Torch Newsletter back issues from five years ago and ten years ago are republished at the Torch VIP website (www.pwtorch.com/members) every week featuring full reviews of Raw, Nitro, other TV shows, and PPVs, plus the Torch cover story, WWF Newswire, WCW Newswire, ECW Newswire, ETC Newswire, "Torch Talk" interviews, columns, and more. The following is an excerpt of that feature with a full review of WWF Raw from five years ago this week.

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Torch Newsletter Archive
By Jason Powell, Torch assistant editor
June 28, 1999 - WWF Raw
Originally published: Pro Wrestling Torch Weekly newsletter #555
Cover dated: July 3, 1999

(Live from Charlotte, N.C.)... [Q1]... Still shot photos aired from the PPV of the main event... Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler introduced the show... Vince and Shane McMahon led the entire Corporate Ministry to the ring as balloons fell in celebration of the McMahon's win over Steve Austin. Vince said it is a night of celebration as Shane held up the briefcase he grabbed to win the ladder match. Vince guaranteed it would be a night no one would forget. Shane took the mic and announced that Austin is fired as C.E.O. Vince took the mic back and said Austin would have to go to the bottom rung of the ladder in the WWF. Vince said that Austin was in the building, would compete in a preliminary match, and then help tear down the ring and take it to the next town (sounds familiar). Vince said Undertaker would defend the title against Triple H at the next PPV. Big Bossman's old entrance music played as he came to the ring. Vince invited Bossman into the ring to go face to face with himself and Shane. Bossman walked up to the McMahons and said, "I love you guys." The McMahons hugged Bossman. Austin's music started playing and he walked out onto the ramp. Austin said he figured he would get screwed so before the PPV he wrote himself a new contract and gave himself a raise. Austin said that he removed the provision that said he couldn't lay a hand on Vince. Austin proclaimed it open season on Vince. Austin said some profanities which were edited out. Austin announced that he had previously booked himself in a title match against Undertaker for later in the show. Austin added a stip that if anyone interfered, Undertaker would be DQ'd and would forfeit the title to Austin...

[Q2]... Separate shots aired of Steve Blackman and Ken Shamrock walking backstage as Ross announced they would meet in a weapons match after break... [C] (1) Steve Blackman fought Ken Shamrock to a no–contest at 2:45 in a weapons match. Before the match, Shamrock came to the ring in street clothes and cut a promo. Shamrock called Blackman's "kung–fu karate ass" to the ring. Blackman came to the ring with a duffel bag filled with weapons. Ross said Shamrock was wrestling against doctor’s orders due to injuries he suffered the night before. Blackman pulled out nunchuaks and used them on Shamrock. Blackman ripped off Shamrock’s shirt, revealing Shamrock had his ribs bandadged. Blackman pulled out a stick, and began beating Shamrock with it. Shamrock began bleeding from the mouth. Out of nowhere, Blackman grabbed his bag and left the ring... [C] Backstage, Shamrock screamed at a man trying to help him... A shot aired of Blackman leaving the building...

[Q3]... Michael Cole interviewed Mr. Ass in the ring. Mr. Ass said he became half of the tag champs on last week's show and talked about winning the King of the Ring. He said he wouldn't "carry people like Bart (Gunn), Road Dogg, and X–Pac on my back because it's all about me." Triple H and Chyna came out. They climbed into the ring and Triple H pulled out a mic. Triple H asked Mr. Ass if he noticed his royalty checks were lower than usual. Mr. Ass indicated he had. Triple H said it was because X–Pac and Road Dogg had claimed the DX title and were making all of the money from the name. Triple H said he was going to loan Chyna to Mr. Ass so he could go collect on their money. Triple H said he doesn't care about the name but wants his money. Suddenly, Rock came to the ring and attacked Triple H. Several WWF officials broke them up... In a pre–taped interview, Michael Cole interviewed Chaz and his valet (formerly Mrs. Cleavage). Chaz said he's been down gimmick alley before. He said he's been a Spider, a Head Banger, a Sister of Love, and Harry "Beaver" Cleavage. He said he's just a guy from New Jersey and through his girlfriend Marianna's (Mrs. Cleavage) encouragement, wants to become a singles star... [C] GTV aired a shot of Test and Stephanie McMahon leaving a hotel together. Test opened a car door for Stephanie and kissed her. Test got in the car and the couple drove off... (2) Chaz (w/Marianna) beat Meat (w/P.M.S.) at 1:58. Chaz wore what appeared to be white boxer shorts with a big happy face on the front. Late in the match, Terri Runnels distracted the ref but Marianna climbed up onto the ring apron and lightly shoved her. Terri fell off the apron like she'd been shot and the crowd booed. Chaz hit an inverted slam for the win...

[Q4]... Terry Taylor attempted to interview Test but Shane and the Mean Street Posse jumped Test and beat him up... [C] Hardcore Holly came to the ring as Ross said he wasn't scheduled. Highlights aired of Big Show pushing a car on top of Holly. Back in the ring, Holly talked about the car angle, laughed, and said Big Show missed him. Holly switched gears and talked about Kane. He called himself the "Big Shot" and challenged Kane to a match... (3) Hardcore Holly beat Kane at 1:33. Big Show came to the ring, chokeslammed Kane, and left. Holly placed one foot on top of Kane and got the pin. After the match, Kane chokeslammed Holly four times to big crowd pops... A shot aired of Chyna and Triple H walking backstage... [C] Rock came to the ring for his match against Triple H and cut a promo. During the promo, Rock said he was going to serve Triple H a tall glass of "freshly squeezed monkey piss..." and censors edited the tail end of his remarks.

[Q5]... (4) Rock beat Triple H (w/Chyna) by DQ when Mr. Ass interfered at 1:39. Rock dominated the offense but Mr. Ass ran in and hit Rock with a club for the DQ... [C] Highlights aired of Mr. Ass attacking Rock with the club... Backstage, Cole tried to update Rock's condition but was distracted by Prince Albert and Droz beating up Val Venis... (5) Edge beat Godfather (w/four ’hos) when Prince Albert interfered at 2:03. Early in the match, Albert and Droz came to the ring. Droz began distracting the ref while Albert press slammed Godfather, allowing Edge to score the pin.

[Q6:]... After the match, Albert and Droz beat up Godfather. The ’hos climbed into the ring and protested. Albert got mad, grabbed one of them, and attempted to pierce her tongue. Edge stopped Albert and helped Godfather clear the ring. The ’ho that Edge saved began coming on to him and escorted him to the back... A shot aired of Mr. Ass telling an unidentified person to only come to the ring if he needed help...

"X-Pac" Sean Waltman (artist Joseph Borzotta, PWTorch)

[C] (6) Bradshaw (w/Faarooq) beat Mr. Ass when X–Pac interfered at 3:04. Late in the match, Mr. Ass mooned Faarooq. Faarooq tried to hit Mr. Ass with one of the belts but accidentally hit Bradshaw. X–Pac ran to ringside and punched Mr. Ass in the back of the head. Bradshaw woke up and hit the Clothesline from Hell for the win. After the match, Chyna ran in and began beating up X–Pac but Road Dogg ran out and made the save... [C]

[Q7:]... Cole waited outside Vince's locker room for an interview... Ivory and Nicole Bass came to the ring for a promo. Ivory said the WWF finally has a real champion and not a Barbie Doll. Ivory said she wanted the night to be special and challenged any woman from the crowd (which Lawler said Andy Kauffman used to do). A woman climbed into the ring but security stopped her. Ivory told security to let her go and said, "It's all fake anyway." The woman thought better of it and tried to leave the ring but Ivory wouldn't allow her to leave. Ivory slapped her but the woman began punching her. Nicole Bass grabbed the woman and powerbombed her. Ivory helped her to her feet but then clotheslined her... A shot aired of Debra having her makeup applied. Jeff Jarrett walked in and told her "enough is enough" and said it was time to go... [C] (7) Jeff Jarrett (w/Debra) beat X–Pac when Mr. Ass interfered at 4:58. Before the match, Lawler proudly displayed a new t–shirt which read, "Show me those puppies." After some solid action, Mr. Ass ran in and swung Jarrett's guitar at X–Pac but X–Pac ducked and ended up with the guitar. Debra took her shirt off to distract X–Pac but he turned around and smashed the guitar over Jarrett's head. X–Pac went for the pin but the ref was busy trying to get Debra off the apron. Mr. Ass ran back in and hit the Famasser on X–Pac which allowed Jarrett to score the pin. After the match, Chyna ran in and helped beat up X–Pac until Road Dogg made the save...

[Q8]... [C] (8) Steve Austin beat Undertaker (w/Paul Bearer) at 12:02. Austin spent the early part of the match on offense. Later, Undertaker hit Austin with a boot to the face and then distracted the ref while Bearer hit Austin with his shoe. Undertaker took over offense and worked at a very slow pace.

[Q9:]... Austin got in a few hopespots but Undertaker stayed in control. Later, Austin and Undertaker hit each other with a double clothesline. Austin came back and hit Undertaker with a Stunner but Bearer pulled the ref out of the ring (shouldn't that have been a DQ which would've given Austin the win?). Austin rolled out of the ring and punched Bearer. Austin got back into the ring but Undertaker clotheslined him. Undertaker whipped Austin into the ropes and went for a clothesline but Austin ducked. They bounced off of the ropes and basically ran into each other (blown spot). Austin kicked Undertaker in the gut, hit the Stunner, and scored the pin. After the match, Undertaker hit Austin with the title belt. Austin bladed. Undertaker beat up Austin to end the show... An unnecessary title change and a chaotic show... [JP]

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