Live from Charlotte, NC
Airdate: December 17, 1998
Attendance: 8,460 (7,340 paid, sold out)
Hosted by Tony Schiavone, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, & Lee Marshall
With Flair out with “heart trouble,” what will WCW do in “Flair country”? What happens when Luger and Hall collide? Does BPP get involved? Will Saturn triumph over Jericho? Who wrestles Mysterio, and does the lWo intervene? WCW’s in the “Queen City,” so the show must go on, right?
RIP Brady Boone (1958-1998)
POINT OF ORDER: Boone was killed in an automobile accident on December 15 while driving home to Tampa from the WCW Worldwide tapings in Orlando. He was 40. Although Boone wrestled in both WWF and WCW, my fondest memory of him is his portrayal as Fire Cat at Herb Abrams’ UWF Beach Brawl on June 9, 1991.
Opening montage.
We revisit Nitro when Big Poppa Pump tried to recruit Luger to no avail.
Prior to the opening match, Konnan rattles off his catchphrases.
Match 1 for the WCW World TV title: Konnan (champion) versus Kenny Kaos
Highlights:
When the match began, BPP, wearing a Kerry Collins Carolina Panthers jersey, and Buff Bagwell stormed the broadcast table. Schiavone noted that Collins was persona-non-grata with the Panthers following the 1998 season. Konnan creamed Kaos with a somersault clothesline and followed with a seated dropkick.
As BPP claimed he’s there for Luger, Konnan cradled Kaos for 2. Kaos rebounded by sandwiching Konnan in the corner and slamming him. After he mounted the second turnbuckle, Kaos scored with a flying leg drop for 2. Konnan reversed an Irish whip, but Kaos flipped him down for another 2. While he leapfrogged Kaos, Konnan stymied him with a thrust kick. He planted Kaos face-first into the mat and hooked a Tequila Sunrise. Getting the submission, Konnan retained at 2:52.
Rating: *
Summary: Showcase match for Konnan.
After the match, Rage enters the ring and argues with Kaos while the Charlotte faithful LOUDLY chants “We Want Flair.”
Outside the arena, a long black limousine arrives, and the Fliehr family emerges before heading inside.
Thunder is sponsored by 10-10-321.
We revisit Nitro for a second time when Bischoff cut a promo on Flair. As Flair approached the ring, he chased Bischoff backstage. He returned to the ring and cut a strong promo. Afterward, he “collapsed” in the corner allegedly suffering a “mild heart attack.” Later, Bischoff solemnly offered an apology to the Fliehr family.
Match 2: Fit Finlay versus Mike Enos
Highlights:
Finlay landed an elbow drop for 1 and followed with a senton splash for 2. As he flattened Enos with a running body block, Finlay sent him to the floor. He joined and rammed Enos back-first into the apron.
When Finlay trapped him in a sleeper, Enos yanked him overhead to escape. He dealt Finlay a corner clothesline and hip-tossed him. After he unloaded another corner clothesline, Enos destroyed Finlay with a muscle buster. Amazing!
He planted Finlay with his own elbow drop but ate a forearm smash. While he gave Enos a cross corner whip, Finlay came up empty on his follow-through. Enos hoisted Finlay atop the top turnbuckle, joined, and launched a flying powerslam.
Stupidly, he didn’t make a cover. Therefore, countering a slam, Finlay hooked an inside cradle. 1-2-3. Finlay won at 3:54.
Rating: **
Summary: Finlay escaped by the skin of his teeth as Enos’ overconfidence cost him.
After the match, Enos attacks Finlay, and they brawl on the floor. Enos sent Finlay back-first into the steel railing, yet their feud is NOT SETTLED WHATSOEVER.
In a taped segment, Eric Bischoff “feel(s) horrible for Ric Flair…(and) his family.”
Promotional consideration paid for by the following: Slim Jim
Hall emerges through the entrance and enters the ring. While he grabs the microphone, Hall mentions that he respects Luger. He notes that he’s “got no friends, ring music, or family.” All he has is wrestling. With “nothing to lose and nowhere to go,” all Hall wants is “the world and everything in it.” He’ll go through Luger to get it. Solid promo.
We revisit Nitro from 11/23 when Guerrera interfered in a Mysterio match enabling Kidman to retain the Cruiserweight title. Next, we revisit the 11/30 episode when both Guerrera and Mysterio interfered in Kidman’s match against Eddie Guerrero. Following that, the lWo chases Kidman and Mysterio back to the locker room. We revisit Nitro from Monday when Kidman and Mysterio flattened the lWo with stereo somersault planchas. Subsequently, the lWo destroyed both Kidman and Mysterio.
Iaukea makes his entrance, but Eddie stops him. As Eddie offers him a choice—wrestle and get pummeled or walk away–Iaukea walks. Eddie inserts Guerrera in his place.
Match 3: Rey Mysterio, Jr. versus Prince Iaukea Juventud Guerrera
Highlights:
Guerrera stormed the ring, but Mysterio met him HEAD ON. When Mysterio reversed an Irish whip, he leapfrogged Guerrera. According to Schiavone, Mysterio, Guerrera, and Kidman will battle in a triple-threat match for the Cruiserweight title at the PPV.
Mysterio uncorked a flying headscissors that sent Guerrera scurrying to the floor. As Guerrera reversed an Irish whip, Mysterio evaded a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Guerrera hooked a fireman’s carry before planting Mysterio with a slam for 2. After he destroyed Mysterio with a tilt-a-whirl slam, Guerrera got another 2. Mysterio rebounded with a sunset flip and got 2.
While Guerrera flipped over, he got 2. Mysterio climbed atop his shoulders, but Guerrera dealt him Snake Eyes. Prior to the commercial break, Eddie sauntered toward ringside. The Charlotte faithful informed Eddie that he indeed “sucks,” and Mysterio split Guerrera in two with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.
Getting reversed on an Irish whip, Mysterio face-planted Guerrera for 2. Guerrera scored with a springboard cross body block and got 2. Reversing a cross corner whip, Mysterio came up empty on his follow-through. Guerrera got vaulted to the apron yet guillotined Mysterio with the top rope. Mounting the top turnbuckle, Guerrera leaped, but Mysterio dropkicked him in mid-air. NIFTY!
Mysterio attempted a huracanrana, but Guerrera countered with a powerbomb. Mounting the top turnbuckle, Guerrera got crotched. OUCH! Guerrera distracted referee Charles Robinson, so Eddie mounted the opposite top turnbuckle. Connecting with a frog splash to Mysterio’s back, Eddie slithered out of the ring. 1-2-3. Guerrera won at 6:55.
Rating: ***
Summary: These two can battle any day of the week and make it entertaining. Thanks to Eddie’s chicanery, Guerrera prevailed.
Following the match, Iaukea returns to the ring to advise Robinson of the chicanery. Robinson instantly reverses the decision. Fighting the lWo, Iaukea flattens Eddie with a superkick. Members of the lWo storm the ring, but Iaukea dispatches them one by one. As more members hit the ring, both Iaukea and Mysterio flee for their own safety.
Cinnaburst sponsors the replay.
Backstage, BPP and Bagwell search and locate Luger. BPP tries to convince Luger that he’s got his back, but Luger prefers to stand on his own. When Konnan joins the party, he shoos BPP and Bagwell away with Luger’s blessing. He exits the dressing room but gets laid out off-camera.
At the American Pie restaurant in Atlanta, DDP and Kimberly held a Christmas charity function for children. In the background, the Charlotte faithful VOCIFEROUSLY profuse their desire for Flair.
Match 4: Disco Inferno versus Shiima Nobunaga
Highlights:
During the entire match, Disco wore an nWo Wolfpack t-shirt. SMH
Disco hip-tossed Nobunaga but missed an elbow drop. As Nobunaga dropkicked him twice, Disco reversed an Irish whip and dealt him a back elbow. He unleashed an atomic drop followed by a lariat.
When he tossed Nobunaga to the floor, Disco’s cockiness overflowed, so Nobunaga guillotined him with the top rope. Nobunaga scored with a springboard senton splash and got 2. After he gave Disco a cross corner whip, Nobunaga ate a back elbow on his follow-through. Disco slammed Nobunaga, mounted the second turnbuckle, and decimated him with a flying double axe handle for 2.
While Nobunaga rebounded with a spinning heel kick, he got 2. He gave Disco another cross corner whip and followed with a kick to the midsection. Hoisting Disco atop the top turnbuckle, Nobunaga flipped him down to the mat for another 2. He mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but there wasn’t any water in the pool. Ruining Nobunaga’s night, Disco stymied him with an inverted atomic drop. He destroyed Nobunaga with a Chartbuster and pinned him at 4:24.
Rating: **
Summary: Disco’s experience showed in this match as Nobunaga went down HARD. Where have I heard that before? 
Oh. Dadgum Raiders.
On WCW Saturday Night, Booker T goes one-on-one with Chris Jericho while Malenko and Benoit battle Brian Adams and Vincent.
Match 5: Norman Smiley versus “Lightning Foot” Jerry Flynn
Highlights:
Smiley slammed Flynn and performed the Big Wiggle. When Flynn countered a side head lock with a belly-to-back suplex, Smiley reversed an Irish whip. Flynn hooked a sunset flip and got 2. As Flynn unveiled a series of kicks in the corner, he gave Smiley a cross corner whip followed by a corner kick.
Smiley ducked and attempted his own thrust kick. On the other hand, Flynn caught the foot and applied an ankle lock. Smiley made the ropes to escape, reversed an Irish whip, leapfrogged Flynn twice, and caught him with a dropkick. After Flynn rebounded with a spin kick, he got 2. Flynn gave him another cross corner whip, but Smiley snared him with a sunset flip for 2.
While Smiley mounted the top turnbuckle, Flynn tried to catch him but got nailed. Smiley hooked a Norman Conquest (cross-face chicken wing), and Flynn submitted. As a result, Smiley won at 3:47.
Rating: **
Summary: Flynn got in some offense, but Smiley’s experience and submission-style wrestling overtook him.
1-800-COLLECT sponsors the replay.
More footage of the Bischoff pre-taped video airs.
Match 6: Chris Jericho (w/ Ralphus) versus Saturn
Highlights:
Jericho swept Saturn’s leg and got 2. As the Charlotte faithful informed Jericho that he indeed “sucks,” their nemesis flipped out of a hip toss attempt and clotheslined Saturn. Jericho showboated, so Saturn made him pay with a thrust kick. When he slammed Jericho, Saturn connected with a springboard leg drop for 2.
Jericho slammed Saturn, gave him a cross corner whip, but ate boot on his follow-through. After Saturn escaped a suplex attempt, he dealt Jericho a swinging neckbreaker. He stymied Jericho with an atomic drop sending him face-first into the top turnbuckle. While he leveled Jericho with a series of kicks in the corner, Saturn planted him with a belly-to-belly suplex for 2. He mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but Jericho placed referee Charles Robinson in harm’s way.
Escaping a LionTamer, Saturn applied Rings of Saturn. Ernest Miller stormed the ring, but Saturn dumped him with a head-and-arm suplex. Reversing an Irish whip, Saturn demolished Jericho with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Miller blasted Saturn with a double axe handle as Robinson remained OUT COLD.
Annihilating Saturn with a Feliner, Miller rolled out of the ring. Jericho hooked a LionTamer, and a woozy Robinson checked on Saturn. Since Saturn was now OUT COLD, Robinson called for the bell. Jericho won at 5:02.
Rating: ***
Summary: Strong midcard match where each wrestler looked sharp until the storyline finish enabled Jericho to attain a crafty victory.
Afterward, Jericho was BUSTED OPEN hardway.
More footage of the Bischoff pre-taped video airs.
In the ring, Schiavone introduces us to Beth, David, and Reid Fliehr. They receive a kind hometown response combined with a “We Want Flair” chant. They approach the ring and sit in the front row. Unfortunately, Bob Uecker wasn’t sitting there only to be relegated to the upper deck.
Video airs featuring DDP versus Bret along with Giant’s efforts leading directly to Bret’s reattainment of the US title. DDP gets the better of Giant one week, but the next week, Giant dismantles DDP through the stage. As you’d expect, Bret plays coy.
Thunder is sponsored by 10-10-321.
Prior to the main event, Disco cheers for Luger from the entrance.
Match 7: The “Total Package” Lex Luger versus Scott Hall
Highlights:
Buffer rambled and rumbled. When BPP and Bagwell approached the ring, they stood in the vicinity of Luger’s corner. Hall gave Luger a cross corner whip followed by a corner clothesline. As Hall spat at him, BPP jumped onto the apron. Referee Billy Silverman danced around the ring trying to evade getting steamrolled, so Hall implemented his trick knee. SNEAKY!
After Hall got 2, he reversed a cross corner whip but ate a back elbow on his follow-through. Luger blasted Hall with a pair of clotheslines and a running forearm smash. While BPP and Bagwell jumped into the ring, they pummeled Hall. Silverman called for the bell, and Hall won by DQ at 4:02.
Rating: *
Summary: More storyline than match as Luger’s recruitment by BPP and Bagwell continues.
After the match, BPP wants Luger to assist them, but Konnan storms the ring. Konnan advises Luger about the earlier shenanigans. A not-quite-ready-for-primetime Bagwell scurries from the ring, but Luger hammers BPP. More nWo Hollywood troops arrive to topple the Wolfpack but to no avail.
In the ring, Schiavone interviews David and Reid Fliehr. Suddenly, Bischoff saunters toward the ring as Schiavone chats with ten-year-old Reid. Bischoff intervenes to offer an apology, notes that David aims to become a pro wrestler, yet the Charlotte faithful chants “We Want Flair” once more. Before the segment ends, Bischoff’s apology turns sour by calling Ric Flair’s heart “weak.”
Bischoff beats up David while Reid tries to take him down by the leg. As Barry Windham and Brian Adams enter the ring, Windham obliterates David while a worried Beth looks on. He continues to annihilate David by planting him with a belly-to-back suplex, and Bischoff slaps the taste out of his mouth. When he sees Beth, Bischoff feigns being appalled, so Beth shoves him away. He manhandles and kisses Beth to end the show.
Conclusion: Since the show’s in Flair country, Bischoff couldn’t help but humiliate the Fliehr family. I realize it’s all in the name of heel heat, but that was embarrassing. Otherwise, the Jericho-Saturn match was the highlight of the show since the BPP recruitment of Luger remains in limbo. Thanks to Eddie, Guerrera got one-up on Mysterio prior to the PPV. Lastly, Enos gave everything he had to Finlay included his ego yet lost because of it.
Due to the winter holidays, this was the final Thunder of the year. But don’t worry, RSG-ites, Thunder returns to the air on January 7. Meanwhile, one more episode of Nitro remains before the PPV, so we’ll see what WCW can cook up in the TWA dome in St. Louis.
Stay tuned for WWF HeAT 12-20-98!
Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at rsg@rockstargary.com and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202).