WWF Summerslam 1998: Highway To Hell by Ray DeRoy

Steven Emanuel
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http://www.angelfire.comwrestling3/wrestling-a-holic/

miriamruiz99@hotmail.com

http://www.angelfire.comwrestling3/wrestling-a-holic/
miriamruiz99@hotmail.com

WWF Summerslam: Highway to Hell 1998

August 30, 1998

Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

Hosts: Jim Ross & Jerry “The King” Lawler

Taped live from the PPV.

On the Heat pre-show (which is only the 5th Heat ever, btw), Too Much (Scott Taylor and Brian Christopher) defeated L.O.D. 2000. The Gangrel defeated Dustin Runnels, and the DOA defeated Bradshaw & Vader. Also, Jeff Jarrett shaved what was left of Howard Finkle’s hair, HHH and the rest of DX interrupted the Rock’s interview, and Stone Cold Steve Austin beat up a hearse.

Match #1: WWF European Title Match, 60-minute time limit. Val Venis vs. WWF European Champion D-Lo Brown ©

Val’s got a mic…“Hello ladies. So the Big Valbowski has arrived to the big apple. Well, you know something? I came, I saw, and I came again.” D-Lo is announced as hailing from Helsinki, Finland tonight. Lockup to start. It does nothing, so they break it and try again. They bounce off the ropes again, but nothing is accomplished. D-Lo finally just punches Val. Lockup again, Val with a forearm to the chest, but that does nothing to D-Lo, since he has the chest protector on. Whip off the ropes, and D-Lo uses the chest protector to run into Val. D-Lo with a whip to the corner, a pose, and an avalanche. Repeat, except this time Val escapes, and gets a Russian Legsweep as D-Lo bounced off the ropes. Drop toehold and a dropkick by Val, and D-Lo rolls out of the ring, so Val decides to pose. Back in, everything is ducked and blocked until Val gets a spinebuster, 1-2-kickout. Edge is shown just standing there doing nothing in the crowd. I wonder if he’s blocking anyone’s view. Not that this match is worth viewing, or anything though. Clothesline by Val, but the big splash misses, but that probably doesn’t matter much, since D-Lo has the chest protector on anyway. Stupid porn star. Side suplex by D-Lo. D-Lo in control with some kicks, and more poses. Fisherman’s suplex by Val, as he tries to gain control. Big boot, but the momentum stops as D-Lo clotheslines him. Scoop slam by D-Lo, followed by the posing leg drop, 1-2-no. Leg lariat by D-Lo 1-2-shoulder up. Val tries to slam D-Lo, but his back is too hurt, and he can’t get him up. I said he can’t get *him* up, not it, he’s a porn star, remember? 2nd Rope elbow drop by D-Lo, 1-2-kick out. Val blocks D-Lo’s suplex, goes for one, but can’t get it because of the back. D-Lo with a Texas Cloverleaf, but then decides against it and scoop slams Val instead. 2nd Rope senton misses and both are down. Val does his running kneelifts, back elbow, and an elbow drop. Back body drop, and Val goes up top, but D-Lo catches him in midair and powerbombs him, 1-2-kick out. Awesome looking DDT by D-Lo, 1-2-kick out. D-Lo goes to the top, and then decides to go from the 2nd rope instead, but Val powerslams him on the way down, 1-2-shoulder up. Val stuns D-Lo on the top rope. Val again goes to the top, D-Lo comes over, but nothing happens, and instead Val just goes to the mat and hits a double-underhook suplex. Odd spot there. Scoop slam, and Val again goes to the top, poses, goes for the Money Shot, but D-Lo gets his knees up. A “D-Lo” chant starts up. D-Lo goes to powerbomb Val, but he can’t get him up now. He tries again, but this time he drops Val on his head as if D-Lo was Kevin Nash and Val was the Giant. A “D-Lo sucks” chant starts up to drown out the pro-D-Lo chant. D-Lo finally gets a running powerbomb, and goes to the top, but the Lo Down misses. Val starts the comeback, and hits a clothesline. Val strips D-Lo of the chest protector. Powerslam by Val, and he puts the chest protector on. Referee Jim Korderas tries to reprimand Val, but Venis ignores him and goes to the top. Korderas is still on Val’s case, and accidentally crotches Val. Inverted atomic drop by Val, followed by a lariat. Korderas is still getting in Val’s way, and Venis decides he’s finally had enough of his crap and throws the ref down. That, of course, is a DQ. (15:25) * D-Lo retains. Val and Korderas have words after the match, and finally Val snaps, scoop slam, Money Shot, and a pose. I’ve seen others say that this was an excellent match, but it just didn’t click for me, maybe because I expect more from these two.

(I Hate) Michael Cole stands in front of a hearse that “Stone Cold” Steve Austin destroyed on Heat. Mankind is there examining the wreckage, but then turns to give us his thoughts. “What’s Jo Jo Mellon gonna say when I bring the car back like this? This was my special Summerslam ride. I was gonna stuff Kane inside, and now look at it. Well that might be good news for the Briscoe Brothers body shop, but it’s not so good for me. Maybe I’ll get to use this sledgehammer after all. Wouldn’t that be nice?”

The Insane Clown Posse raps the Oddities out to the ring. Apparently, they didn’t really I take off at least * when I am forced to see Luna “dance.” Kai En Tai, who are watching tv in the back, mock everyone, and with good reason.

Match #2: The Oddities (Golga, Giant Silva, and Kurrgan, with the ICP and Luna) vs. Kai En Tai (TAKA Michinoku, Men’s Teioh, Sho Funaki, and Dick Togo with Yanaguchi-San)

I actually didn’t remember Silva’s name. So I asked my friend who was a big WWF fan from this time period, even more than I am, as he happened to be in the other room as I watched this, “Who’s the big tall useless guy?” He, of course, answered “Which one?” Oh, and let me get this straight. Val is feuding with Kai En Tai, so at the PPV, Val fights D-Lo, and the Oddities go against Kai En Tai? I must be missing something. Golga and Taka start out. They go into the corner, and Taka slams Golga’s head off the turnbuckle. Golga looks at him funny, or at least would if he weren’t wearing a hood. Repeat. Golga then decides to head butt the turnbuckle himself 5 times, just to show Taka how it’s done. Headbutt for Taka, hey let’s make it headbutts for all of Kai En Tai! Golga then goes outside to steal Yamaguchi’s shoe and make fun of it’s smell. Kurrgan tags in, and Kai En Tai does rock, paper, scissors to see who goes against him. Funaki loses. Kurrgan then offers to fight on his knees. They finally lockup, but Kurrgan throws him down and does a little dance instead. Side slam by Kurrgan, and we have our first move of the match. Taka and Togo hold Kurrgan while Funaki bounces off the ropes, but Funaki eats a boot, and Togo and Taka are thrown aside. Teioh gets backdropped. I yawn, and try to wait patiently for Rock-HHH. Kurrgan and all of Kai En Tai do a tug-of-war spot with Yamaguchi, and down go the Japanese. Giant Silva wants his turn, and is tagged in, so Kai En Tai all scatter. Taka goes in to fight, but eventually gets scared and tags in Togo. Chokeslam. Taka joins in with Togo to try to trip Silva, then Funaki and Teioh stand on their backs, making it 4 on 1, but alas, eventually, they are all thrown off. Silva stacks Kai En Tai up in the corner, and then butt bumps the pile. Silva whips all but Taka into the other corner, the 3 eventually all roll outside, and Silva presses Taka and throws them onto his teammates. Golga tags back in. Togo is also tagged in, and gets powerslammed. Elbowdrop. Double dropkick by Funaki and Teioh, followed by a double suplex on Golga. Top rope headbutt by Funaki. Top rope splash by Teioh. Top rope splash by Togo. Top rope splash by Taka. Funaki is tagged in, tries a drop toehold, but no dice, so Togo bulldogs Golga down. Elbow drop by Togo. Elbow drop by Taka. Elbow drop by Teioh. Elbow drop by Funaki. Dropkick to the face of Golga by Taka. And that’s the entire offense Kai En Tai gets. Quadruple clothesline by Golga. Tag to Kurrgan. Forearms for everyone! Big boot for Taka. Sidewalk slam for Funaki. Silva comes in, and we have stereo double chokeslams, as Luna scoop slams Yamaguchi. Golga waddles in and lays down on all four Kai En Tai members for the pin, and thank god it’s over. (10:14) -*** This was voted worse WWF match of this year on rspw, with good reason.

Dok Hendrix interviews Shawn Michaels to hype the Superstar line, and asks about the upcoming hair vs. hair match. “You know, it’s hard to give a prediction. You know, you, like me, is very close to our hair, and all I know is someone is walking out of that ring uncool. And Dok, and Dok, you know as well as I do, that ain’t good. It’s hard to get the chicks that way. You know what I’m saying? Somebody is losing, and they’re losing (fffvvvvveeeeep) big.”

Match #3: Hair vs. Hair match Double J with Southern Justice (Mark Canterbury and Dennis Knight) vs. X-Pac (w/Howard Finkle)

Before the match starts, Commissioner Slaughter comes out and ejects Southern Justice from ringside. We get clips of Heat from earlier tonight. Fink sucks at doing the crotch chops, btw. X-Pac has a mic, “Hey Jeff, let me tell you something beiotch. You like to talk a lot of trash, well, Howard, I guess we got two words for him.” “Suck it!” If there was a reason behind this match, I believe it is lost and gone forever. Jarrett attacks before the bell, and we’re off. Back and forth to start until X-Pac gets a spinning heel kick, and clotheslines Jarrett out of the ring. X-Pac follows him out with a springboard crossbody plancha. Jarrett tries to sunset flip his way back into the ring, but X-Pac avoids it. Dropkick by Jarrett. One more sends X-Pac out of the ring. Chops by X-Pac, but Jarrett catches him and crotches him on the ring post. Referee’s count reaches nine before X-Pac comes back in. Powerslam by JJ, 1-2-no. Tornado DDT by X-Pac 1-2-shoulder up. Into the corner, and X-Pac kicks JJ in the head. Off the ropes, and Jarrett catches X-Pac with a sleeper. Arm drops once, arm drops twice, arm stays up. X-Pac powers out, and gets a sleeper of his own, but Jarrett crotches X-Pac on the top turnbuckle. X-Pac elbows Jarrett off, but the crossbody misses, JJ covers 1-2-shoulder up. Finkle tries to get the crowd into, as X-Pac misses a spinning heel kick. JJ puts on the figure-4, X-Pac tries to reverse it, but can’t, 1-2-no. 1-shoulder up. 1-2-no. X-Pac finally reaches the ropes. Jarrett goes for it again, but X-Pac kicks him off. Side suplex by X-Pac, and both men are down. Both men get up at 7, and X-Pac hits a spinning heel kick. The World’s 2nd Worse Move Ever (aka Bronco Buster) follows. Jarrett with an elbow, goes to the top, hits a crossbody, X-Pac rolls through, 1-2-kick out. Off the ropes, Jarrett goes for a hurricanrana, but X-Pac powerbombs him 1-2-kick out. X-Pac misses a Bronco Buster attempt, Jarrett covers 1-2-X-Pac rolls through, 1-2-no. X-Pac goes for the Bronco Buster yet again, but JJ kicks him in the crotch instead. Finkle gets on the apron to argue with referee Mike Chioda, but JJ decks him back to the floor. Jarrett turns around into the X Factor, 1-2-Mark Canterbury pull Jarrett out of the ring. Dennis Knight tries to hit X-Pac with a guitar but misses, and X-Pac gets him with the Diamond Cutter stun on the top rope. X-Pac grabs the guitar, POW, 1-2-3 (11:13) **¾ The Outlaws run out with chairs to scare off Southern Justice. Darren Drozdov and the Headbangers run out to add to the fun. X-Pac and Finkle proceed to cut JJ’s hair. Method Man seems to enjoy it as well. Man, for a celebrity, you would think he would have gotten better seats. I mean, *I* had better seats at this year’s Backlash. Anyway…

Dok Hendrix is in a different part of the building standing in front of the structure that will be used for the Lion’s Den match later tonight. He explains that the lion’s den is a 12-sided cage, with 15 foot high steel mesh sides, and other measurements as well. At least he probably does, I wasn’t paying attention, actually. The walls of the cage are slanted out, like a yurt (or, for those who don’t know what a yurt is, a cupcake), and are open on the top, where there is a platform on which the ref (and cameramen) stands. If you’ve seen the UFC’s octagon, it’s like that, but with more sides.

(I hate) Michael Cole interviews WWF Intercontinental Champion The Rock about the ladder match tonight, “Well, the Rock is thinking about slapping the yellow right off your teeth if you keep asking stupid questions. The fact of the matter is this, HHH, you one-legged man, the Rock wants to know exactly how you’re gonna climb the People’s Ladder and reach the Rock’s Intercontinental gold with just one leg. Tonight, HHH, New York City, the Rock’s home away from home, and to the million and million of the Rock’s fans, the Rock is guaran-damn-teeing that’s he’s gonna prove he is the People’s Champ, the Rock is the People’s Choice, and the Rock is the best damn Intercontinental Champ there ever was, if you smell what the Rock is cooking. Shut up! Back to the jabronies at ringside.”

Match #4: Mixed Tag Team Match “Marvelous” Marc Mero & Jacqueline vs. Sable & ???

Before the match starts, we get clips of RAW from 2 weeks ago, as Jacqueline and Sable have a spat while arm-wrestling. Sable & Jackie have actually hated each other longer than that, as they had a bikini contest at Fully Loaded, which Sable won, only to have the decision reversed and given to Jackie, because Sable had a painted on bikini. Sable & Mero have been going at it for quite a while now as well, including Mero pinning Sable at Over The Edge, which meant Sable had to leave the WWF forever. But you know how those things go in the wacky world of wrestling. Sable gets on the mic, “Now, let me introduce you to my partner…” and it turns out to be Edge, making his PPV debut. Interesting, I guess. Edge and Mero to start. Mero with the early advantage, until Edge gets a flying headscissors and a couple armdrags. Mero tags Jackie in, so Edge has to tag in Sable, which he does, only Jackie is too scared, so she runs back over and tags in Mero again. Hammerlock by Mero, but Edge gets a flapjack. Edge tries to go off the ropes, but Jackie grabs his foot. Mero with a kneelift, and chokes Edge on the ropes. Jackie helps out as well. Mero goes for the TKO, but Edge counters it into a DDT. Tags are made, and Sable hammers away on Jackie. Sable in complete control, kicking away at Jackie, knocking down Mero, and low blowing him as well. SableBomb is attempted, but Jackie breaks it up. Jackie chokes Sable the 2nd rope. TKO on Jackie, 1-2-Mero breaks up the count. Jackie accidentally hits Mero with a running forearm. Edge is tagged back in, and hits a plancha onto Mero. Whip to the steps. Edge catches Jackie, and spanks her a few times. Back in, Edge hits a top rope crossbody 1-2-kick out. Edge puts Mero on the top turnbuckle and hits a neckbreaker 1-2-Jackie puts Mero’s foot on the bottom rope. Mero accidentally hits Jackie this time. Edge with a Rollup 1-2-no. Samoan drop by Mero. He goes to the top rope, but Edge crotches him. Sable comes in, and hits a frankensteiner, which JR and Lawler spend the next 5 minutes trying to name (Sablesteiner? Sablecanrana? FrankenSable?) Edge whips Mero into Jackie, and then Jackie Flair flops Mero right in the jimmy. Downward Spiral, Edge splashes Sable onto Mero, 1-2-3. (8:25) ½*

Brian (somebody) hypes the WWF on the Home Shopping Network right after Summerslam. Call now 1-800-284-3100.

Dok Hendrix tells the Undertaker he has just one question for him. “Let me answer it. Austin, from day one, I said I would stand alone. I stand alone now, and when we get in the ring here in just a few minutes I’ll be standing all by myself. Now you have to answer the question, ‘are you ready for me alone, boy?’”

(I hate) Michael Cole tells Mankind that Kane won’t be there tonight, and asks if Mankind will forfeit. “Well, I don’t know. I’ve lost my car; I’ve lost my tag team partner. I’ve lost my sledgehammer. Maybe I ought to forfeit the damn belts. The people? The people want their money’s worth. Why, by God, I don’t want to disappoint the people! Michael, why don’t you be my partner, and we’ll go out there, and we’ll get out assed kicked all over Madison Square Garden. Better yet, I’ve got time. Let’s go outside and Mankind can play in traffic. You want your money’s worth?! You want your money’s worth?! Oh my God, that’s im, that’s important to everybody.” Vince McMahon shows up to talk reason. “Mick, Mick, Mick. Calm down. It’s ok. It’s me.” “What do you mean ‘it’s ok’ Vince? I’m gonna get killed out there! I’m one person” “No, no, no. I understand that, but look, nobody really wants to see you go play in the traffic.” “I don’t think that’s true.” “Nobody wants to see you come off the top of a cage.” “I don’t think that’s true either.” “C’mon, c’mon. It’s Madison Square Garden. It’s competition at its height, ok? I mean, c’mon. Do you remember when you were just a little kid, and you hitchhiked to Madison Square Garden?” “Yeah.” “Do you remember that? Ok? Remember like, you used to hang around at 33rd street, and wait for the boys to come out so you could get autographs. Do you remember that?” “Yeah, but this is a little bit different.” “I understand that, but this is Madison Square Garden. It’s history. And this is where you belong. This is truly where you belong tonight. And I’ve got an idea, and it may be insane. It may be just a little crazy, but just think about it. If you can, one man, successfully defending the tag team championship. One man. In Madison Square Garden.” “I think I can.” “On one night.” “What’ll happen to me?” “I can guarantee you you’ll be in Madison Square Garden’s Hall Of Fame by next week. I will personally guarantee that.” “Vince, I don’t have my sledgehammer. It’s fall count anywhere, I don’t have any weapons.” “It’s your kind of match.” “I don’t have a weapon.” “It’s no holds barred. You know, it’s falls count anywhere. It’s you, it’s you.” “But where’s my sledgehammer? It’s not here. I don’t have a weapon.” “There are plenty of weapons around.” “I need something. I need some things. Because if I can find something, immortality is something I’m very interested in, and this is the biggest arena in the world. And tonight, Mankind’s going to successfully defend against two people. Well…” Vince gets a chair and a candleholder. “Look, I can hand you. Look, I can hand you history in a silver platter. In a silver platter!” “Vince, if the Outlaws don’t like it, I’ve got 13 words for them! How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?!” Oh, gotta love Mankind.

Clips of Owen Hart turning on Ken Shamrock and joining the Nation way back in May, as well as a bunch of other stuff from the past months leading up to this match. See, Owen and Shamrock were tag partners, until Owen turned on Shamrock and joined the Nation of Domination, and the Nation proceeded to beat down Shamrock for a while. They kept the feud going, including a Dungeon match in Calgary at Fully Loaded, that had Dan Severn as special referee, and which Owen won. So Shamrock challenged Owen to a lion’s den match, which is supposedly the structure in which Shamrock normally trains. Owen accepted, and hired Dan “The Beast” Severn, who also had turned on Shamrock about 2 weeks before Summerslam, as his personal trainer for the match. So we have…

Match #5: Lion’s Den Match Owen Hart (w/ Dan Severn) vs. Ken Shamrock

This is in an adjacent theatre, which holds a ton people by itself. Huge “Nugget” chant to start. Shamrock drives Owen into the cage, and we’re off. Fisherman’s carry into an armbar by Shamrock. Owen tries to reverse it into a leglock, but it doesn’t work, so they break. Owen rams Shamrock into the cage, and hits a spinebuster. Shamrock regains the advantage with some punches, and a side suplex. Sleeper by Shamrock, by Owen low blows Shamrock to get out of it. Whip to the cage, but Shamrock lariats back. Shamrock rips Owen’s shirt off, and uses it to choke him. Snapmare by Shamrock, and more choking, and Owen is bleeding from the mouth. Springboard elbow by Shamrock. Hiptoss, but Owen regains control by ramming Shamrock into the cage a few times. Crowd chants “Shamrock” now. Enziguiri by Owen. Owen flapjacks Shamrock onto the cage. Backbreaker, and the crowd chants “Nugget” again. Back body drop by Shamrock. Owen goes for the Sharpshooter, but Shamrock gets out. Owen goes for a hurricanrana, but Shamrock powerbombs him. Crowd still doesn’t know which chant to chose, this time going with “Owen sucks”. Lariat by Shamrock, and another springboard reverse elbow smash. Shamrock goes for another springboard something, but gets powerslammed instead. Belly to belly by Owen, and it’s time for the Sharpshooter. Shamrock eventually powers out by climbing the cage. Tornado DDT by Shamrock! Owen gets the dragon sleeper, but Shamrock again powers out, armbar, anklelock, and goodnight. (9:17) *½ Severn just walks off disgusted.

(I Hate) Michael Cole interviews Stone Cold Steve Austin, informing Austin that he’s gonna get what he wanted, a match with the Undertaker alone. “You know, maybe that’s gonna be true, and maybe it isn’t, because it really doesn’t matter because I don’t trust anybody. And I’ll say this, The Undertaker I respect you more than anybody here in the World Wrestling Federation. But all sentimental crap aside, I ain’t afraid to cheap shot you to death if that’s what I gotta do to hang onto this belt, because I won’t give you or Vince McMahon the satisfaction of seeing me give up this title, and that’s all I got to say to you.”

Match #6: WWF Tag Team Title, No Holds Barred, Falls Count Anywhere Match WWF Tag Team Champion Mankind © vs. the New Age Outlaws (Road Dogg & Billy Gunn)

Kane and Mankind are the tag champs right now, but Kane has yet to be seen tonight, and who cares really, because it was Kane vs. Mankind in a Hell In The Cell match on Raw. Road Dogg of course, does his spiel, “Oh you didn’t know? You’re ass better call somebody. New York City, as you can see, we’re gonna take it back and kick ass old school New Age Outlaws style with the diggity diggity dizumpster.” Old school in this case meaning 5 months ago, as they used the dumpster against Foley, then Cactus Jack, and Chainsaw Charlie, aka Terry Funk. Gunn runs in to attack before the bell, but Foley hits him with a baking pan. One for Road Dogg, and one more for Billy. Gunn and Foley get a chair, and the fence a bit, until Gunn loses his chair, and Dogg steals Foley’s. The double team starts as they stomp away in the corner. Dogg and Gunn both get cookie sheets, and the first cookie sheet conchairto is see. Crowd starts a “Foley” chant. Mixing bowl to Foley’s back. Mankind starts the comeback with a back body drop of Gunn to the outside, then a cookie sheet assisted Sweet Shin Music. Neckbreaker on Gunn 1-2-kickout. Foley sets up for the elbow, but Dogg stops him. Double team by the Outlaws, slamming Foley into the dumpster. Back in, and Dogg sets up a table. Running hiptoss is blocked, and Gunn is sent flying through the table instead. Outlaws get a suplex/neckbreaker double team, Dogg covers 1-2-no. Double powerbomb onto 2 chairs, 1-2-shoulder up. Spike piledriver onto the title belt, and the squash is over. (5:17) ½* Road Dogg grabs the mic again, “Cut the damn music! Cut it! Your new World Wrestling Federation Tag Team Champions Of the Wooorrrld, the “Road Dogg” Jesse Jammes, the “Bad Ass” Billy Gunn, the New Age Outlaws.” Gunn’s turn, “Don’t you ever, EVER, you or anybody else come out here and say they can beat the Outlaws. Now, we’re putting you in the garbage where you belong.” Gunn puts Mankind in the dumpster, and Dogg closes the lid. They go back to the ring, as Kane emerges from the dumpster, grabs a sledgehammer, and presumably hits Mankind with it.

We get clips of the Rock and HHH feud. This was a great feud with the Nation Of Domination led by the Rock vs. Degeneration-X, led by HHH. This particular highlight was a skit put on by DX, where they imitated the Nation members. HHH was, of course, dressed as the Rock, and even did a People’s Elbow. This was also the skit where Owen was first referred to as a “Nugget”. We then get further clips of D-Lo beating HHH for the European Title on Raw, thanks to a Rock Bottom. More clips of a beat down given out by Chyna and HHH during a match Rock had with X-Pac. We have clips of Fully Loaded, where Rock & HHH had an awesome 2/3 falls match, which turned out to be a time limit draw with each competitor tied at one fall apiece. Finally, we get clips from a Raw DX vs. Nation street fight, in which Rock used a ladder on HHH, setting up this ladder match. Oh, and Mark Henry claims that Chyna is his girlfriend.

Connecticut Yankee, called “Chris Warren and the DX Band” by JR, come out to perform the DX theme. This was my favorite entrance theme music ever, but they sucked doing it live. I could blame it on the audio setup, but that’s just making excuses, as they were really, really bad.

Match #7: WWF Intercontinental Title Ladder Match Hunter Hearst Helmsley (w/Chyna) vs. WWF Intercontinental Champion The Rock © (with Mark Henry)

Chyna looks almost human tonight, must be a trick of the lights. The belt is raised up, and we are off. They trade punches to start, but HHH gets a lariat to turn the tide. Facebuster. Rock goes for an early Rock Bottom, but HHH reverses out of it. HHH goes for a quick pedigree, but gets backdropped out of the ring. JR reminds us that Rock hit HHH with the belt in the knee on Heat earlier. Rock goes for the ladder, HHH catches up to him, and they brawl in the alleyway, with HHH in control. Back in the ring, HHH hits a running kneelift, and then heads out to get the ladder. Rock knocks him into the ladder, and more brawling ensues. Crowd chants “Rocky sucks.” Rock whips HHH into the ladder, and then clotheslines him as well. Rock brings the ladder into the ring, sets it up, and starts the long, slow, ascent. HHH goes to the top turnbuckle, and hits a jumping forearm, knocking Rock off the ladder, and the ladder lands on HHH. HHH with the ladder, and he runs it into Rock. Ladder to Rock’s chest follows, then HHH sets it up and starts to climb, but Rock yanks HHH off, injuring HHH’s right leg, which Rock works on for a bit. Rock drops the ladder onto HHH’s leg, then sets the leg inside the ladder sandwich style. Stomp, stomp, then Rock decides hitting the ladder with a chair would be even more effective. Rock pulls HHH to the ring post, and wraps HHH’s leg around it. Rock moves the ladder so it’s laying on the guardrail and on the ring steps, which he then slams HHH leg first onto the ladder. Elbowdrop follows. Rock brings the ladder back in, sets it up, and again starts the sloooowwww climb, giving enough time for HHH to get up and shove Rock off the ladder. HHH tosses Rock to the outside, gets the ladder, and sets it up on the ring barrier. HHH tries to whip Rock into it, but gets blocked, and then gets catapulted into the ladder. Rock chases after HHH with the ladder, but gets kicked, and dropped it. More brawling in the aisle. HHH sets up to pedigree Rock *on the ladder*, but gets backdropped onto it instead. Ouch. Mark Henry gives Rock a new ladder, which Rock again slooowwwly climbs. Henry tries to block HHH’s way back to the ring, but gets decked by both HHH and Chyna, giving HHH just enough time to get into the ring and shove the ladder over, knocking Rock out of the ring. HHH baseball slides the open ladder into the Rock’s face! Rock blades. HHH now sets up the ladder, tries to climb, but the Rock has injured his leg so much, he can’t really climb it, giving the Rock enough time to shove over the ladder. Rock lays one of the ladder on the tope ropes in the corner, tries to whip HHH into it, whip is reversed, Rock blocks the whip and hits a DDT. Rock sets up the ladder and starts to climb it again, HHH starts climbing on the other side, but Rock throws HHH off the ladder, face first into the ladder in the corner. HHH bounces back and knocks over the ladder that Rock is climbing, and both men are down again. Chyna gives HHH a chair, Rock gets the ladder, but HHH chairs the ladder back into Rock’s face. Rock lays the ladder down in the middle of the ring, scoop slam on the ladder, followed by the People’s Elbow on the ladder. Chant now chants for Rocky. HHH kicks Rock down, and starts to climb, comes off the ladder, but Rock catches him and gives him a Rock Bottom, and again both men are down. Rock climbs it again, but HHH pulls him off. Pedigree. Mark Henry throws powder into HHH’s eyes, blinding him, but he stills climbs the ladder. Rock climbs up on the other side, but Chyna low blows the Rock knocking him off. HHH can see enough to pull the belt off, and we have a new Intercontinental Champion. (26:06) ****½ You won’t see many ladder matches better than that. The rest of DX comes out to celebrate.

Add for WWF Breakdown In Your House, Sunday September 27.

In the weeks prior to our next match, the Undertaker and Kane were discovered to be working together all along, and all the Taker vs. Kane stuff had passed. Of course, Kane vs. Taker in 98 had so many silly twists and turns, I don’t remember off the top of my head how that came to be, but I do know that it didn’t last long. Tonight Austin gets Taker one-on-one, but the threat of Kane looms overhead, despite Taker stating earlier that Kane won’t interfere. Of course, this is in the midst of Austin vs. McMahon as well, so that threat also looms.

Austin gets the early advantage, but that quickly changes. Back and forth to start, until Taker gets a clothesline 1-2-no. They work over each other’s arms, Austin gets a roll up 1-2-no. Austin gets a drop toehold (!) and an armbar, Taker powers out, send Austin off the ropes, Taker ducks the head, Austin kicks him of course, then Austin drops like a ton of bricks. Huh. Taker gets a vertical suplex. Elbow drop, but the second one misses. Taker gets a hotshot on Austin, 1-2-kick out. Taker stay in control with punches and kicks, and whips. Austin goes to the outside, and works on taker’s left leg, slamming it against the apron and the ring post. Back in, and Taker gets his flying lariat. Taker chokes Austin, then goes to walk the rope, but Austin pulls him down, and then continues to work on the knee. Out walks Kane, but Undertaker sends him to the back. They trade punches, until Austin goes to the outside, and continues to work on the knee. Taker chokeslams Austin from the apron to the inside but is too hurt to capitalize. Very nice. Austin clotheslines Taker to the outside, then the brawl throughout many sections of the crowd, during which Austin takes in mandatory backdrop onto the floor. Back in, and Austin gains control with some rights. Stunner is avoided, and Taker rolls to the outside. Austin comes out after him, but is driven back first into the ring post. Back in again, and back out again goes Austin, as Taker throws him back to the outside. Austin’s head meats the ring steps, as Taker sets up the Spanish announce table, and eventually puts Austin on it, and chokes him to keep him down. Taker goes to the top turnbuckle, legdrop through the table! I bet ya Taker wishes he moved the other monitor as well, too. Back in the ring, 1-2-shoulder up. Taker stays in control with more whips and rights, until they do the double clothesline spot that knocks both of them down. Referee gets to 7, then both competitors gets up. Austin in control with rights, shoulder thrusts, and a chop. Lou Thesz press, followed by the elbow drop. Austin goes for a stunner, but they but heads or something, and they both fall to the mat. Austin covers 1-2-no. Chokeslam, tombstone is attempted, but Austin gets out of it, stunner is blocked, and Taker crotches Austin on the top rope. Russian legsweep by Taker. Taker tries to walk the rope again, and this time Austin low blows him, stunner, goodnight, drive home safely, 1-2-3 (20:51) **¾ Taker gives the belt to Austin after the match, Austin poses, but here comes Kane again, but he just stares at Austin, then walks to the back with Taker.

A highlight package is shown as we go off the air, see you next time, and thank you very much.