Road Wild 1998

- August 8th, 1998
Buyrate - 0.91
Attendance - 8,500

- Road Wild was the PPV that took place at Sturgis, South Dakota at a biker rally. Was also known as Hog Wild but I believe got changed for legal reasons. Opening video is 100% about Hogan/Bischoff Vs. DDP/Leno. Tenay here looks like 2013 Sting.

Barbarian (w/ Jimmy Hart) Vs. Meng
 Barbarian attacks as Meng enters. Palm thrusts, corner clothesline by Meng but then he gets belly-to-bellied. Piledriver by meng but he misses a follow up diving headbutt. Barbarian gets 2 off a belly-to-belly from the top rope. Meng gets 2 off a powerslam, though it didn't look like Barbarian kicked out. Barbarian is pausing now for a while, I guess he's forgot what to do. Meng applies a Tongan Deathgrip for 3, a Vulcan Deathgrip to the throat. Postmatch - Hugh Morrus joins Barbarian and Hart in a 3-on-1 beatdown until Duggan makes the save to strenghten Tonga-US relations. *1/2 - Basic opener but in slow-mo.

Disco Inferno/Alex Wright Vs. Public Enemy
 Remember the WWF angle where Public Enemy were so bad that WWF wrestlers would beat them up. 'Disco Sucks' chant though that may be aimed at Disco music itself and not Ottawan himself. Rocco and Alex Wright trade wristlocks. Grunge pounds Disco to cheers now he misses a charge at Alex so he dances. Double flapjack to Disco. Weapon shots now as the ref decides to not call for the DQ. Disco makes it a street fight when he and Alex return from the back with a table, cause wrestlers can change rules on a whim apparently. Now the match has gone from being nothing to a basic ECW match, you can decide for yourself which is worse. Not much happens until we finally get to the big finish where Disco is stacked on 3 tables and Rocco elbows him through them off of a scaffold,. yes I sat through 16 minutes of crap for that one spot, at least it ended it though. * - Dreadful match. It just wouldn't end, who gave this 17 mins or so, should be hunted down by Dog, Leland and co. (I must've been into watching The Bounty Hunter when I typed this originally)

Dean Malenko is interviewed by WCW.Com or something (I hate lazy reviewing like that, I should've known what the interview was for dumb dumb Pa ... er Merle Ramone). This PPV so far - 2.5/10, that must be a record low only maybe Taboo/Cyber might have done worse. (Cyber Sunday got 2/10 to start, and 10.5/35 overall and I can't find a Taboo Tuesday review though I thought I had done one)

Raven (w/ Lodi) Vs. Perry Saturn Vs. Kanyon
 Saturn match isn't going to cheer me up. No DQ as it's 'Ravens Rules' and falls count anywhere in Sturgis. This match was your average three way with brawling in and around the ring, one WOAH! moment though for me was when Saturn/Kanyon did Total Elimination. The cliche tower of doom spot happened as well, had there ever been a triple threat without one? Horace Hogan interfered at one point and his timing was atrocious, he was meant to hit Lodi with a STOP sign but missed so stood there as Lodi shouted 'What Are You Doing?' then he span and hit Lodi anyway. Raven gets hit with the stop sign and Saturn hits a Death valley Driver for 3. ** - Forgettable 3 way but not bad or anything, did like Total Elimination. Horace's timing though, wow.

Psychosis Vs. Rey Mysterio
 Winner gets a future Cruiserweight Title match, makes me laugh as Rey has sinister music then he comes out like an oompa-loompa. Not much of interest happening, Psychosis is on top after a clothesline and front suplex, he heads up top but is caught and hurricanraned by Rey. Psychosis gets 2 off a powerbomb to avoid a hurricanrana. Vulcan death grip is applied for awhile. Electric chair into a pin gets Psychosis 2, don't think i've seen that before. Single leg crab is applied until Psychosis decides to let it go. Psychosis head up but Rey dropkicks him to the outside. Rey gets 3 with a hurricanrana, or should I say a spike hurricanrana as he drilled Psychosis into the mat hard. *1/2 - WCW was known for its cruisers generally delivering the goods but this was boring to an extent, certainly a disappointment but still best match so far. (I feel I should explain how *1/2 is the best match so far when a ** preceded it, *'s are based on expectation and so Rey/Psy may of been better than the 3 way but I expected less from that so it got ** you with me?)

TV Title - Chavo Guerrero Vs. Stevie Ray (c)
 Apparently Chavo stole the TV Title, sat through all this rubbish and now I have a Chavo match, boooo. Well I say 'match' all it really was, was Chavo running around to avoid Stevie then getting Pedigreed, sort of, by Stevie for 3. Eddie comes down post match but nothing happens. * - For Eddie Guerrero's post match appearance it gets *. (Under my newer set of rules this match shouldn't have a rating as it goes under 3 mins - Wikipedia that great source of info has it going 2:38 so I shall rescind the lowly * and give it a UnR)

Jericho is interviewed by WCW.com or something.

Rick Steiner is out for a match with Scott Steiner but here's JJ Dillon and he says due to Rick hitting Scott with a chair on Nitro the match is cancelled but will happen at Fall Brawl or Scott is banned from wrestling, Scott who came out on a stretched with a neck brace and leg plastered makes a miracle recovery at this point and runs off. I dont get how a company can willingly dupe fans, some may of bought this PPV for Rick Vs. Scott and WCW go and book it for the next PPV, I dont think it happened at Fall Brawl either.

Brian Adams (w/ Virgil) Vs. 'Mongo' McMichael
 Oh screw you WCW, I like Mongo as it makes me laugh he was a Horsemen but after the crap so far I dont want to see him wrestle. This match was the (Nasty Boys) pits, there was a sequence so bad I had to rewatch multiple times to get it all, firstly Mongo ducks a clothersline, which may of meant to hit then he fails to apply a headlock properly then does a horrible DDT which may of knocked Adams doolally. Adams applied the Vulcan Deathgrip for a while at one point. Another fuck up occured when Brian hits Mongo in the throat or something, then he goes to piledrive Mongo but his foot hits the ref in a dreadful ref bump. Vincent then hits Adams with a chair by accident, though Mongo moved before Vincent had even swung. Mongo got 3 via a Tombstone, would you allow Mongo to Tombstone you? 1/2 - I like Mongo so feel bad giving 1/2 but man it sucked.

Cruiserweight Title - Chris Jericho (c) Vs. Juventud Guerrera
 Dean Malenko is special ref. Jericho is out in a Kimono with a mic but bikers rev their engines. Dropkick right to the mouth by Juvi. At one point Dean pulls Jericho by the hair, the issue's between them really as Juvi could be anyone, we dont see it though as cameras didn't catch it, even the cameramen are horrendus here. The ring is on a platform, so higher than usual and Juvi crossbodys from the ring to the lower floor onto Jericho, well part of Jericho anyway. Back in now as Jericho catches Juvi from a crossbody and hits a Tombstone/Juvi Driver type move. Delayed vertical gets 2 from a 'c'mon baby!' pin. Jericho has beemn on top for a while until Juvi gets his knees up on a Lionsault then gets 2 off a top rope spinning heel kick. Juvi lands on his feet from a german, goes for a hurricanrana but is powerbombed. Juvi Driver gets 2. Jericho goes for a double underhook powerbomb but transitions Juvi into the Liontamer (Walls Of Jericho). Jericho is up top then kicks Dean so he launches Juvi up for a Frankensteiner and the 3 count. **1/2 - Good match but it did drag a bit for my liking. Easily the best match so far though by about a 1000 miles.

Battle Royal - nWo Vs. Wolfpac Vs. Goldberg
 nWo is Scott Hall, The Giant, Curt Henning and Scott Norton. Rocking the Red and Black are Nash, Sting, Luger and Konnan. Goldberg is on his own. Scott Hall promo ends with 'The Survey Says' which leads me to believe he is sponsored by Family Fortunes, possibly Family Feud in US. Not much to say beyond Goldberg eliminates most of the people then pins Giant with a Jackhammer, you could be eliminated by pin or over the top. The main story was Giant Vs. Goldberg really as nWo/Wolfpac wasn't intense enough to get the story on them. - ** Call it ** as I hate doing battle royals, one point though- here WCW could've built a Goldberg feud instead he goes over most of the WCW main roster, admittedly not by pin but he still won and WCW didnt build anything, call it a slightly wasted opportunity.

DDP/Jay Leno (w/ Kevin Eubanks) Vs. Hogan/Bischoff (w/ The Disciple)
 Well this match sucked really, whole lot of stalling to start. Bischoff did some punches and kicks whilst DDP and Hogan did nothing of note. Jay Leno did gets shots at Bischoff, including a low blow. It ended when Kevin Eubanks came in and Diamond Cuttered Bischoff allowing Leno to get the 3 count. Hogan/Bischoff/Disciple did attack post match but Goldberg made the save, leaving us with a fairytale ending, ahhhhh. - *1/2 - As I said it sucked but I will give Jay Leno credit as he was trying to be fair, kind of funny/depressing how it was the the celebrity that didn't phone it in.

13 / 40 - That is a Top 3 worst PPV i've reviewed score wise, Spring Stampede 2000 and King Of The Ring 2000 being the others. God it sucked best match was Juvi/Jericho and that wasn't even that great. Mongo/Adams was horrendus as was the tag match. Avoid like the plague homies. (The original rating was 14 / 45 but due to Chavo/Ray rating being null and voided I have edited it)

Halloween Havoc 1998

- First WCW review since 21st December 2012. This is off YouTube, I was offered some WCW VHS tapes but I aint paying £45, not including the Post Office add ons, for 4 tapes, no chance. (4 tapes at £45 is what 10.50 a tape or so that's not too bad, damn my penny pinching ways but I was born a penny pincher and ill die a penny Pincher, also the fees were due to it being a postal order at least Pay Pal fees are cheaper)

- October 25th 1998, MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
- Buyrate of 0.78

Opening video focuses on Hogan/Warrior mainly, the 'Rematch Of The Century' ... 0.78 is all I'll say.

 This is a clipped version so no review of the Wrath/Meng, Saturn/Lodi and Fit/Alex Wright matches but that's not a bad thing that's .... a good thing *does cheesy smile*. Show starts with Nitro Girls dancing, then Mean Gene brings out Rick Steiner, no not to dance with the Girls but to talk. Here's Buff Bagwell now and he pledges to help Rick Steiner against Scott but Ricks no fool so he refuse .... oh wait Rick accepts Buffs help. (I assume the Network version is the full one as Superbrawl 1991 is so maybe one day I'll do a full review but really dont think im missing much in terms of quality)

WCW TV Title - Chris Jericho (c) vs. Raven
 Oh what do you know, there's a match on this here PPV. Raven says he's been losing recently but it's not his fault it's due to circumstances beyond his control then says he aint wrestling tonight as he was unscheduled. Here's Jericho he claims he = buyrates ..... 0.78 says it all really. He badmouths Raven enough for him to come back and wrestle. Clothesline by Raven sends both men over to the outside, he follows this up with a front suplex on the steps. Back in and back out as Jericho hits his springboard dropkick but misses a crossbody off the apron and hits the guardrail. Announcers make reference to Raven tapping out recently .... hmmm. Jericho exposes a turnbuckle, he goes for a hurricanrana but is powerbombed then slinshotted into aforementioned turnbuckle. Jericho rolls through a waistlock and applies a LionTamer, Walls Of Jericho as it's more commonly known now, but Raven makes the ropes. Evenflow DDT gets 2, damn good nearfall. Lowblow and bridged german gets Jericho a 2 of his own. Kanyon is here and Jericho is whipped into him so Raven goes for Evenflow again but is scooped up into the Liontamer and he taps out straight away. **** - Damn good opener here, boosted it to 4 *s for a hot crowd and the good near fall at the end. Great start to Halloween Havoc.

 Bischoff and Hogan are out as Hogan goes on about beating up his nephew Horace on Nitro and how he'll beat Warrior tonight yada, yada, yada.

Disco Inferno Vs. Juventud Guerrera
 Winner gets a Crusierweight Title match tonight. Some, possibly intoxicated, fans are John Travoltaing. I imagine Juvi found it hard to buy beer/tequila as he's looked about 10 for years. Disco starts better, a sideslam gets 2. Juvi chops Disco and I think people in Tijuana heard that one. Juvi botches a rocker dropper type move then shows that he did indeed botch it by going for it again, improvise man! Ottawan gets monkey flipped to the outside, god knows I have my finger on the pulse of todays pop culture people, Juvi hits a headscissors through the roeps, I think he banged his head on the mats. Back in Ottawan is taking control with an inverted atomic drop, lariat and Bret Hart style elbow for 2. The move I hate the most, a chinlock, is applied. Hurricanrana by Juvi but a Juvi Driver is avoided. Disco busts some moves like a Funky Val Venis. Giant swing by Disco but he himself gets dizzy and falls into Juvis nuts, I like comedy in a match at times unlike when a match itself is comedic one of which I think is up later. Top rope hurricanrana by Juvi after he'd crotched Disco up top. Ottawan hits a jumping piledriver for the 3 count and a title match later. **1/2 - Good match but some sloppyness on the part on Juvi docks some points. 

 Nitro Girls are out dancing again and now here's Scott Steiner, his hair here makes him look like a blonde, buffed up Sheldon from Big Bang. He calls Buff a 'mommas boy' and Rick a 'loser'. He says he wants it Rick/Buff Vs. Giant/Steiner for the Tag Belts, here's JJ Dillon looking like Jerry Springer. He says if Scott/Giant lose then we get Scott Vs. Rick tonight. Now them Nitro Girls are at it again.

WCW Cruiserweight Title - Billy Kidman (c) Vs. Disco Inferno
 I know it looks like Ottawan's doing double duty on the bounce but I think the matches that were clipped may of been before this. Hiptoss but Disco misses an elbow and is dropkicked. Kidman stomps the ever loving crap out of Disco, but he does get a swinging neckbreaker for 2. Kidman hits a bulldog on the outside. Back in Disco applies a chinlock, 'Disco Sucks' chant. Flapjack by Disco, he boogies as the crowd boo, back suplex gets him 2. Disco has been on top for a while, he heads up top but misses a Bret Hart style elbow. Sky High gets Billy a 2 of his own ditto from a snap powerslam. Jumping piledriver, the move that beat Juvi, gets 2. That was good then as Billy went for an Acid Drop style bulldog Disco countered to a back suplex. Ottawan goes for a powerbomb but is facebustered by Billy then a Shooting Star Press gets Kidman 3. *** - Disco brings in another good performance, this was better than the Juvi match as there was no sloppiness here. He got heat as well, good job Disco.

World Tag Titles - Scott Steiner/Giant (c) Vs. Rick Steiner/Buff Bagwell
 Rick/Buff do the Steiners old pose. let's get the obvious out of the way here as Buff turns on Rick after he has been beaten down for 5 minutes by his brother and Giant then Bagwell runs away. Blatant l;ow blow by Scott, when was this No DQ? The Rick Steiner annihilation continues unabaited, may of made that up. Rick starts fighting back but is again lowblowed. Jesus i've just looked up as I was writing and Giant is on the top rope, but his MISSILE DROPKICK!! hits Scott instead, he is folded up like an accordion. Rick hits a top rope Bulldog on Giant for the 3 meaning ..

Rick Steiner Vs. Scott Steiner
 Rick is 100% on top,and the crowd are digging it. Low blow by Scott then a T-Bone as Scott is taking control of this now. Rick catches Scott in midair and suplexes him down, someone in a mask jumps the guardrail and gets a slapjack from Stevie Ray, he hits Rick with it  then the ref, Charles Robinson is the Ziggler of referees. The masked dude is Buff Bagwell. The bell rings but the match continues, Frankensteiner gets Scott 2. Rick takes out Buff then a Top Rope Bulldog on Scott gets 3 which Nick Patrick counts. Buff has made 3 appearances now, non in a wrestling capacity really so does he still get a PPV cheque? ** - I've put these 2 matches together just like I did with the Bret-Doink-Lawler stuff at SummerSlam 93, I'll check the review and probably be wrong either way Scott didn't do much beyond lowblows but the crowd were solidly behind Rick and I like a live crowd, ya dig.

Scott Hall Vs. Kevin Nash
 Video promo shows Hall turned on Nash at Slamboree he says it's for the Benjamin's but it was probably for Jack Daniels, Halls alcohol problems were being bought into WCW angles it seems. Not sure if Nash is trying to beat sense into Hall and trying to help or beating him up for being an alcoholic. Hall brings a drink to the ring like a machoer Daniels. This PPV is known for going too long well Hall/Nash entrances may be why. Hall throws his drink at Nash then beats him around ringside, now he has a mic, did he just do a DX crotch chop, he insults Nash as people check on him, must have a split end. Back in Nash avoids Outsiders Edge then Hall resumes throwing punches, Nash tells him to bring it but isn't fighting back at least until he hits a sideslam. Hall avoids a Jacknife by going ringside. Halls midsection and back are being targeted by Nash, possibly to set up a Jacknife or just cause knees and punches are easy to do. Nash taunts Hall by asking if he wants a double. jackinfe to Hall, he almost landed on his head/neck, Nash says one more so does another, as much as I hate Nash I love the Jacknife it's a great finisher, Kev does the DX crotch chop then leaves so Hall wins by countout. ** - Wasnt as bad as a * or as good as *** so **s is fair, was more about Halls acholism story than a match if you know what I mean.

Nitro Girls are dancing again this time in wigs.

US Title - Bret Hart (c) Vs. Sting
 I've been in debates on Twitter over last few days as I've been saying TNA should release Sting as he is useless to wrestling today, apparently I'm blind (Still feel I was right as he was used too often in TNA don't get me wrong though its nothing against Sting they did it with Hogan too  he should've been a special attraction deal like WWE used him). Bret's theme is generic. Sharpshooter Vs. Deathlock. Sting is rocking the Red and Black of the Wolfpac. Hart/Sting would've been a good post Starrcade 97 program. Finally it starts as Sting gets a stalling Hart in the aisle, 10 corner punches and a clothesline follows. Bret gets 2 from a DDT. Sounds like a 'Bret Hart Sucks' chant. Leg drop and elbow both get 2 for Hart who now has a chin lock applied, man I hate chin locks. Sting catches Hart coming off the top and applies the Death lock but Hart makes the ropes. Bret fakes a knee injury, gets some brass knuckles out but is clotheslined. Sting has the knucks but the ref removes them and Hart hits a low blow. They're in the asile now as Hart is on top. Sting hits the ref thinking it was Hart and now he's fighting back, a superplex lands Bret on the refs legs. Stinger Splash but he hits the ring post KOing himself then Bret gets in some free baseball bat shots, hitting a KOd man makes little sense but there you go, Sharpshooter is applied and the ref calls for the bell. Sting does a stretcher job. *** - Match was okay. (just okay and got ***? Okay is normally hovering in the **-**1/2 region *** normally equates to good at least)

Hogan Vs. Warrior
 'Rematch of the Century' that no-one asked for, or payed for going by buyrate. Warrior is billed from 'One Warrior Nation' wasn't that a White Stripes song? (Nope, Google says seven nation army or something I forget)  Hogans gets shots in but is then shoulderbarged so goes ringside. Corner beat down by Hogan who has Warrior down for about 10 minutes. They both run the ropes for no reason, Warrior no sells a scoop slam then clotheslines Hogan ringside. Ridiculous ref bump as Hogan 'runs' into him, that looked like they were mocking a match like HBK Vs. HHH's European Title match, then Hogan knee drops Nick Patrick's tash. Giant, Stevie Ray and Vincent are out but they're soon cleared away by Warrior. Hogan whips Warrior with his workout belt, then Warrior whips Hogan and punches him with it. You thought it couldn't get worse but it does Hogan goes to light a fireball at Warrior, he sells it thought nothing happened then it goe soff in Hogans face, I'm laughing just remembering that. Hogan hits a leg drop but misses a second as Horace Hogan distracts him, Eric Prickoff (The Anti-Eric feel of that name eludes me as I like Eric, met him at WCC too, maybe this was like 3rd Rock when Evil Dick locked Dick in an invisible box and evil Patr ... er Merle, evil Merle typed this up) grabs the ref as Horace swerves and hits Warrior with a chair, Hogan gets 3. * - That bad it was entertaining, this match the 'Rematch Of The Century' got the least reaction of the night.

WCW Title - Goldberg (c) Vs. DDP
 DDP won the Title shot at Fall Brawl 98s War Games match, that match had little to do with War Games though and like the previous match was so bad it was entertaining again due to Hogan/Warrior. The champion pushes DDP out of a lockup, the crowd are awoken after Hogan/Warrior. 'Goldberg' chant, Goldberg does a kind of cartwheel to avoid a sweep, he soon has an arm bar but Page gets the ropes. Diamond Cutter is attempted early but Page is shoved to ringside. Chain wrestling has 'Berg down but he soon sends Page ringside again. Page fires off some quick moves for a 2 count. Goldberg breaks a front face lock with a 'Cross Rhodes' style move. Hiptoss/Suplex by Da Man then a sideslam gets 2. Cross arm breaker is applied but again Page makes the ropes. Page is superkicked in the chest but does avoid a Spear sending Goldberg into the ring post. DDP motions for the Cutter but is Speared, however Goldberg cant capitalize due to injured shoulder, I like things like that. Jackhammer is attempted but is countered to a Diamond Cutter for 2, great nearfall there. Page goes for a suplex but is Jackhammered for 3, Goldberg's streak goes on. **** - Great effort by both guys earns it ****, I hope Hogan/Warrior were ashamed. They did actual wrestling and as noted in the review I liked Goldberg selling his shoulder. Great end to Havoc.

21.5 / 40 - Over .500 so reccommended, also as it's free on YouTube but that's besides the point (Editors Note this was done in the days before WWE Network so may of been removed). There's one real stinker in Hogan/Warrior but the matches that bookend it are very good. Discos double header are okay aswell as is Sting/Bret. Good effort by WCW here.