Raw is War

Grand Rapids, Michigan
April 19, 1999

As RAW IS WAR got underway just six days before Backlash, The Rock drove into the arena in a hearse! The three-time former champion said that later on RAW he would bury Stone Cold Steve Austin's "dead monkey ass" in an old-fashioned funeral "with The Rock delivering the damn eulogy." The Rock had a gravesite constructed right in the arena complete with dirt, grass and a casket.

In the first match of the night, the Road Dogg took on Owen Hart, accompanied by Debra. Before the match got underway, the Road Dogg had a little challenge for the Calgary native. Road Dogg said if Owen won, he and Jarrett would be considered the number one contenders for the Tag Team Titles; however, if Road Dogg won, Debra would have to show her "puppies." All the parties agreed and the match got underway-with Jerry "The King" Lawler suddenly becoming Road Dogg's biggest fan. Owen attempted the Sharpshooter, but the Dogg kicked him away, recovered, and nailed him with a pumphandle slam for the win! As per the stipulation, Debra began unbuttoning her blouse, but to the chagrin of the fans, Jeff Jarrett ran out with a guitar and forced Debra to stop undressing. Even Debra seemed a bit disappointed.

One week after leaving the Ministry of Darkness, the Brood took on the Acolytes in tag team competition. The Undertaker had warned the Acolytes that they had better get the job done, and Faarooq and Bradshaw did their best. They annihilated Edge and Gangrel with countless high-impact power maneuvers. After a tandem powerbomb, Ken Shamrock ran out and clobbered Bradshaw across the stomach, and then over the head with a baseball bat! The referee called for the disqualification, but backstage, the Undertaker was irate that the Acolytes had failed to win the match.

The new Intercontinental Champion, the Godfather, defended his title against Hardcore Holly just one week after winning it! Although the Hardcore Title was not on the line, a hardcore match broke out after the referee was inadvertently knocked out. Holly clobbered the Intercontinental Champion with a metal tray and broke a broomstick over his back. However, Al Snow knocked Holly cold with Head, and the Godfather pinned him to retained the title! After the match, Goldust tried to get him some of the Godfather, but the pimp ran him off with a steel chair.

Former Tag Team Champions collided when Ken Shamrock took on the Big Boss Man in a match with no holds barred. Shamrock continued his recent hot streak by finishing off the Boss Man with a hurricanrana and a belly-to-belly suplex. After the match, the Undertaker appeared on the TitanTron and told Shamrock that his sister was at a nearby hotel. Shamrock went running out of the arena to get his sister.

In the next match, Mankind took on Triple H, accompanied by Chyna. What was supposed to be a singles match turned out to be anything but. Chyna jumped into the action repeatedly, and after she got involved one too many times, the referee called for the bell. After the match, Rodney and Pete Gas, who had joined Lawler and Jim Ross for commentary during the match, along with Test, Big Boss Man, Chyna and Triple H ganged up on Mankind. HHH was preparing to give Mankind the Pedigree on a steel chair, but The Big Show Paul Wight came out and ran the Corporation away. Mankind said he appreciated what The Big Show did, but he was still going to take him on in six days in the Boiler Room Brawl.

After the Road Dogg and Owen Hart battled earlier, "Badd Ass" Billy Gunn took on Jeff Jarrett. After Gunn connected with the Fame-Ass-Er, Owen ran in and interrupted the referee's three count. The official called for the bell, disqualifying Jarrett. As the Outlaws battled Owen and Jeff, Debra began to undress! She took off her top and began to unsnap her bra, but Jeff Jarrett interrupted again, dragging her back to the locker room. Once again, Debra looked a bit disappointed herself-but not nearly as disappointed as the fans.

Viscera faced an opponent even larger than himself when he took on Paul Wight. The Big Show was in control and was about to try a chokeslam on Viscera. However, the lights went out and the Undertaker and Paul Bearer emerged from the back. Wight was not intimidated, and the two 7-footers stood face to face. Viscera and the Lord of Darkness teamed up on Wight. This time, it was Mankind that came to the aid of Wight. The Undertaker walked away, and Wight and Mankind put a beating on Viscera.

Back at the Federation's television facility in Connecticut, Michael Cole conducted a special interview with Mr. McMahon and Stephanie. Both Vince and Stephanie seemed as if they hadn't completely sorted out what happened last week, when Shane seized control of the Corporation. Suddenly the interview was interrupted, when members of Mr. McMahon's security team informed him that there was a problem. Mr. McMahon sprung to action, ordering one of the guards to stay with Stephanie, and demanding the other guard to take him to "the problem." The owner sprinted outside and found Midian from the Ministry-and Mr. McMahon started beating the hell out of him! Mr. McMahon jumped into Midian's car and tried to run him over! But Midian apparently got out of the way, and he got up, got back in the car and sped away with Mr. McMahon chasing after him.

Val Venis came out next for what was supposed to be singles competition. But Sable emerged and said she had a very important announcement, so Val's match was going to have to wait. The Federation Women's Champion announced that in two weeks she would have another photo shoot with Playboy, and "if you thought the first one was hot, just wait until you see this one!" As soon as she got done with that announcement, Ivory and D'Lo came from the back, and Ivory attacked Sable! While D'Lo and Val battled outside the ring, Nicole Bass came out and assaulted Ivory!

The Rock came out again to deliver his "eulogy" to Stone Cold Steve Austin. The Corporate Showpiece said he had only one question, "Will your roody poo candy ass fit in that damn casket?" Since Austin had apparently not arrived at the arena, The Rock said he had something else to bury: the Rattlesnake's custom made smoking skull title! Outside in the parking lot, though, the Rattlesnake did arrive-in an Austin 3:16 monster truck! Austin found The Rock's car, which turned out to be a brand new $40,000 Lincoln Continental, and proceeded to crush it with the monster truck while The Rock screamed from inside the arena, "That's The Rock's car!" Then Austin drove the monster truck inside the arena and absolutely annihilated The Rock, beating him from pillar to post, and stuffing him into the grave that The Rock himself had ordered to be made. As Austin began to celebrate with a few beers, Shane McMahon, the special referee for the match at Backlash, appeared out of nowhere and broke the end of a shovel off on Austin, knocking the champion cold as RAW came to an end.