by Logan Scisco
–A video package
recaps the Legion of Doom’s legacy and their beat down at the hands of
D-Generation X and the New Age Outlaws on last week’s show.
recaps the Legion of Doom’s legacy and their beat down at the hands of
D-Generation X and the New Age Outlaws on last week’s show.
–Jim Ross, Michael
Cole, and Kevin Kelly are doing commentary and they are taped from Lowell,
Massachusetts. Lowell’s arena is really
small, but I always liked the intimate feel it gave off on television.
Cole, and Kevin Kelly are doing commentary and they are taped from Lowell,
Massachusetts. Lowell’s arena is really
small, but I always liked the intimate feel it gave off on television.
–D-Generation X
comes to the ring in bath robes except for Chyna. Triple H gloats about beating down the Legion
of Doom last week and says that they aren’t happy about the New Age Outlaws
trying to take credit for it. As a
Christmas present, DX takes off their robes and boxers to reveal thongs, which
are censored. Commissioner
Slaughter comes out and says that Shawn Michaels needs to defend the European
title tonight and books him to face Triple H.
Michaels and Triple H argue over that as we head to a commercial break.
comes to the ring in bath robes except for Chyna. Triple H gloats about beating down the Legion
of Doom last week and says that they aren’t happy about the New Age Outlaws
trying to take credit for it. As a
Christmas present, DX takes off their robes and boxers to reveal thongs, which
are censored. Commissioner
Slaughter comes out and says that Shawn Michaels needs to defend the European
title tonight and books him to face Triple H.
Michaels and Triple H argue over that as we head to a commercial break.
–Cole interviews
the Godwinns, who say that they want a title shot from the New Age Outlaws.
the Godwinns, who say that they want a title shot from the New Age Outlaws.
–Opening
Contest: Thrasher (w/Mosh) defeats Henry
Godwinn (w/Phineas Godwinn) by disqualification after Phineas interferes at
1:09:
Contest: Thrasher (w/Mosh) defeats Henry
Godwinn (w/Phineas Godwinn) by disqualification after Phineas interferes at
1:09:
Before this match really gets going, Phineas interrupts
the count after a flying body press and the Godwinns beat down the Headbangers
and whip them with belts before WWF officials break things up. The Headbangers have really taken a beating
lately from all kinds of teams.
the count after a flying body press and the Godwinns beat down the Headbangers
and whip them with belts before WWF officials break things up. The Headbangers have really taken a beating
lately from all kinds of teams.
–A video package
recaps Dude Love’s issues with the New Age Outlaws.
recaps Dude Love’s issues with the New Age Outlaws.
–Mankind cuts a
promo from the boiler room and warns the New Age Outlaws that beatings are
ahead.
promo from the boiler room and warns the New Age Outlaws that beatings are
ahead.
– Call 815-734-1161
to get your copy of WWF the Music:
Volume 2. It costs $20 for CD and
$15 for the tape (plus $4 shipping & handling)!
to get your copy of WWF the Music:
Volume 2. It costs $20 for CD and
$15 for the tape (plus $4 shipping & handling)!
–A recap of Steve
Austin tossing the Intercontinental title off of a bridge last week is
shown. Austin coming out at the end of
last week’s show and giving Santa Claus imposter a Stone Cold Stunner is also
played as a “RAW exclusive.”
Austin tossing the Intercontinental title off of a bridge last week is
shown. Austin coming out at the end of
last week’s show and giving Santa Claus imposter a Stone Cold Stunner is also
played as a “RAW exclusive.”
–A camera outside
of D-Generation X’s locker room overhears Shawn Michaels and Triple H arguing.
of D-Generation X’s locker room overhears Shawn Michaels and Triple H arguing.
–Dok Hendrix hypes
the next Madison Square Garden card. In
a steel cage match, Shawn Michaels & Triple H will face Steve Austin &
the Undertaker. Also, the Rock defends the
Intercontinental title against Ken Shamrock, the New Age Outlaws defend the tag
team titles against the Legion of Doom, and Vader faces Goldust.
the next Madison Square Garden card. In
a steel cage match, Shawn Michaels & Triple H will face Steve Austin &
the Undertaker. Also, the Rock defends the
Intercontinental title against Ken Shamrock, the New Age Outlaws defend the tag
team titles against the Legion of Doom, and Vader faces Goldust.
–Non-Title
Match: The Rock (Intercontinental
Champion w/The Nation of Domination) wrestles The Undertaker to a no contest at
7:31 shown:
Match: The Rock (Intercontinental
Champion w/The Nation of Domination) wrestles The Undertaker to a no contest at
7:31 shown:
The Rock is playing the appropriate role this time in
Lowell, as he was booed out of the building in February when he upset Triple H
for his first Intercontinental title win.
The Nation use their numbers to put the Rock in control, with Kama Mustafa
doing much of the work to take vengeance for his failed efforts against the
Undertaker in 1992 and 1995. The Rock
throws everything that he has against the Undertaker, but the Undertaker
rebounds with a chokeslam and Tombstone before the lights go off and Kane and
Paul Bearer come to the ring. These two
showcased some good chemistry, although that never manifested in their future
bouts when the Rock rose to the top of the card. The Rock’s selling was also really good in
this match. Rating: **½
Lowell, as he was booed out of the building in February when he upset Triple H
for his first Intercontinental title win.
The Nation use their numbers to put the Rock in control, with Kama Mustafa
doing much of the work to take vengeance for his failed efforts against the
Undertaker in 1992 and 1995. The Rock
throws everything that he has against the Undertaker, but the Undertaker
rebounds with a chokeslam and Tombstone before the lights go off and Kane and
Paul Bearer come to the ring. These two
showcased some good chemistry, although that never manifested in their future
bouts when the Rock rose to the top of the card. The Rock’s selling was also really good in
this match. Rating: **½
–Bearer proceeds to
insult the Undertaker’s parents and Kane unleashes a flurry of strikes against
him when he tries to shut Bearer up. The
Undertaker grabs Kane by the throat, but still refuses to fight back.
insult the Undertaker’s parents and Kane unleashes a flurry of strikes against
him when he tries to shut Bearer up. The
Undertaker grabs Kane by the throat, but still refuses to fight back.
–As we enter hour
two, Ross and Jim Cornette take over announcing duties.
two, Ross and Jim Cornette take over announcing duties.
–The European
championship match between Shawn Michaels and Triple H is scheduled to happen
next, but Owen Hart does a hit and run attack on Triple H during his entrance.
championship match between Shawn Michaels and Triple H is scheduled to happen
next, but Owen Hart does a hit and run attack on Triple H during his entrance.
–Call
1-900-RUMBLE-98 to register yourself in the Steve Austin pickup truck
contest! It’ll cost you $1.99 or you can
send a postcard to Devon, Pennsylvania.
1-900-RUMBLE-98 to register yourself in the Steve Austin pickup truck
contest! It’ll cost you $1.99 or you can
send a postcard to Devon, Pennsylvania.
–The New Age
Outlaws are shown carefully venturing into the bowels of the arena and they
beat someone up, but it isn’t Mankind.
Outlaws are shown carefully venturing into the bowels of the arena and they
beat someone up, but it isn’t Mankind.
–Marc Mero
(w/Sable) beats Scott Taylor with a TKO at 2:25:
(w/Sable) beats Scott Taylor with a TKO at 2:25:
Sable’s outfit this week is a reindeer mascot. Taylor gets in most of the offense in the
match, but gets caught with a TKO out of nowhere and maintains his jobber
status.
match, but gets caught with a TKO out of nowhere and maintains his jobber
status.
–After the match,
Mero gives Taylor a low blow and sets him up for another TKO, but Tom Brandi
breaks that up. Mero appears to hurt his
knee going into the guardrail and Sable takes advantage by taking off her
reindeer outfit and she waves to the crowd in a Miss Claus outfit.
Mero gives Taylor a low blow and sets him up for another TKO, but Tom Brandi
breaks that up. Mero appears to hurt his
knee going into the guardrail and Sable takes advantage by taking off her
reindeer outfit and she waves to the crowd in a Miss Claus outfit.
–Call
1-900-737-4WWF to find out the new superstar that has signed with the WWF with
this week, new Bret Hart rumors, and why Shawn Michaels had a good time in
Hollywood!
1-900-737-4WWF to find out the new superstar that has signed with the WWF with
this week, new Bret Hart rumors, and why Shawn Michaels had a good time in
Hollywood!
–Triple H tells the
announce team that if Shawn Michaels wants to face him then he’s going to get
all that he can handle. He tells Chyna
that he has everything to prove by beating Michaels tonight.
announce team that if Shawn Michaels wants to face him then he’s going to get
all that he can handle. He tells Chyna
that he has everything to prove by beating Michaels tonight.
–Kurrgan (w/The
Jackal) defeats 8-Ball with a sidewalk slam at 2:38:
Jackal) defeats 8-Ball with a sidewalk slam at 2:38:
Jackal cuts a promo during the match saying that the
revolution is at hand and hyping his intellect.
8-Ball gets Kurrgan down to one knee, but the Jackal holds his foot when
he runs the ropes and that leads to the finish.
revolution is at hand and hyping his intellect.
8-Ball gets Kurrgan down to one knee, but the Jackal holds his foot when
he runs the ropes and that leads to the finish.
–After the match,
the Truth Commission beats up 8-Ball, but Skull runs in with a 2×4 and forces
them to flee.
the Truth Commission beats up 8-Ball, but Skull runs in with a 2×4 and forces
them to flee.
–The New Age Outlaws
search for Mankind continues, but they don’t find anything.
search for Mankind continues, but they don’t find anything.
–Tonight’s
Kane-Undertaker confrontation is this week’s 1-800-COLLECT Rewind segment.
Kane-Undertaker confrontation is this week’s 1-800-COLLECT Rewind segment.
–Ken Shamrock
beats D-Lo Brown (w/Faarooq & Kama Mustafa) via submission to the anklelock
at 2:22:
beats D-Lo Brown (w/Faarooq & Kama Mustafa) via submission to the anklelock
at 2:22:
This match has some good chain wrestling to start, but
D-Lo gets in very little offense as Shamrock rolls through him with ease and
gets the submission victory.
D-Lo gets in very little offense as Shamrock rolls through him with ease and
gets the submission victory.
–After the match,
the Rock comes out and runs down the UFC and offers Shamrock an Intercontinental title
shot at the Royal Rumble. He calls off
the Nation from attacking Shamrock and says that all of those things are
Christmas gifts. Faarooq does not appear
to be happy at having his power usurped.
the Rock comes out and runs down the UFC and offers Shamrock an Intercontinental title
shot at the Royal Rumble. He calls off
the Nation from attacking Shamrock and says that all of those things are
Christmas gifts. Faarooq does not appear
to be happy at having his power usurped.
–WWF and European
Champion Shawn Michaels says he will take care of Triple H later tonight and
then tells Chyna that he is going to have to kick Triple H around to prove a
point.
Champion Shawn Michaels says he will take care of Triple H later tonight and
then tells Chyna that he is going to have to kick Triple H around to prove a
point.
–The New Age
Outlaws are in the third part of their search and this time they find Mankind
behind some boxes and he sings Christmas carols as he beats them down. However, numbers overwhelm him and they lock
him in a freezer.
Outlaws are in the third part of their search and this time they find Mankind
behind some boxes and he sings Christmas carols as he beats them down. However, numbers overwhelm him and they lock
him in a freezer.
–Goldust and Luna
come out and Goldust is dressed as a Christmas tree. Goldust reads “The Night Before Christmas” as
Santa Claus comes out and tosses candy into the audience. Goldust doesn’t appreciate the interruption,
but continues reading until Santa gets into the ring and gives Goldust a stiff
shot with his bag of goodies. Santa, of
course, turns out to be Vader. Call me
crazy, but Goldust’s craziness and Vader’s stiff attack made this highly
entertaining.
come out and Goldust is dressed as a Christmas tree. Goldust reads “The Night Before Christmas” as
Santa Claus comes out and tosses candy into the audience. Goldust doesn’t appreciate the interruption,
but continues reading until Santa gets into the ring and gives Goldust a stiff
shot with his bag of goodies. Santa, of
course, turns out to be Vader. Call me
crazy, but Goldust’s craziness and Vader’s stiff attack made this highly
entertaining.
–European
Championship Match: Triple H pins “The
Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels (Champion) after a lockup to win the title at
1:37:
Championship Match: Triple H pins “The
Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels (Champion) after a lockup to win the title at
1:37:
Forced to fight each other, D-Generation X stalls and
Michaels lays down for Triple H, who pushes him down after a lockup and then
runs a few laps between the ropes before doing a slow big cover and getting the
win. Genius booking from a storyline
perspective and I remember hating DX even more after this as a fan.
Michaels lays down for Triple H, who pushes him down after a lockup and then
runs a few laps between the ropes before doing a slow big cover and getting the
win. Genius booking from a storyline
perspective and I remember hating DX even more after this as a fan.
–After the match,
Shawn Michaels mocks his “Lost Smile” promo, which was cut in Lowell back in
February, and DX mocks Commissioner Slaughter, who is in the entrance. Slaughter just smiles and says that Triple H
will defend the title next week against Owen Hart.
Shawn Michaels mocks his “Lost Smile” promo, which was cut in Lowell back in
February, and DX mocks Commissioner Slaughter, who is in the entrance. Slaughter just smiles and says that Triple H
will defend the title next week against Owen Hart.
The Final Report Card: For those expecting a competitive main event
this show was a letdown, but the New Age Outlaws search for Mankind, the
Undertaker-Kane segment, and the Goldust-Vader interaction were entertaining segments. The rumor for why the European title switch happened with Triple H on this show is
that Michaels refused to job the title to Owen Hart. In terms of the Royal Rumble, the show setup
another title match between the Rock and Ken Shamrock as well. Due to the entertaining angles and the
strength of the Rock-Undertaker match, I’ll give this show a thumbs up, but it
almost ended up in neutral territory.
this show was a letdown, but the New Age Outlaws search for Mankind, the
Undertaker-Kane segment, and the Goldust-Vader interaction were entertaining segments. The rumor for why the European title switch happened with Triple H on this show is
that Michaels refused to job the title to Owen Hart. In terms of the Royal Rumble, the show setup
another title match between the Rock and Ken Shamrock as well. Due to the entertaining angles and the
strength of the Rock-Undertaker match, I’ll give this show a thumbs up, but it
almost ended up in neutral territory.
Monday Night War Rating: 3.1 (vs. 3.5 for Nitro)
Show Evaluation: Thumbs Up