Talk about it here.

Nothing match but an opportunity for D-X and the NAO to attack Austin. They tie him up to the ropes and Shawn does a great job at rubbing the title in his face. All of a sudden, Cactus and Funk come running down to clear house. That was disappointing considering how serious they portrayed it before. Feels a lot like Lawler coming back in the show he was run over by a car with.

Austin comes in and cleans house and DX quickly come out to provide reinforcement and attack Austin. The visual of Austin being tied up in the ropes while Shawn rubs the belt in his face is great stuff. Cactus and Funk end up running out to make the save and yeah, they were still selling injuries but they also killed the angle.

Cactus and Funk are coming back too quick especially given how great a job they did selling the angle as a big deal. Would have been more effective to just end the show with Michaels taunting Austin in the ropes which was a great visual. Austin cleaning house before DX comes down was also great and the crowd was going nuts. Lots of good stuff this RAW.

Match ends as soon as it begins as Billy Gunn runs in, followed by DX. An iconic (or should be iconic, but it seems only people like us remember it) image follows with Austin tied in the ropes with Michaels taunting him with the belt and Austin shooting daggers at Shawn with his eyes. The save is made by a returning Cactus Jack and Terry Funk...well, it did kill the angle, as Foley outright said in his first book, but it somehow feels less exploitative for them to come right back that night, so call it a wash. Also good foreshadowing before the match as JR notes that two ambulances have arrived again at the arena. Speaking of political bullshit on Nitro, note that Owen Hart is nowhere to be found here. Still, a super-hot closing segment and Shawn vs. Austin officially has heat to it.

....aaand the weak payoff to the earlier show killing angle. Before the hardcore legends run-in, this was a good build towards No Way Out/WrestleMania 14