I had a small scare last week as I could not find my 1999 RAW DVD set to recap these shows.  I eventually found it, so we trudge forth into another year of WWF action.  One could argue that 1999 was a turning point in the Monday Night Wars as the WWF expanded its lead over WCW, although there were several times when WCW may have been able to capitalize on the WWF pushing some midcard talents up the card to regain the lead.  This is also the height of Vince Russo’s power within the company as he will be booking RAWs until October. ­ - Michael Cole and Jerry “the King” Lawler are doing commentary and they are taped from Worchester, Massachusetts.

- A video package recaps last week’s show where Shane McMahon assumed temporary control and was summarily destroyed by Mankind.  Kane also went “corporate” for the first time in his career by attacking D-Generation X to end the show. - Michael Cole and Jerry “The King” Lawler are tonight’s commentary team and they are live from Albany, New York.  Cole is still calling the show “the best action adventure series on television.”

by Logan Scisco The past two weeks we have spent time looking at alternatives to WWF Magazine .  We return to WWF Magazine this week, looking at the August 2000 issue.  On the cover is someone who Triple H says is a very unlikely candidate for the Hall of Fame:

by Logan Scisco - A video package recaps Steve Austin and Kane beating up Paul Bearer on last week’s show.  We are also reminded of the Big Bossman beating Mankind for the Hardcore title. - Michael Cole and Jerry “The King” Lawler are doing commentary for tonight’s go home show for Rock Bottom:  In Your House.  Jim Ross was on a hiatus for this show because his mother had passed away.  In his first sentence, Cole lets us know that RAW is the “most controversial sports entertainment television show.”  It is easy to be a leader when you are in a category of one.  This show was taped in New Haven, Connecticut.

by Logan Scisco Since this week’s magazine selection is from December 1999 it would be remiss for the staff of WWF Magazine to ignore Christmas.  Sure enough, we get a holiday-type cover featuring the self-proclaimed, undisputed champion of Christmas Mick Foley:

by Logan Scisco - A video package recaps Shane McMahon screwing Steve Austin over in the WWF title tournament semi-finals last night at the Survivor Series. - We get a new RAW intro where it was always hard to know the exact lyrics, so I always make up my own, even if they did not make any sense.  So my life in the box and soy la vie!!!

- Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler are in the booth and they are live from San Jose, California.  We are finally back on Monday nights, so this should be a better show.

by Logan Scisco - Since USA Network was broadcasting the U.S. Open in primetime, Monday Night Raw got bounced out of its usual slot for the next two weeks.  USA compensated by giving RAW two late Saturday night slots that ran from 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. EST, so our next two shows will be those broadcasts.  Ross and Lawler make sure to issue sarcastic statements about the “riveting” tennis action that is currently keeping the WWF off of Monday nights throughout the show. - Some narrated pictures of last night’s SummerSlam main event are shown. - Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler are in the booth and they are taped from New Haven, Connecticut.

by Logan Scisco - The Undertaker and Kane are shown walking out of a backstage locker room and down a dark hallway. - Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler are doing commentary and they are live from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  We are six days from SummerSlam.  The Hell in a Cell is hanging above the ring.

by Logan Scisco - Jim Ross and Michael Cole are in the booth and they are taped from Chattanooga, Tennessee.  This is the go home show for Over the Edge.

by Logan Scisco - Michael Cole narrates a video package recapping the events of last week’s show, where Steve Austin escaped the show with the WWF championship. - Jim Ross and Michael Cole are in the booth and they are taped from Richmond, Virginia.

by Logan Scisco With some of my graduate work behind me, I finally had time to devote three hours to this show and continue my reviews of the World Wrestling Federation in 1998.  Before academic responsibilities got in the way, Steve Austin and Vince McMahon’s feud started moving to another level and ended WCW Monday Nitro’s 82-week winning streak.  Dude Love, Austin’s former tag team partner, was inserted into the angle as McMahon’s alleged representative.  However, that match on this show is overshadowed by the Inferno match booked between the Undertaker and Kane.  Meanwhile, Ken Shamrock and Faarooq have joined forces because they hate the Rock and Triple H has dominated his feud with Owen Hart.  The Legion of Doom have been rechristened “LOD 2000” and given Sunny as a manager, but it’s sort of like putting lipstick on a pig and their best days are behind them.  Still, their victory in the WrestleMania XIV tag team battle royal gives them a title shot...

by Logan Scisco - This was a Saturday edition of RAW because RAW was pre-empted by the Westminster Dog Show. - Jim Ross, Kevin Kelly, and Michael Cole are doing commentary and they are taped in Dallas, Texas.  This show is where the WWF scratch logo made its debut.

by Logan Scisco - Jim Ross and Jerry “the King” Lawler are in the booth and they are live from Houston, Texas.  Ross and Lawler speculate on who the eighth man will be on the heel team, since WWF Champion Shawn Michaels is injured and is not competing.  Ross says that the main event tag is going to be no holds barred.  Why didn’t they just clarify that stipulation on the previous RAW?

by Logan Scisco - Footage of the angle surrounding last week’s show concerning the European title is shown . - Jim Ross, Michael Cole, and Kevin Kelly are in the booth and they are live from the Nassau Coliseum in New York for the last RAW of 1997. - Goldust comes out dressed as a New Year’s baby and declares that he will enter the Royal Rumble.  I should note that Cole is establishing a bad operating procedure of constantly talking over a wrestler’s promo, afraid of having any silence on the air.  Goldust is supposed to wrestle Steve Austin, who comes out and has a Porta John lowered, which he has to tug into the ring from the top of the arena.  The Porta John, which Cole initially calls an “outhouse” has “Crapper 3:16” written on the outside of it.  Goldust tries to sneak up on Austin behind it, but Austin slams the door in his face, tosses him inside, and when Goldust comes out he eats a Stone Cold Stunner.  Austin then tosses Goldust back in and t...

by Logan Scisco - Jim Ross narrates a video package that discusses the history of Madison Square Garden.  It even mentions the birth of Hulkamania.  The subtle purpose of this video package is to inform the audience that a big event is going to happen tonight . - Vince McMahon, Jim Ross, and Jerry “the King” Lawler are in the booth and they are live from New York City.

by Logan Scisco - A video package highlights how the British Bulldog has become a wrestling ambassador for Great Britain. - Vince McMahon, Jim Ross, and Jerry “the King” Lawler are in the booth and they are live from Birmingham, England.  The setup was pretty cool, with WWF logos in the middle of the Union Jack and attendants in British dress flanking the entrance ramp. - Dude Love talks in a British accent and says that he does not miss his teeth.

by Logan Scisco So after a six week or so absence I’m back.  My reviews got backed up because of some graduate work and some teaching responsibilities, but we pick back up with the 1997 edition of SummerSlam.  Heading into the pay-per-view the WWF gang wars were heating up between the Nation of Domination, Los Boricuas, and the Disciples of Apocalypse, Steve Austin was becoming the top guy in the company, the Undertaker’s secret of allegedly killing his mother and father was revealed by Paul Bearer, who also revealed that the Undertaker’s brother Kane was alive, and the Hart Foundation had lots of enemies, including, but not limited to, Shawn Michaels, Austin, Ken Shamrock, Goldust, and the Legion of Doom.  There’s also a lingering feud between Mankind and Hunter Hearst Helmsley that has been going on since the King of the Ring.

by Logan Scisco - As more evidence that the Undertaker was playing second fiddle to other superstars during his title reign, the Steve Austin-Shawn Michaels match got top billing heading into this show and it appears on the cover of the video cassette box. - Vince McMahon and Jim Ross are in the booth and they are live from Providence, Rhode Island .

by Logan Scisco - Vince McMahon and Jim Ross are in the booth and they are live from Evansville, Indiana . - Ross interviews Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels, who come out separately and to explosive reactions (although Austin’s is far bigger).  Ross obviously asks if they can co-exist and both men say yes because they don’t like the Hart Foundation.  The Legion of Doom, who are penciled into the first match on tonight’s show, come out to confront the challengers for the tag team champions and get a promise of a title match.