WCW Monday Nitro August 17, 1998 -

Live from Hartford, CT

Airdate: August 17, 1998

Attendance: 12,655 (sold out)

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

How will WCW perform in Vince McMahon’s backyard? Who will surprise us tonight? Who challenges Goldberg for the World title? Will Bret defend his title? How will Jericho defend his? Can Nitro win the Monday Night War two weeks in a row? Let’s find out!

In the cold open, “Hollywood” Hogan along with Eric Bischoff, Giant, and Disciple enter the ring as Giant carries Bischoff in his arms. Hogan spews his usual bullshit until he calls out Goldberg. He wants “his belt back tonight” while a “Gold-berg” chant erupts. Afterward, Hogan changes direction by saying Giant will take care of Goldberg TONIGHT.

Nitro is sponsored by Valvoline.

Opening montage.

At the entrance, “Mean” Gene Okerlund announces that at Fall Brawl on September 13, the WarGames match will contain THREE teams of THREE men rather than two teams of 4 or 5. Next, he interviews JJ Dillon who recalls Hogan’s saying that “there’s no one (Hogan) hasn’t beaten” earlier.

Nevertheless, he announces the three captains—Hogan, DDP, and Kevin Nash. Three wrestlers will start, and every two minutes a wrestler will enter. No winner can be crowned until all nine wrestlers have competed, and the winner will receive a World title shot against Goldberg at Halloween Havoc. Wow!

POINT OF ORDER: That would mean that Goldberg retains the World until then. Kayfabe, what’s that?

We revisit WCW Saturday Night when Malenko beckons Arn Anderson to reform the Four Horsemen.

It seems that last week’s 12-match episode will not be the norm going forward.

In the ring, the Nitro Girls strip off a clothing layer and dance in what appears to be periwinkle. Yowza! This week’s winner of a Nitro Party pack is the New Iberia Jaycees from New Iberia, LA. Their video airs. I blame copious amounts of Abita Purple Haze. If you’ve had it, you know.

Match 1: Steve “Mongo” McMichael versus Sick Boy (w/ the Flock)

Highlights:

In a running theme, Schiavone announced that RAW is taped, and their World title match won’t last ten seconds. C’mon, Schiavone, Goldberg-Giant’s not hitting the time limit.
Sick Boy guillotined Mongo with the top rope while a member of the Hartford faithful held up a sign: “Bring back the Ultimate Warrior.” Be careful what you wish for…
When he gave Mongo a cross corner whip, Sick Boy followed with a running elbow smash.
He slammed Mongo and got 2.
As Mongo missed a clothesline, Sick Boy dropkicked him for another 2.
He gave Mongo another cross corner whip and clotheslined him.
After he fed Mongo a fist drop, Sick Boy couldn’t get 3.
He tried to suplex him, but Mongo apparently sandbagged him.
While he mounted the second turnbuckle, Sick Boy missed a flying elbow drop.
Mongo dealt Sick Boy a three-point stance tackle and attempted a suplex.
Escaping, Sick Boy got PLANTED with a tombstone.
1-2-3.
Mongo won at 4:41.

Rating: *

Summary: Showcase match for Mongo who was on defense most of the match. Wait a minute!

In the ring, Okerlund interviews DDP who hints at one of his teammates for WarGames from “out west.” He also mentions that Hogan is 0-1 against him. Hint, hint… When DDP mentions his name, Bret approaches and enters the ring. DDP wants a match against him TONIGHT, and Bret accepts. Even as a heel, Bret’s a fighting champion.

Following a commercial break, Okerlund tries to interview Raven at the entrance; however, Horace interrupts and wants yet another match against him. Raven counters with a tag match with Saturn as his partner and Kanyon as Horace’s. As both Saturn and Kanyon join the party, Saturn objects to tagging with Raven. Reluctantly, he agrees.

Dillon arrives to straighten things out and sanctions the match. On the other hand, if a wrestler screws over his partner, he’ll be suspended for 90 days. Also, there must be a winner by either pinfall or submission.

Match 2: The Dancing Fools (w/o Tokyo Magnum) versus High Voltage

Highlights:

Wright nipped up and dropkicked him, but Rage reversed an Irish whip and powerslammed him.
As Rage gorilla-press-slammed Wright, Schiavone wouldn’t SHUT THE FUCK UP about RAW’s “ten second main event.”
Disco tagged in, but Rage clotheslined him.
When Kaos tagged in, he began a sunset flip.
Rage blind-tagged in and fed Disco a springboard bulldog.
Suddenly, Meng approached the ring and pulled Wright from the corner.
He trapped Wright in a Tongan death grip and entered the ring.
Upon chopping Rage, Meng’s interference caused referee Billy Silverman to call for the bell.
He ruled the bout a no-contest at 2:43.

Rating: NONE

Summary: More angle than match as the MONSTER MENG wrecked a decent midcard tag match.

Following the match, Meng obliterates High Voltage and catches Disco with a Tongan death grip. Kaos interrupts him only to be stung with a Tongan death grip. As Rage gets his turn, Meng puts him down with another Tongan death grip.

Silverman reads him the riot act, so Meng annihilates him with a Tongan death grip. When a member of WCW Security intervenes, he feels the wrath of a Tongan death grip as well. Another security team member enters the ring and maces Meng who no-sells it and decimates him with a Tongan death grip. As the segment ends, bodies lay prone scattered around the ring.

Eddie Guerrero emerges but isn’t dressed to wrestle. Instead, he carries a suitcase and a plastic coffee cup. He grabs a microphone and threatens to “go say (his) peace on some other show” should WCW go to commercial. After he turns his attention to Bischoff, Eddie says he has no stroke backstage. He mentions that Bischoff “holds (the young talent) down.” While he mentions Chavo as one of the reasons he’s not stepped up like this in the past, Eddie “want(s) out of (his) contract” and spills the coffee on himself. Subsequently, he resigns and exits the ring.

POINT OF ORDER: This was a worked shoot. If it had been actual, Bischoff would have either cut to commercial or his microphone. Needless to say, we won’t be seeing Eddie for a while. Considering how true some of what Eddie was saying, I wish it led to something better for him.

HOUR #2!

Match 3: Raven & Saturn versus Kanyon & Horace

Highlights:

This was how they opposed the first hour of RAW?
When the bell rang, Raven and Saturn shoved one another.
Kanyon took advantage and rolled up Raven.
Since Saturn’s actions led to the pin attempt, he made the save.
Raven forcibly tagged in Saturn who got in Raven’s face instead of nailing Kanyon.
As Saturn blocked a fisherman’s buster, he fed Kanyon an overhead belly-to-belly suplex.
Horace tagged in, but Saturn dealt him a T-bone suplex.
After Saturn turned his attention to Kanyon, Horace blasted him with a big boot.
Kanyon tagged in, Horace pancaked Saturn, and Kanyon delivered a swinging neckbreaker for 2.
While Kanyon gave him a cross corner whip, he caught Saturn mid-float-over and hit a backbreaker for another 2.
Kanyon mounted the top turnbuckle, but Raven crotched him.
Getting pointed at by Saturn, Raven tagged himself in and hooked a series of side-Russian leg sweeps to Kanyon. Impressive!
Saturn tagged in and flattened Kanyon with a series of kicks.
Rejoining the match, Raven sought a chair from ringside, set it up in the ring, and hoisted Kanyon atop the top turnbuckle.
Before Raven could end Kanyon’s career with a bulldog from the top onto it, Kanyon put a knee into Raven’s neck and rammed him face-first into the chair.
Some bored ham’n’egger among the Hartford faithful held up a sign that read: “What’s on RAW?”
Chomping at the bit, Horace tagged in, gave Raven a cross corner whip, and followed with a corner clothesline.
He powerslammed Raven and got 2.
Slamming Raven, Horace mounted the top turnbuckle and launched a flying splash for another 2. Either Raven forgot what was coming or he sandbagged Horace with that one. Yeah…
With all four wrestlers in the match, Kanyon and Horace rammed the Bickersons together.
They gave Raven a cross corner whip sandwiching Saturn, and Horace followed with an avalanche to make a Raven sandwich. Where am I? Hartford? Or in Baltimore at Chap’s Pit Beef?
Nonetheless, a crushed Saturn fell forward and shattered Raven’s, er, eggs.
Kanyon tried to score a pinfall, but Saturn disrupted it at 2.
Getting reversed on an Irish whip by Kanyon, Saturn got pummeled by a powerbomb/neckbreaker combo for 2.
Kanyon tagged in, but Saturn couldn’t handle an Irish whip.
Hoisting him onto his shoulders, Kanyon destroyed Saturn with an electric chair facebuster.
Horace tagged in with his STOP sign but nailed Kanyon with it when Saturn escaped.
Harnessing Horace, Saturn scored with a Death Valley Driver.
1-2-3.
Saturn and Raven won at 8:04.

Rating: ****

Summary: Great psychology combined with workrate and high-flying kept the Hartford faithful engaged to make this the best match of the night thus far. Please forgive my earlier questioning of its position on the show.

After the match, Raven plasters Saturn with an EvenFlow DDT. He instructs the Flock to triple-team Saturn, but Kidman objects. As a result, Raven decimates him with a DDT. Horace prevents any further nonsense by Raven but cripples Saturn with a full nelson slam. Offended, Raven turns Horace’s lights out with a DDT. If you’ve never witnessed a dysfunctional family, now you have.

Ben Gay sponsors the replay.

nWo Wolfpack approaches the ring, and they take turns on the microphone. As Nash goes for the cheap pop, he predicts the demise of nWo Hollywood.

Match 4: Scott Norton (w/ Vincent) versus Scott Putski

Highlights:

Putski had issues removing his pre-match garb, so Norton made him pay.
As he gave Putski a cross corner whip, Norton flattened him with an avalanche.
Putski escaped a slam and fed Norton a hangman’s neckbreaker; however, I don’t believe Norton was on the up-and-up for it.
When Vincent jumped onto the apron, Putski hammered him. RIP Vincent, a.k.a. Mike Jones.
Norton powerslammed Putski but got hip-tossed.
After Putski dropkicked him, Norton didn’t leave his feet.
He clotheslined Putski and followed with a powerbomb.
1-2-3.
Norton won at 1:02.

Rating: DUD

Summary: Showcase match for Norton.

TV Rating: 4.3

Hogan, Bischoff, and Disciple return to the ring which you’d think would be a great reason to switch to RAW. However, when Hogan questions who can handle him…

The lights flicker and darken. A short monologue emanates with heavy rock music behind it. Someone emerges through the entrance, but who is it?

THE Ultimate WARRIOR!

A horrified Hogan stands in awe as smoke fills the arena. When Warrior enters the ring with a microphone, he calls out to the Hartford faithful and receives quite a pop. In a bit of comedy, Hogan says: “I thought you were dead.” While the Hartford faithful chants “War-ri-or,” their hero acknowledges both his fans as well as the smart ones. Hogan removes his nWo t-shirt and offers it, but Warrior subtly jokes about Hogan’s line from No Holds Barred.

Like his last WWF stint in ‘96, Warrior continues to create words that do not exist (e.g. unrecreatable). He refers to himself as irreplaceable, and the Hartford faithful showers Hogan with a “Hogan sucks” chant. While Warrior subtly references their WrestleMania VI battle, he notes that Hogan “never beat a Warrior.” OUCH!

After another malapropism, Warrior, on that one occasion, was better than Hogan which, even outside of kayfabe, bothers Hogan. He calls Disciple Hogan’s “barber” which is a subtle yet somewhat funny nudge to a former gimmick. Pissed off, Bischoff questions Warrior’s business within WCW. Warrior puts him in his place with “I’m sending you a bill and suggest you pay it.”

Positioning Hogan as the evil menace, Warrior portrays himself as a “superhero” who will destroy him. He throws in this zinger: “Beating you means nothing anymore. Everyone already has.”

Next week, he intends to “launch a revolution” that Hogan can’t control “same Warrior time. Same Warrior place. Same Warrior channel.”

White noise on the monitor is followed by smoke in the ring. Miraculously, Warrior vanishes. Hogan, Bischoff, and Disciple are mystified, and a Warrior signal shines atop the Hartford Civic Center. Holy similarities, Batman!

TV Rating: 6.41

POINT OF ORDER: An unmistakable and remarkable debut for Warrior albeit elongated. Since Bischoff was in the ring, he couldn’t visibly cut Warrior off, so the segment lasted longer than anticipated. Also, WCW, due to the legal battle over the character name, couldn’t advertise his arrival ahead of time.

In the ring, the Nitro Girls dance in silver.

Match 5: Curt Hennig (w/ “Ravishing” Rick Rude) versus Dean Malenko

Highlights:

Hennig stalled worse than a Ford Pinto while Nitro took another break to make up for the time used by Warrior’s promo.
Afterward, Malenko grabbed him by the hair to return him to the ring.
Hennig literally dragged him to the floor and chopped him like a cucumber.
When they returned to the ring, Malenko scored with a spinning heel kick for 2.
Hennig gave Malenko a cross corner whip followed by a clothesline.
As Hennig distracted referee Charles Robinson, Rude dealt Malenko some viciousness. SNEAKY!
Hennig rang his bell, but Malenko rebounded with a back drop.
After he fed Hennig a side-Russian leg sweep, Malenko got 2.
Malenko gave Hennig a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
Though the team’s no longer existent, a “let’s go Whalers” chant emanated amongst the Hartford faithful. Talk about nostalgia!
Malenko blocked a Hennigplex and suplexed him.
While Schiavone continued to besmirch RAW, Malenko delivered a belly-to-back suplex.
Malenko attempted a Texas Cloverleaf, but Hennig made the ropes.
With Rude on the apron, Malenko popped and guillotined him on the top rope.
Hennig whipped Malenko, and Rude put a loafer into the back. How dastardly!
Since Hennig distracted Robinson again, Rude leaped from the apron and bashed Malenko with a double axe handle.
He dumped Malenko back into the ring so that Hennig could Hennigplex him.
1-2-3.
Hennig won at 6:12.

Rating: DUD

Summary: One of the worst Malenko matches I’ve seen. Obviously, Hennig would only play by his rules, and they involved Rude.

TV Rating: 4.2

HOUR #3!

Big Poppa Pump, Buff Bagwell, and a “surgeon” approach the ring with half of BPP’s body wrapped. As BPP gives his own version of anatomy, he introduces Dr. Cecil Schwartz who’s more of a quack than Daffy Duck. BPP cuts a promo on Rick, and Bagwell performs a quick reflex test. Of course, BPP fails, so Schwartz offers his prognosis: “Right on.”

Regardless, at the entrance, Rick barks and threatens to destroy BPP at the upcoming PPV. BPP retorts but not very eloquently.

At the entrance, the Nitro Girls dance in silver.

Get your WCW Bashin’ Brawler dolls NOW! They’re available at all children’s toy retailers today!

Schiavone shills the Nitro Party contest.

Match 6 (triangle) for the WCW World TV title: Chris Jericho (champion) versus Stevie Ray versus Chavo Guerrero, Jr. (w/ Pepe)

Highlights:

Jericho conned Chavo with some unity against Stevie Ray but welched on his offer.
As Stevie Ray plowed through Chavo with a clothesline, Jericho attempted an arrogant cover.
Much to his chagrin, Jericho ate a thrust kick from Stevie Ray.
When Jericho sought refuge on the floor, Stevie Ray gorilla-press-tossed Chavo atop him.
Chavo launched a cross body block and got 2 on Stevie Ray.
After he realized that Jericho’s all talk and no action, Chavo dropkicked him.
Chavo gave Jericho a cross corner whip followed by a flying right hand.
While Chavo scored with a springboard bulldog, Stevie Ray loitered in a different part of the ring.
That was until Chavo attempted a cover, so he gorilla-pressed Chavo again.
Dropkicking the knee, Jericho sent Chavo crashing atop Stevie Ray.
He prevented Chavo’s cover and attempted one himself.
Getting usurped by Chavo, Jericho covered both of them.
Stevie Ray’s kickout sent both wrestlers reeling, and he double-clotheslined them.
Attempting to suplex both of them, Jericho and Chavo blocked it and double-suplexed him.
Both Chavo and Jericho mounted the same top turnbuckle and scored with a double missile dropkick. Woohoo!
Making the cover, Chavo ate a seated dropkick from Jericho.
Speaking of Jericho, he leapfrogged Stevie Ray who bulldozed referee Mickey Jay.
Breaking out a slapjack, Stevie Ray walloped Jericho. Sinister!
Chavo jumped on Stevie Ray’s back until Giant sauntered toward the ring.
Chokeslamming Stevie Ray, Giant struggled but got him due to more sandbagging.
The Hartford faithful chanted “Gold-berg,” and Chavo rose to his feet.
Grabbing him, Jericho prevented Jay from noticing Chavo.
Jay reached the count of 10, and Jericho retained at 5:28.

Rating: *

Summary: Convoluted mess as Giant assists Jericho again. That double missile dropkick earned the match its only *.

TV Rating: 4.5

Match 7 for the WCW US title: Bret “Hitman” Hart (champion) versus Diamond Dallas Page

Highlights:

DDP blocked a hip toss and fed Bret a belly-to-belly suplex for 2.
When DDP attempted a Diamond Cutter, Bret hightailed it to the floor.
DDP joined and made him taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like Mom’s meatballs at Lucky Lou’s Bar & Grill.
As he rammed Bret shoulder-first into the steps, DDP tossed him back into the ring.
He dealt Bret a back elbow and a cross corner whip that led to a sternum-first bump by Bret.
After he suplexed Bret, DDP got 2.
He attempted a ten-punch count-along, but Bret pounded him down near SOUTH Jersey.
While he delivered Snake Eyes, Bret attempted a suplex.
DDP countered with an inside cradle and got 2.
Dropping DDP with a side-Russian leg sweep, Bret got 2.
He cracked DDP in two with a backbreaker, mounted the second turnbuckle, and launched a flying elbow smash for another 2.
Amidst a “D-D-P” chant from the Hartford faithful, Bret gave their hero a HARD cross corner whip to injure the back.
Bret piledrove DDP but couldn’t get 3.
Exploding from the corner, DDP demolished Bret in the corner.
He plastered Bret with a discus clothesline, mounted the top turnbuckle, and flew with a flying clothesline.
Do we have a new champion?
1-2-NO!
DDP pancaked Bret and got another 2.
Reversing a cross corner whip, Bret sent DDP straight into referee Nick Patrick.
Bret retrieved a foreign object and belted DDP with it.
Placing the object into DDP’s tights, Bret pulled him atop himself. Clever!
DDP got 2.
Trapped in a Sharpshooter, DDP appeared to tap out, but Patrick didn’t respond.
DDP made the ropes and obliterated Bret with a Diamond Cutter for 2.
Notified by Bret about a foreign object, Patrick queried DDP about it.
Patrick found the object and called for the bell.
As a result, Bret retained by DQ at 12:01.

Rating: ***

Summary: Solid match with a devilish finish to enable Bret to retain.

TV Rating: 5.14

Nitro Girls dance in black with the Bashin’ Brawlers in the aisle.

Match 8 for the WCW World title: Goldberg (champion) versus the Giant (w/ Disciple)

Highlights:

Buffer rumbled and rambled.
As Goldberg made his entrance, he was escorted by not only WCW Security but also members of Hartford’s finest.
Giant attacked before the bell and headbutted Goldberg.
When Giant slammed him, Goldberg stood right up.
He unfathomably slammed Giant, and the arena erupted with a “Gold-berg” chant.
After Giant fed him a side-Russian leg sweep, he dealt Goldberg another head butt.
He dumped Goldberg to the floor, and Disciple prepared to attack.
On the other hand, Goldberg blocked and blasted Disciple.
The numbers game caught up to Goldberg, and Giant hoisted him over his shoulder.
While Giant attempted to ram him shoulder-first into the ring post, Goldberg escaped and made him HIT THE POLE.
He rammed Giant face-first into the apron, but Giant suplexed him back into the ring.
No-selling it, Goldberg speared Giant to a colossal roar.
Before he could Jackhammer Giant, Disciple scampered into the ring and clobbered Goldberg with a double axe handle.
Referee Mark Curtis called for the bell, and Goldberg won by DQ at 3:24.

Rating: *

Summary: Are they saving this for PPV? Why not blow the roof off the arena with a clean finish? Goldberg remains undefeated at 132-0.

Following the match, Goldberg spears Hogan’s barber, er, I mean Disciple. He delivers a Jackhammer, but Scott Hall hits the ring to attack him. With the Hartford faithful in a frenzy, Nash storms the ring and boots Giant out. Hall backs into Nash, but Goldberg inadvertently spears Nash for the second week in a row. Angry, Nash gets in Goldberg’s face, but the show draws to a close.

TV Rating: 6.34

Conclusion: Schiavone: SHUT THE FUCK UP. WCW may have won last week’s battle, but don’t encourage the WWF to beef up their show by showboating.

As far as the rest of the episode goes, the Warrior debut was a breath of fresh air if only to shut Hogan up for once. The main event was a blockbuster that drove the Hartford faithful INSANE. There’s zero reason not to put Giant-Goldberg on PPV. In addition, Bret uncovered a new slimy reason to escape with the title whereas Giant enabled Jericho to retain his.

According to Meltzer, the Warrior segment ran too long, caused major timing problems, and had Wrath’s return scrapped. I’d say it was worth it because Warrior’s introduction was something that you couldn’t pull off twice. Looking at the ratings, between Goldberg and Warrior, things are looking up for WCW.

What’s on RAW is WAR?

Final TV Rating: 4.90

Stay tuned for RAW Is WAR 08-17-98!

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