WCW Thunder 04-16-98

With WCW having its tail between its leg for the first time since June 1996, what big bombs will they prepare on the go-home show for the PPV? What will happen in tonight’s blockbuster main event? Will Booker T and Benoit mend fences or stand firm against one another? What’s new in the saga involving Chavo and Eddie? Let’s pry open this sucker and see what happens!

Rick fed Bagwell an inverted atomic drop and clotheslined him over the top rope to the floor.
When Bagwell slammed him, he mounted the second turnbuckle.
Bagwell leaped, but Rick caught and dealt him an overhead belly-to-belly suplex.
As he backdropped Bagwell, Rick delivered a Steinerline and an elbow drop.
He hip-tossed Bagwell and got 2.
After Rick mounted the top turnbuckle, BPP sprinted to the ring and knocked him down to the mat.
Referee Nick Patrick called for the bell to disqualify Bagwell at 2:49.

Summary: While the Fargo faithful got a chance to bark, this match had some fleas and was more angle than match.

Afterward, BPP and Bagwell double-team Rick until Lex Luger hits the ring to even the odds.

Nash emerges and heads to the ring. While he compares Hogan to a “turd,” Nash proclaims to be the World champion. Next, he cuts a promo on Bret saying, “don’t mess with ‘Big Sexy.’” He informs Hogan to either be his partner at the PPV or die trying. He finishes by running down Giant and promotes the main event.

“Iron” Mike Tenay joined the broadcast table for this match.
As Goldberg slammed Darsow, Schiavone announced that Goldberg would face Saturn at the PPV.
Darsow attempted a sunset flip, but Goldberg fed him a knuckle sandwich.

When he gave Darsow a cross corner whip, Goldberg hip-tossed him.
Darsow attempted a cross body block, but Goldberg caught and dealt him a backbreaker.
After Darsow tossed him over the top rope to the floor, Goldberg leaped to the apron and over the top rope.
He speared Darsow, and the Fargo faithful ERUPTED.
While he delivered a Jackhammer, Goldberg won at 1:51.

THUNDERBURST SLAM OF THE NIGHT: Goldberg’s spear and Jackhammer of Darsow. Without question, Goldberg’s a SMASH hit.

At the entrance, Schiavone interviews JJ Dillon who declares that there will be a US title match on Nitro. Well, that’s not news. Nonetheless, either DDP or Raven will defend against…Goldberg. Hmmm…someone’s not happy they lost the ratings battle on Monday.

Booker T leapfrogged Fuller and followed with a leg lariat.
When he dealt Fuller a pair of back elbows, Booker T ate a powerslam.
Can Fuller become TV champion?
1-2-NO!
As he hoisted Booker T atop the top turnbuckle, Fuller slammed him ¾ of the way across the ring. Impressive!
He gave Booker T a pair of cross corner whips but came up empty on his follow-through.
After Booker T fed him a HUGE spinebuster, Fuller reversed an Irish whip but ate a scissors kick.
Booker T delivered a belly-to-back suplex and wowed the Fargo faithful with a spinaroonie.
While he hit a Harlem side kick, Booker T mounted the top turnbuckle and launched a missile dropkick.
1-2-3.
Booker T retained at 2:58.

Summary: Booker T gave Fuller some offense but prevailed to the delight of the Fargo faithful.

At the entrance, Schiavone announces that Luger and Rick will face BPP and Bagwell at the PPV. Before Schiavone can speak further, BPP and Bagwell object. BPP threatens not to show up. Hmmm…ask Flair about doing that.

Match 4: The “Crippler” Chris Benoit versus Scott “Flash” Norton (w/ Vincent)

Prior to entering the ring, Benoit annihilated Vincent.
Norton slammed and fed Benoit a pair of elbow drops.
As he gorilla-press-slammed Benoit, Norton clotheslined him.
He gave Benoit a cross corner whip and followed with an avalanche.
When he dealt Benoit a shoulder block, Norton knocked him out of the ring.
He joined and made Benoit HIT THE POLE.
After Norton also HIT THE POLE on a mistimed short-arm clothesline, he powerslammed Benoit.
Speaking of Benoit, he escaped Norton clutches, shoved him sternum-first into the corner, and unleashed a pair of German suplexes.
While Norton reversed a cross corner whip, he came up empty on his follow-through.
Benoit attempted a Crippler Crossface, but Vincent jumped onto the apron.
As Benoit sent him reeling to the floor, Norton attempted another short-arm clothesline.
Benoit countered with a Crippler Crossface, but Vincent interjected himself for the DQ.
When referee Mickey Jay called for the bell, Benoit won at 3:29.

Summary: The psychology and story were there, but the Fargo faithful wasn’t buying it.

After the match, Norton and Vincent double-team Benoit until Booker T makes the save. Despite receiving his assistance, Benoit shoves Booker T down just like Monday. For those unaware, they’ll face one another at the PPV.

In the ring, Schiavone interviews Piper and Giant. Piper rides Giant to the ring like an amusement park ride and cuts a promo on Hogan and Nash.

During Hennig’s entrance, our first sighting of a “Bring Back Warrior” sign had been spotted.

Also, during Hennig’s entrance, Rude joined the broadcast table for this match.
Hennig gave Calo a cross corner whip, snap mare, and somersault neck snap.
When he dealt Calo a knee lift, Hennig gave him another cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
Calo mounted the top turnbuckle and uncorked a missile dropkick for 1.
As Hennig caught and sandwiched him in the corner, he fed Calo an Axe.
He hooked a Hennigplex and pinned Calo at 2:51.

Match 6 for the WCW Cruiserweight title: “Lionheart” Chris Jericho (champion) versus Chavo Guerrero, Jr. (w/ Eddie Guerrero)

During Jericho’s entrance, Schiavone took a subtle swipe at the WWF for baiting-and-switching.

Chavo leapfrogged Jericho and followed with a dropkick.
For those unaware, this is a homecoming of sorts for Jericho as Winnipeg and Fargo are 225 miles apart.
Chavo face-planted him before Jericho rebounded with a delayed vertical suplex.
As Jericho displayed an arrogant cover, he got 2.
He gave Chavo a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
When the non-Jericho fans among the Fargo faithful informed him that he “sucks,” Jericho blocked a tornado DDT.
Chavo clotheslined him for 2.
After he fed Jericho an atomic drop, Chavo attempted a sunset flip.
Jericho countered with the LionTamer, but Chavo tried to reach for the ropes.
In lieu of helping his nephew, Eddie swatted Chavo’s hand from the bottom rope. Evil!
Jericho centered his position in the ring, and Chavo tapped out at 2:21.

Summary: Showcase match for Jericho as Eddie purposefully cost Chavo a chance at glory.

After the match, Eddie covers his head with a towel in feigned embarrassment. Suddenly, Prince Iaukea storms the ring and WAFFLES Jericho with a scale. He follows Jericho to the floor and hammers him again with it. While Iaukea chases Jericho backstage, Eddie pulls a “McFly” on Chavo. He offers Chavo a way out if he beats Ultimo Dragon at the PPV. However, if Chavo loses, Eddie “will ride (Chavo) twice as hard.” Does Eddie think he’s in a Black Crowes video?

Next, “Hollywood” Hogan along with Eric Bischoff and Disciple, approaches the ring to a chorus of canned boos. Hogan cuts a promo on Nash and declares the World title “mine.” As the Fargo faithful chants “Hogan sucks,” their nemesis vows to get his belt back. Immediately, some cornball nails him with a plastic cup.

At the entrance, Schiavone interviews Dillon again. Dillon confirms the Bagwell/BPP versus Rick/Luger match at the PPV. Next, he addresses Savage’s current condition, and Savage must have a doctor’s release to compete. Speaking of Savage, he and Elizabeth emerge, and Savage, with serious bags under his eyes, proclaims that Hogan ran him over. Dillon doesn’t have concrete proof but requires the clearance and “no cast” for Savage to work the main event at the PPV. What about tonight?

Adams attacked Giant at the bell and guillotined him with the top rope.
When Adams mounted the top turnbuckle, he almost lost his balance and jumped down. Better than botching a move, I guess.
Giant slammed Adams and followed with a big boot.
As Giant prepared to chokeslam Adams, Vincent ran in and nailed Giant.
Referee Billy Silverman called for the bell to disqualify Adams at 1:10.

Summary: Waste of time. Why not just nix this match and add the time to the main event?

Afterward, the nWo storms the ring, but Giant fights them off with Piper’s approval.

WTF is WCW doing with these luchadores? They don’t wrestle each other anymore.

Saturn gave Silver King a cross corner whip followed by a back elbow.
As Silver King rebounded with a swinging DDT, Schiavone announced that Nitro will emanate from the Nassau Coliseum on 6/15.

Silver King mounted the top turnbuckle, landed on his feet after a moonsault, yet ate a clothesline.
When Saturn gave Silver King another cross corner whip, he came up empty on his follow-through.
Silver King charged but also came up empty.
After Saturn joined him atop the top turnbuckle, he delivered a super-Gargoyleplex.
Saturn applied a Rings of Saturn, and Silver King tapped out at 1:09.

In the ring, Schiavone interviews DDP who cuts a promo on Goldberg. When he turns his attention to Raven, DDP’s not looking past him but will “get what’s mine.”

Match 9: “Macho Man” Randy Savage & “Big Sexy” Kevin Nash (w/ Elizabeth) versus Sting & Bret “Hitman” Hart

Schiavone dissed the competition and stated we’re going OVERTIME.
When he and Bret brawled, Nash gave him a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
Bret mounted the second turnbuckle and unleashed a flying clothesline.
As Sting tagged in, he fed Nash an elbow drop.
Nash slammed Sting and tagged in Savage.
After Sting ducked a clothesline, he dealt Savage one of his own.
Sting attempted a Scorpion death lock, but Nash dragged his partner to safety.
While tags were exchanged on both sides, Bret escaped and shoved Nash sternum-first into the corner.
Nash delivered a sidewalk slam to Bret and got 2.
When Nash missed an elbow drop, Bret attempted a Sharpshooter.
Nash blocked it and hit a short-arm clothesline.
As Nash applied a sleeper, Bret countered with a belly-to-back suplex.
Hot tag Sting.
Upon nailing Nash, Sting unfurled a Stinger Splash to Savage.
He made a second attempt but ate a clothesline from Nash.
With all four wrestlers in the ring, Nash reversed an Irish whip and blasted Bret with a big boot.
Sting dropkicked Nash over the top rope to the floor, attempted another Stinger splash to Savage, but ate CAST.
After Savage mounted the top turnbuckle, Disciple ran in and pushed him down to the mat.
Referee Mark Curtis called for the bell to disqualify Sting and Bret at 8:13.

Summary: Savage came THIS close to pinning the World champion, but will he have the opportunity to do the same on Sunday?

After the match, Hogan and Disciple enter the ring, and Hogan tries to rebreak Savage’s broken arm with the ring post. Nash forcibly stops Hogan, and the nWo separates them.

Conclusion: The saga between Nash and Hogan dominates the show while Savage appears to have Sting’s number. The PPV was heavily hyped with the following matches:

Goldberg versus Saturn
Chavo Guerrero, Jr. versus Ultimo Dragon
For the World TV title, Booker T defends against Chris Benoit.
Curt Hennig versus the “British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith
For the Cruiserweight title, Jericho defends against Prince Iaukea.
Big Poppa Pump/ Buff Bagwell versus Rick Steiner/ Lex Luger
La Parka versus Psicosis
Kevin Nash and “Hollywood” Hogan versus “Rowdy” Roddy Piper & Giant (bat match)
For the US title, DDP defends against Raven.
For the World title, Sting defends against “Macho Man” Randy Savage.

Methinks WCW should have spent more time on Monday hyping the PPV rather than this show.