WWF: Raw is War
September 28, 1998
Detroit, MI
Joe Louis Arena

The current WWF champs are as follows:
WWF Champion: ??? (9/27/1998)
Intercontinental Champion: Triple H (8/30/1998)
World Tag Team Champions: The New Age Outlaws (8/30/1998)
European Champion: X-Pac (9/21/1998)
Light Heavyweight Champion: TAKA Michinoku (12/7/1997)
Women’s Champion: Jacqueline (9/21/1998)

They start the show airing the “Master Plan” video package shown at last night’s Breakdown PPV.

TIME TO GET RAW! Your hosts are Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler.

You hear the glass breaking, but it’s VINCE MCMAHON (holding the Smoking Skull WWF title), his Three Stooges, and Detroit’s Finest as Vince gets a giant escort to the ring. Ross puts it best saying you couldn’t sandblast the smile off McMahon’s face. Vince wags his dick around letting everybody know things went his way last night. He lets Austin and all the WWF fans know that Austin will not be granted a rematch for the WWF title. To show Vince doesn’t hold grudges, he decrees tonight as “Stone Cold Steve Austin Night”. Vince jokes that Austin will have “easy access around the facility” because there’s police outside the building waiting for him obviously to keep him out. Is there only one way into the entire Joe Louis Arena? Vince also mentions there will be a *new* WWF champion crowned tonight. The man who will be crowned WWF champion tonight will be given an official WWF championship belt, not the belt with the Smoking Skull. That will hang on Vince’s mantel in one of his homes that Vince will treat as a trophy. Well, how about that. Vince calls out to Austin asking him if he will join the rest of the WWF as we crown a *new* WWF champion. Let Vince know when you have made your decision. Commissioner Slaughter puts the Smoking Skull belt around Vince’s waist and hopes everybody enjoys RAW tonight. Vince then climbs two of the four corners to get the ovation he deserves.

• WWF World Tag Team Championship: The New Age Outlaws (c) vs. Southern Justice (w/Jeff Jarrett)

Ross mentions that DX has been going through some hard times: Triple H’s knee, Road Dogg’s throat, and now X-Pac’s eye. Road Dogg doesn’t have any trouble screaming his pre-match introduction. Detroit is going NUTS for the Outlaws. Jerry Lawler makes a comment about Jim Carrey claiming Lawler beat him up. Lawler says if he had done what Carrey claimed, Carrey would still be in the hospital. Naturally, he wants Jim Carrey to come confront him on RAW. Not going to happen. Southern Justice concentrate on Gunn to start. Gunn catches Knight with a neckbreaker and tags out. Road Dogg hits the Shaky Knee Drop. Canterbury nails Road Dogg from the apron to turn the tide. It doesn’t last long as Gunn gets a hot tag. He runs wild on Southern Justice and lands the Rocker Dropper on Knight. Jarrett tries to interfere with the guitar, but Road Dogg grabs it away from him and KABONGS Knight for the DQ. (3:01) Road Dogg is PISSED, but so is Gunn. X-Pac comes out to try and calm them down. He gets popped in the injured eye by accident from Gunn, who leaves Road Dogg and X-Pac in the ring. Chyna wheels Triple H down the aisle and Billy Gunn doesn’t want anything to do with them either. Oh boy. ½*

Breakdown: In Your House PPV encore – tomorrow night at 8PM! Remember those?

• Submission Match: Owen Hart vs. Dan Severn

Dan Severn carries with him both the NWA and UFC heavyweight championship titles. Not sure which UFC belt that is though. Backstage, Michael Cole can hear DX fighting in their locker room. Ross tells us not to make too much of this because it happens to all great teams. Didn’t they just tease a breakup like 1-2 months ago? Why believe them now? Severn throws away a towel to mock Owen and his Lion’s Den match loss. Hart and Severn are all over each other with ground and pounds. Owen tries a sleeperhold, but Severn throws him away and delivers a belly to belly suplex. He follows up with a running powerslam, but Owen makes Severn eat a Spinning Heel Kick. A belly to belly suplex connects, but Severn looks for the Beast Choker. Owen flips out and hits the OWEN DRIVER. Oh no. Severn isn’t moving. It’s a WORK, folks, but they sell it like a shoot. Real classy, guys. (2:20) They take a break and Severn does a stretcher job all the way into an ambulance. Ross and Lawler are silent to sell it like it’s real. After what we’ve seen in 1998, it’s hard to believe anybody buys anything as “real” anymore. N/R

• Al Snow (w/Head) vs. Vader (w/Commissioner Slaughter)

Ross and Lawler are confused why Slaughter is following behind Vader to the ring. It makes more sense when they see who his opponent is. While Snow gets beaten up, the crowd wants Head. Snow tries to come back with a bunch of running clotheslines. It takes more than a few to take Vader down. Vader fires right back on Snow and then forgets to catch Snow’s foot to do an enziguri. Whoops. Snow swings Head at Slaughter and gets whacked by Vader, but then thewhacks Vader with Head behind the ref’s back for the win. (2:37) Vader kicks out at three because if you were Vader, you would too. He SERIOUSLY needs to leave the WWF. ¼*

Billy Gunn is shown leaving the arena. He’s taking his bags and going home.

WWF REWIND (brought to you by 10-10-321): Sunday Night Heat, 9/20/98 – Gangrel helps out Edge and tells him Edge “will come home”. Folks, you only think you know him.

• Elimination Match: Marc Mero vs. Gangrel vs. D’Lo Brown vs. Darren Drozdov vs. Jeff Jarrett vs. Edge

The winner gets a European title shot, which sounds like a lot for such a small victory. I mean, maybe an IC title shot would be a bigger deal. Anyways, Edge goes right after Gangrel to start. Gangrel ducks a crossbody block and delivers a dragon screw leg whip. Russian leg sweep connects, but Edge avoids a flying elbow and catches Gangrel with La Magistral cradle for a three-count in 1:06. Seems like a waste, but okay. D’Lo sucks, according to Detroit. He’s in next and knocks Edge down for his fancy leg drop. Edge comes back with a DDT and tags Droz. He runs down D’Lo and powerslams him. D’Lo tags in Jarrett as Droz suplexes him into the ring. Jarrett gives him the Stroke and puts down Droz again with a high dropkick. Both guys go tumbling out to the floor and brawl until they are counted out at 3:32. Mero grabs Edge and slams him for Marvelocity, but D’Lo shakes the ropes and causes Mero to get crotched. Edge headscissors him down, which is hilarious considering that was a Johnny B. Badd move. Brown comes with the LO DOWN meant for Edge, but he hits Mero instead. D’Lo doesn’t really care though. Edge dropkicks him to the floor, pins Mero at 4:39, and planchas onto Brown. Back inside, Gangrel and that young kid (who resembles who we will know as Christian) distract Edge into a SKY HIGH as Brown gets the win and the chance to regain the Euro title. (5:12) Not a big fan of guys being pinned in such short fashion with limited time in the ring, but you can say that just about every week during the Attitude Era. *½

We see the police and security still surrounding the Joe Louis Arena. If Steve Austin wants to get inside, he’ll get inside.

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

Vince McMahon and his Three Stooges join him as they head to the ring. There’s police escorting them to the ring and there’s police already inside the ring guarding the glass case containing the WWF title belt. There’s also fancy red carpeting! Vince tries to get the people to respect the belt presentation ceremony, but of course they don’t because he asked them to. Before he announces the new WWF champion, Vince calls the Undertaker and Kane to join him in the ring – with separate entrances. No explosion of the four buckles though for Kane – wouldn’t want the policemen to get spooked. Vince continues to build them up saying how great they are until they are interrupted by Stone Cold Steve Austin driving a ZAMBONI THROUGH POLICE. He drives over a light, drives through a curtain under the TitanTron, and drives straight to the ring. He then leaps off the Zamboni, jumps through the policemen, and jumps Mr. McMahon. Neither Undertaker nor Kane could care less, but the Stooges and the policemen peel Austin off McMahon. The policemen then handcuff Austin and escort him to a squad car – Austin cussing and smiling the whole way. While on his way to the squad car, Austin tells the camera: “I AIN’T THROUGH WITH YA, VINCE. I AIN’T THROUGH WITH YA YET – NOT BY A LONG SHOT.” Vince comes over to the squad car yelling to send his ass to jail. Police tries to restrain Vince. Austin continues to stare at Vince as he drives away. We catch Patterson and Brisco helping McMahon to a nearby locker room to close one of the biggest moments in RAW history.

Get the DX t-shirt that points to your dick for only $25 bucks!

They take us back to moments ago when Austin took out a light, a couple cords, and the ring literally moved two feet thanks to his reckless Zamboni driving. That flying clothesline was AWESOME.

Back to the ring, Mr. McMahon tried to regain his composure. He’s talking to the Undertaker and Kane. Since they didn’t live up to their end of the deal which was to keep Steve Austin away from him (and they have clearly failed to keep McMahon safe), Vince won’t live to his end of the deal either. Neither man gets the WWF title belt, and whether they like it or not, they will have to fight each other at Judgment Day: In Your House on October 18. Since they can’t seem to handle Steve Austin, Austin will be the SPECIAL REFEREE for this WWF title match. Vince wants to witness Austin suffering the indignity of having to count the pinfall for the next WWF champion. Yeah, I’m sure it’s going to be that simple. McMahon then makes a handicap match for tonight – Undertaker and Kane against Ken Shamrock, Mankind, and the Rock. Naturally, the Rock gets the biggest pop of the three. When did Undertaker pierce his eyebrow? Vince wishes them luck because he feels the Undertaker and Kane are handicapped – one physically and one mentally. DANG. As Vince starts to leave, Taker grabs him by the jacket and tells him to “watch his ass” because the next time he crosses the line, Vince will be the one that’s handicapped. As the brothers turn away, Vince gives him the double bird. That’s one bird too many tonight because Taker turns around to see him. Making good on his promise from just seconds ago, Taker and Kane proceed to beat the crap out of McMahon. To make sure he’s handicapped, Taker applies a kneebar while Kane makes sure nobody can help McMahon. Kane takes cares of Slaughter and Brisco, leaving McMahon to be easy pickings. You would think that would be enough, but it’s *not* enough for Taker and Kane. With McMahon’s leg already weakened, he gets dragged to the floor where Taker picks up the top half of the steps, Kane puts Vince’s left ankle on the bottom half, and then whacks Vince’s ankle with the steps. McMahon sells this attack like a 16-ton weight just landed on his leg. Meltzer mentions that this has some connection to the “Montreal Screwjob” when Vince limped out of the dressing room after getting punched out by Bret. Patterson is out now and he does some loud overacting as we go to commercial. EPIC stuff.

After the break, Vince is being attended to by his Three Stooges, some referees, some trainers, and Mankind offering Vince a sip of his Big Gulp, which is honestly one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen in wrestling. There’s no ambulance at the arena because it took away Dan Severn earlier in the show. Vince is in pain and totally distraught.

• Special Referee – Chyna: Mark Henry vs. Faarooq

They take us back to last night on HeAT when Chyna attacked Henry with a lead pipe and made him kiss her ass. Faarooq doesn’t even get an entrance. Damn. Henry blows kisses to Chyna all the way down the aisle. Henry fights back and slams Faarooq on the floor followed by a legdrop. You don’t see that every day. Back in, Henry delivers a powerslam, and Chyna refuses to count. Imagine that. He goes for a press slam and Chyna low blows Henry. Faarooq falls on top and Chyna fast counts Henry to give Faarooq the win in 1:14. Don’t step to Ron. Next thing we know, Chyna gets served in the ring. She rips up the papers and leaves Henry and the papers behind. N/R

Backstage, the ambulance has arrived and McMahon is screaming all the way. Patterson and Brisco accompany McMahon in the ambulance. Mankind is still funny with the drink here.

Elsewhere, Michael Cole is talking with Ken Shamrock. Of course if you know early UFC history, you might recall the awful “Dance in Detroit” fight when Ken Shamrock lost the UFC Superfight championship to Dan Severn by split decision, so Shamrock voices he doesn’t have a ton of love for the Motor City. As for tonight, he’s got beef with everybody in the handicap match tonight, so he’s ready to get it on.

We get to see another Steven Regal: A Real Man’s Man vignette. Regal knows how to work a Caterpillar! Some men move furniture, this man moves the earth!

• The Headbangers vs. The Oddities (w/Giant Silva, Luna & ICP)

Since we’re in ICP’s backyard, why not. The Headbangers jump Golga at the bell since they’re heels now. Thrasher powerbombs Mosh onto Golga, which is like getting powerbombed onto a beanbag chair. Tag to Kurrgan, he runs through the Headbangers, but the numbers get to him. Luna argues with the ref while ICP trips up Thrasher for a splash by Kurrgan. That’s enough to get the three-count in 1:58. What was the point of turning the Headbangers heel for again? ¼*

The Rock takes away Michael Cole’s microphone and shoves him out of view of the camera so he can just spit out what he’s going to say. He’s the number one contender to the WWF title, so all is good. It doesn’t even really matter because there isn’t nothing – AND THE ROCK MEANS NOTHING – that could compare to being the People’s Champ. Is that a raised eyebrow I see?

Elsewhere, it appears Val Venis is getting a quick blowjob from Terri. Gotta make sure he’s good and relaxed before his European title match.

• WWF European Championship: X-Pac (c) vs. Val Venis (w/Terri)

Terri tonight looks less like a busted Daytona stripper as she did last night at Breakdown and more like the hot WWF diva she is. We’ve got a one-eyed X-Pac tonight after he got KABONG’D by Jarrett. Venis runs wild to start. X-Pac makes him eat a spinning heel kick, but then Venis boots him down and starts pounding away. He buries the knees into X-Pac and finishes up with a Russian legsweep. Val does the Rick Rude dance over X-Pac, but then runs into another Spinning Heel Kick. Big jumping clothesline and a kip-up leads to the corner kick combo. As Val is set up for the Bronco Buster, Terri trips up X-Pac into the Fisherman’s Suplex for 1-2-NO! Hey wait, here comes Chyna to ringside. She shoves down Terri, which Venis sees and goes out to confront her. X-Pac wipes out Val with a baseball slide. Chyna joins X-Pac to stomp on Val for the DQ. (3:15) Refs and agents come out to get X-Pac and Chyna off Venis. As Venis and Terri make out in the ring, the TitanTron shows “A Shattered Dreams Production” and some familiar music plays. Goldust’s voice plays over the arena telling Val that he told him he was coming back. Gold dust falls from the ceiling as it’s clear what’s coming next. **

Michael Cole is allowed to hold the mic for Mankind. Boy, tons of 1998 references here. Mark McGwire and the Clintons are mentioned. Mankind calls the People’s Elbow the worst move in the past 100+ years of professional wrestling. He’s hoping his friendship and mutual respect with the Rock and Ken Shamrock to overcome the Undertaker and Kane tonight. Hilarious.

• Ken Shamrock, Mankind, & The Rock vs. The Undertaker & Kane

Shamrock beats Mankind out of the ring while waiting on the Rock to come out. As far entrances go, the Rock gets the biggest pop behind Steve Austin. Now Rock and Shamrock continue to brawl. Where’s the evil brothers at? Mankind joins the Rock to stomp Shamrock until we hear the BONG and the lights go out. Taker attacks the Rock while Kane gets rid of Shamrock and Mankind. Taker hits Old School on the Rock and tags in Kane. He chokes on the Rock until Rock has enough and clotheslines him back. Tag to Mankind, Taker and Kane beat him up. Shamrock gets a tag and he decides to beat up on Mankind, but then Rock slugs down Shamrock. Taker hits a hook kick on Shamrock for two. Kane tags in and continues to beat on Shamrock, but Shamrock finds a headscissors of all things to take him down. Mankind tags in and Cactus Clotheslines Kane to the floor and then delivers a CANNONBALLLL splash. Taker won’t stand for that and runs Mankind into the steps. Back inside, Mankind continues to get abused. Flying clothesline by Kane gets two. Tag to Taker, he continues to run through Mankind. Taker headbutts him out to the floor for Kane to whip him knees-first into the steps. Taker joins Mankind on the floor and tries to hang him with a TV cable. Kane then whacks Mankind with a chair. Not a cringeworthy chairshot, but it’s still a dang chairshot. Back inside, Taker gets two. Ross reminds me there’s no 45 year olds playing the air guitar in the WWF. Kane cuts off a tag from Mankind as the brothers continue their work. Mankind hits a desperation Double-Arm DDT. CAN MANKIND MAKE THE TAG? YES HE CAN. Hot tag to the Rock, DDT to the Undertaker gets two. The People’s Elbow connects for 1-2-NO! Kane makes the save. Shamrock corners Kane and punches the crap out of him until they both go to the floor. Now the threesome seem to be working on the same page. Shamrock gets tagged in and although he eats a big boot, he catches Taker running the ropes and finds the ANKLELOCK. Unfortunately, Kane again makes the save. Tag to Rock, he flubs the Hurricane DDT on Taker. Taker then whips Rock into the ropes again and Rock ducks the clothesline so he can hit the ROCK BOTTOM. Cover, 1-2-3! (12:51) Wow, biggest win of Rock’s career to this point for sure. He’s now pinned the Undertaker and Kane on separate occasions, which would make him clearly the #1 contender to the WWF title. As Kane and Undertaker have a difference of opinion about how they lost that match, we fade out. **½

Until next time, so long for now.

The World Wrestling Federation and 10-10-321
presents “JUDGMENT DAY: IN YOUR HOUSE”
LIVE on October 18 from the Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, Illinois
ONLY ON PAY-PER-VIEW

MAIN EVENT:
The WWF Championship with Special Guest Referee: Stone Cold Steve Austin
The Undertaker vs. Kane