On This Day: October 12, 1998 – Monday Nitro: On The Worst Moments Ever List

Monday Nitro #162
Date: October 12, 1998
Location: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Mike Tenay, Bobby Heenan, Larry Zbyszko

This isn’t being done in like with the usual Nitro series so I don’t have full context for this one. We’re closing in on Halloween Havoc with the double main event of Diamond Dallas Page vs. Goldberg for the title and Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior in a battle for our sanity. Looking at the card we don’t have nearly as many matches as usual, which means this might be a talking heavy show. Oh joy. Let’s get to it.

We open with Bischoff yelling at a guard, telling him to not let Ric Flair into the building at any cost. Bischoff goes outside to tell Doug Dillinger the same, giving him some cops for extra security.

We look at a clip from last week with what looked like Bret Hart refusing to be put on a stretcher. Sting however is carted off.

Nitro Girls.

Halloween Havoc ad.

The announcers intro the show.

We see even more of Bret vs. Sting brawling last week. Also Bret wants to fight Sting again at Halloween Havoc.

Video on Bret Hart, who apparently has recently turned heel. Again.

Video on the unveiling of the WCW MasterCard, set to the Hardy Boys’ theme song.

Intro, after ten minutes of promos and videos.

Here’s another video on Meng destroying Chris Adams on Thunder. Wrath came out to stop Meng in a clash of the titans.

Lodi vs. Wrath

Wrath is on a huge winning streak at this point. The fans are all over Lodi as Wrath runs him over with a clothesline. We get a mudhole stomping in the corner followed by a big shoulder tackle. The Meltdown (pumphandle powerslam) destroys Lodi in about 90 seconds.

Meng comes out to brawl with Wrath in the aisle but we immediately cut to another video.

This time it’s Reid Flair taking down Bischoff last week with Arn standing guard. The NWO came down but got taken out by the Horsemen.

Video on DDP vs. Goldberg.

Kendall Windham vs. Dale Torborg

This is when Dale is a member of the pit crew for WCW racing before he became the Demon. Windham takes him to the floor and sends him into the barricade a few times. Back in and Kendall keeps pounding away as this is a huge waste of time so far. Kendall stomps on Dale’s head as the fans want Goldberg. We hit the chinlock for a bit before Kendall misses a few elbows. Dale comes back with a dropkick but gets caught in a swinging neckbreaker. A bulldog is blocked and Torborg hits a bicycle kick out of nowhere for the pin. Dale appears to have hurt his knee.

Rating: D-. This got four and a half minutes. Let that sink in for a minute when we don’t have time for something later on tonight. Windham was a good example of how talent doesn’t always run in the family as he was nothing compared to Barry. Torborg was nothing special at all but he kept getting sent out there with various gimmicks.

More Nitro Girls.

Nitro Party winner.

Video from last week of Goldberg saving Page from Kanyon, Raven and Lodi.

Here’s Sting with something to say. Last week he and Bret Hart had a war in the back, but he’s been counting down the days until tonight so he could call Bret out right now. That’s not all though because he also wants Hogan right here tonight. Instead he gets the Warrior who talks about how far a little dab of paint can take you. WCW is Sting’s battleground but Warrior wants to make a one time request. The fans are really not in the mood for Warrior tonight as he rambles about having the will to win one battle at a time. The short version of this three minute rambling is Warrior wants in on the fight with Hogan and Hart.

We get the third video on Goldberg vs. Page of the first hour.

Hour #2 begins so here’s the Black and White with something to say. They talk about all the business they have to take care of tonight before Hogan reminds us that he’s the god of wrestling. Tonight it’s Giant vs. Goldberg in a No DQ match for the title because Hogan is tired of Goldberg being a thorn in his side. The challenge for the tag match is accepted for later tonight but Hogan has to awkwardly pause after saying ultimate, only to save himself by saying it’ll be the ultimate encounter. Nice catch.

As the NWO leaves a security guard tells Bischoff that the Horsemen are inside the building. Tony: “How did they get in?” Larry: “Through one of the 25 doors?” Bischoff goes outside and sees a limo pulling up with Flair inside. So much for being in the building. Flair is with the owner of the United Center who says the Horsemen will be in a corporate box with him tonight. Benoit tells Bischoff to talk to the hand.

Video on Hogan vs. Warrior. This includes the stupid idea of only Hogan being able to see Warrior in a mirror.

Fit Finlay vs. Alex Wright

This is during a mini angle over who is the best European wrestler in the company. Wright runs down the American audience and lists off some European wrestlers he’s beaten. Alex talks about ending Finlay’s dad’s career, earning him a forearm to the face. The brawl starts on the floor and Wright is sent back first into the apron. Back in and Wright gets two off a sunset flip but Finlay comes back with a short arm clothesline and the rolling senton. Fit misses a charge into the post but pops right up to the top, only to jump into a boot. Wright grabs a hot shot and puts his feet on the ropes for a fast pin.

Post match British Bulldog comes out to pound on Wright and send him running off.

La Parka/Ciclope/Villano V vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr/Psychosis/Super Calo

Chavo is loony by this point, meaning he has his stick horse Pepe with him. Calo and La Parka get us going and it’s an early dance off. They hit the ropes with Villano hitting Calo in the back of the head, allowing La Parka to take his head off with a clothesline. La Parka accidentally hits Villano twice in a row, sending him out to the floor for a running flip dive off the apron from Calo. Everyone unleashes the dives with everybody being taken out at least once.

Back inside and Calo misses a moonsault press on Villano and walks into a powerslam for two. Psychosis breaks it up with a guillotine legdrop and it’s time for Psychosis vs. La Parka. This is going way too fast to keep up with. La Parka gets two off a powerslam but here’s Chavo to suplex La Parka down for the same. Ciclope comes in for a modified Boston crab on Chavo but Psychosis makes a quick save.

Everything breaks down again with Chavo and Calo dropkicking Villano and La Parka to the floor for stereo dives. Psychosis avoids a charge from Ciclope to send him outside where Psychosis can hit a senton backsplash from the top. Cue Eddie and the LWO as Chavo hits the tornado DDT on Ciclope for the pin.

Rating: B. This was almost impossible to keep up with but it was incredibly entertaining. There’s little more fun than taking six fast guys and throwing them out there in a meaningless match where they can fly all around the ring and that’s what WCW let them do. Really fun match here and a nice breath of fresh air after all the lame talking.

Eddie, along with LWO members Damien, El Dandy and Hector Garza, get in the ring and recruit all six guys to join up. They can’t get any respect on their own but united they can’t be stopped. Eddie challenges any NWO member to come out here and wrestle like these guys just did. The only guys from the match in the ring are Chavo and Psychosis but the other four are listening on the floor. Chavo walks away but Psychosis puts on the LWO shirt.

Nitro Girls.

Here’s Scott Steiner for yet another promo. Apparently he’s not getting along with Buff because of…..wait for it…..Judy Bagwell. Heenan jumps in on commentary before Scott gets to the ring. Scott talks about carrying the Steiners like Sammy Sosa is carrying the Chicago Cubs. After bragging about how awesome he is with women, he talks about having problems with Buff and his mom. Judy needs to stay in the kitchen doing the dishes, because he and Buff are just fine.

This brings out Judy and Buff with the later saying they do have a problem. Scott says Buff’s problem is he has a bad neck and Scott could snap it at any time. Buff says he’s been listening to his mom and thinks Scott is the problem. Steiner threatens to take Buff’s NWO shirt off of him right now so Buff challenges him to a fight. Judy plays peacekeeper but Scott calls her an old bag. Scott threatens to slap her and you know it’s on now. Buff goes after him but Scott hits him low and drops the bad neck across the top rope.

The Horsemen and the owner of the building are having a party in the box.

Juventud Guerrera vs. Prince Iaukea

Before the match here’s Disco Inferno who says the people are here to see him dance. Iaukea knocks him off the apron and we’re ready to go. Juvy snaps off a great headscissors as Kidman (Cruiserweight Champion and no longer in the Flock) comes out to chase Disco off. The Prince gets two off a rollup and we hit the chinlock. Back up and Juvy hits a Fameasser for two but misses a dropkick. Here’s Disco again as Prince stops Juvy with a kick to the face. Guerrera comes back with a springboard missile dropkick but Disco breaks up the 450. Prince goes after Disco though, allowing Juvy to hit the Juvy Driver for the pin.

Rating: C-. This wasn’t a very good match but it had its moments. The Disco vs. Kidman stuff was annoying but at least it sets up a title feud down the line. Juvy continues to be entertaining for the most part while the Prince is still the same guy that has bored me for years now.

Here’s Kevin Nash with something to say. He talks about how Hall isn’t around as usual and how Scott is on his last nerve. Before Nash was a wrestler he was a bouncer, so he knows a thing or two about being up drunks, so get out here Scott because it’s last call. Here’s a staggering Hall with a cup in his hand. He says he’ll fight Nash down here while doing the crotch chop, drawing Nash up the aisle. They head into the back with Hall getting into a limo. Nash chases after him in his own car.

TV Title: Chris Jericho vs. Raven

Jericho is defending. Raven takes him into the corner but doesn’t go after him. They head to the floor and again Raven isn’t aggressive at all, allowing the champion to send him into the barricade for early control. Jericho brings in a chair but Raven dropkicks it back into his face before wedging it into the corner. Naturally Raven is the one being sent into the steel, knocking him out to the floor again. Raven avoids a charge into the post and they head back inside for the drop toehold into the chair. Not that it matters as Raven’s Even Flow is countered into the Liontamer for an immediate submission. Short but action packed.

Hour #3 begins.

Here’s Rick Steiner to talk about his upcoming showdown with Scott when he’s interrupted by….oh dear goodness it’s this show……he’s interrupted by Chucky from the Child’s Play movies. The doll pops up on the screen and makes fun of Rick for barking while Chucky is getting to film love scenes with Jennifer Tilly.

Rick Steiner calls Chucky down to the ring while Chucky makes mom jokes about Steiner. Chucky plugs his new movie and praises Scott Steiner as this just keeps going. This is one of those things that is too stupid for words and belongs on every stupidest moments ever list. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Rick Steiner deserves better than this.

So the announcers have spent all night talking about a six man tag match between the NWO factions with Hall and Nash on either side. However, since Hall and Nash are gone, the match is off because the other four guys can’t wrestle for some reason. My guess is the match was cut for time due to a slasher movie villain and a Dale Torborg match.

Or it could be because of ALL THE FREAKING PROMOS, including this one from Bischoff. Tonight this isn’t the United Center because it’s the Bischoff Center. He demands JJ Dillon and Doug Dillinger come to the ring and demands they take him to the private suite. This turns into a four minute walk up to the suite and a two minute argument over whether or not Eric has authority here tonight. Security finally takes him down and cuffs him. Flair comes out and pours champagne on Bischoff. The announcers talk about how awesome this is as Bischoff is taken outside. This somehow took ten minutes in total.

Wait it’s still not done as Flair dances a bit in front of the box and Flair is shown being taken out in a car, ranting and raving about how awesome he is. This just went on WAY too long and really didn’t accomplish anything. This stretched out to nearly fifteen minutes in total.

WCW World Title: Goldberg vs. The Giant

Goldberg is defending and Giant is a tag champion but I’ll only refer to Goldberg as champion here for the sake of simplicity. This is also No DQ. Giant shoves him around to start and actually dropkicks Goldberg down. Goldberg no sells some shots to the back and sends Giant face first into the buckle a few times. A very impressive slam puts Giant down but here’s Stevie Ray with a chair to the back. That’s no sold but Goldberg walks into the chokeslam, only to have DDP make the save. The chokeslam to Page is broken up by a spear and Giant walks out for the countout, making Goldberg 150-0. This was nothing.

The Horsemen are still partying. Benoit is smiling, Flair is dancing, Malenko just calmly raises a beer and nods at the camera.

Nitro Girls again.

Hollywood Hogan/Bret Hart vs. Warrior/Sting

After some LONG intros we’re ready to go. Hogan wants Sting to start and that’s what he gets after Warrior I think blesses the Stinger. As is always the case, Hogan dominates Sting early with right hands but gets taken down by a clothesline and an atomic drop. Hogan tags off to Bret and the stalling commences. Sting pounds him in the corner, drawing in Hogan to allow Bret to low blow Sting to the mat.

Bret goes into his usual offense while Warrior is still in his coat and what looks like jeans on the apron. Hart draws in Warrior to allow a low blow from Hogan followed by some choking. Back to Hart for a DDT for two in one of the only wrestling moves so far. A small package gets Sting a breather but he gets caught in the backbreaker. The middle rope elbow misses though and it’s hot tag Warrior. Three straight clotheslines put Hart down so here’s Hogan to hit him from behind. There’s no effect of course so here’s the NWO for the save and the DQ.

Rating: D-. What else did you really expect here? I like the idea of putting two feuds into one match but it doesn’t mean the match is any good. Warrior was clearly just a vanity project for Hogan and I don’t think anyone believed the match was going to be good. Horrible “wrestling” here.

Post match the NWO throws Warrior to the floor as the smoke fills the ring. Tony: “That way he can’t disappear.” Warrior whips Hogan with the weightlifting belt as the show ends.

Overall Rating: D. And that’s being generous. This show was horrible with WAY too much talking and so much time being wasted on nonsense like the Chucky segment and matches that did nothing of note at all. Goldberg vs. Page disappeared after the first hour until they got another three minutes near the end of the show. You could see the wheels on the verge of falling off, but 1999 was only going to get worse.

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