The Monday Night Wars was one of the most exciting periods in wrestling history, a time in which competition elevated the flagship shows of WWF and WCW to new levels. We all miss such an era, but hopefully this new series of articles can help ease the pain. We'll be taking a look back at every Raw and Nitro of 1998 - digging out the best, worst, and most bizarre incidents of each episode - while moving from week to week as 2016 progresses. When watching an old Raw, particularly one from the Attitude Era, the most obvious difference from the current product surely has to be tone. This episode is gritty, anarchic, and (at times) ridiculous - a far cry from the ultra-polished show we're used to these days. We all miss it, but hopefully this series of articles will help ease the pain. A quick history lesson to get us orientated: Shawn Michaels is WWF Champion, having won the title at November's infamous Survivor Series PPV, scene of the Montreal Screwjob; number one contender Undertaker is in full mind-game mode, toying with HBK in the wake of their casket match; and Steve Austin continues to ride a wave of momentum, vowing to win the upcoming Royal Rumble match. If there's one particularly glaring thing about this episode, it's the fact that it's a terrible two hours of wrestling. For all the talk of the Attitude Era being a golden age, 1998 doesn't seem to have aged well at all - at least on the evidence of this Raw. On the bright side, at least it's given us a boatload of WTF Moments to work with...
22. Well, This Beats A 20 Minute Authority Promo
The show opens in unorthodox fashion, with Austin spouting general threats at a cameraman on his way into the arena. At least, I think he's on his way into the arena. This could have been shot in any random back alley. Either way, it's a deceptively promising opening to Raw. Stone Cold claims that he's put a target on all other 29 entrants in the upcoming Royal Rumble match, and is going to start whupping their asses...tonight!