Live from Richmond, VA
Airdate: January 7, 1999
Attendance: 8,597
Hosted by Tony Schiavone, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, & “Iron” Mike Tenay
How will President Flair address the Fingerpoke of Doom? What’s the Wolfpack up to? What happens between Jericho and Saturn? Will Kidman retain the Cruiserweight title? How will Benoit fare against the wily veteran Windham? Summer thunderstorms can be nasty. Be safe!
POINT OF ORDER: Fair warning: I remain NOT thrilled with WCW’s direction with the World title change et al.
Extended video airs featuring the Bischoff-Flair saga.
Opening montage.
We revisit Nitro for the atrocity that was the World title change from Nash to Hogan. As Goldberg arrived at the arena, he sprints to the ring and attacked the nWo one-by-one. After Luger joined the nWo, Goldberg got decimated and spray-painted. After the show left the air, Goldberg grabbed the microphone and called out Nash. Several members of the Atlanta Falcons approached and entered the ring to second Goldberg.
In the ring, “Mean” Gene Okerlund interviews President Ric Flair who stands behind “tradition.” Flair cites wrestling against Harley Race for the World title in the Richmond Coliseum and mocks Nash for “laying down.” As he takes responsibility for the stunt on Nitro, Flair runs down Luger. He turns his attention to Bischoff and demands to see him in Atlanta tomorrow morning. Hot opening interview!
On WCW Saturday Night, nah, skip it. It sucks this week.
We revisit Nitro again when Jericho commiserated with referee Scott Dickinson to screw over Saturn.
Match 1: Saturn versus Ernest Miller (w/ Sonny Onoo)
Highlights:
Each wrestler manhandled the other until Saturn set referee Mickey Jay aside. When Miller took advantage with a thrust kick, he demolished Saturn with another thrust kick. Saturn attempted a sunset flip but ate a knuckle sandwich instead.
As Saturn successfully scored with a sunset flip, he got 2. Miller laid Saturn out with a third thrust kick, gave him a cross corner whip, but ate boot on his follow-through. After Saturn dealt Miller a head-and-arm suplex, he got 2. An aqua-suit-wearing Onoo jumped onto the apron, but Saturn blasted him back down to the floor. While he fed Miller a T-bone suplex, Saturn unleashed a Falcon Arrow. Nifty!
Suddenly, Jericho, wearing a Calgary Flames jersey, yanked Jay out of the ring. How dastardly! Saturn got distracted by the argument between Jay and Jericho, so Miller rolled him up and hooked the trunks. Out of nowhere, Dickinson appeared in the ring and quick-counted Saturn again. Miller won at 3:04.
Rating: **
Summary: This was Saturn’s match to win until chicanery reared its ugly head.
After the match, Saturn pitches an absolute FIT.
Backstage, members of nWo Hollywood gather while a black limousine arrives. When Hogan emerges wearing Wolfpack colors, Giant asks if they’re included in the new regime. Hogan smooth-talks him before the Wolfpack meanders through the arena.
For the third time, we revisit Nitro when Luger double-crossed Goldberg.
Match 2 for the WCW Cruiserweight title: Kidman (champion) versus Psicosis
Highlights:
Psicosis vaulted him, but Kidman responded with a dropkick. As Psicosis landed on the floor, Kidman followed with a plancha. Get your 1999 Nitro Girls calendar NOW for only $15! Following a commercial break, Kidman reversed a cross corner whip sending Psicosis sternum-first into the top turnbuckle. Kidman scored with a lariat, connected with a BK bomb, and got 2.
When Psicosis escaped a suplex attempt, he attempted a powerbomb, but YOU CAN’T POWERBOMB KIDMAN! After he face-planted Psicosis, Kidman mounted the top turnbuckle and leaped. Abruptly, in street clothes, Juventud Guerrera stormed into the ring. He and Kidman brawled with one another, so referee Charles Robinson called for the bell. As a result, Kidman retained at 4:18 shown.
Rating: **
Summary: What appeared to be a Kidman squash ending up being more Kidman versus lWo.
Following the match, Kidman rams the luchadores together, but Guerrera responds with a flying headscissors. Psicosis mounts the top turnbuckle and obliterates Kidman with a flying corkscrew heel kick. Ultimately, Rey Mysterio arrives, mounts the top turnbuckle, and launches a cross body block onto both luchadores. Kidman and Mysterio clean house until…
Here comes the new and improved Wolfpack! Immediately, Nash powerbombs Psicosis but merely instructs Mysterio to leave. As the nWo destroys Psicosis, the Richmond faithful chants “Gold-berg.” Nash grabs the microphone and mocks one of Konnan’s catchphrases. When Nash refers to the World title match as a “match of the century,” Hogan deems him a worthy opponent. Nevertheless, he cuts a promo on Goldberg and promises “backup” on Nitro.
Speaking of the calvary, Giant emerges alongside the rest of nWo Hollywood. Scott Norton stands among them despite having been in Japan as recently as the previous Monday. As Giant questions the Wolfpack’s intentions, Hogan stammers again with utter rhetoric. Giant doesn’t believe him. Nonetheless, Hogan blames Giant for Flair’s becoming WCW President and is “trimming the fat.”
To accomplish this, Hogan states there should be only one giant in the nWo, and that’s Nash. Giant stands his ground, so Hogan devises a match between the giants for the spot in the Wolfpack. After Nash agrees, Giant accepts with an abundance of confidence. Nash suggests the match happen on Nitro much to the dismay of the Richmond faithful.
Back at the Levy household, Mrs. Levy tries to convince Raven to seek further counseling. Chastity makes her WCW debut as Raven’s sister. While Mrs. Levy wants to help him, Raven walks away. She and Chastity argue to finish the segment.
Match 3: Bam Bam Bigelow versus “Lightning Foot” Jerry Flynn
Highlights:
Flynn reversed a cross corner whip and flattened Bigelow with a spinning heel kick. When Bigelow recovered, he demolished Flynn with Greetings from Asbury Park. 1-2-3. Bigelow won at 0:26.
Rating: DUD
Summary: QUICK showcase match for Bigelow. The prior interview segment must’ve ran long.
At the entrance, Okerlund interviews Barry Windham and Curt Hennig. Windham informs Flair that he’s “bringing the lamb to the slaughter” while Hennig tells Flair to retire. Hennig threatens to bring “Grandma Hennig” out to beat David believing that the match will be a “night off.”
Book your tickets for the WCW Bruise Cruise happening between May 17-21. You can participate in a LIVE PPV taping for the Nitro Girls.
Backstage, Okerlund halts a scampering Guerrera and wants him to speak English and not “Mexican.” OUCH! Guerrera’s terrified of the Wolfpack saying they “got Eddie.”
Match 4: Chavo Guerrero, Jr. (w/ Pepe wearing a neck brace) versus Disco Inferno
Highlights:
Chavo escaped a hip toss attempt and dropkicked Disco. As he clotheslined Disco twice, Chavo paraded around the ring with Pepe. Disco dealt Chavo a kick to the midsection followed by a swinging neckbreaker. When Disco steamrolled him with a clothesline, he ruined Chavo’s Thursday night plans with an inverted atomic drop.
He mounted the second turnbuckle, leaped, but Chavo returned the favor with his own inverted atomic drop. After he snap-suplexed Disco, Chavo gave him a cross corner whip followed by a flying fist. Schiavone shilled a tag team tournament while Norman Smiley arrived to steal Pepe. While he performed the Big Wiggle with Pepe, Chavo earned a 2-count.
Smiley yanked off the neck brace and mocked Chavo’s sidekick. Seeing Pepe in dire straits, Chavo sent Smiley reeling from the apron to the floor. With Chavo distracted by an “injured” Pepe, Disco floored him with a Chartbuster. 1-2-3. Disco won at 3:25.
Rating: *
Summary: More storyline than match as the Chavo-Smiley saga continues.
Match 5: Fit Finlay & Dave Taylor versus Super Calo & Lizmark, Jr.
Highlights:
This was a first round match for the vacant World tag team titles. When Super Calo leapfrogged him, Finlay retaliated with an inverted atomic drop. Finlay gave him a cross corner whip, but Super Calo leaped to the second turnbuckle and blasted him for 2. As Taylor struck Super Calo from the apron, Finlay annihilated him with a clothesline.
Taylor tagged in, gave Super Calo a cross corner whip, but came up empty on his follow-through. After Lizmark tagged in, he became a house’a’fire. Taylor creamed him to halt his flurry. Finlay tagged in, slammed Lizmark, and attempted a pump splash. While Lizmark countered with knees, he guillotined Finlay with the top rope. He connected with an Asai moonsault and got 2.
Rebounding with a somersault slam, Finlay tagged out. Taylor gave him a cross corner whip, but Lizmark leaped to the top turnbuckle. Whiffing on a cross body block, Lizmark found himself locked in a double underhook suplex. 1-2-3. Taylor and Finlay won at 3:13.
Rating: **
Summary: Popcorn match if there ever was one.
Once again, the Wolfpack arrives to spoil anyone else’s fun. They absolutely destroy all four wrestlers before Scott Hall grabs the microphone. As Hall runs down tradition, he lies about the Outsiders’ track record and plans to dismantle the tag team tournament singlehandedly.
Match 6: Booker T versus La Parka
Highlights:
La Parka shuffled, so Booker T made him pay with a forearm smash. As he gave Booker T a cross corner whip, La Parka followed with a corner clothesline. Booker T reversed an Irish whip and clobbered La Parka with a clothesline. When La Parka stymied him with an enziguri, he dealt Booker T a ten-punch count-along.
Booker T rebounded with a spin kick and planted La Parka with an Axe kick for 2. After Booker T devastated him with a spinebuster, La Parka clotheslined him over the top rope to the floor. La Parka joined and rammed Booker T oblique-first into the steel railing. While he rammed Booker T face-first into the steps, La Parka retrieved his chair before re-entering the ring.
Neither wrestler could maintain control of the chair initially, yet La Parka finally obtained it. To La Parka’s chagrin, Booker T ducked a chair shot and blasted him with chair-assisted jump kick. 1-2-3. Booker T won at 4:26.
Rating: **
Summary: Although the finish wasn’t in doubt, La Parka’s cockiness cost him from scoring a big upset.
Skittles sponsors the replay.
Back at the Levy residence, Sandman makes his WCW debut and pushes Kanyon into the swimming pool. HA! Like Chastity, he’s part of the family, yet Mrs. Levy tells him to leave Raven alone. Speaking of Raven, he complains to his mom while “Jim” consoles his grandmother. This family puts the fun in dysfunctional.
We revisit Nitro from 11/30 when Konnan defeated Jericho for the World TV title.
During Jericho’s entrance, we see La Parka laid out with an nWo spray-painted outline.
Prior to the next match and Konnan’s entrance, we get a snippet of his video. Konnan grabs the microphone and rattles off his catchphrases.
Match 7: Konnan versus Chris Jericho (w/ Ralphus)
Highlights:
Jericho ambushed Konnan before catchphrase completion could occur. I hate when that happens. When the match segued to the floor, he rammed Konnan back-first into the steel railing. Back in the ring, he dealt Konnan a spinning heel kick while the Richmond faithful informed him that he indeed “sucks.”
Jericho gave him a cross corner whip, but Konnan floated over and hip-tossed him. As he clotheslined Jericho over the top rope to the floor, Konnan fed him a baseball slide. He gave Jericho a taste of the steel railing which must have tasted like the Van Buren at the Secret Sandwich Society. After he caromed Jericho’s head off the steps, Konnan got reversed on an Irish whip and guillotined with the top rope.
Jericho suplexed Konnan but fell victim to a bulldog. Konnan got 2. While he connected with a somersault clothesline, Konnan gave Jericho a cross corner whip, caught him mid-float-over, and unleashed a spinebuster for another 2. Jericho reversed an Irish whip and sent Konnan directly into referee Scott Dickinson. Evil! Brandishing a foreign object, Jericho WAFFLED Konnan with it.
Before Dickinson could count the fall, Saturn yanked him out of the ring. Dickinson refrained from arguing with Saturn and hightailed it backstage. With Jericho distracted by Saturn, Konnan planted him face-first into the mat. Saturn jumped into the ring and quick-counted Jericho down. Konnan won at 5:02.
Rating: **
Summary: Saturn earns payback for Jericho’s malfeasance against him.
Afterward, Jericho pitches an absolute FIT.
Match 8: The “Crippler” Chris Benoit versus Barry Windham
Highlights:
The match quickly segued to the floor where Benoit bounced Windham face-first off the steps. As Windham rammed him face-first into the apron, he returned Benoit to the ring. Benoit rebounded with a back drop, gave Windham a cross corner whip, and roughed him up like a goon in the NHL. When he dealt Windham a dragon-screw leg whip, Benoit succumbed to a Windham trick knee.
Windham planted Benoit with a DDT and followed with a vertical suplex for 2. After Benoit blocked another suplex attempt, he countered with a snap suplex. Windham responded with a gutwrench suplex and got 2. While the match returned to the floor, Windham made Benoit taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Sailor at Dot’s Back Inn.
They returned to the ring, and Benoit clotheslined Windham. Splitting Windham in two with a backbreaker, Benoit got 2. He clotheslined Windham again, but referee Billy Silverman got knocked down. Delivering a release German suplex, Benoit mounted the top turnbuckle. Hennig jumped into the ring, so Benoit intercepted and locked him in a Crippler Crossface. Disrupting Benoit’s fun, Windham kicked him in the head. Windham rolled Hennig out of the ring, arose Silverman, and pinned Benoit at 5:12.
Rating: ***
Summary: Benoit did everything he could with a broken-down Windham except win.
After the match, Steve “Mongo” McMichael jumps into the ring to brawl with Windham. Hennig tries to intervene, but Mongo pummels him too. I smell a tag match for next week.
Conclusion: First, I will say that Flair’s opening promo was fantastic; however, that might be the ONLY redeeming quality of this episode.
Despite Hogan, Nash, and the rest of their motley crew being on the show, their promos were truly lackluster. If only one thing came out of what they said, it’s a Giant versus Nash match on Nitro.
Second, as far as the rest of the show goes, the matches were fair. Regardless, all of the outcomes, minus the Bigelow squash and the tag tourney match, resulted from interference. While the storylines may have progressed, the matches suffered greatly. Unless you must see the Levy saga in all its glory, steer clear of this drivel.
Stay tuned for WWF HeAT 01-10-99!
Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at rsg@rockstargary.com and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202).