WWF Sunday Night Heat (November 8, 1998)

 

Original Airdate: November 8, 1998 (taped November 3)

From Dallas, Texas; Your Hosts are Michael Cole and Jim Cornette

Too Much v Bob Holly and Scorpio: Al Snow is out, introducing Holly and Scorpio as his ‘JOB Squad,’ starting that angle off. And another angle here as well, as Taylor professes his love for Christopher. Scott Taylor starts with Holly, and a criss cross ends in Taylor delivering a hiptoss. Holly fights back with an armdrag, and a pumphandle-powerslam gets him two. It also draws Brian Christopher in, but Scorpio cuts him off. Brian manages to dump Scorpio to the outside, allowing Too Much to double team Holly. They look for a combo, but Holly hooks Taylor in a cradle to counter at 1:33. This was barely a match. DUD

Kevin Kelly catches up with Val Venis, who explains that he had a vasectomy years ago, so whatever Terri Runnels is trying to pull with her ‘pregnancy,’ he’s not falling for it

WWF European Title Match: X-Pac v Steven Regal: Before Regal can come out, Undertaker and Paul Bearer hit the ring. They want the segment to speak, but X-Pac refuses to cede his time, so they beat him up. No match.

Backstage, the stooges - still showing signs of the beating they took from Big Boss Man on Monday - await Vince McMahon’s arrival 

Marc Mero v Godfather: Shane McMahon, now demoted to referee, officiates this match - with Vince watching from backstage. Godfather decides not to even offer the hoes, so Marc unloads on him, and tags him with a jumping backelbow. Turnbuckle smash, but Godfather reverses, and adds a few more for good measure. He tries a charge, but Mero backdrops him over the top to block, and rolls him in to hit with a slingshot splash for two. Mero with a ropechoke, and Jacqueline gets in a few cheap shots as well. Mero cross corner whips him, and uses a bodyslam on the rebound. He goes upstairs, but Godfather knocks him off, and delivers an atomic drop. Godfather adds a clothesline before going to town in the corner, and a corner clothesline leads to a savate kick for two. Shane is actually a very good referee, getting into position perfectly. Godfather uses a DDT for two, so Mero tries the TKO, but Godfather counters to a fireman carry slam at 3:48. Basic, but fine for what it was. ¾*

Video of Sable training for her match with Jackie at Survivor Series

Backstage, Kelly catches up with X-Pac, who is still reeling from the attack by Undertaker, but promises to get payback on RAW. A good, simple segment here, with X-Pac looking like a scrappy fighter who won’t back down to the big dog

WWF Tag Team Champions The New Age Outlaws are out, but after they hit their catchphrases, Vince rolls out to inform them that their match with the Headbangers at Survivor Series will now be a triple threat with D-lo Brown and Mark Henry in the mix. Why were the Outlaws even in the ring here? They just came out, said their catchphrases, then Vince came out, then the segment ended. Like, what was the kayfabe reason they were even out there?

Backstage, Debra McMichael gets ready for ringside

Jeff Jarrett v Droz: Owen Hart is out to do commentary here, still denying that he is the Blue Blazer. Droz tries for a takedown early, but Jeff outwrestles him. A criss cross allows Jeff a swinging neckbreaker, but a whip into the ropes gets reversed, and Droz powerslams him. Droz charges, but Jeff backdrops him over the top, where Hawk attacks for the DQ at 1:04. Animal saves, and decides to take it a step further - working with Droz to hit Hawk with the Doomsday Device. This never got off the ground. DUD

Backstage, Rock paces

Rock is out, and he’s none too happy about losing his spot in the world title tournament. He demands that Vince come out, and McMahon obliges. Vince notes that it’s not personal, it’s just that Vince has a problem with the people, and since Rock is the ‘people’s champ,’ Vince has to have a problem with him by default. But, it’s not personal, Rock is just a tool for Vince to fuck with the people. Vince offers him a deal: tomorrow on RAW, Rock faces Mark Henry. If Rock wins, he’s back in Survivor Series. If he can’t win - by pinfall or submission - he’s fired. And now putting Mark over Rock at Judgment Day finally makes sense

BUExperience: This flew by. There’s a real case to be made for the one hour wrestling show. Good or bad, it’s never bad.