Live from Chicago, IL
Airdate: August 24, 1998
Attendance: 17,094 (sold out)
Hosted by Tony Schiavone, “Iron” Mike Tenay, & Bobby “The Brain” Heenan
Who tags with Nash in the main event? What’s on Warrior’s mind? Who makes his triumphant return? Will Nitro hit a home run in Chi-town tonight?
By the way, I attended this show.
COLD OPEN: As a black limousine enters the arena, “Hollywood” Hogan, Eric Bischoff, Disciple, and Elizabeth emerge quite smiley. Upon entering the ring, Bischoff holds a pen noting it’s quite a powerful weapon as he uses it “to control WCW and the nWo.” He states that he “ran Vader…and Johnny B. Badd out of WCW” and namedrops Eddie Guerrero to “keep (him) in (WCW).”
Hogan spews his usual garbage while cutting a promo on DDP. When he namedrops “Ultimate Warrior” which is a big no-no, Hogan lies like a Persian rug. The Chicago faithful and I berate him with a “Hogan sucks” chant, and Hogan vows to win WarGames, beat Goldberg, and regain the World title.
Opening montage.
We revisit last week when Warrior shocked Hogan out of his BVDs.
Match 1: Wrath versus Mike Enos
Highlights:
- I mentioned last week that Wrath’s return was scrapped due to the elongated promo by Warrior. Lucky for us, he returned TONIGHT.
- When Wrath took the match to the floor, he rammed Enos oblique-first into the steel railing.
- From the apron, Wrath launched a flying elbow. Impressive!
- He placed a boot in the midsection and fed Enos a double underhook suplex.
- As he dealt Enos a senton splash, Wrath got 2.
- Enos reversed an Irish whip and planted Wrath with a powerslam for 2.
- After Enos gave Wrath a cross corner whip, he followed with a corner clothesline.
- He gave Wrath another cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
- While Wrath reversed an Irish whip, he whiffed on a flying shoulder block.
- Enos slammed Wrath but missed a diving headbutt.
- Demolishing Enos with a Meltdown (pumphandle slam), Wrath pinned him at 2:40.
Rating: *½
Summary: Showcase match for Wrath.
Slim Jim sponsors the replay.
Since it’s his hometown, Zbyszko absorbs ALL THE LOVE from Chicagoans.
We revisit last week when Hall used subterfuge that led to another spear from Goldberg to Nash.
Among the Chicago faithful, the Nitro Girls dance in red and black. Go Wolfpack! Nonetheless, Elizabeth Adams from Ina, IL is this week’s Nitro party pack winner, and her video airs.
Match 2: Dean Malenko versus Kaz Hayashi
Highlights:
- Malenko fed Hayashi a knee drop while the Chicago faithful chanted “We Want Flair.”
- As Hayashi reversed an Irish whip, he dealt Malenko a knee to the midsection followed by a senton splash.
- Malenko rebounded with a belly-to-back suplex and got 2.
- Following a commercial break, Hayashi’s quickness sent Malenko between the ropes to the floor.
- Hayashi launched a corkscrew plancha flattening Malenko.
- When Malenko delivered a pair of short-arm clotheslines, Hayashi ducked the third one and hit a German suplex with a bridge for 2.
- He gave Malenko a cross corner whip, got vaulted to the apron, and mounted the top turnbuckle.
- After Malenko joined him, Hayashi elbowed him down to the mat.
- He attempted a moonsault but ate knees.
- While he hooked la magistral cradle, Hayashi got 2.
- Hayashi missed a dropkick, so Malenko clobbered him with a spinning heel kick.
- Decimating him with a double underhook powerbomb, Malenko locked Hayashi in a Texas Cloverleaf.
- Hayashi submitted, so Malenko won at 4:30 shown.
Rating: ***
Summary: Showcase match for Malenko, but Hayashi was SMOOTH out there.
Video airs featuring nWo Wolfpack.
Speaking of nWo Wolfpack, they approach the ring, and Luger grabs the microphone. Catchphrases aplenty flow like water, and Nash cuts a promo on Hogan. As he declares war on nWo Hollywood, Nash vows to “run (WCW).” Foreshadowing his tenure as booker, perhaps? Nevertheless, he turns his attention to Goldberg and asks him to join him in a tag match.
Suddenly, Goldberg music plays, and the World champion walks through the halls of the United Center accompanied by several members of security. He approaches and enters the ring going nose-to-nose with Nash. Without a microphone, Goldberg agrees to the main event tag match. Nash is dumbfounded by Goldberg’s lack of TV skills yet announces his involvement later. Lest we forget, Goldberg merely made…
Match 3: Konnan (w/ nWo Wolfpack) versus Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart
Highlights:
- Konnan hip-tossed Neidhart and fed him a somersault clothesline.
- When Neidhart ducked a clothesline, he dealt Konnan one of his own.
- He slammed Konnan, mounted the second turnbuckle, leaped, but there wasn’t any water in the pool.
- As Konnan face-planted him, he tied Neidhart up in a Tequila Sunrise.
- Konnan won at 2:33.
Rating: *
Summary: Showcase match for Konnan.
At the entrance, “Mean” Gene Okerlund Tony Schiavone interviews a snazzily-dressed Stevie Ray who says he’ll take care of nWo Hollywood for what happened on Thunder. He refers to the World TV title as “my title,” and Booker T RETURNS! Woohoo! After he explains his absence, a decked-out Booker T asks Stevie Ray what his deal is.
Schiavone announces that Booker T is the #1 contender to the US title, and Stevie Ray throws a complete shitfit. Booker T wants redemption for when Bret whacked him in the knee with a chair. As he cuts a promo on Bret, Booker T asks Stevie Ray to “watch (his) back.”
Nitro Girls dance in the ring wearing black as Kimberly performs a solo.
HOUR #2!
In the ring, Schiavone interviews DDP who calls Bischoff a “fool.” He tells Bischoff that he’d like to squish the pen into Bischoff’s right ear. Ew! When he focuses upon Hogan, DDP asks for someone to step up.
Abruptly, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper RETURNS! He enters the ring to a resounding “Rod-dy” chant from the Chicago faithful and me. While Commissioner Piper shakes DDP’s hand, he claims Bischoff cannot fire him. Next, he refers to Bischoff as an “Eddie Munster lookalike.” HA! He namedrops Sammy Sosa and will join DDP at the PPV and wants to add Warrior as well.
TV Rating: 4.8
Match 4: Steve “Mongo” McMichael versus Riggs
Highlights:
- Mongo reversed a cross corner whip and followed with a corner clothesline.
- As Mongo bulldogged him, Riggs used momentum and the trunks to send him to the floor.
- Riggs launched a clothesline from the apron, returned him to the ring, and dropkicked him for 2.
- When he fed Mongo a knee lift, Riggs dealt him a knee to the midsection.
- Mongo rebounded with a clothesline but missed an elbow drop.
- After Riggs gave Mongo a cross corner whip, he followed with a knee strike.
- He gave Mongo another cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
- While he rebounded with a pair of three-point stance tackles, Mongo attempted a tombstone but was denied.
- Mongo reversed an Irish whip and dumped Riggs with a tombstone anyway.
- 1-2-3.
- Mongo won at 5:46.
Rating: **
Summary: Showcase match for Mongo.
After the match, the Flock storms the ring, and Horace obliterates Mongo with a STOP sign. Malenko sprints to the ring to save Mongo’s bacon and blasts Horace with a spinning heel kick. As Sick Boy misses a dropkick, Malenko ties him up in a Texas Cloverleaf. Saturn joins the fray and shoves Malenko. When he sees Raven, Saturn hits a tope suicida SMACK DAB into Horace’s STOP sign. Sick! The brawl continues until Malenko and Mongo dump Flock members over the top rope to the floor. To finish the segment, Mongo flashes the four fingers to a huge pop.
Nitro Girls dance at the entrance wearing leather.
Match 5: Scott Norton (w/ Vincent) versus Rick Fuller
Highlights:
- Why is this match in the second hour? Must be time for Chinese food.
- Norton reversed a cross corner whip and fed Fuller an avalanche.
- When Norton dealt him a Samoan drop, Fuller reversed an Irish whip and delivered a big boot.
- He clotheslined Norton and followed with a leg drop.
- As Norton no-sold it, he flattened Fuller with a belly-to-back suplex.
- He powerbombed and pinned Fuller at 1:13.
Rating: DUD
Summary: Showcase match for Norton, but Fuller should be wearing different ring garb as he resembles Wrath.
Video airs featuring nWo Hollywood.
Big Poppa Pump and “Doctor” Cecil Schwartz enter the ring, and BPP doesn’t want to wait until the PPV to face his brother. Unfortunately for him, Schwartz denies his clearance with ”Right on.” BPP doesn’t care and demands his brother. Instead of Rick, Buff Bagwell emerges wearing head gear and a fake goatee. He growls at BPP and accepts a match. As BPP changes course by offering a treat, Bagwell salivates over the treat instead. To further insult Rick, BPP commands Bagwell to “roll over and play dead.” BPP pins Bagwell in this farce of a match.
POINT OF ORDER: I thought the heel turn itself was a complete waste of Bagwell, but doing this shit has completely dissolved any chance whatsoever of Bagwell hitting the main event. I understand he didn’t have creative control of his character, but this is grotesque.
Match 6: The “Total Package” Lex Luger versus Brian Adams (w/ Vincent)
Highlights:
- Luger reversed a cross corner whip and hip-tossed Adams.
- As Vincent distracted Luger, Adams took advantage and clotheslined Luger.
- Adams distracted referee Billy Silverman enabling Vincent to give Luger the business on the floor. SNEAKY!
- When Vincent rammed Luger face-first into the steps, he rolled Luger back into the ring.
- Adams earned a 2-count thanks to his sidekick.
- After Adams fed him a pair of leg drops, he got another 2.
- He gave Luger a HARD cross corner whip to injure the back and dealt him an inverted atomic drop.
- While Luger no-sold it, Adams suplexed him but couldn’t get 3.
- Adams military-pressed and dropped Luger into a gutbuster for yet another 2.
- Upon Adams’ missing a knee drop, Luger rammed him face-first into the mat.
- He delivered a pair of clotheslines and scored with a flying forearm for 2.
- Powerslamming Adams, Luger signaled for the Torture Rack.
- Vincent mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but got caught in the midsection by Luger.
- Destroying Vincent with a flying forearm, Luger got clobbered by a double axe handle.
- Luger evaded Adams and locked him in a Torture Rack.
- Due to Adams’ submission, Luger won at 8:03.
Rating: **
Summary: Power matchup with some Vincent chicanery mixed in.
Video airs featuring Warrior.
TV Rating: 5.4
HOUR #3!
Warrior makes an elaborate entrance to a big pop and sprints to the ring. While he touts Hogan’s past, he notes Hogan’s present as a sell-out “to mediocrity.” A long pregnant pause occurs as Warrior looks completely lost. He plans to turn Hogan’s world upside down by unleashing the oWn—One Warrior Nation revolution. The white noise begins, and the Warrior symbol shines in the United Center.
POINT OF ORDER: All due respect, but Warrior needed to learn how to cut a 3-minute promo. He was repetitive, and the Chicago faithful and I bored with him rather quickly.
TV Rating: 4.72
Match 7 for the WCW World TV title: Chris Jericho (champion) versus Curt Hennig (w/o “Ravishing” Rick Rude)
Highlights:
- Jericho tore a fan’s sign of him but accidentally slipped. Oops.
- When Hennig fed him a series of headbutts, he thwarted a comeback attempt with a FIELD GOAL.
- He dealt Jericho a somersault necksnap but fell victim to a jumping back kick.
- As Hennig delivered a dragon screw leg whip, he dispatched Jericho to the floor.
- Hennig migrated to the apron, so Jericho hit a springboard dropkick to send him to the floor.
- After Hennig reversed a cross corner whip, he ate boot on his follow-through.
- Jericho mounted the second turnbuckle and uncorked a missile dropkick.
- While he suplexed Hennig, Jericho implemented an arrogant cover for 2.
- Jericho reversed an Irish whip, but Hennig leapfrogged him.
- Evading a dropkick, Jericho attempted a LionTamer, but Hennig made the ropes swiftly.
- Jericho argued with referee Mark Curtis, so Hennig nailed him with a double axe handle.
- Attempting a Hennigplex, Hennig got countered by an inside cradle for 2.
- The bell rang to signal the time limit, so the match ended in a draw at 6:10.
Rating: ***
Summary: Warrior’s promo must have run longer than anticipated because this match needed another 3 minutes to become great. Instead, it’s a forgettable match with a bogus finish.
Despite the bell, Jericho tosses down Curtis and continues to brawl with Hennig. Giant saunters to the ring and shoves down Hennig. Fortunately for Jericho, that enables him to escape with his belt. Giant and Hennig bicker back to the locker room.
At the entrance, Nitro Girls dance in leather. So nice we got to see it twice.
Meanwhile, Schiavone shills the Nitro Party contest.
Backstage, Booker T and Stevie Ray argue before Stevie Ray pushes the camera away.
Prior to the next match, Bret grabs a microphone and showers Hogan with praise. Yuck! He mentions Sting and calls out Booker T for “one more ass-kicking.”
Match 8 for the WCW US title: Bret ‘Hitman” Hart (champion) versus Booker T
Highlights:
- Backstage, Stevie Ray stands over a fallen Booker T who’s grasping at his right knee.
- Stevie Ray enters the ring and gets in Bret’s face.
- As Stevie Ray questions how Booker T got injured, Bret denies any responsibility.
- In the meantime, nWo Hollywood strolls to the ring.
- Whereas Giant and Hennig were jawing earlier, now they’re arm-in-arm.
- Bret recruits Stevie Ray to join nWo Hollywood, and…Stevie Ray accepts.
- No match.
Rating: NONE
Summary: Obviously, what happened on Thunder was part of his initiation.
REAL Match 8: “Hollywood” Hogan & Giant (w/ Disciple) versus Goldberg & Kevin Nash
Highlights:
- The bell rang, and the Chicago faithful including me advised Hogan that he, indeed, “sucks.”
- As Giant gave Nash a cross corner whip, he followed with a corner clothesline.
- He booted down Nash but missed an elbow drop.
- When Nash gave Giant a cross corner whip, he also followed with a corner clothesline.
- Nash fed Giant a running guillotine and taunted Hogan.
- After a double clothesline didn’t knock either off his feet, a double boot put both wrestlers down on the mat. Cool spot.
- Tags were exchanged on both sides, and the United Center EXPLODED.
- While Goldberg no-sold a turnbuckle shot, Disciple creamed him with the World title belt coming off the ropes. How dastardly!
- Nash chased after Disciple, so Giant chased after Nash leaving Hogan and Goldberg alone in the ring.
- Joining his buddies at ringside, Hennig hammered Nash on the floor.
- Hogan dealt Goldberg a belly-to-back suplex, yet Goldberg no-sold that too.
- Jumping into the ring, Hennig and Disciple manhandled Goldberg.
- nWo Hollywood quadruple-teamed Goldberg until Nash recovered to aid him.
- With nWo Wolfpack down 4-2 in the ring, Luger sprinted to assist his buddies.
- Konnan also arrived to even the odds.
- Left by themselves, Goldberg speared Hennig.
- He decimated Hennig with a Jackhammer, and Jay counted the pin at 8:16.
Rating: *
Summary: WTF was that finish? Seriously, they’re counting that as a victory to add to Goldberg’s streak?
Following the match, Hogan levels Goldberg from behind yet somehow evades a big boot from Nash. As par for the course, Goldberg inadvertently eats it. He confronts Giant who clotheslines him over the top rope to the floor.
With the Chicago faithful and me whipped up into a frenzy, Warrior, DDP, and Piper bolt to the ring and scatter the heels. Before the show leaves the air, Goldberg stares down Nash.
TV Rating: 6.72
Conclusion: Head-scratching main event finish aside, this was an eventful card. Historically speaking, it stands as the episode nWo Hollywood gained a new member. Not so historically speaking, Warrior shouldn’t get any more airtime alone to cut promos. Three returns also highlighted the episode with Wrath, Booker T, and Piper. Additionally, the frame for WarGames has become a bit clearer. I’d give it a look, but don’t expect greatness.
What’s on RAW is WAR?
Final TV Rating: 5.2
Stay tuned for RAW Is WAR 08-24-98!
Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at rsg@rockstargary.com and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202).