Survivor Series - 1999

Summer Slam is here.

Survivor Series – 1999 Detroit(Dark – Taka Michinoku d. Aguila)

JR and Lawler are joined at the announce by...Skip McMahon.

1. Fightin’ Hollys d. New Age Outlaws
Crash asks why Billy and the Dogg point to their male parts. He says Lou Thesz never said suck it. Strangler Lewis never whipped it out. Well, actually, funny story, we were on a train to El Paso…

Hollys win clean. Outlaws time is up.

2. Edge (w/Trish) d. The Abolitionist
Morley hits the Liberation Falls, but Trish puts Edge’s foot on the ropes, Christian enters, hitting the Tomikaze (which he calls the Unprettier, a terrible name, we're gonna go with the Crusader) on Morley and allowing Edge the win. Christian enters for the double team beatdown. Davey Boy (hi, Davey Boy!) enters to even it up at 2-2. Waltman enters to give the Clique the advantage again – the Y2J chants start, hopefully, and Jericho enters to even it up and knock the heels from the ring.

Officials regain control and the next match starts.

3. Davey Boy Smith d. Christian
It’s fast. Christian's gotta take one for the team. Some brawling and the powerslam – the finish kicks off another round of brawling among the men – Waltman and Jericho fight to the back while Morley and Davey Boy battle E and C until they have to be pulled apart.

4. DLo Brown d. Al Snow (w/ Head)
DLo distracts Al by slapping Head, and that freaks Al out, letting DLo get the frog splash and the fall. Postmatch, DLo taunts Al – “This is all you got? This is all you got? You ain’t no champ – you’re an Intercontinental Chump – go do your moonsault now you little bitch! Go do your moonsault now!”

Al, of course, still does his moonsault, cause that’s how he rolls. We get a Rock/DLo backstage thing where Rock attempts to congratulate DLo on the win, telling him that the Head trick was slick. DLo tells Rock that he better not let the team down, ‘cause DLo ain’t rolling with no punk ass bitches. Rock takes umbrage at this before they calm everything down.

Skip, who has been deorogatory of everyone all night long, both faces and heels, now goes to the ring, readying both the big PAUL/Angle matchup.

5. Kurt Angle d. PAUL the GIANT~ (w/Skip)
And here’s your big match – PAUL enters like a monster, frothing and stomping – Angle shows no fear – going right to him in the nose to nose – PAUL lands his big shots – big shot after shot – Angle keeps getting up, keeps getting in the Giant’s face – the Giant does all the big man stuff – bouncing off the ropes for a shoulderblock – Angle gets up – the clubbing blows – Angle gets up – Angle even calls for a top knuckle lock test of strength --

Finish comes when Angle is up for the chokeslam, but grabs the Giant on the way down, landing a DDT – then he deadlifts PAUL for the AngleSlam, which they play up as a feat of massive strength. Clean fall. 1-2-3, in just under five minutes.

Skip, shocked enters the ring and attacks Angle – and Angle easily moves him into an anklelock – Skip cries and taps and taps as the crowd cheers. Kurt Angle! Announce puts him over hard.

6. Tags: Tables Match: Dudleys (w/Stevie) d. Hardys
Dudleys too much for the Hardys – a Steviekick – a couple of 3Ds through the tables – the Hardys, again, save the match as many times as they can while taking the beating, which sells both the Hardys bumptaking and the bumps put the Dudleys over as monsters – but in the end, we roll with the new, and the Family grabs some gold. The Dudleys win a destructive, destructive match over the babyfaces. Edge and Christian, and Trish enter postmatch for a Con-Chair-To beatdown on the Hardys while Stevie and the Dudleys pose. There's a moment of awkwardness, as E and C want the Dudleys to celebrate with them, but the Dudleys yell to get the fuck away from them - Stevie intervenes, calming the Duds down, and they take their belts and go to the back.

7. IC: Chris Jericho d. Sean Waltman
Everyone who has brawled before is barred from ringside before the match even begins – Jericho goes over clean with the Liontamer, gets Waltman to submit right in the middle of the ring. Y2J steps right into the WWF and wins the IC. He’s a cocky Hart! He unites the people!

8. WWF Title: Cactus Jack d. HHH d. Rock

Okay, this is an easy story - Foley's the veteran, HHH and Rock are the upstarts - HHH and Rock have been feuding for a year as they want the same spot in the company, and with Foley's book softening him a bit, this is the time for one of them to step up.

But it doesn't happen.

Foley’s book is out, Foley’s a big star, with Austin gone, Foley is positioned alone at the top of the company – this is really the crowning moment, he beats both Rock and HHH – pinning Rock – it’s all about Cactus Jack. He goes over two of the top underneath guys, and it’s worth wondering who is left now for Cactus Jack to conquer? Bang, Bang!

We have the Rock/HHH stuff to do – and also have them double team Foley – we should definitely see the weariness in Cactus – unlike, say, when Bret was on top for so long and he reacted with defiance – we can see the mileage on Foley, and he treats it with some bemusement – a knowing smile here and there – Foley recognizes these guys are young, juiced up, athletic (HHH was a terrific worker in 2000, so he is just about to enter his best period ever) and Foley, now pretty famous, maybe doesn’t have that wellspring to do what it takes anymore.

But he’s got it here – and is able to pin the Rock. Say, Hunter had a Pedigree on Cactus earlier, and Rock broke it up, allowing Hunter to claim that he would have won if not for Rock. Rock and HHH fight in the aisle after the match – that brings out the Clique to fight with HHH and lay the Rock out on the ramp – but no DLo for the save.

Foley holds the belt high, exhaustedly, and gives a Bang, Bang as the show ends.

Foley will meet Hunter on RAW the next night, getting the pinfall. Foley beats them both in consecutive nights, after taking out Austin and before that Owen. It's a pretty significant run for the Triple Crown Holder.

The very last PPV of the 90s is from the NWA, Harlem Heat gets a win over the team of Sid and Haku. Nash goes over Goldberg. Sting beats Hennig. Dr. Death beats a returning Dustin Rhodes. Bret beats Benoit in the dream match. Your new tag champs are Luger and Norman Smiley, goofily enough, who go over Perry and Page. Vampyro is your new US Champ, beating Dean – and The Southern Man Jeff Jarrett comes back to the NWA, beats Shane Douglas and wins the NWA Title.

Starrcade – 1999 DC
NWA Title: Jeff Jarrett d. Shane Douglas
US Title: Vampyro d. Dean Malenko
Tags: Lex Luger/Norman Smiley d. Perry/Page
Bret Hart d. Chris Benoit

Steve Williams d. Dustin Rhodes
Sting d. Curt Hennig
Kevin Nash d. Goldberg
Harlem Heat d. Sid/Haku


The first show of 2000 is in ECW, Dusty Rhodes works, losing. Justin loses, Rhyno wins, Dreamer finally beats Raven. Your new ECW tag champs – Chris Chetti and Kid Kash, who beat Nova and Guido. Lance keeps the US over Super Crazy, and Masato Tanaka keeps the World Title over Mike Awesome.


Living Dangerously – 2000 Danbury
ECW Title: Masato Tanaka d. Mike Awesome
TV Title: Lance Storm d. Super Crazy
Tags: Chetti/Kash d. Nova/Guido
Dreamer d. Raven

Rhyno d. Doring
CW Anderson d. Justin
Corino d. Dusty Rhodes
Gedo/Jado d. Balls/Roadkill


Royal Rumble 2000 is coming from MSG. How better to start a new millennium?

Let’s talk tags first. They'll have the Hardys meet the Outlaws in the opening tag – winners go to XVI to meet the tag champs. They bring Lita into the act now, there’s a spot where Trish is cutting a promo on the Hardys – and she (say, sitting in the front row, wearing a Hardys t-shirt) gets called out by Trish. Some type of “ Matt – maybe there’s a rat who will take care of you – like that one right there.” Trish invites Lita into the ring – Lita wipes Trish out – and Lita joins the act as Matt’s new girlfriend. Lita, of course, has the tattoos and the crazy hair, and the Hardys act begins to change, as we can’t go clean cut forever, people will think they’re pussies. They add some color, some ripped clothing – and then actually do something productive…

The Dudleys will defend in a Tables Match against the Hollys. The Hollys get that right when they beat the Dudleys in a nontitle, when the Hardys interfere (‘cause babyfaces, you know, have to toughen up if they’re gonna get cheered at MSG). The Hardys then get out ladders (‘cause they use ladders, and E and C use chairs, and the Duds use tables, see, it's not that complicated) and, with the Hollys holding onto the Dudleys, the Hardys splatter the Dudleys through tables. Stevie and the Dudleys later cut promos saying they won’t get punked out again, won’t get punked out in New York – and they will unleash a heretofore unknown level of viciousness onto the Hollys at the Rumble.

We’re gonna get a 3 way. Al attacks DLo – not because of their feud, not because he lost at Survivor Series, not even because DLo attacked Head...but because DLo stole Al’s corned beef sandwich from the locker room. This pisses DLo off – ‘cause he wants Al to hate him because they’re having a feud. DLo tries to express this to Al – “damn boy, I called you a bitch – I kicked your ass at Survivor Series – how you feel about DLo Brown now?” “I don’t know about all of that – BUT YOU OWE A THE SNOWMAN A GODDAMN SAMMICH!” They're throwing the Rock in this – DLo continues to big time the Rock – say, the Rock tries to give him some advice, and DLo says if he wanted some advice from a guy who can’t win the WWF Title, he’d talk to Hunter. That kinda thing. Rock gives him plenty of chances, ‘cause they down, and when Al gets the best of DLo in an in-ring thing, Rock comes in for the save – that’s what gets the Rock in it with Al. But DLo doesn’t want Rock’s help, says Rock’s been living on DLo’s coattails for years – says if DLo didn’t have to carry Rocky Johnson’s kid in every tag match they were in – he’d still be a tag champ. DLo and Big Markie – still be tag champs. DLo and 2 Cold – still be tag champs. DLo and Ron Simmons, DLo and Ahmed Johnson, DLo and Manute Bol, DLo and Wilfred Freaking Brimley – still be tag champs.

But DLo and the Rock - they ain't tag champs. They ain't down. They ain't nothin'.

That’s enough for the Rock – and the love is over – they throw down.

Al just wants his sandwich. And if he has to beat that sandwich out of both of them - THE SNOWMAN'S GONNNA GET HIS MICKEY-FICKEY SAMMICH!

Al, one suggests, has a future promoting janitor pillow fights.

It’s a 3 way. Rock. Al. DLo.

Other than the title match, everything else comes out of this Hart/Clique thing. 'Cause they need to re-establish this program.

They have a tag – Jericho/Davey Boy against HHH/Waltman. Heels win when E and C run in and interfere. Full heel beatdown, face save attempt by Morley (recall, he’s feuding with the Clique) but he’s not enough – and the Clique goes over. All four men going to the ringposts – chopping their crotches like the old days.

That’s gonna set up an 8 man: Clique against Jericho, Davey Boy, Morley and a mystery partner….

Kurt Angle.

Faces go over when Angle pins Waltman.

Announce puts Angle over hard.

We’ll get Edge/Morley again at the Rumble, this time in a No DQ.

And we’ll also do HHH/Jericho. In a cage. HHH, swinging his sledgehammer, can cut the full on bitter promo on Jericho – five years, no belts for HHH, no shots, no love – meanwhile, Jericho comes in – and on his first night, he wins the IC. A Hart, no less.

It’s just wrong. We’ll have HHH attack Jericho with the sledgehammer, bloodying him up – and that level of violence will set up the cage match. This was the HHH/Foley Hell in a Cell event, so I like the cage stip here.

Here’s where Angle fits in – the next week on RAW – the other 7 guys are in the ring doing a nose to nose promo thing – comparing who has the better side, comparing if the Harts are better than the Clique --- Jericho says now that they have the Olympic gold medalist on their side – a man who beat PAUL in five minutes – there’s really not a comparison.

Enter Angle.

Angle apologizes to Jericho – says there’s been a misunderstanding. Says last week was a one shot thing, he has nothing against the Harts or against Morley, but he isn’t with them.

Waltman says hell yeah – Angle is Clique, Angle is Clique…

Angle says no – you four are a bunch of crybaby punks, and the only time he ever wants anything to do with them is when they are tapping out to his ankle lock.

So, now everyone in the ring is hot with Angle – which doesn’t bother him at all – and Jericho asks why the hell Angle came down to the ring.

Angle says because at his first ever Royal Rumble, at Madison Square Garden, his contract says he gets to meet whomever he wants (except, JR reminds us, for champions) – and what he wants is to wrestle twice.

Twice?

Twice? At the Royal Rumble?

HHH says we don’t wrestle twice on a PPV. We’ve had PPV in the WWF for 16 years, and we don’t wrestle twice (yeah, Owen did that one time, I know, and Shawn too) we got a locker room full of guys who can’t even get on PPV – and you want to wrestle twice – who the hell do you think you are??

"I’m Kurt Angle."

Buy the shirt.

Angle says at the Royal Rumble – he is going to beat a former IC Champion – that would be you, Sean Waltman. At the Royal Rumble, at Madison Square Garden, you will submit to Kurt Angle. Because I don't care about your "Clique".

And..and…at the Royal Rumble, he is going to beat a former WWF Champion…that would be you, British Bulldog. At the Royal Rumble, at Madison Square Garden, you will submit to Kurt Angle. Because I don't care about the Hart Foundation either.

"In the same night – I will beat the Clique IC Champ – and the Hart WWF Champ – and make them both tap out."

Why?

Angle gets awfully chesty here, puffed up - he believes it, you know he believes it - he's not a heel - he just thinks he's supposed to win every match.

"Because I’m Kurt Angle."

Angle leaves the ring – both sides are stunned -- the 7 remaining men brawl.

Title match is left.

Cactus cuts a retirement promo. Says he’s been on this book tour, talking about his life in wrestling. And the more he tells the stories, the more he realizes the guys he’s talking about are all gone. And when he looks around the locker room, he doesn’t see Vader, he sees PAUL, and he doesn’t see Bret, he sees Angle, and he doesn’t see Austin, he sees the Rock, and he doesn’t see Owen, he sees Jericho.

So, maybe it’s time for Cactus Jack to step aside….

Enter Stevie and the Dudleys.

Stevie says that’s a nice trip down memory lane, Cactus. The Hardcore Family enjoys hearing about all the has beens who left this place before the Dudley Boys had the chance to kick their ass. But Stevie Richards….Esquire…wants to share another memory with Cactus Jack. Before the WWF – before you were a World Champion, a Triple Crown Winner, a Best Selling Author – before any of that, you spent a year in ECW, do you remember that Cactus?

Cactus says he remembers Stevie as a punk kid wearing a Flock of Seagulls t-shirt who somehow pinned Ron Simmons one night and passed out at the party after the show. Good to see your eyebrows finally grew back, Stevie.

Stevie laughs. Says that’s hi-larious. Put that anecdote in the next book and that will be a best seller too. But that’s not really the story he wants to tell. See – when Cactus was making a list of guys he’s beaten in his career – he neglected to mention the guy he couldn’t ever beat – a guy who is a member of the Family.

Cactus says, no offense to Bubba and DVon, but they were still working the popcorn stands when he was in ECW back in 1994, and if Stevie thinks he’s ever beaten Cactus Jack, he’s tying that tie a little too tight. But if he’d like an opportunity – in fact, if any member of the “Hardcore” Family would like an opportunity – Cactus Jack might have a fight or two left in him.

Stevie says he’s not talking about himself, he’s a manager now, thank you very much. And he’s not talking about the Dudley Boys – because they are about to go to Madison Square Garden and defend the WWF tag titles – no, he’s talking about somebody else – he’s talking about the greatest World Champion in ECW history – he’s talking about the newest member of the Hardcore Family….he’s talking about….

Taz.

Yeah, daddy.

Taz attacks Foley from behind, suplexing Cactus on his head. Taz picks Foley back up, locks on the Tazmission, and chokes him out. Stevie holds and drops Cactus’s arm three times to show that he is unconscious – the Dudleys set up the tables – and the Dudleys put Cactus through the table. Stevie cackles as the Dudleys celebrate and Taz stands over Foley with his arms folded.

In the run up, they can sell this as the ECW World Champ v. the WWF World Champ, since that what, obviously, the Hardcore Family is – is an ECW offshoot. If you’ve noticed the ECW recaps, Counterfactual Taz was booked basically the way they booked him, he was ECW champ forever – really only giving it up when he was on his way out – so it’s clear that this match – in MSG, which is the perfect venue for it – is the top guy in the WWF (Bret, gone, Shawn, gone, Owen, gone, Austin, gone – Mick’s left) and the top guy in ECW (only RVD in the argument). And Taz can cut promos to that effect – Mick was a great champion, but his time is over – back in the day, Mick was one of them, a dirtbag, young and hungry – tough as nails, but now, when Taz looks in his eyes, Mick ain’t hungry no more – Mick doesn’t have that dog in him no more – he ain’t the real world’s champ just like he ain’t a real New Yorker – the real world’s champ is the man who has busted ass, his own and everyone else’s, in the bingo hall the last 6 years. Taz ain’t here to disrespect Cactus Jack – Cactus Jack is one of the greatest hardcore wrestlers of all time – Cactus Jack helped build ECW – Cactus Jack is a man who lived and died hardcore…

But the man standing across from Taz in the ring at the Royal Rumble – that won’t be Cactus Jack – that’ll be Mick Foley. Mick Foley’s a dad, Mick Foley’s an author. Mick Foley’s a celebrity. Mick Foley’s a superstar.

Mick Foley ain’t World Heavyweight Champion.

Taz is World Heavyweight Champion.

The Dudleys are going to go to the Royal Rumble and defend their belts – and then Taz is going to win the WWF Title – and the Family is walking out of New York City, walking out of Madison Square Garden, with all the gold.

Taz and Cactus – two New Yorkers, meet at MSG for the WWF Title.

Royal Rumble 2000. It’s Taz/Cactus for the big belt, Jericho/HHH in a cage for the IC as we harken back to Harts/Clique history, the Hollys/Dudleys tables match for the straps, the three way between Rock/DLo/Al, Kurt Angle wrestles twice – against both Waltman and Davey Boy – Morley takes on Edge in the No DQ, and the Hardys meet the Outlaws, winners go to Mania.

It's Royal Rumble 2000. Call…..your….local…..thing!

Summer Slam 1999

XV is here.

Summer Slam 1999 Minneapolis
(Dark: Morley d. Aguila)

JR. Jesse for the 50th WWF PPV.

10 bell salute. All the wrestlers wear the black OH armband.

The clock, recall, has continued to run, counting down the time until the end of tomorrow night's RAW (you know who's coming) and even during Summer Slam, it continues.

1. The Fightin’ Hollys d. Test/Albert
Crash takes the mic before the match, “You two are a couple of good looking kids, you remind me a little bit of Dick the Bruiser and the Destroyer, back when they were running St. Louis with Sam Muschnick. Those were good times; I remember once, me and Mr. Wrestling II were doing a double shot in Albequerque…”

That kinda thing.

Hollys go over.

2. Billy Gunn (w/Dogg) d. Big Stevie Cool (w/Meanie)
I'm a Stevie Richards mark. Just sayin'.

The BWO makes their only appearance on WWF PPV, Billy goes over with the rocker dropper, after the double team, Stevie takes off his gear after the match, yelling that it's time for a change - Meanie seems confused - starts to take off his fear too - prompting screams of concern from the fans. StevieKick to Meanie (and that's gonna end Meanie's run) as he's getting undressed, "These people don't want to see that, Meanie - and they'll never see the Blue World Order...again."

3. PAUL the GIANT~ (w/Skip) d. Undertaker.
It’s only a couple minutes longer than the other Giant stuff – the staredown – PAUL sells the Undertaker’s early volley of offense – maybe the Undertaker even knocks him out of the ring for the big pop – but when PAUL takes control – that’s the game.

Chokeslam. Chokeslam. Table. Chokeslam. PAUL has chokeslammed the Undertaker through a table. Good God! Good God! Kane and Markie and Vince....and the Undertaker!

PAUL~

With Skip McMahon’s money and the monstrous PAUL~, who could possibly stop them? Who? Who? Who?

Sellin’ tickets, baby.

4. HHH (w/Trish) d. Ken Shamrock
Hunter wins clean in what, I guess, is an upset over the former IC champ – a couple of pedigrees finishes Shamrock off – ends Shamrock’s run – and places Hunter in position to get a world title shot. Hunter beats his chest, makes the sign for the belt, and raises the Clique hand signal high above his head. The Clique is rolling again! With Waltman and E and C still to come – will Summer Slam be all about the Clique??

HHH goes to the announce to help call the Rock/Jarrett match. He'll face the winner on RAW to see who will go to Survivor Series to wrestle for the WWF Title.

5. Rock d. Jarrett
Jarrett brings his Confederate Flag, allowing the Rock to cut a promo that uses the word cracker. “What makes you think you are a better man than a fine, chocolate, brother like the People’s Champion…” “I am the….” “It doesn’t matter what you think!”

That kinda thing.

Rock breaks the figure four, the first person to do that to Jarrett in this run, Rock goes over clean with the Rock Bottom – breaks the flag in two – throws it into the crowd – and that will end Jarrett’s run. Southern Men – gone. They were like an angel on my shoulder.

Rock stands on the buckle, makes the sign for the belt – HHH gets in the ring – HHH and Rock do the nose to nose – Rock and Hunter, Hunter and Rock, who will go to Survivor Series to meet the WWF Champion? Who? Who? Who?

6. Tags: Hardys d. E and C (w/Trish) (DQ)
Hardys are just able to hang on to their belts, getting a DQ win. Interference by Trish and then Hunter threaten to get the fall for E and C – but Matt and Jeff, we love those boys!, they just keep kicking out. Finally, after Matt and Jeff get a couple of nearfalls of their own, only failing to win due to Trish/HHH saves – and with it seeming as if the Hardys will keep – Trish calls an audible, pulling the plug and has everyone going for the chairs. Trish and HHH attack the Hardys – E and C join in – and it’s another vicious beatdown. Non-finish, which the crowd dislikes (but all anyone’s waiting for is Foley/Austin anyway) and the Clique beats the Hardys down once again. Pose. Pose. Pose. Pose. Boo. Boo. Boo. Boo.

And now it’s Angle time. Kurt hits the ring with JR, who says it’s the moment of truth, you will make your PPV debut at Survivor Series – who will you face?

Recall, part of Angle's unprecedented contract is that he gets to pick his opponents for a year, except for title shots.

Angle says what he’d really like to do is wrestle for one of the titles – but as he can’t do that – he remembers a lesson he learned back when he first started amateurs back in 6 th grade. They didn’t have enough guys for weight classes, so on Angle’s first day he didn’t know much about wrestling – but there was this voice inside him that told him he had to prove himself. And so he picked the biggest, fattest, nastiest kid there – and he called him out – and he put that kid flat on his back in less than five minutes.

Because he wanted all those kids – all those coaches – he wanted to make sure they knew one thing --- I’m Kurt Angle.

So, it’s obvious to me that at Survivor Series, Kurt Angle is going to make his PPV debut –

JR: Against whom? Who? Who?

....against PAUL the GIANT~

And not only will I beat PAUL the Giant – but I’ll beat him in 5 minutes.

Big pop, that’s the craziest thing JR ever heard – hasn’t he been paying attention? Didn’t he see PAUL destroy Mark Henry? Kane? The Legendary Undertaker? Who in the world does he think he is?

"JR, I’m Kurt Angle." Buy the shirt.

7. IC: Sean Waltman (w/Clique) d. Al Snow d. DLo Brown (w/Rock)
Waltman goes home, gets his IC win. This is Waltman's big moment, he's not turning, but there are enough Waltman/Minneapolis/ packages as we go to the PPV that the fans are popping for him. So, they're gonna turn DLo heel in this program – his cocky promos will cut against Al as much as Waltman – and since Al will get cheered – and being in Minnesota, the crowd will have some the Waltman sentiment – someone’s gotta get booed. So, we go full heel on DLo, although he and the Rock haven’t broken up yet.

Lots of outside stuff – Rock questions DLo’s cheating – but still looks to aid him on the outside – that allows us to get Rock/HHH stuff on the outside – and since E and C are there too, Rock has to battle lots of folks – eventually, they all get barred from the ring. We get some Rock/Al stuff too, as that helps for the next show.

DLo costs Al a pin over Waltman – and then after Waltman pins Al to get the win, DLo, upset with Al, attacks – and they fight to the back. HHH, E, C, and Trish return to celebrate with Waltman, a big night for the Clique with Hunter winning and E and C beating down the Hardys, the announce credits Trish for putting it all together (and she's so hot, people, she's worked hard to be a good wrestler and she's so hot, she seems pretty bright too - am I making that up? She gives me the feelings, I'm just saying) – and then Waltman cuts a promo on Minnesota, just to stop the cheers. “Best thing about this town was getting the hell out of it” that kinda thing. Big Clique celebration in mid-ring. HHH has a match tomorrow with Rock, winner gets a shot, Waltman’s got gold, and E and C beat the hell out of the Hardys – Trish has a big…well, Trish is just big in many, many valuable places

8. WWF Title – Career v. Career: Cactus Jack d. Steve Austin (HBK, referee)
Austin gets shut down with his neck surgery after this, so that’s the reason for the stip. And the next big storyline works better with him not in the mix, so that’s fine too.

They play up the enormity of it all, my thought is that, since we’ve been building to the match for a year, really, since these are the two biggest stars in the company, since they haven’t wrestled a singles match yet, since the stips are what they are – and throwing Shawn (gone for a year) in the mix – you’re looking at one of the biggest matches of all time.

Austin’s not 100%, but these guys can brawl it up enough, and sell the drama enough, to make this a pretty terrific match.

Again, understand the stips - this means Cactus gets physical possession of the Triple Crown and that he is now in control of Austin's career - if he ever wants to wrestle again anywhere in the world, he needs Cactus's approval - and given their years of enmity, something pretty cataclysmic would have to occur for that to happen...

Cactus goes over clean – HBK tries to give him the Triple Crown – Austin snatches it away – then gives it to Cactus himself.

Cactus raises the belt and the trophy high – then points Austin toward the video wall which plays the goodbye highlight package of Austin’s career.

After it ends, with the Austin chants in the arena, Austin exits the ring – but remains at ringside – the locker room empties to surround the ring as Cactus takes the mic.

Cactus says the Triple Crown is the most prestigious honor in all of wrestling – and he may never have a bigger night in his life than right now – and as the WWF Champion – and as the holder of the Triple Crown – Cactus announces that he wants to say something, not as Cactus Jack, but as Mick Foley, he wants to say that Owen Hart was one of the finest men he ever met – that Owen Hart was not only a member of the Hart Family, which has been the backbone of the WWF for the last 15 years – but a member of the WWF Family. And the WWF Family will never forget him.

In Owen Hart’s honor, the Triple Crown, recognized as the crowning achievement for anyone in this business, an honor held by Owen Hart, will be renamed the Hart Memorial Triple Crown. Foley says he’ll carry it with pride until it is won by the next man, whomever it may be, and that man will carry it with pride, and the next, and the next after that – and if there would ever be anyone who wouldn’t carry that trophy with the pride that it deserves – that person would have to answer to Cactus Jack, and Steve Austin, and Triple H, and the Rock, and PAUL, and the Undertaker, and Ken Shamrock, and every man in that locker room – and all of you fans of the WWF. Each wrestler comes to the ring to touch the trophy.

The show ends on the Owen tribute video, a five minute package which ends with the shot at the end of X, Owen being lifted high by the locker room after beating Bret to win win his first WWF Championship. The Owen chants fill the building as the show ends.

I really liked Owen is all.

In the NWA, Rick Steiner and Barry Windham team up. Hogan wins a singles over Hacksaw…

Yeah, I know I’m doing Hogan/Hacksaw on PPV in 1999 – WCW didn’t give me much to work with at the end.

Sting beats Goldberg, Kaz Hayashi goes over Eddy, Perry and Page keep the tags over Harlem Heat, Dean takes the US over Rey, and Benoit drops the NWA Title to The Franchise Shane Douglas. Seriously? Yup.


Fall Brawl – 1999 Winston Salem
NWA Title: Shane Douglas d. Chris Benoit
US Title: Dean Malenko d. Rey Mysterio
Tags: Perry/Page d. Harlem Heat
Kaz d. Eddy

Sting d. Goldberg
Vampyro d. Alex Wright
Hulk Hogan d. Jim Duggan
Rick Steiner/Barry Windham d. Brian Knobbs/Hugh Morrus


In ECW…Mike Awesome goes over Rhyno, Super Crazy beats Justin, Jerry Lynn beats Sabu, Raven returns to go over Dreamer, Nova and Guido keep the tags, Lance Storm ends RVDs monster TV title reign, and Masato Tanaka takes the ECW Title from Tajiri.

November to Remember – 1999 Buffalo
ECW Title: Masato Tanaka d. Tajiri
TV Title: Lance Storm d. RVD
Tags: Nova/Guido d. New Jack/Sandman
Raven d. Dreamer

Jerry Lynn d. Sabu
Super Crazy d. Justin
Mike Awesome d. Rhyno
Simon/Spike d. Balls/Axl


The Survivor Series is coming from Detroit. The last PPV of the 20th century (I know when the 20th century ended, I'm not stupid, get over it.)

Smackdown begins, I’m not gonna refer to it, at least until 2001. Largely, it's gonna be the dumping ground. Whenever you find yourself wondering "where the hell is the APA?" They're on Smackdown. There's only so much universe I can handle.

Gorilla dies in October. 10 bell salute on RAW.

Foley’s book comes out in October. Foley's even more popular in this universe than in the real one, so the impact is the same. Foley begins to transcend Cactus Jack - and begins to think about shutting it down.

Okay, JR and Jerry are your tv announce team - I don't hate Lawler, I think serious Jerry, away from the Burger King, "PUPPIES" crap is pretty interesting. But I just can't take that stuff, so he's never going to settle in. But at PPV, there will be a series of guests as the 3rd man on the announce until I can get something more permanent.

One RAW, we meet the new Stevie Richards, shed of the Big Stevie Cool gimmick. He enters wearing a suit with a camouflage tie, calling himself Stevie Richards, Esquire – the Esquire said with a lilt as if he just thought of the word. Stevie’s the new Heenan, he’s gonna play the chickenshit heel manager, says he is in the WWF to start the Hardcore Family, says he doesn’t have a family of his own – "well, except for mom and dad and my sister – but except for them, NO ONE"– and beause of that – he deserves to start the Hardcore Family right here in the WWF. He hopes that one day, one day, all of the WWF fans will be worthy of joining his Family, but for right now – he’s got two men – two brothers.

Stevie’s good on the mic, and increasingly good in the ring – by 2003, let’s say, he’s better, really, than any of the guys – save Matt, maybe – that are in the tag program. ‘Cause that’s the program he’s gonna be in – Stevie introduces the first two members of the Hardcore Family – the Dudley Boys.

Bubba Ray and DVon enter – they insult the crowd as much as they can. They’re the Dudleys, they like to beat people up, send them through tables. They brawl and bleed and hate the fans and the fans hate them and that’s the gig. Ideally, they'd just be heels, 'cause the best version of the Dudleys was the one when they'd challenge anyone in the crowd to come fight them. I've been at ECW shows with the heel Dudleys when I thought I'd wind up planted in the guard rail.

So, that's how they're gonna come in now - a full on "Shut up or D-Von's gonna follow you home and fuck your mother" kinda thing. But sooner than later, when it becomes a 3 way thing, the Hardys will be the faces, and E and C the heels - and that will make the Dudleys badass, brawling tweeners - they'll still insult the crowds, but if the ECW fans want to cheer them, go ahead.

No Wazzup, though. Ever. It's the 21st century version of Butch and Luke licking each other.

Okay, anyway, the Duds spend the fall destroying all the tags in the company, save the obvious top two - with Stevie at their side doing his Heenan schtick. There will be a RAW title rematch with the Hardys and E/C that will include some spot where the Hardys are able to overcome the Clique interference and get a pinfall on – only to have the Dudleys run in and put them through tables.

We’ll do Survivor Series as a Tables Match – first team to put the other team through tables wins.

The Clique stomps somebody out – say Taka, Funaki, and the Mexicans. That’s enough to draw out…Ulysses Morley. Morley with the face save – drawing face heat as he cleans house. Morley grabbing the stick and saying that it wasn’t just the Southern Men who bullied people around here – the biggest bullies in the history of wrestling are easy to see – they’re always making that stupid ass hand sign. And Morley doesn’t know if anyone will stand with him – but he’s not gonna take it anymore.

We’ll do Morley and Edge at Survivor Series. At the time, Morley and Edge (both from Toronto, like Trish) were boys, and this is when Edge started dating Morley’s sister. So this matchup works, and Edge can play obnoxious Cliquester to Morley’s avenging babyface. The Clique does their jackass schtick - and without a Hart Foundation to counterbalance them, they couldn't be more obnoxious - which allows Morley to fill in the babyface spot.

Coming off the IC, we’ll get Al and DLo. DLo’s an increasingly cocky heel, Al’s the crazy man who lost his IC belt. A little more on that later.

As has been set up, Angle makes his debut against PAUL~ They sell this is hard as any match on the show, even though it won’t be much of a match. Angle doesn’t wrestle on TV, continuing to work dark and work house shows to get ready. Giant can’t wrestle, so short’s better – and Angle is just getting started, so it’s okay if we keep him short. That's why this is a good idea - Angle's not the kind of worker in 1999 to challenge, but I want to protect him, so, ta-da, Paul.

We keep selling PAUL as a monster, an absolute beast, Skip carries this program on the mic., he’s smugly certain PAUL will destroy the gold medal winner. Maybe Skip brings a half dozen gold medals that he bought – they could easily bring in some gold medal winners and do an angle where Skip buys their medals from them, track stars, figure skaters - how about Mary Lou Retton? “See, Angle, you had to break your neck to win a gold medal – all I had to do was take out my wallet.”

And they play up the size disparity – we sell PAUL as a monster, monster favorite to win this match.

How will Angle survive – much less, beat PAUL, much less, beat PAUL in five minutes???

3 more.

On the end of the first RAW after SSlam (with the clock ticking down) Waltman cuts a promo with his boys backing him up, saying looky here – at the end of the century, the end of the freaking millennium (last ppv of the 90s – no need to argue that it’s not really the end of the millennium, it’s wrestling) here is the Clique – Waltman holding the IC – E and C kicking the Hardys ass – their manager Trish, the hottest thing walking – and Hunter wrestling for the WWF Title (more on that later) and as he looks around….there isn’t a single Hart around at all. Imagine that. The Clique at the top of the World – and not even one Hart to piss on.

He’s not cutting an Owen promo, no, I don’t need that kinda heat, I just want the Hart/Clique thing to never end – I figure if Owen doesn’t die in the ring, than doing this isn’t horribly inappropriate. I need that Hart/Clique thing – it’s like Lakers/Celtics, in the 50s, it was Wilt and Russell, and 25 years later, it was Magic and Larry. It’s a throughline, it’s Red Sox/Yankees (insert your rivalry here) – it allows for the kind of historical continuity that drives actual sports and that the WWF generally discards. Assuming Owen died at home, I think this is okay – it’s been 4-5 months now, I think I can dive back into this feud. In fact, it might be better to push back this beyond the night after Summer Slam - I can wait another month, do it top of October, that's fine. Maybe first week November for sweeps.

Nah, I'm wrong. Even then, he can't specifically refer to the Harts. It's too close to using Owen's death in the angle - when I conceived of this I wasn't as sensitive that as am I since the godawful exploitation of Eddy.

So, while, I'm absolutely married to Harts/Clique, and am going forward, Waltman really can't talk about the Harts not being around. There's probably some artful way to do it, but I don't know what it is.

Anyway, that clock that has been running constantly for months (‘member, the clock?) – expires right now.

3-2-1….Break the Walls down….It’s Chris Jericho, of course.

And he’s arriving as a former NWA Champ who got pushed forever in the Counterfactual– so he’s a bigger deal.

Jericho’s largely Jericho – he’s the Ayatollah of Rock and Rollah, he’s a bad mamma jamma – he’s Y2J. He comes in as a face. The only difference is – he comes in as a Hart. A Hart for a new millennium – Y2J for an H2K. And he talks about being part of the last ever training class at Stampede – talks about Stu and Stampede and the Dungeon and a 15 year WWF tradition – says if Sean Waltman thinks the Clique has won the war against the Harts – he’s dumber than he is ugly – and he is plenty ugly. And at Survivor Series – Y2J is gonna carry the Hart Legacy on into the new millennium. So, we’ll get Waltman/Jericho at Survivor Series. Jericho and Angle both debuting, there’s definitely another page turning as the 90s end.

There’s another undercard match – during another Waltman/Jericho in ring promo in a later RAW, Christian will enter – and he and Waltman will beat Jericho down.

So, Christian and Waltman beat Jericho down – leave him laying – tell him that next week – they’ll take him on in a tag match – that is – if he can find someone who will tag with him.

So, next week – Christian and Waltman and Trish enter – then Jericho, and he doesn’t have a partner – but then he says, you know, I figured if I was going to take the Hart legacy into a new millennium, I may as well get some help from someone who started it all –

--and then the Bulldog comes down the aisle.

It’s Davey Boy’s last run, he can’t do anything at all – but they'll squeeze some juice out of him to give legitimacy to Jericho’s character. If you're unfamiliar - in this world, it was Davey and Bret who were the original Hart Foundation - and later, Davey and Owen had a run as the Hart Foundation. They do the tag – Jericho pins Christian – and that allows us to get a Davey Boy/Christian singles match at Survivor Series. Every time they get the chance, Davey Boy puts Jericho over – says he remembers hearing about Jericho coming up through the ranks – says he is proud to pass the Hart legacy to him – says Dynamite, Bret, Owen, and the Bulldog were the cornerstone of the WWF for 15 years – and now it’s time to pass the torch. Davey Boy’s a bigger deal in this world, having won the big strap, and with no other Harts available, having him back to pass the torch is a real help. He’s a mess, of course, and completely shot, so he can’t help at all in the ring, but any time I can have the symbolism of Davey Boy and Jericho, that works to the good; Davey isn't surrogate for Owen, he doesn't need to cut a single "do it for Owen" promo, he's a WWF Champ and that makes him strong enough to speak for himself.

Finally…the title match.

Rock and HHH, recall, earned the right to meet for the number one contender spot – and they wrestle 3 times – each without a winner. We’ll get a time limit draw, a double pin, a double countout – whatever we have to do – we’ll just get it three times – and then Foley says, screw it – I can’t watch you guys wrestle another time – you both want the title shot so badly….you got it. I’ll wrestle both of you at Survivor Series in a three way dance for the WWF Title.

Cactus shows some vulnerability now, ‘cause he’s aging a little bit – and this is when the first book comes out and just blows up. So, he’s got interviews to do, he starts thinking about retirement – and they need to elevate HHH and Rock a bit for this program. It’s a pendulum thing – he beat Owen, he beat Austin – there’s nowhere to go but down.

They have him pinned by each guy in tags. HHH/Waltman v. Jack and, say, Al, as they start to play off their real life friendship (‘cause Al’s all over the book – so, time to do that) HHH pins Foley. Then we do a Rock/DLo (with tension between the two, ‘cause DLo is a full heel now – all the Rock/DLo interaction is DLo’s cockiness being too much for the Rock – but they stay boys – in fact, when Foley talks to the Rock about DLo, Rock defends him – and that works too) v. Al/Cactus, and Rock pins Cactus in that. So, Cactus gets pinned by each guy.

So – Rock – HHH --- Cactus – one fall to the finish – Cactus doesn’t even need to be pinned to lose the title. Rock’s all babyface, doing his Rock schtick, saying it’s the 3 year anniversary of his debut – he’s held the tag title twice – and he is ready to take that next step – take that next step – and become the WWF Champion. HHH says he’s been here 4 1/2 years – he is the leader of the Clique, the most dominant force in WWF history – and he has never gotten a singles title shot. Ever. He says it’s his time – time for Triple H to become WWF Champion. They've been on a collision course for over a year - and now they're wrestling for the WWF Championship.

Foley says, you know, he’s Cactus Jack. Author. Champion. Legend. Bang, Bang.

It’s Survivor Series ’99 – the last show of the Millennium. A three way for the World TitleL Jack, Rock, HHH; the PPV debut for Jericho, wrestling Waltman for the IC as we hop back in the Harts/Clique business, the ECW tag kings - the Dudleys wrestle in the Tables match for the tag titles against Matt and Jeff – Angle’s TV debut against the monster PAUL~, can Angle survive? Can he beat PAUL~ in five minutes? – good strong feuds and matches: DLo v Al, Morley v. Edge, the return of the Bulldog, a former WWF Champ meets Christian of the Clique -- top to bottom, bottom to top – how can you not call your local thing for Survivor Series '99!!!