Austin wins four-way clash
By JOHN POWELL -- SLAM!
Sports
Discount the recent Hell In A Cell matches and WWF cage matches aren't what
they used to be. In the 80's the WWF broke into the mainstream market
altering their format to suit families and young children. Grueling bloody
steel cage matches clashed with the wholesome image they sought to
project.
The turning point was WrestleMania 2. The walking condominium, King Kong
(Five Count) Bundy met a "say your prayers" and "eat your vitamins" Hulk
Hogan in a world title match held within the confines of a steel cage.
Instead of the razor-sharp steel fencing of old, a thick-barred mockery of
a cage was erected. Bundy and Hogan bled but something just didn't feel the
same about it. Seeing someone's head banged against bulky bars not raked
across steel mesh smoothes the edge away.
The main event Fatal Four Way match at today's WWF SkyDome house show must
have looked good on paper. The thought of top federation superstars The
Undertaker, Kane, Steve Austin and Rocky Maivia cracking each other's
skulls inside a cage is enough to get any fan's blood pumping. What wasn't
figured into the plan was that fans were kept waiting while that darn
"family-oriented" cage was constructed on the spot and then to make matters
worse, none of the wrestlers actually used the cage as a weapon.
Sorta defeats the purpose of the stipulation doesn't it?
Kane, Stone Cold and The Rock were greeted with loud pops. As the trio
paced around the cage, Paul Bearer came out announcing on the house mic
that due to "problems at Canadian customs", The Undertaker wouldn't be
wrestling.
"And that's the damn bottom line because Paul Bearer said so," said The
Undertaker's manager mocking Austin.
Austin exited the cage and laid a beating on Paul Bearer. Dressed in street
clothes, The Undertaker emerged punking Austin from behind. Meanwhile, Kane
and The Rock brawled in the ring. All four men fought on the floor until
Austin and The Rock climbed back in together. Kane tried to follow suit but
Austin and Miavia pummeled him.
The Undertaker met Kane at the door pounding on him. To a deafening
ovation, The Rock dropped the People's Elbow on Kane. Kane sat up
Undertaker-style no-selling the elbow. The Undertaker became trapped in a
circle formed by the other three opponents. He bounced like a tennis ball
between them as they took turns haymakering him.
Austin held a conference with The Rock and Kane in the center of the ring.
With his back to Austin and The Rock, Kane whipped Undertaker off the ropes
catching him in the face with a kick. Austin and The Rock teamed on Kane.
Once the Big Red Machine was kissing canvass Austin and The Rock engaged in
a slugfest. The fans went wild their support clearly divided.
The Undertaker left the cage returning with a steel chair. The WWF's Dead
Man took a swing at Austin. Stone Cold ducked. Maivia landed the Rock
Bottom on Austin teasing a win. Kane broke the pin chokeslamming The Rock.
The Undertaker muscled Kane out the cage door and the two traded fists up
the entrance way. Austin Stunned The Rock getting the 1-2-3.
The WWF returns to SkyDome on February 8th, 1998, for a
live Raw Is War
broadcast. Tickets are on sale now.
SkyDome Results
D.O.A. (Paul Ellering, 8-Ball) Vs The Legion Of Doom (Animal,
Droz)
: Hawk is announced as accompanying L.O.D. to the ring but doesn't show.
: Ellering carries a briefcase.
: Droz and Animal have Ellering in the Doomsday Device. Hawk does a run-in
attacking L.O.D.
: Ellering busts Droz with the briefcase in the head for the first of many
lame pins during the show.
: Droz and Animal gang-up on Hawk stomping him into the canvass.
Winners:
D.O.A. at 5 minutes and 53 seconds.
Match Rating: 2 / 10.
Tiger Ali Singh Vs Al Snow
: Snow flubs a sunset flip from the second rope. Tiger smartly rolls him up
for the pinfall.
: In a hilarious bit, an angry Snow piledrives and elbow drops "the head"
for giving him bad advice but they kiss and make up afterwards.
Winner:
Tiger Ali Singh at 8 minutes and 26 seconds.
Match Rating: 5 / 10.
Steven Regal Vs Steve Blackman
: Regal underhandedly uses the ropes as leverage to claim the victory.
Winner:
Steven Regal at 4 minutes and 28 seconds.
Match Rating: 2 / 10.
Too Much Vs Gangrel, Christian
: Too Much works the "gay" gimmick hugging and consoling each other.
Whenever they do this the crowd shouts 'Head! Head! Head!".
: Gangrel launches Taylor into Christopher. They land in a heap on the
canvass. Dazed and bumping into each other they simulate a sex act which is
in poor taste.
: Christian does a wicked reverse DDT on Taylor.
: Best match of the card.
Winners:
Gangrel, Christian at 9 minutes and 30 seconds.
Match Rating: 7 / 10.
X-Pac (champion) Vs Jeff Jarrett (champion) (European Title - Guitar
On A Pole Match)
: Debra McMichael is stunned throughout the match. She doesn't cheer on
Jarrett, pound the canvass or distract the ref. She basically just stands
there looking pretty, totally oblivious to the match that's going on.
: Winner of the match is the first to retrieve a guitar from a pole and use
it on his opponent.
: X-Pac goes for the guitar. Jarrett crotches him on the ropes. X-Pac
swings the guitar and misses Jarrett. Double J faceslams X-Pac taking the
guitar and mounting the ropes. Jarrett dives off. X-Pac nail him with a
fist to the stomach. X-Pac grabs the guitar smashing it over Jarrett's head.
Winner:
...and still European Champion...X-Pac at 9 minutes and 31
seconds.
Match Rating: 6 / 10.
Ken Shamrock (champion) Vs Mankind (challenger) (Intercontinental
Title - Toronto Street Fight Match)
: Mankind chokes Shamrock with a ringside cable. Mankind chair shots
Shamrock across the back. Shamrock uses a fire extinguisher on Mankind and
hits him with the ring bell.
: Mankind is slammed on a steel chair inside the ring. Shamrock blasts him
with the Hardcore belt to the head. Mankind wields a broom stick beating
Shamrock.
: Shamrock does a belly-to-belly suplex on Mankind. Mankind hits the side
of the ring on the way down.
: Mankind locks in a Mandible Claw with an assist from Socco. Shamrock
chair shots Mankind.
Winner:
...and still Intercontinental Champion...Ken Shamrock at 6
minutes and 13 seconds.
Match Rating: 6 / 10.
Sable, Edge Vs Mark Mero, Jackie
: Sable and Jackie are broken up many time just as they are about to cat
fight.
: Edge pulls down Mero's shorts from behind.
: The fans wanting more of Sable boo hometown boy Edge when he tags in.
: Jackie and Sable cat fight to a big pop. Jackie DDTs Sable. Sable kicks
out. Sable flubs a Sable Bomb on Jackie.
: Sable crotch shots Mero. Edge hits the Downward Spiral.
Winners:
Sable, Edge at 8 minutes and 23 seconds.
Match Rating: 4 / 10.
Val Venis Vs Goldust
: Rest hold extravaganza.
: Goldust misses his football crotch punt but manages to roll up Val.
: The bell rings and rings as Goldust does land his kick.
Winner:
Goldust at 7 minutes and 3 seconds
.
Match Rating: 2 / 10.
The New Age Outlaws (champions) Vs D=92 Lo, Mark Henry (challengers)
(WWF Tag Team Title Match)
: Mucho stalling and mike work.
: D'Lo and Henry tease a count out. Road Dog says over the mike..."You
don't have to suck it but you have to kiss Billy's ass". Gunn pulls down
his wrestling trunks mooning D'Lo.
: D'Lo breaks the count out then flips The Outlaws the middle finger
salute.
: Outlaws brain D'Lo with one of the tag belts to score the victory.
Winners:
...and still WWF World Tag Team Champions...The New Age Outlaws
at 7 minutes and 23 seconds
.
Match Rating: 2 / 10.
The Undertaker Vs Kane Vs Steve Austin Vs The Rock (Fatal Four Way -
Steel Cage Match)
Winner:
Steve Austin at 8 minutes and 57 seconds
.
Match Rating: 5 / 10.
Total Event Time: Approximately 3 hours.
Overall Event Rating:
4 / 10.
