- 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.
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