Live from Knoxville, TN
Airdate: January 11, 1999
Attendance: 13,024 (12,280 paid)
Hosted by Tony Schiavone, “Iron” Mike Tenay, Larry Zbyszko, & Bobby “The Brain” Heenan
Who will become the sole giant in the nWo? Who does President Flair face? Will David be involved? What happens when Hall and Bigelow collide? DDP and BPP square off for the very first time. What’s the latest in Bischoff’s employment status? I’ve got a strong suspicion about this show, can you smell it too?
To begin the show, “Mean” Gene Okerlund interviews President Ric Flair in the ring. Flair chastises Eric Bischoff for his adoration of Okerlund; therefore, he uncorks a BEE-YOO-TEE-FULL “Meaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan Woooooooooooooo by God Wooooooooooooo by God Geneeeeeeeeeee Wooooooooooo.”
Flair plugs his match alongside David against Curt Hennig and Barry Windham at the PPV. As he segues to Hogan, Flair “met” with Ted Turner and Dr. Harvey Schiller, but still recognizes him as World Champion. He mentions that Hogan’s signed until 2001 and not going to Hollywood.
Afterward, he reinstates JJ Dillon who jogs out to the ring. Dillon, returning to the Executive Committee, announces that Hogan will defend the World title at SuperBrawl IX on February 21. But not on Sunday? Next, he sanctions a ladder match with the cattle prod between Scott Hall and Goldberg.
Flair requests that the lWo join them in the ring. Upon acknowledging that Eddie’s “in the hospital with a broken leg,” Flair wants the lWo to disband and join WCW. They remove the shirts, and Flair celebrates the strength of WCW.
Before the segment ends, Flair notes that the card is short a match and volunteers to wrestle. He wants a match against Hennig TONIGHT, and Dillon confirms it. Also, during the replay, cameras catches Rey Mysterio, Jr. neither removing his lWo shirt nor joining WCW. What’s up with that?
Video airs of National Wrestling Alliance tradition.
From the broadcast desk, Schiavone announces that Bischoff has been “relieved of his duties as an announcer.” According to Schiavone, he has a “new assignment.” What could THAT entail?
We revisit Thunder when the nWo demolished the lWo.
In the ring, Okerlund interviews Saturn who demands a rematch against Jericho having felt cheated. He summons Jericho who emerges with Ralphus at the entrance. As Jericho believes Saturn belongs in a dress, he grants a rematch with the stipulation that the loser wears a dress “for the rest of your career.”
Saturn refutes the stipulation, so Jericho yaps senselessly. Fed up with the babbling brook, Saturn agrees to the stipulation but states he won’t lose. Jericho thinks otherwise besmirching Saturn.
Prior to the opening match, referee Scott Dickinson strangely replaced Randy Anderson for this match.
Match 1: Saturn versus Ernest “The Cat” Miller (w/ Sonny Onoo)
Highlights:
Finally! A match! But these two?
When Miller entered the ring, the brawl was ON. Saturn dumped Miller with a T-bone suplex, gave him a cross corner whip with a sternum bump, and flattened him with a clothesline to the back of the neck. As he pounded Miller into hamburger, Saturn argued with Dickinson. Miller took Saturn on a trip WAY DOWNTOWN, yet Dickinson did nothing.
After Miller deposited Saturn down to the floor, Onoo took liberties with him. SNEAKY! Miller joined Saturn on the floor and worked on the legs. Back in the ring, Miller devastated Saturn with a thrust kick for 2. He gave Saturn an Irish whip followed by a dropkick to the knee. While he gave Satun a cross corner whip, Miller ate boot on his follow-through.
Saturn suplexed Miller, slammed him, mounted the top turnbuckle, and launched a gorgeous flying splash. Due to Onoo’s distraction of Dickinson, Saturn could only earn a false pin. Jericho jumped into the ring and WHACKED Saturn with a shovel. As a result, Dickinson awarded the match to Miller Saturn won by DQ at 4:29.
Rating: *
Summary: Miller’s nickname should be “baggage” instead of “Cat” because he desperately needs to be carried every match. Regardless, this was merely a setup to further the feud between Jericho and Saturn.
After the match, Jericho pummels Saturn but fails miserably to put him in a dress.
Opening montage.
In the ring, the Nitro Girls dance in red and white.
Video airs as Bischoff exits a black limousine, and someone’s parked in his parking spot much to his dismay. He tries to enter the building, but his keycard doesn’t work. Evidently, a newly hired receptionist has replaced “Amy” of whom Bischoff inquired. He’s denied the right to enter his office and must wait in the lobby. Impatient, Bischoff complains about Flair’s Presidential status.
Ultimately, a disgruntled Bischoff is summoned to Flair’s office. Flair verifies that Bischoff had nothing to do with the Fingerpoke of Doom. Aiming to make Bischoff’s life “as miserable as (he) possibly can,” Flair hands him his stuff in a box and takes him to his next “venture.” He denies Bischoff a limousine and directs him to ride inside the ring truck to Knoxville and set up the ring. Reluctantly, Bischoff jumps into the truck.
POINT OF ORDER: It should be noted that WCW’s offices were no longer located at CNN Tower in downtown Atlanta. Instead, they were shuffled off several miles northwest to Smyrna.
At the entrance, Okerlund interviews Chavo Guerrero, Jr. who brings Pepe with him. Chavo wishes his uncle Eddie well and wants to give Pepe a birthday party. As “Happy Birthday” is sung, Norman Smiley interrupts. He’s upset about not being invited and tries to portray himself as a nice guy. As Chavo claims “abuse” by Smiley upon Pepe, Smiley extends his hand in friendship.
Chavo refuses, but Pepe “accepts.” When Chavo hands Pepe to him, Smiley decks him. He rips Chavo’s t-shirt off and slams him on the concrete floor. Next, he sends Chavo reeling into the steel railing and then feeds him a mouthful of birthday cake. To add insult to injury, Smiley slams him atop the cake, drowns him in cake, topples the table atop him, and steals Pepe. How dastardly!
Backstage, Smiley rides Pepe outside the building where he feeds Pepe into a woodchipper. Holy Fargo, Batman! A cake-covered Chavo arrives to find his companion completely annihilated and becomes despondent.
At the Levy house, Scotty’s playing backgammon with Jim. He questions why his stuff was relocated to the garage. While there, he finds photos of what is presumably his favorite wrestler–“Rowdy” Roddy Piper. Seriously, this is what WCW carved out for an ECW crossover?
HOUR #2!
Outside the arena, motorcycles escort a black limousine carrying the nWo Elite. The B-team engages with them, but Hogan dismisses them. According to Schiavone, the motorcycle gang is the Hell’s Angels acting as nWo backup counter to Goldberg’s backup–the Atlanta Falcons.
Nash tries to speak on the microphone, but the motorcycle noise drowns him out. As Hogan grabs the microphone, he claims to be “your champion.” Hogan, you’re no Gino Hernandez. Nevertheless, he promises to become US President yet maintain the World title. Nash subtly touts his love for his former alma mater while cutting a quick promo on Giant.
Next, Big Poppa Pump cuts a promo on DDP threatening to “puke” if Schiavone calls him the “people’s champion” again. Unfathomably, BPP threatens to take Kimberly away from DDP. Hogan regains control and sings the nWo’s praises.
We revisit last week and the Fingerpoke of Doom. Afterward, the nWo reunites while Goldberg returns from police questioning. He steamrolls through them including Hogan until the numbers game catches up to him. After the show leaves the air, the NFC champion Atlanta Falcons join him in the ring.
Match 2: Rey Mysterio, Jr. versus Kaz Hayashi
Highlights:
During his entrance, Mysterio continued to wear his lWo t-shirt. He leapfrogged Hayashi and dealt him a flying headscissors. As Hayashi got vaulted to the apron, he unleashed a standing kick to the head. He mounted the top turnbuckle and uncorked a missile dropkick. When Mysterio reversed an Irish whip, he sent Hayashi reeling between the ropes to the floor.
He launched a suh-weet somersault plancha, returned Hayashi to the ring, and fed him another flying headscissors. After Lex Luger meandered toward the ring, he yanked Hayashi down from the apron and pummeled him. Nefarious! Referee Charles Robinson called for the bell, and Hayashi won by DQ at 1:52.
Rating: **
Summary: It’s only the second match of the show, and it only goes two minutes for this?
Following the “match,” Luger wiped Hayashi out and sauntered into the ring after Mysterio. Luger asks him to remove the shirt, but Mysterio refuses. In retaliation, Luger rips the lWo shirt off and tries to fling him over the top rope to the floor. Mysterio catches himself on the apron and blasts Luger with a springboard dropkick. As he rallied against Luger, Mysterio mounted the top turnbuckle and scored with a cross body block.
Mysterio attempted a huracanrana, but Luger caught and split him in two with a backbreaker. Continuing to decimate him, Luger hoisted Mysterio in a Torture Rack. Konnan approached the ring and grabbed the microphone. When Konnan stood up for his “little brother” Mysterio, the rest of nWo Elite glided toward the ring.
Nash entered the ring and taunted Konnan about one of his catchphrases. Next, the nWo Elite annihilates Konnan while the Knoxville faithful chants “Gold-berg.” Hall shocks Konnan with the cattle prod, and Nash spray-paints him. Bored with the segment, the Knoxville faithful changes their tune to “we want Sting.”
We revisit Thunder again, and a giant versus giant match was booked for TONIGHT—Nash versus Giant.
In the ring, Okerlund interviews Giant who’s fed up with Hogan. He’s going to mow down Nash and go through the rest of his clan. Dynamically, he cuts a promo on Nash. Solid final promo.
Match 3: Booker T versus Lenny Lane
Highlights:
Another match? Who’da thunk it? Booker T reversed an Irish whip and backdropped Lane. When he creamed Lane with a flying forearm, Booker T joined him on the floor. He even made him taste the steel railing not once but twice. It must have tasted like the Thunder Road Rooster at Corner 16. Back in the ring, he leveled Lane with a leg lariat. Booker T gave him a cross corner whip, but Lane floated over.
As he got reversed on a cross corner whip, Lane fed Booker T boot during a follow-through. He bulldogged Booker T, paraded around, and got 1 with a demonstrative kickout. After he reversed another Irish whip, Booker T clotheslined Lane.He hammered Lane with another leg lariat and followed with an Axe kick.
While he planted Lane with a spinebuster, Booker T destroyed him with a Harlem sidekick. 1-2-3. Booker T won at 3:55.
Rating: *
Summary: Showcase match for Booker T.
Black and white video airs as a heel promo between Nash and Hogan wastes precious time.
More time is wasted as we replay the Hell’s Angels surrounding the ring with their NOISY motorcycles.
Match 4 for the WCW World TV title: Big Poppa Pump (champion w/ Buff Bagwell) versus Diamond Dallas Page
Highlights:
Despite the Knoxville faithful firmly behind DDP, Bagwell grabbed the microphone to run down his fellow rednecks. Hip tosses were blocked by both wrestlers, and DDP stymied BPP with a swinging neckbreaker. As Bagwell and BPP re-entered the ring, DDP ruined their late-night plans with consecutive inverted atomic drops.
With Bagwell rightfully returned to ringside, DDP hoisted BPP atop the top turnbuckle. DDP joined BPP, but Bagwell intervened by restraining the Big Bad Booty Daddy. When he mounted the second turnbuckle, BPP steamrolled DDP with a Steinerline. BPP tossed DDP down to the floor and distracted referee Charles Robinson.
Meanwhile, Bagwell mauled DDP like he was owed money. SNEAKY! BPP joined DDP and rammed him back-first into the steel railing. Next, he made DDP taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Big Nasty at Stock and Barrel. Bagwell grabbed the microphone again and mocked the Knoxville faithful with a belittling “D-D-P” chant. After BPP leveled him with a Steinerline, he landed an elbow drop for 2.
He distracted Robinson again, so Bagwell could give DDP the business. Evil! While BPP dealt DDP a belly-to-belly suplex, he got another 2. DDP rallied and gave BPP a cross corner whip; however, he ate boot on his follow-through. Following with a third Steinerline, BPP performed some push-ups. Since BPP continued to distract Robinson, Bagwell took liberties with DDP at ringside. Wicked!
The match segued to the floor, and BPP rammed DDP face-first into the steps. Back in the ring, DDP scored with a discus clothesline and got 2. BPP responded with a jawbreaker and got 2. Hooking a double underhook slam, BPP got another 2. He reversed a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through. Clotheslining BPP, DDP devastated him with another inverted atomic drop. He flattened BPP with a second discus clothesline and pancaked him.
Suddenly, Vincent came and went from the ring, and BPP shoved DDP directly into Robinson. Bagwell doused DDP with powder, yet Vincent jumped back into the ring. Blinded, DDP demolished Vincent with a Diamond Cutter, yet BPP retrieved a steel chair from ringside.
He whacked DDP repeatedly and applied a Steiner Recliner. Having not seen any of the shenanigans, Robinson checked DDP before calling for the bell. BPP retained at 10:21.
Rating: ***
Summary: A competitive match with plenty of interference to enable BPP to not only survive but win.
10-10-321 sponsors the replay.
TV Rating: 5.5
Taped interview with Goldberg airs. He says he’s learned from his “mistakes.”
HOUR #3!
Earlier today, Bischoff helped to set up the ring and paid lip service to Klondike Bill. He tightens the ropes using a wrench, and Klondike Bill applauds him for it. I wonder what the significance of this segment was.
We revisit Starrcade ’98 when Bigelow ran in. This led to WCW Security being involved, Hall sneaking in, his wearing security detail, and his zapping Goldberg with the cattle prod. Nash ultimately stole the World title from Goldberg. Next, we revisit last week when Goldberg, fresh off police questioning, attacked the nWo Elite one-by-one until the numbers game overtook him.
Prior to the next match, Hall grabs the microphone and cuts a promo on Goldberg.
Match 5: Bam Bam Bigelow versus Scott Hall
Highlights:
Hall gave Bigelow a cross corner whip followed by a corner clothesline. When Bigelow reversed a cross corner whip, he SQUISHED Hall with an avalanche. Bigelow missed a diving head butt, so Hall gave him another cross corner whip. As Hall ate boot on his follow-through, Bigelow bulldozed him with a pair of lariats. He fed Hall a delayed vertical suplex but only got 2 thanks to a foot on the bottom rope.
After Disco Inferno made his presence felt at ringside, Bigelow delivered a Samoan drop. Referee Mickey Jay was unusually distracted by a fallen Hall, so that enabled Wrath to shove Bigelow down to the mat from the top turnbuckle. While Wrath attempted to climb the turnbuckles, Bigelow nailed him. Disco Inferno distracted Jay upon giving Hall a stungun.
Zapping Bigelow, Hall landed atop him and hid the weapon. 1-2-3. Hall won at 3:41.
Rating: *
Summary: What a fantastic way to destroy a newcomer. Just fabulous!
More tidbits from the taped Goldberg interview air. He’s not “impressed” with either Nash or Hall.
TV Rating: 4.23
According to Schiavone, Dillon sanctioned a match between Bigelow and Wrath at the PPV on Sunday.
Match 6: Ric Flair versus Curt Hennig
Highlights:
Hennig reversed a cross corner whip and backdropped Flair. As Barry Windham approached ringside, David Flair wasn’t far behind him. Following a commercial break, Hennig reversed another cross corner whip but ate a back elbow on his follow-through. Flair mounted the top turnbuckle, but Hennig caught and slammed him down to the mat.
When Hennig hooked a figure-four leg lock, he got 2. Flair escaped as only he can, but Hennig gave him a cross corner whip. After a Flair flip, Flair fell to the floor. Hennig joined and made Flair taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Kickback burger at Smoky Mountain Brewery. While Flair rebounded with a trip WAY DOWNTOWN, he made Hennig taste the steel railing. Waiter, could you give the rather Perfect one a brewhouse burger please?
Flair guillotined Hennig with the top rope and suplexed him back into the ring for 2. Administering a ten-punch count-along, Flair sent Hennig reeling over the top rope to the floor. Hennig distracted David long enough so that Windham could pound him from behind. Heinous! Back in the ring, Flair hobbled Hennig before securing a figure-four leg lock.
Windham rushed into the ring and pulverized Flair. Instantly, referee Randy Anderson called for the bell, and Flair won by DQ at 7:01.
Rating: ***
Summary: Strong appetizer for the tag match at the PPV.
Afterward, Windham and Hennig double-team Flair until David trips them coming off the ropes. David grabs a steel chair and gives it to Ric. The heels flee like their lives depended upon it.
More tidbits from the taped Goldberg interview air.
TV Rating: 4.53
At the entrance, the Nitro Girls dance in assorted colors.
Match 7: Kevin Nash (w/ Scott Hall) versus Giant
Highlights:
Buffer rumbled and rambled. When Giant headbutted him, he gave Nash a cross corner whip followed by a corner clothesline. Nash reversed a cross corner whip and dealt Giant a dose of his own medicine. As he fed Giant a big boot, Nash got 2. He landed an elbow drop and got 1. After Nash distracted referee Billy Silverman, Hall mugged Giant.
Nash delivered a pair of running guillotines and mauled Giant in the corner. While Nash distracted Silverman again, Hall nailed Giant. Wicked! Nash slammed Giant and followed with a big boot. Countering the jackknife powerbomb, Giant sandwiched Nash in the corner. He clotheslined Nash before knocking him down with a big boot.
Entering the ring, Hall got demolished with one shot. Giant clotheslined Nash again, whipped Hall into him in the corner, and disintegrated both of them with an avalanche. With Nash on the floor, Giant chokeslammed Hall. Nash grabbed the wrench that Bischoff had left behind from setting up the ring.
Unbeknownst to Silverman, Nash clobbered Giant with it. Giant, as expected, fell down to the mat like a sequoia. 1-2-3. Nash won at 6:29.
Rating: **
Summary: Say goodbye to Paul Wight’s WCW career.
After the match, Bischoff joins the broadcast table and sings Nash’s praises. nWo Elite heads to the ring to celebrate and spray-paints Giant for good measure.
TV Rating: 3.92
Conclusion: I’ll give credit where it’s due–accurate use of a plot device to assist Nash in overcoming the mighty Giant. Although it wasn’t a fantastic main event, the outcome was best for both parties. The tag match for the PPV was showcased greatly with the Flair-Hennig match whereas the Bigelow-Hall match revealed some nasty politics from the nWo.
Now let’s discuss the negative, and there’s LOTS of it. First of all, the first hour contained only ONE match. Tsk, tsk. Second, the next match lasted only two minutes for the sake of burying Konnan. While I understand defining lines within a new faction, it shouldn’t outrank what could have been a solid five-minute encounter. Third, an enhancement match in the second hour? Did WCW truly WANT fans to switch to RAW?
OK, I’ve griped enough. Some of this is worth your time. Check out Giant’s final WCW match if you’ve never seen it. What’s on RAW is WAR?
Final TV Rating: 5.0
Stay tuned for RAW Is WAR 01-11-99!
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