Live from Washington, DC
Airdate: December 27, 1998
Attendance: 16,066 (sold out)
Hosted by Tony Schiavone, “Iron” Mike Tenay, & Bobby “The Brain” Heenan
Will Goldberg retain the World title and maintain his winning streak? Or will Nash shock the world by defeating him? In how many ways will Flair exact revenge against Bischoff? Can DDP overcome the odds by beating Giant? Will Jericho literally steal the TV belt? And what’s up with this Kidman guy?
Opening montage.
Bret among others shill a QVC special for WCW/nWo merchandise for 12/30 from 8-10pm ET. Buy the shirt!
At the entrance, “Mean” Gene Okerlund states that the Four Horsemen minus Flair have been banned from the arena tonight. Oh, dear God, why? Of course, Gene shills the hotline.
Match 1 for the WCW Cruiserweight title (triple-threat): Kidman (champion) versus Rey Mysterio, Jr. versus Juventud Guerrera
Highlights:
To begin the match with a ROAR from the DC faithful, Kidman and Mysterio double-teamed Guerrera. Kidman leapfrogged Guerrera who fell victim to a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker from Mysterio. When Mysterio gave Guerrera a cross corner whip, he ate boot on his follow-through. Kidman dropkicked Guerrera and gave Mysterio a cross corner whip.
As Mysterio unveiled a Bronco buster atop Guerrera, he gave Guerrera another cross corner whip. Guerrera floated over Mysterio but fell into the clutches of Kidman. After babyface miscommunication transpired, Kidman and Mysterio brawled. Guerrera began to cheer them on until they both clobbered him. HA!
While Kidman hoisted him atop the top turnbuckle, he joined Guerrera. Mysterio also joined the fray, and yanked Kidman down to the mat. Joining Guerrera, Mysterio found himself atop Kidman’s shoulders. Guerrera mounted the top turnbuckle, attempted a cross body block, but there wasn’t any water in the pool.
Splashing a prone Guerrera with Mysterio, Kidman prevented a three-count. Kidman got 2, but Mysterio made the save. In the home of patriotism, a “U-S-A” chant rang out, and I was wondering if “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan wasn’t nearby.
Kidman leapfrogged him again, but Guerrera double-bulldogged the babyfaces for 2. Escaping a release German suplex by Mysterio, Guerrera succumbed to a lariat from Kidman. Mysterio flattened Kidman with a face plant and got 2 on each of his opponents. Clotheslining Kidman over the top rope to the floor, Guerrera backdropped Mysterio who landed atop Kidman on the floor.
Guerrera connected with a springboard double clothesline, and all three wrestlers were sprawled in the aisle beyond ringside. With Mysterio and Kidman back in the ring, Guerrera mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but ate a double dropkick. Who knew the Rock’n’Roll Express were in town?
Kidman hoisted Mysterio atop his shoulders again, and Kidman uncorked a springboard huracanrana onto Mysterio for 2. Spectacular!
Getting 2 on Guerrera, Kidman planted Guerrera with an Acid Drop while dropkicking Mysterio away. Kidman got another 2 and dumped Guerrera with a sidewalk slam. Mounting the top turnbuckle, Kidman attempted a flying splash but ate boots. Mysterio scored with an Asai moonsault to Kidman for 2.
Suplexing Guerrera to the apron, Mysterio bamboozled him with a flying headscissors to the floor. Kidman suplexed Mysterio from the apron back into the ring, mounted the second turnbuckle, and launched a guillotine leg drop for 2. Powerbombing Guerrera, Kidman got 2. Mysterio bulldogged Kidman for 2. Splitting Mysterio in two with an over-the-shoulder backbreaker, Guerrera got 2.
Kidman gave Mysterio an Irish whip that became a spinout, charged, missed, and soared over the top rope barely missing Guerrera. From the apron, Mysterio unveiled a G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S Asai moonsault from the top rope onto both Kidman and Guerrera. He tossed Guerrera back into the ring and dealt him a springboard flying headscissors. Reversing an Irish whip, Guerrera demolished Mysterio with a Juvi Driver for 2.
POINT OF ORDER: This match had more saves than Mariano Rivera that season.
Guerrera hoisted Kidman atop the top turnbuckle and vaulted Mysterio atop Kidman. Stymying Kidman with a super huracanrana, Mysterio got 2. Kidman destroyed Guerrera with a sit-out powerbomb for 2. From the second rope, Mysterio took Guerrera with him over the top rope to the floor. Kidman mounted the top turnbuckle and picked up the 7-10 split with an amazing Shooting Star Press down to the floor.
To a chorus of boos, Eddie Guerrero came down the aisle only to be thwarted by referee Charles Robinson. Kidman vaulted him over the top rope, but Guerrera responded by guillotining him with it. Blocking a sunset flip, Kidman couldn’t achieve a pin since Eddie continued to distract Robinson. Eddie hurriedly snuck into the ring and flipped Guerrera on top while Robinson checked on Mysterio. Crafty!
Seeing the pin attempt, Robinson slid into the ring, but Guerrera only got 2 thanks to a dropkick by an incoming Mysterio. That instantly placed Kidman atop Guerrera. 1-2-3. Kidman retained at 14:56.
Rating: *****
Summary: Unquestionably one of the best opening matches in WCW PPV history. The chemistry between all three wrestlers was crisp, the story of anybody could win at any time was executed perfectly, and even with a run-in, the finish wasn’t spoiled. Bravo, gentlemen!
After the match, Eddie is DEVASTATED that his plan backfired. He jumps into the ring and chastises Mysterio. As Guerrera gets involved, Eddie slaps the taste from his mouth. He calls both of them “moron(s) and chews them out in both Spanish and English. Calling Kidman a “dweeb,” Eddie challenges Kidman RIGHT NOW. Kidman responds affirmatively, but Eddie wants to go backstage to get dressed. Turning the tables, Kidman calls Eddie a “sissy” if he won’t wrestle right now.
Match 2 for the WCW Cruiserweight title: Kidman (champion w/ Rey Mysterio, Jr.) versus Eddie Guerrero (w/ Juventud Guerrera)
Highlights:
Eddie ambushed Kidman before the bell and mowed him down with a clothesline. As Eddie powerbombed Kidman (What? No!), he got 2. He hooked an inside cradle for another 2. When he flapjacked Kidman, Eddie applied an abdominal stretch. Guerrera assisted Eddie until Mysterio intervened.
After Guerrera helped Eddie cheat again, Mysterio SHUT THAT SHIT DOWN. Eddie released the hold, exited the ring, and shoved Mysterio. While Kidman migrated to the apron, he connected with a flying headscissors. He hit a vaulted dropkick but got distracted by Guerrera. Hobbling Kidman with a chop block, Eddie tied him up like a pretzel.
The DC faithful informed Eddie that he indeed “sucks,” yet their nemesis knocked Kidman silly with a European uppercut. With the match segueing to the floor, Kidman reversed an Irish whip sending Eddie back-first into the steel railing. Guerrera swiftly held Kidman so that Eddie could pummel him. Making Kidman HIT THE POLE, Eddie tossed him back into the ring.
Kidman gave Eddie a cross corner whip and followed with a bulldog. Dealing Eddie a ten-punch count-along, Kidman locked a sleeper. Eddie countered with a jawbreaker, but Kidman responded with a cross corner whip and corner clothesline. Removing his shoe, Eddie blasted Kidman with it. SNEAKY!
Do we have a new champion? 1-2-NO!
Eddie planted Kidman with a brainbuster, mounted the top turnbuckle, but got caught. Joining Eddie atop the top turnbuckle, Kidman superplexed him for 2. Remarkable! Eddie dropkicked the knee, straddled it with a bridge, held the ropes, but only got 2 thanks to Mysterio’s conscience. Implementing Eddie’s shoe, Mysterio bonked both Guerrera and Eddie in a clever spot.
Eddie climbed the ropes and devastated Kidman with a huracanrana. Trying to powerbomb him again, Eddie couldn’t get lucky twice as Kidman planted him face-first into the mat. He gave Eddie a cross corner whip followed by a kick to the midsection. Slamming Eddie, Kidman migrated to the apron a second time and flew with a springboard leg drop for 2.
He hoisted Eddie atop the top turnbuckle but WHIFFED on a super huracanrana. Lifting Kidman atop the top turnbuckle, Eddie joined, but Kidman shoved him down to the mat. Art Flores jumped onto the apron to distract referee Scott Dickinson, so Guerrera crotched Kidman on the top turnbuckle. How dastardly!
With Eddie joining Kidman again, Mysterio jumped onto the apron and crotched Eddie on the top rope. Clearly, the gander has nothing without the goose. Kidman mounted the top turnbuckle and soared with a Shooting Star Press. 1-2-3. Kidman retained again at 10:48.
Rating: ***
Summary: Two whoppers in a row for Kidman as Eddie pulled out all the stops but couldn’t win.
Video airs hyping the main event. WTF? Everyone’s already bought the show.
Match 3: Norman Smiley versus Prince Iaukea
Highlights:
Listen, as you know, I’ve been following the main shows up until this point. Smiley had both technical prowess and enough charisma to be featured on PPV. On the other hand, Iaukea, while talented, shouldn’t be slotted against him on PPV. Save it for Nitro or Thunder.
Iaukea rolled up Smiley but only got 1. When Iaukea fed Smiley a dragon screw leg whip, the DC faithful did NOT want a cool down match like this one. In fact, they chanted “BOR-ING.” Sorry to say, but I’d call an audible, have Smiley make Iaukea tap out instantly, and trot out Bigelow versus Hall. More on this later.
Iaukea dropkicked Smiley sending him between the ropes to the floor. As he migrated to the apron, Iaukea connected with a somersault plancha. Back in the ring, Iaukea delivered a snap suplex for 2. Smiley grappled with Iaukea while the DC faithful sought another adult beverage. After he hung Iaukea out to dry on the top rope, Smiley performed the Big Wiggle. He swung-slammed Iaukea and got 2.
While he halted a sunset flip attempt with a knuckle sandwich, Smiley got cocky. Iaukea successfully hooked a sunset flip and got 2. Planting Iaukea with a knee drop, Smiley robbed Iaukea of his wind with a double stomp. Iaukea retaliated with a cross corner whip followed by a corner clothesline. Countering a vertical suplex, Smiley gave Iaukea one of his own. He unfurled a double underhook slam and got 2.
Taking Iaukea down with a drop toe hold, Smiley entertained the DC faithful with another Big Wiggle. Iaukea stuck the ever-so-cocky Smiley in an overhead belly-to-belly suplex with a bridge for 2. Giving Smiley another cross corner whip, Iaukea came up empty on his follow-through. Iaukea migrated to the apron and flew with a springboard cross body block; however, Smiley used momentum to land on top for 2.
Failing to secure a backslide, Norman attempted a Norman Conquest. Iaukea escaped before it could be cinched but couldn’t overcome a second try. Due to Iaukea’s submission, Smiley won at 11:33.
Rating: **
Summary: Way too long and cumbersome to achieve any type of shine on Smiley. The DC faithful needed a five-minute cooldown, but this was six minutes longer than that.
Without a single note of music, Scott Hall emerges but not for a match. Where’s the Hall-Bigelow match we were promised?
Nevertheless, he enters the ring, grabs the microphone, and bellows a “Hey, yo.” Hall says that 1998 wasn’t his best year yet blames no one but himself. Name-dropping his best buddy, Nash, Hall “ain’t gotta prove nothing to Nash or anybody.” Instead, he needs to prove it to himself. “1999 will be (his) year.”
Video airs featuring the backstage brawl between Bigelow and Hall which segued to a triple threat match between Bigelow, Nash, and Goldberg. Before Goldberg could make a pin, Hall interjected.
Prior to the next match, Miller grabs the microphone and touts himself in public. Arrest this man!
Match 4: Saturn versus Ernest “The Cat” Miller (w/ Sonny Onoo)
Highlights:
Check out that apricot suit on Onoo! Before the bell, Miller grabbed the microphone again and gave Saturn five seconds to skedaddle. Saturn ambushed him at the count of five, so Miller took a powder on the floor. As Miller waited for an opening to ambush Saturn, he slid into the ring but stopped short of Saturn’s boots. Oops.
Saturn fed him a ten-punch count-along, but Miller cheated like the 1993 Michigan Wolverines to gain an advantage. When Saturn locked a double underhook, he got 2. To confuse the karate champion, Saturn hooked him and earned a few 2-counts. Miller scored with a thrust kick for 2 while the DC faithful sought nachos.
After he dealt Saturn a knee to the midsection, Miller got caught attempting another thrust kick. Saturn delivered a belly-to-back suplex, but Miller reversed a cross corner whip. While Miller ate boot on his follow-through, Saturn powerslammed him for 2. He fed Miller a swinging neckbreaker, mounted the top turnbuckle, and attempted a double axe handle.
Moving away from Saturn, Miller unloaded another thrust kick for 2. Saturn tried a T-bone suplex, but Miller escaped. Flattening Saturn with a crescent kick, Miller beckoned Onoo to step into the ring. Miller held Saturn at bay until the evil hand of heel miscommunication arose. Dumping Onoo with a kick of his own, Miller found himself splatted with a Death Valley Driver. 1-2-3. Saturn won at 7:09.
Rating: *
Summary: Absolute styles clash as Saturn could barely wrestle the extremely overmatched Miller. It took storyline progression for the match to have any story to it whatsoever.
At the entrance, Okerlund interviews Flair who uncorks a beautiful “Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeean woooooooooooooo by God Gene” for us all. Flair promises to kick Bischoff’s ass tonight and injure him in every way imaginable. Very hyped promo.
Video airs featuring Bischoff through the nWo angle including his egomaniacal stunts as WCW President. We segue to the “heart attack” and Bischoff’s ambush of the Fliehr family.
Backstage, Big Poppa Pump and Buff Bagwell confront Konnan, but Luger holds Konnan back. Why isn’t BPP in a match? C’mon, man!
Match 5: Scott “Flash” Norton & Brian Adams (w/ Vincent) versus Fit Finlay & Jerry “Lightning Foot” Flynn
Highlights:
What in the blue fuck is this doing on PPV? Anyone for popcorn?
For those curious, Norton was the IWGP champion and scheduled for a match against Keiji Mutoh on January 4 in Tokyo, Japan. Why does that date sound SO familiar? Adams unloaded a big boot to Finlay, gave him a cross corner whip, and followed with a corner clothesline. When he gave Finlay another cross corner whip, Adams ate a mule kick on his follow-through.
Finlay floored him with a clothesline, landed an elbow drop, and got 2. As he connected with a senton splash, Finlay charged Adams in the corner but came up empty on his follow-through. Norton tagged in and bulldozed Finlay with a pair of clotheslines. After Finlay charged him, Norton flattened him with a powerslam.
Flynn tagged in, but Norton steamrolled both Finlay and him with a double clothesline. While he gave Flynn a cross corner whip, Norton came up empty on his follow-through. OK, that’s three out of four.
Flynn leveled him with a spin kick in the corner landing on his feet on the floor. Nifty! Tagging in, Adams reversed an Irish whip sending Flynn into a shot from Vincent on the apron. Evil! Adams split Flynn in two with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker but only got 2. Escaping a vertical suplex attempt, Flynn stymied Adams with another thrust kick.
Finlay tagged in and creamed Adams’ corn with a pair of lariats for 2. Piledriving Finlay, Adams tagged out. Norton decimated Finlay with a DDT, yet the DC faithful couldn’t care less. Planting Finlay with a hangman’s neckbreaker, Norton got 2. He gave Finlay a cross corner whip and SQUISHED him with an avalanche.
With Finlay on the floor along with Norton’s distraction of referee Scott Dickinson, Adams launched an axe handle to him. Devious! Back in the ring, Norton delivered a short-arm clothesline and followed with a reverse shoulder breaker for another 2. Adams tagged in, and the nWo bewildered Finlay with a double back elbow.
Barely able to stand, Finlay hit a jawbreaker and buried Adams with his own DDT for 2. He mounted the second turnbuckle, leaped, but ate boot. Military-pressing him, Adams crushed Finlay with a gut buster. He jumped on Finlay’s back twice but ate knees on a third attempt. If that sounded familiar, Arn Anderson would perform that stunt and suffer the same fate. ICE COLD tag Flynn. Rattling Norton’s cage, Flynn unleashed a series of kicks in the corner and followed with a reverse enziguri.
All four wrestlers were in the ring, and the Irish kickers double-clotheslined Adams. Dumping Vincent from the apron to the floor, Flynn fell victim to a VICIOUS clothesline from Norton. He powerbombed the BEJEEZUS out of Flynn and pinned him at 8:56. GET OUT THE SPATULA!
Rating: **
Summary: Upon further review, Finlay and Flynn tagged together in Japan, so this wasn’t a throw-something-at-the-wall-and-see-if-it- sticks scenario. Nonetheless, Flynn does NOT belong on PPV. Regarding Norton, on the plus side, he brought a strong workrate; however, on the negative side, he was saving all his selling for Mutoh in a couple of weeks to the detriment of this match.
At the entrance, Okerlund interviews Bischoff who feigns another apology for the Fliehr family as well as wrestling fans. To correct his actions with some validity, Bischoff continues the “coronary” storyline and accuses Flair of being “broke.” Buy your Ric Flair cameo TODAY, folks!
We revisit the 12/14 Nitro when Jericho interviewed and beat up “Konnan.”
Prior to the next match, Jericho grabs the microphone and genuinely wishes the Jericholics a happy “Jericholiday.” He besmirches Konnan for his catchphrases yet steals Superstar Billy Graham’s. To close his opening spiel, Jericho requests Konnan pull up his pants. HA! Konnan arrives, grabs the microphone, and wakes up the DC faithful with his catchphrases much to Jericho’s chagrin.
Match 6 for the WCW World TV title: Konnan (champion) versus Chris Jericho (w/ Ralphus)
Highlights:
Having stolen the belt from Konnan on Nitro, Jericho wore the belt during his entrance. Wily! They exchanged leap frogs, and Konnan connected with a seated dropkick. As Jericho reversed an Irish whip, he caught Konnan with a spinning heel kick. Jericho mounted the top turnbuckle, saw Konnan scream “¡Orale!”, but WHIFFED on a dive.
When Konnan clotheslined Jericho over the top rope to the floor, he dove but got thrust into the steel railing. Jericho set up the steps, but Konnan reversed an Irish whip sending him back-first into the steel railing. After Konnan charged, he ate boot. Jericho made him HIT THE POLE, tossed him back into the ring, and suplexed him.
While Jericho cheekily made the Arrogant Cover, he got 2. He missed a clothesline but put a knee into Konnan’s midsection. Slamming Konnan, Jericho mounted the top turnbuckle, took his bittersweet time, leaped, but ate boot. Konnan dealt Jericho a somersault clothesline, gave Jericho a cross corner whip, caught him mid-float-over, and decimated him with a spinebuster.
Hooking a somersault rollup, Konnan got 2. Jericho rebounded with a jawbreaker, mowed him down with a lariat, and destroyed Konnan with a Lionsault for 2. With Konnan seeking refuge on the floor, Jericho attempted a springboard dive but landed on those previously set up steps. OUCH!
Back in the ring, Konnan got 2. He leapfrogged Jericho, delivered a thrust kick, and attempted to ram him face-first into the mat. Alternatively, Jericho snagged him mid-jump and tried to hook a LionTamer. Konnan blocked it, so Jericho catapulted him face-first into the top turnbuckle. Charging, Jericho came up empty, so Konnan mauled him.
In the process, Konnan knocked down referee Billy Silverman, so Jericho grabbed the belt. He CLOCKED Konnan with it and slapped Silverman across the face to wake him up. Much to Jericho’s surprise, he only got 2. Konnan rebounded with a kick to the midsection followed by a face jam into the mat. Wrapping Jericho up with a Tequila Sunrise, Konnan retained via submission at 7:30.
Rating: **
Summary: Konnan’s rise continues with a definitive victory in their rematch.
Backstage at the wcw.com table, “Stagger” Lee Marshall interviews Giant who practically eats Marshall for dinner.
POINT OF ORDER: This would mark Marshall’s final on-screen appearance for WCW.
RIP Lee Marshall (1949-2014)
Match 7: “Nature Boy” Ric Flair versus Eric Bischoff
Highlights:
Flair snared Bischoff outside the ring and took him to SCHOOL. Inside the ring, Flair devastated Bischoff with chops and followed with a knee drop. Bischoff claimed a bogus knee injury, so Flair used and abused it like a bottle of Stoli. When referee Charles Robinson inserted himself into the mix, Bischoff cunningly took advantage of the distraction and laid out Flair with a crescent kick.
Flair sought refuge on the floor, so Bischoff joined and made him taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Cadillac at PJ Clarke’s. As Flair was BUSTED OPEN, Bischoff unfurled more kicks. Flair rallied, but Bischoff placed another kick into the temple. After Bischoff attempted a trapezius hold, Flair transported him quickly WAY DOWNTOWN.
While nother trip WAY DOWNTOWN from Flair had Schiavone in stitches, Flair dropped another bus ticket between Bischoff’s uprights and removed Bischoff’s shirt. Ew. He chopped the first few layers of skin off Bischoff’s chest but inadvertently blasted Robinson. Setting Bischoff up, Flair administered some Shattered Dreams.
Flair dealt Bischoff a belly-to-back suplex followed by a vertical suplex. To the delight of the DC faithful, Flair applied a figure-four leg lock. Meanwhile, Robinson remained OUT COLD. Curt Hennig sprinted to the ring and handed Bischoff a foreign object. Essentially breaking the hold, Bischoff CLOBBERED Flair with it. 1-2-3. Bischoff won at 7:09.
Rating: **
Summary: As far as a wrestling match goes, it stinks on Melba toast; yet, as far as sports-entertainment is concerned, it tells a story. Not a good one, but a story regardless. Once again, WCW makes the customer pay for the big match but doesn’t provide the proper dividends.
After the match, Hennig drags Bischoff out of the ring while Flair remained OUT COLD on the mat.
Video airs featuring DDP and Giant. Sadly, it involves Bret whom the Giant helped to win the US belt. Bret also doesn’t have a match at this show.
Match 8: Diamond Dallas Page versus Giant
Highlights:
Upon exchanging loogies, DDP attempted a Diamond Cutter, but Giant shrugged him off. He clotheslined Giant over the top rope to the floor, got dragged down there with him, and was force-fed a short-arm clothesline. As Giant headbutted him into the front row, he tried to knock DDP into the middle of 2001.
DDP, instead, held up an aluminum trash can for Giant to smack. When DDP crowned him with it, Giant reversed an Irish whip sending him shoulder-first into the steps. He rammed DDP shoulder-first into the ring post twice and threw him like a sack of potatoes over the top rope back into the ring. After DDP tried to rally, Giant demolished him with a corner clothesline. Giant trapped him in a bear hug, released the hold, but ate a back elbow.
While DDP attempted another Diamond Cutter, Giant bounced him off the ropes and dismantled him with an impressive powerslam. Wow! Giant pulled DDP up at 2 and reapplied a bear hug. Ringing Giant’s bell, DDP escaped and tried a sunset flip. Giant almost went over yet caught himself and DDP in a standing choke. Converting it into a backbreaker, Giant went for the CHOKESLAM.
DDP countered with a float-over DDT and got 2. Following a Giant kick-out, pun intended, DDP disintegrated referee Billy Silverman. That allowed Bret to storm the ring with chair in hand. Although he swung to hit DDP, the curse of the dreaded heel miscommunication reared its ugly head, and he WHACKED Giant. DDP disposed of Bret with a trip WAY DOWNTOWN, but Giant refused to give up.
Mounting the top turnbuckle, DDP launched a flying clothesline. He leaped to the adjacent top turnbuckle and flattened him again. Mounting a third top turnbuckle, DDP leaped, but Giant caught him. DDP countered with a luxurious trip WAY DOWNTOWN, yet Giant would not be stopped.
Hoisting DDP atop the top turnbuckle, Giant attempted a super chokeslam. DDP, miraculously, countered with a super Diamond Cutter instead. Outstanding! 1-2-3. DDP won at 12:45.
Rating: ***
Summary: Despite Giant’s DELIBERATE pace, he made efforts to wear down DDP. This was a solid David versus Goliath encounter with David fighting against the odds to win. Had DDP defeated Goldberg at Halloween Havoc ’98, this would have been a solid title defense.
Following the match, Bret stands befuddled at ringside.
Video airs featuring Goldberg versus Nash.
Match 9 for the WCW World title (no DQ): Goldberg (champion) versus “Big Sexy” Kevin Nash
Highlights:
According to Schiavone, Goldberg’s record was 173-0. Buffer rambled and rumbled. When Nash hooked a side head lock, Goldberg countered with a belly-to-back suplex. Nash responded by pounding on Goldberg in the corner and applied a boot choke. As Goldberg countered with brute human strength, Nash countered with a cross-arm breaker.
Goldberg escaped and applied an ankle lock until Nash made the ropes. Chain wresting? These two? Who’da thunk it? After Goldberg knocked him down, Nash used momentum and the trunks to send him face-first into the second turnbuckle. Goldberg ducked a big boot and speared Nash. While Goldberg picked up a wobbly Nash, he succumbed to a one-way ticket WAY DOWNTOWN.
Nash gave Goldberg a cross corner whip followed by a sidewalk slam for 2. Landing an elbow drop, Nash got another 2. Stymying Goldberg with a running guillotine, Nash couldn’t get 3. He reversed an Irish whip and fed Goldberg a back elbow. Clotheslining Goldberg, Nash got yet another 2. Goldberg countered a vertical suplex attempt with a swinging neckbreaker and suplexed Nash for 2.
Blasting Nash with a thrust kick, Goldberg powerslammed him for another 2. Astonishingly, Goldberg uncorked a spinning heel kick, but Disco Inferno jumped onto the apron. Goldberg hip-tossed him into the ring and destroyed him with a Spear. Next, Bam Bam Bigelow entered the ring to attack Goldberg.
Disposing of Bigelow via clothesline over the top rope to the floor, Goldberg seemed poised to further his mission against Nash. Out of nowhere, Scott Hall, dressed as a security guard, zapped Goldberg with a cattle prod.
WCW Security escorted Bigelow from ringside while Nash planted Goldberg with a Jackknife powerbomb. 1-2-3. Nash won at 11:20. Goldberg’s streak was OVER. WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!
Rating: ***
Summary: Unquestionably, this was WCW politics at its worst. Goldberg was the money maker and the icon, but newly minted booking committee chairman Nash thought he deserved to topple him. Pathetic.
Conclusion: Let’s further dissect the main event for a moment since it defines the show. Was Nash a formidable opponent? Let’s do the math:
- Leader of the Wolfpack and VERY over because of it.
- Won World War III ‘98 and earned the #1 contender spot.
- Booked as an equivalent to Goldberg on the Nitros preceding the event.
OK, on paper, Nash appears to be the best challenger for Goldberg. But why is Bigelow involved? Was it all for the sake of a run-in during the main event?
Anyway, WCW accomplished two goals with the main event. They put Nash on top and ended the almost-never-seemed-to-end winning streak for Goldberg. The real question for WCW is:
Moving on…
The opening match must be seen to truly appreciate. Kidman, somewhat injured, put on two incredible performances. That’s not to say that Guerrera, Mysterio, and Eddie did nothing and had to like it. They did their part too to make the top two matches stand out.
Conversely, since the audience’s attention span is so limited, why not shorten the Smiley, Saturn, and that unremarkable tag matches in order to get Bigelow-Hall or Big Poppa Pump-Luger, or both?
Is it me, or is Konnan wrestling in slow motion? Jericho dances circles around him, but since Konnan is over like Rover he gets to keep the belt.
Now, let’s talk about Flair-Bischoff. Like the main event, many folks bought the PAY-PER-VIEW to watch Flair beat up his boss. Any follow-up on free TV just discourages folks to continue purchasing WCW PPVs.
Lastly, I must acknowledge the DC faithful. On the plus side, they endured the overcooked and underwhelming content in the middle of the show and needed SOMETHING to get excited over. They leaped to their feet when Nash won because they had just witnessed something unique and somewhat unexpected. Otherwise, their lack of reaction throughout most of the rest of the show was extremely noticeable.
One final thought…one would think WCW would have learned their lesson from last year when they screwed up the main event. Apparently, history has repeated itself. Unless you’re a big Nash fan, I’d avoid this show like the plague.
Buyrate: 1.15
Stay tuned for WCW Monday NItro 12-28-98!
Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at rsg@rockstargary.com and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202).