WWF: Raw is War
March 9, 1998
Wheeling, WV
Wheeling Civic Center

The current WWF champs are as follows:
World Champion: Shawn Michaels (11/9/1997)
Intercontinental Champion: The Rock (12/8/1997)
World Tag Team Champions: The New Age Outlaws (11/24/1997)
European Champion: Owen Hart (1/26/1998)
Light Heavyweight Champion: TAKA Michinoku (12/7/1997)

TIME TO GET RAW! Your hosts are Jim Ross, Michael Cole, and Kevin Kelly.

• Ken Shamrock & Steve Blackman vs. The Rock & Faarooq (w/the NOD)
  

Blackman and Shamrock kick around Faarooq to start. Faarooq stuns Shamrock with a Spinebuster and tags out. In comes the Rock with the People’s Elbow on Shamrock. Over to Blackman, he gets worked over by the NOD as we seem to be experiencing technical difficulties. Hot tag to Shamrock, he powerslams Rock for two. He delivers the hurracanrana, but Faarooq breaks up the pin bringing in Blackman. With all four men in the ring, the rest of the Nation of Domination come in the ring to help for the DQ. (4:37) After the bell, Rock sends the rest of the Nation away so he can beat up Shamrock all by himself. With Blackman down on the floor thanks to Mark Henry, Faarooq sends the troops away. Of course when they leave, Shamrock comes back and SNAPS. He puts Rock in an ANKLELOCK down on the floor. Rock is begging for help, but gets none from Faarooq. Take that, Rocky. *

Triple H and Chyna head out without Shawn Michaels. They remind us that Mike Tyson has joined D-Generation X. WrestleMania will be X-Rated. Discretion is advised, but will be completely ignored. He tells Owen Hart that Chyna just might get a little more physical with him than she did last week – if she wants to. Helmsley tells us that Shawn Michaels will not be here tonight. He shows us footage of Steve Austin eating Sweet Chin Music last week on RAW on the ramp over and over again.

WWF champ Shawn Michaels is then shown lounging in some dive sucking on a beer. He confirms that Mike Tyson is part of DX now. The most enjoyable moment last week though was making Austin taste Sweet Chin Music. The baddest SOB in the WWF found out that he is just like everybody else around here. He knows Austin will come out all mad tonight and beat somebody up, but Austin hasn’t shown Michaels anything new yet. As far as he’s concerned, Austin is just a fad and Michaels is what the WWF will always be about. At WrestleMania, he will not step down from the top of the mountain for Austin or anybody else. HE DON’T LAY DOWN FOR ANYBODY and he won’t be doing it for Austin either. He will leave WrestleMania STILL the WWF champion. He guarantees it. Back to the arena, Triple H tells everybody to suck it.

• WWF European Championship: Owen Hart (c) vs. Barry Windham (w/Jim Cornette)
  

Kevin Kelly gives up his headset for this match to Triple H. Talk about a dream match from ten years ago. More technical difficulties during this match. HHH says Owen should be thanking Chyna for helping him regain the European title last week. Pretty bleh match since Windham isn’t in any shape to really go and Owen rolls his ankle halfway through. They wonder around for several minutes until Chyna low blows Owen to keep him out of the ring. Ref Tim White awards Windham the match via countout. (5:15) Triple H has a good laugh, but then he and Chyna exit pretty quickly as Bradshaw hits the ring to beat Windham out of the ring. When will they have their blowoff? ½*

A very concerned Jerry Lawler interview Paul Bearer and Kane backstage. Bearer doesn’t want to talk about the Undertaker, he wants to talk about Vader. He recaps what Kane has done to Vader back at No Way Out when Kane hit him in the eye with a steel wrench. All of a sudden, lockers start opening and closing. The lockers freak out Lawler and Bearer as they run out of the locker room. Kane seems to think there is a spirit present, but of course doesn’t show any emotion or mutter any words.

• Brian Christopher (w/Jerry Lawler) vs. Aguila (w/TAKA Michinoku)
  

While hyping a Saturday night show in Salt Lake City, Ross mentions that the Mailman might show up. Hmm. Aguila has been suffering from the flu all day with a temperature of 101. Christopher thinks he’s in total control here and he is until Aguila flips out of a German suplex. He dropkicks Christopher in the shoulders and does a springboard lucha armdrag. To the floor we go, Aguila hits Christopher with a corkscrew plancha and follows up with an Asai Moonsault. We start to experience thunder inside the arena and the lights start to flicker. Lawler is more than a little bit spooked. Back inside, the handspring elbow gets caught by Christopher as he drops Aguila with the Full Nelson Facebuster. Owen Driver and a suplex to Aguila gets two. Christopher continues his abuse with a reverse neckbreaker and delivers a sunset flip powerbomb on the apron. He even takes a moment to pop TAKA Michinoku in the face. Back inside, Aguila armdrags Christopher from the top rope and missile dropkicks him. Springboard headscissors takes Christopher over as well. While Aguila has Christopher on his shoulders in a bow and arrow submission, Lawler grabs TAKA and throws him into the post. He rolls TAKA into the ring and trips up Aguila while he’s up top, but ref Mike Chioda sees what Lawler has done and DQ’s Christopher. (4:55) I appreciate fifteen minutes of wrestling in the first hour, but THREE non-finishes? Good grief. Crowd couldn’t have cared less about this match either. After the bell, Christopher gives Aguila a sitout powerbomb. He celebrates on the apron, but takes a dropkick from TAKA to crash into Lawler. *½

WRESTLEMANIA MILLENNIUM MOMENT (brought to you by M&M’s): WrestleMania 2, Andre the Giant wins a battle royal last eliminating current WCW wrestler Bret Hart.

Stone Cold Steve Austin has arrived at the building and comes straight to the ring because he is pissed off and has a lot to say. He seems most pissed off that Vince McMahon would dare call Mike Tyson “unquestionably the baddest man on the planet”. If you think Vince is insulting Steve Austin, give him a hell yeah. Well, HELL YEAH. Austin sits down in the ring as he waits for Vince McMahon to come to the ring and sort this out. While he waits, Austin asks for a cold beer. Is the first time he’s mentioned beer in the ring? Ross stands up to try and talk some sense into Austin, but Austin tells him to sit down. WWF agents Blackjack Lanza and Jerry Brisco come out to take Austin back to the locker room. Austin dares them to come after him. The show will not continue until Vince McMahon comes out here. Well, Commissioner Slaughter tries to talk sense into Austin. He doesn’t fear Slaughter whatsoever. We see Jerry Brisco talking to Vince McMahon backstage trying to convince him to go out there, but Vince refuses to oblige him. AUSTIN IS HOLDING US ALL HOSTAGE!

ENTER THE WARZONE! Your hosts are Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler.

When we come back from a break, it appears Pat Patterson and various security guys aren’t getting paid enough to get beat up by Austin and walk out. FINALLY, Vince McMahon comes out to face Austin. Agents and refs join him. Vince is reluctant, but finally joins Austin inside the ring. Austin wants him to explain why he’s dick riding Mike Tyson now. Vince explains that calling Tyson “the baddest man on the planet” was just a figure of speech. Austin gives Vince the bird right in his face and calls *that* a figure of speech as well. HAHA. He wants to know if Vince wants him to be the WWF champion. If Vince does, give Austin a “hell yeah”. Vince refuses to say yes or no. He’s had enough, but now Austin wants Vince to give him his best shot across the face. Ross – “This is ridiculous.” Austin tries to get McMahon riled up enough to punch him by ripping at his sports jacket and calling him a “yellow bastard”. When Vince never lays a finger on Austin, Austin then asks the audience if they want him to kick Vince square on his ass. Of course they do. Vince starts to leave and tells Austin he will pay for this embarrassment. Oh boy will he. As Vince and his stooges head for the rampway, Austin says that he will be beating up Triple H here tonight once he gets in the ring. When Shawn Michaels shows up again, Austin will be knocking his ass down until he doesn’t get up anymore because that WWF title is coming to him. And that’s the bottom line cuz Stone Cold Said So. AWESOME.

• Cactus Jack & Chainsaw Charlie vs. The Quebecers
  

More technical difficulties in the arena. Ross says Helmsley is requesting extra security here tonight before he steps in the ring tonight. Chainsaw Charlie works face in peril to set up the hot tag to Cactus. There’s the Cactus Clothesline to Pierre followed by the running knee in the corner to Jacques. Match breaks down as Charlie tries a moonsault on Jacques and misses. Meanwhile, Pierre gives Cactus a hurracanrana out of the corner for two. However, Pierre misses a corner charge on Cactus and receives the DOUBLE-ARM DDT while Charlie takes care of Jacques. Cover by Cactus, 1-2-3. (5:26) Road Dogg comes out with his arm in a sling and something to say. If Cactus and Charlie think the dumpster ride they took was fun, just wait until WrestleMania. He calls for a fight and as Cactus goes after Road Dogg, Billy Gunn appears in the ring and whacks Chainsaw Charlie with a chair. Of course, Cactus hurries back to get Gunn off his buddy, but the damage is done. ¾*

Paul Bearer brings Kane with him to the ring to talk about the Undertaker. By making his return, the Undertaker has just made things hotter and hotter and HOTTER. *BONG* The light go out and when they come back on, Undertaker is standing in the ring behind his brother Kane. When Bearer and Kane turn around, the lights go out. When they come back on, Taker is gone again. HE’S A MAGICIAN. At WrestleMania, Taker will face Kane and will return to the dark side never to return again. Now light those corners on fire! 20 days until WrestleMania! What else will happen on this journey!

Raw Is War airs next Tuesday (3/17) at 9PM EST. TUNE IN! WEAR GREEN!

• Goldust (w/Luna) vs. Marc Mero (w/Sable)
  

During this match, Luna and Sable will be handcuffed to the ringpost to prevent any shenanigans. Two former partners, two men starved for attention, two men who are dying for the spotlight going one-on-one here. While Mero chases Goldust around ringside, they come by Luna who trips up Mero. Goldust drops Mero on the guardrail and brings him back inside for a jumping lariat. He puts Mero down with a suplex and goes to the outside to mess with Sable. Mero brings Goldust back in the ring, but gets whipped into the ref in the corner. CURTAIN CALL to Mero! With the ref out, Goldust gets the handcuff key from his pants and unlocks Luna. She goes over and starts drawing all over Sable’s face to make her look hideous. Sable starts to look like the Missing Link when refs come down and escort Luna away. The most unattractive thing about Sable here is how mad she gets and that voice. Good grief. (5:30 or so) No decision is made and the segment just sort of ends with Sable storming backstage to go after Luna. ¾*

In the back, Goldust and Luna issue a challenge to Marc Mero and Sable for WrestleMania 14. Just a little bit of a creepy promo here, right?

WrestleMania 14 celebs include: Pete Rose, Gennifer Flowers, and Mike Tyson.

Video package airs highlighting Mike Tyson’s last six weeks or so with the WWF and how the media loved it.

That sets up an Jim Ross interview with Mike Tyson. Being in the WWF is a dream come true. He was a Steve Austin fan until he disrespected him in front of the world by flicking him off back on January 19. Austin pissed him off pretty bad that night. Ross wants to know how Tyson can be fair as the special enforcer at WrestleMania. Doesn’t Tyson think DX is just using him to get what they want. Tyson then asks JR if he has ever used someone to get to where he is today. That’s the way the world works and if you think otherwise, you need to get with the program. When asked if he can be fair in his officiating, Tyson tells Ross that “fair is winning” and walks off. NICE.

• Triple H (w/Chyna) vs. Savio Vega
  

Refs and agents surround the ring to ensure Triple H some extra security after Steve Austin threatened him earlier in the show. Not even thirty seconds after the bell sounds, Austin walks tall into the ring. STUNNER to Gerald Brisco! STUNNER to Mike Chioda! STUNNER to Savio Vega! Hey wait, Shawn Michaels is here! IT WAS ALL A SETUP! As Austin turns around, he eats another SWEET CHIN MUSIC this week! Helmsley celebrates and mounts Austin for added insult to injury. Chyna hands Michaels a chair and as they sit Austin up to take a shot to the cranium, we run out of TV time.

Until next time, so long for now.

M&Ms presents WWF WrestleMania XIV: dX-Raided LIVE ON PPV on March 29 from the Fleet Center in Boston, MA.
MAIN EVENT
WWF Championship (w/Mike Tyson as Special Enforcer): Shawn Michaels (c) vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin
WWF Intercontinental Championship: The Rock (c) vs. Ken Shamrock
WWF Tag Team Championship: The New Age Outlaws (c) vs. Cactus Jack & Chainsaw Charlie
WWF European Championship: Owen Hart (c) vs. Triple H
The Undertaker vs. Kane
15-Team Battle Royal