IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: August 9, 1999
Location: Allstate Arena, Chicago, Illinois
Attendance: 13,713
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler

The date should look familiar to you because this show is a pretty famous one. Well at least it has a pretty famous moment, as the Countdown to the Millennium comes to a close. I know we are coming up on Summerslam, but there are some times where one moment overshadows everything and that’s what we are getting here. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

The countdown is on.

Opening sequence.

Here’s Rock to get things going but first we see Undertaker telling Big Show to wait and hear what Rock has to say. Rock, who was attacked by Show and Undertaker last night on Heat, makes fun of Show’s music and says he knows the millions all head to the bathroom when Show is coming out. Then Show steps over the top rope and raises his hand in the air, like that is supposed to impress someone. Cue Undertaker and Big Show and the fight is on. X-Pac and Road Dogg come in for the failed save so here’s Kane to clear the other monsters out.

Here’s what else is coming on the show.

Commissioner Shawn Michaels arrives.

X-Pac and Kane demand a Tag Team Title shot against the Acolytes tonight.

Christian vs. Gangrel

Gangrel knocks him down in the corner to start as you can hear fire extinguishers putting out the ring of fire. Christian dropkicks him to the floor but the dive hits the barricade. Back in and Christian hits the reverse DDT before loading up the yet to be named Unprettier. Cue the Hardy Boyz for a distraction though, earning themselves a dive from Christian. Back in and Gangrel sprays blood into Christian’s eyes to cut off a dive, setting up the Impaler for the pin.

Post match the Hardys beat down Christian, drawing out Edge for the failed save attempt. Michael Hayes, the Hardys’ manager, comes in to ask what’s going on and gets beaten down as well.

The Acolytes say the title match is on.

Here’s Rock’s Getting Cheffy With It Chef Boyardee commercial. Ok so the song is catchy.

Jerry Lawler brings out Jesse Ventura for a chat. He talks about being a former wrestler and a former Navy SEAL. We get some thinly veiled shots at Hulk Hogan for not being in the military and only playing a SEAL in badly made television movies. Ventura knows the SEAL’s and now is the power in Minnesota. That’s why he was brought in to be the guest referee and at Summerslam we are going to find out who the best wrestler is. Cue HHH and Chyna, who Ventura tells to work on their wrestling move.

HHH says Ventura only talks about how things used to be but this is his ring. Jesse: “This is my country, which is bigger than his ring.” Ventura was standing with the President of the United States this week but HHH says he’ll take Ventura down today. Cue Shawn Michaels to say he brought HHH into this world, so get the glare out of your stare.

HHH shoves Michaels and the jacket comes off, with Ventura having to separate them. Ventura whispers something to Shawn and says HHH can get physical tonight in a triple threat match with Undertaker and Steve Austin. Shawn: “HIT MY MUSIC!” This was a long version of “Jesse is back” and the rest was kind of window dressing.

Some new show called Smackdown is coming later this month.

D’Lo Brown is training Mark Henry, who needs to stop for some relief. During the break, Jeff Jarrett ran out of a car and jumped Brown from behind, sending him into a tree. How did Jeff know where Brown was without being seen?

Jeff Jarrett vs. Val Venis

Jarrett jumps him during the pre-match shtick but we need to talk about something that took place in a stairwell. Venis fights back but gets distracted by Debra. Not that it matters as Venis grabs a Blue Thunder Bomb for the quick pin.

Post match Jarrett yells at Debra so Venis makes the save and the two leave together.

Austin is out cold in the stairwell with a broken cinder block near his head. Post break Austin is taken away in an ambulance so here’s HHH to ask what happened.

Here’s Shawn again to say HHH did it and call him out here right now. HHH and Chyna come out after a little bit but Shawn doesn’t want to hear it. Tonight, it’s HHH vs. Undertaker, Falls Count Anywhere and anything goes. Oh and the #1 contendership is on the line as well. HHH says Shawn can’t do that so Shawn makes himself guest referee. We’re not done yet though as Shawn wants it to be a triple threat match so we’ll add Chyna in as a bonus. HHH says this is no place for a woman but Chyna accepts, much to HHH’s annoyance. I remember watching this live and my head snapped up at the Chyna announcement.

Post break Chyna and HHH argue a lot.

Tag Team Titles: X-Pac/Kane vs. Acolytes

The Acolytes are defending and Lawler has no idea what is with this mashup of Kane and X-Pac’s themes. Bradshaw and Kane fight in the ring as Faarooq beats up X-Pac on the floor. We settle down to Kane getting taken into the corner for the double teaming until a big boot takes Faarooq down.

X-Pac comes in and gets planted just as fast to put the champs in control again. A backbreaker gives Faarooq two and Bradshaw grabs the bearhug. That’s broken up so X-Pac hits an enziguri, allowing the hot tag to Kane. Everything breaks down and Bradshaw breaks up the Bronco Buster, only to walk into the X Factor to give us new champions.

Rating: D+. Nothing to the match of course, but that is to be expected in a situation like this. I never cared for X-Pac and Kane as champions as it turned into way too much of the underdog in the land of giants story. They didn’t have a chance to do much here and while it could have been worse, it still wasn’t exactly thrilling stuff.

Post match Road Dogg runs in to celebrate and Kane says SUCK IT without the voicebox. Cue Big Show and Undertaker to beat down the good guys though, likely setting up Summerslam.

GTV gives us a clip of Billy Gunn being given a massage with some special herbs.

Joey Abs/Steve Blackman vs. Test/Ken Shamrock

This seems a little unfair, even with Shane McMahon on commentary. It’s a brawl to start with Shane getting in a cheap shot to little avail. Test runs Joey over but gets suplexed down for two. Blackman whips out a kendo stick but gets sent over the announcers’ table. That doesn’t mean much though as Test powerbombs Joey and hits the pumphandle powerslam for the fast pin.

Post match Test Pillmanizes Joey’s ankle twice in a row. That gets rid of the Posse and there is only Shane left for Test.

Billy Gunn’s namesake is rather, uh, red. It seems that those herbs may have been poison ivy.

Test is all fired up after getting rid of the Posse and can’t wait to get his hands on Shane.

Blackman wants Shamrock in something called the Lion’s Den, which sounds like a cage lined with weapons. Works for me.

Here’s the Rock for a chat. He wants Big Show tonight and issues the official challenge, but then history is made as the COUNTDOWN TO THE MILLENNIUM clock appears on screen and time is winding down. The clock hits zero and the lights go out, with pyro coming on. A video pops up on screen and it’s CHRIS JERICHO making his debut, with the crowd going from interested to erupting as soon as the name appears.

Jericho: “Welcome to RAW IS JERICHO!” He introduces himself as the new leader and the most charismatic man on your television show. For those of you who don’t know him, be glad to meet your Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla. This show has become so boring that it needs someone to save it and Rock is so impressed that he is silent. For the first time, these people have someone who can make them jump up and shout GO JERICHO GO.

Now that the Y 2 Jericho Problem is here, this place will never e-e-e-e-ver be the same again. Rock tells him to shut his mouth and asks for an introduction, but it doesn’t matter what his name is. Jericho can talk about the Y 2 J plan but Rock has the Y 2 Jelly plan, which involves his boot being turned sideways, if you smell what the Rock….is cooking.

There is a reason that this one is still considered to be the best debut of all time. The pop for Jericho is outstanding but more importantly, look who they put him out there against. Rock got in his catchphrases, but only after Jericho said everything he needed to say. Jericho feels important, comes off like a self obsessed madman (in a good way) and has more charisma than he knows what to do with. This is still outstanding and the pop when Jericho’s name comes on screen is one to remember.

Hardcore Holly is looking for Big Show.

Post break, Hardcore Holly is looking for Big Show.

Big Boss Man vs. Road Dogg

Hardcore rules but not for Boss Man’s Hardcore Title. Dogg hits him with a trashcan lid and loads up a table but Boss Man gets in a shot of his own. Cue Al Snow to hit Boss Man with a pet carrier to give Dogg the fast pin.

The Rock vs. Big Show

Rock slips out of a slam early on and hits a Russian legsweep for an early two. Show sends him into the corner for the big chop and there’s a big right hand to take Rock down again. A big boot sets up the bearhug and a side slam gives Show two. Cue Hardcore Holly for a distraction and it’s a low blow into the Rock Bottom. The People’s Elbow is loaded up but here’s Chris Jericho to jump Rock from behind for the DQ.

Rating: C-. There wasn’t much else they could do here and Rock vs. Show feels like a mini feud for Rock before we get get to the important feud in….Rock vs. Billy Gunn. Yeah 1999 wasn’t kind to Rock at times and this was a big part of it. That being said, well done on making Jericho look like a big deal so soon. It’s a great first impression and I think he’s going to be fine.

Post match Billy Gunn runs in for a Jackhammer to Rock. And some scratching of course because COMEDY!

Chyna vs. HHH vs. Undertaker

For the Summerslam title shot, anything goes, falls count anywhere, Jesse Ventura is on commentary and Shawn Michaels is guest referee. And yes, this is during the Vince Russo era in case you didn’t get that three stipulations in. Undertaker, with Paul Bearer, shoves Chyna down to start and slugs it out with HHH. Chyna is rather smart to sit down and let the other two slug it out until she goes after Undertaker. That earns her a right hand to the face and all three head outside.

HHH posts Undertaker and hits the facebuster for two as Jesse talks about how important this is because it’s about a shot at the title. Now why is that so complicated? Back in and Chyna breaks up a chokeslam attempt and Jesse promises Chyna won’t be a factor. Lawler: “She could be the #1 contender.” Jesse: “I forgot about that.” He’s certainly honest. Chyna hits HHH low but walks into a chokeslam.

HHH is back up with the jumping knee to send Undertaker into the ropes and he….just drops down to the mat. That was kind of weird and Shawn runs over to him to say something so they were out of sync in there somewhere. Undertaker elbows HHH down for two as Jesse and Lawler talk about a match they had in Memphis. Chyna gets knocked off the apron and HHH gets clotheslined outside. Cue Austin to chair HHH and Chyna steals the pin and the title shot.

Rating: C-. The match was the usual wild brawl until the storyline advancement ending but Jesse was so amazingly refreshing on commentary. He wasn’t overly emotional and sounded like someone who knew what they were talking about doing commentary. Above all else though he put over the title being what mattered most, which is sorely lacking in so much commentary. Yes there are other things going on, but the core of the whole thing should be the title (most of the time at least). Chyna winning was a surprise, but given how things go around here, how likely is it to last until….oh let’s say next week?

Overall Rating: C+. This era is always hard to grade because there is so much stuff going on at the same time and it gets a little jumbled up. That being said, this one had Ventura sounding like the most important commentator ever, Chyna winning the main event in a surprise, and Chris Jericho coming off as a total star on his first night in the company. Well done for the most part, though don’t expect much in the way of wrestling.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

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IMG Credit: WWE

Summerslam 1999
Date: August 22, 1999
Location: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Attendance: 17,130
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler

Jesse lectures Chyna and HHH about not cheating. Chyna is allowed to be out there but the pinfall has to be in the ring and it has to be legal.

The recently debuted Chris Jericho yells at Jericholic Howard Finkel for being late.

Edge and Christian are ready for Tag Team Turmoil (a tag team gauntlet match) tonight. They outgrew Gangrel and are ready for his new team: the Hardys.

Tag Team Turmoil

The Hollys fight again.

Big Show and Undertaker arrive.

Al Snow grooms his dog Pepper and warns him of Boss Man singing Ethel Merman songs. Good advice actually.

Hardcore Title: Al Snow vs. Big Boss Man

Boss Man is defending and Dogg is doing commentary. Before the match Snow leaves Pepper in a small kennel in the back. Snow: “You know Head came to the ring with me.” Snow is waiting on Boss Man on the set and hits a high cross body to get us going. Dogg gets up and is going to be a roving reporter. Snow hits Man with a chair and they go to the back almost immediately.

Snow runs back across the street to check on Pepper but has to beat up Stevie Richards and Blue Meanie for some reason.

Rock verbally massacres Michael Cole by insulting his tie and implying Cole is a bit coome ci coom ca. Not that it matters as Rock is going to destroy Billy Gunn tonight. This was a bad time for Rock as he had a bunch of nothing feuds until he got back into the title hunt to close out the year.

Billy Gunn has a surprise under a tarp.

Ken Shamrock vs. Steve Blackman

We see Shane attacking Test earlier today.

Test says this is serious tonight.

Test vs. Shane McMahon

Test takes Shane down to start but Shane hits a quick spear back inside, only to be pounded in the corner. A backdrop puts Shane down as the Posse drinks champagne. Shane is sent HARD into the steps and then into the crowd for a drink to the head. Test catches Shane diving off the barricade and powerslams him down onto the floor. Shane staggers around ringside so Test launches him at the Posse to tip the couch over.

Stephanie comes out to celebrate post match.

Tag Titles: Kane/X-Pac vs. Big Show/Undertaker

Taker is knocked to the floor and Pac dives off the apron to take him down. The crotch chop earned X-Pac an elbow to the face and a smile from me. Kane saves him little buddy and take Undertaker down with the top rope clothesline. Taker comes right back with his running DDT but Kane is up almost immediately. Big Show comes in to throw Kane around and drops him with a superkick.

Jesse gives Austin the same speech.

Billy Gunn vs. The Rock

WWF World Title: Steve Austin vs. Mankind vs. Triple H

Triple H and Austin start fast in the ring but Mankind pulls HHH to the floor and sends him onto the announce table. All three head into the ring with HHH being ping ponged back and forth by right hands from both guys. Mankind offers Austin a handshake but gets punched in the face instead. HHH is knocked to the floor and Mankind misses a charge at Austin to send him to the outside as well.

HHH loads up the Pedigree on Mankind but Austin clotheslines HHH down to break it up. Austin punches both of his challengers and hits a Stunner on HHH but Mankind breaks up the count at two. Austin sends Mankind into the post but walks into the Pedigree. Mankind pops back up though and knocks HHH down before hitting the double arm DDT on Austin for the pin and the title in a surprise.

Post match HHH destroys Austin and his knee with a chair, putting him on the shelf for a month.

Ratings Comparison

Original: B-

Redo: C+

Tag Team Turmoil

Original: B-

Redo: C-

Big Boss Man vs. Al Snow

Original: B

Redo: C

Ivory vs. Tori

Original: F

Redo: F+

Ken Shamrock vs. Steve Blackman

Original: B-

Redo: D+

Shane McMahon vs. Test

Original: B

Redo: B

Unholy Alliance vs. X-Pac/Kane

Original: D+

Redo: D

Billy Gunn vs. The Rock

Original: B-

Redo: D+

HHH vs. Steve Austin vs. Mankind

Original: B+

Redo: D+

Overall Rating

Original: B-

Redo: D+

WOW and I thought 1990 was screwed up.

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2011/08/03/history-of-summerslam-count-up-1999-the-body/

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s History Of In Your House (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

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And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

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IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: July 26, 1999
Location: Gund Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler

We’re a night removed from Fully Loaded where Steve Austin retained the WWF Title over the Undertaker in a first blood match, meaning Vince McMahon is gone FOREVER (yes FOREVER) from TV. The other big story saw HHH become the new #1 contender by defeating the Rock, which I’m sure will go nowhere. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with the stills of last night’s main event as X-Pac interfered to cost Undertaker the match, getting rid of Vince for….eh I’ll give it a week.

JR: “Tonight, a new era begins on Raw.” I don’t want to imagine Vince Russo’s idea of a new era.

Opening sequence.

We cut to the back where Undertaker beats up X-Pac, plus Road Dogg for attempting to make a save. Undertaker drags X-Pac into the arena and chokes in the ring until Kane (looking rather slim) comes out for the save. This brings out Big Show and the numbers are too much for Kane, so the fans chant for Austin. The beatdown goes on for a good while as the WE WANT AUSTIN chants continue. Undertaker and Show shake hands and leave because we have a new evil alliance.

A long black limousine arrives and….it’s Vince, less than eight minutes into the show.

Chef Boyardee ad with the Rock, set to Gettin Cheffy With It. I remember this and it’s every bit as 1999 as you can get. In a good way.

During the break, Kane did a Darth Vader Revenge of the Sith scream before carrying X-Pac off. It must be a masked guy thing.

X-Pac is taken away in an ambulance.

Tag Team Titles: Edge and Christian vs. Acolytes

Edge and Christian are challenging after the Acolytes won the titles last night. Hardcore Holly is guest ring announcer after the Acolytes attacked him last week. Holly: “Weighing in at a total combined weight of let’s say about a buck and a quarter, and that’s with Christian’s legs wrapped in Ace bandages to make them look bigger!” Christian and Faarooq start things off but since we can’t go that long without an angle, we’re told that Ken Shamrock has been hit by a car.

Christian spinwheel kicks Faarooq and hands it off to Edge, who gets headlocked by Bradshaw. A flying shoulder works a bit better on Bradshaw and the Canadian tagging continues, though Christian gets kicked in the face. It’s off to Faarooq without a tag but the Dominator is countered with a DDT. Edge comes in as everything breaks down, with Christian taking a fall away slam. Cue Gangrel to pull Christian to safety, leaving Edge to take a double powerbomb to retain the titles.

Rating: D+. This was a shockingly coherent match for the era, even with the extra angle thrown in as a bonus. Edge and Christian were clearly very talented but had a little ways to go before they figured everything out. The Acolytes were still a good heel team here and there’s always some value in a team that physically dominant.

Holly declares himself the winner and goes after both Acolytes, earning himself a double spinebuster. Cue Kane to chokeslam everyone in sight before using the voice box to threaten Undertaker and Big Show. They hurt Sean so tonight he’s going to hurt them.

Shamrock has a bad arm but walks away from the EMTs. We see a clip of Shamrock being run over, which of course happened as X-Pac was leaving because coincidences are strong around here. Steve Blackman was driving.

Vince is in the arena.

Austin arrives, meaning JR thinks business is about to pick up.

Here’s Vince, without music, for the big address. He’s not here to break a promise and not to breach a contract. Instead he’s here to honor a promise and a contract, because he’s never lied to anyone. Last night, he failed for the first time in his life. He took two Stunners and the show ended with him laid out in a pool of beer. That’s not how fans want to remember him so tonight he’s here for a more formal farewell.

The fans aren’t exactly appreciative as Vince says he wants to be remembered as a handsome entrepreneur who had a lasting impact on our lives. This brings out Austin, which was just a matter of time. Vince says they seem to be far apart but in reality, they’re very much alike. No matter what happens, Vince will always consider himself to be the better man. Vince even offers his hand but Austin says that’s not happening after the last two years. You can guess where that hand can go instead.

A man like Vince can never beat an SOB like Austin, who wants JR to come in the ring. Austin wants JR to…..sing a song? Lawler: “SING A SONG?” Of course it’s the Goodbye Song, with an OH H*** YEAH thrown in for some flavor. Vince leaves, but does flip Austin off on the way out. Beer is consumed. Back on commentary, JR says that’s one of the best moments of his life. Lawler: “YOU’RE DRUNK!” I’m surprised they let Vince stay away this long, though stipulations lasting wasn’t Russo’s strong suit.

Post break Howard Finkel cries to Vince as he leaves. Vince: “Get the h*** away from me.”

Val Venis/Godfather vs. Droz/Prince Albert

Street fight so Venis is in a regular shirt and jeans. After some trash talk from Venis and Godfather’s regular pre-match speech, we’re ready to go with Droz and Albert in street clothes as well (Godfather is the only one in gear, which is why he’s a Hall of Famer). The brawl is on (as it should be) with Droz and Venis fighting on the floor as the big guys do the same inside.

They switch places with Godfather and Albert fighting in the crowd but a random guy in a white suit jumps Godfather (That would be the yet to be named Key, who would be Droz’s drug dealer but wasn’t around long enough to warrant a mention. He’s better known as Vic Grimes from ECW.). Not that it matters as a Ho Train and Money Shot finish Albert in short order.

Rock calls Michael Cole an idiot and puts a bunch of Rock shirts and gear on top of him. Rock: “Don’t move you puppet.” It took a lot of help for HHH to beat him last night so they’re not done. As for Billy Gunn, the lips are getting ripped off of his trunks and stuck….somewhere. Speaking of Chyna, he knows that she’s been licking her lips for him so she can get on his knees, pucker her lips, and then get her teeth kicked into her face. Some ROCKY chants and one more smack to Cole wrap things up. The charisma and energy from Rock are downright scary at times.

Ben Stiller, in the front row, is introduced to the crowd as the “man who loves Debra’s puppies.”

Here are HHH and Chyna for a chat. HHH doesn’t care what Austin did earlier tonight because after last night, it’s all about him. Man to man, HHH can beat him because he’s been watching Austin like a hawk for six months. Jesse Ventura and Chyna aren’t going to be factors at Summerslam (JR: “That would be different.”) because it’s going to be one on one. At Summerslam, Austin will learn that HHH is the Game.

Chyna says Rock doesn’t have the guts to come out here and say something to her face. Cue Rock, with Billy Gunn jumping him from behind. Well that was frighteningly obvious. A low blow drops Rock and Gunn says now Rock knows his role. The villains leave so Rock calls out Gunn and Chyna for a handicap match tonight. I know this is the peak of Gunn’s singles run but look at his shirt and try to take him seriously.

We recap the opening segment with X-Pac being injured, setting up Kane’s challenge.

Kane vs. Big Show/Undertaker

They really like handicap matches tonight. Paul Bearer is out with Undertaker and Show. It’s a brawl in the aisle to start until Kane and Show officially start. An enziguri staggers Show and Kane wants Undertaker. Kane drops Undertaker and heads outside for a nasty chair shot to Show’s head. Undertaker grabs the chair as well though and knocks Kane silly for the DQ.

Post match Kane pops up and gets chaired down as well. The beatdown is on until Road Dogg comes in, only to eat a chokeslam. The monsters stand extra tall.

Jeff Jarrett interrupts a Debra photo shoot because they have to do an interview.

Countdown to the Millennium. JR’s calculations say it ends in two weeks. Why yes, yes it does.

Here are Jarrett and Debra for a chat with Jarrett calling Ben Stiller into the ring. He’s rather excited to meet Debra but Jeff calls him off. Jeff knows that Stiller has a movie coming out (Mystery Men) so why is he in Cleveland. Stiller is here for some world class wrestling, such as seeing the new Intercontinental Champion, and of course he explains Mystery Men.

The only reason he didn’t cast Jarrett was there wasn’t a character powerful enough for him to play. Jeff wants to know his favorite wrestler, which would be…..the puppies. That means a Figure Four on Stiller until D’Lo Brown makes the save. Brown has to carry a cheering Stiller out.

Austin is still here.

Post break replays show that Stiller had his face on the Puppies during Brown’s save.

HHH goes into Austin’s locker room.

Here’s Women’s Champion Ivory for a chat. Everyone is wondering where Nicole Bass is but Bass isn’t good enough to stand in the same ring with her. She issues an open challenge to anyone in the crowd so here’s a woman, who gets knocked down with a belt shot to the head. Tori comes in for the quickly broken up catfight.

HHH leaves Austin’s locker room. JR: “I don’t think Austin was in there! Or was he???” Top level journalism.

Al Snow is still insane and shouting that it has to stop. A chihuahua comes in and barks, apparently saying that it can’t get worse. Snow: “What am I? Dr. Doolittle?”

HHH vs. Ken Shamrock

Apparently Austin wasn’t in the locker room but HHH trashed the place. There’s no Shamrock, so HHH calls him out for not wrestling after being hit by a car. Shamrock comes out in jeans with his arm and ribs taped. A takedown has HHH in trouble until he gets in a single shot to the ribs. Shamrock goes for the knee to little avail as HHH takes out the ribs again. There’s a gutbuster and more stomps to said ribs, followed by the rather logical abdominal stretch. More shoulders to the bad ribs have Shamrock bleeding from the mat (a trademark of his) and a bodyscissors makes the referee stop the match.

Rating: D+. The rib work made sense and it showed HHH being all aggressive here, but it’s weird seeing Shamrock getting squashed like this. It makes sense in this case though and there’s a big difference when he came in injured. HHH’s rise to the title has a weird feeling to it, mainly because he’s not over enough yet to really challenge Austin.

Post match HHH stays on the bad ribs even more with no one making the save.

Undertaker says the days of scary music and scary entrances are over. He and Show are taking over.

Test destroys Pete Gas of the Mean Street Posse.

Chyna/Billy Gunn vs. The Rock

The still sweaty HHH is on commentary. Chyna stays on the floor to start as Rock beats the fire out of Gunn. Rock punches him to the floor and punches away even more, including a right hand to the side of Chyna’s head. As the beatdown goes on, HHH is on his feet and yelling at JR about how he can beat Austin for the title. Chyna gets in a kick to the back and let’s look at HHH ranting about Ventura and Austin some more.

Rock punches Chyna some more but gets caught with a DDT for two. The villains beat on Rock even more as HHH talks about knowing when Austin breathes and sleeps. So he’s a stalker. We cut to HHH again and then look at Austin watching in the back. Gunn grabs a chinlock and let’s look at HHH knocking off JR’s hat. My goodness calm down with the camera cuts already. Rock grabs a DDT for two and the Samoan drop sets up a low blow.

Chyna gets knocked outside and Rock’s Cactus Clothesline sends Gunn outside. That lets HHH get in a cheap shot, sending JR into a rant about how unfair that was. Back in and Gunn’s own cheap shot keeps Rock in trouble and there’s a….nother camera cut to HHH yelling at JR, though at least this time he punches JR in the face. Cue Austin for the fight as the Rock Bottom and People’s Elbow hit Gunn, though we go off the air before the pin.

Rating: D. The wrestling wasn’t the point here of course, though I was rather relieved that they did do something with HHH yelling at JR over and over. Rock vs. Gunn just is not working and offers a lot more proof about how big the gap was between Austin and Rock at this point. Yeah Rock was a star, but he was nowhere near the star Austin was here, which is a rather annoying and inaccurate myth that has been created. Right now, Austin is about to headline Summerslam while Rock is feuding with a guy who wrestles in a thong with a mesh covering. Rock’s time would come, but it wasn’t here yet, no matter what his fans think.

Hang on we’re not done though as this show includes a special Extra Attitude video as the cameras keep rolling. Rock, Gunn and Chyna leave as HHH and Austin keep fighting at ringside. Austin sends him into the steps but gets dropped onto the barricade. They head inside with HHH choking until Austin hits a quick Stunner. Austin actually drops a middle rope elbow as the music is playing and beer is consumed. We’re still not done though as Chyna comes back in for a low blow. HHH gets back up but Austin beats them both up (including an awful Stunner to Chyna). Even more beer is consumed to finally end the show.

Overall Rating: C-. This wasn’t a good show, but it was miles ahead of the last few weeks. The main reason this worked so much better was having a point to the big stories. It’s like we have a goal in mind now instead of just filling in whatever they can week to week before getting to the worthless Fully Loaded show. Now everything is moving towards Summerslam and that gives the show a much needed focus. There are still a lot of problems, but we have something to build towards now, which makes a world of difference.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2000 Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Part 1 (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/02/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-thunder-reviews-volume-vii-january-june-2000/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: June 28, 1999
Location: Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina
Attendance: 19,533
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler

It’s the night after King of the Ring and, believe it or not, a lot of things have changed. Last night saw Billy Gunn beat X-Pac to win the tournament (because having Road Dogg move on to the finals to face Gunn was too basic and logical for Russo) and the McMahons regained power from Steve Austin due to some shenanigans. Now why do I have a feeling that more shenanigans are afoot? Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a stills package from last night’s main event with Austin getting screwed out of his powers as CEO. Was anyone really expecting anything else? Your trivia: that was the last time Vince and Austin faced each other in a match.

Opening sequence.

Here’s the Corporate Ministry and balloons fall as Vince starts to celebrate. Vince and Shane are downright giddy and Shane gets to fire Austin as CEO. With Paul Bearer and Mideon dancing together in the background, Vince promises that Austin is going back down to the bottom of the ladder. As for tonight, Austin will be in a preliminary match and then get to take the ring apart to end the show.

This brings Vince to the rest of last night, including Undertaker making Rock’s upper lip curl and the general success of the Corporate Ministry. In honor of everything going well, Vince is willing to offer Undertaker the opportunity to defend the WWF Title against HHH at Fully Loaded. Cue the Big Boss Man to his old music (freaking sweet) to stare Vince and Shane down….and then and rejoin the team.

That’s finally enough and it’s time for Austin to blow the roof off the place. Austin gets straight to the briefcase being raised up, and really he’s not surprised. He’s so not surprised that he did something when he was still CEO. In addition to giving himself a new contract for more money and the ability to attack Vince whenever he wants to, he’s facing the Undertaker for the title TONIGHT and if anyone interferes, Austin wins the title.

Ken Shamrock vs. Steve Blackman

Weapons match and Shamrock is in street clothes. Before the match, Shamrock yells about Vince sending Blackman to take him out, because he’s never going to stop. They start fighting on the floor but Shamrock’s bad ribs flare up. Some weapons shots to the ribs make Shamrock bleed from the mouth and he can barely move. That’s enough for Blackman, who hits Shamrock in the head with a kendo stick, puts his weapons back in the bag, and leaves. As is so often the case, this was more of a segment than a match.

Shamrock refuses medical attention and Blackman leaves.

Here’s King Billy Gunn for a chat. He brags about “winning” the Tag Team Titles last week but quickly shifts over to winning three matches in a row last week over people “at the top of their game”. Gunn is tired of carrying people everywhere because now it’s all about him. Cue Chyna and HHH with the latter holding a shirt. He’s out here on business and asks if Billy has gotten his royalty check lately.

They’re a little lower than they should be because X-Pac and Road Dogg are claiming the rights to the DX name. Therefore, all the shirts like the DX shirts he’s holding are putting money in X-Pac and Road Dogg’s pockets. The three of them were DX so it’s time to go get the rights back where they belong. HHH is busy so Chyna can help Billy instead. They have a deal but here’s Rock to go after HHH for costing him the title last night.

Chaz (formerly Beaver Cleavage) and his girlfriend Marianna is asked about “breaking character” last week (you know Russo wrote this because no one else would be stupid enough to put something like this on TV). He’s been down “gimmick alley” before and says he doesn’t want to be anything but himself. Egads this stuff is hard to watch.

GTV shows us Test and Stephanie McMahon leaving a Marriott together.

Meat vs. Chaz

It’s the battle of the underwear with Meat, with PMS, in pink briefs and Chaz in smiley face boxers. Chaz stars with a powerslam as we hear about Rock vs. HHH being made for tonight. Lawler of course can’t shut up about Stephanie and Test at the hotel, even as Meat gets two off a layout F5. Terri offers a quick distraction so Jacqueline can punch Chaz, leaving Marianna shoves Terri down. The bigger distraction lets Chaz hit a reverse Death Valley Driver for a fast pin.

Test is in the back for an interview but Shane McMahon and the Mean Street Posse run in and beat him down.

Here’s Hardcore Holly, who isn’t impressed by Big Show throwing a car on him. Holly: “Well guess what. YOU MISSED!” As for tonight, he wants Kane due to a fight last night at King of the Ring.

Hardcore Holly vs. Kane

Kane elbows him in the face to start but gets crotched on top. The referee gets distracted for the sake of convenience, allowing Big Show to sneak (because giants can do that) in for a chokeslam on Kane to give Holly the pin.

Post match Kane pops up and chokeslams Holly four times.

The Rock vs. HHH

Before the match, Rock talks about leaving a tattoo on the back of Undertaker’s 33lb head saying how badly he beat Undertaker up. The slugout it on in a hurry with Rock getting the better of it off a running clothesline. HHH is right back up with some right hands in the corner as we’re waiting on whatever run-in they have for this match. Rock’s DDT gets two and it’s Billy Gunn coming in with a club to knock Rock cold less than two minutes in.

Prince Albert and Droz are beating up Val Venis.

Godfather vs. Edge

Godfather is in the Hall of Fame before either Rock or HHH. There’s something very wrong with that reality. Unfortunately Lawler has seen Austin Powers recently and is now full of jokes from the movie. As Edge is coming to the ring, we see a clip of Edge coming off the middle rope to spear Jeff Hardy out of the air, which JR thinks is amazing. Time continues to not be kind to this show. They punch each other a bit and here are Droz and Albert for no logical reason. Edge falls down before a clothesline touches him and there’s the Ho Train. Droz, distraction, sitout gorilla press, spear gives Edge the pin.

Post match Godfather gets beaten down again. His arms get tied into the ropes and Albert goes to pierce one of the Ho’s tongue with Edge making a save. The ladies seem very happy and are all over Edge, who can go with this. A displeased Gangrel is watching from the crowd.

Gunn tells someone to come out if he’s needed.

Billy Gunn vs. Bradshaw

This is taking place because Gunn took a title belt with him after winning a six man tag where he was partners with the Acolytes, who are the actual champions. Bradshaw clotheslines him to the floor and Faarooq gets in a belt shot to no reaction. Back in and Gunn punches him down because Faarooq hitting you in the head with a title belt is just an inconvenience.

Gunn’s Stinger Splash is countered into a fall away slam but a tornado DDT plants Bradshaw. With Bradshaw down, Gunn pulls the trunks down at Faarooq, who hits Bradshaw with a belt by mistake. The Fameasser is broken up by an interfering X-Pac and the Clothesline gives Bradshaw the pin and the title back, even though it’s a Tag Team Title being won in a singles match and Bradshaw never lost the thing.

Rating: F. Ok I know I harp on this stuff a lot but we just had a three minute match with multiple belt shots, two people interfering and a singles match for a Tag Team Title that was stolen when a partner won a six man tag to wrap up a two week story. Are we really going to have people changing the channel to Nitro (featuring the Cat vs. David Flair and Sid Vicious vs. Scott Putski before a main event of David Flair challenging for the World Title) if things weren’t moving this fast?

Post match Chyna throws X-Pac inside but Road Dogg comes in for the save. Was it really necessary to have Chyna, who was shown with Gunn earlier, as a mystery?

Here are new Women’s Champion Ivory and Nicole Bass for a chat. Ivory talks about how real she is and how she wants some competition. Therefore, let’s have an open challenge to any fan in the crowd. A woman gets in the ring but starts to back off. Ivory slaps her and the catfight is on, only to have Bass powerbomb the fan. More beating ensues and Ivory drags her around by the hair as security makes the save.

Vince isn’t worried about Austin.

Intercontinental Title: Jeff Jarrett vs. X-Pac

Jarrett is defending and has Debra with him, who gives Lawler a SHOW ME THE PUPPIES shirt. Oddly enough, that’s worthy of a small grin. They run the ropes to start and it’s X-Pac missing a charge in the corner. Jeff tosses him to the floor as Lawler says the briefcase being raised up last night was a trick of the eyes. Back in and Jeff whips him hard into the corner, followed by the sleeper.

As is always the case, it’s reversed into a sleeper on Jarrett but this time he reverses into a third. That’s broken up with a low blow as the fans chant for Mongo (Debra’s ex-husband) and X-Pac grabs a sitout powerbomb. The Bronco Buster connects but here’s Gunn with a guitar. That’s taken away and Jeff gets clocked but there’s no referee as Debra has her jacket opened. The distraction lets Gunn hit the Fameasser so Jarrett can retain the title.

Rating: D. You know, because these two, as in two of the best hands of the generation, can’t get five minutes on a show packed with this much stuff. Oh but at least we got another segment in the DX fallout after all those other segments in the DX fallout, including in the previous match. As usual, too much packed into too short of a time and it doesn’t have time to connect.

Post match Dogg comes in, quickly followed by Chyna until referees break up the brawl.

WWF World Title: Undertaker vs. Steve Austin

Undertaker is defending and gets flipped off before the bell, meaning the slugout is on in a hurry. They slug it out in the corner with Undertaker actually getting the better of it until a Thesz press gets Austin out of trouble. They’re already out on the floor with Undertaker going face first into the steps but he kicks Austin in the face back inside (thankfully without the knockout ala Summerslam 1998). Paul Bearer gets in a shoe shot and there’s a clothesline to the floor. Lawler: “Austin is like the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz! He’s got no heart!” Maybe Lawler should focus on his film/literature studies more than the puppies.

Austin fights back and drops Bearer with a right hand but walks into a clothesline. Back in and we hit the choke before Undertaker falls on top of a slam attempt. You know, because Austin is known for his slams. We hit the chinlock for a bit before Old School gets two. Austin pulls him face first into the corner though but his crotching against the post is pretty easily kicked away.

That means a third chinlock but Austin is up much faster this time, only to have a double clothesline put them both back down. Back up and the Tombstone is countered into a Stunner for….two with Bearer pulling the referee out. Austin is right back in with another Stunner to get the title back.

Rating: D+. And that’s the highest rated match in the history of cable, drawing over 10 million viewers for a record that is never going to be broken. These two never do have a strong chemistry together and this wasn’t their best effort either. They had a little extra time but it was still just about ten minutes long, which isn’t exactly what you want for a match this big.

Post match Undertaker hits him with the belt to draw some blood and beats Austin down to end the show.

Overall Rating: D. The main event was huge but the rest of the show was the usual flying through a dozen stories at once, often with stories that didn’t need to exist (the Tag Team Title belt for instance) or were done far too many times in one show (the DX stuff). It wasn’t as bad as some of these shows have been, but I’ve only been done watching the show for a short while and I’m trying to remember what I watched. That’s the case way too often around here and is more exhausting than anything else.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of the NXT The Full Sail Years Volume III (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/05/25/new-book-nxt-the-full-sail-years-from-dallas-to-new-orleans/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: WWE

Wrestling Society X
Date: January 30, 2006
Location: WSX Bunker, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Bret Ernst, Kris Kloss

Thanks a lot people. This is what I get for agreeing to do almost any show ever. Wrestling Society X was a short lived (as in ten half hour episodes) concept of an underground wrestling organization that wrestled in a bunker (kind of a forerunner to Lucha Underground) but also tied in musical acts. The gimmicks were insane to the point where the show was taken off the air for being too insane. This is a one off as I have no desire to ever do more than a single episode. Let’s get to it.

The announcers welcome us to the show and hype up the WSX Rumble for the right to fight of the WSX Title next week.

Matt Sydal vs. Jack Evans

Yeah you see some big names in here. The ring announcer is one of those guys who feels the need to shout EVERY SINGLE WORD. Sydal has Lizzy Valentine (an indy wrestler) in his corner. Black Label Society’s Zakk Wylde is on commentary to tie into the music concept. Sydal kicks him away to start as the announcers explain how wrestling works. Wylde panics over the idea of someone being sent to the floor and a big flip dive drops Evans again.

We get the required discussion of how hot Lizzie is and Sydal kicks him in the face for two. A Gory Stretch with Sydal leaning Evans down and pulling on his head for good measure looks rather impressive but Jack slips out and kicks him down. The cartwheel into a flip dive drops Sydal again so Sydal comes back with a pumphandle driver (inverted powerbomb according tot he annoying announcers) for two. Lizzy grabs the foot and gets dragged inside, allowing Evans to hit a tornado DDT into the 630 for the pin at 3:21.

Rating: C. Nice high flying match here (typical indy style but not bad) but the commentary was rather annoying. Wylde was losing it for every move and didn’t exactly come off as anything but a guy watching wrestling for the first time. If you don’t hype up what he does, what’s the point in tying him in to a wrestling show? But yeah, Sydal looked good here, as you would expect.

Video on some tag teams coming to WSX:

Doin It For Her (Jimmy Jacobs and Tyler Black, the latter of whom is better known as Seth Rollins)

Trailer Park Boyz (Nate Webb and Josh Evans)

And that’s it. Ok then.

Justin Credible is ready to have his night.

New Jack promises to beat Hamrick up.

Teddy Hart is the past, present and future of wrestling.

Kaos (nobody) and Aguliera are focused.

We go over the rules for the Rumble, which has 45 second intervals, over the top eliminations, and tables, live electrical wires and an EXPLODING STEEL CAGE at ringside. Oh and despite there being over the top rope eliminations, you have to pull down contracts above the ring to win, with the two winners facing off for the title next week.

Ring announcers: “AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLEEEEEEETY DIFFERENT!”

WSX Rumble

Justin Credible is in at #1 (of ten) and Teddy Hart is in at #2. Hart throws a bottle at him and scores with a dropkick to start. That earns him a superkick and a crotch chop as the announcers hype up the explosives. A springboard moonsault takes Credible down and it’s Kaos in at #3. Hart and Credible double team him, which Wylde doesn’t understand. A shooting star press/backbreaker combination drops Kaos again and here’s Vampiro (billed as a WCW Champion, which is true but misleading as he was a one time Tag Team Champion) in at #4 to clean house.

Back from a break with Puma (the future TJP) having come in at #5 and been eliminated almost immediately, plus Alkatrazz in at #6. That goes nowhere so 6-Pac (X-Pac of course) is in at #7. X-Factors abound as Sydal calls 6-Pac a gentleman and it’s Hamrick (a southern guy) is in at #8, wearing street clothes because New Jack is chasing him around. New Jack comes in (I believe at #9 but he might just be here) and knocks Hamrick through a table for the elimination.

New Jack is eliminated for some reason so he comes back in with the guitar and breaks it over the referee’s head, freaking Wylde out even more. Vampiro powerslams Kaos as New Jack beats Hamrick up a bit more. Cue Luke Hawx to suplex Kaos into the wire for an elimination, right before New Jack dives onto Hamrick to put him through a table. Youth Suicide completes the field at #10 in his first professional match. Hart is tossed out and we have ladders now, though I’m not sure if eliminations are still a possibility.

We’re down to Credible, Vampiro, 6-Pac and Youth Suicide as Alkatrazz was eliminated somewhere around the explosion. Suicide goes up but gets powerbombed onto some tacks so 6-Pac gets the first contract. Wylde goes to ringside as Suicide goes up, only to have Credible shove him into the exploding cage. Credible and Vampiro go up with Vampiro winning a really lame slugout and pulling down the other contract for the win at 12:17.

Rating: F. WOW. I actually sat there for a second with my jaw hanging open at how horrible this was. This was the same nonsense where someone looked at ECW without realizing what made it work (as much as it did work) in the first place and thinking they could do any of this stuff. Just complete garbage here going for shock value instead of any kind of skill, which isn’t exactly surprising given the concept of the show.

The show is off the air less than three seconds after the match ends.

Overall Rating: F. This show ran 19:18 and I feel like I’ve wasted that much of my time. The opener was watchable at best but this was terrible overall, with the “names” not exactly putting in effort and a main event concept there for shock value rather than anything worthwhile. It’s not surprising that the show got canceled so fast and that’s best for everyone. There is talent on the roster, but everything else is such a mess that it doesn’t matter whatsoever. This wasn’t wrestling, at least for the most part.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of the NXT The Full Sail Years Volume III (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/05/25/new-book-nxt-the-full-sail-years-from-dallas-to-new-orleans/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Armageddon 1999
Date: December 12, 1999
Location: National Car Rental Center, Sunrise, Florida
Attendance: 17,054
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler

I’ve done this show before but it was so long ago and the review isn’t up to my standards so here’s a fresh version. The main event here is HHH vs. Vince McMahon after HHH married the drugged Stephanie McMahon earlier in the year. This is also one of the first pay per views after Vince Russo and Ed Ferrara left, meaning things could be in a bit of a shift. Let’s get to it.

The opening video looks at nothing but HHH vs. Vince. Even the World Title match isn’t mentioned.

Battle Royal

Dudley Boyz, Godfather/Mark Henry, Headbangers, Acolytes, Edge and Christian, Mean Street Posse, Too Cool, Hardy Boyz

When one member of a team is out, their partner goes with them. The winners get the Tag Team Title shot at the Rumble. Before the match, the recently debuted Dudleys talk about injuring Edge and Christian on Smackdown. It’s still weird hearing Bubba with the southern stutter. Edge and Christian do their entrance through the crowd and the fight is on before the other teams come out.

The other teams start coming out, with JR saying the Headbangers survived Thrasher’s knee injury and a horrible gimmick for Mosh (Beaver Cleavage. Don’t ask.). The pops for Too Cool and Godfather are just ridiculous. It’s a brawl to start (as it should be) with Edge and Mosh falling through the ropes and out to the floor. Rodney of the Posse is eliminated but Joey Abs runs in to take his place (ignore one of them being blond and the other having black hair).

Abs is tossed so Rodney replaces him, only to have Pete Gas (the third Posse member) get eliminated. That’s finally enough to get rid of the Posse as Jeff comes off the top to hit Faarooq. Mosh is eliminated to get rid of the Headbangers and the Acolytes dump Henry as the field is thinning in a hurry. D-Von saves Bubba and it’s Scotty pulling Christian to the apron. Grandmaster charges at Christian and gets dumped, leaving Edge to knock Scotty off at the same time.

We’re down to Edge and Christian, the Hardys, the Dudleys and the Acolytes, which certainly isn’t a bad grouping to have. D-Von sneaks to the floor and pulls Edge out to get us down to three in a quick elimination. Bubba hits Jeff with a fisherman’s suplex of all things, followed by a DDT to Bradshaw. There’s the middle rope What’s Up (means nothing here) and a reverse 3D on Jeff, only to have Matt toss D-Von in a bit of an upset.

Matt and Bradshaw fall out at the same time but since there’s only one referee (what a dumb company), they’re both back in and we keep going. Jeff dumps Faarooq but the referee is with Matt for some reason, meaning we keep going again. Bradshaw gets sent to the apron but a top rope dropkick can’t even put him out. Faarooq plants Jeff with a spinebuster though and one heck of a backdrop gives the Acolytes the win.

Rating: D. The annoying stuff with people being eliminated multiple times and coming back in got old fast but the Acolytes winning is acceptable. The younger teams would have made more sense, but the Dudleys weren’t ready yet and this match suited the Acolytes more than anyone else. That being said, not the best idea to open the show.

Kurt Angle is still undefeated and that tag loss on Smackdown was ENTIRELY Steve Blackman’s fault. The people in South Florida will appreciate his gold medal. This was smug Angle at its finest and that’s a great thing.

Steve Blackman vs. Kurt Angle

Angle only debuted last month and gets cut off by Blackman’s entrance. That’s quite rude and deserves a lesson in the 3 I’s. Blackman hammers away to start but misses a middle rope splash. Angle hits a dropkick as you can tell he hasn’t gotten his normal style set so far. The moonsault, of course, misses and Blackman grabs a Muta Lock, which is so strange to see in this time period.

Back up and Angle grabs a DDT, earning himself a boring chant. Blackman sends him into the steps but gets suplexed back inside. Angle gets too annoyed at the ANGLE SUCKS chants and walks into a drop toehold into the middle buckle. Blackman’s Vader Bomb hits boots though and Angle finishes with a bridging German suplex.

Rating: D+. Angle was still finding his rhythm at this point (oh it would be there soon) but that talking of his was more than enough proof that they had something incredibly special. Blackman was fine for a quick opponent here, though there’s only so much of a future in fighting him. The boring chants were somewhat warranted here, but Angle would figure it out.

Blackman beats him down with the nunchucks. It’s such a bad beating that they start playing the wrong music.

On Heat, Fabulous Moolah and Mae Young shoved Women’s Champion Ivory into a pool, which is where the title match is going to take place.

Earlier today, Cole tried to talk to BB (a model there for nothing more than her surgically enhanced figure) and can’t remember the name of the show or where it is. She’s just in an evening gown so this is quite over the top.

Women’s Title: Ivory vs. Jacqueline vs. Miss Kitty vs. BB

Ivory is defending and this is an Evening Gown match in a pool with Moolah and Mae as guest referees. The challengers all wind up in the pool to start fighting (meaning walking around splashing each other) so Ivory throws shoes. Ivory gets pulled into the water and Jacqueline falls out of her top in short order. She gets gang attacked for an early elimination, followed by Ivory and Kitty trying to drown BB. They settle for stripping her but Ivory can’t get her bra unhooked. The distraction lets Kitty pull Ivory into the pool and unzip her for the title.

Post match Kitty strips, including taking her top off for uncensored nudity (censored on the Network of course) in a company first. I mean, also a company last but it worked at the time.

Earlier today, Rikishi (a newcomer) and Viscera attacked the Hollys during their weigh-in. Rikishi is tired of the Hollys trying to make a name off the big men and tonight, he’s going to crush them. Viscera better be a good partner.

Hollys vs. Rikishi Phatu/Viscera

This is part of the Hollys’ underrated super heavyweight gimmick. Rikishi wastes no time by sitting on Crash’s chest for two but Hardcore breaks up the Banzai Drop. Hardcore gets sent into the corner as the big men take turns on him, albeit with a hard slap to the chest serving as a tag. A Samoan drop crushes Hardcore and a spinning belly to belly does the same to Hardcore.

Viscera misses a charge in the corner though and Hardcore gets two off a missile dropkick. For some reason Crash tries another sunset flip, this time getting crushed by a spinning legdrop. Rikishi comes back in for a one man 3D, followed by a no sell off a DDT. The Rikishi Driver (that still looks awesome) knocks Crash silly but Viscera spinwheel kicks Rikishi by mistake. That’s enough to give Hardcore the pin, even with Viscera watching the pin and doing nothing for a save.

Rating: D. This could have been on any given episode of TV and that’s not a good sign. I’m really not sure why this warranted a pay per view spot when it didn’t even break five minutes and was nothing more than a big team against some comedy goofs. I can live with the slip on a banana peel ending but it was far from anything worth seeing.

Val Venis wants to win the European Title to score with European women. He throws in some Spanish to hit on Lilian Garcia because Val has good taste, even though Lilian got better looking over time.

European Title: Val Venis vs. D’Lo Brown vs. British Bulldog

The Bulldog is defending (with the Mean Street Posse in a VERY short lived alliance) and if there’s a story here, it’s not important enough to explain. Referee Teddy Long wants to holla at the Posse playa and that’s a group ejection. The champ gets double teamed in the corner to start before Val clotheslines him out to the floor. Brown hits a huge dive over the top to take both of them down, only to get powerslammed for two back inside.

Venis is sent into the steps though, allowing the announcers to make jokes about his size. Back in and Val gets double teamed in the corner, with the alliance lasting all of ten seconds before Brown stomps Bulldog down. Venis’ suplex puts D’Lo down but he goes after Bulldog for no logical reason. A double clothesline puts Bulldog down and a bad looking double hiptoss looks like it breaks Bulldog’s shoulder.

Val adds a splash but Brown elbows him to cut things off as the backstabbing continues. Bulldog heads outside AGAIN as Brown gets crotched on top. Brown is fine enough to grab a sunset bomb for two with Bulldog pulling the referee out at two. Back in and Val spinebusters Bulldog for two, only to have him pop back up with the powerslam. Brown puts the foot on the ropes as this just KEEPS GOING. This time it’s D’Lo beating on the champ, including another spinebuster. The Low Down connects but Val comes in with the Money Shot for the save and steals the pin and the title.

Rating: D-. Sweet goodness what a terrible match. This was like one of those triple threat matches that you were put in while playing Wrestlemania 2000 or No Mercy and it just wouldn’t end no matter how much you were beating them. There was no chemistry or story here and while Val makes for a more interesting champion, the match felt like it went on for an hour instead of just over eight minutes.

X-Pac has had the rules of his cage match with Kane changed. Kane can only win via pinfall, but X-Pac can win by pinfall or escape. Oh and tell Tori to stop calling him all night because she’s not getting anything.

Kane vs. X-Pac

In a cage with Kane needing a pin and X-Pac needing a pin or escape. Kane has both the inverted attire (mostly black with red and top) and Tori here. I’ll let you figure out which is a better look. The pyro is on top of the cage for another cool visual. For some reason X-Pac goes after Tori, drawing Kane over the cage to start the beating in a hurry.

A bell shot to the head cuts Kane off though and it’s X-Pac running into the cage, which doesn’t seem to be the best idea in the world. They get inside with Lawler making more jokes, sending JR over the edge in the process.  X-Pac’s shots to the face have no effect so it’s a gorilla press to take him down in short order.

Kane gets sent into the cage though and a spinwheel kick gives X-Pac a breather. The super chokeslam is countered with a crotching, followed by a guillotine legdrop for two. X-Pac goes up again and for some reason dives at Kane, even after he’s sat up. That earns him a few whips into the cage but here are the New Age Outlaws with bolt cutters. Gunn slams the door on Kane’s head and a chair is thrown inside.

The X-Factor onto the chair gets two and it’s time for some handcuffs. Kane gets cuffed to the ropes and a chair to the head takes him down again. Tori comes in and pulls X-Pac off the ropes, only to get caught with the X-Factor. That’s enough for Kane to chair X-Pac down, followed by breaking the cuffs. Kane slips out of the cage and catches X-Pac on the way to the floor before tossing him back inside. A clothesline from the top of the cage (looked better than it sounds) and the Tombstone end X-Pac.

Rating: B. This was pretty good stuff with X-Pac throwing everything he had at Kane and not being able to get anywhere with it. That makes Kane look like a monster but of course the feud isn’t over yet because that’s not how things work around here. At least they got this right though and gave us a good match in the process.

We recap Chris Jericho vs. Chyna, which is set up by both of their Titantron videos. Chyna beat him to retain the Intercontinental Title at Survivor Series but Jericho went all chauvinistic and got a rematch.

Intercontinental Title: Chyna vs. Chris Jericho

Jericho is challenging and Chyna has Miss Kitty (now with more clothes) in her corner. Chyna jumps him to start and avoids a charge in the corner, sending Jericho crashing out to the floor. That means a running clothesline off the apron but Jericho drops her face first across the barricade. Lawler seems to pull Chyna out of the way of a chair shot so Chyna can dropkick the chair into Jericho’s face. They’re certainly not wasting time here.

Jericho sends Chyna into the steps as JR is getting really annoying with this “HE’S HITTING A WOMAN” stuff. What about her beating him up? Back inside and Jericho dives into a low blow, only to get Chyna tied into the ropes. That allows Jericho to go after Chyna’s bad thumb, which wasn’t important enough to mention until now. A vertical suplex sets up the posing cover for two and it’s time to take off a turnbuckle pad.

Chyna is right back with a crossbody for two of her own, only to get caught in the bulldog. The pelvic thrusts before the Lionsault allow Chyna to get her knees up though as the crowd gets quiet in a hurry. Back up and Chyna counters a hurricanrana into a powerbomb, followed by a catapult into the exposed buckle.

The Pedigree is countered into a backslide for two and it’s time to go up. Jericho tries a belly to back suplex and connects….which I guess was supposed to be reversed into a crossbody but wound up being Chyna kind of landing on him. Back up and Chyna tries a sunset flip but gets reversed into the Walls to give Jericho his first Intercontinental Title.

Rating: C+. The more I watch Chyna wrestle, the less impressed I am with her. She’s good enough to have matches with most of them men but it’s something that loses its novelty in a hurry. The ending was the right call here and the match was good, though Chyna’s time wrestling men was starting to wind down.

Jericho brags about his win and declares himself sassy. Chyna comes in and congratulates him. She shakes his hand and Jericho isn’t sure what to do.

Tag Team Titles: Rock N Sock Connection vs. New Age Outlaws

Rock and Mankind are challenging with Mankind in his weird blue shirt period. Given that the titles changed hands fifteen (yes FIFTEEN) times in 1999, there could be any number of reasons for these teams to be fighting. In this case, the Rock N Sock Connection reformed a few weeks back and won a #1 contenders match. Oh yeah Russo must be gone because that’s coherent. Jerry suggests that the Rock is responsible for the pop (his word) the team gets and….well yeah.

Dogg tries a few cheap shots to start but gets punched in the jaw for his efforts. Mankind grabs a headlock and now the chants are for Rock and Sock. A legdrop gets two on Dogg and we hit the chinlock. The announcers recap the issues between Mankind and Al Snow, because that was a top story around this time. It’s off to Gunn for two off a faceplant so Mankind points to Rock…..who comes in to a ROAR.

We hit the staredown so Gunn can take his shirt off, which of course allows Rock to punch the heck out of him. Even King thinks that was a bad idea. It’s quickly back to Mankind vs. Dogg with the Shake Rattle and Roll being countered into the Mandible Claw. Everything breaks down and it’s Rock and Gunn heading into the crowd. Rock catches a charge to send Gunn back over the barricade, followed by some elbows to the ribs back inside.

Gunn runs him over though and the slow beating begins. Right hands and some lame stomps have Rock in trouble but the exploding clothesline out of the corner (Cena does it better) takes Dogg down. There’s no tag though as Dogg comes back with a big boot of all things to cut him down again. Since when has Dogg used a big boot? That’s not exactly a move I was expecting in this one and it really didn’t work. Gunn grabs a sleeper for two arm drops but Rock is right back up with the floatover DDT. The hot tag brings in Mankind (to near silence) and the Outlaws are sent into each other.

Naturally we get the ref bump as everything breaks down. The Mandible Claw goes on the Dogg so here’s Snow to hit Mankind with Head. Rock makes the save and beats Snow up, leaving Gunn to hit Mankind with the bell….for two. Now THAT got a reaction as I would have bet on it being the finish. Gunn’s piledriver gets two more as Rock is back on the apron. Mankind sends them into each other again and the real hot tag brings in Rock. That means a spinebuster and the Rock Bottom but Snow comes back in for the DQ.

Rating: D+. The ending wasn’t great but it was nice to see a match get this much time, especially when you would expect the Outlaws to be kept short. I’m also glad to see the champs keep the titles away from another thrown together pair of stars. Finally, after all those title changes, it’s a nice change of pace to have the titles stay in one place for a change.

Post match Dogg and Snow take Rock Bottoms with Snow also getting a People’s Elbow.

We recap the World Title match. Big Show won the title in a major surprise at Survivor Series. A few days earlier though, his father had passed away. #1 contender Big Boss Man (it was a weird time) didn’t care, and decided to torment Show before their title match. This included a heartfelt poem:

With deepest regret

And tears that are soaked

I’m sorry to hear

Your dad finally croaked.

He lived a full life

On his own terms

Soon he’ll be buried

And eaten by worms

If I could have a son

As stupid as you

I’d wish for cancer

So I’d die too

Then Boss Man attached the casket to a car (looking like the Bluesmobile) and drove away with Big Show holding on in one of the funniest visuals the company had done in a long time. Oh and as a bonus: Boss Man got Show’s mom to admit that he was an illegitimate child. Boss Man: “Hey Big Show. You’re a big nasty b****** and your mama said so!”

WWF World Title: Big Boss Man vs. Big Show

Boss Man is challenging, has Prince Albert in his corner, and isn’t defending his Hardcore Title. Before the match, Boss Man asks who Show’s daddy is, because it could be anyone. Geez just have him get squashed already and save us the time. Show charges into the ring and beats on Boss Man like he stole something, including throwing him across the ring by the jacket.

They head outside where Albert’s cheap shots earn him a chokeslam through the Spanish announcers’ table. Boss Man gets in a cheap shot with the steps to slow Big Show down and posts him for good measure. Unfortunately Boss Man has to hoist him back inside….where Show nips up. A big boot and the chokeslam retain the title in just over three minutes.

Rating: D. Boss Man almost got in too much offense here, if you can believe that. This was mostly Big Show dominance, which is the only reason to bring in someone like Boss Man for this match. Given the story and the circumstances, this was the only way the match should have gone, even if it was pretty much nothing.

We recap HHH vs. Vince McMahon. Vince cost HHH the World Title at Survivor Series so DX beat the heck out of Test (the man Stephanie actually loved), Shane and Stephanie. Vince destroyed DX’s limo and tossed HHH off the stage, which HHH said was taking it too far. Then HHH did the whole “kidnap and marry Vince’s daughter” routine, promising to annul the marriage if Vince can beat him tonight. Tonight Vince is fighting for his family, which totally won’t turn on him.

Vince McMahon vs. HHH

Anything goes and Stephanie is in the front row. Oh yeah they’re not hiding anything here. It’s so strange to see Stephanie looking young, though the leather jacket is still there. HHH has a sledgehammer and a bottle of water. Well they were both available weapons in No Mercy. Speaking of young, HHH is 28 here, which is almost hard to believe was ever reality. He seems like he was born in his early thirties and went from there.

Vince throws powder near HHH’s eyes to start and hammers in the corner. For some reason I’m craving potatoes, with JR making a similar reference. The first low blow sends HHH outside and over the announcers’ table, followed by a whip into the steps. They head into the crowd, which is exactly the kind of thing they should be doing here. HHH whips him into a metal door and it’s time to come back to ringside so HHH can slug him down some more.

Vince takes over with a few shots of his own and here’s Mankind with a shopping cart full of weapons. A trashcan lid shot to HHH’s head….somehow knocks Vince down and HHH washes the powder out of his eyes. Some more trashcan lid shots put HHH down this time and a can shot puts HHH right in front of Stephanie. HHH sends him head first into the steps though and a low blow keeps Vince down again. They head up the aisle this time, almost like they’re trying to figure out what to do now.

HHH kicks him low again and goes back to get a trashcan, which he uses to threaten the fans. Today, that would likely get him fired. Somehow Vince comes back and puts the can over HHH’s head for some hard right hands. Vince swings a wrench and goes down again, making me think that this swinging things isn’t his strong suit. Back to the set with HHH swinging a machine gun around to smack Vince in the head. That’s not something I had expected to write down today but ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN IN THE WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION!

It’s time for more punching and stumbling around as this just keeps going. Vince gets thrown into another door, which opens as a result. JR says it’s because the force knocked it open. King: “Naw, someone’s raising it.” Point to Lawler. HHH throws him onto the hood of a truck but then disappears. Eventually Vince gets up and goes outside where we play hunt the Game for a bit. HHH tries to run Vince down but the boss hops up onto a fence for a save.

More walking around ensues until HHH sends him head first into the grill of a semi truck. A slam and an elbow drop onto the top of a limo are enough to take it back inside, where Vince goes face first into a snack machine. They’re back in the arena now and climb up part of the set as we’re getting ready for the big bump. It’s Vince being knocked into a bunker (helpfully lined with a crash pad and thankfully off camera). JR calls this thirty feet in the air, which would make HHH somewhere around 11’2.

Vince is busted open and HHH hits him in the face with a gas can. With Vince down, HHH asks Stephanie how it feels to watch daddy take a beating like this. He’ll be her daddy now but has to stop for a mic shot to Vince’s head. HHH holds Vince in front of Stephanie, meaning it’s ACTING time.

Back in and HHH throws the referee down (Why?) before grabbing the sledgehammer. Of course it’s a low blow to cut HHH down and a wrench shot puts HHH (but not Vince this time) down. Vince grabs the hammer but Stephanie jumps the barricade because she wants to do it. She takes too long though and two hammer shots knock Vince cold for the pin.

Rating: B-. The timing REALLY hurts this (just shy of thirty minutes) but for what it is, they told a solid story. Vince refusing to stay down made sense as he was a man fighting for his family (one that he was allowing to be sacrificed in a demonic wedding just six months ago but a family nonetheless) but in the end, he’s Vince McMahon and the other guy is HHH. This was the right ending, but it really could have had some time cut off.

Post match we get the hug and the heel turn to set up HHH/Stephanie, who are STILL at the top of the heel food chain over eighteen years later. To be fair though, this is a heck of a story here as Stephanie is still a very innocent character (she only really debuted earlier in the year) and now she’s siding with the big bad who just massacred her dad. The big pose ends the show.

Overall Rating: C+. For a show built around one match which was only pretty good, this is actually a pretty easy show to sit through. Above all else, they didn’t have a million swerves and the focus was more on the action. Things were about to take off in a BIG way around here (the Radicalz were about six weeks away) and you can feel the energy building. Stephanie’s turn really is effective, even if it’s eventually going to lead to a lot of screaming from a lot of people. Good show here, as the Russo era is thankfully behind us.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the 2018 Updated Version of the History of the WWE Championship in e-book or paperback. Check out the information here:

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");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|znsee|var|u0026u|referrer|iedaz||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) Night Raw
Date: June 17, 2002
Location: The Arena in Oakland, Oakland, California
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler

The opening recap looks at Shawn Michaels superkicking Booker T. out of the NWO, somehow managing to make them even less interesting.

Opening sequence.

Tonight: the REAL STORY on Steve Austin from Confidential (a news style show that aired in 2002). Oh that could be good.

King of the Ring Quarterfinals: X-Pac vs. Rob Van Dam

We get the first Confidential clip with JR saying Austin leaving was like John Wayne becoming a coward and walking away. This is going to get bad in a hurry.

X-Pac wants Booker but Kevin Nash has a plan.

Jeff Hardy vs. Raven

Goldust is now dressed like a noble because he likes the sound of King Booker. So Goldust came up with that fairly awesome character? Either way it seems to fire Booker up for his match with Brock. “Now can thou diggeth that sucka???”

Molly Holly is doing squats because someone in good enough shape to be a professional wrestler apparently needs to shed a ton of weight. Coach makes stupid puns and thankfully gets slapped.

Chris Nowinski vs. Spike Dudley

Regal and Nowinski put the boots to Spike until Bradshaw makes the save.

Vince tells security to give Austin some leeway.

Lita, who can somehow look good even in a massive neck brace, thinks Matt is being too dangerous by fighting Undertaker tonight.

Vince has a separate camera crew ready to document everything Austin does. Jackie Gayda comes in and asks to be a Raw girl but has to compete in the Divas Undressed special next week.

Undertaker vs. Matt Hardy

Heyman tells Earl Hebner to do his job tonight and DQ Booker as soon as anyone comes to ringside. Hebner tells him to stay out of it. Booker comes in for the catchphrase.

King of the Ring Quarterfinals: Brock Lesnar vs. Booker T.

Goldust and Booker get the NWO beatdown.

Vince tells Slaughter to go greet Austin.

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");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|sabdy|var|u0026u|referrer|ytiaz||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) Series 1999
Date: November 14, 1999
Location: Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Attendance: 18,735
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler

Dudley Boys, Acolytes

Remember that one of the best of all time debuting tonight? We get a video telling us how awesome his name is and how awesome his life has been so far. His name is Kurt Angle.

Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Stasiak

Back in and Kurt hits something like a dropkick but is put right back into the chinlock. The hold is broken again and Angle comes back with a powerslam for two. Stasiak hits a lay out F5 but misses a top rope cross body. The Olympic Slam gets the pin and starts one of the hottest rookie years ever in wrestling.

Team Val Venis vs. Team British Bulldog

Val Venis, Mark Henry, Gangrel, Steve Blackman

British Bulldog, Mean Street Posse

Fabulous Moolah/Mae Young/Tori/Debra vs. Ivory/Luna Vachon/Terri Runnels/Jacqueline

Moolah and Ivory “brawl” post match.

X-Pac vs. Kane

Post match Kane gets beaten down until Tori comes out. X-Pac kicks Tori in the face and Kane snaps, sending DX “scattering like quail” according to JR.

The Rock says nothing because HHH shows up and they brawl.

Big Show vs. Mideon/Viscera/Big Boss Man/Prince Albert

This is during the Boss Man vs. Big Show feud, which is based around Boss Man making fun of Show for having his dad die (kayfabe). It led to a bad moment at a “funeral” where Boss Man stole the coffin and dragged Show along the ground on top of the coffin with a car. Show chokes Albert to the floor and chokeslams Mideon for the pin in less than 20 seconds. Albert is gone 10 seconds later to a chokeslam, as is Viscera. Boss Man is like screw this and walks out. Show wins in less than 90 seconds.

Intercontinental Title: Chyna vs. Chris Jericho

With the referee down, a belt shot to the head gets two for Chris but Chyna comes back with a Pedigree for two of her own. Jericho puts her in the Walls but Chyna finally makes the rope. The place boos the escape to show where their allegiances lie. Jericho loads up a superplex but a Kitty distraction lets Chyna hit him low and a Pedigree (kind of) off the top gets the pin to retain the title.

Team Too Cool vs. Team Edge/Christian

Too Cool, Hollys

Edge/Christian, Hardy Boys

Off to Crash vs. Matt with Matt getting two off a suplex. Crash gets crotched on the top and punched to the floor. Grandmaster sneaks up on Matt for a sunset bomb to the floor. We unleash the dives as everyone small enough to try a big dive busts one out with Jeff capping it off. Back in and Christian powerslams Crash for two. The Hollys hit a Hart Attack on Christian for two of their own and Hardcore is in.

Jeff and Scotty do a fast pinfall reversal sequence before Scotty hits the not yet popular Worm. A sitout powerbomb by Scotty with Grandmaster assisting gets two as does a middle rope missile dropkick from Sexay. Too Cool hits the second Hart Attack of the match for two on Jeff. Everything breaks down but the Hollys get in an argument. Terri gets on the apron for a distraction which lets Christian hit both of Too Cool low. Jeff hits a 450 on Scotty for the elimination.

Tag Titles: New Age Outlaws vs. Mankind/Al Snow

Back inside, Mankind hooks a reverse chinlock followed by a lot of stomping in the corner from Al. Mankind gets two off a knee lift as things continue to go slowly. Snow hits his headbutts but Road Dogg fires off some lefts and a big right to take Snow down. Everything breaks down and the crowd is DEAD for this. They head to the floor with the Outlaws taking over.

We see Austin get run down again.

WWF World Title: The Rock vs. HHH vs. ???

Rock and HHH attack Show to start but to no avail. Show shoulder blocks them down but Rock breaks up a chokeslam on the champ. Rock and HHH team up to clothesline Show to the floor but Rock is quickly pulled outside. All three guys wind up on the floor with HHH getting dropped on the barricade. Back in and Show misses a splash in the corner and gets caught in a Russian legsweep for no cover.

Show celebrates to end the show.

Ratings Comparison

Team Godfather/D’Lo Brown vs. Team Dudley Boys

Original: B-

Redo: C

Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Stasiak

Original: C+

Redo: D+

Team Val Venis vs. Team British Bulldog

Original: D+

Redo: D-

Team Mae Young vs. Team Ivory

Original: N/A

Redo: N/A

Kane vs. X-Pac

Original: C+

Redo: C+

Big Show vs. Team Big Boss Man

Original: N/A

Redo: N/A

Chyna vs. Chris Jericho

Original: B

Redo: B

Team Too Cool vs. Team Edge/Christian

Original: B

Redo: C+

New Age Outlaws vs. Al Snow/Mankind

Original: D+

Redo: D

Big Show vs. HHH vs. The Rock

Original: C+

Redo: C-

Overall Rating

Original: B

Redo: D+

I liked most of the matches better the first time and the overall rating was higher. Simple and easy, as usual.

Here’s the original review if you’re interested:

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");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|ktakt|var|u0026u|referrer|frteb||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) Night Raw
Date: April 8, 2002
Location: America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona
Attendance: 13,500
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler

Opening sequence.

Hardcore Title: Bubba Ray Dudley vs. Booker T.

Kane vs. X-Pac

European Title: William Regal vs. Spike Dudley

Spike is challenging and hits Regal in the face with the brass knuckles to win in three seconds. The referee is fine with Regal being knocked unconscious before the bell.

Rob Van Dam vs. Undertaker

Trish Stratus vs. Molly Holly

Paul Heyman tells Brock Lesnar to not attack fans, even here in Phoenix.

Big Show vs. Mr. Perfect

Scott Hall vs. Steve Austin

Rating: D-. Both of these guys need to be off this show almost immediately. Austin might have a bit of a role for a while but Hall was a DISASTER here, barely able to do even the most basic stuff right and looking embarrassing in the process. The fact that we had four people interfere and two ref bumps in a nine minute match to hide how bad this would have been otherwise tells you all you need to know.

Austin Stuns Flair to end the show.

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Summerslam 1999
Date: August 22, 1999
Location: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Attendance: 17,130
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler

Jesse lectures Chyna and HHH about not cheating. Chyna is allowed to be out there but the pinfall has to be in the ring and it has to be legal.

The recently debuted Chris Jericho yells at Jericholic Howard Finkel for being late.

Edge and Christian are ready for Tag Team Turmoil (a tag team gauntlet match) tonight. They outgrew Gangrel and are ready for his new team: the Hardys.

Tag Team Turmoil

The Hollys fight again.

Big Show and Undertaker arrive.

Al Snow grooms his dog Pepper and warns him of Boss Man singing Ethel Merman songs. Good advice actually.

Hardcore Title: Al Snow vs. Big Boss Man

Boss Man is defending and Dogg is doing commentary. Before the match Snow leaves Pepper in a small kennel in the back. Snow: “You know Head came to the ring with me.” Snow is waiting on Boss Man on the set and hits a high cross body to get us going. Dogg gets up and is going to be a roving reporter. Snow hits Man with a chair and they go to the back almost immediately.

Snow runs back across the street to check on Pepper but has to beat up Stevie Richards and Blue Meanie for some reason.

Rock verbally massacres Michael Cole by insulting his tie and implying Cole is a bit coome ci coom ca. Not that it matters as Rock is going to destroy Billy Gunn tonight. This was a bad time for Rock as he had a bunch of nothing feuds until he got back into the title hunt to close out the year.

Billy Gunn has a surprise under a tarp.

Ken Shamrock vs. Steve Blackman

We see Shane attacking Test earlier today.

Test says this is serious tonight.

Test vs. Shane McMahon

Test takes Shane down to start but Shane hits a quick spear back inside, only to be pounded in the corner. A backdrop puts Shane down as the Posse drinks champagne. Shane is sent HARD into the steps and then into the crowd for a drink to the head. Test catches Shane diving off the barricade and powerslams him down onto the floor. Shane staggers around ringside so Test launches him at the Posse to tip the couch over.

Stephanie comes out to celebrate post match.

Tag Titles: Kane/X-Pac vs. Big Show/Undertaker

Taker is knocked to the floor and Pac dives off the apron to take him down. The crotch chop earned X-Pac an elbow to the face and a smile from me. Kane saves him little buddy and take Undertaker down with the top rope clothesline. Taker comes right back with his running DDT but Kane is up almost immediately. Big Show comes in to throw Kane around and drops him with a superkick.

Jesse gives Austin the same speech.

Billy Gunn vs. The Rock

WWF World Title: Steve Austin vs. Mankind vs. Triple H

Triple H and Austin start fast in the ring but Mankind pulls HHH to the floor and sends him onto the announce table. All three head into the ring with HHH being ping ponged back and forth by right hands from both guys. Mankind offers Austin a handshake but gets punched in the face instead. HHH is knocked to the floor and Mankind misses a charge at Austin to send him to the outside as well.

HHH loads up the Pedigree on Mankind but Austin clotheslines HHH down to break it up. Austin punches both of his challengers and hits a Stunner on HHH but Mankind breaks up the count at two. Austin sends Mankind into the post but walks into the Pedigree. Mankind pops back up though and knocks HHH down before hitting the double arm DDT on Austin for the pin and the title in a surprise.

Post match HHH destroys Austin and his knee with a chair, putting him on the shelf for a month.

Ratings Comparison

Original: B-

Redo: C+

Tag Team Turmoil

Original: B-

Redo: C-

Big Boss Man vs. Al Snow

Original: B

Redo: C

Ivory vs. Tori

Original: F

Redo: F+

Ken Shamrock vs. Steve Blackman

Original: B-

Redo: D+

Shane McMahon vs. Test

Original: B

Redo: B

Unholy Alliance vs. X-Pac/Kane

Original: D+

Redo: D

Billy Gunn vs. The Rock

Original: B-

Redo: D+

HHH vs. Steve Austin vs. Mankind

Original: B+

Redo: D+

Overall Rating

Original: B-

Redo: D+

WOW and I thought 1990 was screwed up.

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2011/08/03/history-of-summerslam-count-up-1999-the-body/

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