WCW: Monday Nitro
April 13, 1998
Minneapolis, MN
Target Center

The current WCW champs are as follows:
WCW World Champion: Sting (2/22/1998)
WCW U.S. Champion: Diamond Dallas Page (12/28/1997)
WCW World Tag Team Champions: The Outsiders (2/22/1998)
WCW World Television Champion: Booker T (2/22/1998)
WCW Cruiserweight Champion: Chris Jericho (1/24/1998)

We have now come upon the first Nitro to lose in the Monday Night Wars since 6/10/96.

HOUR NUMBER ONE! Your hosts are Tony Schiavone, Mike Tenay, and Larry Zbyszko. Larry Z gets quite a bit of love here in Minneapolis.

NITRO GIRLS~!

• Scott Steiner (w/Vincent) vs. Fit Finlay
  

Still no known story behind Scott Steiner’s trophy. Interesting to note that both of these guys have switched from dark mullets that they have had for over ten years to short bleach blonde haircuts in the past several months. Steiner stalls a little bit to start, but then shoots on Finlay and gives him a Belly to Belly Suplex out of the corner. The lariat and the elbow drop connects. Scott then heads to the floor and mouths off to Larry Hennig sitting in the front row. Back inside, Finlay comes back with an atomic drop and a double stomp. He picks up Steiner for a Finlay Roll as well. Finlay misses a corner charge and gets drilled with a T-bone suplex from the top rope to set up the STEINER RECLINER for the win at 3:03.

We take a special look at Bret Hart. If he sees somebody getting “screwed over”, he considers it a call to action to right the wrong.

Gene Okerlund hypes the WCW hotline.

• Ultimo Dragon vs. Lenny Lane
  

Dragon hits Lenny with a dropkick and a tilt-a-whirl headscissors, but then telegraphs a backdrop and gets his head slammed on the mat. A couple turnbuckle smashes and a suplex gets two. Dragon tries to come back with a headscissors, but Lane dumps him onto the top rope. Lenny lets off of a chinlock to yell at the fans for telling him he sucks. Tenay points out that Lane is quite well known on the Minnesota independent circuit. Dragon takes advantage and kicks Lenny from the headstand position on the top buckle. The Kick Combo connects! They go to the floor where Dragon kicks away a pescado. Awesome. Lenny chops back and slams Dragon on the floor. Back inside, Lane catches Dragon with a powerslam for 1-2-NO! He gets a running bulldog as well for a nearfall. The end is near though as Dragon flips out of a suplex and locks in the DRAGON SLEEPER for the tapout. (5:15) Great showing from Lane here. I enjoyed this one. **

We hear more from Bret Hart. The world title is the most important thing in the world to him. All he wants is a fair shot.

Gene Okerlund is backstage with Roddy Piper. He’s going to have Kevin Nash and Hollywood Hogan wrestle each other – TONIGHT! When that’s finished, Piper will rid the wrestling world of Hogan. As Piper continues to talk, Hollywood Hogan and the Disciple appear and start beating him up. Disciple then takes Piper out in the hall and gives him the APOCALYPSE (Stone Cold Stunner). Hogan – “YOU WANT A CONFRONTATION? YOU GOT ONE.” I take it that Hogan doesn’t want to wrestle Nash tonight, brother.

After the break, Gene Okerlund is in the ring and brings out the Giant. Gene wants to know what the update is on Roddy Piper. Giant says he’ll be fine in time for Spring Stampede. He then wants to remind everyone that he hasn’t forgotten what has happened in the past between he and the nWo. If Giant gets the bat, he’s going to turn somebody into a popsicle. He wants to CHOKESLAM Nash into the sky at Spring Stampede!

• Chavo Guerrero Jr. vs. Johnny Grunge
  

This is a weird pairing, right? Eddie Guerrero is conspicuous by his absence and the crowd cheers for him! After Chavo gets done with an armbar, Grunge hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Chavo comes back with a whole bunch of turnbuckle smashes and delivers a swinging neckbreaker. He heads up top and tries a flying sunset flip, but Grunge hooks the legs and pins Chavo for the win at 2:43. Wow, no Eddie? Really? Okay then.

We get another snippet of an interview with Bret Hart. Kevin Nash is scum and Hollywood Hogan is even worse. Nothing would make him happier than seeing those two snakes kill each other off. Whoa, KILL? What are you, crazy?

NITRO GIRLS~!

Kevin Nash comes out to tell us that his good friend Hollywood Hogan walk out the door because he knows he wants no part of Big Sexy. For the second week in a row, Nash makes a gay joke directed at Roddy Piper. Is it because of the kilt or because of something far more sinister? Is there truth behind the Pat Patterson comment? I don’t know. Anyways, Nash says he hasn’t seen the Macho Man tonight either. Since Hogan isn’t here and he knows Sting is, Nash wants a rematch for the world title. Well, Sting comes down carrying a bat. JJ Dillon jumps in between Sting and Nash. The crowd is REALLY getting riled up. Sting takes the mic away from Dillon and gives Nash his rematch. He even gives Nash the bat for some reason and rips off his trench coat. JJ Dillon says WCW still makes the matches around here and wants this to be tonight’s main event. Sting also tells Nash he’s tired of him bitching about the stupid powerbomb and wants the move made legal again – TONIGHT. Will JJ Dillon make it happen? Yes he will. Larry Z points out how Sting has lost all emotional control. This is awesome. I guess they needed to amp up this main event thanks to what the WWF is purposing.

• Chris Benoit vs. Glacier
  

Benoit absorbs some kicks from Glacier and dragon screw leg whips him over into the corner for a WHOLE bunch of stomps. More kicks from Glacier. These have more effect. Benoit fires back with a German Suplex and comes from out of nowhere with the CRIPPLER CROSSFACE for the win at 4:22. Whoa, ROID RAGE~! I’m sorry – that’s not funny. ½*

HOUR NUMBER TWO! Your hosts are Tony Schiavone, Mike Tenay, and Larry Zbyszko.

Before Luger comes out, Buff Bagwell gets on the stick and calls Lex Luger a stupid idiot. Classic. As for Rick Steiner, he has a beating coming for what he did to Eric Bischoff on Thunder. Bischoff takes the mic and tells Steiner that the only reason Hollywood Hogan isn’t here to lay a beating on him is because Hogan left to go do the Tonight Show with Jay Leno tonight. Now come on down, Lex.

• Lex Luger vs. Buff Bagwell (w/Eric Bischoff)
  

They go back and forth trying to outmuscle each other to start. Bagwell escapes a headlock and nails Luger with a dropkick. After Buff poses, Luger fires back with a hiptoss and a powerslam before clotheslining him to the floor. Inside the ring, Luger mocks the Buff pose. Ha! Buff slaps Luger across the face and gets run down with a clothesline for his efforts. Buff stops a ten-count corner punch though with a hotshot. Bagwell starts hammering on the back and sits down on a chinlock. He tries the Buff Blockbuster, but misses. HERE COMES THE VINTAGE LUGER COMEBACK~! This leads to the TORTURE RACK, but Bischoff kicks Luger in the gut for the DQ. (5:54) Afterwards, Lex puts Bischoff in the TORTURE RACK until Scott Steiner appears to save his boss. He and Bagwell double-team Luger until Rick Steiner saves the day as the nWo clear out. *

Back to Bret Hart. If he could give Randy Savage a piece of advice, get rid of the nWo and be your own man. If you play with pigs, you’re gonna get dirty.

NITRO GIRLS~!

• WCW Cruiserweight Championship: Chris Jericho (c) vs. Super Calo
  

SUPER CALO SIGHTING~! Jericho is convinced that Super Calo is actually Prince Iaukea under the mask. When Calo starts speaking to Jericho in Spanish, Jericho thinks Calo said he was Prince Iaukea in “pigeon Spanish”. Jericho orders ref Scott Dickinson to peak under the mask to check, but it’s all just a plan to deck Calo when he’s not looking. Awesome. Jericho chops around Calo and gives him a suplex for the C’MON BABY cover. Calo catches Jericho with a prawn hold, but Jericho pops up and drills him with a big boot. He weakens Calo with a chinlock and delivers a slingshot splash for two. Gutwrench suplex gets two as well. Calo avoids a corner charge though and hits Jericho with the Tiger Mask moonsault kick. Double jump missile dropkick gets two. Jericho misses a charge and falls out to the floor allowing Calo to dive on him. INCREDIBLE. Back inside, Calo fails at his Floatover Headscissors move and gets stuck in the LIONTAMER to give Jericho the win. (5:05) Prince Iaukea comes out and runs Jericho out of the ring. **

More Bret Hart. There’s guys around here he respects a lot, but he respects Sting the most. If he needs Bret, Bret says he’ll be there for him. Hmm.

• Saturn vs. Hammer
  

Kidman stands in between these two since they are both members of the Flock. They both push Kidman aside and start brawling. Hammer puts a pretty good fight tossing Saturn around, but Saturn delivers the head and arm suplex leading up to the RINGS OF SATURN for the win at 3:18. ¾*

• Bill Goldberg (71-0) vs. Rocco Rock
  

Rocco Rock sets up a table at ringside like usual. Maybe that will come into play. Couple shots from Goldberg. He throws Rocco Rock from one corner across to the other by his jersey. He baits Goldberg to the floor where Rocco Rock kicks him into the steps. Rocco Rock then leans the table in the corner and turns around to get SPEARED through the table by Goldberg! JACKHAMMER! Goodbye, Rocco Rock. (2:40) Saturn starts to come down the aisle, but Raven holds him back. Meanwhile, Kidman and Sick Boy try and attack Goldberg. They are unsuccessful to say the least. YOU’RE NEXT, SATURN. ¼*

“60 Seconds with Goldberg” video airs. He hurts people for sixty seconds.

HOUR NUMBER THREE! Your hosts are Tony Schiavone, Mike Tenay, and Bobby Heenan.

NITRO GIRLS~! NITRO PARTY VIDEO~!

• Curt Hennig (w/Rick Rude) vs. Yuji Nagata (w/Sonny Oono)
  

Rude would take over Tenay’s spot here, but there’s some special guests at ringside: Dick Rood (Rude’s father) and Larry Hennig. Hennig and Rude make a point to beat up Nagata in front of their dads. I assume they enjoy that sort of thing. It gets so bad and out of hand that Larry Hennig takes off his sweater to reveal a “Hennig Rules” t-shirt. Well, okay then. At least it wasn’t an nWo t-shirt. Back in the ring, the HENNIGPLEX ends Nagata in 2:53. Good grief that was a raping of Nagata. He gets handcuffed to the top rope for more of a stomping until Jim Neidhart runs them off. N/R

• WCW World Television Championship: Booker T (c) vs. La Parka
  

A showcase match for Booker. La Parka doesn’t really do anything but take his moves to lead to the MISSILE DROPKICK for the win. (3:30) La Parka looks to split Booker’s wig when he’s not looking with his chair, but Chris Benoit comes down and saves the day. Booker wants a handshake and Benoit shoves him down. AWESOME. They go nose to nose and this is getting really good. *

• WCW U.S. Heavyweight Championship: Diamond Dallas Page (c) vs. Rage (w/Kaos)
  

Since he doesn’t have the belt, how can he *defend* the belt? Anyways, I’m assuming this is just a reason for DDP to BANG somebody going into the PPV. Kaos helps Rage cheat allowing him to hit a SPRINGBOARD BODY SPLASH, but DDP kicks out at two. DDP splits the up rights on Rage, decks Kaos, and hits the DIAMOND CUTTER for the win. (3:02) Raven and his Flock come down the aisle daring DDP to come get the US title. While DDP is busy with the Flock, it appears a “fan” has jumped Raven from behind. It looks like Kanyon, but I’m not totally sure. ¾*

• Rick Steiner (w/Ted DiBiase) vs. Konnan (w/Vincent)
  

Konnan attacks Steiner at the bell, but eats a Steinerline. Steiner picks him up and runs him into the corner. Heenan – “That’ll hurt your lunch.” After Konnan rolls out, Rick gets pulled to the flor and sent into the guardrail. DiBiase helps out and beats up Vincent. That man still owns poor Virgil even in 1998. Back inside, Konnan lands the Rolling Lariat. Steiner comes back with a couple powerslams and hits the STEINER BULLDOG for the three-count at 3:33.

• WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Sting (c) vs. Kevin Nash
  

Sting lands a bunch of blows on Nash to start, but gets caught in the corner for Snake Eyes. Bossman straddle connects. Nash measures Sting for a straight punch to the gourd. He chokes Sting in the corner with his boot and then corner clotheslines him. Now the knees and elbows in the corner. He’s running out of moves! Sting takes a headbutt, but kicks back at Nash and tries a slam only for Nash to fall on top for 1-2-NO! Big elbow drop by Nash gets two. Sting escapes a neck vice, but runs into an elbow. Gutwrench suplex from Nash scores another nearfall. There’s the Side Slam for 1-2-NO! Time for a bearhug. Sting ear claps his way out and starts hitting Stinger Splashes. This crowd is losing their minds. Randy Savage – wearing an Outsiders t-shirt – appears in the aisle motioning Elizabeth to go distract the referee. Now keep in mind he’s wearing a cast on his arm. While Sting turns Nash over for the SCORPION DEATHLOCK, Savage hits Sting over the back of the head with the cast. At first you think he’s just trying to show where his allegiance lies, but Nash winning here tonight would ruin his shot at the WCW world title at Spring Stampede. Does he really care about the world title at this point though? HE’S MAD. As Liz drops to the floor, Nash slowly covers Sting for 1-2-NO! Great nearfall there. Garbage starts to get tossed into the ring. Nash hits Sting with the JACKKNIFE POWERBOMB for 1-2-NO! Ref Charles Robinson gets pulled out by Bret Hart of all people and the ref calls for the bell. (8:25) Bret Hart starts beating up Nash to help Sting since he’s getting “screwed over”. While Bret is fighting off the nWo B-team, Nash sticks Sting with another JACKKNIFE POWERBOMB and walks out as we close out the show. Even better than last week. **½

I know it would have thrown a wrench into the Spring Stampede PPV, but it almost felt like they should have given Kevin Nash the world title on this night. It makes more sense than giving it to Savage especially since Savage just got run down by a CAR last week. And imagine the nWo split if Nash had won the world title here and split from the crew starting the nWo Wolfpac instead of Hogan just having the belt. Much more intriguing and you can set up a couple different Hogan/Nash matches throughout the year possibly setting up a Starrcade main event. Let Goldberg run with the U.S. title for a while and use him as a world title contender in 1999. But I guess that didn’t work for Hogan, brother.

I wonder if Hogan claimed him not being on Nitro (except for a few seconds) is the cause of Nitro losing to RAW in the ratings this week.

But I digress. Until next time, so long for now.

WCW/nWo Spring Stampede LIVE ON PPV premieres April 19
from the Denver Coliseum in Denver, CO.
MAIN EVENT
WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Sting (c) vs. Randy Savage
WCW U.S. Heavyweight Championship: DDP (c) vs. Raven
WCW World Television Championship – NO TIME LIMIT: Booker T (c) vs. Chris Benoit
WCW Cruiserweight Championship: Chris Jericho (c) vs. Prince Iaukea
Bat Match: The Giant & Roddy Piper vs. Hollywood Hogan & Kevin Nash
Davey Boy Smith vs. Curt Hennig