A new generation.....a new attitude?

crackerjack · July 19, 2019

JT Smith couldn't pull it off :/

Steve Austin & The Undertaker vs. The Hart Foundation (Bret & Owen Hart)

Comments:

Booker T vs. Arn Anderson

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The Headbangers vs. The Nation of Domination (Mark Henry & D'Lo Brown)

Comments:

Dean Malenko, Rey Mysterio, Billy Kidman & Matt Hardy vs. The Million Dollar Corporation

Comments:

Jake Roberts vs. Wrath

Comments:

Nelson vs. Ahmed Johnson

Comments: Guessing a DQ here...

Lex Luger & Sting vs. Shawn Michaels & Jean Paul Levesque

Comments:

Diamond Dallas Page vs. Kevin Sullivan

Comments:

Sgt. Craig Pittman vs. Ray Traylor

Comments: Ah - Sgt. S$%tman - one of my least favorite WCW wrestlers

WCW Television Championship Match

Bill Goldberg © vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr.

Comments:

Jim Duggan vs. Lord Steven Regal

Comments:

Randy Savage vs. Jeff Hardy

Hoping we get a heavy upset tease here.

Satyr24 · July 20, 2019

The Monday Night Wars: Week 3, January 1998

Preview for WWF Raw is War: Week 3, January 1998

Steve Austin & The Undertaker vs. The Hart Foundation (Bret & Owen Hart)

Comments:

Booker T vs. Arn Anderson

Comments:

The Headbangers vs. The Nation of Domination (Mark Henry & D'Lo Brown)

Comments:

Dean Malenko, Rey Mysterio, Billy Kidman & Matt Hardy vs. The Million Dollar Corporation

Comments:

Jake Roberts vs. Wrath

Comments:

Nelson vs. Ahmed Johnson

Comments:

Preview for WCW Monday Nitro: Week 3, January 1998

Lex Luger & Sting vs. Shawn Michaels & Jean Paul Levesque

Comments:

Diamond Dallas Page vs. Kevin Sullivan

Comments:

Sgt. Craig Pittman vs. Ray Traylor

Comments:

WCW Television Championship Match

Bill Goldberg © vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr.

Comments:

Jim Duggan vs. Lord Steven Regal

Comments:

Randy Savage vs. Jeff Hardy

Comments:

ElectricX · July 20, 2019

Preview for WWF Raw is War: Week 3, January 1998

Steve Austin & The Undertaker vs. The Hart Foundation (Bret & Owen Hart)

Comments:

Booker T vs. Arn Anderson

Comments:

The Headbangers vs. The Nation of Domination (Mark Henry & D'Lo Brown)

Comments:

Dean Malenko, Rey Mysterio, Billy Kidman & Matt Hardy vs. The Million Dollar Corporation

Comments:

Jake Roberts vs. Wrath

Comments:

Nelson vs. Ahmed Johnson

Comments:

Preview for WCW Monday Nitro: Week 3, January 1998

Lex Luger & Sting vs. Shawn Michaels & Jean Paul Levesque

Comments:

Diamond Dallas Page vs. Kevin Sullivan

Comments:

Sgt. Craig Pittman vs. Ray Traylor

Comments:

WCW Television Championship Match

Bill Goldberg © vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr.

Comments:

Jim Duggan vs. Lord Steven Regal

Comments:

Randy Savage vs. Jeff Hardy

Comments:

Mattitude90 · July 21, 2019

Preview for WWF Raw is War: Week 3, January 1998

Steve Austin & The Undertaker vs. The Hart Foundation (Bret & Owen Hart)

Comments:

Booker T vs. Arn Anderson

Comments:

The Headbangers vs. The Nation of Domination (Mark Henry & D'Lo Brown)

Comments:

Dean Malenko, Rey Mysterio, Billy Kidman & Matt Hardy vs. The Million Dollar Corporation

Comments:

Jake Roberts vs. Wrath

Comments:

Nelson vs. Ahmed Johnson

Comments:

Preview for WCW Monday Nitro: Week 3, January 1998

Lex Luger & Sting vs. Shawn Michaels & Jean Paul Levesque

Comments:

Diamond Dallas Page vs. Kevin Sullivan

Comments:

Sgt. Craig Pittman vs. Ray Traylor

Comments:

WCW Television Championship Match

Bill Goldberg © vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr.

Comments:

Jim Duggan vs. Lord Steven Regal

Comments:

Randy Savage vs. Jeff Hardy

Comments:

Nobby_McDonald · July 22, 2019

Preview for WWF Raw is War: Week 3, January 1998

Steve Austin & The Undertaker vs. The Hart Foundation (Bret & Owen Hart)

Comments:

Booker T vs. Arn Anderson

Comments:

The Headbangers vs. The Nation of Domination (Mark Henry & D'Lo Brown)

Comments:

Dean Malenko, Rey Mysterio, Billy Kidman & Matt Hardy vs. The Million Dollar Corporation

Comments:

Jake Roberts vs. Wrath

Comments:

Nelson vs. Ahmed Johnson

Comments:

Preview for WCW Monday Nitro: Week 3, January 1998

Lex Luger & Sting vs. Shawn Michaels & Jean Paul Levesque

Comments:

Diamond Dallas Page vs. Kevin Sullivan

Comments:

Sgt. Craig Pittman vs. Ray Traylor

Comments:

WCW Television Championship Match

Bill Goldberg © vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr.

Comments:

Jim Duggan vs. Lord Steven Regal

Comments:

Randy Savage vs. Jeff Hardy

lieon02 · July 22, 2019

Preview for WWF Raw is War: Week 3, January 1998

Steve Austin & The Undertaker vs. The Hart Foundation (Bret & Owen Hart)

Comments:

Booker T vs. Arn Anderson

Comments:

The Headbangers vs. The Nation of Domination (Mark Henry & D'Lo Brown)

Comments:

Dean Malenko, Rey Mysterio, Billy Kidman & Matt Hardy vs. The Million Dollar Corporation

Comments:

Jake Roberts vs. Wrath

Comments:

Nelson vs. Ahmed Johnson

Comments:

https://i.imgur.com/cMgP5Z2.jpg

Preview for WCW Monday Nitro: Week 3, January 1998

Lex Luger & Sting vs. Shawn Michaels & Jean Paul Levesque

Comments:

Diamond Dallas Page vs. Kevin Sullivan

Comments:

Sgt. Craig Pittman vs. Ray Traylor

Comments:

WCW Television Championship Match

Bill Goldberg © vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr.

Comments:

Jim Duggan vs. Lord Steven Regal

Comments:

Randy Savage vs. Jeff Hardy

Comments:

to4sty · July 28, 2019

<img style="max-width:60%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/BC8Hy9X.jpg">

Week 3, January 1998

Orlando Arena (Orlando, Florida)

ATT: 15,556

TV: 38.52

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The opening credits have barely finished rolling before we get right to the action here.....not in the arena though, we're back in the parking lot, because much as Arn Anderson and Ric Flair assaulted Harlem Heat as they were leaving last week, it appears as though they have assaulted the World Tag Team Champions once again......this time as they were arriving.....

......again Stevie Ray is down, and again he's clutching at his knee, crying out in pain (with Arn Anderson's trusty tyre-iron discarded on the floor beside him) while his brother is in the middle of receiving a two on one beat down from their Royal Rumble challengers.....

.....Anderson holds Booker T in place for The Nature Boy to unleash a combination or right handed blows and knife edge chops, before Anderson finally launches him into the side of a parked car.....

.....the two men swap positions now, with Flair taking hold of a battered Booker, forcing him to watch as The Enforcer lives up to his name......Anderson grabs a struggling Stevie Ray by that already damaged leg, drags him along the ground.....opens up a car door.....shoves Stevie's leg inside.....

.....and slams that sumbich right on the knee of Stevie Ray.....

.....you can see where Brian Pillman got his penchant for half crippling the legs of his upcoming opponents, he learned from the best.....Arn Anderson (and the Four Horsemen in general) have been beating people down for over a decade, and while this might not be the Horsemen by name, it's certainly the Horsemen by nature, because with just six days to go until the Royal Rumble, you've got to wonder if Stevie Ray is going to be in any condition to perform this Sunday night.....

.....and as Booker T crawls over to check on his brother, Flair and Anderson head into the building.....maybe now we can actually start the show.....

Rating: A

<img style="max-width:15%;
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.....we go into the arena, and once Jim Ross and Rick Rude have done their customary introductions we finally get our first match under way, and it's a match that comes off the back of last Monday night, which saw Ahmed Johnson and Kama defeat the pairing of Bradshaw and Big Nelson Knight.....

.....it's one on one action tonight (well, as much as ANY Nation match is really one on one) and while this isn't the first time these two men have met in singles action, the roles have completely reversed since their last encounter.....back then, Nelson was a fully fledged Nation member, while Ahmed Johnson was the plucky fan favourite.....now Ahmed Johnson LEAD'S the Nation of Domination, while Nelson Knight is the one the crowd is rooting for.....

.....the Nation may have won their match last week, but it was hardly a decisive pinfall victory.....and Nelson wasn't going to be a pushover here tonight either.....he used his massive frame to punish the Walking Armageddon.....

.....two things though.....

.....Ahmed Johnson is a former WWF Champion (so clearly no pushover himself).....

.....and Ahmed Johnson has the backing of the Nation of Domination.....

.....so as Scorpio distracts the attention of the referee, Kama nails Nelson right in the back of the head as he runs the ropes, causing him to stagger forwards straight into the waiting arms of Ahmed Johnson, who drops him to the mat with a sloppy bodyslam (of sorts), driving the wind out of the big man long enough for Johnson to make the cover and get the three.....

Winner: Ahmed Johnson
Rating: B

<img style="max-width:15%;
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.....it must be nice for the Nation to finally have a leader that doesn't run scared when Nelson arrives.....D'Lo and Mark Henry clearly think so too, because they're all smiles as they condescendingly roll Nelson's massive body out of the ring, as Kama hands Ahmed Johnson a microphone.....

.....Ahmed says that he saw what happened to Booker T and Stevie Ray last week.....he saw what happened to them tonight as well.....he says that one thing is for sure, if Harlem Heat had accepted the Nation's offer of membership, there's no way that would have happened.....

".....see this is a brotherhood.....a family.....and family takes care of family.....by any means necessary....."

.....Ahmed tells Harlem Heat that the offer is still there, they should re-think their options while they still HAVE options.....after all, Booker T still has a match tonight.....and like the world just saw, it pays to have a Nation watching your back.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/rE9PbL3.jpg">

.....I don't know about his back, but the back of Nelson's head must be smarting after getting a steel chair crashed over it.....he's like a bear with a sore head too as he pulls himself back to his feet on the outside.....

.....he looks like he's not ready to let that loss go unanswered, and to the amazement of the commentators (JR by his guts, Rude by his stupidity) it looks as though Nelson is considering climbing back into the ring for round two, even if it is five on one.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/qBeE4n3.jpg">

.....or maybe five on two.....as Bradshaw makes his way out from the back.....still not great odds.....

.....Bradshaw clearly knows that too.....he might be a big Texan, but he's clearly not a big DUMB Texan, because as Ahmed invites the pair into the ring, Bradshaw puts a hand on Nelson's (ample) chest, telling him not to do this tonight.....he doesn't want to risk being put out of commission just a week before the Royal Rumble after all.....

.....Nelson isn't happy about it, but he does see the logic, letting Ahmed know that he's coming for him Sunday night.....

.....Bradshaw grabs a microphone, and tells Ahmed the same thing, he's coming for him Sunday too.....but MONDAY, he wants Ahmed Johnson all alone in this ring one more time.....

.....Ahmed Johnson hasn't backed down from a single fight his whole tenure here in the WWF, but he declines this offer.....he says that he's beat Bradshaw.....Kama has beat Bradshaw.....Ahmed AND Kama have beat Bradshaw and Nelson.....why would he waste his time beating Bradshaw again?.....

".....I'll tell you what big boy, you want another match with me, you're gonna have to earn it....."

.....Ahmed says that if Bradshaw can finally beat just ONE Nation member, then he can have any damn type of match he wants with any damn Nation member he wants (including Ahmed) but since Ahmed already beat him, and Kama already beat him, he's gonna have to fight Scorpio next week on Raw.....

".....you win that match, then fine.....I'll kick your dumb ass one more time....."

.....Bradshaw instantly agrees.....and so it's official.....next week, just 24 hours removed from the qRoyal Rumble, we're going to have Bradshaw vs. Scorpio.....hopefully Bradshaw can FINALLY get that win he wants.....

Rating: A

<img style="max-width:15%;
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.....from there we go to a montage of clips from the Ghost of Casket Matches Past.....all of which (obviously) feature the Undertaker, ahead of this Sunday's WWF Championship Match, before he head over to a group that are VERY invested in that bout.....Bret Hart, Owen Hart, Chris Jericho, and Test.....The Hart Foundation.....

.....the Canadian stars are standing by with Michael Cole, who says that with just six days to go until the 1998 Royal Rumble, the wrestling world has all eyes on the Royal Rumble match and the Hart Foundation must be no different.....but with a shot at the WWF Championship at Wrestlemania on the line, surely it will be every man for himself, even for the Hart Foundation.....

.....Bret is a little confused at that question, asking Cole what he means.....he says that the Royal Rumble is every man for himself that's for sure, but as far as the Hart Foundation is concerned, it's every Owen for himself, because neither Bret Hart nor Chris Jericho are entering the Royal Rumble match, and IF the bodyguard Test decides to enter, it will be to do exactly that......guard Owen's body......

.....Bret says that he doesn't need to win a shot at the WWF Championship at Wrestlemania, because he can challenge for the World Title any time he wants, even 24 hours after the show airs, and the Hitman will BE the WWF Champion come Wrestlemania.....Chris Jericho, he's going to be facing (and defeating according to Bret) Scott Hall, and he will be the Intercontinental Champion come Wrestlemania......

".....and when WE make sure that the Undertaker doesn't make it out of that casket match, Owen Hart will be walking into the Royal Rumble as the number thirty entrant.....walking OUT of the Royal Rumble as the winner of the match.....and walking INTO Wrestlemania, to face his big brother....the WWF Champion.....ME....."

.....Michael Cole is a little taken aback by that, telling Bret that while their confidence is admirable, should Owen Hart NOT win the Royal Rumble, or Chris Jericho FAIL to defeat Scott Hall, or Bret Hart be unsuccessful in his bed to become the WWF Champion, the. The Hart Foundation might find themselves not competing at Wrestlemania at all.....a statement that clearly irks our Ayatollah or Rock'n'Rolla.....

".....woah, woah, woah, you Sean Mooney reject.....first of all, Chris Jericho has never failed at ANYTHING a day in his life....if you don't believe me then just look at this Light Heavyweight Title around my sexy waist....."

.....yes.....Chris Jericho is STILL wearing that retired Championship.....

".....just ask Rey Mysterioso.....ask Bore-us Malenko Jr......ask any one of those Light Heavyweight competitors who don't have a division any more, because of ME......of COURSE you're looking at the next WWF Intercontinental Champion....."

.....Jericho says that Scott Hall and Sean Waltman have spent so much time getting their asses kicked by Scott Steiner, that taking the Bad Guy out will be easy.....The Hitman WILL capture the WWF Title for the fourth time.....and of course Owen Hart is going to win the Royal Rumble.....especially when he comes in at number thirty.....

.....Bret says that he and his brother have no love lost for our esteemed chairman Mr. McMahon, and they CERTAINLY wouldn't normally be doing anything to help that rabid dog Brian Pillman.....but if softening up The Undertaker means that Owen gets that number thirty spot, then so be it.....because nobody, not Scott Steiner, not Sean Waltman, not Ahmed Johnson.....and especially not Stone Cold Steve Austin.....deserves to win that Rumble match more than Owen Hart.....

".....Austin and The Undertaker, we'll take them down tonight......and at the Royal Rumble, we'll take them OUT....."

Rating: A*

<img style="max-width:15%;
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.....we see brief highlights of the first Casket Match to happen in the WWF.....the clash between The Undertaker and Kamala at the Survivor Series way back in 1992 (a match won by the Deadman) before its back to the action.....

.....our next match sees Jake "The Snake" Roberts facing off against a man who knows Jake's Royal Rumble opponent very well.....because he used to be a part of his Flock.....that's one half of the Dogs of War, Wrath.....

.....Jake is seriously outmatched in terms of power here.....Wrath is bigger, younger, stronger and (to make matters even worse) accompanied by his tag team partner Crush.....Jake is a wily veteran though.....and he's also a Snake.....using all of his cunning to entice the illegal man to interfere at exactly the wrong time, leading the official to eject him from the ringside area.....

.....from there Jake is still brutalised, but at least now only by one man, and as he fights for his life the official eats a big clothesline from Wrath that puts him down and out of the equation.....and with nobody there to enforce the rules, the Snake comes out, nailing Wrath with a low blow, before heading outside to pick up a steel chair.....

.....he crashes the steel across the back of Wrath, before tossing the weapon down and positioning his opponents for what looks as though is going to be the DDT straight onto the steel chair.....

.....and that's when Jake's priest comes running out from the back.....

.....we haven't seen this poor man in some time, but he's certainly gone through some punishment of his own.....being crucified by Raven was bad enough, but the fact that he's now wearing an eyepatch tells you the depths that Raven will sink to in order to prove his point, practically blinding this man of God a few months back on this very show.....

.....the priest tells Jake to stop, telling him that he's taken himself down a dark path that is leading him further and further away from their Lord, before exclaiming that the man in the ring with him right now is NOT Raven, and he does NOT deserve to have his skull driven into that steel chair.....

.....Jake pauses over the chair, telling the priest that everything he has done (and everything he WILL do at the Royal Rumble) he has done for his god and his priest.....he has literally travelled to (Raven's personal) Hell and back.....he needs to finish his journey.....

.....he should have concentrated on just finishing the match.....

.....because after spending so much time talking (and not enough time DDTing) he has given Wrath all the time in the world to recover, and the big man breaks free with a low blow of his own, before grabbing hold of the doubled over Roberts and driving him down onto the Steel Chair with a Pump Handled Slam.....

.....Wrath slides the chair away and makes the cover.....the official is slow to make the count, but make it he does, leaving Wrath gets the one, the two.....

and the three.....

.....this one is over thanks in part by the (unintentional) distraction from Father Big Mouth that cost the Snake the victory.....whoops.....

Winner: Wrath
Rating: B+

<img style="max-width:15%;
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.....the priest is clearly troubled by the fact that he cost Jake a win here, but as he climbs into the ring to check on him, he is clearly conflicted.....the microphones catch him telling Jake that he can finish this here, this can be the end.....he doesn't need to go any further down this dark path.....but Jake is already a good way into the shadows, and he angrily shoves the priest away telling him that he's doing this for all of them.....he's going to rid the WWF of the man that cost Jake his peace......that cost the priest half of his sight.....he's doing it for HIM.....

.....now it's our father who's angered, telling Jake no.....not for him.....not in his name.....he tells Jake that this war might have cost the priest half of his sight, but it's costing Jake so much more.....it's costing him his very soul.....

".....the soul you spent so long trying to save, don't lose your way now Jake.....end this.....save yourself....."

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/XqtVImh.jpg">

.....and down goes Jake.....again.....

.....because as the priest suddenly goes wide eyed (that being his one good eye not covered by a patch) everybody's favourite Deity of the Damned comes sliding into the ring behind Jake and blindsides him, before driving his skull into that discarded steel chair with the Evenflow DDT.....

.....with Roberts down this poor priest looks frankly terrified to be face to face with the man who had physically and mentally tortured him, but Raven just smiles a sick smile as he grabs a microphone.....

.....he tells the priest that his plotted a path for Jake that travelled straight through the body of his Divine Comedy and down the winding River Styx of his own personal hell.....he says that Jake has almost made it to the promised land, where he will be reborn.....and Raven will NOT have that journey derailed so close to its conclusion......

".....the whispering words of the false prophet's messenger will not be enough to save the soul of Jake Roberts.....but just in case, maybe I should remove you.....permanently.....after all, one can't have a crisis of conscience, if that conscience is not present to begin with.....let me be your Deity Father.....come with me......for I can set you free"

.....with that Raven tosses down the microphone and grabs the priest by the scruff of his shirt, dragging him out of the ring and tossing him over the safety rail, where the two men disappear into the crowd, just as Jake begins to stir.....

.....and we go to another highlight package featuring The Undertaker's Casket Match history.....this time illuminating his first loss......a losing effort to capture the WWF Championship at the 1994 Royal Rumble.....against Yokozuna.....

Rating: A*

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.....and from there we go backstage, where Michael Cole has decided to let himself into Stone Cold Steve Austin's dressing room.....

.....Austin is midway through lacing his boots up ahead of his match upcoming later this evening, and he looks up with a scowl as Cole enters, asking him what he wants "and you'd better make it quick, because Stone Cold ain't in a good mood and I just might whip your ass".....

.....Cole (rather rapidly) asks Austin his thoughts on tonight's match teaming with the Undertaker, as well as his thoughts on the Royal Rumble, the WWF Championship Casket Match, and Bret Harts claims that he will be the WWF Champion by the time Wrestlemania rolls around.....

".....hell son, I thought I said make it quick.....let me make it quick for you.....Stone Cold Steve Austin is gonna walk into that ring Sunday night, throw twenty nine pieces of trash over the top rope and bag himself a shot at the World Wrestling Federation Title at Wrestlemania.....

.....as for who's going to be the Champion at Wrestlemania, I really don't give a damn.....the way I see it, the Undertaker wins, I'll whip his dead ass.....Brian Pillman wins, well.....that beady eyed little b@stard and me, we got some unfinished business going back to LAST years Royal Rumble.....

.....and as for Bret Hart.....

.....Bret Hart, you been whining and crying for the best part of two years now and it damn near makes me sick to my stomach.....if you think your little jackass of a brother has a chance of winning the Royal Rumble then you must be even stupider than you look, and you look pretty stupid to me son.....

.....the Undertaker, Bret Hart, Brian Pillman, it's all the same to me, because the bottom line is that it really doesn't matter who walks IN to Wrestlemania as the WWF Champion, because whether Vince McMahon likes it or not, Stone Cold Steve Austin is walking OUT of Wrestlemania as the new World Wrestling Federation Champion, and that's all I gotta say about that....."

.....Cole goes to ask another question, but he soon shuts up (and almost runs out of the room) as Austin stands up with a cold look in his eyes that tells him that this interview is over.....

.....let's have another Casket Match history lesson.....with THIS clip coming from the 1994 Survivor Series, where The Undertaker avenged that Royal Rumble loss to Yokozuna, by depositing the huge man inside the biggest Casket to grace TV so far.....

Rating: A*

<img style="max-width:15%;
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.....and after we see the highlights of that Casket Match, we head back to ringside for a little eight man tag team encounter.....

.....Dean Malenko will be meeting Jeff Jarrett for the WWF European Championship in six days time, but he's not the only one with title aspirations on his mind.....Rey Mysterio, Billy Kidman, and (former European Champion) Matt Hardy may be teaming with Mr. Malenko tonight, but you've got to believe (especially with the retirement of the Light Heavyweight title) that these three men are equally as keen to get a shot at Jeff Jarrett should Malenko come up short at the Royal Rumble......

.....the Million Dollar Corporation have been downright vicious in recent months, almost as if capturing the European Championship lit a fire under them that had been extinguished for some time, and they've been taking people down (and out) for months now.....Psycho Sid, Ken Shamrock, Chavo Guerrero, just some names in a long list of people that have been on the receiving end of a Corporation Ass-Kicking, a list that COULD have included the name Dean Malenko, had it not been for the timely intervention of his teammates for the evening, who made their way out last week to put a stop to what looked to be another assault.....

.....we have two very contrasting teams here.....you've got the high speed, high flying and most definitely (with the exception of Malenko) younger team on one side, with the slower, more power based (with the exception of Jarrett) older team on the other.....

.....the faces started out strong, leaving the Corporation chasing their tails as they ran rings around them, until Billy Kidman was finally grounded and isolated.....Jarrett and Co. cut the ring in half, and with so many men on the apron it wasn't hard to ensure that the fresh man stayed inside the ring at all times......

.....the Corporation made quick tags as they punished the former Light Heavyweight Champion, but Billy Kidman is a former champion for a reason and he is finally able to break free and make the hot tag.....

.....it's Malenko that hits the ring first, but we all know how these things go and it's not long before we have an all out war as all eight men go at it, with Malenko finally picking up the victory as he makes Dennis Knight scream uncle, locking him inside that Texas Cloverleaf.....a good win for the challenger as we creep ever closer to the Royal Rumble.....

Winner(s): Dean Malenko, Rey Mysterio, Billy Kidman & Matt Hardy
Rating: B+

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.....and this was a huge victory for Malenko, defeating the Million Dollar Corporation just six nights before he challenges Jeff Jarrett for the WWF European Championship.....

.....usually Ted DiBiase's men would be looking for some form of revenge here.....a four on one attack.....maybe putting someone through a table.....but this isn't four on on, this is an even playing field, and with Mysterio, Kidman and Hardy out there too, they decide that it's better to leave now.....

.....the Corporation head up the ramp, leaving the four victors to celebrate in the ring, arms raised in victory.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
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.....which is exactly the time that Scott Steiner slides into the ring behind them (lead pipe in hand) and nails Hardy and Kidman in the back of the head in quick succession.....

.....Big Poppa Pump has been in high demand in recent weeks (particularly from the Wolfpac) after walking out of the Survivor Series match and the turning on Kevin Nash at Decembers In Your House, brutally assaulting Big Sexy in the process.....Kevin Nash hasn't been seen since that assault but Scott Hall and Sean Waltman have been out here weekly challenging Scotty to a match, a challenge that Steiner has not answered because according to him Scott Steiner does WHAT he wants, WHEN he wants.....

.....apparently right now he wants to beat someone up.....

.....Kidman and Hardy are down, and Mysterio turns around right into a shot from that pipe too.....

.....Steiner swings for Malenko, but the smaller man has had longer to prepare for the impending attack that his team mates (who were taken completely by surprise) and manages to duck the blow, before nailing Scotty with some right hand blows, driving the bigger man back into the corner.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/TwxvLjk.jpg">

.....as Sable climbs into the ring, dropping to her knees behind Malenko and nailing him with a low blow that halts his attack.....

.....Steiner is clearly p!ssed that Malenko had the gall to place his hands on him and tackles him to the mat where he begins unloading with hard blows of his own.....Hardy and Kidman try to halt the attack, but both men are still groggy from being nailed with that lead pipe so Scotty easily fights them off, before taking each man in succession and launching him over the top rope and down to the floor.....followed swiftly by Malenko, who also gets tossed over the top rope.....

.....Steiner turns to taunt the crowd, but he turns right into the oncoming Rey Mysterio who comes flying across the ring with a springboard crossbody.....

.....which Steiner catches.....

.....Scotty hoists Rey up onto his shoulders and then presses him high in the air, before walking over to the side of the ring and launching Mysterio down onto Malenko, Kidman and Hardy.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/6XV44kA.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/gctJUIV.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/7ZNiBQh.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
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"src="https://i.imgur.com/ikMhavN.jpg">

.....the Corporation stand watching on from the top of the aisle, with DiBiase cackling that maniacal laugh as he sees Jeff Jarrett Royal Rumble challenger dismantled before his very eyes, and he hands Rich Steiner a large wad of cash.....

.....the elder Steiner marches down the aisle and steps into the ring with his baby brother for the first time in over a year, telling Scotty that he "done good" before handing him the wad of cash.....

.....Steiner isn't out here for money though, he just likes to smack people around and he slaps the money out of his brothers hand (sending notes scattering all over the mat) telling him that if he doesn't get the hell out of his ring, he'll be getting a lead pipe to the back of the head too.....

.....Rich quickly gathers up the discarded money and goes to leave (but not before Sable snatches a handful of bills from his hand and deposits them down her ample cleavage) as medical personnel and security head down the ring to ensure that no more violence ensues.....

.....and we go to commercial.....

Rating: B+

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"src="https://i.imgur.com/N2KunTf.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/aRWgvEa.jpg">

.....and we're back.....

.....and while ringside has indeed been cleared out, Scott Steiner hasn't gone anywhere.....in fact, he (along with Sable) now has a microphone, and he's quick to let everybody know that what they just saw, is exactly what they're gonna be seeing on Sunday night.....

".....AND THATS BIG POPPA PUMP TOSSING B!TCHES OVER THAT TOP ROPE, JUST LIKE I DID LAST YEAR....."

.....Scotty says that he came out here last year and told everyone that he was going to win the Royal Rumble, that he was going to go to Wrestlemania, and he was going to win the WWF Championship.....

".....AND THATS EXACTLY WHAT I DID.....THE WAY I SEE IT, I SHOULDN'T EVEN BE IN THE ROYAL RUMBLE, BECAUSE AFTER AHMED JOHNSON GOT LUCKY AND BEAT ME FOR THE WWF TITLE, I NEVER GOT MY REMATCH.....YOU SEE, AHMED JOHNSON KNEW THAT THERE WAS NO WAY HE COULD BEAT ME TWICE.....AND THE UNDERTAKER KNOWS DAMN WELL THAT HE CANT EVEN BEAT ME ONCE.....HE KNOWS THAT HE CANT MATCH UP WITH THE GENETIC FREAK, SO HE NEVER GAVE ME A SHOT EITHER.....

.....WELL THE BAD NEWS FOR YOU, IS THAT WHEN I WIN THE ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH.....AND I WILL.....I'LL BE GOING TO WRESTLEMANIA AGAIN.....AND I WILL WIN THE WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION TITLE.....AGAIN.....BECAUSE JUST LIKE SABLE WILL TELL YOU, BIG POPPA PUMP ALWAYS GOES LONGER AND HARDER THE SECOND TIME AROUND....."

.....Sable rubs her hands over Scotty's chest, telling him that he's spent too long worrying about Kevin Nash and the rest of the Wolfpac, and not long enough worrying about what matters.....putting the World Title back around this waist.....

.....Scotty says that he's not worried about Kevin Nash or Scott Hall.....and he's certainly not worried about Sean Waltman ("THE RUNT OF THE LITTER") saying that he's beat Hall and Waltman up these last few weeks that they're not even here tonight, while Kevin Nash hasn't been here for weeks.....

".....AND HE WONT BE HERE FOR WEEKS MORE.....BECAUSE HE MIGHT BE NINETEEN FEET TALL, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO BEING 'BIG' AND 'SEXY'.....KEVIN NASH JUST DOESN'T MEASURE UP TO BIG POPPA PUMP.....

.....AND AS FAR AS ANYONE ELSE IN THE RUMBLE.....WHETHER ITS STEVE AUSTIN, OWEN HART, AHMED JOHNSON, OR THAT LITTLE MEXICAN JUMPING BEAN FROM EARLIER.....WHEN IT COMES TO GOING THE DISTANCE, WHETHER ITS IN THE ROYAL RUMBLE OR IN THE BEDROOM, THE BIG BAD BOOTY DADDY CAN GO ALL NIGHT....."

.....with that Steiner heads to the back, point made, as the announcers (Rick Rude in particular) talk about the fact that Scott Steiner has done it before and could certainly do it again.....

.....and we head back to Summer of 1995, where we see the Undertaker competing in another Casket Match, defeating Kama at Summerslam.....

Rating: A*

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/kIzEtJy.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
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.....and from there it's back to the ring and this time it's for a standard two on two tag match.....although when you consider the fact that one team is comprised of the Nation of Domination's D'Lo Brown and Mark Henry, it may not be two on two after all, because the Nation will be looking to win by any means necessary.....

.....they're facing the Headbangers here tonight, and to be honest both teams need the win.....The Headbangers because (save for a brief feud with the former Goldust and Marcus) they haven't really done much here in the WWF, while Ahmed Johnson is actively courting Harlem Heat to join the ranks of the Nation and will be wanting them to look as strong as possible here.....

.....did someone say strong?.....because we have the Worlds Strongest Man right here.....and after a good showing from the face side (and copious amounts of interference from Scorpio) Mark Henry wipes out Thrasher with the Worlds Strongest Slam for the one, two, three.

Winner(s): The Nation of Domination
Rating: C+

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"src="https://i.imgur.com/2XtnaLe.jpg">

From there we head to the back, where Al Snow is sat at a table along with Head.....he has the latest WWF Hasbro figures and wrestling ring (available now at all good retail outlets) in front of him, and it looks like he's using a newly branded Al Snow figure to have a Royal Rumble of his own.....

".....ladies and gentlemen, after lasting for over sixty minutes Al Snow is close to doing the impossible.....he came in tonight at number one and he's already eliminated Billy Gunn (a Billy Gunn action figure gets tossed) the Road Dogg (bye bye little Jesse James figure) GolDustin (see ya Goldust figure......the Dustin Rhodes one hasn't been released yet) and Marc Mero......he's thrown out Scott Steiner (there goes Scotty's figure) and Snow 3:16 said I just tossed your ass (out goes Stone Cold's figure) that just leaves one man......is toughest challenge yet......

.....his best friend till the end.....Skippy!!!!....."

.....Al takes the Chris Candido figure and his own figure and tussles with them up against the ropes, as an epic struggle to find out who is going to go to Wrestlemania ensues.....

".....what the hell are you doing?....."

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"src="https://i.imgur.com/RH7SiNh.jpg">

.....the voice of his tag team partner startles Al so much that he accidentally tosses the Al Snow figure to one side, leaving Chris Candido as the sole survivor.....

".....damn it Skippy!.....I was so close to going to Wrestlemania.....now the boyhood dream is never going to come true for the Heartbreak Head....."

.....Candido asks Snow if he's not got something better to be doing than play with toys? Like, I don't know, preparing for the Royal Rumble match?.....Snow says that he IS preparing for the Royal Rumble match, he's working on his strategy, before stopping abruptly and turning to Head.....

".....what?....ok, ok.....WE are working on my strategy.....I do too give you enough credit.....stop pouting, it's not my fault you can't enter the Royal Rumble.....because they're the rules, I didn't make the rules......you can't enter, you've got an unfair advantage......because both feet have to touch the floor, you don't have any feet, how is anybody supposed to eliminate you?........what do you mean 'that's the point'?....."

".....well looky, licky at this.....Pinky and The Brain hiding out in the locker room, playing with themselves....."

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"src="https://i.imgur.com/nDKnQkD.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
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"src="https://i.imgur.com/wNDKTBu.jpg">

.....oh look, it's the New Age Outlaws.....

.....the trio walk into the locker room, where the mockery continues, with Sunny asking Candido if this is what he's had to resort to since she left him? Playing with dolls?.....Candido doesn't skip a beat, telling Sunny that there's still less plastic in these dolls than there is in her.....

".....and there's definitely less plastic in this doll than there is in HER....."

.....Candido points behind the Outlaws and Sunny.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/rHZItT9.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/fLHZhhe.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/uS5JMsT.jpg">

.....where Terri Runnels is standing beside Dustin Rhodes and Marc Mero.....

.....Dustin stares at the two other teams briefly, before telling them that they just got the biggest break of their lives.....because on Sunday night, either himself or Marc Mero will be walking out of the Royal Rumble with a World Title shot at Wrestlemania, which means that they will be too busy to whip their asses any more.....Al Snow just shakes his head though.....

".....you won't win.....and Marc Mero 100% DEFINITELY won't win, uh-uh, no way..........you don't even HAVE an action figure....."

".....what do you mean I don't have an action figure?....."

.....Mero actually seems quite irked at the fact that there is no Marc Mero figure, but Dustin slaps him in the back and tells him to concentrate on the task at hand.....the task at hand being to eliminate these four jokers from the Royal Rumble match.....eliminate the other 24 entrants.....and then the two of them can duke it out to see who gets the title shot at Wrestlemania.....

".....oh, you're not winning the Royal Rumble either.....not unless you get that gold suit of yours out of storage....."

.....Snow holds up the (now outdated) Goldust figure.....

".....because Dustin Rhodes doesn't have an action figure either....."

".....say action figure one more time boy, and I swear to god I'm going to shove your own doll straight up your ass....."

.....things get a little bit heated from there, with the three teams bickering amongst themselves while Sunny and Terri hurl insults at each other.....so heated that it looks as though it's about to break down into violence.....fortunately security is close at hand to keep the three entities separated, as we head over to Dok Hendrix.....

Rating: A*

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"src="https://i.imgur.com/1tBOrDQ.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/fpnOx00.jpg">

.....who's standing by with Booker T.....

.....not Harlem Heat.....Booker T.....because while Booker is set to clash with one half of Harlem Heat's Tag Team Title Challengers next, his brother (as Booker informs us) is currently at a local medical facility getting his leg X-rayed.....

.....Booker says that if he had his way, he'd be right there by his brothers side, but Stevie Ray insisted that Booker come here instead and show Arn Anderson what Harlem Heat is all about.....

.....Hendrix tells Booker that while that is admirable, he is here.....his brother is not.....Arn Anderson is here.....and so is Ric Flair.....

".....and when it's clear that your Royal Rumble opponents are willing to go to any lengths to secure an advantage over you, are you not slightly concerned to be going it alone tonight?....."

".....he ain't alone....."

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/MFXEPSv.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
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"src="https://i.imgur.com/lbl7Cno.jpg">

".....at least, not if he don't wanna be....."

.....and that's when the entire Nation of Domination walk into shot.....

.....Ahmed looks at Booker and looks at the Championship belt around his waist, telling him that the last time he checked, that was a TAG TEAM title, but as far as Ahmed can see Bookers partner isn't here.....

".....but he WOULD have been here.....if you'd had a Nation watching your back.....the way I see it, Vince McMahon gonna let Flair and Anderson do what they want, when they want, and ain't a damn thing you can do about it.....

.....but there is something WE can do about it.....all you gotta do.....is represent....."

.....the other Nation members all raise their fists behind Ahmed (clearly encouraging Booker to do the same) but Booker shakes his head.....he tells Ahmed that he appreciates the offer, but if he's going to do this, he's going to do it by himself, just like at the Royal Rumble, when he and his brother take out Flair and Anderson one way or another.....

.....Ahmed shakes his head (clearly frustrated by the rejection) but he says he respects Booker's decision.....he just hopes that he doesn't live to regret it.....

Rating: B+

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/fpnOx00.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/xV2Bmd9.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/ZvJwSZj.jpg">

He might not necessarily regret it, but you've got to think that for his first high profile singles outing, Booker T would have preferred an opponent not quite so well versed as Arn Anderson.....

.....The Enforcer is perhaps the complete all rounder when it comes to wrestling, because he can seeming flit from singles to tag team competitor on a whim, and is generally successful (with the championships to prove it) at whatever he's doing at the time.....for the moment, he and Flair seem to have decided that they want Harlem Heat's Championships, and they haven't been shy about taking out Stevie Ray to give themselves the advantage.....

.....Booker does well here (considering he is more used to tag team action) VERY well actually.....he's definitely the better worker of Harlem Heat, always the strongest performer of the pair and often the strongest performer of the match.....he's also in here with Arn Anderson.....a man who (even with Father Time against him) could carry a broomstick to a good match.....

.....in fact so good is the performance of Booker T here, that Ric Flair (clearly feeling the result of the match is in jeopardy) decides to make his way out from the back to lend a hand.....

.....or at least I'm assuming that was the plan.....

.....because we don't actually find out.....

.....instead what we have is the Nation of Domination making their way out, cutting Flair's progress off in the aisle.....

.....or MOST of the Nation.....because while Ahmed, Kama and Scorpio block off the Nature Boy, D'Lo Brown distracts the official, while Mark Henry crashes a steel chair across the back of Anderson.....a fact that Booker T misses.....

.....he just turns around to see Arn bent over in the middle of the ring, in prime position for an Ax-Kick which gives him the one, two, three.....

Winner: Booker T
Rating: B

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/fpnOx00.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/MFXEPSv.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
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.....Booker should be celebrating a big win over one half of his Royal Rumble opponents, but instead he's distracted by the fact that the Nation are stood on the outside, fists raised towards the Harlem Heat man.....

.....Booker doesn't look happy, shouting down at the group, wanting to know what they did.....Ahmed says the they were out here watching his back (just like they said they would) and they helped him win this match (by any means necessary).....

.....Booker isn't happy about that at all, but even now the Nation's mere presence is enough to "have his back" because while Flair and Anderson are far from pleased by this result, they choose to head to the back instead of taking matters any further.....

.....perhaps the only reason that Booker T isn't sat next to his brother getting his leg X-Ray'd too right now, is because of the Nation of Domination.....

Rating: B+

.....from there we air highlights of another Casket Match.....the LAST Casket Match (and only one shown tonight that actually featured in this diary) in which The Undertaker defeated Mankind back in 1996, before we go to a pre-record in what appears to be an old funeral parlour.....

.....the tools are all scattered around what looks to be a super sized casket, reminiscent of that old "double wide.....double deep" casket that the Undertaker prepared for Yokozuna all those years back.....

.....a gloved hand is running a plane over the surface of the wood, smoothing out any uneven faces, before finally coming to a halt (the gloved hand patting the top of the casket) as the camera zooms out to reveal.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/urbCHOA.jpg">

.....the Corporate (Loose?) Cannon, Brian Pillman.....

.....Pillman is wide eyed, wild haired and grinning like a hyena as he cackles into the camera, welcoming everyone to his funeral parlour.....

".....and I say MY funeral parlour, because after this Sunday night, with the crowning of a new Ruler of the Revolution, I will have fully extinguished the legend of The Undertaker once and for all....."

.....Pillman tells the Undertaker that he has systematically and unmercifully taken away everything that the Undertaker holds dear.....he says that there will be no Paul Bearer at the Royal Rumble.....there will be no Kane at the Royal Rumble.....and AFTER the Royal Rumble, there will be no WWF Championship either.....

.....he pauses for a moment to look down at the casket, before continuing.....this time addressing two men.....Bret "The Hitman" Hart and Stone Cold Steve Austin.....

.....he tells the Hitman that for now they may be working for a common goal, but to make no mistake, he is merely a means to an end.....Bret might have aspirations of headlining Wrestlemania as the WWF Champion (competing against his brother Owen) but that simply isn't going to happen.....yes Bret has a WWF Title shot AFTER the Royal Rumble.....yes he can take that shot the very night after the Royal Rumble should he so wish.....

".....BUT YOU WILL NOT WIN!!.....

.....I have worked too long and too hard to ascend to the throne to simply hand it over without fighting to my dying breath.....sacrificed everything.....anarchic ideals incorporated into a corporate world.....a destiny twelve months in the making.....

.....just ask Stone Cold Steve Austin....."

.....Pillman says that it was almost one year to the day.....the 1997 Royal Rumble.....the day that the Crowned Prince of Chaos stabbed his friend and partner Steve Austin in the back to become the Corporate Cannon.....

".....AND I'D DO IT AGAIN IN A HEARTBEAT!!....."

.....Pillman says that Steve Austin believes he's going to win the Royal Rumble.....Steve Austin believes he's going to the main event of Wrestlemania.....Steve Austin believes that he's going to become the World Wrestling Federation Champion.....

".....Steve Austin is wrong....."

.....Pillman says that Vince McMahon would rather see the Brooklyn Brawler hold the WWF Title before Steve Austin.....Vince McMahon won't allow Steve Austin to win the Royal Rumble.....he won't let Steve Austin win the WWF Title.....

".....and neither will I.....

.....one by one like domino's the hero's of the World Wrestling Federation will come tumbling down at the feet of Brian 'F,n' Pillman.....and it all starts at the Royal Rumble....."

.....Pillman opens up the double wide, double deep casket with a smile on his face, telling the Undertaker that when you strip away the theatrics and histrionics.....when you peel away the smoke show.....the bells and whistles.....the Undertaker isn't a Phenom.....he's just a man.....and a man alone.....and at The Royal Rumble, that 'man alone' faces his final journey to the final destination.....because just like his WWF Title reign, the Undertaker will be dead and buried.....

".....ashes to ashes.....dust.....to dust....."

.....with that Pillman slams the lid of the casket shut and lets out an almighty cackle that resonates even as the screen fades to black.....let's go to commercial.....because our main event is next.....

Rating: A*

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/4mzhWEv.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
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"src="https://i.imgur.com/Biiyb21.jpg">

.....and that Main Event is a big one.....because it's The Undertaker and Steve Austin teaming up to face off against the Hart Foundation's Bret and Owen Hart.....

.....The Undertaker has had a gruelling few weeks (both physically and emotionally) and just six days before his upcoming WWF Championship defence, the deck continues to get stacked higher and higher.....because at the Royal Rumble, not only will he be a man alone, but Vince McMahon has offered The Hart Foundation quite the incentive to ensure that The Deadman does NOT walkout of Sunday's event as the WWF Champion.....because if Brian Pillman stands tall with the Winged Eagle Belt, then Owen Hart will enter the Royal Rumble match at Number 30.....

.....BUT.....

.....if The Undertaker somehow manages to lock Brian Pillman inside that casket, and walk out of the Royal Rumble with the WWF Title still in his cold dead hands, then Owen Hart will be handed the worst number possible.....number one.....

.....with all that being said, this was a great TV match (as you would expect with the people involved) but it was crystal clear that Bret and Owen Hart were more concerned with softening up the Undertaker (and in Bret Harts case....because he hates his guts....Steve Austin) than they were about winning the match.....and if that WASN'T obvious, then it soon BECAME obvious when Chris Jericho and Test came rushing out from the back to join their stablemates in a four on two assault, that left the official little choice but to call for the bell.....

Winner(s): The Undertaker & Steve Austin (via Disqualification)
Rating: A

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/4mzhWEv.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
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.....and they continue to assault them long after the bell has rung.....

.....or at least they try.....

.....The Undertaker has a lot of pent up anger inside him and Stone Cold Steve Austin is, well.....Stone Cold Steve Austin.....so even the two man disadvantage doesn't keep them down for long, and it soon looks as though the Hart Foundation are going to have to backpeddle here.....

.....until the arena is plunged into darkness.....

....::::!!!!GONG!!!!::::....

.....and the lights begin to flicker.....

....::::!!!!GONG!!!!::::....

.....as the mist begins to swirl on the entrance way......

....::::!!!!GONG!!!!::::....

.....and four hooded druids make their way out from the back, pushing that double wide, double deep casket as they go.....

.....Austin and The Undertaker made the mistake of taking their attention off the Hart Foundation, as The Deadman watches a scene that he would USUALLY be the instigator off unfold before his eyes, and as the Casket comes to a halt at ringside just long enough for the lid to swing open.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/ldxNCBq.jpg">

.....and Brian Pillman pops up.....

.....while the lights come back on.....

.....and the Hart Foundation once again jump Austin and The Undertaker from behind.....

.....this time the numbers are too much for our two fan favourites, because with Brian Pillman climbing into the ring too it's now a five on two beatdown.....and a beatdown is what it is.....Pillman, Owen and Test focus their attention on The Undertaker, while Chris Jericho and Bret Hart hammer the Rattlesnake down to the mat until both men can no longer stand.....

.....that's when Brian Pillman signals to the druids to open up that casket.....

.....and the five men roll and dump first Steve Austin, then The Undertaker into the casket, before Brian Pillman slams the lid firmly shut.....climbs on top.....and raises his arms in celebration.....

.....and as Jim Ross points out.....all of this would be perfectly legal at Sunday's Casket Match.....and should Brian Pillman be able to recreate this scene, we will have a brand new World Wrestling Federation Champion.....

.....we will see you Sunday night.....for the 1998 Royal Rumble.....

Rating: A*

Final Rating: A*

to4sty · August 2, 2019

<img style="max-width:60%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/hzf7tIZ.jpg">

Week 3, January 1998

Pittsburgh Civic Arena (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

ATT: 16,000

TV: 29.63

Announce Team: Tony Schiavone, Bobby Heenan and Mike Tenay

<img style="max-width:15%;
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It's another week.....another Monday Nitro.....another showing of the Titans of Wrestling.....and (as the group makes its way out with Randy Savage at the head) another outing without Hollywood Hogan anywhere in sight.....

.....the Macho Man seems to have stepped up into more of a leadership role ever since Hogan took off to "film a movie" and he seems to have something to say here, directing his words at Shawn Michaels, telling him that he obviously hasn't been making many friends around here

".....in fact, you seem to be the new public enemy number one yeah, the boy that didn't play well with others uh-huh.....see Shawn Michaels, you walk around here telling the whole world that you're single handedly going to take out the Titans of Wrestling, but we're really, really, really, really, really still standing, and last week YOU really, really, really, really, really were NOT, yeah.....

.....see you might be spreading yourself a little thin, yeah.....Buff Bagwell two weeks ago.....Chris Benoit last week.....Sting and Lex Luger tonight yeah.....all the while the clock ticks ever closer to Souled Out, and tick tock, tick tock brother, because while you don't seem to want anyone else to tussle with the Titans, the Macho Man has nooooooo problem with you getting your ass kicked week in, week out, ya dig?....."

.....Savage tells Michaels to keep running his mouth.....keep on keeping on.....and feel free to kick the Stinger Man in the face tonight.....because once Souled Out is over.....

".....once we've done the thing and you've taken out permanently.....the Macho Man is coming for that WCW Title.....and he's gonna bring it back where it belongs.....to the Titans of Wrestling.....Oh Yeah....."

.....Savage turns to his collective crew, telling them that it was a job well done LAST week, but this is THIS week.....and this week they need to raise the bar that little bit higher, suggesting that they all return to the back and wait to watch Sting, Luger, Michaels and Levesque apart, before coming back out here and picking the bones later on.....

.....with that the group prepare to head to the back.....except that it's not their music that's playing.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/nieEfiZ.jpg">

.....surprisingly it's Jeff Hardy's.....

.....the WCW Cruiserweight Champion makes his way down the aisle and while he's not much of a talker usually, it seems like he has something to say.....

.....Schiavone says that climbing into this ring with the Titans of Wrestling might not be the smartest move here, and Hardy obviously realises that, because he comes to a halt at ringside and he wastes no time in calling out the Macho Man.....

.....Hardy says that last week, Savage took it upon himself to prevent a Cruiserweight matchup between Super Crazy and Kid Kash from happening, so Jeff Hardy took it upon HIMSELF to ensure that BOTH men got a shot at the Cruiserweight Title on Thunder.....

".....and as you can see by the title belt around my waist, I came out of that match the winner.....now Randy Savage, you might not be a Cruiserweight, so I can't put this belt on the line.....

.....but I can still challenge you to a match.....right here.....right now....."

.....Hardy says that ever since he's arrived in World Championship Wrestling he's watched the Titans of Wrestling do what they want, well, when what they want to do is disrupt the Cruiserweight Division, the Cruiserweight Champion takes offence to that.....

.....the Titans crack up at that (with even the usually stoic Warrior looking mildly amused) and Buff tells Savage not to worry, the Titans will deal with this.....but Savage isn't so keen.....

.....he tells Buff that unlike some people (cough*Hollywood*cough) the Macho Man doesn't walk away when there's a fight to be had.....but the rest of the Titans can walk away right now and head to the back.....

"......Jeff Hardy, you're either real, real, brave.....or real, real, stupid.....I don't know which one it is yet, yeah.....but if you wanna step into the ring with the Macho Man, all you gotta do is step.....Vince Russo, do your thing, make it happen, ring the bell, yeah....."

.....looks like our opening match is set.....and as Savage orders everyone to the back, this one is about to get underway.....

Rating: A*

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.....and fair play to Jeff Hardy.....he might be the Cruiserweight Champion but he's obviously got some Heavyweight Testicles to be challenging the Macho Man Randy Savage.....

.....fair play to Savage too.....because he didn't have to accept this challenge.....and he CERTAINLY didn't have to send the rest of the Titans to the back, although that's probably more a case of overconfidence than any demonstration of fair play on the part of Savage.....

.....it may well be a SEVERE case of overconfidence too.....because if the Macho Man thought he was just going to be slapping about another Cruiserweight he was very much mistaken, because Jeff Hardy was seriously fired up for this one.....Savage might have made short work of Super Crazy last week after jumping him from behind, but Hardy is straight on the attack the moment the bell rings, and Randy Savage was not expecting that at all.....

.....Hardy wrestled his heart out here against the multi-time former World Champion and he couldn't have asked for a better member of the Holy Trinity of Professional Wrestling to face.....Hardy vs. Warrior? Eh, maybe....Warrior can have the odd great match, but he needs an opponent to lead him and Jeff Hardy isn't "there" yet.....Hardy vs. Hogan? I'm not sure how well those two styles are going to mesh.....but Hardy vs. Savage is great.....Macho Man is most certainly the more agile of the three, and has the ability to make it look like he's in trouble against just about anyone.....

.....and he makes Hardy look like an absolute star here.....so much so that when Hardy drops Macho with a Twist of Fate, before heading to the top rope, it looks as though we are about to have a major upset on our hands.....

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.....until James Vandenberg and his carnival of crazies make their way out.....

.....and with Vandenberg distracting the official, Mortis jumps onto the apron and nails Jeff in the back of the head with that Jester Skull Cane that he's carrying.....

.....Hardy crashes down to the mat and Savage could probably get the pin right there, but Macho obviously wants to put a line under this victory after being surprised by the fight that the Cruiserweight Champion put up.....

.....he climbs up to the top rope himself, and comes sailing off with that patented flying elbow.....then he DOES make the cover, for the one, two, three.

Winner: Randy Savage
Rating: B+

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Randy Savage is clearly a little rattled that it took quite so much to put this youngster away, and he heads straight to the back with a look on his face that says SOMEONE is going to pay for this.....Vandenberg and his congregation however, don't seem to be going anywhere.....and despite Hardy's insistence that he was done with this Twisted Ministry, it doesn't look as though they are done with him.....

.....Mortis drags Hardy to his feet and holds him in position, as Vandenberg grabs a microphone.....he tells Jeff that while his actions here tonight would be considered admirable by some, as far as Vandenberg is concerned his actions were stupid, adding another stain on the Cruiserweight Title that SHOULD be within his Ministry.....

".....but never fear Jeffery.....because while your loss here tonight tainted that very gold, the cleansing will commence at Souled Out.....because if you're so intent on offering matches at the drop of a hat, you won't have any problems facing the newest member of my fold.....Hayabusa....."

.....the commentators question exactly how Jeff Hardy tainted the Cruiserweight Title with his loss here tonight, especially since it was Vandenberg's men that caused that defeat.....but they don't talk about it for long.....

.....mainly because they get distracted by Mortis driving Hardy's skull into the mat with a Flatliner.....

.....the Cane shot to the back of the head, the elbow drop from Randy Savage, and that Flatliner was more than enough to leave Hardy laying.....but Hayabusa decides he's going to add insult to injury, as HE now climbs to the top rope, crushing the life out of his proposed Souled Out opponent with a spectacular Phoenix Splash.....

.....and NOW the punishment is finally over for Hardy.....and we go to commercial.....

Rating: B

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.....we're back.....and we're back in the ring, where Mean Gene is standing by to shill the Hotline (1-900-909-9900 kids get your parents permission) and Gene confirms that during our commercial break, the face of the WCW Championship Committee, Eric Bischoff, made it official.....at Souled Out we will see Jeff Hardy defending the WCW Cruiserweight Championship against James Vendenbergs newest follower.....Hayabusa.....

".....we've got that and news of all other confirmed matches for Souled Out right there on the Hotline, select option two for the full line up.....

.....one match that we KNOW will be happening at Souled Out will be Eddie Guerrero defending the WCW United States Championship against my guest at this time.....ladies and gentlemen, The Rock....."

.....the Rock's music hits and the Great One himself makes his way out.....he's not alone though, because much as we've seen in recent weeks, Curt Hennig is right there by his side.....

.....the pair climb into the ring, where Gene has two questions.....one, does Rocky believe that he can capture the US Title on this his SECOND attempt.....and two....."Curt Hennig, what in the world are you doing out here?".....

.....The Rock fields the first question (obviously) telling Gene that he must have been drinking to even have to ask that question.....

".....is that what it is Gene? A little scotch ON the rocks before you came out here to talk TO The Rock?.....let the Rock tell you this, there was a second.....a nanosecond.....a blink of an eye, right before Starrcade when The Rock wasn't sure.....could the Rock go one on one with the greasy one and take the United States Championship?.....see The Rock has always said....ALWAYS said....that Eddie Guerrero is good.....very good.....The Rock knew that there was a CHANCE that Eddie Guerrero could MAYBE beat him at Starrcade, but then that bell rung, the Rock did what the Rock does best, and instantly The Rock knew that there was no way on gods green earth that Eddie Guerrero could beat the Rock.....not one on one....not Mano-e-Rocko, no, no, no.....

.....so what happened?.....The Rock electrified.....The Rock entertained.....the Rock bounced Eddie Guerrero from Acapulco to Zamora, back again and then did it all one more time, until even the people in Guadalajara were channeling Richie Valens and singing the Rock's name......"Para Bailar La Rocka.....Para Bailar La Rocka, you came to Starrcade and beat up Eddie Guerrero".....

.....The Rock was one Rock Bottom away from walking out of Starrcade as THE people's United States Champion, and then Eddie Guerrero went and proved what The Rock should have known all along, and that's that for however good Eddie Guerrero THINKS he is, he can't beat the Great One by himself, so he had to get the help of his little chihuahua....his little Mini Guerrero, and between the two of them yeah, they got The Rock's shoulders pinned to that mat for the one, two, three.....so does The Rock think he can beat Eddie Guerrero at Souled Out?.....does the Rock think he can beat the Papi of Pollo?.....Mean Gene, The Rock has never been surer of anything in his life.....

.....The Rock is gong to go to Souled Out, The Rock is going to electrify as only The Rock can, the Rock is going to bounce Eddie Guerrero around that ring like a piñata, and if that little chihuahua wants to get involved.....if Mini Guerrero sticks his furry little face into The Rock's match, The Rock is going to take Chavo Guerrero.....he's going to turn him sideways.....and he's gonna shove him straight up Eddie Guerrero's ass....."

.....except Curt Hennig (in response to Mean Gene's second question) says that Chavo Guerrero won't be an issue, because just like a few weeks ago on Thunder, he's going to be right there to make sure that Chavo Guerrero isn't an issue.....

.....Curt says that he knows first (second and third) hand that Eddie Guerrero will do ANYTHING to keep that title around his waist, but the whole world saw what happened on Thunder when it was just Eddie and Rocky......and the whole world will see it again at Souled Out, when The Rock walks out as the brand new United States Champion, and this so called "streak" of Guerrero's comes to an abrupt stop.....

".....IF YA SMELLLLLLLLLLLALALAOW........what The Rock....is.....cooking....."

Rating: A*

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From there we have a brief recap of a six man tag match that occurred on last weeks episode of Thunder....a six man tag match that saw Hacksaw Jim Duggan take offence to Lance Storm and The Amazing French Canadians giving us their own rendition of the Canadian National Anthem, introducing the trio to some good old fashioned American Lumber.....

.....why did we show that?.....

.....well for one, Hacksaw is in our next match.....and for two, Lance Storm and the Amazing French Canadians were involved in the finish, and Her Majesty would be looking on proudly as two members of her monarchy, Britain and Canada, united to defeat this American Hero.....

....Jacques and Oulette distracted the official long enough for Lance Storm to nail Duggan across the back with his own 2x4 (so hard that the plank of wood broke) and all Steven Regal had to do, was make the cover for an easy three count.

Winner: Lord Steven Regal
Rating: B

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The Canadians enter the ring, where His Lordship shakes Storm by the hand, telling him that Queen and Country would be proud, before exiting to the back, but not before encouraging Lance to give this ridiculous American a "damn good thrashing".....

.....and that's exactly what Storm does.....or rather, that's exactly what the AFC do while Lance Storm collects a microphone and examines the broken halves of Duggans 2x4.....

.....Storm tells Duggan that this plank wouldn't have been so flimsy if it had been quality Canadian wood instead of this sub-par rotten American garbage, before telling him that he's going to give him a real treat now.....a taste of true culture.....as Rougeau and Oulette unveil a Canadian Flag, which they drape over the fallen body of Hacksaw.....

.....Jim Duggan is synonymous with the red, white and blue.....but it's just the red and white he gets tonight.....flat on his back, staring up at the sight of that Canadian Maple Leaf.....and you know he's not going to be happy about that.....

.....well.....when he wakes up anyway.....

Rating: B+

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From there we go backstage, where Mean Gene appears to have accosted Jean Paul Levesque somewhere in the back.....JPL is clearly on his way to the locker rooms (to presumably meet up with Shawn Michaels ahead of their massive tag team encounter later this evening) and asks Levesque after last week, is Shawn Michaels even in any condition to perform?.....

.....Levesque stops in his tracks and hits Gene with a cold stare.....he tells him that if last week proved anything, it's that nobody gives a damn about Shawn Michaels "condition".....

".....Shawn Michaels is an asshole Gene.....you know it.....I know it.....hell even Shawn Michaels knows it.....but what Shawn Michaels does, is come out here and own it....every...single....night.....

.....if Shawn Michaels feels that he's too good for WCW, he'll tell you.....if Shawn Michaels thinks he's better than you, he'll tell you.....if Shawn Michaels thinks you suck, he'll tell you.....and you know what, for as much as I tried to convince him otherwise.....he's right.....Shawn Michaels has been here for three months.....THREE months.....and since he walked through that door, attendances are up.....TV ratings are up.....PPV buy rates are up.....not because of the 'so-called' Titans of Wrestling, because of HIM.....because of US.....

.....Shawn Michaels didn't want to come to WCW.....Shawn Michaels didn't ask to come to WCW.....Shawn Michaels came to WCW for ME.....Shawn Michaels came to WCW to watch MY back, and last week, when HE needed ME.....I wasn't here.....

.....I watched the replay of last week over and over and over again.....I saw man after man walk out from the back....not to help....and you know what, that WOULD be fine, DON'T help, Shawn wouldn't want your help.....but to come out from the back and just WATCH.....they went out of their way to come out, stand there....and watch....as my best friend got beaten into the mat.....

.....now the Titans of Wrestling, they're going to get what's coming to them at Souled Out.....but the rest of you people.....the Diamond Dallas Page's.....the Lex Luger's.....the Sting's.....you're going to WISH that you only got the beating that Randy Savage and The Warrior are going to get at Souled Out, because instead, what's waiting for you.....is hell on earth.....and all the WCW fans that stood there and watched.....and cheered.....while Shawn Michaels lay unconscious on that mat.....wait until what you watch what we do to your hero's.....

.....so Mean Gene, let me make this very clear.....don't ask me about Shawn Michaels condition, because you don't give a DAMN about Shawn Michaels condition......don't you worry about Shawn Michaels.....you let me worry about Shawn Michaels.....you only have to worry about what WE are going to do....."

.....with that Levesque (rather rudely) shoves Mean Gene to one side and heads off in the direction of the locker rooms, as we go back down to ringside.....

Rating: B+

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.....where rather surprisingly, young Chavo Guerrero Jr. is making his way out from the back.....and without his Uncle Eddie, which is also surprising in itself.....

.....he grabs a microphone (and he's not a great talker, so this is short and sweet) and says that he's here in WCW to continue his family legacy.....he's here to carry on the honour of the Guerrero name, make his family proud.....and he's here to win championships.....

.....tonight, he's going to do both of those things in one match.....because he's challenging Bill Goldberg to a Television Title match RIGHT NOW.....and not only will he become a champion in WCW, he's also going to put an end to Goldberg's stupid little streak.....because the ONLY streak that matters around here, is Eddie Guerrero's.....

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.....the commentators say that young Chavo is either incredibly brave, or incredibly stupid.....before correcting themselves and deciding that he's actually incredibly stupid.....and as the Turnertron flickers to life to show a shot of Bill Goldberg bursting out of his locker room, the look on his face might prove this to be an incredibly foolish decision.....

.....the camera follows him as he walks through the backstage area, snarling and snorting, clearly fed up with the Guerrero's constant belittling of his obviously impressive record.....

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.....which is when Eddie Guerrero appears from behind a sound box and crashes a steel chair across Bill Goldberg's massive back.....

.....it barely phases the big man to be fair.....although the chair shot between the eyes when he turns around growling certainly puts him down to one knee.....it opens him up a little bit too.....and then Guerrero kicks him right in the face.....

.....Eddie moves over to that same (wheeled) sound box he was hiding behind and shoves it straight into the side of Goldberg, crashing it against his right arm, before picking up that steel chair again and driving the point of it repeatedly into the Television Champions shoulder, finally tossing the weapon to one side as he walks off laughing, wishing Goldberg good luck in defeating Chavo Guerrero Jr. with only one good arm.....

.....we should really go to commercial.....

Rating: A

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.....should Bill Goldberg be competing here? Probably not......IS Bill Goldberg going to compete here? You're damn right he is.....although as Eddie Guerrero taunts on from the outside, his right arm is clearly causing him considerably difficulty.....

.....does that stop him from winning? To steal a phrase from another black trunk wearing, bald, bearded gentleman, oh hell no.....

.....Goldberg spears poor Chavo Guerrero almost in half, before (practically one handed) picking him up and Jackhammering him straight into the mat for the one, the two, the three, and to go 61-0.....

.....still undefeated.....still the Television Champion.....but clearly favouring that arm.....Bill Goldberg.....

Winner: .....and Still WCW Television Champion.....Bill Goldberg
Rating: B-

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.....although I think this match was less about Chavo Guerrero defeating Bill Goldberg and more about Eddie Guerrero getting the opportunity to ambush and assault Bill Goldberg.....and it doesn't look as though he's done.....

.....because as Goldberg is being presented with his Television Title, Eddie Guerrero presents the Television Champion with another steel chair right across the back, before driving the edge of that chair into the shoulder again.....

.....Chavo slowly regains his senses and joins his Uncle in a two on one assault of the (still) undefeated rookie that culminates with Goldberg flat on the mat, arm held outstretched by Chavo, steel chair placed on top of the exposed limb.....

.....as Eddie Guerrero climbs to the top rope.....

.....and soars off with a Frog Spalsh right on top of the chair, right on top of that arm.....and the usually mute Bill Goldberg cries out in pain as the full weight of Eddie Guerrero hits.....

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.....which is about enough for The Rock and Curt Hennig, who come rushing out from the back to make the save.....

.....it was perhaps too little, too late for Bill Goldberg, because the Guerrero's are long gone before Rocky and Hennig hit the ring, while Goldberg's arm looks next to useless as it hangs limply by his side.....

.....let's go to the back.....

Rating: A

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.....where Randy Savage is his usual hyperactive self in the locker room.....

.....Ray Traylor is in action next and Savage says that on a night that's seen everyone from Jeff Hardy to Jim Duggan (and even the mighty Goldberg) assaulted without remorse, it's time the Titans made a statement.....

.....he says that people seem to be forgetting who the true force around WCW is.....he says that ever since Hollywood Hogan lost the World Title, "nobody's talking about the Titans of Wrestling, and EVERYBODY is talking about Shawn Michaels yeah, and that just won't do, no it won't".....

.....he says that come Souled Out, Shawn Michaels and Jean Paul Levesque will cease to be a talking point, because they will cease to be, period.....but until then, maybe the world needs a reminder of what the Titans of Wrestling are all about.....maybe the world needs a reminder of what the Titans of Wrestling are capable of.....maybe the world needs to see just how 'totally awesome' the Trinity of Ray Traylor, Adam Copeland and Christian Cage are.....

".....and maybe you should go and do something about that....right now, yeah....."

Rating: B+

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.....maybe they should.....and conveniently enough (considering the fact that Copeland and Cage are set to face the Pitbulls at the upcoming Souled Out event) The Enforcer is in action tonight against The Pittbull (singular) Craig Pittman.....

.....Pittman hasn't exactly been lighting things up around here as of late (despite WCW's insistence in pushing him pretty hard in the early/mid 90's) so it's probably no surprise that Traylor puts him away relatively easily with The Enforcer Slam.....

Winner: Ray Traylor
Rating: B-

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The Totally Awesome Trinity perhaps transcended the realms of good taste in their feud with the Pitbulls when they brutally assaulted Anthony Durante and Gary Wolfe, before humiliating their manager Madusa by muzzling her live on TV.....obviously Craig Pittman isn't a member of the Pitbulls, but he is A pitbull, and as Copeland and Cage join Traylor in the ring, it looks like Pittman's night is far from over.....

.....Randy Savage told the Trinity to make a statement tonight, and it looks like that's exactly what they are planning on doing, because while big 'Ray-Ray' always looks p!ssed off, even the usually jovial Copeland and Cage look particularly focused tonight, and the trio begin stomping the crap out of the hapless Pittman, punctuated by Copeland and Cage each picking up a steel chair from the outside, positioning themselves either side of Pittman.....and blasting him silly with that (now patented) Con-Chair-to.....

.....Pittman slumps to the mat following that killer blow, but even THAT doesn't seem to placate the Trinity, with Copeland telling Traylor to "go and get it", with 'it' seemingly being a bag that is conveniently positioned at ringside.....

.....Copeland grabs a microphone to tell the crowd that it's all been fun and games with the Pitbulls up to this point.....they've beat AND beaten them, they've belittled them and they've muzzled their b!tch, but all the fun and games go out of the doggy door come Souled Out.....

.....Cage says that the Pitbulls cost he and Copeland the Tag Team Titles, and while they SHOULD be concentrating on getting those belts back from "Old Man River" Dallas Page and Chris "The Charisma Vacuum" Benoit, they're totally stuck dealing with these two mutts again.....

".....well, we've already used the last of our muzzles on Madusa.....but we still got a leash or two, ain't that right Big Ray-Ray....."

.....apparently so, because from out of that bag The Enforcer does indeed pull out a leash, which he wraps around the neck of (the still half unconscious) Craig Pittman, before dragging the Pitbull to his feet and tossing him over the top rope.....

.....hanging him with that leash that is still wrapped around his throat.....

.....Randy Savage wanted a statement.....Randy Savage got a statement.....because it takes half of Doug Dillinger's crack security detail to finally free the choking Craig Pittman from Ray Traylors assault.....

.....Anthony Durante and Gary Wolfe have yet to return from the LAST beating that the Trinity gave them, but if the treatment of Craig Pittman here tonight is any indication, they might want to stay as far away from Souled Out as possible.....

.....we really do need a commercial break after that.....

Rating: A

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.....and when we DO come back, we come back to a match that has the potential to be even more chaotic than the brutal assault that we just witnessed.....not only because this match involves the sometimes unpredictable Kevin Sullivan, but because neither Sully, nor his opponent Diamond Dallas Page has come out alone.....Bam Bam Bigelow and Big Van Vader of the Forgotten are out there with their man, while Page's current tag team partner Chris Benoit and occasional six man partner Sid Vicious are out with DDP.....

.....that's a lot of beef out there on the outside.....and a very combustible situation too.....

.....The Forgotten have made no secret of the fact that they want the WCW Tag Team Titles, assaulting new champions Diamond Dallas Page and Chris Benoit at Starrcade mere moments after they won the titles from Adam Copeland and Christian Cage, while the Champions have made it no secret that they are more than happy to put those titles on the line.....we'll see that tag team match at Souled Out.....tonight it's singles action, and it's Diamond Dallas Page vs. Kevin Sullivan.....

.....of course, because it IS Diamond Dallas Page vs. Kevin Sullivan, it wasn't exactly what you would call a classic.....Page is more than competent don't get me wrong, but neither man is what you would call a spring chicken, and Sullivan was always more of a brawler and a talker than a technical whizz to begin with, and that's a fact that's gets more pronounced the older he gets.....

.....so yeah, not a great match.....

.....with a screwy finish.....

.....a finish which saw Kevin Sullivan resorting to mind games and rule breaking, because as Page suddenly caught the Forgotten mouthpiece by the head (looking for the Diamond Cutter) Kevin Sullivan wriggled free.....dropped to his knees.....and nailed DDP with a blatant low blow that left the official little choice but to call for the bell, as Sullivan simply rolls to the outside of the ring, laughing like a madman.....

Winner: Diamond Dallas Page (via Disqualification)
Rating: B+

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.....Vader and Bigelow climb up onto the apron as Page gingerly gets back to his feet (leading to Benoit and Vicious joining DDP in the ring) and it looks like that combustible environment is about to explode.....

.....except it doesn't.....

.....because (a still cackling) Kevin Sullivan grabs his two behemoths by the backs of their shirts and drags them down off the apron, telling them to "let them wait for it.....let them wonder when", before leading his two reluctant team mates to the back, as a very cautious Mean Gene makes his way into the ring, microphone in hand.....

.....he's mainly there to address the tag team title situation, saying that considering the fact that both Big Van Vader and Bam Bam Bigelow are former WCW Champions (yes, lest we forget that Bam Bam held the World Title at the tail end of 1996.....thanks A.I) not to mention the fact that they are both huge, HUGE men, surely those Tag Team Titles are in serious jeopardy?.....

".....there you go again Gene, underestimating us again....."

.....Page says that yeah, they're outmatched in size and strength, but no matter how big Bam Bam is.....no matter how big Vader is.....they can never match DDP and Chris Benoit in either heart or determination.....he says that ever since they decided to open their mouths, kick a hole through that glass ceiling, and come out here and say that they deserve to be in this ring with the Hollywood Hogan's.....the Randy Savages.....the top of the top tier.....people have been underestimating them them.....the Titans of Wrestling underestimated them and look what happened, they took the WCW Tag Team Titles.....

.....Benoit (who's a terrible promo) says that at Souled Oot (see what I mean? Bloody Canadians) Bam Bam Bigelow, Big Van Vader, they're going to find out that the bigger they are.....the harder they fall (yawn).....

.....Gene switches track there.....saying that for as big as their Souled Out opponents are, The Forgotten may turn out to be the least of their problems, especially if Jean Paul Levesque's words earlier this evening wind up ringing true......after all, both DDP and Chris Benoit have already had their problems with one Shawn Michaels.....

.....Page takes that one, saying that just when it seems like one group of ego's has been taken care of (that being the Titans of Wrestling) another possibly even bigger ego turns up.....

.....Page says that Shawn Michaels is perhaps the biggest jack-off he's ever had the displeasure of meeting.....Hollywood Hogan, Randy Savage, The Warrior.....that's one thing, those three think they rule the wrestling world but at least they WANT to be here in World Championship Wrestling.....they CHOSE to come to World Championship Wrestling.....Shawn Michaels, he's just here because his buddy asked him to, he doesn't give a damn about WCW.....

".....and quite frankly Gene-O, with his attitude since he arrived, no one in WCW gives a damn about him either....."

.....Chris Benoit says that he knows first hand what Shawn Michaels is all about.....Chris Benoit knows first hand what Shawn Michaels can do.....but he wants to make one thing clear, if Shawn Michaels continues to run down WCW.....if Shawn Michaels continues to badmouth THIS company and THESE wrestlers.....if Jean Paul Levesque has a problem with that.....then Shawn Michaels and Jean Paul Levesque are going to find out first hand just what WCW is all about.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/ngncMpn.jpg">

.....and that's when The Giant rather unexpectedly decides to make his way out.....

.....maybe Chris Benoit's terrible promo was bothering him.....

.....ok, it wasn't that.....

.....he climbs into the ring and he's bought his own microphone with him.....why? Because according to him, s had just about enough of hearing about Shawn Michaels......he says that it's just thirteen days out from Souled Out.....thirteen days out from The Giant facing Sting for the WCW Title.....thirteen days out from the Giant WINNING the WCW Title.....and he can't even BUY any tv time.....all anyone is talking about is 'Shawn Michaels this' 'Shawn Michaels that'.....no ones talking about The Giant, so The Giant is going to talk about The Giant......

".....so what I suggest you three do, is climb out of this ring (while you still can) head to the back, and gossip all you want about Shawn Michaels.....and Mean Gene, you just stand right there and hold my microphone....."

.....those sound like fighting words from The Giant....and Sid Vicious doesn't look like he's going ANYWHERE.....in fact, he squares right up to The Giant as these two huge men go face to face.....fortunately for a very nervous looking Mean Gene (who is quite insistent that the Tag Team Champions should get Vicious out of there before HE gets put in any danger) DDP and Chris Benoit manage to calm big Sid down just long enough to convince him to head to the back.....

.....so The Giant can get his tv time.....

Rating: A

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/0VzCRml.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/utXogrQ.jpg">

.....not that this is an overly long promo.....

.....The Giant reiterates the fact that he IS facing Sting for the WCW World Title at Souled Out, but he says that no one would know that, because all Sting is focused on right now (just like everybody else) is Shawn freaking Michaels.....

".....Sting, I've spent the last 6-7 months focused on getting this World Title opportunity, while you were hiding up in the rafters.....only to have you swoop in and take that Starrcade main event from right under my nose.....swooping down and costing me matches.....swooping down and hitting me with that damn bat.....until finally I became focused on TWO THINGS.....winning that WCW Title.....and tearing your little head right off your shoulders.....and guess what, at Souled Out, I am FULLY focused on doing BOTH....."

.....Giant tells Sting that he's making a 'Giant' mistake by not focusing 100% of his attention on him.....he says that Shawn Michaels is just another guy from 'up north', but that's all he is.....a guy.....Sting shouldn't be worrying about a guy, he should be worrying about a Giant.....and if he's not.....

".....well that's fine too.....because at Souled Out, while you're flexing your biceps at Shawn Michaels, I'm going to be standing there, waiting to Chokeslam the paint right off your stupid little face, and become the NEW.....WCW Champion.....have fun in your match tonight Stinger....."

Rating: A

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/rudumzm.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/OvbHblE.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/TFVQgbO.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/Gb5WkAs.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/LZspeNS.jpg">

.....well.....this is quite the main event isn't it.....WCW Champion Sting and (his best friend) Lex Luger teaming up to face the former WWF Champion Shawn Michaels and (his best friend) Jean Paul Levesque.....for FREE.....you lucky, lucky people.....

.....interestingly enough (as the Giant has just pointed out) Sting should probably be focused on his upcoming Souled Out title defence, NOT on Shawn Michaels, while Shawn Michaels and JPL should probably be focused on Randy Savage and The Warrior, NOT on....well, virtually the entire WCW roster.....

.....except they're not.....

.....because Sting (being the Franchise of WCW) has taken serious offence to Shawn Michaels constant belittling of World Championship Wrestling, while Jean Paul Levesque it would seem has given up on playing peacekeeper after the events of one week ago, and he's put ALL of World Championship Wrestling on notice.....

.....this match was great too.....and it was certainly heated, particularly when Michaels and Levesque managed isolate Lex Luger, taking great pleasure in double teaming The Total Package as the WCW Champion watched on helplessly from the apron.....at least until Luger was able to make that hot tag, and Sting came in like a man possessed.....

.....he took on both Michaels and Levesque alone until Luger was able to get back in the fight, at which point these four men paired off, with The Total Package and JPL going at it on the outside, while the two legal men, Sting and Shawn Michaels went at it in the ring.....

.....of course, you know this was never going to end decisively.....

.....we don't want Sting losing.....he's the WCW Champion.....we don't want Luger to lose, because Sting loses by proxy.....we don't really want Michaels and Levesque to lose either....not on free tv anyway, and not when they have a date with Savage and Warrior at Souled Out.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/o5VxOZB.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/wYulN53.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/Jg2T62p.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/CXQGLDZ.jpg">

.....so let's have the Titans of Wrestling rush out shall we.....attack all four men.....and get this one thrown out.....

Winner: No Contest
Rating: B+

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/rudumzm.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/OvbHblE.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/Gb5WkAs.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/LZspeNS.jpg">
<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/o5VxOZB.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/wYulN53.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/Jg2T62p.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/CXQGLDZ.jpg">

.....Randy Savage wanted the Titans to make a statement here tonight.....the Totally Awesome Trinity did just that earlier this evening, but this isn't the Totally Awesome Trinity.....it's the Freaking Awesome Foursome, because Buff Bagwell has joined Ray Traylor, Adam Copeland and Christian Cage here.....

.....the four men waste no time in continuing their assault long after the bell has rung, leading Sting, Luger, Michaels and Levesque to have to go from adversaries to allies.....no, not allies, that's too strong of a word.....let's just say that the two sets of friends were forced to stop fighting each other and begin fighting the Titans of Wrestling, with Michaels and Levesque going at it with Copeland and Cage, while Sting and Luger turned their attention to Traylor and Bagwell......

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/TfYwFGH.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/zeh8M2B.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/2EPs81y.jpg">

.....while in a scene somewhat similar to last week, Randy Savage, The Warrior.....and finally The Giant.....all make their way out from the back.....

.....not to get involved.....

.....just to watch.....

.....as their respective Souled Out opponents get softened up for them down in the ring.....

.....unlike last week however, this was a fight.....not a beatdown.....the Titans of Wrestling ARE getting their shots in don't get me wrong, but for as good as this Freaking Awesome Foursome are, they're not Sting.....they're not Shawn Michaels......they're not a former World Champion like Lex Luger.....or out for blood like Jean Paul Levesque.....I mean they possibly COULD win this fight, but let's face it.....they won't.....

.....although we won't find that out tonight.....

.....because as Savage, Warrior and The Giant continue to watch on from afar, and the fight rages on at ringside, we get those pesky credits popping up on the screen and Tony Schiavone's voice closing out the show.....because.....

".....we're out of time fans.....join us this Thursday night on TBS for the NEW tradition.....WCW Thunder....."

Rating: A*

Final Rating: A

to4sty · August 3, 2019

From Thunder to the Extreme: Week 3, January 1998

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/2Tb7b5r.jpg">

Preview for WCW Thunder: Week 3, January 1998

Sting, Lex Luger, Shawn Michaels & Jean Paul Levesque vs. The Freaking Awesome Foursome (Adam Copeland, Christian Cage, Ray Traylor & Buff Bagwell)

Comments:

Jim Duggan vs. Lance Storm

Comments:

Blitzkrieg vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr.

Comments:

Psycho Sid vs. Chase Tatum

Comments:

The Samoan SWAT Team vs. Disorderly Conduct

Comments:

WCW Television Championship Match

Bill Goldberg © vs. Joey Maggs

Comments:

Scott Taylor vs. Hayabusa

Comments:

Scotty Riggs vs. Konnan

Comments:

<img style="max-width:15%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/9CadHVo.jpg">

Preview for ECW Hardcore TV: Week 3, January 1998

Matches From ECW Cyberslam 1998

Fan Cam Footage from Non-Cyberslam event

Balls Mahoney vs. Justin Credible

Comments:

??? vs. Little Guido

Comments:

Taz vs. Super Nova

Comments:

ElectricX · August 3, 2019

Preview for WCW Thunder: Week 3, January 1998

Sting, Lex Luger, Shawn Michaels & Jean Paul Levesque vs. The Freaking Awesome Foursome (Adam Copeland, Christian Cage, Ray Traylor & Buff Bagwell)

Comments:

Jim Duggan vs. Lance Storm

Comments:

Blitzkrieg vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr.

Comments:

Psycho Sid vs. Chase Tatum

Comments:

The Samoan SWAT Team vs. Disorderly Conduct

Comments:

WCW Television Championship Match

Bill Goldberg © vs. Joey Maggs

Comments:

Scott Taylor vs. Hayabusa

Comments:

Scotty Riggs vs. Konnan

Comments:

Preview for ECW Hardcore TV: Week 3, January 1998

Matches From ECW Cyberslam 1998

Fan Cam Footage from Non-Cyberslam event

Balls Mahoney vs. Justin Credible

Comments:

??? vs. Little Guido

Comments:

Taz vs. Super Nova

Comments:

crackerjack · August 4, 2019

Sting, Lex Luger, Shawn Michaels & Jean Paul Levesque vs. The Freaking Awesome Foursome (Adam Copeland, Christian Cage, Ray Traylor & Buff Bagwell)

Comments:

Jim Duggan vs. Lance Storm

Comments:

Blitzkrieg vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr.

Comments: Blitz is real underrated IMO

Psycho Sid vs. Chase Tatum

Comments:

The Samoan SWAT Team vs. Disorderly Conduct

Comments:

WCW Television Championship Match

Bill Goldberg © vs. Joey Maggs

Comments:

Scott Taylor vs. Hayabusa

Comments:

Scotty Riggs vs. Konnan

Comments:

Preview for ECW Hardcore TV: Week 3, January 1998

Matches From ECW Cyberslam 1998

Fan Cam Footage from Non-Cyberslam event

Balls Mahoney vs. Justin Credible

Comments:

??? vs. Little Guido

Comments:

Taz vs. Super Nova

Comments:

Dawn · August 4, 2019

Sting, Lex Luger, Shawn Michaels & Jean Paul Levesque vs. The Freaking Awesome Foursome (Adam Copeland, Christian Cage, Ray Traylor & Buff Bagwell)

Comments:

Jim Duggan vs. Lance Storm

Comments:

Blitzkrieg vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr.

Comments:

Psycho Sid vs. Chase Tatum

Comments:

The Samoan SWAT Team vs. Disorderly Conduct

Comments:

WCW Television Championship Match

Bill Goldberg © vs. Joey Maggs

Comments:

Scott Taylor vs. Hayabusa

Comments:

Scotty Riggs vs. Konnan

Comments:

Preview for ECW Hardcore TV: Week 3, January 1998

Matches From ECW Cyberslam 1998

Fan Cam Footage from Non-Cyberslam event

Balls Mahoney vs. Justin Credible

Comments:

??? vs. Little Guido

Comments:

Taz vs. Super Nova

Comments:

lieon02 · August 4, 2019

Preview for WCW Thunder: Week 3, January 1998

Sting, Lex Luger, Shawn Michaels & Jean Paul Levesque vs. The Freaking Awesome Foursome (Adam Copeland, Christian Cage, Ray Traylor & Buff Bagwell)

Comments:

Jim Duggan vs. Lance Storm

Comments:

Blitzkrieg vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr.

Comments:

Psycho Sid vs. Chase Tatum

Comments:

The Samoan SWAT Team vs. Disorderly Conduct

Comments:

WCW Television Championship Match

Bill Goldberg © vs. Joey Maggs

Comments:

Scott Taylor vs. Hayabusa

Comments:

Scotty Riggs vs. Konnan

Comments:

Preview for ECW Hardcore TV: Week 3, January 1998

Matches From ECW Cyberslam 1998

Fan Cam Footage from Non-Cyberslam event

Balls Mahoney vs. Justin Credible

Comments:

??? vs. Little Guido

Comments:

Taz vs. Super Nova

Comments:

Satyr24 · August 5, 2019

Sting, Lex Luger, Shawn Michaels & Jean Paul Levesque vs. The Freaking Awesome Foursome (Adam Copeland, Christian Cage, Ray Traylor & Buff Bagwell)

Comments:

Jim Duggan vs. Lance Storm

Comments:

Blitzkrieg vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr.

Comments:

Psycho Sid vs. Chase Tatum

Comments:

The Samoan SWAT Team vs. Disorderly Conduct

Comments:

WCW Television Championship Match

Bill Goldberg © vs. Joey Maggs

Comments:

Scott Taylor vs. Hayabusa

Comments:

Scotty Riggs vs. Konnan

Comments:

Preview for ECW Hardcore TV: Week 3, January 1998

Matches From ECW Cyberslam 1998

Fan Cam Footage from Non-Cyberslam event

Balls Mahoney vs. Justin Credible

Comments:

??? vs. Little Guido

Comments:

Taz vs. Super Nova

Comments:

Nobby_McDonald · August 5, 2019

Preview for WCW Thunder: Week 3, January 1998

Sting, Lex Luger, Shawn Michaels & Jean Paul Levesque vs. The Freaking Awesome Foursome (Adam Copeland, Christian Cage, Ray Traylor & Buff Bagwell)

Comments: No contest

Jim Duggan vs. Lance Storm

Comments:

Blitzkrieg vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr.

Comments:

Psycho Sid vs. Chase Tatum

Comments:

The Samoan SWAT Team vs. Disorderly Conduct

Comments:

WCW Television Championship Match

Bill Goldberg © vs. Joey Maggs

Comments:

Scott Taylor vs. Hayabusa

Comments:

Scotty Riggs vs. Konnan

Comments:

Preview for ECW Hardcore TV: Week 3, January 1998

Matches From ECW Cyberslam 1998

Fan Cam Footage from Non-Cyberslam event

Balls Mahoney vs. Justin Credible

Comments:

??? vs. Little Guido

Comments:

Taz vs. Super Nova

Blodyxe · August 8, 2019

I'm not very consistent, but what the heck

Sting, Lex Luger, Shawn Michaels & Jean Paul Levesque vs. The Freaking Awesome Foursome (Adam Copeland, Christian Cage, Ray Traylor & Buff Bagwell)

Comments:

Jim Duggan vs. Lance Storm

Comments: You hate Duggan, don't you?

Blitzkrieg vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr.

Comments:

Psycho Sid vs. Chase Tatum

Comments: Chase Tatum sounds like a sleazy good-looking guy who's obsessed with his abs

The Samoan SWAT Team vs. Disorderly Conduct

Comments:

WCW Television Championship Match

Comments:

Scott Taylor vs. Hayabusa

Comments:

Scotty Riggs vs. Konnan

Comments:

Preview for ECW Hardcore TV: Week 3, January 1998

Matches From ECW Cyberslam 1998

Fan Cam Footage from Non-Cyberslam event

Balls Mahoney vs. Justin Credible

Comments: He's kind of a big deal in ECW now

??? vs. Little Guido

Comments: I would probably pick the second guy... if it wasn't Nunzio. Doesn't look like a squash match to get him over

Taz vs. Super Nova

Comments:

Element · August 8, 2019

Sting, Lex Luger, Shawn Michaels & Jean Paul Levesque vs. The Freaking Awesome Foursome (Adam Copeland, Christian Cage, Ray Traylor & Buff Bagwell)

Comments:

Jim Duggan vs. Lance Storm

Comments:

Blitzkrieg vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr.

Comments:

Psycho Sid vs. Chase Tatum

Comments:

The Samoan SWAT Team vs. Disorderly Conduct

Comments:

WCW Television Championship Match

Comments:

Scott Taylor vs. Hayabusa

Comments:

Scotty Riggs vs. Konnan

Comments:

Preview for ECW Hardcore TV: Week 3, January 1998

Matches From ECW Cyberslam 1998

Fan Cam Footage from Non-Cyberslam event

Balls Mahoney vs. Justin Credible

Comments:

??? vs. Little Guido

Comments:

Taz vs. Super Nova

Comments:

to4sty · August 9, 2019

<img style="max-width:60%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/yBV7cXp.jpg">

Week 3, January 1998

America West Arena (Phoenix, Arizona)

ATT: 15,218

TV: 28.21

Announce Team: Tony Schiavone, Dusty Rhodes and Larry Zbyszko

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/gs75xpH.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/RDE0UQj.jpg">

It's Thursday Night....it's TBS.....it's time for the new tradition.....and this may be WCW Thunder, but it looks like we have a whole storm brewing as we open the show, because the arena plunges to darkness and the lighting flickers as the ominous music of Sting begins to play, and our WCW Champion makes his way down to ringside.....

.....he's not alone either.....because following closely behind, is The Total Package Lex Luger.....

.....the two men climb into the ring, and it seems like the once mute Sting has certainly found his voice again, because he's been quite the chatter box as of late.....he grabs a microphone again here, telling the crowd that he has a few things he wants to address, first and foremost being The Giant.....

.....he tells Giant that if he thinks that Sting doesn't have him (and his upcoming Souled Out match) front and centre in his mind then he's very much mistaken.....Sting knows he's in for the fight of his life, Sting knows he's in there with a bonafide giant and a huge (pun intended) threat to his WCW Championship.....

".....but I overcame odds far bigger than you will ever be, just to get a SHOT at this World Title, let alone win it.....after that.....after ALL that.....it's going to take more than a Giant to take this belt from around my waist....."

.....Sting says that this belt around his waist is more than just the WCW Title.....he says that this belt around his waist is WCW, and he will defend it (just as he will defend this company) to his very last breath.....defend it against the Titans of Wrestling who think they run WCW with an iron fist.....defend it against the Shawn Michaels of the world who think they're better than WCW.....

".....because I've been here in this company for TEN years.....I made my name in WCW.....I made my home in WCW.....WCW is the life blood that pumps through my veins.....these fans are the reason I get out of bed in the morning.....those boys in the back are the reason that I fight to be the BEST in the business.....and NOBODY.....not the Titans of Wrestling, not Jean Paul Levesque, not Shawn Michaels.....nobody is going to take WCW from ME....."

.....which brings Sting to the reason he's out here.....he and Shawn Michaels, they're far from finished, but tonight......tonight, he and Alex want the Titans of Wrestling.....ANY of them.....Copeland and Cage, Savage and Warrior, hell, drag Hollywood off the set of whatever straight to video movie he's making now and put him in here, they don't care.....just make it happen.....

".....hold on to your eyeliner there sport...."

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/hu5ucO7.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/99nujXC.jpg">

".....because while you stand around being Mr. Dubbya See Dubbya, the ratings are about to go through the roof, because Mr. Wrestling himself is here...."

.....Mr. Wrestling apparently being Shawn Michaels.....does that make JPL Mrs. Wrestling? That's probably a question for another day.....the question for today, is why are Shawn Michaels and Jean Paul Levesque here?.....

.....Shawn tells Sting that he doesn't know how he can be any clearer around here.....

".....I mean, do I need to start writing this stuff down? Do I need to pin a copy on the nearest mirror, with a bottle of baby oil for Flexy Lexy there to see? Stick a copy up in the rafters next to your black candle, your lipstick....and your copy of goth lifestyle monthly?.....

.....now I know that me and JPL slapped you around on Nitro.....a little bit less than we would have liked, but still.....we obviously knocked you stupid, because if I've said it once I've said it a thousand times....YOU aren't taking out the Titans of Wrestling.....Flexy Lexy there and his oh so shiny pecs, HE isn't taking out the Titans of Wrestling......Diamond Dallas Page.....Chris Benoit.....my former bodyguard Sid.....Jeff Hardy...........The Rock.....NONE of you are taking out the Titans of Wrestling.....WE are taking out the Titans of Wrestling.....

.....and you know what.....

.....after last week.....

.....when we're done with the Titans of Wrestling.....

.....we're going to take WCW right out too.....

.....because you.....you and your little 'rassling company, you couldn't just step back and let me do what I do best.....because you and all you little 'rassler's in the back just HAD to poke the bear didn't you.....see, this is why we can't have nice things, and now, you've gone and p!ssed JPL off too, jack....."

.....Levesque wasn't in a great mood last week on Thunder.....he's not in any better a mood tonight either.....he tells Sting that he tried.....he really, really tried.....he tried to play nice.....he tried to be "one of the boys".....he's been there in the fight against the Titans....he's been there to save the day.....stop the beatdowns.....be the cavalry.....hell, he even tried to make Shawn Michaels play nice.....but when he saw the WCW roster coming out here to stand by and watch as his best friend was stomped into the mat by the Titans of Wrestling, stood by and watched as EVERYBODY'S common enemy left Shawn Michaels laying.....Mr. Nice Guy went away.....

".....and now.....now you get Mr. Not-So Nice Guy.....and Sting, you say that you bleed WCW? Well I say, why don't we see how true that is.....because I'll bust you wide open right here, right now, and THEN, once we're nice and warmed up....me and Shawn will go finish off the Titans of Wrestling once and for all....."

.....looks like we're about to continue the battle that was so rudely interrupted on Monday Night.....because Shawn Michaels and Jean Paul Levesque have come to fight, while Sting and Lex Luger don't look like they're about to back down any time soon.....

".....no, this is good.....I like it, I like it, yeah.....the man with the plan....."

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/r1dvVYA.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/SeialaI.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/2EPs81y.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/aQrP0BT.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/5XrTwCg.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/DJt4Wpa.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/aNE9X2Q.jpg">

.....speaking of the man with the plan, here comes the Macho Man......presumably with a plan of his own, as the Titans of Wrestling make a rare Thunder appearance.....

".....you can fight yeah, you could.....but how about we do one better.....how about you kiss and make up, because since everyone wants the Titans of Wrestling, here we are brutha, brutha....."

.....Macho says that it's time the world was reminded who the true power in WCW is.....and it's NOT Sting.....it's the Titans of Wrestling.....and as for Michaels and Levesque taking them out, "never gonna happen, yeah".....and Michaels and Levesque taking WCW out? "double never gonna happen, dig it?".....

.....it would seem that even the dastardly Titans of Wrestling haven't taken too kindly to Mr. Michaels less than complimentary remarks about World Championship Wrestling, telling Shawn that the Titans of Wrestling are THE number one group in all of professional wrestling, and where THEY go, greatness goes......they're in WCW "so you do the math".....

.....Macho says that WCW pays the big bucks.....WCW pays the Macho Man very, very, very well, and the gravy train ain't stopping here, not because of a punk like Shawn Michaels, or a Titan reject like JPL.....

".....so it goes like this, and whether you like it or you don't like it, it doesn't really matter, yeah.....because the power of the pen, your boss and mine, Mr. Vince Russo already made it so.....Michaels.....Levesque, you know that the Macho Man and The Warrior Man are waiting for you at Souled Out, but tonight, you're going to get a little, little, little, little taste.....of what the Titans can do yeah.....tell 'em Russo....."

.....so that's what he does.....Russo tells the four men in the ring that they're going to have to put their differences to one side tonight.....because Sting and Lex Luger will be teaming up with Shawn Michaels and Jean Paul Levesque.....to face "not the Totally Awesome Trinity......but the Freaking Awesome Foursome bro.....Ray Traylor, Adam Copeland, Christian Cage....and Buffy the Legend Slayer himself, the man that wiped the mat with Rowdy Roddy Pipers face at Starrcade.....Buff Bagwell".....

.....and as The Macho Man already told them.....whether they like it, or they don't like it.....that match IS happening tonight.....

Rating: A*

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/MudXrr7.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/TFVQgbO.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/I9lnbBk.jpg">

.....that's later though, our opening contest isn't nearly such a big named affair, as we have Scotty Riggs facing off against Konnan.....

.....Konnan is a decent enough worker, who hasn't had a great deal to do around here in recent months.....most of the attention around here has been on the battle against the Titans of Wrestling and (more recently) the attitude of Shawn Michaels.....Konnan hasn't really been featured.....

.....he was featured last week though.....and he's featured here again tonight, picking up a submission victory in a passable match with the Tequila Sunrise.....

Winner: Konnan
Rating: C+

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.....and much like last week, Jimmy Hart and The Faces of Fear are out once again.....

.....seven days ago, Jimmy Hart told Konnan that he was rebuilding the First Family, and wanted the Mexican star to be a part of it.....Konnan said he needed time to think about it.....I guess times up, because Jimmy wants an answer, telling Konnan again that you're either WITH the Family, or AGAINST the Family.....

".....so what's it to be baby?....."

.....Konnan obviously knows that giving the wrong answer could end very badly for him here (particularly as Meng and The Barbarian are waiting to hear his answer too) but he tells Jimmy that while he appreciates the offer, he's going to have to turn him down.....

.....the crowd pops at that (there's an easy face turn, no one likes Jimmy Hart) but while the fans might like it, Jimmy doesn't.....he tells Konnan that he just made a huge mistake, but then, it's probably for the best.....he says that he only wants Family Members that are FULLY committed.....

".....Family Members that only had to be offered this opportunity ONCE....."

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.....and it turns out it wasn't Meng or The Barbarian that Konnan should have been keeping an eye on.....because the moment Jimmy finishes his sentence, a large man slides into the ring behind him.....giggling as he blindsides him.....

.....Tony Schiavone tells us that this looks like Hugh Morrus, but as far as he was aware, this gentleman was still gainfully employed "up north"......Larry Zbyszko says that maybe he WAS, but it looks like an offer to join Jimmy Hart in WCW was too tempting to turn down.....

.....Morrus continues the assault, and he's soon joined by Meng and The Barbarian, as Jimmy Hart squeaks about in the background, hollering at Konnan that this is what happens when you're against the Family.....

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.....speaking of men who are against the Family, here's two right here.....Mike Awesome and Gideon Cain, two men who will be facing Meng and The Barbarian at Souled Out, and they come rushing out from the back now to lend a helping hand.....

.....they hold of Hart's trio long enough for Konnan to get back to his feet, at which time a six man brawl breaks out, which sees Awesome, Cain and Konnan eventually drive the First Family away and to the back, as we go to a Souled Out commercial.

Rating: B+

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The WCW Cruiserweight Division is really heating up in recent weeks.....and as the aura of the division grows, so does the number of competitors keen to compete for a shot at Jeff Hardy's Championship, and we have two debuts (of sorts) tonight.....the WCW debut of young Scott Taylor, and the in-ring debut of James Vandenberg's newest follower, Hayabusa.....

.....this was perhaps not the best opponent to showcase Hayabusa against.....Scott Taylor is a good worker, and certainly a Cruiserweight competitor, but he doesn't have quite the same daredevil approach to his matches as Hayabusa does.....it doesn't really matter though in the end, he's out here to do the job and that's exactly what he does, as Vandenberg's Masked Man picks up the win with a beautiful Phoenix Splash

Winner: Hayabusa
Rating: B

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Never one to shy away from a microphone, James Vandenberg joins Hayabusa in the ring, along with Mortis and Shinzaki.....

.....he tells the crowd (and indirectly, Jeff Hardy) that the day of reckoning is coming for the Cruiserweight Champion.....he says that while Jeff Hardy wastes time and energy engaging in battles that he's never going to win (with the Titans of Wrestling) Hayabusa has only one purpose.....one mission.....one mantra.....defeat Jeff Hardy at Souled Out and present the Cruiserweight Championship at the Alter of James Vandenberg.....

".....because every day that Title remains in your possession, the more impure it becomes.....tainted by the stench of immaturity and mediocrity.....but it can still be salvaged.....it can still be cleansed.....we can make it.....pure again....."

.....Vandenberg says that at Souled Out, all wrongs shall be righted.....the cleansing will begin.....and James Vandenberg will be validated.

Rating: B+

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We come back from commercial and Joey Maggs is making his way to the ring for what might be his biggest opportunity to date.....the opportunity to become the WCW Television Champion.....the only problem with that?.....well, to borrow a gimmick, I've got two words for ya.....

.....Bill.....Goldberg.....

.....because the man currently holding that gold happens to be an undefeated rookie monster who has mown down everyone in his path to date.....all 61 of them, without a single blemish to his record.....

.....except as the man's music begins to play, the Television Champion is nowhere to be seen.....

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.....at least not until the super snazzy Turnertron flickers in to life, and much as we saw on Monday Nitro, Eddie Guerrero (and a steel chair) has once again assaulted Bill Goldberg in the back, and this time he has Chavo with him as well.....

.....Goldberg already has that right shoulder heavily taped following the double attack he suffered on Nitro.....in fact, it was touch and go whether he would even receive medical clearance to perform tonight.....

.....he did.....but it's unlikely he will be cleared now.....

.....Eddie delivers one final blow to the shoulder of the Television Champion, telling him that his little streak is NOTHING compared to his esè......in fact, being that he IS the Papi of Perfection, he's got TWO streaks going on.....walking out of title matches with the United States Championship around his waist.....

".....and kicking Bill Goldberg's ass holmes....."

.....with that Eddie and Chavo scarper, damage done.....and as medical personnel rush the scene to attend to a very angry Goldberg, we go to a hype package for Souled Out.....

.....I guess poor Joey Maggs isn't getting that title shot after all.....

Rating: A

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.....although it DOES look as though he's getting a match.....

.....and his opponent isn't going to be any easier.....

.....because instead of facing Bill Goldberg for the privilege of becoming the WCW Television Champion, he gets to face Scott Norton for the privilege of becoming.....well, a stain on the mat.....

.....Norton absolutely dominated poor Joey Maggs, before finishing him off with that brutal looking reverse Shoulder-breaker that he utilises.....and the referee could have counted to 30, because Maggs was OUT.

Winner: Scott Norton
Rating: C-

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From there we go to the back, where Her Majesty's Sovereignty continues to be a United Kingdom, as Lance Storm and The Amazing French Canadians have apparently decided to join Lord Steven Regal and The Blue Bloods for a spot of Afternoon Tea.....

.....it seems to be somewhat of a collective pat on the back, celebrating his Lordships victory over Hacksaw Jim Duggan from this past Monday Night, as well as the humiliating treatment Duggan received at the hands of the Canadians afterwards.....

.....Regal congratulates Storm on a job well done, "particularly in the embarrassment you caused that oafish brute.....I spoke to Her Majesty personally earlier this evening and she was most pleased.....she despises these idiotic Americans as much as you and I.....between us Mr. Storm, she never did fully forgive them for that whole nasty 'independence' business".....

.....Storm says that's exactly what's wrong with America and Americans.....they have such a severe superiority complex because they lost all semblance of humility around the same time that they abandoned the throne, transforming into mindless buffoons like Jim Duggan.....that's why Canada is better than them in every way.....because Canada (and Canadians) are still humble.....and modest.....much like Great Britain.....

.....real humble Lance.....and His Lordship's solid silver tea set is incredibly modest too.....I guess the irony of this was lost amongst the collective Great American Bash(ing).....

.....not to fear though, because Lance Storm has guaranteed Regal a repeat performance tonight, when he faces Jim Duggan later this evening.....he says he doesn't know about stripes, but Duggan is definitely going to be seeing stars by the time Lance has finished with him, a fact which Regal toasts with one of his Fine China tea-cups, telling Storm that the Sovereignty is only a call away should he need it.....

.....Lance tells His Lordship not to worry.....Messrs. Rougeau and Oulette shall be accompanying him to ringside tonight, and they have a gift for Hacksaw after his inferior US Lumber was accidentally destroyed last week.....

.....Storm pulls out a brand new 2x4, telling Regal that this is made of the finest Canadian Maple Wood.....

".....guaranteed not to break.....no matter how thick Jim Duggan's skull is....."

.....with that the group breaks out into laughter, as His Lordship tells The Duke to prepare another serving of tea, while we go back down to ringside.

Rating: A

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It's time for a tag team encounter of epic proportions now, as everybody's favourite savages (not called Randy) take on the can't miss prospect of the 90's, Tough Tom and Mean Mike.....

.....I possibly bigged that up a little bit more than it deserved.....

.....it's The Samoan SWAT Team (with Gary Hart in their corner) taking on two men who's team name is thankfully (marginally) less corny than their individual names, Disorderly Conduct.....it wasn't a classic.....wasn't supposed to be either.....The SST picked up an easy victory after Samu crushed Mean Mike with a splash from the top rope.....

Winner(s): The Samoan SWAT Team
Rating: B-

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.....Gary Hart joins his men in the ring, and Fatu and Samu look as though they're still ready to fight.....probably because they've been getting blindsided week in and week out by some mysterious masked men, so why should tonight be any exception.....

.....it apparently is though, because as the trio stand waiting for an attack, it's an attack that doesn't come, leading Hart to collect a microphone from ringside.....

.....he says that he doesn't know who these masked men are, or why they have chosen the SST as their targets, but if they REALLY want to step into the ring with a pair of true Samoan Savages, then they are welcome to meet the Samoan SWAT Team here on Thunder next week.....but be warned, because just like Disorderly Conduct found out a few minutes ago, Fatu and Samu are in a bad, bad mood.....

.....will the masked men accept the challenge? I guess we'll have to wait and see.....

Rating: B

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From one squash match, we go to another.....and this time it's the 6'4, 260lb Chase Tatum in the ring.....

.....he's doing the squashing right? Because that's a big, big man.....

.....erm, no.....

.....because his opponent is the 6'9, 317lb man mountain known as Sid Vicious.....

.....Tatum is green.....as green as can be and fresh out of the Powerplant.....he's not likely to get any better either.....he IS a huge man though, so he's useful to have around as a visually impressive victory.....

.....Sid squashed him very quickly.....

.....kick to the gut.....Powerbomb.....goodnight Chase Tatum.....

Winner: Sid Vicious
Rating: B-

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.....since Sid barely broke a sweat in that match, Mike Tenay decides to make his way out to get a few words from the big man.....nothing groundbreaking obviously, Sid doesn't even have a match coming up at Souled Out to hype up.....he is going to be at the first Pay Per View event of WCW's calendar year though, because he wants to watch as Chris Benoit and Diamond Dallas Page knock the Forgotten down a peg or two and retain their WCW Tag Team Titles.....

".....and Kevin Sullivan.....you need to remember ONE thing.....and that's the fact that if you decide to stick your nose where it doesn't belong.....if you so much as place one foot out of line.....Sid Vicious will be in the building.....and I will be happy to tear that foot straight off your leg....."

.....Sid says that he doesn't like The Forgotten.....he and Bam Bam have had their troubles over the years, and he's been wanting a piece of Big Van Vader since way back in 1993.....he has NO problem in interjecting himself at ringside Souled he need to.....

.....Tenay says that there's another gentleman within WCW that Sid has had his fair share of problems and dealings with over the years.....the man who's name seems to be on everyone's lips right now.....Shawn Michaels.....

".....Shawn Michaels.....it seems like no matter where he goes, he can't stop running his mouth.....Shawn, your big mouth writes cheques like you're 7 feet tall.....300lbs.....well.....little man......you're not.....but I am....."

.....Sid says that Shawn Michaels is finding out already that his big mouth is going to get him into trouble.....and Jean Paul Levesque, he's going to wind up going down with the ship.....collateral damage in Shawn Michaels War against the Titans and WCW......

".....and speaking of big mouths.....

.....Giant!.....

.....Giant, on Monday Night, you walked down that aisle, and instead of understanding that you were sharing the ring with the Master and Ruler of the World.....you run your mouth like a man looking to die.....

.....you might think you're a giant, big boy.....but all you have to do is look into my eyes.....look into my eyes and you will KNOW that you're no giant.....you're just an overgrown boy trying to fill a man's shoes.....

.....on Monday Night, you got off easy......next time.....next time you won't need to worry about Sting ignoring you.....you won't need to worry about your precious TV time.....you'll need to worry about who is the MAN.....you'll need to worry about who the true GIANT around here really is.....next time you'll need to worry about the Master.....and the Ruler of the World.....next time, you will need to worry.....about Sid Vicious....."

.....with that, Sid heads to the back, bumping fists with fans along the way, as our commentators discuss what the ramifications of a Giant/Sid encounter could bring.....and as Dusty rambles on about Godzilla and King Kong trampling down houses baby", we go to a replay of Eddie and Chavo Guerrero's earlier assault of Bill Goldberg.....

.....why?.....because Chavo Guerrero Jr. is in action.....next......

Rating: A

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.....and he's in action against the rarely seen Blitzkrieg.....

.....so rarely seen in fact, that he has been on the roster for over a year and this is possibly the first time he's been seen on tv.....

.....to be fair, there hasn't been a great deal for him to do around here.....what's he going to do, feud with the Titans? Blitzkrieg vs. The Warrior? Yeah, I don't think so.....with the birth of the Cruiserweight Division though, we're likely to see a bit more of him. He's an exceptional flyer, he just needs a little bit of exposure.....

.....speaking of exposure, Chavo Guerrero has had plenty since his arrival here in WCW.....in fact, he's already had plenty of exposure tonight alone, joining his Uncle Eddie in yet another assault on Bill Goldberg.....

.....he gets the win here too.....finally finishing the masked man off (after a pretty open back and forth battle) with the Brainbuster right in the middle of the ring, one, two, three.

Winner: Chavo Guerrero Jr.
Rating: C+

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The Professor is on the prowl for another interview, as Mike Tenay joins both Eddie and Chavo in the ring, and he wants to know exactly what the Guerrero's are thinking in continually assaulting the seemingly unstoppable Bill Goldberg......especially considering Eddie Guerrero's upcoming United States Championship defence against The Rock in less than two weeks at Souled Out?.....

".....unstoppable esè? Bill Goldberg don't look unstoppable to me.....especially when he's laying on the locker room floor holmes....."

.....Eddie says that beating The Rock at Souled Out is just a formality.....he already beat him once, what, is he supposed to worry because Curt Hennig is going to be there? Because, news flash, he's beat Curt Hennig as well.....

.....he says that Souled Out is going to be nothing more than another check in the streak column.....the ONLY streak that matters.....and that's Eddie Guerrero walking INTO matches as the US Champion and walking OUT of matches as the US Champ.....

".....in fact, the only other streak that comes CLOSE to matching that one esè, is the streak of Eddie Guerrero kicking Goldberg's butt holmes.....I think that's at 3 and 0 now....."

.....Tenay says that with all respect, Eddies US Title "streak" included quite a number of defeats.....TWO to Curt Hennig alone.....Bill Goldberg is undefeated.....Sixty One wins without a single defeat.....how Eddie can't find that impressive is beyond him.....

".....Mike Tenay, the Papi of Perfection has walked out of EVERY title defence with the United States Championship around his waist....Bill Goldberg has beat sixty one scrubs holmes.....has he beaten Jeff Hardy? Diamond Dallas Page? Chris Benoit? The Rock? No esè.....he's beat The Gambler holmes......he's beat the Berzerker esè.....he's beat nobody's......in fact, if Bill Goldberg was here right now, I'd beat him in about ten seconds flat....."

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.....well, ask and you shall receive.....because no sooner have the words left his lips, than the music of our Television Champion begins to play, and the man himself makes his way out from the back.....

.....Bill Goldberg's shoulder was heavily wrapped up earlier this evening.....it's wrapped even MORE now following the Guerrero's backstage attack, but he doesn't look as though he cares, rushing down to the ring and tearing the bandages off as he goes.....

.....Eddie and Chavo don't stand around waiting though, and as he slides IN to the ring, the Guerrero's bail to the outside, leaving Mike Tenay alone in the squared circle with a very p!ssed off looking Undefeated Monster.....

.....Make says that Goldberg heard the challenge, he's obviously here to take Eddie Guerrero up on the offer.....why is Eddie running? Eddie says he's not running holmes.....he just wants to set the ground rules.....he will fight Bill Goldberg right here, right now.....but while the Television Title will be on the line, the United States Championship will NOT be on the line.....

.....Goldberg doesn't care.....clearly he's just looking for revenge, unhooking his title and handing it to Mike Tenay, telling him to get an official out here and let's get this under way.....

"......woah, woah, woah.....hold on a minute....."

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.....the public face of the WCW Championship Committee (Eric Bischoff) makes his way out, and says that he hates to be the bad guy here, but while he would like nothing more than to watch Bill Goldberg toss Eddie Guerrero around a little bit, there's TWO problems with that.....one, on the off chance that Eddie Guerrero DID win, the Championship Committee doesn't really want one man walking around with two titles.....

".....and two, Mr. Goldberg I've just finished speaking to the physician in the back.....as a result of the attack earlier this evening, as well as the previous attacks suffered at the hands of the Guerrero's, you have a separated shoulder and you are NOT currently cleared to compete.....so this match.....it won't be happening....."

.....the crowd are not happy about this, but Bischoff isn't done.....he says that there's a third problem......that being that the same physician informed him that a separated shoulder can take anywhere up to six weeks to fully heal.....that's roughly 42 days.....Championships in WCW need to be defended every thirty days.....and Bill Goldberg's last defence was three days ago on Nitro.....that means Goldberg has 27 days until his next mandatory defence.....

".....which give or take, is 4 weeks.....4 weeks to heal that shoulder enough to gain medical clearance to compete.....because without that medical clearance, in twenty EIGHT days.....as much as we won't want to.....the WCW Championship Committee will be forced to strip you of that WCW Television Title....."

.....that's some pretty bad news for Bill Goldberg (on top of an already disappointing evening) but Eddie and Chavo find it hilarious.....the Guerrero's have subtlety retreated up the aisle way while Bischoff had Goldberg's attention, and they wave goodbye to Bill (wishing him a not-so speedy recovery as they go) as we leave a seething Television Champion standing in the ring.....

.....let's go to commercial.....

Rating: A

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We made mention of it earlier this evening, but as we come back from commercial it's now time for Hacksaw Jim Duggan against the Pride of Canada, Lance Storm.....

.....Duggan is most certainly out for revenge here, after not only having his own trusty 2x4 (quite literally) busted over him, but for the (in Jim Duggan's eyes) the much more heinous act of shrouding Old Hacksaw in the Canadian Flag.....

.....Duggan was really fired up for this as well, and he had this crowd chanting USA for all they were worth.....apparently it wasn't worth enough.....

.....Lance Storm promised to present Hacksaw with a brand new (and improved) 2x4, made from superior Canadian maple wood, and that's exactly what he did.....because as the Amazing French Canadians made their presence felt on the outside (distraction the official) Storm presented Duggan with his new piece of lumber.....

.....right between the eyes.....

.....and that was all she wrote for Hacksaw, who went down for the one, two, three.....

Winner: Lance Storm
Rating: B

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.....Duggan has been knocked silly by that 2x4 shot.....I would say Storm hit him so hard he sent him cross-eyed, but old Hacksaw was looking in two different directions simultaneously before this match even began.....

.....unfortunately for Duggan, all that means is that he can watch both Lance Storm standing over him AND the Amazing French Canadians enter the ring without even moving his head.....

.....Storm promised Lord Steven that he and the AFC would be taking Jim Duggan out permanently this evening, and as the three Canadians surround the proud American (and the crowd once again regale us with a roaring USA chant) it looks as though that promise is about to become a reality.....

"..........!!!UHHHHHHH.....WHAT A RUSHHHHH!!!........."

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.....although not if these American Original's have anything to say on the matter.....because The Road Warriors come tearing out from the back and this crowd erupts.....

.....Hawk and Animal might not exactly be at their peak anymore, but they're as popular as ever.....particularly when they bound into the ring and start knocking Rougeau and Oulette about like a couple of Quebec Pinballs.....

.....Storm has the good sense to bail from the ring, and the Amazing French Canadians soon join him.....not by choice mind you, The Road Warriors rather abruptly toss them over the top rope.....but they're out there regardless, and this Canadian Trio decide that they're not sticking around, heading quickly to the back as Hawk and Animal help Hacksaw back to his feet, as we air a recap video from this past Monday Night, explaining exactly why our next match up is happening.....

Rating: B+

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That match being a huge eight man tag team contest, featuring four men teaming WITH each other tonight, when just three days ago they were competing AGAINST each other.....those four men being Sting, Lex Luger, Shawn Michaels and Jean Paul Levesque.....and the tension is absolutely obvious from the moment this "team" step foot in the same ring tonight.....

.....their opponents on the other hand are completely unified.....probably because they are all members of the Titans of Wrestling, that being The Enforcer Ray Traylor, Adam Copeland and Christian Cage.....they're not the Totally Awesome Trinity tonight though.....because along with their partner Buff Bagwell, this is the Freaking Awesome Foursome.....

.....Sting and Michaels are failing to co-exist from the get go, with both men wanting to be the man to start this contest.....so much so that a small shoving match breaks out which sees both men nailed from behind by Copeland and Cage, who then isolate Michaels to get this one underway.....

.....the match is actually really good, with the main story of the bout basically being the obvious animosity between Sting/Luger-Michaels/Levesque.....although we do have some (inadvertent) team work which leads to the end of this one.....because after a short "top this" period, where both Michaels and Sting attempt to out do each other, Shawn Michaels turns and catches Buff Bagwell right in the face with some Sweet Chin Music.....Bagwell drops backwards, but he lands straight into Sting's waiting arms, and the WCW Champion plants the back of his skull into the mat with the Scorpion Death Drop.....and that's more than enough for the one, the two and the three.....

.....although while his team might have won, Shawn Michaels doesn't look too happy about it......

Winner(s): Sting, Lex Luger, Shawn Michaels & Jean Paul Levesque
Rating: A

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.....in fact, he looks positively furious, grabbing Sting's raised arm and spinning him around, before jabbing his finger into his chest, telling him that HE won that match.....HE kicked Buff Bagwell's head off his shoulders and it was HIS pinfall to make.....

.....Sting aggressively bats Michaels arm away, telling him that while he's used to being the sole focus of attention in other places he's worked, this is WCW.....and in WCW, his little temper tantrums aren't going to get him anywhere.....

".....although if you poke me in my chest one more time, you're going to end up flat on your back....."

.....Luger decides he's going to play peacemaker as Michaels and Sting go face to face, placing a hand on Shawn's shoulder to separate the two men.....

.....something that Levesque takes offence too.....grabbing Luger by the arm and dragging him away, telling him that if he places a hand on Shawn Michaels again, Jean Paul Levesque will break it off......

.....that's when the shoving match breaks out.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/TfYwFGH.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/zeh8M2B.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/2EPs81y.jpg">

.....and just as they did this past Monday Night.....The Giant, Randy Savage and The Warrior make their way out from the back and stand watching (and smirking) on the entrance way as the shoving changes to brawling.....

.....the Freaking Awesome Foursome were possibly looking to wage an attack on their victors, but as Michaels and Sting begin slugging it out, while Levesque and Luger lay into each other too, it doesn't look as though they're going to have to......so they head up the aisle to join their team mates (and The Giant) as Thunder comes to a close on a very chaotic scene.....

.....we'll see you Monday fans.....

Rating: A*

Final Rating: B+

to4sty · August 13, 2019

<img style="max-width:60%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/KHIBBqF.jpg">

Week 3, January 1998

Highlights from ECW Cyberslam 1998

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/zoGIsc2.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/5c8SYaj.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/CKGxraU.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/R0GaQhR.jpg">

It's time for another episode of Hardcore TV, and we are still working our way through the events that unfolded at our Cyberslam event here tonight......we've seen the debut of Justin Credible (disrupting our World Title match) the crowning of a new Television Champion (followed by Shane Douglas stooping to a new low, hitting Beulah with the Belly to Belly) and we saw the Eliminators successfully defend the Tag Team Titles in a three way dance (which saw D-Von Dudley berate the rest of his clan) what else could there be left to see?

The show opens down in the ring, where Joey Styles looks to be less than enthusiastic about announcing his guests......it's Dancing Stevie Richards, The Blue Meanie and Super Nova.....and as the bumbling trio make their way out, Joey's attention seems to be elsewhere.....

.....Stevie starts cutting a promo on the complete disrespect being shown to Dancing Stevie.....he says that Nova has a match tonight with that angry little gnome Taz (a match which we will see shortly by the way) but Dancing Stevie doesn't have a dancing partner.....he says that had he known Tommy Dreamer was going to come out here throwing out open challenges he would have turned down the music in the back.....

".....but I just got that new Aaron Carter album off Meanie for Christmas and I gotta tell you Jo-Jo, it blows the last Backstreet Boys album outta the water.....that kids got talent.....

.....and speaking of kids with talent, I should know, because Dancing Stevie Richards is the hottest pick of 1998.....all the boys in the back, they know they can't beat me.....and all the girls in the back, as well as all these gutter skanks here tonight.....we'll, it's like my boy Aaron Carter says......they all got a Crush on Me....."

.....the trio laugh at that, but Joey Styles attention is still elsewhere, staring into the front row, leaving Stevie to slap him in the arm, asking him what's so damn distracting?.....

.....Joey doesn't answer that.....he just points at the front row.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/Mu60Mpz.jpg">

.....where adult film star Jenna Jameson is sat enjoying a different type of hardcore action than she's usually used too.....

.....Stevie's eyes almost pop out of his head when he see's Jenna, telling Joey that this is exactly what he was talking about.....all the chicks dig Dancing Stevie Richards.....

".....watch this Jo-Jo....."

.....with that Stevie drops to the outside and swaggers over to where Jenna is sitting.....he throws some ridiculously cheesy pick-up lines her way that leave her looking incredibly uninterested.....Stevie won't be put off though.....in fact, he seems oblivious to the lack of interest on Jenna's face.....

".....and this just might be the greatest night of your life toots if you play your cards right.....but I'm not like those scrubs you usually shack up with.....I mean, I know usually YOU'RE the one getting paid.....but if you want to spend the night with Dancing Stevie then you're going to have to pony up the big bucks honey.....although you can have a LITTLE taster for free.....just to wet your appetite.....so pucker up buttercup....."

.....Jenna WAS uninterested.....now she just looks p!ssed.....and as Stevie leans in for a kiss, she slaps the taste right out of his mouth, so hard that Stevie falls to the floor.....

.....he gets back to his feet (with the help of Meanie and Nova) rubbing at his jaw, telling Jenna that she just made a big mistake, before winding back to slap her right back.....

.....except before he can swing, a rather large gentleman sitting with Jenna positions himself between Stevie and the adult film star......stopping him dead in his tracks.....

".....who's this schmuck?....."

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/bXRiTjz.jpg">

.....Jenna snatches the microphone away from Stevie and tells him that this "schmuck" is the co-star of her latest movie 'Good Will Humping'.....and his name, is Val Venis.....

.....Stevie looks intimidated, but only briefly (as he remembers that there's three of them and only one Val) telling "King Dong" that he might think he's hardcore just because he's flown his 747 inside Jenna's 'grand canyon', but if he wants a real hardcore three-way, then all he has to do is climb over that guard rail.....

.....looks like Val is going to take Stevie up on that too.....because with Jenna egging him on he takes off his shirt and begins to climb over the safety rail.....

.....although that may have to wait.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/UgQUgF7.jpg">

.....because Taz has had ENOUGH of waiting.....and as his music hits he marches down to the ring, grabs Nova by the back of the head and tosses him into the ring, before snatching the microphone off Stevie Richards and telling him to "shut the [expletive deleted] up, get to the back......and then come back in about three minutes to scrape your little buddy up off the mat....." before tossing down the microphone and rolling into the ring towards a terrified looking Super Nova.....

Rating: D+

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/UgQUgF7.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/Eh85fRt.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/CKGxraU.jpg">

.....poor Nova.....he really looks as though he wants to be anywhere other than here with Taz right now.....

.....can't say as I blame the lad.....because Taz absolutely mauls him from the minute the bell rings until around the 2:44 mark, which was when he slapped on the Kata-Ha-Jime.....

.....of course Taz DID invite Stevie and Meanie to come back in around three minutes, which is exactly what they did.....although even THEY weren't stupid enough to stick their heads into that ring until after Nova submitted.....and even then it was only to scrape their buddy off the mat and retreat hastily to the back.....

.....Taz wins.....and in decisive fashion.....

Winner: Taz
Rating: C-

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/c3OlByw.jpg">

At which point we go back to the ECW Hard ore TV command centre, where Joey Styles ridicules Stevie and his misfit stable, citing that Jenna Jameson did NOT take too kindly to the advances made by Stevie Richards, before sending us to some promo packages.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/b4yIhz9.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/bXRiTjz.jpg">

.....firstly with Miss Jameson herself, along with the gentleman she dubbed Val Venis at Cyberslam.....telling Stevie Richards that he's LUCKY that Taz came out there when he did, because yeah, Nova got his ass kicked.....but that was nothing to what Val would have done to him.....Venis agrees, telling us (in a very gravely voice) that the year is 1998.....

".....and while we are only a few weeks into the new year, you can forget about Times Square.....because the biggest ball's dropped in Philadelphia, when the Big Valbowski walked into Cyberslam, fresh off the set of his latest....release....."

.....Val says that Stevie Richards, The Blue Meanie and Nova might wanna think twice before they insult Jenna Jameson again.....because they might THINK they have the numbers advantage, but Val Venis has done some of his best work with his back up against the wall.....

".....and three little ladies flat on their backs....."

.....the Big Valbowski isn't going anywhere.....and all of ECW......is going to bear witness to the birth.....of the Money Shot.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/5c8SYaj.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/CKGxraU.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/R0GaQhR.jpg">

.....from there we switch to the object of Val Venis' attention.....Dancing Stevie Richards, The Blue Meanie, and Super Nova.....

.....Richards rambles into the camera while Nova limps around in a neckbrace (selling the sh!t out of Taz's Kata-Ha-Jime) while the Meanie is sat in the background with a bucket of popcorn, staring at a TV, the screen of which we can't see.....

.....Stevie tells Val (and Jenna) that just because they're used to going for it hardcore style, doesn't mean they have a place in ECW.....he says that Dancing Stevie Richards WILL have some respect around here damn it.....he says that himself, Nova (who's now ultra hamming up the injury) and Meanie (who's now stopped moving and sits staring wide eyed and open mouthed at the to screen) are as serious as serious can be.....no more jokes.....no more messing around.....no more of.....

".....damn it, Meanie......what are you watching?....."

.....Meanie doesn't take his eyes off the screen.....instead he fumbles down beside him where he picks up a VHS Box which he slides over to Richards.....

.....it's Good Will Humping.....

.....Richards throws the box across the room, telling Meanie that this is unacceptable.....before telling him to turn it off before he goes blind.....

.....Stevie (and Nova) march over to the VCR, where Richard goes to turn the tape off.....before he can though Meanie bats away his hand and points at the screen, as all three men tilt their heads to one side.....

.....maybe we'll just watch a little bit....."

.....Meanie just smiles and offers Stevie the popcorn.....Richards shoves a big handful into his mouth and chews.....before stopping.....

".....wait....Meanie, did you touch this popcorn?.....where have your hands been?....."

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/OODEH1M.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/qDy23k0.jpg">

.....never mind.....you don't wanna know.....

.....instead we go over to Tommy Dreamer.....and he is NOT a happy bunny.....

.....he says that Shane Douglas took the ECW Television Title away from him, that was bad enough.....but when he placed his hands on Beulah, he took something ELSE away from Tommy Dreamer.....he took Tommy Dreamers manhood.....Tommy says that his woman needed him and he wasn't there to save her.....

".....well Shane Douglas.....who's going to be there to save YOU?......because now I got nothing left to lose.....you took my belt.....you took my manhood.....I ain't got nothing left to take.....but YOU do....."

.....Tommy says that Shane has EVERYTHING to lose.....but don't worry, because Tommy Dreamer isn't coming for his title.....he isn't coming for his pride.....he isn't even coming for his career.....no, Tommy tells Douglas (as he raises a barbed wire wrapped fist) that he's coming.....

".....for your balls....."

Rating: C-

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/UgQUgF7.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/CKGxraU.jpg">

.....from there we go back to the tail end of that Taz/Nova match, we see Nova again locked in the Kata-Ha-Jime just before he submits and Stevie and Meanie drag their partner out of the ring and head to the back with him.....

.....Taz grabs a microphone and asks who else in the back wants to try him, because after a less than three minute match, he hasn't even broken a sweat.....

.....which is when we get yet another debut from Cyberslam.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/M3zCQF0.jpg">

.....a gentleman that's been tearing up the rings of Japan and has finally made it back to the USA.....Rob Van Dam.....

.....he's not alone either.....

.....around eight months ago a man by the name of Sabu was embroiled in a bitter feud with (the then) Tazmaniac.....a feud which saw Sabu literally break his back.....

.....Sabu hasn't been seen in a wrestling ring since then, while the newly christened (and bad ass) Taz went on a tear through the ranks of ECW.....

.....Bill Alfonso was managing the Homicidal, Suicidal, Genocidal Maniac at the time of that injury, and he's been vowing revenge on Taz ever since, claiming that once he found the complete athlete he would be back to make Taz's life hell.....

.....he's found the complete athlete in Rob Van Dam.....

.....Taz doesn't care.....and he invites the pair into the ring, telling them that he'll snap that pretty boys spine just like he did with Sabu, and then he'll shove Bill Alfonso head up the crippled RVD's ass.....a statement that Van Dam just smirks at.....

".....dude, you need to chill.....don't worry, I'm not here tonight to kick your ass.....I mean, I am GONNA kick your ass, but not tonight bro.....tonight I'm out here for two things, to give everyone a glimpse at their new favourite wrestler, Rob Van Dam (you're welcome) and to showcase to Ted Turner and Vince McMahon exactly where they should be spending their money.....because I'm Rob Van Dam.....and I LOVE to work Mondays....."

.....now Taz is the one to smirk, telling Van Dam that he might not be here to fight, but if he thinks he's gonna walk around spouting that pro WCW and WWF bullsh!t here in ECW and NOT get his ass kicked then he's even more stupid than he looks.....

".....so put down whatever you're smoking 'dude' and get in this ring......so I can choke you the [expletive deleted] out....."

.....Bill Alfonso snatches the mic there (the annoying little sh!t that he is) and tells Taz that ain't gonna happen.....

.....he says he hates Taz.....hates his guts.....he despises him.....he can't wait to see Rob Van Dam kick his little orange and black ass all over ECW.....but it won't be here, and it won't be tonight.....

.....and with that, a small army of personal security guards make their way out to remove Taz from the situation.....

.....not that it's easy.....not by ANY stretch of the imagination.....and Taz starts tossing people around with all manner of suplex variations.....and probably would have taken EVERYONE out, had Van Dam not launched a chair at his head, momentarily knocking him off balance long enough for security to finally overpower (and cuff) the Human Suplex Machine, finally dragging the man away.....

.....and with Taz gone, Rob Van Dam wants a match.....

".....and this isn't going to be some Taz, two minute Pump and Dump.....I wouldn't deprive you people of seeing what you ALL paid for.....and that's watching Rob Van Dam do his thing for a lot longer than minutes.....but more importantly, I'm going to make sure that Vince Russo and Vince McMahon get a good, long look at what Rob Van Dam is all about.....because don't forget, RVD, he LOVES to work Mondays....."

Rating: C

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/M3zCQF0.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/Eh85fRt.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/ffK2sJr.jpg">

.....well, RVD wanted anyone.....he actually got THREE anyone's.....because while Little Guido is the designated opponent, he is most definitely not alone, because Tracy Smothers and The Big Don Tommy Rich are right there by his side.....that means it's initials overload, because it's RVD vs. The FBI.....

.....Van Dam promised us that we would have a match here lasting longer than two minutes (because he wants to showcase EVERYTHING that he can do for the WWF and WCW) but in all honesty, Little Guido is a very capable opponent.....I don't think RVD could have put him away in two minutes even if he'd wanted too.....

.....RVD is out to impress though, and while he perhaps did stretch this match out longer than he needed to (he had Guido beat around 5 minutes before the actual finish) he had to make sure to get all his big moves in.....

.....turns out he didn't have to worry about the rest of the FBI either.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/NYvjWHL.jpg">

.....because former member JT Smith makes his way out (clearly looking to win his place back in the FBI) climbs to the top rope behind Van Dam.....

.....slips and falls off.....

.....and crashes down onto the Big Don and Tracy Smothers, taking the FBI out of the equation, just as RVD comes crashing down with a huge Frog Splash, giving Van Dam a big debut victory.....

.....hopefully those "Monday Night" guys were watching.....

Winner: Rob Van Dam
Rating: C+

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/c3OlByw.jpg">

.....following that match we see JT Smith desperately apologising to the FBI.....he just wants to be a "made man" again, but after that display, they're not interested.....

.....back in the ring, Rob Van Dam and Bill Alfonso grab the microphone again, to once again proclaim Van Dam's greatness, with Rob pulling a camera man over so that he can speak directly to "Vince" (he doesn't specify which Vince mind you) telling him that he's available for bookings right now.....and even if he's NOT available, he'll blow this dump off in a heartbeat if the price is right.....

.....Joey Styles has heard about enough of that, and he cuts that short to send us to.....well.....himself.....except this time back in the "studio".....he spends a few minutes telling Rob Van Dam that if he's so desperate to get onto Monday Nights, where he can get wasted by the "big boys" or watered down by some second rate, ECW lite "attitude" then he knows where the door is.....but one things for sure, if he keeps antagonising Taz, he may find himself sharing a hospital bed with Sabu.....

.....with that out of the way, Joey recaps the debut of another new arrival.....one who DOES know all about working Monday Nights, Justin Credible.....we see a video recap of Credible disrupting our Cyberslam main event, the ECW Title match between The Sandman and Terry Funk, before we go to "fan cam" footage of Justin Credible's first official in ring outing, in a match against Balls Mahoney.....

Rating: C

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/rDCqtL4.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/Eh85fRt.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/F2ouPmw.jpg">

.....a match which took place around a week after Cyberslam, at an ECW live event.....

.....Justin Credible claims to be here as the final element in KLiQ world Domination.....he claims that his former team mates Jean Paul Levesque and Shawn Michaels are running things down South.....the Wolfpac are running whinge up North.....that just leaves him to seize the power in ECW to complete the trifecta.....

.....he's up against an absolute maniac here tonight in Balls Mahoney though.....and if he thought that the WWF had "attitude", wait until he gets a load of what Balls Mahoney, and the Hardcore Revolution have for him, as this chair swinging freak gives Credible a real ECW Welcome.....

.....to his credit, Justin takes everything Mahoney has to offer.....and despite fighting through a rather hostile crowd (who alternate between a rather emphatic "F##k You Aldo" chant and a chant that implies that Mr. Credible enjoys the taste of male genitalia) he is able to rack up His first victory.....nailing Balls over the head with that stolen Singapore Cane, before finishing him off with a dangerous (but equally impressive) looking spinning Tombstone Piledriver.....

Winner: Justin Credible
Rating: C+

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/Vi7pLeg.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/0Jb9IUk.jpg">

.....not that he gets to celebrate for long.....because before HIS music can begin to play, "Enter Sandman" blasts over the sound system, because copyright laws be damned, here's the ECW World Champion.....

.....Sandman drains about five beers on his way through the crowd to the ring.....it takes him a while to get there.....a little bit too long actually......because by the time he DOES step through the ropes, Justin Credible is long gone.....

.....although his voice isn't.....

.....the camera finally finds him FARRRRRRR away over the other side of the building, where he asks (through a microphone) what was the Sandman expecting to happen here? Was Justin Credible supposed to just stand around in the ring for ten minutes until Sandman finished his six-pack?.....

".....I don't think so.....I'm an important man, I have things to do and places to be......Sandman, you might be used to running around like a lawless Wild West gunslinger, doing whatever you want to do.....but if you want to talk to ME.....if you want to fight Justin Credible.....then you need to go through the proper channels....."

.....Credible says that he's not going to just fight with the Sandman.....he's not just going to brawl around the floor, dodging Sandman's spilt beer......

.....if Sandman wants a MATCH, he can have a MATCH.....but he's going to have to put the ECW Title on the line to do it.....

".....so make that happen.....have your people call my people.....set up the match.....and lets give these people what they finally deserve.....a world champion that's not just the coolest.....not just the best.....but an ECW World Champion that is.....

"......Justin......Credible......"

.....I guess that's it for tonight then.....no big brawl between this pair.....although as Joey Styles points out.....there's always next week......

.....we'll see you then.....

Rating: B

Final Rating: C+

to4sty · August 13, 2019

Blitzkrieg vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr.
Comments: Blitz is real underrated IMO

Im with you there brother, I didn't see a great deal of him, but what I did see was great

I'm not very consistent, but what the heck

Good to have you in the predictions Blodyxe, although I'm going to start calling you Brockyxe if you don't start turning up more regularly in all seriousness I know you've been following along for a while now so don't worry about consistency, I know you're there in the background

Jim Duggan vs. Lance Storm
Comments: You hate Duggan, don't you?

I do.....so, so much

Psycho Sid vs. Chase Tatum
Comments: Chase Tatum sounds like a sleazy good-looking guy who's obsessed with his abs

Chase had a great look.....and.....to be fair, that's it, he had a great look, so you weren't far off wrong with your description.

Fan Cam Footage from Non-Cyberslam event
Balls Mahoney vs. Justin Credible
Comments: He's kind of a big deal in ECW now

He actually is, his run with the KLiQ back in late 96 and into 97 actually set him up pretty good. He could get by ok in the WWF midcard, but in ECW he's head and shoulders above a good portion of the locker room in terms of overness

On that note it's just about time for the 1998 Royal Rumble. I'll probably have the card up tomorrow at some point, but I just wanted to drop a quick thank you before hand. We've just reached 100 pages, something I didn't think would remotely happen when I started writing this, let alone the fact that since I bought this back two months ago, you mad b@stards have viewed this thing almost 20,000 times (yes I'm talking to you lurkers too.....I see you back there with your guest account) so thanks, 180,000 views and we've still got a way to go until Wrestlemania.....onward to the Royal Rumble it is

to4sty · August 14, 2019

<img style="max-width:50%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/8LDoocW.jpg">

WWF Championship: Casket Match

WWF European Championship Match

WWF Tag Team Championship Match

Nine Circles of Hell Match: Treachery

Jake Roberts vs. Raven

WWF Intercontinental Championship Match

Royal Rumble Match

Al Snow, Ahmed Johnson , Barry Windham, Billy Gunn, Billy Kidman, Bradshaw, British Bulldog, Chris Candido, Crush, D'Lo Brown, Dustin Rhodes, Kama, ???, Marc Mero, Mark Henry, Marty Jannetty, Matt Hardy, Mosh, Nelson, Owen Hart, Rey Mysterio, Rich Steiner, Road Dogg, Sean Waltman, Scorpio, Scott Steiner, Steve Austin, Test, Thrasher, Wrath

Final Four:

Iron Man:

Most Eliminations:

crackerjack · August 15, 2019

Aw yeah - we're on the ROAD TO WRESTLEMANIA! Excited for this one!

WWF Championship: Casket Match

Taker is a guy who always seems like a good idea to be the champ, but never the guy who will have a long term reign. Pillman fits better narrative wise for Mania, someone will screw over Taker - this feels like a slam dunk.

WWF European Championship Match

Jeff Jarrett and the MDC will forever haunt me - and somehow always pull of A* angles

WWF Tag Team Championship Match

While I think Heat's run could carry to Mania, I like the idea of the Corporation being really in charge heading to Mania

Nine Circles of Hell Match: Treachery

Jake Roberts vs. Raven

Another one that feels like a slam dunk - let's just pray Jake doesn't show up drunk

WWF Intercontinental Championship Match

Almost too many heels going over on this card - and Hall doesn't make for a terrible champ anyways.

Royal Rumble Match

Al Snow, Ahmed Johnson , Barry Windham, Billy Gunn, Billy Kidman, Bradshaw, British Bulldog, Chris Candido, Crush, D'Lo Brown, Dustin Rhodes, Kama, ???, Marc Mero, Mark Henry, Marty Jannetty, Matt Hardy, Mosh, Nelson, Owen Hart, Rey Mysterio, Rich Steiner, Road Dogg, Sean Waltman, Scorpio, Scott Steiner, Steve Austin, Test, Thrasher, Wrath

It's got to be Austin right? Right? Not that ??? guy anyways.

Final Four: Austin, Ahmed, Owen, Al Snow?

Iron Man: Rey - Forgot about the Owen gets No. 30 thing - guessing this will give Rey a rare opportunity to shine.

Most Eliminations: Nelson

ElectricX · August 15, 2019

WWF Championship: Casket Match

WWF European Championship Match

WWF Tag Team Championship Match

Nine Circles of Hell Match: Treachery

Jake Roberts vs. Raven

WWF Intercontinental Championship Match

Royal Rumble Match

Al Snow, Ahmed Johnson , Barry Windham, Billy Gunn, Billy Kidman, Bradshaw, British Bulldog, Chris Candido, Crush, D'Lo Brown, Dustin Rhodes, Kama, ???, Marc Mero, Mark Henry, Marty Jannetty, Matt Hardy, Mosh, Nelson, Owen Hart, Rey Mysterio, Rich Steiner, Road Dogg, Sean Waltman, Scorpio, Scott Steiner, Steve Austin, Test, Thrasher, Wrath

Final Four: Scott Steiner, Steve Austin, Owen Hart, British Bulldog

Iron Man: Rey Mysterio

Most Eliminations: Ahmed Johnson

Leohunter · August 15, 2019

WWF Championship: Casket Match

WWF European Championship Match

WWF Tag Team Championship Match

Nine Circles of Hell Match: Treachery

Jake Roberts vs. Raven

WWF Intercontinental Championship Match

Royal Rumble Match

Al Snow, Ahmed Johnson , Barry Windham, Billy Gunn, Billy Kidman, Bradshaw, British Bulldog, Chris Candido, Crush, D'Lo Brown, Dustin Rhodes, Kama, ???, Marc Mero, Mark Henry, Marty Jannetty, Matt Hardy, Mosh, Nelson, Owen Hart, Rey Mysterio, Rich Steiner, Road Dogg, Sean Waltman, Scorpio, Scott Steiner, Steve Austin, Test, Thrasher, Wrath

Final Four:Austin, Ahmed, Owen, Al Snow

Iron Man:Rey Mysterio

Most Eliminations:Ahmed

Satyr24 · August 15, 2019

WWF Championship: Casket Match

WWF European Championship Match

WWF Tag Team Championship Match

Nine Circles of Hell Match: Treachery

Jake Roberts vs. Raven

WWF Intercontinental Championship Match

Royal Rumble Match

Al Snow, Ahmed Johnson , Barry Windham, Billy Gunn, Billy Kidman, Bradshaw, British Bulldog, Chris Candido, Crush, D'Lo Brown, Dustin Rhodes, Kama, ???, Marc Mero, Mark Henry, Marty Jannetty, Matt Hardy, Mosh, Nelson, Owen Hart, Rey Mysterio, Rich Steiner, Road Dogg, Sean Waltman, Scorpio, Scott Steiner, Steve Austin, Test, Thrasher, Wrath

Final Four:Scott Steiner, Steve Austin, Ahmed Johnson & Owen Hart

Iron Man: Owen Hart

Most Eliminations: Mark Henry

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