At the end of 1998, World Championship Wrestling continued to be at war with the World Wrestling Federation over viewership on Monday Nights. However, the WWF had surpassed WCW in popularity and entered 1999 on a continued rise focusing their programming on the likes of the Rock, Steve Austin, Mankind, and Triple H among others. WCW may had fallen behind by the end of 1998, but they still had countless legends and an impressively young and talented undercard. The combination had led to great success since the beginning of the Monday Night Wars in September 1995. There shouldn’t be a reason to think that WCW couldn’t turn it around and challenge the WWF for the Monday night audience. It would only take one major angle similar to the New World Order to catapult the promotion once again.
In this series, each post will be reliving at least a weeks worth of programming from 1999.
THE STREAK ENDS
Upon his arrival to WCW in September 1997, Bill Goldberg went on a lengthy undefeated streak that included winning the WCW United States Championship in April 1998 and winning the grandest prize of all on July 6th, 1998 by pinning WCW World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan at the Georgia Dome. WCW had clearly found a homegrown main event name to build the promotion around for many, many years to follow. Crowds came to the arena to see Goldberg destroy people in mostly quick matches.
However, by the time Starrcade 1998 came many in the promotion thought that it was time to beat Goldberg. Some thought that the limitations of Goldberg as a dominating babyface champion had started to sour on fans. Thus, at Starrcade 1998, Kevin Nash dethroned Goldberg to win the WCW World Championship with help from Scott Hall and a trusty taser. The streak was over for Goldberg. What next?
Bob’s Take: While I understand the idea that one guy destroying guys could be seen as played out and repetitive it simply hadn’t run its course yet. The fans were still coming out to see Goldberg beat guys in dominating fashion on TV. His crowd reaction hadn’t diminished. Nash likes to note that the crowd was 50/50 at Starrcade, but Nash was also a babyface and always played the cool heel role. It’s only natural that a large portion of the crowd is likely going to connect with him. Besides, Nash pinning Goldberg is going to garner a strong reaction for the immediate shock reaction of Goldberg actually losing.
THE REMATCH — JANUARY 4TH
The following night on Nitro, WCW World Champion Kevin Nash cut a promo where he announced that he didn’t like how the match with Goldberg ended at Starrcade and was issuing a rematch for January 4th at the Georgia Dome.
BISCHOFF LOSES POWER, NATURE BOY GAINS CONTROL OF WCW
Back in early 1998, Bischoff suspended Ric Flair for missing a TV taping for his sons wrestling competition. For months, fans chanted for Flair to return to WCW. It finally happened on the September 14th, 1998 edition of Nitro. It wouldn’t take long for Bischoff and Flair to be entered in a heated, personal feud leading to a match at Starrcade 1998. Shockingly, Bischoff managed to prevail at the PPV with help from Flair’s longtime nemesis, Curt Hennig getting involved.
The next night on Nitro, Flair put everything on the line to get Bischoff in the ring one more time. However, if Flair won then he’d be able to control WCW for 30-days. Of course, Flair managed to get revenge on Bischoff and won the match by submission. Thus, WCW enters 1999 with the Nature Boys running the show… for ninety days.
Bob’s Take: The feud between Bischoff and Flair is probably the best thing going for WCW at this time. The true, raw emotion and personal hatred from both men make for compelling television. WCW tends to book in favor of the heels (just look at the NWO angle), so to have Flair prevail to end the year left the fans with a positive, happy vibe entering 1999. Flair being in control for ninety seems a little weak as there’s likely not much of an impact to be made. Realistically, Flair should be inserting himself for the title, but with Goldberg vying for the title it wouldn’t make too much sense right now.
BAM-BAM BIGELOW… IS HE NEXT?
Towards the end of 1998, former WWF/ECW wrestler Bam-Bam Bigelow arrived in WCW and made it clear that his target was then WCW World Champion Bill Goldberg. Bigelow had gained a substantial amount of steam in ECW in recent years due to his association with the Triple Threat and a memorable feud with Taz over the ECW Television Championship. Bigelow competed against Goldberg on the 12/7 Nitro, which ended in a no contest. They’d meet again in a triple threat match also involving Kevin Nash, and once again ended in a no contest. Bigelow is hot on Goldberg’s tail to enter 1999.
Bob’s Take: ECW did wonders for Bigelow’s presentation and aura after a disastrous babyface run in the WWF after WrestleMania XI in 1995. Bigelow came across as an unstoppable heel in ECW, which likely happened because Bigelow was a bigger star working for a smaller promotion. Bigelow’s matches with Shane Douglas and Taz were notable. Bigelow immediate introduction into WCW saw him as a potential threat to the top stars, but Goldberg is at such a level that it wasn’t of high probability that Bigelow would defeat him. I’d have Bigelow involved with someone else to give him a major win and then target Goldberg. Because, once Bigelow loses to Goldberg it’s likely just a downward spiral from there.
RAVEN — SPOILED RICH KID?
The Raven character has always been a seemingly depressed person who typically associated himself with people who were easily manipulated. Well, it may have been a case where the fans were manipulated by his behavior. As 1998 came to a close, it was revealed that Raven didn’t live the dark past that he had portrayed in WCW (and in ECW). Instead, Raven had a rich family and was spoiled.
Bob’s Take: It’s a bit a bizarre twist to the Raven character that I’m mostly indifferent on. Part of me thinks it’s a borderline callback to Raven playing the Johnny Polo character in the WWF. There’s a level to the twist that I understand of a rich kid still not being happy and revolting against his preppy annoying family. I can see how this could generate heat, but it’s kind of cheap heat to some extent. Raven literally brainwashed a family to get in the head of an opponent. He’s capable of gaining heat that actually means something.
BARRY WINDHAM — RETURNS AND BETRAYS FLAIR
After a rather lackluster two year run with the WWF, Windham returned to WCW at the end of 1998. Windham’s return took place on the November 16th Nitro and appeared to be on Ric Flair’s side for his feud with Eric Bischoff. Windham had been a Horsemen in the past, but also a heated rival of Flair’s. It would be revealed the following week on Nitro, November 23rd, that Windham was in-fact associated with Eric Bischoff when Windham attacked Flair during an in-ring segment.
Bob’s Take: Considering how hot pro wrestling was in the late 90s it would be a rarity for a wrestler to come out and achieve nothing of a response. That rarity happened for Barry Windham. Windham mostly competed in failed gimmicks for the WWF as the Stalker and one half of the New Blackjacks. Jumping ship from that level to WCW and attacking one of the main event wrestlers can be a bit perplexing. Windham’s creditability at this point is severely damaged. I’m sure a singles match between Windham and Flair will be a TV only blowoff when the time comes and we’re not going to get the late 80s magic between the two.
DISCO INFERNO — DESPERATE WOLFPAC LACKEY
Disco Inferno was involved in the Starrcade main event where Nash ended Goldberg’s title reign, and by a result Disco attempted to be affiliated with the NWO Wolfpac, but wasn’t given full membership by the end of 1998. Prior to this, Disco had been doing nothing on the undercard and had recently been involved in the WCW Cruiserweight division. Nash didn’t like Disco’s involvement at Starrcade and put Inferno in a tryout match to join the Wolfpac on the last Nitro of ’98. Inferno was squashed by Bigelow and essentially told to stay away.
Bob’s Take: Disco makes the NWO uncool just by standing near them. He’s an example of the group expanding far beyond their need, and he’s not even in the group… yet.
LATINO WORLD ORDER
Towards the end of 1998, Eddy Guerrero formed the LWO due to a conflict with Eric Bischoff and as a manner to potentially combat the New World Order. Instead of a direct feud with the NWO, the LWO mainly feuded with other Cruiserweight stars that weren’t part of the group. That would include WCW Cruiserweight Champion Billy Kidman, Rey Mysterio Jr. and the mentally unstable nephew, Chavo Guerrero Jr.
A NEW TV CHAMPION — THE BIG BAD BOOTY DADDY
After turning on his brother, Rick Steiner, at Superbrawl VIII, Scott Steiner didn’t accomplish much for most of 1998. Scott constantly avoided a singles match with Rick for months before losing to Rick at Halloween Havoc. Scott managed to turn the year around on the final Nitro of the year where Scott won the WCW Television Championship from Konnan. Steiner was also promoted to interim leader of NWO Hollywood as Hogan was out on a presidential campaign publicity stunt.
Bob’s Take: It’s kind of amazing how poorly 1998 went for Steiner after the heel turn. The followup on the turn is bad booking. Luckily, Steiner is talented enough to survive the bad writing and now can focus on being a badass TV Champion. Steiner is one of the few undercard guys that I’d consider to be must-see TV. I say that because the viewers never know what he’s going to do. That makes for good TV.
LEX LUGER — CAN YOU TRUST HIM?
Since the formation of the NWO at Bash at the Beach 1996, Luger had been loyal competitor for WCW before joining the NWO Wolfpac in the spring of 1998. Towards the end of 1998, Luger became noticeably distant to the likes of Konnan. Konnan was attacked at Starrcade by Scott Steiner and Buff Bagwell, and Luger didn’t assist. Then, when Konnan lost the WCW TV Championship, Luger was conveniently late to assist. Is Luger just mentally lazy as of late, or is he up to no good?
Bob’s Take: Luger isn’t necessarily coming across as distrustful or insincere as was in early 1996 when he was tricking Sting into thinking he was a good guy and literally everyone saw him being phony. That may be the best version of Luger and it lasted only a few months due to the NWO storyline. Luger just seems to be up to something and a fresh heel turn could benefit him greatly. Luger has had an underrated babyface run for two years. I wouldn’t be oppose to the self-centered Luger coming back in 1999.
HEY WHAT ARE THEY UP TO?
WCW United States Champion Bret Hart: Hart hasn’t wrestled November 30th when he regained the WCW United States Championship from Diamond Dallas Page on Nitro. Hart has been dealing with a groin injury suffered in a match with Dean Malenko. Bret unsuccessfully got involved at Starrcade costing the Giant his match against DDP. 1998 wasn’t the best year for The Hitman. Bret didn’t earn one single WCW World Championship match, but did wrestle the likes of Sting, DDP, Booker T, Chris Benoit, Ric Flair, Randy Savage and Curt Hennig. The long anticipated singles match with Hollywood Hogan took place on the September 28th Nitro, but it ended in a DQ. It was mostly a ruse for Hart to turn on Sting, thus a disappointment.
Diamond Dallas Page: Since losing to Goldberg at Halloween Havoc it seems as if DDP has lost a substantial amount of steam with the fans. DDP is still over with the crowd, but his time to potentially be the WCW World Champion might have been missed due to Goldberg’s popularity taking over the company.
Hollywood Hulk Hogan: Hogan has been on hiatus since his victory over the Warrior at Halloween Havoc. The hiatus is not due to the embarrassment of the match, though. Hogan is staying relevant by attempting a presidential campaign, which is never going to take place.
Sting: Out of action since Halloween Havoc ’98, where he lost to Bret Hart.
Booker T: Booker is on his own having split from his brother Stevie Ray in the middle of ’98 due to Stevie joining the NWO. Booker has returned from a knee injury and has been on a singles roll to close out 1998. Booker has the potential to have a bigger ’99 after a breakout singles run in ’98.
Chris Benoit: After returning in October after several months off of TV, Benoit appears to have formed a tag team with Dean Malenko. The tag team titles are vacant due to Rick Steiner suffering an injury. They’d be a fun team to put the straps on.
Chris Jericho: Jericho had a breakout ’98 when he fully turned heel. Jericho won the WCW Cruiserweight Championship and WCW Television Championship in 1998. However, entering 1999 Jericho doesn’t have either title. Jericho proved that he’s capable of so much more than being in the midcard when he carried a feud with Goldberg on his own. Jericho is one of the most entertaining acts in WCW with his bodyguard Ralphus providing comical moments.
The Giant: Giant’s time in WCW is nearing an end. Giant rejoined the NWO in 1998 despite there not being a logical reason in doing so. The same group that kicked him out because he wanted a title shot from Hogan and also a member of the group nearly breaking his neck (Nash). The booking of Giant has been rather odd. By the end of 1998, Giant has lost to Goldberg on Nitro a few times and was pinned by Goldberg in less than two minutes in November. Giant lost to DDP at Starrcade and his prospects for 1999 in WCW are not looking good anyway.
Randy Savage: Savage has been out of in-ring action since June when he last competed against DDP in a steel cage on the June 15th Nitro. Savage took time off to finally get his injured knee worked on, which he injured back in October of 1997 when he jumped off the top of a cage and nearly crippled himself.
Scott Hall: Hall’s involvement at Starrcade to help Nash win the WCW World Championship is catapulting Hall into the main event scene of WCW. Hall had been working midcard level feuds with Luger and Konnan in recent months. Hall appears lined up to feud with Goldberg in ’99.
Roddy Piper: Piper’s last meaningful appearance was on the September 14th Nitro, the night after Fall Brawl. Piper confronted Bret Hart during a segment where Bret was teasing another babyface turn and saying that he was going to make Hogan’s life a living hell. Piper forgave Hart, but Bret continued to prove he’s a liar and continued an association. Will Piper seek revenge for forgiving Bret, but only being lied to.. again?
WCW 1999 is a guilty pleasure of mine, but I honestly can’t remember a time where I watched Nitro and Thunder in order. I’m not investing time into Saturday Night or Worldwide because WCW barely even put thought or effort into Thunder, their B-level show. All their focus was on Nitro, and even with all the focus, they couldn’t put a plan together to turn things around.
It will be interesting to see just how quickly stories are started and stopped because they didn’t catch on. Which wrestlers get pushed and which ones are lost in the shuffle. There are a lot of changes in WCW during the year and getting a full context once and for all will be a lot of fun, and likely frustrating.
The next post will be focusing on the January 4th Nitro and the January 7th Thunder.
Thanks for reading.