WWF Raw – November 30th, 1998 – Baltimore Arena – Baltimore, MD
A recap airs of last week’s EmbalmGate scandal to open WWF Raw. Cue the new intro.
Can you jump in my arms at the samba beat? It’s time for WWF Raw!
Tonight’s show kicks of with ICP and the Headbangers, who are “now together philosophically and physically”. Sounds like ancient Athens!
If you think that sounds like a crappy way to kick off WWF Raw, you’re not alone! Thus, cameras cut to Stone Cold, who enters the arena with a shovel in hand à la Triple H from 2002 to 2004. Austin, in a “hellaciously foul” mood, gives Stunners to Violent J and both Headbangers, then poses on the turnbuckles with the shovel. Jerry Lawler speculates that Austin will use the garden implement to violate The Undertaker, but Stone Cold himself says he’ll just hit Taker in the head with it.
Tonight, Mankind will defend the Hardcore title against the Bossman, while The Rock faces Al Snow it what sounds like a non-title match. Meanwhile, D’Lo Brown preps Mark Henry for his big date with Chyna.
Jim Ross plugs the latest edition of TV Guide, featuring Steve Austin and recent attempted murderer, The Undertaker. Ross warns that, due to these editions selling fast, you might have to settle for the versions with “recent retiree Hulk Hogan” or “Stone Cold Steve Austin wannabe Goldberg”. It’s subtle, but Ross is actually making a dig at WCW.
Backstage, Steve Austin asks a woman backstage whether she’s seen The Undertaker. A young Stephanie McMahon says no.
The New Age Outlaws, who plan to get jiggy with it, come to the ring for WWF Raw’s first match. Though McMahon has been wooing the Outlaws (much like the Baltimore Orioles courting Albert Bell), it doesn’t seem to have affected their popularity. Will the Outlaws join the Corporate team, much like Randy Johnson just signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks? Only time and additional baseball analogies will tell.
The Outlaws’ opponents tonight are Gangrel and Edge, though Gangrel’s flaming elevator is still too small for them to enter together. The Brood leader spits his red substance into Billy Gunn’s face for an early advantage. “What is that stuff, anyway?” asks Jerry, but Jim Ross says he doesn’t have a clue. Really? My guesses would be blood or fake blood.
With Edge and Road Dogg in the ring, Billy Gunn ascends to the top rope for some ambush offense, but Christian crotches him on the top turnbuckle. When Edge tries to take him down with a huracanrana, though, Gunn counters with a powerbomb.
Vince McMahon’s extended stooge family now strolls onto the stage, drawing boos and a “somewhat unflattering chant”. Eventually, after one and a half replays of Gangrel spitting his “red liquid” at Billy Gunn, the two men end up in the ring. Christian soon whacks Billy in the back with a tag belt, leading to a DQ and a brawl. The Corporate Team then intervenes, brutalizing The Brood to protect McMahon’s prospective clients. The stooges lead The Outlaws away.
Backstage, Austin is still on the hunt for the Undertaker. This time, Undertaker and Paul Bearer sneak up from behind and lock him in a freezer.
The WWF Rewind, presented by Glover, is Austin’s assault on the ICP and Headbangers. you know, from twenty minutes ago.
WWF Raw returns to find D’Lo and Mark at the hotel. Mark wants D’Lo to join him on his date with Chyna. “Whatchoo talkin’ ‘bout, Mark?” asks D’Lo. But because it’s Christmas time, Brown reluctantly agrees.
Back at the arena, Undertaker’s music hits, much to Jim Ross’s confusion. Taker, says JR, is not supposed to appear yet according to the format sheet. It seems the guy who tried to murder Steve Austin on camera suddenly doesn’t follow the rules. Undertaker calls out Kane and threatens him with eternal darkness (though GameCube is still three years away).
Kane answers the call and gets tombstoned. But because it’s not an official match, Undertaker follows this up with an elbow drop rather than a pin attempt. As a swarm of orderlies march down the ramp, Kane rises to his feet, picks off some of the men in white, then exits through the crowd.
Over in Mark Henry Land, D’Lo is hesitant accompany Mark on his date because he’s underdressed. Always planning ahead, Mark has an extra jacket and sunglasses in the limo for D’Lo to borrow. Completing the ensemble is a chauffeur’s hat—Mark expects his pal to drive the limo. Once again, D’Lo reluctantly agrees and drives Mark to pick up his date. Later, a grumpy Chyna recognizes D’Lo as she gets in the limo, but Henry denies it.
In the ring, X-Pac declines to discuss the Outlaws situation and instead calls out Commissioner Michaels, who screwed him last week. The new sheriff tells X-Pac that he’s “had chunks of guys bigger than you in my stool”. Why would he have chunks of anyone in his stool? It’s a very confusing insult, but X-Pac still has a clever retort involving the word bunghole.
Michaels threatens to send X-Pac to WCW, then books him in a European title defense against Ken Shamrock. The commissioner asks for “his” music (the D-X theme) and tells X-Pac he was in D-X before D-X was cool.
Over in the Fells Point neighborhood, Mark Henry brings his date to Baltimore Jack, the restaurant Bruce Springsteen fans will remember from “Hungry Heart” (if they’re stupid). Chyna is not impressed with Mark’s $1.99 bouquet.
When WWF Raw returns, Mark orders Perrier for himself and Chyna, but he pronounces it to rhyme with derriere. He’s also gotten the restaurant to play “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye. “Loooove”, sings Mark, “What’s going on?” These are not the lyrics to the song, which is about the civil unrest of the Vietnam era.
In meat locker news, it is now open, meaning Austin has escaped.
Goldust faces Jeff Jarrett, with whom he has had guitar- and superhero-related difficulties. Owen Hart is here in flannel to provide guest commentary, and he’s as much in the dark as to the Blue Blazer’s identity as anyone else. Jeff Jarrett enters with Debra McMichael, leading Jim Ross to take note of the “striking pair”.
Early into the match, Goldust performs the Curtain Call way too close to the edge of the ring, allowing Debra to put Jeff’s foot on the ropes. Jerry Lawler prods Owen for his thoughts on former Nation cohort Mark Henry’s date; Owen says it looks like he’s having a romantic time with Chyna and Marvin Gaye’s music. “Did you just say Mark Henry was gay?” asks the King.
That’s how rumors get started, King
#markhenry #owenhart #marvingaye— Art O’Donnell (@art0donnell.bsky.social) October 17, 2025 at 10:10 PM
“No, I said he was listening to Marvin Gaye”, replies Owen in a tone that assures King it’s any easy mistake to make.
Later, Goldust aims to shatter Jarrett’s dreams, but Debra steps in the way and plays with her lapel. In response, Goldust bends over and presents. Owen Hart, indignant, breaks his retirement pledge once again and puts the boots to Goldust. The Blue Blazer then shows up but attacks Owen, knocking out a tooth according to Jerry Lawler (who always says that. “What in the…” says Jim Ross, taken aback. “What in the heck here?” The Blazer then unmasks to reveal Steve Blackman.
Backstage, a split screen shows Austin searching for Undertaker and Undertaker searching for Kane.
The MediEvil Slam of the Week is Al Snow’s Head shot to Ken Shamrock last week.
WWF Raw returns with the Hardcore title ladder match, in which Commissioner Michaels accompanies the Bossman. Jerry Lawler starts to point out how big a deal this is, given that we haven’t seen a ladder match in so long, until he realizes it’s been three months. Still, it’s the first ladder match on WWF Raw, and the first televised match with a red ladder since 1995.
Mankind arrives with the JOB Squad, who get sent to the back by Commissioner Michaels. The Commish then goes to the announce table to give Mankind grades for his ladder spots. His first one, where he chucks the ladder at Bossman’s head, earns him a -2. Mankind then earns a 1 for suplexing the ladder onto the Bossman, then a 6 for sandwiching Bossman in the ladder and dropping the elbow.
Mankind nearly gets hold of the belt, but the same guy who climbed and fell off a fifteen foot high roof (twice) is now hesitant to climb to a higher rung. Bossman yanks him down, but they later meet at the top of the ladder. There, Mankind applies the Mandible Claw with Mr. Socko, and Bossman falls to the mat. Inexplicably, Mankind fails to capitalize, remaining put on the same rung of the ladder until Bossman gets to his feet and punches him (all without removing Socko from his mouth).
Mankind weathers the Bossman’s offense, but The Rock comes in dressed in trunks, sneakers, and a warm-up jacket and tips Mankind off the ladder. Bossman is too slow climbing up the ladder this time, allowing Foley to punch Rock in the groin. Shawn Michaels says “groin” a lot because it sounds funny but otherwise sedately watches another failed attempt by Mankind to retrieve the belt. Finally, The Rock delivers a Rock Bottom on Mankind, allowing Bossman to grab the Hardcore title.
As Shawn Michaels joins The Rock and Bossman in beating down Mankind after the match, Jim Ross compares him unfavorably to the commissioners of other sports. Would David Stern ever display such bias in favor of certain teams or players?
Backstage, Paul Bearer excitedly points The Undertaker in Kane’s direction. WWF Raw then returns with Taker and Kane in mid-brawl. Undertaker gets the better of Kane and starts to put him in a bodybag; he plans to take him to the… mental hospital? Is a bodybag the standard transport procedure? Apparently so, as Paul Bearer goes off to retrieve the orderlies. Stone Cold then crashes the party (the kind of party where they stuff people in bodybags) and bashes Taker in the head with a shovel.
In the ring, Marc Mero vows to quit if he can’t beat Baltimore’s own Duane Gill. The Light Heavyweight champion, accompanied by his champion Pasadena Chargers, comes to the ring to meet the challenge. Predictably, Mero delivers 100% of the offense. But when he goes to the top rope for the victory, the Blue Meanie shows up and pushes him off. Gill pins Mero, retiring him from the WWF (except for this Sunday’s UK pay-per-view).
Backstage, Paul Bearer leads the orderlies to the room where Kane is supposed to be wrapped in a bodybag.
Over at the restaurant, Chyna is still bored out of her mind and hitting sauce while Mark Henry tries to sweet-talk her. He even reads her a poem and offers to dance.
Ken Shamrock, who is not defending his Intercontinental title, nonetheless wears his belt to start his match vs. X-Pac. Barely a minute into the match, however, cameras cut away to backstage, where Vince McMahon and company speak with the New Age Outlaws.
Shamrock holds X-Pac in a front facelock for a while before Pac breaks out and hits him with various kicks. After a Bronco Buster and the newly-christened X Factor, X-Pac covers Ken, but Shawn Michaels distracts the referee to allow Bossman to interfere. Shamrock slaps on the ankle lock, but a returning Triple H shows up and punches him out. X-Pac escapes with his title and, together with Triple H, tells the former D-X leader to suck it.
Backstage, Paul Bearer has the orderlies load the bodybag with Kane onto the gurney. But who put Kane in the bag if Austin knocked out The Undertaker? Ding! Plot hole! Cinema sin!
Meanwhile at the restaurant, Mark Henry dances to Brick House, then leaves to powder his nose. Immediately, some dumbasses hit on Chyna, who is not interested. When one of them calls her a bitch, she clocks him, while Mark Henry takes care of the other two.
Val Venis now comes to the ring “in all his glory” (implying he’s not wearing anything under his towel?), and he has some guests: The Godfather and his contractors. He faces Tiger Ali Singh, accompanied by manservant Babu, whom Val calls a “little monkey”. It’s racist, yes, but it allows him to make a “spank the monkey” joke.
As Val Venis carries Singh to a passable match, the Godfather sends his “ladies of the evening” to grind on Babu. This distraction is ultimately pointless, as Jacqueline and Terri stroll to the ring, where Terri blatantly hits Venis in the groin to cause a DQ. Or, as JR puts it lewdly, she once again goes down on Val.
In an effort to cram as many angles into a single segment, the newly-formed Acolytes demolish Babu and Tiger. The Acolytes, says JR, will make a hellacious team, led by The Jackyl.
In the parking lot, Paul Bearer bids farewell to his son, who is taken away in an ambulance. But watching on a backstage monitor are Steve Austin and Kane, who is supposed to be in the ambulance. Ding!
WWF Raw returns with an appearance from Shane McMahon, who aims to put Sable in her place. Thus, she is back to promoting WWF merchandise, this time with WWF Attitude cologne for men and eau de toilette for women; Shane pronounces that last part in a bad French accents (including the word, “women”). The younger McMahon then asks to smell the product, getting a little too close to Sable in the process. The Women’s champion sprays Shane in the mouth, but McMahon plays it off like it’s also meant as a breath spray.
It’s time for WWF Raw’s main event pitting Al Snow against the WWF Champion The Rock. Rocky has brand new, drum machine and bass-heavy theme music that will be used exactly once. He’s also wearing his standard wrestling gear but somehow looks less naked than he did earlier tonight, when he showed up with a jacket but no knee pads or boots.
Snow gets in some early offense, but after a few minutes The Rock lands the Rock Bottom on Al, followed by a Corporate Elbow to Head. Snow snatches the mannequin head and hits the champ with it, but the referee is down and unable to count the pinfall. Of course, if the referee had been available, he’d have also seen Snow using a foreign object, so it’s a wash.
Rock’s fellow singles champs Ken Shamrock and the Bossman march to the ring, distracting Snow, who falls to another Rock Bottom. The Rock picks up the victory after a long, slow three count, at which point his music hits. It’s his old music. I wasn’t kidding about Rock’s music being used only once! Rock had that new theme song for literally five minutes.
After the bout, the JOB Squad dukes it out with Shamrock and Bossman while Mankind fights The Rock on stage.
Backstage, an excited Paul Bearer shouts for The Undertaker, who, unbeknownst to him, is being transported to a mental asylum; Bearer is instead accosted by Kane and Steve Austin. When WWF Raw returns for its final segment, they drag Paul to the ring, where Stone Cold rattles off his list of grievances. After teasing setting Bearer on fire, Austin starts cutting off Paul’s clothes (but thankfully not all of them) and threatens to disembowel gut him.
Stone Cold finally settles on a plan: He and Kane haul Paul to the street and dump him down an open manhole.
Final tally:
2 hellaciouses