Raw Deal - Raw recap for January 4, 1999

RAW

The show starts with a video package of "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, now the ex-WWF Commissioner, but WWF co-owner Vince McMahon is heard screaming "Get that off the TitanTron! Get that sentimental crap off the TitanTron!" He shows up with The Corporation, and says that it is no secret that Shawn will be showing up on Raw, and tells the audience not to hold their breath or else they will turn blue from the lack of oxygen as Shawn will not be here tonight. Vince says that Shawn has a lot of admirable qualities, but bravery is not among them, and hopes the fans have the heart to forgive him for firing Shawn, as he had to make an example out of him. The camera then focuses on Kane's back, and on Kane's back is a paper taped to it saying "Brisco Body Shop." Vince says that no one will ever disparage his son Shane McMahon, and anyone who even remotely had anything to do with Shane's emotional scarring will pay, and will be derided, humiliated and fired by him. All of a sudden, a live shot of Shawn is shown on the TitanTron, confirming that Shawn is here and has entered the arena. Vince sics The Corporation on him, but before they can do anything, Shawn shows up on the stage and tells Vince that the sheriff is back in town, and this time, he has brought the cavalry with him. The cavalry is D-Generation ("Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna, X-Pac, "Road Dogg" Jesse James, "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn). Shawn then tells Vince that, according to his attorneys, his contract as WWF Commissioner is iron-clad, and that it was Vince himself that said on national television that he would answer to no one, including Vince McMahon, and says that Vince cannot fire him. The only way he can be incapable of losing his post is if he were to resign, which he says will never happen. Shawn says Vince will be singing to the tune of some Sweet Chin Music for a long, long time. Shawn says that Vince has said he can make dreams come true, and after he did that for him, Shawn decides to do the same for him. We see footage from Raw three weeks ago, where Vince and Shane drew what number Vince would start at in the Royal Rumble Match. Shane then reminds Vince that he has say-so over all WWF competitors with the exception of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, and by entering the Royal Rumble match, Vince made himself a WWF competitor, and he has control over him. He then announces that Vince will not enter the Royal Rumble match at #30; instead, Vince will enter at #2, giving Austin "all night to open a can of whup-ass on [Vince]." Before he leaves, he leaves Vince with one small detail: sometime this evening within the next two hours, he will leave the building and go out a get him a surprise, and he guarantees Vince that this surprise is going to drive him "stone cold crazy."

"The Lethal Weapon" Steve Blackman beats "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock. During the match, Dan "The Beast" Severn shows up, and he eventually gets up on the apron when Shamrock yells at him. Shamrock knocks Severn off the apron, but as soon as he turns his back, "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn attacks Shamrock from behind, giving Blackman the win. Shamrock runs to the back to hunt down Billy Gunn after the match.

The Rock and WWF co-owner Vince McMahon are on the cover of this month's Southwest Airlines Spirit, and even have their own cover story.

"The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock and "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn are seen brawling backstage, and referees and officials have to pull both men apart.

Mankind shows up. He says that it has been a crazy couple of weeks, and that he has learned a few things about himself. He says two weeks ago was the first time he ever grabbed another man's testicles, and that he somewhat enjoyed it in a manly way. It was also the first time he said "Suck it" without saying "please," and that he found out he has a new hobby: kicking the McMahon's asses. Even though he and WWF co-owner Vince McMahon hate each other, he has a favor to ask: a shot at the WWF Championship at Royal Rumble, which he feels he deserves not because of what he did to WWF co-owner Shane McMahon or because he bounced Vince's head off beer kegs, but because he sees all the signs in the crowd saying "Foley Is God" and that the fans have left out letter, saying that he is not good, but that he is "pretty damn good." He knows he can beat The Rock after slapping the Mandible Claw, and demands a shot at Royal Rumble. After asking if he can say "ass" on television, he demands that Vince "get [his] ass out here" before calling him "dad" again. Vince shows up, says The Corporation is right behind him, and calls Mankind "a disillusioned, decrepit, disfigured monster." He says Mankind asking to be #1 contender stains the sacred honor. He says Mankind had his opportunities in the past and blew them, having never listened to him. He says that if Mankind listened to him, he would be WWF Champion, but he listened to the fans instead. He mocks all the effort Mankind has made to eke out a career in professional wrestling for fan adulation, and says Mankind crossed the line by soiling the McMahon family name and putting his hands on Shane, and it amazes him that he wants a title shot. Vince tells Mankind he does not deserve the right to be #1 contender, and tells him he has not paid his dues and has not even succeeded in taking back the Hardcore title. He says Mankind will not have an opportunity to win the WWF Championship at Royal Rumble, he will never have that accolade. Nevertheless, he gives him a shot at entering the Royal Rumble match, and whoever wins between him and "Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley in that match will enter the Rumble. We then see the footage of Mankind putting the Mandible Claw on Shane from two weeks ago, and announces that there will be a special guest referee for the match: Shane McMahon.

Chyna is seen talking to her friend from last night's Sunday Night Heat backstage.

"Sexual Chocolate" Mark Henry beats Goldust by disqualification. During the match, Chyna shows up with her friend from last night, distracting Mark Henry and allowing Goldust to hit Mark Henry with Shattered Dreams. After the match, Chyna and her friend enter the ring, and Chyna kisses Mark before helping him up and telling him that the other night with him was incredible, but she is afraid that she is not enough woman for him and that Mark is too much man for one woman. She introduces him to her friend Sammy, and knows that Mark likes tall women and exotic dancers. She has a proposition: if it is okay with him, she and Sammy would both like to take a load off his mind. Mark Henry immediately faints.

Dennis Knight is seen chained up in what looks like a dungeon.

The Godfather and Test wrestle to a double count-out. During the match, Val Venis shows up and watches the match from the stage. After the match, Venis and Test go at it until referees and officials have to pull them apart.

D-Generation ("Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna, X-Pac, "Road Dogg" Jesse James, "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn) and WWF Commissioner "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels are seen talking backstage.

WAR ZONE

"Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley beats Mankind after a fast count by special guest referee Shane McMahon. After the match, Triple H tells Mankind that this is just business, that a win is a win and he will take the WWF Championship any way he can get it. He wishes Mankind a happy new year, then hits Shane with a Pedigree and tells Mankind that Shane is all his. Mankind then threatens to break Shane's shoulder, and is in the process of doing so when WWF co-owner Vince McMahon shows up with Pat Patterson and Gerald Brisco. Mankind says he has changed his mind and no longer desires a WWF title shot at Royal Rumble, and wants it tonight. Vince reluctantly agrees, but Mankind wants even more: he wants the match to be no-disqualification. Vince agrees to the stipulation without hesitation, and Mankind finally lets Shane go. The Rock then shows up, protesting the WWF Championship match, but Vince tells him to get ready for the match.

Edge vs. D'Lo Brown ends in a no-contest. During the match, P.M.S. (Terri Runnels and Jacqueline) show up, and when D'Lo Brown confronts her, Terri slips off the steel steps and hurts herself, with D'Lo Brown never touching her in the process. Jacqueline and referee Jimmy Korderas call for paramedics as Terri holds on to her stomach. Paramedics show up and place her on a stretcher, and is taken out of the arena as she clutches her stomach.

Medical staff check on Terri Runnels as a distraught D'Lo Brown is nearby. The doctor checking on her cannot detect any signs that her baby is okay.

Before the next match, WWF co-owner Shane McMahon, Pat Patterson and Gerald Brisco mock Kane, placing a "Brisco Brothers Body Shop" sign on Kane's back. Shane then announces that Kane is in a handicap match against Patterson and Brisco. WWF co-owner Vince McMahon shows up and tells them that everyone who is responsible for Shane's emotional scarring will pay, and commands Kane to make Brisco and Patterson pay. Kane choke slams Brisco before doing the same to Patterson. Patterson places a steel chair in the ring and asks Kane to sit down, but Kane kicks it out of the ring before choke slamming him. Kane is about to choke slam Kane, but Vince tells him not to do it or else he will go back to the insane asylum. Kane wins the handicap match, then heads to the back as Vince hugs Shane.

Dennis Knight is seen in what looks like a dungeon again. This time, he is freed by The Acolytes (Faarooq and Bradshaw), who tell him "it's time" and that "he's ready for you."

Before the next match, Al Snow places Head on the stage, then hides behind the curtain. When "Road Dogg" Jesse James shows up and notices head, Snow attacks him from behind.

"Road Dogg" Jesse James retains the WWF Hardcore Championship against Al Snow in a match that goes from the ring to backstage to outside of the arena in the snow. Road Dogg then runs back into the ring to celebrate.

Dennis Knight is tossed into a room by The Acolytes (Faarooq and Bradshaw), where screams of horror can be heard.

D-Generation ("Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna, X-Pac, "Road Dogg" Jesse James, "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn) and WWF Commissioner "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels are seen backstage. Michaels heads out of the arena to get the "stone cold surprise" he promised WWF co-owner Vince McMahon. He then learns that he does not have the right key for his car. As he tries to get back into the arena, he is approached by someone from behind, and the screen fades to black.

After the commercial break, we learn that WWF Commissioner "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels has been brutally attacked. We then learn he has been attacked by The Corporation. Shawn has to be helped into an ambulance by EMTs.

Mankind beats The Rock to become the WWF Champion! Before the next match, D-Generation ("Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna, X-Pac, "Road Dogg" Jesse James, "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn) stands in Mankind's corner, while The Corporation stands in the corner of The Rock, who does not even have his ring gear on. Near the end of the match, as D-Generation X and The Corporation go at it following a chair shot to the back of Mankind by "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin makes his first appearance since Rock Bottom and hits The Rock in the head with the steel chair before placing Mankind on top of The Rock. D-Generation X celebrates alongside Mankind in the ring, while The Rock has to be helped to the back. Austin flips Vince off before leaving, and "Road Dogg" Jesse James announces that Mankind is the new WWF Champion. Mankind then takes the microphone and says that "this feels pretty damn good," and dedicates his match to his kids, telling them "Big Daddy-o did it!" He then runs around the ring with the WWF Championship to end the show.