The New Age Outlaws won the championships from the Legion of
Doom on Raw almost 2 months previously and coming into this match shaved Hawk’s
hair and put Animal through an announce table, injuring his back.
Before the match, Los Boricuas are backstage looking for “Stone Cold” Steve Austin who decided to make as many enemies as possible just before tonight’s event. Instead, they find “either Skull or 8 Ball” – Jim Ross. This starts a brawl between themselves and the Disciples of Apocolypse.
The New Age Outlaws make their way out and Road Dogg takes a
shot at the San Fransisco 49ers for some cheap local heat. Michael Cole is
backstage with LOD and we see him go through announce table before he confirms
the doctors told him not to wrestle and he ignored them because doctors don’t
know what they’re talking about when it comes to the heart of WWF Superstars.
Hawk says LOD will put the Outlaws on ice. They make their way out and JR goes
to say something but lets the pop speak instead, which I appreciate. As LOD get
in the ring he tells us they won the 80’s Triple Crown of NWA, AWA and WWF Tag
Team Championships and Lawler says it’s the new age, showing his support for
the champions.
Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler are on commentary for this match, Howard Finkel is our ring announcer.
NEW AGE OUTLAWS ©
VS. LEGION OF DOOM
(WWF Tag Team Championships)
WWF Royal Rumble 1998 (18th January 1998)
The New Age Outlaws start the match, attacking LOD from behind, but come up short pretty quickly. Hawk knocks Billy Gunn out of the ring as Road Dogg reverses an irish whip from Animal, so they start the match.
Road Dogg leapfrogs but is caught in a powerbomb, Animal covers but Billy Gunn saves the match early. Hawk sends Gunn over to the floor, Road Dogg joins him and they try to take a walk. The Legion of Doom are having none of that and bring them back towards the ring. Hawk throws Road Dogg into the ring and Animal bounces Gunn’s head off the side of the ring. Road Dogg begs off but is sent off the ropes into a shoulder block by Hawk. Road Dogg tries to take refuge in the corner, but Hawk sends him across the ring and crushes him into the turnbuckles with a clothesline. He knocks Road Dogg down with a big boot and keeps him there with a fist drop before tagging in Animal. The Legion of Doom send Road Dogg off the ropes into a double back elbow. Animal with a neck crank on the mat, keeping his weight above Road Dogg. (This seems like a time to point out that the Road Warriors seemed more trimmed in this match than I remembered seeing them) We get a good shot of Road Dogg bleeding from the mouth before Animal tags back out. Hawk kicks Road Dogg in the midsection whilst Animal holds him and hits the delayed hangman’s neckbreaker.
Hawk gets distracted by Billy Gunn on the apron, allowing Road Dogg to swing the tide and tag in his partner. Hawk catches Gunn with a hip toss and sends him off the ropes into a Lou Thesz press as Billy Gunn tries to cover up. Hawk brings Billy to his feet by the hair and swings him around before sending him down to the mat. Animal gets the tag as Lawler bravely mocks Hawk’s hair whilst he can’t be heard. He ducks a right hand and back suplexes Billy Gunn, who avoids the jumping elbow drop and gets some right hands in. It doesn’t last long as Animal reverses an irish whip and hits a powerslam Road Dogg gets one too before Animal puts Billy Gunn in a standing camel clutch to make the tag. Hawk snapmares Gunn down and puts on the STF. Animal gets another quick tag and knocks Road Dogg off the apron. Billy Gunn sends Animal off the ropes and Road Dogg trips him from the floor. Billy Gunn knocks Animal out of the ring but he’s ready for Road Dogg with a right hand. Animal is sent into the ring steps as Hawk tries to get to him through the ring.
Road Dogg kicks at Animal and asks a photographer at ringside what he thinks of that. (I think he said Buchannan and I almost know the spelling will be wrong.) Hawk gets in the ring and shoves down the referee to get to Billy Gunn, but is double-teamed by the Outlaws. Hawk’s sent into the corner but he explodes back out with a double clothesline, knocking the champions down. Road Dogg tries to escape but is brought back in the ring by his hair. Hawk sends Road Dogg into the corner but the shoulder tackle is avoided, sending Hawk into the post and out to ringside. Road Dogg sends Hawk’s face into the ring steps and runs to grab some handcuffs, he gets a cheap shot in on Animal (who is still trying to make it into the ring) on the way past. Road Dogg handcuffs Hawk to the corner post and gets back in the ring. The New Age Outlaws go to back suplex Animal but he lands on his feet and knocks them both down with a double clothesline. Road Dogg leaves Billy to handle it as the legal man, Gunn is sent off the ropes into a shoulder tackle before Animal covers, but he hesitated so Billy Gunn kicks out at 2. Billy Gunn pokes Animal in the eye as they make it to their feet and hits a rough-looking scoop slam.
Hawk is using the toolbox under the ring to try and break the handcuffs but has no luck. Billy Gunn goes to the top rope but his crossbody is countered into a poweslam from Animal who covers. Road Dogg runs into the ring with a chair and hits Animal over the back for the disqualification.
WINNERS: LEGION OF DOOM
(via Disqualification)
This match was what it needed to be. Legion of Doom took 99% of it and the champions slither away with the belts to bring the feud forward. Some of the moves looked rough, but it wasn’t anything to ruin the match. [**½] 5/10
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