Wrestlemania XIV 1998

The Rumble is here.

Wrestlemania XIV – Boston 1998(Dark – Jeff d. Matt)

The WWF Young Boys, all four of them, come out to clean the ropes – Matt and Jeff take off their shirts and work dark. Good crowd pop as Adam and Christian lead a “Let Them Play” chant which now begins to move across various arenas. Everyone loves a Bad News Bears reference.

JR and Cornette begin in the ring – thanking the people for coming and saying that they’ve just found out that WM XV will take place in another city known for being a cornerstone of American Independence – the Hardcore Capital of the World – Philadelphia, PA.

And then they’re interrupted…

Trumpets blare – and a man in a red coat, blue breeches, and a powdered ring enters the top of the aisle to read a proclaimation in a British accent, “Ladies and Gentlemen of the Wayard Colony of Massachusetts, Her Majesty the Queen is Proud to present to you the finest professional wrestler in the world today, Please Rise and Pay Your Respect to Lord…Steven…Regal….

Regal, doing his NWA Regal thing, full on British dandy, hits the ring.

Regal: It is a pleasure to meet me, I’m certain. Where better than Boston, home of the leaders of the illegal rebellion of 1776 – which one day – one day will be quashed – to watch the type of filth and debauchery that the World Wrestling Federation calls…Wrestlemania.


You have a man who raises his middle fingers, you have men who point to their groin areas and yell for some type of suction to be placed upon their members, you have dirty, one eared men swinging what appear to be chainsaws, you have men waving the flag of the Confederate States of America – which is a nation which fought a war against your own people – and you have Negroes, who by all rights should be shining my boots – banding together in some type of minstrel act.


Embarrassing.


Well, I am here to stop all of that. I understand that you have a tradition that every other year, after this…event….there is a 30 man over the top rope battle royal to determine who will be the number one contender for your WWF title.


This year, I have graciously chosen to bestow upon you…people….the honor and privilege of my presence. And as the only royalty, clearly, to enter your battle royale, I will quite obviously be entering….in position number 30.


Thank you, and carry on.


“Please rise and pay your respects as His Lordship, Steven Regal, exits the arena."

And that’s Regal.

1. 2 Cold/DLo (w/Markie) d. Bart/Bob d. Rock and Roll Express d. Godwinns
Good opening tag. D Lo and Bart are former tag champs, and 2 Cold is an elite worker, having won singles belts in NWA and ECW. The Rock and Roll Express had been feuding with the Godwinns on TV, they were shown brawling in the back in a cutaway after Regal's promo - they fought out to the ring and then got placed in this match.

It's an elimination match; Phinneas the Gimp is pinned first by Ricky and Robert - but they then quickly go when Morton takes DLo's frog splash - and Scorpio finishes it up with a 450 on Bart. Good, quickly paced, fun opening tag.

After the Nation leaves postmatch, with Bob and Bart still in the ring, the Southern Men enter – Jarrett and Dustin wipe out Bart – but leave Bob alone. “Alabama Bob Holly – you have denied your heritage for too long, son. We are rebel born and rebel bred and by god we’ll be rebel dead – lift the flag high – take the flag, son. Take it. Take it!”

But he doesn’t – Bob tries to fight back – and Dustin and Jarrett lay him out. Southern Men! Wave the Flag! Wave the Flag! Southern Men!! The Confederate flag flies high at Wrestlemania!

Prior to the Legend’s Match, they show Andre and Hogan clip packages, as the Undertaker is attempting to even their records.

2. Legend’s Match: Undertaker d. Kane (w/Callis)
Chokeslam. Tombstone. And that’s the dead guys’s fourth, tying Andre and Hogan. They play it up allowing for a big moment feel when he wins. And this wraps up Callis - who the Taker gets ahold of and tombstones. A definitive, solid, win. It’s Wrestlemania after all. Gotta look for ways to add value to the show. All hail the Dead Man!!

3. Southern Man Dustin Rhodes (w/Jarrett) d. Marc Mero
Jarrett hits Mero with the flag – Dustin gets the fall on the Curtain Call (which now we'll call the Rebel Yell) – Jarrett puts Mero in the figure four – Jarrett’s gonna end Mero’s career like he ended Savio’s, Jarrett’s gonna…save by….Ulyssess S. Morley (whom you may know better as Val Venis, but that's not a gimmick you'll see in this universe) Morley runs in – suplexes both heels – lays them atop each other – hits his big top rope splash (“Liberation Falls”) and aids Mero from the ring. The Abolitionist! Good Mania debut.

4. Taka d. Aguila
Best match of the night. We love workrate! Taka’s gonna get a program for Summer Slam. JR and Cornette really put over his ability, they say he might be the best wrestler in the company, and if he's able to devote his full energies to the WWF instead of Michinoku Pro, he might hold gold soon. He won't, of course, they don't use him enough, so I'm stuck with that result, but what are you gonna do?

5. HHH d. The Rock
I want, as much as possible, both guys coming out strong – the Clique and the Nation were barred from ringside, so no one is on the outside as the Rock hits the Rock Bottom and goes for the cover – but there’s been a ref bump – so there’s no count…he’s got him for the fall, but no count….

Someone runs in from the crowd – a small, hairy man ---

It’s Waltman. Motherfucking Waltman.

Waltman with the legdrop on Rock – he puts HHH on top – he slaps the official to wake him up – the official counts the fall.

Waltman’s returned from the NWA. He and HHH embrace, crotch chop. Clique! Clique! Clique!

6. Tags: Falls Count Anywhere: New Age Outlaws d. Jack/Funk
Big night for the Clique. Billy wins his second title, with his second partner, as he and the Dogg go over Terry and Cactus. The hardcore legends get the best of the match, just beating the hell out of the JV, chairshots – garbage cans – barbed wire baseball bats….they bloody them all over the arena – but Funk and Foley can’t keep their partnership together before they start brawling. Say, Foley’s holding Billy so Funk can hit him with a board – but Billy ducks and Funk splits Cactus open.

Cactus responds by whipping Funk into the guardrail – and the JV decides to stay out of the way and let them go at it. Foley piledrives Funk into the exposed floor – Funk lays Foley out on a table outside – and moonsaults from the top buckle, through Foley and through the table.

Waltman and HHH enter – and the four men finally put both Funk and Foley away. We have new champions. The four Clique members crotch chop, celebrate, hit the turnbuckles and tell the fans, you know, they have two words for them. I can't recall what they are.

7. IC: Octagon: Ken Shamrock draw Steve Austin (time limit draw) (Tyson, referee)
Okay, here’s your story – Shamrock got Foley and Vader to submit – but
Austin wouldn’t submit to Owen, instead passing out in the sharpshooter. So, Shamrock tries to get Austin to submit – and can’t – hold after hold, Shamrock grows increasingly frustrated as Austin won’t tap – he breaks the hold or reverses it or gets to the ropes – Shamrock tries to maintain the hold – but Tyson, being a good referee – always requires the clean break.

Shamrock gets rougher, gets more desperate – brawls more – Austin growing increasingly popular as the match goes on – Shamrock in less control now – we can see the frustration on his face, he kicks Austin low – he rakes the eyes – he and Tyson growing more contentious – finally Shamrock locks in his cross arm breaker – he’s got Austin – he’s got Austin in the middle of the ring – and still Austin won’t submit – still Austin won’t submit – Shamrock begins to pummel him with blows, shot after shot, as Austin bleeds, Austin continues to take the punishment, Shamrock is furious, telling Tyson to stop the fight - Austin waves Shamrock on, "come on, you yellow son of a bitch, come on" - Shamrock throws caution to the wind and just opens up on Austin - and with JR and Cornette now openly yelling for Tyson to stop the fight - with the thought that maybe Tyson likes it - maybe Tyson wants to see the destruction of Stone Cold Steve Austin - who is a tougher son of a bitch than Stone Cold Steve Austin - Austin, out of nowhere -- hits a stunner on Shamrock! Austin hits the stunner on Shamrock right in the middle of the Octagon and slowly.....slowly...slowly moves to cover. 1....2....

....and the time limit expires. No switch. No triple crown for Austin.

Crowd displeased. Fuck ‘em. It’s a good show.

Shamrock recovers and goes after Tyson – I want as much physical stuff as they can get Tyson to do – ideally, ideally what I’d like is for Tyson to get in some shots on Shamrock – enough that Shamrock bails out and leaves Austin to lay Tyson out with the Stunner.

If they could get Tyson to take the Stunner, that would be worth a billion dollars.

If no – then after the Tyson/ Shamrock skirmish, Austin stuns Shamrock again.

My thought process is there's no way fans aren't cheering Austin over Shamrock, so, you've gotta recognize that and move Shamrock toward the middle during the match. A nastier Shamrock going forward can be his next thing.

8. WWF Title: Owen Hart d. Shawn Michaels (w/Clique)
Sharpshooter. And Owen completes the trilogy. Beats Bret, beats Austin, beats Shawn, all with the sharpshooter. Owen has to fight off the full Clique during the match - Owen takes the Pedigree, which has been built up now as impossible to overcome - but he kicks out of Michaels attempt at the fall following Hunter's move.

Shawn couldn’t do much in this match, the back just wouldn’t let him, so there's lots of outside Clique stuff, but he guts his way through it until he taps out. Owen holds the belt high as Shawn lies on the canvas, his back barking in pain. Owen extends Shawn a hand, Michaels accepts it gingerly. Michaels and Owen go nose to nose, Michaels and Owen --- and Owen claps for Michaels – Owen claps for the effort of Shawn Michaels…Michaels is clearly touched by the gesture and waves goodbye to the appreciative crowd.

It’s a tender moment. Bret got to say goodbye to Owen, Shawn now does the same.

Hunter, Waltman, and the new tag champs then climb into the ring – and they help Shawn to the back. Owen stands in the ring, holding the title belt aloft – having vanquished all comers – as the show ends.

Shawn’s done, of course. Or done for a few years, as it turned out, but he doesn’t know that when the next night on RAW, he and the Clique enter in tuxedoes. It’s a Night of Appreciation for Shawn Michaels – and now, like Savage and Bret before him – the whole night is clips, interviews, tributes to Michaels – who ends the night by announcing that he’s ridden up and down the road in the WWF, a lot of ups and downs, highs and lows, and after last night, after losing to Owen Hart, he thinks that now it’s time…

Lights out.

Lights on – and Shawn’s now lying in the middle of the ring.

HHH grabs a mic…”Shawn…are you okay? Shawn…are you okay…..

Because if you’re okay….I’m gonna have to Pedigree your broken ass again."

Hunter now gets on the mat, getting in Shawn's face, "I couldn’t let you retire, Shawn, I couldn’t let it be a Hart who retired the great HBK – it had to be me, Shawn, it had to be blood, it had to be Clique, Shawn--- you want to know who the Showstopper is, Shawn – it’s me. You want to know who the Icon is, Shawn? It’s me. You want to know who the main event is, Shawn? It’s me. I am Triple H. I am the Game. And I...am…the Clique! One day you’ll understand, Shawn, one day, one day you’ll understand.”

HHH/Waltman/Dogg/Gunn make the sign of the Clique over the fallen Michaels as RAW ends.

In the NWA, the Giant beats Luger. Page beats Savage. Eddy beats the Ultimo Dragon. Raven debuts, beating Fit Finlay. Perry Saturn gets the huge win over Goldberg – ending Goldberg’s unbeaten streak. Your new tag team champions…Juventud and Silver King, who go over Hall and Nash.

Yeah, I said it. Juventud and Silver King, who go over Hall and Nash. The Latino World Order!

Dean Malenko keeps the US, beating….Bret the Hit Man Hart. Bret Hart, motherfucker, Deano Machino beats Bret Hart. And your new NWA champ….The Lionheart Chris Jericho, who goes over Benoit.

Slamboree – 1998 Worchester
NWA Title: Chris Jericho d. Chris Benoit
US: Dean Malenko d. Bret
Tags: Juvie/Silver King d. Hall/Nash
Perry d. Goldberg

Eddy d. Ultimo
Raven d. Fit
DDP d. Randy Savage
The Giant d. Luger/Crush


In ECW….Justin and Lance, the Impact Players, win the tag straps over the Dudleys. Tommy beats Bam Bam. Candido beats Spike. Jerry Lynn beats Hakushi – hey, Hakushi! Masato Tanaka beats Mike Awesome. RVD keeps again – as does Taz, who beats Sabu.

Heatwave – 1998 Dayton
ECW Title: Taz d. Sabu
TV Title: RVD d. Hayabusa
Tags: Justin/Lance d. Dudleys
Tanaka d. Awesome

Jerry Lynn d. Hakushi
Chris Candido d. Spike
Tommy Dreamer d. Bam Bam Bigelow
Justin/Lance d. Sandman/Big Dick


And as we go to Summer Slam…we’ve got the battle royal.

It’s back – winner goes to Madison Square Garden at Summer Slam to face the WWF Champion – Owen Hart. They show clips of the first four winners - Davey Boy, Razor, Hakushi, and Owen himself...Anyone on the roster is eligible – and they promo that we know Steve Regal will make his WWF debut at #30 – plus, Taka Michinoku’s tag team partner from Japan, Dick Togo is here and will debut – the in ring debut of Adam and Christian of the Ring Boys -- we'll have a return from an old friend -- plus, a surprise appearance from a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion…Place your bets…Place your bets...Who Is Going To Summer Slam??


1. The Rock comes out and promos “Everybody hates to be number one, everybody’s so scared, oh, you can’t win if you’re number one, you can’t beat 29 other men, well the Rock says this, the Rock is going to stand in the middle of this ring and throw 29 candy asses over the top rope – and the Rock is going to Madison Square Garden at Summer Slam to face Owen Hart for the WWF Title, if you smell….

2. HHH
Time to start getting that this is gonna be around awhile.

3. Aguila
-They let Aguila get in a high spot – but then he’s caught by Hunter and Pedigreed – Rock makes the “throw him out” motion – and Hunter does – and then they resume brawling. (30 – Aguila)

4. Mero
-Mero, the pretty boy boxer, gets in some rights and lefts that knock both guys down, and we get a 3 man thing.

5. Bob
-Alabama Bob, the double tough, stubborn pain in the ass – goes right after Hunter, reviving his old spot as Clique job boy. Mero and Rock then fight.

6. Bart
-The three face allies come out right in a row, Bart’s still doing the cowboy gimmick. He aids Bob against HHH – and when Bob gets an advantage – he goes to aid Mero against the Rock.

7. Billy
-Bart now tears after Billy – Bart and Billy, brothers, former tag champs, Billy of course, the current tag champ – going at it in the middle of the ring – Bob against HHH --- Rock tosses Mero out…(29 Mero)…and HHH tosses Bob out….(28 Bob)

8. Matt
Young Hardy enters – very excited, he dropkicks everyone in the ring, Rock, Bart, and then he even dropkicks the Clique - Billy and Hunter - in a surprise move that draws the pop – Hardy's all pumped up as he goes to the top buckle.

9. Kane
He’s big and red and his name is Kane. Kane chokeslams Billy and Bart. HHH and Rock are brawling again – Matt leaps atop Kane’s back.

10. Waltman
- Waltman joins Billy – and they eliminate Bart (27) – the two of them then help HHH for a 3 on 1 against Rock. Kane is pounding Matt’s head into the canvas.

11. Christian
-Christian is here to help Matt – they do some Ring Boys double team stuff on Kane but he eventually regains the advantage and chokeslams both guys.

12. D Lo
-Comes to the Rock’s aid, obviously, making it a 3 on 2 while Kane pounds both Matt and Christian.

13. Road Dogg
-And now it’s the whole Clique – 4 on 2 against the Nation --- and they eliminate DLo (26) --- Billy and the Road Dogg seeing an opportunity – eliminate Waltman (25) HHH is furious – and he starts brawling with the Road Dogg and Billy! HHH is brawling with the Road Dogg and Billy! Every man for himself, after all. Kane keeps kicking the crap out of Matt and Christian.

14. Dustin
-Dustin comes in, waving the Confederate flag – which irritates the Rock – oddly enough, who goes right at him. It’s Rock/Dustin…it’s Matt/Christian v. Kane…and it’s HHH v. the tag champs.

15. Dr. Death Steve Williams
-here’s your mystery entrant. Big Doc gets in huge shots on everyone – and settles in to brawl with Kane. Rock tosses Dustin (24) and HHH tosses the Dogg (23). Matt and Christian are laid out on the canvas.

16. Vader.
The big man goes right after Doc – the two mastadons throw huge hands at each other…once more, it’s Rock and HHH and Billy in a 3 way, Kane is close to tossing Matt and Christian.

17. Austin
-Glass breaks. It’s Steve Austin. Billy Gunn attacks. Stunner. Toss(22). Doc attacks. Stunner. Gone(21). Kane attacks. Stunner. Yup. (20). Matt and Christian each go to opposite turnbuckles, looking to missle dropkick Austin who stands in the middle of the ring. Austin moves, the two members of the Ring Boys crash into each other. Austin dumps both (19,18) out of the ring. Five fast eliminations for Stone Cold Steve Austin!

Vader attacks Austin, HHH and Rock continue their fight as Austin’s cleared the ring.

18. Al (w/Head)
-here’s our old friend, now with a prop. Al enters, goes to the top buckle and moonsaults into the ring – splatting on the canvas.

19. 2 Cold Scorpio.
-Funky, Funky! 2 Cold and Al resume their old fight. HHH/Rock --- Vader/Austin.

20. Jeff
-Jeff, crazy brave, goes in right after Austin and Vader.

21. Adam
-Edge in for the save of his buddy – and now it’s Edge and Jeff drawing a face pop as they take on Austin and Vader!!. Rock and HHH are still brawling, announce puts over that they've been in the ring 42 minutes.

22. Ulysess Morley
-The Abolitionist hits the ring – and he hops into a 3 way thing with Al and Scorp.

23. Jarrett
-Goes right after Morley.

24. Cactus
-Cactus goes right after Hunter and Rock, he took the tag from Rock – and then HHH interference cost him the tag – so he goes right after both of them. Al eliminates Scorpio (17). Austin eliminates Jeff (16) ………….and Edge…Edge eliminates Vader! (15) Edge is very excited, jumping up and down – and he’s eliminated by Austin (14).

25. Undertaker
-Al goes nuts, yelling at Undertaker – YOU DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ME, YOU DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ME. Al flails at the Dead Man – Chokeslam. Tombstone. Gone. (13). Cactus and Rock eliminate HHH (12). Cactus eliminates Rock (11)

26. Funk
-Terry and Cactus, broken up again, brawl. Undertaker v. Austin. Jarrett v. Morley. 6 men in the ring. 4 men left. Who will face Owen Hart at Summer Slam!! Who? Who?

27. Taka
28. Togo
K-DX, Taka and Togo – double team the ring, knocking Jarrett down and knocking Morley over the top (10)…knocking the Taker and Austin down…knocking Cactus down…and eliminating Terry Funk! (9). KDX has taken out two men - and they pose in the middle of the ring!

29. Shamrock
-Your IC Champ goes right after Undertaker and Austin – a three way brawl among the men – it’s Jarrett and Cactus teaming up against Taka and Togo – and eliminating them both (8,7)

30. Regal

Six guys left, one of them’s going to Summer Slam. One of them will meet Owen Hart for the WWF Championship. Regal is both, well, regal, and ferocious, he lights Jarrett up, and a European uppercut sends him over the top rope (6)….Shamrock grabs the Undertaker in a belly to belly – and suplexes him clean over the top rope (5).

4 men left. Regal. Cactus. Austin. Shamrock.

Regal tries to get the attention of Cactus and Austin – tries to get the two men to work with him – let’s make it an NWA man for Summer Slam….Austin and Cactus agree --- and then Austin and Cactus toss Regal over the top….

...and then Austin and Cactus double clothesline Shamrock over the top rope….Austin and Cactus…Austin and Cactus….

This oughta be a full on brawl – and right now is the beginning of the new center of the company, even though it doesn’t pay off on PPV for years – the new center of the company is this feud – these two guys should be seen as equals – like Owen and Shawn. It’s Cactus and Austin. Whenever you think about one you think about the other – this is the new heartbeat of the WWF, this feud, this feud, Steve Austin and Cactus Jack, it's a full on brawl right now, Cactus and Austin, Cactus and Austin, Cactus and Austin…

who is going to Summer Slam…will it be Austin – Stunner, No! Mandible Claw! Cactus Jack with the mandible claw – Austin can’t break the hold – mandible claw – Cactus clothesline – both men go over --- but Cactus holds on! Cactus holds on! Cactus Jack is going to Summer Slam! Cactus Jack is going to Summer Slam!! Bang Bang!

The structure of the summer is based on 8 man matches. We’re loaded with 4 person stables, when the rest of K-DX, Teioh and Funaki, come over from Japan. And they sell the 8 man tag as their specialty. So, we have them, the Nation (Rock, DLo, 2 Cold, Big Markie) the Clique (HHH, Waltman, Gunn, Dogg) the Ring Boys (Matt, Jeff, Edge, Christian) the Babyfaces (Val, Bob, Bart, Mero) and we just spin them all against each other.

So, what do we have for Summer Slam at the Garden?

The other three Kaentai turn on Taka. So, they turn Teioh/Funkai heel and do them against Taylor and young Lawler. And we'll get Taka/Togo as a singles, which is a good thing. We have the Southern Men – we’ll get Morley/Dustin and Jarrett/Mero.

We begin to see a little change in Adam and Christian, they constantly remind Matt and Jeff about how Adam eliminated Vader. Not in a heelish way, in an excited way, but now, as opposed to their standing and cheering Matt and Jeff – they want to work PPV too – and when, after, say, the Ring Boys beat the Clique in an 8 man (more about that later) including pinning one of the tag champs (say, the Dogg) the WWF says that they have an open slot at Summer Slam (the Ring Boys, going to MSG!)

Matt and Jeff celebrate- thinking they’ll get a tag.

But it won’t be a tag – it’ll be a singles.

Matt and Jeff still celebrate – well, maybe they’ll wrestle for it – they’re brothers after all.

But it won’t go to either….it’ll go to Adam, cause he eliminated Vader.

E and C celebrate – Matt and Jeff are pissed and leave the ring.

Who will the match be against? Vader.

Gulp.

Vader attacks, destroys E and C – Matt and Jeff return to the ring for the face save – and the Ring Boys reuinited, albeit now with that telling wrestling tension.

The JV will defend their tags against the former champs, the Nation. But the Clique tension that we saw during the battle royale continues during the summer – and it erupts in a full scale brawl when they lose that 8 man to the Ring Boys - Waltman's return was the catalyst for Hunter to believe that he was getting overshadowed a little bit by the Outlaws - think about it, Waltman says - Michaels was always the top guy, he had gold...Razor and Diesel were the top guys..they had gold...you got rid of all of them, Hunter - all of them - but now here we are and who has gold? Billy and the Dogg? And who never has had any gold? Us? Hell, Hunter - you've never had a shot. You've never had a shot while these jagoffs got the gold? Screw that.

So – they make the tag title match a 3 way…Outlaws…Nation…HHH/Waltman.

The IC is the Mania rematch. Shamrock/Austin. Shamrock continues the heel move, saying he’s not going to wrestle in the Octagon against Austin. Austin isn't athlete enough to step into his world.

He slurs Austin, he’s just a guy who drinks beer – not a legitimate athlete like himself. Shamrock says he’s not going to degrade the greatness of the Octagon against someone of the character of Austin.

Austin says Stone Cold 3:16 says he just whipped Shamrock’s ass at Mania, whipped Shamrock’s ass at the battle royal – and at Madison Square Garden, he’ll whip Shamrock’s ass – take his IC title – and become a Triple Crown Winner.

Austin says he won’t pin Shamrock though – he’s gonna tap him out.

We’re gonna get Austin/Shamrock as a submission match.

Curiously enough, also going for the Triple Crown at Summer Slam (hey, a reason to buy the show, fascinating) is Cactus Jack. Foley brings the hate to Owen. ‘Cause how can you hate Owen? Owen’s blond and good looking and came from a wrestling family and had everything handed to him and everyone loves him and they cheer his name– you know, that kinda thing.

Whereas, Foley had to sleep in his car and couldn’t get a job in the WWF so had to go to Japan and get carved up in front of 50 people. While Owen was staying in the four star hotels getting round the clock massages – Foley has razor blades shoved into his mouth by Mr. Pogo in Osaka. While Owen got to go home for Christmas to be with his lovely wife and 2 beautiful children – Cactus Jack spent Christmas scrubbing the Giant Baba’s back in the All Japan dojo.

Owen says if he has to hear one more lie from Cactus Jack he’s going to be sick. Owen said he worked for everything he had. That it was always about Bret – always about Shawn – but Owen just kept working, working for the fans, for his family – just kept plugging away – and now, look what’s happened – at Survivor Series, he got Bret in the Sharpshooter – and Bret’s gone. At the Rumble, he got Austin in the Sharpshooter – and he beat Austin. At Mania, he got Shawn in the Sharpshooter – and Shawn’s gone. He’s on the greatest streak in the history of professional wrestling – and he’s the current holder of the Triple Crown – and there’s no way he’s about to give it – or give the WWF Title – up to Cactus Jack.

We’ll do it as a No DQ.

Yeah, daddy. Summer Slam at MSG. Owen/Cactus for the big strap. Shamrock/Austin in the submission match for the IC. Both Cactus and Austin going for the coveted Triple Crown. The three way for the tags, with the Nation and both halves of the Clique, the two Southern Men/Baby Face matches, the Ring Crew gets on PPV as Adam takes on Vader, and Kaentai explodes, Taka and Togo in a hot singles match.

It’s Summer Slam '98 from New York City! Call your local cable company!