WWF: SuNDAY NiGHT HeAT
September 6, 1998
New Haven, CT
New Haven Coliseum

The current WWF champs are as follows:
WWF Champion: Steve Austin (6/29/1998)
Intercontinental Champion: Triple H (8/30/1998)
World Tag Team Champions: The New Age Outlaws (8/30/1998)
European Champion: D’Lo Brown (7/20/1998)
Light Heavyweight Champion: TAKA Michinoku (12/7/1997)

IT’S GETTING HOT IN HERRE! Your hosts are Jim Ross and Shane McMahon.

• Gangrel vs. Dick Togo (w/Yamaguchi-san)

Gangrel beats down Togo, but Togo comes right back with a spinning heel kick and a slam to set up a springboard moonsault for two. Powerslam by Gangrel slows down Togo as does the corkscrew elbow drop. Shane says his daddy will unleash the MASTER PLAN tonight. There’s a release Tiger Suplex by Gangrel. He follows up with a snap suplex. More blows on the neck of Togo lead to the IMPALER DDT for the win. (2:14) No Edge, I guess. N/R

They take us back to three weeks ago on RAW when Jacqueline pushed an arm wrestling table over onto Sable. Jacqueline then destroyed the “bikini contest” trophy.

We check out the home video made by Marc Mero and Jackie. Mero says she looks amazing in an evening gown. He then presents her with a new “bikini champion” trophy. They stick it to Sable and call her a “skank”. Mero and Jacqueline share a big hug to close the video.

• Ken Shamrock vs. Bradshaw

They show us how Vader and Bradshaw don’t get along. Hmm. Bradshaw goes low, but Shamrock applies a fisherman’s suplex and then runs down Bradshaw with a big shoulderblock. He then flies into a Fallaway Slam. Bradshaw takes Shamrock from corner to corner with clotheslines. Shamrock stuns Bradshaw with a few shots coming off the ropes and finally puts him on his backside. Bradshaw catches him for a powerslam for two. Next thing we know, Vader is out to jump Bradshaw for the DQ. (1:57) So many run-ins and non-finishes on RAW and now HeAT. Vader and Bradshaw continue to brawl while Shamrock doesn’t seem too concerned until he realizes he’s been DQ’ed. N/R

• Road Dogg (w/Billy Gunn) vs. Dennis Knight (w/Mark Canterbury)

Knight sees Shake Rattle and Roll coming, but doesn’t see the next shot coming and falls into the ropes for the Bossman straddle. Knight rakes Road Dogg in the eyes to escape an armbar and then grabs a chinlock. When the ref makes Knight break the hold, Canterbury reaches in and pops Road Dogg. Knight and Road Dogg continue trading punches when Jeff Jarrett shows up and nails Road Dogg from behind for yet ANOTHER DQ. (2:26) This brings down X-Pac for a big six-man brawl. Refs and agents run down to separate the two sides. N/R

We get a reminder of Mr. McMahon calling the Undertaker and Kane “putrid pussies” and then the ensuing carnage that occurred because of the insult.

• The Undertaker & Kane vs. Road Warrior Animal & Droz

This is the FIRST MATCH EVER for the Brothers of Destruction tag team. Yes, you read that right. While Kane kicks the crap out of Droz, Road Warrior Hawk calls in and tells us he’s going to rehab. When Droz puts Kane down, they tag out. Taker boots down Animal, but Animal comes back with the jumping shoulderblock. Kane nails Animal from the apron as Taker chopblocks Animal and takes him to school. He applies a kneebar and gets Animal to submit. (2:55) When Droz tries to kick at Taker, Kane comes in and gives him a Chokeslam and then tosses him out. Mr. McMahon shows up at the ramp and seems to really be enjoying himself. ¾*

Stone Cold Steve Austin is here!

• TAKA Michinoku (w/Yamaguchi-san) vs. Edge

We get still shots from SummerSlam as Edge was Sable’s mystery partner. Edge hits a face slam on TAKA to start, but then TAKA tries one too many Tornado DDTs and eats a spinning heel kick. There’s a reverse suplex to TAKA. Edge hits a couple running clotheslines and follows up with a flapjack. He heads up top, but misses a flying headbutt. Here comes TAKA off the top with a missile dropkick. He calls for the Michinoku Driver, but Edge slips out and delivers the DOWNWARD SPIRAL for the win. (2:07) They could do much more. *

Next thing we know, the Undertaker and Kane are dragging Gerald Brisco and Pat Patterson to the ring. Taker gets on the mic and demands Mr. McMahon get out to the ring in ten seconds or he and Kane will dismantle his top stooges. No McMahon. Patterson and Brisco get their asses beat. STEREO CHOKESLAMS! These boys want to know the MASTER PLAN. Shane is sure his daddy will compensate them for their troubles.

Outside the arena, Steve Austin is shown talking to somebody on a Paul E. Dangerously phone and kicks the cameraman down.

• WWF European Championship: D’Lo Brown (c) vs. Val Venis

Venis meets D’Lo on the floor and whips him into the ringpost. Luckily he’s got that chest protector. Inside the ring, Venis gets a nearfall off a DDT. Brown comes back with a Ligerbomb. Dustin Runnels is shown in the crowd. To the floor again, D’Lo gives Venis a backbreaker and climbs up to the barricade. Venis grabs D’Lo and drops him onto the barricade. Back inside, Venis catches Brown with a backdrop and unloads on him. As the ref moves Venis back, D’Lo removes the turnbuckle pad. He avoids a corner charge from Venis, causing Val to go chest-first into the exposed turnbuckle. Venis then falls back into a bridging German suplex from D’Lo to give him the win. (2:54) Well, Val Venis suffers his first TV loss in the WWF. After the bell, Venis rips off the chest protector, powerbombs D’Lo, and then puts the chest protector on before giving Brown the MONEY SHOT. *½

Mr. McMahon comes out to explain his MASTER PLAN. He’s wearing all black because he’s in mourning. Crowd wants Steve Austin. On September 27, Austin’s WWF title will DIE. Before he discusses that part of the plan, he calls out the Undertaker and Kane. Once they are in the ring, Vince is out of the ring on the floor with the mic. The corners catch fire and everything. McMahon apologizes for his remarks calling them “putrid pussies” and acknowledges Kane and the Undertaker as the most unstoppable force in the WWF. He even thinks the Undertaker deserves a rematch for the WWF title, but so does Kane. McMahon is now even calling out Stone Cold Steve Austin. The glass breaks and here he comes. Now we have Kane, Undertaker, Austin, and McMahon all in the ring. Once the crowd quiets down, Vince admits he has no idea what the people see in him. The fact is Austin has disrespected him for the last time. Vince even goes as far as to say that Austin brings no value to the WWF – and that’s why on September 27, Austin will defend the WWF title against Kane. On September 27, Austin will also defend the WWF championship against the Undertaker! In fact, Austin will defend the WWF title against the Undertaker and Kane in a TRIPLE THREAT MATCH! THAT’S NOT FAIR! AUSTIN IS DOOMED! AUSTIN CAN’T SURVIVE AGAINST THESE TWO MONSTERS!

Oh man, much better show than RAW Saturday Night. One more of those to go and we’re back on Monday nights. Until next time, so long for now.