- Last week on Sunday Night Heat, Kane and The Undertaker continued their path of destruction by easily handling the D.O.A. Mankind, Ken Shamrock, and The Rock were watching each others backs, Val Venis and Terri Runnels continue to torment the former Goldust, Gangrel wants Edge to come back home, and Al Snow is reinstated by defeating Sgt. Slaughter on Monday Night Raw. Also, apologies for my weak effort in the 9-20-98 episode. I'll try and get back on my A-Game for this one. With the Breakdown PPV only an hour away, what can the WWF offer on Heat before the biggest PPV of September 1998?
- Originally broadcasted, live, from the home of WWF Breakdown, the Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Shane McMahon and Jim Cornette are on commentary, unless otherwise noted. There's a Steel Cage hanging over the ring, and they are unsure of why it's there.
- Mr. McMahon, along with Stooges Pat Patterson and Gerald Brisco, makes his way to ringside to adress the audience. He wants to apologize to Ken Shamrock, The Rock, and Mankind for their Triple Threat #1 Contender's Match being interrupted due to the intereference of The Undertaker and Kane. Vince washes his hands on the situation, and offers them another shot at the #1 Contenders spot, but this time it will take place inside of the ominous Steel Cage. Not a bad way to try and hook on-the-fence people to order the show. Personally, I've only ordered ONE PPV in my life by being swayed with less than an hour before it was to broadcast (that would be the 1998 King of the Ring, by the way).
More business on the mind of Mr. McMahon: If anyone has the nerves to interfere in the WWF Championship Match, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin will automatically be stripped off the Title. The crowd chants "Austin" to cheese off McMahon. McMahon's only regret is that Breakdown has to take place in Canada (OOOH, that one hurt). Vince GUARANTEES Steve Austin will not leave the ring as the WWF Champion. This might be the first time he's ever made a guarantee.
- Michael Cole is backstage, blowing his lines ("Triple H of Degeneration H."). Apparently Triple H was attacked in the locker room, with his knee being bashed with a pipe. Did someone watch the episode of the Simpsons, where Moe whacks Mr. Burns in the leg to try and knock him out of the game, only for it to heal a previous injury?
- Mark Henry, the scheduled opponent for Triple H at Breakdown, comes to ringside for whatever reason. I know no one was buying Breakdown for the IC Title Match, but pulling a bait-and-switch THIS close to the PPV... feh. Mark Henry was looking forward to this match to impress his girlfriend... CHYNA. I think she might oppose that one. Mr. McMahon comes to ringside to offer Mark Henry another match on Heat, a Non-Title Match against another Champion, inside the Steel Cage, to make sure it's reinforced. The Champion? "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. Someone is stacking the deck.
- Vince McMahon, along with the Undertaker and Kane, come to the ring for the Steel Cage Match. Mark Henry's music hits, but he doesn't show up. The camera cuts backstage, where Chyna is trying to kick his ass, but Mark has more trash talking for her. She bashes him with that same lead pipe and forces Henry to kiss her ass. Meanwhile, back in the ring, the guy in charge of checking the cage removes his hat and hair, and it's STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN! He's got the door locked and pounds away on McMahon, then climbs out as Undertaker and Kane make their way into the ring. We end the show with a lengthy video package hyping the Main Event, and more words from McMahon, promising the demise of the Rattlesnake.
Final Thoughts: I have to say, I'm surprised so much effort was put into hyping the Main Event, even on the show leading into the PPV. Most of the air-time was dedicated to the angle, and the overall enjoyment from this episode comes from that. The matches presented really didn't mean much, which was the unfortunate point of the Russo Era. The Hardy's made their Sunday Night Heat debut, DOA continues to stink up the ring, and we have oddly put together angles with teams like the Headbangers and Oddities, but when a solid angle is being presented and takes up the majority of broadcast time, I have to say I can look forward to watching these shows.