Raw is War - March 29th, 1999

The Smoking Skull Belt

Raw opens with the new WWF Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin. The crowd is loud and excited for him, obviously. It’s been about six months since he was WWF Champion. Stone Cold did what he said he’d go - rolled into the Smackdown hotel, booked himself into room 3:16 and burned it to the ground. He says that this morning when he woke up he looked at the WWF title belt and decided that it wasn’t worth all the trouble, that this title just isn’t going to cut it. 

He calls Vince McMahon out and says that tonight here on Raw he’s going to relinquish the WWF belt to him. The commentators are confused and the crowd boos. Austin says there's no tricks or anything, Vince needs to come out and get the belt. Vince gets in the ring and true to his word, Stone Cold hands over the WWF title belt. Vince says that he knew Stone Cold would crack under the pressure one day, and tries to leave. Austin calls him back. Austin shows footage from Raw the night after Breakdown last September when Vince gloated about capturing the Smoking Skull belt - Austin’s custom belt. He says that he’s the WWF Champion whether Vince likes it or not and if Vince doesn’t give him the Smoking Skull belt by the end of tonight he’s going to beat his ass. Vince says that he doesn’t want to give him the belt back and Austin’s contract says that he can’t touch Vince. Stone Cold smirks and asks for a second piece of footage which is a shot of Vince and The Rock stomping on Austin during the Wrestlemania main event. Austin says that that counts as physical provocation so he can absolutely beat Vince’s ass free of consequences. “And that's the bottom line, cuz Stone Cold said so” Vince hits Austin with the title belt and runs away, sprinting up the entrance ramp. Austin laughs about it in the ring and says that Vince knows Stone Cold can be a nice guy, or he can be a real mean son of a bitch so Vince can do it the hard way - the Smoking Skull belt tonight, or Austin is going to beat the living hell out of him. 

Backstage, Vince asks his daughter Stephanie - making her on screen debut - to call the house and have the Smoking Skull belt delivered. Shane isn’t happy about it, telling Vince not to give in but Vince puts him in his place and tells him they’re doing things his way. 

The Smoking Skull belt arrives from Greenwich. Vince is so relieved and thankful and grateful to have Stephanie back safe.(see the next section) Vince doesn’t care about the belt anymore. He tells Shane to go and take the belt and give it to Austin. He just wants this night to end. The family has been through enough. Vince takes Stephanie home and leaves Shane alone with the title. Shane doesn’t agree with Vince - he’s angry and says he’s going to handle this his way. (See the next section to see why Vince is so emotional)

With the coast clear after Triple H, Chyna and Kane all leave, Shane emerges from his hiding spot behind the commentators and gets in the ring, polishing up his European title. He says that he is Shane McMahon, not Vince McMahon. He says that he’s a champion just like Austin and that if he wants his custom title belt, he’ll find it around the waist of The Corporate Champion The Rock, who then comes out with the Smoking Skull belt slung over his shoulder. 

The Rock says he laid the Smackdown on Austin last night. He gets a couple of laughs by telling off the fans for “singing along” with his catchphrases. He refuses to even give Stone Cold credit for winning last night. It took two Stunners to beat him, which was a big deal. Stone Cold comes to the ring and wastes no time, running to the ring and brawling. Austin and The Rock throwing rights and lefts and fighting up and over the announce desk and back into the ring. Austin gets control of the fight, Shane tries to help and gets a Stone Cold Stunner for his troubles. It is enough to let The Rock take control again and knocks Austin out with the Smoking Skull belt. Triple H comes out to join in and in a sight everyone thought they’d never see, teams up with The Rock. Shamrock and Test follow and the four Corporate members beat the hell out of Stone Cold while Chyna helps Shane to the back. The Big Show runs to the ring and knocks down Test and Shamrock while The Rock makes a run for it with the Smoking Skull belt. Austin fights back and sends Triple H packing and drops Shamrock with a Stunner. Big Show plants Triple H with a huge, impressive chokeslam to end the show. 

The Ministry abducts a McMahon

We get our first ever look of Stephanie McMahon during the previous backstage segment mentioned in the section above.

The Ministry comes to the ring while Sable and Tori are in the ring. Tori is smart and disappears but Sable stays in the ring, unable to escape. The Ministry closes in on her and The Undertaker says he’s here to see what she’s got. She starts to gyrate but The Undertaker grabs her by the throat. 

“McMahon, i’ve got your precious meal ticket so you better come out here before I snap her head off her shoulders” Vince heads to the ring, demanding that Shane and the stooges stay in the back and protect Stephanie. Vince comes out, asking The Undertaker what kind of man he is. He suddenly panics and drops the mic, sprinting to the back crying out his daughter's name. He gets there and she’s missing. Shane left her unattended! Putting it together, I think Vince counted the men in the ring and realised The Acolytes were missing and that's when the penny dropped. After the ad break a panicking Vince and Shane are near tears talking about trying to find her. 

After X-Pac’s promo, Vince and Shane continue to be upset. The phone rings and its The Undertaker. “It’s true isn’t it? She really is sugar and spice and everything nice” with a demonic laugh. 

Backstage, Ken Shamrock promises Mr. McMahon that he’ll find Stephanie and get her back no matter what. He then runs around backstage asking people if they’ve seen a girl meeting Stephanie’s description.

Before his match with Gangrel, Ken Shamrock promised Mr. McMahon that if he has to, he’ll tear off Gangrel’s leg and beat Stephanie’s whereabouts out of him. Shamrock is already in the zone before he even gets to the ring. Shamrock snaps and starts hammering Gangrel into the ring steps screaming “where is she?” over and over. The referee keeps trying to threaten Shamrock with disqualification to keep it in the ring but Ken doesn’t care. He isn’t going to pins or submissions, he’s just beating on Gangrel and trying to hurt him. He plants Gangrel with a belly to belly suplex and clamps in the ankle lock. Gangrel submits quickly but Shamrock won’t get go. “Where is she?!” The lights go out and Shamrock is jumped by Edge and Christian. They fight to the outside in the flickering lights and when they return Shamrock has been doused in a bloodbath. Edge and Gangrel are gone but Shamrock catches Christian in an ankle lock as Christian tells Kenny that Steph is in the basement to get him to release the hold. After an ad break, Shamrock stil soaked in fake blood runs around the basement looking for Stephanie.

After the Goldust Intercontinental title match, Shamrock finds Stepahnie in the basement. Her face and eyes are red from crying and she has The Undertaker’s symbol marked on her forehead in what looks like ash. After the break, she’s back with her dad and weeping uncontrollably. Vince gives Shamrock his thanks. 

The remains of DX

X-Pac comes out to the DX theme song but he’s not dressed to compete. He looks sad and doesn’t bother with his usual pyro. He talks about how he returned to the WWF one year ago tonight and because a friend asked him to come in and help him hold DX together. He’s addressing Triple H. He made his choices and tonight X-Pac makes his. D-Generation X will not die. X-Pac and The New Age Outlaws will continue to say “suck it” and raise hell. Hunter might be his name but tonight he’s no Hunter, he’s the Hunted. He wants to fight him tonight.

Triple H and Chyna come out with European Champion Shane McMahon to The Corporation’s music, No Chance in Hell. The selling out is complete. Triple H faces X-Pac. It's heated but Triple H overwhelms X-Pac and takes early control, out muscling the smaller man. Shane hilariously hides behind Chyna at ringside. Shane pulls at X-Pac’s foot, he gives chase and runs right into a clothesline from Chyna to cause the DQ. Triple H plants him with a Pedigree and the lights go out - its Kane. He was betrayed by The Corporation and specifically Chyna, and had his heart broken. X-Pac has offered Kane friendship in the past? Shane hits Kane from behind which doesn’t even phase him. It doesn’t even let Triple H take advantage as Kane knocks him down too. Chyna distracts Kane and Triple H is handed a chair by Shane and lays out Kane with a big shot to the head. Kane sits right back up and chases Triple H and Chyna up the ramp. Shane hides behind the commentators at ringside.

Other Happenings

• The first match of the show is WWF Women’s Champion Sable teaming up with former rival Jaqueline (with her friend Terri) against Ivory and Tori. Sable had plenty of help retaining her title from the debuting Nicole Bass. As much as these late 90s fans are gross and treat this match like they’re at a strip club, it is nice to see a real women's division forming. Jackie defeated Ivory last night on Sunday Night Heat and then after the match, Jackie burned her cheek with a lit cigar. Ivory chases Terri away from the ring leaving Tori two on one against the current and former Women’s champion. Sable doesn’t even put the belt down and is too busy posing for the fans. Jackie gets frustrated and tags her in so Sable hits her own partner with the title belt which lets Tori pick up the win. Sable and Tori have a little stare down but before it gets physical the arena lights go out.
• The Big Show Paul Wight comes out to the generic production track that he’s been using as his theme song. He’s no longer in the Corporation so he can’t use No Chance anymore. He’s facing Test, who he defeats very quickly with a very impressive chokeslam. He asks for a microphone. He says that Mr. McMahon seems to have some personal trauma on his hands but he doesn’t care. The first mistake was thinking he owns him - no one owns The Big Show. 

• Dr. Death Steve Williams challenges Hardcore Holly for the Hardcore title, and he has Jim Ross accompanying him to the ring. JR joins the Spanish commentary team during this match and talks about how much he wants his job back. Dr. Death drives Holly through a table with a powerslam and would seem to have the match won until Al Snow runs in and clocks him with a frying pan, allowing Hardcore to retain. Snow doesn’t want anyone to beat Hardcore for the title apart from him.
• The Rock is in action. Shane asks his dad what he wants to do. Vince is too upset about Stephanie and doesn’t care but Shane seems to have no issues putting it out of his mind and goes to accompany The Rock, even smugly showing off his European title belt and joining commentary to be his usual obnoxious self. The Rock is facing Bad Ass Billy Gunn. Its a good back and forth with Billy lasting a surprisingly long time against the Wrestlemania main eventer. The Rock takes a moment to steal Cole’s commentary headset and banters with Shane. Billy moons him and that fires The Rock up and they fight back inside but it's not long before Billy gets the Rock Bottom and Corporate Elbow combination for the pinfall and a victory for The Rock. Shane is suspiciously exuberant and excited for a man whose sister has been abducted. 
• Roaddogg defends his Intercontinental title against Goldust, along with The Blue Meanie. Goldust kind of does deserve the rematch since it was Ryan Shamrock’s fault that Roadogg retained at Wrestlemania. Ryan comes down to the ring during this but The Blue Meanie stops her and chases her off. Goldust doesn’t want to know apparently, and Meanie is delighted to have Goldust all to himself. The Blue Meanie tries to help his “mommy” but it backfires and Roaddogg fights him off. He does make the difference in the end as he hits Roaddogg with the IC title belt from the apron which allows Goldust to hit Curtain Call and become a three time Intercontinental Champion! Post match, Goldust gets on the mic and says he has something to get off his chest - he knows who he is now, and very soon we’ll all know too. I don’t actually know what he’s talking about and being out of breath from the match it’s hard to hear parts of it. 

• Jeff Jarrett and Owen Hart defend the WWF Tag team titles against the Legion of Doom. They’ve Paul Ellering with them, and come out to the LOD 2000 version of their theme. They don’t have their entrance gear and Animal has reverted back to his old hairstyle but Hawk hasn’t. It’s a weird mismatch of eras and gimmicks and kind of a mess. Debra distracts the ref, Jeff smashes a guitar over Animal and the tag team champions retain the titles. This is the last TV appearance of the LOD in the WWF. They’d be released in a couple of weeks along with a bunch more people (including Dan Severn who hasn’t been on TV since January anyway)

Raw is War - April 5th, 1999

Shane provokes The Rattlesnake

Backstage, Vince tells Shane that he doesn’t care about Austin, he doesn’t care about Big Show and he doesn’t care about tonight's show. Shane can go and do what he wants and run the show because all Vince cares about is staying with Stephanie and keeping her safe. 

Shane walks out into the hall where the entire Corporation is waiting to give them their orders. Shane O’Mac - with Chyna on his arm - leads the entire Corporation to the ring including Patterson and Brisco, Ken Shamrock, Test, The Big Bossman, Triple H and The Rock - who has the Smoking Skull belt slung over his shoulder. Shane keeps talking about the “New and improved” Corporation. Shane shows the footage of Tem Corporate beating Austin senseless last week until The Big Show makes the save. (They seem to have dropped “Paul Wight” and are just calling him The Big Show now) Shane says that tonight Big Show is facing The Rock and Triple H in a handicap match. Triple H is wearing a D-Generation X t-shirt, rubbing salt in the wounds. Triple H says that people have been waiting to see himself and The Rock on the same team for a long time, and issues a warning to The Big Show. The Rock promises to check The Big Show into the Smackdown hotel, even though he’ll break the toilet seat. They both say similar things and tell Show to not come out tonight. Shane gets the Smoking Skull belt around The Rock’s waist and has the production crew put a close up of the belt up on the titantron, taunting Austin about how they have his personal property and Stone Cold will never get it back.

After a break, Shane is very proud of himself backstage and goes to tell Vince all about tonight’s plans and laugh about how they have Austin’s belt. Stephanie is very sweet and tells Shane that he should probably stop provoking them. Vince says he still isn’t interested, and tells Shane to chill out. Shane seems very disappointed to not get his father’s approval for his plans.

Shane McMahon in the production truck demands that the huge picture of the Smoking Skull belt be left up on the titantron to taunt Austin and laughs about it.

Jim Ross interviews Stone Cold. Austin explains that he had the custom belt made in the first place just to piss off Vince McMahon and he wants it back just to make the McMahon’s angry. He tells Shane that if he puts the belt up on the titantron one more time, it’s going to cost the McMahon family a lot of money. 

Shane McMahon comes out all smiles, apparently unbothered by the plight of a member’s sister, or his father’s concern for Stephanie. He gives big introductions to Triple H (who’s still using the DC music) and The Rock who has the Smoking Skull belt proudly displayed. The Rock has already started transitioning back to babyface really as he gets a lot of laughs from the crowd by reacting annoyed to the crowd singing along with his catchphrases and trying to join in, stopping and starting. Big Show is actually booked pretty strong here as these two legit main eventers can’t string two moves together on him as he uses his size and strength to throw them around. The Big Show wins by DQ when, as he has The Rock hoisted for a chokeslam, Chyna slides into the ring and gives him a low blow. Even the four of them working together can’t knock him off his feet, but he does eventually fall from a shot to the head by the Smoking Skull belt. The Rock gives him the Corporate Elbow but it’s now that Stone Cold sprints to the ring and makes the save, knocking Rock and Triple H down and banging their heads together! Stunner to Triple H and he stomps down The Rock in the corner. Triple H takes a massive chokeslam from The Big Show and Shane, Chyna and The Rock make a run for it with the custom title belt. Shane has the production crew put the photo of the Smoking Skull belt back on the big screen, Austin chases them with a chair and they run off, so he calls Big Show up to the top of the ramp with him. He asks The Big Show to pull down the titantron which he does! An incredible feat of strength by Paul Wight (or at least looks like it) Big Show pulls the titantron all the way down to the floor (they ruin it by playing some fake metal scraping noises, but it still looks great) Austin then uses a knife and a long metal pole to tear several huge holes in the titantron screen! He throws Big Show a beer and the two toast their destruction to end Raw. 

The Ministry makes another sacrifice

The show opens with footage from a sit down interview Vince McMahon did on Sunday Night Heat, alongside a very young looking Stephanie McMahon. The envelope that The Undertaker gave him had some pictures of Steph, invading her privacy and the teddy bear he burned was something she’d had since she was born. Vince says that The Undertaker has transformed into this evil creature and that if someone is going to get hurt, he’ll be damned if it's Stephanie. 

The Undertaker and the entire Ministry come to the ring (Terri and Ivory did a runner and wisely so). They’re an awesome force when all assembled in the ring. Bradshaw and Faarooq have both quietly gotten into amazing shape - they look huge and toned. The Undertaker tells Vince to hold his little girl tight and give her his regards. The Undertaker looks directly into the camera and promises that tonight there will be a sacrifice. Not just any sacrifice - a certain beautiful young woman will become one with The Ministry and break her father’s heart when she accepts The Lord of Darkness as her saviour. This is DARK. He says that Vince would give his soul to stop it, but there’s not a damn thing he can do about it. Backstage, Vince consoles Stephanie and says that he may have to give The Undertaker what he wants. Shane seems borderline disgusted that his father is giving up so easily and walks off.

Backstage, Christian is strung up and is being whipped brutally by The Undertaker as the rest of The Ministry watches on. Punishment for him giving up the location of Steph to Shamrock last week.

Ken Shamrock faces The Ministry’s Viscera. They show the footage of him rescuing Stephanie last week and really hammer home that he is fiercely loyal to Vince McMahon. Viscera almost easily wins with a bodyslam from his massive 500lbs frame but Shamrock barely kicks out. Shamrock does manage to get the ankle lock but The Ministry swarms the ring and attacks, beating Shamrock with powerbombs and 500lbs splashes. Why aren’t The Corporation helping him? He takes a wicked beating and is dragged from the ring and up the ramp. The Undertaker promised to sacrifice a young woman tonight specifically, so it wasn’t Christian and it’s not Shamrock. The commentators assume, as we all do, that he means Stephanie McMahon. Backstage, The Corporation all want to go and save Kenny but Shane McMahon won’t let them. “It could be a trap” Elsewhere in the parking lot, The Ministry loads Shamrock into the trunk of a car and it drives off. 

Backstage in Vince’s office, the lights flicker and he flips out. We see The Undertaker giving instructions to the assembled Ministry in the parking lot. 

The lights go out entirely in the McMahon locker room and everyone screams. After an ad break, The Ministry brings a young woman dressed in black out onto the stage and strap her to The Undertaker’s symbol. We see Stephanie sitting with her dad so it isn’t her after all - it’s Ryan Shamrock, Ken’s sister. That’s why they abducted Ken earlier tonight, so he couldn’t save her. Ryan screams as the symbol is raised into the air, The Undertaker speaking in tongues. 

Other Happenings

• Commentary tonight is handled by the three man team of Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler and Kevin Kelly, but then Kevin disappears after the first segment. I’m positive I heard him during the start of Raw though. Jim Ross is due back any week now. It turns out we missed a LOT on Sunday Night Heat this week as Shane McMahon retired the WWF European title and he announced The Rock vs. Stone Cold at Backlash with himself as the special referee.
• X-Pac opens the show for the first match and it's revealed that last night on Heat, Triple H issued a challenge to him for a match at Backlash. Last night on Heat, Tag Team Champions Jeff Jarrett and Owen Hart issued an open challenge which was accepted by Kane. Kane almost won the tag titles solo but Jeff smashed a guitar on him. X-Pac ran down to make the save and it seems that X-Pac used his connections with commissioner Shawn Michaels to get this match - its X-Pac and Kane challenging Owen Hart and Jeff Jarret (with Debra) for the Tag Team titles. Kane and X-Pac have interacted a couple of times lately but seem united here by their being turned on by Chyna and Triple H respectively. X-Pac gives the Bronco Buster to Owen as Kane plants Jeff with a chokeslam. Kane looks like he might be turning on X-Pac as he lifts him into a gorilla press but instead drops him onto Jeff Jarrett for the pin fall! X-Pac and Kane are the new Tag Team Champions! X-Pac is very happy about it and puts a belt over Kane’s shoulder, trying to befriend him but Kane is stoic. 

• Ivory comes out to talk about PMS - Terri and Jacqueline. She’s sick of them, as Terri burned Ivory’s cheek with a cigar the night of Wrestlemania and keep interfering in her matches (mostly on Heat) She calls out Terri for a fight and she actually does come to the ring solo, getting in the ring to fight but then running away. Ivory tears off Terri’s t-shirt and Terri is naked underneath! Before we see anything, the lights go out and The Undertaker makes his entrance. The fans boo when the arena goes dark because they can’t see Terri.

• Al Snow takes on Hardcore Holly in a straight wrestling match with no Hardcore title on the line. They still fight on the outside and try to use chairs on each other but the referee stops them. This is a decent back and forth match that Al Snow wins clean with the Snow Plough. Before he can celebrate, Dr. Death runs to the ring and attacks both men with suplexes. This would end up being Dr. Death’s last Raw appearance as he was released about a week later.
• The New Age Outlaws seem to be back as a full time team and focused on their tag team goals once again after a few months of chasing singles titles to varying degrees of success. They’re facing Edge and Gangrel of The Brood who are all smiles despite having just watched Christian get whipped backstage. This is a good but short match and Edge shows a bit more personality as he taunts The Outlaws. He’ll go on to be one of the best characters and promos in WWE history and it's fun to see flashes of that so early in his career. The Brood tag in and out and double team Roaddogg - standard - with some nice moves like a double superplex from the top and an assisted splash which goes wrong and lets Roaddogg make the hot tag to Bad Ass Billy Gunn. Christian limps to ringside to try and help his friends and Roaddogg throws him into the ring. The referee, apparently confusing his blonde hair and baggy white shirt with Gangrel, allows Billy Gunn to pin and The Outlaws win. Christian’s help backfired and Edge and Gangrel helped him to the back. 
• During the Mankind/Val Venis match, King and Cole talk a lot about how Vince McMahon is going to go on ABC news and they’ll edit all his answers to make him look bad. This is all real, and they discuss how there’s recently been a bunch of negative stories and attack ads aimed at the WWF. They were primarily focused on the raunchy nature of the shows. Not even the violence, but the sex and more offensive storylines. The WWF ignored it for a while but by mid-2000 they’d been forced to significantly tone everything down, more due to advertiser pressure than any of these outside parental groups.
• More Sunday Night Heat developments as apparently Ryan Shamrock tried her best to get back with Val Venis, who rejected her. Tonight Val Venis is facing Mankind who we haven’t seen since he counted the final three count for Stone Cold at Wrestlemania. They’re in his home town of Long Island and he gets a monster reaction. Lovely to see. He’s still wearing his custom made referee shirt with the black stripes painted on it. There’s a loud “Foley” chant when the match starts and it is honestly one of the louder chants I’ve heard on these shows. I love it when Mankind gets a good reaction. It's a surprisingly back and forth match that ends when Mankind locks in the Mandible Claw with Mr. Socko. They haven’t given up on Val Venis entirely, but - spoilers - he’s not on the next few PPVs.
• The Godfather (accompanied by three hoes) takes on Goldust for the Intercontinental Championship. I never mentioned The Godfather’s pre-match promos, much like I never mentioned Val Venis’. He does always cut one, and it's always some variation of “do you people like prostitutes? Cheer if you think these women are attractive” and there’s only so many ways to say that. He starts to offer the hoes to Goldust, but as Goldust acts all creepy towards them changes his mind and says he’ll just kick his ass instead. King refers to the hoes as “dairy farms” which is gross even by his standards. This match was the first appearance of The Godfather’s Hoe-train running corner splash. The Blue Meanie tries to help Goldust cheat and he gets chased off by the hoes who threaten him with their high heels. The match goes to a double count out and Goldust keeps the Intercontinental title. 

Raw is War - April 12th, 1999

Hostile Takeover

Vince McMahon is once again in his office with Stephanie McMahon surrounded by armed security and content to ignore the show and stay bunkered there and away from The Undertaker and his Ministry. 

Shane McMahon leads the entire Corporation to the ring (minus Vince McMahon) and he's very buddy buddy with Triple H and Chyna especially. There are a couple of additions - Rodney and Pete Gass, the Mean Street Posse - are now on TV as full time characters. Shane McMahon’s real life buddies with no in ring experience. Shane does give them a warm welcome, but Shamrock snatches the mic. He is angry at Shane. Vince told Ken that the Corporation would be like a family, but where were they last week when he was kidnapped, and his sister was sacrificed? Shane promises Shamrock an explanation, but does assure him that they’re on the same team and in the same boat and they have to stay focused on The Undertaker. Shane takes a moment to speak to Stephanie, and asks her to come out to the ring. She seems quite keen and happy to do it, but Vince isn’t keen on the idea and tries to hold her back. She says that she trusts Shane and he’d never put her in danger. Vince and Stephanie, flanked by their security team, head on out to the ring. Steph comes across her as a sort of naive goof with a big smile. She looks so young here too. Shane stops her short of giving him a hug, and Vince snatches the mic demanding to know what's going on here. Vince asks Shane what his priorities are. Shane flips it on him - what are Vince’s priorities. He doesn’t care about the Corporation. He says that he’d have fired JR “the guy can hardly speak” but Michael Cole sucks too. I popped. He says that Shane is going to fire some people tonight. There’s no room for the old and geriatric. He fires Pat Patterson and Gerry Brisco and tells them to get out of the ring. Vince says that Shane is on a power trip. “Where is your power dad? Where is the Vince McMahon we all know?” He’s shown weakness in the face of The Undertaker and his threats against Stephanie, and he gave into Austin’s demands. Vince promises that he’s still the same man, but he has his priorities straight and wants to take Stephanie and go home. Shane pulls him back and says he's not done with him yet.  He tells Shane to earn his power with respect. “Respect this” and Shane slaps Vince across the face. Vince is furious, and Stephanie starts to cry, dragging her father away and not letting this escalate. The Corporation look shocked, but Triple H seems to think its really funny. Shane tells his dad to tuck his tail between his legs and go home. “You’re not my father anymore. You’re not even Mr. McMahon to me anymore. You don’t have my respect. You are simply “Vince”.” Shamrock is disgusted by Shane’s actions and leaves. His loyalty is to Vince McMahon, not to the Corporation. 

After the ad break, as Vince, Stephanie, Patterson and Brisco leave the arena he stops and takes a moment to shake Shamrock’s hand and thank him for his loyalty. Elsewhere, The Rock zips up his coat and tells Shane he’s off to get some fresh air. 

WWF Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin makes his way to the ring. He is focused, pissed off and ready for Backlash. He tells Shane that as he’s the referee, he better count to three or Austin will beat his ass too. The Rock appears on the titantron and has the Smoking Skull belt at a local bridge. It’s the same one that about 18 months ago, Austin threw The Rock’s IC title off of. He dares Stone Cold to come and get the title belt from him tonight. 

The Rock is waiting for Austin at the bridge, using a fishing pole and taking more trash about Stone Cold.

The Rock, still at the bridge, gets a beeper message reading “3:16”. In the final segment of the show, Stone Cold arrives in his pickup truck. Austin and The Rock get into it, an intense fist fight. The Rock uses the fishing pole as a weapon and actually throws Austin off the bridge, dropping 40 feet to the water below. He spits on the Smoking Skull belt and throws that in after him! 

The Undertaker targets the Shamrock family

The Undertaker appears on the titantron and tells Mr. McMahon that since he’s taken Stephanie home, someone else will be sacrificed tonight instead and it’s all Vince’s fault.

Rodney and Pete Gass did find Mankind in the boiler room and, unsurprisingly, he beats the life out of them and kicks them out of the door. Before the camera cuts away, Mankind hears what sounds like a whimpering female somewhere in the boiler room and goes off to investigate.

Jeff Jarrett and Owen Hart take on Bradshaw and Faarooq from The Ministry. The tag team division is in really good shape at the moment which is nice to see. Before this match really gets going another tag team - The Brood - along with Viscera and Mideon rush to the ring and attack Jeff and Owen. The Ministry lays out Owen and Jeff and The Undertaker appears to have set his sights on Debra for tonight’s Sacrifice. The Undertaker tells her that this is Vince McMahon’s fault, and he has left The Undertaker with no other choice. He sounds possessed, he is beyond evil. This is so sinister. He holds Debra by the throat as she cries. Ken Shamrock runs to the ring with a baseball bat. The Ministry splits but The Undertaker stands his ground. He tells Ken that if he hits him then he’ll never see Ryan again. He tells Ken that Ryan is in the boiler room. The Ministry tries to swarm him but he fights them off with the baseball bat and takes off to find his sister. 

Shamrock arrives in the boiler room and finds his sister Ryan weeping with Mankind consoling her. Good guy Mankind. The happy reunion doesn’t last long as after an ad break, the entire Ministry is in the boiler room beating down both Shamrock and Mankind. This was obviously a trap and why he so easily told him where to find his sister. Honestly, the segment goes on a little bit too long for me as they destroy Shamrock and make his little sister watch.

Back in the arena, Ken Shamrock is wearing a red robe, being strapped to The Undertaker’s symbol by The Ministry. Before they can sacrifice him, The Undertaker grabs Christian by the throat and tells Gangrel and Edge to tie Christian to another symbol. He is displeased with Christian and wants to make The Brood prove their loyalty. It doesn’t work as Edge and Gangrel attack The Ministry instead and rescue Christian. Shamrock gets off the symbol and Mankind rushes out to help too - he was attacked in the boiler room. The Brood, Shamrock and Mankind manage to fight off The Ministry as The Undertaker disappears down through the ramp, not joining in the fighting.

Later in the show, the final in-ring segment of the night, Ken Shamrock comes to the ring in his denim shorts looking ripped and challenges The Undertaker to a match at Backlash, but he also calls him “Mark” multiple times and tells him to come to the ring and face him right now. The lights go out and when they come back up The Undertaker is already in the ring. He attacks Shamrock but Ken reverses into mounted punches. He looks set to kill The Undertaker until The Ministry runs in and for the third time tonight, Kenny is beaten down by The Ministry. The Corporation’s Triple H and Bossman run down to seemingly save Shamrock by pulling him out of the ring but instead they violently beat Shamrock too, knocking him out with the nightstick as Shane McMahon watches on from the top of the ramp with a smile. 

Mankind and The Big Show 

Mankind arrived backstage and went straight to the boiler room. He made a promise last night on Heat that he’d stay in the boiler rooms for the next two weeks ahead of Backlash and his Boiler Room Brawl with The Big Show. Speaking of which, The Big Show comes out in the arena for a match. He does now have his proper “Big Show” theme song. The match at Backlash appears to be mostly out of pride, but also just because Big Show is a babyface now doesn’t mean that he and Mankind are suddenly friends - he did cost Mick the WWF title back in February. The Big Show seems to be facing all three members of The Brood in a handicap match. Before the match begins, The Undertaker’s voice fills the arena. He demands that Edge and Gangrel leave as Christian must prove his worth to The Ministry and to The Undertaker. Edge and Gangrel don’t seem too happy about it. Show easily dominates and defeats the former Light Heavyweight champion. Post match, Michael Cole interviews Mankind who basically says what I just did about the reasoning for the boiler room brawl. In a series of connected backstage segments, Shane gives the Mean Street Posse their first test, sending them to the boiler room to attack Mankind. The outcome of their quest was mentioned above in The Ministry related section.

Other Happenings

• Jim Ross is back! He’s back on commentary for the entire show, and they don’t really address it but he is indeed back full time for Raw and PPVs. With Dr. Death leaving the company and the end of his attempted heel turn, it was only a matter of time. Glad to hear him - as terrible as he is in 2023, he’s amazing in 1999.
• Sable, accompanied by Nicole Bass, defends her WWF Women’s title in a four way match against Tori (in some new nice silver ring gear) Ivory (who has ended her on screen affiliation with D’Lo and Mark Henry) and Jacqueline (with Terri Runnels) Before the match even starts, Nicole Bass chokeslams Jackie, body slams Tori and then chokes out Ivory before chokeslamming her too. Sable then struts around kicking at her opponents. Sable grinds and poses for the crowd and I guess this match isn’t even going to happen. Sable’s conceited heel character was given to her because apparently that’s how she is backstage. Allegedly she was incredibly unpopular in the locker room with men and women alike. 

• Bad Ass Billy Gunn takes on Val Venis in singles action. JR reveals during this that at Backlash, The New Age Outlaws will take on Jeff Jarrett and Owen Hart in a number 1 contenders match for the tag team titles. Both these guys do their standard pre-match promos. The match is back and forth and when Val throws Billy to the outside, Owen Hart and Jeff Jarrett run down and attack him to catch the DQ. Val Venis, like a proper babyface, doesn’t like that and makes the save for his opponent, followed by Roaddogg. The Outlaws run their Backlach opponents off as Val takes a moment to flirt with Debra. She seems very keen on Val, but Jarrett comes down to get her. 
• The Big Bossman is scheduled to challenge Goldust for the Intercontinental title but before the match starts, The Godfather comes out with five hoes. He had an IC title match last week that ended in a double count out. He offers Bossman any one of the women he wants in exchange for letting Godfather challenge for the IC title instead. Bossman twirls his nightstick and Godfather makes a sex toy joke. Bossman say he wants all five of the women in exchange for giving Godfather the title shot. Godfather agrees and Bossman literally jumps for joy. He takes all five of the women with him and is pretty nasty to them as they get out of the ring. That must be what he's into. Goldust jumps The Godfather and we have an Intercontinental title match. With a Hoe-train splash in the corner and a Pimp Drop (Death Valley Driver) The Godfather becomes the new Intercontinental Champion! The five hoes come back to the ring (I guess Bossman is done with them?) and they dance with him. 

• Forget what I said earlier about Ivory ending her link to D’Lo Brown, she accompanies him to the ring for his Hardcore title match with Hardcore Holly. Al Snow joins commentary to discuss the Hardcore title. He’s obsessed with being Hardcore champion but wants to beat Holly specifically and that's why he keeps helping him retain the title. He hands Hardcore a glass of juice who uses it as a weapon and smashes it over D’Lo’s head. D’Lo kicks out and Hardcore gets a table from under the ring. D’Lo tries to splash Holly through the table but Snow makes the save and slams Al through it instead, allowing Hardcore to retain again.

• Kane and X-Pac defend their tag team titles. They successfully defended them last night on Sunday Night Heat in a triple threat with Jarrett and Hart and The New Age Outlaws when X-Pac pinned his DX mate Bad Ass Billy Gunn. Their opponents here are the Corporation team of Triple H and Test, who come out with Chyna to “No Chance in Hell” This is heated and Chyna keeps throwing forearms and cheap shots at X-Pac when she gets a chance as Triple H and Test wear down the much smaller man. JR has so much emotion during this, he is X-Pac’s biggest fan. Triple H has changed up his look, cutting his hair a few inches shorter and wrestling with it wetted and dark rather than dry, blonde and fluffy. This is his heel look but is also his main event look. X-Pac gets the tag to Kane after a huge spinning heel kick on Triple H. Kane easily throws Test and Triple H around, rocking them with uppercuts and big boots. X-Pac gives Test the Bronco Buster. Triple H doesn’t want to get in the ring with Kane and X-Pac so he rolls Test back inside to face the music and he and Chyna leave. Kane drills Test with a tombstone for the cover and to retain the tag team titles. Triple H wants no part of X-Pac or Kane. X-Pac rallies Kane and the two of them leave together, taking off after Hunter and Chyna. 

Raw is War - April 19th, 1999

A funeral for The Rattlesnake

A hearse drives into the arena but before anyone can speculate on who or what it is, The Rock’s music plays. He’s driving, and wearing a lovely suit (with no shirt underneath). He’s going to hold a funeral for Stone Cold after throwing him off a bridge last week at the end of Raw. He doesn’t care if Stone Cold drowned or not, and is very proud of himself for throwing the title belt in after him. He has a big gravesite at the top of the entrance way to host the funeral, it's set up like for a buried alive match. 

In the main event, The Rock comes out to do his funeral for Stone Cold Steve Austin. He stops by the wreath at the graveside to pick up a framed picture of Austin, which he takes to the ring. The Rock delivers a very funny pre-written insulting eulogy for the Rattlesnake. King does some fake sniffs like he’s crying which was a funny touch. The Rock is really funny here but before he can bury the title belt, the roar of a monster truck heralds the arrival of the Texas Rattlesnake. Austin gets the keys to The Rock’s new car - which we saw him talking about earlier - and moves it into position so he can crush it with the monster truck. Austin doesn’t stop there and drives the truck right into the arena! He revs the engine to drown out The Rock and climbs onto the hood, drinking a beer! He backs the monster truck up and crushes the hearse too just for good measure before he drops out to brawl. He and The Rock fight all around the grave until Stone Cold blasts The Rock with the title belt, sending him into the grave! Austin has the Smoking Skull belt back! He celebrates and toasts with some beers over The Rock in the grave until Shane McMahon - the referee at Backlash, smashes a shovel over the back of his head and takes the Smoking Skull belt back! This whole thing from The Rock promo to the chaos with the monster truck to the brawl to JR’s commentary is one of my all time favourite Raw segments. It’s all featured heavily in the main event video package at Backlash.

Little bit of trivia - The Rock obviously didn't throw the real Smoking Skull belt off the bridge last week. It was in fact one of the old WWF Tag Team title belts that took the plunge. A dedicated/opportunistic fan went to the river in the Detroit area and at some effort with scuba gear, recovered the belt and contacted the WWF, demanding a large sum of money to return the title belt and/or not go to the press about how the stunt had been fake. I've no idea what he was going for as even in kayfabe, it was clear on this episode of Raw that the character of The Rock never threw the real belt either. The man was obviously given a flat "no" and was left with a water-damaged WWF tag title belt and a good story for his efforts.

The Undertaker and Vince McMahon

The Undertaker tells The Acolytes that they’re his instruments of destruction and The MInistry cannot afford to waste time with The Brood. Bradshaw and Faarooq are facing Edge and Gangrel. The Brood are babyfaces and independent again. Faarooq bullies Edge up into a deadlift powerbomb which looks really stiff. The Acolytes seem to have the match won with a pair of big double powerbombs but Ken Shamrock runs to the ring with a baseball bat and lays into Bradshaw’s ribs and then head. Backstage, Paul Bearer tries to keep The Undertaker calm as he throws things. After the break, disappointed with their performance The Undertaker and Viscera attacked and beat them up for losing. 

The Undertaker is on the phone to someone, telling them to “get it done”

Ken Shamrock takes on his former tag team championship partner The Big Bossman, who attacked him on Shane McMahon’s orders last week. It's back and forth but Shamrock wins with a belly to belly suplex. The Undertaker appears on the titantron, revealing that he knows the name, address and even the room number of the hotel where Shamrock has hidden his sister from The Ministry. 

Following a very good video package about Shane’s hostile takeover of The Corporation last week, Shane and Stephanie have a sit down interview. Vince comes across as a really nice, humble babyface during this. He was proud of Shane, he seems to blame himself for Shane’s recent actions. Stephanie is dressed like a sweet little girl on her way to Sunday school. They talk about Shane’s apparent turn on his whole family, and how much she trusts her dad. He’s the only one she trusts. Someone interrupts and in a moment that would years later become a meme, tells Vince someone is in the parking lot. Vince screams bloody murder and runs out into the parking lot to attack Mideon, beating the hell out of him and throwing him into a wall and driving knees into his ribs. Vince goes as far as jumping into Mideon’s car and trying to reverse over him! Vince looks like a proper bad ass during this.

Boiler Room Brawl

The Mean Street Posse - Rodney and Pete Gas, join commentary for the next match. There’s a sign in the crowd behind them that's blurred out so I wonder how offensive it was. They tried to jump Mankind in the boiler room last week which didn’t go so well for them. Mankind is facing Triple H, who still doesn’t have a proper singles theme song and comes out to No Chance in Hell. This is a really good match for what it is, if a little short. Mankind seems to have it all in hand as he puts on Mr. Socko and gets ready for the Mandible Claw but Chyna trips him and pulls him crotch first into the ring post to cause a DQ. The Mean Street Posse get in the ring along with Bossman, Test and Chyna and The Corporation start beating on him. Triple H sets up a Pedigree on a chair but The Big Show arrives and makes the save. Triple H shoves Test to the wolves and he takes a massive Chokeslam as the rest of them do a runner. Big Show and Mankind don’t get along but they’re both babyfaces and there seems to be a shared respect. Mankind thanks Big Show for the assist, but they still have a date with destiny in “my boiler room” 

The Big Show takes on his fellow 500lbs superstar, Viscera from The Ministry. The Big Show is in much better shape and throws Viscera around with a hip toss and a big boot. He signals for a chokeslam but the lights go out and The Undertaker and Paul Bearer come to the ring before we find out if he can do it. The Undertaker has had a long night of being disappointed by his Ministry. The Big Show and The Undertaker get face to face, and then Taker starts throwing right hands. Show rallies back with a headbutt and The Undertaker goes for a chokeslam. Show fires back with a hand around the throat of his own. Viscera attacks and it's two on one against The Big Show. Mankind runs down to make the save for his Backlash opponent, returning the favour from earlier.

Other Happenings

• The Roaddogg faces Owen Hart ahead of their tag teams meeting at Backlash. Pre-match the Roaddogg makes WWF history by inventing the term “puppies” for Debra’s breasts. He says that if Owen wins then he and Jeff can be number 1 contenders but if he wins, Debra has to show her puppies. That’ll stick around for a long time. King is pretty annoying during this going on and on about puppies and cheering on Roaddogg. Roaddog does win cleanly in a short match with the Pumphandle Slam. Debra seems happy to get them out and live up to her end of the stipulation but Jeff Jarrett runs in to stop her and cover her up. 
• There's cameras in the parking lot waiting for the arrival of Stone Cold tonight. There’s also cameras with Vince and Stephanie McMahon at the WWE’s TV studios in Greenwich and we cut back and forth to them all night.
• The Godfather defends the Intercontinental title against Hardcore Champion Hardcore Holly. Godfather actually had the match won pretty early but the referee got knocked down. Hardcore takes advantage and gets a steel sheet from under the ring blasting Godfather in the face and hammering him across the back with it. He whips Godfather into the steps and snaps a broom over his back too. Holly has taken advantage and seems like he’s on the cusp of becoming a double champion. He grabs a chair which gets kicked back in his face. Goldust runs to the ring - he’ll challenge Godfather at Backlash - and drags him out of the ring and they fight. Al Snow - who’ll challenge Hardcore Holly for the Hardcore title at Backlash - sneaks in and knocks Holly out with Head. Godfather manages to fight off Goldust long enough to get the pin and the three count. Holly takes off after Al Snow and Godfather chases Goldust with a chair and celebrates with the hoes. 
• Bad Ass Billy Gunn faces Jeff Jarrett and before the match says that after Jeff cheated us all out of seeing the puppies earlier and he wants to fix that here with a victory. Owen Hart comes down to help his partner, as does the Roaddogg. With the two of them on the outside trying to get involved this match doesn’t last long. Debra takes her jacket off to distract Billy who overcomes it to hit the Fameasser. Owen breaks up the pin to cause a DQ and the four men brawl while Debra tries to strip and remove her bra but Jarrett and Hart stop her and drag her away from the ring.
• Val Venis comes out, one would assume for a match, but after his pre-match promo the WWF Women’s Champion Sable comes out. Val does hold the ropes for her like a gentleman. She’s here to make an announcement. It's actually hard to hear her over the men in the crowd whistling. Her announcement is that in a few weeks she’ll be shooting her second spread for Playboy magazine. This is followed by Ivory and D’Lo Brown. Ivory wastes no time and goes right for Sable’s hair. As the two fight, Val tries to pull Ivory off so D’Lo attacks him. Nicole Bass comes to the ring and pulls Ivory off by the hair and plants her with a no-effort chokeslam. D’Lo and Val are still fighting on the outside, but D’Lo does go to check on Ivory which leaves Val in the ring with the two ladies. Val takes a liking to Sable who doesn’t seem that interested in him.