[From Wrestlemania I : March 29th]
Jarrett - Ha ha. Hold it. Now Jeff Jarrett and ECW's plan is gonna work out perfectly. You see, Double J has been with these people since the beginning. Ever since January 5th, when the Triple Threat first arrived in the WWF. What I got, I got me an ECW contract, so should I lose tonight, I'm all taken care of. Prepare to kiss the World Wrestling Federation goodbye, and say...
Vince McMahon appears at the top of the ramp and jogs to the ring.
Vince - What in the hell is going on here? What are you doing?
Jarrett - Vince, what I'm doin', is the same damn thing you tried to do to my father, and to all the other promoters and promotions in the past twenty years. I'm shutting your ass down.
Jarrett lays down on the mat and Candido goes
down and covers him. The referee in the ring falls to the mat and makes
the count. Before he can count three however, McMahon grabs the ref by
the back of his shirt and pulls him up. Jarrett and Candido are about to
attack McMahon when suddenly Steve Austin jumps the guardrail and hits
the ring. He stunners Candido, and then stunners Jarrett! Austin drags
Jarrett's unconscious body onto Candido's and then leaves the ring. The
referee then falls to the mat again, hits the canvas three times, and it's
all over!
And now, Jarrett and Austin collide again. It's time for the WWF King Of The Ring!
WWF KING OF THE RING 1998
It's live! It's uncensored! It's only on Pay-Per-View, and it truly is an event fit for a King! And right here tonight, in Philadelphia, one man will be crowned the WWF King Of The Ring! Eight men stand in wait at this time, but when we fade out tonight, only one man will remain.
Plus, four titles on the line! The cruiserweight champion, Chris Chetti, will make his return to the ring, going head to head with "Dangerous" Devon Storm! The New Midnight Express are gonna defend the tag team belts, as they face the winner of Vader and Sid versus Owen and Bulldog! Plus, in a match announced this past Monday night, Adam Bomb will defend the European title against Yuji Nagata!
And then there's the big one! WWF Champion Jeff Jarrett defending the World Heavyweight Championship against "Stone Cold" Steve Austin! What a night it's gonna be, and we're all set for our opening King Of The Ring match!
But first, a brief look at the brackets for tonight : Here
What a tournament this is gonna be! The first match is coming up now!
'Do you smell what the Rock is cookin?'
The Intercontinental Champion walks to the ring to loud boos from the crowd. He looks undeterred though, a wry smile on his face. Don't know why, not many people would be smiling when they're about to step into the ring with a five hundred pound man.
"Say Ma-Bel!"
And here comes Oscar! The crowd goes mute as Oscar raps his way to the ring. Mabel follows close behind, dancing along. Oscar's jingle is cut short as he enters the ring, as he gets clotheslined by The Rock! Oscar rolls out as Mabel walks up behind the Rock and then tosses *him* out over the top. The bell rings to start the match and-
[King Of The Ring : Round 1]
[Winner faces either Savio Vega or Chris Benoit]
[IC Champion] The Rock vs Mabel
- Rock paces on the floor, waiting for the right moment to return to the ring, and doesn't climb through the ropes for aaaaaaages. When he does, he ends up being shoved to the mat after the opening lock up. He goes in to another lockup, and then *again* gets shoved down. Going for a change of tactics, Maivia then charges at the big man, and promptly gets caught in mid-air. Mabel dumps him down to the canvas, but then misses a standing splash as Rocky rolls out of the way. After backing off for a while, Rocky starts to verbally berate Oscar, prompting Oscar to jump up to the apron. The Rock goes after Oscar, Mabel goes after Rock, one thing leads to another and Mabel ends up crashing into Oscar, knocking him down to the floor. As Mabel looks down to check on his partner, Maivia then comes up from behind, and rolls the big man up-
1...
2...
3
Rocky Maivia pinned Mabel in 0:03:22. Rating: 1/4*
(The Rock advances)
What a start to the show! In just three minutes, the biggest man involved in the tourney has been eliminated! He'll face either Savio Vega or, in a repeat of last month's IC title match at In Your House, the 'Crippler' Chris Benoit. Speaking of Benoit...
At this time, we travel down to the interview area backstage, where Michael Cole is with Goldust.
Cole : "Goldust, in just a few moments time, we're scheduled to see Chris Benoit go one on one with Savio Vega. But the fact is, Benoit hasn't been seen by anyone here in the WWF since he entered your dressing room on Monday night. I guess my question is, what happened, and where is Benoit?'
Goldust : "Mmmm, well Michael. I can... call you Michael can't I? Mmmm. Where's Benoit? In the land of the free, of the free-spirited. I can't tell you his location, for that is... privileged information, I hope you understand. One thing I can tell you Michael, is that things here in the WWF will never... ever be the same.'
Cole : "Back to ringside."
Whatever you say Michael, but first, a brief word about the next Pay-Per-View on the horizon.
[WWF In Your House IV 'The Last Chance Saloon' - July 19th]
[Who Dares To Enter... The Last Chance Saloon?]
[Only On Pay-Per-View!]
It should be another incredible event, with the world title surely on the line, and much more amazing action! And the only way to be a part of the action is to fork out your thirty bucks, and call your local cable company. I told them you'd call, don't make me a liar [tm Krusty].
So we're near enough to our next King Of The Ring matchup, but first, a quick look at how Savio Vega and Chris Benoit got here.
[Footage of Savio Vega's Benoit-assisted win over Goldust is shown, followed by Benoit's easy handling of Mark Henry. Gosh, wasn't that exciting?]
Savio is backstage with Michael Cole. This piece was pre-taped, therefore the possible absence of Benoit was not an issue.
Cole : "Savio, in just a few moments time you'll go out to face Chris Benoit in the King Of The Ring tournament, and based on how you got to this stage, you must feel pretty lucky."
Vega : "Luck had nothing to do with it. Tonight, Chris Benoit, you will be the first stepping stone to me becoming King, and all my fans in Puerto Rico will be dancing in the streets tonight. Then, after I become the King of the wrestling world, tomorrow night on Raw, Brian Adams and myself will take the world tag team titles! It's Savio Vega's time amigos, it most certainly is."
Yes indeedy, whomever comes out with the tag gold at the end of the night, will face Crush and Savio on Monday Night Raw. Whether it's Sid/Vader, Owen/Bulldog, or the New Midnight Express, it'll... probably get a shitty rating.
Well, it's finally time for the match, first round King Of The Ring action, Savio Vega versus Chris Benoit! I guess...
Savio is introduced first, and he enters the ring, a slightly confused look on his face. Then, in a scene reminiscent of this past week on Raw, Benoit's music plays, he's introduced, yet he is nowhere in sight. He's introduced for the second time, and then Savio starts to argue with the referee. We can't pick the conversation up, unfortunately. After Vega and the referee converse for a while, Hebner tells Howard Finkel what the plan is. So...
Finkel - Ladies and gentlemen, I have just been informed by the referee, that if Chris Benoit does not enter the ring by a ten count, he will lose this match, and be eliminated from the tournament, by forfeit! One... Two...-'
And so forth. It's crystal clear that Benoit isn't in the building at all, and as the ten count ends, the referee raises Savio's arm in *victory*.
Finkel - 'The winner of this bout, as a result of a forfeit, Savio Vega!'
Well, that was certainly crappy. What was one of the most promising first round matches has been called off. Not withstanding that, the first semi-final is now in place : Rocky Maivia versus Savio Vega.
The two remaining King Of The Ring first round matches, which hopefully will amount to more than 3 minutes combined [groan], are on their way. Up next is 'Marvelous' Marc Mero vs 'Bad Ass' Billy Gunn, but before that, Pierre Oulette had these comments to make earlier.
Oulette : 'Here's the deal. I get to the arena on Thursday night, and hear that Hunter Helmsley got suspended, and I'll be taken from my gameplan, and be forced to wrestle Booker T tonight. Well, ha! Some people might say I have a weakness coming in, I've only known who my opponent is for 3 days, yet 'Marvelous' Marc has known his for weeks. The fact is though, I already beat you Booker, fair and square. I know your weaknesses, and I know what it feels like to crush you with the Cannonball. And that's exactly what's gonna happen tonight my friend, that's exactly what's gonna happen tonight. Hahaha.'
It's time for some action....
[King Of The Ring First Round]
[Winner faces Booker T or Pierre Oulette]
'Bad Ass' Billy Gunn vs 'Marvelous' Marc Mero
- In what was the first round one match to be confirmed, former DX member, [a stable that has now apparently completely evaporated] Billy Gunn atttempts to really kick off his solo career. Mero would be well advised to have concentrated more on Gunn in the build up, instead of spending all his time backstage ranting about Adam Bomb and the European title. Whether he's focused on Gunn or not, he takes the initial advantage when he comes out of the opening lockup with Gunn inside his side headlock. Gunn comes a prompt shove into the ropes though, then has the 'Marvelous' one down on the canvas with a kneelift. Gunn then tries to follow it up with an elbowdrop, but Mero rolls out of it's path then slips out under the bottom rope to the outside. Mero paces for a few moments, taking time to exchange in a few verbal confrontations with ringside fans, before finally returning to the ring, where he soon takes control of this match-up. After ducking a Billy Gunn clothesline and giving him a well placed boot to the groin, Mero executes a side suplex. To the top says Marc! And up he goes, although crash landing into the raised knees of Billy Gunn was doubtfully his planned destination. That's how it turns out though, and after a brief pause, Gunn gets up to his feet first and drops a standing leg-drop on his fallen foe.
- But Mero does take back the upper hand though, as Gunn blows a flying legdrop and goes ass first to the canvas. That's two top rope manouevers blown in the last thirty seconds. What is this a lucha six man? Apparently not, as the next move is actually hit. Mero, after pulling Gunn to his feet, gives him a few forearms to the face, than takes him down to the mat again with an armdrag. When Billy gets to his feet, Marc nails him with a dropkick to put him down again. Backbreaker is next on Mero's agenda, and that move has Gunn clutching his back in pain. The Marvelous one then returns to the top rope, and this time is successful, as he hits a moonsault dead on. Cover-
1...
2...
- And Gunn easily kicks out. Again to the top by Mero, and he hits a flying sunset flip, but Gunn won't go down. As Mero struggles to pull Gunn down to the mat for the cover, Gunn cradles Mero's legs over and goes for the pin-
1...
2...
- Mero gets out of the cover just in time. Both men then spring up to their feet immediately, but it's Gunn who takes the advantage, nailing Marc with a lariat. Into the corner, where Gunn proceeds to give Mero ten right hands to the face, then follows that up with ten boots. And now he's choking him out until the referee forces him to break. I hate pay-per-views, I can't skip three minutes of action by simply writing '[Commercials]', it sucks. Mero gets whipped and taken for the ride, and gets caught out of nowhere with a faceslam! Certain cover!-
1...
2...
- Foot on the rope! Who's foot it is is unclear, but it's good enough for the referee to break his count. Gunn pulls Mero up and sends him into the ropes again, but ends up being the victim of a Mac Mero rana! Instead of covering, Mero walks over to the corner and begins dismantling the top turnbuckle pad. The steel is quickly exposed as the padding falls to the floor. Where's the referee during this bit of ring construction? Oh, he's checking on Billy Gunn. Why? Anyway, Mero's bit of underhandness goes undetected, and the referee fails to arouse suspicion when a slingshot into the corner knocks Gunn out cold. There's time for Mero to finish things off fully with the TKO and hook the leg-
1...
2...
3
Marc Mero pinned Billy Gunn with the TKO in 0:08:56. Rating: * 1/2
(Marc Mero advances)
Cole goes to greet the victor in the aisle following the match.
Cole : 'Marc, your views on this victory? You'll face Booker T or Pierre Oulette in the next round, any thoughts?'
Mero : 'Yeah, I'll give you my thoughts. I think you should stay outta my face, you skinny little punk, and gimme that microphone. Booker, Oulette? I know you're watching this in the back, so let me give you a word of warning. If you two know what's truly good for you, you'll come out here in a few minutes, and go to a double countout or a no-contest. Neither of you wants to step in the ring with someone as truly marvelous as myself! I just got through a ten minute match, and I still feel as fit as ever! All the men in the tourney, all the stinkin' fans in the arena, and all the jabronies out in tv-land, you're looking at the first ever WWF King Of The Ring right here, it's 'Marvelous' Marc Mero. Now here's your damn microphone, leave me the hell alone.'
Cole gets pushed aside, and Mero walks off to the back. We heard from Pierre Oulette earlier, and Booker T is on-hand waiting to speak his mind. But first, these pre-recorded comments from Owen Hart and The British Bulldog.
Hart : 'It's the WWF King Of The Ring, and tonight, myself and the British Bulldog, are gonna do what we do best. Kickin' the living crap out of Sycho Sid, Vader, and the New Midnight Express. We're not worried about wrestling twice in one night, I've fought in iron man matches, I've won tournaments in my career, and I can wrestle as many times as I feel like. And tonight, I feel like becoming one half of the WWF tag team champions. Whoo!'
Bulldog : 'That's right. Tonight is the night for the British Bulldog and Owen Hart. Like Owen said, we've got no qualms about wrestling twice tonight, we've got the intestinal fortitude to take that challenge, we've got the stamina. Now the British Bulldog has only been a part of the World Wrestling Federation, for just over a month, but I've already proved I can handle any adversary, and any challenge. Sid and Vader? You've felt the wrath of the Bulldog before, and you're gonna feel it again tonight.'
Hart : 'Sid, don't forget I own a victory over you already, and you better have accepted that, 'cos the exact same thing is gonna happen tonight. Davey Boy and myself, we're taking you out first, and Midnight Express? You better be well prepared, because later tonight, your ass belongs to the Hart Foundation!'
Okay, confess. Who told Owen Hart he was allowed to say 'Hart Foundation' on WWF tv? While we investigate this matter, you folks at home get, hmmm... what do you get... How about a match? Booker T versus Pierre Oulette sound alright? Well tough, I'd rather show some clips.
[Footage of Booker T's match with Pierre from sometime in May/June is shown, with Pierre getting the win. Then it's to the finish of Booker's second chance in the tournament, and his win over Goldust this past Thursday night.]
You want the match? You want the match? You can't *handle* the...
Booker T is backstage with these comments.
Booker : 'Pierre Oulette? You say you know what it's like to crush me with the Cannonball? You say you can do it again? Well think again sucka! Right here tonight, in Philadelphia, Pensylvania, it's gonna be a night for raising the roof I guarantee it. Booker T is going over in this one Pierre, whether you respect me and my ability or not! And Marc Mero? There ain't gonna be no double countout, no double elimination, 'cos after I get through with Oulette, I'm gonna wipe the mat with your ass! Word!'
Okay...
[King Of The Ring First Round]
[Winner faces 'Marvelous' Marc Mero]
Booker T vs Pierre Oulette
- The bell rings, and Oulette attackes Booker right away. Knee to the gut doubles Booker over, then rakes his eyes over the top rope. Another knee finds the mark, then Pierre sends Booker for the ride into the ropes. He sticks his arm out for a clothesline, but Booker ducks and starts laying into Oulette with some stinging chops. Right hand to the chest, then a kneelift from T puts Pierre down on the canvas. Booker raises the roof! The crowd is well behind Booker, his match on Raw increasing his popularity ten-fold. Another right hand, then Oulette returns to the mat again when Booker executes a side suplex. First cover of the match produces nothing more than a one count. Booker to the fans : 'Hoooo!' Who does he think he is, Duggan? Never mind that now, as he scoops Pierre up for a bodyslam, then covers for another one count. Whip into the ropes, then Booker loses his hold on the match when Oulette catches him with an elbow on the return, knocking him right down to the canvas. Booker gets picked up to his feet, then starts to stagger after a series of punches from Pierre, then it's to the mat again as Oulette executes a headlock takedown.
- Headlock city on the mat, as Oulette attempts to wear his opponent down. The hold is broken voluntarily by Pierre, who then drops a legdrop on Booker. Pierre's first pinfall attempt brings about a two count, then he whips Booker into the buckle. Avalanche clothesline, then it's a whip into the opposite corner, and *another* clothesline into the corner. Booker's head meets the turnbuckle a few times, then it's into the ropes again, and Oulette knocks Booker down with a shoulderblock. Back suplex brings about a two count. Pierre's going up top. Cannonball? He's going for it, but luckily for Booker, and for the tv audience, who don't want to see another short three minute match, it's off target. The race to get to their feet is on, and it's Booker who gets up first. Oulette's close behind though, and he goes to attack Booker with his fists, but the Harlem Heat member blocks. Another right-hand attempt by Oulette, another block. T then begins to unload on Pierre, right's and left's being delivered with venom, before Booker sends Oulette to the mat hard face-first, after hitting a scissor kick. Booker climbs the turnbuckles and plays to the crowd instead of covering though, and the chance for victory at that point is gone.
We cut to the outside of the arena at this point, as Jeff Jarrett's limosuine pulls up. Out steps the WWF champion, accompanied by the 'Roadog', and the New Midnight... well, only Bart Gunn actually. Where's the other co-holder of the tag titles, Bob Holly? Hmmm....
- Back to the ring, and Oulette has re-taken the advantage apparently, and has Booker in a chinlock as we return to action. And boy, does he ever. Just break the hold Booker, break it! Break it! Sheesh, after close to a minute of non-action, Pierre let's the hold go. Belly to belly suplex from Oulette, two count. Now to the front facelock, as Oulette decides it's time for another boring submission hold. Booker breaks this hold, eventually, himself, but falls victim to some hard chops by Oulette that back him into the corner. A few right hands keep Booker back-first to the buckle, then Pierre retreats to the far side of the ring, giving him a bit of time to make a running jump into the corner. Going for a kinda Stinger Splash, Oulette misses the mark totally, unless of course he was *aiming* to hit the buckle and not Booker T. Booker, who had conveniently moved out of the way of the splash, moves round to the other side of Oulette, and rolls him up-
1...
2...
- Kickout, then Oulette returns to controlling this match by catching Booker by suprise with a clothesline when he gets to his feet. Oulette then hits a snap mare, following it up by bodyslamming Booker. Where's Stevie Ray anyway? He wasn't on Thunder, and he isn't here tonight. Whip into the ropes, and a swinging neckbreaker from Pierre gets a two count. I wonder how many people are just skimming this page for results, and not reading this particular line. I wonder if anybody *is* reading this match report still? After all, it's only a first round match, the 4th of a scheduled 12 here tonight. Those people not reading now miss out on the 'interesting fact about Lee' : Lee likes the first two Home Alone movies, but thought the third one was crappy. Back to the match, and Oulette flies off the top turnbuckle with a flying forearm, which *connects* of all things. Another cover brings up another two count. Oulette then sets Booker up for a DDT, but he obviously gets distracted by something in the crowd, as Booker is allowed enough time to recover from his earlier beating, and shoves Oulette away. Pierre doesn't go down to the mat, but the plan is for him to be there soon, as Booker lunges at him and wraps him up in a sleeper hold!
- Now that really *didn't* deserve an exclamation mark did it? And a paragraph break no less! Oulette tries desperately to break the hold, and manages to pull Booker over to the corner whilst Booker keeps the hold on. Pierre somehow ends up kicking off the turnbuckles, and rolling himself over on top of Booker! Booker's shoulder's are down!
1...
2...
3
Pierre Oulette pinned Booker T in 0:10:51. Rating: * 1/4
(Pierre Oulette advances)
Blimey, I didn't expect the heels to go over. So the semi final pairings look like this :
Rocky Maivia vs Savio Vega : Marc Mero vs Pierre Oulette
then
Rock/Vega vs Mero/Oulette
Those matches are still to come, but at this time, Michael Cole is standing on-hand backstage, with the WWF Champion, Jeff Jarrett!
Cole : 'Jeff, we're less than two hours away from tonight's huge world title match, what are you feeling at this point? And where's Bob Holly?'
Jarrett : 'Hey, what's going on with Bob Holly is nothing to do with you Cole, and the fact is, Holly is here tonight, and he's gonna go out and defend the tag belts tonight as planned. A little argument this past week has been blown completely out of proportion. But that's enough with the little things. The main course tonight is 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin versus Jeff Jarrett. '
Cole : 'Indeed. We heard here in the back just a few moments ago, that Steve Austin has arrived in the arena here, and-'
Jarrett : 'Wait, Austin's here? For crying out loud, he dropped the fucking ball.'
Jarrett storms off.
Cole : 'Who dropped the ball? Jeff? JR, the WWF champion seems obviously troubled by something here, back to you.'
In a few moments time, we'll see the European title on the line, but first some brief footage of the previous encounters between these two men.
Footage of Adam Bomb vs Yuji Nagata from IYH 2 is shown
Then the non-title rematch from May 25th, with Nagata getting the victory
Nagata hasn't wrestled a match since being taken to hospital following a huge brawl a few weeks back, and Adam Bomb has lost a lot of the momentum and fire he had when he first arrived on the scene. This match is probably gonna suck then. I guess it beats Shane vs Gillberg though right?
[WWF European Championship]
Adam Bomb [c] vs Yuji Nagata
- Nagata is stalling like all hell to start, and when the bell rings he steps out through the ropes and starts walking around ringside. I have no idea why, but Nagata gets the first shot of the match in, when he gives Bomb a boot to the chest after the two men finally lock up. Bomb fires back with a pair of hard right hands, but the champion soon finds himself inside a double armbar submission hold. Yawn, I guess it gives Herb 'Even Jericho and Bret think I'm a whiny bastard' Kunze a hard on though, so it has *some* purpose. One minute of the match gone and the crowd is already dead.
Kunze : 'He's not moving! He's not moving! He twists the arm! Nothing's happening! What psychology! Awesome! Tissues now!'
- Bomb eventually inches his way to the ropes, and grabs ahold of the bottom one. Nagata bows to the crowd once he let's go of the hold. Whack! Who threw that? Nagata wipes the Pepsi out of his eyes, then stomps on the champion's back. Whip into the ropes, and an enzirguiri puts Bomb back on the canvas again. Two count. Nagata goes for a piledriver, but Bomb is fortunate enough to block it, then back body drop Yuji to the mat. Bomb then starts to up the tempo of this match, hammering Nagata with right hands, then knocking him down with a jumping elbow thrust. He climbs up to give the top turnbuckle a bit of company, then nails Yuji with a flying clothesline! Cover-
1...
2...
- Damnit. Bomb drops an elbow on Nagata, and gets a two count from that as well. Then it's up to the top again, but the flying clothesline is unsuccessful this time, as Nagata finds the time to move out of it's path. Both men take their sweet time getting to their feet, but as soon as Bomb gets up, Yuji nails him with a thrust kick to the head. Cover gets two. He's[balrog] going for the Nagata-Lock folks! Oh-oh! Ah, the fans don't care, and neither does Bomb to be honest, as he gets himself into the ropes before the hold is fully applied. Moments after that averted catastrophe, Nagata gets another two count with a swinging neckbreaker. Yuji then pulls Bomb into the centre of the ring, and puts on an abdominal stretch. After a good thirty seconds of working on the arm, the referee finally gets wise of Nagata's constant usage of the ropes, and orders Yuji to break the hold.
- Nagata whips Bomb into the buckle, and then runs in and headbutts Bomb's boot with all his strength! Or something like that. Bomb comes away from that little exchange a little bit better off, and the Adam Bomb bulldog that follows cements that fact. Gutwrench suplex from the champion gets a one count, then Nagata gets unceremoniously dumped into the corner. Ten right hands, ten right boots, and Nagata has had the living crap beaten out of him. Hard whip into the opposite corner, then Bomb charges in with an avalanche clothesline. Bomb follows it up by catching Nagata with a powerslam off the ropes, then comes the signal. One crotch slam please! Goodnight Nagata, may you never grace a WWF ring again.
Adam Bomb pinned Yuji Nagata with the Crotch Slam in 0:06:03. Rating: **
(Adam Bomb retained the WWF European Title)
Bomb celebrates in the ring with his title belt, as Nagata retreats to the dressing room, his last contractual obligation out of the way. See you in New Japan hell. Adam Bomb eventually follows him out, and within mere seconds of Bomb disappearing behind the curtain-
'Kee-Rash'
Steve Austin in the house.
Austin : 'Right here tonight, in this very ring later on, it's the biggest match in Steve Austin's WWF career, but I ain't gonna come out right now and be all happy crappy. I'll be damned if I am. You see, I don't much appreciate being jumped by some guy as soon as I step outta my truck. Be it a reporter, a camera, or like today, some wankass piece a crap with a pipe. Jarrett? If you've gotten so desperate as to have to send somebody out to attack me before I even hit the arena, then I guess that puts tonight's result out of doubt. Fact of the matter is though, I kicked the hell outta whoever was under that mask, and I'll do the same to you, hell yeah. The WWF title is getting a new owner tonight, and that's the bottom line, 'Cause Stone Cold said so!
So someone 'dropped the ball' when it came to taking out Austin huh? I wonder who it could have been. Couldn't have been Bart or Jesse since they arrived with Jeff, which leaves...
We got tag belts! Two in fact, but there's gonna be six men fighting over them here tonight, and we're just moments away from seeing Sid and Vader square off against Owen Hart and The British Bulldog. Let's go back in time...
[Warning : Video Package! Smith emerges from the crowd to save Austin from a beating from Vader and Sid ; Smith accompanies Austin to the ring at In Your House 3 ; Bulldog persuades Owen to walk out on Marc Mero in their handicap match against Adam Bomb ; Sid hits Hart with a powerbomb from some miscellaneous show ; Hart defeats Sid with a roll-up just a few weeks ago on WWF TV]
'He's Ame-e-e-rican ma-a-a-ade!'
It's Hulk Hogan! What a shocker!
Oops. Accidentally turned on RuPaul. A quite awful show. How come that stays on the air, yet Cheers, Seinfeld, The Garry Shandling Show, The Larry Sanders show, Duckman, Dr.Katz and The Critic have all finished production? TV Life sucks. Uh tag match? Yeah I remember.
Owen Hart/Davey Boy Smith vs Vader/Sycho Sid
- The bell rings, and a four man brawl breaks out immediately. Hart and Sid go to the floor, whilst Vader and Davey Boy start pounding away at each other. Sid goes into the ringpost head first, then is rendered unable to perform his stunning frankensteiner when he gets sent into the guardrail, hitting his back hard. Inside the ring, Smith is hammering away at Smith in the corner, whilst Hart suplexes Sid onto the concrete. Sid goes into the guardrail again, but Vader then leaves the ring after bodyslamming the Bulldog. Vader charges at Owen, but Hart ducks then nails the Rocky Mountain Beast with a clothesline. Sid then attacks Hart from behind with a clothesline of his own, but he then gets nailed with a forearm from the arriving British Bulldog. This match is basically a messy brawl around the ring area until about the two minute mark, when the action finally starts in the ring.
- Owen and Vader lock up, and Vader takes it by kneeing Hart in the groin. Whip into the ropes, but Hart ducks out of the way of Vader's attempted clothesline, then executes an enzirguiri on the big man! Owen hits a legdrop on Vader, then tags the Bulldog in, and executes a fistdrop. Whip into the buckle, and Smith charges in with a clothesline. Then it's into the ropes, where Davey catches Vader in a powerslam for a close two count. The cover is broken by the boot of Sycho Sid, who Smith promptly goes after. As Bulldog and Sid tussle in the corner, Vader is allowed time to recover, and he ends up nailing Smith from behind. Tag in to Sid who, after kicking and punching on Davey for a while, locks him in an abdominal stretch. Smith eventually pulls Sid over to the ropes, and the hold is broken. Sid keeps the advantage by giving Smith one hell of a headbutt, then he pulls him back over to his corner and tags Vader in again. Sid and Vader give Smith a double whip into the ropes, but Smith ends up giving them a double noggin knocker! Comedy! Sid rolls out of the ring, and Smith leaves the squared circle too, climbing up to the top buckle. Flying Clothesline-
1...
2...
- Smith comes close to victory again moments later when he wraps Vader into a sleeper hold, but it proves unsuccessful. For the next few minutes though, Smith is pummeled by both heels, and is cut off from making the tag. Both big men have their way with the Bulldog, until an error of judgement by Sid sees the Sychotic one miss a top rope legdrop. Then, after three minutes of non-stop punishment, Smith is finally able to tag out, and Hart comes in a house afire. Numerous right hands on Sid see the big man fall back to the mat, and the advancing Vader eats dropkick and falls through the ropes to the floor. Sid gets backed into the corner, where Owen delivers ten right hands, then hurracanranas him into the centre of the ring! Owen executes a perfect 'Whoo!', then climbs the buckles to the top. Flying dropkick! Cover-
1...
2...
- Sid's up, but is still on the recieving end. DDT from Hart! Another cover gets two, then Owen sends Sid for the ride. Shit! Powerbomb out of absolutely nowhere! Sid covers-
1...
2...
3
Sid and Vader defeated The Hart Foundation (Davey Boy Smith and Owen Hart) when Sid pinned O. Hart with the Power Bomb in 0:09:48. Rating: 1/4*
So... it looks like Sid and Vader will get the world tag title shot later tonight. [Boy, that match report sucked didn't it? I'd redo it, but it's been five days already since the last update, and I ain't starting *anything* again.]
Is Bob Holly here yet? We'll hopefully speak to the New Midnight Express after these pre-recorded comments from Devon Storm.
Storm : 'June 21st, King Of The Ring? Chris Chetti, and all the other idiots in the WWF, are gonna see why *I'm* the WWF Cruiserweight Champion. As the only undefeated wrestler in the federation, it's due time that things start coming my way. This belt I own right now, no-ones gonna be making remarks about it after tonight. This belt will be *my* property at the end of the night, there's no doubt it. Be careful Chetti, there's a Storm a-comin'!'
Undefeated my ass, he hasn't even won a match since January. Michael Cole meanwhile is standing by outside the dressing room of Jeff Jarrett, Jesse Jammes and The New Midnight Express. Take it away Mikey.
Cole : 'I'm here backstage, and right here behind me is the door to Jeff Jarrett's dressing room. Jarrett left us hanging earlier, so why don't I go inside and try and finish the interview?'
Man, I hope Jarrett kicks his ass.
Cole opens the door slightly, and we see Jarrett chewing out Bob Holly, as Jammes and Gunn look on. Cole doesn't enter the room, and we get a view from the half open door.
Jarrett : 'I told you to do this for me, and you blew it! Monday night you complained about being left out of the team, so I give you this chance. And now, not only did you *fail*, you've pretty much made Austin even more goddamn determined! You stupid son of a bitch, if you weren't tag team champion-'
Holly : 'Jeff, I- hey, what the fuck?'
Jarrett and Holly turn their eyes to the door, and see the camera poking through.
Jarrett : 'What in the hell? Get that goddamn camera outta here right now! Get the hell out!'
The champion slams the door in the faces of the worldwide television audience.
'Do you smell what the Rock is cookin'?'
Back to ringside, and the Intercontinental Champion is on his way to the ring. Hey look, a microphone.
Rock : 'Here at- Hey, you better shut your goddamn mouths right now and pay some respect to the *champ*! With Mabel out of the way, and Savio Vega next on the Rock's agenda, basically the Rock feels like this : As The Rock climbs the King Of The Ring ladder, rung by goddamn rung, as he ascends to the perpetual greatness that lies with the crown and the glory- Hey, Phialdelphia, shut the hell up! Like The Rock was saying, as he steps through the ropes for this match-'
The Rock is interrupted as the music of Crush and Savio kicks in [the old Hollywood Blonde music - what a riff], and the Rock looks seriously pissed as the number one contenders to the tag belts walk to the ring. Vega has nothing to say, he just wants to fight. Ring the bell!
[King Of The Ring Semi-Final]
[Winner faces Pierre Oulette or Marc Mero]
Savio Vega [w/Crush] vs [Intercontinental Champion] Rocky Maivia
- Vega floors Maivia right away with a right hand, then picks him up and clotheslines him over the top rope. Rocky ain't happy about this, but the presence of an on-coming Crush forces him back into the ring. Armdrag takedown by Savio, then Vega applies pressure on the arm for the next few seconds. Maivia gets right back up to his feet though, and applies an armtwist to Vega, who quickly reverses. Slap to the face by Savio and Rocky is down on the mat again. An elbowdrop from Vega produces the first cover of the match, but Maivia easily gets out at one. Scoop slam next from Savio, who then climbs up to the top turnbuckle as Rocky gets to his feet. High-cross body block!-
1...
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- Right shoulder up. Vega pulls Maivia up to his feet and sends him into the ropes. Rocky averts the attempted clothesline though, turns around, and grabs Vega in position for the Rock Bottom! Crush is in the ring! Adams nails Maivia in the back with a forearm, and the referee calls for the bell. I guess Crush doesn't want Savio having the effects of the Rock Bottom having an effect on him tomorrow night. Rocky wins by DQ, and Vega gives Crush a not too friendly shove before he leaves the ring. Adams shrugs and follows him out, whilst Rocky places the IC title belt over his shoulder and prepares for the final.
Rocky Maivia defeated Savio Vega by countout in 0:02:45 Rating: ** 1/4
(Rocky Maivia advances)
Sorry about the short length of some of these matches, but fitting 12 matches and loads of interviews into three hours is tough. Anyway, the final is set up as The Rock against either Marc Mero or Pierre Oulette. That's coming up later, but first, Cruiserweight Championship action! The champion had these comments to make.
Chetti : 'Well, tonight's the night I'm gonna make my return to the World Wrestling Federation. You know, Devon Storm thinks he has something to prove, well I do too. I won this belt back in April, and due to the injury *you* gave me Storm, I haven't done too much to prove myself as a champion. But that's exactly what's gonna happen tonight. We both have points to prove, so it ain't gonna be down to who want's it more. It's gonna be down to who's the better wrestler, and Devon, tonight you'll find out that that's *me*!'
Well, here we are. It started back on May 17th, and it's gonna come to a head tonight. Chris Chetti versus Devon Storm for the WWF Cruiserweight Championship!
[WWF Cruiserweight Championship]
Chris Chetti [c] vs Devon Storm
- A clean lock up to start, then Chetti has Storm immediately holding his chest in pain as he hits him one stingin' chop. Another one, and Storm is out of it enough, to give Chetti enough time to get straight up to the top turnbuckle. Flying dropkick is hit with precision, then he hurls Storm into the corner and beats the shit out of him. The referee eventually pulls him off but Storm already looks knackered. Vertical suplex takes Devon into the middle of the ring, then, after waiting a looong time for Storm to return to his feet, he executes a springboard dropkick. More chops when Devon gets to his feet, and a few moments later Chetti hits a Northern Light Suplex for the matches first pinfall attempt. It goes without saying that it was unsuccessful, but Storm soon finds himself on the concrete floor as the champion tosses him out. Storm gets his ass kicked on the floor, until Storm gets outta dodge for enough time to grab a chair from ringside and smash it across Chetti's face! After taking a brief pause to get his head together, Storm lays the chair on the floor and faceslams the champ right on it!
- Oh now come on! Chetti springs up to his feet and *completely* no-sells it! What a jerk! Chetti goes back on the offensive, giving Storm a right hand, then bodyslams him onto the still lying chair. Devon gets whipped into the guardrail once more for good luck, then is rolled back into the ring. Chetti follows him in, but Storm nails him with his knee when the champ tries to enter. Storm, obviously taking a page out of Chetti's book by no-selling the earlier offence, executes an Asai leg lariat on Chris, then manages to hit a slingshot facebuster for a two count. He pulls Chetti up and whips him to the ropes, but Chetti comes back and catches him with a brutal clothesline. Storm sells the move like Shawn Michaels after an overdose on ultimate-selling pills, as he does a 360 before falling to the canvas. Slingshot somersault splash from Chetti-
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- Storm's shoulder's up, and Chetti decides to go up top. Bad move Chris, as his flying dropkick is way off target. Both men lie on the mat dazed for a while, then Devon gets up to his feet first. And now *he* decides to climb to top, and Storm is much more successful in delivering a Macho-man style flying axehandle. Instead of covering, Storm takes Chetti back up to the top with him, and takes him down hard with a superplex. 2 Count. Devon goes to the top buckle *again*, and goes for an Asai moonsault. Sorry Devon, that ain't happening, how about getting tombstoned instead? Not that you have much choice in the matter, and Chetti gets a two count of his own from said tombstone. After Storm kicks out of the cover attempt, we are treated to about thirty seconds of non-action, as both men take time to recover from the past eight minutes of action. Chetti leaves the ring and grabs the chair from earlier, and then climbs up to the top turnbuckle [these guys have been doing that a *lot* lately]. Moonsault with the chair! That's gotta be it!-
1...
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- Foot on the ropes! Chetti argues with the referee for a second, before pulling Storm up and whipping him into the ropes. Right hand from the champion, then he sets Devon up for a vertical suplex. Small package from Storm!
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3
New champion!
Devon Storm pinned Chris Chetti with a small package in 0:09:02. Rating: *
(Devon Storm won the WWF Cruiserweight Title.)
Upset? I'll say. Storm gets the clean win? Where does Chetti go from here? After refering to Storm as a joke for the last few weeks, now he loses the match and the title cleanly.
The British Bulldog is backstage.
Bulldog : 'I just want to come here and say, that no matter what happened tonight, those tag belts *will* be around the waists of Owen Hart and The British Bulldog. It may not have been tonight, it may not be tomorrow, but rest assured, there's gold coming our way. Sid, Vader, we won't forget about you.'
It's second semi-final time.
[King Of The Ring Semi-Final]
[Winner faces Rocky Maivia]
Pierre Oulette vs 'Marvelous' Marc Mero
- Mero shoves Oulette to the mat after the opening lock-up, and Pierre decides to spend the next thirty seconds of the match stalling. Mero eventually catches him in an armdrag, and works over Pierre's arm. He drops his knee across it a few times, before pulling Oulette up and applying an arm twist. Oulette manages to reverse, then clotheslines Mero to the canvas. Pierre shakes his arm a bit, then tries to follow up on the clothesline, but Mero grabs the ropes and slides out under the bottom rope. Mero paces around for a bit, and eventually Pierre follows him out. It's cat and mouse for a while as Oulette chases Mero around the ring area. Mero eventually slides into the ring, and when Pierre tries to follow him in, Mero attacks him with a boot to the chest. Hiptoss from Mero, then he keeps him down in mid-ring with a chinlock. Oulette ends up getting to his feet, and he elbows his way out of the hold. Pierre ends up breaking out, and sends Mero into the ropes. Sleeper hold by Oulette! Mero sinks to the mat after a while, but this match ain't gonna end that way, and Mero's right arm stays up at the third attempt. Now it's Mero's turn to elbow his way out of a hold, and following that, he manages to clothesline Pierre out over the top. Mero follows him out, tope style! Mero gets up to his feet, and walks after Oulette, who's walking down the aisle away from the ring. Pierre turns him around by slapping the back of his head, and Oulette promptly gives Mero a slap back. Er... you know guys, the referee's still counting. Mero gives Pierre a shove down to the floor as... the bell rings?
Marc Mero and Pierre Oulette battled to a double countout in 0:06:00. Rating: * 1/4
So... now what? Is the-
'Ahahaha... Money, Money, Money, Money...'
No, I haven't accidentally turned the channel again, the Million Dollar Man just appeared. Mero and Oulette stop they're fighting and embrace Dibiase as he makes his way down the aisle, and the three men enter the ring. Michael Cole runs down the aisle to join them.
Cole : 'Ted Dibiase?! What's going on here?'
Dibiase : 'Ha, Michael Cole, you're not needed here, let me take this microphone. It's like I've said before a million times, everbody, and every*thing* has a price, for the Million Dollar Man. And *now*, The Million Dollar Man is in the World Wrestling Federation, and nothing, but nothing is gonna be the same. I'm gonna use this time to introduce to the world, the New Million Dollar Organisation! Firstly, 'Marvelous' Marc Mero!'
Mero takes a bow.
Dibiase : 'Pierre Oulette! These two men aren't the only ones that knew where the one true power lies. Allow me to intoduce, the five hundred pounder, the man they call... Mabel!'
Mabel walks his fat ass to the ring and joins the party.
Dibiase : 'And now, the future World Wrestling Federation Tag Team Champions, Savio Vega and Crush!'
The two men who'll recieve a world tag title shot tomorrow night walk down to the ring, huge grins on their faces.
Dibiase : 'And last, but definetly not least... The 1998 WWF King Of The Ring... The World Wrestling Federation Intercontinental Champion... The Rock!'
Loud boo's for Maivia, who walks to the ring with the IC belt around his waist, and a crown on his head.
Dibiase : '*This* is the revolution. These six men, they know where the power lies. They know that the only way to gain the glory, is to get the green. Tomorrow night on Raw, the revolution will be spelled out, and our intentions will be made perfectly clear. For now I introduce to you... the six smartest wrestlers in the World Wrestling Federation.... The now six *richest* wrestlers in the World Wrestling Federation... I introduce to you... The Million Dollar Organisation! Ahahahaha!'
Dibiase throws the mic on the mat, and he and the rest of the Organisation shake each other's hand and hug each other as the Million Dollar Theme resumes. Wow, this was more screwy than Survivor Series. Aren't you glad you didn't have to pay thirty bucks? Make sure to tune into Raw tomorrow night, where everything should become a little clearer.
Putting that aside for now, it's about time for a match that just *screams* screwjob. It's time for the WWF Tag Team Championship to be on the line. Sid and Vader versus the New Midnight Express!
Sid and Vader are out first and in a mild surprise, Gunn and Holly walk out side by side, showing no sign of any friction, and Jesse Jammes follows them out. No Jeff Jarrett though. Ring the bell ref!
[WWF Tag Team Championship]
The New Midnight Express [c] [w/Jesse Jammes] vs Sid/Vader
- Bart starts the match off, a little reluctantly, up against the Sid. Gunn decides the opening strategy is to spend as much time as he can in the ring, without making any contact at all with his opponent. After watching Gunn duck and avoid Sid for a while, Vader decides 'to hell with this', and enters the ring and lays Bart out. The referee orders Vader out of the ring and he leaves, meanwhile Jammes has pulled Gunn out of the ring, and JJ and Bart have a brief discussion on the floor. Uh, can we have some action please? Bart finally re-enters the ring, and, after teasing a lock-up with Sid, goes right over to his corner and tags out, having done absolutely nothing. Holly shoots him an annoyed look, then steps through the ropes. Bob decides to go straight into a lock-up with Sid, and ends up being shoved down hard to the mat. Holly then gets up to his feet and tries to charge at the big man, but ends up being grabbed by his throat and chokeslammed to the canvas. Sid hits an elbowdrop before dragging Holly by his hair over to Sid's corner. Tag in to Vader, and what time is it? It's New Paragraph time!
- Vader shoves Holly into the corner, then proceeds to clobber the shit out of him. After dishing out multiple right and left hands, Vader tosses Bob by his hair into the centre of the ring, then comes off the ropes with a splash. Holly kicks out of Vader's cover at two though, and Sid comes back in. Whip into the ropes, and a big boot from Sid has Bob down again. Reverse chinlock is applied next, as Sid continues to dominate Holly. Following the release of the hold, Sid decides that Holly's throat and the middle rope would make a great couple, and introduces the two for a while, before the referee tells him he isn't cut out for match-making. Holly finally gets out of the ring moments later, as Sid misses an elbowdrop and Bob manages to tag Gunn in. Sid isn't feeling any averse effects of his meeting with the mat though, and he takes it to Gunn just like he did Holly. Just like Bob, Gunn goes down with a boot to the face, then Vader resumes his participation in the ring. Vader pulls Bart up and scoop slams him, then comes off the ropes with an elbowdrop. A swinging punch is hit, and this causes Gunn to fall through the ropes to the outside. Jammes comes over to see to Bart as the referee blocks Vader from following Gunn out. Gunn and Jammes have another of those discussions on the floor, before Bart returns to the squared circle at a nine count.
- Gunn and Vader lock-up, and Gunn, after being pushed down to the canvas, decides it's Bob's turn again. Holly is tagged in, and he manages to gain a brief advantage over the Rocky Mountain Beast by raking his eyes from the lock-up. Arm twist by Holly, but Vader's other arm clotheslines Bob to the canvas. Vader sends Holly for the ride, then a knee to his chest doubles the tag champ over, forearm to the back, powerbomb! Instead of covering, Vader decides it's time to tell the crowd what a goddamn beast he is, and Holly has time to crawl over to his corner. But where the hell is Bart? Oh of course, he's talking with Jesse down on the floor. As Vader and Sid look on, Holly slips out under the bottom rope and gives Gunn a shove from behind. Gunn turns around, and the two men get into a huge verbal argument, with Jammes looking to play the peace-maker. Countout.
Sid and Vader defeated The New Midnight Express by counout in 0:05:43. Rating: -* 1/4
(The New Midnight Express retained the WWF Tag Team Titles.)
As Gunn and Holly continue to argue, the WWF champion makes his way down the aisle. Jarrett interjects himself into the discussion, and from what I can ascertain, is annoyed at Holly for causing an unnessecary argument and defeat. Uh yeah, cos the Express were sure gonna win that one. Jarrett ends up slapping Bob in the face, and Holly ends up being held back by Jammes and Gunn when he goes to hit the champ back. The four men end up walking off back to the dressing rooms, as Vader and Sid decide Hebner's a good a target as any to take their frustrations on, as he gets powerbombed before the big men leave.
So then, there's just one more match on the card. As Jarrett returns back to his dressing room, we have a bit of time to kill. We were *scheduled* to have the King Of The Ring final at this point, but I guess I took too many wacko-booking pills during this show, so instead we get a....
Video Package!
[Warning : Video Package! The finale to Wrestlemania from the top of the broadcast ; Jarrett defeating Shawn Michaels for the world title on April 6th ; Austin defeats Sid in the cage at IYH III to become the number one contender ; Austin getting a three count on Jarrett in the six man tag on May 18th ; Austin costing Michaels the title on June 1st ; Austin smashing a guitar over Jarrett's head from June 11th ; Jarrett smacking Austin with a microphone while the Midnight Express hold him down ; Jammes getting the pinfall victory over Austin on Thursday night.]
And we're back. Good of our producers to put together such a long video package on such short notice. Might make you think the whole thing was pre-planned. But, it's 21:25. We've heard from Austin, we've heard from Jarrett, it's time to getiton!
"Kee-rash!'
From the crowd reaction, and the look on Austin's face, you can just tell that tonight's the night. The champion makes his entrance alone, the rest of the troops obviously been told to stay in the back. And now it's finally time to-
'Oh, Oh... Shawn! I think I'm cute... I *know* I'm sexy...'
Shawn Michaels in the house! The Heartbreak Kid showboats his way down the aisle, then, in his first tv appearance in three weeks, sit's down next to JR and The King at the announce table. From in the ring, both Austin and Jarrett give Michaels the look of death [!], as he takes his seat. He's smiling his ass off.
Ross : 'Shawn Michaels? What in the heck are *you* doing out here?'
Michaels : 'Well JR, King, the Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels, couldn't stand the fact, that wrestling fans all over the world, paid their good money, and would miss out on an appearance by yours truly.'
King : 'Oh give me a break Shawn! You're here for one reason, and one reason only! You're here to cost Jeff Jarrett the world heavyweight title!'
Michaels : 'Not at all King, I'm here as nothing more than a fan-'
King : 'Ha! Yeah, we get a lot of fans coming out here and sitting at the announcing table.'
Ross : 'We're delighted to have you out here Shawn and...'
[WWF World Heavyweight Championship]
Jeff Jarrett [c] vs Steve Austin
- The bell rings, and we're off. Jarrett gives Shawn at ringside a suspicious look as the two combatants circle each other, and when the two men lock up for the first time, we get Jarrett coming out with a slap to Austin's face, and now look at him strut! After the kind of strut that Flair can only dream to recreate, Jarrett goes over to the ropes and points his finger at Michaels, who just laughs him off. Hey Jeff, you're wrestling *Austin* tonight, remember? Austin remembers, and when Jarrett turns back around to face his scheduled opponent, he gets met with a right hand and then a clothesline over the top rope. Jarrett walks around ringside for a while, pausing to berate Shawn, then returns to the ring at an eight count, and he and Austin lock up again. Jarrett takes it into a side headlock, and ends up being sent for the ride into the ropes. Jarrett bounces back, and Austin takes him down with a Thesz press! Lying on top of the champ in the centre of the ring, Austin punches the living hell out of him, before the referee pulls him off. Austin decides to argue the referee's interjection, and ends up being victim of a knee to the back from Jeff. Jarrett rams Austin's head into the buckle, then whips him into the opposite corner. He charges in and boot up from Austin. After colliding with Austin's foot, Jarrett decides he'll try charging in again, and once again finds the boot of the challenger. Jarrett staggers back, and Austin decides it's time to put the champ on the canvas again, knocking him down with a clothesline. First cover attempt of the match gets two, and Austin then picks Jarrett up to his feet.
- Whip into the ropes, Jarrett ducks under Austin's outstretched arm, turns back, and then slaps Austin in the face! Jarrett gives us a Whoo, but Austin, after being slapped in the face for the second time in the match, isn't so pleased, and he goes nuts on Jarrett. After flooring him with another clothesline, Austin pummels him with right hands on the canvas, then shoves him into the turnbuckle. Right hands to the face, boots to the chest, Austin delivers tons of them all, and Jarrett eventually ends up slumped into the corner in a wreck. Stone Cold pulls Jarrett up by his long hair and then suplexes him into mid-ring for another two count. More right hands from Austin, then after putting Jarrett back down with another clothesline, he begins to work on the leg, obviously wanting to weaken the figure four, 'cos Jarrett's beaten a lot of men with that figure four, yes sir. After stomping on Jarrett's right leg for a while, and dropping a few knees across it, Austin sets Jarrett up for a Sharpshooter! He locks it on! Suddenly, Vince McMahon runs down to ringside, shouts 'Ring The Fucking Bell', and we've got a new champion!
- I'm kidding. The ring positioning of the hold allows Jarrett to get to the ropes pretty easily, and when the referee forces Austin away from the rope intangled champion, Jarrett slips out of the ring for another breather. Never mind just a breather, it looks like Jarrett's leaving! Jarrett starts to walk back down the aisle, but Austin's having none of this. He goes after Jarrett, and ends up shoving him from behind down to the concrete. Jarrett goes head first into the rails on both sides of the aisle, before Austin drags him by the hair back to the squared circle. Snap mare by Austin once the two men return to the ring, then it's off the ropes with an elbowdrop. Has Jarrett had *any* offence so far, at the five minute mark? Another elbowdrop, and then Jarrett's head resumes conversation with the turnbuckle. After ramming Jarrett's face in to it several times, Austin picks the champion up and places him on it. Austin follows him up, and it's superplex time in Philadelphia! Or not. In his only offensive move to have had any effect in this contest, he manages to shove Austin down to the mat. Austin gets right back up to his feet, and goes up for the superplex again, and once again Jarrett shoves him down. Jarrett then attempts to jump down on Stone Cold with an axehandle, but Austin catches him with a right hand to the chest!
- Another whip into the ropes from Austin, swinging neckbreaker out of nowhere from Jarrett! Both men end up down on the canvas for a good few seconds, before Jarrett springs up to his feet. Whoo! Jarrett grabs ahold of one of Austin's legs, then starts laying the fists into it. Pulling Jarrett over to one side of the ring, Jarrett lays the leg over the bottom rope then jumps down on it with his knee. He drops it down four more times before the referee notices that Austin's leg is quite obviously on the ropes and tells Jarrett to stop it. Leg twist, and Jarrett then signals for the figure four! He takes hold of Austin's leg and starts to apply it, but Austin kicks him off with his other foot. Jarrett goes back first into the turnbuckle, and when he tries to go at Austin again, Austin takes him down with an armdrag. Austin pulls Jarrett up and it's more right hands from the challenger, and Austin forces Jarrett back into the corner. Cross corner whip from Austin, and hey, watch it referee. Oops. Chiota falls to the mat, and I guess that means it's time for the storyline to kick in. Austin's first reaction is to check on the referee, what a good guy, and Jarrett promptly nails Austin in the back. He shoves Austin into the buckle and starts hitting him with his fists as the camera pans over to the aisle. Jesse Jammes is on his way, and the man has a chair.
- Jammes makes his way down the aisle, but who's that coming up behind? Bodacious Bob that's who, and he knocks the Roadog to the floor and grabs his chair! Holly marches past the fallen Jammes and enters the ring. Jarrett still has Austin in the corner as Bob swings the chair at the champ. Shit! Jarrett ducks out of the way and Austin gets blasted with the steel! Austin is out cold as Holly throws the chair down in disgust, then the co tag team champion turns to Jarrett. Jarrett already has the chair in his hands though, and he smashes it over Holly's head. Holly gets kicked out of the ring, and is dragged backstage by the Roadog as Jarrett goes down to cover Austin. The referee crawls over...
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- Kickout! Austin gets his right shoulder up, and Jarrett can't believe it. He wastes no time arguing the count though, and immediately locks on the figure four. Austin is nearly screaming in pain as the hold stays on close to a minute. Jarrett eventually breaks the hold himself in disgust that Austin won't give up. As Shawn Michaels tells JR that Jarrett is never gonna be able to put Austin away, Jarrett pulls Stone Cold up and executes a neckbreaker on him. Two count, then Jarrett whips Austin against the ropes, and then catches him in a sleeper hold. Sorry pal, Austin ain't going down like this, and he breaks the hold right away with a jawbreaker on the champion. Both men are down on the canvas, and the referee begins counting them both out. Jarrett and Austin each get to their feet as the ref gets to nine, and Jarrett attempts to give the challenger a right hand. Austin blocks though, and gives Jarrett one of his own. Jarrett goes for one again, again it's blocked, again Austin nails him. Austin nails him once more, then whips him into the ropes. Boot to the chest, Stunner!
- No! Jarrett shoves Austin off at the last moment, but Austin's still on his feet! Bart Gunn's running down the aisle! Austin whips Jarrett into the ropes again, but Jarrett holds on the top rope. Austin charges at him with a clothesline, and both men end up going over the top to the floor! Bart Gunn runs round and rolls Jarrett back in the ring right away, and what's Shawn doing? Inside the ring the referee admonishes Jarrett for whatever, and the champion brushes him off. A quick look at the action on the floor though, and Jarrett decides maybe he *will* talk to the referee a little bit more. As Jarrett gets the undivided attention of the referee, Michaels helps Austin up to his feet. Then he Superkicks him! Austin is unconscious as Michaels starts to walk away. Bart Gunn comes over to where Austin lies and Bart gives Shawn a questionable look. Michaels simply shrugs his shoulders and walks out. Gunn tosses Austin into the ring, as Jarrett ends his conversation with the referee. The champion sets up for the figure four, but when he looks down at Austin he see's it isn't neccessary. He hooks the leg-
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Jeff Jarrett defeated Steve Austin in 0:14:18 Rating : * 1/2
(Jeff Jarrett retained the WWF World Title)
Goodnight everybody, see you tomorrow night on Monday Night Raw!