WCW Thunder 07-16-98

Will DDP get his hands on Hennig this week? Who does Malenko call out? What’s on Nash’s mind following what happened on Nitro? What’s new with Bret? Catch all this on a 3-hour episode right now!

Following Nitro, “Professor” Mike Tenay interviewed Kevin Nash in the locker room. Nash was downtrodden about Hall’s heel turn, briefly mentioned Hall’s “personal problems,” called his relationship with Hall “best friends by choice,” and felt Hall was “attacked” by Hogan and Bischoff. He defined Hall’s turn as “strike two” and was ready to “beat some sense into him.” Candid interview.

Before the opening match, Konnan makes his entrance with microphone in hand and gives a shoutout to the Wolfpack. He runs down his catchphrases and gives a shoutout to the Oakland A’s in attendance. According to Schiavone, the A’s played against the Kansas City Royals earlier today (A’s won 5-3), and Heenan threw out the first pitch.

Konnan leapfrogged El Dandy and followed with a hip toss.
When he fed El Dandy a somersault clothesline, Konnan backdropped him.
He gave El Dandy a cross corner whip but ate a mule kick on his follow-through.
As El Dandy connected with an uppercut, he dealt Konnan a jawbreaker.
El Dandy hooked an abdominal stretch, but Konnan escaped and delivered another hip toss.
After Konnan leapfrogged him again, he rammed El Dandy face-first into the mat.
He demolished El Dandy with a 187 and trapped him in a Tequila Sunrise.
While Damian submitted, Konnan won at 2:52.

Summary: Showcase match for Konnan as the Oakland faithful appears to be “raza.”

Lizmark leapfrogged Dragon, ducked a spinning heel kick, but Dragon countered a big boot with a leg sweep.
As Dragon gave Lizmark a cross corner whip, he performed a headstand on the top turnbuckle.
Stupidly, Lizmark fell for the subsequent mule kick that Dragon normally implemented.
Dragon unleashed a series of kicks, gave Lizmark a cross corner whip, but Lizmark soared over his follow-through.
When he powerslammed Dragon, Lizmark got 2.
He suplexed Dragon and got another 2.
After he trapped Dragon in a seated abdominal stretch, Lizmark fed him a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker but couldn’t get 3.
In a series of counters, Lizmark prevailed with a sunset flip for another 2.
He hooked Dragon in a unique cradle for yet another 2.
While Lizmark gave him a cross corner whip, Dragon leaped to the second turnbuckle and attempted a cross body block.
Lizmark caught and flattened Dragon with a snap fallaway slam followed by a float-over for 2. Captivating!
Attempting a springboard moonsault, Lizmark was met by a Dragon dropkick.
Lizmark reversed an Irish whip and delivered a Samoan drop for 2.
Escaping another Samoan drop attempt, Dragon hooked a dragon sleeper.
Lizmark tapped out, so Dragon won at 4:11.

We revisit last week when Hennig used shenanigans to weasel out of his match against DDP. The match has been rescheduled for tonight.

In the ring, Schiavone interviews DDP who adds “scum” to “Hollywood” Hogan’s name before running him down. He wants a piece of Hogan eventually, but tonight he’s happy to “bang” Hennig. I wonder how Kimberly felt about that.

To suck up to the Oakland faithful, Public Enemy wore Raiders shirts. It’s no wonder that that team relocated to Vegas.
Grunge gave Wright a cross corner whip followed by an avalanche. Anyone for squished Wiener schnitzel?
When Grunge slammed Wright, Disco tagged in but received a tilt-a-whirl slam.
Rocco tagged in, and Public Enemy fed Disco a double back elbow and double elbow drop.
As Rocco slammed Disco, Tokyo got up on the apron only to get nailed.
Disco dealt Rocco a face jam but missed a pair of elbow drops.
After a double clothesline put both wrestlers down on the mat, tags were exchanged on both sides.
Grunge cleaned house until all four wrestlers were in the ring.
While Public Enemy reversed double cross corner whips, they rammed the Dancing Fools into one another.
Stereo inverted atomic drops ended the Dancing Fools’ plans for later tonight, and Rocco clotheslined Disco.
Along with Grunge, Rocco double-guillotined Wright with the top rope, flipped over the opposite top rope, and delivered a flying headscissors to Disco on the floor. Creative!
Rocco lifted a table into the ring and sent Disco ab-first into the steel railing.
Upon setting up the table and placing Wright atop it, Grunge mounted the top turnbuckle.
Meanwhile, Tokyo rescued Wright from apparent doom and tried to dismantle the table.
Grunge attempted a slingshot splash but ate the edge of the table. OUCH!
Since it disrupted the match, referee Billy Silverman called for the bell.
Public Enemy won by DQ at 4:53.

Summary: Disjointed tag match with a not-so-hot tag at the end. The finish looked severely botched as it didn’t appear that Grunge was supposed to hit the table’s edge.

After the match, all three Dancing Fools rejoice their defeat in the aisle while Silverman beckons for medical support for Grunge.

At the entrance, Schiavone interviews Dean Malenko, yet some idiot flashes a laser pen in his face. Nevertheless, he cuts a promo on Jericho. Next, we revisit the PPV when Arn held Jericho up enough for Malenko to catch and brawl with him backstage. Malenko wants an appointment with Arn TONIGHT.

On WCW Saturday Night, Saturn battles Sick Boy. Keep up your liquids for that one!

Before the match began, Roadblock met Duggan in the aisle, but referee Charles Robinson SHUT THAT SHIT DOWN.
When Duggan fed him some double axe handles, he clotheslined Roadblock over the top rope to the floor.
The Oakland faithful erupted in a “U-S-A” chant, and their hero gave Roadblock a cross corner whip before eating a back elbow during his follow-through.
As Roadblock landed an elbow drop, he got 2.
Duggan couldn’t budge him with a shoulder block but supplied Roadblock with a low bridge returning him to the floor.
To maintain the intensity from the front row, Duggan made Roadblock taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Gilroy burger at Quinn’s Lighthouse.
Roadblock guillotined him with the top rope and clotheslined Duggan from the apron.
After Roadblock turned his back on him, Duggan used momentum to bounce Roadblock back into the ring over the top rope.
Duggan dealt him a ten-punch count-along, but Roadblock rebounded with a bear hug.
While Duggan escaped by ringing Roadblock’s bell, he gave Roadblock a cross corner whip followed by a forearm.
Roadblock reversed another cross corner whip but fell victim to a flying clothesline.
Demolishing Roadblock with a three-point stance clothesline, Duggan followed with an Old Glory knee drop.
1-2-3.
Duggan won at 4:45.

Summary: Showcase match for Duggan who, despite being a grizzled veteran in WCW, continues to stay over.

Bret emerges and heads to the ring. As he namedrops Ric Flair, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, and “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Bret calls out the injured Benoit who’s not here. He mocks Booker T yet demands respect. Finally, he warns that “nobody is safe.”

Kanyon uniquely hooked a crucifix and got 2.
When he fed Saturn a seated piledriver, he flipped Saturn over for another 2.
Saturn blocked a hip toss and dealt Kanyon an overhead belly-to-belly suplex.
As Saturn delivered a series of kicks to him in the corner, Kanyon countered an arm bar with a swinging neckbreaker for 2.
He hit a gutbuster for another 2.
After he dismantled Saturn with a stun gun, Kanyon couldn’t get 3.
He placed Saturn atop the top turnbuckle, joined, but got shoved down to the mat.
While Saturn leaped, Kanyon caught and cradled him for 2. Awesome!
He snap-suplexed Saturn, migrated to the apron, and scored with a slingshot elbow drop for another 2.
Rebounding with a sunset flip, Saturn got 2.
Kanyon avoided an O’Connor roll and dropkicked Saturn for 2.
Giving Saturn a cross corner whip, Kanyon came up empty on his follow-through.
Saturn hooked an inside cradle for 2.
Blasting Kanyon with a thrust kick, Saturn got another 2.
Kanyon caught Saturn with an inverted F5 and attempted a Flatliner.
Shrugging Kanyon off while holding the top rope, Saturn obliterated him with a head-and-arm suplex for 2.
The Oakland faithful erupted with a “We Want Flair” chant, and Kanyon busted out a fisherman’s neckbreaker for 2.
Destroying Kanyon with a Death Valley Driver, Saturn won at 5:53.

Summary: Very solid match with plenty of workrate, near-falls, and psychology. Unfortunately, all the Oakland faithful wanted was a cup of WOOOOO to go.

As the Oakland faithful chanted “Cha-vo,” a frustrated Eddie sought refuge on the floor.
Psicosis clotheslined Eddie and got 2.
When Psicosis evaded a back drop, he fed Eddie a spinning heel kick.
Eddie revisited the floor, but Psicosis mounted the top turnbuckle and launched a cross body block. Woohoo!
After they returned to the ring, Eddie reversed a cross corner whip, caught Psicosis mid-float-over, and dealt him a shoulder breaker.
Eddie applied a cross arm breaker and got 2.
While Eddie gave him a cross corner whip, Psicosis leaped to the top turnbuckle and scored with a corkscrew dive.
Psicosis mounted the adjacent top turnbuckle, yet Chavo, wearing a mask and riding Pepe, galloped to ringside.
Instead of nailing Eddie, Psicosis leaped and obliterated Chavo with a double axe handle.
Eddie leaped from the apron and clotheslined Psicosis on the floor.
Back in the ring, Eddie gave Psicosis another cross corner whip but ate a mule kick on his follow-through.
Psicosis hoisted Eddie atop the top turnbuckle and delivered a super huracanrana.
Upon demolishing Eddie with a front suplex, Psicosis mounted the top turnbuckle again.
Chavo tried to waffle Psicosis with Pepe but WHIFFED.

On the second try, he bashed Psicosis in the back sending him down to the mat.
Eddie mounted the adjacent top turnbuckle and soared across the ring with a frog splash.
1-2-3.
Eddie won at 6:17.

Summary: Thanks to Chavo, Eddie obtained a questionable victory over an unquestionably decent opponent.

Hall emerges through the entrance, enters the ring, and cuts a promo on Nash. As he namedrops a Puff Daddy song, he says that Bischoff and Hogan repaid him for his “absence.” He wants to be referred to as “Medium Guy, the Nash Killer.”

Norton clotheslined Ciclope resulting in a 360°. Incredible!
When he powerbombed Ciclope, Norton pinned him at 0:39.
This man does NOT get paid by the hour.

In the ring, Schiavone interviews Stevie Ray who carries the World TV title belt with him. He claims that Booker T “should have did it his way…take this belt and defend it.” His “proof” that Booker T has given him power-of-attorney is a handwritten note. Likely story. Along with the note, Booker T has a “list” of wrestlers. Out strolls Damian, and Schiavone questions this immediately.

Stevie Ray backdropped Damian and flattened him with a high knee.
As Heenan read Stevie Rays’ note, he listed off a few grocery items. HA!
Stevie Ray powerslammed Damian but missed a leg drop.
When Damian mounted the top turnbuckle, he launched a missile dropkick.
He landed a leg drop, mounted the top turnbuckle, and scored with a senton bomb for 2.
After he gave Stevie Ray a cross corner whip, Damian ate boot on his follow-through.
Stevie Ray clotheslined and fed Damian a Slapjack.
1-2-3.
Stevie Ray won at 2:33.

Summary: Showcase match for Stevie Ray as the Oakland faithful begin to grow weary.

Hall brings Hennig, Vincent, and Rude with him to the ring. When Rude runs down DDP, Hennig calls DDP “Dirtball Dallas Punk.” The Oakland faithful chants “Gold-berg,” but Konnan, wearing an NC State hat, interrupts him. Foolishly, Hennig sticks his head between the ropes to insult Konnan and gets slapped. I smell a tag team main event, folks.

Guerrera leapfrogged him, but Mysterio responded with a flying headscissors.
When Mysterio got backdropped to the apron, he attempted a springboard maneuver but ate a dropkick in mid-air.
Guerrera migrated to the apron and fed Mysterio a springboard leg drop for 2.
As he dealt Mysterio a vertical suplex, he got another 2.
Tenay mentioned Mysterio’s “weight gain,” yet Guerrera clotheslined Mysterio.

After he landed an elbow drop, Guerrera couldn’t get 3.
Mysterio rebounded with a rollup for 2 and followed with another flying headscissors.
While he scored with a leg drop, Mysterio got another 2.
Guerrera reversed a cross corner whip, got vaulted to the apron, and soared with a springboard dropkick for 2.
Giving Mysterio a cross corner whip, Guerrera ate boot on his follow-through.
Mysterio mounted the top turnbuckle, but Guerrera caught and joined him.
Blasting Guerrera down to the mat, Mysterio won a trifecta with flying headscissors #3.
They exchange places on the floor, and Mysterio’s singing the same note with flying headscissors #4.
Attempting a springboard moonsault, Mysterio got caught, and Guerrera planted him with a Juvi Driver.
1-2-NO!
Guerrera mounted the top turnbuckle, but Mysterio crotched him. OUCH!
Sliding into the ring with a chair, Bret Hart WALLOPED both Mysterio and Guerrera consecutively with a chair.
Mysterio, as a result, won by DQ at 7:24.

Summary: On the one hand, these guys busted their asses. On the other hand, Mysterio left his workrate in San Diego while Hart’s interference blew any chance of a clean pinfall.

Following the match, Bret ties Guerrera in a Sharpshooter and decks referee Mickey Jay. He grabs Mysterio and applies a ring post figure-four leg lock. How dastardly! Only releasing the hold after more WCW officials arrive, Bret deals both luchadores more punishment.

Match 10: Barbarian & Hugh Morrus (w/ Jimmy Hart) versus “Gentleman” Chris Adams & Marty Jannetty

Morrus slammed Adams but missed an elbow drop.
As Adams scored with an enziguri, Jannetty tagged in.
Jannetty gave him a cross corner whip, but Morrus floated over only to eat a superkick.
When Hart jumped onto the apron, Jannetty grabbed him.
Barbarian intervened, but so did Adams.
With all four wrestlers in the ring, Adams charged Barbarian but came up empty on a cross body block.
Barbarian clotheslined him to the floor, and Hart put the loafers to him. Devious!
After Morrus mounted the top turnbuckle, he launched a No Laughing Matter to Jannetty.
1-2-3.
Morrus and Barbarian won at 2:48.

Afterward, Meng storms the ring and attacks Barbarian and Morrus. He overpowers both of them and deals them a meeting of the minds. As he blocks the Kick of Fear from Barbarian, Meng applies a Tongan death grip. Hart sacrifices referee Billy Silverman to save his own hide. What a weasel! Nonetheless, Meng is OUTTA CONTROL!

In the ring, Schiavone interviews Malenko who summons Arn to join him. “The Enforcer” joins him in the ring, and the Oakland faithful rejoice with four fingers in the air. Alongside Arn, Steve “Mongo” McMichael crashes the party. Mongo blows his lines in spectacular fashion, and the Oakland faithful chant “We Want Flair.”

Although they don’t get their wish, Malenko recounts his history with Arn and thanks him. When Arn’s had enough of the filibustering, he states that “you can join a boy’s club, a country club, or the nWo, but you don’t join the Horsemen. You’re chosen.” He feels that Malenko hasn’t earned the right to be a Horseman. Afterward, he removes his shirt to demonstrate that by standing in front of him is “as he was.” He turns around and says, “this is how (he is).” He just wants the Horseman matter laid to rest. As he walks away, the scar from his neck surgery says it all. Fantastic, as always, promo from Arn.

Match 11: Diamond Dallas Page & Konnan versus Scott Hall & Curt Hennig (w/ “Ravishing” Rick Rude & Vincent)

When DDP made his entrance through the Oakland faithful, he made the Wolfpack signal for Konnan to join him.
Ring announcer David Penzer announced the match will be Konnan and DDP facing the former AWA World tag team champions. Subtle change, but I love the heel pairing.
In case you’re curious, yes, DDP’s ribs were taped.
DDP blocked a hip toss and countered with a swinging neckbreaker to Hennig.
As DDP attempted a Diamond Cutter, Hennig barely escaped.
Tags were exchanged on both sides, and Hall backdropped and paint-brushed Konnan.
After Konnan retaliated with a clothesline and some of his own paint brushes, he leapfrogged Hall, kicked him in the midsection, and rammed him face-first into the mat.
All four wrestlers were in the ring, and Hall appeared to have lost his way.
While Hall reversed an Irish whip, he fed Konnan a fallaway slam.
Hennig tagged in and dealt Konnan a somersault neck snap.
Delivering a knee lift, Hennig hammered DDP off the apron.
Since referee Mark Curtis was distracted by DDP, Hall took liberties with Konnan in the nWo Hollywood corner. SNEAKY!
Hall tagged in and lowered an elbow drop onto a prone Konnan.
Upon each wrestler clotheslining one another, Konnan made the HOT TAG to DDP.
Hennig reversed an Irish whip, and DDP got leveled in the back of the head by Hall. Nefarious!
Not to be outdone, DDP stymied Hall sending him down in a heap.
Hennig returned fire with a clothesline to DDP for 2.
Brilliantly, Hennig hit a standing dropkick, gave DDP a cross corner whip, and followed with an Axe for another 2.
The Oakland faithful LOUDLY chanted “D-D-P,” but Hennig slammed their hero earning a count just short of 3.
Following a commercial break, Hall tagged in and crushed DDP with a second fallaway slam for 2.
Hall applied a Hennig-assisted abdominal stretch until Curtis recognized the chicanery.
Giving DDP a cross corner whip, Hall immediately followed with a corner clothesline.
Hall hooked a sleeper, but DDP escaped and trapped Hall in his own sleeper.
Countering with a belly-to-back suplex, Hall laid prone on the mat next to DDP.
Tags were exchanged on both sides again, and Konnan decimated Hennig with a somersault clothesline.
Hennig reversed an Irish whip and sent Konnan into an awaiting Hall.
Jumping on the ring apron to distract Curtis, Rude may have been a bit tardy.

DDP obliterated Hall with a Diamond Cutter on the floor, but Hennig secured a Hennigplex on Konnan inside the ring.
1-2-3.
Hennig and Hall won at 12:07 shown.

Summary: Can Hennig and Hall perform in more tag team matches please? They gave a solid outing while Konnan and DDP were strong at selling. The clean finish surprised me but in a good way.

Conclusion: Despite being three hours, this was a fun show with a fun main event, creative storytelling, and an excellent surprise with an Arn appearance. I’d say it’s worthy of your time.