MANKIND VS. STEVE AUSTIN

 This match follows the WWF Women’s Championship match (reviewed here). Mankind makes his way out first; he is the current WWF Hardcore Champion. We go through Mankind’s matches so far, and it’s safe to say that he’s had an easy ride so far. Steve Austin makes his way out, and he’s on the other side of the scales. Austin limps out to the ring, and it looks like his left arm is hurt too.

Jim Ross & Jerry “The King” Lawler are on commentary for this match, and Howard Finkel is our ring announcer.

MANKIND VS. STEVE AUSTIN

(Deadly Games Semi-Final)

WWF Survivor Series 1998 (15th November 1998)

  Steve Austin starts the match by kicking and punching Mankind in the corner before removing his jacket and shoes. This is not a Tuxedo match. Austin knocks Mankind down, hitting him with his own shoe.

  Mankind is placed across the middle rope so Austin can hit what Wrestling Bios calls the “running teabag”, and I don’t have a better name for it. The fans start booing as Mr. McMahon is wheeled out by Pat Patterson, Gerald Brisco and Sargeant Slaughter are there too. Back in the ring, Stone Cold sends Mankind’s head into the turnbuckle until Mankind reverses the momentum. But we miss parts of the sequence because we have to see progress of how close McMahon and Co. are to ringside. Mankind stomps on Austin before utilising some chokes and shots to Austin’s throat. JR mentions that Mankind had his fingers extended as Mankind hits his running knee on Austin, who’s slumped in the corner. Mankind hits Austin with his dress shoe, but Austin is sent off the ropes, and he hits the Lou Thesz press. Austin hits the running elbow but Mankind shoves away the Stunner attempt and goes out to the floor and sprints up the entranceway, but he is brought back to ringside. Steve Austin meets them partway and sends Brisco and Patterson’s heads into each other. I can hear Gorilla Monsoon calling that a Noggin Knocker.

Steve Austin knees Mankind in the midsection, but Mankind backdrops out of a piledriver, with Austin landing on concrete. Mankind sends Austin into the ring steps. He gets back in the ring but interrupts the count and sends Austin into the crowd, Mankind is sent back over the barrier to ringside, but he sends Austin’s head into the ring steps. Mr. McMahon looks pissed off as Mankind brings it back into the ring and covers Austin. 1,2, kickout at 2.9! Mankind sits on Austin’s back for the chinlock. Austin makes it back to his feet and escapes with elbow shots to the ribs, Steve Austin and Mankind exchange right hands. Austin sends Mankind off the ropes, Mankind ducks the first clothesline, but we have a double-down. They both make it to a vertical base, Austin backs Mankind into the corner, Mankind reverses the irish whip but gets knocked down as Steve Austin rebounds out of the corner. Steve Austin stomps a Mudhole into Mankind in the corner, then leaves the ring. He pulls Mankind towards the corner by the ankles but Mankind pulls Austin into the ringpost.

Mankind sends Austin back into the ring before fetching a chair. Steve Austin is on his feet in the corner and he kicks the chair into Mankind’s face. Mankind slumps across the middle rope but he avoids the running teabag. Austin landed on the chair, but he doesn’t have a chance to sell it before Mankind hits the double-underhook DDT on the chair. Fuck disqualifications for this match. Steve Austin kicks out just before 3! Mankind calls for the piledriver, but Austin is able to counter, backdropping Mankind on to the chair. Austin hits a Stunner! It seems to have worked, McMahon is stunned. McMahon and Slaughter stop the referee counting 3. Mr. McMahon decks the referee as Slaughter holds him, then McMahon and Sgt. Slaughter get some kicks in. Steve Austin has his attention turned to ringside, so Mankind attacks from behind. Another Stunner attempt is countered, Austin is sent off the ropes into the Mandible Claw! Austin gets out of it with a low blow to set up another Stone Cold Stunner and he covers again. Shane McMahon slides into the ring (he had just been made a “lowly referee” he refuses to count the 3 and flips Austin the double-bird as he gets out of the ring.

JR is livid that Austin should have won the match twice already as Mankind reverses an irish whip and knocks Austin down. Gerald Brisco gets in the ring and hits a terrible chair shot as Slaughter holds Austin. Mankind covers for the cheap win.

WINNER: MANKIND

This was a good match until the last 10 seconds. It all made sense for the story at the time, but the interference from wrestlers that were relevant a decade previous was just as annoying at this point in time as it is in present day wrestling to me. Not their best work, but it was going to have limitations from the format. [*1/2] 3/10

After the match, Steve Austin follows McMahon and friends backstage, he borrows a car from someone in the parking lot and follows McMahon’s limo before we throw back to commentary

TEAM HART FOUNDATION VS, TEAM STRIKE FORCE

I haven' completed the tags in this match, but there were 30 just from the participants and teams, so I'll get back to it. I just wanted to get the review out there at this point. 

Before the match we see a promo from Team Hart Foundation with Craig DeGeorge. Bobby Heenan does a lot of the talking as the teams shout in the background. Jim Neidhart says this team doesn’t need luck before we go back to The Brain. Jimmy Hart arrives on camera and says someone is going to get hurt. Bobby Hennan says the Bolsheviks are already in the ring with Slick and we cut to the ring for the Russian National Anthem, which Jesse stands up for. Ventura says he got to stretch his legs, whereas Gorilla Monsoon didn’t.

  Demolition are seen making their entrance first, followed by Johnny V and The Dream Team, The Islanders are lead out by Heenan and that just leaves The Hart Foundation and Jimmy Hart. We go to Gene Okerlund backstage with Team Strike Force, and the champions do all of the talking, saying they’ll win the tag division showcase. The British Bulldogs make their way out first with Matilda, then The Young Stallions, The Rougeau Brothers, The Killer Bees and finally the WWF Tag Team Champions and captains, Strike Force. If one member of a tag team (for example, Tito Santana) is eliminated, then both members of the team (in this case, his Strike Force partner, Rick Martel) also have to leave the match. The visual of 18 guys being on the apron and covering most of the ring is impressive.

 Gorilla Monsoon & Jesse Ventura are on commentary for this match, Howard Finkel is our ring announcer

TEAM STRIKE FORCEVS. TEAM HART FOUNDATION

WWF Survivor Series 1987 (26th November 1987)

  Rick Martel starts with Nikolai Volkoff, who gets the early advantage with strikes, including a headbutt. Martel is sent off the ropes but he slips out the back of the slam attempt and rolls Volkoff up for 2.

  Rick Martel connects with punches, which Ventura calls illegal closed fists but the referee isn’t bothered. Team Strike Force make room for Volkoff to hit the ropes from an irish whip but Volkoff knocks Martel down before slamming him and tagging in Boris Zhukov. Rick Martel rolls out of the way of the elbow drop and connects with a drop kick, Rick Martel hits a running crossbody, but only gets 1. Zhukov is sent off the ropes into a backdrop and Tito Santana gets the tag. He covers but Zhukov kicks out at 1 as Jesse mentions that so far they’re only tagging in their regular partners. Gorilla mentions that it wasn’t a problem when the Russians did it, but Ventura can’t notice every detail, can he? Boris Zhukov has been getting some shine with basic strikes on Martel. Zhukov sends Santana into the ropes, Tito ducks the clothesline attempt and hits the Running Forearm to eliminate The Bolsheviks in short order. Demolition’s Ax jumps Santana before he can make it to his feet and slams him to the mat. Ax tries the jumping elbow drop but eats shit, allowing Jacques Rougeau to tag in. He connects with right hands and sends Ax into the ropes, before heading in the opposite direction for a jumping back elbow. Ax tags in Dino Bravo, who walks into a dropkick, Jacques wrings the arm before tagging in Brunzell to get another rotation. B. Brian Blair gets another immediate tag and comes off the second rope, hitting Bravo’s arm.

  Davey Boy Smith tags in and headbutts Bravo down. Smash gets the tag, he’s met before he can get in the ring but he goes toe to toe with British Bulldog before Tito Santana gets the tag. Tito Santana takes it to Smash before sending him into Dynamite Kid’s boot in the corner. Kid tags in, connecting with chops and headbutts but Smash cuts him off with a knee to the midsection. Haku gets the tag, exchanging chops and forearms with Dynamite Kid. Haku rakes the eyes and Jim Brunzell tags in again, taking down Haku. B. Brian is in for some teamwork from The Killer Bees. Blair kicks at Haku’s hamstring until he tags in Neidhart, who walks into a drop toehold. Paul Roma gets the tag, working Neidhart’s legs with elbow drops. Jim Neidhart slams Roma and tags in Smash, a quick slam before Demolition tag between themselves. Smash clubs at Roma’s back. Paul Roma is slammed in the heels’ corner and Haku is back in, sending Roma off the ropes into a running clothesline. Tama tags in, exchanging shots with Paul Roma and moving across the ring, allowing Jim Powers to get the tag. Back across the ring for each member of Demolition to get some offence in, Jacque Rougeau gets the tag but he’s no match for Ax. Ax ducks too early and Jacques Rougeau rolls over his back and takes his chance, going at Ax. Ax reverses an irish whip, Jacques tries to rebound with the crossbody but Ax moves out of the way and covers for the elimination. That’s 4 vs. 4, if you’re counting.

  Dynamite Kid is back in the ring, he hits a snap suplex on Demolition Ax but it’s covered by the bodies on the apron. Tama gets the tag and gets sent into the top turnbuckle by Dynamite Kid. Kid sends Tama across the ring and runs into his boot in the corner. Jim Powers tags in before Tama can take much control and Tama’s head is sent into the top turnbuckle again. Powers sends Tama into the corner but Tama runs through Powers with a clothesline. Neidhart back in for a battle of the Jims. He lifts Powers into an argentine backbreaker position and tags in Haku, who dives from the top rope with a double ax handle. Jim Powers kicks out before the referee can get down to count. Paul Roma gets the tag, after a short burst of offence Roma gets his eyes raked, Ax is back in, striking at Roma, but Paul Roma connects with right hands in the corner. Ax is sent into the opposite corner but he lifts his boot into Roma’s chin. Greg Valentine assists from the apron before getting the tag and hitting a shoulder breaker for 2. Valentine lifts Roma for a suplex and turns with him for the landing before tagging in his regular partner. Dino Bravo hits a gutwrench suplex and a leg drop after the New Dream Team utilise the 5-count. Smash and B. Brian Blair are tagged into the match whilst the referee tries to restore order, Smash charges at Blair in the corner, but collides with it sternum first. Dynamite Kid back in, he sends Smash off the ropes into a clothesline and covers for 2

  Dynamite Kid sends Smash back off the ropes but he ducks too early and gets kicked in the chest. They go over to the Heels’ corner and Demolition double-team Dynamite Kid, tying him in the ropes. Smash shoves the referee and that’s enough for their disqualification. Bret Hart enters the match, dropping his elbow across the back of Dynamite Kid’s head and hitting a piledriver for 2. Bret connects with European uppercuts in the corner, Dynamite cuts him off with a shot to the midsection and a headbutt. Bret kicks at Dynamite in the corner but runs his own shoulder into the ring post. Jim Powers gets tagged in, followed shortly by Tama on the other side. Tama knocks Powers down with a jumping clothesline but misses the Vader Bomb in the corner. Rick Martel comes back in as Ventura mentions that they haven’t been involved for a while. He sends Tama off the ropes into a backdrop, Tama begs off into the corner but an alley-oop sends him into the air and back down on the mat. Martel is getting a serious reaction here. Rick Martel dropkicks Tama and puts him in the boston crab, but Neidhart gets the pin, knocking Martel from behind with a clothesline and covering for 2. Rick Martel is sent into the turnbuckles, but he gets both of his feet up and that gives him time to tag in Santana. Jim Neidhart reverses an irish whip but gets caught with the Flying Forearm. Bret Hart breaks up the pin at 2 with an elbow drop from the middle rope and that’s enough to eliminate Strike Force.

  Paul Roma is legal now, locking up with Neidhart to tag back out to Powers. Neidhart tags out to Haku, who hits a dropkick for 2. Greg Valentine tags in, connecting with elbows to the top of Powers’ head. Jim Powers tries a sunset flip as Valentine ducks too early, but it comes to nought as Valentine connects with a right hand. Valentine slams Powers and rebounds off the ropes for a forearm shot for 2. Greg Valentine tries to hold Powers’ shoulders down, but Powers gets his knees up as Valentine tries to use his weight. Neidhart is back in, he drops Powers over the top rope and tags in Haku. Haku hits a thrust kick and a backbeaker for 2. Valentine is back in as Ventura says The Young Stallions are tough to pin. Powers is sent off the ropes into a back elbow/chop combination from Valentine and Haku, respectively. Valentine covers again for 2. Jim Powers reverses a suplex with one of his own, but Valentine trips Powers into the heel corner to tag in Bret. Bret Hart hits a backbreaker as Tama comes off the top rope with a shot to Powers. Bret Hart hits a suplex for 2, but Powers tags out to Roma. Paul Roma’s early momentum is stopped with a thumb to the eye as Ventura says it’s something he used effectively in his own career. Neidhart makes the tag and the Hart Foundation work over Roma. Greg Valentine is back in with a slam and a clubbing blow from the top rope. Roma kicks out at 2 and tags Powers back in. Ventura calls it a mistake, but I think it’s the only person Roma could reach.

  Bret Hart is tagged in, Valentine holds Powers for a shot to the midsection before leaving the ring. Bret sends Powers off the ropes, Jim Powers holds on, leaving Hart to eat shit on the front dropkick. Dynamite Kid gets the tag, and he sends Bret Hart into the corner, knocking him down and covering for 2, another 2 count for Dynamite off the back suplex before Paul Roma is back in. Roma sends Bret off the ropes into a back elbow, but misses the elbow drop. B. Brian Blair and Haku are tagged in, Blair backdrops Haku and sends him into Dynamite Kid’s head. No Islands Super Head in this match? Davey Boy Smith gets the tag, and Haku is sent off the ropes into a back elbow. Jim Powers is back in, he sends Haku’s head into the top turnbuckle but runs into the corner on the other side of the ring at full speed. Jim Neidhart is in, and he kicks Powers in the midsection before holding a front facelock as he decides who to tag. It was Bret, of course it was. Bret headbutts Powers, who tags out to British Bulldog. Bret backs into his own corner, Bulldog press slams Hart and covers for 2. Bret is beaten back into his own corner. Haku tags in and takes a Running Powerslam for 2. Dynamite Kid gets the tag, going to the middle rope. British Bulldog suplexes Haku, and Dynamite hits a falling headbutt. He seems to have gotten the worst of it because suddenly the Southern Islanders actually do have indestructible heads. Haku eliminates the British Bulldogs with a reverse thrust kick to Dynamite Kid’s throat.

  Paul Roma is back in again, hitting Haku with dropkicks, Haku kicks out of the pin attempt at one, but Roma didn’t hook the leg. Haku rakes at Paul Roma’s face and slams him. Dino Bravo tags in and misses the jumping elbow drop (obviously) Jim Powers tags in (obviously). Dino Bravo is sent into the corner but he catches the monkey flip attempt and drops Powers with an inverted atomic drop. Bravo chops Powers and runs at him with a boot before tagging Valentine back into the match, Valentine connects with a chop as they use the 5-second count. Greg Valentine hits Powers across the back of his head before dropping him throat first onto the top rope. Jim Powers tries to fight back as Bravo is tagged back in but he gets sent into Neidhart’s boot. Neidhart gets the tag and the heels send Powers across the ring, he comes back into a double-team chop and Neidhart covers for 2. Bret Hart is back in, he sends Powers into the turnbuckles to hang him in the Tree of Woe and lays the boots in. The Killer Bees and Roma try to save Powers, but the referee backs them to their corner. Valentine is in now but I can’t tell you if there was a tag or not. I feel like not. Dino Bravo back in, he backdrops Jim Powers without his hands and drops his throat across the top rope. Dino Bravo sends Powers across the ring into a kick to the midsection before hitting a Spinning Sidewalk Slam (I presume that’s his finish from the reaction and the delay to work the crowd.) Greg Valentine gets the tag but Powers kicks out of the Figure Four attempt.

  Paul Roma gets the tag, but Valentine doesn’t notice. Roma interrupts another Figure Four Leglock with a sunset flip to eliminate The New Dream Team. Jim Neidhart is legal now as Jim Brunzell gets the tag. Blair is quickly in, and he hits the ropes, jumping at Neidhart’s arm with an elbow drop. B. Brian Blair gets 2 from a small package. Jim Brunzell is back in, and Neidhart is sent off the ropes into a double back elbow. Brunzell sends Anvil off the ropes again, this time for a high knee. Brunzell covers for 2. Neidhart plants his feet before bringing Brunzell over to the heel corner and tagging in Bret. Jim Brunzell trips Bret, and The Killer Bees work over his legs as Blair is brought back in. B. Brian Blair drives his knees into Bret’s hamstrings before Roma is back in. The babyfaces use the wishbone leg stretch, but Bret is back to his feet. He tries to slow Roma down with a headlock, but gets sent across the ring. Paul Roma goes prone, then leapfrog,s but he’s caught with a right hand. Tama tags in and hits a shot to the top of Roma’s head from the top turnbuckle. Tama knocks Roma down with a headbutt before tagging in Haku. Roma runs into a double elbow and gets slammed by Haku but he avoids the leg drop. Jim Brunzell is tagged in, he slams Haku and connects with the running legdrop, covering for 1. Brunzell takes Haku down with a hip toss and covers him for another quick kickout before Bret gets tagged back in.

  Brunzell connects first with a kick to the gut and he brings Bret over to the babyface corner, tagging in Roma. Ventura questions The Young Stallions’ stamina as they’ve been in the match for a lot of the duration and their inexperience has been a theme on commentary throughout. Paul Roma slams Bret and hits a fist drop from the middle rope for 2. Bret trips Roma and hits a knee in the lower abdomen, Bret Hart gets 2 off a back suplex. Tama is back in, working over Roma’s face for a while. The Islanders knock Roma down with a double headbutt. Paul Roma kicks out at 2 again, but there was less behind it. Haku is sent into the corner, he staggers out into an arm drag, Roma keeps hold of the arm until Haku bombards him with strikes, Haku hits a standing dropkick and tags in Neidhart. Gorilla Monsoon says he wants to see Neidhart do that as Haku sends Paul Roma off the ropes. Neidhart obliges, hitting a dropkick with less height, but still impressive. Neidhart covers but Roma gets his foot on the bottom rope. Jim Neidhart brings Roma back to the middle of the ring with a powerslam and he covers for 2, Bret is back in to send Paul Roma off the ropes, Roma rolls under Bret’s attack and tags Brunzell back in. Jim Brunzell sends Hart into the corner, Bret Hart reverses an irish whip but they clash heads. Haku dropkicks Bret as Brunzell has him up for a slam, but Brunzell rolls through to eliminate The Hart Foundation!

  Haku wastes no time going after Brunzell; he tags in Tama (his only choice now), who chokes Brunzell on the mat. The crowd chant “Weasel” at Bobby Heenan as Tama snapmares Jim Brunzell down to the mat for a trapeze hold. Jim Brunzell makes it to his feet but runs into a back elbow. Haku is back in, he hits a shoulder breaker and stomps Brunzell before covering for 2. Haku snapmares Brunzell down and goes for his own trapeze hold. Brunzell turns into the move but gets cut off with a knee to the midsection. Tama is back in, keeping Brunzell in The Islanders’ corner with a chop. Another snapmare into a nerve hold keeps Brunzell on the mat for a while. Jim Brunzell tries to get over to his corner but is thrown across the ring. Haku gets the tag, he sends Brunzell off the ropes and someone finally learns to duck the back elbow. Jumping Jim gets a sunset flip but Haku kicks his ears at 2, easy way to get cauliflower ear. Haku strikes at Brunzell before getting 2 from a suplex. The Islanders are getting frustrated as Haku sends Brunzell off the ropes. Haku ducks too early, Brunzell catches him with a knee and tags in Jim Powers. Powers gets the early strikes in and sends Haku off the ropes into a backdrop. Paul Roma gets the tag, Powers sends Haku off the ropes and drops to the mat, leaving him to run into a powerslam by Roma.

  Tama breaks up the pin. The Islanders double-team Roma as B. Brian Blair questions the referee, Paul Roma is sent into the corner but ducks the charge sending Haku into the turnbuckles. B. Brian Blair gets the tag but Haku meets him with strikes, Haku sends Blair into Tama’s foot and tags back out. Tama sends Blair off the ropes into a jumping hip attack and slams him but the jumping elbow drop misses again. Jim Brunzell tags in, going after Tama and sending him off the ropes for an attempt at a backdrop. It looks awkward, but the slam on Haku makes up for it. Brunzell sends Tama’s head into Haku’s head and Ventura says it will hurt them since they’re both from the Islands.

  Tama is sent off the ropes into a Standing Dropkick, Haku breaks up the pin at 2, which draws in both Young Stallions. Haku and the Stallions spill to the floor as Brunzell tries to bring Tama down with the sunset flip. B.Brian Blair has the mask on though, and he slingshots into the ring to complete the move, pinning Tama as the illegal man for the win!

WINNERS: TEAM STRIKE FORCE (The Killer Bees and The Young Stallions Survive)

This is a marathon to sit through, but the constant tags and interwoven stories between teams make it fly by. Bret Hart and Dynamite Kid get some good sequences in their time together, as do Bret and Davey Boy Smith. The Young Stallions took A LOT of the heat running through the match, with one long time period in the final third. The Southern Islanders Cranium Power (I’m still not sure what to call it) didn’t kick in until part-way through the match which was strange, but no one seemed like a weak link in the match once the Russians left. The surviving teams both got to look better than their place on the card and the match was a great showcase for the tag team division. [*** 1/2] 7/10

GOLDBERG (C) VS. TRIPLE H

 We all know the story by now: Goldberg won the World Heavyweight Championship a month later than he should have. This is his first PPV defence and third televised defence.

Before the match, we get a recap of the last 2 months. Triple H put a $100,000 bounty on Goldberg. The same thing Harley Race did to Ric Flair in the lead-up to Starrcade 1983 (but it was $25,000 for that feud). Batista returned and Pillmanized Goldberg on the 20/10/2003 episode of Raw to collect the bounty

  Triple H is out first, with Ric Flair by his side. JR mentions Triple H is 0-5 at Survivor Series. Goldberg makes his way out with his ankle taped up from the Batista attack. Triple H attacks as Goldberg gets in the ring, and they exchange right hands. Goldberg backs Triple H in the corner as he gets the best of it, but Triple H reverses an irish whip. I’m pretty sure the bell hasn’t rung to start the match yet, but Goldberg hits a Spear out of the corner anyway. Ric Flair has Earl Hebner distracted in the corner. Flair and Goldberg face off before Ric Flair chops at Goldberg; he might as well have tapped him on the shoulder, though. Goldberg punches Flair and sends him off the ropes into a backdrop. Flair is clotheslined over to the floor.

Jim Ross & Jerry “The King” Lawler  are on commentary for this match, and Howard Finkel  is our ring announcer

GOLDBERG © VS. TRIPLE H

WWE Survivor Series 2003 (16th November 2003)

  The bell rings, with Triple H striking first out of the corner. Goldberg punches him back into the turnbuckles again and changes direction on his irish whip, sending Triple H into the corner and over the top rope to the floor.

  Goldberg follows and bounces Triple H’s head off of the announce table, then the ring steps. Triple H is sent into the steps before they move to the security wall. Triple H’s head meets the top of the wall, and then he gets dropped chest-first across the top. Back in the ring, Triple H begs off before kicking Goldberg in the midsection, but he runs into a military press slam. Goldberg lifts Triple H overhead again but his ankle gives out. Triple H starts utilising chopblocks as Flair jumps on the apron. Triple H dumps Goldberg to ringside, Hebner watches Flair as he gets close to Goldberg. Flair goes to the apron again, keeping Hebner’s back turned as Triple H hits Goldberg’s taped-up ankle with a chair while it is on the steps.

  It’s Triple H’s turn to keep Earl Hebner’s attention as Ric Flair sends Goldberg’s ankle into the ring post before Triple H brings it back into the ring. Triple H hits another chop block and works on Goldberg’s ankle near the ropes before Flair smoothers Goldberg from ringside. More ankle work before Triple H chokes Goldberg across the middle rope, using the 5-count. Goldberg is back to a vertical base, albeit on one foot. Triple H chops him in the corner, but Goldberg is able to fight back, taking the pressure off his injured foot and balancing in the corner. Triple H puts a stop to that. Using the tape for kicking practice. Goldberg rolls under the ropes, but Flair is right there, he drives his knee into Goldberg’s leg and stomps the shit out of his ankle.

  Triple H brings Goldberg back in the ring, hitting the ropes for a knee drop and locking in a half boston crab. Goldberg reached out of the ring, with Lawler covering for him by saying he’s feeling so much pain he doesn’t notice the rope in front of him. Triple H drags Goldberg over to the corner from ringside, but Goldberg has enough strength in his bad leg to pull Triple H into the ringpost. Flair runs over for some quick coaching whilst Triple H makes it back to the ring, Goldberg is put in the corner, and Triple H wraps his leg around the ropes. Goldberg fights out with right hands and runs through Triple H with a clothesline. Triple H almost runs into a powerslam, but he escapes Goldberg’s shoulder and chopblocks the ankle.

   Triple H calls over to Flair, saying the next move is for him. Goldberg kicks Triple H into the referee in the corner during his Figure 4 attempt, but Flair throws Triple H some brass knuckles. Triple H connects with the brass knuckles and covers, but Goldberg kicks out after a delayed 2 count. Triple H elbow drops the referee for selling and finds the sledgehammer. Goldberg meets Triple H with a boot before he can use it, though. Flair goes to the top rope, and it goes as well as it usually does in 2003, with Goldberg bringing him down to the canvas the difficult way. Goldberg looks at the sledgehammer and hits Flair in the ribs with it. Then, Batista and Randy Orton make their way out, but they also take a hammer shot to the midsection. Triple H knees Goldberg in the midsection, setting up for the Pedigree, but Goldberg backdrops out of it.

  Goldberg throws the sledgehammer away and forgets about his injury, Spearing Triple H and hitting the Jackhammer for the win.

WINNER: GOLDBERG (STILL WWE World Heavyweight Champion)

This was a pretty good match, but nothing special for the main event of a Big Four PPV. Triple H was in his Ric Flair/NWA style cosplay era, and it showed when he was in control. Goldberg had to try to use his explosive power while keeping the weight off of his right foot as much as possible, which is no easy thing. It was nothing special, but it worked. [***] 5.5/10

After the match, Goldberg celebrates with the title belt in the ring as the fans chant his name.

MONSTER's BALL (TNA Victory Road 2004)

 Earlier in the night Raven and Monty Brown were shown going stir-crazy having been left in isolation for the 24 hours previous to this match.

Before the match, Scott Hudson is backstage discussing how to ensure the Director of Authorities vote will be legitimate between Vince Russo and Dusty Rhodes. Dusty is currently winning 55.5% to 44.5%. Then Elix Skipper and Christopher Daniels, the members of Triple X, show up and say that they have a new attitude and that they will show America’s Most Wanted no mercy in their match tonight. James Storm is already injured so he will be the weak link in their match tonight (here)

  We get a video package for the Monster’s Ball. Monty Brown made the challenge. Neither Raven or Abyss accepted the challenge, but the match was made anyway. James Mitchell takes over the voiceover duties. Going into Monster’s Ball, the participants must go 24 hours without food or water. Raven is shown in a straitjacket in this preview, and he says the 24 hours of isolation will either give him clarity or drive him insane.

  

Mike Tenay & Don West are on commentary for this match, with Jeremy Borash serving as our ring announcer.

ABYSS VS. MONTY BROWN VS. RAVEN (Monster’s Ball)

TNA Victory Road 2004 (7th November 2004)

The match starts after a quick graphic, with Abyss crocheting Raven on the guard rail as Monty Brown makes his entrance. Abyss sends Raven into the crowd as Monty Brown sets up a table on the other side of the Impact Zone.

  Monty Brown meets Abyss with right hands before getting sent into the ring post. Abyss wanders back into the crowd, but Raven strikes first with right hands. Abyss uses a trash can against both opponents before lifting Raven in a choke. Abyss sends Monty Brown into the ring as we see a hooded figure in the rafters. Abyss hits what he would go on to call the Shock Treatment on Monty Brown. Raven breaks up the pin and he tries to work with Monty Brown. Abyss breaks up the double-team clothesline and goozles both of his opponents. Brown and Raven kick Abyss in the midsection. Raven and Monty Brown hit the ropes, but they both fall to a double clothesline from Abyss, ending up in opposite corners. Abyss sends Raven into Monty Brown. Raven avoids the running splash, but Brown isn’t so lucky. Raven connects with jabs and a discus clothesline before bringing a chair into the ring. Raven took too long, as Abyss boots the chair into his face before Raven has a chance to use it.

Raven superkicks Abyss as he picks up the chair and sends Monty Brown into the turnbuckles. Monty Brown hits them sternum-first before he is knocked down with a clothesline. Raven sets up a chair in the middle of the ring, sending Abyss into it with a drop toehold. Raven covers but Abyss kicks out at 2. Monty Brown is sent into the ropes but he jumps over the drop toehold attempt and throws the chair into Raven’s face. Brown throws the chair at Abyss before clotheslining him over the top to the floor. Monty Brown connects with a running boot to Raven. Monty Brown throws Raven around with a T-Bone Suplex and a Fallaway Slam. Raven pulls the referee in the way of The Pounce attempt by Monty Brown, which is apparently enough for a “holy shit” chant. Abyss misses a haymaker by a mile but Monty Brown sells it anyway. Monty Brown is sent off the ropes but he ducks a clothesline and powerslams Abyss.

Monty Brown calls for The Pounce again, Raven is able to interrupt it after Brown kicks Abyss in the ribs, Abyss hits the Black Hole Slam on Monty Brown and he covers, but the referee is still taking a nap. Abyss decides to look for another weapon to kill some time and he finds a bag of thumbtacks to bring into the match. Monty Brown exchanges right hands with Abyss as Brown is sat on the top turnbuckle, Raven is still taking a breather at ringside. Abyss empties the bag of thumbtacks onto the mat. Another Holy Shit chant. Abyss softens up The Alpha Male with right hands, but Monty Brown blocks the superplex from the middle rope. They continue to brawl until Raven powerbombs Abyss from the middle rope into the thumbtacks! Raven covers for a phantom win, Roody Charles slides in the ring to make the official count and Raven gets 2. Abyss rolls out of the ring as Raven connects with a right hand to Monty Brown. Raven brings another table into the match, setting it up in the corner of the ring.

Abyss is back on the apron, Raven keeps both opponents at bay with right hands, and he knocks Abyss through the table at ringside. Monty Brown has shaken off the cobwebs, though and he sends Raven through the table in the corner with The Pounce for the win.

WINNER: MONTY BROWN

 This match was a nice sprint, but to be honest I was expecting more from these three.The finish was sudden and it didn’t seem to get out of 2nd gear for the run time. It was the first Monster’s Ball match, but both Abyss and Raven can do a lot better in Hardcore rules matches, leaving this as a disappointment. There was also no mention of their 24 hours of Isolation with no food or water from commentary throughout the match. That could be a personal preference though. [* ¾*] 3/10

After the match, Mike Tenay reacts as if Monty Brown just survived a war, and Don West reminds us not to try that at home.

Shane Douglas is shown outside of a limousine, he says he needs to talk to whoever is inside before namedropping Kevin Nash. One of the Harris Brothers enters the view to argue with Douglas before we move on to a recap the TNA fan InterAction event.