Thunder – July 8, 1998: The Midcard Saves Them Again
Thunder
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July 8, 1998
Location: Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center, Birmingham, Alabama
Commentators: Mike Tenay, Bobby Heenan, Lee Marshall, Tony Schiavone
This is on a Wednesday instead of the usual Thursday.
The announcers talk about Goldberg to open the show with Heenan almost on the verge of standing and applauding.
Public Enemy vs. Shiima Nabunaga/Tokyo Magnum
I hate to admit it, but Public Enemy had one of the catchiest themes I can remember in WCW. The Dragon Gate guys jump Public Enemy to start but are quickly clotheslined down and out to the floor. We start with Tokyo vs. Johnny with Magnum being put down with a pancake. Off to Rocco who misses a springboard moonsault, giving Shiima a two count. Shimma gets crotched on the top and everything breaks down. Tokyo gets caught in a double gutbuster and Shiima is put through the double stack of tables for the academic pin. Basically a squash.
Tokyo tries to dance with Public Enemy and gets punched in the face, drawing in Disco Inferno and Alex Wright to beat Public Enemy up.
Video on the basketball match.
Villano IV vs. The Cat
It sounds better than Ernest Miller if nothing else. Villano gets in a cheap shot to start which fits the whole villain gimmick. He stomps away in the corner but Cat comes back with a quick sunset flip for two and a kick to the head, living up to the whole karate guy gimmick. The other Villano tries to sneak in but gets kicked down as well, allowing Cat to hit his top rope kick to the face for the pin on V.
Juventud Guerrera vs. Judo Suwa
They trade chops to start with Suwa getting the better of it. Juvy gets a boot up to stop a charge in the corner and a headscissors sends Suwa out to the floor. A big dive takes Judo out and fires up the crowd a bit after all that talking put them to sleep. Back in and Suwa stomps on Juvy and hits a Vader Bomb for two. They run the ropes a bit with Juvy being sent out to the apron but he comes back in with a springboard missile dropkick to the back of the head. Kidman strolls out to ringside as Juvy hits two Juvy Drivers in a row for the pin.
Bash at the Beach ad.
The announcers talk about Sunday.
Another Bash at the Beach promo.
Stevie Ray vs. Konnan
The beating with the chair continues until Booker comes out in street clothes to stop his brother.
Video on Bret vs. Booker.
Raven/Horace vs. Saturn/Kanyon
Steve McMichael vs. Rick Fuller
As mentioned almost every time, Fuller is a guy who could have been excellent as a bodyguard for some cowardly heel. Fuller chops away to start but Mongo takes out the leg to put Fuller down. A very early tombstone attempt is broken up with a knee to the face but Mongo keeps pounding away in the corner. Mongo runs into a boot in the corner and Fuller pounds away before a legdrop gets two. McMichael comes back with a kick to the face of his own and the tombstone ends Fuller.
Cruiserweight Title: Chris Jericho vs. Ultimo Dragon
Video on Rodman.
Diamond Dallas Page vs. Curt Hennig
Here’s Bash at the Beach if you’re interested:
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