Rock Bottom: In Your House - General Motors Place, Vancouver British Columbia, December 13th, 1998

The PPV opens with The WWF Champion The Rock live at Planet Hollywood in Vancouver. He introduces this special PPV that’s named after him and explains that all future PPVs will be named after The Rock’s catchphrases and have Rock in the title. The fans are very excited for him despite his being the Corporate heel champion.

The actual opening video package for the show features The Undertaker and Stone Cold’s Buried Alive match as the bigger of the two main events tonight. Guess who's going on last? See it here; 

Michael Cole - who is on full time commentary duty since the previous episode of Raw is War due to JR having a flare up of his Bell’s Palsy following the death of his mother very sadly - and Jerry Lawler discuss whether The Rock will forfeit the title tonight to Mankind. It seems Mankind attacked him earlier tonight during Sunday Night Heat.

The Godfather and Val Venis vs. D’Lo Brown and Mark Henry (w/Jacqueline and Terri Runnels)

Val and Godfather have been teaming lately brought together by a shared love of “the ladies” and Cole talks about how on this past week’s Raw the Godfather gave away two hoes to a lucky fan in the crowd. The Godfather is if anything leaning even more heavily on the pimp terminology. D’Lo and Mark Henry have Terri Runnels and Jacqueline with them. They’ve formed a recent union aimed at getting even with the men who have wronged them like Val, Goldust and Marc Mero. They’re hanging on D’Lo’s arms and this is news to everyone.

Mark Henry only has eyes for Chyna at the moment and King speculates that his recent televised date with Chyna might have gone further off camera than we were previously told. 

This is a decent match and goes longer than I thought it would. Val and Godfather double suplex Mark as Jackie and Terri start arguing and fighting with the hoes on the outside. That distracts Godfather and D’Lo which allows Jackie to slip into the ring and expose Val Venis’s butt, allowing Mark to flatten him and splash him to win the match! Terri and Jacqueline get results for D’Lo and Mark Henry.

Footage from Sunday Night Heat earlier tonight as while The Rock was being interviewed in the sky box, Mankind attacked him from behind. Michael Cole says that The Rock has injured ribs but Mankind didn’t touch his ribs during the attack so I’m not sure when that happened. Mankind has a clause in his contract that says that if The Rock can’t compete then Mankind is awarded the title so that was his plan. 

The Oddities (Golga and Kurrgan, w/Giant Silva and Luna) vs. The Headbangers (Mosh and Thrasher)

The match has been building for a while as The Headbangers originally turned heel on The Oddities just after Breakdown. The Insane Clown Posse also turned on The Oddities but they’re still using their song for their entrance. The Oddities seem to get a good reaction from the crowd but because their music is dubbed on the WWE Network you can’t hear the crowd. The ICP are done with the WWF now as The Headbangers cut Luna’s hair but then also turned on ICP and cut their hair too apparently. 

Golga is played by John Tenta, more famous for being Earthquake in the late 80s/early 90s and for being a member of the Dungeon of Doom in WCW. He’s actually really good for a big man but it’s Kurrgan who does most of the wrestling in this one, dominating each Headbanger until they get control with a double team or two. The crowd is very quiet for this whole match and the finish kind of comes out of nowhere as The Headbangers use a double team and a crossbody to pin Golga and scarper out of the ring. This wasn’t great.

I don’t usually bother recapping these bits but there’s a “backstage@wwf.com“ segment where Kevin Kelly and Tom Prichard discussing the Buried Alive mach and theres some cool footage of Stone Cold earlier today while the arena was empty inspecting the grave site.

Vince McMahon with his stooges. It’s not clear what they’re talking about but Brisco and Patterson are offering to put on some football helmets and hockey pads and go and do something for Mr. McMahon but he wants to do it himself.

Owen Hart vs. Steve Blackman

During his entrance, Owen gets a huge positive reaction from the Canadian crowd and grabs a Canada flag to wave in the ring. Blackman, the babyface, gets booed. Canadians love their own. This match was born out of Owen Hart pretending to retire out of remorse for injuring Dan Severn. It was pretty obvious that The Blue Blazer who mysteriously returned recently was Owen Hart in disguise and he’s had lots of run-ins with Severn’s friend Blackman. Owen’s had different people dress up in the suit so that he and The Blazer would appear together at the same time. 

There’s no real mention of Dan Severn during this and I believe it’s because he’d quietly left the company in the weeks since. 

The two work quickly together with some nice strikes and submission attempts.

The fans chant “US sucks” and Michael Cole says “these fans are into Rock Bottom” which made me laugh. 

Owen takes a rough bump on the outside after a baseball slide but comes back with a suspiciously low kick to the inner thigh, and then a pair of beautiful spinning heel-kicks off the ropes. Owen is so talented. He gets a near fall off a top rope elbow drop which draws boos from the crowd when Steve kicks out. More near falls off a snap suplex and an enziguri before Owen removes the padding off the turnbuckle. Blackman reverses the irish whip and sends Owen into it chest-first but doesn’t really follow up, using a scoop slam and then locking in a sleeper which Owen reverses into the dragon sleeper he’s been using since his association with Dan Severn. Blackman counters a jump off the middle rope into his own sharpshooter but Owen gets to the ropes for another loud cheer from the live crowd. Blackman follows to the outside and chops Owen as they fight up the ramp before running back to the ring to avoid a countout. Owen just keeps walking however and Steve Blackman wins by count out. That’s a shame - this was a good match up until the finish. 

An advert for the 1999 Royal Rumble. By my maths, there are six episodes of Raw is War between this show and that one so the next Preview article is going to be a jumbo sized one! 

Vince McMahon is looking for Mankind. He discovers a tiny utility cupboard that has a handwritten note on the door reading “Mankind’s Office” Vince goes in and finds Mankind sitting on the concrete floor. He keeps calling Vince “dad”, and Vince goes in and closes the door behind him.

The Brood (Christian, Edge and Gangrel) vs. The J.O.B Squad (Al Snow, Bob Holly and Scorpio)

Bob Holly has finally shaved off his big fluffy blonde mullet hair and looks much better. I’d love one of those white JOB Squad t-shirts. This match came out of The JOB Squad getting involved in some matches on Raw including costing Christian his Light Heavyweight title to their new member Duane Gill. 

This match has multiple incidences of one of Michael Cole’s more annoying habits during this era. He doesn’t do it anymore but during this run on commentary he’d say “so to speak” a LOT. He said it four times during this match. 

The fans are almost entirely silent for this match and it’s here that I realise that this is just a pretty dull crowd for some reason. The only thing they’ve reacted to all night was Owen Hart. 

The two teams trade the advantage back and forth with Edge in particular getting plenty of time in the ring to show what he can do. Al Snow gets worked over until finally mounting a comeback and tagging in Scorpio. Scorpio is pretty awesome and does a beautiful flip from the top rope into a leg drop. 

It breaks down into a wild brawl and Scorpio almost gets a pin on Christian after a backflip from the top rope into a leg drop which looked like it crushed Christian’s skull. Edge breaks it up and Christian is able to recover and land the Unprettier on Scorpio to win the match for The Brood. 

This was Scorpio’s last PPV appearance after a three year run in the WWF. He’ll stick around on TV (mostly on Shotgun Saturday Night) for a little longer but got released in February 1999 after asking for some time off for personal reasons. 

Strip Tease match

Goldust vs. Jeff Jarrett (w/Debra)

The fans are solidly behind Goldust in this one as the stipulation here is simple - if Jeff wins then Goldust strips but if Goldust wins then Debra strips. This feud started when Jeff smashed a guitar over Goldust’s head just before Survivor Series and the two have distracted and interfered in each other's matches ever since. 

This match is decent (and short) but the story is the stipulation and the crowd are really into it, popping for Goldust's offence and letting out a loud exasperated “aww” when Jeff kicks out.

Goldust hits the Curtain Call and has a clear three count but the referee is distracted. It backfires as Goldust then hits Shattered Dreams on Jeff. Debra smashes a guitar over Goldust’s head behind the referee’s back which allows Jeff to hit the face plant move which would years later be known as The Stroke to win the match.

Before Jeff and Debra leave, the commissioner Shawn Michaels comes out. He sends Jeff to the back “for a tasty cold beverage” and keeps Debra behind. He says that because the guitar was used then he’s reversing the decision and Goldust wins by DQ so Debra has to strip!

She’s reluctant at first but gets more into it as the striptease music plays and the fans cheer her on. That’s another common bit of Vince Russo/Attitude era booking as when they’re babyface, all women act like they love stripping and desperately want to all the time. She strips down to her underwear as the fans cheer and King loses his mind on commentary. Shawn Michaels stuffs some cash into her cleavage. She gets down to her bra and pants but before the bra comes off, The Blue Blazer appears and wraps her in his cape. The Blazer and Jeff Jarrett escort her to the back as the fans loudly boo and chant “bullshit” This was all quite seedy even for 1998.

WWF Tag Team Championships

The New Age Outlaws © (Roaddogg and Bad Ass Billy Gunn) vs. The Corporation (WWF Hardcore Champion Big Boss Man and WWF Intercontinental Champion Ken Shamrock w/Shawn Michaels)

After their bate and switch, pretending to join The Corporation on Raw The New Age Outlaws and DX in general are very much in the Corporate commissioner's bad books. Shawn made The Outlaws wrestle The Acolytes on Heat earlier tonight too, and they took a post-match beating from their challengers.

The Corporation already has a lot of gold and they have Shawn Michaels with them for extra help. 

Shamrock immediately chases The Outlaws out of the ring and around the ring, not wanting to wait for the bell. When the match does start it's Shamrock and Roaddogg who are legal. 

As the Corporate challengers work over Roaddogg and try to become a pair of double champions King and Michael Cole bicker over the merits of Vince McMahon’s corporation and having as many of the title holders under his control as possible. It’s not as entertaining as when King and JR do it. 

Billy and Roaddogg tag in and out more than they usually do during these matches but every time Billy is in the ring he manages to get some offence in and whenever Roaddogg is in he gets beaten up. Billy was always presented as the better of the two. 

As he leans on the ropes, Shawn Michaels mockingly checks on Roaddogg’s well-being and gives him a little kiss on the cheek. 

Michaels doesn’t do a lot at ringside but it is funny seeing him play with Bossman’s nightstick (not a euphemism) 

Shamrock and Bossman tag in and out and work over Roaddogg and use double teams. Roaddogg can’t get a tag and Bossman and Shamrock distract the referee so that he doesn’t see the tag and leaves Billy trapped on the apron. He actually grabs the house mic and screams “you SUCK” at the referee, and gets in Shawn Michaels’ face who dares Billy to punch him and get fired.

Shawn gets a few kicks in on Roaddogg himself when Billy is arguing with the referee. 

When Roaddogg does eventually get the tag, Billy explodes like a coiled spring with clotheslines and dropkicks and turns a hurricanrana into a sit down powerbomb on Shamrock. He has the visual three count but Shawn Michaels pulls the referee out of the ring. Bossman knocks out Billy with the nightstick and Shamrock almost has three but Mr. Ass kicks out. 

Billy goes for the jackhammer, Shawn trips him which turns it into a cover by Shamrock but Billy quickly reverses it to get on top and retain the tag team titles for The New Age Outlaws. 

Post-match, Shawn starts to remove his suit like he wants to fight and I feel like that would have got a reaction in front of any other crowd but this one has been really quiet all night for every match now. It must have seemed at the time like the plan was for Shawn Michaels to return as a wrestler for a big match with Triple H or someone else but his back was still injured and in reality he was still in a pretty bad way with his “personal demons” (pill addiction)

There’s a nice video recap before this one starting all the way back before Survivor Series detailing The McMahon’s whole ruse that resulted in both Shane and The Rock himself turning heel at Survivor Series and forming The Corporation.

In a backstage moment in their locker room, Vince and Shane are with The Corporate Champion The Rock and Vince reveals what Mankind wants - he just wants The McMahons and The Rock to admit that he never submitted at Survivor Series and he wants it in front of witnesses.

WWF Championship

The Rock © (w/Mr. McMahon and Shane McMahon) vs. Mankind

Mankind enters to a new version of his classic theme song which has a guitar beat under it. They’re trying to make it more like babyface music. He will pretty soon get some all time classic theme music. 

The Rock has both Vince and Shane with him and they take a moment to appreciate the stage for this event which consists of two huge banner photos of The Rock with the WWF title belt. 

Mankind explains that in his contract it says that if The Rock can’t compete tonight then he’d forfeit the title but he’s willing to ignore that clause if he gets his apology and admission that he never submitted. That would then allow The Rock to bail on this match I suppose.

Mankind wants Vince to get on his knees and admit he lied at Survivor Series but Vince refuses to do it and refuses to admit that he screwed Vince - he insists that he heard someone say “I Quit” at Survivor Series. Vince gets a loud “asshole” chant. The Rock attacks Mankind and the match finally starts. Vince and Shane sit at ringside holding the WWF title belt as champion and challenger fight on the outside. Mankind uses the ring steps which doesn’t get a disqualification so the referee seems to be letting this one go. 

Once they finally fight back into the ring Mr. McMahon gets on the mic and tells the referee that if Mankind does anything even slightly out of line going forward he’s to be disqualified. That distraction lets The Rock take control of the match as the fans chant “Rocky sucks”

The referee seems to have no issue letting the Corporate champion bend the rules as The Rock suplexes Mick out on the floor. 

As Mankind takes control and climbs onto the middle rope ready to dive onto The Rock on the floor, Shane grabs his foot which lets The Rock recover and arm wrench Foley from a height down onto the ringside mats with a spat. That was an insane bump. The Rock takes Michael Cole’s headset and provides some of his own commentary, calling Mankind trash and spitting water in his face. He refuses to high five King as Mankind bounces The Rock’s head off the announce table. The Rock still has the headset on and we hear lots of “oh shit” and “goddammit” from him as Mankind rains punches on him, The referee stops Mick from using a chair and The Rock boots him in the gut and then DDTs the challenger right onto the chair on the floor before rolling him back inside for a two count. 

Mankind uses a leg drop as a low blow and Vince demands the referee disqualify him so Mankind gives the ref a piledriver before he can call for the bell. Vince demands the bell be rung himself so Mankind attacks the time keeper too! He goes after Vince and Shane but The Rock blasts him from behind with a chair. Vince seems happy to let the match continue now as The Rock has control and delivers a Rock Bottom in the ring but there's no referee to count. 

Vince sends Shane into the ring and The Rock holds him for a title belt shot but Mankind ducks and Shane nails The Rock. Mankind covers and a second referee runs in but The Rock kicks out. Vince looks like he’s going to have a heart attack at ringside!

The Rock locks in the mandible claw with Mr. Socko and The Rock passes out and the referee rings the bell! The fans explode as we have a new WWF Champion! Or do we? Vince stops Howard Finkle from making the announcement and enters the ring himself with the microphone.

Vince makes the ruling that Mankind wins the match but because he did it via referee stoppage and The Rock didn’t tap out, say I quit or get pinned, The Rock retains the WWF Championship. Mankind locks the claw on Vince with Mr. Socko and Shane blasts him with a steel chair but Mankind igores it and keeps the claw on the chairman. After a second chairshot it’s Shane’s turn to taste Mr. Socko. Mankind drives his knee into Vince’s face and then knocks down Patterson and Brisco when they try to save their boss. Eventually The Big Bossman and Ken Shamrock run in to stop Mankind and with The Rock recovered, the three singles Corporate champions beat down Mankind and The Rock celebrates with his title belt. 

Buried Alive match for the right to compete in the 1999 Royal Rumble

The Undertaker (w/Paul Bearer) vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin

Big video package for this one which recaps the mad few weeks these two have put each other through. It's definitely the best one of the three video packages we've seen tonight; 

They keep saying this is The Undertaker’s match and while that might be true from a gimmick standpoint, he’s never actually won one of them. 

You’re all thinking it - if Vince doesn’t want Stone Cold to ever be WWF Champion again then why give him this chance to get into the Royal Rumble match? Well I think the logic is that McMahon believes this is an unwinnable match for Austin and so offered the Rumble spot as bait to get him to accept this match and be beaten up, punished and then buried alive by The Undertaker. 

It feels like this feud has been going on forever but in truth this is only their second singles match against each other, and it has a big gimmicky stipulation. 

The gravesite looks cool with an enormous tombstone with the PPV logo and their names engraved on it. Michael Cole talks about the weight of granite tombstone like that's impressive (and definitely not true) but unless they’re going to hit each other with it, who cares? 

I sadly don’t have a lot to say about this match. It’s a punch-kick brawl with not a lot of spots until they get up to the gravesite!

The two brawl around the ring and up and down the ramp to the grave and back and it’s all quite slow. As they fight on the dirt Austin’s sweaty body gets covered in soil which sticks to him for the rest of the match. The Undertaker works over Austin slowly and as they brawl back to the gravesite and try to use shovels against each other, Stone Cold stunners Undertaker sending him into the grave. Austin disappears backstage to get something as The Undertaker recovers. He grabs a shovel and lays in wait for Austin to return but there’s a sudden pyro charge from inside the grave and after the explosion Kane climbs out! He and Undertaker brawl and Kane tombstones his brother and rolls him back into the grave!

Austin emerges from the back with a huge bulldozer type machine and dumps hundreds of pounds of dirt into the grave burying The Undertaker alive. It takes ages for the machine to actually drop the dirt and after the first load Austin’s music plays and the referee raises his arm! Stone Cold wins and has qualified for the 1999 Royal Rumble match.

Austin grabs some beers and celebrates in the ring before pouring a whole can onto the grave, toasting The Undertaker’s demise all while the driver of the digger continues using the bucket to pull more dirt into the grave on top of The Undertaker.