WWF Sunday Night Heat (November 22, 1998)

 

Original Airdate: November 22, 1998 (taped November 17)

From Columbus, Ohio; Your Hosts are Jim Ross and Michael Cole

The Corporation is out, and Vince announces that Rock will defend his new WWF Title against Mankind at Rock Bottom. Next order of business: Steve Austin. If he wants another title shot, he can have one!... if he can beat Undertaker in a Buried Alive match at Rock Bottom. But, despite these decrees, Vince doesn’t want us to think he has too much power. So, tomorrow on RAW, he’ll announce a new ‘independent’ commissioner to oversee things, replacing Sgt. Slaughter

Too Much v The Hardy Boyz: Both teams brawl to start, with the Boyz getting the better of it. Jeff Hardy hits Scott Taylor with a flying somersault senton splash, so Brian Christopher nails him, and Too Much deliver a combo, as Jackyl joins us on commentary. He just says that he’s here to ‘introduce the Acolytes,’ which draws Bradshaw and Faarooq out to attack both teams for a no-contest at 0:58. Well, that was a good use of time. DUD 

Jack Lanza phones in from San Jose California, where Steve Austin collapsed following a match earlier in the day. No news yet on his condition, but it’s thought to be due to getting whacked in the head with a shovel by Undertaker on RAW

Cole and Grandmaster Robbie host the Totally Twister Game Center advertising a new game called Pass It. Jerry Lawler is supposed to play, but gets distracted talking to a young girl. This whole segment felt like something from 1995, not sandwiched between segments featuring a pimp and a porn star

Backstage, the stooges giddily deliver the news of Austin’s medical issues to Vince

Al Snow v Gangrel: Snow pounds him into the corner, and delivers a German suplex, then a clothesline. Backdrop, but Gangrel blocks, and gives him a tiger suplex. Clothesline, but Snow ducks it, and delivers an ocean cyclone suplex. Vertical suplex, but Gangrel blocks, and plants him with an implant DDT. Cover, but Bob Holly pulls Gangrel out at two. That draws Christian over to brawl with him, and Snow recovers with a scoop sitout brainbuster. That draws both Edge and Scorpio in, and the referee throws it out at 1:52. Yes, two no-contest finishes in a row. They must have spent all their booking on Survivor Series, and had nothing left. ½*

Backstage, Kevin Kelly catches up with the New Legion of Doom, and Droz doesn’t want to dwell on Hawk’s accident. Animal doesn’t seem cool with blowing past the incident, but doesn’t say anything about it

Marc Mero v Big Boss Man: Boss Man quickly hits a corner splash, and he goes to work. Backdrop, but Mero counters with a DDT. Jacqueline tries to pile on, but accidentally trips Marc, and Boss Man delivers a scrapbuster at 0:58. Gosh, they are not wasting any time at all with these matches tonight. They’re not spending any time, either, though. Afterwards, an irate Mero dumps Jackie. DUD

Backstage, Mankind arrives at the building

The Glover Rewind is the Corporation punking Mankind out at the end of Survivor Series 

Mankind is out, and he’s heartbroken that he didn’t get a chance to give Vince the Father’s Day gift he bought: a leaf blower. His bitter rant about how Vince’s lawn will suffer and turn him into the laughingstock of the neighborhood is tremendous. That draws Vince and Shane out, to reveal that Mankind will have to face both Boss Man and Ken Shamrock in a triple threat match tomorrow on RAW 

Jeff Jarrett v Kurrgan: WWF Women’s Champion Sable is out to do guest commentary here. Jeff attacks from behind, but walks into a sidewalk slam before long. Kurrgan tries a backdrop, but gets blocked, so he throws a clothesline instead. Kurrgan grabs a bearhug that he turns into a scrapbuster, but he gets distracted by some bullshit going on with the ICP at ringside, and Jeff ten-punch counts him. Kurrgan fights him off with a big boot, and a clothesline sends Jeff over the top. That draws Debra McMichael in to distract him, and Jeff blasts him with the guitar for the pin at 1:47. Well, at least it had a finish. Afterwards, Sable gets in Debra’s face about the interference, but Jeff pulls McMichael away before it can go anywhere. DUD

Backstage, Kelly catches up with Val Venis, who is ready to capture the WWF Intercontinental title tonight 

Lanza phones in with another update on Austin

WWF Intercontinental Title Match: Ken Shamrock v Val Venis: Venis with a bodypress for two right away, but a big boot misses, and Ken tags him with an enzuigiri. Val fires back with a rotating spinebuster, and he hammers Shamrock into the corner. Cross corner whip, but Ken reverses, and throws a clothesline on the rebound. Ken with a belly-to-belly suplex for two, but a backdrop gets blocked, and Venis powerslams him for two. Val with a pair of short-knees into a Russian legsweep, and he delivers mounted punches from there. Ken with a brutal looking corkscrew legwhip into the anklelock, but Mankind attacks him with the leaf blower for the DQ at 2:48. Mankind tries to keep it going, but Boss Man is out, and the heels double team him instead. ½*

BUExperience: As a show, this was quite entertaining. As a wrestling show, this was not.