WCW Monday Nitro September 28, 1998 -

Live from Rochester, NY

Airdate: September 28, 1998

Attendance: 10,523 (9,814 paid, sold out)

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

Can Hogan defeat Bret and Sting in the same night? What happens when Goldberg and Jericho step into the same ring? What’s going on with the Wolfpack tonight? Who knows what’ll happen.

In the ring, the Nitro Girls dance in gold.

Eric Bischoff and Hogan strut their way to the ring, and Hall and Adams join them. As Hogan spews his nonsense, he cuts a promo on Warrior. Next, he babbles about Sting and Bret and challenges both of them TONIGHT.

Opening montage.

Match 1: La Parka versus Super Calo

Highlights:

This match marked the return of La Parka to WCW since June 1 when Goldberg steamrolled him.
When La Parka reversed a cross corner whip, Calo floated over but got nailed south of the border.
La Parka hooked a belly-to-belly suplex and got 2.
As he gave Calo a cross corner whip, La Parka followed with a corner clothesline.
He gave Calo another cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
After La Parka hoisted him atop the top turnbuckle, Calo fed him a flying headscissors.
La Parka charged, came up empty, and HIT THE POLE.
While Calo mounted the top turnbuckle, he scored with a tope. Woohoo!
He tossed La Parka back into the ring, mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but ate a dropkick.
As a result, La Parka got 2.
He tied Calo to the Tree of Woe and dealt him a corkscrew spinning heel kick for another 2.
Slamming Calo, La Parka slowly mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but ate boot.
Calo lifted La Parka atop the top turnbuckle, joined, but apparently lost his balance.
Yanking the knee across the top rope, Calo delivered a double springboard super huracanrana for 2.
He gave La Parka a cross corner whip and followed with flying headscissors #2.
Leapfrogging La Parka, Calo attempted another floatover but got caught and planted with a spinebuster.
La Parka mounted the top turnbuckle and launched a corkscrew moonsault.
1-2-3.
La Parka won at 5:33.

Rating: **

Summary: A long lost lucha libre match that has been missing in WCW for some time allows La Parka to beat Super Calo.

After the match, Calo grabs a chair and FLATTENS La Parka with it.

At the entrance, “Mean” Gene Okerlund interviews Bret who gets “first shot” at Hogan tonight. He claims to be a hero and wants to “kick the living crap” out of Hogan.

Match 2: Disciple versus Sick Boy

Highlights:

Sick Boy ambushed Disciple from behind and snap-suplexed him.
As Disciple no-sold it, a fan of ICW legend Chris Hyatte got his sign on TV. RIP Hyatte.
Sick Boy fed him a gutwrench suplex, but Disciple no-sold it again.
When Sick Boy dealt him a swinging neckbreaker, Disciple no-sold it a third time.
He delivered a big boot, got reversed on an Irish whip, yet scored with an Apocalypse.
1-2-3.
Disciple won at 1:57.

Rating: DUD

Summary: Showcase match for the newest member of OWN and NOT a good one.

1-800-COLLECT sponsors the replay.

We revisit Road Wild ’98 when BPP and Bagwell played mind games to escape wrestling Rick Steiner. It didn’t work. Next, we revisit Fall Brawl ’98 when Bagwell played Rick for a fool by faking a recurrence of his neck injury.

At the entrance, the Nitro Girls dance in orange and camouflage.

Prior to the next match, BPP grabs the microphone and butters his own toast.

Match 3 (handicap): Big Poppa Pump (w/ Buff Bagwell) versus Lenny Lane & Nick Dinsmore

Highlights:

BPP suplexed Dinsmore and ejected him from the ring.
When he sandwiched Lane in the corner, BPP tied him to the Tree of Woe.
He rammed Dinsmore back-first into the steel railing and shoulder-first into the steps.
Since referee Nick Patrick was preoccupied with BPP, Bagwell gave Lane the business on the opposite side of the ring. SNEAKY!
BPP gorilla-press-dropped Lane and fed Dinsmore a double underhook slam onto him. OUCH!
As he applied a double Steiner Recliner, BPP won at 2:33.

Rating: DUD

Summary: Showcase match for BPP.

Following the match, BPP seems to have injured his back, but is he goldbricking?

HOUR #2!

The arena darkens, and Warrior appears! He cuts a promo on Hogan in the ring. Meanwhile, a fan tries to jump into the ring, but WCW security stops him. THIS is supposed to compete against Austin/Mr. McMahon on the other channel?

At the entrance, Okerlund interviews Bagwell who claims that BPP is “on the way to the hospital.” In the meantime, Chucky laughs.

Prior to the next match, Miller grabs the microphone and claims to be “the greatest.”

Match 4: Ernest Miller versus Psicosis

Highlights:

Before the bell, Miller unloaded a savate kick flattening Psicosis.
Speaking of Psicosis, he fed Miller a pair of dropkicks to the knee and tossed him to the floor.
As Psicosis mounted the top turnbuckle, he connected with a tope. Amazing!
He tossed Miller back into the ring, mounted the top turnbuckle, and launched a missile dropkick for 2.
When Psicosis attempted a spinning heel kick, Miller caught and slammed him.
Psicosis attempted a sunset flip but ate a knuckle sandwich instead.
After Miller showboated, Psicosis turned him over for 2.
He slammed Miller, mounted the top turnbuckle, but missed a guillotine leg drop.
While Miller landed a Feliner, he pinned Psicosis at 3:21.

Rating: *

Summary: Showcase match for Miller.

At the entrance, Okerlund interviews Wright who shoos him away. Upon speaking German and insulting Okerlund, Wright runs down Rochester. He cuts a promo on Smith whom he’ll face TONIGHT.

Match 5: Disco Inferno versus Chavo Guerrero, Jr. (w/ Pepe)

Highlights:

In case you missed it, this was a rematch from
Disco hip-tossed Chavo who landed on his feet.
When Chavo attempted a flying headscissors, Disco caught and sidewalk slammed him.
Chavo fed Disco a Thesz press and chased him to the floor with a flurry.
As Disco got to his feet, Chavo dealt him a plancha. Yow!
He reversed a cross corner whip and rammed Disco face-first into the mat.
After he delivered an atomic drop, Chavo clotheslined Disco for 2.
He gave Disco a cross corner whip but ate a back elbow on his follow-through.
While he slammed Chavo twice, Disco mounted the second turnbuckle, swiveled, and landed a flying forearm for 2.
Chavo gave Disco another cross corner whip and followed with his own flying forearm.
Splatting Disco with a springboard bulldog, Chavo prevented him from stealing Pepe.
Referee Mark Curtis restrained Chavo allowing Disco to snag and use Pepe as a weapon. How dastardly!
1-2-3.
Disco won at 4:39.

Rating: **

Summary: Since this was a rematch, I was expecting more psychology, but Disco used chicanery to steal the win.

Afterward, Juventud Guerrera stands on the apron to complain to Curtis that Disco used Pepe nefariously. Disco objects, so Guerrera launchs a springboard dropkick at him. Disco reverses an Irish whip, but Guerrera takes him down with a flying headscissors. As Disco returns to the ring, he conducts a meeting of the minds between Chavo and Guerrera. He piledrives Guerrera and hightails it before Chavo can nab him.

Video airs featuring the Four Horsemen.

In the ring, Okerlund interviews the Four Horsemen. Flair uncorks his very first “Meaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan Gene” and namedrops Rochester. Before Flair can even get warmed up, WCW Security Director Doug Dellinger escorts Bischoff and Stevie Ray to the ring. Members of Rochester’s finest have accompanied them, and Bischoff claims that Arn committed felonious assault upon Stevie Ray on Thunder.

Uh, that happened in Norfolk, VA. Methinks Bischoff should have called Norfolk’s finest instead.

Nevertheless, Bischoff asks Rochester’s finest to escort the Horsemen and Dellinger “out of my building.” While the Rochester faithful chanted “ass-hole” at Bischoff, Schiavone reiterates my point.

With the Horsemen walking away, Bischoff runs him down using Flair’s son Reid as a verbal weapon. That’s cold, man.

TV Rating: 3.8

Match 6 (title unification): WCW World champion Goldberg versus WCW World TV champion Chris Jericho

Highlights:

As Jericho made his entrance backstage, Jericho Personal Security escorted him.
During Jericho’s long walk to the ring, Tenay spouted off about the actual issue stemming between Bischoff and Flair. Kayfabe, brother!
Will it be the Goldberg clone again?
No!
Goldberg made his entrance with the clone over his right shoulder.
When Goldberg charged, Jericho shoved JPS right into a double spear.
Goldberg stripped both security members of their t-shirts and fed one a Jackhammer.
While the Rochester faithful chanted for the World champion, Jericho fled like he owed him money.
No match.

Rating: NONE

In the ring, Okerlund interviews DDP. The most fascinating part of the interview is Okerlund’s analogy of Sosa/McGwire to Goldberg/DDP.

TV Rating: 4.0

Prior to the next match, Hall steals the microphone and swerves us with a Miller Lite tagline.

REAL Match 6 (non-title): WCW Cruiserweight champion Kidman versus Scott Hall (w/ Vincent)

Highlights:

I don’t like the looks of this one.
As he launched Kidman across the ring, Hall requested a sip from Vincent.
Vincent refused, so Kidman rolled up Hall for 2.
When he dropkicked Hall, Kidman got reversed on an Irish whip and hooked a crucifix.
He converted to a sunset flip and got another 2.
After Hall clotheslined him, Kidman celebrated with a 360°.
Hall distracted referee Scott Dickinson allowing Vincent to give Kidman the business. Sinister!
While he gave Kidman a cross corner whip, Hall followed with a corner clothesline.
He applied an abdominal stretch and attempted a hip toss.
Escaping, Kidman flipped over him but got chokeslammed.
In lieu of capitalizing, Hall exited the ring to drink some liquid courage.
Kidman couldn’t care less as he flattened Vincent with a plancha.
Taking another sip, Hall got blasted in the midsection causing a spit take. HA!
Kidman removed the cup from the equation, tossed Hall back into the ring, mounted the top turnbuckle, and scored with a missile dropkick.
Feeding Hall an Acid Drop, Kidman mounted the opposite top turnbuckle and launched a cross body block.
Do we have an upset?
1-2-NO!
Hall reversed an Irish whip and caught Kidman mid-cross body block.
Dumping him with a fallaway slam, Hall attempted an Outsider Edge.
Kidman shifted his weight and obliterated Hall with a modified Rocker Dropper for 2.
With Vincent on the apron, Kidman sent him packing.
Hall took advantage with a double axe handle and planted Kidman with an Outsider Edge.
1-2-3.
Hall won at 6:14.

Rating: ***

Summary: Though the outcome appeared to be extremely obvious, Kidman carried himself well. What I don’t like is that WCW had a full roster of folks willing to take an Outsider Edge from a SOBER Hall, but they inserted Kidman anyway.

HOUR #3!

Prior to the next match, Smith grabs the microphone and instructs Wright to perform the “Safety Dance” suck it. That might not go over well with Standards and Practices.

Match 7: Alex Wright versus the “British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith

Highlights:

Wright missed an enziguri, so Smith trapped him in La Tapatia to a good pop.
When he took Wright’s shoulders down to the mat, Smith got 2.
Wright rebounded with a slam, migrated to the apron, and fed Smith a springboard splash for 2.
As he dealt Smith a snap suplex, Wright mounted the top turnbuckle.
Smith, however, caught and slammed him down to the mat.
After he unloaded a ten-punch count-along, Smith got hung out to dry on the top rope.
He reversed a cross corner whip and hoisted Wright atop his shoulders.
In the process, Wright’s legs knocked down referee Billy Silverman.
Smith connected with a powerslam but could only earn a false pin.
While referee Charles Robinson approached ringside, Wright hooked a German suplex with a bridge.
Robinson slid into the ring, and both referees counted to 3.
Could we have a double pin?
Each referee raised an arm of the combatants.
Not willing to wait for a decision, Wright hammered Smith.
Silverman called for the bell, yet Smith reversed an Irish whip and clotheslined Wright.
Although Smith clotheslined Wright over the top rope to the floor, the match ended at 4:53.
The replay showed that both wrestlers got their shoulders up before the 3-count.
Despite that, it’s a draw, and let’s hope for a better and longer rematch.

Rating: **

Summary: In case you believe you’ve seen this before, you have. This finish occurred back at the Beware of Dog PPV back in May 1996 with Smith versus Shawn Michaels. It was good to see a motivated Smith who showed no effects of what happened at the PPV.

Schiavone shills the Nitro Party contest and claims we already saw this week’s winner. We didn’t.

At the entrance, the Nitro Girls dance in button-down shirts. Whose luggage did they steal?

Promo airs for WCW Halloween Havoc ’98. It will be LIVE on PPV on 10/25. Order NOW!

Prior to the next match, Nash has the stick and rattles off his catchphrase.

Match 8: Kevin Nash versus Brian Adams

Highlights:

Nash unloaded a back elbow in the corner, gave Adams a cross corner whip, and followed with a corner clothesline.
As he gave Adams another cross corner whip, Nash ate a back elbow on his follow-through.
Adams mounted the second turnbuckle and launched a lariat.
When Adams uncorked a dropkick, he sent Nash reeling over the top rope to the floor.
Adams joined him on the floor, but Nash blocked a shot to the ring post and rammed him face-first into the steps.
After they returned to the ring, Nash fed Adams a pair of big boots.
Stevie Ray and Vincent sauntered toward ringside, and Stevie Ray SMACKED Nash with a slapjack. OUCH!
As a result, referee Nick Patrick called for the bell, and Nash won by DQ at 2:42.

Rating: *

Summary: Other than the dropkick, this was a complete waste of time.

After the match, Stevie Ray and Vincent double-team Nash, and ready-to-party Hall jogs down to the ring with his beverage of choice in hand. In lieu of dousing Nash with his drink, Hall pours it out, and a 4-on-1 beatdown follows. nWo Wolfpack arrives to save Nash’s bacon.

Prior to the next match, Konnan gets a chance on the stick and spews his catchphrases.

Match 9: The “Total Package” Lex Luger & Konnan versus Hugh Morrus & Barry Darsow (w/ Jimmy Hart)

Highlights:

THIS match was booked for the third hour? Did the booker have some of what Hall was drinking?
When Konnan tagged in, he fed Darsow a short-arm clothesline.
Morrus tagged in while Darsow gave Konnan a cross corner whip.
As Morrus whipped Darsow into Konnan, he charged but came up empty.
Konnan dealt Morrus a somersault clothesline and blasted Hart off the apron.
After he delivered a seated dropkick, Konnan hooked a Tequila Sunrise.
Luger distracted referee Mark Curtis, so Darsow got his licks in on Konnan.
While Darsow illegally switched with Morrus, Konnan reversed an Irish whip and rammed Darsow face-first into the mat.
Luger tagged in and hooked Darsow in a Torture Rack.
Although Morrus tried to interfere, Konnan cut him off and successfully trapped him in a Tequila Sunrise.
Darsow submitted; thus, Luger and Konnan won at 3:18.

Rating: *

Summary: Showcase match for Konnan and Luger who sold practically nothing.

At the entrance, the Nitro Girls dance in purple and black.

Match 10 (non-title): WCW US champion Bret “Hitman” Hart versus “Hollywood” Hogan

Highlights:

Buffer rumbled and rambled.
As Hogan applied a cross arm breaker, Bret’s legs were in the ropes.
Hogan clotheslined Bret and followed with a slam.
When Hogan attempted an elbow drop, Bret evaded him.
Another elbow drop attempt netted the same result.
After a third miss, Bret knocked Hogan out of the ring.
Hogan yanked him to the floor, but Bret made him HIT THE POLE.
While they returned to the ring, Hogan used momentum along with the tights to send Bret flying down to the floor.
Hogan joined and WHACKED Bret’s knee on the steel railing in an attempt to crotch him.
To cause further destruction to Bret’s knee, Hogan wrapped it around the ring post.
Hogan applied a spinning toe hold, but Bret made the ropes.
Coming to second Bret, Sting jumped into the ring and extricated Hogan off Bret.
In a perverse act of tribalism, some knucklehead held up a sign that read: “Other channel, jackass.”
Nonetheless, Luger and Konnan assisted Bret from the ring despite Bret’s best efforts.
EMTs brought a gurney to the ring, so methinks the match was over.

Rating: NONE

Summary: Good psychology by Hogan to work the knee.

Match 11: “Hollywood” Hogan versus Sting

Highlights:

Hogan gave Sting a cross corner whip followed by a corner clothesline.
In split-screen, Bret was wheeled down the aisle writhing in pain.
Hogan countered a side head lock with a belly-to-back suplex for 2.
When Sting clotheslined Hogan, Luger and Konnan assisted the EMTs in loading Bret into the ambulance.
Dressed in scrubs, BPP and Bagwell ambushed Konnan and Luger and left them laying.
Bret limped away from them while Hogan rammed Sting face-first into the steps.
As Hogan slammed Sting, he missed a leg drop.
Sting connected with a Stinger splash while Bret had made his way to ringside.
After Sting applied a Scorpion death lock, Bret jumped into the ring.
He initially gave Sting support for his actions before dumping him with a DDT.
WE HAVE A HEEL TURN!
Sting won by DQ at 2:53.

Rating: NONE

Summary: Too short to rate mostly due to the shenanigans surrounding the match, yet Bret’s days as a babyface in WCW are now over.

Following the match, Bret beats up Sting much to the delight of Hogan. He hooks Sting in a Sharpshooter while Hogan lays in the trash talk. As Hogan tosses him a chair, Bret annihilates Sting’s knee with it. Evil! Bret threatens a ring post figure-four leg lock, but Hogan grabs the microphone to declare that Sting already submitted. Konnan tries to help Sting, yet Bret stomps referee Charles Robinson. Also, Luger arrives to rescue Sting from further damage while Hogan mocks them.

TV Rating: 5.15

Conclusion: Pure destruction of the nWo Wolfpack as Nash, Konnan, Luger, and Sting all got destroyed by nWo Hollywood. With the exception of the Goldberg-Jericho non-match, this Nitro was quite mundane.

What’s on RAW is WAR?

Final TV Rating: 4.0

Stay tuned for RAW Is WAR 09-28-98!

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