The show which basically was a teaser for things to come on Monday Nights and a PPV preview show started debuted on August 2nd, 1998.
Vince opens up the first broadcast by announcing that his son Shane will be doing play-by-play alongside JR and the King. Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't this the first time we've seen Shane on TV since he was a ref in the early 90's? Shane comes out with two hotties. Sadly as soon as he opens his mouth he's just terrible! He not only sounds clueless but just rambles on about nothing of importance most of the time. His attempts to sound cool and hip die a death too. Including referring to Lawler as "King Fish" Can't believe Vince thought Shane was ready to be on TV full time based on this. Then again he is his son, so you know...
Edge VS. Double J (W/Tennessee Lee)
These two always had decent chemistry and this is a nice crisp opener. It could never match their Fully Loaded IC Title match. But its a solid watch anywhere. The highlights being Jarrett's reverse Russian legsweep, Edge's reverse of Jarrett's top rope cross body, and Edge's triple suplex with the final part switched into a face buster. The main story to the match is that Jarrett and Lee are starting to fall out with Jeff starting to think of a change in direction. The dated Lee does suck the life out of Jeff and the match. Lee misses his cue to grab Edge's leg on a suplex attempt from out side in. Then a moment later he grabs Jarrett's leg instead of Edge's as the heel comes off the ropes. Edge gets the quick pin. **1/2
Pacific Blue cast members Mario Lopez and Amy Hunter are shown enjoying the action at ringside. Pacific Blue just happens to be on after Heat. So guess what that's not the last we'll be seeing of them
DX cuts a typical in-ring promo with The King. The highlight is probably Triple H referring to Lawler as "a old man dressed as Liberace" They hype the HHH/X-Pac match on Raw. Pac says they will go out there and do a Professional job. Trips adds that Vince is just trying to divide DX because he doesn't like their counter culture style. Then per request a plant takes off her top at ringside. For some reason Vince's son cheers this?
We get a Droz World segment. WTF? Droz tells a story of how he was once sick on Mark Henry Wow, just wow... Next time on Droz World Darren talks about his ass Tattoo
The Headbangers and Darren Drozdov VS. Kaientai (W/ Mr. Yamaguchi-San)
They replay the Raw segment with Val Venis in the shower with Mrs. Yamaguchi-San And that Meat chopping segment Val comes to the ring with Mrs. Yamaguchi-San in toe in a hot red number They flirt at the top of ramp throughout the match. The match itself is meh outside of some nice Kaientai double teams and fine Dick Togo running leg drop Droz gets the win with a sit out powerbomb. Post match Val flirts with Amy Hunter. Mario gets pissed and has a pull apart with Val. Do they ever follow this up? **
They replay the Sable-Jackie Bikini contest from Fully Loaded. We also see the Raw clip when Vince DQ's Sable because of course kids hand prints are not proper Bikini wear Vince asserts his power only for Sable to flip him off and show off a very revealing Bikini.
European Title Match - D-Lo Brown (W/Mark Henry) (C) VS. Ken Shamrock
Another rushed job. JR does a nice job of selling Brown's chest protector. There's some decent wrestling, but it quickly breaks down into a brawl, including Mark Henry, Steve Blackman and Dan Severn. Ken Snaps not for the first time *1/2
Bart Gunn hypes up the Brawl for All with another bland Pacific Blue cast member.
Tag Title Number one Contenders Main Event - Kane and Mankind (W/Paul Bearer) VS. The Rock and Owen Hart
Owen gets some insane crowd heat in this one, with the nugget chants Its proper big name main event. The Rock hits his sweet float over DDT on Kane for a near fall. The Big Red Machine spills out of the ring (landing on his feet) and comes back with a hot clothesline from the top on the "Great One". Following the commercial break the Cooperation have isolated Mankind. Owen and Mankind both do some great selling here. Mankind hits the double arm DDT and makes the tag. Kane dominates Hart with the big foot off the rope. His attempted chokeslam is blocked as Owen cuts him off at the knees. A kick to the back of the neck, plus a missile drop kick from the top gets a two. Kane recovers to hit the chokeslam at the second time of asking. The Rock saves his partner before Kane can hit the tombstone. This leads to a full on brawl between the four guys on the outside. Owen like the sneaky heel he is sneaks back in just before the ten count This count out win sets up The Rock and Owen VS. Taker and Stone Cold for the tag titles on Raw. ***
In an interview Austin says people shouldn't read too much him offering the deadman a cold one on raw. He also has a few choice words for that jackass Michael Cole
Vince opens up the first broadcast by announcing that his son Shane will be doing play-by-play alongside JR and the King. Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't this the first time we've seen Shane on TV since he was a ref in the early 90's? Shane comes out with two hotties. Sadly as soon as he opens his mouth he's just terrible! He not only sounds clueless but just rambles on about nothing of importance most of the time. His attempts to sound cool and hip die a death too. Including referring to Lawler as "King Fish" Can't believe Vince thought Shane was ready to be on TV full time based on this. Then again he is his son, so you know...
Edge VS. Double J (W/Tennessee Lee)
These two always had decent chemistry and this is a nice crisp opener. It could never match their Fully Loaded IC Title match. But its a solid watch anywhere. The highlights being Jarrett's reverse Russian legsweep, Edge's reverse of Jarrett's top rope cross body, and Edge's triple suplex with the final part switched into a face buster. The main story to the match is that Jarrett and Lee are starting to fall out with Jeff starting to think of a change in direction. The dated Lee does suck the life out of Jeff and the match. Lee misses his cue to grab Edge's leg on a suplex attempt from out side in. Then a moment later he grabs Jarrett's leg instead of Edge's as the heel comes off the ropes. Edge gets the quick pin. **1/2
Pacific Blue cast members Mario Lopez and Amy Hunter are shown enjoying the action at ringside. Pacific Blue just happens to be on after Heat. So guess what that's not the last we'll be seeing of them
DX cuts a typical in-ring promo with The King. The highlight is probably Triple H referring to Lawler as "a old man dressed as Liberace" They hype the HHH/X-Pac match on Raw. Pac says they will go out there and do a Professional job. Trips adds that Vince is just trying to divide DX because he doesn't like their counter culture style. Then per request a plant takes off her top at ringside. For some reason Vince's son cheers this?
We get a Droz World segment. WTF? Droz tells a story of how he was once sick on Mark Henry Wow, just wow... Next time on Droz World Darren talks about his ass Tattoo
The Headbangers and Darren Drozdov VS. Kaientai (W/ Mr. Yamaguchi-San)
They replay the Raw segment with Val Venis in the shower with Mrs. Yamaguchi-San And that Meat chopping segment Val comes to the ring with Mrs. Yamaguchi-San in toe in a hot red number They flirt at the top of ramp throughout the match. The match itself is meh outside of some nice Kaientai double teams and fine Dick Togo running leg drop Droz gets the win with a sit out powerbomb. Post match Val flirts with Amy Hunter. Mario gets pissed and has a pull apart with Val. Do they ever follow this up? **
They replay the Sable-Jackie Bikini contest from Fully Loaded. We also see the Raw clip when Vince DQ's Sable because of course kids hand prints are not proper Bikini wear Vince asserts his power only for Sable to flip him off and show off a very revealing Bikini.
European Title Match - D-Lo Brown (W/Mark Henry) (C) VS. Ken Shamrock
Another rushed job. JR does a nice job of selling Brown's chest protector. There's some decent wrestling, but it quickly breaks down into a brawl, including Mark Henry, Steve Blackman and Dan Severn. Ken Snaps not for the first time *1/2
Bart Gunn hypes up the Brawl for All with another bland Pacific Blue cast member.
Tag Title Number one Contenders Main Event - Kane and Mankind (W/Paul Bearer) VS. The Rock and Owen Hart
Owen gets some insane crowd heat in this one, with the nugget chants Its proper big name main event. The Rock hits his sweet float over DDT on Kane for a near fall. The Big Red Machine spills out of the ring (landing on his feet) and comes back with a hot clothesline from the top on the "Great One". Following the commercial break the Cooperation have isolated Mankind. Owen and Mankind both do some great selling here. Mankind hits the double arm DDT and makes the tag. Kane dominates Hart with the big foot off the rope. His attempted chokeslam is blocked as Owen cuts him off at the knees. A kick to the back of the neck, plus a missile drop kick from the top gets a two. Kane recovers to hit the chokeslam at the second time of asking. The Rock saves his partner before Kane can hit the tombstone. This leads to a full on brawl between the four guys on the outside. Owen like the sneaky heel he is sneaks back in just before the ten count This count out win sets up The Rock and Owen VS. Taker and Stone Cold for the tag titles on Raw. ***
In an interview Austin says people shouldn't read too much him offering the deadman a cold one on raw. He also has a few choice words for that jackass Michael Cole