Live from Tampa, FL
Airdate: December 14, 1998
Attendance: 13,187 (10,464 paid, sold out)
Hosted by Tony Schiavone, “Iron” Mike Tenay, Larry Zbyszko, & Bobby “The Brain” Heenan
Who will win the triangle match in the main event? What happens to Flair? What chaos occurs between DDP and Giant? Will Kidman retain the Cruiserweight title? What could possibly be on Jericho’s mind this week? What’s the latest with Booker T? Raven? Lots to unbuckle here, so get settled and enjoy some WCW!
To open the show, the Nitro Girls dance in the ring wearing red and black.
Video airs featuring the saga between DDP and Giant.
Prior to the opening match, Raven grabs the microphone and offers yet another soliloquy. Kanyon emerges through the entrance with his own microphone and enters the ring. As he ejects Putski, Kanyon questions Raven’s “miserable childhood.” He declares that Raven attended “an Ivy league school and…has a degree in pre-med.” Furthermore, he states that Raven “had a $3.2 million trust fund” and describes his upbringing as “a rich, spoiled kid in the paradise known as Palm Beach, Florida.” Let’s hope he didn’t have friends named Jeffery or Donald.
Nevertheless, according to Kanyon, Raven’s parents “bought him a Mercedes,” yet Raven claims “my mother never loved me…” Kanyon continues by telling him that he’s “got it too easy.” When Raven sulks on his way backstage, Kanyon gives him what-for.
Match 1: Raven versus Scott Putski
Highlights:
No match.
Rating: NONE
Opening montage.
REAL Match 1: Eddie Guerrero (w/ Art Flores) versus Villano V
Highlights:
V evaded a dropkick, leapfrogged Eddie, and unleashed a monkey flip. When he split Eddie in two with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, V dropkicked him out of the ring. Although Flores tried to protect Eddie, V uncorked a tope suicida sending Eddie back-first into the steel railing. Eddie escaped a suplex back into the ring and dealt V a belly-to-back suplex.
As he unfurled a spinning back elbow, Eddie planted V with a brainbuster. The Tampa faithful informed Eddie that he indeed “sucks,” so he showed them where to kiss him. Cute. After Eddie fed him a ten-punch count-along, he slammed V, migrated to the apron, and launched a springboard senton splash.
He hooked a seated abdominal stretch and locked a leg bar with a bridge, Nifty! While V reversed a cross corner whip, he destroyed Eddie with a sweet powerslam for 2. He flapjacked and trapped Eddie in la Tapatia. Impressive! Mounting the second turnbuckle, V got blindsided by Flores as Eddie distracted referee Mickey Jay. SNEAKY!
Eddie joined and stymied V with a top rope superplex, mounted the adjacent top turnbuckle, and flattened him with a frog splash. 1-2-NO! Eddie stood up to prevent further counting, and the bell rang. WTF? As a result, Eddie won at 6:18.
Rating: ***
Summary: On paper, this appeared to be a squash match; however, Eddie allowed V to showcase some offense before putting him down on the mat for what would have been the proverbial pin.
After the match, the lWo hits the ring, and Eddie offers a spot to V. Enthusiastically, V accepts while Eddie calls out to Bischoff.
At the broadcast location, the Nitro Girls dance while Schiavone shills the Nitro Party contest. Send in your tapes as they must be postmarked by TOMORROW. This week’s video comes from Simpsonville, SC.
Match 2: Wrath versus Al Green
Highlights:
Wrath gave Green a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through. As he reversed an Irish whip, Wrath fed Green a knee to the midsection. He obliterated Green with a bicycle kick, and the match segued to the floor. When Wrath reversed an Irish whip, he sent Green back-first into the steel railing.
Back in the ring, Wrath mounted the top turnbuckle and uncorked a flying clothesline for 2. He gave Green a cross corner whip and followed with a back elbow. After he landed a series of elbow drops, Wrath got another 2. He gave Green another cross corner whip and shoulder-blocked him. While he planted Green with a Meltdown, Wrath won at 3:45.
Rating: *½
Summary: Showcase match for Wrath.
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In the ring, “Mean” Gene Okerlund interviews Eric Bischoff who’s “looking to the future” whereas Flair is “history.” He also claims to be a “dangerous man.” While Flair sprints to the ring, Bischoff hightails it from the ring. Flair chases after Bischoff as they head backstage. Upon finishing his chase, Flair brings a pair of signs to the ring.
He lands an elbow drop followed by a knee drop to the ring to demonstrate what will happen to Bischoff. Animated, Flair cuts a promo on Bischoff while name-dropping Eddie Graham, Dusty Rhodes, the Briscos, Funks, and Kevin Sullivan. He calls Bischoff a “worthless scumbag” and performs a Flair flip. As he finishes his promo, Flair collapses in the corner.
Flair writhes in pain, and Arn Anderson rushes to the ring. As David Crockett and Rhodes arrive, they check on Flair. He’s placed on a backboard by the medical team and onto a gurney. To close out the segment, they wheel Flair to an awaiting ambulance backstage.
Meanwhile, Bigelow sneaks into the arena, and Hall thinks it’s funny. Bigelow hammers Hall before ramming him into a vending machine. After he beats up Hall six ways to Sunday, WCW Security arrives to break it up. Nash intervenes, and he and Bigelow exchange words. As Goldberg joins the party, chaos can barely be contained. A triangle match is declared by Terry Taylor, but will it happen? Let’s hope so, as they unfathomably screwed over 31,000 fans in the Astrodome last week.
TV Rating: 5.9
HOUR #2!
In the ring, Okerlund interviews Kidman who calls out Mysterio to join him for the interview. He wants another match against Mysterio who graciously accepts. But will it be better than the DX parody?
Match 3 for the WCW Cruiserweight title: Kidman (champion) versus Rey Mysterio, Jr.
Highlights:
Mysterio gave him a cross corner whip, but Kidman floated over and tossed him to the apron. When Kidman mounted the top turnbuckle, Mysterio crotched him. Mysterio joined him atop the top turnbuckle, but Kidman countered a super huracanrana into a powerbomb for 2. As Mysterio escaped, he discombobulated Kidman with a flying headscissors to the floor. He followed with a baseball slide, leaped from the apron, and caught Kidman with a cross body block.
After both wrestlers spilled at the feet of Wade Boggs into the f ront row, Mysterio threw Kidman back into the ring. Mysterio attempted a springboard maneuver, yet Kidman caught him in mid-air with a dropkick for 2. Spectacular! While Kidman gave him a cross corner whip, Mysterio leaped to the second turnbuckle and attempted a moonsault.Kidman caught him, but Mysterio escaped.
Practically decapitating Mysterio with a lariat, Kidman got 2. He gave Mysterio another cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through. Hoisting Kidman atop the top turnbuckle, Mysterio joined and bulldogged him for 2. He placed Kidman in the corner and connected with a Bronco buster.
With Kidman prone on the mat, Mysterio mounted the top turnbuckle and launched a split-legged moonsault for another 2. According to Schiavone via trainer Danny Young, Flair was suffering from “shortness of breath and mild chest pains.” That does NOT sound good. Mysterio slammed Kidman, mounted the top turnbuckle, but missed a flying senton splash.
Powerslamming Mysterio, Kidman delivered a flying splash for 2. Mysterio performed a spinout in the ropes, but Kidman wasn’t impressed, so he dropkicked him to the floor. Demolishing Mysterio with a plancha, Kidman returned him to the ring before flattening him with a springboard leg drop for another 2.
He gave Mysterio yet another cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through. Charging Kidman, Mysterio countered a slam attempt into a cradle for 2. He scored with a victory roll, but the lWo infiltrated the ring to ruin the match. Sigh. As a result, Kidman won by DQ at 7:16.
Rating: ***
Summary: Three key factors truly harmed this match: First, the Flair segment ahead of it took any excitement out of the Tampa faithful. Second, neither wrestler truly utilized in-ring charisma to grab their attention. Third, of course, is the obvious cop-out finish with lWo interference.
Following the match, Kidman and Mysterio reverse stereo cross corner whips ramming two lWo members together. A double dropkick sends the lWo reeling which doesn’t make them look good whatsoever. Nevertheless, Kidman and Mysterio hit stereo tope con hilos atop the lWo to pop the Tampa faithful. Two more lWo members arrive, but Mysterio slithers away and stuffs La Parka. Psicosis tries a powerbomb, but YOU CAN’T POWERBOMB KIDMAN!
Kidman exits, but the remainder of the lWo shuffles into the ring to pummel Mysterio. While Eddie smirks chilling in the corner, Kidman returns to fight only to fall prey to the numbers game.
TV Rating: 3.7
Replay of the Bigelow-Nash-Goldberg fiasco airs.
Chris Jericho and Ralphus approach the ring, and Jericho brings a whiteboard with him. When he compares Konnan to the song “Rico Suave,” Jericho summons him to the ring. “Konnan” arrives while carrying a shovel, and Jericho refers to him as “Exhibit A.” As Jericho claims Konnan nailed him with “Exhibit B”—brass knux, he also claims that Konnan used “Exhibit C” a.k.a. steel chain to blast Jericho in the temple.
Just when Jericho claims to fight back, he notes that Konnan utilized “Exhibit D”—steel shovel. Jericho ultimately arrives at “Exhibit E”—the World TV title belt—and Konnan rammed him with it and stole his title. To close out the segment, he wants a rematch at the PPV and beats up “Konnan” for good measure.
TV Rating: 4.2
At the entrance, the Nitro Girls dance with boas.
Match 4: Barry Windham versus Emery Hale
Highlights:
Why is this match not happening in the first hour? For those curious, Windham wrestled in denim instead of trunks. Hale no-sold Windham’s chops, gave him a cross corner whip, but came up empty on his follow-through. As Windham dealt him a belly-to-back suplex, he followed with a leg drop. The match segued to the floor, and Windham slammed Hale. Back in the ring, he backdropped Hale.
Speaking of Hale, he reversed a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through. Windham bulldogged Hale, hoisted him atop the top turnbuckle, joined, and hooked a superplex with a floatover. 1-2-3. Windham won at 2:32.
Rating: *
Summary: Showcase match for Windham.
Match 5: Saturn versus Norman Smiley
Highlights:
Saturn hooked an inside cradle and got 2. When Smiley delivered a Northern Lights suplex, he got 2. Saturn rolled up Smiley and got 2. As Smiley responded with a clothesline, he performed the Big Wiggle.
Saturn snapped, but Smiley reversed a cross corner whip. After Saturn ducked a clothesline attempt, he fed Smiley a release German suplex.
Smiley rebounded with a swinging slam, but Ernest Miller and Sonny Onoo approached ringside. While Onoo and Miller jumped onto the apron, Saturn blasted both villains. Saturn nailed him with a back elbow, yet Smiley inadvertently knocked down referee Charles Robinson. Sneaking into the ring, Miller laid out Saturn with a crescent kick. How dastardly! Referee Scott Dickinson replaced Robinson and uncoiled a fast count. As a result, Smiley won at 3:56.
Rating: **
Summary: This had the makings of a great match until the storyline finish kicked in.
1-800-COLLECT sponsors the replay.
In the ring, Okerlund interviews Bret who touts his US title reign and calls out DDP. While DDP emerges, Giant ambushes him from behind with a steel chair. Nefarious! Bret plays coy, yet Giant destroys the set. Next, Giant chokeslams DDP behind the stage, and DDP falls through it.
HOUR #3!
To begin the final hour, Curt Hennig’s best friend Wade Boggs is shown sitting in the front row.
Prior to the next match, we visit the Gorilla position where Konnan dismisses Disco Inferno. He makes his entrance alongside Osmani Estrada of the Florida Marlins and Chidi Ahanoutu of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Upon entering the ring, Konnan recites his catchphrases.
Match 6 for the WCW World TV title: Konnan (champion) versus Stevie Ray (w/ Booker T)
Highlights:
Stevie Ray ambushed Konnan at the onset, gave Konnan a cross corner whip, but came up empty on his follow-through. As Konnan dealt him a ten-punch count-along, he made Stevie Ray an offer he couldn’t refuse.
He unloaded a somersault clothesline followed by a seated dropkick. When Stevie Ray rebounded with a slam, he mounted the second turnbuckle. Konnan stood up, so Stevie Ray dismounted and laid him out with a forearm smash. After Konnan reversed an Irish whip, he leapfrogged Stevie Ray.
Speaking of Stevie Ray, he blocked a back kick and fed him a face crusher. Booker T jumped onto the apron to advise his brother to pin Konnan. While Stevie Ray produced his slapjack, Booker T warned him not to use it. Konnan rammed Stevie Ray face-first into the mat and pinned him. As a result, Konnan retained at 3:05.
Rating: *
Summary: A clean victory by Konnan? Who’da thunk it?
TV Rating: 4.1
Shown in a skybox is the owner of the New York Yankees—George Steinbrenner–along with Tampa Bay Buccaneer Warren Sapp. Somewhere in North Jersey, some Jets fans scream uncontrollably.
Next, Bischoff reemerges and heads to the ring. In a somber tone, he mentions that Flair suffered a “mild heart attack.” He apologizes to friends and family of Flair and requests forgiveness. Due to what appears to be a genuine announcement, the Tampa faithful applaud his maturity and contrition.
POINT OF ORDER: I hate to ruin what resembled a heartfelt apology, but this was a complete work. Even as of this writing years later, Flair remains among us and didn’t suffer a medical issue on this night.
At the entrance, Okerlund interviews Booker T who offers his sentiment to the Flair family. He respects his brother’s choices, and immediately Stevie Ray emerges. After he states that he joined nWo Hollywood because of Booker T, Stevie Ray claims that Harlem Heat would still be the greatest tag team in WCW. He offers some brief family history before telling Booker T he should join him. In rebuttal, Booker T is incapable of offering much of a response.
Backstage, Mrs. Levy, Raven’s mother, gets stopped by WCW Security. WCW Security Director Doug Dellinger arrives as does Kanyon. When he speaks to Mrs. Levy, Kanyon advises WCW Security that he’ll accompany her to locate Raven.
Match 7: Scott Hall versus Horace Hogan
Highlights:
To counter a wrist lock, Horace retaliated with a clothesline. Hall reversed a cross corner whip and followed with a corner clothesline. When he chokeslammed Horace, Hall mimicked Giant. Horace reversed an Irish whip and sent Hall reeling over the top rope to the floor. As he bulldozed Hall with a tope suicida, Horace landed on his feet. Impressive!
Back in the ring, he dealt Hall a short-arm clothesline followed by a backbreaker. He splashed Hall and got 2. After he slammed Hall, Horace landed a leg drop for another 2. Horace applied a sleeper, but Hall responded with a belly-to-back suplex. While Horace earned a 2-count, Hall connected with a discus punch. He fed Horace a fallaway slam, but nWo Hollywood stormed the ring. Regardless, referee Billy Silverman called for the bell, and Hall won by DQ at 6:26.
Rating: **
Summary: Decent HOSS match until the screwjob finish.
Afterward, nWo Hollywood quadruple-team Hall until Disco Inferno arrives wearing a nWo Wolfpack tank top? Instantly and thankfully, Norton powerbombs the BEJEEZUS out of Disco, and nWo Hollywood leave both Hall and Disco laying.
At the entrance, the Nitro Girls dance in red and white.
Match 8: Big Poppa Pump (w/ Buff Bagwell) versus Van Hammer
Highlights:
Prior to the match, BPP jawed with Boggs at ringside while Hammer knocked Bagwell’s top hat off. BPP attacked Hammer from behind and sandwiched him in the corner. As he leveled Hammer with a Steinerline, BPP hooked a Steiner Recliner. Hammer submitted; thus, BPP won at 1:25.
Rating: DUD
Summary: Showcase match for BPP. RIP Mark Hildreth a.k.a. Van Hammer.
After the match, BPP grabs the microphone and calls out Lex Luger. In street clothes, Luger approaches the ring. Bagwell notes that Luger was “one of the first guys…at the hospital (following his neck injury.)” Next, he credits Luger for being a giving person but also states that Luger isn’t in Konnan’s video. He discredits the rest of nWo Wolfpack to recruit him. Disgusted, Luger shakes his head and walks away.
Match 9 (non-title, triangle): WCW World champion Goldberg versus Kevin Nash versus Bam Bam Bigelow
Highlights:
No Buffer tonight. I know you’re upset about it. When Bigelow attacked Goldberg, Nash took a powder in the corner. He gave Goldberg a cross corner whip followed by an avalanche. As Bigelow gave him another cross corner whip, Goldberg exploded from the corner with a clothesline to stagger him. A thrust kick by Goldberg put Bigelow down on the mat and got 2.
After Nash pummeled him in the corner, Goldberg plowed through a double clothesline attempt and picked up the 7-10 split. A “Gold-berg” chant erupted among the Tampa faithful, and their hero and Nash walloped Bigelow. While Nash connected with a short-arm clothesline to Goldberg, he got 1. He dealt Goldberg a sidewalk slam for 2. Slamming Golberg, Bigelow landed a diving head butt for 2.
Goldberg applied a leg bar to Nash, but Bigelow headbutted him to make the save. Blocking a suplex, Goldberg gave Bigelow one of his own. Goldberg speared Bigelow, but Nash prevented him from attempting a Jackhammer. Evading a big boot, Goldberg speared Nash. Goldberg clotheslined Bigelow and set his sights on Jackhammering Nash.
Suddenly, Hall jumped into the ring and attacked Goldberg. Referee Mickey Jay called for the bell, and Goldberg won by DQ at 5:00.
Rating: **
Summary: Both Nash and Bigelow were walking Goldberg through the match until the inevitable screwy finish.
After the match, Bigelow and Hall brawl until Hall clotheslines him over the top rope to the floor. Nash and Goldberg go toe-to-toe until the show left the air.
TV Rating: 4.86
Conclusion: If you want to know why Nitro is losing so steadily week by week, look at all the screwy finishes in the matches this week. Combining storyline finishes with DQ finishes, most of tonight’s matches didn’t have a definitive conclusion. That will not maintain customer satisfaction.
The DQ finish in the main event should have happened last week in the Astrodome whereas tonight’s finish could offer some vulnerability to both Goldberg and Nash albeit with a Goldberg victory over Bigelow.
Without question, the Flair situation deflated the Tampa faithful’s complete enjoyment of the show. I realize it was done at the end of the first hour to generate a bigger rating, but the rest of the show felt flat because of the subdued reactions.
While the Raven storyline gives the show some soap opera appeal, Kidman-Mysterio gives WCW a leg up on quality wrestling in the midcard over the WWF. The stock of the lWo continues to rise, but what’s the next part of their story?
The Giant-DDP crash-and-burn is a quality ratings-grabber to fuel their upcoming PPV match. In the meantime, Wrath, BPP, and Windham had enhancement victories while Saturn’s stuck making Miller look competent and Smiley more interesting. Hopefully, Thunder doesn’t disappoint.
IN OTHER NEWS THIS WEEK: According to Meltzer, Bischoff conducted a pow-wow with the wrestlers and announced that both Nash and DDP had joined the booking committee and that Terry Taylor was moved from the committee to TV production. He stressed some important points:
- Wrestlers must be accessible two segments before their match for any last-minute changes.
- Big changes coming in January
- No longer tolerating changing finishes
I can only imagine how well that resonated.
What’s on RAW is WAR?
Overall TV Rating: 4.2
Stay tuned for RAW Is WAR 12-14-98!
Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at rsg@rockstargary.com and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202).