WCW Thunder November 19, 1998

by

Live from Fort Wayne, IN

Airdate: November 19, 1998

Attendance: 6,423 (sold out)

Hosted by Tony Schiavone, Lee Marshall, & Larry Zbyszko

How will Konnan fare against the “Hitman”? Will Wrath continue his hot streak, or will Saturn put out his flame? Who will join Hayashi in his quest to get Onoo? What happens with Mysterio now that he’s a part of the lWo? Get your slicker, cuz it’s gonna pour!

In the cold open, we revisit Nitro when DDP returned from injury to give Bret some comeuppance in anticipation of their match at the PPV.

Match 1: Booker T versus Norman Smiley

Highlights:

  • Smiley stymied Booker T with a pair of European uppercuts, gave him a cross corner whip, and slammed him.
  • When Smiley clotheslined him, Booker T rebounded with a flying forearm.
  • He dealt Smiley a spin kick followed by a bicycle kick.
  • As he missed an elbow drop, Booker T performed a Spinaroonie. Woohoo!
  • He unloaded a leg lariat, reversed an Irish whip, and planted Smiley with a spinebuster.
  • 1-2-3.
  • Booker T won at 3:29.

Rating: *

Summary: Showcase match for Booker T.

For the second time, we revisit Nitro for more of the DDP promo.

Plug airs for WCW World War 3 ‘98 LIVE on PPV this Sunday. Order NOW!

Opening montage.

Thunder is sponsored by 1-800-COLLECT.

For the third time, we revisit Nitro when Bagwell leveled “Mrs. Steiner.” Rick Steiner chased them away and exposed “Mrs. Steiner” as a fraud. On the other hand, Norton got involved, and BPP warned Rick about appearing at the PPV.

Match 2: Scott Hall (w/ nWo Hollywood) versus Disco Inferno

Highlights:

  • Disco unfurled a kick to the midsection and followed with a swinging neckbreaker.
  • As he clotheslined Hall, Disco delivered a ten-punch count-along to him.
  • Hall reversed a cross corner whip and unloaded a corner clothesline.
  • When he dealt Disco a discus punch, Hall caught him mid-cross body block.
  • He dumped Disco with a fallaway slam and destroyed him with an Outsider Edge.
  • 1-2-3.
  • Hall won at 2:37.

Rating: *

Summary: Showcase match for Hall.

At the entrance, Schiavone interviews Chris Jericho who cuts a promo on Duncum whom he’ll face at the PPV. Before he could utter more criticism, Duncum emerges and flattens Jericho. He ties up Jericho like a calf at the rodeo and leaves him compromised.

Earlier today, Kaz Hayashi tries to find a partner, encounters Hall, but gets blown off.

On WCW Saturday Night, Kidman battles Mysterio, Jr. and DDP squares off against Stevie Ray.

For the fourth time, we revisit Nitro when Jericho escaped with the World TV belt by the skin of his teeth thanks to walking out on the match.

Prior to the next match, the newest member of the lWo–Rey Mysterio, Jr.–approaches the ring. Kidman makes his entrance and takes the microphone. As Kidman runs down the lWo, Eddie arrives as Mysterio’s backup. Eddie touts his newest recruit until Mysterio vouches for himself in wanting a title shot. Angered, Eddie tells Mysterio that there’s no I in team. To show sacrifice, Eddie takes Mystero’s place.

Match 3: Eddie Guerrero versus Kidman

Highlights:

  • Eddie dropkicked Kidman who reversed an Irish whip, leapfrogged, and monkey-flipped him.
  • When he migrated to the apron, Kidman launched a springboard leg drop.
  • Eddie offered a handshake, so Kidman shook it and followed with a clothesline.
  • As the Ft. Wayne faithful informed Eddie that he indeed “sucks,” Kidman trapped their nemesis in a sleeper.
  • Eddie countered with a jawbreaker, but Kidman migrated to the apron to deal him a flying headscissors.
  • After Kidman reapplied the sleeper, Eddie escaped only to succumb to a huracanrana for 2.
  • Kidman gave Eddie a cross corner whip followed by another clothesline.
  • While Eddie countered another clothesline attempt with a uranage, he mounted the top turnbuckle.
  • Kidman caught, joined, and superplexed him for 2. Amazing!
  • Escaping a vertical suplex attempt, Eddie tried to powerbomb him.
  • Kidman instead face-planted him.
  • Mounting the top turnbuckle, Kidman noticed Mysterio and Flores and dove on top of them.
  • He reversed an Irish whip and connected with a sit-out powerbomb for another 2.
  • Slamming Eddie, Kidman got distracted by Flores on the apron.
  • Mysterio yanked Flores down, but Eddie rolled up Kidman with his feet on the ropes.
  • 1-2-3.
  • Eddie won at 5:39.

Rating: ****

Summary: Great match mired by some lWo “interference,” yet Eddie took not only advantage of the distraction but also liberties unbeknownst to referee Charles Robinson. Clever!

Hasbro Interactive sponsors the replay.

For the fifth time, we revisit Nitro when Juventud Guerrera SHOCKED THE WORLD by defeating Kidman for the Cruiserweight title.

Video airs of the saga between Kevin Nash and Scott Hall.

Prior to the next match, Vincent tries messing with Putski but gets shoved down. Putski clotheslines the beret off Vincent’s head, but Norton wallops him with one of his own.

Match 4 (non-title): IWGP champion Scott Norton (w/ nWo Hollywood) versus Scott Putski

Highlights:

  • Norton gave Putski a cross corner whip and followed with an avalanche.
  • As Norton tossed him over the top rope to the floor, Putski got ambushed by Vincent. Vicious!
  • nWo Hollywood triple-teamed Putski, and Norton suplexed him back into the ring without going down too.
  • When he dealt Putski a series of short-arm clotheslines, Norton reversed a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
  • Putski charged but got powerslammed.
  • After he powerbombed Putski, Norton pinned him at 1:49.

Rating: DUD

Summary: Showcase match for Norton.

For the sixth time, we revisit Nitro when Hogan introduced “Monica.” Next, Bischoff berated Hall but got sucker-punched. Hogan beatsup Hall until Nash arrived.

In another segment taped earlier, Hayashi asks Disco who confuses tag team partner for dance partner. Saturn intervenes and possibly becomes Hayashi’s partner.

Prior to the next match, Miller takes the microphone and runs down the Ft. Wayne faithful. Onoo gets his turn and informs him that Super Sensei will be Miller’s next opponent.

Match 5: “The Cat” Ernest Miller (w/ Sonny Onoo) versus Super Sensei

Highlights:

  • Don’t even get me started on who Sensei is as he’s neither Asian nor a karate champion.
  • When Hayashi chased after Onoo, Miller clotheslined him.
  • Miller and Onoo double-teamed Hayashi until Saturn rescued him.
  • As Saturn plowed through Miller with a clothesline, he scared off Onoo.
  • No match.

Rating: NONE

Summary: Confirmation that Saturn will join Hayashi against Miller and Onoo at the PPV.

After the fracas, Miller destroys the ham’n’egger in the gi while Saturn verbally offers his services to Hayashi.

Match 6: Alex Wright versus Chavo Guerrero, Jr. (w/ Pepe)

Highlights:

  • Wright slammed Chavo while “Iron” Mike Tenay shilled wcw.com.
  • As Chavo dropkicked him, Wright reversed a cross corner whip but fell victim to a flying headscissors.
  • Wright reversed an Irish whip yet ate another flying headscissors.
  • When Chavo dropkicked him again, Wright rebounded with an elbow drop.
  • Chavo reversed an Irish whip, but Wright shoved him off during a tornado DDT attempt.
  • After he stymied Chavo with a spinning heel kick, Wright tossed him over the top rope to the floor.
  • He leaped from the apron and blasted Chavo with a double axe handle.
  • While he rammed Chavo back-first into the apron, Wright slammed him on the floor.
  • Chavo retaliated by guillotining Wright with the top rope, scored with a springboard cross body block, and got 2.
  • Rolling up Wright, Chavo earned another 2-count.
  • Wright gave Chavo a cross corner whip and followed with a back elbow.
  • Slamming Chavo again, Wright migrated to the apron and unleashed a springboard splash for 2.
  • He suplexed Chavo for another 2.
  • Splatting Chavo with a belly-to-back suplex, Wright mounted the top turnbuckle.
  • He leaped but ate boot.
  • Giving Wright a cross corner whip, Chavo followed with a flying forearm.
  • He soared with a springboard bulldog, gave Wright another cross corner whip, and backdropped him.
  • Clotheslining Wright, Chavo got 2.
  • Wright attempted a second belly-to-back suplex, but Chavo fell on top for another 2.
  • Stymying Chavo with a clothesline, Wright got 2.
  • Wright attempted a hangman’s neckbreaker, but Chavo escaped and attempted a vertical suplex.
  • Blocking it, Wright hooked a somersault rollup and pinned Chavo at 7:37.

Rating: ***

Summary: Solid match where Wright’s size made all the difference.

Following the match, Wright plows Chavo with another clothesline, grabs Pepe, and breaks it albeit off camera. Chavo grabs the remains of his beloved sidekick and chases him off.

Prior to the next match, Kanyon grabs the microphone, polls the Ft. Wayne faithful, but receives the wrong response AGAIN.

Match 7: Kanyon (w/o Raven) versus Prince Iaukea

Highlights:

  • Before the bell, Kanyon met Iaukea in the aisle, and the brawl was ON.
  • Iaukea tossed Kanyon back into the ring, got reversed on an Irish whip, but dropkicked him for 2.
  • When Kanyon demolished him with a sit-out flapjack, he got 2. Innovative!
  • Iaukea migrated to the apron, but Kanyon connected with a springboard vertical suplex for another 2.
  • As he hooked a cobra clutch, Kanyon drove Iaukea down to the mat but couldn’t get 3.
  • Iaukea rebounded with a sunset flip but ultimately ate a knuckle sandwich.
  • After Kanyon missed an elbow drop, he planted Iaukea face-first into the mat for yet another 2.
  • Iaukea reversed an Irish whip and obliterated Kanyon with an enziguri.
  • While he backdropped Kanyon, Iaukea dismantled Kanyon and followed with a modified Samoan drop for 2.
  • Kanyon blocked a vertical suplex and flattened Iaukea with a Flatliner.
  • 1-2-3.
  • Kanyon won at 4:19.

Rating: **

Summary: Good match with strong workrate, but the Ft. Wayne faithful couldn’t care less.

Cinnaburst sponsors the replay.

Match 8: Wrath versus Saturn

Highlights:

  • Saturn scored with a springboard forearm smash and clotheslined Wrath.
  • As he dropkicked Wrath between the ropes to the floor, Saturn soared with a plancha. Awesome!
  • Wrath rebounded with a short-arm clothesline and planted Saturn with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.
  • When Wrath reversed a cross corner whip back to the original corner, he delivered a belly-to-back suplex.
  • He mounted the top turnbuckle and launched a lariat for 2.
  • After he gave Saturn a cross corner whip, Wrath came up empty on his follow-through.
  • Saturn hooked a head-and-arm suplex for 2.
  • While Wrath reversed an Irish whip, Saturn secured a sunset flip for another 2.
  • Saturn planted Wrath with a thrust kick, yet Onoo and Miller occupied the aisle for a better view.
  • Mounting the top turnbuckle, Saturn glided with a flying splash.
  • Could he beat the undefeated Wrath?
  • 1-2-NO!
  • Onoo jumped onto the apron to distract referee Charles Robinson, and Miller took advantage by leveling Saturn with his own thrust kick.
  • Getting to his feet, Wrath creamed Saturn with a Meltdown.
  • 1-2-3.
  • Wrath won at 6:09.

Rating: **

Summary: Decent match marred by interference to protect Saturn against the ever-climbing Wrath.

Afterward, Hayashi enters the ring to check on his tag team partner for the PPV.

For the seventh time, we revisit Nitro when Bam Bam Bigelow returned to WCW in a quest to destroy Goldberg. If I may interject, WCW’s claim that Bigelow doesn’t work for them may fool the marks, but knowledgeable fans know that Bigelow can’t step onto WCW TV without a contract.

Prior to the main event, Konnan grabs the microphone and recites his catchphrase with help from the Ft. Wayne faithful.

Match 9: Bret “Hitman” Hart versus Konnan

Highlights:

  • Konnan pounded on Bret with a ten-punch count-along.
  • When the match segued to the floor, Konnan made Bret taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Tin Cap at Hall’s Tavern.
  • He bounced Bret face-first off the steps, re-entered the ring via sunset flip, and got 2.
  • Suddenly, Stevie Ray stormed the ring and WHACKED Konnan with his slapjack. SNEAKY!
  • Bret hooked a Sharpshooter, and with Konnan OUT COLD, he won at 3:20.

Rating: *

Summary: Time mismanagement led to a quick match with a finish that stunk on Melba toast.

After the match, Bret grabs a chair and sets up Konnan to be Pillmanized. Before Bret can leap from the second turnbuckle, DDP arrives to confront him to end the show.

Conclusion: Ready for the PPV? WCW is! They teased Bret-DDP, added Saturn as a partner to Hayashi, confirmed Duncum’s World TV title shot, and furthered Mysterio’s place within the lWo. In addition, the Kidman-Eddie and Chavo-Wright matches are worth seeking out. Be sure to take some time off to enjoy this episode.

Stay tuned for WWF Sunday Night HeAT 11-22-98!

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