WWF Sunday Night Heat (February 21, 1999)

 

Original Airdate: February 21, 1999 (taped February 16)

From Chattanooga, Tennessee; Your Hosts are Kevin Kelly and Terry Taylor

Vince McMahon and Kane are out to start the evening, and Vince is very pleased that Rock has the WWF Title back, especially with Paul Wight slotted in as the special guest referee for the main event of WrestleMania. But one person who has not pleased Vince is Undertaker, especially after he manhandled Shane McMahon on RAW. Anyway, Vince read the letter Undertaker sent him, and apparently it was full of threats. Well, Vince responds to threats like this: tomorrow on RAW, Undertaker has to face Kane in an Inferno match

Backstage, Chyna gets WWF European Champion Shane McMahon warmed up

Backstage, Mankind arrives

Eight-Man Tag Team Match: George Steele, Kurrgan, Golga, and Giant Silva v Brian Christopher, Scott Taylor, Skull, and 8-Ball: The ring announcer sounds like he’s falling asleep here. Droz is out to do commentary for this one, despite being suspended. This one just sort of goes for a minute before Brian hits a dive on Kurrgan at 1:30. This was a waste of a segment, as it didn’t advance anything, and wasn’t a good match.

Backstage, Billy Gunn hangs out with Ryan Shamrock

WrestleMania XV countdown

Ken Shamrock v Godfather: You know we’re in a different era here when someone in the crowd has a sign showing a stick figure of Ryan Shamrock and claims that they are ‘in her zone,’ and the camera not only shoots it, but zooms in on it. Godfather doesn’t even bother offering the hoes, which feels like a mistake, since Ken is clearly wound way too tightly, and could probably use the release. Shamrock jumps him, but Godfather fights him off, so Ken powerslams him to turn the tide back. That draws Billy Gunn and Ryan out, and Ken runs out to brawl with him, as the match gets thrown out at 0:45. Another nothing match, but at least the segment advanced something. DUD

WWF European Title Match: Shane McMahon v Gillberg: Gillberg's WWF Light Heavyweight title is not on the line. Gillberg hits Shane with the spear at the bell, and it actually works. Cue a distraction from Chyna, and Shane blasts Gillberg with the title belt for the pin at 0:20. Afterwards, Gillberg tries spearing Chyna, but bounces off, in a funny spot. That draws X-Pac out, and he wants Shane at WrestleMania, but Chyna says he has to get through her first, and it’s on for tomorrow night. DUD

Sable appeared on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee this week to promote her Playboy issue

Backstage, Jeff Jarrett, Owen Hart, and Debra are having a meeting

D-lo Brown v Al Snow: Brown attacks from behind, and tries grabbing a headlock, but Snow forces a criss cross. He tries a backdrop, but Brown blocks, only to have a short-clothesline reversed on him. Snow keeps coming with trapping headbutts, but loses a reversal sequence after using his bad arm, allowing Brown a sitout spinebuster. That draws Debra out, and the distraction allows Owen Hart and Jeff Jarrett to attack D-lo. Snow bops him with Head for good measure, and that’s the pin at 2:00. Afterwards, Hart and Jarrett continue the attack. ¼*

Backstage, Mankind psyches himself up 

WrestleMania XV website ad. They did a great job of hyping that show. It ended up not being the best show, but I can still remember how excited I was to see it at the time, and even recall drawing the logo all over my notepads during French class in school

Mankind is out, and he wants a job as the backup referee for the main event of WrestleMania, should something happen to Paul Wight. And he’s so serious that he’s started a petition, and will be going through the crowd collecting signatures 

Steve Austin will appear on Nash Bridges this Friday night

Backstage, Undertaker leads the Ministry of Darkness around

Big Boss Man v Viscera: Boss Man manages to slam Viscera, and he waves the Corporation in, attacking for the DQ at 1:08. They start beating Viscera down, but the lights die, and the ring is suddenly surrounded by fire. Undertaker appears on the stage, and promises to drag Vince down to hell with him to close the show. Well, that thirty second promo was the most tolerable way to experience Undertaker in this era, kudos. 

BUExperience: This was mostly an ad for the next night’s RAW… which sounds like a hell of an episode, actually.