WCW Thursday Thunder, 6/11/98
WCW Thunder - Thursday, 6/11/98
- Howdy everyone, once again. I am Big Mike, sitting in once again for Bill this week, and welcome to the Thunder report. First, though, you know I can’t go one report without a trivia question and my usual rants.
- Trivia Question: Of course it is a WCCW question, but with a WCW twist. When WCCW broke away from the NWA around 1989, who was named the first WCWA (World Class Wrestling Association) World Heavyweight Champion?
- See answer at the end of the column.
- It’s official: there are no true faces in the WCW. Did you see who came out of the limo last week on Nitro to "represent WCW?" DDP, who is the closest to being a face, Booker T, not really a face either, and Goldberg. All three are sort of in the Austin "bad boy" mold. It’s weird to me. I am also of the opinion that Luger was the only one of the "big four" (Giant, Bret Hart, Luger, Sting), who has benefitted from the nWo move. Luger was drawing absolutely no reaction. It has been good. Giant now plays second fiddle to Hogan and has lost his "edge" angle that made him popular. Hart plays third fiddle to Giant and Hogan and has to survive off scraps that Hogan throws him. And I don’t know what the hell they are going to do with Sting. Here you have two of the all-time best faces in wrestling in Hart and Sting, and you totally throw all that in the toilet. Of course, Sting is getting a huge pop as a member of the Wolfpack, too. However, as an old-time wrestling fan, I am very disappointed that there are no heroes any more. Only anti-heroes. We need people like the old Dusty Rhodes, Magnum T.A., the Von Erichs, the Junkyard Dog (God rest his soul), Terry Taylor (before that embarrasing Red Rooster thing), the Rock ‘N Roll Express, even the old Hulk Hogan persona. While all of these guys may not have been the greatest wrestlers in the world, they were some of the most over wrestlers in history. Hell, Hacksaw Duggan still gets an unbelievable pop when he wrestles these days.
- WCW seems to be in shambles now, even losing in the ratings when Sting was "deciding" whether to go over to the Wolfpack. Bischoff has hopefully been knocked off of his high horse and will get off his ass and pull together some new ideas. I mean when I, a longtime WCW fan, get tired of watching Nitro and flip to RAW, something is wrong. I have been watching much more WWF on Monday than WCW. I damn sure flip every time I see Bischoff or Hogan on the screen. Resolve this Flair thing, make some true faces, so something with Bret Hart, bring back Kevin Sullivan, do whatever it takes! I want my WCW back!
- The Raven-Saturn-Mortis thing is actually a pretty interesting angle. I’m glad Scotty Flamingo/Scott Levy/Raven finally found a decent angle. He’s gotta be pissed though about being a pass through for the U.S. title from DDP to Goldberg. Also some good matches in the Benoit/Booker T series. I actually watched Saturday night for the first time in a while last week just so I could see the Benoit/Booker T match. These guys are working great together. Too bad the angle sucks. Is it just me or does it make sense that Fit Finley is wrestling against every jobber in WCW while these two fight for the right to face him?
- OK, I am now officially off my soapbox. I guess I’ll start my report now. Last one left in WCW, please turn out the lights.............
- We are live from Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, NY.
- We start with shots of nWo Hollywood and some very well-endowed young ladies!
- Tony "Greatest Match in the History of Wrestling" Schiavone, Bobby "the Brain" Heenan, and "Eater" Lee Marshall commentating.
- Time for the major announcement...No, Schiavone says it is postponed! I guess Karl Malone is pissed about getting killed in the Finals and won’t come on tonight.
- Next, we show a replay of DDP about to join the red and black before he gets punked by Rodman (I refuse to call him Rodzilla) and Hogan.
- Schiavone, Heenan, and Marshall are yadda-yaddaing on when Bischoff interrupts on the house mic. They are right near the ring entrance for the wrestlers with a limo and candlelit tables. He says Jim Kelly is in the building. Man, that woman behind Bischoff is stout. She’s got one of those barbed-wire tattoos too! And she’s got a nice body! Oh well, Bischoff and Giant are going on about the Sting-Giant match. I’m still focusing on the woman. Giant says his partner is going to the Booty Disciple, Ed Leslie. Oh my goodness. How long has it been since he’s wrestled? Ha! Giant slips and starts to call him Brutus Beefcake! Giant challenges any Wolfpack members to a tag match against he and the Booty Disciple tonight. Looks like Hogan is not in the building tonight. Thank goodness.
- Replay of the Rodman-Hogan filibuster as we go to commercial. $250,000 for that crap, and they still lost in the ratings.
- Dean Malenko makes Riggs submit to the Texas Cloverleaf.
- Man, I love Malenko. He got a great ring persona.
- The announcers talk about the Jericho-Malenko situation. You know, that’s a pretty good angle there too. Jericho is great as a heel.
- Brain says that if he was Malenko, he’d move Riggs’ patch to the other eye so he couldn’t see at all. Classic Brain.
- Riggs with an arm stretch from behind. He looks like he is getting Malenko warmed up to pitch.
- Malenko goes for the Texas Cloverleaf, but Riggs gets to the ropes.
- Marshall reminds us that Riggs was one half of the Tag Team Champs (with Buff Bagwell). The ol’ American Males. Oh yeah.
- Malenko catches Riggs coming off the ropes and puts him in the Texas Cloverleaf. It’s over.
- Brain, Schiavone, and Eater talk about Goldberg a while. They show a special montage of Goldberg. Was it true that they piped the "Goldberg" chant in on the speakers at the last Nitro?
- Uh-oh. Here comes Jericho out on the mic. Jericho proceeds to talk himself up pretty well. He then calls out "Joe Joe" Dillon (Jericho’s words). He wants Dillon to come out and give him back the belt. Jericho (the Fifth Musketeer?) has a nice shag to that beard and great mic skills to boot.
- Juventud Guerrera defeats Kidman with the 450 splash.
- Here comes Billy "Scratchy" Kidman out with Lodi.
- nWo Wolfpack is leaving for this match. Maybe I should too.
- Lodi is holding a sign that says "Bills Never Win" and then he switches to one that says "Lee Marshall Leader of the Garboon (?) Platoon." What?
- Eater Lee Marshall just called Reese a "big garboon." I guess that’s what that means.
- They are outside the ring and Juvy gets his face planted into the railing. Kidman thens goes for a moonsault off the apron.
- Lodi sign: "Dr. Evil for President." Yeah baby!
- Another Lodi sign: "Rodman Banged DDP." Yuck. Bad mental picture there for a second.
- Kidman has the Dragon Sleeper on Juvy and Juvy reverses out and ends up with a Texas Lariat.
- Kidman wrestles like a luTedore. He’s actually not that bad.
- Top rope plancha by Juvy that completely missed its mark, but Kidman sells it.
- Knife edge chop by Juvy with the obligatory "Woooo!" from the crowd.
- Powerslam by Kidman...two count. Sidewalk slam. Man that looks like it could really hurt, but...another two count.
- Juvy with the running piledriver. Juvy goes up for the 450 splash. It’s over baby.
- Here comes Luger for an interview with Schiavone. Damn, I like that Wolfpack entrance music. It’s actually pretty cool. Well, they’re talking about DDP’s Wolfpack turn. Beer-thirty. They are replaying the tag match from last Thursday. Luger babbles on and finally says it will be Luger and Savage to face Giant and Booty Disciple tonight.
- Has anyone seen that commercial about the Nose and Ear Hair Trimmer? It’s on now. That’s sick, dude.
- Here comes Bischoff and Bret Hart. Maybe Bischoff is going to announce that they will finally be giving Hart a push. Hart takes the mic and says they want Chris Benoit to join nWo Hollywood. Hart mentions Benoit training in Stu Hart’s Dungeon. Hart says Benoit can join "The Greatest Canadian Wrestler in the History of Wrestling."
- Booker T defeats Chris Benoit by DQ to win (?) the Best of Seven Series.
- Alright, baby, this should be a good match. Can you say screw job and three-way dance though? Benoit stares down Hart and Bischoff as he enters.
- Stevie Ray comes out with Booker T and Booker tells him to get back in the locker room. He says "I got it."
- Marshall mentions the Four Horsemen. There’s a fine from Bischoff probably.
- Knife edge chops by Benoit, and guess what the crowd yells.
- Nice, intense match. Dragon Screw Leg Whip by Benoit. Looks like we have the old "take out the leg" angle by Benoit He is working on the left knee hard.
- We go to commercial. Schiavone says the standard, "Should the match end during the break......" Whatever.
- Stereo system commercial with "Another One Bites the Dust" playing on it. Reminds me of the Junkyard Dog (his entrance/exit music).
- What do you know....the match didn’t end during the commercial.
- Benoit still working on the leg of Booker T.
- Backslide by Booker T...only a two count. Benoit continues to work on the knee.
- Booker T comes by with a kick to the head from a sitting position
- Benoit puts Booker T in the Tree of Woe and works on the knee.
- Benoit has Booker in a leg lock and bends his back over into a surfboard type maneuver. He is pulling the arms back. That’s awesome! I couldn’t do what Benoit is doing. Benoit breaks the hold because it is time to go to the second commercial of the match.
- We’re back, and Booker T is coming back. He misses the axe kick though, and Benoit his three German suplexes. Booker kicks out at two. Benoit goes for the top rope head butt and still only gets a two count.
- Somebody’s coming in. It’s Bret Hart, and he brains Booker T with a chair while Benoit is talking to Nick Patrick! Booker T is out and Hart is motioning for Benoit to cover Booker. Patrick is counting to ten. Benoit stops him at eight and tells Patrick what happened. Hart looks pissed. It’s a DQ and it’s over!! Your winner, Booker T by DQ! I should’ve bet on this one. I see a three-way dance coming.
- Decent match, but Booker T didn’t work much during the match.
- Back from commercial and Schiavone is out with "Joe Joe" Dillon and Dean Malenko. Yup, JJ says he wants to review the last match. He throws it to Malenko who starts talking about "Whineheart" Chris Jericho. Malenko’s mic skills are getting better. Malenko says he will give up the belt if he can wrestle Jericho again. He gives it up and leaves and here comes Whineheart, singing "I am the Champion!" Joe Joe says he won’t give the belt to Jericho. Dillon states that Jericho and Malenko will wrestle at the Great American Bash to see who gets the belt. Wait, who’s this old guy coming out? It’s Jericho’s dad, Ted Irvine! Ted says Jericho is whining too much and basically questions Jericho’s cajones. Jericho starts whining and his dad tells him to shut up! Ted Irvine talks about his NHL days and the banners in Buffalo and how proud he is of those days. Dad says "Chris, until you beat Dean in the ring, you will never, ever be a true champion. That was pretty good. Chris follows his dad out whining, "But Dad!"
- Another replay of the attack on DDP and another WCW Motorsports report. Apparently, DiBiase is hanging out around the pits now.
- Konnan over Scott Putski with the Tequila Sunrise submission.
- Mike Tenay is now out to join Schiavone and Heenan in the announcing booth.
- Konnan comes out to that cool Wolfpack music.
- It’ll be former Texas Christian University football player "Polish Power Jr." Scott Putski to face Konnan. His dad, Ivan Putski is a true legend down here in Houston and in San Antonio.
- Konnan has the crowd going. I think this role fits Konnan better.
- Not a bad match here so far. Slam by Konnan.
- That was great a couple of months back when the WWF had Scott and Ivan Putski against Jerry Lawler and Brian Christopher. Great to see Polish Power aging well.
- Cradle DDT (187) by Konnan
- Tequila sunrise (mmm) submission and it’s over.
- Jimmy Hart comes on to promo the movie tonight, "The Longest Yard," with Burt Reynolds. I may have to watch that one. That’s a great movie.
- Saturn defeats Glacier with the Death Valley Driver.
- Glacier comes in and attacks Saturn. No Glacier ring entrance tonight! Yes! Do miracles never cease?
- Raven comes out with the riot squad during the match. I keep expecting Rick Rude to come out as part of the riot squad a la ECW.
- Saturn locks on the STF submission, but Glacier grabs the rope.
- Glacier with some nice karate kicks.
- Lodi is one the apron with a sign that says "Glacier is a Lard Tush." He gets a kick to the face from Glacier for his troubles.
- Cryonic kick attempt by Glacier and Saturn catches him right in the cods.
- Death Valley (Spicoli) Driver and it’s all over.
- Raven is on the mic now and calls Canyon (Mortis) out. He then "fires" the riot squad and attacks them. One of the riot squad takes off his helmet. It’s Mortis! There we go. He takes Raven down with a Russian Leg Sweep and heads out through the crowd.
- Joe Joe Dillon is out with Schiavone. He calls Booker T out. He says he has reviewed the tape. Booker T comes out with Stevie Ray and states that the seven matches were the greatest in his career and Benoit is the greatest wrestler he has ever faced. Booker says he wants him one more time. Oh, maybe there will be no three-way dance. It will be Booker T against Chris Benoit at the Bash. Stevie Ray is livid at his brother. Do we have a brothers split angle going on here?
- Bischoff comes out with Elizabeth. Elizabeth takes the mic and speaks as many words as she ever has, running down Savage. She says Bischoff is the real Macho Man. OK, and the Pope is Jewish.
- They show a replay of the Piper-Savage situation from Nitro.
- The Giant and "Brutus Beefcake Booty Man With No Name Zodiac Ed Leslie Disciple" "Macho Man" Randy Savage and Lex Luger ends in a no-contest.
- Schiavone says Savage’s father, the great Angelo Poffo, is in the crowd.
- Savage and Luger come in and here we go. It’s a Pier Six.
- Bischoff and Liz interrupt on the mic. Bischoff says, "I got what you want!" and calls Savage back toward the limo parked near the wrestlers’ entrance. Luger has the Disciple in the rack. Here comes Hogan and Hart out of the limo to jump Savage. Nash comes out to make the save! Giant comes over and goes after Nash by the limo. Meanwhile, Hogan and Hart are working on Savage as we........fade to black.
- Dark Matches after the broadcast:
- Goldberg pinned Konnan in about 30 seconds following a jackhammer.
- Kevin Nash and DDP defeated Hollywood Hogan and Bret Hart when DDP pinned Hart following a Diamond Cutter.
- Not a bad Thunder going into the Great American Bash. Nice match between Booker T and Benoit. We had no Goldberg, but they had two Goldberg promos to tide us over. That was a nice spot with Jericho and his dad too.
- Trivia Answer: It was none other than WCW’s own Ravishing One, Rick Rude. He was the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion at the time, and was named the first WCWA World Heavyweight Champion. I believe WCCW was one of the first NWA-affiliated promotions to break away and attempt to establish itself as a competitor after the NWA (WCW) and WWF became "nationwide" promotions. Later, Bill Watts’ Mid-South followed, becoming the short-lived UWF before it was gobbled back up by WCW. One of the "reasons" given on television about why World Class left the NWA was that wrestlers were tired of the constant DQs by Ric Flair when he came into the territory to wrestle a championship match. Thus, the new WCWA champ could lose the belt on a DQ. However, I suppose it was just a question of WCCW wrestlers not getting national notoriety and Fritz Von Erich trying to build his boys into national superstars and not just household names in Texas and the surrounding areas. I remember seeing a story in Pro Wrestling Illustrated at the time debating whether WCCW could survive and build a base as an independent promotion trying to grow nationwide. Sadly, as we found out though, as the Von Erich family went, so did the promotion.
- Well, adios everyone, I am Big Mike, and remember, as Robert Earl Keen says, "The road goes on forever, and the party never ends."