August 19th
Madison Square Garden, New York
Live On Pay Per View : {20:00 - 23:00}
Jarrett/Austin II

It's the biggest pay-per-view in World Wrestling Federation history. Honest. And for the next five four three hours, four titles will be on the line, plus the first ever Nightstick match, and not only that, but in a huge Clash Of The Titans, Sycho Sid will go face to face with the Man They Call Vader!

We cut straight to the outside of the arena, as- My goodness, someone's sparing no expense's when it comes to a full blown impersonation of the Nature Boy himself. Oh, it's Jeff. Exiting his limo, once again flanked by the [once again] WWF Tag Team Champions, clad in a robe that's certainly straight from Flair's wardrobe. Giving a mocking 'whoo' into the camera as he walks by, ladies and gentlemen...

The champion has arrived.


    In January of this year, the World Wrestling Federation was taken over by Extreme Championship Wrestling.
    If it weren't for the greed and cheating tactics of the invasion, the takeover would have been successful. But in the end, the pure talent that was held by the ECW stars, with Shane Douglas himself able to defeat the WWF World Champion with no outside help, that talent was secondary to the fact that ECW didn't believe they could do it on their own.
    They set up a double-cross.
    They gambled their plans on one man. One man who would side with the WWF, would try to crush the morale leading up to Wrestlemania, and as the final curtain came down, would pull off the biggest betrayal of all. Just *one* man.
 
    Jeff Jarrett.

    It seemed to work perfectly. As Wrestlemania drew nearer, Jarrett cost "Team WWF" victories, perhaps souring the belief inside the Titan Team that they could pull out a victory at the huge pay-per-view event. And when the bell rang for Jeff Jarrett and Chris Candido to face off, in the final match of the series, Jeff Jarrett took the microphone and exposed the plan.
    He couldn't wait. He couldn't execute the final step, without gloating at the expense of Vince McMahon and the WWF.
    It cost him.

    'Stone Cold' Steve Austin cost him.

    The man who's alliance had been questioned for the past month. Unhappy with the fact that the fickle fans had embraced Sycho Sid as a fan favourite, despite Sid putting Terry Funk, an old friend of Austin's into retirement. Shane Douglas made it perfectly clear that should Austin choose to, Team ECW was more than willing to accept him.
    But in the closing moments of the showpiece event in March, it was clear where Austin stood. With the help of Vince McMahon himself, Austin thwarted the takeover, keeping the WWF alive.

    Then he disappeared.

    Leaving behind an enigmatic letter of absence, Austin departed from the WWF. And while he left, things went weird.
    Within eight days of Wrestlemania, Jeff Jarrett had two victories over the HeartBreak Kid, and with a lot of help, became World Wrestling Federation Champion. Jarrett also enlisted a *new* team to back him up, in the form of Jesse Jammes and the New Midnight Express.
    When Austin returned, there was *one* thing on his mind.
 
    'WWF Champion' Jeff Jarrett.

    Making it clear that the WWF owed him an unpayable debt, Austin pursued the title. Gaining a title shot by defeating and getting payback over Sid in a brutal cage match, Austin was determined to take advantage of his opportunity.
    King Of The Ring 98 : Interference from Bob Holly, Bart Gunn, Jesse Jammes and Shawn Michaels all conspired to keep the world title around the waist of Jeff Jarrett. The next night on Raw, both Austin and Michaels were told they had one more shot at the title.
    It was showdown time at the Last Chance Saloon.
    For the man who won, it would be a world title shot here tonight at Summerslam. For the loser, there would be no more shots.

    Austin won.
 
    The last month has seen countless confrontations between Jarrett and the challenger. Austin has had the edge, he's double-crossed him, stunnered him, and even kicked the hell out of him at a New York gas station.
    But now, it's showdown time again.
 
    Austin vs Jarrett.

    World Heavyweight Championship.

    Summerslam 1998.


For the first time ever, Madison Square Garden plays host a WWF pay-per-view event, and the crowd sure seems fired up to start. As the pyro goes off and the voice of Jim Ross fills the airwaves, it's time to get it on! And the rumours circulating round this great arena this afternoon, will Rocky Maivia be able to defend the Intercontinental Championship after his leg injury on Thursday night?

The answer? Well, yeah, of course he will. Stupid New Yorkers. They'll gossip about *anything*.

'Ahahaha... Money Money Money Money...'

It's the long awaited tag match. The tag match to end all tag matches! Numerous run in's over the past month between these four men, leads to tonight's contest. It's the ppv debut of Jim Duggan and Marty Jannetty.
 

Brian Adams/Savio Vega
vs
Jim Duggan/Marty Jannetty

Just five seconds in, the crowd is chanting along with Hacksaw. Such patriotism, it's truly moving. The sight of Duggan's flabby gut stops it from being too inspriring a moment, but what can you do?. Here we go, it's Duggan and Vega kicking things off. Annoyed with the fact that Duggan is paying more attention to pumping up the crowd than with wrestling this match, Savio charges at him with a clothesline. Duggan ducks out of the way, and Vega goes running straight into the turnbuckle.

Turning back to go after Hacksaw again, this time Duggan lowers his head and backdrops Savio to the canvas. Vega crashes to the mat, and decides to roll out to the floor as Duggan plays to the crowd once again. Don't mock this match, it's your standard 'get-the-crowd-into-it-early' match. I don't care if *you're* not interested. I kid. Vega paces around ringside, pausing to dish out a few comments in Spanish to some of our ringside fans. Crush comes over to offer a few helpful words, before Vega finally returns to the squared circle.

Lock-up with Duggan, and it's broken by Vega kneeing Hacksaw in the gut. The *flabby* gut. Hey, remember in the Simpsons episode where Smithers punches Homer in the stomach, and his fist gets stuck in Homer's flab? Hahaha. Well that doesn't happen with Savio's knee thankfully, as Vega yanks Duggan down to the mat by his rapidly declining amount of hair. Vega drops to the mat as well, wrapping his hand around his opponent's throat. The referee forces him to break the hold when he reaches his five count, and Vega promptly does, releasing his hold and then dragging Duggan over to the mDo corner, to make the tag to Adams.

Crush enters the ring, and after a few seconds of double teaming, much to the unhappiness of Jannetty in the opposite corner, he goes to work on Hacksaw. After repeatedly bashing Duggan into the buckle face first, Adams suplexes him into the centre of the ring. He dishes out a number of stomps on the laid out Duggan, before we cut to a split screen shot of 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin making his entrance into the building. Is tonight the night that Jarrett *finally* gives up the World Heavyweight Championship? We'll find out, exclusively on pay- Hmm, I guess there's no need to shill the event anymore, since it's already started.

Back to a full shot of the match, and Crush makes the tag back to Vega. Savio beats on Duggan some more, as Jannetty tries to drum up some motivational support from the crowd. And he does, as a fair amount of people start a 'HackSAW, HackSAW' chant, but right now it ain't helping much. Savio with a bodyslam, before climbing to the top buckle. He launches himself into the air- Well, no wait, instead he's taking way too long yelling at the crowd. So long in fact, that Duggan gets to his feet, grabs Vega, and throws him down to the canvas!

Both men are down. Adams is pissed in the corner, and Jannetty meanwhile is reaching out, desperate to tag in. It's Vega who manages to tag his partner first, but Duggan's there just split seconds later, finally getting Jannetty into the match! Jannetty charges at Adams, staggering him with right hands, then flooring him with a dropkick! Crush is quick back up to his feet, but Marty then floors him with a *second* dropkick. Taking time out to knock Savio down from the apron, Jannetty goes up top. Flying cross body press!-

Of which Adams pops out. Marty pulls him to his feet, and then- Ouch, low blow. Jannetty falls to the canvas, and Adams slowly gets to his feet, regaining control for his team. He drags Marty over to his corner, and, after waiting for him to climb back up onto the apron, tags Savio in once again. Vega with an elbowdrop, and he then goes to send Jannetty for the ride. The whip is reversed though, and Marty ends up booting Vega in the mid-section, and nailing the RockerDropper!-

1...

2...

Crush is in to make the save, and as Hacksaw takes offence to that, we've now got all four men in the ring. Duggan goes after Adams, backing him into a corner, then clotheslining him out over the top rope, as Jannetty now plants Vega to the canvas again with a DDT. Leaving Duggan in the ring with Vega, Marty then dives out onto Adams with a springboard cross body block! Back inside the squared circle, Duggan slams Savio down, and comes off the ropes with the Old Glory kneedrop! And there's no Crush to make the save *this* time.

Jim Duggan and Marty Jannetty defeated Brian Adams and Savio Vega in 0:07:12.
Rating: -* 1/4

Jannetty returns to the ring to celebrate with Hacksaw, and as Vega slinks out of the ring to retreat with Adams back down the MSG aisle, everyone is happy!

So far tonight, we've seen the two participants in tonight's main event enter the arena. Well right now, Michael Cole is standing by backstage, with the World Wrestling Federation Champion : Jeff Jarrett. Take it away Michael.

Cole : Folks, Summerslam is well underway here, live at Madison Square Garden, and at this time, I'm standing next to the World Heavyweight Champion. Jeff, tonight's the night. In just a few hours, you'll be stepping into the ring with 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin for the WWF title. Your thoughts.

Jarrett : My thoughts? Michael, what I have for you, and all the people watching at home... they ain't *thoughts*, they're *facts*. First fact, Steve Austin, there is no way in hell that this title belt is leaving Jeff Jarrett here tonight, no way in hell! If you bought this pay-per-view to see that happen, I hope your cable company allows refunds and mid-show cancellations, 'cos let me tell ya, it *ain't* happening.

Jarrett : Fact 2, you see the rag sheets, you see the internet, they speculate about outcomes, they say they've got the scoops... I read some crap this morning, they said that Austin was gonna take the belt tonight. I heard it was the only plausible outcome. I heard that after what happened at King Of The Ring, that Austin taking this title was the best business decision for this company. Well let me tell you something else... I *am* this company... and I *am* the World Wrestling Federation champion, whether the people at home like it or not, whether the internet likes it or not, or whether *you* like it, Steve Austin! To wrap it up, and you can take this to the bank, you people better get used to seeing me with this championship belt, because you'll *never* see Austin get the duke on me. Not tonight, not any night! Hahaha.

A confident Jeff Jarrett right there. Over-confident? Why not scroll down to the bottom of this page to find out right now? It'd be easy to, and it's not like I could find out and be annoyed that you skipped the rest of the show.

Fight the temptation!!!

But moving on, this past Thursday night, fifteen men went at it in a Royal Rumble match, with the winner earning a European title shot here tonight at Summerslam. Included in the fifteen were WWF debutantes Ace Darling and Irwin R. Schyster, let's take a look:


The final four, and now I.R.S. *has* to get involved, whether he wants to or not. As Stevie continues battling it out with Fit Finlay [remember the match they had a few weeks back that was interrupted twice, by Benoit and Sid, before finally being thrown out?], Jannetty goes after the Taxman. Trapping Schyster in the corner, Jannetty proceeds to do the old ten right hands to the face routine, but at the 7 count, Irwin, backdrops him out to the floor! And on the opposite side of the ring...

x I.R.S. threw out Jannetty in 0:24:26 
x S. Ray threw out Finlay in 0:24:27

There's two left. Stevie Ray vs I.R.S. for a shot at the European title. Ray charges at Schyster, blasting him down to the canvas with a clothesline. Irwin's dazed, and when he gets to his feet, another clothesline sends him flying out over the ropes.

x S. Ray threw out I.R.S. in 0:24:53

Stevie's the winner folks! 


The European Championship is next!
 

WWF European Championship
Stevie Ray
vs
The British Bulldog [c]

The belt which was held by Adam Bomb pretty much exclusively from March to July has been more jumpy as of late. The day after In Your House IV, Mabel managed to get the victory over Bomb, and one week after *that*, Smith took the gold. Boy, what excitement. But it's better than giving D-Lo Brown every freakin' singles belt in the company.

The match gets underway, and with no definite face/heel structure in this contest, the crowd has decided to just sit there quietly. Thanks guys. Killer stalling to start, as Bulldog gives off a few poses, and Stevie just kinda walks around, raising the roof now and again. After fully quieting the crowd, the two men lock it up. Ray backs Smith into the corner, nails him with a forearm to the side of the head, then whips him across the ring. Charge attempt, but Davey-Boy raises his boot and and Stevie runs right into it. Ray staggers back, and Smith pops up to the second turnbuckle and sends the big man down with a clothesline.

Smith goes to drop an elbow, but Stevie rolls out of the way. Ray pops up, tries to drop an elbow of his own, and Bulldog rolls away from *that*. That pretty much sets the tone for the opening minutes of the match, as neither man keeps a sustained advantage. That was blatant disregard for doing play by play there. But eventually, Stevie exerts his size advantage and takes control of the match. After blasting Smith with a backbreaker, he then breaks form by going up top for a flying elbowdrop. Hitting it, he covers and gets nout more than two.

Stevie takes it to the outside, and that's where the advantage and momentum swings. Going for a suplex on the concrete, Davey Boy uses his supreme physical strength to block it, and counter with a suplex of his own. As Ray's back hits the floor hard, Smith starts to recover. After spending a fair amount of time trying to shake off the effects of Stevie's offence, he takes the action back into the squared circle. God, I wish this was a Stevie *Richards* match. Back inside, Bulldog goes to work. I think everyone knew coming into this match that Smith was the better wrestler, and here he finally proves it.

After nailing him with the half-hour suplex, Davey Boy comes off the ropes with a legdrop. Up to the top turnbuckle, a flying clothesline is executed with precision. Ray gets pulled up to his feet, and two dropkicks and a running powerslam later, the Bulldog retains. That European Rumble sure meant a lot huh? What a lousy match.

Davey Boy Smith pinned Stevie Ray with the Running Powerslam in 0:06:57.
Rating: -**
(Davey Boy Smith retained the WWF European Title)

Two negative-rating matches to start, for those counting along at home. But let's put this behind us, because the challenger to the WWF title is standing by backstage.

Cole : Steve, you arrived at the arena during the opening match, and just moments ago, you heard the comments made by the World Wrestling Federation Champion, Jeff Jarrett.  After hearing what the champion had to say, what is your response?

Austin : I gotta good mind to respond by whoopin' your ass! But there's a time and a place, and quite frankly, I've got bigger fish to fry. If Jeff Jarrett wants to come out on the air, make a few asinine comments, act like he's shootin' his ass off, well hell, that's just fine with me. Let me ask you something Michael. You believe a damn word he said?

Cole : I...

Austin : The answer is no, jackass, unless you want me to stomp a mudhole in ya, and walk my damn boots dry. You see, every damn word is a piece of absolute bullshit, because let me tell all you people something. Not only am I gonna Stunner his ass and take his title, not only am I gonna beat his sorry ass within an inch of his sorry existence, but I will beat his ass so bad that he'll have a damn heart attack every time he hears the name of Steve Austin, until the day he dies. Wants to talk about taking things to the bank? Well when he hears the crash as I hit the ring, it's gonna make the Wall Street Crash look like lost lunch money, as everything comes falling down, and that's the bottom line, 'cause Stone Cold said so!

Back to ringside we go, as the commentators briefly discuss our next match up. It's a battle of former European Champions. It's Adam Bomb versus Mabel.


On the 8th of June, Adam Bomb was set to face off against WWF Tag Champion Bob Holly in the first round of the King Of The Ring tournament. But due to an attack from Sycho Sid and Vader, the New Midnight Express left the arena on stretchers. A replacement wrestler had to be found. And oh yes, they found a replacement. They sure did. They found Mabel, who just happened to show up in a limosuine on the night in question. Making his WWF debut, Mabel defeated Bomb in what is still the quickest match in WWF history. After just eight seconds, Mabel was in the King Of The Ring.

Mabel would lose in some stupid ass conspiracy shit to the Rock in just three minutes, but that's another story. But what came out of that was that Mabel was now a heel, and had no use for his former manager, Oscar. The man who has been described by HipHop Magazine as being "revolutionary. Without doubt the man of the Millennium in regards to rap music. A true star" was discarded. But when Mabel defeated Adam Bomb once again to win the European Championship, Oscar knew he'd found his man. Approaching Bomb on a live edition of Thunder, Oscar did nothing more than embarrass himself in front of Bomb. With the idea in his head that the key to defeating rap artist Mabel was to use music in some kind of way, Oscar has apparently written an inspirational anthem to help Adam out. Bomb hasn't been too appreciative of Oscar's efforts so far, what will happen here tonight at Summerslam? 


'Ahahaha... Money Money Money Money...'

For the second time tonight, the Million Dollar Theme hits the speakers. Mabel heads towards the ring alone, Pierre Oulette absent tonight for some reason. The big man climbs over the top rope into the ring, and leans back against the ropes as-

'Nuclear Attack...'

The former 2-time 2-time 2-time European Champion makes his entrance. This is gonna be an epic folks. Strap on your seatbelts, 'cos we're about to push this car right into a brick wall.

 
Mabel
vs
Adam Bomb

There goes the bell. Sta- Hmm, could this be the third match in a row to get a negative rating? What do you think? Staredown between these two giants of the WWF. After a good amount of time has passed, the two men lock-up. It goes nowhere, both men break and neither has an advantage. They go in for a lock-up again, as a generic rap beat hits the speakers. Both men break again, and turn their attentions to the aisle. Where's this music coming from?

Oscar : Whattup New York?

Hmmm. No response. The beat continues, and Oscar takes his position in the aisle.

Oscar : Adam, I wrote this to inspire you. With this, we'll win and keep on winning, no doubt.

He takes a deep breath.

Adam Beat Mabel by Oscar.

Well I don't like Mabel, anymore,
I find his matches to be such a bore
And when Bomb goes and kicks all the crap outta him,
Big fat Mabel will be really thin!

Say Adam!
Say Adam Bomb!
Say Adam beats Mabel!
Now Jump!

It's time for verse two, it's the second one,
It's still the same song about Adam Bomb,
If we were in Toronto, we'd be chillin' with the maple,
But we're in MSG to kick the shit outta Mabel!

Say Adam!
Say Adam Bomb!
Say Adam beats Mabel!
Now Jump!
And take it to the bridge!

Ding ding goes the bell,
Pennies in the well,
Wishing that Mabel goes straight to hell!
Adam with the slam,
Like only he can,
Bomb is the wolf and Mabel is the lamb!

Lamb to the slaughter as Mabel's going down,
Mabel's ass is really really round,
Bomb's gonna send, the big man to the ground,
And the man they call Mabel, will be forever downed!

Say A-dam!
Say Adam Bomb!
Say Adam beats Mabel!
Now Jump!

Silence from the crowd.

Bomb : What the hell was that?

Mabel attacks from behind, nailing Bomb with a forearm to the back. He sends Bomb for the ride, then clocks him one with a clothesline, putting him down on the canvas. Giving a short evil laugh, Mabel comes off the ropes and drops a huge elbow. Leaving Bomb face up on the canvas, Mabel lumbers over in the direction where Oscar stands in the aisle. Staying in the ring, Mabel shoots a number of insults to the guy, as Oscar stands a good number of feet away from the ring itself. And Mabel keeps this up way longer than he should, giving Bomb enough time to come from behind, grab him, turn him back round, and DDT him!-

1...

2...

3!

Adam Bomb pinned Mabel after a DDT in 0:03:12.
Rating: -* 1/4

Bomb gets his hand raised by the referee, as Oscar goes nuts in the aisle. Oscar's celebrations are cut short though, as down the aisle comes Oulette, and he hammers him from behind with a clothesline. After laying in a few stomps to the downed rapper, Pierre enters the ring, and manages to hit Adam from behind as well. As Mabel gets back to his feet, it's two-on-one beatdown time. Coming off the ropes with a five hundred pound splash, this is looking reminiscent of last month's ppv attack of the British Bulldog.

Mabel sets up for a second, but running into the ring comes Oscar! His attempts at making a save are thwarted right away as Oulette grabs him from behind, then blasts him down to the canvas. Poor kid. Wait, isn't he like 30 years old? Moments later, Mabel squashes his former manager with another splash, and both Bomb and Oscar are laid out in the ring. Two more splashes are dished out, one to Bomb and one to Oscar, and both men now look severely beaten up. This is just brutal man, brutal.

As Oscar and Bomb lay unconscious in the centre of the ring, Mabel and Oulette make their exit. For the second pay-per-view running, these two have left opponents out cold in the squared circle. But when Bomb regains his ability to move, how will he feel about the fact that it was the man whose advances he's dismissed over the past month, that won him the match? And who can forget the courageous way Oscar tried to make the save, despite, for all intents and purposes, being a complete wuss? The mDo music continues to play, as we cut away to some sort of T-Shirt advertisement.

While that's going on, it's time to announce the next WWF pay-per-view. Coming to your screens live on September 6th, be prepared for WWF Sinfony : In Your House. The fifth installment of IYH is right around the corner, and it promises to be two hours of amazing WWF action! Call your cable company right now, because it's never too soon to do so.

Back to a shot of the arena, then we go to these comments from the New Age Outlaws.

Jammes : You know, there ain't a whole lot to say here. This past Monday night, we gave everyone a preview of what they're gonna see here tonight on pay-per-view. That being us, with the WWF Tag Team Titles. We defeated the Express on Raw, we'll do it again tonight. Midnight Express? They say actions speak louder than words, and that pretty much sums it up. Here at Summerslam 1998, you're gonna see new tag team champions, and anyone not down with that, then we've got two words for 'em...

Gunn :

It was obvious what Gunn said, so there's no point in actually writing it. The Tag Team Championship is- Well, it's not next, but it's coming up soon. Right now, Goldust will go one on one with 'The Crippler' Chris Benoit.


Way back in March, Dustin Runnels returned to the WWF, and he promised a sort of revolution or something. Whatever he had planned, it didn't work out, and after three months in the mid-card, battling it out for the Intercontinental Title, he came out on Thunder, and made the following comments:
 
...well I know now. I know that I *don't* care. I know that from here on, and I swear by God, it's all about me. On Monday Night Raw, and good lord believe me when I say this, there *will* be the start of something new. There's gonna be no pussyfooting around from here on in. What should have started at Wrestlemania, it's gonna start on Monday Night Raw. Believe me, things are gonna change.

Chris Benoit came out on Raw, telling everyone that Dustin had called him Thursday night, had scheduled a tag team contest against the Headbangers, and that his "revolution would be revealed tonight". Runnels had apparently no-shown the event. But then Goldust showed up. To the disgust of Benoit.

And then it became apparent that Dustin wanted Benoit to be more than just a tag partner. We don't need to go too much into that. But on June 15th, Benoit disappeared. Last seen confronting Goldust in his dressing room, Benoit missed his spot as Steve Austin's tag team partner that night, and ended up missing his place in the prestigious King Of The Ring tournament. Where the hell did he go? Who knows, although Goldust certainly played his part. The whereabouts of the Crippler were the subject of much speculation, and while Benoit was absent, Goldust fluked his way to the Intercontinental Championship, a title Benoit has held twice this year.

At the Last Chance Saloon, Goldust took on Owen Hart for the IC belt. A seriously overbooked finish saw Benoit return to the WWF, satacking Goldust and nearly costing him the Intercontinental title. Goldust eventually won, as Pierre Oulette ran in to provent a title change, but the bottom line was that the Crippler was back. A week later on Monday Night Raw, Benoit *did* cost Goldust the title, a DDT in a match against The Rock giving Maivia back his title. Owen Hart was once again the odd man out in the whole IC situation in that match, but that's another story. 


Benoit and Goldust is next!
 

Goldust
vs
Chris Benoit

Well, not yet... Goldust's intro plays three times before he finally makes his appearance. The bell rings, and we're finally underway...

Benoit goes in to lock-up, but Dustin starts backing off right away. Into the corner he goes, pulling the referee in between himself and the Crippler. Benoit takes a few steps back, but moments later when Goldust tries the exact same routine, he just pushes Chiota to one side and begins hammering on the former Intercontinental Champion. Ten right hands are given out, before Goldust finds an escape by booting Chris in the groin, then slipping quickly out to the floor.

Stall-time, as Goldust refuses to re-enter the ring. Despite the referee's counts and protests, he won't return, and it's left up to Benoit to go get him. Goldust's reaction to that? Make a run for it up the aisle. He's caught though, and Benoit drags him by the neck back down to the ring. Inside, he nails Goldust with a series of hard boots to the mid-section, then puts him down on the canvas with a powerslam off the ropes. Thumb across the throat!

He goes to the top... Flying headbutt connects! Cover-

1...

2...

Benoit's pulled out of the ring! It's Schyster! What's that about? Irwin starts taking it to Benoit on the floor, as the referee tries to order the Taxman away from the ringarea. After stomping the Crippler into the ground, Irwin goes to suplex him on the concrete... but it's reversed! Schyster hits hard, and Benoit then nails him with a DDT to take him out of the equation. He returns to the ring, but he's met with a knee to the chest from Goldust. Whip into the ropes, a Goldust clothesline is ducked, and Benoit comes back with a lariat!

Goldust is out, but Benoit pulls him back to his feet and sends him for the ride. Stealing a move straight from King Jarrett's movelist, he pulls Dustin down to the canvas with an armbar takedown, then it's straight into the Crippler Crossface! And that, as they say, is that.

Chris Benoit made Goldust submit to the Crippler Crossface in 0:04:06.
Rating: * 1/2

Benoit's music plays as Goldust slinks out of the ring. I think that was a pretty decisive victory. But what's the deal with I.R.S.? Did I just plug in a random first-feud generator and out came Benoit?

Earlier tonight, we heard from The New Age Outlaws. The Tag Team Championship is next, but first, a look back at the past four months for these two teams.


It began on April 19th at In Your House : Bright Lights, Big City. A faked knee injury and subsequent abandonment of his New Age Outlaw comrade Billy Gunn against the Headhunters was the setup. Costing Shawn Michaels and Triple-H the WWF title later in the night was the culmination of Jesse Jammes' turn on D-Generation X. The same pay-per-view also saw The New Midnight Express win the WWF tag team belts, with help from yeah, the Headhunters. Next night on Raw is Jericho, Jarrett helped out the NME in their first title defence, and a foursome was born.

During the following three months, during which time the group was not once called the Horsemen, Jammes ended up back as Jarrett's lackey, and Billy Gunn went nowhere. Problems with co tag belt holder Bob Holly ran rife through the team, and it was Holly with whom the Roadog sided. Let's go back to the Last Chance Saloon:

Jammes : 'Bob, I was watching this thing play out on the monitors backstage, and I thought to myself He's gonna do the right
thing. He's gonna turn his back on Jarrett, and he's gonna become a man. When I saw that's not how it was going down, I decided
to come out here. Bob, that stuff you said a few minutes ago, how Jeff Jarrett made you? That's bullshit. You've been a top athlete
in this sport, since, shit, I don't know when. And you gotta realise, just like I did, this bitch [turns to point at Jarrett] is gonna do
nothing but hold you back. Bart Gunn, he's nothing but Jarrett's butt-buddy, and I couldn't give a damn about him anymore. But
Bob? What's say we get the hell outta here? You turn your back on Jarrett, we'll tag. We'll call ourselves the New New Midnight
Express, whatever. But this is your chance, are you gonna be a man, or are you gonna stay as Jarrett's lackey?'

Holly looks like he's thinking real hard.

Jammes : 'God knows I've learnt from my mistake. You've gotta learn from yours.'

Before Bob can answer, Bart comes up behind Jammes and smashes him on the back of the head with the bat! He then starts
hammering the Roadog with the bat repeatedly. The camera cuts to Holly's face. This is it.

Does he turn on Jarrett and Gunn and help the Roadog?

Or will he chicken out and stick with the winning team?

As Gunn continues to beat on Jammes, Holly glances over at Jarrett...

....

...and then he starts stomping on Jammes.

<sigh>

Jarrett grins as the N.M.E. go to work on Jesse. Gunn hands Holly the bat, and Bob crashes it down on the Roadog's chest. Holly
then hands the bat back to Bart, and goes across and embraces Jarrett. Shit, this sucks. Jarrett tells him to give Jammes one
more, and Bob takes the bat again. He raises it above his head and-

'Oh, You Didn't Know?'

What the hell? It's Billy Gunn!

Chair in hand, Gunn charges down to ringside! Jarrett slides quickly out of the ring, but Billy manages to smash the chair over both
Holly and his brother before they can get out of the squared circle. Jarrett's laughing though, and he and the Express leave with the
three belts as Gunn goes over to where Jammes lies.

The music stops as Gunn raises a bloodied Roadog up to his feet, and when Jammes sees Gunn he instinctively takes a number of steps back. Jammes looks puzzled, and Billy just shrugs his shoulders and extends his hand. JJ looks from left to right, looking into the crowd.

He takes a few steps froward, then shakes the hand! Jammes and Gunn hug in the centre of the ring! The crowd goes nuts, and well they might. Considering what we've seen tonight [Smith hospitalised, Storm retaining his title, Goldust beating Owen, Triple-H
pinning Booker T, and Holly re-joining Jarrett], this rocks! The Outlaws theme kicks in, the crowd supplying all the lyrics. Jammes
doesn't look in condition to sing, but there is a look of relief and happiness on his face that wasn't there ten minutes ago.

Rather a long clip. Sorry. There's been numerous fights between both teams since then, and just this past Monday night on Raw, the New Age Outlaws won the tag team titles. It was a controversial finish, and the decision was reversed the following morning. Can the Outlaws make amends for their three months apart by winning them outright here at Summerslam?... 


Irwin and Cole are backstage. Schyster in suit and tie, carrying his requisite briefcase.

Cole : I.R.S., why did you attack the Crippler during that last matchup?!

Schyster : You shut your mouth Cole. Don't think I can't do a little research on you too. Let me tell you something. I did a little bit of checking up on Mr. Benoit's absence, and what I unearthed may shock and surprise every single peon out there. Not only is Mr. Benoit one of the biggest tax cheats in-

Benoit is seen in the background, making his way back to his dressing room.

Schyster : There he is now. Hey Benoit!

As Benoit turns, Irwin hurls the briefcase at him, catching the Crippler square in the face. Schyster's quick to attack Benoit while he's down, and he starts stomping away as we cut back to ringside.

"Oh You Didn't Know?"

The challengers hit the ring, with heavy support from the fans. Jammes and Gunn run down their schtick, as we cut backstage to see the champs on their way to the ring area. The Tag Team Championship is up for grabs!
 

WWF World Tag Team Championship
The New Age Outlaws
vs
The New Midnight Express [c]

The only time these two teams have met in an actual match to a decisive finish, the Outlaws came out on top, way back in Manchester. Is that an omen? After a good amount of time spent finger pointing and gesturing at each other, we get down to two in the ring, and it's Jammes and Bart to get things rolling.They lock up, and they end up in the corner. Jammes with a clean break, but Bart decides to slap him right in the face, drawing some 'oooh's' from the crowd. Gunn's cocky laugh is soon wiped off his face though, as the Roadog snaps and starts whaling on the tag champ! A succession of right hands sends Bart down to the canvas, and Bob Holly then jumps into the ring to attack JJ and put a stop to this. In comes Billy Gunn to even things up, and a double clothesline sends Holly to the outside. Bart slips outside as well, and the Outlaws are standing tall!

Bart and Bob have a meeting on the floor as the Outlaws make the 'belt's around our waist' motion inside. Bart eventually returns to the ring, and he locks up with Jammes again. The test of strength proves nothing, as Gunn knees Jesse in the chest to take the advantage. He sends the Roadog for the ride, misses a clothesline, then turns round to be scoop slammed by Jammes! Jammes now sends Bart for the ride, then backbody drops him to the mat again. Tag to Billy, who skips the usual face to face brother showdown, 'cos let's face it, we've seen it a thousand times before. Billy lays the boots into Bart, before Irish whipping him into the turnbuckle. Shoulder charge into the corner connects, and Billy follows it up by whipping him into the opposite corner. A second shouldercharge attempt, but Bart raises his boot and nails Billy right in the... shoulder.

Billy staggers a few steps backwards, but Bart grabs him and sends him back into the corner, ramming his head repeatedly into the turnbuckle. Bodyslam to put him down to the canvas, and Billy then finds himself dragged over to the Express corner, where the tag is made to Bob Holly. Holly enters by going up to the top buckle, then coming off with a flying stomp to Billy's head. Bart hits a legdrop before leaving the ring, and Holly takes control of the situation, him being the big shot and all. Holly pulls Gunn up to his feet, then sends him right back down with a dropkick. Belly to belly suplex from Bob brings about the first two count of the match, as Jesse gets an 'N!A!O!' chant going on the apron.

Holly with a couple of hard shots to Billy's face, then it's a suplex attempt for the Bodacious one. Or was Holly the Bombastic one? I guess it's not important. What is important is that Gunn blocks the vertical suplex, and nails one of his own. Both men are down, and the race to tag is on. Holly makes it over to Bart, but Billy is in his corner just a split second later, tagging Jammes back in! Bart charges at the Roadog, but Jammes splats him with a clothesline. Gunn quickly back up to his feet, but Jesse nails him with another clothesline. Bart up again, but a third clothesline puts him down once again. Jammes sends him into the ropes, then executes a deadly spinning neckbreaker! Cover-

1...

2...

And Bart's got more in him than that. Jammes sets him up for a piledriver, but here's Bob Holly back in to put a stop to that. An axehandle to Jesse's back from Bob causes Jammes to drop Bart to the canvas. I guess that was slightly less painful than a piledriver would have been. Bob won't leave quite yet though, as he dishes out a number of forearms to Jammes, before Billy Gunn storms in to nail Holly with a dropkick! Holly takes a dive to the outside, but Bart's now back on his feet, and Bart clotheslines his brother from behind. Billy goes down, and Bart proceeds to boot him out of the ring, but as he does, Jammes comes up from the reverse with a roll-up!

Which gets two and a half. Bart jumps up and out of the hold Jammes had on him, and clocks him one with a lariat. Jammes collapses onto the canvas once again, and Gunn's quick to cover. Just like moments earlier, it gets two and a half. With Jesse down on the mat, Bart locks on a sleeper. Meanwhile, we get word from backstage via the announcers that both Sycho Sid and Vader have arrived in the building here tonight, and that security is already having to restrain them from each other. That's great, but why are they feuding again? Gunn still with the sleeper, as Jammes looks to be slipping out of consciousness. Billy looks on helpless as Jammes continues to go down. Well, he could run in to the ring and boot Bart in the face, but that's beside the point. The referee checks the arm... it goes down. Checks it again... it goes down. One more time...

It goes down!

No wait...

It stays up!

Jammes starts to get up to one knee, but Bart won't let go of the hold. Slowly forcing his way to his feet, JJ manages to get enough room between himself and Gunn to swing his elbow back into Bart's mid-section. Again with the elbow, until Gunn is forced to break. Jammes tries to capitalise on the release to sway the momentum back to the Outlaws, but Bart squashes it with a rake to the eyes. The Roadog goes back to being 'face-in-peril', as Bart once again drags him over to the NME side of the ring. Jammes can't seem to get any sustained offense at all here. 'NAO' chant again from the crowd, as Holly is tagged in once more.

Holly stomps away on Jesse, then hits a flying legdrop to get the Express a two count. A chinlock is applied by Bob, as Billy Gunn still has to look on out on the apron. The Express, to their credit, have put on a hell of a performance in containing the Outlaws to this point. Despite how boring it may be for the crowd. Holly let's the chinlock go, then tags Bart back into the action. Elbowdrop off the ropes from Bart, another two count. He gets the Roadog up to his feet, then starts choking him on that top rope. It's soon broken by the referee, but as the ref admonishes Bart, Holly re-enters the ring and continues to choke Jammes out, Memphis style.

Holly returns to the apron as the referee finishes with Bart, and Bart then opts to clothesline Double-J out to the floor. Once again, Holly does a number on Jammes while the ref's back is turned. Out goes Bart to join him. He bashes Jammes head first repeatedly into the guardrail, then piledrives him on the concrete! Why isn't Gunn helping out here? Bart rolls Jammes back into the ring, turns him over onto his back, and makes a cover...

1...

2...

No! But Jammes can't take much more. A second piledriver from Bart, to get another two count. After pausing for a moment to wonder just what it'll take to put the Roadog interview, Bart goes to the top rope. Top rope legdrop coming up...

Missed! Bart and Jesse are down, but Jammes can't crawl over to his corner before Bart grabs him. Bart pulls Jammes to his feet and rocks him with a series of forearms, then sends him into the ropes. A clothesline is ducked, and the Roadie finds the strength to counter with a backslide!-

1...

2...

And out. Jammes couldn't get the duke, but with Bart still on the canvas, he manages to finally get to his corner and tag out! Gunn makes angry 'let's go kick some ass' faces, and charges into the ring. Right hands on Bart, then he floors him with a dropkick. Whip into the ropes, a powerslam puts Bart down again. Holly's in, but Gunn grabs and powerslams him too. Holly rolls out to the floor, as Billy signals for the RockerDropper! Bart gets up to his feet, Billy off the ropes, there it is!-

1...

2...

And Holly's back in to break the count! Bob grabs the Assman and tosses him out to the floor, as Jesse Jammes meanwhile, finds the strength to climb to the top turnbuckle from the apron. Holly turns round to face him... Flying clothesline!

1...

2...

3

New Champions!

The New Age Outlaws defeated The New Midnight Express when J. James pinned Holly in 0:17:19.
Rating: * 3/4
(The New Age Outlaws won the WWF World Tag Team Titles)

They weren't the legal men, but so what? Bart gets to his feet and looks to attack Jammes, but decides to hell with it, and pulls his partner to his feet, and the former champs retreat. Billy returns to the ring to help his partner up, and ladies and gentlemen, after four long months, we have NEW WWF Tag Team Champions! It's major celebration time in the squared circle, as Gunn and Jammes are handed their new belts, for real this time. The New Age Outlaws are the first ever two time tag team champions here in the WWF, and they continue to pose with the belts as we cut backstage to see-

What the hell is he doing here? He's not scheduled on tonight's card...

Before we get an explanation, the New Midnight Express are on hand with Michael Cole.

Cole : New M-

Bob : Shut up! This is an outrage! Bart was the legal man, they pinned the- Let me tell you something Michael... They- Ah GodDAMNIT!

Bart : They think they're keeping those belts, they've got another thing coming! Enjoy it tonight Outlaws, 'cos tomorrow night on Raw, we're getting 'em right back!

Bob : What a pisser. Jesus.

Back to ringside we go, and it's almost time for the Battle of The Big Men. Remember back in 1996 when they fought it out with the angle being that they needed to see merely who had the better Powerbomb? And then Sid won with a chokeslam? What a load of crap. Flashback time.


It was May 7th when Vader made his return to the WWF, alligning himself with Sycho Sid in his battle with 'StoneCold' Steve Austin. For the next two months, the two men would proceed to wreck havoc on the World Wrestling Federation, though the tag titles alluded them on a technicality at King Of The Ring. But on July 13th, Vader teamed alongside Hunter Hearst Helmlsey to take on Harlem Heat, and Sid got kinda pissy about that. So at the Last Chance Saloon, Sid attacked and powerbombed him on the concrete floor, giving Vader a rather embarrasing lost to Stevie Ray. Vader returned later in the night, costing the Sid the European title. So now they fight tonight. Boy, with a buildup like that... 

Sid has these comments to make, earlier today.

Sid : Vader, you messed with the madness, and now the madness... has arrived! There are very few reasons and very few rules in the games that are played here in the World Wrestling Federation, but the rules that are, are the rules that will always be! You see, one rule is clear. When you play games with the master, you better know one thing. And this is the thing that should always be understood, be it the man they call Vader, be it StoneCold Steve Austin, be it Jeff Jarrett, be it anybody. All those who look into the eyes of the Reaper himself, all those who try to cheat death himself, they will always pay the ULTIMATE price. For I AM the reaper of the World Wrestling Federation, and it's now time for Vader's... Final curtain.

'It's time... It's time... It's Vader time!'

But wait. We cut to the back to see The Rock enter the arena. Why he's taken so long to get here, God only knows. But the fact that he is limping very badly might have something to do with it. Maybe the New Yorkers were right to speculate... We'll find out, right after this.

Here we go...
 

Vader
vs
Sycho Sid

The bell rings, and these two mammoth mastadons of the mat wars go eye to eye. Wow, mammoth mastadons of the mat wars... Where did that come from? Vader starts to mouth off at the Psychotic one, but gets met with nothing but a snigger from Sid. Sid fires back with a verbal punch of his own, but Vader just smirks, swings his fist back, and then whacks Sid in the face with the first contact of the match! Another club to the head has Sid reeling, and Vader then runs himself into the ropes, charges at his former partner... then crashes to the outside as Sid steps out of the way, causing Vader to fall through the ropes.

Sid follows him out, grabbing him by the back of his mask, then ramming him headfirst into the guardrail. To the opposite side of the aisle he goes to do it again, but Vader with an elbow to Sid's ribs, then Vader rams him into the railing! He hoists him up, then slams Sid down onto the concrete. Sid holds his back in pain, as Vader winds up for an elbowdrop. The elbow is raised, Vader jumps down, and Sid rolls away to safety. With Vader now down, Sid pauses to yack with a few fans, then boots Vader in the face when the Rocky Mountain Beast gets to his feet. Vader is rocked and staggers backwards, but doesn't go down.  Another big boot, as Vader falls back and hits the ring apron. Sid now with a charge, but Vader sidesteps to one side, and Sid goes hurtling into the apron too.

Both men still on the outside, Vader clubs Sid in the head with a series of forearms, before whipping him hard into the ringsteps. Sid's knees take the brunt of it, and he starts limping as Vader returns to the squared circle. Sid wanders around for a while, before the referee's shouting finally convinces him to re-enter the ring, where Vader awaits. The former tag team partners circle each other, then lock up for the first time in the contest. Sid with a knee to the gut, then a forearm to Vader's back as the Big Van doubles over. Another forearm, then he sends Vader for the ride, leading into a clothesline that doesn't send him down. Off the ropes with a second clothesline, still Vader won't tumble. A third attempt is ducked, and Vader fires back by nailing Sid with a belly to belly suplex!

He covers, but Sid's quick to get his shoulder up, the count getting barely more than one. Vader pulls him to his feet, then cross corner whips him into the buckle. Avalanche charge, but Sid raises his boot and plants it firmly into Vader's kisser. Stepping up onto the second turnbuckle pad, Sid puts him down on the canvas with a flying clothesline! It's a move that won the tag team titles earlier, will it win this match? No, 'cos Vader kicked out of the cover at two. Sid gets Vader up to his feet, then hammers him repeatedly with right hand after right hand. Well, so far this match has completely sucked. He backs Vader into the corner, then proceeds to choke him out until the referee can force him to break.

Sid doesn't take too kindly to that interference from the referee, so he promptly grabs him by the neck and chokeslams him to the canvas. Okay, check the pools. Who had 05:02 in the 'First Referee Bump' contest? Sid goes to survey his handiwork, laughing at the laid out ref, as Vader comes out of the corner, nailing him from behind. Vader whips Sid into the ropes, but gets met with a boot to the mid-section from the Sycho. DDT from Sid! Hey, what the hell is this?

Running to the ring come Adam Bomb, Marty Jannetty, Davey Boy Smith, and 'Hacksaw' Jim Duggan!

The four men attack Sid, as I try to figure out what the- Ah. Flashback to this past week on Raw, Sid's rampage had an adverse effect on the four men present. Is this their revenge? Sid gets pummeled into oblivion, until Vader shakes off the effects of the DDT. The Rocky Mountain Beast grabs Duggan from behind, headbutts him, then powerbombs him to hell. Chokeslam for Jannetty. Sid fires back at the Bulldog with a big boot to the face, sending him hurtling over the top rope. Vader with a chokeslam on Adam Bomb.

The four faces laid out, it's Vader and Sid face to face again. They survey the scene...

Then shake hands.

The referee gets to his feet and looks on as they embrace each other, and it's look like the Masters Of The PowerBomb have reformed here. Now that's a bit of a depressing finish. Sid and Vader make threatening faces into the camera, and Vader walks over to the side of the ring to play to the fans. Sid looks over to Vader with his back turned...

And Sid nails him from behind! What a bitch! Three more forearms to the back, and Sid then turns Vader round... and powerbombs him! He powerbombed the 400 pound Vader! The referee makes the count-

1...

2...

3

Sid defeated Vader with the powerbomb in 0:07:02.
Rating: -* 1/2

Admit it, that was cool. Sid boots Vader out of the ring, and is that the last we see of the Rocky Mountain Beast? As for Sid, he's gotta be on his way to a world title shot soon. But against Jeff Jarrett or Steve Austin? We're not far away from finding out.

But enough about the world title, because as soon as Sid stops hurling insults at the crowd, we're gonna have our Intercontinental Championship Match. Let's take a trip back in time, to the history between Owen Hart and the IC Champion, Rocky Maivia...


And you better believe there's a lot of history here. As the New Year welcome the World Wrestling Federation, Owen Hart found his home in the Maivia-led Nation Of Domination. Blamed for many Nation defeats, Hart eventually quit the group. Wanting revenge for months of mis-treatment, Hart took on Maivia at Wrestlemania, but a count out win was not to his satisfaction. Rocky may have wanted to save himself for his European title match against Jeff Jarrett later on the pay-per-view, but controversy over the belt saw that Hart and Rock would possibly meet again, the following night on Raw.

With Jarrett being stripped of the European title, though subsequently winning the world title just a week later, a new champion had to be found. The official decision? Owen takes on Adam Bomb, the winner to face Maivia. It was logical at the time, I think. It was the Rock's interference that saw Hart lose to Bomb, and it was Owen's interference that led to Rocky losing to Bomb. Both men had cost each other the coveted European title, and neither was going to forget it.

At In Your House : Bright Lights, Big City, it was six man tag action, as the partnership of Owen, Chris Benoit, and Dustin Runnels [who?] teamed up against the Nation trio of Maivia, Booker T and Mark Henry. Hart was denied much of a chance to get at his nemesis, as Rocky and Benoit were counted out early. Mark Henry ended up as the sole survivor in that match, a booking decision that even I can't understand. But that's beside the point. Hart then wound up feuding with Adam Bomb, whilst the Rock did some other stuff with some other people. On May 17th, Maivia won the Intercontinental Title, defeating two time champion Benoit. Hart and Maivia went their seperate ways.

But their paths would cross again by the time King Of The Ring rolled by. In their qualifying match, it was Maivia who got the duke, rock bottoming Hart on his way to becoming the 1998 King Of The Ring. It was help from Marc Mero that won the match, which led to the mDo, which led to... nothing really. Also on the KOTR pay-per-view, Owen saw another title shot slip by the wayside, as he and Bulldog were defeated by the [former] powerhouse team of Sid and Vader, the Masters of the Powerbomb. The next night on Raw, Hart made Goldust submit to the Sharpshooter. Why is that important? Well, I'm getting there. Sorry if this seems a bit rambling here...

Rock's stock increased ten-fold four days after KOTR. After winning both the Royal Rumble and the KOTR tournament, Maivia got himself a pinfall victory over the World Champion Jeff Jarrett. But on July 6th, that was all wiped out, as Goldust produced a huge upset to take Maivia's Intercontinental title away from his iron grip. A battle royal was set-up to determine the number one contender, the last two people in the ring to face off for the spot. The last two men in the battle?

Yeah, of course it was Owen and Rocky. And it was the Sharpshooter that got Hart his first decisive victory over the Rock. It would be Owen Hart bidding for the IC strap at The Last Chance Saloon. Owen had the match won, but it was interference that cost him WWF gold yet again. Hart has been denied championships so far here in the WWF by every different reason imaginable. But is tonight the night he finally gets his hands on the Intercontinental title? 


But how hurt is Maivia? Official word earlier in the day told that Rocky was fit enough to compete, but what was seen just moments before our previous match has to contradict that. Hart heads to the ring, and we cut backstage to see Maivia limping his way towards the ringarea. Oh boy...

'Do You Smell What The Rock Is Cooking?'

That's quite a limp, and he's doing about as good a job as Hogan does of hiding it. Hart stands in the ring with a look that's half sympathy, and half 'Oh Jesus Christ, is this how they're gonna screw me out of the belt this time?'. Maivia slowly gets into the ring, and the ref comes over to ask if he's okay. Maivia shoots Hebner a look that's half 'I can beat the hell out of anyone with one leg', and half 'I'm really hurt. Help me'. Earl turns to the timekeeper, and motions to ring the bell. The Rock may be fucked up, but the Intercontinental Championship is on.
 

WWF Intercontinental Championship
Owen Hart
vs
Rocky Maivia [c]

The Rock says to 'Bring it on', so Hart takes his legs out from under him with a swift kick to his hurt leg. Maivia collapses to the mat, and Owen takes a number of steps back.

Hart : This is bullshit.

Maivia gets up his feet again, so Hart nails him with a dropkick to the knee. Rocky down again, and Hart begins stomping on the leg. The referee tries to get him to let up, but Owen drops a legdrop on Maivia, then drags him into the centre of the ring. He steps the leg over, hooks it, Sharpshooter! Even with tremendous pain on his injured leg, Maivia won't quit. After twenty long seconds, we get a closeup of Rocky's face. He's blacked out.

Owen releases the hold. He steps back and looks at the IC Champ, unconscious on the ring canvas. Taking a glance around the arena at the fans, then at the referee, Hart turns and steps out of the ring. As Owen retreats to the dressing room, the referee counts.

Rocky Maivia defeated Owen Hart by countout in 0:01:13
Rating: 1/2*
(Rocky Maivia retained the WWF Intercontinental Title)

Hart disappears behind the curtains, as the referee tries to revive Maivia. Eventually a stretcher is called for, and Maivia is carried aboard. Owen let Maivia win the match because he didn't want to take advantage of an already wounded opponent. But rest assured, Hart will get another shot at the belt. Rest assured.

As the stretcher leaves view, and preperations for the Nightstick match begin, we go into flashback mode.


For Booker T and Hunter Hearst Helmsley, their problems with each other started back in May. After being told by Dustin Runnels
for weeks that the Nation was holding him back, Booker was eventually punked out of the group, at In Your House 3. A week later,
Booker tried to salvage the friendship with Dustin, but Runnels wasn't so forgiving. Booker ran down to make the save for Dustin, as
he was double teamed by the Rock and Triple-H. Despite Runnels turning down Booker's handshake, Helmsley was pissed at the
interference.

Over the following few weeks, Booker T, Runnels and Helmsley embarked on a three way feud over the Intercontinental title. The
Rock's Intercontinental title.None of the three men could have a match without one of the other's interfering. Dustin bowed out
though, saying he was cut out for better things, becoming Goldust. As it would turn out, it was the change to Goldust that got
Dustin the IC belt, but that's another story. Helmsley would go on to cost Booker his initial place in the King Of The Ring tournament. In retaliation, Hunter's dressing room was trashed, with the words 'Harlem Heat' scrawled across the wall. Angry that Booker denied involvement in the dressing room upheaval, Helmsley went on live tv and made some rather distasteful remarks about Booker's skin colour. Incensed, T went out and nearly killed Helmsley in a brawl back on June 15th. Stevie Ray would return to the WWF during that contest.

Because of that interview, Helmsley got suspended, missing his chance at becoming King Of The Rng. He was allowed to return if
he made a public apology. He made it, though showed he meant not a word of it when he attacked Booker T from behind
immediately following it's conclusion. The two men locked it up at the Last Chance Saloon, and after heavy punishment to Booker's back, it was Triple-H with the victory.

But Booker wanted a second match. Attacking Helmsley on Monday Night Raw, he laid out a challenge. Any kind of match Hunter wanted, T was up for it. The match Hunter wanted? A nightstick match. Hunter pulled out the victory last month, but can he make it 2 and 0 over one half of Harlem Heat? We'll find out. 


But now, the rules:

    1. A nightstick will be suspended 16 feet above the ring canvas. To reach the stick, participants will have to use
    2. A ladder, which will be positioned in the aisle.
    3. No count-outs.
    4. No disqualifications.
    5. There is no rule 5.
    6. Pinfalls only count after the Nightstick has been taken.
    7. I think tha-

I think that's all.

'Yes Yes Yes... No No No...'

Booker takes a quick glance at the ladder as he walks past it, then up at the 16 foot high nightstick that hangs above the ring. The ladder/nightstick match is coming up.

'Are You Ready?'

Still coming out to the DX theme, Helmsley makes his entrance.

 
Nightstick Match
Hunter Hearst Helmsley
vs
Booker T

There goes the bell. Will Hunter ring true in his promise to beat Booker 'NYPD Blue' here tonight? One lockup in, it's Helmsley backed into the corner, but a clean break sees it go nowhere. Another lock-up, and Helmsley forces things into the opposite corner, but breaks the connection by kneeing Booker with a shot to the gut. Forearms in the corner, but a cross corner whip from Triple-H is reversed, sending him crashing into the buckle. Avalanche clothesline from Booker! A second CC whip from Booker, leads to another avalanche.Hunter staggers out of the corner, and Booker blasts him with a Harlem Sidekick to put him down to the canvas.

Helmsley's the first one down in this matchup, but there's no covers here, not yet, and Booker doesn't go for the ladder either. He pulls Hunter up to his feet, has him reeling with a barrage of forearms, then whips him for the ride. Armdrag takedown on the Degenerate, and a quick elbowdrop to keep him down. A backbreaker is next on the agenda for Helmsley, and following that, Booker goes to the top rope for the first time. Flying elbowdrop...

Misses. Booker hits the mat hard, and Hunter's allowed time to get back to his feet. Booker's soon up to *his* though, and when Helmsley aims a right hand shot, Booker is right there to block it. Another fist attempt, another block, causing Helmsley to get
pissed and angrily swing a roundhouse right that's easily ducked, and Booker counters the whole thing with an atomic drop, putting
Hunter in agony. Helmsley stays on his feet though, but Booker charges off the ropes with a clothesline that sends Hunter crashing
over the top rope to the floor! Booker does nothing more than raise the roof with the fans as Hunter gathers himself back together, and Helmsley is allowed back in the ring of his own accord.

Lockup number 3, and Booker grabs Hunter in a side headlock. Helmsley shoves him into the ropes, ducks under Booker's return, then knocks Booker to the mat with a high knee to the chest. With Booker down for the first time, Hunter quickly seizes on the opportunity, grabbing and choking him out before Booker can block it. Booker *does* eventually shove Hunter off, but not before a decent amount of damage has been done. Helmsley gets Booker to his feet, then backs him into the corner once more with a succession of right hand punches. Cross corner whip, and Booker hits the buckle so hard he falls down to the canvas after the impact. Kneedrop from Hunter, and he then covers. Idjut.

After cursing a little *too* loudly for our censors ears, Hunter pulls Booker up vertical, and then promptly gets blasted in the face with a superkick! Helmsley's down, and Booker retakes control. Helmlsey to his feet, and he's met with right hands from Booker. Whip into the ropes, swinging neckbreaker on the return! Hunter is far from out cold, but he's down long enough for Booker to climb the buckles. Helmsley's grroggily up to his feet, and there's the Missile Dropkick! Triple-H is out!

With Hunter face up on the canvas, and showing on signs of getting up any time soon, Booker goes for the ladder. Grabbing it in the aisle, he's quick to set it up in mid-ring. With Helmsley now getting up to one knee, Booker starts to climb the rungs...

And Hunter shoves the ladder to the canvas!

Booker crashes down too, natch, and it wasn't the most comfortable fall I've ever seen. Not to mention the ladder then falling down upon him. Helmsley's made a recovery, and he shoves the ladder off of Booker, and places it aside before laying some stomps into him. He grabs him by the neck, pulls him to his feet, then bashes him into the turnbuckle. Three times more, and Booker's dazed. Scoop slam... onto the ladder! Helmsley won at In Your House due to a back injury for Booker, hopefully that won't be brought up again. Another scoop slam from Hunter, freeing the ladder for Helmsley to utilise.

And up he goes.

But there's Booker, slowly, but there none the less, to grab onto Hunter's foot and block his ascent. Helmsley swings his boot back to catch Booker in the face, and the Harlem Heat member is sent staggering back. Hunter decides against continuing his journey towards the stick, as he comes back down to pound on Booker. Forearm shot from Hunter, a series of 'em, until Booker starts blocking and firing back. Booker gets Hunter reeling once more, until he grabs him by his hair and hurls him into the ladder!

The ladder doesn't fall, but Helmsley bounces off and then flair flops to the canvas. Raise the roof! The ladder discarded for the moment, Booker sends Hunter for the ride, then clocks him with a lariat. With Helmsley not staying down, Booker opts not to attempt to get himself the nightstick, but to work Helmsley over on the mat, putting him in a reverse chinlock to allow both men a rest. Booker eventually lets it go, and he brings the crowd back into it moments later by nailing Triple-H with a spinebuster slam!

Signal for the Missile Dropkick for a second time, as Booker looks to put Helmsley out of the match for good. Waiting till Hunter gets to a standing position, Booker then lets fly, and goes crashing to the mat as Helmsley quickly gets outta dodge 'cos he *own's* dodge, ooh yeah, dig it? With Booker on the mat, Helmsley ducks out of the ring and grabs himself a chair from the timekeepers table, shoving a few officials down in the process. Back into the squared circle, he bashes Booker in the head with the chair, then lays it down in the centre of the ring. Pedigree on the steel! Cover-

Oh, yeah. Where'd that ladder go? Hunter leaves Booker laid out, and goes to set the ladder up once again. And up he goes, though it took longer for him to set up than Helmsley had hoped. And as he climbs the rungs, there's Booker slowly coming up the other side. Oh boy. Hunter gets to the top, but then is shocked as all hell to see Booker facing him. Slugfest on the ladder! As the two men trade rights, the ladder starts to shake, and both men end up at square one as the ladder topples and falls, both men crashlanding to the mat!

And they stay down for a while. But eventually, Booker stirs first. He gets up to a standing position and goes to pull Hunter to *his* feet, but yow, there's a low blow! Booker goes back down, but Helmlsey's not exactly springing to his feet either. Booker rolls out to the floor in pain, and Hunter Hearst soon manages to follow him out. Helmsley now in control on the outside. After dismantling the ringsteps, Hunter proceeds to bash them down onto Booker, drawing blood for the first time here at Summerslam. Helmsley throws the steps to one side, then after surveying the scene and any other available weapons, decides to just slam Booker onto the concrete.

We cut to a shot of the nightstick *still* hanging untouched above the ring, before going back to ringside, as Helmsley piledrives Booker on the floor! Booker is laid out yet again in this contest, and Hunter returns to the ring. The ladder is put into position, but as Helmsley turns his back to check on Booker, the damn thing topples over, drawing some more distasteful language from Triple-H. He gets it into position again, but now we see Booker slowly getting back up. Hunter starts to climb though, as Booker T climbs the turnbuckles from the outside. Helmlsey to the fifth rung, but he's stopped in his tracks as Booker comes flying off the top rope with an axehandle, knocking Triple-H off the ladder!

Helmsley takes a bad fall, and Booker retrieving the chair from earlier, and bashing it over his head, doesn't help. Shoving the ladder down, Booker then nails Hunter with some hard-ass forearms, then sends him for the ride, taking him down on the return with a powerslam onto the downed ladder! Hunter's in pain, and Booker then picks the ladder up and simply drops it on his adversary. Helmsley looks in trouble and Booker knows it, booting him into the corner of the ring, before going to attempt to grab the stick.

The ladder in position, Booker begins to climb. He climbs each rung,he gets to the top, he reaches for it...

But Helmsley is there again, grabbing on Booker's boot! Booker kicks back, trying to shake Hunter off, and one well aimed boot to the face does the trick, as Hunter falls. Booker reaches again...

And this time Helmsley just shoves the godforsaken thing over.

Hunter to his feet, pulling Booker to *his*, and there's the Pedigree! With Booker out again, and how many times have I used the word 'again' in this match report, Helmsley goes to the ladder. He sets it up in the- well, that's not *quite* the centre of the ring, as the ladder isn't that far from the ropes, but it's still in reaching distance of the nightstick. He climbs it, reaches out...

And Booker shoves the ladder! But shit, Hunter may regret positioning it that close to the ropes, as not only does HHH fall, he gets sent crashing out of the ring, falling smack into the guardrail! Contrived yeah, but it still looks cool. With Helmsley busted open on the outside, Booker gets the ladder in place for himself. He starts to climb...

Then slips!

Booker falls back down to the canvas, as the ladder does too. But Booker isn't that hurt, and he positions it again. Hunter meanwhile, is ever so slowly getting to his feet as Booker reclimbs. Booker slowly getting to the top...

And he grabs the nightstick!

But there's Helmsley in the ring, and he pushes the ladder down, causing Booker to crash down and drop the stick. As a referee runs down the aisle to enter the ring, Hunter grabs it, and after waiting for Booker to get to his feet, Helmsley jams it right into his face. Cover-

1...

2...

Kickout! Helmsley jumps up pissed, and starts bitching at the ref, turning his back on Booker T. *Enough* already Hunter, as he backs the ref into the corner with his verbal bashing. Eventually he turns away-

Right into a Booker T superkick! Booker grabs the nightstick, then puts the ladder back up. Hunter's still laid out as T reaches the top...

Booker flies off the ladder, nailing Hunter in the face with the nightstick!

1...

2...

3!

Ladder Match
Booker T defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley in 0:14:42.
Rating: ** 1/4

Booker gets the draining win, to cancel out last month's miscarriage of justice. Booker slowly gets to his feet and gets the cheers of the fans, as we prepare for the main event.

Footage is shown of the first match up between these two, back at King Of The Ring, but I've printed clips from that match way too many times before to bother again. The video package is over, let's take it to Howard Finkel, in the ring.

Finkel : Ladies and gentlemen, it is now time for the main event, of WWF Summerslam 1998! It is scheduled for one fall, and is for the World Wrestling Federation Championship! But at this time, allow me to introduce the man who, earlier today, was assigned the task of Special Guest Referee for this contest...

'Oh... Oh... Shawn!'

Finkel : 'The HeartBreak Kid', Shawn Michaels!

Oh my. To the cheers of the crowd, Michaels showboats his way to the ring, clad in referee gear natch. Well, we can forget any spectacular entrance for the World Champion, 'cos he's marching down to the ring right now!

Jarrett : What the hell is this?

Storming into the ring, Jarrett gets right in Michaels' face.

Jarrett : What the crap is going on? What the hell are you doing here?

Michaels : Hey backoff Jeff-man, you stuck your nose in the Rock's business this past Thursday night, you screwed these people out of the IC match, maybe I'm hear to screw you out of this match!

Jarrett : This is bullshit! Biased, conspiracy bullshit!

Michaels : Hey, I'm gonna be impartial here you dumb son of a bitch. In case you forgot, the only reason I'm not fighting for that belt right now, is 'cos of Steve Austin. This is gonna be right down the middle jackass, and if you're not down with that, you can kiss my damn ass!

Jarrett : Jesus.

Jarrett looks mega pissed off, as-

'Kee-rash!'

Well, the roof of Madison Square Garden just blew off. Austin seems pretty surprised to see Michaels out there too, and he makes sure to flip him a double bird before climbing the buckles and basically telling the crowd that he's walking outta here with the world title. Jarrett meanwhile just stands in the opposite corner, leaning against the buckles, looking monumentally displeased. Michaels meanwhile is doing a little jig and smiling at some girl in the front row. Viva Michaels!

Michaels : You guys ready?
 

WWF World Heavyweight Championship
Steve Austin
vs
Jeff Jarrett [c]
w/ Guest Referee Shawn Michaels

So here we go. Michaels calls for the bell and ushers the two men towards each other, but Jarrett's having none of it. He throws his belt to the canvas, and climbs out through the ropes. Is Jeff leaving? No wait, he's signalling for something. Ladies and gentlemen, the former Tag Team Champions of the world, The New Midnight Express make an appearance, backup for the champ. Michaels shakes his head from the ring, and hey presto, we get *more* people at ringside. Enter the NEW Tag Team Champions of the world!

As Billy Gunn and Jammes arrive, the Express turn and pounce on the new champs, turning their back on Jarrett. And here comes Austin down to the aisle, ready to get this shiznit underway. As the Outlaws and the Express brawl away backstage, Austin grabs Jarrett by the hair, then tosses him into the guardrail. Into the other side, and Jarrett is staggering. One hard clothesline later, the champion is down for the first time. Michaels looks on from inside the ring, as Austin continues to bash Jeff about in the aisle. A bodyslam on the concrete keeps Jeff down, and Austin then marches into the ring, gives Shawn the middle finger, and proceeds to bask in the cheers of the crowd.

Jarrett meanwhile, gets to his feet and exchanges a few words with the nearby fans, then after threats from Michaels, finally gets back into the ring. Austin smirks and goes in for a lockup, but Jarrett backs off, eyeing Michaels suspiciously, and generally pissed off about the whole situation. Eventually we do get the first lockup of the contest, and Jarrett gets the nod by kneeing Austin in the gut. He quickly sends Austin for the ride, but his attempted clothesline is ducked, and Austin then pounces with a Lou Thesz press! A succession of right hands to the face keep Jarrett down, until Austin gets back to his feet, and Jarrett is able to slip back out to the floor.

Now really, this stalling has gone on long enough. And again, Austin goes to follow Jeff out and retrieve him. Jarrett decides it's time for a little cat and mouse, and Austin takes pursuit as Jeff tries to keep his distance. Jarrett ducks back into the ring first though, and when Austin follows suit, the champ is in position to meet him with a right hand upon his entry. Another right from Jarrett, and he then drops Austin with a clothesline. No follow up though, as Jeff gets right in Michaels face once again. We can't quite pick up what he's saying, but Michaels seems to find it amusi- There's a rollup from Austin!

1...

And that's all as Jeff pops out immediately. Jarrett can be heard shouting 'To hell with this', and he then clocks Austin with another clothesline when Austin gets back up. A series of stomps from Jarrett, before he pulls Austin up and whips him into the corner. Charge from the champ, but Austin raises his boot! Catching Jarrett right in the jaw, Austin then punches his way out of the corner, eventually backing Jeff into the opposite corner. Michaels keeps his distance as Austin dishes out more right hands, but there's a rake to the eyes from Jarrett to turn the tide. Austin takes a few steps back, and Jeff pops up to the top turnbuckle. Sunset flip!

But Austin blocks it, and nails Jarrett with a right hand! Jeff puts his hands to his head on the canvas, as Austin drags him into mid-ring, then drops an elbow between the legs. Ouch. Another one, before Austin backs off and allows Jarrett to slowly get back to his feet. And he does, flashing a scowl at Shawn, but then charging at Austin with a clothesline that misses the mark, and Austin comes back with an atomic drop that gets Jarrett staggering. Right hand jab from Austin, double bird, stunner-

Stunner is blocked, as Jarrett manages to shove Austin away. Jarrett fires back with a dropkick that knocks Austin back against the ropes, and there's a second to send the challenger through the ropes to the outside! Austin takes a bad fall, and Jarrett is quickly out to capitalise. He rams Austin into the announce table, then a vicious whip into the ringsteps. Facefirst into the ringpost, and a scoop slam on the concrete floor.

Michaels : Jeff, get back in the damn ring!

Jarrett looks up at Shawn in the ring and gives out the look of death, waiting to nail Austin with a lariat before re-entering the ring. And he gets in Michaels' face yet again. Shawn talks smack right back, and oh boy, there's the first physical confrontation, as Jarrett gives Michaels one hell of a shove. And Michaels shoves him back! Jarrett falls to the mat as Austin gets to his feet outside, and Michaels meanwhile, just walks away from Jeff with a smirk on his face.

Austin doesn't re-enter straight away though, as the Rattlesnake grabs Jeff by the leg and pulls him out of the ring. Right hand, right hand, right hand, and there's a slam on the concrete to keep Jarrett down. Austin slides into the ring, and now he goes marching up to the HeartBreak Kid!

Austin : Listen, ya son of a bitch. Keep your goddamn hands off Jarrett, keep your goddamn hands of myself, and stay the hell outta this match jackass! I didn't ask ya to be the referee, and I sure as hell don't need your help.

Michaels just walks away. Austin back to the outside, continuing where he left off with the champion. Again to the announce table, and there's a whip to the guardrail, the momentum of which carries Jarrett over into the crowd! Austin tries to step over the guardrail to go after Jarrett, but Jeff grabs a drinks can from some ringside fan, and hurls the liquid in the Rattlesnake's face! Austin staggers back, trying to shake it from his eyes, giving Jarrett time to get back into the ringarea.

I think the countout rule has been waived, as Jarrett goes for the upperhand on the floor. Numerous right hands from Jarrett, then a crashing vertical suplex on Austin. At last, Jarrett then rolls Austin back inside the squared circle, and the in ring action resumes. Jarrett takes Austin into the corner, introduces him to the turnbuckle a few times, then bodyslams him to the mat. He covers-

Michaels looks left, looks right-

1...

And Austin pops out. I doubt that would've been a three count anyway, but Jarrett's still rightly pissed off. Again. He let's Michaels know about it, then turns back towards Austin, who's now up on his feet. Right hand from Jarrett is blocked, Austin hits back with a punch of his own. Repeat twice more, then Austin sends the champ for the ride. Jumping forearm!-

1...
2...

And Austin breaks the cover himself, 'cos man, that was way fast. Austin to his feet, and he follows Jarrett's example earlier of shoving Shawn Michaels. Michaels takes a few steps back, but Austin's not done bitching. Cut to Jeff Jarrett in the other corner of the ring, and he pulls a pair of brass knuckles out of his tights. StoneCold turns away from Michaels-

Straight into the brass.

Austin's out, and Michaels is furious. He storms over to Jeff and profanely argues the matter, but Jarrett just gives him another shove. Shawn throws his head back in disgust, then aims a Superkick at the champ! But Jarrett ducks out of the way, then uses the knucks to lay out Michaels!

Jarrett's the last man standing. With Austin and Michaels out cold, the camera cuts to the aisle, where-

It's Diesel! Kevin Nash has arrived in the WWF!

Jarrett doesn't see him, at least not until it's too late. Nash steps into the ring, over the top rope, and gives out a wide grin as he taps the world champion on the shoulder. Jarrett spins round, boot to the gut, Jacknife Powerbomb!

Jarrett's out, and down comes a second referee. One shove from Nash later, down goes a second referee. Jarrett's pulled up to his feet, and Nash sets him up for a second jacknife, as Austin gets up to one knee and sees what's going on. Pissed at the 'help', Austin grabs Nash and pulls him off Jarrett.

Shawn Michaels gets up to his feet.

Austin and Nash shout it out, Nash's seven foot frame towering over StoneCold. After a heated argument, Austin throws a right hand! Austin hammers away at the big man, backing him into the corner of the ring-

Until Shawn Michaels nails Austin from behind!

Austin turns to deal with Shawn, and now Diesel pounces on Austin's blindside. It's beatdown time. Michaels starts stomping away on StoneCold, as Nash throws his hair back and laughs at the scene.

But now Jarrett's up to his feet, and he clotheslines Michaels from behind! Shawn gets tossed out of the ring, but BLAM! There's a big boot to the champ's face from Nash. And now Austin's back up! Nash tells him to 'Bring It On', and Austin steps forward.

Nash just smirks, steps back out over the top rope, and joins Michaels on the floor. Shawn hugs Nash as Austin and Jeff look on from inside the ring. Diesel and Michaels retreat away down the aisle, grins prominent, as Austin turns to face Jarrett.



Full Wrap Up Results of WWF Summerslam 1998
 
  • Jim Duggan and Marty Jannetty defeated Brian Adams and Savio Vega in 0:07:12
  • Davey Boy Smith pinned Stevie Ray with the Running Powerslam in 0:06:57
  • Adam Bomb pinned Mabel after a DDT in 0:03:12
  • Chris Benoit made Goldust submit to the Crippler Crossface in 0:04:06
  • The New Age Outlaws defeated The New Midnight Express when J. James pinned Holly in 0:17:19
  • Sid defeated Vader with the powerbomb in 0:07:02
  • Rocky Maivia defeated Owen Hart by countout in 0:01:13
  • Booker T defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley in 0:14:42
  • Jeff Jarrett and Steve Austin battled to a no contest in 0:11:54
  • Coming Soon : WWF Sinfony : September 6th 1998