Live from St. Louis, MO
Airdate: December 21, 1998
Attendance: 28,959
Hosted by Tony Schiavone, “Iron” Mike Tenay, Larry Zbyszko, & Bobby “The Brain” Heenan
Call Hall end Goldberg’s winning streak? What’s up with Flair? What happens when Eddie and Mysterio go to battle? Is Mark McGwire REALLY on Nitro? What kind of crap is Disco trying to pull? Since the show’s in another stadium with a large crowd, could WCW pull off a great show to promote their upcoming PPV?
To open the show, a video featuring Eric Bischoff airs.
In the ring, the Nitro Girls dance in silver.
Match 1: Fit Finlay versus Scott Putski
Highlights:
Finlay planted Putski with an elbow smash followed by a European uppercut. When he slammed Putski, Finlay stymied him with another European uppercut. Putski gave Finlay a cross corner whip followed by a clothesline. As the match segued to the floor, Putski made Finlay taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the River City burger at Fitz’s.
Back in the ring, Putski slammed Finlay, connected with an elbow drop, and got 2. After Putski attempted a slam, his leg gave way, and Finlay landed on top for 2. The match segued to the floor again, and Finlay grabbed a steel chair. While referee Scott Dickinson stopped Finlay, Putski took advantage and ultimately rammed him face-first into the apron.
Following a commercial break, Finlay dealt Putski an inverted atomic drop, gave him a cross corner whip, and followed with a shoulder block. He scored with a senton splash and got 2. Reversing a cross corner whip, Finlay came up empty on his follow-through. Finlay mounted the top turnbuckle, but Putski caught and slammed him down to the mat. Could Putski truly win this match?
Clotheslining Finlay, Putski slammed him. Putski missed a Polish hammer, so Finlay unloaded a steamroller slam. Decimating Putski with a tombstone piledriver, Finlay won at 10:10 shown.
Rating: **½
Summary: With the St. Louis faithful beyond JACKED, these guys went all out, and Finlay came out on top but not by much.
We revisit last week when Bischoff shot off his mouth, but Flair scared him away. Flair’s promo isn’t shown, but his “heart attack” is. Afterward, Bischoff offers a phony apology. On Thunder, Bischoff, Windham, and Adams set up the Flair family. While Windham destroyed David, Bischoff kissed Beth.
Next, Ernest “The Cat” Miller emerges and heads to the ring. Upon grabbing the microphone, Miller flaps his gums, but the St. Louis faithful couldn’t care less. Santa Claus approaches the ring, so Miller asks what his Christmas present is. As Santa throws something at him, Miller invites him into the ring. Miller tries to attack him, but Santa ducks and feeds him a head-and-arm suplex. Hey, it’s Saturn Claus! He plants Miller with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex, Miller scampers away like a scaredy cat, and Saturn removes his Santa garb to punctuate the segment.
Opening montage. This late into the show? Why bother?
Match 2: Chavo Guerrero, Jr. (w/ Pepe) versus Kaz Hayashi
Highlights:
Chavo placed Pepe atop the ring post, but Hayashi knocked it to the floor. What a meanie! As Hayashi leapfrogged him, Chavo blocked a hip toss. Hayashi escaped a slam attempt and placed a knee into the midsection. When Chavo delivered a belly-to-back suplex, he gave Hayashi a cross corner whip. Chavo ate boot on his follow-through, so Hayashi mounted the top turnbuckle.
After Chavo joined him, Hayashi sent him reeling down to the mat twice. Hayashi attempted a cross body block, but Chavo dropkicked him in mid-air. Sweet! While he dumped Hayashi with a tornado DDT, Chavo pinned him at 2:59.
Rating: *
Summary: Showcase match for Chavo.
1-800-COLLECT sponsors the replay.
Video airs featuring Bam Bam Bigelow, Goldberg, and Nash.
Kevin Nash approaches the ring and name-drops his PPV opponent–Goldberg. In an interesting twist, the St. Louis faithful boos the BEJEEZUS out of it. According to Nash, Goldberg is 173-0 and notes that he “was a World champion.” Nash states he “defended the title 197 times and didn’t lose any of ‘em.” Following that, he advises Goldberg “to stay focused.” To finish the promo, he quotes Flair’s “to be the man, you’ve gotta beat the man.”
Schiavone shills the Nitro Party contest, and the Nitro Girls dance in black and silver at the entrance. The newest Nitro Girl Storm is featured. Eventually, she would change her name to Paisley. You may have heard of her as Booker T knows her well.
At the entrance, “Mean” Gene Okerlund interviews Raven alongside Kanyon. Raven badmouths his mother and compares her to Judy Bagwell. As Kanyon teases him, Raven beats him up. “Mrs. Levy” arrives to stop Raven and pleads with him to come home. After “Mrs. Levy” offers him some help, Raven acquiesces.
POINT OF ORDER: According to Meltzer, this was not really Raven’s mother but an actress portraying her.
Bischoff emerges and enters the ring. While he grabs the microphone, he feigns an apology about Ric Flair’s absence. On the other hand, ask and you shall receive because the Horsemen arrive backstage including Flair. Bischoff runs down Flair while the latter makes his way through the TWA Dome. As the Horsemen obliterate Scott Norton, Flair continues to march within the TWA Dome.
Bischoff’s forced to filibuster, and Flair finally sprints toward the ring. After Flair chases Bischoff out to the parking lot, the St. Louis faithful LOUDLY chants “We Want Flair.” Their hero returns to the ring to a tremendous ovation, grabs the microphone, and runs down Bischoff.
HOUR #2!
Video airs featuring DDP, Bret, and the Giant.
WCW Starrcade ’98 will be LIVE on PPV this Sunday. Order NOW!
Match 3: Wrath versus Lizmark, Jr.
Highlights:
Lizmark blocked a back drop attempt and dropkicked Wrath. When Wrath reversed an Irish whip, he dealt Lizmark a sidewalk slam for 2. He dropkicked Lizmark over the top rope to the floor, joined, and rammed him face-first into ring announcer David Penzer’s chair. Back in the ring, Lizmark countered a slam attempt with an inside cradle.
Do we have an unfathomable upset? 1-2-NO! Wrath rebounded with a back elbow, gave Lizmark a cross corner whip, but came up empty on his follow-through. As Lizmark mounted the top turnbuckle, he attempted a flying double axe handle. Wrath caught and dumped him with a Death Penalty In other words, a uranage. After he bulldozed Lizmark with a shoulder block, Wrath uncorked a Meltdown. 1-2-3. Wrath won at 3:54.
Rating: *
Summary: Showcase match for Wrath.
TV Rating: 4.2
Nitro Girls dance in silver to “Jingle Bells.” How ornamental!
Schiavone announces the Nitro Party pack winner, but…
Prior to the next match, Eddie grabs the microphone and chastises Mysterio.
Match 4: Eddie Guerrero (w/ Art Flores) versus Rey Mysterio, Jr.
Highlights:
Mysterio made his entrance, held up his XXXXXXL lWo t-shirt and covered the camera with it. HA! As Mysterio attempted an Asai moonsault, Eddie caught him. Mysterio countered with a flying headscissors, leapfrogged Eddie, and dumped him with a monkey flip. When he dropkicked Eddie over the top rope to the floor, Mysterio applied the brakes before launching an errant somersault plancha.
Eddie grabbed him off the apron and made him taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Yippee-Ki-Yay at Bailey’s Range.
After he rammed Mysterio into the steps, Eddie rolled him into the ring. He fed Mysterio a springboard senton splash followed by a belly-to-back suplex for 2. While he trapped Mysterio in a Gory Special, Eddie converted it into a helicopter slam. Nifty!
He tied Mysterio up like a pretzel but couldn’t earn a submission. With Mysterio on the apron, Eddie tried to suplex him back into the ring. On another note, Mysterio blocked it and suplexed Eddie onto the floor. OUCH!
Eddie reversed an Irish whip and sent Mysterio back-first into the steel railing. Back in the ring, he sandwiched Mysterio in the corner, hoisted him atop the top turnbuckle, joined, and unleashed a gorgeous super huracanrana for 2. Eddie locked a camel clutch on Mysterio before tearing some of his mask off.
Nevertheless, he delivered a release German suplex followed by a seated dropkick. Mysterio stymied him with a flying headscissors, but Eddie responded by attacking the knee. Following a healthy chant of “Eddie sucks” from the St. Louis faithful, a commercial break interrupted this encounter. Upon returning from break, Eddie secured him in an inverted Gory Special, but Mysterio countered with a victory roll for 2.
Reversing the cradle, Eddie got 2. He planted Mysterio with a brainbuster, mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but Mysterio evaded him. Since Eddie somersaulted to his feet, he immediately clotheslined Mysterio. He tied Mysterio to the Tree of Woe and dropkicked him. Trying a dropkick to the head, Eddie split his own uprights on the ring post when Mysterio performed a sit-up. Clever!
Mysterio mounted the top turnbuckle and soared with a tope onto Eddie and Flores. From the apron, Mysterio attempted a springboard dropkick but came up empty. Eddie reversed a cross corner whip, but Mysterio vaulted him face-first into the top turnbuckle. He flattened Eddie with a Rocker Dropper, mounted the top turnbuckle, and flummoxed Eddie with another flying headscissors. Although Eddie halted a baseball slide attempt, he fell victim to flying headscissors #4 on the floor.
Mysterio connected with a springboard senton and got 2. Reversing the cradle, Eddie got 2. He flapjacked Mysterio, powerbombed the BEJEEZUS out of him, but only got another 2. Escaping a second powerbomb attempt, Mysterio puzzled Eddie with flying headscissors #5 for 2. Eddie reversed a cross corner whip sending Mysterio directly into referee Charles Robinson.
With Robinson OUT COLD, Eddie split Mysterio in two with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Flores jumped onto the apron to double-team Mysterio, but the dreaded heel miscommunication reared its ugly head.
Demolishing Eddie with a springboard face plant, Mysterio could only earn a false pin. Kidman suddenly appeared for an apparent double-team but rarely seen face miscommunication transpired. Rolling up Mysterio, Eddie won at 13:20 shown.
Rating: ****
Summary: Absolutely phenomenal match with an incredibly stupid ending. These guys were going balls to the wall until the storyline kicked it.
TV Rating: 3.2
Promo #2 airs for Starrcade ’98. It will be LIVE on PPV this Sunday. Order NOW!
Big Poppa Pump emerges by himself, enters the ring, and grabs the microphone. As he recites his catchphrase, BPP introduces “Mark McGwire” who remarkably resembles Buff Bagwell. The nWo referee pedals him to the ring on a tricycle as “McGwire” adorns St. Louis Cardinals attire.
When he enters the ring, “McGwire” praises BPP. Conversely, BPP runs him down as a “redneck,” but “McGwire” accepts being called as such. HA! “McGwire” teases taking androstenedione to further irritate the St. Louis faithful, and BPP has the gall to question it.
Subsequently, BPP requests that “McGwire” donate his home run record-breaking jersey so that it can be honored in the “nWo Hall of Fame.” As expected, “McGwire” removes the jersey and is rather buff. He removes his cap but stomps all over it. Tossing his “disguise” into the massive crowd, Bagwell runs down the crowd. Methinks they were going to burn the jersey but relented before doing so.
Match 5: Norman Smiley versus Prince Iaukea
Highlights:
Iaukea ambushed Smiley before the bell, got reversed on a cross corner whip, but nailed him on a charge. When he leaped to the top turnbuckle, Iaukea flew over Smiley, rolled him up, and got 2. Smiley retaliated with a back elbow, blocked an O’Connor roll, and performed the Big Wiggle. As Iaukea attempted a sunset flip, Smiley fed him a knuckle sandwich.
Iaukea hit a unique Samoan drop and got 2. After Smiley escaped a slam attempt, he attempted a Norman Conquest. Iaukea escaped, but Smiley successfully applied it. While Iaukea submitted, Smiley won at 1:47.
Rating: *
Summary: Highlight of the match—you guessed it–the Big Wiggle.
HOUR #3!
Match 6: Barry Windham versus Van Hammer
Highlights:
- Seriously? This match began the third hour? Something awry.
- Windham suplexed Hammer, yet Flair sprinted to the ring to a big pop.
- Throw out the soup ‘cuz here comes the steak.
- No match.
Rating: NONE
Flair beats up Windham, tosses him over the top rope to the floor, joins, and makes him taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Gateway at 5 Star Burgers.
Nonetheless, he takes Windham on a trip WAY DOWNTOWN, and they brawl at ringside. Flair rams him back-first into the steel railing and blasts referee Billy Silverman. That’s for sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong! Back in the ring, Flair pounds the BEJEEZUS out of Windham before another trip WAY DOWNTOWN. He absolutely ensures Windham’s Monday night plans are destroyed until Vincent jumps into the ring.
After Flair smashes Vincent, Arn Anderson joins the party to help Flair. More nWo Hollywood reinforcements head toward the ring –Horace and Bryan Adams–until Benoit and Malenko attack them from the rear. The Horsemen are running wild, and the St. Louis faithful is eating it up with a spoon. As the melee segues to the parking lot, Benoit flattens Adams with a trash can while Malenko alters Horace’s features by ramming him into the back of a tractor-trailer. WCW Security arrives to diffuse the situation with great difficulty and places both Benoit and Malenko in handcuffs.
Back in the arena, Flair stands up for his family and runs down Bischoff for the BS he put Flair through earlier in the year. He states that Reid told him to kick Bischoff’s ass, so he’s back to destroy the “rotten bastard.” HA! Suddenly, Bischoff emerges for another phony apology, but Flair bolts after him. WCW Security prevents him from ambushing Bischoff, but Flair’s on a rampage.
TV Rating: 4.2
REAL Match 6: Booker T versus “Lightning Foot” Jerry Flynn
Highlights:
Booker T reversed an Irish whip and clobbered Flynn with a flying forearm. When he dealt Flynn a back elbow, Booker T ate a spin kick. Flynn unloaded his own back elbow followed by a knee drop. As Booker T reversed another Irish whip, he leapfrogged Flynn. He plastered him with an Axe kick and a spinebuster.
After he delivered a belly-to-back suplex, Booker T performed the Spinaroonie. He mounted the top turnbuckle and connected with a missile dropkick. 1-2-3. Booker T won at 2:25.
Rating: *
Summary: Showcase match for Booker T.
Match 7: The “Total Package” Lex Luger versus Kenny Kaos
Highlights:
Luger blocked a hip-toss attempt and fed Kaos one of his own. When Kaos leapfrogged him, he slammed Luger. Speaking of Luger, he rebounded with his own slam but succumbed to an inverted atomic drop.
Kaos planted him with a back elbow and got 2. As he slammed Luger again, Kaos mounted the second turnbuckle, launched a flying leg drop, and got another 2. He gave Luger a cross corner whip but ate a back elbow on his follow-through. After Luger steamrolled him with a pair of clotheslines, he obliterated Kaos with a running forearm smash. Rage emerged and jumped onto the apron. While Rage distracted him, Kaos fell victim to a Torture Rack. Kaos submitted; thus, Luger won at 3:39.
Rating: *
Summary: Showcase match for Luger, but Rage’s distraction led to the finish.
After the match, Rage questions Kaos’ allegiance. Kaos objects to Rage’s costing him the match, and they argue to end the segment.
In the ring, the Nitro Girls dance in silver.
Prior to the next match, Konnan grabs the microphone and rattles off his catchphrases. Before Wright makes his entrance, Disco Inferno approaches the ring. Disco runs down Wright and claims he and Konnan are friends. While Konnan vehemently denies this, he demands that Disco remove his Wolfpack t-shirt. Disco claims that Nash gave it to him, but Konnan dismisses him.
Match 8 for the WCW World TV title: Konnan (champion) versus “Das Wunderkind” Alex Wright
Highlights:
Konnan cradled Wright and got 2. As Wright countered with his own cradle, Konnan escaped. He gave Wright a cross corner whip but ate a back elbow on his follow-through. When he hip-tossed Wright, he sent Wright reeling to the floor. Following a commercial break, Wright gave Konnan a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
Konnan rolled up Wright and got 2. After Wright mounted the top turnbuckle, Konnan called his bluff with an “¡Orale!” He dealt Wright a seated dropkick and got another 2. While he flattened Wright with a somersault clothesline, Konnan couldn’t get 3. Wright reversed an Irish whip, but Konnan dumped him with a DDT for yet another 2.
Leapfrogging Wright, Konnan stymied him with a thrust kick. He decimated Wright by planting him face-first into the mat, secured a Tequila Sunrise, and got the submission. As a result, Konnan retained at 6:03 shown.
Rating: **
Summary: Wright didn’t offer much, and the match had ZERO heat; however, Konnan is over like Rover as he heads into the PPV to face Jericho.
Following the match, Wright throws a shitfit to referee Scott Dickinson. He grabs a steel chair and LOSES HIS DAMN MIND. While Dickinson focuses on calming Wright down, Jericho storms the ring and waffles Konnan with the title belt. How dastardly! He whips Konnan with the belt, slams him, places the belt across Konnan’s face, and launches a Lionsault atop him. Upon whipping Konnan once more, Jericho wraps the belt around his waist and retreats to the locker room. Solid angle to preview their upcoming PPV match.
Prior to the next match, Disco grabs the microphone and challenges “anybody from (nWo Hollywood)” to a match RIGHT NOW. Unfortunately for Disco, he gets the BIGGEST member.
OK, maybe not like that.
Match 9: Giant versus Disco Inferno
Highlights:
Disco tried to ambush him before the bell, but Giant tossed him like garbage. When he headbutted Disco, Giant followed with a head butt to the midsection. Disco attempted a Chartbuster, but Giant threw him across the ring. As he hoisted Disco atop the top turnbuckle, Giant scored with a super CHOKESLAM. 1-2-3. Giant won at 2:57.
Rating: ½*
Summary: Showcase match for Giant as Disco had ZERO chance to win.
Afterward, Giant grabs the microphone and cuts a promo on DDP equating him to an insect. Abruptly, said insect DDP calls him out among the St. Louis faithful. He promises Giant will “feel the BANG.”
Match 10 (non-title): WCW World champion Goldberg versus Scott Hall
Highlights:
Buffer rumbled and rambled. After about a minute, Nash strode toward the ring and gave Goldberg a crotch chop. Goldberg blocked a slam and fed Hall one of his own. As the LOUD chant of “Gold-berg” rang throughout the TWA Dome, Hall unleashed a fallaway slam. Goldberg no-sold it and speared Hall.
When Nash dragged Hall to the floor, Bigelow stormed the ring and attacked Goldberg. Referee Billy Silverman called for the bell, and Goldberg won by DQ at 2:54.
Rating: *
Summary: Merely an appetizer for the PPV on Sunday.
After the match, Goldberg and Bigelow fought as Nitro left the air.
TV Rating: 3.95
Conclusion: WTF is WCW doing? Twice in three weeks, they’ve had a HUGE stadium crowd and stiffed them on a main event. This could come back to haunt them down the line.
Regardless, both the Flair segments and the Guerrero-Mysterio match were tremendously entertaining. For the unquestionably JACKED St. Louis faithful, all wrestlers on the episode busted their asses. It’s great to see a crowd be that invested causing the wrestlers to take it up a notch. Many of the PPV matches were hyped since this is the final WCW show leading up to it. Honestly, since I’ve never seen the entire show, I’m excited to watch it.
What’s on RAW is WAR?
TV Rating: 3.7
Stay tuned for RAW Is WAR 12-21-98!
Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at rsg@rockstargary.com and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202).