Raw Deal - Raw recap for August 23, 1999

RAW

Jim Ross is about to introduce Mankind to the ring when Triple H and Chyna show up. Triple H says there will be no celebration tonight, especially not as his expense. He says he has been screwed a million times, and he deserved this. Last night was his night, and again, he got screwed out of his crowning moment. Triple H says that right from the beginning, he earned the chance to be #1 contender for the WWF Championship, only to have it taken away from him and to have every obstacle thrown in his way. Every time, he rose to the occasion, but when he gets to SummerSlam, Jesse "The Body" Ventura would not even count his pinfalls. He asks if everyone was afraid since day one that he would be successful and become the man. He says it then came down to him and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, and he felt he had his moment when he hit Austin with the Pedigree, but Mankind stole his thunder. He calls all that happened "a bunch of bullshit," and says that if there was one justification in last night, it is that he crippled Austin and he single-handedly maimed him to the point that he will never be the same man. He saw in Austin's eyes he was not only beaten, but done, and now he is watching the show on his back in a hospital bed with his leg up like a cheap prostitute. Triple H then says that Austin and Mankind are Jim Ross' "boys," and says Jim Ross is enjoying this and that he can see the smirk in his eyes. Triple H then says he is going to enjoy what he is about to do: break Jim Ross' arm. He tells Mankind to give him the WWF Championship, or he will break JR's arm like he did his leg. Mankind shows up, but Triple H tells him not to come any closer or he will break Jim Ross' arm. He says Mankind beat him and screwed him last night, and says paybacks are a bitch. Triple H says he wants a shot, and Mankind tells Triple H that he does not have to break Jim Ross' arm and that all he has to do is get a shot is ask. He tells Triple H that he has his shot at the title if he lets him go. Triple H lets Jim Ross go when Mankind implies that he has his word, then breaks Ross' arm anyway. Mankind checks on Jim Ross afterwards, then tells Triple H that since he broke JR's arm, he's breaking his promise, and Triple H is not getting his title shot. All of a sudden, WWF co-owner Shane McMahon shows up as referees and EMTs check on Jim Ross, and Shane says he knows all about commitments and promises, and says Mankind will keep his. Since WWF Commissioner "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels is not in the building tonight, he orders Mankind to defend the title as co-owner of the World Wrestling Federation.

We see Jim Ross being placed in an ambulance as Mankind watches. Jim Ross gives the thumbs up, and Mankind leaves as the ambulance drives off.

Michael Cole replaces Jim Ross on commentary for the rest of the night.

Al Snow comes out of the ring and attacks "Road Dogg" Jesse James as he is still on the microphone, getting the next match started early.

"Road Dogg" Jesse James vs. Al Snow in a Hardcore Match ends in a no-contest. During the match, Chris Jericho shows up and brawls with Road Dogg after Road Dogg puts Snow through a tabel, and Road Dogg sends him to the back. After referee Tim White follows Road Dogg and Chris Jericho to the back, The Big Boss Man shows up, hits Al Snow in the head with his nightstick, then steals Pepper, whom Snow has brought to the ring in the pet taxi. Meanwhile, Road Dogg and Jericho are brawling in the back, and Al Snow runs backstage. The Big Boss Man is then seen with the pet taxi, and speeds off, successfully dognapping Pepper as Snow runs after Boss Man's car.

Al Snow is backstage, looking for Pepper. Crew members backstage have no idea where Pepper is, and Al Snow has no idea that The Big Boss Man has kidnapped his canine.

X-Pac and Kane guest on commentary for the next match. It is announced that Jim Ross has indeed suffered a broken arm after the attack from Triple H.

Big Show and The Undertaker retain the WWF Tag Team Championships against The Acolytes (Faarooq and Bradshaw) after X-Pac and Kane get involved in the match after Faarooq swings at Kane. The Undertaker lays out Kane, while Big Show choke slams X-Pac. (This match is the debut of new ring announcer Lilian Garcia, who is the first female ring announcer in the company since Mike McGuirk.)

Test is seen talking to Stephanie McMahon backstage. Test tells Stephanie that he has a surprise for here, and to wait for him as he gets it.

Three nights ago, two sports entertainers disappeared in the woods near Ames, Iowa while shooting a documentary. Yesterday afternnon, their footage was found. This footage is known as "The Blonde Bytch Project." The footage starts with Stevie Richards recording The Blue Meanie playing WWF Attitude on Sony PlayStation in front of his TV, and Stevie tells him that no matter how much he practices, he is still a loser. The Blue Meanie counters that when they had WWF In Your House and he was played as Ahmed Johnson, Stevie could not touch him. The Blue Meanie then decides to watch some television, and sees a commercial for The Blair Witch Project, saying it's not even a true story or a true legend. He then asks Stevie if he has heard about the legend of The Blonde Bytch, which supposedly took place in the woods of Ames, Iowa. He says they should get their cameras and dig up the dirt on this legend to see if it is real. Stevie Richards says he is up for it without hesitation, and The Blue Meanie accidentally runs him over as he gets up. (Before the next segment, Michael Cole announces that the next video in the series is supposed to air on the premiere episode of SmackDown, but it does not make it to air and the rest of "The Blonde Bytch Project" is pulled without explanation. Not surprisingly, it is never even brought up again.)

Test shows up, and ring announcer Lilian Garcia is introduced on commentary. Test says everybody knows he went through a lot in the last few months and especially last night, and he did it all for one reason only. He also says that if he would do it again, he would. He then says there is a time in every man's life when a man has to ask a few questions, and sometimes a man has to pop them. He asks Stephanie McMahon to come to the ring. Stephanie is smiling as she heads to the ring, After Test helps her to the ring, WWF co-owner Shane McMahon shows up, saying he will not let him ruin her life and that the only way that their relationship will continue is over his dead body. Test says that can be arrange, and both men are about to get physical when Stephanie chews her brother Shane out, saying she loves Andrew (Test's real first name) more than anything else in the world and that he makes her happy, and says Shane does not care about her happiness or how she feels at all. She says that all her life, it was always about Shane and how he wanted her to be and act. She asks Shane why he cannot appreciate her as she really is, and asks why he would want to take this away from her. Test tells her to forget about Shane, and says he has a question for her. He gets down on one knee and produces a jewelry box with an engagement ring, and asks Stephanie "Will you marry me?" Stephanie tells Test she loves him, and says she needs some time, but she loves him. Stephanie and Test then hug and kiss, then Stephanie leaves the ring. Shane is not only smiling, but shaking his head at Test.

Backstage, Chris Jericho chews out ring announcer Howard Finkle for letting "Road Dogg" Jesse James attack him, saying he needs a champion and a warrior on his team who will stand up and fight for what he believes in and fight for Y2J. Jericho walks away, then Howard Finkel gives it some thought.

Jeff Jarrett, Debra and "Sexual Chocolate" Mark Henry show up. Jarrett says "We did it," and thanks Mark Henry for making the right career choice by presenting him with a gift: the WWF European Championship. Jarrett then thanks Debra, saying the plan was all her from start to finish, and since he is in a giving mood, he has a surprise for her. Being the Executive Director of Jarrett Enterprises, he decided Debra needed help in the form of her own personal assistant. Debra may have the puppies, but tonight, we have Miss Kitty. A blonde woman with a black top and skirt shows up and heads to the ring. Jarrett then says he can stand in the center of the ring and say that he is the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time. He then announces that he has signed an open contract on the locker room , and if anybody thinks they have what it takes, all they have to do is sign on the dotted line for their chance at him and the Intercontinental title. After this, Mat's music plays, D'Lo Brown is seen attacking Meat backstage. Mark Henry is still waiting for Meat to come at the center of the ring, but D'Lo Brown shows up instead. This starts a match.

D'Lo Brown beats "Sexual Chocolate" Mark Henry by disqualification after Jeff Jarrett gets involved in the match. Jarrett, Debra, Miss Kitty and Mark Henry quickly retreat.

"Bad Ass" Billy Gunn finds Jeff Jarrett's open contract for a WWF Intercontinental Championship match, but cannot find a pen. Chyna is passing through, and Billy Gunn asks her for a pen. Billy Gunn tells her to stay by the door so he can find a pen, and leaves. Chyna pulls out a pen and signs the contract under Billy Gunn's nose, then walks away.

"Bad Ass" Billy Gunn is looking for Chyna backstage.

WAR ZONE

Unforgiven is coming live to pay-per-view on September 26th!

Before the next match, The Rock says that in about 30 seconds, Gangrel will get in the ring with his cup of blood, and he will take the cup, pour all the blood out, refill it with monkey piss, turn it sideways and stick it straight up his candy ass.

The Rock beats Gangrel after Edge and Christian chase after the rest of The New Brood (Jeff and Matt Hardy). After the match, The Rock talks about Triple H complaining about how he should be WWF Champion, then talks about how Mankind tries to save Jim Ross like it is supposed to impress somebody. He then goes on to say that all the talk about who is #1 contender for the WWF title is "the biggest bunch of cow shit he's ever seen." The Rock says they are holding their finger on him, and if "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn and Gangrel knew their roles, shut their mouths and listened, they would knew that the fans are chanting his name. He says the fans want him, and now he must take matters into his own hands.

Ring announcer Howard Finkel is seen in the training room, telling himself he is a warrior and that he can do it. Whatever "it" is is not fully explained.

Kevin Kelly interviews Tori, who thinks that Ivory likes to humiliate other people. All she wants is the WWF Women's Championship. She proposes combining the two things Thursday night on SmackDown with an Evening Gown Match where she will be more than happy to strip Ivory of the title and that nasty dress she will probably be wearing.

Howard Finkel runs to the ring to The Ultimate Warrior's entrance theme and even shakes the ropes like Warrior. He then grabs the microphone and says Chris Jericho has come to the WWF to benefit everybody and make it a better place. He then says he believes in Jericho and applauds everything he has done thus far; however, there are a few simpletons in this organizations who do not get it, one of whom is "Road Dogg" Jesse James. He tells Road Dogg to do something more constructive than picking his nose and join him, as he wants him to know what Y2J is all about. Road Dogg shows up and tells Finkel his ass had better call somebody, and tells him he's damn wrong. He thinks this is a joke, but Howard Finkel tells Road Dogg he is a joke himself and that he is mad as hell and that he is not going to take it anymore. He shoves Road Dogg, who then asks if he has been "dipping into his fat sack." Finkel then says Road Dogg does not belive him, and tells him to "believe this again" before shoving. Road Dogg grabs Finkel by the collar and tells him that enough is enough, then Jericho shows up inside the ring after the lights go out and come back on for his entrance. Jericho then attacks Road Dogg in the ring - with Finkel nowhere to be seen - and hits him with two powerbombs before putting his foot on his chest, flexing his muscles and saying "Come on, baby!" Finkel is then seen applauding Jericho at ringside, and he and Jericho head to the ring.

Al Snow is seen backstage, distraught and heartbroken at the thought of Pepper having vanished.

"Bad Ass" Billy Gunn is seen looking for Chyna again. He runs into Triple H in the locker room, saying she is not here. Billy Gunn tells Triple H that if he sees her to tell her he is looking for her. After Gunn leaves, Triple H tells him not to look too hard as he just might find her.

Kevin Kelly - who announces that an update on the condition of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin will be reported on shortly - interviews Hardcore Holly, who says that Crash Holly is not the problem and that Crash Holly thinks he is "the #1 super heavyweight" around here. He says he is the "true super heavyweight" around here. He then issues an open challenge for "true super heavyweights," and tells Kevin Kelly that if he finds Crash to tell him that it's time to either nut up or shut up. By then, Crash Holly has already made it to the ring.

Hardcore Holly and Crash Holly brawl all the way to the outside of the arena.

Kevin Kelly reports that the prognosis is not good for "Stone Cold" Steve Austin after what the attack on him by Triple H after the main event of SummerSlam. He then interviews Mankind, who says that Triple H injuring Jim Ross was a pretty stupid thing to do in his quest to prove how much of a tough guy he is. He says the same thing about Triple H taking a sledgehammer to his knee as well as his attack on Austin, whom he says has single-handedly funded his retirement. He looked forward to having Jim Ross call his matches, and now that cannot be done. He says Triple H can dish it out, but tonight, he will see just how well he takes it.

Al Snow is seen sitting and rocking on the floor, absolutely distraught at the fact that Pepper is nowhere to be found.

Big Show, The Undertaker and Paul Bearer show up. 'Taker and Big Show guest on commentary for the next match.

Mideon and Viscera beat X-Pac and Kane. During the match, The Acolytes (Faarooq and Bradshaw) show up, and near the end of the match, they attack Kane, unbeknownst to X-Pac.

"Bad Ass" Billy Gunn is seen heading to the ring.

Backstage, Chris Jericho tells Howard Finkel he needs work, but with some more intense physical training and more studying of his inspirational, motivational manuals, he may be able to save him a job. He already has "Raw is Jericho," and asks Finkel how "Thursday Night Finkdown" sounds.

"Bad Ass" Billy Gunn shows up. He says that Chyna has been ducking him all night, and tells her to "bring [her] sweet little ass out here" so they can have a chat, as it is not like her to run away from anybody. Chyna shows up, and says there is a misunderstanding here as he has an opportunity to become WWF Intercontinental Championship and wants to know what kind of joke she is playing. Chyna says it is no joke and that he must be thinking out of his ass again, and that she has beaten her to the punch. Billy Gunn says that is cute, but he is not playing around, and either she gives or he takes. Chyna says that's fine, and tells Billy Gunn to show what he's got. All of a sudden, Chyna is blasted in the back of the head with a guitar by Jeff Jarrett. Miss Kitty tries to give Jarrett another guitar, but Mr. Ass takes it from her and smashes it into Jarrett's head.

The Rock guests on commentary for the next match, then WWF co-owner Shane McMahon shows up in a referee's shirt to be the unannouced special guest referee for the match, sending Earl Hebner to the back.

Triple H beats Mankind to become the WWF Champion! Early on in the match, Mankind puts special guest referee Shane McMahon in the Mandible Claw when Shane warns Triple H of the hold, and sends Shane tumbling out of the ring. After Shane goes down, Chyna shows up only to walk into a Mandible Claw and get sent out of the ring as well. Earl Hebner then comes back and referees the match. Later on in the match, Shane McMahon gets back up and smashes a chair into Mankind's back to no effect, and Triple H takes a chair and smashes it into Mankind's head before smashing it into The Rock's. When Earl Hebner confronts Shane as he tosses Mankind back into the ring, Shane knocks him out and makes the pinfall that gives Triple H the WWF Championship.

After the show goes off the air, Triple H and WWF co-owner Shane McMahon head back to the ring. Triple H goes for another Pedigree, but Mankind blocks and slings Triple H into the corner before putting him in the Mandible Claw. As this goes on, The Rock gets in the ring and fights Shane for hitting him with a chair, and hits him with a Rock Bottom. Shane is then placed on top of Triple H, and The Rock hits them both with a People's Elbow. Mankind thanks The Rock as he leaves, then watches from the stage as Mankind hits Shane with a People's Elbow of his own. Mankind then runs down the ramp, and The Rock is saying "Don't you hug The Rock!" as Mankind tries to hug him. Both men then end up shaking hands, and The Rock leaves as Mankind celebrates on the stage one more time, boasting about how he shook hands with The Rock. THe Rock then returns, and Triple H and Shane are seen trying to leave. The Rock and Mankind shake hands, then hug. Triple H then holds the WWF Championship in the air with Shane and Chyna next to him, and says this is his belt.