WCW Monday Nitro
Colorado Springs,
Colorado
April 20, 1998
Nitro began with some exclusive Spring Stampede footage. In the footage, as Kevin Nash and Randy Savage made their way back to the locker room, Hollywood Hogan and his Disciple attacked them. Hogan grabbed Savage's title, but Scott Norton took it out of the hands of Hogan. More NWO members came out to break-up the argument.
Hollywood Hogan Interview.
-Hogan was accompanied by both Eric Bischoff and his Disciple.
Hogan said he should be the WCW Heavyweight champion, since he is
the leader of the NWO. He challenged Randy Savage to a match for
the Heavyweight championship. Hogan also mentioned if Kevin Nash
tried to interfere, his Disciple would not let anything happen.
Randy Savage Interview.
-Randy Savage first started off his interview by putting down
Hollywood Hogan. Savage then immediately accepted Hogan's world
title challenge, to take place later in the show as the main
event. Savage then "shocked the world" by introducing
the new leader of the NWO, Kevin Nash. Nash said he is the
definate new leader of the NWO, and he will not let any other NWO
member interfere during Savage's world title match with Hogan.
We saw some pre-recorded comments from Raven. He said, since he is the new WCW United States champion, he'll have a successful victory in his match with Bill Goldberg, that would take place later in the show. More comments from Raven were aired throughout the show. Also, Goldberg was shown warming up for his match.
Konnan w/Vincent defeated
Chris Adams by making him submit to the Tequilla Sunrise.
-Chris Adams showed a lot of quickness, putting up a tough fight
for Konnan. However, when Adams was thrown to the ropes and fell,
it let Konnan take the advantage. Konnan later put Adams in the
Tequilla Sunrise to obtain the victory.
Barbarian w/Jimmy Hart
defeated Wayne Bloom via Pinfall.
-Barbarian immediately dominated Wayne Bloom. Bloom got his hands
on Jimmy Hart, making Barbarian even more furious.Barbarian then
finished Bloom with a boot to the face.
Chris Jericho defeated
Juventud Guerrera by making him submit to the Lion Tamer,
retaining the WCW Cruiserweight title.
-Chris Jericho came out dressed similar to Prince Iaukea, and
brought out a poster of Dean Malenko. Jericho put down Malenko,
saying he supposedly retired, and is looking for another job. In
the match, both superstars were continously countering each
other's maneuvers. Guerrera was really fired up, because he
wanted to win the Cruiserweight title. However,after Guerrera
missed a heracanrana, Jericho reversed it into the Lion Tamer.
Guerrera never submitted, but blacked out, letting Jericho
receive the victory and retain the WCW Cruiserweight title.
Bill Goldberg defeated
Raven with the Jackhammer, becoming the new WCW United States
champion.
-Goldberg had the match in his control at first, but
"Raven's Rules" prevailed. Raven mainly used a chair to
wear down Goldberg. As Goldberg rammed into Raven (the prelude to
the Jackhammer), Raven's Flock interfered. All of them went at
Goldberg, including the new member, but Goldberg was able to take
them all out. Raven tried to make a run fo it into the crowd, but
approximately four people threw him back in. Goldberg then
slammed Raven with the Jackhammer, to get the victory, and become
the new WCW United States champion.
La Parka defeated Ultimo
Dragon with a Spinning Flying Body.
-Both wrestlers did many aerial maneuvers. As the match
continued, Eddie Guerrero basically dragged Chavo Guerrero, Jr.
to the ring. Eddie wanted Chavo to interfere in the match; Chavo
did so, knocking Ultimo Dragon off the ropes, behind the
referee's back. La Parka took advantage of the situation,
executing a spinning flying body from the top rope onto Ultimo
Dragon. The pin was secured, and La Parka obtained the victory,
thanks to some help from Chavo Guerrero, Jr.
Chris Benoit defeated Curt
Hennig w/Rick Rude by Disqualification.
-Rick Rude took Mike Tenay's broadcasting position, to call Curt
Hennig's match. However, the moment Benoit started to work on
Hennig's injured knee, Rick Rude came down to ringside. Rude was
able to get some "cheapshots" on Benoit. Later on,
Benoit had Hennig in the Crippler Crossface. When Hennig was
about to submit, Rude interfered. An attack continued with it
being two on one. Booker T. then came down to the ring, to make
Rude and Henning leave the area. As Booker T. was walking back to
the locker room area, Benoit attacked him; Benoit claimed Booker
T. butted into his buisness.
Roddy Piper Interview.
-Roddy Piper announced a few stipulations to the upcoming world
title match between Randy Savage and Hollywood Hogan. They were:
No Disqualifications, No interference, and if Hogan leaves, he
will be brought back to the ring.
Saturn and Hammer went to
a Double Countout.
-Saturn dominated the majority of the match. Hammer was in pain,
injuring his back and left hand. As the two superstars took it
down the isle, the referee announced a Double Countout. The brawl
continued to the entranceway.
Scott Steiner and Buff
Bagwell defeated Public Enemy with Bagwell's Blockbuster.
-For some strange reason, Scott Steiner left his bodybuilding
trophy by the entranceway. In the match, Steiner and Bagwell used
their power to dominate Public Enemy. They also showed excellent
team-work. Public Enemy tried to use their table as an advantage,
but were unsuccessful. As Rocco Rock was left in the ring, Scott
Steiner was going to put him in the Steiner Recliner, but Bagwell
wanted to do the Blockbuster finishing maneuver instead. Steiner
let Bagwell do the Blockbuster to Rocco Rock, for both superstars
to obtain the victory.
Booker T. defeated
Psychosis with the Missle Dropkick, retaining the WCW Television
title.
-Psychosis was able to put Booker T. in pain, by working on his
right knee. However, Booker T. was able to retain his Television
title by defeating Psychosis with the Missle Dropkick.
Lex Luger defeated Brian
Adams w/Vincent with a Flying Elbow
-A decent grudge match between the two. Vincent and Konnan
interfered, but both were racked. Surprisingly, Luger finished
off Adams with a Flying Elbow (Elbow Butt), instead of the
Torture Rack.
In a No Disqualification
match, Hollywood Hogan w/Disciple defeated Randy Savage via
Pinfall, becoming the new WCW Heavyweight champion.
-Before Randy Savage made his way to the ring, Hogan was taunting
him. In the match, Hogan worked on Savage's knee and separated
shoulder to give him the advantage. Hogan's Disciple knocked out
referee, Nick Patrick, and started to help out Hogan. The
Disciple then hit Savage with the Apocalypse, right on the WCW
Heavyweight title. Kevin Nash then came down. When he was in the
ring, Bischoff tried to attack him. However, Nash was able to
take out Hogan's Disciple, Eric Bischoff, and powerbomb Hogan. As
Nash was helping up Nick Patrick, Bret Hart hit him with the
Heavyweight title and put Hogan on top of Savage. The pin was
secured, and Hollywood Hogan became the new WCW Heavyweight
champion. Roddy Piper confronted Bret Hart, but Hart knocked him
down.To me this indicates he is a new member of the NWO and is on
Hogan's side.