WCW Monday Nitro October 19, 1998 -

Live from Minneapolis, MN

Airdate: October 19, 1998

Attendance: 15,722 (sold out)

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

What does Hogan have in store for us this week? Will Sting survive against Bret? What happens when DDP and Jericho go one-on-one? What’s new with the lWo? It’s the go-home show for the PPV, so WCW has some fun in store for us, right?

Nitro Girls dance in the ring wearing red and silver. If they’d worn purple, the Minneapolis faithful would love them forever.

We revisit last week when Bischoff didn’t get his way trying to keep the Four Horsemen out of the arena.

Match 1: Saturn versus Kenny Kaos

Highlights:

Kaos escaped a hammerlock with a back elbow and clotheslined Saturn.
When Saturn responded with a face crusher, he fed Kaos a pair of swinging neckbreakers.
He leapfrogged Kaos and followed with a thrust kick.
As he dealt Kaos a springboard forearm, Saturn got 2.
Kaos dumped Saturn over the top rope to the floor, joined, and made him taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Hatch Chile at the Red Cow.
After they returned to the ring, Kaos gave Saturn a cross corner whip followed by a clothesline.
He delivered a gutwrench suplex and got 2.
While he backdropped Saturn, Kaos hit a gorilla press slam.
Saturn rebounded with a series of kicks in the corner, gave Kaos a cross corner whip, and scored with another thrust kick for 2.
Stymying Saturn with a jawbreaker, Kaos ate an overhead belly-to-belly suplex.
Saturn clotheslined and obliterated Kaos with a Falcon Arrow.
Demolishing Kaos with a Death Valley Driver, Saturn pinned him at 4:22.

Rating: **

Summary: Showcase match for Saturn.

Wendy’s sponsors the replay.

Earlier today, Tenay sought opinions. See, Cole starts those vicious rumors, but Tenay gets the word from the street. Bunch of young guys LOVE Nitro.

Opening montage.

Both the opening montage and an interview with the “Cat” Ernest Miller conducted by “Mean” Gene Okerlund were scrubbed FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER.

RJ Morgan from Pearl River, MS supplies this week’s Nitro Party video.

Nitro Girls dance in black with chairs at the entrance while Schiavone shills the contest.

Video airs featuring Big Poppa Pump.

We revisit last week again when Chucky threatens Rick Steiner and plugs Bride of Chucky. Mmmm…Jennifer Tilly.

Video airs featuring Goldberg.

Prior to the next match, La Parka performs his strut atop a chair in the ring. Damian tries to steal his thunder and eats an enziguri for his troubles.

Match 2: La Parka, Ciclope, Lizmark, Jr., & Chavo Guerrero, Jr. (w/ Pepe) versus Psicosis, Hector Garza, Damien, & El Dandy

Highlights:

Lizmark reversed a cross corner whip and fed Damian a ten-punch count-along.
As he dealt Damian a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, Lizmark ate a clothesline.
Lizmark received a cross corner whip, climbed to the top turnbuckle, and scored with a moonsault press for 2.
When tags were exchanged on both sides, La Parka uncorked an enziguri to El Dandy.
Tags were exchanged on both sides again, and Garza dropkicked Ciclope.
After Ciclope reversed a cross corner whip, he came up empty on his follow-through.
Garza hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and tagged in Psicosis.
While Damian tagged in, Psicosis hoisted Ciclope atop the top turnbuckle.
Damian charged and destroyed Ciclope with a super huracanrana for 2.
Tagging in, Garza mounted the top turnbuckle and unleashed a missile dropkick.
Chavo took his turn along with El Dandy which led to a leapfrog and monkey-flip by Chavo.
Dropkicking El Dandy to the corner, Chavo gave way to Lizmark who ate a dropkick from Psicosis.
Lizmark reversed an Irish whip and split Psicosis in half with his own tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.
Kicking Lizmark in the back, Damian joined Psicosis in giving him a cross corner whip.
Damian whipped Psicosis toward Lizmark; however, Lizmark evaded him.
Therefore, Psicosis HIT THE POLE and crashed down to the floor.
Lizmark connected with a spinning heel kick, and Ciclope sent Damian flying to the floor with a missile dropkick.
Next, both Lizmark and Ciclope nailed Psicosis and Damian with stereo tope con hilos. Awesome!
La Parka mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but there wasn’t any water in the pool.
Mounting the opposite top turnbuckle, El Dandy leaped yet found no water either.
Chavo joined the party with a dive but came up empty.
Atop the adjacent top turnbuckle, Garza somersaulted but hit nothing but mat.
La Parka dropkicked El Dandy to the floor, and Chavo dropkicked Garza over the top rope to the floor.
Soaring over the top rope, La Parka disintegrated El Dandy with a corkscrew plancha.
Chavo took out Garza with his own plancha while Ciclope and Lizmark teamed up for a springboard dropkick to Psicosis for 2.
THIS IS MADNESS!
Giving Psicosis another cross corner whip, Ciclope whipped Lizmark who creamed Psicosis with a corner clothesline.
Ciclope followed with his own corner clothesline, but La Parka brought his chair into the ring.
Smashing both Lizmark and Ciclope with a chair, La Parka celebrated atop it.
Psicosis launched a guillotine leg drop to Ciclope and pinned him at 5:49.

Rating: ***

Summary: I’m surprised that they kept this in the first hour because this was an action-packed five minutes. La Parka probably didn’t make any friends by annihilating his partners.

After the match, Eddie saunters to ringside wearing his lWo t-shirt. He addresses Bischoff about the lWo getting stronger. Further, he speaks to La Parka and offers him a t-shirt. Chavo exits the ring in disbelief thinking it was his turn. To finish the promo, the lWo informs Bischoff where to kiss them. Methinks it’s not on the lips.

Video airs featuring the Bret swerve.

Prior to the next match, Kanyon grabs the microphone and overconfidently asks the Minneapolis faithful who’s better than him. Disappointment follows.

Match 3: Kanyon versus Scott Putski

Highlights:

Putski hip-tossed Kanyon and followed with a slam.
When he countered a side head lock with a belly-to-back suplex, Putski fed Kanyon a tilt-a-whirl slam for 2.
Kanyon countered a hip toss with a swinging neckbreaker, hoisted Putski atop the top turnbuckle, joined, and dealt him a top rope bulldog for 2.
As Putski sought refuge on the floor, Kanyon delivered a baseball slide.
He joined and slammed Putski on the floor.
After he held Putski in a fireman’s carry, Kanyon DROPPED HIM LIKE A BAD HABIT face-first onto the apron. OUCH!
Putski rebounded with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex and followed with a flapjack.
While he clotheslined Kanyon, Putski missed a Polish hammer.
Kanyon demolished him with an inverted F5 and finished him with a Flatliner.
1-2-3.
Kanyon won at 4:11.

Rating: *

Summary: Showcase match for Kanyon.

Video airs featuring Hogan/Warrior…only SIX days until our nightmare begins!

HOUR #2!

Big Poppa Pump emerges and heads to the ring. When he recites his catchphrase, BPP calls out any and everybody. Rick Steiner answers and challenges him RIGHT NOW. As BPP asks for a “fair fight,” Rick clocks him right between the eyes. BPP tries to escape to no avail. Although BPP reverses an Irish whip, Rick decimates him with a Steinerline.

Scott reverses a cross corner whip but eats boot on his follow-through. To turn the tide, BPP hands his brother a view from WAY DOWNTOWN. He grabs ring announcer David Penzer’s chair and WHACKS Rick in the back with it. Suddenly, Buff Bagwell hauls ass to the ring and stops BPP from further injuring his older brother. BPP signals him to crack Rick, but Bagwell almost commits first-degree murder with malice by swinging the chair in BPP’s direction. BPP hightails it to end the segment. Go, Buff, go!

Video airs featuring the Nitro Girls.

In the ring, the Nitro Girls dance in black.

UNICEF promo airs featuring Sarah Jessica Parker. At a table, Goldberg signs autographs on behalf of UNICEF while the kids chant his name. Quite the family-friendly programming there.

Match 4: The “British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith versus Fit Finlay

Highlights:

Smith leapfrogged Finlay and followed with a hip toss for 2.
As he gave Finlay a cross corner whip, Smith ate boot on his follow-through.
Finlay charged but ate a powerslam for another 2.
When he rebounded with a short-arm clothesline, Finlay landed an elbow drop for 2.
He rammed Smith face-first into the apron, gave him a cross corner whip, but came up empty on his follow-through.
After Smith fed him a back elbow, he backdropped Finlay.
Smith gave Finlay the business, and referee Nick Patrick walked into a shove.
While Alex Wright approached the ring, he mounted the top turnbuckle and uncorked a missile dropkick to Smith.
Finlay planted Smith with a tombstone while Wright resuscitated Patrick.
1-2-3.
Finlay won at 3:20.

Rating: *

Summary: The battle of Europe rages on despite no one in North America giving a flying fuck.

Afterward, Wright dances in the ring until Finlay belts him. Finlay lays out Wright with a somersault slam to finish this mess.

At the entrance, Okerlund interviews Jericho who emerges with the man who will become Ralphus. He’s wearing a Jericho 3, Greenberg 0 t-shirt and is vehement about not getting any acknowledgement for it. While Jericho calls out Goldberg, the latter “is at a UNICEF function” according to Okerlund. He turns his attention to DDP while the Minneapolis faithful informs him that he indeed “sucks.” DDP interrupts and absurdly DWARFS Jericho. As DDP challenges him to a match TONIGHT, Jericho throws a tantrum.

At the bar, Scott Hall’s drinking with the Minneapolis faithful. Jägermeister, anyone?

Match 5: Wrath versus Tokyo Magnum

Highlights:

Wrath bulldozed Magnum with a clothesline, gave him a cross corner whip, and annihilated him with a flying shoulder block.
When he demolished Magnum with a Meltdown, Wrath pinned him at 1:17.
There’s no truth to the rumor that Magnum got destroyed by Godzilla.

Rating: DUD

Summary: Wrath’s beginning to get a stir from the fans. Strap the rocket to him, WCW!

Promo #2 for UNICEF airs.

Earlier tonight during a commercial break, Bagwell assisted Rick to his feet and shook his hand. Afterward, he removed his nWo t-shirt. Go Buff, go!

Match 6: The Dancing Fools versus Super Calo & Silver King

Highlights:

As Calo and King made their entrance, they pointed back toward the entrance.
Four Horsemen music played, and Arn Anderson led Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko to the ring. Woohoo! This match marked Benoit’s return to the ring since late June.
Before the bell rang, Eric Bischoff emerged for the first time tonight and joined the broadcast table for this match.
Malenko gave Wright a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
When he clotheslined Malenko, Wright got reversed on an Irish whip.
Malenko missed a dropkick, so Disco tagged in.
After Malenko fed him a spinning heel kick, he suplexed Disco.
Disco reversed an Irish whip, so Wright put a knee into Malenko’s back. SNEAKY!
While Disco dealt Malenko a swinging neckbreaker, Wright tagged in and blasted Malenko with his own spinning heel kick.
Wright slammed Malenko and tagged in Disco.
Upon mounting the second turnbuckle, Disco scored with a flying double axe handle.
Benoit tagged in, beat up Disco, and offered him a pair of snot rockets.
Reversing an Irish whip, Disco fell victim to a back elbow.
Benoit locked on a Crippler Crossface, and Disco submitted immediately.
As a result, Benoit and Malenko won at 2:52.

Rating: **

Summary: Short, effective return for Benoit as the match was a genuine surprise. Not to besmirch the luchadores, but Benoit’s in-ring return had more impact.

After the match, Arn notices Bischoff, and they exchange words from afar.

Back at the bar, Hall is cajoling with some female fans. I’m sure it’s just over a grilled chicken sandwich.

Match 7 for the WCW World TV title: Chris Jericho (champion) versus Diamond Dallas Page

Highlights:

Jericho blocked a hip toss but ate a clothesline in a great sequence.
When he pancaked Jericho, DDP got 2.
DDP attempted a ten-punch count-along, but Jericho countered with Snake Eyes.
As DDP migrated to the apron, Jericho fed him a springboard dropkick.
He sent DDP back-first into the steel railing, tossed him back into the ring, and displayed the arrogant cover for 2.
After DDP rebounded with a discus clothesline, he sent Jericho sternum-first into the corner and dealt him a belly-to-back suplex for 2.
Jericho connected with a jawbreaker, clotheslined DDP, and launched a Lionsault for 2.
While Jericho attempted a suplex, DDP countered with an arm bar takedown for 2.
DDP attempted a Diamond Cutter, but Jericho countered with a backslide attempt leading to his trick knee. The scoundrel!
Fighting off a LionTamer, DDP used his leg strength to escape.
Jericho missed a clothesline, so DDP delivered a tilt-a-whirl slam.
Abruptly, Goldberg jumped over the top rope and into the ring.
He speared Jericho causing referee Mickey Jay to call for the bell.
As a result, Jericho won by DQ at 5:29.

Rating: ***

Summary: Some of the smoothest wrestling you’ll see between two guys who’d never wrestled one another prior to tonight.

Following the match, Goldberg attempts to jackhammer Jericho, but DDP stops him. Instead, DDP destroys Jericho with a Diamond Cutter. WCW officials flood the ring to prevent any confrontation between the World champion and DDP. Give WCW credit for the excellent sizzle for the PPV match.

TV Rating: 4.3

Back at the bar, Hall’s truly feeling the effects of his alcoholic achievements. He must’ve been doing shots.

Match 8 for the WCW Cruiserweight title: Kidman (champion) versus Rey Mysterio, Jr.

Highlights:

This match marked Mysterio’s first match since August 10.
As Mysterio leapfrogged him, he fed Kidman a flying headscissors.
Kidman reversed an Irish whip, but Mysterio spun out like a racecar.
When Kidman got backdropped to the apron, he dealt Mysterio a springboard flying headscissors.
Kidman attempted a reverse suplex, but Mysterio escaped.
After escaping an attempted O’Connor roll, Kidman dropkicked Mysterio for 2.
He landed an elbow drop and followed with a HARD cross corner whip to injure the back.
While he gave Mysterio another cross corner whip, Kidman nailed him with a double axe handle.
Mysterio reversed a cross corner whip, but Kidman floated over only to eat a spinning heel kick.
Mounting the top turnbuckle, Mysterio launched a cross body block and got 2.
Kidman reversed an Irish whip and delivered a wheelbarrow suplex for 2.
With Mysterio on the apron, Kidman tried to suplex him back in.
On the other hand, Mysterio blocked it and suplexed Kidman down to the floor.
Mysterio joined and returned Kidman to the ring.
To show apathy toward the match, the Minneapolis faithful chanted “Green Bay sucks.”
Mysterio hit a leg drop and got 2.
Planting Mysterio with a sit-out powerbomb, Kidman got 2.
He gave Mysterio another cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
Reversing another whip, Kidman clotheslined Mysterio coming off the ropes for 2.
He suplexed Mysterio who blocked a powerbomb and sent Kidman over the top rope to the floor with a headscissors.
Keeping Kidman on the floor, Mysterio nailed him with a somersault plancha.
Mysterio mounted the top turnbuckle, Kidman joined him, but Mysterio had the higher ground.
Since Kidman was hung out to dry on the top rope, Mysterio hammered him with a flying leg drop.
He hooked a somersault rollup and got 2.
Rebounding with a slam, Kidman mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but there wasn’t any water in the pool.
Mysterio mounted the top turnbuckle and connected with a flying senton for 2.
Upon getting reversed on an Irish whip, Mysterio crushed Kidman with an inverted Rocker Dropper for another 2.
Schiavone mentioned “frustration,” so the Minneapolis faithful took out their frustrations by participating in the Wave.
Stymying Mysterio with a sit-out powerbomb, Kidman got 2.
He flattened Mysterio with an Acid Drop, mounted the top turnbuckle, but Mysterio upset his balance.
Joining Kidman atop the top turnbuckle, Mysterio unfurled a super huracanrana for 2.
He decimated Kidman with a modified Killswitch for another 2.
Mounting the top turnbuckle again, Mysterio leaped but ate a dropkick in mid-air. Wow!
The bell rang mysteriously, and referee Charles Robinson declared the bout a time-limit draw at 13:22.
As a result, Kidman retained.

Rating: ***

Summary: Recently, I’ve spoken about physical charisma. This match is a case where if either wrestler demonstrates some physical charisma, then he’d have the crowd behind him. It didn’t happen, and they lost the Minneapolis faithful in embarrassing fashion. Nevertheless, these guys wrestled their hearts out in a good but not great match.

HOUR #3!

In the ring, Okerlund interviews mayor of Minneapolis Sharon Sayles-Belton to a chorus of boos. The Minneapolis faithful chants for Jesse Ventura, yet the mayor gives a shoutout to Minnesota Twins’ Kirby Puckett and Minnesota Vikings’ John Randle. Next, they emerge and join the mayor in the ring. She introduces Ric Flair, and the “Nature Boy” appears. Afterward, the mayor declares today is “Ric Flair Day in Minneapolis.”

Flair’s beyond elated even to be in the same room as the mayor, Puckett, and Randle. However, Eric Bischoff storms his way to the ring to ruin the festivities. On his way to the ring, he gets DOUSED by a beverage. He complains about Flair’s presence, but the mayor SHUTS THAT SHIT DOWN. While Puckett and Randle defend her, a police officer warns Bischoff about going to jail and banishes him from the building.

Bischoff heads backstage bitching and complaining. As he approaches his car, Bischoff realizes it’s being towed. HA! He chases after his car while everyone laughs at him.

At the entrance, Nitro Girls dance in sets of two.

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

Match 9: The “Total Package” Lex Luger, Kevin Nash, & Konnan versus Scott Hall, Scott Norton, & Stevie Ray

Highlights:

When Hall made his entrance, he was SLOSHED while carrying a beverage.
Luger and Konnan made their entrance, but where is Nash?
As Nash stumbled backstage, he dropped a cup.
He returned to the room he exited to refill his cocktail.
After he emerged to a great ovation, Nash entered the ring with a solid case of permagrin.
The match began, and Stevie Ray gave Konnan a cross corner whip.
While Konnan somersaulted out of the corner, he clotheslined Stevie Ray.
Tags were exchanged on both sides, and Luger ducked a short-arm clothesline from Norton.
Dumping Norton with a belly-to-back suplex, Luger slammed him.
Norton reversed a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
Hip-tossing Norton, Luger bulldozed him with a series of clotheslines.
Stevie Ray supplied some distraction allowing Norton to clothesline Luger.
Feeding Luger a short-arm clothesline, Norton tagged out.
Shortly thereafter, a double clothesline put both Luger and Norton down on the mat.
Both Hall and Nash tagged in for their respective teams.
Sharing both a Wolfpack salute and a toast, they wrapped arms in drinking their beverages.
With Hall’s back turned, Nash demonstrated that his cup had always been empty, and he was completely sober.
Hall turned around and both he and his beverage ate a big boot.
Pinballed by the Wolfpack, Hall fell between the ropes but got hung on the top rope by his feet.
The bell rang, and apparently referee Billy Silverman threw the match out at 6:20.

Rating: NONE

Summary: More angle than match as Nash got one over on Hall.

TV Rating: 4.5

Promo airs for Hogan/Warrior this Sunday at the PPV. Order NOW!

Buffer rambles and rumbles.

During his introduction, Hogan chases Buffer from the ring. Hey! That’s a babyface move!

Nonetheless, Hogan calls out Horace. When Horace appears, Hogan demands that Horace reveal his real name. Horace says “Horace Hogan.” Hogan stumbles over his words declaring Horace as his real-life nephew. It’s true as Horace (Michael Bollea) is the son of the late Allan Bollea. After nWo Hollywood joins them, Hogan gives his nephew love but ultimately punks his nephew. Heinous!

Match 10: “Hollywood” Hogan versus Horace

Highlights:

As he whipped Horace with his weightlifting belt, Hogan cut a promo on Warrior.
Hogan grabbed a chair and CROWNED Horace with it.
When EMTs tried to carry Horace backstage on a stretcher, Hogan left the ring and tipped the gurney over. Evil!
Hogan finished his promo, and Warrior hightailed it to the ring.
After Hogan left the ring again, Warrior destroyed nWo Hollywood to ZERO reaction.
Hogan distracted Warrior long enough to enable Giant to manhandle him.
While Giant chokeslammed Warrior, Hogan spraypainted and flattened him with a pair of leg drops.

Rating: NONE

Summary: More heel posturing by Hogan before the PPV encounter. According to Meltzer, the chair shot caused Horace to be BUSTED OPEN hardway. Horace was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Prior to the main event, Bret states that Hogan’s actions inspired him. He runs down Sting by calling him “stupid.” C’mon, Bret, it had been established on many occasions that Sting is too trusting, so he could be considered gullible.

REAL Match 10 for the WCW US title: Bret Hart (champion) versus Sting

Highlights:

Sting entered the ring and the brawl was ON.
As he gave Bret a ten-punch count-along, Sting fed him an inverted atomic drop.
The match segued to the floor, and Sting made Bret taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Juicy Lucy at Matt’s Bar.
When he slammed Bret, Sting landed an elbow drop for 2.
He slammed Bret again, mounted the second turnbuckle, attempted a pumphandle splash, but ate knees.
After Bret carved Sting in two with a backbreaker, he mounted the second turnbuckle, leaped, but ate boot.
Sting guillotined him with the top rope and applied a Scorpion death lock.
While Bret made the ropes, Sting wouldn’t release the hold.
Referee Mickey Jay implored Sting to release it, but Sting wouldn’t budge.
Calling for the bell, Bret won by DQ at 4:05.

Rating: *

Summary: More of an appetizer for the PPV as Sting wanted to destroy Bret beforehand.

Afterward, WCW officials approach the ring to remove Sting from Bret to no avail. Stevie Ray and Vincent jump into the ring and pound on Sting until Sting nails them both WAY DOWNTOWN. As Sting plants Vincent with a Scorpion death drop, he sends Stevie Ray packing. Bret staggers with help backstage with Sting in tow to end the episode.

TV Rating: 5.02

Conclusion: While the ending felt flat, the purpose of the show was to pimp the PPV. Without question, it accomplished that goal in spades. Hogan’s destruction of Warrior could lead to a Warrior victory, but considering the lack of reaction, I highly doubt it. Sting’s decimation of Bret could make him US champion again. The segment between DDP and Goldberg is money.

I feel terrible for Kidman and Mysterio. Their skills were on full display, but the Minneapolis faithful couldn’t have cared less. The brawl between the Steiners with Bagwell on Rick’s side looks great, so I hope they don’t fuck it up at the PPV. Nash’s swerve of his buddy Hall was a classic gotcha.

The Horsemen segment reeks of who has the most power. As Bischoff can rule over WCW as President, Flair has his contacts in almost every major city around the world to help him. It would have been sweet if Jesse Ventura had been involved, but that’s not the case.

Lastly, I like the lWo idea and hope it works out for Eddie.

What’s on RAW is WAR?

Final TV Rating: 4.4

Stay tuned for RAW Is WAR 10-19-98!

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