Taped from Memphis, TN
Airdate: December 10, 1998
Attendance: 8,978 (8,358 paid, sold out)
Hosted by Tony Schiavone, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, & Lee Marshall
Can the Wolfpack take down nWo Hollywood in a six-man match? Who will become the #1 contender to the Cruiserweight title? What happens when Benoit and Kanyon collide? Will Jericho score another victory over Duncum? Could get messy, so hunker down in time for Thunder!
Opening montage.
Match 1: Chris Jericho (w/ Ralphus) versus Bobby Duncum, Jr.
Highlights:
Jericho leapfrogged Duncum but ate a big boot. When Jericho countered a rear chin lock with a jawbreaker, he dropkicked Duncum. Following a commercial break, Jericho gave him a cross corner whip, but Duncum exploded from the corner with a lariat. The match segued to the floor where Duncum suplexed Jericho. OUCH!
As they returned to the ring, Jericho reversed an Irish whip and sent Duncum reeling into the second rope via drop toehold. He dealt Duncum a senton splash and got 2. After Jericho employed an Arrogant Cover, he only got 1. Duncum reversed a surfboard but ate a somersault mule kick. While Jericho got 2, he split Duncum in two with a backbreaker.
He slammed Duncum, mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but ate boot. Missing a big boot, Duncum didn’t on the second attempt. He gave Jericho a cross corner whip and dumped him with a bulldog for 2.
Escaping a powerbomb attempt, Jericho rolled up Duncum, placed his feet on the top rope, and pinned him?
Konnan approached ringside and summoned referee Mickey Jay. Upon receiving intel regarding Jericho’s chicanery, Jay restarted the match. Jericho hung Duncum out to dry on the top rope, but Duncum re-entered the ring via sunset flip. Kneeling atop Duncum, Jericho grabbed the second rope for leverage. Konnan demolished Jericho with the World TV belt, and Duncum pinned Jericho at 6:35 shown.
Rating: **
Summary: Duncum needed Konnan’s help to beat Jericho? That’s not a good sign for the newcomer.
Snickers sponsors the replay.
Video airs featuring the Flair/Bischoff saga.
On WCW Saturday Night, Hall squares off against Stevie Ray! I can’t control my excitement!
Match 2: Saturn versus Glacier
Highlights:
Glacier floored him with a leg lariat, but Saturn responded with an ankle lock. As Glacier grabbed the bottom rope to escape, Saturn applied a spinning toe hold. Had this been in Texas, Glacier would be crying “uncle.” Nevertheless, Saturn knocked Glacier silly with a pair of thrust kicks. The match segued to the floor, and Saturn rammed Glacier back-first into the steel railing. Suddenly, Sonny Onoo, wearing a neck brace, hooked Saturn’s heel while the latter was on the apron. SNEAKY!
Glacier suplexed Saturn back into the ring and got 2. When he connected with a somersault flying back elbow, Glacier succumbed to an inside cradle. Saturn got 2, but Glacier gave him a cross corner whip followed by a thrust kick. After he charged Saturn, Glacier whiffed on another thrust kick and hung himself out to dry on the top rope. Saturn unleashed a big boot, took down Glacier, and got 2.
While he stymied Glacier with a T-bone suplex, Saturn mounted the top turnbuckle. He scored with a flying elbow drop but only got another 2. Escaping a Death Valley Driver, Glacier got caught in the Rings of Saturn. Onoo jumped into the ring and kicked Saturn. Calling for the bell, referee Charles Robinson awarded the match to Saturn via DQ at 6:39.
Rating: **
Summary: Saturn was about to put Glacier away before Onoo saved his bacon. Poor Saturn.
After the match, Onoo continues to attack Saturn to no avail. Saturn saunters after him and refuses a bribe. Instead, Saturn devastates Onoo with a Falcon Arrow. He applies the Rings of Saturn and avoids an incoming Glacier elbow drop at Onoo’s expense. To dispose of Glacier, Saturn unfurls an overhead belly-to-belly suplex.
Match 3: Norman Smiley versus Kaz Hayashi
Highlights:
Hayashi spun him around with a flying headscissors, but Smiley rebounded with a flapjack. When he gave Hayashi a cross corner whip, Smiley followed with a spinning slam. The Memphis faithful chided him with a “Nor-man” chant, so Smiley obliterated Hayashi with a big boot. As he dealt Hayashi a double underhook slam, Smiley got 2. He fed Hayashi a belly-to-back suplex, took him to the floor, and rammed him back-first into the apron.
After Smiley taunted the Memphis faithful with a SMBU, Hayashi countered a slam into a rollup for 2. Cross-corner whips were reversed, Hayashi charged, but he ate boot on his follow-through. While Hayashi leaped to the top turnbuckle, he launched a flying cross body block. Hayashi attempted to sunset flip him, but Smiley powered out.
Countering into another rollup, Hayashi got 2. Smiley countered an Irish whip into a cross-face chicken wing, and Hayashi tapped out. As a result, Smiley won at 6:04.
Rating: **½
Summary: Hayashi barely stood a chance as Smiley engulfed him.
Cinnaburst sponsors the replay.
We revisit Nitro when Nash confronted Goldberg and inserted himself into the main event. During the main event, there wasn’t anything but a meaningless pull-apart brawl.
Ernest “The Cat” Miller and Onoo approach the ring, but Onoo questions Miller’s whereabouts during his beatdown. WTF was this?
Match 4 to become #1 contender to the Cruiserweight title: Rey Mysterio, Jr. versus Juventud Guerrera
Highlights:
Mysterio leapfrogged him, but Guerrera scored with a Rocker Dropper. As Mysterio reversed a cross corner whip, Guerrera floated over, yet Mysterio caught him with a flying headscissors. Following a commercial break, Mysterio gave Guerrera a cross corner whip followed by a corner clothesline.
Guerrera tried to get up, but Mysterio planted him with a modified Bronco buster. When Mysterio unleashed a ten-punch count-along onto him, Guerrera scored with a running powerbomb for 2. Don’t tell D’Lo!
Members of lWo approached the ring, and Guerrera slammed Mysterio. After he landed an elbow drop, Guerrera mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but ate boot. Mysterio slammed Guerrera, delivered a springboard splash, and got 2. While Guerrera reversed an Irish whip, Mysterio spun out in the ropes.
Although Mysterio vaulted him to the apron, Guerrera guillotined him with the top rope. He mounted the top turnbuckle and connected with a cross body block for 2. Sliding under Guerrera, Mysterio hit a seated dropkick to the knee. He mounted the second rope and annihilated Guerrera with a guillotine leg drop for 2. Reversing a cross corner whip, Guerrera came up empty on his follow-through.
He reversed an Irish whip and dealt Mysterio a reverse suplex onto the top rope. Hooking a victory roll, Mysterio got 2. Guerrera vaulted him, but Mysterio countered with an X-Factor for 2. Countering a powerbomb, Guerrera bulldogged Mysterio for 2. Mysterio unfurled a release German suplex, but Guerrera landed on his feet. He planted Mysterio with a Juvi Driver, dragged him to the corner, and mounted the top turnbuckle.
To block another aerial maneuver, Mysterio crotched Guerrera on the top rope. He joined and stymied Guerrera with a super huracanrana. Before Mysterio could pin Guerrera, the lWo infiltrated the ring. Referee Billy Silverman called for the bell and threw the match out at 9:41 shown. BOOOOOOOO!
Rating: ***
Summary: Somehow, I knew the finish wouldn’t be clean. These guys performed well despite the lack of interest from the Memphis faithful.
Following the match, Mysterio demolishes La Parka but gets pummeled by the rest of the lWo. Kidman sprints to the ring, mounts the top turnbuckle, and picks up the 7-10 split. He rescues Mysterio while the lWo and WCW security destroy and/or dogpile an idiotic fan who jumped into the ring.
For the second time, we revisit Nitro when Giant cuts a post-match promo and challenges DDP for a PPV match. Later, he’s in the ring during the Hall/BPP “match”, yet DDP wallops him with a steel chair.
Match 5: Booker T versus Lodi
Highlights:
Booker T clobbered Lodi with a flying forearm followed by an Axe kick. When Stevie Ray approached ringside, he grabbed the microphone and jumped into the ring. He berated Booker T and destroyed Lodi with his slapjack. As referee Brady Boone called for the bell, Lodi won by DQ at 1:44.
Rating: NONE
Summary: Merely background for the ongoing dispute between Booker T and Stevie Ray.
Prior to the next match, Kanyon grabs the microphone and is PISSED OFF at Raven. He refers to Raven as a “man-child” and uses his catchphrase against him.
Match 6: The “Crippler” Chris Benoit versus Kanyon
Highlights:
Kanyon hooked a crucifix and got 2. As he scored with a fisherman’s neckbreaker, Kanyon got another 2.
Benoit responded with a German suplex followed by a full nelson. When Kanyon escaped, Benoit gave him a cross corner whip. He hoisted Kanyon atop the top turnbuckle, joined, and launched a top rope superplex. After the match segued to the floor, Benoit made Kanyon HIT THE POLE.
He connected with a back elbow followed by a snap suplex for 2. While Kanyon reversed a cross corner whip, Benoit took a sternum-first bump in the corner. He stymied Benoit with a side-Russian leg sweep and got 2. Suplexing Benoit, Kanyon migrated to the apron and soared with a springboard elbow drop for another 2. Benoit stomped a mudhole in Kanyon and unleashed a snot rocket. Ew.
Splitting Kanyon in two with a backbreaker, Benoit got 2. Kanyon rebounded with a flying Rocker Dropper for 2. Planting Benoit with reverse F5, Kanyon got another 2. Benoit escaped a second attempt and clotheslined Kanyon. Mounting the top turnbuckle, Benoit got bumped and crotched. Raven approached ringside and stepped into the ring. Upon getting nailed by a can of paint by Raven, Benoit won by DQ at 10:15. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Rating: ***
Summary: Another crappy finish to a match that deserved better.
Afterward, Raven leaves the ring, so Benoit traps Kanyon in a Crippler Crossface. Referee Mickey Jay breaks it up to end the segment.
Prior to the main event, Luger grabs the microphone and hands it to Konnan to relay his catchphrase.
Match 7: “Big Sexy” Kevin Nash, the “Total Package” Lex Luger & Konnan versus Stevie Ray, Horace, & Vincent
Highlights:
Where’s Nash? Nonetheless, the Memphis faithful chanted “Wolf-pack,” so it’s time to whoop it up.
When Luger clotheslined him, Stevie Ray cheated like the 1919 White Sox to attain control. Horace tagged in, but Luger blocked a hip toss and dealt him one of his own. As Vincent stormed in, he ate a hip toss from Luger as well. Stevie Ray nailed Luger from the apron, and Horace followed with a slam. After Horace whiffed on a running guillotine, Konnan tagged in.
He exploded with a somersault clothesline and ran roughshod over nWo Hollywood. While Stevie Ray tagged in, he leveled Konnan with a big boot. He baited Luger into the ring causing referee Charles Robinson to be distracted. Tagging in, Vincent landed a fist drop. Horace tagged in, clotheslined Konnan, and followed with a splash.
Before Horace scored the pinfall, Luger made the save. Robinson placed Luger back in the Wolfpack corner enabling an illegal switch to Stevie Ray. Crafty! Slamming Konnan, Stevie Ray missed a leg drop. Stevie Ray sent Konnan down to the floor, so Vincent took the opportunity to hammer him. Getting another turn, Horace suplexed Konnan for a second 2-count. The “Wolf-pack” chant continued, but a double clothesline put both wrestlers down on the mat.
Hot tag Luger.
Upon cleaning house, Luger ruined Stevie Ray’s weekend with an inverted atomic drop. He plastered Stevie Ray with a running forearm smash but ate a jawbreaker. Brandishing his slapjack, Stevie Ray got stopped as Scott Hall abruptly grabbed it from the apron. Luger applied the Torture Rack, and Stevie Ray submitted. As a result, Luger and Konnan won at 8:59.
Rating: **
Summary: Thank goodness the Wolfpack is popular because this was a slow, plodding tag match with barely any heat. Now I understand the significance of the Hall-Stevie Ray match on WCWSN.
After the match, Hall raises his arms in celebration to end the show.
Conclusion: Well, it’s a wrestling show, but nothing spectacular. While no major happenings occurred, there were a few storyline developments. First, Raven interjected himself in ruining a perfectly good match between Kanyon and Benoit. Second, Hall interrupted Stevie Ray’s shenanigans enabling Luger to gain a submission victory. Third, Konnan, for inexplicable reasons, assisted Duncum in beating Jericho. Fourth, no winner was declared between Guerrera and Mysterio thanks to lWo interference. Lastly, Onoo got beaten up by Saturn and painfully questioned Miller’s whereabouts. To me, this episode is somewhat entertaining but nothing to go out of your way to watch. Avoid at all costs.
Stay tuned for WWF HeAT 12-13-98!
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