WWF Monday Night RAW 07-27-98

Can Austin and Undertaker retain the tag titles, or will the NAO recapture them? Who will prevail in the triple threat match for the IC title? What’s the latest on the bikini contest? What’s up with Hawk? All this and more, so let’s roll!

To an extremely cool new theme, Undertaker emerges while holding both tag team title belts. He enters the ring, grabs a microphone, and emphasizes his new championship status. As Undertaker demands an apology from Austin, Mr. McMahon and his entourage arrive to question Undertaker’s intentions. Mr. McMahon doesn’t believe the reality behind last night's victory because it only took one tombstone to put down Kane. At WrestleMania XIV, it took three. He has a point.

Nonetheless, Mr. McMahon says that he deserves an apology for last week. When Undertaker threatens to repeat his actions, Mr. McMahon declares that Undertaker and Austin will defend the titles against the NAO. Suddenly, Austin emerges carrying the WWF title belt. He ejects Mr. McMahon from ringside and rejects to give an apology beyond his middle finger.

Prior to the first match, we revisit last week when Rock assisted Brown in winning the European title. Brown grabs the microphone and promotes his moves—the Sky High and Lo Down.

Vader reversed a cross corner whip and unloaded an avalanche upon Brown.
When he fed Brown a short-arm clothesline, Vader reversed an Irish whip and countered a sunset flip by SQUISHING Brown.
Brown gave Vader a pair of cross corner whips and unleashed an avalanche of his own following each one.
As he slammed Vader, Brown landed an elbow drop for 2.
He scored with a leg drop for another 2.
After he gave Vader another cross corner whip, Brown followed with a shot to the midsection.
Brown slammed him again, mounted the top turnbuckle, and uncorked a moonsault.
1-2-NO!
Brown charged, but Vader evaded him. Consequently, Brown soared over the top rope down to the floor.
While Vader removed Brown’s chest protector, he splashed Brown on the floor.
Vader returned to the ring, and referee Earl Hebner counted Brown out at 4:17.

Summary: Hopefully, we’ve seen the last of the chest protector as the honeymoon following Brown’s achievement has concluded.

Prior to the next match, we revisit last week when Williams defeated Ouellet. Next, we revisit RAW from two weeks ago when Bart outlasted Bob Holly.

This match carries some SERIOUS infamy.
Williams took down Bart, and they traded haymakers to end the round.

Bart took down Williams who almost spilled down to the floor.
According to an unofficial scorecard, Williams led 15-5.

This ought to be interesting.
While the Anaheim faithful chanted “bor-ing,” Williams stumbled and may have hurt himself.
Bart took him down, and Williams was working on one leg.

As Bart blasted him with a left hook, Williams went down like the Berlin Wall.
Bart won by TKO.

Summary: To say this was an upset would be putting it mildly. No one expected Bart to win but also no one expected Williams to tear a quadriceps muscle either. Williams would be on the shelf for three months.

Due to timing issues, Owen emerges prior to the commercial break. It must be an epidemic, ‘cuz Nitro had its troubles too.

Afterward, Owen grabs the microphone and claims to be “dangerous” but not a “nugget.” He invites an open challenge, and his music plays. Jason Sensation, in his Owen costume, emerges and tells a nose joke. Upon starting a “nug-get” chant, Sensation baits Owen toward the entrance. Severn, wearing a suit, appears while Sensation hides behind him. Approaching the ring, Severn removes his coat, but Owen kicks him down I-405 SOUTH.

Owen held Severn by the tie and walloped him.
When Owen hooked a Sharpshooter, Severn escaped immediately. Wow!
Severn valiantly tried to pull punches on Owen until Ken Shamrock jumped into the ring.
As Shamrock ran over Owen with a lariat, referee Jimmy Korderas called for the bell.
Owen won by DQ at 0:57.

Following the match, Shamrock applies a dragon sleeper on Owen. Severn intervenes by hooking his own dragon sleeper on Shamrock. As WWF officials try to break it up, Steve Blackman arrives to separate them.

Backstage, Michael Cole interviews an irate Shamrock who bullies the BEJEEZUS out of him.

Match 4: Disciples of Apocalypse (w/ “Precious” Paul Ellering) versus 2 Cold Scorpio & Faarooq

Bradshaw joined the broadcast table for this match.
As 8-Ball hip-tossed him from the corner, Scorpio ducked a clothesline and fed him a spinning heel kick.
Faarooq tagged in, received a cross corner whip, and nailed 8-Ball with a back elbow during the follow-through.
When he mounted the second turnbuckle, Faarooq unleashed a flying clothesline.
Faarooq attempted a splash but ate knees.
After Faarooq rammed him face-first into the mat, 8-Ball exited the ring.
Faarooq launched a double axe handle but got ambushed from behind by Skull.
While DoA double-teamed Faarooq, Scorpio mounted the top turnbuckle and uncorked a tope onto them. Woohoo!
8-Ball reversed an Irish whip, and Skull tripped Scorpio coming off the ropes. SNEAKY!
Tagging in, Skull dealt Scorpio a tilt-a-whirl slam for 2.
8-Ball tagged in, and DoA delivered a double flapjack to Scorpio.
Agitated, Bradshaw took offense to Lawler’s shenanigans.
In the meantime, Scorpio scored with another spinning heel kick.
Faarooq tagged in, but DoA attempted a double-team.
Upon getting clotheslined over the top rope to the floor, Skull bumped the broadcast table.
That was enough impetus to encourage Bradshaw to ram Skull face-first into the broadcast table.
Soaring and obliterating Skull, Scorpio ate a big boot from Bradshaw.
Bradshaw jumped into the ring to brawl with Faarooq, and referee Tim White called for the bell.
Unofficially, I rule that Faarooq and Scorpio won by DQ at 3:22.

Summary: The entire point of this match was to assist Bradshaw in getting over. It didn’t work.

Bradshaw and Faarooq continue to brawl after the bell, and the other wrestlers join the melee. As WWF officials break it up, Bradshaw shoves Commissioner Slaughter. That’ll cost him a beer or two.

We replay Lawler’s sneak peek at Sable from the PPV, and Rock cuts a quick promo backstage.

Match 5 for the WWF Intercontinental title (triple-threat): Rock (champion) versus HHH versus X-Pac

DX double-teamed Rock, and X-Pac laid him to waste with a back kick in the corner.
When HHH clotheslined Rock, he followed up with a vertical suplex.
X-Pac fed Rock a leg drop, and HHH nailed Rock with a knee drop.
As HHH gave him a cross corner whip, Rock ducked a clothesline and annihilated X-Pac with one of his own.
HHH put Rock down with a clothesline and dealt him a high knee.
After HHH scored with a Pedigree, X-Pac broke up the pin.
X-Pac attempted his own pin, but HHH thought otherwise.
While DX argued with one another, Rock smashed HHH in the back of the head.
X-Pac landed a spinning heel kick and got 2.
Reversing an Irish whip, Rock sent X-Pac directly into HHH on the apron.
That sent HHH flying against the broadcast table. OUCH!
Demolishing X-Pac with a Samoan drop, Rock got 2.
He slammed X-Pac and followed with a People’s Elbow much to the delight of the Anaheim faithful.
Destroying X-Pac with a Rock Bottom, Rock only got 2 thanks to a save by HHH.
Rock reversed an Irish whip but ate a facebuster.
Clotheslining Rock, HHH got 2.
Rock ducked a clothesline and hit one of his own to HHH.
Not to be outdone, X-Pac sent Rock packing with an X-Factor but only got 2.
DX argued again, and HHH decked X-Pac.
Brawling with one another, X-Pac leveled HHH with a standing leg lariat for 2.
Meanwhile, Rock took the IC belt and sauntered up the ramp.
Referee Mike Chioda counted to ten, and the match ended at 6:51.
As a result, Rock retained.

Backstage, Cole interviews the NAO who are ready to regain the WWF tag team titles.

We revisit RAW from three weeks ago when Savio Vega defeated Brakkus in the Brawl 4 All. I could have survived without seeing that again.

Brakkus powerslammed Castillo, landed a pair of elbow drops, and hit a modified spinebuster.
1-2-3.
Brakkus won at 0:50.

Summary: Showcase match for the opposite of Sunday Night Heat. If this is the WWF’s answer to Goldberg, they are sadly mistaken.

We revisit RAW from last week when Venis interrupted the crawl of shame and attacked Kaientai.

Before the match began, Kaientai’s music played, and they appeared ANGRY.
Christopher ambushed the distracted, leapfrogged, and fed him a dropkick.
When Venis reversed a cross corner whip, he caught Christopher mid-float-over and dealt him an atomic drop.
He delivered an inverted atomic drop to ensure Christopher’s lonely night ahead.
As Venis countered a powerbomb with a spinebuster, he hit a series of clotheslines.
He obliterated Christopher with a big boot, and Taylor jumped onto the apron.
After Christopher planted the distracted Venis with a DDT, Venis responded by clotheslining both Christopher and Taylor simultaneously.
Venis hooked a fisherman’s suplex and pinned Christopher at 2:12.

After the match, Taylor and Christopher double-team Venis until Taka Michinoku blasts Taylor with a spinning heel kick and decimates Christopher with a tornado DDT. In front of a wooden table, Mr. Yamaguchi offers a challenge to Venis from Kaientai as well as a surprise. As a roll of salami is placed on the wooden table, Yamaguchi chops it in half with a Samurai sword. In case folks didn’t get the message, Yamaguchi threatens to “choppy choppy your pee-pee.” Yikes!

Backstage, Cole interviews the Road Warriors who cut a promo on the Nation of Domination. Animal did all the talking.

For the first, and certainly not the last, Godfather approached the ring with some escorts.
As the Road Warriors made their entrance, Hawk wore his helmet but not shoulder pads. Hmmm…
Hawk staggered somewhat down the ramp but tripped face-first coming through the ropes.
When Animal fed Henry a flying shoulder block, Godfather tagged in, gave him a cross corner whip, and followed with a corner clothesline.
He gave Animal another cross corner whip, charged, but ate a clothesline.
Trying to make a tag, Animal reached out to an utterly distracted Hawk to no avail.
Henry tagged in and slammed Animal.
After Henry dealt Animal a leg drop, he got 2.
Godfather tagged in, delivered a standing leg lariat, and got 2.
While he slammed Animal, Godfather missed a leg drop.
Animal tried to tag out again but failed.
Reversing an Irish whip, Animal powerslammed Godfather for 2.
He clotheslined Godfather, but Henry came in and shoulder-blocked him down.
Clotheslining Henry, Animal dropkicked him between the ropes to the floor.
The Road Warriors prepped for the Doomsday Device, but Hawk fell from the top rope down to the floor.
Sending Animal down with a clothesline, Henry tagged in Godfather who demolished him with a Death Valley Driver.
1-2-3.
Godfather and Henry won at 3:48.

Summary: More storyline than match, I’m afraid to say. I fear future storylines with Hawk’s being under the influence may be upon us.

BIKINI CONTEST AWARD CEREMONY: With both Sable and Jacqueline in the ring, Lawler tries to present the trophy but is handed a memo. From the desk of Vince McMahon, “body paint does not constitute a bikini.” Jacqueline is, therefore, the winner. Mero and Jacqueline celebrate like they’ve won the lottery. As Lawler interviews her, Sable’s upset that McMahon “wasn’t man enough to tell me to my face.”

Speak of the devil, and he appears. Mr. McMahon steps into the ring and ejects Lawler. When he accuses her of being an “ingrate,” a fan with great aim nailed him with a concession. He denigrates Sable before warning her not to become “an ungrateful bitch.” As Mr. McMahon turns around, Sable flips the double bird to a raucous ovation and peels off her t-shirt to reveal a gorgeous bikini.

Coming down the aisle, Road Dog recites his pre-match introduction. Following that, JR promotes Code Red on wwf.com. It appears to be a RAW post-game show.

Match 9 for the WWF tag team titles: Stone Cold Steve Austin & Undertaker (champions) versus the New Age Outlaws

A beach ball flew into the ring, and Austin promptly punted it halfway to San Diego.
When Austin fed him an inverted atomic drop, Gunn reversed an Irish whip, attempted an O’Connor roll, but Austin shrugged him off.
Austin clotheslined him and followed with a catapult into the ring post.
As Austin attempted a Stone Cold Stunner, Gunn backtracked his way to the floor.
Austin chased after Gunn, but Road Dog blindsided him.
After Gunn guillotined Austin with the steel railing, Road Dog tagged in.
To a loud “Au-stin” chant, Undertaker tagged in, gave Road Dog a cross corner whip, and followed with a clothesline.
He dealt Road Dog a flying shoulder smash and attempted a chokeslam.
Due to Austin’s distraction of referee Earl Hebner, Gunn entered the ring and chop-blocked Undertaker. How dastardly!
NAO alternated working on Undertaker’s left leg, and Road Dog hooked a stepover toe hold.
While Undertaker countered with his own leg submission, Road Dog grabbed the second rope.
Undertaker missed a big boot, so Road Dog chop-blocked him again.
Tagging in, Gunn distracted Hebner so that Road Dog could ram Undertaker’s leg into the ring post. Nefarious!
Road Dog tagged in but missed a running guillotine.
Rejoining the match, Gunn charged at Undertaker in the corner but came up empty.
Hot tag Austin.
Upon dealing NAO a meeting of the minds, Austin hit a Thesz press to Gunn.
Austin tossed Gunn over the top rope to the floor and flattened Road Dog with a Stunner.
1-2-3.
Austin and Undertaker retained at 8:12.

Summary: Decent main event that cemented Austin and Undertaker as champions.

Following the match, Undertaker chokeslams Gunn to put NAO down for good. Austin grabs a cold one from the cooler and tosses one to Undertaker. After a quick stare down, Undertaker cracks it open and guzzles some beer. Out of nowhere, Kane attacks Austin from behind. Mankind follows him, but Undertaker cuts him off. They brawl until the show goes off the air.

EXTRA ATTITUDE: Kane and Austin battle in the ring, and Austin decimates him with a Stunner. While Austin holds his belt overhead, he and Undertaker share another stare down. Austin celebrates with the Anaheim faithful to close things out.

Conclusion: Unlike the PPV where folks paid to see Sable rendering the main event somewhat meaningless, the main event tonight chiseled Austin and Undertaker firmly as champions. Speaking of Sable, she may not have won the trophy but she has won over the WWF faithful. Hawk’s unpleasant past inches its way into a reality-based storyline. Also, Rock survives the triple threat, but will DX? Venis and Yamaguchi are headed into a less-than-family-friendly direction, but that’s the nature of his character. Finally, Bart Gunn upset Williams in the Brawl 4 All basically ending whatever hopes Williams had in the WWF.

Who won? Yes, wrestling fans chose Austin and Undertaker in their main event over Hogan and DDP. Perhaps it’s the underlying storylines behind the characters, or maybe Austin is the hottest ticket in wrestling. Believe it or not, RAW had MORE matches even with less time. Nitro wasn’t far behind in the ratings, so let’s see what the dog days of August have in store for the Monday Night War.