WCW Thunder August 26, 1998

by

Live from Peoria, IL

Airdate: August 26, 1998

Attendance:  7,128

Hosted by Tony Schiavone, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, & Lee Marshall

Can DDP defeat Stevie Ray, or will Stevie Ray collect Hogan’s bounty? How will Jericho fare against Wright? What happens when Lodi encounters Saturn? With dark clouds overhead, the storm’s brewing. Get inside before you get soaked.

Opening montage.

Match 1: Wrath versus Scott Putski

Highlights:

  • WCW’s brain trust: Wrath’s back? Book him in a match!
  • Wrath gave Putski a cross corner whip and followed with a clothesline.
  • When he tossed Putski over the top rope, Wrath joined and brawled with him.
  • Wrath mounted the top turnbuckle and uncorked a flying clothesline for 2.
  • As Putski hooked a sunset flip, he got 2.
  • Putski reversed an Irish whip, but Wrath fed him a flying shoulder block.
  • After Wrath dealt him an UGLY Meltdown, he pinned Putski at 2:31.

 

Rating: -*

Summary:  Showcase match for Wrath. He needs to tighten up that finisher, or some wrestlers will be headed to the hospital.

At the entrance, Schiavone interviews the newest member of nWo Hollywood—Stevie Ray who’s accompanied by Vincent. Someone needs to tell Stevie Ray to untuck his shirt. Don’t look my way though. Nevertheless, he owes his career advancement to “Hollywood” Hogan and Eric Bischoff, mentions a bounty by Hogan on DDP’s head, and wants a match against him TONIGHT.

Match 2: “Mean” Mike Enos versus Bull Pain

Highlights:

  • Who booked this crap?
  • Pain poked Enos in the eye, mounted the top turnbuckle, and launched a flying clothesline.
  • As he mounted the adjacent second turnbuckle, he missed a flying elbow drop.
  • Enos powerslammed him, but Pain used momentum to send Enos between the ropes to the floor.
  • When he leaped from the apron, Pain connected with another flying clothesline.
  • Pain remounted the apron, leaped, but got caught in an overhead belly-to-belly suplex.
  • After Enos rammed him against the ring post, he fed Pain a sidewalk slam.
  • Pain rebounded with a jawbreaker and mounted the top turnbuckle.
  • While Enos caught him, he slammed Pain down to the mat.
  • Enos draped Pain across the top turnbuckle, joined, and flattened him with a super fallaway slam.
  • 1-2-3.
  • Enos won at 3:59.

 

Rating: **

Summary:  Showcase match for Enos, but Pain was ready to play.

On WCW Saturday Night, Jericho defends the TV title against Stevie Ray. Will Giant be involved? Tune into the “muthaship!”

Prior to the next match, Disco grabs the microphone. Since he knew Disco’s spiel would be pointless, Miller steals the microphone and informs Disco of his credentials.

Match 3: Disco Inferno versus Ernest “The Cat” Miller

Highlights:

  • Before the bell, Miller connected with a standing thrust kick to the head.
  • Disco Inferno was OUT COLD.
  • When Miller yanked Disco to his feet, he laid him out with another kick.
  • 1-2-3.
  • Miller won at 0:16.

 

Rating: DUD

Summary:  For those who believe Disco is a waste of TV time, he wasn’t there for very long.

Following the match, Miller grabs the microphone and refers to himself as “the real deal.” He might want to discuss that with Evander Holyfield.

Promotional consideration paid for by the following: Slim Jim.

Prior to the next match, Konnan grabs the microphone and recites his catchphrases.

Match 4: Konnan versus Silver King

Highlights:

  • Konnan fed Silver King a flying headscissors that sent him to the floor.
  • As Silver King dealt him a spinning heel kick, he soared with a springboard tope. Woohoo!
  • He leaped from the apron and planted an elbow smash onto Konnan.
  • When he gave Konnan a cross corner whip, Silver King followed with another spinning heel kick.
  • Konnan rebounded with a flapjack much to the delight of the Peoria faithful.
  • After he delivered a somersault clothesline, Konnan hit a seated dropkick.
  • He hooked a gutwrench suplex and got 2.
  • While Silver King reversed a cross corner whip, Konnan leaped to the second turnbuckle, evaded, and clotheslined him.
  • He rammed Silver King face-first into the mat and trapped him in a Tequila Sunrise.
  • Getting the submission, Konnan won at 4:32.

 

Rating: **½

Summary:  Showcase match for Konnan

After the match, members of nWo Hollywood stand at the entrance. Rude sees Konnan all by himself and wants to make him “black and blue.” As nWo Hollywood surrounds the ring, Konnan challenges all of them at once. When they charge, Konnan makes a hasty retreat.

In the ring, Schiavone interviews DDP who namedrops Karl Malone and Jay Leno while cutting a promo on both Bischoff and Hogan. He turns his attention to Stevie Ray and accepts his challenge.

Match 5: Kaz Hayashi versus Evan Karagis

Highlights:

  • Karagis gave him a cross corner whip, but Hayashi leaped to the second turnbuckle and launched a cross body block.
  • When he fed Karagis a spinning heel kick, Hayashi ate a powerslam. Karagis got 2.
  • Meanwhile, Sonny Onoo emerged to scout Hayashi.
  • Hayashi dealt Karagis a knee to the midsection that led to a 360°. Yippee!
  • As Hayashi delivered a senton splash, he suplexed Karagis.
  • He hit a springboard senton but got distracted by Onoo.
  • After Karagis responded with his own suplex, he got 2.
  • He clotheslined Hayashi and converted a gorilla press into a powerslam.
  • While he mounted the top turnbuckle, Karagis attempted a splash but ate knees.
  • Hayashi hit a modified spinebuster, mounted the top turnbuckle, and connected with a flying senton.
  • 1-2-3.
  • Hayashi won at 4:36.

 

Rating: **

Summary:  While the Peoria faithful were slumbering, Hayashi was auditioning for Onoo.

Cinnaburst sponsors the replay.

During Saturn’s entrance, Lodi yells at him on the microphone. He accuses Saturn of breaking his fingers and wants a match. As Saturn corrects him, he dismisses the challenge. Lodi defends Raven and changes the stipulation to a Raven’s Rules match. Lodi also offers that if Saturn wins, Lodi leaves the Flock. On the other hand, if Lodi wins, Saturn’s his “slave until the PPV.” Saturn accepts and clotheslines the BEJEEZUS out of him.

Match 6 (Raven’s rules): Saturn versus Lodi

Highlights:

  • Saturn dished out a series of kicks and fed Lodi a T-bone suplex.
  • As Riggs mounted the top turnbuckle, he leaped but ate a shot to the midsection from Saturn.
  • Sick Boy jumped into the ring only to eat a thrust kick.
  • When Saturn dumped Riggs with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex, Raven sauntered toward ringside.
  • Saturn dealt Lodi a Death Valley Driver, but Sick Boy distracted referee Billy Silverman.
  • Thanks to the distraction, Raven hauled ass into the ring, but Saturn caught him with a T-bone suplex.
  • Saturn prepared to annihilate Raven with a Death Valley Driver, but Kanyon interjected himself.
  • Obliterating Saturn with a Flatliner, Kanyon shook hands with Raven.
  • WE HAVE A HEEL TURN!
  • Kanyon placed Lodi atop Saturn and instructed Silverman to count.
  • 1-2-3.
  • Lodi won at 2:08.

 

Rating: DUD

Summary:  More angle than match as Kanyon embraced the dark and depressing side.

Prior to the next match, Schiavone tips his hat to the late Jack Brickhouse. Hey, hey!

Match 7: Scott Norton versus Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart

Highlights:

  • Like Nitro, WCW production folks had a hard time spelling the Anvil’s last name.
  • Norton launched a flying shoulder block that sent Neidhart to the floor.
  • When Norton distracted referee Nick Patrick, Vincent gave Neidhart the business. SNEAKY!
  • Neidhart manhandled Vincent until Norton leaped from the apron with a double axe handle.
  • As he made Neidhart HIT THE POLE, Norton rammed him face-first into the apron.
  • He fed Neidhart a short-arm clothesline, but why hadn’t Patrick called for the countout?
  • Back in the ring, Norton slammed Neidhart and dealt him a pair of elbow smashes on the apron.
  • He gave Neidhart a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
  • After Neidhart mounted the second turnbuckle, he attempted a lariat, but Norton no-sold it.
  • Norton reversed a cross corner whip and delivered an avalanche.
  • While he powerbombed Neidhart, Norton pinned him at 3:17.

 

Rating: DUD

Summary: Showcase match for Norton.

Slim Jim sponsors the replay.

Match 8 for the WCW World TV title: Chris Jericho (champion) versus Alex Wright

Highlights:

  • An idiotic member of the Peoria faithful tossed a cup into the ring, so Jericho picked it up and finished the beverage. HA!
  • As Jericho reversed an Irish whip, he flipped out of a hip toss block but ate a clothesline.
  • The match segued to the floor where Wright rammed Jericho oblique-first into the steel railing.
  • When Wright snap-suplexed him on the floor, Jericho rebounded by ramming him abs-first into the steel railing.
  • Jericho reversed a cross corner whip, caught Wright mid-float-over, but ate a bump in the opposite corner when Wright escaped.
  • After Wright fed Jericho a belly-to-belly suplex, he got 2.
  • Jericho responded with a jumping side kick followed by both a vertical suplex and arrogant cover for 2.
  • While Wright dealt him a shot to the midsection, he followed with a somersault neck snap.
  • He tossed Jericho to the floor but missed on a leap from the apron.
  • Tying Wright up like a pretzel, Jericho couldn’t position the shoulders to the mat.
  • He slammed Wright and connected with a Lionsault.
  • Giving Jericho a cross corner whip, Wright followed with a back elbow.
  • He gave Jericho another cross corner whip followed by a backbreaker for 2.
  • Scoring with a spinning heel kick, Wright got another 2.
  • Jericho countered a reverse chin lock with a belly-to-back suplex.
  • Attempting to fake out Wright with a leap frog, Jericho got demolished by another spinning heel kick.
  • Jericho hooked a double underhook backbreaker, charged, but Wright guillotined him with the top rope.
  • Splitting Jericho in two, Wright hit another backbreaker, mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but there wasn’t any water in the pool.
  • Jericho charged but met a boot from Wright.
  • Mounting the second turnbuckle, Wright attempted a sunset flip.
  • Jericho rolled out and trapped Wright in a LionTamer.
  • Due to Wright’s submission, Jericho retained at 10:24.

 

Rating: ***½

Summary: Fantastic back-and-forth match with solid workrate and psychology. Why do I have an issue with the time? Because on Nitro, the time limit was early whereas the ten-minute time limit was ignored for this match. Nonetheless, it’s the match of the night thus far.

POINT OF ORDER: The chippiness between Schiavone and Heenan on this telecast cannot be overstated. You’d think they were married with all the bickering.

Match 9: Curt Hennig (w/ “Ravishing” Rick Rude) versus Van Hammer

Highlights:

  • Hammer hooked a somersault cradle yet couldn’t earn a 1-count.
  • When he bulldozed Hennig, Hammer clotheslined him.
  • Rude distracted Hammer allowing Hennig to gain control.
  • As he gave Hammer a cross corner whip, Hennig followed with a back elbow.
  • He distracted referee Nick Patrick so that Rude could soften up Hammer. How dastardly!
  • After Hammer reversed a cross corner whip, he came up empty on his follow-through.
  • Hennig fed him a knee crusher but missed a clothesline.
  • While Hammer rolled Hennig up, he got 2.
  • Hennig attempted a slam, but Hammer countered with an inside cradle for another 2.
  • Getting reversed on an Irish whip, Hennig hooked a Hennigplex.
  • 1-2-3.
  • Hennig won at 7:13.

 

Rating: *

Summary:  Abrupt finish to a match where Hammer had a solid chance of winning.

Match 10: Diamond Dallas Page versus Stevie Ray (w/ Vincent)

Highlights:

  • Untuck that tank top, please!
  • DDP attempted a hip toss, but Stevie Ray blocked it.
  • As DDP converted to a side-Russian leg sweep, he attempted a Diamond Cutter.
  • Stevie Ray immediately escaped and sought refuge on the floor.
  • When DDP chased Stevie Ray, Vincent grabbed him by the legs. Nefarious!
  • Stevie Ray gave DDP a HARD cross corner whip to injure the back.
  • After he fed DDP a backbreaker, Stevie Ray got 2.
  • He distracted referee Mark Curtis permitting Vincent to work over DDP. Evil!
  • While Stevie Ray applied a bear hug, DDP rang his bell three times to escape.
  • Stevie Ray attempted a Slapjack, but DDP countered with a back drop.
  • Stymying Stevie Ray with a discus clothesline, DDP dealt him a swinging neckbreaker.
  • Vincent jumped into the ring, but DDP plastered him with a Diamond Cutter.
  • Due to the interference, Curtis called for the bell.
  • DDP won by DQ at 4:28.

 

Rating: **

Summary:  Stevie Ray couldn’t collect the bounty as DDP survived the match. Or did he?

After the match, Giant jogs to ringside and headbutts DDP from behind. Before Giant and Stevie Ray can double-team DDP, Konnan pulls him out of the ring. Obviously, neither Piper nor Warrior is in Peoria.

Conclusion:  If you think Thunder is a meaningless show, I give you the Kanyon heel turn to join the Flock. Considering the WCW faithful isn’t cheering him, forcing them to boo him makes sense. Saturn’s being Lodi’s lackey should make for intriguing TV. Also, pitting DDP against Stevie Ray helps to define the latter’s role in nWo Hollywood. For you workrate fans, Jericho and Wright light up the ring due to fantastic chemistry. Give this one a look.

TV Rating: 3.18

Stay tuned for WWF Sunday Night Heat 08-30-98!

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