WCW Monday Nitro September 14, 1998 -

Live from Greenville, SC

Airdate: September 14, 1998

Attendance: 12,236 (sold out)

Hosted by Tony Schiavone, Larry Zbyszko, & Bobby “The Brain” Heenan

Can Sting recapture the World title and hand Goldberg his first defeat? Who makes his triumphant return to WCW? Will Kidman attain some gold? WCW had better apologize to the fans who bought the crappy PPV, so will they and how so? Come on in already!

To begin the show, the Nitro Girls dance in the ring wearing red and black. Go Wolfpack!

After Zbyszko accepts his kudos, an EXTREMELY LOUD “We Want Flair” chant erupts.

ON THE ROAD WITH TENAY: “Iron Mike” is at Greenville-Jet Center where he’s trying to confirm that “Nature Boy” Ric Flair is returning to WCW. After a limousine drives by without stopping, Tenay jogs toward a private jet but receives a “no comment” from the pilot prior to its disembarking.

Opening montage.

We revisit Thunder for the Armstrong interview that Ernest Miller interrupted followed by Smiley’s involvement. Next, we revisit a backstage segment from last night when Miller and Smiley had to be separated again.

Match 1: “Das Wunderkind” Alex Wright versus Van Hammer

Highlights:

Hammer made his entrance wearing a tie-dye peace shirt and flashing the peace symbol with each hand.
When Hammer attempted a back drop, Wright countered with a double axe handle to the back.
Wright gave Hammer a cross corner whip, applied the brakes on his follow-through, and fed him a snap suplex.
As he dealt Hammer an elbow drop, Wright gave him another cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through. Methinks he repeated the spot.
Hammer backdropped Wright and followed with a pair of slams.
After the match segued to the floor, Miller emerged and launched a side kick to Hammer.
Referee Nick Patrick did not see the interference due to a distraction by Wright.
While Miller climbed into the ring, Patrick threw the match out at 2:54.

Rating: NONE

Summary: Mere backdrop for a character change by Hammer following the Flock exodus as well as Miller’s involvement.

After the match, Miller grabs the microphone and calls himself “the greatest.” When WCW Security arrives to corral him, he exclaims: “Somebody call my mama!” HA! Another “We Want Flair” chant erupts as Greenville’s finest escorts Miller into a police car.

We revisit stills from last night when Hogan jumped the gun and, with help from Stevie Ray, injured Bret.

In the ring, “Mean” Gene Okerlund interviews Bret who limps to the ring. Bret apologizes for being a “jackass” lately and informs Hogan that he’s “full of crap.” After he refers to Hogan as “scum,” Bret wants to “make (Hogan’s) life a living hell.” He should probably call Linda.

Suddenly, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper emerges and joins Bret in the ring. He gets in Bret’s face and mentions that Bret’s “not the first one to get conned by Hulk Hogan, that piece of slime.” He gives Bret a motivational speech and leaves. As Bret gets his turn, he asks for “another chance.”

Promotional consideration paid for by Slim Jim.

We see more stills from last night. These are from the Raven-Saturn match.

Match 2: Saturn versus Kendall Windham

Highlights:

Kendall blasted Saturn in the midsection and slammed him.
As Kendall missed a pair of elbow drops, Saturn caught him with a back elbow.
He fed Kendall an overhead belly-to-belly suplex, a series of kicks, a cross corner whip, and finally a thrust kick.
When Kendall rebounded with his own back elbow, Saturn mounted the top turnbuckle.
He attempted a flying splash, but there wasn’t any water in the pool.
After he tossed Saturn down to the floor, Kendall leaped from the apron and dealt him a flying elbow drop.
He delivered a leg drop and got 2.
While he hit a knee to the midsection, Kendall followed with a lariat for another 2.
Kendall attempted another slam, but Saturn countered with an inside cradle albeit too close to the ropes.
Hooking a gutwrench suplex, Kendall couldn’t get 3.
He scored with a big boot, but the camera angle showed that he missed. Fire the director!
Hoisting Saturn atop the top turnbuckle, Kendall joined and planted him with a belly-to-back superplex.
He mounted the second turnbuckle but missed a second flying elbow drop.
Evading Kendall’s charge, Saturn rolled him up and got 2.
He demolished Kendall with a T-bone suplex and followed with a clothesline.
Slamming Kendall, Saturn mounted the second turnbuckle and launched his own flying elbow for another 2.
Kendall blocked a vertical suplex attempt and countered with a swinging neckbreaker.
Reversing an Irish whip, Saturn flattened Kendall with a Death Valley Driver.
1-2-3.
Saturn won at 9:09.

Rating: ***½

Summary: Kendall had everything going for him but couldn’t put Saturn away. In addition, Saturn sold well, held his own, and triumphed in the end.

Following the match, Riggs, Sick Boy, Lodi, and Horace approach the ring. Meanwhile, from among the Greenville faithful, Raven informs them to reform the Flock. Saturn tells them they’re “free.” One by one, Saturn counsels them to be strong and move forward. When he turns his attention to Kidman, Saturn advises him to win the Cruiserweight title. Heeding Saturn’s words, they walk out on Raven.

Match 3: Wrath versus Renegade

Highlights:

Sans face paint, Renegade ambushed Wrath before the bell.
Wrath countered a back drop attempt and fed Renegade a big boot.
When Renegade reversed a cross corner whip, he dealt Wrath a handspring back elbow.
Wrath no-sold it and plowed through Renegade.
As he delivered a Meltdown, Wrath pinned Renegade at 1:29.

Rating: ½*

Summary: Showcase match for Wrath.

“Hollywood” Hogan, Disciple, Elizabeth, and Eric Bischoff head to the ring. After Bischoff harasses the Greenville faithful about Flair, Hogan runs down both Bret and Piper. He calls Warrior a “coward” and blames him for not getting his shot at Goldberg. Next, he challenges Warrior to a match at the PPV.

Abruptly, smoke fills the ring, but Warrior does not appear within it. Disciple, however, is GONE. Hysterical, Hogan questions where Disciple is. Perhaps he’s taking a leak?

HOUR #2!

Earlier tonight, Schiavone noted that Kaz Hayashi would challenge Guerrera tonight; however, he’s injured. Instead, Kidman will wrestle in his place.

Match 4 for the WCW Cruiserweight title: Juventud Guerrera (champion) versus Kidman

Highlights:

Kidman reversed an Irish whip, leapfrogged Guerrera, but ate a pair of chops.
As Guerrera fed him a ten-punch count-along, Kidman vaulted him to the apron.
Guerrera mounted the top turnbuckle and unleashed a missile dropkick.
When Kidman sought respite on the floor, he returned to the apron and dealt Guerrera a flying headscissors.
Guerrera reversed an Irish whip, but Kidman caught him mid-leapfrog and powerslammed him for 2.
After Kidman landed a leg drop, Guerrera rebounded with his own flying headscissors.
Kidman gave Guerrera a cross corner whip but ate a mule kick on his follow-through.
While Guerrera scored with a cross body block, both wrestlers spilled over the top rope to the floor.
Following a commercial break, Guerrera blocked a knee to the midsection and rolled up Kidman for 2.
Kidman dropkicked Guerrera and followed with a slam.
Migrating to the apron, Kidman flattened Guerrera with a springboard leg drop.
Kidman attempted a release German suplex, but Guerrera landed on his feet.
Unfazed, Kidman obliterated him with a spinebuster for 2.
He pulverized Guerrera with a wheelbarrow suplex for another 2.
Since he couldn’t scrape Guerrera off the mat, he covered again but couldn’t get 3.
He gave Guerrera another cross corner whip followed by a corner clothesline.
Dragging Guerrera closer to the center of the ring, Kidman planted him with an elbow drop for yet another 2.
Guerrera escaped a vertical suplex attempt and hooked a release German suplex for 2.
Mounting the top turnbuckle, Guerrera stymied Kidman with another flying headscissors and got another 2.
Kidman reversed a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
Attempting a Juvi Driver, Guerrera got countered by a reverse suplex by Kidman.
Can Kidman achieve greatness?
1-2-NO!
He slammed Guerrera, mounted the top turnbuckle, but got caught.
Joining Kidman atop the top turnbuckle, Guerrera uncorked a super huracanrana.
Guerrera mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but Kidman caught him with a powerbomb for 2.
Mounting the top turnbuckle, Kidman launched a shooting star press.
1-2-3.
Kidman won at 10:44 shown.
WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!

Rating: ****½

Summary: Spectacular match with excellent high-flying, psychology, and a well-told story. The Greenville faithful were chomping at the bit for a title change, and they got it. Bravo, gentlemen!

From ringside, Saturn offers his approval of the NEW Cruiserweight champion.

TV Rating: 3.7

Backstage, Okerlund notices a tuxedo-clad JJ Dillon being escorted to a private room by WCW Security Director Doug Dellinger. He interviews Dillon who won’t let the cat out of the bag.

In a taped segment, Jackie Chan, “friend of Larry Zbyszko,” promotes his TV show Wheels on Meals as well as his new film Rush Hour.

Backstage, Bischoff and Eddie Guerrero argue over who made Eddie “a star.” Bischoff tells him that if he doesn’t want to work for WCW, he can wrestle in Japan. According to cagematch, Eddie wrestled exactly one match in Japan and won’t return to TV for another month. Sounds like Eddie’s in the doghouse.

Match 5: Barbarian (w/ Jimmy Hart) versus the “British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith

Highlights:

Wait a minute! Everything I read about the PPV last night said that Smith was injured. How was he cleared to wrestle on Nitro?
Smith shoulder-blocked Barbarian down and clotheslined him over the top rope to the floor.
When Barbarian dragged him to the floor, he rammed Smith shoulder-first into the steps.
Hart distracted referee Mickey Jay so that Barbarian could ram Smith’s already-injured back into the ring post. Psychology or ruthlessness? You make the call!
As Barbarian fed him a Big Ending, he got 2.
He landed a pair of elbow drops to the back and mauled him in the corner.
After Barbarian distracted Jay, Hart gave Smith the business from the apron. SNEAKY!
Barbarian whipped Smith back into the original corner but came up empty on his follow-through.
While Smith prepped Barbarian for the running powerslam, Hart returned to the apron to thwart it.
Smith pummeled Hart for his troubles.
Clotheslining Smith, Barbarian loaded his boot but missed the Kick of Fear.
Smith barely got Barbarian off his feet but powerslammed him nonetheless.
1-2-3.
Smith won at 3:45.

Rating: *

Summary: Smith was too injured to truly compete here. WCW should have substituted for him. Amazingly, this wasn’t Smith’s last match before recovery. Stay tuned!

Snickers sponsors the replay.

TV Rating: 4.1

In the ring, Okerlund interviews Dillon again who downplays his attire. He declares that BPP must face his brother Rick at the next PPV. Let’s hope that shenanigans don’t happen then either. Before the segment ends, the lights flicker, and the cackle of Charles Lee Ray is overheard. For those unaware, Charles Lee Ray is otherwise known as Chucky the voodoo doll from the Child’s Play movies. I get it. WCW’s owned by a media company, so they must promote other media especially with the ratings Nitro receives.

At the entrance, the Nitro Girls dance in silver. Meanwhile, Schiavone announces that Don Petrucci from Buffalo, NY is this week’s Nitro Party pack winner. His video follows.

Match 6: Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart versus the Disciple

Highlights:

The nWo Hollywood theme played, but Disciple did not appear.
Instead, the ring filled with smoke, and Warrior appeared with Disciple kneeling by his side.
nWo Hollywood approached ringside while Neidhart extricated himself from the situation.
As Warrior asked Hogan if he’s missing anything, he babbled while standing over Disciple.
He accepted Hogan’s challenge for the PPV and vanished within a cloud of smoke.
For all you dream match fanatics, Hogan-Warrior II was signed for the PPV.

Rating: NONE

REAL Match 6 (handicap): Big Poppa Pump (w/ Buff Bagwell) versus Silver King & Norman Smiley

Highlights:

BPP knocked Silver King off the apron and blasted Smiley with a forearm smash.
As Silver King returned, he ate a clothesline.
Bagwell gave Smiley the business and placed his top hat on him. HA!
When he fed Silver King a knee lift, BPP dealt Smiley some of the same medicine.
BPP distracted referee Scott Dickinson so that Bagwell could maul Smiley in the opposite corner. How dastardly!
After he gave Silver King a cross corner whip directly into Smiley, BPP sandwiched him.
He gorilla-press-dropped Smiley and delivered a double underhook bomb to Silver King onto Smiley.
While he applied a double Steiner Recliner, BPP won at 2:47.

Rating: DUD

Summary: Showcase match for BPP.

In the aisle, the Nitro Girls dance in silver and black while Schiavone shills the Nitro Party contest.

We revisit Thunder when Bischoff shouted at Arn who took matters into his own hands. In response, Bischoff challenged him to an arm-wrestling contest with the prize being Flair’s return to the ring. Arn accepted.

HOUR #3!

Match 7: Giant versus Meng

Highlights:

They brawled until Meng uncorked a thrust kick.
When Giant dropped the strap, he slugged at Meng to ZERO effect.
He headbutted Meng which also didn’t faze him.
As Meng fed him another thrust kick, he attempted a Tongan death grip.
Due to Giant’s reach advantage, he grasped Meng by the throat thereby thwarting the Tongan death grip.
He chokeslammed and pinned Meng at 2:33.

Rating: *

Summary: As a wrestling match, it’s crap. As a hoss match, it’s awesome theater as Giant took advantage of one of his strengths for a clean victory.

TV Rating: 4.3

Match 8: The “Total Package” Lex Luger versus Scott Hall (w/ Vincent)

Highlights:

As Hall made his entrance, he held a Styrofoam cup allegedly filled with an alcoholic beverage. Vincent carried the brown bag to keep Hall fueled.
Hall took his survey, and the Greenville faithful placated him with “n-W-o”. Following that, Wolfpack won again! Yes!
When the match began, Hall stalled for an eternity before taking another sip.
Hall stumbled while entering the ring due to the effects of his rocket fuel.
After Hall fell trying to lock up, he turned over on his front and rolled out of the ring.
He drank some more but beat the count back in.
While Luger held him in the corner, he told Hall that he’s “messed up” and asked if he wanted to “get fired.”
Bischoff stormed to the ring, and Hall joined him at ringside.
With an argument between Hall and Bischoff ongoing, Kevin Nash and Konnan head toward the ring.
Hall cried a river to Nash and “reprimanded” everyone for their drinking. Obviously, the only one with a problem was Hall.
Finishing his beverage, Hall felt nauseous and vomited on Bischoff. YUCK!
Hall jumped into the ring and gave his “friends” a crotch chop before the segment ended.

Rating: NONE

Summary: First, this was kayfabe. Hall, much like Hawk in the WWF, was mimicking his past behavior as someone with a substance abuse problem. Unlike the WWF, Bischoff, acting as President of WCW, asserted his authority by stepping in for Hall. Since Hall’s issues didn’t get resolved for many years, this was a rather disturbing storyline.

TV Rating: 4.8

FOUR HORSEMEN: Dillon enters the ring while the Greenville faithful chants “We Want Flair.” As Dillon introduces him, a “dapper” Arn Anderson joins him in the ring. Dillon apologizes for his comments in the past, yet Arn offers a “can you smell it?” As he quips “when 15,000 people blow the roof off a place, that’s what a pop smells like,” Arn announces a “new beginning for the Four Horsemen.”

Arn describes his decorated history as part of the Four Horsemen’s inception in 1986. Reflecting upon the surgery that ended his in-ring career, he tempers the Greenville faithful who are LOUDLY shouting “We Want Flair.” He introduces Steve “Mongo” McMichael, and Mongo joins the party. Upon being introduced, Chris Benoit makes his presence felt. Arn introduces Malenko who bonds with his fellow Horsemen.

Beginning with Benoit, Arn gives him some accolades. He refers to Mongo as “all man.” Next, he praises Malenko for being a respected and respectful Horseman. He sums it up with:

“Through the year 2000, we’re gonna do exactly what all of you across this nation have asked. ‘Arn Anderson, bring back the Horsemen.’ But, I feel it fair to tell you, I’m not gonna be responsible for what happens next because we don’t wear white hats. We’re not nice guys. And I can tell you this, heads are gonna roll. So, be careful what you wish for because now you have it.

“Ugh. What a goof. What a goof. You know I get accused of getting racked in the head a few times and have a touch of Alzheimer’s. My God, I almost forgot the fourth Horseman. Ric Flair, come on down here.”

Please pardon me for a moment.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Without any hyperbole, the Greenville faithful EXPLODES in glee as the “Nature Boy” makes his return to WCW after a five-month hiatus. Clad in a tuxedo, like his fellow Horsemen, Flair shares a hug with each of them.

To tremendous elongated applause, a choked-up Flair thanks the Greenville faithful and notes that for twenty-five years he spent trying to please the fans, it was “worth every damn minute.” He ponders how a group “that Eric Bischoff said was dead is alive and well.”

Turning his attention directly to Bischoff, Flair asks him if this segment is a “great moment in TV?” Instead, he states that “this is real…not bought and paid for.” He compares it to when Arn retired last year in Columbia, SC. After he touts Arn as “one of the greatest performers,” Flair stresses that Bischoff “squashed him in one night.”

Continuing, Flair describes a phone call with Bischoff to “disband the Horsemen.” He feels resigned for that and apologizes to both his fellow Horsemen as well as all wrestling fans. While the Greenville faithful begin to jeer, Flair promises “it won’t happen again.”

Why are they booing? Because Bischoff, dressed differently than the previous segment, marches toward the ring. Flair sees and calls him “an overbearing asshole.” Angrily, Flair accuses Bischoff of “abuse of power.” Bischoff vows that Flair won’t “ever wrestle on (his TV),” yet Flair informs him that he “suck(s).”

Flair yells at Bischoff: “You are a liar. You’re a cheat. You’re a scam. You are a no-good son of a bitch. Fire me. I’m already fired.”

POINT OF ORDER: One of, if not THE, best moments in the history of WCW Monday Nitro. If there was anything that could be the equivalent of a shot-in-the-arm to help WCW, it’s the return of Ric Flair. What an emotional and moving segment. That was incredible.

TV Rating: 5.4

DDP emerges and joins the broadcast table. In unfathomable modesty, DDP welcomes back the “Nature Boy.” Stills from WarGames from the PPV are shown, and DDP sticks around for the main event.

Promo airs for WCW Halloween Havoc ’98. It will be LIVE on PPV on October 25. Order NOW!

Match 9 for the WCW World title: Goldberg (champion) versus Sting

Highlights:

Buffer rambled and rumbled.
When Goldberg powerslammed him, he gave Sting a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
Sting sandwiched him in the corner and suplexed Goldberg.
As Goldberg no-sold it, Sting reversed an Irish whip, leapfrogged, and fed him a dropkick.
Goldberg no-sold that, applied a leg bar submission, but Sting made the ropes.
After Goldberg countered a side head lock with a belly-to-back suplex, he won a test-of-strength.
Goldberg attempted a tombstone, but Sting reversed it and PLANTED Goldberg. It might have been odd for Goldberg, but that’s one of Sting’s trademark moves in a competitive match.
While Goldberg tried to recover in the corner, Sting dealt him two Stinger splashes.
Goldberg blocked a cross corner whip, so Sting delivered Stinger splash #3.
Seeing that Sting was prepping for a fourth one, Goldberg charged but came up empty.
Sting hooked a Scorpion death lock, but Hogan crept toward ringside.
Jumping into the ring, Hogan broke the hold by nailing Sting, yet referee Billy Silverman didn’t see it.
Goldberg speared Sting, and a disgusted DDP left the broadcast table.
Hooking a Jackhammer, Goldberg won at 8:09.

Rating: ***

Summary: We knew it wouldn’t be clean, but how would WCW maintain Goldberg’s streak? Via chicanery by Hogan, that’s how. Goldberg became 144-0.

Afterward, Hogan returns to the ring and pulverizes Goldberg. Bret limps to the ring and shoos Hogan away to the delight of the Greenville faithful. To close the show, he and Goldberg check on Sting.

TV Rating: 4.26

Conclusion: I may enjoy most episodes of Nitro during this era, but THIS one is must-see. Flair’s return is a colossal moment for WCW, and the World title match was a good TV main event. After all, WCW didn’t and shouldn’t change the World title following that Flair segment.

In addition, Kidman makes a name for himself while Giant and Meng fight a war if only a brief one. The Hogan-Warrior saga continues as Disciple gets abducted by the oWn. Lastly, Bret dangles a face turn in front of us thanks in part to Piper. Highest recommendation.

What’s on RAW is WAR?

Final TV Rating: 4.5

Stay tuned for RAW Is WAR 09-14-98!

Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at rsg@rockstargary.com and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202).