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Nitro #131
Date: March 16, 1998
Location: Club La Vela, Panama City, Florida
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Mike Tenay, Bobby Heenan, Larry Zbyszko
We get some stills from the cage match last night with Tony and Mike narrating what happened.
Goldberg vs. Lodi
Lodi has an RF Video sign. Press slam, spear, Jackhammer, moving on.
The Flock tries to come in post match but the destruction continues. Saturn starts to come in but we look at almost the entire match again instead.
Gene tells us that one of the all time greats has retired. CALL THE HOTLINE!
Ultimo Dragon vs. Fit Finlay
This should be interesting. Finlay shoves him into the corner to start but misses a charge, allowing Dragon to snap off his kicks. You know Finlay takes those kicks with a smile. A nerve hold puts the Dragon down and a simple rake of the eyes stops his comeback attempt. Finlay takes him to the apron and rams him face first into the side of the ring before they come back in for a slugout. A single chop stings Finlay so he casually pokes Dragon in the eye to stop him cold.
Rating: C+. This is a good example of what WCW could do better than anyone else. They had these guys that had totally different styles but were both highly skilled in the ring, so why not throw them together and see what happens? It came out quite well with a fun little five minute match.
The Nitro Girls are in DX colors tonight.
Scott Norton vs. Chris Adams
Adams bounces off Norton when he tries some shoulder blocks before missing a charge and landing in the ropes. Norton throws him over the top to the floor before choking on the ropes. Back in and Norton chokes even more, only to miss a charge in the corner. Norton no sells a flying superkick and ends Adams with the shoulder breaker.
Mike Enos/Wayne Bloom vs. Jim Neidhart/British Bulldog
Hour #2 begins with the Nitro Girls in bikini tops and shorts.
Larry compares Hogan to Julius Caesar.
Raven gives the Flock some instructions before the next match.
Chris Benoit vs. Raven
Back to the ring after doing nothing on the floor with Benoit stomping him in the corner. A back elbow to the face gets two and Benoit stomps him in the head as we take a break. Back with the fight up by the entrance and Raven being sent into the big metal WCW letters. They get back in the ring with Benoit firing off knees to the head to take Raven down again. Raven loses his shirt so Benoit can fire off some loud chops. Benoit pounds him down into the corner as this has been completely one sided so far.
Benoit stands over Raven and slaps him in the face while shouting COME ON. Another chop puts Raven down and a backdrop gets two. Benoit rolls some snap suplexes but takes forever to load up the flying headbutt, allowing Raven to roll away. Raven throws in a chair and bulldogs Benoit face first into the steel. Benoit tries the Crossface but rams his own head into the chair on the way down. The Even Flow onto the chair is good for the pin, apparently earning Raven a US Title shot at Spring Stampede.
The Nitro Girls are in the crowd dancing.
Heenan gives his take on the NWO issues.
Yuji Nagata vs. Ernest Miller
More Nitro Girls.
Scott Steiner vs. Ray Traylor
A big clothesline sends Steiner over the barricade and we finally get someone in the pool. Back in and Traylor hits a big forearm to the jaw and pounds down right hands in the corner. Traylor actually goes up top and hits a decent clothesline for two, making Steiner call for time out. Ray goes up again but Buff comes out to crotch him, allowing the Frankensteiner from the top to set up the Recliner for the win.
We get stills of Giant vs. Nash with Nash still not doing the job.
Tony recaps the NWO drama.
Nitro Girls again.
Eddie Guerrero gives Chavo a “My Favorite Wrestler Is Eddie Guerrero” shirt (“Cheat To Win” on the back) and Chavo has to listen to Eddie, who says wear it.
TV Title: Chavo Guerrero Jr. vs. Booker T
More spring break festivities.
Nitro Girls part 9 or so.
US Title: Reese vs. Diamond Dallas Page
Cruiserweight Title: Juventud Guerrera vs. Chris Jericho
Post match Jericho puts him in the Cloverleaf.
The Nitro Girls dance on some rocks.
Sting/Lex Luger vs. Hollywood Hogan/Randy Savage
Hogan blames Savage for this so Savage goes to leave, only to be stopped by the Disciple. Hogan jumps Randy from behind as Hogan and Sting look on from the ring. Savage is thrown inside and gets beaten up by Sting with the fans trying to recover from the entrance. A top rope splash gets two for Sting and he shouts at Savage to get up. Sting pops Hogan with a right hand and brings in Luger to work on Savage even more.
Randy throws Hogan back inside before getting in a fight with Disciple. Hogan chokes Luger down but Lex avoids the legdrop and tags in Sting. There are a pair of Stinger Splashes for Hollywood and a right hand for Bischoff. Savage is rolled in by the Disciple and everything breaks down, drawing in the Disciple for the DQ.
The rest of the NWO comes in but Sting and Luger run them off to end the show.
One last thing: the set being different here was a very nice touch. Instead of the same stuff over and over, WCW was good about mixing things up every now and then. Whether it was a show in a nightclub like this or Road Wild being outside or the cool themed sets at PPVs, the look was changed up just often enough to keep things from getting boring. WWE completely fails in this area outside of Wrestlemania anymore. Watchable show overall but the NWO brings it down, as usual.
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