On this addition of the old school review we get back on track with are original timeline of 1998 after a quick detour back to 1995 to revisit ECW Gangstas Paradise event. This time out it's WWF king of the ring 1998 as we go back and look at stone cold steve austin first three month regain as WWF Champion and the origins of the McMahon/Austin feud. As well some Praise for my least favourite person ever in wrestling Vince Russo as well as the raise of Ken Shamrock and the rock. Then last off we look at WWF raw beating wcw nitro in the rating's after a (add number) weeks of consecutively losing the battle in the Monday night wars to wcw.
If you want me to whoop Vince McMahon ass give me a hell yeah "HELL YEAH!!!!
A lot could happen in the WWF in 3 months during the attitude era/Monday night wars era and ever Since Wrestlemania 14 a lot had currently happened. That night the austin era began and the Shawn Michaels/Bret Hart (New Generation Era) Era was over and WWF propelled to new heights the company had never seen before. The night after wrestlemania 14 vince McMahon came out on raw carrying the new version of the WWF championship and introduced the new WWF champion stone cold steve austin. While in the ring McMahon told austin "we can do things the easy way or hard way mr austin. Steve fired back at McMahon asking the crowd if he should do things the hard way or continue to raise hell and whip vince McMahon ass give me a hell yeah. The crowd told WWF what to do next as they approvingly roared hell yeah and WWF biggest money generating feud austin vs McMahon was officially born. Two weeks later the WWF gave away the first austin vs McMahon match on free tv to rival wcw nitro which was headlined by a double main event with Hollywood Hulk Hogan vs Kevin Nash which exsisted because of the ongoing war within the never ending nWo decable and then wcw champion sting would defend against Kevin Nash. Raw meanwhile was built up around austin and McMahon first contest. The show featured some hilarious skits involving the stooges (Pat Paterson and Gerald Brisco) and shane McMahon pleading with vince "not to do it" but the stubborn chairman wasn't going to be talked out of it. The show rolled on and there was less than 10 minutes left of the show before McMahon and austin made there respective ways to the ring. Before the bell rang McMahon grabbed a microphone and brought up something which would come back to haunt austin. With McMahon saying stone cold you said you could beat me with one arm tried behind your back. So the WWF champion agreed and had his arm tied meanwhile over on the nitro the show was ending with yet another nWo run in. Then the bell rang and were underway yelled jr but then Dude Love (a former tag team partner of Austin's) came out and cut a promo on vince. The dude got in the ring and then suddenly turned on austin to set up austin's first challenger for his newly won WWF championship. The following week vince announced the match as official for WWF unforgiven 98. That night it looked to the world that austin had beaten the dude after pinning him after nailing the dude with a stunner but during the match vince McMahon interfered and austin ended up nailing vince full force in the head with a steel chair shot so Gerald brisco overruled the referee and the dude won the match by disqualification. The dude disappeared for a few weeks and mankind returned the next night on raw to attack stone cold during a title defence against TAFKA Goldust. Also that night vince interfered when he tried to strike austin with the WWF title but hit guest referee Gerald Brisco instead resulting in another DQ finish (also vince sereved as timekeeper for the austin/Goldust match). The following it wasn't mankind, cactus jack or Dude love who showed up as mick foley who had a Brillant ECW style brawl with the real toughest son of a bitch and best friend Terry Funk. During the match austin took the kings headset and took over commentary, also pat Patterson was special guest referee. After foley beat funk by piledriving him through a table he was attacked by austin. The two battled back to the ring and in utter confusion foley (who had been blinded after austin spat beer in his face) accidently attacked Patterson giving him the maniable claw. Austin then gave both foley and Patterson stunners but the show wasn't over yet as McMahon came out on the ramp with some dudettes (some good looking ladies) and announced dude as the new number 1 contender to Austin's title. At WWF over the edge 1998 vince made himself the guest referee, pat Patterson was guest ring announcer and you guessed it Gerald brisco was the guest timekeeper. In the build up vince said that the only way stone cold could retain his title was by his hand only and that point was driven home on WWF tv in the build up to WWF over the edge. During the austin/dude match vince made a number of heel like calls making the match at one point a no DQ match then later on made it pinfalls count anywhere. Late on in the match vince was accidently struck by a chair shot from the dude. Dude love then pinned austin but in jumped pat Patterson to make the count but on two the undertaker (who was added at the last minute to the match as guest enforcer, talk about guest overkill) dragged out Patterson and choke slammed Patterson through the commentary. Gerald brisco then attempted to do what Patterson couldn't but he meet the same fate as Patterson and was choke slammed through the second commentary table at ringside by taker. Austin then recovered and gave the dude the stunner, austin covered foley then grabbed McMahon's hand (he was still KO) and counted three and austin beat the dude and had foiled McMahon's evil plan. The next night on raw the undertaker called out vince McMahon and he demanded a WWF title shot. Vince agreeded but told taker first he would have to beat his brother Kane in a number 1 contenders match. Later that night Kane beat undertaker to become the new number one contender to Austin's title after mankind distracted taker. Over the next few weeks the McMahon and austin feud was put on the backburner to forcus on Kane/austin and taker/mankind feuds. Which resulted in taker and austin beating Kane and mankind on raw in a not so rememberable hell in a cell match and austin had lots of blood dumped on him by Kane after it was announced austin would defend his belt against Kane in a first blood match with the pre match stipulation being if Kane lost he would set himself on fire. The attitude era was in full swing and in the build up to the KOTR 98 ppv couldn't have been anymore captivating (I should know having watched most of these raw shows in the build up to watching this show) for the main event at least. Many in wrestling claim vince McMahon booked most of the main events why new head booker/or head of creative vince Russo dealt with the rest of the show. Russo is an interesting case as I will go into later on during this timeline of pro wrestling history during this era but here with McMahon acting as his filter in creative meetings he did help WWF beat wcw and would be the man who introduced car crash tv to the WWF product in 1998. So I have to give credit to my least favourite person in wrestling because if he didn't introduce this style of wrestling booking to WWF maybe wcw would have won the war. Also something that Russo did very well was he did give a lot of talent a spot on the show regardless of how big that spot was (even if it didn't make sense) for instense during this period on raw in the undercard was stacked with talent like dlo brown, Owen hart, the rock, ken shamrock, Jeff Jarrett, Goldust and d generation x and all men where really busting there arses to get get Russo's sometimes hair brained angles over. Russo had his pluses as well as many negatives (something I will point out once we get to late 99 early 00) but here right now in 1998 he was propelling WWF into it's biggest boom period ever. The last time I looked in depth at the the rock he was debuting as the bland babyface rocky miavia but over the last Year and a half his act had dramatically changed. The early days of the rock was smiley 80's babyface. It wasn't working anymore in 97 so many fans turned on miavia with chants of die rocky die. The office noticed it (not at first but eventually vince was smarted up by people around him) and turned miavia heel and had him join the nation and gave him a new name simply going Under the name the rock. The rock was getting hot with the audience rather than getting heat simply because the people thought he sucked as smiley babyface miavia to legit heel heat as crowds really now wanted to see the rock get his arse kicked. The WWF sent a message to it's fans at the 98 royal rumble when it came down to austin and rock. Ok that night Rocky didn't win but to last as long as he did and be in the final two made it clear vince was well behind the rock and he viewed him as a star for the future. I haven't mentioned Ken shamrock much since this review started back in November and for good reason because I'm going to put the guy over here right now. Shamrock was an interesting case also as he started his career in pro wrestling in japan for pancrase which promoted worked and shoot fights but he didn't find his fame until he arrived in the UFC. Shamrock was a star for UFC thanks to his feuds with Royce Gracie (the winner of UFC 1 because back in the day UFC was a one night 8 man single elimination tournament, shamrock fought Gracie twice at UFC 1 where shamrock lost and UFC 5 where shamrock won and became the first UFC super fight champion) and Dan the beast Severn (shamrock beat Severn at UFC 6 to retain his UFC super fight title then again the big rematch between the two was scheduled for UFC 9. After months of hype and build the fight had to be scrapped due to the Detroit athletic comissionier deemed that closed fist would not be permitted and if a fighter did do such an offence he would be arrested. When shamrock learned of this he pulled out of the fight on the eleventh hour but after some pleading by UFC officials the fight went on with Severn winning a split decision). Shamrock at the time was dubbed by the media as the worlds most dangerous man after a special ABC documentary on him and was considered a draw during UFC early years. It was around 1996 the WWF seriously looked at bringing in shamrock into the fold after his proven track record of selling ppv for the UFC (shamrock v Gracie 2 at UFC 5 was UFC biggest ppv drawing 260,000 buys on ppv in 95 and that record stood until randy couture fought chuck Liddell in 2005) and considering this was during a period when the WWF was getting it's butt kicked by wcw and didn't have many proven draws. So McMahon making a play to bring in shamrock was a very smart move indeed. Shamrock was already a star but in the WWF during this period he became a bigger star than he ever would in the world of UFC (during this period UFC was viewed by the media as human cock fighting and was no where as popular as it is today) and by the end of 1997 he was working a WWF world title match with HBK Shawn Michaels. Shamrock then found the rock and a rivalry for the ages was born as both men had very good matches at the royal rumble and wrestlemania 14 (which both had disputed finishes and I pointed out the silliness of both on my wrestlemania 14 review) and it helped to elevate the WWF intercontinental title in the process. Which had been devalued over the years thanks to the kliq mistreatment of the belt and a number of champions who simply didn't cut it as WWF IC champion (Merc Mero anyone). So yet again I think I've gone on for too long enough so let's get onto the show itself.
WWF King Of The Ring 1998 Pay-Per-View Results, 06/28/98, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Att:17,087 and PPV buy rate: 0.85 (310,325)
Even though i have the VHS version of this show I couldn't watch it as my VHS player is on the fritz again so I turned to the wwe network to watch this one. An awesome video package opens the show with classy Freddie blassie quotes as well as Kane claims he will set himself on fire if he loses to austin. Jim ross and jerry the king Lawler welcome us to the show and the two begin to talk about the hell in the cell cage which is then shown on camera.
Bonus Six Man Tag: Taka Michinoku and The Headbangers Mosh&Thrasher Vs Kaientai Dick Tago, Sho Funaki and Men's Teiho
Jr mentions on commentary this is one of two bonus matches here this evening and I can't say I mind watching the original incarnation of Kaientai mixing it up here with Taka, Thrasher and Mosh. The king mentions on commentary that tonight's gonna be a special night because we are either going to get a new WWF champion or we gonna see a guy set himself on fire which he sounds over joyed about. Mens Teiho and thrasher start it and have a quick exchange early on which leads to thrasher giving Teiho a tilt a whirl back breaker. Mosh is tagged in and he gives Teiho a dropkick from the second rope. Sho Funaki is in and he hits the ropes but mosh ends up giving him a powerbomb. Mosh tags Taka who sends Funaki into the corner and he chops Funaki over and over. Missile dropkick by Taka to Funaki then he sends Funaki to the outside and springs up to the top rope and out onto Funaki. The referee is distracted as dick Tago nails Taka from behind giving Kaientai the upper hand in the match. Double team elbow drop by dick and Sho to Taka then dick chops Taka in the chest. Taka makes a comeback with a monkey flip then charges dick but he sends Taka up and over the top rope to the outside. Dick Tago slides to the outside and catches Taka in a headscissors and swings Taka into the guardrail. Dick tags Teiho and he sends Taka into his respective corner. Taka battles back with a book end/rock bottom to Teiho. Dick Tago is back in and him and Teiho give Taka the a wheel borrow smash double team move which was popularised in Michinoku pro wrestling by these two. Cross body by Tago to Taka and he covers him for a two count. Taka battles back with a spinning heel kick and makes the hot tag to mosh. Mosh and thrasher give Funaki and Tago a big back body drop. Taka is tagged back in and he goes up top and splashes down onto Funaki then Taka drills Funaki with the Michinoku driver for the 1,2 and 3.
Your Winners: Taka Michinoku and The Headbangers Mosh&Thrasher
The blantant racist commentary by the king aside this match was a very good and a good way to open a ppv in my opinion. Very fast paced and a match which simply exsisted to hype up the crowd for the next match and it did that nicely here. We're then thrown to the king and jr who talk about the unique match between too much and al snow&head to which king says his boys too much better not be taking al snow lightly. Then Sables music hits and she makes her way out to the ring in the most skin tight dress I've ever seen which of course raises the noise in the crowd because this is 98 and T&A is over in the WWF. Sable poses for the men in the crowd for and bit then introduces Mr McMahon and he comes out with his stooges Pat Paterson and Gerald Brisco to defining boos. Brisco tries to escort sable away from the ring as she goes to leave pat slaps her on her bottom and sable slaps pat. Sable leaves as pay screams how dare you to sable then brisco says show some respect to mr McMahon. Vince asks the crowd in Pittsburgh how many of you are here to see Kane sit himself on fire this evening and the crowd cheer. Vince tells Pittsburgh well your all in for a big disappointment. Vince then runs down the crowd calling them dissappiontments as they chant for austin. Vince continues to run down the crowd and adds stone cold will lose the WWF title this evening then leaves. Ok segment with some silly comedy from the stooges and as always vince cuts a master class promo. Tennessee Lee then walks out and introduces Jeff Jarrett and it's time for the king of the ring.
KOTR Semi Final Match: Ken Shamrock Vs Jeff Jarrett/with Tennessee Lee (Col Robert Parker)
Some nice soul has brought a Jeff Jarrett "ain't he gay sign" obviously he must be a brain surgeon. Double j grabs the microphone and says ain't he great which most of the crowd sing along to. Then shamrocks music hits and it's clear he's the most over guy now in this match. They start by slugging it out in mid ring as shamrock hits a spinning back elbow to double j. Shamrock gives Jarrett a big clothesline and then a snap suplex for a near fall. Shamrock then goes for a roundhouse kick but double j ducks it and hits a swinging neckbreaker to shamrock. Double j is all over the worlds most dangerous man but shamrock makes a comeback by sending Jarrett to the outside. Shamrock hammers Jarrett on the outside then Tennessee Lee tries to interfere but shamrock chases him off. The two continue to brawl on the outside then shamrock rams Jarrett's knee into the ring steps. Back in the ring lee trips shamrock and Jarrett takes advantage. Jarrett begins to work over the ankle with some sneaky help from the colonel on the outside. Lee rams shamrocks ankle into the ring post at one point as double j distracts the referee. Jarrett stomps on shamrocks ankle but shamrock battles back with a round house kick and a gut wrench suplex. Big powerslam by shamrock to Jarrett he pins double j but only gets a two count. Huancanrana by shamrock to double j and shamrock applies the ankle lock and Jarrett suddenly taps out and shamrock is going to the KOTR final.
Your Winner: Ken Shamrock
Afterwards shamrock gives lee a belly to belly suplex then he meets Michael cole in the aisle way and says he didn't come here to be second best and he came here to win this whole damn thing. Fun match as I always I like seeing double j and Tennessee Lee both were a very entertaining mid duo in 98. As always shamrock carried himself like a pro because as always he comes across as the believer killer because let's face it he is a killer or was in 98 at least. It's right into the next match as the rocks nation theme hits signalling the 2nd KOTR semi final.
KOTR Semi Final Match: The Rock/With The Godfather and Mark Herny Vs Dan The Beast Severn
The referee kicks out the godfather and Herny before they even get to ringside. Severn awesome music hits and the ultimate bad ass makes his way out to the ring (I'm a Severn mark). Footage is shown on Severn ripping dlo browns Abdormal muscles which is really putting over Severn as killer. Early on the two lock up and Severn takes down rocky and applies a waist lock. The two wrestle on the mat but the rock reaches the ropes forcing Severn to break the hold on the rock. Rocky gets in a cheap shot on Severn and takes advantage on the beast with a thumb to the eye. Severn comes back with a Firemans carry to rock and applies an arm bar into a choke hold but again rocky reaches the ropes to force the break. Rocky comes back at severn laying the smack down on Severn he then suplexes Severn for a near fall. Severn strays from his game plan by throwing a punch (even during his fighting days Severn rarely punched to win a fight choosing to take a guy down and try to make him tap) then he takes down the rock. Both men then run into one another as out comes Herny and godfather who distract the referee. Dlo comes out from the crowd wearing some kind of chest protector (it's the start of dlo's legendary chest protector gimmick) he goes up top and frog splashes Severn. The rock rolls over and covers Severn for the 1,2 and 3.
Your Winner: The Rock
The rock tells Michael cole in the aisle way he's going to send shamrock crashing to rock bottom after he beats him in the 98 KOTR final. Quick match that got to the point and that was for the rock to advance to the final. A video package is shown on al snow and his plunge into insanity and jerry the king Lawler's involvement in all of this and if al wins he gets a meeting with vince McMahon.
Bonus Tag Team Match: Too Much Brian Christopher (Grandmaster Sexxy) and Scott Taylor (Scotty Too Hottie) Vs Al Snow and Head
Too much are really too much in my opinion anyway al snow is in the back talking to head as the king asks him if the head had been doing chins ups and bunch of head releated puns. Al is over and a few ECW chants are heard, it's then announced the king will be guest referee for this match. Jr mentions "this isn't going to be far at all" as the king beems with delight as al argues with head. Al and taylor start out with a lock up and snow takes down taylor at ease then al argues with head some more. Taylor gets the upper hand with a back rake then snow comes back with a atomic drop. Taylor crawls to his corner and tags Christopher as jr mentions how alike Christopher and Lawler look UM. The two have an average back and fourth in the end snow nails Christopher with a cross body from the top rope. The king slows counts as al has Christopher pinned to which jr mentions the king must have been to the vince McMahon referee acamedy. The two battle to the outside and al slams Christopher on the floor out in the aisle way in fact. Taylor attacks snow from behind and too much double team al on the outside. Back in the ring Christopher nails al with a dropkick from the top rope. A double team atomic drop by too much to al and then they pose with the king for a bit. The king quick counts snows shoulders as taylor covers him. Pump handle slam by taylor to snow who covers him and another quick count by the king but snow kicks out at two. Al comes back with bulldog but taylor tags in Christopher who nails al with a bulldog himself. Snow battles back by ddt'ing both men then al tags head and head is the legal man. Snow Plow by snow to Christopher and snow covers brian but the king won't count as the head is the legal man. Low blow with head by snow to both Christopher and Taylor. The king grabs a bottle and throws it to his son who puts it on head and Christopher covers head for the three.
Your Winners: Too Much Brian Christopher&Scott Taylor
As Christopher leaves he shows us the bottle the king had thrown to him and it's a bottle of head and shoulders. Silly comedy match with a even stupider finish but I respect it for what it was and that was a silly comedy match and didn't take it to seriously. Jr says well it's time to get serious and a graphic is shown on what's up next Owen hart vs x PAC.
Singles Match: X-PAC/With Chyna Vs Owen Hart
X PAC is proper over here as is Owen hart and this should be as good as there 94 KOTR outing, it may have been short but was the 5 best minutes WWF promoted that awful card that night. Anyway it's 4 years since then (in this current timeline anyway) and I'm gerenally looking forward to this one. Xpac jumps hart early on as hart gets to the ring apron xpac nails him with a baseball slide and the bell rings as xpac tosses hart back into the ring. Back in the ring xpac chops Owen in the corner then hits him with a spin kick but then misses a bronco buster and crotches himself on the second turnbuckle. Owen whips xpac from one side of the ring to the other with incredibly force. Owen begins to work over xpac'a back then nails him with a back breaker and a spin kick of his own. Xpac comes back with a spinning wheel kick and then backs Owen into the corner and begins to chop Owens chest. Fishermans suplex by Owen to xpac for a near fall and then he gut wrench slams xpac for another near fall. Both men are tried but continue to set the fast pace with a pair of small packages for a pair of false finishes. Xpac clotheslines Owen up and over to the outside and the two brawl on the outside. Owen whips xpac into the announce table and xpac tumbles up and over the table. Over to the spainish announce team table and Owen suplexes xpac onto the table. Back the ring Owen applies a sleeper hold which allows both men to take a break. The referee drops xpac arm twice but on the third attempt xpac battles back and out of the hold Owen has on him. Elbows to the gut by xpac and he breaks the hold and reverses it's and has it on Owen now. Owen battles out quickly but gets given a spin kick by xpac for a near fall. Xpac stomps Owen in the corner and nails Owen with the bronco buster and then xpac scoops slams Owen. Both men go up top and xpac falls and in the process ends up crotching himself on the top turnbuckle as Owen throws himself to the mat below (it was a clear botch by xpac but Owen saved it throwing himself off the top rope) Herny runs out squashes xpac, chyna gets up in Henry's faces as Vader comes out and him and Herny go at it in the aisle way. Meanwhile chyna gets into the ring and gives Owen a DDT while he has xpac in a sharpshooter as the referee is distracted on the outside with both Herny and Vader. Back in the ring chyna pulls xpac on top of Owen and gets out of the ring as the referee slides in to make the count of 1,2 and 3.
Your Winner: XPac
Afterwards chyna has to help xpac to the back as Vader and Herny brawl to the back. Good match shame about the rather naff finish, it was a little to flat the finish and with the crowd having so much to forcus on due to the outside interference it felt as if there attention was elsewhere and not where it should be and that was on the in ring action. Then out walks Paul Bearer who jr calls a despicable human being. Bearer grabs a microphone and says well you didn't think I was gonna be here due to home invasion angle on raw six days earlier where he was attacked by taker. He talks about how undertaker had violently attacked him and he had to have stitches in his head. Paul then tells a story of how Kane had suffered his whole life and how he wanted to be like the undertaker. Bearer says Kane said "daddy I want to be like him". Bearer says tonight will be the happiest night in his life as his son will walk out WWF champion. A graphic is shown promoting the WWF title match which isn't up next but the graphic is still shown. Then it's the "oh you didn't know" as the outlaws come out to the ring for the actual next match.
WWF World Tag Team Title Match: The New Age Outlaws Road Dogg & Badass Billy Gunn (Champions)/with Chyna Vs The New Midnight Express Bombastic Bob (Holly)&Bodacious Bart (Gunn)/with Jim Cornette
The crowd sings along to the outlaws ring introduction because this is 98 and the outlaws were over in 98. Just for the record the new midnight express sucked and I'm never a fan of something in wrestling with the word "new" in it. The bell rings and bob and the road Dogg (who's looking a little chubby here) start out with a lock up. Bob slaps on a headlock to road Dogg and works the hold for a few moments. Road Dogg comes back with a shoulder block then bob cuts off road Dogg with a big right hand. Billy is tagged in and bob tags Bart and it's brother vs brother again (it reminds me of the second review I did for JWR survivor series 96). The two "brothers" have a sub standard back and fourth exchanging false finishes at one point. Clothesline by billy to Bart and then billy tells his brother to suck it and crotch chops him which really pops the crowd. Road Dogg is tagged then the midnight get in a cheap shot in to the road Dogg and they get the upper hand. Bart works over road Dogg with elow smashes to dogs head, some more double team by midnight. Jerry mixes up bob and Bart on commentary and jr has to correct him. Big slam by bob to road Dogg and he covers him for a near fall. Cornette is beside himself on the outside and his acting very animated in a way only Jim cornette can. Back in the ring bob hits a dropkick to road Dogg and tells him to suck it so in comes billy Gunn who bulldogs Bart. Bob aplplies a sleeper for a rest but road Dogg battles out with shots to bobs gut. Bob then slams road Dogg and covers him but only gets a two. Dogg and bob knock one another down and both eventually make the tag. Billy comes in like a house on fire but cornette distracts him and Bart nails billy with a dropkick. Cornette comes into the ring and nails billy with his trusty tennis racket and Bart pins his brother but only gets a two count. Billy nails bob with a flying forearm for a near fall. Cornette gets involved but billy catches him he has cornette backing up into chyna now who low blows cornette to a massive reaction. Back In the ring from out of nowhere the outlaws give bob a hot shot sling shot and pick up the 1,2 and 3.
Your Winners: And Still WWF World Tag Team Champions The New Age Outlaws
Afterward the outlaws celebrate as the crowd pop big time for them and for good reason this is 98 and anti heroes are over in 98. Rather dull match but as it was the outlaws and as a teen I did always enjoy there act but in all seriousness by today's standards this match did kind of suck. The KOTR brackets are shown as jr talks about both men's chances in tonight's final.
1998 KOTR Final: Ken Shamrock Vs The Rock
As he was the 97 winner of the KOTR Triple H is the guest on commentary for this one and the king says jr I have two words for ya "Hunter and Chyna. Shamrock and rock circle another at the bell then stare one another down and shamrock has a crazied look in his eyes. Both men lock up and shamrock backs the rock into the corner and the referee forces the break. Hunter seems to be burying everyone even jr as the king laughs at jr being ribbed by hunter. Back in the ring they lock up and shamrock takes down the rock with a headlock but rock escapes and goes to the outside. Shamrock waits for the rock to get back in the ring which he does and the two fight it out in the middle of the ring. The rock works over the rock as hunter calls himself bye and he says I don't think Meant to say that. Back in the ring rock stalls by going to the outside and walks over to hunter at the announce table and gets into hunters face (surely the rock is outraged with hunters piss poor announcing). The two brawl on the outside then shamrock comes over and grabs the rock as the rock low blows shamrock. Hunter is back saying testi's that was a dick joke which was not funny. The rock sling shots shamrock into the ringpost on the outside and gives him a low blow right in front of the referee. Back in the ring the rock lays the Smackdown and then gives shamrock a swinging neckbreaker and he arrogantly covers shamrock for a near fall. The rock gives shamrock a DDT but again only a two count. Hunter adds nothing to announcing he's putting himself and his buddies over and not the two guys in the ring. Back elbow by the rock to shamrock and he covers him for a two count. The rock picks up shamrock and slams him in the middle of the ring and does his peoples elbow for a near fall. The rock applies the sleeper as hunter buries jr some more on commentary and he's supposed to be a babyface right? Shamrock battles out of the sleeper but rock gives him another DDT and covers shamrock but again only a two count. Shamrock battles back and suplexes the rock and the two are down as the referee begins to count. Both men get up just at the count of nine. Shamrock gives the rock a belly to belly and a powerslam for a two count on the rock. Shamrock nails rock with a perfect plex for a two count then shamrock nails the rock with a back elbow smash and gets another two. The rock goes for a third DDT but shamrock counters with a northern lights suplex for a near fall. A big clothesline by the rock and he covers shamrock again only a two count. Snap suplex by shamrock to the rock and shamrock covers him and again only a two. The rock then nails shamrock with a spine buster for a near fall. The rock gets hot and gets in the referees face and takes his eyes off shamrock. It's a mistake as from out of nowhere shamrock hooks the rock in the ankle lock and eventually the rock taps out.
Your Winner: And the 1998 KOTR Ken Shamrock
Afterwards There is no presention to shamrock he just celebrates as the crowd goes wild. Very good match packed with near falls and big moves I would highly recommend this to anyone just avoid listening to hunters arrogant commentary. We're then thrown to a video package promoting are next match the hell in the cell match and the cell begins to lower (Business has just picked up folks).
Hell In A Cell Match: Undertaker Vs Mankind
Mankind comes out and has a chair in his hand he decides to climb the cage. I say climb because it really didn't look like foley was climbing as he seemed to be having a problems pulling himself up the cage, whatever it was it wasn't flattering for mick. Anyway he reaches the top and walks around the roof of the cell as the lights go out and taker makes his way out to the ring. Mankind stands on top of the cage challenging taker to come up and join him and of course taker is more than happy to climb up and meet mankind on top of the cell. The two gingerly brawl up top of the cell and one section of the roof begins to cave in and break away. This is very scary folks and things are about to get a whole lot scarier as taker throws mankind off the top of the cell and mankind plunges 16 feet and crashes into the spainish announce teams table. It's one of the most iconic scenes in WWF/E history and has been played countless times over and over on WWF/E tv and it's been 17 years since this famous fall in wrestling history while jr utters his most famous sound byte in pro wrestling history of BAH GAWD it killed him and good god almighty he is broken in half. This is the match I used to show friends who told me wrestling was fake. Yeah it might be predetermined but the falls were dangerous and did hurt. Well let's just put it like this those same friends would then tell me this shit ain't fake. Anyway moving on Terry Funk comes out to ringside to check on a "dead" mick foley as jr mentions there very real life friendship. The doctors and a stretcher is brought out to ringside and they put mick onto the stretcher. To sell this as something important Vince McMahon (and I'm sure he was gernally worried mick was seriously injured as well) comes out and shows genuine worry for mick. They eventually wheel mick into the aisle way but he gets up smiling and returns to the cell and climbs back up it. The two man meet on top of the cell and brawl it out then taker chokeslams mick onto the roof which breaks and mick plummets to the mat below with a chair following him which hits mick square in the face. As mick would say in his book Have a Nice Day "the first fall is viewed as the better more spectacular of the two but it was the second one which the wrestlers respected more and one that would win respect of every wrestler around the world for years to come. Just a pause here for a Second from the action to just look at these two bumps. The first is spectacular as foley stated in his book and the second one well to then find out afterwards mick suffered a serious concussion and a bit of his tooth which had dislodged and ended up in his nose as well as a deep gash in his head pretty speaks volumes on just how far a performer is prepared to push his body in the name of art and really I have to respect that and now view the second one as the far more spectacular bump than the first which mick admitted didn't really hurt all that much anyway. Right back to the action, funk is back in the ring along with the French doctor but taker isn't far behind as he jumps down into the ring. Undertaker goes for mick but the good ole funker gives his friend some much needed time to collect his thoughts and his teeth. Undertaker ends up giving funk a chokeslam out of his shoes literally and then throws funk into a pile of EMT's and referees on the outside. The undertaker nails mankind with a right hand but mankind can barley stand. Old school attempt by taker but mick backs up into the rope and it makes taker crotch himself on the top rope. Jr and the king both sound worried about mick on commentary as a shot of mick wearing the crimson mask while smiling (the tooth in the nose is also visable) is shown. The two get back up and mankind sends taker for the ring apron into the side of the cell. Mankind goes out after taker and picks up some stairs but taker is back up and cuts off mick with a shot to the stomach. Taker picks up the stairs and rams them into mankinds head which sends foley into the side of the cell. Taker does it over and over as jr talks about the change in the undertaker as of late. Back in the ring taker tries a missile like dive and hits the cell wall head on. The king worries that mankind has broken his shoulder as foley recovers and grinds takers head into the side of the cell. Taker begins to bleed and is wearing the crimson mask by the time he pulls himself into the ring. Back in the ring mankind drives taker with a DDT into a chair for a near fall. Foley places the chair over takers face and drops a Leg drop for another near fall. It looks to the world that mankind is laughing then mankind goes under the ring and pulls out a bag. Mankind begins to empty the bag and it's thumbtacks which really raises the noise in the crowd. The two exchange left and rights by the tacks then taker teases a chokeslam onto the tacks but mankind counters it with a maniable claw. Taker begins to fade but recovers and now has mankind on his back. Taker walks over to the tacks and drops down driving foley back first into the tacks as jr says "he's a human pin cushion". Undertaker then picks up mick and chokeslams mankind onto the tacks. Undetaker picks up mankind for more punishment but ends it by giving mankind a tombstone piledriver for the 1,2 and 3.
Your Winner: The Undertaker
The king says afterwards you won't see that in any other promotion as taker walks off the winner. The EMT return and put mankind onto the stretcher and begin to take him to the back but mankind refuses and wants to walk out and the crowd give him a standing ovation and a new babyface hero is born. I can't praise this match anymore but today it's a little tough to watch. Obviously both men brought there a game but knowing this really did take years off foleys in ring career and it's kind of sad to see foley today who can barley walk due to intense pain in his knees and back. Obviously I'm going with this as match of the night because it's a bloody special and you will never see anything this violent in pro wrdstling again (sorry czw fans). A video is shown promoting the feud between stone cold and Kane as it's main event time, how in the hell is this going to follow that cell match.
Main Event WWF World Championship Title First Blood Match: Stone Cold Steve Austin (Champion) Vs Kane/With Paul Bearer
Kane is out first and is quickly followed by stone cold who is sporting a massive bandage over his elbow (he had suffered a staph infection a few weeks earlier and let's be honest it's a miracle austin didn't miss a raw or this ppv but like a true pro he gutted it out). The two brawl in the ring and austin hits the ropes and nails Kane with a Lou Thesz press. Austin is all over Kane and removes the top turnbuckle pad and tries to ram Kane's head into the exposed steel but Kane blocks it. Kane chokes austin as the crowd chant austin. Kane throws austin to the mat and begins to place his foot over Austin's throat. Austin battles back by clothes lining Kane up and over to the outside but Kane lands on his feet. The two brawl on the outside as the hell in the cell begins to lower and jr wonders who is doing this. Kane whips Kane into the ring steps and as the cage nears the floor austin is out and being held by Kane but austin gets up before the cell hits the floor. Kane throws austin into the cell wall and whips him off the cell wall also. Still on the outside Kane whips austin into the ring steps as jr says the referee isn't going to stop this for a skinned elbow as austin has a bloody arm. The cell raises back up again so austin and Kane can bounce one another off of the barricades. The two brawl out near the stage and austin goes to Piledrive Kane but Kane counters it with a back drop dropping austin onto the concrete floor. A shot of mr McMahon sitting in his luxury box with sable (with the indication being vince is nailing sable obviously, shudder). Back on the outside Kane and austin brawl in the aisle way. Kane picks up some security railing and throws it into Austin's head. The two make there way back to the ring and austin drives Kane's head into the exposed top turnbuckle over and over. Austin sends Kane to the outside and the two begin to brawl back in the aisle way again. They make there way over to the timekeepers table and austin nails Kane with the ring bell. Kane throws austin into referee earl hebner and earl is down. Back In the ring Kane goes up top and nails austin with a flying clothesline while hebner is laying out cold on the outside. Austin battles back and stomps on Kane and then whips Kane into the corner and stomps a mudhole In Kane. Then mankind barley runs out to the ring and he attacks austin as the cell lowers again. Austin battles off mankind by nailing him with a stunner then austin nails Kane with a stunner and grabs a chair as the undertaker runs out to ringside with a chair. They both go to hit mankind but he ducks and Undetaker chair strikes Austin's chair and it rebounds into Austin's face. Taker throws Kane and mankind to the outside as austin begins to bleed. Taker grabs the KO earl and tosses him into the ring and grabs a can of gasoline (which had been sit up at ringside as Kane remember had vowed to set himself on fire if he lost this match). Taker begins to pour the gas onto earl which wakes up the t-shirt thief. Kane comes in and nails taker with a chair shot from behind. Meanwhile austin attacks Kane as earl recovers eventually earl sees the blood on Austin's face and calls for the bell.
Your Winner: And New WWF Champion Kane
Afterwards a bloody austin is in shock as vinny mac and sable are shown, McMahon seems to be relieved as the show comes to an end.
Round Up & Rating
So what can be said about this attitude era ppv well nothing but praise from this reviewer. Unlike mania 14 which fell kind of flat with some poorly booked matches which didn't have that wretlemania fill to them at all. Here though I'm happy to report this was a tremendous show with some well booked matches which had some tremendous in ring action to every single one of them. Overall I'm giving this a 9 out 10 rating, yes I enjoyed it that much. The matches are well worth a look and would still hold up to today's standards like the opener, the cell match (obviously), the KOTR final and I suppose honourable mentions would have to go to xpac vs Owen hart. Next time out we're heading back to the warm cuddling embrace of world championship wrestling and try and find out if anything at all of note had happened over the last 14 months since my last visit to wcw. So until then people remember to check out the @JWRNetwork on twitter and it's podcasts like the JWR Podcast, the TNA Retropective and the off shoot radio among others and be sure to check out my @RantsWrestle twitter for my monthly newsletter entitled the wrestling round up. So until next time as bill apter would say I will see you at the matches.
By Billy_Jay_222 or @billy222me or @RantsWrestle
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