Raw Deal - Raw recap for April 27, 1998

We see footage from earlier today in front of the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia, fifteen minutes away from Hampton, Virginia, the site of this week's Raw. D-Generation X ("Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna, X-Pac, "Road Dog" Jesse James, "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn) are dressed in helmets, camouflage pants and DX shirts. They have seen the enemy, and they are near. They will head to the Norfolk Scope and "blow them out of the water." He says this will start with the Norfolk Scope Virginia - with World Championship Wrestling, as the Norfolk Scope the site of this week's WCW Monday Nitro - and it will end at the Hampton Roads Coliseum in Hampton, Virginia. The five of them are driven in a Jeep from Hampton to Norfolk.

Owen Hart and "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock vs. The Nation of Domination ("The Rock" Rocky Maivia and "The World's Strongest Man" Mark Henry) doesn't even happen when Owen Hart kicks Ken Shamrock in the groin. The Nation (The Rock, Mark Henry, Kama Mustafa, D'Lo Brown) gang up on Shamrock, and Shamrock tries to injure Shamrock's leg before putting him in the Sharpshooter. "The Lethal Weapon" Steve Blackman jumps in, but The Nation attacks him as a snapping noise is heard while Owen has Shamrock in the Sharpshooter. Faarooq also gets into the ring, but he does not fare any better than Blackman, and referees have to convince Owen to release the Sharpshooter on Shamrock. Owen celebrates as referees and officials try to clear the ring, and Owen Hart tires to bite Shamrock's ear.

Faarooq and "The Lethal Weapon" Steve Blackman help "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock, now seething from the double-crossing actions of Owen Hart, to the back.

It's time for The Love Shack. Surrounded by two hot women, Dude Love says that last night's pay-per-view was one hot night, and says he can appreciate why everyone loves "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and admits he is a tough cookie. He says that Austin would be lying if he said he wasn't hurting a little bit, then Dude Love says he chewed him up and spit him out, and after that, he had to tell the ladies he just wanted to be held that night. Dude Love goes on to say that Austin tried to get himself disqualified and that WWF owner Vince McMahon had to convince him to get back into the ring only to get hit with a chair shot to the head. The way Dude Love sees it, there are three choices: find the former WWF Champion "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels and match him up against Dude Love to see who the real champ is, have a tournament for the WWF Championship where he is the #1 seed, or fire Austin and strip him of the WWF Champion before handing it to him. Dude Love is obviously leaning towards the third choice, and asks the crowd if they want option #3 only for the crowd to respond with a "Hell No."

Tonight on the WWF Superstar Line: is there a new manager coming to the WWF?

We see D-Generation X ("Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna, X-Pac, "Road Dog" Jesse James, "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn) in Norfolk, Virginia. After making fun of Eric Bischoff and World Championship Wrestling, DX fires a shot from the cannon affixed to the Jeep they rode in on, and calls it their first shot at World Championship Wrestling.

D-Generation X ("Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna, X-Pac, "Road Dog" Jesse James, "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn) lead a match in Norfolk, Virginia to the Norfolk Scope Arena.

Gerald Brisco, Pat Patterson and WWF owner Vince McMahon is seen entering the arena backstage before the next match.

The Headbangers (Thrasher and Mosh) beat Terry Funk and 2 Cold Scorpio after Terry Funk shoves referee Tim White. Nevertheless, both teams keep fighting.

D-Generation X ("Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna, X-Pac, "Road Dog" Jesse James, "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn) heads to the front of the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia. Triple H asks for free tickets to WCW Monday Nitro, while X-Pac gives a shout-out to Kevin Nash and Scott Hall.

WWF owner Vince McMahon heads to the ring. Vince says he comes with a heavy heart, as over the last 24 hours, he has had to make some very difficult decisions. He says he knows "Stone Cold" Steve Austin tried to take his head off with a steel chair last night, and as a result of that, he has sustained a mild concussion as well as dizziness and nausea, but none of those symptoms have clouded his judgement. Vince has decided not to fire Austin...yet. He says firing Austin would be too good for him, as he has other plans for him. Those "other plans" are a match tonight where Austin defends the WWF Championship against The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust. He then introduces the official who will officiate that match: Gerald Briscoe, whom he calls "a family friend" and "a warm, caring human being." Brisco shows up and shakes hands with Vince, and Vince informs him that if Austin lays a finger on him tonight, Austin will be fired and his WWF Championship will be revoked. Brisco confirms he will be a fair, impartial individual and that he is not scared of Austin under the current circumstances. He also says he will uphold the fine tradition of WWF referees. Vince then asks what kind of representative Goldust would make as WWF Champion, then says that anyone else as WWF Champion would be better than Austin.

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin is seen backstage.

D-Generation X ("Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna, X-Pac, "Road Dog" Jesse James, "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn) is seen in Norfolk, Virginia again, this time trying to enter a gate leading to the arena. The gate closes, but Triple H demands that DX be let in so they can talk to Eric Bischoff.

"Double J" Jeff Jarrett beats Bradshaw after an attack on Bradshaw by Club Kamikaze, who now has a fourth member in a suit and a mask. Taka Michinoku rushes in to fight them, but he doesn't fare very well. Before the match, it is announced that the encore for Unforgiven is tomorrow night on pay-per-view.

Over The Edge: In Your House is live on pay-per-view May 31st!

Kevin Kelly interviews Dude Love, who is not happy with Vince McMahon's decision. Vince McMahon gets Dude Love's attention, and tells Vince not to screw him. Vince, upon seeing Kevin Kelly and the camera crew, becomes enrages and demands the camera be cut off.

D-Generation X ("Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna, X-Pac, "Road Dog" Jesse James, "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn) shows up. Triple H mocks WCW main event announcer Michael Buffer as he introduces The New Age Outlaws ("Road Dog' Jesse James and "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn), which becomes a DX trademark). The New Age Outlaws show up on tiny green motorbikes in an effort to mock their opponents for tonight, The Disciples of Apocalypse (Chainz, Skull, 8-Ball), who bring some backup in the form of L.O.D. 2000 (Road Warrior Animal, Road Warrior Hawk, Sunny).

The Disciples of Apocalypse (Skull and 8-Ball) beat The New Age Outlaws ("Road Dog" Jesse James and "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn) when Skull and 8-Ball switch places, allowing the fresh man to get a surprise schoolboy pin on Billy Gunn.

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

The Undertaker quickly beats Barry Windham. After the match, The Undertaker tells Kane that he looked into the eyes of the dragon and got burned last night, and if he wanted to fight with him, it was only the beginning. He calls Kane out so they can finish it, and says he won't leave the ring until he shows up.

After the commercial break, Kane and Paul Bearer finally show up. Gauze can be seen wrapped around Kane's right arm. Bearer says the war between Kane and The Undertaker has to stop, as it was not supposed to be like this. Bearer says that The Undertaker was the one who should have burned in the flames, but once again, Kane had to suffer the pain and agony of the inferno. Bearer talks about how he remembered seeing a 3-year-old Kane wrapped in bandages and the saline solution poured on his body as the dead skin cells were removed from his body. Bearer says there must be a truce, and that he tasted his own blood as it ran down his face last night. When he looked up, he saw Kane on fire and says he could smell the flesh and feel Kane's pain. He says it was "his son" whose hand was on fire, which brings a look of slight shock to The Undertaker.

Kevin Kelly interviews The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust and Luna Vachon. Goldust says he was born a star and a #1 contender, and says he would be a WWF Champion the people would be proud of. Dude Love attacks Goldust from out of nowhere, and Luna Vachon tries to get her hands on him as referees and officials have to separate both men.

D-Generation X ("Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna, X-Pac, "Road Dog" Jesse James, "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn) show up again. Triple H says he should be on top of the world as DX expands to take on new markets and new worlds, and says that nobody - not even The Disciples of Apocalypse (Chainz, Skull, 8-Ball) - kills his buzz. Triple H says he's hot right now, and issues an open challenge for the WWF European Championship. 8-Ball of The Disciples of Apocalypse show up, but Jim Cornette rushes in with Dan "The Beast" Severn, who isn't even dressed for a wrestling match as Cornette tries to talk him out of the challenge. This doesn't matter to Severn, who immediately takes his suit off despite Cornette telling him he's the one signing the checks. Cornette slaps Severn in the face, but Severn proceeds to slam him into the mat and choke him out.

During the commercial break, Jim Cornette is helped to the back, seemingly suffering from issues with one of his shoulders from the attack from earlier.

Michael Cole interviews "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, who says that WWF owner Vince McMahon has done everything he can to get the WWF Championship off of him. Austin says he'll defend the WWF Championship all week if he has to, and says nobody will screw him out of it. If someone beats him for the WWF Championship, so be it, but he will give Vince McMahon as many grey hairs as he can for as long as he tries to mess with him.

Val Venis is in a convertible on the set of "The Big Valboski." When it comes to "Venis envy," every male is at the head of the class, and regardless of what they say, good things do not come in small packages.

"Marvelous" Marc Mero shows up. He asks the crowd if they want Sable, and when they make it obvious they do, Mero brings out Sable. Sable shows up, and Mero says she humiliated him last night by standing in the ring with nothing on but her bra and panties and that she should be ashamed of herself. He then asks her if she's figured out what happens when he's not in her corner, and Sable says she does and that she liked it...and so did the fans. But she has something even better that they like: her putting Mero in his place. Mero laughs, and asks if Sable is going to beat him up. Sabel says she doesn't know, but she's going to try and that it's time for her to make it on her own. Mero asks Sable if she's challenging him, and Sable says "You're damn right, I am." Sable asks Mero to give her two weeks and she'll embarrass him by kicking his ass on Raw.

We see WWF owner Vince McMahon talking to Gerald Brisco, who is now in a referee's uniform. Vince asks Brisco to call the WWF Championship match between The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin right down the middle.

WWF owner Vince McMahon shows up, takes the WWF Championship and dismisses Mark Yeaton to the back so he can take over as timekeeper.

The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust vs "Stone Cold" Steve Austin ends in a no-contest. During the match, Dude Love goes after Austin after special guest referee Gerald Brisco pretends to have something in his eye to keep Austin from winning. Vince McMahon goes after Austin by hitting him in the head with the WWF Championship belt, but he accidentally nails Brisco in the head with it.