Grilling JR - Austin vs. McMahon: RAW 04.13.98 [Show Notes] (Patreon)

JR - today we’re going to be looking back and watching back Raw is War from April 13th, 1998 from Philadelphia. Today is the 25th anniversary of the show that ended the 83 week streak of ratings victories by WCW over the WWF.

Fire up your Peacock and watch along with us…

Search up Monday Night Raw - Season 6 - episode 15

3-2-1!

We are three weeks removed from WrestleMania 14 which we just covered in the archives so be sure to check that out at GrillingJROnYoutube.com and so much has happened since then in the build up for this show.

Let’s begin with the Raw after Mania - where Sean Waltman is introduced as the newest member of DX as he joins Triple H who’s assumed the leadership role with Shawn Michaels’ injury.

First off - elevating Hunter into that spot made all the sense in the world right?

Sean’s promo when he comes out and buries Eric Bischoff, talks about how the Outsiders are ready to leave and come back and they’d be standing right next to them if they weren’t being held hostage. This is the type of thing that really provides a shot in the arm to the company isn’t it?

Meltzer would say this in the Observer: “More than just signing Waltman, this sent a major message throughout the industry--that WWF was willing to pay what had become market value for top talent rather than publicly cry during a period of economic boom about the amounts of money their competition was throwing around, by offering Waltman what amounted to a raise of a minimum of $50,000 to $100,000 per year with the possibility of earning more than that and putting in a limit on how many dates he could work per month (although as many wrestles in both companies have come to find out at the end of the year, they wind up working more than their contractually agreed upon maximum dates).”

Was Waltman’s deal as groundbreaking as Meltzer claims it is here?

Does the success of WrestleMania provide additional talent budget and Vince gives you the OK to go out there and sign Sean to this type of deal - when just 2 years ago Sean was allowed to walk away from the WWF because of his issues?

Also on that Raw featured Billy Gunn & Road Dogg defeating Cactus Jack & Chainsaw Charlie for the tag titles they had lost the previous night in the dumpster match in a brutal cage match due to Terry Funk’s injured back and they also would join DX. This is the first epic Raw of that era where there’s so much storyline happening that it turns into a sort of reset where there’s so much going on right?

The show we’re watching now has a video package with Austin and McMahon’s issues and Austin’s promise that he will end his issue with Vince right here tonight. You guys had to feel the momentum on your side coming out of Mania with the Austin-McMahon program - what say you?

Was the goal at the end of the day to defeat WCW and finally end the streak or do you think it wasn’t a thought on anyone’s mind and that you just wanted to provide the best quality product possible at this point?

The show after WrestleMania also features more talent debuting, including Dan Severn as Jim Cornette’s new bodyguard, the future Kaientai of Dick Togo, Mens Teioh & Sho Funaki, and the first Val Venis vignette airs. This is a lot of talent coming in at once is it not?

That Raw also had Vince bring out a new WWF title belt to give to Steve - the big blue belt. What did you think of the change to anoint Austin and then immediately give him a new title belt?

Austin would be arrested on that show by Vince after hitting him with a Stunner and use his one phone call to call you JR. Did you feel that Austin was ready and willing to do whatever it took to make his title reign successful?

Steve has been known to be difficult sometimes in dealing with creative…and coming out of Mania…his top heel he’s working against is Vince with no other men lined up for him due to the dearth of top heels. Was this a point where Steve trusted Vince creatively a lot more than later on?

We’d also see the Rock ascend to be being the leader of the Nation and take out Faarooq. It was time to give Rock that spot to see if he could sink or swim wasn’t it?

The show draws a great rating, 3.79 rating vs. Nitro’s 4.19 rating…but Nitro really dominated the last 30 minutes of the show. When you take a look at that - and what was built up in the sense of the cage match - and Austin not guaranteed to be appearing…everyone has to see that the ratings go with Steve and he needs to open and close the show almost every week…

Austin and McMahon’s promo in this opening segment is perfect - the anti-hero Austin saying he needs beer, saying Vince walks around with his title belt around his waist at his home - and since Steve still doesn’t have a title defense scheduled at the next PPV Unforgiven - he challenges Vince to a title match tonight on this show. This is some good shit is it not JR?

This is what the formula was for the WWF for years after this, opening segment, a promo taking 10-15 minutes, setting up a major match for the main event, but sometimes it would get redundant wouldn’t it?

Austin attempts to goad McMahon into accepting the match - gives him 30 minutes to make a decision before he goes to his office to kick his ass - and it’s unreal to really hear the heat Austin is able to get every time he stops talking. The show is in Philadelphia - that really helps all these segments doesn’t it?

Last week on Raw - in one of those did they really do this - DX sets up the main event against DOA by pissing on their bikes. Too much Attitude isn’t it?

Also on the show was Cactus Jack cutting a promo. From the Observer:

“Cactus Jack did an interview that the fans live didn't understand. Some fans were even chanting boring as he went on a long speech which was actually really good being mad that as he and Funk were getting beaten up and taking a pounding that the crowd didn't care about them and popped big for Austin's name. He was very specific in not being negative about Austin personally so it didn't appear to set up an angle in that direction. He said they wouldn't be seeing Cactus Jack for a while, so apparently he'll return as Mankind or maybe Dude Love, although at this point in time I don't think Dude Love is a good idea except as a heel.”

Was this all just a false flag or do you think this was the plan all along?

What did you think of having Cactus switch personas again and going back to Dude Love?

Did you share Meltzer’s hesitation on Dude Love being a top heel?

Here’s Los Boriqas and DOA in a tag team chain match which just feels like a mess…

And then DX comes out as well and there’s brawling everywhere including with DX who’s not even in the match.

Is this too much crash TV?

The Austin - McMahon promo from the week before where Austin comes out in a suit and says he’ll be Vince’s corporate champion before ripping it all off and hitting McMahon in the nuts - did you say to yourself one day we’ll see Austin vs. Vince headline a major pay per view?

That Raw closes the gap between Raw and Nitro even more - Nitro with a 4.61 rating and Raw with a 4.43 rating and that’s Raw’s second high of all-time rating. There’s more people watching professional wrestling than ever before - how stunned are you to see the growth in both programs?

Somehow DOA - Borquias in a double chain match ends in a no contest as you even bring up on commentary how there’s no rules but it’s just time for a DX beatdown before they turn on Savio & Jesus as well.

Chainz gets stuff piledriven on the ramp and taken out on a stretcher and Meltzer would have this to say: “Chainz did a stretcher job. The story behind that is that the week before Wrestlemania he was sent home because he was in no condition to work. He nearly lost his job but since he's friends with Undertaker they gave him another chance, and let him do Mania and this TV before doing the injury angle to send him home.”

Is this how you remember this all going down?

There’s a backstage segment with Shane’s first introduction as a character and son of Vince’s. What did you think of Shane being on camera?

This show long storyline is just some great story telling JR…

Another talent coming into the company at the time was Steven Regal. It’s reported in the Observer that he needs sometime to get himself back into ring shape and there was talk of Regal working with Austin since he was close with Austin and Austin needs top level heels to come in to work with. Was that the original plan for Regal?

Did Steve have anything to do with Regal coming in?

Did you know of Regal’s issues at the time?

This is just a great example of what will be a staple of Vince Russo’s booking. Tag match of underneath guys - Pantera & Aguila against Scott Taylor & Brian Christopher - and Vince McMahon just walks out and interrupts and the guys just go to the back. Once you get away with it once you just keep doing it until you can’t right?

While TV is taped ahead of time - the crew goes to Germany and the crowds are at 75% - and that’s with no TV. Was this the hottest the business you had ever seen at this point?

Vince accepts the challenge to Steve Austin for the main event.

Dave Meltzer in the Observer would say this, “This was one of the hottest 117 minutes of television in company history--in some ways almost reinventing pro wrestling television, unfortunately with wrestling barely being an afterthought in the product (ending one of the greatest hype jobs for a television match ever, that naturally didn't take place and finished with a six minute climax that was as bad as the rest of the show was good)”

JR - did this episode reinvent pro wrestling television do you think?

Is this the greatest hype job for a television match you ever remember?

You get up from the desk to go to the back and try to make sure this match doesn’t happen. What was the story with you getting up…what did you think of this?

As the tag match finally goes to begin, here comes the Undertaker.

From the Observer

“Undertaker came out and destroyed Aguila, Pantera and Scott Taylor (Brian Christopher was allowed to escape unharmed) and asked for Kane to come out.”

It’s Taker and I get it…but the WWF just didn’t care about the cruiserweight division right?

Undertaker and Kane are building to an Inferno match at Unforgiven - when you hear that the ring would be surrounded by fire - what did you think of the idea and gimmick?

“Jeff Jarrett's ring entrance now includes confetti coming from the ceiling. His match with Taka Michinoku was another of those division destroying one-sided squashes ending actually with Taka winning via DQ when Klub Kamikaze attacked him. Jarrett put the figure four on him after the match.”

Klub Kamikaze would be Kaientai - but it’s hard to watch this show and see the Light Heavyweight division being a thing isn’t it?

Jeff was given every opportunity and gimmick to succeed at this time wasn’t he?

Austin backstage and with you back at ringside ask him if he was surprised and Austin says he’s not. Did you ever think you’d see Vince McMahon wrestling?

The infamous backstage hook em segment with Brisco & Patterson - having them part of this really added layers to this story isn’t it?

From the Observer

Faarooq came out and challenged the NOD. When they came out, Ken Shamrock & Steve Blackman came out to help Faarooq and they had an impromptu brawl and Shamrock was legit injured during it.

This seemed to happen a lot with Ken didn’t it?

“Terry Funk brought out his mystery tag team partner as Flash Funk, which didn't get over at all live although Funk got a huge pop in Philadelphia, and they beat the Quebecers. Jim Ross called him Too Cold Scorpio and he used the Scorpio splash, and made a big deal about him being misused and not being given a chance and how Funk is giving him the chance.”

Why the renewed push for Scorpio here? Was it just time to attempt to elevate some talent?

Terry Funk being in Philadelphia is always a big deal - but for him to be wrestling just weeks after that giant hematoma on his back had to be something didn’t it?

Were you surprised he kept going?

“Luna came out and challenged Sable. Goldust then came out dressed as Sable and Luna ripped Goldust's dress off leaving him in womens underwear. Then Sable came out and they began ripping at each other.”

Bro.

“Shamrock & Blackman went to a DDQ with Midnight Express in a match with a workrate and ending reminiscent of one of those WCW Hennig & Adams vs. Bulldog & Neidhart specials. They did a staredown with Shamrock and Severn before the match. Holly was looking good until missing a Frankensteiner which the crowd was unmerciful about. Shamrock was limping badly from the earlier brawl.”

There’s a lot of mid card talent at this time that just doesn’t fit well together. You’re still working on loading up the locker room with Austin at the top of the card, Foley about to be there, Rock and DX setting in nicely underneath, with the product getting hot you had to know there were some people that would want to come work for you instead of you reaching out is that right? Does that help in finding talent?

“McMahon did yet another interview talking about how he wasn't afraid of the federal government, he wasn't afraid of Turner and Time Warner (this actually got a big babyface pop) and he's not a afraid of Austin.”

It’s all Austin and McMahon this show - and as evidenced by the ratings it was working. Do you know if they analyzed the ratings to see what was working - minute by minute or quarter by quarter?

We know they’re the two biggest acts in the company at this point - but did you or did anyone think there was a risk for overexposure if they’re on TV too much - or were they just too damn hot it didn’t matter?

“Head Bangers came out but Undertaker thrashed them until Kane came out. Paul Bearer said Kane would fight him next week in their parents graveyard.”

I know Bruce loves this story, but this sometimes just feels so hokey compared to Vince and Austin and here’s two brothers - one burnt with his step father talking about how they’re going to fight at each’s parents graveyard before wrestling in a ring of fire - doesn’t even feel like the same show does it?

“Owen Hart pinned Billy Gunn in 8:39 with a schoolboy out of nowhere in a decent match. DX was with Jim Ross on commentary. Helmsley was hilarious ripping on LOD. They all brawled after it was over.”

At this point - Owen is just lost in the shuffle isn’t he?

With Austin needing top heels Owen had to be considered for it - was he?

Just seems crazy you’re 6 months off the screwjob - 5 off his return which got a big pop - and here he is - I guess we’ll never know will we

Here comes the main event…and it’s an epic angle. Vince comes strutting - and it’s pointed out in the Observer like Buddy Rogers - without a shirt on which we’ve never seen at this point - jacked - and they take forever to touch before Vince calls Austin out on saying he could be beaten with one hand behind his back.

The Observer would say

As McMahon got ready in the corner, doing more of a UFC gimmick than a pro wrestler, Dude Love showed up, setting up his heel turn and to apparently be Austin's foe on the 4/26 PPV from Greensboro (it could also end up being McMahon although not as a secret foe as that would need direct hype to work). Love tried to stop the match, but McMahon shoved him down. Love tried to put the mandible claw on McMahon, but was stopped, and wound up attacking and destroying Austin, who had one hand tied behind

his back. Unfortunately, the crowd reaction to this was heat, but the wrong kind, the kind

they had when the unforgiving crowd booed as Bob Holly missed a Frankensteiner and not the kind they had as McMahon delivered his heel interviews earlier in the show. Fans were mad that the match hyped for two hours was a fraud, and despite Austin having one hand tied behind his back being pummeled, nobody cared about that aspect of the angle. While the hype was amazing, people leaving the building were mad about not only the payoff.

It is a bait & switch JR - no way around it and no doubt about it - was anyone worried about that pissing off the audience that was just building in the last few weeks?

The crowd did shit on it yes - but man did it deliver ratings.

The show drew its all-time record rating in a competitive situation, a 4.63 rating (4.30 first hour; 4.95 second hour) and 7.10 share.

Nitro did a 4.34 rating (4.43 first hour; 4.23 second hour; 4.38 third hour) and 6.97 share.

Nitro replay did a 1.3 rating and 6.1 share.

When this comes through at the office - and Vince Russo has said it wasn’t a big celebration and just another day - was anyone excited? Were you?

Did you think - here it is - here’s the run we need to go on like WCW did with 83 weeks?

“The total head-to-head combined audience for the two hours fell just shy of last week's all-time record. Raw's rating was the second highest in the history of the show and highest ever in a competitive situation. Raw broke not only its quarter hour audience record, but the all-time competitive quarter hour audience record set just last week by the first Sting vs. Kevin Nash match, with the match that never took place which did a 6.0 rating and 10.2 share in 4,414,000 homes.

Going head-to-head with the Sting vs. Kevin Nash WCW title rematch in the time slot WCW has owned for the past two years, which did a 4.3 rating in 3,145,000 homes, the combined 10.3 rating and 7,559,000 homes set yet another quarter-hour all-time record.

The timing of the WWF's heating up of interest couldn't have been worse for WCW, because starting 4/27, Nitro will be getting bounced around due to NBA hoops for four weeks, leaving Raw to build momentum and probably set ratings records going unopposed.”

This is the right place, right time stuff isn’t it? Hot program, going unopposed in the next few weeks - hot angle to end the show - all things were clicking weren’t they?

Raw on 4/13 in Philadelphia drew a sellout 14,280 paying $253,214. It was the only domestic show of the week and merchandise was $153,659 for $10.76 per head.

I mean that’s a lot of money for a TV taping at the time wasn’t it? From almost 7 months ago struggling to pay Bret’s contract to this…the company is in a much different financial situation isn’t it?