WCW Souled Out 1/24/1998

Written By: Bob Colling

World Championship Wrestling Souled Out 1998
Date: 1/24/1998
From: Dayton, Ohio

Video package highlighting the Giant/Kevin Nash feud. Along with Bischoff saying he is “looking to buy more souls”. Hell hath no fury like Souled Out”.

Tony welcomes everyone to WCW Souled Out 1998. He mentions that this event just happens to also be Souled Out. Tony, Bobby and Dusty hype up the Bret Hart/Ric Flair contest. Also, a major announcement regarding Sting, Piper, Hogan and Hall.

Juventud Guerrera, Super Calo, Lizmark Jr., and Chavo Guerrero Jr. defeated La Parka, Psicosis, Silver King, and El Dandy in 9:30: Parka got a pretty decent reaction. Calo with a nice side slam on Psicosis. Lizmark misses a move, super kick by King. King misses a splash in the corner, they trade a few chops. Lizmark with a tilt a whirl back breaker for a near fall. King with a tornado DDT. Parka and Juventud come in to a good reaction. Parka catches Juventud on a springboard, and simple lets him go. Leaping hurricanrana off the top by Juventud. Psicosis with a clothesline on Juventud, Lizmark on Psicosis. Springboard moonsault by Lizmark on Psicosis. King spins Calo around, and a standing somersault leg drop for a two count . Juventud with the 450 splash on King, Parka with the save and connects with a sit down power bomb. Psicosis with a front slam on Chavo, and a top rope leg drop for a two count. King misses a springboard splash to the floor onto Calo. Calo with a somersault splash onto King. Dandy with a suicide dive onto Calo, Juventud leaps off the back of Lizmark onto Dandy. Parka with a corkscrew onto everyone. Lizmark with a moonsault onto Parka. Psicosis and Chavo going at it in the ring. Few moments later, Chavo with the tornado DDT for the win! **1/4
After the match, Parka comes in and takes everyone out, even his own teammates with steel chair shots.

Video promo for the WCW Boston Brawl, a Internet Exclusive for only $7.95

Gene whores out the WCW Hotline. Surprisingly.

No Disqualification Match: Chris Benoit TKO’s Raven in 10:36: David Penzer announces that Raven must wrestle, and that the Flock has been barred from ringside. Raven cuts a promo about being neglected as a child. He doesn’t need anyone, he will feast on the pain that Benoit will give him. Raven dropkicks Benoit off the apron before the bell, sends Benoit into the railing and steel steps. Raven with a few shots, Benoit with a pin attempts, Raven continues attack. On the floor, Raven with a steel chair shot to the back of Benoit. In the ring, Raven with a running bulldog onto a set up chair! Raven gets a two count. Benoit with a drop toe hold into the chair and Raven is hurting. Benoit with a few chops and a clothesline. Benoit with a snap suplex onto the chair for a two count. Benoit with a baseball slide sending Raven into the guard railing. Benoit sends Raven into the ring steps. Benoit with a snap suplex on the ring entrance, Raven rolls down. Benoit stomps the chair into the face of Raven. Benoit connects with a flying head butt onto Raven, with the chair on Raven’s face! Both men are hurting. Benoit gets a two count. Raven reverses a suplex into a DDT and both men are again down. Benoit has the Cross Face locked in and Raven is trying to hang on. Raven is grinning while in the hold, and he passes out. But he enjoyed the pain. **
The Flock come in, as does Dean Malenko and there is a brawl in the ring. Hammer carries Raven to the back.
After the match, Malenko eventually cleans house on the Flock. Benoit and Malenko simply leave.

World Cruiserweight Title Match: Chris Jericho defeated Rey Misterio, Jr. in 8:22 to win the title: Mike Tenay hypes up the injured left knee of Rey Mistero, which has a rather large brace on it. Jericho in control with a few chops, Rey with a sling shot head scissors take down from the apron into the ring. Rey is holding his knee in pain. Near fall with a roll through by Rey. Hair take down by Rey. Jericho drops Rey down chest first onto the top rope while on the apron. Rey goes for a springboard hurricanrana, but Jericho leaps into the ropes, causing Rey to fall. Rey goes for a top rope hurricanrana, but in mid air Jericho reverses into the Lion Tamer for the win! *1/2
After the match, Jericho grabs the microphone and says that this is the greatest day of his life. He is convinced the fans love him. Jericho proceeds to attack the left knee of Rey, even attacking him with his own brace. Jericho goes to the floor and throws the ring steps in the knee of Rey! Rey is of course in serious pain.

Gene is in the ring with JJ Dillon who is holding the WCW World Championship. Dillon talks about talking to Piper and says that he has respect of Piper for several years. Gene introduces Piper to the ring. Piper says he is the man who made the match between Sting and Hogan at Starrcade. Piper is going to make a decision tonight, that will remain, and not slip away. Piper calls out Sting to the ring, and Sting makes his way to the ring. Here comes Hulk Hogan, and Scott Hall. Piper says that Hall should get a title shot first, but we need a World Champion first. Piper fakes Hogan out in giving the title to him. Piper announces that at WCW Super Brawl, Hogan and Sting will do battle for the vacant World Title. Hogan shoves Sting, and Sting gets in his face. Hall leaves the ring, leaving Hogan alone. Sting with a few crotch chops, to end the segment.

World Television Title Match: Booker T pinned Rick Martel in 10:50 to retain the title: Martel with a rollup early on for a two count. Booker comes back with a arm lock. Booker with a vertical suplex, and connects with a Harlem side kick for a two count. Reverse kick by Booker for a two count. Booker accidentally head butts the crotch of Martel during a leap frog. Martel snaps and goes to work on Booker in the corner with a few boots. Martel with a spine buster and gets a near fall. Martel goes to work on the lower back of Booker. The crowd is dead during this contest. Booker with a hip toss out of a abdominal stretch. Leaping forearm smash by Booker. Booker misses a dropkick. Martel goes for the Quebec Crab. Martel has it locked in, Booker manages to reach the bottom rope. Booker with the scissors kick, side slam, and connects with the Harlem Hangover for the win. *
After the match, Martel yanks the title away from the referee and raises Booker’s hand in victory.

Larry Zbysko defeated Scott Hall in 8:09 by disqualification: Zbysko brings his mystery man, Dusty Rhodes, to the ring. Zbysko trips Hall to the mat, fireman’s carry take down. Both men trade a few arm locks. Abdominal stretch by Zbysko, Hall with a hip toss and Zbysko reverses into a abdominal stretch of his own. Spicolli with a right hand to Zbysko while he was on the apron. Hall with a clothesline moments later. Fall away slam by Hall. Hall signals for the end. Zbysko with a back drop. Zbysko with a standing spin kick, which hits the referee. Zbysko plays possum. Spicolli and Dusty get in the ring, Rhodes with a few elbows to Spicolli. Zbysko has Hall set up, Hall moves, Dusty hits Zbysko. Dusty has a smirk on his face, Dusty un-buttons his shirt, to reveal a N-W-O shirt. Dusty with a few elbow drops onto Zbysko. Hall and Spicolli do the same. Heenan and Tony are in shock. *

Ray Traylor, Rick and Scott Steiner defeated The nWo (Konnan, Scott Norton and Buff Bagwell) in 12:20.. * Rick and Scott argue who is start first. Rick starts off with Bagwell. Bagwell with a leg trip up on Rick. Rick mocks Bagwell who is in the ropes. Rick with a big power slam on Bagwell who was coming off the ropes. Rick with a reverse running power slam into the corner, sending Bagwell gut first into the turnbuckles. Norton with a few big splash into the corner on Traylor. Traylor a bit of offense, Konnan with a right hand on the apron, Norton with a slam. Konnan goes to work on Traylor with several right hands. Bagwell with a standing dropkick on Traylor. Double clothesline spot by Norton and Traylor. Rick comes in and dominates, until Vincent trips Rick up, Konnan with a DDT. N-W-O with control on Rick Steiner. Traylor and Scott Steiner are arguing on the apron. Rolling clothesline by Konnan on Rick Steiner. Leg submission by Konnan on Rick. Rick with clotheslines on Konnan and Bagwell. Rick makes the tag to both Scott and Traylor. Scott with belly to belly suplex’s on Bagwell and Norton. Scott throws the referee down. Full nelson suplex by Scott on Konnan. Steiner screwdriver on Konnan for the three count. *
– After the match, Bagwell and Scott seem to be having a muscle showoff.

Kevin Nash pinned The Giant in 10:47: Giant with a back suplex out of a side headlock on Nash. Leaping elbow drop onto Nash. Giant with a few butt splashes in the corner. Nash and Giant trade running splashes in the corner. Nash clotheslines Giant over the top. Nash leaps over the top, Giant catches him and rams him gut first into the ring post. Hogan with a chair shot on Giant who was about to enter the ring. Giant just gets back into the ring. Nash with a few running splashes onto Giant who is on the middle rope. Giant fights back with a clothesline. Double big boot spot, both men are down. Nash goes for the cover and gets a two count. Giant with a series of moves, Giant with a big boot and points at Hogan. Scoop slam on Nash. Giant signals for the choke slam. Giant grabs Bischoff off the apron and choke slams him back into the ring. Nash has coffee given to him by Hogan, throws it into the face of Giant. Nash sets Giant up for the jackknife. Nash lifts him up and connects! Giant lands right on his neck! Its over. Nash wins! **1/2

WCW Super Brawl 1998 video, featuring Diamond Dallas Page.

Bret Hart defeated Ric Flair in 18:06 via submission: Hart with the advantage early on with a scoop slam. Hart locks in the figure four, but Flair grabs the ropes. Vertical suplex by Hart to bring Flair back into the ring. Flair shoves Hart, who slaps Flair. Hart with a back body drop and a scoop slam. Flair with a poke to the eyes and delivers a few right hands in the corner. Flair with a back suplex out of the sleeper hold. Flair with a low blow, as the referee asked time left in the match at Flair’s request. Flair with a few chops, Hart comes back with a swinging neck breaker. Hart with the running bulldog for a two count. Hart goes for the figure four around the ring post, but Flair kicks Hart into the guard railing. Flair with a knee breaker on Hart, and begins to yank on the knee of Hart. Hart with a kick to the back of Flair’s head. Hart with inside cradle on Flair who was going for the figure four, two count. Flair with a chop block to the knee of Hart. Flair locks in the figure four in the middle of the ring. Hart manages to roll over. Flair breaks the hold. Hart slams Flair off the top to the mat. Russian leg sweep by Hart. Flair comes back with a chop. Hart tells Flair to bring it on. Flair begs off. Bret with a back breaker. Hart with a forearm drop of the middle rope. Bret with a top rope superplex on Flair. Hart locks in the sharp shooter. Flair gives up. **1/4

Michael Buffer introduces the main event of the evening.

Lex Luger defeated Randy Savage in 7:07 via submission… *¾ Elizabeth attacks Luger, allowing Savage to get the advantage on the floor. Double axe handle off the top by Savage and gets a two count. Savage with a back suplex on Luger, and goes for the pin but gets a two count. Elizabeth chokes Luger with the bandanna. Luger comes back with a few forearm shots to Savage. Luger goes after Elizabeth, but Savage comes from behind and connects with a knee to the back of Luger, sending him to the floor. Elizabeth slaps Luger, Savage sends Luger into the guard railing. They go into the crowd. Luger sends Savage into the wall. Luger drops Savage chest first onto the guard railing. Luger sends Savage into the ring post. Three running clotheslines by Luger, running forearm shot. Scott Hall comes down with a chair, and Hogan is right their with him. Luger with a power slam on Savage. Hogan stops Hall. Savage is sent into Hall who is knocked off the apron. Torture Rack on Savage, and Savage taps out. *3/4
After the match, The N-W-O attack Luger, Sting runs down and cleans house on everyone. Luger has the Torture Rack on Nash, Sting with the Scorpion death lock on Hogan to close out the show.

End of show

Overall Grade: C