The following Recap was written by John Petrie of Slobberknocer Central.

WWF RAW is WAR:
Live/Taped: Taped 10/20.
Length: Two Hours+.
Location: Madison, Wisconsin.

WWF RAW Hosted By: Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler.

- Clips from the Austin/McMahon saga last week. - They show a clip of Austin arriving at the arena earlier in the evening. - Mr. McMahon is wheeled out to the stage, backed by the Big Bossman, Pat Patterson, Jerry Brisco, Commissioner Slaughter, and several corporate suits. Lawyers, I assume. McMahon chews out the fans for their lack of humanity and family values. He also chews out his stooges for not coming to his rescue. The fans call him an asshole. Vince then makes some veiled references to the "legal document" Austin shoved in Vince's pocket last week. McMahon vows to fight it, whatever it is, all the way to the Supreme Court. Steve Austin then appears on the Titan-Tron and mumbles something. To be continued.

- STEVE BLACKMAN vs. X-PAC Ross mentions that the reason Chyna was arrested last week was because she didn't show up for a court date related to the "sexual harassment suit" Mark Henry filed. Chyna was released from jail, but has now taken a "leave of absence" to sort out her legal matters. (And get some plastic surgery, from what I hear.) After a quick commercial they show McMahon complaining to his lawyers. The match never gets a chance to develop into much of anything as Steven Regal runs out after just a couple minutes and attacks X-Pac. Regal, dressed like a lumberjack, apparently doesn't like the fact that X-Pac is the European Champion. Officials and other DeGeneration X members come out for the save. More footage of McMahon complaining. Going to the break they debut an ad for a butt-ugly Rocky Maivia t-shirt. On the front is a bull's head raising the People's Eyebrow. The back reads "Layin' the smack down."

- Michael Cole is backstage waiting to get comments from Steve Austin. Jerry Lawler points out that the unemployed Austin somehow has his own dressing room with his name on the door.

- THE ROCK vs. DARREN DROZDOV (w/ LOD 2000) The Rock has new music, which sounds a lot like his old music (prior to last week). The Rock makes sure Droz knows his role by laying the smack-down on him, raising the People's Eyebrow, nailing the Rock Bottom, and finishing him off by dropping the People's Elbow. I think that covers it all. Afterwards Hawk and Animal try to console Droz for his loss, but Droz takes exception to the presence of Hawk. I'd really like to see this angle reach its point in the near future. Cole tries to talk to Austin, but "Stone Cold" just gives him a few comments in the half-open doorway of his dressing room. Austin is shown conferring with someone inside the room, who is blocked from our view by the door. Austin says "we" will have an announcement later in the show.

- D-X is shown hanging out with Motley Crue earlier in the day.

- More complaining by McMahon, which results in a pair of his lawyers scurrying from the room muttering "he just doesn't get it."

- Road Dog and D-X come out for their usual intro, altering it slightly to introduce Motley Crue. The Crue perform "Wild Side", which isn't one of my favorite tracks of theirs, but is better than the one they played on Sunday Night Heat. No real point to any of this, other than to make D-X seem big by having them rub shoulders with some "celebrities". That, and the WWF makes some easy change hyping the Crue's new album, which Ross on at least two occasions calls "their first ever Greatest Hits album!" (Well, except for the last Greatest Hits album they released several years ago: "Decade of Decadence".) A fan runs up on the ramp and has to be removed by the band's bodyguard, which also happened on Heat. I'd like to think this is all done now, but I hear that the WWF is going to do something like this again next month with ZZ Top.

They show a brief clip from this Thursday's MTV Celebrity Deathmatch, which will feature the long-awaited Austin/McMahon claymation fight. Should be a real hoot.

- The last two of Vince's harried lawyers has to put up with the brunt of his tongue wagging. The word "contract" comes up.

- KANE vs. GANGREL (w/ Christian) I liked this match, though I'd be lying if I said it rated more than two stars or so. Kane no-sells just about everything, with Gangrel really getting tossed around like a toy. Kane wins with the Tombstone. Christian then tries a flying elbow off the top, but bounces off Kane like ping pong ball hitting a brick wall. Edge then runs in from the crowd and all three gothic figures team up to beat on Kane, delivering a string of elbowdrops. Kane does the zombie sit-up and the three scatter like rats through the crowd. The fans seemed genuinely disappointed when they learned Edge wasn't there to help Kane. Cut to the back, to the tail-end of a conversation between Michael Cole and Shane McMahon. As Shane walks away Cole says the McMahon "family" will have an announcement following the break.

WWF WAR ZONE
Hosted By: Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler.

- "Stone Cold" Steve Austin hits the ring to savor over the events of last week. He recaps the humiliation that Vince McMahon suffered. Austin announces that he has a brand new WWF contract: one which guarantees him at least one title shot. Austin says the only way he'll leave the WWF is if he were to quit. Out comes Vince McMahon to throw in his two cents. He says he's going to do everything he can to fight Austin's contract. He also announces that Austin will have to face Ken Shamrock later tonight in an "I Quit" match. We get the usual verbal sparring until McMahon makes a reference to Austin having the nerve to "drive a wedge" ... and turning an "incompetent kid into a monster!" As we're pondering this development we see Shane McMahon appear from beside the ramp and walk to ringside. Vince calls for his son to join him on the stage, but Shane instead enters the ring and takes the mic from Austin. He tells Vince "I don't listen to you any more. I am an officer--more importantly, a stockholder of this company. And what you did to 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin was wrong, Dad. You were wrong!" "He's just a kid!" Vince protests to his stooges. "I just wanted to tell you personally that it was me--it was me, Dad, that hired 'Stone Cold' back, it was me!" Shane goes on to accuse Vince and his ego for making past WWF Superstars leave. He talks about growing up in Vince's shadow, and how he had to lie to protect Vince and the family name. He says he's tired of it, and that Vince never cared about him--that he could never do good enough in school, athletics or business to satisfy Vince. Shane says he just wanted Vince to be proud of him, "but that's never going to happen because it's never about me--it's always about you, Dad!" Great f***ing angle, and I'm not just saying that because I predicted it six months ago! This has some seriously interesting potential if they really carry it out. Can you imagine Vince being forced to send guys to beat his son up, or vice versa? Suddenly the idea of an Austin/Shane vs. Vince/Bossman match not only seems possible, but darn near compelling. Father vs. Son, battling over control of the WWF? Works for me. Hopefully this spells the end of Shane's annoying days behind the mic on Sunday Night Heat. After the break we get a quick shot of Austin tossing Shane a can of Steveweiser backstage. As he walked out I half expected to hear Vince cry out "Shane, come back!"

- TIGER ALI SINGH (w/ Babu) vs. THE GODFATHER Thanks WWF for following up that last blockbuster angle with this match. A real clunker of a match, which ends in a double DQ when both men refuse to listen to the ref. McMahon, who is being wheeled through the back halls of the arena, is too dejected to tell Michael Cole what's on his mind.

- THE ODDITIES/INSANE CLOWN POSSE (w/ Luna) vs. KAIENTAI (w/ Yamaguchi) Another clunker of a match, which Kaientai wins by DQ when the Insane Clowns get a bit rough with the referee. The Oddities seem pretty upset by this. I'm upset because I had to watch this match so late in the show.

- Some of Shane McMahon's speech is replayed, followed by a shot of Vince being loaded into his limo. The stooges promise to get revenge on Austin. McMahon is too miserable to reply.

- Ken Shamrock delivers comments in the back.

- MARC MERO (w/ Jacqueline) vs. GOLDUST Non-stop action, but I can't actually say it was a good match. Too short for that. Goldust sets Mero up on the second turnbuckle, his legs spread apart. He then stop long enough to get a slap on the cheek from Jacqueline. He responds with a smack on the lips. He then place-kicks Mero's nads, earning the DQ. After he leaves Sable comes out and challenges Jacqueline to a Women's Title match at Survivor Series.

- Cole interviews Al Snow and Mankind. The two argue over which gimmick is stupider: Head or Mr. Socko.

- THE NEW AGE OUTLAWS vs. MANKIND/AL SNOW (w/ Head & Mr. Socko) An okay match, but one in which little happens until the end. Snow takes the Road Dog out with the Snow Plow, but the ref is busy down on the floor trying to separate Mankind and Billy Gunn. Snow then winds up with the Head, intending to nail the Road Dog. Mankind comes in and cuts Snow off, wanting to put the Dog out with the Sockible Claw instead. As the two are arguing Road Dog rolls Snow up from behind and gets the pin. D-Lo Brown and Mark Henry then run out to work over the Outlaws. As all this is going down Mankind somehow winds up with Head, while Snow has Socko. The two cautiously trade back.

Steve Austin is shown lacing up his boots. This is followed by a few more seconds of footage from Celebrity Deathmatch.

- KEN SHAMROCK vs. "STONE COLD" STEVE AUSTIN Patterson, Brisco and Slaughter accompany Shamrock to the ring. A pure slug-and-stomp-fest in the early going. Austin uses his vest to choke Shamrock. The action spills to the floor briefly, where Austin uses a camera cable. The two battle on the announcer's desk, then into the crowd. Austin tries a Piledriver in the concrete, but Shamrock turns it into a back bodydrop. Shamrocks sends Austin into the steel steps. The stooges cheer Shamrock on, telling him to win for the boss. After a bit on the ramp they move back into the ring. Shamrock has really been working Austin over. I should mention that this match is no pinfall, no countout and no-DQ. You win by getting you opponent to say "I Quit", or submit by way of tapping out. Shamrock catches Austin with a vicious clothesline, which he follows up with a chinlock, riding on Austin's back. Austin reaches the ropes, breaking the hold. Shamrock then goes to work on the right arm, slams Austin, then goes back to the neck. Austin battles back with his usual flurry of punches and kicks, leading to a Lou Thesz Press. Austin goes into the ropes, but has his boot grabbed by Jerry Brisco. Ross starts cussing Brisco out. The ref drops down to yell at him and Patterson decks him, with Slaughter adding a few kicks for good measure. Austin comes out to check things over. Meanwhile in the ring Mankind has run in and slapped the Sockible Claw on Shamrock. Austin, after nailing the stooges on the floor, brings a steel chair into the ring. Mankind releases his hold and backs away, watching Austin plaster Shamrock with a wicked chairshot. Austin the lays on Shamrock, grabs his wrist and makes a tapping motion. The ref, now recovered, sees this and declares Austin the winner. The stooges all run in and Austin levels them all with Stone Cold Stunners. Austin heads up the ramp with middle fingers held high, as once again all is right with the world (evident because the USA Network news update guy has a grin on his face when they cut to him).

"Slobberknocker Central" and "Monday Night Recap" are copyright 1998 by John Petrie, and all opinions expressed therein are his own, and not those of "Internet Access, Inc". Check the "Slobberknocker Central" main page for info on how to receive the "Recap" free via E-Mail every week.Volume One, Number 154 of the "Monday Night Recap", October 26th, 1998.

John Petrie
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Slobberknocker Central
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