WCW Nitro
Baltimore, Maryland
December 28, 1998
After last night's controversial loss, Ric Flair made a final plea to the smug WCW/NWO President Eric Bischoff: a match where, if Bischoff won, Flair would leave WCW.
But Flair had another interesting stipulation attached to this match...
TNT's WCW Monday Nitro from Baltimore, Maryland featuring Ric Flair, Kevin Nash, Big Poppa Pump and Kidman.
Show Results
Nitro started with Eric Bischoff, Curt Hennig, Big Papa Pump and Buff Bagwell sitting in the back of a limousine after Starrcade. The NWO big wigs laughed about Ric Flair's defeat and made fun of The Nature Boy's recent heart attack. The segment was followed by a history of Bischoff, chronicling his WCW betrayal, NWO antics and problems with The Four Horsemen.
Ernest "The Cat"
Miller with Sonny Onoo d. Shima Nobunaga
Pre-match, The Cat riled the crowd, until Chris Jericho
and Ralphus interrupted his egomaniacal tirade. Walking out with
Nobunaga, Jericho claimed that he would watch the wrestler's back
in this bout, and that the Japanese superstar would end Miller's
open challenge policy. No such luck. The Cat ran through the
youngster with kicks and chokes.
Norman Smiley d. Chavo
Guerrero, Jr. With Pepe
Do a little dance, win a few matches, let's make money
tonight. The grooving Brit maintained control of his opponent
until he dared to mess with Chavo's wooden steed. Guerrero went
crazy (crazier actually) when Smiley spanked the horsey, but
became too distracted by his pet and eventually got trapped in a
chicken-wing submission.
A film crew documented Raven's return to his parent's palatial Florida estate. The former Flock leader complained and whined as his mother tried to make him comfortable and a ham sandwich. Kanyon was awed by the surroundings.
Booker T d. Fit Finlay
Nitro revisited this classic feud, with pleasing and
painful results. Both men utilized their respective skills, but
Booker T looked a little Stronger. The Harlem Heater won with a
Missile Dropkick.
Gene Okerlund Interview:
Ric Flair
Flair started the interview in a somber mood, but was
soon stripping off his clothes and "whooing" like a
fiend. The Nature Boy then challenged Bischoff to a final match
in Baltimore. The stipulation: If Bischoff won, Flair would never
wrestle again. But if Flair was victorious, he would be allowed
to run WCW for 90 days. To assure a fight would happen, The
13-time World Champion handcuffed himself to the top rope of the
ring.
After the break, Bischoff came down to the ring and accepted the challenge.
Barry Windham d. Prince
Iaukea
Simply, Windham just proved to be too big and strong for
the Luche Libre-influenced wrestler. The ex-Horsemen ended the
bout with a bulldog.
Gene Okerlund Interview:
Officer Tom Atchinson
Okerlund showed Baltimore fans the stun stick that Scott
Hall used to down Goldberg at Starrcade. Atchinson explained that
the stick could knock out a bull and was considered too dangerous
for police use.
Gene Okerlund Interview:
Diamond Dallas Page
Page humbly celebrated his monumentous win over Giant at
Starrcade, but then focused on the pay-per-views most
controversial matches: Flair vs. Bischoff and BigSexy vs.
Goldberg. DDP claimed a "black cloud" now loomed over
the World Heavyweight belt. He also said he'd be honored to work
for The Nature Boy.
Backstage, Kevin Nash and the Wolfpac scolded Disco Inferno for interfering in the main event. Nash claimed that Inferno's interference had tainted his win, and that he would try and make amends later. Konnan suggested Nash set up a match later in the for Inferno to see if he really wanted to be red-and-black.
Eddy Guerrero and Juventud
Guerrera d. Kidman and Rey Mysterio, Jr.
At first, it appeared the Juvy and Eddy were still
fighting from the previous evening. But their pushing and yelling
proved to be a LWO ruse, created to confuse their opponents. It
worked. Guerrero and Guerrera kept Mysterio away from his corner
and beat the Masked Luchador with a series of breathtaking
doubleteams. Kidman finally got the tag, but then a
miscommunication caused Kidman and Rey to crash heads, allowing
Eddy to hit the Frog Splash (on Kidman) and score a victory.
Wolfpac Interview
Kevin Nash told fans he was displeased about his win
last night and wanted to make some ammends. The Wolfpac leader
set up a match between Bam Bam Bigelow and Disco Inferno,
chastised Scott Hall for interfering, and told Goldberg he would
give him a rematch, next week, at the Nitro in Atlanta, Georgia.
Bam Bam Bigelow d. Disco
Inferno
Fighting for Wolfpac membership, Disco proved to be
courageous, clever and cunning -- Bigelow proved to be a
ferocious beast. Kicking out of the Chartbuster, Bigelow -- who
dominated the majority of the match -- executed a vicious
powerslam piledriver and "technically" his first win in
WCW.
Dr. Brock Segment
Nitro producers interviewed Dr. Brock, the physician that cared
for Ric Flair after his painful chest attacks a few weeks back.
Dr. Brock said that Flair did not have a heart attack, but was
suffering from Digitoxin, a lethal poison.
Backstage, Gene Okerlund accused Eric Bischoff of poisoning Ric Flair. Bischoff became very flustered, but Hennig made sure the WCW President said nothing incriminating.
Scott Steiner with Buff
Bagwell d. Konnan
TV Title Match
Konnan started strong, but soon fell prey to the
outrageous power of Big Poppa Pump. After a series of devastating
holds and interference via the Buff One, K-Dogg still managed a
reversal of fortune, hitting BPP with a pancake piledriver and
then the Tequila Sunrise. Bagwell tried to pull Steiner into the
ropes and was attacked by Lex Luger. The only problem was that
Luger's interference actually helped Steiner escape the hold. The
Total Package also inadvertantly caused a Bagwell-Konnan
collision moments later. As Luger chased Buff backstage, The
NWO's new leader locked in the Steiner Recliner and scored a
submission.
Scott Hall d. Brian Adams
with Vincent
Pre-match, Hall complained about not being invited to
Nash's victory party. Adams took advantage of The Lone Wolf's
preoccupation and took control early in the match with big boots
and guerilla press slams. But Hall absorbed the beating and hit
the Outsider's Edge when Adams began pandering to the crowd.
Ric Flair d. Eric Bischoff
Pre-match, while Flair waited in the ring, Eric Bischoff
attempted a limo get-away, but ended up taking a ride atop the
shoulders of The Four Horsemen. Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko and
Mongo carried the WCW President all the way to the ring. For the
second night in the row, The Nature Boy pulverized Bischoff with
chops and low blows, and even took another shot at referee
Charles Robinson.
Enter The New World Order. First, Horace Hogan and Vincent ran down, but the Horsemen were too strong. Then the rest of the black-and-white forces infested the ring area, and the WCW alliance still held their ground --until Giant arrived. Brushing past everyone, big G prepared to rock The Nature Boy with a chokeslam, but was momentarily stopped by Randy Savage, fresh from knee rehabilitation sporting a black-and-white NWO T-shirt and a gorgeous valet. Savage and Giant exchanged salutations, but then Savage struck Giant with a low blow and clothesline. On the outside, DDP, Konnan, Arn Anderson and others joined the Horsemen in their arena floor war. Finally alone, Flair applied the figure-four leglock and Bischoff submitted. A celebration ensued, including Larry Zbysko, Dusty Rhodes, Booker T and others. Ric Flair was now the official boss in WCW.