Raw Deal - Raw recap for March 17, 1998

Kevin Kelly interviews "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock in the ring. After we see some footage between Shamrock and The Nation of Domination (Faarooq, D'Lo Brown, Kama Mustafa, "The Rock" Rocky Maivia, "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Mark Henry) from last week, Shamrock is asked how much self-control he will be able to display. Shamrock says he has fought in no-holds-barred competitions all over the world, and for someone who has lost his temper a few times, he prides himself on his discipline which has saved him a couple of times. He then tells The Rock that when he steps into his zone, there will be a new Intercontinental Champion and everyone will find out who the real "People's Champion" is. The Rock shows up, followed by the rest of The Nation. The Rock says he is tired of hearing what Shamrock will do to him at WrestleMania, and tells him he couldn't last two minutes with any member of the Nation, much less him. He then tells Shamrock that if he can last two minutes against any member of the Nation, he'll give him a shot at the Intercontinental Championship tonight. D'Lo Brown ends up being picked by The Rock against his will, but it turns out he's acting when he hits Shamrock from behind.

"The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock beats D'Lo Brown in an impromptu 2-minute match by disqualification with just seconds left after "The Rock" Rocky Maivia hits Shamrock from behind with a chair as he has D'Lo in the ankle lock. The Rock hits Shamrock in the head with the chair when Shamrock dares him to, and Faarooq takes the chair away from The Rock and argues with him before he can do any more damage. Referees and officials check on Shamrock as The Rock and Faarooq leave.

During the break, "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock tried to get back on his feet, but fell over even. It is announced that Shamrock has suffered a concussion, and Shamrock does not want to go to a hospital.

Sable shows up without "Marvelous" Marc Mero, and calls out Luna Vachon, saying she's had it with her and that it's time to settle it once and for all. She challenges Luna to a one-on-one fight tonight, and if she has any guts, she'll be here so she can kick Luna's ass.

After Sable leaves, the Phoenix Suns Gorilla shows up and gets crazy for the crowd. He then guests on commentary for the next match - even though he says absolutely nothing - and briefly wears Jim Ross' hat. "Double J" Jeff Jarrett then shows up on a horse before the next match.

"Double J" Jeff Jarrett beats Tom Brandi with the Figure Four Leg Lock.

"The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock is finally taken to the hospital. "The Rock" Rocky Maivia then interrupts Kevin Kelly, and demands that the WWF find somebody worthy of facing him after the beating Shamrock received, and says that if Shamrock is still alive, he can enjoy WrestleMania from the comfort of his own home.

We see a video package detailing the path that "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels has taken to WrestleMania.

The Phoenix Suns Gorilla is shooting balled-up T-shirts into the crowd before the next match. Mosh tells The Rock 'n Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson) that they're the ones who are handicapped in their handicap match as they are stuck with Jim Cornette. Cornette grabs the microphone and tells the ref to start the match, saying "We'll see who's gonna win."

The Headbangers (Thrasher and Mosh) beat The Rock 'n Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson) and Jim Cornette in a 3-on-2 handicap match. After the match, The Headbangers finally get Cornette in the ring, but they are attacked from behind by two men in blue and gold: Bob Holly (who is now blonde) and Bart Gunn, who haven't been seen in many months. They make quick work of The Headbangers, then Cornette grabs the microphone. He then says that for the last eight years, he has been asked to bring back The Midnight Express, and introduces "Bombastic" Bob Holly and "Bodacious" Bart Gunn as The New Midnight Express. He then sicks The New Midnight Express on the original Rock 'n Roll Express, saying that it is their fault that wrestlers are putting their hands on him and that The Headbangers are still NWA tag champs.

Gennifer Flowers tells "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels that he can be her boy toy any time, tells "Stone Cold" Steve Austin that if they got together it would be anything but "stone cold," and tells The Undertaker that she can make him rise from the dead as she says she's coming to WrestleMania to have some fun.

The Phoenix Suns Gorilla shows up once again, but this time so does Kane and Paul Bearer. Kane gives the Gorilla a choke slam and a Tombstone Piledriver.

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

Owen Hart guests on commentary for the next match. He says he will be at WrestleMania whether his ankle is 100% or not.

Before the next match, The New Age Outlaws ("Road Dog" Jesse James and "Badd Ass" Billy Gunn) show up with a shiny new dumpster with the words "Jack's House" written on one side and the Outlaws' names on the back. Road Dogg says the Outlaws are why Chippendales are out of business and that he will take the garbage out before taking the laundry out. He then tells Chainsaw Charlie that if he makes it to WrestleMania 14, he will live to rue the day he was born as the Outlaws will retain the tag titles. Road Dogg continues to mock Charlie through the microphone during the match.

Chainsaw Charlie beats "Badd Ass" Billy Gunn by disqualification when "Road Dog" Jesse James hits Chainsaw Charlie with one of the tag team title belts. Chainsaw Chalie knocks him out of the ring, then hits a DDT on Gunn on the title belt. Charlie then goes after James, and Cactus Jack shows up. Charlie is then handed a bungee cord, and hogties James' feet together with it. Cactus Jack then pulls a rope down, and Road Dogg is hung upside-down from his feet. Charlie goes after Billy Gunn as Cactus Jack pulls the rope down, and tells Road Dog not to leave his partner's side, then tells him he doesn't know how to get him down and that "[his] ass better call somebody."

Jim Ross interviews Luna Vachon and The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust backstage. Luna says that nobody is going to tell her what to do, or when to do it. She calls Sable "a little ignorant slut" and tells her she'll give her another makeover tonight, but only when she decides to.

WWF owner Vince McMahon enters the ring and is interviewed by Kevin Kelly. Vince says it was a very unfortunate and very unprofessional confrontation between himself and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin last week. After we see the footage from last week, and did not appreciate how Austin treated him. He believes in giving him the benefit of the doubt, as he was stunned by the mental acumen of "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels when Michaels brought "Iron" Mike Tyson into D-Generation X (Shawn, "Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna). After seeing the footage of Austin coercing Vince into hitting him, Vince says he did not hit Austin last week as he does what he does from a professional standpoint for WWF fans all over the world, and that he was saving the main event for WrestleMania, and asks "How could "Stone Cold" Steve Austin compete against Shawn Michaels for the WWF Championship at WrestleMania with a broken jaw?" Vince then says he does what he does from a professional standpoint for WWF fans all over the world again being ordered out of the ring, and that it would not have looked good in any way had he taken Austin down. When asked if he wants to see "Stone Cold" Steve Austin as WWF Champion, it doesn't matter what he thinks and that it matters what the WWF fans think, and if Austin would be reasonable and be molded into a respectable WWF champion, it would be one thing, but if he is WWF Champion as he is now, it would be a corporate public relations nightmare. He then tells everyone that he's not so sure if anybody, much less Austin, could handle the truth. He then says it's not just a no, but a "hell no." Vince then tells Austin that's the bottom line, because Vince McMahon said so.

We see a video package detailing the path that "Stone Cold" Steve Austin has taken to WrestleMania.

"Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley shows up, confronting him for taking the European Championship from him and "hiding behind a commentary table." He asks if Owen is a man, and says a man wouldn't run and cower behind a desk and would accept a challenge. He tells Owen to get in the ring and defend the European title so he can kick his ass. Owen calls Triple H a coward for challenging him when his ankle is hurt. Triple H then shoves Owen down, but Owen splashes water into Triple H's face. That is enough for Owen to go after Triple H, starting a match.

Triple H beats Owen Hart by referee stoppage with an ankle lock to win the WWF European Championship when Chyna shows up, smacks a baseball bat into Owen Hart's injured ankle and rolls Owen Hart into the ring. Triple H tells Owen Hart to get out or else he'll send him back home in a wheelchair.

The one-on-one confrontation between Luna Vachon and Sable ends in yet another brouhaha that referees, officials, "Marvelous" Marc Mero and The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust have to break up. Sable eventually gets her hands on Luna, and twists her knee in the process. The lights then go dark again and Kane and Paul Bearer show up, and Mero rushes out of the ring, leave Sable along with Kane and Bearer. Before Kane can get his hands on Sable, however, the lights go out, and The Undertaker appears at the top of the TitanTron. He tells Kane that at WrestleMania 14, he will strike him down with anger and furious vengeance, and that he will deliver him to the fiery pits of eternal damnation. Kane will know his name as the Lord of Darkness. Having felt Kane's wrath, Kane will soon feel his. He tells Kane it is too late to turn back, and the only thing he can do now is rest in peace. A lightning bolt strikes a coffin, revealing an effigy of Kane which soon catches fire to end the show.