WWFvWCW 1999 - Royal Rumble 24/01/99

H O U S E S H O W - W E D N E S D A Y 6 T H J A N U A R Y

1. Stevie Richards and Super Nova def. Kaientai (07:23)

2. Jeff Hardy def. Air Paris (05:39)

3. Owen Hart and Double J def. Golga and George Steele (04:58)

4. Edge and Christian def. the Headbangers (12:03)

5. WWF Intercontinental Championship: Ken Shamrock def. Goldust (14:02)

6. WWF Womens Championship: Sable vs. Chyna (07:09)

7. X-Pac and Triple H def. Kane and Big Bossman (16:19)

8. Mankind and Steve Austin def. The Rock and The Undertaker (21:31)

Notes: Only forty-eight hours removed from their climatic brawl on RAW is WAR, The Undertaker and The Rock teamed together only to fail when they were defeated by the unique pairing of Mankind and Steve Austin. The finish came when Mankind threw salt into Undertaker's eyes and he accidentally hit Rock with the Chokeslam. In other happenings, the opening tag team bout featured an exclusive team as Super Nova and Stevie Richards, known over in ECW as the blue World order [bWo] teamed up. As far as we know this is only temporary. Also, the second match of the 1st round of the Light-Heavyweight Championship Tournament took place.

H O U S E S H O W - T H U R S D A Y 7 T H J A N U A R Y

1. Low Ki def. Kaz Hayashi (14:23)

2. X-Pac def. Test (9:46)

3. New Age Outlaws def. Too Much (15:50)

4. The Acolytes and Kaientai def. The Godfather and D'Lo Brown & Hardy Boyz (10:05)

5. Animal def. Big Bossman (13:13)

6. Kane, Ken Shamrock and Sable def. Triple H, X-Pac and Chyna (18:27)

7. Mankind def. The Undertaker (19:51)

Notes: The opening match of the house show was the third bout in the 1st round of the Light-Heavyweight Championship tournament. The original match for the fifth bout of the show was to be Ken Shamrock and Big Bossman against the Legion of Doom in a non-title match but Shamrock chose not to be in it in case of accident. So it was turned into Animal vs. Bossman. Sable was announced to of been an honorary Corporation member. The main event originally ended at 12:01 due to a draw but was declared to be continued.

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This was a decent opener and was the second match of the Light-Heavyweight Championship Tournament aired on television, Chris Candido advancing RAW is WAR alongside Jeff Hardy and Low Ki, who advanced on House Shows. While the action in this match was decent, the crowd couldn't care for it. Though this could be because the fans didn't know who to cheer for and who to boo. Collyer was treated and manhandled as though hwe was a jobber in there. Dudley, who is usually the underdog, had almost became a bully. Dudley him a neckbreaker to finish the match off.


Bob Holly Interview (83%)[/color]
Following the match, we cut to the backstage area where Bob Holly was being interviewed by Michael Cole. Holly hyped his match on HeAT against Edge and told Edge that he better not be looking for an easy task because he will not do the Job. Holly pretty much soiled on Edge, Christian, Gangrel, Undertaker and the Ministry in two minutes. The crowd were into it.


Replay from 03/01/99 HeAT: Kane vs. Triple H (83%)[/color]
This was a hot main event here. While the match quality was good, it still wasn't pure wrestling technical action, but it was almost there. But it was safe to say this was like UFC wrestling minus the submission and with more brawling. The crowd were into it however, so that made up for it. The match went nine minutes. We presume that if this show had another hour on it, then the bout would of gone on longer as this seemed to be slightly rushed. Eventually, it was Kane who connected with the Chokeslam but luckily, X-Pac was at rightside to prevent his fellow DX comrade from losing. X-Pac distracted the official before Triple H hit the Pedigree for the win. After the match however, Intercontinental and one half of the Tag Team Champions, Ken Shamrock ran X-Pac and HHH out of the ring as the show ended.

Hype video with Public Enemy vs. The Acolytes (74%)[/color]
A hype video aired for the main event of WWF Shotgun this week, contested between the Acolytes and Public Enemy, and these two teams had won their respective matches this week over the same team [Acolytes beat them on Sunday Night HeAT; Public Enemy on RAW is WAR].

Brian Christopher def. K-Krush (66%)[/color]
This was a decent match. This in actual fact was the first televised appearance of K-Krush in the World Wrestling Feeration. Krush and Christopher had decent skills in the ring and Scott Taylor was at the announce table commentating the bout. Taylor was pretty funny there. Anyways back to the match, the bout went seven and three quarter minutes and the two light-heavyweights traded offense and momentum. Christopher almost lost thanks to a roundhouse kick but Christopher kicked out. Brian Christopher later won with the Tennessee Jam.

Replay from RAW is WAR: WWF Championship: The Rock (c) vs. The Undertaker (80%)[/color]
Finally, the main event had come for RAW is WAR. The match quality was pretty solid as the crowd were split unevenly between the Rock and the Undertaker. The top stars of their stables, Rock from the Corporation; Undertaker from the Ministry of Darkness. The fans were chanting for both men but I believe Rock was booed more than cheered. With the Undertaker's penalty of death over somebody getting involved in his match, it also interested the fans on who was going to come and break it up [weird how these fans know so much with little information]. Rock looked to have Undertaker done with at the five minute mark with the Rock Bottom connected however this was only the beginning. The match was choc full of false finishes, and had intense brawling over the one thing that mattered, championship gold. Undertaker dominated from the false Rock Bottom finish and before you knew it, all of the Ministry were out there trying to help before the Corporation got involved. The Ministry ended up brawling with the Corporation [minus Tag Team Champions, Ken Shamrock and Big Bossman] as the match progressed. As Undertaker went for the Tombstone, Rock reversed and hit another Rock Bottom before setting up for the Corporate Elbow. But then it was Mankind from behind who nailed Rock in the back with the steel chair. Mankind nailed Rock in the head before coming face to face with evil Undertaker as we went off the air!

The Acolytes Interview (71%)[/color]
Following the commercial break, we went to the backstage area where Jim Ross was standing by, interviewing two members of the Ministry of Darkness, Bradshaw and Faarooq of the Acolytes. They told the world what they were going to do with Public Enemy and on RAW is WAR, Monday, the New Age Outlaws. They scared off Jim Ross at the beginning of the interview if that means anything.

Public Enemy def. The Acolytes (82%)[/color]
The main event was finally here. Bradshaw and Grunge had a good amount of time brawling in there. This match was pretty much hard hitting blows and attacks. More brawling than speed, technical or aerial-based maneuvrers. Bradshaw took over on offense and tagged in Faarooq, and the Acolytes dominated Johnny Grunge. Grunge eventually got the tag to Rocco Rock and he blew the house down with his big back body drops and spinebusters among other impact based moves. Rocco Rock and Bradshaw were the legal men but Faarooq got the blind tag and it was pretty much a 2-on-1 match for a moment. But Rock overtook both and finished Faarooq off with the Drive-By. We go off the air.[/size][/center]

Very nice shotgun, I loved it man, I dropped a reply to your other diary to just because I am nice like that. The news was very good as well, keep it up man, I like it!

PW Insider

- Goldust is scheduled to take time off to heal nagging injuries, this was the reason for his mystery attack on Sunday Night HeAT. He will most likely been attacked by D'Lo Brown.

- Speaking of D'Lo Brown, he will be scheduled to have a singles push, and will predictably turn heel during March this year.

- As for the replacement of Goldust in the match tomorrow night on RAW is WAR against Steve Austin, Vince McMahon will probably have Tag Team Champions, Bossman and Shamrock take on Austin and a partner of Austin's choosing.

- Sunday Night HeAT received a 5.23 rating. This is 0.06 up from last week, though a small step up, a good step up in the ratings.

- In an interesting move by WCW, the number two company in wrestling, they have placed WCW Souled Out head to head against Royal Rumble though on different pay-per-view channels. This should be very interesting.

- The whole of the Oddities have been sent to Development.

I've actually been following this. I am doing house shows in my diary. Not gonna lie, I thought of it because of your diary. So far I'm liking it, although I'm not too high on the whole light heavyweight thing. But keep up the good work.

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A decent opener, and a continuation of the tournament featuring thirty-two stars, now cut down to twenty-seven. Though only half of the crowd knew Justin Credible for his time down at Extreme Championship Wrestling, they found out who he was for his wrestling skills and technical moves. Though many underestimated X-Pac as the European Champion got slightly more offense in over Justin. Credible got what apparently could of been his new finishing move in this match, a chokehold with his opponent on his back, flipping him over into a seating facebuster. Credible eventually got caught off guard when trying for a double axe handle from the top, with X-Pac kicking him in the gut and connecting with the X-Factor. But then Pac's rival, the Intercontinental and Tag Team Champion; Ken Shamrock ran down to ringside and distracted X-Pac leading to the new 'That's Incredible' and the cover. We go to commercials as X-Pac stands with rage in his eyes.

Shawn Michaels Interview on various matters (89%)[/color]
We return from the commercial break, heading into the backstage area where Shawn Michaels is standing by with Kevin Kelly. The interviewer asks Shawn about various thing, spanning from the WWF Light-Heavyweight Championship tournament [which he thought was doing superb at the moment], to the main event scene and who Steve Austin will face [Shawn said that he'd pick somebody and he'd have to find out in the main event] and finally to if the 'Heartbreak Kid' would ever step inside the squared-circle to compete again. Michaels goes to respond to that however, Vince McMahon appears, and shoos Kevin Kelly away. McMahon gives fellow heel Shawn a mouth full and a rant about what the position of commissioner is compared to the role of the chairman. McMahon tells Shawn that he decides, this time and every time.

Bob Holly def. Christian (77%)[/color]
This match was pretty decent, and a follow up on the running feud between the Brood of the Ministry [Christian, Edge and Gangrel] and the JOB Squad [Scorpio, Al Snow and Bob Holly]. Edge accompanied his brother Christian to the ring and became a nuisance of the JOB Squad's leader, Bob Holly. He got in the way of the match several times, following Holly's falcon arrow and his sidewalk slam that could of finished the match off. But eventually, fellow member, Scorpio ran down the ramp and brawled with Edge into the crowd and away from harm's way. The end came when Christian went for the Unprettier but Holly gave Christian a dropkick into the turnbuckle following up with the falcon arrow for the win. Unfortunately however, when Holly was to celebrate his victory, the lights flickere black and white before going out permanently, returning with Holly covered in blood and Christian half way up the ramp with Edge.

X-Pac attacks Shamrock's associate (68%)[/color]
We head to the backstage area almost immediately following the blood bath to see Big Bossman talking to a panicked Ken Shamrock. Bossman tells Shamrock to run and come back next week armed and dangerous, prepared for anything to happen. Shamrock high tails it out of the arena into his car, driving off into the city as we turn back to Big Bossman, who is now trading blows with the European Champion, X-Pac! X-Pac shoves Bossman back a little before kicking him in the side, roundhouses kicking him to the floor. X-Pac slams Bossman into the wall and leaves him unconscious, telling Shamrock that the assault was delivered to him.

Hawk def. Big Bossman (82%)[/color]
After returning from the commercial break, we head to the back to find Hawk is already in the ring. This contest was actually pretty darn good as opposed to the matches these two have had with various other opponents in the past. This has to be both mens greatest match without having another guy in their to help in a tag bout. These two spent a hard hitting seven and three quarter minutes trading blows and scrapping inside and around the ringside area. Hawk could of finished things off on one or two accounts but Bossman either got a foot on the bottom rope or kicked out. The ending came when Bossman hit the Bossman Slam before getting distracted by Animal on the outside, leading to a Powerslam and the pinfall.


WWF European Championship Contenders: Test def. Al Snow (74%)[/color]
This bout was mainly a filler to see who will challenge X-Pac for the almost seemingly deceased WWF European Championship next week live on RAW is WAR. This was also a method to fit Snow and Test on the card by the looks of things. This big guy, Test sure does have great potential with his look [but the short tights need to go]. The match was short as a large part of the viewing audience were routing for Al Snow. Snow got Head out after five minutes and ran into Test's big boot. Test kicked Head out of the ring and hit Snow with the pumphandle slam for the win. Test is gong to face X-Pac for the European title next week on RAW!

The Corporation Segment (98%)[/color]
Glass shattering is heard as Stone Cold Steve Austin charges out down the ramp dressed in his black trunks and knee braces, ready for his match against somebody that Vince McMahon personally hand picked following a mystery man attacked original opponent, Goldust on Sunday Night HeAT last night. He gets on the microphone and badmouths Vince McMahon, badmouths Shawn Michaels, badmouths the Rock and pretty much all of the Corporation rolled up into one. The Corporation soon arrive and Vince McMahon mocks Austin, stalling by going through his roster of members deciding who to face Steve. Eventually though, the lights go out and the Ministry of Darkness' theme is heard. The Corporation backs up onto one side of the stage as the Ministry arrive and stand on the opposite side of McMahon's Corporation. Undertaker tells Vince firmly that he has this one, Vince does nothing as he sends the Acolytes, Bradshaw and Faarooq on Steve Austin. We go to commercials.

Steve Austin def. the Acolytes (83%)[/color]
This match was pretty good, Steve took on all comers in this bout, Bradshaw and Faarooq turning the standard handicap match rules into a tornado style one or two times. It wasn't aggravatingly long due to the time restraints having twenty minutes, but it wasn't meant to be. This was meant to show how powerful and strong Austin is heading into his match on January 24th against Kane at Royal Rumble. Austin pinned Bradshaw following a double Stunner. Following the bout, McMahon sent Kane into the ring to fight Austin, Undertaker walks down the ramp before the WWF Champion himself, the Rock gets introducted as he joins Undertaker and Kane to gang up on Austin. Luckily though, the theme of D-Generation X hits as Triple H, accompanied with his stable [who go at it immediately with the Corporation and the Ministry] runs to the ring for the save. Mankind then appears from out of the crowd and we got ourselves a six man tag match!

Steve Austin, Mankind and Triple H def. Undertaker, Kane and The Rock (89%)[/color]
A great way to finish RAW is WAR, though the lead up of the match was a little clustered. The Ministry, D-Generation X and the Corporation headed to the back early in the match as these six men tore the house down. Triple H and Kane started and both men brawled the house down with their action, eventually leading to Kane, his uneasy ally of a brother, Undertaker and Rock dominating Triple H and working on the thigh. Eventually though, Triple H got the tag to Mankind and he went wild, tearing all three heel members down, targeting Undertaker. Steve Austin got a blind tag in somewhere and went after Kane. Undertaker took down Mankind, and Tombstoned him into the canvas, before giving Rock a Chokeslam out of nowhere! Undertaker gives Austin a Chokeslam right on top of Rock and he gets the win, Undertaker not giving a damn! After the match, Undertaker throws Rock to the outside as he does with Mankind, putting Mankind through the announce table with a Chokeslam and delivering a sickening Tombstone Piledriver onto the bottom set of the steel steps! Undertaker challenges Rock and Mankind for the WWF Championship at Royal Rumble to 'kill two birds with one stone' before challenging Mankind to a steel cage match next week on RAW is WAR! We go off the air.[/size][/center]

Sorry for the cluster that made the main event and its aftermath, I'm having an off day

Is Justin Credible really a light heavyweight? I guess it's good he beat X-Pac. Usually when there are back-to-back main events it's because the first one was a DQ so I was surprised to see the second main event. Not sure about HBK coming back, don't think he would've been able to at that time but we'll see. The only problem with this diary is that the roster is so big that it's hard to fit everyone in. Like for example, the women's title has been pretty much non-existant.

PW Insider

- The WWF have come to terms of releasing the following:

Bart Gunn
Bull Buchanan
Dennis Knight
George Steele
Golga
Kurrgan
Tori
Vic Grimes

- In regards to this, note how all of the Oddities faction excluding Giant Silva and Luna Vachon have been released. Luna Vachon was recently given lifetime employment by the WWF and Giant Silva appears to have good skills in the ring. He will probably be repackaged as a robotic monster or a street fighter from the block.