WWF Raw – April 27th, 1998 – Hampton Roads Coliseum – Hampton, VA
Michael Cole narrates WWF Raw’s opening, wondering whether the events of Unforgiven (Sable’s overzealous Evening Gown match performance, the LOD Doomsday-ing the world’s worst ref, Chyna breaking out of her shark cage, Undertaker setting Kane on fire per stipulation, Steve Austin braining Vince with a chair) were the “catastrophic” events Mr. McMahon had predicted.
Too much plum, and not enough scarlet! It’s time for WWF Raw. Opening the show, Jim Ross and Michael Cole ponder whether Stone Cold should be stripped of the WWF title and/or fired for hitting Vince with a chair last night. Also, Jim Ross dismissively introduces the first in a series of DX skits, where the group, which thinks they’re bigger than the wrestling business, messes with WCW’s Nitro taking place in the same area.
D-Generation X stand with phallic weapons as Triple H makes additional dick jokes. They ride off in a Jeep with a cylinder attached to it. Jim Ross promises “shocking footage” of DX’s “personal assault” on the Norfolk Scope, washing the WWF’s hands of the stunt.
Owen Hart and Ken Shamrock face the team of Mark Henry and The Rock, whose music tells us that we’d better know our role. Last night, Faarooq picked up the win in the six-man match by pinning The Rock. “Finally, the People’s Champ has come to Hampton,” says Rocky. This way, when he returns to the city, he can more famously say he has “come back”. Always planning ahead!
As Owen and The Rock have a standoff, the announcers reiterate that DX’s WCW “invasion” is just a stupid stunt not sanctioned by the WWF. After a long delay, Owen tags in Ken Shamrock, then kicks him in the groin and the face. As The Nation attacks Shamrock, Owen grabs a chair and Pillmanizes his tag team partner twice.
Steve Blackman tries in vain to intervene as Owen locks Ken in a Sharpshooter. Faarooq’s attempted rescue is similarly foiled. The likes of Commissioner Slaughter and Tony Garea finally break up the proceedings but can’t stop Owen from biting Ken Shamrock’s ear. Hart appears with blood dripping from his mouth. Could Mike Tyson be on his way back to the Federation?
During the break, Blackman and Faarooq help Shamrock up the ramp. Ken screams, “Choose us!”, meaning either “Jesus!” or “Judas!”
Dude Love’s Love Shack talk show begins with the entrance of two ladies in thong bikinis, drawing a pop. The Dude talks about his match last night with Steve Austin, still cheered thanks to his companions. Eventually, fans remember he’s a heel. Dude Love says Austin cost him not only a night of love with his ladies, but also the WWF title. The Dude offers some alternatives to the title situation: he and Shawn Michaels could go one-on-one, there could be a tournament, or Austin could just forfeit the title directly to Dude Love.
On the WWF Superstar Line, Jim Ross speculates on the arrival of a new manager. Have wrestling executives gone too far, he asks cryptically?
Earlier today, DX were outside Nitro’s arena, asking the fans whether Eric Bischoff sucks. “Yeah!” is the reply. Then he asks them whether WCW sucks. “No!” say most of the crowd, which Triple H ignores. He then fires the “first shot” as cameras cut to a close-up of their “cannon” weakly spilling a puff of smoke. It’s an impotence joke. An electronic sign advertises “free admission”, which apparently was for a different event, not that night’s sold-out WCW Nitro. This would be cited in a lawsuit.
When WWF Raw returns, more DX footage airs. They ask a woman whether WCW sucks (yes) and who rules pro wrestling (DX). Michael Cole then derisively notes that anyone not in DX is the group’s enemy. Does that mean that that woman is now a member of DX?
Terry Funk & Scorpio take on the Head Bangers, who are already in the ring. The winners get a tag title shot; my money is on the team that got an entrance. The two teams brawl in and out of the ring, culminating in a Terry Funk moonsault off the top rope to the other three men on the floor. Scorpio follows this up with a body press to his opponents. All four men come back into the ring and brawl some more before Terry and a Thrasher simultaneously shove referee Tim White. The ref throws the match out as the teams continue to fight; Scorpio hits a 450 on Mosh, but the Head Bangers hit Scorpio with a rather weak Powerplex.
While referees try to restore order, another clip of DX airs, this time with Triple H talking through glass to the WCW fans inside the Norfolk Scope. He asks whether any of them got the free tickets WCW gives away, but no one responds, because they’re on the other side of the glass and/or because they paid for theirs. He also demands WCW “let my people go”, mentioning Scott Hall and Kevin Nash by name as “POWs”, as X-Pac did a month earlier. As before, no one understands what they’re talking about.
The Cinn-A-Burst Rewind is from last night’s main event, where Steve Austin hip-tossed Dude Love off a bandstand onto the concrete floor.
Vince McMahon comes to the ring and says Steve Austin deliberately targeted him with a steel chair last night, and that he received “a mild concussion” (accompanied dizziness and nausea). So what? Shawn Michaels has suffered a dozen of those!
But Vince won’t fire Steve Austin yet, because that would be “too good” for Stone Cold. Instead, he has other plans for the Rattlesnake, and those plans are a title defense against Goldust. Oh no! Officiating the match will be Gerald Brisco. And if Austin lays one finger on Brisco, he will be fired and stripped of his title. McMahon says Brisco will referee the match “in the time honored tradition”, the same phrase he used after screwing Bret Hart.
Backstage, an angry Austin knocks over a tripod.
When WWF Raw returns, more DX footage airs, this time of them trying to ride into the Norfolk Scope’s parking garage, which somebody closes before they can enter. Victory! For the next several minutes, DX members knock on the door and ask for Eric Bischoff. Had Bischoff known any of this was going on, he’d later claim, he would have let DX in and show it on live TV (ignoring that it happened hours before the show actually started). Ross and Cole again dismiss DX as troublemakers.
Footage airs from last night’s Sawyer Brown mini-concert with Jeff Jarrett sharing lead vocals. Neither announcer mentions that Jarrett was clearly lip-syncing, or that the band was miming to the pre-recorded song (which faded in, despite supposedly being live). In fact, they praise Jarrett’s performance. Have they forgotten the “real Double J” scandal? Steve Blackman crashed the set, but Tennessee Lee walloped him with a guitar.
Bradshaw faces Double J, who tries in vain to punch him out. BJ boots JJ and clotheslines him out of the ring before Club Kamikaze run in. They triple-team Bradshaw until Taka Michinoku makes the save, brawling with the three Japanese wrestlers and a fourth in a mask and a suit. Eventually, the numbers catch up with Michinoku, with the trio taking down Taka before fleeing with their manager, who waves a big paper fan.
When WWF Raw returns, Jim Ross tells us that the Over the Edge PPV will be held on May 31st at the “Wes Consin Center” in Milwaukee.
Dude Love is audibly annoyed backstage, complaining about Vince McMahon giving Goldust a title shot even though Dude Love did everything asked of him. Vince has a word with the Dude, who’s not in a love mood. As the argument escalates, McMahon yells at Kevin Kelly and the cameraman.
DX arrives to mainly cheers, despite being heels. And we know they’re heels because Jerry Lawler is the only announcer who likes them, praising their “kahunas” (cojones). Triple H does his first Michael Buffer impression, rallying the crowd to prepare for fe11atio, in so many words.
The New Age Outlaws ride in on scooters before their match with DOA. The Disciples, looking to even the numbers, bring in the LOD 2000. The Legion of Doom last night fell prey to the old “back suplex/double pin/victim gets his shoulder up” trick, except, in a novel twist, the guy doing the suplex (Animal) had his shoulder up while the other guy (Road Dogg) did not.
As the match begins, DX starts messing with Jim Ross, though the cameras don’t show it. The match carries on, despite the announcers bickering with each other about sucking up to Vince—Mister—McMahon. Billy Gunn piledrives one of the bald guys, who does Twin Magic with his brother to score a surprise pin. Fortunately for the Outlaws, it’s a non-title contest.
After the WWF Raw copyright notice comes on screen (one segment too late), “We’re All Together Now” plays for the WarZone intro.
The Undertaker, fresh off setting his brother on fire to win the Inferno Match, wrestles a match with somewhat lower stakes: the winner’s share of the purse money. He faces Barry Windham, to whom Jim Cornette awarded the NWA North American title last month. The NWA stripped him of it immediately. Too bad, because the Undertaker, who beats Windham almost immediately with a chokeslam and Tombstone, would make a great NWA North American champion. Taker then grabs the mic and calls out Kane, threatening to stay in the ring for “eternity” until he gets what he wants.
When WWF Raw returns, Undertaker is still in the ring. Maybe if he had an NWA North American title to put on the line, Kane would have shown up by now. Finally, Kane arrives with a bandage *over* his sleeve. I guess his whole sleeve melted to his skin and they couldn’t remove it. Paul Bearer, nearly in tears, calls for a truce after having seen his “son” on fire last night. He leaves the stage, and WWF Raw goes to commercial without further comment.
WWF Raw returns again, and Jim Ross is still in shock from the Paul Bearer news. Jerry Lawler, though, is just excited to hear that Paul Bearer knocked boots with Mrs. Undertaker.
Backstage, Goldust says he’d make a much more presentable champion than Steve Austin. He also seems to have forgotten he isn’t called Goldust anymore. Dude Love interrupts the interview, pounding Goldust for taking his title shot. Luna Vachon, the voice of reason, tries to pull Dude Love away.
DX is back, and Triple H is ticked that DOA would ruin his finest hour. In his anger, he lays down an open challenge for the European title. One of the bald Disciples, whom Jim Ross somehow is able to identify as 8-Ball, comes out on stage and motions that he’s going to fight. But instead, Dan Severn rushes to the ring, stealing the showboating biker’s spot. As Severn slowly disrobes, Jim Cornette yells at him to reconsider, even slapping him across the face. In response, Severn takes Jim down and chokes him out, causing the referees to ring the bell and cancel the match.
Michael Cole has a word in the locker room with Steve Austin, who promises to fill Vince’s head with grey hairs. As of 2023, he still hasn’t succeeded:
A WrestleMania 14 video tape/Austin poster package is available for just $54 ($105 in 2024 money).
In a pre-recorded vignette, Val Venis pulls up to the set of his latest film, The Big Valbowski. What was to be a one-off riff on The Big Lebowski not only persisted as a nickname but ended up becoming his actual ring name in 2002. After the promo, Jerry Lawler pretends to “drop his keys” under the table like one of the girls in Val’s segment. Jim Ross is neither amused nor aroused.
Marvelous Marc Mero arrives sans Sable, then tells her to come to the ring. The fans…
…all cheer. But Marc is upset, and he lets Sable know it in a way that also serves as an ad for the Unforgiven encore presentation. Sable humiliated him last night by standing in the ring in nothing but her bra and panties (so you’d better not order the replay tomorrow night!). But Sable liked it, and she’s going to like it even more when she puts Marc in his place (and hopefully not in bra and panties). Sable vows to kick Marc’s ass on WWF Raw in two weeks’ time.
Backstage, Vince McMahon disingenuously insists Gerald Brisco call the main event right down the middle.
After the break, they fill time by airing a lengthy replay of Vince McMahon making Gerald Brisco the referee. Vince inquires whether Brisco can be unbiased and impartial, asking “in all candor”. He pronounces “candor” to rhyme with “Skandor”, as in Skandor Akbar.
Back live, Brisco walks to the ring as Jim Ross questions whether he has “sold out” to Vince McMahon. Lawler fires back, wondering how one could “sell out” to someone who already writes one’s paychecks. It’s a good point.
Goldust enters the ring, then Austin, who flips off the referee. Gerald Brisco reminds Stone Cold that he may not lay a finger on him, lest he be fired. Vince McMahon then trots down the aisle in the goofiest manner possible and takes control of both the WWF belt and the ring bell.
Austin makes a number of pinfall attempts, which referee Gerald Brisco counts with a deliberate cadence. Goldust then tries a pin, and Brisco again counts at the same pace. Maybe he is calling right down the middle? But when the challenger tries to pin Austin with an O’Connor roll, Brisco makes a fast count, which still can’t catch Stone Cold. Brisco then dares Stone Cold to hit him.
The ref makes some more counts against Austin at various speeds but shifts into slow-mo when it’s time for Stone Cold to make a cover. The action spills to the outside, where Austin tosses Goldust into the railing. Brisco then shoves the champion repeatedly before Goldust hits Austin in his stones.
Back in the ring, Goldust slaps on a chin lock as Vince raises his timekeepers’ hammer in anticipation. Austin gets to his feet before both men fall in a double-down spot. In fact, Goldust lands atop Austin, but Gerald Brisco inexplicably ignores this pin, instead beginning a ten-count on both men. Only Jerry Lawler notices the missed opportunity.
Eventually, Goldust makes a proper pin attempt, which Austin escapes. After weathering a Lou Thesz press, Goldust applies a sleeperhold to Austin, but Gerald Brisco misses Stone Cold’s mule kick to Goldust’s Golden Globes.
Austin hits the Stunner, but Brisco makes a slow count, then stops at two to get something out of his eye. Dude Love runs in and puts the boots to Austin, but ends up getting roughed up on the outside. In a scene reminiscent of last night’s “accidental” chair shot to Mr. McMahon, Vince tries to hit Austin with the belt but instead hits Brisco when Austin ducks. McMahon then realizes how easy it is to make such a mistake and apologizes to Austin for the misunderstanding. Maybe—the show goes off the air before we find out what happens next, with Brisco bleeding and Austin flipping off the boss.