What the World Was Watching: Monday Night Raw - January 5, 1998

by Logan Scisco

We kick off our next round of reviews by covering the 1998 season of Monday Night Raw.  1998 is when the WWF finally turned the Monday Night Wars in its favor and began the process of grinding WCW to dust (assisted by poor WCW booking patterns and the AOL-Time Warner merger).  The year saw the creation of new stars, the continuation of a more mature product, and Steve Austin solidify himself as one of the greatest WWF stars of all-time. 

I’ve also decided to modify my rating style for this set of reviews.  I don’t like doing star ratings for TV events because of the length of the matches, so when I review the pay-per-views I’ll revert to the star rating, but for the TV shows I’m going to do an average point system.  If a match or lengthy interview segment is worthwhile, it will receive a point.  Otherwise, it won’t.  I hope that this can better clarify the good and bad elements of a show.  If everyone hates it I can revert to stars, but that’s my logic.

-The show begins with Steve Austin in the parking lot talking about how everyone in the locker room wants to get him and he sent them a “3:16” message on their pagers.  He encourages the audience to watch tonight’s show where he will strike first at everyone that is out to get him.

-Jim Ross, Michael Cole, and Kevin Kelly are in the booth and they are live from New Haven, Connecticut.

-Opening Contest:  Ken Shamrock beats Faarooq (w/Kama Mustafa & D-Lo Brown) via submission to the ankle lock at 5:02 shown:

This match has some back story because Faarooq injured Shamrock in the first round of the Intercontinental title tournament back in September.  The Rock also volunteered Faarooq to take on Shamrock in his contest on last week’s show.  During the match, Ross keeps hyping Shamrock as a future WWF champion.  Faarooq works the ribs and the Rock comes down to ringside shortly before the commercial break.  The Rock tries to direct interference whereby Kama will hold a chair in the corner so that Shamrock can be whipped into it, but heel miscommunication results and Shamrock wins to go three-for-three against the Nation.  Shamrock had some good selling in this match, but the match never worked up a consistent pace.  0 of 1

-After the match, Faarooq argues with Kama on the floor as the Rock and Shamrock stare each other down in the ring.  Before they can do anything, though, Steve Austin runs out and gives each of them a Stone Cold Stunner before exiting through the crowd.

-Jim Cornette comes out with Howard Brody and Dennis Coralluzzo of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA).  Cornette announces that both men will award the NWA North American championship to the winner of our next match.

-NWA North American Championship Match:  Jeff Jarrett defeats Barry Windham to win the title at 3:34:

The North American championship was a real NWA title and it was the second most prominent title in the promotion.  Reckless Youth (remember him?) was the previous champion, but the NWA vacated the title in December 1997 for use in this angle.  Cornette educates the audience about the NWA on commentary, but Cole has to ask him if it is a bogus promotion to show off his stupidity.  Windham uses his size and power to dominate much of the match, but Jarrett puts his foot on the bottom rope to avoid being pinned after a lariat.  After that, Coralluzzo distracts the referee and as Windham prepares to give Jarrett a superplex, Cornette runs into the ring and hits him in the back with his tennis racket.  Windham manages to complete the move, but is knocked out and Jarrett pins him to win the title.  1 of 2

-After the match, Jarrett struts around with his new title, but Steve Austin runs out and gives him a Stone Cold Stunner.

-The announce team proceeds to break down the house show circuit.

-Ken Shamrock tells the announce team that he would love for the Royal Rumble to come down between him and Austin.

-Sunny comes out in a schoolgirl outfit to do guest ring announcing duties for our next match.

- Skull & 8-Ball defeat Sniper & Recon (w/The Jackyl) when Skull pins Recon with a DDT at 3:39:

If you were expecting a wrestling classic, you can forget it here, but since the time on it is short it’s a tolerable matchup.  The Jackyl keeps laughing when Recon misses big moves, justifying his behavior by saying that Recon is just trying to be a star.  The Disciples of Apocalypse end this out of nowhere after all hell breaks loose after the hot tag.  Speaking of nowhere, this feud is headed there, but that’s because the booking team has no idea what they want to get out of either team.  1 of 3

-After the match, Kurrgan comes out and a three-on-two beatdown commences, which allows Kurrgan to show off his size and strength.

-The Twix Rewind segment is the Undertaker helping Kane clear the ring of the superstars that tried to attack him on last week’s Raw.

-D-Generation X comes out.  Chyna is pushing Triple H in a wheelchair because he has suffered a dislocated knee cap that might require surgery.  Triple H brags about costing Owen Hart the WWF title last week and he dares Owen to come out and face him.  Owen appears on the Titantron and lets Triple H know that when his right knee heals he is going to destroy his left one.  Owen tries to sell the “blackheart” element of his character, claiming that he has no conscience and feels no pain, but the result is a corny promo that Triple H mocks before ending the segment.  1 of 4

-The 1-800-COLLECT Slam of the Week is Vader hitting a moonsault on a jobber on Shotgun Saturday Night.

-We get another recap of Steve Austin’s rampage on tonight’s show.

-Since we are in hour two, Jim Ross and Jerry “the King” Lawler take over announcing duties.

-Owen Hart beats Savio Vega (w/Los Boricuas) with a rollup at 4:05:

Owen starts this like a Steve Austin match, aggressively going after Savio and incorporating a Lou Thesz press in the early going.  It doesn’t take long for D-Generation X to appear by the entrance and that gives Savio an opportunity to turn the tide.  The Boricuas also assist Savio in maintaining the advantage, but this leads to another referee coming out and ejecting them.  However, this doesn’t happen quickly enough and Savio is able to get out of a Sharpshooter when Jose tries to get into the ring.  Owen still wins with a rollup shortly thereafter.  Lackluster matchup and Owen’s in-ring style does not really fit this hard edged character that they want him to play.  1 of 5  

-After the match, Owen tries to go after Triple H, but the Boricuas attack him and then bring him to Triple H to slap around.  They make sure to collect their payment before leaving.

-Paul Bearer comes out looking disheveled and he tells the Undertaker that he hopes he loses to Shawn Michaels at the Royal Rumble.  The storyline here is that Kane has left Bearer after last week’s events, so Bearer is freaking out.  He begs Kane to come home before leaving in despair.  Really nice promo to continue the slow burn for this angle.  2 of 6

-Backstage, Austin is shown leaving a locker room and Mark Henry is shown in pain on the floor.  So Austin has attacked another victim.

-A video package recaps Marc Mero’s treatment of Sable and Tom Brandi’s intervention on her behalf.

-“Marvelous” Marc Mero (w/Sable) beats Tom Brandi by disqualification when Steve Austin interferes at 3:47:

Why is this match not happening at the Royal Rumble?  Seems like easy midcard fodder for that show instead of throwing it on Raw.  The crowd works up a loud “Sable” chant when Mero hides behind his valet when Brandi charges after him at the beginning of the contest.  Mero gets knocked out of the ring and falls on top of Sable, but when Brandi goes to help her he gets a double axe handle.  Mero hits a TKO, but when he goes for another Steve Austin runs in and gives Mero a Stunner.  The crowd comes unglued for that and that was because of Mero’s display of carelessness for Sable that occurred throughout the match.  3 of 7

-Call 1-900-737-4WWF to find out what old NWA stars Jim Cornette is recruiting and hear who is attending the WWF’s training camp!

-We get ANOTHER recap of Steve Austin’s rampage.  Do we need to hit back to this every time come back from commercial?

-Flash Funk defeats The Artist Formerly Known as Goldust (w/Luna Vachon) by disqualification when Luna interferes at 2:32:

Goldust comes out in blackface and an afro, showcasing a 70s persona in his latest display of weirdness.  I’m surprised that the WWF signed off on this in 1998, but you can bet that they would never do it today after going public.  Flash nearly wins after a spinning heel kick, but Luna pushes him off the top rope when he tries to the Tumbleweed in plain view of the referee and costs her man the match.  The short length of the contest prevented some of Goldust’s traditional stalling and that helped it significantly.  4 of 8

-After the bell, Goldust hits the Curtain Call but Vader runs out and Goldust flees.

-A video package hypes Steve Blackman.

-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.

-Last week’s reveal of Chainsaw Charlie is shown.

-The Headbangers appearance on Regis and Kathie Lee is shown.  These guys got sent out on a lot of the WWF’s public relations work at this time despite doing squat in the ring.

-Non-Title Match:  The New Age Outlaws (WWF Tag Team Champions) beat The Headbangers when Billy Gunn pins Mosh after a face miscommunication at 4:58:

This match proceeds nicely, with both teams exchanging double team maneuvers.  The Godwinns appear by the entrance, apparently scouting the Outlaws for a tag team title shot that they are owed.  Thrasher and the Road Dogg give each other simultaneous low blows when they dropkick each other at the same time.  This cues the hot tag and all hell breaking loose, but the Headbangers blow a Stage Dive attempt when Thrasher jumps too early for the flying leg drop and Gunn rolls up Mosh for a clean win.  This had a creative finish that solidified the credibility of the Outlaws.  The loss cements the Headbangers status as one of the lower ranked teams in the division.  5 of 9

-After the match, Cactus Jack and Chainsaw Charlie run out and the Outlaws walk back to the locker room.

-Don King hypes WrestleMania XIV, but says that his contract negotiation with Vince McMahon to make Mike Tyson a part of it has not been finished.  It’s close, though!

-Footage of the Hell in a Cell match between Shawn Michaels and the Undertaker is shown in order to hype the Shawn Michaels-Undertaker title match at the Royal Rumble.

-WWF Champion Shawn Michaels comes out and says that he will show the Undertaker is a loser at the Royal Rumble.  He calls out the Undertaker and druids wheel out a casket.  The casket is covered in graffiti like last week and Michaels calls for Triple H and Chyna to get out of it.  No response happens so Michaels continues his juvenile antics.  Triple H and Chyna then come out on the ramp and warn Michaels that they are not in it and before Michaels can put two and two together, the Undertaker bursts out of the casket and pulls Michaels inside as we go off the air.  AWESOME closing segment, even if it was predictable.  6 of 10

The Final Report Card:  The first show of 1998 started pretty rough, but the second hour was full of fun segments and matches so that barely saves the show with a 6/10 rating.  Austin’s victory at the Rumble was very obvious, but at least the WWF booked it in an entertaining way that placed him on the perfect trajectory to challenge for the title at WrestleMania.

Monday Night War Rating:  3.3 (vs. 4.3 for Nitro)

Show Evaluation:  Thumbs Up