- I've found a guy on Dailymotion with a bunch of old RAW's from the 1998-1999 time frame. This is one of them.

WWF RAW- October 10, 1998

- This would happen to be the show right after Breakdown 1998. If anyone remembers that show, they'd know the controversy surrounding WWF Title. In the triple threat mainevent Undertaker and Kane pinned Steve Austin at the same time- therefore the title is held up.

The show starts off with McMahon arriving in a wheelchair. This is after the "Paging Doctor Austin" incident where McMahon got beat up in the hospital.

Anyway, onto our first match.

The New Age Outlaws vs. LOD 2000- Tag Team Title Match

LOD here, is of course, Animal and Droz. This was during the time frame where Hawk was recovering from his drug problems/addiction. In kayfabe terms Droz was added as a member because he was. In real life Droz's addition was a "just in case" plan to make sure the WWF had a back up plan in case Hawk relapsed and became unable to perform.

Droz and Road Dogg start. Dogg gets muscled to the corner. Droz breaks and gets cheapshotted. Dogg tries a whip, its reversed, Droz with a leapfrog and a powerslam. Animal gets the tag. He comes in with an armlock. He wrenches the arm. Dogg muscles him to the corner and Billy gets the tag in. Billy comes in with some punching. Sideheadlock, Animal shoots him off and Billy goes down off a shoulderblock. Back up, Animal gets a running shoulderblock. Billy takes a whip, hiptoss attempt, Billy counters with a pretty nasty rolling DDT. Dogg gets the tag back in. A combination drop toehold/kneedrop followed by a Billy legdrop goes nowhere as DOA and Paul Ellering run in to attack Hawk, who was doing commentary for the match. Droz and Animal head out and brawl with them leading to the match being thrown out.

As LOD and DOA are fighting on the floor the Headbangers run in and deck Road Dogg with a stereo.

Winners: LOD- Probably disqualification.

Rating: DUD- Complete nothing match. Obviously this was here to set up LOD/DOA and Ellering and The Outlaws/'Bangers for Judgment Day which was right around the corner.

- Its announced that Triple H was stripped of his Intercontinental Title by an angry Vince McMahon the week before. Therefore RAW tonight will hold a one night Intercontinental Title tournament.

"The Lethal Weapon" Steve Blackman vs. Ken Shamrock- Intercontinetal Title Tournament

This is a first round Intercontinental tournament match. The story here is that Blackman is recovering from knee surgery, but was forced to wrestle by McMahon.

Its a real shame Steve Blackman could never really develop a personality. Because he could've been something big with his skills if he couldv'e found some way to connect with the fans. I'm just saying.....

Both guys go face to face to start. Kenny starts out quickly with some punching and some kneestrikes. Blackman takes a whip across, ducks a clothesline and hits a karate kick combination followed by a dropkick to knock Shamrock down. Back up, Shamrock gets whipped off. Drop toehold. Blackman hits a running elbow strike as Shamrock's getting to his knees. That gets two.

Shamrock gets whipped across again. Blackman tries a leapfrog but gets powerslammed instead. Shamrock works over the injured knee with some rudimentary leg work. Shamrock kicks away and then drops a knee. Shamrock with a kneedrop to the injured knee. Shamrock continues to pound on the injured knee. Blackman takes a bodyslam. In the corner Shamrock lays in some kicks, first to the gut and then to the injured knee. Blackman reveses a corner whip, but can't seem to follow up. Shamrock tries a charge but eats a light clothesline instead.

Back up, Shamrock gets whipped and catches a jumping shoulderblock. Blackman stands back up, and stalks Shamrock but before Blackman can do anything Shamrock grapevines the injured leg and gets the submission win with a leglock.

Winner: Ken Shamrock

Rating: 1/2*- Not much to say here. Acceptably good. About what you could expect from an Attitude Era midcard match on RAW.

Postmatch, the Blue Blzaer hits the ring laying out Shamrock and kicking away at Blackman.

Val Venis (w/ Terri Runnels) vs. "Marvelous" Marc Mero (W/ Jacquleline)- Intercontinental Title Tournament

These two could have a really solid match.

Lockup to start. Venis goes to the arm. Mero reverses into a hammerlock. Venis elbows his way out, gets some punches and a big corner whip. Mero reverses but charges into a boot. Venis tries a clothesline but gets drop toeheld. The same thing happens to Mero moments later. Venis goes the arm. Venis reverses a whip. Mero ducks two clotheslines but eats a powerslam off the ropes. That gets two.

Back up, Venis with a double underhook and some knees followed by an underhook suplex. That gets two. Back up, Mero whipped across and Venis catches a kick to the mush as he sets to early. Mero spikes Venis with a DDT for a two count. Back up, Mero hits a whip and a backdrop. Mero punches away and whips Venis to the corner. Mero hits a Samoan Drop. Meanwhile Jacqueline distracts the referee as Terri distracts Mero. Why again is Jacqueline distracting the ref when her man looks set to win it?

Moments later Mero turns around into a Perfect-Plex for three.

Winner: Val Venis

Rating: *1/2- Fun little match. The stupid antics of Jacqueline kind of hurt it though. And like I said before, it could've been a bit longer.

- Venis/Shamrock meet in the quarter-finals now. That should be pretty good.

Mankind vs. Mark Henry- Intercontinental Title Tournament

- This is Mark Henry nearing his "Sexual Chocolate" phase. So, we get to hear him read a little poem for his crush Chyna before the match.

To the action; Lockup to start. Henry muscles Mankind to the corner and hammers away a bit. As Henry wallops Mankind we see Chyna sauntering down the ramp. Mankind hammers his way back into things, but gets shoved out of the corner. Mankind recovers quickly and continues with the punching. Henry simply shrugs him off and runs him over with a big clothesline. Back up, Mankind gets whipped across. Henry catches him with a sloppy looking press slam. Either Henry couldn't get his grip properly or Mankind slipped off on accident, but something went wrong. Henry follows that up with a splash to Mankind's leg. Mankind tries to stand but Henry simply kicks him in the injured leg. Henry elbowdrops the leg a couple times. Back up, Mankind gets bodyslammed. Its now that Henry tries a second rope splash and Mankind moves to avoid it. Mankind punches away, a whip is reversed and Mankind's leg goes out on him.

It must be tired from carrying this match.

Back up again, Mankind gets whipped across. He ducks a clothesline and catches Henry with a boot and a double-arm DDT and finishes Henry off with the Mandible Claw (after removing his shoe to get socko) moments later.

Winner: Mankind

Rating: 3/4*- Mark Henry sucks but at least Mick gave it the old college try.

Postmatch, Chyna bitches out Mark. Poor guy can't even get a date from Chyna.....

(Loser....... :D)

- We cut backstage to see Stone Cold arriving in a cement truck. Gee, Vince's got a nice new car (that he arrived in earlier in the show) and Austin has a cement truck. I have No idea what's going to happen.....

Backstage, the stooges act, well, like stooges. In a "comedic" moment Sargeant Slaughter tries to stand up and trips over Vince's injured foot.

Back to the action- and its Jeff Jarrett wrestling X-Pac in an IC Tournament First Round Match. This could be pretty good.

Jeff Jarrett vs. X-Pac- Intercontinental Title Tournament

Jarrett jumpstarts the match with a clothesline to start. He stomps away. X-Pac eats some turnbuckle. X-Pac eats a pretty hard corner whip. X-Pac fights back with some chops. X-Pac gets whipped to the corner, but kicks his way out and knocks Jarrett down with a clothesline. Back up, in a moment of seeming miscomunication Jarrett slaps X-Pac but the X-punk sells it like a punch. X-Pac takes a whip and a high backdrop. Jarrett stomps away. X-Pac reverses another whip, Jarrett goes underneath, misses a clothesline and gets knocked down with a big spinkick. Back up, Jarrett gets whipped across and eats a flipping clothesline. X-Pac tries to follow up with a top-rope move but gets crotched by Jarrett. Jarrett goes up to punch him but X-Pac punches him off. X-Pac misses a big flipping senton. Jarrett tries to apply the figure four but gets rolled up for two. Jarrett recovers and lands a quick clothesline. Back up, Jarrett with a whip, X-Pac ducks a clothesline but gets stuffed with a Samoa Joe style powerslam for two.

Back up, Pac gets whipped to the corner. He avoids a charge and lays in with some hard martial arts kicks capped off with a jumping one to the head, and in the process knocks the ref down. The Pacster tries a bronco buster, but Jarrett gets the boot up. Ouch... With Pac down Jarrett goes for his guitar, but when he opens the case he finds Al Snow's head.

(You know what I mean <_<)

Distracted, X-Pac roles Jarrett up for the pin.

Winner: X-Pac

Rating: *1/2- Nothing really special, but it was solid. These two have been wrestling each other off and on since 1994 so I'd hope they could put something together.

- Backstage, Stone Cold destroys Vince's new car with the cement truck.

- Austin comes inside now and cuts a promo about being a referee for Undertaker/Kane at the upcoming Pay-Per-View. McMahon rolls out in a wheelchair flanked by police with dogs, and a Bossman-looking guy in a black mask. With Austin held back McMahon announces Austin will wrestle tonight, in a tag match with the Rock as his partner against The Undertaker and Kane. McMahon also threatens Austin saying "he's going to need eyes in the back if his head".

After that we're back to the action.

And its gonna be a pretty good one.

Val Venis (w/ Terri Runnels) vs. Ken Shamrock- Intercontinental Title Tournament Semi-Final

Shamrock jumpstarts the match early, attacking Venis on the ramp. Venis fights back, but eats steps off a whip reversal. Venis eats some steps again before being thrown back inside. Shamrock stomps away for a moment. Venis takes a corner whip followed by a big clothesline. Shamrock hits a bodyslam and locks in the camel clutch. Shamrock breaks it and hits a hard crossface shot. Shamrock with a choke over the second rope followed by a kick to the back. Venis mounts (ha-ha...) a momentary comeback with a series of forearms but runs into a hard shot from Shamrock. Shamrock tries to follow up but runs into a big boot. Venis charges himself right into a short clothesline. Shamrock covers for two. Back up, Shamrock hits a floatover vertical suplex for another two. Shamrock hits a couple of knees to the back followed by a back-suplex. Venis escapes a Boston crab by getting to the ropes, but Shamrock stays on the attack with a knee to the back. Shamrock works the back for a moment. Back up, Venis reverses a whip and gets his running knee to the gut spot, he does it again and hits a Russian legsweep. Venis stops to do his little thrusting taunt but gets shoved off. Venis recovers with a running boot and a forearm. Venis gets a backelbow and an elbow drop in succession for two. Back up, Shamrock avoids a clothesline and hits an odd looking front chopblock before locking in the anklelock for the submission win.

Winner: Ken Shamrock

Rating: **3/4- Call it generous if you want to, but this was a pretty damn good match. And they gave it enough time to really build to something, rather than racing straight to the finish.

- Ken Shamrock advances to the finals, by the way.

Our next match is X-Pac vs. Mankind

Mankind vs. X-Pac- Intercontinental Title Tournament Semi Final

X-Pac goes to the headlock to start. Mankind counters with a back-suplex. In the corner, Mankind pounds Pac down with a series of right hands. Pac gets whipped across, he ducks a clothesline leading to an odd moment, where Pac hits Mankind and simply bounces off. To the corner, Pac eats some turnbuckle. Pac takes a corner whip. A Mankind charge is countered with a rather sloppy looking spin kick. Back up, Pac's on the offensive with some punches, but gets leveraged out to the floor. Mankind follows him out and X-Pac goes to the stairs. Mankind stupidly goes for a chair, but the ref talks him out of using it. Mankind continues abusing X-Pac with a headbutt and some punches. X-Pac takes a corner whip, and Mankind runs into a boot. Mankind tries another charge for the same result. Mankind tries a third one and Pac moves and lands a couple spinkicks. Pac goes to the Bronco Buster, but turns around into a big clothesline. Mankind goes to some mounted punches before pulling his own hair out. Back up, X-Pac takes a nasty bump off a whip. Mankind scores with a running kneelift that sends Pac to the floor. Mankind hits his baseball slide neckbreaker as we're told that Shamrock is heading to the ring.

Mankind tosses Pac back in, but gets caught with a chairshot to the knee from Shamrock as he's crawling back inside. With Mankind injured X-Pac rolls him up for three.

Winner: X-Pac

Rating: 1/2*- I was wondering how exactly they were going to get around booking Mankind and Shamrock at the Pay-Per-View and the potential for blowing it on an episode of RAW. Otherwise a nothing really special kind of match.

- X-Pac advances to the finals, by the way.

After the match Shamrock attacks X-Pac with a belly-to-belly suplex and a triangle choke. Officials come down to try to break it up, but can't.

As we come back from commercial X-Pac is still laid out. He says he wants to continue.

X-Pac vs. Ken Shamrock- Intercontinental Title Match

Shamrock stomps away and spikes Pac with a DDT. Shamrock drops an elbow on the neck. Bakc up, X-Pac eats some turnbuckle. Shamrock with a couple kicks and a snapmare. Shamrock with a kneedrop on the neck. X-Pac mounts a comeback with some chops and punches. Shamrocks stops him with a big clothesline. Shamrock rings the arm and hits Pac with a big back kick. Shamrock drops Pac across the ropes neck first. Shamrock drags Pac out to the ring apron and delivers a few forearms to the neck. Dragon sleeper by Shamrock with X-Pac still in the ring. The ref counts Shamrock down on the floor; he breaks at four. Back inside, Shamrock continues to hammer away. Shamrock with a whip, X-Pac ducks a clothesline and hits a spinkick. X-Pac gets himself fired up and fires off a few quick rights. A whip and a spin kick follow. X-Pac hammers Shamrock down in the corner and gets the Bronco Buster. Shamrock recovers quickly. X-Pac attempts a high kick, but its countered into the ankle lock. Pac crawls to the ropes to break it. Shamrock simply reapplies it and pulls X-Pac to the center of the ring and X-Pac taps.

- Ken Shamrock is your new Intercontinental Champion.

Winner: Ken Shamrock

Rating: *1/2- Very good match. Both men played their roles really well. Shamrock was the big, mean, nasty dick heel. X-Pac was the explosive, underdog babyface. Both guys have had better matches, but this one was just fine.

Up next its Stone Cold and The Rock vs. Kane and The Undertaker

Stone Cold and The Rock vs. Kane and The Undertaker

- This is your mainevent.

Its a four way brawl to start. Undertaker and Rock are squared off, as are Austin and Kane. The Rock takes a corner whip, but explodes out of the corner with a clothesline knocking down Undertaker. Austin punches Kane over the top rope. He gives chase with a double axehandle. In the ring, Rock gets a backelbow on 'Taker. A Rock/Austin double backelbow knocks 'Taker down. Back up, 'Taker eats some buckles. 'Taker gets whipped across and eats a clothesline. That gets a one count. Austin continues to slug away, Undertaker nails a clothesline after ducking Austin's following a whip. And here comes Paul Bearer. In the ring, Austin is down and covered for two. Back up, 'Taker rings the arm and hammers away. 'Taker gets a bodyslam and makes the tag out. 'Taker drops an elbow for two. Austin goes to the buckles. 'Taker walks away to yell at Paul Bearer and Austin kicks away at him as he stalks back over to him. Austin goes to some right hands and some turnbuckle smashes. He drops down and drags 'Taker out and smashes his leg on the post. Back inside, Austin tags out. Rocky comes in with some punching. He gets a bodyslam and goes for the People's Elbow. 'Taker sits up, Rock stops, kicks him back down, and drops it anyway. That gets two as Kane breaks it. Rock with a punch to 'Taker's taters. Back up, Undertaker misses a clothesline and walks right into a Rock Bottom. Kane steps in to interfere, Rock lets 'Taker go and attacks Kane. He turns around into a 'Taker chokeslam. 'Taker tags out, Kane comes in with a short clothesline. Kane smashes away on the Rock as D'Lo and Mark Henry come walking down the ramp. At the time Rock was embroiled in a feud with Mark Henry. Inside Rock eats a turnbuckle smash.

Kane continues to hammer away, before tagging out. 'Taker comes in and scores with a big clothesline. 'Taker stomps away and chokes Rocky. Rock goes to the buckle again, and 'Taker hammers away. 'Taker chokes away and then slugs away some more. 'Taker wrings the arm of Rock and tags out. Kane comes in with some punching. Kane with a bodyslam and a legdrop. That gets two as Austin comes in to break it up. Rock tries to make a comeback with some rights but Kane shuts him down with a throat thrust. Kane with a whip, Rock ducks a clothesline lands a DDT. Rock stands up and gets run right over with a clothesline. Kane hangs Rock over the top and then heads up top. Kane lands a flying, err something, for two. Back up and Kane tags out. 'Taker clubbers away for a bit, and then cheapshots Austin off the apron. Austin tries to come in, distracting the ref and allowing Kane and 'Taker to both stand on Rock's throat.

'Taker tosses Rock to the floor. Kane drops Rock over the barricade. 'Taker heads outside to clubber Rocky. Back in, 'Taker tags out. Kane gets a boot. Snapmare and Kane locks in a chinlock. Apparently the video runs out here. According to the guy who uploaded it, Big Bossman redebuts and attacks Austin and the match is thrown out.

Winners: No Contest

Rating: 1/2*- Pretty fun little match. I'm rating it only on what I've seen, but it was a fun Attitude Era brawl.

Final Thoughts: Your typcial show from this time frame; a couple nothing matches, a big brawl for a main event, and Austin doing something crazy. The tournament kind of helped the show stay on a streak of having matches instead of a lot of angle development, and that's good. Take it or leave it.

Reccomended: Yes- If you're a fan of this time period or any of the people involved go for it.

Time for a DEBATE: was this the highest X-Pac ever got in singles competition? Top contender to the IC belt.

I'm sure all you X-Pac fans cans discuss amongst yourselves.

I'd agree. Despite his lengthy runs with the European Championship he was never really that credible of an upper mid-card guy. It was probably his size that held him back, disallowing any Intercontinental Title run.

So yeah, unless you count his two or three token WWF Title shots, which no one thought he'd ever win, you'd be right with saying this is essentially the highest he'd ever get in the WWF.