So the Rock, nearing the height of is popularity, completely legitimately asks before defeating that great main eventer Billy Gunn in a Kiss my @ss match on yet another underwhelming (in retrospect, like most fans I loved these at the time) PPV offering from WWE.
OK, there had been considerable shenanigans leading up to what was originally scheduled to be a one on one title match between Steve Austin and Triple H. To start with former wrestler and current Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura had been announced as the guest referee. To add to this Mankind had just returned from injury wanting a title shot and, on the very last RAW before Summerslam, had earned a spot in the match. So instead of being a straight one on one title match with a generic referee we had a triple threat match with Jesse Ventura refereeing.
The night started off with Jeff Jarrett defeating D Lo Brown to end Brown's one and only moment in the sun in his WWE Career. Brown had been bragging about holding both the European and Intercontinental Championships simultaneously, but here he lost both. Average match.
Next up comes the tag team turmoil match. Basically six teams are involved with two teams starting and a new one coming in every time a team loses a pinfall. Edge and Christian start the match and eliminate the Hardyz (in a rivalry that was rapidly building toward an epic ladder match at No Mercy), then Viscera and Mideon (the two useless members of the Undertaker's now defunct Ministry), and Droz and Prince Albert (Albert's PPV debut), before getting eliminated by the Acolytes. The Acolytes then defeated the Holly cousins to win the turmoil match and become No.1 contender's for the tag team titles.
Next three matches were fairly dull with Al Snow defeating Big Boss Man to both retain the Hardcore Championship and set up the Dog Kennel from Hell match at Unforgiven. Ivory defeated Kane's girl Tory, who had been previously seen as a nutcase stalking Sable, to retain the Women's belt. This was followed by Ken Shamrock defeating Steve Blackman in what was an attempt to take the Lion's den concept and add some weapons. Not a great match.
Next up was a match between Shane McMahon and the man hoping to be his future brother in law, Test. Test had been in a relationship with Stephanie following her kidnapping. Test wins the Greenwich street fight and can still hold hopes of becoming a McMahon, though having a good wrestling match remains elusive.
Next up is the tag team championship match with The Undertaker and Big Show, calling themselves the Unholy Alliance, defeating defending champions X-Pac and Kane to win the tag team championships. X-Pac and Kane had only won the titles a few weeks earlier after defeating the Acolytes, who were now the No.1 contenders for the tag belts after winning the tag team turmoil. They would defeat Show and taker to win the belts, causing Taker to berate Show, who snapped and chokeslammed the Phenom through the ring. Taker would eventually take a walk the week before the Unforgiven PPV and not be seen again for 8 months. The idea of the tag team is that Undertaker is mentoring Wight and trying to help him reach his full potential. At the end of the match, Undertaker becomes upset at Show for not making a proper cover. He proceeds to hit the Tombstone on Kane and pin him. This was not a bad match, but was more of an angle.
Next match, in a complete waste of time, saw the Rock beat and humiliate Billy Gunn in a Kiss my @ss match, prompting the Rock to comment "who books this crap." Fair to say, with all the tag team turmoils, psycho strippers, lion's den weapons and hardcore silliness, he could have been talking about this show.
Brings us to the main event, and the only memorable match on the card, in which Mankind knocked Triple H out of the ring following a pedigree and pinned Steve Austin to win his third WWE Championship. Jesse Ventura is given a bit to do in this match, most notably refusing to make a three count after Triple H decks Mankind with a chair. Mankind appears to be out for a good 30 seconds before returning to the ring to stun Triple H and get the pin.
WWE was very popular at this stage, but struggling to stay on any one direction. A re-focus was needed, as good will can only last for so long.
OK, there had been considerable shenanigans leading up to what was originally scheduled to be a one on one title match between Steve Austin and Triple H. To start with former wrestler and current Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura had been announced as the guest referee. To add to this Mankind had just returned from injury wanting a title shot and, on the very last RAW before Summerslam, had earned a spot in the match. So instead of being a straight one on one title match with a generic referee we had a triple threat match with Jesse Ventura refereeing.
The night started off with Jeff Jarrett defeating D Lo Brown to end Brown's one and only moment in the sun in his WWE Career. Brown had been bragging about holding both the European and Intercontinental Championships simultaneously, but here he lost both. Average match.
Next up comes the tag team turmoil match. Basically six teams are involved with two teams starting and a new one coming in every time a team loses a pinfall. Edge and Christian start the match and eliminate the Hardyz (in a rivalry that was rapidly building toward an epic ladder match at No Mercy), then Viscera and Mideon (the two useless members of the Undertaker's now defunct Ministry), and Droz and Prince Albert (Albert's PPV debut), before getting eliminated by the Acolytes. The Acolytes then defeated the Holly cousins to win the turmoil match and become No.1 contender's for the tag team titles.
Next three matches were fairly dull with Al Snow defeating Big Boss Man to both retain the Hardcore Championship and set up the Dog Kennel from Hell match at Unforgiven. Ivory defeated Kane's girl Tory, who had been previously seen as a nutcase stalking Sable, to retain the Women's belt. This was followed by Ken Shamrock defeating Steve Blackman in what was an attempt to take the Lion's den concept and add some weapons. Not a great match.
Next up was a match between Shane McMahon and the man hoping to be his future brother in law, Test. Test had been in a relationship with Stephanie following her kidnapping. Test wins the Greenwich street fight and can still hold hopes of becoming a McMahon, though having a good wrestling match remains elusive.
Next up is the tag team championship match with The Undertaker and Big Show, calling themselves the Unholy Alliance, defeating defending champions X-Pac and Kane to win the tag team championships. X-Pac and Kane had only won the titles a few weeks earlier after defeating the Acolytes, who were now the No.1 contenders for the tag belts after winning the tag team turmoil. They would defeat Show and taker to win the belts, causing Taker to berate Show, who snapped and chokeslammed the Phenom through the ring. Taker would eventually take a walk the week before the Unforgiven PPV and not be seen again for 8 months. The idea of the tag team is that Undertaker is mentoring Wight and trying to help him reach his full potential. At the end of the match, Undertaker becomes upset at Show for not making a proper cover. He proceeds to hit the Tombstone on Kane and pin him. This was not a bad match, but was more of an angle.
Next match, in a complete waste of time, saw the Rock beat and humiliate Billy Gunn in a Kiss my @ss match, prompting the Rock to comment "who books this crap." Fair to say, with all the tag team turmoils, psycho strippers, lion's den weapons and hardcore silliness, he could have been talking about this show.
Brings us to the main event, and the only memorable match on the card, in which Mankind knocked Triple H out of the ring following a pedigree and pinned Steve Austin to win his third WWE Championship. Jesse Ventura is given a bit to do in this match, most notably refusing to make a three count after Triple H decks Mankind with a chair. Mankind appears to be out for a good 30 seconds before returning to the ring to stun Triple H and get the pin.
WWE was very popular at this stage, but struggling to stay on any one direction. A re-focus was needed, as good will can only last for so long.