WWF Sunday Night Heat (December 13, 1998)

 

Original Airdate: December 13, 1998 

From Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Your Hosts are Kevin Kelly and Shane McMahon

Vince McMahon is out, promising that Steve Austin will be buried alive tonight at Rock Bottom, but more importantly, to unveil the giant portraits of Rock on either side of the entrance area. Vince making fun of Canada here is some prime level heel stuff

Backstage, Debra McMichael promises to not get naked at Rock Bottom. Buyrate!

WWF Light Heavyweight Title Match: Duane Gill v Matt Hardy: Matt with a swinging neckbreaker right away, and a splash mountain leads to a springboard flying moonsault press. But, before he can cover, Blue Meanie runs in to nail him, and Gill falls on top for the pin at 1:02. ¼*

Michael Cole and Grandmaster Robbie shill Bop It, with Kaientai failing to grasp the finer points. Everything about this screams 1996, and poor Robbie seems like he would be completely shocked if he found out what the product is actually like at this point

Earlier today, Cole caught up with WWF Champion Rock, who enjoyed preparing for his own pay per view, while up in the luxury boxes. But, as he does so, Mankind pops up, and attacks him. This segment was both funny, and had purpose

Backstage, the doctors are looking Rock over

Backstage, Mankind is still laughing it up about what happened earlier, and decides to head out into the arena. He has a contract in hand, and reminds us that, if Rock can’t compete, he forfeits the title to Mankind. But, he’s willing to play ball, if Vince is ready to negotiate 

Backstage, Rock reacts to the news

Brian Christopher v Kevin Quinn: Scott Taylor sits in on commentary here, and Brian dedicates the match to him. Christopher with a hiptoss out the gate, but a criss cross allows Kevin a dropkick, and an overhead suplex. A bodypress misses, however, and Quinn takes a bump over the top. Christopher gives him a sunset bomb on the floor, and a missile dropkick connects on the way back in. Christopher tries a suplex, but Kevin drops him across the top rope to block, and hits a handspring backelbow. Tornado DDT, but Christopher blocks. He tries a powerbomb, but Kevin counters into a cradle at 2:19. Quinn looked like he had potential. ¼*

Backstage, the Corporation is on the move

The Glover Rewind is the New Age Outlaws revealing themselves as still being members of DX on RAW

Triple H v Droz: HHH is distracted at the bell, and Droz attacks. He lands a jumping backelbow, and a vertical suplex gets him two. Droz with a lariat, but HHH manages chops in the corner. A cross corner whip works, but the charge in does not. Droz tries a backdrop, but HHH counters with a kneeling facebuster, and the Pedigree finishes at 1:37. Afterwards, Shawn Michaels is out, and he bans DX from the building during the Outlaws’ tag title defense against Ken Shamrock and Big Boss Man at Rock Bottom. Oh, and the Outlaws need to have a warm up match right here on Heat. For their benefit. DUD

Backstage, Vince is sure he will work out some sort of deal with Mankind

Cole brings Jeff Jarrett and Debra McMichael out, for them to promise no goodies tonight, since Jeff won’t be losing to Goldust. This entire segment was thirty seconds long, and I’m surprised they even bothered bringing them all the way to the ring for it. Like, everyone in the building already bought a ticket, and anyone you’re trying to push to buy the show at home can be targeted without having to drag them out to the ring. Just odd

Steve Austin/Undertaker feud review video

Cole examines the grave site for the Buried Alive match

The New Age Outlaws v The Acolytes: The WWF Tag Team title is not on the line. The Acolytes storm in, and brutalize the champions. They isolate Jesse James, and get to work double teaming, with the referee being very relaxed with the rules. He’s not going heel, but it almost feels like he is, though they’re not acknowledging it on commentary at all, so it’s not a thing. Billy Gunn gets the tag, and Roseanne Barr the door. The Acolytes continue their beating, until Shamrock and Boss Man run in to blatantly attack the softened up Outlaws for the DQ at 2:03. That ends up pissing the Acolytes off, and they attack Ken and Boss Man themselves. Everyone brawls, until the lights die, and Undertaker comes on the PA system to cut a final promo on Austin. The timing on this entire show has been all over the place. DUD

BUExperience: This was a perfect lead in for the pay per view. And that’s all it needed to be.