"Dumpster Diving"
February 2, 1998
DX starts the show with a taped segment with their state of the union-like address. They promise to no longer use any sexual or racial slurs anymore. There's a lot of DX censorship for some dated comedy.
The real start of the show begins with...DX. Both guys are decked out in Uncle Sam costumes with red, white and blue balloons falling from the sky. The idea is simple, DX are campaigning for Steve Austin vs Mike Tyson. Michaels brings up the Nevada State Commission, but continues to campaign for the huge match. DX even starts a "Let Them Fight!" chant. I know Michaels real purpose is trying to avoid defending the title against Austin, but Austin/Tyson seems so much bigger than Austin/Michaels. It's the biggest show of the year and I'm already disappointed knowing we're not getting Austin/Tyson. Austin comes out and DX instantly drops the comedy (Including removing the Uncle Sam costumes). Austin once again teased fighting Tyson (Why are you still letting fans believe it's going to happen?!), but reassures Michaels that he will be the next World Champion. If it wasn't for the fact that they're hyping a match bigger than the real main event, this would have been a great segment.
LET THEM FIGHT!
In a segment taped earlier, Terry Funk and Mick Foley talk with Jim Ross about how each match could be their last. So they want to see who's the king of hardcore.
Chainsaw Charlie vs Cactus Jack - Hardcore Match
This may be a garbage match filled with weapons (And a dumpster on the stage), but this is an awesome garbage match. There's various highlights including Cactus hitting Charlie with a garbage can, but he doesn't have the heart to hit him again. So he gave the garbage can to Charlie so Charlie can hit him. Charlie doesn't have the heart either. So Cactus turns around and Funk takes the cheap shot and nails Cactus with the garbage can!Everything builds up until the big spot where Foley climbs on the Titantron and drops an elbow on Funk (Who was in the dumpster. That brings out the New Age Outlaws, who lock the dumpster lid and rolls it off of the stage to create one of the bigger Raw moments of the Attitude Era. Personally, I think this match is better than the later Foley/Funk match in 1998. It's just a ton of fun garbage wrestling with an ending that is a great image of Foley diving off of the Titantron and it's followed up by the even bigger moment of the dumpster being shoved off the stage. Greatness all around. 3 1/4 Stars.
For my video, the dumpster falls at 24:16. Including the next match (That follows the storyline), the entire post-match events of Foley/Funk lasts until 52 minutes. The WWE wanted you to know just how big of a moment this was and they accomplished that. Right away, they treat the fall as if it was a shoot. Many WWE wrestlers, heels and faces, come out to check on Foley and Cactus. There's even a moment where a group of heels and faces get in a pull apart with The New Age Outlaws. Even the Outlaws have a moment where they realized they crossed the line and they're speechless. Sunny is so memorable in her reaction. Tears are actually running down her face as if she believes someone is really dying.
At the same time, the sell job is a little too uncomfortable in 2012. It feels a little too real. Since this incident, we've had Owen Hart, Droz, Misawa and Jerry Lawler end up in a real life tragedy. It's especially eerie seeing Owen Hart amongst the other wrestlers out there. Here you have a guy who's going to be in an event so similar a little over a year away. Is he living out his own death without realizing it? It's unsettling to say the least.
In the back, The New Age Outlaws talk with the commentators when they're interrupted by DX. DX tears the Outlaws a new one, but not because of what they did, but because they're so messed up mentally. It's all about RATINGS to DX and the Outlaws went out there and earned them. The story only continues from there.
Owen Hart (c) vs Billy Gunn w/Road Dogg - WWE European Title
Owen had an extra aggression about him tonight. The match was fine, but nothing great. As good as Owen is, he can only produce so much with Billy. Before Owen can get the win with the Sharpshooter, Road Dogg enters the ring to draw the DQ. That brought out DX and it's a five-on-one attack on Owen. DX and the Outlaws brought Owen up on the stage and DX convinces the Outlaws to tease throwing Owen off of the stage before the WWE officials break it up. Even then, DX are still yelling in The Outlaws faces about ratings and how they're stepping up. It's an awesome angle that shows The Outlaws being brought to the dark side by DX. Match was just okay, but the segment made it so much better. Thumbs Up.
It's around this time that Michael Cole (From the hospital) begins calling in to give updates on the condition of Foley and Funk. Once again, it's really unsettling with how similar it is to what Cole did the night Jerry Lawler had his heart attack.
Marc Mero w/Goldust vs Headbanger Mosh w/Thrasher
Initially, Sable, looking sluttier than ever, accompanied Mero to ringside, but when she received a box of candy from her secret admirer, Mero ordered her to the back as he brought out "Marylin" (Goldust in a Marylin Manson get up). Whoever thought this would be a good match should be shot. Bad match that ends with Thrasher attacking Goldust while Mero gets the win on Mosh after a low blow. For the second straight week, the WWE has started a new feud for the Headbangers. Thumbs Down.
Marylin Dust.
In a split screen, Barry Windham with Team NWA blames Bradshaw for the New Blackjacks' lack of success. He and Jeff Jarrett will wrestle Bradshaw if the future JBL can find a partner.
Vignette for the horrible Tiger Ali Singh.
Faarooq w/The Nation vs Chainz w/DOA, Ahmed Johnson and Ken Shamrock
Another build-up match to the big ten man tag at No Way Out of Texas. As expected, it's not good at all. A big part in the failure of the match is the ending when Chainz reverses an Irish Whip and Faarooq gets accidentally tripped up by Kama (Thinking it was Chainz). That pisses Faarooq off and he and Kama argue on the outside until Faarooq is counted out. Can you say lame ending? Finally, tensions cool off and Faarooq forces everyone to do the Nation hand signal at the top of the stage. With all of the problems inside of the Nation, can they get along to win at No Way Out of Texas? Thumbs Down.
The Nation's troubles continue...
Jeff Jarrett and Barry Windham w/Team NWA vs Bradshaw and Flash Funk
Ugh. And the terribleness of the NWA booking continues. Who cares about the NWA when they're facing Bradshaw and the JTTS, Flash Funk? Worse yet, the Rock 'n' Roll Express assault Funk on the outside, so he's carried to the back leaving Bradshaw all alone. Despite it being a five-on-one match, Bradshaw still manages to find a way to win by pinning Jarrett after a Closeline From Hell. The booking made Bradshaw look like a million bucks, but Team NWA just looks like a group of fools. During the match, it's announced that Jarrett will face Bradshaw at No Way Out of Texas. Why? Isn't the obvious match Bradshaw vs Windham? The NWA angle is so terrible. Thumbs Down.
Some guy named Wink Collins (Who?) announces that Wrestlemania 14 is officially sold out. That brings out Kane to tease the Tombstone, but Vader makes his entrance to distract Kane. In the first big moment of someone getting the best of Kane, Vader pulls out a fire extinguisher and sprays it in Kane's one good eye. Kane falls out of the ring and Paul Bearer pulls Kane away. Vader challenges Kane to a match at No Way Out of Texas.
Shortly before the main event, the commentators speak with Michael Cole one last time. It's yet another unsettling moment when Cole mentioned things have become grave and cops have arrived.
Steve Austin vs Road Dogg w/Billy Gunn
The match went maybe thirty seconds before Billy Gunn interferes to draw the DQ. DX comes out and it's another big five-on-one brawl against Austin. All of a sudden, out comes Cactus Jack (With an IV still stuck in him) for the rescue. Terry Funk (While wearing a hospital gown) is wielding his chainsaw. It's a huge pop and the interest in the main event at No Way Out of Texas skyrockets.
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Match of the night: Cactus Jack vs Chainsaw Charlie
MVP of the night: The Hardcore Legends
Angle of the night: The Outlaws vs Hardcore Legends