WCW Monday Nitro

Jacksonville, Florida
Monday, June 22, 1998

We start off with footage of DDP, Malone, Rodman, and Hogan at Planet Hollywood. Malone is shoving Rodman in the arm, looking mean.

And we're live from Jacksonville, FL, for three hours of Bash at the Beach hype! Ooops, I mean "WCW Monday Nitro." My bad.... Tony, Tenay, and Zbysko are in the booth I predict that we'll get so much hype for the "Bash at the Beach" main event, Tony will collapse at the announcer's booth in a grand mal seizure, twitching uncontrollably and mumbling "Rodman.....Malone.....biggest match in the history of our sport.....uhhhh...."

We see footage from Hogan and Rodman attacking DDP a couple of weeks ago.

We see footage from the Tonight Show with Hogan, Rodman, and Jay Leno.

Mean Gene is in the ring, and calls out DDP Somebody in the crowd has a flag with the Taco Bell dog! I have one of those shirts. DDP is "jacked" to be in "Jacksonville." Gene informs us of the Bash main event. Big "DDP" chant from the crowd. DDP mentions the heels, and gets a boo from the crowd. DDP says he hasn't forgotten any of the Hogan attacks over the past year. Page talks trash about Hogan. Page says that, at one time, Hogan worked hard, but now Page is the man who "wants it." DDP praises Karl Malone, and says that after Malone saw the Hogan/Rodman attack, Malone volunteered his services. Page: "Rodzilla, as a marketer, you're a genius. In the ring, you're a dead man."

More footage from Planet Hollywood.

The Nitro Girls are in the ring, shaking their booties.

Tonight's main event - Chris Benoit vs. Bret Hart!

This week's Nitro Party winner, some guy from NC State I'll give this guy props - he was wearing a "Magnum TA" shirt.

Match 1: Disco Inferno pinned Lynn Denton after the Piledriver Lynn Denton comes out. Are we getting our Goldberg match this early? Nope! Disco! Woo hoo! Disco's got a really shiny shirt on tonight. Denton with a hammerlock, but Disco reverses. Disco with an inverted atomic drop, followed by a big clothesline. Disco hits a bodyslam, and shakes his pelvis. Disco drops the "People's Fist" Denton with chops in the corner. Big "Whoo"s from the crowd. Denton with a sloppy swinging neckbreaker. Denton with a nice knee to the back of the head. Denton rakes Disco's face across the top rope. Denton goes up top, but Disco throws him off the top. Denton hits an avalanche clothesline, but meets elbow on a second try. Denton with an inverted atomic drop of his own. Disco with a kick to the gut, and then hits the piledriver for the win.The crowd counts along with the ref. Disco: "I felt like doin' a little dancin', makin' a little love, and gettin' down tonight."

Mean Gene is in the ring, and calls out Kevin Greene Greene comes out to the Carolina Panther fight song. Greene compliments the Jacksonville Jaguars, and calls Mark Brunell "a damn good quarterback." Greene pulls out some more football references. Gene talks football with Greene again. Greene: "Have jock will travel." Greene says he's back with the Carolina Panthers, and the crowd boos. Gene and Greene talk about his health, and then go over the Panthers roster. Where the HELL is this going? Greene talks about the Four Horsemen. Greene says he roomed with Bill Goldberg with the LA Rams, and praises Goldberg. Curt Hennig and Rick Rude come down the aisle. Hennig bats his gum at Greene. Hennig talks smack to Greene, telling him to stick to football. The crowd chants "Goldberg." Greene challenges Hennig, and Giant runs in and attacks from behind. Hennig, Rude, and Giant work over Greene. The black and white leave Greene in the ring, and challenge others. Hennig: "He's got no defense" Greene gets up and yells at the heels. He then runs back to the lockers.

Commercial for 1-800-USA-FIND.

See my WCW Saturday Night report for my views on THAT particular commercial. [sorry, pWw does not have his Saturday Night Report]

Tony says that something happened during the commercial First, we see the end of the interview again. We see Arn, Benoit, and Mongo holding Greene back, with the nWo Hollywood doing the same for Hennig/Rude. JJ Dillon is asking Greene if he wants to fight tonight, and asks Giant too. They agree. So, Kevin Greene vs. Giant tonight.

Match 2: Yuji Nagata (w/Sonny Oono) made Tokyo Magnum submit to the Nagatalock Who is this guy? It's "Tokyo Magnum." He looks like he's wearing his pajamas. It'll be a battle of Japanese, as Sonny Oono brings out Yuji Nagata. Tokyo Magnum is dancing around like Val Venis in the ring. Nagata answers THAT with some big kicks. Magnum hits a flying forearm, and a spin kick. Magnum dances for Oono, and Nagata puts the smack down. Magnum gets sent to the floor, and Oono gets his kicks in. Stiff kick from Nagata. Nagata with a leglock. Nagata with an armlock, and then another leglock. Apparently, Stevie Ray is in the back looking for Benoit. Nagata hits an over-the-shoulder armbreaker. Magnum's lame offense gets dealt with quickly. Nagata with a scissor-kick of his own. Magnum avoids a corner charge, and hits a dropkick. Magnum hits a SuperFrankensteiner for two. Nagata hits a spinwheel kick. Suplex from Nagata, and the Nagatalock spells the end for Magnum. Conveniently, we go to the back, and see Stevie Ray pounding on Benoit. Security pulls him off. Stevie is bigger than all four guys put together. Benoit is writhing in pain.

A "special look" at RavenAgain, Wade's Rules apply. When Raven talks, my brain shuts down. Raven: "Sometimes you've got to be cruel, to be kind."

Match 3: Public Enemy (w/table) defeated Horace and Sick Boy (w/Lodi, signs, and a stop sign) when Rocco Rock pinned Horace after a top-rope flying shoulderblock Two Tubby Guys with a Table come out. Two weeks in a row? Horace: "Stop sign, baby. It's all good." Lodi sign: "Horace Collects Stop Signs." Lodi sign: "4 Get What You Need." It'll be Horace and Sick Boy representing the Flock. The Flockers take the early advantage. Double-clothesline on Johnny Grunge. Asai Moonsault from Rocco Rock on both Flockers, followed by a double-clothesline from Grunge. Lodi sign: "Elvis Is Alive" Fireman's carry takedown from Rock. Lodi sign: "Everyone Wants To Be Sick." Double-pancake from TPE on Sick Boy for two. Horace tags in, and gets a sloppy armdrag from Grunge. Double-elbow from TPE, followed by a double-elbowdrop. Hotshot from "Hogan's Nephew." Doubleteams from the Flock. Lariat from Horace, followed by an elbowdrop. Sunset flip from Rock on Sick Boy for two. Sick Boy gets up and clotheslines Rock down. Horace hits a side suplex. Sick Boy clotheslines Rock over the top. Grunge rolls Rock back in, but Rock doesn't make the tag. Rock avoids a Sick Boy corner charge, and tries to make the tag. Sick Boy stops him. Rock avoids ANOTHER charge, and finally makes the tag. Grunge is a Tub-O-Lard-on-Fire, but gets a lariat from Horace. Horace goes to hit Grunge with the stop sign, but hits Sick Boy instead. Rock rolls up Horace for two. Horace tries it again, and hits Sick Boy again. Rock flies off the top rope, and shoulderblocks Horace through the stop sign. Rock falls on Horace for the win.

More footage from Planet Hollywood.

The Nitro Girls dance in cut-off nWo shirts. Boiiiing!

Mean Gene is in the ring again, and calls out Bret Hart Hart comes out to nWo Hollywood music. Gene talks about Hart's interference in the Benoit/Booker match. Hart: "Lemme tell you about a man named 'shhh'" Hart says that he hopes everyone is glad that they've turned one Canadian against another. Hart says that it's the Hart family that is responsible for Benoit getting into wrestling. Hart says that Benoit was a good Canadian, until he came down to the US. Hart says that Benoit's got the chance of a lifetime tonight.

More footage of the Tonight Show Tenay's obviously reading from a Teleprompter. Hogan calls Malone a wimp, and Rodman says he calls Malone "a lot more than a wimp." Malone and DDP come out on the set, and Leno tries to keep them apart. Leno threatens to start "kicking ass." Rodman challenges Malone "right here." Rodman makes fun of the Diamond Cutter sign. Malone tries to put the Diamond Cutter on Leno. Leno goes to commercial, and so do we.

And we're back with Hour Number Two!

Match 4: WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Bill Goldberg pinned Rick Fuller with the JackhammerGoldberg's music comes on, as do the pre-recorded Goldberg chants. This is going to be a SUPER jobber squash. His opponent didn't even get a ring entrance. Tenay: Goldberg is 101-0. The title is on the line tonight. His opponent, the Number One contender for the US Title.... Rick Fuller. Goldberg's got a zit or something on his head. Dude, don't pick at it, it'll just make it worse. Goldberg shoves Fuller away, and hits some kneelifts. Goldberg with his anklelock. Fuller avoids a spear, and kicks Goldberg in the knee. Fuller floors Goldberg with a spin kick. Goldberg tries to spear Fuller, doesn't take him down, and finally takes him down. Jackhammer. Splat. Win.

In case anyone's curious, the mystery flavor isn't "pork."

We see Mike Tenay out in Jacksonville with some fans, talking about the Bash main event

Combined IQ rapidly approaching "1" Wolfpac music brings out Sting, Nash, and Konnan I kinda dig the Wolfpac theme. Nash has the mic. He informs us that "Wolfpac in da house." Konnan says "Orale! Arriba la raza." Nash: "I think Goldberg killed Kenny." Sign: "Goldberg Killed Kenny." Sting gets the mic, and gives a howl. Sting has an inflatable love doll dressed up like Hogan. Some fan had it earlier in the night. Sting talks about the tag team situation. Sting says that there's an open challenge for the belts, for anyone who wants a shot.

More Nitro Girls

Match 5: Alex Wright pinned Eddie Guerrero after a reverse neckbreaker Techno music brings out the "other" Nitro Girl, Alex Wright. Sign: "I Left My Wife 4-Nitro" Wright kisses a ring girl. Woah! He'll be facing Chavo's Favorite Wrestler. Sign: "Eddie Guerrero Is My Favorite Migrant Worker." Eddie still looks dejected, and Chavo comes down and "gooses" him. Chavo shouts encouragement to Eddie, and Eddie sends him back. Eddie slams his head into the turnbuckles a couple of times to get psyched. Wright with a clean break on the ropes. Wright with some chops in the corner. Das Nitrogirl with a big bodyslam. Wright dances to the crowd. Eddie hits a nice back-shoulderblock, and stomps a mudhole in Alex. Eddie steps on Wright's face and twists. Wright hits a backbreaker, and dances a bit more. Huge European uppercuts from Eddie. Eddie takes Wright down with a clothesline. Wright threatens a walkout, but goes back to the ring. Wright hits a bridging vertical suplex for two. Wright goes up top, but Eddie avoids a kneedrop. Eddie hits a brainbuster, and Chavo comes out with a mic. Chavo shouts encouragement to Eddie, and Wright hits a reverse neckbreaker on Eddie. Wright gets the pin, and starts to dance. Chavo dances along with Wright, and tells Eddie to keep his chin up. Chavo: "Bye German guy." Chavo gives more encouragement to Eddie. His "mental" schtick is funny as hell. Chavo goes into a monolague about playing Monopoly. Hi-larious. Eddie: "You're wacko." Chavo: "No, Chavo. C-H-AVO...C-H-AVO, and Chavo was his name-o!" Eddie slowly backs down the aisle, with Chavo following him.

Match 6: Konnan made Riggs (w/Lodi) submit to the Tequila Sunrise Wolfpac music brings out Konnan. His opponent, already in the ring, Riggs. Lodi sign: "We Hate Gators." Riggs with an armtwist, but Konnan takes him down. Konnan hits his rolling clothesline. Konnan dropkicks the seated Riggs in the face. Konnan ties Riggs up in a version of the backslide. Lodi sign: "Math 101 - [Pi]R [squared] = 3.14 Im-pressive dropkick from Riggs. Lodi sign: "Lodi Is Your Idol" Riggs throws Konnan to the floor. Riggs hits a slingshot plancha to the floor. Lodi sign: "Riggs Beat Up An Honor Student." Riggs with a nice running knee into the corner. Riggs chokes Konnan in the corner. Konnan hits a big faceslam for two. Konnan with a drop-toehold. Konnan hits Lodi, but gets hit by Riggs. Riggs with a powerslam for two. Riggs goes up top, but Konnan avoids him. Konnan then locks on the Tequila Sunrise for the win. Or, as Scooby Doo would say, the Tequira Runrise.

The announcers talk about, what else, the Bash main event

We go to "Planet Hollywood" in Los Angeles We see the media taking a lot of pictures. Malone: "Rodzilla, size does matter." Hogan talks about he and Rodman being champions. Malone says he's thinking about being Rodman, and that "sissy" Hogan. Rodman says something incomprehensible.

Even MORE Nitro Girls.

And we're back with Hour Number Three!

Match 7: Steve McMichael defeated Stevie Ray by disqualification Yes yes yes, no no no, it's Stevie Ray time! Stevie doesn't look happy. And his opponent....Steve "Mongo" McMichael. Mongo gives the "Four Horsemen" sign to the crowd. They go toe-to-toe, but Stevie gets the better of it. Stevie floors Mongo with some punches. Mongo comes back with some forearms. Mongo shoulders Stevie in the gut. Mongo tries a sleeper, but can't get it on. Mongo with kicks to the ribs. Commercial. As we come back, Stevie Ray is hitting a legdrop. Stevie chokes Mongo. A big bodyslam from Stevie, who flexes for the crowd. Stevie Ray locks on the Harlem Resthold. Mongo tries to power out, but Stevie Ray pounds on him. Mongo comes back with some brawling, and a kneelift. Mongo clubs Stevie Ray out to the floor, and Stevie pulls him out. Mongo blocks a guardrail shot, and then sends Stevie Ray into the guardrail. Stevie whips Mongo hard into the ringsteps. Stevie Ray goes to get a chair, and brings it in. Benoit runs out and takes the chair. The ref calls for the bell. Benoit's got the chair, and threatens Stevie Ray, but Booker T comes and grabs the chair away. Stevie Ray wants Booker to hit Benoit with a chair, but Booker doesn't. Chant: "We Want Flair." The ref raises Mongo's hand. I guess he won by DQ. Booker and Stevie walk back to the lockers, not looking very happy.

Hollywood Hogan music comes onHogan, Bischoff, Steiner, Liz, and Disciple come out. Bischoff's got the mic. He says that life without Savage is very sweet, putting his arm around Liz. He praises Hogan. Bischoff talks about "go break a leg," and then gets a fit of the giggles. Hogan mocks Savage. Hogan talks some more smack about Savage and Liz. Hogan plugs the Bash main event. Hogan says DDP is famous for his wife being in Playboy, his wife being in the Nitro Girls, and for washing the dishes. Hogan calls Malone a loser. Hogan mistakenly challenges "Diamond Dallas Page and Rodman." Bischoff: "Hollywood said that the Macho Man couldn't hold his own. Well [Savage], now that you're at home with a broken leg, I'm sure you can correct that."

We see a retrospective of the Bret Hart nWo offer to Benoit, and the Stevie Ray/Booker/Benoit situation.

Match 8: Bret Hart made Chris Benoit submit to the Sharpshooter Here's Match One of our main event! Chris Benoit comes out first. nWo Hollywood music brings out Bret Hart. Both men are tentative to start. They lock up, and Benoit hits an armdrag. Hart gives a clean break in the corner. Benoit with an armlock out of the test of strength, and then locks on an armbar. Bret bodyslams his way out of it, but Benoit drags him back down. Hart punches Benoit on the break, and then drops him with a DDT. Hart drags Benoit's face along the ropes. Hart chokes Benoit in the corner. Headbutt from the Hitman. Benoit tries to fight back, and chops Hart to the mat. Hart with some European uppercuts. Benoit eats boot as he charges the corner. Atomic drop and clothesline from Hart, but he misses an elbowdrop. Hart hotshots Benoit over the top rope. Hart sends Benoit to the floor, and follows him. Hart slams Benoit's back into the ringpost. Hart hits a piledriver that Tony mistakenly calls a "tombstone." Hart headbutts Benoit down. Commercial. Hart's getting a two-count as we come back. Hart hits a Russian Legsweep for two. Benoit tries a Victory Roll, but Hart holds on to the ropes. Benoit ducks a punch, and hits two German suplexes. Hart gets out of the third, but Benoit hits a Dragon suplex! Benoit gets mad, and hits a snap suplex. The thumb goes across the throat, and Benoit goes up top. Hart, of course, avoids the headbutt.Hart with an atomic headbutt, and goes up top himself. Benoit knocks him to the turnbuckles, and hits a top-rope superplex!!! Benoit only gets a two-count from that. Short-arm clothesline from Benoit for two. Hart goes to the eyes. Benoit takes Hart down in the Crossface!!! Hart makes it to the ropes. Stevie Ray comes out to distract Benoit, and Hart clocks Benoit from behind with an "international object." Benoit is out. Hart pulls Benoit on top of him, as the ref turns back around. The ref counts two, and Hart throws Benoit off of him. Hart then locks on the Sharpshooter, and the ref checks Benoit's arm. One...two...three, and that's the match. An EXCELLENT match!

The announcers hype Giant/Greene We see the footage from earlier again.

Match 9: Kevin Greene defeated Giant by disqualification when Curt Hennig interfered Michael Buffer out to do the honors. Buffer: "Earler tonight, words were spoken, actions were taken, and passive voice was used." Buffer refers to Dillion as "The Honorable James J. Dillon." nWo Hollywood music brings out "Big Tobacco." Giant's smoking, of course. Someone in the crowd has a giant cigarette. Generic rock music brings out Kevin Greene. Greene is wearing jeans and a security shirt. Greene hits a flying shoulder, bounces around, and gets clotheslined by Giant. Giant yells at Greene. Giant drops a giant elbow. Giant makes a "smoking" motion. Greene crotches Giant. Greene with some more shoulders. Hennig and Rude come in to cause the DQ. The crowd starts chanting "Goldberg." The nWo'ites work Greene over. The rest of nWo Hollywood comes out (minus Hogan, of course). The mudhole stomp continues. The crowd pops as Goldberg comes out. Goldberg spears Vincent in the aisle. He spears Disciple and Brian Adams together, as the rest of the nWo heads for higher ground.The nWo reluctantly heads to the back, as Kevin Greene and Goldberg stand together. Greene challenges Giant and Hennig to a match with him and Goldberg at Bash at the Beach.