WCW Monday Nitro - Monday, 10/05/98

• From the "Wonder of wonders" department, I've actually got a trivial question (or two) this week!

  Trivia question: When Kanyon was wrestling as Mortis, his finisher was then known as the "Flatliner," too. However, it was not the same move that he uses as the Flatliner today. What was the move that Mortis called the Flatliner?

  Bonus question: Mortis also did the move that is currently called the Flatliner, but it had a different name. For bonus points, what did he call it?
  Answers to both questions can be found at the end of the report.

• Time for a quick mailbag. Not many responses this week, as I didn't get to do the Mailbag at my normal time:

  • Adam notes:

    In the wake of the arrests that took place on both Nitro and RAW last night, I just thought I would compile a list of wrestlers who have been arrested throughout the whole course of the Monday Night Wars.

    Here are the wrestlers who have been arrested in the past (as of last night):

    • Ric Flair
    • Arn Anderson
    • Chris Benoit
    • Dean Malenko (twice)
    • Steve "Mongo" McMichael
    • Doug Dillinger (WCW Security)
    • Kevin Nash (three times)
    • The Giant
    • Ernest Miller (Kitty B. Badd)
    • Vince McMahon (WWF owner, of course)
    • Pat Patterson (McMahon's crony)
    • Jerry Brisco (another crony)
    • and, of course, Stone Cold Steve Austin (FOUR times!!!)

    My question is: Is it just me, or are the Monday Night Wars moving into "unchartered" territory, so to speak? In other words, are they beginning to be too much like reruns of "Cops"? What do you think?

  • D.T. Andrews writes:

    Finally, a WCW angle nobody saw coming! The fans, marks and internet know-it-alls all fell for the Hart speech: "please give me another chance, boo-hoo, Hogan tricked me, etc..., I'll prove my value to you........" Bret Hart did that on Nitro. This will draw him so much heel heat it will be defeaning. I'm glad WCW choose the more difficult angle in leaving Hart a heel.

    Actually, I think leaving Hart as a face would have been the more difficult angle. Hart has already proven he can play the heel quite well - whether WCW could get him over as a babyface is unproven.

  • Barry P. from http://members.tripod.com/~barryap/lodi.html

    Wrestling is in a sad, sad state. I hate to sound like an ultraconservative Bible Belt Christian nut (I'm not. I'm a 14-year old New York skate punk), but this "sport" is morally bankrupt.

    I turn on WCW, and I get a drunk, fake spinal cord injuries (nothing to joke about, I know somebody who suffered temporary paralysis), fans chanting "asshole", and multiple references to sucking "it".

    I turn on WWF, and I get a drunk, an audience begging for head, a vampire, multiple arrests, and multiple references to sucking "it".

    Obviously, this is all about shock value. Forgive me for being old-fashioned, but I'll take Hulkamania over Degeneration X any day.

  • Alan ponders upon:

    I actually think that Scot Hall's drunk bit may be making a serious point. If the stories are correct his recent absence from the ring was due to drying out from an alcohol problem, so it looks as though he decided to use it as an angle to show the wrestling fans how stupid a drunk looks and how it affects his performance. Whether this is the intention or not it sends a positive message by painting a negative picture of alcoholism, in contrast to Buff's fake neck injury (strange, considering the reality of a neck injury should be very fresh in his mind) which trivializes a serious matter.

  • Dan offers up this hilarious look at wrestling fans:

    There's this show we have on Community Access here in Salina. It's called "All About Wrestling." If you don't know what Community Access is, it's a station where anyone can produce their own TV show simply by taking a few lessons on how to run the camera.

    Anyway, this show is pretty low budget. Even more low budget than "WCW Saturday Night." It's basically a kitchen table with four guys dressed in jeans and t-shirts talking about wrestling.

    But there's no theme to it. They don't have a topic. So basically here's how it goes:

    "You remember in Wrestlemania VII when the Warrior beat Hogan?"
    "Yeah, that was cool."
    "Yeah."
    "Yeah. But now, like, he doesn't wrestle enough. He needs to wrestle."
    "Yeah, no kidding."
    "Yeah."
    "He sure ruled back then."
    LONG PAUSE
    "So.....what about the Macho Man?"
    "You remember in Wrestlemania...."

    I think you get the idea.

    I like wrestling an all, but.....

    I wonder if that's how Lee Marshall got his start.

  • Will & Jeremy Crowe write:

    With all the recent news about Jerry Lawler and Jim Carrey on the set of "Man on the Moon" it's getting pretty hard to avoid the subject lately. The hype about this movie did cause Will to bring up an interesting point related to WCW. Will realized that WCW/nWo and "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan stole the "I'm better than other wrestlers because I'm from Hollywood, and I'm a star" gimmick from the late Andy Kaufman. The "I'm a star, and I'm better than you wrestlers" gimmick used by Kaufman was the focus of the video "I'm From Hollywood" that you (DDT Digest) reviewed a while back.

• In case you blinked and missed it, my favorite jobber, Lenny Lane, actually WON A MATCH! He did it on WCW Saturday Night this week, winning with his new finisher, a full-nelson slam called "Memory Lane!"

  Three cheers for Lenny!!

• If you're looking to see how a great E-Wrestling Fed is run, I highly recommend that you check out Royal Championship Wrestling. They're the best I've seen.

• Thanks to everyone who wrote in to clue me in on my "What was that weird stuff on RAW" comment last week. In case you missed it, I turned over to RAW during a commercial, to see a McMahon/Austin confrontation where the audio didn't match up to the video. I wondered if the confrontation had been pre-taped.

  Well, several people wrote in to tell me that, before I switched over, Austin had ridden to the ring on a Zamboni, and had broken some audio equipment. The audio then probably went over to a delayed feed, while the video was live. The production was re-synched after a commercial break.

• Finally, on a sad note, today marks the one-year anniversary of the death of "The Loose Cannon," Brian Pillman.

• Dark match: Goldberg beat Disco Inferno

• We take a look back at Hogan challenging Hart and Sting, along with Hart's weekly turn from last week.
  • Tony says it was one of the most shocking developments in Nitro history. Go figure.

• The Nitro Girls get jiggy with it in the ring.
  • Speaking of getting "jiggy," I went to see the Barenaked Ladies show in Philly this weekend. It ruled more than anything has ever ruled before.

• We see a promo for Halloween Havoc.

• We are LIVE from Columbia, SC, for WCW Monday Nitro!!!
  • This is the site of Arn Anderson's "retirement" speech.
  • Tony wonders what the demonic laugh has been about. Production has no idea. Unfortunately, I think we all know.
  • Tonight, Bret Hart will defend the US title against Sting.

• We take another look at Roddy Piper challenging Bret Hart to be a man, and Hart's apology to Piper.

• The crowd has already started their "We Want Flair" chant.

• We take ANOTHER look back from August when Bret Hart prevented Hogan from whipping Sting, leading to the latest face turn, which led to the latest heel turn.

• We see a commercial for the WCW MasterCard.

• We now (finally!) get the normal Nitro opening.

• Match 1: Lizmark Jr. vs. Saturn
  • Lizmark Jr. comes out. Heeeee....he's got what yoooou neeeeeeed!
  • He'll be facing WCW's fire marshall, Saturn.
  • Decent pop for Saturn.
  • Lizmark, like most of the Luchadors, is playing the chameleon. He's a heel tonight, against the face Saturn.
  • Armlocks traded to start.
  • Lizmark with a shoulderblock, and a hiptoss, but Saturn stops the offense with punches, and kicks in the corner.
  • Superkick from Saturn.
  • I miss Saturn asking us what we're looking at.
  • Tilt-a-whirl hotshot from Lizmark.
  • Saturn avoids a corner charge, but Lizmark backslides him for two.
  • Clothesline from Saturn.
  • Saturn with a vertical suplex that turns into a type of Michinoku Driver II.
  • Spicolli Driver spells the end for Liz Markie.
  • Post match, Saturn gives us his little mind over matter phrase.

• Promo for Goldberg/Page, and Hogan/Nutcase.
  • Sheesh, it's still 20 days until Halloween Havoc, and we're already running this many promos. I don't want to see it the week before.

• We see a "Snickers 'On The Road' Report."
  • Um....."Where's the Beef" (or wrestling)?

• More Nitro Girls.

• Match 2: Kaz Hayashi (w/Sonny Oono) vs. The Cat
  • Some stereotypical Asian music brings out Kaz Hayashi, looking pissed, and Sonny Oono.
  • Oh shit, it's Kitty B. Badd. Bah.
  • Blah blah blah three time karate champion blah blah five seconds blah blah blah Muhammad Ali blah blah I only have this job because I'm Bischoff's kid's karate instructor blah blah.
  • Kitty calls Hayashi "Jackie Chan." Hmmm.....setting the stage?
  • Hayashi is not impressed.
  • Kitty floors Hayashi with a kick to the chest.
  • More kitty kicks, followed by posing.
  • Tenay talks about Kitty playing in the NFL and CFL, in addition to his karate stuff. He was also drafted by a pro soccer team.
  • Hayashi with an armwringer, but Kitty comes back with some arm holds of his own.
  • Kitty with an armpit claw.
  • Hayashi ducks a clothesline, and hits a springboard cross-body.
  • Kaz goes up top, but Miller (almost) kicks him on the way down. Hayashi still sells it.
  • Kitty with a round kick for the pin. YAUKW. (Yet Another Undeserved Kitty Win).
  • Kitty gets the mic, and does his Ali spiel.
  • Oono praises Kitty, and looks to be making him an offer.
  • Hayashi looks confused in the ring as Oono walks Kitty back to the locker room.

• This week's Nitro Party winner: some six-year-olds from North Carolina.

• From the "Yet Another Bad Idea" department, Nitro will be followed by "Mortal Kombat - The Series," starting next week. They've moved the Nitro replay to something like 3 a.m. EDT.

• More hype for DDP/Goldberg.

• Match 3: Jerry Flynn vs. Juventud Guerrera
  • Speaking of Karate losers, Jerry Flynn walks out.
  • Flynn is cooler than Kitty, but that's not saying much.
  • His opponent - Juventud Guerrera.
  • Juvi comes out carrying a cup of water, which he randomly throws around.
  • Disco Inferno comes out, telling Mike Tenay he has a phone call.
  • Disco joins the announcing team.
  • Disco calls Juvi "Juven-Stooge."
  • Flynn with a clothesline.
  • Disco is pissed that Juvi's been sticking his nose in his business.
  • Flynn with a stiff kick to Juvi's face.
  • Disco says Juvi's confused because they use the metric system in Mexico.
  • Juvi with a springboard dropkick.
  • Larry: "I think if Disco shaved his head, he wouldn't have any trouble making weight."
  • Flynn tries an inverted powerbomb, but Juvi turns it into a bulldog.
  • Juvi ducks a spinwheel kick by Flynn in the corner.
  • Juvi dives from the turnbuckle onto the floor, onto Flynn.
  • Flynn ducks a springboard cross-body.
  • Juvi flips out of a belly-to-back suplex, and hits the JuviDriver for the win!
  • Post-match, Juvi informs Disco that he's next.

• If you can believe it, we get some hype for DDP/Goldberg.

• Mike Tenay, "Man on the Street," gets opinions from some illiterate youth on DDP/Goldberg. (or "Gawld-baurg.")

• Bobby Heenan joins the broadcast booth, as Tenay is taking his phone call.
  • The announcers talk about Hogan/Warrior.
  • Tony actually says Hogan/Warrior I will go down as one of the greatest wrestling matches ever. I didn't see it, so I can't comment, but I find that hard to believe.

• We get some hype for Hogan/Warrior now.
  • Sheesh! This is the all-promo show!
  • Great - it's the "long form" version of the promo.

• Match 4: Villano V vs. Wrath
  • One of the Villani is in the ring already. It's V.
  • His opponent - the "Undercard Squash Machine," Wrath.
  • Wrath shoves V into the corner.
  • V goes to the knee, and starts slapping.
  • Wrath reverses a whip, and hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker on El Villano.
  • Wrath throws V to the floor.
  • V tries a dropkick, but Wrath shrugs it off.
  • Wrath introduces the Villano to the steps.
  • Wrath with a neck snap over the top rope.
  • Wrath hits a slingshot elbow from the apron!
  • Bobby Heenan is going on and on about how Wrath is undefeated, never been in trouble during a match, yadda, yadda yadda. Heenan seems to forgotten that Wrath had a career before two months ago.
  • V avoids a running elbow in the corner, and tries some chops.
  • Wrath with a leapfrog, and a diving shoulderblock.
  • Wrath hits the Meltdown with authority, and gets the win.

• Just in case we forgot from five minutes ago, we take ANOTHER DAMN SPECIAL LOOK at Hogan/Warrior.

• More "Word On The Street" with Mike Tenay.

• If anyone cares, Gambacorta Minivan Land is Delaware's Minivan leader.

• We see a Humvee Limo pulling up to the back of the Carolina Colosseum
  • Ok, that car rules.
  • Luger, Gonnad, and Sting exit the limo.
  • Nash trails along behind.
  • The Wolfpac members are looking around the arena, even passing by La Parka and other Luchadors. The Chairman was wearing jeans and a blue T-shirt, along with his mask.
  • The Wolfpac make their way to the nWo locker room, and lay a hurtin' on them, until the cops come to break things up.
  • However, even with the cops, it's a good old-fashioned donnybrook.
  • IWGP champion Scott Norton is back with the nWo contingent.
  • nWo members are having fun beating on cops, including Big Poppa Pump shoving a lady cop.
  • Sting and Konnan trap Scott Steiner in a hallway to beat on him.
  • Bagwell tries to get involved, too, but gets beat on as well.
  • Sting finds Bret Hart's locker room, and starts pounding on him, too!
  • The cops pull Sting and Hart apart.

• As we come back from commercial, we see Sting getting on a freakin' forklift, and uses it to wreck the nWo-Hollywood limo.
  • As Sting lifts the limo, Nash whacks it with a sledgehammer.
  • Sting then picks the limo up on the forklift, then drops it down upside-down.-- The Wolfpac continues to pound on the wrecked limo. Zbyszko: "At least he didn't scratch it up with a key!". Nice.
  • Sting punctures the tires for good measure. Zbyszko says Konnan is stealing the hubcaps.

• We're back with Hour Number Two!

• Match 5: Damian vs. Hector Garza
  • Damian makes his way down.
  • Woah! Luchador match!
  • Hector Garza is his opponent.
  • Damian takes the early advantage.
  • Garza with some punches in the corner.
  • Garza goes up top, flips, lands with a forward roll, and hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.
  • The crowd is reacting to something.
  • Woah! It's Eddy Guerrero!
  • Nick Patrick calls for the bell.
  • Guerrero asks both men what Eric Bischoff has done for them.
  • Guerrero says Bischoff has done nothing for them, just having Luchadors wrestling each other week in and week out.
  • Guerrero says all Luchas have to share a rent-a-car, and 3-4 to a room.
  • Guerrero asks who has the money.
  • Guerrero says if you're not part of Hogan's clique, you're not going to make any money.
  • Guerrero says La Raza can unite, in the "LWO," the Latino World Order.
  • Guerrero is wearing a green-white-and-red nWo-style shirt.
  • I love Guerrero, but this is not going over at all. I'm predicting "crash and burn" of "nWo Nitro" proportions.

• A camera crew, and Mike Tenay, are in the back, looking at a Wolfpac meeting
  • Nash says Hall isn't here. But the Wolfpac is going from bar-to-bar to find Hall.
  • Tenay says that the camera crew will follow Nash on his Hall search.

• We see Hart sucking up to Sting in late July.

• The Nitro Girls shake their groove thang in the ring.

• Match 6: Psychosis vs. WCW World Cruiserweight Champion Billy Kidman
  • Yes! Psychosis!!
  • Psych obviously hasn't joined the "LWO" yet.
  • He still rules.
  • He's getting a shot at the Cruiser strap, held by Kidman.
  • Heenan: "He saw the light, and it led him all the way to the shower."
  • The announce crew gives a "shout out" to Rey Misterio Jr.
  • Psychosis with an armlock to begin.
  • Kidman with a hiptoss.
  • Kidman with a suplex for two.
  • Headscissors from the champ.
  • Plancha from Kidman.
  • Nice slingshot legdrop from Kidman.
  • Kidman ducks too soon for a backdrop, and Psychosis hits a split-legged Gourdbuster. And, wonder of wonders, Tony actually calls it "an old Anderson Gourdbuster!"
  • Psychosis with a top-rope spinwheel kick to the back of Kidman's head. Tony, of course, calls it a "flying body attack."
  • Oh no! They're going to have an one-on-one interview with Warrior.
  • Kidman ducks the left-handed lariat, and hits a beaut of a dropkick.
  • Kidman charges, but Psychosis hiptosses him over the top rope.
  • Psychosis with a slingshot legdrop from inside the ring to the floor!
  • Psychosis sends the champ into the steps.
  • Psychosis dropkicks Kidman on the floor, and stomps on him a bit.
  • Psychosis with a lobster-style pin for two.
  • Kidman EXPLODES with his rope-bounce clothesline! Psychosis gets to the ropes to break the count.
  • Psychosis avoids a corner charge, and hits a belly-to-back suplex for two.
  • Kidman with a sunset flip for two. Psychosis floors Kidman with a clothesline when he gets up.
  • Psychosis locks on the Tijuana Restholdo.
  • Kidman reverses a powerbomb attempt into a faceslam for two.
  • Psychosis with a rollup for two.
  • Kidman hits his rope-spring bulldog for two.
  • Tilt-a-whirl slam from Psychosis. Still only two.
  • Kidman with his split-legged powerbomb for two.
  • Kidman eats some boot, and Psychosis hits an Asai Moonsault for two.
  • Psychosis puts Kidman up top.
  • Kidman holds on to block a top-rope frankensteiner.
  • Kidman then hits the Shooting Star Press for a great win!
  • On the replay, we see that Kidman didn't hit the Press very cleanly. He ended up dropping his knees across Psychosis' face.

• An interview with Warrior
  • Summary: "I kicked your ass once, Hogan, I can do it again." Everything else is mumbo-jumbo.
  • At the end of the interview, Warrior snorts like he has some sort of terminal sinus condition. That was the only noteworthy thing about the whole interview.

• Scott Steiner with his master's thesis on "Why I Made The Steiners Great."

• Mike Tenay is still around Columbia, SC, following the Wolfpac HumLimo

• Match 7: Brian Adams vs. Rick Steiner
  • nWo music brings out Big Poopa Pump, along with Buff Bagwell.
  • Tony says that this is supposed to be Brian Adams vs. Rick Steiner.
  • Scott talks about how great he is.
  • Scott reiterates the points from his thesis, and promises to beat Rick up at Havoc.
  • Buff mocks Rick.
  • Rick comes out with his mic.
  • Rick talks about the injury-faking going on.
  • Rick talks about Bagwell getting injured right here in Columbia, SC.
  • Rick says he's got Ms. Judy Bagwell with him, and she doesn't think that it's a joke.
  • Ms. Bagwell comes down.
  • Oh no! Momma doesn't look happy!
  • Ms. Bagwell: "Do you remember where you are at? What's wrong with you?"
  • Buff tells his momma not to go there.
  • Ms. Bagwell says she and his dad went with him to the hospital, sat by his bed, read him letters.
  • Ms. Bagwell lectures Buff about him calling her to be with him at the Georgia Dome.
  • Buff grabs the mic, and says he made a decision, nWo-Hollywood all the way.
  • Buff: "Without Buff Bagwell, you can't even eat."
  • Ms. Bagwell says she slapped Buff when he was 15 years old, and does it again!
  • Ms. Bagwell shoves Scott, who grabs her arm, saying "You're not my momma."
  • Rick, though, puts a hurtin' on Scott.
  • Ms. Bagwell drags Buff to the back by his ear!!! Yes!!!
  • Well, that ruled. She was great.
  • Commercial
  • We see, in the back during the commercial, Brian Adams and Scott Steiner working over Rick Steiner.
  • Now, we're back in the ring. The match is going on.
  • Scott chokes and punches Rick while Adams distracts the ref.
  • JJ Dillon comes out, to eject Scott Steiner from ringside.
  • Steiner almost goes out to an Adams chinlock, but hulks up to the barking crowd.
  • Adams hits a big boot.
  • Adams stomps on Steiner.
  • Adams hits a piledriver, much weaker than Disco's. He only gets two.
  • It must be the "night of the armpit claw," as Adams applies one to Rick.
  • Adams with a pendulum backbreaker.
  • Rick avoids a corner charge, but Adams comes back with a headbutt.
  • Adams with a bodyslam.
  • Rick avoids a kneedrop.
  • Rick with an attempted overhead belly-to-belly, that ends up dropping Adams on his head.
  • Steinerline.
  • Adams comes back with an inverted atomic drop.
  • Rick blocks a suplex, and hits a sloppy DDT.
  • Rick hops up to the top rope, and hits the Steiner Bulldog for the pin.
  • I bet seeing Ms. Bagwell apply some smack was worth the price of admission by itself. I know it made MY night!

• We see the fireworks for Hour Number Three!

• We see Tenay and the Wolfpac outside of a brewery.
  • The Pac enters the brewery, and looks for Hall.
  • The place is deserted.
  • The Pac can't find him.
  • The Pac leaves this bar, and goes of on their search for Hall. Or maybe they just want a Woodchuck.

• Danger! High Ego!
  • Yes, it's Voodoo Child.
  • Easy E comes out to get some sugar from Hogan. This reminds me of "The Boogie-Woogie Man" Jimmy Valiant coming out to give Tony Schiavone "sugar" in mid-80s NWA.
  • Ah. David Flair, Ric's oldest son, is at ringside with a "Goldberg" shirt on. The announcers had mentioned him earlier, but I missed the reference.
  • Bischoff, on Hogan's physique: "Have you ever seen anything like this in your life?" Well, I visited my fiancee's 91-year-old Grandma not too long ago....
  • Hogan buzzword count: "Brah, roll red carpet out, worship the ground, I am the God of wrestling, you should worship me every night, when it is all written, 4-life, Hollywood is just too sweet."
  • Hogan says he was looking for Warrior, but couldn't find him.
  • Hogan calls out the Warrior, saying that he's not waiting for Halloween Havoc.
  • Bischoff: "Open invitation to any living cartoon characters in the building..." Other than the one in the ring, I assume.
  • Hogan refers to himself as "Wood" again.
  • More "I'm going to beat the Warrior" jive.
  • Eric soils his drawers fawning over Hogan.

• On a side note, is there a more absurd gimmick in wrestling today than Gangrel? A wrestling vampire, who drinks blood before his matches. Riiiiiight.

• We see a nice montage of the Horsemen - Pain⁴.

• The Nitro Girls come out.
  • Mmmmmm.......Spice......
  • Kimberly also gets jiggly with it.

• Match 8: Kanyon (w/Raven) vs. Diamond Dallas Page
  • Yes! Kanyon!!
  • Raven accompanies Kanyon out.
  • His opponent, DDP. Gee, wonder how THIS match will end?
  • Tony gives a "shout out" to his family in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Tony is an alum of James Madison University, who will finally get theirs this year in football by a better team.
  • Page almost gets a quick win by rolling Kanyon up from the top rope.
  • Page tosses Kanyon down.
  • Kanyon with an armwringer.
  • Tony talks about DDP's TV Title win in 1995.
  • Page with his shoulderblock-armlock.
  • Page with a big belly-to-belly.
  • Both of Page's elbows are taped up.
  • Lodi comes down with a sign: "Raven - Take Lodi Back."
  • Lodi argues with Kanyon, so DDP hits a plancha onto both of them.
  • As the ref deals with Lodi, Raven comes in and delivers a Diamond Cutter to Page!
  • Kanyon crawls in the ring to make the cover, but Page kicks out at two.
  • Kanyon with a top-rope Guillotine Ace Crusher.
  • Page does his pop-up-out-of-the-corner Hulk Up.
  • Kanyon with a faceslam off the second rope for two.
  • Page hulks out of a chinlock.
  • Kanyon tries his pancake, but Page reverses into a sunset flip.
  • Kanyon blocks it, but Page takes him over for two.
  • Some ducked clotheslines, but Page takes Kanyon down with a clothesline.
  • Page with some turnbuckle shots.
  • Page with a belly-to-back suplex for two.
  • Kanyon with a small package for two.
  • Page hits the DDPancake.
  • Kanyon shoves Page into Raven on the apron, but can only get two with a rollup.
  • Kanyon with a swinging neckbreaker for two.
  • DDP with a jawbreaker, and a tilt-a-whirl slam.
  • Page signals for the Diamond Cutter.
  • Lodi runs in, but gets decked.
  • Raven runs in, and brains Page with a microphone.
  • The heels beat on Page, until Goldberg runs in.
  • Goldberg FLIPS Kanyon with the spear, and then Jackhammers Lodi.
  • Page puts the Diamond Cutter on Raven.
  • The two victors back into each other, and then stare down.
  • JJ Dillon comes down to keep order, and we go to commercial.

• On The Road with Mike Tenay
  • We're at another tavern with Luger, Konnan, and Nash.
  • The three enter the tavern. Konnan mentions that he's been in this place with Hall before.
  • The locals make smalltalk with the wrestlers.
  • Konnan suggests that they check the strip joints. Nash says Hall has been thrown out of every strip joint in the country.

• Match 9: Lenny Lane vs. Disciple
  • Oh no! The Booty Zodiac Barber Disciple With No Name or Face.
  • And poor Lenny Lane gets to celebrate his win by jobbing to Disciple.
  • Yes! Lane mocks the Warrior!!!
  • Lane attacks Disciple during a rope-shaking fit, but Disciple no-sells it.
  • Disciple with a big boot.
  • Disciple whips Lane into the corner.
  • Disciple with a big hiptoss.
  • Lane with a neck-snap over the top rope that DISCIPLE NO-SELLS.
  • Disciple clotheslines Lane over the top.
  • Lane puts some boots to Disciple, but DISCIPLE...
  • NO...
  • SELLS.
  • Disciple beats his chest.
  • Lane avoids a backdrop, but gets hit with the Ace Stone Cold Chartbusting Apocalypse.
  • Disciple gets on the mic:
  • Disciple: "Hollywood, I'm all done carrying your bags. I'm through. I'm my own man now. Now and forever."
  • Hogan follows Disciple to the back.
  • Hogan follows Disciple into a dressing room, but when they get there, Disciple is gone.
  • We see a lame vision of Warrior in a mirror, that Bischoff "cannot see."
  • I didn't think this could get any lamer.
  • Hogan rants about the Warrior in his mirror, while Bischoff asks "What Warrior?." Snore!
  • Hogan talks to the mirror while we go to commercial.

• Back for more of the "T" files.
  • They're at some back-country hick hangout.
  • The locals say that Hall is in there.
  • Nash finds Hall at the bar, and they start brawling.
  • The two brawl onto a pool table.
  • They brawl in the bathroom.
  • With the door closed, of course.
  • The door opens, and we see Nash inviting the camera in.
  • We see Hall with his head down the toilet.
  • The Wolfpac leaves.

• Eric Bischoff comes out to some different music.
  • Bischoff says that Hogan is just fine.
  • Bischoff wants to tell us a little story about a man named Flair.
  • Bischoff says at this stage in his career, Flair needs all the support he can get.
  • Bischoff mocks a Southern accent.
  • Bischoff apologizes for Flair - since Flair is not here.
  • At this point - Arn Anderson walks out with a mic.
  • Bischoff calls Arn the "one-armed bandit."
  • Arn: "This is Columbia, and this is a Horsemen town."
  • Arn says he's got some good news this time around - he's in charge of head games.
    
  • Arn says Flair is in the building.
  • Arn says he doesn't listen to authority well, and calls out the Captain.
  • Some little kid with an ameteur singlet and a gold medal comes down.
  • It's Reid Flair! Heenan: "Wow, the road's been rough on him!"
  • Reid wants to tell Bischoff why he's here:
  • Reid: "Mean....WHOO!..Gene."
  • Reid says he and Uncle Arn are here to handle Flair's light work.
  • Arn says it's their company, and they're taking it back.
  • Reid does some amateur wrestling moves.
  • Bischoff turns around, and Reid takes his legs out from under him.
    
  • Reid spears Bischoff, and when Bischoff goes to chase Reid, Arn gets between them. Reid does the Flair Strut.
    
  • Arn challenges Bischoff to get the juvenile authorities out, because Bischoff just got taken down twice by a 10-year-old.
  • Arn asks if Bischoff knows sign language - and Reid gives the Four Fingers.
    

• Commercial

• In the ring, Bischoff is ranting, and Miss Liz is on a cell phone
  • Bischoff wants Flair in the ring now.
  • Bischoff is ordering Liz to call Flair on the phone.
  • Liz has someone on the phone.
  • Bischoff yells into the cell phone.
  • Bischoff is talking to "Beth." It's Beth Flair, Ric's wife.
  • As Bischoff rants, "Thus Spake Zarathustra" comes over the speakers.
  • The Man himself comes down the aisle.
    
  • Flair struts his way around Bischoff.
  • Bischoff calls nWo-Hollywood down, but they get intercepted by the Horsemen!
  • The Horsemen clear the ring, as the heels high-tail it out.
  • Benoit was applying an ass-kicking to Adams.
  • David Flair gets in the ring with Arn, Malenko, Benoit, Arn, Mongo, Reid, and Ric.
  • The victors celebrate in the ring.

• Match 10: Sting vs. WCW US Heavyweight Champion Bret Hart
  • Wolfpac music brings out Sting.
  • Hart's music brings out the US champ.
  • Hart comes halfway out, but starts backing back into the locker area.
  • Sting chases him to the back.
  • Sting catches Hart in the back, and starts beating on him.
  • Sting runs Hart into the garage door.
  • Sting bounces Hart from wall to wall, and even goes corporate and hits Hart with a whiteboard.
  • They brawl back to a banquet-type area, and Hart gets the advantage.
  • Hart slams Sting into some tables.
  • Hart suplexes Sting onto a table, which breaks.
  • Hart with a big industrial-sized trash can, which he introduces to Sting's back.
  • Hart punches Sting in the right knee, and then slams a chair into his left ankle.
  • Hart puts Sting's leg inside of a folding chair, and slams the trash can onto it.
  • Sting rolls an equipment case into Hart, and both men are down.
  • Sting hobbles after Hart, and gets the trash can.
  • Hart has a long metal pole, and Sting gets one too.
  • They fight back to the WCW programming office, where Sting gets the advantage back.
  • Sting slams Hart's leg into the door, but Hart attacks with his pole. Uh.....
  • Hart goes to run Sting over with a big golf cart, but it doesn't start.
  • They fight over a big pole like "American Gladiators - The Home Videos."
  • Hart has the pole, and Sting comes up with one of his own.
  • Sting applies the Scorpion Deathlock on Hart in the back!
  • Hart: "You cheater!"
  • Sting releases the hold, and gets another trash can. Unfortunately, the can is secured.
  • Hart is back up with his pole, and Sting is walking away.
  • Both men are hurting, but both men walk away from each other.
  • As Doug Dillinger gets Sting a chair so he can take the weight off the bad knee, it becomes obvious there will be no U.S. Title match tonight, and we hear the crowd booing as we fade to black.....

• Trivia answer: The old Flatliner that Mortis did was a Samoan Drop from the second rope.

  Bonus answer: The Inverted Russian Legsweep that Kanyon currently calls the Flatliner was known as the "D.O.A." when Mortis used it.

I originally was going to take my little brother to his first wrestling match, but he didn't finish his homework on time, so I brought along a "casual" wrestling fan -- a guy who followed the NWA during the golden days of Flair and occasionally watched on Monday nights when we flips the channels. I had to bring him up to speed on a couple of things. Such as uring the Warrior's promo when he said: "I though this guy had died." (He also thought Dustin Runnels was dead, which goes to show that even on the internet, there are rumors and then there are RUMORS.

As for the Wolfpac Pub Crawl, I couldn't tell from the television screens where they went, but I read in Zimmerman's report that they went to Columbia Brewing Company, which is about two blocks from the Colisseum. It is a yuppie bar (in a neighborhood not popular with college students) which might explain why it was so dead on a Monday night.

Believe it or not, WCW has found a way to get Wildcat Willie over. The only dark match consisted of Willie waving a Clemson sign (Carolina's rival school) which drew boos until the Carolina mascot (Cocky the Gamecock) came out to wrestle. Cocky was having difficult even climbing the ropes into the ring, and Willie did all he could to put the hapless mascot over -- throwing himself into the ropes so Cocky could clothesline him for the pin.

(Yes, USC's mascot is the Gamecock. Which leads to cheers of "Go Cocks", which probably explains why the WWF hasn't had a show here yet)

And in case it wasn't apparent on TV, the crowd was mighty pissed about the Sting-Hart match, since Penzer had been selling it hard all evening. We were also disappointed in the Flair segment, since he had no mic time.

Just wanted to drop a couple of comments about the recent Nitro in Columbia. Eric Bischoff really screwed up with the last match. The crowd was really stoked because as a dark match, the Disco Inferno was destroyed by "the man" Bill Goldberg. We were forgiving as we sat through the first hour of sorry matches. We got really stoked by the brawl in the back. The biggest pop of the night had to be when Flair strutted in the ring with his son, Reed. Other big pops was Goldberg's appearance, DDP, when Bagwell's mother slapped him, and when Flair came to the ring.

Loudest boos were for the video of the Warrior's speech to Hogan, when Hogan came out and when the Disciple wrestled. The loudest boo is what I will talk about in the next paragraph.

The audience felt that we were cheated out of the main event when Sting and Bret Hart fought in the back instead of the ring. We had to watch it on the big screen and boos were heard throughout the time. Penzer got booed severely when he went through his "thanks for coming" spiel. You couldn't hear what he was saying. I heard a young woman say she should have stayed home and watched Stone Cold and Val Venis on USA. Its a shame too because Columbia was a stronghold for WCW when it was the Mid-Atlantic NWA region.