WCW Thunder October 29, 1998

by

Taped from Albuquerque, NM

Airdate: October 29, 1998 (taped 10/22)

Attendance:  6,163 (sold out)

Hosted by Tony Schiavone, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, & Lee Marshall

Can Raven find a way to defeat Giant? Will Chavo upend Kidman for the Cruiserweight title? How will Disco fare against Jericho? What happens when Eddie and Malenko collide? Get your gear ready, ‘cuz a storm’s a brewin’!

Opening montage.

Match 1: Wrath versus Van Hammer

Highlights:

  • Wrath reversed a cross corner whip and followed with a corner clothesline.
  • When Hammer fed Wrath a side-Russian leg sweep, he got 2.
  • Wrath used momentum and the tights to send Hammer to the floor.
  • As he joined Hammer, Wrath made him taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Paddy O’Malley Melt at Two Fools Tavern.
  • He mounted the top turnbuckle and dealt Hammer a flying clothesline for 2.
  • After he landed a pair of elbow drops, Wrath missed a third attempt.
  • Hammer gave Wrath a cross corner whip followed by his own corner clothesline.
  • While he delivered a ten-punch count-along, Hammer connected with a back elbow.
  • He powerslammed Wrath and got 2.
  • Countering a back drop attempt by yanking Hammer down by the hair, Wrath planted him with a Meltdown.
  • 1-2-3.
  • Wrath won at 3:12.

 

Rating: *

Summary:  Showcase match for Wrath, but Hammer had his working boots on.

Hasbro Interactive sponsors the replay.

We revisit the PPV when Finlay and Wright battled despite a SILENT Vegas faithful.

Match 2: Alex Wright versus Fit Finlay

Highlights:

  • Again?
  • Wright hip-tossed Finlay and got 2.
  • As Wright hung him out to dry on the top rope, Finlay rebounded with a short-arm clothesline.
  • The match segued to the floor, and Finlay rammed Wright’s left leg into the ring post.
  • When Finlay applied a standing figure-four leg lock, Wright rebounded with a cartwheel followed by a forearm smash.
  • He charged, but Finlay side-stepped and sent him flying over the top rope to the floor.
  • After Wright guillotined him with the top rope, he mounted the top turnbuckle, connected with a missile dropkick, but knocked down both Finlay and referee Nick Patrick.
  • Wright could only earn a false pin as Patrick was OUT COLD.
  • While Wright got distracted reviving Patrick, Finlay made him pay with a tombstone.
  • 1-2-3.
  • Finlay won at 6:01.

 

Rating: **½

Summary:  Much better than their PPV encounter. They should have flipped the scripts.

POINT OF ORDER: According to Meltzer, Davey Boy Smith walked out on these tapings, so neither he nor Jim Neidhart would ever work for WCW again.

We revisit Nitro for the first time when Big Poppa Pump and Bagwell destroyed JJ Dillon for their own amusement.

Match 3: Disciple versus Tuff Tom (w/ Mean Mike)

Highlights:

  • The idiot who booked this match should be arrested for disorderly conduct.
  • When Disciple blocked a hip toss, he fed Tom one of his own.
  • He clotheslined Tom over the top rope to the floor, joined, and chaired a meeting of the minds.
  • As Tom distracted referee Billy Silverman, Mike gave Disciple the business. SNEAKY!
  • Tom got 2, so he dealt Disciple a hangman’s neckbreaker.
  • After Disciple no-sold it, he backdropped Tom.
  • He slammed and gave Tom a cross corner whip.
  • While Tom floated over, Disciple destroyed him with the Apocalypse.
  • 1-2-3.
  • Disciple won at 2:01.

 

Rating: DUD

Summary:  Showcase match for Disciple. With Warrior no longer in WCW, I’m betting Disciple’s not too far behind.

After the match, Mike attacks him from behind, but Disciple dispatches him immediately with an Apocalypse.

Cinnaburst sponsors the replay.

Schiavone shills WCW World War III ’98 which will be LIVE on PPV on 11/22. Order NOW!

Match 4: Eddie Guerrero versus Dean Malenko

Highlights:

  • For those curious, Eddie wore his lWo t-shirt and sported a black eye.
  • Following a commercial break, Malenko powerslammed Eddie and got 2.
  • Eddie rebounded with a flying headscissors and got 2.
  • As Malenko ate a seated dropkick, he reversed a cross corner whip and followed with a corner clothesline.
  • He suplexed Eddie and got 2.
  • When Eddie dealt him a belly-to-back suplex, Malenko reversed an Irish whip and flapjacked him.
  • Malenko attempted a Texas Cloverleaf, but Eddie made the ropes instantly.
  • After he delivered a back elbow, Malenko got 2.
  • Eddie hit a spinning back elbow, migrated to the apron, and connected with a senton splash.
  • While he suplexed Malenko, Eddie mounted the top turnbuckle.
  • Malenko caught, joined, and superplexed him. Wow!
  • Using momentum and trunks, Eddie yanked Malenko to the floor, joined, and sent him oblique-first into the steel railing.
  • Malenko reversed an Irish whip sending Eddie careening back-first into the steel railing.
  • Back in the ring, Eddie hooked a flying headscissors followed by a Gory Special.
  • Malenko didn’t submit, so Eddie took him down for a 2-count.
  • Reversing, Malenko got 2.
  • Pinfall reversals galore occurred, but only 2-counts were achieved by each wrestler.
  • Double-clotheslining one other, both wrestlers laid prone on the mat.
  • Suddenly, the lWo stormed the ring to attack Malenko.
  • Referee Charles Robinson called for the bell, and Malenko won by DQ at 9:31.

 

Rating: ***½

Summary:  Always great stuff when Malenko and Eddie grapple, but the lWo is the hot midcard angle right now, so the finish must suffer.

Following the match, the lWo triple-teams Malenko until Chris Benoit and Mongo McMichael rescue their fellow Horseman. I smell an upcoming six-man match between the factions.

Prior to the next match, Disco grabs the microphone and demands that Jericho relinquish the belt and wrap it around his waist. Jericho threatens to waffle him with it but fulfills Disco’s request. To show how trustworthy he is, Jericho flattens Disco with a clothesline to begin the match.

Match 5 for the WCW World TV title: Chris Jericho (w/ Ralphus) versus Disco Inferno

Highlights:

  • Let’s hope Disco has his wrestling boots rather than his dancing shoes on for this one.
  • When Jericho removed the belt from Disco’s waist, he once again threatened to part his hair with it.
  • On the other hand, referee Nick Patrick yanked it away from Jericho.
  • Disco took control with a swinging neckbreaker and got 2.
  • As he rolled up Jericho, Disco got another 2.
  • Jericho sought advice from Ralphus: “Scattered, smothered, and covered always.” Methinks Jericho’s not a frequent guest at the Waffle House, however.
  • Nevertheless, Jericho re-entered the ring via somersault, but Disco evaded him.
  • He fed Jericho a back elbow and got 2.
  • After Jericho dealt Disco a hot shot, he got 2.
  • He suplexed Disco, displayed the arrogant cover, and earned another 2-count.
  • POINT OF ORDER: Jericho must visit the same hairstylist as the Rock because his sideburns are OUTTA CONTROL!
  • Jericho delivered a seated dropkick, gave Disco a cross corner whip, but ate boot on his follow-through.
  • While Disco gave Jericho a cross corner whip, he also ate boot on his follow-through.
  • Jericho slammed Disco, mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but ate boot.
  • Stymying Jericho with an inverted atomic drop, Disco unleashed a lariat for 2.
  • He mounted the second turnbuckle and connected with a flying forearm smash for another 2.
  • Rather than piledriving Jericho, Disco opted to perform the Macarena.
  • Jericho took advantage and hooked a LionTamer.
  • Although Disco tried to reach the ropes, Jericho repositioned him to the center of the ring.
  • Disco submitted; thus, Jericho retained at 5:35.

 

Rating: **

Summary:  Losing his eyes on the prize has been a staple of why Disco dances to midcard fever. It cost him here dearly.

Match 6 for the WCW Cruiserweight title: Kidman (champion) versus Chavo Guerrero, Jr. (w/ Pepe)

Highlights:

  • Before the match, Chavo made referee Charles Robinson pat down Kidman.
  • As Kidman asked for the same in return, Chavo made Robinson pat down Pepe. HA!
  • Kidman leapfrogged him, but Chavo responded with a flying headscissors.
  • When he dropkicked Kidman, Chavo took a lap with Pepe.
  • Kidman re-entered the ring and took down Chavo with his own flying headscissors.
  • After Kidman reversed a cross corner whip, he leveled Chavo with a clothesline.
  • He landed an elbow drop and got 2.
  • While he slammed Chavo, Kidman migrated to the apron and scored with a springboard leg drop.
  • Chavo reversed a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
  • Feeding Kidman a spinning heel kick, Chavo got 2.
  • Chavo dealt Kidman a wet Willie, and Heenan made an O’Doul’s reference.
  • Escaping a vertical suplex, Chavo delivered a German suplex with a bridge and got 2.
  • He slammed Kidman, migrated to the apron, and launched a springboard splash for another 2.
  • Giving Kidman a cross corner whip, Chavo ate boot on his follow-through.
  • Kidman mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a cross body block for 2.
  • Receiving a cross corner whip, Chavo floated over and rolled up Kidman for 2.
  • Kidman rebounded with a sit-out powerbomb for 2.
  • Planting Kidman with a springboard bulldog, Chavo got 2.
  • He gave Kidman another cross corner whip and followed with a flying forearm.
  • Wasting time with Pepe, Chavo got caught on the second turnbuckle only to rebuff Kidman.
  • Chavo flew from the second turnbuckle with Pepe and hooked a sunset flip.
  • Escaping, Kidman rolled up Chavo.
  • 1-2-3.
  • Kidman won at 8:00.

 

Rating: ***

Summary:  Chavo is cute midcard comedy, but that doesn’t translate to beating Kidman for the title.

Afterward, the lWo confronts Chavo in the ring, and Eddie berates him for not being good enough. Chavo gets feisty, and the lWo knocks him down only for Eddie to call them off. Next, Eddie instructs Chavo “to earn your colors with (him).”

We revisit Nitro for the second time when Warrior made his last active appearance by steamrolling nWo Hollywood.

Prior to the next match, Miller grabs the microphone and warns V. As you’d expect, V refuses to leave and dropkicks him.

Match 7: “The Cat” Ernest Miller versus Villano V

Highlights:

  • Miller fed V a pair of thrust kicks but ate a knee lift.
  • When he dropkicked Miller’s knee, V face-planted him.
  • He dealt Miller a senton splash and got 2.
  • As he reversed a cross corner whip, Miller scored with a Feliner.
  • 1-2-3.
  • Miller won at 1:48.

 

Rating: DUD

Summary:  Showcase match for Miller.

After the match, Miller grabs the microphone again and makes an open challenge. Sonny Onoo emerges and joins Miller in the ring. While Miller dismisses him point blank, Onoo flashes the cash. Miller’s no dummy and follows the money.

Match 8:  Scott Hall versus Steve Armstrong

Highlights:

  • Hall gave Armstrong a cross corner whip followed by a corner clothesline.
  • As he flattened Armstrong with a pair of Outsider Edges, Hall pinned him at 3:27.

 

Rating: DUD

Summary:  Showcase match for Hall. Interestingly, this match was cropped as Armstrong initially defeated a “drunk” Hall. Since WCW didn’t want to further the angle with Hall’s demons, they removed that portion. If you recall, Hall enjoyed putting guys like Jericho and Hector Garza over before stomping their guts.

We revisit Nitro for a third time when DDP beat Bret for the US title but suffered the consequences.

POINT OF ORDER: Nowadays, Bret accuses WCW of being run by monkeys so to speak; however, at this point in ’98, he’s being built up strong.

Match 9: Giant versus Raven (w/ Kanyon)

Highlights:

  • Giant gave Raven a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
  • When Raven charged, he ate a big boot.
  • Kanyon distracted Giant, so Raven landed a baseball slide.
  • As Raven attempted a plancha, Giant caught and tried to ram him into the ring post.
  • Instead, Raven escaped and made Giant HIT THE POLE.
  • Kanyon handed him a chair, and Raven CREAMED Giant repeatedly with it.
  • After Kanyon placed a table in the ring, Raven set it up.
  • Raven tried to ram him face-first into the table, but Giant blocked it.
  • Ferociously, Giant chokeslammed Raven through the table.
  • 1-2-3.
  • Giant won at 2:57.

 

Rating: *

Summary:  Although it’s Raven’s rules, Giant breaks all of them. Raven’s losing streak continues.

Conclusion:  You can equate this episode to a sandwich. Something at the beginning, something at the end, but all the meat in the middle.

With Eddie-Malenko, Chavo-Kidman, and Jericho-Disco, this episode has some chocolatey-good stuff. Conversely, a plethora of squashes surround them. I’d seek out the meat and discard the rest.

TV Rating: 3.64

Stay tuned for WWF Sunday Night HeAT 11-01-98!

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