WCW: Monday Nitro
June 1, 1998
Washington, D.C.
MCI Center

The current WCW champs are as follows:
WCW World Champion: Hollywood Hogan (4/20/1998)
WCW U.S. Champion: Bill Goldberg (4/20/1998)
WCW World Tag Team Champions: The Giant & Sting (5/17/1998)
WCW World Television Champion: Fit Finley (5/4/1998)
WCW Cruiserweight Champion: Dean Malenko (5/17/1998)

The show opens with a (This Is) Sting montage. Unfortunately, the sound cuts out about halfway through and just after he goes from the bleached blonde Sting to the Crow Sting, we switch over to the Nitro theme instead. Good grief that looked bad.

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

SIDE NOTE: Now we’re back to TV-PG.

We go backstage to a white limousine. JJ Dillon, Diamond Dallas Page, Booker T, and Bill Goldberg come out of the car. Yeah, that’s pretty much all WCW has left these days.

They take us back to Thunder to show Lex Luger talking about Sting joining the nWo Wolfpac.

NITRO GIRLS!

• The Cat vs. Jerry Flynn
  

Yeah, this one will put butts in the seats. Our esteemed commentators discuss the Great American Bash main event because there’s nothing to talk about here. Ernest Miller sells for Flynn until he comes back and wins with the FELINER in 4:03. Zzzz.

Backstage, we see a black limo drive up. It’s the nWo Wolfpac. I bet they actually think what color car works best for good guys and cool guys. Like a white horse for the Lone Ranger and a black horse for the villain.

After the break, the nWo Wolfpac head straight to the ring. Kevin Nash tries out a new survey and just keeps it between the nWo Hollywood and his crew. No mention of WCW. He hands the mic over to Lex Luger and tries to politic again to get Sting in the nWo Wolfpac. JUST TAKE THAT STEP, STING. Luger is begging ya. He says that in order to set an example for Sting, the Wolfpac have decided to put together a match – Luger and Nash against any two nWo Hollywood members – preferably Giant and Hogan if that’s all right. Nash wraps up the segment with a just toooooo sweeeeeeet.

They take us back to Thunder to show Bret Hart pleading his case for why Sting should join the nWo Hollywood band.

• Raven & Saturn (w/the RIOT squad) vs. Public Enemy
  

It’s getting real ECW in here. Saturn starts off against Johnny Grunge and kicks him into the corner before dropping him with a suplex. Tag to Raven, he doesn’t seem to want to do anything tonight though and tags right back out. Saturn gets cornered and double-teamed by the PE. The DEMOLITION DECAPITATION gets two. Saturn comes back on the PE though and tags Raven who may or may not have hit Saturn from behind by accident. They go nose-to-nose, but Public Enemy can’t help themselves and attack. As Raven and Saturn retreat to the floor, Rocco Rock wipes them out with a somersault plancha. Raven gets whipped into the steps. Back inside, Saturn receives the DRIVE BY. Raven gets put on the table for another somersault plancha, but the table fails to break. It takes another flip dive to snap the table in half. Meanwhile, Saturn hits Grunge with the DEATH VALLEY DRIVER a little too much while Raven crawls back inside and puts his arm over Grunge for the three-count. (6:43) Saturn can’t believe Raven just stole his thunder. Afterwards, Raven congratulates them on the win and then brings up Kanyon. He’s pissed at JJ Dillon for rehiring Kanyon. What about Raven’s safety? Luckily, he’s got Saturn and says he’s rehired the Flock for Saturn’s protection. Here they come. Well, Saturn doesn’t seem too pleased. Raven then explains he’s got Saturn a match at the Great American Bash to meet Kanyon. Hey, that’s what friends are for. Quote the Raven, nevermore. *½

Back to Thunder: there’s another clip of Lex Luger talking about his pal Sting.

NITRO GIRLS!

MUG Root Beer presents tonight’s Nitro Party. Gah, these people should be ashamed of themselves.

• Chavo Guerrero Jr. vs. Alex Wright
  

This is our first look at Alex Wright as a wrestler since November. Chavo shows off how CRAZY he is choking Wright and then leaping on him with a plancha. We get some fiery ringside violence. Back inside though, Wright avoids a corner charge and slaps on an STF to make Chavo immediately tap out. (3:08) They continue fighting after the bell. Eddie Guerrero comes out trying to keep them separated. After Wright leaves, Eddie tells Chavo that the whole family is very proud of the fire he’s showing right now. Eddie doesn’t want to wrestle Chavo anymore, but Chavo insists and thinks he can beat Eddie. Okay then. *

Tony Schiavone is in the ring and introduces Randy Savage. The bag pipes of Roddy Piper plays way too long before they change to the nWo Wolfpac theme for Savage and Liz. Good grief. Savage thinks Tony has a crush on Roddy Piper. He also thinks the nWo Wolfpac is the bomb, baby. He has something to say to Piper and calls him out. Savage wants a match with Piper after their tag match from hell against Hollywood Hogan and Bret Hart. He’s using Piper to beat the hell out of Hogan and Bret and then he’ll abuse Piper. YA DIG? Piper isn’t scared of Savage and accepts the challenge, but doesn’t think Savage sees the con job Bret Hart is pulling. Piper compares Bret to Marion Barry and the crowd groans, but wins them back with a Washington Capitols mention. Savage isn’t a fan of sarcasm and wants Piper to get to the point. Piper says Bret has never worn an nWo Hollywood t-shirt because he’s not really on the team. So what’s your point, Roddy? Savage doesn’t give a damn about any of this and says he’ll see Piper at the PPV in thirteen days.

Back to Thunder: there’s another clip of Bret Hart talking about Sting.

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

Tony Schiavone interviews JJ Dillon, who reminds Sting that even though he can’t promise him a stint in Hollywood or that a bunch of people will tell him he’s “sweet”. Dillon still considers Sting as the Franchise, and if he stays with WCW, “we’ll stay with you.” Tony brings up the MCI Center being Sting’s finest moment when he beat Hollywood Hogan back at Starrcade. Dillon also says he’d be happier with somebody like Sting taking the WCW world title from Hollywood Hogan.

A third limo pulls up into the arena. It’s black, so ya know. Commercials!

So who was in the third limo you ask? Well, the nWo Hollywood, of course! And here they come to the ring. Eric Bischoff shows D.C. some love and introduces the man who deserves their love: Hollywood Hogan. Nothing turns him on more than his nWo-ites worshipping the ground he walks on because he’s the man who made wrestling. Blah blah blah. He insults Kevin Nash and Lex Luger and says their challenge for him and the Giant made him smile. While the crowd chants that Hogan sucks, Hogan tells the world that it will be a pleasure to show Sting and the world where the power lies by crushing Nash and Luger. As for Roddy Piper and Randy Savage, they will bow in servitude after he and Bret Hart beat their brains out. What pissed Hogan off the most was that these two dudes insulted Bret by questioning his integrity and that he might not really be with the nWo. Bret walks over and unbuttons his shirt to show the really super cool Hollywood Hogan t-shirt. He puts over Hogan as the greatest of all-time. Bret stirs the pot that is Randy Savage’s already fragile sanity by saying it was Roddy Piper’s idea to swerve Randy Savage in the first place. He tells Piper and Savage to bring all they got because he and Hogan will enjoy beating the crap out of them. Hogan says a t-shirt is worth a thousand words and that this proves Bret’s love for nWo Hollywood. The only thing Savage and Piper will have in common are double-decker hospital beds. Is that a thing? All they will be able to do after the Tag Team Match from Hell will be thumb wrestling. After that match, Hogan says he will own both their souls. I didn’t know that was a stipulation, but it seems a bit over the top if you ask me.

NITRO GIRLS! Yay, Fyre!

• Konnan vs. Lenny Lane
  

Lenny Lane is still obsessed with his abs. It’s where it’s at! Once you’ve seen one Konnan match, have you really seen them all? He stretches out Lane with all his fancy lucha holds to start. Lane gets his bulldog spot and chokes Konnan in the ropes. They trade a bunch of rollups for nearfalls that nobody is buying. The 187 by Konnan sets up the TEQUILA SUNRISE for the tapout in 3:08.

Tony Schiavone brings out Curt Hennig and Rick Rude. Rude takes the mic away and dismisses Schiavone. They run down Goldberg and then Hennig lets us know that he has to take ten days off to heal his knee. They bring out Konnan and Hennig asks Konnan to take his “Mickey Mouse town” house show matches against Goldberg until the Great American Bash. Rude thinks there’s a conspiracy against Hennig so that Goldberg has a better chance at the PPV. Konnan says “bowdy bowdy” and accepts. Hennig promises to be ready to take on Goldberg at the PPV and afterward they’ll be calling him “Bill Goldturd”. Oh boy.

• WCW World Television Championship: Fit Finley (c) vs. Eddie Guerrero
  

Hammerlocks and shoulderblocks to start. Finley busts out the European uppercuts because he is very European after all. He delivers a full body slam to Eddie, but then Guerrero goes to the eyes and steps on Finley’s face. Over to the corner, Finley avoids a hurracanrana and launches Eddie back into the corner. Back suplex gets two. Finley applies a chinlock and heads over to the apron for more abuse. Back in, Finley reverses out of a sleeperhold and throws Eddie from his shoulders onto the top rope. Guerrero moves away from an elbow drop and gives Finley the Hilo. They seem to be killing time until Chavo Guerrero Jr. finally walks into the ring looking to fight his uncle for the DQ. (5:00) Eddie runs to get away from his little nephew and his insanity. Some good stuff, but nothing too awesome. *

NITRO GIRLS! MORE FYRE!

We take a look at Chris Jericho wearing a suit and heading to the U.S. Supreme Court to get the jurisprudence to get JJ Dillon to return the WCW cruiserweight title to him. When nobody listens to him, he thinks the conspiracy is now NATIONWIDE. Some security guards tell him to leave. Jericho thinks they are on the take as well. After speaking to Clarence Thomas’ law clerk, Jericho will get a meeting with him. When nobody else will listen, some local DC hobos will. He then decides to talk with the POTUS Bill Clinton. Yeah, he’s not getting inside to see Clinton. He holds the Conspiracy Victim sign over his head, but nobody will listen. He ends up at the Library of Congress and looks for a section on WCW title belts. Hilarious. As we close out the segment, it appears he’s found something to stick it to JJ Dillon. One of the most creative moments in WCW history right there.

Back in the arena, Chris Jericho calls out JJ Dillon. Apparently, JJ Dillon doesn’t have time to deal with him tonight because he’s not Sting. Jericho says he now can relate with how Bill Clinton feels. When JJ Dillon hears what he has to say, he will be reinstated as the WCW cruiserweight champ.

• Chris Jericho vs. Juventud Guerrera
  

Tenay calls Juventud a co-conspirator on the Dean Malenko win at Slamboree. Wristlocks and hammerlocks to start. Jericho uses his size to keep Guerrera down with shoulderblocks. Juventud gets flipped out to the apron and yanks Jericho down by the hair for a flying headscissors that Guerrera can’t help but botch by landing on his own head. Jericho stops Juventud with a butterfly backbreaker for the C’MON BABY cover for two. The Juvi DDT spot gets messed up as well. There’s the JUVI DRIVER, but Jericho crotches him up top. Guerrera knocks Jericho back down to the mat and flies on him for a flying bodypress, but gets caught and maneuvered around into the LIONTAMER. Fortunately for Juvi, he makes the ropes. Jericho takes a tumble out to the floor for a slingshot headscissors from Guerrera that doesn’t look 100% on the money either. They are just way off tonight. As he gets back in the ring, Jericho grabs the ref while Reese appears and gives Guerrera the TREE SLAM. Jericho then gets back inside and covers Guerrera for the win. (5:02)

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

We get highlights of the first three matches in the best of seven series between Chris Benoit and Booker T. Now here’s match #4!

• Best of 7 Series – Match 4: Booker T (1) vs. Chris Benoit (2)
  

Tentative start to this match. Booker fires the first major blow with a big slam and whips Benoit in the ropes for a back elbow. Fit Finley watches from the ramp saying they know each other, but don’t know him. Booker catches Benoit with a powerslam and follows up with the Side Slam. A flying forearm smash from the top sends Benoit rolling to the floor. Back in though, Benoit kicks and stomps Booker down in the corner. Benoit delivers some chops, but Booker fires back with a spinning heel kick. They exchange shots on each other ending with Booker drilling Benoit with a jumping forearm smash for two. He wears down Benoit with a chinlock, but he fights out with a release German suplex. Booker comes back with the SCISSORS KICK, but doesn’t go for a pin. He plays around with Benoit continuing to try suplexes when Benoit surprises him with the CRIPPLER CROSSFACE out of nowhere. Booker is VERY close to the ropes, but taps out. (8:19) Benoit leads 3 to 1. Seems like an odd story to tell here. Being down 2-1, you would think he would have gone for more pin attempts and definitely wouldn’t have toiled with him there at the end. Anywho, it’s still not a bad match. If you give these two enough time, they will show up and do something good. ***

Our esteemed commentators talk about Sting some more and set up the clip they tried to play at the beginning of the show.

• Diamond Dallas Page vs. Riggs (w/Sick Boy)
  

This doesn’t bode well for the One-Eyed Riggs. He mocks DDP and pays for it with fisticuffs and stomps and a tilt-a-whirl sideslam. DDP fights off Sick Boy and sets up Riggs for the DIAMOND CUTTER off the shoulders. BANG! That’ll do. (1:54) Sick Boy gets a Diamond Cutter afterwards as well. Page then leaves through the crowd because he’s JACKED.

• WCW U.S. Heavyweight Championship: Bill Goldberg (c) (93-0) vs. La Parka
  

Another match where the finish is a foregone conclusion. La Parka hits Goldberg with his chair before the bell and Goldberg NO-SELLS. La Parka struts away and turns around into the SPEAR. The JACKHAMMER ends La Parka in 0:29. According to Meltzer, Goldberg blew out La Parka’s knee right here.

• Lex Luger & Kevin Nash vs. The Giant & Hollywood Hogan (w/The Disciple & Bret Hart)
  

From the Very Best of Nitro Vol. 2 DVD set recap. Lot of shenanigans to start. Luger wipes his apparently sweaty arm pits with Hogan’s ripped up t-shirt. Lex pushes off Hogan in the lock-up, delivers a shoulderblock, wins a test of strength, but then Hogan goes to the eyes to turn the tide. Luger reverses an arm wringer and tags in Nash. He doesn’t want Giant, he wants Hollywood. Nash hits Hogan with the knees in the corner and the running clothesline. Hogan answers back with one of his own and tags Giant. Nash nails him in the corner, but then takes a ride into the corner to get staggered into a big boot. Giant headbutts him down, but misses an elbow drop. Tag to Luger, and GIANT BEGS OFF. What. Luger pounds Giant in the corner, but there’s a whip reversal, and Giant nails Lex with a clothesline. Ugh, you’re just doing the SAME thing over and over again! Back to Hogan, they choke Lex in their corner. Nash lets his temper get the best of him and hurries in to help Luger. He punches away Hogan and goes after the Giant. What he doesn’t notice is that Disciple tosses Hollywood the big gold belt to wallop Nash. DQ! (6:40) Almost like a reflex or a Pavlovian response, the crowd immediately rises to their feet looking towards the entrance for somebody to run out. Instead, the camera goes wide as Sting descends from the rafters. He walks past Luger and heads into the ring to stand face to face with Hogan and the Giant. He takes off his awesome duster to reveal an nWo B&W t-shirt. Hogan and Giant appear to be WAY too overjoyed to think that maybe Sting could be swerving them. While Giant returns to choking Nash, Sting shakes Hogan’s hand and then pulls him in for a clothesline! With Hogan down, Giant swings at Sting only to then be picked up for a slam. Sting tries ripping the shirt off. Once he finally gets his torn, he’s got on underneath an nWo Wolfpac t-shirt. Screw WCW, apparently. Storyline-wise, it made absolutely no sense. Marketing-wise, it was probably the best thing they could have done with Sting at the time. Tony Schiavone calls the Wolfpac the strongest force in professional wrestling, bar none. REMEMBER WCW, TONY? WHO YA WORKIN’ FOR? ½*

Hey, we’re back into WCW again. Until next time though, so long for now.