Vader (c) def. ‘The World’s Most Dangerous Man’ Ken Shamrock via Countout after throwing him into a piece of barricade over and over again
The Headbangers (Mosh & Thrasher) def. Los Boricuas (Savio & Tito)
The Undertaker def. ‘The Greatest Of All Time’ 2 Cold Scorpio to win the WWF Intercontinental Championship
The Rock & Faarooq def. Southern Justice in a Squash (see notes)
Shawn Michaels def. Stone Cold Steve Austin (see notes)
Kane def. Triple H easily in a No Holds Barred match
Jeff Jarrett def. Barry Windham in a standard wrestling match
The Nation of Domination def. Cactus Jack & Chainsaw Charlie to retain the WWF Tag Team Championships
The Legion of Doom def. The New Age Outlaws
Goldust def. Owen Hart
The Mad King Brian Pillman def. Marvellous Marc Mero in a street fight
Ricky Steamboat def. Ravishing Rick Rude via Countout
NOTES
The Rock pinned Henry Godwin very quickly into the match. Afterwards with the whole nation having come into the ring to celebrate the two men were implored to shake hands. Faarooq thought about it and extended his hand. The Rock surveyed the crowd and extended his hand but then pulled Faarooq into a Rock Bottom. The whole NOD put the boots to Faarooq as The Rock grabbed a mic and said now everybody is on the same page before thanking Kama for the idea
Shawn Michaels and DX continued to attack Steve Austin after the match. Mike Tyson kept telling him ‘but you already beat him.’ DX then went to go to the back but HBK & HHH came back down with Tyson checking on Austin. HHH hit a pedigree on Austin again and then picked him up so HBK could hit Sweet Chin Music. HBK approached Austin and walked right into a right hand from Tyson who removed his DX shirt, spit on it and threw it on Michaels prone body. HHH backed away and Austin raised Tyson’s hand in victory. Beers were had - and poured on Michaels in turn.
I made a math error somewhere along the way, 2 Cold Scorpio’s run ended at 406 days and it took 3 tombstones (the 3rd being a spinning jumping tombstone) to put the greatest IC champ of all time away.
The fans shit all over the Main Event. The first countout finish to a main event in WrestleMania history
With Shamrock’s failure this means that Hulk Hogan is the only man out of 6 eligible Royal Rumble winners to be victorious in the Main Event of WrestleMania at WM X
WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION World Heavyweight Champion: ‘Vader - 63 days Intercontinental Champion: The Undertaker - 0 days Tag Team Champions: The Nation of Domination - 63 days
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING World Heavyweight Champion: Bret Hart - 35 days United States Champion: Glacier - 14 days Tag Team Champions: The Four Horsemen (Arn & Benoit) - 392 days
PRO WRESTLING ILLUSTRATED PRESENT THE PWI 500 FOR 1998* Last year in parentheses
Bret Hart (WCW - 9)
Jeff Jarrett (WWF - 21)
Shawn Michaels (WWF - 20)
Arn Anderson (WCW - 18)
Lex Luger (WCW - 17)
Brian Pillman (WWF - 31)
Cactus Jack (WWF - 2)
Chris Benoit (WCW - 14)
Kerry Von Erich (RETIRED - 3)
Stone Cold Steve Austin (WWF - 13)
Scott Hall (WCW - 19)
Hollywood Hogan (WCW - 12)
Raven (WCW - 1)
Curt Hennig (WCW - 6)
Kevin Nash (WCW - 16)
Vader (WWF - 7)
Diamond Dallas Page (WCW - 11)
Macho Man Randy Savage (WCW - 27)
Ted DiBiase (WCW - 5)
Magnum T.A. (WWF - 24)
Other Notables
The Undertaker (21), Yokozuna (22), 2 Cold Scorpio (23), Ken Shamrock (24), Larry Zbyszko (25), Sting (27), Kane (28), Ric Flair (31), The Giant (33), Owen Hart (39), The Rock (40), Roddy Piper (53), Triple H (64), Hawk (66), Animal (67), Glacier (69), Eddie Guerrero (72), Sid (79), Rey Misterio Jr (83), Chris Jericho (106), Goldberg (135)
Highest Debut: Ken Shamrock (24) Most Improved: The Undertaker (up 99) Biggest Fall Billy Gunn (down 51)
DX came down to the ring and Shawn Michaels said it was a good night all things considered for DX but it should have been a great night
Shawn walks up to Rick Rude. Rude looks defiant. There’s a pause. Shawn says that if he had to wrestle Ricky Steamboat he’d probably have gone for a walk as well.
Shawn then walks up to Triple H and says that last night was a big opportunity for him and Hunter dropped the ball. It gets tense. But Shawn says that he’s lost at WrestleMania before and Kane’s a big burnt SOB
Shawn then talks to Chyna saying that he beat Steve Austin last night. That was impressive. That should’ve been enough but no-one took care of Tyson. And he gets that everyone was walking to the back post-match and that he probably should’ve just accepted the win but he felt secure that someone had his back
However, Shawn continues to speak, Hunter’s always been a reliable right-hand man. Hunter relaxes
But - Shawn continues - “I’ve got him (looking at Rude), So like I said, you dropped the ball so I’m gonna drop the hammer”
Hunter goes to speak but he’s dropped with a Superkick. Rude holds Chyna back. Shawn says Chyna can choose which way to go. She looks at DX and looks at Hunter and collects Hunter and takes him to the back.
Shawn said that he’s retooling DX. They need to be more efficient - like an army. This army however is X-Rated
A wrestler formerly known as The 1-2-3 Kid returns, looking much more like his Syxx persona from WCW. He runs down Hulk Hogan, Eric Bischoff, and Roddy Piper before saying that Nash and Hall wish they were in WWF too
Later in the show, the New Age Outlaws are also announced as new members of DX who now consist of HBK, Rude, X-Pac, Billy Gunn, and Road Dogg
In other news Brian Pillman has left the WWF for WCW
WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart (c) vs. Nikita Koloff
Rowdy Roddy Piper vs. Lex Luger
WCW UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Glacier (c) vs. Scott Hall
WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
The Four Horsemen (c) vs. The Public Enemy
THE RUBBER MATCH
Booker T vs. Hammer
NO DISQUALIFICATIONS
Sting vs. Macho Man Randy Savage
BASEBALL BAT ON A POLE MATCH
Hollywood Hogan & Chris Adams vs. The Giant & Meng
Bill Goldberg vs. Perry Saturn
RAVEN’S RULES MATCH
Raven vs. Diamond Dallas Page
Larry Zbyszko vs. Kevin Nash
NOTES
WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION World Heavyweight Champion: ‘Vader - 91 days Intercontinental Champion: The Undertaker - 21 days Tag Team Champions: The Nation of Domination - 91 days
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING World Heavyweight Champion: Bret Hart - 56 days United States Champion: Glacier - 35 days Tag Team Champions: The Four Horsemen (Arn & Benoit) - 420 days
Nikita Koloff def. Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart (c) to win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship
Lex Luger def. Rowdy Roddy Piper
Glacier (c) vs. Scott Hall to retain the WCW United States Championship
The Four Horsemen (c) def. The Public Enemy
Hammer def. Booker T
Sting def. Macho Man Randy Savage in a no DQ match
Hollywood Hogan & Chris Adams def. The Giant & Meng in a baseball bat on a pole match
Bill Goldberg def. Perry Saturn
Raven def. Diamond Dallas Page in a Raven’s Rules match
Larry Zbyszko def. Kevin Nash
NOTES
Match of the night went to the Main Event
This night was all about the infighting in the New World Order - Hogan distracted the referee when Nash had Zybyszko beat, Hogan claimed it was a mistake and he didn’t know. Nash seemed unsure. - Hogan & Adams were victorious and Hogan was very gracious towards Nash (at ringside) after the match - In the Savage/Sting match, The Disciple cracked the referee in the head right when Savage was about to go for the big elbow. Sting ultimately won - It all came to a head in the Hall/Glacier match when the nWo started brawling between themselves at ringside, distracting Hall and allowing Glacier to get the win. Nash came in after and apologised to Hall but Hall just shoved him in the stomach saying “we started all this… now you can’t control it” and walked off
Management are said to be pushing Lex Luger to the moon and have tasked Roddy Piper with making him a star. Piper’s been bumping for him and looking at the lights all over the country
Nikita Koloff is an 8 time world champion and needs to be in the discussion of wrestling’s Mount Rushmore, the lack of relevance whilst in WWF will hurt him though.
WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION World Heavyweight Champion: ‘Vader - 91 days Intercontinental Champion: The Undertaker - 21 days Tag Team Champions: The Nation of Domination - 91 days
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING World Heavyweight Champion: Nikita Koloff - 0 days United States Champion: Glacier - 35 days Tag Team Champions: The Four Horsemen (Arn & Benoit) - 420 days
WWF UNFORGIVEN: IN YOUR HOUSE PREVIEW - APRIL 26, 1998
WRESTLEMANIA REMATCH FOR THE WWF WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Vader (c) vs. Ken Shamrock
WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
The Undertaker (c) vs. Kane
STREET FIGHT
Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat
Barry Windham vs. Owen Hart
Triple H (w/ Chyna) vs. Ravishing Rick Rude (w/ DX)
WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
D’Lo Brown & Kama Mustafa (c) vs. Chainsaw Charlie & Cactus Jack
Faarooq & Steve Blackman vs. The Rock & Mark Henry
NOTES
Paul Bearer appeared on Raw and told the Undertaker that he’s made a terrible mistake. Now he has no choice. He’s legally contracted to face Kane because his brother is the number one contender… oh yes!.. the number one contender!
WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION World Heavyweight Champion: ‘Vader - 98 days Intercontinental Champion: The Undertaker - 28 days Tag Team Champions: The Nation of Domination - 98 days
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING World Heavyweight Champion: Nikita Koloff - 7 days United States Champion: Glacier - 42 days Tag Team Champions: The Four Horsemen (Arn & Benoit) - 427 days
The New World Order has fractured into two warring tribes: NWO Hollywood (led by Hollywood Hogan) and NWO Wolfpac (led by Kevin Nash). Both sides are trying to recruit partisan forces to join in the fight against the other.
The biggest shock has to be Scott Hall refusing to mutiny alongside Kevin Nash and staying loyal to Hollywood Hogan. Kevin Nash is said to be heartbroken, or as he has said in promos ‘bummed’ at the outcome.
One of the more surprising recruitments is Curt Hennig who had been on with The Four Horsemen as their succession plan for Arn Anderson under the role of ‘legacy member’ but Hennig made the jump to the red and black and even brought a further recruit with him: the seldom used Jim Powers is with the Wolfpac
One of the biggest shots across the bow was when Lex Luger finally decided to choose a side and also donned the red and black. This was to the chagrin of Sting who is now being heavily recruited by both sides. Will the face of WCW pick a side in the NWO Civil War?
Sting currently leads a series of individuals who remain loyal to WCW and wish to stay out of the infighting. This group includes WCW World Champion Nikita Koloff, Bret Hart, Ted DiBiase, Brian Pillman, and Roddy Piper among the major names.
One final wrinkle is the return of Sid to World Championship Wrestling. Sid has declared himself to be a lone wolf and is loyal to no-one but himself. How this will play out in the coming months is anyone’s guess
From a booking perspective it seems the faction war is out of the title picture (for now) with the title scene happening on top and the faction war making up the overwhelming part of the undercard.
NWO HOLLYWOOD: Hollywood Hogan, Scott Hall, Scott Steiner, Scott Norton, Buff Bagwell, Brian Adams, The Disciple, Vincent
NWO WOLFAC: Kevin Nash, Randy Savage, Konnan, Lex Luger Curt Hennig, Jim Powers
WWF UNFORGIVEN: IN YOUR HOUSE RESULTS - APRIL 26, 1998
Vader (c) def. Ken Shamrock
The Undertaker (c) def. Kane
Ricky Steamboat def. Stone Cold Steve Austin in a street fight
Barry Windham def. Owen Hart
Triple H (w/ Chyna) def. Ravishing Rick Rude (w/ DX)
Chainsaw Charlie & Cactus Jack def. D’Lo Brown & Kama Mustafa (c) to win the WWF World Tag Team Titles
Faarooq & Steve Blackman def. The Rock & Mark Henry when Blackman submitted Henry
NOTES
Owen Hart joined the NOD on the following RAW
WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION World Heavyweight Champion: ‘Vader - 98 days Intercontinental Champion: The Undertaker - 28 days Tag Team Champions: Cactus Jack & Chainsaw Charlie - 0 days
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING World Heavyweight Champion: Nikita Koloff - 7 days United States Champion: Glacier - 42 days Tag Team Champions: The Four Horsemen (Arn & Benoit) - 427 days
WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Nikita Koloff (c) vs. Sting
Rowdy Roddy Piper vs. Lex Luger
WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
The Four Horsemen (c) vs. NWO Wolfpac (Curt Hennig & Jim Powers)
Hammer vs. Booker T
Macho Man Randy Savage vs. Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart
Konnan vs. Brian Adams
SID’S RETURN MATCH
Sid vs. Rick Martel
CAN GOLDBERG BREAK HIS STREAK?
Goldberg vs. Perry Saturn
Davey Boy Smith vs. Rick Steiner
NOTES
Curt Hennig is starting to get more aggressive in his promos against the Horsemen leading up to the title match. He talked about being ‘in the reserves’ for over a year playing second fiddle to ‘a washed up football player’ when he comes from ‘legitimate wrestling stock’
WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION World Heavyweight Champion: ‘Vader - 119 days Intercontinental Champion: The Undertaker - 49 days Tag Team Champions: Cactus Jack & Chainsaw Charlie - 21 days
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING World Heavyweight Champion: Nikita Koloff - 28 days United States Champion: Glacier - 63 days Tag Team Champions: The Four Horsemen (Arn & Benoit) - 448 days
Nikita Koloff (c) def. Sting to retain the WCW World Heavyweight Championship
Rowdy Roddy Piper def. Lex Luger
NWO Wolfpac (Curt Hennig & Jim Powers) def. The Four Horsemen (c) to win the WCW Tag Team Titles
Booker T def. Hammer
Macho Man Randy Savage def. Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart
Brian Adams def. Konnan
Sid def. Rick Martel
Goldberg def. Perry Saturn
Rick Steiner def. Davey Boy Smith
NOTES
Curt Hennig cut a post-match promo saying that he stood by and watched team after team try and beat the great Arn Anderson and Chris Benoit. Curt continued to say that he signed up and got the job done on night 1. “I don’t know about you but to me that seems…” and then Jim Powers quipped in with “Perfect”
Bret Hart went on Nitro the next night and said that all these factions have taught him more than ever the importance of family. Bret then brought out Davey Boy Smith, Brian Pillman, and a still recovering Jim Neidhart. Bret says this is the only backup he needs.
Both Hogan and Nash (separately) pulled Sting aside and pitched to him how the NWO could’ve been a support in that world title match. Sting let both men make their pitch and when asked what he thought Sting simply walked out of the frame
WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION World Heavyweight Champion: ‘Vader - 119 days Intercontinental Champion: The Undertaker - 49 days Tag Team Champions: Cactus Jack & Chainsaw Charlie - 21 days
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING World Heavyweight Champion: Nikita Koloff - 28 days United States Champion: Glacier - 63 days Tag Team Champions: nWo Wolfpac (Hennig & Powers) - 0 days
WWF WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Vader (c) vs. Jeff Jarrett
WWF WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Cactus Jack & Chainsaw Charlie (c) vs. Southern Justice (Magnum & Henry Godwin)
WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Undertaker (c) vs. 2 Cold Scorpio
SIX MAN TAG: NOD vs DX
D’Lo Brown, Mark Henry & Kama Mustafa vs. Shawn Michaels, Rick Rude, & Billy Gunn
OLD LION vs YOUNG LION
Faarooq vs. The Rock
HUNTER’S RUNS THROUGH THE DX GAUNTLET
Triple H vs. Road Dogg
TEST OF MANHOOD MATCH
Justin ‘Hawk’ Bradshaw vs. ‘Adorable’ Adrian Adonis
Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Barry Windham
NOTES
Mr McMahon is starting to become a weekly presence on WWF TV, calling Steve Austin in for corporate PR training. It’s all been very subtle but it feels they’re ramping up Vince to be a proper weekly antagonist to Steve Austin. Barry Windham was a chosen opponent for Stone Cold by Mr McMahon. A lesson in how to do a proper Texan representation.
WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION World Heavyweight Champion: ‘Vader - 133 days Intercontinental Champion: The Undertaker - 63 days Tag Team Champions: Cactus Jack & Chainsaw Charlie - 35 days
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING World Heavyweight Champion: Nikita Koloff - 42 days United States Champion: Glacier - 77 days Tag Team Champions: nWo Wolfpac (Hennig & Powers) - 14 days
Jeff Jarrett def. Vader (c) to win the WWF World Heavyweight Championship
Cactus Jack & Chainsaw Charlie (c) vs. Southern Justice (Magnum & Henry Godwin) to retain the WWF Tag Team belts
Undertaker (c) def. 2 Cold Scorpio to retain the WWF Intercontinental Championship
D’Lo Brown, Mark Henry & Kama Mustafa def. Shawn Michaels, Rick Rude, & Billy Gunn via countout
Faarooq def. The Rock
Road Dogg def. Triple H
Adorable Adrian Adonis def. Justin ‘Hawk’ Bradshaw in a Test of Manhood match
Barry Windham def. Steve Austin via Countout
NOTES
Mr McMahon impeded Stone Cold getting back in the ring before the 10 count. McMahon played it off like an innocent accident but Austin gave him a backhanded tap to the groin
Mr McMahon applauded Jeff Jarrett’s win in the Main Event and presented him with the WWF Championship, calling him a real man.
WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION World Heavyweight Champion: ‘Jeff Jarrett - 0 days Intercontinental Champion: The Undertaker - 63 days Tag Team Champions: Cactus Jack & Chainsaw Charlie - 35 days
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING World Heavyweight Champion: Nikita Koloff - 42 days United States Champion: Glacier - 77 days Tag Team Champions: nWo Wolfpac (Hennig & Powers) - 14 days
WCW THE GREAT AMERICAN BASH PREVIEW - JUNE 14, 1998
WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Nikita Koloff (c) vs. Brian Adams
YOU BETRAYED WCW
Rowdy Roddy Piper vs. Lex Luger
WCW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
nWo Wolfpac (Hennig & Powers) (c) vs. nWo Hollywood (The Giant & Meng)
Billy Kidman & Perry Saturn vs. Arn Anderson & Chris Benoit
NO HOLDS BARRED
Chavo Guerrero Jr. vs. Chris Jericho
Hollywood Hogan & Bret Hart vs. Randy Savage & Kevin Nash
Goldberg vs. Barry Darsow
Sting vs. The Gaint
NOTES
Bret Hart is not a member of the nWo but is merely acting as an associate. He says he’s got some issues with Kevin Nash’s kliq buddies and since he can’t take them out he can take Nash out
Arn & Benoit have declared that they are interested in singles gold from here on out but do acknowledge they have some unfinished business with Kidman & Saturn
WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION World Heavyweight Champion: ‘Jeff Jarrett - 14 days Intercontinental Champion: The Undertaker - 77 days Tag Team Champions: Cactus Jack & Chainsaw Charlie - 49 days
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING World Heavyweight Champion: Nikita Koloff - 56 days United States Champion: Glacier - 91 days Tag Team Champions: nWo Wolfpac (Hennig & Powers) - 28 days
WCW THE GREAT AMERICAN BASH RESULTS - JUNE 14, 1998
Nikita Koloff (c) def… Brian Adams to retain the WCW World Heavyweight Championship
Rowdy Roddy Piper def. Lex Luger
nWo Wolfpac (Hennig & Powers) (c) def. nWo Hollywood (The Giant & Meng) to retain the WCW Tag Team Titles
Arn Anderson & Chris Benoit def. Billy Kidman & Perry Saturn vs.
Chavo Guerrero Jr. def. Chris Jericho
Hollywood Hogan & Bret Hart def. Randy Savage & Kevin Nash
Barry Darsow def. Goldberg
The Giant def. Sting
NOTES
Sting confirmed his allegiance to nWo Wolfpac shortly before the Great American Bash
Lex Luger & Roddy Piper had a match of the year contender in the semi-main
nWo Wolfpac tried to recruit Nikita Koloff after the Main Event. Nash stated: “you’ve got the colour right” but Koloff said “I fight for me” and walked off
I’m not sure Bill Goldberg has successfully hit the Jackhammer yet and it is the turning point in many a match - guys are just wriggling out of it
WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION World Heavyweight Champion: ‘Jeff Jarrett - 14 days Intercontinental Champion: The Undertaker - 77 days Tag Team Champions: Cactus Jack & Chainsaw Charlie - 49 days
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING World Heavyweight Champion: Nikita Koloff - 56 days United States Champion: Glacier - 91 days Tag Team Champions: nWo Wolfpac (Hennig & Powers) - 28 days
This week’s Monday Night Raw will see the beginning of the KOTR tournament with qualifying matches leading to the Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, and Final occurring on the Pay-Per-View itself
The field includes only 1 past winner in Owen Hart
Opening round matchups include Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Triple H, Dustin Runnels vs The Rock, 2 Cold Scorpio vs X Pac and the feuding Bart Gunn & Ken Shamrock
Winning this tournament can be a catapult to the Main Event which the last three winners, Ted DiBiase, Scotty Flamingo, and Brian Pillman can certainly attest to. All 3 are former world champions with one organisation or another.
KING OF THE RING WINNERS
1986 - Junkyard Dog
1987 - ‘Jumpin’ Jim Brunzell
1988 - Harley Race
1989 - Ax
1990 - Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart
1991 - The Ultimate Warrior
1993 - Kerry Von Erich
1994 - Owen Hart
1995 - Scotty Flamingo
1996 - ‘The Million Dollar Man’ Ted DiBiase
1997 - Brian Pillman
IN OTHER NEWS
Despite a tag team title reign for Mick Foley and Undertaker being pre-disposed with his brother, the two seem on a collision course for Hell in a Cell but first Undertaker needs to see off a challenge for his IC strap by Ahmed Johnson in the Main Event of Raw
FIRST BLOOD MATCH FOR THE WWF WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Jeff Jarrett (c) vs. Shawn Michaels
KING OF THE RING FINAL
TBD vs. TBD
HELL IN A CELL MATCH
The Undertaker vs. Mankind
KING OF THE RING SEMI-FINAL MATCH
TBD vs. TBD
KING OF THE RING SEMI-FINAL MATCH
TBD vs. TBD
WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Ahmed Johnson (c) vs. Ken Shamrock
KING OF THE RING QUARTER-FINAL MATCH
Road Warrior Animal vs. Bodacious Bart
KING OF THE RING QUARTER-FINAL MATCH
2 Cold Scorpio vs. ‘The Black Hart’ Owen Hart
KING OF THE RING QUARTER-FINAL MATCH
Kane vs. Faarooq
KING OF THE RING QUARTER-FINAL MATCH
Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Dustin Runnels
NOTES
Austin interrupted a Raw Main Event promo between Jeff Jarrett and Shawn Michaels where the two heels were debating the types of matches they could have. Austin said he was frustrated because he’s being told he’s not championship material but apparently “you two sorry sons-of-bitches are.” He said neither one of them is a man. Both Michaels and Jarrett appealed that they were manly enough and so Austin goaded them both into upping the stakes until they agreed to a first blood match. Austin ended with a typical hell yeah callback from the crowd and then Jarrett and HBK looked stunned at what they’d both agreed to.
Mick Foley cost Undertaker his Intercontinental Championship against Ahmed Johnson on Raw. Undertaker said there’s only one way to end a rivalry that’s gone on for far too long. Hell in a Cell. Foley responded that he’ll have a nice day but isn’t so sure about the Deadman
Dustin Runnels has shed his Goldust persona and is promoting a very evangelical character now. Stone Cold went back to a classic with reminding everyone what Austin 3:16 stands for just before heading to the ring for his 1st round match.
2 Cold Scorpio def. Owen Hart on PPV to retain the IC strap a few months back. Will it be any different here?
WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION World Heavyweight Champion: ‘Jeff Jarrett - 28 days Intercontinental Champion: Ahmed Johnson - 6 days Tag Team Champions: Cactus Jack & Chainsaw Charlie - 63 days
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING World Heavyweight Champion: Nikita Koloff - 70 days United States Champion: Glacier - 105 days Tag Team Champions: nWo Wolfpac (Hennig & Powers) - 42 days
Shawn Michaels def. Jeff Jarrett (c) in a First Blood Match to win the WWF World Heavyweight Championship
Steve Austin def. Animal to win the King of the Ring Tournament
Mankind def. The Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell match
Animal def. 2 Cold Scorpio in a King of the Ring Semi-Final Match
Steve Austin def. Faarooq in a King of the Ring Semi-Final Match
Ahmed Johnson def. Ken Shamrock to retain the WWF Intercontinental Championship
Animal def. Bodacious Bart in a KOTR Quarter-Final Match
2 Cold Scorpio def. Owen Hart in a KOTR Quarter-Final Match
Faarooq def. Kane in a KOTR Quarter-Final Match
Steve Austin def. Dustin Runnels in a KOTR Quarter-Final Match
NOTES
This is Shawn Michaels’ 4th reign with the world title (ties Hulk Hogan for the WWF record), and he will now build on 600 total days as WWF World Champion. A total that only trails Magnum T.A. (660), Paul Orndorff (665) and Hulk Hogan (858)
Road Warrior Animal had 3 separate 4 star matches on his own. People are talking about a post LOD career for the long-time tag team specialist
Mick Foley took 2 ridiculous bumps in the match but some interference from Terry Funk did manage to secure a ridiculous win for Mankind
WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION World Heavyweight Champion: ‘Shawn Michaels (4) - 0 days Intercontinental Champion: Ahmed Johnson - 6 days Tag Team Champions: Cactus Jack & Chainsaw Charlie - 63 days
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING World Heavyweight Champion: Nikita Koloff - 70 days United States Champion: Glacier - 105 days Tag Team Champions: nWo Wolfpac (Hennig & Powers) - 42 days
Interesting stuff happening in the WWF in 1998. Austin wins the King of the Ring a year late but now seems poised to feud with HBK for the championship. So the WrestleMania match originally at WM14 could be happening soon.
But there are some other interesting possibilities.
Austin feuds with Vince & Jarrett. So the Austin vs Vince feud that turned around WWF’s business in 1998 still happens in the sim. Although I don’t know if it would be as successful without The Rock involved.
HBK continues to feud with HHH who wins the championship two years earlier than real life.
Yeah. Triple H really is kinda dead weight right now. The feud with DX is a shot to reboot the guy but he was way more over as Hunter Hearst Helmsley before DX.
The Rock has hit a wall but Mick Foley is ready to hit a whole other level.
The caveat to this is Jarrett isn’t what we think of when we think of Jarrett. He’s far more over and is clearly on the ascent. It’s the challenge of reading these is to remember that we’re not Taker and Rock are just kinda guys hanging around who don’t have that magic moment while others find that lightning in a bottle.
The HBK potential is insane. If he can avoid injury - this could make him the greatest of all time.
