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.”

- 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 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 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 -Not sure if there are any Fantasy Golf players on the Blog, but if you are, feel free to join my Head-to-Head League entering its eighth year.  It is located on Yahoo Fantasy Golf.  Group ID#806, Password:  shark.  Now, on with the review... - Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler are in the booth and they are taped from Dallas, Texas.  This is the go home show for the Survivor Series.

by Logan Scisco - A video package recaps Shane McMahon ranting at his father on last week’s show.  Will Vince hand over the company to his son tonight? - Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler are doing commentary and they are live from Houston, Texas .

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 - A video package recaps Vince McMahon firing Steve Austin last night at Judgment Day. - Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler are in the booth and they are live from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

by Logan Scisco - Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler are in the booth and they are live from Chicago, Illinois .

by Logan Scisco - A video package recaps the events from Breakdown to last week’s show concerning the WWF title .  Jim Ross tells us that Vince McMahon has invited Steve Austin to RAW.  What does it all mean? -Vince McMahon is shown driving a Corvette into the arena, flipping off a security attendant for not leaving the garage door up.  The stooges help him get into his wheelchair, although Commissioner Slaughter nearly shuts the Corvette door on McMahon’s leg. - Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler are doing commentary and they are live from Uniondale, New York.  This is our go home show for Judgment Day.

by Logan Scisco - A video package recaps Steve Austin crashing Vince McMahon’s championship ceremony last week and Kane and the Undertaker’s subsequent attack on McMahon. - Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler are doing commentary and they are taped from East Lansing, Michigan .

by Logan Scisco - A video package replays the lead-in video for last night’s Breakdown pay-per-view. - Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler are in the booth and they are live from Detroit, Michigan.

by Logan Scisco So after a three week absence my column has returned.  Graduate school caught up with me and I had a litany of papers and book readings due that prohibited me from blocking out three hours to watch this show.  I got all of that out of the way, though - The WWF must have had a history buff on the production staff at this time because the video package for this card features clips of John F. Kennedy, Benito Mussolini, and George Patton.  It is like a tame version of Mr. McMahon’s Utopia, but it is very effective at getting you excited for the show. - Jim Ross and Jerry “the King” Lawler are in the booth and they are live from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

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 - Mankind is shown smashing up the boiler room underneath the arena and ranting about something. - A video package recaps Mankind getting hit over the head with a chair by the Undertaker on last week’s show and how the Undertaker, dressed as Kane, attacked Mankind on Sunday Night Heat. - Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler are in the booth and they are live from Omaha, Nebraska.

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.