Raw/Nitro January '98 (Week 4)

Monday Night Raw 26/1/98 (2 Stars)

Match 1- Ken Shamrock def Mark Henry via DQ

Segment- Recap video of The Undertaker and Kane's feud so far.

Match 2- Jeff Jarrett & Barry Windham def The Legion of Doom 

Segment- Degeneration-X backstage promo. HHH is getting his knee taped up by Chyna before saying that even at 50 percent he's “more man” then Owen Hart will ever be! Shawn lambasts ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin for ruining the company's big moment last year, before saying he is willing to step aside to allow Tyson and Austin to fight at WrestleMania instead.

Match 3- Vader Vs The Artist Formerly known as Goldust ends via no-contest after Kane attacks Vader.

Segment- ‘Candid’ footage of Mick Foley and Terry Funk shown sat in the ring before the TV taping, as the duo discussed their match against The New Age Outlaws later that night.

Match 4- The New Age Outlaws def Chainsaw Charlie & Cactus Jack via DQ

Segment- Promo package highlighting the Light Heavyweight Champion, Taka Michinoku.

Match 5- Pantera def Brian Christopher (Number One Contenders Match for the Light Heavyweight Championship)

Segment- Cactus Jack & Chainsaw Charlie backstage interview is interrupted by DX, giving The New Age Outlaws an opportunity to jump them from behind, attacking them with trash cans! 

Match 6- The Headbangers def The Quebecers 

Segment- Post-match, The Quebecers jump The Headbangers!

Match 7- Owen Hart def The Artist formerly known as Goldust 

Segment- DX taunts Owen Hart on the titan-tron, before Commissioner Sgt Slaughter comes to the ring and awards the European Championship to Owen Hart!

Segment- Don King says that Mike Tyson couldn't fight Steve Austin thanks to the Nevada State commission stating he is barred from in-ring competition as he had his licence revoked. Don King adds that the two men must face off eventually, so he and Vince McMahon will come up with something special for WrestleMania involving Tyson and Stone Cold!

Segment- ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin in-ring promo. Austin calls out Mike Tyson, saying he will kick his ass anywhere, anytime! Austin adds that February 15th at the In Your House PPV, he will be in Houston Texas, before offering an open invitation to Mike Tyson!

Summary 

The show opens with a voice-over recapping the events from last week, but also adding that now, Mike Tyson no longer wants to be the ‘special guest referee’ at WrestleMania 14. Instead, he wants Austin one on one! Live from Nevada in California, let's get to the action…

Matches 1 & 2

Ken Shamrock and Mark Henry kicked off Raw. ‘The World's Most Dangerous Man’ Vs ‘The World's Strongest Man.’ Who would prevail? 

Ahmed Johnson and D.O.A accompanied Shamrock to the ring, in order to keep the shenanigans to a minimum. 

I was interested to see how Henry would do in one of his first featured singles matches with the company. Unfortunately we wouldn't get to find out, as the match ended almost as soon as it began via DQ due to multiple run ins on both sides! What I will say is this, for as long as it lasted both did a good job of keeping me engaged. Henry looked sharp in-ring, and Shamrock hit an extremely impressive looking belly to belly suplex on the big man. I wouldn't have minded seeing this as a featured match, but part of the intrigue had now been lost due to it already having been showcased for free on Raw. Not the strongest of starts for the show as nothing really advanced with this segment and overall, it felt pretty pointless.

We saw another recap video highlighting Kane's feud with The Undertaker so far, before tag team action as Jeff Jarrett and Barry Windham took on The Legion of Doom. Barry Windham now reverting fully back to his original gimmick, losing his ‘Blackjack’ moniker. As a match this was fine, but it still felt slightly stale and outdated. Even if they wanted to do the whole ‘NWA invasion’ bit, they should have utilised younger and fresher stars. Jeff Jarret was perfect for it, but I wasn't a huge fan of the company wheeling out Barry Windham. It just didn't fit the vibe of the show whatsoever. Anyway, team NWA picked up a tainted victory, after Windham used a tennis racket on Animal for the pinfall victory.

This wasn't the best first hour in the world, but as usual we were promised most of the good stuff in the later portions. Far too many recaps but this wasn't a live taping, so they probably believed they had the freedom to utilise that kind of thing slightly more…

Second Hour/WarZone 

WarZone started off with a bang, as The New Age Outlaws faced off against Chainsaw Charlie and Cactus Jack! 

Not much to say here other than it was a decent brawl. It didn't blow me away and all four men were probably keeping something back for the upcoming PPV. I didn't have an issue with that necessarily and it was still one of the better feuds being showcased on Raw at the time! All four men were highly entertaining, and I was really looking forward to their upcoming match at IYH: No Way Out. The only slight issue I had was that it was scheduled to be an 8-man match, with the additions of DX, Steve Austin and Owen Hart respectively. I wasn't massively enamoured of the prospect of simply throwing 8 guys together and slapping them into the main-event of a PPV with nothing tangible on the line, but it may still be a good match so I'll hold off on any judgement for now.

Now, if the WWF really wanted to treat us, they'd have these two teams (Outlaws/Jack and Funk) face off one more time BEFORE the PPV, but raise the stakes slightly. I'd also understand if they kept it back for WrestleMania, but they were running out of featured matches and angles to showcase on Raw at this point. If they wanted to keep up with WCW Nitro, they'd have to start paying some more respect to their TV product ASAP! 

Post-match, Chainsaw Charlie hit a particularly impressive looking moonsault onto Road Dogg while he was covered with chairs. Considering Charlie aka Terry Funk was 54 years by this point, it was an extremely impressive looking spot!

Match 5

Pantera Vs Brian Christopher in hour two was the highlight of the show so far! It was an entertaining back and forth light heavyweight match that saw Pantera coming out on top and becoming the new number one contender for Taka Michinoku's LHW title. This was the kind of thing the WWF needed to showcase more of in my eyes. A more prominently featured light heavyweight division could have been the perfect counterbalance to an otherwise angle heavy, chaotic show.

I was also becoming a big Brian Christopher fan. He had an excellent look, and was very talented in the ring. Perhaps one of the more underrated talents from this era.

That being said, the on-going angle with him allegedly being Jerry Lawler's son seemed unnecessary, and I wasn't sure were they going with it.

Main-event 

Goldust walks to the ring dressed as Triple H, accompanied by Luna dressed as Chyna. Now, this was allegedly still a European Title match that was originally scheduled as Triple H Vs Owen Hart, and Goldust (who JR aptly named Hunter-dust) DID carry the title to the ring. I want these reviews to be as accurate as possible, so from a database standpoint this will STILL be a Title match. Anyway, safe to say I was extremely disappointed by this decision as there was no real reason NOT to do this match. The title had only been created a year prior, and screwing around with it in this way only served to make it feel completely unimportant in my eyes! Anyway, onto the ‘action’...

Sadly, this one fell completely flat. This has nothing to do with the workers in the ring, and EVERYTHING to do with the fact it was completely overshadowed by the nonsensical decision to completely renege on what was, the advertised main-event. If it hadn't been announced the week prior, that would have been one thing, but the fact this was built up for them to only pull the rug out and spit in the faces of the fans like this was utterly bizarre! Owen Hart eventually won via submission.

They did however manage to save this segment SLIGHTLY, when Commissioner Slaughter awarded Owen with the title anyway due to HHH trying to dick around with it. I suppose they were trying to protect HHH while still taking the title from him, but they could have had him lose via shenanigans anyway. I've spoken about them screwing around with titles before, and unfortunately the decision to do this was a black mark against this particular show! 

Analysis 

Overall, this made last week's edition look like Hamilton! We got an 8-man tag match announced for IYH: No Way Out. On paper this was fine, yet I still wasn't convinced that it sounded like a PPV quality match. I was never a fan of ‘tag team’ main-events, especially for a PPV. For me, the main-event of a PPV needs to feel consequential. And I'm not sure what the stakes are exactly for a wrestler just being one of many who happens to be on the losing side…

Thinking about this more fairly perhaps, if they'd have stuck with the original main-event and given HHH and Owen about 10 minutes or so to work a solid match, this could have been a pretty decent show when all was said and done…

As stated in my review for the main-event, the fact they switched the European Title the way they did is a HUGE factor as to why I rated this as a 2 star show. Hour two was actually entertaining for the most part, but a poor first hour combined with this decision to completely shit on the main-event, was the final nail in the coffin. It didn't boost HHH or DX, and it didn't lift Owen Hart or the European Title in any meaningful way. Completely pointless! J.R, to his credit, explained that HHH would now have to go one on one with Owen Hart if he wanted his title back. I'm not saying it makes up for the booking, but from that perspective it makes a LITTLE more sense. Thank you Jim. Overall, a disappointing grade due to a lacklustre first hour and the annoying booking decision towards the end!

WCW Nitro 26/1/98 (2.75 Stars)

Match 1- Ultimo Dragon def El Dandy 

Segment- Pre recorded backstage Lex Luger promo. Luger calls out the nWo.

Segment- Mean Gene is at the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga, to greet the ‘WCW Nitro Party winner’ along with the Nitro Girls! 

Match 2- Goldberg def Brad Armstrong (20-0)

Segment- Pre recorded DDP promo calling out Kevin Nash for dropping The Giant on his head at Souled Out.

Segment- Mike Tenay replays footage of Kevin Nash dropping The Giant on his head following a botched powerbomb. J.J. Dillon says that the medical tests on The Giant haven't been completed yet, but WCW will be banning the Jackknife Powerbomb going forward!

Match 3- Konnan def Jerry Flynn 

Segment- Mike Tenay interviews Steve ‘Mongo’ McMichael. Mongo says that he is tired of the “new guys” arriving in WCW thinking they have made it because of what they have done “up north”. Davey Boy Smith makes his WCW debut to call out Steve McMichael! 

Match 4- Buff Bagwell def Rick Steiner via DQ

Segment- Eric Bischoff promo. Bischoff says that Kevin Nash has been unfairly singled out by J.J. Dillon. Nash says that The Giant told him he “couldn't go anymore”, so he was trying to motivate him with a Powerbomb!

Match 5- Jim Neidhart def Wayne Bloom

Segment- Mike Tenay interviews Ray Traylor. Traylor calls out Kevin Nash and The nWo, saying that he's ready to face Kevin Nash later tonight!

Match 6- Psychosis def Chavo Guerrero Jr

Segment- Scott Hall ‘Survey Says’ promo.

Match 7- Juventud Guerrera def Louie Spicolli via DQ

Segment- ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage is shown arriving in the parking lot alone and visibly enraged! Savage storms the ring before hitting Guerrera with a piledriver before grabbing a microphone! Savage calls out Lex Luger, blaming The nWo for his loss at Souled Out before saying he doesn't want their help anymore! The nWo interrupt, and confront Savage in the ring. ’Hollywood’ Hogan says they are all in this together, and they were simply trying to help him. Savage responds by telling Hogan that he wants to deal with Luger on his own from now on, before telling Hogan to focus on Sting.

Segment- Mene Gene continues the ‘WCW Nitro Party’ contest at the University of Chattanooga.

Match 8- Raven def Mortis (Raven's Rules)

United States Championship 

Match 9- (c) DDP def Wrath 

Segment- Mortis attacks Wrath post-match!

Segment- Mike Tenay interviews Bret Hart in-ring. Bret thanks Ric Flair for a great match at Souled Out, before stating that his goal is to become the WCW World Champion! 

Segment- Mean Gene continues the ‘WCW Nitro Party’ contest at the University of Chattanooga.

TV Title 

Match 10- (c) Booker T def Perry Saturn via DQ

Segment- Raven's Flock attacks Booker T, leading to Rick Martel making the save! 

Segment- Mike Tenay interviews Chris Jericho. Jericho insincerely cries before mocking Rey Mysterio as he wishes him a speedy recovery claiming that he is wearing Rey's T-shirt in ‘tribute’ to him.

Match 11- Davey Boy Smith def Steve ‘Mongo’ McMichael 

Match 12- Ray Traylor def Kevin Nash via DQ

Segment- Kevin Nash is arrested for hitting a Powerbomb on Ray Traylor! 

Segment- Scott Hall ‘Survey Says’ promo 

Match 13- Scott Hall def Lex Luger via DQ

Segment- Randy Savage attacks Lex Luger post-match until Sting makes the save! The nWo Hogan and Scott Hall taunt Randy Savage as he is locked in the Scorpion Deathlock!

Analysis 

Matches 1 & 2

Ultimo Dragon beat El Dandy via submission with Raven’s Flock sitting ringside for some reason.

My main takeaway is that I wasn't becoming an ‘El Dandy’ fan anytime soon! The most interesting part of his character was his ludicrous ‘porno stash’. Even when utilising his ariel ability, El Dandy still seemed to move in slow motion! Everything he did seemed laboured and this opener just didn't flow as a result. The definition of a ‘nothing match’, purely designed to fill out 3 or 4 minutes of airtime.

We then saw a quick pre-recorded promo of Lex Luger calling out the nWo, before moving onto the second match of the evening as Goldberg squashed Brad Armstrong. I have to hand it to WCW, as they had handled his undefeated run and eventual push perfectly thus far. The man looked like a bonafide killer and I’m sure that the anticipation of him facing Hogan or even someone like DDP or Scott Hall, must have been reaching an absolute fever pitch! It almost felt like cheating to take my customary vodka shot for correctly predicting the result here, but I didn't make up these rules. Oh wait…I did! Oh well, cheers guys.

I actually realised that my Goldberg W/L count was off by a factor of one, so spent the next 25 minutes going back and editing all of my old posts in order to accurately reflect his record. Safe to say, I earnt my drink after all!

J.J Dillon then cuts a quick promo where he announces that the Jackknife Powerbomb is BANNED going forward! Not sure what the point of this so-called ‘angle’ actually was, and to this day Kevin Nash has still refused to take on any responsibility, claiming The Giant INSISTED that the spot go ahead as planned. We thankfully know in retrospect that The Giant was fine and didn't get too badly hurt. But with cases such as Darren Drozdov tragically paralysing himself in the ring (1999), such a storyline now may seem to be in bad taste…

One of the worst opening hours WCW had produced all year (I realise it was only their 4th show of ‘98, but still) The match quality was subpar, and the constant replays of The Giant/Nash spot from Souled Out was massively over done, even if you thought it was a good idea! The Davey Boy Smith debut was probably the highlight, and that lasted all of 30 seconds! On to hour number two…

Second Hour

An Eric Bischoff promo started off the second hour as he claimed that Nash had been unfairly treated by J.J. Dillon. Nash proceeded to gloat about the incident at Souled Out before dubbing himself as the “Giant Killer”. Get it? ‘Giant Killer’...anyway this was a typical cocky heel promo from Nash, and regardless of your thoughts on the content, Nash delivered. It started off as somewhat sincere and he genuinely had me fooled as to what direction he was going in, until he switched at the last moment. Decent enough promo from Nash and Bischoff.

Wayne Bloom then made his Nitro debut as he took on Jim ‘The Anvil’ Neidhart. Bloom was an ex WWF talent where he worked as one half of the tag team ‘The Beverly Brothers’. Jim Neidhart made light work of Bloom in this one, winning via pinfall in around 2 minutes.

Bloom performed a very awkward looking Double Arm DDT, but it looked to me as if Neidhart either got his timing wrong or intentionally “sandbagged” Bloom. Either way it looked really bad!

Match 6

Psychosis defeated Chavo Guerrero Jr in a fun lucha match. Chavo was highly underrated in my opinion, most likely due to him not being perceived as ‘flashy’ as some others in the division.

That being said, this match certainly showcased the fact that he easily could EASILY have been one of the gems of the Cruiserweight lineup, as he hit a ludicrously impressive diving senton onto Psychosis out of the ring! The distance Chavo covered was extremely impressive, and this would be a candidate for my spot of the night! (let me know if I should make this a thing?)

Match 8

Raven faced Mortis in a ‘Raven’s Rules’ match. Initially, Raven refused to fight back, as he was almost in a catatonic state! As the match progressed he laid in some offence, eventually managing to pick up the win.

As a match this was fine and most likely designed to progress the idea that not only could Raven ‘take punishment’, but that he actually enjoyed it! Raven's finish was also well protected, as one DDT was all it took for him to eventually get his hand raised. Quite refreshing to see, especially given the current landscape of pro-wrestling whereby so-called ‘finishing moves’ rarely actually finish anything! Al Snow would have been so proud…

These No DQ matches were also really well done, and never OTT. A fun match that held the show's rating nicely, and I was enjoying Raven's work in WCW so far.

Third Hour

First time we got fireworks and an announcement for the ‘third hour’, even though I was almost positive they had showcased 3 hours before! Mike Tenay interviewed Bret Hart, and Bret thanked Ric Flair for a great match at Souled Out, before saying he should be the WCW World Champion.

Unless something absolutely pivotal happens, I'll come back to you all for the main-event.

Main-event

Scott Hall Vs Lex Luger and this was as predictable as they come, but I have to give WCW some credit here. The crowd absolutely ATE this one up and I actually enjoyed the storytelling from the nWo for once! Luger won via DQ as Savage interfered. Sting dropped from the ceiling to make the save as Hogan and Hall taunted Savage as he suffered at the hands of the Icon! This was actually a really creative way to build upon the ongoing tension within the nWo, and it was made INFINITELY more interesting with the inclusion of Sting. It felt as if it all had a point to it all for once, with Hogan wary of Sting and Savage becoming increasingly unstable, as opposed to them all being generally problematic for the sake of it.

It also sent the fans home happy and got a BIG response, so I have to give this portion of the show a thumbs up based on that aspect alone. Great job!

Summary 

I've already spoken about how I feel in regards to The Giant stuff, and I especially didn't appreciate the needless replays of the moment. However, Kevin Nash chanting “Attica…Attica” as he was being arrested for using the now banned Jackknife Powerbomb (reference to Al Pachino in ‘Dog Day Afternoon') popped me purely for how ridiculously niche it was!

Overall this was probably a fair effort considering they had 3 hours to fill, but that being said I still wasn't sold on the idea of a 3 hour Nitro. It was far too much wrestling to expect the fans to consume on a weekly basis! Even Kevin Nash has pointed to the decision to move to 3 hours, coupled with the addition of WCW Thunder as one of the leading factors as to why creative went off the rails the way it did. It just made the logictics of booking it all a complete nightmare.

Just looking at this episode, it would appear Nash was correct, as they tried to cram FAR too much into the final hour. We saw a TV Title match, Nash/Traylor, Luger/Savage and Neidhart/Mongo in that hour ALONE. All decent matches that could have been advertised and spread out more in their own right (maybe with the exception of Nash/Traylor!) Point being, just because you can, it doesn't always mean that you should!...

Overall this was still a fine show, but a two hour format highlighting the better stuff would have really elevated this episode. As stated, not much wrestling actually happened in the main-event but the angle advancement coupled with the strong crowd reaction alone elevated my final score, even if only slightly. See you all in February!