Raw Deal - Raw recap for April 6, 1998

WWF owner Vince McMahon shows up. He says having "Stone Cold" Steve Austin arrested was the toughest decision of his professional life, and that he had second thoughts. As a result of his benevolence, he released Austin from jail that very night. Nevertheless, Austin has learned his lesson and learned it the hard way, according to Vince. He says that Austin will no longer be considered a beer-swilling, finger-gesturing, trash-talking blue collar WWF Champion, because tonight could be the proudest moment in his own professional career as the fans will see a "new and improved" Austin later this evening "or your money back."

We see a video package of Dan "The Beast" Severn as Jim Cornette - who brings the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and three of his UFC championship belts along - guests on commentary for the next match.

Dan "The Beast" Severn beats Flash Funk with an arm bar in his WWF debut.

D-Generation X ("Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna, X-Pac (formerly Syxx), "Road Dog" Jesse James, "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn) are seen backstage knocking on the ladies' backstage door, topping steel chairs and yelling in a stairwell.

D-Generation X ("Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna, X-Pac, "Road Dog" Jesse James, "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn) show up. Jim Ross acknowledges on commentary during their entrance that X-Pac formerly went by the name of The 1-2-3 Kid. It is also announced that "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels is recuperating at home from various injuries and has no comment on the restructuring of D-Generation X. Triple H talks about how he promised the world a revolution, a change and an army last week, and that he lives up to all of his promises. Road Dog introduces himself and Billy Gunn as The New Age Outlaws, but says that D-Generation X, not the World Wrestling Federation, brings the Outlaws to the fans. He says the marriage of the Outlaws of D-Generation - the youngest and most capable athletes in the business today - is made in heaven. X-Pac tells the crowd that if they came to see "the grumpy old men stinkin' the joint up," they came to the wrong place as what DX is is young and hungry. Triple H tells the fans that if they wanted a revolution, they got it. He tells the WWF if they want a war, they got it. He says DX is the army, and his bazooka is locked, cocked and ready to unload.

Backstage, D-Generation X ("Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna, X-Pac, "Road Dog" Jesse James, "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn) mess with a stagehand and spray paint the backstage set.

"The Lethal Weapon" Steve Blackman beats "Too Sexy" Brian Christopher with an arm bar. Tennessee Lee shows up shortly after the match begins to briefly guest on commentary, leave, and return after the match to bring out "Double J" Jeff Jarrett. Unbeknownst to Blackman, Jarrett is behind him, and the introduction proves to be a distraction so that Jarrett can smash a guitar into his head. Jarrett calls his attack "a smash hit."

D-Generation X ("Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna, X-Pac, "Road Dog" Jesse James, "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn) come across The Disciples of Apocalypse's (Chainz, Skull, 8-Ball). Triple H dares Gunn, James and X-Pac to urinate on their bikes....which they do.

Cactus Jack shows up with a neck brace and a steel chair, and sits in the center of the ring. He says he has always taken a lot of chances in the ring and some very bad things have happened to him over the years, but he always had the comfort of knowing that when he looked at his dreams, career and accomplishments that it was always worth the pain. When people ask him how his neck is doing, Jack says he'll be damned if he lets a group of scum like D-Generation X ("Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna, X-Pac (formerly Syxx), "Road Dog" Jesse James, "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn) put him away. He says that Chainsaw Charlie aka Terry Funk isn't here and he hasn't talked to him, but he says Charlie and Funk do not miss wrestling matches, and if Funk is hurt enough to fly home, it must be bad. He wishes people could know Funk more than what they see in the ring, as they always debate on who the greatest wrestler ever is, but if they were to talk to everyone in the locker room, they'd learn that Funk is one of "the gutsiest, old bastards they'd ever seen in their lives." Jack talks about the bruise on his back and says that he was proud of their match at WrestleMania 14, and how Funk told him he would be all right as he considered it the last match of his career, as Funk always wanted to retire a WWF champion. Funk told him that it was all worth it, but they don't have the tag team belts anymore. As he was laying - barely conscious and barely able to move - he heard something in his ears that made him sick: an announcement thanking the fans for coming and an annoucement concerning "Stone Cold" Steve Austin followed by the crowd cheering. When he showed up in the WWF two years ago as Mankind, there were people who wanted him to be Cactus Jack, even when he was Dude Love. He says he gave the fans Cactus Jack as well as every bit of energy he had, and when he laid down helpless, they chanted someone else's name. He rips off the neck brace and tosses away the chair. He says this is not a knock on Austin and that he is happy that Austin is champion, and that they've known each other for a long time, and he's been his friend. However, what the fans did to him and Funk in the middle of the ring was not only distasteful and disrespectful, it was "goddamn disgusting" and that he will give them a chance to make it up to him as he will accept a group apology right now. Jack says that for the first time in years, it's not worth it anymore, and it will be a long time before the fans see Cactus Jack in the ring again. He then thanks the fans who got even a little bit out of a Cactus Jack match before heading to the back.

We see a video made earlier today by The Nation of Domination ("The Rock" Rocky Maivia, D'Lo Brown, Kama Mustafa, "The World's Strong Man" Mark Henry) attacking Faarooq outside of the arena.

Owen Hart beats "The Rock" Rocky Maivia by disqualification after Chyna hits Owen in the back with a baseball bat while the rest of D-Generation X ("Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, X-Pac, "Road Dog" Jesse James, "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn) have a laugh at the stage. The Rock retains the WWF Intercontinental Championship. The Nation of Domination (D'Lo Brown, Kama Mustafa, "The World's Strong Man" Mark Henry) is sent to the back during the match after Kama Mustafa stands on the apron and argues with the referee.

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

WWF owner Vince McMahon shows up with two police officers, and presents the "new and improved" "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. Austin shows up in a suit, tie and baseball cap but retains his trademark strut. When he goes to the corners of the ring, he does not climb to the second rope and simply stands in each corner, raising one fist. Vince says that tonight is the first step in Austin becoming the best WWF Champion of all time, calling it one small step for Austin and one giant leap for the World Wrestling Federation. Vince says he knows this has not been easy, and it will take a lot of hard work. He thanks Austin, saying this is a step in the right direction, but gives Austin a hard time for wearing his wrestling boots instead of dress shoes and wearing a hat that doesn't go with the suit. Vince then asks what the moment was that allowed Austin to accept reality, and Austin says that when the jail cells close in on you and the guards don't bring the bread and water, he started thinking to himself what kind of chance he had competing against someone like Vince McMahon. He said to himself, "Steve, if you think you can beat Vince McMahon, give me a hell yeah," but then he remembered he was in a jail cell and said "hell no." He says that you have to understand the power and control a Vince McMahon has, and asks one of the officers to take a picture of the two of them together as he pulls a camera out of his suit pocket. The picture is taken, and then Austin tells Vince that the old Steve Austin would tell him to take the camera and stick it up his ass, and that the new Steve Austin would tell him to take the camera and get the film developed, because this is the absolute last time you will see him wearing a ridiculous suit. He takes the suit jacket and shirt off and reveals a Stone Cold tanktop underneath before taking off his pants and telling Vince he changes for nobody. He then tells Vince "D.T.A., Don't Trust Anybody" before telling him to bow down for him before smacking him in the groin and taking a picture of Vince doubled down in pain. Austin then leaves, followed by Vince McMahon, who slowly heads to the back with the two police officers.

The Disciples of Apocalypse (Chainz, Skull, 8-Ball) call out D-Generation X ("Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna, X-Pac, "Road Dog" Jesse James, "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn), saying that this isn't some sort of high school game and that if they have the balls to urinate on their motorcycles, they have the balls to face them in the ring.

Luna Vachon beats Mark Knowles in an inter-gender match - the first of its kind in WWF history - thanks to The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust attacking Knowles before the bell rings. (Mark Knowles is the real name of independent wrestler HC Loc.)

We see another vignette for Val Venis, who says Jack Nicholson has nothing on him. In his latest film, "As Hard As It Gets," he rises to the occasion. When he gets up for a role, he never comes down. It's all work and a little bit of play, but somebody's gotta do it. When he enters the World Wrestling Federation, it'll be a scream.

"Marvelous" Marc Mero vs. "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock is thrown out. Before the match, it is announced that D-Generation X ("Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna, X-Pac, "Road Dog" Jesse James, "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn) have accepted The Disciples of Apocalypse's (Chainz, Skull, 8-Ball) challenge for later tonight. Mero then tells Sable he allowed her to be in the spotlight at WrestleMania 14, then tells her to get out of his face. Sable heads to the back with a smile on his face this time around. During the match, The Nation of Domination ("The Rock" Rocky Maivia, D'Lo Brown, Kama Mustafa, "The World's Strong Man" Mark Henry) shows up, but Shamrock sees them coming and grabs a steel chair to fend them off. Henry then manages to sneak up on Shamrock and hit him with a belly-to-belly suplex before hitting Shamrock with a big splash and allowing D'Lo Brown to hit Shamrock with a frog splash from the top rope. The Rock tells Shamrock this is the dawn of a new Nation and a new domination, and stomps Shamrock as he is down while officials and referees tell The nation to leave the ring.

Kevin Kelly interviews The Undertaker in the ring. The Undertaker says that Kane found out that he's not just his brother, but also the lord of darkness. He tells Kane that he has given a beating that nobody else ever has, but the soul powers the body and Kane's soul is unpure, allowing Kane to be defeated. As for Paul Bearer's challenge from last week, he calls it "desperate men resorting to desperate actions," and tells Kane that he beat him at well, and regardless of where the fire is, Kane will realize it will be the beginning of his eternal damnation. Paul Bearer and Kane appear on the TitanTron near his parents' graves, telling The Undertaker he will make sure he dies a slow, agonizing death at Unforgiven. He says Kane will beat him senseless and pound his body into the cold, hard ground as Kane destroys his parents' tombstones. Bearer then tells The Undertaker that the inferno will set him ablaze as Kane pours gasoline on the graves. Bearer then says he and Kane will send The Undertaker straight to Hell as Bearer lights a match and Kane drops it on the graves, desecrating them.

The Disciples of Apocalypse (Chainz, Skull, 8-Ball) rush at D-Generation X ("Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, "Road Dog" Jesse James, "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn) while X-Pac guests on commentary for the match.

D-Generation X ("Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, "Road Dog" Jesse James, "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn) beat The Disciples of Apocalypse (Chainz, Skull, 8-Ball). After the match, X-Pac grabs a steel chair, and DX go to town on the D.O.A., incapacitating Skull and 8-Ball before tying Chainz to the top rope. Suddenly, L.O.D. 2000 (Road Warrior Animal, Road Warrior Hawk, Sunny) show up and fight DX, helping out Skull and 8-Ball as the show ends.

Raw Deal - Raw recap for March 2, 1998

D-Generation X ("The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, "Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna) start tonight's show. Triple H says that tonight, the road to WrestleMania officially begins, and WrestleMania is now X-rated. He tells the parents to get their kids' permission as discretion is advised but will be completely ignored. As for Owen Hart, Triple H says he has been dancing around with his European title and that his run is about to come to a screeching halt, and that he will go through him like a hot knife through butter. Speaking of utensils, he then tells the ladies he has a utensil they'd like to get in their drawers. Shawn then takes the microphone and tells "Iron" Mike Tyson that when he and his posse make it to the arena tonight, D-Generation X will make them an offer that they cannot and will not refuse, and in case Tyson makes the wrong decision, he will never, ever forget D-Generation X. Shawn then says that at WrestleMania 14, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin will challenge the #1 man in the World Wrestling Federation, and he will show the world that "the toughest S.O.B. in the WWF" isn't tough enough to take him on. He tells Austin he showed him once how close he would get to the WWF Championship, and tells him to lace up his boots as he will "boogie to the sounds of Sweet Chin Music, courtesy of HBK," and tells him to shine up his head so he can crack it like an egg. Austin shows up, and as soon as he confronts Shawn, the lights go out and Kane's music hits. Kane shows up with Paul Bearer, who tells Austin that he won't have to worry about WrestleMania, as he will cross the bridge to eternity and Kane will send him straight to Hell. The lights come back on, and Austin is the only person left in the ring. Austin takes a commentary headset, and says that he will whip Kane's ass and that he'll do it in the dark if he has to. Austin says the WWF has jerked the carpet from under him for too long, and Kane won't do a thing as he will go on to WrestleMania. As for "Iron" Mike Tyson, if he wants to put a pair of gloves on, he'll knock him out. Austin says he's not scared and that his time has come.

On the cover of the newest Raw magazine: Is The Legion of Doom (Road Warrior Animal and Road Warrior Hawk) doomed?

Shane McMahon and "Iron" Mike Tyson are seen stepping out of a limousine backstage.

The New Age Outlaws ("Road Dog" Jesse James and "Badd Ass" Billy Gunn) show up wearing neck braces. They approach a dumpster thant has been placed near the ring, with the words "#1 in Cleveland" painted on the side. They say the dumpster is like a mascot that follows them everywhere they go, but last week it followed them a little too close last week. Road Dog says that they have pressed charges against Cactus Jack and Chainsaw Charlie, saying they are "up for murder in the first degree." We see footage from Road Dog's camcorder, where they back into a dumpster before being attacked by Cactus Jack and Chainsaw Charlie. The Outlaws apologize, saying they will not be able to compete tonight as they have been ordered by the doctors not to do so. WWF Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter appears on the TitanTron, says they're not hurt, and not only orders them to wrestle tonight, but also defend the WWF Tag Team Championships.

The Disciples of Apocalypse (Skull and 8-Ball) beat The New Age Outlaws ("Road Dog" Jesse James and "Badd Ass" Billy Gunn) by disqualification after Cactus Jack and Chainsaw Charlie storm the ring after coming out of the dumpster, slamming the doors on their heads. Road Dog and Billy Gunn end up running away through the titles. The New Age Outlaws retain the WWF Tag Team Championships.

"Marvelous" Marc Mero beats Tom Brandi. Luna Vachon shows up alone during the match, and slaps Brandi so Marc Mero can hit him with a low blow prior to the TKO, then Luna Vachon raises Mero's hand in victory and kisses him. A confused Mero is then attacked by The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust, and Sable - who did not show up with Mero before the match, goes after Luna. Referees and officials have to restore order. Mero and Sable then proceed to argue, and Sable pushes Mero down before leaving. Mero then demans Sable come back to the ring, but when she does, Mero slides out of the ring.

The WWF Legend Series 1 action figures - "Superstar" Jimmy Snuka, "Captain" Lou Albano, Andre The Giant and "Classy" Freddy Blassie - are available now from Jakks Pacific!

WWF Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter tells The Nation of Domination (Faarooq, D'Lo Brown, Kama Mustafa, "The Rock" Rocky Maivia) to head to the back before the next match.

Owen Hart retains the WWF European Championship against "The World's Strongest Man" Mark Henry by disqualification. During the match, Chyna shows up and slowly approaches the ring. When Owen has Henry in the Sharpshooter, Chyna slowly climbs towards the apron, stopping her. When he goes to the top rope, Chyna pushes her into Mark Henry, who is back on his feet and ready to catch him with a bear hug. As he has Owen where he wants him, Chyna gets in the match, wraps a chain around her first, and hits Henry with a low blow. When Michael Cole asks Chyna why she did it, she simply says "Because I can."

"Iron" Mike Tyson is seen meeting with Vince McMahon backstage.

Before the next match, The Headbangers (Thrasher and Mosh) says they watched The Rock 'n Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson) when they were kids before bragging about beating them for the NWA World Tag Team Championships, and tells them to beat it if they're looking for an "8-Track flashback." Taka Michinoku calls Jim Cornette a jackass.

The Headbangers (Thrasher and Mosh) and Taka Michinoku beat The Rock 'n Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson) and Barry Windham after Thrasher smacks Robert Gibson with Jim Cornette's tennis racket behind the referee's back. Cornette tells The Headbangers to put the NWA World Tag Team Championships on the line at WrestleMania 14 if they have he guts, so they can who is the 8-Track flashback and who is the flash in the pan.

The intro to War Zone plays to signify the second hour.

Vince McMahon is in the ring. After being encompassed by the boos of the audience, he introduces "Iron" Mike Tyson. McMahon asks if Tyson will be the enforcer, or if "Stone Cold" Steve Austin will enforce his own rules at WrestleMania, and says a lot of questions will be answered that night. Before Tyson can say who he thinks will win the match, D-Generation X ("The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, "Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna) shows up, surrounded by referees and officials on their way to the ring. Shawn introduces himself to Tyson, and says DX is not here to disrespect him like Austin did, saying it's not DX's style. He is, however, here to call him out to his face and treating him like a man. Tyson tells Shawn that if he wants to do it, they can do it right now. Shawn says that if Tyson gets his people out of the ring, he'll get his people out. The ring is immediately cleared, and Shawn is about to fight Tyson when he rips Tyson's shirt off to reveal a D-Generation X tanktop underneath. Tyson, now a member of D-Generation X, does the crotch chop along with the rest of DX. Vince McMahon is livid. After everyone else leaves, Shawn then says that he is the man that runs the show.

D-Generation X ("The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, "Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna) and Tyson's camp celebrates in the locker room.

Once again, WWF Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter tells The Nation of Domination (Faarooq, D'Lo Brown, "The Rock" Rocky Maivia, "The World's Strongest Man" Mark Henry) to head to the back before the next match.

Steve Blackman beats Kama Mustafa by disqualification after Faarooq and "The Rock" Rocky Maivia get back in the ring and attack Blackman. "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock rushes into make the save and hit Kama Mustafa with a belly-to-belly suplex. Smacrock and Blackman fist bump afterward.

Col. Robert Parker - formerly of WCW - is seen in the ring. He then introduces Jeff Jarrett, who is now back in his "Double J" gimmick after going his separate ways with Jim Cornette and without the NWA North American Heavyweight Championship (which was awarded to Barry Windham by Cornette yesterday, only for Windham to be stripped of the title today by the NWA governing body). Jarrett is once again introduced as the world's greatest singer, entertainer and wrestler. Jarrett says he wishes Cornette and the rest of his men from the NWA good luck, and says the NWA was not prepared for a man of his stature and that there is only one man who can promote himself and do it right - the world's greatest showman, entrepreneur and promoter - Parker, who is now re-introduces as "Tennessee Lee." Jarrett ehn leaves us with three words: "Ain't I great?"

"Double J" Jeff Jarrett beats Flash Funk with the Figure Four Leg Lock.

Gennifer Flowers is appearing at WrestleMania 14!

Michael Cole tries to interview "Iron" Mike Tyson, but "Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley says Tyson wants to be with winners, and D-Generation X ("The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, "Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna) are definitely winners. Tyson says "Stone Cold" Steve Austin will be knocked out cold before joining DX in the limousine.

We see a video package of the recent events between The New Age Outlaws ("Road Dog" Jesse James and "Badd Ass" Billy Gunn) and The Legion of Doom (Road Warrior Animal and Road Warrior Hawk) as well as The Legion of Doom's sudden split.

Before the next match, Paul Bearer says it was a shock heard around the world when "Iron" Mike Tyson joined D-Generation X ("The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, "Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna) tonight. He then says it will be a bigger shocker for "Stone Cold" Steve Austin when he wakes up next to The Undertaker in the pits of hell. When Austin arrives, he notices Triple H on the stage and is about to confront him when he is superkicked from behind by Shawn. Referees have to check on Austin on the stage as D-Generation X is ordered to the back. Austin goes back to the back in search of DX.

It is announced that D-Generation X ("The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, "Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna) and that "Stone Cold" Steve Austin is still searching for them backstage. Paul Bearer and Kane are still in the ring, and Bearer asks Kane to get the ring bell. As Kane goes for the bell, Kane grabs a fan, pulls him out from behind the guardrail and beats him up before getting the ring bell and timekeeper Mark Yeaton. Bearer says he forgot to pay respects to The Undertaker several weeks ago, and asks Yeaton to toll the bell ten times in memory of The Undertaker. Yeaton tolls the bell ten times, then Bearer asks him to ring the bell one more time for himself. Kane then hits Yeaton with a choke slam followed by a Tombstone Piledriver. Bearer says he and Kane have reached the end of a long road, and says Kane has done what he said Kane would do. He dares the fans to laught at him and call him fat now, then says Kane has one more tombstone left in his giant body and that he isn't quite finished yet. Bearer says Kane has one more tombstone left, and teases it as being for Jerry "The King" Lawler and Jim Ross. Bearer dares someone to step up, then a gong is heard. The lights go out, and Bearer tells Kane that it's not The Undertaker. The bell continues to toll, then a lightning bolt is seen striking a coffin on the stage. The Undertaker is seen lying prone, and he stands upright. He welcomes Kane and Paul Bearer to Hell and the demon who will him to eternal damnation. The Undertaker tells Kane he has disappointed him, and asks if that is the best effort he could put together at Royal Rumble. He tells Kane that he cannot destroy that which does not wish to perish, and tells Bearer that every time he supposedly died, he returned to the world of darkness on his own accord. He soothed the souls of his own parents, and had to explain to them why he has to do the one thing he promised never to do. Bearer tells The Undertaker that he is standing next to "the real phenom," but Kane's fire does not impress The Undertaker, who tells Kane he will walk through the fires of Hell to fight him, and that Kane will understand he is the most feared entity of the World Wrestling Federation, the reaper of wayward souls and the lord of darkness. He tells Kane to think about when they fought as children and their parents to had to pull him off Kane. He then says nobody will save Kane, and the hounds of Hell will feast upon Kane's rotting soul as he rests in piece.

Vince's Got A Shotgun - Shotgun Saturday Night recap for February 14, 1998

Kurrgan beats Lance Jade by pinfall with the Paralyzer. During the match, The Jackal is seen preaching about his revolution at a podium on a platform that drops down from the top of the arena. After the match, The Jackal slaps Kurrgan to get him to break the hold.

We hear from The Rock, who says he needs no introduction as he mentions that he has single-handedly beaten all of the opponents in his match at No Way Out and that The Nation will leave as winners at No Way Out.

WrestleMania 14 is six weeks away!

The Honky Tonk Man is the special guest ring announcer for the next match.

The Rock 'n Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson) beat The Disciples of Apocalypse (Skull and 8-Ball) after The Disciples of Apocalypse end up catching Jim Cornette's tennis racket when Cornette tosses it into the ring and use it as a weapon. The Rock 'n Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson) retain the NWA World Tag Team Championships. During the match, it is announced that last-minute reports regarding the physical condition of "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels by Jim Ross are available on the WWF Superstar Line.

The New Age Outlaws ("Road Dogg" Jesse James and "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn) beat Flash Funk and Tom Brandi.

We hear from "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, who says that there is no way out of getting their ass kicked for D-Generation X ("The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, "Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley) and The New Age Outlaws ("Road Dogg" Jesse James and "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn) after all of their shenanigans. He then says he does not care what shape Cactus Jack and Chainsaw Charlie are in on Sunday, and that he will drop Owen Hart on his head if he gets in his way.

Owen Hart beats Jesus Castillo. During the match, the rest of Los Boricuas (Savio Vega, Miguel Perez, Jose Estrada Jr.) show up to watch from ringside, and attack Owen Hart when referee Jimmy Korderas is not looking. As Korderas id dealing with them, Owen Hart locks in the Sharpshooter, and referee Mike Chioda runs in to call for the bell when Jesus Castillo submits.

Raw Deal - Raw recap for January 5, 1998

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin is outside of the arena. He says that everyone is gunning for him in the Royal Rumble match, but Austin says that's not happening as he strikes first and that he's got everyone else's number. He says will do unto others before they do unto him, and tells the television viewing audience to kick back, not touch that dial and watch him raise hell.

"The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock beats Faarooq with the ankle lock. "The Rock" Rocky Maivia shows up in the middle of the match, and talks strategy with Kama Mustafa and D'Lo Brown, much to Brown's and Kama's confusion. Kama and Faarooq argue after the match, then The Rock confronts Shamrock in the ring. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin shows up and hits both Shamrock and The Rock with Stone Cold Stunners before leaving through the crowd.

Royal Rumble is live on pay-per-view January 18th!

Jim Cornette escorts two men to the ring, and one of them is holding a championship belt. He talks about his commentary from last week where he said there needs to be more respect for tradition and good, old-fashioned competition in the WWF. He has taken matters into his own hands and has flown Howard Brody and Dennis Coralluzzo, respectively the president and vice-president of the National Wrestling Alliance, the oldest and - at one time - the world's largest sanctioning body in professional wrestling. He says that the NWA stands for tradition, and announces that the winner of the next contest will be the winner of the NWA North American Heavyweight Championship. The contestants are Barry Windham - formerly known in the WWF as Blackjack Windham - and Jeff Jarrett. Cornette then guests on commentary for the match.

Jeff Jarrett beats Barry Windham to become the NWA North American Heavyweight Champion after Dennis Coralluzzo distracts the referee and Jim Cornette smacks Barry Windham in the back with his tennis racket during a superplex attempt. Windham hits the superplex, but Jarrett gets the pin. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin then shows up, hits Jarrett with a Stone Cold Stunner, and mocks Jarrett's trademark strut before leaving through the crowd.

"The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock tells "Stone Cold" Steve Austin that they are both marked men at the Royal Rumble match, and he can't wait to eliminate 28 other men so he can have him alone in the ring.

Sunny is guest ring announcer for the next match, and The Jackyl guests on commentary. Despite his absence, The Jackyl assures that Kurrgan the Interrogator is in the back and can be called out at a moment's notice.

The Disciples of Apocalypse (Skull and 8-Ball) beat The Truth Commission (Recon and Sniper). Kurrgan the Interrogator shows up just before the match ends, and helps Recon and Sniper annihilate Skull and 8-Ball. The Jackyl gets in to the ring to slap Kurrgan in the face to remove his clawhold on one of the bikers.

D-Generation X ("The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, "Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna) show up. Triple H is wheeled out on a wheelchair by Chyna, and it is confirmed that Triple H will have to get surgery in Birmingham, Alabama for his dislocated knee. Triple H says Chyna's breasts are like the sun: "You're not supposed to look at it, but once you start, you can't turn away." He tells Owen Hart that he has officially gone from being the hunter to being the hunted, saying that Owen was tossing threats around a few days ago only to find out he didn't have to goods to back up his words. He says that Owen stepped up to the plate without a bat and that he had to supply the lumber. He then tells all the ladies that "there's plenty more wood where that came from." He then challenges Owen to come out to the ring so he can flush him down the toilet for good, and he'll even go as far as call Shawn and Chyna off. Owen appears on the TitanTron, saying he won't exchange words with him. He says that Triple H was cocky last week, but now it's getting personal. He says he has compassion in his black heart, and he hopes Triple H heals so he can break the other knee, as he has a black heart and black hearts feel no pain. Triple H tells Owen to watch his back, as "DX is bigger than all of us."

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

Owen Hart beats Savio Vega. D-Generation X ("The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, "Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna) show up during the match and watch from the stage, and the rest of Los Boricuas (Miguel Perez, Jose Estrada, Jesus Castillo Jr.) is booted out of the ring by another referee during the match. Jesus Castillo Jr. tries to intefere as Owen has the Sharpshooter locked in despite this, but Owen Hart drop kicks him off the ring apron and rolls up Savio Vega for the win before going after D-Generation X. Before that can happen, he is attacked from behind by Savio Vega and the rest of Los Boricuas, who bring Owen to Triple H so he can slap him. WWF Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter, referees and officials have to restore order, and we see Triple H pay off Savio Vega for bringing Owen to him.

Paul Bearer shows up in a distraught mood, and with a mustache back on his face. He hopes "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michael destroys The Undertaker at Royal Rumble, and curses the ground and despises the air that The Undertaker walks on and breathes, respectively. He tells 'Taker he hates his guts, and says it's because of him that he has lost Kane. He says that The Undertaker's actions have poisoned Kane's mind, and that Kane has left him and he can't find him. He tells Kane he knows he's watching him, and asks Kane to listen to him as he has taken care of him for all those years. He asks Kane to come home.

It is found out that "Stone Cold" Steve Austin has attacked "The World's Strongest Man" Mark Henry, and The Headbangers (Thrasher and Mosh) check on Henry.

Marc Mero vs. Tom Brandi ends in a no-contest. During the match, Brandi knocks Mero out of the ring and into Sable, and Mero yells at Sable - who hurts her ankle on Mero's way down - for being where he landed. Brandi checks on Sable after punching Mero in the back, but Mero takes advantage. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin then shows up, hits Mero with a Stone Cold Stunner, looks at Sable and smiles, then heads back to the back.

The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust shows up with a different, funk-based entrance theme as he shows up in a 1970s-inspired get-up, complete with blackface and an afro on his head as he carries a boombox to the ring.

Flash Funk beats The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust by disqualification after Luna Vachon is caught pushing Flash Funk off the top rope by the referee. After Goldust hits Flash Funk with the Curtain Call, Vader shows up and goes after Goldust, forcing Goldust to retreat.

We see a video package of Steve Blackman.

The New Age Outlaws ("Road Dog" Jesse James and "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn) beat The Headbangers (Thrasher and Mosh) when The Headbangers miss with the Stage Dive. The Godwinns (Henry O. and Phineas I. Godwinn) show up and watch from the stage during the match, but eventually head back to the back. After the match, Cactus Jack and Chainsaw Charlie show up and scare the Outlaws away.

Don King, registered promoter of Mike Tyson, announces that Mike Tyson will be part of WrestleMania 14, and when the deal is final, he and Vince McMahon will bring one of the greatest shows on earth.

We see footage from "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker's Hell In A Cell match at In Your House: Bad Blood.

"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels shows up. He says that he, "Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Chyna called out Owen Hart, but Owen didn't have the guts. Shawn says he'll give calling someone out a shot and calls out The Undertaker, saying that he has beaten him three times and yet he's a glutton for punishment. At Royal Rumble, he will prove that The Undertaker is a loser and he will walk out the showstopper and WWF Champion. He then dares The Undertaker to get in the ring so he can slap him around. The Undertaker's music hits, then druids push the vandalized casket with the D-Generation X graffiti on it to the ring. He walks up to the casket, thinking Triple H and Chyna are inside, but Triple H and Chyna show up and warn Shawn from the stage. As Triple H tells Shawn to get away from the casket, Shawn asks who is in the casket. Not surprisngly, it's The Undertaker, and he drags Shawn into the casket to end the show.

New York, New York - WWF New York recap for December 27, 1997

The Headbangers (Thrasher and Mosh) beat Los Boricuas (Savio Vega and Miguel Perez) by disqualification. During the match, Jesus Castillo and Jose Estrada Jr. are ejected from ringside, but Jesus and Jose rush in and interfere near the end of the match. The Disciples of Apocalypse (Skull and 8-Ball) rush in with 2x4s and run Los Boricuas out of the ring.

Michael Cole interviews The Disciples of Apocalypse (Skull and 8-Ball), who say it is time to get serious, and if this is how Los Boricuas (Savio Vega, Miguel Perez, Jesus Castillo, Jose Estrada Jr.) want to play, they'll be "up and down that ass all night long."

Tickets for this Monday night's Raw at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum will be available at the door on a first-come, first-served basis on Monday. As for Saturday Night at the Madison Square Garden on January 10th, The Undertaker and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin will take on D-Generation X ("The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels and "Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley) in a Steel Cage Match. $3.00 discount coupons are available at local Rite-Aid locations.

WWF The Music: Volume 2 is available on CD for $14.95 plus $4 shipping and handling.

The 1997 Year In Review - with Jim Ross' uncensored opinions - is available on The Ross Report on Option 3 of the WWF Superstar Line!

Flash Funk beats Faarooq with a surprise roll-up as Faarooq is distracted by The Rock. At the beginning of the match, Faarooq allows Flash Funk to leave the ring, as if he wants nothing to do with him, but Faarooq clotheslines Flash Funk as he is halfway out of the ring. Later on, Rocky Maivia shows up on his own time after D'Lo Brown and Kama Mustafa whip Flash Funk, then Faarooq whips Flash Funk with the leather strap as D'Lo Brown has the referee distracted.

You can win "Stone Cold" Steve Austin's Chevrolet Z71 pick-up truck, which will be awarded to one lucky winner during Royal Rumble 1998! Just call 1-900-RUMBLE-98. (All calls are $1.99, and no purchase or telephone call is necessary. You must be 18 or older and have a valid driver's license to win.) Send mail-in entries to: WWF Sweepstakes, P.O. Box 265, Devon, PA 19333. (All mail-in entries must be postmarked by January 12, 19998 and received by January 17, 1998.)

At Madison Square Garden on January 10th, "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock will face Rocky Maivia for the WWF Intercontinental Championship! Kane will take on Chainz in a revenge match! Dude Love vs. Jeff Jarrett in a special attraction match! Tom Brandi and "Marvelous" Marc Mero will square off!

Tom Brandi beats Barry Houston.

"The World's Strongest Man" Mark Henry beats The Sultan with a bear hug.

Vince's Got A Shotgun - Shotgun Saturday Night recap for December 27, 1997

"The World's Strongest Man" Mark Henry beats The Sultan with a bear hug.

Tom Brandi beats Barry Houston. During the match, it is announced that the 1997 Year In Review is available on The Ross Report on Option 3 of the WWF Superstar Line.

The Headbangers (Thrasher and Mosh) beat Los Boricuas (Savio Vega and Miguel Perez) by disqualification. During the match, Jesus Castillo and Jose Estrada Jr. are ejected from ringside, but Jesus and Jose rush in and interfere near the end of the match. The Disciples of Apocalypse (Skull and 8-Ball) rush in with 2x4s and run Los Boricuas out of the ring.

Michael Cole interviews The Disciples of Apocalypse (Skull and 8-Ball), who say it is time to get serious, and if this is how Los Boricuas (Savio Vega, Miguel Perez, Jesus Castillo, Jose Estrada Jr.) want to play, they'll be "up and down that ass all night long."

Flash Funk beats Faarooq with a surprise roll-up as Faarooq is distracted by The Rock. At the beginning of the match, Faarooq allows Flash Funk to leave the ring, as if he wants nothing to do with him, but Faarooq clotheslines Flash Funk as he is halfway out of the ring. Later on, Rocky Maivia shows up on his own time after D'Lo Brown and Kama Mustafa whip Flash Funk, then Faarooq whips Flash Funk with the leather strap as D'Lo Brown has the referee distracted.

Raw Deal - Raw recap for December 8, 1997

Vince McMahon shows up to start the show. He says that there is no denying the popularity of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, but also says that Austin has been getting away with murder as of late, assaulting WWF officials and announcers, including himself. He then goes on to say that last night, Austin went too far, as he endangered the lives of the fans by driving his pick-up truck into the arena and all the way out to the ring and used it as a weapon against his opponent. He then hit a referee with the Stone Cold Stunner, albeit inadvertently, and as that referee was coming to and ready to disqualify Austin, another referee rushed in to count the pinfall for Austin. As a result, Vince McMahon demands that Austin defend the Intercontinental Championship against "The Rock" Rocky Maivia tonight. Stone Cold shows up and confronts Vince for ordering him to do something, and tells him that Stone Cold does what he wants, when he wants, and doesn't care who Vince is. Vince says he is the proud owner of the WWF and his boss as referees and officials surround the ring, and Austin says he doesn't give a damn. Vince then tells Austin there are consequences if he doesn't defend the Intercontinental Championship tonight, but Austin says he has consequences of his own, and asks the crowd to give him a "hell yeah" if they want to see Vince get his ass whipped. Vince also confronts Austin for his language, but Austin tells Vince he's going to pop a top on a beer, eat a hot dog or two and give him an answer to whether or not he will defend the title while Vince sweats, and if he has to come back to the ring, somebody might get their ass whipped.

Jerry "The King" Lawler beats Sunny to win the 1998 Karate Fighters Holiday Tournament...almost. Turns out Lawler has been caught using gum to keep his Karate Fighter in place and also seducing the opposition with another woman. As a result, the decision is reversed and Sunny wins the 1998 Karate Fighters Holiday Tournament.

Kane and Paul Bearer show up as The Legion of Doom (Road Warrior Animal and Road Warrior Hawk) takes on The Godwinns (Henry O. and Phineas I. Godwinn), who are accompanied to the ring by "Road Dog" Jesse James and "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn. With Animal hurt outside of the ring and James and Gunn hiding behind the Spanish commentary table, Hawk is the only person alone in the ring by the time Kane makes it there, and Kane hits Hawk with a Tombstone Piledriver. He gets up from that, and Kane hits him with a choke slam. Hawk still gets up, and Kane hits Hawk with a Tombstone Piledriver. This time, Hawk doesn't stir, and Kane and Paul Bearer leave. After this, James and Gunn attack Hawk, but Animal grabs a steel chair, and the tag team champs hide behind the Spanish commentary table again.

"Road Dog" Jesse James and "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn are in the ring. They say there is no competition in the tag team division anymore, and they have proved it. They then thing Na N Hey Hey (The Goodbye Song) by Steam, and tells them goodbye and good riddance. They then say that the only thing left is singles competition, and issue an open challenge to anyone who thinks they're tough enough to take them on to come on down. They immediately get Dude Love, and Road Dogg says he wanted one guy, not three. Billy Gunn ends up wrestling him while Jesse James guests on commentary.

Dude Love beats "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn. After the match, "Road Dog" Jesse James hits Dude Love in the head with a steel chair, then places the tag team titles across Dude Love's throat before Gunn hits a leg drop on the titles. Referees and officials try to restore order.

The Buried Alive Collector's Set is available now at Target from Jakks Pacific!

"The Rock" Rocky Maivia says nobody in their right mind wants to face him one-on-one, as last night he showed the entire world that it was all about him when he kicked Austin around the ring last night (even though he lost).

In footage from last night, "Too Sexy" Brian Christopher says he should be the Light Heavyweight champion, and that he will have the last laugh against Taka Michinoku.

Jim Cornette interviews Taka Michinoku. We see footage from earlier tonight where Jim Ross teaches him a few words in English. Suddenly, Jerry "The King" Lawler appears, calling Michinoku an imposter and a phony who is "not the true champion" and saying he stole the title from Brian Christopher. He says he is only in America because there are too many people in Japan. He says he doesn't have anything against foreigners, but tells him to speak English or get out before asking him if he knows one English word. Michinoku gives him two: "You, jackass." Lawler takes off his jacket, but Cornette stops Lawler before Taka's challenger, El Unico, shows up. Lawler says that El Unico is another illegal alien and that he is still "dripping wet from swimming across the Rio Grande." He tells El Unico to go back to Mexico only to get pushed. El Unico and Taka then decide to fight off Lawler, but El Unico attacks Taka from behind and Lawler joins him before unmasking to reveal that it was Brian Christopher all along. Lawler and Christopher hit Taka with a double-team spike piledriver before Christopher and Lawler hit Taka with piledrivers of their own. Referees and officials have to get Lawler and Christopher out of the ring.

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin is seen eating a hot dog backstage...

The encore for D-Generation X: In Your House is tomorrow night at 8 PM Eastern, 7 PM Central on pay-per-view.

We see the footage from One Night Only where "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels further injures The British Bulldog's knee to become the WWF European Champion, followed by the footage from two weeks ago where Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart was double-crossed by Shawn and "Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley and stills from last night where Owen Hart attacked Shawn.

Kurrgan - no longer part of The Truth Commission and no longer The Interrogator, but still accompanied by The Jackyl, who guests on commentary - beats Flash Funk with a clawhold. The Jackyl says that Kurrgan's days of being a corporate sideshow freak for the WWF are over as of tonight as the revolution begins. Kurrgan refuses to let go, and Recon and Sniper try to get him off Flash Funk to no avail. Flash Funk wins the match by reverse decision. The Jackyl then slaps Kurrgan, and Kurrgan releases the hold before he and The Jackyl laugh. The Jackyl has to keep Kurrgan from turning on Recon and Sniper.

We see footage from last night where "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock tells "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels that he did what he was going to do until his goons jumped in, and if he has to join the Royal Rumble match to get to him, he feels sorry for everyone else in the match. He says it's not over by a long shot, and that he will get him.

The introduction to War Zone plays to signal the start the second hour.

D-Generation X ("The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, "Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna) show up. Helmsley says the military police shut down WWF Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter last night, and that the only thing Slaughter cut down was his dignity. He then tells Sgt. Slaughter that when his wife yells "The missile has landed" in her sleep, to wake her up and say it's just a dream as Triple H is too much man for both of them. Shawn says that "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock has found out that he's not quite dangerous enough to take him on before running down his recent WWF accolades. After last night, someone tried to rain on his and Triple H's parade, and that someone was Owen Hart. He has had his run-ins with the entire Hart Foundation, and D-Generation X has destroyed them once and for all. He says the entire Hart family are like one big, huge, nasty, smelly, smoking, stinking turd, and when you look down in the toilet and see that turd, it should be flushed. He says that DX did the WWF a favor by flushing the Hart family down the toilet, but there's one small, chunky nugget that always seems to come back up to the surface and keeps coming back up. He says that Owen Hart is that nugget, and knows that Owen is somewhere. He will sit in the ring until Owens shows up so he can get rid of him. He, Triple H and Chyna then decide to play poker on a table and chairs already set up in the ring. He then brings up his promise to show up in the ring naked, thanks to Chyna, and decide to make it a game of strip poker until Owens shows up. All of a sudden, The Disciples of Apocalypse (Skull, 8-Ball, Chainz) show up, and the poker game has to be brought to ringside.

Los Boricuas (Jose Estrada Jr. and Jesus Castillo) beat The Disciples of Apocalypse (Skull and 8-Ball) after Savio Vega hits one of the bikers in the back of the knee with a 2x4. D-Generation X ("The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, "Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna) continue to play strip poker at ringside.

D-Generation X's ("The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, "Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna) strip poker game is now in the ring. Shawn strips down to his boxers after losing yet another hand. The Headbangers (Trasher and Mosh) show up and disrupt the poker game, which immediately nets them a beating from Shawn and Triple H. Mosh gets hit in the head with a steel chair, while Thrasher is power bombed onto the table. Triple H then chokes Mosh with the steel chair before stomping him in the corner. As D-Generation continues to attack Thrasher, Owen Hart comes out of the crowd, takes down Shawn and runs back into the crowd.

Vader is about to face Jeff Jarrett when Luna Vachon and Goldust arrive. Goldust opens up his black trenchoat and flashes Vader, and Vader chases after Luna and Goldust. Jeff Jarrett beats Vader by count-out.

In footage from last night, "Butterbean" Eric Esch says his match with Marc Mero was not a boxing match, and if Mero thinks he was stalking Sable, he's got another thing coming as he is stalking Mero now, and if he finds Mero, Mero is his.

Before the next match, "Marvelous" Marc Mero shows up without Sable, and brags about what he did last night, saying Butterbean was so swollen up he looked like Uncle Fester on steroids. He then shows his displeasure with Vince McMahon booking him to wrestle a "jobber," saying he always wins and a jobber always loses. He tells Salvatore Sincere that he is a jabroni and a nobody, and says Sincere not "Sal Sincere, the pizza delivery boy," but is in reality Tom Brandi. He says Brandi was given a gimmick and that he should be ashamed of himself for performing it. Mero then announces that Sable is not here as he about it bring in someone who can't do a Merosault, won the Intercontinental Champion or ever beaten anybody: "the new and improved Sable," who is really Sable in a potato sack meant to embarrass her. He tells Sable that things are done his way now and that he is the star. Mero then tells Brandi he'll kick his butt in just a second before telling Sable to disrobe her. Sable does the opposite and disrobes herself, revealing a less than modest swimsuit underneath. Mero turns around, and is shocked as he covers her up. Salvatore Sincere - or Tom Brandi, at this point - drop kicks Mero from behind, and Mero and Sable head to the back. Brandi leads a chant for Sable, and he beats Marc Mero by count-out.

Vince McMahon is ringside before the next match, and referees and officials are at ringside along with him. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin shows up, not dressed to wrestle. Austin tells Vince he's ready to fight, but at the same time, it's not that simple. He says he's not going to wrestle after all, as he has beaten "The Rock" Rocky Maivia once and asks Vince what he's prepared to do. The Rock tells Vince to fire Austin, but Vince tells him to stay out of it and tells Austin he will be forced to strip Austin of the Intercontinental Championship and give it to The Rock. Austin dares him to take the title from him and risk getting his teeth knocked out, then says there's only one championship belt in the WWF that he is interested in: the WWF Championship. He then forfeits the Intercontinental Championship to The Rock and tells him to take it, as he doesn't want it anymore. The Rock reluctantly takes it, then Austin tells him to shake his hand. He reluctantly does, then The Rock becomes the new WWF Intercontinental Champion. Austin then hits The Rock with a Stunner before taking the belt back, saying that he has plans for the belt and that if Vince wants to find out what they are, all he has to do is be here next week. As Vince leaves, Austin knocks him off the apron as he hits the ropes.

New York, New York - WWF New York recap for November 22, 1997

The 13-VHS WrestleMania box set featuring all thirteen WrestleMania events is available now for $79.99 plus $11 shipping and handling!

The Disciples of Apocalypse (Crush, Chainz, Skull, 8-Ball) beat Los Boricuas (Savio Vega, Miguel Perez, Jesus Castillo, Jose Estrada Jr.) as the eight-man tag match gets out of control.

At the December 29th Raw at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York: Vader, Dude Love, The Undertaker and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. The Nation of Domination (Faarooq, D'Lo Brown, Kama Mustafa, Rocky Maivia)!

D'Lo Brown beats Flash Funk. During the match, Rocky Maivia distracts referee Earl Hebner as well as Flash Funk, allowing D'Lo Brown to hit an Electric Chair slam from the top rope. D'Lo goes up top, but Flash Funk trips on the top rope. D'Lo fights Flash Funk off the top rope, then hits the Lo Down for the win.

Shocking rumors about Goldust's new love interest are available on The Ross Report on Option 3 of the WWF Superstar Line!

"The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock is interviewed in the ring by Jim Ross. Shamrock says that he has fought all his life, and he earned all his respect through fighting. All he ever asked for was respect, and he got it through blood, sweat and tears. As far as "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels is concerned, he has no respect for anybody or anything. When he steps in the ring with Shawn on December 7th, he will learn the word "respect" the Ken Shamrock way. He is not Bret "The Hit Man" Hart, but he will hurt him before putting him in a submission hold and making him cry like a baby.

The Truth Commission (The Jackyl and The Interrogator) beat Dan Dalton and Donny Rude. The Interrogator takes care of their opponents while The Jackyl guests on commentary for the match, then The Jackyl goes for the double pinfall.

"Too Sexy" Brian Christopher beats Devon Storm in a Light Heavyweight Division match.

Sunny beats George and Adam (represented by just George, as Adam is busy with their victory part) to advance to the semi-finals of the 1997 Holiday Karate Fighters Tournament.

The WWF Triple Threat Action Figure Set featuring Yokozuna (who has not been seen in the WWF for more than a year) is available now at KB Toys from Jakks Pacific.

We see exclusive footage from last week's event at Madison Square Garden. (Miguel Perez is replaced by Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart with George "The Animal" Steele appearing afterwards, Chyna faces The Brooklyn Brawler and Triple H replaces the recently departed Bret "The Hit Man" Hart in the Fatal 4-Way Match for the WWF Championship.)

Raw Deal - Raw recap for August 18, 1997

Vince McMahon interviews "Ravishing" Rick Rude. He tells all the "fat, out-of-shape Atlantic City sweathogs" to zip their lips, open their eyes and pay attention to what a real man has to say. He fancies himself an "insurance salesman," whether it be short-term, long-term, life, disability or accidental. "You supply the buck, and I'll supply the bang," he says. When asked who is paying the premium, he says that doesn't matter and says he was paid to get the job done, then says one can never have enough insurance and that Vince could be in need of some more himself. After a play on the Allstate motto - "Like a good neighbor, Rick Rude's always there" - he says that if you're smart, "you'll own a piece of the Rude" and to "Get Rude. It pays." (The two quotes are a play on mottoes from Prudential and Metlife, two more insurance companies.) He tells Vince that to get the premium, you've got to pay the premium, and once it's paid in full, someone's in for a Rude Awakening.

Owen Hart and The British Bulldog tell The Legion of Doom (Road Warrior Animal and Road Warrior Hawk) that tonight will be a preview of In Your House: Ground Zero, and that when they meet in the Fatal Four-Way that night, it will indeed be fatal.

Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter is seen having a heated discussion with "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels backstage.

Owen Hart and The British Bulldog beat The Legion of Doom (Road Warrior Animal and Road Warrior Hawk) when The Godwinns (Henry O. and Phineas I. Godwinn) attack The Legion of Doom behind the referee's back. All three teams continue to fight each other while referees and officials try to restore order.

Mankind says his mind has not forgiven and his body has not forgotten. Now, he has to team with The Undertaker, and he will either be the best tag team partner 'Taker has ever had, or the final nail in his coffin, and they will find out together.

"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels says Vince McMahon and the WWF is still giving him the shaft over SummerSlam, and he is being painted into a corner. He doesn't want to be with The Undertaker until Ground Zero, and doesn't want to tag with Hunter Hearst Helmsley. He accuses Vince McMahon of throwing him to the lions, and says that when he is painted into a corner, someone will get what's coming to them.

Sunny is the guest ring announcer for the next match.

Flash Funk beats "Too Sexy" Brian Christopher in a Light Heavyweight Division match after Jerry "The King" Lawler distracts Christopher by telling him to put Flash Funk in a piledriver, allowing Flash Funk to bounce off the ropes and cause Christopher to land on the top rope by his crotch. Christopher and Lawler argue after the match.

The Undertaker says that patience is a virtue, but when it comes to "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, his has run out. Shawn won't make it to Ground Zero, as he will settle the score tonight. As for Mankind, he never forgives or forgets, and if he gets out of line, he'll take him out just like he will Shawn.

Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter is seen talking to Chyna and Hunter Hearst Helmsley backstage, as it is rumored that Chyna and Helmsley are trying to get out of the tag team main event as well.

"The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock beats The Sultan with the ankle lock after hitting a Belly-to-Belly Suplex on The Iron Sheik and also taking an Iranian flag to the back.

The Nation of Domination (Faarooq, D'Lo Brown, Kama Mustafa, Rocky Maivia) show up, and request an impromptu interviews with Jim Ross in the ring as the crowd chants "Rocky sucks!" Faarooq tells the fans that Ahmed Johnson is a white man dying to get out of a black man's body who wants to be pretty like "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, and that he couldn't be white even if he was sandblasted twenty times. He also warns everyone to stand on their own two feet, as anything worth getting is worth fighting for and if you're weak like Ahmed, you don't have a place in The Nation. Faarooq goes on to say that he made Savio Vega and Crush, and if they want a street fight with him, they're in for a surprise as he is the streets, and he will grant them their wish and destroy them at Ground Zero. Faarooq then introduces Rocky Maivia, and says the fans soured on him. Rocky then mentions the "Die Rocky Die" chants, saying that this is about respect. He became the youngest Intercontinental Champion in WWF history, and all he got was "Rocky sucks" chants. He says he is a lot of things, but "sucks" isn't one of them. He calls The Disciples of Apocalypse "a racist faction," then says he and The Nation lives, breathes and dies respect, and that they will earn it by any means necessary. As The Nation raises their fists, we see Crush on the TitanTron, who calls them "A nation of constipation," and says the D.O.A. is here to kick ass and take names. He dares them to meet them in the parking lot and meet them face-to-face and fist-to-fist with no WWF Commissioner around if they've got the guts. The Nation run out of the ring and head to the back.

We see footage of Goldust and Marlena earlier today with daughter Dakota at the beach in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Hunter Hearst Helmsley says he's not afraid of The Undertaker or Mankind, and says that when "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels" does the crime, he has to do the time. He then says if Vince McMahon wants a war with him, he's got one.

The Nation of Domination (Faarooq, D'Lo Brown, Kama Mustafa, Rocky Maivia) and The Disciples of Apocalypse (Crush, Skull, 8-Ball, Chainz) brawl in the parking lot only for Los Boricuas (Savio Vega, Miguel Perez, Jesus Castillo, Jose Castrada Jr.) to steal the D.O.A.'s motorcyles. The D.O.A. immediately give chase after this.

"Double J" Jesse James beats Brian Pillman by disqualification after Goldust and Marlena shows up and Goldust drops an elbow on Jesse James. After the match, Michael Cole shows up and Goldust tells him he wanted to see him one more week in a dress. Brian Pillman grabs a microphone, and decides to call Goldust's bluff by asking him if he wants to see him gone for good. He then challenges him to a match, and if Goldust wins, he will leave the World Wrestling Federation forever. However, if Pillman wins, then Marlena is his personal assistant for 30 days, 24 hours a day. Goldust thinks Pillman is an idiot, but Pillman says Goldust isn't talking tough anymore now that he's thrown in the second stipulation. Goldust rejects the challenge, but then Pillman says that a piece of him is always around Marlena reveals that Goldust and Marlena's daughter Dakota isn't Goldust's daughter and is actually his love child. Goldust goes after Pillman, and Marlena accepts the challenge on Goldust's behalf much to the disappointment of Goldust, who tells Marlena that wrestling Pillman isn't worth it.

Vader says The Patriot's colors are red, white and blue, but they will change to black and blue because it's Vader Time.

The intro to the show replays to signal the start of War Zone.

Bret "The Hit Man" Hart shows up with the Canadian flag as soon as the next match begins, and watches the match from the stage.

The Patriot beats Vader, then Bret "The Hit Man" Hart makes his way down to the ring. As The Patriot is focused on Bret, Vader knocks him off the apron and send shim back into the ring. As referees try to restore order, Bret wraps the Canadian flag over The Patriot, stopping Vader from hitting The Patriot with the Vader Bomb and angerying him to the point that Vader breaks the Canadian flag's pole over his knee. Owen Hart and The British Bulldog rush in and attack Vader, then The Patriot gets back up, fights Owen and Bulldog, and is kept away from Bret as Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter forces a smiling Bret to the back.

We see an interview from earlier today between Jim Ross and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. Austin makes fun of the fruit basket that the WWF gave him after he broke his neck. Austin says he's Intercontinental Champion now, and says he couldn't move his arms or legs for almost a minute and was afraid he wouldn't move again, but he's over it. He says Owen Hart has hell to pay when he comes back, and he's really pissed off. He says the doctors have told him he should do something else, but he's not listening to them and he's going to continue wrestling regardless of what they say. He says he's rode around in his four-wheeler while drinking a few beers while thinking about it, and while he plans to take a few days or a few weeks off, he intends to put the black trunks on and get back in the ring as it has taken him eight years to get to the WWF and a piledriver won't stop him from coming to Ground Zero and whipping somebody's ass as he is on a whole new level.

The Undertaker and Mankind beat "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels and Hunter Hearst Helmsley after Shawn hits 'Taker with a steel chair. During the match, Shawn calls "Ravishing" Rick Rude out to the ring, and he almost attacks 'Taker with a steel chair when 'Taker truns around and stop him. After the match, Shawn busts 'Taker open with a steel chair shot to the head as 'Taker confronts Rick Rude, but he gets back up despite being busted open. Shawn does it again, but 'Taker gets right back up again, and Shawn and Helmsley run.

New York, New York - WWF New York recap for July 12, 1997

Kama Mustafa beats Dale Hutchinson. After the match, The Nation of Domination (Faarooq, Kama Mustafa, D'Lo Brown) beat Hutchinson up.

The Legion of Doom (Road Warrior Animal and Road Warrior Hawk) beat Steve Rivers and Ken Johnson.

Vince McMahon interviews Brian Pillman. Pillman says he has not seen evidence of Ken Shamrock being "The World's Most Dangerous Man" in the WWF as The British Bulldog gave Shamrock a taste of what to expect at SummerSlam. As for the promise made by "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, he tells Austin to leave his can of whupass back home, apply some lip gloss and pucker up, because after SummerSlam, he will be kissing Owen Hart's ass. He then says The Undertaker has now been exposed as a murderous, lecherous punk, and that there is no better person to take care of someone so pernicious as Bret "The Hit Man" Hart and win the WWF Championship for the fifth time. As for his own match with Goldust, Pillman says everyone knows Goldust's history, and all that abuse and neglect that he suffered at the hand of his father will be amended, as he will pay him a lot of attention and both embarrass and humiliate him far beyond the scope of his drag queen status. If he does not, he will wrestle him the next night in a dress, and if he has to throw one on, it might as well be one of Marlena's. If it comes to that, that will not be the only thing of Marlena's he will be getting into.

Salvatore Sincere tells the crowd that he loves them from the bottom of his heart.

We see some comments from earlier this week from "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock, where he says that he has seen a lot of rule-breaking, spitting and slapping. When he steps in the ring, he will do whatever it takes to win, whether it be kicking people in the groin or throwing people over the top rope. He sees everybody doing these things, and if they can play that game, so can he.

"The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock beats Salvatore Sincere with the ankle lock.

It is announced that a beach party will be hosted for all SummerSlam ticket holders between 3 and 5 PM will be hosted by Z100 at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey before SummerSlam.

Jim Ross has the latest news on "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels' future in the WWF on The Ross Report on Option 3 of the WWF Superstar Line!

Owen Hart beats Flash Funk with the Sharpshooter.

The Summer Flashbacks airs this Monday after Raw!

Want to send some ideas and suggestions to WWF? Write to the following address: WWF NY, 847A 2nd Avenue #304, New York, NY 10017!

Vince's Got A Shotgun - Shotgun Saturday Night recap for July 5, 1997

Jim Cornette replaces the now-fired Brian Pillman on commentary after last week's incident.

The Hart Foundation (Bret "The Hit Man" Hart, Owen Hart, The British Bulldog, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, Brian Pillman) is interviewed by Vince McMahon in the ring. Bret says The Hart Foundation will get the respect that they deserve, and that the American wrestling fans have had the opportunity for the longest time to cheer for their scum heroes like Goldust, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, The Legion of Doom (Road Warrior Animal and Road Warrior Hawk) and "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock, but when they come across the border, it will be a different story as they are five different version of Donovan Bailey and they will go into the ring and pound them all into dirt. Bret says that Bulldog is the strongest man in the WWF, that Pillman has no limit, that The Anvil is man who still stick around to the end, and that Owen is the best technical wrestler in the WWF. Together, they are the greatest combined force in the WWF, and now that he is no longer injured, Bret will not rest until The Hart Foundation rules the World Wrestling Federation whether the fans like it or not. Bret says that when you get into Canada, he is still every bit the hero he ever was and he will get the respect that he deserves. Pillman says Austin will get no respect as he is the perfect example of what America has become, as he has no class, integrity or intestinal fortitude that the Foundation has. Bulldog says that the World Wrestling Federation will find out who the real tag team champions are, and says the tag team titles will go back around his and Owen's waists. Owen says they are not afraid of Goldust and that they don't have to be gender-benders, wear facepaint, curse like sailors or be "ultimate fighting goofballs" to destroy their opponents. The Anvil says they are a lot of questions, but The Hart Foundation will answer them in Canada.

The Truth Commission (Recon, Sniper, The Interrogator) beats Kevin Flynn, Chris Steel and Adam O'Brien.

We see footage from last Saturday's public workout at Muscle Bearch in Anaheim, California, featuring Chyna, Sunny, Hunter Hearst Helmsley, "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock and others. At that day's show in Anaheim, Marela, Sunny, Sable and an uncooperative Chyna - who body slams Honky Tonk Man - take part in a swimsuit contest, which Sable wins. When Honky Tonk Man asks for Sable a kiss on the lips, however, he gets a slap in the face instead.

Savio Vega beats Flash Funk. After the match, Los Boricuas (Savio Vega, Miguel Perez, Jesus Castillo, Jose Estrada Jr.) get in the ring and gang up on Flash Funk, but The Disciples of Apocalypse (Crush, Chainz, Skull, 8-Ball) show up. After Flash Funk is tossed out of the ring, The Disciples of Apocalypse get in the ring, and both groups brawl. Referees and officials rush in to stop the brawl, and local law enforcement have to get into the ring to restore order.

Scott Putski beats Rod Bell. During the match, Jim Ross apologizes on behalf of the WWF for the derogatory comments made about Polish-American on last week's Raw.

The New Blackjacks (blackjack Bradshaw and Blackjack Windham) beat Los Boricuas (Jesus Castillo and Miguel Perez) by disqualification after Savio Vega and Jose Estrada Jr. interfere. Referees have to step in and restore order as Los Boricuas (Savio, Miguel, Jesus, Jose) attack The New Blackjacks.

Raw Deal - Raw recap for June 9, 1997

Before the next match, it is noticed during The Nation of Domination's entrance that Crush and Savio Vega are reluctant to do the Black power salute that is customary of their entrance.

Ahmed Johnson and The Legion of Doom (Road Warrior Animal and Road Warrior Hawk) beat The Nation of Domination (Faarooq, Crush, Savio Vega) after extreme miscommunication between Faarooq, Crush and Vega that leads to Crush and Vega walking out on Faarooq.

The King of the Ring encore is tomorrow night on pay-per-view at 8 PM Eastern, 7 PM Central.

Vince McMahon interviews Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Chyna in the ring. Helmsley says he should have been King of the Ring a year ago, but because of Vince and his politics, he never got a shot, and what he did last night was him taking his career out of Vince's hands and into his own because he couldn't get the job done, and nobody in the WWF is ever going to stand in his way again. He deems the ring to be his house and his backyard, and says the door is wide open for any WWF Superstar that wants to step in with him. Mankind is then heard on the TitanTron, wanting admission to his house of pain as well as a rematch. Helmsley says he enjoyed every minute of what he did to Mankind last night, as every time Mankind got back up, it meant there was more he could do with him. He then consults with Chyna, who tells Mankind to come into the ring and kiss her ass. Mankind says it's Chyna's lucky day, because he's a good kisser. It doesn't take long for Mankind to make his way to the ring only for Helmsley to attack him with his crown just like he did last night. Helmsley and Chyna then leave the ring, but Mankind takes the crown and puts it on.

Sunny models the "Raw Is War" T-Shirt, only $25 plus $6 shipping and handling.

We see The British Bulldog's road to the WWF European Championship, which features live event match footage against Mankind and Vader from the tournament.

Goldust almost beats The British Bulldog for the WWF European Championship, but the referee realizes that Bulldog had his foot on the bottom rope during the pinfall and the match continues. Goldust and The British Bulldog then wrestle to a double count-out, and when Bulldog continues to attack Goldust, he is smacked by Marlena not once, but twice. Bulldog grabs a steel chair and pushes the referee away when he tries to stop him. Bulldog is about to swing the chair when Ken Shamrock shows up and takes Bulldog down. Bulldog decides to retreat instead of take on Shamrock.

"Your SummerSlam Million Dollar Chance" is brought to you by Discovery Zone! Stay tuned to find out how to win a million dollars! It pays to watch Raw!

Dok Hendric is backstage behind The Nation of Domination's locker room. The door is locked, but there is loud arguing behind the door. Faarooq comes out and tells Hendrix that he's got something to say and that he is heading to the ring to say it now. Hendrix enters the Nation's locker room. Crush tells him to leave, but Savio Vega says he gave Faarooq he gave him the back of his own people. Crush tells Hendrix not to come in unless he is invited, and says The Nation is doing just fine before he tells him to get out before he knocks his teeth down his throat. Jim Ross then interviews Faarooq in the ring. Faarooq says he recruited people who would watch his back at all costs, only to be stabbed in the back. Faarooq fires Savio Vega and Crush. He then tells everyone with him in a tuxedo to leave, then tells D'Lo Brown to hold the ropes open for Clarence Mason, whom he also fires. Faarooq says that from this day forward, there will be a new Nation formed under Faarooq that is more powerful and more loyal than before. He then wants the two people in WWF he hates most - The Undertaker and Ahmed Johnson - to be the first two victims of the "New Nation," and challenges them to a match next week on Raw.

"The Wildman" Marc Mero is backstage, and so is Sable...

"The Innovator of Violence" Tommy Dreamer and Paul E. Dangerously of Extreme Championship Wrestling show up in the crowd to watch the next match from the front row.

The Headbangers (Thrasher and Mosh) beat Doug Furnas and Phil LaFon.

Jerry "the King" Lawler is backstage with Rob Van Dam, who is somehow on Raw despite Paul E. Dangerously doing all he can to keep him off the show. If Paul E. Dangerously and "The Innovator of Violence" Tommy Dreamer interfere, there will be hell to pay.

The intro to the show is replayed to signify the start of the second hour. At this point, the graphics for "War Zone" are shown and is treated as its own section proper.

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin is interviewed in the ring by Vince McMahon. Austin says he's proud of giving Brian Pillman a swirly, and says that he's only sorry that the toilet wasn't full of "certain contents." As for tonight, Pillman is getting his ass kicked up and down the ring and hit with the Stone Cold Stunner when Austin sees fit before Austin drags him to the back and finishes him off. When asked about Bret "The Hit Man" Hart's challenge for In Your House: Canadian Stampede, he volunteers for the match, and says he'll stampede The Hart Foundation regardless of whether or not he has four guys with him. He then tells WWF President Gorilla Monsoon he'll beat his fat ass like he did Bret's if he gets in his way, and says he'll beat up the whole Hart family if he has to.

Vince McMahon and Jim Ross read some fan comments about King of the Ring from America On-Line.

Paul E. Dangerously and WWF officials have to keep "The Innovator of Violence" Tommy Dreamer from swinging a steel chair at Jerry "The King" Lawler and Rob Van Dam before the next match.

We see the promo for SummerSlam 1996, which won a Promax Award this year.

We see footage from last Saturday night at ECW Arena, where Jerry "The King" Lawler was in action. Jerry "The King" Lawler guests on commentary for the next match, his voice hoarse from the effects of Mankind's Mandible Claw from last night.

"Mr. Monday Night" Rob Van Dam beats Flash Funk. Paul E. Dangerously and "The Innovator of Violence" Tommy Dreamer jump the guardrail and go after RVD and Jerry "The King" Lawler after the match, and officials have to keep all four men apart.

The next issue of Raw Magazine will be available next Tuesday!

"The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock guests on commentary for the next match. It is also announced that Paul E. Dangerously and "The Innovator of Violence" Tommy Dreamer are no longer in the building following the brawl from earlier.

Sycho Sid beats Owen Hart after "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock gets off commentary and keeps Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart from further interfering in the match.

Sunny models the "Raw Is War" T-Shirt, only $25 plus $6 shipping and handling. "The Wildman" Marc Mero then calls her backstage.

Jim Ross tells the audience that he has interviewed wrestlers for over 20 years, but after this recent one, he never felt so helpless and wishes that he did not take the assignment. We then see the final part of the interview with Mankind. Mankind says Cactus Jack would have set the WWF on its ear if he showed up, and wonders why Vince McMahon did not take him when he was good and when he was good. He states that this is where the Mandible Claw, its power tempered in mercy, comes from. He wonders why "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels looks like he does and why he himself looks like he does, and wonders why his boyhood dream coming true has never come true. He wishes Shawn and the other WWF Superstars nothing but personal trauma and tragedy in their personal and professional lives, wanting the suffering to be on the other side as well as be the cause of it, as he considers it a nice day. When asked if diagnosed with any mental disorders, Mankind says he doesn't believe in doctors and that if there was something wrong with his mind, he'd be the first one to know. Jim Ross then asks if he thinks it's time to look in the mirror and accepted personal responsibility for who he is, Mankind tells Jim Ross to end the interview, saying that he has the power to tell the truth about him but neglects to do it. Mankind asks JR what it is about pain that he loves, saying it hurts, especially when he can't play with his son or when a doctor injects a needle into his spine so he can wrestle one more day. He says Jim Ross has misled people by saying that he is having the time of his life when he is in pain, and inflicts the Mandible Claw on him. After the interview has aired, Jim Ross takes personal responsibility for "pushing some buttons" and asking some personal questions of Mankind.

After several months, the former Smoking Gunns finally have their rematch as Rockabilly beats his brother Bart Gunn.

The WWF Canadian Collision is coming to Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa on Friday, Saturday and Sunday!

The Hart Foundation (Bret "The Hit Man" Hart, Owen Hart, The British Bulldog, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, Brian Pillman) attack a cameraman backstage.

The Hart Foundation (Owen Hart, The British Bulldog, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, Brian Pillman) attack "Stone Cold" Steve Austin during his ring entrance, and his tag team title belt is used against him as a weapon. Mankind shows up out of nowhere and fights Pillman in the ring. Mankind takes Austin's place, and as Austin is helped to and tended to in the back, Mankind vs. Brian Pillman becomes an official, albeit impromptu, match. It is then announced that Bret "The Hit Man" Hart and "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels have both been tossed out of the building after an "unprofessional display of conduct."

Mankind beats Brian Pillman by disqualification when Owen Hart, The British Bulldog and Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart show up and attack Mankind. A hurt "Stone Cold" Steve Austin shows up, as does "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock, to even the numbers game. WWF officials keep The Hart Foundation (Owen, Bulldog, Neidhart, Pillman) from Austin then hits Shamrock with a Stone Cold Stunner.

Vince's Got A Shotgun - Shotgun Saturday Night recap for May 31, 1997

The Nation of Domination (Faarooq, Savio Vega, Crush) beats Mankind, Vader and The Undertaker after Faarooq gets Vader in a schoolboy pin. Before the match, Paul Bearer demands that The Undertaker hand him the WWF Championship, but The Undertaker hands it over to the timekeeper instead. Bearer takes it from the timekeeper and insists it is his belt now. During the match, The Undertaker makes it known that he wants no part in this match, staying far away from Mankind and Vader, hitting Vader with a cheap shot as both men are on the apron, and - at one point in the match - standing near the middle of the ring after the commercial break. After the match, Paul Bearer has to keep The Undertaker from choke slamming Vader, and The Undertaker leaves soon after before Mankind, Vader and Paul Bearer.

Blackjack Bradshaw vs. Phineas I. Godwinn ends in a double count-out after Blackjack Windham tries to drag Phineas out of the ring by his leg and Henry O. Godwinn gets physically involved.

Paul Bearer says he cannot believe that he just won a six-man tag with Mankind, Vader and The Undertaker together, and tells The Undertaker that the days of doing things are over and that he will doing things his way whether he likes it or not. The Undertaker leaves as Mankind and Vader laugh.

Vince McMahon interviews Brian Pillman. He is no stranger to "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, and as much as he hates announcers, he is glad that Vince is interviewing him as Vince knows how it feels to be stabbed in the back. Under the bright lights, cameras and hooplas of the big show, nothing masks the realities behind the scenes. He asks Austin to think back to their days in the bush leagues, when they wondered if they would ever be able to pay the note on their house. He says Austin left, shaved his hair and came back, and now the people believe in him, but he does not care. When Austin broke his ankle, it hurt a great deal and he took away the use of his left leg; however, he gave him the gift of revenge. When Austin broke into his home, he found out very quickly that he was willing to escalate the violence, and they could not even air it on television. He will do whatever it takes to Austin, saying it is what seperates him from Austin and what led Austin to the path that he has taken and believing he could erase everything they did. At King of the Ring, he says Austin had better hope that John 3:16 - and not Austin 3:16 - applies.

The Headbangers (Thrasher and Mosh) beat The Rock and Flash Funk by disqualification when Thrasher tries to use their stereo as a weapon only for Flash Funk to take it from him and hit him with it repeatedly. Referee Tim White catches Flash Funk in the act of using the stereo as a weapon, and the match is over. During the match, it is announced that "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels will defend the WWF Tag Team Championships against The Legion of Doom (Road Warrior Animal and Road Warrior Hawk) this Monday night on Raw.

Faarooq says that there is a double standard in the WWF, as he has to constantly prove himself. He calls tonight's six-man tag match a small taste of what is going to happen to The Undertaker at King of the Ring, and says there is no problem with The Nation of Domination. Now that he is #1 contender for the WWF Championship, the whole world is shaking, as a Black man has never held the title. He says that even Vince McMahon is shaking, and that it is time. He says that The Undertaker is a dead man at King of the Ring.

Tony Williams beats Scott Taylor after reversing a roll-up from Taylor into one of his own.

Raw Deal - Raw recap for April 28, 1997

Brian Pillman shows up to start tonight's show. He says there are a lot of pre-conceived notions about who he is, saying that people think he's crazy, but he is here to tell him there is a sensitive side to him, and that he's very deeply religious. Pillman has played the carnage of last week over and over in his mind and had sleepless nights, wondering if what he did was right. Thankfully, a glorious awakening overcame him, and he was overwhelmed with the spirit of truth. Since that day, he has been compelled to pray for all of everyone's misgivings. He then asks the crowd to bow their heads, close their eyes and join him in prayer. Pillman then prays for Bret "The Hit Man" Hart to have a speedy recovery, for all the people who rejoiced in the savage brutality of last week's show so that they may be forgiven, and for all those who exalted in the devious actions of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin so that they may be forgiven as well. He also prays for the millions across America who savor the bloodthirsty violence that pervades American society. Pillman breaks down, and asks everyone to continue to bond with him in prayer as he prays for the utter destruction and annihilation of Austin, and that he be stricken down in the arena tonight so that he may never again practice "his evil craft." Pillman then prays to everyone to open their hearts and minds and let Bret Hart, "the savior of the WWF," into their hearts and souls. Austin is on the TitanTron now, and tells Pillman he should pray that he doesn't beat the hell out of him, as not even Bret will be able to save Pillman's ass. Pillman says he is not afraid of him, and says "an eye for an eye" and "turn the other cheek" before facing his rear end towards the TitanTron in an attempt to taunt him. Austin shows up, and as soon as he gets in the ring, so does Owen Hart and The British Bulldog. Austin immediately gets out of the ring and leaves through the crowd. Pillman tells Owen and The Bulldog that he needs a moment of silence as he is still in prayer. He says that the family that prays together, stays together, and blesses the day and the opportunity for the three of them to show their thanks. Bulldog prays for Bret's recovery, and Owen prays for everyone to pray for Bret and help him heal, and for "Stone Cold" Steve Austin to come to the other side and realize his mistakes. As he prays for Austin, Austin takes an ax, pulls the blade off, and runs for the ring with the ax handle in his hands. Pillman, Owen and Bulldog flee through the crowd. Austin then gets back in the ring, grabs the microphone, stands on the second rope and says that he doesn't know where they're going, but their asses are his.

Brian Pillman prays that "Stone Cold" Steve Austin doesn't hurt his knee anymore so that he, Owen Hart and The British Bulldog can welcome him with their best wishes backstage.

Flash Funk beats Rockabilly after he whips him into The Honky Tonk Man, who is standing on the apron during the match. During the match, we see that an ambulance, and that Bret "The Hit Man" Hart is inside. Flash Funk confronts Honky after the match only to have a guitar smashed into his head by Rockabilly, who then stomps on Flash Funk a few times along with The Honky Tonk Man. We then see Bret on the TitanTron, who is being pushed on a wheelchair backstage. Hart says he has something to say, and he wants to say it. They are accompanied by security guards as well as WWF President Gorilla Monsoon.

Vince McMahon announces that due to the consequences of last week's Street Fight, Bret "The Hit Man" Hart underwent knee surgery this past Friday. He then announces that Hart has something on his mind and wants to share it with the world as we see footage of last week's surgery. Bret is then introduced, and Bret is brought out on the wheelchair by Owen Hart and The British Bulldog. Hart sits on the entrance ramp, and pulls out a microphone. Hart says he knows where Brian Pillman is coming from and that it is great that he is praying for him, but no matter how much he prays, every once in a while a slimy, rotten hyena breaks through and makes a kill on a real lion. Thankfully, he was not killed, only wounded, but all the prayer in the world won't help against "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, whom he calls "the scum of America." He realized last week while wrestling Austin that it wasn't just one hyena, it's a whole pack, as hyenas don't hunt by themselves. The "pack" in question is the American wrestling fans, whom he calls a disgrace around the world while the rest of the world appreciates heroes and people who stand up for the truth, both of which Hart considers himself to be. Hart says he did both things, and all he got for it is Austin trying to rip his leg off and end his career. He doesn't care what the Americans think of him, but he says he never deserved that treatment. Hart says that all you have to do is watch TV to see how blood-thirsty American wrestling fans are, and calls said fans "a sick, depraved society." He knew it would come down to this sooner or later, and that he had to lower himself to those standards and to the fans, just so he could prove he is still the best there was, the best there is and the best there ever will be. He knows the fans are getting sick of it, and that now they know what the rest of the world thinks of them. Bret says he is back, though he may be out of commission for a while. He says the ambulance that brought him here tonight should stay real close, as the likes of Austin and "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels can get a ride to the hospital. He says that this time, The Hart Foundation (Bret "The Hit Man" Hart, Owen Hart, The British Bulldog) will be dishing out pain. He tells Austin his days are numbered as he tells the American wrestling fans that they make him sick.

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin is seen backstage with the ax handle still in his hands, looking for the first aid station.

In pre-recorded comments before the next match, Doug Furnas and Phil LaFon can't figure out why they can't be accepted by the fans. They say that the people can't handle their style, and that unlike The Legion of Doom (Road Warrior Hawk and Road Warrior Animal), they are actual wrestlers, and if they had the same kind of support as The Legion, they would be tag team champions by now.

Despite the Doomsday Device being foiled, The Legion of Doom (Road Warrior Hawk and Road Warrior Animal) beat Doug Furnas and Phillip LaFon. After the match, Jim Ross interviews Furnas and LaFon, saying that everyone else has a home-field advantage every night, and that they want a rematch.

We see the Sunny Undercover segment of last week's Shotgun Saturday Night, where The Headbangers (Thrasher and Mosh) join Sunny in bed to get under the covers with her.

Ahmed Johnson is in the locker room. He apologizes for his actions from last week, and tells Faarooq that if he wants a gang fight, he's got one.

Bret "The Hit Man" Hart, Owen Hart and The British Bulldog have a meeting backstage, while Brian Pillman continues to pray in the locker room with both of Owen Hart's Slammy Awards in his hands.

Before the next match, Owen Hart shows up with Bret "The Hit Man" Hart and The British Bulldog. As Bulldog and Bret stand at the entrance ramp, Owen dedicates the match to Bret, whom he calls "the dearest thing to all of us" as he prepares to take the WWF Intercontinental Championship from Rocky Maivia.

Owen Hart beats Rocky Maivia with an unorthodox pinfall to become the WWF Intercontinental Champion! With this victory, the WWF Championship is the only title not in the possession of The Hart Foundation (Bret "The Hit Man" Hart, Owen, The British Bulldog), who celebrate on the entrance ramp.

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin is still backstage...and he has an ax handle and a wheelchair...

The intro to the show replays to signify the start of the second hour.

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin returns yet again, this time to be interviewed in the ring by Vince McMahon. Austin comes out through the crowd with the ax handle and the wheelchair, which he sits in. He asks the crowd if they want to see a wheelchair match, and says all Bret "The Hit Man" Hart has to do is wheel himself out here so he can fight him wheel to wheel, then says he's a lying S.O.B. and that he'll get out of the wheelchair, stomp a mudhole in his ass and walk it dry. He knows the last thing The Hart Foundation (Bret, Owen Hart, The British Bulldog) and Brian Pilmman want to see is him as WWF Champion. On May 11th, The Undertaker will indeed see the coldest day in Hell, as come Hell or high water and an entire family of Harts, he will whip 'Taker's ass and become the next WWF Champion. Bret then shows up on the TitanTron with , and tells Austin he will ride to the hospital in the ambulance he came in on, busted to pieces. Austin says that if anyone's going into the ambulance, it's The Hart Foundation.

Vader is back. We see the footage from Good Morning Kuwait where Vader puts his hands on an interviewer that landed him under house arrest in Kuwait before his eventual return. We then get a look at Ken Shamrock, who says he loves being a challenger and putting himself in challenging situations. He calls the WWF the biggest challenge he'll ever have yet.

Vader, no longer accompanied by Paul Bearer and Mankind, beats "Double J" Jesse James. After the match, Jim Ross interviews Vader, and asks him if he has any remorse for his actions in Kuwait. Vader says he went to Kuwait to do a job, and he did it very well. As far as remorse or regrets are concerned, he apologizes for nothing and to no one. When Jim Ross asks him if he thinks he over-reacted, Vader tells him he can finish that interview in Kuwait with Jim Ross. He takes Ross' hat off and asks if he's a big tough guy from Oklahoma as he says he didn't come here to be insulted by anybody. Ross says he's just doing his job, but Vader backs him into a corner and removes his glasses before putting his hands on him. Ken Shamrock shows up and puts Vader in a belly-to-belly suplex. Vader backs away as officials rush to the ring, and Shamrock tells Vader that when they get in the ring, it'll be hard time, not Vader time.

Goldust asks Marlena not to accompany him to the ring tonight as he applies his make-up, telling her that where he is going tonight is no place for a lady.

Goldust beats Hunter Hearst Helmsley by count-out. During the match, it is announced that headlines about Sycho Sid and Sunny are on Option 6 of the WWF Superstar Line. Also, Marlena shows up at ringside despite being asked not to by Goldust. This somehow works to Goldust's advantage when Chyna confronts Marlena, and when Goldust gets between the two women, Marlena throws powder into Chyna's face, blinding her. When Helmsley checks on Chyna, Chyna grabs Helmsley by the neck with both hands and picks him up as Goldust gets back in the ring, and Goldust beats the count. As Helmsley and Chyna leave, The Undertaker's gong plays. The Undertaker appears on the TitanTron, and says that no man deserves to have the flesh burned from the flame, but also says that the one who covets the flame ends up being burnt. 'Taker says Austin has a bit of momentum built up, but if Austin walks in distracted, he may leave in far worse shape than a wheelchair will take him.

Brian Pillman prays for The British Bulldog to have the courage to maim, cripple and torture The Undertaker and make him feel the wrath of The Hart Foundation (Bret "The Hit Man" Hart, Owen Hart, The British Bulldog) and the pain of every nail that goes into his coffin.

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin paces backstage...

The British Bulldog dedicates the next match to Bret "The Hit Man" Hart, who introduced him to his wife Diana Hart Smith (who is also Bret's sister). He says he will win the WWF Championship for him, even though this is a non-title match.

The Undertaker beats The British Bulldog by disqualification after Owen Hart attacks 'Taker before he can perform the Tombstone Piledriver on Bulldog. Owen and The Bulldog attack 'Taker, but "Stone Cold" Steve Austin shows up through the crowd to go after Owen and The Bulldog, who are sent out through the crowd by Austin and 'Taker. Austin and 'Taker go back into the ring, but Austin takes the WWF Championship with him, raises it up after standing on the second rope, then walks up to Undertaker, throws the belt down and hits him with the Stone Cold Stunner. Austin then stands over 'Taker and talks trash to his face as he leans down, which earns him a choke slam as 'Taker gets back up. Austin then sees Bret "The Hit Man" Hart on the entrance ramp by himself, and Austin tells 'Taker he'll beat his ass later as he'll beat Bret's ass now. Bret stands up on crutches, but is unable to escape. Austin moves Bret's wheelchair out of the way, but he is attacked by a big man out of nowhere. That big man is Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, Bret's brother-in-law who hasn't been seen in the WWF since 1994. Bret hits Austin with one of his crutches, sending Austin falling over the edge of the entrance ramp and onto the floor. Bret and The Anvil high-five each other, then head to the back. Officials check on Austin, who then bring out medical help. As Austin is carried out on a stretcher, the last thing we see is a smiling Brian Pillman.