WCW: Monday Nitro
April 20, 1998
Colorado Springs, CO
World Arena

The current WCW champs are as follows:
WCW World Champion: Randy Savage (4/19/1998)
WCW U.S. Champion: Raven (4/19/1998)
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)

They show what happened after they went off the air at Spring Stampede. As Kevin Nash and Randy Savage stand in the aisle facing the crowd with their arms raised and the championship belt in their possession, Hollywood Hogan and the Disciple attack them from behind with a ball bat. Of all people, Scott Norton comes out and yells at Hogan about what he had just done. When some more nWo boys appear, Norton tells Hogan that the belt is back with the nWo and we need to keep it there. WELL, LOOK AT THE BALLS ON SCOTT NORTON~! Schiavone is certain there is a definite split in the nWo. Gee, what gave it away, Tony?

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

Hollywood Hogan, Eric Bischoff, and the Disciple kick off the show. Hogan refers to Randy Savage as the scum that crawls in the river in hell and Kevin Nash is his “big sexy girlfriend” who makes all the nWo-ites sick. The nWo won’t let them out of the building until Hogan gets a shot at the WCW world title. Bischoff calls Nash a midget. LOLWUT? Hogan admits that the nWo has finally split. Pretty soon, we will all see who follows Hogan and who makes the mistake of following Randy Savage and Kevin Nash. And if Nash sticks his nose in Hogan’s business while he’s beating Savage within an inch of his life, the Disciple will put Nash down with the Apocalypse. Hogan, the Disciple, and the rest of his followers are just too sweet.

Backstage, Goldberg is getting FIRED UP for his U.S. title match tonight.

After the break, the new world champ Randy Savage interrupts our esteemed commentators and heads down to the ring to a big ovation. It’s no question that Savage hates Hogan and Hogan hates him because Savage has the world title. He puts over Kevin Nash for having the guts to take on anybody despite the odds against him. He calls out Hogan for being the wheelman behind the Dodge Viper that ran him over. And with that, there is nothing in this world or the next that will stop him from fighting Hollywood Hogan tonight. Savage then announces the new leader of the nWo: KEVIN NASH. Does he even have that power? Well, here comes Kevin Nash to the ring wearing a tracksuit drinking a cup of water coming out the tunnel. Nash says last night was the first step to ending Hogan’s career. He can no longer call the nWo “his” because of Savage. After tonight, Hogan’s career will be over when Savage beats Hogan in the middle of the ring. And if Disciple gets involved, he gets JACKKNIFED. Dang. If Bischoff gets involved, Nash reminds Bischoff of Baltimore – referring to Great American Bash 1996. This comment goes over most of the heads in the audience since they have probably only been fans for about a year. But hey, I got it Nash. If Hogan was wondering who was going to drive a stake through his heart, it’s NASH. OH YEAH. What could go wrong?

Somewhere deep within the World Arena, Raven is sulking about having to face Bill Goldberg tonight. Quote the Raven, nevermore.

NITRO GIRLS~! I can’t believe it took them almost thirty minutes to get them out here.

Next up, Gene Okerlund has all the rumors going on in wrestling that you’ll have to pay to hear on the WCW Hotline.

• Konnan (w/Vincent) vs. Chris Adams
  

I wonder if our esteemed commentators will mention Konnan recently hanging with Nash on Thunder before Spring Stampede. Hmm. Adams armdrags Konnan around to start. As they run the ropes, Adams leapfrogs over Konnan and dropkicks him out to the floor. Back in, Konnan goes to the eyes and hits the Rolling Lariat. Adams tries fighting back as they trade nearfalls, but he misses a charge in the ropes and crotches himself. Konnan delivers a DDT and applies the TEQUILA SUNRISE for the tapout at 3:35. ½*

NITRO GIRLS~! They show a huge Nitro Party from Clemson University.

• The Barbarian (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. Wayne Bloom
  

Barb CLUBBERS on Bloom down in the corner. Hart grabs Bloom by the ankle and gets slugged on the jaw, but then Bloom turns around into a clothesline. KICK OF FEAR! Good night, Wayne. (1:16) Always fun to see Barbarian. ¼*

More from Raven sitting down in the far stall of the men’s bathroom.

• WCW Cruiserweight Championship: Chris Jericho (c) vs. Juventud Guerrera
  

Jericho brings with him a picture of Dean Malenko. He tells everybody that Malenko has in fact retired and hopes to find work at a hamburger store tomorrow if the boss decides to hire him. Awesome. Juventud BUM RUSHES THE SHOW and catches Jericho with a flying headscissors. He slows things down with a chinlock, but then Jericho breaks free and hotshots him to take over. Juventud rolls to the apron and baits Jericho into trying that springboard move he does only for Jericho to crash and burn on the floor. A somersault plancha by Guerrera wipes out Jericho. Back inside, Juventud scores with a springboard spinning heel kick for 1-2-NO! Great nearfall. Juventud nails Jericho with the JUVI DDT for 1-2-NO! He flips out of a German suplex and tries another Juvi DDT, but Jericho puts the brakes on that and counters to the LIONTAMER. Since Juventud never surrenders, he ends up passing out in the hold to give Jericho the win. (3:44) Even though there was just a short amount of time here, everything was on point with this match. Good stuff. Nice South Park reference there, Jericho. **½

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

• Raven’s Rules for the WCW U.S. Heavyweight Championship: Raven (c) vs. Bill Goldberg (74-0)
  

Easily one of my all-time favorite Nitro matches. Raven lays the belt down in the ring – almost daring Goldberg to cross over. Raven attacks anyway and catches Goldberg with a boot off a corner charge. They go to the floor where Raven gets whipped into the guardrail a bunch. Back in, Goldberg grabs the rolling kneebar. Raven makes the ropes, but takes a reverse kick to put him back on the floor. Raven finds a chair and beats Goldberg. In the ring, Goldberg takes the drop toehold into the chair for two. Raven drops Goldberg to the mat with a chinlock. Goldberg fights out and NO-SELLS a running clothesline in the corner. Raven comes off the ropes and charges right into a SPEAR! Here comes Raven’s Flock. Sick Boy takes him down with a missile dropkick and Kidman jumps off Sick Boy only to be caught and tossed out to the floor. Out goes Sick Boy with a clothesline. Horace Hogan makes his Nitro debut and nails Goldberg with a stop sign. NO-SELL! Goldberg wipes him out with a Spear. Big Reese grabs a choke lift, but Goldberg headbutts him away and gives him the JACKHAMMER! Now that the Flock is done, Raven tries to leave through the crowd, but the fans throw Raven back over the guardrail. Goldberg brings Raven into the ring for one more Spear and a JACKHAMMER for 1-2-3! (4:55) Ladies and gents, we’ve got a NEW U.S. champ. Yep, one of my favorite Nitro matches ever. Just don’t argue with me about this. ***¼

NITRO GIRLS~!

• Ultimo Dragon vs. La Parka
  

To show how much of a ratings grabber that last match was, the Nitro rating dropped from a 5.7 to a 4.6. After some early wristlockage, they take turns missing corner charges. With La Parka in control, he flies down on top of Dragon on the floor. He then posts Dragon for two. After Dragon spends some time in a chinlock, La Parka gives him a snap suplex. He takes too long to come off the top rope and eats a pair of boots on the way down. VINTAGE DRAGON COMEBACK~! He flips out of a backdrop and sweeps La Parka’s legs out from under him. Now here sneaks Eddie and Chavo Guerrero. Chavo appears to be coming down against his will. While Eddie distracts the ref, Chavo nails Dragon as he tries to put away La Parka. La Parka comes off the top with a corkscrew moonsault press for the upset win. (4:53) Despite how happy Eddie is about this outcome, Chavo doesn’t seem too pleased. *½

They show us some exciting STILL SHOTS of what happened last night that allowed Randy Savage to dethrone Sting over the world title.

• Chris Benoit vs. Curt Hennig (w/Rick Rude)
  

Rick Rude takes over Mike Tenay’s seat hole in the booth. This is basically Benoit tearing at Hennig’s injured knee until Rick Rude gives up the headset and press slams Benoit onto the guardrail. Back inside, Benoit looks to be done. Hennig slowly sets up for the Hennigplex, but Benoit counters into the CRIPPLER CROSSFACE! Rude gets in the ring and breaks up the hold for the DQ. (2:38) Hennig and Rude do a number on Benoit until Booker T comes down for the save. They don’t shake hands and Booker walks out, but Benoit wants to let Booker know to stay out of his business. When Booker walks away, Benoit grabs him by the arm and gets slugged by Booker to trigger a fight back through the tunnel. ¾*

More still shots from Spring Stampede. They show Hollywood Hogan’s brief interference in last night’s main event.

Gene Okerlund introduces Roddy Piper to the ring. As the WCW Commissioner (is that still a thing since JJ Dillon is back?), he exercises his authority and makes Hogan versus Savage a no-DQ match. However, there can be no interference. There is also no time limit because Piper wants to see a winner. Boy, they are really hotshotting this territory, aren’t they?

• Saturn vs. Hammer
  

This fight starts in the aisle as Hammer takes a few bumps into the apron and the steps. In the ring, Saturn delivers a flying clothesline. Hammer comes back with a powerslam. He tries to slam Saturn off the middle rope by his neck, but Saturn turns it around on Hammer and starts bouncing Hammer’s head off the mat. T-bone suplex leads to Saturn yelling WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT to the camera. Hammer delivers a sidewalk slam, but Saturn avoids a corner charge and they go back to the floor for more brawling until they both get counted out. (4:08) Just as it looked like Hammer was about to give Saturn a suplex on the ramp, Saturn puts a stop to it and ref Nick Patrick breaks them up to close out this segment. *

They keep showing these Hollywood Hogan still shots from last night like it was integral interference in Randy Savage’s match. It was just Hogan going HEY LOOK AT ME I MADE AN APPEARANCE IN THE MAIN EVENT. Nothing more.

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

• Scott Steiner & Buff Bagwell vs. Public Enemy
  

Buff does his normal opening act bit where he mocks his opponent. It works because Public Enemy are easy to mock. He pays for it with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Tag to Steiner and Rocco. Rocco takes a press slam from Steiner. Rocco tries to cut him off with a sleeperhold, but Steiner maneuvers him around and delivers a belly to belly suplex. Whoa. An atomic drop and a swinging neckbreaker takes down Steiner. Tag to Grunge, he takes a suplex. Buff abuses Grunge in a corner and yells at the ref. Back to Steiner, he drives Grunge into the corner and pulls back on his neck. More work on Grunge continues. Buff takes Grunge over to the table hoping for Steiner to smash a chair on Grunge’s head. Rocco Rock saves the day. Inside the ring, we get a hot tag to Rocco. He fails to deliver a double noggin knocker and gets clobbered by Steiner and Bagwell. Grunge comes up behind for a double bulldog though! Now Grunge takes Bagwell over to the table for the DRIVE BY, but Buff moves and Public Enemy goes crashing through the table. Back in, it looks like it’s time for the Steiner Recliner, but Buff insists he hit the BUFF BLOCKBUSTER on Rocco. Steiner lets him and even allows the pinfall. (7:10) They would have become an interesting tag team had it not been for injuries that will soon plague these two. Weird to see Public Enemy get so much offense on them though. *½

NITRO GIRLS~!

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

Booker slams Psychosis around and slaps on an armbar to start. When he escapes, Booker blocks a hiptoss and drops him with a clothesline. To the floor we go, Booker gives Psychosis a slam on the concrete and calls out to Benoit. Back in, Psychosis dropkicks the knee and then delivers a flying spinning heel kick for two. It’s chinlock time. Booker hits a Side Slam, but misses a knee drop and Psychosis goes back to the knee. For some reason, he decides to go back to the chinlock. Booker fights out, gives Psychosis his FIVE MOVES OF DOOM including the MISSILE DROPKICK for the win at 7:53. **

• Lex Luger vs. Brian Adams (w/Vincent)
  

This feels like RAW 1994, amirite? They give each other inverted atomic drops. Luger NO-SELLS his atomic drop (because those balls of his are gone) and he runs down Adams with a bunch of clotheslines. He brings in Adams from the apron with a suplex and tries a splash, but Adams brings up the knees. Luger NEVER does a splash. Adams delivers a press slam into a gutbuster. A backbreaker gets two. Luger reverses out of a suplex and hits a neckbreaker. He powerslams Adams and calls for the TORTURE RACK. Here comes Vincent. He gets lifted up in the TORTURE RACK. Konnan appears and well you know what’s coming. Adams gives Luger a kidney shot and whips him into the ropes for a big boot, but Luger ducks and comes back around for the Bionic Forearm for the win. (5:02) How did this match not end on a DQ? Geez. ¾*

• No-DQ Match for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Randy Savage (c) vs. Hollywood Hogan (w/The Disciple)
  

Does anybody else look better with the WCW championship belt than him? He just looks *right* with it – and yet, he had such short title reigns. Four-time WCW champion, only 53 days total. Savage is pretty badly injured at this point between his knees and shoulders. Standard eye-ripping and boot-choking from Hogan to start. Disciple gets his shots in here and there. When Savage tries to come back, Hogan goes to work on the knee. The weight lifting belt comes off and Savage gets whipped and choked. By the way, Nick Patrick is the referee, so expect shenanigans. Savage avoids the LEGDROP and gets his turn with the weight lifting belt. MACHO ELBOW connects, but he jars his knee and can’t cover. Hogan applies a figure-four until Savage reaches the ropes. Now he comes up to Hogan and starts choking into the corner. Nick Patrick gets thrown aside. Hey, it’s no-DQ! In comes Disciple to wipe out Nick Patrick with a neckbreaker. This turns into a double-team assault on Savage’s knee. Once they get tired of that, Disciple puts the WCW title belt on his shoulder and gives Savage the APOCALYPSE. You know better as the Stone Cold Stunner. Crowd wants Kevin Nash, and that’s what they get. He gets a leg grabbed by Bischoff and then gets attacked, but ducks a belt shot from Hogan that nails Disciple. Nash wants to JACKKNIFE Hogan and Bischoff tries to stop him. That fails and he eats a right hand. Now there’s the JACKKNIFE. He puts Savage on top of Hogan, but here comes Bret Hart sprinting towards the ring. He nails Nash with the title belt and turns Hogan over on top of Savage. WHAT. Now he drags Nick Patrick over who counts the 1-2-3 to give Hogan his fourth WCW title run. (14:44) Roddy Piper runs down and wants to know why Bret did what he did. At first he just avoids the questioning, but then he punches Piper in the face as he lands on Savage’s bad leg. Bret smirks at the crowd as the program fades to black. ¾*

Let’s hope they sort this out on Thunder, but I doubt they will.

WCW/nWo Slamboree LIVE ON PPV premieres May 17 from the Centrum in Worcester, MA.