Raw Deal - Raw recap for July 6, 1998

RAW

The Undertaker shows up to start tonight's show. He calls out "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, demanding a shot at the WWF Championship right now. Michael Cole is seen on the TitanTron, looking for Austin backstage to see if he will answer the challenge. Michael Cole finds him, but Austin is in no mood to talk as he makes his way to the ring. Austin gets in the ring, but WWF owner Vince McMahon angrily interrupts, and says the inmates are attempting to run the asylum. Vince says nobody named him the #1 contender, and asks Austin who the hell he thinks he is, defending the WWF Championship whenever he wants against whomever he wants. Vince tells Austin he defends the title when he says so, and against an opponent of his choosing. However, since both men are so hell-bent to get it on, he is inclined to allow that to happen at Fully Loaded, and he doesn't care if they tear each other apart. However, he takes it one step further, and says they will be a tag team instead of opponents when they face Kane and Mankind at the event. Also, since The Undertaker is so hell-bent on being #1 contender for the WWF Championship, Vince will name a #1 contender for the title, and everyone will hang on his every word. Vince then salutes Austin with the middle finger, lest anyone misunderstand how he feels about Austin being WWF Champion. This enrages Austin, who heads right up the ramp to go after Vince.

Savio Vega beats Brakkus by points to continue to the next round of the Brawl For All Tournament.

"The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock beats "Double J" Jeff Jarrett by disqualification after Mabel, who has not been seen in the WWF since 1995, jumps the guardrail, gets in the ring and attacks Shamrock. Edge is seen in the crowd during the match. After the match, it is feared that Ken Shamrock has suffered rib injuries at the hands of Mabel, but even then, Shamrock is able to get up under his own power.

Michael Cole interviews "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock, who tells Cole he doesn't need his sympathy and challenges Mabel to a match tonight if he is any kind of a man.

Cader vs. Bradshaw comes to an end after Kane and Mankind attack both men. Before the match, it is announced that The New Age Outlaws ("Road Dog" Jesse James and "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn) will be defending the WWF Tag Team Championships against Kane and Mankind next week on Raw.

Paul Ellering is seen riding a motorcycle along with Skull and 8-Ball as they make their way to the ring before the next match, then guests on commentary to say that is time to write the final chapter of L.O.D. 2000 (Road Warrior Animal and Road Warrior Hawk), as they are prisoners of their own memories.

The Disciples of Apocalypse (Skull and 8-Ball) beat The Headbangers (Thrasher and Mosh).

D'Lo Brown, now wearing the chest protector to protect his torn pectoral muscles during the match - yet is also perceived to be giving D'Lo an edge during matches by being used as a weapon - beats Terry Funk after "The Godfather" Kama Mustafa punches Terry Funk in the back with a fist with his gold necklace wrapped around it in response for being knocked off the apron by Funk. After the match, The Undertaker shows up and fights off both D'Lo Brown and Kama Mustafa before choke slamming both men. Terry Funk grabs onto The Undertaker to pull himself up, but The Undertaker choke slams him, too.

WAR ZONE

WWF owner Vince McMahon shows up. Before he names a #1 contender for the WWF Championship, he asks for a few individuals to come to the ring: Mankind, Kane, and The Undertaker. All three of them head to the ring. Vince says that Mankind risked life and limb at King of the Ring, and that he feels his pain and his hurt before publicly thanking him for all he's done for the World Wrestling Federation. He then addresses Kane, saying he is one of the stupidest men he has ever seen in his life for his actions last week, which causes Kane to nearly attack him, but Vince tells him that a lot of people are forgiven for a lot of things around here, and admires the fact that Kane risked setting himself on fire if he lost at King of the Ring. Vince then addresses The Undertaker, whom he calls "an evil, diabolical excuse for a human being" for almost taking Mankind's life and setting Kane on fire in an Inferno Match at Unforgiven, but questions if The Undertaker knows he is better than "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and wants to be champion again more than than life itself. He then announces that the three of them will compete in a Triple Threat Match to see who the next #1 contender for the WWF Championship is.

Road Warrior Hawk and Darren Drozdov fight to a draw in the Brawl For All Tournament, with neither man advancing. During the match, Road Warrior Hawk loses his mouthpiece in the first round and Brawl For All referee Danny Hodge has to put it back in. It happens again in the third round, but Droz spits his mouthguard out and they go the rest of the round without their mouthguards.

"Marvelous" Marc Mero and Jacqueline show up, and Jacqueline speaks for the first time in the WWF. Jacqueline says she's been quiet long enough, and says she takes full responsibility for Mero losing last week. She knows Mero is the greatest boxer in the world, and blames their two-month anniversary where "they went 12 rounds" until "his tank was empty." Jacqueline goes on to say that Mero was deprived for a very long time before she met him, and says "Sable wasn't able" to fulfill his needs. Jacqueline says that Sable looks good, but that there's no motor under the hood, and couldn't shift into gear when Mero was ready to steer. Sable shows up, and tells Jacqueline she's got the story all wrong, and that she's always got the pedal to the metal but "Mark's tire was flat," and that Viagra wasn't around to keep his tank full. Jacqueline tells Sable the difference between them is that she's "100% woman" and knows what a man wants because she's got the goods, and that her body is prime real estate. Sable retorts by saying that the real question is "How many times have you rented it out?" Jacqueline calls Sable a skank, and tells her to prove it by challenging her to a bikini contest. Sable tells Jacqueline "Don't just blow it, show it" and that her bikini will be fully loaded and ready to drop the bomb on her.

Before the next match, Val Venis tells the crowd they are looking at the only man who has scored more times in Beaver Stadium than Joe Paterno.

Val Venis beats Dustin Runnels by disqualification after he is attacked from behind by Kaientai (DIck Togo, Men's Teioh, Sho Funaki). During the match, Edge is seen in the crowd again. After the match, Yamaguchi-san shows up with is wife, then Kaientai pick Val Venis up after attacking him and Yamaguchi-san tells Venis he is only have the man he is before slapping and mocking him.

The Nation of Domination shows up, but it is really D-Generation X ("Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna, X-Pac, "Road Dog" Jesse James, "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn) with impersonator Jason Sensation. Triple H is "The Crock" (a parody of "The Rock" Rocky Maivia, with "IC" in black tape stuck to the European Championship), Jason Sensation is Owen Hart, X-Pac is "Mizark Henry" (a parody of "The World's Strongest Man" Mark Henry complete with blackface and a fat suit), "Road Dog" Jesse James is "B-Lo" (a parody of D'Lo Brown with an umpire's vest with white tape in the center with the words "B-Lo" written on it in black), and "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn is The Gunnfather (a parody of "The Godfather" Kama Mustafa). Chyna shows up as Chyna. Triple H makes a bathroom joke, then Road Dogg makes fun of D-Lo's top rope mannerisms before laying down face up in the center of the ring so that Triple H can make fun of The People's Elbow. Triple H then stops before elbow (with Road Dogg getting up) and says it when it comes to "The Crock" and the ladies, when he hits rock bottom, he has no choice but "to lay the smack down on himself." Road Dogg repeats the masturbation reference, then gets on the top rope and makes fun of D'Lo again. Jason Sensation says enough is enough and it's time for a chance, but nobody listens to him or cares what he thinks. He then asks what he is doing wearing his ridiculous outfit, as he looks like "a damn road sign" before asking if he is a school crossing. He then goes on to say he tried being a tough guy, but he just couldn't grow his damn beard in. He also says he is not a nugget, and that he is a black Hart, a winner and a soul survivor. He then says that if anyone smells what The Rock is cooking, it's him, and tells the crowd "Look how big my damn nose is!" he then asks if he is an aardvark. Road Dogg repeats the last question, then X-Pac gets on the microphone and says what The Rock is cooking "smells like shit" but he'll eat some anyway. Triple H says "Mizark" is "The World's Strongest Man," but asks how his pecs go all the way to his back. Road Dogg tries to repeat the last statement, but is told to shut up. He mocks D'Lo again anyway. DX then tells The Nation to suck it.

"The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock beats Mabel after catching Mabel on the way down from the top rope, putting him in a Fujiwara arm bar and then floating over to the ankle lock. Shamrock snaps and refuses to let go of the hold after the match is over, and when WWF Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter and referees try to calm him down, Shamrock lets go only to punch Mabel in the face a few times before scaring everyone off again. WWF owner Vince McMahon and Paul Bearer show up as everyone is on the way, and Vince congratulates Shamrock on the way to the commentary table to be special guest commentary for the next match.

No sooner does WWF owner Vince McMahon sit at the table does "Stone Cold" Steve Austin show up. Vince accuses Austin of stealing the spotlight from The Undertaker, Kane and Mankind, then Austin flips him off and also guests on commentary, wanting to know first-hand who the #1 contender to the WWF Championship. The Undertaker, however, fails to show up, and Vince leaves the table, sensing something is wrong. Vince McMahon tells ring announcer Tony Chimel to announce that The Undertaker is not here due to being "chickenshit," and that Vince has determined that the match to determine a #1 contender for the WWF Championship will be a one-on-one match between Kane and Mankind. Not only that, but it is a no-holds-barred and falls count anywhere in the building. Mankind sits near the stairs, saying he has given enough and will not give any more, as he will not fight his friend Kane. Vince rings the bell and tells Kane to fight Mankind. Kane gets out of the ring, grabs a steel chair, then smacks it into Mankind's head, driving it into the steel steps. Kane then rolls Mankind into the ring, drags him to the center of the ring, and pins Mankind with the Tombstone Piledriver cover. Kane then unmasks...and it's The Undertaker. The show immediately ends.

Raw Deal - Raw recap for October 6, 1997

Vince McMahon starts the show with the announcement of Brian Pillman's passing in his hotel room in Bloomington, Minnesota yesterday, and that the WWE Superstars have put aside their personal differences at this time for a ten-bell salute to Pillman.

Michael Cole interviews "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, who is accompanied by Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Chyna. Shawn has sixteen stitches to his head from the events of last night's Hell In A Cell, when he was busted open. Shawn decides to give Michael Cole an official welcome from "the clique" by giving him a wedgie, then states that any hopes and dreams of putting him to an end at Badd Blood have been crushed, saying he is here and The Undertaker is not as he proved to the world that he is simply the very best sports entertainer in the world today and that last night was the proof. His status as Superstar in the WWF has been elevated to "the one true icon in the World Wrestling Federation." He says that the term "icon" has been thrown around loosely, and says that he is not "one of those fossils" and that he is "one of those icons who can still go." Helmsley states that what Shawn has states is "the everloving truth," and when he asks who is the man, the showstopper, the main event, Shawn says it is him. When asked who the greatest force in professional wrestling is, Shawn say it is "The Kliq." Shawn then asks the producers to show "some of the fine performance of The Heartbreak Kid" on the TitanTron, which takes a while to do due to technical difficulties. All of a sudden, the May 19th, 1996 footage from Madison Square Garden (otherwise known as "The Curtain Call"), and Helmsley and Shawn make fun of it before the footage vanishes off the TitanTron and Shawn and Helmsley head to the commentary table and give Vince a hard time by saying his father is spinning in his grave from the event and that they made an ass out of him. This continues into the commercial break, and when the show comes back on, The Hart Foundation (Bret "The Hit Man" Hart, Owen Hart, The British Bulldog, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart) show up and says Shawn has no respect for anything or anybody and is a disgrace to professional wrestling. Hart says he is a second-generation wrestler who has paid his due, and calls Shawn the lowest form of scum he's ever come across and a degenerate, and calls both Shawn and Helmsley "a homo," saying that Helmsley barebacked his way to the main event and that he makes more money than Helmsley, Shawn and Chyna combined. Bret doesn't care what Shawn says until he takes the WWF Championship away from him. He says that he ran Razor Ramon and Diesel out of town and that he'll do the same with them, starting with Helmsley, and offers Helmsley a challenge to step in the ring with him. Shawn asks Bret if he wants Helmsley to wrestle him, and Bret says he wants Helmsley as he has Shawn at Survivor Series, when he will kick his scrawny little ass. Shawn has two words for Bret: suck it. He then says Bret makes more money, but he doesn't have more money as he works 24/7 to get his money and the business needs him, Helmsley, Chyna and "Ravishing" Rick Rude, who is seen at ringside. He then says the only way to get into the main event at Survivor Series is to wrestle him; otherwise, Bret Hart is a paper champion and just support on his pay-per-view matches. He then says he and The Kliq will continue to rule the World Wrestling Federation from now until when he decides differently, and that Bret didn't destroy The Kliq as he has confused expansion with destruction (a reference to Razor Ramon and Diesel heading to WCW). Shawn finishes by saying that The Kliq will own Bret.

We see the inside of Brian Pillman's home as we learn that Brian's wife Melanie Pillman will be interviewed later tonight.

The Headbangers (Thrasher and Mosh) beat The Godwinns (Henry O. and Phineas I. Godwinn) in a lumberjack match after all the lumberjacks get in the ring and fight each other.

Jim Cornette is seen in the back with his microphone being set up, telling someone not to get a heart attack when he gets to Eric Bischoff as he has a lot to say tonight and that he is going to have some fun.

In footage from earlier today, Miguel Perez of Los Boricuas says he is up against Marc Mero, and that he will finish him in two minutes.

Marc Mero - now with a new attitude and appearance and no longer called "Wildman" - beats Miguel Perez with a new finisher, which is as yet unnamed.

Jim Cornette starts off by saying that the following is his opinion and is not necessarily that of his employers. Cornette says a lot of things in wrestling makes him cranky this way, especially how some people such as "The Enforcer" Arn Anderson and "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair are treated by fans and promoters, but also Mick Foley and The New World Order. He says The New World Order are like a bunch of guys hanging out in the backyard in a clubhouse in a tree, who have the easiest job in the world and just have to be themselves - childish, obnoxious adolescent guys with a case of severe arrested emotional development and a fixation on trying to act macho. He says Kevin Nash has six moves, no mobility, and enough timing to make up for some of it. He also calls Nash a manipulator, saying that WWF pushed him to star status only to head to WCW for a big contract. He says Scott Hall is a good wrestler but couldn't put three asses in a set for ten years and left for WCW a big contract much like Nash did. He mentions Sean Waltman (also known as The 1-2-3 Kid and Syxx), who he says is only employed because the other guys think it is funny when he gets drunk and throws up all over himself, and that Sean is the only man "since this whole wrestling war started" that was released from a valid contract from one company to go to the other, saying that this shows how valuable Sean is. He says that Nash, Hall and Waltman all have the push they have gotten thanks to Eric Bischoff, the boss of WCW, and mentions that Bischoff's name is on the credits of every pay-per-view and that he likes to throw millions of dollars around just like water to hire guys he likes to hang out with. Cornette calls Bischoff a "mark" for himself as well as for "big, studly guys with long hair and beards who like to smoke cigars and ride Harleys so some of that can rub off on his pansy-ass frame," and says he hires them to "prove his Johnson is bigger than everybody else's." He says it is about time for the fans and promoters recognize guys like Anderson, Flair and Foley who bust their ass and have ability and talent to get where they are instead of guys who hang around with the boss and suck up to him.

The British Bulldog beats Rocky Maivia. After the match, Faarooq whips at The Hart Foundation (Bret "The Hit Man" Hart, Owen Hart, Bulldog, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart) with his belt, starting a brawl between The Hart Foundation and The Nation of Domination (Faarooq, D'Lo Brown, Kama Mustafa, Maivia) that is quickly broken up.

The intro to the show is replayed to signal the start of War Zone.

We see footage from yesterday of a packed entrance to the Kiel Arena in St. Louis, Missouri prior to the events of Badd Blood.

Vince McMahon interviews "Stone Cold" Steve Austin in the ring. Vince tells Austin he hopes that he has made the right decision, and Austin says he hopes so too or else he'll whip Vince's ass. Austin says he struck Faarooq with the Intercontinental Championship because he does what he wants when he wants, and if he doesn't want to answer Vince's questions, he doesn't have to and he doesn't care if Vince owns the World Wrestling Federation or not. Vince sees that Austin is not carrying a doctor's certificate that medically clears him, and Austin says he hasn't seen the doctor and therefore doesn't have on. Vince says he has a release from absolving World Wrestling Federation of any and all liability in his hands, and all Austin has to do is sign it. Austin says Vine is telling the truth when he calls him "the toughest S.O.B. in the WWF," but if he were to sign his piece of paper, he'd be "the dumbest S.O.B. in the WWF, and that ain't true." Austin says he'll sign the form if Vince signs a contract giving him a match against Owen Hart in a match for the Intercontinental Championship at Survivor Series. Vince says he's got his match and offers to shake his hand, but Austin tells him to put his hand down and tells him to show him the contract. All of a sudden, Faarooq shows up on the TitanTron, saying he will kick Austin's ass for thinking that running around with tattoos makes him tough and that his ass is his for sticking his nose in The Nation of Domination's (Faarooq, D'Lo Brown, Kama Mustafa, Rocky Maivia) business. Austin tells Faarooq he'll take the entire Nation on after his legal troubles are over, saying it's not a race thing, it's not a color thing, it's a "me kicking your ass" thing and that nobody can stop him. On his way out, Austin kicks Jerry "The King" Lawler's crown into the crowd.

Road Warrior Hawk says Owen Hart and The Hart Foundation (Bret "The Hit Man" Hart, Owen, The British Bulldog, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart) are like a loogie he can't seem to expel, and that Owen will be the shortest-reigning Intercontinental Champion that ever was as it takes one good hock to get rid of the loogie.

13,245 people are in the crowd tonight, setting a new WWF Kansas City, Missouri record.

Before the next match, Owen Hart says he can't wait to see "Stone Cold" Steve Austin reinstated so he can get his hands on him after what happened last night. He says he is not scared of Austin, and if Austin wants to get back in the ring, all he has to do is get back in and take his best shot.

Owen Hart retains the WWF Intercontinental Championship against Road Warrior Hawk. During the match, The Godwinns (Henry O. and Phineas I. Godwinn) and Uncle Cletus show up, and nearly cost Road Warrior Hawk the match by hitting him in the back with the slop bucket. Road Warrior Animal shows up and fights off The Godwinns, but Uncle Cletus distracts the ref and allows Henry O. Godwinn to get a cheap shot on Hawk with Uncle Cletus' horseshoe to give Owen the win.

Vince McMahon interviews Melanie Pillman via satellite from Walton, Kentucky. Melanie says that there was a problem with his heart, which was put under a lot of stress and caused him to die of a heart attack in his sleep, though the results are still inconclusive. It is mentioned that Pillman has had to take prescription medication due to the car accident that he was in in recent years. Melanie says things were harder for Brian after the accident, and feels it would have been a matter of time before a reliance of pain medication would claim someone's life and that life was unfortunately Brian's and it could be anybody next. Melanie says that his youngest son doesn't understand why his dad isn't coming back, but her adopted daughter Brittany understands after losing her biological parents. When asked what she will do to support her five children, Melanie says she has no idea and that the outpouring of support from the fans is helping her go on. She wants Brian to be remembered as one of the most compassionate, loving men ever and the greatest father in the world who also loved and lived and died for the business, and she hopes nobody else has to die.

We see a video tribute to the life and times of Brian Pillman.

The Hardy Boyz (Jeff and Matt Hardy) are about to face The Truth Commission (Recon, Sniper, The Interrogator) when Kane and Paul Bearer show up. Kane choke slams the Hardys before tossing Matt out of the ring and tossing Jeff right into Matt. Paul Bearer dares everyone to laugh at him, saying everyone should be laughing at The Undertaker as the proof that Kane is still alive is here. He says the people saw The Undertaker's face when he saw Kane for the first time in 20 years and knew it was him, and calls this the stop side on his highway to eternity. He says that he and Kane will destroy every Superstar in the WWF until they reach The Undertaker, and tells him that Kane will be behind his shoulder and that he will think of the fire every time he goes to sleep. Paul Bearer then welcomes The Undertaker to his worst nightmare.

Hunter Hearst Helmsley - now officially known as Triple H - beats Bret "The Hit Man" Hart by count-out. During the match, "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels shows up and sticks Bret's Canadian flag in his left nostril, and Owen Hart and Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart show up soon after. When "Ravishing" Rick Rude arrives, he goes after Owen and The Anvil with the briefcase, allowing Shawn to hit Bret with a superkick after Chyna keeps Bret from putting the Figure Four Leg Lock on the ring post on Helmsley.

Friday Night's Main Event - Recap for August 29, 1997

"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels shows up with a steel chair in his hands to start tonight's show. Three weeks ago, he couldn't get anyone in the WWF to agree with him that what happened at SummerSlam was a mistake, but now everyone says it was a mistake. He says everyone conveniently believes him after what happened last week, when he was painted into a corner and into a situation where he had no other choice but to react. He says there are guys in the WWF with bad attitudes who call themselves ticking time bombs, but in the real world, he is the ticking time bomb who will be forced to be reactionary when painted into a corner and lash out without thinking. He says what happened last week was just that, and he has said over and over not to push him, but he was pushed too far and a reaction occurred. While it may not be the reaction everyone wants, it is a reaction nonetheless, and now everyone believes he has signed his own death warrant. Shawn then says there is only one guy who decides what he does and does not do: himself. One thing he will not do at Ground Zero is lay down and die for The Undertaker. He freely admits he did not want any of this to happen, but since he is the only guy with "a set of balls" in the World Wrestling Federation, he will go ahead and take whatever is coming to him. He tells The Undertaker have never, ever crossed paths, and at Ground Zero, he will lock up, and if The Undertaker wants to bring him down, he might be able to bring him down, but he will take The Undertaker and everyone else with him as he is going in a blaze of fire. After being agitated by crowd chants for The Undertaker, he threatens to get in the crowd and beat people. He then suggests that The Undertaker that it is not him will go down at Ground Zero, but it will be him who becomes the first person to make The Undertaker rest in peace permanently, the first time with a steel chair and the second probable time with a Mack truck, and he will dance all over his corpse when he is done.

Before the next match, Vader pumps the crowd up by saying it's Vader Time. When Bret "The Hit Man" Hart shows up, he says he can't understand how "a big tube of shit" can get a WWF Championship shot out of thin air, then tells him "I'm gonna kick your ass." Bret gets walloped with a clothesline as he threatens to "kick [Vader's] fat ass" before Vader breaks the wooden pole of Bret's Canadian flag over his knee.

Vader beats Bret "The Hit Man" Hart by disqualification when Owen Hart and The British Bulldog attack Vader before Vader can attack Bret with a steel chair that Bret has introduced into the match. Bret then tries to break Vader's legs with a Figure Four Leg Lock on the ring post, but that is broken up by The Patriot, who fights Bret at ringside as referees and officials try to restore order. Bret "The Hit Man" Hart retains the WWF Championship. Jim Ross interviews The Patriot, who says there is no relationship between him and Vader, and says he will not let anyone get triple-teamed. He plans to throw a wrench in Bret's Ground Zero plans with his fists.

Is Brian Pillman telling the truth about him and Marlena? Check out The Ross Report on Option 3 on the WWF Superstar Line!

Sunny guests on commentary for the next match, announcing that she will be doing some interviews later tonight.

Goldust beats Salvatore Sincere. After the match, Brian Pillman is seen up in the crowd, saying it won't be long until Marlena spends 30 days and "30 long nights" with a real man, and asks how Dakota is doing. He apologizes to Goldust for him having to find out the hard way that "The Loose Cannon doesn't shoot blanks." Goldust jumps the guardrail and looks for Pillman in the crowd.

Dude Love beats Rockabilly. Jim Ross interviews Dude Love after the match, and Dude Love that "Stone Cold" Steve Austin is anything but cool right now, but whether they keep the tag team titles or not, he will not stand alone as Austin is his horse whether he runs the race or not, as Austin doesn't take crap from anybody. Dude then dances with two women after the match.

Sunny interviews Bret "The Hit Man" Hart. Bret tells her to get out, and Owen Hart tells Sunny to tell WWF Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter to give "Stone Cold" Steve Austin back into the ring so he can end his career.

The Undertaker shows up. The Undertaker gives "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels credit where credit is due, as he can "swing the hell out of a chair" and can run his mouth like nobody else in the WWF. He tells Shawn there is a reason they have not touched in the last 10 years because he wanted somebody to go untouched and tell the story of The Undertaker, but Shawn ruined it. He then condemns Shawn to "an eternity of hell," and says that after 10 years, he thought he would be smarter, for as hard as he hit him, he should have known he was going to get up. The Undertaker then says he will continue to get up time and time again, because he gets up, takes people down and takes their souls. Next week, he will make an example of Hunter Hearst Helmsley, and leave as much of his rotting carcass to take back to the dressing room to show him what he has in store. When the blood flowed, he signed Shawn's death sentence with it, and Shawn will soon rest in peace.

Road Warrior Hawk beats The British Bulldog by disqualification after Owen Hart attacks him as he goes to the top rope. The Godwinns (Henry O. and Phineas I. Godwinn) show up during the match to watch from the stage. Animal takes Owen down shortly after, and The Godwinns, Owen and the Bulldog leave soon afterwards.

Sunny interviews Los Boricuas (Savio Vega, Miguel Perez, Jesus Estrada, Jose Castillo Jr.) in the locker room. They just wanted to have a nice ride with The Disciples of Apocalypse's (Crush, Chainz, Skull, 8-Ball) bikes before WWF Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter forced them to return them. As for the Triple Threat Match at Ground Zero, he cannot wait to get in the ring with Faarooq for firing him and with Crush because he doesn't like him as he is always talking about Puerto Ricans.

The Disciples of Apocalypse (Crush and Chainz) beats The Nation of Domination (Faarooq and Rocky Maivia) by disqualification after Los Boricuas (Savio Vega, Miguel Perez, Jesus Estrada, Jose Castillo Jr.) attack Crush at ringside. D'Lo Brown and Kama Mustafa get involved, as does Skull and 8-Ball, and it turns into a 12-man brawl between The Nation (Faarooq, D'Lo Brown, Kama Mustafa, The Rock), The D.O.A. (Crush, Chainz, Skull, 8-Ball) and Los Boricuas. Referees, officials and even WWF Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter are forced to get in the ring and restore order, and Dave Hebner gets body slammed in the brouhaha.

Taka Michinoku beats Jerry Lynn in a Light Heavyweight Division match.

The Truth Commission (Recon and Sniper) beats The Headbangers (Thrasher and Mosh) after Sniper distracts the referee and The Interrogator knocks Thrasher off the top rope. Recon grabs the skirt during the pinfall.

Sunny announces that she will interview Rick Rude next week.

Next week: Owen Hart vs. The Patriot!

Raw Deal - Raw recap for August 11, 1997

"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels shows up to start tonight's show. It is announced that Shawn will take on Mankind tonight, and Shawn gets everyone up to speed on what's been happening. Shawn says he had a job to do at SummerSlam, and he did it. If WWF doesn't want to step up and take responsibility for what happened and wants to throw it in his lap instead, he's not worried as he's had plenty in his lap before. He says either you're with him or against him. As for Mankind, he had to find out while he was sitting at home watching Superstars because Vince McMahon didn't tell him over the phone. The crowd chants "Shawn is gay," and Shawn responds by asking "Why don't you ask your sister and your mama how gay Shawn is?" He then tells Mankind he'll see him in a few, then invites The Undertaker to watch him smack Mankind around, and if he can beat Mankind, he can beat him. He then says WWF officials have put him on his private hit list, and have the new Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter calling the shot. He tells Slaughter that if he can stick his chin in his business, he's got another thing coming as nobody steals the spotlight and he wants it all. The crowd then chants that Shawn is gay again. Slaughter shows up and tells Shawn that he's listened to what he has to say, and says he's right about him not wanting his chin in his business, but he's going to put it there anyway. He says he's been in the spotlight so many times Shawn couldn't count them all, then tells Shawn that if he thinks he's here to play games, he's wrong. Anything he says, does or decides is for the betterment of the World Wrestling Federation, not Shawn Michaels. As far as Shawn's match with Mankind is concerned, it's time for Shawn to put up or shut up. Shawn tells him that his life is in danger in the WWF, and that he's got a big insurance policy.

We hear from fans who they think will win between "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels and Mankind.

Road Warrior Hawk gets ready for his Country Whippin' Match against Henry O. Godwinn backstage.

Owen Hart and The British Bulldog guest on commentary for the next match.

Before the next match, Henry O. Godwinn explains the Country Whippin' Match: two men have a leather strap and both men whip each other until one man can take no more. Henry O. says that this is the way matters are settled back home and that he will whip the hide off of Road Warrior Hawk's back.

On the newest issue of WWF Magazine, there is an article about what is going on behind the scenes between The Godwinns (Henry O. and Phineas I. Godwinn) and their former manager Hillbilly Jim.

Road Warrior Hawk beats Henry O. Godwinn in a Country Whippin' Match after Phineas I. Godwinn and Road Warrior Animal get involved and Animal sends both Godwinns out of the ring with the Godwinns' slop bucket. During the match, Owen Hart and The British Bulldog argue over which of them will challenge The Patriot to a match.

Inside specially marked packages of Stridex are three limited edition WWF trading cards! There are six in all: "The Heartbreak Kid' Shawn Michaels, Bret "The Hit Man" Hart, Sycho Sid, Ahmed Johnson, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and The Undertaker.

Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter tells Brian Pillman to wear a dress once again.

Goldust and Marlena guest on commentary for the next match.

Scott Putski beats Tony Williams in a Light Heavyweight Division match. During the match, we see security footage of Brian Pillman's locker room, courtesy of a "golden handicam" placed there courtesy of Goldust and Marlena, where we see Pillman angrily change into the dress only to fail miserably and throw things around in the locker room. After the match, Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter tells Goldust and Marlena to leave, which they do.

The Undertaker tells "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels he will watch his match against Mankind, then tells him that no insurance policy will be necessary at Ground Zero except burial insurance.

Goldust talks about his life and his relationship with his father Dusty Rhodes in the newest issue of Raw Magazine, on newsstands tomorrow.

Flash Funk beats Brian Pillman with an inside cradle when Goldust and Marlena show up and distract Pillman with the "golden handicam" footage of Pillman changing into the dress. During the match, it is announced that Extreme Championship Wrestling's Hardcore Heaven event will air on pay-per-view Sunday night. Also, Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter announces that both Owen Hart and The British Bulldog will both take on The Patriot and a partner of The Patriot's choosing later tonight on War Zone, and that The Patriot's partner will not be announced until the match starts.

We see footage of fans chanting for Dude Love from earlier today.

Vince McMahon interviews Dude Love. We see two of Dude Love's groupies in the front row. Dude Love feels that "Stone Cold" Steve Austin will be coming back soon. As for the Fatal Four-Way for the tag titles, he hopes that their opponents - The Legion of Doom (Road Warrior Animal and Road Warrior Hawk), The Godwinns (Henry O. and Phineas I. Godwinn) and the team of Owen Hart and The British Bulldog - have more than one life, if you know what he means. As for who might win between Mankind and "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, he knows both men and if he had to take a guess, he would say Mankind would rock and roll all over Shawn with the Mandible Claw. Shawn appears on the TitanTron, wishing someone would knock Dude Love out so hard he wakes up in the 21st century, and tells him he's not The Heartbreak Kid or himself, for that matter. He says Mankind will see his new insurance policy live and in living color, and he's sticking his foot down Mankind's throat with some Sweet Chin Music. Dude Love quotes John Lennon "I am we, and you are we, and we are all together," and that Mankind will tear Shawn up. Dude Love then parties in the ring with the two groupies.

We hear some more fan predictions on the match between "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels and Mankind.

The Patriot talks to his mystery partner backstage, saying that it's time to take care of business tonight.

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

Before the next match, Owen Hart dedicates the next match to Bret "The Hit Man" Hart, who is watching from backstage.

The Patriot's partner is revealed to be "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock.

The Patriot and "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock beat Owen Hart and The British Bulldog. During the match, Bret "The Hit Man" Hart, who is initially seen watching the match from backstage, shows up to watch the match from the stage. When Bret tries to walk down the entrance ramp, Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter shows up and stops Bret, distracting Shamrock and the referee and allowing Owen Hart to place a steel chair in the ring. This, however, backfires when Shamrock catches Owen sneaking up on him and The Patrio slams The British Bulldog into the steel chair.

On the WWF Superstar Line, option 3 has news on why Ahmed Johnson was booted from The Nation of Domination as well as the future of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.

We see footage of Bret "The Hit Man" Hart saying that he is proud to be Canadian right now and that Americans are going to have a harder time accepting that the WWF Champion is not American. We then see footage from Toronto Peason International Airport from last Tuesday where the Canadian fans show their support for Bret as 15,000 fans showed up to see Bret come back from SummerSlam. Bret says that he will carry the WWF Championship with honor for his fans all over the rest of the world.

"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels is caught backstage talking to someone in a suit who might be his "insurance policy."

The Patriot is here to prove his success in the WWF is no fluke, and says Bret "The Hit Man" Hart is not untouchable. He is suddenly attacked with a steel chair by Bret, and referees have to get Bret away from The Patriot.

Faarooq beats Chainz after referee Jack Doan is accidentally knocked down. Suddenly, Rocky Maivia shows up, checks on the referee and suddenly attacks Chainz. Before the match, it is announced that the rest of The Nation of Domination and The Disciples of Apocalypse have all been banned from ringside for the match. During the match, it is announced that Ahmed Johnson has re-injured his knee. After the match, Rocky Maivia reveals that he has joined The Nation of Domination when he raises his fist along with Faarooq.

Rocky Maivia is seen with The Nation of Domination (Faarooq, D'Lo Brown, Kama Mustafa) backstage, and the cameraman is kicked out of The Nation of Domination's locker room. Suddenly, The Disciples of Apocalypse (Crush, Skull, 8-Ball, Chainz) try to break into the room.

Sable shows up to be the guest ring announcer for the next match, but that match doesn't happen as The Patriot shows up, grabs the microphone and says he can take any man, one-on-one, face to face, and won't back down from anybody. He tells Bret "The Hit Man" Hart that if he wants to prove he's the man and champ he says he is, then they don't have to wait until September, and that they can do it right now. Bret shows up, Canadian flag in hand, and both Bret and The Patriot brawl. The rest of The Hart Foundation (Owen Hart, The British Bulldog, Brian Pillman) show up and gang up on The Patriot, and referees get into the ring before Bret can lock the Sharpshooter onto The Patriot. As The Foundation covers The Patriot with the Canadian flag, Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter shows up to try to restore order.

Mankind tells "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels that he hopes the insurance policy he talks about is life insurance, because when he thinks about him he gets a lump in his throat from emotion. He then says Shawn will have a lump in his throat, too, but instead of emotion, it will be his liver.

We see another vignette for Brakus.

Mankind shows up before the next match with a trash can and tosses it into the ring. It ends up being used as a weapon quickly by "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, which referee Earl Hebner somehow allows. Mankind - now with the garbage bag over his head and shoulders like a poncho - gets the Mandible Claw on Shawn, but Shawn hits him with a low blow.

"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels. During the match, Hunter Hearst Helmsley - now in a white T-shirt and black pants - and Chyna are seen walking down the entrance ramp. We later see the man in the suit from earlier, who is now walking down the ramp: "Ravishing" Rick Rude, straight out of Extreme Championship Wrestling. As Chyna distracts the referee, Rick Rude hits Mankind in the head with a steel chair and Shawn hits the Sweet Chin Music for the win. After the match, The Undertaker makes his presence known as Chyna, Rick Rude and Hunter Hearst Helmsley all get on the apron. Paul Bearer is seen on the TitanTron, telling him that his brother Kane is coming and that he will burn in Hell. The last thing we see before the show ends is fire.

Nitro-Glycerin - Monday Nitro recap for November 20, 1995

Scott "Flash" Norton beats The Shark.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews Jimmy Hart and The Taskmaster. Hart tells Sting tonight is his night and that he can beat Hulk Hogan tonight, and tries to drive a wedge between him and Hogan by saying that "Macho Man" Randy Savage is Hogan's "new best friend." The Taskmaster says that Hogan was stupid enough to hand the WCW World Heavyweight Championship to Jimmy Hart, and with World War 3 on the horizon, The Dungeon of Doom (The Taskmaster, The Giant, The Shark, Zodiac, Meng, Hugh Morris) will finally have him alone in the ring.

Disco Inferno shows up and dances at the entrance ramp again, and this time he shills his album. Eddie Guerrero shows up and tells him to back off. Eddie Guerrero is supposed to face Ric Flair, but when Flair shows up, he is in street clothes. He calls WCW having him fight Guerrero a mistake, and lets Flyin' Brian wrestle him instead.

Eddie Guerrero beats Flyin' Brian.

This Saturday on WCW Saturday Night: Lex Luger! Hugh Morris! V.K. Wallstreet! Disco Inferno!

Road Warrior Hawk beats Big Bubba with the help of "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, who trips up Big Bubba as he tries to hit him with a taped-up hand with a foreign object inside.

Before Sting vs. Hulk Hogan, "Macho Man" Randy Savage, now with his arm in a sling, shows up and tries to coax Hulk Hogan out. As Sting watches the entrance ramp, Hulk Hogan shows up from out of the crowd with the black mask over his face. He puts his hand on Sting's shoulder, catching Sting by surprise.

Sting vs. Hulk Hogan ends with The Dungeon of Doom (The Taskmaster, Jimmy Hart, The Giant, Zodiac, Hugh Morris, The Shark) interfering in the match. For the first time, The Dungeon of Doom attack Sting. "Macho Man" Randy Savage tries to stop The Giant with a chair, but it has no effect and The Giant choke slams him. This gives Hogan and Sting time to double-team The Giant with the steel chair, knocking The Giant out of the ring.

Jimmy Hard and The Taskmaster harass the commentary table after the commercial break and break Bobby "The Brain" Heenan's headset.

Nitro-Glycerin - Monday Nitro recap for October 9, 1995

It is announced that a restraining order has been issued against The Taskmaster and The Giant, keeping them from entering the building. Sting shows up at the commentary table and says that the tiff between Lex Luger and "Macho Man" Randy Savage needs to change, and says he's going to solve it.

Sting gets a quick win against The Shark with a top rope cross body.

Sabu beats Mr. J.L. with a Camel Clutch after countering a top rope hurricanrana attempt from Mr. J.L. Before the match, future WWE announcer Justin Roberts is clearly caught on camera in the front row. After the match, goes after Mr. J.L. again as if the match never stopped.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews Sting and Lex Luger in the ring. Sting calls out "Macho Man" Randy Savage, who shows up. Sting says that The Giant has choke slammed Savage and Hulk Hogan, but Savage wants to know why Luger hasn't suffered the same fate. Sting tells Savage he's paranoid, and says he's jealous because he wants to be WCW World Heavyweight Championship. At Halloween Havoc, Luger faces Meng and Savage faces Kamala. If both Luger and Savage win their respective matches, then both of them should go at it. Luger says Sting is trying to put words in his mouth, causing Sting to question Luger's intentions and tell him he's tired of babysitting him. This causes Luger to tell Savage he'll see him in the ring.

A young man with long, brown hair shows up in a limo and heads to the arena. His name: Chris Benoit.

Disco Inferno dances at the entrance ramp despite not being scheduled for tonight. He is interrupted by Big Bubba's entrance, but keeps dancing while carrying a boombox that plays his entrance theme. He is interrupted again by Road Warrior Hawk's entrance, but Disco Inferno decides it's a good idea to keep dancing. Road Warrior Hawk tries to intimidate him, but Disco Inferno steals a hat off of a kid's head and places it over one of the shoulder spikes of one of Hawk's shoulder pads. Hawk doesn't notice it until he makes it to the ring apron, and Hawk looks back at the entrance ramp to see Disco Inferno pointing and yelling at him. Shortly after the match begins, Disco Inferno gets on the ring apron and dances, and Hawk gets his hands on him, ripping his dress shirt off and beating him up outside of the ring. This causes Big Bubba to beat Road Warrior Hawk by count-out, much to Hawk's chagrin.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews Hulk Hogan in the ring. Hulk Hogan shows up without his trademark mustache, and is now wearing all black - tanktop, pants, neck brace, sunglasses, belt, boots and bandanna. The only thing that happens to be its original color is his hair. Jimmy Hart is also wearing all black, and Hulk says he's in all black because the games are over and that it's time to take care of family business and beat The Giant and The Taskmaster at their own game. He calls out The Giant, saying that if he has the guts to come out here, he'll rip the neck brace off and face him. "Mean" Gene tells Hulk that a restraining order has been issued keeping The Taskmaster and The Giant out of the building, but Hulk says the restraining order won't stop The Giant. Hulk says he's in WCW to make Hulkamania grow, and now that the little Hulkamaniacs are redwoods, The Taskmaster wants to cut down the entire forest. He says if The Giant isn't man enough to face him at Halloween Havoc, then they might as well paint graffiti on the Washington Monument. As Hogan continues to speak, the Dungeon of Doom monster truck shows up outside of the arena with the local police trying to stop The Taskmaster, The Giant and The Zodiac. Hulk Hogan doesn't care about the police detail and is more than happy to fight them outside the arena.

Eric Bischoff hears from the local police that Hulk Hogan and The Giant are being kept apart outside of the arena.

Arn Anderson beats Ric Flair when Anderson hits Flair with some tape around his knuckles as Flair goes for the Figure Four Leg Lock. Ric Flair shows up on commentary and rips the headset off of Eric Bischoff's head and challenges Arn Anderson and Flyin' Brian to a match which will become 2-on-1 if he can't find a tag team partner.

Next week: Johnny B. Badd vs. Diamond Dallas Page for the WCW World Television Championship! Chris Benoit vs. Eddie Guerrero! "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan vs. Meng!