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.