WCW Thunder - Thursday, January 21, 1999

If you happen to watch the Feb. 20^th and/or the 27^th shows on TBS, look for a WWW.DDTDIGEST.COM sign. Depending on whether or not I bring additional "gear" with me, look for a short guy getting kicked out by the "Anti-Free Speech Squad," aka security. :)

• Bill Fluty says:

  I agree, the CONTENDERS ad is hilarious. Also, the Battletanx ad with the Snuggles teddy bear getting ripped put me on the floor. They are in the same league with the Lee jeans BUDDLY LEE, MAN OF ACTION ads. Oh, yeah, there was a wrestling show on too, wasn't there? Nor-man Smi-ley's semi-push continues (good), the nWo seems to be pulling Disco's chain (okay), the nWo spoils another tag tournament match (bad) and Hogan graces Thunder with his presence (ugly). Sorry to paraphrase your usual wrap-up. I guess WCWSN will be the only show where the tag matches get completed, or Hogan won't show his face. At least Thunder and WCWSN seems to spend more time on matches in the ring than Nitro.

  By the way, catch TNN's Roller Jam JAM tonight. I remember the Roller Derby when I was a kid in the 60's, and last week's special was nice, with lots of old footage and interviews with some of the old stars. Haven't seen anything about a TNN wrestling show to go with it, though. That idea may have been abandoned.

  Wouldn't it be neat to see Bobby Eaton get one more tag title before he retires? Not much of a chance of that, I guess, but it's nice to see him get to do something other than put someone else over. Thanks for the weekly update.

  Roller Jam... that reminds me of a show back in the late 80s called Rollergames. It was basically choreographed roller-derby action featuring three face teams (T-Birds, Rockers, Hot Flash) and three heel teams (Violators, Bad Attitude, and Maniacs).

  To sum up how the game worked, the designated skater for each team in each 45-second session (games lasted four rounds with I think 5-6 minutes per round) would first skate up a wall and try to maneuver above red lines for a certain amount of points, then jump a ramp for more points. Then, they get points for knocking down players and sending them over the rail.

  Rollergames never really caught on, and not very many shows were taped. I remember seeing the same show sometimes every four weeks. Ultimately, Rollergames ceased to exist after two or three years. It is remembered by a Williams pinball game of the same name.

• SodFedora asks a question burning on everyone's mind:

  You think if Hogan's kid got in the ring and sucked as bad as David Flair has so far, everyone would be cutting him as much slack as everyone seems to be willing to do for Junior Naetch? Don't think so.

  I did not watch Souled Out, so I did not get the opportunity to see David Flair in action. I'm hoping they don't make him out to be another Erik Watts. Wasn't one mis-aimed dropkick bad enough?

• Finally, here is the "E-Mail of the Week."

  its 3:19 am and i think that the pirate flag is funny but you got me trying to say "This is another bout for the WCW World Tag Team Title Tournament." five times fast , so f*** you cuz i cant do it thanks for the report late

• They talk about Souled Out and WCW's rebound thanks to Ric Flair.
• Clip from Souled Out: The nWo lay a whippin' to David Flair.
• I must be losing my mind. I swear to God the crowd was chanting for Schiavone. This is one of the few times I hope I am wrong.

• Stevie Ray bitches to the rest of the B-Team.
• Vincent, acting as the leader, tells Stevie Ray to wear the black and white shirt.
• Stevie throws the shirt aside and the locker room argues.
• The door knocks and Vincent retrieves a letter.
• The letter says that Hogan, Nash, Hall, etc. are stuck in Tampa and cannot make it tonight.
• The B-Team argue some more.

• We start off a live Thunder with... Jerry Flynn.
• I know Bill likes this guy, but that's Bill.
• Anyway, it's still better than twenty minutes of interviews.
• Disco. At least I'll have the satisfaction of knowing which guy will beat down Flynn.
• Disco starts with a kick and an Irish whip.
  • Why the hell is in an Irish whip? Is a Danish or Norweigan whip different or something?
• Anyway, Disco lands a front atomic drop and a clothesline.
• Disco pounds away on Flynn in the corner.
• Flynn turns Disco around and hits some side kicks.
• Flynn whips Disco into the corner and does an enziguri.
• Flynn covers for two.
• Flynn applies an anklelock, but Disco gets to the ropes.
• Flynn whips Disco, but misses a spinwheel kick due to Disco holding the ropes.
• Disco then goes outside to stall.
• As Flynn goes toward the outside, Disco connects with a jawbreaker on the ropes.
• Disco kicks down Flynn in the corner.
• Disco scoop slams Flynn and goes to the second turnbuckle.
• Disco shakes his booty and lands a double axehandle for two.
• Disco whips Flynn, kicks him in the gut, goes to the ropes, and does the swinging neckbreaker.
• Disco applies a snapmare into a rear chinlock.
• Flynn elbows out and whips Disco, but gets elbowed in the back of the head.
• Disco hits another elbow.
• Disco goes back to the chinlock.
• Flynn counters with a cross armbreaker and Disco goes to the ropes.
• Disco misses a right fist but hits a side axehandle.
• A Flynn sidekick sends Disco to the ropes.
• Flynn then applies a belly-to-belly suplex for two.
• Flynn with a spinwheel kick.
• Flynn whips Disco to the corner and misses a front kick.
• This allows Disco to hit the Chartbuster for the win.
• YOUR WINNER: Disco Inferno via Chartbuster in 5:16.

• The nWo fiddle with two-way radios, sending Horace to look for the Wolfpac limo.
• Horace: "Let's not forget where we're at because of Hollywood!" How true.

• Vincent is try to call A-Team members on his cell phone to no avail.
• Horace is reporting that the limo has arrived.
• The limo is said to be that of the Wolfpac.
• Horace goes to greet the limo's passengers and gets knocked down.
• Uh oh. The Horsemen are in this limo.
• All of the Horsemen, including Arn Anderson, stomp a mudhole in Horace. Included in this is Mongo repeatedly clobbering Horace with an upright vacuum.

• Mean Gene introduces Flair.
• Flair: "Meeeeeean WHOO! By God, we're in Hoosier Country tonight, baby!"
• Flair wants to talk to Scott Hall and "Big Lazy" Kevin Nash before dealing with Hogan.
  • That was my nickname, not Flair's.
• Flair says that Hall and Nash are not the tag team champs. Well, no shit.
• Starting tonight, there will be a tag team tournament, with the finals at Superbrawl.
  • Hmm, what were these tournament tag matches before?
• This will be the same night that Flair will kick Hogan's ass.
• Flair says that Hogan has kept him and the other talent in his shadow for twenty years.
• Flair says that when he was wrestling Rufus Jones for an hour, Hogan was at Madison Square Garden just earning money.
• Flair says that while he was working hard, Hogan was making movies.
• As a wrestler, Hogan cannot carry Flair's jock, he says.
• Flair thanks Hogan for his help in enhancing this sport.
• Flair talks about Hogan beating his son and then mentions his match at Superbrawl.
• Flair says that he and Hogan will see who is the one true champion.
• Flair asks Hogan if Jericho or Chavito wanted to be like Hogan or him.
• Flair says that it's Hogan's fame vs. his (Flair's) reputation.
• Flair says that if Hogan has a problem, he will take his wife and make a woman out of her.
• Flair tells Hogan to prepare for the hardest match of his life against the dirtiest player in the game.

• From the January 18^th Nitro: Chris Jericho points out to JoJo that Saturn must wear a dress for ninety days.
• This takes us to...

• The former #1 contender to the World Heavyweight Title comes out.
• That's a mighty purdy dress Saturn is wearing.
  
• Saturn: "Life's a drag."
• Al Greene starts off in control.
• Greene with a side slam.
• Lariat for two.
• Greene whips Saturn into a powerslam.
• Greene whips Saturn into the corner and follows with a running splash.
• Greene lands some elbows and chokes Saturn in the corner.
• Greene whips Saturn into the corner and flirts with him.
• Saturn goes into piss-off mode and gets some offense.
• T-bone suplex, lariat, chops in corner.
• Saturn lands a side kick and stomps a mudhole on Greene in the corner.
• Saturn then goes on the turnbuckle, puts his dress on Greene's head, and lands some punches!
• Saturn goes up top and lands a gullotine legdrop.
• Saturn ends the match with a Death Valley (Spicolli) Driver.
• YOUR WINNER: Perry Saturn via Death Valley (Spicolli) Driver in 2:53.
• Post-match, Saturn yells "Life's a drag" again. Yeah, baby.
• Heenan whistles at Saturn as he goes to the back.

• Featured: A six-man Lucha match! Konnan! Booker T! Balding announcers! Heat machines! Jobber squashes!

• Ugh. Glacier.
• This guy doesn't get his full entrance, but it's still too damned long.
• Kenny Kaos comes out. For once, I'll have trouble picking a winner.
• As they lockup, Schiavone talks about the nWo.
• Glacier starts with the advantage but is taken down.
• Kaos puts on an anklelock.
• Kaos avoids a Glacier charge and hits a shoulderblock.
• Kaos does a fireman's carry slam.
• Kaos goes up top and hits a gullotine legdrop for two.
• In the corner, Glacier takes control with some shots to the leg.
• Glacier takes Kaos down.
• Glacier whips Kaos into the corner and administers some punishment.
• Glacier does a kata mid-ring.
• The ref for this match is Johnny Boone.
  • According to the archives, it's been written than Johnny Boone defeated Disco Inferno with a small package on the November 3, 1996 edition of the {Pro}. Johnny Boone was also the infamous Bore-Us Malenko and the fake Konnan in Chris Jericho skits. I wonder if this is the same guy.
• Kaos takes over in the corner.
• As Kaos comes off the ropes, Glacier hits him with a front kick.
• Glacier with a double axehandle and a scoop slam.
• Glacier tries an axehandle from the middle turnbuckle and gets punched in the midsection.
• Kaos applies a belly-to-back suplex.
• Glacier reverses a corner whip and runs into a boot.
• Kaos goes to the apron and delivers a springboard lariat for the win.
• YOUR WINNER: Kenny Kaos via springboard lariat in 3:38.

• As the B-Team leaves in search of the Horsemen, Vincent takes off his B&W shirt to reveal a R&B shirt.

• Sign: "I've been drinking since 3:16 4:16."
• Vincent comes out in his R&B shirt.
• Vincent says to stop the music.
• Vincent talks smack about the Horsemen and says that Adams and Horace will represent the nWo in the tag team tournament.
• Vincent then enters himself along with Stevie and Norton in a challenge to the Horsemen for a six-man tag.
• The nWo do not think favorably of Vincent's challenges.

• A Thunder just isn't a Thunder with Norman Smiley.
• Uh oh. That's Booker T's music.
• I don't see a favorable outcome here.
• Smiley wiggles as the bell sounds.
• Booker puts on an armbar, which Smiley breaks by getting to the ropes.
• Booker locks on another armbar.
• Smiley puts on one of his own.
• Reversals and a whip lead to a Smiley shoulderblock.
• A nice lariat by Booker sends Smiley outside.
• Booker calls for a test of strength.
• Smiley kicks away at Booker in response.
• Smiley with a European uppercut and some kicks in the leg.
• Booker reverses a whip and hits a flying forearm.
• Book applies a scoop slam.
• Punch, whip, elbow.
• Booker tries a cover, but Smiley is too close to the ropes.
• Booker whips Smiley into the corner and runs into his boot.
• Smiley hot-shots Booker as he charges.
• Smiley with some kicks to the head.
• A European uppercut and scoop slam follow.
• Smiley teases the SMBU but waves it off, motioning that it isn't time yet.
• Smiley whips Booker to the corner and does his spinning bodyslam.
• Smiley wiggles for the crowd.
• Smiley covers for two.
• Smiley puts on a rear chinlock.
• Booker gets some elbows in.
• Back bodydrop by Smiley.
• Smiley kicks Booker out of the ring.
• Smiley goes outside and shoves Booker to the apron.
• Smiley slaps Booker's chest and sends him to the safety rail.
• Smiley brings Booker back to the ring.
• Smiley administers a belly-to-back suplex, leaving both men exhausted on the mat.
• Smiley then does a reverse flip to vertical base.
• Smiley does the SMBU to a good pop.
• Smiley smacks his bitch up in Booker's face and slaps him.
• As Smiley comes off the ropes, Booker answers with a powerslam.
• Smiley gets some offense.
• Booker lands a knee to the gut and the Harlem sidekick.
• Booker whips Smiley and does the 110^th Street Slam! Two-count.
• Both men are outside.
• Booker sends Smiley to the safety rails.
• Booker sends Smiley back inside the ring.
• Booker kicks Smiley in the gut and goes to the ropes.
• Booker lands the axe kick and goes up top.
• Before Booker can do the missile dropkick, Smiley rolls out of the ring and calls it a day.
• Smiley yells "You can't beat me!" towards Booker as the ref counts to ten.
• YOUR WINNER: Booker T via count-out in 10:02.
• Alright match, shitty ending. A clean job either way would have done better.

• They say the #9 car finished with the third-fastest time during time trials at Daytona.

• Stevie Ray berates Vincent for taking his "slapjack."
• The B-Team yells at Vincent about his shirt.
• Vincent tells the crew that a kid in the crowd told him to wear it.
• I'm sure Scoop This could make a nice picture of Vincent's nose growing as he says this.

• The crowd pops as La Parka makes his way out.
  
• Rap music brings out Rey Mysterio, Jr.
• A springboard dropkick by Rey starts this bout.
• Parka reverses a whip.
• Rey flips out of an attempted move by Parka.
• Parka kicks and chopes Rey.
• Parka misses a post dive.
• Rey charges at Parka and flips over the ropes to the apron.
• Parka then does the La Parka Polka.
• Rey headthrusts Parka as he charges and goes up top.
• Parka catches Rey on the crossbody attempt and struts with him.
• Parka then puts him on the top turnbuckle and chops him.
• Rey then does a frankensteiner sending Parka outside!
• Rey then runs to the middle turnbuckle and hits a flying headscissors!
  • E-C-W! E-C-W!
  • My mistake. W-C-W! W-C-W! :)
• Rey sends Parka back in.
• Parka reverses a whip and Rey slides under him.
• Rey with some offense and leaps at Parka.
• Parka catches him in a military press position and drops him face first.
• Cover for two.
• Parka whips Rey to the corner and runs into a boot.
• Parka charges at Rey and meets a boot again.
• Parka does a clothesline as Rey comes out of the corner.
• Parka covers for two.
• Chop, whip, kick to the chest. Two.
• Scoop slam. Parka to top turnbuckle.
• As Parka comes down, he flies into raised boots.
• Parka kicks Rey and misses a corner charge, diving shoulder first.
• Rey goes up top and is hit off the turnbuckle.
• Rey applies a drop-toehold on Parka to the post.
• Parka leapfrogs Rey to the turnbuckle.
• Parka does a sidewalk slam.
• Parka goes up top and gets tripped by Rey.
• Parka whips Rey to the ropes.
• Rey then hits an amazing spinning bulldog off a reversal for the win!
• YOUR WINNER: Rey Mysterio, Jr. via bulldog in 4:19.
• GREAT match, but a bit too short.

• DDP did not come out through the crowd this time.
• Gene talks about Scott Steiner stalking Kimberly.
• DDP mentioned that there isn't a day that goes by that some low-life doesn't try to put a make on her.
• DDP talks about Scott, the shows frustration.
• When DDP saw Scott following Kimberly, he said that being mad as hell is an understatement.
  • You don't suppose DDP will want to shoot on Scott Steiner for this, eh?
• Since the Wolfpac is not in the house, DDP sends out a wolf call to Scott.
• DDP says he's got Scott's hook-up right here.
• DDP says that if Scott breathes the same air as Kimberly, it's on.
• Hmmm. No hand-signal or bang. Not that I'm complaining...

• Vincent wants the crew to call him "Vince" from now on.
  • I'm betting this is to mock Vince McMahon when "Vince" takes the fall for the nWo in their matches.
• As the B-Team exit the room, Vince has a drink with raw eggs, in which he spits out.
• Vince then spots a TV camera hidden in one of the lockers and wonders what's going on.
• We then go to a shot of the nWo A-Team in a limo watching Vincent in the locker room.
• The possible demise of the B-Team?

• Buffer in the ring. This match won't last long.
• The nWo team is introduced.
• It will be Flair, Benoit, and Mongo for the Horsemen.
• Flair is listed as 6' 2" tonight, as opposed to 6' 1½" when he beat Bischoff on Nitro.
• It will be Stevie Ray and Mongo to start.
• Lock-up, Stevie misses a punch in the corner.
• Stevie slaps Vincent and tells him to get in the ring.
• Vincent gets some token offense, but is thrown into the Horsemen corner.
• Tag to Benoit, who delivers some knife edge chops.
• Benoit reverses a corner whip and chops Vincent.
• Benoit with a snap suplex and heads to the top turnbuckle.
• Vincent tags in to Norton.
• Norton has the advantage, but Benoit fires back.
• Tag to Mongo.
• Mongo puts on an armbar.
• Norton powerslams Mongo and tags to Vincent.
• Vincent goes up top as Norton scoop slams Mongo.
• Vincent misses the top rope dive.
• Mongo gets to the corner and tags in Flair.
• Flair assaults Vincent in the corner, including some facial reconstuction.
  
• Flair sets Vincent on the turnbuckle, with a leg on each set of ropes.
• Flair goes to the other corner, charges at Vincent, and kicks him right between the wickets...aka The Broken Dreams.
• All six men then go at it.
• Everyone but Flair and Vincent exit the ring.
• Flair applies a belly-to-back suplex on Vincent.
• Flair then locks on the Figure Four for the CLEAN submission win!
• YOUR WINNERS: Ric Flair, Chris Benoit, and Steve "Mongo" McMichael via Flair's Figure Four Leglock in 4:05.
• Post-match Benoit locks on the Crippler Crossface to a downed Vincent.
• Did I call this or what?

The Good: This was probably the best live Thunder I have seen in quite some time. The nWo angle was furthered a bit, Rey and La Parka put on a hell of a show, and we had the first clean finish on a live show in quite some time.

The Bad: Smiley/Booker T had a stupid finish. On a side note, I could complain about how they didn't follow up on Hogan spying on the B-Team, but that would have lead to your nWo Nightly Screwjob^TM.

The Ugly: Are we supposed to believe that Vincent, or "Vince," is the B-Team leader? Yeah, he's the senior member, but Norton/Stevie Ray are the most decorated of the unit.