22 is WWF "RAW!!!" October 19, 1998
City: Milwaukee, the Bradley Center
On the post-Judgement Day show Vince has a parade to celebrate firing Stone Cold for not crowning a new WWF Champion at the PPV. McMahon gathers the whole WWF roster in the ring announcing a 16-man one night-tournament to crown a new champion at Survivor Series. The Boss guarantee's a new champion on that night
He puts every superstar on warning not to cross the boss. In the line of the night Vince claims firing Austin was "
better than sex" This is a classic Mr. McMahon promo during with great heat as the crowd chant "
We want Austin" and "
Asshole, Asshole". Vince is less happy when Austin appears on the Titan tron outside the arena with hunting gear. Vince sells his fear to perfection.
Ken Shamrock VS. X-Pac
A non-title match between the new IC Champion and the European champ. We see footage of Shamrock winning the title against Pac in the tournament final last week on Raw. We also see Shamrock putting DX leader Triple H on the shelf by slamming a car door on his knee the previous night on Heat. Plus a video of DX hanging out with rock band Motley Crue including that scumbag Tommy Lee. Like most matches on Raw during this era this is a very brief match with two talented workers given little time to do much. Chyna gets arrested at ringside as part of Mark Henry's sexual assault claim. Mankind currently fending with Shamrock comes out and puts the mandible claw on in front of the ref, yet there's no DQ?... Pac uses the distraction to nail Shamrock with the face buster and steal the win. **
The cops who arrested Chyna talk to Stone Cold outside the arena. Instead of arresting him or asking questions they pal around and get his autograph for their kids. Vince goes nuts in the back
A local cop refushes to put his life on the line when Vince demands he goes after Austin.
The Headbangers VS. L.O.D. (W/Hawk)
The Headbangers mock the new Age Outlaws with fake tag title belts before the match. Its a sloppy affair. A double Bangers flapjack on Droz looks dodgy. The Headbangers get a cheap roll up victory when Droz is distracted by Hawk. 1/2
Abandoned by his stooges Vince only has Mankind and sheriff socko for company
He soon kicks his special friend to the curb when Foley tries to play twister with him
Undertaker comes out with "Brother Paul Bearer". Confirming their reunion after Judgement Day. Taker says Bearer's evil vision was the reason behind bringing him back into the fold. Undertaker claims Bearer has refocused his mind and declares the start of a new faction known as "The Ministry of Darkness". This new stable would dominate much of WWF's storylines in the first half of 1999. Taker drops another bomb shell claiming that it was he who started the fire which burnt his brother Kane all those years ago. More forced soap opera from that hack Russo. Kane comes out and challenges his brother to a casket match later in the night. The match is booked for the main event meaning that not for the first time Russo has given away for free a PPV level main event
Steve Blackman VS. Jeff Jarrett (W/Debra McMichael)
Debra and her famous puppies debut in Jarrett's corner. Interesting that WWF use her married name. Debra's soon to be ex-husband Steve McMichael was still employed by WCW at this time. These two never click and seem to be rushing through spots, including a Blackman roll through from a Jarrett top rope crossbody. A Jarrett DDT looks sloppy. The Lethal weapon takes control with a flying shoulder block but the Blue Blazer (Owen Hart) interferes for the cheap DQ finish. Post match Jarrett and Blazer double team Blackman. Al Snow makes the save but his head is distracted by Debra!
Snow takes Jarrett's exploding gutiar shot.
*1/2
Vince plans his escape from the arena but is captured getting into his limo by Austin. The Rattlesnake rolls Vince back into the arena bumping him into walls on the way.
The Rock VS. D-Lo Brown (W/Mark Henry)
A lively match with the Rock really starting to connect with the crowd. Both him and D-Lo have come along way. They start with a lively fast paced brawl back and forth. The Rock gains control with a smooth swinging neckbreaker. The future People's champion sneaks a low blow as Henry ties up the ref. Brown fires back with a facebuster, a running clothesline and some nice heel kicks. The Rock is sent to the floor and is nailed by Henry. Back inside D-Lo telegraphs a elbow drop and misses. The Rock hits a full away slam. A follow up DDT scores two. The People's elbow gets a big pop
The Rock catches Brown coming off the top and hits the Rock Bottom for the three count. The heels double team him after the match keeping their heat. **1/2
Tiger Ali Singh mocks Americans for being peasants and eating savage foods like sausages
As his servant Babu cooks up some long ones Tiger challenges anyone in the crowd to eat one. A plant accepts and enjoys it so much she eats two. The segment is broken up by the Godfather who claims the woman is one of his ex-hos. Singh and Godfather brawl setting up a fend with has zero prospects.
Austin toys with Vince. Making reference to the movies Deliverance and Misery. The Rattlesnake first forces McMahon into making pig noises then goes to find a sledge hammer promising to use on Vince's ankles like in Misery.
Mankind VS. Val Venis (W/Terri Runnels)
Some decent back and forth in another rushed match. The highlights being Val's side Russian legsweep and Mankind's double arm DDT. Mankind seems to have the match won with his mandible claw (with Mr. Socko) but Shamrock gains revenge nailing Foley in the knee with a chair on the blindside of the ref. Venis picks up the win. Mankind and Shamrock brawl to the back. For some reason the camera man misses most of the action. Goldust once again appears on the Titan Tron sending another message to Val and Terri claiming he will shatter Venis's dreams. Venis and Runnels argue afterwards. **
Austin says Vince's fate will be sealed by the result of the Casket match main event. If Kane wins the Rattle Snake will go easy on Vince and do things the easy way. But if Undertaker wins he will do things the hard/Stone Cold Steve Austin way
Casket Match: Kane VS. The Undertaker (W/Paul Bearer)
The Brothers of Destruction don't normally have good matches but given the amount of time and the gimmick this was an entertaining watch. Taker playing the heel of the match takes control by working on Kane's knee. A flying clothesline off the rope is followed by a DDT, but Kane sits up
Kane then clotheslines his brother over the top rope and into the casket. The pair brawl inside, with Taker hitting a DDT. The lid is closed as they both brawl and end up destroying the casket meaning there can be no winner
They brawl into the back. No contest. **1/2
With no winner in the main event Austin rolls Vince out to ringside to face his fate. JR and the King both sell the threat that Austin could kill the boss. Austin has the crowd in the palm of his hand with this gem, "
If you want Vince's eyes to pop out the front of his head give me a HELL YEAH!" Austin replays Vince's parade from the start of the show and teases he is about to shoot him, but of course the gun is a fake as a Austin 3:16 flag shoots out the front as Vince literally pees his pants
More fun stuff from the Austin-McMahon fend though not as good as some of their other Raw classics. This fend was starting to lose a bit of steam and would peak early in 99.
Alright now someone else pick another number between 1 and 50 to decide which show I review next? These shows have been picked mostly at random so their promises to be some turkeys and hopefully some gems too...