WCW Thunder, Thursday, 09/03/98

• Trivia Question: Immediately before Adrian Adonis "turned gay" in the mid-1980s, he carried a briefcase to the ring with something written on it that alluded to his impending turn. What was written on it?
• The mailbag:
  • From an anonymous reader:

    I noticed you and your writers always comment on the fact that "the cameras will be running in case the match ends while we go to commercial". I just thought that you'd like to know that the match really once ended during a commercial. It was in the early 90's, 1991 or 1992. This was when the US Tag Titles were still around. It was either a Johnny B. Badd match, or a match with the Young Pistols vs. some team I can't remember for the US Tag belts.
    Anyway, they came back and showed the footage. I'm pretty sure it was the former in the match, cause I think Greg Valentine and Terry Taylor won the US Tag belts from Big Josh and Ron Simmons soon thereafter, or even on the very same show.
    Just thought you'd like to know.

  • From Charlie of Chan and Charlie:

    On this morning's edition of "The Jerry Springer Show," a pun was thrown at pro wrestling. Going away to commercial, they advertised the next segment "New World Disorder." The segment was about a woman who is a breeder for the Klan. For a minute I thought I was watching ECW....

• We are taped from Peoria, Illinois.

• Tony's money is on Team WCW for War Games. Lee Marshall is still claiming that Hogan has never beaten Piper, once again conveniently forgetting Superbrawl.

• Marty Jannetty vs. Rick Fuller
  • Hey, it's Marty and the Technicolor Dreamcoat! With short hair, no less.
  • Fuller tries to use power early, but Jannetty frustrates him with scientific wrestling.
  • Fuller finally gets his paws on Jannetty, and starts manhandling him.
  • The announcers start talking about how great Mark McGwire is. Probably just pandering to the Internet rumors of him getting involved with WCW for a PPV match.
  • The announcers note that tonight we will have Meng vs. Raven and Konnan/DDP vs. Giant/Stevie Ray. Seeing as the matches are taped and the voiceover was done later, the announcers actually know what the card will be, unlike the normally live show which seems to be done by the seat of its pants.
  • A few quick exchanges of the advantage, but out of nowhere Jannetty hits the Showstopper and gets the pin.

• Replay of Tenay's interview with Saturn backstage. Hey, Tenay's fat! Then a replay of bits from his tag match with Lodi as his partner.

• Lenny Lane (yes!) vs. Kaz Hayashi
  • Good to see Lenny back. No ab solution tonight, though.
  • Lenny is playing the heel tonight. Schiavone notes that Lane looks and acts more and more like Jericho every week.
  • Lenny's actually getting some decent heel heat. There's actually a faint "Lenny sucks" chant from the crowd.
  • Lenny controls the match early on.
  • Hayashi flips out of an attempted release German Suplex by Lane. You'd think that after seeing Kaz do that in each match thus far, Lane would have expected it.
  • Man, the fans really are all over Lane tonight. The "Lenny sucks" chant is loud and clear now.
  • Lane rolls over on a flying cross body block from the top by Hayashi and almost gets the three-count.
  • Hayashi takes Lane inside-out with a head scissors and follows it up with a big dive onto Lane from the ring to the floor.
  • Lane catches Hayashi off the top again into a powerslam for another two-count. Lane follows it up with a big suplex.
  • A couple more two-counts going either way.
  • Frankensteiner off the top by Hayashi, senton splash, and Kaz Hayashi is your winner via pinfall.

• Replay of Konnan saving DDP from an nWo Hollywood beating.

• High Voltage vs. Disorderly Conduct
  • I read somewhere a couple months ago that Rage is a shootfighter. I don't know if that's really true.
  • Tony says a big hello to all the kids staying up late on a school night and cutting their homework short to watch wrestling. Gee, Tony, that's comforting. Way to contribute to a lost generation.
  • High Voltage with the early advantage, but Disorderly Conduct comes back with a double-team until Rage clotheslines both Tough Tom and Mean Mike at once.
  • The Brain compares High Voltage to the young Steiner Brothers.
  • Kaos gets beaten up until the hot tag to Rage.
  • High Voltage gets the pin after the Circuit Breaker.

• Wrath vs. Barry Horowitz
  • Oh, man...Horowitz is going to get spanked in this match.
  • Given what the announcers are saying, it looks like Dean Malenko vs. Curt Hennig in a cage for Fall Brawl.
  • Man, Wrath looks great.
  • Heh, Horowitz tries to tackle Wrath in the center of the ring, bounces off him and goes all the way out to the floor.
  • Wrath beats up Horowitz outside the ring.
  • Back in, Horowitz is just getting creamed.
  • Horowitz with a go-behind, and gets a one-count.
  • The Brain suggests that a claw hammer is about the only thing that would enable Horowitz to win this match.
  • Wrath hits the Meltdown, and gets the pin.
  • Impressive. So much so that it's the Thunderburst Slam of the Night.

• Special one-on-one interview with Saturn. Saturn is following through on his commitment because he wants to get at Raven and break up the Flock. He's sick of seeing bullies like Raven. He says that his word is more important to him than anything, and he won't go back on his word.

• Meng vs. Raven w/The Flock, including Lodi and his flunky, Saturn
  • Kanyon and Raven announce that it's a handicap match, and Meng will face Riggs and Sick Boy.
  • In less than a minute Meng has the death grip on Riggs. Raven says Horace can get back in the Flock if he takes care of Meng. Horace runs in and nails Meng with the stop sign...death grip for Horace. Sick Boy comes off the top turnbuckle...death grip.
  • Exasperated, Raven tells the ref to count Sick Boy out...your winner Meng.
  • Raven orders Lodi to order Saturn into the ring.
  • Saturn goes at Meng full bore, and seems to be making progress, until Kanyon kicks Saturn in the back of the head, allowing Meng to put the death grip on Saturn.
  • Raven walks away with a big smile on his face.

• Saturn vs. Kanyon w/Raven and Lodi
  • When we came back from commercial, Saturn was still in the ring, trying to shake off the effects of the Tongan Death Grip.
  • Kanyon immediately goes to work on Saturn.
  • Saturn almost gets the win with an inside cradle.
  • After more beating, Kanyon finally goes for a cover, but Saturn powers out.
  • Kanyon continues the beating, with Saturn continuing to power out.
  • Saturn is practically out as he's getting beaten...I've seen Mario Mancini have better offense than this!
  • Saturn gets one punch in...and he's down again.
  • Saturn powers out after the fisherman's neckbreaker.
  • Saturn powers out after a powerbomb.
  • Belly-to-belly over the head by Saturn out of nowhere! Another suplex by Saturn!
  • Fallaway slam by Saturn!
  • Lodi jumps up on the apron with a microphone and says he wants to see a Flatliner.
  • So, Saturn stands there while a confused Kanyon runs up and gives Saturn the Flatliner and gets the pin.
  • Raven is sitting in the corner and smiling.

• Dean Malenko vs. Brian Adams
  • Adams comes to the ring first. As Malenko is coming to the ring, Hennig runs up and nails him from behind.
  • Adams then beats up Malenko and tosses him over the top rope into the ring.
  • Hennig has already beaten up the referee, but as he turns around, Malenko attacks him.
  • Hennig, Adams and Rude gang up on Malenko, three-on-one.
  • Hennig runs Malenko shoulder-first into the ringpost.
  • In the ring, Rude runs up and gives Malenko the spinning neckbreaker and swivels his hips.
  • Hennig takes the mic and says he has "closed the door" on the Four Horsemen...pun obviously intended.
  • The trainer comes up to take care of Malenko, as the bad guys keep beating on him.
  • Hennig keeps prattling on, saying there will be no Four Horsemen, and no man in WCW can defeat Hennig in a cage match, as he puts a big piece of fence on top of Malenko.

• Hmmm, Malenko hurt and Hennig in a cage...could we be seeing a set up for Flair's return?

• Norman Smiley vs. Riggs
  • Riggs is still obviously feeling the effects from the beating Meng gave him.
  • Nevertheless, he goes to work immediately on Smiley.
  • Smiley comes back with a jawbreaker.
  • WCW officials have made it official that Malenko and Hennig will battle in a cage on next Monday's Nitro.
  • Smiley goes to work with a nice series of maneuvers
  • Riggs and Smiley exchange the advantage, with Riggs obviously hurting.
  • Crowd is chanting "Hollywood Faggot!" for some reason.
  • Smiley's submission style wrestling is really interesting to watch...very different than anyone else in WCW.
  • Surfboard by Riggs. Who does he think he is, Mil Mascaras?
  • Wow, talk about a timely comment on my part...Smiley with a roll-through and an ankle lock and he gets the submission.

• The Dancing Fools vs. Steve and Scott Armstrong, the Armstrong Brothers.
  • Whoo hoo! New tights for the Armstrong Brothers!
  • For the first time in the Dancing Fools' history, Alex Wright comes out first.
  • Another Mark McGwire mention. The announcers claim that Mark McGwire's four home runs in three games has something to do with McGwire's bat being rubbed on Goldberg's biceps.
  • Alex and Steve to start, with Alex keeping the advantage.
  • That's followed by Disco and Scott, with Disco keeping the advantage.
  • The Armstrongs come back with some classic heel double-teaming, and put a world of hurting on Disco Inferno.
  • All four men in the ring, and Disco sidesteps, and Scott accidentally dropkicks Steve.
  • Steve gets pitched and Alex hits the reverse neckbreaker on Scott and gets the pin.

• Konnan and "Diamond" Dallas Page vs. Giant and Stevie Ray
  • Konnan and DDP come out separately, each to their own music.
  • Wow! Schiavone actually explained something I didn't know! He explained the difference between WCW and nWo Wolfpac. nWo Wolfpac doesn't believe in tradition.
    • Well, it's the best explanation I've heard thus far.
  • Konnan and Stevie Ray to start.
  • Stevie Ray is wearing Harlem Heat pants and an nWo t-shirt. That would imply he's not staying in the nWo too long since he's not springing for new duds.
  • Giant and DDP in. Giant does the sign for the Diamond Cutter and turns it into a modified crotch chop.
  • Giant manhandles DDP...and gives him a big backbreaker.
  • DDP reverses a sidewalk slam into a DDT.
  • DDP goes for the cover and gets thrown off.
  • Konnan and Stevie Ray are tagged in.
  • Crowd chants "Giant sucks".
  • Giant and Stevie Ray beat on Konnan until Konnan hits Stevie Ray with the carpetmuncher.
  • Hot tag to DDP who comes in house-a-fire.
  • DDP hits the Diamond Cutter on Stevie Ray, the ref gives a slow count allowing the Giant something like ten seconds to break up the pin attempt.
  • nWo Hollywood runs in, DQing Giant and Stevie Ray.
  • Goldberg runs in to make the save, spears Adams and powerslams Vincent...and he and Giant go nose-to-nose and, whoops! We're out of time!

• Er, that's it.

Nothing much happened that wasn't shown on TV.

• Marty Janetty (sporting a new haircut, ring outfit, and music) beat Rick Fuller
• Kaz Hayashi over Lenny Lane
• High Voltage over Disorderly Conduct
• Wrath over Barry Horowitz
• Meng beat Riggs and Sick Boy in a handicap match. Horace then hit Meng with the stop sign, but that didn't hurt Meng. Throughout this match, Saturn held up signs for the flock. Lodi told Saturn to attack Meng, and as he attempted to hit Meng Kanyon attacked Saturn, then Meng put the death grip on Saturn.
• Kanyon beat Saturn. Saturn had the advantage when Lodi instructed Saturn that he wanted to see Kanyon put the Flatliner on him. Thus, Saturn lost.
• Brian Adams vs. Dean Malenko. No contest when Curt Hennig/Rick Rude attacked Malenko on the way to the ring. Hennig then "answers" a challenge regarding a steel cage match with Malenko at the PPV by saying Dean's not worthy of the match.
• Norman Smiley over Riggs
• Disco Inferno/Alex Wright over the Armstrong Brothers
• Juventud Guerrerra over Nick Densmore
• Stevie Ray/Giant - DDP/Konnan wrestled to a no contest when nWo Hollywood stormed the ring.
• Goldberg came out, speared and jackhammered the Giant for a "win."

• Trivia Answer: "Relax With Trudy". Trudy was his female alter-ego.