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Hello readers and welcome to the sixth edition of “Keeping The Memories Alive“. In today’s edition, I will be reviewing the first Raw of 1999, which featured Mick Foley winning his first WWF Title. The event was taped on December 29, 1998 from the Centrum in Worcester, Massachusetts. It aired January 4, 1999 on USA. Keep your requests coming.
The show opens with a video package, highlighting Shawn Michaels 10 year career in the WWF. It is narrated by Kevin Kelly. Suddenly, we hear “get that crap off the Titan Tron!”
The Corporation, led by Vince McMahon are on their way to the ring. Other members with him are Shane McMahon, Pat Patterson, Gerald Brisco, the Rock, Kane, Ken Shamrock, Test and the Big Boss Man. Vince brags about the way he fired Shawn Michaels last week. Kane is wearing a sign on his back that says “Brisco Brothers Bodyshop”. Shawn Michaels is shown on the Titan Tron walking to the ring. “Sexy Boy” hits and out comes Michaels. Michaels says the sheriff is back in town and he has brought some back up, D-Generation X! Triple H, X-Pac, Billy Gunn, the Road Dogg and Chyna come out... Michaels says that his contract is iron clad and he cannot be fired. Michaels says he has say so over any WWF superstar. Since Vince entered himself in the Royal Rumble, Shawn has control over Vince. Shawn takes away Vince’s #30 spot in the Rumble and makes him #2 (Steve Austin is #1). Shawn promises Vince a surprise for him by the end of the night and it will drive him “stone cold crazy”.
Jerry Lawler and Michael Cole welcome us and talk about what tonight’s stone cold surprise could mean. Also tonight, the Road Dogg defends the WWF Hardcore Title against Al Snow.
Commercial Break.
Match #1: “The World’s Most Dangerous Man” Ken Shamrock vs. “The Lethal Weapon” Steve Blackman.
Tale Of The Tape: Ken Shamrock (243 pounds, from Sacramento, California, 34 years old, on first reign as WWF Intercontinental Champion). Steve Blackman (246 pounds, from Annville, Pennsylvania, 35 years old).
About 30 seconds into the match, Dan Severn makes his way to ringside. Severn is sporting a neck brace, an injury he sustained at the hands of Owen Hart a few months back. Severn gets on the apron and Shamrock knocks him down with a punch. Referee Tim White turns his back, trying to get Severn to leave, allowing Billy Gunn to sneak into the ring and give Shamrock the fameasser. Blackman gets the 1, 2, 3.
We are shown pictures of the Rock and Vince McMahon in this months issue of Spirit Magazine.
Commercial Break.
WWF Rewind: Billy Gunn costing Ken Shamrock his match just moments ago.
Shamrock and Gunn are brawling away backstage. Referees and officials try to separate the two.
Mankind makes his way down to the ring. We are shown clips from 2 weeks ago when Mankind was wrestling Shane McMahon. Mankind says that when he gave Pat Patterson mr. jocko, it was the first time he ever touched another man’s testicles. He also says that night was the first time he said “suck it” without saying please first (funny stuff, I miss the Mankind character during the attitude era). Mankind says he wants to challenge the Rock for the WWF Title at the Royal Rumble. He demands Vince McMahon come out here. Out comes Vinny Mac. Vince says he will not grant Mankind a title shot. He will however put him in a Royal Rumble qualifying match tonight with Triple H. In that match, the referee will be Shane McMahon.
Backstage, Chyna is talking to some strange woman.
Commercial Break.
Match #2: “Sexual Chocolate” Mark Henry vs. Goldust.
Tale Of The Tape: Mark Henry (400 pounds, from Silsbee, Texas, 27 years old). Goldust (260 pounds, from Hollywood, California, 29 years old, 2 time WWF Intercontinental Champion).
A few minutes into the match, Chyna and that mysterious woman show up at the top of the ramp, this distracts Mark Henry. Goldust nails the shattered dreams, disqualifying himself. Chyna and the woman enter the ring. Chyna gets on the mic and says that she had an incredible time with Henry the other night. She says she is not enough woman for him and wants to introduce him to her friend Sammy. Chyna basically says they want to have a 3 way with him, which causes Mark Henry to faint.
We see clips of Jesse Ventura’s inauguration today after winning the election to become governor of Minnesota.
Commercial Break.
We see a vignette of Dennis Knight hanging in chains in a dark room and saying “help me” (this angle would lead to Dennis Knight being “sacrificed” by the Undertaker who renamed him, Mideon).
Match #3: The Godfather (with the Ho’s) vs. Test.
Tale Of The Tape: Godfather (315 pounds, from the Red Light District, 37 years old, 2 time USWA Unified Champion). Test (281 pounds, from Toronto, Ontario, 23 years old, former WWW Champion).
About a minute into the match, Val Venis shows up at the top of the ramp. Test and Godfather fight to the outside. Test throws the Godfather into the ring post, getting himself disqualified. Val Venis then runs down and attacks Test. Countless referees and officials have to pull them apart.
We see Shawn Michaels and DX talking backstage.
Commercial Break.
Match #4: Triple H (with “The Ninth Wonder Of The World” Chyna) vs. Mankind in a Royal Rumble Qualifying Match (Shane McMahon is the referee).
Tale Of The Tape: Triple H (244 pounds, from Greenwich, Connecticut, 29 years old, 2 time WWF Intercontinental Champion). Mankind (287 pounds, from the Boiler Room, 33 years old, 4 time WWF Tag Team Champion).
Shane seems to be calling the match fair thus far. HHH nails a sunset flip but can’t get Mankind over all the way. Shane kicks Mankind and then makes a very, very fast count, giving HHH the victory. HHH gets on the mic and says he is sorry to Foley but business is business and he wants to be WWF Champion. Hunter then says “happy new year” and gives Shane the pedigree. Mankind then puts Shane in an arm lock, threatening to break his arm. Vince comes out with Brisco and Patterson. Mankind says he will break Shane’s arm if Vince does not give him a title shot tonight. Mankind says that is not good enough. Vince says he will make the match no disqualification. Mankind says deal and releases Shane. The Rock comes out as Vince and company are making their way up the ramp. He’s ticked about Vince’s decision.
Commercial Break.
We are shown a clip of what just happened between Mankind and Vince.
Match #5: Edge vs. D-Lo Brown.
Tale Of The Tape: Edge (240 pounds, from Toronto, Ontario, 25 years old, former SSW Tag Team Champion). D-Lo Brown (278 pounds, from Chicago, Illinois, 25 years old, 2 time WWF European Champion).
We are shown a clip from last week where D-Lo insulted PMS. Pretty solid match for a TV match during the attitude era. Great back and forth offense, the announcers pay no attention and mainly plug the WWF Title Match for later tonight. PMS, Terri Runnels and Jacqueline are on their way out here. Terri gets on the apron, D-Lo gets in her face and Terri falls off, keep in mind that she is “pregnant”. D-Lo looks confused, referee Jimmy Korderas tends to Terri. An EMT crew takes her away on a stretcher. This match is apparently ending in a no contest.
Commercial Break.
We see a replay of what just happened with Terri Runnels.
Backstage, a doctor is tending to Terri. Jacqueline and D-Lo watch on.
Kane, Shane McMahon, Pat Patterson and Gerald Brisco make their way out. Kane is still wearing the Brisco Brothers Bodyshop sign on his back. Shane puts the “stooges” in a handicapped match with Kane. Brisco and Patterson apparently did not know about this. Vince McMahon comes out and tells Kane to make them pay.
Match #6: Kane vs. Gerald Brisco & Pat Patterson.
Tale Of The Tape: Kane (326 pounds, from parts unknown, 30 years old, former WWF Champion). Pat Patterson & Gerald Brisco (422 pounds. Brisco is 48 years old, from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 3 time NWA Tag Team Champion. Patterson is 57 years old, from Montreal, Quebec, former WWF Intercontinental Champion).
Patterson tries to bribe Kane with a cigarette. Kane completely destroys the stooges. No pin was made but Shane declared Kane the winner.
Commercial Break.
We see another vignette of Dennis Knight hanging in chains. The Acolytes, Faarooq and Bradshaw show up this time. Faarooq says “its time, he is ready for you”.
Match #7: The Road Dogg defends the WWF Hardcore Title against Al Snow (with Head).
Tale Of The Tape: Al Snow (249 pounds, from Lima, Ohio, 35 years old, former SMW Tag Team Champion). Road Dogg (236 pounds, from Nashville, Tennessee, 28 years old, on first reign as WWF Hardcore Champion).
Snow attacks the Road Dogg before he can do his trademark catch phrases. Chairs and tables used early on in the match. Snow did a moonsault off the barricade onto a table but Road Dogg rolled out of the way. They fight by the entrance way where Snow is put through another table. Next, they go into the janitor area. Boxes of toilet paper, poles, broomsticks and cables are used as weapons. Now we head outside. This is what I most remember about this match. Its freaking snowing out there! Road Dogg nails Snow with a snow shovel. Road Dogg wins after he pildrives Snow onto a crate outside. This is one of my all time favorite Hardcore Matches in the WWF/E.
We go to another vignette of Dennis Knight. The Acolytes throw him through a door and then the door shuts. All we hear are screams after that.
Backstage, DX accompany Shawn Michaels to the exit door. Michaels says “I’ll see you later”, HHH says “Maybe, maybe not”. As Michaels goes outside we hear a voice say “hey Shawn”. Its Ken Shamrock, the Big Boss Man and Test.
Commercial Break.
We are back and Shawn Michaels is shown face first through a windshield of a car covered in blood. Michaels is being put on a stretcher, into an ambulance. This was the WWF’s way of taking Michaels off camera for a while because he was going to have back surgery later in the week.
Match #8: The Rock (with the entire Corporation) defends the WWF Title against Mankind (with D-Generation X) in a No Disqualification Match.
Tale Of The Tape: Mankind (287 pounds, from the Boiler Room, 33 years old, 4 time WWF Tag Team Champion). Rock (275 pounds, from Miami, Florida, 26 years old, on first reign as WWF Champion).
This match looks more like a Lumberjack Match. During the match, Rock takes Michael Cole’s headset and starts talking during his match. Mankind then takes the headset and says a few things himself. Foley turns around and Rock nails him with the ring bell. DX and the Corporation are now going at it. Suddenly….. Glass shatters and out comes Stone Cold Steve Austin! Austin nails Rock with a chair, Mankind covers Rock to become the new WWF Champion. Austin takes his hat off and throws it at Vince who is in full pissed off mode (I always loved that part). Mankind and DX are celebrating in the ring, what a moment! Mankind gets on the mic and says “hey Vince, this feels pretty damn good”. Foley says he dedicates this to his children at home.
End of show.
Being a life long wrestling fan, I remember so much about this night. It was the “unofficial” final competitive night in the Monday Night War. WCW was advertising a WCW Title Match between Kevin Nash and Hulk Hogan that night. Tony Schiavone spoiled the taped Raw show several time’s during the Nitro broadcast, telling fans that Mick Foley was going to win the WWF Title tonight. His exact words “Ha, that’ll put a lot of butt’s in the seats”. Unfortunately for WCW, it did put a lot of butt’s in the seats. Nitro ending up being a scam. Hulk Hogan poked Kevin Nash with his finger to win the title and Nash joined Hogan’s nWo. This is now refereed to as “the finger poke of doom”.
I hope you enjoyed reading the sixth edition of “Keeping The Memories Alive”. In the next edition, I will be reviewing the very first NWA Crockett Cup. Now I ask, what would you like to see reviewed? My complete collection can be found at www.freewebs.com/jbryan1984/. Email me your feedback and requests at jbryan21408@yahoo.com.
