WCW Saturday Night - 12/05/1998

By Bill

Well, he is their hook up

Trivia Question: Which of the following wrestlers was never rated the number-one wrestler in the world in the annual Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500?
Bret Hart, Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, Sting (Answer at the end of the report)
The mailbag:
- From Jeremy at Oklahoma State University:
  There was an article about Bill Goldberg in the October 7, 1998 issue of The Tulsa Jewish Review. This article was so cool. Goldberg belonged to the same synagogue (Temple Israel) that I attend. Anyway, the article was titled "What's a Nice Jewish Boy Like You......?" The subheading reads "Child of Tulsa Jewish community makes it big as professional wrestler." I am not going to transcribe the whole article but I will highlight the major points:
  1. Goldberg's father is a retired gynocologist and his mom was a former violinist for the Tulsa Philharmonic.
  2. Goldberg originally wanted to be known as "Mossad," the name of the Israeli intelligence agency.
  3. Goldberg hates anti-Semitism...he says "Anti-Semitism is something I won't deal with. I'll have them thrown out of the arena."
  4. Goldberg reports that he is not the only Jewish wrestler in WCW. "Dean Malenko" is Dean Simon, "Raven" is Scott Levy, and there is also Barry Horowitz. (Note: This would make for an interesting group at your next seder)
  5. Goldberg has only 3 more classes to complete before he earns his degree in Psychology at the University of Georgia.
  6. Rabbi Charles Sherman (Temple Israel's current rabbi) reports that he has a picture of Goldberg and points out to Bar and Bat Mitzvah students that one can never tall how far he or she will go.
  The rest of the article deals with the rabbi and cantor recalling personal experiences they shared with Goldberg. It also mentions some things that anybody who watched "Secrets of Pro Wrestling" on NBC would already know.
- From Tom B. of Tustin, CA:
  Brain gets my award for most obscure reference of the year on Thursday's Thunder.
  After Chip Minton's loss to Wrath, Heenan says "So much for Rosebud." Kind of a cryptic statement. Here's what he meant:
  Minton is a former two-time Olympic Bobsledder. In the movie Citizen Kane, "Rosebud" is Kane's mysterious last word, and at the end of the movie, Rosebud is revealed to be a sled.
  So, the Brain's inference is obvious:
  Chip Minton is Kane.

Barry Horowitz vs. Glacier
- The opening scene of the show is Glacier's lasers. That's not a good sign. Well, at least the crowd (or the heat machine) is booing.
- Tenay and Hudson are taking about Scott Steiner taking over the nWo. Hudson theorizes that it will no longer be called nWo Hollywood. Rather it will be nWo black-and-white.
- Announcers wonder about the relationship between Glacier and The Cat.
- Mickey J. is your referee.
- Horowitz has the Star of David on his trunks tonight.
- Glacier offers a handshake. Horowitz goes to shake but then pulls his hand back and slaps himself on the back.
- Initial exchanges. Horowitz hits an impressive move best described as a Rude Awakening delivered on your knee. Never seen it before.
- Outside the ring, Horowitz continues the advantage.
- Russian Leg Sweep by Horowitz. Two-count only.
- Horowitz goes up top but comes down the hard way. Glacier goes to work on Horowitz.
- Horowitz eventually reverses a whip and gets the advantage back. Not for long, though.
- Choke by Glacier, headbutt by Horowitz, elbow by Horowitz, suplex by Glacier.
- Attempted fistdrop by Glacier, but he gets a boot to the face.
- Horowitz with the high knee, things look good, but Glacier hits the Cryonic Kick.
- Glacier puts on the Ice Pick, and Mickey J. calls for the bell.
- Your winner: Glacier via submission in 4:17
- After the match, Saturn does a run-in, clobbers Glacier, and Glacier runs off.
Announcers prattle on. Tenay is more excited about Flair vs. Bischoff than Goldberg vs. Nash. Tonight's main event is Booker T vs. Scott Hall.
"Gentleman" Chris Adams vs. "Mr. World Class" Chip Minton
- Well, the guy running the cheap heat machine screwed up. Adams came out slapping hands, the camera showed people clapping, but we heard boos.
- It would seem that Mr. World Class is playing the heel.
- Billy Silverman is your referee.
- Lock up, punch, flip, punch, lock up. * yawn *
- Wow, Hudson actually mentions Adams teaming with Gino Hernandez in the 1980s.
- Shoulderblock, hiptoss by Adams. Dropkick, slam by Minton, but Minton misses a big legdrop.
- Belly-to-back by Adams.
- Piledriver by Adams. Two-count only.
- Punches by Adams. Kneedrop. Another two-count.
- Clothesline by Adams. Punches in the corner, but he eats Minton's boots on a charge.
- Minton hits a big splash, and gets the three-count as Adams is just about to power out.
- This should probably be considered a medium-sized upset.
- Your winner: Chip Minton via pinfall in 3:47
- After the match, the camera zooms in on Adams. He looks into the camera and says "What is happening to me?" twice. Cool, an angle actually seems to be developing on WCWSN.
Ric Flair vs. Bischoff promo.
Silver King vs. Disco Inferno
- The announcers talk about the Mark Curtis Tribute Show in Knoxville.
- Back and forth the match goes. The announcers wonder what Disco's big announcement on Nitro will be. Supposedly, Disco has some surprise for us tonight, too.
- Silver King misses a moonsault, but comes back with a clothesline, and then mocks Disco's dancing. Bad idea.
- Disco comes back in a big way, culminating with the big fistdrop. Two-count only.
- Silver King gets the advantage, then Disco, then Silver King.
- Silver King lands the somersault legdrop and lands right on Disco's face. Ouch! Two-count only.
- Abdominal stretch by Silver King.
- Scott Hudson wonders about Chris Adams' behavior after his match. Tenay theorizes that he may be at the "crossroads of his career".
- Silver King misses the springboard moonsault.
- Kick to the gut by Disco Inferno, and a there it is!!! The Stone-Cold Chartbuster!!! That's the big surprise!
- And, following that, Disco gets the three-count.
- Your winner: Disco Inferno via pinfall in 4:34
- Tenay: "Well, that's his surprise for tonight, but what's his surprise for Monday Nitro?"
- The lWo comes down to the ring, including a reluctant Rey Misterio, Jr., and Disco Inferno backs off and runs back to the locker room. La Parka is wearing cowboy boots.
- Eddie Guerrero invites Silver King into the lWo, and he says he is "raza" and he puts on the shirt.
Scheme Gene interviews Stevie Ray. Okerlund asks about Stevie Ray's relationship with his brother. Stevie Ray says his brother has gone soft. Stevie Ray says Okerlund has never been to the 'hood.
Back from commercial, Scheme plugs his hotline. He teases more former Horsemen coming in. Also, where is the Macho Man?
Barry Darsow vs. Tokyo Magnum
- Darsow comes out to the generic WCWSN opening theme song.
- Charles Robinson is your referee.
- "Mr. Hole-In-One Darsow" grabs the mike and talks some smack.
- Darsow asks Tokyo Magnum some questions. The only English word Tokyo Magnum knows is "yes", so Darsow keeps asking loaded questions and Tokyo Magnum keeps answering "yes". Pretty damn funny.
- Darsow offers Tokyo the same deal as other wrestlers, except Tokyo Magnum has to hit the ball as if he's shooting pool.
- And, as the thinking wrestling fan would expect, Darsow delivers elbow drops to Tokyo Magnum.
- Then, to my delight anyway, he chokes out Tokyo Magnum with the putter, actually bending it around his neck.
- Your winner: Good question
More promos for Flair vs. Bischoff.
"Crippler" Chris Benoit and "The Iceman" Dean Malenko vs. The Armstrong Brothers
- Sorry, Wade.
- Mickey J. is your referee.
- Benoit vs. Scott to start. Benoit allows Steve to distract him giving Scott a short advantage. But it doesn't last long. Steve does it again, and Benoit falls prey again.
- Wow, Scott's really taking Benoit to school. Scott tags Steve in and Malenko is tagged in.
- Malenko with the early advantage, Steve gets the advantage back, tags Scott in for a nifty double-team.
- Scott goes to work on Malenko's bandaged knee.
- Malenko gets a sunset flip roll-through but Steve makes the save.
- Steve is tagged in and the double-teaming continues. Scott Armstrong talks trash to the crowd.
- Wow, the Horsemen are really playing faces-in-peril tonight.
- Malenko comes back with a savatte kick and tags Benoit in.
- Benoit comes in house-a-fire and cleans house. Pandemonium in my living room. Benoit and Malenko combine to give Scott Armstrong a reverse bulldog off Benoit's shoulder.
- Malenko locks on the Texas Cloverleaf and Scott Armstrong taps out.
- Your winner: Benoit and Malenko via submission in 4:15
Stills from the Goldberg/Nash contract signing.
"The Polish Pirate" Scott Putski vs. Bobby Blaze
- Billy Silverman is your referee
- Blaze starts off with a headlock, but Putski cames back with a belly-to-back suplex.
- Shoves back and forth. Standing switch and takedown by Blaze.
- Armlock by Putski.
- Lee Marshall is backstage and will be talking to "Mr. World Class" Chip Minton after this match.
- Test-of-strength, which Putski wins.
- Armwringer by Blaze but Putski goes back to the armbar.
- Blaze with a wristlock of his own.
- Slams by Putski but Blaze comes back with an elbow to the back of the head and a Russian Leg Sweep. Blaze with some kicks and punches and a snapmare out of the corner. Blaze drops an elbow and gets a one-count. Blaze goes to a headlock. More punches and a headbutt.
- Putski comes back with a clothesline, blocks some punches, and lands some punches of his own and hits a powerslam and a back body drop.
- Putski with the tirl-a-whirl slam.
- Putski goes for the Polish Hammer, but misses! Upset in the making!!!
- Blaze charges in but Putski hits the Putski Bomb and gets the win.
- Your winner: Scott Putski via pinfall in 4:41
Lee Marshall interviews Chip Minton. Lee Marshall congratulates Chip Minton on fourth place in the Olympics. Minton says he has a 45-inch vertical leap, runs a 9.75 100-meter dash. The only reason he doesn't have a gold medal because his teammates choked! Hah!!! If it wasn't for him, "they would have come in buck naked last". Hah!!! That ruled!!!
Stills of Bret Hart's title win over "Diamond" Dallas Page.
Meng vs. Buddy Lee Parker
- Ooooh, this isn't going to last long.
- Brady Boone is your referee.
- Meng is wearing his Faces Of Fear tights.
- Lock up, Buddy Lee goes to the ropes.
- Buddy Lee gets a few shots in, but Meng gets the better of it.
- Meng applies a beatdown, with Buddy Lee attempting to come back, to no avail. Meng starts no-selling.
- Meng gives Buddy Lee a clothesline in the corner, and leaves a sweaty fistprint on the camera lens. I daresay you won't get a much closer camera shot than that!
- Hudson says "Pay no attention to what you read on the Internet, Meng is back with a vengence." Huh? Even though I don't report the Internet rumors, I read them, and I don't remember reading anything about Meng.
- Punch, punch, punch, punch, kick, choke with the foot. Shoulderbreaker by Meng. Two-count only.
- Trapezius hold by Meng.
- Buddy Lee actually fights his way out, but Meng hits a back kick and a kick to the bread basket.
- Buddy Lee with a few slaps, but Meng hits a thrust to the throat and a standing side kick.
- Meng clamps on the Tongan Death Grip which, in Mike Tenay's words is The Clawhold Of The 90s©.
- Your winner: Meng via submission in 2:49
Scheme Gene interviews "Diamond" Dallas Page. Nothing of note except setting up for Page's match against Giant at Starrcade. Oh, Page did have a cool t-shirt on. It said "Why Cloning Should Be Illegal". It had ten of the same picture of Curly of The Three Stooges.
Back from commercial, Scheme Gene hawks his hotline.
Kanyon w/o reluctant Raven vs. Kaz Hayashi
- Charles Robinson is your referee.
- Kanyon gets on the mic and says Raven is more depressed than usual. But, Kanyon has something to turn Raven's frown upside-down. Scott Hudson guesses at what that is. No, it's answering Kanyon's question correctly. Of course the crowd doesn't.
- Kanyon with the early advantage with punches and kicks.
- Kaz on the offense with some kicks and a sleeper. Kanyon turns the sleeper into a backbreaker. Two-count only.
- Kanyon misses a charge and Kaz hits a single-leg trip and a seated dropkick and drops an elbow.
- Kanyon hits an over-the-head flip suplex. Hudson misnames it a German suplex.
- Spin kick by Hayashi. He misses the moonsault
- Kanyon hits another over-the-head flip suplex. Hudson again misnames it a German suplex.
- Kanyon turns an attempted crucifix by Hayashi into the Flatliner and gets the pin.
- Your winner: Kanyon via pinfall in 2:44.
Replay of Hogan's retirement on The Tonight Show.
Big Poppa Pump (aka Scott Steiner) w/nWo referee w/whistle vs. Lash LeRoux
- Big Poppalicious gets a mic and brags about himself before the match. A very Rick Rude-esque speech. "There's nothing finer than Scott Steiner."
- BPP says Hogan has passed the torch and BPP will carry the nWo into the next millenium. I guess that's in contrast to the Renegade who is taking Hulkamania into the 21^st century.
- BPP says that from now on the nWo will be more like him and take on more of his personality.
- Scott Steiner goes right to work on Lash. Wow, the referee is just as annoying as Bill Alfonso with his whistle.
- BPP pitches LeRoux out of the ring. That gives the girls at ringside a chance to feel up BPP. BPP throws LeRoux into the ring steps.
- Back in the ring, another kick, knee lift, vicious clothesline.
- Knee lift, club on the back of the neck, punch, punch, running belly-to-belly suplex. Steiner Recliner.
- Geeezus!!! It looks like BPP is trying to break this kid in half! Finally, the ref calls for the bell.
- Your winner: Scott Steiner via submission in 2:48 in a complete squash.
Another Flair/Bischoff promo. Wow, they seem to be pushing that more than Nash/Goldberg. Maybe they're worried that Nash is going to no-show Starrcade again this year.
Booker T vs. Scott Hall
- Scott Hall comes out to no music. We go to commercial.
- Coming back from commercial, we hear nWo black-and-white music. We don't get Booker T, we get Stevie Ray.
- Your referee is Mickey J., by the way.
- Stevie Ray has got a mic, and he says there is a bounty on Scott Hall's head. Stevie Ray says Scott Hall should watch his back.
- Now, we get the Harlem Heat music, and Booker T comes out, and he's pissed. The brothers argue in the entranceway. Booker T then goes to the ring.
- Booker T and Scott Hall start off by shoving each other.
- Lock up, arm wringer and shoulder drives by Hall.
- Booker T with an arm wringer of his own and a back kick.
- Punches and a flying forearm by Booker T. Two-count only.
- Armbar by Booker T.
- Knees by Booker T, and we realize that Stevie Ray is watching at ringside.
- Fallaway slam by Scott Hall. Two-count only.
- Scott Hall with a choke and he spits at Stevie Ray.
- Clothesline with a running lariat in the corner.
- Booker T comes back with some kicks and then the big axe kick to the back of the neck.
- Booker T misses a big kick and gets crotched on the top rope and falls out.
- Stevie Ray tosses Booker T back in. Booker T asks Stevie Ray what the heck he's doing, and Scott Hall rolls up the distracted Booker T.
- Your winner: Scott Hall via pinfall at 3:17
- Stevie Ray runs in and starts applying a beatdown to Scott Hall.
- Booker T pulls Stevie Ray off of Scott Hall and Booker T and Stevie Ray go nose-to-nose as we fade to black.

Say, you know, that was a darn good show. Good wrestling (Benoit/Malenko vs. Armstrongs), some angle development and continuation (Chris Adams angle, Silver King joining the lWo), and a healthy dose of humor (Darsow, Minton, and Scott Steiner with the girls outside the ring). I hadn't watched WCWSN end-to-end for quite some time, and I'm impressed.
Trivia Answer: Ric Flair

WCW Saturday Night - 12/05/1998

By Bill

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