WCW Halloween Havoc ’98 -

Live from Las Vegas, NV

Airdate: October 25, 1998

Attendance: 10,663 (sold out)

Hosted by Tony Schiavone, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, and “Iron” Mike Tenay

Can DDP dethrone Goldberg to end the streak and win the World title? How will Warrior fare against Hogan? Will Nash conquer Hall? Who will win the battle of the Steiners? Grab some Halloween candy and check out how many tricks and/or treats WCW gives us!

Since this show carries some infamy, I’m going to do something different with it.

Back in the day, most wrestling PPVs ran somewhere between two hours and thirty minutes and two hours and forty-five minutes. THIS show, unbeknownst to approximately 25% of cable operators, ran for an absurd three hours and twenty minutes.

While that becomes much more important for Nitro, I’m going to attempt to properly pare this show down to a reasonable length of time. In doing so, I will identify each match as either:

PPV-worthy:

Nitro-worthy:

Thunder-worthy:

Or WCW Saturday Night-worthy:

Let’s see how it plays out!

Since WCW’s in Vegas, the Nitro Girls dance in the ring wearing mauve.

At the entrance, “Mean” Gene Okerlund interviews Rick Steiner who’s ready to teach BPP a “lesson.” Suddenly, Bagwell appears and appeals to the Vegas faithful. He wants to be in Rick’s corner, yet Rick’s hesitant to trust him. Although Bagwell claims he’ll watch Rick’s back, the Vegas faithful is quite skeptical. Nevertheless, Rick agrees to have Bagwell as his “partner.”

Prior to the opening match, Raven grabs the microphone and behaves narcissistically. What else is new? He complains about being scheduled to wrestle tonight without proper notice and walks out. While Jericho grabs the microphone, he touts himself as the equivalent to “buyrates, rear-ends in the seats (and) rock’n’roll.” Jericho calls him a “loser,” and Raven adamantly returns to stand up for himself.

Match 1 for the WCW World TV title: Chris Jericho (champion) versus Raven

Highlights:

This match began near the 13-minute mark as an indicator to the show’s length.
When he ripped off Raven’s jacket, Jericho whipped him twice with it.
He clotheslined Raven, displayed the arrogant cover, and got 2.
As Raven clotheslined him, he and Jericho went over the top rope to the floor together.
He set up the steps on its side and hung Jericho out to dry on them. OUCH!
After Raven implemented the steps as a springboard, he launched a dropkick that sent Jericho shoulder-first into the opposite steps.
Back in the ring, Jericho reversed an Irish whip and clotheslined Raven with the top rope.
Raven migrated to the apron, so Jericho fed him a springboard dropkick to send him to the floor again.
While Jericho leaped from the apron, Raven evaded him causing Jericho to taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Blown Tire at Sickie’s Garage.
Raven rammed Jericho face-first into the steps, got reversed on an Irish whip, and careened back-first into the steel railing.
In the ring, Raven applied a sleeper, but Jericho countered with a belly-to-back suplex.
He flattened Raven with a senton splash and removed the top turnbuckle pad. Devious!
Reversing him back into the corner opposite the exposed turnbuckle, Raven powerbombed a charging Jericho.
He catapulted Jericho face-first into the exposed turnbuckle bolt and followed with a clothesline for 2.
Ducking a spin kick, Raven dealt Jericho a belly-to-belly suplex for another 2.
Escaping a rollup, Jericho hooked a LionTamer, but Raven made the ropes.
Raven played possum and snared Jericho with a DDT.
Do we have a new champion?
1-2-NO!
Jericho rolled up Raven and got 2.
Unbeknownst to referee Scott Dickinson, Jericho waffled Raven WAY DOWNTOWN.
He delivered a German suplex with a bridge for another 2.
Appearing at ringside, Kanyon jumped onto the apron, but Raven reversed an Irish whip sending Jericho into him.
Kanyon splatted down on the floor, and Jericho countered a second DDT attempt with another LionTamer.
Due to Raven’s submission, Jericho retained at 7:50.

Rating: ****

Summary: Whew! Fast-paced match that told a great story with psychology from both competitors. One of the better openers I’ve seen in a while and belongs on:

Eric Bischoff leads Hogan around the large pumpkin, and Hogan, wearing an nWo Nitro t-shirt, spews his normal garbage. Does Hogan realize that Sunday Night HeAT went off the air before 8PM? As Hogan continues to babble, we revisit Nitro when he beat up his nephew Horace. He cuts a promo on Warrior. Without question, this didn’t belong on the PPV but rather:

Match 2: Wrath versus Meng

Highlights:

Before Wrath could enter the ring, Meng blasted him.
Wrath dragged Meng to the floor and rammed him face-first into the steps.
Next, he made Meng taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Limerick burger at McMullan’s.
Wrath mounted the apron and fed Meng a somersault plancha. Are we sure he’s still hungry after the steel railing?
As Meng no-sold a shot to the top turnbuckle, he gave Wrath a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
Wrath clotheslined him, but Meng no-sold that too.
When Wrath mounted the second turnbuckle, he connected with a lariat for 2.
He sent Meng in and out of the corner and bulldozed him with a flying shoulder block.
After Wrath attempted a Meltdown, Meng somersaulted to counter.
He dealt Wrath a thrust kick and got 2.
While he delivered a backbreaker, Meng got another 2.
He stymied Wrath with a belly-to-back suplex but couldn’t get 3.
Giving Wrath a cross corner whip, Meng followed with a corner clothesline.
He ruined Wrath’s late-night plans with an inverted atomic drop, yet the Vegas faithful couldn’t care less.
Escaping a sunset flip, Meng missed a knuckle sandwich.
Wrath decimated him with a uranage and got 2.
Although he struggled, Wrath successfully conquered Meng with a Meltdown.
1-2-3.
Wrath won at 4:24.

Rating: ***

Summary: Quite the HOSS match as Wrath overcame Meng’s no-selling to destroy him with a uranage and Meltdown. Unfortunately, the Vegas faithful sought nachos during this one, so I say it’s your main event for:

I should point out that the WWE Network neglected to change Wrath’s music post-match, but it’s a minor quibble. I understand the opening of the song resembles Van Halen’s “Running With the Devil,” but I can’t see any objections from the Van Halen family.

At the wcw.com table, Lee Marshall interviews Kidman to waste more time.

Match 3 to become #1 contender for the WCW Cruiserweight title: Juventud Guerrera versus Disco Inferno

Highlights:

Disco unfurled a sidewalk slam and got 2.
When Disco reversed an Irish whip, he fell victim to a flying headscissors.
Guerrera clotheslined Disco, and they botched a hip toss sequence.
As they repeated the spot, Guerrera turned out Disco’s lights with a Rocker Dropper.
He gave Disco a cross corner whip but ate a back elbow on his follow-through.
After he backdropped Disco over the top rope to the floor, Guerrera slid between the ropes to feed Disco another flying headscissors.
Disco reversed another Irish whip and dealt Guerrera an inverted atomic drop.
While Disco clotheslined him, Guerrera celebrated with a 360°. Woohoo!
Disco slammed him, mounted the second turnbuckle, and scored with a flying forearm for 2.
Hooking a surprise roll-up, Guerrera got 2.
He hammered Disco with a spinning heel kick, got vaulted to the apron, and guillotined him with the top rope.
Mounting the apron, Guerrera attempted a springboard move, but Disco sought refuge on the floor.
Guerrera showed his appreciation by splatting Disco with a plancha.
Back in the ring, Guerrera scrambled Disco’s brains with a huracanrana.
Disco escaped a Juvi Driver, stalemated briefly, and guillotined Guerrera with the top rope.
Making Guerrera rather dizzy, Disco planted him with a swinging neckbreaker for 2.
Guerrera attempted a sunset flip, but Disco made him pay with a knuckle sandwich.
Performing the Macarena, Disco ate a sunset flip, but Guerrera only got 2.
Disco employed a giant swing, lost his balance, and landed head-first into some Mexican nuts.
Attempting a pin, Disco only got 2 thanks to a foot on the second rope.
Disco suplexed him, mounted the top turnbuckle, but Guerrera crotched him.
Joining Disco, Guerrera uncorked a super huracanrana.
He mounted the adjacent top turnbuckle and stymied Disco with a flying spinning heel kick for 2.
Getting reversed on an Irish whip, Guerrera bulldogged Disco for another 2.
Disco blocked a victory roll attempt and piledrove Guerrera.
1-2-3.
Disco became the #1 contender at 9:39.

Rating: ***

Summary: I’m sorry, but wasn’t there a live show this past Thursday? This match belonged there. Despite my relegation, these two clicked pretty well.

In the ring, Nitro Girls dance in cowgirl gear and opened button-down shirts. Tenay makes fun of Schiavone for getting too excited. HA!

More nWo music blares, and BPP stands at the entrance to recite his catchphrase. As he runs down Bagwell, BPP changes the parameters of the Steiner versus Steiner match to a tag match. He inserts himself in Hall’s place as a tag champion and chooses Giant as his partner against Rick and Bagwell. When Giant emerges, he cuts a promo on his opponents. Subtly, chairman of the executive committee JJ Dillon joins them to add a one-on-one match between BPP and Rick should they lose the titles.

POINT OF ORDER: Remember WCW Main Event? For the most part, it was a taped show. But on PPV nights, it was live, and angles like this could have taken place instead of wasting valuable PPV time. I’m stamping this segment worthy of:

Match 4: Alex Wright versus Fit Finlay

Highlights:

According to Meltzer, the “British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith was supposed to face Wright, but WCW changed their minds. Smith wrestled in Mankato, MN on Tuesday but would not return to WCW.
Popcorn, anyone?
Finlay fed Wright a pair of European uppercuts and followed with a knee drop.
As the Vegas faithful promptly shat all over this match with a “bor-ing” chant, Wright hung Finlay out to dry on the top rope.
Wright guillotined him with the bottom rope, but Finlay responded with a short-arm clothesline.
When Finlay catapulted him, Wright fell across Finlay’s knees like a backbreaker.
Finlay dumped him over the top rope to the floor, joined, and rammed him back-first into the apron.
After Wright rebounded by ramming Finlay’s left leg into the apron, he slammed Finlay on the floor and followed with an elbow drop.
Finlay hoisted Wright into a fireman’s carry and guillotined him with the steel railing.
While Wright re-entered the ring via sunset flip, he got 1.
Wright dealt Finlay a cross body block, and both wrestlers spilled over the top rope to the floor.
If the match had any heat whatsoever, I’d beg for a double countout. As it was, the Vegas faithful would boo that decision out of the arena.
Wright mounted the top turnbuckle, attempted a missile dropkick, but there wasn’t any water in the pool.
Charging Wright, Finlay came up empty yet HIT THE POLE.
Wright capitalized with a hangman’s neckbreaker and pinned Finlay at 5:10.

Rating: *

Summary: Complete waste of PPV time that could accomplish the same on:

We return to the wcw.com table, and Marshall interviews Ernest “The Cat” Miller. Why are they spending even 30 seconds on this?

Match 5: Saturn versus Lodi

Highlights:

This match is on PPV?
When he leapfrogged Lodi, Saturn fed him a facebuster.
Saturn swept the legs, but Lodi sought refuge on the floor.
As Lodi got to the apron, Saturn suplexed him back into the ring.
Saturn gave him a cross corner whip, but Lodi decided to bail on the match.
After Saturn caught up with him, he chased Lodi back to the ring.
He dealt Lodi an overhead belly-to-belly suplex and followed with a clothesline.
While he delivered a head-and-arm suplex, Saturn flattened Lodi with a Falcon Arrow.
He dumped Lodi with a Death Valley Driver and pinned him at 3:51.

Rating: DUD

Summary: I’m not even going to dignify this as PPV-worthy, it’s meant for:

We revisit Nitro when Bagwell saved Rick’s bacon and almost decapitated BPP with a chair. Upon shaking Rick’s hand, Bagwell removed his nWo Hollywood t-shirt. You would hope he’d dive deep into the babyface pond after this, wouldn’t you?

At the entrance, the Nitro Girls dance in black and silver predating the Las Vegas Raiders by almost 25 years.

Match 6 for the WCW Cruiserweight title: Kidman (champion) versus Disco Inferno

Highlights:

Disco hip-tossed Kidman but missed an elbow drop.
As Kidman dropkicked him, Disco slammed him but ate a mule kick.
Disco vaulted him to the apron, but Kidman fed him a springboard flying headscissors.
When Disco dealt him a drop toe hold, he guillotined Kidman with the bottom rope.
He delivered a swinging neckbreaker and got 2.
After he gave Kidman a HARD cross corner whip to injure the back, Disco hit a back elbow.
Kidman charged, but Disco low-bridged him over the top rope to the floor.
While Disco joined him, Kidman reversed an Irish whip sending him abdomen-first into the apron.
Kidman splatted Disco on the floor with an Acid Drop, tossed him back into the ring, mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but there wasn’t any water in the pool.
Taking advantage of the situation, Disco got 2.
The Vegas faithful informed Disco that he indeed “sucks,” so Kidman gave their nemesis a cross corner whip followed by a lariat.
Reversing an Irish whip, Disco flapjacked Kidman.
He crushed Kidman with a belly-to-back suplex for 2.
Guillotining him with the top rope, Disco slammed Kidman, mounted the second turnbuckle, but missed a flying forearm.
Kidman responded with a sit-out powerbomb and got 2.
Giving Disco a cross corner whip, Kidman ate a back elbow.
Disco charged but got powerslammed for 2.
Evading a dropkick, Disco tried, but YOU CAN’T POWERBOMB KIDMAN.
Instead, Disco piledrove Kidman.
Disco displayed a lackadaisical cover and only got 2.
Escaping a vertical suplex, Kidman attempted another Acid Drop.
Disco countered with a suplex and planted Kidman with a gourdbuster.
Do we have a new champion?
1-2-NO!
Performing the Macarena, Disco attempted another powerbomb.
Kidman escaped and caromed Disco face-first into the mat.
Mounting the top turnbuckle, Kidman launched a Shooting Star Press.
1-2-3.
Kidman retained at 10:50.

Rating: ****

Summary: This is what happens when two wrestlers work not only often but well together. Great psychology, strong workrate by Disco, and solid high-flying by Kidman cements this as:

For those interested, unlike the WWE Network who removed it, here is Konnan’s music video.

Match 7 for the WCW World tag team titles: Big Poppa Pump & Giant versus the “Dog-Faced Gremlin” Rick Steiner & Buff Bagwell

Highlights:

To signify that Giant didn’t give a FUCK about being in WCW, he came to the ring smoking a cigarette. Dude, respect the workplace and those who want to work.
Giant manhandled and fed Rick an atomic drop.
When Giant dealt Rick a belly-to-back suplex, BPP tagged in, beat up his brother, and tossed him down to the floor.
Giant gave Rick the business until Bagwell shoved him.
As Giant returned him to the ring, Rick ruined BPP’s hookup with an inverted atomic drop.
Rick hit a ten-punch count-along until BPP attempted his own inverted atomic drop.
After Rick blocked it, he flattened BPP with a Steinerline.
Rick landed an elbow drop, made a cover, but Bagwell insisted on a tag.
While he and Rick missed a double clothesline, Bagwell turned on Rick.
Bagwell celebrated his accomplishment and returned backstage.
Kicking his brother WAY DOWNTOWN, BPP harassed him until the Vegas faithful chanted “Gold-berg.”
BPP slammed him and tagged out.
Chopping Rick all the way to the floor, Giant distracted referee Charles Robinson.
BPP took advantage and made Rick taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Kilcooly at Ri Ra.
Pulverizing Rick with a side-Russian leg sweep, Giant picked Rick up at 1 three times.
BPP tagged in, yet Rick tried to rebound.
Terminating Rick’s comeback, BPP took him WAY DOWNTOWN again.
Giant tagged in, mounted the top turnbuckle, attempted a missile dropkick…
But nailed BPP instead of Rick.
Rick stymied Giant with a series of Steinerlines, mounted the top turnbuckle, and flattened him with a Steiner bulldog.
1-2-3.
Rick and Bagwell won at 8:25.
WE HAVE NEW CHAMPIONS!

Rating: **

Summary: Back when Bagwell returned to nWo Hollywood following his July comeback, I thought his career would never recover. Recently, all his babyface posturing was showing signs of recovery. Then Bagwell turned once again. I understand that’s he’s not 100% ready for a full-time schedule but keeping him as a heel was an awful idea that turned the fans against him once and for all. By the way, the missile dropkick by Giant has to be seen to be believed.

Match 8 (no DQ): Big Poppa Pump versus the “Dog-Faced Gremlin” Rick Steiner

Highlights:

Although BPP thought he was walking out on the match, Rick grabbed and made him taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like Bikini sandwich at Therapy.
Rick fought off Giant and bounced BPP’s head off the steps.
As he fed BPP a Steinerline, Rick got reversed on a cross corner whip.
BPP charged but ate boot.
When he sandwiched BPP in the corner, Rick got 1.
BPP took his brother on another trip WAY DOWNTOWN and suplexed him.
After he leveled Rick with a Steinerline, BPP dealt him a running guillotine.
Rick rebounded with a powerslam and followed with a belly-to-belly suplex for 2.
Abruptly, a man in a President Bill Clinton mask destroyed some officials at ringside.
Stevie Ray approached ringside and handed “Clinton” his slapjack.
While “Clinton” battered Rick with it twice, he ANNIHILATED referee Charles Robinson.
“Clinton” unmasked, and it’s Bagwell.
Despite the bell ringing, the match continued.
BPP covered Rick, and Bagwell used Robinson as a puppet but only reached 2.
Hoisting Rick atop the top turnbuckle, BPP unleashed a Frankensteiner.
Bagwell yanked Robinson across the ring yet only reached 2 again.
Dumping Robinson between the ropes to the floor, Bagwell, along with BPP, missed a double clothesline.
Rick obliterated BPP with a Steinerline and guillotined Bagwell with the top rope.
With Bagwell subdued, Rick mounted the top turnbuckle and delivered a Steiner bulldog to BPP.
Referee Nick Patrick slid into the ring to count.
1-2-3.
Rick won at 5:04.

Rating: **

Summary: While all the pregame crap belonged on Thunder, these two matches are PPV-worthy. Finally, after months of delays due to injuries, Rick battled and defeated his brother on PPV.

Video airs featuring the Outsiders.

Prior to the next match, Hall makes his entrance with cocktail in hand. What’s his favorite cocktail, you ask? His next!

Match 9: Kevin Nash versus Scott Hall

Highlights:

To start the match, Hall tossed his drink in Nash’s face.
The match segued quickly to the floor, and Hall made Nash taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Mexico City at the Black Tap.
When he made Nash HIT THE POLE, Hall bopped him on the head with the microphone. Sound check!
Nash laid prone on the floor, so Hall re-entered the ring and grabbed the microphone.
As trainer Danny Young helped Nash to clear the cobwebs and alcohol from his eyes, Hall trash-talked his “big buddy.”
Nash returned to the ring, and Hall belted him with a discus punch.
After the Vegas faithful began a “Wolf-pack” chant, I celebrated in my living room.
Nonetheless, Hall slammed him, but Nash escaped an Outsider Edge attempt.
Hall started a ten-punch count-along, but Nash shoved him away at 3.
While Hall kept laying them in, Nash continued to egg him on.
Schiavone rightfully pointed out that Nash wasn’t “fighting back.”
Giving Nash a cross corner whip, Hall followed with a corner clothesline.
Nash reversed a cross corner whip and sent Hall to the opposite corner.
Feeding Hall a sidewalk slam, Nash fought with him.
Nash attempted a jackknife powerbomb, but Hall slithered away rapidly.
Nailing Hall with a short-arm clothesline, Nash rammed him face-first into the mat.
He dealt Hall a pair of running guillotines and worked him over in the corner.
Taunting Hall about his drinking problem, Nash delivered an elbow smash.
He pantomimed drinking a beer before hammering Hall between the eyes.
Planting Hall with a big boot, Nash lowered the straps and decimated him with a jackknife powerbomb.
He signaled to the Vegas faithful for another and stated: “I think he’ll have a double.”
Destroying Hall with another jackknife powerbomb, Nash gave Hall a crotch chop.
In lieu of pinning Hall, Nash walked out.
Referee Mickey Jay counted to ten, and Hall won by countout at 14:19.

Rating: **

Summary: While the Vegas faithful loved them some Nash, their hero taught Hall a lesson.

At the entrance, the Nitro Girls dance in neon wigs.

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

Highlights:

Bret stalled worse than Larry Zbyszko ever did at the Showboat, so Sting repaid him by making him taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the High Brow burger at Slater’s.
As he fed Bret the ten-punch count-along, Sting clotheslined him.
He gave Bret a cross corner whip and halted any of Bret’s plans for Denny’s later on with an inverted atomic drop for 2.
When Bret rebounded with a DDT, he got 2.
He returned the favor with his own inverted atomic drop and clotheslined Sting.
After he dealt Sting a leg drop, Bret got another 2.
He delivered an elbow smash but couldn’t get 3.
While he placed a knee into Sting’s midsection, Bret bulldogged him.
Bret attempted a suplex, but Sting countered with an inside cradle for 2.
Nailing Sting with a side-Russian leg sweep, Bret mounted the second turnbuckle.
Bret leaped, but Sting caught and attempted a Scorpion death lock.
Before Sting could truly lock it in, Bret grabbed the bottom rope.
Bret leapfrogged Sting but “injured” his knee.
Since Sting didn’t buy it, he went after Bret’s knee.
Referee Billy Silverman admonished Sting allowing Bret to retrieve a foreign object.
Reversing a cross corner whip, Bret ate a clothesline and dropped the brass knux.
Sting armed himself with them, but Silverman recognized and stopped the assault.
With Sting’s back turned, Bret blasted him WAY DOWNTOWN.
He split Sting in two with a backbreaker, mounted the second turnbuckle, and launched a flying elbow smash for 2.
Taking the match to the floor, Bret sent Sting shoulder-first into the steel railing.
He guillotined Sting with the steel railing and prevented him from re-entering the ring.
Checking on Sting, Silverman ate a back elbow.
Bret nefariously dropped a leg on Silverman to ensure he was OUT COLD.
Rebounding with a clothesline, Sting gave Bret a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
Bret mounted the top turnbuckle, but Sting caught, joined, and superplexed him. Wow!
Meanwhile, Silverman remained OUT COLD.
Seeing Bret slumped in the corner, Sting flew with a Stinger splash.
Unfortunately for Sting, he soared over Bret, and his head hit the turnbuckle bolt. OUCH!
Bret sought reinforcements and found Sting’s bat.
Clobbering an unconscious Sting with his own bat repeatedly, Bret mounted the second turnbuckle and whacked Sting one more time.
Bret disposed of the evidence and awakened Silverman.
Applying the Sharpshooter, Bret won by submission at 15:05.

Rating: ***

Summary: If these two had wrestled full-length matches around the horn before the PPV, a different and better story would have been told. As it is, it wasn’t a classic and will only be remembered as somewhat of a misfire.

After the match, Sting remains OUT COLD, and Silverman calls for medical attention. EMTs arrive with a gurney, place Sting on a backboard, and wheel him backstage to a waiting ambulance.

POINT OF ORDER: First, Sting a.k.a. Steve Borden, needing help, found Jesus and became a born-again Christian. Seeking further help, he sought rehabilitation for his substance abuse. Sting would not wrestle on TV again until April though he would work house shows. At this point, the PPV is over 2.5 hours long with two matches left.

Prior to the next match, we revisit Nitro when Hogan CROWNED his nephew with a chair.

Match 11: “Hollywood” Hogan versus Warrior

Highlights:

Hogan talked too much trash, so Warrior nailed him to begin the match.
When Warrior shoulder-blocked him, Hogan sought refuge on the floor.
Warrior requested a test-of-strength, but Hogan cunningly broke him down before engaging.
As Warrior struggled to position himself mid-ring, Hogan maintained his advantage albeit in mischievous fashion.
A criss-cross ensued, and Hogan slammed Warrior.
After he no-sold it, Warrior returned the favor.
He built up a head of steam and clotheslined Hogan over the top rope to the floor.
While he joined Hogan, Warrior blocked a shot to the railing and rammed Hogan into it.
He made Hogan HIT THE POLE, and both wrestlers returned to the ring.
Immediately, a clothesline spot sent Hogan directly into referee Nick Patrick.
Hogan systematically knocked Patrick OUT COLD with a knee drop.
Beckoning his subordinates, Hogan ensured that Patrick remained down.
Giant jogged to ringside, entered the ring, and inadvertently flattened Hogan with a big boot.
Clotheslining Giant over the top rope to the floor, Warrior pummeled Stevie Ray into the middle of 2001.
Vincent jumped onto the opposite apron but got knocked down instantly.
With Patrick still OUT COLD, Warrior could only muster a false pin.
Hogan fed Warrior a belly-to-back suplex and got 2.
Removing his workout belt, Hogan whipped Warrior with it.
He slammed Warrior again but missed an elbow drop.
Making another attempt, Hogan missed again.
Rolling like a log, Warrior tripped Hogan.
Warrior missed a splash, and these guys have LOST THE CROWD.
Disrobing Hogan of his weight belt, Warrior whipped and pounded him with it.
Hogan, desperate to make this match memorable, retrieved a foreign object from his tights.
Attempting a fireball spot, Hogan completely fucked up.
Warrior smartly no-sold it, mounted the top turnbuckle, and bulldozed Hogan with a double axe handle.
Mounting the opposite top turnbuckle, Warrior blasted Hogan again.
Hogan was BUSTED OPEN!
Regardless, Hogan hammered him WAY DOWNTOWN and clotheslined him.
Hogan dealt Warrior a leg drop, and Horace appeared at ringside.
Evading a second leg drop, Warrior exploded with a series of clotheslines.
Bischoff jumped onto the apron to absolutely mug Patrick.
Stepping into the ring with a chair, Horace smashed it on Warrior’s back.
WE HAVE A HEEL TURN!
1-2-3.
Hogan won at 14:20.

Rating: -*

Summary: As much as I want to consider this match the worst I’ve ever seen, it had some positives. However, whatever positives it had, the many negatives nullified them. The fireball spot was infamous for making Hogan look foolish, but Warrior’s logrolling was almost as amateurish. During the WWE video The Self-Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior, Hogan rightfully claimed that he screwed up big time.

Please tell me there will NOT be Hogan-Warrior III.

Following the match, Hogan pitches Patrick over the top rope to the floor as Horace joins him in the ring. Hogan advises Horace that he “passed the test” and hugs him. To illustrate how vicious Hogan’s chair shot was on Nitro, Horace’s stitched wound on his head is shown. Unfathomably, Horace douses Warrior in lighter fluid, but WCW Security steps in to halt the malicious murder.

POINT OF ORDER: OK, Hogan, you’ve gotten your win back over Warrior. There’s nothing left for you to accomplish in WCW. Retire! Regarding Warrior, he should do the same.

The PPV has now reached 2:56, and a healthy portion of cable systems shuts off the feed to rebroadcast at the top of the hour. This becomes important for Nitro but financially harmful for WCW.

In the meantime, the show continues.

Match 12 for the WCW World title: Goldberg (champion) versus Diamond Dallas Page

Highlights:

Michael Buffer rumbled and rambled.
For those curious, Goldberg was 154-0 coming into the match.
A collar-and-elbow tie-up sent both wrestlers between the ropes to the floor. I’d never seen that before!
As the Vegas faithful rang out a “Gold-berg” chant, their hero performed a standing backflip.
DDP swept the legs, but Goldberg responded with a fireman’s carry takeover.
When Goldberg applied a Fujiwara armbar, DDP barely made the ropes.
He fed Goldberg a jawbreaker, attempted a Diamond Cutter, but got shoved ¾ of the way back to Reno.
After Goldberg shoulder-blocked him, DDP fell between the ropes to the floor again.
He guillotined Goldberg with the top rope and dealt him a swinging neckbreaker.
While DDP whipped him back into the corner, Goldberg HIT THE POLE. It was subtle yet overheard.
DDP planted him with a side-Russian leg sweep and got 2.
Escaping a front face lock, Goldberg delivered his own swinging neckbreaker.
He suplexed DDP and followed with a sidewalk slam for 2.
Applying a cross arm breaker, Goldberg couldn’t get the submission as DDP made the ropes again.
Goldberg attempted another sidewalk slam, but DDP countered with a flying headscissors. Awesome!
Hitting a thrust kick, Goldberg charged but HIT THE POLE again. This time wasn’t so subtle.
POINT OF ORDER: On WWE Untold, Goldberg explained that he was out of it at this point.
DDP leaped to the top turnbuckle and scored with a lariat for 2.
Reversing an Irish whip, Goldberg attempted a hip toss, but DDP countered with a DDT.
DDP signaled for the Diamond Cutter, but Goldberg bowled him over with a spear. That woke Goldberg up.
With one arm, Goldberg tried but failed to Jackhammer him.
DDP escaped a second attempt and decimated him with a Diamond Cutter.
Do we have a new champion?
DDP couldn’t instantly capitalize after the Diamond Cutter.
1-2-NO!
DDP attempted a suplex, but Goldberg blocked it and hooked a Jackhammer.
1-2-3.
Goldberg retained at 10:29.

Rating: ****

Summary: Fantastic match where Goldberg overcame his injured shoulder to win. Many pundits including myself have said that DDP should have gone over. Goldberg became 155-0.

Afterward, Goldberg helps DDP to his feet, and DDP raises his arm. Sportsmanship!

Conclusion: Without question, the main event is highly recommended as it both saved the show and is Goldberg’s best match. The Hogan-Warrior encounter is one of the worst, if not the worst, high-profile matches in pro wrestling history.

Bret-Sting may have been solid but didn’t meet expectations. Considering the saga between Hall and Nash, a storyline finish to their match made sense. The Steiner matches, despite their twists and turns, paid off on both ends. Could be interesting to see how WCW will book the tag titles going forward. As expected, Kidman retained the Cruiserweight title, and Jericho retained the TV title as both had strong matches.

Going in, this show looked STACKED on paper, and WCW had a chance for a memorable and beloved PPV. Instead, they held a memorable show yet for all the wrong reasons. If you’ve never seen this show, you owe it to yourself to witness it. If you’ve seen it but not recently, it’s not a bad trip down memory lane.

Buyrate: 0.78

Stay tuned for WCW Monday Nitro 10-26-98!

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