Live from Houston, TX
Airdate: December 7, 1998
Attendance: 32,076 (31,460 paid, sold out)
Hosted by Tony Schiavone, “Iron” Mike Tenay, Larry Zbyszko, & Bobby “The Brain” Heenan
Emanating from the Astrodome, will Nitro blast off or space out? What’ll be the HUGE main event? Will BPP and Hall go one-on-one? What’s Disco’s big announcement? Can Booker T recapture the World TV title? With an enormous crowd on hand, I expect WCW to go full throttle!
Tenay announces that Goldberg will face Bigelow TONIGHT!
Moments before the show started, “Wild Cat” Willie was entertaining the Houston faithful when BPP sent him to the slaughterhouse.
POINT OF ORDER: Gary Hedrick portrayed the character of “Wild Cat” Willie. Despite this being the final appearance of the character, Hedrick remained with WCW as a consultant for the Nitro Girls dance troupe.
In the ring, the Nitro Girls dance in shiny tops.
We revisit last week when the former Outsiders decimated nWo Hollywood, so Nash powerbombed the nWo referee. Next, we revisit Thunder when the nWo referee showed bias, yet BPP locked Hall in the Steiner Recliner.
BPP with the nWo referee heads to the ring. As he takes the microphone, BPP gets booed out of the Astrodome. He rattles off his catchphrase and asks the Houston faithful to pay homage to the recently retired “Hollywood” Hogan. Upon giving Hogan some kudos, BPP “can fill his shoes.” He cuts a promo on Hall while the Houston faithful chants “Gold-berg.” Ultimately, he challenges Hall to a match TONIGHT.
Opening montage.
Mike Gray from somewhere in Tennessee won a Nitro Party Pack. His video follows.
Nitro Girls Part Deaux from the entrance.
Match 1: Diamond Dallas Page versus Kendall Windham
Highlights:
Finally…a match!
Kendall dealt DDP a knee to the midsection and slammed him. When DDP unloaded a swinging neckbreaker, Kendall’s trick knee acted up. Kendall floored him with a lariat, but DDP responded with a discus clothesline. As he gave Kendall a cross corner whip, DDP decimated him with a Diamond Cutter. 1-2-3. DDP won at 2:00.
Rating: *
Summary: Showcase match for DDP.
Snickers sponsors the replay.
Video airs featuring Tigress of the Nitro Girls.
We revisit last week for the World title contract signing that was interrupted by Bigelow.
Match 2: Norman Smiley versus Prince Iaukea
Highlights:
Smiley whipped Iaukea into the corner and connected with a swinging slam. As he dealt Iaukea a delayed double underhook slam, Smiley got 2. He gave Iaukea a cross corner whip but ate a back elbow on his follow-through. When Iaukea leaped to the top turnbuckle, he launched a modified sunset flip and got 2.
He reversed an Irish whip and unloaded an enziguri. After he backdropped Smiley, Iaukea delivered a Samoan drop. He mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a flying splash for 2. While Smiley escaped a slam, he locked a crossface chickenwing. Iaukea conceded; thus, Smiley won at 2:55.
Rating: **
Summary: Iaukea got to show his wares, but Smiley outwrestled him.
At the entrance, “Mean” Gene Okerlund forces us to revisit an interview with Eddie Guerrero from Thunder.
When Eddie finds out that Mysterio will face Juventud Guerrera during this week’s episode, he LOSES HIS DAMN MIND! Nevertheless, Okerlund interviews Eddie who berates Mysterio for being selfish. He promises discipline for Mysterio in the form of Silver King. I prefer Burger King myself.
Match 3: Rey Mysterio, Jr. versus Silver King
Highlights:
For those unaware, Mysterio wore a 6XL t-shirt to the ring. He appeared ready for a slumber party rather than a match.
On this past WCW Saturday Night, Silver King joined the lWo yet, to begin tonight’s match, clotheslined the BEEEZUS out of Mysterio but ate an elevated dropkick. When Silver King reversed an Irish whip, he leapfrogged Mysterio. They both spun out in the ropes, yet Mysterio used momentum to send Silver King to the floor. After they both migrated to the apron, Mysterio took Silver King down to the floor with a flying headscissors. Silver King dealt him a helicopter slam and got 2. While Silver King gave him a cross corner whip, he flattened Mysterio with a spinebuster for another 2.
He gave Mysterio another cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through. Hoisting Mysterio atop the top turnbuckle, Silver King joined him but got shoved down to the mat. Mysterio botched a flying headscissors, so Silver King whipped him into the corner.
Charging, Silver King got vaulted over the top rope to the floor. Mysterio launched an incredible somersault plancha, tossed Silver King back in, but ate Snake Eyes. From the second turnbuckle, Mysterio bulldogged Silver King. 1-2-3. Mysterio won at 3:49.
Rating: **
Summary: The Houston faithful didn’t give the newest member of lWo a chance, but Mysterio’s high-flying wowed them.
Goldberg enters the Astrodome with Terry Taylor and security in tow. As Kevin Nash interrupts, Taylor informs him that Goldberg “has a match with Bigelow.” Nash and Goldberg exchange words before the latter gets escorted away.
HOUR #2!
Match 4: Wrath versus Renegade
Highlights:
Wrath gave Renegade a cross corner whip followed by a corner clothesline. As he dealt Renegade a sidewalk slam, Wrath got 2. Wrath tossed him to the floor, but Renegade landed on his feet. When Renegade tried to pummel him in the corner, Wrath reversed a cross corner whip, fed him a sternum-first bump, and planted him with a belly-to-back suplex.
Wrath landed a series of elbow drops and hammered Renegade with forearm smashes. Back in the ring, Renegade blocked a back drop attempt and clotheslined Wrath. Although Wrath no-sold it, Renegade gave him a cross corner whip but couldn’t deliver a handspring elbow properly. Oops. Wrath clobbered him from behind, gave him another cross corner whip, and clotheslined him. After he decimated Renegade with a Meltdown to yet another great pop, Wrath won at 3:29.
Rating: *
Summary: Showcase match for Wrath.
POINT OF ORDER: This was Renegade’s final match in WCW. You can see the rust and lack of crispness in his style, so WCW released him from this contract. Unfortunately, Rick Wilson committed suicide on February 23, 1999. RIP
Shown amongst the Houston faithful: Roger Clemens
Prior to the next match, Disco brings a microphone with him to speak at the entrance. He has a “blockbuster announcement” and introduces Konnan. What’s his “blockbuster announcement”? Konnan doesn’t know and threatens bodily harm to Disco, so Disco declares that he’s “in the Wolfpack now.”
Match 5: Stevie Ray & Horace (w/o Vincent) versus Disco Inferno & Chavo Guerrero, Jr. (w/ Pepe)
Highlights:
Horace gave Chavo a cross corner whip and followed with a corner clothesline. When he hip-tossed Chavo across the ring, Horace ate a dropkick. Chavo dealt him a springboard bulldog, and tags were exchanged on both sides. As Disco unloaded a swinging neckbreaker, he mounted the second turnbuckle and uncorked a flying double axe handle for 2.
Stevie Ray reversed a cross corner whip and blasted Disco with a corner clothesline. After Stevie Ray sent him to the floor, Disco got annihilated by Horace’s brandishing his weightlifting belt. SNEAKY! Horace tagged in and split Disco in two with a backbreaker. While Horace missed a splash, Chavo tagged in and cleaned house. Horace reversed a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
Mounting the second turnbuckle, Chavo planted Horace with a tornado DDT. Do we have an upset? 1-2-NO! Stevie Ray made the save. With all four wrestlers in the ring, referee Billy Silverman restrained Chavo. That enabled nWo Hollywood to demolish Disco with a spike piledriver. 1-2-3. Stevie Ray and Horace won at 4:28.
Rating: *
Summary: The tornado DDT looked sharp, and Chavo could have won had it been a singles match.
Nash approaches the ring wearing street clothes and puts Goldberg in his place. Upon dictating that Goldberg’s only match is against him, he warns both Goldberg and Bigelow about his involvement. Tonight, it’s a THREE-WAY DANCE!
At the entrance, the Nitro Girls dance in black and white.
As the bell rings for the next match, Ernest Miller and Sonny Onoo call Saturn out from the entrance. While Onoo wears a neck brace, Miller cuts a promo on Saturn.
Match 6: Saturn versus Glacier
Highlights:
Since Saturn fell prey to Miller’s distraction, Glacier ambushed him. He whipped Saturn into the corner and bamboozled him with a thrust kick. As he dealt Saturn a tilt-a-whirl slam, Glacier succumbed to a sunset flip that resulted in a 2-count. He clotheslined Saturn, slammed him, and attempted a somersault leg drop albeit awfully.
When Glacier reversed a cross corner whip, he came up empty on his follow-through. Saturn swept the legs, fed Glacier an inverted atomic drop, and followed with a springboard cross body block for 2. After he slammed Glacier, Saturn mounted the top turnbuckle and planted him with a flying elbow drop for another 2.
Miller caught Saturn by the leg enabling Glacier to take control. While Onoo continued to distract referee Scott Dickinson, Miller jumped into the ring but inadvertently knocked Glacier’s head off with a crescent kick. Saturn disposed of Miller, but Dickinson caught him. As a result, Glacier won by DQ at 3:42.
Rating: ½*
Summary: Poor Saturn. Stuck with having to try to elevate these guys.
After the match, Saturn decimates Glacier with a head-and-arm suplex followed by a clothesline. He objects to Dickinson’s decision and obliterates him with a Death Valley Driver. GET OUT THE SPATULA!
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Match 7: The “Total Package” Lex Luger versus Emery Hale
Highlights:
What the Hale was this match doing in hour #2? Luger slammed Hale and clotheslined him over the top rope to the floor. When Hale dragged him to the floor, he made Luger taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Big Dipper at the Flying Saucer.
Back in the ring, Hale connected with a lariat and got 2. He gave Luger a cross corner whip followed by a backbreaker. As he mounted the second turnbuckle, Hale scored with a guillotine leg drop for another 2.
He slammed Luger, mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but there wasn’t any water in the pool. After Luger hit a pair of clotheslines, he hammered Hale with a flying forearm. He hooked a Torture Rack, and Hale submitted. Hence, Luger won at 4:07.
Rating: ½*
Summary: Hale made a good showing for himself before he made that fatal error.
Get the WCW Nitro video game for the PC!
Faux video shilling the WCW Monday Night Jericho t-shirt airs. Get yours today!
Video airs featuring Goldberg versus Nash.
Prior to the next match, Jericho grabs the microphone and runs down Duncum.
Match 8: Chris Jericho (w/ Ralphus) versus Bobby Duncum, Jr.
Highlights:
The Houston faithful informed Jericho that he indeed “sucks,” and Duncum slammed their nemesis. As Jericho blocked a hip toss, Duncum clotheslined him. Jericho escaped a powerslam attempt and hooked a belly-to-back suplex. When he slammed Duncum, Jericho mounted the top turnbuckle. Duncum caught and vaulted Jericho all the way down to the floor.
After Jericho returned to his feet, Duncum flattened him with a plancha. Much to the delight of his home state faithful, Duncum made Jericho taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Marvin Zindler burger at the Rodeo Goat. Duncum grabbed a standing choke, but Jericho countered with a guillotine across the top rope.
While he mounted the top turnbuckle, Jericho connected with a missile dropkick. He displayed the Arrogant Cover but barely got 1. Reversing an Irish whip, Duncum dealt Jericho a big boot. He bulldogged Jericho and got 2. Giving Jericho a cross corner whip, Duncum followed with a corner clothesline.
He soared with a pump splash elbow drop but only got another 2. Flapjacking Jericho, Duncum slammed him again. He mounted the top turnbuckle, but Jericho caught and crotched him. Joining Duncum, Jericho delivered a top rope superplex for 2. Amazing! Duncum rebounded with a knee to the midsection and attempted a powerbomb. Escaping, Jericho pinned Duncum with his feet on the top rope. Jericho won at 5:12.
Rating: ***
Summary: Duncum did everything but put the Houston faithful behind him. Solid workrate and high-flying make this a good midcard match.
Promo airs for Starrcade ’98. It will be LIVE on PPV on 12/27. Order NOW!
HOUR #3!
Match 9: Giant versus Scott Putski
Highlights:
Putski avoided him once but not twice. When Giant chokeslammed him, he pinned Putski at 0:29.
Rating: DUD
Summary: Showcase match for Giant.
Following the match, Giant grabs the microphone, runs down DDP, and issues a challenge for a match at the PPV.
TV Rating: 4.3
Prior to the next match, Kanyon tries to coerce Raven to appear for their match against the Horsemen, but Raven’s reluctant. Kanyon namedrops Saturn, DDP, and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper as prior mentors for Raven. He says they’re not here, but he is. As Kanyon emerges, he brings a microphone. He refers to Raven as a “knucklehead” but doesn’t “care.” Instead of a repeat of last Thursday, he’s “not gonna wrestle.” He runs down Arn which is NEVER a good idea.
When Arn gets in his path, Kanyon shoves him. Arn pulls out a crowbar which prompts Kanyon to head into the ring. Of course, now he’s at the mercy of the Horsemen.
Match 10: The “Crippler” Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko (w/ Arn Anderson) versus Raven & Kanyon
Highlights:
Malenko annihilated Kanyon with a spinning heel kick, and Benoit almost peeled some skin with a chop. As Kanyon encountered a crowbar-wielding Arn, he hightailed it back to the locker room. No match, but Kanyon will face either Benoit or Malenko on Thunder.
Rating: NONE
Video airs featuring “Nature Boy” Ric Flair and Eric Bischoff.
TV Rating: 4.3
In the ring, Okerlund interviews Flair alongside the Horsemen. In hilarious fashion, Flair advises Bischoff to “get off your girlfriend, get off your treadmill.” He states that Bischoff “hates history,” namedrops Paul Boesch, Terry and Dory Funk, the Briscos, Harley Race, Dick Murdoch, “Dirty” Dusty Rhodes, Jose Lothario, and refers to Bischoff as a “jackoff.” He declares that their PPV match will be Bischoff’s “funeral.” Extremely passionate promo.
TV Rating: 3.9
Prior to the next match, Konnan recites his catchphrases.
Match 11 for the WCW World TV title: Konnan (champion) versus Booker T
Highlights:
Booker T reversed an Irish whip, leapfrogged Konnan, and fed him a leg lariat. When he scored with a flying forearm, Booker T got 2. He dealt Konnan a heel kick for another 2. As Konnan thwarted a back drop attempt, he connected with a somersault clothesline. He followed with a seated dropkick that sent Booker T reeling to the floor.
After Konnan joined him, he sent Booker T back-first into the steel railing. Booker T reversed another Irish whip but ate a bulldog for 2. While Booker T rebounded with an axe kick, Stevie Ray moseyed his way toward the ring. Konnan slammed Booker T but missed an elbow drop. Missing an elbow drop himself, Booker T recovered with a spinaroonie.
He flattened Konnan with a Harlem side kick and mounted the top turnbuckle. Before Booker T could fly, Stevie Ray jumped into the ring and waffled Konnan with his slapjack. Konnan retained via DQ at 5:09.
Rating: **
Summary: Horrible finish to what could have been a great match.
Afterward, a frustrated Booker T prevents Stevie Ray from exiting the ring. Stevie Ray encourages his younger brother to hit him, but Booker T relents. In the end, Stevie Ray spurs him on to join nWo Hollywood.
TV Rating: 3.6
Prior to the next match, Hall grabs the microphone and calls out BPP.
Match 12: Big Poppa Pump versus Scott Hall
Highlights:
If you recall, WCW referees wouldn’t call a BPP match due to workplace safety. Earlier tonight, Konnan asked trainer Danny Young to tape up the nWo referee. As BPP made his entrance, the nWo referee was nowhere to be seen. BPP got in Hall’s face, accused him of the mischief behind his missing referee, and called him a “piece of shit” on live TV. Oops.
Suddenly, the nWo referee emerged bound in tape. HA! Referee Mickey Jay caught up to him and shoved him down. When Hall blocked a hip toss, he chokeslammed BPP for 2. He fed BPP a fallaway slam and got another 2. After BPP responded with a clothesline, he got in Jay’s face. Hall rolled up BPP but couldn’t get 3.
While nWo Hollywood stormed the ring, they ambushed Hall. BPP chased after Jay before returning to manhandle Hall. Abruptly, nWo Wolfpack arrived to save Hall’s bacon but was ultimately outnumbered. Giant entered the ring to increase nWo Hollywood’s odds, and BPP applied a Steiner Recliner to Hall. Before Giant could chokeslam Luger, DDP infiltrated the ring and creamed him with a steel chair.
Rating: NONE
Summary: C’mon, WCW, you got 30,000 folks here. Give ‘em a good match, will ya?
TV Rating: 3.7
In the aisle, the Nitro Girls dance in black.
In the ring, Okerlund interviews Bret who puts his arm around him much to Okerlund’s dismay. HA! Bret refers to DDP as a “coward” and rattles off his catchphrase. Upon calling his cat Smokey his biggest fan, Bret cuts a promo on DDP.
Promo airs for Starrcade ’98. It will be LIVE on PPV on 12/27. Order NOW!
Match 13 (non-title, three-way dance): WCW World champion Goldberg versus Bam Bam Bigelow versus Kevin Nash
Highlights:
OK, the table is set. I’m ready.
Buffer rumbled and rambled. Before Goldberg could make his entrance, Nash invaded the ring. Backstage, Goldberg hurried to the ring and high-fived Clemens along the way. When Nash unloaded a big boot to Bigelow, Goldberg finally entered the ring. Bigelow and Nash pummeled Goldberg until WCW Security arrived to end this farce of a main event.
Rating: NONE
Summary: WTF, WCW? 30,000 fans in the stands, and you can’t give them along with the TV audience a worthwhile main event? You even made it a 3-way dance so that the PPV main event isn’t disrupted.
Next, the combination of WCW Security and Houston’s finest can’t control all three wrestlers as the show leaves the air.
Conclusion: The matches during the third hour were a disgrace. Three non-finishes with the main event not even transpiring. While I understood Booker T’s on the rise and couldn’t be pinned in his hometown, there must have been a better way to book his match. At the very least, the comeuppance given to the nWo referee during the Hall-BPP crap was hysterical.
As far as good moments go, Flair’s rage against Bischoff certainly made me want to see him kick his ass. Also, Jericho and Duncum put together a solid match; however, Duncum’s not over. For a three-hour show, that’s not enough to keep wrestling fans from changing the channel.
What’s on RAW is WAR?
Final TV Rating: 4.2
Stay tuned for RAW Is WAR 12-07-98!
Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at rsg@rockstargary.com and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202).