Raw Deal - Raw recap for January 5, 1998

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin is outside of the arena. He says that everyone is gunning for him in the Royal Rumble match, but Austin says that's not happening as he strikes first and that he's got everyone else's number. He says will do unto others before they do unto him, and tells the television viewing audience to kick back, not touch that dial and watch him raise hell.

"The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock beats Faarooq with the ankle lock. "The Rock" Rocky Maivia shows up in the middle of the match, and talks strategy with Kama Mustafa and D'Lo Brown, much to Brown's and Kama's confusion. Kama and Faarooq argue after the match, then The Rock confronts Shamrock in the ring. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin shows up and hits both Shamrock and The Rock with Stone Cold Stunners before leaving through the crowd.

Royal Rumble is live on pay-per-view January 18th!

Jim Cornette escorts two men to the ring, and one of them is holding a championship belt. He talks about his commentary from last week where he said there needs to be more respect for tradition and good, old-fashioned competition in the WWF. He has taken matters into his own hands and has flown Howard Brody and Dennis Coralluzzo, respectively the president and vice-president of the National Wrestling Alliance, the oldest and - at one time - the world's largest sanctioning body in professional wrestling. He says that the NWA stands for tradition, and announces that the winner of the next contest will be the winner of the NWA North American Heavyweight Championship. The contestants are Barry Windham - formerly known in the WWF as Blackjack Windham - and Jeff Jarrett. Cornette then guests on commentary for the match.

Jeff Jarrett beats Barry Windham to become the NWA North American Heavyweight Champion after Dennis Coralluzzo distracts the referee and Jim Cornette smacks Barry Windham in the back with his tennis racket during a superplex attempt. Windham hits the superplex, but Jarrett gets the pin. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin then shows up, hits Jarrett with a Stone Cold Stunner, and mocks Jarrett's trademark strut before leaving through the crowd.

"The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock tells "Stone Cold" Steve Austin that they are both marked men at the Royal Rumble match, and he can't wait to eliminate 28 other men so he can have him alone in the ring.

Sunny is guest ring announcer for the next match, and The Jackyl guests on commentary. Despite his absence, The Jackyl assures that Kurrgan the Interrogator is in the back and can be called out at a moment's notice.

The Disciples of Apocalypse (Skull and 8-Ball) beat The Truth Commission (Recon and Sniper). Kurrgan the Interrogator shows up just before the match ends, and helps Recon and Sniper annihilate Skull and 8-Ball. The Jackyl gets in to the ring to slap Kurrgan in the face to remove his clawhold on one of the bikers.

D-Generation X ("The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, "Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna) show up. Triple H is wheeled out on a wheelchair by Chyna, and it is confirmed that Triple H will have to get surgery in Birmingham, Alabama for his dislocated knee. Triple H says Chyna's breasts are like the sun: "You're not supposed to look at it, but once you start, you can't turn away." He tells Owen Hart that he has officially gone from being the hunter to being the hunted, saying that Owen was tossing threats around a few days ago only to find out he didn't have to goods to back up his words. He says that Owen stepped up to the plate without a bat and that he had to supply the lumber. He then tells all the ladies that "there's plenty more wood where that came from." He then challenges Owen to come out to the ring so he can flush him down the toilet for good, and he'll even go as far as call Shawn and Chyna off. Owen appears on the TitanTron, saying he won't exchange words with him. He says that Triple H was cocky last week, but now it's getting personal. He says he has compassion in his black heart, and he hopes Triple H heals so he can break the other knee, as he has a black heart and black hearts feel no pain. Triple H tells Owen to watch his back, as "DX is bigger than all of us."

The intro to War Zone plays to signal the start of the second hour.

Owen Hart beats Savio Vega. D-Generation X ("The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, "Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna) show up during the match and watch from the stage, and the rest of Los Boricuas (Miguel Perez, Jose Estrada, Jesus Castillo Jr.) is booted out of the ring by another referee during the match. Jesus Castillo Jr. tries to intefere as Owen has the Sharpshooter locked in despite this, but Owen Hart drop kicks him off the ring apron and rolls up Savio Vega for the win before going after D-Generation X. Before that can happen, he is attacked from behind by Savio Vega and the rest of Los Boricuas, who bring Owen to Triple H so he can slap him. WWF Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter, referees and officials have to restore order, and we see Triple H pay off Savio Vega for bringing Owen to him.

Paul Bearer shows up in a distraught mood, and with a mustache back on his face. He hopes "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michael destroys The Undertaker at Royal Rumble, and curses the ground and despises the air that The Undertaker walks on and breathes, respectively. He tells 'Taker he hates his guts, and says it's because of him that he has lost Kane. He says that The Undertaker's actions have poisoned Kane's mind, and that Kane has left him and he can't find him. He tells Kane he knows he's watching him, and asks Kane to listen to him as he has taken care of him for all those years. He asks Kane to come home.

It is found out that "Stone Cold" Steve Austin has attacked "The World's Strongest Man" Mark Henry, and The Headbangers (Thrasher and Mosh) check on Henry.

Marc Mero vs. Tom Brandi ends in a no-contest. During the match, Brandi knocks Mero out of the ring and into Sable, and Mero yells at Sable - who hurts her ankle on Mero's way down - for being where he landed. Brandi checks on Sable after punching Mero in the back, but Mero takes advantage. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin then shows up, hits Mero with a Stone Cold Stunner, looks at Sable and smiles, then heads back to the back.

The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust shows up with a different, funk-based entrance theme as he shows up in a 1970s-inspired get-up, complete with blackface and an afro on his head as he carries a boombox to the ring.

Flash Funk beats The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust by disqualification after Luna Vachon is caught pushing Flash Funk off the top rope by the referee. After Goldust hits Flash Funk with the Curtain Call, Vader shows up and goes after Goldust, forcing Goldust to retreat.

We see a video package of Steve Blackman.

The New Age Outlaws ("Road Dog" Jesse James and "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn) beat The Headbangers (Thrasher and Mosh) when The Headbangers miss with the Stage Dive. The Godwinns (Henry O. and Phineas I. Godwinn) show up and watch from the stage during the match, but eventually head back to the back. After the match, Cactus Jack and Chainsaw Charlie show up and scare the Outlaws away.

Don King, registered promoter of Mike Tyson, announces that Mike Tyson will be part of WrestleMania 14, and when the deal is final, he and Vince McMahon will bring one of the greatest shows on earth.

We see footage from "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker's Hell In A Cell match at In Your House: Bad Blood.

"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels shows up. He says that he, "Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Chyna called out Owen Hart, but Owen didn't have the guts. Shawn says he'll give calling someone out a shot and calls out The Undertaker, saying that he has beaten him three times and yet he's a glutton for punishment. At Royal Rumble, he will prove that The Undertaker is a loser and he will walk out the showstopper and WWF Champion. He then dares The Undertaker to get in the ring so he can slap him around. The Undertaker's music hits, then druids push the vandalized casket with the D-Generation X graffiti on it to the ring. He walks up to the casket, thinking Triple H and Chyna are inside, but Triple H and Chyna show up and warn Shawn from the stage. As Triple H tells Shawn to get away from the casket, Shawn asks who is in the casket. Not surprisngly, it's The Undertaker, and he drags Shawn into the casket to end the show.