:55.

Summary: More storyline than match, but it helped to continue how much of a badass Austin is with his ability to hang with both wrestlers.

After the match, Austin hits a home run with the chair across Mankind’s skull and follows with a shot to Undertaker. He leaves the ring with the WWF title belt as the other three wrestlers are left laying.

Conclusion: The illusion of collusion between Undertaker and Kane remains a question heading into the PPV. In the meantime, the main event was gangbusters, crappy finish notwithstanding. The title change to Brown helped to entice the viewer to believe there would be a second title change. If you think seeing Sable in bra and panties is something, wait until the PPV.

Who won? You betcha! Considering the last two matches were not affected by a commercial break, AND Nitro had a main event with a rather obvious finish, it was clear that the WWF, regardless of being taped, controlled the Monday night wrestling audience this week. Next week, Nitro has Jericho-Malenko while RAW contains the fallout from the PPV.

Vader versus Mark Henry
Terry Funk & Bradshaw versus Faarooq & Scorpio
Val Venis versus Jeff Jarrett
Road Warriors versus DoA
In the Hart Dungeon, Owen battles Ken Shamrock with Dan Severn as special guest referee.
D’Lo Brown defends his newly-won European title against X-Pac.
In a best 2 out of 3 falls match, the Rock defends the IC title against HHH.
For the World tag team titles, Kane and Mankind defend against SCSA and Undertaker.