WCW Monday Nitro - Monday, 5/18/98

Note from Bill: Either the promos for the show were completely misleading, or I just didn't understand them. The Nitro shown from 11:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. was not "hour two", but instead was just a repeat of 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. So, Chan's one-hour report is all there is. I'll zoom through the tape again tonight, but this seems to be all she wrote.

• The show opens with clips of Scott Hall's turn on Kevin Nash and Tony Schiavone foreshadows that the focus of the program will be on Sting's decision to align himself with WCW or the nWo.
• We are live from Civic Center in Providence, Rhode Island.
• Eric Bischoff is in the ring, on a motorcycle and wearing a crown.
• He is not only knocking the WWF's Vince McMahon, but also their commentator Jerry Lawler who has long worn a crown and entered the ring on horseback.
• Bischoff "It is so good to be king".
  • First, he ruins Hendrix. Now Tom Petty.
• Claims that his professional television record is 98-2 but it pales in comparison to his 2-0 in ring record.
  • Claims to have defeated Larry Zbyszko and Vince McMahon.
  • Zbyszko actually defeated him at Starrcade (12/28/97).
  • See the pay-per-view report from last night for his "match" with McMahon.
    • Just for the record, in our opinion, last night's angle by Bischoff was the single greatest ego trips in the history of wrestling. Remember, he works with Hogan.
  • The "98-2" record is actually a reference to the TV ratings. At least he was honest that WWF beat WCW the last two times they went head-to-head on Monday night.
• Claims his future record will surpass Bill Goldberg's.
• The announcers are shocked that Bischoff would lie.
• As they cut to commercial, Larry can be heard saying, "Goldberg's got more hair!"

• The Nitro Girls are announced individually by Okerlund wearing purple sequined bikini tops and black pants.
  • Zbyszko: "Gene lives for this." Zbyszko is on tonight.
• Perry Saturn's interview regarding Glacier is replayed where he ridicules Glacier's cryonic kick and claims it is only a "sidekick." Not that Perry is lying or that his interview as poor, but he deserves better than a feud with Glacier.
  • Zbyszko and Tenay agree with Saturn. So much for his credibility.
• Saturn defeated Psychosis with the Rings of Saturn.
  • Saturn entered first.
  • Charles Robinson is the referee.
  • It is good to see Saturn on his own a little.
    • Somebody should have had a sign asking Raven "How can you walk with Saturn up Uranus."
  • The commentary focuses on the angle with Mortis last night.
  • They also discuss Kidman's participation in the cruiserweight action last night.
    • Who would have thought that Ciclope was Dean Malenko all the time?
  • Saturn executes the Death Valley Driver to set up the Rings of Saturn.
    • The announcers do not mention Louie Spicolli, so I will.
• As we return from commercial they show clips of the Savage-Hart bout from last night. They set up an interview with acting commissioner Roddy Piper and Gene Okerlund.
  • Why is he still acting commissioner with J.J. Dillon back?
    • He still negotiates better than J.J. "Submissions are legal" Dillon.
  • Complains about his duties as referee.
    • Piper stooped to refereeing a match to get himself in the main event last night. We predict that he will give his artificial hip to a wrestler to use as a weapon next a la Mad Dog Vachon/Diesel. You heard it here first!
  • Alludes to Liz being a vampire.
    • She can suck my blood any time she wants.
    • Well, as far as I'm corcerned, she can...oh, never mind.
  • Acts as though he does not know what really happened and thinks Savage hit him last night.
  • Savage comes out.
  • Piper then says he watched the tape and refuses to apologize.
  • Piper changes the ruling and says Savage wins by disqualification.
    • Gene calls this a "bombshell."
    • I know I am amazed.
  • This prompts Hart to come out and complain about the decision.
  • As Bret attempts to get into the ring, Bischoff, Hogan and the utterly useless Disciple stop him.
  • Hogan challenges the two for a June 14^th tag team battle. Hart/Hogan vs. Piper/Savage.
    • This would lend credence to the rumor of Hogan refusing to wrestle at Slamboree due to the fact it wouldn't have had enough promotion. If Hogan owned a store, he'd start selling Christmas trees on December 26th.
  • Piper claims to want him now. Hogan begins to go to the ring.
  • Bischoff stops him claiming, "The pay-per-view is just fine for us, let's get the hell out of here."
    • Another idiotic pay-per-view main event.
    • I guess the marks go for this crap but I don't.
    • I can't blame them if they are making money on it though.
  • Okerlund refers to the entire incident as a "brouhaha." It almost saved the angle. Almost.
• Heenan joins the broadcast team. They discuss Malenko's return.
  • They show a taped interview with Okerlund and Malenko from last night.
  • Malenko forgives Okerlund but claims that he has not yet begun to harm Jericho.
  • Malenko: "When you spoke about the great Boris Malenko, that didn't get over with Dean Malenko."
    • Not getting over with Malenko seems to be a pattern with WCW.
  • They show a taped segment where Jericho is going nuts crying and pouting after the loss.
  • He actually got down on all fours crying and screaming about a conspiracy.
  • This is probably the worst Jericho segment in months and it still came off better than Malenko's.
• Juventud Guerrera defeated Damien with the 450 splash, well he tried it anyway.
  • According to Jericho last night, Damien is the Mexican that cannot afford a mask.
  • Billy Silverman is the referee. Evidently he has recovered from the terrible blow he took last night.
    • Yes that was sarcastic.
  • Tenay claims that Damien sports a different look depending upon the venue.
  • Of course the announcers focus on the Hogan-Hart vs. Piper-Savage match.
  • Juvi did manage some attention with a flying head scissors from the top rope.
  • Damian hit an incredibly unusual move that Tenay did not even attempt to call. He had Juvi upside down on his shoulders and dropped down to give him something like a Rude Awakening.
  • Juvi hit the "Juvi Driver" shortly after. He went for a pin attempt before attempting the 450.
    • Heenan: "He got 435 of it."
  • It must have been a missed spot as he dropped an elbow and then made the cover.
• Nitro Girls in Daisy Dukes and tank tops. Schiavone inaccurately cues Gene.
• Goldberg defeated Glacier with the Jackhammer.
  • Goldberg enters at 88-0.
  • Goldberg wrestled Glacier on the 12/16 Nitro and his ring entrance was literally longer than the match. This time Glacier didn't even get a ring entrance. I like it!
  • Nick Patrick is the referee.
  • Bobby marks for Goldberg.
  • This match may have been shorter than the last one.
  • 89-0.
• Okerlund is now there and mentions the shank of the evening. I was hoping for Flair. I got Diamond Dallas Page. To quote Page, "Whatever."
  • Okerlund asks how and why he does it.
  • Page quotes Dick Murdoch: "If I had to think about how I did this I don't know if I could." Name dropper.
  • Says he hopes Hogan carries the belt when he gets his title chance and that he hasn't forgotten anything.
  • He asks Hogan if "he gets the big picture" after calling him movie star.
    • If Hogan got the big picture he wouldn't keep making those pathetic movies.
      
    • Hogan actually walked out on the premiere of his latest bomb. He claims it was because his son was ill. I'd say he was ill trying to watch that movie.
  • Since Hogan's match has already been set for the next pay-per-view, this interview seems to be incredibly pointless.
  • Fortunately, it was also incredibly short.
• Hogan, Bischoff, the Giant, the Disciple, Vincent, Bret Hart, Dusty Rhodes, Scott Norton and Bryan "Have you really ever loved a woman" Adams enter the building yet again.
  • Vincent needs to join Nash since Hogan has Disciple as his useless idiot.
  • Disciple is carrying Hogan's belt.
    • And I said he was useless...
  • Hogan gives the same old redundant speech. His new schtick is almost retired as the Hulkamania one. Not quite yet though.
  • Calls out Hall to save the segment.
  • The announcers claim everyone is still in shock.
    • Everybody who reads the sheets knew they would separate Hall and Nash due to all the backstage turmoil they create.
      • Yeah, having them feud really solved the problem in the WWF.
  • Schiavone pretty much quotes Steve Austin's DTA.
  • Hall doesn't get the opportunity to save the segment as he only gets to give the universal money sign and not even speak.
  • Bischoff calls out Sting for his decision time. Two years later and we're still having the same storyline about Sting's allegiance. No wonder they compare wrestling to soap operas.
  • Sting answers by spitting in Giant's face, turning his back and getting taken out by the Giant only to be saved by Nash yielding a lead pipe.
  • As the man Bill would say: Fade to black.
• Three incredibly predictable matches. The show focuses on fogeys. Hogan comes out twice, Bischoff three times. Well, at least we didn't have to endure the Bischoff interview four times on this edition.

• Ultimo Dragon defeated Eddy Guerero via submission
• Chris Jericho defeated Cylope with the Lion Tamer
• Lex Luger defeated Brian Adams with the torture rack