Raw - January 5th 1998

Raw opens with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin outside the arena talking about how every WWF Superstar is gunning for him in the Royal Rumble Match but that he will "do unto others before they do onto him" and that he will "raise hell" as only he can. Interestingly, even though this was the Attitude Era, the WWF was a PG rating then too.



The Raw opening sequence plays.

Raw is in New Haven, Connecticut. Jim Ross, Michael Cole and Kevin Kelly are on commentary.

The Nation Of Domination (Faarooq, Kama Mustafa & D'Lo Brown) make their way to the ring. A recap is shown of Faarooq causing Ken Shamrock internal injuries the previous September. Ken Shamrock enters. It is revealed that Faarooq was volunteered for this match by The Rock. A recap is shown of Shamrock defeating Kama by submission on the previous weeks Raw.

Ken Shamrock VS Faarooq (with Kama Mustafa & D'Lo Brown)

Shamrock dominates early as the commentary team plays up the fact that The Rock is not there in Faarooq's corner. Faarooq takes control and throws Shamrock to the outside. The Nation tease attacking him but don't. Shamrock surprises Faarooq with a roll-up but Faarooq kicks out and takes control again. Faarooq throws Shamrock to the outside again as the Intercontinental Champion, The Rock, emerges on the stage. Raw cuts to a break. As we return, Faarooq is still dominating as The Rock is speaking with Kama and D'Lo. Faarooq continues to cut off Shamrock's comebacks. The commentary team hype up the Royal Rumble Match. Shamrock hits a hurricanrana and sells a rib injury. Faarooq rakes his eyes and takes control again. As The Rock distracts the referee, Kama holds up a chair for Faarooq to Irish whip Shamrock into. Shamrock reverses the Irish whip and Faarooq takes the chair to the upper body. Shamrock hits the belly to belly suplex and locks on the ankle lock. Faarooq taps out at around 5 minutes.

ANALYSIS: Decent short TV match that kept both competitors strong and furthered the dissension story line between Faarooq and The Rock as well as Shamrock's feud with The Nation. **

Afterwards Faarooq argues with Kama. The Rock enters the ring and the commentary team hype up The Rock's Intercontinental Title defence against Shamrock at Royal Rumble. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin enters the ring and hits both Shamrock and The Rock with Stone Cold Stunners. Austin leaves through the crowd. This is the first of Austin getting to all the other Royal Rumble participants before they get to him.

The commentary team hypes up an interview with Paul Bearer, citing a potential split between him and Kane; a match between Owen Hart and Savio Vega later on the show, the fact that Degeneration X are there and that Don King has been negotiating with Vince McMahon. Raw goes to a break.

A video package airs hyping Shawn Michaels WWF Title defence against Undertaker in a Casket Match at Royal Rumble.

Jim Cornette enters the ring and introduces Howard Brody and Dennis Coralluzzo, the president and vice-president of the NWA. Caralluzzo has the NWA North American Heavyweight Title belt. Cornette plays up the traditionalism of the NWA and announces the winner of the next match will be crowned the NWA North American Heavyweight Champion. Cornette introduces Blackjack Windham (calling him Barry Windham) and Jeff Jarrett. Cornette really sells how great Jarrett is. Cornette joins commentary.

NWA North American Heavyweight Title Match:

Blackjack Windham VS Jeff Jarrett

Cornette really sells both competitors and their past achievements and histories. Jim Ross subtly draws attention the fact that Jarrett is in his prime and Windham is past his. Jarrett hits a couple of arm drags and showboats. Cornette hypes up the NWA's history, linking it to Abraham Lincoln. Windham takes control with punches and power moves. Kevin Kelly asks Cornette if NWA rules are in effect, including over the top rope disqualification. Cornette says he doesn't know if referee Tim White is smart enough to know NWA rules. Jim Ross speculates that Cornette could stand to make money off the success of this. Windham gets a two count following a well executed gut wrench suplex. Jarrett takes control with punches before Windham catches him attempting to leap frog out of the corner. Windham hits a powerslam for a two count. Windham hits a lariat but only gets a two count when Jarrett gets his foot on the rope. Caraluzzo argues with the referee as Windham sets up Jarrett for a superplex. Cornette hits the ring and hits Windham in the back with his tennis racket. Windham still manages to complete the superplex but Jarrett pins him to win the title at around 5 minutes.

ANALYSIS: Another unspectacular 5 minute TV match. *

Cornette, Caraluzzo and Brody present Jarrett with the NWA North American Heavyweight Title belt.

Austin hits the ring, Stunners Jarrett and mocks his strut. Austin grabs a chair and leaves up the entranceway.

The commentary team hype some house shows, the same things they hyped earlier and Royal Rumble.

In a backstage promo Ken Shamrock says that both he and Austin are marked men. He says he'd love for him and Austin to be the final two men in the Royal Rumble match so that they can go "eye to eye" and "man to man".

Sunny enters as the ring announcer for the next match. The commentary team continue to hype up the Royal Rumble, they're really going overboard selling it. Sunny introduces The Truth Commision (Sniper and Recon with The Jackyl) and the Disciples Of Apocalypse (Skull and 8-Ball).

The Truth Commison (Sniper & Recon with The Jackyl) VS Disciples Of Apocalypse (Skull & 8-Ball)

The four men start brawling before the bell rings. Jackyl joins the commentary team and mentions a young lady in the audience he has saved from a life of ignorance. Jackyl inexplicably laughs at Recon being tossed from the ring. He explains this by saying he is amused that Recon will do anything to make him happy and claims that he "made" Recon. Jackyl then claims Kurrgan will win the Royal Rumble Match. Jackyl hypes up his own wrestling ability as Sniper and Recon take control of the match. Jackyl says he never wanted violence, that there was supposed to be a charismatic revolution but now there will be a revolution of blood because "you people have begged me for it". Recon misses a splash from the top rope because Jackyl directed Sniper to move his opponent too far away. Skull makes the hot tag to 8-Ball who dominates both Sniper and Recon. 8-Ball goes for a pin on Sniper (the illegal man) but Recon breaks it up. The match descends into a brawl as Kurrgan enters. 8-Ball pins Sniper at around 5 minutes.

ANALYSIS: Boring brawl between boring characters. *

D.O.A attack Kurrgan but The Truth Commission overpower them. Jackyl slaps Kurrgan to make him break off his attack and Kevin Kelly hypes up the fact that only Jackyl can control Kurrgan.

More hype - Don King's appearance as well as Shawn Michaels Royal Rumble match with Undertaker. Triple H is next.

Twix Rewind - Last week on Raw, Undertaker helps his brother Kane fight off the D.O.A and The Headbangers as the commentary team are shocked by their apparent union.

DX (WWF Champion - Shawn Michaels, European Champion - Triple H, and Chyna) enter. Triple H is in a wheelchair with a dislocated knee cap. They recap the previous week when Triple H saved Michaels WWF Title against Owen Hart by hitting Owen with a crutch while Owen had Michaels in a Sharpshooter, causing Michaels to be disqualified. Triple H taunts Owen Hart while Michaels can't take his eyes off Chyna's boob job. Mildly amusing.

Triple H says Owen Hart stepped up to bat but it was left to him to supply the lumber, inferring his crutch. He then told the ladies not to worry because "there's plenty more wood where that came from" as he crotch chopped. He then challenged Owen to come to the ring, calling him a niblet and says he'll "flush him one more time". Owen Hart appears on the big screen and says he had Michaels beat with the Sharpshooter last week.

Owen says Triple H has made it personal but that he has compassion for him in his black heart. He wants to give Triple H time for his right knee to heal up and when it does he's going to break the left one. Triple H mocks fear and advises Owen to watch his back because "Degeneration X is bigger than all of us." Kevin Kelly wonders if that's a threat and Owen is next on DX's list while Jim Ross says Owen doesn't seem very stable. Owen Hart VS Savio Vega is next. 

They hype that Shawn Michaels will call out the Undertaker later on and they hype Don King again. The Slam Of The Week is Vader performing a moonsault on Shotgun Saturday Night. They recap Steve Austin's threats to the Royal Rumble participants at the start of the night and his attacks.

We move into The War Zone. Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler are on commentary.

Savio Vega enters with Los Boricuas (Miguel Perez, Jose Estrada Jr. & Jesús Castillo). Owen Hart enters as Ross & Lawler talk about DX's threat to Owen and how Owen would have won the WWF Title the previous week if it wasn't for Triple H.

Owen Hart VS Savio Vega (with Miguel Perez, Jose Estrada Jr. & Jesús Castillo)

Owen is concerned with Los Boricuas presence but takes control early on with a hip toss and Thesz press. Owen is so fluid as he hits a dropkick off the top rope followed by a nip up. DX appear on the stage distracting Owen and allowing Savio to take control. Savio knocks Owen out to the floor with a nice spinning heel kick. Savio throws Owen back in and works him with kicks and chops. Owen ducks a punch and cradles Savio for a two count. Savio takes control again with a spinning heel kick followed by a chin lock. Owen breaks it with a chinbreaker and gets a two count with a cross body. Owen is attacked by Los Boricuas as Savio distracts the referee. A second referee orders Los Boricuas to leave as Owen hits Savio with a spinning heel kick and locks on the Sharpshooter. Owen breaks it to fight off Jesus and beats Savio with a roll up at 4 mins 30 secs.

ANALYSIS: Owen was good, very crisp and  fluid and Savio was also decent. Very short match but they did well with what they had. **

Afterwards Los Boricuas beat down Owen Hart and carry him to DX who join in the beat down. Triple H hands Savio money as officials and referees try to help Owen.

I have conflicting feelings about Owen Hart at this point. On the one hand I think they missed the boat with him. Following Montreal and his coming back to seek revenge against Michaels he had super heat and make no mistake about it, he was very over. The serious "Black Hart" persona was a logical and well portrayed evolution of his character. He could have been elevated to World Champion level here instead of having a quick feud with Michaels which segued into a European Title feud with Triple H.

On the other hand was there really room for Owen at the top? Everything was focused towards Austin being the man and taking the title at WrestleMania. Did Michaels have to be the man he beat? I think so, especially considering the Mike Tyson dynamic which could only have worked with Michaels and DX. Also, there was no doubt Michaels was the number one heel in the company. Turning Owen would have been stupid, and face VS face would have been equally nonsensical.

 Maybe between Montreal and 'Mania, Owen could have had a caretaker run but I'm not sure if that would have elevated him or damaged him. A veteran finally winning the title after years of trying deserves more than a short run. Look at Christian in 2011. There really was no way Owen could have had a lengthy World Title run which is a shame. One thing is almost certain - if he became a main event player in 1998, there's no way he would have been reduced to the comedy Blue Blazer gimmick in 1999. But leaving aside the why's and wherefore's of what eventually happened to Owen, it's a shame from the standpoint of how good a worker he was that he never broke through that final glass ceiling.

They go to a break and as they come back, following a recap of what just happened, Paul Bearer makes his way to the ring. They show Undertaker and Kane fighting side by side last week. Ross and Lawler hype up how bad Bearer looks. Bearer says he hopes Shawn Michaels destroys Undertaker at the Royal Rumble and that he curses the ground Undertaker walks on. He says he despises the air he breaths and hates his guts. Bearer says its because of Undertaker that he has lost Kane, that Undertaker poisoned his mind and Kane has left him. Bearer says he has looked everywhere but can't find Kane. He says he knows Kane is watching and begs him to listen to him. He says he took care of Kane for years and begs him to come home. Bearer was excellent here, coming off as creepy, loathsome, hurt, angry and frightened all at the same time.

They cut to backstage where Steve Austin has attacked Mark Henry. The Headbangers are helping Henry and questioning why Austin did it. Henry looks positively skinny compared to today.

They plug Shawn Michaels confronting Undertaker later plus highlights of their Hell In A Cell Match from Badd Blood last September. Up next is "Marvelous" Marc Mero VS Tom Brandi. A video package plays of Marc Mero humiliating Sable in recent weeks, the highlight of which is him making her dress up as a reindeer. It shows Tom Brandi standing up for Sable (first as Salvatore Sincere) and Marc Mero attacking him with a chair.

"Marvelous" Marc Mero enters with Sable. Jim Ross claims Mero is now living off his reputation, Lawler says the fans love him. The cheers are clearly for Sable. Tom Brandi enters to absolutely no reaction.

Tom Brandi VS "Marvelous" Marc Mero (with Sable)

Before the match starts, Brandi pursues Mero. Mero uses Sable as a shield to ward off Brandi, before pushing Sable into Brandi and attacking him. Mero works the boxing gimmick, ducking and diving and landing punches. Mero becomes frustrating by the crowd chanting for Sable. Brandi hits the ropes with Mero on top and Mero crotches himself. Brandi takes control with punches and a top rope bulldog for a two count. Brandi knocks Mero outside where he lands on Sable. Mero tells Sable off and Brandi attacks Mero and picks Sable up. Mero hits Brandi with a double axe handle, causing him to drop Sable. Mero throws Brandi into the ring steps as Sable sells an ankle injury. Back in the ring, Mero hits a TKO. As he sets Brandi up for another TKO, Steve Austin hits the ring and Stunners Mero to presumably end the match as a no contest at around 5 minutes. Sable shies away from Austin as he leaves up the entranceway.

ANALYSIS: TV filler. This was a nice mini TV feud, something which doesn't happen very often these days, and it advanced the Mero-Sable jealousy storyline well. Sable was super over. *1/2

Jim Ross plugs the Superstar Line. They hype Michaels confronting Undertaker as well as Don King's appearance again. Goldust is next. They take a break and when they return they recap Austin's actions so far tonight. 

Flash Funk enters as they recap Steve Austin Stunnering Goldust the previous week and shoving him into an outhouse. TAFKA Goldust enters with Luna Vachon. Goldust is dressed as a black disco lover, complete with giant afro wig and gold jewelry. Jim Ross calls him an attention seeker and recaps that he walked out on his wife Marlena and their daughter before Christmas.

Flash Funk VS TAFKA Goldust (with Luna Vachon)

Funk seems offended by Goldust's attire and takes control early on, knocking Goldust's wig off. Goldust retreats outside the ring and takes a Flair Flop as Luna comforts him. Goldust pulls Funk outside and hits him with punches. Back in the ring Goldust takes control after Luna grabs Funk's foot. Funk fights back and hits a spinning martial arts kick for a two count. Funk signals for his 450 splash finisher. Before he can hit it Luna pushes him off the top rope to give Funk the disqualification win at 2:30.

ANALYSIS: Short match with very little to offer. Goldust at this point was trying to be outrageous but it was pretty difficult to get interested in, mostly because his in ring work was very boring. Flash Funk, as we all know, was the WWF's way of wasting 2 Cold Scorpio. He pulled off some decent athletic moves here. *

Afterwards Goldust hits Funk with the Curtain Call. Vader hits the ring and attacks Goldust. Ross hypes Vader VS Goldust at Royal Rumble. Vader and Flash Funk embrace.

A video package of Steve Blackman plays. They try to show Blackman as a serious ass kicker. They obviously had fairly big plans for him.

An ad is played for the Royal Rumble Sweepstakes in which a "Stone Cold" Steve Austin truck is the prize.

A recap of the previous week is shown of Chainsaw Charlie debuting and helping Cactus Jack against the New Age Outlaws.

The Headbangers (Mosh and Thrasher) enter as they are shown appearing on Regis & Kathy Lee. The WWF Tag Team Champions, the New Age Outlaws ("Road Dogg" Jesse James and "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn), enter. James tells The Headbangers they will never get the Tag Titles back.

New Age Outlaws ("Road Dogg" Jesse James & "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn) VS The Headbangers (Mosh & Thrasher)

This will be a non-title match. Lawler says he believes the Legion Of Doom are finished. Ross disagrees. Gunn and Mosh start it out. Gunn and James double team Mosh, Mosh escapes quickly and Thrasher and Mosh double team Gunn. Gunn and James both end up on the outside. Gunn and Mosh lock up again, Gunn misses a flying kick as Mosh takes control with an armbar. Gunn powers out and tags James. Mosh takes control with an armbar again, tags in Thrasher and they hit James with a double facebuster. The Godwinns (Henry and Phineas) emerge on the stage. The N.A.O. seem concerned by them as Ross alludes to the fact they owe the Godwinns. The N.A.O. tag in and out as they take control. James and Thrasher collide with a double dropkick.  Both slowly recover to make the tag. All four enter the ring, The Headbangers hit Gunn with a double dropkick, before fluffing a stage dive. Gunn rolls up Thrasher for the pin at about 6 mins. Cactus Jack and Chainsaw Charlie enter as the N.A.O. flee.

ANALYSIS: Standard fair. It was pretty rushed, no time for anyone to shine. I liked the fact that there were so many teams being promoting in this short match - the two teams in the match, The Godwinns, Cactus Jack & Chainsaw Charlie and the Legion Of Doom. It was an actual tag division. *1/4

They recap an announcement from the previous week that negotiations had begun with Mike Tyson for him to be involved at WrestleMania 14. Really they're teasing that he will compete in a match. They hype up the media coverage. The big Don King appearance is a short pre-taped promo. He says he's excited and that WrestleMania and Mike Tyson joining together will be one of the greatest extravaganzas of all time, but warns the deal is not finalized yet. He says stay tuned and fluffs some lines. Weird for a pre-tape, I guess he didn't have time to redo it or  simply refused. Either way you think they'd have edited the stumbles out.

The WrestleMania countdown is shown - 12 weeks left. 

Highlights are shown of Shawn Michaels VS Undertaker in a Hell In A Cell Match at Badd Blood the previous September in order to hype their Casket Match at Royal Rumble, as well as the potential Undertaker-Kane rivalry.

The WWF Champion Shawn Michaels enters. Jim Ross calls him the greatest athlete in WWF history. Lawler plays up the fact Michaels could watch that Hell In A Cell footage and still come out here and call out Undertaker. Michaels says when DX asked Owen Hart to come out he didn't have the guts so Michaels thought he would come out and see if Undertaker has the guts to face him. Michaels mocks being afraid of Undertaker or a Casket Match and says he has beaten him time and time again. Michaels says at the Royal Rumble he will prove that Undertaker is "nothing more than a loser" and that Michaels will walk out still the WWF Champion. 

Michaels says he's giving the Undertaker and the fans the chance "to get a little something extra tonight."  He tells Undertaker to drag his "dead ass carcass" out there so he can "smack him around in front of the whole damn world." Undertaker's music plays and The Druids wheel down a casket. The casket is covered in DX graffiti. Ross alludes to the fact it's obvious that Triple H and Chyna must be inside the casket, not Undertaker. Michaels thinks it's Triple H and Chyna playing a joke on him and tells them to come out of the casket. Chyna wheels Triple H out on the stage as they try to warn Michaels that they're not in the casket. Michaels feigns surprise with horrible acting skills - "I-I-If you two are up there... wh-wh-who's the casket?" The Undertaker pops out of the casket and drags Michael into it. We see darkness as apparently there is a camera inside the casket as Raw goes off the air.

FINAL ANALYSIS: Definitely an entertaining episode. Little in the way of good in ring action but they forwarded several story lines well. The Undertaker was interesting, as he had two story lines going on at the time - he was heading into WrestleMania to face Kane, but first he had his WWF Title Match with Shawn Michaels at Royal Rumble. They advanced the story for both, really with very little participation from Undertaker himself. 

They officially demoted Owen Hart from the top bracket here as he moved into a feud with Triple H. The inevitable Marc Mero-Sable split edged closer, as did the Faarooq-Rock split. Pretty much the entire tag division was put over in some small way in the tag match. They did some small build for Goldust VS Vader at Royal Rumble. They hyped the Royal Rumble to death, something they don't do enough these days. It seems obvious watching this that Austin is going to win the Rumble Match and his attacking the other participants before they get to him was entertaining, even if it did slightly bury the other talent. Austin was obviously the man at this point though. 

Everything on the show had a storyline purpose. Sure, stuff like The Truth Commission was rubbish but they actually gave it a chance to fall flat on its face, something that doesn't happen much in the stop-start world of WWE pushes these days. This show made me really anticipate the Royal Rumble and it wasn't even the go home show.