WCW Monday Nitro 05-25-98

Hosted by Tony Schiavone, Larry Zbyszko, “Iron” Mike Tenay, & Bobby “The Brain” Heenan

What’s going on with Luger? How will he and Sting fare in the main event? Benoit and Booker T battle in the first match of a best-of-seven series to determine the #1 contender to the World TV title. Also, can Goldberg, Jericho, Eddie and Chavo, Raven, and others make it a memorable Memorial Day show?

While Schiavone describes tonight’s main event, Zbyszko accepts his kudos from the Evansville faithful.

We revisit last week when Sting turned down the Giant’s offer to join nWo Hollywood. Afterward, we revisit that despicable Thunder from last week when Luger refuted Giant’s claims about Sting and received a beating for it.

Raven and his riot squad head to the ring to a chorus of “Raven sucks” chants. As he cuts a promo on Mortis, Horace, Kidman, and Lodi join him in the ring. He calls out to Saturn for his friendship. Next, he fires the Flock. Lodi questions what’s happening and receives an Even Flow DDT in response. Raven pleads for Saturn’s return to him.

At the entrance, Nitro Girls dance in blue and black while Schiavone shills the Nitro Party contest.

Instead, we revisit Thunder when Benoit laid out Booker T, and Stevie Ray returned from a four-month absence to encourage his brother.

Finally! Thirty minutes into the show, we have a match.

Finlay uncorked a short-arm clothesline, landed a knee drop, and got 1.
When he scored with an elbow drop, Finlay slammed Enos.
He gave Enos a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
As Enos fed him his own short-arm clothesline, he guillotined Finlay with the top rope.
He headbutted Finlay and got 2.
After Enos gave Finlay a cross corner whip, he ate boot on his follow-through.
Finlay dealt Enos a somersault slam and attempted a cross body block.
While Enos caught him, he delivered a fallaway slam for 2.
Enos attempted a powerslam but dropped Finlay due to an apparent hamstring injury.
Upon clotheslining him, Finlay tombstoned and pinned Enos at 3:56.

Summary: Showcase match for Finlay, but Enos was game until the perceivable injury. The Evansville faithful were clamoring for an Enos upset as well.

As Glacier landed a thrust kick, Saturn returned the favor.
Glacier scored with a big boot and demolished Saturn in the corner.
When Saturn rebounded with a series of kicks, he gave Glacier a cross corner whip but ate another thrust kick on his follow-through.
Saturn launched a spinning heel kick, and Raven reappeared at the entrance.
After Saturn fed him a T-bone suplex, he slammed Glacier, mounted the top turnbuckle, but ate knees on a splash attempt.
Saturn reversed an Irish whip, and a mid-air collision transpired.
While Hammer emerged from the entrance, he belted an unsuspecting Raven.
Hammer jumped up onto the apron, but Glacier landed a superkick to return him to the floor.
As Saturn hooked a Death Valley Driver, he pinned Glacier at 4:15.

Summary: Hopefully this settles the dispute between these two. Saturn’s a much better wrestler and deserves more than fodder like Glacier.

After the match, Raven deposits Hammer on the floor with an Even Flow DDT. Saturn exits the ring, takes a look at Raven, yet walks away.

STARBURST ROAD REPORT: Thunder will be LIVE in Nashville, TN on Wednesday. Please be better than last week!

Giant, Brian Adams, and Vincent head to the ring. When Giant cuts a promo on him, he calls Nash out for a match RIGHT NOW. In fact, he steals the “Big Sexy” moniker from Nash. Dem’s fightin’ words! The Evansville faithful chants “we want Nash,” and their hero arrives.

Nash refers to the nWo trio as “Hogan’s three fluff boys” and steps into the ring. That’s QUALITY snark right there. After he removes Adams and Vincent from the equation, Nash battles Giant until the numbers game catches up to him.

Suddenly, Luger and Konnan chase off nWo Hollywood with a chair. What’s Luger doing with Konnan? Savage and Hennig join the party, and the Evansville faithful ROARS. After Nash tosses an nWo Wolfpack shirt to him, Luger polls the Evansville faithful and wears it to a HUGE ovation. Now THAT’S the way to end the first hour. If this happened today, Twitter would have blown up.

When Jericho made his entrance, he held up a conspiracy victim sign.
He ambushed El Dandy before the bell, reversed a cross corner whip, but ate boot.
As El Dandy hooked la magistral cradle, he got 2.
He fed Jericho a spinebuster, mounted the top turnbuckle, but missed a missile dropkick.
Immediately, Jericho hooked a LionTamer, and El Dandy submitted at 1:02.

After the match, Jericho grabs the microphone and cries about the loss of the Cruiserweight title. He calls out JJ Dillon again, but Dillon answers this time. As Jericho points out that Malenko wasn’t involved in the PPV battle royal, Dillon reads him the red tape. Dillon wants a precedent to change the belt and won’t do so until one’s forthcoming. As expected, a belligerent Jericho throws a tantrum.

In case you didn’t read my Thunder reflection, WCW will invade the Georgia Dome on 7/6. Nothing happens that night, right?

La Parka reversed a cross corner whip but ate a mule kick on his follow-through.
As Konnan clotheslined Konnan, he got 2.
He gave Konnan a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
When Konnan charged, he came up empty on his follow-through.
This match must have been brought to you by a crappy telecom company because nobody could make a solid connection.

Regardless, Konnan implemented a drop toe hold to send La Parka face-first into the second turnbuckle.
He scored with a somersault clothesline and a seated dropkick.
After La Parka reversed an Irish whip into a short-arm clothesline, he landed a spinning heel kick.
Konnan sought refuge outside the ring, but La Parka mounted the top turnbuckle and launched a tope. Woohoo!
While he slammed Konnan, La Parka mounted the adjacent top turnbuckle, leaped, but ate boot.
Konnan leapfrogged La Parka, fed him a kick to the midsection, and rammed him face-first into the mat.
Upon delivering a 187, Konnan trapped La Parka in a Tequila Sunrise.
La Parka submitted; thus, Konnan won at 3:01.

Summary: Since Konnan’s a member of nWo Wolfpack, the Evansville faithful maintained their interest. Had Konnan not had any nWo affiliation, it may have been taco time.

The Nitro Girls dance in black at the broadcast table, but Schiavone segues to a Mortis Kanyon video where Kanyon cuts a promo on Raven. Before the break, Zbyszko announces “men should be allowed to have a harem.”

In the ring, Okerlund interviews “Rowdy” Roddy Piper who drops an Indiana Pacers reference. He calls Savage a “Muppet” and “Village People reject.” As Okerlund asks Piper about trust, Savage saunters toward the ring. Elizabeth tries to stop him to no avail. When Piper confronts Savage, they ultimately agree to be partners at the PPV.

Suddenly, Bret interrupts from the aisle and stirs the pot. Piper refutes Bret’s lies, but Savage wants to ruin his Monday night. Savage tosses a chair into the ring, but Piper sets it up and sits down. He reasons with Savage that they work as a team at the PPV but can fight afterward if need be.

Guerrera leapfrogged Kidman but ate a sit-out powerbomb on a second attempt.
When Kidman gave Guerrera a cross corner whip, he ate a mule kick on his follow-through.
Guerrera clotheslined Kidman and ripped his ripped t-shirt off him.

As Kidman reversed an Irish whip, he fell victim to a flying headscissors.
Kidman sought refuge on the floor, but Guerrera met him head-first with a tope con hilo. Woohoo!
After they returned to the ring, Kidman rammed Guerrera face-first into the mat for 2.
Guerrera rebounded with a sunset flip and got 2.
While Kidman responded with a dropkick, he clotheslined Guerrera.
He tossed Guerrera to the floor and rammed him face-first into the apron.
From the apron, he fed Guerrera a springboard leg drop for 2.
He gave Guerrera a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
Upon clotheslining Kidman, the beloved Guerrera collapsed to the mat.
Kidman dealt him a powerslam and got 2.
Cradling Kidman, Guerrera got 2.
Kidman delivered an inverted suplex landing Guerrera feet-first on the apron.
Yanking Kidman down to the mat, Guerrera mounted the top turnbuckle and scored with a spinning heel kick for 2.
Kidman attempted a powerbomb, but despite an escape, Guerrera landed face-first.
Escaping a German suplex, Kidman provided Guerrera a dose of his own medicine.
Kidman mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but ate a dropkick from Guerrera.
Planting Kidman with a Juvi Driver, Guerrera mounted the top turnbuckle and launched a 450° splash.
1-2-3.
Guerrera won at 9:25.

Summary: Spectacular match as these guys didn’t hold back. The Evansville faithful also appreciated their tremendous effort. Note the lack of interference too because, without it, the match quality improves. Bravo, gentlemen!

Nitro Party video by preteen Julie Sherry of Dearborn Heights, MI airs. I wonder if she’s still a wrestling fan these days.

The broadcast team speculates on the main event, and Tenay updates Rick Steiner’s condition—successful shoulder surgery yet out until August. Following that, we revisit the shenanigans of Scott Steiner from three weeks ago.

Prior to the next match, Eddie rebuffs Chavo’s attempts at affection. Chavo grabs the microphone and asks Eddie if he’s taking the match. Eddie says no, but Chavo tries to both confuse and manipulate him. Irony! Reluctantly, Eddie acquiesces to Chavo’s demands.

Dragon gave him a cross corner whip, but Chavo backdropped him into a headstand atop the top turnbuckle.
As Dragon mule-kicked him, he jumped to the second turnbuckle, leaped, but ate a dropkick from Chavo.
Dragon fed Chavo a dragon screw leg whip and hooked a Stump Puller.
When Chavo didn’t submit, Dragon unleashed a series of kicks.
He gave Chavo a cross corner whip and followed with a handspring elbow.
After he hoisted Chavo atop the top turnbuckle, Dragon joined, but Chavo broke it up.
With Dragon on the apron, Chavo attempted to suplex him back into the ring.
On the other hand, Eddie tripped Chavo allowing Dragon to escape.
Dragon hooked a Dragon sleeper, but Chavo literally kicked out of it.
While Chavo clotheslined him, he performed some heel shenanigans while informing Eddie that he’s “cheating to win.” HA!
He clotheslined Dragon again and dealt him a tornado DDT.
1-2-3.
Chavo won at 4:40.
UPSET CITY!

Summary: More storyline than match as Dr. Frankenstein cannot fathom the monster he has created. Unfortunately, the Evansville faithful doesn’t care for Chavo.

After the match, Chavo invites Eddie into the ring and is ready to fight some more. Finally, the Evansville faithful wakes up and advises Eddie that he indeed “sucks.”

At ringside, Okerlund interviews Eddie who states that ring announcer David Penzer’s father is a psychiatrist, and he should obtain an appointment for Chavo. HA! JJ Dillon interrupts and announces an Eddie versus Chavo match at the upcoming PPV. While Eddie vehemently complains, Chavo celebrates.

Match 7 for the WCW Cruiserweight title: Dean Malenko (champion) versus Lenny Lane

Lane shilled his “ab polish” during his entrance.

When Malenko gave Lane a cross corner whip, he ate a back elbow on his follow-through.
Lane whipped Malenko into the corner and scored with a bulldog.
Do we have a new champion?
1-2-NO!
As he slammed Malenko, Lane followed with a standing leg drop for another 2.
Malenko reversed an Irish whip and connected with a spinning heel kick.
After he gave Lane another cross corner whip, Malenko ate a mule kick on his follow-through.
Lane mounted the second turnbuckle, hooked a sunset flip, but Malenko escaped.
While Malenko secured a Texas Cloverleaf, Lane submitted at 4:34.

Summary: Showcase match for Malenko, but Lane showed some personality and heel mannerisms.

As a bald-headed Attitude made his entrance, he mimicked Goldberg. I fear for his safety.
During his entrance, Goldberg inhaled pyro smoke. Methinks he invented vaping.
Laughingly, Attitude attempted a spear, but he couldn’t budge Goldberg.
When he military-pressed Attitude, Goldberg dropped him like a bad habit.
Goldberg planted a pair of knees into the midsection, and the Evansville faithful began a “Gold-berg” chant.
After Goldberg speared him, he demolished Attitude with a Jackhammer.
1-2-3.
Goldberg won at 1:12.

Summary: Showcase match for Goldberg who’s 90-0. I’m certain that Attitude’s demeanor has turned negative. The subliminal message isn’t lost on me as WCW defeats “Attitude.”

Winner of the best-of-seven series becomes the #1 contender to the World TV title.
When Booker T gave him a cross corner whip, he backdropped Benoit.
He scored with a flying forearm causing Benoit to regroup on the floor.
As Booker T reversed an Irish whip, he countered a German suplex with a rollup for 2.
He gave Benoit a cross corner whip but ate a mule kick on his follow-through.
After Benoit attempted a Crippler Crossface, Booker T countered with a leg lariat.
He slammed Benoit and got 2.
While Benoit hung him out-to-dry, he punted Booker T down to the floor.
Benoit connected with a back elbow and got 2.
Feeding Booker T a snap suplex, Benoit got another 2.
Booker T countered a back drop with an inverted sunset flip for 2.
Responding with a chop, Benoit got 2.
He clotheslined Booker T for another 2.
Despite the broadcast team claiming the crowd was “50-50” on the match, the Evansville faithful remained silent during Benoit’s offense.

Benoit reversed a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
Crunching Booker T with a backbreaker, Benoit got 2.
He mounted the top turnbuckle but missed a flying head butt.
Meanwhile, Fit Finlay, clad in street clothes, watched the match from the entrance.
Booker T rebounded with a spinebuster and pancaked Benoit.
Thrilling the Evansville faithful with a spinaroonie, Booker T escaped a belly-to-back suplex.
He dealt Benoit an axe kick and followed with a sidewalk slam.
Mounting the top turnbuckle, Booker T missed a Harlem Hangover.
Benoit crawled over but only got 2.
Countering a clothesline, Benoit trapped Booker T in a Crippler Crossface.
Booker T submitted; thus, Benoit won at 11:45.

Summary: Excellent psychology as each wrestler knows his opponent well, and a great story is told. Benoit leads the series 1-0. Match 2 will be on Thunder.

Match 10: The “Total Package” Lex Luger & Sting versus Giant & “Sting”

As Sting entered the ring, he ambushed “Sting.”
He tossed “Sting” over the top rope down to the floor, and, along with Luger, stared down Giant.
When he double-teamed Giant with Sting, Luger connected with a corner clothesline.
Sting followed with a Stinger splash, and Giant tumbled over the top rope down to the floor.
After the heels regrouped, “Sting” fed Sting a back elbow.
Sting reversed an Irish whip and clotheslined “Sting.”
While Luger tagged in, he dealt “Sting” an inverted atomic drop followed by a pair of clotheslines.
Luger creamed him with a flying forearm, but “Sting” used momentum and the tights to send him down to the floor.
Joining Luger on the floor, Giant delivered a big boot.
The Evansville faithful chanted “Giant sucks,” yet “Sting” guillotined Luger with the top rope.
Landing a series of elbow smashes, “Sting” got 2.
Giant tagged in, gave Luger a cross corner whip, and followed with his own corner clothesline.
Ringing Luger’s bell, Giant decimated Luger with an elbow drop.
“Sting” tagged in, gave Luger a cross corner whip, but came up empty on his follow-through.
Hot tag Sting.
From the apron, Sting clotheslined “Sting.”
Giving “Sting” a cross corner whip, Sting launched another Stinger splash.
He planted “Sting” with a Scorpion death drop and pinned him at 6:03.

Summary: A clean finish! OK, perhaps with “Sting” in the match, it was predictable, but it was still clean. The question remains…whose side is Sting on?

Afterward, Nash and the nWo Wolfpack meander toward the ring. Sting exits the ring while Luger salutes his new teammates. While the Evansville faithful boils to a fever pitch, Sting re-enters the ring. Luger pitches the nWo Wolfpack t-shirt to Sting, but time runs out.

Conclusion: While I realize they had to put the shirt on Luger before the main event, the defining moment of the episode was Luger’s inclusion into the nWo Wolfpack. I hate the fact that they dragged “Sting” out of mothballs as a foil for Sting rather than a better nWo Hollywood wrestler. His presence telegraphed the finish to the main event which could have led viewers to change the channel to RAW.

Otherwise, with the #1 contender’s match, the Kidman/Guerrera match, Eddie/Chavo, Jericho, and the simmering Goldberg, this was an extremely solid episode.