WWF Capital Carnage (December 1998)

From London, England; Your Hosts are Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler.

Opening Match: Al Snow v Gangrel: They trade off on the mat to start, and Al controls through a bunch of wristlocks, but ends up in a mat-based side-headlock. They botch a criss cross, and Snow hits his trapping headbutts, followed by an ocean cyclone suplex for two. Flying bodypress gets two, but Gangrel DDTs him as he tries to follow-up. Gangrel with a series of clotheslines for two, and he wins a slugfest with a Russian legsweep for two. Slingshot across the bottom rope, but Snow fires back with a Northern lights suplex for two, so Edge and Christian show up. Snow with a bodyslam to set up a 2^nd rope moonsault, but Gangrel dodges it, and hits a trapping suplex for two. Superplex, but Al counters into a tornado DDT, and he whacks him with Head - only to get blasted with a missile dropkick from Edge, and pinned by Gangrel at 5:54. Some sloppy sequences, but decent overall. ½*

LOD 2000 v The Headbangers: Droz starts with Mosh, and they trade armbars - Mosh winning with an eyerake, but losing a criss cross, and taking a pair of hiptosses. Dropkick puts Mosh on the outside, and he tags Thrasher on the way back in. Droz quickly powerslams him, but gets caught in a double-team for two. The 'Bangers work in some tandem stuff, but Thrasher takes a diving clothesline in short order, and Animal tags in. Four-way brawl, and Droz tries to make an illegal switch with Animal, but gets rolled up and pinned at 3:21. Uh, what? Total squash before the ending. ¼*

Val Venis v Goldust: Venis attacks from behind, but Goldust doesn't appreciate the gimmick infringement, and quite viciously clotheslines him out. Whip into the steps out there, and a snake-eyes onto it for good measure. Interesting color scheme for this show, as you have the standard Attitude Era red ropes, but you've got the bright blue mats from the early-90s on the outside, and a ring apron that would fit in on Superstars in 1995. Plus, the guard rails are actually still RAILS, and not the barricades. Looks weird. Inside, Goldust slams him around, and hits a slingshot side suplex, but takes a Russian legsweep, followed by mounted punches. Backdrop, but Goldust bulldogs him for two - only to walk into a spinebuster for two. Val with a flying bodypress, but Goldust rolls through for two. Val with a fisherman’s suplex for two, but Goldust atomic drops him, and they criss cross for a double knockout spot. Goldust goes for Shattered Dreams, but the referee stands in his way, and Venis cradles him as they argue at 5:35. These two wrestled so many damn times around this period, and they seemed to be getting better with each outing. *

Edge v Tiger Ali Singh: Edge attacks, and armdrags Singh into an armbar on the mat. Tiger fights up, but takes a backdrop and a pair of dropkicks from Edge, so he bails. Edge chases after him, and Singh begs off, but Edge crotches him on the post and hits an inverted atomic drop. Pair of clotheslines set up a missile dropkick for two, but a flying bodypress is countered with a powerslam, and Singh pins him with two feet on the ropes at 2:54. International booking if you've ever seen it, as Singh wasn't even on TV in the States. ½*

Mixed Tag Team Match: Marc Mero and Jacqueline v Christian and Sable: Mero and Christian start, and Marc works a standing side-headlock, but gets hiptossed and dropkicked out of a criss cross. Tag to Jacqueline, but Christian has reservations, and tags Sable. That sends Jacqueline running to Mero, and he tags in - only for Christian to pants him, and Sable to kick the crap out of him. I like how he acts all upset, when he basically wore those short tights for his whole career prior to 1998. Christian with a flying bodypress for two, but he gets dropped like a Samoan. Marc to the top, but Christian dives into the ropes to crotch him, and he hits an inverted atomic drop followed by a spinheel kick. Falling-inverted DDT, and he tags Sable to finish him. She hits the Sablebomb, but Mero bails to Jacqueline, and Sable destroys her with the TKO at 4:50. Afterwards, Sable tears Jacqueline's top off, exposing her to the crowd (but censored on the Network, sorry). Nothing, but the crowd loved seeing Sable. ¼*

WWF Intercontinental Title Match: Ken Shamrock v Steve Blackman: Ken wastes no time in bodyslamming him, but Steve pops up, and they trade kicks - Blackman controlling with a roundhouse for two. Steve unloads on him in the corner, and a cross corner whip sets up a clothesline for two. Shamrock fires back with a powerslam, and follows with a snap suplex for two. Ken pounds him on the mat for a bit, so Steve fires off a quick inside cradle for two. Shamrock shoves him into the corner for a beating, and he hits a leg lariat, then slaps on a standing front-facelock. Blackman escapes, but Ken is right on him with a kneelift, and he wrenches the facelock back on. Blackman railroads him into the corner to break, and this time manages to snap his neck across the top rope before he can retain control. Spinebuster for two, but Ken dodges a roundhouse kick, and fisherman’s suplexes him for two. Steve returns fire with a diving shoulderblock, but he stupidly goes after Big Bossman on the floor for no reason, and gets whacked with the nightstick to allow Shamrock the Anklelock at 6:51. Serves him right, idiot. Definitely better on paper, this was pretty dull. ¼*

Triple H v Jeff Jarrett: They exchange headlocks early, and Hunter grounds him with a mat-based version. So much for a hot start. Criss cross goes HHH's way with a spinebuster for two, but he walks into a backelbow, and they spill to the outside. Jeff snaps his neck across the top rope on the way back in, and adds a flying bodypress, but Hunter rolls through for two. Jeff retains control with a single-arm DDT, and a swinging neckbreaker gets two. Sleeper, but Hunter's arm doesn't drop the third time, and he side suplexes his way out. Jeff fights to retain control, but takes a high knee, and a pair of clotheslines. Inverted atomic drop sets up a ten-punch count, and it's Pedigree time, but Jarrett counters with a slingshot - only for Hunter to stop short, and charge with a lariat. THAT misses, and they criss cross, with HHH hitting a kneeling facebuster, and clotheslining him out. Debra comes in to try and flirt Jeff's way out of it, but Chyna steps in, and Jarrett eats a Pedigree at 6:55. Started off slowly, but really heated up towards the end - though I could have done without the overbooked finish. *

WWF Tag Team Title Match: The New Age Outlaws v D-Lo Brown and Mark Henry: Jesse James starts with Brown, and D-Lo hammers on him, then whips him into the ropes for a knee to the abdomen. James fires back with his dancing punches, and the dancing kneedrop sends Brown to the outside to regroup. Back in, Brown squares off against Billy Gunn, and Mr. Ass works a wristlock, and hits a press-slam, so D-Lo bails again. Yeah, they're in total house show mode here. Tag to Henry on the way back in, and he wants a test-of-strength. Gunn actually obliges, and fires off a cheapshot, but Henry hugs him like a bear before he can follow-up. The Outlaws double-team dropkick Henry to break it up, and a double-team hiptoss puts D-Lo on the floor as well - resulting in more stalling. Dust settles on James and Henry, and Jesse tries a hammerlock, but Mark powers out with ease, then bodyslams him. Tag to D-Lo for the Sky High, and Henry adds a legdrop and a splash, but Gunn breaks up the cover. Four-way brawl, and Billy pins D-Lo with a piledriver at 10:11. Standard house show stuff. DUD

WWF Title Match: The Rock v X-Pac: I don't remember these two working together a lot, so this should be interesting on that level, if nothing else. JR doesn't even let them get through the initial lockup before launching into his whole 'we're not a retirement community!' spiel. X-Pac controls with an armbar early, and he hits a somersault clothesline out of a big criss cross. Back to the armbar, but Rock powers up, so X-Pac tries a headlock. Rock whips him off, so X-Pac fires off a series of spinkicks - knocking the champion out of the ring. Rock decides to take his belt and go home, but Triple H and Chyna cut him off in the aisle, and X-Pac beats him back in for the bronco buster - Rock dodging it to takeover. Rock with a clothesline for two, and a swinging neckbreaker gets two. To the outside, Rock rams him into the announce table, and inside, a snapmare sets up a long chinlock. Russian legsweep and the Peoples Elbow get two, and then right back to the chinlock. Glad to see they're bringing their A-game to pay per view here. X-Pac escapes, but flails his way into the Rock Bottom, so Chyna sneaks in with a low blow, and the challenger schoolboys him for two. Spinheel kick gets two, but Rock rolls through a flying bodypress for two. Rock with a powerslam, and he grabs the title belt, but X-Pac ducks it, and Hunter whacks Rock with the European Title belt as he does. X-Pac crawls over for a cover, and gets a dramatic two count out of the deal. Bronco buster knocks Rock out of the ring, but he gets into it with HHH out there, and the referee disqualifies X-Pac over it at 12:33. Decent house show match, but it would have benefitted from them adapting their stuff to each other a bit more, rather than just running through their usual offense for the most part. Basically, this would have been better had they just tried harder. ¾*

Main Event: Fatal Four-Way Match: Steve Austin v The Undertaker v Kane v Mankind: Vince McMahon is guest commentator, Pat Patterson is the guest time keeper, Big Bossman is the guest enforcer, and Gerald Brisco acts as the guest referee. Vinnie Jones (yes, that Vinnie Jones) also wants in on the action, but Brisco gives him a red card, and ejects him. Everyone brawls without Austin to start, with Undertaker cleaning house. Cue glass breaking (and a thunderous pop), and 'Taker meets Stone Cold in the aisle for a slugfest, while Kane hits a flying clothesline on Mankind in the ring. They switch places, with Kane/Mankind spilling out, and Austin choking 'Taker with his vest in the ring, but taking a jumping clothesline and legdrop for two. Austin fires back with the Thesz press into a pointed elbowdrop, but Kane breaks up the cover, and they switch dance partners. Everyone spills out for a goofy spot, as 'Taker chokes Mankind with some cable, Kane chokes 'Taker with some cable, and Austin chokes Kane. I appreciate the creativity... it was cute, fine. They switch partners again (Kane/Undertaker, Austin/Mankind), but it's just more of the same punch-kick-choke stuff. Undertaker tries the ropewalk on Austin, but Kane crotches him to block - only to get pinballed by Austin and Mankind for his efforts. Mankind wants to work together, but Austin wants to Stun him, so Mankind hooks the Mandible Claw - Undertaker breaking it up before he can get too far. Mankind brings a chair into the mix, and everyone trades shots with that - Austin winning the exchange and covering Undertaker, but getting a wonky count from Brisco. Kane tries a chokeslam, so Stone Cold Stuns him, but Brisco won't count. Austin takes him out, and the distraction allows 'Taker to chokeslam both Austin and Kane, but Mankind breaks up a pinfall attempt - a new referee running in to takeover for Brisco. Undertaker goes to deal with Mankind on the floor, but the loss of focus allows Austin to Stun Kane for the pin at 16:12. Afterwards, Vinnie Jones shows up again, and Bossman takes a Stunner before he shares a beer with Stone Cold to end the show. The usual main event brawl here - the shine was coming off of the style rapidly, as what was fresh and exciting only six months ago was quickly becoming cliché. ¼*

BUExperience: Pretty much everyone phoning in house show level performances here, and since these non-cannoned shows are almost solely judged on the matches, this one is not a winner.

DUD