SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
The following report was published 20 years ago this week in the PWTorch Newsletter. Gain access to over 30 years of PWTorch Newsletter in PDF and TEXT formats by signing up for a VIP membership HERE.
WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW
MARCH 23, 1998
TAPED 3/17 IN TUCSON, ARIZ.
AIRED LIVE ON USA NETWORK
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
[Q1]… They showed highlights of Vince McMahon’s interview last week saying “Hell, no” that he didn’t want Austin to become WWF Champion because he can’t control him. They plugged that Austin’s rebuttal would air on the show… The Raw opening montage aired… Jim Ross and Michael Cole introduced the show as Austin walked to the ring. Kevin Kelly began to ask Austin a question, but Austin interrupted him and said he didn’t want to listen to him ramble. Austin said McMahon will not be able to mold him into a corporate champion. He said he has all the respect in the world for Shawn Michaels as a pro wrestler and said it will be the toughest match of his life. He said no matter what the WWF throws his way, he will walk through it and end up as WWF Champion at Wrestlemania. Kelly told Austin that DX were on the way to the arena in full force. He said he would sit back and drink his cooler full of Steveweisers and see what DX had to say. Sgt. Slaughter walked to the ring and told Austin he doesn’t have the night off and that he would be wrestling on Raw. Austin said, “Says who?” Slaughter said, “Says the owner of the WWF Vince McMahon, who unfortunately can’t be here tonight, but he sent me down here to send you a message that you will wrestle Rocky Maivia.” Ross questioned how fair that was just six days before Wrestlemania. Austin called McMahon chicken for not showing up to tell him that in person. Austin said he would give McMahon his match. Slaughter said if he didn’t wrestle Rocky on Raw, his match at Wrestlemania would be a non-title match. Austin said he already agreed to the match, and now he felt insulted, so then he gave Slaughter the Stunner… (1) Cactus Jack & Chainsaw Charlie beat The Quebecers via DQ at 3:30. The announcers acknowledged the Quebecers’ past WWF Tag Team Titles reigns. A minute into the match the New Age Outlaws showed up on the stage in tuxedos and set up a card table with a table cloth and began drinking champagne with blow up dolls as their apparent dates. In the end, they charged the ring and attacked Charlie and Cactus for the DQ.
[Q2]…The Outlaws continued their attack, breaking the table over Funk’s head and spike piledriving Cactus on a chair. Ross said, “Can you imagine what will happen this Sunday in the dumpster match?” A solid angle to add heat to the tag match at Wrestlemania… (2) Jeff Jarrett (w/Tennessee Lee) pinned Steve Blackman. The finish came when Lee tripped Blackman. A second ref explained what happened, but before he could influence a reversal of decision, Lee shoved Jarrett into the ref. Blackman beat on Lee and Jarrett before they bailed out of the ring… Ross plugged the “DX Public Workout” in Boston Mass. at Faneuil Hall Marketplace on Thursday. They showed footage of the Times-Square Wrestlemania angle two years ago with L.T. and Bam Bam Bigelow… They showed a limousine pulling up to the arena. Mike Tyson walked out doing the DX crotch chop, followed by Shawn Michaels, Hunter, and Chyna…
[Q3]… They replaced the Undertaker-Phoenix Gorilla angle the week before. A promo aired with Undertaker “at the grave site of his parents.” He said the Devil stands before him in the form of his own flesh and blood, his brother Kane. He asked his parents to forgive him for fighting his brother at Wrestlemania. “I have to fight,” he said. “Just know that I love you”… Kane and Paul Bearer came out. Bearer said that Kane has the same powers as Undertaker. Kane then set a lighting grid on fire in the ceiling. Bearer threatened to do the same to Ross or Cole at ringside. Instead, he set their monitors on fire. Kane then caused a spotlight to explode and almost knocked the operator off the platform. Bearer blamed Undertaker for his parents perishing in the fire and his fault that Kane was locked up for 20 years. He said Kane would destroy everyone in his path before disposing of Undertaker. Bearer said he didn’t think they were being taken seriously, so told Kane to prove his powers. Kane then pointed at a WWF crew member, shot lightning bolts at him, and set him on fire. His back was engulfed in flames and they had to use fire extinguishers to put out the fire. Paramedics came out to help him. Quite the dramatic visual stunt…
[Q4]… After the commercial they showed the crew member being stretchered out of the arena… (3) The Midnight Express (Bob Holly & Bart Gunn, w/Jim Cornette) fought The DOA to a DDQ at 3:33. There is no shortage of reasons the New Midnight Express gimmick might not get over, but the leading reason is the nicknames of Bodacious and Bombastic. Did they really need to alliterate both? I mean, there was “Loverboy Dennis,” after all. A minute into the match the Rock & Roll Express walked to the ring. Several other tag teams came to ringside and a big brawl broke out as a teaser to the 15 tag team battle royal at WM…
[Q5]… Jerry Lawler joined Ross on commentary and ranted about what an amazing series of events took place in the first hour. Hunter began by talking about what he did to Owen Hart last week when he captured the European Title. He told Owen not to show up at Wrestlemania and to milk the leg injury for all it’s worth. Hunter told the desert women that “after you get bricked by my cactus, I’ll let you play with my prairie dog.” He then crotch chopped. Michaels then began talking. Michaels asked a woman in the front row with DX written on her chest and asked, “Do you have two nipples for a dime?” Hunter asked if she was a triple or double DX. Michaels added to DX fans that he realized the woman was a “skank,” but he couldn’t draw attention to the woman for having DX on her breasts. Michaels mocked the Austin-McMahon fight, demeaning it as a “pinch fight.” Michaels said he is the exact same age as Austin, but unlike Austin who has waited 8 years for this chance, he has been in wrestling for 13 years. Michaels said to reach his goal he has to beat the greatest WWF Champ of all time, and he has to get past Tyson. Michaels then interviewed Tyson. He asked him what he’d do to Austin if he got in his face. Tyson said, “I’ll knock him the f— out.” Michaels said DX will rule the World Wrestling Federation forever. He almost said “4 life.” Tyson held the ropes open for Chyna as she left the ring. Good promo that made it seems like the odds were stacked against Austin winning the belt at WM… A Gennifer Flowers promo aired…
[Q6]… They showed Ken Shamrock getting KO’d by the Rocky Maivia chairshot last week. Ross announced that if Rocky is DQ’d at Wrestlemania, Shamrock will win the WWF Intercontinental Title to deter the NOD from interfering… (4) Faarooq fought Chainz to a no contest at 3:38. Fans held up signs that spelled out “Nation of Masturbation.” They were smiling proudly as they held up the signs. Another fan held up a sign that read, “Louie Spicolli 4-Ever.” Rocky came to ringside at 1:15. At 3:30 with Faarooq in control, Rocky entered the ring with a chair. Faarooq told him to leave the ring because he had the match under control. Rocky then “accidentally” hit Faarooq with a chair. Mark Henry, D-Lo Brown, and Kama Mustafa dragged Faarooq out of the ring… They recapped the Bradshaw-Barry Windham feud…
[Q7]… (5) Bradshaw pinned Barry Windham (w/Jim Cornette) at 2:58. The Rock & Roll Express sat in the front row during the match and distracted Cornette during the match. Windham eventually turned his attention to R&R and Bradshaw rolled him up from behind for the pin. After the match the Midnight Express and Windham beat on Bradshaw. R&R ran back to the ring to make the save… In the Wrestlemania Moment, they showed Muhammed Ali at Wrestlemania I in 1985 along with footage of Hulk Hogan, Mr. T, Roddy Piper, Paul Orndorff, and Jimmy Snuka. Ross stressed that it was 14 years ago. Actually, it was 13 years, but the WWF will gladly add a year onto Hogan’s age every chance they get… They showed DX backstage talking among themselves… Kevin Kelly interviewed Vince Russo of WWF Magazine who awarded Sable an award for making the WWF Raw magazine with her on the cover the top seller of all time. Marc Mero left the ring, saying he wanted Sable to enjoy the moment. Kelly said Sunny wasn’t there because she was under the weather. As Sable thanked her fans, Luna and Goldust came to the ring. Luna broke the plaque over Sable’s head and viciously beat on her. She ripped part of Sable’s dress off. Russo quickly covered her up. Mero ran to the ring to tend to Sable…
[Q8]… (6) Steve Austin pinned Rocky Maivia (w/D-Lo, Mark Henry) at 10:43. Austin took some of his signature hard flat-back bumps early in the match despite his neck injury. When they exchanged punches, Maivia’s punches showed a lot of light. When Austin went for an early Stunner, Rocky escaped to ringside. Austin didn’t shy away from going after Rocky and other NOD members at ringside. Eventually Rocky hit Austin from behind with a chair and then rammed him into the stairs to take over offense. Rocky dropped Austin throat-first over the guard rail at ringside. Ross complained that Austin had to wrestle when Michaels didn’t have to just six days before Wrestlemania. As Rocky distracted the ref, Henry choked Austin. They digitized Rocky giving Austin the finger. In the end Austin hit Rocky with the Stone Cold Stunner out of nowhere for the three count. D-Lo entered with a chair, but Austin gave him a stunner, too. DX then walked out onto the stage and Michaels promised to put Austin’s lights out for the last time at WM. Austin gave Michaels the finger. Hunter held Michaels back from entering the ring…
NOW CHECK OUT THE PREVIOUS 20 YRS AGO FLASHBACK: 20 YRS AGO – Keller’s Cover Story on Monday Night War heating up with mega-Raw rating, Austin’s star rising quickly with Tyson, WCW counters with Hogan, Nash
I hated DX. I know I was in the minority, but man, I thought the whole act was so goofy. Shawn escpecially was like an overly smug 90s stand up comic..