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From Thunder to the Extreme: Week 3, February 1998

 

 

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Preview for WCW Thunder: Week 3, February 1998

 

The Rock & Rikishi Fatu vs. Adam Copeland & Christian Cage

Comments:

 

WCW United States Championship Match

Eddie Guerrero © vs. ???

Comments:

 

Juventud Guerrera vs. Brian Lawler

Comments:

 

Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom vs. The Lumana'i

Comments:

 

Jeff Hardy vs. Meng

Comments:

 

Ice Train vs. Ernest Miller

Comments:

 

The Patriot & Diamond Dallas Page vs. The Blue Bloods

Comments:

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/9CadHVo.jpg">

 

Preview for ECW Hardcore TV: Week 3, February 1998

 

Matches From ECW House Party 1998

 

ECW Television Championship Match

Shane Douglas © vs. 911

Comments:

 

D-Von Dudley vs. Balls Mahoney

Comments:

 

Rob Van Dam vs. JT Smith

Comments:

 

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Preview for WCW Thunder: Week 3, February 1998

 

The Rock & Rikishi Fatu vs. Adam Copeland & Christian Cage

Comments:

 

WCW United States Championship Match

Eddie Guerrero © vs. ???

Comments:

 

Juventud Guerrera vs. Brian Lawler

Comments:

 

Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom vs. The Lumana'i

Comments:

 

Jeff Hardy vs. Meng

Comments:

 

Ice Train vs. Ernest Miller

Comments:

 

The Patriot & Diamond Dallas Page vs. The Blue Bloods

Comments:

 

 

 

 

Preview for ECW Hardcore TV: Week 3, February 1998

 

Matches From ECW House Party 1998

 

ECW Television Championship Match

Shane Douglas © vs. 911

Comments:

 

D-Von Dudley vs. Balls Mahoney

Comments:

 

Rob Van Dam vs. JT Smith

Comments:

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Preview for WCW Thunder: Week 3, February 1998

 

The Rock & Rikishi Fatu vs. Adam Copeland & Christian Cage

Comments:

 

WCW United States Championship Match

Eddie Guerrero © vs. ???

Comments:

 

Juventud Guerrera vs. Brian Lawler

Comments:

 

Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom vs. The Lumana'i

Comments:

 

Jeff Hardy vs. Meng

Comments:

 

Ice Train vs. Ernest Miller

Comments:

 

The Patriot & Diamond Dallas Page vs. The Blue Bloods

Comments:

 

Preview for ECW Hardcore TV: Week 3, February 1998

 

Matches From ECW House Party 1998

 

ECW Television Championship Match

Shane Douglas © vs. 911

Comments:

 

D-Von Dudley vs. Balls Mahoney

Comments:

 

Rob Van Dam vs. JT Smith

Comments

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Share on other sites

The Rock & Rikishi Fatu vs. Adam Copeland & Christian Cage

WCW United States Championship Match

Eddie Guerrero © vs. ???

Juventud Guerrera vs. Brian Lawler

Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom vs. The Lumana'i

Jeff Hardy vs. Meng

Ice Train vs. Ernest Miller

The Patriot & Diamond Dallas Page vs. The Blue Bloods

 

ECW Television Championship Match

Shane Douglas © vs. 911

D-Von Dudley vs. Balls Mahoney

Rob Van Dam vs. JT Smith

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Woah, the Titans of Wrestling explode! I really like the idea of the bitter (and smart) vets of the Titans splitting from Hogan and his cronies. I wasn't expecting it so soon (but then I remember this ends at Mania lol)

 

Preview for WCW Thunder: Week 3, February 1998

 

The Rock & Rikishi Fatu vs. Adam Copeland & Christian Cage

Comments: I really love C&C becoming real prominent figures here - but they've got to deliver in a main event soon. Big Kish eats the fall

 

WCW United States Championship Match

Eddie Guerrero © vs. ???

Comments: Here comes Gillberg baby!

 

Juventud Guerrera vs. Brian Lawler

Comments: I gotta say - Sexay has X-Pac heat with me. Get him away!

 

Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom vs. The Lumana'i

Comments:

 

Jeff Hardy vs. Meng

Comments: Tough - but this reeks of DQ

 

Ice Train vs. Ernest Miller

Comments:

 

The Patriot & Diamond Dallas Page vs. The Blue Bloods

Comments:

 

Preview for ECW Hardcore TV: Week 3, February 1998

 

Matches From ECW House Party 1998

 

ECW Television Championship Match

Shane Douglas © vs. 911

Comments:

D-Von Dudley vs. Balls Mahoney

Comments:

 

Rob Van Dam vs. JT Smith

Comments:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

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"src="https://i.imgur.com/yBV7cXp.jpg">

 

Week 3, February 1998

Portland Memorial Coliseum (Portland, Oregon)

ATT: 12,900

TV: 28.52

Announce Team: Tony Schiavone, Dusty Rhodes and Larry Zbyszko

 

 

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".....:::::!!!!!IF YA SMELLLLLLLL.....WHAT THE ROCK.....IS COOKING!!!!!:::::....."

 

.....it's Thursday Night.....it's the new tradition on TBS.....it's WCW Thunder.....and we're opening up with the man who claims that this is HIS show.....we're opening up.....with The Rock.....

 

.....Rocky storms down the aisle and spends a few minutes basking in the adulation of his people, before picking up a microphone to welcome everyone to the show.....

 

".....The Rock's show and The Rock welcomes you alllllllll to Thunder baby....."

 

.....and since this IS the Rock's show.....and since the Rock wasn't scheduled to be on Nitro this past Monday, The Rock is going to come out here and GUARANTEE that he'll be in action here on Thunder.....

 

".....because The Rock says this.....The Rock COULD come out here and challenge that 230lb stack of Minnesota Monkey Crap Curt Hennig.....the Rock could do that, he could.....but The Rock knows, just like the People know, that Curt Hennig isn't ever going to answer that challenge, no, no, no, no, no.....but The Rock already has Curt Hennig at SuperBrawl and the Rock is a patient man, because at SuperBrawl, Mr. Perfection isn't going to have anywhere to run.....

 

.....so maybe, maybe The Rock comes out here and sticks his name down for the match with Eddie Guerrero for the United States Championship later tonight.....The Rock COULD do that.....the only problem with that, is that if The Rock takes that US Title (and believe me, The Rock would) then that would mean that at SuperBrawl, it won't be The Rock, The Great One, The Most Electrifying Man in ALL of Sports Entertainment going one on one with Curt Hennig.....it would be The Rock....the Great One, going one on one with Jipple the Hairy Left Nipple....."

 

.....The Rock says that he and Jipple, they're going to clash.....they're going to step into this ring sometime soon.....but it WON'T be at SuperBrawl.....because the Rock IS going to finally get his hands on Curt Hennig and NOTHING is going to change that.....

 

".....so the Rock says this.....The Rock says that tonight, The Rock's dance card is wiiiiiiiide open.....so you can consider this an open challenge.....Curt Hennig, you can take this match tonight, you can wait for SuperBrawl, you can do both.....Eddie Guerrero, you can take this match tonight, but just like you hold the guacamole off Mrs. Guerrero's plate (because you hate the way it gets stuck in her Fu Manchu) you can hold the US Title, The Rock will get that another day.....Jipple the Nipple, YOU can most definitely take this match tonight.....

 

.....The Rock really couldn't give the sweat off a monkeys nut sack WHO takes this match.....but know this.....later tonight, on The Rock's show, in the Rock's main event, the Rock is going to walk that aisle.....he's going to be looking as only the Rock can look.....he's going to electrify the millions (and millions) of the Rock's fans.....and whoever answers this challenge, just know that the Rock is going to walk you down 'Shut Your Mouth Street'.....he's going to take a left onto 'Know Your Role Boulevard'.....and right there, in front of the world, he's going to take his left boot and shove it straight up your candy ass.....

 

.....If ya Smellllllll......What The Rock.....is Cooking....."

 

....land with that, the challenge is made.....our main event of the evening WILL feature The Rock.....but against who, we just don't know yet.....

 

.....let's have a match.....

 

Rating: A*

 

 

 

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.....and it's a continuation of the USA vs. The World feud that's been unfolding in the last few months, as The Patriot and Dallas Page (with Kimberly) team up to face the Sovereignty pairing of Earl Robert and Duke Douglas, The Blue Bloods.....

 

.....The Patriot was victorious one week ago against Eaton and Williams commander in chief, Lord Steven Regal, but His Lordship more than made up for that loss on Monday Night, with a victory over Canada's Own, Chris Benoit, courtesy of the misguided actions of (surprisingly enough) DDP......

 

.....we have The Patriot in the match, but we have another Patriot on the outside.....an American Patriot by the name of Hacksaw Jim Duggan, who accompanies Team USA to ringside.....he leads the crowd in a loud USA chant but that's not the only interaction he has in the match.....

 

.....because as the bout rages on, he takes advantage of the fact that the official is temporarily distracted by a brawl between Eaton and The Patriot, to nail Douglas Williams in the back with that 2x4, leaving the Brit wide open to Feel the Bang, as Page drops him with a Diamond Cutter for the one, two, three.....

 

Winner(s): The Patriot & Diamond Dallas Page

Rating: B

 

 

 

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.....and as Eaton drags Williams to the outside (as the Blue Bloods head to the back) Duggan joins Page and The Patriot in the ring, where we wave Old Glory proudly overhead as the USA chant fills the arena.....

 

.....backstage however the chant isn't quite so loud, as we see Lance Storm and Chris Benoit watching the action unfold on a monitor.....and again, Lance Storm is shaking his head in obvious disgust at the display before him.....

 

.....he tells Benoit that week after week, these so-called American Hero's prove his point.....he says that in the last few weeks, Chris Benoit has defeated Lance Storm, but even in defeat Storm was courteous enough and respectful enough to fight fairly and shake Benoit's hand after the match.....

 

".....and this past Monday you competed against my esteemed colleague Steven Regal.....now Mr. Regal bested you, but he (and yourself) fought a fair fight and it was only the actions of your American Friend there Dallas Page that was less than sportsman like....."

 

.....and now tonight (after The Blue Bloods fought a fair and clean fight like the gentlemen that they are) Team Yankee Doodle had to show their true colours, by cheating to win.....

 

.....Storm says that while he respects Benoit's wishes to remain neutral in this conflict, Storm wants Benoit to remember that it's the AMERICANS who will stoop to any depths to win.....

 

".....and it's your American friend Diamond Dallas Page that abandoned YOUR cause.....your quest to regain the tag team championships.....it's YOUR American friend that abandoned you for his own ends.....and while you currently have aspirations of capturing singles gold, just know that if you ever find a time when you need a friend.....when you need a partner.....when you need a family.....

 

.....we will NOT abandon you.....

 

.....just think about it....."

 

.....and as Benoit continues to watch Duggan and Co ham it up in the ring, Storm pats him on the back warmly, before walking off, leaving the Crippler with apparently a lot to think about.....

 

Rating: B+

 

 

 

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.....well, we're already backstage so we may as well stay here, as we head to what I guess is the locker room of the Totally Awesome Trinity.....

 

.....I say I guess, because this doesn't look like your ordinary locker room.....

 

.....this past Monday, tensions within the Titans of Wrestling reached boiling point, as Randy Savage's "Macho Madness" saw him get physical with Trinity member Adam Copeland, leading to a near brawl AND the Totally Awesome Trinity walking out on Savage, Warrior, Bagwell and Russo, stating that they were going on vacation.....

 

.....it would seem like they're on vacation.....

 

.....the locker room floor is currently covered in sand (and beach towels) while Copeland and Cage sit on beach chairs in the middle of the room.....sunglasses on, luminous pink sun cream on their noses, Hulk Hogan's 'American Made' theme tune playing on a stereo behind them.....Piña Colada's in Coconut's with straws and little umbrellas in them.....

 

.....and perhaps the most bizarre sight of all, the Enforcer, Big Ray-Ray, standing guard in the background.....wearing a Hawaiian Shirt inspired Flack Jacket.....bare foot.....in a kiddie pool.....

 

.....which is the sight that Mike Tenay walks into.....

 

.....Tenay pauses for a moment to survey the sight in front of him, before asking the Trinity the Million Dollar question.....

 

.....what the hell are they doing?.....

 

.....Cage tells Tenay that he would have thought that was fairly obvious.....they're enjoying their vacation.....

 

".....see everyone knows (since Vince Russo totally never comes to Thunder) that the Titans of Wrestling don't work Thursdays.....but since me and Adam don't get the Sweet perks that Randy Savage and The Warrior get, here we are....."

 

".....I can see that.....but the sand?....."

 

".....we're on vacation Tenay.....we totally earned a break and Big Ray-Ray has been totally stressed recently.....he's finding his Chi.....and the waves lapping against his feet is totally relaxing Tenay....."

 

".....I don't think.....I mean, that's a kiddie pool.....I don't think that comes with waves....."

 

".....SHUT UP MIKE TENAY....."

 

.....Copeland tells Tenay that Big Ray-Ray WILL find his happy place.....and he'll find it at the bottom of that pool, just like he and Christian are going to find THEIR happy place at the bottom of these totally tasty Piña Colada's.....

 

.....Tenay decides to cut his losses there, switching his questioning to the events of Monday Nitro, stating that there appears to be some dissension within the ranks of the Titans of Wrestling.....

 

".....not dissension Mike Tenay.....just Randy Savage being a total d!ck.....this is totally why the Mega Powers exploded the first time....."

 

.....well regardless (and Mike apologises for the language there) Tenay says that the Trinity walked on the Titans this past Monday, what exactly does that mean?.....

 

.....Cage says that it means that they are on vacation from Titan Business.....he says that he and Copeland (and Big Ray-Ray) have been looking out for Warrior and Savage for so long now that it's time they kicked back and looked out for themselves.....Warrior has the World Title shot at SuperBrawl.....Savage has Shawn Michaels in that totally brutal cage match.....even The Buffer has a match.....Copeland, Cage, Big Ray-Ray, they got nothing, so they're doing nothing.....the Titans want wins at SuperBrawl, then they're going to have to do it without the Totally Awesome Trinity.....

 

".....so if you don't mind Tenay, you're totally killing our buzz.....so go away.....shoo.....scram.....get outta here......NO, BE CAREFUL!!....."

 

.....be careful indeed, because as Tenay turns to "shoo", he turns right into Christian Cage's pride and joy Sandcastle, completely flattening it.....

 

".....DUDE.....NOT COOL....."

 

".....you totally suck Mike Tenay....."

 

".....SHUT UP MIKE TENAY.....

 

.....let's go back down to ringside.....

 

Rating: B+

 

 

 

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.....where Tag Team partners are colliding, as after a few weeks worth of miscommunication, Ice Train and Ernest Miller are looking to clear the air the old fashioned way.....physically.....

 

.....these two have been teaming (to limited success) for the best part of 8 months now, but despite the pairs less than stellar win/loss record, Ernest Miller has been growing increasingly cocky as of late, often citing Ice Train as the reason for their losses.....

 

.....Theodore Long has been able to (barely) keep his men from coming to blows, but he's wiped his hands of this one here, accompanying neither man to ringside, instead choosing to make his entrance alone, setting up a steel chair on the floor to watch the match.....

 

.....as for the match.....eh, it wasn't great.....but then it wasn't designed to be.....it was designed to further a storyline.....

 

.....that storyline being that while Ice Train was clearly the more powerful of the two (tossing his tag team partner around the ring) Ernest Miller was clearly prepared to do ANYTHING to prove himself better than his partner, rolling up Ice Train, hooking a handful of tights.....AND putting his feet on the ropes.....

 

.....as cheap a cheap victory as you could see.....

 

Winner: Ernest Miller

Rating: C-

 

 

 

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.....Theodore Long clearly isn't impressed with the way that Miller got the victory here, but he climbs into the ring anyway to ask his clients if they can FINALLY put this behind them now, stating that they should be focusing on gaining a tag title shot, NOT fighting amongst each other.....

 

.....Ernest Miller agrees, telling Ice Train that now that they have established that HE is the better man, things will go that much more smoothly.....

 

".....because with The Cat leading this team to glory (and make no mistake people, this hard fought victory means that I am the leader of this team) with The Cat captaining the ship, even Ice Train can't hold my team down.....now play my music, because all these people want to watch me dance....."

 

.....and dance he does.....shuffling a two step to his music, as Theodore Long attempts to placify a clearly frustrated Ice Train, telling his client to be the bigger man, give Miller his moment in the spotlight, and the Soul Train can focus on bigger and better things down the line.....

 

.....if you say so Teddy.....but Ice Train doesn't look convinced, not even slightly.....

 

Rating: C

 

 

 

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.....from there we head back to the beach party with the Totally Awesome Trinity, who are watching Ernest Miller dance on a monitor.....and they DON'T look impressed.....

 

".....wait, wait, wait.....Christian, did I hear that right? The Lame Train think that THEY are going to be getting a tag team title shot?....."

 

".....they're totally not getting a shot....."

 

".....no chance....."

 

".....no way...."

 

".....no how....."

 

".....dude, he can't even dance.....that's totally not a good look....."

 

".....he's no Big Ray-Ray, that's for sure.....Big Ray-Ray, show them your totally awesome moves....."

 

.....Big Ray-Ray does NOT bust a move.....Big Ray-Ray is busy catching a tan.....

 

.....I guess.....

 

.....because he's moved his entire beach chair into the kiddie pool, shoes off, ankle deep.....his police regulation sunglasses covering his eyes as he sits beneath a bright spotlight.....

 

.....although he soon shoots back to his feet.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.....when Jean Paul Levesque walks into the room.....

 

.....considering the history between JPL and the Titans of Wrestling, you can't blame Traylor for being cautious, but Levesque doesn't appear to be here for a fight, telling the Trinity that this is quite the setup that they have.....

 

"....you guys have really gone all out huh.....I like what you've done with the place, look, you got little umbrellas in your drinks and everything....."

 

.....Traylor stands protectively in front of Copeland and Cage, but Levesque tells "Barney Fife" to calm down and go back to sipping his cocktail.....he says that he's not here to start anything, he's just here to let them know that he and Shawn were really impressed with them for standing up to Randy Savage.....

 

".....I mean, you guys are the backbone of the Titans of Wrestling.....the merch movers.....the ticket sellers.....I mean, don't get me wrong, you're no Shawn Michaels and Jean Paul Levesque, but you're a solid warm up act....."

 

.....Copeland asks Levesque what he's doing here.....

 

".....if you're here for a Piña Colada you're too late.....Big Ray-Ray REALLY likes those little umberella's....."

 

.....Levesque says that he's not here for a drink.....he's here to offer some advice.....after all, sticking it to Randy Savage like they did was great and all, but what does it do for them in the long run?.....not a lot.....

 

".....after all, Savage, Warrior AND Bagwell all have matches at SuperBrawl, but you three....the hottest act in the Titans, you got nothing.....no match....nothing.....maybe, I don't know, maybe you should go out there and challenge The Forgotten tonight....."

 

.....Cage stumbles over his words at the thought of getting in the ring with Vader and Bigelow, (while Copeland spits his drink across the room) telling Levesque that while they COULD beat The Forgotten, they're on vacation.....

 

".....plus they have the Nasty Boys to contend with at SuperBrawl, I mean, they're clearly the number one contenders, who are we to question Eric Bischoff's decision....."

 

.....Copeland agrees, quickly adding that they could easily beat The Forgotten.....they just don't want to right now.....

 

.....Levesque plays along with that little charade, agreeing that they could "totally beat The Forgotten", but saying that maybe they're right.....but then he has another suggestion.....

 

".....you'll love this one.....what better way to make an impact, to really stick it to Randy Savage.....than to beat the man who claims that Thunder is HIS show....."

 

.....Levesque says that The Rock has already been out there to make an open challenge.....if they go out and beat The Rock, that'll REALLY show the Macho Man that he should take the Trinity seriously.....

 

".....and Hollywood, he'd be REALLY impressed by that....."

 

.....that has the two Hulkamaniac's attentions, asking JPL if he really thinks that? They HAVE been saying their prayers and taking their vitamins after all.....Levesque says that he doesn't THINK it.....he KNOWS it.....or, they could sit back here sipping on their little cocktails and then Macho will have been proved right.....

 

".....just ask yourselves.....What Would Hollywood Do?.....I'll see you boys later....."

 

.....with that, Levesque takes one last look around the dressing room he's in, before turning and walking out of the room.....

 

.....clearly the Totally Awesome Trinity have some thinking to do.....

 

.....let's leave them to it.....

 

Rating: A

 

 

 

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.....and go back down to ringside, for what is set to be a combustible situation.....

 

.....combustible not for the match itself (which happens to be Jeff Hardy facing off against Meng) but for the elements that accompany both men to ringside.....Konnan, Mike Awesome and Gideon Cain for Hardy, The Barbarian, Hugh Morrus and VK Wallstreet for Meng.....because while we have singles competition tonight, these eight men are set to clash at SuperBrawl in Tag Team action and tensions are already starting to boil over.....

 

.....this was a massive test for young Jeff Hardy.....fresh out of the Cruiserweight Division (as their inaugural champion) his opponent tonight is Heavyweight as Heavyweight can be, with some Heavyweight offence behind him too.....because make no mistake, Meng is a savage beast.....

 

.....Hardy utilises his speed to try and run circles around his bigger and stronger opponent (much like a young Shawn Michaels would have done in his Rockers days against a certain individual by the name of Haku) but he can only hit and run for so long before getting caught.....

 

.....Meng then slowed down the pace, as he proceeded to brutalise his opponent, but Hardy wasn't going down without a fight, and as the respective SuperBrawl partners on the outside creep every so closer to erupting in violence, Jeff again begins to utilise his speed to regain the advantage.....

 

.....eventually however, things get a little bit chaotic.....because the members of Jimmy Harts First Family finally push our babyfaces to breaking point, as a mass brawl breaks out on the floor.....

 

.....there's action here.....action there.....there's action everywhere......particularly inside the ring.....because with the official distracted by the dog and pony show on the floor, the Barbarian slides into the ring to nail an unsuspecting Jeff Hardy in the chin with a Big Boot, which spins the youngster right around into the waiting hands of Meng and the Tonga Death Grip.....

 

.....Jeff Hardy isn't a quitter.....but as the Death Grip incapacitated the young man, he's unable to lift his shoulders from the mat, and three seconds later this one is all over.....

 

Winner: Meng

Rating: B

 

 

 

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.....you didn't think this was going to end amicably did you?.....

 

.....the match might be over, but the action between these eight men is anything but, as the brawl continues.....

 

.....Konnan has his hands full with Wallstreet and Morrus (but manages to hold his own long enough to fight the pair off) while Awesome and Cain (after Cain drags Meng off Hardy) go straight into a heavy hitting slugfest with the Faces of Fear.....

 

.....even Jimmy Hart wants to get in on the action.....and he sees his opportunity too.....because with Jeff Hardy still down, he climbs into the ring and delivers some (admittedly weak) kicks to the ribs of the youngster, telling him that he shouldn't have stuck his nose in Family business baby.....

 

.....which is when Missy Hyatt rolls into the ring and basically spears Hart out of his little boots.....

 

.....I don't know if you can call a scuffle between a man and a woman a catfight, but that's essentially what we have here, as Hart and Hyatt roll about on the mat, before the pair finally separate.....

 

.....and Missy kicks Jimmy right in the nuts.....

 

.....Hart goes down, and that FINALLY brings the action to a halt, as the rest of the First Family scoop Jimmy up and carry him to the back, leaving the (laughing) babyfaces holding back a screaming Missy Hyatt, as we go to commercial.....

 

Rating: B+

 

 

 

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"src="https://i.imgur.com/n21UiQS.jpg">

 

.....and when we come back it's straight back down to ringside for some tag team action.....

 

.....I think I've mentioned before, but in the brief reunion that occurred between the Beverly Brothers in the later years of WCW, Wayne Bloom and (particularly) Mike Enos really upped their game and could probably have been a benefit to a tag team division that was somewhat lacking.....as it was they were pretty much constantly relegated to the B-Shows, wrestling such accomplished teams as Disorderly Conduct.....

 

.....all of that withstanding, could they be a benefit to MY tag team division? Sure.....by putting other teams over.....

 

.....the chosen team for them to face tonight? If you ask them they are the Future....the Future of Samoan Wrestling, the Future of Tag Team Wrestling, the Future of WCW.....the Future.....the Lumana'i.....

 

.....the one time Yokozuna (and current Kokina) has assembled his own Samoan army and these ain't your Daddy's Samoans.....these are Samoan's for the new Millenium and they are determined to eradicate the memory of the stereotypical Samoan Savage.....don't believe me? Ask the Samoan SWAT Team.....The Lumana'i's own flesh and blood who got taken down and out.....

 

.....it's Ekmo and Kimo in action tonight.....and Mike Enos and Wayne Blood, they also got taken down and taken out.....with a crushing top rope splash from Ekmo.....

 

.....another week, another win for the Lumana'i.....

 

Winner(s): The Lumana'i

Rating: C-

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/bkSzDav.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/Kwl7nyo.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/L9zZ2r1.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/N9nIuAu.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/xUc9aac.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/n21UiQS.jpg">

 

.....and no.....they're not done there.....as (the mammoth) Kokina and LA Smooth join their brethren in the ring, where Kokina directs traffic as his three protégés go about kicking two men when they're down.....

 

.....with Enos and Bloom well and truly finished, Kokina drags both men to the corner.....tosses one on top of the other and then mounts the second rope, before crushing the life out of BOTH men with the move that was once dubbed the Banzai Drop.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/zMtOIUO.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/xULSth2.jpg">

 

.....which brings out two more Samoan's.....two that know Kokina very well, because not only are they family, they're also all former members of the WWF's Son's of Samoa stable.....Rikishi Fatu......and The Rock.....

 

.....this isn't the first time that Rikishi has come out to try and talk some sense into the Lumana'i, but it looks like he's going to try again, telling Kokina to take his group to the back.....

 

.....Kokina on the other hand doesn't look like he's going anywhere, and as Ekmo, Kimo and Smooth surround Big 'Kishi, it doesn't look like the rest of the Lumana'i are either, which is when The Rock grabs a microphone.....

 

".....because The Rock doesn't know if you three jabronies heard the Great One speak earlier over the sound of Kokina's chewing, but the Rock said that his dance card was WIDE open tonight.....so since the Rock's dance card is wide open, it only seems right that a wide load steps on in, be it you, you, you or Kokina's fat ass......you really wanna see what the future of Samoa looks like, well it looks like The Rock sticking his size 16 Samoan boot straight up your candy ass....."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/IZ4NTrO.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/WqjrxR2.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/wYulN53.jpg">

 

.....hold that thought.....because just when it looks like we're about to see a little Family Feud, the Totally Awesome Trinity make their way out.....

 

.....and it looks like vacation time is over.....

 

.....Copeland and Cage are all business here (even Ray-Ray has ditched the Piña Colada) as they make their way out.....not a hint of their usual light hearted banter, instead they tell Rocky that his dance card is far from wide open, because they're totally going to kick his ass tonight.....

 

.....Kokina tells Rikishi and The Rock that they need to get their own house in order before they start worrying about his, because while the Lumana'i have no interest in taking them down (right now anyway) it looks like Copeland and Cage do.....

 

.....and with that, The Lumana'i make their exit.....

 

.....the Totally Awesome Trinities challenge has as yet gone unanswered, which appears to be irking Adam Copeland, who tells Rock in no uncertain terms that 'HIS' show got just that much more awesome, because (since he clearly didn't hear them a moment ago) they're totally going to kick his ass.....

 

".....woah, woah, woah, woah, woah.....just who in the blue hell are you supposed to be?.....you think you can just come out here on The Rock's show, during The Rock's time, when the Rock is dealing with some family matters?....."

 

".....what I think is....."

 

".....IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU THINK.....see the Rock says this, you want to come out here and interrupt the Rock, then you must be either dumb or....well, looking at you you're just dumb.....see the way The Rock sees it, you want to come out here looking like two thirds of Hanson and their sound guy.....

 

.....tell you what, The Rock will tell you what.....Hanson one and Hanson two, if you want to step in the ring with the most electrifying man in ALLLLL of sports entertainment.....and Rikishi, I guess.....if that's what you wanna do, then Hanson, buckle up.....because the Rock has no problem MMMBopping his foot so far up your candy ass, that your fat sound guy there will have to stick a microphone by your mouth just to hear the Rock's toe wiggle....."

 

.....I think the "fat sound guy" is Ray Traylor.....who's clearly not happy about having his vacation cut short, because he looks about ready to walk dome through aisle right now.....Copeland holds him back though, telling Big Ray-Ray that they totally got this.....

 

".....because Rocky, you might think you're the great one.....but we're totally awesome.....and just for the record, the REAL great one.....is Hollywood Hogan.....because you totally suck.....Big Ray-Ray, there's a Piña Colada in the back with your name on it, you can totally stay on vacation.....Me and Christian have got this......IF YA SMELLLLLLLLLLLAAHH, WHAT THE TOTALLY AWESOME TWO.....are cooking....."

 

.....challenge levied, challenge accepted.....looks like we have our main event for the evening.....Rikishi Fatu and The Rock, facing off against the Titans of Wrestlings Adam Copeland and Christian Cage.....

 

.....should be interesting.....

 

.....let's go to the back.....

 

Rating: B+

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/i3UTPrR.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/DJEyYKG.jpg">

 

.....where Diamond Dallas Page and Chris Benoit are in the middle of a rather heated debate.....

 

.....these two men practically came to blows this past Monday night, and in all honesty haven't been getting on great since DDP abandoned the tag team title chase to focus on the USA vs. The World feud.....Chris Benoit felt abandoned and betrayed (particularly since it was partially Page's wife's fault that the pair lost the gold to begin with) while Dallas is becoming increasingly concerned by Benoit's growing relationship with Lance Storm, a leading member of the Sovereignty that Page is currently at odds with.....

 

.....again Dallas is trying to warn Benoit about the true intentions of Storm, Regal and the rest of the Sovereignty, telling him that they can't be trusted as far as they can be thrown, a fact which Benoit simply won't accept.....

 

.....he says that it was DALLAS that cost him his match with Steven Regal on Nitro.....and after watching their cheating display tonight, it was DALLAS' team that had to resort to the use of a foreign object to win their match this evening.....

 

".....so remind me again, who is it that can't be trusted?....."

 

.....Page tells Benoit that mistakes have been made, but since Benoit isn't interested in JOINING the Sovereignty then the least he can do is join the fight.....

 

".....and if all you care about right now is winning matches, then you won't have any problems teaming with me on Nitro.....to face your good buddy Lance Storm and Steven Regal....."

 

.....Benoit does NOT have a problem with that.....he tells Page that he's fought both Storm and Regal in recent weeks in singles action, he has no agenda's and no problem in competing against these two men one more time.....

 

".....and at least I know that I can trust the people across the ring from me not to stab me in the back.....it's just a shame I can't say the same thing about my tag team partner for the evening.....but then if you DO try to screw me over, you'll be crying out in pain on the mat.....quicker than you can say Crippler Crossface......"

 

.....cue face off, stare down and awkward silence, as we go down to ringside.....

 

Rating: A

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/l6DFGbg.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/TFVQgbO.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/AUZCTGZ.jpg">

 

.....where we are set for Cruiserweight competition.....

 

.....Juventud Guerrera is set to face off against current Cruiserweight Champion Hayabusa at SuperBrawl, while Brian Lawler is still out here looking for his first win here in WCW.....

 

.....should make the victor here pretty clear cut right?.....

 

.....well maybe not.....I mean, Brian Lawler might not have won a match yet here in World Championship Wrestling, but that doesn't mean he's here purely for job duty.....in fact far from it.....it's just more a case that the current narrative has called for Lawler to be counting the lights.....

 

.....tonight the narrative called for exactly the opposite.....

 

.....the match itself was decent, and Guerrera and Lawler DO have some history in recent weeks.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/8El8DGj.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/OOtgjFv.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/jMg73vi.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/uTZgfp1.jpg">

 

.....history that's intertwined with this group of individuals.....

 

.....because while Brian Lawler is far from a member of James Vandenberg's little Ministry, they have been co-existing in the mutual antagonisation of Hayabusa's SuperBrawl opponent.....

 

.....that's perhaps why Vandenberg's Vagabonds make their way out as this match reaches its conclusion, where the Minister, Shinzaki and Mortis successfully avert the eyes of the official away from the fact that Hayabusa has rolled into the ring behind Guerrera, where he nails him in the back of his masked head with Mortis' Jester Cane.....

 

.....Guerrera goes down and (as Hayabusa joins his cohorts on the outside) Lawler climbs to the top rope, where he finishes off the Youth Warrior with a top rope legdrop, FINALLY picking up his first victory here in WCW.....

 

.....probably not the way Guerrera wanted to go into SuperBrawl.....flat on his back with the Cruiserweight Champion looking on.....

 

.....oh dear.....

 

Winner: Brian Lawler

Rating: C+

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/dICBV2c.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/LTLbHWy.jpg">

 

.....and as we leave Lawler celebrating his victory (and Hayabusa and co staring down the fallen Juventud Guerrera) we head to the back, where Mean Gene (who, much like Vince Russo, rarely works Thursdays) is standing by with Curt Hennig.....

 

.....Gene says that Curt isn't booked to appear tonight, surely his time would be better spent preparing for his upcoming SuperBrawl showdown with The Rock rather than hanging around backstage?.....

 

.....Curt disagrees though, telling Gene that there won't BE a match with the Rock, so why bother preparing for it.....

 

".....after all, in about five minutes time Eric Bischoff is going to announce the man who will be facing Eddie Guerrero for the United States Championship tonight and who do you think he's going to announce? I'll tell you who.....ME.....Eric Bischoff is looking to punish Guerrero, so it makes sense that he puts him in a match with the man who's beat him not once, but twice....and tonight will make three.....but THIS time, I'm going to be walking out of the match with the US Title around my waist.....that means NO Rocky and NO match.....because at SuperBrawl, I'll be defending MY title against Jean Paul Levesque.....and THAT my friend, will be absolutely Perfe....."

 

 

 

 

 

".....WOAH.....hold up.....don't finish that sentence for god sake man.....

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/7nFcIko.jpg">

 

.....luckily we get interrupted before Curt can finish that (law suit inducing) phrase.....NOT so luckily, it's by Jean Paul Levesque.....

 

".....Curt, Curt, Curt.....man, I don't know how to tell you this.....I mean, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that match will NOT be happening....."

 

.....Curt looks confused by that statement (clearly expecting to be facing Eddie Guerrero next) but Levesque tells him that while he would LOVE to be facing him at SuperBrawl, The Rock has other ideas.....

 

".....see, I think you and everyone else around here knows that Curt Hennig was a dead cert for this match.....who WOULDN'T pick you if they wanted to take Eddie Guerrero down a peg or two.....who else are they going to pick.....I mean, well me obviously, but I already have my shot at the title at SuperBrawl.....Shawn, definitely Shawn, but Shawn (between you and me) he ain't interested in the US Title.....who else is there? The Rock? Ha, the man that Eddie Guerrero beat in back to back title matches? I don't think so.....of COURSE Eric Bischoff would choose Curt Hennig.....I mean, you've even got a victory over that little greasy Mexican....you've beaten Eddie Guerrero right?....."

 

".....twice....."

 

".....TWICE? Well there you go.....of course it was going to be you.....except....."

 

.....JPL looks over his shoulder, before sliding closer to Hennig and lowering his voice to almost a whisper.....

 

".....except The Rock, he's put a stop to that....."

 

.....Levesque says that he just passed Bischoff's office, and after making an open challenge ("except notice he didn't want to face me or you?") The Rock is in there practically pleading with Easy E not to give this match to Hennig.....

 

".....now, I don't know what his decision is.....all I'm saying, is that if you DONT get that shot tonight, we both know the reason why.....The Rock.....good luck though, maybe I'll see you at SuperBrawl.....although honestly, I doubt it....."

 

.....with that JPL walks off, leaving Curt Hennig to mutter something about needing to find a monitor.....because that US Title match is due next.....

 

.....let's find out the name of the man Eric Bischoff has decided upon.....

 

Rating: A

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/XAYhgc0.jpg">

 

.....because the public face of the WCW Championship Committee is making his way out, and he looks to be in somewhat of a somber mood.....

 

.....he begins by saying that while he IS out here to announce Eddie Guerrero's challenger for this evening, he does say that he needs to prefix that with another announcement.....

 

".....because after already battling through an intense training and rehabilitation regime in order to return much earlier than expected from injury, Bill Goldberg was medically cleared and fit to defend his WCW Television Championship with two days remaining of the mandatory thirty day time period required between title defences.....

 

.....this past Monday night Mr. Goldberg was prepared to defend that Championship (in his own words) against anybody on the roster.....then Eddie Guerrero took it upon himself (after causing the original shoulder injury) to blindside Mr. Goldberg again, once again re-injuring that shoulder in the process....."

 

.....Bischoff says that unfortunately, Bill Goldberg had two days in which to defend his Championship.....and that was three days ago.....which means (since Bill Goldberg is once again medically unfit to compete) that he and the Championship Committee have had little option but to strip Bill Goldberg of the WCW Television Championship.....

 

.....the crowd don't like that, and they let Bischoff know it too.....Eric tells them that he doesn't like it any more than they do, but unfortunately exceptions can't be made for anyone, no matter the circumstances.....so as of this moment, the Television Title is vacant, with an announcement set to follow over the next few days around where, when and how a new Champion will be crowned.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/gaVTlU8.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/6UuMoAM.jpg">

 

.....which brings out a man who DOES still have his Championship (for now at least) the WCW United States Champion Eddie Guerrero, along with his nephew Chavo.....and the Guerrero's look to be in a far more jovial mood than Bischoff.....

 

.....Eddie laughs up the fact that the Rookie Loser just lost his title, telling Bischoff not to worry, because the hottest streak in professional wrestling is still alive and well and set to continue tonight.....

 

.....Bischoff tells Eddie that while Bill Goldberg may no longer be the WCW Television Champion, he didn't "lose" the title.....and that little streak of his still stands at 61-0.....

 

".....a record which for all intent and purposes, will no doubt propel Mr. Goldberg straight back into the title picture when he returns.....be that the Television Title picture.....or maybe, the United States Title picture....."

 

.....Eddie doesn't seem too concerned, he's more of a "here and now" kinda guy that a "there and then".....sure Bill Goldberg will be back.....sure, he'll no doubt be looking for revenge.....but for now, now he's at home nursing his sore shoulder.....

 

".....so never mind about that holmes, I'm out here right now to find out who my opponent is TONIGHT esè.....so let's find out Who's Next for the Papi of Perfection....."

 

.....Eddie says it doesn't matter who Bischoff has picked.....Curt Hennig, Jeff Hardy, The Rock.....you name them, he's Streaked them.....there isn't a man on the roster that has what it takes to take this title from him.....

 

".....Eddie, as much as it pains me to admit it you may be right.....you have walked out of every title defence with that title still around your waist.....for seven months now you have lied, cheated and stolen from every man on that roster.....

 

.....unfortunately for you, your opponent tonight is no mere man.....he's the Master....."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/iUmcjKn.jpg">

 

".....and Ruler.....of the World....."

 

.....oh boy.....Eddie Guerrero does not like this, not one little bit.....

 

.....he and Chavo argue the decision furiously, but Bischoff promised Guerrero that he'd be punished for his actions.....

 

.....meet his punishment.....

 

.....Sid Vicious.....

 

Rating: A*

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/QPEZk7O.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/TOSv1cI.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/Q4zMmdY.jpg">

 

.....thus far during his (very impressive) reign, win, lose or draw, Eddie Guerrero has ALWAYS found a way to walk out of his Championship Defenses with the Title around his waist.....

 

.....tonight though, he's in there with Sid Vicious.....he might be lucky to walk out at all, let alone with a title around his waist.....

 

.....the match went much as you would imagine.....Sid absolutely mullered Eddie for a good portion of the opening of the match.....he nearly knocked Chavo's head off his shoulders when he intervened too.....and then proceeded to abuse the elder Guerrero some more.....

 

.....Eddie did manage to get SOME offence in, but it was few and far between and generally didn't last for long before Sid put a stop to it.....

 

.....all in all it might be time to dig out those "card subject to change" memo's, because the way this is going, it'll be Jean Paul Levesque and Sid Vicious that we see competing for the United States Championship at SuperBrawl, NOT Eddie Guerrero.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/ngncMpn.jpg">

 

.....although of course that would mean that Sid's scheduled match with The Giant would have to be scrapped too.....and I don't think Giant is too keen on that.....

 

.....the OTHER Big Man makes his way out, just as Sid picks up his opponent and drives the US Champion into the mat with a massive Powerbomb.....

 

.....and just like that the match is over.....

 

.....your winner.....Sid Vicious.....

 

 

 

 

 

.....I mean, he didn't win the title or anything, but he did win.....

 

.....because as the official counted one, two.....Giant stepped over the top rope and stomped on the back of the challengers head.....

 

.....Sid wins.....

 

.....by disqualification.....

 

.....but still the United States Champion.....Eddie Guerrero.....

 

.....he only went and done it again.....

 

Winner: Sid Vicious (via Disqualification)

Rating: B

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/ntB0NUE.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/8TIpoOC.jpg">

 

.....Eddie (after being dragged under the bottom rope and out of the ring by Chavo) grabs his US Title and quickly heads to the back, being sure to let a nearby camera hear him telling the viewers at home that his "streak" lives on, before being lead to the back (and by lead I mean being physically held up) by Chavo.....

 

.....Giant doesn't seem done either.....because while his and Sid's feud has been mainly a spoken war thus far, it would seem like it's time to escalate.....because Giant (telling Sid that he doesn't get away from him that easily) drags his SuperBrawl opponent to his feet and does (just about) manage to hoist the near seven footer up in the air, then drives him back down to the mat with a crash.....

 

.....Giant is a big man, but he drops down to his haunches so that Sid can hear him.....it seems like Eric Bischoff opened up a bit of a can of worms with his 'the man who walks out of this match as US Champion will be facing JPL' statement.....

 

.....so why did the Giant stick his nose into this match?.....I got four words for ya......

 

.....or rather, Giant has four words for Sid.....

 

".....see you at SuperBrawl....."

 

Rating: A

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/nIAz8RC.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/PifOkmV.jpg">

 

.....since we're busy waiting for Sid to come to his senses in the ring, we head to the back briefly, where (after being quite active already this evening) Jean Paul Levesque is with his good friend (only friend?) Shawn Michaels.....

 

.....Shawn says that when he told JPL to go out and do what he does best.....when he told him to go out and be the Hunter, this isn't really what he had in mind.....

 

".....I mean, no one ever accused Shawn Michaels of being the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I gotta tell ya, I thought there would be more, ya know.....hunting involved....."

 

.....Levesque smiles at his friend, telling Shawn that he's forgetting one vital thing.....hunting, it's not all about finding your target.....sometimes you need to stay still and let your target find you.....and other times.....

 

".....other times you just have to set some traps.....and let those traps do the hard work for you....."

 

.....Shawn does 'confused' well.....and that's exactly the look he has on his face here.....Levesque tells him not to worry about it, telling him instead to sit back, watch the main event.....it'll all become clearer.....

 

.....maybe we should do the same.....

 

Rating: B+

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/NDHKuSs.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/48xRpDs.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/TFVQgbO.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/Jg2T62p.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/CXQGLDZ.jpg">

 

.....and that main event features The Rock and Rikishi Fatu teaming up to face the Titans of Wrestlings Totally Awesome Twosome, Adam Copeland and Christian Cage.....

 

.....I think it's fairly clear that Copeland and Cage had no intention of being the ones to answer Rocky's open challenge tonight, but the whispering in the ear from Jean Paul Levesque apparently gave them the impression that winning this match here tonight would somehow "stick it" to Randy Savage.....

 

.....I highly doubt that Randy Savage gives a damn.....

 

.....what it DOES do though, is give The Rock two opponents, with twice the chance of him receiving a beating, which (considering Levesque's irritation at the constant 'Jipple the Nipple' jibes from Rocky) you would assume was JPL's master plan.....

 

.....Copeland and Cage are not only regular tag team partners, but they are also former WCW Tag Team Champions, which in theory gives them the edge here.....Rocky and Rikishi are hardly strangers to each other though.....former tag team partners in the WWF and bound together by blood, so it's no surprise that they work well as a team here, particularly in the opening portion of the contest.....

 

.....where Copeland and Cage go though, Big Ray-Ray is never far behind.....and it's the presence (and interference) of the Enforcer that leads to the Titan Two taking control, isolating the biggest man in the match, Rikishi.....

 

.....obviously they weren't going to retain the advantage forever, and after dropping Cage with a big clothesline, he caught hold of Copeland and slammed him down with a Samoan Drop, right on top of Christian.....

 

.....from there he made the hot tag.....and it WAS hot too, because the 'People' exploded when The Rock hit the ring, even more so when he began completely clearing house, sending Copeland and Cage flying with right hand after right hand, before finally sending Copeland tumbling to the outside and then planting Cage flat in the middle of the ring with a standing spinebuster.....

 

.....which must mean People's Elbow time.....

 

.....although it's ACTUALLY about the time that the SECOND part of JPL's plan comes into effect.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/WH2bm4L.jpg">

 

.....because (as Traylor distracts the official) Curt Hennig comes rushing out from the back.....and as Rocky runs the ropes (in preparation to drop that elbow) Hennig crashes a steel chair across his back.....

 

.....the announcers remark that after already whispering into the ears of the Totally Awesome Two earlier this evening, Levesque also managed to lay the seeds of Hennig's actions here.....it's obvious to everyone that Bischoff had no intention of giving Hennig that US Title shot tonight.....everyone apart from Hennig himself obviously, who has taken JPL's words (that it was Rocky who convinced Bischoff not to give him the shot) to heart.....

 

.....Rocky staggers forward from the blow to the back.....staggers right into the waiting arms of Christian.....who drives the People's Champ into the mat with the Unprettier.....and three seconds later, the Totally Awesome Twosome have a Totally Awesome Victory.....

 

Winner(s): Adam Copeland & Christian Cage

Rating: B

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/NDHKuSs.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/48xRpDs.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/wYulN53.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/Jg2T62p.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/CXQGLDZ.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/WH2bm4L.jpg">

 

.....that's not good enough for Curt Hennig though, as he slides into the ring (still) with that steel chair in hand.....

 

.....Copeland and Cage quickly get out of dodge when they see the chair wielding Hennig, although once they realise that Curt has zero interest in them they stick around.....after all, they already have a victory over The Rock.....Rikishi on the other hand looks like easy pickings (as he tries to pull himself to his feet) so much so that the Trinity decide to stick around, as all three men (including Big Ray-Ray) proceed to put the boots to the big Samoan.....

 

.....Hennig on the other hand is just standing over a prone Rocky.....he tells the Great One that he should have kept his nose out of Hennigs business (he did) and shouldn't have talked Bischoff out of giving him the US Title shot (he didn't) before putting the boot to the ribs of the gasping champion.....

 

.....not satisfied with that though, Hennig winds back that steel chair and unleashes a series of shots across the back that leave The Rock down face first on the mat.....

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/nIAz8RC.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/PifOkmV.jpg">

 

.....and as the Totally Awesome Trinity continue to beat down Rikishi, while Curt Hennig stands over The Rock (proclaiming that Thunder is HIS show now) we are treated to the sight of Shawn Michaels and Jean Paul Levesque walking slowly out from the back, laughing the whole way.....

 

.....the pair pause for a moment to soak in the view before them, until Shawn finally turns to Levesque, offering him a round of applause on a job well done.....

 

.....apparently Shawn Michaels likes what he sees.....

 

.....we'll see YOU this upcoming Monday Night.....

 

.....goodnight fans.....

 

Rating: A*

 

Final Rating: B+

 

 

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Woah, the Titans of Wrestling explode! I really like the idea of the bitter (and smart) vets of the Titans splitting from Hogan and his cronies. I wasn't expecting it so soon (but then I remember this ends at Mania lol)

 

Yeah, from a WCW side at least I’m currently trying to condense a few months worth of storylines into a few weeks, so some things might seem a little rushed. WCW will probably conclude at Uncensored which is (now) at week 3 of March. ECW will probably conclude the night before Wrestlemania, with Wrestlemania itself being the swan song for the whole thing

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<img style="max-width:60%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/KHIBBqF.jpg">

Week 3, February 1998

Highlights from ECW House Party 1998

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/mHb1rPs.jpg">

 

.....the party keeps on rolling here in the land of extreme.....the House Party that is, as we continue to recap the events of House Party 1998 here on Hardcore TV, and this week we are opening up the show with the unlikely sight of JT Smith.....

 

.....JT makes his way out, because he has something on his mind and (despite the crowds insistence that he "shut the f*#k up") he's going to share those thoughts right here, right now.....

 

.....Smith has made no secret of the fact that he's going to do everything in his power to once again be a "Made Man", as he attempts to regain his status in the Full Bloodied Italians.....we saw his pleas falling on deaf ears last week, when the 'Big Don' Tommy Rich told Smith to "fuggedaboutit" but apparently Smith isn't a man to easily give up.....he tells the crowd that he's here tonight to prove that he's a man's man.....a made man.....an "eye-talion" man.....he's a man that's all about the acronyms, because tonight, for the FBI, he's calling out RVD.....

 

".....now I know that the little Orange and Black Golbin Taz called you out earlier Robbie.....and I know you didn't answer him.....I get it, that ain't worth your time.....if Rob Van Dam is going to fight, he's gonna fight the best of the best.....the cream of the crop.....the top of the pile.....we'll Robbie, I got ya best right here, come on out and lemme show ya what a Made Man is made of....."

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/kPbwgcK.jpg">

 

.....surprisingly (since Van Dam has already no showed ONE challenge this event) the man himself DOES make his way out, with that whistle blowing annoyance that is Bill Alfonso by his side.....

 

.....or maybe it's not so surprising.....because as Joey Styles points out, "I'd want no part of a p!ssed off Taz either.....but THIS guy?" this guy even Joey thinks he could take.....

 

.....Van Dam tells Smith to relax.....relax because he's standing in the presence of greatness right now.....

 

".....fleeting greatness that is.....no, don't get me wrong, not fleeting because I'm going to suddenly become mediocre like all of you people.....fleeting because you're not going to be seeing 'everybody's favourite wrestler', Rob Van Dam, in ECW for much longer.....not to worry though, because you'll still be able to see your hero every single week.....LIVE.....on Monday Nights....."

 

.....but since RVD is feeling particularly generous tonight.....and yes, since JT Smith is a REAL challenge (unlike Taz) he WILL give all these people what they want and what they bought their ticket for.....seeing Rob Van Dam in action.....

 

.....ring that bell.....

 

Rating: C-

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/78kyKyt.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/Eh85fRt.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/pteIO6n.jpg">

 

.....and that match is JT Smith vs. Rob Van Dam.....

 

.....it's funny that RVD couldn't seem to find his working boots when Taz called him out earlier this evening (as seen on last weeks show) but apparently Mr. Smith is worthy of Van Dam's time.....

 

.....maybe that's because JT is little more than a push over.....

 

.....yeah Smith gets SOME offence in.....but not much.....if JT was really planning on using his performance here as some kind of example to the FBI as to why they should take him back, he might want to reevaluate his plan.....because Van Dam easily disposed of his opponent, finishing Smith off with a huge Frog Splash.....

 

Winner: Rob Van Dam

Rating: C-

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/pteIO6n.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/mHb1rPs.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/ZfowObI.jpg">

 

.....never being one to miss an opportunity to showboat, Van Dam celebrates his 'hard fought' victory in the middle of the ring.....

 

.....at least until Taz comes walking out of the back.....

 

.....Rob Van Dam talks a good talk (he walks a good walk too to be fair) but while he's been happy to run down Taz AND promise him that physical violence is coming his way, he's been remarkably reluctant to actually step in the ring with the Human Suplex Machine.....is tonight going to be the night that he finally steps up?.....

 

.....no.....

 

.....no it wasn't.....

 

.....instead, as Taz enters one side of the ring, RVD exits the other.....and (with the crowd comparing him to a rather intimate part of the female anatomy) he makes his way back up the aisle and disappears to the back, posing all the way.....

 

.....Taz grabs a microphone and tells Van Dam that he's got a couple of thousand ECW fans in here calling him a pvssy, so if he's got any balls in those tights of his, why don't he come back here and prove them wrong.....

 

.....nope.....RVD doesn't need to prove anything to anyone.....so he opts to stay in the back.....which p!sses off Taz so much, that as JT Smith gets back to his feet , he's met by a Kata-Ha-Jime that leaves him unconscious in the middle of the ring, as we head over to a pre-taped vignette.....

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/QrnBC5X.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/qaatDJe.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/ffK2sJr.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/cd03mBi.jpg">

 

.....as we go from JT. Smith, to JT. Smith.....who's in the back, clearly suffering from the aftermath of the assault we just witnessed.....

 

.....he's not alone either, because as he clutches at the back of his head and neck area the FBI come walking into shot.....

 

.....Smothers asks Smith what the hell that display was.....he's trying to prove that he's FBI ready, by what?.....

 

".....by getting choked out by Taz? That ain't gonna do it ya mook.....by getting your ass kicked by Rob Van Dam? Fuggedaboutit....."

 

.....obviously the Big Don has the final say, but the look on his face says it all, as he bites him thumb at Smith, before telling him that he ain't never gonna be a made man again.....

 

.....Smith goes to protest, but the little Pitbull of the group (Guido) slaps him right across the mouth, telling him to save it, before he's sleeping with the fishes......

 

.....poor JT looks crestfallen, but the FBI have bigger concerns to worry about.....mainly the fact that their Cannoli is getting cold.....

 

.....let's get out of here.....

 

Rating: C

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/rDCqtL4.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/Eh85fRt.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/9ihzgp2.jpg">

 

.....and back down to ringside, where (after seeing Buh Buh Ray defeated by Terry Funk, as well as Dances With and Chubby taken out by Danny Doring and Roadkill) it's D-Von Dudleys time to compete, as he takes on Balls Mahoney.....

 

.....D-Von has been desperately trying to unleash the Inner Dudley in his brothers, but thus far the more mild mannered Dudleys are being somewhat resistant to his demands.....or at least they WERE.....because (as we saw last week) Buh Buh has had just about enough of D-Von's sh!t, and at this House Party event, he and Big Dick have already stood up to their brother.....much to D-Von's delight.....

 

.....the whole Dudley Clan is out for this one, as D-Von and Balls brawl all over the arena.....despite D-Von's insistence though, the rest of the family refuse to acquiesce to their brothers orders, leaving D-Von to win this match all by himself, finally putting Balls down with a steel chair shot to the head, followed by an Ace Crusher onto that same chair.....

 

Winner: D-Von Dudley

Rating: C

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/rDCqtL4.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/cf64mRq.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/jYEyr2I.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/aRJz2us.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/LHYTIFp.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/3BLNboC.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/Oj11tW9.jpg">

 

.....D-Von isn't happy (again) that his brothers killer instinct is severely lacking.....he tells the rest of his clan that if they're not going to be any use to him DURING the match, they can at least do something useful AFTER the match, thrusting that steel chair into Chubby Dudleys hands.....

 

.....Chubby looks completely lost here.....the only thing he usually does with a chair is sit his fat ass down in it, so he rather meekly hands it back to D-Von (who calls him a little b!tch) before retreating behind Buh Buh and Big Dick.....

 

.....Buh Buh and D-Von have already come to blows once this evening.....and it looks like there's every possibility of it happening again here as the two brothers come face to face.....until Balls chooses THAT moment to get back to his feet, so D-Von spins around and nails him right between the eyes with the steel, before unloading with Steel Chair shots across the back as Buh Buh looks on.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/odZWe5I.jpg">

 

.....and since it doesn't look like Buh Buh is actually going to do anything to stop this assault, another man who's had his fair share of trouble with D-Von makes his way out.....

 

.....Axl Rotten.....

 

.....Rotten hits the ring (and D-Von) like a house of fire.....and he's bought a chair of his own with him that he uses to punish the back of the Dudley Boy, while the rest of the clan look on.....

 

.....the Dudleys have been looking for a way to bring D-Von down a peg or two for a while now, maybe letting him get his ass handed to him by Axl is a good place to start.....

 

.....except then D-Von ducks a chair shot.....

 

.....and nails Buh Buh right between the eyes.....

 

.....Buh Buh gets his name from his signature Stuh Stuh Stutter, and often it takes a shot from Big Dick to help the big guy get his words out.....apparently a shot from Axl helps the big guy to get his anger out, because instead of standing back and watching D-Von get his ass kicked, Buh Buh let's out an audible "Motherf*#ker" and clocks Rotten right in the jaw.....

 

.....it's on now.....

 

.....Balls chooses that time to get back to his feet and much to the delight of D-Von (who's clearly thrilled to see his brother grow a set) Buh Buh runs straight through him with a clothesline.....

 

.....D-Von has been trying to entice that killer instinct for some time now and he's finally got his wish, as the two Dudley Boys brawl side by side against Rotten and Mahoney.....and they soon get an added bonus.....because Big Dick is obviously sick of standing around like a (hideous) wallflower and he TOO joins the fight.....

 

.....that makes it three on two (because Chubby, Dances with and Sign Guy stand back and watch) and those odds are eventually too much for Balls and Axl.....and after Balls gets taken out by Big Dick, who drives him into the mat with a Double Arm Chokeslam/Tigerbomb combination.....

 

.....speaking of combinations.....that just leaves Axl, who is the victim of another combination, as (after months of bickering) Buh Buh and D-Von unite to flatten him with a Flapjack/Cutter combination of their own.....and just like that, FINALLY.....

 

.....the Dudleys stand tall.....

 

Rating: B

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/cf64mRq.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/jYEyr2I.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/aRJz2us.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/LHYTIFp.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/3BLNboC.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/Oj11tW9.jpg">

 

.....from there we go to a promo package, and as we leave the Dudley Boys behind in the ECW arena, we go to....well, the Dudley Boys again.....this time backstage in the ECW arena.....

 

.....D-Von is delighted that after watching his brothers get embarrassed by kids (Doring and Roadkill) and senior citizens (Terry Funk) that there are FINALLY two other Dudleys that he would be proud to call brothers.....

 

".....there are SIX Dudley Boys.....unfortunately for me, half of you aren't worth a sh!t....."

 

.....D-Von says that (as usual) Chubby Dudley and Dances with Dudley proved to be nothing more than a waste of Big Daddy Dudley's semen.....but Big Dick.....Buh Buh.....maybe he'll make real Dudleys out of them after all.....

 

.....with that, D-Von slaps Big Dick on his massive chest, before walking out of shot as Dances with and Chubby stare in shock at Buh Buh.....even Sign Guy has a question.....one simple word written on a handheld sign.....

 

".....why?....."

 

.....Buh Buh says that nothing has changed.....D-Von is still a stain on the Dudley name, but when Axl Rotten bounced that steel chair off his skull, it Puh Puh P!ssed him off.....but that doesn't mean that anything has changed.....

 

".....and D-Von might be a jackass, but he's still right.....we DO need to start acting like Dudley's.....I don't want to work with D-Von anymore than you guys do, but what other choice do we have?....."

 

.....what choice indeed.....although Chubby has a suggestion.....

 

".....we could bring in the boys.....all three of them....."

 

.....there is a flurry of shushing to that suggestion, with Sign Guy even using his signature sign to slap Chubby upside the head.....

 

.....D-Von can't find out about the boys.....

 

.....like, EVER.....

 

.....let's get out of here before he hears us.....

 

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/0Jb9IUk.jpg">

 

.....and head over to the man with the title that EVERYONE wants.....the ECW Champion, The Sandman.....

 

.....Sandman is in the back, doing what he does best.....he's cracked open a beer.....he's smoking a cigarette......and he's staring down at that ECW Title.....

 

.....he says that the best thing about being the ECW Champion.....the absolutely BEST thing......isn't the money......it isn't the fame.....it's not even the fact that it tells everyone that you're the man.....no, the BEST thing about being ECW Champion, is that EVERYONE wants this title.....which means LOTS of fights.....

 

".....I've been fighting my whole life, in bars up and down this country, with a beer in one hand and a cigarette in my mouth.....sometimes I kick some ass, sometimes I get my ass kicked, it either way I get to fight....."

 

.....Sandman says that when you get in enough bar fights (like him) you quickly find out that there's that same group of people at every bar......there's the worn out old barmaid, the one that all the regulars have had a go on ("and I should know.....I married her").....

 

.....then there's the old guy that USED to be tough twenty years ago, sitting there telling anyone that'll listen about it, desperate to relive his past glory ("kinda like you Terry Funk").....

 

.....and then there's the worst of the bunch.....the one with the big mouth.....the one who thinks he's better than everyone else in the bar.....the obnoxious little a$$hole.....the loudmouth.....the cocky little punk that thinks he runs the bar because he knows a few tough guys.....

 

".....well Justin Credible, I hate to break it to you kid, but your buddies aren't here.....it's just little old you, all by yourself and that big mouth is about to get you into a whole lot of trouble....."

 

.....Sandy says that this ain't WWF.....this ain't WCW.....this is EC 'F'n' W.....he ain't a superstar, he don't have no fancy ass catchphrases, he's just a bar fighter fighting in the most extreme bar going.....New Jack's going to find that out at House Party.....Terry Funk is going to find that out whenever his crippled old ass makes it to the ring.....and Justin Credible, he's going to find that out anytime he has the balls to shit his mouth and step across the ring from The Sandman......

 

Rating: B

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/6GmTMRr.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/G6VOu8N.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/Fo86UOx.jpg">

 

.....and after a few brief words from Joey Styles over in the ECW event centre (recapping the events that have lead to this match) we head back over to House Party 98 for our Television Title match, as Shane Douglas puts the gold on the line against former champion 911.....

 

.....I say 'former' Champion like 911 was the person that Douglas defeated to capture this Championship in the first place.....obviously that isn't the case.....Shane Douglas captured this title from the Innovator of Violence himself, Tommy Dreamer, just seven days after Dreamer captured his first ever title here in ECW.....

 

.....which in itself isn't the reason that this feud got so heated.....

 

.....the reason this feud got so heated is because AFTER that match, Douglas took it upon himself to nail Beulah with the Belly to Belly Suplex, leaving Dreamers valet in a neck brace.....Dreamer has been seeking revenge ever since but has as yet not been able to get his hand son the TV Champ.....

 

.....but Dreamer isn't going to be able to run away tonight.....especially when he's across the ring from 911.....and Dreamer has made it clear that he's going to make his presence felt.....he'll help 911 win that title if need be, because he don't give a damn about the belt right now, right now all he cares about is Shane Douglas.....

 

.....although in all honesty, I don't think 911 needs much help.....

 

.....in fact, 911 kicks the living sh!t out of Douglas for the duration of this match, to the point that Shane decides enough is enough and looks to make a hasty retreat up the aisle.....and even disappears through the curtain.....

 

.....briefly.....

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/OODEH1M.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/o9vLVlP.jpg">

 

.....because he comes flying back out again after a few seconds, followed by a furious Tommy Dreamer (and neckbrace wearing Beulah) who pummels Douglas all the way back to the ring, where 911 is waiting.....

 

.....and much to the crowds delight, the two men go to work making Douglas suffer.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/J7gkV9Z.jpg">

 

.....at least until this monstrosity enters the ring to put a stop to it.....

 

.....Douglas has been dropping hints at a Triple Threat reformation for a while now.....could this be the first stage of that plan? If it is then it's a hell of a first stage to have, because this huge man First sends Dreamer crashing to the outside, before finally Choke Slamming the huge 911 right in the middle of the ring, which is all Douglas needs to make a quick one, two and three.....

 

Winner: .....and Still ECW Television Champion.....Shane Douglas

Rating: C+

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/6GmTMRr.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/J7gkV9Z.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/OODEH1M.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/o9vLVlP.jpg">

 

.....and the beast ain't done there.....because as Douglas wraps a steel chain around his fist (which he's pulled out of his boot) to lay into 911, the new arrival continues to hammer into (a now defenceless) Tommy Dreamer.....

 

.....Shane cackles as he holds up his Television Title with one hand, before walking over to the camera to hold three fingers up, telling the viewers at home that they can't say he didn't warn them.....that's two.....the third is still to come.....

 

.....Douglas rolls to the outside and slides a table into the ring, as the new arrival rolls Tommy Dreamer back into the ring.....and it's fairly obvious what's about to happen here, because Shane sets that table up, just as a big hand wraps around the throat of Dreamer.....

 

.....Francine joins her man in the ring, handing a microphone to the Franchise, who delights in telling the crowd that this newcomers name is Hellraiser and he's here to do just that.....raise hell for Shane Douglas, before telling his cohort to do it.....

 

.....before the man called (I guess) Hellraiser can send Dreamer on a ride though, Beulah (rather stupidly considering) rushes into the ring to plead with Douglas not to do it.....I say rather stupidly because Shane Douglas clearly has no problems with inflicting punishment to a woman, so he grabs Beulah by the hair and tosses her to Hellraiser, telling him to forget the loser.....

 

".....break the b!tch....."

 

.....which is exactly what Hellraiser does.....lifting Beulah with ease and Choke Slamming her straight through that wooden table.....

 

.....man, that's a low move even by Shane Douglas' standards.....but that's the sight that we end Hardcore TV on for this week.....

 

.....911 down.....Tommy Dreamer out.....Beulah broken in half.....and Joey Styles calling the laughing Shane Douglas a heartless son of a bitch.....

 

.....we'll see you next week, with more action from House Party 1998.....including our ECW Championship match between The Sandman and New Jack.....a match which Terry Funk will be keeping a close eye on.....

 

.....who knows.....maybe Justin Credible will be there too.....

 

Rating: C+

 

Final Rating: C+

 

 

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<img style="max-width:50%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/b6wAOmq.jpg">

 

 

WWF Championship Match

Brian Pillman © vs. Kane

Comments:

 

Singles Match: For Stone Cold’s Wrestlemania Main Event

Steve Austin vs. Owen Hart

Comments:

 

WWF Championship #1 Contenders Match

Kevin Nash vs. Bret Hart

Comments:

 

WWF Tag Team Championship Match

Ric Flair & Arn Anderson © vs. Al Snow & Billy Gunn

Comments:

 

WWF Intercontinental Championship Match

Chris Jericho © vs. Rey Mysterio

Comments:

 

WWF European Championship Match

Jeff Jarrett © vs. Booker T

Comments:

 

Scott Hall vs. Scott Steiner

Comments:

 

Bradshaw & Faarooq vs. Ahmed Johnson & Scorpio

Comments:

 

British Bulldog vs. Raven

Comments:

 

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WWF Championship Match

Brian Pillman © vs. Kane

Comments:

 

Singles Match: For Stone Cold’s Wrestlemania Main Event

Steve Austin vs. Owen Hart

Comments:

 

WWF Championship #1 Contenders Match

Kevin Nash vs. Bret Hart

Comments:

 

WWF Tag Team Championship Match

Ric Flair & Arn Anderson © vs. Al Snow & Billy Gunn

Comments:

 

WWF Intercontinental Championship Match

Chris Jericho © vs. Rey Mysterio

Comments:

 

WWF European Championship Match

Jeff Jarrett © vs. Booker T

Comments:

 

Scott Hall vs. Scott Steiner

Comments:

 

Bradshaw & Faarooq vs. Ahmed Johnson & Scorpio

Comments:

 

British Bulldog vs. Raven

Comments:

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WWF Championship Match

Brian Pillman © vs. Kane

Comments:

 

Singles Match: For Stone Cold’s Wrestlemania Main Event

Steve Austin vs. Owen Hart

Comments:

 

WWF Championship #1 Contenders Match

Kevin Nash vs. Bret Hart

Comments:

 

WWF Tag Team Championship Match

Ric Flair & Arn Anderson © vs. Al Snow & Billy Gunn

Comments:

 

WWF Intercontinental Championship Match

Chris Jericho © vs. Rey Mysterio

Comments:

 

WWF European Championship Match

Jeff Jarrett © vs. Booker T

Comments:

 

Scott Hall vs. Scott Steiner

Comments:

 

Bradshaw & Faarooq vs. Ahmed Johnson & Scorpio

Comments:

 

British Bulldog vs. Raven

Comments:

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WWF Championship Match

Brian Pillman © vs. Kane

Comments: This feels like a bit of a slam dunk. I don't think the match will - somebody's running in, but it would be crazy to get rid of Pillman now.

 

Singles Match: For Stone Cold’s Wrestlemania Main Event

Steve Austin vs. Owen Hart

Comments: Poor Owen, another slam dunk

 

WWF Championship #1 Contenders Match

Kevin Nash vs. Bret Hart

Comments: With Nash taking on Steiner (most likely) at Mania, I think Bret takes it here - and that Pillman/Austin match becomes Hart/Pillman/Austin

 

WWF Tag Team Championship Match

Ric Flair & Arn Anderson © vs. Al Snow & Billy Gunn

Comments: I know this is crazy talk - but I think the odd pair gets the win. Either via DQ or a straight up win - and there's a switch before Mania. Either way, the Flair/Rhodes interaction makes me think Mero and Rhodes make their presence known.

 

WWF Intercontinental Championship Match

Chris Jericho © vs. Rey Mysterio

Comments: This also feels like an upset potential, but I think y2j keeps it.

 

WWF European Championship Match

Jeff Jarrett © vs. Booker T

Comments: Never bet against the MDC.

 

Scott Hall vs. Scott Steiner

Comments: I'm guessing the MDC play a part in this one too?

 

Bradshaw & Faarooq vs. Ahmed Johnson & Scorpio

Comments: I'm not sure it helps for Simmons to get his revenge before Mania, unless we're getting rid of Scorpio

 

British Bulldog vs. Raven

Comments:

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WWF Championship Match

Brian Pillman © vs. Kane

Comments:

 

Singles Match: For Stone Cold’s Wrestlemania Main Event

Steve Austin vs. Owen Hart

Comments:

 

WWF Championship #1 Contenders Match

Kevin Nash vs. Bret Hart

Comments:

 

WWF Tag Team Championship Match

Ric Flair & Arn Anderson © vs. Al Snow & Billy Gunn

Comments:

 

WWF Intercontinental Championship Match

Chris Jericho © vs. Rey Mysterio

Comments:

 

WWF European Championship Match

Jeff Jarrett © vs. Booker T

Comments:

 

Scott Hall vs. Scott Steiner

Comments:

 

Bradshaw & Faarooq vs. Ahmed Johnson & Scorpio

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British Bulldog vs. Raven

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WWF Championship Match

Brian Pillman © vs. Kane

Singles Match: For Stone Cold’s Wrestlemania Main Event

Steve Austin vs. Owen Hart

WWF Championship #1 Contenders Match

Kevin Nash vs. Bret Hart

WWF Tag Team Championship Match

Ric Flair & Arn Anderson © vs. Al Snow & Billy Gunn

WWF Intercontinental Championship Match

Chris Jericho © vs. Rey Mysterio

WWF European Championship Match

Jeff Jarrett © vs. Booker T

Scott Hall vs. Scott Steiner

Bradshaw & Faarooq vs. Ahmed Johnson & Scorpio

British Bulldog vs. Raven

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Week 3, February 1998

Tacoma Dome (Tacoma, Washington)

ATT: 23,000

PPV BUY: 1.22

Announce Team: Jim Ross, Jerry "The King" Lawler & Ravishing Rick Rude

 

 

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.....it's Pay Per View Sunday here in WWF Land, which means The King has polished his Crown specially and two become three, as Jerry Lawler joins the Raw is War pairing of Rick Rude and Jim Ross at the commentary table, to welcome us to WWF In Your House: No Way Out.....

 

.....the trio welcome us to the show, promising a blockbuster night on this final outing ahead of Wrestlemania.....and after tonight is over, we should have a much clearer view of who will be heading into that much coveted Wrestlemania Main Event, because we have THREE matches tonight with World Title ramifications, including our WWF Title match later this evening in which the Corporate Cannon, Brian Pillman, puts the gold on the line against the brother of the man he took that Championship off to begin with, the Big Red Monster.....Kane.....

 

.....then there's the man who's Wrestlemania status shouldn't even be up for discussion, because he won himself a guaranteed spot in the main event by virtue of winning the 1998 Royal Rumble.....that man being Stone Cold Steve Austin.....

 

.....Steve Austin's Wrestlemania spot is very much up for discussion though.....because while Vince McMahon won't out and out strip The Rattlesnake of his prize, he has no qualms in putting him into a situation to LOSE that prize.....and tonight, that prize is indeed on the line, when Steve Austin goes one on one with Owen Hart.....

 

.....and then there's our third match.....the match in which Bret Hart puts his own guaranteed title opportunity on the line, against a man he knows very well.....Big Sexy, Kevin Nash.....this is a match that (should Bret win) will see the Hitman slotted into our Wrestlemania Main Event, giving us the possibility of our first ever triple threat Wrestlemania main event.....

 

.....such won't be the case should Big Sexy pick up the victory though.....because if Kevin Nash defeats Bret Hart here tonight, then TOMORROW night on Raw is War, we will see the WWF Title defended, as Nash goes one on one with whoever walks out of this event as the World Wrestling Federation Champion.....

 

.....oh.....

 

.....and that match is next.....

 

Rating: N/A

 

 

 

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WWF Championship: #1 Contenders Match

 

.....it's not often that you start a Pay Per View with a match featuring TWO former WWF Champions, but that's exactly what we're doing here, as Kevin Nash and Bret Hart face off one more time, with The Hitman's #1 Contenders spot on the line.....

 

.....obviously these two men know each other very, very well.....they spent the best part of 1996 and 1997 locked in a bitter feud that saw both men cost each other matches, title opportunities, blood.....it's even seen alliances shift, with Kevin Nash (and the KLiQ/Wolfpac) going from dastardly heels to fan favourites, and vice versa for The Hitman (and The Hart Foundation).....in fact, with this match right here, that marks the fourth consecutive year that these men have met on a Pay Per View stage, stretching back to the King of the Ring 1994.....

 

.....like I say, they know each other very, very well.....

 

.....with that being said, we perhaps know what to expect when these two meet.....power from Big Sexy, while The Hitman does his best to chop that big redwood down to size.....remarkably (considering the stakes) both men come out alone for this one, but then when you consider that Scott Hall, Owen Hart and Chris Jericho all have matches of their own to worry about (while the last time we saw Sean Waltman he was still wearing a neck brace from the assault at the hands of the Million Dollar Corporation) that's perhaps not much of a surprise.....even so, Jim Ross is sceptical.....

 

".....because King, you know as well as I do that where Bret Hart goes, the Hart Foundation go.....and after putting it all on the line here tonight to ensure that his baby brother gets another opportunity to become the WWF Champion, you've got to assume that Owen Hart is keen to repay the favour....."

 

".....if Owen Hart has any sense at all JR, he'll be staying in the back to prepare for his own match.....because take it from me, the best way for Owen Hart to repay the favour to Bret, is by taking Steve Austin's Championship opportunity right out from under him....."

 

".....not to mention the fact that Bret Hart KNOWS he can beat Kevin Nash Lawler.....he knows it because he HAS beaten him.....and Jim Ross, you can take it from me, when you have taken a man's title away from him before (just like Bret Hart did in 1995) you know that you can beat them ANY time....."

 

.....while Rick Rude's words there are perhaps true, it was actually losing the WWF Championship to Bret Hart back at Survivor Series 1995 that actually kickstarted the Kevin Nash we all know today.....as the babyface World Champion Diesel, Nash had perhaps lost his killer instinct.....he lost his edge.....but it came back with a vengeance on November 19th 1995, where "Diesel" delivered quite possibly the first 'table break' in WWF history, propelling The Hitman off the apron and through the announce table, as well as assaulting Hart post match and Jackknifing him for his troubles.....

 

.....and THAT'S the Kevin Nash we have tonight.....because after constantly getting shortchanged in his efforts to become a two time WWF Champion (not to mention Scott Steiner costing him the Royal Rumble victory) Big Sexy is on the attack from the second the bell rings.....and while this match isn't being held under no-disqualification rules, the referee is certainly being lenient with the competitors, because Nash COULD have been disqualified a number of times, leading JR to question whether the official has received a mandate from Vince McMahon.....

 

".....because Vince McMahon made it clear that he does NOT want his Corporate Champion involved in a triple threat match at Wrestlemania.....a victory for Kevin Nash tonight guarantees that we won't see that happening....."

 

.....and as Nash drives Hart spine first into the ring post on the outside, you have to wonder if that's the case.....although when you consider the fact that if Kevin Nash DOES win, the WWF Champion will have to meet him tomorrow night on Raw, that triple threat possibility maybe doesn't sound so bad.....because Nash is in a bad, bad mood here.....

 

.....eventually (after taking an almighty ass-kicking) Bret is able to catch a breather, taking out the knee of the near seven footer with a chop block, before focusing his offence on the knee of Big Sexy.....he kicks, stomps, wrenches and stretches the limb of Nash, as well as wrapping it around the ring post a number of times, but Big Sexy will not be denied.....and even on one leg he hobbles his way back into this one, seemingly marching straight towards a shot at that World Title.....

 

.....there's even a throwback to that 1995 match between the pair.....

 

.....because as Bret tries to escape the onslaught of Nash rolling under the bottom rope looking for a rope break, Big Sexy charges across the ring and shoulder barges Bret right off the apron.....

 

.....where he crashes through the announce desk once more.....

 

.....the Hitman lands hard as he explodes through the wood, and as he lies broken under a heap of table fragments and monitors, Jim Ross urges the official to end the match.....

 

".....because by god, whether you like Bret Hart or not, he's a human being that just got broken in half....."

 

.....it looks like the official is considering it too.....which is when the rest of the Hart Foundation come rushing out from the back in an effort to stop him.....

 

.....finally (after a lot of persuasion from Owen, Jericho and Test) the official starts his mandatory ten count, deciding to give Bret at least a fighting chance of saving this match, while Kevin Nash stares down at the carnage he caused.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.....which means that neither he, nor the official (who's busy counting to ten) sees the arrival of Big Poppa Pump Scott Steiner.....who slides into the ring behind Nash with that lead pipe in hand.....and as the Hart Foundation help Bret out of the wreckage, he nails Big Sexy right in the back of the head with that lead pipe.....

 

.....Nash drops to the mat unconscious (as Steiner flips him a middle finger and disappears just as quickly as he arrived) and despite the protests of the official, the Hart Clan rolls Bret under the bottom rope (at the count of nine) leaving the Hitman with little to do but to wearily drape one arm over the chest of his opponent.....

 

.....and three seconds later, Bret Hart is heading to Wrestlemania.....

 

Winner: Bret Hart

Rating: A

 

 

 

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.....the Harts leave Kevin Nash out of it in the middle of the ring, while Owen, Jericho and Test help a battered and beaten Hitman up the aisle.....Test leads the way, keeping a close eye out for other Wolfpac members, while Owen and Jericho each drape one of Bret's arms over their shoulders, walking the victor to the back.....

 

.....they get to the entrance way and are met by Michael Cole, who comes rushing out from the back looking for some words.....he almost gets more than he was bargaining for too when Test advances on him, but Bret calls the Bodyguard off telling Cole to ask his questions.....

 

.....Cole says that by hook or by crook Bret Hart is going to the main event of Wrestlemania, but remarks that this display (and his victory as a whole) was hardly reminiscent of a Champion.....

 

.....Bret is clearly in a lot of pain, but he has enough left in him to tell Cole that he is the total epitome of what a champion is.....he has the will, the desire AND the heart of a champion.....he just got driven through a damn table and he STILL kept fighting......

 

".....and now.....just like I told the world I would.....I WILL be going to the main event of Wrestlemania.....and later tonight, when Owen kicks the crap out of Stone Cold Steve Austin.....so will my brother.....and THEN, whether it's Kane or Brian Pillman, that WWF Championship is guaranteed to come back to where it belongs.....

 

.....Canada....."

 

.....it's just about that time that Kevin Nash starts to stir.....rolling over onto his front with a p!ssed off look on his face, clearly seething as he begins to get to his feet.....Jericho clocks that first, telling his team mates that the Big Bad Wolf is about to huff, puff and blow a gasket.....

 

.....Test shoves Cole to one side, telling him that the interview is over, as the Hart Foundation quickly disappear to the back and we go to a promo package highlighting the history between Faarooq, Bradshaw.....and the Nation of Domination.....

 

Rating: A

 

 

 

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.....because our tag team match is next.....

 

.....it's safe to say that Bradshaw has been looking forward to this one.....he had to earn it too.....because after weeks of trying (and failing thanks to Nation interference) Bradshaw finally picked up a victory against a Nation member.....Scorpio.....meaning that he got to pick this match AND his opponents.....

 

.....when he announced that he was choosing to face Scorpio and (the leader of the Nation) Ahmed Johnson here tonight, that in itself wasn't overly surprising.....after all, he'd already defeated Scorpio once and had been trying to get Ahmed back in the ring for weeks now.....what WAS surprising, was his choice of tag team partner.....because while Johnson clearly thought that Nelson would be the logical choice (given that the two had teamed previously) it was actually Faarooq that Bradshaw chose.....

 

.....that's 'Former Leader of the Nation of Domination' Faarooq by the way.....

 

.....Faarooq who hadn't been seen since his violent excommunication from the Nation, courtesy of Ahmed Johnson's hostile takeover.....

 

.....and he's been waiting for his revenge ever since.....

 

.....this match was pretty much what you would expect.....smash-mouth offence with a sprinkling of aerial offence from Scorpio.....it wasn't great, but there was plenty of heat behind it.....Faarooq and Bradshaw came out strong, with Scorpio in particular getting tossed around like a rag doll.....they didn't walk over Ahmed Johnson quite so easily (after all, you don't become a WWF Champion by being a walkover) but after disposing of Scorpio on the outside there was only so much the Walking Armageddon could do against two men.....

 

.....of course, with that being said Ahmed was never going to be down for long.....and the fact that Kama was out there on ringside helped to cause enough of a distraction that Ahmed was able to blindside Bradshaw and give the Nation the advantage.....

 

.....not that it was a LONG advantage (to be fair, this match itself wasn't overly long, we have a LOT to get through tonight after all) and while Ahmed did well when he was the legal man, Scorpio got flattened with a big lariat that (had Bradshaw been able to capitalise on) would probably have lead to the victory.....

 

.....as it was it lead to the hot tag.....

 

.....and Faarooq came in swinging.....

 

.....the former Nation leader went straight after the CURRENT Nation leader.....and while Faarooq was dismissed from his position for essentially running from Nelson, he's certainly not running here.....at least not away anyway.....he IS running straight for Johnson though.....

 

.....Faarooq is able to not only hold off Ahmed, but Scorpio too (who gets backdropped straight over the top rope and to the floor) long enough for Bradshaw to regain his senses and rejoin the action.....

 

.....it all got a bit messy from there.....

 

.....the match descended into a brawl.....and it was a brawl that saw Bradshaw link up with Scorpio inside the ring, while Faarooq and Ahmed battled it out on the outside.....and ON the outside, Faarooq used the Nation to his own advantage, reversing an Irish Whip attempt to send Ahmed Johnson crashing into Kama.....

 

.....that was OUTSIDE the ring.....

 

.....INSIDE the ring Bradshaw decided to utilise that Clothesline from Hell a second time.....this time turning Scorpio completely inside out.....and with both Ahmed and Kama down on the floor, there was no one to break up the pin attempt as the official counted one, two and three.....

 

.....this one is over.....

 

Winner(s): Faarooq & Bradshaw

Rating: B

 

 

 

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.....victory in the bag, Faarooq and Bradshaw head to the back, as Mark Henry and D-Lo Brown make their way out to join the rest of the Nation in the ring.....

 

.....Ahmed doesn't look particularly happy at this decision and he grabs a microphone from ringside, before telling Kama to get Scorpio back to his feet.....

 

.....he tells his Nation Brother that while he is a lenient leader, his patience will only stretch so far.....he says that it was Scorpio's loss that lead to this match even happening tonight.....then he lost to Nelson.....THEN he lost again tonight.....

 

".....again.....that's three for three.....now when the Light Heavyweight Title was a thing around here, you actually had a use.....you had a purpose.....but now, what use are you now boy?.....three matches, three losses.....if this was baseball you'd be out.....unfortunately for you this ain't baseball.....and you ain't out.....

 

.....you DONE....."

 

.....and with that, Kama almost breaks Scorpio's neck with a brutal Clothesline to the back of his head.....

 

.....then the beatdown begins.....

 

.....this isn't a new sight.....this has been the way that the Nation has dealt with failure since it's inception.....Bobby Knight.....Nelson.....even their one time leader Faarooq learnt that when you outlive your usefulness to the Nation, they discard you in the most violent way possible.....

 

.....Scorpio doesn't stand a chance here.....in fact, after the initial attack he doesn't even have chance to defend himself as he is stomped mercilessly into the mat.....things are looking VERY bad for Scorpio.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.....so bad in fact that even Bradshaw and Faarooq have seen enough.....and they come rushing out from the back with steel chairs in hand.....

 

.....and they aren't coming alone.....they have the Half Ton Monster, Nelson beside them.....

 

.....the trio hit the ring looking to put a stop to the punishment.....luckily for Scorpio their mere presence was enough to do the trick, because as Bradshaw, Faarooq and Nelson enter the ring, Ahmed calls off the troops, telling them that they made their point, leaving the trio to tend to Scorpio in the middle of the ring, while the Nation make their way to the back.....

 

.....one member lighter than when they entered.....

 

.....talk about sore losers.....

 

Rating: A

 

 

 

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.....speaking of sore losers.....we quickly head backstage from there.....and Kevin Nash is a VERY sore loser.....

 

.....we aren't in the room with The Wolfpac, but we don't need to be either.....we CAN see the trio courtesy of a long shot from the hallway through their open locker room door, but even if we couldn't see it we would certainly hear it.....because Kevin Nash is currently going berserk.....

 

.....chairs are getting thrown.....lockers are getting dented.....a monitor comes flying through the open doorway.....and there are a few choice words being thrown about as the censors have to go into overload.....

 

.....eventually a chuckling Scott Hall comes walking out of the room (followed by a neckbrace wearing Sean Waltman) and as the pair clock the camera, he tells its operator that he "might want to back it up mang.....because Big Kev, he ain't in a good mood Chico".....

 

.....that might be the understatement of the century.....because as Hall and Waltman walk out of shot, telling the camera that they're going to give Kev a little bit of time to cool down, an almighty crash is followed by Kevin Nash screaming Scott Steiners name.....

 

.....Big Poppa Pump might have made a very big mistake.....

 

.....let's follow Hall and Waltman's example and give Big Sexy a bit of alone time to cool down shall we.....

 

.....to ringside we go.....

 

Rating: B+

 

 

 

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.....where it's time for another match.....this time one that's had much less build than our previous two matches, but one which promises to be no less intense, as after spending months cast in little more than a speaking role (during his feud with Jake Roberts) Raven looks to continue his recent winning ways against former Intercontinental, European and Tag team Champion, The British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith.....

 

.....Raven has his eye on SOMEONE here in the WWF.....quite who that is has t been made clear yet, but it's definitely NOT Davey Boy.....the Bulldog on the other hand definitely has his eye on both Raven and Jake Roberts, after a post match assault from Raven resulted in The Snake choking the life out of Davey with an electric cable.....

 

.....while we're talking about Jake, The Snake accompanies Raven to the ring for this one (as he has done since Raven finally crushed his spirit at the Royal Rumble) a fact not lost on Davey Boy, who looks distracted by the presence of Roberts on a number of occasions throughout the match.....

 

.....this was another good match, that could perhaps have been great given a little more time and build.....as it was, Davey Boy completely dominated the opening portion of the match, until Jake's presence paid dividends that is.....Bulldog spent a few moments generally assaulting Raven on the outside (including dropping him face first on the ring steps) but as he rolls his opponent back into the ring, Raven grabs at the leg of the official, distracting him from the fact that The Snake nailed Davey Boy with a throat thrust to that already weakened wind pipe.....

 

.....from there Raven went on the attack, with a lot of his offence focused on that throat area.....he even tests the officials patience, choking Davey Boy numerous times on the ring ropes.....he fully utilises Jake Roberts too, often tossing the Bulldog to the floor (and distracting the official) so that the Snake can get his licks in.....

 

.....eventually though Davey Boy is able to regain the control of the match, powering out of an Evenflow attempt with a backdrop, before levelling Raven with a running Clothesline.....both men stay down as the official delivers the mandatory ten count, but both are back to their feet by eight, with that little bit of breathing room being all that The Bulldog needed.....he begins trading right hands with his opponent, eventually driving Raven back into the corner where he delivers a series of shoulder thrusts to the midsection.....

 

.....Bulldog whips Raven hard (chest first) into the opposite corner and charges in behind him.....Raven was anticipating that though and uses to ropes to attempt to leap out of the way.....

 

.....problem with that, was that he leapt straight into position for the Running Poweslam.....

 

.....Raven literally lands on the shoulder of Davey Boy and the Bulldog isn't about to waste an opportunity like that.....fortunately for Raven, Jake Roberts hops onto the apron and grabs the ankle of Raven, pulling him free.....Bulldog spins around looking to catch hold of his opponent again.....spins right into a kick to the gut and an Evenflow DDT.....

 

.....short trip.....bad landing.....Raven wins.....

 

Winner: Raven

Rating: B

 

 

 

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.....Bulldog is done.....Raven isn't.....

 

.....Jake Roberts joins his colleague in the ring, handing him a microphone as Raven shuffles backwards into the corner.....Raven lifts the microphone to his lips but pauses for a minute, instead motioning towards Roberts.....

 

.....Jake looks down at Raven with a sick smile on his face, before turning to focus on the Bulldog.....Davey Boy is still down from that Evenflow, but that's not going to stop Jake, who pounces on him like a wild animal, delivering a savage attack.....

 

.....that on its own would probably be enough, but not for Jake.....Roberts briefly heads to the outside where he collects a steel chair.....a steel chair that he tosses down onto the mat before dragging Davey Boy back to his feet.....

 

.....and DDTing him right into the unforgiving steel.....

 

.....NOW Raven decides to speak.....he says that the biggest threat to face humanity isn't war.....it isn't famine.....disease.....it isn't other people.....

 

".....it's distraction.....distraction is the threat to end all threats because distraction is the procrastination of genius.....distraction is that which separates the 'can do's' from the 'can do.....later's'.....distraction is the lynchpin of failure.....Davey Boy Smith, tonight, you were little more than a distraction.....a distraction from my true calling.....a distraction from my destiny.....a distraction that's over.....Bulldog, it's ok....I forgive you.....you've paid for your sin.....

 

.....but now that the distractions are over, the end game is in sight.....I know you hear me calling to you.....don't allow distractions to derail your journey home to the dark.....come to me, for I can set you free.....

 

.....come to me.....

 

.....or I'll come to you.....

 

.....Quote the Raven.....

 

.....Nevermore....."

 

Rating: A*

 

 

 

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.....from there we head backstage, where Dok Hendrix is standing by with the man that will be challenging Chris Jericho next for the Intercontinental Championship.....Rey Mysterio.....

 

.....Rey isn't alone though, he's standing here with the man who defeated him this past Monday night, Dean Malenko.....although as Dok Hendrix reminds us (and motions towards a nearby monitor for his guests to watch the replay) it wasn't clean.....

 

.....Rey and Malenko watch the footage, first of Test taking out the knee or Mysterio, followed by Dean locking on the Texas Cloverleaf to give him the submission victory.....and yes, while it was a tainted victory, it's clear from the footage that Dean Malenko had no idea that Test had weakened his opponent.....

 

.....Rey (who does appear to have his knee heavily wrapped up) doesn't hold a grudge though, telling Dok that obviously Malenko isn't going to be celebrating that win, he has too much integrity for that.....Chris Jericho and Test handed him that victory and tonight, Rey is going to get his own revenge, by taking the WWF Intercontinental Championship.....

 

".....they HANDED me the victory?.....what, you don't think I could have defeated you otherwise?....."

 

.....Mr. Malenko clearly has a little bit of a chip on his shoulder here.....after weeks and weeks of taunting, belittling and being out and out insulted by Chris Jericho, Malenko isn't going to give that win up easily.....

 

.....he tells Rey that no, that's not how he wanted to beat him.....but he DID want to beat him.....and that's exactly what he did.....now tonight, Malenko wishes Rey all the luck in the world, but as far as he is concerned, if Rey loses, then Malenko beat the number one contender and should be next in line for an Intercontinental Championship match.....if Rey WIN'S.....well, then Malenko just beat the Intercontinental Champion.....and should STILL be next in line for a shot.....

 

".....so good luck.....but win, lose or draw, I'm coming for that belt.....and I'll show Chris Jericho.....YOU.....and anyone else that doubts me.....that Dean Malenko is anything but a loser....."

 

.....yeah, good luck Rey (I guess) let's go down to ringside.....

 

Rating: B+

 

 

 

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.....where it's time for that match.....our first Championship match of the evening, as Rey Mysterio does indeed challenge the 'Ayatollah of Rock'n'Rolla' Chris Jericho for the Intercontinental Title.....

 

.....at one point this match would have been for the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship.....but of course, Chris Jericho put an end to that when he (rather spitefully) retired that title AND the entire division, simply because Dean Makenko had the nerve to call Rey Mysterio the best Light-Heavyweight in the business.....

 

.....who is or isn't the best Light-Heavyweight in the business is redundant now, but Chris Jericho has certainly transcended that division regardless.....he was already well on his way to the top on his own, but after joining forces with the Hart's AND taking an up and comer of his own under his wing (in Test) he is a genuine bonafide star, even defeating Scott Hall to capture this Intercontinental Championship to begin with.....

 

.....he's also picked up a few tricks along the way.....such as how to dissect an injured leg.....

 

.....Bret (and Owen to a fashion) have been chopping guys down to their size for years now, usually because that opponent is bigger than them.....Rey Mysterio is never going to be accused of being bigger than ANYONE.....but he is quicker than most.....take out the leg and you take away his speed.....

 

.....you also take away 90% of his offence.....

 

.....it's that speed and agility that gave Rey the advantage in the opening portion of this match.....Jericho is quick.....he's certainly agile.....but Mysterio was running circles around him.....

 

.....was.....

 

.....because after rolling Jericho back into the ring, Mysterio looked to capitalise with a springboard attack from the apron.....unfortunately Jericho captured the officials attention just long enough for Test to clip Rey's ankle as he leapt, causing the challenger to tweak his knee on landing.....

 

.....from there Jericho went to work and Cocky Jericho came out to play.....kicking and stomping at Mysterio's leg between taunts and two footed shuffles, our Intercontinental Champion has changed quite a bit from his white meat babyface days.....Rey attempts to mount an offence a number of times, but every time he does Jericho (or Test behind the officials back) is there to cut him off, usually by again taking out the knee.....

 

.....Jericho gets a little bit overconfident after a Lionsault connects, choosing not to cover his opponent in the conventional manner, instead laying on his back with his arms crossed nonchalantly behind his head.....that nearly bites him in the ass though, because Mysterio has enough to hook the arms of the Champion and roll him into a crucifix type cover that very nearly secures him the match (and the Intercontinental Title) before a flustered Jericho finally gets his shoulder up at 2.99999999.....

 

.....with Jericho furious at almost being embarrassed, the Champion goes on the attack hard.....but it also makes him prone to mistakes and a second (missed) Lionsault attempts sees him hit nothing but canvas and from there, Mysterio mounts his comeback.....

 

.....he mounts it on one leg (still favouring the knee) but even with one wheel Mysterio can do more than most people could do with two.....he rocks Jericho with all manner of one legged manoeuvres, and very nearly picks up a victory after reversing a Powerbomb attempt into a Hurricanranna.....in the end though, the end of the match followed much the same story as the rest of the match.....

 

.....because after finding himself momentarily distracted by Test (while perched upon the top rope) Rey flew across the ring towards his opponent, who (thanks to the time bought by the distraction of Test) is able to move at the last second.....

 

.....Rey hits the mat hard, cries out in pain clutching at his knee.....and as Jericho locks on the Lion Tamer in the middle of the ring, Mysterio eventually has little option but to tap out.....

 

.....and the Hart Foundation are two for two.....

 

Winner: .....and Still WWF Intercontinental Champion....Chris Jericho.....

Rating: A

 

 

 

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.....although the fact that his opponent has tapped out doesn't seem to be good enough for Mr. Jericho, because as Test climbs into the ring (with the Intercontinental Championship over his shoulder) this Paragon of Virtue (your hero and mine) is showing no sign of releasing the hold.....

 

.....the official does his best to drag Jericho off of Rey, but all he gets for his troubles is grabbed by the scruff of his neck by Test and tossed roughly to the mat as Mysterio cries out in pain.....

 

 

 

 

 

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.....as Dean Malenko comes rushing out from the back.....

 

.....the Man of 1000 Holds seems to have found a new one.....it's a move mainly utilised in Mexico, called 'El Wacko Los Backo'.....it's not exactly a legal move either, because it involves getting a steel chair and swinging it as hard as possible towards your chosen victim.....

 

.....that's exactly what he does here.....he doesn't connect though, because while Malenko swings for Test first, Test just manages to avoid it before bailing from the ring.....

 

.....seeing his Bodyguard flee (and the chair wielding Dean Malenko) Chris Jericho decides that he's inflicted enough punishment and HE bails too before Malenko can take his frustrations out on him, snatching his title from Test as the pair back up the aisle.....

 

.....Dean Malenko made it clear earlier that he was coming for that Intercontinental Championship.....if it wasn't clear then, it is now.....because with Jericho watching on from the entrance way (arm raised.....title raised) Dean grabs a microphone to make the challenge official.....he wants Jericho.....and he wants the Intercontinental Championship.....

 

.....and Jericho finds that hilarious.....

 

".....I mean, really?.....come on 'Bore-Us', I just squashed your little buddy there (a round of applause for Little Rey-Mundo by the way folks.....he tried, he really tried.....such a little trooper) I squashed you AND Rey a few weeks back on Raw (sure, Test was in the match too....but I did most of the work) I mean, why would I face you again?.....

 

.....let's look at the facts 'Bore-Us'.....you couldn't win the European Title at the Royal Rumble.....I took the Light Heavyweight Title right from under your nose.....I took the Light Heavyweight DIVISION away from you.....we beat you on Raw.....let's face it, the only time you've won a match recently was against Junior there, and THAT was only because I helped you win.....

 

.....you 'Bore-Us' are a LOSER.....Chris Jericho is a winner.....you want a shot at MY title, what do you have for me eh? Just stepping in the ring with you makes my stock drop quicker than Grandma Malenko's Underoo's after two glasses of cheap wine.....what can you offer that could POSSIBLY make me want to face you? And don't say the Light Heavyweight Title, because that was a gift damn it.....c'mon 'Bore-Us'.....whaddya got?....."

 

.....what does he have? Obviously (as Jericho pointed out) not a lot.....although he does have one thing.....something only he can offer......c'mon Dean, whaddya got?.....

 

".....my career....."

 

.....ohhhh, that got Jericho's attention.....

 

.....Malenko says that Jericho is right.....he DOESN'T have a lot to offer, but what he does have is his pride.....his spirit.....and (despite Jericho's constant belittling) his self belief.....

 

".....because no matter what you say.....what you do.....how you do it.....Chris Jericho, I KNOW I can defeat you.....and I'm willing to put EVERYTHING on the line to prove it......face me.....face me for THAT title.....and if I can't beat you.....if I can't become the WWF Intercontinental Champion.....I'm done.....you win.....it's that simple....."

 

.....Jericho loves that idea....LOVES it.....so much in fact, that he says the whole world needs to see that.....

 

"......so I'll do you one better.....you're on by the way......but I'll do you one better.....it will be Chris Jericho, WWF Intercontinental Champion Extraordinaire, Ayatollah of Rock'n'Rolla, Paragon of Virtue, your Hero and mine.....against Bore-Us Malenko Jr......title vs. career.....

 

.....at Wrestlemania.....

 

.....so since I'm such an all around great guy, I'll make sure to end your career on the biggest and LAST payday of your life.....don't say I never give you anything.....god I'm just a great guy....."

 

.....whether Chris Jericho is a great guy or not remains to be seen (although I'd venture that he's probably NOT) but what we do know is that the match is set.....and at Wrestlemania, Dean Malenko will be putting EVERYTHING on the line.....will he win? Or will he get a second bite of the Cruiserweight Division down in WCW?.....

 

.....I guess we'll have to wait and see, but for now.....

 

.....let's go to the back.....

 

Rating: A*

 

 

 

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.....where Dok Hendrix is standing by with the men who will be challenging for the WWF Tag Team Titles next.....and those men's partners.....because while usually it would be Al Snow teaming with Chris Candido (and Billy Gunn tagging up with Jesse James) tonight it's the unlikely pairing of Al Snow and Billy Gunn that will be joining forces, although as we saw on Monday, it's only a temporary alliance.....

 

.....this past Raw is War saw these two teams agree that once (if) they capture the tag team titles tonight, Al Snow and Billy Gunn will face off one on one tomorrow night on Raw, with the winner claiming BOTH tag title belts for himself and his partner.....although as Dok points out, that might be making some serious assumptions, because first they have to co-exist AND defeat Arn Anderson and Ric Flair.....

 

.....and co-existing isn't something that they have been doing well.....

 

.....Chris Candido disagrees, saying that Al Snow co-exists with all those voices in his head on a daily basis.....

 

".....so putting up with this Jackass for one match won't be a problem....."

 

".....HEY.....there's no....yes, ok I'm telling him.....for your information Mr. Skippy, there's only ONE voice in my head.....mine.....ok sometimes I get a litt....yes, I'm telling him.....sometimes I get a little confused, but that's onl....WILL YOU SHUT UP.....I'm not being rude, YOU'RE being rude.....yes you are....."

 

.....the Road Dogg shakes his head as Al commences in arguing with himself, telling Dok Hendrix not to worry.....

 

".....sure, this fruit loop is no D-O-Double G, but the Bad Ass is exactly that, a Bad Ass.....Flair and Anderson, sure they were good.....WERE.....but this is 1998 Dok Hendrix and if you're looking for a true Blonde Nature Boy then look no further than my partner in crime Billy Gunn, because like Old Bob said, 'the times they are a changing' and this is OUR time.....it ain't about Horsemen anymore, it's about Outlaws.....New Age Outlaws.....and after Billy sends Grandpa One and Grandpa Two to the retirement home tonight, he'll slap the crazy outta Al Snow tomorrow and then WE will be your tag team champions of the world again....."

 

.....Candido disagrees (while Al Snow continues to argue with himself) telling the Outlaws that he spent close to a year doubting his partner, but every time he's gone to walk away, Snow has dragged him back in.....he says that for all his....quirks.....Chris Candido KNOWS that he couldn't pick a better partner than Al.....and after Al wins the match tonight, tomorrow night it will be THEM walking out of Monday Night Raw as two time tag team champions.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

".....or maybe you won't be walking out at all....."

 

 

 

 

 

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.....apparently Dustin Rhodes and Marc Mero have something to say on the matter (as Terri and Sunny scowl at each other) because the trio make their way into shot too.....

 

.....Dustin says that this oddball combination have about as much chance of winning the tag titles, as Sunny has of winning back her virginity.....it's never going to happen.....not because Flair and Anderson are that good, but because (despite what Ric Flair might think) THIS Rhodes is going to be the one to take those titles away from them.....

 

".....so good luck out there boys.....you're going to need it....."

 

 

 

 

 

 

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"src="https://i.imgur.com/UmjkjmT.jpg">

 

.....and from there we head over to Michael Cole, who's standing by with the WWF Tag Team Champions Ric Flair and Arn Anderson.....and the trio have clearly just watched the challengers interview, because Cole asks for their comments on what we just saw.....

 

.....Flair (being Flair) lets out a loud 'Woooooooo' with a big smile on his face, telling Cole that this is nothing more than another day at the office.....pal.....

 

".....because when you're Ric Flair, there's always someone around the corner that wants to be the Nature Boy.....whether they want to beat me, or whether they want to BE me, someone always wants SOMETHING from Ric Flair.....maybe they want.....my woman (ain't gonna happen pal) maybe they want.....my style......maybe they want.....Wooooooooo, my gold......because make no mistake, whether it's the Rolex on my wrist, the 24 carats around my neck, the diamond rings on my fingers.....or the Title around my waist....the Nature Boy is ALWAYS dripping in gold.....but boys, you can want and you can want, but there's only ONE Ric Flair.....and you're looking at him pal....."

 

.....Anderson says that the very definition of insanity, it to keep doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.....he says that between them, Al Snow, Chris Candido, Dustin Rhodes, Marc Mero and the New Age Outlaws have been bickering between themselves and trying to get a shot at the tag team titles for months.....it didn't work then, it didn't work now.....

 

".....boys (because that's what you are, boys) whether you like it or not, what you see before you is the best of the best of the best.....the best singles wrestlers when we wanted to be, the best tag team wrestlers when we want to be.....now it doesn't matter which combination of ANY of you we face, the result is going to be the same.....we were the best thing going ten years ago and we're still the best thing going today.....in fact, you could wrap all six of you up in one little ball and you still wouldn't be as good as a Ric Flair or an Arn Anderson on our WORST day.....

 

.....now you can all keep on bickering amongst each other, that's absolutely fine.....but you'd better be arguing about who's the SECOND best team in the World Wrestling Federation, because make no mistake, whether it's Flair and Anderson against Candido and Snow, the New Age Outlaws, Dustin Rhodes and Marc Mero, or all six of you at once, the result is going to be the same.....the same as it's been for a decade and a half, no matter the opponent, no matter the match.....you lose, we win.....it's just that simple....."

 

.....is it really that simple?.....

 

.....let's find out.....

 

Rating: A

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/Bn2VdRx.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

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.....because it's back to back title matches here.....

 

.....we've just seen Chris Jericho retain the Intercontinental Championship, now it's time to see if Ric Flair and Arn Anderson can follow suit with the Tag Team Titles.....and if you ask them, yes they can.....

 

.....I suppose on paper the champions really should be winning this.....for one, they ARE the tag team champions.....secondly, they're actually a cohesive team.....and finally, they're Arn Anderson and Ric Frigging Flair.....granted, neither man is exactly in his prime, but still, when you consider the fact that their opponents can't stand each other, this should be a lock.....

 

.....right?.....

 

.....well maybe so.....but there are also some intangibles in the form of Chris Candido and the Road Dogg.....not to mention Sunny.....all of whom have a vested interest in their significant other winning here.....these two teams may despise each other, but they have agreed to unite here tonight in order to go to war tomorrow night for ownership of the gold.....

 

.....because of that, the challengers actually start off strong.....there is SOME miscommunication (like Al Snow forgetting who his partner is, locking up with Billy and grabbing him in a side headlock as the bell rings) but they quickly overcome that to work surprisingly well together......

 

.....being that he IS the dirtiest player in the game, Ric Flair goes to the eyes to put a stop to Al Snow's offence, as the only babyface in the match plays the face in peril role.....and between them, Flair and Arn go to work on the (very) popular star, while Jim across remarks that he's seen some strange sights in his life.....

 

".....but King, I don't think I've ever seen something quite so strange as the sight of the New Age Outlaws and Sunny ALL cheering on Al Snow....."

 

".....you ask me JR, the sight of ANYONE cheering on Al Snow is a strange one.....why anyone would cheer for this moron is behind me....."

 

.....be that as it may, that's exactly what we have here.....although Chris Candido does have to reposition himself to stand on the floor in Billy Gunn's corner, because (again) Snow forgot who his partner was, crawling over towards Candido in the neutral corner.....

 

.....once Candido did that, it was fine.....and as Snow reached his corner Billy Gunn slaps him on the back and hits the ring running, taking out both Flair and Arn with multiple clotheslines that leave the champions reeling.....in fact, Gunn was doing great.....then Al Snow got a little bit 'confused' again, dropping his own partner with a dropkick.....

 

.....it all broke down a little bit there.....Candido managed to get Al Snow back on track and he went at it with Flair while Gunn went toe to toe with the Enforcer.....they were doing well too, until Flair sees the perfect opportunity to smack Snow upside the head with the Championship belt, that WOULD have scored him the victory had Sunny not distracted the official.....

 

.....and since Sunny WAS distracting the official, The Road Dogg took it upon himself to snatch up Head from Candido's hands, slide into the ring and nail Flair in the back of the skull, before rolling Al on top of the Nature Boy.....

 

.....and THAT would probably have been enough for the challengers.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.....had it not been for Dustin Rhodes and Marc Mero rushing down the aisle.....and as Terri grabs hold of Sunny by the hair (further distracting the official) and Mero diving towards Candido (yes.....even FURTHER distracting the hapless referee) Dustin Rhodes slides into the ring, tosses the Road Dogg to the outside and gives poor Al (who's still out of it from that belt shot) a taste of the same medicine that Flair received a moment ago, cracking him in the back of the skull with Head.....

 

.....and then he rolled Flair on top of Snow.....

 

.....it was convoluted.....it was tainted.....but it was enough for the three.....and just as they promised, Flair and Anderson retain against the most unlikely of Challengers.....

 

Winner(s): and Still WWF Tag Team Champions....Ric Flair and Arn Anderson

Rating: B

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

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"src="https://i.imgur.com/aJx3DWx.jpg">

 

.....Flair and Arn quickly bail, as do Rhodes and Mero (who aren't shy about letting the champions know that they're coming for those belts) while we head to the back, where Kevin Nash has at least calmed enough that it's safe to be in the same room as him again.....although Dok Hendrix doesn't look overly pleased about being there.....

 

.....Dok deliberately avoids eye contact with Big Sexy, instead focusing on Sean Waltman who is clearly not at 100% (if the neck-brace is anything to go by) so why is he back?.....

 

.....Waltman says that he might not be 100%, but he's only in that condition because of Jeff Jarrett, Rich Steiner and the rest of the Million Dollar Corporation.....he says that Ted DiBiase's boy's have put a lot of people out of commission in recent months.....and yeah, they put him down but they didn't put him out.....

 

".....so tonight.....tonight I'm going to watch Booker T take the only thing that the Million Dollar Corporation cares about.....gold....."

 

.....Waltman says that he's going to watch Booker T take Jeff Jarrett's European Championship and if for any reason the REST of DiBiase's goons stick their noses in, he'll be out there in a shot (neck-brace or no neck-brace) to give them just a LITTLE taste of what the Corporation did to him.....

 

".....but that's not the only reason I'm here tonight.....because Rich Steiner isn't the only Steiner that's getting his ass kicked tonight....."

 

.....Waltman slaps big Scott Hall on the back, as the Bad Guy tells Dok that The Kid is right.....

 

".....because Scott Steiner.....mang, you don' even know what you done Chico.....you been sticking your nose in the Wolfpac business for months now.....you cost the Kid ring time.....you cost the big man the Royal Rumble match AND you cost him the WWF Title shot tonight mang.....an' me.....Chico, you cost me the WWF Intercontinental Championship.....so tell me this.....just what....d'you think.....we gonna do....to....you....."

 

.....Kevin Nash has been quiet this whole interview, but he stands up now, only so that the camera can get a clear shot of his face.....and as he completely ignores Dok Hendrix, he stares into the camera with a look of fury on his face......

 

".....hey Scott.....Scotty.....look at me.....look into my eyes and know that I've never been more serious about anything in my life.....Scott Steiner.....you're a dead man walking....."

 

.....oh Scotty.....what have you done.....

 

.....let's go down to ringside.....

 

Rating: A

 

 

 

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.....and it's Scott vs. Scott, as Hall takes on Steiner, but that's perhaps not the story of the match.....

 

.....this whole situation (as ridiculous as it sounds) is built off the back of some hurt feelings.....it all stems back to The Wolfpac not allowing Scott Steiner to play with them.....

 

.....and by play with them, I mean tag him in.....

 

.....it was back at Novembers Survivor Series that The Wolfpac (and Scott Steiner) faced off against The Hart Foundation.....and it was during that Survivor Series match that Hall, Nash and Waltman "forgot" to tag Big Poppa Pump into the match, leading to Scott Steiner (and his notorious temper) storming out of the match, leaving Kevin Nash all alone and gifting Bret Hart a victory.....

 

.....since then Steiner has (take a deep breath) put Nash on the shelf, repeatedly assaulted Hall and Waltman, joined Rich Steiner in putting Waltman on the shelf, cost Scott Hall the Intercontinental Championship, cost Kevin Nash the Royal Rumble match and (finally) cost Kevin Nash a shot at the WWF Title earlier this evening.....

 

.....in return, The Wolfpac have.....well.....not done much really.....

 

.....Scott Hall will be looking to change that this evening.....

 

.....Big Poppa Pump has rarely had a bad match since breaking out as a singles competitor back at the 1996 King of the Ring (a fact which earned him the World Wrestling Federation Championship) and while Scott Hall was hampered by injury and general wear and tear for the best part of eighteen months, his performances were still impressive enough to net him a record fifth Intercontinental Title reign.....

 

.....so this should be decent right?.....

 

.....it was better than decent.....it was really very good.....

 

.....the fact that there was plenty of heat behind this certainly helped, but both men came into this one clearly looking to impress as Wrestlemania looms on the horizon.....Big Poppa Pump is one bad motherhumper, but that doesn't mean he doesn't know how to act the chickensh!t heel when it's appropriate.....and the way Scott Hall started this one, it was certainly appropriate.....yeah Kevin Nash still has an axe to grind with Scott Steiner, but the Bad Guy has plenty of pent up aggression of his own to work out of his system.....and he works it out right here on Scotty Steiners face.....

 

.....Hall has his opponent on the back foot for the majority of the opening portion of this contest, but Scott Steiner isn't the only one with a new (bad) attitude around here.....the lovely Sable has embraced her inner bitch since her man turned to the dark side and she's not afraid to interject herself into a match should the situation call for it, and as Scott Steiner desperately hides behind his woman on the outside, Sable slaps the taste right out of Scott Halls mouth.....

 

.....Hall smirks at that, telling Sable to try that again.....which she does.....except this time Hall catches her hand and it looks like Sable could be in trouble.....

 

.....she's not though.....because the distraction was enough to give Steiner the opportunity to cheapshot Hall and drive him hard into the safety rail, before tossing him back into the ring and taking control of the match.....

 

.....now Steiner does what he does best, and that's maul his opponent.....Scotty might be a huge man, but he's still got his amateur roots at heart, so in between clubbing Hall with hard blows, forearm strikes and kicks to the face, he tosses his opponent about like a rag doll with Belly to Belly suplexes and overhead tosses.....oh, and poses.....Steiner definitely poses.....

 

.....he poses a little bit too much though.....and after giving Hall far too much time to recover (leaving him laying on the mat while Steiner drops and gives us twenty) Big Poppa Pump mounts the second rope to hit a double bicep pose for the braying crowd, failing to notice Hall dragging himself back to his feet behind him, where the Bad Guy nails him in the small of the back, mounts the turnbuckles behind him and then drives him to the mat with a second rope Belly to Back Suplex.....

 

.....that puts a screeching halt to Steiners offence, as Hall slowly begins to take control of the match once more.....so much so in fact that he's able to position Scotty for the Razors Edge and that WOULD have been all she wrote.....but as Sable (again) distracts the official long enough for Steiner to drop to his knees and then drop Scott Hall to HIS knees with a hard low blow.....

 

.....Steiner stomps Hall into the mat (as he clutches at his crotch in pain) leaving him lying face first on the canvas, before signalling that it's time for that Steiner Recliner.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.....which is when the Wolves Howl.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/ZsRu0sp.jpg">

 

.....as Big Sexy Kevin Nash comes marching out from the back with purpose.....

 

.....that gets Scott Steiners attention.....too well as it happens.....because as he stands over Hall (inviting Nash into the ring) the Bad Guy reaches up and grabs a handful of tights, pulls Steiner down and rolls him up for the one, two, three.....

 

Winner: Scott Hall

Rating: A

 

 

 

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.....and Kevin Nash didn't so much as break his stride through all of that.....he simply carries on marching down the ramp, reaching ringside just as the officials hand strikes the mat for a third time and stepping over the top rope as the bell rings.....

 

.....Steiner is straight back to his feet as well.....and Hall and Nash must have come to an agreement backstage.....Steiner is all Hall's for the duration of the match, while post match is Nash's time.....because as Big Sexy and Big Poppa Pump begin to lay into each other with right hands, Scott Hall stands back and watches.....

 

.....if Hall vs. Steiner was heated, Nash vs. Steiner is practically nuclear.....and the crowd erupts as the two men drive blow after blow into each other's skulls.....we do get the usual show of force from the security team, but as usual they do little to halt the altercation, instead they just spend a few minutes getting laid out, as Nash and Steiner join forces to take the hapless help out of the equation, before returning to bashing each other's brains in.....

 

.....the next round of security has slightly more success (mainly because they are accompanied by a good portion of the unused roster) and do manage to separate these two warring former WWF Champions long enough to get the situation under control.....that's not to say that they aren't still trying to tear each other apart, they just can't.....

 

.....Nash is being held back on one side of the ring, Steiner on the other.....and as they scream threats of murder towards each other, Jim Ross sends us to the back, telling us that they should have this situation resolved by the time we return.....

 

Rating: A*

 

 

 

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"src="https://i.imgur.com/SGz3X7U.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/vzx2Nvo.jpg">

 

.....and we leave that chaotic scene behind to head to Michael Cole, who's standing by with a man who is set to challenge for his first SINGLES championship opportunity.....former multi-time tag team champion, Booker T.....

 

.....Cole says that after the events of Raw, the Nation costing him his match, his assault at the hands of Raven and Jake Roberts, not to mention the fact that his brother Stevie Ray stood back and watched it all happen, Booker T's mind must be elsewhere tonight.....is he even focused on this match?.....

 

.....Booker says that he's never been more focused on anything than he is on this match right now.....he says that he's going to go out there to the World and prove that Booker T don't need (or want) the help of the Nation of Domination to win matches.....he doesn't need the help of Ahmed Johnson to take out Jeff Jarrett.....and he certainly doesn't need the help of the Nation to capture the WWF European Championship.....DESPITE what his "brother" might think.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

".....your brother knows....."

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/X3j2ztP.jpg">

 

.....his brother being Stevie Ray.....who rather meekly shuffles into shot here.....

 

.....Booker doesn't look impressed at his brothers arrival, asking him what the hell he was playing at on Raw.....

 

".....all these years I've done nothing but have your back.....got the scars to prove it.....and you go and stab me in mine?....."

 

.....Booker says that Stevie claims to be his brother, but in reality he's nothing more than a sucka that was always looking for an easy way out.....

 

".....you want to throw down with Ahmed Johnson.....you wanna be a Nation "brother".....you go right ahead, but all the time you're a Nation Brother, you ain't my brother.....and tell YOUR brothers to stay the hell outta my match.....I'll win the European Title tonight.....and I'll do it MY way.....the RIGHT way....."

 

.....Stevie still looks sheepish, but he tells Booker that he's here to make things right.....and he's going to start by having his brothers back tonight.....not to help him win.....but to make sure that the Nation of Domination don't play ANY part in the outcome.....

 

.....Booker doesn't look convinced, instead he just tells Stevie to stay in the back.....

 

".....I don't need the Nation of Domination's help.....I don't need YOUR help either....."

 

Rating: B+

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/gctJUIV.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/to5UuKB.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/fpnOx00.jpg">

 

.....it wasn't exactly an upset when Jeff Jarrett defeated Matt Hardy to become the WWF European Champion on a random edition of Raw is War back in October of last year, but I doubt that anyone expected Double J (and the Million Dollar Corporation) to become the longest reigning European Champion to date.....granted he's only held the title for four months, but that IS the longest reign.....

 

.....I doubt anyone expected the Million Dollar Corporation to go to the lengths that they did to keep that title either.....but they really developed a dangerous mean streak in those four months.....and if you don't believe me, ask Ken Shamrock.....Chavo Guerrero.....Brian Christopher.....oh wait, you can't.....because the Million Dollar Corporation took them down and OUT and they haven't been seen since.....

 

.....of course, with that being said, I don't suppose many people expected to be seeing Booker T challenging for this title tonight either.....after all, one month ago Booker was one half of the WWF Tag Team Champions, rarely wrestling in ANY singles matches, let alone for any singles championships.....

 

.....and yet here we are.....

 

.....as promised, Booker T does indeed manage to persuade Stevie Ray to stay in the back, not wanting any help whatsoever in his efforts.....and thus far there's no sign of the Nation of Domination either.....Jeff Jarrett, he's not quite so honourable, as he is joined at ringside for this one by not only Ted DiBiase, but Rich Steiner too.....he's taking no chances.....

 

.....Booker T has certainly been the stand out member of Harlem Heat (performance wise) up to now, not to mention the fact that he's really developed quickly (popularity wise) in a very short amount of time.....so much so in fact, that his LOSS to Raven this past week was the match that saw him finally creep into the Main Event scene (while Stevie is still floundering in the midcard) which is perhaps why he is so adamant that he doesn't need anybody's help tonight.....

 

.....the match was actually really very good.....in fact, with a little bit more time it could maybe have been excellent, but for the time we gave it it over delivered.....Jeff Jarrett obviously knew he was in for a fight here, which is why he had Rich Steiner interfere at every possible minute.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/PUzMLl1.jpg">

 

.....until Sean Waltman (who let us know earlier this evening that he wasn't done with the Corporation) makes his way out, neckbrace and all, to chase Steiner to the back.....

 

.....that evens up the odds a little bit, but it also brings other problems into play.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/f0WG1yC.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/FusafzU.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/SIIte9A.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/EbKLwhg.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/oaoTLfs.jpg">

 

.....mainly the Nation of Domination.....who (despite having a frantic Stevie Ray trying to stop them) seem adamant that they're here to help......

 

.....Booker turns his attention to the new arrivals, telling them (and Stevie) to get out of here.....Stevie Ray promised his brother that he would not let the Nation play a part in this match and true to his word he FINALLY convinces Ahmed to lead the troops away from ringside and to the back.....

 

.....but HE decides to stay behind and watch.....

 

.....and as the match progresses (despite promising not to play a part in the decision) Stevie casually wanders over to the apron during a rope running sequence and (unbeknown to both the official and Booker T) casually reaches under the bottom rope and trips Jeff Jarrett.....

 

.....who stumbles forward into a kick to the gut.....

 

.....followed by a devastating Axe Kick.....

 

.....followed by the one, two, three.....

 

.....followed by the crowning of a new European Champion.....

 

Winner: .....and New WWF European Champion.....Booker T

Rating: A

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/fpnOx00.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/f0WG1yC.jpg">

 

.....Stevie Ray snatches up the European Championship from ringside and climbs into the ring, where Booker T (oblivious to his brothers helping hand) takes it from him with a huge smile on his face, before raising his new Championship high in the air.....

 

.....Jarrett (and DiBiase) aren't happy about this at all.....they've lost Rich Steiner momentarily, but Southern Justice are still in the back and the Million Dollar Man calls them out now, as the Corporation surround the ring.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/FusafzU.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/SIIte9A.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/EbKLwhg.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/oaoTLfs.jpg">

 

.....at least until the Nation of Domination rush out from the back.....climbing into the ring to offer their congratulations to the new champion.....

 

.....the Nation presence is enough to persuade the Corporation to stay out of the ring, but Booker still isn't interested in their recent offer.....he tells Ahmed that he won the European Title on his own.....he'll defend it on his own.....and if need be, he'll fight the Million Dollar Corporation right now.....on his own.....

 

.....Ahmed just smiles at that, before turning his head to the Titantron, where a convenient replay shows everyone (including the new European Champion) that Booker T didn't exactly win that title on his own now did he.....and Booker is furious at his brother.....

 

.....he tells Stevie that he thought he'd made himself very clear.....he didn't want his help.....he didn't want the Nations help.....he didn't want ANYONE'S help.....so why did he do what he did?......

 

".....for these chumps? For the Nation? Because Sucka I already told you I ain't joining no damn Nation of Domination....."

 

.....Stevie shakes his head, he says he didn't do it for the Nation.....he didn't do it to get Booker to JOIN the Nation.....

 

".....I didn't do it for them.....I didn't do it for Ahmed.....I didn't even do it for you.....

 

.....I did it for ME....."

 

 

 

 

.....and then he runs straight through his brother with a clothesline.....

 

 

 

 

".....because I want that European Title.....and I wanna take it from YOUR punk ass....."

 

.....then the Nation comes to life.....the attack begins.....and Booker T gets stomped into the mat in a five on one attack.....

 

.....I guess that offer for Booker to join the Nation has officially been rescinded.....but as one man left earlier, it looks like the Nation DOES have another member.....because as Stevie Ray stands over his fallen brother, he bends down to pick up the European Championship, before turning around to stand side by side with his NEW brothers, and as Ahmed leads the pledge ("by any means necessary") the entire group (along with Stevie Ray) raise their fists in the air.....

 

.....Booker T is your new European Champion.....

 

.....but he doesn't look like much of a winner here.....

 

.....let's go to the back.....

 

Rating: A*

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/18yWLzn.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/PHGeEoT.jpg">

 

.....where Michael Cole is standing by with the Texas Rattlesnake.....and as Cole points out (ahead of our next match) while we don't know who the WWF Champion is going to be heading into Wrestlemania, we do know one thing.....and thats the fact that for the first time ever, we are GUARANTEED to see the WWF Title defended in the main event of Wrestlemania.....in a Triple Threat Match.....we know that Bret Hart will be there.....but who will be joining him?.....

 

".....who will be joining him? Hell son, I hate to burst your little bubble but that must be one of the stupidest questions you've ever asked.....and you've asked a lot of stupid questions.....'guaranteed a triple threat match'.....'guaranteed that Bret Hart is going to be in the match'.....son, the only guarantee that you've got, is that Stone Cold Steve Austin is walking out of Wrestlemania as the new World Wrestling Federation Champion, and that's Stone Cold's guarantee, so you can take it to the bank.....

 

.....Owen Hart, your little mealy mouth has got your ass into a situation again that ain't gonna be good son.....you SHOULD have just kept on walking after Steve Austin tossed your ass over the top rope at the Royal Rumble, because you MIGHT have made it all the way back to Canada by now.....as it is, all you done is p!ss me off and that ain't gonna end well for you....

 

.....Austin says that while Vince McMahon does everything he can to stop Steve Austin becoming the WWF Champion, he's going to be disappointed, because he's going to whoop Owen Hart's ass tonight, then at Wrestlemania whether it's Bret Hart and Brian Pillman or Bret Hart and Kane, it really doesn't matter.....Austin is walking out of Wrestlemania as the WWF Champion.....

 

".....and that's the bottom line, because Stone Cold said so....."

 

Rating: A

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/IpFwsUh.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/xV2Bmd9.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/Biiyb21.jpg">

 

.....so we already know that Bret Hart is heading for a World Title opportunity at Wrestlemania.....now it's time to find out if his brother is going to be joining him, because (with Vince McMahon desperate to keep Stone Cold away from the WWF Championship) Steve Austin's Royal Rumble prize is on the line in this match here.....

 

.....obviously Austin and The Harts have quite the storied history (granted Bret more so than Owen, but still) so this match would have been heated even without the added incentive of a Title opportunity, but from the moment the bell rang Steve Austin flew straight for Owen Hart.....he completely dominated the opening portion of the match, battering Owen from pillar to post and the crowd loved every minute of it.....in fact, Austin dominated so much that Test eventually had to make his way out to even up the odds.....

 

.....he got punched in the face.....but it did cause enough of a distraction for Owen to nail Austin from the back, taking the advantage for himself.....

 

.....that wasn't Test's only contribution to the match by any stretch of the imagination.....he interfered on numerous occasions as Owen Hart looked to pick up his first Wrestlemania main event.....he works over the knee of the Rattlesnake, but he's not afraid to be a little more athletic with his offence than his older brother, including sending Austin tumbling through the ropes to the outside after a missile dropkick.....

 

.....it's on the outside where Test makes his mark again, almost knocking Stone Cold's head off with a running big boot (while Owen distracts the official) before driving him into the ring post head first.....

 

.....back inside the ring Hart continues the offence and even manages to lock on the Sharpshooter.....Austin isn't going down that easy though, managing to drag himself to the ropes forcing the break and the match continues, with Owen clearly thinking he has this one in the bag.....the confidence comes back to bite him in the rear end though, because Austin converts a running the ropes spot into a Thez Press, hammering Owen with right hands.....

 

.....from there, Austin fights his way back, bouncing Owen (and Test) around the ring until Hart finally pulls the official in front of a charging Rattlesnake, taking him completely out of the equation.....

 

.....which means Test can interfere at will.....and he does.....

 

.....he rushes into the ring to nail Austin in the back of the head as the two Hart Foundation members proceed to beat the Rattlesnake down in a 2-1 assault.....there's no keeping Austin down though, and as the official begins to rouse Stone Cold avoids a second big boot attempt by Test, kicking the youngster in the gut and dropping him with a Stone Cold Stunner......

 

.....from there Owen clips the knee of the Rattlesnake and tries to lock on the Sharpshooter again, but Austin kicks free.....Owen goes for a kick to the gut.....Austin catches the leg.....enziguri kick attempt by Hart is ducked by Austin and as Owen gets back to his feet, he's met by a kick to the gut and the second Stunner of the evening.....

 

.....and three seconds later, Steve Austin is heading to Wrestlemania.....

 

Winner: Steve Austin

Rating: A

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/1tBOrDQ.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/GZUV6Ix.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/7HKNVU2.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/btVcwTQ.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/UmjkjmT.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/UmlskwC.jpg">

 

.....from the sight of (a beer drinking) Steve Austin celebrating we head backstage, where a rather grim faced Vince McMahon (along with his chosen Corporate Champions) is standing by with Dok Hendrix.....and as Austin's music can still be heard playing out in the arena, Hendrix says that the Chairman's Night could yet go from bad to worse.....because while Flair and Anderson may have retained the tag team titles earlier this evening, McMahon's Crown Jewel (Brian Pillman) may not have to worry about the fact that both Bret Hart and Steve Austin will be two thirds of the first ever WWF Title Triple Threat Match at Wrestlemania.....because he has to defend that title right now......

 

.....against the Big Red Monster.....Kane.....

 

.....McMahon is silent for a moment, before telling Hendrix that he didn't get to the position of power that he's in today without knowing how to plan for all eventualities.....he says that Brian Pillman defending the World Wrestling Federation Championship in a triple threat match at Wrestlemania is hardly an ideal situation, make no mistake.....

 

".....it WILL be Brian Pillman defending the World Wrestling Federation Championship in a triple threat match at Wrestlemania, because tonight (just as he was against his brother at the Royal Rumble) Brian Pillman WILL be victorious against the so called "Big Red Monster" Kane......"

 

.....Pillman cackles at that, telling Dok Hendrix that his victory tonight is an absolute inevitability.....

 

".....see Kane might be big.....he might wear red.....but I'M the monster that the monster checks under his bed for.....Kane, you may envision yourself wearing this WWF Title around your waist, but your vision is obviously as damaged as your fire scarred face, because this isn't the age of the boogeyman.....it's the age of the anarchist.....it's the reign of the crowned prince of chaos and you WILL kneel before the Ruler of the Revolution....."

 

.....Pillman says that he ended the phenomenon of the Undertaker.....'Undertaker Red' will find out that what big brother couldn't do, baby brother will NEVER do.....because NOTHING and NO ONE is going to take this title from him.....not Kane.....not Bret Hart.....and certainly not Stone Cold Steve Austin.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/56s2U48.jpg">

 

.....THIS Stone Cold Steve Austin.....the Stone Cold Steve Austin that walks into shot, sweat soaked and beer drenched following his match (and celebration) before coming to an abrupt stop and face off with Brian Pillman.....

 

.....there's an awkward moment as the two men stare each other down, before both men break out in the most insincere smiles possible, as Austin pats Pillman on the shoulder and walking off.....but not before offering one simple sentence.....

 

".....good luck out there.....partner....."

 

Rating: A

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/ldxNCBq.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/SlvhFFp.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/zQrjwv0.jpg">

 

.....which brings us to our main event and WWF Championship match.....

 

.....we already know that the World Wrestling Federation Championship will be defended in the main event of Wrestlemania in a triple threat match.....we know Bret Hart is going to be in that match.....we know Steve Austin is going to be in that match.....now it's time to find out who is going to join them, as Brian Pillman puts the gold on the line against Kane.....

 

.....you could argue that Kane was the logical first challenger for the Corporate Cannon on the basis that it was his brother The Undertaker that Pillman took that title from in the first place (and we haven't seen or heard of the Undertaker since incidentally) but in reality, whether Pillman had taken the title from the Undertaker, Bret Hart or the Brooklyn Brawler, Kane would have STILL been on a collision course with Brian Pillman, thanks to the Cannon's "Pillmanization" of the Big Red Monsters ankle back in December.....Pillman put the Monster down and out of commission and now it's time to pay for that attack.....

 

.....Brian Pillman may display the demeanour of a confident man, but that confidence is rocked within about three minutes of this match starting, because no matter what he throws at Kane, the Big area Monster seems completely unphased by it.....he drives a series of right hands into the masked jaw of the challenger, but Kane barely registers the blows landing before almost taking Pillman's head off with a single blow.....

 

.....from there on in Kane (for lack of a better word) unleashes hell on Mr. McMahon's Corporate Champion.....he literally throws him about the ring like a rag doll as he unleashes weeks and months of pent up aggression on the WWF Champion.....and Paul Bearer (who's accompanied Kane to ringside) loves every minute of it.....after all, he too has felt the pain of Brian Pillman's steel chair attack, quite literally getting beaten unconscious by the animalistic Loose Cannon.....

 

.....speaking of getting beaten unconscious, Kane is going a good way to returning the favour here to Pillman.....in fact the commentators (even the pro-heel Rick Rude) are questioning what, if anything the WWF Champion can do to halt the attack of his challenger, as Kane chokes the life out of Pillman in the corner.....he was probably risking disqualification to be fair, and had Paul Bearer not been there at ringside to remind Kane that the best way to hurt Pillman was to take his title, Kane would have probably continued to illegally squeeze the life out of him.....

 

.....he does break the hold though, and as Pillman desperately gasps for breath he rolls to the outside, where his first course of action is to deck Paul Bearer.....that ticks off Kane, who makes his way to the floor only to get his ankle (the one time crushed ankle) chopped out from under him....apparently the Nature Boy has been passing on his tips.....and NOW the Champion takes control.....

 

.....briefly.....

 

.....because although Pillman gets SOME offence in here, it comes to a screeching halt when the Corporate Cannon returns to his Light-Heavyweight roots, flying across the ring towards Kane with what looks suspiciously like an Air-Pillman, only to get caught mid-air by the Big Red Monster, who wraps a hand around the throat of Pillman, lifting him high and then driving him to the mat with a huge Chokeslam.....

 

.....then Kane runs a thumb across his throat.....looks like it's going to be Tombstone time.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/ALDSbe5.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/NX2vOWD.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/HDRIAj2.jpg">

 

.....which (much as it did the last time Kane had Brian Pillman in this position) brings out Flair and Anderson from the back.....

 

.....the last time they tried pleading with Kane not to do it.....it didn't work then so they try a different approach here.....mainly Flair (who's practically hanging off the official) and Arn distracting the referee, so that Mankind can slide into the ring behind Kane, undetected.....where he knocks Pillman free with a running blow to the back of the challengers head.....a running blow with that Tyre Iron of Arn Anderson's in his hands.....

 

.....THAT puts the monster down.....

 

.....Mankind isn't done though.....he scratches and claws at the mask of Kane until he has enough room to slide his fingers underneath, driving his fingers down the gullet of the Big Red Monster with the Mandible Claw.....

 

.....Kane is half out of it from the tyre iron blow, with the Mandible Claw just being the icing on the cake.....holding the Big Red Monster up at a dead weight Mankind shoves him backwards into the waiting arms of Brian Pillman and exits the ring, as the Champion drops the Challenger with the Time Bomb Hangman's Neckbreaker.....

 

.....Flair and Anderson finally leave the official alone long enough for him to turn around to see Brian Pillman making the cover and in a rare sight (and with a LOT of help) Kane's shoulders are pinned to the mat for the one, two, three.....

 

.....and NOW we know what our Wrestlemania Main Event will be.....

 

Winner: and Still WWF Champion, Brian Pillman

Rating: A

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/zQrjwv0.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/ldxNCBq.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/ALDSbe5.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/NX2vOWD.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/HDRIAj2.jpg">

 

.....once the triple threat match was made a guarantee thanks to Bret Hart defeating Kevin Nash, and Steve Austin was announced as the second entrant after defeating Owen Hart, did anyone REALLY think that the third man was going to be Kane?.....

 

.....probably not.....but as Flair and Anderson raise the battered and beaten Champions arms in the air, there's really no doubt now.....because it WILL be the Corporate Cannon Brian Pillman defending the WWF Title against Steve Austin AND Bret Hart at Wrestlemania.....and Kane? Well, it looks like Kane could be about to join his brother on the absent list, because with the Monster still down, Pillman orders his troops to put the boot in.....

 

.....and put the boot in they do.....

 

.....Mankind is particularly savage here as he works his hands back under the mask to lock in the Mandible Claw, while the Nature Boy and the Enforcer get their kicks in too.....and as Brian Pillman slides into the ring with steel chair in hand, it looks like things are about to go from bad to worse for Kane.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.....:::::!!!!!GONG!!!!!:::::.....

 

 

.....at least until the lights go out.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.....:::::!!!!!GONG!!!!!:::::.....

 

.....and the gong does it's thing.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.....:::::!!!!!GONG!!!!!:::::.....

 

.....and the lights come back on.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/uM7AmzU.jpg">

 

.....to The Undertaker standing smack bang in the middle of the ring.....

 

.....Pillman's eyes almost bulge out of his head when he sees the Phenom standing in front of him.....but Taker doesn't just stand there.....he explodes as he swings at Flair, Anderson and Mankind, eventually driving all three men from the ring before grabbing at Pillman wildly.....

 

.....Pillman has bailed though.....he wants no part of the Deadman here.....and he backs his way up the ramp clutching the WWF Title to his chest, as his three cohorts join him in the aisle.....

 

.....the Undertaker looks like a man with revenge on his mind, and as he points at Pillman (before running a finger across his throat.....perhaps indicating Brian Pillman's fate) the announcers state that the WWF Champion already has his hands full with TWO Wrestlemania opponents.....the last thing he needs is The Undertaker out for blood......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.....:::::!!!!!GONG!!!!!:::::.....

 

.....and the lights go out.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.....:::::!!!!!GONG!!!!!:::::.....

 

.....and for a second time the gong does it's thing.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.....:::::!!!!!GONG!!!!!:::::.....

 

.....before the lights come back on again.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/KFCApHd.jpg">

 

.....to reveal Raven standing behind the Deadman.....steel chair in hand.....

 

.....the commentators proclaim that Raven has been calling out to someone for weeks now.....was the Undertaker that someone?.....

 

.....with Pillman and his partners staring past the Deadman it doesn't take long for The Undertaker to realise that someone is standing behind him, so he turns around.....

 

.....and gets smashed straight over the head with the steel chair.....

 

.....it rattles the Deadman, no question about that, but it doesn't put him fully down.....only down to a knee.....unfortunately that puts him in perfect position for Raven to hook the head and drive him into the mat with an Evenflow DDT.....

 

.....into the steel chair.....

 

.....and that DOES put the Deadman down.....right next to his brother.....

 

.....Raven rolls over and props himself up on his knees, looking down at the Undertaker for a moment, before pulling out a microphone from under his jacket.....and as Pillman looks on from the aisle, the show closes with a shot of Raven resting one hand on the head of the Deadman.....and delivering one closing line.....

 

".....come to me.....or I'll come to you......Quote the Raven.....Nevermore....."

 

Rating: A*

 

Final Rating: A

 

 

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The Monday Night Wars: Week 4, February 1998

 

 

wtGb8ca.jpg

 

Preview for WWF Raw is War: Week 4, February 1998

 

Steve Austin vs. Ric Flair

Comments:

 

WWF European Championship Match

Booker T © vs. Jeff Jarrett

Comments:

 

Scorpio vs. Savio Vega

Comments:

 

Scott Hall vs. Rich Steiner

Comments:

 

Marty Jannetty vs. Stevie Ray

Comments:

 

Al Snow & Chris Candido vs. The Dogs of War (not gonna lie, I forgot I had these guys under contract)

Comments:

 

 

cMgP5Z2.jpg

 

Preview for WCW Monday Nitro: Week 4, February 1998

 

Sting vs. Buff Bagwell

Comments:

 

Diamond Dallas Page & Chris Benoit vs. Lance Storm & Lord Steven Regal

Comments:

 

Rick Martel vs. Curt Hennig

Comments:

 

The Forgotten vs. Adam Copeland & Christian Cage

Comments:

 

Mike Awesome vs. VK Wallstreet

Comments:

 

Ray Traylor vs. Randy Savage

Comments:

 

 

 

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Preview for WWF Raw is War: Week 4, February 1998

 

Steve Austin vs. Ric Flair

Comments:

 

WWF European Championship Match

Booker T © vs. Jeff Jarrett

Comments:

 

Scorpio vs. Savio Vega

Comments:

 

Scott Hall vs. Rich Steiner

Comments:

 

Marty Jannetty vs. Stevie Ray

Comments:

 

Al Snow & Chris Candido vs. The Dogs of War (not gonna lie, I forgot I had these guys under contract)

Comments:

 

 

 

 

Preview for WCW Monday Nitro: Week 4, February 1998

 

Sting vs. Buff Bagwell

Comments:

 

Diamond Dallas Page & Chris Benoit vs. Lance Storm & Lord Steven Regal

Comments:

 

Rick Martel vs. Curt Hennig

Comments:

 

The Forgotten vs. Adam Copeland & Christian Cage

Comments:

 

Mike Awesome vs. VK Wallstreet

Comments:

 

Ray Traylor vs. Randy Savage

Comments:

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Preview for WWF Raw is War: Week 4, February 1998

Steve Austin vs. Ric Flair

 

WWF European Championship Match

Booker T © vs. Jeff Jarrett

 

Scorpio vs. Savio Vega

 

Scott Hall vs. Rich Steiner

 

Marty Jannetty vs. Stevie Ray

Al Snow & Chris Candido vs. The Dogs of War (not gonna lie, I forgot I had these guys under contract)

 

Preview for WCW Monday Nitro: Week 4, February 1998

Sting vs. Buff Bagwell

 

Diamond Dallas Page & Chris Benoit vs. Lance Storm & Lord Steven Regal

 

Rick Martel vs. Curt Hennig

 

The Forgotten vs. Adam Copeland & Christian Cage

Mike Awesome vs. VK Wallstreet

 

Ray Traylor vs. Randy Savage

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Preview for WWF Raw is War: Week 4, February 1998

 

Steve Austin vs. Ric Flair

Comments:

 

WWF European Championship Match

Booker T © vs. Jeff Jarrett

Comments:

 

Scorpio vs. Savio Vega

Comments:

 

Scott Hall vs. Rich Steiner

Comments:

 

Marty Jannetty vs. Stevie Ray

Comments:

 

Al Snow & Chris Candido vs. The Dogs of War (not gonna lie, I forgot I had these guys under contract)

Comments:

 

 

 

 

Preview for WCW Monday Nitro: Week 4, February 1998

 

Sting vs. Buff Bagwell

Comments:

 

Diamond Dallas Page & Chris Benoit vs. Lance Storm & Lord Steven Regal

Comments:

 

Rick Martel vs. Curt Hennig

Comments:

 

The Forgotten vs. Adam Copeland & Christian Cage

Comments:

 

Mike Awesome vs. VK Wallstreet

Comments:

 

Ray Traylor vs. Randy Savage

Comments:

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<p>Preview for WWF Raw is War: Week 4, February 1998</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Steve Austin</strong> vs. Ric Flair</p><p>

Comments:</p><p> </p><p>

WWF European Championship Match</p><p>

<strong>Booker T ©</strong> vs. Jeff Jarrett</p><p>

Comments:</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Scorpio</strong> vs. Savio Vega</p><p>

Comments:</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Scott Hall</strong> vs. Rich Steiner</p><p>

Comments:</p><p> </p><p>

Marty Jannetty vs. <strong>Stevie Ray</strong></p><p>

Comments:</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Al Snow & Chris Candido</strong> vs. The Dogs of War (not gonna lie, I forgot I had these guys under contract)</p><p>

Comments: If you didn't even know you had the Dogs, they ain't going to win. <img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>

Preview for WCW Monday Nitro: Week 4, February 1998</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Sting</strong> vs. Buff Bagwell</p><p>

Comments:</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Diamond Dallas Page & Chris Benoit</strong> vs. Lance Storm & Lord Steven Regal</p><p>

Comments:</p><p> </p><p>

Rick Martel vs. <strong>Curt Hennig</strong></p><p>

Comments:</p><p> </p><p>

The Forgotten vs. <strong>Adam Copeland & Christian Cage</strong></p><p>

Comments:</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Mike Awesome</strong> vs. VK Wallstreet</p><p>

Comments:</p><p> </p><p>

Ray Traylor vs. <strong>Randy Savage</strong></p>

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<p><em>Very solid NWO to4sty. Nice feeling that we generally have an idea where everyone is going for Mania - should make a wild finish to this dynasty. Big surprise seeing Hall go over Steiner. I get the "an eye for an eye" storyline with Nash, but I wonder how it impacts Hall. I have him penciled in in a tag with Sean Pac against the MDC - but a win over Steiner is a huge deal! Wonder if you have bigger plans for him than I thought...</em></p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Steve Austin</strong> vs. Ric Flair</p><p>

Comments: </p><p> </p><p>

WWF European Championship Match</p><p>

Booker T © vs. <strong>Jeff Jarrett</strong></p><p>

Comments: <em>Holy crap - the MDC lost! So... I'm guessing NOD help him return to form tonight.</em></p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Scorpio</strong> vs. Savio Vega</p><p>

Comments:</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Scott Hall</strong> vs. Rich Steiner</p><p>

Comments:</p><p> </p><p>

Marty Jannetty vs. <strong>Stevie Ray</strong></p><p>

Comments:</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Al Snow & Chris Candido</strong> vs. The Dogs of War (not gonna lie, I forgot I had these guys under contract)</p><p>

Comments: <em>Got a gut feeling these Dogs of War characters would are going over here brother brother...</em></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>

Preview for WCW Monday Nitro: Week 4, February 1998</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Sting </strong>vs. Buff Bagwell</p><p>

Comments:</p><p> </p><p>

Diamond Dallas Page & Chris Benoit vs. <strong>Lance Storm & Lord Steven Regal</strong></p><p>

Comments:</p><p> </p><p>

Rick Martel vs. <strong>Curt Hennig</strong></p><p>

Comments:</p><p> </p><p>

The Forgotten vs. <strong>Adam Copeland & Christian Cage</strong></p><p>

Comments: <em>Are we sure The Forgotten aren't The Dogs of War?</em></p><p>

</p><p><strong>

Mike Awesome</strong> vs. VK Wallstreet</p><p>

Comments:</p><p> </p><p>

Ray Traylor vs. <strong>Randy Savage</strong></p><p>

Comments:</p>

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Share on other sites

Steve Austin vs. Ric Flair

Comments:

 

WWF European Championship Match

Booker T © vs. Jeff Jarrett

Comments:

 

Scorpio vs. Savio Vega

Comments:

 

Scott Hall vs. Rich Steiner

Comments:

 

Marty Jannetty vs. Stevie Ray

Comments:

 

Al Snow & Chris Candido vs. The Dogs of War (not gonna lie, I forgot I had these guys under contract)

Comments:

 

 

 

 

Preview for WCW Monday Nitro: Week 4, February 1998

 

Sting vs. Buff Bagwell

Comments:

 

Diamond Dallas Page & Chris Benoit vs. Lance Storm & Lord Steven Regal

Comments:

 

Rick Martel vs. Curt Hennig

Comments:

 

The Forgotten vs. Adam Copeland & Christian Cage

Comments:

 

Mike Awesome vs. VK Wallstreet

Comments:

 

Ray Traylor vs. Randy Savage

Comments:

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Share on other sites

 

<img style="max-width:60%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/BC8Hy9X.jpg">

 

Week 4, February 1998

Pyramid Arena (Memphis, Tennessee)

ATT: 18,379

TV: 38.52

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/cPEc52K.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/MAtvB0n.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/jEZc7RN.jpg">

 

.....:::::!!!!!GONG!!!!!:::::.....

 

.....we open up tonight's episode on Raw is War much the same way that we closed last nights No Way Out event.....with a Gong.....last night however, when that final gong sounded our Brothers of Destruction we're laying flat on their backs in the middle of the ring.....

 

.....they're not flat on their backs now.....

 

.....now they're marching to the ring.....and they seem to be marching with purpose.....

 

.....the brothers are joined by the portly figure that is Paul Bearer as they climb into the ring.....and as well as carrying his ever present urn, Bearer has a microphone which he hands to the Deadman.....

 

.....the Undertaker made (what should have been) his triumphant return last night, coming to the aid of his brother in the closing moments of No Way Out.....but while he DID succeed in saving his brother from a brutal four in one attack, his moment of triumph was ruined by the Deity of the Damned....because Raven finally showed the world who his recent rants had been aimed towards, when he unleashed a steel chair attack on the Deadman, which left him down and out beside his brother.....

 

.....Paul Bearer takes the mic first, speaking not for The Undertaker but for his (mute) brother Kane.....Bearer says that the Big Red Monster had visions of not only standing here tonight as the WWF Champion, but visions of standing here tonight over the charred remains of Brian Pillman.....obviously he's not.....but that's not because Brian Pillman was the BETTER man, but because of ONE man.....

 

".....or rather, one manKIND.....

 

.....Bearer says that Mankind cost Kane the WWF Title, but ultimately he cost himself so much more.....because that indiscretion will cost Mankind.....Dude Love.....Cactus Jack.....whatever identity that Mick Foley wants to send out.....that indiscretion will cost him his very soul.....

 

.....the Deadman takes the microphone from there, saying that sometimes, even after all this time, sometimes people can still surprise him.....

 

".....and sometimes.....the arrogance of man astounds me.....

 

.....Raven.....you may call yourself the Deity of the Damned, but make no mistake boy.....Deity you are NOT.....all you are is a mortal man standing at the gates of hell, wondering whether or not you've really got it in you to knock....."

 

.....The Undertaker says that Raven not only knocked.....but he saved Brian Pillman's Soul in the process.....he says that Brian Pillman had a date with the reaper.....the pale rider was coming for him AND the World Title.....but now, even THAT has become less of a priority.....

 

".....because Raven.....you DID knock.....you knocked, the gates of hell opened and the Lord of Darkness himself answered......you say 'come to me, for I can set you free'.....well I say come to me.....and you will Rest.....In.....Pea....."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

".....I will do no such thing....."

 

 

 

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/XqtVImh.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/36M8SYR.jpg">

 

.....we can HEAR Raven.....but it takes a moment to locate him.....because he's not walking down the aisle, or broadcasting from backstage on the titantron.....the camera's DO finally find him (along with Jake Roberts) high up in the arena, about as far away from the Undertaker as you can possibly get.....

 

.....Raven tells Taker not to bother finishing that little catchphrase of his, because this Deity of the Damned has never known peace a day in his life, he's not about to start now.....

 

".....see 'Deadman', you can call me a mortal.....you can call me a boy.....but I'm so much more.....I'm both an ideal AND an enigma.....I'm the dark place where monsters fear to tread, but i'm also the haven for life's lost and broken toys.....YOU'RE a broken toy Deadman.....

 

.....the once mythical Undertaker, burdened by the banality of brotherhood.....you, the dark side of the World Wrestling Federation, so easily cast asunder by a lunatic on a power trip.....'the Phenom'.....'the Lord of Darkness'.....the scared little boy desperate for the approval of his adoptive father figure and the rekindling of a shattered sibling bond.....

 

.....it's sickening.....

 

.....Undertaker.....I can introduce you to the next chapter in your macabre tale.....I can strip away the mortality and return you to the Monster you once were.....I can cast off the ties that bind you.....no more protective son.....no more big brother.....only the Lord of Darkness.....kneeling at my right hand.....

 

.....abandon hope and cast off your last shred of humanity.....walk with me.....walk with me through my cleansing waters, you can be reborn.....walk with me through my Wounded Wonderland, you can be immortal.....

 

.....walk with me.....for I can set you free.....

 

.....come to me.....before I come to you......

 

.....Quote the Raven.....Nevermore......"

 

.....come to me indeed.....not that I'm sure how The Undertaker could GET to Raven, he's not exactly in a normal location.....I guess he's going to try though, because on that note, both the Undertaker and Kane decide to head to the back.....

 

.....so let's air a recap package of last nights event, before we head down to ringside for our first match......

 

Rating: A*

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/Mz6kcGj.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/v5W01pq.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/xV2Bmd9.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/MHbzSDf.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/8mRKiCT.jpg">

 

.....as Al Snow is back in familiar territory, pairing up once again (after his little failed stint with Billy Gunn) with his usual partner Chris Candido.....

 

.....he's facing a team here that he actually knows very well, having faced them on a number of occasions back when they were members of Ravens Flock.....its Wrath.....it's Crush.....it's (a team that I genuinely forgot I had on roster) the Dogs of War.....

 

.....truthfully, I should probably be doing more with the DoW.....sure, they're hardly the best workers in the world, but they're two decent brawlers who could certainly be better utilised than they have been.....

 

.....of course, with that being said I did just say that I forgot I even had them on the roster, so while I SHOULD be doing more with them, it won't be this week.....this week they're going to do the job, after Wrath got his brains scrambled getting a little bit of Head from Skippy.....

 

.....wait, that doesn't sound right at all.....

 

.....Chris Candido waited for an opportune moment (mainly when the official was distracted by Snow and Crush going at it) to crash Snow's mannequin head over the skull of the much bigger Wrath.....and that was enough to give our oddball pairing the win.....

 

Winner(s): Al Snow & Chris Candido

Rating: B-

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/K3PbWaJ.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/18C12Wi.jpg">

 

.....Candido celebrates his victory, but the voice of Al Snow cuts him off.....clearly whatever Al has planned he didn't run past his partner first, because Candido looks as curious as this crowd as to what the unpredictable Al is going to say.....

 

.....Al starts by telling his partner to apologise to Head for manhandling her.....

 

"......you used her and abused her.....there was no need to manhandle her like th....what?....no, I'm not saying that.....because it's not a word for one.....no it's not.....ITS NOT....IT'S N, you know what, whatever.....Chris, Head says that there was no need for you to man-head-le her like that....."

 

".....no need for what now?....."

 

".....no need for you to man-head-le her....."

 

".....Al, I.....I don't even know what that means....."

 

".....man-head-le.....it's like manhandle, but she doesn't have hands.....she's a head.....so it's man-head-le....."

 

".....ok.....ok, so shouldn't that be WOman-head-le? She is a she isn't she?....."

 

".....I don't know.....hang on, I'll ask.....wait, shouldn't that be WOman-head-le?.....it should?.....YES.....YES Chris.....how dare you Woman-head-le her like that?.....apologise.....immediately!....."

 

".....Al, I'm not apologising to a mannequin head....."

 

".....I'm not talking to you until you do....."

 

".....is that a promise?....."

 

".....I'm serious....."

 

".....so am I.....IS that a promise? Because that's the best news I've heard all week....."

 

".....talk to the hand....."

 

".....don't you mean the Head?....."

 

"..............."

 

.....true to his word, Al refuses point blank to answer Candido, which suits Candido fine because it means he can head to the back.....Snow breaks his silence then, quickly calling his partner back to make his announcement.....before inviting the team of Dustin Rhodes and Marc Mero out, as well as the New Age Outlaws.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/D8hQDAy.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/d6MhRqp.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/f229KVX.jpg">

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/LsqvFhh.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/7TVDrCJ.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/etJmo92.jpg">

 

.....ask and you shall receive.....as the two equally confused teams make their way out, and everyone (with the exception of Al Snow) looks ready to fight.....

 

.....tempers start to flare (after all, Rhodes and Mero are part of the reason that Billy Gunn doesn't have one half of the tag team titles ring now) and it looks like these three teams are about to explode.....again.....at least until Al Snow tells everyone to stop.....

 

.....he says that he thinks he has a problem to everyone's solutions.....

 

".....because for weeks and months now it's been the same thing.....it's been Snow and Skippy, the Super Friends (CandidSnow if you will) trying to get the tag team titles.....it's been Dusty and Nikita, the Super Powers trying to get the tag team titles.....it's been Gunn and Dogg, the Super Tools trying to get the tag titles.....and we just keep going round and round and round and round and round and round and round and round and round and....."

 

.....Candido slaps his partner in the back, telling him to get on with it.....so that's exactly what happens, as Snow tells everyone to check out the Titantron.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/18yWLzn.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/btVcwTQ.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/UmjkjmT.jpg">

 

.....where we get a replay of the pre-match promo that our tag team champions cut ahead of their title defence last night.....

 

.....specifically THIS part of the promo from Arn Anderson.....

 

".....now you can all keep on bickering amongst each other, that's absolutely fine.....but you'd better be arguing about who's the SECOND best team in the World Wrestling Federation, because make no mistake, whether it's Flair and Anderson against Candido and Snow, the New Age Outlaws, Dustin Rhodes and Marc Mero, or all six of you at once, the result is going to be the same.....the same as it's been for a decade and a half, no matter the opponent, no matter the match.....you lose, we win.....it's just that simple....."

 

.....Snow says that the solution is obvious.....since we are already set to have a multi-man WWF Title match at Wrestlemania (and since Flair and Arn are so confident) why not have a multi-team WWF Tag Team Title match at Wrestlemania as well.....they can end this never-ending cycle once and for all.....Ric Flair and Arn Anderson.....vs. The New Age Outlaws vs. Dustin Rhodes and Marc Mero......vs. Al Snow and Chris Candido.....in a Fatal Four Way Match......for (since he's been caught out by this before) the WWF Tag Team Championships.....

 

.....surprisingly, the two opposing teams appear to love this idea.....and (in a sight we didn't expect to see) as the the three teams head to the back together, the commentators state that Mr. McMahon's Wrestlemania plans just got that little bit more complicated.....

 

.....at lease that's IF he allows the match to happen......

 

.....he probably won't though.....

 

Rating: A

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/18yWLzn.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/GZUV6Ix.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/7HKNVU2.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/btVcwTQ.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/UmjkjmT.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/UmlskwC.jpg">

 

.....why don't we find out.....because after a quick recap video of Steve Austin's victory over Owen Hart last night, we head to Michael Cole in the back, who's standing outside the office of the boss man.....

 

.....no, not Ray Traylor.....I'm talking about THE boss......Vincent Kennedy McMahon.....and judging by the commotion going on inside, he's not a happy man.....

 

.....Cole says that he's going to try and get word from not only Mr. McMahon, but our WWF Champion Brian Pillman too, before raising his hand to knock, only to pause at the sound of an almighty crash from inside the room, followed by the office door swinging wide open.....as the WWF Champion himself comes storming out of the room.....

 

.....Pillman barges past Cole (wide eyed and wild haired) almost sending him crashing to the floor, not even breaking stride as he marches away, leaving Michael Cole to quickly gather his composure and ask (the rather stone faced) Vince McMahon if everything is ok?.....

 

".....well I would think it was rather evident Michael that no.....no, everything is not 'OK'.....

 

.....Vince says that last night, history was made.....because victories by both Bret Hart and Steve Austin means that for the first time ever, the WWF Champion.....HIS Champion.....will be forced to defend the World Wrestling Federation Championship in the main event of Wrestlemania.....in a triple threat match.....

 

".....now quite frankly, while that is anything but ideal Michael Cole, the fact that one of those competitors is Steve Austin is simply unacceptable....."

 

.....McMahon says that if he could remove Steve Austin from this match then he would.....hell, he would have even preferred Bret Hart AND Owen Hart to be in this match, because (while Brian Pillman will walk out of Wrestlemania as Champion regardless) Vince could even stomach a Hart (fluke) win.....ANY Hart fluke win over a Steve Austin fluke victory.....

 

.....Michael Cole tells McMahon that be that as it may, what's done is done and Steve Austin WILL be in that match.....we know who will be competing for the WWF Title.....what about the WWF TAG TEAM Title? Did Vince see Al Snow's Wrestlemania suggestion?.....

 

.....we already have a three way WWF Championship Match already scheduled for Wrestlemania......could we possibly go one better and see the WWF Tag Team Titles competed four in a four way ma....."

 

".....woah, woah, woah.....hold that thought there pal....."

 

.....apparently (judging by how quickly he cut Michael Cole off) The Nature Boy doesn't sound too keen on the idea of defending HIS title in a multi-man match.....he tells Cole that he heard Al Snow's little proposal.....

 

".....and I'm telling you now, that's never going to happen....."

 

.....Flair says that he and Arn have been watching those six idiots fight amongst themselves for weeks now.....months even.....he says that they were bickering about who should get the next shot at these titles back when Harlem Heat still wore the gold.....

 

".....and look how far it got them.....because WE.....we hold all the gold that matters around here.....and while Brian Pillman might have gotten himself into a little bit of a lose/lose situation, The Enforcer and The Nature Boy have ALWAYS been natural born winners (Woooooooooo) and we didn't go around offering ANY free title shots to get in that situation......

 

.....Al Snow, I hate to break it to you pal, but you're even crazier than you look if you think we're going to agree to that match.....you want to use Arn Anderson's own words to con your way into the title picture, ain't happening.....use my words pal.....because MY words say, 'to be the man (Wooooooooo) you gotta BEAT the man'......and NONE of you have what it takes to do that, so how about you ALL go to the back of the line....."

 

.....Vince (who wasn't in the best of moods to begin with) tells Flair that the last time he checked, it was HIM that made the matches around here.....and it was HIM that offered those "free title shots" out that Ric Flair finds so amusing (free title shots that assured Brian Pillman WON the World Wrestling Federation Title to begin with may he add) so let's see how amusing Ric Flair finds this.....

 

".....because I don't want Steve Austin ANYWHERE near the WWF Title......I don't want him near Brian Pillman, I don't want him near Wrestlemania.....and YOU are all going to make sure that he doesn't, or so help me God you're going to wish you did....."

 

.....Vince says that the only reason Steve Austin even won the Royal Rumble to begin with, was because Flair and Arn didn't get the job done.....he wanted Austin taking out before he even entered the Royal Rumble match, it didn't happen......

 

".....tonight.....MAKE IT HAPPEN....."

 

.....Vince says that tonight, it's going to be Stone Cold Steve Austin facing off against the Nature Boy Ric Flair......and tonight, Flair (and Arn) get to make their own destiny.....because win, lose OR draw, if Steve Austin leaves this arena in one piece, then at Wrestlemania, Vince McMahon will grant Al Snow's request, forcing Flair and Anderson to defend those tag team titles in a fatal four way tag team match.....

 

".....so I would suggest that you Mr. Flair.....and you Mr. Anderson......make good use of Mankind's tendency towards unadulterated violence....."

 

.....Vince pauses for a moment, before handing The Enforcer his trusty tyre iron.....

 

".....because (by the end of this evening) should Mr. Austin become incapacitated enough that he is unable to compete in that WWF Championship match, then by virtue of reward, YOUR Wrestlemania title defence shall be against opponents of YOUR choosing.....

 

.....as many (or as few) opponents as you wish.....

 

.....now, if you'll excuse us Michael Cole, I do believe there's a match about to take place, so if you would be so kind as to do your job and send those camera's back to ringside, while you still HAVE a job to do....."

 

.....with that Vince slams the door shut in Michael Coles face, as our interviewer does indeed send us back down to ringside.....

 

Rating: A*

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/mb1fYgO.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/xV2Bmd9.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/OIKO6dj.jpg">

 

.....where (fresh off his betrayal of his brother last night) Stevie Ray makes his way out with the members of his NEWEST family (the Nation of Domination) to face off against the rarely seen Marty Jannetty.....

 

.....Marty Jannetty could have perhaps taken a leaf out of his opponents book.....Stevie Ray only officially separated from his partner (and brother) last night, but already he has ditched the Harlem Heat attire to adopt the colours and logo's of the Nation.....Marty Jannetty on the other hand still looks and dresses like he was one half of the Rockers, never really developing his own identity.....

 

.....so with that being said, it's perhaps no surprise that Stevie Ray won this one.....Marty had a go, he really did, but what limited offence he DID have was put to an end by the Nation members on the outside.....

 

.....eventually Stevie catches hold of Jannetty and drives his skull into the mat with what looks suspiciously like a modified version of the former Triple H's Pedigree, netting the newest member of the Nation his first win in the yellow, green and red colours.....

 

Winner: Stevie Ray

Rating: B-

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/FusafzU.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/Uw6OsYW.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/0b7HTTH.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/QTC0OZH.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/xGyfYpZ.jpg">

 

.....the rest of the Nation join their 'brother' in the ring, where the five men raise their fists in salute, before Ahmed Johnson picks up a microphone.....

 

.....he says that last night, the Nation of Domination eliminated their weakest link (by ditching Scorpio) and replaced it with a serious upgrade.....

 

".....because Scorpio, unfortunately for you chump, you about outlived your usefulness the day that Chris Jericho eliminated the Light Heavyweight Title.....you outlived your usefulness when you got your skinny little ass whipped by Bradshaw, and you DEFINITELY outlived your usefulness last night, when you cost the Nation yet another match....."

 

.....Ahmed says that while Scorpio took his place in the Nation for granted, Stevie Ray EARNED his spot in the Nation by proving that blood is thicker than water.....

 

".....THIS blood.....NATION blood.....Stevie Ray made the right choice for Stevie Ray, and Stevie Ray about to reap the rewards.....tell em why brother....."

 

.....there's a loud chorus of boo's as Stevie takes the microphone.....he was never the best talker in the Harlem Heat combination, but he doesn't have to say much here to get the crowd riled up after betraying his brother.....

 

....he says that after weeks and months of trying to convince his brother to do the right thing, the time was finally right for Stevie to step away from Harlem Heat and start doing things HIS way.....

 

".....see I ain't no soft ass fruitbooty.....I could give a damn about any of you people but my brother had us out here week in week out, kissing babies and helping old women across the street.....here's a newsflash for you idiots, I done grew up on 110th street.....you don't survive the streets I survived by being a nice guy.....you survive by surviving.....by any means necessary....."

 

.....Stevie says that he's done just 'surviving'.....it's not time to survive, it's time to thrive and that's exactly what Stevie Ray is going to do.....

 

".....and that's exactly why I won your punk ass that title last night Booker.....Booker, listen to me real hard and real good.....you didn't listen to me about joining the Nation, but you're gonna hear this sucka.....I want what's mine......I gave you that title, I won that title for you.....now I want the title that I won and I want it at Wrestlemania.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/4qNSkmS.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/3v9tYR3.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/EaR1PGI.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/RmpGMkn.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/RmVQirk.jpg">

 

.....hold that thought.....because apparently the FORMER European Champion has something to say, as Jeff Jarrett makes his way out along with the rest of the Million Dollar Corporation.....

 

.....DiBiase takes the microphone first, addressing Ahmed Johnson as he tells him that while a war between the Nation and the Corporation would ultimately only hurt BOTH groups, he can rest assured that should the NoD continue to cost the Million Dollar Man money, then he will be forced to take it very, VERY personally.....

 

.....Ahmed just chuckles at that.....say what you want about Ahmed Johnson but he's faced (and defeated) some of the biggest and the baddest here in the WWF and he's never backed down an inch.....before he can respond though Jeff Jarrett takes the microphone, telling Stevie Ray that he's taking too much credit for something that he had little part in.....

 

.....he tells Stevie that yes, he may have played a (small) part in the outcome of that match.....but it was the Wolfpac that ultimately cost Double J the European Title, because had Sean Waltman not stuck his little pencil neck into the Corporation business, Stevie Ray wouldn't have been ABLE to interfere in the match, because the Corporation wouldn't have allowed it.....

 

".....and as for facing your brother for MY European Championship at Wrestlemania, you can have your little family feud....you can face your brother.....but it won't be for the European Title....."

 

.....Jarrett says that money talks.....and money also buys iron clad contracts and clauses......and the clause that was inserted into every single one of Jeff Jarrett's title defences stated that SHOULD Jarrett lose the title, he would get an automatic rematch at the next available show.....

 

".....and here's a little heads up boys.....that 'next available show' is right here tonight.....and right here tonight, Old Double J is taking back the gold.....and for what it's worth, you might want to stay away from this one.....because you don't want to p!ss us off.....or you might find yourselves part of a VERY hostile takeover....."

 

.....looks like we are set for a European Title rematch here tonight then.....although the Nation won't be involved in this one clearly.....after all, the Corporation told them not to.....

 

.....I'm sure Ahmed and co will listen.....

 

Rating: A*

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/sn4pPLN.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/wWH32sR.jpg">

 

.....from there we air a brief cut scene ahead of our commercial break.....it is only brief, but it's clear what's happening.....

 

.....it's The Undertaker.....it's Kane.....and they are making sir way through the backstage area with one purpose.....to find Raven.....

 

.....they're slamming in and out of rooms, tossing equipment around the place and scaring the sh!t out of any backstage workers that they come across, grabbing the petrified staff members by the shirts and demanding that they tell them the whereabouts of the Deity of the Damned.....

 

.....obviously no body knows, but apparently that's not going to stop them from looking.....Raven told the Undertaker to come to him.....he's trying.....

 

.....he's just got to find him first.....

 

.....let's go to commercial.....

 

Rating: N/A

 

 

 

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"src="https://i.imgur.com/ZrAHk5r.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/aJx3DWx.jpg">

 

.....we come back and we come back to the sounds of the Wolves howling, as Scott Hall and Sean Waltman make their way out from the back.....

 

.....the Wolfpac's night last night might not have gone EXACTLY as planned (after all, Kevin Nash had visions of competing for the WWF Championship tonight, that obviously isn't happening) but both Hall and Waltman actually had pretty good nights.....Scott Hall was victorious in his match with Big Poppa Pump Scott Steiner, while Sean Waltman (while he didn't compete) DID manage to gain a measure of revenge against the Million Dollar Corporation for putting him on the shelf, playing a part in Booker T's European Title victory.....

 

.....they're missing a member here though as they climb into the ring, but as Scott Hall grabs a microphone, he lets us know exactly why Kevin Nash isn't here tonight.....

 

".....because as much as Big Kev wanted to be here, the main mang Vince McMahon decided that putting Big Kev and Big Poppa in the same arena tonight might not be a good idea.....so Kev he's sat at home with his feet up, watching Raw on the TV.....hey Kid, wave to Kev....."

 

".....hi Kev....."

 

".....but while the Big Mang can't be here in person, he gave us a little message to give to Scott Steiner.....hey Kid, Scotty's watching at home too, wave to Scotty....."

 

".....hey Steiner.....why don't you Suck It....."

 

".....close enough, close enough.....anyway, Big Kev he's got a message for you Scott Steiner, hang on.....I wrote it down so that I didn't mess it up....."

 

.....Hall slaps Waltman on the chest, telling him to pass him the note, but Waltman looks like he's lost the information.....he fishes around in his various pockets but still comes up short, before finally finding the important paperwork tucked inside his neck brace.....

 

.....I say "paperwork".....it's a single piece of paper no bigger than a trading card.....

 

.....Hall takes the cue card and squints at it, before telling everyone that he's nearly ready as he clears his throat to make the announcement.....

 

".....ok.....here we go.....Scott Steiner.....Chico.....the Big Mang wants you.....one on one.....at Wrestlemania....."

 

.....quite the announcement.....I can see why Hall needed the flash card.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/4qNSkmS.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/3v9tYR3.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/pppuxSO.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/RmpGMkn.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/RmVQirk.jpg">

 

.....well we know that Scott Steiner (much like Kevin Nash) has been given a compulsory night off here, so we're not going to get an answer to that challenge right now.....but while SCOTT Steiner isn't here.....RICH Steiner is.....and again, the Million Dollar Corporation make their way out from the back.....

 

.....Jarrett rehashes the promo he made a few moments ago, placing the Wolfpac (mainly Sean Waltman) solely at blame for his European Title loss last night.....

 

".....but the Million Dollar Corporation, we ALWAYS recoup our losses.....so by the end of tonight's show, that title will be back where it belongs.....but Waltman, you took something from me......you took something from me, so I'm going to take something from you......now I don't know what, because looking at you you look and dress like a hobo without two nickels to rub together.....but I'm going to take SOMETHING from you and that's a promise....."

 

.....Rich Steiner takes the mic, saying that it's typical of the Wolfpac, throwing around challenges when they KNOW that his brother isn't here tonight.....but there IS still a Steiner in the building.....

 

".....so since the little runt of the litter (Sean Waltman) there is out of commission with his neck boo-boo, how about YOU Scott Hall, step in the ring with ME.....so that Kevin Nash can see exactly what happens when you step into the ring with a Steiner....."

 

.....Steiner says that Scotty might not be a member of the Million Dollar Corporation, but if there's one thing that's close to his heart besides his money (and he pulls a thick wallet out of his breast pocket to show that those dollars really ARE close to his heart) if there's one thing close to his heart......it's his brother.....

 

".....me and Scotty, we've had our ups and downs.....but that's what happens with family.....I've been fighting with my brother since the day he was born, but he's still my brother.....so Scott Hall, since you've already got your cheap little boots on and your dollar store tights, this ain't a case of bringing it or singing it.....you want some? Come get some.....you can get wheeled out on a stretcher, just like your little puppy dog Sean Waltman did.....but don't worry about those medical bills though, after I'm done kicking your ass, I got them covered......why? Because I'm Rich......and you're not....."

 

Rating: A*

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/tdpBqDG.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/xV2Bmd9.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/7ZNiBQh.jpg">

 

.....so it's impromptu match time, because Scott Hall is quick to accept the offer and this one gets underway.....

 

.....Sean Waltman is still out there at ringside and so are DiBiase and Jarrett.....the official does at least send Southern Justice to the back though, so at least that's something.....

 

.....obviously Hall and Steiner have met many, many times before (most recently as a week back) but those have predominantly been in tag team encounters.....obviously Scott Hall has had more high profile success as a singles competitor, holding a record five Intercontinental Championship's, but Rich Steiner has had some success and is a former Intercontinental Champion himself.....

 

.....the match was decent, but it never really had chance to get going.....I don't think the Corporation ever really intended for it to either, because Deebs and Double J spent the whole match huddled together in conversation, casting furtive glances in Sean Waltman's direction, clearly trying to decide exactly what it was they were going to 'take' from him.....

 

.....finally Jarrett has a Eureka moment, before telling his manager that he's going to go and get "it".....

 

.....I don't know if "it" was that Acoustic Equaliser of his, but that's what he has in his hands when he comes out from the back.....and as he runs down the aisle, he spins Waltman around and El Kabong's the crap out of him.....

 

.....Waltman already has a bad neck.....and if he didn't have, he does now, as the guitar smashes over his skull.....Scott Hall halts his offence at the sound that guitar getting smashed over his buddy's head, but with his back turned, Steiner jumps the man.....then Jarrett rolls into the ring.....

 

.....and BOTH men jump the man, beating him down to the mat.....

 

.....that'll be a disqualification then I guess.....

 

Winner: Scott Hall (via Disqualification)

Rating: B

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/ZrAHk5r.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/aJx3DWx.jpg">

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/4qNSkmS.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/3v9tYR3.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/EaR1PGI.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/RmpGMkn.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/RmVQirk.jpg">

 

.....it looks like our previous "match" was simply a way to keep the Wolfpac around while Jarrett decided what he was going to 'take' from Waltman.....it looks like he's come to a decision, because as Southern Justice make their way out again from the back, Canterbury and Knight hold back Scott Hall (while Rich Steiner literally slaps him across the face with a stack of bills) and make him watch as Jarrett grabs a microphone.....

 

.....Jarrett says that he and DiBiase thought long and hard about the best way to teach that little punk Waltman a lesson.....

 

".....can't take his title, because he doesn't have one.....can't take his dignity, because he doesn't have any.....can't take his career, because he's already on the injured list.....in fact, Sean Waltman.....you have NOTHING.....so if you have nothing worth taking and you already look like a little homeless street rat, maybe I'll GIVE you something.....maybe I'll give you a makeover....."

 

.....with that DiBiase hands Double J a pair of scissors, before joining Steiner in holding down Waltman.....

 

.....Jarrett starts small.....he takes a pretty small section of hair and snips it right off, waving it in Waltmans face and telling him that he's going to balder than a cue ball by the time he's finished with him.....

 

.....and with the teasing out of the way, Jarrett gathers all of Waltman's hair into one big greasy ponytail, before positioning the scissors to make the final cut.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/HyK3j5W.jpg">

 

.....before Jeff "The Barber" Beefcake can do his thing though, the current European Champion Booker T comes rushing out from the back, putting a halt to Jarrett's plans.....

 

.....the distraction is enough for Scott Hall to break free (followed by Waltman) and between the three of them they manage to send the Corporation running for the hills.....

 

.....thankfully most of Sean Waltman's hair is still in tact, but he's not a happy wolf.....Jeff Jarrett might have a European Title shot lined up for later this evening, but from the look of it he's still got the Wolfpac to worry about.....

 

.....we'll see how that goes later on.....

 

Rating: A

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/sn4pPLN.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/wWH32sR.jpg">

 

.....from there we head to the back for another brief cut scene.....the Undertaker and Kane are still looking for Raven, but much like earlier they are having little luck finding him.....for someone that was so insistent about the Deadman coming to him, he's not making himself easy to find.....

 

.....again Taker and Kane toss the furniture (and staff) around in their hunt, but the Deadman is clearly getting increasingly impatient about their inability to find the Deity of the Damned.....

 

.....he tells Kane that SOMEONE is going to feel his wrath tonight.....preferably Raven, but if the bird boy wants to play hide and seek then maybe they will have to broaden their search.....

 

.....maybe they should look for Mankind too.....

 

.....Kane is happy with that (I think, it's hard to tell what with the mask) after all, Paul Bearer has already warned Mrs. Foley's Baby Boy that Kane is coming for him.....he nods his head at his brother and the two continue their search.....

 

.....with TWO targets now instead of one.....

 

.....that's if they find them.....

 

Rating: N/A

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/4t9c7UL.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/Ycj3a7t.jpg">

 

.....from there we go to a sit down interview that was recorded earlier in the day, as Jim Ross gets up close and personal with Dean Malenko, to discuss Malenko's challenge to Chris Jericho......

 

.....JR says that this is no normal challenge.....yes, Dean Malenko will be getting a shot at Chris Jericho AND the WWF Intercontinental Championship (at Wrestlemania no less) but in order to do so, he WILLINGLY put his career on the line.....

 

".....which means that if you win, you become the World Wrestling Federation Champion.....but if you LOSE.....that's it, you're done, you're going home.....and Dean, with all due respect, you haven't exactly been lighting it up around here with victories.....why would you not only accept these terms, but actually be the one to set them?....."

 

.....JR says that Chris Jericho is one of them most self-confident (to the point of arrogance) superstars here in the WWF.....he would likely have eventually agreed to face Malenko again.....why put it all on the line?.....

 

".....why?.....because I have to....."

 

.....Malenko says that he put his career on the line because he has to know.....he HAS to.....this will be the most high pressure, high stipulation match he's ever competed in and he NEEDS to know that he's up to the task.....

 

.....Malenko tells JR that he came to the WWF with the goal of proving himself to be the best Light-Heavyweight competitor in the world......he wanted to prove himself against the best Light-Heavyweight wrestlers in the world.....he never got to do that.....and now, thanks to Chris Jericho, he never will.....

 

.....he says that Chris Jericho, in one night, changed Dean Malenko's entire career projection.....he took away everything Malenko had been working towards.....

 

.....and then he laughed about it.....

 

".....Chris Jericho didn't even WANT the Light-Heavyweight Title.....he just didn't want anyone else to have it.....he carried that Championship Belt around like a piece of trash and then discarded it the second he became the Intercontinental Champion.....he crapped on the Light-Heavyweight Title.....he crapped on the Light-Heavyweight Division.....and he crapped on me.....

 

.....he crapped on me.....my family.....AND my career.....I've never doubted my ability a day in my life Jim, but Chris Jericho had my doubting myself.....CAN I defeat Chris Jericho?.....CAN I become Intercontinental Champion?.....CAN I do it on the grandest stage of them all?.....

 

.....CAN I?.....

 

.....I think I can Jim Ross.....in fact, I KNOW I can.....but if I can't.....then I shouldn't be here.....if I can't.....

 

.....then I'm going home....."

 

Rating: A

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/Aj85as0.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/xV2Bmd9.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/RlaW3ae.jpg">

 

.....oh look, it's Savio Vega.....

 

.....poor old Savio hasn't really been relevant (or used regularly) around here since, oh.....I want to say early to mid 1996.....

 

.....he was (at one point) an early foil of the Nation of Domination, even going on to wrestle for the vacant WWF Intercontinental Championship back at Wrestlemania XII against (then Nation Leader) Faarooq and (current Nation Leader) Ahmed Johnson in a triple threat match.....

 

.....funnily enough, it would have been around that time that his path would have crossed with his opponent tonight.....because he's a former Nation of Domination member himself.....FORMER being the operative word, because it was just last night that Scorpio was violently evicted from the group.....

 

.....I guess that makes him a babyface now.....

 

.....might explain the dancing.....

 

.....considering he WAS only evicted from the Nation last night (violently.....I did mention that right?) Scorpio is in a surprisingly good mood here.....the crowd is somewhat into him and he certainly appears to be enjoying pandering to the fans again.....he looks good here, and while this was Savio's first outing on Raw in some time, he doesn't get the result that I'm sure he was hoping for.....instead he gets to count the lights after getting squashed with a Scorpio (450) Splash.....

 

Winner: Scorpio

Rating: B

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/SGz3X7U.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/v6zN6Ri.jpg">

 

.....it was short and sweet, but Scorpio has his first official win as a Non-Nation member.....and Michael Cole wants to find out how that feels, making his way out from the back to join the victor in the ring.....

 

.....Cole talks briefly about the attack that he suffered last night at the hands of his so-called brothers, before asking Scorpio where he goes from here.....after all (as Ahmed pointed out last night) the Light-Heavyweight Division (a Division that Scorpio spearheaded in the early days as it's first Champion) is no more.....

 

.....Scorpio says that just like Ahmed Johnson, Micheal Cole is too short sighted......he says that he was never a Light-Heavyweight wrestler......he was just a wrestler.....who happened to be a Light-Heavyweight.....

 

".....one or two little losses (and a Division being dissolved) and the Nation wanna kick me to the Curb?.....that's ok Michael......the Nation can keep on underestimating me.....AHMED JOHNSON can keep on underestimating me.....that just means it'll be that much sweeter when I whip his big ass....."

 

.....Scorpio says that where he goes from here, that's pretty easy to answer.....he goes to war......and he goes to war AGAINST the Nation.....one of them.....two of them....three, four.....all of them, it doesn't matter.....all he has to do now is find some tag team partners.....

 

".....if only the Nation weren't so damn likeable Michael Cole.....where ever will I find anyone that would even WANT to fight them?....."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/elv89er.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/tWRuPzk.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/rE9PbL3.jpg">

 

.....looks like Scorpio already has some partners in mind.....because as Faarooq, Bradshaw and the big man Nelson make their way out, he has a huge smile on his face.....

 

.....the three men join Scorpio in the ring, not for more promo time though.....they just show a little bit of solidarity with the man and bark threats at the Nation of Domination.....looks like Scorpio has a (temporary) Nation of his own.....

 

Rating: B+

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/SGz3X7U.jpg">

 

.....before the four men head to the back, and we get to the reason Michael Cole was out here in the first place.....

 

.....what? You think we sent him out here just for a Scorpio promo?.....

 

.....Cole says that he initially came out here because he has an introduction to make.....he says that as the World Wrestling Federation continues to prove that it is THE world wide leader in sports entertainment, it's attracting more and more members of the fighting community.....

 

".....first we had the worlds most dangerous man Ken Shamrock.....then the worlds strongest man Mark Henry.....now I want to introduce you to a man so adept at the martial arts, that his entire body has had to be registered as a lethal weapon......ladies and gentlemen, this.....is Steve Blackman....."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/Qw4F8YC.jpg">

 

.....he doesn't LOOK like much of a lethal weapon.....in fact (apart from the impressive physique) this Steve Blackman fella looks rather bland.....black hair, black beard, black martial arts bottoms......Black(man) by name, black by nature it would seem.....

 

.....he does have some supercool looking sticks with him though.....

 

.....he gets into the ring and runs through a brief (rather boring.....he's not much of a talker) history and introduction.....basically informing the crowd that he first wrestled for the WWF a decade ago, before contracting malaria (and dysentery) which left him practically bed bound for two years.....Blackman says that his ultimate goal was always to get back to the WWF though....and after spending years rebuilding his body, his muscle mass AND his skills (discovering a talent for Escrima and Tae Kwon Do) he's finally able to step back into the ring.....

 

.....which is exactly what he's in the WWF to do.....

 

.....Michael Cole points out that since Blackman has bought those Escrima Sticks with him, why doesn't he show us what he can do with them? Blackman agrees, but only gets a few seconds into a display.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/RlaW3ae.jpg">

 

.....before Savio Vega rolls back into the ring.....

 

.....I guess Savio has been nursing his ribs on the outside this whole time after getting squashed by Scorpio, but he's not having this......he snatches the microphone from Michael Cole, saying that he has had virtually no screen time in months, but this little Karate Kid wannabe just walks in off the street and gets on Raw just like that?......

 

.....Savio doesn't think so.....

 

.....he tosses the microphone down, before shoving Blackman in the chest (as well at rather poorly attempting to do the classic Karate Kid Crane Kick) telling the newcomer to get out of here.....

 

.....Blackmans not going anywhere.....so Savio shoves him again.....and again.....and again.....and then finally swings a right hand.....

 

.....which Blackman dodges.....

 

.....and then he cracks Savio upside the head with one of those sticks.....

 

.....Savio goes down like a sack of guano, and Blackman simply rolls him out of the ring as the lights go down (to reveal that this sticks glow in the dark damn it) and he's finally able to give his rather impressive display.....

 

.....ok, enough of that.....let's go to the back.....

 

Rating: B

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/kXjgb1c.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/wEbbPFc.jpg">

 

.....where Kevin Kelly is attempting to get a brief word from Steve Austin.....

 

.....Kelly says that tonight, Vince McMahon has made his feelings (and his wishes) crystal clear.....he doesn't want the Rattlesnake anywhere near the main event of Wrestlemania.....he doesn't want Stone Cold anywhere near Brian Pillman.....and he most certainly does not want Steve Austin anywhere near the WWF Championship.....in fact, tonight.....Ric Flair and Arn Anderson have been tasked with taking the Rattlesnake out of commission once and for all.....

 

".....is that right?.....well let me tell you something son, the only way that you're getting Steve Austin out of that WWF Title Match at Wrestlemania, is to put me six feet underground in a wooden box.....and hell, I'd probably dig my way outta that, crawl my way to Wrestlemania, Stun Bret Hart, Stun Brian Pillman, and STILL walk out as the World Wrestling Federation Champion.....

 

.....Ric Flair and Arn Anderson, they've tried to put Steve Austin out before and the only thing they ACTUALLY managed to put out was their crooked old backs.....I don't care who you put in front of me Kevin Kelly.....Arn Anderson, Ric Flair, that masked freak Mankind, Brian Pillman, Bret Hart.....I just don't give a damn, because the fact remains the same.....Stone Cold Steve Austin is walking into Wrestlemania as the toughest summbich on the planet and he's walking out of Wrestlemania with the World Wrestling Federation Title around his waist and that's all I gotta say about that.....

 

.....so I suggest you straighten your little bow tie (you look like a stupid summbich by the way) straighten up your stupid little bow tie and walk your ass back on to Vince McMahons office, kiss his ass....and then tell Ric Flair and Old Man River to walk their geriatric old bodies to the ring....."

 

.....Austin pauses for a moment to pick up a steel chair.....

 

".....because their ass belongs to Stone Cold....."

 

.....Kevin Kelly might have more questions to ask, but the only thing he's going to get if he sticks around here is an ass-whipping.....so with that being said, maybe we should go down to ringside.....

 

Rating: A

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/HyK3j5W.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/to5UuKB.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/gctJUIV.jpg">

 

.....for a return match from last night.....except this time the roles have been reversed, as Booker T puts his newly won European Championship on the line against former Champion Jeff Jarrett.....

 

.....Jarrett has been quite vocal already tonight, apparently believing that had it not been for the involvement of Sean Waltman, then he would still be standing here as Champion.....he's already dealt with the Wolfpac, so winning his title back should be a doddle.....

 

.....right?.....

 

.....yeah, it won't be that simple.....

 

.....Booker T might not have won the title last night the way he wanted to, but rest assured the former Harlem Heat man is a VERY deserving champion.....Booker has risen up the ranks here in the WWF at a remarkable pace and has been putting on some excellent performances week in and week out.....

 

.....these two men had an excellent match last night, they have a great match here too.....it's not marred in quite so much controversy either, because a (clearly) confident Jeff Jarrett leaves the help in the back (with the exception of Ted DiBiase) while Booker T simply doesn't want any help.....

 

.....he didn't really need it either.....Jarrett (and Deebs) may have controlled a good portion of the match, but at the end of the day it was Booker who walked out with a victory, kicking his opponent off during a Figure Four Leg Drop attempt (sending him crashing into DiBiase on the apron) and gets met with a kick to the gut, followed by a hard ax-kick to the back of the head.....and three seconds later, Booker T retains his Championship.....and he does it as clean as a whistle.

 

Winner: .....and Still WWF European Champion.....Booker T.....

Rating: A

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/1tBOrDQ.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/HyK3j5W.jpg">

 

.....Jarrett decides not to stick around, telling a nearby camera that this was just a fluke win for Booker......Jarrett had expended too much energy taking apart the Wolfpac.....this was Sean Waltman's fault.....AGAIN.....

 

.....yeah, keep telling yourself that Jeff.....

 

.....in the meantime, Dok Hendrix has made his way out in order to get word from Booker T on the challenge levied by Stevie Ray.....

 

".....the question is Booker T.....will you put that title on the line against your own brother?....."

 

.....Booker is quick to tell Hendrix that of course he will.....

 

".....you know Dok, people make too much about the 'brother vs. brother' thing.....me and Stevie, we grew up fighting for everything we have, I've fought my brother more times than I can count.....if Stevie Ray wanted to fight me for THIS title, then all he had to do was ask......instead of that he went out and he stabbed his REAL brother in the back for a couple'a Wannabe G's....."

 

.....Booker says that he would have been HONOURED to face his brother at Wrestlemania.....even more so to be doing it for the European Championship.....but it seems like Stevie Ray doesn't have any honour.....

 

".....Stevie, you want a shot at this belt sucka, you GOT a shot at this belt.....and I'll tell you what.....you wanna bring Ahmed Johnson.....Kama.....D'Lo Brown.....bring them too, bring Mark Henry.....because they might be a Nation.....but 110th Street is 110th street, and ain't no Nation in the world that can stack up to that.....you sold out your brother for your 'brothers', now your 'brothers' can watch your brother whoop you like your daddy, you dig that sucka?....."

 

.....I don't know if anyone digs that.....or even understands it.....but it sounds like it's official......Booker T will be putting the European Championship on the line at Wrestlemania.....and he'll be defending it against his own brother Stevie Ray......

 

.....oh brother.....

 

.....let's go to the back.....

 

Rating: A

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/18yWLzn.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/basm3D4.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/3rP3hMk.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/wFvWnhZ.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/CIQ11Pk.jpg">

 

.....since Dok Hendrix is already in the ring, we go backstage to Michael Cole, who's standing by with the members of the Hart Foundation.....

 

.....Bret Hart looks to be in pretty bad shape (courtesy of taking the ride through the announce table last night) but he says it was all worth it, because he's going to the main event of Wrestlemania, which gives him about five weeks to recuperate.....plenty of time.....

 

.....Cole says that since Chris Jericho has a match booked with Dean Malenko and Bret has his WWF Championship opportunity, that just leaves Test and Owen without any Wrestlemania dance partners......which is when the Intercontinental Champion cuts him off.....

 

".....woah, woah, woah.....hold on there Michelangelo.....first of all, Test will be PLENTY busy at Wrestlemania.....he'll be where he always is, right by my side, guarding this sexy body from all the gutter skanks in the crowd that are desperate to get a taste of some prime Canadian Bacon.....

 

.....and for the record, Chris Jericho (your hero and mine.....paragon of virtue) doesn't just have A match.....he has THE match.....the match that's going to see Bore-Us Malenko Jr finally pack up his boring, sensible clothes in his boring, sensible suitcase.....and run back home to Great Aunt Gertrude Malenko with his tail between his legs.....because Chris Jericho is going to embarrass him.....humiliate him.....defeat him.....and retire him.....mark it on your calendar folks, because after Wrestlemania you will never......eeeeeeeever.....see Dean Malenko again....."

 

.....as for Owen (who actually looks pretty down in the dumps after losing to Steve Austin last night) Bret says not to worry about Owen.....

 

".....Owen might have got screwed over last night Cole (Editors Note: He really didn't Bret) but everyone knows that Owen Hart is twice the man that Steve Austin is.....and it's only a matter of time before he's wearing gold again in the World Wrestling Federation.....as for Steve Austin, judging by what Vince McMahon said earlier this evening, Steve Austin won't even MAKE IT to Wrestlemania.....so Brian Pillman, that'll just leave you.....and me.....

 

.....Brian Pillman, everyone knows that you're Vince McMahon's chosen Champion.....his little stooge.....and trust me, I know better than most what it means to be screwed over by one of Vince McMahon's pets.....you might have Vince McMahon on your side.....Ric Flair.....Arn Anderson.....Mankind.....all of them, nothing but mercenaries.....while Steve Austin, he's got NO ONE on his side....."

 

.....Bret pauses for a moment to look around the room, smiling at Jericho and Test, patting Owen on the back and telling Cole that he.....he has FAMILY by his side.....

 

".....family by my side....and at Wrestlemania.....I'll have the WWF Title around my waist....."

 

Rating: A*

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/0Cx980t.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/xV2Bmd9.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/UuHvEV1.jpg">

 

.....we go to commercial just before our main event, but before we do we see a brief 30 second split screen of Steve Austin walking down a hallway with a steel chair in hand, while Ric Flair and Arn Anderson walk down a separate hallway on the other side of the screen.....tyre iron in Arn's hand.....and then when we come back, the glass shatters, the crowd explodes.....it's main event time.....

 

.....Vince McMahon has certainly piled the pressure on his WWF Tag Team Champions here.....he wants Steve Austin taking out.....he wants Steve Austin taking out tonight.....and if he DOESN'T get what he wants, The Nature Boy and The Enforcer will have to go one better than Brian Pillman, because they will have to defend those Tag Team Titles against FOUR teams.....

 

.....not the best odds.....

 

.....anyway, back to this match.....

 

.....if Steve Austin truly wants to become the next WWF Champion, then he's going to have to know how to defeat a champion (to be the man.....you know the rest) and despite his advancing age, there's no doubt that Ric Flair is one of (if not THE) most decorated World Champion in recent history.....he's also got a hell of an incentive to take out Austin here (not to mention the assistance of The Enforcer in his corner) but that doesn't help him initially, because The Rattlesnake is all over him in the opening portion of the match.....

 

.....Flair knows how to sell (clearly) and bumps and feeds every punch that Austin throws (and there's a lot of them) before finally retreating to the outside.....where Stone Cold follows him, continuing the offence and even putting Anderson down to the concrete with a running clothesline.....

 

.....the Nature Boy finally gets a reprieve thanks to his tag team partner though, because as Austin looks to deliver a piledriver right there on the arena floor, Anderson draws the Rattlesnakes attention just long enough that Flair is able to backdrop his way out of it and it's Austin that eats the concrete.....

 

.....now Flair goes to work, 'Woooooooo-ing' like a madman as he works over the knee that he and Arn previously assaulted back at the Royal Rumble.....Vince McMahon wants Stone Cold out of commission and he wants him out of commission tonight, so Flair stretches, torques, tweaks and bends the knee, as well as distracting the official so that Anderson can reach under that bottom rope to slam the bum knee off the ring apron and the ring post.....

 

.....Austin has vowed that these two (horse)men are going to have to literally put him six feet under to stop him tonight, and even that won't stop him from going to Wrestlemania.....so try as he might, Flair just can't keep Austin down.....bum knee and all, the Rattlesnake keeps fighting back, eventually levelling the Nature Boy with a Thez Press and a flurry of fists.....

 

.....Anderson rolls into the ring behind Austin, but the Rattlesnake sees him coming, kicks him in the gut and then drops him with a Stunner.....Flair is groggily (and slowly) getting back to his feet, but the Rattlesnake is waiting.....and he's waiting with a second Stunner.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/HDRIAj2.jpg">

 

.....which doesn't connect.....because Mankind comes rushing out from the back, spins Austin around.....and locks on the Mandible Claw.....

 

.....that'll be a disqualification.....

 

Winner: Steve Austin (via Disqualification)

Rating: A

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/56s2U48.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/UuHvEV1.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/fA0kgX3.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/HDRIAj2.jpg">

 

.....hey, McMahon didn't say that Flair had to WIN here.....just that Steve Austin had to leave the arena in no condition to perform at Wrestlemania.....if Mankind keeps his fingers lodged into the gullet of the Rattlesnake much longer then he's not going to be in any condition to do ANYTHING, let alone perform.....and while Anderson might still be recovering from the affects of that Stunner, Ric Flair is heading to the outside to pick up a steel chair.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.....:::::!!!!!GONG!!!!!:::::.....:::::!!!!!PYRO ERUPTS!!!!!:::::.....

 

 

 

 

 

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/RMwzQdZ.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/wWH32sR.jpg">

 

.....but after a rather frustrating evening for the Deadman and his brother (after failing to find Raven) The Undertaker and Kane are here....and they're here for Mankind.....

 

.....Paul Bearer made it known that the Big Red Monster had his sights set on the Masked Mankind, so as he steps over the top rope that's exactly who Kane sets his sights on, grabbing Foley by his scraggy hair and dragging him free of Austin.....

 

.....with Kane otherwise occupied, the Deadman turns to Flair in order to work some (Raven related) frustrations out of his system, knocking the former multi-time World Champion on his ass with a series of blows.....

 

.....Anderson is back to his feet and charges across the ring (picking up that discarded chair on his way) and smashing it across the back of the Deadman.....it barely phases the Undertaker though, who's head snaps around like a B-Movie Monster to glare at the Enforcer.....

 

.....that clearly didn't work.....

 

.....if at first you don't succeed (etc, etc) so Anderson backs up a few steps and comes again, this time looking to smash the chair into the skull of the Undertaker.....who gets a Big Boot up, smashing Arn's own chair into his face.....

 

.....Flair has snatched up Arn's tyre-iron in the meantime and he stalks up behind the Undertaker.....but Steve Austin isn't down.....and despite the Mandible Claw he just sustained, he's certainly not out either, spinning Flair, kick to the gut.....Stunner.....Flair is done......

 

.....Arn reaches under the bottom rope and drags Flair to the outside, just as Kane sends Mankind tumbling through the ropes as well to the floor.....and with The Undertaker, Kane and Stone Cold Steve Austin standing tall in the middle of the ring, Vince McMahon's Corporate Guns decide that the best option is to make a hasty retreat.....

 

.....unfortunately for them, Steve Austin looks to be very much still in condition to perform at Wrestlemania.....looks like our WWF Triple Threat Championship Match is still very much set......and now, because of that, so is the Fatal Four Way WWF Tag Team Title match.....

 

.....goodnight folks.....we'll see you next week.....

 

Rating: A*

 

Final Rating: A*

 

 

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<p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p> </p><p> <img style="max-width:60%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/hzf7tIZ.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/hzf7tIZ.jpg"></a></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Week 4, February 1998</strong></p><p><strong> Frank Erwin Center (Austin, Texas)</strong></p><p><strong> ATT: 14,870</strong></p><p><strong> TV: 30.57</strong></p><p><strong> Announce Team: Tony Schiavone, Bobby Heenan and Mike Tenay </strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43289" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><p> </p><p> <img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/XjyLvuu.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/XjyLvuu.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/14sRqgF.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/14sRqgF.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/2EPs81y.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/2EPs81y.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/aQrP0BT.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/aQrP0BT.jpg"></a></p><p> </p><p> .....it's that time of the week again and while we are one night removed from the WWF's February Pay Per View offering, we are only six nights away from WCW SuperBrawl VIII.....and it's set to be a big night.....</p><p> </p><p> .....if Starrcade and Wrestlemania are comprisable in terms of each respective companies biggest show of the year, then SuperBrawl (much like Summerslam) would be a very close second.....this at years SuperBrawl we are set to see the Warrior battle his one time friend and partner Sting, for the WCW Championship of the World.....a huge match in itself, but there's more.....</p><p> </p><p> .....because despite the fact that Shawn Michaels repeatedly insists that he has little interest in holding the "Big Tin Belt", he will be vying for the number one contender status, meeting the Macho Man Randy Savage inside a steel cage.....not ANY steel cage.....in what basically amounts to WCW's version of a Hell in a Cell match, we will be taking the War Games cage and enclosing not just the ring, but the entire ringside area.....there's going to be some Caged Heat between these two men.....</p><p> </p><p> .....on that note, it appears as though the Titans of Wrestling have something to say about both of those matches, because they make their way out to open the show.....</p><p> </p><p> .....although the group seems to be a little smaller than usual.....</p><p> </p><p> .....we have Vince Russo, Randy Savage.....we have the Warrior and we have Buff Bagwell too.....but conspicuous by their absence, the Totally Awesome Trinity are nowhere to be seen.....</p><p> </p><p> .....Macho Man takes the microphone to tell the crowd that the day is almost here.....he says that since Starrcade, the professional wrestling world has been tipped on its axis because Starrcade was the day that Hollywood Hogan let the WCW Title (and everything that goes with it) slip through his fingers.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....but at SuperBrawl, what goes around comes back around yeah, as the Titans of Wrestling flip the switch yeah, you dig....."</em></p><p> </p><p> .....Savage says that Buff Bagwell already wiped the floor with Roddy Piper once.....on Sunday he'll do it again and put that skirt wearing freak out of WCW once and for all.....while the Warrior, the Warrior is going to undo Hollywood's mistakes.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....because the Warrior Man, yeah.....he's going to take back the prize that EVERYONE eyes.....the prize that we shouldn't have ever lost.....the WCW Championship, yeah....."</em></p><p> </p><p> .....Macho says that if there's ONE man who knows how to take down Sting, it's the Warrior.....they trained together.....travelled together.....roomed together.....came up together.....Warrior came IN to the business with Sting and at SuperBrawl he's going to take him OUT of the business too.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....and then there's Shawn Michaels.....Mr. 'Thinks he's Sexy', still a boy, stepping inside a steel cage with a MAN yeah.....but not just any cage, because there's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, no escape and no JPL to hide behind you dig?....."</em></p><p> </p><p> .....Macho says that the Titans of Wrestling are the cream of the crop when it comes to this business, so where they DO their business is the place to be and the place to be is WCW, no matter WHAT Shawn Michaels says.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....and at SuperBrawl (since you don't like the view around here) the Macho Man is going to take you out permanently.....Oh Ye...."</em></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/wYulN53.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/wYulN53.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/9v5UqjM.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/9v5UqjM.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/WqjrxR2.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/WqjrxR2.jpg"></a></p><p> </p><p> .....oh ye indeed.....Macho doesn't actually get to finish that signature catchphrase.....instead he gets interrupted by the three Titans that do NOT have a match at SuperBrawl.....Ray Traylor, Adam Copeland and Christian Cage.....</p><p> </p><p> .....the Totally Awesome Trinity make their way out, and the trio SHOULD be fresh as a daisy after walking out on the Titans last week to supposedly go on vacation.....problem with that is that they didn't actually GET a vacation.....in fact, they were quite busy this past week on Thunder.....</p><p> </p><p> .....Savage barely gives the three men chance to step between the ropes before he's ready to slap someone.....Copeland felt the wrath of the Macho Man LAST week, which almost resulted in Traylor and Savage coming to blows, as the Enforcer took offence to Randy laying a hand on his fellow Trinity Member.....</p><p> </p><p> .....Bagwell has to hold the Macho Man back, while Copeland tells him to <em>"totally chill out dude, before you have a major aneurism"</em>.....Copeland says that they must have missed the memo that the Titans were up first tonight.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....or is this just for the Titans that HAVE matches booked for SuperBrawl? Because we totally don't, do we Christian....."</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> ".....WE don't.....what about you Big Ray-Ray? Do you have a match?....."</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> "..............."</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> ".....Big Ray-Ray doesn't have a match....."</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> ".....Big Ray-Ray should totally have a match....."</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> ".....what about Hollywood? Does Hollywood have a match?....."</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> ".....dude, no.....Hollywood should totally hav....."</em></p><p> </p><p> .....I don't think Savage wants to hear the name Hollywood Hogan.....because at the sound of Hogan's name he shakes free of Bagwell and again (for the second consecutive week) slaps Copeland right in the mouth.....</p><p> </p><p> .....and again Traylor doesn't like that, not one bit.....and he shoves Savage in the chest with such force that the Macho Man hits the mat.....Savage scrambles back to his feet, wild eyed like a, well like a savage.....and this time it takes both Bagwell AND the Warrior to hold him back, as Traylor invites Macho to try it.....</p><p> </p><p> .....Russo grabs the microphone to try and calm things down.....or rather, to lay down the law.....</p><p> </p><p> .....he's not happy with the attitude of the Trinity as of late, telling Copeland and Cage they're pushing their luck.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....and no.....none of the three of you have a match at SuperBrawl, but that's on YOU bro....."</em></p><p> </p><p> .....Russo says that he (and Macho) have been waiting for the Trinity to take out the Forgotten.....or the Nasty Boys.....they were told to go and make a statement, show WHY they should be getting the Tag Title opportunity.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....but you didn't, did you.....no, instead you came out here, week in and week out, watched Big Van Vader and Bam Bam Bigelow kick the crap out of whoever was in front of them, and then you quickly turned around and ran (just like Hulk Hogan did) as far away from the action as you could get.....so tell me bro, who would we give you a match with? You want I should pull a couple of bums in off the street? You think you could beat them?....."</em></p><p> </p><p> .....Cage goes to answer, but Russo cuts him off, telling him that if he they want a match, they GOT a match.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....TONIGHT.....so go to the back, put your big boy boots on......because there's no more hiding, no more running.....you're facing the Forgotten....."</em></p><p> </p><p> .....I don't know how happy Copeland and Cage actually are to hear that, but they take the match, telling Russo that by the end of the night, the Totally Awesome Two will be holding Tag Team Gold.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....c'mon Big Ray-Ray....."</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> ".....woah, hold on there bro.....first of all, it ain't a title match.....you don't get Title shots by p!ssing me off bro.....and second of all, 'Big Ray-Ray' ain't going nowhere.....because he's got a match tonight too......right now actually....."</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> ".....against who?....."</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> ".....well since some people around here need to learn their place, that match is going to be against the man that's taking Shawn Michaels OUT on Sunday Night.....</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> .....The Macho Man, Randy Savage....."</em></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Rating:</strong> A*</p><p> </p><p> </p><p></p></div><div style="text-align:center;"></div><div></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43289" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;"></div><p> </p><p> <img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/5XrTwCg.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/5XrTwCg.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/TFVQgbO.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/TFVQgbO.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/pUAvcva.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/pUAvcva.jpg"></a></p><p> </p><p> .....I doubt anyone was expecting to see Titan vs. Titan here tonight when they bought their tickets, but Savage is still seething after last week, while Traylor hasn't backed down an inch EITHER week, so this has definitely been brewing.....</p><p> </p><p> .....I've said it before, but the arrival of Adam Copeland and Christian Cage to WCW was the best thing that ever happened to him, sure he was positioned as the Enforcer of the Titans of Wrestling before that, but he never had the spotlight that he has had since becoming a (surprisingly important) part of the Totally Awesome Trinity.....</p><p> </p><p> .....not that the rest of the Trinity are out here for this one.....</p><p> </p><p> .....Russo orders both Copeland and Cage to the back (while rather suspiciously allowing Buff Bagwell to remain) so Traylor is all alone in this one.....Big Ray-Ray doesn't actually wrestle much nowadays, but he's still a large and powerful Enforcer that gives Savage plenty of problems.....problems that Buff Bagwell has the solution to.....</p><p> </p><p> .....because while Traylor has Savage draped over the middle ropes, he comes charging across the ring and leaps, looking to drive his weight across the back of the Macho Man, as well as driving Savage's throat into the ring rope.....unfortunately Bagwell shoves Macho out of harms way and Traylor has a bad landing that sees him getting tangled up in the ropes......</p><p> </p><p> .....he falls backwards and crashes to the mat, just as Savage comes flying off the top with that patented Elbow Drop, that gives him the one, the two and the three.....</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Winner:</strong> Randy Savage</p><p> <strong>Rating:</strong> B</p><p> </p><p> </p><p></p><p></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43289" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;"></div><p> </p><p> <img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/71Pzys6.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/71Pzys6.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/o5VxOZB.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/o5VxOZB.jpg"></a></p><p> </p><p> .....Savage grabs up a microphone and tells Traylor to remember that it's the Titans of Wrestling that make him relevant around here.....and they can make him Irrelevant just as easily......</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....so brutha, fall in line, shape up or ship out....."</em></p><p> </p><p> .....Macho says that the seconds are ticking by and the day draws nearer.....because yes, Randy Savage WILL be the number one contender for the WCW Title on Sunday, but that doesn't mean that the Macho Man isn't rooting for the Warrior Man at SuperBrawl.....the way he sees it, whether it's him or Warrior that does the thing, all that matters is that the WCW Title comes home where it belongs.....</p><p> </p><p> .....which is why Buff Bagwell is going to face the WCW Champion Sting later tonight.....to do what Copeland and Cage SHOULD have done a few weeks back.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....and that's get Sting ready for the Warrior....if you get what I mean, yeah....."</em></p><p> </p><p> .....Bagwell asks Savage if that means HE is getting a World Title shot tonight? After all, it doesn't matter WHO holds the gold so long as it's in the Titans.....right?.....</p><p> </p><p> .....I guess not, because Savage mutters something about Eric Bischoff not allowing that, before quickly brushing off the question to address Shawn Michaels again.....</p><p> </p><p> .....sorry Buff, I guess that's going to be non-title after all.....</p><p> </p><p> .....Macho tells Shawn Michaels that while he THINKS he's an icon, he's really nothing more than a cheap imitation of Randy Savage.....an Icon lite if you will.....Savage says that Shawn can talk (<em>"no doubt about it, yeah"</em>) but at the end of the day, talking isn't going to be enough to beat Randy Savage.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....because everything you can do I can do better and I've been doing it longer, yeah.....you can fly, you can jump.....got an elbow drop of your own.....I've seen it, yeah.....not a fan....."</em></p><p> </p><p> .....Macho Man says that he's been dropping elbows for years.....he says that Shawn can wrestle (<em>"but I've wrestled them all.....beat em too"</em>) and yeah, he's a former World Champion (<em>"uh-huh, yeah.....been there, done that.....been to the top of the mountain.....THREE TIMES you dig"</em>) in fact, everything Shawn Michaels has done, or WANT'S to do, Randy Savage has already done it.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....but at SuperBrawl, brother, brother, brother.....all your dreams are going to come true, yeah.....because the Macho Man is going to give you the one thing you want.....I'm going to take that pretty boy face, grind it into mincemeat.....and then, since you hate it around here so much, I'm going to take you out......out of WCW, out of my hair, out of my face, out of the business, yeah.....permanently, ya dig.....Oh Yeah....."</em></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Rating:</strong> A*</p><p> </p><p> </p><p></p><p></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43289" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;"></div><p> </p><p> <img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/w96EUju.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/w96EUju.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/i2GFy0d.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/i2GFy0d.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/eyNwvlP.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/eyNwvlP.jpg"></a></p><p> </p><p> .....the last time we saw the Soul Train team of Ernest Miller and Ice Train they were facing off AGAINST each other instead of teaming WITH each other.....obviously there had been some tension within the pairing, mainly because of Millers ever increasing ego......and an unfounded ego at that, because the pair have hardly been tearing it up the rankings.....that being said, Teddy Long obviously decided that they need to work out their frustrations but in doing so he only made matters worse, because with victory Ernest Millers ego only grew bigger as he announced himself the 'leader' of the team.....</p><p> </p><p> .....because of that, Miller has vowed to lead the team to tag team glory (and gold) but Train is going to have to do things HIS way.....and right now, HIS way involves working on his footwork.....</p><p> </p><p> .....and by footwork I mean dancing.....</p><p> </p><p> .....this segment is obviously pre-taped as we're in some undisclosed location, where Miller (as Teddy Long watches bemused) is attempting to teach Ice Train some moves.....there's some very (WCW rip-off) James Brown sounding music playing, as Miller two steps and shuffles his way around the floor.....</p><p> </p><p> .....he tells Train to follow his lead, but Ice Train is a huge man.....a huge uncoordinated man.....and he quite simply can't dance.....he tries, he really does, but as he trips and stumbles over his own feet he is clearly getting increasingly more frustrated, before he finally snaps, asking Miller exactly what the point of his is?.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....I'm going along with your stupid little 'leader' stipulation, but I don't get how this is gonna win us tag team gold.....Teddy?.....Teddy? You got any idea?....."</em></p><p> </p><p> .....Teddy Long just shakes his head, he's as in the dark as Train.....Miller though is insistent.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....man don't question me.....if you knew what was gonna win us gold then maybe I wouldn't have whooped yo ass last week.....goddamn ungrateful, that's what you are.....this is some outside the box training man.....this is some 'wax on-wax off' Mr. Miyagi knowledge I'm passing on here....."</em></p><p> </p><p> .....Miller says that the better Train is on his feet, the more chance he has of out-manoeuvring his opponent.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....and if you could out-manoeuvre your opponent, maybe I wouldn't have been able to kick your big ol' meathead off your shoulders last week....."</em></p><p> </p><p> .....Train tells Miller that he's about to manoeuvre his boot straight up Ernest's ass if he keeps running his mouth, but as I said, Ice Train is a man of his word.....Miller won the match.....Miller is the leader.....Miller calls the shots.....so Ice Train dances.....</p><p> </p><p> .....it's not a pretty sight.....</p><p> </p><p> .....in fact, it's horrendous.....</p><p> </p><p> .....let's leave this behind and head back down live to the arena shall we.....</p><p> </p><p> .....Ice Train REALLY can't dance.....</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Rating:</strong> B-</p><p> </p><p> </p><p></p><p></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43289" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;"></div><p> </p><p> <img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/QWljnPs.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/QWljnPs.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/TFVQgbO.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/TFVQgbO.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/KhGt6Q7.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/KhGt6Q7.jpg"></a></p><p> </p><p> .....anyway, enough of that nonsense, it's time for a match......and hold on to your hats, because VK Wallstreet is in action.....</p><p> </p><p> .....ok, that in itself probably isn't so exciting.....but he IS facing Mike Awesome, who in turn has Missy Hyatt with him.....</p><p> </p><p> .....ok, that's not overly exciting either.....it's 1998 after all, Missy is hardly at her best.....</p><p> </p><p> .....well, considering that we have a big eight man tag match happening at SuperBrawl, between Jimmy Hart's First Family and Konnan's chosen partners, Mike Awesome, Gideon Cain and Jeff Hardy, there's at least a lot going on at ringside.....because all eight men are out here.....and so are Missy and Jimmy.....and they had an altercation of their own last week.....</p><p> </p><p> .....do you notice that I'm not really discussing the match itself?.....that's because it's Mike Awesome vs. VK Wallstreet.....Mike could have a very bright future and VK is certainly fundamentally sound.....that being said this was hardly the most exciting of matches.....</p><p> </p><p> .....VK did a rear chinlock at one point.....then Mike Awesome won with an Awesome Bomb.....</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Winner:</strong> Mike Awesome </p><p> <strong>Rating:</strong> B-</p><p> </p><p> </p><p></p><p></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43289" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;"></div><p> </p><p> <img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/dY7So8t.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/dY7So8t.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/I9lnbBk.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/I9lnbBk.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/ClbEoLB.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/ClbEoLB.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/pmtBgnZ.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/pmtBgnZ.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/JeH6Xzy.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/JeH6Xzy.jpg"></a></p><p> <img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/Z25KcCK.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/Z25KcCK.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/KziTNSK.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/KziTNSK.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/bcJfl3t.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/bcJfl3t.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/pM1SjBC.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/pM1SjBC.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/zy1WWUY.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/zy1WWUY.jpg"></a></p><p> </p><p> .....I did say that there were a LOT of people at ringside right? Probably means that the testosterone is pumping too huh?......</p><p> </p><p> .....apparently the oestrogen is pumping too.....because Missy is in the ring with a microphone.....</p><p> </p><p> .....she tells Jimmy Hart that her man (Awesome) just beat his man (Wallstreet) just like her men are going to help Hardy and Konnan defeat the First Family at SuperBrawl.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....and me? I'm gonna kick your scrawny little ass right now....."</em></p><p> </p><p> .....Missy tells Jimmy that since he was man enough to get physical with her last week (<em>"copped a feel too didn'tya"</em>) how about he steps into the ring right now bring that referee.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....and let's see who's got the bigger balls.....you.....or ME....."</em></p><p> </p><p> .....don't worry, I'm not actually booking a match here.....we are going to HAVE a match though.....or rather some small semblance of one.....Jimmy throws down his jacket on the floor and climbs into the ring (despite Morrus warning him not to) as he and Missy get back into the same catfight they were having last week, THIS time with a referee in tow.....</p><p> </p><p> .....Missy is getting the upper hand too, at least until Wallstreet reaches into the ring to trip her up.....which then sparks a mass brawl on the outside as Cain and Awesome (with Hardy and Konnan close behind) rush over to battle the First Family.....</p><p> </p><p> .....it's chaos on the outside.....so chaotic in fact that the official misses the fact that Konnan slid into the ring to nail poor Jimmy with that rolling clothesline of his, before diving back to the outside to brawl with Hugh Morrus.....</p><p> </p><p> ....Missy sees Hart down, runs the ropes and then crushes the life out of little Jimmy with that surgically enhanced chest as she lands a running splash.....the referee makes the count and three seconds later, not only has VK Wallstreet lost here, but Jimmy Hart has too, in possibly the worst match in WCW history.....</p><p> </p><p> .....Missy kicks Hart to the outside, where his Family pick him up off the floor (with Barbarian hoisting him up over his shoulder) and carry him to the back, as Konnan, Hardy, Awesome and Cain join a delighted Missy Hyatt in the ring in celebration of her 'victory'.....</p><p> </p><p> .....let's go to the back.....</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Rating:</strong> B+</p><p> </p><p> </p><p></p><p></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43289" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;"></div><p> </p><p> <img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/w52KdTn.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/w52KdTn.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/XUfPbdt.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/XUfPbdt.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/lYNpqj2.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/lYNpqj2.jpg"></a></p><p> </p><p> .....where Adam Copeland and Christian Cage have the small matter of a match with the Forgotten to look forward too.....although right now they're trying to pacify a ticked off Ray Traylor, who's clearly not happy about the way he lost his match earlier this evening.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....we saw how that went down Big Ray-Ray, that was totally NOT awesome....."</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> ".....totally not awesome.....Buff is a total d!ck.....and to think we thought he was cool.....you had that match won Big Ray-Ray, we know that.....everyone knows that.....HOLLYWOOD knows that....."</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> ".....Hollywood totally knows that.....Big Ray-Ray, you should totally call Hollywood, you two go way back right? You totally have his number....."</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> ".....dude, YOU have his number....."</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> ".....yeah....no, he told me not to call him after the uhm, 'incident'....."</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> ".....the 'incident'?....."</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> ".....the incident.....THE INCIDENT!.....you know, with the jello and the Harley....."</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> ".....I have zero recollection of this....."</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> ".....and the possum?....."</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> ".....ohhhh....the 'incident'....."</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> ".....it looked totally friendly....."</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> ".....it looked like rabies on legs....."</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> ".....YOU look like rabies on legs....."</em></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/dICBV2c.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/dICBV2c.jpg"></a></p><p> </p><p> .....ok that's enough of that.....the less said about the 'incident' the better.....look, here's Mean Gene.....</p><p> </p><p> .....Gene says that he has to ask given the current occurrences, are we seeing dissension in the ranks of the Titans of Wrestling ? </p><p> </p><p> <em>".....gentlemen, it would seem to me that Randy Savage, the Warrior and even Buff Bagwell are pushing you further and further AWAY from the Titans of Wrestling.....and now (after ducking the issue for weeks) you have to face the Forgotten, and you don't even get a shot at the tag titles for your trouble....."</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> ".....SHUT UP MIKE TENAY!....."</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> ".....yeah, shut up Mike Tenay, you totally suck....."</em></p><p> </p><p> .....Mike Tenay (or rather Mean Gene, since that's who it ACTUALLY is) does not shut up.....instead he presses the issue.....never one to step away from stirring the pot he says that it's clear that the rest of the Titans have an agenda here.....Warrior gets a title shot, Savage gets a number one contender shot, Buff gets a high profile match.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....while you three gentlemen, you get nothing.....nada....."</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> ".....oh I don't know about that Mean Gene......I'd say they're getting a pretty big match right about now....."</em></p><p> </p><p> <img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/svuTeLZ.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/svuTeLZ.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/PifOkmV.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/PifOkmV.jpg"></a></p><p> </p><p> .....Shawn Michaels and JPL in the same room as the Titans of Wrestling? That doesn't usually end well.....</p><p> </p><p> .....it doesn't look as though the two are looking for a fight though, because as Shawn Michaels grabs the microphone off Mean Gene (before shoving him out of shot and telling him to go shill his hotline somewhere else) it looks like they're here to talk.....</p><p> </p><p> .....Shawn says that he doesn't know about JPL, but the way HE sees it, the Totally Awesome Trinity are getting totally shafted.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....I mean, I've seen a LOT of your merchandise in the crowd.....not as much as mine (obviously) but certainly more than your little Macho Warrior Man's shirts.....you guys are hot right now, and you know why?.....it's not because you're hanging with the 80's revival.....it's not because of Savage or Warrior.....it's certainly not because of the 'Brother' Man.....</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> .....it's because of US....."</em></p><p> </p><p> .....Shawn says that Copeland and Cage are the only entertaining thing in this god-forsaken company (<em>"apart from us"</em>) because they are cut from the same degenerate mould as Shawn Michaels and JPL.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....and you got your bodyguard there too.....had a bodyguard myself for a little bit.....didn't turn out so well, but he served his purpose....."</em></p><p> </p><p> .....Shawn says that Copeland and Cage should be showcased in the biggest matches in WCW (<em>".....or second.....third biggest.....behind me and The Hunter here"</em>) but they're not.....because WCW doesn't know how to create a genuine star.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....so you gotta MAKE them showcase you.....how? By going out there now in this stupid little non-title match and beating the crap outta the Forgotten.....those two fat pieces of sh....."</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> ".....SHAWN!....."</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> ".....garbage.....I was going to say garbage 'Jipple', get off my back.....those two fat slobs have been tossing opponents aside left right and centre, well tonight.....TONIGHT.....they're going to get a Totally Awesome Ass-Kicking at the hands of the Totally Awesome Trinity.....Randy Savage thinks this is a punishment? He thinks you're gonna get your asses handed to you? Pftttt, I don't think so.....you two go out there and do what you do best.....be Totally Awesome.....because even if your little Titan buddies don't believe in you.....we do....."</em></p><p> </p><p> .....a pep talk from Shawn Michaels? Who'd have thunk it.....it worked too, because Copeland and Cage charge out of shot ready to face their opponents next, as Levesque turns to Shawn.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....you really believe that?....."</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> ".....oh god no.....they're 'totally' going to get their asses kicked, but anything that p!sses off Randy Savage is fine by me.....come on 'Jipple', let's go watch the match....."</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> ".....quit it with the god damn Jipple crap....."</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> ".....it's funny.....that Rocky's a funny guy huh?....."</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> ".....no, that Rocky, he's a dead man....."</em></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Rating:</strong> A*</p><p> </p><p> </p><p></p><p></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43289" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;"></div><p> </p><p> <img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/xaN8C3M.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/xaN8C3M.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/iMTTL4m.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/iMTTL4m.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/TFVQgbO.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/TFVQgbO.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/Jg2T62p.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/Jg2T62p.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/CXQGLDZ.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/CXQGLDZ.jpg"></a></p><p> </p><p> ......sweet Jesus have Copeland and Cage desperately been putting off this match.....</p><p> </p><p> .....not that anyone can blame them.....Big Van Vader and Bam Bam Bigelow had become somewhat of an afterthought here in WCW until joining forces with Kevin Sullivan to form The Forgotten.....Forgotten by name, Forgotten by nature, they truly were the Forgotten men until Sullivan reignited their killer instinct and they've been nye on unstoppable since then.....and while Copeland and Cage were embroiled in a feud with the Pitbulls of all people, Vader and Bigelow were steamrolling their way though (then) WCW Tag Team Champions Diamond Dallas Page and Chris Benoit, and they've steamrolled through every other team since.....</p><p> </p><p> .....the Totally Awesome Two were completely under the cosh from the moment the bell rang here and to be honest, if this was a punishment from Randy Savage for questioning his authority, then the Macho Man must have been a very Happy Man, because Copeland and Cage were brutalised.....</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/HGV3tqP.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/HGV3tqP.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/Xrtjhm2.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/Xrtjhm2.jpg"></a></p><p> </p><p> .....until their very own cheering squad came out.....because fresh off the back of their earlier pep talk, Shawn Michaels and Jean Paul Levesque come walking out from the back to offer their frenemies some words of encouragement.....</p><p> </p><p> .....oh.....and to cheat too.....</p><p> </p><p> .....because Bam Bam Bigelow might be the legal man, but he's currently on the outside.....</p><p> </p><p> .....where JPL distracts his attention.....</p><p> </p><p> .....just long enough for Shawn Michaels to take his head off with some Sweet Chin Music.....</p><p> </p><p> .....Bammers hits the floor hard, and as Vader is preoccupied with trying to pull Adam Copeland's head off his shoulders, Bigelow is unable to meet the officials count of ten, which means that remarkably Adam Copeland and Christian Cage just defeated The Forgotten.....</p><p> </p><p> .....by countout.....</p><p> </p><p> .....suck on that Randy Savage.....</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Winner(s):</strong> Adam Copeland & Christian Cage (via Count Out)</p><p> <strong>Rating:</strong> B+</p><p> </p><p> </p><p></p><p></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43289" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;"></div><p> </p><p> <img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/oh84X3L.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/oh84X3L.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/Xg0pwPN.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/Xg0pwPN.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/Jg2T62p.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/Jg2T62p.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/CXQGLDZ.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/CXQGLDZ.jpg"></a><img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/qbWVoeF.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/qbWVoeF.jpg"></a></p><p> </p><p> .....it might only be a count out victory, but to say that Copeland and Cage are jubilant would be an understatement.....</p><p> </p><p> .....obviously Vince Russo and Randy Savage had visions of the Totally Awesome Two getting a humbling beating here but that hasn't happened and it hasn't happened because of the man that Savage will be facing in just six days time, Shawn Michaels.....</p><p> </p><p> .....Vader and Sullivan go over to check on Bam Bam (although Vader looks like he would rather be heading over in Shawn Michaels direction) as Copeland and Cage rush over to a waiting Big Ray-Ray in the aisleway.....</p><p> </p><p> .....Ray-Ray isn't the only one in the aisle.....Michaels and Levesque are there too, with the usually condescending pair actually going over to congratulate the Titan Duo, before they head to the back and out of Vaders way, leaving the commentators questioning whether they were out here to help Copeland and Cage, or whether they were simply out here to mess with the Macho Man's head.....</p><p> </p><p> .....I guess we'll find out Sunday.....</p><p> </p><p> .....let's go to the back.....</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Rating:</strong> A</p><p> </p><p> </p><p></p><p></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43289" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;"></div><p> </p><p> <img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/dICBV2c.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/dICBV2c.jpg"></a><img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/i3UTPrR.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/i3UTPrR.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/quKAwS2.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/quKAwS2.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/1kjN8Yt.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/1kjN8Yt.jpg"></a></p><p> </p><p> .....where Mean Gene is standing by with two gentlemen that will be teaming up later this evening, Chris Benoit and Diamond Dallas Page.....the former WCW Tag Team Champions.....should make for a pretty cohesive unit then right?.....</p><p> </p><p> .....eh, maybe not so much.....</p><p> </p><p> .....actually (as Mean Gene points out like the little troublemaker that he is) the pairs relationship has been somewhat strained as of late, with Page believing that Benoit should be joining him in the war against the Sovereignty, while Benoit believed that Page shouldn't have joined that war to begin with, instead he should have focused on regaining the Tag Team Titles.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....but tonight gentlemen, you'll be teaming up to take on Lance Storm and Lord Steven Regal.....Chris Benoit, is this you finally picking a side?....."</em></p><p> </p><p> .....Benoit says that this isn't a case of picking a side, it's simply a case of another match, another win, another step closer to a Championship opportunity for Chris Benoit.....the Crippler says that he has no problem with Storm and Regal, but he's had no problem in FACING them either.....he says that in recent weeks he's faced BOTH men in singles competition, not for Page, not for WCW, not for America.....but for HIM.....and for competition.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....and tonight is no different.....I'll fight Lance Storm.....I'll fight Steven Regal.....and when I win.....when my arm gets raised.....I WILL be one step closer to getting the title shot that I want....."</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> ".....you mean when WE win?....."</em></p><p> </p><p> .....Dallas says that there's a lot of I, I, I, me, me, me there, but not much WE.....telling Benoit to remember that this is a TAG TEAM match.....but Benoit just scoffs, telling Page that HE never forgot.....it's Dallas that forgot that they were a tag team.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....hey, I didn't forget NOTHING bro.....I stood side by side with you, week in and week out against the Scumbags of Wrestling.....I stood side by side with you when we were handed those tag titles.....all I asked was for you to stand side by side with me while I took care of these Sovereignty Jack-off's.....you gonna stand side by side with me tonight? Or do I need to worry about that "Canadian Pride" getting in the way?....."</em></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <em>".....typical bloody American.....this isn't about pride lad....."</em></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/Otmasnl.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/Otmasnl.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/xHBTSHS.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/xHBTSHS.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/CscfWXe.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/CscfWXe.jpg"></a></p><p> <img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/vrbhnV1.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/vrbhnV1.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/KMoemF3.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/KMoemF3.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/bo3WUqu.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/bo3WUqu.jpg"></a></p><p> </p><p> .....speaking of the Sovereignty, here they are.....and Regal is quick to let Page know that "pride" isn't a part of this.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....god forbid we should burst your ridiculous little red, white and blue bubble sunshine, I know how much you yanks love to scream out "USA" like the moronic little sheep that you are, but this isn't about pride, this is about decency.....this is about the fact that you Americans are a bunch of ungrateful, knuckle-dragging, slobbering Neanderthals.....USA indeed.....Uncouth Slobbish Animals.....the whole lot of you make me bloody sick....."</em></p><p> </p><p> .....that's a whole lot of foreign presence in the room.....Storm tells Page (and indirectly Benoit) not to worry though.....he says that unlike the majority of Americans, the Sovereignty aren't the type to jump, assault or scuffle with their opponents in the back.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....we choose to do our fighting in the ring where it matters, because that's what GENTLEMEN do....."</em></p><p> </p><p> .....Storm tells Benoit that despite what Dallas Page would have him believe, they have always treated him fairly and with respect.....when Chris Benoit defeated him, he shook his hand like a man.....LAST week, it wasn't the Sovereignty that interjected themselves into his match, it was DDP that cost him the victory.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....so while we too embrace the competition that comes from competing AGAINST you, we would much rather be competing WITH you.....but that.....that is a conversation for another day.....TODAY.....today we simply wish you good luck....."</em></p><p> </p><p> .....with that Storm (followed by each and every member of the Sovereignty) shakes Chris Benoit by the hand, before walking off, leaving DDP to question exactly where Chris Benoit's loyalties lie.....</p><p> </p><p> .....I guess we'll find out later.....</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Rating:</strong> B+</p><p> </p><p> </p><p></p><p></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43289" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;"></div><p> </p><p> <img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/nPcArD0.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/nPcArD0.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/TFVQgbO.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/TFVQgbO.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/WH2bm4L.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/WH2bm4L.jpg"></a></p><p> </p><p> .....quite a bit later.....because while we have one America vs. Canada feud bubbling along nicely, we have an America vs. Canada singles match right here as Rick Martel takes on Curt Hennig.....</p><p> </p><p> .....Curt Hennig (as much as he's tried to avoid it) is set to face The Rock this Sunday at SuperBrawl.....he perhaps softened up the Great One this past week on Thunder, assaulting The Rock on his own show.....if he can couple that with a decent victory here too then he'd have some pretty good momentum going into Sunday's event.....</p><p> </p><p> .....Rick Martel still has plenty to offer (even at his advanced age) he's fundamentally solid in the ring and with enough name value to still make him as a credible opponent.....he DOESN'T have a match lined up for SuperBrawl though.....which is why he does the job here, counting the lights after getting planted with a Hennig Plex for the one, two, three..... </p><p> </p><p> <strong>Winner:</strong> Curt Hennig</p><p> <strong>Rating:</strong> B+</p><p> </p><p> </p><p></p><p></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43289" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;"></div><p> </p><p> <img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/0VzCRml.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/0VzCRml.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/k0IkY9r.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/k0IkY9r.jpg"></a></p><p> </p><p> .....victory in the bag, Curt is joined in the ring by Mean Gene, who wants to get his thoughts on this upcoming contest with the Rock, asking Hennig if he's still trying to avoid going one on one with the Great One?.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....hold on right there little man.....Curt Hennig has NEVER ducked a match in his life and I'm not about to start now.....did I look like I was trying to avoid the Rock on Thunder? I took it right to The Rock on his own show and I left him laying like the punk kid that he is.....I'm here tonight, but unless my eyes deceive me, little Rocky is NOT.....so tell me Gene, who's avoiding who?....."</em></p><p> </p><p> .....Curt says he frankly had more important things to concern himself with rather than wasting his time with The Rock (like capturing the United States Championship) but after Rocky convinced Eric Bischoff to NOT give Curt Hennig the title shot on Thunder (Editors Note: something which Rock actually had nothing to do with, don't believe everything you hear Curt) Hennig says he is going to take that cocky punk at SuperBrawl and knock him down a peg or ten.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....Rocky, I know you think you're something special.....I know you've got your 'people'.....well you can take it from Curt Hennig, your people are morons.....Rocky, at SuperBrawl it's going to be YOU going one on one with the greatest one.....ME.....and when I hook you, stick you on the mat with the Hennig Plex and pin your shoulders to the mat for the one, two, three, then THAT.....will be absolutely perf....."</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> ".....hold on Curt Hennig, I'm sorry to cut you off but I'm getting word in my ear that we have a situation unfolding in the back....."</em></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Rating:</strong> A</p><p> </p><p> </p><p></p><p></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43289" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;"></div><p> </p><p> <img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/sv6aBUY.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/sv6aBUY.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/Q4zMmdY.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/Q4zMmdY.jpg"></a></p><p> </p><p> .....bit rude that Gene.....he's not wrong though, we do have a situation unfolding in the back.....</p><p> </p><p> .....a giant situation.....</p><p> </p><p> .....because THE Giant is currently going toe to toe with Sid Vicious, and everybody had better get out of their way.....</p><p> </p><p> .....these two behemoths have been circling each other for months now.....they're set to meet at SuperBrawl and have always coming close to exchanging blows but never actually getting physical.....that all changed on Thunder, when Giant cost Sid the opportunity to become the WCW US Champion and it's continuing here as Sid looks to gain a measure of revenge.....</p><p> </p><p> .....one seven footer alone can cause a lot of damage.....TWO seven footers attempting to drive one another's heads through a concrete wall means that the backstage area is complete carnage.....even the backstage personal (and Doug Dillenger's crack security team) are giving the situation a wide berth, as Godzilla and King Kong go to war.....</p><p> </p><p> .....the two men attempt to Chokeslam each other on a number of occasions (with Sid even attempting to put the Giant through a table in the catering area) but in the end neither man is successful, and as they eventually slam through a side exit in the arena, security quickly slam the door closed behind them (and actually congratulate themselves on a job well done.....way to 'security' guys) as Vicious and Giant presumably fight their way all the way down the street.....</p><p> </p><p> .....but at least they are OUT of the building.....</p><p> </p><p> .....they're the city's problem now.....</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Rating:</strong> A</p><p> </p><p> </p><p></p><p></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43289" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;"></div><p> </p><p> <img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/0VzCRml.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/0VzCRml.jpg"></a></p><p> </p><p> .....with the situation in the back now resolved, we go back to the arena, where (with Curt Hennig already making his exit) Mean Gene is also heading to the back.....</p><p> </p><p> .....he comes to a halt though.....</p><p> </p><p> .....because the unmistakable riff of Bill Goldberg's theme music starts to play.....looks like 'da man' is here.....</p><p> </p><p> .....Mean Gene excitedly tells the fans that this was certainly not expected, but after getting assaulted, injured (re-injured) and then stripped of the WCW Television Championship, it would seem that the undefeated rookie sensation is back.....and that can't spell good news for the rest of the WCW roster.....</p><p> </p><p> .....the music continues to play and the crowd pops huge as the pyro's flame at the entrance way.....as the man walks out from the back.....</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/78a2W3O.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/78a2W3O.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/jshu5sL.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/jshu5sL.jpg"></a></p><p> </p><p> .....or rather the MEN walk out from the back, and the cheers transform to jeers as Eddie Guerrero (and nephew Chavo) swagger onto the entrance ramp.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....Órale holmes.....were you expecting someone else esè?....."</em></p><p> </p><p> .....clearly pleased with themselves, the Guerrero's share a good laugh at Gene's expense, as the frustrated announcer questions what they are doing out here right now?.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....easy esè, easy.....I'm Eddie Guerrero holmes, the man with the hottest streak in ALL of wrestling.....that means that I can do what I want, go where I want....and say what I want....."</em></p><p> </p><p> .....Eddie says that what he wants to say right now, is that in spite of Eric Bischoff's attempts to steal this United States Title from around his waist, he's STILL out here with the gold, just like he'll STILL be out here with the gold when SuperBrawl is said and done.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....because Curt Hennig, he found out that the REAL Papi of Perfection was Eddie Guerrero.....The Rock, he couldn't go one on one with the greatest one esé.....Bill Goldberg, where's he at holmes?.....the only streak he has, is the big yellow streak up his back, because Mean Gene.....he's a chicken esé....."</em></p><p> </p><p> .....Mean Gene isn't buying that, telling Eddie Guerrero that Bill Goldberg is ANYTHING but a 'chicken', and Mr. Guerrero may well find himself eating those words when the undefeated rookie returns.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....particularly Eddie Guerrero, if you insist on mocking the man.....with that being said, this Sunday you have more pressing problems to contend with in the form of Jean Paul Levesque.....and while your methods for retaining that Championship to date have been questionable at best, when it comes down to you holding that US Title or Jean Paul Levesque holding that title (and I can't believe I'm even saying this) whether you lie, cheat OR steal, I for one hope that you are able to keep that 'streak' in tact for at least ONE more match....."</em></p><p> </p><p> .....I guess that tells you how popular JPL (and Shawn Michaels) are, because our resident 'anti-WCW' brigade are so despised around here, that even Eddie Guerrero is the preferable man to hold the gold.....</p><p> </p><p> .....Eddie tells Gene to hold the praise (it wasn't really praise Eddie to be fair) considering he's spent the last 7 months running down Eddie Guerrero and his incredible streak.....he says that whether Gene wants Eddie to win or not (to borrow a phrase from the Rock) it doesn't matter.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....because Eddie Guerrero is the greatest United States Champion ever.....in fact, Eddie Guerrero is the greatest CHAMPION ever, period esé.....JPL, no one likes you holmes.....you AND Shawn Michaels both.....but at SuperBrawl it won't matter, because when you step into the ring with the Papi of Perfection, you're gonna see esé, just like Curt, like little Rocky.....just like Bill Goldberg will find out soon enough.....no matter how good you THINK you are.....</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> .....Eddie Guerrero is better holmes....."</em></p><p> </p><p> .....ok that'll do.....let's go to commercial before Mean Gene needs a stiff drink......the mans been out here for long enough....."</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Rating:</strong> A*</p><p> </p><p> </p><p></p><p></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43289" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;"></div><p> </p><p> <img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/G9blWo1.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/G9blWo1.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/JjTal3v.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/JjTal3v.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/TFVQgbO.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/TFVQgbO.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/izACez5.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/izACez5.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/Bn6ee3h.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/Bn6ee3h.jpg"></a></p><p> </p><p> .....it's time for that tag team match that was mentioned earlier now, as Diamond Dallas Page and Chris Benoit team up for the first time since losing the Tag Team Titles to the Forgotten.....they're not attempting to recapture the gold mind you, they're teaming up to face the Sovereignty pairing of Lance Storm and Steven Regal, something that DDP has been pushing Benoit to do for weeks now.....</p><p> </p><p> .....for Benoit though, this isn't a part of the USA vs. The World feud, it's just another match and another chance to pick up a win.....that's IF the former champions can co-exist, because things have been a little tense between Page and Benoit as of late.....</p><p> </p><p> .....they actually start out very strong.....as I said, Page is embroiled in a bitter feud with the Foreign Fanatics, while Benoit is looking to climb the ranks to a Title opportunity, so both men have a lot to prove here.....it was a great match too, with Storm and Regal eventually isolating Benoit and working him over.....</p><p> </p><p> .....Benoit manages to fight off his opponents and crawls over to the corner to make the hot tag.....unfortunately DDP is arguing with Jacque Rougeau and Carl Oulette (who aren't actually doing anything to interfere in the match) so he's not there when his partner needs him.....and as he yells at Page to pay attention to the match, Regal hooks him from behind and rolls him up for a surprise pinfall.....</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Winner(s):</strong> Lance Storm & Lord Steven Regal</p><p> <strong>Rating:</strong> A</p><p> </p><p> </p><p></p><p></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43289" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;"></div><p> </p><p> <img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/fRtDgY7.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/fRtDgY7.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/h0Ujs4a.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/h0Ujs4a.jpg"></a></p><p> <img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/RDE0UQj.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/RDE0UQj.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/gLOR7w6.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/gLOR7w6.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/WI3BQ7F.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/WI3BQ7F.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/LcEfQAC.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/LcEfQAC.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/NpV26wt.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/NpV26wt.jpg"></a></p><p> <img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/izACez5.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/izACez5.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/Bn6ee3h.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/Bn6ee3h.jpg"></a><img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/mlsgR16.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/mlsgR16.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/1TMb3lf.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/1TMb3lf.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/rgf9KxG.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/rgf9KxG.jpg"></a></p><p> </p><p> .....Diamond Dallas Page inadvertently cost Chris Benoit a match against Steven Regal recently.....now he's inadvertently cost them BOTH a match.....and Benoit isn't pleased.....</p><p> </p><p> .....he shoves Dallas in the chest, asking him what the hell that was.....he says he was SUPPOSED to be his partner here.....he was SUPPOSED to be there to rely on.....and after all the talk of Lance Storm being untrustworthy, Steven Regal being out to cheat him, Dallas Page was SUPPOSED to have his back.....instead he just cost him ANOTHER victory.....</p><p> </p><p> .....Page shoves Benoit back, telling him that if he hadn't had to worry about the presence of the Amazing French Canadians at ringside then this wouldn't have happened, but Benoit isn't buying that, asking Page exactly what it was that the AFC did to interfere in the match?.....Page (rather reluctantly) admits that they hadn't actually done anything.....<em>"yet"</em>.....but they would have done.....</p><p> </p><p> .....would have/could have isn't good enough for Benoit, who again shoves Page in the chest, telling him that the way he sees it, the only one costing Benoit matches around here is Diamond Dallas Page.....and he shoves Page again.....</p><p> </p><p> .....Page has had just about enough of that, as a shoving contest breaks out that is about 2 minutes away from turning into a full scale brawl.....</p><p> </p><p> .....which is when the rest of Team USA (Lex Luger, The Patriot, Jim Duggan and The Road Warriors) come rushing out from the back to separate the two men and attempt to regain some kind of order here.....</p><p> </p><p> .....Benoit is p!ssed though.....and restraining him doesn't look like it's going to calm him down any.....</p><p> </p><p> .....Lance Storm takes exception to these Americans putting their hands on his countryman too.....as the Sovereignty form in mass, telling Team USA to get their hands off Chris Benoit.....</p><p> </p><p> .....Page is about sick of the sight of his former partner, telling his CURRENT partners to let him go, as Benoit storms out of the ring and back up the aisle way, flanked by the entire Sovereignty, who tell him (for one) not to stoop to the lows of these Americans (and two) they're going to make ALL of Team USA pay on Sunday night.....</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Rating:</strong> A*</p><p> </p><p> </p><p></p><p></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43289" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;"></div><p> </p><p> <img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/XjyLvuu.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/XjyLvuu.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/14sRqgF.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/14sRqgF.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/2EPs81y.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/2EPs81y.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/aQrP0BT.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/aQrP0BT.jpg"></a></p><p> <img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/w52KdTn.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/w52KdTn.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/XUfPbdt.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/XUfPbdt.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/lYNpqj2.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/lYNpqj2.jpg"></a></p><p> </p><p> .....from one chaotic scene we go to another, as we see a shot of the Titans of Wrestling in the back.....and if Chris Benoit was p!ssed, Randy Savage is P!SSED.....</p><p> </p><p> .....he's throwing stuff about the place, screaming at the Totally Awesome Trinity that they shouldn't be out there cavorting with the enemy.....he says that the THREE of them were in the same room as Shawn Michaels and Jean Paul Levesque, and the DIDN'T rip their heads off.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....what the hell is wrong with you.....Titans yeah? Titans?.....you ain't Titans if you don't BE Titans....."</em></p><p> </p><p> .....Savage says that the Trinity recently had the chance to take down Sting (they didn't) they had the chance to take out Shawn Michaels (they didn't) well now, now they get another chance to prove that they're not completely useless.....</p><p> </p><p> <em>".....Buff Bagwell, he's gonna soften up the Stinger Man now, yeah.....or at least he'd BETTER.....and then.....THEN.....Warrior.....Me.....You Three.....WE.....we're going to get Sting good and ready, yeah.....good and ready for SuperBrawl, DIG IT?....."</em></p><p> </p><p> .....the Trinity don't look particularly happy about getting a dressing down here.....don't look happy about being called useless either.....but Buff Bagwell is facing Sting next, so there's no time for hurt feelings.....it's time for the Titans to prepare the WCW Champion for the Warrior.....</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Rating:</strong> A</p><p> </p><p> </p><p></p><p></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43289" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;"></div><p> </p><p> <img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/rudumzm.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/rudumzm.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/TFVQgbO.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/TFVQgbO.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/jbKPHuH.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/jbKPHuH.jpg"></a></p><p> </p><p> .....which brings us to the main event.....and after having a fantastic match with Adam Copeland a few weeks back (defending the WCW Championship in the process) Sting is once again in there with a member of the Titans of Wrestling, this time Buff Bagwell.....</p><p> </p><p> .....I know that Randy Savage gave the order for Buff to go out here tonight and "soften up" the Stinger, but in all reality Bagwell could have used a night off tonight himself.....Sting might be set to clash with the Warrior at SuperBrawl, but Buff has a big match of his own when he faces off against Roddy Piper, and (unlike at Starrcade) the Hot Rod is fully fit and looking for revenge.....</p><p> </p><p> .....this match was good.....it wasn't as good as the match with Copeland, but it wasn't far off.....Bagwell has come on leaps and bounds since associating himself with the Titans of Wrestling and where as he WAS a midcarder (inexplicably teaming with Samu of the SST) he can now comfortably hang in the main event.....</p><p> </p><p> .....he puts on a good showing too.....I don't think anyone was expecting Buff to win here, but he certainly controlled the offence for a good portion of the match.....eventually it was his own cockiness that got the better of him, showboating a little bit too long before a Blockbuster attempt, which gave Sting time to move.....</p><p> </p><p> .....Bagwell hit the mat, Sting turned him over into the Scorpion Death Lock, Bagwell submitted, Sting won.....</p><p> </p><p> .....the end.....</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Winner:</strong> Sting</p><p> <strong>Rating:</strong> A</p><p> </p><p> </p><p></p><p></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43289" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;"></div><p> </p><p> <img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/rudumzm.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/rudumzm.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/zeh8M2B.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/zeh8M2B.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/2EPs81y.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/2EPs81y.jpg"></a></p><p> <img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/wYulN53.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/wYulN53.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/Jg2T62p.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/Jg2T62p.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/CXQGLDZ.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/CXQGLDZ.jpg"></a></p><p> </p><p> .....of the match.....not the end of the action.....because as Sting has his hand raised, the remaining Titans of Wrestling make their way out from the back.....</p><p> </p><p> .....it's clear that Savage wants the WCW Champion to suffer tonight, instructing the Totally Awesome Trinity to join himself and Warrior in a little post match beatdown here.....and the trio DO come out.....but they appear in no hurry.....</p><p> </p><p> .....in fact, as Randy Savage and The Warrior climb into the ring (flanking Sting) the Trinity aren't even halfway down the aisle yet.....</p><p> </p><p> .....Sting doesn't back down an inch as he and Warrior go face to face.....Savage is clearly distracted by the time it's taking for Copeland, Cage and Traylor to actually make it to ringside, turning to yell at the trio to hurry up.....</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <img style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/oh84X3L.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/oh84X3L.jpg"><img</a> style="max-width:15%;</p><p> "src="<a href="https://i.imgur.com/99nujXC.jpg" rel="external nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/99nujXC.jpg"></a></p><p> </p><p> .....which is when Shawn Michaels and JPL come sauntering out from the back.....</p><p> </p><p> .....Savages eyes bulge in fury when he sees the pair arrive.....but not as much as they do when he sees them catch up with the Trinity.....and the Trinity DON'T instantly assault them.....</p><p> </p><p> .....in fact, the Trinity (Copeland and Cage at least, Big Ray-Ray isn't much of a talker) seem to be listening intently to whatever Michaels and Levesque are whispering in their ears.....we can't hear it over the noise of the crowd, but whatever it was it was obviously effective, because after a few moments of exchanged words (and to the shock of The Macho Man) the Totally Awesome Trinity turn.....</p><p> </p><p> .....and walk to the back with Shawn Michaels and Jean Paul Levesque.....</p><p> </p><p> .....even The Warrior turns his head to watch that remarkable sight.....</p><p> </p><p> .....he probably shouldn't have.....because the minute he takes his eyes off Sting, the WCW Champion snatches his SuperBrawl opponent.....</p><p> </p><p> .....and drives him to the mat with the Scorpion Death Drop.....</p><p> </p><p> .....Savage quickly spins around at the sound of the Warrior hitting the mat, and he instantly gets clotheslined over the top rope for his troubles, sending him crashing down to the floor below.....</p><p> </p><p> .....and while the Titans of Wrestling are usually used to closing these shows on a high, here tonight (just six days before SuperBrawl) it's WCW standing tall.....and our WCW Champion standing in the middle of the ring, with that Big Gold Belt raised high in the air.....</p><p> </p><p> .....is that what we're going to see Sunday night?.....Tony Schiavone certainly hopes so.....</p><p> </p><p> .....until then, we'll see you Thursday fans.....</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Rating:</strong> A*</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Final Rating:</strong> A*</p><p> </p><p> </p><p></p><p></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p></div><p></p>
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