The following is a reprint of the Torch Newsletter review of WWF Raw from five years ago this week.

-Jason Powell, Torch assistant editor

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Torch Newsletter Archive
By Wade Keller, Torch editor
June 22, 1998 - WWF Raw
Originally published: Pro Wrestling Torch Weekly newsletter #500
Cover dated: June 27, 1998

RAW IS WAR LIVE - 6/22 (4.3 rating)
(Taped June 16 in Austin, Tex. - For more details see initial taping report in last week's Torch)... [Q1: 3.8]... The show opened with highlights of last week's show-ending angle on top of the cage... Jim Ross and Michael Cole introduced Raw as fireworks shot off...

Vince McMahon came to the ring to boos. He introduced Kane. They showed Paul Bearer at home "via satellite" watching Kane entering the ring on TV. If it was live, Bearer's TV should have shown him watching himself on TV, not Kane. McMahon empathized with the troubled childhood Kane had being scorned and abused. He then announced the "first blood" stip. McMahon may have been a bit laborious in his delivery, but overall a good segment. Kane's electronic speaking was cool. Bearer reacted in shock at Kane's vow. Ross sold big time that Kane said if he lost he would set himself on fire and breathe his last breath throughout the rest of the show...

In a nice production touch, they showed a picture outside the arena of the marquee reading "Raw is War: Sold Out"...

[Q2: 4.3]... (1) Ken Shamrock pinned Mark Henry at 4:35 thanks in part to Vader hitting Henry at ringside before Shamrock finished him off with a belly-to-belly suplex. Henry took a huracanrana and is showing improvement... Kevin Kelly interviewed Shamrock on the rampway. Shamrock said he'd win the tourney... They showed Edge in the crowd watching the matches, getting ready for his debut match later...

(2) X-Pac (w/Chyna) pinned Dustin Runnels at 5:32. Dustin prayed before the match. Not sure what's up with that. In the DX entrance videos, they need to add some clips of DX actually executing hot wrestling moves, not just crotch chopping. When Dustin went on an offensive flurry, Cole said what an upset it would be for Dustin to win. Ross said Dustin has made some life changes recently and is getting into great shape. Dustin offered to shake hands with X-Pac after the match, but X-Pac refused. Dustin prayed after the match. The last thing we needed was yet another wrestler wearing jeans instead of wrestling tights...

[Q3: 4.1]... A worried Paul Bearer vowed to be in his son Kane's corner at the PPV... Jerry Lawler interviewed Al Snow in mid-ring. Lawler presented Snow with a contract which again used the Playskool size 64 font lettering to be sure we saw on TV that it really was an "AGREEMENT." Snow said, "McMahon won't give me an appointment until I do the J.O.B. on the PPV again." For the most part, a novel and funny segment...

[Q4: 4.4]... (3) Jeff Jarrett (w/Tennessee Lee) beat Marc Mero (w/Jackie) at 3:35 to advance in the tourney. Mero had Jarrett covered after his TKO, but Lee distracted the ref. Then Sable distracted Mero and Jarrett gave Mero a DDT for the pin. Kelly interviewed Jarrett in the aisle. The post-match Kelly interviews are a nice added touch...

[Q5: 4.5]... (4) Kane pinned Road Dog (w/Bad Ass). Kane dominated offense throughout. When Road Dog got in his only offense, a top rope clothesline, Kane no-sold it... As Paul Bearer, from his living room, promo'd his PPV match, Undertaker broke into the house and beat up Bearer as a woman screamed in the background. The screen went blank after Undertaker threw a chair at Bearer...

(5) The Edge beat Jose Estrada Jr. via countout at 1:07. Ross said all they know about Edge is that he is a tortured soul. Sounds like a Raven take-off. Edge gave Jose a Goldberg- style tackle early in the match, then screamed. Girls screamed in return. He hit a nice somersault plancha onto Jose at ringside. Jose didn't get up from a jammed neck and was counted out. Edge left through the crowd. The replay showed Edge's right leg landed hard on Jose's head...

[Q6: 3.9]... Backstage Mankind tried to settle down Kane who was freaking out over Undertaker attacking Bearer. Kane screamed with his electronic voice generator... They showed Jose being stretchered away...

(6) Dan Severn beat Owen Hart at 3:05 via submission to advance in the King tourney. Owen threw a chair into the ring, but Severn got it. As the ref tried to get the chair from Severn, X-Pac hit Owen from behind with a chair. Ross said you could hear the shot in Dallas. Then why didn't the ref hear it? Owen bled from the shot...

[Q7: 4.5]... (7) Rocky Maivia (w/The Nation) beat Hunter (w/DX) at 8:10 to advance in the King tourney. DX and The Nation brawled afterward...

[Q8: 4.7]... As the cage lowered around him, Mankind cut a great promo... (8) Mankind pinned Billy Gunn (w/Chyna) at 5:41 with the Mandible Claw. Way better match than Bret vs. Benoit... Sable came out. How does she walk in those shoes? She introduced Austin. Austin cut a promo, then the "blood" poured onto him. Cool image...

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