- Pictures and commentary from last night’s Rock Bottom pay-per-view are aired. - Michael Cole and Jerry “The King” Lawler are doing commentary and they are live from Tacoma, Washington .

So after a three months absence, I have returned so that the Blog can finish up looking back at 1998 when the World Wrestling Federation finally turned the tide against World Championship Wrestling.  When we left off, the Rock was tearing it up as the newly crowned corporate heel champion, but he has Mankind in hot pursuit of the title that he thought was in the bag at Survivor Series.  Steve Austin was still feuding with the Undertaker, something that segments of the audience are growing tired of, and the New Age Outlaws teased joining the Corporation before realigning with D-Generation X.  The Corporation still has Commissioner Shawn Michaels in their pocket, though.  And Debra McMichael, newly arrived from WCW, has reunited with Jeff Jarrett, ignoring the fact that he called her a “dumb blonde” when he returned to the company in 1997 .

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 - A video package recaps all the major happenings on last week’s show:  Steve Austin and the Rock fighting for the WWF title and Ken Shamrock joining the Corporation. - Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler are doing commentary and they are taped from Columbus, Ohio.  Ross lets us know that Austin suffered a blackout in San Jose, California at a WWF event.

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!!!

by Logan Scisco - Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler are doing commentary and they are live from St. Louis, Missouri.  As a side note, this is the first Survivor Series pay-per-view not to feature an elimination match of any kind. - Vince McMahon is at ringside with the WWF title and does introductions for the first match.

by Logan Scisco - A video package recaps Steve Austin taking Vince McMahon hostage on last week’s show.  What was in the letter that Austin gave to McMahon at the end of last week’s show? - Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler are in the booth and they are taped from Madison, Wisconsin.

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 - Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler are in the booth and they are live from New York, New York.

by Logan Scisco - Michael Cole narrates a video package that recaps last night’s Fully Loaded pay-per-view. - Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler are in the booth and they are live from Anaheim, California.  One of the best signs, in a sea of them, is one that reads “Bret Hart = Work” near the front row.

by Logan Scisco - A video package recaps the Undertaker becoming the number one contender to the WWF championship on last week’s show. - Jim Ross and Jerry “the King” Lawler are doing commentary and they are live from East Rutherford, New Jersey.

by Logan Scisco - A small video package is shown for the Junkyard Dog, who passed away in an automobile accident. - Jim Ross and Michael Cole are in the booth and they are taped from Rockford, Illinois . - Vince McMahon, Pat Patterson, and Gerald Brisco come out in black tie attire since McMahon is being recognized for charity work tonight.  McMahon argues that we only know the “public” Vince, but tonight he will be named “Humanitarian of the Year.”  He adds that Steve Austin will be joining them for the presentation.  This was a subtle promo by McMahon and full of exaggeration.  1 for 1

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...

- A video package recaps the big events at last night’s WrestleMania pay-per-view. - Jim Ross and Michael Cole are in the booth and they are live from Albany, New York.

- Jim Ross and Jerry “the King” Lawler are in the booth and they are live from Boston, Massachusetts .

by Logan Scisco - Vince McMahon saying that Steve Austin winning the WWF championship would be a corporate nightmare on last week’s show is replayed.  Austin will have a rebuttal tonight! - We are really due for a new RAW opening because the original video has some guys like Sid in it that are no longer part of the company.  To compensate, the company is having to splice in lots of recent footage. - Jim Ross and Michael Cole are doing commentary and they are taped from Tucson, Arizona.  This is the go home show for WrestleMania XIV.

by Logan Scisco - Jim Ross, Kevin Kelly, and Michael Cole are in the booth and they are live from Waco, Texas.

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 - The presidential sex scandal parodies continue, as Sunny is dressed like Marilyn Monroe and sings “Happy Birthday” to Classie Freddie Blassie.  It was Blassie’s eightieth birthday. - The D-Generation X beatdown of Steve Austin on last week’s show is recapped in a video package. - Jim Ross, Kevin Kelly, and Michael Cole are in the booth and they are taped from Evansville, Indiana.  I will be really happy when we get rid of this three man commentary team in hour one.  Listening to it is like Ross fighting a verbal handicap match.

by Logan Scisco - D-Generation X gives a special report, with WWF Champion Shawn Michaels and Triple H breaking down what language they will use on different parts of the show.  Michaels parodies President Clinton by saying that he was “up all night” with his intern. - Jim Ross, Kevin Kelly, and Michael Cole are doing commentary and they are live from Indianapolis, Indiana .