WCW 1998: Empire Falls

After welcoming us to the show alongside a fireworks display, Tony Schiavone introduces his broadcast partners "Iron" Mike Tenay and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. He runs down the agenda for the show tonight, including a major tag team match featuring Diamond Dallas Page and Lex Luger taking on Buff Bagwell and Konnan! Not only that, but Saturn will defend his Television Title against Steve “Mongo” McMichael, and Mean “Gene” Okerlund speaks with Bret “The Hitman” Hart!

Rating: 76 (B-)

But first, we start with a groan from the commentary table and the music of the new World order. Down to the ring walk The Outsiders, Eric Bischoff, Konnan, Bagwell, and, in an nWo shirt and sporting a new look with short, blonde hair – Scott Steiner. Steiner carries the WCW World Tag Team Titles to the ring as well. Bischoff takes the microphone and, “now that his wacko brother is handled," officially welcomes Scott Steiner to the nWo, prompting a mixed reaction – some cheers, some empty soda cups and popcorn bags thrown toward the ring. Steiner takes the microphone and excoriates his brother, calling him dead weight that’s been holding Scott back for a decade. Scott says he’s always been bigger and stronger than Rick, but more importantly he’s a bigger star and he always will be. He proclaims that there is a new Scott Steiner and that any punk that wants to cross him is gonna get their ass kicked! The Outsiders and Bischoff grin and clap as Scott continues, explaining that on behalf of The Steiner Brothers (he spits as the words leave his mouth), he hands the WCW Tag Team Title belts over to The Outsiders! Hall and Nash fake surprise and thank Scott “from the bottom of our hearts,” accepting the championships.

A group hug is interrupted by the bellowing voice of Stevie Ray, who hits the top of the aisle along with Booker T and Jacqueline Moore. Stevie says they respected Scott and gave it 110% when they were in the ring with The Steiners, but that it made him and Book sick that Scott would do what he did to his brother. Booker calls it a real “sucka” move to sell out like that, but what’s done is done – Booker says we beat The Steiners before, and The Outsiders have been ducking us for over a year, so what's next is The Outsiders putting those titles up against Harlem Heat! When Hall and Nash balk (Nash pretends to have hurt his knee and limps around the ring), Booker clarifies: that wasn't a challenge – JJ Dillon already booked the match…for right here tonight!

Rating: 78 (B)

 vs. 

Poor Hamrick. He didn't have a shot. Goldberg ended this one quickly with a Jackhammer.

But after the match, Meng and The Barbarian slide into the ring and knock the former defensive tackle to the mat! Jimmy Hart follows with his trademark megaphone as the savages pick Goldberg apart like vultures. A running big boot to the head from The Barbarian leaves Goldberg in a heap!

Rating: 41 (D; match); 64 (C; attack)

Somewhere in the bowels of the building, Raven and his Flock have apparently abducted a camera crew member, and Raven has words regarding The Flock's attacks on Benoit, McMichael, and Ric Flair last week. He says you people haven't been listening…Raven is here to turn everything upside down. After years of being cast aside and abandoned by society's norms, Raven and his Flock are striking back at the establishment. The Four Horsemen are the staple of WCW. The embodiment of WCW. The Horsemen and WCW are synonymous. But, Raven says, he and his Flock are going to change that. Tonight, after Saturn finishes off McMichael, Raven gets one step closer to ending The Horsemen…for good.

Rating: 84 (B)

The camera is backstage when various production items and equipment are thrown to the ground by an irate Rick Steiner. He's ripping through the backstage area screaming for Scott as officials and Ted DiBiase try to calm him down. Schiavone lets us know that Scott Steiner is in action next!

Rating: 70 (C+)

 vs. 

Clubbing blows abounded in this one, and the commentary team made the point that Traylor had been a buddy of The Steiners for years, but that didn't matter here. While both men displayed impressive power, Steiner was able to use his superior quickness and finesse against the clumsier Traylor and lock in a Camel Clutch for a submission victory.

With Scott in the ring stomping on Traylor, Rick Steiner comes flying through the crowd and into the ring! Ted DiBiase continues to follow him as Scott is caught off guard by his older brother! Vincent and Scott Norton slide into the ring and start an assault on Rick, who ends up with his arms caught in the ropes. Scott begins to trash Rick and Vincent hands him his belt. As he gets ready to whip Rick with the belt, DiBiase slides into the ring and pleads with Scott to leave it be. After a moment, Scott cracks Ted in the face! DiBiase hits the ground as Vincent gets in a couple of shots. Scott picks him up and lands a belly-to-belly suplex before locking in the same Camel Clutch! Rick is tied up in the ropes growling, unable to do anything about the assault, but one man can – The Giant storms his way down to the ring as the new World order gets out of Dodge! Giant untangles Rick Steiner from the ropes and Rick checks on DiBiase while Scott and the nWo look on, satisfied.

Rating: 72 (B-; match); 75 (B-; post-match)

To segue from the "despicable display" in the ring, Schiavone lets us know that WCW cameras backstage earlier caught some interesting words coming from the nWo dressing room. In the footage, from behind a closed door, "Macho Man" Randy Savage and "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan are going back and forth with raised voices. It's hard to hear what they're arguing about besides "Sting" and "Bret," but The Outsiders try to calm them down. Randy swings the door open and storms out, shoving the camera away while asking "WHAT ARE YOU LOOKIN' AT?!"

Rating: 88 (B+)

 vs. 

As you might expect, Randy Anderson had a bit of trouble ensuring that the bandaged Horsemen stayed away from The Flock long enough for him to keep his eyes on the action going on in the ring. Eventually, the men on the outside had a full-on confrontation, with Raven sitting in the front row of the audience. As Benoit took on Hammer and Kidman, Anderson tried to eject everyone from ringside, but behind his back, "The Dirtiest Player in the Game" delivered an eye rake to the champion, who stumbled and turned around into a Mongo Spike! Mongo covers – 1, 2, 3! We have a new Television Champion!

Sick Boy and Riggs are just too late to break up the cover as Mongo grabs the belt and slides out of the ring! For the second time in the last few weeks, Ric Flair has cost a champion the title belt, and again, he and his team are able to escape before they succumb to the numbers game! Mongo holds the TV belt aloft as the Horsemen backtrack to the locker room, leaving Saturn defeated in the ring for the very first time in WCW.

Rating: 68 (C+; match); 77 (B; post-match)

After a commercial break, "Mean" Gene Okerlund introduces Bret "The Hitman" Hart for an interview. Bret cuts right to the chase and says Hogan's ducked him for years and he keeps on ducking him because he and everyone else in that dressing room knows that Bret is the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be! He can attack him from behind all he wants, but that's the reason Hogan's lost the respect of the whole wrestling industry. And that's also why Bret has a challenge – man to man, face to face, at Souled Out! And he says he wants an answer right now. Hogan makes his way out to the aisle with Bischoff and essentially tells Bret that without him, Hogan would've buried Sting and all of WCW would be black and white. Hogan says he doesn't give a crap about what all these idiots out here and in the back think of him, but he cares about one thing, and that is kicking Bret's ass at Souled Out, jack! Hitman, you're on!!

Rating: 91 (A)

 vs. 

Chavo looked to finish the job he wasn't able to complete last week despite his best efforts. Again, he gave Malenko all he could handle. Unfortunately for Dean (but fortunately for Chavito), the Cruiserweight Champion Eddy Guerrero made his presence known by tripping Malenko from outside the ring! Although he didn't see Eddy's cheap tactic, Chavo nevertheless took advantage with a small package for a victory!

Referee Nick Patrick raises Chavo's hand as he celebrates a big victory over "The Iceman"! Eddy, holding his title belt, stands outside the ring obnoxiously clapping for his nephew as Dean rises to his knees, disappointed and glaring at the champion.

Rating: 57 (C-; match); 58 (C-; post-match)

Backstage, we've got the massive Giant sitting in a tiny chair, dwarfing a telephone as he takes calls on the WCW Hotline! "Mean" Gene tells us to call in to hear what he has to say!

Rating: 64 (C)

  vs.  

At this point in their WCW tenures, DDP and Lex Luger were accustomed to taking on the new World order and the special patience it takes to deal with the constant harassment and interference. The issue was whether the men who will face off for the US Title at Souled Out could coexist with one another despite their looming showdown. The answer to that question on this night was yes, though the finish came as Page set up for the Diamond Cutter on Bagwell, but Luger slapped him on the back for the tag and locked in the Torture Rack for the win!

Of course, after the bell rings, Vincent and Scott Norton rush the ring, but as noted, Lex and DDP know how this works by now. Right hands abound but the nWo continues to swarm and surround the pair. As Page and Luger try to fend off the dogs, they back into one another without knowing who it was – and Page instinctively grabs Luger's neck – Diamond Cutter to "The Total Package"! DDP is shocked as Konnan and Bagwell start to laugh and the nWo slinks to the back, leaving Page to check on Lex in the ring.

Rating: 76 (B-; match); 87 (B+; post-match)

After a commercial break, Gene Okerlund is standing in the aisle way ready to introduce his guest, Rey Mysterio Jr. He asks Rey about the actions of "Lionheart" Chris Jericho last week following the extension of his losing streak against Mysterio, when Jericho assaulted Rey from behind after the match. Rey says that he thought he knew Chris pretty well from the dressing room and that he seemed like a good, hardworking guy with a lot of respect for the business, but he doesn't know what got into Jericho last week. Jericho makes his way out of the backstage area looking repentant and explains that he's been frustrated with his lack of success in WCW as of late, but he never should have taken it out on Rey and he knows it was a cheap shot. He offers up a handshake and apologizes, and Rey accepts.

Jericho walks away as Gene calls it a class move by Mysterio to accept the apology, but he's interrupted and yelps as Jericho runs back down the aisle and slams a forearm into Mysterio's head! He hurls the former Cruiserweight Champion into the side railing and puts the boots to him! Jericho is finally torn away from Rey by WCW officials as the commentary team wonders aloud what has gotten into Chris Jericho and Okerlund yells to "get him out of here!"

Rating: 66 (C+)

 vs. 

Before this match ever really began, "Macho Man" Randy Savage hit the ring and blasted Taylor and Glacier with right hands. Miller got up into the ring ready to fight but backed down in the face of Savage's bulging eyes and helped his buddy Glacier to safety.

Savage grabs a microphone and starts to look upward. "STING!!" he yells. He wants the WCW Champion in the ring right now to face him man to man, mano y mano. Savage says he's been up in those rafters and he knows Sting's watching, and to get down. (Tenay reminds us that indeed, there were a few weeks in 1997 where Randy Savage did hang out up in the rafters with Sting prior to joining the new World order).

Showing a bit more respect than he often showed Hulk Hogan, Sting obliges Savage's request and lowers himself down into the ring. He gets a microphone of his own and indicates to Randy that he chose him because he knows that Hogan never would've been able to set aside his own ego for long enough to give him his rightful shot. He says that just about nobody on this planet was as in tune with Sting's thought process the last year and a half than Randy Savage was, and that despite everything, Sting thinks that Savage truly is his own man and doesn't need the new World order. Randy says that he appreciates Sting's little compliment fest, but this isn't about Hogan and it isn't about the nWo. It's about Sting and "The Macho Maaayyynnn, OOH YEAH, and it's about Souled Out, brother. There ain't gonna be no Bret Hart to save you this time, Stinger, it's just you and me in this ring for that title, and I'm gonna beat you to a pulp until that belt is MINE!" Sting says that after all he's been through mentally since Bash at the Beach '96, it's gonna take a whole lot to pry the WCW Title from his dead, lifeless fingers. "But Randy, if you want to give it a shot, at this Souled Out pay-per-view in two weeks…it's showtime!"

Rating: 47 (D; "match"); 89 (A; showdown)

After that tense showdown, the commentators hype the World Title match, but also give us a quick preview of this upcoming WCW Saturday Night, where the Ultimo Dragon will go one-on-one with Alex Wright, and in the main event, Curt Hennig of the nWo takes on "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan!

Rating: 52 (D+)

  vs.  

Both sides brought it in this one, and Heenan issued (for some) a disappointing reminder that when Kevin Nash and Scott Hall are in that ring, they are two of the very best. For the most part, the nWo left the ring alone, until it looked like the champions might be in trouble. Scott Steiner, Konnan, Scott Norton, and Curt Hennig made it down to the ringside area to "supervise." As they began to try to intervene by distracting Stevie, Booker, and referee Billy Silverman, Jacqueline Moore had had enough. Never one to back down from a fight, she walked right over and slapped Scott Steiner in the face! While Silverman dealt with the fracas that ensued, Stevie tried to go make sure Jackie didn't get into too much trouble, but Konnan slid a title belt in to Hall, who nailed Booker in the head with it! He slid it out of the ring and made the cover – Silverman turned around and made the count – 1, 2, 3!

With the match decided, Hall and Nash try to leave the ringside area with the belts as Stevie checks on his brother, but they are stopped by none other than JJ Dillon! JJ says that we are not going to have a championship match end with blatant cheating and disregard for the rules on his watch! (Heenan notes that they just did earlier in the night with Saturn losing the TV belt, but he won't complain). Dillon explains that that's why the Championship Committee immediately sent him down here to restart this match, or else he will strip the titles from The Outsiders! The entire nWo contingent is livid! Stevie and Jackie are pumped as Booker has been able to make his way to his feet.

The Outsiders reenter the ring and the bell rings, though they beckon for the nWo members surrounding the ring to come in and help out (i.e., get them disqualified). As they get up on the apron, Harlem Heat squares up for a fight, but they didn't need to – all of a sudden, out of the crowd comes Bret Hart, Davey Boy Smith, and Jim Neidhart in street clothes with black wooden baseball bats! Taking a cue from Sting, The Hart Family clears out the nWo with Hall remaining in the ring to receive a shuffling side kick to the head from Booker! Book bounces off the ropes and hits a Scissors Kick to the doubled-over "Bad Guy" and hits the top rope. Harlem Hangover! Silverman makes the count – Nash can't make it back in time – 1, 2, 3! We've got new Tag Team Champions! The Harts join Harlem Heat in the ring with the bats as the nWo regroups to the back – Harlem Heat have become WCW Tag Team Champions for a record-breaking eighth time! Schiavone notes that the new World order now has zero title belts in its possession and that this war might finally be turning in favor of World Championship Wrestling thanks to Bret "The Hitman" Hart!

Rating: 81 (B; match); 96 (A*; restart)

Overall Show Rating: 87 (B+). This show increased our popularity in 25 regions.

Backstage Notes: Though none were booked, Super Calo, Silver King, and Halloween were backstage and inked written deals with the company. Scott Putski also finalized the contract offered to him last week.

Bill Goldberg vs. Chris Hamrick

Ray Traylor vs. Scott Steiner w/the nWo

Steve "Mongo" McMichael w/Ric Flair and Chris Benoit vs. Saturn (c) w/The Flock

Dean Malenko vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr.

Diamond Dallas Page and Lex Luger vs. Konnan and Buff Bagwell

Glacier w/Ernest Miller vs. Dave Taylor

Harlem Heat w/Jacqueline Moore vs. The Outsiders (c)