1998 was certainly the year the fortunes turned back around for the WWF. Stone Cold Steve Austin was the biggest star since Hulk Hogan. The Rock and Mick Foley had grew to the point that they had both been WWF Champion (Kane had also become a first time champion in this time), and even the WWF title match this night was a brutal last man standing match between the pair. DX was rising in popularity and the whole product was all lot raunchier, I mean they a wrestling pimp (The Godfather, who was a face), a wrestling porn star, and the women where dressing skimpier. That's not to say it was all perfect, we had the Hawk alcoholic angle, the Brawl For All and at times the actual in ring product not being too important.
One of the things that helped spearhead all this change was The Austin/McMahon feud, it was like the blue collar worker versus evil rich boss story that obviously spoke to a lot of people and that is the key story going into this Rumble, Austin and McMahon would be entering in the first 2 spots, thanks to McMahon placing Austin in that position, McMahon got his spot thanks to Commissioner Shawn Michaels decreeing with McMahon entering then Michaels as authority over him as a wrestler. McMahon as also put a $100,000 bounty on Austin's head. Commentators for tonight are Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler.
#1 is shockingly STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN, Cole acknowledges he's won the previous 2 Rumbles (1997 was of course tainted), #2 is again shockingly VINCE McMAHON to no music, I assumed No Chance In Hell theme music was already in use by this point. He takes his time to come to the ring. Austin can't touch McMahon into the bell rings so they milk it for a bit, but when the bell rings he goes straight into stomping a mudhole on his ass, McMahon is pleading with Austin to not hurt him, as Austin motions to say he's going to throw McMahon over the top rope but stops is #3 is GOLGA, the former Earthquake who for this purpose of this his is first entry into a Rumble, the version I'm watching as a generic theme so I assume it's not wanting to use the ICP version. Golga goes for Austin but is dumped quickly. Golga, along with the rest of the Oddities would be gone shortly after. Austin and McMahon go under the bottom rope and are fighting in the crowd. #4 is DROZ who was still in the L.O.D. 2000 at this point but we don't see him as we are in the foyer and McMahon tricks him into going into the ladies room where the Corporation attack him. This would be Droz' only Rumble as unfortunately in October of 99 he is paralyzed in an in ring accident. #5 is EDGE, in his first ever Rumble, while I was over at this point, he along with his "Brother" Christian had yet to latch on to what really makes them successful, #6 is GILLBERG, a parody of wCw's Goldberg, Duane Gill who plays him has zero muscle mass. Gillberg poses on the rope and is quickly thrown out by Edge. We cut to the back with The Corporation leaving Austin a mess in the ladies room. #7 is STEVE BLACKMAN, and we again decide checking in on Austin is more important then the in ring action. #8 is DAN SEVERN, he had bad ass music but never really connected in the company, he goes for Blackman who he was feuding him and we go to the back to see Austin getting wheeled out on a stretcher. #9 is TIGER ALI SINGH, who was not much of worker really, and we cut to the back of Austin get loaded into a hospital #10 is THE BLUE MEANIE, in I think his only Rumble appearance. He didn't look much like a wrestler but was entertaining. Mercifully we don't get a cut to the back.
#11 is Nobody? But then we cut to the back seeing Mosh getting slammed against the wall and MABEL making his return attacks him. I guess he's an official entry and gets out Blackman and Severn, then gets out Singh before #12 ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES enters as Meanie and Droz go out. Edge and Road Dogg fight as Dogg gets Edge out as it goes dark and Undertaker's music hits, Acolytes (Bradshaw and Faarooq) and Mideon (the former Phineous I. Godwinn) attack Mabel as Undertaker now a cult leader watches on. This would be the last time he goes by Mabel and would be Viscera (and later Big Daddy V) from now on. Road Dogg is your only entrant in the ring as #13 GANGREL, another person making their debut. People always say they liked this character but he was basically an entrance and nothing else, and Road Dogg sends him out quickly. #14 is KURRGAN of the Oddities with generic music again like Golga he'd be gone soon too. a sign in the crowd says "Ryan Likes Men", stay classy attitude era crowd. #15 AL SNOW with no head is out next and he teams up Dogg on Kurrgan as the crowd chant head. Road Dogg like a douche eliminates Road Dogg. #16 is GOLDUST, would have made sense to keep Snow in a bit longer so the two could fight since they where feuding at the time. Dogg is getting the better of the pair, even telling them to suck it. #17 is THE GODFATHER with a couple of ho's . He sends them, to the back and we get a "We Want Ho's" chant, #18 is the lights going dark and it's KANE, making his first (of many) Rumble appearance, who was in the way out from the Corporation at this point, and he easily throws out Road Dogg, then Kurrgan, then Godfather, then a chokeslam out to Goldust, and the crowd love it. And here's some orderlies with straight jackets. Kane steps over the top rope as he escapes through the crowd. Vince McMahon as made his back as #19 Corporate member Ken Shamrock makes his way to the ring, and Vince is now joining the pair on commentary. we are waiting for #20 and it's BILLY GUNN who has one shoe on thanks to an ankle lock from Shamrock injuring him earlier in the night. Despite this injury Gunn ends up getting the better of him until Shamrock is almost eliminated and attacks the leg of Billy.
#21 is TEST, another Corporate member and we cut to the back showing the Ministry putting Mabel into the back of a hearse, as an ambulance pulls up and it's Austin, it's actually a cool cross moment as McMahon looks gutted as Austin is making his way back into the arena. #22 sees Austin actually walk out to the music of BIG BOSS MAN who does come, Austin eliminates Shamrock, as Vince still tries to stay away from him, #23 is TRIPLE H who goes straight for Test, as Billy Gunn goes for Austin. #24 is VAL VENIS. Austin eliminates Billy Gunn and is one good leg, #25 is X-PAC the former 123 Kid. Venis gets Austin out but under the bottom rope, as Triple H seems to be spending more time hanging out nearly getting eliminated. #26 is SEXUAL CHOCOLATE MARK HENRY, who some of the storylines he had of this time period you think was trying to get him to quit his 10 year contract, #27 is JEFF JARRETT with Debra, I actually liked his character at this time, this would be his final year in the company as he'd go to wCw and after the closure set up TNA, which was the closest thing to a rival to the WWE. #28 is D'LO with his chest protector accompanied by PMS - yes PMS - Pretty Mean Sisters (Jacqueline and Terri). Austin gets out Test, and X-Pac is gone too. Boss Man and Jarrett nearly have Austin out. Lou Thesz press to Jarrett from Austin, as #29 OWEN HART enters as Jarrett is thrown out. Sadly Owen Hart would pass away in 1999 due to a stunt gone wrong, unfortunate tragic incident. Austin goes under the bottom rope to drink some ice water than throw it in McMahon's face, #30 is CHYNA, the first ever Woman to enter the Rumble, who got the honour by winning the Corporate Rumble and goes for Mark Henry who claimed he did the wild thing with Chyna and she throws him in unconvincing fashion, but then quickly Austin eliminates her. Michael Cole says "Austin doesn't give a damn if your a man or a woman" which could be deemed harsher in hindsight given his domestic violence incident. Triple H throws out Val Venis, then Austin hits a Stunner and eliminates Triple H. In the ring are Boss Man, Owen, D'Lo and Austin. D'Lo is fighting Austin as Boss Man and Owen fight in the corner. Owen and Austin are now fighting and he ends up eliminating Owen , D'Lo hits a frog splash on Austin but his distracted and Boss Man gets him out before Austin eliminates Boss Man.
We around down to, and Vince is still on commentary as Austin goes for him and McMahon is attempting to fight back. Austin now has a chair and we get an unprotected chair shot. Watching it all now I can't help but wince at unprotected chair shots and Austin now finally as Vince in the ring. Austin is taking his time as Vince finally hits a low blow but Austin finally hits a stunner and says this is it and out comes The Rock, the Corporate champion and he is trying to climb in the ring taunting Austin and Rock is on the apron as Vince comes him and dumps in out. And your winner is VINCE MCMAHON. Austin fights Rock in the back as the referees pick up Vince from the apron, and no Shane, Pat and Gerald are here to celebrate with him.
Overall, it was a Rumble I didn't like but actually it's not as bad as I remember sure the constant cuts to the back in the early part are annoying and do a disservice to the talent in the ring and there is a couple of times there is no action in the ring but they are some cool moments here.
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