WWF Raw – April 5th, 1999 – Nassau Coliseum – Long Island, NY
WWF Raw begins with a recap of last night’s sit-down interview with Vince and Stephanie McMahon. The boss says Undertaker has started believing he’s the character the WWF created for him. Easy mistake to make—if I’d survived two burials, a cremation, and an ascension to heaven, I’d start thinking I had supernatural powers, too.
X-Pac teams with Kane to kick off the action on WWF Raw, taking on Jeff Jarrett & Owen Hart for the tag team titles. Can they function as a team? And will they make Hunter & Chyna jealous? The tag titles are the only titles on X-Pac’s radar right now following Shane’s retirement of the European title (just six weeks before the No Mercy pay-per-view in the UK).
Owen and Jeff tag in and out against X-Pac for some fast-paced action, keeping him isolated from the “big red ret**d” (Lawler’s words). Owen Hart, whose singlet features his initials on the left and right sides but “HO” on the back, cuts off X-Pac’s tag. X-Pac counters a flying nothing, but Owen gets back to his feet, only to collide with X-Pac for a double-down spot.
X-Pac finally tags in Kane, who cleans house. “Kane is on fire!” says Cole, insensitively. While X-Pac busts Owen’s bronco, Kane chokeslams Jeff. Kane then goozles X-Pac, but rather than chokeslamming him too, he press-slams him onto Jarrett for the 1-2-3. This is Sean Waltman’s third tag team title reign, having previously held the titles with Marty Jannetty and Bob Holly for a combined eight days. Michael Cole feigns excitement poorly, as this is a pre-taped WWF Raw with commentary dubbed in a booth.
Backstage, Vince McMahon tells Shane to do whatever he wants on tonight’s WWF Raw because Vince is only concerned about protecting Stephanie tonight. Shane then tells the Corporation to make Big Show and Stone Cold’s lives hell.
Lucas Swineford, a sweepstakes winner (I assume, because he sucks at broadcasting), asks new champion X-Pac where his tag team partner is. Kane’s a loner, says X-Pac, but all that matters is that he brings it in the ring.
Shane McMahon, still billed as European champion despite retiring that title last night, leads the “new and improved” Corporation. The new boss replays the Corporation’s beatdown of Austin from last week’s WWF Raw. “Cue ball, corner pocket”, says Triple H. I know he’s making a bald joke, but that’s called a scratch, and if you do it when sinking the 8-ball, you lose.
For some reason, Shane lets the footage keep playing past the part where Paul Wight arrives and kicks everyone’s ass. Tonight, The Rock and Triple H will face the Big Show in a handicap match. Hunter says Wight’s ass is big, fat, hairy, and pimpled, while Rocky says Show would break the Smackdown Hotel’s toilet. The Rock then vows to take two feet, turn them sideways, and stick them straight up Wight’s “rectum”. After chiding fans for singing along with The Rock, he says his closing catchphrase with added pauses for head-tilts and eyebrow-raises.
Rock puts Austin’s custom belt around his waist, which cameras zoom in on per Shane’s request. McMahon promises to display the pic of the smoking skull belt on the Titantron throughout the night to stick it to Austin.
A giddy Shane goes back to the McMahon locker room to tell his dad and sister all about what he just did to provoke Steve Austin and Paul Wight. Vince urges Shane to exercise caution.
Ivory is here, and she thinks PMS always has PMS, “‘cause you’re really starting to cramp my style.” in particular, she has issues with Terri, who’s handy with a cigar but can’t deliver in the ring. As if to prove her wrong, Terri Runnells sends Jacqueline to the back and takes on Ivory herself. Ivory quickly rips off Terri’s top, which for some reason has nothing underneath it. Lawler goes nuts, but since he won’t learn the word “puppies” for another two weeks, he has no way to adequately verbalize his excitement.
The lights go out, and The Undertaker arrives with the Ministry. Having seen what happened to Sable last week, Ivory and Terri disappear before the Ministry hits the ring. Taker promises a sacrifice tonight of “a certain beautiful young woman” who will accept “the Lord of Darkness as her savior”. Taker taunts Vince McMahon, saying “there’s not a damn thing you can do about it”. Even though this sounds a lot like Sable right before she took her top off last year, Jerry Lawler refuses to support Taker.
In his hideout, Vince concedes that he may have to “give that SOB what he wants”.
Al Snow faces Hardcore champion Bob Holly, now officially known as Hardcore Holly. If Shane McMahon hadn’t retired his own title last night, would he call himself European McMahon?
Tonight’s match is a non-title bout contested under standard rules. Instead of weapons, the two men use Maneuvers, such as Al Snow’s somersault plancha to the outside. Still, the referee has to corral both men back into the ring. Snow wins with the Snow Plow, but Dr. Death (with Jim Ross) cut his celebration short. Steve Williams drops both men on their heads and necks with back suplexes.
Just then, Shane McMahon tells the guys in the production truck to put the picture of Stone Cold’s belt on the Titantron. Doesn’t he realize this is the wrong Steve Williams?
The Castrol GTX Slam of the Week is Big Show’s chokeslam to Test on last week’s WWF Raw.
Backstage, The Undertaker whips Christian, who hangs by his arms while Edge and Gangrel hold his legs. Last week, Christian spilled the beans about Stephanie’s whereabouts to Ken Shamrock.
The New Age Outlaws request that the fans make a little noise up in this bitch [censored], welcoming to do it doggy-style in the dog house or else suck it. They face Edge and Gangrel, who Cole says “just went through a traumatic experience”. Both Brood members are smiling.
Early on, Billy Gunn grabs Gangrel in a wristlock and “waves” his way to a tag.
Road Dogg shows him how it’s done. Later, Edge and Gangrel perform the Hart Attack on Road Dogg for a two-count. Edge then takes a moment to mock Billy Gunn’s pelvic thrusts and even shakes, rattles, or rolls (not sure which one) before dropping the knee on Road Dogg.
Gunn gets a hot tag and cleans house, during which time Christian stumbles to ringside. Roadie throws Christian into the ring, where he gets made FameAss for the 1-2-3. Because Christian is wearing the same puffy shirt as Gangrel, Earl Hebner can’t tell the difference.
At ringside, a fan with either poor spelling or a need to conserve space on his sign tells “Roadog” to die.
Jim Ross is backstage with Steve Austin, who says it’s going to cost the McMahons a lot of money if Shane puts the picture of his smoking skull belt on the Tiantron again. JR isn’t sure what he means by that.
After the break, we see a replay of the rescue of Stephanie McMahon from last week’s WWF Raw. Ken Shamrock, a half-naked man drenched in fake blood, was there to tell Stephanie everything was going to be okay.
Shamrock faces Viscera, whose ankle he broke for real last summer. After withstanding an early flurry of offense, Viscera crushes Ken with a World’s Strongest Slam. Ken fights back with a belly to belly suplex before the lights go out. The Ministry rushes the ring and septuple-teams Shamrock, then drag him through the crowd.
Backstage, Shane McMahon calms down the rest of the Corporation, saying they shouldn’t try to rescue Shamrock because it could be a trap. The Ministry therefore stuff Ken into the trunk of a car unmolested and drive away.
This month’s Backlash pay-per-view, whose logo recalls a child’s lemonade stand, is presented by Castrol GTX.
Val Venis is here to compare himself to concrete mix (because of wetness and hardness) and wrestle Mankind. And he’s all out of concrete mix!
Long Island’s own Mick Foley celebrates being on the cover of Newsday, and if you’re down with that, he has two words for ya: “Mmm… beefy!”
As the match begins, the announcers take the opportunity to totally ignore it and fight back against ESPN’s recent “hatchet job” of the WWF on Outside the Lines. Jerry Lawler praises an article in the Miami Herald accusing the ABC-owned ESPN (and ABC’s 20/20) of smearing WWF Raw because it competes with Monday Night Football. Lawler points out that this past season, WWF Raw “kicked Monday Night Football’s butt” in the ratings (scoring as high as 5.2 versus MNF’s pathetic low of 11.1).
They sort of mate together
#markhenry #sammy
— Art O’Donnell (@art0donnell.bsky.social) January 24, 2026 at 2:39 PM
Michael Cole, distracted by the in-ring action, notes Val Venis’s “Smart Maneuver” (a low bridge) before he and King encourage viewers to write to ABC and complain. “Simply put, King: freedom of expression”, says Cole.
Getting back to the match at hand (sort of), Jerry Lawler says Mankind stole the phrase, “Mmm… beefy” from Val Venis’s lovers. Right at this moment, Mankind crotches Val on the top rope. Mankind shoves his bare hand into the mouth of Val, who falls to the outside. Back in the ring, Mankind delivers the double-arm DDT and Mr. Socko for the victory.
In the McMahons’ stronghold, eight security guards stand by. The lights flicker, panicking Vince.
WWF Raw returns with the United States Coast Guard’s Rescue of the Week: Goldust beating Road Dogg thanks to the Blue Meanie’s interference. I suppose that’s kind of a rescue.
With WWF Raw now deep into its 10 o’clock hour, it’s now safe to bring out the Godfather and his hos. One of the hos even spanks the Godfather (who sports a “Hempin’ ain’t easy” jacket) because everyone is having so much fun. Godfather is reluctant to offer a ho to Goldust, who is acting like Goldust. Ultimately, he rescinds the offer. Had Goldust accepted, would he have forfeited his Intercontinental title?
“The 280-pound Godfather” (not Marlon Brando) battles Goldust, who soon takes a break to approach the hos. Or, as King puts it, “[check] out the dairy farms”. Remember, two more weeks until “puppies”.
When Godfather gets on a roll, the Blue Meanie trips him, leading to a slow-speed chase between the hos and the Meanie. Meanwhile, Goldust and Godfather fight outside until they both get counted out. Goldust retains, but the Godfather’s music plays.
Vince McMahon is on the phone backstage when the lights go out again. Stephanie screams.
When WWF Raw returns, the Undertaker’s symbol has been lowered onto the stage for the impending sacrifice. Who let them hang that from the rafters, anyway? The Ministry brings out a small, cloaked figure and straps her to the symbol to be crucified.
Cameras spot Vince in his office with Stephanie. Unless the backstage segments are pre-taped earlier in the day, that must mean the girl on the cross isn’t Stephanie! Even after Taker unmasks his victim, the announcers take forever to realize that it’s Ryan Shamrock. Taker rambles about a Greater Power, then speaks in fake Latin as the symbol lifts high in the air. Ryan screams as she ascends. Jeez, she didn’t like being strapped down, and now she doesn’t like being suspended above the arena? Make up your mind, woman!
Vince goes right up to the camera and calls Undertaker an evil bastard before WWF Raw goes to commercial.
WWF Raw returns with Shane McMahon, suspiciously not disturbed by the events of just a few minutes ago, introducing the main event. Triple H enters with Chyna to the DX music, then mocks his old DX microphone shtick. Next out is The Rock, who keeps trying to tell Paul Wight to bring his roody poo candy ass, but the fans keep singing along with him.
The Big Show, who now has his classic, “Weeeeellll…” music, walks down to face both men. But can Show brutalize his two opponents any worse than this one fan already did with her printed signs?
King laughs about having to “pull The Rock’s foot out of the Big Show’s rectum” after tonight’s match. Actually, King, The Rock promised both feet (impractical as that may be). But this double-insertion is far from a done deal, as Big Show easily handles Rock and Triple H individually. After a few minutes, Chyna delivers a low blow to Show to save The Rock from a chokeslam.
A four-on-one beatdown ensues until Stone Cold makes the save with Stunners and noggin-knockers all around. The Rock escapes with Austin’s belt, which Shane once again plasters on the Titantron.
Stone Cold, who promised to cost the McMahons a lot of money if Shane pulled this stunt again, gets The Big Show to pull down the Tron. Steadily, as if lowered by cables, the frame of the big screen comes down. Stone Cold makes several huge gashes across the nylon screen, which fails to explode as one would expect.
Final tally:
2 Maneuvers