WCW Road Wild ’98 -

Live from Sturgis, SD

Airdate: August 8, 1998

Attendance: 8,500

Hosted by Tony Schiavone, “Iron” Mike Tenay, & Bobby “The Brain” Heenan

Can Jay Leno and DDP get the better of Hogan and Bischoff? How will Guerrera fare against Jericho? Will Malenko have something in store for Jericho? Who will win the battle royal? What else can happen at the largest motorcycle rally in the world?

Near the entrance sitting on a motorcycle, “Mean” Gene Okerlund shills American Ironhorse.

Match 1: Barbarian (w/ Jimmy Hart) versus Meng

Highlights:

They brawled to start the match, and Meng gave Barbarian a cross corner whip followed by a corner clothesline.
When Barbarian fed him an overhead belly-to-belly suplex, he attempted a piledriver.
Meng countered with a back drop and piledrove Barbarian.
As Hart jumped onto the apron, Meng chased him back to the platform.
Meng mounted the second turnbuckle but missed a frog splash.
After Meng scored with a thrust kick, he mounted the top turnbuckle.
Barbarian caught, joined, and dealt him an overhead belly-to-belly superplex for 2. Wow!
While Meng reversed an Irish whip, he powerslammed Barbarian for another 2.
Hart jumped onto the apron again and distracted Meng.
Hammering Meng from behind, Barbarian dragged him feet-first onto the apron.
He brought Meng to the platform with him and rammed him face-first into the steps.
Back in the ring, Barbarian backdropped him, but Meng rebounded quickly with a Tongan Death Grip.
1-2-3.
Meng won at 4:48.

Rating: **

Summary: Not a fan of the explosion between the Faces of Fear as they’re a great team. That superplex was phenomenal though.

After the match, Hart enters the ring yet unsuccessfully pulls Meng off Barbarian. Hugh Morrus storms the ring and nails Meng. As Morrus and Barbarian double-team and position Meng in the center of the ring, Hart mounts the top turnbuckle and splashes Meng. Abruptly, Meng shoves Hart off him and attacks both Morrus and Barbarian. The numbers game quickly catches up to him, and Morrus slams him.

Upon mounting the top turnbuckle, Morrus uncorks a No Laughing Matter. “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan joins the party and whacks both Morrus and Barbarian with his 2×4. As Hart scurries away, Duggan leads a “U-S-A” chant.

Match 2: Public Enemy versus the Dancing Fools (w/ Tokyo Magnum)

Highlights:

Rocco reversed an Irish whip while the Sturgis faithful chanted “Disco”
As Wright escaped an arm bar, he dropkicked Rocco.
Disco tagged in, avoided a charging Rocco, rolled him up, and got 2.
When Grunge tagged in, Disco clotheslined him.
Wright tagged in, mounted the top turnbuckle, and launched a missile dropkick for 2. Woohoo!
After Grunge reversed a cross corner whip, he came up empty on his follow-through.
Wright acted like a cocky mofo, so Rocco clotheslined him from the apron.
While Public Enemy double-flapjacked Disco, Magnum located and brought Wright an aluminum trash can.
Wright BONKED Grunge with it, so Rocco sought a ladder from backstage.
Bringing it into the ring, Rocco flattened the Dancing Fools with it.
The Dancing Fools took a walk yet returned with a table.
Grabbing a microphone, Disco declared the match to be a street fight. Who made him boss?
Per the new stipulations, Public Enemy retrieved a toilet seat and the proverbial kitchen sink.
Grunge bludgeoned Disco with a mailbox, and Wright suplexed Rocco onto a trash can.
Ringing Wright’s bell with a pair of cookie sheets, Grunge placed him atop a ringside table.
Rocco attempted the Drive-By, but Disco tripped him coming off the ropes.
Introducing the kitchen sink to the ring, Wright clobbered Grunge with it.
Rocco tried to decapitate Disco with a mailbox but HIT THE POLE instead.
To a chorus of “Ta-ble” from the Sturgis faithful, Rocco tossed Magnum into the ring.
Grunge hobbled Disco with the toilet seat, and Magnum looked clueless.
Reversing stereo cross corner whips, Public Enemy rammed the Dancing Fools together.
Stereo inverted atomic drops ended the Dancing Fools’ plans for later tonight, but Wright rebounded with a spinning heel kick.
Magnum entered the ring to join Wright in double-teaming Grunge.
Of course, heel miscommunication led to Wright getting nailed.
Rocco crowned Disco with a ladder and heaved it into the ring.
Mounting the top turnbuckle, Grunge used the ladder as a pendulum to blast Disco.
Both Wright and Magnum head backstage separately leaving Disco to the wolves.
Setting up three tables at ringside, Public Enemy stacked them atop each other.
Grunge climbed a ladder adjacent to it, and Rocco forced Disco to join him.
Climbing the light trellis, Rocco launched an elbow drop into Disco that sent both of them crashing through all three tables.
E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W!
Grunge returned Disco to the ring but noticed Magnum atop the top turnbuckle.
Mistakenly splashing Disco, Magnum ate a knuckle sandwich from Grunge.
1-2-3.
Public Enemy won at 15:27.

Rating: *

Summary: The table spot gets a * from me, but the rest was pure GARBAGE.

At the wcwwrestling.com table, Lee Marshall interviews Malenko.

Match 3 (triangle, Raven’s rules): Saturn versus Kanyon versus Raven (w/ Lodi)

Highlights:

Before the bell rang, Raven commanded Kanyon to “get (Saturn).’
Saturn clotheslined him, but Kanyon rebounded with a swinging neckbreaker.
When Raven walloped Saturn with a chair, he tossed it to Kanyon.
Saturn annihilated Kanyon who spilled to the platform.
As Raven made Kanyon HIT THE POLE, he tossed Saturn down to the platform next to him.
Raven fed Kanyon a baseball slide and sent Saturn into the steps.
After Saturn yanked him from the apron, Kanyon ate a mouthful of it.
All three wrestlers were in the ring, and Raven sat in the corner.
While he and Saturn shared eye contact, Kanyon dropkicked Raven down near the Black Hills.
Saturn dropkicked Raven, and he along with Kanyon dealt him a belly-to-back suplex/neckbreaker combo.
Attempting a cover, Kanyon only got 2 thanks to Saturn.
Saturn and Kanyon destroyed Raven with TOTAL ELIMINATION, and Saturn got 2.
Ramming him into Saturn, Kanyon delivered a trio of side Russian leg sweeps to Raven.
Saturn mounted the top turnbuckle and launched a guillotine leg drop to Raven for only 2 thanks to Kanyon.
Trapping Raven in a fisherman’s cradle, Kanyon got 2.
Saturn and Kanyon battled until Raven creamed both of them with a chair.
Seeing his opponents on the platform, Kanyon decimated them with a plancha.
The match segued onto the roadway ramp, and Kanyon made Saturn taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Garage burger at the Knuckle Saloon.
Reversing an Irish whip, Kanyon sent Raven back-first into the steel railing.
Raven blocked a suplex from Kanyon and hit one of his own on the roadway ramp.
Hammering Raven with a pair of knee strikes on the stage, Saturn got 2.
Kanyon piledrove Saturn on the stage but only got 2.
Dropkicking Kanyon, Raven sauntered after him as Kanyon barreled down the roadway ramp.
Raven rammed Kanyon face-first into the ramp, but Saturn dove and picked up the 7-10 split.
Guillotining Kanyon with the ramp, Saturn got a second helping of the steel railing thanks to Kanyon. Waiter, could you give the multi-pierced bald guy a Rodeo burger please?
Back in the ring, Saturn hooked a T-bone suplex to Raven for 2.
Saturn reversed an Irish whip and snared Raven in a sleeper.
In a neat visual, Kanyon caught Saturn in a sleeper.
Raven escaped the triple sleeper with a double jawbreaker for 2.
Hoisting Saturn atop the top turnbuckle, Kanyon joined, but Raven stepped underneath to score a double electric chair. Nifty!
Raven attempted a double Even Flow DDT, but Kanyon blocked his by grabbing the top rope.
Thwarting another pin attempt, Kanyon dragged and suplexed Raven on the platform.
Kanyon climbed the trellis but missed a splash because Lodi saved Raven’s bacon.
Returning to the ring, Raven fell victim to a Death Valley Driver by Saturn.
Saturn only got 2 due to a save by Lodi.
Rewarding Lodi, Saturn dumped him with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex.
Horace inserted himself into the match and nailed Saturn from behind.
Although Horace was prepared to destroy Saturn with a STOP sign, Lodi inadvertently threw powder in his eyes.
Horace SMACKED Lodi with the sign, missed Saturn again, but devastated Raven.
Folding him like an accordion, Saturn secured a release German suplex to Horace.
Saturn finished Raven with a second Death Valley Driver at 12:27.

Rating: **

Summary: Kanyon and Saturn played their roles beautifully while Raven wrote the screenplay. Too much outside interference affected this match poorly.

Match 4: Rey Mysterio, Jr. versus Psicosis

Highlights:

Mysterio dropkicked Psicosis and followed with a sunset flip for 2.
As Psicosis clotheslined Mysterio, he got 2.
He fed Mysterio a front suplex for another 2.
When Psicosis gave him a cross corner whip, Mysterio took a sternum-first bump.
Psicosis flapjacked Mysterio and followed with a vertical suplex.
After he mounted the top turnbuckle, Psicosis leaped but ate boot.
Mysterio dealt Psicosis a ten-top-turnbuckle-count-along followed by a flying headscissors.
While Mysterio mounted the top turnbuckle, he scored with a cross body block for 2.
Psicosis countered a huracanrana with a powerbomb for 2.
Hoisting Mysterio onto his shoulders, Psicosis delivered an electric chair for another 2.
Psicosis dropkicked Mysterio on the platform, tossed him back into the ring, and hooked a single-leg crab.
Placing Mysterio on the top turnbuckle, Psicosis joined, hit a super huracanrana, but couldn’t get 3.
Psicosis slammed him, mounted the top turnbuckle, but Mysterio dropkicked him all the way down to the platform.
Launching a springboard plancha, Mysterio scored with a springboard sunset flip for 2.
Mysterio landed a corkscrew Rocker Dropper, soared with a springboard moonsault, and got another 2.
Reversing an Irish whip, Psicosis dismantled Mysterio with a spinebuster for 2.
Mysterio evaded a flying Psicosis, meandered to the apron, and SPIKED him with a West Coast Pop.
GET OUT THE SPATULA!
1-2-3.
Mysterio won at 13:39.

Rating: **½

Summary: Certainly a slower-paced match than usual between these two, but Mysterio was the better flier on this night.

Prior to the next match, Schiavone is…

Prior to the next match, Chavo claims to be the World TV champion because he has a notary stamp. HA!

Match 5: Stevie Ray versus Chavo Guerrero, Jr. (w/ Pepe)

Highlights:

For those unaware, Stevie Ray was “defending” the World TV title for Booker T. It’s a creative way for Stevie Ray to be devious.
Like last month, Chavo offered a handshake. I don’t think he’ll submit this time.
Stevie Ray evaded it and told referee Mickey Jay: “He’s crazy, man!”
When Chavo dropkicked the knee, Stevie Ray began to no-sell.
Chavo attempted a sunset flip, but Stevie Ray lifted him into a standing choke.
As Stevie Ray outsmarted Chavo in a game of cat-and-mouse, he dealt Chavo a Slapjack.
1-2-3.
Stevie Ray won at 2:39.

Rating: DUD

Summary: More storyline than match as the Chavo character continues to be looney, and Stevie Ray “retains.”

After the match, Stevie Ray grabs the microphone and is PISSED. He shoves Jay down, but Eddie Guerrero stops Stevie Ray from whipping his nephew. Eddie and Chavo bicker but can’t resolve anything at this moment.

Back at the wcwwrestling.com table, Marshall interviews Jericho who cuts a promo on both Malenko and Guerrera.

For those with acrophobia, the WCW helicopter is NOT your friend.

Match 6: Big Poppa Pump (w/ Buff Bagwell) versus Rick Steiner

Highlights:

As Rick made his entrance, JJ Dillon arrived and grabbed a microphone.
Dillon stated the match wouldn’t happen, but Rick “want(s) his damn ass now.”
When Bagwell emerged, he pushed BPP out on a gurney. HA!
Atop a gurney, BPP was hooked to an oxygen tank, wore a neck brace, and had his left arm and leg wrapped. ALL FROM A CHAIR SHOT.
The Sturgis faithful erupted with the loudest “BULL-SHIT” chant you’ll ever hear.
After Bagwell feigned injury yet again, Dillon declared that BPP and Rick will wrestle against each other at the next PPV.
According to Dillon, should BPP not be ready to wrestle at the next PPV, he’ll be “barred from wrestling for life.”
BPP jumped off the gurney appearing to be healthy, and Rick chased after them backstage.

Rating: NONE

Summary: According to Meltzer, neither brother was healthy enough to wrestle as Rick still had an ailing shoulder and BPP a languishing back. While I understand giving them a PPV appearance, tricking the fans is not solid booking whatsoever.

Match 7: Steve “Mongo” McMichael versus Brian Adams (w/ Vincent)

Highlights:

Mongo fucked up a clothesline sequence and fed Adams a modified DDT.
When he gave Adams a cross corner whip, Mongo tried to follow with a big boot.
However, Adams caught and dealt him a sidewalk slam.
He delivered a pair of leg drops and got 2.
As Adams clotheslined him over the top rope to the platform, he distracted referee Billy Silverman.
That enabled Vincent to send Mongo shoulder-first into the steps.
After Mongo got to his feet, Vincent hit him to no effect.
Adams blasted Mongo from behind, tossed him into the ring, and cracked him with a backbreaker for 2.
While he mounted the second turnbuckle, Adams missed a flying knee drop.
Mongo reversed an Irish whip and flattened Adams with his own sidewalk slam.
Tackling Adams twice, Mongo got destroyed by a clothesline.
Adams attempted a piledriver, but Silverman got too close to the action.
With Silverman OUT COLD, Vincent jumped on the apron with a chair.
Expectedly, he tried to crown Mongo but struck Adams instead.
Mongo disposed of Vincent quickly and planted Adams with a tombstone.
1-2-3.
Mongo won at 6:34.

Rating: -**

Summary: I realize Mongo was a football star first and a pro wrestler second, but he shouldn’t be THIS sloppy at this stage in his career.

Sitting atop a motorcycle, Okerlund and four American Ironhorse hotties shill the bike.

Prior to the next match, Jericho grabs the microphone, quotes a Cheap Trick lyric, and refers to the Sturgis faithful as “weekend warriors.” You’ll get a beer bottle to the head for saying that in public. At leat he woke up the slumbering Sturgis faithful.

Match 8 for the WCW Cruiserweight title: Chris Jericho (champion) versus Juventud Guerrera

Highlights:

Dean Malenko was the special guest referee for this match.
As Jericho emerged, he wore what appeared to be my grandmother’s bathrobe.
Guerrera dropkicked Jericho but fell victim to a jumping back kick.
When Jericho lipped off to him, Malenko hair-dragged him to the corner.
Guerrera gave Jericho a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
After Guerrera reversed a cross corner whip, he got vaulted to the apron.
He mounted the top turnbuckle and launched a missile dropkick.
While Jericho retreated to the apron, Guerrera slid between his legs and made him chomp the apron.
Guerrera chopped him so hard that Jericho flew off the platform and tasted the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Hogwacker at Bullwackers.
Like a cat, Guerrera leaped and caught Jericho with a springboard plancha.
He followed with a springboard leg drop and got 2.
Countering a reverse chin lock with a jawbreaker, Jericho dropkicked Guerrera.
Speaking of Guerrera, he reversed an Irish whip and got vaulted to the apron again.
He dealt Jericho a springboard cross body block for 2.
Mounting the top turnbuckle, Guerrera attempted another cross body block, but Jericho caught and powerslammed him for 2. Did they just repeat the spot?
Jericho delivered a delayed vertical suplex and displayed an arrogant cover.
In response, Malenko slow-counted him to 2.
Jericho fed Guerrera a knee lift, slammed him, and landed a senton splash for another 2.
Planting a knee to the midsection, Jericho tried to suplex him, but Guerrera blocked and suplexed Jericho.
Speaking of Jericho, he slammed Guerrera again but ate knees on a Lionsault.
Jericho reversed an Irish whip, but Guerrera snared him with a flying headscissors.
He mounted the top turnbuckle and scored with a corkscrew spinning heel kick for 2. Innovative!
Receiving a release German suplex, Guerrera landed on his feet, but Jericho countered a huracanrana into a double powerbomb.
With Guerrera on the apron, Jericho nailed him with a springboard shoulder block.
Guerrera escaped a suplex but ate a clothesline leading to a 2-count for Jericho.
Countering another powerbomb, Guerrera flattened Jericho with a DDT for 2.
He decimated Jericho with a Juvi Driver for another 2.
Mounting the top turnbuckle, Guerrera got crotched.
Jericho joined and superplexed him.
Due to Malenko’s rather slow count, Guerrera rolled over to cover Jericho and got 2.
Jericho hooked a Liontamer, but Guerrera made the ropes to escape.
Trying to retain order, Malenko got belted by Guerrera.
Jericho grabbed the Cruiserweight belt and CLOCKED Guerrera. Evil!
Disposing of the evidence, Jericho slapped the BEJEEZUS out of Malenko.
Jericho made a cover, but Malenko initially refused but counted to 2.
With Jericho atop the top turnbuckle, Guerrera tried to join him, but Malenko yanked him down.
Jericho booted him, so Malenko vaulted Guerrera into a super huracanrana. Schnazzy!
1-2-3.
Guerrera won at 16:25.
WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!

Rating: ****

Summary: Excellent wrestling and storytelling with Malenko’s involvement, but will the decision stand?

Following the match, Jericho goes after him, but Malenko clobbers him out of the ring.

Prior to the next match, Hall grabs the microphone and performs his survey. Goldberg wins.

Upon his entrance, Nash grabs the microphone, and nWo Wolfpack runs down its catchphrases.

Match 9 (battle royal):

Participants: Giant, Goldberg, Scott Hall, Curt Hennig, Konnan, Lex Luger, Kevin Nash, Scott Norton, Sting

Highlights:

WTF? Ring announcer David Penzer stated that Goldberg was from “parts unknown.” Dude, even casual fans knew he was from Atlanta.
Hall attempted an Outsider Edge, but Goldberg vaulted him over the top rope to the platform.
When Nash stepped over the top rope, he eliminated himself. Afterward, he guillotined Hall on the apron.
Goldberg speared Hennig, and Sting applied a sleeper to Giant before getting SQUISHED in the corner.
As Giant manhandled him, he fed Goldberg a side-Russian leg sweep.
Sting tried to lock Hennig in a Scorpion death lock, but Norton made the save.
After Konnan ate a big boot from Giant, he was force-fed a spear by Goldberg.
Speaking of Goldberg, he eliminated Konnan.
Giant dealt him a belly-to-back suplex, but Goldberg rebounded by spearing Hennig again.
While Goldberg eliminated Hennig, he clotheslined Sting and Norton to eliminate them.
FINAL THREE: Goldberg, Giant, and Luger.
Goldberg speared Luger, so Giant disposed of him.
With the ring down to two wrestlers, Giant chokeslammed Goldberg.
Shaking it off, Goldberg rose to his feet and speared Giant.
He delivered a Jackhammer and pinned Giant at 7:59.

Rating: NONE

Summary: The only point to this was the continuation of Goldberg’s push as the most dominant wrestler in WCW currently. I’m guessing this gave WCW a reason not to have Goldberg/Giant on the card as it provided a bunch of well-paid guys a PPV appearance.

Match 10: Diamond Dallas Page & Jay Leno (w/ Kevin Eubanks) versus “Hollywood” Hogan & Eric Bischoff (w/ Disciple & Elizabeth)

Highlights:

For those questioning if Leno should have been in a wrestling ring, Leno stood 5’11” and weighed approximately 190 pounds.
Buffer rambled and rumbled.
Before the bell, Leno tossed his water at Hogan and Bischoff, and the Sturgis faithful rang out a “Hogan sucks” chant.
Hogan reversed an Irish whip, but DDP fed him a swinging neckbreaker.
As Hogan sought refuge on the floor, Eubanks made him HIT THE POLE.
Eubanks tossed him back into the ring, and DDP rolled up Hogan for 2.
When Bischoff tagged in, Leno stormed from the babyface corner.
Referee Nick Patrick stopped Leno, but Bischoff gave DDP a cross corner whip.
After Bischoff ate boot on his follow-through, Leno tagged in.
Terrified, Bischoff tagged out.
Leno taunted Hogan but tagged out before any contact was made.
While Hogan fed DDP a lariat, Leno tagged in and applied a wristlock.
Hogan overpowered him, charged, but came up empty.
Upon an exchange of tags, Leno and DDP double-clotheslined Hogan for 2.
DDP tagged in, but Hogan tried to flatten him with a chair.
Instantly, Eubanks swiped the chair from Hogan.
Hogan reversed an Irish whip, and Bischoff laid in a thrust kick from the apron. SNEAKY!
Belting him down to the platform, DDP ate a clothesline from Hogan.
Speaking of Hogan, he gave DDP a cross corner whip followed by a corner clothesline.
Tagging in, Bischoff pummeled DDP in the corner.
Bischoff showboated, so DDP made him pay.
Given a foreign object by Disciple, Hogan obliterated DDP with it. How dastardly!
Hogan placed Bischoff atop DDP, but Bischoff only got 2.
Rejoining the match, Hogan baited Leno into the ring.
Patrick detained Leno, and that allowed Bischoff to mug DDP in the heel corner. Nefarious!
Downing DDP with a big boot, Hogan stalled.
DDP caught Hogan by the boot and delivered a discus clothesline.
Hot tag Leno. Never thought I’d type that.
Bischoff raked him in the eyes, but Leno retaliated by hitting him in Southern Wyoming.
Creaming Bischoff with a pair of rights, Leno rammed him into the turnbuckle.
He stunned Bischoff with a ten-top-turnbuckle count-along, but Hogan sauntered into the ring after him.
Grabbing Leno from behind, Bischoff held him until Hogan inadvertently decked him.
DDP entered the ring, and all four wrestlers were in.
Clotheslining Hogan over the top rope to the platform, DDP also spilled out.
Eubanks jumped into the ring and scored with a Diamond Cutter on Bischoff.
Meanwhile, DDP gave Hogan and Disciple a double noggin knocker.
Leno made the cover on Bischoff.
1-2-3.
Leno and DDP won at 14:34.

Rating: **

Summary: What can you say about a celebrity match? Leno did the best he could, and WCW played to his strengths.

Afterward, Hogan and Bischoff attack DDP, Leno, and Eubanks from behind. They pound on DDP and Leno until Goldberg arrives to a big pop. As Goldberg double-spears both Hogan and Bischoff, the babyfaces stand tall in the ring to end the show.

Conclusion: What can you say? WCW pulled off another celebrity main event that won’t end up on someone’s gag reel. Unfortunately, the undercard, minus the Cruiserweight match, was either uneventful or predictable. If you’ve never seen the main event, check it out; otherwise…

Buyrate: 0.93

Stay tuned for WWF Sunday Night Heat 08-09-98!

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