WCW Monday Nitro 03-02-98

Can Sting and Savage take down Hogan and Hall? Or is the better question can they coexist? Who will be joining the nWo tonight? Let’s find out!

As the program begins, a black limousine pulls into the arena, and the nWo has arrived.

For those unaware, Benoit spent some time in ECW; thus, when he emerged through the entrance, the Philly faithful embraced him with cheers.
Benoit clotheslined Riggs and got 2.
When he delivered a belly-to-back suplex, Benoit got a 1-count.
The match segued to the floor, and Benoit sent Riggs back-first into the steel railing.
As Lodi interjected himself, he ate some VICIOUS chops from Benoit.
The Philly faithful showed their special kind of love for Lodi, and Riggs rammed Benoit face-first into the steps.
After he landed a forearm smash, Riggs got 2.
Riggs tried to suplex him; yet after Benoit took a quick elevator ride, he countered with a snap suplex.
While Riggs clotheslined Benoit, he followed with an elbow drop for 2.
He then gave Benoit a cross corner whip and subsequent corner clothesline.
When he gave Benoit another cross corner whip, Riggs came up empty on his follow-through.
Benoit then unleashed a trio of German suplexes and locked on the Crippler Crossface.
As Riggs submitted, Benoit won at 3:19.

According to Schiavone, The Harvard Lampoon named Savage their “Real Man of the Year.” In case you’re curious, Tenay plugs Savage’s appearance on Later this week. Video of the award presentation follows.

Not to be outdone, Hogan and Bischoff emerge, and Bischoff has two words for the WWF:

Nonetheless, Hogan spews some nonsense while mocking Savage. He then goes truly LOW by riding Savage about his marriage to Elizabeth. He then gets ICE COLD by mocking Savage’s hair plugs. Methinks Hogan hasn’t looked into a mirror in 20 years.

“Mean” Gene Okerlund and the Nitro Girls are partying at St. Joseph’s University. While Okerlund macks on some coeds, the Nitro Girls dance in black leather. What kind of college is this?

Guerrera was making his unmasked debut here and hung his mask on the ring post.
As he leapfrogged Chavo, Guerrera ate a clothesline.
Chavo then unloaded a belly-to-back suplex for 2, and the Philly faithful must be three beers in already due to their chanting for the Flyers.

When Chavo gave him a cross corner whip, Guerrera floated to the apron and unleashed a pair of springboard dropkicks.
He then gave Chavo a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
After Chavo leaped to the top turnbuckle, he guillotined Guerrera with the top rope.
Chavo then attempted a tornado DDT, but Guerrera blocked it.
While Chavo reversed an Irish whip, he hooked an ankle lock.
Guerrera made the ropes to escape and PLANTED Chavo with a Juvi driver.
As he ascended to the top turnbuckle, Guerrera launched a 450° splash.
Guerrera won at 4:00.

Back at the pleasure palace, a.k.a. St. Joe’s, Okerlund plugs the WCW Hotline.

When Iaukea entered the ring, Psicosis leveled him with a dropkick.
Iaukea slid to the floor, but Psicosis supplied him with a baseball slide.
As Iaukea climbed the steps, Psicosis went to the apron, charged, but tasted the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Kanzler at Frankford Hall.
With Psicosis on the floor, Iaukea mounted the top turnbuckle and delivered a cross body block.
Psicosis rebounded with a clothesline, gave Iaukea a cross corner whip, and followed with a corner clothesline.
After Psicosis missed a dropkick, Iaukea snap-mared him and hit a seated dropkick for 2.
Psicosis then gave Iaukea a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
While he reversed an Irish whip, Psicosis leapfrogged Iaukea and provided him with a spinning heel kick for 2.
He then gave Iaukea another cross corner whip resulting in a sternum-first bump and dropkicked him again.
When he hoisted Iaukea atop the top turnbuckle, Psicosis launched a super huracanrana for 2.
He then slammed Iaukea, mounted the top turnbuckle, scored with a guillotine leg drop, and pulled him up at 2.

As he gave Iaukea yet another cross corner whip, Psicosis ate a back elbow on his follow-through.
Iaukea then mounted the top turnbuckle but ate a dropkick from Psicosis.
After Psicosis joined him atop the top turnbuckle, he attempted a victory roll.
However, Iaukea escaped and pinned the stunned Psicosis at 5:01.

Summary: Good TV match, but why Iaukea? When he debuted a year ago, he was a mockery of the Rocky Maivia character. Since Maivia has transformed into the Rock, Iaukea’s continued presence is futile.

Raven reversed a cross corner whip but ate a back elbow on his follow-through.
As Disco delivered a swinging neckbreaker, he got 2.
He then tossed Raven down to the floor, joined, and sent him flying back-first into the steel railing.
When he rammed Raven face-first twice into the apron, Disco got reversed on an Irish whip and soared into the steel railing. OUCH!
Raven then tossed a chair into the ring, climbed onto the apron, but Disco grabbed him.
After Raven kicked him away, Disco got a mouthful of the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Figgy Piggy at Iron Hill Brewery.
Raven then attempted to hip toss him into the chair, but Disco blocked it and rammed him face-first into it.
While Disco delivered a wrist-tape-assisted hangman’s neckbreaker, he got 2.
Raven then reversed an Irish whip and dropped Disco face-first into the chair.
As he decimated Disco with a DDT, Raven won at 2:47.

Summary: Showcase match for Raven as Disco won’t be busting any charts anytime soon.

Meanwhile, back at the house of ill repute, the Public Enemy made an appearance earlier today. Okerlund interviews Officer Charles Bentley who wants to party with him. Next, he interviews Mike Carome who won a trip to Spring Break at Club La Vela in two weeks. Send your tape in to have a chance to send the Nitro Girls to your home. Methinks my wife would be none-too-pleased.

Match 5 (Philly street fight): Public Enemy versus Barbarian & Hugh Morrus (w/ Jimmy Hart)

Each team brought plunder, and the brawl was on when Public Enemy hit the ring.
When Barbarian charged, Grunge backdropped him over the top rope to the floor.
Remember, kids, last week on Thunder, Schiavone mentioned that the over-the-top-rope-disqualification rule had been waived in WCW.
For some reason, Hart jumped into the ring, and Public Enemy ripped off his jacket and tore his shirt.
Barbarian held Grunge down, and Hart whipped Grunge with his belt. How dastardly!
With Grunge on the floor, Hart put the loafers to him. Evil!
Barbarian and Morrus tried to double-clothesline Rocco but ended up clotheslining each other.
As the Philly faithful rang out the “E-C-W” chants, Public Enemy set up a table mid-ring.
Grunge placed Hart on the table, but Morrus joined Rocco on the top turnbuckle.
After Barbarian barely removed Hart from harm’s way, Morrus superplexed Rocco through the table for 2.
Barbarian then held Grunge, and Morrus mounted the top turnbuckle.
While Morrus flew, Grunge escaped, and Barbarian found nothing humorous about what happened next.
Public Enemy then double-clotheslined Barbarian over the top rope to the floor, set up a second table, and placed Morrus atop it.
Since Morrus wasn’t feeling particularly slender that day, the table almost broke before Morrus went through it.

Speaking of which, Rocco mounted the top turnbuckle and put Morrus through the table.
1-2-3.
Public Enemy won at 3:12.

Summary: The match gets two stars for the superplex through the table spot, and the rest gets zilch.

Savage and Elizabeth emerge from the entrance and head to the ring. As Savage rebuts Hogan’s bologna while hyping the main event, he states that Sting will do business “my way.” Appropriately, Sting joins him in the ring. If you can believe it, Sting actually speaks and sends a “hey yo” in Hall’s general direction. He then directs his attention to Savage and mentions that he only does business “my way.” Who’s going to budge?

Goldberg gorilla-press-dropped Sick Boy much to the delight of the Philly faithful.
As Sick Boy attempted a springboard maneuver, Goldberg thwarted it immediately.
Sick Boy then attempted a springboard dropkick but flubbed it TERRIBLY.
Fortunately for the sheltered youth, the Philly faithful did not ring out a “you fucked up” chant.
When Goldberg reversed an Irish whip, he bounced off the adjacent rope and SQUISHED Sick Boy like a bug.
He then hooked the Jackhammer and pinned Sick Boy at 1:38.

Afterward, a Stuck Mojo video featuring DDP airs. The Flock gets involved, but DDP dispatches them better than a 911 operator. I apologize to those of you who are fans of Stuck Mojo, but this song SUCKS. For those who care, Reese makes his Flock debut in the video. Let’s hope he doesn’t fall to pieces.

In the ring, Tenay interviews DDP who cuts a promo on Raven in anticipation of their match this Thursday on Thunder.

Following a commercial break, Hammer jumps the railing, procures the microphone from ring announcer David Penzer, and calls out DDP.

Match 7 for the WCW US title: Diamond Dallas Page (champion) versus Hammer (w/ the Flock)

When DDP answered the call, Hammer attacked him before the bell.
He then gave DDP a cross corner whip followed by a boot to the midsection.
As Hammer powerslammed him, DDP attempted a ten-punch count-along.
On the other hand, Hammer nailed him down near SOUTH Philly.
He then gave DDP an Irish whip but ultimately suffered a Diamond Cutter.
Before DDP could pin Hammer, Raven stormed the ring to ambush him.
Referee Charles Robinson called for the bell to disqualify Hammer at 1:39.

After the match, DDP reverses a cross corner whip but eats boot on his follow-through. Astonishingly, Raven dropkicks him, but Benoit arrives to supply him with a pair of German suplexes. He then holds Raven for DDP, and you can see it coming before it happens. Yes, DDP inadvertently nails Benoit. They brawl for a bit then decide to pummel Raven together.

In the meantime, the debauchery continues as Okerlund interviews Fyre and Kimberly while the frat boys drool.

Smith slammed Norton and followed with a powerslam.
As Norton rebounded by clotheslining him over the top rope to the floor, he joined and rammed Smith face-first into the steps.
He then attempted to piledrive Smith on the concrete floor, but referee Mickey Jay sternly warned him.
Unfazed, Norton shoved him down but suffered a back drop on the floor as a result.
Jay called for the bell, and Smith won by DQ at 1:47.

Summary: Not much to rate, but methinks Norton has replaced Mongo as Smith’s designated punching bag.

Prior to the next match, Konnan drops his catchphrases before running down Guerrera.

Konnan delivered a somersault clothesline, but Calo climbed the turnbuckles, flipped down to the mat, and scored with a spinning heel kick.
When he jumped to the top turnbuckle, Calo unleashed a missile dropkick for 2.
Konnan then reversed an Irish whip and DESTROYED Calo with an electric chair.
As he set Calo up with a 187, Konnan finished him with a Tequila Sunrise.
Calo tapped, so Konnan won at 2:06.

After the match, Konnan tries to unmask Calo, but Guerrera sprints to the ring to confront him in English and en español.

In the ring, Tenay interviews “Nature Boy” Ric Flair, but Curt Hennig and “Ravishing” Rick Rude interrupt him. Flair requests that Rude remain on the floor so that he can handle Hennig. The “match” goes back and forth while Flair does a Flair flip in the corner.

Flair outwits Hennig before nailing him all the way downstairs. Before Flair can hook a figure-four leg lock, Rude interjects himself for the 2-on-1 beatdown. Hennig applies a Hennigplex, and Rude counts to 3. The ambush continues until Bret ultimately arrives to save Flair’s bacon.

We return to the house of horrors as Okerlund shills live events brought to you by Cinnaburst gum. He then interviews the St. Joe’s Hawk, and I’m surprised it didn’t flip Okerlund the bird.

Prior to the next match, we revisit last week’s episode when Scott Steiner became Scott Shiner.

Scott gave Duggan a cross corner whip but didn’t flinch after a clothesline attempt.
As Duggan used a pair of clotheslines to send him over the top rope to the floor, Scott returned but got slammed.
Scott rebounded with a double underhook suplex while Duggan’s fans chanted “U-S-A.”
When Duggan landed a flurry of rights, Scott’s trick knee acted up to turn the tide.
Scott then mounted the second turnbuckle, attempted a sunset flip, but ate a knuckle sandwich.

After Duggan provided him with a ten-punch count-along, he gave Scott a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
In fact, he fell all the way down to the floor.
Scott joined and rammed him back-first into the steel railing.
While he rammed Duggan back-first into the apron, Scott delivered a belly-to-belly suplex in the ring.
Scott then hooked a Steiner Recliner, and Duggan submitted.
Therefore, Scott won at 4:08.

Summary: Showcase match for Scott, but that Recliner is a lazy finishing maneuver.

Match 11: Booker T & Dean Malenko versus Eddie Guerrero & “Lionheart” Chris Jericho

This was a rematch from Thunder, but will it eclipse ****?

When the Philly faithful enamored Eddie by telling him that he “sucks,” Booker T clotheslined Jericho.
He then gave Jericho a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
As Jericho mounted the second turnbuckle, he launched a missile dropkick.
Eddie tagged in, and the heels gave Booker T a cross corner whip.
After Jericho whipped him into Booker T, Eddie soared face-first into the top turnbuckle.
Booker T then dealt Jericho a sidewalk slam, and Malenko dropkicked Eddie.
While Eddie dropkicked Booker T’s left knee, Jericho tagged in, and the heels double-clotheslined Booker T.
Eddie tagged in while Jericho slammed Booker T.
When Eddie landed a somersault senton upon him, Booker T reversed an Irish whip, leapfrogged Eddie, and nailed him with a flying forearm.
Tags were exchanged on both sides, and Malenko clotheslined Jericho.
As Malenko backdropped Jericho, Booker T annihilated Eddie with a side kick.
Jericho suplexed Booker T, and the Philly faithful slumbered.

After Malenko halted a Lionsault attempt by Jericho, Eddie mounted the top turnbuckle and scored with another somersault senton.
Nevertheless, Booker T no-sold it with a spinaroonie, and both he and Eddie spilled over the top rope to the floor.
Jericho then reversed a cross corner whip but came up empty.
While Booker T restrained Eddie, Malenko hooked a Texas Cloverleaf on Jericho.
As you’d expect, Jericho tapped; hence, Malenko and Booker T won at 4:47.

Summary: Much like their match on Thunder, they brought the goods but had limited time to tell their story.

The nWo en masse heads to the ring, and Scott announces that his brother Rick will join the nWo tonight. As Rick and Ted DiBiase approach the ring, Rick supplies the nWo with their signature hand gesture. Kevin Nash inducts Rick into the group, but Rick has duped them. He then fights them off until the numbers catch up to him.

Nash threatens to jackknife powerbomb Rick, but WCW Security director Doug Dillinger warns him about a fine and police escort. While Nash makes a second attempt, Rick backdrops him. Suddenly, Giant storms the ring and stands face-to-face with Nash. He then headbutts Nash and executes a perfect jackknife powerbomb. GET OUT THE SPATULA! With Nash OUT COLD, Rick tears the nWo t-shirt to shreds.

During the commercial break, Dillinger attempts to cuff Giant, but Giant’s wrists are too big for them. HA!

Before Bret could remove his jacket, Adams hammered him.
He gave Bret a cross corner whip followed by a military press backbreaker.
As the action migrated to the floor, Adams made Bret taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Schmitter at McNally’s.
Adams then tried to make him HIT THE POLE but ate it himself.
When Bret rammed him face-first into the steps, he supplied Adams with a ten-punch count-along.
He then unleashed a side-Russian leg sweep followed by a leg drop.
After Adams reversed an Irish whip, he received a clothesline.
Bret then delivered a backbreaker, mounted the second turnbuckle, and somehow avoided eating boot.
While Bret attempted a Sharpshooter, Adams immediately grabbed the bottom rope to escape.
Adams reversed another Irish whip and clotheslined Bret.
As he provided Bret with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, Adams got reversed on a cross corner whip.
Bret followed through but ate boot.
When Adams removed the top turnbuckle pad, he attempted to ram Bret into it.
However, Bret blocked it and rammed Adams into it instead.
Bret then hooked a Sharpshooter, but Hennig stormed the ring.
After referee Scott Dickinson called for the bell, Bret won by DQ at 4:31.

Summary: I was about to flip my lid because WCW just hired Adams. I do not believe they hired him as enhancement talent, but Adams almost did the job. As it was, the match was set up for the Bret-Hennig saga.

Speaking of which, Bret and Hennig brawl to the floor, and Hennig almost DECAPITATES him with a steel chair. The fight continues to the aisle, and Adams recovers to throw Bret down on the concrete floor. OUCH!

Match 13: “Hollywood” Hogan & Scott Hall (w/ Eric Bischoff) versus “Macho Man” Randy Savage & Sting (w/ Elizabeth)

Buffer rumbled.
When Bischoff trailed behind Hogan and Hall, he grabbed another fan’s sign:

Hogan and Bischoff tried to ram Sting face-first into the top turnbuckle, but Sting blocked it and CREAMED Bischoff.
As Savage gave Hall a cross corner whip, he followed with a forearm smash.
Meanwhile, Sting and Hogan battled to the floor, and Sting made him taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like that bitch Carol Baskin’s Sweet Tea at Bud and Marilyn’s. Literally, that is the name of the cocktail. I am NOT making this up.
Nevertheless, Sting WALLOPED Hogan in the back with a steel chair before removing the weight belt and whipping him.
After Savage mounted the second turnbuckle, he unloaded a double axe handle onto Hall.
He then gave Hall another cross corner whip followed by a back elbow.
While Sting tagged in, he slammed Hall and delivered a Vader bomb for 2.
Savage tagged in, mounted the top turnbuckle, and lowered the boom on Hall.
When Savage guillotined Hall with the top rope, Sting tagged in, and the WCW/nWo alliance double-clotheslined Hall.
Sting then landed an elbow drop and got 2.
As Sting nailed Hogan sending him down to the floor, Savage interjected and supplied Hogan with another sampling of the steel railing. Waiter, please give the balding ex-champion a Radio Days cocktail to remind him of his age.
Savage tagged in, tattooed Hall with an elbow smash, and got 2.
After Bischoff got up on the apron to distract referee Charles Robinson, Hogan entered the ring and nailed Savage with a foreign object. SNEAKY!
With Savage subdued, Hogan baited Sting into the ring to distract Robinson.
That allowed Hall to illegally switch with Hogan. Diabolical!
While Hogan tagged in, he mounted the second turnbuckle, and lowered the boom on Savage.
He then gave Savage a cross corner whip followed by a clothesline.
When Hall tagged in, he provided Savage with a fallaway slam for 2.
Hogan tagged in and hit a big boot to Savage.
As he slammed Savage, Hogan missed a leg drop.
Hot tag Sting.
After he gave Hogan a cross corner whip, Sting unleashed a Stinger splash.
Make that two.
With all four wrestlers in the ring, Sting applied a Scorpion death lock to Hogan while Savage slammed Hall.
Before Savage could mount the top turnbuckle, the nWo stormed the ring.
Robinson called for the bell and awarded the match to Sting and Savage by disqualification at 7:28.

Summary: Without question, this was a PPV main event with a Nitro twist care of the schmozz at the end. Of course, it was intended as a PPV teaser with all four wrestlers involved in the double main event. I’d say it delivered pretty well.

After the match, DDP joins the fray and pulls Bagwell down to the floor. Suddenly, the unique individual who appeared last week dumps Savage with an Ace Crusher. He then escorts Hogan back to the locker room while Sting continues to dispatch the nWo from the ring. As Giant emerges to assist Sting, Hogan refers to the unique individual as “Disciple.”

Conclusion: Blockbuster episode with a must-see main event. The nWo-Rick swerve with the Giant powerbomb was also a sight to behold. The rest of the show served up angles and teasers for the upcoming PPV along with a side of Goldberg squash. Despite Mike Tyson’s involvement, I don’t see RAW overtaking this week.