Post by damnediarist on Mar 15, 2011 21:01:12 GMT -5
November 23rd, 1998: WCW Monday Nitro
The Road to Starrcade begins tonight, and that's enough to have Tony practically bouncing in his seat. Throw in a main event where Benoit and Goldberg each pick a partner and go at it in tag action, and two matches (Booker T vs Perry Saturn and Raven vs Buff Bagwell), the winners of which will face off next week for the right to challenge for the US title at Starrcade, and Tony might just call it the most important night in the history of our sport.
The show opens with Bret Hart coming slowly down to the ring, looking humbled.
"First of all, I want to apologise to, and congratulate Chris Benoit. The man is a warrior, plain and simple, and overlooking him, well, it's a mistake I'll never make again. He's got a title shot at Starrcade. What have I got at Starrcade? I've got Hogan, no matter how hard he tries to dodge me, that's a promise."
Hogan's music hits the speakers, and out the man comes, mic in hand, confident attitude in every word.
"Dodge you? Really, Bret? Does the hulkster seem like the dodging type to you? Hell no, he don't."
"Hell yes, he does the man standing at the top of the ramp. He's a coward now, he's been a coward since he was born! Time was, he was a champion. He couldn't dodge whoever the office called the top contender. Then he got some lackeys to hide behind, and they gave him courage. Now? No title. No friends. Nothing to hide behind."
"Hide? You want hide, I'll come down there, and give you a hiding!"
"Do it, big guy!"
Bret invites Hogan into the ring, spreading his arms wide. Hogan starts to make his way down, but stops just outside the ring.
"Just what I thought" Bret taunts.
"I've got one thing you don't, Hitman. I've got patience. I know I can make a lot of money out of saving that for Starrcade."
"Excuses, Hogan, excuses."
"Excuses? This man wants to tell me about excuses? You should hear him backstage. How he never would have lost the title up north if it weren't for Vince and Hebner screwing him. And he wants to say I make them? Tell me, Bret. Why don't you have gold right now?"
"Flair cut in on every chance I got!"
"Brother, you're nothing but excuses, and I look forward to hearing your excuse for why I beat your ass at Starrcade."
"I wanted you years back, Hogan, and you ducked me then. We all know you're going to do the same again. Can't wait to hear your excuse for ducking this one."
"I give you my word, Bret, that I'm going to shut your big mouth. I'll come in there and we can shake on it, if you're not scared."
"Your word means nothing, Hogan. Your handshake means less."
Hogan slides under the ropes, and goes eye to eye with Bret.
"You've got me. Don't try to duck out now."
The two are staring each other down as we go to commercial.
100%
When we return, Corino and Ultimo Dragon are making their entrances for a match.
Steve Corino vs Ultimo Dragon
Clash of styles in the cruiserweight division. Dragon has the clear advantage on their feet, with his speed. Corino has it in hand when he manages to shut Dragon down with submissions, however. The two go back and forth, until Corino hits the Old School Expulsion to end the match.
Winner: Steve Corino
Crowd: 78% Quality: 79% Overall: 78%
Backstage with The Lost. They promise that WCW hasn't seen the last of them, that they're going to come back stronger. That they're going to bring WCW to its knees.
79%
Fit Finlay vs Konnan
A bit of a brawl. Konnan picks up the win with the Tequila Sunrise.
Winner: Konnan
On his way up the ramp, Konnan is met by Scott Norton, who floors him with a clothesline, before Nortonbombing him on the ramp.
Crowd: 65% Quality: 72% Overall: 68%
Ric Flair is backstage, a fire in his eyes, and a dangerous, steely quality in his voice.
"Last night, I again fell short, again to Chris Benoit, again for the right to challenge for the World title, but this time, the shot was at Starrcade. A lesser man, he might give up, but Ric Flair isn't that man. Space Mountain, Ric Flair, he goes all night long, baby! Goldberg, Benoit, neither of you have heard the last of Ric Flair. That's a promise."
94%
Ghosts and Ghouls vs Public Enemy
Some great brawling and teamwork on display. Ghosts and Ghouls pick up the win when Wrath hits the Meltdown on Rocco Rock.
Winners: Ghosts and Ghouls
Crowd: 63% Quality: 80% Overall: 71%
Raven's Rules: Raven vs Buff Bagwell
Great hardcore brawl. Bagwell takes out all his frustrations at the nWo split caused by Raven out on Raven. Raven, for his part, seems ruled more by confidence than anger. When he hits the Raven Effect DDT on Bagwell, on a steel chair, the match comes to an end.
Winner: Raven
Crowd: 80% Quality: 76% Overall: 78%
After the match, bleeding from a chair shot, Raven crouches in the corner, and calls for a microphone.
"Sting. Sting. Let me get a close up on my face."
The camera zooms in.
"This is what a winner looks like, Sting. Bloody, tired, but victorious. The kind of man who will do anything, no matter how cruel to the other, no matter how degrading to himself, to be on top. It's what you used to be Sting. It's what you stil can be, if you join my flock. There's still time to light that fire again, Sting. There's still hope for the Stinger. As for the Raven? Quoth him nevermore."
86%
Booker T vs Perry Saturn
A match that never really clicks like it should. The two go back and forth with some slick kicks and burtal power moves, but never quite flows. Comes to a fairly quick end when Booker hit the Harlem Hangover for three.
Winner: Booker T
Crowd: 77% Quality: 71% Overall: 75%
Scott Hall backstage
"Kev, I gave you a chance to walk away from all this. To still wear this gold" he holds the tag belt up to the camera "which is as much as you'll ever hold. You had your chance. You got the bad guy gunning for your head, so watch your back, punk."
79%
Chris Benoit and ? vs GOldberg and ?
Benoit's partner proves to be US champion Davey Boy Smith. Goldberg has picked The Giant as a partner.
The match is a great array of power moves. Each man gets his time to show off his skills and look to be in charge. Goldberg and Benoit look evenly matched. Goldberg seems to have a slight edge over his fellow champion, but only a slight one. Smith sets to avenge his loss a week ago to The Giant, and does a good job, even hoisting The Giant in the air for a press slam. The match goes back and forth, until Benoit taps The Giant out when he counters a chokeslam into a crossface.
Winners: Chris Benoit and Davey Boy Smith
Crowd: 86% Quality: 74% Overall: 82%
Show ends with Benoit and Goldberg staring each other down, looking ready to have Starrcade right then and there.
The Road to Starrcade begins tonight, and that's enough to have Tony practically bouncing in his seat. Throw in a main event where Benoit and Goldberg each pick a partner and go at it in tag action, and two matches (Booker T vs Perry Saturn and Raven vs Buff Bagwell), the winners of which will face off next week for the right to challenge for the US title at Starrcade, and Tony might just call it the most important night in the history of our sport.
The show opens with Bret Hart coming slowly down to the ring, looking humbled.
"First of all, I want to apologise to, and congratulate Chris Benoit. The man is a warrior, plain and simple, and overlooking him, well, it's a mistake I'll never make again. He's got a title shot at Starrcade. What have I got at Starrcade? I've got Hogan, no matter how hard he tries to dodge me, that's a promise."
Hogan's music hits the speakers, and out the man comes, mic in hand, confident attitude in every word.
"Dodge you? Really, Bret? Does the hulkster seem like the dodging type to you? Hell no, he don't."
"Hell yes, he does the man standing at the top of the ramp. He's a coward now, he's been a coward since he was born! Time was, he was a champion. He couldn't dodge whoever the office called the top contender. Then he got some lackeys to hide behind, and they gave him courage. Now? No title. No friends. Nothing to hide behind."
"Hide? You want hide, I'll come down there, and give you a hiding!"
"Do it, big guy!"
Bret invites Hogan into the ring, spreading his arms wide. Hogan starts to make his way down, but stops just outside the ring.
"Just what I thought" Bret taunts.
"I've got one thing you don't, Hitman. I've got patience. I know I can make a lot of money out of saving that for Starrcade."
"Excuses, Hogan, excuses."
"Excuses? This man wants to tell me about excuses? You should hear him backstage. How he never would have lost the title up north if it weren't for Vince and Hebner screwing him. And he wants to say I make them? Tell me, Bret. Why don't you have gold right now?"
"Flair cut in on every chance I got!"
"Brother, you're nothing but excuses, and I look forward to hearing your excuse for why I beat your ass at Starrcade."
"I wanted you years back, Hogan, and you ducked me then. We all know you're going to do the same again. Can't wait to hear your excuse for ducking this one."
"I give you my word, Bret, that I'm going to shut your big mouth. I'll come in there and we can shake on it, if you're not scared."
"Your word means nothing, Hogan. Your handshake means less."
Hogan slides under the ropes, and goes eye to eye with Bret.
"You've got me. Don't try to duck out now."
The two are staring each other down as we go to commercial.
100%
When we return, Corino and Ultimo Dragon are making their entrances for a match.
Steve Corino vs Ultimo Dragon
Clash of styles in the cruiserweight division. Dragon has the clear advantage on their feet, with his speed. Corino has it in hand when he manages to shut Dragon down with submissions, however. The two go back and forth, until Corino hits the Old School Expulsion to end the match.
Winner: Steve Corino
Crowd: 78% Quality: 79% Overall: 78%
Backstage with The Lost. They promise that WCW hasn't seen the last of them, that they're going to come back stronger. That they're going to bring WCW to its knees.
79%
Fit Finlay vs Konnan
A bit of a brawl. Konnan picks up the win with the Tequila Sunrise.
Winner: Konnan
On his way up the ramp, Konnan is met by Scott Norton, who floors him with a clothesline, before Nortonbombing him on the ramp.
Crowd: 65% Quality: 72% Overall: 68%
Ric Flair is backstage, a fire in his eyes, and a dangerous, steely quality in his voice.
"Last night, I again fell short, again to Chris Benoit, again for the right to challenge for the World title, but this time, the shot was at Starrcade. A lesser man, he might give up, but Ric Flair isn't that man. Space Mountain, Ric Flair, he goes all night long, baby! Goldberg, Benoit, neither of you have heard the last of Ric Flair. That's a promise."
94%
Ghosts and Ghouls vs Public Enemy
Some great brawling and teamwork on display. Ghosts and Ghouls pick up the win when Wrath hits the Meltdown on Rocco Rock.
Winners: Ghosts and Ghouls
Crowd: 63% Quality: 80% Overall: 71%
Raven's Rules: Raven vs Buff Bagwell
Great hardcore brawl. Bagwell takes out all his frustrations at the nWo split caused by Raven out on Raven. Raven, for his part, seems ruled more by confidence than anger. When he hits the Raven Effect DDT on Bagwell, on a steel chair, the match comes to an end.
Winner: Raven
Crowd: 80% Quality: 76% Overall: 78%
After the match, bleeding from a chair shot, Raven crouches in the corner, and calls for a microphone.
"Sting. Sting. Let me get a close up on my face."
The camera zooms in.
"This is what a winner looks like, Sting. Bloody, tired, but victorious. The kind of man who will do anything, no matter how cruel to the other, no matter how degrading to himself, to be on top. It's what you used to be Sting. It's what you stil can be, if you join my flock. There's still time to light that fire again, Sting. There's still hope for the Stinger. As for the Raven? Quoth him nevermore."
86%
Booker T vs Perry Saturn
A match that never really clicks like it should. The two go back and forth with some slick kicks and burtal power moves, but never quite flows. Comes to a fairly quick end when Booker hit the Harlem Hangover for three.
Winner: Booker T
Crowd: 77% Quality: 71% Overall: 75%
Scott Hall backstage
"Kev, I gave you a chance to walk away from all this. To still wear this gold" he holds the tag belt up to the camera "which is as much as you'll ever hold. You had your chance. You got the bad guy gunning for your head, so watch your back, punk."
79%
Chris Benoit and ? vs GOldberg and ?
Benoit's partner proves to be US champion Davey Boy Smith. Goldberg has picked The Giant as a partner.
The match is a great array of power moves. Each man gets his time to show off his skills and look to be in charge. Goldberg and Benoit look evenly matched. Goldberg seems to have a slight edge over his fellow champion, but only a slight one. Smith sets to avenge his loss a week ago to The Giant, and does a good job, even hoisting The Giant in the air for a press slam. The match goes back and forth, until Benoit taps The Giant out when he counters a chokeslam into a crossface.
Winners: Chris Benoit and Davey Boy Smith
Crowd: 86% Quality: 74% Overall: 82%
Show ends with Benoit and Goldberg staring each other down, looking ready to have Starrcade right then and there.
Show Overall: 81%
Show Highlight: Bret/Hogan opening segment (100%)
Show Lowlight: Konnan vs Fit Finlay (68%)
WCW Starrcade: December 27th, 1998
WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match: Goldberg (Champion) vs Chris Benoit
Hollywood Hogan vs Bret Hart