WCW World War III ’98

Live from Auburn Hills, MI

Airdate: November 22, 1998

Attendance: 17,670 (16,588 paid, sold out)

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

Who will win the battle royal and a title match against Goldberg? Speaking of whom, what’s he up to on this show? Will DDP retain against Bret? Will Guerrera retain against Kidman? What happens between the Steiner brothers? Ditto to Nash and Hall? The meat looks incredibly juicy, but does the whole meal stand up? Let’s dig in!

Outside the arena, Goldberg arrives in a white limousine with his entourage.

At the entrance, “Mean” Gene Okerlund shills the WCW hotline. Call NOW!

POINT OF ORDER: At this point in WCW history, Bischoff named Kevin Nash as head booker. On the other hand, “Hollywood” Hogan took it personally and didn’t appear for the PPV.

Match 1: Wrath versus Glacier

Highlights:

This match took place in ring #2.
When the Auburn Hills faithful chanted “Glacier sucks,” Wrath reversed an Irish whip, but their nemesis dropkicked him.
Following a chop, Glacier sought refuge on the floor.
He returned to the apron, but Wrath sent him reeling so hard that he tasted the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Mystery Meat sliders at Green Dot Stables.
As Wrath joined him, he reversed an Irish whip sending Glacier flying into the front row.
He tossed Glacier back to ringside and back into the ring.
After he reversed a cross corner whip, Wrath clotheslined Glacier resulting in a 360°. Woohoo!
He gave Glacier a HARD cross corner whip to further injure the back.
While he reversed another Irish whip, Wrath clotheslined Glacier again for 2.
He gave Glacier another cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
Unloading a Cryonic kick, Glacier attempted an Asiatic spike otherwise known as Ice pick.
Wrath blocked it and demolished Glacier with a Meltdown.
1-2-3.
Wrath won at 8:23.

Rating: **

Summary: Mostly a showcase match for Wrath who barely allowed Glacier any offense.

Video airs featuring Bret who runs down Booker T, Luger, Benoit, and especially DDP.

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

Match 2: Konnan versus Stevie Ray (w/ Vincent)

Highlights:

This match took place in ring #1.
As he gave Konnan a cross corner whip, Stevie Ray ate boot.
Konnan connected with a somersault clothesline followed by a seated dropkick.
When Konnan hooked a seated abdominal stretch, Stevie Ray rebounded with a thrust kick.
He clotheslined Konnan and got 2.
After Stevie Ray heaved Konnan to the floor and distracted referee Billy Silverman, Vincent took liberties with Konnan before returning him to the ring. SNEAKY!
Stevie Ray further distracted Silverman so Vincent gave Konnan the business. How dastardly!
While Stevie Ray landed an elbow drop, he got another 2.
The Auburn faithful informed Vincent that he indeed “sucks,” yet Konnan countered a hip toss with a backslide for 2.
Clotheslining Konnan, Stevie Ray couldn’t get 3.
He slammed Konnan but missed a second elbow drop.
Leapfrogging Stevie Ray, Konnan unwrapped his own thrust kick.
Konnan rammed Stevie Ray face-first into the mat, but Vincent jumped onto the apron.
With Vincent on the apron, Konnan reversed an Irish whip, and Vincent obliterated Stevie Ray with the slapjack.
Konnan disposed of Vincent and pounded on Stevie Ray instead of pinning him.
Upon shoving Silverman, Konnan got disqualified at 6:54.

Rating: *

Summary: I swear if Konnan wasn’t part of nWo Wolfpack, the Auburn faithful couldn’t have cared less. This was everything you expected from these guys…and less.

After the match, Booker T steps into the ring and calls off Konnan. He helps his brother to his feet, but Stevie Ray doesn’t want any help. As Stevie Ray informs him that nWo Hollywood are his brothers now, Booker T stands in disbelief.

Match 3: Saturn & Kaz Hayashi versus the “Cat” Ernest Miller & Sonny Onoo

Highlights:

This match took place in ring #3.
When Miller slammed him, he dealt Hayashi a back elbow followed by a thrust kick.
Miller slammed Hayashi again and tagged in Onoo.
As Onoo unleashed a series of kicks, Hayashi no-sold them.
In his defense, Onoo offered some cash, but Hayashi nailed him sending the money flying.
Miller tagged in and planted Hayashi with another thrust kick.
After Saturn tagged in, he fed Miller a head-and-arm suplex.
He delivered a spinning back elbow, gave Miller a cross corner whip, but got his legs swept during his follow-through.
While Miller slammed Saturn, he tried to tag out; however, Onoo wanted NO PART of Saturn.
Reluctantly, Onoo tagged in, kicked Saturn, and tagged out. HA!
Saturn blocked a thrust kick by catching the leg and hooked a crossface.
Attempting to make the save, Miller hammered Onoo instead.
Hayashi tagged in, and he and Saturn scored with a double dropkick.
With referee Scott Dickinson distracted by Miller, Onoo blasted a prone Hayashi with kicks. Nefarious!
He tagged in and, with assistance from Miller, unloaded more kicks onto Hayashi.
Trying a spin kick, Onoo got caught, but Hayashi ate a kick to the back of the head. Clever!
Miller tagged in and got 2.
Countering a sleeper with a jawbreaker, Hayashi tagged out.
Saturn snap-suplexed Miller and tagged in Hayashi.
Since Miller distracted Dickinson some more, Onoo slapped the BEJEEZUS out of Hayashi.
Miller slammed Hayashi yet again and tagged Onoo.
Evading Onoo’s chops, Hayashi tagged out.
Miller attempted subterfuge, but Saturn sniffed it out and hit an overhead belly-to-belly suplex.
Clotheslining Miller, Saturn destroyed him with a T-bone suplex.
Hayashi confronted Onoo in the ring, but Dickinson returned him to the corner.
Due to the distraction, Miller wiped out Saturn with a roundhouse kick.
1-2-3.
Onoo and Miller won at 8:05.

Rating: **

Summary: Chicanery by the heels prevented Onoo from turning his gi a different color from white.

At the wcw.com table, “Stagger” Lee Marshall interviews Jericho who cuts a promo on Duncum.

Prior to the next match, Okerlund stops Guerrera from making his entrance while noticing the lWo t-shirt. Eddie arrives to tout Guerrera’s inclusion, but Mysterio interrupts to claim collusion. As Eddie claims sacrifice instead, Mysterio promises retribution.

Match 4 for the WCW Cruiserweight title: Juventud Guerrera (champion) versus Kidman

Highlights:

This match took place in ring #2.
As Guerrera planted him with a Rocker Dropper, Kidman reversed a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
Guerrera stymied him with a flying headscissors, but Kidman powerbombed him on a second attempt.
When he slammed Guerrera, Kidman migrated to the apron and launched a springboard leg drop for 2.
Guerrera rolled up Kidman and got 2.
After he dealt Kidman a spinebuster, Guerrera landed an elbow drop for another 2.
Kidman reversed another cross corner whip and decimated Guerrera with a lariat.
While he hoisted Guerrera atop the top turnbuckle, Kidman joined him.
Guerrera returned him to the mat, attempted a tornado DDT, but Kidman used momentum to migrate him to the apron.
Guillotining Kidman with the top rope, Guerrera mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but ate a dropkick in mid-air. Awesome!
Kidman got 2.
Tossing Guerrera to the floor, Kidman unleashed a plancha.
He rammed Guerrera face-first into the cameraman platform and mounted the top turnbuckle.
Catching Kidman, Guerrera mounted the top turnbuckle and spilled Kidman to the floor with another flying headscissors.
Back in the ring, Guerrera got 2.
He demolished Kidman with a brainbuster for another 2.
Dropkicking Kidman, Guerrera gave him a cross corner whip.
Kidman vaulted him to the apron, but Guerrera annihilated him with a springboard dropkick.
Seeing Kidman on the floor, Guerrera hammered him with a springboard tope.
He rammed Kidman face-first into the apron, returned him to the ring, and scored with a springboard leg drop.
Can Guerrera retain?
1-2-NO!
Migrating to ring #3, Guerrera launched a double springboard dropkick for another 2. Nifty!
Kidman rebounded with a dropkick, grounded Guerrera with a belly-to-back suplex, and got 2.
Giving Guerrera a cross corner whip, Kidman came up empty on his follow-through.
Guerrera ruined Kidman’s Sunday night plans with an inverted atomic drop, mounted the top turnbuckle, but got caught.
From ring #2, Kidman projected Guerrera from ring #3 into ring #2 with a flying headscissors. Incredible!
He mounted the top turnbuckle from ring #3, springboarded off the top rope of ring #2, and leveled Guerrera with a cross body block.
Do we have a new champion?
1-2-NO!
Are you fucking kidding me?
Guerrera reversed an Irish whip and backdropped Kidman over the top rope.
He hung him out to dry on the top rope of ring #1!
With Kidman perched atop the top turnbuckle in ring #1, Guerrera cat-walked from ring #2 and destroyed Kidman with a super huracanrana. Inconceivable!
Guerrera, however, only got 1.
Countering a Juvi Driver, Kidman attempted a front suplex.
Guerrera escaped and extinguished Kidman with a Juvi Driver.
Dragging Kidman to the corner, Guerrera mounted the top turnbuckle and attempted a 450°.
Kidman moved, so Guerrera landed on his feet.
Trapping Kidman with a huracanrana, Guerrera only got 2.
He tried to powerbomb Kidman, but that’s IMPOSSIBLE.
Instead, Kidman face-planted him into the mat for 2.
He cratered Guerrera with a wheelbarrow suplex and dragged him to the corner.
Mounting the top turnbuckle, Kidman got caught.
Guerrera joined Kidman atop the top turnbuckle, but so did Mysterio.
Attempting another super huracanrana, Guerrera failed because Mysterio held Kidman by the seat of his pants.
Kidman soared with a Shooting Star Press and pinned Guerrera at 15:27.
WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!

Rating: *****

Summary: Watching Nitro, I did not believe these guys could top that match. Without question, they DID! Monumental job, gentlemen!

Following the match, Mysterio briefly celebrates with Kidman until the lWo storms the ring. Eddie keeps the rest of the lWo at bay and confronts Mysterio. After Eddie demands a commitment one way or the other, Mysterio removes his lWo t-shirt. Eddie encourages him to “think,” but Mysterio tosses the shirt at him. As Eddie orders the troops after him, Mysterio hightails it backstage faster than a locomotive.

POINT OF ORDER: This was a truly rushed storyline as Mysterio had recently been recruited. Hopefully, this leads to something worthwhile.

We revisit Nitro when Nash saved Hall’s bacon after being attacked by “Hollywood” Hogan.

Match 5: Big Poppa Pump (w/ Buff Bagwell) versus the “Dog-Faced Gremlin” Rick Steiner (w/o Judy Bagwell)

Highlights:

This match took place in ring #1.
When we headed backstage, nWo Hollywood destroyed Rick four-on-one. Heinous!
WCW Security cleared the area, but Giant manhandled Rick toward the ring.
As Rick got tossed into the ring by Giant, BPP and Bagwell double-teamed him.
The nWo referee did ABSOLUTELY JACK SHIT since he’s not being “paid” by WCW.
After Rick stymied BPP with a pair of left-arm Steinerlines, he pounded Bagwell on the apron with a left.
The nWo referee took exception to Rick’s fisticuffs but got dismantled.
While BPP took Rick WAY DOWNTOWN, he distracted the nWo referee.
That enabled Bagwell to do Rick dirty. Shameful!
With Rick in the Steiner Recliner, WCW World champion Goldberg sprinted to the ring to a MONSTER reaction.
Goldberg removed him from Rick, but BPP strongly argued that he was #1.
Returning his attention to Rick, BPP got pulled off again.
He hammered Goldberg but ultimately ate a spear.
In case you were curious, the Auburn Hills faithful LOST THEIR DAMN MINDS!
Goldberg attempted to Jackhammer BPP, but the nWo referee nailed him with a chair to the back.
Following the nWo referee being on Goldberg’s back, Rick cremated Bagwell.
Goldberg disposed of the nWo referee, gorilla-pressed him, and airmailed him into ring #2.
To appreciate Goldberg’s help, Rick hugged him. Aw.

Rating: NONE

Summary: Obviously, Rick’s shoulder wasn’t ready for primetime, so they booked this “scene” not only to further the Steiner storyline in their own backyard but also to cement Goldberg as WCW’s #1 babyface. According to Meltzer, Rick had shoulder surgery two weeks ago.

Match 6: Kevin Nash versus Scott Hall (w/ nWo Hollywood)

Highlights:

This match took place in ring #2.
Following Hall’s entrance, Eric Bischoff approached the ring.
He stated “it’s survey time,” and the result was “GET HIM!”
As nWo Hollywood pounced on Hall, Nash stormed the ring to save Hall’s bacon again.
Both Hall and Nash cleared the ring, and the Auburn Hills faithful chanted “Out-siders.”
When Hall held up the Wolfpack secret handshake, Nash exited stage left.

Rating: NONE

Summary: All storyline and no match as the reformation of the Outsiders gets teased.

Match 7 for the WCW World TV title: Chris Jericho (champion w/ Ralphus) versus Bobby Duncum, Jr.

Highlights:

This match took place in ring #3.
When Jericho hog-tied him, he locked Duncum in a bow-and-arrow.
Duncum clotheslined Jericho who quickly sought refuge on the floor.
As Jericho returned to the apron, Duncum suplexed him back into the ring for 1.
Jericho countered a rear chin lock with a jawbreaker but lost a battle of big boots.
After the match segued to the floor, Duncum sent Jericho reeling over the steel railing.
Jericho grabbed a beverage from a front row patron and DOUSED Duncum with it.
While Jericho mounted the steel railing, he launched a lariat to Duncum.
He mounted the top turnbuckle and scored with a missile dropkick for 2.
With Jericho on his back, Duncum rammed him face-first into the top turnbuckle.
Duncum blasted Jericho with a shoulder breaker for 2.
Applying a cross arm breaker Duncum didn’t get a submission due to Jericho’s feet in the ropes.
Jericho reversed an Irish whip and dealt Duncum a stun gun.
Although Duncum migrated to the apron, Jericho connected with a springboard dropkick sending him to the floor.
He rammed Duncum face-first into the steps, tossed him into the ring, and displayed the Arrogant Cover for 2.
Sending Duncum back-first into the corner, Jericho unleashed a jump kick.
He gave Duncum a cross corner whip but ate a clothesline.
Upon Duncum’s earning a 2-count, Jericho rebounded with a seated dropkick.
He reversed a a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
Despite missing a clothesline, Duncum flapjacked Jericho.
He clotheslined Jericho yet again for 2.
Giving Jericho a cross corner whip, Duncum got kicked in the midsection.
Jericho mounted the second turnbuckle and hooked a sunset flip.
Countering with a standing choke slam, Duncum cradled Jericho for 2.
Jericho nailed him with a second jawbreaker and clotheslined Duncum.
Soaring with a Lionsault, Jericho got 2.
He landed a senton splash, mounted the top turnbuckle, but got caught.
Joining Jericho, Duncum superplexed him for 2. Wow!
Jericho hooked a victory roll, unlocked it, and attempted a Liontamer.
Blocking it with his legs, Duncum slammed Jericho.
He mounted the second turnbuckle and unloaded a pump splash elbow drop for 2. Innovative!
Halting a suplex attempt, Ralphus grabbed Duncum by the ankle.
Duncum grabbed Ralphus thus distracting referee Billy Silverman.
Meanwhile, Jericho grabbed the belt and CLOBBERED Duncum with it.
1-2-3.
Jericho retained at 13:22.

Rating: **½

Summary: Not a bad match per se as there was both psychology and high-flying, but the Auburn Hills faithful sought popcorn.

Match 8 (World War III):

Participants:

“Gentleman” Chris Adams, the “Crippler” Chris Benoit, Big Poppa Pump, Bobby Blaze, Booker T, Ciclope, Damien, El Dandy, Barry Darsow, Disciple, Disco Inferno, “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton, Mike Enos, Hector Garza, Giant, Glacier, Juventud Guerrera, Chavo Guerrero Jr., Eddie Guerrero, Scott Hall, Kaz Hayashi, Horace Hogan, Barry Horowitz, Prince Iaukea, Chris Jericho, Kanyon, Kenny Kaos, Kidman, Konnan, La Parka, Lenny Lane, Lizmark, Jr., Lodi, the “Total Package” Lex Luger, Tokyo Magnum, Dean Malenko, Steve ”Mongo” McMichael, the “Cat” Ernest Miller, Chip Minton, Rey Mysterio, Jr., Kevin Nash, Scott Norton, Buddy Lee Parker, Renegade, Psicosis, Scott Putski, Renegade, Riggs, Saturn, Silver King, Norman Smiley, Stevie Ray, Super Calo, Johnny Swinger, Van Hammer, Villano V, Vincent, Kendall Windham, Wrath, & Alex Wright

Rules of elimination:

Thrown out of the ring and feet touch the floor.
Pin
Submission

Once twenty men remain, all wrestlers will continue in one ring.

Highlights:

Winner will face Goldberg at Starrcade ‘98 on 12/27.
As Villano V was eliminated, so was Smiley and Super Calo.
Nash dumped Lodi out followed by Lizmark, Jr.
When Nash eliminated Putski, La Parka and Silver disposed of Magnum.
The counter stated that 50 wrestlers remained as some eliminations weren’t shown.
After Lane and Swinger’s nights abruptly ended, Kaos also hit the bricks, goofy.
Nash sent Silver King packing as he wasn’t fooled by his stocky physique.
Using a baseball slide, Hammer eliminated Enos.
The counter stood at 42 when Nash gave Hammer a cross corner whip but ate a back elbow.
While Nash reversed an Irish whip, he booted Hammer over the top rope to the floor.
Nash stood alone in ring #3.
Next, Psicosis attempted a cross body block from the top turnbuckle, but Hall caught and dumped him over the top rope with a fallaway slam.
The counter reduced to 36.
In the meantime, Hall crotched Kanyon on the top turnbuckle.
Kanyon hoisted Kidman atop the top turnbuckle, joined, but got backdropped to the floor.
Accompanying Kanyon on the floor was Hayashi.
Horace and Disciple spilled over the top rope to the floor ending their night.
With the counter at the halfway point, Giant manhandled Chavo.
Wright escaped elimination, and every member of ring #1 ganged up on Giant.
Shrugging six wrestlers away, Giant stood tall.
BPP utilized his trick knee terminating Guerrera’s Sunday night late-night plans.
At 24, Guerrera got eliminated.
Mysterio hit the floor, the counter siphoned down to 20, and the remaining wrestlers worked in ring #2 at 10:38.
On the floor, Saturn and Miller brawled and were obviously eliminated.
Chavo connected with a cross body block, but both he and Wright flew over the top rope to the floor.
Down to 16, and Eddie got sent packing.
Disco Inferno’s flame got extinguished, and Giant airmailed Kidman to the floor.
Since the Outsiders briefly teamed up to knock Giant silly, the Auburn Hills faithful woke up.
Luger rid the ring of Stevie Ray while Mongo backdropped Norton out.
Shortly after, Nash dumped Mongo out.
We’re down to 10, and suddenly Bam Bam Bigelow jumped the steel railing.
Jumping into the ring, Bigelow got manhandled and sent back to the floor.
WCW Security arrived to handle Bigelow, yet Goldberg emerged.
To the approval of the Auburn Hills faithful, Goldberg and Bigelow brawled at ringside.
Eight wrestlers remained due to BPP and Wrath’s eliminations.
Once Booker T was extricated, two Horsemen, three Wolfpack, Hall, and Giant were left.
Konnan charged Hall but fell between the ropes.
Directing traffic, Nash signaled everyone to eliminate Giant.
And they did!
Hall fed Malenko a knee lift, and Benoit got eliminated.
FINAL FOUR: Nash, Hall, Luger, and Malenko.
Immediately, Hall launched Malenko over the top rope.
Luger stymied both Nash and Hall with running forearm smashes.
Although Luger tried to either dump Hall or hook a Torture Rack, Nash interrupted sending both to the floor.
Nash won at 12:00.

Rating: NONE

Summary: Hmmm…the NEW bookerman won.

Afterward, Luger and Nash embrace, and Nash says: “Guess I’m next” to the camera.

Match 8 for the WCW US title: Diamond Dallas Page (champion) versus Bret “Hitman” Hart

Highlights:

This match took place in ring #2, and Buffer both rambled and rumbled.
During his elongated entrance, DDP stood atop both the broadcast stage as well as the wcw.com table.
DDP launched a plancha onto Bret on the floor to begin the match.
As he sent Bret oblique-first into the steel railing, DDP rammed him oblique-first into another steel railing.
He caromed Bret off the steps of ring #3 and made him taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Junction Crunch at the Grand Trunk Pub.
When they entered ring #3, they brawled like there’s no tomorrow.
Thanks, Apollo.
DDP bounced Bret face-first off both the apron and the steel railing. Waiter, could you give the guy in pink the Mandatory spicy crispy chicken?
After Bret guillotined him with the top rope, he planted DDP with a DDT for 2.
DDP countered a suplex attempt with an inside cradle for 2.
While he blocked a hip toss, DDP connected with a swinging neckbreaker for another 2.
Bret escaped a Diamond Cutter attempt and fled to the floor.
Sliding down to the floor himself, DDP succumbed to getting his face bounced off the steps.
Back in the ring, Bret fed him an inverted atomic drop and followed with a lariat.
He delivered a side-Russian leg sweep and got 2.
Attempting a tombstone, Bret got reversed and planted for 2.
Bret rebounded with a backbreaker and landed a leg drop for 2.
Reversing a cross corner whip, DDP hooked a belly-to-belly suplex and got 2.
He floored Bret with a discus clothesline and followed with a pancake for another 2.
Spilling over the top rope to the floor, Bret climbed back into the ring and located a foreign object.
DDP climbed the ropes and steamrolled Bret for 2.
Reversing an Irish whip, DDP escaped a sunset flip attempt and secured a Sharpshooter.
Bret grabbed the bottom rope, so DDP had to release the hold.
To stop DDP from choking him, Bret went WAY DOWNTOWN with a field goal.
He rammed DDP’s left knee against the ring post and trapped him in a ring post figure-four leg lock.
Upon releasing it, Bret hooked a standard figure-four leg lock in the center of the ring.
Will DDP submit?
Bret added leverage by grabbing the second rope until referee Charles Robinson caught him.
Blocking more punishment to his knee, DDP booted Bret over the top rope to the floor.
Reversing another Irish whip, DDP sent Bret into the steps.
He crotched Bret on the steel railing and trapped Bret in his own ring post figure-four leg lock.
Grabbing a steel chair, DDP tried to end Bret’s career, but Robinson took it away.
Bret shoved DDP who, along with the chair, crushed Robinson.
Regaining the foreign object from Robinson, Bret laid in wait.
The nWo referee emerged and prevented DDP from using the chair.
Clocking DDP with the foreign object, Bret snared DDP in his own Sharpshooter.
The nWo referee called for the bell, and Bret won at 18:16.
WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!
No, wait, referee Mickey Jay stepped into the ring and argued with Bret.
DDP silenced Bret with a Diamond Cutter.
1-2-3.
DDP retained at 18:57.

Rating: ***

Summary: Not the most exciting of Bret’s matches, and the Auburn Hills faithful wasn’t thrilled by it. Nevertheless, each wrestler used a ton of psychology to get the match over before the final shenanigans sealed the deal.

Promo airs for Starrcade ’98. It will be LIVE on PPV on 12/27. Order NOW!

Conclusion: There’s a war happening on Monday nights, right? And WCW’s trying to win that war?

The WWF puts together a stellar PPV in Survivor Series ’98, and THIS is WCW’s response?

Let’s see…

Wrath wins again. OK, I’ll let that one slide.
Konnan versus Stevie Ray is WCW Saturday Night fodder and doesn’t belong on PPV.
Saturn/Hayashi versus Miller/Onoo was cute. A heel victory needs to happen but not at Saturn’s expense.
Kidman/Guerrera is everything and a bag of chips. It’s the ONLY reason to watch this show.
For the umpteenth month in a row, we can’t get Scott versus Rick because either one or both is not cleared to wrestle. Instead, we get an angle to pop the crowd with Goldberg.
Speaking of Goldberg, WHY DOESN’T HE WRESTLE ON THIS SHOW?
The ending to Hall versus Nash at Halloween Havoc ’98 was lackluster, so Nash decided to have an angle where Hall gets punted from nWo Hollywood but still doesn’t trust him.
I’ll give WCW credit for the body counter during the battle royal. Seeing Nash toss out guys like it’s 1994 is redundant. We get it, bookerman. Oh, and you won too?
For the first half of the main event, I thought Bret was dogging it. Then the psychology came into play, and the “Hitman” was working. The finish was convoluted, but keeping the belt on DDP made sense.

Overall, this is a one-match show. WCW neither deserves Kidman nor Guerrera, but they still have star power. You’d better use it, WCW, or the rats will start fleeing the ship.

By the way, while I like Detroit, the fans for this show were HORRIBLE. They barely reacted to anything non-Goldberg-related. I understand that some of the show wasn’t what they wanted, but at least they got some matches with finishes. I give Kidman and Guerrera all the credit they deserve for waking up that crowd during their match. Check it out and avoid the rest.

Welcome to the Nash era, folks, despite what the man says these days. THIS is where his bookerman reign begins. Let’s hope he doesn’t stink up the joint.

Buyrate: 0.63

Stay tuned for WCW Monday Nitro 11-23-98!

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