Written by: Bob Colling
World Championship Wrestling presents Saturday Night
Date: 5/2/1998
From:
Matches:
1.) Jim Duggan defeated Barry Darsow
2.) Kidman defeated Chavo Guerrero Jr.
3.) Curt Hennig defeated Jim Neidhart
4.) WCW Television Champion Booker T fought Chris Benoit to a double count out
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Backstage, Mean Gene conducted an interview with WCW Television Champion Booker T regarding his match with Chris Benoit tonight. Booker doesn’t know what the deal is with these guys from Canada jumping into his face. Booker notes that he beat Chris Benoit at Spring Stampede.
2.) Hennig cheap shots Neidhart in the corner with a right hand and gets a few kicks in before slamming Jim’s leg across the apron. Neidhart works over Hennig in the corner and hip tosses Hennig across the ring. Hennig sends Neidhart into the guard railing. Neidhart battles back in the ring with a knee lift. Neidhart scoop slams Hennig and sends him hard back first into the corner. Hennig stops Jim with a low blow and they trade blows until Neidhart decks Hennig down with a wild right hand strike. Hennig atomic drops Neidhart out of the corner and hits the Hennig Plex to get the clean victory. (*. I mainly liked that it was a quick brawl and Hennig won a match cleanly.)
3.) Booker shoulder blocks Benoit sending him to the outside after a slow start to the match. Benoit drop toe holds Booker face first into the middle turnbuckle. Benoit works over Booker with stomps in the corner. Booker runs into a big boot but plants Benoit with a power slam for a two count. Booker cuts Benoit off with a knee lift to the midsection. Benoit nearly pins Booker with a rollup. Benoit ducks a spin kick to hit a snap suplex. Benoit drives Benoit down with a back suplex. Booker hangs onto the ropes to avoid a dropkick attempt. Booker drops Benoit with a spinning side kick but only manages a two count. Benoit clotheslines himself and Booker over the top to the floor and hit the floor hard. They begin to brawl on the floor and neither man is able to return to the ring thus they have been counted out. (*1/2. Such a basic match and it makes complete sense considering it’s only Saturday Night. I was hoping for a little more, but no luck there.)
Final Thoughts:
It’s an hour program which makes it an easy view. However, don’t expect the Benoit/Booker match to be anything special as it is quite disappointing.
Thanks for reading.