WCW Monday Nitro October 26, 1998 -

Live from Phoenix, AZ

Airdate: October 26, 1998

Attendance: 14,688 (sold out)

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

How will WCW recover from their major PPV snafu? Will Bret successfully defend the US title? What’s new between the Four Horsemen and Bischoff? Get all this and more in one show!

After stills of the Bret-Sting match from the PPV are shown, the Nitro Girls dance in the ring wearing black and silver. Arizona Cardinal fans would not be pleased.

Zbyszko takes his bow while Schiavone explains the snafu MAJOR FUCKUP that caused a large percentage of the PPV universe to miss the ending. Although he claims it’s not WCW’s fault, IT ABSOLUTELY WAS. Nevertheless, WCW decided to take one of two recourses:

Offer the replay for free tomorrow night.
Televise the Goldberg-DDP match in the second hour.

Guess which one they chose.

Next, Schiavone claims “the competition (believes) this is a ratings ploy” which is an ABSOLUTE LIE.

Match 1: Stevie Ray versus Kenny Kaos

Highlights:

The bell rang, and Stevie Ray mugged for the camera as only he could.
When he took Kaos down to the floor, Stevie Ray made him taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the 1st Street Burger at Kettle Black.
Back in the ring, he fed Kaos a big boot and slammed him.
Stevie Ray missed an elbow drop, reversed a cross corner whip, but came up empty on his follow-through.
As Kaos migrated to the apron, he launched a springboard clothesline for 2.
Bagwell stormed the ring, jumped onto the apron, and distracted referee Billy Silverman.
After Kaos continued distracting Silverman, Bagwell tossed a slapjack to Stevie Ray. SNEAKY!
Silverman sought to remove Bagwell from the apron, so Stevie Ray WHACKED Kaos with the slapjack. How dastardly!
While Stevie Ray dealt him the slapjack maneuver, he pinned Kaos at 2:09.

Rating: DUD

Summary: More angle than match as Bagwell got booed out of the building for his transgressions from last night. If you’re wondering why WCW protected Kaos in this match, stay tuned. The answer will surprise you.

OK, maybe not that.

After the match, Bagwell holds Kaos down, and Stevie Ray plants a leg drop. Bagwell drops one of his own, threatens to beat Kaos up some more, but Rick appears and chases them away with his spiked dog collar. When Rick grabs the microphone, he explains that he needs a partner to challenge the nWo. He offers Kaos a share of the World tag team titles. Giving a shoutout to Rage who’s recovering from a shoulder injury, Kaos accepts and shakes Rick’s hand. There you go.

Hasbro Interactive sponsors the replay.

Opening montage.

Prior to the next match, Kanyon polls the Phoenix faithful but receives the incorrect response yet again much to his dismay.

Match 2: Kanyon (w/ Raven) versus Prince Iaukea

Highlights:

Kanyon attacked him, but Iaukea responded with a dropkick.
As Kanyon reversed a cross corner whip, he ate a back elbow on his follow-through.
Iaukea leaped to the top turnbuckle, hooked a sunset flip, and got 2.
When Kanyon countered a hip toss with a swinging neckbreaker, he got 2.
Iaukea hip-tossed Kanyon over the top rope to the floor, attempted a springboard maneuver, but SPLATTED on the floor instead.
After Kanyon positioned the steps, he attempted a piledriver, but Iaukea blocked and countered with a back drop.
Iaukea mounted the apron and fed Kanyon a springboard somersault splash and got 2.
While he dealt Kanyon a fireman’s carry slam, Iaukea escaped a backslide.
Kanyon decimated him with a Flatliner and won at 3:12.

Rating: *

Summary: Showcase match for Kanyon.

Nitro Girls surround the broadcast table and make Schiavone blush.

In the ring, “Mean” Gene Okerlund interviews the Four Horsemen. Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Chris Benoit, and Dean Malenko approach the ring minus Steve “Mongo” McMichael. After he uncorks a “Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeean Wooooooooooooooooo Gene,” Flair states that Mongo’s “missing in action” but expects him before the evening’s finished. I bet he’s still celebrating that divorce. Okerlund hasn’t seen Bischoff, and Flair informs his boss that “the Horsemen are here to stay.”

Speaking of Bischoff, he emerges, and Flair asks if he’s ready to go to jail again. Bischoff admits that he’s wrong about Flair’s popularity and wants to give the fans the chance to see Flair wrestle.

Schiavone shills the Nitro Party contest and announces that Steve and Karen Mason from Hampton, VA won this week, and their video airs.

We revisit stills from the PPV as Nash taught Hall a lesson yet let him win the match by countout.

Match 3: Alex Wright versus Barry Horowitz

Highlights:

Wright countered a side head lock with a belly-to-back suplex.
When Horowitz leapfrogged him, he attempted a monkey flip, but Wright SHUT THAT SHIT DOWN QUICK.
Wright gave Horowitz a cross corner whip but ate a back elbow on his follow-through.
As he reversed an Irish whip, Wright fed Horowitz an overhead belly-to-belly suplex.
He dealt Horowitz a standing spinning heel kick and guillotined him with the second rope.
After he dropkicked Horowitz, Wright snap-suplexed him, mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but ate boot.
Horowitz slammed Wright, mounted the top turnbuckle, but got dropkicked down to the mat.
While Wright flattened him with a hangman’s neckbreaker, he pinned Horowitz at 2:49.

Rating: *

Summary: Showcase match for Wright who brought the suplexes to the party.

Missing is YOUR WCW Road Report starring Lee Marshall. Blame the WWE Network, ‘cuz it’s GRRRRRRRRRRRREAT!

We revisit last week when Hogan obliterated his own nephew Horace with a chair shot. Following that, we see stills from the Hogan-Warrior atrocity from last night minus the attempted murder.

Match 4: Wrath versus Sick Boy

Highlights:

Sick Boy scored with a spinning heel kick, but Wrath manhandled him in the corner.
As he tossed Sick Boy across the ring, Wrath sent him reeling to the floor.
He joined Sick Boy, tossed him back in, migrated to the apron, and pummeled him with a springboard shoulder block for 2.
When he slammed Sick Boy, Wrath landed a pair of elbow drops for another 2.
He gave Sick Boy a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
After Sick Boy fed him a swinging neckbreaker, Wrath no-sold it.
He took Sick Boy down with another shoulder block and flattened him with a Meltdown.
1-2-3.
Wrath won at 2:51.

Rating: **

Summary: Showcase match for Wrath whose pop is getting warmer.

HOUR #2!

To make up for their colossal mistake last night, WCW airs DDP versus Goldberg in its entirety. To see my review, click here.

TV Rating: 7.18 (Wow!)

Backstage, Okerlund enters Nash’s dressing room to interview him. Before Nash can utter a word, Hall interrupts. While Nash said last night wasn’t about winning or losing, Hall agrees he’s hit a wall and it’s time to change his life. They shake hands, but Giant intervenes and pulverizes Nash. As he and Hall double-team Nash, they put him through a wall.

TV Rating: 4.7

Video airs featuring the Nitro Girls.

In the ring, the Nitro Girls dance LIVE in silver and black.

Remember UNICEF from last week? WWE Network doesn’t want you to do that this week.

Instead, “Hollywood” Hogan and Eric Bischoff lead nWo Hollywood to the ring. Bischoff introduces the newest member—Horace. Next, Hogan bestows the colors of nWo Hollywood, and Horace wears the nWo tank top. Hey! WCW’s making new stars, right?

Match 5: Eddie Guerrero versus Saturn

Highlights:

Saturn exploded with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex, and the Phoenix faithful informed Eddie that he indeed “sucks.”
When Eddie worked on his leg, Saturn reversed an Irish whip and fed him another suplex.
Eddie dropkicked the knee, but Saturn reversed a cross corner whip.
As Saturn military-pressed him, Eddie escaped with an arm drag.
He dealt Saturn a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for 2.
After Saturn reversed another Irish whip, he pancaked Eddie for 2.
He sent Eddie into the corner, charged, but ate a back elbow.
While Eddie attempted a tornado DDT, Saturn blocked it and scored with a Northern Lights suplex for 2.
Eddie escaped a suplex attempt and rolled up Saturn for 2.
T-boning Eddie, Saturn obliterated him with a Falcon Arrow.
Before Saturn could finish off Eddie, the lWo stormed the ring.
Saturn won by DQ at 4:42.

Rating: ***½

Summary: Fluid motion between these two as they crammed a bunch of stuff into five minutes.

Following the match, the lWo tries to triple-team him, but Saturn backdrops Eddie over the top rope to the floor. He sends Damian into Hector Garza and suplexes the BEJEEZUS out of both of them. La Parka, El Dandy, Psicosis, and another unnamed member of the lWo arrive to punish Saturn. The new member unleashes a brainbuster, and Eddie flies from the top turnbuckle onnecting with a frog splash.

POINT OF ORDER: While this was a great little match for Nitro, why wasn’t it on PPV? According to Meltzer, it was supposed to be, but Eddie had transportation problems; thus, WCW inserted Lodi at the last instant. Also, the newest member of the lWo is Spyder portrayed by Art Flores.

At the entrance, Okerlund interviews Judy Bagwell.

Nevertheless, Judy explains that Buff “tricked” her. She’s fed up with her son and she’s “tired of being nice.” She’s “had enough of Buff.”

TV Rating: 5.0

Missing is a promo for WCW World War 3 ’98 that you shouldn’t miss.

Match 6 for the WCW World tag team titles: The “Dog-Faced Gremlin” Rick Steiner & Kenny Kaos (champions) versus Giant & Stevie Ray

Highlights:

Despite the massive roster WCW had, we got a second match involving Kaos and Stevie Ray.
Kaos fed Stevie Ray a kick to the midsection followed by an elbow smash.
As Stevie Ray reversed an Irish whip, Giant kicked Kaos in the back of the head. Crafty!
Stevie Ray leveled Kaos with a thrust kick and ruined Kaos’ late-night plans with an inverted atomic drop.
When Giant tagged in, he dealt Kaos a facebuster and applied a bear hug.
Kaos rang Giant’s bell well enough to enable Rick to tag in.
After Rick bulldozed him with a pair of Steinerlines, he gave Giant a cross corner whip followed by a third Steinerline.
Giant reversed a cross corner whip and demolished Rick with an avalanche.
While he gave Rick a cross corner whip, Giant ate boot on his follow-through.
Rick mounted the top turnbuckle and uncorked a flying Steinerline for 2.
Since Giant’s kick-out sent Rick to the floor, Stevie Ray joined and gave Rick the business.
Giant booted an incoming Kaos, yet Rick backdropped Stevie Ray.
Mounting the top turnbuckle, Rick unfurled a Steiner bulldog.
1-2-3.
Rick and Kaos retained at 3:18.

Rating: **

Summary: Solid booking for the newly formed team to win their first match although the Giant-Stevie Ray team could steal a victory should there be a rematch.

TV Rating: 3.8

HOUR #3!

Bischoff replaces Tenay at the broadcast table and fulfills his promise of showing Flair in the ring. In lieu of a live match, Bischoff offers “video footage.” When Schiavone questions him, Bischoff believes that Flair won’t “pass a physical.” To a disgusted Schiavone, we see highlights of Hogan versus Flair from Bash at the Beach ’94.

In case you’re curious, most of the clips are when Hogan was on offense. The bait-and-switch cements my feeling that Hogan should retire.

Back at the broadcast table, Bischoff believes Flair is #2 to Hogan always and forever. Meanwhile, Schiavone apologizes to Flair and everyone who expected a live match. More on this later.

TV Rating: 4.3

Match 7 for the WCW Cruiserweight title: Kidman (champion) versus Juventud Guerrera

Highlights:

Guerrera reversed an Irish whip, leapfrogged Kidman, and fed him a flying headscissors.
When he got vaulted to the apron, Guerrera dealt Kidman a ten-top-turnbuckle count-along.
He mounted the top turnbuckle, but Kidman caught, joined, and attempted a top rope superplex.
As Guerrera blocked it, he sent Kidman reeling down to the mat.
He mounted the top turnbuckle and uncorked another flying headscissors for 2.
After he delivered a brainbuster, Guerrera got another 2.
Kidman reversed a cross corner whip, but Guerrera floated over.
While he cradled Kidman, Guerrera couldn’t get 3.
Kidman hit a belly-to-back suplex, but Guerrera responded with a Rocker Dropper for 2.
Reversing an Irish whip, Kidman countered a flying headscissors with a wheelbarrow suplex for 2.
Guerrera countered another wheelbarrow suplex attempt with a bulldog for 2.
Mounting the top turnbuckle, Guerrera connected with a cross body block.
Do we have a new champion?
1-2-NO!
He mounted the adjacent top turnbuckle, leaped, but ate a dropkick in mid-air. Wow!
Seeing Kidman mount the top turnbuckle, Guerrera played possum then snared him.
He joined and planted Kidman with a super huracanrana for 2.
Escaping a powerbomb attempt, Kidman obliterated Guerrera with a sit-out powerbomb.
He mounted the top turnbuckle and launched a Shooting Star Press.
1-2-3.
Kidman retained at 5:56.

Rating: ****

Summary: Awesome chocolatey goodness from these two.

TV Rating: 4.3

Get your WCW/nWo Superstar Series videos now! Both Sting: Unmasked and Macho Man Randy Savage: The Man Behind the Madness are at retail stores everywhere. After Schiavone finishes the promo, Heenan distracts him to steal the Sting video. HA!

BPP along with Bagwell enters the ring and recites his catchphrase. While BPP affirms their friendship, Bagwell cuts a misogynistic promo on his mother. BPP requests JJ Dillon to appear to sanction a rematch against Rick. As Dillon joins them, BPP questions whether or not he likes Rick better than him.

BPP wonders why the original referee didn’t finish the match, but Dillon says he didn’t touch him. After Bagwell wonders if he summoned the second referee, Dillon explains “the right thing to do.” BPP believes “the right thing to do” is to kick Dillon’s ass. When BPP hooks a Steiner Recliner on Dillon, WCW Security quickly rescues him.

Cue the Warrior! He sprints to the ring and gets a favorable response from his hometown crowd. As he cuts a promo on Hogan, Warrior takes a subtle potshot about the botched fireball. He calls the pinfall “BULLSHIT,” although it’s censored. When Hogan jumps onto the apron, Horace tries to stop him. Horace inserts himself into the mix, and Warrior destroys him. After Horace charges, Warrior backdrops him over the top rope to the floor.

Giant tries a sneak attack, but Warrior clotheslines him over the top rope to the floor. While Hogan successfully stymies him from behind, Warrior ducks and bulldozes Hogan with a flying shoulder block. Bischoff jumps onto the apron and gets pummeled. You’d think that Warrior would continue his journey against nWo Hollywood, but this was his final appearance in a major promotion of his career until his WWE Hall of Fame induction.

Match 8: Big Poppa Pump & Scott Hall (w/ Buff Bagwell) versus the “Total Package” Lex Luger & Konnan

Highlights:

Konnan and Luger jumped into the ring, and the brawl was ON.
As Luger fed Hall a series of inverted atomic drops, BPP sent Konnan reeling into the steel railing.
He grabbed a chair and hammered Konnan with it.
In the meantime, Luger made Hall taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Button & Bleu at Wally’s.
BPP dealt Konnan a Steinerline, but Konnan rebounded with his own clothesline.
When the match segued to the floor, BPP slammed Konnan in the aisle.
In the ring, Luger clotheslined Hall and followed with a flying forearm.
BPP returned to the ring to assist Hall and kicked Luger WAY DOWNTOWN.
After Konnan brought a chair into the ring, he blasted BPP with it.
Luger grabbed the chair and walloped Hall with it.
While Konnan subdued BPP, Luger placed Hall in a Torture Rack.
BPP escaped and rescued Hall.
Without anything announced, the match ended.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Rating: NONE

Summary: More of an excuse to waste time with big name talent than anything else.

TV Rating: 4.5

Match 9 for the WCW US title: Bret “Hitman” Hart (champion) versus Diamond Dallas Page

Highlights:

Buffer rumbled and rambled. Listen carefully, and you’ll hear him call Bret “Clark” instead of “Hart.”
When Bret escaped a slam attempt, he cradled DDP for 2.
DDP rolled him up and got 2.
As he blocked a hip toss, DDP fed Bret a swinging neckbreaker for 2.
DDP attempted a ten-punch count-along, but Bret countered with Snake Eyes.
After DDP gave Bret a cross corner whip, he ate a mule kick on his follow-through.
Bret clotheslined DDP and followed with a side-Russian leg sweep for 2.
While Bret applied a rear chin lock, he placed his feet on the ropes. Devious!
Referee Mickey Jay asked if Bret used the ropes. Bret said no, but the cameraman nodded with the camera. HA!
Planting DDP with a DDT, Bret got 2.
DDP rebounded with a discus clothesline and pancaked him for 2.
Mounting the top turnbuckle, DDP got caught.
Bret joined and dealt DDP a top rope superplex for 2. Woohoo!
Countering a suplex with an inside cradle, DDP got 2.
Bret gave DDP a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
Rolling up Bret, DDP got 2.
Bret responded with a backbreaker, mounted the second turnbuckle, and scored with a flying elbow smash for 2.
Blocking a suplex, DDP executed an arm bar takedown for 2.
He pulverized Bret with a jawbreaker and rammed him into the top turnbuckle.
With his trick knee, Bret took out not only DDP but also referee Mickey Jay.
Bret, on the floor, retrieved brass knux from his tights, returned to the ring, and awakened Jay.
Avoiding a haymaker with the brass knux, DDP flattened Bret with a Diamond Cutter.
Do we have a new champion?
1-2-3!
DDP won at 10:47.
WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!

Rating: *****

Summary: Combine Bret’s technical prowess with DDP’s structured style, and you get a masterpiece like this. Bravo, gentlemen!

Afterward, Bret nails DDP from behind and clobbers Jay with the brass knux. He grabs Buffer’s chair and jabs DDP with it. Upon whacking DDP with it repeatedly, Bret locked him in a Sharpshooter. DDP screams in pain until Bret releases the hold. As Bret whacks him again with the chair, he mounts the second turnbuckle and lays in yet another shot. Finally, Goldberg, shirtless but in jeans, storms the ring as the show leaves the air.

TV Rating: 4.27

Conclusion: Despite my not being a fan of westerns, I’m going to pay tribute to the old film The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

The Good: Excellent main event. WCW knew that with Austin on the other channel that they must put on a quality main event with a bona fide finish. Also, Kidman and Guerrera wowed the crowd with their exciting match.

The Bad: Since the WWF was running the Vince-Shane family struggle, WCW decided they’d fuck over both the Phoenix faithful and the TV audience by showing clips of a match from four years previous. That’s a horrible insult to wrestling fans. Bait-and-switch tactics are a recipe for changing the channel.

The Ugly: If you check the final rating, it’s inflated due to the overwhelming and ridiculous number that the Goldberg-DDP match garnered. WCW took advantage of its paying customer, and it could bite them in the ass sooner or later.

Nonetheless, it’s an action-packed episode with a fantastic main event, so…what’s on RAW is WAR?

Final TV Rating: 5.1

Stay tuned for RAW Is WAR 10-26-98!

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