Raw Deal - Raw recap for January 25, 1999

RAW

WWF co-owner Shane McMahon is in the ring with The Corporation. He introduces the winner of the 1999 Royal Rumble, WWF co-owner Vince McMahon, and The Corporation lift him over their heads. Vince says he is going to WrestleMania, and that he came, saw and kicked "Stone Cold" Steve Austin's ass. He says he was not the only winner at Royal Rumble last night, and announces that The Rock is WWF Champion again. To show his appreciation, he will get the $100,000 meant for whoever eliminated Austin from the Rumble, and he will get the money in cash. However, he did not get a lot of sleep last night, as it dawned on The Rock that he would have to face Vince at WrestleMania 15. He tells The Rock that he does not have to live with that, and that he has signed papers that remove him as #1 contender to the WWF Championship, and waives all rights and privileges from such. However, he does reserve the right to select a #1 contender to face him at WrestleMania 15. Vince tells Austin that he had no chance in Hell of winning the Royal Rumble match, and that as far as he is concerned, he will never step in the ring with the WWF Champion, much less himself, as he has run out of chances. Austin is suddenly seen and heard on the TitanTron, via satellite from San Antonio, Texas, and he tells Vince he is going to WrestleMania to face the champion, and that WWF Commissioner "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, who is right next to him, is saying the same thing. When the camera zooms out, it becomes obvious they are both in Shawn's house. Shawn says Austin doesn't need protection, but he is going to give him protection from The Corporation and from himself anyway, because he knows as well as Vince does that if Austin was in the arena tonight, he would open a can of whoop-ass the likes of which Vince has never seen. On the subject of Vince waiving his #1 contendership and naming a replacement, Shawn says that will not happen as long as he is Commissioner. He has read the WWF rulebook, which states that if the winner is unwilling or unable to wrestle at WrestleMania, the runner-up gets all rights and privileges, which means that Vince checked himself out of the main event at WrestleMania and Austin was checked in. Austin then says he has a proposition for Vince: he wants the WWF Championship back around his waist, but at the same time, he wants to beat the hell out of Vince as much as he wants that title. At St. Valentine's Day Massacre, he will put up his right to the WWF Championship at WrestleMania if he faces him in a match. If Vince wins, he will lose the right to face the champion at WrestleMania. Austin says he made a mistake last night letting himself be distracted by The Rock, and he will not make that mistake again as Vince could not lace one of his boots on his best day as the best thing he can do is run. Austin says he can beat him any day of the week, and proposes the match also be a cage match, meaning that Vince can just escape the cage to win. Vince tells Austin he has his match. Austin then tells Vince he will guarantee that he will beat Vince's ass all over the cage, walk over his limp, bloody carcass and walk into WrestleMania to face The Rock. If he cannot beat The Rock, he should not be wrestling in the first place.

An armored truck is seen entering the arena.

Before the next match, "Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley calls The Rock out, saying he doubts that The Rock made Mankind say he quit, and that he knows The Rock can't make him say it. He proposes an "I Quit" Match between the two of them tonight, and tells him to bring the WWF Championship, as he beat him for a title last time he faced him and wants the title on the line.

"Bad Ass" Billy Gunn beats Goldust. During the match, The Blue Meanie shows up as "Bluedust." Goldust goes after him, but The Blue Meanie hits Goldust with Head behind the referee's back and steals Head. Billy Gunn then gets a schoolboy pin for the win.

Mankind shows up at the arena with bandages across his forehead.

Before the next match, The Rock shows up and tells The Oddities (Kurrgan, Giant Silva, Golga, George "The Animal" Steele) to show some respect and get out of the ring before he beats them all up. The Oddities leave. He tells "Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley that he wants to be The Rock but cannot, and tells Triple H that if it was not for Chyna, he would not have beaten him. He then accepts Triple H's challenge for an "I Quit" match. Suddenly, Mankind is seen on the TitanTron attacking the security guards in front of the armored truck, and stealing the $100,000 meant for The Rock on his way to the ring. Mankind eventually shows up, and tells the crowd to give The Rock a round of applause for taking his belt, but to give him one too as he has his money.. He then takes the money and gives it away to the people sitting near the ramp, and dares to give it all away if The Rock takes another step. He gives The Rock credit for last night's match, and feels like he had been electrocuted and had his head split open, but did not say "I Quit" when he was unconscious. Mankind states that he never said the words at all, or he has completely lost his mind. He has gotten with the production team, and we see Mankind's promo from last night's Sunday Night Heat, where he says "I quit! I quit! I quit!" followed by "Thanks for those kind words, Mick!" We then hear "I quit! I quit! I quit!" being uttered in the exact same way during the "I Quit" Match at Royal Rumble, revealing that this was all a set-up by The Corporation. Mankind then gives away for the money, then gets another idea, and challenges The Rock to a re-match on Sunday Night Heat during "Halftime Heat," and wants it to be an Empty Arena Match. He gives The Rock some time to think about it, and says he will give him his money, even though it will be several dollars short as Mr. Socko is going on a little spending spree. The Rock accepts Mankind's challenge.

Mideon is seen rambling on endlessly, and places a jar with an eye in it on the commentary table as he says that evil is coming tonight.

Before the next match, Droz tells Kurrgan, Golga and Giant Silva to get out of the arena so he can kick George "The Animal" Steele's ass.

Droz beats George "The Animal" Steele after The Animal tears through a turnbuckle trying to eat it only for Droz to butt his head into the exposed turnbuckle. After the match, Droz pushes referees out of the way as he continues to attack The Animal. Kurrgan, Golga and Giant Silva rush into the ring and chase Droz out of it.

Pat Patterson and Gerald Brisco order The Big Boss Man and "The World's Strongest Man" Ken Shamrock to drink saltpeter to take their minds off Debra.

Kevin Kelly interviews Debra, who says there is no man who can resist the temptation of her. Not surprisingly, "Sexual Chocolate" Mark Henry says no woman can resist the temptation of him.

Owen Hart and Jeff Jarrett beat The Big Boss Man and "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock to win the WWF Tag Team Championship. When Debra taking her jacket off to reveal her bra does not work, a black man dressed up as The Blue Blazer shows up and hits Shamrock with Jarrett's guitar behind the referee's back. After the match, Kevin Kelly interviews Owen and Jarrett. Owen says he has been vindicated, and that he is not The Blue Blazer. Jarrett says they pissed them off, and they did what they set out to do. Afterwards, an angry Boss Man and Shamrock run to the back

WAR ZONE

WWF co-owner Shane McMahon shows up with Pat Patterson and Gerald Brisco. He says that Kane has been screwing up lately, having defied his father Vince McMahon. However, during Royal Rumble, he went to the corporate suite and apologized to the McMahon Family. As Shane asks Kane to come to the ring, the arena lights go out and Kane shows up. Shane tells Kane that his apology was so heartfelt that he wants him to repeat his words in public. Kane pulls out his voicebox and says "I apologize," but Shane says that is not good enough and tells him to get down on one knee and apologize. Kane gets down on one knee and apologizes again, but Shane says that is not good enough either and tells him to get down on both knees. Suddenly, X-Pac shows up and says he and the fans have had enough, and tells Patterson and Brisco to step off and Shane to shut the hell up. He asks Kane how much more he is going to take from The Corporation, and tells them to dump The Corporation and ride with D-Generation X ("Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyan, X-Pac, "Road Dogg" Jesse James, "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn) , as they will have his back. X-Pac tells Shane that he is in his fighting clothes right now, and threatens to beat his ass. Kane grabs X-Pac from behind and choke slams him, then drags him into the corner on the command of Shane, who then hits X-Pac with the Bronco Buster.

During the commercial break, D-Generation X ("Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, "Road Dogg" Jesse James, "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn) attack Pat Patterson and Gerald Brisco.

Paul Bearer is seen talking to Mideon, Mabel and The Acolytes (Bradshaw and Faarooq). Mabel is now wearing a leather jacket and sunglasses, and his mohawk is now blonde again. Also, Bearer's hair is dyed black once more.

We see P.M.S. (Terri Runnels and Jacqueline) asking D'Lo Brown to buy something for him in a local Walgreens. Not surprisingly, D'Lo Brown is not only spotted but recognized by the cashiers as he pays for tampons. D'Lo Brown tries to pass himself off as his own cousin, but it does not work.

We see a preview for Val Venis' newest production, "Sister Act."

Before the next match, Val Venis shows us a sneak preview of his latest video, "Saving Ryan's Privates," also known as "Sister Act." Ryan Shamrock is seen in the flick. We see edited footage of Val Venis gyrating in front of Ryan, then we see Venis near the shower. He takes his towel off and joins Ryan in the shower so they can make out.

Test beats Val Venis after "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock hits Venis in the back with a steel chair. After the match, Shamrock attacks Venis, then Billy Gunn shows up and chases Shamrock out of the ring. When Venis gets up, Billy Gunn has to tell him that it was Shamrock who hit him with a chair, but Venis does not believe him and proceeds to beat him up. Referees have to restore order.

Before the next match, "Road Dogg" Jesse James and Al Snow attack The Brood (Gangrel and Edge) and try to put the fire for their entrance out.

"Road Dogg" Jesse James and Al Snow beat The Brood (Gangrel and Edge) in a hardcore tag team match after The Blue Meanie - still dressed as "Bluedust" - reunites Head with Al Snow. The match with Al Snow and Road Dogg sending Gangrel and Edge through a table immediately afterwards.

Paul Bearer is seen with The Ministry of Darkness. The Undertaker says that tonight, it all begins, and the earth will never be the same.

Kevin Kelly interviews Al Snow and "Road Dogg" Jesse James. Snow says Road Dogg is hardcore, and wants a match for the WWF Hardcore Championship. Road Dogg says he's got it. They are then suddenly attacked by The Ministry of Darkness (Mideon, Mabel, Faarooq, Bradshaw). The Undertaker is then seen telling Paul Bearer that this will be a holy war of epic proportions.

The Rock retains the WWF Championship against "Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley in an "I Quit" Match. As Triple H is about to put The Rock through the commentary table with a Pedigree, The Corporation shows up with Chyna, and The Big Boss Man threatens to have Chyna choke slammed by Kane if he does not say "I quit." Triple H, left with no other choice, quits. After the match, Triple H wants a piece of Kane, but Triple H is suddenly hit with a low blow by Chyna, who turns her back on D-Generation X and joins The Corporation. WWF co-owners Vince McMahon and Shane McMahon, Pat Patterson and Gerald Brisco welcome Chyna aboard.